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Letter from the Editor A Step Towards Solidarity Relying on the recent statements of Taranjit Sandhu, India’s top envoy to United States, it comes in our mind that the decadesold relation between the two largest democracies of the world is still growing and transformational. India’s new Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, while addressing the business community of America in a reception organized in his honor by the US India Business Council (USIBC) in February this year had said, “Indo-US relations, in present context, is being witnessed as the most transformational in comparison to the past”. The economic partnership between the two countries has grown from strength-to-strength over the years. PM Modi has set an ambitious target to make India a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024 and the US is a preferred partner in that endeavor. The recent development shows that the bilateral trade is growing at 10% on a year-to-year basis and has reached $160 billion in 2019. In 2018, the two-way investments between both the countries have reached $60 billion. Altogether 2000 United States based companies have spread their wings in India and more than 200 Indian companies have invested $ 18 billion in the US.
to the region, India will emerge as its indispensable partner. Be it Geographically, Politically, Commercially or diplomatically, both fit to each other in all respects. The five pillars of strategic partnership between these two biggest democracies may be summed up as: Strategic Issues, Energy and Climate Change, Science and Technology, Health and Innovation and Education & Development. Besides multiple exchanges of visit by Presidents, Prime Ministers or other authorities of both the countries, between India and US, over the past few years, the recent visit of US President, Donald Trump, to India has again brought laurel for both the nations. Both the nations recognized growing convergence in mutual interests in cooperation from economic and geo-political perspectives. Despite, just few shortcomings, as were guided by the media, the leaders of both the countries shared a sense of respect and solidarity to each other. As such, now onwards, it is being seen as an opportunity for the countries to extend the same approach towards trade and other relevant issues. President Trump appeared to be hot and cold during traderelated negotiations between the two nations, but he always cheered up in his discussions with PM Modi.
Most significant part of all these developments is that the business of extraordinary partnership between India and the United States always appear progressive. Business, industry, academia, think tanks, civil society, and media all play an important role in building relations between the two giant nations. And, no doubt, the USIBC is an important player as a strong bridge-builder and a force multiplier. In other words, it can also be termed as a mirror reflecting the expectations of the people. Here the USIBC’s role remains integral to the success of both governments. If America remains to be critical stabilizing force in Asia, through its military and diplomatic power projection and commitments
Hariom Tyagi Editor-in-Chief Observer Dawn Connect with Hariom Tyagi
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BJP’s Ignorance Made, AAP Win Assembly Elections in Delhi
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Iranian Officials Blacklisted for Hindering Free, Fair Elections in US
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Business News
SITHARAMAN INTRODUCES DTV SE VISHWAS BILL IN PARLIAMENT Union Finance Minister, N Sitharaman, has on February 5, 2020 introduced a Bill - Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Bill 2020 in the Lok Sabha. It would provide for a mechanism to settle disputed tax cases to the tune of ₹9.32 lakh crore. While introducing the bill, the Union Minister said it will focus on trust building rather than seeing it as mere tax resolution. She informed the House that it would not be an open-ended scheme instead, it would be a specific time-frame. She said, the bill will reduce the litigation expenditure for the government and generate revenue. Under the scheme, taxpayers whose liabilities are caught in dispute can pay their taxes by March 31, 2020 and avail themselves of a complete waiver of interest and penalty.The Congress leader, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, however objected to the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Bill, 2020, saying it violates parliamentary tradition by using Hindi and English
INDIA MUST CONCENTRATE ON MEDIUM-TERM FISCAL CONSOLIDATION
language.“The bill’s name is not only an attempt to impose Hindi but it will also hurt the tax collection efforts”, Chowdhury said. Pointing out the Congress leader’s objection, the Union Minister said that the contents could be debated later. Noticeably, during her Budget speech, Sitharaman had said nearly five lakh cases of tax disputes were pending in various tribunals.
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he recent Indian budget is accommodative fiscal stance and is appropriate in the weaker economic scenario. At the same time it should also focus in the medium term on fiscal consolidation because of the growing debt levels”, says the World’s premier institution, International Monetary Fund. Speaking during a media conference in Washington on February 26, 2020, the IMF Communications Director Gerry Rice said, “As India’s economic environment is weaker than what the IMF had forecasted, a more accommodative fiscal stance in the budget we think is appropriate”. “While the budget touches on ongoing sectoral efforts, there remains an urgent need for more ambitious structural and financial sector reform measures and a medium-term fiscal consolidations strategy anchored in tangible revenue and expenditure measures especially given rising debt levels”. International Monetary Fund sharply cut its growth estimate for the current fiscal year for India to 4.8 per cent last month from the 7.5 per cent made in January last year.
INDIA TO EMERGE WORLD’S 5TH LARGEST ECONOMY
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fter overtaking the UK and France in 2019, India has now emerged as the world’s fifth largest economy. The World Population Review (WPR), a US-based think tank, has in its report said that India is developing into an open-market economy from its previous autarkic policies. The report says that India’s economy is the fifth largest in the world with a GDP of USD 2.94 trillion. It overtook the UK and France in 2019, the report said. It also highlighted, “In purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, India’s GDP (PPP) is USD 10.51 trillion, exceeding that of Japan and Germany”. Economic Liberalization of the country began in the early 1990s and included industrial deregulation, reduced control on foreign trade and investment, and privatization of state-owned enterprises, said the report. The Country’s service sector is the fast-growing
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sector in the world accounting for 60% of the economy and 28% of employment. The manufacturing and agriculture are two other significant sectors of the economy. Noticeably, this US-based WPR is an independent organization having no any political affiliation or interference.
Business News
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INDIAN BANKS MINIMIZE DISPENSING RS 2,000 CURRENCY NOTES
fter witnessing a gradual phase out of the high denomination currency, the banks have started dispensing more of Rs 500 notes instead of Rs 2,000 denomination notes. In an RTI response last year, the RBI said that the central bank had stopped printing Rs 2,000 denomination currency notes. Sources said, “There is no any such dictate from the Finance Ministry in this connection. But the banks, at their own, have decided to fill their ATMs with smaller denomination notes for the convenience of customers”. Sources revealed, while few banks have already started recalibration of their ATMs, remaining are likely to follow the suit. Sections of state-owned Indian Bank have already announced they are in way to minimize the use of Rs 2,000 notes in their ATMs. Getting change for a Rs 2,000 note is an issue, keeping that in mind some banks have stopped using Rs 2,000 notes in their ATMs. “While, almost 3,542.991 million notes of Rs 2,000 denomination were printed during 2016-17, it was only 111.507 million 2017-18 and 46.690 million in 2018-19”, the RTI reply of the RBI reads. This step is being seen as an attempt to prevent hoarding of the high-value currency and thus, curb black money.
RBI CONCERNED OVER TELECOM DUES AFTER SC ORDER
Concerned over the recent Supreme Court order on telecom dues, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is keeping a close watch on the expected developments. The central bank is worried that further tariff hikes, as demanded by telecom operators, could be inflationary, a concern that it had also raised in December when telcos raised tariffs for the first time in more than a decade. It is also concerned about the impact of the court order on banks, which have substantial exposure to telecom companies. A collapse of an operator will add to the bad loan pile of Indian lenders. Sources said, “The government is working on a potential rescue plan for the sector and is likely to consider RBI’s request”. The RBI, in order to ease the burden on telcos, has asked the government to allow telecom companies to stagger their payment of dues to the government over the next two-three years. The RBI had written to the government two-three months ago seeking relief for the telecom companies. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of RBI had also cautioned about the impact of tariff hikes on inflation. However, the order dealt a blow to the telecom industry, which argued that adjusted gross revenue (AGR) should only include revenue from core telecom operations.
INDIAN ECONOMY BEGINS SHOWING GREEN SHOOTS: SITHARAMAN
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he Union Finance Minister, N Sitharaman, has claimed that the Indian economy is on the mend, relying on seven indicators to show that green shoots have started emerge in the economy. The Country’s economic growth is estimated by the National Statistical Office to hit an 11-year low of 5% in 201920. The IMF has projected growth to recover to 5.8% in 2020-21. The Union Finance Minister pointed out rising foreign direct investments (FDIs), foreign portfolio investments (FPIs), rebound in industrial activity, rising Purchasing Managers’ Index, increasing forex reserves, robust collections of the goods and services tax and a rising Sensex. She added, “These are the seven green shoots showing that the economy is moving forward”. Sitharaman said, the
net FDI inflow in April-November was $24.4 billion, higher than $21.2 billion in the same period a year ago. Net FPI inflows during April-November jumped to $12.6 billion from $8.7 billion in the same period of the previous year. Factory output made a modest recovery in November, growing at 1.8% against a contraction of 3.4% in October. The manufacturing PMI also hit a near eight-year high of 55.3 in January, up from 52.7 in December.
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National
INDIAN RAILWAYS TO INSTALL FACE RECOGNITION SYSTEM The Indian Railways has planned to install face recognition system in all major railway stations by the end of 2020. It would help the department improve its surveillance system and in fighting crime.
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t present this system is being tested in Bengaluru, often termed as the tech hub of India. The main objective behind installation of this intelligent surveillance system is to monitor suspicious activities across stations and the adjacent areas. Initially, this face recognition technology has been allotted to Bengaluru, Manmad and Bhusawal stations for trial. Entire system would be backed by the Artificial Intelligence team. Indian Railways is likely to install various cameras including the dome type, bullet type, pan tilt zoom type and ultra HD-4k cameras to get a better and clearer picture of what goes around in the railway stations. Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation installed India’s first digital system called the ‘Digi Yatra’ at the Bengaluru International airport. The idea behind installing the recognition system was to allow passengers to check-in without producing any identity cards at the entry-exit checkpoints and aircraft boarding.
MOBILE TOILETS FOR WOMEN TO IMPROVE HYGIENE The Indian Railways has planned to install face recognition system in all major railway stations by the end of 2020. It would help the department improve its surveillance system and in fighting crime.
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ow a woman can board the toilet to avail the facilities like: breastfeeding to babies or purchase sanitary napkins or diapers just by paying an affordable cost of Rs 5. It is no longer a trouble at least for women now onwards. In 2016, renowned entrepreneurs, Ulka Sadalkar and Rajeev Kher launched a “Ti Toilet” project. Here “Ti” means “her” in Marathi having 12
mobile washrooms. The buses are powered by solar panels mounted on top of the vehicle. “We came up with the idea as part of a series of projects focused on improving hygiene in my localities”, said Ms Sadalkar, who runs a portable sanitation business. “We believe women deserve access to clean and safe washrooms and it is their basic right”, she said adding that they (the duo) wanted to open over a thousand toilets across the country in the next few years. Meanwhile, as a part of Prime Minister Modi’s flagship, ‘Clean India’, entire nation went on building a series of toilets but lack of water and electricity partially affected Modi’s mission. On the other hands, the governments exerted their efforts to maintain public toilets, which often poorly lit, unmanned and reek of urine. At this stage launching of such mobile ‘Washroom-on-Wheels’ played a vital role in proving the masses, especially the women during emergencies, with better facilities.
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National
POLICE RECOVER GOLD-COATED QURAN OF MUGHAL ERA Among other major achievements, the Mysore district police have recovered a gold coated Quran from the possession of a gang of antique sellers in Rajasthan.
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his gold-lettered quran is almost 500 years old, the experts say. Mughal Emperor, Akbar is said to have donated the Quran’s copy with letters written in gold to one of the prominent families of Mandalgarh (Bhilwara). As the descendants of the family fell on bad days, they decided to sell the Quran’s copy and contacted Rakesh before the incident took place a year ago. Besides others, those arrested include, a middle aged man, identified as Banwari Meena. Meena is said to be the gang leader. “The gang leader was exhausting his efforts to deal with a Bangladeshi family. For this a sum of Rs 16 crore was charged to him. Meanwhile, one of the gang members arrested before the deal would be finalized”, a police officer said. Prominent historian and former vice chancellor, Professor Sheikh Ali, said it is older than an ancient Quran that he had seen at a museum in Turkey. “Perhaps, it was written between 1050 AD and 1605 AD”, he added.
WOMEN TO BE GRANTED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN ARMED FORCES: SC The Supreme Court of India has on February 17, 2020 in favor of the equal rights to the women in the armed forces. The court has also ordered the Government to grant permanent commission and command positions to the women officers on par with men.
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or women and the Indian Military, it is being considered as a landmark decision of the Supreme Court. After the SC’s ruling, all women will be eligible for the same promotions, ranks, benefits and pensions as their male counterparts, irrespective of their years of service or whether they had retired. Female officers have long campaigned for this change, which
will allow them to serve a full tenure and achieve a higher rank, with greater salary and leadership potential. Currently, women are inducted into the army through short service commissions, which only permit them to serve for 10 to 14 years. “This change will lift up women -- not just in the army but all girls across the country and the world,” said Lt. Col. Seema Singh. Though
March 2020
the court’s ruling does not permit women to serve in army combat units, like the infantry or artillery corps, they are now eligible to command entire battalions or head the intelligence department. Promotions to command positions will be considered on a case-by-case case basis, said Archana Pathak Dave, one of the lawyers representing the female officers.
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International
IRANIAN OFFICIALS BLACKLISTED FOR HINDERING FREE, FAIR ELECTIONS IN US Accusing them of preventing free and fair elections, United States have blacklisted five Iranian officials. Entire activity took place a day before the parliamentary vote was seen as a referendum on the handling of various political and economic crises.
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n a statement issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, it has been said that sanctions have been imposed on the officials, members of Iran’s Guardian Council and its Elections Supervision Committee, over the council’s role in disqualifying several thousand candidates. The Guardian Council has rejected around 6,850 moderate or conservative hopefuls in favor of hardliners from among the 14,000 applicants seeking to contest the February 21, 2020 vote. About a third of lawmakers have also been barred from standing again.
politicians in Iran and activists abroad have called for a boycott. Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin said, “The Trump Administration will not tolerate the manipulation of elections to favor the regime’s malign agenda, and this action exposes those senior regime officials responsible for preventing the Iranian people from freely choosing their leaders”.
The U.S. special representative for Iran, Brian Hook said, “The regime denies the Iranian people a representative Parliament by pre-deciding who is qualified to run for office”. Washington’s action targeted Ahmad Jannati, the secretary of the Guardian Council, Mohammad Yazdi, a member of Iran’s Guardian Council who was formerly Iran’s first judiciary chief, and three additional members of the Elections Supervisory Committee. Officially the campaigning ended on February 27, 2020 for Iran’s parliamentary election. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said voting is “a religious duty” but some prominent pro-reform
JOHN TENNIEL’S 200TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OBSERVED Sir John Tenniel was born in London on February 28, 1820. He was knighted for his artistic achievements in 1893. When he was at the age of 20, Tenniel lost the sight in his right eye due to an accident.
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resent day’s Google Doodle resolves to celebrate Tenniel’s 200th birth anniversary. He studied at the Royal Academy schools and sent his first picture to the exhibition of the Society of British Artists, in 1836. Later, he contributed a 16-foot cartoon to a design competition for mural decoration of the new Palace of Westminster and received £100 and a commission for a fresco in the Upper Waiting Hall at the House of Lords. Affectionately remembered as the principal political cartoonist for ‘Punch’ magazine and illustrator for Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ (1865) and ‘Through the Looking-Glass’ (1872), his works are subtle and well-suited to the text, which won him a global audience. His cartoons secured his fame, but it was his illustrations for “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” made him a household name. In 1864, Tenniel was introduced to Mr Carroll, when he agreed to create 42 illustrations. In spite of working with each other on minute details, Carroll had Tenniel alter his illustrations several times. The
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creative partnership continued with ‘Through the Looking Glass’. Tenniel’s illustrations have animated the imaginations of children and adults for decades. Ultimately, his legacy continues to thrive, as readers cherish his distinctive style and priceless artistic works.
International
NINE MONARCHS OF MALAYSIA TO DETERMINE NEXT GOVT The nine monarchs of Malaysia are likely to determine the way next government of the country will be formed after resignation of Mahathir Mohamad. He had shockingly resigned during the last week of February 2020. The situation has however created political turmoil in state.
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he latest move of Mahathir, which practically broke a coalition with old rival, Anwar Ibrahim, had secured a surprise election victory two years ago. It has also widely perceived as an attempt to consolidate the 94-year-old leader’s power. The opposing coalition showed its anger after the announcement of the three parties, led by the 72-year – old, Anwar, who had termed it inappropriate for Mahathir to preempt the king’s decision.
taken the unusual step of meeting with all 222 members of parliament, instead of just the leaders, to gauge support. After finding all-around uncertainty, the nine sultans led by Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah decided to convene a meeting to discuss the issue. All serve as a hereditary ceremonial heads of each Malaysian state individually.
According to the political system of Malaysia, the king would usually determine which party or coalition had a majority of support following representations from each. The winning party or coalition would then choose the prime minister. By allowing all members of parliament to vote for a leader across party lines, the vote flagged by Mahathir has upset entire system. These kinds of votes would be in line with Mahathir’s proposal to head a unity government that would draw ministers from any party he likes. On February 27, Mahathir said that the parliamentary vote was necessary as the king had reported no party had a majority. The king had
US COURT SENTENCED CHINESE SCIENTIST 2-YR IN PRISON A United States District Court Judge, Gregory Frizzell, of the Northern District of Oklahoma, has on February 27, 2020 sentenced a Chinese scientist for two years in prison. The perpetrator was involved in stealing next-generation battery technology from the American petroleum company where he worked.
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he 36-year – old scientist identified as one, Hongjin Tan, is a Chinese national and a permanent legal resident of the United States. He was arrested in December 2018 and pleaded guilty in November of last year to stealing trade secrets. After sentencing to 24 months in federal prison, the court also ordered him to pay $150,000 in restitution to his former employer.
The Justice Department said, From June 2017 until his arrest, Tan worked as an associate scientist for the US petroleum company. However, the department did not name the company but a LinkedIn page for Hongjin Tan identifies him as a staff scientist with the disruptive technologies team at Phillips 66 in Oklahoma.
Market value of the next-generation battery technology Tan was accused of stealing was more than $1 billion, the Justice Department said in a statement. The assistant attorney general, John Demers, said, “This investigation and prosecution uncovered another instance of China’s persistent attempts to steal American intellectual property”. An FBI special agent, Melissa Godbold, said, “American companies invest heavily in advanced research and cutting-edge technology”. He added that the trade secret theft was detrimental to the US’s national security and free-market economy. Godbold said, “It takes profits away from companies and jobs away from hard-working Americans”.
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Opinion
BJP’S IGNORANCE MADE, AAP WIN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN DELHI The outstanding victory of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the recently concluded Delhi assembly polls has shown that a majority of the Hindus living across the country’s Capital have voted against the Saffron Party.
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owever, the propagandists and the apparatchiks for the BJP have blamed the ‘self-centered’ voters’, for they often overlooked the – the primary need to care for national security and protection of Hindudva. Ill-fatedly, the BJP and the saffron sympathizers failed to analyze what the party did over the past few months. On the other hands, the three major campuses including Jamia Milia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Delhi University, all in the national Capital, have faced discontent over the past few months. This has also proved to be the major behind the massive defeat of the BJP. These campuses were traumatized by the
MARANDI’S ‘GHJAR WAPASI’ TO CHANGE POLITICAL EQUATIONS IN JHARKHAND
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n 2014, the then Saffron Party President, Amit Shah, had shown his desire and wanted Babulal Marandi to be back in the party fold. Shah had also offered him a Rajya Sabha seat, the elections for which were due. However, emissaries were sent to him to join the party. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and the Jharkhand Vikas Vikas Morcha (P), chief, Babulal Marandi joined the Bhartiya Janata Party on February 17, 2020, amid huge presence of senior saffron leadership. Besides other senior BJP leaders, former BJP president and incumbent Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, was present during the occasion. He joined the party during a gala ceremony organized at Jagganath maidan in Ranchi. Marandi had in 2014, rejected the offer, of the saffron party, when the Rajya Sabha elections were taking place. The tribal leader of Jharkhand had lost the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections during
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the Modi wave. Meanwhile, the then party president, Amit Shah, willfully wanted Marandi back in the party fold and had sent emissaries to him in this regard. He was also offered a Rajya Sabha seat, the elections for which were due.
his ‘ghar wapasi’ after 14 years. Not only among the tribal communities, but being an old Karyakarta of RSS, Marandi has a big influence among the masses in Jharkhand.
Huge numbers of political activists, including the BJP and JVM workers, were gathered to witness Babulal’s return to However, the decks were cleared for his erstwhile party. Meanwhile, Babulal Marandi to go to the Marandi announced the Rajya Sabha, but Marandi merger of his party with refused party’s offer and Huge numbers of the BJP. his return to the BJP. political activists,
including the BJP and
Amit Shah said that the Taking a serious note of JVM workers, were strength of the BJP will the situation, Marandi gathered to witness increase manifold with relied on the old quote‘Everything is fare in Babulal’s return to his the arrival of Marandi. He said: politics’. Gradually, he erstwhile party relaxed down over the “It is matter of utmost years and finally decided pleasure that Babulal ji has return his erstwhile party. returned to his parent party. I had On February 17, 2020 he merged his been trying to bring him back soon party, the JVM (P) with the BJP in presence after I became the party president of Amit Shah. However, Babulal’s return in 2014”, Shah said during the gala in the BJP is all about the creative efforts ceremony in Ranchi. After formation of Amit Shah and this is being termed as of Jharkhand in 2000, Marandi, became
OBSERVER DAWN March 2020
Opinion actions of the incompetent administrators including, police officer, Chinmoy Biswal, who brutally raided the Jamia campus, Delhi University, Vice Chancellor, Yogesh Tyagi, who has remained non-functional and JNU VC, Mamidala Jagdeesh Kumar, who has spent all his energy in acts of subterfuge against sections of students.
for poor optics, as poor as the tanks at the Tiananmen Square, something which the ruling party’s media planners should have realized. Large chunk of students come from the areas of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which have been regaled by BJP’s Delhi unit president, Manoj Tiwari, for the past several years by his ability of singing and dancing on Bhojpuri tunes.
Not only the BJP, as political party, instead the union Government, including the Prime Minister, To the BJP, Delhi Narendra Modi, committed As a major chunk of a serious mistake of is now an orphaned judgment when they unit. None of its MPs, such students coming from Hindu religion, thought that these except just a few, Manoj Tiwari, could instances of turmoil were have been involved have won massive limited to these particular in the growth respect, had he come campuses. In case, they for their rescues. thought that daunting the of the party youth was possible through Looking back to the history, the acts of aggression by the we see that Bakhtiyar Khilzi concerned authorities, they must have is a much hated personality in for not found answer in the recently concluded having defeated some Hindu king, but Delhi assembly poll results. for having burnt down the Nalanda University. Few months ago, Union Home Prowling campuses with police querying Minister, Amit Shah, had denied his view students inside libraries and lavatories and women’s hostels being overrun by about party’s chances to win in Delhi state-backed masked hoodlums makes assembly polls.
At first he had avoided a direct answer if the party would go to polls in with a chief ministerial face, saying it could be the case, but in the same breath had added that it should not be forgotten that the party, after its debacle in 2015 assembly polls, had won the municipal polls in 2017 and also the Lok Sabha polls in 2019. He had also said that these victories in 2017 and 2019 were possible because people were fed with the governance of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the BJP would be the natural beneficiary of the antiincumbency factor. To the BJP, Delhi is now an orphaned unit. None of its MPs, except just a few, have been involved in the growth of the party. On the other hands, some of its party leaders, including the Delhi unit president, Manoj Tiwari, are being termed as the para-dropped leaders. Arvind Kejriwal, however, managed to beat the anti-incumbency, because of his smart media management and campaign plan.
the first Chief Minister. But due to some internal strife in the party, he stepped down and left the saffron party. Consequently, in 2006, Babulal formed a new political outfit by separating from the BJP. Senior Party leaders believe that the saffron party faced a big leadership crisis in the tribal dominated Jharkhand state. And, being termed as a strong tribal face in the state, Babulal Marandi emerged as a better option for the party. The party insiders believe that now the time has come for him to give wings to his ambitions and coming back his old HOUSE was the only option that can make Babulal Marandi’s dream come true. This apart, his merger will create a new political equation in Jharkhand. “Sections of people may be thinking that the BJP took me into the party just because of the defeat in the assembly elections. But this is not true. This is not out sudden decision. Actually the party leaders had been approaching me for the past several years. Apart from others, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, had asked me to back in the party in 2014. Even they continued to their efforts.
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Opinions
MULTI-PRONGED STRATEGIES NEEDED TO STRENGTHEN STUDENT-TEACHER ENGAGEMENT One of the challenges faced in higher education today is the student-teacher engagement. It is an important element in our teaching-learning system. When the society is growing multi-dimensionally, it faces multiple challenges and issues especially with younger generations. By Prof. Charu Lata Singh
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n wake of technology advancement and shifting horizons of knowledge the teachers need to be equipped with multipronged skills, tools and approaches. There are various aspects to the whole issue and can be understood in a much wider appeal and perception. “The pivot in education is the teacher… if the teacher improves, the education system will improve” says Anil Swarup, secretary, HRD Ministry, GOI. (Source: The TOI, April,13 2018)
Indian Approach India has been the center and propagator of its own unique ‘Guru ShishyaParampara’, where Guru enjoys the higher pedestal than God, as Guru is the one, who illuminates the path of the shishya to reach to the Ultimate. As Kabir puts it, “Guru Gobinddoukhare, kake lagoon payein, balihari guru apne, jinGobinddiyomilaye”, all the material wealth shall fall short of, while paying tribute to the revered teacher. Guru shishyaparampara still continues after ages, especially in learning classical forms of music and dance. We still have Gurukul system, which is much respected. It is after immense questioning, thorough observation and discussion that the inferences are drawn and conclusions are accepted in this system of education. That is why the social truths in India are the proven and followed facts over the centuries. The teachings of Vedas, Gita, Buddha, Kautiltya, Kabir and Nanak, Swamy Vivekananda, Swami Dayanada still make relevance today even after centuries, more so because all the teachings are the humanistic teachings, the teachings of life and livelihood.
Contemporary Approach Coming to the contemporary times however, the contrast which can be drawn is, the reverse pattern of 24X7 hour approach. In Gurukul days it was the shisya who is devoted for 24-hour service to the Guru; today, it is 24X7 hour devotion and availability of the teacher an accepted norm. Also, as new technologies take over all fields, teachers need to re skill and up skill themselves. They need to keep adding
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something new to their knowledge every day. According to a report by McKinsey Global Institute, “more than 375 million workers may need to completely change the skill sets by 2030 because of the newer technologies.” (Source: Albert P Rayan, ‘Teachers for Gen Z’, the Hindu, July 9, 2018). This applies to teaching community too. Aptly may this relate to Thoreau (1817-1862), who said, “You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” Definitely, to chalk out the teaching path, one needs to continually step out into the unknown.
Mindful Student-Teacher Engagement
India has been the center and propagator of its own unique ‘Guru Shishya Parampara’, where Guru enjoys the higher pedestal than God, as Guru is the one, who illuminates the path of the shishya to reach to the Ultimate
Teaching is noble profession. It is the teachers and the students who make it noble and create pious environments conducive for pure leaning. For the same a teacher needs to adhere to the ethical guidelines themselves and also teach and preach the same. As the onus of making the society lies not on the industry, but on the teachers. Perhaps, there are practical practices of the profession which the students need to inculcate, but the moral and ethical teachings are the ones on which the working of all the industries rests and are inculcated by the teachers. Therefore, while making the students industry ready with skills, ample stress needs to be put on the basic core values of our meaningful existence, to show the path to the young on their personal and professional fronts.
Guidelines for a Mindful Teacher • Please be sensitive to the need of the students.Use your language mindfully, each word counts and means a lot to the student. • Avoid entering into altercations with the students. Do not get down to their levels or to their language on small stifling matters. • Consider them as your students and not as your colleagues. Please be mindful
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towards them and always encourage them. • Do not ignore smallest of the query of the student. Respect the students for their knowledge as well as for their ignorance. • Be strict but understand and lend your ear for their problems. • Use satire or mockery with care, as student is undergoing different pressures from within and outside viz. inferiority or superiority complex, language issues, adjusting issues in a bigger city, coping up with loneliness, managing financial issues, family issues, depression issues, medical problems and problems of the peer pressures, study pressure, low self-esteem, low confidence levels etc. The mocking comments may impact them adversely. • Do not at any cost make personal comments on students. It may aggravate their already existing problems. They are very touchy at this age and stage of their new found selves and may react in unpleasant ways and manners which may undermine your position as teacher.
Opinions • Maintain good relations with students, but at the same time keep considerable gap to respect the student- teacher relationship. • Respect them as individuals. • In order to understand the student and their background, however be mindful to, not to intrude into the privacy of the students, understand and take note of that thin line, where you need to stop. • There is a thin line between helping and intruding into the privacy of another person, do not cross that line. • Understand and know clearly, what information to be shared with the students and what not.Also, know and understand what to discuss in front of the students and what not. • Never encourage physical touch. Especially, in case of opposite genders, it may result in problems. • Accept the apologies of the students, whenever they do so, as their egos are much higher than yours. As they are at leaning phase, it is after huge in-fight within them, that they would have arrived at it. So, value it and put the student on the right path. As such, always keep in mind that you may be in 21st century, but you still are the role model for students, as ‘Guru’ in Gurushishayaparampara, our heritage. They do look up to you, for all their queries and problems and seek solutions. They are not your subordinates who will follow and do as you wish, they need to be allowed their own ways to bring out the best in them with your guidance. They also, are not your enemies, and they should not have the feeling that a particular teacher hates or loves them. Even if having favourites, all the students should be equal for a teacher, so they respect you in complete objectivity. Do not exhibit likes or dislikes. While the student may seek options to please the teacher to get into their good books, the teacher must remain oblivious of it.
Class Management: ‘Teaching is a Performing Art’ 1. Pre-class Preparation a. Know your students: their levels, their backgrounds as far as possible. b. Understand their: Achievements, strengths, weaknesses, medical history, failures, internships, aspirations, skills etc. c. Study the content and prepare the lecture well with examples, case studies, related humor, questions etc. d. Prepare lectures with Text-Audio-Video and more. e. Know the infrastructural issues and remain prepared for alternate mode of instruction.
Guru shishyaparampara still continues after ages, especially in learning classical forms of music and dance. We still have Gurukul system, which is much respected. It is after immense questioning, thorough observation and discussion that the inferences are drawn and conclusions are accepted in this system of education.
f. Rehearse the presentation of the lecture and assess probable question. g. Keep plan B ready (other chapter, other issue to discuss, any activity), in case students don’t want to study or if you need to take an extra lecture etc. h. Think of topic of discussion related to topic. i. Develop mechanisms to take feedback of the lecture. j. Get decently and comfortably dressed, so that the students do not deviate in your lecture from your intellectual being to physical attire or physical attributes. 2. During The Lecture a. Wear the confident looks to look pleasant, happy, active and interested in teaching. b. Settle and greet the whole class. c. Start with a lighter mood to get into the serious stuff gradually. d. Induce ‘energy’ into the class by asking questions and proving your points; and ‘synergy’ by letting them ask questions and solving their queries. e. Keep the class engaged through - eye contact, gestures, aids and tools, humor, pretend and act, solve the queries. f. Understand and tackle the deviating questions, by saying you’ll come back to it and take it up at your convenience. g. Appreciate the ones who ask questions and encourage those who don’t.
h. Follow a structured pattern but break the monotony in between. i. Must sum up the lecture and end on a pleasant note with exercise or assignment if needed. j. How to scold: tell them right away, catch them red handed, call and talk to them separately, give warnings, complain to the higher authority, in grave cases talk to the parents. 3. After/ Beyond The Class Engagement a. Remain available, as you are 21st century teacher, but you can have timings for students’ interaction while, beyond the working hours. b. Make them understand the value of time and let them value your privacy. c. Develop bonding and emotional contact with the students, not only for yourself, but for the entire faculty and the whole ‘Institute’ and the environment as a learning space. d. Use digital space with care, even if they are private spaces, as students keep watch on you and your activities and develop a perception about you. e. Think and share extra and rich range of sources of information as a resource for students to learn from, beyond the curriculum, of current affairs and of their individualistic interests. f. Move always with poise. Always give them the life lessons for being good human beings, believing in the ‘Man Making, Character Building and Nation Building’, espoused by Swamy Vivekananda.
Summary Develop connect, commitment, communication skills, organizational skills and the ability to counsel and support wide range of students and parents. Teaching today is extraordinarily complex and important quality of teacher is no doubt more important than other factors of infrastructural facility and technology for building the characters of individuals and societies. Contemporary teachers are the facilitators and navigators of skills and knowledge for students rather than only the transmitters of knowledge. Today, we need ethical, responsible, intellectual inspiring and mindful teachers for meaningful studentteacher engagement, with deep empathy and compassion, infinite patience and love for learning with abundant energy and sense of fun and wonder.
(The writer, Prof Dr Charu Lata Singh, is Dean, VSJMC, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (VIPS), Delhi. She can be contacted at dean.vsjmc@vips.edu) Courtesy: capitalkhabar.in
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Stars & Planets
IST REVEALS UNPRECEDENTED DETAILS ABOUT SUN The turbulent face of the Sun has revealed an unprecedented detail in the first observations by a newly operational telescope in the US. According to the scientists it will play a pivotal role critical role understanding of our star as well as the space weather in better ways.
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he researcher from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the US said, “Named as Inouye Solar Telescope (IST) in Hawaii, it will enable a new era of solar science. Besides, it will guide the scientists in understanding the Sun and its impacts on our planets”, adding that the activities on the Sun, known as space weather, can affect systems on Earth. They believe that the magnetic eruptions on the Sun can impact air travel, disrupt satellite communications and bring down power grids, causing long-lasting blackouts and disabling technologies such as GPS. The NFS scientists revealed that the latest images showed a pattern of turbulent "boiling" – plasma that covers the entire Sun. On the other hands, the cell-like structures are the signature of violent motions, which often transport heat from the inside of the Sun to its surface.
The President of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Matt Mountain, "On Earth, we can predict if it is going to rain pretty much anywhere in the world very accurately, and space weather just isn't there yet”.
This new telescope provides unprecedented close-ups of the sun’s surface, but ultimately it will measure the sun’s corona – no total solar eclipse required. That hot solar plasma, the researchers explained, rises in the bright centers of "cells," cools, then sinks below the surface in dark lanes in a process known as convection. The NSF Director, France Cordova said, "NSF's Inouye Solar Telescope will be able to map the magnetic fields within the Sun's corona, where solar eruptions occur that can impact life on the Earth”. Cordova also said that the telescope would improve the understanding of what drives space weather, and ultimately help forecasters better predict solar storms. The Sun is our nearest star – a gigantic nuclear reactor that burns about five million tonnes of hydrogen fuel every second. As per the researchers, these radiate into space in every direction and the tiny fraction that hits the Earth makes life possible, the researchers noted.
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The NSF Director, France Cordova said, “NSF’s Inouye Solar Telescope will be able to map the magnetic fields within the Sun’s corona, where solar eruptions occur that can impact life on the Earth”.
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Mountain said that the predictions lagged behind terrestrial weather by 50 years, if not more. “What we need is to grasp the underlying physics behind space weather, and this starts at the Sun, which is what the IST will study over the next decades," he added. The motions of the Sun's plasma constantly twist and tangle solar magnetic fields, the researchers said. The twisted magnetic fields can lead to solar storms that can negatively affect the technology-dependent modern lifestyles. Resolving these tiny magnetic features is central to what makes the Inouye Solar Telescope unique, according to the researchers. The IST can measure and characterize the Sun's magnetic field in more detail than ever seen before, and determine the causes of potentially harmful solar activity, the scientists revealed.
Stars & Planets
RESEARCHERS FIND WAYS TO STUDY A STAR BEYOND SOLAR SYSTEM Using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope in the Netherlands, a team of scientists has observed that the radio waves, which carry the distinct signatures of aurorae, are caused by the interaction between a star’s magnetic field and a planet in orbit around it.
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his is the first time when astronomers have been able to detect and decipher these signals. Radio emission from a star-planet interaction has long been predicted. Discoveries pave the way for a novel and unique way to probe the environment around exoplanets–planets that orbit stars in other solar systems–and to determine their habitability. Remarkably, follow-up observations with the HARPS-N telescope in Spain ruled out the alternate possibility that the interacting companion is another star as opposed to an exoplanet. The breakthrough centered on red dwarfs, which are the most abundant type of star in our Milky Way–but much smaller and cooler than our own Sun. This means for a planet to be habitable, it has to be significantly closer to its star than the Earth is to the Sun. Red dwarfs also have much stronger magnetic fields than the Sun, which means that a habitable planet around a red dwarf is exposed to intense magnetic activity. This can heat the planet and even erode its atmosphere. The radio
Red dwarfs also have much stronger magnetic fields than the Sun, which means that a habitable planet around a red dwarf is exposed to intense magnetic activity. This can heat the planet and even erode its atmosphere.
emissions associated with this process are one of the only tools available to probe the interaction between such planets and their stars. Harish Vedantham, the lead author of the Nature Astronomy study and a Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) staff scientist said, “The motion of the planet through a red dwarf ’s strong magnetic field acts like an electric engine much in the same way a bicycle dynamo works”. It generates a huge current that powers aurorae and radio emission on the star. Joe Callingham, ASTRON postdoctoral fellow and co-author of the Nature Astronomy paper says, “We adapted the knowledge from decades of radio observations of Jupiter to the case of this star”. To be sure, the astronomers had to rule out an alternate possibility–that the interacting bodies are two stars in a close binary system instead of a star and its exoplanet. The team searched for the signature of a companion star using the HARPS-N instrument (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher) on the Italian TelescopioNazionale Galileo on La Palma, Spain. Callingham, a co-author of the ApJL paper says, “We now know that nearly every red dwarf hosts terrestrial planets, so there must be other stars showing similar emission”, adding that they want to know how this impacts their search for another Earth around another star. Pope, part of NYU’s Department of Physics and Center for Data Science and a co-author of the Nature Astronomy paper said, “If we find that most red dwarf planets are blasted by intense stellar winds, this is bad news for their habitability ”. It is also expected that this new method of detecting exoplanets will open up a new way of understanding the habitat of exoplanets.
March 2020
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Defence
4TH DFMC ORGANIZED FOR ARMY OFFICER Altogether 24 Officers of the North West region from Ladakh, Srinagar, Jammu, Shimla, Manali, Pithoragarh, Rishikesh, Bikaner and Jaisalmar attended the 4-day-long Defense Financial Management Course (DFMC) in Chandigarh on February 4, 2020.
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he 4th DFMC was inaugurated by IDAS Principal Controller, Defense Accounts (Border Roads), NavneetVerma, amid gracious presence of the Additional Director General, Border Roads (North-West), Chandigarh, Anil Kumar, who was the chief guest of the event. Besides, officers of the Defense Accounts Department and Border Roads Organization were also present during the occasion. The course was undertaken in collaboration with the DGBR Head Quarters and PCDA (BR) from 2018-19. The main objective of this course is to acquaint the officers in Defense Budgeting, Role of MOD (Fin), Role of IFA (Integrated financial advisor) and basic working knowledge of the finance and accounting procedures. Its scope covers Government Financial System, Budgetary Process and Control Mechanisms from Macro down to the Micro/Command & Unit levels.
The team of faculty comprises senior level IDAS officers, IFAs and Service officers. This course would make the participants understand about the importance of Financial Management in Defence Services. Acquainting them with basic procedures of budget formulation and monitoring mechanisms, familiarizing them with basic organization and role of MOD, MOD(Fin), CGDA, IFA (BR) are among other objectives of this course. The PCDA (BR) informed, the course mainly targets CFAs (Competent financial authorities) and potential CFAs who are supposed to understand and appreciate the overall financial management and take a holistic view. These courses are of immense importance as with delegation of financial powers vast powers have been disseminated to units and formations and the entire policy has to be taken forward in letter and spirit only by the CFAs and IFAs.
SECRETARY REVIEWS INDO-PAK BORDER MANAGEMENT WORK Altogether 24 Officers of the North West region from Ladakh, Srinagar, Jammu, Shimla, Manali, Pithoragarh, Rishikesh, Bikaner and Jaisalmar attended the 4-day-long Defense Financial Management Course (DFMC) in Chandigarh on February 4, 2020.
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oncerned over the recent terrorists attack across the borders, the Secretary, Border Management in the Ministry of Home Affairs, NN Sinha, visited the Indo-Pakistan international border in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district on February 29, 2020. Sinha was accompanied by the chief project manager, CPWD, Pradeep Gupta and other BSF officials. “Briefing about the present situation across the bordering region, the IG BSF Jammu Frontier, N S Jamwal, took the secretary to the international border and discussed various intricacies”, a BSF spokesperson said. “Sinha visited border outposts Panser and Chandwan, besides other important stretches all along the international border and interacted with BSF commanders on the ground,” he added. The BSF commanders briefed the MHA team about various necessities for better domination of the international border as per the requirement. Consequently, the secretary had a detailed interaction with BSF IG, N S Jamwal, and other officials at the BSF headquarters
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in Jammu. Noticeably, the Pakistan Rangers had recently opened fire in a bid to stall border management work by the BSF in Hiranagar sector. A group of three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists had on January 31, 2020, attacked in Nagrota. The attack however brought to the fore chinks in the existing security grid. Deputy General of Police, Dilbag Singh, said the media that the terrorists were suspected to have infiltrated from across the international border in Dayalachak area of Hiranagar sector in Kathua district on the preceding night before reaching Ban toll plaza in Nagrota the next morning where they were eliminated. The DGP added, “It is suspected that they infiltrated from Dayalachak area of Hiranagar sector on Thursday evening, picked up by a Kashmir bound truck (JK03F/1478) and reached Ban toll plaza in Nagrota on Friday morning. They were hiding in a cavity in the truck and were headed towards Srinagar”.
Defence
NUCLEAR WAR MAY RESULTS IN UNBELIEVABLE FOOD LOSSES It may be termed as a more visible impact of human beings destroying attitude than that of their mistakes what we call – ‘man-made climate change by late 21st century’ on the earth.
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n a study conducted by the researchers of Rutgers University, New Brunswick in the Unites States, it has been anticipated that a nuclear war between India and Pakistan could cause the worst food losses to the masses across the world. The study reveals that a limited nuclear war between India and Pakistan may lead to the worst global food losses in modern history. This is the first-of-its-kind study. The study, published in the journal PNAS, found that sudden global cooling from a war using less than 1 percent of nuclear weapons worldwide, along with less precipitation and sunlight, could disrupt food production and trade worldwide for about a decade. This would be more than the impact from man-made climate change by late 21st century, according to the researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick in the US. While the impacts of global warming on agricultural productivity have been studied extensively, the implications of sudden cooling for global crop growth are little understood, the researchers they said. The study co-author, Alan Robock, a professor
at Rutgers University, said, “Our results add to the reasons that nuclear weapons must be eliminated because if they exist, they can be used with tragic consequences for the world”. He added, “As horrible as the direct effects of nuclear weapons would be, more people could die outside the target areas due to famine”. Robock co-authored a recent study published in the journal Science Advances estimating that over 100 million people could die immediately if India and Pakistan wage a nuclear war, followed by global mass starvation. For the latest study, scientists used a scenario of 5 million tonnes of black smoke from massive fires injected into the upper atmosphere that could result from using only 100 nuclear weapons. That would cool the Earth by 1.8 degrees Celsius, and lead to 8 percent lower precipitation and less sunlight for at least five years. Scientists included those climate change scenarios in computer simulations
Robock co-authored a recent study published in the journal Science Advances estimating that over 100 million people could die immediately if India and Pakistan wage a nuclear war, followed by global mass starvation.
March 2020
for four major crops that account for 90 percent of global cereal production in terms of calories. The scientists found that corn calorie production would fall by 13 percent, wheat by 11 percent, rice by 3 percent and soybeans by 17 percent over five years. Total first-year losses of 12 percent would be four times larger than any food shortage in history, such as those caused by historic droughts and volcanic eruptions, the researchers said. Analyses of food trade networks show that domestic reserves and global trade can largely buffer the loss of food production in the first year, they said. However, the researchers noted that multi-year losses would reduce domestic food availability, especially in food-insecure countries. By year five, corn and wheat availability would decrease by 13 percent globally and by more than 20 percent in 71 countries with a total of 1.3 billion people, the study found. Corn production in the US and Canada, representing more than 40 percent of global production would drop by 17.5 percent. Robock said the scenario with 5 million tonnes of smoke was developed more than a decade ago. Almost 16 million tonness of smoke could arise from a nuclear war between India and Pakistan since they now have more and bigger weapons and their potential targets are larger.
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Defence
CHINESE WEAPONS, A BIG THREAT TO INDIA Sir John Tenniel was born in London on February 28, 1820. He was knighted for his artistic achievements in 1893. When he was at the age of 20, Tenniel lost the sight in his right eye due to an accident.
A FIRST COUPLE TO ACHIEVE RANK OF LG IN INDIAN ARMY Sir John Tenniel was born in London on February 28, 1820. He was knighted for his artistic achievements in 1893. When he was at the age of 20, Tenniel lost the sight in his right eye due to an accident.
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ormer dean of Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Major General Madhuri Kanitkar, was on February 29, 2020, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General (LG). Kanitkar became the third woman officer in the Indian Army and first woman paediatrician to achieve the second-highest post in the force. She was posted to Headquarters, Integrated Defense Staff under the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS). She has served in the Indian military for over 37 years. After her promotion, Major General, Madhuri Kanitkar, and her husband Rajiv, who is also a lieutenant general in the India Army, will be the first couple in the armed forces to achieve the rank. Speaking to the media, Kanitkar said, “We have spent only 12 of our 36 years of marriage together because of the tough and challenging life in the armed forces. But it was well worth it. My husband was a huge support and did not let me ever give up”. Important to know that Punita Arora, who was a surgeon viceadmiral and a former 3-star flag officer of the Indian Navy and the Indian Army, was the first woman to hold the post of lieutenant general. Other major mandates of the CDS are to facilitate indigenization of weapons and equipment to the maximum extent. Padmavathy Bandopadhyay was the first from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to become the second woman to don the second-highest title in the India Army. Major General Madhuri Kanitkar has been posted under the Chief of Defense Staff which has a key role in ensuring optimum utilization of allocated budget, ushering in more synergy in procurement, training and operations of the services through joint planning and integration.
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fter witnessing an unpleasant relationship with the United States, Pakistan has found a new way of partnership with the China over the past two decades.
On the other hands, China’s growth in becoming a dominant power in Asia lies in its strategy of evolving the biggest economic and defense partner of Pakistan. With Pakistan increasingly becoming a terror funding state, a part of the blame is on China for making it one. As Beijing continues to sell some of its most powerful weapons, Pakistan is moving closer to becoming a military nightmare for India. In a report covered by The EurAsian Times, it has been highlighted that China has sold most dangerous weapons to Pakistan. The report reveals that the Nuclear Weapons China is accused of offering Pakistan missile components, highly-enriched uranium and warhead designs. “China continues to provide nuclear assistance to Pakistan in its nuclear program amid growing regional conflict with India. This, undoubtedly, is the most dangerous assistance Pakistan has received from China”, the report says. The JF-17 Fighter was built jointly by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC, the JF-17 thunder, called Xiao Long that literally translates into Fierce Dragon, is a premier multirole fighter with active radar air-to-air missiles including air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. Even though it is termed as a “budget aircraft”, JF-17 brings modern capability and ergonomics for its price. It is primarily used to attack important areas like radar stations, command centers, airfields, etc. Both India and Pakistan possess long-range MRLs and are considered key in conventional strategies. Other weapons include: A-100 Multiple Rocket Launcher, Al-Khalid Tank and HQ-16.
Defence
USNI ARTICLE TERMS CHINA A FAST CATCHING NAVAL FORCE A United States-based military forum has revealed China is projected to have the world’s largest navy in the next 10 to 15 years.
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ichael McDevit, a retired US Navy Rear Admiral, in his article written for the United States Naval Institute (USNI), has that the US Navy remains a dominant naval force on the global stage – but China is fast catching up. The Admiral has described China’s current behavior in building up the blue water capability of its navy. He wrote, “It is difficult to appreciate just how fast China has been able to create blue water navy. One way is to compare it to the other great navies of the world”. In the USNI’s latest monthly publication, he has said, “At the pace Beijing is going, it may have the world’s largest naval power within 10 to 15 years”. A senior security official in the Philippines however, noted that China was already projecting naval dominance against smaller maritime nations within the Indo-Pacific region. He also admitted that China’s naval presence in the South China
Sea appeared to be irreversible in recent times. Sources revealed, “China’s Navy, Coast Guard and maritime militia ships are almost all over the South China Sea”. While claimant-states to part of the Spratly Islands – including the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam – are determined to protect their respective occupied outposts in the South China Sea, all their forces combined will have no chance against China. Two USN research and survey ships – USN Victorious (T-AGOS 19) and USN Loyal (T-AGOS 22) – conducted joint operations in the South China Sea, particularly in the international waters located between Panatag Shoal and Hainan province of China, in January 2020. As shared by the USNI, the security official of Filipino has shown its view stating that the Chinese warships are homeported in East Asia.
INDIAN COMPANY TO PRODUCE APACHE-LIKE MILITARY BY 2027 The Aerospace major, Hindustan Aeronautics LtdNSE -5.61 % (HAL), has started ground work to produce a 10 to 12 tonne attack helicopter by 2027. This helicopter would be comparable with some of the best medium-lift military choppers, like: the Apache of the Boeing, globally.
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around 500 helicopters”. “A sum of Rs 9,600 crore will be required for design as well as to produce the prototype of the helicopter”, Madhavan said. He stressed,
Madhavan added, “We are now focusing on how to produce a helicopter in 10 to 12 tonnes category for replacing Mi-17 fleet. It will be an indigenous platform with the potential to manufacture
“In case the department gets approval 2020, this project can be concluded by 2027 and accordingly we will be able to manufacture the first chopper. We are looking at producing at least 500 helicopters of the variant”. The HAL CMD also said, “Like the LCH (Light Combat Helicopter) we developed from the Dhruv platform, a similar variant of 10-12 tonnes category can be produced to make it an Apache equivalent”.
he HAL, Chairman and Managing Director, R Madhavan, said the aim of the mega project is to stop import of more than Rs 4 lakh crore worth of military helicopters for the three services in the coming years. Madhavan highlighted that the HAL has completed the preliminary design of the helicopter and that initial plan is to produce at least 500 units with the first prototype set to be ready by 2023 if the government gives the go ahead to the project this year.
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Cover Story
DONALD TRUMP’S INDIA VISIT INDIA, US REACHES SIGNIFICANT DEALS BEFITTING BOTH COUNTRIES:
DONALD TRUMP
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fter February 2020 visit, the US President, Donald Trump has become the seventh US President to visit India since Dwight D. Eisenhower touched down in 1959. Almost 60 years later, in 2020, President, Trump received a similar red carpet welcome on February 24, 2020 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The two-day of Donald Trump however concluded out of a busy schedule on February 25, 2020. Trump held talks with Indian dignitaries and business leaders on the very last day of his visit and later addressed the media before attending a a state banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Speaking to the media, President Trump, said ties between his country and India has never been as good as they are now. He expressed hope that India and the US could reach a trade deal “that will be of great importance to both countries”, and announced agreements for India to purchase more than $3 billion in advanced US military equipment, including Apache and MH60 Romeo choppers. At 5 pm, Donald Trump took questions at a press conference. He later attended a state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he received a ceremonial welcome this morning. Meanwhile, Trump and Modi called on Pak to ensure that no territory under its control is used to launch terrorist attacks. Both of the countries also shared interest in a united, sovereign, democratic, inclusive, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Both, Trump and Modi, supported an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process that may result in sustainable peace, cessation of violence, elimination of terrorist safe havens and preservation of the gains of the last 18 years. President Trump welcomed India’s role in continuing to provide development and security assistance to help stabilize and provide connectivity in Afghanistan. These two giant leaders also denounced any use of terrorist proxies and strongly condemned cross-
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Cover Story border terrorism in all its forms. They called on Pakistan to ensure that no territory under its control is used to launch terrorist attacks, and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks, including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot. They called for concerted action against all terrorist groups including Al-Qa’ida, ISIS, Jaishe-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Hizb-ul Mujahideen, the Haqqani Network, TTP, D-Company, and all their affiliates. Talking to the Media, Trump, said the Indian prime minister wants his people to have religious freedom. Donald Trump denied talking about the CAA saying that he did not discuss the CAA with PM Narendra Modi, adding that India is a tremendous country. Emphasizing on the defense deal signed between the two countries, Trump said that the country was buying a lot of military hardware from the United States. President Trump said, “I had great meetings with PM Narendra Modi. India and the US signed $3 billion defense deal. We had a great time. This is a tremendous country. I think they like us more than they ever liked us. There is a great relationship between the Prime Minister and myself”.
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Cover Story
INDO-US BILATERAL RELATIONS & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
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In response to India’s criticism of the US intervention in Vietnam, President Lyndon B.
A predominantly Anti-American worldview led India to reject a founding membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
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India rejected the NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) proposed by the world’s leading nuclear powers.
The USA had maintained a studious silence on Pakistan’s repressive policies in East Pakistan. The then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger visited Delhi to make India comply to not support liberation movements in East Pakistan. Indira Gandhi’s intransigence was met with diplomatic muscle-flexing.
India conducted its first nuclear weapon test at Pokhran, and it came as a major jolt to the USA who made plans to upgrade its presence at Diego Garcia, a Britishcontrolled island in the Indian Ocean.
India faced considerable domestic turmoil and entered into a state of Emergency.
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I
ndia and the United States have built strong and strategic bilateral relations and continue to contribute the stability and prosperity of the world over the past decade. If we go back, we see that the first
Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, likened American Imperialism to that of British. Nehru propounded and propagated the Non-Alignment Principle, whereby India refused to join either the capitalistic US or the communist Soviet Union. India’s socialistic economic principles and deep skepticism to the US hegemony resulted in its predilections towards USSR much to the ire of the West. As the ideological Cold War ended after a myriad of international convergences and divergences, India was forced to look West given the paradigm shift in the geopolitics of the world and in Francis Fukuyama’s words “End of History”. Today both India and US are among the most vibrant foreign cohorts and strategic partners.
Indo-US Relations: Historical Perspective • The birth of Indian Republic was accompanied by Pakistan’s occupation of Kashmir • India declined the American offer to accept a seat at the United Nations Security Council and rather pushed for the membership of the People’s Republic of China, which it has immediately recognized as a sovereign nation • India abstained from a US-sponsored resolution, calling for UN’s military involvement in the Korean War, in 1950 • Pakistan officially aligned with the United States via the South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO) and Central Treaty Organization (CEATO) also known as Baghdad Pact, in 1955 • The rogue state of Pakistan became an important ally to the US in the containment of the Soviet Union, giving rise to strategic complications with India. • In the Sino-Indian war of 1962, the US extended help to India against China’s belligerence by sending an American carrier- The Enterprise- to the Bay of Bengal. China, however, had declared unilateral ceasefire the next day.
1977 The Emergency ended and the US immediately eased restrictions it has placed on World Bank loans to India and approved direct economic assistance of $60 million.
1978 US President Jimmy Carter and Indian Prime Minister Desai exchanged visits to each other’s nations.
Trade between India and the US grew dramatically and is flourishing today.
India’s Relevance for USA • Geographically, it sits between the two most immediate problematic regions for U.S. national interests. The arc of instability that begins in North Africa goes through the Middle East, and proceeds to Pakistan and Afghanistan ends at India’s western border • The Indian landmass juts into the ocean that bears its name. With the rise of Asian economies, the Indian Ocean is home to critical global lines of communication,
The
1980S
1988
Large amounts of military aid were pumped into Pakistan by the USA in order to fight a proxy against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. This created significant repercussions in the internal security of India as the Pakistani mujahedeen fighters infiltrated into Kashmir as militants.
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi made a historic visit to China which led to normalization of relations between India and China.
with perhaps 50 percent of world container products and up to 70 percent of ship-borne oil and petroleum traffic transiting through its waters • India’s growing national capabilities give it ever greater tools to pursue its national interests to the benefit of the United States. India has the world’s third-largest Army, fourth-largest Air Force, and fifth largest Navy. All three of these services are modernizing, and the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy have world-class technical resources, and its Army is seeking more of them
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1990 India hesitatingly provided a brief logistical support for American military operations in the Gulf War.
Post
1991 The Soviet Union disintegrated into independent nations and the United States emerged as the single largest hegemon, making the world unipolar.
• India is an important U.S. partner in international efforts to prevent the further spread of weapons of mass destruction • India’s position against radicalism and terrorism corresponds with that of the United States • I n d i a ’ s E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g a n d Western-oriented elite and middle classes comfortably partner with their counterparts in U.S. firms and institutions, including more than 2.8 million Indian Americans. The U.S. higher education system is an incubator of future collaboration, with more than 100,000 Indian students in American universities • India-USA cooperation is critical to global action against climate change • India is genuinely committed to a world order based on multilateral institutions and cooperation and the evolution of
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Cover Story accepted international norms leading to accepted international law • Indian culture and diplomacy have generated goodwill in its extended neighborhood. New Delhi has positive relations with critical states in the Middle East, in Central Asia, in Southeast Asia, and with important middle powers such as Brazil, South Africa, and Japan—all of the strategic value to the United States • Indian democracy has prospered despite endemic poverty; extraordinary ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity; and foreign and internal conflicts.
USA’s Relevance to India • USA remains the critical stabilizing force in Asia through its military and diplomatic power projection and commitments to the region. • The twentieth century bore witness to multigenerational U.S. efforts to prevent the emergence of any hostile hegemon on the Eurasian landmass, a function that the United States continues to fulfil today with the help of its Asian partners. • China has chosen episodically to ignore global nonproliferation norms, a pattern of behaviour that the United States has assiduously sought to curtail. Though no nation can a priori prevent future Chinese proliferation activities, only a U.S.-led international effort has any chance of success. • India will be better able to protect its national interests in Pakistan and Afghanistan in coordination with the United States. • The United States will continue to be important for India’s economic success. India’s economy has been built around unleashing domestic consumption rather than relying on exports. • The United States has also remained one of the top sources of foreign direct investment in India, bringing important managerial expertise, capital, and technology with it to the dynamic Indian market. • The United States has a long-term commitment to maintain security and freedom of navigation on the high seas, something critical to India as a net energy importer. • Washington retains unparalleled power and influence in global governance institutions.
efforts. Since July 18, 2005, the deal lifts a three-decade U.S. moratorium on nuclear trade with India. It provides U.S. assistance to India’s civilian nuclear energy program and expands India-USA cooperation in energy and satellite technology.
Mutual Agreement 1. India agrees to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog group, access to its civilian nuclear program. By March 2006, India promised to place fourteen of its twenty-two power reactors under IAEA safeguards permanently. 2. India commits to signing an Additional Protocol (PDF)-which allows more intrusive IAEA inspections of its civilian facilities. 3. India agrees to continue its moratorium on nuclear weapons testing. 4. India commits to strengthening the security of its nuclear arsenals. 5. India works toward negotiating a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) with the United States banning the production of fissile material for weapons purposes. India agrees to prevent the spread of enrichment and reprocessing technologies to states that don’t possess them and to support international nonproliferation efforts
An approval by the nuclear suppliers group lifting the ban on India has also cleared the way for other countries to make nuclear fuel and technology sales to India.
Major developments after bilateral deal 1. The United States has lifted most of the sanctions against the use of high
Nuclear deal between this two giant country is being seen as a watershed in India-USA relations and introduces a new aspect to international nonproliferation efforts
Strategic Partnership Significant features of the strategic partnership between India and US are as follows:
Nuclear Deal Nuclear deal between this two giant country is being seen as a watershed in India-USA relations and introduces a new aspect to international nonproliferation
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6. US companies will be allowed to build nuclear reactors in India and provide nuclear fuel for its civilian energy program
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Cover Story Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 • The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Bill, 2010 fixes liability for nuclear damage and specifies procedures for compensating victims. • It fixes no-fault liability on operators and gives them a right of recourse against certain persons. • Most of the operators (except the central government) need to take insurance or provide financial security to cover their liability. • For facilities owned by the government, the entire liability up to 300 million SDR will be borne by the government. 2.
3. 4.
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technology that it had imposed on India since 1974. It has become India’s largest trading partner in goods and services, and the two sides have set an ambitious goal of half a trillion dollars for future trade. Cooperation on counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing has expanded rapidly over the last decade. In refusing to extend the civil nuclear initiative to Islamabad, Washington removed the hyphen in its relations with Delhi and Islamabad. While traditional differences between Delhi and Washington on global issues have endured, the two sides are now avoiding confrontation in multilateral dealing with trade and climate change.
Strategic Partnership and Its Role in Dealing with Controversial Issues The U.S. Congress in March 2006 also underwent an agreement and formally made it into legislation (Hyde Act) after the committee level deliberations and conciliations in terms of words by both the House and the Senate. Consequently, on August 1, 2007, the U.S. and Indian negotiators concluded a separate technical agreement under section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act. The Act spells out precise terms & conditions, responsibilities, obligations and promises to be undertaken by both the parties. The Hyde Act had imposed restrictions on how India could utilize U.S. nuclear supplies, the implementation of the agreement has received a setback because of the opposition by the Communist parties that supported India’s UPA government from outside.
and financing of infrastructure. • Meanwhile, US firms will be leading partners in developing Allahabad, Ajmer and Vishakhapatnam as Smart Cities.
Defense Cooperation
As such, the during the course of the discussions in the Contact Group, using case law and legislative history, the Indian side presented its position concerning the compatibility of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC).
Defense relationship has emerged as a major pillar of India-USA strategic partnership with the signing of ‘New Framework for India-U.S. Defense Relations’ in 2005 and the resulting intensification in defense trade, joint exercises, personnel exchanges, collaboration and cooperation in maritime security and counter-piracy, and exchanges between each of the three services. India participated in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July-August 2016. The agreements signed during the past one year include: Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Association (LEMOA), Fuel Exchange Agreement, Technical Agreement (TA) on information sharing on White (merchant) Shipping and Information Exchange Annex (IEA) on Aircraft Carrier Technologies.
Trade Relations
Energy and Climate Change
• Over 50 bilateral dialogue mechanisms between the two governments took place as of now. • Trade in goods and services increased from $104 billion in 2014 to $114 billion in 2016. • Both countries have made a commitment to facilitate actions necessary for increasing the bilateral trade to $500 billion. • In June 2016, Indian PM and US President pledged to explore new opportunities to break down barriers to the movement of goods and services and support deeper integration into global supply chains. • The U.S. is the fifth largest source of foreign direct investments into India. • Indian corporations having investments in the U.S. include Reliance Industries Limited, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, Essar America, Piramal, Mahindra, Lupin, Sun Pharma and others. • Several dialogue mechanisms to strengthen bilateral engagement on economic and trade issues, including a Ministerial Level Economic and Financial Partnership and a Ministerial Trade Policy Forum. • India and the US have set up a bilateral Investment Initiative in 2014, with a special focus on facilitating FDI, portfolio investment, capital market development
The India-USA Energy Dialogue was launched in May 2005 to promote trade and investment in the energy sector. As such, there are six working groups in oil and gas, coal, power and energy efficiency, new technologies and renewable energy, civil nuclear co-operation and sustainable development under the Energy Dialogue.
Indian corporations having investments in the U.S. include Reliance Industries Limited, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, Essar America, Piramal, Mahindra, Lupin, Sun Pharma and others
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Cooperation in Education India is learning from the U.S. experience in community colleges in order to meet our demands for skill-development. It has been agreed to collaborate with U.S. institutions in the area of Technology Enabled Learning and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to extend the reach of education in India. Under the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) launched by India, up to 1000 American academics will be invited and hosted each year to teach in Indian universities at their convenience. The two sides are also collaborating to establish a new Indian Institute of Technology in Ahmedabad.
People to People Contacts The 3.5-million-plus strong Indian American community is an important ethnic group in the U.S., accounting for about 1% of the total population in the country. Indian American community includes a large number of professionals, business entrepreneurs and educationalists with increasing influence in the society. The two countries have been working together to facilitate travel of their respective citizens. However, an MOU was signed in June 2016 to facilitate India’s joining of the Global Entry Program.
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Special Report
DEVELOPMENT STILL AWAY FROM
RIOT-PRONE
NORTH-EAST DELHI By Sidharth Mishra
The poorest lots living across the northernmost part of East Delhi played vital
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he foremost scene that catches massive attention on entering the Delhi NCR is the mount garbage at the MukarbaChowk and the nearby areas. Once a busy crossroad leading to jams, movement here is now relatively free thanks to the grade separators built during the Commonwealth Games. On taking a left turn from MukarbaChowk and driving down the road, one approaches the sleekly built Signature Bridge. Built around eight years ago and made operational only two years ago, the Signature Bridge is the gateway to north-east Delhi, the epicentre of the recent Hindu-Muslim conflagration. Parallel to the Signature Bridge still exists the Old Wazirabad Bridge, and the road leading into this portion of the sprawling trans-Yamuna area is called the Wazirabad Road. This arterial road today, largely thanks to the development agenda pursued by the Sheila Dikshit government, is six-lane replete with flyovers though certain bottlenecks still exist. As one takes the road from the bridge to the Uttar Pradesh border near Hindon Air Terminal, a picture of skewed development is writ large. Unlike such bridges in the other global cities, the Signature Bridge of Delhi
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takes the traveller to city’s underbelly. During the 10-km long drive on the road, except for Yamuna Vihar, it’s difficult to locate any planned colony. The densely populated area has ghetto-like habitations either in the urbanized villages or the unauthorized colonies built on the agriculture holdings belonging to these villages. Thus the now (in) famous localities of Chandbagh, Khajuri, Ghonda, Bhajanpura, Jaffarabad, Shiv Vihar and Ashok Nagar among others have no umbilical cord attached to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the body responsible for the development of the city. The rise of the area can be traced to the beginning of the 1980s, when governance started to fail the north Indian states, particularly those of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Migration started from these states to the national capital in search of hearth and home. Though trans-Yamuna became the new destination for those looking homes, the relatively wealthier population preferred residences in close proximity of the old business hub of Shahdra. The middle class chose to make home further south in the DDA townships of Indraprastha Extension (Patparganj) and MayurVihar. It was the poorest of the lot who found home in the
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roles in fueling the unplanned notorious neighborhood of north-east Delhi. northernmost part of east Delhi; thus the rise of the unplanned notorious neighbourhood of north-east Delhi. Development for long remained a concept alien to the residents here as the more pressing question was of survival. The rise of these settlements was also spurred by the dynamics of vote bank politics patronized by then Delhi Congress strongman HarKishanLalBhagat. Most of the habitations here have been sired by Bhagat or his acolytes like Rambabu Sharma, another prominent Delhi Congress leader. Lack of development, employment and education breed anger that ultimately bursts in various forms – including communal conflagrations, burning down of shops, houses and worse, schools. This is not the first time that north-east Delhi witnessed communal riots. Communal tension always prevailed in these areas and they turned violent at times, like the 1992 flare-up following the demolition of Babri Masjid. The matter was not allowed to go out of the hands as then existed a more decisive Delhi Police leadership, which did not work only to address the concerns of the political leadership.
The 1992 flare-up was not an isolated incident. The Ram Janmabhoomi movement had good influence in the area and during the 1991 LokSabhapolls, it saw the mobilisation of Hindu votes in favour of BJP candidate Baikunthlal Sharma Prem, who won the East Delhi seat. A Vishwa Hindu Parishad functionary, Sharma retained the seat in 1996 and thereafter it remained with the BJP till 2004, when then chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s son SandeepDikshit was elected. Post delimitation in 2009, a new parliamentary seat was created — North-East Delhi, which had a large Muslim population. Though it was won by the Congress in 2009, in 2014 and 2019 it again went to the BJP. In fact, in the just concluded assembly elections, of the eight seats won by the BJP from across the city, three are from north-east Delhi and another three from the neighbouring east Delhi parliamentary constituencies. The last assembly elections also saw a complete collapse of the Congress party machinery in the area. With known faces from the minority community like ChaudharyMateen Ahmed and Hasan Ahmed no further enjoying electoral legitimacy, there was none to provide counsel for patience and peace in the face of provocation on the issue of Citizenship Amendment Act. The AamAadmi Party (AAP) may have usurped the Congress votes lock, stock and barrel in these areas, but it has failed to create a leadership infrastructure among the minority community.
The AAP councilor, Tahir Hussain, has become the face of the riot and the leadership was forced to suspend him.
The AAP councilor, Tahir Hussain, has become the face of the riot and the leadership was forced to suspend him. The absence of any initiative by the newly elected government to arrest the raging riots made the minority community as well as the majority community pay a very heavy price for the lure of the supply of free power and water to these ghettos, where milling crowd live. The riots have negated the recent definition of development in terms of B-S-P that is Bijli (power), Sadak (roads) and Paani (water).
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North-East Delhi has all the three elements in plenty but still savagery ruled the area. Is governance just about sloganeering and winning elections or also providing public safety. It’s a question which for long has remained unanswered especially in matters of governance of Delhi.
(The writer is a senior journalist and political analyst. Views are personal)
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Special Report
UNION STEPS UP TO COPE-UP NOVEL CORONA VIRUS
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rime Minister, Narendra Modi, has on March 3, 2020 extensively reviewed the preparedness on the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. “The concerned ministries & states are working together to ensure prompt medical attention including screening people arriving in India and other activities. There is no need to panic. We need to work together, take small yet important measures to protect ourselves”, Prime Minister said. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to all private satellite news TV channels and all private FM radio channels regarding the directives issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Coronavirus. This is basically meant to reach out to people across the country. In order to address the issues related to the drug security in the country, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Eshwara Reddy, Joint Drugs Controller and Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). This step was taken after Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China. The committee, in its report, has mentioned that the present stock-inhand of the APIs may be sufficient for 2 to 3 months to manufacture formulations and also given certain recommendations. The committee further mentioned that there is no need to panic so far as drug security is concerned.
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Based on the recommendations of the Committee, the department has issued necessary instructions to National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and State Governments to ensure adequate supply of APIs and formulations at affordable prices in the market and to prevent blackmarketing, illegal hoarding, creating artificial shortages in the country. NPPA has also written to Chief Secretaries of States with copies to Principal Secretaries Health and State Drug Controllers requesting them to closely monitor the production and availability of APIs and formulations to prevent the black marketing and hoarding in their States and UTs as well as to ensure that there is no violation of provisions of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 with regard to compliance of ceiling prices/ permissible increase in prices of scheduled/ non-scheduled formulations respectively. In this regard, Department of
Pharmaceuticals has written to DGFT to restrict exports of 13 API and formulations made using these APIs. These APIs are primarily made in Hubei province of China. As per the latest available information, most of the Chinese companies manufacturing pharmaceutical ingredients (excluding those in Hubei province) have now resumed operations partially and expected to resume fully by end of March. There are no restrictions on the export of APIs from China. The Chinese companies are willing to export to India, however logistics sector has not yet resumed operations fully. It is observed from Port offices of CDSCO that APIs are being imported from China. As per the information received from port offices of CDSCO, 56 consignments of APIs are imported during 26th and 27th Feb 2020. Out of 56, 40 consignments are from China and rests are from countries other than China.
“The concerned ministries & states are working together to ensure prompt medical attention including screening people arriving in India and other activities. There is no need to panic. We need to work together, take small yet important measures to protect ourselves”
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Special Report
INDIA WITNESSES TWO DEATHS OF CORONA VIRUS A
s the pandemic continued to spread in India, the country has recorded its second coronavirus disease (Covid-19) fatality till March 13, 2020. Besides, seven more people were found sick of the disease forcing more states to order restrictions on businesses, educational institutions and public gathering even as authorities faced new challenges in keeping people from potentially infecting others. The latest victim was identified as a 68-year-old woman who is believed to have been infected by the coronavirus (Sars-Cov-2) after being in close contact with her son, who had travelled to Switzerland and Italy last month. The two were hospitalized at Ram Manohar Lohia on March 7, 2020. “She was a known case of diabetes and hypertension. Her condition worsened on March 9, 2020 with development of pneumonia and she was shifted to intensive care unit. Due to comorbid conditions, she died on March 13 at RML Hospital,” said a statement by the Union health ministry. On Thursday, a 76-year-old man from Kalburgi, Karnataka, was confirmed as the first Covid-19 fatality. Both victims fit trends in other parts of the world that suggest the disease is most dangerous for people who are above the age of 60 or suffer from existing diseases. The second death took place on a day when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Europe as the new epicenter of the pandemic, confirming the hotbed had shifted from China where the virus is believed to have originated late last year. The total number of fatalities worldwide crossed the 5,000-mark with nearly 140,000 people sickened across 117 countries. In India, at least four more states ordered schools and colleges to shut, cinemas halls closed and large public gatherings banned as the total number of cases rose to 82. New cases were reported from Maharashtra (3), Kerala (2), Karnataka (1) and Delhi (1). These measures are in addition to an unprecedented embargo on the entry of foreign tourists announced earlier this month and officials believe more steps, which could disrupt how people live, work and commute, are in the offing.
The latest victim was identified as a 68-year-old woman who is believed to have been infected by the coronavirus (Sars-Cov-2) after being in close contact with her son, who had travelled to Switzerland and Italy last month. In what could undermine some of these efforts, hundreds of “highrisk” individuals suspected to have been infected have defied officials’ directions to admit themselves in the hospital or remain isolated in their homes. “There are around 420 people in Delhi who were categorized as high-risk and were advised to get tested and remain in hospital isolation and refused to do so. Most agreed to stay in homequarantine, but there too they put other members of the family at risk. The state Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) has now prepared a list of these uncooperative people and shared it with the respective district deputy commissioners. They can now take action under the epidemic act,” said an officer from Delhi’s integrated disease surveillance program (IDSP) cell. Central government and state governments have invoked the epidemic diseases act, which gives authorities the legal right to forcibly put someone in quarantine. Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Punjab – officials have sounded an alert for multiple high-risk patients who have gone missing from hospitals.
March 2020
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Special Story
EMERGING ERA OF ‘NATIVE ADVERTISEMENT’ Rapid changes in modern technology and the way banner advertising is being competed with other technologies like video, in-image Ad Platform, it has developed the concept of ‘Native Ad’ strongly.
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apid changes in modern technology and the way banner advertising is being competed with other technologies like video, in-image Ad Platform, it has developed the concept of ‘Native Ad’ strongly. Besides, the use of Ad-Blocker (also termed as Ad Blocker) has increased firmly, creating safe passage for the establishment of ‘Native Advertising’. Native ads are shown along with the main content. This does not bother the user directly by looking at the traditional advertisement, but with such a native advertisement, audience engaged more. Actually, native advertising is the use of paid ads that match the look, feel and function of the media format in which they appear. Normally, the Native Ads are found in social media feeds or in accordance with the content on a web page. Unlike Display Ads or Banner Ads, the Native Ads do not appear like an ‘Advertisement’. Instead, it looks like a well-framed or an informative story. If we throw light on the audience or the viewer’s choice, the high pace and growing demands of the ‘Native Advertisements’ have caught the attention of a large chunk of marketer in the world.
The days are not so far when the concept of ‘Native Advertisement’ will dominate the market. Its high marketing pace, which often paves the way of penetrating the audience taste and views, would definitely open safe passage for the advertisers. As suchpossibilities of creating a fresh revolution, in the area of marketing and advertisement, cannot be ruled out.
The key to Native Advertising is that it is nondisruptive and exposes the reader to advertising content without sticking out like a sore thumb.
Nevertheless, the difference between native advertisements and advertorials is confusing to different industry professionals. Take a look at the main differences between these two popular strategies and how you can maximize your impact with both.
Advertorial The easiest way to describe this type of advertisement is to think of it like an infomercial.This style of advertising became popular in the mid-1940s. While in 1960s, advertorials were considered as a common practice in the world of advertisement. Although advertorials are used in multiple media outlets, but print is the common and popular.When we are going to talk about Native Advertisement, so commonly, the new form of advertorials are called native advertising.
Native Advertising Native Advertising is the even modern, gentler form of an advertorial.The user experience is awesome with native advertisement and this is main difference between Native & Advertorial. Native Advertising is meant to make the readers feel that they are gaining some valuable knowledge. They were not meant to make the reader feel that they had to buy at the end of the article. The calls-to-action are subtle and this affects unconscious mind indirectly.
Advertorial vs. Native Advertising Advertising through content is probably one of the most difficult
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new trends to continue. In 2013, Native Advertising gained momentum in the marketing world.
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Actually, the content is more focused on helping
Special Story
According to IAB Europe, native ads can receive a CTR up to 0.3%, whereas eMarketer found it to be 0.8%. Clearly, there’s a vast difference, but it is very clear that native advertising is far more effective than other forms of display advertising.
the audience, rather than selling something directly. In some context, we can say that Native Advertisement often creates an emotional place of your brand in Audience’s Mind. It is popular, as such advertising is placed alongside content. No dedicated space like banner ads etc.
within ad containers, so they are less disruptive, and people are less willing to ignore them. 3. Two-thirds of original digital video (ODV) advertisers have explored native advertising
Both advertorials and native advertising have their place. Advertorials are good for specific situations where you know the audience is expecting a sales pitch.
When we talk about the placements of Native Advertisement in details, we find that it mainly considers In-feed/In-content Native Ads, In-feed Product Ads, In-feed Social Media Ads, Search Ads, Content Recommendation Ads, Branded Content, In-ad (IAB Standard) with Native Element Units & Mobile Native Ads.
However, if you’re introducing a new product or service, or just want to increase your brand awareness, native advertising is a more sensible approach.
Simultaneously, implementation of Native Advertisement is more important. It includes 4 parts mainly i.e. Design, Location, Ad Behavior & Disclosure.
Important Points
From designing point of views, an advertisement normally looks like the part of website.
What’s Right for You?
Brands and publishers prefer native advertising for the following reasons: 1. Native ads were seen 53% more than display ads. 2. Since native advertisements gel well
According to IAB Europe, native ads can receive a CTR up to 0.3%, whereas eMarketer found it to be 0.8%. Clearly, there’s a vast difference, but it is very clear
March 2020
that native advertising is far more effective than other forms of display advertising. Content has become a main part of our lives. We devour news, articles, tv shows, pics and social posts. On an average everyone is spending approx. 10 hours and consuming media in different formats. If we are in the field of Native Advertising, then we have to remember that we should not sacrifice Platform UX. Simultaneously, Harness the power of retargeting, Prioritizing Mobile, Striving for relevancy is important, but Creating Content that Helps is more important than anything. Actually, Native advertisements also have the potential to increase conversions. A study by Sharethrough found that native ads generate an 18% higher lift in purchase intent than display ads. Definitely, all these points are considerable for Native Advertisement. In terms of impact, visibility & durability Native ads are well suited for modern Era. In short, they’re ads that fit in.
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Special Story
DAUGHTER PERFORMS FATHER’S LAST RITES AFTER APPEARING IN TENTH BOARD
16-year-old girl have once again broughtfore the inner strength of a helpless woman
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t may be termed as ‘Taboo” by the Hindu fanatics, but the steps of a 16-year-old girl have once again brought-fore the inner strength of a helpless woman. The girl not only resolved to fulfill her father's aspirations, instead she also pursued her duties and responsibilities, what majorities of Hindu believe to be the duty of a son. Breaking all social norms and traditional boundaries, this 16-year-old girl performed ‘mukhagni’ and other funeral rituals of her father. She chose to appear in board examination, before carrying father’s dead body on her shoulder to the crematorium ground.
The girl identified as Kiran Sahu, the eldest among the three daughters of Kumar Sahu (55), a resident of Amadi Nagar Panchayat under Dhamtari district of Madhya Pradesh. Her father had died in a road accident hours before she would go to appear in her tenth board examination on March 3, 2020.Inspired and aspired with her father’s last wish for her, she decided to appear in the tenth board examination first. However, the girl carried her father’s dead body, on her shoulder, to the crematorium ground only after she returned from examination.
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The girl not only resolved to fulfill her father’s aspirations, instead she also pursued her duties and responsibilities, what majorities of Hindu believe to be the duty of a son. Breaking all social norms and traditional boundaries, this 16-year-old girl performed ‘mukhagni’ and other funeral rituals of her father.
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Further, she also performed the last rites of her father. The 55 – year – old Kumar Sahu along with his only son, RohitSahu, had received serious injuries after he was hit by a speedy vehicle near Aamadi Nagar Panchayat office, at Dhamtari in Madhya Pradesh on March 2, 2020. Soon after the incident came into notice, the local people took him to the nearest hospital and informed his family in this regard. Even when the man was taking his last breath, he wished his daughter, Kiran, who was an examinee in the ongoing tenth board examination, not to quit her examination in any situation. As it was Sahu’s last wish for his daughter,Kiran, the 16-year- old girl resolved to appear in the examination. Despite knowing the facts about her father’s death and brother's serious condition, Kiran attended the tenth board examination in the morning of March 3, 2020. It was her Hindi subject examination she attended the funeral of her father. As their only brother, Rohit, was serious all the three daughters, together, carried their father’s dead body and lit-up unanimously. Entire incident has however created a kind of sensitivity among the masses.
Curiosity
In India, notes are printed in four presses. The notes are printed in Nashik in Maharashtra and Dewas Press in Madhya Pradesh.
WHY RBI CAN’T MAKE EVERY CITIZEN OF INDIA A MILLIONAIRE BY PRINTING MANY NOTES?
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his question must have popped in your mind too as when the government has to print the notes, then why does it not make the countrymen millionaires by printing a lot of them? When everyone becomes a millionaire, poverty will automatically go away from the country. Perhaps you must have thought so, but if the government starts printing a lot of notes, the rich will also become poor. Economists say that no country can print a note of its own accord. Rules and regulations have been made for printing notes. If a lot of notes start appearing in the country, then suddenly all the people will have a lot more money and their requirements will also increase. With this, inflation will reach the seventh sky.
Now, you must be wondering as to how RBI decides the quantity of notes to print. It is decided according to the government of that country, central bank, GDP, fiscal deficit and growth rate. In our country, the Reserve Bank decides when and how many notes to print. Printing of notes is decided on the basis of minimum reserve system. This system has been in force in India since 1957. According to this, RBI has the right to keep assets worth at least Rs 200 crores in RBI funds at all times. After possessing so much property, RBI can print notes according to need with the consent of the government.
Where are notes printed in India? In India, notes are printed in four presses. The notes are printed in Nashik in Maharashtra and Dewas Press in Madhya Pradesh. Note printing is done here under the supervision of the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited. Apart from these, two other presses are located in Mysore, Karnataka and Salboni in West Bengal. Owned by RBI Note Printing Private Limited, note printing is done here. Apart from this, minting is done in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Noida.
What will happen if we print a note of our own free will? Many such cases have been reported. There are some countries that made the mistake of printing more notes than the rules, due to which they are suffering till date. Zimbabwe based in South Africa also made a mistake by printing many notes at one time. Due to this, the value of the currency fell so much that people had to carry bags full of notes to buy basic things like bread and eggs. The value of one US dollar had become equal to 25 million Zimbabwe dollars due to the large printing of the notes. A similar situation happened in the South American country of Venezuela. The central bank of Venezuela printed a lot of notes to handle the economy. Due to this, inflation started increasing every 24 hours, that is, the prices of food and drink were doubled every day. Everyday goods stopped in the market. Here people have to spend millions of notes to buy one liter of milk and eggs. Last year, inflation has increased to 10 million percent. So now you must have understood why the RBI does not print a lot of notes, because if it does so, the condition of India will also be like these countries in mind.
Where do note printing paper and ink come from? There is a security paper mill run by the government in Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh. From here, special currency paper used for making notes for all 4 presses of India is supplied. Apart from this, a large amount of these papers are also imported from other countries. Offset ink is manufactured in Banknote Press in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh for printing notes. Whereas the embossed printing is seen on the note, its ink is made in the unit Sikpa (SICPA) of the Swiss firm based in Sikkim.
How much does it cost to print 200, 500 and 2000 rupees? RBI prints all currency notes except one rupee note. In its annual report, the RBI said that it costs Rs 2.93 to print a 200 rupee note. At the same time, the printing cost of Rs 500 sits at Rs 2.94 and Rs 2000 costs Rs 3.54.
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Beauty & Wellness he goodness of rose petals mixed with water rose water is just this, if we simply look this way. But did you know that it is the most versatile product on this planet? It is something which you can use daily without having any side effects. All of us have at least one skin problem, be it uneven skin tone, dark circles, spots, acne, blemishes, etc. Even if you don’t fall into this category, you still need products for skin maintenance. Pollution, dust, seasonal changes are sometimes harsh on our skin. Many of us have even tried the expensive so-called organic products. Natural rose water is present nearly in every home; still, we don’t use it because many are not aware of its versatility. But many of you have different products for different skin problems -one for chapped lips, one for acne, one for dark circles, and one for even skin tone, what if you can replace all the products with just one single product. How? Scroll down to know the same-
Pure Rose Water for Lips How many times have you tried expensive lip balms? Everyone wants pink and moisturized lips. You can get that with just pure rose water. All you have to do is dip cotton in rose water and dab it on your lips. You will get pink lips just like petals of a rose. Ensure your lips are clean before applying rose water on it. Apply it before going to bed, after removing makeup, or in the morning. You can even mix it Rose water is in your lip balm.
present nearly in every home. Many of you have different products for different skin problems like chapped lips, acne, dark circles and more. You can replace all the products with just one single product. How?
Natural Rose Water for Skin Many of you may know different ways of using rose water. You can just simply spray it on your face, no matter where you are, you will get refreshed skin with just one spray. Many of you complain about uneven skin tone, for that dip cotton in rose water and apply all over your skin (under eyes, forehead, near the nose, etc.). You will get assured results if you do this every night before going to bed. Especially, if you are wearing makeup, apply this after removing it. It will avoid any damage to your skin which may occur after makeup.
Ditch Your Daily Soap Bring some stuff from your kitchen- gram flour, curd, lemon, and mix rose water in it. Use this mixture instead of soap. People with oily skin will get instant relief. People with dry skin can skip the lemon and add honey instead. You can use this mixture twice or thrice in a week. You will get relief from irritation, rashes if any on your skin. Men can use rose water after shaving as it will heal cuts, rashes, and smoothen out your skin.
Natural rose water is present nearly in every home; still, we don’t use it because many are not aware of its versatility
Natural Rose Water for Hair You may have never thought that natural rose water could be used this way. Give it a try and you will love it. Rosewater is also good for the scalp. It can help in case you have dandruff. It has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can prove to be helpful in the case of psoriasis. Though there is no proper research on this therapy there is no harm in giving it a try.
Fragrance Nothing smells as soothing as rose water, no matter what collection of perfume you have, it can beat expensive branded perfumes. The smell of steam distilled rose water is mild i.e. someone who is allergic to artificial fragrance can sprinkle rose water instead.
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Beauty & Wellness
BEAUTY TIPS
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ho does not care about his or her beauty? A woman is known to be more conscious about her beauty than a man. However, that huge difference means nothing because beauty tips offered help both sexes to enhance their looks. If you are basic enough, nothing will escape your attention as far as beauty is concerned. One of the things to know is that the food you eat contributes a lot to your beauty.
Choose Your Food Wisely When dieting to improve your beauty, you will have to make very wise choices because not every food suits that. There are foods that will end up making your skin harder than soft and you should avoid them at all cost. Be sure to choose foods that will work positively in impacting your beauty. Have it in mind that beauty is not only one part of the body but almost every part that is visible. This includes facial features like eyes and lips which help create the very first impression.
ALL YOU MUST KNOW
Cushion Hair from Fading Out Deep-condition your hair for at least one time every month and it’s among the beauty tips many people overlook. If that is ignored, your hair will start fading out and make you appear like a 70-year old yet you are in your 20s or 30s. The treatment will lock in color of your hair and you will never experience fading. If you have locks , this will be a good treatment and should be complemented by something like Paleo diet. All these beauty tips should work to your advantage if you are serious on enhancing your looks.
Use Sunscreen Daily For all the beauty tips you will come across, they encourage one to concentrate in the whole body when taking beauty to the next level. Whether there is sunshine or its raining, you should have your sunscreen worn to protect the skin from dangerous ultraviolet rays. They are even worse when it’s cloudy since these rays are known to penetrate very easily through the clouds. How many people consider elbows to be a sign of beauty? Very few and they end up ignoring them when dealing with other parts.
Blot Out Surplus Oil From today, be aware that elbows are key part of your beauty and will demand similar treatment accorded to the eyes, lips and other body parts. Applying oil makes skin soft and moisturized but you should have that regulated. Applying excess oil on your skin is not good and you should blot it away. Too much of the oil will make layering of the skin which is not friendly as far as beauty is concerned.
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Eco-System
STRANGE ANIMALS OF PRE-HISTORIC ERA
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f studies and researches are to be believed, majorities of amazing creatures like mastodons, giant ground sloths, saber-toothed cats and even dire wolves have sadly gone extinct since the last ice age ended about 11,700 years ago. It does not mean that one cannot see these prehistoric creatures now. Still there are myriads of wildlife species that predate recorded history and these exist in the same forms as their ancestors existed and roamed during those days. A few of these animals can only be found in zoos and protected nature preserves because their populations are starting to fall, or they are already endangered. Others can still be found in the wild — and maybe even in your own backyard. Few such animals are as follows
GHARIAL
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rocodiles, caimans and alligators are ancient species, and they look the part. But one species of crocodilian — the gharial, sometimes called a gavial — beats them all in the prehistoric-looking beauty contest. Gharials have long, narrow, sword-like mouths full of buzzy teeth. Males develop a huge bulbous nose at the end of their snout, making them look rather comical. Gharials in some form or another have been around for tens of millions of years, but the modern gharial is the last remaining species of this lineage. Alas, it too is heading towards extinction, with fewer than 200 individual reproducing gharials left in the wilds of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The IUCN has listed it as a “critically endangered” species.
KOMODO DRAGON
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ne can find Komodo dragons in Indonesia even today, but that might not be where these iconic lizards came from originally. Scientists recently unearthed a series of Komodo dragon fossils in eastern Australia dating back as far as four million years ago. Such gigantic lizards can weigh as much (or more) than a human. Moreover, if one still feels brave, he or she can see Komodo dragons in Komodo National park under necessary conditions. The small Indonesian islands that make up this park are stunning, and offer many amenities for curious tourists.
Kukrail breeding center at Kukrail Forest Reserve in Lucknow, India has been playing a massive role in gharial conservation efforts, by breeding the creatures and sending them out to zoos all over the world. The center is also open to the public, so you can get up close and personal with these spectacular beasts. Just small populations of the species are still in portions of Nepal.
SHOEBILL STORK
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t is still a mystery among majorities of people that how a shoebill stork is related to other birds since different collections of data point to different living relatives, but one thing scientists agree on is that this is a very, very old bird. And it looks the part: Grayish and big-beaked, it looks like it walked right off the set of “The Flintstones”. Shoebill storks are classified as “vulnerable to extinction” due to habitat destruction and poaching. It can be seen in a protected area of the Mabamba Bay Wetland in Uganda, where several outfitters offer birdspotting tours.
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Eco-System ECHIDNA
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his is an amazing and bizarre creature that looks like a cross between a badger, a porcupine and an anteater. This is a monotreme, a type of primitive mammal that lays eggs instead of giving birth to live babies, just like their famous relative, the platypus. These animals can also be hard to find in the wild, since they’re small, mostly nocturnal, and live a spaced-out and solitary life. Several species of echidna are also highly endangered — a sad fact, considering that these animals have been roaming the earth for an estimated 17 or so million years. People can see a live echidna up close, your best bet is to visit one of the many zoos throughout New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia that house them. They can be found at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Hobart, Tasmania, the Australia Zoo in Queensland and few other places.
BABIRUSA
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abirusas are just like your everyday slightly irritable pig — except for the fact that males have gigantic tusks that grow upwards right through their snouts and curve back towards their heads. The lower tusks of babirusas grow upwards as well, making the animal look somewhat like a pig version of an orc. Babirusa is an old enough to appear on Indonesian cave paintings some 35,000 years ago. Now there are several tour operators offering babirusa-watching safaris in the Nantu Forest and Tangkoko Nature Reserve in Indonesia.
CHAMBERED NAUTILUS
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hambered nautilus normally lives in the deep ocean around Australia and Indonesia, but if you happen to be in the area of the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, you can see the ancient creatures up-close. These alien-looking corkscrew-shaped animals are among the oldest in the world. Fossils of this animal have been found from 500 million years ago, and they still look exactly the same as today’s descendants.
MUSK OXEN Musk oxen can be quite a sight (and smell) to behold, especially during the fall rutting season. During this time, bull musk oxen fight for control of harems by sprinting towards each other and bashing their heads with such force that it can shake the ground from a long distance away. It’s a wonder how these animals still survive, but it’s estimated they’ve been around for 187,000 to 129,000 years. In the 1800s they were extirpated from Alaska, but after they were successfully reintroduced in the 1930s, the populations grew. Currently there are several thousand musk oxen in Alaska, though their populations have been declining in recent years. It can still take some time to find these animals in the wild, but one of the best places to see them is in Nome, Alaska, where they regularly wander near the small tundra town. Nome is also the famous end point of the Iditarod dogsled race, which you can watch in early-to-mid March. Make sure to also check out Nome vendors selling qiviut, the delicately soft underwool harvested from captive or even wild muskoxen.
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Eco-System BACTRIAN CAMEL
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verybody knows about the one-humped camels used as transport in the Middle East before automobiles existed. But did you know that they evolved from the two-humped bactrian camel, which still roams the wilds of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia? Bactrian camels — which sort of look like a cross between Chewbacca and a llama — evolved to withstand temperatures below 0°F and above 100°F some two million years ago. Its two humps are used to store fat, which the camel breaks down into energy and water to sustain it during long, dry, food-free periods (if only we could lose fat that easily too). Bactrian camels are critically endangered in the wild, with fewer than 1,000 left, according to the IUCN. However, domesticated bactrian camels are an important part of Mongolian culture, and numerous tour operators offer camel-riding expeditions. In addition, visitors can check out the annual Thousand Camels Festival, held in early March in Umnugovi, Mongolia.
VICUÑA
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peaking of luxury wool, another prehistoric animal known for its fiber is the vicuña, the ancestor of the modern-day alpaca. The two animals look very similar indeed, though vicuñas have a distinctive color pattern, with white undersides and a brown saddle across most of their body. Although vicuñas were treasured by the Incas and protected, they were nearly driven to extinction by hunting after the Inca empire fell. Happily, thanks to the work of many dedicated conservationists, there are hundreds of thousands of vicuñas in the wild today. There are all sorts of other treasures to see hidden away here, in the world’s highest tropical mountain range, including spectacled bears and Andean condors.
HORSESHOE CRAB
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hese are one of the oldest species on the earth. These animals have had almost the same form since the Ordovician period, some 445 million years ago. It is believed that continents had not formed even during those days. And, there was a single supercontinent called ‘Gondwanaland’. It is believed that the horseshoe crabs could be found in abundance around its shores even then. Now days, one can find millions of horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay each May as the clunky, helmetshaped creatures return to the beaches to breed. It’s the single largest concentration of horseshoe crabs in the world.
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Eco-System TAPIR
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his is a kind of resemble pigs, just like Babirusas, except for one key feature: a short, elephant-like proboscis that they use for roping food into their mouths. Tapirs also use their long snouts as snorkels while walking around underwater, one of their favorite pastimes. While tapirs look rather porcine, they’re actually more closely related to horses and rhinoceroses. In fact, tapirs have a long, proud history in the fossil record, having first evolved in the Miocene epoch, as late as 23 million years ago. They’ve evolved into numerous species since then, although today there are only five remaining tapir species left across Asia, Central and South America. One of the best places to see wild tapirs in the Americas is at Corcovado National Park in breathtaking Costa Rica.
WOBBEGONG SHARK
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f you’re not looking carefully while on a tropical Pacific reef dive, you might miss seeing a wobbegong shark. In fact, these creatures are specifically trying to hide from you, using their flattened bodies, frilly edges and camouflage patterns to blend in with algae-covered rock. But once they start swimming and you see their smooth white bellies, the gig is up. There’s no mistaking a swimming wobbegong. These sharks — which have been around since the Miocene epoch, some 11 million years ago — are still found in a couple different species, and most are too small to harm people. A few wobbegong shark attacks have been reported, but there have been no fatalities, and it’s likely that the injured parties just accidently stepped on them or got too close while diving.
WHITE RHINOCEROS
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his ancient species is actually composed of two subspecies, the Northern White Rhinoceros and the Southern White Rhinoceros. Unfortunately, the Northern White Rhino population is down to just a few individuals, all of them female — meaning that the population will almost certainly go completely extinct within our lifetimes. The Southern White Rhino is more of a conservation success story, however. The IUCN currently lists this subspecies as “Near Threatened,” with over 17,000 individuals worldwide. Still, all rhino species are under constant threat from poachers, who harvest the horns for traditional Asian medicinal uses. This has led some conservationists to take drastic measures, such as surrounding especially important animals with armed guards, or even removing and destroying the rhino’s horns to remove the incentive for poachers to kill One of the best places you can see the Southern White Rhino today is in Kruger National Park in South Africa, home to hundreds of the majestic creatures (the most in any one place in Africa). Kruger National Park is one of the most popular destinations for safaris, and you’ll be guaranteed to see tons of other iconic African wildlife species as well.
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Lifestyle
GIVE ROYAL TOUCH TO THE HOUSE WITH BEAUTY, USE DIFFERENT SHADES OF BLUE If you want to give your home a cool and royal look, then add Classic Blue to the interior. You can use different shades of blue from kitchen to bedroom, children’s room or even bathroom. So take a look at the tips given here, which will help you in this.
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Blue and white is a very classic combination. White gels beautifully with every shade of blue. Be it a thick cobalt blue, a light blue like sky blue or a unique shade like turquoise blue. This combination leads to a feeling of freshness and simplicity. Therefore, blue and white combination is good for bathrooms, children’s room, home areas where the sun is very hot or for homes located in hot and seaside areas.
Blue-white combination can be used in different elements such as wall paint and furniture, as well as in the same element such as blue and white prints or patterned wallpaper, fabrics, ceramic vases, paintings or crockery etc.
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If you want to use blue color in a cool place or small room, you can complement it with warm tones like sand or bays.
Blue in combination with eclectic and boho themes or combination of yellow with yellow looks beautiful, gives the interior a unique look.
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Combination of bright colors such as red, pink or fuchsia with blue is also a good option for those who prefer bold color statements.
Blue can be combined with beautiful shades of brown such as Walnut, Cherry, Chestnut, Mahogany, Dark Oak etc. for a rich and elegant look. Those interested in artistic interiors can also give the ship’s theme to the children’s room using blue and brown.
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Lifestyle
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Blue can also be combined with gold and silver decor for interiors with a luxury look
Combination of different shades of blue with gray also makes the interiors attractive.
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Blue and Orange Brown Combination made this home office a center of attraction.
While the fit of dark blue and white combination gives the kitchen an elegant look, but if you don’t like dark blue, you can make blue-white combinations with another shade of blue. White gels beautifully with every shade of blue.
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Give an elegant look to the living room with a beautiful combination of blue accessories with neutral shades.
Natural rose water is present nearly in every home; still, we don’t use it because many are not aware of its versatility
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Travel India is a unique country in terms of tourism. Due to its culture, diversity, traditions, raga-rang and festivities, our country is known worldwide. There are many cities in the country where millions of domestic and foreign tourists visit every year. These places are definitely in the travel diary of people who love to roam.
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MAGNIFICENT PLACES OF INDIA THAT ARE EVEN INCLUDED IN THE TRAVEL DIARY OF FOREIGN TOURISTS
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UDAIPUR
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daipur, the city of lakes in Rajasthan, looks even more beautiful in spring. It remains mildly cold in this season. This city surrounded by mountains will fascinate you at this time. The city is also called East of Venice because of its beauty. If you have not been able to go anywhere on the New Year then definitely go here.
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GULMARG
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ulmarg is a beautiful hill station in Jammu and Kashmir. Due to its beauty, it is also called Paradise on Earth. It is one of the major tourist destinations in the country. This place, known as the State of Flowers, is located in Baramulla, North Kashmir. Gulmarg is considered a very special place for adventure sports and skiing enthusiasts.
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AMRITSAR
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olden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Valmiki Ashram, Wagah Border, Amritsar of Punjab makes you wonder at every step. All the colors of the beauty of history are seen here. Not only is it a holy city for Sikhs, it is also a holy city for Hindus. Lord Ram and Sita are also related to this city and Maharishi Valmiki, the author of Ramayana is also associated. It is believed that Hanuman ji came here to bring back the horse of Ashwamedha Yagna from the possession of Luv and Kush, sons of Lord Rama. The holy Valmiki shrine is also here. It is said that Maharishi Valmiki composed the Ramayana here. In his ashram, Mother Sita had given birth to Love and Kush also appeared here. This city is the perfect destination for tourists.
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MUMBAI
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t also holds a special place in the whole world in terms of Mumbai tourism. Located in India as a hub of film production and market share, this country attracts more than 5 lakh people daily, some of whom come to make careers, many to fulfill their dreams and many as tourists. There are many places to visit here including Juhu Chowpatty, Haji Ali Dargah, Mahalakshmi Temple, Gateway of India & Marine Drive.
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VARANASI
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ity of Kashi Vishwanath - Varanasi. A city in Uttar Pradesh, which is a wonderful medium to understand Indian culture.There are many places here, including Ganga Ghats, Vishwanath Temple, Sarnath, Hanuman Temple, Bharat Mata Temple, where you will be refreshed.
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Travel
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DELHI
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et’s start by talking about Delhi, which is called the heart of the country. People from every state of the country come to visit here and the experience of visiting here is different for foreigners. There are magnificent places like Red Fort, India Gate, Connaught Place. On the other hand there are spiritual sites like Kalkaji Temple, Akshardham Temple, Lotus Temple, ISKCON Temple & Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah. Apart from this, there are a lot of historical and scenic tourist places, where the experience Is diverse.
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COORG
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t is a beautiful, breathtaking and attractive hill station of Karnataka. It is considered to be one of the top tourist centers in the country for traveling enthusiasts. It is also called the Scotland of India. Since February, tea and spice plantations in Kurg are on display, due to which the aroma of tea and spices comes from the litigants there. With this, if you are fond of golf, this place is fantastic for you.
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