By BY ISAAC ARONOW AND DOUG MENNELLA from NYT Gameplay https://ift.tt/4diO7Ye
Thursday, 31 March 2022
Sanjay Leela Bhansali pushes you beyond your boundaries, your limits: Ranveer Singh calls working with filmmaker ‘challenging, testing’
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/kJx2PuD
Digital to lead job market surge: Survey suggests higher attrition, increments till June
Digital transformation and demand for tech-enabled skills will lead to spurt in hiring this year, according to a survey. Sectors such as IT (59%), business development (43%), and marketing (36%) are likely to actively hire talent in the coming months. Recruiters indicated maximum hiring to be in the 3-5 years’ experience band at 67%, followed by 1-3 years at 53%, and 5-8 years at 53%.
According to the latest Naukri Hiring Outlook, recruiters indicate a strong hiring sentiment for the first half of the calendar year across the country. The Naukri Hiring Outlook Survey 2022 revealed 57% recruiters indicated new and replacement hiring till June against 51% in the last survey in July 2021. A whopping 62% of the recruiters expect the hiring to return to pre-pandemic levels in their organisations by June.
The Naukri Hiring Outlook surveyed 1,879 recruiters and consultants from 10 major sectors using a detailed online questionnaire.
Naukri.com Chief Business Officer Pawan Goyal said: “The anticipation of returning to normalcy by companies is fuelling a strong hiring sentiment as there has been a pent-up demand across sectors.”
“Naukri Hiring Outlook Survey corroborates this narrative as 57% recruiters indicated a surge in both new and replacement hiring in their organisations. Only 2% recruiters foresee a hold on hiring, while just 1% indicate layoffs for the coming months which indicates re-stabilisation after a turbulent period.”
Naukri Hiring Outlook Survey 2022
High attrition rate: Recruiters expected a high attrition rate in the job market, which has been on a hot streak over the last few months. The majority of attrition is expected from employees in the 3-5 years’ experience bracket at 51%, followed by 1-3 years at 45%. Recruiters expect the IT sector to witness the highest attrition rate at 49%, driven by its continued demand surge.
Increments on the cards: Recruiters planning increments greater than 30% in their organisations grew 60% against last year’s survey. At the same time, the number of recruiters foreseeing an increment below 10% fell from 37% to 33%.
Campus hiring to return: Campus hiring has been showing signs of returning to normality since last year. A majority of recruiters during the last survey had put campus hiring on hold. This time, the majority expect campus hiring to go as planned, with 47% confirming going ahead with the placements while 16% feel that there might be a reduction in the number of candidates hired from campuses.
Changing workplace models: Indian companies are preparing to return to office with 41% recruiters confirming the move, a significant increase from 10% during the last survey in July 2021. Another 42% believe that work from home was equally productive, while 14% said they would return to office with a restricted team.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/wWv0HEX
Stephen Colbert Condemns Trump’s Digging for Dirt During a War
By BY TRISH BENDIX from NYT Arts https://ift.tt/FRLIqlK
Wednesday, 30 March 2022
‘What’s your stand?’: SC seeks UP govt’s response to plea seeking cancellation of bail to Lakhimpur accused
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/QwhBul7
Deciphering weaponization of information in Russia-Ukraine conflict
By Dr. Rajorshi Roy
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has now been raging for over a month. While a solution to this crisis appears some way off yet a few strands of the adversaries’ war tactics are clearly decipherable. And one of them is the increasing weaponization of information aimed at shaping opinion, morale and reputation. This emphasis on an effective communication strategy has, unsurprisingly, seen the emergence of competing narratives.
Evidently, the gloves are off in the race to be heard. In this, information as well as disinformation, often rooted in insidious propaganda, have emerged as vital elements of the wartime toolkit. The shadow-boxing has involved competing narratives of war casualties, potential use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, regime change, and even destruction of precious art, among others.
The pertinent questions, therefore, are what is the nature of information strategies adopted by the key stakeholders? And the lessons for India from this contestation in the information space.
Weaponization of Information
It is evident that Russia and Ukraine have sought to outdo the other in telling their story on the conflict. The targets are not only their domestic but also global audience, with the digital space increasingly emerging as a new battleground. Both sides appear to be seeking to leverage the reach of social media to make themselves heard. Their toolkit includes videos, photographs, podcasts, memes and influencers.
Russian Strategy
Arguably, Russia would appear to have a head start in framing this hybrid conflict. It was one of the first countries to acknowledge the importance of information in national security by enshrining it in its national security doctrine. In fact, the Ukrainian Maidan Revolution of 2014 led to Russia re-strategizing its conflict playbook. Controlling the information narrative emerged as a vital part of the Russian stratagem. Over the last eight years, Russia has been accused by the West of disseminating propaganda (disinformatsiya) aimed at sowing divisions in the Western world.
Today, in Ukraine, Russia appears to have adopted a two-pronged information strategy aimed at domestic and global constituencies. The former is particularly relevant amidst the incipient protests over the Kremlin’s “special military operation” in a neighbourhood which Russians have traditionally viewed as part of their civilisation yolk.
Notably, foreign policy aimed at restoring Russia’s Great Power status remains a key source of domestic legitimacy. It, therefore, has become imperative for the Russian regime to justify its operations in Ukraine amidst unprecedented Western economic sanctions. These sanctions could, in fact, lead to painful readjustments in the Russian way of life. As such, the usual Russian modus operandi of rallying its people around the flag by tapping into the famed Russian resilience, inevitably, has needed recalibration.
Russia has responded by tightly controlling the information that its citizens are exposed to. Censorship, particularly, of the Western media, has been prioritised. This has led to a ban on the majority of the Western electronic, print and social media platforms. It includes Meta, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Meanwhile, Google and Telegram have been labelled anti-Russian. These could be next in-line of being purged from the Russian waves.
Pertinently, Russia’s banning of these platforms, which enjoy immense popularity among the politically vibrant younger Russian generation, could be a double-edge sword. While a ban may prevent political activism yet it could also lead to protests over widespread disruption to peoples’ social lives. Perhaps, this explains Russia making an exception for WhatsApp. Meanwhile, locally developed alternatives like Vkontakte (VK) have a reputation of regulating content at the behest of the national government. In fact, a number of VK users have been fined for posting “fake information” on the war on this platform.
The state-run Russian media, unsurprisingly, too appears to be toeing the official position. This includes justifying Russia’s “military intervention” as existential in order to deter Ukraine’s westward drift and to purge Kiev of the violent neo-Nazis. These right-wing groups have been painted as perpetrators of violence who have used civilians as human shields to fortify their urban positions. Similarly, the Russian media has pushed the government narrative of the West collaborating with Ukraine to develop weapons of mass destruction that would target Russia. It is also not uncommon for the media to highlight Russia’s accusation of the Ukrainian government targeting its own citizens to pin the blame on Moscow. Interestingly, these state-run companies have been prohibited from using the terms “war” and “invasion” in their reportage.
In fact, the new narrative of the Russian President enjoying more than 70 per cent approval for the ongoing military action is undoubtedly timely amidst the growing cracks in the carefully crafted media narrative. This includes the much publicised protest by a state-run Channel One employee apart from the mass resignation of journalists on RT channel.
Amidst the strengthening of this iron curtain, independent media houses in Russia too have come under Russian censorship. Being labelled as “foreign agent” has hung like the proverbial Damocles Sword. This would restrict their access to private funding and invite greater governmental oversight.
Other tools invoked to shape the official narrative include the Russian government introducing a new law that imposes penalties and jail terms for spreading “fake information” about the ongoing conflict.
Western and Ukrainian Strategies
The West appears to be a step ahead of Russia in its information dissemination strategy which, ironically, the Kremlin had pioneered. This stems from the information blackout imposed by Western technology companies, which dominate the global information platform landscape, on official Russian media houses. Big Tech, therefore, appears to be toeing the Western government’s strategy of an information boycott of Russia. Perhaps, they are also behind the throttled speed of access to official Russian websites. These dynamics have, inevitably, put Russia on the back foot in effectively conveying its narrative on the global stage.
However, the surprise package of this information contestation has been the phoenix-like rise of Ukraine from the war ashes to take the lead in leveraging social media to garner global support. Backed by cyber volunteers from across the world, President Volodmyr Zelenskyy has led from the front in engaging global stakeholders. The now viral videos, memes, photographs and podcasts emanating from Ukraine have all focussed on generating a wave of global sympathy amidst the projected Ukrainian bravery against a numerically superior Russian foe. This includes highlighting the untold human suffering and the widespread destruction of property. In fact, President Zelenskyy’s clarion call to fight a just war by equating the ongoing battle of Mariupol with the famed Russian resilience during the Second World War siege of Leningrad appears to have struck an emotive chord with both the Ukrainians and the global community.
This has, in particular, seen the West rally around Ukraine. It has provided resources to not only tackle the humanitarian crisis but also to withstand the Russian military pressure. And there are incipient suggestions that this support could force Russia to dilute its ambitious political goals. More importantly, the projection of “naked Russian aggression” across the information space has led to do the unthinkable – uniting the West in imposing sweeping sanctions against Russia.
Meanwhile, Kiev has also stepped up its psy-warfare. Viral confessions of captured baby-faced Russian conscripts of being misled could have an impact on the Russian morale. Similarly, the projected casualty figures of Russian soldiers including top-level generals, while appearing highly inflated, may undermine Russia’s claims of its operation going as per plan. A radio silence from Moscow on its war casualties has only added fuel to the fire of Russia suffering severe setbacks. In fact, Ukraine being President Putin’s Afghanistan has gained traction in the social media space. Similarly, the mythical exploits of a Ukrainian pilot shooting down several Russian fighter jets would appear to be part of this ongoing narrative of boosting Ukrainian morale while simultaneously undermining the Russian one.
In fact, the disclosure of alleged personal details of more than a lakh Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine as also the telephonic transcripts between the Russian chain of command are a further reflection of Kiev upping its psy-warfare game.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has also efficiently leveraged social media to alert its citizens about bombing raids, human shelters, and availability of essentials.
Interestingly, both Russia and Ukraine have taken recourse to spreading disinformation. Several videos shared by Russian and Ukrainian official handles have been borrowed from unrelated conflict theatres and even video games.
Ponderables for India
A key ponderable for India is the growing emergence of information security as a vital part of a country’s national security. This is particularly relevant at a time when social media has made it child’s play to spread information through the mere click of a button. As the Ukrainian crisis has shown, it is easy to target impressionable minds with the objective of shaping their opinions. A deluge of biased information can overwhelm and impair their ability to make informed decisions. In the past, India’s adversaries in Pakistan and China had taken recourse to social media to spread insidious propaganda, including on Kashmir and Galwan.
Crucially, information projection also has political repercussions. Indian media houses have increasingly highlighted the Western narrative on the need to punish Russia. This may act as a pressure point on the government in chalking out its next course of action. Similarly, the plight of stranded Indian students in Ukraine, being projected through social media platforms, moved many. It would likely have been impossible to ignore their desperate appeals even though they had gone to Ukraine on privately funded study visas without seeking the government’s prior approval.
Meanwhile, the information boycott of Russia by Big Tech who dominate global information space is an indication of the hold that the West has in shaping the information narrative. This is particularly relevant amidst several instances of these companies’ refusal to abide by the local rules in the past. The growing weaponization of these platforms to fulfil geo-political goals is a new reality in the face of their earlier perceived neutrality.
These dynamics, therefore, highlight the need to rely on indigenous social media platforms to project a country’s narrative. Similarly, monitoring of the social media space with adequate checks and balances appears to be a compelling rationale. This includes fact checking to ensure credibility of information being posted.
Perhaps, the most overlooked platform that may need to be monitored is the podcast. The very nature of their conversational character may lead to key objectionable words, including hate speech, escaping the technology filters.
Arguably, the bottom-line is the need for accountability amidst increasing propagation of misleading information in the social media space.
(The author is Associate Fellow, Europe-Eurasia Center, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of Financial Express Online. Reproducing this content without permission is prohibited).
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/aUXO7Ke
Late Night Has Fun With Trump’s Missing Phone Records
By BY TRISH BENDIX from NYT Arts https://ift.tt/Y69vGu2
Pro-Russia sentiment on Indian Twitter draws scrutiny
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/2AyhLGT
Here are the latest developments from Ukraine.
By BY JESUS JIMÉNEZ from NYT World https://ift.tt/dkjW52n
Tuesday, 29 March 2022
After Mass Shooting, a Town in Arkansas Struggles to Move Forward
By BY RICHARD FAUSSET from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/tHFe20J
Do Russian Oligarchs Have a Secret Weapon in London’s Libel Lawyers?
By BY DAVID SEGAL from NYT Business https://ift.tt/2d0hWRN
Heatwave spell in several parts of north, west India, rainfall to continue in northeast: IMD
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/XrsEfKO
UPSC topper Tina Dabi gets engaged to fellow IAS officer; shares pics
IAS officer Tina Dabi — the first ever Dalit girl to top the UPSC examination — is getting married again after her first short-lived marriage to a fellow officer. She announced her engagement to fellow IAS officer Dr Pradeep K Gawande on Monday.
In an identical Instagram post shared on both their accounts, Dabi and Gawande shared a photograph of them holding hands with the caption “I’m wearing the smile you gave me #fiance.” The Indian Express quoted sources saying that the wedding is scheduled to take place at a hotel in Jaipur on April 22.
While Dali — the 2016 UPSC topper — is currently posted as Joint Secretary, Gawande — a 2013 batch IAS officer — is currently serving as Director, Archeology & Museums, Rajasthan.
Late last year, Dabi divorced Athar Aamir Khan whom she had married in 2018. Khan had stood second in UPSC examination the same year as Dabi.
The interfaith wedding, which was attended by top politicians, made headlines and invited severe backlash on social media amid the growing chorus over “love jihad”. Back then, Dabi had said she was not affected by the uproar, that her marriage was above religious divides.
Tina Dabi and Athar Aamir Khan got married in April 2018 in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Two years later, they had announced their separation in November 2020. Their divorce was finalised in August 2021 after an order passed by a Jaipur court.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/h9XtDq7
Here are the latest developments from Ukraine.
By BY JESUS JIMÉNEZ from NYT World https://ift.tt/VXFc3xA
Monday, 28 March 2022
GT vs LSG Predicted Playing XI: Where will Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda bat for Lucknow?
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/4MwIi2W
Delhi: Two boys suffer burn injuries after LPG cylinder catches fire
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/K8tqVQP
‘Not less dangerous,’ says WHO as it signals new stage of Coronavirus pandemic – Here’s what you must know
Maria Van Kerkhove, Covid-19 technical lead at the World Health Organisation, has said that the Coronavirus is well on its way to becoming endemic, but that does not mean that it’s not dangerous. “Now is not the time to give up. Now is not the time to say the pandemic is over. Unfortunately, it’s not. so we have to increase vaccination coverage in those most at risk in every country on the planet. As well as take simple measures to reduce the spread,” Kerkhove said.
The WHO Covid lead emphasized the fact that while it is important to get our economies back on track, we also have to make sure that we have the tools that save people’s lives. “We have to increase vaccination coverage as well as take simple measures to reduce the spread. And that’s not a lockdown. We’re talking about the use of simple tools that can reduce the spread and keep us and our loved ones safe,” Kerkhove said.
The WHO has time and again urged the people and governments across the globe to be careful in lifting Covid curbs as the virus is still very much in circulation. Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Programme, had earlier said, “I think we need to be careful here in terms of the word endemic.”
Dr. Ryan had further clarified and said that endemic means that the virus is present and transmitting at lower levels, usually with the seasonal transmission of seasonal increases or outbreaks on top of an endemic situation. He had also stressed on the need for strong health systems to deal with those infections that can’t be prevented.
Explaining how Covid-19 virus transmission needs to be controlled Dr Ryan had said, “We need sustained control on this virus and we need sustained protection of our most vulnerable.”
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/IzTkWSp
The summit is a sign of a shift in the Middle East.
By BY PATRICK KINGSLEY from NYT World https://ift.tt/bw0jWnA
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of Israel tests positive for the coronavirus.
By BY PATRICK KINGSLEY from NYT World https://ift.tt/FZDx6K4
Only a few Arab leaders have visited Israel before.
By BY PATRICK KINGSLEY from NYT World https://ift.tt/cdIE4i5
Sunday, 27 March 2022
Wavemaker bags Media Agency Of The Year; HUL wins Best Media Client Of The Year: EMVIE
Wavemaker was recognised as ‘The Media Agency of the Year’ and also bagged the Grand EMVIE for Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. for the Cadbury Celebrations – Not Just a Cadbury Ad (Best Response to COVID-19) at the 22nd edition of the EMVIES. Mindshare stood second and Lodestar stood third. Hindustan Unilever Limited was declared as ‘The Media Client of the Year’.
“It is the privilege of the The Ad Club to shine the light on the best work in our industry and it is our endeavour through our award shows to inspire our community to keep raising the bar,” Aditya Swamy, chairperson, EMVIE’s Committee, said.
With a focus on innovation, strategy and research and seamless integration, The Advertising Club (TAC), this year, received 1054 entries with around 25 agencies participating in the competition. More than 1200 professionals from the media, marketing, advertising and research fraternities, witnessed 26 gold and 51 silver EMVIE Trophies being presented in addition to 42 bronze winners receiving recognition.
The Best Implementation Team of the Year award went to Wavemaker for Mondelez India Food Pvt. Ltd for Cadbury Celebrations – Not Just a Cadbury Ad. Furthermore, Google, the presenting sponsor instituted special recognition for work done in the area of inclusion. The campaign that backed the honour was McDonald’s – Eatqual – One Bite Closer to Equality by the agency DDB Mudra Group.
“The winners were not only best in class in India but they were of global standard. No wonder EMVIES is called the Oscar of media awards.” said Partha Sinha, president, The Advertising Club, stated.
Read Also: How will the NFT marketplace develop and evolve for India on the global scene
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/F7sdlpI
Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine.
By BY AUSTIN RAMZY from NYT World https://ift.tt/eLGbXl2
Tiffany Haddish’s book ‘I Curse You With Joy’ out in November
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/bNxn9wo
IPL 2022 DC vs MI: Fantasy tips and history as Delhi Capitals take on Mumbai Indians
DC vs MI: The Delhi Capitals will face off against record winners Mumbai Indians in Match 2 of Tata IPL 2022 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
The match, the first of a double-header, will start at 3.30 PM.
DC VS MI SQUADS
The Delhi Capitals begin their campaign for a first Indian Premier League (IPL) title against the five-time champions. The Capitals’ juggernaut came very close to winning the title last season before capitulating against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Qualifier. The Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, failed to make it to the playoffs.
Since then, both the squads have undergone significant changes following the mega auction earlier this year. Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant will continue to lead their sides, while Ishan Kishan, the most expensive buy of the mega auctions, will return to the Mumbai fold.
The Indians have also managed to retain their core of senior players with Kieron Pollard and Jasprit Bumrah in the squad.
The Capitals, on the other hand, will be without Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, and Anrich Nortje for the first few games. However, the Delhi franchise still has several talented young players. Shardul Thakur, Prithvi Shaw, and Axar Patel will walk into any team in the IPL and form the backbone of the Capitals’ setup. Under-19 World Cup winners Yash Dhull and Vicky Ostwal are also in the squad.
DC VS MI HISTORY
The two sides have faced each other 30 times in the IPL, with the Indians having the edge with 16 wins to the Capitals’ 12.
DC VS MI TOP FANTASY PICKS:
Rovman Powell has impressed the coaching staff members in Delhi’s practice sessions and warm-up matches. The team’s biggest hitter, the Capitals’ fortune will depend on the Caribbean muscleman in the IPL.
India skipper Rohit Sharma will once again lead the Mumbai Indians and is expected to star this season as well. He has scored 5,611 runs in 213 IPL matches and could be an essential pick for the season.
Tim David was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad last season, but failed to make an impact. The Singapore-born batter was snapped up by the Indians during this year’s auction as the record winners look to add depth to the squad. David has immense experience in franchise T20 leagues and has scored 1,965 runs in his 89 matches at an average of 33.87.
Retained by the Mumbai Indians for a whopping Rs 15.25 crore, Ishan Kishan will be expected to step up and shine. The keeper-batter can hit the ball long and could be the game changer for the Indians.
India international Jasprit Bumrah has been the leading bowler in the country by a mile over the last few years. With a stunning 130 wickets in 106 IPL matches, Bumrah will lead the Indians’ attack once again.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/h1RvATq
Video: Residents of Mariupol desperately try to escape a city under siege.
By BY YOUSUR AL-HLOU, MASHA FROLIAK, BEN LAFFIN AND BENJAMIN FOLEY from NYT World https://ift.tt/A9TcdwB
Saturday, 26 March 2022
After success of ‘Bulldozer Baba’ in UP, ‘Bulldozer Mama’ rolls into MP politics
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/8hPr3fy
Delhi University’s executive council clears CUET for admissions
The executive council of Delhi University (DU) has considered class 12 passing marks and the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) enough for admissions to the varsity from the academic year 2022-23, and not the cut-offs as it use to happen previously, during its meeting on Friday.
In addition, the university also accepted the proposal to set up Delhi School of Analytics (DSA) under Institutes of Eminence. The DSA will offer short and long-term certificate courses, diploma and degree programmes to enhance the business analytical skills of students. The council also accepted the proposal to borrow money from the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) despite some members showing dissent.
According to the fuunding patter of HEFA funding pattern, the university is required to repay the loan in 20 bi-annual instalments in 10 years. However, the varsity will be submitting a proposal of Rs 1,075.40 crore to HEFA for infrastructure development and the creation of capital assets.
The dissenting members were apprehensive that the HEFA proposal will make the public funded university shift from a grant-based model to loan-based model of financing and lead the university towards a debt trap. They strongly opposed the “dangerous movement towards privatisation and the steep hike in the fees of the students” and said taking a loan was “unacceptable”.
The executive council members also raised the issue of the College of Art not commencing its admission process, following which it was decided that a letter be sent to its principal demanding an explanation. Also, the proposal to establish an Institute of Nanomedical Sciences (INMS) was cleared by the executive council.
Read also: Delhi University’s executive council likely to decide on CUET for admission process on Friday
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/fzuD4El
After success of ‘Bulldozer Baba’ in UP, ‘Bulldozer Mama’ rolls into MP politics
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/JqwBlKN
MCD Amendment Bill introduced in Lok Sabha; Opposition says breach of constitution
A bill to merge the three municipal corporations in the national capital into a single entity was introduced in Lok Sabha on Friday amid opposition claims that the move was beyond the legislative competence of Parliament.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, dismissing the claims made by the opposition as asserting that Article 239AA of the Constitution gave Parliament the right to amend the laws passed by the Delhi assembly.
The bill has been introduced a month before the elections to the three municipal corporations, prompting the AAP to launch a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing it of delaying the polls fearing defeat.
The BJP has been ruling the municipal corporations in Delhi for the last 15 years and the AAP has been sensing an opportunity to oust it from power and strengthen its grip on the national capital.
The Delhi Municipal Corporation was trifurcated in 2011 by the then Delhi government led by chief minister Sheila Dikshit to create compact municipalities to provide efficient civic services to the citizens of the national capital.
In Lok Sabha, RSP member N K Premachandran, Congress members Gaurav Gogoi and Manish Tewari and BSP’s Ritesh Pandey opposed the introduction of the bill contending that Parliament lacked the legislative competence to amend the bill.
“This is disrupting the legislative assembly, and the will of the members of the legislative assembly. They have passed an Act that enforced the trifurcation of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Now, the Union Government is coming up with a legislation so as to unite them,” Premachandran said.
Pandey said Article 243U states that no amendment of any law for the time being in force shall have the effect of causing dissolution of a municipality at any level, which is functioning immediately before such amendment, till the expiration of its duration specified in clause.
Tewari said according to Part 9A of the Constitution, the powers to constitute municipalities were of the state governments.
“And this House cannot, after Part 9 was inserted into the Constitution of India, substitute itself for the Assembly of Delhi and pass this particular legislation in an illegal manner,” he said.
Gogoi claimed that the move by the Centre to merge the three municipal corporations into one through a law of Parliament was an attack on the federal structure of the constitution.
He also questioned the rationale behind capping the number of seats in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi at 250, contending that the same should be decided after taking into account the population of the national capital. Pandey said that the Constitution granted powers to states to constitute municipal corporations.
Union minister Rai said the trifurcation of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi was uneven in terms of territorial divisions and revenue generating potential and created a huge gap in the resources available to the three corporations compared to their obligations.
“The experience of the last ten years shows that the main objective of trifurcation of creating compact municipalities in Delhi to provide more efficient civic services to the public has not been achieved,” he said.
The bill seeks to unify the three municipal corporations into a single, integrated and well equipped entity; ensure a robust mechanism for synergised and strategic planning and optimal utilisation of resources; and bring about greater transparency, improved governance and more efficient delivery of civic service for the people of Delhi.
At present the three corporations in Delhi — North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations — have a total of 272 seats. While North and South corporations have 104 seats each, the East corporation has 64.
The bill has a provision that the central government may, “if necessary”, appoint a person to be called the “special officer”, to exercise the power and discharge the functions of the corporation until the date on which the first meeting of the body is held after the commencement of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2022.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/T0UOyqi
Friday, 25 March 2022
Birbhum violence: Calcutta HC hands over probe to CBI, directs state govt to ‘extend full cooperation’
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/Rq1ijA4
Tuberculosis can induce premature cellular ageing, new study finds
Cells in humans and animals who have recovered from tuberculosis prematurely aged up to 12 to 14 years, a new study has found. Even after successful therapy, survivors have a higher risk of recurrent infection and even death, the study by Baylor College of Medicine has found.
It is possible that premature cellular ageing is a reason why tuberculosis survivors have a high risk of mortality, Asian News International quoted Baylor College of Medicine Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases Dr Andrew DiNardo as saying.
The study, published in Aging, measured the ageing of cells. The researchers also looked at the cells’ epigenetic clock.
Epigenetics looks at how the cell DNA is coiled. How the DNA is coiled inside the cell changes with age and severe infections change it in such a way to increase premature ageing.
Also Read | World TB Day: Lung health needs to remain High on the agenda in a post-covid world
In the study, the researchers studied several cohorts and multiple tissue types. They discovered that tuberculosis induced perturbations in epigenetic regulation, especially in the regulation mediated by DNA methylation. These changes are associated with oxidative stress-induced senescence and correlate to premature cellular ageing. Both guinea pigs and humans conserved these processes.
Dr DiNardo, the lead author of the study, said this was an important area to look at after any severe infection, including SARS-CoV-2 or sepsis. The infection’s severity also plays a part in the ageing of cells, he said.
Dr Cristian Coarfa, Baylor College of Medicine Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology and co-corresponding author, said now that the mechanism was clear, there were some ways that could be targeted to slow and decrease premature epigenetic ageing in these cells.
Also Read | World Tuberculosis Day 2022: History, theme, and significance
India reported 19,33,381 new and relapsed tuberculosis cases in 2021 — 19% on-year rise —the Centre said in its annual tuberculosis report released by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday.
The report, launched on World Tuberculosis Day, said there were an estimated 4.93 lakh deaths, excluding HIV patients, due to the infectious disease in 2020 — 13% higher than the previous year.
India reports the highest cases globally at over 26%. It also reports 34% of the deaths due to the bacterial disease.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/gcZ51XY
JK Tyre brings puncture guard technology in tyres for four-wheelers
JK Tyre & Industries on Thursday said it has come up with the country’s first puncture guard technology in tyres for four-wheelers.The technology, with specially engineered self-healing elastomer inner coat, applied inside the tyres through an automated process, heals the punctures.
The company plans to build in the technology in its range of tyres for four-wheelers.With this technology, tyres can self-repair multiple punctures, due to nails or other sharp objects, up to 6 mm in the tread area instantly, the tyre maker said in a statement.
Puncture guard tyre offers hassle-free ride throughout the life of the tyre, without air loss, it added. “With the introduction of Smart tyre technology in 2020 and now the Puncture Guard Tyre technology, we have yet again delivered on our commitment to provide advanced mobility solutions to our customers. This technology offers high level of safety and convenience to vehicle owners,” JK Tyre Chairman & Managing Director Raghupati Singhania said.
The technology has been tested across all Indian on-road as well as off-road conditions, the company added.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/zPouM0i
All you need to know about affordable housing
The Finance Minister recently presented a budget that focuses on infrastructure and is geared toward growth. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to affordable housing by giving Rs 48,000 crore to the PM Awas Yojana, around the same amount that was spent last year. Since 2014, the government has been focusing on housing for all. Housing security is a basic requirement and integral to a country’s progress.
Many property investors include affordable housing in their portfolios because of the related government tax rebates, although affordable home investment can be both a business and an investment strategy. For investors, affordability is critical since it defines two critical factors: profitability and marketability. Subsidized housing programs assist low-income families in paying their rent by subsidizing a portion of the market rent.
Investors in affordable housing should research the median income in their area to see what kind of return they can expect when purchasing property for this purpose.
The goal of Affordable Housing
The goal of affordable housing is to provide accommodation for people in society who have limited financial resources. If a portion of a property is used for affordable housing, the owner receives a tax credit. The government also assists renters in paying their rent on a monthly basis. Typically, four kinds of individuals are in need of cheap housing.
Seniors and People with Disabilities
Studies show that people over the age of 65, as well as people with disabilities, require housing that is convenient to public transportation and has been renovated to help them with daily tasks. Ramps instead of steps, wheelchair-accessible restrooms, railings, and altered cupboards and closets are all examples of modifications.
The Military
Military personnel have a variety of housing alternatives both on and off base. Off-base housing needs additional site aid, bespoke building, and purchase finance, whereas on-base housing necessitates construction, property management, and grounds care.
Students
The need for off-campus accommodation has grown due to the rising number of adult and non-traditional college and university students. Private accommodation near the school is required for adult students with families. Because it is less expensive and more convenient than frequent overseas travel during vacations and summer breaks, international students want an accommodation that is accessible all year.
Re-entry and Rehabilitation Programs
Transitional housing is required for a segment of the population. Transitional housing is needed by the homeless, their families, recovering addicts, and individuals just released from jail facilities, for example. Group houses and neighborhood-based housing are required for some people and children in state protective services and mental health programs.
How to Invest
A landlord, an investor, and a business executive are all required skills for an affordable housing investor. Incorporate the human factor as a landlord. Remember that by assisting families and your community, you may generate a market. Create a blue-chip real estate portfolio as an investor. Have the greatest homes in the best locations, at the best pricing, with the highest returns.
Create a brand, establish goodwill, and enhance the market value of your brand as a company leader, not simply on individual units. Keep in mind that your efforts provide jobs and opportunities for construction workers and real estate salespeople. Your marketing and property management efforts contribute to the recruitment of workers in the areas where your units are situated.
Keep yourself up to date. Find out about affordable housing options around the country and in your neighborhood. Participate. Create a market for low-cost homes. Identify and fill a niche in your region. Form alliances with like-minded investors and sources of funding.
Become a successful investor. Work as a portfolio manager as well as a company manager. Make use of traditional investing and company strategy guidance.
(By Aman Trehan, Executive Director, Trehan Iris)
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/jHl8REa
Studies suggest Omicron variant lasts longer on human skin and surfaces
Researchers continue to unfold the traits of the dominant Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 and its sub-lineages currently responsible for the global surge in Covid-19 cases. The latest trait identified is that the Omicron variant lasts longer on surfaces and human skin than its predecessors.
In the earlier phase of the pandemic, there were concerns among health experts that the Covid infection can be transferred not just through the air but by coming in contact with contaminated surfaces as well, making periodic hand sanitization imperative. Since then, there have been ongoing studies about how the virus spreads and exists in the environment with omicron and other variants, and it has now been found that Omicron lasts for 21.1 hours on human skin and 193.5 hours on inanimate surfaces.
Both the studies are published in an academic journal but are yet to be peer-reviewed. The first study took the surfaces that people came in contact with within their daily lives and the other study tested human skin samples from autopsy specimens for the experiment. For the surface study, one of the samples was plastic. Virus survival time was calculated up till when they were no longer able to detect on the sample surfaces. It was found that the original Wuhan strain survived for 56 hours on the plastic surface. Variants like alpha, beta gamma, delta lasted for 191, 157, 59, and 114 hours respectively.
On human skin, the strain lasted for 8.6 hours, and the later variants between 11 to 19.6 hours. Omicron survived the longest among all the variants both in human skin (21.1 hours) and plastic (more than 8 days). Its survival length is close to the original strain but much higher than its immediate predecessor, the Delta strain.
Researchers also studied the Omicron variant on smooth versus porous surfaces like stainless steel, glass, polypropylene sheets to printing paper and facial tissues. It was found that Omicron survived highest in the glass surface and some traces of it can be recovered even after seven days. Overall omicron was more stable than other strains on all surfaces. The variant survived significantly less time in porous surfaces like facial tissues (30 minutes) and on printing paper (15 minutes).
An earlier study published in Nature in January 2021 also came up with similar conclusions i.e. seven days on nitrile gloves, four days on chemical resistant gloves, although at much lower quantities, 21 days on plastic, and 14 days on stainless steel. The new study, however, is more inclusive as it compares the different variants on different surfaces and human skin.
These studies shed light on how the way it stays on surfaces, soil, skin factors into risk of infection and how knowing more about its survival traits will help in limiting its spread in the future.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/5Zy0gbB
Calcutta High Court orders CBI probe into Birbhum killings, seeks status report by April 7
The Calcutta High Court on Friday handed over the case of violence in West Bengal’s Birbhum, which claimed eight lives, to the Central Bureau of Investigation. While the state government had set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the matter, the HC directed it to hand over case papers and arrested people to CBI. It also asked the central probe agency to file a progress report by April 7.
Reacting to the Calcutta High Court order to transfer the investigation to the CBI, the Trinamool Congress said that the state government was doing an impartial inquiry into the matter. The party denied the allegations of the opposition and added that even party leader has been arrested in the case.
The HC had taken suo moto cognizance of the incident which left eight people, including women and children, dead, following the murder of a deputy gram pradhan, associated with the TMC.
A set of PILs seeking CBI or NIA probe into the incident were also taken up for hearing by the court along with the suo motu petition.
On Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Bogtui village and ordered hunting down of all suspected of involvement, following which the police arrested local Trinamool Congress boss Anarul Hossain from near a hotel in the pilgrimage town of Tarapith.
Banerjee vowed that the police would ensure the strictest punishment for the guilty and none would be spared. She also indicated a larger clean-up of her administration by ordering a “dragnet to unearth secret caches of illicit arms and bombs” across the state.
Congress leader Adhir Chowdhary, whose car was allegedly stopped more than once before reaching Bogtui, alleged that several bodies had disappeared from the site of violence. He said, “She (CM) alleged a big conspiracy behind this incident and that is why she has instructed the police to take strict action. The bodies of two children have gone missing. The CM is trying to suppress the facts.”
A fact-finding team sent by BJP from Delhi and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also visited Bogtui village. Both had been stopped en-route earlier by the police as the chief minister was visiting the spot but were later allowed to proceed. The BJP team, which included former Uttar Pradesh DGP Brij Lal, Mumbai ex-police commissioner Satya Pal Singh and Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar, also assured help to the families of those killed in the violence.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/zfj80rn
Jimmy Kimmel: Ted Cruz ‘Outslimed Himself’ This Week
By BY TRISH BENDIX from NYT Arts https://ift.tt/3j5hBAJ
Thursday, 24 March 2022
Ukraine war top developments: Biden lands in Europe; 7,000 to 15,000 Russian soldiers killed so far, says NATO
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/MibpGgD
Delhi to curb accidents with dedicated bus lanes; Fine, imprisonment for violators
In a bid to curb accidents as well as ease traffic congestion in the national capital, the Delhi government is going to launch an intensive ‘bus lane enforcement drive’ for bus and heavy vehicle drivers. A fine of Rs 10,000 or six-month imprisonment will be imposed on those violating the rules. From April 1, the transport department along with Traffic Police will start this drive on 15 prioritised corridors like Ashram Chowk to Badarpur, Dwarka Mor to Janakpuri, Aurobindo Marg to Andheria Mor, in the first phase. As many as 46 corridors have been identified by the department where drives will be implemented in phases, an IE report said.
Nearly 150 km roads of Delhi will be under the radar of the transport department’s enforcement team. This initiative was announced by the Delhi government in the month of August last year and the PWD created dedicated bus lanes in the national capital and sensitised bus drivers to drive on those lanes only. The PWD, following this, was directed to mark the bus lanes with long-lasting thermoplastic paints as well as properly identify the selected corridors by placing warning signage and boards at suitable areas.
Officials said that the special drive will start from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and the buses and heavy carriage vehicles will be permitted to ply only on the segregated and marked bus lanes. According to an official, during this period, no other vehicle will be allowed to ply in the said bus lanes. Further, during the period from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM, other vehicles may be permitted to ply in bus lanes. However, the official mentioned that the buses and goods carriages will confine as well as ply in the segregated and marked bus lanes for 24 hours.
Buses and other heavy vehicles found plying on the other lanes will be liable for prosecution under section 192-A of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, official said. It prescribes a Rs 10,000 fine, with imprisonment for a term that may be extended to six months. Apart from this, if any vehicle, other than buses, like cars and scooters are found parked on these lanes, they will be towed by the enforcement team and also, a fine will be imposed other than the towing charge.
According to the transport department, there will be two enforcement teams on the ground in two shifts in order to enforce traffic discipline on bus lanes. Moreover, the teams will have cranes for impounding vehicles on dedicated lanes. The enforcement team will also record videos as well as click pictures of the vehicles violating rules as evidence. The two bus operators of the city bus transportation fleet- DTC and DIMTC, have been directed to sensitise drivers of the DTC and cluster buses to restrict/ply their buses only in the earmarked bus lanes in order to avoid challan/prosecution, the official added.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/R4zWYvf
Why Are Rolex Watches Even More Expensive Right Now?
By BY ALEX WILLIAMS from NYT Style https://ift.tt/KzvS719
Man who shot himself after blaming a cop for harassment, dies
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/QfzoI4s
Word of the Day: in absentia
By BY THE LEARNING NETWORK from NYT The Learning Network https://ift.tt/MDlwXZg
Wednesday, 23 March 2022
NEET UG 2022 Registration: Advantages of removing upper age limit, documents required, and more details
The registration process for the NEET UG 2022 is going to begin soon. Students who want to take the medical entrance examination will have to register on the official website- neet.nta.nic.in , which has now been revamped by the National Testing Agency. Before applying for NEET-UG, candidates can access the information bulletin from the website and read all the instructions related to the exam. Students should keep their documents handy while filling out their application forms. The documents that are required for NEET 2022 application are listed here.
Documents Required:
– Class 10 passed certificate in PDF format (file size: 50 kb – 300 kb)
– Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS etc) in PDF format (file size: 50 kb – 300 kb)
– PwBD certificate in PDF format (file size: 50 kb – 300 kb)
– Signature in JPG format (size: 4 kb – 30 kb)
– Passport size photograph in JPG format (size: 10 kb – 200 kb)
– Postcard size photograph in JPG format (Size: 10 kb – 200 kb)
– Left-hand thumb impression in JPG format (or right-hand thumb impression may be used in case of any eventuality of left-hand thumb being unavailable) (size: 10 kb-200 kb)
– Any documentary proof of citizenship certificate in PDF format (or an Embassy certificate) (Size: 50 kb – 300 kb)
The National Medical Commission (NMC) had recently announced the removal of the fixed upper age limit for appearing in the NEET-UG examination. Earlier, the upper age cap put by the CBSE was 25 years for unreserved candidates and 30 years for reserved candidates. Now, candidates who are 18 years of age as of December 21 of the year of the exams are eligible to appear for the NEET UG exam. Although there are many advantages to this move, there are also disadvantages. For example, the cut-off will remain high and can go higher. Let’s dive into both aspects one by one.
Advantages of upper age limit removal:
– With the age limit criteria gone, many more aspirants will be able to appear for the exam. It won’t be too late for those who realize late in their lives that they want to become doctors.
– The move will help increase the doctor-patient ratio.
– Candidates can now give the exam as many times even after taking admission to other courses.
– Since potential aspirants can take the exam again, it is definitely going to strengthen and benefit the healthcare system of our country.
Disadvantages of upper age limit removal:
– More candidates would mean more competition for those who want to give the exam.
– It will be even more difficult for freshers who are just out of school to compete with experienced candidates taking the exam/course.
One thing is for sure, the decision will surely impact the healthcare system of India one way or the other.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/nj0osGP
Word of the Day: circumlocution
By BY THE LEARNING NETWORK from NYT The Learning Network https://ift.tt/Aoq7N6Q
Video of pick-up truck caught in Texas tornado leaves netizens stunned
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/I8pveAP
‘Delhi world’s most polluted city’: Congress calls for overhaul of National Clean Air Programme
The Congress party today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government after a new report found Delhi to be the world’s most polluted city for the fourth consecutive year. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the ‘National Clean Air Programme’ has become ‘No Clean Air Possible’ and called for a complete overhaul of the policy.
“63 Indian cities in the list of 100 most polluted places on earth. Delhi is the world’s most polluted capital for the fourth consecutive year. NCAP-National Clean Air Programme has become NCAP-No Clean Air Possible. NCAP needs to be completely overhauled!” said Ramesh in a tweet in which he shared the report.
“Delhi is in bad condition under the rule of Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal. World Air Quality Report-2021; Delhi most polluted capital in the world…” said the Congress party.
Delhi has topped the list of most polluted cities for the fourth consecutive year in 2021. The air quality report also showed that 35 of the 50 cities with the worst air quality were in India.
The World Air Quality Report 2021 was prepared by the Swiss organization IQAir. It was released globally yesterday. The report surveyed the air quality data from 6,475 cities in 117 countries. Capital of Bangladesh Dhaka ranked second in the list followed by N’Djamena in Chad, Dushanbe in Tajikistan and Muscat in Oman.
What is concerning for India is that according to the report, Delhi saw a 14.6 per cent increase in PM2.5 concentrations in 2021 with the levels rising to 96.4 micrograms per cubic meter from 84 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020. The report also revealed that 48 per cent of Indian cities exceeded 50 µg/m3 air quality level which is well over 10 times the WHO guidelines.
Other Indian cities in the list include Bhiwandi, Ghaziabad, Jaunpur, Noida, Bahawalpur, Bagpat, Hisar, and Faridabad.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/70It8cd
Late Night Sees Through Republican Questions for Ketanji Brown Jackson
By BY TRISH BENDIX from NYT Arts https://ift.tt/UKxLYiW
Tuesday, 22 March 2022
Ashok Leyland’s EV arm says it has order book of over 500 e-buses
Switch Mobility, the electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary of Hinduja flagship Ashok Leyland (ALL), said it has established a presence in the UK, India and now Continental Europe, with an order book of over 500 electric buses (e-buses). It has covered more than 50 million km with its current electric products, and the development of its production site in Spain is a key milestone in its global growth strategy.
Andy Palmer, vice-chairman & CEO of Switch Mobility, said: “The past year has been one of considerable progress for Switch. We have established a presence in the UK, India and now Continental Europe, have an order book of over 500 electric buses and have covered more than 50 million km with our current electric products. Beginning the development of our site in Spain is a key milestone in our global growth strategy.” Switch Mobility recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the upcoming creation of its new advanced manufacturing facility in Valladolid, Spain. With construction set to commence shortly and the first buses expected to be produced within 12 months, the 35-acre site in Valladolid — Switch’s first in continental Europe — will comprise two state of the art production lines and will be entirely carbon neutral from inception. With €100 million of investment planned for the site over the next decade, the facility will play a key role in rejuvenating the Soto de Medinilla area around Valladolid as well as creating an estimated 7,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region.
Dheeraj Hinduja, chairman of Switch Mobility, said: “With a rich automotive history, strong supply chain and availability of engineering talent, Valladolid is an ideal location for the facility, and I would like to express my appreciation to the national and regional governments for supporting the project. I am hopeful that this facility will address the increasing requirements in Europe, which is poised for significant growth in the EV Mobility segment.”
Phase 1 of the new development will house production of Switch’s new 12 metre bus, designed for the European market. Phases 2 and 3 will add battery-assembly capabilities and production of Switch’s zero-carbon light commercial vehicle from 2024 onwards.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/t5i6CTl
Word of the Day: demeanor
By BY THE LEARNING NETWORK from NYT The Learning Network https://ift.tt/VGnOdfN
China Eastern crash is rare disaster for state-run airlines
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/sGd0Alb
Zomato to soon start instant 10-minute food delivery
Online food delivery platform Zomato will soon start instant 10-minute food delivery, company founder Deepinder Goyal said on Monday. In a blog post, he however said the company is not putting any pressure on its delivery partners to deliver food faster but will achieve the target by relying on a dense finishing stations’ network, which is located in close proximity to high-demand customer neighbourhoods.
Explaining why the company is getting into instant delivery, Goyal said, “Customers are increasingly demanding quicker answers to their needs. They don’t want to plan, and they don’t want to wait. In fact, sorting restaurants by fastest delivery time is one of the most used features on the Zomato app.” After becoming a frequent customer of Blinkit, one of Zomato’s investments in the quick commerce space, Goyal said he started feeling that the 30-minute average delivery time by Zomato is too slow, and will soon have to become obsolete.
“If we don’t make it obsolete, someone else will,” he asserted. Sharing how the 10-minute deliveries will be achieved, he said, “Each of our finishing stations will house bestseller items (~20-30 dishes) from various restaurants based on demand predictability and hyperlocal preferences. Luckily, the experience of having delivered 1.35 billion orders across India over the years makes our job a little easier. ” Clarifying that Zomato doesn’t put any pressure on delivery partners to deliver food faster to fulfil our quick delivery promise, he said,”Nor do we penalise delivery partners for late deliveries.” “The delivery partners are not informed of the promised time of delivery. Time optimisation does not happen on the road, and does not put any lives at risk.” Sophisticated dish-level demand prediction algorithms, and future-ready in-station robotics are employed to ensure that food is sterile, fresh and hot at the time it is picked by the delivery partner, he added. Goyal further said,”We are going to pilot Zomato Instant with four stations in Gurugram from next month onwards.”
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/muTX7M9
Zelensky condemns Russian attacks on protesters and children.
By BY JESUS JIMÉNEZ from NYT World https://ift.tt/kQJsGzZ
Monday, 21 March 2022
Indian logistics sector is expected to reach $380 Billion mark by 2025 — Nilesh Ghule, TruckBhejo
The Indian logistics industry is growing, especially after facing a slowdown in the last two years. Adding to the growth are the new policies that are set to give the industry a much-needed push. Better connectivity, dedicated freight corridors, tech-driven warehousing are some key highlights as part of the ‘PM Gati Shakti’ plan announced during the Union Budget 2022 earlier this year.
To better understand how the policies will help the logistics sector grow and to understand the key factors that will help boost this industry, Express Mobility spoke to Nilesh Ghule, the CEO and Co-Founder of TruckBhejo.
Excerpts
What is the logistics industry outlook for 2022? How different do you expect it to be compared to 2021?
The Indian Logistics Sector has been growing at a rapid pace and is expected to reach USD 380 Bn mark by 2025. Constant growth in online buying and thus e-commerce business, the government’s focus on localised manufacturing through “Make in India” drive, and the onset of many D2C businesses – all these augurs well for the Indian Logistics Industry in 2022 and beyond.
I think the adoption of technology by the smaller fleet owners, who own 1-5 vehicles and form the majority of the logistics industry, will go up substantially. It also seems evident, that due to D2C business models expected to rise, the industry will move towards smaller-sized shipments and faster deliveries.
How will the recent budget announcement help the logistics sector?
The impetus given by the government to build the infrastructure in the recent budget is the biggest positive for the logistics sector. The keen focus on building connectivity through a better road network, dedicated freight corridors, tech-driven warehousing along with Multimodal logistics parks, all these efforts indicate that the age-old perception of “logistics is just about transportation” is changing.
It is more widely believed that logistics is a specialised function, critical to economic growth and that is probably one of the reasons why a 7 Engine Plan called “PM Gati shakti” has been put in action. All these efforts will help the sector immensely in reducing logistics costs. And this will open up different opportunities for the new age tech-based start-ups like TruckBhejo to take a rightful place in the scheme of things.
What are your views on the National Logistics Policy and what according to you is the key factor that will help the industry grow?
Over the last many years, the Indian logistics industry has been marred by its inefficiencies, and that shows in the higher logistics cost which is ~14% of GDP, much higher than most of the other comparable economies where the average logistics costs are 8%-10% of GDP.
The National Logistics Policy (NLP) is the right step in the direction of removing those inefficiencies. The introduction of GST has already brought some efficiency to the system, which can be seen in the reduced turnaround time for trucks by 18-20%. Geotagging of warehouses and encouragement of “IoT” in warehousing will be another factor that will remove inefficiencies further.
Industrial inspection of warehouses by drones is likely to be one more thing that will make processes faster. For all these reasons and many more, it’s imperative that NLP is put into action to spur the growth of the logistics sector.
What are your views on the Gati Shakti scheme and how will this benefit the sector?
Better Infrastructure, improved logistics, and higher economic growth are directly correlated. Gati Shakti scheme is what our current state of logistics Sector warranted for. Both the sector and economy needed a transformative approach, which Gati Shakti Scheme endeavours to provide by having 7 distinctly identified and defined engines namely roads, railways, airports, ports, public transportation, waterways, and logistics infrastructure.
The logistics sector in India is highly fragmented with most of the marginal players having no access to technology and digitalisation, and hence “Unified Logistics Interface Program” (ULIP) becomes a very important cog in the wheel. For a large part of the logistics industry, ULIP will help in reducing time and costs, in well-organised inventory management along with fewer efforts in the documentation.
Lastly, 4 Multimodal Logistics Parks, 100 PM Gati Cargo Terminals, and increased speed of goods train by railways, all these will only augment the sector.
What are some improvements that can be made to improve the logistics sector but were missed out in your opinion?
While the budget has hit the right nails on most of the places, it is always like “yeah dil mange more”. Some tax breaks and capital impetus would have been welcomed by the industry. Capital subsidies could also have been given on adoption of technology & digitalisation by smaller logistics players.
The logistics industry has been demanding to bring fuels under GST to eliminate the price variations across states and reduce the cost of fuel. Nevertheless, the Budget has scored on most of the points for the logistics sector and the sector is well placed and poised for growth.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/3jlxocm
What to Watch as Jackson’s Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings Begin
By BY CARL HULSE from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/m0Xy7c2
‘Kremlin’s dragon’: Ramzan Kadyrov and the Chechen forces’ role in Russia’s war against Ukraine
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/RIzBgwH
Indian Railways move to boost local craft! Tirupati to be 1st SCR station to implement One Station One Product
Indian Railways ‘One Station One Product’ Concept: Tirupati station to become South Central Railways’ first station to implement ‘One Station One Product’. In Union Budget 2022-23, the government announced the Concept of “One station one Product”. This concept’s main objective is to make each railway station a promotional hub as well as showcase destination for a local product. The move is expected to give a major boost to local industries by providing enhanced livelihood and welfare of tribals, local artisans, potters, weavers or handloom weavers, etc. The stations will act as a marketing channel in form of an earmarked stall through which the local item distinct to the particular region will be sold, according to South Central Railways.
Under ‘One Station One Product’, earmarked space will be provided at the platforms of railway stations for setting up of stalls for marketing and promotion of local food items, artifacts, handicrafts, handlooms, garments, leather products, local toys, instruments, traditional appliances, processed or semi-processed food items, etc., distinct to a particular area. Accordingly, the Railway Board has advised selecting one railway station on each zone for the implementation of this concept, initially as a pilot project for 15 days. As such, South Central Railways’ Tirupati station has been identified as the zone’s first railway station for the implementation of this concept on a pilot basis for 15 days, starting from 25 March 2022.
According to South Central Railways, the surrounding areas of the Tirupati station are famous for Kalamkari art and textiles. The railway station, accordingly, has been identified for promoting Kalamkari Sarees and Textiles. Additionally, various other products can also be showcased or sold at the railway station, if the products are indigenous to that area, like Wood Crafting products, etc., the zone added. These stalls at station platforms will be allotted on payment of a registration fee of Rs 500 approximately per day.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/CaLZ6yq
Biden plans to travel to Europe in a diplomatic push against Russia.
By BY AUSTIN RAMZY from NYT World https://ift.tt/HnPoQFb
Sunday, 20 March 2022
What are new-age career options in finance
By professor Supriya Sehgal
The best way to succeed in career is to find your interest, build your skills around it and then join an organization that could fulfill the same.
Choosing a career becomes an extremely important task involved with multiple wise decisions when you have to take care of your interests and academic qualifications simultaneously. In order to excel, one should explore different career options and opportunities available in the market and then align well so that there is no disruption in the career choices students make for a long run. Finance is one of the most important and crucial business areas that offer an array of career options. It is one of those professional areas that require a person possessing a high skill set and values to sustain successfully in the financial sector.
Hence, students and graduates should have a clear understanding of what the finance industry has to offer and how they can make the most out of all the prominent career options available.
Below-mentioned are the most important financial career backgrounds that one can excel well into after becoming its part:
Public Accounting
Finance, as a broad industry, comprises recording and maintenance of the flow of money throughout for a public or private company. Public accountants are responsible for creating an ecosystem that helps companies cut down on expenses, improve financial health and enhance the overall revenue. As an accountant, you can also work on in-house projects to maintain a proper financial health of the organization and also help them achieve their long term financial goals.
Moreover, there are many accounting firms that offer feasible assistance in auditing and tax consulting along with streamlining their financial operations with respect to their government and private partners existing all around the world.
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance is basically an integral part and also the subdivision of finance which helps in providing funds for business related activities. The major areas that corporate finance deals with are capital restructuring, funding for multiple sources, and planning/deciding for company related investments.
It also includes a critical set of job responsibilities like balancing risk and profitability post analyzing economic trends. Also, it covers fund management and selection of investment portfolios. Graduates can be hired in junior capacities in this sector also depending upon their level of education and experience.
Risk Management
The risk management professionals should have a knack to study and identify the market risks while comprehending the poor investment strategies and outcomes. These professionals are responsible for strategically putting forward a plan that promotes minimization of risks and boosting the returns. Graduates looking forward to making their careers in the risk management sector should be able to use their mathematical and analytical skills in order to advise multiple clients for a wide range of business matters.
Risk management is a sector that is in high demand in the entire financial services industry. It employs professionals in the capacity of analysts, managers, consultants and advisors. If you seek risk management as your full time career then you must complete an advanced degree (MBA or PG Diploma in Risk Management) and then begin your journey.
Commercial Banking
This particular segment of finance provides multiple high value services to the individuals as well as the corporate. You can choose from an array of options including services related to savings/current bank accounts, debit/credit cards to personal, home and other kinds of loans. Commercial Banking offers multiple roles but requires different skill sets for each type of career option. The most promising ones are account manager, trust officer, bank teller, credit analyst and branch manager.
You should also possess great communication skills as commercial banking requires one to maintain relationships with existing bank customers and also find new ones to keep the bank economy up and running. Most importantly, it turns out to be an n attractive career opportunity for young management graduates and aspirants as this particular sector provides much decent remuneration under constructive yet suitable working hours.
Conclusion
Finance related career options are evolving as everything is shifting towards a digital space. Hence, you, as a young aspirant, should keep a futuristic approach and a willingness to learn efficiently and help yourself as well as the organization grow.
The author is dean outreach at JK Business School.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/2u7xcib
On Eve of Confirmation Hearings, G.O.P. Steps Up Attacks on Jackson
By BY CARL HULSE from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/ECOV2sr
Sunday Long Reads: Indian racer Jehan Daruvala, book on India-China relationship, flowering season, and more
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/fM4hx1s
Gold ETFs log Rs 248-cr outflow in Feb as investors prefer equity funds
Gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) witnessed a net outflow of Rs 248 crore in February, making it the second consecutive month of withdrawals as investors preferred equities over other segments on record SIP flows. Net outflows from the gold ETFs were at Rs 452 crore in the month of January. Prior to that, the asset class had seen a net investment of Rs 313 crore, according to the data of Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi).
Despite the outflows, the category witnessed an increase in net assets under management (AUM) of gold ETFs to Rs 18,727 crore at the end of February from Rs 17,839 crore in January-end. Also, the segment saw a surge in the number of folios by 3.09 lakh to 37.74 lakh during the period under review.
This move could be directed towards gold assets being considered as a tool for diversification of the portfolio by the investors and a hedge against market volatility, Priti Rathi Gupta, Founder, LXME, said.
She attributed the latest outflow from gold ETFs to two factors — investors could be diverting their investments from gold instruments to equity as a portfolio rebalancing strategy due to the attractive returns garnered by the equity markets. Also, investors view this market correction as an opportunity to enter the markets.
“Secondly, given the rise in prices of gold, traders may have booked the profits and exited their trades for managing their margin money for trade in other asset classes,”she added.
Kavitha Krishnan, Senior Analyst – Manager Research, Morningstar India, said that investors have almost always favoured gold as an asset that can be used to mitigate risks and diversify their investments. Over time, the rising prices of gold and the increasing appeal around the commodity has led to a lot of investors choosing to invest in gold ETF’s. However, the category has been witnessing outflows for a second month in a row.
“With equities garnering the most flows and SIP (systematic investment plan) touching record highs, investors seem to prefer this segment over the others, including gold ETFs. Moreover, investors also seem to be booking profits by redeeming their investments, given the uptick in gold prices,” she added.
In the entire 2021, gold ETFs attracted Rs 4,814 crore primarily due to firming of inflation and elevated market valuations. The inflow was lower compared to Rs 6,657 crore seen in 2020. Gold ETF, which aims to track the domestic physical gold price, are passive investment instruments that are based on gold prices and invest in gold bullion.
In short, gold ETFs are units representing physical gold which may be in paper or dematerialised form. One gold ETF unit is equal to 1 gram of gold and is backed by physical gold of very high purity. They combine the flexibility of stock investment and the simplicity of gold investments.
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/HtCIpzS
Saturday, 19 March 2022
Shankersinh Vaghela: ‘If Ahmed Patel had been alive, G-23 would not have happened’
from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/Gd2i7AJ
Bhagwant Mann’s Cabinet: 10 ministers take oath including eight first time MLAs
Punjab Ministers List 2022: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today inducted 10 ministers in his cabinet including one women minister. Those who took oath as the cabinet minister include Harpal Singh Cheema, Baljit Kaur, Harbhajan Singh, Lal Chand, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Laljit Singh Bhullar, Bram Shanker Jimpa, Harjot Singh Bains and Vijay Singla. Of these 10 ministers, eight are first-time MLAs. Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath of office and secrecy to the ministers at Punjab Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh.
On the other hand, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also decided to nominate Kultar Singh Sandhwan as Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The newly inducted ministers will assume charge in the Punjab Civil Secretariat later today and the first cabinet meeting of the AAP government will be held in the afternoon.
There are 18 berths in the cabinet, including the chief minister. Of the ten, five MLAs represent the Malwa region, four Majha and one legislator is from Doaba. Four MLAs represent reserve constituencies–Dirba, Jandiala, Malout and Bhoa. The ministers include Harpal Singh Cheema, a second-time legislator from Dirba and the party’s Dalit face. He was also the Leader of the Opposition in the previous Assembly. Two-time Barnala MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer has also found a berth in the Mann-led cabinet.
Other MLAs are Dr Baljit Kaur, Harbhajan Singh from Jandiala, Dr Vijay Singla from Mansa, Lal Chand from Bhoa, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from Ajnala, Laljit Singh Bhullar from Patti, Brahm Shanker from Hoshiarpur and Harjot Bains from Anandpur Sahib. Cheema, an advocate by profession, had defeated Shiromani Akali Dal’s Gulzar Singh Moonak by a margin of 50,655 votes. He was first elected as an MLA in 2017 and also served as a member of the Assembly committee on the welfare of SCs, STs and BCs.
Meet Hayer, president of the AAP’s youth wing, defeated SAD nominee Kulwant Singh Keetu by a margin of 37,622 votes from the Barnala seat. The lone woman who found ministerial berth is Dr Baljit Kaur, who won from Malout. An eye surgeon, 46, she is the daughter of Sadhu Singh, who remained an AAP MP from Faridkot from 2014 to 2019.
She joined AAP after resigning from her government job at the Muktsar civil hospital. During election meetings, she had even examined eye patients. Kaur defeated SAD nominee Harpreet Singh by 40,261 votes from Malout in the Muktsar district.
Dr Vijay Singla, 52, won from Mansa, where he defeated popular Punjabi singer and Congress candidate Shubhdeep Singh, also called Sidhu Moosewala, by a huge margin of 63,323 votes. Singla is a dentist and did Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Punjabi University, Patiala.
Harjot Bains has been elected from the Anandpur Sahib constituency. He defeated former speaker and Congress candidate Rana K P Singh. Bains, a lawyer by profession, had unsuccessfully contested from Sahnewal in 2017. Bains is a former president of the party’s youth wing.
Laljit Singh Bhullar became MLA from the Patti seat. He defeated political stalwart Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, who is the son-in-law of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. Bhullar joined AAP in 2019.
Harbhajan Singh won from Jandiala after defeating Punjab Congress working president Sukhwinder Singh Danny. Harbhajan had unsuccessfully contested from the seat in 2017
Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal was elected MLA from Ajnala. He defeated SAD candidate Amarpal Singh. Dhaliwal had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Amritsar. Lal Chand Kataruchakk, who was president of the party’s SC wing, won from Bhoa seat in Pathankot. He trounced Congress candidate Joginder Pal.
Bram Shanker Jimpa has been elected from the Hoshiarpur seat. He defeated former minister and Congress nominee Sunder Sham Arora. Earlier, the names of Aman Arora, Baljinder Kaur and Sarvjit Kaur Manuke, who are two-time AAP MLAs, were also doing the rounds for ministerial berths.
Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit had on Wednesday administered the oath of office and secrecy to Bhagwant Mann in a ceremony at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
The AAP bagged 92 seats in the 117-member Punjab assembly, decimating the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party combine, and the BJP-Punjab Lok Congress-SAD (Sanyukt) alliance.
(With PTI Inputs)
from | The Financial Express https://ift.tt/hQlHnoa