30 WEEKLY NEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM TH ... - Amazon Web … · WEEKLY NEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM 1 Weekly News and Analysis Byju’s Classes-9873643487 2015CA_030,031,001,002,003,004 30TH

1 Weekly News and Analysis Byju’s Classes-9873643487 2015CA_030,031,001,002,003,004

WEEKLY NEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM 30TH JULY TO 4th AUG, 2015

INTERNATIONAL NEWS In major shift, Turkey to allow US to use key Incirlik Air Base for strikes on Islamic State Turkey has agreed to let the U.S. military launch airstrikes against the Islamic State from a key air base near the

Syrian border, senior U.S. officials said, giving a boost to the U.S.-led coalition while drawing Turkey deeper into the conflict.

President Barack Obama and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan finalized the deal, following months of U.S. appeals and delicate negotiations over the use of Incirlik and other bases in Turkey.

Frustrated by Obama's focus on fighting IS instead of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Turkey's government had resisted the move, but in recent days a surge in Islamic State activity in Turkey has brought concerns about the militant group to the forefront.

American officials said access to the base in southern Turkey, not far from IS strongholds across the border in Syria, would allow the U.S. to move more swiftly and nimbly against IS targets. If the agreement holds, the U.S.-led coalition will be positioned to conduct better surveillance over Syria and act quicker on intelligence than when it was limited to launching flights from places like Iraq, Jordan and the Gulf states.

Under the deal, the U.S. military will be allowed to launch manned and unmanned flights from Incirlik; in the past,

only unmanned drone flights were allowed. "Turkey is a critical partner in degrading and defeating ISIL, and we appreciate the essential support Turkey provides

to the international coalition across the many lines of effort," said Alistair Baskey, a spokesman for the White House's National Security Council, using an alternative acronym for the militant group.

Incirlik Air Base, located across the border from the Syrian city of Aleppo, is a joint U.S.-Turkish installation that houses the U.S. Air Force's 39th Air Base Wing. Its proximity to IS-controlled territory in Syria — including Raqqa, the group's de facto capital — makes it an attractive launching pad for U.S. airstrikes against IS.

Turkey shares a 1,250-kilometer (775-mile) border with Syria and with Iraq, where IS also controls broad swaths of territory.

Turkey, a NATO ally and onetime close U.S. partner, has resisted getting embroiled too deeply in the U.S.-led fight against IS. The move to allow Turkish soil to be used to launch U.S. airstrikes appeared to mark a significant shift in approach.

Although Turkey is part of the U.S.-led coalition, it has limited its role out of concern that Washington's overall strategy for Syria is flawed. To Turkey's dismay, Obama has prioritized fighting IS over opposing Assad in Syria's civil war.

Turkey's shift on Incirlik came as the country is on higher alert following a series of deadly attacks and unsettling signs of increased IS activity in Turkey.

Beijing slams U.S. for militarising South China Sea

China has slammed the U.S. for militarising the South China Sea and escalating tensions that have been fuelled by

maritime disputes in these waters, which are vital for the conduct of international trade.

China’s Defence Ministry accused Washington of staging patrols and joint military exercises. At the heart of the

sharpening rhetoric is the territorial dispute in South China Sea which has pitted China with Vietnam, the

Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.

Obama’s ‘Asia Pivot’

Military activity in the Pacific has been accelerating following President Barack Obama’s “Asia Pivot” or “Rebalance”

doctrine, which has led Washington to position 60 per cent of its forces in the Pacific. In Beijing, the “Asia Pivot”

doctrine is seen as a China-containment policy.

The Chinese have been especially piqued by earlier surveillance mission undertaken by U.S. Pacific Fleet commander,

Admiral Scott Swift, who, for seven hours, flew on a reconnaissance mission aboard a P-8A plane in the South China

Sea.

Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said at a news briefing that the U.S. was fuelling the “China threat”

in a bid to drive differences between China and other claimant countries in the South China Sea.

For a long time, the U.S. had carried out frequent, widespread, close-in surveillance of China, by sending ships and

aircraft to the region, he added.

“Recently they have further increased military alliances and their military presence, frequently holding joint drills.”

Mr. Yang stressed that China’s on-going naval exercise was routine and did not target a third party.

Russia, China set to counter US-led ‘Asia Pivot’ in the Pacific Russia has released a new naval doctrine that singles out China as its core partner in the Pacific, signaling Moscow

and Beijing’s push towards countering the Japan backed “Asia Pivot” of the United States. The Russians unveiled their new doctrine on board the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, and in the presence of President

Vladimir Putin.


Regarding the Pacific, the amended naval doctrine, which will be valid till 2020, underscored that friendly ties with China in the Pacific were one of the cornerstones of Moscow’s new policy. "Cooperating with China and other countries in the region is a crucial part of carrying out the nation's maritime policy," Russia's maritime strategy stressed.

Moscow and Beijing appear to have responded strongly to Japan’s budding post-war doctrinal shift, which will allow Tokyo to deploy its armed forces overseas even without an imminent threat to Japanese territory or citizens.

Opponents say that the two security bills being debated in Parliament could draw Tokyo into U.S.-led conflicts around the globe. Specifically, the legislations can cement Washington’s “Asia Pivot” doctrine which envisages that 60 per cent of the total US armed forces would be deployed under the Pacific Command, with China as its focal point.

Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman, Yang Yujun reinforced the attack by trashing Japan’s demand that China halt construction of oil drilling platforms in the East China Sea. "Japan's recent and frequent finger-pointing is to create and play up the 'China Threat,' so as to find excuses for passing controversial security bills," observed Mr. Yang.

The Defence Ministry also pointed out that the oil platforms, of which the Japanese had released pictures, were being legitimately established within China’s territorial waters.

In parallel, the Russo-Japanese ties are also now under increasing strain. Earlier this month, Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu announced that troops on Kuril islands, disputed by Japan, will be rearmed. On their part the Japanese have raised an alarm about a Russian military build-up in the east of the country, including on the Kuril

Islands.

The clearest signal that the Russians and the Chinese were factoring the reinforcement of the U.S.-Japan military alliance in the Pacific came on July 7 when it was announced that Moscow and Beijing will conduct joint military exercises in the Sea of Japan.

The Russian Navy’s Pacific fleet will deploy 20 warships as well as aircraft and helicopters, in the August drill, which is a follow up of a similar exercise that the two countries had held in the Mediterranean Sea two months ago.

At the heart of the tensions in the Pacific are the South China Sea maritime disputes, which have pitted China against Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

The Chinese have been incensed by the seven hour surveillance mission that was personally undertaken in the South China by Admiral Scott Swift — the U.S. Pacific fleet commander. earlier this month.

Earlier, the Chinese Defence Ministry went ballistic by accusing the U.S. of militarising the South China Sea. "China is extremely concerned at the United States' pushing of the militarisation of the South China Sea region," Mr. Yang observed.

China has added punch to its rhetoric with the deployment of more than 100 Chinese naval vessels and dozens of military aircraft during military manoeuvres in the South China Sea.

Aligning Moscow’s perception with the Chinese, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov observed in May that the U.S. was the main de-stabilising factor in the Asia-Pacific.

"We are concerned by US policies in the region, especially since every day it becomes increasingly focused on a systemic containment of Russia and China," Russia Today quoted him as saying.

Réunion Island wreckage from Boeing 777, confirms Malaysia Malaysian authorities confirmed that plane wreckage washed up on an Indian Ocean Island was from a Boeing 777,

meaning the part is almost certainly from missing flight MH370. The debris, part of a plane wing, could provide the first tangible clue towards unlocking the mystery surrounding the

Malaysia Airlines plane, which disappeared in March last year with 239 people on board. “I believe that we are moving closer to solving the mystery of MH370. This could be the convincing evidence that

MH370 went down in the Indian Ocean,” Malaysia’ deputy transport minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi told AFP. The Malaysia Airlines flight was one of only three Boeing 777s to have been involved in major incidents, along with the

downing of the MH17 over Ukraine last year and the Asiana Airlines crash at San Francisco airport in 2013 that left three dead.

The wing component found on the French island of La Réunion bears the part number ‘ 657 BB’, according to photos of the debris.

“From the part number, it is confirmed that it is from a Boeing 777 aircraft. This information is from MAS [Malaysia Airlines].

Martin Dolan, chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is leading the MH370 search, said greater clarity on the origin of the part should be confirmed “within the next 24 hours.” “We are increasingly confident that this debris is from MH370,” Dolan told.

Pakistan becomes first non-European associate member of CERN

Pakistan has attained the status of an associate member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).

This makes Pakistan the first non-European country to achieve this status, which is a tribute to the dedicated

scientists, technicians, engineers and diplomats of Pakistan.

The agreement for associate membership was signed by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) chairman

and the CERN director general in the presence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on 19 December 2014 in Islamabad.

The agreement took effect after submission of the instrument of ratification by Pakistan’s permanent representative in

Geneva, Ambassador Zamir Akram to CERN director general.


The associate membership of CERN is recognition of Pakistan’s impressive credentials in the field of science and

technology in general and peaceful usage of nuclear energy in particular.

Myanmar declares national emergency

Myanmar’s President headed to devastated rural regions where a state of emergency was declared after deadly

monsoon rains displaced tens of thousands of people, flooded swathes of rice paddy and prompted fears of dams

collapsing.

Thein Sein was due to arrive at a military base in Sagaing Division, a major rice growing area where soldiers are

coordinating a relief effort after a month of rain over all but two of Myanmar’s 14 States.

The storms and floods have so far killed 21 people, with water levels as high as 2.5 metres in Sagaing and 4.5 metres

in western Rakhine state, according to the government, which declared four regions disaster zones.

Though rain has stopped in most areas, the recovery effort is a major test for impoverished Myanmar. The country

has only basic infrastructure and medical facilities and is ill-equipped to deal with disasters, as shown when Cyclone

Nargis battered the Irrawaddy Delta in 2008, killing 130,000 people.

Nearly 525,000 acres of farmland has been affected, an area roughly the size of Luxembourg, and more than 34,000

acres of paddy fields damaged, mostly in the Sagaing, Kachin State, Bago and Rakhine state regions, the agriculture

ministry said.

India will be world’s most populous country in 2022: U.N.

In seven years, India will surpass China to become the world’s most populous country and will have 1.7 billion

residents by 2050, new projections from the United Nations show. Experts, however, caution that India might be

lowering its fertility at a faster rate than what the U.N.’s projections indicate.

The 2015 revision to the U.N.’s World Population Projections is released . The world population reached 7.3 billion as

of mid-2015, adding approximately one billion people in the past 12 years.

The world population, however, is growing slower now; 10 years ago, the growth rate was 1.24 per cent a year, while

today, it is growing by 1.18 per cent, or approximately, an additional 83 million people annually.

It will take 15 years to add the next billion people, taking the world population to 8.5 billion in 2030. By 2050, the

world will have 9.7 billion people and 11.2 billion by 2100.

As a region, Africa will have its population — propelled to a large extent by Nigeria which will be the third largest

populated country in the world in 2050 overtaking the United States — grow the fastest.

The population of 48 countries, most of them in Europe and including Japan, will in contrast shrink between 2015

and 2050.

The median age of the global population — that is, the age at which half the population is older and half is younger —

is 29.6. About one-quarter (26 per cent) of the world’s people are under 15 years of age, 62 per cent are aged 15 to 59,

and 12 per cent 60 or above.


India is younger than the world; the median age is a full three years younger and 28.8 per cent are under the age of

15, while just 8.9 per cent are 60 or over. By 2050, India will have aged significantly, and the share of people over 60

will be twice as big, while the median age will be 37.3.

China’s population will start declining by the 2030s, while India’s is projected to decline only after 2069 when its

population is around 1.75 billion. However, demographic experts say the U.N.’s projections may not be keeping pace

with the speed at which India is reducing its fertility.

As of 2013, India’s Sample Registration System (SRS) — the official source of fertility statistics, which come from the

Registrar-General’s office — said the total fertility rate (average number of children per woman) was down to 2.3.

However, the U.N. projects a rate of 2.34 for 2015-20.

By the SRS rates, India could reach replacement fertility levels — when every woman has just enough children to

replace the parents on average — by 2020, but the U.N. projections would see this happening around a decade later.

As of mid-2015, India had 1.31 billion people. Eleven States have already achieved replacement fertility levels.

China’s mosquito factory to take on dengue China has set up the world’s largest mosquito factory in northwestern Guangzhou province to tackle dengue fever by

releasing one million sterilised mosquitoes every week in a bid to dilute their population with insects that don’t carry the disease.

In Guangzhou’s Science City area, the team leader, Xi Zhiyong, is in charge of releasing the produced mosquitoes to

the Shazi Island every week to combat dengue fever. This was the first trial test in the field and it has been proved to reduce the mosquito population by 90 per cent, state-

run Global Times reported. Releasing sterilised mosquito to the wild is one of several innovative attempts to tackle dengue fever by diluting the

mosquito population with insects that don’t carry the disease.

Obama takes ‘biggest step’ to tackle climate change President Barack Obama unveiled the final version of his plan to dramatically cut emissions from U.S. power plants,

as he warned anew that climate change will threaten future generations if left unchecked. Touting the plan at a White House event, Mr. Obama said the unprecedented carbon dioxide limits are “the single

most important step” America has ever taken to fight climate change. He warned that because the problem is so large, if the world doesn’t get it right quickly, it may become impossible to

reverse, leaving populations unable to adapt. The final version of Mr. Obama’s plan imposes stricter carbon dioxide limits on states than was previously expected -

a 32 per cent cut by 2030, compared with 2005 levels, the White House said. Mr. Obama’s proposed version in 2014

called only for a 30 per cent cut. It also gives states an additional two years until 2022 to comply, yielding to complaints that the original deadline was

too soon. States will also have an additional year to submit their implementation plans to Washington. The Obama administration has sought to draw a connection between climate change and increased respiratory illness

in vulnerable populations. The Obama administration estimated the emissions limits will cost $8.4 billion annually by 2030. The actual price

won’t be clear until states decide how they’ll reach their targets. But energy industry advocates said the revision makes Obama’s mandate even more burdensome, costly and difficult

to achieve.

U.K. asks landlords to evict illegal immigrants Britain’s government promised new measures to crack down on illegal immigrants by making landlords evict them, as

the Calais migrants’ crisis continued to dominate the headlines. Landlords in England, who do not remove people with no right to remain in Britain, or do not check their immigration

status before renting them a property, could be jailed for up to five years. Immigration is one of the most sensitive issues in British politics and Prime Minister David Cameron's centre-right

government has been battling to bring the numbers down for years. Images of migrants trying illegally to cross the Channel Tunnel from France to Britain have fuelled calls from political

opponents for ministers to do more and Cameron has warned that the situation could last all summer. The French and British interior ministers warned that “our streets are not paved with gold” as Cameron’s government

seeks to dispel any perception that migrants have a soft landing in Britain. Migrants in Calais made around 1,700 attempts to cross, according to French police sources, a major increase on the

past few nights when there was only a few hundred.

NATIONAL NEWS Cabinet clears changes to GST Bill The Union Cabinet cleared the changes suggested by the Rajya Sabha Select Committee to the proposed GST

Constitutional Amendment Bill, which included giving States full five-year compensation for any revenue loss due to

the introduction of the goods and services tax and exempting stock transfers within group companies from the 1 per cent additional tax on inter-State supplies.


Infrastructure fund Apart from the decision on the GST Bill, the Cabinet approved the setting up of a Rs 20,000-crore National

Infrastructure and Investment Fund proposed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Union Budget for 2015-16.

Protecting consumers In addition, the Cabinet approved the Consumer Protection Bill 2015, which envisages a regulatory authority to curb

unfair trade practices, along the lines of those in place in the U.S. and Europe for the fast-tracking of consumer grievances.

Anti-hijacking Bill Finally, the Union Cabinet approved amendments to the Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2014, which looks to give the government

more teeth in dealing with hijacking incidents involving Indian aircraft. The Cabinet’s approval of these amendments comes after the Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha last December

and then referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee, which recommended the amendments.

Anti-hijacking law set to be made tough Moving to give more teeth to the law against hijacking of aircraft, the Union Cabinet approved major amendments to

the Anti-Hijacking Bill 2014.The amendments essentially enlarge the definition of “hijacking” and “hijacker” as well as punishment.

In the new Bill, the perpetrators of a hijacking shall be punishable with the death penalty in case such an offence

results in the death of any person — including ground handling staff and airport personnel — or with life

imprisonment or fine. Earlier, the death penalty was mandated only in case of the death of hostages or a security personnel. In addition, punishment would include confiscation of the moveable and immoveable property of the offenders,

sources added. Another amendment to the Bill relates to enlarging the definition of hijacking from “in-flight” to “in-service”,

government sources said. “An aircraft would be considered to be in-service from the time it is being prepared for a specific flight by the crew or

ground personnel until 24 hours after any landing,”.The new amendments also seek to expand the definition of a hijacker.

“In the new Bill, the term hijacker would include a person who organises or directs others to commit hijacking, who participates in a hijacking as an accomplice and who assists any person to evade investigation, prosecution and punishment in a hijacking case,” the source said.

The amendments also seek to enhance the jurisdiction Indian courts can exercise in a hijacking case. “Indian courts will be able to exercise jurisdiction in case the offence is committed against or by an Indian citizen on

board a flight anywhere, irrespective of the country where the offence has been committed. This also includes hijacking by stateless persons,” a government source said.

The Anti-Hijacking Bill 2014 was introduced in Rajya Sabha in December 2014 by the government. It was then referred to a standing committee. Now the government plans to incorporate these new amendments and

move the Bill afresh in Rajya Sabha in the ongoing session of Parliament.

Name deleted from voter list: You can seek compensation

Has your name been removed from the electoral list, denying you your right to vote? Now, you can take the Chief

Electoral Officer to task for denying you your statutory right as a citizen and demand compensation for it.

In an order passed on July 29 in the Sumit vs. Chief Election Officer (CEO) case, the Central Information Commission

(CIC) upheld the voter’s right and directed that the appellant be paid Rs.10,000 as compensation for not being

informed about the deletion of his name from the voters’ list and further being denied information on it under the RTI

Act.

Sumit, a resident and registered voter from Nangloi, was unable to vote in the Delhi Assembly elections in February

this year as his name had been deleted from the electoral rolls. He filed a Right to Information query with the Chief

Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the office of the CEO on February 17 but received no response why his name was

deleted. On June 11, the appellant approached the CIC with a request to settle his RTI query.

The CIC took a stern stand on the arbitrary deletion and denial of information regarding deletion of a legitimate voter’s

name from the electoral list, calling it a significant violation of a constitutional and statutory right of voting as well as

of the right to information under the RTI Act.

The Commission directed the CPIO to show cause why penalty should not be imposed for not furnishing information

about deleting the voter’s name within the prescribed period and post the same on the official website.

It also directed that a compensation of Rs.10, 000 be paid to the appellant for not being informed about the deletion

and being denied information under RTI.

The Commission also recorded its appreciation for the young boy for his anguish at the unjust denial of an

opportunity to cast his vote and performing his duty as an alert citizen of this democratic country to secure his most

valuable voting right.


The Commission has issued directions to the CPIO of the public authority to inform if any inquiry was conducted into

such deletion after it was made, and if not then conduct an inquiry into the reasons for the arbitrary deletion of his

name.

Medical panel clears abortion for rape survivor

Following the Supreme Court’s directive, a medical team gave permission for termination of a minor rape survivor’s

25-week-old pregnancy though the law allows abortion only until the 20th week.

“A panel of five doctors — four from civil hospital and a private practitioner — has given the nod for abortion,”

superintendent of the civil hospital M.M. Prabhakar told.

The Supreme Court had come to the rescue of the 14-year-old victim who had been denied permission to abort the

foetus by the sessions as well as the High Court. The apex court said she can undergo abortion if medical experts

allow it.

Two-thirds of rural households still use firewood for cooking Over two-thirds of households in rural India still rely on firewood for cooking, new data from the National Sample

Survey (NSS) Office show. In contrast, a similar proportion of households use liquefied petroleum gas for cooking in urban areas, but 14 per

cent of urban households — including nearly half of the poorest 20 per cent — still relies on firewood. Data from the 68th round of the NSS on fuel used for cooking and lighting were released. The data relate to a survey

conducted by the NSSO on a nationally representative sample during 2011-12. The use of firewood for cooking has declined only very slowly over the years in rural India, the numbers show, going

from 78.2 per cent of all rural households in 1993-94 to 67.3 per cent in 2011-12. LPG use in rural households has grown relatively fast, from fewer than two per cent of rural households two decades

ago to 15 per cent in 2011-12. In North Indian States, cow-dung cake remained one of the major fuels for cooking for a third of rural households in

Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, a quarter in Haryana and a fifth in Bihar. The use of cooking fuel is sharply dictated by class — the use of firewood drops steadily with rising incomes in rural

and urban areas, and LPG use is highest among the richest classes. The data show 87 per cent of Scheduled Tribe households and 70 per cent of Scheduled Caste households in rural India use firewood, compared with 57 per cent of others.

T.N.’s record Tamil Nadu had the highest use of LPG among rural households, with over a third using it for cooking, followed by

Kerala and Punjab. The use of LPG was least in Chhattisgarh (1.5 per cent of households) followed by Jharkhand (2.9 per cent) and Odisha (3.9 per cent).

The majority of households in the country uses electricity as its primary source of lighting, but over a fourth of rural households still rely on kerosene. The percentage of households using kerosene was as high as 73.5 per cent in Bihar and 58.5 per cent in U.P.

Over the past decade, the proportion of households using kerosene to light their houses has, however, halved in rural India. The use of electricity was the highest in rural A.P., Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where nearly all rural

households used electricity to light their homes. In contrast, just 40 per cent of rural U.P. households had electricity.

No special category status for Bihar: Centre The Centre ruled out any special category status for Bihar saying there was no policy for according such a status to

any State anymore. Union Minister of State for Planning Rao Inderjit Singh made this statement in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour

after repeated requests from MPs belonging to Odisha, Bihar and Rajasthan for special category status for their respective States.

He said the 14th Finance Commission had not made any distinction between special and general category States in the recommendation of horizontal distribution among the States.

With Assembly elections scheduled in Bihar later this year, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has renewed the long-standing demand for special category status.

In this year’s budget, the Union Finance Minister had announced special assistance to Bihar and West Bengal, similar to that given to Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation. An initial allocation from this was made to Bihar over a month ago, according to the Finance Ministry.

EXCHANGE OF INDIA-BANGLADESH ENCLAVES

National Flag unfurled to loud cheers

As the National Flag was hoisted at Poatarkuti (Cooch Behar), a Bangladeshi enclave till a day ago, a loud cheer

erupted from the new citizens of the India. Shedding a stateless existence for 68 years in the enclave, hundreds of

people joined in the singing of the National Anthem.

“From today, August 1, 2015, those who have opted to stay here have become Indian citizens,” District Magistrate of

Cooch Behar P. Ulagnathan told the gathering after hoisting the flag.

As Indian citizens, they will now enjoy the Fundamental Rights and have certain duties towards the nation, he

reminded them. Similar scenes played out in all 51 enclaves, with a population of 14,854, that joined India.


The district administration will have to make arrangements for some 980 people from the Indian enclaves in

Bangladesh who have expressed their wish to come to India. They will come through designated checkpoints between

November 1 and 30.

“We do not want to treat them as refugees; they are our own citizens,” Mr. Ulagnathan told presspersons. They can

come on exploratory visits between August and October.

The administration is working on land classification, delimitation of gram panchayats and providing connectivity,

power supply and other facilities at Poatarkuti.

“The area is peaceful, and there have been no law-and-order issues,” Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Yadav

said. The exchange of enclaves marked the culmination of three decades of struggle of the Bharat Bangladesh Enclave

Exchange Coordination Committee, an organisation that played a crucial role in the realisation of the rights of enclave

dwellers.

The committee organised a grand celebration at the Masaldanga enclave, with every house lit up with candles and

torches. The committee will be dissolved and a new organisation will be set up for the development of the Indian

enclaves.

Recounting his years of association with the struggle, Diptiman Sengupta, assistant secretary of the committee,

recalled the words of his father and former MLA, Dipak Sengupta: “The nation, for its own need, will have to give the

residents of enclaves the right of citizenship.”

37,000 people wake up to a new dawn

As the sun rose on August 1, some 37,000 people of 111 former Indian enclaves woke up to a new dawn as

Bangladeshi citizens after 68 years of statelessness.

For the first time, the Bangladeshi national flag was hoisted in these enclaves in the country’s northern Panchagarh,

Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Kurigram districts. The national anthem was sung to welcome the new beginning.

In line with the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement, these enclaves spanning 17,160 acres of land were

added to the Bangladeshi territory at a minute past midnight. Similarly, 51 Bangladesh enclaves measuring 7,110

acres became Indian territory. Bangladeshi enclaves had 14,000 residents while the Indian enclaves had been home

to 37,000.

With the historic land swap, nearly 50,000 people of the enclaves have been able to get rid of the tag of nowhere

people. They were denied access to basic facilities such as schools, health centres, electricity and even the judiciary.

They were even deprived of job opportunities.

Reports said Bangladeshi flags fluttered over every house, each illuminated with 68 earthen lamps to symbolise the

end of 68 years of neglect and deprivation.

The genesis of the enclaves goes back to 1947 with the hurried Partition of British India. In 1974, following

Bangladesh’s Independence from Pakistan, the then Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, and her Bangladeshi

counterpart, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, signed an agreement to settle the vexed issue.

To operationalise the agreement, a protocol was signed in 2011. On May 7, after the Indian Parliament ratified the

agreement, the decks were cleared for the exchange of enclaves.

On June 6, 2015, India and Bangladesh exchanged the instruments of ratification of the LBA and Protocol, in the

presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, and West Bengal Chief

Minister Mamata Banerjee in Dhaka.

India to host meeting of 14 Pacific island nations The Jaipur summit may pave way for pacts in agriculture, food processing After trying to keep pace with China in relations with Africa and Central Asia, India is now trying to match it

neighbour’s growing footprint in the South Pacific.

On August 21, India will host the heads of 14 island nations at the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation

(FIPIC), in what is seen as a first step towards greater engagement with the region, which is important from an economic and geostrategic standpoint.

The upcoming summit in Jaipur is expected to pave the way for agreements in agriculture, food processing, fisheries, solar energy, e-networks for coordination in telemedicine and tele-education, space cooperation and climate change, all of which were mentioned as areas of potential cooperation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Fiji in 2014.

Mr. Modi had then proposed that FIPIC summits be held regularly. He had set the ball rolling for reinforcing ties with the island nations by announcing visa on arrival for their nationals, funds for small business, line of credit for a co-generation power plant for Fiji, and a special adaptation fund for technical assistance and capacity building for countering global warming.

China’s strong foothold


Even as New Delhi has begun charting out a plan for forging bilateral and regional ties with these island nations, China has significantly expanded its foothold in the region, from increasing business and trade ties to setting up diplomatic missions in each of these countries.

In its report “The geopolitics of Chinese aid: mapping Beijing’s funding in the Pacific”, the Lowy Institute of International Policy says China is now the largest bilateral donor in Fiji and the second largest in the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga.

The report also says that between 2006 and 2013, China provided $333 million in bilateral aid to Fiji, even more than Australia ($252 million) and almost three times that of Japan ($117 million), while in Samoa and Tonga, the sum of Chinese aid is second only to Australia’s. China’s foray into the South Pacific, which began as a move to offset Taiwan’s interests in the region, is becoming a cause for concern for

India, which now wants to have economic and strategic

engagements with the 14 island nations. T.P. Sreenivasan, a former diplomat who served as the head

of Mission in Fiji and seven other South Pacific Island States between 1986 and 1989, told that India’s strong relations with Fiji, which has considerable influence in the region, was a “strong point” which could help counter the growing Chinese influence.

“Most of the economies in the region are based on agriculture, fisheries and small-scale industries and India’s capacity in these sectors is even better than Europe and China; it can cultivate relations with the island nations based on its technology.

Even small investments will make a big impact in these regions; many of these countries send their nationals to India for education though programmes sponsored by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations; so India should make a beginning,” he said.

He said relations with Fiji had improved in India’s favour in the past decade and not only were those of Indian origin but also Fijians friendly towards Indians, which worked to New Delhi’s “advantage”.

Cyclone Komen brings eastern states to a halt At least 68 people were killed and more than a million evacuated as heavy rainfall lashed eastern India through the

weekend after cyclone Komen created a depression over parts of Bangladesh. West Bengal, Manipur and Odisha were the hardest hit and the death toll could rise as many people were missing.

Seven deaths were reported from West Bengal , taking the toll over the past week to 48, while in Manipur 20 people were killed in a single village swept away by a landslide in Chandel district on the Myanmar border.

More than 1.8 million people in 5,600 villages across 12 districts of West Bengal were affected by floods and waterlogging. More than 1.1 million people were moved to relief camps in the state.

Cyclone Komen, which made landfall in Bangladesh, remained practically stationary there and weakened into a depression. The weather phenomenon would move west and gradually weaken into a well-marked lowpressure area, officials said.

Do z ens of houses were destroyed in Hollenjang, Wayang and Tuitung villages in Manipur and several areas in and

around state capital Imphal were flooded as rivers flowed above the danger mark.

Former poll panel head not for compulsory voting Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi has opposed the demand for making voting compulsory, saying

that one’s right to vote includes the right to abstain from it. “I am against the demand to make voting compulsory because compulsion and democracy do not go together,” said

Mr. Quraishi. Pointing to the potential legal consequences of making voting compulsory, he said that if this was done, then abstaining from voting would be a violation of law. He said it would add a huge number of cases to the ones already pending in court.

“In such cases, one will get a court notice if he does not vote and it will add about 30 crore court cases to the ones already pending,” said Mr. Quraishi. It will be the poor who will suffer most in such a situation and they will be exploited by corrupt officials.


Referring to a Supreme Court judgment in September, 2013, Mr. Quraishi said that in the judgement “None of the Above (NOTA) option was raised to the status of a fundamental right.” In such a situation, it will not be proper to make voting compulsory, he said.

Lodha panel seeks five-month extension The Justice R.M. Lodha Committee, investigating the 2013 IPL betting controversy, has urged the Supreme Court for

a five-month extension to recommend reforms in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and complete its investigation into the alleged involvement of IPL chief operating officer Sundar Raman.

The Supreme Court-appointed committee, in a judgment on “punish first and debate later, has been given six months to complete its mandate.

On July 14, the committee ordered a life ban on Gurunath Meiyappan, a team official of Chennai Super Kings and son-in-law of former BCCI president N. Srinivasan, and Raj Kundra, former part-owner of Rajasthan Royals.

It further issued a two-year ban on India Cements Ltd. and Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt Ltd., franchisees of CSK and Rajasthan Royals, respectively, for two years.

Centre inks peace accord with Naga insurgent outfit The government signed a peace accord with the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), one of the

largest insurgent outfits, which has been demanding a unified Naga identity and a separate ‘Nagalim’ State for over six decades.

The details of the accord were not released by the government, and there is no clarity on the “sovereignty clause,”

being demanded by the insurgent group. Besides the IM faction, there are two more groups — Khole-Kitovi (KK) and Reformation (R) — which were not part of

the accord. They have signed a ceasefire agreement with the government till April 27, 2016. In March this year, the Khaplang faction, led by S.S. Khaplang, broke the ceasefire with India and is suspected to be

behind a series of violent attacks in Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, where 18 personnel were killed in an attack on an Army convoy.

R.N. Ravi, the Naga interlocutor, signed the accord with the NSCN-IM at a much publicised ceremony at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.

The NSCN (I-M) has been fighting for an independent Nagaland, but later on demanded a ‘Greater Nagaland’ by slicing off parts of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to unite 1.2 million Nagas. The demand was opposed by the three States.

In 2012, the UPA government formulated an agreement to be signed with the Naga groups, but it was shot down by Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh of the Congress.

After Monday’s accord, NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, who signed the pact, said in a statement, “Better understanding has been arrived at and a framework agreement has been concluded, based on the unique history and position of the Nagas and recognising the universal principle that in a democracy sovereignty lies with the people.”

He said: “After decades of confrontation and untold sufferings, the Nagas decided to have political dialogue with the Government of India in view of the acknowledgement that the government will seek a peaceful solution, leaving aside the military solution.”

The agreement was the culmination of over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 16 years, with the first breakthrough coming in 1997 when a ceasefire agreement was sealed.

In same league as astrologers Incredibly, the job profile of a “Safai Karamchari” and a “scavenger” is listed as being “mildly hazardous or dangerous”

– putting them in the same category as “astrologer” and “palmist” that come under unorganised sector careers.

While the risks for Safai Karamchari include “lung, respiratory, neurological diseases, infection, biological diseases, suffocation, fatigue,” for an astrologer or palmist or money lender, the dangers include “heart diseases, depression and anxiety, fatigue, stress.”

The website similarly contains unfortunate, now-antiquated phrases for describing jobs. “Domestic Servant” is described as “performing the general house-hold duties and attending to the personal comforts

of master or employer” – terms that show “underlying feudalism,” say advocates Clifton D’ Rozario and Maitreyi

Krishnan.

Sexual assault is a violation of human rights, says apex court A sexual assault on a person is a violation of their human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution, the Supreme

Court (SC) said while condemning a man to a decade in prison for raping his 14-year-old niece. Rape “is basically an assault on the human rights of a victim. It is an attack on her individuality,” said an SC bench

headed by Justice Dipak Misra while upholding a 2003 court judgment convicting a Haryana resident to jail for 10 years for incest and rape.

The offence of rape, said Justice Misra, “creates a scar in the marrows of the mind of the victim.” He added that an attacker violates not just the Indian Penal Code provisions against sexual assault, but also “right of equality, right of individual identity... which is a constitutional commitment.”

“Everyone in a civilised society has to show respect for the other individual and no individual has any right to invade the physical frame of another in any manner,” the court said while refusing to reduce the sentence.


“Regard being to the gravity of the offence, reduction of sentence indicating any imaginary special reason would be an anathema to the very concept of rule of law. The perpetrators of the crime must realise that when they indulge in such an offence, they really create a concavity in the dignity and bodily integrity of an individual which is recognised, assured and affirmed by the very essence of Article 21 of the Constitution,” it said.

The court added that the man did not deserve leniency as he had abused his position of trust with his niece and his family. Further, it said, he had “devilishly” used the position to “manipulate” the young girl.

Govt. job portal lists manual scavenging as ‘career option’ What was conceived by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government as bringing employers and job seekers on to one

platform seems to now promote and allow the hiring of the prohibited act of manual scavenging at the click of a button.

Cleaning of sewers, descending into manholes, removing night-soil (human excreta) using a broom find a place in the National Career Services portal that was launched recently as a part of Skill India.

For instance, under the ‘unorganised sector’ panel of the website, a “Sweeper, Sewer” is “expected to” clean sewage systems by “using various cleaning instruments,” including bamboo or iron rod, and collecting debris and refuse in a bucket using a spade and handing this bucket to “helper outside manhole.”

Similarly, the “Sweeper, Wet” description lists a “key competency” of removing “night soil using spade and broom.” On its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 20, the portal was to link two crore job seekers with nearly

nine lakh establishments. Mr. Modi had then said: “…it is essential for Indian society to develop a consciousness

towards ‘dignity of labour’.” However, advocates Clifton D’ Rozario and Maitreyi Krishnan – who had taken the issue of manual scavenging to the

Karnataka High Court – say: “These dehumanising (definitions) are the very practice due to which the manual scavenging community has been stigmatised, ostracised and discriminated. (it) is now being proudly promoted as a ‘career option’.”

Furthermore, employing persons under these definitions have been made punishable with imprisonment under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, the advocates say.

‘Inhuman practice’ They also point to the Supreme Court order (dated March 27, 2014) in the Safai Karamchari Andolan vs Union of

India case, where the court observes that handling human excrements with bare hands, brooms or metal scrappers or in baskets is an “inhuman practice,” while in November 2008, the Chennai High Court had directed that the cleaning of sewage could only be through mobile mechanical pumps or other devices.

Acknowledging that the description did indeed become promotion of manual scavenging, M. Shivanna, Chairperson, National Safai Karamchari Commission, said: “This is definitely wrong, and amounts to promoting such activities.

Though we have been insisting that Sucking and Jetting Machines should be used, the website implies that descending into manholes is also a part of the job.”

Only 8.15% of Indians are graduates, Census data show Despite a big increase in college attendance, especially among

women, fewer than one out of every 10 Indians is a graduate, new Census data show.

Over the weekend, the office of the Census Commissioner and Registrar-General of India released new numbers on the level of education achieved by Indians as of 2011.

They show that with 6.8 crore graduates and above, India still has more than six times as many illiterates.

While rural India accounts for only a third of all graduates, the rate

of increase in graduates was faster in rural than in urban India over the last decade, and fastest of all among rural women.

From 26 lakh graduates 10 years ago, nearly 67 lakh rural women are now graduates. Rural Indians are more likely to have non-technical graduate degrees than urban Indians, while urban India accounts for 80 per cent of all Indian technology and medicine

graduates. Among those with a graduate degree or above, the majority (over 60

per cent) are those who have a non-technical graduate degree.

ECONOMY NEWS Sri Lankan govt. signs pact with Google The Sri Lankan government signed an agreement with Google to cover the entire country with affordable high-speed

Internet. The coverage of the country would be accomplished, using Google Loon’s balloon technology. According to Foreign,

Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Sri Lanka will hopefully become the very first country in the world to have network connectivity cover the entire country.

Government Notifies Composite Cap for Foreign Investment


Sectors like insurance, pension, retail and pharmaceuticals will benefit from introduction of composite cap in the FDI

policy which came into effect from July 30.

In all these sectors, foreign portfolio investors can invest up to 49 per cent under automatic route.

The government notified changes in the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy under which there will be a composite

cap on overseas investment in various sectors, except in banking and defence segments.

The other sectors which will be benefited from this concept include scientific journals, facsimile edition of foreign news

papers, tea plantation and mining and mineral separation of titanium.

At present, 100 per cent foreign investment under government approval route is permitted in these sectors, except

insurance and pension, where the cap is 49 per cent.

However in case of FDI, a foreign investor is required to obtain government approval above 26 per cent, though there

isno such restriction on portfolio investments.

The press note further said that portfolio investment up to 49 per cent, subject to the sectoral ceiling, will not need

government approval, if they do not result in transfer of ownership or control from Indian citizens to non-Indian

entities.

Under the modified norms, all types of direct and indirect overseas investments, whether portfolio or FDI, will be

subject to a composite foreign investment cap for that particular sector.

"There will not no sub-limits of portfolio investment and other kinds of foreign investments in commodity exchanges,

credit information companies, infrastructure companies in securities market and power exchanges," the press note

issued by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion said.

However, in private sector banking, it said, there will be a sub-limit of 49 per cent on portfolio investment within the

overall foreign investment limit of 74 per cent.

Similarly, in case of defence sector, the portfolio investment has been capped at 24 per cent under the automatic

route.

The private sector banks such as HDFC bank, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank and Kotak Mahindra bank have space for more

portfolio investments as the current FII investment in these banks are 32.45 per cent, 40.25 per cent, 44 per cent and

35.32 per cent respectively as on June 15.

The press note further said that funds flow through debt instruments like Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds

(FCCBs) and Depository Receipts (DRs) will not be treated as foreign investment till they are converted into equity.

It clarified that the equity holding by a person resident outside India resulting from conversion of debt instrument will

be reckoned as foreign investment.

The Cabinet had earlier in July approved introduction of concept of composite caps with a view to simplify FDI policy

and attract foreign investments.

Tata brand retains number 1 position

The Tata brand retained its number 1 position as India’s in this year’s annual study conducted by the U.K. based

Brand Finance, a leading brand valuation consultancy.

However, the Tata brand value was a little slow this year with a 4 per cent increase over 2014.

“Tata is the world’s 65th most valuable brand. Tata is India’s leading brand by a long way on almost every measure. It

is the only truly global mega brand originating in India, but there is a new generation of Indian brands following in

Tata’s footsteps,” said Brand Finance, a leading global brand valuation and strategy consultancy said.

The top 10 Indian brands include Tata Group (brand value $15378 million), State Bank of India ($6,563 million), LIC

($4,927 m), Airtel ($4,524 m), Reliance ($3,663 m), Indian Oil ($3,493 m), Infosys ($3,414 m), L&T ($3,235 m), HCL

($3,148 m), ONGC ($2,899 m).

Twenty per cent of the brands in this year’s Brand Finance India 100 list are new entries. They are from e-commerce,

pharma, auto, telecom, heavy engineering and banking sectors.

The new entrants in the top 100 list include Essar (11th rank with brand value of $2,747 m), United Spirits (22nd

rank $1,337 m), Marico (36 rank $725 m), and Future Retail (43 rank $493 m).

The other brands include Berger Paints, Bharat Heavy Electricals, Micromax, Nerolac, Shree Cement, Aircel, IndusInd

Bank, Voltas, TVS Motor, Royal Enfield, Pidilite, Flipkart, Dr. Reddy’s Lab, Sun Pharma, Sun TV and Piramal

Enterprises.

This bodes well for the success of Indian industry and demonstrates a growing competitiveness, though established,

top-ranked companies will now have to pay ever closer attention to the value of their brands. Continued investment in

customer relationships, technology, advertising and brand strategy will be imperative to stay on top.

“There is increasing competition for places in the Top 100. Emerging sectors like e-commerce, telecommunications,

technology companies, banking services are particularly competitive,” Ajimon Francis, CEO, Brand Finance India

said.


“Staying in the premier league of brands will require a world beating product or service, differentiation and a strong

vision and mission, including a strong ethical stance. Royal Enfield, Flipkart, Micromax and Sun Pharma are all

potentially world beating powerhouse brands,” he added.

Thomas Cook (India) buys Sri Lankan firm

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. has acquired Sri Lanka-based destination management company Luxe Asia through its

wholly-owned subsidiary Thomas Cook Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. The company will be operated as an independent entity.

Thomas Cook (India) is a part of Canadian Investor of Indian origin Prem Watsa led Fairfax Financial Holdings.

“Our acquisition of Luxe Asia reiterates delivery of our strategic intent of establishing a global Destination

Management presence. Luxe Asia will continue to focus on its core domain of inbound tourism across key global

source markets,” Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) said.

Based in Sri Lanka, Luxe Asia is focussed on inbound tourism from key global markets and services both tour

operator and traveller segments across its ten destinations in the Indian Ocean Region and Asia.

Meanwhile, Thomas Cook (India) has entered into a marketing alliance with home shopping network SHOP CJ

Network Pvt. Ltd. to promote its ‘Holiday Savings Account’, a holiday solution for India’s middle class travellers.

Centre to pump Rs. 70,000 cr. into PSU banks The Modi government announced a big-bucks boost to investments in the economy. Union Finance Minister Arun

Jaitley told Parliament that the Centre will over the next four years infuse Rs.70, 000 crore out of budgetary allocations into state-owned banks.

Later, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha told reporters that the proposed National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) that the Union Cabinet had approved earlier will make equity investments of Rs. 20,000

crore every year in commercially viable long gestation projects which will help to kick-start the economy. The Centre will own 49 per cent of this new Mumbai-based fund, which won’t be answerable to Parliament nor

audited by the CAG. It will be run on a commercial basis by managers, who will be paid globally competitive salaries.

Hong Kong fines SBI for anti money-laundering lapses The Hong Kong central bank said it has fined State Bank of India's Hong Kong branch HK$7.5 million ($1 million) for

breaching the city's anti money-laundering and counter terrorism financing rules. The fine marks the first time the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has taken disciplinary action under Hong

Kong's Anti Money-Laundering Ordinance brought into force in 2012. The HKMA said between April 2012 and November 2013 State Bank of India (SBI) Hong Kong failed to perform a

series of key anti money-laundering checks, including doing due diligence on 28 corporate customers, monitoring existing business relationships, and verifying whether its customers were politically exposed persons.

Besides paying the fine, the bank must also submit an independent report to the HKMA, which is Hong Kong's banking regulator, outlining the remedial action it will take to tackle these internal control failings, it said.

"It is important to note that neither the HKMA nor the external consultants found any instances of problem accounts or suspicious transactions during the period in question, or the years following," SBI said in a statement.

The HKMA has stepped up efforts to crack down on money laundering in recent years following fears raised by international regulators that the city's controls were not strong enough.

HDFC Bank’s new initiative

HDFC Bank has launched ‘Dhanchayat’, an educational film to raise awareness on the dangers of borrowing money

from unorganised sources.

This film has been launched under the aegis of Swachh Banking, the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR)

initiative.

As part of Swachh Banking, HDFC Bank-branded Dhanchayat video vans will travel across the country covering

thousands of villages.

Through the film, the bank will showcase to the rural population the importance of transparency in dealings as also

the dignity and self-respect of the individual in the borrowing process.

Centre disowns Indian Financial Code draft The Modi government stepped back from the controversy surrounding the draft Indian Financial Code (IFC) that seeks

to dilute the Reserve Bank’s powers to regulate the foreign exchange and government bond markets and set monetary policy.

Briefing reporters, Union Finance Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi disowned the proposals in the draft, saying they do not

reflect the government’s views but his statement only served to further deepen the controversy. “The people of India own the draft not the Government or the FSLRC [Financial Sector Legislative Reforms

Commission]…we only compiled the suggestions received on the FSLRC recommendations,” Mr. Mehrishi said.


He was responding to reports in which the FSLRC head, Justice Srikrishna, categorically said: “The revised draft of the IFC is FSLRC’s recommendation as modified by the government of India…it is neither my view nor is it FSLRC’s view…it reflects the government’s view.”

The statements of Mr. Mehrishi and Justice Srikrishna imply nobody wants to take ownership of the proposals the Finance Ministry posted on its website for public comments.

SCIENCE AND TECH Kalyani group ties up with Rafael to make Spike missiles In a move that will further deepen India-Israel

strategic cooperation, Rafael of Israel and India’s Kalyani Group are forming a manufacturing joint

venture (JV) to produce Spike Anti-Tank Guided

Missiles (ATGM) in India and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) will be the system integrator.

Spike is a third generation, fire-and-forget, man-portable, anti-tank missile. In all, about 40,000 missiles are required to equip the Army’s 382 infantry battalions and 44 mechanised regiments.

In October last year the Defence Acquisition Council chaired by then Defence Minister Arun Jaitley had cleared the Spike ATGM deal worth Rs. 3,200 crore deal for 8,000 plus missiles, 300 plus launchers and requisite transfer of technology to an Indian firm. The U.S. had lobbied hard for its Javelin missiles with offer of joint development and production of next generations missiles for use by both countries.

The companies are in talks with the Telangana government to procure land to set up a manufacturing facility in Hyderabad as BDL’s missile unit is located there. The JV will conform to the Foreign Direct Investment guidelines with 51% ownership held by the Kalyani Group.

A robot in single-minded pursuit of picking things up

Toyota’s new robot that glides around is devoted to a single task — picking things up.

It doesn’t have other tricks in its repertoire, except for a computer panel on its head for surfing the Internet. A person

can also access the robot from another computer and use it like a camera phone.

Kouichi Ikeda, its engineer, is serious about using it to help around regular homes. First, people with disabilities, and

then for the elderly in general. Picking up is especially challenging for people with spinal disorders and other ailments

that hamper the ability to stoop down and grab, he said.

“Although it can only do one simple task of picking up, it’s already making disabled people quite happy. We’re just

getting started, but eventually we want it to enter people’s homes,” Mr. Kouichi said at an exhibition of health-care

technology in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo.

Nearly 40 per cent of Japan’s population will be 65 or older by 2060, and with the rest of the developed world and

some developing nations following that track, Toyota is banking on the demand for robot helpers to grow.

“People feel more comfortable asking a robot to pick up after them than asking a human helper,” said Tadashi

Hatakenaka, manager and engineer at the Yokohama Rehabilitation Centre.

A robot like HSR is also ideal to replace service dogs, which go through special training to help people with various

disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs, have balance issues or may be prone to seizures, he said.

Toyota came up with the basic concept model for HSR in 2012.

The revamped model, announced, is ready to enter universities, research facilities and businesses from next year, in

partnerships to develop more applications, so the robot can enter homes as quickly as possible.

One drawback is cost. Mass production is needed for the price to come down. The 135-cm-tall robot has several

cameras, including two on its head that look like its eyes, and sensors on its body. It scoots quietly around in all

directions.

Unlike those of the robotic arms at auto-assembly plants, HSR’s grip and bumps are designed to be soft so they can’t

hurt anyone. But it can pick up items weigh up to 1.2 kg.

There was no attempt to make its design cute, like the Pepper childlike robot that recently went for sale in Japan from

Japanese Internet Company Softbank Corp.Toyota has long been working on robots.

Spinal cord stimulation helps the paralysed A new non-invasive procedure that stimulates the spinal cord has been found successful in making five completely

paralysed men move their legs in a rhythmic motion.


“These findings tell us we have to look at spinal cord injury in a new way,” said senior author of the research V. Reggie Edgerton, professor at University of California, Los Angeles.

Edgerton said although it likely will be years before the new approaches are widely available, he now believes that it is possible to significantly improve quality of life for patients with severe spinal cord injuries, and to help them recover multiple body functions.

Vaccine developed to fight Ebola The Ebola virus is likely to be eradicated once for all as a new vaccine developed against the disease by Public Health

Agency of Canada has shown 100 % efficiency in a trial that was carried out in Guinea. The preliminary data extracted from the vaccination of 4,000 people suggest that the vaccine “works to protect”

humans from the Ebola attack. The scientific accomplishment, which has been authenticated by the medical journal, The Lancet , is likely to bring

the West African epidemic to an end. Bertrand Draguez, Medical Director at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), who led the platform on experimental tools for

Ebola, told The Lancet that the magnitude of emergency caused by Ebola should “lead us to continue using this vaccine right now to protect those who might get exposed to the disease.”

“This is an extremely promising development,” said Margarat Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “This credit goes to Guinean government, the people living in the communities and our partners in this

project.”

Since the epidemic is sporadic, breaking out in a few “hotspots” of West Africa, the trial was jointly performed by Guinean authorities, WHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

A dummy virus (vesicular stomatitis virus, or VSV) was designed with diluted elements of Ebola. As the risk-free virus enters a human body, it alarms the immune system, which launches a scathing attack on the intruder, killing it along with the deadly Ebola virus.

Until July 26, about 11,279 people have died from 27, 748 Ebola infected cases in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The scientists have deployed “the ring” vaccination methodology in the vaccine trial, which means, 4000 people who

had had a minimum or a maximum contact with 100 diseased persons were vaccinated with VSV. The scientists observed that the vaccinated community blocked the virus. One person complained about fever, which

wasn’t worrying since it subsided naturally.

Guinea’s gift to world “This is Guinea’s gift to West Africa and the world,” said Dr. Sakoba Keita, Guinea’s national coordinator for the Ebola

response. “The thousands of volunteers from Conakry and other areas of Lower Guinea, but also the many Guinean doctors, data managers and community mobilisers have contributed to finding a line of defence against a terrible disease.”

Pat on the Back Helps Inattentive Kids Perform Better A little praise or reward improves the performance of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on

certain cognitive tasks - more so than they would for typically developing kids, says a new study. "Kids with ADHD showed more improvement because they are more motivated by the opportunity to gain rewards, not

because they simply did worse from the beginning," said one of the researchers Whitney Fosco from the University at Buffalo in the US.

The study examined two leading theories on ADHD, combining what previous work had mostly looked at separately. One of those theories suggests that lower-than-average cognitive abilities contribute to symptoms associated with

ADHD, such as inattentiveness. The other theory favours motivation over ability, focusing on whether kids with ADHD have an increased sensitivity to

reward.

"You cannot say kids with ADHD respond more to reinforcement because they were doing poorly to begin with," Hawk said.

"We showed that was not true. It was greater motivation to obtain external rewards that drove the effects we observed," Hawk noted.

Scientists can now forecast flu outbreaks

Just like weather forecasting, scientists can now predict the timing and intensity of influenza outbreaks in subtropical

climates, where flu seasons can occur at different times and more than once during a year.

Since the 2013-2014 seasons, scientists of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health have publish0ed

weekly regional flu forecasts for over 100 cities in the US.

Their system employs a computer model to generate multiple simulations that mimic the behaviour of an outbreak

and are then knit together to generate an overall prediction.

In the new study, the researchers used data from a network of 50 outpatient clinics and laboratory reports in Hong

Kong from 1998 to 2013 as a test case to retrospectively generate weekly flu forecasts.

The system was able to forecast both the peak timing and peak magnitude for 44 epidemics in 16 years caused by

individual influenza strains, including influenza A (H3N2), influenza B, and both seasonal and the 2009 pandemic

outbreaks of influenza A (H1N1).


The technique predicted the peak timing of the outbreak three weeks in advance of the actual peak with accuracy as

high as 93 per cent.

Prediction accuracy varied depending on the strength of the outbreak and how far in advance the prediction was

made.

Seasonal influenza outbreaks in temperate climates like the US are restricted to the winter months. By contrast,

outbreaks in the subtropics such as Hong Kong happen year-round.

China telescope can be 'sensitive ear' to sounds from universe

China's new radio telescope, stated as the worlds largest could become Earth's "big sensitive ear" to listen to subtle

sounds from the distant universe, decoding cosmic messages.

The USD 196 million telescope, with a dish area as large as 30 football fields and expected to be ready by next year, is

being built in a hollow formed in the mountainous Guizhou Province due to collapse of a karst cave 45 million years

ago.

The telescope is to be connected to China's super computer. Once completed, the Five-hundred-metre Aperture

Spherical radio Telescope or "FAST" will overtake Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory, which is 305 metres in diameter.

It will be 10 times more sensitive than the steerable 100-metre telescope near Bonn, Germany, said Zhang Haiyan,

deputy director of the general office of the FAST Project.

FAST will enable astronomers to jumpstart many science goals, said Nan Rendong, chief scientist of the FAST Project,

and a researcher with the Chinese National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

For example, they could survey natural hydrogen in distant galaxies, detect faint pulsars, look for the first star

shining, or even hear possible signals from other civilisations.

Chen Xuelei, a specialist in dark matter and dark energy research at the National Astronomical Observatories of

China, said FAST could do large-scale surveys for HI emissions from galaxies, which would help understand the state

of dark energy and the speed of cosmic expansion.

Perhaps, the most exciting goal of FAST is the search for other life. Instead of searching for life per se, scientists are

looking for the molecules that constitute life, Xinhua quoted Chinese scientists as saying.

Scientists have found about 180 kinds of molecules in space, including carbonic oxide, ammonia, and methanol.

Li Di - who is a scientist at National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences - estimates that in two

or three years, scientists could find amino acid, the foundation block of life.

Li is positive that one day people will find life on other planets or galaxies. "Just like eating and sleeping, curiosity

about space is a basic instinct of human beings."

10-year-old boy invents blood test kit A 10-year-old diabetic boy in Australia has used a 3D printer to develop a blood test strip disposal unit and his

invention may even win him a trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in the US. William Grame, who has been suffering from type-1 diabetes for three years, has to prick his finger to test his blood

sugar levels up to 10 times per day. This requires the use of a new test strip each time, and their disposal was becoming a problem.

“The blood test strips are little and fiddly, I get in trouble for leaving them in test kit or lying around the house,” Grame told.

The small and lightweight disposal unit has been measured to fit any diabetes kit. The blood test strips can be fed

into the disposal unit directly without being touched. Grame has entered his invention into Origin’s little BIG idea competition, a competition in Australia that aims to

foster creativity and innovation in young students. The winner of the competition will get a chance to visit NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre .

Now, 3 more super-Earths discovered A new 'secret' planetary system that includes three super-Earths and one outer giant planet has been discovered by

astronomers at a distance of just 21 light years from Earth.

Named HD219134, the system in the constellation Cassiopeia hosts one outer giant planet and three inner superEarths, one of which transits in front of the star and has a density similar to the Earth's.

It is by far the closest transiting planet known today, researchers said.HARPS-N, designed and built by an international consortium and installed at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo in Spain's La Palma Island unveiled the exceptional planetary system around HD219134.

The star, a 5th magnitude K dwarf, slightly colder and less massive than our Sun, is so bright that we can follow it with a naked eye from dark skies, next to one leg of the W-shape Cassiopeia constellation, all year round in our boreal hemisphere, researchers said.

The cortege of planets composed of three mostly rocky super-Earths and an outer giant planet, a configuration reminiscent of our own Solar System, they said.

"When the first HARPS-N ra dial-velocity measurement indicated the presence of a 3 day planet around HD219134 we asked NASA for Spitzer space telescope to check for a potential transit of the planet in front of the star, a mini eclipse,


that would allow us to measure the size of the planet," said Ati Motalebi, astronomer at University of Geneva and lead author of the paper describing the discovery.

The mass of the planet obtained from the ground based radial velocities, combined with the planet radius derived from space observations with Spitzer, yield the mean density of the planet.

HD219134b was found to be 4.5 times more massive than the Earth and 1.6 times larger, what planet hunters call a super-Earth.

Its mean density is close to the density of the Earth, suggesting a possibly similar composition as well. The team also discovered three additional longer-period planets in the system from the HARPS-N radial velocities.

NASA ready to halt traffic jams at Mars With five active spacecrafts now orbiting the Red Planet, including one from India, Nasa has beefed up traffic

monitoring, communication and manoeuvre to ensure that the Mars orbiters do not collide with one another. The newly-enhanced collision-avoidance system accurately warns if two orbiters approach each other too closely.

Currently, all the Mars orbiters use the communication and tracking services of Nasa's Deep Space Network, which helps bring trajectory information together and engineers can run computer projections of future trajectories out to a few weeks ahead for comparisons.

"Previously, collision avoidance was coordinated between the Odyssey and MRO navigation teams. There was a less possibility of an issue," Nasa's Robert Shotwell said.

India foils U.K. firm’s bid to patent Ayurvedic mix India has once again foiled an attempt by a major European major dermaceutical company to take patent on a

medicinal composition containing turmeric, pine bark and green tea for treating hair loss. “India once again has been successful in protecting its traditional knowledge by preventing an attempt made by

Europe’s leading dermaceutical laboratory — Pangaea Laboratories Limited, to take patent on a medicinal composition containing turmeric, pine bark and green tea for treating hair loss,” a statement issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology said.

Traditional Knowledge Digital Library located the patent application filed at European Patent Office by Pangaea Laboratories Limited and filed pre-grant opposition along with prior-art evidences from TKDL, proving that turmeric, pine bark and green tea, are being used for treating hair loss, since long in Ayurveda and Unani.

GENES MAY BE TO BLAME FOR CEREBRAL PALSY Scientists have uncovered strong evidence for genetic causes of cerebral palsy — the most common cause of physical

disability in children.

ENVIRONMENT NEWS India under pressure to declare emission targets Ahead of the UN climate summit in Paris in December this year, India is under growing pressure to announce its

Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), containing emission reductions targets, at the earliest date. Sources say both the U.S. and French negotiators are keen that India makes some sort of announcement when Prime

Minister Narendra Modi travels to the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. The negotiators said they are hopeful that most of the climate agreement text would be ready by October.

“We are looking forward to India for leadership on the climate action front,” said Ms. Tubiana, special representative of Laurent Fabius, the French minister of foreign affairs and international development, for the Paris Climate 2015 conference (COP21). While France cannot impose the domestic commitment of various countries - each country will have to commit to its own set of goals for reducing global warming, so as to maintain the global temperature rise to within 2 degrees celcius,

In March this year, the European Union announced its INDCs of at least a 40 per cent domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2030. India is yet to make its contributions clear.

Sources say the government told the visiting French negotiators that India’s current priority is to give access to energy to about 300 million people, which cannot be achieved without the use of coal. Switching to a low-carbon economic model for developing countries like India would require access to cheap capital by way of climate financing.

“The G20 summit happening in Turkey in November, a little ahead of the Paris summit, might be a good forum to

discuss some of the climate-financing related issues,” Ms. Tubiana said.

AWARDS Whistleblower, activist win Magsaysay Award Whistleblower officer Sanjeev Chaturvedi and human rights activist Anshu Gupta are among the five winners of the

Ramon Magsaysay Award this year. “Thank you, this is a great honour and a clear message for the political establishment that deliberately trying to

impede the truth is ultimately unfruitful,” Mr. Chaturvedi told. Mr. Gupta said: “ I am happy that we have been able to change many lives.”

Sanjeev Chaturvedi is a 2002-batch Indian Forest Service officer who is fighting a protracted battle with the Centre over alleged harassment for his tough stance on corruption during his tenure as Chief Vigilance Officer of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.


In a statement, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation said Mr. Chaturvedi had been selected for “his exemplary integrity, courage and tenacity in uncompromisingly exposing and painstakingly investigating corruption in public office, and his resolute crafting of program and system improvements to ensure that government honourably serves the people of India.”

The statement said Anshu Gupta, founder of the non-governmental organisation Goonj, was being recognised for “his creative vision in transforming the culture of giving in India, his enterprising leadership in treating cloth as a sustainable development resource for the poor, and in reminding the world that true giving always respects and preserves human dignity.”

Mr. Gupta left his corporate job to start the non-profit organisation in 1999.

Other winners Kommaly Chanthavong from Laos has been recognised for her efforts to develop the ancient Laotian art of silk

weaving, Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa from the Philippines for “her single-minded crusade in preserving the endangered artistic heritage of southern Philippines”.

Kyaw Thu from Myanmar, the statement said, is being recognised for “his generous compassion in addressing the fundamental needs of both the living and the dead in Myanmar.”

PLACE IN NEWS

Landslide kills 20 in Manipur

Twenty people were killed in a landslide triggered by heavy incessant rain at Zoumoal village in Manipur’s Chandel

district, police said.

Chandel Superintendent of Police Herojit Singh said 20 people were killed in the landslide at the village under the

Khangbarol sub-division of the district.

He said that a police team has been sent to the spot which is located near Indo-Myanmar border.

PERSONS IN NEWS Anuradha Roy, Sahota on Booker longlist Indian writer Anuradha Roy and British-Indian Sunjeev Sahota are among the 13 international authors on the longlist

for the Man Booker Prize of 2015, the prize committee said. Ms. Roy has been selected for Sleeping on Jupiter, her third novel, and Mr. Sahota for The Year of the Runaways, the

committee said. “We had a great time choosing this list. Discussions weren’t always peaceful, but they were always very friendly,”

Michael Wood, chair of the committee, said.

Sleeping on Jupiter has received glowing reviews for its attempt at exposing the hypocrisies of Indian society, while The Year of the Runaways has been praised for its tale of Indian migrant workers living in Britain.

The judges were struck by the international spectrum of the novels, with the list featuring British and American writers and those from the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria and Jamaica.

Marlon James, who currently lives in Minneapolis, is the first Jamaican-born author to be nominated and Laila Lalami, based in Santa Monica but born in Rabat, is the first Moroccan-born.

The debut novelists on the list are Bill Clegg (Did You Ever Have a Family), Chigozie Obioma ( The Fishermen ) and Anna Smaill ( The Chimes ).

The former Booker winner Anne Enright is on the list for The Green Road.

SPORTS Ishchenko sets new record with 21st medal Russia's Natalia Ishchenko became the most decorated synchronised swimmer of all time as she won her 21st major

medal by taking gold in the individual freestyle at the world championships in Kazan. Ischenko racked up a score of 97.2333 to relegate China's Huang Xuechen into silver position on 95.7000, while

Spaniard Ona Carbonell claimed bronze on 94.9000pts. The 29-year-old from Smolensk is a three-time Olympic champion and won the first of her 18 world titles in 2005. She

is also a nine-time European champion.

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin receives Arjuna Award India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was presented the Arjuna Award, which was conferred on him last year, by

the sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal in New Delhi. The 28-year-old Ashwin, who has taken 124 wickets in 25 Tests, 139 in 99 ODIs and 26 wickets in 25 T20

internationals, was expressed his delight after receiving the prestigious award. "The journey has been pretty good so far. I have been very lucky, in a lot of aspects I thank God for that. To a greater

degree I just played for the country and felt that I was very lucky and then to be conferred the Arjuna award from the Sports Minister is a big honour. I hope I serve the country in a better fashion and get more awards," Ashwin told reporters.

He became the fastest bowler in 80 years to complete 100 wickets in his 19th Test in November 2013 against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium, which was the farewell game of Sachin Tendulkar.


The Chennai-born tweaker overtook the previous Indian record of one of the members of the famed spin quartet --off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna -- to reach the 100-wicket mark in one fewer Test.

The others who received the award in 2014 are Abhishek Verma (Archery), Tintu Luka (Athletics), H.N. Girisha (Para-Athletics), V. Diju (Badminton), Geetu Anna Jose (Basketball), Jai Bhagwan (Boxing), Anirban Lahiri (Golf), Mamta Pujari (Kabaddi), Saji Thomas (Rowing), Heena Sidhu (Shooting), Anaka Alankamony (Squash), Tom Joseph (Volleyball), Renu Bala Chanu (Weightlifting), Sunil Kumar Rana (Wrestling).

Saini creates history

Golfer Ranveer Singh Saini created history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal at the Special Olympics

World Games.

The 14-year-old autistic golfer achieved the feat in the GF golf-level 2 alternate shot team play event.

Ranveer and his partner Monica Jajoo were nine shots clear of joint second-placed teams from Hong Kong (Tsz Leung

Chung & Ka Kit Lam) and Japan (Takefumi Hiyoshi & Tadatoshi Sakai).

'Frisbee' Is Now an Olympic Sport The sport of flying disc, popularly known as 'frisbee', has been officially recognised as an Olympic sport by the

International Olympic Committee (IOC). The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) was granted full recognition after it met all the criteria to become an

Olympic sport.

WFDF president Robert Rauch expressed his happiness, saying it was an incredible milestone in the 30-year history of WFDF and a further important step for their international federation in the development of their sport worldwide, Sport24 reported.

The announcement was made at the 128th IOC session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Disc-based sport became popular in the 1960s and 70s and the WFDF now governs several events including

Ultimate Frisbee, Beach Ultimate and field events.

OPINION Inhuman and unconscionable Judicial finality need not necessarily mean that India should hang Yakub Memon. Even in this situation, as his life

hangs on the slender thread of a fresh mercy plea to the President, is the irreversible and inhuman sentence of death the only recourse for a democratic government?

Carrying out the sentence will only have the appearance of a justice that is retributive and vengeful, not substantial or morally different from the very offence that gave rise to the proceedings.

In recent times, we saw the horrific judicial murder of Afzal Guru, who was hanged in secret without a final opportunity for his family to meet him, marking an unprecedented abandonment of morality on the part of the state.

It was only in apparent cognisance of this that the Supreme Court ruled early last year that a formal communication to the convict and his family, intimation to the local legal aid centre and a clear gap of 14 days between the communication and the execution were necessary.

Further, there are bound to be questions each time someone is hanged or spared. Even in the Mumbai blasts case,

the 10 men sentenced to death by the trial court for planting the explosives were given only life terms by the Supreme Court on appeal, while Yakub Memon alone was awarded the death penalty.

Such distinctions may seem arbitrary to the layman. As also, the revelation that the Memon family may have been induced to return to India will cast a shadow on the legitimacy of hanging a man who cooperated with Indian agencies.

The debate on the need and desirability of retaining the death penalty has been overshadowed by much intellectual exertion on the nature of the crime involved, its gravity, its heinousness and the fatalities it caused. The time has come to end this debate once and for all by ascending to a moral position that there shall be no death penalty on the statute book, regardless of the heinousness of the offence, the circumstances or the number of fatalities involved.

Anyone following closely the evolution of the law on death sentences and the clemency jurisdiction in India will understand that the Supreme Court is making it more and more difficult for the executive to carry out death sentences.

It has evolved a jurisprudence that limits capital punishment to the ‘rarest of rare cases’, allowed a post-appeal review as well as a curative petition, and made decisions on appeals for mercy justiciable.

It has laid down a cast-iron rule against undue delay in disposing of such mercy pleas, and it has humanised the process by repeatedly intervening in favour of condemned prisoners, often at the very last minute.

A truly lasting solution to the moral dilemma that each instance of capital punishment poses will be to abolish it altogether and replace it with a sentence of imprisonment for the rest of the convict’s life. The quality of mercy is not strained.

The President, under Article 72 of the Constitution, has the power to grant pardon, and to suspend, remit or commute sentences. To not exercise this expansive power in the service of mercy would be inhuman and unconscionable.

Clearing roadblocks

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has taken one more step towards the implementation of the Goods and

Services Tax, set to come into effect in April 2016, by dealing with several issues regarding the regime that have, in

the past, served as substantial roadblocks to its implementation.


The first of these has to do with the quantum of compensation to be paid to the States in case the revenue generated

as GST falls short of what they have so far been earning through the existing tax system.

Earlier, the Central government had agreed to provide the States compensation at the rate of 100 per cent for three

years, 75 per cent in the fourth year, and 50 per cent in the fifth year.

However, in June 2015 the States raised a fresh demand of full compensation for all five years, which at the time the

Centre termed as a move that could potentially delay the roll-out of GST as scheduled.

Another major sticking point was the 1 per cent additional tax on the supply of goods. This provision was added to the

Bill on the insistence of the States that lead on the manufacturing front.

They had argued that they should be compensated for the investment they had already made in manufacturing

infrastructure.

Many States opposed this additional tax saying, perhaps rightly, that it went against the spirit of the GST system and

that it would have a cascading impact on prices.

In fact, even Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian had at the time warned of the negative impact of the

additional tax. The question to be asked is, what is the point of implementing a consolidated tax, only to have

piecemeal levies added to it?

The Cabinet on Wednesday cleared an amendment by which the States will get to fulfil their wish of full compensation

for five years, a move that should bring most of them on board without any of the reservations they currently hold.

Regarding the 1 per cent additional tax, the Cabinet took a more circumspect route, exempting stock transfers within

grou p companies from the additional tax on inter-State supplies, but keeping the overall tax in place. That issue may

still see some resistance from some States.

These nevertheless represent significant steps towards the implementation of GST by the April 2016 deadline, as they

are solutions to the most significant hurdles faced by the Bill.

The government and the Cabinet must be commended on their speedy handling of these issues since GST represents

one of the most significant rounds of tax reform to be implemented, and it has the potential to benefit all those

involved — the Centre, the States, the private sector, and consumers.

A right and the reality The decision of the expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court to allow a minor, who was raped, to undergo an

abortion after 24 weeks of gestation, is a welcome one. And doctors thus initiated the procedure on the young person. In referring the case to the panel, the court looked

beyond the rule book, while treating the right to life as a revered constitutional principle. Is the right to life absolutely inviolate?

Earlier this week the court allowed the three-member committee to decide whether the appellant, a 14-year-old, could undergo the abortion if it was “immediately necessary to save the life of the mother”.

One of the judges wondered about the future of the foetus, practically in the sixth month of gestation. Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971 it is legal for a registered medical practitioner to do the procedure within 20 weeks of gestation if “the continuance of the pregnancy would involve a risk to the life of the pregnant woman or of grave injury [to] physical or mental health.”

In cases of rape, the law says, the anguish caused by pregnancy shall be presumed to constitute a grave injury to the mental health of the woman. In the case of a person below 18, the decision should be taken by a guardian.

All such extenuating circumstances are applicable in this case — except that the appellant is a minor, and it is four

weeks too late under the law. Obstetricians hold that while considering an abortion, a period of four more weeks does not really make a material difference.

Going through with a pregnancy after a rape and having to raise a baby, could be extremely traumatic. Technological options for medical termination of pregnancy are far more advanced today than in earlier days, and the procedure, if done in a hospital setting with adequate support, can be safe enough for the mother.

In fact, in cases where major fetal anomalies are detected at an advanced stage of pregnancy, termination is being

done even up to 32 weeks, taking into account the health of mother and baby. Delivered at 24 weeks, a foetus will be extremely pre-term, with the possibility of developing major disabilities. On the

count of the age of the survivor, there is a precedent, too: in a 1993 judgment, a Bench of the Madras High Court held that minors who are mature enough to understand the consequences of opting or not opting for an abortion must be allowed to make their own decisions.

The state, ultimately, needs to look at its role in protecting the right to life from an expansive point of view. For the law is, obviously, more than the sum of its rules.

Mapping the future The maps of India and Bangladesh were redrawn in the quiet of the night of July 31, much to the relief of the over

50,000 near-stateless persons living in 162 enclaves in the two countries. Unlike in 1947 or 1971, bloodshed didn’t mark the making of the new borders. Nor has it involved the transfer of large

populations. The peaceful transfer of land between neighbours is a significant triumph for diplomacy in the region.


The governments in Dhaka and New Delhi can justifiably claim credit for burying a legacy of Partition that had been kept alive by self-serving politicians in the name of nationalism.

For the residents of the enclaves, the settlement will help realise the full meaning of citizenship. They will now be able to access public services of their country — electricity, schools, hospitals, drinking water — without having to negotiate the border bureaucracy.

But the larger import of the land transfer goes beyond addressing the needs of a small population. The goodwill unleashed by the settlement should drive the two governments to take bilateral relations to the next level.

Trade and transnational connectivity issues must receive more attention. The sharing of rivers has been a sensitive matter in both countries, especially in India, where state governments are not always on the same page as the Centre on the matter.

A radical rethink that approaches rivers as transnational waterways that connect people, facilitate agriculture, trade and economic growth in the region, rather than as limiting markers of regional interest, could help overcome the impasse in water-sharing disputes.

Rivers are the lifeline of the region. Sensitive management of watersheds would be crucial to the prosperity of the millions who live in river basins in both countries.

The Land Boundary Agreement signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Dhaka visit in June was possible because his party reversed its earlier position on the issue and the government could forge a national consensus. This

recalibration of national interest centred on better economic integration of the region shows the way forward.

Vexed issues like smuggling, illegal migration and trafficking remain. Better coordination between border forces, improved intelligence-sharing and a flexible approach in both capitals could help the two governments remove these irritants.

The economic transformation of the region, including India’s northeast, could set to rest the real and imagined fears of migration and resource transfer.

A tale of two deals The finalisation of the P-5+1-Iran nuclear deal coincided with the tenth anniversary of the India-U.S. nuclear deal by

sheer chance. But the two deals, which came ten years apart, reveal American strategy to deal with nuclear proliferation in two distinct situations and two different times. The U.S. appeared to make concessions in both cases, but the deals served their immediate strategic interests.

The objective was to put the nuclear genie back in the bottle in both cases, though it looked positive in the case of India and negative in the case of Iran. The U.S. was alarmed by the weapon tests of India in 1998 even more than the revelation in 2002 of Iran’s nuclear activities.

Imposition of sanctions against India and Iran were swift and severe, once it became clear that India would not sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and Iran would not abandon enrichment.

Crippling sanctions The position of strength the U.S. had in both cases derived from the crippling sanctions that India and Iran feared,

though in the case of India, the sanctions had disappeared for extraneous reasons even before the negotiations on the deal began.

The sanctions were, however, hanging over the head of Jaswant Singh when he negotiated with Strobe Talbott for two years, which actually led to the India-U.S. nuclear deal. Of course, Jaswant Singh pretended that sanctions were not an issue, but Talbott was very specific about the benchmarks to be reached for sanctions to be lifted. Had 26/11 not intervened, sanctions would have been the central issue of the India-U.S. nuclear deal also.

Sitting next to the Iranian Ambassador in the Board of Governors in the early stages of the Iran issue at the IAEA from 2002 to 2004, this writer was aware that Iran’s aspiration was to acquire the status of pre-1998 India.

That was the time when India had an ambivalent position on its nuclear capability, with the option of weaponisation.

Iran was aware that the major difference between the two countries was that India was not a signatory to the NPT, but expected that it could make up for it by hide-and- seek.

Iran expressed readiness to allow inspection of their facilities, but each time the inspectors came back with more questions than answers. The IAEA concluded that there was “something rotten in the state of Denmark” but could not locate the source of the stench.

Iran realized that the game was up when the matter went to the UN Security Council, with the support of India, which

was in the middle of the negotiations for its own deal with the United States. Though the Indian vote was in keeping with the position that India had taken since 2002, it was believed that the

Indian vote was cast at the instance of the United States. The subsequent massive sanctions and the dire situation of the Iranian economy forced Iran to take the bitter medicine of curtailing its nuclear activities to revitalize its economy.

In the case of India, the negotiations were between two countries, which had a long history of engagement, though occasionally estranged. The George W. Bush Administration was merely taking the “next steps” in a strategic partnership established by the Clinton Administration.

In the case of Iran, it was a matter of breaking the ice and proceeding to negotiate a deal, which was hard for a proud nation to swallow. The trust deficit was so great that every detail had to be worked out with sufficient safeguards.

In the case of India, the U.S. was confident enough to accept the reality of its nuclear capability and seek limitations only in the future development of nuclear weapons. In the case of Iran, the effort was to halt and roll back the capability that Iran could acquire.


Liberated Ten years down the line, the India-U.S. nuclear deal looks like a major concession to India, without any concomitant

benefits to the U.S. But at the time of the negotiations, there were multiple levels of political dialogue at the levels of Governments, the U.S. Congress and the members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, all aimed at tying India in knots.

The Hyde Act appeared to circumscribe not only India’s nuclear ambitions, but also its foreign policy itself. But today, India remains unaffected by the political restraints imposed on it. Even after problems arose in nuclear trade between the U.S. and India, there is little acrimony between them on the provisions of the deal. The deal liberated India from the shackles of being a non-signatory of the NPT.

In a sense, the deal has liberated Iran from the threats of war and crippling sanctions, without having to abandon its nuclear programme altogether.

It is more transformational to the region and the world than the India deal. Iran’s new economic freedom and consequential prosperity will propel it to the forefront of the region, posing a challenge to Saudi Arabia and others.

It may even become a partner of the United States and others in their battle against the Islamic State. The Iran deal marked a new beginning in Iran-U.S. relations, while the India deal was a culmination of a process of rapproachment.

The nuclear opening that India gained by the U.S.-India deal fell short of expectations because of the Civil Nuclear Liability Law and the Fukushima disaster, but it played a role in the emergence of India as an economic power. In the case of Iran, the deal will be more transformational for the country and game changing for the world.

Freedom after many midnights Even the sternest of critics of Indian foreign policy will find it a tough task to question some of the diplomatic feats that New Delhi

has managed to notch up of late. The settlement of the dispute related to the maritime boundary with Bangladesh in July 2014, albeit after an intervention by an international tribunal, was one of these.

And as if to mark its anniversary, the long-running land boundary dispute was buried in July. The enclaves on both sides were

exchanged quickly after the required formalities by the midnight of July 31. Settlement of inter-country disputes — especially those that involve sacrifice of territory — are always the most remarkable of achievements, howsoever cordial their relationships might be.

So settling a dispute that involved issues that ran counter to the very opening lines of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations, that recognises ‘equal and inalienable rights’ of the ‘human family’ to ‘freedom, justice and peace’, is a creditable

achievement. Indeed, the enclave issue involved the denial of the right to freedom and justice to many. It had its roots in Partition. Now, as the national flags of the respective countries fly in the 162 former enclaves, it is time for the state to set up the

infrastructure as quickly as possible to mitigate the trauma of citizens who lived without a country for decades. From now on, the

diplomats’ responsibilities are less than those of the local administrative authorities. The enclave question was tossed around for too long and was never seriously acted upon. The obfuscation of justice helped none.

Now the questions of citizenship and legality can be redefined. The ‘illegal Bangladeshis’ of the enclaves — predominantly those from the minority community — have become ‘legal’ because the states felt the time was conducive to award the ‘inalienable right’ to the

poorest of the poor. Perhaps if there were different sets of political parties, leaders or diplomats in both the national capitals, the enclave-dwellers would

still have been considered ‘a security threat’ and arrested across the line, as was being done until just last week. There are more people now crossing continents and concertina wires for survival — more often than not without state-stamped

papers — and thus it may well be the time to recollect and record the memories of our nationals who suffered just for being born in the enclaves.

Maybe what we need now is not a powerful state or a diplomat, but a historian to document the plethora of personal narratives on both sides, which are otherwise bound to be forgotten. For in the words of Tolstoy, “Historians are like deaf people who go on

answering questions that no one has asked them.” As plans go The plan to combat climate change unveiled by US President Barack Obama is unexpectedly ambitious. The Clean Power Plan — the

centre piece of Obama’s strategy — requires power plants to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030.

This is an improvement over the draft regulation released in June last year, which mandated a 30 per cent cut. As bold as that sounds on paper — and in terms of action taken by US leaders, it is indeed unprecedented — the figure appears much less impressive when seen against the downward trajectory emissions are already on, with power plant emissions having declined by 15 per cent between 2005 and 2013.

In practical terms, therefore, this rule will primarily consolidate the shift from coal-fired plants towards cheap natural gas, and hopefully give a fillip to renewable energy.

But the level of opposition even this modest proposal has gathered from the Republicans, many of whom irresponsibly continue to deny the very existence of anthropogenic climate change, and the legal challenges it is bound to face, especially from Republican-

controlled states and the coal lobby, underscore the difficulty of pushing comprehensive climate change legislation through Congress.

Obama’s efforts to pass a cap-and-trade bill in the early years of his presidency encountered stiff resistance in the Senate. Later

attempts have also floundered. This stalemate has not just delayed meaningful action by the US on the environment; it has also been a significant roadblock in

negotiating an international climate change treaty. The US’s feeble efforts have been used as an alibi by emerging economies to explain their inaction on reducing emissions.

Ahead of a pivotal UN summit to conclude a global climate treaty in Paris later this year, the Obama plan signals welcome resolve on the part of one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world.

1 Weekly News and Analysis Byju’s Classes-9873643487 2015CA_005,006,007,008,009,010,011

WEEKLY NEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM 5th TO 11th AUG, 2015

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

S. China Sea tensions flare at ASEAN talks

Southeast Asian diplomats said that China’s controversial island-building drive is raising regional tensions, with the

Philippines slamming its “unilateral and aggressive activities”.

The U.S. and some Southeast Asian states have watched with growing alarm as Beijing expands tiny reefs in the

South China Sea, topping some with military posts to reinforce its disputed claims over the strategic waters and

fanning fears of future conflict.

The flashpoint issue has taken centre-stage at the annual security forum hosted by the 10-member Association of

Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). But China has insisted it will not discuss the dispute during the meetings.

That prompted a sharp rebuke from the Philippines, which, along with Vietnam, has been involved in the most direct

territorial confrontations with China.

Hitting out

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told fellow ASEAN foreign ministers at an afternoon meeting that

“massive reclamation activities” and construction by Beijing in the disputed sea had “undermined peace, security and

stability”. Beijing claims control over nearly all of the sea, a key shipping route thought to hold rich oil and gas

reserves.

Russia bids at U.N. for vast Arctic territories

Russia has submitted its bid for vast territories in the Arctic to the United Nations, the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said in a statement that Russia is claiming 1.2 million square km of Artic sea shelf extending more than

650 km from the shore.

Russia, the U.S., Canada, Denmark and Norway have all been trying to assert jurisdiction over parts of the Arctic,

which is believed to hold up to a quarter of the planet’s undiscovered oil and gas. Rivalry for Arctic resources has

intensified as shrinking polar ice is opening up new opportunities for exploration.

Russia was the first to submit its claim in 2002, but the U.N. sent it back for lack of evidence.

The ministry said that the resubmitted bid contains new arguments. “Ample scientific data collected in years of Arctic

research are used to back the Russian claim,” it said.

Russia expects the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to start looking at its bid in the fall, the

ministry said.

In 2007, Moscow staked a symbolic claim to the Arctic seabed by dropping a canister containing the Russian flag on

the ocean floor from a small submarine at the North Pole. Amid tensions with the West over Ukraine, the Kremlin also

has moved to beef up Russian military forces in the Arctic.

Largest umbrella: China beats India’s record

An umbrella company in China has set a new Guinness Record by creating the world’s largest umbrella. It is 23

metres in diameter, 14.4 metres in height and covers an area of 418 square metres.

World Bank again under fire over ‘diluting’ lending norms A second draft framework of the World Bank, for environmental and social safeguards policies, is said to “vastly

weaken protections for affected communities and the environment at the same time as the bank intends to finance more high-risk projects,” and it could have a serious impact in India, which is the multilateral agency’s largest borrower.

Although the first draft of its safeguards framework, released in July 2014, came under fire from a wide swathe of human rights groups, and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim then committed to ensure that the Bank’s new rules would not “dilute” existing mandatory safeguards, a group of 19 organisations said that the second draft also “pointedly contradicts” Mr. Kim’s promise and calls into question the extent to which the bank has responded to public input.

Further, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), one among the 19 organisations, the proposed new framework would not cover substantial sections of the World Bank‘s portfolio, including rapidly disbursing policy-based lending for environmentally and socially sensitive sectors.

The criticism of the Bank’s second draft framework came scarcely a month after HRW issued a scathing report alleging that Indian government and company officials engaged in widespread use of intimidation, including threats of physical violence and death, against outspoken members of communities that stand to be displaced or otherwise affected by World Bank-financed projects.

It also came weeks after the Bank’s own Inspection Panel hinted at “serious abuses in a World Bank-funded transmission line project in central Nepal,” for which the ultimate users of electricity were based in India.

This may have particular significance for India given the current salience of the debate over the Land Acquisition Bill. Similarly on environmental and social assessments, BHR provided another matrix showing that the new wording

proposed would result in dilution in terms of the use of “borrower systems,” by focusing on the project level, with “little detail on eligibility for use, gap analysis or disclosure.”


Malaysia confirms plane debris is from Flight MH370 Malaysia confirmed early that a piece of a wing washed up on an Indian Ocean island beach was from the Malaysian

Airlines Flight MH370. "Today, 515 days since the plane disappeared, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that an international team

of experts have conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370," Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a televised statement.

"Malaysia Airlines would like to sincerely convey our deepest sorrow to the families and friends of the passengers onboard Flight MH370 on the news that the flaperon found on Reunion Island on 29 July was indeed from Flight MH370," the airline said in a statement.

International crash experts had been examining the wing part found on France's Indian Ocean island of Reunion last week.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared in March 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board.

The Boeing 777 was minutes into its scheduled flight when it disappeared from civil radars. Investigators believe that

someone deliberately switched off the aircraft's transponder, diverted it thousands of miles off course, and deliberately crashed into the ocean off Australia.

World’s first ant map launched The world’s first ever ant map showing the distribution of the tiny industrious creature around the globe was

launched by the University of Hong Kong in a bid to shed more light on the insect world. The colourful interactive online map (antmaps.org) displays the geographic locations of nearly 15,000 types of ant.

China and Iran may barter weapons for oil China appears set to reap the “peace dividend” following Iran’s sanctions-lifting nuclear accord by selling Tehran 24 J-

10 fighter jets in exchange for a 20-year access to a major Iranian oil field. China will barter the 24 fighter planes for access to the giant Azadegan oil field under the weapons-for-oil deal, reports

wantchinatimes.com, a Taiwanese news website. Iranian authorities claim that the Azadegan field has oil-in-place reserves of about 33.2 billion barrels and recoverable

resources estimated at about 5.2 billion barrels. China has not confirmed the report, which, analysts say could buttress the case of Israel, Iran’s foremost regional

rival, against the nuclear deal that Tehran has signed with the six world powers earlier. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed the deal a “historic mistake”. Quoting foreign sources, the Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post is reporting the ultimate irony that J-10s now going to

Iran are an adaptation of the Lavi aircraft, whose manufacture Israel terminated in the 1980s at the prototype stage. “The Lavi was built and developed by Israel Aircraft Industries, though the government eventually decided to

terminate the programme due to the high costs of production and after the U.S. offered to sell Israel F-16s as an alternative. After the cancellation, the Israeli government resolved to sell the plans to China,” observes The Jerusalem Post.

Iran is significantly reliant on military aircraft to protect its vital national assets, including its sole civilian nuclear power plant, as well as strategic gas fields. The Fars News Agency of Iran has reported quoting a senior air force commander that the country’s F4 fighter jets are protecting the Bushehr nuclear power plant as well as the giant South Pars oil and gas field.

The Bushehr plant began operations in September 2011, but full commercial production is expected to start later in

2015.

China remains world’s largest robot market China has retained its rank as the world’s largest robot market for the second successive year, media reported. It

accounted for one-fourth of the world’s total.

N. Korea turns its clocks back to ‘Pyongyang Time’ North Korea announced it was moving its clocks back 30 minutes to create a new “Pyongyang Time” breaking from a

standard imposed by “wicked” Japanese imperialists more than a century ago. The change will put the standard time in North Korea at GMT+8:30, 30 minutes behind South Korea which, like

Japan, is at GMT+9:00. North Korea said the time change, approved by its rubber-stamp Parliament, would come into effect from August 15,

which this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean peninsula's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. “The wicked Japanese imperialists committed such unpardonable crimes as depriving Korea of even its standard

time,” the North’s official KCNA news agency said. Standard time in pre-colonial Korea had run at GMT+8:30 but was changed to Japan standard time in 1912.

Seoul’s Unification Ministry said a different time zone between North and South posed a number of challenges, including for operations at the jointly-run Kaesong industrial complex that lies just inside North Korea.

Will not allow any country to set up military base: Maldives to India

Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his country will not allow any

foreign power to set up a military base under the new law allowing foreign ownership of land, allaying India's concerns

over possible expansion of Chinese strategic assets in the archipelago.

Yameen, in a letter to Modi, also assured his government will keep the Indian Ocean a "demilitarized zone", official

sources said.

"Maldivian President has assured Prime Minister Modi that no country can set up a military base in Maldives and that

it will be a demilitarized Indian Ocean," government sources said.


The letter of assurance came after India conveyed its concerns over the impact of the recently passed constitutional

amendment which allowed foreigners to own land in the island nation. It is understood that the concerns were

conveyed by foreign secretary S Jaishankar who was in Maldives.

The new law passed by the 85-member Majlis, will allow foreigners who invest more than USD 1 bn to purchase land

within the project site in which at least 70 per cent of the area of the completed project must be reclaimed land.

Earlier, Maldives' Constitution only allowed long-term leasing of land which could be up to 99 years.

The development created a flutter among the officials here who felt the new law could enable China to set up bases in

the Maldives, thereby giving a strategic advantage to Beijing over New Delhi.

However, the Maldivian officials defended the decision as one that will attract offshore investors to special economic

zones set up by President Yameen to reduce the economy's dependence on tourism.

Yameen also reiterated his invitation to Modi to visit Maldives, which he had skipped in March this year when he

visited other maritime neighbours-Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

It was seen by many as a reflection of the widening diplomatic chasm between India and Maldives, which was

witnessing political unrest over the arrest of former President Mohammed Nasheed.

Iraq PM rolls out reforms to rein in corruption Iraq’s prime minister announced a wide-ranging reform plan that would abolish the three vice presidential posts as

well as the office of deputy prime minister in order to slash spending and improve the government’s performance in

the face of mass protests.

Mr. Al-Abadi’s seven-point plan would also require that a number of government posts be filled with political independents, a move aimed at combating endemic corruption in Iraq’s political system, in which many senior appointments are determined by party patronage and sectarian loyalties.

Mr. Al-Abadi’s plan would reduce spending on personal bodyguards for officials and transfer the responsibility to the Interior and Defence Ministries, which would have their budgets expanded.

The plan also calls for the review of all corruption cases by a committee of experts, with fresh trials for officials suspected of wrongdoing.

The move comes two days after Iraq’s most revered Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, called on Mr. al-Abadi to quickly address internal issues in the government, including corruption.

Through his spokesman Ahmed al-Safi, Mr. al-Sistani said the prime minister must be more “daring and courageous” in his steps to reform the government, urging him to strike “with an iron fist anyone who is tampering with the people’s money.”

Nepal inks breakthrough pact on new Constitution Nepal’s rival parties have signed an agreement drawing up

the country’s internal borders in a breakthrough that paves the way for a new national Constitution, the country’s Prime Minister said.

Spurred by April’s devastating quake, Nepal’s parties struck a historic deal in June to divide the country into eight provinces but left the crucial task of delineating state borders to a federal commission.

Midnight deal The new agreement, signed after midnight, came after days of

negotiation and resolves a major issue that has blocked progress on the charter since 2008. As a result, the commission will no longer be required to set state

boundaries. “A Constitution with federalism and demarcation has been

ensured,” Prime Minister Sushil Koirala wrote in a post on Twitter. “I call on everyone to not be stuck on minor disagreements and work to build and develop the country,”

Koirala said. Opposition parties have long pushed for new provinces to be

created along lines that could favour historically marginalised communities like the Madhesis. Other parties have attacked this model, calling it a threat to national unity. As a result of the negotiations, the number of provinces was reduced to six.

India on top in exporting beef India retains its top spot as the world’s largest exporter of beef, according to data released by the U.S. Department of

Agriculture, and has extended its lead over the next highest exporter, Brazil. It must be noted, however, that the U.S. government classifies even buffalo meat as beef.

According to the data, India exported 2.4 million tonnes of beef and veal in FY2015, compared to 2 million tonnes by Brazil and 1.5 million by Australia. These three countries account for 58.7 per cent of all the beef exports in the world. India itself accounts for 23.5 per cent of global beef exports. This is up from a 20.8 per cent share last year.


Data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) shows that most of India’s buffalo meat exports go to Asian countries — Asia receives more than 80 per cent, while Africa takes around 15 per cent. Within Asia, Vietnam is the largest recipient, at 45 per cent.

India’s buffalo meat exports have been growing at an average of nearly 14 per cent each year since 2011, and fetching India as much as $4.8 billion in 2014. Last year, India for the first time earned more from the export of buffalo meat than it did from Basmati rice.

Several databases, including the United Nations Food and Agricultural Outlook, show that meat consumption in India is increasing. However, the data also shows that beef consumption has been falling over the years, down -44.5 per cent in 2014 from the level it was in 2000.

This fall in consumption has been taking place regardless of the political party in power. Chicken consumption, however, was up 31 per cent in that period.

Malaysia to inspect Maldives debris Malaysia will send a team to the Maldives to determine whether debris reportedly found there is further wreckage

from flight MH370, the transport minister said.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said Malaysia had been “officially notified” by authorities in the Maldives of objects found there, whose origin remains unverified.

“We will be dispatching a team to the Maldives to view the debris as well as conduct preliminary verification of the debris,” he said.

NATIONAL NEWS

Citizenship soon for those who fled religious persecution

In a move that will have far-reaching implications in Assam and some parts of north-west India, the Union Home

Ministry will amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to grant citizenship to undocumented migrants who fled religious

persecution in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The migrants include not just Hindus but also Buddhists, Christians, Zoroastrians, Sikhs and Jains.

Top Home Ministry sources have confirmed that a Bill is in the works to amend the Act and make changes to some

provisions in the Foreigners Act, 1946, the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, and the Passport (Entry into India)

Rules, 1950. The Law Ministry has vetted the amendments.

“This is an idea floated right after the Modi government came to power, but it was found that many people who fled

into India fearing religious persecution do not have valid documents, or have their visas expired.

Therefore, these people are illegal migrants and ineligible for citizenship,” a top official said. Several high-level

meetings were held by the Ministry with the Law Minister, the Law Secretary and the Home Secretary to remedy the

situation.

“Basically, two changes need to be made to the Passport Act, 1920, and Passport Rules, 1950, to exempt people who

fled religious persecution from Pakistan or Bangladesh from being termed illegal migrants and offer them long-term

visas while their case for citizenship is being considered,” a source said.

Autonomous councils key to Naga deal success

A day after the Naga peace accord was signed, a senior government official said that the creation of “autonomous

councils for Naga people outside Nagaland is under consideration.”

A similar peace agreement failed in 2011 as States with a sizeable Naga population such as Assam, Manipur and

Arunachal Pradesh put up a stiff resistance to the formation of such councils.

Though the Centre is yet to release the terms of the accord signed with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland

(Isak-Muivah), government sources said a “redrawing of the internal boundaries of the States is not on the cards”, but

the Naga people would have sovereignty.

Autonomous councils are locally appointed governments that function in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, West

Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir.

The NSCN has been demanding a “Greater Nagalim” comprising all contiguous inhabited areas.

NHAI comes out with cost index

In a move that should make it easier to gauge costs and price movements in the road construction sector, the

National Highways Authority of India has released for public comment an index of prices pertaining only to the sector.

The National Highways Construction Cost Index (NHCCI), released by NHAI , takes into account 60 items clubbed into

three categories—material, labour and equipment—and arrives at a composite index figure. The reference date for the

index has been taken as April 2013.

The aim of the index, which NHAI clarified, is still tentative pending consultation, improvements and more data, is to

eventually replace the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) when it comes to measuring the escalation of prices to do with road

construction.

“The WPI is a national index which covers a number of representative items. Although it is robust at an aggregate level

and at the group levels, it is not reliable at item level due to small number of price quotations.


It doesn’t include all the items as required by the highways projects of India,” said NHAI in the methodology section of

its release. Many of the critical components of a highways project are not included in the WPI as they may not be

important in the overall economy, it added.

A comparison of WPI (manufacturing) and the NHCCI shows that the latter, despite being tentative, still follows the

WPI’s overall movement, if not matching the magnitude of change. For example, while the WPI manufacturing was at

3.7 per cent in April 2014 and the NHCCI was at 5.8 per cent, they both plummeted by June 2015.

The WPI, measuring far more items, fell more drastically to -0.77 per cent in June, but the NHCCI also reflected a

sharp fall in inflation by that time to come in at 1.2 per cent.

President opens ‘room of new ideas’

A robotic dog that does yoga, a 3D printer and a piano that can be played without touching the keys — these are some

of the technological innovations showcased at the new science and innovation museum at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Many of the innovations are by Indian students.

The museum, “Navachara Kaksh” (room of new ideas), was inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee. It will be

open to visitors on Fridays and weekends as part of the Rashtrapati Bhavan tour.

The museum has been set up with the assistance of the chip-maker Intel.

For children

The museum aims to spark curiosity about technology among children visiting the Presidential Estate.

One of the main attractions of the museum is Clumsy, a robotic dog that can walk, squat and do yoga. It was

designed by 17-year old Arsh Shah Dilbagi from Panipat.

Shah told , “When you are under 18, there isn’t much you can do without parents’ consent. I wanted a dog and they

didn’t, so I built one!” He also won many awards at an international science competition for his work.

Also on display are a touchless tabla and a keyless piano — both of which can be played without touching the

instruments. Sensors detect hand movements and play the beats on the tabla with the help of microprocessors.

An indigenous 3D printer, a “talking wall” and a “planet wall” are among the exhibits.

Pose for a selfie

Visitors can click a 3D selfie with the Rashtrapati Bhavan as the backdrop and get the picture delivered by e-mail to

their accounts. More projects are to be added to the museum around the year.

Intel will manage operations till the Rashtrapati Bhavan takes over. This is the first such museum that the chip-

maker has set up apart from the one at its headquarters in Santa Clara in California, U.S.

Citizenship issue can affect relations with neighbours

The cut-off date proposed for victims of religious persecution from Pakistan and Bangladesh who can apply for

citizenship is December 31, 2014. Citizenship by registration (a minimum stay of seven years) and naturalisation (a

minimum of 12 years) will be the two routes.

The External Affairs Ministry has cautioned the Home Ministry that the move could hurt India’s relations with its

neighbours. Nevertheless, the political call has been taken.

The Citizenship Act, 1955, would have to be amended to reflect the exemption from the status of illegal migrant.

“Section 2, sub-section 1’s clause (b) will have a proviso which will reflect this exemption,” a source said.

The amendment to the Passports Act, 1920, and Passport Rules, 1950, will have to be notified and tabled in

Parliament for two months to allow for objections, if any, before being deemed clear. The amendments to the

Citizenship Act, 1950, will be cleared as a Bill after being debated in Parliament.

“At his first public rally in Assam during the 2014 election campaign, Narendra Modi had said Hindu Bangladeshis

would be removed from camps and given citizenship,” a senior BJP leader said.

Rs. 120 cr. for urban renewal plan

A new phase of India’s urban renewal began with the Union Urban Development Ministry announcing the release of

Rs. 120 crore to the States and Union Territories. As part of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban

Transformation (AMRUT), the money will be directly transferred to municipal councils nationwide, something that is

happening for the first time in India’s urban governance.

The Ministry has identified 482 cities, and each will receive Rs. 25 lakh to pinpoint flaws (in the existing service

providing mechanisms such as water supply and sewerage) and come up with solutions.

Unlike the UPA’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) that allowed the State governments to

take municipal-level decisions, AMRUT claims to “empower” the city councils, encouraging the Mayors to roll out

plans that generate the interest of private developers to invest in public infrastructure — if that happens, the BJP

government will succeed in marking the beginning of what the Ministry has dubbed “cooperative federalism”.

All the city-level plans will be “aggregated into State Annual Action Plans” and then sent to the Ministry for final

approval.

The Ministry is optimistic about AMRUT, believing that the “new thinking will fix the urban blight”. Several NITI Aayog

members are advocating strong public-private-partnerships (PPP), arguing that it will help the government achieve its

goal of “inclusive growth”.


The 482 cities where this new approach of urbanism will be adopted are towns with a population of above one lakh.

Uttar Pradesh will get a bigger share of 60 cities, followed by West Bengal (59), Maharashtra (43), Madhya Pradesh

(32) and Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and AP (31 each), Rajasthan (28), Karnataka (27), Bihar (26), Haryana (20), Punjab (16),

Telangana (11), Chhattisgarh and Odisha (9 each), Kerala and Jharkhand (7 each), Uttarakhand (6), Assam and Delhi

(4 each), J&K (3), Nagaland and Puducherry (2 each), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh,

Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,

Sikkim and Tripura (1 each).

Under AMRUT, the five-year Central assistance of Rs.50, 000 crore will be one-third of the project cost for cities with a

population of above 10 lakh and 50 per cent of project cost for cities and towns with a population of below 10 lakh.

Supreme Court slams Govt: No right to liberty if no privacy The Supreme Court questioned the government’s stand that right to privacy is not a fundamental right. “If a man is

not safe in his own house, then what remains in Article 21 (right to life and liberty)? Where is the liberty then? If privacy is not there in liberty, then what else can be there? To say that it (right to privacy) is not at all there will not be right. We will not accept it,” said a three-judge bench.

The bench was responding to a submission by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who said the Constitution does not state that right to privacy is a fundamental right, and the issue needs to be considered by a Constitution Bench.

According to Rohatgi, though there is right to privacy, its position remains unclear. “No judgment explicitly cites right to privacy as a fundamental right. It is not there under the letters of Article 21 either. If this court feels that there

must be clarity on this subject, only a Constitution Bench can decide,” he said. The government’s arguments came in defence of the Aadhaar card. A batch of petitions have claimed that collection

and sharing of biometric information, as required for the Aadhaar card, is a breach of the “fundamental” right to privacy.

Whether privacy is a fundamental right or not must first be settled authoritatively, said Rohatgi, as he supported the collection of biometric data. Pointing out that interception of phone calls is legally permissible under certain circumstances; he said there is nothing wrong in collecting biometric data if there is a legal regime to justify it.

He sought reconsideration of all Supreme Court judgments in the last two decades which defined right to privacy as a fundamental right. As per these judgments, right to privacy was read as a fundamental right relating to life and liberty (Article 21) or the right to free speech, movement and peaceful association (Article 19).

Public consultation a sham: report Counted among the world’s top biodiversity hotspots, the Western Ghats is currently at the centre of a political battle

pitting local ‘development’ needs against conservation efforts. Six States — Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat — which the forest region encompasses, were supposed to submit recommendations to the Centre on demarcating Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) here by July 31, but only Kerala and Goa did so.

Meanwhile, a citizens’ report compiled by campaign organisation Jhatkaa released has exposed the sham in the name of public consultations organised by the State governments while framing recommendations.

On August 3, 22 Members of Parliament who met Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar spoke overwhelmingly in favour of protecting local ‘development’ needs and demanded that activities such as sand quarrying be allowed to continue.

A key finding of the citizen’s report is that local residents interviewed for the report knew nothing about what an ESA demarcation would entail. Many feared that if a particular village is designated as ESA, the villagers will be relocated or they will be deprived of access to basic facilities, such as water supply or electricity, though both the Madhav Gadgil Committee report and the Kasturirangan Committee report, suggest nothing of that sort.

Another capital standoff: Centre gives L-G power to acquire land The central government recently delegated the power to acquire land in the national capital to the Lieutenant

Governor of Delhi.

This is likely to be another point of friction between the Delhi government and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, who have been at loggerheads over delegation of powers. Incidentally, the AAP government had specifically sought control over police and land, two reserved subjects under the jurisdiction of the Centre.

In a notification dated July 21, 2015, the MHA delegated the power to acquire land to the Lt Governor, said sources. The step was purportedly taken to pave the way for a speedier acquisition process in order to meet the developmental

needs of the city. It is understood that earlier, land in the capital was acquired through the department of land and buildings in Delhi.

But the notification is likely to add more fuel to the simmering feud for authority in the capital. The government had recently sought additional land from the Centre for the construction of schools, colleges, bus

depots etc. Clarifying the need for such a notification, sources in the central government said, “As per the new land acquisition

Act, the central government has the power to acquire land in all union territories, except Puducherry. The central government has now delegated the power to acquire land in Delhi to the Lt Governor”.

Since assuming office, Kejriwal and Jung have constantly sought to underscore their authority in Delhi. The two leaders have locked horns over transfer postings of the bureaucracy, revision of circle rates and the appointment of the chief of the Delhi Commission for Women.

The Delhi government has even moved the Delhi High Court against what they believe is interference from the NDA government at the centre.

Settle disputes peacefully, says India


New Delhi sees the “peaceful means” through which it settled the maritime dispute with Bangladesh, provided under UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea), as a template for resolving the dispute with China, whose expansion in the South China Sea has caused a great deal of concern.

Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (Retd.) V.K. Singh said India hopes that all parties to the disputes in the Sea will abide by the guidelines on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

“Territorial disputes must be settled through peaceful means, as was done by India and Bangladesh recently using the mechanisms provided under UNCLOS,” he said at the fifth East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

While in Kuala Lumpur concern over China’s claims were raised by Japan, U.S. and Australia, back in India Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Senior Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines, appreciated New Delhi’s acceptance of the UNCLOS judgment that went in favour of Bangladesh which was awarded 76 per cent of the 25,602 sq km area in the Bay of Bengal and a 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

The Philippines has approached an Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague against China’s vast maritime claims in the South

China Sea. Delivering the 18th Sapru House Lecture, Justice Carpio said India was gracious enough to accept the UNCLOS

judgment, but cautioned that unless China’s expansion is halted the world economy will be in danger because more than one-half of the seaborne trade of the world passes through the Sea.

He said the nine-dash-line China uses as proof of its claim over the South China Sea results in Beijing claiming 90 percent of the Sea, rich in oil and gas.

India flies aid to flood-hit Myanmar India has flown rice, medicines and other emergency relief supplies to Myanmar on a request from the flood-hit

country. Government sources said that the Indian Air Force was flying supplies to Kalay and Mandalay and was ready to fly to

other affected areas as advised by Myanmar. Widespread floods and landslides have wreaked havoc in the nation on India’s eastern border, affecting 2.5 lakh

people and damaging over five lakh acres of farmland. On July 31, Myanmar President Thein Sein declared Chin and Rakhine states and the Magway and Sagaing regions

“natural disaster zones”. On August 4, the government sought international assistance. India urgently raised 100 tonnes of rice, 10,000 packets of noodles and 10 tonnes of medicines. One C-17

Globemaster aircraft flew 47 tonnes of supplies to Mandalay and a C-130J Super Hercules flew 10 tonnes to Kalay. Another C-17 with 45 tonnes is in Guwahati. The C-130 will carry out sorties to Imphal, Kalay and Sittwe to drop off the remaining material, Air Force officers said.

The External Affairs Ministry is conducting the operation in close coordination with the Myanmar government, the Indian Ministries of Home, Health and Defence, the Indian Embassy in Yangon and Consulate in Mandalay.

In April, India took the lead in rescue and relief operations in Nepal after an earthquake in the Himalayan nation. Though the Nepalese government appreciated India’s role, sections of Indian media were criticised for its coverage of the tragedy.

Marines case: two foreign lawyers to appear for India Two foreign lawyers, experts in international arbitration, have been hired by India to challenge Italy’s move to take the

issue of two of its marines, accused of killing fishermen off the Kerala coast, to an international tribunal in Hamburg,

Germany. Alain Pellet and R Bundy were hired by India to represent its case before the International Tribunal on Law of the Sea,

(ITLOS) which will hear the case on August 10-11. Mr. Pellet is a French expert in international law and former president of the UN International Law Commission while

Mr. Bundy has 30 years of experience as counsel and advocate in many public international law litigations.

Indian team An Indian team, comprising Additional Solicitor General P.L. Narasimha and officials from Ministries of External

Affairs and Home, would also be in Germany to assist the two lawyers. “India will challenge Italy’s decision to take the matter to the international tribunal. The crime had taken place in

Indian waters so the international tribunal has nothing to do with it,” a Home Ministry official said.

ITLOS is an independent judicial body established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to adjudicate disputes arising out of the interpretation and application of the convention.

The tribunal is composed of 21 independent members, elected from among persons enjoying the highest reputation for fairness and integrity and of recognised competence in the field of the law of the sea. Earlier, during hearing in the Supreme Court on July 13, Italy had made a plea before the court saying it has invoked international arbitration challenging India’s jurisdiction to try two of its marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala three years ago.

Mr. Narasimha had told the apex court bench, headed by Justice A.R. Dave, that India, being a signatory to the international convention, would participate in these arbitration proceedings.

The Indian government will challenge Italy’s decision to take the issue to the international tribunal. “It wants India to refrain from taking or enforcing any judicial or administrative measures and ensure that restrictions

on the liberty, security and movement of the Marines are immediately lifted. However, the crime was committed in Indian waters and therefore, the issue does not fall in the jurisdiction of the international tribunal,” said the official.

Italy had submitted a request to the Tribunal on July 21 seeking a hearing in the matter.


The incident took place in February 2012 when two Italian Marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Sergeant Salvatore Girone, allegedly fired at an Indian boat, St. Antony, killing two Indian fishermen from Kerala. They were arrested by the Kerala police. The case was later transferred to the NIA.

The ASG said that India had jurisdiction to try the Italian marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, as the alleged offence had taken place in the Indian waters.

Ban on Indian drugs based on scientific reasons: EU A day after India deferred trade talks with European Union (EU), protesting the ban on 700 generic drugs, the bloc

said the ban was based on scientific and not trade considerations. “The Commission stresses that the decision concerning a ban on 700 generic drugs was based on scientific and not

trade considerations and in accordance with the advice of the scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA),” Daniel Rosario, European Commission Spokesperson for Trade said in an email response.

India said the decision was taken as the government is “disappointed and concerned by the action of EU in imposing legally binding ban on the sale of around 700 pharma products clinically tested by GVK Biosciences, Hyderabad” on 16 July, the Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

“The Commission takes note of the press release issued by the Indian Government about the deferral of jointly agreed talks between the Chief Negotiators on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement.

The Commission would like to stress that the purpose of this meeting at Chief Negotiators level was to explore the possibility of resuming the FTA talks, and was not meant to constitute in anyway a full-fledged negotiation round.

The Commission remains committed to continue working towards conclusion of an agreement between India and the EU that will be acceptable to both sides. For this reasons, the Commission hopes that a solution will be found to the

current deferral,” European Commission Spokesperson for Trade said in his email in reaction to India’s action. India and EU have been negotiating for the proposed free-trade agreements since 2007. The talks have seen set backs

due to differences regarding lack of access for Indians to EU’s labour market and high taxes imposed on liquor and car imports from Europe. The latest development comes as yet another setback for the talks to progress further.

The country could lose about $1-1.2 billion worth of drug exports because of the decision taken by the European Commission to ban the drugs, according to Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil).

India exported $15.4 billion worth of pharmaceutical products in 2014-15, with Europe accounting for $3 billion, or 20 per cent of the total. Out of the $3 billion, exports of generic medicines constituted about $1 billion and drug ingredients accounted for the rest.

Many have faith in unelected bodies, but India values dissent A substantial number of Indians support undemocratic modes of rule, yet identify themselves as democrats, new

numbers from a global survey show. The report, “Democracy in India: A Citizens’ Perspective”, is

part of a global survey on attitudes to democracy conducted in India by Lokniti at the Delhi-based Centre for the Study of Developing Societies in 2013, covering over 6,000 respondents in 22 States.

The sample was selected to be representative of gender, caste, religion and class. A similar survey was conducted in 2005. As in the past, the proportion of respondents who said that they always preferred democracy to other kinds of government was

under 50 per cent, with 43 per cent either indifferent or of no opinion, and 11 per cent — up from 6 per cent in 2005 — saying that under some circumstances, an authoritarian government was preferable to a democratic one.

The proportion of Indians who prefer democracy is significantly lower than in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka, but higher than in Pakistan. Support for authoritarianism was higher among richer, better educated people and those with a high media exposure.

However, even among those who supported it, views about

democracy were complicated, Sanjay Kumar, Director of CSDS, explained. Nearly 40 per cent of all people approved of the statement that India should get rid of Parliament and elections and have a strong leader decide things, while 35 per cent disagreed (the rest had no response).

Similarly, nearly 40 per cent of people agreed that experts should make decisions on behalf of the people rather than Parliament and elections, as opposed to 33 per cent who disagreed.

However more people disagreed with the Army taking over to govern the country (46 per cent) than agreed (30 per cent). In the end, just 23 per cent of people in all did not support rule by any undemocratic leader or institution.

India's tribute to Missile Man: New BrahMos gets Kalam name India will pay its Missile Man the ultimate tribute -- naming its first hypersonic missile, which will travel at a speed of

8,575 kmph, after the late president APJ Abdul Kalam. A cruise missile capable of taking out hardened targets such as underground bunkers and weapon storage facilities at

seven times the speed of sound (Mach 7), BrahMos-II (K) is being developed by the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace. The K in it is for Kalam, the man who fired India’s missile and nuclear programme.

“Kalam is the reason we are standing on the threshold of a new era of hypersonic weapons. That’s why BrahMos-II is being named after him,” BrahMos Aerospace CEO Sudhir Mishra told.


Their sheer speed makes hypersonic weapons, designed to fly at least Mach 5 (6,125 kmph), difficult to intercept and packs them with destructive power. The US, Russia and China are the only other countries working on these weapon systems.

Six weeks before Kalam died on July 27, he asked BrahMos Aerospace to press the accelerator on hypersonic weapons technology and help India field an operational missile in three to five years.

The existing BrahMos missile provides India the capability to hit targets 290km away at nearly three times the speed of sound. It’s the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile.

The 1998 inter-governmental agreement with Russia to build these missiles bears Kalam’s signature, who was then heading the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Kalam visited the BrahMos Delhi headquarters on June 13 to mark the missile’s first test flight in 2001 and spoke at length about hypersonic capabilities.

The headquarters’ Mission of Life museum, dedicated to arguably the country’s most loved president, mirrors his extraordinary relationship with BrahMos.

On display is the Bharat Ratna he was presented in 1997 for his contribution to the scientific research and

modernisation of defence technology in India. Two Padmas share the space with the flight suit that Kalam wore during his now famous Sukhoi-30 sortie. An entire

wall of sketches and caricatures presented to him by school children perhaps captures the rocket-scientist president’s life the best – that of People’s President and ardent nationalist.

India decides to boycott CPU meet New Delhi has decided to boycott the 61st conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union (CPU) to be held in

Islamabad unless Pakistan extends an invitation to the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, or the CPU changes the venue of the meeting.

India’s decision stems from Islamabad’s refusal to invite the J&K Speaker on the grounds that it is in violation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1991(1951) of March 30, 1951 and resolution 122 (1957) of January 4, 1957. Pakistan has also said the invitation to J&K would contradict the fundamentals of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

India’s strong reaction comes amid escalating tension between New Delhi and Islamabad over ceasefire violations along the border in Jammu and Kashmir and over the involvement of Pakistani nationals in the recent terror strikes.

India follows global trends in taking on cyber attacks The number of cyber attacks in the country stood at nearly 50,000 during the first five months of 2015, with most of

these attacks on computer networks of Indian organisations originating from countries such as the U.S., Pakistan, China and Bangladesh, Parliament was informed.

“The trend in increase in cyber attacks is similar to that worldwide. A total number of 22,060, 71,780, 1,30,338, and 49,504 cyber security incidents, including phishing, scanning, spam, malicious code and website intrusion, were reported to Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) during the years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 (up to May), respectively,” Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Mr. Prasad said attackers are compromising computer

systems in different parts of the world and use masquerading techniques and hidden servers to hide the identity of the systems from which the attacks are launched.

“In such cases, CERT-In notifies the organisation concerned regarding the cyber attacks and requests for logs of network devices, servers and other related components for analysing the attacks and identifying sources of attack,” he said.

“According to the logs as analysed and made available to CERT-In, the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the computers from where the attacks originated belong to the countries, including the U.S., Europe, Pakistan, China,

Bangladesh, Brazil, Turkey, Iran, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and the UAE,” the Minister said.

India has 1866 registered political parties: EC

There has been a rush for registration of political parties, with as many as 239 new outfits enrolling themselves with

the Election Commission between March, 2014 and July this year, taking their number to 1866.

According to the Commission, as on July 24, there are 1866 political parties which are registered with it. Out of these,

56 are recognised as registered national or state parties, while the rest are "unrecognised, registered" parties.

According to data complied by the Commission, in the last Lok Sabha election in 2014, 464 political parties had

fielded candidates.

The data compiled by the poll panel was shared with the Law Ministry for use in Parliament. Legislative Department of

the ministry is the administrative unit for the poll watchdog.

These registered but unrecognized political parties do not have the privilege of contesting elections on a symbol of

their own.


They have to choose from a list of 'free symbols' issued by the poll panel. According to a latest EC circular, 84 such

free symbols are available.

Air conditioner, almirah, balloon, chappals, coconut, window, carpet, bottle and bread were some of the 'free' symbols

available for registered, unrecognised political parties.

The Election Commission had come out with a list of 84 'free' symbols in January this year available with it to be used

by registered political parties which are unrecognised.

Swach Bharat: Hyderabad ranks very poor

Open defecation is rampant while solid waste management is pretty poor in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, if the

report of the Urban Development Ministry is an indication.

The twin cities figured at a very poor 275{+t}{+h}and 191{+s}{+t}positions respectively in the all India Swach Bharat

rankings.

Tirupati was the best among the two Telugu States securing 137{+t}{+h}position followed by Vishakhapatnam

(205{+t}{+h}) and Vijayawada (266{+t}{+h}). Mysore city in Karnataka has topped the country and Bengaluru is on the

top among state capitals because it has managed to build an infrastructure to manage garbage in the last two years

and has implemented laws in the right direction, say experts.

The Swachh Bharat rankings were based on a total of 42 marks including 20 for open defecation indicators and 22 for

solid waste management indicators. Over all sanitation rankings of the cities based on a total of 100 marks assigned

to different parameters covering all aspects would be announced later, a report released by the Urban Development

Ministry said.

State capitals did no better with 15 of the 27 capital cities surveyed figuring among the top 100 performers while five

were ranked beyond 300. Bengaluru led the list of capitals taking 7th rank while Patna came at the bottom at 429.

The survey conducted during 2014-15 was commissioned by the Ministry as required under the National Sanitation

Policy of 2008. All the 476 Class-1 cities in 31 States and Union Territories, each with a population of above one lakh

were surveyed.

Residents of Hassan city, which was ranked one among the cities with minimum air pollution by the World Health

Organisation (WHO) last year, have one more reason to cheer.

The Ministry of Urban Development has ranked the city the fifth cleanest city in the country. The Ministry did the

ranking considering the extent of open defecation and solid waste management practices followed in the cities, among

other parameters.

Launched in October 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Swachh Bharat Mission is the flagship sanitation

programme of the NDA government, which aims to bridge gaps between sewerage and solid waste management and

construct several million toilets in the urban centres.

Compared to the 2010 rankings, New Delhi slid from rank 4 to rank 16.

The survey covered 31 States and Union Territories with a population of above 1 lakh and they were judged in the

framework of whether the local municipalities were reducing open defecation and effectively handling solid waste

management, septage management, waste water treatment, drinking water quality, surface water quality of water

bodies and mortality due to water-borne diseases, the ministry said.

The second position was bagged by Thiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu, followed by Navi Mumbai, Kochi (Kerala), Hassan,

Mandya and Bengaluru from Karnataka, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Halisahar (West Bengal) and Gangtok

(Sikkim).

Damoh in Madhya Pradesh (MP) ranked the lowest, preceded by Bhind in M.P., Palwal and Bhiwani, both in Haryana,

Chittaurgarh (Rajasthan), Bulandshahar (UP), Neemuch (MP), Rewari (Haryana), Hindaun (Rajasthan) and Sambalpur

in Odisha.

Simply put: For India, islands of disquiet in the Indian Ocean What is the new Maldives land law?

On July 22, the People’s Majlis, the unicameral parliament of the Maldives, passed a bill amending the 2008 Constitution to allow foreign ownership of land. President Yamin Abdul Gayoom ratified the bill the next day. The bill amended Article 251, and added a new chapter to the Maldives Constitution. The amendments submitted on behalf of the Abdulla Yameen government by the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) was passed with 70 votes in favour and 14 against, with one MP absent.

What was the Constitution’s Article 251 about? Article 251 of the Constitution, in its previous form, prohibited foreign ownership of land. It said that: (a) no foreign

party, shall own or be given ownership of any part of the territory of the Maldives, (b) a foreign party shall not receive a lease of, or be given in any other way, any part of the territory of the Maldives for a period exceeding 99 years and,(c) no part of the territory of the Maldives shall be used for foreign military purposes without the approval of the majority of the total membership of the People’s Majlis.

What is the amendment? It allows foreigners to own freehold land, as long as they meet certain criteria, including that the project built on the

land must be approved by Parliament, there must be a minimum investment of US $ 1 billion “in the territory of the Maldives”, and upon the project’s reaching completion, “at least 70 per cent of the land must have been reclaimed


from the ocean and be visible at medium tide”. It also declares that allowing a foreign party to own land under these specific circumstances “does not undermine the Maldivian state’s sovereignty over its territory and does not amount to loss of territory”.

Why was this amendment done? Depends on who is answering. The Maldives government has said that the new law is meant to “attract mega

development projects and generate jobs” in the country. The opposition says the amendment is intended to facilitate the extension of China’s influence and foothold in the Indian Ocean region, to enable Chinese investment in the Maldives, and even possibly, to “pave the way for Chinese military facilities in the country”. Critics have also questioned the speed with which the amendment was passed without adequate consultation and parliamentary debate.

How has India reacted to the change of law? Indian government officials have voiced concern that the law will be used by China to extend its military influence,

but they have been assured by the Government of the Maldives that the Indian Ocean would remain “a demilitarised zone”.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar visited Maldives and met the top political leadership, where they discussed the issue. New Delhi can be expected to monitor the developments closely.

Why is India worried? While it is true that Indian investors too can buy land provided they are willing to invest a billion dollars and reclaim

land, the road looks difficult as of now. New Delhi and Male do not currently have the best of relations. India has been critical of former President Mohamed Nasheed’s imprisonment, and called off Prime MinisterNarendra Modi’s visit in

March this year. Besides, China is known for reclamation of land from the sea, with its immense dredging capabilities on display in the

South China Sea. With Beijing taking a keen interest in expanding its strategic footprint in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, India has good reasons to worry.

What is the nature of the China-Maldives relationship? New Delhi sees the latest development in the context of President Abdulla Yameen’s foreign policy shift since last year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was the first head of state to visit the Maldives after Yameen assumed power. During the visit, the Maldives agreed to become a partner in China’s maritime silk route, a trade route from China’s Fujian province to the Mediterranean Sea via South Asia and East Africa. China is also providing grants and loans to the Maldives to build a bridge between the capital and the airport.

Chinese companies are involved in work on the airport, too, and have been handed islands for developing resorts. China’s maritime silk route initiative is projected to enable major projects like the Male-Hulhule bridge and the new runway for the airport to come to fruition. China has said that it will also enhance Maldivian products like fish to be exported to China, and cheaper and better Chinese products to be imported to Maldives by establishing a Free Trade Area between the two countries. China has also said that it will provide more training opportunities and scholarships for the people of Maldives.

Will keep Indian Ocean demilitarized: Maldives Maldives President Abdulla Yameen has promised to keep the Indian Ocean a "demilitarized zone". Yameen gave this

assurance in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi which was delivered by visiting Maldivian foreign secretary Ali Naseer Mohamed to foreign minister Sushma Swaraj.

The assurance follows India's objections to a new land law passed by the Maldivian parliament that seeks to give

foreigners ownership of land in the archipelago. This had stoked fears that it could allow China to invest in real estate in Maldives, which could become a security problem for India.

Maldivian officials said while the land law was "unprecedented" (traditionally Maldives has always leased land rather than sell it), the investment would have to cross $1 billion, and 70% of the land would have to be reclaimed land, rather than existing real estate. "There is no question of allowing foreign countries to set up military bases here," they said, assuring that the idea was to spur rapid economic development in the archipelago.

However, Indian concerns about Chinese presence in Maldives are not limited to military bases. Going by the Sri Lankan experience, China has shown that it can use a commercial investment like the Colombo Port as a strategic asset.

However, there is a condition too with Maldives pressing India to help it ramp up its economy. Whether Maldives

invites China or not, the fact is Chinese companies are faster off the mark. China also sends close to 400,000 tourists to Maldives every year, way, way higher than Indians.

Maldivian officials said the new land law was intended to set up special economic zones with foreign investment and reclaimed land. Earlier, Indian high commissioner to Male Rajeev Shahare said India would invest in these SEZs.

It is only now that Maldives is attracting the more discerning Indian traveller, and moving up as a favoured destination for weddings and Bollywood shoots alike. But Indian investment in Maldives will have to overcome the GMR bogey.

After Maldives threw out GMR from its airport project in November 2012, for reasons both GMR and the Maldivian government should be held responsible for, Maldives has become a risky destination for Indian companies. The Tatas too are completing a grossly delayed housing project in Maldives, which has only dampened its image among Indian corporates.

Refuting the allegations, Maldivian officials say a number of smaller Indian companies are coming into Maldives, citing some new Indian investments. They said Maldives would be doing a roadshow to attract Indian companies and tourists to Maldives.


Not for moral policing: Centre After blocking over 850 porn websites, the Union government

told the Supreme Court it was not a “totalitarian state” bent on conducting moral policing.

The government clarified its stand on the controversial porn ban, saying ‘it does not want to intrude into the private spaces and bedrooms of citizens’ if somebody wanted to watch porn in the privacy of his room.

However, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi made it clear before a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu that child pornography was a strict ‘no-no’, with India being no exception from the developed world in banning child pornography.

“Child porn sites have to be blocked,” Mr. Rohatgi said. He said the need for a law banning other forms of porn was a topic for a larger debate, probably in Parliament or a

public forum and not in court.

‘Totalitarian state’ “We cannot become a totalitarian state. Somebody wants to watch porn in the privacy of his room, can we prevent

that? We are now talking Digital India reaching 100 crore people. We are at a stage when the Prime Minister has asked citizens to put what he should say in his Independence Day speech ... we can’t stop people from watching this and that,” Mr. Rohatgi submitted.

The A-G detailed how difficult a task it was to track and stop ban violators with fast disappearing geographical barriers.

A matter of privacy “Two adults want to watch something they feel is entertainment, what is the role of the State in this? We cannot be

present in everybody’s bedroom ... In the old days, there were magazines. All one had to do was stop the distribution of the publication.

“Now how can we stop someone from watching porn on their mobile phones? We cannot block it,” he said.

‘Protect children’ He said Internet users should protect children in their families by liberally making use of parental controls and child

locks on their computer systems.

Software to be developed Mr. Rohatgi said similar software was being developed to be used in mobile phones also. “Steps have to be taken to not stop these contents at the gateway of the country, but at your end, on your mobile

phones,” Mr. Rohatgi said.

Individuals to come under terror ban list The government is all set to amend the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to bring in a clause that would

pave the way to “designate individuals” along with terror organisations under the “banned list of entities.” Presently, there is no provision for an individual, suspected of having terror links making it to the list of terrorist

entities banned, maintained centrally by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Under Section 35 of the UAPA, there are 38 groups in the list of

banned terrorist organisations, the latest one to have been added being the Islamic State (IS).

Offences outside India An official said the law change would cover the case of an individual

not being associated with any terrorist organisation but committing an offence outside India. “An individual may be involved in terrorist activity, but he may or may not be associated with any specific terrorist organisation.

This amendment would make it easier for us to identify such individuals and designate them as terrorists,” said a senior Home

Ministry official.

Anti-terror list Another official said the arrest of Mehdi Masroor Biswas, a

Bangalore-based computer professional and IS recruit Areeb Majeed, sparked a debate on listing of individuals under the “anti-terror list.”

Italy’s plea for marines misleading: India India has told the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) that Italy’s plea in the Italian marines’ case

was “misleading” and “distorted reality.” India told the Tribunal that it was Italy which had delayed any legal finalisation of the case, which dates back to 2012 and “it cannot blow hot and cold at the same time.”

In a written submission, India told the Tribunal that Italy’s call for “compassion” for the two Italian marines who shot dead two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012 was “misplaced” and also accused Italy of filing numerous applications which were “abusive and mutually inconsistent” to delay the case.

It said that Italy’s request that India shall refrain from taking or enforcing any judicial or administrative measures against Sergeants Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone was based on “a selective, self-serving and patently


inaccurate account of the judicial and administrative actions that India has taken with regard to the killing of two unarmed fishermen operating within India’s exclusive economic zone.”

ECONOMY NEWS

RBI keeps rates on hold

The RBI held its policy rate at 7.25 per cent , pausing after a spike in food prices sent consumer inflation to an eight-

month high.

Reliance Group plans $1bn aerospace park

The Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Group has selected Mihan near Nagpur in Maharashtra for developing India's first

smart city for the defence sector. Known as Dhirubhai Ambani Aerospace Park (DAAP), the smart city will be

developed at a cost of $1 billion to manufacture helicopters for both commercial and military applications.

The project would be the first integrated facility in aerospace structure, engine design and manufacture, fabrication

and platform integration in the country.

The move is part of the Reliance Group's aggressive play in defence, seeking to capture a slice of the $100 billion

worth of opportunities that the sector would soon throw up as part of the NDA government's 'Make in India'

programme to focus on indigenous manufacturing of defence equipment.

Confirming the move, Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani said, "The group plans to develop DAAP as a centre of

excellence in the aerospace segment on the lines of the global centre of ship building at Pipavav in Gujarat."

Earlier this year, the Reliance Group added heft in its defence manufacturing by buying out Nikhil Gandhi-promoted

Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering (PDOE), which houses India's largest dry dock facility to build warships. It

subsequently committed investments of Rs 5,000 crore towards indigenization efforts.

Company officials told that Mihan was selected after negotiating with the governments of Maharashtra, UP, Madhya

Pradesh and Rajasthan for land for the project.

DAAP may draw some influences from Aerospace Valley in France, a cluster of aerospace companies and research

centres concentrated around Toulouse. About 500 companies - including Airbus, EADS, Air France Industries and

Dassault Aviation - operate in the cluster, creating jobs for around 1.2 lakh people.

The aerospace park, comprising a cluster of manufacturers, will indigenously produce and deliver major aircraft

components and spares and cater to the avionics requirements of the aerospace industry and will generate direct

employment for over 2,000 people in the skilled category. Besides, it would also provide for 10,000 indirect jobs.

Sikorsky, Eurocopter and Kamov are some of the top helicopter manufacturers said to be in talks for a tie-up but

Reliance officials refused to comment on potential technology partners, citing non-disclosure agreements signed with

them.

DAAP will not only create indigenous capabilities but will also add to skill development in the core aviation industry

as it is pursuing opportunities to meet home-grown solutions for the defence sector as the company plans to include

fully integrated solutions starting from sub-assemblies to completed platforms with an ability for maintenance, repairs

and overhaul (MRO) for the life cycle of platforms, said sources in the know, adding that the group is in discussion

with various OEMs for supporting its growth strategy.

The Narendra Modi government has redesigned its military procurement programme under the 'Make in India'

initiative and has also allowed a 49% FDI in defence to promote local manufacturing as well as to aid the much

needed technology transfer.

The buy and make (India) scheme, under which these tenders will be issued, requires an Indian company to bid after

tying up with a technology provider. It seeks to establish the required defence industrial base in the country to

gradually move away from being the world's largest importer of defence hardware.

India-EU trade talks deferred over pharma products ban India has deferred the talks with the European Union on the proposed free trade agreement, expressing

disappointment and concern over the EU banning sale of around 700 pharma products clinically tested by GVK Biosciences.

Chief negotiators of India and the EU were scheduled to resume the negotiations on the Broadbased Investment and Trade Agreement (BTIA).

"Government of India has taken a decision to defer the proposed talks between the Chief negotiators on BTIA for the present. This decision has been taken as the Government of India is disappointed and concerned by the action of EU in imposing legally binding ban on the sale of around 700 pharma products clinically tested by GVK Biosciences, Hyderabad," the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a statement.

Pharmaceutical industry is one of the flagship sectors which has developed its reputation through strong research and safety protocols over the years and therefore, the government will examine all options in this regard, it added.

"It is pertinent to mention that most of these drugs are already in EU market for many years without any adverse pharmaco-vigilance report from any member state," it said.

The India-EU trade talks, formally known as the Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), remain stuck as both sides are not satisfied with each other's offers.


The European Union has banned the marketing of around 700 generic medicines for alleged manipulation of clinical trials conducted by India's pharmaceutical research company GVK Biosciences.

The largest EU-wide suspension of sales and distribution of generic drugs ordered by the European Commission will come into effect on August 21 and it will be applicable to all 28 member nations, according to Germany's drug regulator, the Federal Institute for Medicines and Medical Products (BfArM).

Industry body Pharmexcil has said that India's business loss arising from the European Union's ban on 700 generic drugs is likely to be around $ 1.2 billion.

Approval for Adani's Carmichael coalmine overturned by federal court The federal court has overturned the Abbott government’s approval of Australia’s largest proposed coal project,

Adani’s Carmichael mine in north Queensland. The court has ruled the environment minister, Greg Hunt, ignored his own department’s advice about the mine’s

impact on two vulnerable species, the yakka skink and the ornamental snake.The yakka skink is considered to be a threatened species.

The decision leaves Adani, which is yet to secure sufficient financial backing for Carmichael and recently slashed its workforce on the project, without legal authority to begin construction.

“The conservation advices were approved by the minister in April last year, and describe the threats to the survival of these threatened species, which are found only in Queensland,” she said.

“The law requires that the minister consider these conservation advices so that he understands the impacts of the decision that he is making on matters of national environmental significance, in this case the threatened species.”

Adani said in a statement it was “regrettable that a technical legal error from the federal environment department” had exposed the approval to an adverse decision.

“Adani is confident the conditions imposed on the existing approval are robust and appropriate once the technicality is addressed,” it said.

Financial sector reforms should be carried out over the next five years, says Justice Srikrishna Justice BN Srikrishna, who headed the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC), has said that the

time is opportune to carry out financial sector reforms in India over the next five years, instead of waiting for a crisis. Srikrishna, who headed a group constituted by the finance ministry to review the draft Indian Financial Code (IFC)

which has proposed vast changes in the country’s financial architecture, including a new Independent Debt Management Office to handle sovereign debt functions, a Monetary Policy Committee and a single unified regulator for the financial sector covering the capital and commodities markets besides insurance and pensions, said that he didn’t see no reason why financial sector reforms could not be pursued.

After the release of the original report of the FSLRC in 2013 and the recent draft IFC, there has been a view that given the changes in the global markets after the 2008 crisis and which led to a review of some of the established models of regulation and governance, India should tread cautiously.

But according to Srikrishna, this was the right time to bring about changes in the financial sector. “Over the next five years, we should do it and it is the right time. There is nothing wrong now. When will we do it

otherwise, when there is a crisis?”. Once a Commission completes its assignment, it is up to the government to accept or reject the recommendations, he

said, citing the case of the last Pay Commission which he headed. “It is up to the government to bring about changes in one shot or do it in driblets depending on its capacity. “

The Reserve Bank of India had reservations relating to a few proposals as did some of the other regulators. But over the last few days, much of the debate has centered around a change in the composition of the Monetary Policy Committee marked by a removal of the veto power to the RBI Governor on setting interest rates.

The original recommendation in the FSLRC report proposed a veto for the RBI Governor while the latest changes in the draft IFC Code also favours the government nominating four members in the proposed seven member Monetary Policy Committee.

“We (FSLRC) had suggested a working solution then with a veto power. Our idea was that the majority should not be from the RBI and there should be a good number of outside experts. The government modified some of it. But the debate is not dead yet,” Srikrishna said.

Sri Lankan cabinet gives nod for tie-up with Reliance Life Sciences The Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved a tie-up with the Reliance Life Sciences, a firm belonging to the Reliance

Industries, to sell plasma so as to get plasma proteins from the Indian firm. In Sri Lanka, the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) collects about 100,000 litres of plasma annually

through its collection centres. Of this, 60,000 units are consumed for clinical use after components of blood are separated. The surplus quantity of

40,000 litres is now going waste. While the excess quantity can be sold to plasma fractionators for the production of plasma proteins, Sri Lanka is

meeting the requirements of plasma proteins through imports, according to an official document. Keeping this in mind, the Cabinet, approved a proposal, mooted by Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne to allow the

sale of plasma to the Reliance Life Sciences at a mutually agreed price. The Minister said initially, on getting plasma from the NBTS, the firm would produce plasma proteins and supply

them to Sri Lanka.

India, U.S. resolve 35 transfer pricing disputes in IT sector The Revenue Department said 35 transfer pricing disputes between India and the U.S. in different segments of

Information Technology (IT) have been resolved and another 100 are likely to be settled in the next three months.


A Framework Agreement was recently signed with the U.S. under the Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) provision of the India-U.S. Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC).

“This is a major positive development,” the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a statement. About 200 past transfer pricing disputes between the two countries in IT (Software Development) Services [ITS] and

Information Technology enabled Services [ITeS] segments are expected to be resolved under this Agreement during the current year.

The Framework Agreement with the U.S. opens the door for signing of bilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with the US, it said.

“The MAP programmes with other countries like Japan and UK are also progressing very well with regular meetings and resolution of past disputes.

“These initiatives will go a long way in providing stable tax environment to foreign investors doing business in India,” said the CBDT, which is responsible for direct tax collections in the country.

CBDT also said it has entered into two unilateral APAs with two multinational companies as part of a “major initiative” to usher in certainty in taxation.

“The Government is committed to conclude a large number of APAs to foster an environment of tax cooperation and certainty. Currently, a number of unilateral as well as bilateral APAs with Competent Authorities of UK and Japan etc are at advanced stage of negotiations,” the CBDT said.

The 14 APAs signed relate to sectors like telecom, oil exploration, pharmaceuticals, finance, banking, software development services and ITeS (BPOs).

Unilateral APAs are agreed between Indian taxpayers and the CBDT, without involvement of the tax authorities of the

country where the associated enterprise is based. Bilateral APAs include agreements between the tax authorities of the two countries. An APA with the ‘Rollback’

provision extends tax certainty for nine financial years as against five years in APAs without ‘Rollback’

LIC is market leader in Bahrain, No 3 in the UAE Riding on the growing Indian diaspora, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) — India’s top life insurer — has emerged as

the market leader in Bahrain, part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), despite tough competition from close to 60 global insurance companies. It has also emerged as the third largest player in the UAE with a strong presence in cities like Dubai.

LIC’s Bahrain operations occupy the top position in the overall international operations of the corporation. In terms of new business, it contributes over 80 per cent of the total share.

India’s top life insurer operates in five GCC countries — Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. “LIC has 43 per cent market share in premium income and 89 per cent in policies in Bahrain.

The customer base in the countries we are operating in the region mainly comprises of non-resident Indians, though we do sell to the local nationals wherever we are licensed to sell,” said Rajesh Kandwal, CEO & Managing Director, LIC International, Bahrain.

“Despite the intense competition, we are the market leader in Bahrain. Brand LIC has a very strong connect with the NRIs and quite accepted in the region thereby making NRI segment as a ‘niche’ market for us. There are around 60 insurance companies operating in the GCC countries,’’ Kandwal told.

Besides Bahrain, LIC has overseas operations in 13 countries, including Fiji, Mauritius, the UK, Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Saudi Arabia. The major contributing factors for high performance are attractive products, high trust level of the brand and success of bank assurance in the UAE, Kandwal said.

The bank assurance partners play a significant role in selling to the other nationals, particularly locals. “We distribute our products through tied channels, banks, brokers and corporate agents. BBK and SBI (in Bahrain),

FGB, Emirates NBD, ADCB and RAK Bank (UAE) and Doha Bank (Qatar) are our major bank assurance partners. We signed an agreement with prominent a broker recently. In order to deepen our bank assurance relationship, co-branded credit card with our bank assurance partner First Gulf Bank (FGB) was launched,” he said.

NIYATAM: NITI Aayog’s push to improve states’ efficiency The NITI Aayog plans to work with states to prune their administrative structure to improve their efficiency and

governance. The move is part of a larger interaction with states called NIYATAM or NITI Initiative to Yield Aspirational Targets and Actionable Means, where the NITI Aayog plans to engage with them on six issues.

“An average state does not require more than 20 departments to run its administration. But most states have a much

larger structure as they feel that the 15 per cent ceiling should be met,” said an official familiar with the development. The size of a government’s council of ministers depends on the Constitution (91st Amendment) Act, 2003 that limits

the size of all ministries in India to 15 per cent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha or state assembly. At present, states such as Uttar Pradesh have 56 government departments and an equal number of ministers, apart

from the chief minister. Similarly Bihar and Jharkhand have 44 government departments each while Kerala has 46 government departments.

According to the plan being worked out by the NITI Aayog, each state should ideally have about 20 departments. The Aayog would work with states to this end, starting with Kerala, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, as part of the NIYATAM initiative, the NITI Aayog will also work with states to rationalise the number of schemes at both the state level as well as those that are centrally funded. “With the recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission giving more revenue share to states, this will help them formulate their Budgets next fiscal,” said the official.

Additionally, the agency is also planning to monitor the improvement in states’ development by collecting data on a set of indicators such as education, health, roads, water, electricity, mobile penetration. “The data will be used to monitor each state’s individually and not for inter-state comparisons,” stressed the official.


The Aayog also proposes to work on district planning and building by examining the baseline indicators and strengths and weaknesses of each district. “The idea is to figure out what needs to be done in that district in terms of public and private participation,” said the official, adding that all districts in the country would be eventually covered.

Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan and Sikkim are some of the potential states where it could be rolled out first. The Aayog is also planning to establish a results framework document at the block level. But the proposal is only at

an initial stage and is being worked out by the Cabinet Secretariat. As part of its move to improve efficiency in government functioning, the Aayog is also planning to look at revamp of

laws. “This can be done in four ways — by repealing old laws, rationalisation and consolidating the ones that remain and introducing Bills where there is a vacuum and examining the amount of state intervention required,” explained the official, adding that this has already started in Rajasthan where the repealing work is almost over.

Sabotaging Adani's coal project using law frustrating: PM Abbott Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has backed the controversy-hit Adani’s coal mine venture, saying that the

$16.5bn project was “vitally important” and “sabotaging” of such developmental plans using legal means was “dangerous” for the country.

“If the courts can be turned into a means of sabotaging projects which are striving to meet the highest environmental standards, then we have a real problem as a nation,” he said. “We can’t become a nation of Q

Abbott’s remarks came after a court this week revoked the environmental approval for the Adani project, which aims to build one of the world’s largest coal mine in Queensland, opposed by green groups and local residents.

In his strongest defence yet of coal production in Australia, Abbott stated that the overturning of the proposed Queensland Carmichael mega coal mine project means courts can be used to “sabotage” worthy projects. “As a

country we must, in principle, favour projects like this,” he told The Australian newspaper. Abbott said he is “frustrated” at the court’s decision and asserted that projects like Adani mine were too vital to be

hindered by red tape. “If we get to the stage where the rules are such that projects like this can be endlessly frustrated, that’s dangerous for our country and tragic for the world.

“So we’ve got to get these projects right...but once they are fully complying with high environmental standards, let them go ahead. While it’s true that we want the highest environmental standards to apply to projects in Australia, and that people have a right to go to court, this is a $21-billion investment, it will create 10,000 jobs in Queensland and elsewhere in our country,” he added.

Abbott also said the mine would have a positive impact on India. “Let them go ahead for the workers of Australia and for the people of countries like India, who right at the moment have no electricity. Imagine what it’s like to live in the modern world with no electricity.”

BHEL commissions 500 MW thermal power plant at Vindhyachal

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has added one more coal-based power plant to the grid by successfully

commissioning the 500 MW Unit-13 of Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Station (STPS), Stage-V of NTPC. The

project is located in Vindhyanagar in Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh.

Significantly, BHEL has earlier commissioned six units of 500 MW rating each, at Vindhyachal power station. With

the commissioning of this unit, BHEL has now commissioned seven sets of 500 MW each aggregating to 3,500 MW,

the highest by BHEL in a power project, the company said in a press release.

BHEL’s scope of work in the contract envisaged design, engineering, manufacture, supply and erection &

commissioning of steam generator and steam turbine generator along with associated auxiliaries and state of the art

controls and instrumentation.

BHEL-make sets of 500 MW rating class today form the backbone of the lndian power sector with 76 sets having

already been commissioned by BHEL in the country, the company said in the release.

The public sector undertaking has already established its engineering prowess by successfully delivering higher rate

units such as 600 MW, 660 MW, 700 MW and 800 MW thermal sets with a high degree of indigenisation. Notably, in

the current financial year (2015-16), BHEL has already commissioned power plants with a cumulative capacity of

2,480 MW.

About a 4th of population under medical cover

With improving awareness on health insurance, about 24 per cent of country’s total population has been covered

under any health insurance policy.

“As per the data compiled by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA), the number of lives

covered under health insurance policies during the financial year, 2014-15 were 28.87 crore (provisional numbers).

As per the Census of India 2011, the population of India was 121.02 crore. As such, approximately 24 per cent of

India’s total population has been covered under any health insurance policy during the FY 2014-15,” according to an

official statement.

Of the 28.87 crore people covered, public sector insurance firms – National Insurance, United India Insurance, New

India Assurance and Oriental Insurance Co – accounted for 73 per cent, followed by private insurers (17 companies)

at 22 per cent. Specialized health insurers (5 companies) accounted for the remaining five per cent.

Among the public sector insurers, National Insurance tops the list (29 per cent share in the total coverage), followed

by United India (about 24 per cent). In the private sector table, Reliance is the leader (6 per cent share in overall

coverage), followed by Iffco Tokio (5 per cent) and ICICI Lombard (four per cent).

Among the specialized health insurance firms, Star Health is the leader (2.5 per cent share in overall coverage).


“Prime Minister’s Jan Dhan Yojana-PMJDY- has brought in 12.5 crore families into its fold by their new bank

accounts, which have a total deposit of Rs.10,500 crore. This covers around 15 per cent of our population. This

scheme has a built in health cover of Rs.30,000 per family and has become a game changer. By these initiatives, the

rural insurance penetration has increased manifold,” said an IRDA document.

First big ticket FDI: Tech major Foxconn pledges $5 billion in Maharashtra

Foxconn Technology Group, the global electronics manufacturing giant which makes iPhones for Apple, will invest $5

billion over five years in a new manufacturing facility in Maharashtra, making it one of the biggest Foreign Direct

Investment projects in the country in recent years.

The Taiwan-based group, which has a roster of clients including Apple, BlackBerry, Motorola, Amazon Cisco and

Xiaomi, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government, which has allotted 1,500 acres of

land for the new facility at Taloja in Pune district.

Foxconn’s commitment is the biggest in pure play manufacturing not only since the Narendra Modi government came

to power last year, but also over the last several years.

Foxconn chairman Terry Gou said recently that he saw India as a manufacturing and export base in the group’s long-

term plans — which appear to fit in with Prime Minister Modi’s Make in India mission aimed at facilitating

investment, innovation and manufacture of world-class products in the country.

Foxconn chose Maharashtra over other states because it has a leading financial centre, and is home to quality talent

and software-hardware integration facilities, Gou said after signing the MoU. The company, the world’s top contract

electronics manufacturer, will scout for local partners in line with its plans for India, which include going to other

cities, including New Delhi, he said.

The biggest foreign investment proposal in India so far has been South Korean steelmaker Posco’s over $ 12 billion

commitment for a plant in Odisha, which was grounded in the face of protests by environmentalists and local people

during the term of the previous UPA government.

Foxconn itself shut down its manufacturing facility near Chennai in 2014 after Nokia, to which it was supplying

components, decided to move out of India.

In the race to attract investment among states, this is a second achievement for Maharashtra in recent days — global

carmaker General Motors earlier announced plans to shut its plant in Halol, Gujarat, and shift focus to Talegaon in

Pune district. GM’s global CEO, Mary Barra, who too met PM Modi recently, has announced that the company would

invest $ 1 billion in India, and plans to use the country as an export base for the Middle East and some other

markets.

Fadnavis’s government has held roadshows in Davos, China, US, Germany and Israel over the past months to

persuade global firms to invest in Maharashtra.

Xiaomi partners Foxconn Xiaomi Inc. has tied up with Foxconn to assemble its mobile phones in India, in a bid to cut cost and boost its market

share in the smartphone market.

GST: Centre takes States on board The government proposal to empower the States is to provide a cushion on GST to the manufacturing States since

they expressed apprehensions about losing revenue. Their fears stem from the fact that the GST will take in subsume all taxes that the States now charge at the factory gate etc and will instead be levied and collected at the point of consumption.

This 1-per cent additional levy, however, is rendered unnecessary after the Union Cabinet’s approval of the Rajya Sabha Select Committee’s recommendation requiring the Centre to commit itself to compensating all loses to the States owing to the transition to the GST for five years, said a source.

He also indicated that after this assurance of full compensation, all manufacturing States, except Tamil Nadu, indicated that they were open to giving up this demand. Without sharing the details of the discussions at the meeting, the source also said: “The Prime Minister’s meeting with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was positive.”

The second point of contention the Opposition raised pertains to the proposal to allow for a band in which the States

can peg their GST rates. While the States had earlier demanded a four percentage-points band, Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das told that this range was now proposed to be of just one percentage point.

This is closer to the Congress’s demand for a uniform State GST rate. Sources also indicated that the government was in touch with the Opposition and could even consider calling a

special session or reconvening Parliament after Independence Day to pass the Bill.

ICICI Bank launches ‘Saral-Rural Housing Loan’ Scheme for weaker sections India’s largest private sector lender Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) Bank has launched

‘ICICI Bank Saral-Rural Housing Loan’ Scheme for weaker sections of society. The scheme is new home loan proposition of the bank with special interest rate to cater people from rural areas

including women borrowers as well as from weaker sections. Housing loan will be provided at the ICICI Bank Base Rate (known as I-Base) which is currently at 9.70%. An eligible

customer can avail of loan to purchase, construction or renovation of a home in the rural areas. The loan will range from five to fifteen lakh rupees for a period of 3–20 years and the loan can be up to 90 per cent of

the property value. This scheme will be available in 189 cities across the country.


With the launch of this scheme, the private bank seeks to support the socio-economic development of a larger section of the society especially economically deprived sections. It also seeks to empower customers including women borrowers in the rural locations in order to realize the dream of owning a house.

RBI net dollar purchase touches $565 million in June The Reserve Bank has remained net buyer of the US currency in June with it net purchase totalling $565 million from

the spot market. The central bank bought $5.530 billion from the market, while it sold $4.965 billion in the reporting month, RBI said

in monthly bulletin release. However, the net amount purchased in June was much lower than it did in April and May, when RBI had net

purchased $5.431 billion and $2.578 billion, respectively. RBI intervention in the foreign exchange market is aimed at curbing volatility in the currency market.

SCIENCE AND TECH

Indian-origin teen creates low-cost robotic arm

A 17-year-old Indian-origin student has won accolades for an inexpensive robotic arm he created for his school

science fair project in California.

Nilay Mehta was awarded a blue ribbon award — an accolade that recognises a student’s academic excellence — for

his project.

His project qualified for the Orange County Science and Engineering Fair where he won four first-place awards, the

Daily Pilot reported recently.

Nilay, a student of Irvine Public School in California, spent over four months building and programming the robotic

arm to replicate the movements of a human hand.

The robotic arm, which has a microphone attached, operates on voice command.

Nine U.S. satellites to be flown from Sriharikota

In a small but significant progress in the chequered Indo-U.S. space equations, Indian satellite launchers will for the

first time put a few U.S.-made satellites into space from Indian soil.

ISRO’s commercial venture Antrix Corporation recently signed contracts to launch nine micro and nano spacecraft

separately as small co-passengers on the PSLV light-lifter during this year and next, according to information from

ISRO officials.

“As on date, Antrix Corporation Ltd. has signed agreement to launch about nine nano / micro [U.S.] satellites during

the 2015-2016 timeframe from the Sriharikota launch pad,” an ISRO spokesman confirmed. He clarified that they

were not for U.S. space agency NASA; and they would go piggyback with other satellites.

A micro satellite weighs in the band of 10-100 kg and a nano satellite in the range of one to 10 kg.

ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar was reported to have mentioned in Chennai that ISRO would launch its first ever

U.S. spacecraft.

The U.S. contracts are seen as the first fruit of the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) that the Department of

Space signed with the U.S. in July 2009. The TSA leaves the door open for ISRO to launch small non-commercial or

experimental spacecraft that are made in the US — or even those of other countries which contain U.S. components.

Until the TSA was signed, even that leeway was not available for ISRO which aspires to take baby bites in the big

global launch service business. Most satellites made around the world use some or other U.S. components.

ISRO and the U.S. have been working at a bigger accord, the CSLA (Commercial Satellite Launch Agreement) which,

when sealed, will bring in the business of launching bigger commercial Earth observation or other satellites.

ISRO’s PSLV launcher, which has done 30 flights with just one failure since 1993, has a good record and is

considered low-priced and reliable for small satellites. To date, it has put into orbit 45 small and mid-sized foreign

satellites of 19 nations for a fee.

Radar satellite

Another positive outcome with the U.S. is the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), signed about two years

ago, to co-develop a radar imaging satellite and launch it from India around 2019-20. It will be the first synthetic

aperture radar satellite in dual frequency.

Largest Feature in the Universe Discovered, 5 Billion Light Years Across Astronomers have found what may be the largest feature in the known universe: a ring of nine gamma ray bursts -

and hence galaxies - five billion light years across. Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most luminous events in the universe, releasing as much energy in a few seconds

as the Sun does over its 10 billion year lifetime. They are thought to be the result of massive stars collapsing into black holes. Their huge luminosity helps astronomers to map out the location of distant galaxies.

The GRBs that make up the newly discovered ring were observed using a variety of space and ground-based observatories. They appear to be at very similar distances from us - around 7 billion light years in a circle more than 70 times the diameter of the full Moon, researchers said. This implies that the ring is more than 5 billion light years across.

Most current models indicate that the structure of the cosmos is uniform on the largest scales. This 'Cosmological Principle' is backed by observations of the early universe and its microwave background signature.


Other recent results and this new discovery challenge the principle, which sets a theoretical limit of 1.2 billion light years for the largest structures. The newly discovered ring is almost five times as large, researchers said.

A spheroidal ring projection would mirror the strings of clusters of galaxies seen to surround voids in the universe; voids and string-like formations are seen and predicted by many models of the cosmos.

The newly discovered ring is however at least ten times larger than known voids. The team now wants to find out more about the ring, and establish whether the known processes for galaxy formation

and large scale structure could have led to its creation, or if astronomers need to radically revise their theories of the evolution of the cosmos.

Stress can weaken self control Even moderate levels of stress can impair self-control, which requires a precise balance of input from multiple brain

regions rather than a simple on/off switch, finds a study.

‘Online hand washing tool reduces risk of catching infections’ A web-based programme to encourage more frequent hand washing reduces the risk of catching and passing on

respiratory tract infections to other household members, a study of 16,000 British households revealed.

Users of the programme, called PRIMIT, also reported fewer gastrointestinal infections, a lower demand for consultations with their doctors, and fewer antibiotic prescriptions.

“Our findings suggest that a simple, cheap internet programme to encourage hand washing can reduce the risk of infection by around 14 percent,” said lead author Professor Paul Little from the University of Southampton, England.

PRIMIT is a free-access, interactive, web-based programme. “Because most of the population catches coughs, colds, sore throats and other respiratory infections, this could have

an important impact on reducing the spread of these viruses in the general population, and also help reduce the pressure on National Health Service (NHS) during the winter months,” Little added.

The programme has four weekly sessions which explain medical evidence, encourage users to learn simple techniques to avoid catching and passing on viruses, monitor hand washing behaviour, and provide tailored feedback.

Noida school shines at NASA competition

A 12-member team from Amity International School, Noida, won the 20th Annual International Space Settlement

Design Competition, 2015, held from August 2 to 4, at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.

The students of classes IX and X participated in the finals and competed against 200 others from across the world.

Amity was part of a team "Vulture Aviation".

Amity team designed two main and four outlying settlements to accommodate a population of 24,000 as well as a

transient of 3,000 more on Mars using a transparent material "Aluminum Oxinitride".

The team members worked on all the aspects including structuring engineering, automation engineering, operations

engineering, human engineering, marketing and finance, schedule and cost for The team worked on the design for 48

hours.

Aabhaas Vaish, a team member said, "The Mars Space Settlement was named as Argonom Bult and proposed to be

designed inside a crater. The selection of the location for settling of Mars colony depended on the quality of soil and

low amount of dust storm in that particular area."

He explained how corpses will be decomposed on Mars and how inhabitants can be saved from the radiations from

other planets.

The competition puts high school students in the shoes of aerospace industry engineers. Student engineers

demonstrate creativity, technical competence, management skills, space environment knowledge, teamwork, and

presentation techniques to conquer the problems inherent in designing a Space Settlement.

This app will tell you about the pill you are popping How many of us know the contents of a tablet we are popping, its side effects or available alternatives across brands? For those who want a quick reference, Krishnakant Tiwari, a software developer working in a private company in

Bengaluru, has developed an android-based application which is freely downloadable. Called “Ausodhyatmika”, the application provides extensive details on about one lakh medicines with details on

chemical contents, price per unit, manufacturer, warnings and side-effects associated with medicines. He has spent a year researching on the subject.

“It all began about a year ago when I was watching a report on a news channel on how an unholy nexus of some of the doctors medicine manufacturing companies looting the common people by selling/prescribing expensive medicine while similar medicine are available in market at far cheaper price. This prompted me to develop an application which would help in educating the people,” he said.

Mr. Tiwari, however, makes it clear that his app only provides the details of medicines, but does not prescribe or recommend any medicine.

He said the application is also useful for pharmacists to keep stock of medicines and medical students as a source of information.

Ausodhyatmika app can be downloaded from Google play store in all android-enable mobile phones by typing the app name. The same application would soon be available iOS and Windows-enabled mobile phones also.

Space-grown lettuce on ISS menu for the first time Astronauts onboard the International Space Station will for the first time eat food that was grown on the orbiting

laboratory after harvesting a crop of ‘Outredgeous’ red romaine lettuce.


“Expedition 44 crew members, including NASA’s one-year astronaut Scott Kelly, are ready to sample the fruits of their labour after harvesting a crop of ‘Outredgeous’ red romaine lettuce Monday, August 10, from the Veggie plant growth system on the nation’s orbiting laboratory,” the U.S. space agency said.

The astronauts will clean the leafy vegetables with citric acid-based, food safe sanitising wipes before consuming them.

They will eat half of the space bounty, setting aside the other half to be packaged and frozen on the station until it can be returned to Earth for scientific analysis. NASA’s plant experiment, called Veg-01, is being used to study the in-orbit function and performance of the plant growth facility, and its rooting “pillows,” which contain the seeds.

NASA is maturing Veggie technology aboard the space station to provide future pioneers with a sustainable food supplement — a critical part of NASA’s Journey to Mars.

As NASA moves toward long-duration exploration missions farther into the solar system, Veggie will be a resource for crew food growth and consumption. It also could be used by astronauts for recreational gardening activities during deep space missions.

Veggie, along with two sets of pillows containing the romaine seeds and one set of zinnias, was delivered to the station

on the third cargo resupply mission by SpaceX in April 2014. The collapsible and expandable Veggie unit features a flat panel light bank that includes red, blue and green LEDs for

plant growth and crew observation.

Coke funds effort to shift battle on obesity crisis Coca-Cola, the world’s largest producer of sugary beverages, is backing a new “science-based” solution to the obesity

crisis: To maintain a healthy weight, get more exercise and worry less about cutting calories.

The beverage giant has teamed up with influential scientists who are advancing this message in medical journals, at conferences and through social media.

To help the scientists get the word out, Coke has provided financial and logistical support to a new non-profit organisation called the Global Energy Balance Network.

“Most of the focus in the popular media and in the scientific press is, ‘Oh they’re eating too much, eating too much, eating too much’ – blaming fast food, blaming sugary drinks and so on,” the group’s Vice-President, Steven N. Blair, an exercise scientist, says in a recent video announcing the new organisation.

Health experts say this message is misleading and part of an effort by Coke to deflect criticism about the role sugary drinks have played in the spread of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

They contend that the company is using the new group to convince the public that physical activity can offset a bad diet despite evidence that exercise has only minimal impact on weight compared with what people consume.

This clash over the science of obesity comes in a period of rising efforts to tax sugary drinks, remove them from schools and stop companies from marketing them to children.

“Coca-Cola’s sales are slipping, and there’s this huge political and public backlash against soda, with every major city trying to do something to curb consumption,” said Michele Simon, a public health lawyer. “This is a direct response to the ways that the company is losing. They’re desperate to stop the bleeding.”

Coke has made a substantial investment in the new non-profit. In response to requests based on state open records laws, two universities that employ leaders of the Global Energy Balance Network disclosed that Coke had donated $1.5 million last year to start the organisation.

Net addiction may weaken immune system Spending too much time online can damage your immune function, warns a new study.

People with high levels of Internet addiction problems are 30 percent more likely to catch colds and flu than those who spend less time on the Internet, the findings showed.

“Those who spend a long time alone on the Internet experience showed reduced immune function as a result of simply not having enough contact with others and their germs,” explained one of the researchers Phil Reed, professor at Swansea University in Wales, Britain.

“We found that the impact of the Internet on people’s health was independent of a range of other factors, like depression, sleep deprivation, and loneliness, which are associated with high levels of Internet use and also with poor health,” Reed noted in a statement released by Swansea University.

The study also suggested that those who are addicted to the Internet may suffer from great stress when they are disconnected, and this cycle of stress and relief associated with Internet addiction may lead to altered levels of cortisol

— a hormone that impacts immune function. Those who reported problems with over-use of the Internet also reported having more cold and flu symptoms than

those people who did not report excessive use. Previous research has shown that people who spend more time on the Internet experience greater sleep deprivation,

have worse eating habits and less healthy diets, engage in less exercise, and also tend to smoke and drink alcohol more.

“It does not seem to matter what you use it for, if you use it too much, you are more susceptible to illness. However, the mechanisms responsible for you getting ill may differ, depending on how you use the Net,” professor Roberto Truzoli from Milan University in Italy who was part of the new study noted.

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

Rare Chera, Chola coins found in Thanjavur


Ten coins including a Sangam age Chera coin datable to circa second century BCE, eight Chola period coins and a

Vijayanagara period coin have been found in a trench excavated by Tamil University, Thanjavur, at

Senthalaipattanam, Thanjavur district.

Of the eight Chola coins, one belongs to the emperor Raja Raja Chola (regnal years 985 CE to 1014 CE) and another

to his son, Rajendra Chola (regnal years 1012 CE to 1044 CE). The other coins are being cleaned. The miniscule

Vijayanagara silver coin was issued by emperor Krishnadevaraya.

Three trenches — two at Senthalaipattanam and one at the nearby Mandripattanam — have yielded gold core, glass

beads, micro beads, potsherds and a terracotta pipe for transporting water. Both Senthalaipattanam and

Mandripattanam are coastal villages. The trenches are five metres by five metres and half a metre deep. The

excavation is being done by the Department of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology of Tamil University. What led

them to choose this site for excavation was that when the shore was dug up on this stretch about 15 years ago to set

up prawn farms, several Sangam age, Roman and late Chola period coins were found.

Coin of Raja Raja Chola

The Senthalaipattanam trench yielded the Chera lead coin of second century BCE. It has the image of a bow on the

reverse side and the obverse probably has a carving of an elephant. “This kind of Chera coin is generally found [on the

surface] in the Karur region in Tamil Nadu. This is the first time that we have found it in a trench in an excavation on

the eastern coast,” said Dr. Rajavelu.

Of the eight copper coins of the Chola period, one was issued by Raja Raja Chola. It has the image, on the obverse, of

a man standing and holding a flower. The reverse shows a seated man and a legend in Nagari, reading “Rajaraja.”

This type of coin is called “Eelam Kasu” (coin). The coin issued by Rajendra Chola has the Nagari script “Uttama”

[Chola], his grandfather’s name, on the observe. The reverse side is not clear. The Vijayanagara coin has a seated

goddess on the obverse, and a leaf with horizontal lines and dots on the reverse. While the Chera coin was found at

the lowermost level, the Chola coins were found above and the Vijayanagara coin at the topmost level.

Hong Kong’s taste for seafood posing threat to ocean life The Pearl of the Orient’ is the second-largest consumer of seafood per capita in Asia - an average resident consumes

71.2 kilos (157 pounds) of seafood each year, more than four times the global average, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong.

Yet the city of seven million has been forced to become one of the biggest seafood importers in the world as local waters are depleted of fish stocks.

Whether in high-end restaurants or waterside eateries, seafood is ubiquitous in the southern Chinese city, where customers often choose their fish live from a tank.

But a “fish tank index” compiled by WWF Hong Kong found that more than 50 per cent of the species available in the city’s traditional restaurant tanks were from “highly unsustainable” sources.

“Overfishing is driving the collapse of the world’s ocean fish stocks and edging many types of fish towards extinction, yet they are still on our menus,” WWF Hong Kong conservation director Gavin Edwards said.

“Hong Kong has a special responsibility to turn the tide as one of the biggest consumers of seafood.” Unsustainable fish include those caught by controversial fishing practices, such as using cyanide poison, or from

overfishing already depleted species. Popular, threatened seafood in Hong Kong include grouper, wild sea cucumber and humphead wrasse - a coral reef

fish.

Lack of information The WWF has launched a new online seafood guide for Hong Kong detailing which types are deemed unsustainable. It also recently held a “Sustainable Seafood Week” asking restaurants to provide ocean-friendly options. But there is still a way to go to change consumer habits. Environmentalists in the Philippines say stocks of grouper are dwindling near the island of Palawan, a major source

for Hong Kong.

Watch out, scenic Vembanad estuary is shrinking every year Each year, Vembanad estuary is shrinking by 0.288 sq km, which would leave serious ecological impact on the lives

on its banks. A group of researchers from the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, came to the conclusion after evaluating the

coastal morphological data of 44 years between 1967 and 2011. The research team consisting of P.K. Dinesh Kumar, Girish Gopinath, R. Mani Murali and K.R. Muraleedharan noted

that the “rapid pace in urbanisation in the region has brought tremendous changes to the major islands in the estuary.”

The erosion and accretion of the estuary was studied by comparing satellite imageries of 2004 and 2011 with the topo-sheet of 1967 of the Survey of India. The results conclusively showed that the estuary was being inflicted with major geomorphic changes at several segments, resulting in reduction in its extent, it said.

The “narrowing and squeezing of the estuary” was observed at several segments. This was posing a “significant threat to estuarine habitats and functions.”

The Geo-morphologic differences found in the land-water system may lead to modification of estuarine flows. The bulging of islands due to sedimentation and the presence of new islands will reduce or alter the estuarine flows, a research paper published by the scientists said.


PERSONS IN NEWS

Fashion designer Arnold Scaasi is dead Arnold Scaasi, the Canadian clothing designer whose exuberant creations were worn by generations of first ladies,

socialites and Hollywood stars, died. “I am definitely not a minimalist!” Scaasi once declared, acknowledging his fondness for bright colours, prints and

embellishments like ruffles, bows, bugle beads, fur, feathers, fringe and paillettes. “Clothes with some adornment are more interesting to look at and more fun to wear.”

The proprietor of a long-running atelier in Midtown Manhattan, Scaasi was known for bringing the techniques of the French couture to prominent American women.

Scaasi also designed formal wear for first ladies Mamie Eisenhower, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush. Joan Crawford, Joan Rivers, Elizabeth Taylor, Diahann Carroll and Mary Tyler Moore were all “Scaasi Girls,” as his most devoted

clients were called. Moore appeared in a well-known ad campaign called “Me and My Scaasi.” He also made clothes for the sculptor Louise Nevelson, a close friend; flocks of debutantes; and even an order of nuns.

Nurses recruitment scam accused in Interpol net Uthup. M. Varghese, the key accused in the nurses recruitment scam, has landed in the custody of the Interpol,

about a week after a red corner notice was issued against him. Official sources said Uthup, the third accused in the Rs. 230-crore scam, was arrested from his house at Abu Dhabi a

few days ago. “Despite being arrested, we expect him to be handed over to India only after a couple of weeks. For, the process will be

based on the extradition treaty entered between Indian and the UAE,” they pointed out. Earlier, the CBI had traced Uthup to Kuwait and flying between various destinations in the Middle East. The CBI also

had information that he was meeting nurses who had reached Kuwait through his recruitment agencies and was demanding money from them.

Centenarian poet Kayyara Kinhanna Rai is dead Centenarian Kannada poet and freedom fighter Kayyara Kinhanna Rai breathed his last at his residence at

Badiyadkka in Kasaragod district of Kerala. Born on June 8, 1915, he has left an indelible impression not only as a poet but as a social activist, teacher, scholar,

journalist and people’s representative. He was a champion for integrating the region around Kasaragod, north of Chandragiri, with Karnataka, an aspiration

of the Kannada-speaking minority in Kerala after the 1957 States reorganisation. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has condoled the death of Rai. Mr. Siddaramaiah added that the poet was pro-Kannada,

without being against any other language and State.

Shining star in children’s literary world When his science teacher did not turn up for the class one day and his Tamil teacher substituted for him, little did

Ganapathy, the class IX boy, realise he had a talent with the pen. The Tamil teacher, Arumuganar, asked the boys to write whatever they felt like and he wrote a short poem. The

teacher appreciated and encouraged him to write more. “That was the day when I realised I have some talent with the pen,” says, Sella Ganapathy, who has won this year’s Sahitya Akademi’s Bal Sahitya Puraskar award.

The Science teacher’s absence on that day was a blessing in disguise for the young boy, who went on to write poems and stories for children for more than five decades and win the prestigious award.

Thanks to the support and inspiration from his guru Kuzhandai Kavignar Azha Valliappa, the poet has emerged as the shining star in the children’s literary world after he was honoured by the Akademi for Thedal Vettai, his collection of poems for children.

The Akademi’s recognition came four years after Palaniappa brothers published the book in 2011 and the poet dedicated the award to the publishers. “But for the publishers,

Mr. Ganapathy was scribbling poems during his school days and took to serious writing only after attending a book release function in Chennai at the age of 20. After witnessing C. Subramaniam, the then Madras State Minister for Education, Law and Finance releasing Valliappa’s Malarum Ullam , a collection of poems for children, he took a vow

that he would also write for children and that a Minister should release his book. Within couple of years, he had the privilege of Mr. Valliappa himself editing his book Vellai Muyal - a collection of

poems for children published in 1960 and his dream came true in 2007 when the then Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram released his book Manakkum Pookal , another collection of poems.

He became a full time writer for children when other poets hesitated, doubting if the books would sell. He had a pleasant surprise when one of his friends said his poems had appeared in Tamil textbooks in Singapore. The Singapore government later invited him to address workshop for parents, teachers, kids and children’s writers, he recalled.

Later, his books won the annual award of State Bank of India (SBI) for three successive years.

PLACES IN NEWS

California continues to battle the blaze

More than 9,000 firefighters are battling to contain nearly two dozen wildfires in California that have forced thousands

to flee their homes and burned large swathes of land.


The biggest fire, the Rocky Fire, prompted evacuations as it swept through Colusa, Lake and Yolo counties north of

Sacramento, the state's capital. More than 13,000 people have been forced to flee homes threatened by Rocky,

CALFIRE spokeswoman Alisha Herring said.

Only 12 per cent under control, Rocky has burned through more than 62,000 acres, destroying 50 structures, about

half of them homes.

“Rocky Fire that continues to really be a fast-moving and continues to challenge us,” CALFIRE spokesman Daniel

Berlant said. Weather is the the main culprit with several thousand dry lightning strikes were reported over the

weekend.

London world’s most googled city London has been named the most googled city in the world for its art galleries, performing arts and innovative design. The research, which was carried out by London and Partners, found that the city’s museums make up the top three

most googled museums in the world with the Science Museum leading the results. It stated that the Natural History Museum was the second-most searched for and the British Museum was third.

Culture capital “London is without a doubt the cultural capital of the world. Tourists are flocking to our great city in ever-increasing

numbers, drawn by our exceptional cultural attractions and landmarks,” London Mayor Boris Johnson said.

Theatres popular too Figures showed that London’s theatres also generate more searches than those in any other city and the British

capital is the most searched for city in the world to visit. The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian in Washington DC are ranked 4th and 5th

respectively.

Thousands evacuated as Taiwan prepares for biggest 2015 typhoon The strongest typhoon of the year was bearing down on Taiwan’s east coast, forcing the evacuation of more than

2,000 from outlying islands popular with tourists. Typhoon Soudelor, packing maximum wind gusts of up to 209 kilometres per hour, was 790 kilometres southeast of

Hualien county . It is currently categorised as a moderate storm by Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, although other observatories in

the region class it as a severe typhoon. Around 2,600 people, including tourists and residents, have been evacuated from Green Island and Orchid Island off

the coast of the eastern county of Taitung, according to the tourism office. “Although it won’t have the same effect of Typhoon Morakot, this typhoon is still very well developed,” Premier Mao

Chi-kuo said, referring to the storm that killed some 600 people in 2009, most buried in huge landslides.

IT city is not smart enough for Smart City project Bengaluru might pride itself as the Silicon Valley of India, but it has proved itself not “smart” enough to get into the

list of contenders for the Centre’s ambitious smart city project. The city secured just 62 per cent marks under 15-point parameters laid down by the Centre. Mangaluru, Shivamogga,

Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Tumakuru and Davangere made it to the list.

Mumbai gets a flamingo sanctuary A flamingo sanctuary in a bustling metropolis. Mumbai is setting another record after being home to a national park

for decades. If the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is right in the heart of the city, the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, which came into being, is on its periphery.

The Maharashtra Revenue and Forest Department notified the northern part of the creek as a wildlife sanctuary under Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection Act), 1972.

The sanctuary will be the State’s second marine sanctuary after the one at Malvan. The 1,690-hectare bird haven — 896 hectares of mangrove forests and 794 hectares of a waterbody — is on the western bank of the creek, between the Airoli and the Vashi bridges connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

“Declaration of the sanctuary, located right in the middle of a mega city, is a very significant step for the conservation of this unique natural environment with its eclectic mix of mangroves, mudflats and threatened species of birds,” N. Vasudevan, Chief Conservator of Forests, Mangroves Cell, said.

The Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit of the Mangrove Cell of the Forest Department will manage the sanctuary.

Biodiversity assessment The cell has initiated baseline studies and a rapid biodiversity assessment of the sanctuary area with assistance from

an Indo-German project on conservation and sustainable management of marine protected areas. “These studies would, in turn, help in the preparation of a scientific management plan for the sanctuary and its sustainable management.

The ecosystem will be closely monitored and shielded from serious threats such as discharge of effluents, dumping of sewage and other biotic interferences,” Mr. Vasudevan said.

The creek has been attracting flamingos in large numbers since 1994. By November every year, over 30,000 of these birds, along with their chicks, descend here and occupy the mudflats and the bordering mangroves.

They stay here till May, after which most of them migrate to Bhuj in Gujarat for breeding, leaving a small resident population. A large number of waders are also spotted along with them.

Besides supporting a large congregation of flamingos, the area is a refuge for many resident and migratory birds. In all, 200 species have been reported.

Singapore marks Golden Jubilee


Singapore marked 50 years since independence with nationwide celebrations, including a huge military parade and firework display that paid tribute to the late founding leader Lee Kuan Yew.

Almost 250,000 spectators took part in the festivities from — among the largest in the city state's history — which will include some 2,000 marchers, 50 military aircraft and 177 tanks and other security hardware.

The procession, capped off by a fireworks display, was the high point of a jubilee year largely choreographed and funded by the government.

6.2-magnitude quake hits Afghanistan An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit Afghanistan. The quake struck 224 kilometres deep beneath the Hindu Kush mountains and close to the Wakhan Corridor, the

narrow strip of far northeastern Afghanistan that lies between Tajikistan and Pakistan. However, the U.S. Geological Survey measured the intensity of the quake at 5.7.

SPORTS

NEUFC ropes in Argentine Velez

NorthEast United FC announced the signing of 25-year-old Argentinian striker Nicolas Velez for the second edition of

the Indian Super League football tournament.

A former River Plate Academy graduate, Velez will join the squad after finishing his season with SAF Warriors in the

Singapore Super League.

India finishes eighth

India settled for the eighth place after a 1-2 loss to the higher-ranked Hong Kong in the play-off match, the final day

of the girls’ team event of the WSF-World junior squash championship held in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

India at 156th spot The Indian football team continued to languish at 156th in the latest FIFA rankings as world champion Germany

dropped to No. 3 with beaten finalist Argentina still holding on to the numero uno spot ahead of Belgium. India dropped a whopping 15 places in the rankings issued last month, following reverses against Oman and lowly

Guam in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. India with 160 points shares the position with Kyrgyzstan. National coach Stephen Constantine’s side’s next assignment is the World Cup preliminary joint qualification match

against Asia’s top ranked team Iran in Bengaluru on September 8.

Marathoner stripped of titles Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova has been stripped of her London and Chicago marathon titles after the IAAF said that all

her results since 2009 had been annulled and her two-year doping ban extended by 14 months. The world governing body for athletics issued a statement saying the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had ratified

a settlement agreement under which Shobukhova’s original suspension had been prolonged until March 2016. Organisers of the London Marathon, which Shobukhova won in 2010 and where she finished second in 2011, said

they will now be taking court action “to recover the prize and appearance money” paid to the Russian. Shobukhova, who has also been stripped of her 2009, 2010 and 2011 Chicago titles, was originally suspended after

irregularities were detected in her biological passport. Her original two-year ban ran from January 2013, but the IAAF appealed to CAS “in order to seek an extension on the

basis of aggravating circumstances”. The 37-year-old Shobukhova featured in a German documentary in December which alleged systematic doping by

Russian athletes.

Youngest ever at the Worlds? Bahrain schoolgirl Alzain Tareq, believed to be the youngest swimmer to ever compete at world championships,

caused a splash when she swam in the 50m butterfly heats. THe 10-year-old finished last overall of the 64 competitors, finishing in 41.13sec and was 15sec off the fastest time of

25.43 by Sweden’s world record-holder Sarah Sjostorm, who swam in a later heat. “I’m happy, I feel so happy. It was really cool,” she beamed when asked what it was like to swim against adults here. Sjostrom’s world record of 24.43 secs is on her bucket list. “It’s hard for me to beat the world record now, but I can do

that when I am older. When I am 15 or 16,” she said. US star Missy Franklin, who won six world golds two years ago in Barcelona, is charmed. “She is so cute and tiny,”

said the 20-year-old Franklin.

India loses to Canada The Indian girls lost the match for the ninth place 2-1 to Canada, succumbing in two tie-breaks in the decisive

doubles rubber at the World Junior Tennis Finals under-14 championship in Prostejov, the Czech Republic.

Historic fifth gold for Ledecky; double for Seebohm

Australia’s Emily Seebohm won the women’s 200m backstroke gold at the world swimming championships to

complete the double having already won the 100m title.

Ledecky breaks 800m record

Katie Ledecky broke her own 800m freestyle world record by claiming a historic fifth gold to complete the sweep of

freestyle titles.

Having twice lowered her 1500m time in Kazan, this is the third time Ledecky of the USA has broken a World record

in Kazan and the 10th time in her career.

She is the first swimmer to win the freestyle sweep of 200, 400, 800 and 1500m world titles, while she also won gold

in the 4x200m freestyle relay.


Russia triumphs

Russia defended its crown by beating US 2-1 in the girls’ final of the World Junior Tennis Finals in Prostejov, Czech

Republic.

India had earlier lost to Canada 1-2 in the match for the ninth place.

The final placings: 1. Russia, 2. US, 3. Poland, 4. Italy, 5. Romania, 6. Japan, 7. New Zealand, 8. Czech Republic, 9.

Canada, 10. India, 11. China, 12. Paraguay, 13. Hungary, 14. Colombia, 15. Morocco, 16. Egypt.

Root soars to the top of the world rankings as England seals Ashes Joe Root has climbed to the top of the ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen for the first time after helping England

defeat Australia by an innings and 78 runs in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, which the home side won within three days, for the second successive Test.

The Yorkshire man, who top scored with 130 in England’s innings, has overtaken Steven Smith at the summit and the Australia batsman has dropped two places to third, with South Africa’s AB de Villiers unmoved in second position.

Root has also become just the sixth English player to hit the top of either the batting or bowling rankings since 1980. In lifting the Ashes, England captain Alastair Cook has become only the third English captain ever, after W.G. Grace and Mike Brearley, to win the coveted Urn twice at home. The left-handed batsman remains in 19th position, while Moeen Ali has broken into the top 50 for the first time and has climbed two places to 50th after scoring 38.

OPINION

Victory over Ebola

The alacrity and eagerness shown by the research community to find a safe and efficacious vaccine against the deadly

Ebola virus has borne fruit. The interim results of a Phase III clinical trial in Guinea using a novel virus vaccine

(rVSV-ZEBOV) have shown 100 per cent efficacy after 10 days of vaccination.

People who received it three weeks after randomisation (delayed vaccination) served as the control group. Since the

estimated efficacy is based on results from a small group of volunteers comprising 2,014 people who were vaccinated

immediately after randomisation, the actual efficacy level will be known only when it is tested on a larger population.

According to the World Health Organization, which sponsored and led the trial, the efficacy will be between 75 and

100 per cent. Given the promise, the trial is set to continue with everyone who has come in direct contact with an

infected person (index case) and those exposed to the primary contacts set to receive the vaccine immediately.

As of July 26, there have been 3,786 cases and 2,520 deaths in Guinea since the first outbreak more than a year ago;

according to the WHO, as of July 26 there have been 27,748 cases and 11,279 deaths from Ebola in the West African

countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the body fluids of a sick person or a cadaver. Given the falling

incidence, the Ebola c¸a Suffit (“Ebola this is Enough”) trial used a novel “ring” vaccination design, that was earlier

used for smallpox eradication in the 1970s; people at high risk of infection owing to direct contact with an index

patient or who had been exposed to the primary contacts, were chosen.

Considering that people were suspicious of health-care workers during the initial stages of the outbreak, the active

participation of families and communities in identifying those at risk for the trial is a testimony to the commitment to

win the war against the virus.

In addition to the protection that is extended to those who have been vaccinated, the trial has confirmed that the ring

vaccination strategy will “most likely” be effective at the population level by creating herd immunity. Thus the vaccine

can “hopefully stop” disease transmission in Guinea once it is administered to all the contacts. Similar results can be

expected when the vaccine is used in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

This is a big victory and a much needed weapon to fight the virus that killed many, devastated economies and caused

the health-care systems to collapse in the three countries. The vigil should now continue, and it should be ensured

that Ebola never makes a comeback anywhere on earth.

Breakthrough in Nagaland

Good beginnings are no guarantee to good outcomes. India has taken a big step forward in ending the protracted Naga

insurgency by signing a framework agreement with the largest and most prominent of the armed Naga groups, the

Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah).

However, not all the major issues stand sorted out with this agreement, and some smaller groups have not been part

of the decisive phases of the peace process. While the Khole-Kitovi and the Reformation factions, which are not party

to the present accord, have signed a ceasefire agreement with the government, the Khaplang faction of the NSCN,

active in the eastern areas of Nagaland and with bases across the border in Myanmar, remains hostile to the

engagement with the Isak-Muivah faction.

The NSCN (Khaplang) is known to have carried out a deadly ambush on Army personnel in Manipur in June 2015 as

a way of communicating its opposition to the evolving accord with the I-M faction, and demonstrating its capabilities.

The NSCN (K) seems to have forged an alliance with other disgruntled splinter groups that are in opposition to the

course taken by the I-M faction.


Thus, while the agreement with the NSCN (I-M) is a breakthrough in the decades-long peace process, the Government

of India will have to bear in mind that many of the players of the insurgency are still not on board, and several issues

do not have a settled look yet.

To make matters worse for groups that are not part of the agreement, and that feel left out of the process, details of

the accord have not been made public yet.

There is no clarity on the controversial “sovereignty” demand that was central to the I-M group’s negotiations strategy,

or on the demand for the creation of a Nagalim or Greater Nagaland that is tied to claims on the territories of the

neighbouring States of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Issues relating to sovereignty and territories of other States offer no easy solution. For this agreement to hold, and to

be built upon, the government needs to involve all the stakeholders, including other groups and members of Naga civil

society, and representatives of the neighbouring States.

Otherwise, the present agreement, which is no doubt a landmark event in the decades-long history of the insurgency,

could falter in the months ahead.

To recognise the Naga sense of identity without acceding to claims on the territories of other States, to allow the

people of Nagaland greater autonomy in deciding their own lives and future without allowing concessions on the

sovereignty of India: these are the challenges before the government.

The agreement provides a basis for pushing ahead on these aspects, and is a hard-earned opportunity that should not

be lost.

Nagaland: a long road to peace Poignancy, laced with a sense of Naga pride and aspirations, can best describe the responses to the August 3 Naga

Peace Accord signed between the NSCN (I-M) and the government of India. This can only be understood by talking to those living in Nagaland.

On August 4, I received an early morning phone call from Zunheboto town (Zunheboto in Sumi dialect refers to a flowering shrub) in Nagaland. The sober voice of one of my young Naga friends broke the silence across the miles as she whispered, “Sister, finally, we do have closure, right?” followed by a spell of silence pregnant with meaning.

I knew that she was brimming with emotions — pride amidst hurt; dignity amidst insecurity. I recalled Martin Luther King, Jr.’s lines from the movie Selma: “this is a demonstration of our dignity”.

That is what the Naga struggle has meant to me: a demonstration of the Nagas’ pride and dignity as a people. This, notwithstanding the violence and the insurgency, the fear and the insecurity and a life lived in uncertainty.

Naga-inhabited areas resonate with a sense of unique history and culture — the National Socialist Council of Nagaland NSCN (Isak-Muivah) represents both.

Where it began The ethnic Naga movement began its journey in 1918 with the formation of the Naga Club by 20 Naga members of the

French Labour Corps, who had served in World War-I in Europe. The wartime knowledge motivated the few who came in contact with the European battlefield to politically organise

themselves as a distinct ethnic entity. It also aroused in them a feeling of Naga nationalism, which shaped the idea of a ‘Naga nation’.

The Club submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission in 1929, in which it stated that the people of Naga areas and those of mainland India had nothing in common between them and hence the Nagas should be left alone.

In 1946, Naga National Council (NNC), a successor to the Naga Club, was formed under the leadership of A.Z. Phizo. Phizo, with the collaboration of eight other Nagas, declared Naga independence on August 14, 1947. In a 1951 speech, Phizo argued, “In the name of the Naga National Council and on behalf of the people and citizens of Nagaland, I wish to make our stand and our national position clear.

We are a democratic people, and as such, we have been struggling for a Separate Sovereign State of Nagaland in a democratic way through constitutional means as it is so called. We shall continue to do so”.

It is important to note that several efforts were made to resolve the Naga issue. On June 27-28, 1947, the Akbar Hydari Agreement was signed between the then Governor of Assam, Sir Akbar Hydari and the NNC, in which the Nagas’ right to freely develop themselves was respected.

However, Clause 9 of the Hydari Agreement created divisions as it stated, “The Governor of Assam as the Agent of the

Government of the Indian Union will have a special responsibility for a period of 10 years to ensure the observance of the agreement, at the end of this period the Naga Council will be asked whether they require the above agreement to be extended for a further period or a new agreement regarding the future of Naga people arrived at”. This was interpreted by the NNC as terminating in sovereignty.

The NNC took to arms in 1955. Indian security forces responded with counter-insurgency operations, which resulted in the imposition of the Assam Disturbed Areas Act on the Naga Hills on August 27, 1955. This later became the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, further amended in 1972.

Those were turbulent times in Naga history, with the landscape plagued by violence, counter-insurgency and civilian deaths. The hills came alive with a complex mix of political ideology, a desire for self-determination, ethnic alignments and tribal divisions.

It was not an easy situation to deal with. The insurgency and the deployment of armed forces resulted in civilian deaths.

In 1963, as a mechanism for conflict resolution, the Nagaland State was established. Yet, the insurgency continued, as most Naga inhabited areas were left outside the purview of the new State. In 1964, a Nagaland Peace Mission was created and a ceasefire agreement was signed that lasted till 1968.


After years of violence, another effort at peace was attempted with the signing of the Shillong Accord in 1975, where the NNC members agreed to give up violence and accept the Indian Constitution.

However, Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu, then members of the NNC, interpreted the Shillong Accord as a complete sellout and revolted, going on to form the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1980. S.S. Khaplang, who now heads NSCN (K), was a member of the unified NSCN that split in 1988 to form the two divisions: NSCN (I-M) and the NSCN (K).

Looking ahead This history of the struggle is important as a backdrop to understand the significance of the Naga peace accord signed

on August 03. NSCN (I-M) under Muivah and Swu have held to the ceasefire since its signing in 1997. The ceasefire by NSCN (I-M) attained greater significance after NSCN (K) abrogated its ceasefire on March 27, 2015.

Also, unlike NSCN (K), whose leader Khaplang has failed to maintain unity within the group, the NSCN (I-M)’s leaders and cadres have stayed with it since 1988.

Where the NSCN (I-M) has succeeded while groups like NSCN (K) have failed is in establishing a presence across all Naga-inhabited areas. It has achieved this by holding regular People’s Consultative Meetings (PCMs) with groups such

as the Naga Hoho; Naga Students’ Federation; Forum for Naga Reconciliation; and the larger Naga civil society across States.

The PCMs have reinforced the much-needed local social networks that are the mainstay of any insurgent group. This largely representative structure has also kept violence in check and created an accountability mechanism where aspirations for Naga dignity and pride have taken centre stage.

It is notable that the NSCN (I-M) has shown flexibility in relegating the sovereignty clause to the background and

bringing to the fore the issue of Naga identity — a more negotiable factor with the Central government. Consequently, as I read through the Prime Minister’s speech at the signing ceremony that set the framework for a

peaceful resolution to the Naga insurgency, his emphasis on restoring a sense of dignity, pride and respect to the Naga people stood out. This, as the 97-year-old Naga struggle will tell you, is the core issuefor the Nagas — a recognition of their history, dignity and culture.

The details of the Accord are yet to be made public, especially on how the NSCN (I-M)’s complicated political demand for a ‘Greater Nagalim’, comprising areas in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur will be negotiated. However, the biggest breakthrough is that the group has agreed to give up violence and resolve all issues peacefully. For now, this Accord has ushered in hope, bringing joy mixed with poignant memories to my friend from Zunheboto… and that matters the most.

Refugees as citizens None can object to the Union government’s move to grant citizenship to undocumented migrants who have come to

India fleeing religious persecution in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Not just Hindus but also Buddhists, Christians, Zoroastrians, Sikhs and Jains are eligible for citizenship under the proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act.

But ideally, so long as those seeking citizenship are able to prove they are victims of religious persecution in the neighbouring country, their religious persuasion should not be a criterion for grant of citizenship. Minority sects within Islam too face persecution, especially in Pakistan.

The real difficulty, however, would be to distinguish between illegal migrants who came to India seeking work opportunities and a better life, and those who fled Pakistan or Bangladesh fearing persecution. In a situation where the Narendra Modi government continues to push for a tough stand against “infiltration” and illegal migration, the religious identity of the migrants should not be the basis for deciding their eligibility for citizenship.

Given the past rhetoric of the BJP, which in the 2014 election manifesto described India as the “natural home of persecuted Hindus”, and the election speeches of Mr. Modi himself, in which he asked Bangladeshis to be ready to pack up and leave, the initial fears were that only Hindus, or at the most those adhering to Indian-origin religions, would be chosen for citizenship.

That there has been some rethinking is a welcome sign. The government ought to make this religion-neutral. However, what needs to change more urgently is India’s attitude to refugees in general. India must remain open to all

those seeking refuge, and not just those fleeing religious persecution. Although not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, under which it would have been obliged not to send

refugees back to a territory against their will if they fear threats to life or freedom, India cannot escape its responsibilities under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to respect the rights and freedoms of all people in

its territories. Article 14(1) is categorical in stating that “everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from

persecution.” Any well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a social group, or political opinion qualifies for refugee status.

Worries about the impact this would have on relations with Bangladesh at a time when a friendly government is in place are misplaced. In any case, India cannot compromise on its commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms. If there is a problem with the proposals, it is that they do not go far enough.

Between prurience and pragmatism The government’s flip-flop on the issue of banning websites that carry pornographic content highlights both policy

confusion and the difficulty involved in having a policy on it. In its zeal to address the concerns of the Supreme Court over the menace of child pornography the government asked Internet service providers to block 857 websites.

The order was withdrawn no sooner than it was sought to be enforced. However, sites that show child pornography will remain blocked. The onus may now be on intermediaries to ensure that elements of child pornography are not mixed in general pornographic content. But this process will involve determining the age of those featured.


The immediate reaction of some sections of civil society appears to be that any ban on watching pornography encroaches on citizens’ right to privacy, and that what they should or should not watch inside their home ought not to be anyone’s concern.

Also, a cyber ban may be counter-productive as technological means to bypass such restrictions are available. However, is a hands-off policy on online pornography in consonance with the legal position? While there is no single law that criminalises the gamut of making, distributing, publishing and watching pornographic material, there are enough legal provisions to bring pornographic content under the ambit of criminal law.

Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code makes distribution of obscene material a crime; Section 67 of the Information Technology Act makes it an offence to publish or transmit obscene material in electronic form; and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act makes using children in pornographic acts and storing such material for commercial purposes punishable.

There is a law that prohibits indecent representation of women. Therefore, making pornographic films involving children or in a manner that represents women indecently is illegal. Uploading such content on the Internet is an offence too.

Yet, it may be argued that it is no crime if adults consent to be videographed during sexual acts and the footage is uploaded from outside the country. In any case, watching such content in the privacy of one’s home can be no crime. Enforcing such a body of law is not easy.

Even the question of what constitutes pornography may be open to misinterpretation, unless one falls back on known definitions drawn from various legal provisions — something that appeals to the prurient interest, or tends to corrupt or deprave.

In the circumstances, the most pragmatic way for a government to deal with it will be to be vigilant against child pornography while moving against other alleged violators only in specific cases. Otherwise, it may be difficult to stem the tide of intrusive enforcement.

Right move The Englishman has known that his home is his castle since 1628, when Sir Edward Coke wrote it into the Institutes

of the Lawes of England, the bible of common law. And he codified a belief that had been in currency for at least a century earlier.

Coke’s dictum has been sadly misused by the right in several countries to argue for the right to be badly behaved at home. But, on the other hand, it also established the notion of private space as the refuge of free will, the fundamental building block of democracy.

It is therefore surprising that until now, the jury has been out on the question of privacy in India, which has successfully adapted numerous English institutions to an Asian context.

In response to Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi’s argument that two judgments by constitution benches in 1954 and 1963 had held that privacy is not a fundamental right, and that there can be no clarity on the question unless it is referred to a nine-judge bench, the Supreme Court has held that without the fundamental right to privacy, the right to life and liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution would be meaningless.

This is not the last word on the issue since the matter, in which various parties have argued that the collection of Aadhaar data is a violation of privacy, is still being heard. But the court has clearly indicated its willingness to sanctify privacy.

Following his observation on Englishmen and their castles — Englishwomen did not typically own property or enjoy much free will at the time — Coke had elaborated, “…et domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium (and each man’s

home is his safest refuge)”. Hopefully, the court will enlarge on the theme. The idea of private space is no longer defined spatially. It is the dimensionless mindspace in which we think, express

and interact. The contemporary “castle” that deserves legal protection is the human community, the media and the ether in which

its communications intermesh, where it interacts with institutions and performs all the functions that bring richness to life, from rocket science to slapstick comedy.

While individual privacy remains the bedrock of democracy — its basis is a secret ballot — the privacy of the collective and of relationships has assumed equal importance.

While public concerns about the collection of private data by Aadhaar for authenticating identity may be exaggerated, the possibility of multiplexing data to profile people and groups is real and could amount to an invasion of privacy.

Since deterrents to this possibility will be legal rather than technical, the courts will play a crucial role in resolving this issue. The Supreme Court has moved purposefully in the right direction.

Questions that will not die A week after Yakub Abdul Razak Memon was sent to the gallows for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts,

questions have been raised about the nature of the Supreme Court proceedings leading up to the execution, and the manner of disposal of his mercy plea by President Pranab Mukherjee hours before he was hanged. These had caused unease in legal and judicial circles and refuse to die down.

Questions have been raised on whether President Mukherjee rejected Memon’s mercy plea without proper application of the mind and in haste, considering the fact that there is no deadline for a President to decide mercy petitions.

His predecessor, Pratibha Patil, popularly described as the “most merciful President”, commuted the death sentences of 35 convicts during her tenure. A.P.J Abdul Kalam received 25 mercy petitions, rejected one and commuted another to life. K.R. Narayanan rejected one mercy petition but the execution was later stayed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Prominent among the questions to the Supreme Court is why Memon was not allowed 14 days between the rejection of his clemency petition by the President and his hanging on July 30. The hearings in the Supreme Court dominated the week which ended in the execution of Memon.


On July 28, 2015, while dealing with a writ petition filed by Yakub Memon claiming procedural irregularity and violation of natural justice in the issue of a death warrant by a TADA court in Mumbai, a bench of Justices Anil R. Dave and Kurian Joseph disagreed on the latter’s point that Memon’s curative petition was not heard by the Supreme Court in accordance with the mandatory procedure prescribed in Order 48 (curative petitions) of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013.

In the split verdict, Justice Dave observed in the judgment that “submissions made about the curative petition do not appeal to me as they are irrelevant and there is no substance in them.”

Justice Joseph raised the serious issue that “the procedure prescribed under the law has been violated while dealing with the curative petition and that too, dealing with life of a person.”

Staying the death warrant, Justice Joseph observed that the Supreme Court committed a serious procedural violation under Order 48, Rule 4 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 by not including all the judges, including him, who had heard Memon’s review petition in the subsequent curative process.

“After all, law is for man and law is never helpless and the Court, particularly the repository of such high constitutional powers like Supreme Court, shall not be rendered powerless,” Justice Joseph noted, asking that the

curative petition be heard afresh. The matter was referred to a three-judge bench led by Justice Dipak Misra and heard on July 29, the eve of the

execution. In a day-long hearing which witnessed Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi calling the convict a “traitor”, the bench held that there was no “legal fallacy” in the issue of the death warrant.

In a judgment delivered at 4.15 pm the court pointed out that the review process is limited to re-examination of the principal judgment of March 21, 2013, which confirmed the death penalty. On the question of validity of the death

warrant, the bench held that it was served on Memon on July 13, 2015, giving him “sufficient time” under the law. It pointed out that Memon continued to avail himself of legal remedies even after the warrant was issued. The court

acknowledged Mr. Rohatgi’s argument that “this is not a person who has never gone to court”. Hours after this judgment was pronounced, the same night, the President rejected Memon’s mercy petition, triggering another round of litigation, which culminated in the unprecedented pre-dawn hearing at the Supreme Court even as the clock ticked for the condemned man.

In a fresh petition, Memon, through his lawyers, said he had a right to challenge the President’s rejection of his mercy plea, but could only do so if it was formally served on him. He knew only what his counsel knew about the rejection from news reports. With only hours to live, he said he would be deprived of his right to a minimum 14 days to settle affairs and “make peace with God”.

The 14-page judgment by the same bench, led by Justice Dipak Misra, said the day’s drill on the Memon case begins again, like a Phoenix rising. Memon has returned to court, it said, to urge for a second lease of life even before the ink had dried on the evening’s judgment.

The judgment held that Memon had had sufficient time to make “wordly arrangements” when the “first mercy petition”, filed by his brother Suleiman, was rejected by the President in April 2014. It said granting Memon another 14 days would be a “travesty of justice”.

Democracy’s essence India’s fundamental belief in democracy is often taken as a given, but it is instructive to understand the basis and

strength of this belief. A new national survey by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies shows that in 2013, under half the country unequivocally preferred democracy as the best form of government in all cases; the outcome was the same when a similar survey was conducted in 2005.

The proportion of those who believe that an authoritarian government is acceptable in some cases has grown, but at 11 per cent it remains a minority view, and significantly lower than those with the same view in neighbouring Pakistan.

Among the poor, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, the preference for democracy was not what was significantly higher, but indifference as to the type of government. Satisfaction in the functioning of democracy has declined sharply in India, and with it, presumably, the belief that a form of government in which one

notionally has a voice is the most desirable. Preference for authoritarianism was higher among

those with the highest media exposure, those who lived in metros, those who were rich and those who were college-educated — groups for which democracy has delivered much more than for the marginalised sections, yet among whom such conservative views are growing.

Even among those who identify themselves as democrats, many believe a strong leader would do well to take decisions on his or her own and do away with elections and Parliament, the survey reveals. Perhaps this reflects frustration with a system which while representative is simply not delivering equally and efficiently to all.


India would do well to watch out for the growth of such authoritarian tendencies, especially when they come in the garb of patriotism. This is evident, for instance, in the branding of criticism of the death penalty as “anti-national” and in support, even among some journalists, for the government’s move to go after television channels which aired views against Yakub Memon’s hanging.

Simultaneously, the government would do well to not misunderstand the nature of its democratic compact with its people, especially the poor. Top among the essential characteristics of democracy as rated by respondents in the survey was the freedom to take part in protests and demonstrations, evidence of a country that holds the right to dissent dear.

Several welfarist ideals — provision of basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter, as well as a narrowing gap between the rich and the poor and job opportunities for all — came next in the list of most cherished tenets of democracy.

The everyday experience of dealing with the state for these is no doubt frustrating — ration shops are ranked as being among the most corrupt, and the police are seen as the least trusted. Majoritarian and jingoistic notions of democracy are not what the people of India are looking for, but a welfarist democracy that delivers.

Stifling democratic debate The show cause notices issued to three television channels by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Friday

for their coverage of the Yakub Memonissue and events in the run-up to his execution, are unwarranted and have little basis in law.

The notices were issued to NDTV 24X7, ABP News and Aaj Tak, for alleged defamation and aspersions cast by them against the integrity of the President and the judiciary. A perusal of the content under question shows only critical

discussion by individuals of the judgment dismissing the mercy petition. There was nothing there amounting to defamation or contempt of court, nor was any aspersion cast on the office of

the President beyond mere criticism of the decision to reject the mercy petition. Yakub Memon’s execution led to widespread debate on the issue of capital punishment and on whether his crimes deserved the highest punishment, apart from questions over what many felt were procedural lapses in the handling of his mercy petitions.

Criticism of the President’s actions and of court judgments are normal in the public discourse and are an integral part of the freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 19 1(a) of the Constitution. The claim made in the notices that the broadcasts by two of the channels were likely to incite violence or promote anti-national attitudes is also a specious one as registering a contrarian opinion about death penalty is not by itself inflammatory or seditious.

For the I&B Ministry to send a notice demanding a reply from the channels, which if not received would invite penal provisions leading to the suspension of permissions, is an outrageous overreach of its powers.

The section on the programme code of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 that has been invoked to send the notices has clauses that are too broad and that could be misused as in the present cases.

While print publications in India have been allowed a wide degree of freedom of expression in consonance with the constitutional provisions, broadcast channels have not been given the same leeway as in addition to the general laws they are also governed by the broadcast code that regulates content.

The logic behind this distinction is that the audio-visual medium has greater and more instantaneous impact than print. Also, the licensing of the broadcast spectrum, which is a public resource, gives the government the authority to lay down additional restrictions.

Yet the distinction appears invidious, and there is no reason why the broadcast medium should be subjected to more stringent restrictions than print. Both types of media serve the same purpose of informing and promoting public

discussions of issues, necessary in a democratic society. It is dangerous for the power to regulate broadcasting to be vested in the I&B Ministry that can block content that is

not to the liking of the government, using the broadly framed content code. The distinction between the print and broadcast media should be removed and the broadcast medium allowed in full the freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution.

1 Weekly News and Analysis Byju’s Classes-9873643487 2015CA_012,013,014,015,016,017,018,019


INTERNATIONAL NEWS World population set to cross 11 billion in 2100: UN There will be no end to world population growth in this century, says the UN, adding that the world's population will

increase from 7.3 billion people to 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion at the century's end. Asia, with a current population of 4.4 billion, is likely to remain the most populous continent, with its population

expected to peak around the middle of the century at 5.3 billion and then to decline to around 4.9 billion people by the end of the century.

Developing countries with young populations but lower fertility like India face the prospect of substantial population ageing before the end of the century.

"India, along with China and Brazil, need to invest some of the benefits of their demographic dividend in the coming decades toward provisions for the older population of the future such as social security, pensions and health care," said John R Wilmoth, director of the United Nations' (UN) Population Division.

The world population growth will not stop in this century unless there are unprecedented fertility declines in those parts of sub-Saharan Africa that are still experiencing rapid population growth.

According to models of demographic change derived from historical experience, it is estimated the global population

will be between 9.5 and 13.3 billion people in 2100.

The primary driver of global population growth is a projected increase in the population of Africa. The continent's current population of 1.2 billion people is expected to rise to between 3.4 billion and 5.6 billion people

by the end of this century. "The continent's population growth is due to persistent high levels of fertility and the recent slowdown in the rate of

fertility decline," Wilmoth noted. The total fertility rate (TFR) has been declining in Africa over the past decade, but has been doing so at roughly one-

quarter of the rate at which it declined in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean in the 1970s. The results have important policy implications for governments across the globe. "Rapid population growth in high-fertility countries can exacerbate a range of existing problems - environmental,

health, economic, governmental and social," said Wilmoth.

Greece, lenders clinch ‘deal’ after marathon talks Greece and its international lenders reached a multi-billion euro bailout agreement after talking through the night,

officials said, potentially saving the country from financial ruin. The agreement, reached after a 23-hour session of talks, must still be adopted by Greece’s Parliament and Eurozone

countries. The single currency bloc’s finance ministers are due to meet, giving time to finalise the deal before a major debt repayment.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is seeking a meeting of Parliament to ratify the deal with the creditors, a government source said.

The bailout negotiations appeared to have resolved all the main outstanding issues, after Greece’s Leftist government effectively capitulated earlier to creditors’ demands for deep austerity measures in order to receive loans.

“Finally, we have white smoke,” a Greek Finance Ministry official said after exhausted Greek officials emerged in a central Athens hotel to announce the two sides had agreed on terms. “An agreement has been reached.”

Amnesty endorses contentious policy on decriminalising sex work Amnesty International voted to endorse a contentious plan to support the decriminalisation of sex work, a move that

will lead to pressure on governments by the prominent rights group not to punish millions of sex workers worldwide. “Sex workers are one of the most marginalised groups in the world who in most instances face constant risk of

discrimination, violence and abuse,” Salil Shetty, the organisation’s secretary general, said in a statement. “Our global movement paved the way for adopting a policy for the protection of the human rights of sex workers which

will help shape Amnesty International’s future work on this important issue.” Amnesty said it took the decision after two years of consultation and research, drawing on evidence from U.N.

agencies and the findings of research missions to Argentina, Hong Kong, Norway and Papua New Guinea. Amnesty defended its new policy, saying it was the best way to defend sex workers’ human rights and reduce the risk

of abuse, arbitrary arrest, extortion, harassment, human trafficking and forced HIV testing. It added that the policy had been shaped by discussions with sex worker groups, HIV/AIDS activists, groups

representing former prostitutes and anti-trafficking agencies among others. Regarding human trafficking, Amnesty said the practice was “abhorrent in all of its forms, including sexual

exploitation, and should be criminalized as a matter of international law.” Laws legalising or decriminalising the sex trade have been introduced in The Netherlands, Germany and New Zealand.

Other countries, such as Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Canada and Northern Ireland, have adopted the so-called ‘Nordic model’, which aims to punish clients without criminalising those driven into prostitution.

Police, protesters clash in Ferguson The racial flashpoint city of Ferguson awoke under a state of emergency after a second night of clashes between the

police and protesters, a year after the shooting death of an unarmed black teen. In unrest that erupted and stretched into the early hours, angry demonstrators beat drums and chanted as they

threw stones and bottles. The police used pepper spray as they arrested numerous demonstrators.


“Officers are being hit with rocks and bottles. We continue to support free speech, but agitators who ignore orders to disperse risk arrest,” the St. Louis County police department said in a tweet.

The protests came after unrest and a shootout in Ferguson on the first anniversary of the fatal shooting of an unarmed young black man, Michael Brown, by a white police officer.

As the new violence erupted, county officials declared a state of emergency, but stopped short of declaring a curfew. St. Louis County executive Steve Stenger said county police would immediately take charge of “police emergency management” in Ferguson and surrounding districts.

Azim Premji, Shiv Nadar Among World's 20 Richest People in Tech: Forbes Wipro Chairman Azim Premji and HCL founder Shiv Nadar

are the only two Indian tycoons in the top 20 richest people in the world of technology, according to an inaugural list by

Forbes that has been topped by Microsoft co-founder Bill

Gates. Mr Premji is ranked 13th on Forbes' first ever list of '100

Richest People In Tech', followed by Mr Nadar on the 14th spot.

Two Indian-origin technology czars Romesh Wadhwani and Bharat Desai are also in the list.

Forbes said Premji, 70, who has a net worth of $17.4 billion, is among Asia's most generous tycoons, having given away more than $4 billion of his fortune.

Mr Nadar has a net worth of $14.4 billion and gets bulk of his wealth from software services outfit HCL Technologies.

Mr Wadhwani is ranked 73rd on the list with a $2.8 billion net worth. The 67-year-old IIT-alumnus is CEO and Chairman of Symphony Technology Group, a collection of 20 companies spanning big data, analytics and software with combined annual revenue of three billion dollars.

In July 2015, he announced plans to commit up to $1 billion to the Wadhwani Foundations to fund entrepreneurship in India; he did not provide a timetable for the funding.

Desai and family have been ranked 82nd with a net worth of $2.5 billion. The 62-year-old and his wife Neerja founded IT consulting and outsourcing company Syntel in 1980 out of their apartment in Michigan.

American billionaires dominate the list occupying 51 slots. Tech barons from Asia made a strong showing as well, with 33 people hailing from that region.

Eight people from Europe made the cut - a minimum net worth $2 billion - as did two from the Middle East and one from Latin America. Forty of the 100 live in California.

Mr Gates, who's the world's richest man, ranks number one among tech tycoons, with a net worth of $79.6 billion. Number two on the list is Ellison with a net worth estimated at $50 billion.

Ellison ceded the CEO spot at Oracle last year to two co-CEOs, Safra Catz and Mark Hurd, but still serves as Oracle's chairman and chief technology officer.

Oracle is finding it harder to grow as a company; revenues for the year that ended in May were down slightly from the previous year to $38.2 billion, Forbes said.

The third richest on the list is Jeff Bezos, whose net worth shot up dramatically in July after Amazon.com surprised analysts and reported a rare profit for its second quarter.

The list includes Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg at rank 4, followed by Google co-founder Larry Page at 5, Alibabachief Jack Ma (7), Google's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt (20), Uber CEO Travis Kalanick (35) and Square

CEO Jack Dorsey (92). In total, the world's 100 richest tech billionaires are worth $842.9 billion. The list has only seven women, the wealthiest of whom is Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple's late chief Steve

Jobs, with an estimated net worth of 21.4 billion dollars. The average age of the group is 53, which is a decade younger than the average age of all billionaires; 15 of the 100

are under age 40.

“Earth’s 2015 quota of resources used up”

Just under eight months into the year, humanity has already consumed its annual allotment of renewable resources,

a think-tank that tracks mankind’s impact on Earth said.

“If you think of the whole year as a total budget, it turns out we have used it up by August 13,” said Mathis

Wackernagel, president of Global Footprint Network. Referred to as Earth Overshoot Day, it is the estimated date

when humanity’s demand on nature for the year exceeds what Earth can regenerate.


Global Footprint Network estimated that humans would need the resources produced by just over one-and-half

Earths to keep up with what we will use this year.

Tianjin blasts may derail China’s space programme

China has shut down its Tianhe-1A supercomputer, signalling that the massive twin blasts that rocked the port city of

Tianjin may have impacted the country’s space programme.

China’s state-run Xinhua news agency is reporting that Tianhe-1 was shut down after shockwaves generated by the

double blast at Tianjin’s Binhai New Area shattered windows of the National Supercomputing centre, and brought

down ceilings at some parts of the building.

Protected by a reinforced computer room, the facility was, nevertheless, working smoothly, and there was no damage

to its data base. But citing security concerns, the centre’s director Liu Guangming said, it was decided to shut the

unit.

The Tianhe-1—rated as the world’s fastest supercomputer in 2010—has been mainly used in China’s space

programme. The shutdown of the centre has also raised concerns about the other hi-tech facilities in Tianjin’s Binhai

New Area—including an assembly plant of China’s super-sized space rockets.

However, the South China Morning Post reported that the rocket production centre, situated further away from the

site of the blasts, was not significantly affected.

First space station

The Tianjin facility is linked to China’s plans to establish its first space station, as the rockets produced at the plant

will be used to supply components needed for the construction.

The rockets are slated for shipment from Tianjin harbour and, according to existing plans, they would be launched

next year at the new space centre in Wenchang.

Rescue workers, which include elite forces specialising in nuclear, chemical and biological warfare, are trying to

remove all the 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide, which the warehouse apparently stores in wooden boxes or iron

containers.

The cause of the explosions continues to remain a mystery, but Xinhua is reporting that the storage in the warehouse

of nitric acid items such as potassium nitrate, sodium cyanide, which easily explode with heat or collision, may have

triggered the blasts.

Greek lawmakers back 3rd bailout after all-night debate

Greek lawmakers approved their country’s draft third bailout after a nearly 24-hour marathon parliamentary

procedure culminated in a vote that saw the government coalition suffer significant dissent.

The government needed the bill to pass in time for Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos to head to Brussels to meet his

eurozone counterparts, who will decide whether to approve the draft agreement.

The rescue package would give Greece about 85 billion euros ($93 billion) in loans over three years in exchange for

harsh spending cuts and tax hikes. Unable to borrow on the international markets, another bailout is all that stands

between Greece and a disorderly default on its debts that could see it forced out of Europe’s joint currency.

Although approved by a comfortable majority, the vote was a blow to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who saw more

than 40 of his 149 radical left Syriza party lawmakers vote against him. He has come under intense criticism from

party hardliners for capitulating to the creditors’ demands for budget cuts austerity measures he had promised to

oppose when he won elections in January.

The bill includes reforms increasing personal, company and shipping taxes, reducing some pensions, abolishing tax

breaks for some groups considered vulnerable and implementing deep spending cuts, including to the armed forces.

The mounting discord within Syriza is threatening to split the party and could lead to early elections.

The deal will also need approval from the parliaments of several other countries, including that of Greece’s harshest

critic, Germany, before any funds can be disbursed. Some nations, such as Finland, have already given their

approval.

The terms of the new bailout were agreed earlier with creditor negotiators from the European Central Bank,

European Commission and International Monetary Fund.

The IMF, however, insists Greece needs debt relief of some sort as it estimates that the country’s debt, currently at

180 per cent of GDP, is unsustainable.

It says the IMF will decide on whether to participate in the new bailout once it has been set up and Greece’s European

partners have decided on how to ease the country’s debt burden.

It estimates that would occur after the first review of the new bailout, about three months after it begins.


US flag raised over embassy in Cuba, for first time in 54 years

A ceremony is under way in the Cuban capital where the US is preparing to reopen its embassy, more than 54 years

after it was closed.

John Kerry became the first US Secretary of State to visit Cuba in 70 years for the ceremony in Havana. Cuba

reopened its embassy in Washington .

Earlier, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro wrote an open letter in which he said the US owed Cuba millions of dollars

because of its trade embargo.The embargo, imposed 53 years ago, has yet to be lifted.

New global diamond standard hailed

A new set of international guidelines aimed at increasing the confidence of consumers when purchasing diamonds has

been welcomed by a number of Indian diamond and jewellery industry organizations.

Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) and Gem & Jewellery

Federation (GJF) have all praised the release of ISO International Standard 18323: Jewellery – Consumer confidence

in the diamond industry.

It provides a series of definitions, which aim to provide further clarity for traders and to maintain consumer

confidence in the diamond industry as a whole, a joint statement from GJEPC, BDB and GJF said.

It also provides guidelines on the nomenclature that should be used by those involved in the buying and selling of

diamonds.

The ISO ruling defines a diamond as something that was ‘created by nature.’ Buyers do not usually have the technical

knowledge to understand the many aspects of diamonds and so they are reliance on correct and honest labelling.

“The importance of this standard lies in the fact that it sets out which nomenclature can be used and which cannot in

the purchase and sale of diamonds, treated diamonds and synthetic diamonds,” Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, said

in a statement.

Importantly, the ISO standard sets out descriptions for synthetic diamonds plainly and precisely which is a critical

issue for the diamonds business. It also bars the usage of deceptive terms such as ‘cultured’ and ‘cultivated’, ‘real’,

‘precious’ and ‘gem’ to describe any synthetic diamond.

“It also states, brand names and manufacturers’ names combined with the word ‘diamond’ are insufficient means of

disclosure when applied to synthetic diamonds,” said G.V. Sreedhar, Vice-President, GJF.

“This will help clear the existing ambiguity in identifying real diamonds.’’

“ISO notes very clearly the issues that all Indian Trade Associations have been emphasizing for some time: the need

for integrity and transparency to ensure that consumers have total confidence,” said Anoop Mehta, president, BDB.

China, Russia set for naval assertion in Sea of Japan

China and Russia are stepping up their military collaboration by holding another round of naval exercises, this time

in the Sea of Japan, following recent measures adopted by Tokyo that could deepen its military ties with Washington.

The Chinese navy dispatched seven Chinese warships for the Sea of Japan. They will join the Russian Navy’s 16

surface ships, two submarines, 12 naval aircraft, nine amphibious vehicles and 200 marines.

The drills are an extension of Joint Sea-2015 (I), another naval exercise that the two countries had held in May in the

Mediterranean Sea, on the doorstep of Europe, and in the backdrop of the crisis in Ukraine. The nine-day manoeuvres

under Joint Sea-2015 (II) will simulate anti-submarine combat, evident from the presence of the two Russian

submarines, air defence and other related missions.

The presence of the 200 marines, which each side will field, underscores the decision by the two forces to stage a joint

beach landing, an intent that has grabbed attention on account of several island disputes in the Pacific.

The Chinese are fielding two destroyers and an equal number of frigates, which will be replenished by the supply ship

Taihu.

Apart from the Sea of Japan, these drills will also take place in the Peter the Great Gulf and waters off the Clerk Cape.

The Chinese Defence Ministry had earlier stated that the exercise is meant to “bolster the comprehensive strategic

cooperation and partnership between Russia and China, and to increase the military capabilities of both countries to

counter maritime threats.”

The Joint Sea-2015 (II) is being timed with the growing militarisation of the Pacific under President Barack Obama’s

“Pivot to Asia” doctrine, which empowers the U.S. Pacific Command to draw nearly two-thirds of all American forces

under its wing.

In tandem, Japan is taking legal measures that could detach Tokyo from its post-war pacifism, and, instead, allow it

join forces with the U.S. in operations that do not necessarily pose a direct threat.

The Russians and the Chinese have responded by strengthening their military deterrence, which includes Moscow’s

move to alter its naval doctrine, and Beijing’s focus on staging naval manoeuvres in the Pacific, including the troubled

South China Sea.


A war of words has also commenced between Moscow and Tokyo regarding the status of Kuril Islands in the Pacific,

which Japan claims as its own, fuelling tensions further.

“Unacceptable comments from Japan on the trips by Russian government officials to the Southern Kuril Islands have

come again recently," the ministry said in a comment.

Relations between China and Japan also continue to slide, with the speech of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on

the 70 anniversary of the end of World War II emerging as the latest point of friction.

A commentary in the People’s Daily, the government’s official newspaper, accused Mr. Abe of “dodging” his own

apology for imperial Japan’s role in World War II. “The lack of sincerity in (Mr.) Abe's statement was a ‘far cry’ from

that of his predecessor Tomiichi Murayama two decades ago,” the commentary said.

Iran submits nuclear records to IAEA

Iran has submitted documents linked to its past nuclear activity, the U.N.’s atomic watchdog has confirmed, a key

condition of a probe into suspected efforts to create nuclear arms.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed a “road map” with Iran in July to investigate its nuclear

programme, as part of an overall accord with major world powers.

The historic deal is aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for relief on painful economic sanctions.

The IAEA said Iran had met a key deadline by handing over the papers.

“Iran... provided the IAEA with its explanation in writing and related documents as agreed in the roadmap for the

clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programme,” the agency said in a brief

statement published. A senior Iranian official also confirmed that the documents had been submitted.

Beijing’s riposte on S. China Sea slams Philippines, Japan China has mounted an energetic riposte to a spate of accusations about its naval activism in the South China Sea,

pointing out that it was defending its legitimate rights in these waters, anchored in history and international law. Faced with a barrage of allegations, mainly by the Philippines and Japan, that Beijing’s behaviour in the South China

Sea could threaten “freedom of navigation,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi countered the core arguments at a recent meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

In an August 6 meeting, Mr. Wang asserted that China’s status on the South China Sea rested on firm legal foundations of the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, which were central in defining the post-war global architecture.

“Seventy years ago, pursuant to the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, China lawfully recovered the Nansha (Spratly) and Xisha (Paracel) Islands, which were illegally occupied by Japan and resumed exercise of sovereignty.

As a matter of fact, the military vessels China used in recovering the islands were provided by the U.S., an allied nation,” Mr. Wang observed.

He added that it was “not until the 1970s when there were reports about oil under the South China Sea that some countries began to invade and occupy Nansha (Spratly) islands and reefs, undermining China’s lawful rights and interests”.

Turning to the Philippines, Mr. Wang stressed that a string of treaties and conventions that defined its boundaries showed that Manila’s claims over the Scarborough shoal and the Spratly islands were ill-founded.

“The fact is, according to the Treaty of Paris in 1898, the Treaty of Washington in 1900 and the Convention Between the U.S. and Great Britain of 1930, which defined the territory of the Philippines, the western boundary of the Philippines is delimited by 118 degrees east longitude.

The Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) and Nansha (Spratly) Islands are completely to the west of 118 degrees east longitude. They are not the Philippines’ territory.” Mr. Wang slammed the Philippines for staging four military operations after the 1970s, and “illegally” invading and occupying “eight islands and reefs of China’s Nansha (Spratly) Islands”.

The Chinese foreign minister asserted that the accusation that Beijing’s activities in the South China Sea were posing

a threat to “freedom of navigation” was absurd.

“Up to now, there has not been a single case in which freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is impeded.”

Blast toxins seep into China waters China faces the grim challenge of cleaning a vast 10 sq km of area filled with highly toxic chemicals, including around

700 tons of sodium cyanide, after the blasts in Tianjin, in which 114 people were killed with another 70 — most of them firefighters — are unaccounted for.

Traces of sodium cyanide was found in waters near Tianjin port indicating that it has spread to the sea, even as experts raced against time to clear the area of toxic chemicals stored at a warehouse ravaged by blasts.

The State Oceanic Administration acknowledged that minute traces of cyanide have been detected and that it was spreading into the waters of the port which is on the western shore of the Bohai Bay.

Sodium cyanide is among the most rapidly acting of all known poisons — it’s a potent inhibitor of respiration, which decreases human body’s oxidative metabolism and oxygen utilization.

Lactic acidosis occurs in the event of inhalation or contact, and an oral dosage as small as 200-300 mg is often fatal. Other chemicals, including magnesium particles and sulphur, remain scattered in some buildings near the core.


The explosions were caused when firefighters threw water on chemical fire, regarding them as a case of ordinary fire. Chemicals stored in the warehouse and surrounding areas in Tianjin were of a kind which explodes on contact with water.

“Rescuers are now using hydrogen peroxide to neutralize toxins and building cofferdams to enclose the damaged barrels,” said Shi Luze, chief of staff of the Beijing Military Area Command.

“Navigating through the blasts zone is extremely dangerous because of the burning chemicals and twisted containers, which could collapse at any time. We had to make marks in order not to get lost,” Wang Ke, who led a group of chemical specialist soldiers, said.

Egypt's Sisi approves anti-terrorism law Egypt’s President has approved a far-reaching anti-terrorism law that establishes stiffer prison sentences for terror-

related offences, heavy fines for journalists who publish “false news” and a special judicial circuit for terrorism cases. Authorities claim the measures will halt attacks by Islamist militants and stop the spread of their ideology, but the

new restrictions have prompted concern from rights groups and even some Egyptian politicians and senior judges. The 54-article bill, signed into law by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, offers an extremely broad definition of terrorism,

describing it in one article as any act that disturbs public order with force. Some charges, such as leading or organising a terrorist group, carry the death penalty.

The law also prescribes heavy prison sentences for a range of crimes, including promoting or encouraging any

“terrorist offense,” as well as damaging state institutions or infrastructure, such as military or government buildings,

courthouses, power and gas lines, and archaeological sites. Egyptians lived under so-called “emergency laws” for decades that gave police sweeping powers, encouraging a culture

of excess and brutality among security forces, something that partially inspired the 2011 uprising against long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak. The law was suspended after his overthrow.

U.S. foundation helps French boy get ‘superhero’ hand Maxence was born without a right hand, but the six-year-old French boy got one through an effort highlighting the

growing use of 3D printing technology to make prostheses. “He is going to have a superhero hand the colour of his choice, that he can take off when he wishes,” said his mother

Virginie. The prosthesis comes through an American foundation called e-NABLE, which since 2013 has been connecting owners of 3D printers with families of children missing fingers or hands.

More than 1,500 prostheses have already been provided through the foundation, and the hand for Maxence was the group’s first in France.

Cheap The device, which is worn like a glove and attaches with Velcro, cost less than 50 euros ($55) to produce and can

easily be replaced with a larger model as the boy grows up. It is designed for children who, like Maxence, have a wrist and a palm. The artificial hand grasps objects when the

user bends his or her wrist, and is attached without surgery. The prothesis does not allow for more precise activities like tying shoes, but does allow users to do things like riding on swings or a scooter that are difficult to do without fingers.

Ranil to return as Prime Minister

The former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s attempt to make a political comeback suffered a huge blow as

parliamentary election results showed a surge in support for rival Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party

(UNP).

The UNP has emerged as the single largest party with 106 seats in the 225-member legislature.

Mr. Rajapaksa, who was president of the island nation for over nine years till January this year, was the United

People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA)’s prime ministerial candidate for polls.

Though the UNP has not secured a simple majority, the formation of the next government with Mr. Wickremesinghe

as Prime Minister looks only a matter of formality, given that several smaller parties, including the Tamil National

Alliance, support him.

The youngest nation in the world is in crisis — still.

South Sudan, just four years old, has spent nearly half that time in civil war after the country's President Salva Kiir

and former Vice President Riek Machar had a political disagreement in 2013 that grew into ethnic violence.

Since then, regional leaders have been pleading for a ceasefire. And if there's any hope, that's where it is. Regional

leaders want South Sudan to be peaceful and thriving.

Kiir refused to sign the latest peace agreement, asking for a 15-day extension of the deadline. Kiir and his government

didn’t feel comfortable accepting a provision that would make rebel leader Riek Machar the first transitional vice

president, says journalist Simona Foltyn who has been reporting on the ongoing situation in South Sudan.

The origins of the conflict differ depending on which side you ask, says Foltyn.

“Each one of them has a different version of the truth. The government of that time accused Riek Machar, who was

previously vice president but was dismissed by Salva Kiir, of plotting a coup against the government,” Foltyn says.


Accusations escalated into violence, complicated by the fact that Machar and Kiir come from two distinct ethnic

groups. Machar is Nuer while Kiir is Dinka. The conflict splits along ethnic lines, which has complicated peace

negotiations.

Oil further complicates matters. South Sudan is rich in the resource. Currently, rebels hold a large swath of the oil

fields, according to Foltyn. And while this gives them leverage, she says it’s worth noting they haven’t cut pipelines

into government-held territory. However the government feels the pressure.

“If they’re not producing sufficient oil, the government, which [derives] over 90 percent of revenues [from] oil, is really

under pressure to find other resources,” Foltyn says.

While South Sudan’s neighbors are keen to see the conflict end, regional involvement has also complicated matters.

Uganda is fighting alongside the South Sudanese government, while Sudan has been accused of supporting the

rebels.

“This is making the negotiations much more complicated, which is why recently there were a few countries like the

United States, China, the UK, added to the mediation process to try to dilute those regional interested vested in the

process,” Foltyn explains.

Greece Gives German Firm Rights to Run 14 Airports

ATHENS, Greece — Greece has agreed to sell to a German company the rights to operate 14 regional airports. The

deal is the first in a wave of privatizations the government had until recently opposed but needs to make to qualify for

bailout loans.

The decision, which was published in the government gazette, would hand over the airports, including several on

popular tourist island destinations, to Fraport AG, which runs Frankfurt Airport, among others across the world.

The concession, worth 1.23 billion euros ($1.37 billion), is the first privatization decision taken by the government of

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who was elected in January on promises to repeal the conditions of Greece's previous

two bailouts.

The government had initially vowed to cancel the country's privatization program, but Tsipras has been forced to

renege on his pre-election promises in order to win a deal on a third international bailout for Greece, worth 86 billion

euros.

Without the rescue loans, the country would default on its debts and risk being forced out of Europe's joint currency.

The bailout deal is getting its final approvals in parliaments in several European states. Lawmakers in Spain and

Estonia approved it, while those of Germany and the Netherlands are expected to do so.

Separately, the government slightly relaxed its restrictions on banking transactions, allowing small amounts to be

sent abroad for the first time in about two months.

The finance ministry's amendments, also published in the government gazette, include allowing Greeks to send up to

500 euros ($555) abroad per person per month, and allowing up to 8,000 euros per quarter to be sent to students

studying abroad to cover accommodation costs.

Greeks can now also open new bank accounts that will have no withdrawal rights, in order to repay loans, social

security contributions or tax debts.

The government restricted banking transactions in late June to prevent a bank run after Tsipras announced a

referendum on creditors' terms for a new bailout.

The government's U-turn on pre-election promises to secure its new bailout has sparked a rebellion within Tsipras'

governing left-wing Syriza party, increasing the possibility of early elections being called as early as next month.

NATIONAL NEWS Negotiated with Modi govt. on marines: Italy Italy has informed the International Tribunal of the Sea (ITLOS) that it tried to negotiate with the Narendra Modi

government, both on a 'visible track' as well as 'behind the scenes,' in the Italian marines case. The submission is significant as the marines case was being heard in the Supreme Court before Italy moved for

international arbitration and any backdoor negotiation could mean contravention of the court. Soon after the National Democratic Alliance government was sworn in May 2014, Italy began the negotiations, but it

was in the middle of May this year “the Indian government indicated that it had no latitude to pursue a negotiated settlement, given the engagement of the Indian Supreme Court.”

Italy said “a possible settlement was sought on a visible track in correspondence to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, and, separately, behind the scenes, between the most senior representatives of Prime Minister Renzi and Prime Minister Modi.”

India a day ago told the tribunal that Italy’s call for “compassion” for the two marines who shot dead two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012 was “misplaced” and also accused Italy of filing numerous applications which were “abusive and mutually inconsistent” to delay the case.


Italy said, ‘‘while there was still a possibility of a political settlement, it was in the interests of both the Italian and the Indian governments to afford space to their discussions. The delays in the Indian court proceedings provided some negotiating space. There is no longer any prospect of a negotiated settlement.

Quite apart from the critical humanitarian considerations that have compelled us here , the failure of the political track has brought the dispute to a turning point. India’s assertion of jurisdiction over the Enrica Lexie incident and over the Italian marines now threatens to crystallise into a more egregious and manifest violation of Italy's rights.’’

The incident was reported on February 12, 2012 when the duo, Sergeants Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, allegedly opened fire on an Indian boat killing two Indian fishermen from Kerala on board.

Aadhaar not mandatory, says SC Leaving the decision to sign up for Aadhaar entirely to citizens, the Supreme Court ordered that “balance of interest”

was better served if obtaining the unique identity number was made optional and not mandatory. Hearing criticism that even newborn babies were made to register for Aadhaar, a three-judge Bench led by Justice J.

Chelameswar, in an interim order, said Aadhaar was neither mandatory nor a condition for accessing benefits one was already entitled to.

In a series of directions, the Bench ordered the government to give wide publicity in the media that it was not mandatory for a citizen to obtain an Aadhaar card.

Secondly, it ordered that production of an Aadhaar card would not be a condition for obtaining any benefits otherwise

due to a citizen.

Thirdly, it directed the government that an Aadhaar card would not be used for any purpose other than the PDS Scheme, particularly for distribution of foodgrains and cooking fuel such as kerosene. It should also be used for the LPG distribution scheme.

Fourthly, the court directed that information about an individual obtained by the Unique Identification Authority of India while issuing an Aadhaar card should not be used for any other purpose, except as might be directed by a court for the purpose of criminal investigation.

The order would be in vogue until a five-judge Bench decided on the larger constitutional issue whether the Aadhaar scheme, and its biometric mode of registration, amounted to an intrusion into citizens’ privacy.

For this, the Constitution Bench would look into whether right to privacy was a guaranteed right under the Constitution and if so, what were the contours of such a right.

“Privacy is at stake ... we are talking about the privacy of millions,” Justice S.A. Bobde, on the Bench with Justice C. Nagappan, observed.

The court also denied the government a go-ahead to link Aadhaar with MNREGA and students’ scholarship schemes Meanwhile, referring the matter to a Constitution Bench, the court noted that there were two judgments — in 1954

and 1963 — holding that privacy was not a fundamental right, while subsequent judgments by smaller benches in 1990s read right to privacy into right to life and liberty under Article 21.

Citing this dichotomy, the court said an authoritative decision was a must to define the contours and status of the right to privacy which is a pivotal point of contention raised in the petitions.

But the court agreed with Mr. Rohatgi that freezing Aadhaar registration at this point would do no good as the scheme had already penetrated 90 per cent of the population and the government had spent enormous sums of money for the project.

The court accepted the AG’s statement that Aadhaar registration should continue on a “consensual basis” on the condition that no personal information, including biometrics collected at the time of registration, of the card holder, would be shared with any other person or authority.

“This statement [of the AG] allays the apprehension for now that there is a widespread breach of privacy of those to whom an Aadhaar card has been issued,” the order read out by Justice Bobde said.

Panchayati Act Ammended: Haryana fixes minimum educational criteria to contest panchayat polls To contest panchayat elections in Haryana, a general category candidate has to pass at least Class X and a Scheduled

Caste candidate at least Class VIII. All candidates should have functional toilets at their residences, face no criminal charges framed in the court and

should not be defaulters of any cooperative bank. These were among the amendments passed by the Haryana Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

After the Cabinet meeting, Khattar told reporters the minimum educational qualification was needed to improve the quality of leadership. “It was done to improve the quality of leadership and governance in panchayati raj institutions.

This amendment will enable elected representatives to be more accountable, as they would no longer be able to cite illiteracy as an excuse,” the chief minister said.

“Another reason for prescribing minimum educational qualification is that even after the introduction of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment; illiteracy is a common excuse by the elected representatives for poor functioning of the gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishads.

Most of the elected members of panchayati raj institutions are dependent on government functionaries or their relatives or friends, who often take advantage of them,” Khattar said.

The second amendment provides that persons against whom charges have been framed by the competent court for grave criminal offences punishable by not less than 10 years of imprisonment will not be allowed to contest the elections till they are acquitted by the court.


Currently, there is a provision that disqualifies those convicted by courts from contesting elections, but there are many instances where persons have been let off because of shortcomings in the investigation process and for non-fulfillment of technical qualifications such as absence of sanction of prosecution or lack of strong prosecution by the public prosecutor.

As per the third amendment, defaulters of cooperative loans will be debarred from contesting the elections to panchayati raj institutions.

“Another amendment provides that only those persons who have cleared their outstanding dues of rural domestic electricity connections will be able to contest elections to panchayati raj institutions.

With special focus on manufacturing and services enterprises, especially balanced regional growth of MSMEs, the Haryana government Tuesday announced its new industrial policy. The government said the “Enterprises Promotion Policy 2015” envisages ease of doing business and enhancing competitiveness of the industry.

Dahihandi is now an adventure sport Mumbai’s famous Dahihandi, in which a human pyramid is formed to break an earthen pot filled with curd hanging

mid-air to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, is now an adventure sport. “From now, Dahihandi will be a sport approved by the government and will be played as per the rules and regulations

to be written by a State-level association. It will not be limited to Janmashtami,” Sports Minister Vinod Tawde said. The decision comes after the Bombay High Court put restrictions on the festival to curb noise pollution and avoid

public nuisance. Going by the injuries and the deaths in the past, the court limited the height of the handi to 20 feet

and banned minors from the event. An association will be formed to write the rules and regulations. “Anyone can participate in the sport now, except

those below 12 years. Minors will have to provide letters of approval from their parents,” Mr. Tawde said. Groups playing this sport would be trained and registered.

India steels itself to face impact of yuan devaluation With China’s central bank following up devaluation of its tightly controlled currency, yuan, by 1.9 per cent with

another 1 per cent cut, India increased the import duty on certain steel products by 2.5 per cent. The steel industry is facing profit pressure as prices of imported steel are up to 20 per cent lower than those of

domestic products. As China’s move sparked fears of a currency war, the rupee weakened to 64.66 to the dollar, soon after trading

opened. Global experts have expressed extreme views on the devaluation of the yuan. Some have said it is more significant

than the Greek crisis and the coming U.S. Fed interest rate increase. But for others, it is a small and long-overdue adjustment that barely begins to make up for the really big recent moves in the dollar, euro and yen.

“The pick-up in real credit growth and indirect tax receipts suggests that the underlying momentum in the economy is improving,” Mr. Subramanian told presspersons.

The growth in underlying indirect tax collections (excluding the additional revenue from excise increases in diesel and petrol and higher clean energy cess and service tax rate) of 14.6 per cent for the first four months of the fiscal, he said, represents a “healthy increase in nominal GDP growth”.

He said China’s surprise decision, which saw its Asian counterparts trade with a bearish tone, could be aimed at satisfying the conditions the IMF had spelt out for granting it reserve currency status and inclusion in the special drawing right (SDR) basket.

Arundhati Bhattacharya, SBI Chairperson, however, said: “Yuan devaluation is a challenge obviously because it makes our exporters a little uncompetitive … As it is, they have to deal with a higher interest rate. Devaluation means Chinese exports become that much cheaper.”

India’s overall exports have contracted for seven straight months until June.

Domestic players such as Tata Steel and JSW Steel have been urging the government to take more measures to check cheaper imports and save the domestic industry.

India’s steel imports had jumped nearly 70 per cent to over 9 million tonnes in the financial year 2014-15, with China accounting for a third of the imports. Steel imports by India jumped 58 per cent to 3.5 million tonnes in the four months ended July 31 of 2015-16, say government data.

Varsities upset over UGC notice on distance education programmes The University Grants Commission’s notice that all State and private universities should seek its approval before

setting up off-campus/ study centres and outreach centres has confused higher education officials here. The notice, available on the UGC website, says the laws enacted by the State legislatures will apply to the Universities

– State and private - have a limited jurisdiction within their respective states and only Parliament is competent to enact laws for the whole country.

“No off-campus / study centre / outreach centre is established by your esteemed university outside the territorial jurisdiction of the state. If you are a private university, even within the state, the off-campus / study centre / outreach centre should be established with the prior approval of the University Grants Commission as mandated in the UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulations, 2003,” the notice states.

The UGC has said that many private universities have not taken its permission prior to establishing study centres within and outside their respective States. .


Offshore campuses The University of Madras, which has two academic admission seasons each year admits thousands of students in

each season. It also has campuses in the West Asian and South East Asian countries. Officials here said they had expressed their worries to the government.

Each year, around 10 lakh students’ graduate from Class XII but less than 3.5 lakh students go for higher education. The rest seek higher education through distance mode. “In a country which is looking for 100 per cent literacy we do not understand the need for such restrictions,” an official pointed out.

Money spinner For the State universities, the open and distance education programme is a revenue generator. Each university also

runs constituent colleges. The government provides grants for the first five years, after which they become the responsibility of the university.

“The distance education programme generates revenue which we use to maintain the colleges. Such regressive measures do not auger well,” said a university official from down south.

Marines case: Don’t trust Italy, India tells tribunal India has cautioned an international tribunal to be careful about trusting Italy, which took the case of two Italian

marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off Kerala’s coast, to it saying Rome has a record of defaulting on its “sovereign word.”

In its submission before the International Tribunal on Law of the Sea (ITLOS), India said it had legitimate

apprehensions on Italy’s ability to fulfil its promises as it had earlier attempted to renege twice on the same. Italy has repeatedly failed to keep its “sovereign word, the word of a sovereign state,” it said. The tribunal will

pronounce its order on August 24.

Not keeping word The first time, Italy attempted to renege on the assurance it had provided to the Supreme Court and officially informed

India that marines who were allowed to go back to Italy for four weeks to exercise their voting rights would not return. “As indicated, they did return, but only after intense diplomatic efforts pursued by the Government of India,” India’s

representative submitted before the tribunal which concluded its two-day hearing. India said it was even an “abuse of process” for Italy to have started international arbitral proceedings without

exhausting Indian domestic remedies and that the country has projected the case in a false light.

Domestic remedies “If the result is that the domestic remedies have not been exhausted, they have only themselves to blame. Italy chose

to seize Indian courts and now turns away from them and seeks to remove the case to the international level, even though there is no new element,” India’s representative said.

Jurisdiction India also said that it had the jurisdiction to prosecute the two marines as they had killed two innocent and unarmed

Indian fishermen off India’s coast in its exclusive economic zone. India was represented in the tribunal by Neeru Chadha, Legal Advisor, Ministry of External Affairs, as agent; two

lawyers Alain Pellet and Rodman Bundy; and P.S. Narasimha, Additional Solicitor General. Marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who were on board ship ‘Enrica Lexie’, are accused of killing two

Indian fishermen on February 15, 2012 off Indian coast.

Rural job scheme empowered women: NCAER The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) reduced poverty by up to a third,

gave a large number of women their first opportunity to earn income in cash, reduced reliance on moneylenders, and did not significantly affect rural wages, a new research has found.

Officials of the Ministry of Rural Development and the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)

released a new report, which used data from two rounds of the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) — 2004-05 and 2011-12 — conducted by the NCAER and the University of Maryland.

Poverty reduction Comparisons of the two rounds of the survey found that the programme reduced poverty overall by up to 32 per cent

and prevented 14 million people from falling into poverty. “Economic growth contributed to overall poverty reduction during this period, but we found that the MGNREGS also


played a significant role,” said Sonalde Desai, principal author of the study. The numbers show that the MGNREGS is likely to have had a much smaller impact on the rural job market and rural

wages than is commonly believed. At an all-India level, the average days worked under the MGNREGS are fewer than four, pointing to the relatively small impact of the scheme on the overall rural job market.

“On the surface, the MGNREGS has virtually no impact on rural employment patterns since it fails to add to the number of days that individuals work. But it seems to attract individuals who were previously employed in less productive work, thereby raising their incomes,” according to the report.

Wages unaffected Overall, while the period from 2004-05 to 2011-12 saw a sharp rise in rural wages, the MGNREGS played only a

modest role in the increase of wages, the report noted. The United Nations Development Programme also released a review of recent research studies on the MGNREGS. It found that the scheme’s uptake was far greater in the lean season that in the peak agricultural season.

The part of the rural job market that the MGNREGS seemed to have a more significant impact on was female work. About 45 per cent of female workers were either not working or worked only on a family farm in 2004-05, indicating that the scheme “may well be the first opportunity many women got to earn cash income.”

Women have better say As a result, there was a substantial increase in women’s control over resources, including cash in hand and the

likelihood of having a bank account, and improvement in women’s ability to make independent decisions about their

health, the report found. What holds the MGNREGS back is “work rationing” — the inability of all interested households to get 100 days of

work — as a result of mismanagement or pressures, and affects the poor the most, the report said.

Unmet demand “These findings clearly show that there is a large unmet demand for MGNREGS work,” Jugal Kishore Mohapatra,

Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, said, adding that paucity of funds at the level of implementation and erratic fund flows, particularly in 2014-15, had affected both demand and supply.

Indian sailors get international identity In a move that could improve the employability of Indian sailors in international shipping, the Union government has

ratified the International Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention, 2003, which will provide for a globally recognised seafarers’ identity document.

In addition to facilitating mobility of seafarers, the smart card will improve maritime security with a verifiable identification. Many countries require such identification before they grant special facilities to seafarers, sources told.

Hundreds jailed Every year, several hundred Indian sailors are incarcerated abroad for various reasons, and without proper

internationally recognised identification, they do not have the full support of the law. In addition, this ratification by India will increase the employability of Indian sailors by allowing them to cross into

foreign waters unhindered, the sources added. India has over 1.8 lakh seafarers, just around 7 per cent of the global share of sailors. Mobility is vital for exploiting global employment opportunities. At present, there are several hindrances to their

mobility, essentially stemming from issues relating to security, sources said. Soon, the biometric data of Indian seafarers will be collected and the identity document will be issued in the form of a

globally recognised smart card within the next six months. The Convention, under the International Labour Organisation, has been ratified by 30 other countries.

As U.S. changes tack, India redraws UNSC bid

Despite facing unexpected opposition from the U.S. to its bid to get a permanent seat in the United Nations Security

Council, India plans to make a go of it, sources said.

The U.S. has joined Russia and China in their blocking of any large-scale reforms of the council and rejection of veto

power to new members.

“The U.S. and these other countries cannot veto U.N. reform, which will be decided by the General Assembly, where

each country has one equal vote,” an official source told. “We are confident that if India’s candidature is presented

there, we would win the seat easily.”

If it goes to a vote, India will need the support of at least 129, or two-thirds, of the 193 member states.

However, the unity of the U.S., Russia and China on the issue puts the whole process of expansion in some doubt.

‘Meet Brothers’ compose anthem Yeh Mera India for Animal Planet

Commemorating the 69th year of India’s Independence, wildlife TV channel Animal Planet will launch a Yeh Mera

India anthem, composed by popular Bollywood composers, the Meet Brothers.

Aiming to capture youth and sensitise viewers about the dazzling array of fauna found in the country, the three-

minute multilingual anthem has passionate lyrics, vibrant choreography and mesmerising performances.

Celebrating Nature

“ Yeh Mera India anthem is a vibrant song which is reminiscent of the rich wildlife and unparalleled natural beauty of

this country. It’s a musical tribute to the independence of animals,” Manmeet Singh, one half of the Meet Brothers,


said in a statement.

“Dedicated to the splendid animal kingdom, Yeh Mera India ’s party in the jungle theme for this anthem is both

sensational and celebratory. The soundtrack is designed to match the progressive state of mind of today’s youth,”

added Harmeet Singh.

Choreographed by Feroz Khan, directed by Vishal Punjabi and sung by Meet Brothers, Shibani Kashyap and Neha

Bhasin, the composition is in three widely spoken languages in India: Hindi, Tamil and Bengali.

Rahul Johri, executive vice president and general manager — South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia Pacific, said: “ Yeh

Mera India is an initiative to build viewers’ interest and pride in the wildlife of India. The programming will reveal the

magnificent natural heritage and will inspire audience to preserve it for future generations.”

Italy’s Rs. 4.4-crore offer to free marines rejected

India has rejected Italy’s offer to pay 600,000 euros, roughly Rs. 4.4 crore, to secure protection from any legal action

against the two marines, saying “murders are not compensable offences”.

Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone are accused of killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012. India

said it would help expedite the trial at a Special Court within “four months.”

India informed the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) that “no bilateral agreement exists between

India and Italy for granting diplomatic immunity to armed forces personnel of Italy.” India had, in fact, even prior to

the Enrica Lexie [the merchant vessel on which the two Marines were on board] incident, refused transit for their

Vessel Protection Detachments through India, “since the same is not permitted under Indian law.”

U.S. backs India’s UNSC claim, says Ambassador

There has been no change in his country’s position on the expansion of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

since 2009, said U.S. Ambassador Richard Verma, reiterating that the U.S. continues to support India’s candidature

for a permanent seat.

Mr. Verma was responding to a question based on a report in The Hindu that the Indian government saw a letter from

the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. that it supported a “moderate expansion” of the UNSC without a veto power to new

members as a dilution of the U.S. support for India.

The U.S. would stand by President Barack Obama’s bilateral commitment that in the event of a vote on the issue,

Washington would support New Delhi, he said.

The Ambassador marked out cooperation for protecting the global commons such as the high seas, skies, space and

the Internet as the emerging driver of India-U.S. strategic cooperation.

Talking at the Observer Research Foundation on “Protecting Our Shared Spaces,” Mr. Verma said such cooperation

could “lay the groundwork for the next big breakthrough in bilateral relations”.

“What we do together can be a force for greater peace, prosperity and security in the world. Shared spaces offer us a

platform to realise this potential,” Mr. Verma said, adding that the thinking Chalein Saath Saath — “Forward,

Together, We Go”— that has guided bilateral relations so far has matured to a level where both countries felt “stronger

together”.

In a clear reference to contested Chinese claims in the Pacific, the U.S. Ambassador said both India and the U.S. were

aligned to “counter the use of intimidation or force to assert unfounded territorial or maritime claims”.

“Freedom of navigation and overflight are not privileges. They are rights,” he said, paraphrasing U.S. Secretary of

State John Kerry.

Defence cooperation

Mr. Verma pitched for expanding bilateral defence cooperation, and proposed that the U.S. and India could build

fighter aircraft together, “right here in India”, pointing out that the country faced critical shortage of frontline fighter

aircraft, limiting its capabilities to keep the skies patrolled and safe.

Calling for more cooperation in space, particularly through ISRO-NASA ties, he said space-based climate research

could be a key area of partnership.

Mr. Verma favoured information sharing between the countries to keep cyber threats at bay.

PM’s major initiatives fail to click

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi steps out to deliver his second Independence Day address to the nation, he will

not be standing as tall as he stood last year fresh from the electoral victory two-and-a-half months ago.

But he can still claim to have delivered on some of the announcements he made last year — primarily, the financial

inclusion initiative and ensuring that every school in the country has a toilet.

In fact, the school toilet initiative literally went down to the wire as the Union Human Resource Development Ministry

announced “target met’’. Whether all the 419,092 new or repaired structures are functional remains to be seen, but

the Swachh Vidyalaya campaign showed the corporates to be laggard in responding to what is perceived to be a


corporate-friendly government’s appeal to contribute to the national endeavour. Only 16 corporates, big and small,

showed some interest in the campaign.

Where the government outdid itself – at least by way of exceeding the target it had set – was in financial inclusion

through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).

Against the estimated target of opening bank accounts for 7.5 crore uncovered households in the country, banks had

opened 16.73 crore accounts after surveying 21.02 crore households. And, by July this year, the zero balance

accounts in PMJDY fell by 30 per cent from 76 per cent in September 2014.

A record campaign

The PMJDY also made it to the Guinness Book of World Records: “Most bank accounts opened in one week as part of

the financial inclusion campaign is 18,096,130 and was achieved by the Government of India from August 23 to 29,

2014.”

Another low-hanging fruit that Mr. Modi set his eyes on last Independence Day was the National Optical Fibre

Network Project to connect India, particularly 2.5 lakh gram panchayats, via broadband. Cleared by the then Cabinet

in 2011, it had missed its first deadline of 2013-end.

With a new deadline of 2017-end, the project was renamed BharatNet and an estimated 30,000 village panchayats

have been covered.

‘Make in India’

His other big-ticket announcement — “come, make in India” — which was later launched with considerable fanfare

has been a slow starter and now the effort by the government is to pin the blame on the Opposition for stalling the

reforms needed to create a conducive climate for investors.

In fact, if there is one area where the Prime Minister has failed to deliver, it is in carrying the Opposition along with

him. In his speech last year, he had taken great pride in showcasing the productive monsoon session and had

assured the nation that he did not want to run the country solely on the basis of the majority that his party enjoys in

the Lok Sabha.

OF A PROMISED LAND, AND REALITY CHECKS

Narendra Modi’s last year’s Independence Day speech had lots to offer. A cursory look at some of the flagship schemes:

Jan Dhan Yojana: Billed as the world’s biggest financial inclusion initiative, 16.73cr new accounts opened.

Swachh Vidyalaya: All government schools have toilets now, a target met on Friday, Independence Day eve, says MHRD.

That’s 4, 19,092 toilets.

Make in India: Not much headway as investors await more conducive climate.

Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana: A model village in every constituency, 689 of 790 MPs have joined.

R.I.P Planning commission: Replaced by a star-studded NITI Aayog

Swachch Bharat: Is a work-in-progress

Digital India: To connect 2.5 lakh panchayats with high speed internet

Indian-origin women scale legal heights

Two women of Indian origin, both legal luminaries, have done the nation proud on the eve of Independence Day. If

Renu Mandhane, an Indo-Canadian international human rights law expert, is set to be the next Chief Commissioner

of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Indian-American attorney Richa Naujoks, nee Gautam, has been

shortlisted for the Trust Law Lawyer of the Year Award of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, media reports said.

“I want to extend my congratulations to Renu Mandhane on her nomination as Ontario’s new human rights

commissioner,” the Canada-based The Voice quoted Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne as saying.

“Since she has been a long-time advocate for human rights with a focus on advancing women’s rights, we are

fortunate that someone so passionate and experienced will lead the important work done by the Ontario Human

Rights Commission.”

Ms. Mandhane, currently the Executive Director of the International Human Rights Programme of the University of

Toronto, welcomed the nomination as an opportunity to serve “the needs of the most vulnerable members of our

society”.

“My work at the international level has impressed upon me how important it is to act locally to ensure sustainable

social change. I am humbled to be provided with an opportunity to take up that challenge,” she said.

Pro bono work

Ms. Naujoks has the distinction of being the only Indian and U.S. lawyer shortlisted for the prestigious award, a

statement said. She was nominated by the Mumbai-based Wello for her outstanding pro bonowork on the complex

restructuring of its U.S. and Indian legal and operational structure.

Wello makes water wheels that help women safely carry water from distant sources to their homes.


Celebrating ground-breaking pro bono projects undertaken by legal teams with NGOs and social enterprises around

the world, the award recognises lawyers who have been providing exceptional pro bono support.

Ms. Naujoks, a senior associate at the New York City office of Nixon Peabody LLP, is a graduate of the National Law

School of India University, Bangalore, and the University of Washington in Seattle.

She currently serves as co-chair of the India Committee of the American Bar Association’s Section of International

Law.

Trust Law connects the world’s leading legal teams to provide free legal assistance to organisations working for social

and environmental change, drawing from its network of over 1,00,000 lawyers across the world.

150 countries set to get e-tourist visa by March ’16

The government plans to provide the e-tourist visa facility to 150 countries by March 31 next year, sources said. The

government has decided to extend the scheme to 36 more countries from August 15.

Among the countries being added are the UK, Ireland, Spain, Argentina, Hungary, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal,

Mongolia and Malaysia.

The Centre will add seven Indian airports as designated airports for entry on e-tourist visa from August 15. The new

airports being included are Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya, Jaipur, Lucknow, Trichy and Varanasi, raising the number

of designated airports to 16.

According to an official, the US and UK have voiced apprehensions on India’s stand on taking biometric details from

each tourist arriving in the country.

“The government’s stand is clear. Biometrics must be taken as they are part of our security requirement,” the official

said.

Chabahar port, prisoners feature in India-Iran talks

Chabahar port, Indian prisoners in Iran and economic cooperation in the aftermath of the Iran nuclear deal figured in

Iran-India talks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javed Zarif met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The two sides discussed regional security, connectivity, oil, investments and infrastructure as some sectors for

mutual cooperation, especially in the light of the rise of the IS.

Calling India a strategic partner, Zarif said his country “cannot forget the support India extended to Iran during

difficult times”. He added that the two sides had agreed to cooperate on the development of Chabahar port. The port

will provide India access to landlocked Afghanistan via sea route, by passing Pakistan.

Zarif added that in light of the Iran nuclear deal, his country looked forward to working closely with India.

Expressing concern over the developments in Iraq, Syria and the spread of IS to Afghanistan, Zarif called for a

grouping of countries to deal with resultant political issues. Calling IS a “common threat”, he said that the days of

ensuring security at the cost of making other nations insecure were over.

After her meeting with Zarif, Swaraj tweeted, “I had a good meeting with the Foreign Minister of Iran. I raised the issue

of nine Indian sailors detained in Iran. I requested him for waiver of $2.9 million fine imposed on them and for their

early release.”

Zarif expressed hope that a “humanitarian case” would be made for prisoners in both the countries.

EC suspends Aadhaar linkage initiative

Following the Supreme Court’s August 11 orders on Aadhaar, the Election Commission of India issued notices

suspending “with immediate effect till further orders” all activities to collect and feed Aadhar numbers of voters as

part of its National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme.

It has also duly withdrawn all publicity activities to collect Aadhaar numbers of citizens for seeding in the electoral

database.

The directions have made it clear though that all other activities under NERPAP to “purify” the poll process will

continue.

Meanwhile, civil liberties activists have called for delinking the already merged voter ID card details from the Unique

Identification (UID) number.

Activist group’s plea

In a letter written to the Chief Election Commissioner , the Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties has highlighted that the

UIDAI in a 14-page document titled ‘Strategic Vision: Unique Identification of Residents’ prepared by Wipro Ltd and

submitted to the Processes Committee of the Planning Commission envisaged the close linkage that the UIDAI would

have with the Electoral Database in 2006-2007 itself.

Referring to the proposal to merge the Election ID cards with UID as an exercise in rewriting and engineering the

electoral ecosystem, the letter underlines that the use of biometric technology and EVMs is not as innocent and as

politically neutral as it has been made out to be.


Given that it amounts to surveillance of the citizen’s political choices, the organisation has further demanded that all

databases containing such information be dismantled immediately.

‘Scientific ambitions behind DNA Profiling Bill’

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) uploaded a slightly modified draft of the Human DNA Profiling Bill on its

website, opening up the controversial Bill, now tabled in Parliament, for public scrutiny.

Legal researcher Usha Ramanathan, a member of the Committee formed by the Centre in 2013 to review this Bill,

spoke about the modified draft Bill which continues to raise several critical concerns relating to privacy, ethical usage

of DNA samples and uses of the proposed DNA database.

“Like the Unique Identification (UID) project in which the government collected biometric samples of citizens to create

a general database, marketing it as ‘Aadhaar’ or the basis for citizens to seek entitlements, the DNA database too aims

to collect citizen DNA samples and make a database out of it.

In UID, biometric data samples were collected from willing or coerced citizens, but there was no way people could opt

out of the database once in it, as no consent clause or guidelines for sample collection were specified for it. The DNA

Profiling Bill too brings similar concerns,” she says.

Biometric through Aadhaar

With the Supreme Court now coming down heavily on the government for insisting on biometric profiling of citizens

through Aadhaar, the question is whether the government ought to push the draft DNA Bill in its current form, given

its unresolved concerns.

The Bill contains provisions for a volunteer’s index and collection of “such other DNA indices as may be specified by

regulation,” which, Ms. Ramanathan says, is problematic, as it is not sure who might be coerced into giving biological

samples under these provisions.

The Director of the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics in India (CDFD), based in Hyderabad, will always

be the ex-officio member-secretary of the DNA Profiling Board as per the Bill.

That the agency has been given considerable powers to take decisions regarding DNA sample usage and regulate DNA

profiling in India is itself a cause for concern, she says.

The reason is the 12th plan (2012-17) document put up on the Department of Science and Technology (DST) website,

describes the CDFD as intending to conduct “Human population analysis with a view to eliciting signature profiling of

different caste populations of India to use them in forensic DNA fingerprinting and develop DNA databases.” An

identification form for DNA sample tests, put up on the CDFD website, of which The Hindu too accessed a copy,

includes an entry column for filling ‘caste and origin of State’ information.

Ms. Ramanathan says this is the source of current concerns regarding how an agency empowered by the proposed

law might use DNA samples to profile people on the basis of caste.

Further, Schedule I under the Act, in the ‘List of Matters for DNA Profiling’ allows for data collection on maternity or

paternity disputes, issues relating to pedigree, surrogacy and immigration or emigration as well.

The Board, in which CDFD plays a central role, will also control how privacy concerns are addressed. With the

ongoing Supreme Court case on Aadhar not taking a definitive stance on privacy, the privacy concerns raised by the

DNA database project too hang in the balance, she says.

The UIDAI vs. CBI case has revealed the difficulties of safeguarding a database — apart from the technical difficulties

— when such a database has been created, she says.

There are clearly scientific ambitions fuelling the DNA database project, Ms. Ramanathan says. In the same 12th plan

document, CDFD is also described as aiming to work on molecular genetics, cytogenetics, biochemical genetics,

newborn screening centre and develop a national database for genetic disorders.

No studies have been done on the costs involved in pursuing the extraordinary ambitions that the Bill sets out, she

has pointed out in the dissent note submitted to the government.

“The DNA database annual report of UK shows that the UK Home Office spent £2.2 million in 2013-14 in running the

National DNA Database on behalf of the UK police forces. Can India afford to pump in such vast sums of money to aid

a scientific agency’s research ambitions?” she asks.

‘Start-up, stand up’ campaign is Modi’s new route to push growth

In his second Independence Day address as Prime Minister , Narendra Modi acknowledged that whether it was the

goal of ending corruption or electrifying 18,500 more villages in 1,000 days, nothing could be done without the efforts

of “Team India”, the 1.25-billion people of the country.

Demonstrating his felicity for coining catchy titles for government campaigns, the Prime Minister announced the

“Start-up India, Stand up India” scheme aimed at promoting entrepreneurship at the bottom of the pyramid.


Each of the 1.25 lakh bank branches across the country, he said, should encourage at least one Dalit or Adivasi

entrepreneur and one woman entrepreneur. But Mr. Modi disappointed ex-servicemen as he failed to announce the

implementation of the long-pending one rank, one pension scheme.

Two Indian children scale Kalapathar peak

Two Indian siblings, 5-year-old Kandarp Sharma and 8-year-old Ritwika, have successfully climbed the Kalapathar

peak, which is higher than the highest peaks in the U.S., Europe and Antarctica, to reach the base camp of Mount

Everest, becoming the youngest climbers to reach the destination.

They reached the base camp situated at an altitude of 5,380 metres in northeast Nepal.

The siblings reached the base camp of the 8,848-metre peak accompanied by their parents.

After scaling the Kalapatthar peak, the children chanted ‘Bharat Maata Ki Jai’ and hoisted the Tricolour.

First-grader Kandarp and fourth-grader Ritvika are students of Little Angels High School in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

Both of them are national adventure sports players and are the world’s youngest siblings to scale such height.

By reaching the base camp, Kandarp broke the record previously held by Harshit who had reached the base camp in

2014 at the age of 5 years and 11 months.

PM makes a statement with mosque visit

The UAE leadership broke protocol to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi here , with Crown Prince Sheikh

Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nayhan of Abu Dhabi turning out with five of his brothers to greet him at the airport in a

rare gesture.

The high point of the first day’s engagement was Mr. Modi’s visit to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the world’s third

largest mosque, leaving some powerful images for consumption by a domestic audience.

His balance of the domestic and the foreign during the visit was exemplified by a short interaction with blue-collar

workers in ICAD Residential Labour Camp, which was more photo-op than substantive.

In interviews to Khaleej Times and The National , prominent UAE newspapers, the Prime Minister said that he felt the

UAE was a “mini-India”. He wanted to see the nation as “our foremost trade and investment partner”.

During the visit to the mosque, Mr. Modi seemed at ease and posed for selfies, along with his minister-in-waiting,

Anwar Gargash, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. The only anxious moments were when he broke the

security cordon to greet Indians who had gathered in scores.

Made-in-India vehicles for U.N. mission in Mali

In a sign of increasing Indian defence exports in the global market, Tata Motors has supplied 520 vehicles to the

United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), including ambulances, jeeps,

water and fuel tankers, recovery and refrigeration trucks and buses.

The contract was won in 2014 against stiff international competition and these vehicles have been deployed in

mission areas in West Africa.

“Tata Motors exports its range of specialised defence vehicles to SAARC, ASEAN and African regions. With its rich

portfolio of multi-axle 12x12, 8x8 and 6x6 heavy-duty vehicles, the company has started supplying to leading Original

Equipment Manufacturers across the world, having established itself as a supplier of specialist vehicles,” Mr. Vernon

Noronha, vice-president (defence & government business) of Tata Motors, told .

Recently, Tata Motors won a contract to supply 1,239 units of High-Mobility Vehicles with material handling cranes

and 500 units of General Service (GS 800) vehicles to the Myanmar Army in addition to signing a cooperation

agreement with Malaysia.

With India embarking on a major defence modernisation drive and the government opening up the sector for private

participation with the ambitious ‘Make in India’ initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, private companies are

increasingly investing in the lucrative but highly competitive defence sector.

India’s defence exports are paltry compared with the size of its market or imports. Since 2010, India has exported

defence items worth over Rs. 2,600 crore, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar informed Parliament recently. In

contrast, China, once a fellow importer, has emerged as the third largest global arms exporter.

Land for temple in Abu Dhabi

The UAE decided to allot land for building a temple here, the first in the Emirati capital as Prime Minister Narendra

Modi began his two-day visit to the strategic Gulf nation. The Prime Minister thanked the UAE leadership for this

“landmark” decision.

While there are two temples in Dubai, one of Lord Shiva and another of Krishna, there is none in Abu Dhabi.

“A long wait for the Indian community ends. On the occasion of PM’s visit, UAE Govt decides to allot land for building

a temple in Abu Dhabi,” tweeted External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

There are nearly 2.6 million Indians in the United Arab Emirates .


Of a mosque and Modi

External Affairs Ministry officials here downplayed the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sheikh Zayed Grand

Mosque, saying it was more in the nature of a homage to Sheikh Zayed, the father of the nation. That is an

understatement. The other view is that this was a ground-breaking attempt at a rapprochement between the Prime

Minister and the largest minority community back home.

The ambiguity surrounding the visit’s intentions was best expressed by Mr. Modi’s confidant, Zafar Sareshwala, who

has been camping in the UAE in preparation of the visit for months.

“There is an old mosque in Ahmedabad, called the Sarkhej Roza, which also has the tomb of one of the founders of

Ahmedabad, Sheikh Ahmad Khattu. It was in a dilapidated condition and the Gujarat government gave funds for its

restoration,” he told .

“In October 2007-08, the management there started a Sufi music festival. I am witness to the fact that Prime Minister

Modi attended the festival for at least three years.”

He admitted, however, that the visit would be great to the domestic constituency. “The UAE visit, on the whole, will

have a huge impact on Indian honour and Muslims, though the Prime Minister has visited several Central Asian

countries and Bangladesh in the recent past. Indian Muslims do look to the Arab world as a leader in their religious

affairs,” he said.

Prior to the mosque visit, the Prime Minister spoke of bilateral ties in interviews to UAE newspapers. He spelt out that

he wanted cooperation in the fields of science and technology.

“We would build regular and effective cooperation in a full range of security challenges. Our armed forces would

engage with each other more. In short, in every walk of life, we should turn to each other as a matter of habit,” he

said.

Vizhinjam seaport set to become a reality

Kerala’s dream project, Vizhinjam International Multipurpose Deepwater Seaport, is set to become a reality with the

signing of the concession agreement between the State and Adani Vizhinjam Ports Ltd. (AVLP) of Adani Ports and

Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ), the private multi-port operator selected to build the superstructure and operate

the seaport.

India, Bangladesh to fight fake currency

Indian and Bangladeshi security agencies have agreed to work in close coordination to curb the smuggling of

counterfeit currency notes, posing a threat to national security.

They have signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect. At a meeting of the Joint Task Force on Fake

Currency Notes in Dhaka , the two sides committed themselves to sharing intelligence on a real-time basis.

A secure channel will be established for information exchange, for which a standard operating procedure is being

developed.

The MoU was signed by the Bangladeshi team led by Additional Inspector-General Mohammed Mokhlesur Rahman

and the Indian team headed by National Investigation Agency IG Sanjeev Kumar Singh.

India, UAE decry state-sponsored terror India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership and

undertook to “co-ordinate efforts to fight radicalisation and misuse of religion by groups and countries for inciting

hatred, perpetrating and justifying terrorism or pursuing political aims.” This was announced in a joint statement after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown

Prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. The statement which encompasses joint military exercises and greater security cooperation is also significant in the

way it indicts Pakistan and state-sponsored terror without naming the country. “The two nations condemn efforts, including by states, to use religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism

against other countries. They also deplore efforts by countries to give religious and sectarian colour to political issues

and disputes including in West and South Asia and use terrorism to pursue their aims,” said the statement. It further said that the two countries called on all nations to “fully respect and sincerely implement their

commitments to resolve disputes bilaterally and peacefully without resorting to violence and terrorism,” a direct allusion to the Kashmir issue.

This strategic partnership would entail, according to Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, “enhanced cooperation in counter-terrorism operations, intelligence-sharing and capacity-building.”

Very significantly, the statement also commits to working together to “control, regulate and share information on flow of funds that could have a bearing on radicalisation activities.”

Russia backs India’s bid for a permanent UNSC seat After the United States, Russia too has clarified that it is open to supporting India’s bid for a permanent seat in the

United Nations Security Council (UNSC).


In an interview to the news agency TASS, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that while Moscow supports the candidature of India and Brazil for permanent membership in the U.N. Security Council, it also feels that the presence of an African country in this structure is also necessary.

Russia’s explanation comes days after it was made known that along with the U.S. and China, Moscow was opposed to negotiations to reform the U.N. body, which would have paved the way for India’s inclusion in the group with the P-5.

While Mr. Lavrov told TASS that the expansion of the UNSC was being discussed, Russia envisions a Security Council of not more than 20 members. “We support this process. We think that developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America are under-represented in the U.N. Security Council.

That is why we support applications of India and Brazil for permanent membership in the Security Council,” Mr. Lavrov was quoted as having told TASS.

However, despite the assertions of public support for India’s candidature, neither the U.S. nor Russia has explained why their letters to U.N. General Assembly president Sam Kutesa did not include their support. These countries have also made it clear they wouldn’t support veto power for India or any other country.

China, a roadblock China too remains a big roadblock as it has neither clarified its position on support for India nor is it expected to

support the adoption of the UNSC expansion process if it comes to a vote by September 15, when the current UNGA

session ends.

The Hindu had earlier reported that the U.S. in a letter to the U.N. had said it supported a “moderate expansion” of the UNSC without a veto power to new members. Russia, in its letter to UNGA president, had said the “prerogatives of the current permanent members of the Security Council, including the use of the veto, should remain intact under any variant of the Council reform.” The move by both countries was perceived as a dilution of their support for India.

New Delhi, which will be competing for a permanent seat with Germany, Japan and Brazil, already has the support of France and the U.K., and has long held that as one of the biggest democracies and a growing economy it is poised to take its place in the UNSC complete with the veto.

Fall in foodgrains production in 2014-15 Foodgrains production in 2014-15 in India was at 252.68 million tonnes, down by 12.36 million tonnes from the

previous year’s record production of 265.04 million tonnes, according to the Fourth Advance Estimates of production of major crops for 2014-15.

“Production of kharif crops during 2014-15 suffered due to bad monsoon. Unseasonal rains/hailstorm during February-March 2015 had a significant impact on production of rabi crops. As a result of setback in kharif as well as rabi seasons, the production of most of the crops has declined during 2014-15,” the government said in a notification.

The total production of rice is estimated at 104.80 million tonnes for the year, compared to the previous year’s production of 106.65 million tonnes. Wheat production, at 88.94 million tonnes, is lower by 6.91 million tonnes than the record production of 95.85 million tonnes seen during 2013-14.

The country is estimated to have produced 17.20 million tonnes of pulses in 2014-15, down by 2 million tonnes from the previous year. Oilseed production is estimated to be down by 6 million tonnes over the previous year, at 26.68 million tonnes.

The Ministry of Agriculture releases four Advance Estimates of the production of major agricultural crops each agricultural year (July-June).

“As such, Fourth Advance Estimates are considered almost as good as Final Estimates released in next February along with Second Advance Estimates for the subsequent agricultural year,” the notification said.

NALSAR to drop gender honorific in attempt to be more ‘inclusive’ The 13th convocation of The National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) , Hyderabad, held on August

16 will go down in history as its last convocation that issued certificates with gender honorifics, including Ms., Mr. and the gender neutral Mx.

In a historic decision taken in the Academic Council (AC) meeting (July 25-26), the varsity has become the first in the country to drop such honorifics or gender titles from its grade sheets.

NALSAR has followed the tradition of Oxford University that gives students the option to use Null or no title as an honorific apart from Mx.

From next year on, the university will issue certificates and grade cards which carry under personal details, just names of students sans titles that determine the gender status.

The decision has come at a time when even the Oxford English Dictionary is considering inclusion of the gender neutral honorific, Mx in its pages.

The ball began rolling when Anindita Mukherjee, a student of the passing out of the 2015 batch requested the varsity administration to change gender honorific in her draft grade sheet, from Ms. to Mx.

“The university sent us the grade sheets asking whether students would want to make corrections. I asked for a change in the gender honorific as I saw no reason why the grade sheets should carry one’s gender identity,” Ms. Mukherjee said.

In June, the NALSAR administration after consultation with the academic council decided to honour the student’s request.

Ms. Mukherjee, who is currently working as a research consultant in NALSAR, got the first grade sheet in the country that had the Mx. honorific on the convocation day.


In Oxford University that set a precedent for NALSAR, students are told that they do not need to provide any documentary evidence to support the request for alternative honorifics.

Policy shift strengthens relations with the Gulf The announcement of a strategic partnership between India and the United Arab Emirates is being seen as a

significant elevation of ties as well as a sign of India’s shift in the region. Equally it is a shift in foreign policy where security and terrorism take precedence over diplomacy in driving India’s interests.

In terms of the region, the partnership is unique. But it is one of more than a dozen partnerships India has forged in the past decade including with the big economies of Russia, U.S., France, U.K., Germany and Japan but also with smaller neighbours like Afghanistan and Mongolia.

“We should be careful with the word ‘strategic’. In India it is used very loosely,” says P.R. Kumaraswamy, West Asia expert and professor at JNU’s School of international Studies. “The key is the follow-up after these visits. In the past follow-up action was missing,” he told The Hindu .

“When you sign so many strategic partnerships, the term does lose some of its meaning,” agrees Sanjaya Baru of the International Institute of Strategic Studies. Others see strategic partnerships as a way of building “special” relations with several countries all at once, without being tied down to a military alliance or belonging to a bloc of any kind.

In 2011, a study on the efficacy of India’s many strategic partnerships concluded that “the respectable nomenclature of a ‘Strategic Partner’ should be bestowed only on those countries with which there is a strong and mutually

beneficial relationship in all the three sectors of political-diplomatic, defence and economic cooperation.”

Like the UAE, India has signed defence agreements with several countries in the region including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman.

While they have had some counter-terror cooperation on exchanging information, they have seen closer maritime cooperation under a Defence cooperation agreement signed in 2003 where the Indian navy holds regular port visits, and anti-piracy exercises.

Dr. Baru, who was part of the Foundation for National Security Research that published the report, says that the UAE fulfils all of the criteria mentioned by the study, as one of India’s biggest economic partners, home to 2.6 million Indians and a crucial link to trade in the region.

“It is clear from the announcement that India wants to change how it deals with the Gulf and West Asia, and the UAE, as a moderate non -Wahabi, development-oriented country is its peg,” he says.

How India, UAE looked beyond Pak to forge a new partnership In proclaiming a “natural strategic partnership” with the United Arab Emirates and putting security cooperation,

including counter-terrorism, at the centre of it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has seized a rare moment of change in the Gulf and launched a new phase in India’s relations with a very critical region.

The new chapter will be marked not just by an even-handed approach by the UAE to India’s disputes with Pakistan, but an unprecedented political endorsement of Delhi’s concerns about violent extremism, and a strong commitment to jointly combat the sources of terrorism in the subcontinent and the Middle East.

Modi’s decision to travel to the Emirates at short notice was based on Delhi’s recognition of the need to discard the traditional thinking on the region, and grasp the new opportunities for a restructuring of relations between the subcontinent and the Gulf.

Despite the historical links, civilisational intimacy, geographical proximity, growing economic interdependence, and the presence of a large Indian labour force in the Gulf, political relations between India and the region have long been strained by the Pakistan factor.

Islamabad’s emphasis on shared religious bonds and the region’s reluctance to understand India’s difficulties in dealing with cross-border terrorism from Pakistan had long cast a shadow over India’s relations with the Gulf.

In his engagement with the leaders of the Emirates , Modi obtained a rare expression of empathy for India’s long-

standing security concerns vis-a-vis Pakistan. The joint statement issued by India and UAE referred to the issue of giving a religious colour to political disputes

(Islamabad’s promotion of jihadi culture), dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism (on Pakistani soil), bringing perpetrators of terrorism to justice ( Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi of 26/11), and dismantling the alliance between money laundering, criminal networks and violent extremism (Dawood Ibrahim).

That this support has come from the Emirates, one of the countries closest to Pakistan, underlines the profound

changes that are threatening the Gulf. In the past, the region could afford to look the other way as Pakistan used religious extremism and terrorism as a tool

of its foreign policy in Afghanistan and India. Recall that the UAE and Saudi Arabia were the only countries that recognised the Taliban government in Afghanistan

during the late 1990s. Today, the region can no longer take a detached view, given the threat that violent extremism and religious strife pose

to the existing political order in the Gulf kingdoms. That the region was beginning to appreciate India’s concerns on terrorism and take a more balanced approach to the

issues between Delhi and Islamabad was evident when King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia visited India nearly a decade ago.

The understanding arrived between Modi and the UAE leadership on the nature of the threat from terrorism, and the measures needed to counter it go much farther, and are far more explicit.


This welcome advance is understandable given the mounting challenges to the security of the Gulf kingdoms. The rise of the Islamic State and the deepening sectarian tensions between the Sunni and the Shia are threatening to tear apart the political fabric of the Sheikhdoms.

Unlike Pakistan which can live with a measure of internal chaos, the Gulf kingdoms need internal tranquility to sustain the prosperity of their deeply globalised economies run by workers and professional managers drawn from diverse nations.

The joint statement’s reference to the shared commitment between the two countries to “openness, peaceful coexistence and social harmony” are not the kind of phrases that normally figure in India’s engagement with monarchies anywhere in the world.

The reference to the UAE as “a shining example of a multi-cultural society” is a political recognition of the high stakes involved in defending the economies of the region that are so vulnerable to violent religious extremism.

Once this political challenge was understood, it was not difficult for Modi and his Gulf interlocutors to devise an ambitious framework for security cooperation.

The bold new agenda between the two countries now ranges from intelligence sharing and police training to cooperation between law enforcement agencies against criminal networks and joint anti-terror operations.

The statement also calls for intensive engagement between the two national security establishments, interoperability between the armed forces, and even proposes joint development of weapon systems.

Having negotiated this extraordinary agenda with the Emirates, Delhi must now focus on translating it into concrete

action on the ground. At the same time, India needs to demonstrate the discretion not to crow about a diplomatic victory against Pakistan.

As it reaches out to Pakistan’s traditional friends in the Gulf, Delhi must affirm its commitment to work with them in transforming the whole of subcontinent into a more peaceful and prosperous place.

Sky is the limit for these two brothers It was 1997. Louis and Kuruvilla J. George — brothers and, more importantly, men with scientific temper — hurriedly

set up a makeshift lab in the cowshed of their 300-year-old ancestral house in Kochi. They had received an order to make an airborne antenna for the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) — the country’s first

indigenous aircraft. Both thrilled and nervous at the prospect of designing “antenna for something that flies,” it took the brothers a week to firm up their conviction.

A year-and-a-half later, they found success as the vendor, NPOL, cleared the prototype. And with that the first indigenous aircraft had its antenna.

High-profile clients Since then, Verdant Telemetry & Antenna Systems, the company founded by the duo, has been supplying cutting-

edge antenna and related equipment to DRDO, HAL and BEL, to name a few of their high-profile clients. Many a time, their exported antenna comes back to the country integrated into a system. Their biggest clientele is

Indian defence and, internationally, the U.S., Europe and Israel. At home, they had access to journals such as Popular Mechanics and Science Today . Their mother’s neatly labelled

and filed botany drawings were another source of inspiration. In school, they studied pure science, and later Louis specialised in Composites technology.

Kuruvilla was the “geek,” who developed a sterling engine powered by an external heat source. His ‘sitting bicycle’ was another smart innovation.

His interest in Ham operations enabled him to chip in during disaster relief operations. Their friends, who often met the two for a game of badminton now and then, often found the things that preoccupied them a bit odd.

After the first order, things changed. The sanctions imposed after the Pokhran blasts brought a deluge of orders and Verdant scaled new heights. “We noted an unhealthy thing and proved the belief that the West is better is wrong,”

says Louis, adding that they made all attempts to manufacture a product, from beginning to end, with materials available in the country.

Going against the tide of reverse engineering that aims at matching imported products, the brothers began designing and modelling to specifications. “In due course, you won’t find the components. It is always better to innovate,” says Kuruvilla.

The brothers are now inundated with requests for design solutions in communication and navigation from companies

facing design and engineering challenges. “The Make in India future is all about creating the right environment for technology to grow and an ecosystem to safeguard IP,” says Louis.

“A lot of shift has happened but toward software development. Hardware and metallurgy start-ups are being ignored.” Success has given them much and now, they can afford to take some time off to go back and play badminton, which

they enjoyed playing near the cowshed in those early days of tinkering with machines.

2015 ARWU: Indian universities fail global test A single Indian university has made it to the top 500 university rankings. However, the lone Indian entry — Indian

Institute of Science in Bangalore, ranks as low as between 301-400, according to the 2015 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) released by Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Interestingly in 2003 and 2004, IISc was still India's only entry but its rankings were around 200 which has fallen drastically.


More than 1,200 universities are ranked by ARWU every year and the best 500 are published. Eight universities in the top 10 alone are from the US with two being UK-based, as more than 51 US institutions

feature in the top 100. Harvard University remains the number one in the world for the 13th year with the other top 10 universities being

Stanford, MIT, Berkeley, Cambridge, Princeton, Caltech, Columbia, Chicago and Oxford. In continental Europe, ETH Zurich (20th) in Switzerland takes first place and University of Copenhagen (35th) in

Denmark overtakes Pierre & Marie Curie (36th) in France as the second best university in this region. University of Tokyo (21st) and Kyoto University (26th) keeps their leading positions in Asia. University of Melbourne

(44th) tops other universities in Oceania. When ranking world universities, ARWU uses key objective indicators, which are the number of alumni and staff

winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, the number of highly cited researchers selected by Thomson Reuters, the number of articles published in journals of Nature and Science and per capita performance of a university. India fails miserably in almost all counts.

A recent Thomson Reuters study had found that at a time when India is being looked at as the next big knowledge superpower, just 3.5% of global research output in 2010 was from India.

In most disciplines, India's share in global research output was below this overall average count. India's share of world research output in clinical medicine was a paltry 1.9% in 2010, with psychiatry at 0.5%, neurosciences at 1.4%,

immunology at 1.8%, molecular biology at 2.1% and environmental research at 3.5%.

In mathematics, India's share of world output stood at around 2% in 2010, while it was 17% for China. In materials sciences, India's share was at 6.4% while China's stood at 26%, and India's physics research was 4.6%

while China's was 19%. "India has been the sleeping giant of Asia. Research in the university sector, stagnant for at least two decades, is now

accelerating but it will be a long haul to restore India as an Asian knowledge hub," said the report. The latest finding comes soon after not a single young Indian university made it to the list of the world's top 100

which are under 50 years old. Over 800 universities worldwide submitted data for analysis of which 20 were from India.

India requests Myanmar to hand over NSCN (K) leaders

India has asked Myanmar to hand over four top leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Khaplang)

[NSCN(K)], including its chief S.S. Khaplang, holding them responsible for ambushing an Army convoy in Manipur in

June, killing 18 soldiers.

The NSCN (K) violated a ceasefire with the government in March and has been involved in a series of attacks on

security forces in Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Following the ambush of the Army convoy, a special team of the Indian Army launched an attack on the insurgent

camps of various militant outfits, 20 km within Myanmar, on June 9, and is believed to have killed at least 20

militants.

Besides Mr. Khaplang, India sought the custody of the outfit’s military commander Niki Sumi, Kirichu and Asang,

who were believed to have planned and supervised the attack in Manipur’s Chandel district.

The request was placed at the meeting of the first India-Myanmar Joint Consultative Committee held in July.

Committed to fight terror

A joint statement issued after the meeting, without directly naming NSCN-K said, “Both Ministers reaffirmed their

shared commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism and insurgent activity in all its forms and manifestations.

They emphasised the need for enhanced cooperation between security forces and border guarding agencies for

securing peace, security and stability in the border areas which is crucial for overall development.”

NSCN-K is in a ceasefire pact with the Myanmar government. Mr. Khaplang, a Naga from Myanmar, was undergoing

treatment at a hospital in Yangon till a few days back.

He is learnt to have shifted to his base in Taga, considered to be a hotbed of anti-India insurgent group camps in

northwestern Myanmar.

The other three NSCN-K leaders are also believed to be in Myanmar and they shuttle between Taga and the outfit’s

other camps.

Army convoy attack

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case in the Army convoy attack incident and has named

NSCN-K in the FIR.

NIA has said that 23 NSCN-K members participated in the attack, including the two who were killed in the incident.

Of the remaining 21, NIA has identified 14 NSCN-K cadre members who had carried out the ambush.

The request was placed at the meeting of the first India-Myanmar Joint Consultative Committee held in July.


65% of kids adopted by foreigners have special needs: Government

Of the 1,112 children given up for inter-country adoption in the last three years, 726 were “children with special

needs” as people in India did not come forward to adopt them. This makes it 65 per cent of the total adoption by

foreigners, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has told the Supreme Court.

In its affidavit, CARA, the nodal agency under the Ministry of Women and Child Development for regulating adoptions,

has stated that “majority of children placed in inter-country adoptions are children with special needs and older

children, who rarely go in domestic adoption.”

Adducing statistics between April 2012 and March 2015, it said that 12,606 children were given in domestic adoption

as opposed to 1,112 children for inter-country adoption.

Of the 1,112 children, 190 children with special needs were given up for adoption in 2012-13 and this number rose to

283 and 253 in the next two years. Such adoption has witnessed a consistent increase in the last three years and

their share in the total inter-country adoptions has risen from 62 per cent to 68 per cent in 2014-15.

On domestic adoption, CARA said that around 5,000 children were given up for in-country adoption in 2012-13 but

this number had dropped to about 4,000 in the last two years.

CARA was responding to a PIL which sought a moratorium on inter-country adoption of Indian children, alleging

overseas child trafficking in the garb of adoption.

The PIL by NGOs Advait Foundation and Sakhee accused CARA and other agencies of being lax and some time also

complicit in this racket.

Opposing a moratorium on inter-country adoption, CARA told the court that adoption is compulsory for ensuring

‘right to family’ for orphan, abandoned and surrendered children. Putting such children in other institutions or under

foster care, it said, would tantamount to their “moral abandonment” since such mechanism cannot substitute the

need for a family.

Women in police force: India fares worse than Maldives

Women constitute barely 6 per cent of India’s police force, and the country ranks below Maldives when it comes to

representation of women in the police force, according to a study conducted by the Commonwealth Human Rights

Initiative (CHRI) in four South Asian countries between 2014 and 2015.

The study — conducted across Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Pakistan — found that the representation of women

in the police force was poor in all four countries.

However, Maldives, with 7.4 percent representation by women, fared the best.

It was followed by India, Bangladesh (4.6 per cent) and Pakistan (0.9 percent).

A detailed report on the study — titled: Rough Roads to Equality-Women Police in South Asia — is scheduled to be

released.

Devika Prasad, co-editor of the study, said that the report examined in a systematic manner the “strategies and

policies adopted by governments and police departments in the four countries to bring women on an equal footing in

policing”.

The study also “draws on the experiences of women police to bring out what more needs to be done,” she said.

“In India, despite the Ministry of Home Affairs setting a target of 33 per cent, the representation continues to be

abysmally low — ranging from 1 per cent to 12 per cent in the states — in the face of feeble efforts to actually draw

women into policing, as well as prejudices against women that are highly entrenched,” said Prasad.

ECONOMY NEWS China devalues currency by 1.9 per cent The People’s Bank of China (PBoC), China’s central bank, decided to devalue the yuan, also known as the renminbi,

by 1.9%, the largest devaluation in two decades.

The PBoC termed this a one-time action, aimed at increasing the “market-orientation and benchmark status” of the currency.

The move comes after July data revealed a six-year low in the producer prices index, which was 5.4% lower on a year on year basis, and a fall in China’s exports of 8.3% year on year.

Earlier, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that while the yuan was on track to be included in the basket of currencies that form the Fund’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR), it still needed to make a final determination later this year on whether the currency met the “freely usable” criterion.

China, which runs a ‘managed float’- i.e, an exchange rate that is managed against other currencies, pegs the yuan against the dollar each day. Traders are allowed to trade within a range of 2 percent (plus or minus) of this fix.

So far, China has set its exchange rate without necessarily considering daily market movements, but today China announced that its daily fix will be based on the closing rate of the interbank forex market from the previous day.

The declared reason for the devaluation, analysts say, may be viewed as China’s moving towards a market determined exchange rate but the devaluation itself on the other hand, is likely to be interpreted as interference.


China is heavily dependent on exports and a currency devaluation against an appreciating dollar is likely to be viewed as the government intervening to boost the economy as a reaction to the slump in exports, and a recent stock market decline.

China’s move was felt across the markets; the Australian dollar lost 1 percent to the US dollar, the euro was down 0.4 percent against the US dollar. The rupee also fell against the dollar.

India rises by 13 places in Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index According to the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index 2015, of the World Economic Forum, India ranks 52nd

this year from 65th in 2013.

POSCO, Uttam Galva arm to set up steel plant in Maharashtra South Korean steel-maker POSCO and Shree Uttam Steel and Power Ltd. have agreed to set up a three million tonne

per year integrated steel plant in western Maharashtra State, Uttam Galva said. The plant would be the first in India for POSCO, the world’s No. 6 steel-maker, as it continues to battle regulatory

hurdles for a decade-old project to set up a mega $12-billion steel plant in the eastern Odisha State. Shree Uttam Steel and Power is owned by the co-promoters of Uttam Galva Steels Ltd., which is jointly owned by

ArcelorMittal. Both POSCO and ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel-maker, have scrapped a number of other projects in India

over the past two years, citing difficulties in acquiring land and mines.

POSCO, which already has steel processing centres in the cities of Pune, Chennai and near New Delhi, has made little

progress and could scrap the Odisha project after a new law made it costlier to source iron ore for the plant. The proposed joint venture plans to set up the plant, to be located at Satarda in Sindhudurg district, in two phases

and hopes to take advantage of an expected surge in steel demand in the country, the company said. An investment of about $1 billion is needed to set up a 1-million-tonne-per-year steel plant.

Emerging new class The rise of UHNIs Soaring on optimism, the number of Indian ultra high net worth households (UHNHs) rose 17 per cent in 2014-15 to

1.37 lakh and has seen a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22 per cent over the last five years, according to a report by Kotak Wealth Management.

The report ‘Top of the Pyramid — Gliding on Optimism’ analyses UHN individual (UHNI) trends during the year and offers insights into their investments and spending habits. UHNHs are those households with a net worth above Rs.25 crore excluding their primary residence.

The report has a special focus on the rise of the e-commerce industry, which has ushered in a new category of entrepreneurs, who are young and ultra rich and has contributed to the lowering average age of UHNIs — nearly half are below 40.

“New emerging industries armed with disruptive technology have created space for a different economy, which has propelled the number of young ultra-rich entrepreneurs in India,” C. Jayaram, Joint Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Bank, said in a statement.

“There is also a steady increase in spends on luxury goods and preference towards equity over real estate.” Business, real estate are key investment drivers with preference for commercial real estate Report projects UHNHs’ networth to surge at a CAGR of 26 per cent from Rs.128 lakh crore in FY15 to Rs.415 lakh

crore by 2020 Top of the Pyramid 2015 was prepared with survey results and analysis of over 225 UHNIs across 12 Indian cities. “Apart from gold jewellery, 40 per cent of Ultra HNIs are also interested in diamonds and about 53 per cent of Ultra

HNIs prefer purchasing jewellery from Indian branded jewellers.” Cities such as Pune and Bengaluru have emerged as preferred destinations for real estate investments. There was a

shift towards commercial real estate, driven by higher rental realizations compared to the residential market – 36 per

cent UHNIs were interested in commercial properties. UHNIs laid great emphasis on children’s education with 41 per cent of professionals educating their children in India

while the favoured destinations were the U.S. and the U.K. Further, Luxury wedding are a distinct part of UHNI lifestyle and destination weddings are hugely popular.

SITA to facilitate investments in East African countries As many as five projects are under consideration now for investment in East African countries that will be facilitated

under the Supporting Indian Trade and Investment for Africa (SITA) project. Govind Venuprasad, co-ordinator, SITA office for Asia and the Pacific, told that in the last four months, SITA had

received proposals from mid-sized Indian companies for setting up two plants for processing of rice and beans in Rwanda, a sugar refinery in Tanzania, a pulses processing plant and a unit to process animal products. The approximate investment of these projects was expected to be $18 million.

Earlier, speaking at a meeting organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), he said countries covered under the SITA project were India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. The implementation phase for the project started in April this year and would be on till March 2020, and the focus sectors include leather, cotton, textiles, apparel, coffee, spices, essential oils, IT and ITES, and pulses.

The Exim Bank was keen and was open to supporting bankable projects, he said. Indian partners and companies can look at investment, export of products and capital equipment, and technology and knowledge transfer to these countries.


Rajesh Aggarwal, chief of trade facilitation and policy for business, International Trade Centre, said these African countries had zero duty access to European Union and the U.S and this would be an advantage to the Indian companies that invests or set up projects in these countries.

Jaguar Land Rover plans manufacturing unit in Slovakia As part of its global expansion plans, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), owned by Tata Motors, signed a letter of intent with

the government of the Slovak Republic for the potential development of a new manufacturing plant in the city of Nitra in western Slovakia.

The move marks the next step in the company’s strategy to become a more competitive global business by expanding its manufacturing operations into new locations in future.

The plant would manufacture a range of aluminium JLR vehicles and the cars will come into production in 2018. The company selected Slovakia as its preferred location as “it is close to a strong supply chain and good logistics

infrastructure.” It has three production plants and a new engine manufacturing facility in the U.K. Besides, it has factories in China

and its Brazil unit will be operational in early 2016. It has an assembly plant in India since 2011.

Taiwan firms to invest Rs. 3,200 cr. in Karnataka Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association and the State government have signed a Memorandum of

Understanding to set up a Taiwan Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (TEMC) in the city.

It will come up on 100 acres of land in Devanahalli IT Park, with an investment of $500 million (about Rs. 3,200

crore).

FDI

The government cleared 23 foreign investment proposals, including that of Catholic Syrian Bank and Bandhan

Financial Services, amounting to Rs.10,378.92 crore.

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) cleared an investment proposal of Mylan Laboratories, as it entails

investments of Rs.4,960 crore, the Board recommended the proposal for approval of the Cabinet Committee on

Economic Affairs.

The Board has also deferred decision on 13 proposals, including of Volkswagen Finance, Amar Ujala Publications,

Eros International and Reliance Globalcom. Kolkata-based Bandhan Financial Services has got government approval

for conversion of pre-existing FDI of 33.14 per cent from an NBFC-MFI into core investment company.

The proposals entail investment worth Rs.1,049 crore. Besides, private sector Catholic Syrian Bank has got clearance

for raising foreign investment limit in the bank from 49 per cent to 74 per cent. The proposal is worth Rs.1,200 crore.

include that of GlaxoSmithKline, Alpha Pharma Healthcare India, Natco Pharma, and Den Networks.

Symphony Ltd acquires Chinese air cooler company

In what could give it access to ASEAN markets for enhanced exports, Ahmedabad-based Symphony Limited has

acquired a Chinese air cooler company.

The company signed an equity transfer agreement (ETA) with shareholders of Munters Keruilai Air Treatment

Equipment (Guangdong) Co. Ltd. (MKE), China, to acquire 100% of the equity share capital of MKE.

The acquisition will help Symphony increase exports of its air coolers, especially to ASEAN markets via China which

has FTAs in these markets, said Achal Bakeri, Chairman and Managing Director, Symphony Limited.

"With this synergistic acquisition we are confident that this will help us in expanding into new markets and

geographies similar to our acquisition of IMPCO. We are possibly the only company from India which is selling its

product under its own brand name of Symphony in 60 countries. " Bakeri said.

A market leading brand in China, MKE produces energy-saving and environment-friendly evaporative air coolers

under brand Keruilai. The Chinese firm was set up in 2011 as a joint venture merger between Dongguan Keda

Electrical and Mechanical Equipment Co. Ltd (KEDA) and a Swedish company Munters AB ('Munters').

Gas subsidy transfer scheme enters Guinness Book: Government

The programme to pay cash subsidy to cooking gas LPG consumers has been recognised by Guinness Book of World

Records as the largest cash transfer programme in the world, the government said.

The Direct Benefit Transfer on LPG (DBTL), or Pahal Scheme, was launched in 54 districts on November 15, 2014 and

all over the country from January 1, 2015 with a view to cut diversion and subsidised fuel being consumed by

unintended segments like restaurants and other commercial establishments.

The scheme entails giving households cash subsidy directly in their bank account so they can buy market priced

cooking gas.

"A milestone is that the 'Pahal' scheme has been acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records for being the

largest cash transfer program (households)," an official statement said.

"LPG consumers who join the PAHAL scheme will get the LPG cylinders at market price and receive LPG subsidy (as

per their entitlement) directly into their bank accounts," it said.


Presently, a household is entitled to receive subsidy to buy 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each every year. Cash advance is

transfered into the beneficiary account on first enrollment and another installment is given the moment it is used to

buy a LPG refill. "This scheme has enabled substantive savings in subsidy," the statement said without elaborating.

Taiwanese firms ink MoU for electronic cluster in Gr Noida

The Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA) inked an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh

Development Systems Corporation Ltd (UPDESCO), under which it will invest $200 million to develop a 210-acre

greenfield electronic manufacturing cluster in Greater Noida.

"We have made a smart decision in Greater Noida. We will start construction without delay. Our products would

include smartphones, semi-conductors, tablets, etc. We believe the Indian talent and manpower will prove to be a

strong ingredient for the electronic manufacturing cluster (EMC)," said Francis Tsai, chairman, TEEMA's India

Committee.

RBI to transfer Rs 65,896 crore surplus to government

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will transfer a surplus of Rs 65,896 crore for 2014-15 to the Government of India. It

is about 25 per cent more than the amount transferred in 2013-14. The Central Board of Directors approved the

transfer for the year ended June 30, 2015, RBI said in statement.

The central bank follows July-June accounting year. RBI had transferred a surplus of Rs 52,679 crore for year ended

June 30, 2014.

Government to transfer ownership in PSU banks to a new holding company

The government announced a seven-point action plan, Indradhanush to infuse professionalism and fresh capital in to

public sector banks.

As part of the plan, the government announced the setting up of Bank Board Bureau (BBB) that will give way to

holding company to which the Centre will transfer its ownership of all these banks.

The BBB will be headed by a Chairman and will comprise six other members — three government officials and three

experts, two of which will be from the private sector.

It will make recommendations for senior appointments and also advise banks on strategies for consolidation among

them including mergers and acquisitions.

“Banks are encouraged to come forward with proposals for consolidation strategies…this will be a bottoms up

approach,” Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said at a press conference unveiling plan Indradhanush, which

includes the Government’s plan of infusing Rs.70,000 crore capital into banks over the next four years.

The government also announced that it had hired two professionals from the private sector – P. S. Jayakumar from

VBHC Value Homes as the MD and CEO for Bank of Baroda and Rakesh Sharma from Laxmi Vilas Bank as MD &

CEO of Canara Bank.

Having appointed private sector professionals to head two large public sector banks (PSBs), the Finance Ministry said

further such hiring of CEO and managing directors in banks would be from existing public sector talent pool and not

from outside.

“For five large banks we had different procedure. For remaining banks we are going to hire from the pool of executive

directors of the public sector banks itself,” Financial Services Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said.

In addition, former independent director of Infosys Ravi Venkatesan is among the newly appointed non-executive

Chairman. He has been appointed to the Bank of Baroda.

“For some years, banks have been facing a challenging situation but there is no cause for panic or alarm… addressing

the stress in banks also requires addressing the problems of the sectors causing this stress…such as power, steel,

highways, discoms and to some extent sugar,” Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said addressing the press

conference.

Financial Services Secretary Hasmukh Adhia made a presentation on the proposed revamp and said: “The

Government has issued a circular that there will be no interference from it and banks are encouraged to take their

decisions independently keeping commercial interests in mind…a cleaner distinction between interference and

intervention has been made.”

Banks have also been asked to build robust grievance redressal mechanisms for customers and staff, he said. “In

addition, the KPIs will be linked to the performance bonus paid to the MDs and CEOs of PSU banks. ESOPs are also

being considered for the top management of PSU banks,” Mr. Adhia said.

The government said that as per the latest figures the gross NPAs arising out of the infrastructure sector have reached

Rs.32,000 crore, and the GNPAs of the iron & steel sector are at Rs.31,000 crore. To de-stress the banks, the

government stressed the need to develop a vibrant corporate debt market and strengthen existing asset reconstruction

companies.


The banks, Mr. Jaitley said, will need a total of Rs.1,80,000 crore over the next four years to meet their capitalisation

needs and said the revamp plans announced will make raising the balance Rs.1,10,000 crore from the markets

easier.

“The government has reviewed the problems causing stress in the power, steel and roads sector.

It found that the major reasons affecting projects in these sectors were delays in obtaining permits, land acquisition,

lack of availability of fuel (both coal and gas), cancellation of coal blocks, closure of iron ore mines, etc,” Mr. Adhia

said.

Significantly for banks, the government announced a new 100-point framework of Key Performance Indicators to

measure the performance of PSU banks. Twenty five points each will be allocated to ‘Efficiency of capital use’ and

‘Growth processes’, while 15 points each will be allocated to ‘NPA management’ and ‘Financial Inclusion’.

The remaining 20 points will be for qualitative parameters such as improvement of external credit rating.

DoT panel report protects telco revenues

With a DoT panel siding to protect telecom firms’ domestic call revenues, over-the-top players such as WhatsApp will

have to tweak their business models by introducing paid calling services over the Internet, says credit rating firm Ind

Ra.

“OTT players will have to roll out separate packages for VoIP (voice over internet protocol) services which shall

eventually be charged to the subscribers,” India Ratings and Research said in a note .

“Players such as Whatsapp, WeChat, and Hike shall have to tweak their business models by differentiating between

the messaging and VoIP product offerings,” it added.

Last month, the official panel on net neutrality had proposed regulation of domestic calls on Internet-based apps such

as Skype, WhatsApp and Viber by putting them on par with services offered by telecom operators.

“The DoT committee’s recommendation of regulating only the domestic calls of voice over internet protocol (VoIP)

service providers is aimed at protecting voice revenues of telecom service providers (TSPs),” Ind Ra said.

Conventional voice calls get a revenue of 25 paise per minute for the telcos as against the 6 paise per minute, it said,

stressing that the messaging services offered by OTTs have already dented SMS revenues for the companies.

It said that voice services still command 50 per cent of revenues for telcos, even though there has been a decline in

average revenue per user on voice recently.

The recommendations of the Department of Telecom’s Committee, set up after the debate on net neutrality flared up

in India, came in for criticism from various industry bodies.

IT services industry lobby Nasscom said regulating domestic internet calls alone would lead to breach of privacy and it

will be tough to monitor compliance.

The DoT committee, however, favoured no regulation for international VoIP calls.

China gold reserves up more than 19 tonnes in July

China’s gold reserves rose by more than 19 tonnes in July, the official Xinhua news agency said, after the central

bank last month gave the statistic for the first time in six years.

Bullion holdings stood at 1,677.30 tonnes at the end of July, Xinhua said citing the People's Bank of China (PBoC), a

1.16 per cent increase on June’s 1,658 tonnes.

The rise is worth nearly $700 million, according to price of $1,118.25 an ounce on the London Bullion Market. It also

revealed a rise of 57 per cent over the past six years. China is the world’s largest producer of gold, but the increase

marked a slowdown in gold accumulation after holdings jumped 75 per cent from 2003 to 2009.

China ranks fifth globally in gold holdings, according to Bloomberg News.

Indian firm becomes first company to patent natural fertilizers

Camson Bio Technologies (Bangalore) has filed patents for the discovery of natural fertilizers produced using microbial

fermentation technology.

The company says this is a major breakthrough, enabling natural fertilizers to replace synthetic products throughout

the world. Camson’s patents cover the production of phosphate, nitrogen and potassium (NPK) fertilizers,( would

resolve the problems of fertilizer residues in foodgrains ,fruits and vegetables which India faces for exports to the

Middle East,European and American markets),which have properties similar to synthetic fertilizers currently used by

farmers.

Kerala inks pact with Adani for Rs 7,525-cr Vizhinjam port project Gautam Adani-led Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has entered into an agreement with the Kerala

government for building Rs 7,525 crore Vizhinjam seaport project, which is expected to be operational in a record time of less than 1,000 days.

The MoU was signed by Kerala Principal Secretary (Ports) James Varghese and Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd CEO Santosh Kumar Mahopatra in the presence of state CM Oommen Chandy and Adani Ports Chairman Gautam Adani.


The port project, slated to come up near Kovalam beach, was first proposed in 1991 when late Congress leader K Karunakaran was the Chief Minister but did not materialise due to various reasons. It got a push after the present UDF Government came to power in 2011.

Speaking at the function, Chief Minister Chandy said, "Government will not allow anything to adversly affect the life of people in the project area" in an assurance to the fishermen community who had expressed concerns over their rehabilitation."

He also said the government was hopeful that the Centre would relax the existing cabotage law. Cabotage refers to the carriage of goods between two ports in one country by ships registered in that country. As per Cabotage law, it is mandatory to use Indian ships in transportation of cargo to different ports along the

country's coast. Foreign ships can be used for carrying goods only when domestic ships are not available after seeking permission from India's maritime regulator.

PM visits Emirates- Modi invites UAE: Invest $1 tn in infra, energy sectors Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an all-out attempt to woo investors in UAE by promising that he would resolve

“problems”, particularly in India’s regulatory environment which he said he had “inherited”, and highlighted the immediate possibility of a $1trillion-investment in sectors such as infrastructure and energy.

Modi met the movers and shakers of UAE business at Masdar, a zero carbon city and a centre of hi-tech innovation on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. When the corporate chieftains raised issues faced by UAE investors in India, Modi told

them his government has inherited certain problems and was addressing those legacy issues.

Repeating what he had said during his earlier visits to France and Germany, Modi said that his government was restarting a process that was stalled because of the lethargy and indecisiveness of previous governments.

The Modi government is looking at massive investments from UAE to power its plan to build 100 hi-tech smart cities and 50 million homes as part of the affordable housing scheme.

Besides, it wants foreign investment to boost its ‘Make in India’ project and sectors like renewable energy and ports. Modi told investors that sectors, including insurance, railways and defence manufacturing, have been opened up for foreign investment.

“The Prime Minister told them that they should look at India as a long term investment, especially because India has a lot of investment needs. India needs probably $1 trillion worth of investments,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, in particular, with its $800 billion sovereign wealth fund worth of capital is a source of investment which New Delhi would like to tap.

He made it clear that UAE would be high on New Delhi’s foreign policy trajectory. He said that while there are 700 flights operating between India and the UAE every week, it was ironic that a prime ministerial visit took 34 years to materalise. He said it would not be allowed to happen again.

ICICI Bank launches digital locker

ICICI Bank launched the first of its kind fully automated digital locker, which would be available to customers even on

weekends and post banking hours.

Named ‘Smart Vault’, the locker is equipped with multi-layer security system, including biometric and PIN

authentication and debit cards, among others. Customers can access it without any intervention by the branch staff,

ICICI Bank said in a statement.

“Through the Smart Vault, we bring a very different, much more convenient, state of art branch experience to the

customers,” ICICI Bank MD and CEO Chanda Kochhar said after its launch here.

The ‘Smart Vault’ is an example of ‘Make In India’ programme as it has been designed and manufactured by Indian

partners, she said.

“The vault uses robotic technology to access the lockers from the safe vault and enables customers to access their

lockers at any time of their preference,” the statement issued by ICICI Bank, country’s largest private sector lender,

said.

Asked about charges of the digital locker, Ms. Kochhar said: “The lockers are of two-three different sizes and charges

would depend on that. Also, the locker charges in a city would vary depending on the real estate cost.”

Launched in Delhi, Ms. Kochhar said the bank would replicate this digital locker facility to a much larger scale in the

days to come.

Govt's Suraksha Bandhan gets rolling in social security push

The government said it has rolled out a drive called 'Suraksha Bandhan' to facilitate enrolment under Pradhan Mantri

Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) through innovative

schemes like gift cheques and special deposits.

The special initiative has been launched by participating banks and insurers keeping in view the upcoming festival of

Raksha Bandhan, the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

This is basically to reach out to eligible bank account holders who are still out of the ambit of these schemes, it

added.


Raksha Bandhan, to be celebrated on August 29, is a festival where brothers traditionally give gifts to their sisters

and vow to protect them.

This is precisely what Suraksha Bandhan is looking to tap into as it seeks to encourage people to gift 'social security'

plans to their loved ones.

The drive aims to take forward the government's objective of creating a universal social security system in the country,

designed specially for the poor and under-privileged, the Ministry said.

The drive is supported through a specially-launched instrument, the Jeevan Suraksha Gift Cheque, which is available

for Rs 351 at bank branches. This can be bought by persons wishing to gift them to facilitate one-year payment of

premium by the recipient for PMJJBY and PMSBY.

The recipient of the gift cheque would deposit the instrument in his or her bank account for a realisable value of Rs

342 to cover one-year subscription under the social security plans.

The balance of Rs 9 from the purchase price of Rs 351 will be retained by the issuing bank as the service charge.

In addition, banks will provide a deposit scheme facility to all account holders under the Suraksha Deposit Scheme

and the Jeevan Suraksha Deposit Scheme so that they can deposit Rs 201 or Rs 5,001, respectively, in their accounts

either on their own by cash or regular cheques received as Raksha Bandhan gifts, the statement said.

The last date for enrolment under PMSBY and PMJJBY schemes has been extended till September 30, 2015, it added.

SCIENCE AND TECH ‘Star Wars-like’ planet found orbiting two stars Astronomers have found a new ‘Star Wars-like’ planet orbiting in the ‘habitable zone’ of two stars, the 10th such

exoplanet located by NASA’s Kepler Mission. The planet, known as Kepler-453b, is located within its host stars’ “habitable zone,” the area around the stars in

which life could potentially exist. And the somewhat fortuitous nature of its discovery indicates there could be more like it than previously believed,

according to Stephen Kane, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at San Francisco State University and member of the team that made the discovery.

Researchers typically detect “exoplanets” — planets outside our solar system — by observing the decrease in starlight as the planet passes, or “transits,” between its host star and Earth. This method is known as the “transit method.”

But because Kepler-453b is affected by the gravitational pull of two stars, not just one, its orbit is more erratic — “like a spinning top,” said Kane. As a result, its transits are only visible to astronomers 9 per cent of the time.

Kepler-453b blocked 0.5 per cent of its host stars’ light during the transit, which enabled researchers to calculate that the planet’s radius is 6.2 times that of Earth, or about 60 per cent larger than Neptune.

Any inhabitants of the system would see two suns in their sky — much like the view from the planet Tatooine in the movie Star Wars — orbiting each other every 27 days.

The larger star is about 94 per cent the size of our sun, the smaller star only 20 per cent the size of our sun and much cooler, emitting less than 1 per cent of the larger star’s energy. Kepler-453b takes 240 days to orbit its host

stars.

Soon, space programmes will use indigenously made titanium sponge The national Space programme can now fully bank on made-in-India titanium sponge that goes into making its

satellite and launch vehicle parts. The titanium sponge plant initiated and sponsored by the Indian Space Research Organisation nine years back

became operational at Chavara in Kerala. Only six other countries produce titanium sponge commercially. This will mean a big saving on foreign exchange considering that the Indian Space Research Organisation alone has

been importing a significant 200-300 tonnes of titanium sponge each year from Russia, Japan or China, the space agency said on Monday.

The precious commodity was being imported because of the absence of a plant to make high-quality sponge although “the country has the third largest reserve of minerals bearing titanium,” ISRO said.

Nationally important sectors of aerospace and Defence extensively use alloys of titanium, (scientifically shortened to Ti) because of the high strength and non-corrosive quality of these materials.

Back in 2006, ISRO invested Rs. 95 crore through its Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) to set up the plant at State-owned Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd. at Kollam.

DRDO’s Hyderabad-based laboratory, the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, developed the technology for the plant.

According to the space agency, “This is the only integrated plant in the world that undertakes all activities from mining of Ti minerals to manufacturing aerospace-grade Ti sponge under one roof. The indigenous Ti sponge is completely qualified for space applications and gives a big boost to the ‘make in India’ campaign.”

Young exoplanet set to become Jupiter 2.0

A team of astronomers has discovered a Jupiter-like planet within a young system that could serve as a decoder ring

for understanding how planets formed around our Sun.


The new planet, called 51 Eridani b, is the first exoplanet discovered by the Gemini Planet Imager, a new instrument

operated by an international collaboration headed by Bruce Macintosh, professor of physics at Stanford University.

"To detect planets, NASA's Kepler sees their shadow. The Gemini Planet Imager instead sees their glow, which we refer

to as direct imaging," said Macintosh, member of the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology.

51 Eridani b is one of the best stars for imaging young planets.

"It is one of the very youngest stars this close to the Sun. 51 Eri was born 20 million years ago, 40 million years after

the dinosaurs died out," added study co-author Eric Nielsen, post-doctoral researcher at Stanford and the SETI

Institute.

Once the astronomers zeroed in on the star, they blocked its light and spotted light reflecting off 51 Eridani b, orbiting

a little farther away from its parent star than Saturn does from the Sun.

The light from the planet is very faint - more than 3 million times fainter than its star - but Gemini can see it clearly.

Observations revealed that it is roughly twice the mass of Jupiter, half or less the mass of the young planets

discovered to date.

In addition to being the lowest-mass planet ever imaged, it's also one of the coldest and features the strongest

atmospheric methane signal on record.

Previous Jupiter-like exoplanets have shown only faint traces of methane, far different from the heavy methane

atmospheres of the gas giants in our solar system.

"In the atmospheres of the cold giant planets of our solar system, carbon is found as methane, unlike most

exoplanets, where carbon has mostly been found in the form of carbon monoxide," explained Mark Marley,

astrophysicist at NASA Ames Research Center.

"51 Eri b is the first one that's cold enough and close enough to the star that it could have indeed formed right where

it is the 'old-fashioned way'," Macintosh said.

Brain game sharpens focus, reduces anxiety

Playing a simple brain game that involves identifying shapes can sharpen your focus and reduce anxiety, new

research has found.

Study participants who completed the video game-like exercise that targets distraction stayed more focused and

showed less anxiety, showed the findings that could lead to an everyday solution to ease the effects of distraction.

“Down the line we could roll out an online or mobile game based on this research that specifically targets distraction

and helps people stay focused and feel less anxious,” said lead researcher Jason Moser, associate professor of clinical

psychology at Michigan State University in the US.

In the study, participants with both low and high anxiety completed a focus task in which they identified a specific

shape in a series of shapes — for example, a red circle amid red squares, diamonds and triangles.

Russian tie-up to boost ISRO’s semicryogenic launcher plan

The national space programme looks set to ride on a new thaw in the 40-year-old Indo Russian Space ties, as

indicated by the just unveiled memorandum of understanding between the Indian Space Research Organisation and

Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS).

The MoU covering wide-ranging areas and which was firmed up in June is “just the beginning”. The development of

the new, higher-power semi-cryogenic engine could be an immediate beneficiary, according to A.S. Kiran Kumar,

Chairman of the Indian Space Research Programme.

The ISRO is working on its new-generation, Rs. 1,800-crore third rocket programme, called the semi-cryogenic launch

vehicle, to beef up its current portfolio of the PSLV and the GSLV.

It will use space-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen as fuel and is meant to pitch spacecraft totally weighing six to ten

tonnes to heights of 36,000 km. This would be double the lifting power of the GSLV and triple that of the PSLV. Only

the U.S. and Russia have this technology.

Mr. Kiran Kumar said: “We are looking at using Russian testing facilities for the semi-cryogenic engine. We will be

ready with the engine [SCE-200] in six to eight months. Although we will have our own test facility at Mahendragiri,

ours will take some time to come up.”

Mutual advantages

ISRO and ROSCOSMOS signed the MoU separately in May and June, Union Minister of State for Space, Atomic

Energy & PMO Jitendra Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

Unlike in the 1990s, when the GSLV cryogenic technology transfer pact was stymied by U.S. geopolitics, the two sides

do not envisage any transfer of technology in the cooperation.


The MoU includes new areas such as navigation. India is building its regional fleet of navigation satellites; Russia is

completing its GLONASS global navigation constellation on the lines of the U.S. GPS. The two expect to augment each

other’s reference signals for sharpness through ground receivers.

The other areas to be pursued are the ambitious Indian human space programme; outer space exploration,

development of space systems and components; training and scientific exchanges.

The ‘new thaw’ is said to have been triggered in April this year when the two countries celebrated the 40th

anniversary of the then Soviet Union putting into space the first Indian experimental satellite, the 358-kg ‘Aryabhata’,

in 1975.

Then followed Bhaskara-1, IRS-1A and first Indian astronaut flying in space in the Soviet Soyuz T-11 in 1984.

20-minute walk cuts risk of heart failure

Men who get regular, moderate exercise, such as walking or cycling for 20 minutes daily, may have a lower risk of

heart failure compared to those with the lowest and highest levels of activity, a new study has claimed.

Researchers followed 33,012 men from the Cohort of Swedish Men from 1998 until 2012 — or first event of heart

failure — to determine if physical activity was associated with heart failure risk.

Overall, men who had the lowest and highest levels of physical activity had a higher risk of heart failure, 47 per cent

and 51 per cent respectively, than men with a median level, the study found.

CANADIAN COMPANY GIVEN PATENT FOR 20KM HIGH SPACE ELEVATOR It’s not entirely “business savvy” to launch multiple spacecraft into the depths of space for a one-way flight. That’s

why Elon Musk and his company SpaceX have been hard at work developing a reusable spacecraft that can deliver payloads and then land safely back on terra firma (or, at least, a barge in the middle of a body of water).

It seems we weren’t the only ones enchanted by this, as a Canadian space company called Thoth Technology has been granted the patent for a 20km high “space elevator”.

To put the size of that into perspective, the largest building in the world, currently, is the Burj Khalifa, which stands at 829m high. The proposed space elevator would dwarf it more than twenty-four times over.

The inventor, Dr Brendan Quine says that astronauts and their equipment would travel the length of the structure by an electric elevator. Once at the top, spacecraft could launch and return to the top of the tower as regular planes would in an airpot.

The benefits of this method is that the space craft can be reused, and Thoth is claiming it will “[save] more than 30 per cent of the fuel of a conventional rocket.”.

The International Space Station reportedly cost €100 billion (R1.4 trillion), and even though it’s the most expensive structure ever built, this space elevator would easily surpass it.

If you have a few spare minutes and would like to get into the inner workings of the space elevator, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (Uspto) has the patent for it, which you can view online.

How traumatic memories get hidden

Scientists have discovered the mechanism in our brain that makes stressful or fear-related memories inaccessible.

The result could eventually lead to new treatments for patients with psychiatric disorders, the researchers said.

“The findings show there are multiple pathways to storage of fear-inducing memories, and we identified an important

one for fear-related memories,” said principal investigator professor Jelena Radulovic from Northwestern University.

Some stressful experiences — such as chronic childhood abuse — are so overwhelming and traumatic that the

memories hide like a shadow in the brain.

Inaccessible

A process known as state-dependent learning is believed to contribute to the formation of memories that are

inaccessible to normal consciousness.

The best way to access the memories in this system is to return the brain to the same state of consciousness as when

the memory was encoded.

Two amino acids, glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), direct its emotional tides and control whether

nerve cells are excited or calm.

Critical role

However, scientists discovered another critical role — these receptors also help encode memories of a fear-inducing

event and then store them away, hidden from consciousness.

“The brain functions in different states, much like a radio operates at AM and FM frequency bands. It’s as if the brain

is normally tuned to FM stations to access memories, but needs to be tuned to AM stations to access subconscious

memories,” Radulovic said.

“If a traumatic event occurs when these extra-synaptic GABA receptors are activated, the memory of this event cannot

be accessed unless these receptors are activated once again, essentially tuning the brain into the AM stations,” the

researcher said.


It is difficult for therapists to help these patients because the patients themselves can not remember their traumatic

experiences that are the root cause of their symptoms.

“This could eventually lead to new treatments for patients with psychiatric disorders for whom conscious access to

their traumatic memories is needed if they are to recover,” Radulovic said.

DNA the next big thing in data storage?

Scientists have taken inspiration from fossils to reach the most significant breakthrough on how to store information

for years without worrying about loss of data.

Researchers have announced that DNA can be tweaked to save unprecedented amounts of digital data for at least

2,000 years. They say DNA has two major advantages over the contemporary storage device of choice, hard drive: size

and durability.

An external hard drive about the size of a paperback book can back up five terabytes of information and might last 50

years.

In theory, a fraction of an ounce of DNA could store more than 300,000 terabytes.

"A little after the discovery of the double helix architecture of DNA, people figured out that the coding language of

nature is very similar to the binary language we use in computers," says Robert Grass of Swiss university ETH Zurich

who led the team.

Grass's team has encoded DNA with 83 kilobytes (approx. 1 terabyte = 1.07 billion kilobytes) of text from the Swiss

Federal Charter, 1291, and the Method of Archimedes from the 10th century.

They encapsulated the DNA and warmed it to nearly 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71°C) for one week, which is the

equivalent of keeping it for 2,000 years at about 50 degrees. When they decoded it, it was error-free.

So what's the next big challenge with this discovery? Grass says in DNA storage, "you have a drop of liquid containing

floating molecules encoded with information. Right now, we can read everything in that drop. But I can't point to a

specific place within the drop and read only one file".

PLACES IN NEWS Kannada makes an entry into online maps But all that is set to change, thanks to a crowd-sourced attempt, which has now made almost 80 per cent of the

freely-available Open Street Map (OSM) showing Kannada names within the State. The ones who are expected to benefit the most is the large community of drivers attached to cab aggregators. For

example there is auto driver Gangadharaiah, who says the maps that come along with the mobile phone are “useless” as all the details are in English.

More than 200 volunteers have participated in the crowd-sourced attempt, with a core group of 25 persons meeting up frequently to translate names. The process was expedited in the Bangalore Mapping Party, held in March and June, where software professionals discussed projects within OSM.

Getting Kannada labels is a long, often cumbersome process. It took nearly five years for hundreds of contributors to make a detailed English ‘base map’. Mr. Yogesh and others then had to remove all the English names, and manually translate these into Kannada.

Three-fourths of Karnataka poor! If the number of Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards issued in Karnataka is a real indicator, then 83 per cent of the

State is poor. Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao admitted that more than one crore families (1.1 crore) out of a total 1.31 crore in the State have secured BPL ration cards. And, many of them are suspected to be bogus obtained by faking lower income.

Families secure BPL cards for obtaining monthly subsidised rations under the public distribution system. In some

districts, nearly 90 per cent of households are listed as living under BPL category. Only 11.77 lakh families have secured above poverty line (APL) cards in the State.

Now, faced with a mounting food subsidy, Mr. Rao has instructed food inspectors and owners of over 20,000 ration shops to crack down on bogus ration cards. Inspectors have been told to file criminal cases against those found

holding bogus cards. Sources in the department maintained that many APL families, including government employees, secure BPL cards to

be eligible to avail benefits under various schemes, including health insurance. A railway employee in Mysuru was found guilty of being in possession of a BPL card, and a penalty was imposed, according to officials.

Free distribution of rice for BPL families under “populist schemes” like the Anna Bhagya is likely to push the subsidy bill higher.

Japan restarts reactor after break due to Fukushima


A power plant operator in southern Japan has restarted a reactor, the first to begin operating under new safety requirements following the Fukushima disaster.

Kyushu Electric Power Co. said it had restarted the No. 1 reactor at its Sendai nuclear plant as planned. The restart marks Japan’s return to nuclear energy four-and-half-years after the 2011 meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in north-eastern Japan following an earthquake and tsunami.

The disaster displaced more than 100,000 people due to radioactive contamination in the area and spurred a national debate over this resource-scarce country’s reliance on nuclear power.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority affirmed the safety of the Sendai reactor and another one at the plant last September under stricter safety rules imposed after the 2011 accident.

District Zero Nabarangpur: Why this is the heart of a changing India

Yet, Nabarangpur in Odisha encapsulates the most basic challenges faced by the country as it marks its 68th year of

Independence today — it is, arguably, India’s poorest district.

A discernible reduction in its poverty levels, an upgrade in its infrastructure for bijli, sadak, paani, padhai and sehat;

expansion of opportunities for its growing young; and an improvement in welfare outcomes for Nabarangpur’s 1.2

million-plus people – nearly 56 per cent of whom are Adivasis and another 14.5 per cent Dalits – may, therefore, be

the ultimate indicators for the health of the India Story.

That’s why beginning today and for the next one year, a team of reporters, photographers and editors of The Indian

Express will make Nabarangpur their beat — their home.

They will investigate and explain how its children, women men grapple with change and challenge, opportunity and

conflict. They will track and monitor the institutions of governance and government — from the panchayat, schools

and hospitals to the public distribution system, police station and markets; from local businesses and industry to

politics and its key players.

They will investigate the working of welfare schemes, from MGNREGA to the more recent Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan

and Atal Pension Yojana. They will identify change in homes, neighbourhoods and communities and make sense of

the tension between aspiration and grievance.

Cyber crime: Bengaluru tops

The city has recorded the highest number of cyber crime cases in 2014. Hyderabad stood second.

The city continues to rank second in the number of murders, with Delhi topping the list.

Kochi has first fully solar powered airport in the world

Kochi airport has become the first in the world to rely solely on solar power for its electricity needs. The airport

commissioned a 12Mw solar power plant, which was installed by Bosch.

Electricity generated from the solar plant was used to power airport facilities during the day and additional power was

fed into the state grid. At night, the airport would draw power from the grid.

The solar plant at the Kochi airport was built on 50 acres, making it the single largest solar project in an airport in the

country.

Through this project, coupled with an earlier installed capacity of 1.1 Mw, the Kochi airport would technically become

“grid-power neutral”, Bosch said.

Other airports in the country, too, have developed solar plants or are planning to, in order to reduce carbon footprint.

The Delhi airport has a 2.1Mw solar plant and the Mumbai airport has a 650kW rooftop solar plant.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had issued instructions to airports to take energy efficiency measures. The

Kochi airport has about 170 flight movements daily.

PERSONS IN NEWS Sundar Pichai: The little-known new chief of Google His name may not ring a bell, but chances are you know some of the products Google's new CEO, Sundar Pichai, has

worked on, including the Chrome browser and Android mobile operating system. Pichai, 43, was named chief executive officer of the internet titan, as Google unveiled a new corporate structure

creating an umbrella company dubbed Alphabet. Pichai will oversee the biggest company under that umbrella, which will still be called Google and will continue to

include some of Google's best-known products, including its search engine, ads, maps, apps, YouTube and Android system.

Alphabet will be run by Google chief Larry Page, who showered praise upon Pichai, the current senior vice president of products.

"I feel very fortunate to have someone as talented as he is to run the slightly slimmed down Google and this frees up time for me to continue to scale our aspirations," Page said in a blog post.

In his current role, Pichai oversees product management, engineering and research for Google's products and platforms, according to Google's filing at the US Securities and Exchange Commission.


Before that, he was SVP of Google Android, Chrome and Apps, working on consumer products "used by millions of people," the filing said.

Pichai was part of the team that launched the Chrome browser in 2008 and, prior to that, worked on various search products, including Google Toolbar, Desktop Search, Gadgets, and Google Gears and Gadgets, according to Business Insider magazine.

Before joining Google, Pichai worked as an engineer at manufacturer Applied Materials, followed by a stint in management consulting at McKinsey & Company, according to Business Insider.

US media described him as soft-spoken, little-known, and a long-time right-hand man to mentor Page. Originally from Tamil Nadu province in southeast India, Pichai received a Bachelor of Technology from the Indian

Institute of Technology Kharagpur. Page said Pichai is the man to steer the Google ship in the coming years, as it continues to innovate and expand its

product base. "Google itself is also making all sorts of new products, and I know Sundar will always be focused on innovation-

continuing to stretch boundaries," he said.

Woman IPS officer scales new heights Aparna Kumar, 2002 batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, added another feather to her cap when she scaled

Mount Elbrus in Russia, which is the highest mountain peak in Europe.

Ms. Kumar accomplished the feat on August 4 when she hoisted the Indian tri-colour and the UP Police flag atop the

18,510-foot-high mountain, whose terrain is considered to be the most treacherous for mountaineers. Ms. Kumar, who is from Karnataka and holds a degree in law from the National Law School in Bengaluru, is the only

woman officer from the all-India services (IAS, IPS and IFS) to have achieved this distinction. She was part of a 14-member team from the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia and Bulgaria.

Actively into mountaineering, Ms. Kumar did her training from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports at Manali in Himachal Pradesh.

But, scaling Mount Elbrus is not the only feat achieved by Ms. Kumar. Earlier, she had scaled Mount Karstenj, the highest mountain summit in Indonesia, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the highest mountain in Africa and the highest mountain in South America, Mount Aconcagua.

Her attempt to reach Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, was aborted by the Nepal earthquake on April 25 this year. Ms. Kumar said about 23,000 feet had been reached — from China side — when the expedition was called off by the Chinese authorities following the Nepal quake.

Ms. Kumar said in January next year she would attempt to ascend Vincent Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica.

North Korea executes top leader for discontent with Kim Jong Un: Report North Korea's vice premier was executed by firing squad after showing discontent with the policies of the country's

leader Kim Jong Un, a South Korean media report said. Yonhap News Agency cited an unnamed source as saying that the 63-year-old Choe Yong Gon, a former delegate for

North-South cooperation, was executed, marking another death of a senior official in a series of high-level purges since Kim Jong Un took charge in late 2011.

The Yonhap report said Choe had expressed disagreement with Kim's forestry policies in May and had shown poor work performance. It provided no further details.

South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles the country's ties with North Korea, said in a text message received by Reuters that Choe had not been spotted in public for about eight months, and that it was closely monitoring the situation.

The South Korean spy agency told lawmakers in May that North Korea had executed its defence chief by putting him in front of an anti-aircraft gun at a firing range.

Choe was appointed vice-premier last year, North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency reported previously. Choe had worked on inter-Korean affairs in 2000s, leading the North's delegation in joint economic cooperation

committees with South Korea between 2003 and 2005. He attended the 2004 opening ceremony of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a factory park jointly run with Seoul that

is the last remaining joint project of the two countries.

He waged a proxy war against India

There are few men who could claim credit for midwifing not one but two terrorist operations that changed the course

of history. But if everything Lt. Gen. Hamid Gul is credited with is true, his role in building the Mujahideen in

Afghanistan’s resistance to the Soviet Union and propping up a Taliban government in Kabul, and in raising the first

militant groups to fight Pakistan’s proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir, changed the Indian subcontinent in drastic and

diabolical ways.

“We differed about many views, but he remained passionate about what he believed in,” recounts former Pakistan

National Security Adviser, Major General Mahmud Ali Durrani, who said Lt. Gen. Gul and he had served as captains

in the Army together. “It wasn’t just him, but the role Pakistan played in building the Taliban and putting them in

power in Kabul changed the world.

Fought two wars with India


Through his career in the Army, his stint as ISI chief, an adviser to several regimes, and as a public defender of

Pakistan in the media, Lt. Gen. Gul had a large imprint in Pakistan. But the impact of his actions were more

profoundly felt in the neighbourhood that he targeted.

With India, Lt. Gen. Gul’s animosity cut old and deep. After being commissioned into the Pakistan Army in 1956 with

the 19th Lancers regiment of the Armoured corps, Lt. Gen. Gul fought in both the 1965 and 1971 wars with India

that Pakistan lost.

In 1972, he served under General Zia-ul-Haq as a battalion commander and later as Staff colonel when Gen Zia was

the GOC II Corps in Multan. The bond grew when General Zia appointed him ISI chief at a time Pakistan’s Army went

through an Islamist transformation, with religious teachers of the Tableeghi jamaat taken in as commissioned officers.

It was at this time Lt. Gen. Gul gave the go-ahead for the creation of militant groups in Kashmir, that would train

young Kashmiris and Afghans to fight in India.

First the JKLF, and then other groups like the Hizbul Mujahideen and even the Lashkar-e-Taiba benefited from Gul’s

ideology. In an interview last year he told a Pakistani reporter that even if “some militant groups are active in

Kashmir, they are only doing the work of the [Pakistani] military.”

In Afghanistan, Lt. Gen. Gul took a keener role in the insurgency after he retired from active service, and was seen as

a trainer and facilitator for the Taliban.

U.S. civil rights activist dead

Julian Bond, a U.S. civil rights activist and the former board chairman of the National Association for the

Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), died.

“The country has lost one of its most passionate and eloquent voices for the cause of justice,” said the center, where

Bond served as president from 1971 to 1979.

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

When the entomologists laid insect traps in Yercaud in Tamil Nadu a few months ago, they did not expect that India

would join the club of countries that are home to a unique insect.

For, they were surprised to find the world’s smallest flying insect, a fairyfly that goes by the name Kikiki huna.

Measuring a mere 0.16 mm, Kikiki huna is a multicellular organism that is smaller than single-celled organisms.

Kikiki huna has been found in Chidambaram as well. While the insect’s functions are yet to be determined, Kikiki was

first discovered in Trinidad around 20 years ago and later in Hawaii.

It has also been found in Australia and Argentina. It derives its name from Hawaiian which means ‘tiny bit’.

A marvel

“It can do everything that a larger insect can do. It has a brain, a nervous and digestive system. It is the sheer marvel

of creation… it is a great find as we didn’t expect it to turn up in our traps,” he said.

He said that like all fairyflies, Kikiki huna lays its eggs in the eggs of other insects. “The entire life stage is passed in

the single egg, from which it emerges as an adult,” he said.

Not visible to the naked eye, the tiny insect has eluded many entomologists, said Abraham Verghese, director of

NBAIR. He said that the challenge is now to study the tiny insect and understand its role.

National pride

“Insects in our country are poorly known… we still have over a lakh species to identify. Each has a role to play in the

ecosystem,” he said.

Dr. Mohanraj said that the presence of such exquisitely crafted organisms within the confines of our borders should

be a source of national pride and ensuring their continued survival should be our duty.

Manta Ray spreads to A.P. coast, but fishermen not interested

The migration of Giant Reef Manta Ray (Manta alfredi), a variety of fish, from the Indian Ocean is posing a threat to its

survival along the East Coast.

It was listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the list of the threatened species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature

(IUCN).

Though fishermen operating from the Machilipatnam coast are not making any attempt to catch it, a huge number of

Manta Rays were getting entangled in their nets. Sighting Manta Rays establishes its seasonal migration to

Machilipatnam coast.

At least six Giant Reef Manta Rays got entangled in the nets of the local fishermen near the Hamsaladeevi area in

Krishna district in 2013 and another weighing above a half tonne was netted near the same location.

Many a time, the fishermen had to release the Manta Rays in the sea, in the absence of channels to export it to the

right market destinations.

Medicinal value


Found mostly in the Pacific, Atlantic and the Indian Oceans, it tends to inhabit warm tropical or subtropical waters

and near-shore environments such as islands. “Availability of abundant prey and suitable sea conditions in the Bay of

Bengal is one of the reasons that attract the Giant Reef Manta Rays to migrate to Machilipatnam coast, which is

becoming the safest place even for the Indo-Pacific Dolphin,” said Krishna University Associate Professor in

Biotechnology P. Veera Brahmachari.

“The Reef Rays might have entered the AP coast from Sri Lanka via Tamil Nadu coast. This variety has high value in

international market.

The filter plates (Gill Rakers) are preferred in medicinal products in Asian countries, mostly in China, while liver for

making oil,” he said. The IUNC red list strongly suspects that there is a 30 per cent decline in the population of the

Giant Reef Manta Rays globally.

Fossilised remains of world’s oldest flower discovered in Spain

A beautiful aquatic plant, dating back to the start of the Cretaceous period, is believed by scientists to be the oldest

flowering plant on Earth.

New analysis of the fossilised remains from central Spain and the Pyrenees show that the plant is about 130 million-

years-old, meaning it was around at the same time as feathered dinosaurs.

The plant, Montsechia vidalii, resembles the modern-day coontail - commonly used to populate aquariums - and is

thought to have grown underwater in shallow lakes.

Montsechia vidalii lived alongside the dinosaurs of the Cretaceous period. The researchers say the plant can tell us

more about the early development of flowering plants and the role they played in the evolution of animal life.

The plant snatches the title of world’s oldest flower from the hands of another ancient plant, Archaefructus sinensis,

discovered in 125 million-year-old fossils from Liaoning Province in China.

“The ‘first flower’ is a bit of a poetic concept, but that aside, we do believe this is the oldest we have discovered so far,”

says David Dilcher at Indiana University, who led the analysis.

The plant appears to have had no roots or petals. Its leaves were arranged in two forms: either in a spiral or opposite

one another along an axis. The plant sprouted several tiny flowers, each of which contained a single seed.

AWARDS Suhasini Haidar wins Prem Bhatia Award The Prem Bhatia Memorial Award for the Best Political Reporting-2015 was awarded to Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic

and Strategic Affairs Editor with The Hindu. Ms. Haidar was awarded for her 21-year-long career reporting on and analysing the bewildering variety of conflicts

and surges around the world. Reversing worldwide trends, she switched from reporting on television to writing in print. Ms. Haidar has reported on

conflicts in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Lebanon, Libya and Tibet. In her endeavour to report from the heart of conflict

zones, she was injured while reporting from Kashmir in 2000 when a car, booby-trapped with a gas cylinder packed with explosives in its boot, exploded.

Priyanka Kakodkar, Editor, Special Projects, Times of India , was also awarded for excellence in environmental and development reporting for her series of reports on Maharashtra’s agrarian crisis and distressed farmers.

The prestigious award, instituted by the Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust, carries a cash prize of Rs. 2,00,000 and a citation. Prem Bhatia, former Chief Editor of The Tribune, was one of India’s eminent and influential journalists, whose career spanned six decades.

Super 30 student gets scholarship from Japan Another student from Super 30 in Bihar, Kunal Kumar, has been awarded a scholarship by a Japanese university for

pursuing higher education. Super 30 founder-director Anand Kumar said that Kunal has made it to the University of Tokyo for an international

programme.

Till four years ago, he was struggling even to get a proper education. His father had no job and he gave home tuitions to make a living.

Kunal, who is on cloud nine, said his life changed after getting into Super 30. He got into IIT, Guwahati after clearing the JEE.

“Had I not reached Super 30, such opportunities would have remained elusive for a small town boy like me. I would not have been able to move out. It was a turning point. Today, I am going to Tokyo with full scholarship,” he added.

Anand Kumar, who had been invited by the University of Tokyo in Japan for educational collaboration, was happy over Kunal’s achievement.

“Tokyo University’s Yashino Haroshi had also come several times to Patna and discussed with me how more deserving students could benefit from the collaboration,” he added.

“This proves what equal opportunity can do. The youth of the country have the talent to do wonders,” he said. Earlier this year, another student of Super 30, Abhishek Gupta, was selected for studying in Tokyo after clearing JEE

Mains.


Kalam award for ISRO scientist

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, presented the first APJ Abdul Kalam award to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

scientist N. Valarmathi, who led the team that successfully launched Radar Imaging Satellite RISAT-1 in 2012.

Daughter of a government employee from Ariyalur, Ms. Valarmathi was presented a certificate, a cheque for Rs. 5 lakh

and an eight-gram gold coin atthe Independence Day function at Fort St. George. The award was announced by Ms.

Jayalalithaa in memory of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who passed away.

The RISAT-1 was the pinnacle of her career which has spanned over 30 years. A technologically superior imaging

satellite, RISAT-1 had instruments such as the Synthetic Aperture Radar that could look through clouds and take

images even during the night.

“The satellite has been put to use for a variety of purposes. It was a satisfying mission,” a visibly elated Ms.

Valarmathi said.

The Kalpana Chawla award for courage and daring enterprise was awarded to Jothimani from Erode, a lorry driver.

A vocation dominated by men, Ms. Jothimani, hailing from Kallipatti village in Gobichettipalayam, said her work

involved driving heavy 10-wheeler lorries for long hours.

“My husband taught me how to drive a lorry. I enjoy driving,” she said. The Hindu had profiled her in May this year.

Ms. Jayalalithaa also presented the Best Practices Award to Amma Unavagangal run by the Chennai Corporation,

common service centres that are popularly known as e-sevai maiyam .

‘Desi Hoppers’ create history Indian troupe Desi Hoppers — a group with members from across the country — has emerged victorious at the World

of Dance competition. Cries of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ rent the air and the Indian tricolour was waved at the venue,

the Los Angeles Convention Center, as the group was announced the winners. They received a trophy and a cheque of $5,000.

They also got the ‘Crowd Favourite Trophy’ at the event — which, since 2008, has united the dance community from the U.S., Europe, South America, Asia, and Canada — that celebrates the lifestyle and culture of urban dance and music.

The troupe was started by the trio of Shantanu Maheshwari, Macedon D’mello and Nimit Kotian. India’s spirit of “unity in diversity” was very much in evidence as the group — men in their early 20s wearing white outfits with tricolour handbands — gyrated to ‘desi’ beats.

They staged an energetic performance by starting off with a formation of Lord Ganesha and then providing a glimpse

of Indian classical dance. After the ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ religious chant, the troupe switched to fusion mode with international hits like ‘I got

the power’, ‘Turn down for what’ and ‘Old McDonald had a farm’.

East-West blend The performance also saw a blend of western music on dhol beats. The song ‘Jumme ki raat hai’ from the Salman

Khan flick Kick became was an instant hit. The group not only got a standing ovation, but the audience was seen reaching out to the dancers after the

performance to applaud their effort. The race to clinch the trophy was not easy. Dancers from 14 countries, including Canada and Mexico, participated in

the competition with 34 crews. The competition was judged by ace international dancers Matt Steffanina, Galen Hooks, Arnel Calvario, Jun Quemado

and Beau Fournier.

Asian writer wins Britain's oldest literary prize with debut novel A Bangladeshi writer has won Britain's oldest literary award with his debut novel. Novelist Zia Haider Rahman has joined some of the world's greatest literary names -DH Lawrence, Graham Greene,

Angela Carter and Ian McEwan by winning this year's James Tait Black Literary Prizes - awarded annually by the University of Edinburgh, since 1919.

The winner of the £10,000 prize was announced at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

The winning book in the fiction prize, In the Light of What We Know by Zia Haider Rahman was released in the spring of 2014 to international critical acclaim.

Born in rural Bangladesh, the author was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, and at Cambridge, Munich, and Yale Universities.

Chairman of the James Tait Black Prize for fiction professor Randall Stevenson of the University of Edinburgh said of winning fiction entry "Zia Haider Rahman addresses a whole range of issues - the war in Afghanistan, the rise of Muslim fundamentalism and the banking crisis.

Moreover, he also explores problematic areas of politics and finance, which are often exiled from the pages of fiction, immersing his readers, dauntingly but comprehensibly.."

Zia's story revolves around an investment banker who on one September morning in 2008 receives a surprise visitor at his West London townhouse at a time when his career in collapse and his marriage unravelling.

The A bold novel is set during the war and financial crisis that defined the beginning of our century.


Publishers say it is an age-old story: the friendship of two men and the betrayal of one by the other. The visitor, a man desperate to climb clear of his wrong beginnings, seeks atonement and the narrator sets out to tell his friend's story but finds himself at the limits.

SPORTS Another world title for Advani Pankaj Advani clinched his 13th world title after winning the World 6- Red snooker championship in Karachi.. The

defending champion outplayed China’s Yan Bingtao 6- 2 in the final. The scores: Final: Pankaj Advani ( Ind) bt Yan Bingtao ( Chn) 6- 2 [ 37- 21, 57( 30)- 0, 32- 29, 0- 66( 66), 6- 38( 37),

48- 0, 75( 71)- 0, 40( 35)- 28]. — PTI

Deepika ranked second, Champia 12th Deepika Kumari was ranked No. 2 while Mangal Champia stood 12th in the women’s and men’s sections after the

recurve qualification round of the third World Cup archery at Wroclaw, Poland. Bulbul Marandi was 15th (661 points) behind Champia (663), while Rahul Banerjee (657) was 21st. Jayanta Talukdar

was 22nd with 657. Deepika and Champia were also ranked third in the mixed recurve team with 1321 points. In the compound event, world championship silver medallist Rajat Chauhan was eighth at the halfway stage but

slipped to finish 25th with 694 points.

Suarez in Best Player award list

Barcelona’s Uruguay forward Luis Suarez was named on a three-man shortlist for UEFA’s Best Player in Europe

award for 2014/15.

The 28-year-old joins perennial top player nominees Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Suarez’s Barcelona

teammate Messi won the inaugural UEFA Best Player in Europe award in 2011 while Real Madrid’s Ronaldo is the

current holder.

Messi is favourite

Messi is the big favourite as Barcelona won the treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey last season,

while he helped Argentina reach the Copa America final.

1st Indian to reach there

Saina Nehwal became the first Indian to reach the finals of the World Badminton Championships, assuring herself of

at least a silver medal.

Abhishek wins gold

Abhishek Verma powered his way to gold in the men’s compound individual final of the World Cup archery Stage 3 at

Wroclaw, Poland.

He defeated Iran’s Esmaeil Ebadi 148-145 in the 15-arrow contest.

The victory was sweet revenge for the 26-year-old from Delhi as he had lost to Ebadi in the Asian Games individual

final at Incheon last year.

Earlier, the Indian trio of Verma, Rajat Chauhan and Kawal Preet Singh lost to Italy in the team bronze medal play-off

at 230-233.

Verma shot 13 ten-pointers and two 9s to log 148 points. Ebadi, 39, Iran’s world championship gold medal winning

team member, conceded two points in the opening three-arrow round where the Indian came up with three 10s.

SAINA SETTLES FOR SILVER

Saina Nehwal’s quest to become the first Indian world champion in badminton ended in heartbreak as she lost in

straight games to holder Carolina Marin.

Ashwin in top-10, Dhawan jumps to 32

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin entered the top-10 as the lone Indian in the ICC Test player rankings for bowlers,

while opener Shikhar Dhawan jumped 15 places for a career-high 32nd in the batting chart following their exploits in

the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.

While Dhawan was ranked 32nd after his century against Sri Lanka, Test captain Virat Kohli, who also scored 110 in

the first innings, was static to be the best-placed Indian batsman at number 10.

Spinner Ashwin, who had a 10-wicket haul for a losing cause, was at ninth place in the bowling list after jumping

three places.

There was good news for several Sri Lanka players following their 63-run victory over India in the first Test, with

career high gains for Dinesh Chandimal and Tharindu Kaushal as Rangana Herath also helped inspire the hosts to an

unlikely victory.

Sangakarra, who will make his final appearance for Sri Lanka in the second Test which starts in Colombo, now lies

nine points behind Mathews on 851 points.


The highest mover in the batting rankings was wicket-keeper Chandimal who put in a Man of the Match performance

by scoring 59 and 162 not out to vault 22 places to a career-high 23rd.

Courtesy his 134, Dhawan has become only the third Indian opening batsman — after Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul

Dravid — to score Test centuries in consecutive innings overseas.

Herath is now in third place in the all-time wicket-taker list for left-arm spinners on 270 wickets, four clear of Bishan

Singh Bedi, with England’s Derek Underwood (297 wickets) in second place and New Zealand great Daniel Vettori

(362) leading the list.

Meanwhile, Ashwin has climbed three places to ninth after claiming match figures of 10 for 160, while there were also

notable career-high gains for Sri Lanka duo Kaushal (up 21 places to 60th) and Mathews (up three to 73rd).

The top of the all-rounder rankings remain unchanged with Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan leading the way on 384

points.

Ashwin has risen one place to second ahead of Philander, and is now 45 points behind Shakib.

OPINION Public, private Is the right to privacy a fundamental right? The Supreme Court deferred providing a definitive answer to this crucial

question by referring a clutch of petitions that challenge the validity of Aadhaar, which is predicated on collecting biometric data, to a larger Constitution bench.

During arguments, the court indicated it was persuaded that Article 21 — the right to life and liberty — would be rendered meaningless without reading into it a corresponding right to privacy.

Though a final pronouncement on the subject has been postponed, the government’s apparent and overbearing attempts to intrude into the private lives of its citizens over the past few weeks should underscore the urgency of the matter.

This isn’t just because new technology has obliterated past levels of control over private information and, as Edward Snowden’s revelations showed, enabled state surveillance at unprecedented scale and scope.

In the absence of a legislative framework to curb government overreach and abuse, initiatives such as the Orwellian-sounding Central Monitoring System — which aims to give the state the ability to listen in on and record phone calls and read private emails, as well as text and multimedia messages — and Aadhaar — which could be used to profile people and groups, if data is multiplexed — acquire sinister overtones. And without a law on privacy, the government cannot demand that technology companies hardcode certain protocols into their products.

But while India grapples with the shared difficulty of guaranteeing privacy in a global digital context, it is also still trying to draw lines between the public and private; what is the business of government and what emphatically is not.

It is ironic that a state that believes, per Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, that it is not the “moral police” should also ban 800-odd websites that host pornographic content, ostensibly to fight child pornography, and dictate what kind of food people are allowed to eat.

Then there was Rohatgi’s query to the court in the PIL filed seeking to criminalise the viewership of porn: “Can we be present in someone’s bedroom?” Clearly the BJP-run state of Maharashtra didn’t get the memo, because last week, Mumbai Police conducted an outrageous operation to shame and harass unmarried couples in search of, yes, privacy in hotel rooms.

This raid, allegedly carried out on the basis of an “unverified”, anonymous tip-off about “prostitution-like activities” in the area, is another instance of a conservative, archaic code of morality being forcefully imposed on people.

The government is displaying a troubling willingness to meddle in decisions that adult individuals are entirely capable of taking on their own — and to crudely invade intimate spaces even as it continues to shrink the safe zone of what constitutes permissible behaviour. This conflict between outdated social norms and individual licence makes a right to privacy that is explicitly enshrined in law an imperative.

Accountability with autonomy Discussions have shifted from objectives of monetary policy to the appropriate mechanism for formulating monetary

policy. In February 2015, the Reserve Bank of India and the Government of India entered into an agreement on a new

monetary policy framework. Under this framework, the inflation target is set at 4 per cent with a band of +/- 2 per cent beginning 2016-17. The

Reserve Bank of India under the agreement shall be seen to have failed to meet the target if inflation is more than 6 per cent for three consecutive quarters for the financial year 2015-16 and all subsequent years and less than 2 per

cent for three consecutive quarters in 2016-17 and all subsequent years. If the Reserve Bank fails to meet the target, it will have to send a report to the central government giving the reasons

for its failure to achieve the target and the remedial measures that would be taken by the Reserve Bank. Thus control of inflation has emerged as the dominant objective of monetary policy. This is a welcome step. The clarity

with respect to the objective establishes the accountability of the central bank. This also implies that the government will not interfere with any action that Reserve Bank of India may take to keep

inflation within the limits

Current Process


What is the process of policy making currently in the Reserve Bank of India? The Reserve Bank of India is not an insular institution. It keeps its ears open. Before any major policy decision is taken, it holds extensive consultations with banks, industry associations, economists and various market participants.

It discusses the various alternatives with the Government. The Board of the Reserve Bank of India is not involved in the specific policy decisions. However, the broad contours of monetary policy are discussed at the meetings of the Central Board.

Since 2005, a technical advisory committee comprising of experts, has been set up to advise the Reserve Bank of India on policy matters, particularly with respect to changes in the policy rate. The Committee remains advisory in character and the majority view is not binding.

Ultimately, the responsibility for the decision rests with the Governor. The question that arises is whether, in the context of the new policy framework, a change is called for in the process of policy formulation.

Even among central banks across nations that have adopted inflation targeting, there is no uniform organisational structure regarding policy making. While many central banks have set up monetary policy committees, there are important exceptions.

New Zealand, a pioneer in the adoption of inflation targeting, which became the model for others to follow, has no committee with external members. In fact, the tenure of the Governor is at stake if the inflation target is violated.

On the composition and strength of monetary policy committees also, there are differences among countries that have

taken the route of instituting such a committee. These committees do have external members i.e. chosen from outside

central banks. The U.S. has not formally announced an inflation target, even though the Federal Open Markets Committee plays a critical role. It is however, an old institution and its membership reflects the federal character of the central banking system. The membership comprises of either representatives of the Fed Board or the heads of the regional Feds.

The Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission in its report in 2013 recommended the setting up of a Monetary Policy Committee. The Urjit Patel Committee endorsed the idea but had a different view on its composition.

If we were to set up a Monetary Policy Committee in India, what should be its composition? The key issue is the proportion of external members to Reserve Bank of India representatives in the Committee. There are three possible alternatives.

Composition of committee First, the Committee could have a majority of members nominated by the Reserve Bank of India. This will help to fix

the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the Reserve Bank of India for keeping inflation within the agreed limits. The second alternative is to have parity between the members nominated by RBI and the external members.

If there is a tie, the Chairperson who is the Governor, can have a casting vote. Even in this set up, the accountability of Reserve Bank of India holds good. The third alternative is one in which the majority of the committee comprises of external members. In this case, the accountability of RBI can be established only if the Governor is given the power of veto.

If the veto power is not given, accountability gets diffused. It can be argued that even such a committee can be held accountable and responsible for fulfilling the inflation mandate. But this would be really difficult. The best option is either alternative 1 or 2.

The crux of the issue is accountability. The members can be either full time or part time. If they are full time, the ‘external’ character gets diminished. If they are part time, care has to be taken in choosing members so that they are not connected even distantly with any institution which can benefit from policy decisions.

Role of MPC The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is identified with its suggestions on the policy rate. However, this does not

really exhaust the functions of the MPC. Changes in policy rate do play an important role. They act as signals from

the central bank. They also affect the borrowings of banks from the central bank, which, in turn, lead to changes in other rates. Central

banks cannot act as King Canute. They cannot simply order the interest rate. They must adjust the liquidity in the system such that changes announced are effective.

Without corresponding action on the liquidity in the system, the rate changes can at best have only an announcement effect. That is why in U.S., the Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) became important. In the earlier days any

announcement in the change in the bank rate by the Fed was accompanied by suitable instructions to the FOMC. Thus the MPC must focus not only on policy rate but also other important ingredients of monetary policy. After all,

with policy interest rates hovering near zero level in the developed countries, central banks are more focused on ‘quantitative easing’.

Even though money supply does not figure much in recent policy statements in India, overall liquidity is a relevant variable. Ultimately, quantity and price are interrelated.

Tasks ahead The recent monetary policy framework, entered into between the Reserve Bank of India and the Government, is an

important land mark in the evolution of monetary policy in our country. By clarifying the objective of the Reserve Bank of India, it has enhanced its autonomy.

Nothing should be done to dilute the authority that goes with this responsibility. There is some concern whether the pursuit of the objective of price stability compromises its ability to take care of other objectives, most notably growth. This is not necessarily so.


So long as inflation stays within the agreed zone, it becomes easy for the central bank to take care of other objectives. It is only when inflation goes beyond the limits, control of inflation becomes the exclusive concern of the Reserve Bank of India.

In fact the agreed inflation target of 4 per cent with a band of ± 2 per cent is really liberal. If inflation is allowed to be at the upper band of 6 per cent for 12 years, prices will double. We should actually work towards a much lower level of inflation. Imperceptibly, we have moved away from ‘price stability’ to ‘inflation stability’ as the objective.

However even this task is going to be difficult because of many structural features. Adopting inflation targeting does not make the task of formulating monetary policy any easier. It is true that when inflation stays outside the comfort zone, the direction of policy is clear.

However, when inflation stays within the comfort zone, the direction and extent of change in policy rate depends on the assessment of inflation trajectory and the overall economic environment. On this, there can be differences of opinion as we are witnessing today.

Any mechanism that we create such as a Monetary Policy Committee should not weaken but, on the other hand, strengthen the hands of Reserve Bank of India to deal effectively with inflation.

Calculated devaluation

When China sneezes, the world catches a cold. In a surprise action that set off shock waves across the globe and led

to the currencies of many a nation taking a tumble, the People’s Bank of China cut its daily yuan reference rate by 1.9

percent.

Even before the rest of the world could come to terms with the unexpected devaluation, Beijing made a further 1.6 per

cent cut the very next day. The moves especially had a sharp negative impact on many Asian currencies.

Though the rupee too fell to a two-year low in the wake of the double-dose devaluation, the Indian currency has been

relatively less affected compared to its Asian peers.

After the consecutive cuts, the People’s Bank of China clarified that “there is no basis for a sustained depreciation

trend for the yuan”. It justified the second-round cut by citing a fall in the spot market.

Is the devaluation an indication of China moving towards a more market-determined currency rate? Its subsequent

intervention in the spot market to quell a further fall in spot rates, however, has led to a guessing game.

Nevertheless, the International Monetary Fund is optimistic that the Chinese move will let market forces have a

greater role in determining the exchange rate. The timing of the action – read in the context of a decelerating economy

and in the light of China's heavy dependence on exports – suggests that it is a calculated move meant to regain

economic momentum.

It is a win-win move for China, in a manner of speaking. After all, Beijing is also making a strong pitch to make the

yuan a global reserve currency at the IMF. For that to happen, it has to move closer to a mechanism of market-

determined exchange rates.

The immediate tumble in global currencies aside, the wider implications of a largely devalued yuan on individual

economies of the world will play out intensely in the minds of policy-formulators within governments across the world

in the coming days.

In the era of the inter-connected world, it is incorrect for central banks, especially of bigger nations such as China and

the U.S., to assume that they could operate in separate silos.

Given its overbearing status as an exporter, China’s step may trigger rearguard action on the currency and trade

policy fronts. For New Delhi, in particular, this throws up a fresh challenge as it battles to stem a slide in exports.

It has to make counter-moves to stop quickly and effectively the flooding of Chinese goods in the wake of the yuan

devaluation, which could have a cascading effect on a host of sectors.

The clincher that was the n-deal

As India celebrates yet another Independence Day, and Prime Minister NarendraModi embarks on another foreign visit

— this time to the United Arab Emirates, intending to sign a clutch of agreements, including one on counter-terrorism

cooperation — it might be worthwhile to ponder over how far India has progressed on the world stage.

Members of the younger generation would be unfamiliar, for instance, of the kind of trials and privations that India

confronted during the last quarter of the twentieth century. This was the period following the 1974 peaceful nuclear

explosion and the 1998 nuclear tests, when India was ostracised by many countries and faced a host of sanctions.

From this dark period, India could emerge into a new dawn thanks to the efforts of Indian policy-makers during the

Atal Bihari Vajpayee-Manmohan Singh years. India has since been transformed into a major global power, and a

candidate for permanent membership in the U.N. Security Council (UNSC).

The Iran-India contrast

Succeeding against exceptional odds is a quality India derives from its ancient civilisation. Today, as the nation enters

its 69th year, it may not be out of place, hence, to make a comparison with similar situations faced by two ancient

civilisations —India and Iran — and the different outcomes that resulted from those situations. In July this year, Iran


and the P5+1 countries (the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, China and Germany) reached a

nuclear agreement, ending a period of ostracism and sanctions of the West toward Iran.

July also marked the 10th anniversary of the iconic India-U.S. civil nuclear deal. However, the objective and scope of

the two deals could not have been more different.

The Iran deal curtails and constricts Iran’s capabilities as a nuclear power. The India-U.S. nuclear deal, on the other

hand, liberated India in many ways, effectively dismantled the edifice of sanctions, and has resulted in India being

recognised as a state with advanced nuclear technology — a euphemism for a nuclear weapons state.

The Iran nuclear agreement weakened Iran’s nuclear programme, and denied it the capability of becoming a nuclear

‘threshold’ state in the foreseeable future.

Restrictions on Iran include a freeze on its nuclear research programme; preventing it from producing fissile material

for a nuclear weapon (either through Uranium enrichment or through the Plutonium route) at its nuclear facilities for

at least 10 years; ensuring that it would not have recourse to advanced centrifuges for at least a decade; restricting its

store of enriched uranium to levels below that needed for a nuclear device; and blocking its plutonium programme.

While India did not host any event to mark the deal, Washington brought together some of the movers and shakers

from both sides, highlighting its transformational nature and how it was helping to shape the course of world events

in the 21st century.

The thrust was on how to further strengthen cooperation between the two largest democracies in the world, and

sustain the underlying spirit behind the deal.

Criticism that the India-U.S. deal had failed to deliver amounts to missing the wood for the trees. Measuring outcomes

based on a select laundry list of items — complaining that energy security remains evanescent, that many dual-use

technologies remain out of India’s reach, and that entry into the Multilateral Export Control Regime still eludes India

— is misleading.

This is because the real achievement is that the nuclear deal has been the key to technology redemption.

Energy security was, undoubtedly, one of the main considerations underlying thedeal, and considerable progress has

been made in this direction, with much more to come.

Equally important, however, was the need to find ways and means to dismantle the technology denial regime that

hampered India’s scientific, technological and economic progress. While for the U.S., strategic convergence was one of

the imperatives, India’s focus was on energy and technology initiatives.

No one expected that the barricades erected over the years against transfer of high technology would just melt away

once the deal was signed, sealed and delivered. India did not wish to act as the ‘barbarian at the gate’, demanding

instant dismantling of various restrictions nor was it in a position to do so.

It recognised that a great deal of hard work was called for to complete the process. This is what has been happening

since.

The U.S.’s endorsement of the achievements of Indian nuclear scientists — inherent in its acknowledgment of India as

a state with advanced nuclear technology — apart, the extent to which the nuclear deal has led to the unlocking of

India’s potential is significant.

In specific terms, outcomes have been very substantial. Without it, the task of removing restrictions on dual-use and

high-end technologies would not have even begun, let alone happened. For instance, there wouldn’t have been even a

consideration of India’s entry into the Wassenaar Arrangement on export controls for dual-use technologies, critical

for obtaining crucial dual-use technologies, including for cyber-security research.

With the nuclear deal, which has the imprimatur of the U.S. and the IAEA, together with an unconditional waiver

given by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), India is well-positioned to breach the digital divide that restricts Western

companies and governments from supplying us crucial technology.

Energy nirvana

The civil nuclear energy sector has been the biggest gainer. The lifting of restrictions on civil nuclear trade between

India and the rest of the world has paved the way for uranium imports.

Availability of imported uranium ensures that our Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and Light Water

Reactors (LWRs) can now operate at full capacity.

The Fast Reactor Programme can correspondingly be accelerated. India’s experiment with Fast Breeder Reactors

should gain still further momentum. Spent fuel from PHWRs recycled in Fast Breeder Reactors after reprocessing, has

the potential of increasing our energy quotient several-fold.

The proportion of nuclear energy in our energy mix should then increase from the current 3 to 4 per cent by an order

of several magnitudes. As the Fast Breeder Programme advances, and attains a certain level of performance, we

should also be able to utilise our extensive thorium deposits. Our scientists believe — in theory at least — that this

will lead to energy nirvana.


Meanwhile, despite the doomsday predictions of critics and pessimists, countries like Russia and France have

embarked on the building of new nuclear reactors of bigger capacity. Russia has committed itself to building two more

1,000 MWE nuclear reactors, with promises of six more.

France is about to commit itself to building two nuclear reactors. This momentum is likely to encourage others to

follow in their wake.

Linked to the nuclear deal are other changes, some of which are already evident. The U.S. has effected certain

changes to its export control laws, and with this, India and the U.S. are today exploring co-production and co-

development in defence technologies. After years of isolation, U.S. and Indian scientific communities are coming

together in path-breaking joint research in several sectors. An energy dialogue has been initiated with the U.S. — the

accent being on clean energy and coal. The U.S. has collaborated in India’s Mars and Moon missions.

Possibly the most enduring impress of the India-U.S. nuclear deal is in creating a new awareness across the world

that India’s ancient wisdom is now embroidered with new paradigms of thought, action and behaviour. India’s

successful diplomatic initiative to win friends among the global community for the nuclear deal (most of whom were

opposed to granting India any special exemption) has helped many of them to view India from a totally new

perspective. It has also enabled India to unlock doors vis-à-vis certain countries — Saudi Arabia for instance — which

hitherto tended to view India solely through the Cold War prism. A new framework of relationships across the world

has been established.

Most important, an agreement of this kind, unique in the annals of the history of global nuclear negotiations, has

enabled India to recognise the value of strategic patience and the importance of building partnerships, and of

sustaining co-operation. This has given handsome returns in the strategic and non-strategic realm.

One Rank One Pension: Hold on

The veterans’ protests for one rank one pension (OROP) took an ugly turn on Friday, when Delhi Police used harsh

methods to evict protesters from Jantar Mantar for Independence Day, citing security concerns.

This incident incensed the veterans, who have been protesting at that venue for two months. It followed an open letter

by four retired service chiefs, warning the supreme commander that “recent developments have not only triggered a

process of politicisation of the Indian military, but also served to inflict grave damage on its morale and self-esteem”.

Threatening a breakdown of the officer-jawan relationship and lamenting the whittling down of the financial and

protocol status of the military, the retired chiefs also added that “the denial of OROP is merely the last straw that has

exhausted the veterans’ patience”.

It follows a series of similar, high-pitched and emotional arguments put forth by the veterans. But this letter crosses a

line. Earlier pleas were made by leaders of veterans’ organisations who took care to keep serving soldiers out of the

ambit of their protests.

But when former service chiefs threaten a breakdown of the defence services, the matter takes on a rather

unfortunate colour.

In his final speech at the Constituent Assembly, B.R. Ambedkar had warned about the “grammar of anarchy” that

could take over the discourse if careful thought was not given to permissible modes of protest in a constitutional

republic.

The danger is amplified when these methods are used on behalf of the military. The onus of maintaining the delicate

balance of civil-military relations is on both parties, but the final responsibility lies with the state.

Setting aside the merits of OROP, government should not give in to such tactics, especially in military matters.

The politicians who have brought matters to this pass cannot be absolved of responsibility, either. The Congress,

which did not move on OROP when it was in power, is now supporting the demand. But it was Prime Minister

Narendra Modiwho raised the veterans’ expectations by promising OROP in his first public campaign speech at

Rewari.

Since the elections, his ministers have reiterated that promise on many occasions. The delay in fulfilling the promise

also underscores the complexity of implementing OROP. On one side is the indisputable sacrifice of our veterans and

the gratitude this nation owes to its soldiers.

On the other are the fiscal burden as well as the legal and administrative issues, coupled with the fear that

paramilitary forces, police and other civilian employees will follow with a similar demand. OROP constitutes a difficult

question for the government. But capitulating to threats of a security breakdown can scarcely be a credible answer.

Much-needed reform The move by the United States to oppose any large-scale reforms in the United Nations Security Council does not

match the promise President Barack Obama made to India, that it would back New Delhi’s candidacy for a permanent seat at the global decision-making body.


Though U.S. Ambassador to India Richard Verma later said his country remained committed to its promise, Washington’s policy towards UNSC reforms still lacks clarity. If the U.S. is keen on reforming the Council, why did it, in the first place, team up with Russia and China to oppose negotiations on reforms?

And the assertion by these countries that the prerogatives, including the veto power, of the existing permanent members should remain intact even if there are reforms, is tantamount to pre-empting any major reform.

The UNSC, created in the post-War context, doesn’t actually reflect the changes that have occurred in the international system after the end of the Cold War. In a quarter century, the global economic architecture has undergone massive changes.

The developing nations, including India, now play a bigger role in international affairs. But within the UN, the five permanent veto-wielding members still effectively take all the crucial decisions. The Indian position is that this “democracy deficit in the UN prevents effective multilateralism” in the global arena. The way the UNSC handled — or failed to handle — some of the recent crises would underscore the soundness of the Indian position.

Take the examples of Libya and Syria. While the western nations are accused of distorting the UNSC mandate in Libya, the Security Council failed to reach a consensus on how the Syrian crisis may be resolved. This clearly points to a worsening institutional crisis within the UNSC.

Meaningful reform of the Council to make it more representative and democratic would strengthen the UN to address the challenges of a changing world more effectively. India’s demand for a permanent seat has to be looked into, duly

considering the merits of the case.

It is the world’s largest democracy and Asia’s third largest economy. The Indian Army is the largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping mission since the inception of the mission. More important, India’s foreign policy has historically been aligned with world peace, and not with conflicts.

As a permanent member of the UNSC it will be able to play a larger role concerning pressing international issues. But the latest development shows the path will not be smooth.

New Delhi should continue its efforts to build a democratically evolved global consensus on restructuring the Security Council, at the same time pursuing bilateral diplomacy with the big powers.

The permanent members ought to realise that there are much more serious issues at stake globally than their own so-called prerogatives, and they should be flexible in addressing those issues.

7-point something By all accounts, the Narendra Modi government is adept at coining catchy slogans for its various economic and other

public programmes. The latest is Indradhanush, a seven-point strategy to revamp state-run banks weighed down by bad loans and other operational issues. The government’s new blueprint envisages the allocation of Rs 20,000 crore in capital to help clean up the balance

sheets of these banks this fiscal; a Bank Boards Bureau that will oversee appointments of senior personnel; appointments of CEOs and MDs from the private sector and non-executive chairmen in five banks; an Employees Stock Option Plan for senior management; greater flexibility in hiring; improved governance norms; and monitoring.

The government has indicated that banks could also take the initiative for consolidation while terming the proposed revamp as the most comprehensive plan since bank nationalisation in 1969.

Some of the moves outlined by the government are welcome, even though they have been too long in the making, given that the level of bad loans had risen to 4.6 per cent of outstanding loans at the end of FY15 and is poised to go up further, with an economic rebound still elusive.

To be fair, this has been a legacy issue on which the previous UPA government ought to be shouldering much of the blame for the gross neglect of its own lenders. Yet, it does appear that the government has settled for sub optimal solutions.

Legislative constraints may well be a challenge, including when it comes to creating a bank holding company recommended by the P. J. Nayak committee on governance in state-run banks.

But the halfway solution of a bank bureau, with three members from the government, is hardly likely to boost transparncy.

Similarly,the success of the experiment of bringing on board private sector executives as CEOs or professionals as part-time chairmen will hinge greatly on the terms of engagement, including operational flexibility.

So far, the government’s choice of nominees to the boards of many institutions hasn’t inspired confidence, making it all the more incumbent on it to appoint to bank boards top-notch professionals with a good track record and integrity, as well as to empower them adequately to ensure that these banks become more competitive.

It should not be the case this time around, too, that an infusion of capital to banks — which is a charge on public resources — fails to lead to significant operational and governance changes. That’s why it is important to ensure the quality of those chosen to steer the banks.

This should go hand in hand with a sectoral package and deeper rate cuts, which helped the turnaround of banks 15 years ago, besides the corporatisation of listed banks.

The sprouting of the ‘Look West’ policy


Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the potential to be remembered like

Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao’s visit to Singapore in September 1994. Through his famous Singapore Lecture,

Narasimha Rao unveiled India’s “Look East” Policy.

Through the joint statement that he signed with UAE’s leadership, Mr. Modi has unveiled India’s “Look West” Policy.

Narasimha Rao’s “Look East” Policy succeeded because South-East Asia began to “look West” to India, seeking a

balancer to China. Mr. Modi’s “Look West” Policy will succeed because West Asia is “looking East” worried about the

emerging strategic instability in its own neighbourhood and the structural shift in the global energy market.

Nuanced view of the region

The foundation for Mr. Modi’s successful outreach to West Asia was in fact laid by his predecessor when India invited

the King of Saudi Arabia to be the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade, in 2006. This was followed by Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Riyadh and the India-Saudi defence cooperation agreement signed in 2014.

Growing India-Saudi cooperation in the field of terrorism may have also contributed to India’s relatively mild response

to Saudi aggression in Yemen, but it did set the stage for wider engagement at a strategic level with the other states of

the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Mr. Modi’s visit to the UAE was preceded by significant visits to other GCC states by External Affairs Minister Sushma

Swaraj. That Ms. Swaraj made Bahrain her first stop in the region, last September, was welcomed by Bahrain’s India-

friendly leadership and showed growing sophistication in Indian thinking about the region.

With a minority Sunni leadership and a majority Shia population, Bahrain has tried hard not to get drawn into the

wider sectarian conflicts in West Asia. Moreover, with half of the island kingdom’s working population hailing from

India, mostly Kerala, and given the very cordial people-to-people relations between Bahrainis and Indians, the visit

showed that India had a special relationship to the region that few other major powers can ever lay claim to.

Finally, over the last year, the Modi government has put forward a nuanced view of the region openly declaring

friendship with Israel, seeking better relations with Iran and, at the same time, cementing a thriving relationship with

the GCC states.

It is expected that Mr. Modi may follow up his successful visit to the UAE with a productive visit to Iran and a

“historic” one to Israel, being the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Tel Aviv.

Transformational visit

While all this fits into a pattern, one should not underestimate the transformational significance of the UAE visit and

the Dubai declaration. The Joint Statement between the United Arab Emirates and India is an important articulation

of a significant shift in the Arab world’s view of India.

The statement is truly comprehensive and wide-ranging. It talks of historic ties of “commerce, culture and kinship”,

drawing attention to the unique history of Arab interaction with Indian communities of the west coast, from Gujarat to

Kerala.

The joint statement, outlining closer government-to-government (G2G) relations, draws attention to the vibrant

business-to-business (B2B) and people-to-people (P2P) relationships and commits the UAE to a sharp increase in its

investment in India.

What is striking to an observer of India-West Asia relations is the assertion of not just a “shared” past but of shared

challenges in the present and a shared future. It then proceeds to state: “A shared endeavour to address these

challenges, based on common ideals and convergent interests, is vital for the future of the two countries and their

region.”

The statement expresses the hope that: “Proximity, history, cultural affinity, strong links between people, natural

synergies, shared aspirations and common challenges create boundless potential for a natural strategic partnership

between India and UAE.”

That these are not just words but the expression of new thinking in both capitals is demonstrated both by the visuals

of the visit and the follow-up action both governments have committed themselves to. More to the point, it makes

pointed reference to the growing congruence of thinking on vital security issues, especially cross-border terrorism.

Domestic dimension

It is in the nature of things that any visit of an Indian Prime Minister to a Muslim nation has a domestic resonance.

Every Prime Minister has been aware of this. Often, even the timing of visits to Muslim nations is defined by the

domestic political calendar.

So it would be part of a pattern if Mr. Modi had, among other things, the elections in Bihar and even Kerala on mind

when he visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and spoke eloquently of the Arab world’s rich cultural

traditions and friendship towards India.


His address in Dubai was aimed at not just an Indian audience but a wider Southern Asian audience and, of course,

the global audience of diplomats and strategic policy analysts. The Prime Minister made it clear that he did have the

audience in Pakistan in mind when he spoke about working together with the UAE in fighting terrorism.

Mr. Modi and his political managers should be satisfied that the Prime Minister’s visits to the capitals of neighbouring

Muslim nations — Bangladesh and the UAE — and to the Central Asian republics went well.

That all of this may have been planned with the domestic political audience in mind is to be expected, given the

history of India’s relations with the Islamic world. It remains to be seen how much and how lasting an impact all of

this would have on domestic politics.

GCC looks West

What is significant about the new strategic partnership outlined by the UAE and India is the fact that it is defined not

just by India’s “Look West” policy, based on its energy and financial needs, but that it is equally defined by the GCC’s

“Look East” policy, soliciting greater Indian engagement with West Asia. Several factors have contributed to this

fundamental shift in West Asian strategic thinking.

First, the structural change in the global energy market with West Asian oil and gas increasingly heading to South

and East Asian markets rather than to the Trans-Atlantic markets. Second, partly as a consequence of this change in

flows and partly owing to the fiscal stress faced by the trans-Atlantic economies, West Asia is looking to India and

other Asian powers to step in and offer security guarantees to the region.

Many GCC states have welcomed defence cooperation agreements with India. Third, in the wake of the Arab Spring

and the mess in Egypt and Iraq, the Gulf states find India and China to be more reliable interlocutors than many

western states.

Fourth, under pressure from radical and extremist political forces within West Asia, most states in the region have

come to value the Indian principle of seeking and securing regional stability as an over-riding principle of regional

security.

In the specific case of India-UAE relations, it appears the Emirati have come to appreciate India’s view that state-

sponsored or supported cross-border terrorism poses a grave threat to regional security and so must be curtailed and

stopped.

Mr. Modi’s bold public statements on terrorism could not have been made in Dubai if they did not have the implicit

endorsement of his hosts.

In short, it would seem, the India-UAE strategic engagement is the product of a mutual “look-at-each-other” policy.

If China’s rise offered the backdrop for South-East Asia’s “look at India” policy, the West’s failures and weaknesses,

and a weakening of the strategic trust between the West and West Asia may have contributed to the GCC’s “look at

India” policy.

Regional non-alignment

While the Dubai joint statement underscores the special nature of the India-UAE relationship, based on converging

P2P, B2B and G2G relations, it is increasingly clear that India’s own policy towards the region will be shaped by its

policy of non-alignment in the context of the region’s religious (Muslims and Jews) and sectarian (Shia-Sunni)

conflicts.

The UAE’s endorsement of terms like “multiculturalism” and “religious pluralism” in the joint statement suggests that

the Emirati leadership values India’s own approach to these principles and views this approach as best suited to the

region’s own governance systems.

Stepping away from religious extremism and accepting pluralism and multi-culturalism as the defining principles of a

modern state is the only way forward for each of the countries of Asia — from West to East. India’s appeal to Asia as a

whole is built on these foundational principles of its Constitution.



INTERNATIONAL NEWS European bailout fund approves release of funds for Greece European bailout fund supervisor approved the release of billions of euros to help rebuild Greece's devastated

economy just as a new debt payment looms. The move — a virtual formality — came after Germany's parliament approved the bailout package, along with the

assemblies of other creditor nations, removing a big hurdle to release the new loans. The European Stability Mechanism board said it "will provide up to 86 billion euros ($95 billion) in financial

assistance to Greece over three years." A first tranche of 26 billion euros ($29 billion) can now be made available to meet Greece's debts and help recapitalize its banks.

Greece is due to make a new debt payment to the European Central Bank.

Greece's finance ministry said it would get the first 13-billion-euro payment. It said 12 billion euros would go into a special account for paying off the country's debt, while the remaining funds would be used for things like settling arrears to public sector suppliers.

The total amount of funds will depend in part on Greece's success in implementing new reforms to streamline its economy, which are certain to mean more hardship for long-suffering Greek citizens. Money from privatization efforts could also reduce the amount of loans needed.

Despite International Monetary Fund calls for debt relief for Greece, many nations remain opposed and no such move will be examined by those nations sharing the common euro currency before October.

The chairman of the euro currency group, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, warned that Greece has a long and difficult road ahead.

"We will monitor the process closely," said Dijsselbloem after chairing the ESM board meeting. "It's not going to be easy. We are certain to encounter problems in the coming years but I trust we will be able to tackle them."

The Dutch parliament also approved the package earlier. Germany is the largest single contributor to the bailouts and many in Schaeuble's party remain skeptical. Merkel's coalition partner, the Social Democrats, and the opposition Greens also backed the deal.

In the Netherlands, a majority of lawmakers also backed the new Greek rescue after a heated debate in which Prime Minister Mark Rutte was attacked for reneging on an election pledge to not approve another bailout for Greece.

Geert Wilders, the anti-Islam lawmaker who is also a staunch opponent of the European Union and financial support for Greece, called Rutte "the Pinocchio of the Low Countries" for breaking his pledge.

Greece has suffered through an economic depression in the past six years and seen unemployment jump to over 25 percent.

"If Greece stands by its obligations and the program is completely and resolutely implemented, then the Greek economy can grow again," Schaeuble said. "The opportunity is there. Whether it will be used, only the Greeks can decide."

Russia, Pakistan seal deal for four Mi-35 copters

Russia and Pakistan concluded a deal for four Mi-35 “Hind-E”Attack Helicopters. “The agreement was signed by top

defence officials from Pakistan and Russia in Rawalpindi.

Talks over the proposed sale have been on since both nations signed a landmark defence cooperation agreement in

2014 to strengthen military to military relations during the visit Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to Pakistan -

the first such visit in 25 years.

Relations between the two countries - which were traditionally low due to the legacy of the Soviet occupation of

Afghanistan and Russia’s strategic tilt towards India - have warmed up considerably in the recent past.

India diversifying its arms acquisitions and its strategic ties with the U.S. caused severe displeasure in Moscow which

has lost several big military contracts to the U.S.

India selected Boeing's AH-64D Apache Block III attack helicopter in 2012 which beat the Russian Mi-28H Night

Hunter in a contest for 22 helicopters with an option for 11 more.

The final deal, however, is yet to be signed.

Greek bailout: Alexis Tsipras steps down to trigger new elections

Seven months after he was elected on a promise to overturn austerity, the Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, has

announced that he is stepping down to pave the way for snap elections next month.

As the debt-crippled country received the first tranche of a punishing new €86bn (£61bn) bailout, Tsipras said he felt

“a moral obligation to place this deal in front of the people, to allow them to judge … both what I have achieved, and

my mistakes”.

The 41-year-old Greek leader is still popular with voters for having at least tried to stand up to the country’s creditors,

and his leftwing Syriza party is likely to be returned to power in the imminent general election, which government

officials told Greek media was most likely to take place on 20 September.

Tsipras won parliamentary backing for the tough bailout programme by a comfortable margin, but suffered a major

rebellion among members of his ruling Syriza party, nearly one-third of whose 149 MPs either voted against the deal

or abstained.Greece’s complex constitutional laws mean that, because Tsipras was elected less than a year ago,


President Prokopis Pavlopoulos cannot immediately call an election when the prime minister resigns. Instead, he must

first consult the other major parties to see if they could form a government – a near impossibility given the current

makeup of the parliament.

At the end of a bruising seven months of negotiations with Greece’s international lenders that nearly resulted in the

country defaulting on its mammoth debts and crashing out of the euro, Tsipras was eventually forced to sign up to a

rescue package that many in his party view as an unforgivable U-turn.

Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in Sri Lanka PM

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Prime Minister for the fourth time.

President Maithripala Sirisena administered oath of office to Mr. Wickremesinghe at a brief ceremony attended by

leaders of various parties including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

On the occasion, general secretaries of the UNP and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Kabir Hashim and Duminda

Dissanayake, signed an agreement to form a national government.

The UNP general secretary later told that social equality, ethnic integration and betterment of the country were the three salient features of the agreement, for which the two parties would work together. It had also been decided to

have the national government at least for two years, he added.

Mr. Wickremesinghe, who has been a Member of Parliament since 1977, became the prime minister for the first time in May 1993 after the then incumbent D.B. Wijetunga was made President, subsequent to the assassination of R. Premadasa.

In 2001, he was elected as the Prime Minister for the second time after the United National Front got a majority of

seats in the parliamentary elections. In January this year when Maithripala Sirisena defeated Mr Rajapaksa in the presidential elections, he made Mr Wickremesinghe the Prime Minister as part of a pre-poll understanding.

Sirimavo Bandaranaike of the SLFP was the only other person to become Prime Minister four times since Sri Lanka's

independence.

Kim declares ‘quasi state of war’

North and South Korea appeared headed towards another clash, as Seoul refused an ultimatum that it halt anti-

Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts or face military action, and North Korea said its troops were on a war footing.

South Korean Vice-Defence Minister Baek Seung-joo said it was likely the North would fire at some of the 11 sites where the loudspeakers are set up on the South’s side of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating the countries.

The North’s official KCNA news agency KCNA said leader Kim Jong Un had declared a “quasi-state of war” in frontline

areas.

The North often fires rockets into the sea during annual U.S.-South Korean military exercises, which are currently

under way.

Tension escalated when North Korea fired four shells into South Korea, according to Seoul, in apparent protest

against the broadcasts. The South fired back 29 artillery shells. Pyongyang accused the South of inventing a pretext to fire into the North.

Since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, Pyongyang and Seoul have often exchanged

threats, and dozens of soldiers have been killed, yet the two sides have always pulled back from all-out war.

But the renewed hostility is a further blow to South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s efforts to improve North-South ties, which have been virtually frozen since the deadly 2010 sinking of a South Korean navy ship, which Seoul blames on Pyongyang.

The North’s shelling came after it had demanded that South Korea end the broadcasts or face military action – a

relatively rare case of following up on its frequent threats against the South.

Explosion at chemical plant in eastern China, 9 injured - state media

An explosion hit a chemical plant in eastern China, the official Xinhua state news agency said, citing local

authorities.

The blast, which triggered a fire, happened in Huantai county in Shandong province.


The explosion occurred at a factory of Shandong's Runxing Chemical company which is a subsidiary of Runxing

Group and has 200 million yuan ($31 million) in registered capital.

The factory produced adiponitrile, a colourless liquid that releases poisonous gases when it reacts with fire, the

People's Daily said.

This explosion in eastern China comes after two huge blasts ripped through a warehouse storing dangerous chemicals

in Tianjin, the world's 10th-largest port, on Aug. 12 killing at least 121 people.

UN official: Keep teen girls in school to curb population

The head of the U.N. Population Fund says the agency's "new mantra" is to keep girls in school until age 18 "in every

nook and cranny of the world" as a key means of slowing population growth.

The U.N. expects the world's population to reach 8.5 billion by 2030 and 9.7 billion by 2050.

Agency chief Babatunde Osotimehin says women tend to have fewer children if their first one is born after they've

turned 18. He said previously that one in three girls is married before age 18.

Osotimehin told The Associated Press at a conference in Jordan that pushing for primary education is not enough. He

says that "we must up our game" as U.N. members prepare to ratify ambitious development goals for 2030 next

month.

Saudi women to vote for the first time Voter registration that lasts for 21 days for the December 12 polls began but started a week earlier in Makkah and

Madinah, in what officials describe as a "significant milestone in progress towards a participation-based society". Earlier, Safinaz Abu al-Shamat and Jamal al-Saadi became the first Saudi women to register for voting. Shamat had described it as a national duty for women to participate in the elections. "There are 1,263 election centres in all regions and provinces of the Kingdom - 839 of the centres are for men, 424

centres for women," Saudi Gazette quoted a source from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs as saying. The December election will be the first opportunity for women to vote since a 2011 order by the now deceased King

Abdullah that is aimed at granting women some political participation. Neither male nor female candidates will be allowed to use pictures of themselves in the campaign and there will be

separate polling centres for men and women.Women's rights activists had long demanded the right to vote in the oil-rich Gulf kingdom.

Palmyra's Baalshamin temple 'blown up by IS' Syria's head of antiquities was quoted as saying the temple was blown up. IS took control of Palmyra in May, sparking fears for the site. It is considered one of the ancient world's most important cultural centres. The ancient city, which is a Unesco World Heritage site, is famed for its well-preserved Greco-Roman ruins, and the

Baalshamin temple, built nearly 2,000 years ago, is one of the city's best-known buildings. The Islamic State group has destroyed several ancient sites in Iraq. The militants believe any shrines or statues

implying the existence of another deity are sacrilege and idolatry, and should be destroyed. Miles) north-east of the Syrian capital,

Ancient city of Palmyra

Unesco World Heritage Site, known as Pearl of the Desert

Site contains monumental ruins of great city, once one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world

from the 1st and 2nd Centuries

Its art and architecture combines Greco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences

More than 150,000 tourists visited Palmyra every year before Syrian conflict

Site boasts a number of monumental projects, over 1,000 columns, and a formidable necropolis of over 500 tombs

The Baalshamin temple is dedicated to the Phoenician god of storms and fertilising rains, and was almost

completely intact. The oldest parts of the temple are thought to have dated from the year 17AD. Residents who had fled from Palmyra also said IS had planted explosives at the temple, although they had done it

about one month ago, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

US offers $1 m for Sampoor resettlement The U.S. will provide assistance to the tune of $1 million towards resettlement and education in Sampoor in eastern

Sri Lanka, where many Tamils were displaced during the Eelam War. After meeting Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksha,

the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Biswal, told reporters that the U.S. was looking forward to working with President Maithripala Sirisena and the new government in this task and many other endeavours.

Of the U.S.’s assistance, $1,00,000 would be managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development to help newly-resettled communities meet their basic needs. The remaining $9,00,000 has been set apart for building two schools in Sampoor and houses the displaced families, according to a release issued by the American embassy here.

The U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Atul Keshap, said: “Our goal is to help Sri Lankans around the country overcome the effects of conflict and displacement, improve the lives of their families and communities, and live with dignity.”

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Tom Malinowski, who was part of the

delegation, said people of Sri Lanka had voted for the rule of law, against impunity and for reconciliation.


Mr. Samaraweera said he had apprised the U.S. delegation of the measures being taken to “address concerns regarding alleged human rights violations.”

IAEA seeks more money for Iran nuclear work The U.N. nuclear watchdog said it will run out of money next month to monitor implementation of nuclear accords

with Tehran and asked countries to increase funding the costs of its Iran work, which will rise to $10 million a year. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Yukiya Amano said he had asked member states for contributions to

ensure its work can go ahead. Under the agreement reached between Tehran and six world powers on July 14, sanctions relief for Iran hinges on

IAEA reports on its past and present nuclear programme. So far, costs for the IAEA’s activities on Iran have been met through extra-budgetary contributions from member states.

But Mr. Amano said the €800,000 ($924,000) a month the agency receives to verify current Iran nuclear agreements would be exhausted by the end of next month.

The IAEA will need an additional €160,000 a month in the run-up to the implementation of the agreement which could happen in the first half of next year. Once it is implemented, the agency will need an annual €9.2 million ($10.6

million) to ensure verification of the deal. Following Mr. Amano’s request, the U.S. said it was committed to ensuring it had enough money for its Iran

operations.

Japan delivers whiskey to space station{mdash} for science A WHISKEY SHOT TO SPACE A Japanese firm delivered five types of distilled spirits to the ISS on to see if they mellow in space.

NATIONAL NEWS India accepts invitation to victory parade in Beijing Ending weeks of speculation, India has accepted China’s invitation to a military parade in Beijing on September 3 to

celebrate the end of World War II. Union Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh will represent India.China has invited the U.S., the U.K.,

Germany, Russia, even Japan and other nations to the parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary celebrations of what it calls the “victory of the anti-fascist forces”.

New Delhi was cautious in accepting the invitation, weighing in the consequences on its bilateral ties with Japan. Chinese Ambassador to India Le Yucheng recalled the support Beijing received during the war from leaders like

Mahatama Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore. “Chinese and Indian soldiers, as military allies, fought shoulder-to-shoulder in Myanmar. And the Indian Army was

instrumental in inflicting a serious land defeat suffered by the Japanese in the war,” Mr. Le said at a seminar on the shared memories of World War II.

While Japan has not reacted to India’s decision to attend the parade, H.S. Prabhakar of the Centre for East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, said it was unlikely to affect bilateral ties.

Ties with Japan “Relations between India and Japan have been strengthened over time, even after the war when the International

Military Tribunal [for the Far East’s trials of Japanese war crimes committed during the WW-II] was set up. India submitted a judgment which said the defendants were not guilty. India also did not sign the 1952 peace treaty,

opting to sign a separate peace treaty with Japan; so Tokyo and New Delhi have an independent relationship,” he told.

In poll-bound Bihar, Patna & 20 districts get backward status The Centre notified 21 Bihar districts including capital Patna as backward areas and unveiled tax rebate for them in

the poll-bound state; a day after the Narendra Modi government announced a mega Rs 1.25 lakh crore development package.

Any manufacturing unit set up between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2020 in these districts will be eligible for 15% additional depreciation and 15% investment allowance under the Income Tax Act, on the cost of plant and machinery acquired and installed by it during this period.

The 21 districts include Patna, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Kaimur, Gaya, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Nawada, Vaishali, Sheohar, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnea, Katihar, Araria, Jamui, Lakhisarai, Supaul and Muzaffarpur.

The move goes a significant distance towards meeting Bihar's demand for "special status", and can help BJP blunt

one of the major campaign themes of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. Sources in the government said similar benefit was provided to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to help the states

develop. The move will give an opportunity to districts concerned to grow faster. "Thus, a manufacturing undertaking/enterprise set up in any of these areas during the aforesaid period will be

eligible for 35% (instead of 20%) of additional depreciation. This would be over and above the normal depreciation of 15%.

Besides, a company engaged in manufacturing will also be eligible for 30% (instead of 15%) of investment allowance if its investment in new plant and machinery during the period 1.4.2015 to 31.3.2017 exceeds Rs 25 crore," a government statement said.

Iran no longer under restricted visa list

The Union government has removed Iran from the list of countries put under the restricted visa category, indicating

that it wants to reach out to the Persian Gulf nation.

India sees Iran as a key supporter in the wake of the growing threats and influence of Islamist terror groups such as

the Islamic State in Central Asia.


India has liberalised its visa policy for Iran and struck it off the prior referral category (PRC) of countries. Three

categories of visas — employment, conference, students and research visa — were on the restricted list till now.

The Union Home Ministry issued an order which said Iran was no longer on the PRC list, which has countries such as

Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.

“The order means that Iranians can easily apply for visas at our consulate in Iran and each application will not have

to be forwarded to [the] Intelligence Bureau and [the] Research and Analysis Wing here for verification,” a senior

government official said.

The decision comes after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval convened a high-level meeting in July to explore the

possibilities of lifting restrictions on visas for Iran nationals. Mr. Doval visited Iran in February and underlined the

need for widening cooperation between the two countries in fighting terrorism.

Govt. considering Bill to ensure right to services

The Union government is considering a Bill to guarantee time-bound delivery of services, called the Right to Services

Act, on the lines of the Acts already in place in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Union Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 10 suggesting such a Bill

be prepared at the Central level.

“[The] government as a major service delivery agency does not enjoy a great reputation among citizens. People are

generally unhappy about the government’s service delivery mechanism on account of delayed services, lack of

accountability and transparency as well as poor quality of services delivered,” Mr. Gowda wrote in his letter.

He gave the example of Sakala, a service delivery programme in Karnataka launched when he was the Chief Minister

and which covers 11 departments and 151 services routinely provided from a single portal.

Track work flow

Not only can one apply for services through the portal but also track the work flow; a system of fines has been put in

place in case of a delay without reason.

The programme relies heavily on e-governance and e-tracking of service requests, delays and reasons for delay,

something that the Modi government has been advocating for some time.

“This Bill would be important in curbing petty corruption in delivery of government services, some of it can be seen in

the States where it has been implemented and also in places such as the passport office, where processes have been

streamlined,” a top government official said.

“For the ordinary citizens the corruption one faces while applying for things like a driving licence or a scholarship for

a student or ration card is the only interface with the government of the day. The efficacy of the government is

reflected in the ease with which these services are rendered,” said the source.

The UPA government, too, had a similar Bill, called The Right of Citizens for Time-Bound Delivery of Goods and

Services and Redressal of their Grievance Bill, 2011, which had been introduced in the Lok Sabha but it subsequently

lapsed.

While Mr. Gowda has advocated the adoption of the Sakala model for enacting the Bill, there are several versions

available in various States.

Sakala has the distinction of having won the Prime Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Public Administration. While

officials did not specify when the draft would go to the Cabinet, it is considered an idea close to the Prime Minister’s

heart.

Manipur records 65% UAPA cases

Manipur, which accounts to only 0.2 per cent of the country’s population, has registered nearly 65 per cent of cases

under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, (UAPA). Out of the 975 cases of UAPA registered in the country in 2014, 630

are from the small north-eastern State of Manipur.

Altogether 974 people are charged under UAPA in the country, according to the latest figures released by National

Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Six Manipur-based organisations are banned by Union Home Ministry under the UAPA Act.

“Not only the cases but the number of organisations banned in Manipur is also highest,”.

These are, People’s Liberation Army (PLA), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People’s Revolutionary Party of

Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL) and Manipur People’s

Liberation Front (MPLF).

Describing UAPA as a “draconian act” Kolkata-based rights activist Sujato Bhadra said that UAPA, is “worse than the

Rowlatt Act”.

Cabinet approves pact with the Seychelles to fight black money

Adding one more to the list of countries that have joined India in the fight against black money, the Union Cabinet

approved the signing and ratification of an agreement between India and the Seychelles for exchange of information

on taxes.

“This is part of the ongoing initiative of the Government of India to unearth black money,” Communications and

Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.


The agreement would stimulate information exchange between India and the Seychelles for tax purposes to help curb

tax evasion and avoidance, he added.

India has already signed an inter-governmental agreement with the U.S. to implement the Foreign Account Tax

Compliance Act (FATCA), a significant step towards curbing overseas tax evasion and black money.

Prior to that, India joined 59 countries in the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the Automatic Exchange

of Financial Account Information in May. This agreement obliges signatories to exchange periodically and

automatically a wide range of financial information among themselves.

Regarding the agreement with the Seychelles, Mr. Prasad said, “Any abuse of land of India or the Seychelles for money

transaction in an unauthorised manner regardless of the fact that the person is resident or not is amenable to

prosecution.”

All types of taxes imposed by India or the Seychelles, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied, are covered,

the Minister added.

Air services pact

The Cabinet announced its approval for the signing of a revised Air Services Agreement with the Seychelles to

modernise and update the pact signed in 1978. Under the new agreement, the number of flights between the two

countries will be increased from three a week to seven.

The Cabinet approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Australia regarding cooperation in the

fields of education, training and research.

“The MoU will help intensify existing partnerships between India and Australia in higher education and research,

including technical and professional education, schools, vocational education and training and will open up new and

innovative areas of cooperation,” the government said in a release.

Pacific Island meet: Ready to boost ties,says PresidentPranab Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee said that India was keen to work with the Pacific Island countries in harnessing their

mineral, marine and hydrocarbon resources.

Addressing the heads of states from the Pacific Island countries at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mukherjee said these

countries were generously endowed with natural resources and India would be happy to work with these countries in

harnessing these resources.

Delegates from Pacific Island nations have converged here for the second summit of the Forum for India-Pacific

Islands Co-operation (FIPIC) being held at Jaipur.

“We would be happy to work with you in harnessing your mineral, marine and hydrocarbon resources. Our

Government and private sector are keen to strengthen and diversify our bilateral trade and encourage investments in

fisheries, agriculture, oil and natural gas, mining and water desalination,” said the President.

The island nations participating in the second FIPIC summit include Fiji, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua

New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Tonga.

“Towards this end, India’s annual grant-in-aid to each Pacific Island country has been enhanced from $125,000 to

$200,000 last year. We hope this will support specific projects prioritised by you,” he said.

‘Let’s fight climate change unitedly’ Having reached out to the Pacific Island Countries to support its bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council,

India also wants to collaborate with them for combating the challenge of climate change, ahead of the UN Climate Summit in Paris later this year.

Addressing the second summit of the Forum for India Pacific Island Countries (FIPIC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said climate change is clearly a pressing concern for all and combating it is India’s national priority.

His statement comes a day after the EU Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete asked India to immediately submit its emissions reductions targets for the UN climate summit.

The Prime Minister said India and the Pacific Island Countries can enrich each other through bilateral and regional cooperation, and suggested they work together for UN reforms.

He sought their support for the quick adoption of the draft presented by the President of the General Assembly as the negotiating text to conclude negotiations during the 70th Session of the General Assembly and promised that India would stand by them at international forum.

“Your voice of support for India’s permanent membership of UNSC will give UN the global character and balance that mirrors our age,” he said.

India, which has been trying to match China’s growing influence in the region, assured the PICs that India stands shoulder to shoulder with them for a dedicated seat for SIDS (Small Island Developing States) in an expanded and reformed UN Security Council in both categories.

Rich in seabed resources, the Pacific Island Countries (PIC) are keen to partner with India in the area of exploration of minerals. China, which has made staggering investment in the region, is also eyeing to be a part of the venture.

Wooing Bollywood The PICs are also eager to give tourism a fillip using the Hindi film industry. Fiji, for instance, offers a close to 50 per

cent tax rebate to overseas film-makers to encourage film producers to shoot in their country.


Some improvements in child malnutrition: data New official data on nutrition in India’s nine poorest States has shown that while most states have successfully

reduced the number of underweight children over the last decade, their record in reducing child stunting has been more mixed. While Bihar and Uttarkhand improved on all indicators, Uttar Pradesh got worse on all.

The Office of the Registrar General of India released the findings of the Clinical, Anthropometric and Bio-chemical (CAB) Survey .

The survey was conducted in 2014 as a sub-component of the Annual Health Survey, which collects health information from a representative sample of every district in India’s eight Empowered Action Group (EAG) States — Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand – and Assam.

A one-time survey, the CAB collected district-level data on key anthropometric indicators including child stunting, child wasting and children underweight.

The last time India collected anthropometric data was in 2005-2006, as part of the National Family Health Survey III. While the NFHS III and the CAB were conducted on different samples, both sets of findings are meant to be representative at the State level, officials from both agencies confirmed.

A comparison between the NFHS and the CAB shows that eight of the nine States were successful in substantially reducing the proportion of underweight children; Uttar Pradesh was the only State, where the proportion actually rose slightly over the last decade.

The new data comes in the backdrop of the NDA government’s flip-flop over the release of the Rapid Survey of Children (RSOC), a nation-wide sample survey commissioned by the previous government and conducted by Unicef.

The RSOC’s findings on other child anthropometric indicators like child wasting (weight for height more than two

standard deviations below the expected) and child stunting (height for age more than two standard deviations below the expected) are far more optimistic than the CAB’s.

While the RSOC found improvements in all CAG States on child stunting, the CAB finds that only five States — Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Uttarakhand — improved. On child wasting, only four — Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand — improved.

The CAB confirms the RSOC’s finding that while girls were more likely than boys to be underweight in 2005-2006, boys were slightly more likely to be underweight as of 2014.

Modi-Obama hotline is now operational The hotlines or secure lines of communication between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Barack

Obama and their National Security Advisers have recently become operational, though they have not been put to use during its short lifespan so far.

“It [hotline] has just recently been established,” said Peter R. Lavoy, Special Assistant to U.S. President and Senior Director for South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council of the White House.

The decision to have the hotline was made during Mr. Obama’s historic visit to New Delhi to attend the Republic Day on January 26, as its chief guest.

“Hotline has connotation of some crisis management phone or system that was used during the cold war to defuse crisis. That’s not what we have,” Mr. Lavoy said.

“This is a secure line between two very, very close partners so that they can exchange views at the heads of state level... and co-ordinate approaches to solving real problems,” said the top White House official.

Jumbo rules in tiger hotbed Corbett

For those who equated Corbett with just tigers, think again. As per the recent elephant estimation exercise conducted

in Uttarakhand in June, Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) has emerged as one of the main bastions of elephants with the

presence of as many as 1,035 pachyderms being recorded in the reserve.

According to the estimation exercise, the state has a total of 1,797 elephants which is an increase of 15% over the last

estimate carried out in 2012, when 1,559 elephants were recorded.

It is also a rise of almost 33% over the last census of 2007 when 1,346 elephants were counted.

Elaborating on the methodology used for the estimation exercise, Dinesh Aggarwal, state forest minister, told, "The

estimation was conducted in CTR, Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR) and 11 territorial divisions of Shivalik, Eastern &

Northern Kumaon and Bhagirathi circles covering an area of 6643.5 sq km. Methodology for the estimation procedure

was based on direct synchronized counts and detailed information about each elephant sighting.

GPS coordinates were recorded and reviewed and collated at the Wildlife Institute of India."

The steady increase in jumbo numbers, coming as it does after a 50% increase registered in tiger sightings in Corbett,

has left state wildlife officials quite ecstatic.

Dhananjay Mohan, who headed the elephant population estimation exercise, told TOI, "Our effort to improve the

habitat conditions in Corbett has paid off.

In the last few years, special efforts were made to remove weeds and lantana here, which helped in expanding the

feeding ground for elephants."

Another reason, according to Anil Dutt, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), is that Corbett also has the

Ramganga river, a perennial source of water for the elephants because of which the ranges situated close to it, such

as Dhikala and adjoining Sardpuli also accounted for 242 and 193 elephants respectively.

Incidentally, the state's adult male-to-female elephant ratio (there are roughly twice as many females than males) is

also one of the healthiest in the world, which indicates that elephant poaching is considerably controlled in


Uttarakhand vis-a-vis other elephant-dominated regions like South India where poaching has considerably skewed

the sex ratio.

The population structure is also encouraging with nearly a fourth of the population under five years of age, which

indicates a good breeding potential and a promising future for the pachyderm population in the state, according to

officials.

Soaring on Terminal 3 Terminal 3 (T3) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport is not only among the best in the country, but has also

been adjudged the best in the world in its category. The state-of-the-art airport is now slowly finding admirers among airport authorities from countries in the Middle East and South-East Asia, who are lining up for technical know-how on the construction and operations behind the airport.

A team from the Oman Airport Management Company (OAMC) is slated to visit the IGI Airport soon. The OAMC has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for providing training and consultancy services with GMR Airport Developers Limited (GADL), a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Limited.

The private airport operator, Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL), that runs the IGI Airport, is lead by the GMR Group.

The GMR Group, which established an aviation academy in Hyderabad in 2009, also offers training and consultancy services to the airport management team in Philippines, where it is a stakeholder in the Cebu airport, a spokesperson of the group said. Sources said that next in line was the Dublin airport.

It was less than a decade ago that the GMR Group led DIAL and took over the project of modernising the IGI Airport,

at a time when it did not have any foothold in the aviation sector. But since then it has revamped the Delhi airport by constructing two new terminals, and building an airport in Hyderabad.

In 2014, the IGI Airport was adjudged the world’s best under the category of handling 25 to 40 million passengers per annum by the Airports Council International (ACI). The ACI had presented the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) award to the airport in April this year at a ceremony held in Jordan.

Supreme Court panel says no to mega rail link through Western Ghats The Rs 2,315-crore Hubli-Ankola railway line, cutting across the Western G

hats in Karnataka, has been shown the red signal by a Supreme Court panel on forest and wildlife, which said that the project’s “huge and irreparable” ecological impact would “far outweigh” its “actual tangible benefits”.

Earlier, Railways Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who is also a senior BJP leader from Karnataka, had claimed that he was in touch with Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on the issue and that the 168-km rail link project — conceived in 1998 primarily to transport iron ore from the Bellary-Hospet mines — would be cleared in a year.

However, in its report submitted earlier this month, the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) underlined that the net present value of the modified requirement of 727 hectares of forest land for the project works out to Rs 7,426 crore ? more than triple the project cost.

“These figures most effectively demonstrate the extraordinary high ecological and economic value of the forest land involved in the project,” it said,

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recommending that the apex court may direct the Environment Ministry not to reconsider or approve the project it had earlier rejected.

A joint venture between the Railways and the Karnataka government, the original project involved construction of 329 bridges and 29 tunnels, and required felling of more than 2.5 lakh trees on 965 hectares of forest land.

The proposal was rejected by the Environment Ministry in 2004 but revived with modifications in 2006. Pushing the rail link in 2008, the Karnataka government claimed it was “inevitable that the Western Ghats has to be pierced through at some point to ensure this connectivity between coastline and eastern plains of the state.”

The CEC’s opinion follows a series of adverse reports the project has attracted since its foundation stone was laid by then prime minister A B Vajpayee in May 2000.

In 2002, the Karnataka forest department observed that no national interest would be served by dissecting the forest landscape of Uttara Kannada with a new rail link when the potential of the existing alternatives such as Hubli-Vasco, Hospet-Chennai and Hospet-Vizag lines was yet to be tapped fully due to the low volume of iron ore traffic.

It further reasoned that the deposit of Bellary-Hospet itself would not last beyond 20 years, making mining economically unviable.

Submitting the proposal to the Union Environment Ministry, Karnataka’s then principal secretary (forest) acknowledged that the rail link “will further fragment the forest and expose fresh areas to anthropogenic pressure”, before concluding that “these appear inevitable given the importance of the line”.

Present road routes from Ankola to Hubli.

U.N. court for status quo in Italian marines case The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) has put a “status quo” in the Italian marines case and asked

both India and Italy to “suspend” all court proceedings and refrain from initiating new ones that might “aggravate or extend” the dispute that triggered a diplomatic row.

Hearing Italy’s appeal, ITLOS president Vladimir Golitsyn asked the two countries to submit the initial report on the entire incident by September 24.

A senior government official said it was a partial victory for India as the court did not allow one of the accused marines to go home from Indian custody despite Italy’s plea.

He said they would wait for the final verdict by the apex body of ITLOS Annex VII arbitral tribunal, which would hear the case later on.

Can’t bring political parties under RTI, Centre tells SC Political parties cannot disclose their internal functioning and financial information under the Right to Information

Act as it will hamper their smooth functioning and become a weak spot for rivals with malicious intentions to take advantage of.

This was the answer given by the Union government to the Supreme Court against making political parties publicly accountable under the RTI Act.

The affidavit filed by the Department of Personnel and Training said the Act “never visualised or considered to bring political parties within its ambit.”

The Supreme Court had earlier issued notice to six national parties, including the BJP and the Congress, asking them why they can’t come clean and explain their hesitation to disclose complete details of their income, expenditure, donations, funding, including donor details, to the public under the RTI Act.

The other major parties to receive the notice were the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Jains take to streets in Kolkata against Santhara verdict Thousands of members of the Jain community hit the streets in protest against a recent judgment of the Rajasthan

High Court declaring the practice of Santhara — voluntary fasting unto death — illegal and an offence punishable under the Indian Penal Code. The ripples of the order delivered earlier this month were bound to be felt in Kolkata, which has a significant Jain population running to a couple of lakhs.

The Rajasthan High Court in its order had said that Santhara will be punishable under Section 309 (attempt to commit suicide) and Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of IPC. This has evoked criticism in certain quarters and sociologists and lawyers have commented that the order had not adequately looked into the reasoning behind the age-old practice.

No change in India's stand on Palestine: Sushma India told the Arab League that its policy on the Palestinian cause remained “unchanged” and its support to the

people of Palestine would be “undiluted”. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Arab League Secretary-General Nabil El Araby. “We reiterated our

support to the Palestinian cause. We said there is no change in India’s position. The President of India will visit Palestine, Israel and Jordan together, and our basic support for the Palestinian cause

will remain undiluted in future,” Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, who is accompanying Ms. Swaraj is here on the first leg of her tour of Egypt and Germany.

On July 3, India for the first time abstained from voting on an anti-Israel resolution at the UN Human Rights Council. The resolution called for accountability from the parties to last year’s conflict in Gaza that killed over 2, 000 people and justice for “all violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory.”

India later said its abstention was on account of a “direct action-oriented reference made in the resolution to the International Criminal Court,” of which it is not a member.


Mr. Wadhwa said both leaders also discussed the upcoming meeting of the Arab League and India in Manama in December. “It will be a ministerial meeting. India has proposed December 20 for the meeting. The date will be confirmed in September,” he said.

India, Australia ink MoU to deepen education ties Deepening cooperation in the field of education, India and Australia agreed on a joint financial commitment of up to

AUS$ one million and signed an MoU to strengthen existing partnerships. The MoU would intensify existing partnerships in higher education and research, including technical and professional

education, schools, vocational education and training. The agreement, which will also open up new and innovative areas of cooperation, was signed between HRD Minister

Smriti Irani and the Australian Minister for Education and Training Christopher Pyne.

Muslim sex ratio improves further The data on Population by Religious Communities of Census 2011, release d, show that between 2001 and 2011,

Hindu population grew by 16.76 per cent and that of Muslims by 24.6 per cent.

The population of both communities grew faster during the previous decade, at 19.92 per cent and 29.52 per cent, respectively. As a long-term trend, say demographers, the communities’ growth rates are converging.

“With rising education and changing family expectations, declining fertility is an expected demographic phenomenon. It

begins among better educated groups with better access to health care — as in India’s southern States — and then other groups catch up and converge,”.

In Kerala, for instance, the Muslim fertility rate (while higher than among the Hindus) is extremely low, especially compared with all communities in the northern States. The numbers show that the sex ratio among Muslims, already better than among Hindus, has further improved.

The sex ratio among Muslims now stands at 951 females for every 1,000 males, substantially better than 936 in 2001, while among Hindus, it is 939 females for every 1,000 males, a slight improvement over the 2001 value of 931.

Assam remains the State with the largest Muslim population as a proportion (34.22 per cent) and saw the largest increase in the Muslim proportion between 2001 and 2011, followed by Uttarakhand and Kerala.

As has been the case since Independence, the rate of increase of the Muslim population is higher than that of the Hindu population as a result of higher Muslim fertility, higher child mortality among Hindus

and a greater life expectancy among Muslims, demographers say.

Census 2011: Hindus dip to below 80 per cent of population; Muslim share up, slows down The percentage of

Muslims in the country’s

population incr eased 0.8 percentage points between 2001 and 2011 to 14.23% or 17.22 crore. In the previous decade, i.e. between 1991 and 2001, their share in the total population had increased by a bigger measure or 1.73 percentage points to 13.43%. They were, however, the only community to register a

http://images.indianexpress.com/2015/08/census.jpg


growth in terms of their share in the total population. The Census 2011 data on Population by Religious Communities, released by the Registrar General of India, also

showed that the percentage of Hindus dipped by 0.7 percentage points (PP) in the decade 2001 to 2011, pulling it for the first time below 80%. Hindus now constitute 79.8% of the country’s total population.

In the previous decade, the proportion of Hindus in the population showed a sharper fall by 1.94 percentage points. In January this year, The Indian Express had reported about the fall in percentage of the Hindu population.

Watch video: (app users click here) According to the 2011 Census data, India’s population in the 2001-2011 grew 17.7% to 121.09 crore, with Hindus

numbering 96.63 crore. The decadal growth rate of Hindus was 16.8% during the period. The previous UPA government did not release the

census data on religious composition in the last couple of years for political reasons. The data release coincides with Assembly elections due in three states with significant Muslim population — Bihar in

October this year and Assam and West Bengal in 2016. Except Madhya Pradesh, the increase in the Muslim populat ion in all big states remained above the national average

of 24.6%. In Rajasthan, it increased by 29.81%, Bihar 27.95%, Gujarat 27.3%, Maharashtra 26.3% and in Uttar Pradesh by 25.19%.

In Madhya Pradesh, the increase was marginally less than the national average at 24.29%. Among the other big states which have sizeable Muslim numbers, Assam has seen their count increase 29.59% and West Bengal 21.81%, both of which are poll-bound.

Barring Manipur and Puducherry, Muslims as a percentage of the population increased in all other states. In Assam,

their share increased 3.3 percentage points to 34.22%. In Manipur and Puducherry, it fell 0.41 and 0.04 percentage points respectively to 8.4% and 6.05%.

According to the 2011 data, Christians formed 2.3% of the total population at 2.78 crore. The Sikh population stood at 2.08 crore making up 1.7%, Buddhists at 84 lakh accounted for 0.7%, and 45 lakh Jains accounted for 0.4% of the total population.

While there has been no significant change in the proportion of Christians and Jains, that of Sikhs has declined by 0.2 percentage points and of Buddhists by 0.1 percentage points during the decade.

The growth rate of Christians over the decade stood at 15.5%, Sikhs at 8.4%, Buddhists at 6.1% and Jains 5.4%.

India caught unawares by Male developments New Delhi was again caught unawares by developments in Male, following the dramatic re-arrest of former President

Mohammed Nasheed. Mr. Nasheed, who has been handed down a 13-year prison sentence for alleged terror links, was transferred back to

the prison from his house. While the Maldivian Democratic Party says the re-arrest is unconstitutional, the government says it had never commuted his sentence to house arrest. New Delhi is yet to articulate its response, but sources in Male said India was not kept in the loop on the re-arrest, despite a recent thaw in political ties.

The action came close on the heels of visits by Maldivian Foreign Secretary Ali Naseer Mohamed to New Delhi and Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar to Male as part of his SAARC Yatra. These visits were perceived as indication of the two governments moving towards more amicable ties, especially since President Abdulla Yameen assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he would not allow the island nation to be militarised. India has been apprehensive about China’s growing influence in the region and has conveyed its concerns to Male.

In February, the Ministry of External Affairs said India was concerned at recent developments in the Maldives,

including the arrest of Mr. Nasheed, which was followed by cancelling of Mr. Modi’s proposed visit to Male.

Muslim population growth slows India’s Muslim population is growing slower than it had in the previous decades, and its growth rate has slowed more

sharply than that of the Hindu population, new Census data show. The decadal Muslim rate of growth is the lowest it has ever been in India’s history, as it is for all religions.

The Muslim population still grows at a faster rate than the Hindu population, but the gap between the two growth rates is narrowing fast.

Nation in numbers India now has 966.3 million Hindus, who make up 79.8 per cent of its population, and 172.2 million Muslims, who

make up 14.23 per cent. Among the other minorities, Christians make up 2.3 per cent of the population and Sikhs

2.16 per cent. The Registrar-General and Census Commissioner released the data on Population by Religious Communities of

Census 2011. The data on religion comes after a significant delay. The 2001 Census data on religion was released in 2004 and the

2011-round results were expected in 2014. However, the numbers remained unreleased, even as a draft of the key data was selectively leaked.

The data comes in the backdrop of much fear-mongering over Muslims and their population, and RSS thinkers were quick to term the new data as proof of the end of Hindus, even while the numbers belie their claim. The distribution of data is of the population by six major religious communities — Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain — and “Other religions and persuasions” and “Religion not stated”.

Muslim fertility rates in India are falling faster than among Hindus, Pew Research’s Future of World Religions report showed recently, and the Muslim community is expected to reach replacement levels of fertility by 2050.


Special category status: PM puts ball in Niti Aayog’s court Following a one-and-a-half hour meeting between Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Prime

Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, the Niti Aayog has been entrusted the task of taking a final view on the issue of

granting Special Category status to Andhra Pradesh. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters after the meeting that Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya

would hold discussions on the matter with State Government officials to reconcile it with the Finance Commission’s recommendations ruling out special category status for any state.

Niti Aayog will take a “final view on this,” he said. Mr. Jaitley said further implementation of all the commitments made in the AP Reorganisation Act was the agenda of

the meeting. These commitments are specific to Andhra Pradesh under sections 46, 90 and 94 of the Act. He said that each of these sections was discussed in detail and the Prime Minister was of the clear view that whatever

was in the Act would be given to the State. The vice-chairman of Niti Aayog has been asked to be in touch with the

State Government and prepare a road map for each of the provisions, he added.

ECONOMY NEWS India Post, 10 others get nod for payments banks The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gave approval in principle for 11 entities to set up payments banks. They are India Post, Reliance Industries Ltd., Aditya Birla Nuvo, Tech Mahindra, Sun Pharma, National Securities

Depository Ltd., Airtel M Commerce Services Ltd., Vodafone m-pesa Ltd., Cholamandalam Distribution Services Ltd., Fino PayTech Ltd. and Paytm. Payments banks will take deposits and remittances, but will not advance loans. In its previous bi-monthly monetary policy, the RBI said the names of the entities would be announced in August. An external advisory committee, which submitted its report on July 6, selected them.

“It has selected entities with experience in different sectors and with different capabilities so that different models could be tried,” the RBI said in a press release.

However, as this is the first time, the central bank said, “It would be difficult at this stage to forecast the most successful likely model in the emerging business of payments.”

The RBI said all selected applicants had “the reach and the technological and financial strength to service hitherto-excluded customers across the country.”

The “in-principle” approval will be valid for 18 months, when the applicants have to comply with the requirements under the guidelines and fulfil the other conditions so that the central bank would consider granting them licence for starting business.

After issuing the final guidelines for licensing of payments banks on November 27, 2014, the RBI received 41 applications for payment banks.

Going forward, the RBI said, it intends to use the learning from this licensing round to revise the guidelines and move to giving licences more regularly, virtually “on tap”.

Less than 4% women become senior managers in India: report

A report released by management consultancy firm, McKinsey India, claimed that the representation of women in the

senior management level in India is considerably less than the Asian average.

While in Asia, the average is around 11 per cent, in India only about four per cent of women make it to the highest

echelons of the corporate world.

“In India, [in the corporate sector] the number of women at the entry level is 25 per cent and in the mid-level

management it comes down to 16 per cent. In the senior level, it decreases further to four per cent,” said Sahana

Sarma, the chief of McKinsey & Company, which prepared the report.

Ms. Sarma pointed out that in Asian countries there is a sharp drop in the number of women corporate executives

when they enter the senior management level from the middle management level.

As for the reason of such a sharp decrease in the senior management, Ms. Sarma said that the women were “most

vulnerable at this point of their career” as they go through several changes such as marriage and maternity.


Govt modifies Atal Pension Yojana for broader inclusion

In a bid to popularise the Atal Pension Yojana among informal sector workers, the finance ministry announced that it

has modified the scheme to allow subscribers to make contributions on a monthly, quarterly or half yearly basis and

has also permitted early exit before the age of 60 years.

“To increase the acceptability of the scheme amongst informal sector workers, the individual subscribers shall have

an option to make the contribution on a monthly, quarterly or half yearly basis instead of on a monthly basis earlier,”

said an official release.

At present, subscribers have to make a monthly contribution under the scheme, which can be automatically debited

from the individual’s bank account. The finance ministry has also significantly modified the provisions for

discontinuation of contribution “in favour of the subscriber”, allowing for delayed deactivation as well .

“The account will not be deactivated and closed till the account balance with self-contributions minus the government

co-contributions become zero due to deduction of account maintenance charges and fees,” it said.

The penalty on delayed payment has been also simplified to Rs 1 per month for contribution of Rs 100 for each

delayed monthly payment.

Similarly, premature exit from the scheme before 60 years of age was not permitted, barring exceptional

circumstances, the statement said adding, “now the modified provision permits the subscriber to voluntarily exit with

conditions.”

The subscriber will only be refunded the contributions made by him to APY, along with the net actual interest earned

on his contributions.

Under the scheme, a subscriber, who must be in the age group of 18-40 years, would receive the fixed pension in the

range Rs 1,000-Rs 5,000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years, depending on contribution which would vary

at the age of joining.

However, unlike the PMJJBY and the PMSBY, the APY has failed to garner as many subscribers with finance ministry

officials blaming the long term and fixed nature of contributions for the lack of its popularity.

Finance ministry also launched a website, vidyalakshmi.co.in, for students seeking educational loans and five banks

including SBI, IDBI Bank and Bank of India have integrated their system with the portal.

Nutraceuticals global market to touch $262.9 b by 2020

Global nutraceuticals market is expected to cross $262.9 billion by 2020 from the current level of $182.6 billion

growing at compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 8 per cent according to the joint study brought out by The

Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) and RNCOS.

Due to rising awareness about health and fitness and changing lifestyle, India’s nutraceuticals market is likely to

cross $6.1 billion by 2020 from the current level of $2.8 billion growing at compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of

about 17 per cent, according to a study on ‘Indian Nutraceuticals, Herbals, and Functional Foods Industry: Emerging

on Global Map,’ jointly conducted by Assocham and RNCOS.

The U.S. has the largest market for nutraceuticals, followed by Asia-Pacific and European Union. Functional food is

the fastest growing segment in the U.S. nutraceuticals market. Germany, France, the U.K. and Italy are the major

markets in the European Union for nutraceuticals.

Japan (14 per cent) is the major consumer of nutraceuticals in Asia-Pacific, followed by China (10 per cent).

The Indian nutraceuticals market is at a nascent stage but fast emerging. India accounts for around 1.5 per cent of

the global market, which is anticipated to increase owing to country’s large population base, increasing urban belt

and awareness, noted the study.

Releasing the joint study, D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, Assocham said, nutraceuticals, herbals and functional foods

in India were covered under the definition of food as per Sec. 22 of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. These food

products had been categorised as non-standardized/special food products.

At present, India does not have any kind of regulatory guidelines for the approval or monitoring of the products under

this segment. These products are regulated under the guidelines of FSSA, 2006 amended in 2011 for registration,

licensing, approval, labelling and packaging, import, marketing & distribution, laboratory testing such as

conventional food products.

FSSAI should come up with properly framed guidelines related to manufacturing, storage, packaging and labelling,

distribution, sales, claims and imports. This will bring clarity to the industry stakeholders and they can invest into

the industry with no fear of counterfeiting, said Mr. Rawat.

In the absence of regulations, the products take much longer to reach the market. For industry growth, it is utmost

necessary to give faster approvals for eligible nutraceuticals, noted Mr. Rawat.

In urban India, penetration is around 22 per cent, whereas in rural it is as low as 6 per cent. Lack of awareness is the

major reason. For faster growth of the domestic market, both private players and government should create

awareness about the health benefits of nutraceuticals among masses through campaigns, social media and television.


Financial support will also help Indian talent to innovate cost effective nutraceuticals. The products available in the

market are majorly targeted to upper-middle class leaving a vast potential. To catch the masses, nutraceuticals for all

should be the target concept.

Infosys announces three new services ‘Aikido’

India’s second largest IT services company Infosys announced the launch of ‘Aikido’, three enhanced service offerings

in design thinking, platforms and knowledge-based IT (KBIT).

According to an announcement made by Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka at a town hall, these services are aimed at helping

its clients address three key aspects of their business. Two of the three new services will be offered by Infosys

Consulting, headed by Sanjay Purohit.

Mr. Sikka said: “I am very excited to announce three service offerings: Ki in Knowledge-Based IT, Do in Design

Thinking, and Ai in Platforms. This is an important step to further accelerate the execution of our strategy to renew

existing services and move into entirely new areas, as well as to tie together our existing service lines to the strategic

priorities of our clients.”

The first of the services is Ki is a large-scale, modular service to help renew enterprise landscapes.

The services will include knowledge-based IT strategy, knowledge curation services, knowledge-based cost

optimization with an objective to help enterprises renew their mainframe applications, support cost optimisation and

drive automation in business operations.

The second services, Do, refers to the service offering on Design Thinking and design-led initiatives that will provide

Infosys the framework for finding, understanding and defining the problems that are most important to clients and

their businesses.

Ai refers to platform and platforms as a service to build intelligent solutions.

This will include the Infosys-automation platform, Panaya and other offerings in the engineering services, BPO and

testing space.

Mobile platforms based on Skava also come under this new service.

“Ai, Ki and Do combine into Aikido, the east Asian martial arts, and just as Aikido aims to understand the forces, and

redirect these it into a fundamental strength, our Ai, Ki and Do services will help combine the knowledge and energy

in an enterprise towards its strategic path and priorities,” added Mr. Sikka.

In addition, Infosys plans to offer platforms to address the Internet of Things (IoT) and Application Programming

Interface (API) requirements of its clients.

China slowdown triggers global growth fears Worries of a deepening China economic slowdown intensified after a private survey showed the factory sector shrank

at its fastest rate in almost 6-1/2-years in August, hammering global stocks and commodity prices. The gloomy figure sent investors fleeing for cover in gold and bonds, fearing China’s sagging economy would translate

into slower global growth and muddy the outlook for the timing of the first U.S. interest rate hike in nearly a decade. World markets had already been on edge after China’s surprise devaluation of the yuan and a near-collapse in its

stock markets in early summer. “Uncertainty about China growth is now the main swing factor in markets,” said Tim Condon, an economist at ING

Group in Singapore. The preliminary Caixin/Markit China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stood at 47.1 in August, well

below a Reuters poll median of 47.7 and down from July’s final 47.8. It was the worst reading since March 2009, in the depths of the global financial crisis, and the sixth straight one

below the 50-point level, which separates growth in activity from contraction on a monthly basis.

The downdraft from China is rattling economies of its trade-reliant Asian neighbours and prompting many Western companies to reduce investments and look for ways to cut costs.

South Korea, which counts China as its biggest trading partner, said its exports slumped nearly 12 per cent in the first 20 days of August from a year ago.

Taiwan reported that its export orders in July fell more than expected, with a 14.1 per cent slump in orders from

China and smaller declines from Japan and Europe, leaving the U.S. as the lone bright spot. While a similar factory survey in Japan pointed to a pick-up in activity there due to stronger domestic demand,

policymakers in Tokyo are keenly aware of the dangers if China slows further. The flash PMIs are the earliest activity measure to be released on global economies each month, and are closely

followed by investors. Similar surveys are due to be released in Europe and the United States later on Friday, and disappointing readings could spark further market mayhem.

Muddy waters U.S. stock futures fell sharply after China’s PMI report and most Asian stock markets and the Australian dollar

extended early losses. Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 sank to a more than six-month low on concerns about how China’s slowdown would impact U.S. firms’ earnings and global growth.

A detailed breakdown of China’s PMI survey showed conditions deteriorating on almost every level in August. Factory output sank to a near four-year low as firms lay off more workers, while domestic and export orders fell at a faster rate than in July.

Following three decades of blistering double-digit economic growth, Chinese authorities have had limited success in shoring up activity this year despite four interest rates cuts since November.


Airtel ties up with Uber Telecom operator Bharti Airtel Ltd and cab hailing app Uber have entered into a strategic partnership in India to make

cab rides easy and WiFi enabled. Under this partnership, Uber riders across India can pay for their trips using Airtel’s mobile wallet service.

Free WiFI Additionally, customers in Mumbai have become the first in India to enjoy free high-speed internet from Uber which

will be powered by Airtel 4G. This service will soon be rolled out for Uber riders pan India, top officials of these companies said.

“Now, Uber riders can enjoy the convenience of paying through their Airtel Money wallets, while also experiencing the power of blazing internet speeds with Airtel 4G on the move.

“This unique partnership is built on our shared visions and strengths of broad, reliable networks and connecting people to their world, anytime, anywhere,” said Amit Jain, President, Uber India.

With this partnership riders will get another hassle-free payment option and Uber has become the first technology platform to officially launch Airtel Money.

“For a limited time, new Uber riders, who top up their Airtel Money wallet, will earn up to Rs.500 for free. Additionally, starting with Mumbai, every Uber vehicle in India will soon be equipped with free WiFi, powered by Airtel 4G.

Airtel will also become Uber’s official telecom partner across India and support the company’s rapid growth in India by offering mobile, data and device plans to Uber driver-partners, it said.

As part of this alliance, Uber will also offer exclusive promotions, discounts and experiences to Airtel customers — including Rs.500 off their first ride upon using Airtel Money.

GVK Bio slapped with largest EU-wide suspension of generic drug sales

The European Union has banned the marketing of around 700 generic medicines for alleged manipulation of clinical

trials conducted by India's pharmaceutical research company GVK Biosciences.

The largest EU-wide suspension of sales and distribution of generic drugs ordered by the European Commission

came into effect on August 21, and will be applicable to all 28 member nations, according to Germany's drug

regulator, the Federal Institute for Medicines and Medical Products (BfArM).

Medicines affected by the sales ban will lose their validity for use in the EU from that date, and they should no longer

be distributed or sold by pharmaceutical companies, wholesale dealers, drugs stores and other outlets, the agency

based in Bonn said.

Pharmaceutical companies have the possibility to appeal against the suspension of marketing approvals, but it will

have no immediate effect, and the ban will remain in force, the statement said.

The commission's decision taken earlier is in response to a recommendation by the EU drug regulator European

Medicines Agency (EMA) in January, that marketing authorisation of these drugs should be suspended as they were

based on clinical trial data allegedly manipulated by the Hyderabad- based company.

EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) had examined the marketing authorisation given to

over 1,000 generic drugs from EU member nations on the basis of bio-equivalence studies conducted by GVK Bio

during the 2004-2014 period, after an inspection of the company's facility in Hyderabad by the French Medicines

Agency (ANSM) in May, last year showed "systematic manipulation of clinical trial data."

GVK Bio had vehemently denied the allegations made by the European drug regulators and offered to conduct fresh

studies of the medicines involved at its own cost.

Such studies are intended to establish that generic drugs have the same effect on the human body as the original

branded versions.

EMA recommended to the national regulators in January to suspend the marketing authorisation of around 700

generic drugs examined by CHMP.

It also decided that for more than 300 medicines out of the 1,000, sufficient supporting data from other sources were

available, and therefore they will remain on the market as the regulator is satisfied with the available data.

As the first European national regulator, BfArM had in December suspended the marketing authorisation for around

80 generic drugs on account of "substantial deficiencies" in clinical trials conducted by GVK Bio.

Exchange rate to determine corporate profitability The fall in the value of rupee, which is nearing 66 a dollar, is likely to impact corporate earnings and exchange rate

becomes the only critical factor to determine corporate profitability. People’s Bank of China changed the way it calculated the reference rate of yuan recently, which led to more than four

per cent fall in Chinese currency against the dollar. This fall in yuan, prompted other countries to resort to competitive devaluation of their currencies to support their exports.

The yuan devaluation reflected the market concerns regarding a slowdown of Chinese economic growth and flagging exports, says ICRA in its report.

“This has given rise to the apprehensions that the currency may weaken further unless Chinese macroeconomic fundamentals stage an improvement and that the devaluation had actually been permitted to boost the competitiveness of Chinese exports.”

The RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan aptly said that the Chinese move raises questions on the strength of their economy. “If Chinese depreciation holds around this level it should be fine. If it is more, it will be worrisome. You could have tit for tat actions.”


In India, the sectors expected to be directly impacted by yuan devaluation, according to ICRA, include, steel, tyre and auto component as these sectors have a large overhang of Chinese capacity in the global market. This apart, it says the power and telecom sector would also be impacted indirectly by devaluation of rupee against the dollar, due to a combination of increase in input costs and foreign currency borrowings.

RBI study The RBI had come out with a working paper recently which talks about rupee’s exchange rate against the dollar as

most important risk component for Indian corporate profitability. It says that during 2002-07, corporate profitability was mostly influenced by firm-specific indicators such as firm size,

leverage, liquidity etc. However, since 2009, the domestic economy became more integrated with the global economy and also more sensitive to external shocks.

“This was a fact and could be seen clearly without much analysis,” says Samir Lodha Managing Director, QuantArt, a foreign exchange advisory firm.

According to him, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors have been facing demand slowdown, excess capacity and saddled with extremely high interest rates. “The real test of rupee management is now and was not when Mr. Rajan

took over rein — that time Bernanke (the then U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman) already calmed the market and RBI doled out huge discount to FCNR depositors (which essentially benefited foreign banks),” Mr. Lodha added.

The RBI study says that the importance of macro economic factors such as exchange rate, interest rate and the wholesale price index (WPI) inflation rate to determine corporate profitability is amplified. “Among them, the exchange rate of rupee compared to the dollar was a significant factor whose importance has increased manifold in recent times.”

“The exchange rate is negatively associated with corporate profitability indicators…Therefore, it can be inferred that when rupee appreciates, corporate performance is likely to get a boost in terms of profitability, though in the long run the impact would depend on the import and export elasticities.” This gels with the nature of Indian corporate sector carrying out more imports than exports.

As import gets cheaper when rupee appreciates, corporates are likely to be benefited from that. In a scenario of persistent large depreciation of domestic currency, the performance of the corporate sector is expected to be impacted negatively, which may in turn affect the banking sector.

For non-oil companies also, the study says, the exchange rate is a significant factor behind their profitability which is negatively associated with profitability indicators.

In the post financial crisis period, many of the large private non-financial corporates in India have resorted to behave like financial intermediaries to take advantage of the easy liquidity abroad.

The RBI study says this has amplified the impact of exchange rate volatility on their profitability. Any uncoordinated monetary policy actions by the developed economies can result into increased volatility in exchange rate in emerging market economies (EMEs).

IOC stake sale: Govt. rakes in Rs.9,300 crore IOC stake sale full subscribed; govt. bags Rs 9,300 crore The stake sale received bids for over 28.74 crore shares,

representing 1.18 times the 24.28 crore shares on offer as on 1525 hours, as per NSE data. The government's 10 percent stake sale in Indian Oil Corp was over-subscribed despite high market turmoil even as retail investors shunned the biggest disinvestment of this fiscal by picking up less than one-fifth of the quota.

The government holds 68.60 percent interest in IOC. Five bankers handling the share shale are CitiGroup, Deutsche Equities, Nomura, JM Financial and Kotak Securities. IOC stock price On August 25, 2015, at 14:06 hrs Indian Oil

Corporation was quoting at Rs 395.25, up Rs 17.00, or 4.49 percent. The 52-week high of the share was Rs 465.40 and the 52-week low was Rs 307.00. The company's trailing 12-month (TTM) EPS was at Rs 37.83 per share as per the quarter ended June 2015.

Tata Trusts, A.P. pact for community empowerment In a path-breaking move, Tata Trusts and the State government entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

to work towards community empowerment and improve the overall quality of living through an integrated multi-thematic approach.

The programme aims at interventions in the thematic areas of bamboo cultivation, fisheries and nutrition, along with micro-planning and village development based on the Union government’s Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna (SAGY). The thematic areas of the programme will focus on promoting bamboo as a livelihood crop.

With focus on marine fisheries, a comprehensive aquaculture development model will be worked out to improve the livelihood of small and marginal fishermen.

Using the government’s feeding and distribution programmes like the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), mid-day meal and Public Distribution System (PDS) as delivery channels, the collaboration will also target micronutrient deficiencies like anaemia.

LIC picks up nearly 86% of Indian Oil shares on offer A day after the government’s disinvestment in Indian Oil Corporation sailed through despite domestic bourses

tanking, the oil PSU said the Life Insurance Corporation of India has increased its stake in the company to 11.11 per cent from 2.52 per cent.

“Life Insurance Corporation of India has submitted the disclosures under Reg. 29 (2) of Sebi (SAST) Regulations, 2011,” the company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange, adding that the life insurer acquired 20.87 crore shares amounting to 8.59 per cent stake.

This translates into nearly 86 per cent of the 24.28 crore shares on offer as part of the disinvestment in IOC.


“The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd OFS has been endorsed by the institutional investors as the issue was oversubscribed, and the Institutional bucket subscribed 143 per cent and the retail bucket subscribed 18 per cent,” the finance ministry had said.

The Centre mopped up Rs 9,379 crore from the IOC share sale, the biggest this fiscal. Earlier it raised Rs 3,300 crore from disinvestment in Dredging Corporation of India, Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation.

To set up Rs. 200 crore unit Welspun Corp has entered into an agreement with Malaysia’s Wasco Energy for setting up a concrete weight coating

(CWC) plant involving an investment of Rs.200 crore at Anjar, Gujarat. The 51:49 joint venture will help both the companies to reduce to time the market, whilst maintaining the technical

excellence that Welspun is renowned for. The JV will also support Wasco to expand its foot print across the Indian subcontinent. CWC is a plant-applied

coating that provides negative buoyancy for offshore pipelines, river/road crossing applications. Concrete coating protects offshore pipelines from external corrosion at water crossings or in swamps along with

mechanical protection at highways and railroad crossings. —

SCIENCE AND TECH Delhi docs find US-origin Flatbush diabetes in India You may have heard about Type-I and Type-II diabetes. But new findings suggest that a number of patients in India

may be suffering from a third type — Flatbush diabetes — which has the characteristics of both.

This possibility has been highlighted by Delhi doctors in a research article published in the medical journal 'Diabetes Care' . They claim to have identified the first case of Flatbush diabetes in a patient of Indian origin.

The patient, a 39-year-old driver, visited Max Super-specialty in Saket, for the first time in 2011. His blood sugar was above 500 mg/dl which is very high but it came down within few days on insulin therapy.

"The symptoms reappeared twice again, in 2012 and 2013, and it was treated with insulin therapy for a few weeks, which is not possible in Type-I or Type-II diabetes.

While the former requires lifelong insulin therapy, the latter requires drastic modification, for example weight reduction, for recovery," said Dr Sujeet Jha, director, department of endocrinology at the hospital.

Jha said further testing and antibody analysis confirmed Flatbush diabetes, which has so far been described in patients of African-American, Chinese, Japanese and Hispanic descent, but never in the Indian population.

" During diagnosis, patients with Flatbush diabetes present very high blood sugars and ketones (a substance produced when the body starts to break down fat for energy in the setting of high blood glucose levels).

Initially, they need insulin to control their blood sugars. However, once their blood glucose levels improve, they can be transitioned onto oral therapy. We have seen many patients that fit into this clinical picture. They do remarkably well off insulin and on oral drugs. A few have been able to manage their diabetes with diet alone," the doctor added.

According to Dr Amit Bhargava, consultant, division of endocrinology at Max hospital, there is an increasing need to identify patients with Flatbush diabetes for better care.

" Besides providing patients with relief from using insulin, where it is not required, the transition to oral therapy will have a significant impact on urban and rural family budgets. It is well known that the bulk of private healthcare spending in India is out-of-pocket," he said.

Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis-C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology,

said the treatment modality followed in India is based on the western concept. " The new findings stress upon need for research into India-centric patient care methodology," he added.

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

Pacific nations meet fails to end climate deadlock

India’s efforts to get other countries to back its stand on resisting binding carbon emission cuts suffered a setback

after it failed to persuade 14 Pacific island nations with promises of development projects.

At a summit in Jaipur, the island countries insisted that a climate pact to be signed in Paris this year should be

legally binding with emerging economies like India and China taking emission cuts despite Prime Minister Narendra

Modi seeking their support to ensure a “balanced” and “fair” treaty.

“The Pacific nations were willing to discuss all climate issues including legally binding nature of the proposed climate

agreement,” Anil Wadhwa, secretary east in the external affairs ministry, said after the end of the second Forum for

India-Pacific Island Cooperation.

India opposed the binding nature of the proposed treaty to be implemented from 2020 and repeatedly said only rich

countries are required under the UN climate convention to reduce carbon emissions.

External affairs ministry officials, however, said climate change was an emotive issue for the Pacific island nations

and any change in the stand could have local political implications.

The island nations have pinned their hopes to the success of the Paris talks as rising sea levels threaten their very

existence.

China is the world’s biggest carbon emitter while India is fourth with per capita emissions one-third of China’s.


US President Barack Obama and Modi failed to strike a climate deal this year along the lines of a US-China agreement

on emission cuts because of New Delhi’s resistance to accept a peak year for emissions which could have bracketed it

with Beijing on the issue.

India and China issued a joint statement during Modi’s visit to the neighbouring country in May, asking wealthy

nations to provide finance, technology and other necessary support to emerging economies to help reduce their own

emissions.

Asiatic wild ass now on endangered list

The Asian Wild Ass, once in wide existence, now finds itself on the brink of extinction. They are being squeezed out of

their habitat by livestock that eat their food and water and also due to expanding farmland.

The Asian Wild Ass lives in the grasslands and deserts of Central and West Asia.

They travel long distances, searching for various kinds of grass to eat.

Most people associate a donkey with a slow moving animal, but the Asian Wild Ass is one of the fastest running asses

in the horse family. They can run 70 kilometers or more per hour in short spurts.

Find out more about the Asian Wild Ass!

Formerly in wide existence

The Asian Wild Ass was once considered to be among the largest population of ungulates (hoofed animals), along with

horses, cows, camels, and deer.

Herds of 1,000 or more Asian Wild Asses have often been observed in Central and West Asia. And, they are the fastest

among wild horses. It must have been an exhilarating site to see them running through the desert and grasslands in

such large numbers.

Losing food and water to livestock

Today, the Asian Wild Ass is on the brink of extinction. This is partially due to the expansion of grazing land.

Livestock animals have taken over their grassland and watering areas.

But it is also because of an expansion of farmlands which has shrunk their habitat and forced them to separate. No

longer is it possible to see herds of 1,000 asses. Conservation efforts have helped them recover their population in

some areas, but as a whole, the Asian Wild Ass is still an endangered species.

A taste for the weird There is not enough water in the world. Which may be why people keep inventing new kinds. The latest is Fat Water

— purified water enhanced with fat from coconuts. The name is accurate and also ironic, because if there is one thing this water won’t make you, it is fat.

“Lots of people are really working the water space,” says Morgaine Gaye, a food futurologist . “You’ve probably seen

artichoke water, black water ... Have you seen the water with the gold in it?” She calls these weird liquids “health waters.”

Fat water Created by the people who brought you Bulletproof Coffee, it comes in 10ml single-serve packets that you add to

water. Bulletproof says its product, which is sugar-free with a glycemic index of zero, offers “a new kind of hydration so effective you can feel it.” What might effective hydration feel like? It has sold out online, so you will have to use your imagination until they restock.

Black water As seen in brands such as Trace and BLK , the latter of which was launched by cast members of Real Housewives of

New Jersey. Put bluntly, this is mineral water. Created in 2011, it gets its colour from fulvic minerals, for which there are broad health claims.

Melted water Think of it as an upscale version of ice cubes, bottled. Gaye says that at Melt Water Original, based in Lithuania,

“they grow or create icebergs, then they melt them, then they put the melted ice in a bottle, and it tastes like puddle water.” Still, it won the Lithuanian Product of the Year 2013 Gold. So, go for it!

Tree water Principally sold as maple water, by the likes of Drink Maple, or birch water. Comes from the clear water you get when

you tap a tree. Tree water is not a new idea — Gaye has a family friend who used to drink his birch tree’s water — but maybe

marketing it is. Contains 12 calories per 100ml, barely any sugar and is suitable for diabetics.

Collagen Water Actually, this one is less of a health drink and more of a beauty drink. Collagen Water contains a small amount of

collagen, while other drinks such as Skinade claim to boost the body’s production of collagen, which keeps skin elastic.

Infused water Contains many subcategories, such as artichoke water, asparagus water and mint and lemon water (as sold by Ugly

Water).

Variously infused or made with extracts. Some non-carbonated infused waters have flavour added via gas. Or you can buy a fruit-infuser pitcher, stuff it with cucumber or strawberries, pour in water, and make your own.


PLACE IN NEWS

Disposal of grievances

The Insurance Ombudsman, Chennai, has occupied the top position in the country in respect of clearing all

complaints and timely disposal. According to a press release, the ombudsman, involved in redressing the grievances of

insurance policyholders in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal (part) had received 1,513 complaints during 2014-

15.

Out of this, 993 (65.63 per cent of the total complaints) pertained to life insurance and 520 (34.37 per cent) to non-life

insurance. A total of 1,527 complaints were disposed off during the year including the outstanding (14) from the

previous year.

Thus, the Chennai Centre was able to clear all the complaints during the year and achieve “Zero” pendency as on

March 31, 2015, making it to top position in the country, the release said.

With 72 cases, Kerala records highest ‘offences against State’, Assam 2nd: NCRB data

Kerala has recorded the highest number of cases registered in 2014 for offences against the State, data released by

the National Crime Records Bureau has revealed.

These cases have been lodged under IPC sections pertaining to sedition, waging or planning to wage war against the

Government of India or promoting enmity between different groups.

As many as 512 offences against the State were registered across the country last year. With 72 cases, Kerala

accounts for 14 per cent of the total, followed by Assam (11 per cent) and Karnataka (9 per cent).

Of the 72 cases lodged in Kerala, 65 were for offences relating to promoting enmity between different groups on

grounds of religion, race or place of birth (Section 153 A) or to imputations or assertions prejudicial to National

Integration (Section 153 B).

Kerala’s tally also included five cases of sedition (Section 124 A) and two lodged under sections relating to waging or

attempting to wage war.

Jammu and Kashmir, which has its own penal code called Ranbir Penal Code, recorded five offences against the State

under the IPC. All of these pertained to waging or attempting to wage war against the government. No case of sedition

was registered in the state.

Assam recorded 56 cases of offences against the State, the second highest in the country. All these pertained either to

waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against the Government of India (Section 121), conspiracy

to commit offences punishable under Section 121 (Section 121 A), collecting arms with intention of waging war

against the Government of India (Section 122), concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war (Section 123) or

sedition (Section 124 A).

Karnataka occupied the third spot with 46 cases of offences against the State. These pertained to either Section 153 A

or Section 153 B.

Karnataka was followed by Rajasthan (39 cases), Maharashtra (34 cases) and Meghalaya (32 cases).

A total of 47 sedition offences were registered across the country in 2014. Jharkhand had the highest tally, with 18

sedition cases being registered in the state.

Delhi recorded 13 cases under Section 153 A for promoting enmity between groups.

Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim and Punjab did not record a single offence against the State in 2014, as in the

case of Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep.

AWARDS Honour for Lionel Richie Iconic singer-songwriter Lionel Richie will be honoured as MusiCares Person of the Year at its annual event in Los

Angeles on February 13, 2016. The 66-year-old “Truly” hitmaker, who will be honoured for his musical legacy, said he was extremely proud of the

recognition and hailed it as “momentous”, reported Entertainment Weekly.

“I’m really very proud of this... This is the highest honour in our music business because it means you have a career. You’ve survived the journey...

The 26th Musi Cares Person of the Year, Mr Richie will join greats such as Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Barbra Streisand, and Paul McCartney as a recipient of the honour most recently bestowed upon Bob Dylan.

Syrian journalist wins award for true grit A Syria-based journalist who has trained citizen reporters in the war-ravaged country has been named the recipient of

the 2015 Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism, organizers said. The prize from Reporters Without Borders and Agence France-Presse was awarded to Zaina Erhaim, who lives and

works in Aleppo, Syria. Over the last two years, Erhaim has trained about 100 citizen reporters from inside Syria, approximately a third of

them women, in print and TV journalism, and helped establish new, independent newspapers and magazines in the country.

The 30-year-old Erhaim is also the Syria project coordinator for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), an international organization that supports journalists in countries undergoing conflict, crisis or transition.


“Zaina Erhaim is a force multiplier of journalistic values in a country torn by violence and irrationality,” said Camille Mackler, the Peter Mackler Award’s project director.

“We salute her courage, upholding professional ethics and bringing them to the service of those left to write history.” David Millikin, AFP’s director for North America, said Erhaim “embodies the ideals which the Peter Mackler Award

was created to honour.” The award, named for the late Agence France-Presse journalist Peter Mackler, will be presented at a ceremony at the

National Press Club in Washington on October 22. The prize was created in 2008 to honor the memory of Mackler, who died of a heart attack that year at the age of 58.

France Train attack heroes awarded Legion of Honour France President François Hollande awarded the Legion of Honour, the country's highest award, to three Americans

and a Briton for their role in stopping a gunman on a high-speed train traveling to Paris from Amsterdam. The three Americans - airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, 23; Alek Skarlatos, 22, a specialist in the Oregon National

Guard; and their friend Anthony Sadler, 23 - received the honor in the gilded halls of the Élysée Palace, where they were joined by Chris Norman, 62, a British consultant.

“One need only know that Ayoub El Khazzani was in possession of 300 rounds of ammunition and firearms to understand what we narrowly avoided, a tragedy, a massacre,” Hollande said at the ceremony, referring to the suspect in the attack, a Moroccan who is in police custody and denies that he had planned to stage a terrorist attack.

“Your heroism must be an example for many and a source of inspiration,” Hollande added. “Faced with the evil of terrorism, there is a good, that of humanity. You are the incarnation of that.”

Shortly after the train crossed the Belgian border into France, the three Americans heard a shot, saw a gunman with

an AK-47 and rushed to stop him. A French citizen who was the first to tackle Khazzani but who has declined to be identified will receive the honour at a

later date, as will Mark Moogalian, 51, who is recovering from a bullet wound. The courageous responses to the presence of a gunman drew attention and praise from around the world, especially

in France, where many quickly encouraged Hollande to award the men the Legion of Honour, which was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to reward “outstanding merit.”

SPORTS ICC lifts spot-fixing ban on Pakistan's Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif The ICC confirmed that Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt will be eligible to return to competitive

cricket at both domestic and international levels after the sanctions against them expire at midnight on September 1. "Further, Mohammad Amir will be eligible to return to cricket at international level at the same time, following

permission being granted to him to return to play domestic cricket in Pakistan earlier this year," an ICC release said. The ICC also made it clear that the players can return to competitive cricket after fulfilling the specific conditions laid

down by the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal. The three players were found guilty of various offences of corrupt behavior relating to the Lords Test between England

and Pakistan in August 2010 by the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal on February 5, 2011, with their sanctions backdated to commence on September 2, 2010 (the date on which they were initially charged and provisionally suspended).

The Tribunal, headed by Michael Beloff, QC, following a six-day hearing in Qatar had imposed a sanction of five years on Amir, seven years on Asif (of which the final two years were suspended on specified conditions) and 10 years on

Butt (of which the final five years were suspended on specified conditions). As with all players and other participants in cricket, all three players remain bound to comply with the ICC Anti-

Corruption Code and the anti-corruption rules of all National Cricket Federations. Consequently, if they should commit any further act of corrupt conduct they are liable to (i) further separate

disciplinary proceedings for breaches of the relevant Code or rules and (ii) in the case of Asif and Butt and where such breach occurs during the suspended part of their original period of ineligibility, the activation of that suspended period of ineligibility.

Coe pips Bubka to become IAAF chief Britain’s Sebastian Coe beat Sergey Bubka in a tight vote to become the new president of world athletics body the

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) with a series of doping controversies at the top of his agenda.

Coe received 115 votes to Bubka’s 92, and will take over from Lamine Diack, who used his departing speech to take a defiant stab at the sport’s doping detractors, saying they had painted athletics as a “monster”.

Coe likened his victory, at an IAAF congress in Beijing, to celebrating the birth of his four children. “For most of us in this room, we would conclude that the birth of our children was a big moment in our lives, probably

the biggest,” London-born Coe, 58, told the congress. Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla was elected to the prestigious Council of the IAAF in

its polls held. Sumariwalla, an Olympic 100m runner, was elected one of the nine individual members at the 50th congress of the

IAAF. He is the first Indian to be elected to the IAAF council. Former AFI and IOA president Suresh Kalmadi was also a member of the council from 2001 to 2013, but by virtue of

his being the chief of the Asian Athletics Association and not through an election. — Agencies.

Saina regains World No.1 spot

Despite losing the World Championships final in Jakarta, ace Indian Saina Nehwal regained the top spot in women’s

singles in the latest rankings of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) released.


The 25-year-old Saina rose a place to overtake her conqueror in the summit clash, Carolina Marin of Spain, to once

again be ranked No.1. The reigning World Champion dropped to No.2 while Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying overtook

reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China to be No.3.

On the contrary, in spite of a quarterfinal finish , double World Championship bronze medallist P.V. Sindhu dropped

a spot to be ranked No.14.

An early exit at the Worlds resulted in Kidambi Srikanth dropping a spot to No.4 in the men’s singles rankings as H.S.

Prannoy retained the No.12 spot. However, 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Parupalli Kashyap jumped two

places to be ranked No.8.

Meanwhile, a quarterfinal finish in the Indonesian capital also helped Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa reach their

career-best ranking of No.10 in women’s doubles. The 2011 World Championships bronze medallist have lately been

in form, having won the Canada Open and reaching the final of the US Open.

However, Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy dropped five places to be at No.22 in men’s doubles rankings.

There are no Indians in the top-25 of the mixed doubles rankings.

Ashes winning hero Chris Tremlett retires from all forms of cricket after injuries finally take their toll Fast bowler Tremlett was a cornerstone of England's famous 2010/11 series success in Australia, where he took 17

wickets in three Tests. The 33-year-old, who took 459 wickets in a 15-year first-class career, made his announcement on Surrey's official

website.

'I have been extremely fortunate to have enjoyed such a fantastic and memorable career and lucky enough to play with and against some of the best players in the world.

'On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank him for his efforts and contributions both with Surrey and England and wish him well in the next chapter of his career.'

Still No.1: Usain Bolt claws back, just in time Usain Bolt once again produced his best when it mattered most to retain his 100 metres world title and reassert his

status as the fastest man on the planet. The 29-year-old Jamaican surged past the in-form American Justin Gatlin over the last 30 metres and crossed the

line in 9.79 seconds, his fastest run of the year. Gatlin finished second in 9.80 to take silver, while Andre de Grasse of Canada and American Trayvon Bromell finished

together in third place in a time of 9.92. They will both be awarded bronze medals after they ran identical times down to a 1000th of a second. Bolt, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder, has now not been beaten in the 100m or 200m in six

major global championships going back to 2007. He was disqualified from the shorter race at the Deagu world championships in 2011, however, and flirted with a

similar mishap when he stumbled out of the blocks in the semi-finals earlier. The victory for Bolt will be an undoubted boost for a sport which has spent three weeks locked in a public relations

crisis after allegations of widespread doping among athletes. “This is Usain Bolt’s best race ever. He knew it was a completely different set of circumstances for him. He’ll be most

proud of this win without a doubt. “It’s not about technique, it’s about running for your life and he’s got the talent to be able to do that.”

OPINION Yuan makes its first market move China sprung a surprise on world markets last week. The Chinese currency renminbi (less formally known as yuan)

lost its value against the U.S. dollar by nearly 3 per cent between August 11 and 13. This was its sharpest weekly fall in over two decades.

With the devaluation, China’s manufactured products are going to get cheaper. In other words, with one U.S. dollar — whose value relative to renminbi increased from 6.2 to 6.4 following devaluation — you can now purchase more Chinese goods than before.

The devaluation announcement came within days of China’s export figures for July recording a negative growth, owing

mainly to the slow pickup in demand from developed-country markets. Naturally enough, one interpretation was that

the devaluation was an attempt by the Chinese authorities to boost export demand for its manufactured goods. Some commentators argued that the Chinese action might trigger a new global currency war — where other countries

too devalue their currencies to compete with China — as had happened during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Reason to devalue The People’s Bank of China (PBOC), China’s central bank, soon stepped in to clarify. It said that the devaluation

marked the transition to a flexible, more market-based system of determining China’s exchange rates. In contrast, the system that existed until now was one in which the value of the Chinese currency (especially in

relation to the U.S. dollar) had largely been fixed by the government. If PBOC’s claims are true, it is likely to be a component of a larger, national strategy to internationalise the renminbi.

China wants to see the renminbi emerge as a currency for international tra de and finance, like the dollar. It also plans to build Shanghai into a global financial centre, rivalling New York. As a preliminary step, China is trying to get the renminbi included in the basket of currencies in International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). The IMF has set a precondition that China should remove restrictions on foreign capital flows and shift to a flexible exchange rate system. Expectedly, the IMF welcomed PBOC’s announcement.


It is to be noted that China has had strict controls on foreign capital movements across its borders, at least until recently. Such controls have been effective in filtering out volatile, short-term capital flows, which are often harmful to the economy, while at the same time encouraging Foreign Direct Investment. In contrast, India has, over the years, liberalised its capital account substantially, attracting relatively large volumes of short-term capital flows.

China’s remarkably fast export-led economic growth during the 2000s occurred in an enabling environment provided by a stable exchange rate and tight capital controls. In fact, the stability in China’s currency rate has been a factor that helped other East Asian economies to achieve steady and fast growth.

All this, however, has come at a cost. To maintain a stable exchange rate, China has been investing a significant part of its foreign exchange earnings in U.S. treasury bonds, despite their very low returns. Beijing has thus been effectively transferring a share of its hard-earned savings to the U.S. This, in turn, has fuelled consumption demand in the U.S., helping it overcome the problems caused by trade and government-budget deficits.

Break free of bonds China’s strategy to break free of its mutually dependent relationship with the U.S. has multiple prongs. One, China

aims to derive its future growth more from domestic markets and services rather than from exports of cheap

manufactured goods. Two, Beijing is trying to strategically deploy its large foreign exchange assets into initiatives such as Asian

Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the ambitious ‘One Belt One Road’ project. It would also like to replace the ‘dollar-zone’ in East Asia with a viable ‘renminbi zone’.

By opening the doors to global finance as part of its plan to internationalize its currency, China, however, may be forsaking the very stability that has been the hallmark of its economic ascent. The boom in its stock markets and the

subsequent crash last month is clearly a sign of things to come. Many Chinese firms are highly indebted. According to one estimate, China’s debt to GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

ratio is as high as 282 per cent. China has also witnessed substantially large outflows of foreign capital this year. China’s economic and investment growth has slowed down in recent months. The country has poured billions of

dollars into investments in infrastructure and other basic industries, especially after the 2008 global economic downturn.

But this has not been matched by rising demand for these industries, domestic or foreign, leading to the creation of excess capacities. For instance, the rising numbers of unsold flats have resulted in a slowdown in construction activities and a reduction in the demand for its steel and cement industries.

Wholesale prices in the country have been on a downward spiral. The slowdown in China is threatening economic prospects in many other parts of the world too, particularly in countries that are suppliers of commodities to China.

In these trying times, what China should perhaps do is to implement policies that favour real wage increases and greater income distribution, thereby boosting domestic consumer demand. China’s claims to a leadership role in the world economy are legitimate.

But in staking these claims, it should avoid getting into a deeper embrace with global finance. The beast that is international finance has triggered many an economic collapse in the past, and China is not immune to its treacherous charms.

India, meanwhile, has a large trade deficit with China, accounting for as much as a quarter of India’s overall trade deficit. With the devaluation of the yuan, imports from China are going to climb up, worsening India’s deficit.

The competitive disadvantages of Indian manufacturing sector vis-à-vis the Chinese one arise mainly from India’s poor infrastructure, which translates into higher costs for Indian firms in areas like power and transport. These

disadvantages can be overcome only with massive investments, especially public investment, of the kind that China has made for over two decades.

The continuing stagnation in demand for Chinese goods, especially from developed countries, underlines the importance of domestic markets for growth in India as well. Therefore, like China, India too needs policies that enable better employment creation, greater redistribution of incomes, and rejuvenation in domestic demand.

Banks for the unbanked

For the first time in India’s banking sector, the Reserve Bank of India is giving out differentiated banking licences. The

in-principle go-ahead given on Wednesday to 11 ‘payments banks’ is, by the RBI’s own admission, an experiment —

the latest in a long series of attempts to take banks to the unbanked.

The push towards financial inclusion started with the nationalisation of 14 commercial banks in July 1969 through

the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance, 1969. Then a second round came in

1980, involving six more commercial banks.

With a view to economically mainstreaming rural areas, the Indira Gandhi government established regional rural

banks by means of an ordinance in 1975. But even 45 years later, all these attempts have had little success in

expanding banking coverage to the desired extent and scale: only 7 per cent of India’s villages have a branch of a rural

or commercial bank.

The policymakers seem now to have finally understood that banking inclusion cannot be just one among many

businesses of a bank: it has to be the core business. The licensing condition that puts a Rs. 1-lakh cap on deposits

that payments banks can receive from customers defines the market they will target — primarily the unbanked

population.

The RBI expects payments banks to target migrant labourers and the self-employed, besides low-income households,

offering low-cost savings accounts and remittance services so that those who now transact only in cash can take their

first step into the formal banking system.


Going by the international experience, this innovation of basically transforming a citizen’s mobile phone into a

stripped-down bank branch has a greater chance of success. The initiative takes Vodafone’s M-Pesa closer to the

version that is working successfully in Kenya, where payments on this product constituted about 30 per cent of the

country’s GDP in 2014.

Similar products in India so far were essentially mobile applications dependent on tie-ups with banks to make cash

withdrawals and interest payments. The licence frees these comp anies to provide such services on their own. The

greater operational flexibility will enable them to draw in more customers.

Their operations could now become more cost-effective as the licence-holders will be banks in their own right, albeit

without the provision to extend loans to individuals. If they indeed succeed in becoming the target market’s chosen

mode of financial transactions, this technological solution could also turn out to be a major step in achieving a truly

cashless economy.

So, while this is a bold move, and underscores that the RBI is anything but conservative, it is ironical too that the

cycle of experiments that started with the 1969 round of nationalisation has now come full circle. The responsibility of

financial inclusion is now almost entirely entrusted to the private sector.

The Iran momentum India’s decision to remove Iran from the list of countries in the restricted visa category is another indication of New

Delhi’s resolve to reinvigorate its engagement with the Gulf country.

The move will primarily liberalise the visa approval process for Iranian citizens, paving the way for enhanced people-

to-people cooperation. But more important, it is part of a series of steps India has taken to deepen partnership with Iran since an interim

agreement was reached between Tehran and six world powers (P5+1) in November 2013 over its nuclear programme. Iran used to be India’s second largest supplier of oil. But India, under pressure from western nations, voted against

Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency over its nuclear programme and subsequently cut energy imports. The interim agreement offered India a window of opportunity to revisit its Tehran policy. In February, National

Security Adviser Ajit Doval went to Tehran to discuss bilateral cooperation. In April, the Iranian Ambassador to New Delhi, Gholamreza Ansari, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accepted

an invitation to visit Tehran. This new direction in India’s approach to Iran got better clarity when the final nuclear agreement was reached

between Tehran and P5+1 in July: it will remove not just sanctions against Iran but also the tag of untouchability given to it by the West.

Ties with Iran are vital for India’s economic and strategic interests. India has to seize the momentum provided by the nuclear deal to step up energy trade with Iran. Imports from Iran are relatively cheap because of the geographical proximity and the extended credit period it offers.

Iran has one of the largest gas reserves, and these are expected to be opened up soon for global investments. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation already has interests in the Farzad-B gas field, and Iranian gas will help India’s fuel-

starved power stations. More important, New Delhi and Iran share an interest in stabilising Afghanistan. Both realise that a return of the Taliban to Kabul would affect their key interests. Iran and India have signed an

agreement to develop the Chabahar port. The Iranian port, which lies outside the Gulf region and is easily accessed from India’s western coast, will give New

Delhi an alternative sea-land access route into Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan and providing a gateway to the resource-rich Central Asian region.

But, for the success of these projects India needs to have a consistent policy towards Iran that is defined by mutual interest and not by global pressures.

The period of tepid engagement with Iran has delayed the Chabahar port project and affected India’s energy security.

Now New Delhi has to make up for lost time by accelerating bilateral diplomacy.

The Korean conundrum The Korean Peninsula is no stranger to tensions. But the ultimatum given by North Korea to the South to either stop

its propaganda broadcasts across the demilitarised zone (DMZ) or face war has raised them to their highest level in many years.

The Koreas are still technically at war, as the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice agreement and not a proper ceasefire. Since then there have been several incidents of border violence, and leaders on both sides have occasionally exchanged high-decibel rhetoric.

The latest flare-up is particularly menacing because of at least two factors — the growing unpredictability of the North Korean regime under Kim Jong-un, and the relatively more assertive response by South Korea to provocations.

The North is going through several internal challenges. At least 70 top-level government officials, including the Vice-Premier, were reportedly executed since Mr. Kim took power in 2011, indicating that the regime is using brute force to sustain itself and silence dissent.

Second, the North Korean state media have confirmed that the country is facing the “worst drought” in a century. This spells a major economic crisis. Whipping up tensions with the South could be a deliberate strategy on the part of Mr. Kim in order to divert attention from crucial internal problems.

The latest crisis started with a landmine blast in the DMZ in which two South Korean soldiers were injured. Seoul retaliated by resuming anti-North propaganda, which led to shelling from the North and counter-artillery fire from the South.


While the two countries have not had a full-scale armed conflict since 1953, tensions on the peninsula have remained high, particularly after the North went nuclear in 2006.

With the U.S. remaining committed to “defending” South Korea, any major confrontation between the North and the South could potentially lead to a nuclear conflagration. South Korea’s dilemma is understandable. Dealing with an erratic dictatorship will never be easy.

But responding to provocations from the North in the same coin is not going to serve its interests. Seoul should rather regain its rational restraint, and use diplomatic means to tone down tensions. It could reach out to China, the only major ally of the North, to put pressure on Pyongyang.

If Beijing is serious about taking a more proactive regional leadership role, North Korea will be the best starting point. The recent Iran nuclear deal shows that even complicated international issues could be resolved through imaginative diplomacy.

But whether the Koreas and their respective backers have the will to earnestly pursue a diplomatic solution, is the big question.

The crash of the markets Market regulators and even governments have very few options when financial markets go into the kind of panic-

driven free fall as witnessed on Monday. The shock waves triggered by an over 9 per cent fall in Chinese stocks hit capital and currency markets worldwide.

India was no exception to the global sell-off, with the BSE Sensex shedding over 1,624 points — nearly 6 per cent — and the rupee tumbling at one point to Rs.66.60 against the U.S. dollar, its lowest level since 2013. The immediate task for the market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, will be to put in place measures to ensure

that there are no major settlement defaults, which can trigger a systemic collapse. Other than that there is little it can, or indeed should do, to prevent the current re-rating of asset prices in the market

running its course. On the currency front, Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan has given out the assurance that the central bank has sufficient foreign currency reserves — around $380 billion — to dampen any major volatility of the rupee.

However, it can only flatten the trajectory of any fall, not reverse it. Besides, it needs to keep the powder dry to tackle any further devaluation of the yuan, which China might be forced to do if growth continues to be slow. After all, Monday’s global sell-off was prompted by poor industrial output numbers, only confirming the fears of global investors that China’s ‘managed slowdown’ was proving less manageable than it had let on.

For India, the Chinese collapse might actually provide an opportunity. As Dr. Rajan has pointed out, India has a low current account deficit (CAD), the fiscal deficit is manageable, inflation is moderating and short-term foreign currency liabilities are low. Despite a downward revision by global rating agencies in the growth forecast, growth is still fairly robust compared to other major economies.

The fall of the rupee has been largely offset by a slump in crude prices, which should further ease pressure on the CAD. A cheaper rupee will also help revive exports. Progress on key reform measures such as the GST and Land Bills, and a step-up in infrastructure spending, could boost industry.

A strategically timed interest rate cut can help revive consumer and investor sentiment. For that to happen, the Centre needs to demonstrate greater political skills in pushing its reforms agenda, and speedier reflexes than it has shown so far.

A case in point is the delayed PSU disinvestment programme. Monday’s offer for sale of 10 per cent of shares in Indian Oil Corporation barely scraped through amidst the bloodbath. Future asset sales will have to be in a markedly more

bearish market, leading to lower realisations.

Insulating India The meltdown in stocks, with the BSE Sensex sliding by over 1,600 points in the wake of the rout in the Chinese and

other major global stock markets, and its collateral impact on the rupee, which fell to a low of 66.71 to the dollar, are bound to further cast a shadow on prospects of a global recovery.

The RBI governor and Union finance minister have been quick to address some concerns. They have drawn attention to the fact that India’s macro indicators are under control and that the current bout of volatility could be transient.

The governor went a step further to say that the central bank wouldn’t hesitate to use foreign exchange reserves to reduce volatility in the currency market.

To be sure, India isn’t as vulnerable today as it was in 2013 — the year of the “taper tantrums” — when the rupee fell

to a two-decadal low after the twin deficits on the current and capital accounts had coupled with runaway inflation and surging oil prices.

Indeed, it is much better positioned now. With both the current and fiscal deficits under control, low inflation and global commodity prices, especially oil prices, heading south, besides adequate foreign exchange reserves of over $355 billion, a major oil importing nation like India should logically benefit compared to its peers, many of whom are major commodity exporters.

Few governments in India have had the fortune to enjoy such a relatively long secular bear phase on the commodity price front.

That’s why the government should quickly embark on a programme to push domestic investment or a “Make for India” mission, and focus on building more roads, ports, new cities and other critical infrastructure projects that can power growth with the states on board.

In fact, the government will be forced to do so, considering that exports have continued to fall and the prospects of a global recovery are severely clouded. The renewed focus on building infrastructure and boosting the infrastructure sector will have to be accompanied by the easing of rules, much of which can be done through executive action and clarity on the tax front.


Once such concerns are addressed, global capital is bound to flow to a country that offers good investment opportunities. Anecdotal evidence suggests that overseas investors are willing to bet more on India than local investors — a reflection of the underlying growth potential of the economy.

Modi and his team must seize the moment to reshape India’s economic fortunes over the long haul. Letting it slip this time could prove to be politically costly down the line — as the UPA realised when it was too late.

Hollow promise of 'special status' A number of States have staked their claim for the ‘Special Category’ status in recent years. The issue has again taken

centre stage following the Union Planning Minister Rao Inderjit Singh’s reply to a pointer in the Lok Sabha on July 31, 2015 that the question of granting such status to any State does not arise.

The reason given by the Minister was that the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) had increased the tax devolution to States from 32 per cent to 42 per cent of the divisible pool of central taxes obviating the need for specific categorising.

Given the emotive discourse around the demand, understanding the issues involved in it will facilitate a dispassionate stand on the subject both by the Union government and the States.

Under the ‘D.R. Gadgil formula’ for the distribution of central plan assistance, which became operational during the fourth Five Year Plan, the requirements of Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland were to be met first and the balance of central assistance distributed to the remaining States based on certain criteria.

At the time of the formulation of the fifth Five Year Plan, it was decided to include Himachal Pradesh, other Northeastern States and Sikkim in the above category. For the first time, these 10 States were categorised as ‘Special Category States’ to distinguish them from others. Later on, Uttarakhand was accorded the ‘Special Category’.


Traits for categorisation ‘Special Category’ status had been granted in the past by the Union government to States having certain

characteristics based on the recommendations of the National Development Council. These included i) hilly terrain; ii) low population density and/or sizeable share of tribal population; iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries; iv) economic and infrastructure backwardness; and v) non-viable nature of State finances.

Under the revised Gadgil-Mukherjee formula, which was in operation till 2014-15, 30 per cent of the normal central assistance was earmarked for ‘Special Category States’ and the remaining 70 per cent to General Category States. ‘Special Category States’ were entitled to get such assistance in the grant-loan ratio of 90:10 as compared with 30:70 ratio for other States.

In addition to their earmarked share in normal central assistance, special plan assistance for projects (90 per cent grant) and untied special central assistance (100 per cent grant) were being given only to ‘Special Category States’. Other benefits to ‘Special Category States’ include assistance for externally-aided projects in the grant-loan ratio of 90:10, whereas such assistance to other States is on back-to-back basis.

Under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), ‘Special Category States’ get 90 per cent of the project cost

as grant as compared with 25 per cent grant for others. The matching contribution in respect of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) is usually lower for ‘Special Category

States’, more particularly, for those in the Northeastern region. Though all the ‘Special Category States’ are provided with central incentives for the promotion of industries, there is

no explicit linkage between the incentives and the special status. The package of incentives is different for the States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and the

States located in the Northeastern region. These packages have more to do with their backwardness than the status.

Progressive dilution Several changes over the years, more particularly those introduced in the Union Budget 2015-16, have resulted in

considerable dilution of benefits to the ‘Special Category States’. The loan component of normal plan assistance was dispensed with in 2005-06 and since then such assistance is

being given only in the form of grants to all States, including those in the general category. Following this, the share of ‘Special Category States’ in total normal central assistance has been around 56 per cent from 2005-06 onwards.

But the share of normal central assistance in total plan assistance, which was the predominant channel of central plan assistance to States, had come down to about 15 per cent with the proliferation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), with resultant dilution of the benefit of untied grants to States.

Following the increase in tax devolution to States from 32 to 42 per cent of divisible pool of central taxes, the Centre has dispensed with normal plan assistance, special central assistance and special plan assistance from 2015-16 onwards.

There are very few externally aided projects in the ‘Special Category States’. The Union Budget 2015-16 has drastically reduced the allocations under AIBP from Rs.8,992 crore in 2014-15 to just Rs.1,000 crore. AIBP is now included in the list of schemes to be run with higher matching contribution by States.

The ‘Special Category’ status is not so special anymore following the above changes. The only attraction that remains is the benefit of assistance for externally aided projects (90 per cent grant). But even this will be of limited benefit if any new states is accorded special category for a limited period of five years or so as disbursal of external assistance cannot be substantial in such a limited period.

The benefit of lower matching contribution for ‘Special Category States’ for CSS is unlikely to be substantial with the

reduction of assistance to State plans by over 40 per cent to Rs.1,96,743 crore in 2015-16.

New criteria Following the demand for Special Status by Bihar, a committee was appointed under Dr. Raghuram Rajan in 2013.

This committee suggested that States classified as ‘Special Category States’ and those seeking inclusion in that category, would find that their need for funds and special attention more than adequately met by a basic allocation to each State and the categorisation of some as ‘least developed’.

Furthermore, it is not politically feasible to consider special status to any new State as any such decision will result in demands from other States and dilute the benefits further.

It is also not economically beneficial for States to seek special status as the benefits under the current dispensation are minimal. States facing special problems will be better off seeking a special package.