Shinde asks Thane collector to look into Samruddhi Mahamarg

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January 6, 2019

Thane Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde has asked the district collector to inquire into the allegations of irregularities in the Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg project.

At the district planning committee meeting on Saturday, BJP MLA from Murbad (Thane) Kisan Kathore alleged that some revenue officials were involved in irregularities in the acquisition of land in the district and payment of compensation to farmers and villagers affected by the project.

Taking a serious note of the charges, Shinde asked Collector Rajesh Narvekar to conduct a probe into it.

The Mumbai-Nagpur Super Communication Expressway,also known as theMaharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg,is a planned 701km-long, eight-lane expressway that will run through 10 districts in the state.

It is expected to cut travel time between the two cities to eight hours from the current 15 hours.

It is estimated to cost Rs 46,000 crore and will pass through Nagpur, Buldhana, Amravati, Wardha, Washim, Thane, Aurangabad, Akola, Bhiwandi and Nashik districts.

The project is facing opposition from farmers in some pockets along its 700-km route, especially in Nashik district.

Meanwhile, Shinde also approved a Rs 20 crore annual plan for the Thane district for 2019-20.

He directed the district officials to utilise the funds to complete the pending works well before the Lok Sabha polls due later this year.

Modi to win India in 2019 – Part II

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Vinod Dixit

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January 6, 2019

Because of Modi’s interaction with the world’s leaders he has put India in a high position. India has also won hearts of many foreign investors who consider investing in India during Modi’s regime would be profitable. He has represented India internationally, so effectively that other countries also feel like dropping down their guns and getting into common grounds. He has focused on various policies such as economic policies, health and sanitation policies, Hindutva and education policies, foreign policies, defence policy, environment policies, governance and other initiatives. His policy of Demonetisation also helped the government to bring out black money from corrupt people. The implementation of the new GST Policy is also contributing a lot to our economic growth.

In India, today there are very less politicians who are given respect and Modi is one of them. He is the man who is capable of carving a line on waters. Beside demonetisation and the Goods and Service Tax, rising unemployment and spiralling distress in the farming industry are also expected to cause Modi some electoral headaches in 2019. But Modi is confident that BJP will get more seats than they got the last time and will break all records of the seats won by NDA (National Democratic Alliance) in the past and achieve greater glory.

Simply put, the farmers and the unemployed are two more groups that could put Modi out of office. According to one survey, though Modi’s popularity has seen a decline in the past one year, he is still way ahead of his rivals. Around 63 per cent of those who were surveyed say that Modi is their top choice for the PM post, and just 34 per cent of the respondents agreed that they want to see Rahul Gandhi as their next prime minister. Secondly, one of the BJP’s greatest strengths is having capable leaders in several states, many of whom who have completed more than one term.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is surpassing Congress president Rahul Gandhi as the country’s next PM, according to the nationwide findings of the Political Stock Exchange. No doubt, the BJP has also faced criticism from Hindu nationalist groups unhappy at the delay in building a temple to the deity Ram in his fabled birthplace, Ayodhya, and unemployment also remains a problem despite high economic growth. The Prime Minister enjoys higher ratings than Rahul Gandhi among every caste group. People who are talking against Modi are the ones most affected by his onslaught on corruption. Irrespective of the results Modi has changed the narrative of Indian politics viz. Modi remains by far the most popular politician in India today and his party is a formidable election-winning machine.

Only performers have won the election. Mere criticism will not have the desired effect if it is not substantiated. The message is very positive and peoples interest lies in the progress and not in unnecessary protest and slogans. Modi is more popular among the masses than any other politician; tends to reach hearts and minds of people where ever he goes. Most importantly, he knows how to create that magic which people expects for. Indian voters want a strong and decisive central government to deliver on India’s promise as a big economy and one of the potential drivers of global growth.

Vinod C. Dixit

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Delhi’s pollution levels fall to year’s lowest after rainfall

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Web Team

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January 6, 2019

Delhi recorded its lowest pollution level of the year on Sunday after a spell of rain but the air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category, authorities said.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city was 347.

An AQI between 100 and 200 comes under ‘moderate’ category, 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’, 301 and 400 is ‘very poor’ and that between 401 and 500 is ‘severe’.

Thirty-one areas in Delhi recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, while it was ‘poor’ in two areas, the CPCB said.

In the National Capital Region, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, it said.

Delhi’s air quality improved significantly on Sunday after rainfall washed away pollutants and cleansed the air, authorities said.

The city’s air quality has been oscillating between the upper range of the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ category for the past two weeks.

This is the first time this year that the air quality has been recorded in the lower range of the ‘very poor’ category, the authorities said.

The overall PM2.5 level (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers) in Delhi was recorded at 197 while the PM10 (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometers) level was at 312, the CPCB said.

The Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said the overall air quality over Delhi is ‘very poor’.

“Moderate foggy conditions will prevail for the next two days over Delhi and surrounding regions and may not allow significant improvement. An active western disturbance is very likely to cause fairly widespread moisture intrusion over the northern region including Delhi,” the SAFAR had said on Saturday.

“The AQI is expected to remain in ‘very poor’ range for the next three days with declining magnitude,” it had said.

Dry ATMs: Par panel nudges RBI to fix the problem

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Web Team

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January 6, 2019

A parliamentary panel has asked the Reserve Bank to address the problem of perpetually dysfunctional ATMs so as to avoid any situation of forced cash crunch.

The Standing Committee on Finance has also asked banks to install adequate number of ATMs. The panel tabled its report in Parliament last week.

As per a data of RBI, there were 2,21,492 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in the country as at September-end 2018.

These include 1,43,844 ATMs of public sector banks, 59,645 ATMs of private banks and 18,003 of foreign banks, payments banks, small finance banks and White Label ATMs (WLAs), which are owned and operated by non-bank entities.

“As digital transactions have not become anywhere near universal, the committee would urge upon RBI to pursue the lingering problem of dysfunctionality as well as shortage of ATMs vigorously with banks, while ensuring the economic viability of ATMs for all stakeholders, so that a forced cash crunch is not imposed on the public,” the report said.

The panel headed by senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily also noted that RBI’s remonetisation drive has not augmented/resolved the cash supply to ATMs in rural/semi-urban areas, forcing shutdown of many ATMs.

The committee has expressed concern that “there are just not enough” ATMs being installed or added to cater to the rising demand for cash in an expanding economy, even as more and more debit cards are being issued and large number of Jan Dhan accounts opened by banks.

ATMs have become an important channel for withdrawing money even after the close of banking hours. Digital transactions are also catching up.

Besides ATMs, basic banking services are provided by business correspondents through their micro ATMs.

Crude shocker can be rude shocks for economy: RBI economists

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Web Team

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January 6, 2019

A sudden surge in crude prices can upset the nation’s key macro-stability parameters, as it can sharply spike the current account deficit (CAD), inflation and the fiscal numbers, whittling the benefits of higher growth, warns an RBI study.

Since the country is heavily dependent on oil imports to the tune of over 80 per cent for meeting its domestic demand, it remains susceptible to global crude price shocks.

Besides CAD, rise in crude prices can also impact inflation and fiscal deficit, mentioned in the report.

The international crude prices increased by around 12 per cent between April and September 2018.

The mid-year spike in crude prices happened mainly due to spurt in demand, on the back of global growth revival, and partly due to geopolitical risks that led to supply-side shocks.

However since mid-November 2018, the crude prices have declined significantly but they remain volatile.

“An increase in crude price worsens the CAD and this adverse impact cannot be significantly contained through a higher growth. So, a crude price shock will be followed by high CAD to GDP ratio,” says the latest issue of the Mint Street Memos titled ‘The Impact of Crude Price Shock on CAD, Inflation and Fiscal Deficit’ pencilled by in-house economists at the central bank.

The finding shows that in the worst case scenario, when crude prices hit $85/barrel, the deficit on account of oil balloons to $106.4 billion, which is 3.61 per cent of the GDP.

“Every $10/barrel increase in crude prices leads to an additional $12.5 billion deficit, which is roughly 43 bps of the country’s GDP. So, every $10/barrel increase in crude price will shoot up the CAD/GDP ratio by 43 bps,” it says.

The study says that , crude price shock will increase inflation, if the price increase is passed on directly to the final consumers.

“Under the most conservative estimate, we quantify that a USD 10/barrel increase in crude price at the price of $65/barrel will lead to a 49 basis points increase in headline inflation. A similar increase at $55/barrel gives around a 58 bps increase in headline inflation,” it says.

Further, if the government decides on a zero pass-through to the final consumers, a $10/barrel spike in crude prices could increase the fiscal deficit by 43 bps.

This zero pass-through scenario allows us to put an upper band on the amount of fiscal slippage, it adds.

The actual inflation and fiscal deficit will finally depend on the level of government intervention (changes in tax and subsidy) in the domestic oil market, the study concludes.

Mexico launches plan to stimulate US border economy

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Web Team

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January 6, 2019

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched an ambitious plan to stimulate economic activity on the Mexican side of the US-Mexico border despite recent US threats to close the border entirely.

Mexico plans to slash income and corporate taxes to 20 per cent from 30 per cent for 43 municipalities in six states just south of the US, while halving to 8 per cent of the value-added tax in the region.

Business leaders and union representatives have also agreed to double the minimum wage along the border, to 176.2 pesos a day, which is the equivalent of $9.07 at current exchange rates.

Lopez Obrador said that the idea is to stimulate wage and job growth via fiscal incentives and productivity gains. President Donald Trump has repeatedly complained that low wages in Mexico lure jobs from the US.

Mulayam Singh Yadav to contest from Mainpuri

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Web Team

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January 6, 2019

Senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav announced that Samajwadi Party (SP) founder and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav will be contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Mainpuri constituency.

Furthermore, Yadav said that any decision on pre-poll alliances will be taken by the party chiefs.

Addressing the media on Saturday, he asserted, “I have no information about SP-BSP alliance, only the party chiefs know about it. Only Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati can make an announcement related to this.”

On being asked if the Congress party will be kept away from the alliance, Yadav said, “Why are you talking about imaginary things? Understand the meaning of alliance and what is going on here.”

Uttar Pradesh plays a crucial role in the formation of a government at the centre as it has 80 Lok Sabha seats out of the total 543 in the Lower House of Parliament.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party made almost a clean sweep, bagging 71 seats, while its ally Apna Dal got two seats. The SP had got five and the Congress could retain just Amethi and Raebareli seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party could not open its account.

US’s Bolton warns Syria against usage of chemical weapons

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Web Team

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January 6, 2019

The United States has strongly warned Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime against the use of chemical weapons in the region.

“There is no change to the US position against the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime – any further use will be met by a swift, strong response,” John Bolton, the US National Security Adviser tweeted on Sunday.

There is no change to the US position against the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime – any further use will be met by a swift, strong response.

— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) January 6, 2019

Bolton is currently on an official two-state visit to Israel and Turkey to discuss the withdrawal of US forces from Syria.

The NSA further outlined the agenda of the visit, which includes discussing the way in which US will continue working with its allies and partners to prevent the resurgence of ISIS, the countering of “Iranian malign behaviour in the region,” and US’s support for those who have helped the nation in fighting against the ISIS.

This comes after a Yazidi rights group, on Friday, urged the US to delay its troop withdrawal from the region, citing an “existential threat to minorities like the Yazidis” by increasing the ISIS’ chances of a resurgence.

CRRF trooper shot himself after firing at 2 colleagues in Srinagar

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Web Team

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January 6, 2019

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan shot himself dead after firing at two of his colleagues inside a camp, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place late on Saturday night and the slain jawan has been identified as Mukesh Bhawuk, a police official said.

He said that Bhawuk got into a verbal duel with one of his colleagues over some issue at the Pantha Chowk camp of 29 Battalion of CRPF, following which he opened fire using his service rifle.

Two jawans were injured in the firing, the official said.

“After injuring his colleagues, the CRPF jawan locked himself in a bathroom where he shot himself dead with his service rifle,” police said.

The injured jawans are stated to be stable.

The police official said the CRPF has ordered a departmental inquiry to find out the cause of the incident.

Defying all odds, Rani Rai from Naxal-infested Sukma lands a job in South Africa

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Web Team

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January 6, 2019

Rani Rai, Rani, Naxal-infested villages, Naxal-infested, Sukma, Rani, Chhattisgarh, Naxal, South Africa — Image for Representational Purpose Only

Rani Rai, a native of Dornapal village in Naxal-infested Sukma, has not only completed her engineering but also managed to land a job for her self in South Africa.

Rai’s family used to barely manage two square meals each day. Yet, her father, who was uneducated himself, was adamant on giving all his children a good education, even if it meant toiling for extra hours while selling old clothes in the market to gather funding.

Rani is the eldest among four children. She completed her primary schooling from Dornapal, after which she left for Dantewada to pursue her education. However, owing to financial constraints, Rani had to return.

In a bid to make his daughter’s dream come true, Rani’s father sold his land for his daughter to become an engineer. After completing her education, Rani landed a job offer from a company in South Africa, allowing her to help reduce the financial burden on her parents.

“My father and mother have done a lot for me. They are the reason I have reached this position today. I have pledged to now fund my siblings’ education and make them good human beings,” an elated Rani told ANI.