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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the valedictory function of the second National Youth Parliament Festival on January 12 via video conferencing. The selected candidates in the youth parliaments held at state and district levels will take part in the national event. The first three winners will get the opportunity to express their views before the Prime Minister. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ”Nishank”, among others, will also be present on the occasion. The objective of the National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) is to hear the voice of youth between 18 and 25 years of age, who are allowed to vote and will join various careers in coming years, including public services. The National Youth Parliament Festival is based on the idea given by the Prime Minister in his ”Mann Ki Baat” address on December 31, 2017. Taking inspiration from the idea, the first NYPF was organised from January 12 to February 27, 2019, with the theme “Be the Voi

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Monday that Indian banks’ total gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) may rise to 14.8 per cent under a severe stress scenario by September 2021 compared with 7.5 per cent in the year-ago period. This highlights the need for proactive building up of adequate capital to withstand possible asset quality deterioration, RBI said in its Financial Stability Report (FSR). “Macro stress tests incorporating the first advance estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) for 2020-21 released on January 7, 2021 indicate that the GNPA ratio of all SCBs may increase from 7.5 per cent in September 2020 to 13.5 per cent by September 2021 under the baseline scenario; the ratio may escalate to 14.8 per cent under a severe stress scenario,” the financial report said. The central bank further stated that in the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, policy actions were geared towards restoring normal functioning and mitigating stress. The focus is now being oriented tow

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said those farmer unions, which are protesting against the farm laws, will understand the idea behind bringing laws for reforms in the agricultural sector and actively arrive at a solution after discussion. “The government of India is committed to the welfare of farmers. We meet those who are supporting the laws and those opposing it. I am sure that farmer unions who are agitating will understand the idea behind agriculture laws and they will think about the welfare of farmers and actively arrive at a solution by a positive discussion,” Mr Tomar told reporters. As the deadlock prevails after several rounds of talks with the Centre, farmer unions on Tuesday hinted at intensifying their protest against contentious agriculture laws and said that they would boycott Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Keeping the fast-evolving COVID-19 situation in mind, Indian men’s hockey team captain Manpreet Singh says his side will need to be “mentally prepared” for the several obstacles it might face on its way to the Tokyo Olympics. Pushed back by a year due to the pandemic, the quadrennial sporting extravaganza is slated to be held in July-August. “The biggest learning from last year was to not let external factors affect our goal. There could be many uncertainties but we need to only worry about what’s within our control and that is to work towards being our best. “There could be several challenges leading up to the Olympic Games this year and we need to be mentally prepared for it,” Manpreet said, putting things into perspective. With only 200 days to go for the Olympics, Manpreet and Rani, the women’s team skipper, believe the players in respective core groups will have to give their 100 per cent to be able to achieve their goals in Tokyo. “The next 200 days is going to be the most import

India’s first cultural diplomat to the US, Dr Moxraj, who spent last three years teaching Sanskrit, Hindi and spreading traditional Indian culture along with Yoga and meditation in many American states believes that the Vedic doctrine of “Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam” has found its own resonance in the post-COVID-19 world. “India is the only country which believes in the doctrine of ”Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and this idea of India is not new but from the time of man’s origin, hence it was inspired by ”Yatra Vishva Bhavatyekanidam” in the Yajurveda,” said Dr Moxraj as he concluded his three-year tenure as the teacher of Indian Culture at the Indian embassy here. “Even a civilized person does not want to spoil his family and kutumb in the same way, the culture of India has been working for the good of all. Therefore, India has been trying to maintain the natural balance through yoga, meditation, mental health and vegetarianism and non-violence,” said Dr Moxraj, who left for India on Friday. Well ve

By Rahul Avasthy. Rahul Avasthy is a renowned expert in digital transformation and customer experience. He is based out of Chicago, United States of America working for a multinational Fortune 150 company. Rahul specializes in complex problem-solving via design thinking, service design methodologies, and actively speaks on digital transformation. It’s important to note that ‘Digital Transformation’ brings an irreversible change.In future, predictive digital interventions, notpills, will be the first line of defence and digital experiences would evolve from channel silos to open ecosystems. Today, when the entire world is getting connected, interacting and converging through the internet, it becomes critical for all businesses to deploy technology and create easy to use experiences to harness this scenario. Thus, driving home, the point that how crucial it is to irreversibly transform via use of digital technology in the current business & social scenario. ‘Digital transformation’ e

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said the city is prepared to deal with the new mutant strain of coronavirus if need be. Concerns about the mutant strain from the UK — said to be 70 per cent more infectious than the existing strain — has spiked after the Centre announced this morning that six people returning from the UK have tested positive for it. Mumbai — which suffered the worst from Covid — had announced night curfew last week. Pointing to ups and downs faced by the national capital since the Covid outbreak reached in January, Mr Kejriwal said there have been three waves of coronavirus in Delhi. “At one point, 8,500 corona cases were coming to Delhi every day, which was the highest in the world. But the Delhi people controlled the corona,” the Chief Minister said. In September-October, when the numbers inn Delhi had peaked, the Centre had announced a series of measures for the national capital, which included making arrangements for more beds and flying in doctors and pa

Stating that the delay in approval for Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine – being mass produced by his company – was not worrying, Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Adar Poonawalla said the inoculant is likely to get a go-ahead in the United Kingdom “by end of this December or by early January”. “Then we may get an approval in India too. We are not concerned about the delay,” the SII Chief Executive Officer said at the unveiling of India’s first indigenously developed pneumonia vaccine on Monday. “All trial data on Covishield has been submitted for India and UK. We must respect the learned evaluators. Nobody wants to risk safety. We must give a few more days,” the Chief Executive Officer of SII – world’s largest drug maker by volume – said a week after he urged the government in India to “indemnify manufacturers against lawsuits” . Mr Poonawalla was answering a question on whether he is concerned about the delay in approval from UK regulator for Covishield, which had run into controve

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said the “sanskar” and lessons learnt from stalwart leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) helped him succeed in his political life. He was writing a book on the value system of the RSS and its “karya-paddhati” (working methodology) and how it can impact corporate and management sectors, the senior BJP leader said. Mr Gadkari was speaking at the Yeshwantrao Kelkar Yuva Award program at the 66th national convention of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the RSS’ student wing. Journalists in India and abroad ask him how he was able to execute big infrastructure projects successfully, the union road transport minister said. “I am neither engineer and techno savvy nor was I a genius or brilliant student. I ask them (journalists) do you know the RSS, its ideology, its style of functioning?” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday allayed fears that private firms might grab farmers’ land under a new contract farming law enacted by the Centre, as he listened to success stories about benefits of the new Acts while interacting with peasants from seven states. After releasing ₹ 18,000 crore funds to 9 crore farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme, PM Modi held interaction with farmers from Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Haryana. In their interaction with the PM, the seven farmers shared their success stories and also highlighted the benefits of recently enacted agri-laws. They also shared their good experience of working with private players under contract farming agreements. “Sitting in Arunachal Pradesh, you are sure that your land is safe. But some people are spreading a myth that those who enter into a contract (agreement) with a company for sale of crops will also lose their land. So many lies are being spread. I am happy th

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary on December 25 is observed as Good Governance Day. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was known for his oratory skills. He was a poet and a compassionate leader. A great statesman, Atal Bihari Vajpayee served three terms as the prime minister of India – first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for 13 months from 1998 to 1999 and after that a full term from 1999 to 2004. Here are some excerpts from his speeches on a range of subjects, from nuclear tests to education. “ Satta ka khel chalega ” (the game of power will go on). Governments will come and go. Parties will be made and unmade. This country should survive, its democracy should survive”  — – Mr Vajpayee in Lok Sabha when his government faced a trust vote in May 1996 “ Education, in the truest self of the term, is a process of self-discovery. It is the art of self-sculpture. It trains the individual not so much in specific skills or in specific branch of knowledge, but in the fl

The BJP is sparing no expense to reach out to farmers today, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address nine crore farmers and clarify the centre’s position on the farm laws, as well as release the next batch of financial aid – ₹ 18,000 crore – from the PM-Kisan scheme . Party chief JP Nadda has directed union ministers, MPs and MLAs to participate in the address, which will coincide with former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary. Letters have been sent to presidents of state units and all other senior leaders. Home Minister Amit Shah will be present at a gaushala in Delhi, from where he too will interact with a select group of farmers. Mr Nadda has ordered “big screens to be arranged for listening to (the Prime Minister’s) address… at every block development centre”. In addition, district-level programs will be held an hour before the PM’s speech (which will be at noon); these will also be held at all mandis or APMC markets. These programs will consist of BJP officer-bear

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the nation is on a path where everyone, irrespective of religion, can be assured of their constitutional rights and their future and where no community is left behind. Addressing Aligarh Muslim University on its centenary celebrations, PM Modi also said his government’s schemes for the poor were reaching all sections “without any religious bias” and asserted that when it came to the nation’s progress and development, it was important to set aside ideological differences. “The country is heading towards a path where all citizens get the benefits of development without any bias. We are heading to a path where no one is left behind because of religion and everyone is able to fulfill their dreams,” said the Prime Minister. “Whatever religion we are born in, it is important to see how to blend our aspirations with national goals. There can be ideological divides in society but when it comes to the nation’s development, everything else is secondary.

By Ranjan Goenka Ranjan Goenka is Founder & Director of PDS Infotech, Kolkata,PDS Infotech is into developing software products in Tax related products & Services. TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is an amount deducted while making specified payments such as salary, rent, commission, professional fees, salary, interest etc. and subsequently deposited with the Income Tax Dept. TDS is not a tax, but advance deposit towards Income Tax on behalf of the recipient earning the revenue from the person making the payment. This provision ensures a continuous flow of revenue to the Government. The recipient of payment receives the net amount (after reducing TDS). The amount of TDS during the course of the year is accumulated and is used to adjust this against the final computed liability of Income Tax. In case liability is lower than the TDS amount, one can claim for refund which is duly refunded with interest by the Income Tax Dept. The tax deductor acts as a facilitator to collect tax and d

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday promised a “never before” like Union Budget as the government looks to steer the pandemic-battered economy and push growth. While investment in health, medical Research & Development (R&D) and developing greater skills to handle telemedicine is going to be critical, livelihood challenges would have to be seen in a newer canvas with newer perspective on vocational training and skill development. “Send me your inputs so that we can see a Budget which is a Budget like never before, in a way. 100 years of India wouldn’t have seen a Budget being made post-pandemic like this. “And that is not going to be possible unless I get your inputs and wish list, clear observation of what has put you through the challenge… Without that, it is impossible for me to draft something which is going to be that Budget like never before, a Budget which is being made after a pandemic,” Sitharaman said while addressing the CII Partnership Summit 2020. The Uni

By – Dr. Kanchan Sanyal – Advisor, Health and Wellness, Columbia Pacific Communities As seniors grow older, the risk for a number of health concerns increases. While family history, lifestyle, social inequality and health history all play a role in determining which diseases and conditions might affect the seniors, gender can also be an indicator of what to expect and how to move towards positive ageing.   Senior women are at greater risk than men for many conditions and are affected differently by many diseases that impact both sexes. Older women die of the same conditions as men, including heart diseases, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. However, women often face multiple chronic conditions that affect their daily lives such as diabetes, hypertension or arthritis. Women may, on average, live longer than men but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are healthier! The common health problems faced by senior women are – Heart Diseases  – We all know that once the protection of the femal

The government said on Friday it could soon start voluntary inoculation against the COVID-19 disease as it considers emergency use authorization for three vaccine candidates including those from AstraZeneca and Pfizer . Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has also applied for emergency approval. India recorded 22,890 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, taking the total to near 10 million, with 144,789 deaths. It has the world’s second highest number of cases after the United States, though the gap between them is now widening as India is reporting fewer cases since a mid-September peak. The government says it could take more than one year to administer two doses of vaccines – 28 days apart – to most of India’s 1.35 billion people. “The government of India is geared to launch a vaccine for COVID-19 soon,” the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a public advisory. “Vaccination for COVID-19 is voluntary. However, it is advisable to receive the complete schedule of COVID-

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held pre-budget consultations with representatives of the social sector on Thursday, December 17, ahead of the Union Budget 2021-22. Along with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Secretary Dr A.B. Pandey, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) Secretary Tarun Bajaj, Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) K V Subramanian besides other senior officials were also present in the meeting. On Monday, December 14, with top industrialists in the national capital, according to the Ministry of Finance. The finance minister is likely to present her second budget of the Modi 2.0 government on February 1, 2021.

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani had a conversation with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the internet major’s Fuel for India 2020 event. “We are looking forward for your involvement in India… I hope the rest of the world learns from Indian policy,” Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, told the Facebook CEO in a virtual interaction. “How grateful I am for everything that you and your companies do in our partnership… I am incredibly grateful for your partnership in this. Thank you,” Mark Zuckerberg told Mr Ambani.  In April this year, Facebook had announced an investment of $5.7 billion (Rs 43,574 crore) in Jio Platforms, the digital services arm of India’s most valuable company, Fuel for India 2020 is the first edition of an annual dialogue built around Facebook’s continuing commitment to India, according to the Fuel for India 2020 website. “Through meaningful exchanges and conversations, we aspire to showcase the most powerful stories of change in India and how we are bringing

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has hailed the “incredible things” being done by India in the solar energy sector as he warned that the emergency facing the world from climate change was far more destructive than even the coronavirus pandemic. Johnson said this in his address to the Climate Ambition Summit this weekend, co-hosted by the UK to mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris climate agreement. In his speech to the virtual summit, which was earlier addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi among around 70 heads of state and government, the British prime minister reiterated the UK’s pledge to radically cut dependence on fossil fuels. “We’re going ahead with a massive solar programme, even though we can’t hope to emulate the incredible things being done by India, Australia or Morocco for instance,” he said. “Today, we’re putting our foot to the accelerator – in a carbon friendly way of course – with a Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. We want to turn the UK int