7th Pay Commission payout likely to be delayed 2-3 months

8:05 PM

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National

25th June 2016 Brexit fallout may force Modi govt to delay 'salary increment'. Amid all the implications of Brexit on India, something that may stand out is a strong possibility of the delay of much-awaited payout of 7th Pay Commission Commission for another 2-3 months.

Earlier reports said that Government could implement Seventh Pay Commission from August 1. It was said that Central government Employees would get increment in their July salary and six months arrears in the month of October.

The linger may result in wake of increased volatility in the markets as a result of Britain's exit from the European Union. For the markets to re-stabilize, it may take another 2-3 months. The same period also awaits the next bi-monthly RBI Monetary Policy (of the outgoing RBI Governor) which may most likely see interest rates remain intact. Even a slight hike holds adequate possibility.

This talked about tenure is critical as amid the already happening exodus from domestic equity markets, load of huge 7th Pay Commission payout on the government exchequer can further jeopardize its fiscal health.

As per Zee News, "In order to stabilize overall outflows from the domestic equity markets, government needs to adopt wait-and-watch policy for another quarter before thinking of implementing the payout as any haste can further increase volatility in the market".

On Friday, Britain voted to quit the European Union after 43 years of membership, throwing the world markets in a tailspin and leaving European leaders worried over how to stem a rising Eurosceptic tide.
The vote rattled Indian financial markets too, shaving over 1,000 points, or 4 per cent, off a key equities index, while pulling the rupee just below the 68 mark to the dollar.

Both Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan sought to calm the markets and said there was no cause for panic as India's economic fundamentals remained strong and along with other macro indicators.

"We are well prepared to deal with the short and medium term Brexit consequence -- strongly committed to our macro-economic framework with focus on stability," Jaitley tweeted from Beijing.

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Sachin Tendulkar's encouragement words for Shiva Thapa

10:17 PM

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Video

23rd June 2016 The lone Indian boxer to have qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics so far, Shiva Thapa have received a vedio where Sachin Tendulkar have some supporting words for him in the popular social media. The post read "It is the biggest experience ever for any athlete to represent their nation at Olympics".A huge shout out to Shiva Thapa on his ‪#‎RoadtoRio‬. Jee jaan laga dena!"  ‪#‎AgainstAllOdds‬ Indian Olympic Association. India had gone with a 13-member squad and only Shiva qualified for the Olympics so far.

In a reaction to this gesture from the God of Cricket Shiva replied "Thank you Sir for your motivating words." This is the second time that Sachin have actually made a video for Shiva Thapa. The first time Sachin made video for Shiva was when  he replied to a question asked by Thapa in a Twitter chat, wished the 22-year-old the very best for his second Olympics. “Firstly, all the very best for the Rio Olympics. We are with you. We are supporting you. Don’t think about the pressure. Just think about the process, results will follow,” said Tendulkar (Details here Sachin Tendulkar wishes Shiva Thapa good luck for Rio Olympics 2016 )

Watch the video
In the time when boxing in India has been facing a lot of problems with the lack of a federation these words from Sachin have come as a ray of hope.

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Sushila Sonar's low cost electric Wheelchair

12:18 PM

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science news

Writes Sanjog Chamling

23rd June 2016 Arunachal Pradesh: Sushila Sonar, an Indian Gorkha, who recently won Gold for India in the International Taekwondo Championship held at Bhutan (Read here - Gorkhas Daughter wins Gold and Bronze in International Taekwondo Championship) has given us yet another reason  to be proud. Sushila, a student of BSc Interior Design from  Arunachal Pradesh has designed low cost electric wheelchair which is the hope for the physically challenged and elderly.They will no longer have to be at the mercy of someone to move from one place to another.And they will have no reason to compromise their dignity. she said.

She did her graduation from JD Institute of Fashion Technology Guwahaty. She believes that, her low cost electric wheel chair will be of great help who cannot afford expensive wheelchairs in the market.

Sushila Sonar an Indian Gorkha with her wheelchair

She was inspired to make such a wheelchair when she saw her friend's mother who is partially paralyzed."I call it a 'magic wheels' since it gives mobility to those who are otherwise dependent on others. I recon it gives more confidence to people." she added.

Sushila Sonar's interview
Ms. Sushila Sonar, a Gorkha resident of Arunachal from Naharlagun came up with a brilliant initiative of making low cost electric wheel chair out of  waste products for the Physically Handicapped people. The 'migic wheels' costs Rs 20,000 which is the cheapest so far available in the market.The avarage cost of the powered wheelchair in the market cost from Rs 60,000 to Rs10,00,000 Sonar said.

Sushila Sonar's low cost electric Wheelchair

" Architecture is not an inspirational business, it's a rational procedure to do sensible and hopefully beautiful things in Life "

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India launches record 20 satellites ISRO creates history

9:31 PM

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science news

Sriharikota: India successfully put into orbit its own earth observation satellite Cartosat-2 and 19 other satellites, including one belonging to the Google company Terra Bella, USA, on Wednesday morning. With this, India successfully completed yet another multiple satellite launch in a single rocket mission. Exactly at 9.26 am, the PSLV rocket standing 44.4 metres tall and weighing 320 tons tore into the morning skies with fierce orange flames at its tail.

Gathering speed every second, the rocket raced towards the heavens amid loud cheers from ISRO officials and the media at the rocket port here. At the rocket mission control room, Indian space scientists at ISRO were glued to their computer screens watching the rocket escaping the Earth’s gravitational pull.

Soon after the launch, a beaming ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said the mission was a success and that the new-generation Cartosat was in place. The rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle’s (PSLV) main cargo was India's 725.5 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for Earth observation with a design life of five years.

ISRO creates history, successfully launches record 20 satellites

This satellite is similar to the earlier Cartosat-2, 2A and 2B. The other 19 satellites weighing around 560 kgs were from US, Canada, Germany and Indonesia as well as one satellite each from Chennai's Sathyabama University and College of Engineering, Pune.

The images sent by Cartosat satellite will be useful for cartographic, urban, rural, coastal land use, water distribution and other applications. According to ISRO, the 110 kg SkySat Gen2-1 belonging to Terra Bella, a Google company, is a small earth imaging satellite capable of capturing sub-metre resolution imagery and high definition video.

The Planet Lab’s Dove Satellites are also Earth imaging satellites. A total of 12 Dove satellites, each weighing 4.7 kg, were carried in this mission inside three QuadPack dispensers, ISRO said. The PSLV rocket also put into orbit the 85 kg M3MSat from Canada. The technology demonstration mission is jointly funded and managed by Defence Research and Development Canada and the Canadian Space Agency.

ISRO record launch 20 satellites

The other satellites launched are: 120 kg LAPSN-A3 of Indonesia, the 130 kg BIROS, from German Aerospace Centre, Germany and the 25.5 kg GHGSat-D, Canada. Just over 17 minutes into the flight the PSLV rocket ejected Cartosat at an altitude of around 515 km.

It was followed by two other Indian satellites — the 1.5 kg Sathyabamasat from Sathyabama University that would collect data on green house gases and the 1 kg Swayam satellite from College of Engineering, Pune, to provide point-to-point messaging services to the HAM radio community.

The whole mission got over in around 26 minutes. It was the first time that ISRO launched 20 satellites with one single rocket mission. In 2008, the ISRO had launched 10 satellites with the PSLV rocket.

With the success of Wednesday’s rocket mission, India has successfully launched 74 satellites for international customers.

8 Things to Know about the Record Launch of 20 Satellites

• 1. The total weight of all 20 satellites carried onboard PSLV C-34 was about 1,288 kg.
• 2. The 727 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite is the primary satellite in this mission.
• 3. The 320 tonne PSLV C-34 carried 17 foreign small satellites from Canada, Indonesia, Germany and the US.
• 4. The foreign satellites include LAPAN-A3 from Indonesia; Brios from Germany; M3MSat and GHSSat-D from Canada; SkySat Gen 2-1 and 12 Dove satellites from the United States.
• 5. The 110 kg SkySat Gen2-1 is a small Earth imaging satellite designed and built by Terra Bella, a Google company.
• 6. Each of the 12 Dove satellites weighs around 4.7 kg. They are earth imaging satellite developed by US-based Planet Labs.
• 7. PSLV C-34 also carried two student satellites.
• 8. The PSLV placed the satellites in the designated polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) in about 30 minutes after the launch.

Via deccanchronicle

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Two Indians among 25 killed in Kabul terrorist attack

8:05 PM

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terrorism news

“We have learnt that 2 Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa & Govind Singh from Dehradun, died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted late on Monday night.

The Taliban and the Islamic State both claimed the first attack, which killed 14 security guards, including the Indians, working for the Canadian embassy in Kabul in a massive blast that left their yellow minibus spattered with blood.

Two Indians were among 25 people killed in a suicide blast in Kabul Monday. Officials said they worked for a private security company, Sabre International, and were probably deployed at the Canadian embassy. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast, which also killed 14 Nepalese guards working for the embassy. A suicide bomber on foot had targeted a mini bus transporting them.

Within hours, a second blast went off inside the vehicle of MP Ataullah Faizani in Chehlsitoon area, injuring him.

The Indian government is working with its Afghan counterpart to repatriate their bodies at the earliest, Swarup said without giving other details. MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “Ganesh Thapa and Govind Singh from Dehradun died in the blast. The government is in touch with their families and is working to repatriate their mortal remains.”

An injured Nepalese security guard in Kabul - Source: AP

Soon after a Taliban spokesman on Twitter claimed the attack, the Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan released a competing claim in which it named and pictured the alleged bomber, according to the SITE monitoring group. An Afghan intelligence source said officials were investigating the IS claim, which was denied by the Taliban.

Police said the attack on the security guards was carried out by a suicide bomber on foot on a key road leading east out of Kabul towards Jalalabad. The interior ministry said in a statement that five Nepali citizens and four Afghans were wounded. The Canadian embassy confirmed the “cowardly” attack in a tweet and said it had employed the guards.

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7th Pay Commission Bill Pass with Merge 50% DA

12:38 AM

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National

18th Jun 2016 Good News for Central Government Employee: 7th Pay Commission Bill Pass with Merge 50% DA. Waiting for all central government employees is over by declaring this good news. 50 percentages DA is merge in Basic pay is finally accepted by central government of India. This will affect form 01-01-2016.

Highlights of 7th Pay Commission Benefits

1. Minimum Pay is 21000 per month.
2. There is no Grade pay system. Only pay scale is there.
3. Retirement Age is 60 years or 33 year of service which is first it is applicable. Read Full Article
4. This salary Increment is implemented from 01-01-2016. This will be effective from 01 August 2016 in central government.
5. Arrears will be given in one installment.
6. The final report by the 13-member Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha may be submitted on June 18.
7. Seventh Pay Commission Panel had recommended 23.55% hike in salary. But now it may be 30% hike said by news.

As per Media Report the secretaries group may recommended a 30 percent increase in minimum and maximum basic pay structures along with doubling of existing rates of allowances and advances.

7th Pay Commission Bill Pass with Merge 50% DA

The 7th Pay Commission had suggested a maximum basic pay of Rs 2,50,000 and a minimum of Rs 18,000. A 30 percent increase would translate into maximum monthly salary of Rs 3,25,000 and minimum at Rs 23,400, respectively.

From 1st August this all recommendation will be implemented. And from this month you will get your new increased salary.

Arrears will be given in in only one installment.

Calculate Your New Pay Scale
Download Above Image.
See your Current Pay scale and Grade Pay. In Last column there is a new Initial Pay as per seventh pay commission. This is expected pay scale and initial salary.

OR

 

Via 7thpaycommission

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5 officers killed as IAF's C-130J Hercules Helicopter Crashes

9:30 PM

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National

In a shocking loss for the (IAF) Indian Air Force, one of its most modern special operations C-130 J aircraft crashed Friday during a low-level, tactical training mission, killing all five crew and destroying the plane.

C-130J Hercules plane inducted into service just last year crashed during
 a training mission Friday. (AP)

The aircraft, inducted in 2010, was commanded by Wing Commander Prashant Joshi, an experienced pilot and the second-in-command of the 77 ‘Veiled Vipers’ squadron. It had three other pilots on board, including one who was undergoing training.

Sources said the C-130 J was part of a two aircraft formation that had taken off from Agra and was to carry out low-level flying training before returning to base. Official and eyewitness accounts said the aircraft apparently grazed a hillock before crashing in a riverbed site 116 km west of Gwalior on the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border.

5 officers killed IAF's C-130J Hercules Helicopter Crash

“The aircraft, numbered KC 3803, was the number two of the formation and was carrying out a tactical flying training mission. The loss of the aircraft was ascertained by the lead aircraft and rescue choppers were sent from Gwalior,” an air force officer told The Indian Express.
What has come as a surprise is that the aircraft was believed to be in good technical condition and did not give out any distress signal before going down. “The crash was sudden and there was no indication from the crew that anything was wrong,” the officer said.

While a court of inquiry that has been ordered will rely on flight data information from its black box as well as the account of the lead aircraft of the formation, the investigation is expected to focus on a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) situation or a sudden loss of control due to a technical or human error, among others.

Accounts from the ground said the aircraft was observed to be flying low and hitting a small hillock before disintegrating and catching fire on a river bed. Local villagers were the first to reach the site and recovered the bodies of the crew who were thrown out of the aircraft after it disintegrated on impact.

The crew has been identified by the air force as Wing Commander Prashant Joshi (Pilot), Wing Commander Raji Nair (Co-pilot), Squadron Leader Kaushik Mishra (Pilot undergoing training), Squadron Leader Ashish Yadav (Navigator) and Warrant Officer KP Singh (Systems Operator).

C-130 J ‘Super Hercules’ aircraft that were inducted starting 2010. The cost of the fleet was $962 million and India is processing an order of six more such aircraft.
the C 130J is known to be a hardy, tough aircraft capable of landing in short, unprepared runways, and the crash has shocked the air force as it was the plane of choice for tough missions.

While the C-130 airframe has been in service since the 1950s, the ‘J’ variant is the latest in the series and is considered to be one of the safest in its class. The only other incident of a C-130J crashing was in March 2012 when a Norwegian air force plane crashed into a mountain range in an accident that was later attributed to air traffic control and pilot error.

Source: indianexpress

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Telangana bill tabled in LS, chaos in the parliament

1:39 PM

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political news

The Lok Sabha turned into a battlefield on Thursday with senior MPs scuffling as home minister Sushilkumar Shinde introduced the Telangana bill around noon. The UPA government struggled to table the bill as expelled Congress MP Lagadapati.

Telangana bill tabled in LS

Rajagopal heightened the drama by spraying pepper spray in the air after being stopped from rushing to the Speaker's chair.

The pepper spray left several parliamentarians, staff and journalists coughing and teary-eyed. Many MPs tried to rush outside to avoid the smell and chemical effects of the spray. 
TDP MP Venugopal Reddy broke the Speaker’s microphone, while TV reports also claimed he brandished a knife during House proceedings. The lawmaker, however, denied the allegation saying he was merely waving the Speaker's mic.

Marshalls stepped in immediately and tried to get medical help for Rajagopal and others while another MP was rushed to the nearby Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in an ambulance that had been kept on standby.

As reported by HT earlier, the entire visitor's gallery was cleared and even the Speaker's Gallery was kept vacant. Journalists were allowed in but only after a thorough security check.

Special ambulances, three in number, were brought to the Parliament complex to meet any emergency situation. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi were absent in Lok Sabha when the government tried to table the bill.

Full Coverage: Telangana, the troubled state

Before the House assembled at noon, several Congress leaders such as P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh and Pallam Raju were seen trying to talk to rebel MPs to dissuade them from unruly behaviour.

Read: Turmoil in Rajya Sabha over Telangana

Meanwhile, normal life came to a grinding halt in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions of Andhra Pradesh due to the shutdown called to protest a possible tabling of Telangana bill in Parliament on Thursday.

Buses of state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) went off the roads in all 13 districts of Seemandhra, as the two regions are collectively called.

Read: 'MPs should introspect over functioning of House'

Shops, business establishments, petrol bunks and educational institutions remained closed in response to the shutdown call given by Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) Association, which represents the government employees in Seemandhra.

YSR Congress party and Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders in Seemandhra have announced support to the shutdown.

Read: Congress expels 6 MPs

The government employees, who are on strike for last one week opposing the proposed bifurcation of the state, and activists of various parties took to streets since early Thursday. They laid siege to APSRTC depots to stop buses from coming out.

Raising slogans in support of united Andhra Pradesh, the protesters also staged road blockades on national and state highways, affecting the movement of vehicles.

Shutdown hit life in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Ongole, Tirupati, Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa and other towns in Seemandhra.

The Union cabinet met on Wednesday to clear, once again, the Andhra Pradesh reorganization bill. The cabinet had earlier cleared the bill for introduction in Rajya Sabha. RS entry for the bill would have kept it alive even if it fails to get passed during this session.

Read: Parliament disruptions make my heart bleed: PM

The government, however, has rejected the possibility of bringing a constitution amendment bill to create Telangana. Although it conceded that the legislation is a ‘money bill’ that requires introduction only in Lok Sabha, the union law ministry replied to Lok Sabha secretariat to explain why this bill does not require a constitutional amendment. The government now plans to pass the bill through a simple majority.

A government source also added, “Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh were created through an ordinary legislation and not by a constitutional amendment bill that requires two-third support in both Houses.”

Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde had recently met President Pranab Mukherjee and vice-president Hamid Ansari to appraise them on the Telangana Bill.

Source:hindustantimes

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Dinosaurs footprints found in Jaisalmer India

11:06 PM

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science news

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan:  A team of foreign and Indian scientists have spotted the footprints of dinosaurs at Thaiat village in Jaisalmer district, sources said today.

Dinosaurs

A team of 34 foreign scientists from a number of countries including France and Germany are camping in Jaisalmer to study fossils of dinosaurs found in sandy desert areas near the city recently.

Dinosaurs' evolution, extinction, and paleo-bio-genography is the centre of their research related to fossils, they added.

Yesterday, the team led by Dr Jan Schlogl of Slovakia observed the footprints in one of the basal rocks of Thaiat scarp section and Professor Gregory Pienkowski of Poland identified the footprints as those of Pterosaurs or the flying dinosaur.

"The first footprint was small, only 5 cm long, but perfectly imprinted on the upper surface of a sandstone bed. Its shape and name is clear - it is called Grallator, a specific name given to the footprint, left by a small predatory dinosaur. The footprint maker was not bigger than an hen", according to the sources.

However, the second foot print was much bigger - about 30 cms long. Such tridactyl footprint (three toes) is named Eurontes giganteus and it must have been left by a much bigger creature, the sources added.

Dr P K Pandey of the Geology Department at University of Rajasthan had already recorded petrosaur bore fragments during the previous years.

Near the Thaiat village on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway there is an outcrop of Jurassic rocks.

Careful geological observation by the team allowed them to interpret ancient environments in which these rocks (once soft sediments) were deposited, according to Dr Pandey.

It could be imagined that a vast coastal zone of which the Jurassic sea would be encroached some 180 million years ago, he added.

These scientists have come to Rajasthan on the sidelines of the 9th International Congress on The Jurassic System, held between January 6-9th, organised by Department of Geology, University of Rajasthan in Jaipur.

Source:ndtv

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IM founder Yasin Bhatkal had reportedly planned to set up a module in Nepal.

11:10 PM

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terrorism news

As the National Investigation Agency (NIA) readies a chargesheet against Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhtar, fresh details have emerged from questioning of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives by the Delhi police special cell. Yasin had reportedly planned to set up a module in Nepal, where he claimed to have recruited around a dozen men and got support of the "like-minded" to finance terror. He had also planned to get the recruits trained by Gorkha Task Force.

IM founder Yasin Bhatkal had reportedly planned to set up a module in Nepal.

The details will be included in the NIA chargesheet. The agency probing the larger conspiracy by IM is also likely to mention the role of Yasin in the 2010 German Bakery blast in Pune.

Yasin, Qateel Siddiqui and Mirza Himayat Baig have been named in an ATS chargesheet in the case. While Qateel was murdered in a Pune jail, Baig was convicted last year. However, after the arrest of Yasin, his counsel moved a higher court demanding a re-investigation by the NIA. He said Yasin had not named Baig during interrogation.

According to details of his interrogation accessed by The Indian Express, Yasin radicalised a few "neo-convert Muslims" in Nepal for jihad. He also claimed to have asked Riyaz about private firms such as Gorkha Task Force, which give similar military training to the "British Army" and "Singapore Police" as in Pakistan, to train the recruits. However, Riyaz cautioned him that if a trained recruit was arrested in India, their purpose would be defeated.

The details also suggest that the IM planned to bring arms and ammunition to Nepal with the help of the ISI. Yasin also told his interrogators that he was trying to obtain citizenship of Nepal and was in the process of procuring a passport with fake documents.

He and Asadullah are in the custody of the Delhi police special cell in connection with the 2010 Jama Masjid terror attack.

Source: indianexpress

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India successfully tested Prithvi-II missile in Odisha

6:31 PM

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technology news

India successfully tested Prithvi-II missile in Odisha, which is Indias indigenously developed nuclear missile, which has a strike range of 350 kms and is capable of carrying warheads of upto 1000 kgs, from a test range. 

India successfully tested Prithvi-II
 missile in Odisha

‘The launch was conducted as a culmination to a strategic training exercise. The aim of this exercise was to validate our readiness by undertaking launches in various contingencies’, said an SFC spokesperson.

Describing the trial of the sophisticated missile as a "complete success", Integrated Test Range Director M V K V Prasad said the launch conducted by the specially formed Strategic Forces Command (SFC) met all the parameters. 

The surface-to-surface missile was test fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the ITR at Chandipur near here at about 0948 hrs. 

"The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch activities were carried out by SFC and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of training exercise," sources said. 

"The missile trajectory was tracked by DRDO radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations located along the coast of Odisha," they said. 

"The downrange teams onboard the ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splashdown," they said. 

Inducted into India's SFC in 2003, Prithvi II, the first missile to be developed by DRDO under India's prestigious IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program) is now a proven technology, a defence source said. 

"The launch was part of a regular training exercise of SFC and monitored by DRDO scientists," the source said. 

Such training launches clearly indicate India's operational readiness to meet any eventuality and also establishes the reliability of this deterrent component of India's Strategic arsenal, the source said. 

Prithvi is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twine engines. 

The last user trial of Prithvi-II missile was successfully carried out from the same base on December 3, 2013.

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Darjeeling should be granted union territory status- Jaswant Singh

12:31 AM

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Sikkim

BJP leader Jaswant Singh Saturday demanded that Darjeeling be accorded the status of a union territory.

Jaswant Singh, the MP from Darjeeling, said the residents of the district are "in no way Bengalis" and the authorities in Delhi and Kolkata must take cognisance of the fact.

Jaswant Singh

"It is very important for the authorities in Delhi and Kolkata to recognise that the inhabitants of Darjeeling are in no fashion and in no way Bengalis and you can't keep them permanently tied to Bengal....," he said post the relaunch of the book "Smash and Grab: Annexation of Sikkim" by Sunanda K. Datta-Ray.

"The answer lies in a union territory. Don't aspire to form a state out of just one district."

He said though an alternative solution is to merge Sikkim and Darjeeling, the primary step should be creation of a union territory out of Darjeeling.

"There is one other possibility but Sikkim won't have it....if Darjeeling and Sikkim could be merged but that's a long-term...you have to take the first step and the first step is the union territory."

He lamented that it was "politically dishonest to splinter Andhra Pradesh...look at the trouble it has caused."

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Sunil Chhetri named 2013 Player of the Year by AIFF

8:56 PM

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sports news

Sunil Chhetri, the Indian national football team captain  was Friday named the 2013 AIFF Player of the Year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at AIFF headquarters, the Football House here.

Sunil Chhetri named 2013 Player of the Year by AIFF

The announcement was made by AIFF president Praful Patel. Chhetri was chosen the winner after voting by Airtel I-League coaches.

Chhetri will be presented a prize of Rs.2 lakh besides a trophy.

The Indian captain, presently India's highest-ever goal-scorer in international football on 43 goals had earlier won the award twice, in 2007 and then in 2011. In the process he joins IM Vijayan to have won the award thrice each.

Oinam Bembem Devi was adjudged the 2013 AIFF Women's Player of the Year. Bembem Devi was the only recipient of the award the sole time it was announced in 2001.

The 33-year-old Bembem Devi will be presented a prize of Rs.1 lakh and a trophy.

AIFF also declared Jeje Lalpekhlua as the 2013 Emerging Player of the Year. The 22-year striker from Mizoram has already donned the national jersey 43 times scoring 14 goals so far.

All the Awards would be presented in an awards night in February organised by FICCI.

Dna

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GTA is a roadblock to Gorkhaland - Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP)

8:42 PM

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political news

The Parliament street in the national capital of Delhi witnessed a chain of police personnel, around 70 in number to stop Gorkhaland protesters from marching into the Parliament yesterday. They started their march from Jantar Mantar, where a two-day Rashtriya Gorkha Bhela was convened by the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) on 18th and 19th December to press for the creation of Gorkhaland.

A memorandum had been prepared by Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, which they wanted to hand over to the PMO, but was rejected. This did not go well with the gathered protesters. They began to shout slogans and decided not to move from the area unless the PMO accepted their memorandum. Due to the vociferous demand of the Gorkhas at Parliament Street, the PMO sent a vehicle to take a four-member delegation of to the Prime Minister's Office at South Block. 

GTA is a roadblock to Gorkhaland

An extract from the memorandum read, ''The government has sidelined the demand for the creation of a state under Article 3 of the Constitution by setting up ineffective and misconceived agencies like the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration , all of which has failed to satisfy the Gorkha people.'' The innocent people of Darjeeling were initially fooled by DGHC and now the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA).
Though, the ruling party in Darjeeling, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has accepted GTA as of now, but Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh outrightly rejects it. Munish Tamang, General Secretary of BGP said, ''GTA is a roadblock to Gorkhaland. As long as GTA exists, the government will only address the problems of GTA and in due process, Gorkhaland loses its voice.''

The four member BGP delegation presented the memorandum to the PMO, copies of which were also given to the Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. It also asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to immediately take steps to start the process of creating the state of Gorkhaland.

Jan Awaaz, CPRM, World Gorkha Foundation, Nepali Samaj Samiti, GRNM, JNU Students, Assam Development along with a number of other such social and political organisations participated in the two-day gathering.

Sankalp Lama, National Convenor for Jan Awaaz said, ''Gorkhaland has been and will always be the only aspiration of all Gorkhas residing in India. The struggles and sacrifices have not been made in favour of an agreement/council. This is a long process involving unrelenting resolve and persistence. The leaders have projected 'andolan' like a calendar event of month long feverish protests, only to let down the people and settle for their own interests.''

The memorandum also decried the attitude of the Central government in ignoring the constant demand for a separate state by the Gorkhas of India. It accused the government of political expediency at a time when it had created Telangana for political dividends. People of Darjeeling feel, if Telangana can be formed, why not Gorkhaland?

merinews.com

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Gorkha National Congregation organized by Bharatia Gorkha Parisangh raises Gorkhaland demand in New Delhi

7:49 PM

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Live News

The two day Gorkha National Congregation organized by Bharatia Gorkha Parisangh to press on the demand for Gorkhaland, kicked off today at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The first day of mass rally being co-organized by Gorkhaland Task Force saw presence of top leaders of BGP and various pro-Gorkhaland political parties along with over a thousand supporters. On the occasion BGP national president Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, executive president CP Giri, General Secretary Pravakar Dewan, members Sukhman Moktan, Munish Tamang, Arun Upadhayay and R Moktan along with CPRM General Secretary Taramani Rai, GRNM president Dawa Pakhrin among others shared the dais. Addressing the supporters, who had come from Delhi, Uttarakhand, Himachal, Haryana, Punjap, UP, Jharkhand, Sikkim, West Bengal and North Eastern states, the BGP leadership pressed the central government must address the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland in a just manner. 

Gorkha National Congregation organized by Bharatia Gorkha Parisangh 

BGP President Pradhan asserted the Gorkha community as a linguistic minority is facing political insecurity and identity crisis and only the formation of Gorkhaland can guarantee an enduring solution to this problem. He urged the political parties and apolitical organizations to come into unison with sincerity to take the demand ahead pressing that only a united and determined struggle from the community can win a separate state for them. He also expressed optimism saying the community which has hit the road with a statehood demand will definitely achieve it someday. 

The mass congregation was also addressed by CPRM leader Taramani Rai who slammed the GJM alleging of staging drama to fool the people. He said, “Even though the GJM has already reverted to GTA, it held demonstrations at Janatar Mantar in demand of Gorkhaland.This was a total drama.” Similarly addressing the gathering GRNM president Dawa Pakhrin stated the Gorkhaland movement has lost its direction in the current political backdrop and opined the identity movement of the Gorkhas must be spearheaded by BGP. 

The first day function of Gorkha congregation was also addressed by Arun Upadhayay, CP Giri, Col. VK
Sharma, Narayan Bhandary, Bhupendrashigh Chettri among others. Today’s program was also marked by a musical presentation from child artists of Kalimpong Barnamala Pariwar and its founder Dewasis Mothey. A musical album “Rahane Vo” was also eleased in the function. BGP members rallied from Ramlila Maidan to
Jantar mantar where the demonstration was held. Meanwhile BGP Secretary Munish Tamang informed it has been decided that a joint team of BGP and GTF will submit a petition at the PMO.


Source: EOI

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Darjeeling and Sikkim receives first snowfall of the season

9:29 AM

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Tourism

Darjeeling and Sikkim's Changu recorded their first snowfall of the season Friday as temperatures plummeted throwing a thick blanket of fog over the two areas. Sikkim tourism sources said as many as 166 Changu-bound tourist vehicles were stranded at Sipsu in western Sikkim and had to return to the capital Gangtok during the day following the snowfall. Reports of one inch of snowfall were received from Sandakfu and Falut mountain peaks in Darjeeling district. 

Darjeeling and Sikkim receives first snowfall of the season

One or two spells of sporadic rainfall were received from the Darjeeling hills, with some of the higher areas reeling under sub-zero temperature. In Darjeeling town, the mercury hovered between two and three degree Celsius, while Kalimpong was slightly warmer, recording between six and seven degree celsius. A lot of tourists have set out for the hills after coming to know of the snowfall.

Source: prokerala

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BCCI grants Sachin Tendulkar’s wish to play his final Test in home ground in Mumbai

10:25 AM

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sports news

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to grant Sachin Tendulkar’s wish to play his 200th and final Test on his home ground in Mumbai when the Tour, Programme and Fixture Committee meets here on Tuesday.

 Sachin Tendulkar’s wish to play his final Test in home ground 

The committee, chaired by vice-president Rajeev Shukla and convened by secretary Sanjay Patel will decide on the venues of the two Tests and three ODIs when the West Indies team tours India next month. Though the dates of the hastily-arranged series have been finalised earlier, the venues were yet to be decided.

It was announced a couple of days ago by the Mumbai Cricket Association president that Wankhede Stadium would host the landmark Test of one of the greatest players to have played this game.

The Darren Sammy-led West Indies will play the first Test from November  6-10 and the second, Tendulkar’s farewell Test, from November 14-18. The three ODIs are on November 21, 24 and 27.

Source : DNA

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Madhya Pradesh temple stamped on the bridge- 115 people killed

1:14 PM

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Live National News

At least 115 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a stampede on a crowded bridge across Sindh river leading to Ratangarh temple in Datia district of northern Madhya Pradesh on Sunday.

Many of the devotees – mostly women and children – died by falling into the river below.

Eyewitnesses said the stampede was triggered by police using batons to control the crowd crossing the bridge, but the district administration said a rumour that the bridge was about to collapse led to the tragedy.
While 115 deaths were confirmed, the toll is expected to go much higher, said DK Arya, deputy inspector general (DIG), Chambal range.

He said many victims were in critical condition, and divers had been looking for survivors and bodies that may have been swept away by the strong currents of the river.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident on Sunday.

He will visit the spot around on Monday, along with the director general of police and the state chief secretary. After the CM’s meeting with the officials, administrative lapses are likely to emerge and an administrative inquiry is expected to be ordered.

On Sunday, the CM had announced financial assistance of Rs. 1.5 lakh each to kin of the dead, Rs. 50,000 to those who sustained serious injuries and Rs. 25,000 to others hurt in the stampede.

He made the announcement after taking permission from the Election Commission (EC), as the model code of conduct is in force in Madhya Pradesh due to the upcoming assembly elections.

The state government has also sought the EC’s nod to airlift the severely injured.

The tragedy brought back memories of a similar stampede at the same place in 2006, when at least 20 devotees had died.

It has also put the spotlight on poor crowd-control planning by the authorities, which has made stampedes a recurrent feature at religious congregations.

After Sunday’s stampede, tension prevailed in the area as angry people began throwing stones at police. About half a dozen cops reportedly sustained injuries.

There was a massive traffic jam on the way to the temple, which hampered rescue operations.

Inspector general of police (Chambal range) SM Afzal ordered more reinforcement of police personnel.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister condoled the loss of lives in the stampede. He asked the administration to ensure medical assistance to the injured.

“On this day of festivities, our hearts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday.

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Centre to withdraw CRPF from Darjeeling by 15 October

12:54 AM

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Local

The Centre has decided to pull out the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) from Darjeeling, inviting strong protest from the state government. According to sources, the Centre wants to withdraw the force from Darjeeling with effect from 15 October.  

Around 15 companies of CAPF were deployed in the Hills since July-end when the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) renewed its agitation for a separate state after the Union government announced the creation of Telangana. The CAPF companies deployed in the Hills comprised Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).  
Late in September, the Centre pulled out the four companies of SSB, leaving behind only 11 companies of the CAPF to man the volatile Hills. But now, the Centre wants to withdraw these 11 companies as well, just after the Durga Pujas. To West Bengal government has reacted strongly to this.  
“Although there is a momentary lull in the unrest in the Hills, the situation in Darjeeling is far from stable. In fact, the GJMM has vowed to restart the agitation from 20 October after the present festive break; hence we think the withdrawal of Central troops from Darjeeling at this juncture will push the situation out of control,” said a senior official in the state Home Department. 
“We are in constant touch with the Centre over the matter and the state's sentiments have already been communicated.”      
Up till now, the state government's strategy has been to utilise the Central troops more for maintaining a psychological pressure on the GJMM activists ~ who intermittently indulged in arson and other forms of violence ~ rather than actual operation.  
“It is but for the presence of the Central forces that we could keep the National Highway 31A functional during the GJMM's indefinite shutdown in the Hills from 3 August. The state government wants to keep up this physiological pressure on the agitators,” said another senior official posted in the Home Department.  
In view of a standing directive from the Supreme Court, keeping the NH 31A functional is a compulsion on the part of West Bengal government as the highway happens to be the only road link to the landlocked state of Sikkim.  
The Bengal government is also till now non-committal about any tripartite meeting on the Hills involving the Centre and the GJMM. 
“As per the GTA agreement it is the state government which shall convene tripartite meet periodically and as on today we have not received any communiqué from the Centre on this,” the official added.  
The GJMM last week claimed that the Centre has convened a tripartite meet in Delhi on 23 October.

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Telangana and Darjeeling different but Gorkhaland should not be ignored- Jaswant Singh

10:47 PM

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Local

Darjeeling MP, Mr Jaswant Singh today said that the Telangana and Darjeeling statehood issues should not be clubbed together.

Jaswant Singh

“Two are different in their respective perspectives. But it does not mean that while Telangana is conceded Gorkhaland would continue to be ignored,” he said in Darjeeling today.

“True, Darjeeling cannot be compared to Telangana. But we should not lose sight of the fact that the demand of statehood for the Hills under Bengal is old, dating back to over a century. I am convinced the emotion behind it would find fruition one day, though the present situation is not conducive,” he said.

He further claimed he had lent support to the demand for Gorkhaland much before he had become the MP from the place.

“My views are unchanged. I believe the demand is justified and I would cling on to it in future too,” the senior BJP leader said.

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