July 27, 2013

Page 1_.qxd 7/27/2013 7:56 AM Page 1 8 Pages Rs: 1.00 Jammu Edition JKENG/2012/41612 Vol. 2 No: 182 www.thestudentage.com R E A D T H E N E E D CENTRE’S POVERTY DEFINITION ‘CRUEL JOKE’ ON POOR: NITISH WILL HOPE BLOSSOM IN MIDST OF GLOOM PAGE 5 PAGE 6 INDIA, FRANCE HOLD DISCUSSIONS ON MILITARY COOPERATION PAGE 7 BJP chief Rajnath dares Congress to JK BANK RECRUITMENT PROCESS A DRAMA, BANK MUST REFUND EXAMINATION FEE TO CANDIDATES: SAT SHARMA declare its prime ministerial candidate Seeks CMTHE intervention and dares Mushtaq for a debate on JK Bank policies regarding Jammu. NEW YORK, JULY 26: BJP president Rajnath Singh on Friday challenged Congress to declare its prime ministerial candidate before losing sleep over the nominee of his party. "Will the Congress dare announce who will be the prime minister candidate before the general elections?" he said addressing members of the IndiaAmerica Chamber of Commerce. Claiming that there are too many contenders for the job in the Congress Party Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram and other unnamed dark horses, Singh said Congress leaders and workers are confused as to who would be the next prime minister if their party returns to power. He said his party followed democratic principles in the selection of campaign committee and there was consensus unlike in the dictatorial Congress party. "Did we have any problem when we named senior leader L K Advani as Prime Minister Candidate in 2009 and did we had any issues when Atalji was made prime minister in 1999. Congress is now trying to divert the attention of the people from its scams and failures," he said. Singh asserted that there are no Contd p2 Modi top choice for PM race, Rahul 2nd: Survey In an opinion poll Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi are the two leaders who are most likely to be projected as the prime ministerial candidate by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha election. According to the CNN Election Tracker Survey, conducted by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Modi with 19 per cent of the votes is ahead in the prime minister's race followed by Rahul Gandhi with 12 per cent, Manmohan Singh (6 per cent), Sonia Gandhi (5 per cent), Mayawati (3 per cent) and BJP patriarch LK Advani (2 per cent). The figures are a major turnaround from 2009 when Modi had the support of just 2 per cent of the voters with Manmohan Singh leading with 18 per cent. Advani (15 per cent), Sonia Gandhi (16 per cent), Rahul (6 per cent) and Mayawati (5 per cent) were all much ahead of the Gujarat Chief Minister. In the race between Modi and Rahul, the former is ahead with 33 per cent votes compared to 31 per cent for the Congress leader. Modi is more popular than Rahul in North India (37 per cent vs 29 per cent), Central India (41 per cent vs 33 per cent), West India (43 per cent vs 33 per cent) and East India (34 per cent vs 30 per cent). But Rahul with 37 per cent leads Modi, who has 17 per cent of the votes, in South India. Rahul (45 per cent) is also more popular that Modi Contd p2 JAMMU, JULY 26: BJP Incharge Cells Sat Sharma (C.A.) today strongly criticised the selection list of the Jammu & Kashmir Bank. He demanded the complete cancellation of the selection list and a high level probe into the complete working of the J&K Bank. Talking to the media persons in Jammu Sat Sharma said that J&K Bank is playing with the careers of the youth of Jammu and behaving typically like a Kashmir centric bank working on the guidelines of antinational elements and separatists. Jammu Kashmir Bank has completely ignored tens of thousands of calibrus and meritorious students of Jammu and shown its biased charecter. The manner in which the JK Bank is working seems to be a dangerous consipiracy against the people of Jammu and the nationalist community. The complete hold of the bank is in the hands of Kashmir bureaucrats and politicians. It should not be called as Jammu Kashmir Bank but Kashmir Bank as it has totally marginalised the educated youth of Jammu. Mr. Mushtak should understand that J&K bank is not completely a Pvt. Bank . It acts as a government bank on the behalf of Jammu & Kashmir Government so must come under the RTI Act. 2009. Sat Sharma Sat Sharma said,"Mr. Mushtaq must clarify Sri Ram Sena criticises JK Bank's NC sponsored candidate's recruitment Demands a high level inquiry JAMMU, JULY 26: Shri Ram Sena Jammu-Kashmir state president, Rajiv Mahajan has criticized the favoritism and nepotism in selection of Relationship Executives (RE) in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank limited and demanded a high level inquiry in to the whole affair and subsequent cancellation of the selection list. Mahajan criticized the clandestine manner in which the bank conducted the recruitment process to recruit National Conference sponsored candidates. Mahajan lambasted the Bank authorities for keeping the whole process of selection a top secret and the list of the qualified candidates was never published nor uploaded on the official website of the bank. Mahajan also criticized the Bank Contd p2 If Mr. Mushtaq can't come up with transparent policies then its better to dissociate its name from Jammu. In no sense JK Bank has been able to provide actual benefits to the common masses or the youth of Jammu. Sat Sharma alleged that the Chairman has undermined the authority of the institution Contd p2 =Why this bank ignores the youth of Jammu who have participated in tens of thousands of numbers in the examination? =Why Bank has failed regularly in framing an effective selection procedure so that a fair selection can be done? =Why bank is scared of coming under RTI act 2009? =Why Zonal Head Office Jammu acts like a dummy office with no powers at all? =Why neither the vacancies nor selection list appeared on the official website of the JK Bank?" advised the corporates of Jammu and the people of Jammu to close their accounts in this mysterious banks which is scared of getting its information public. I suspect that JK Bank is becoming another Swiss bank of the state where billions of black money and the money of anti-nationals and separatists is being stored the bank thus hides the information. JK Bank fears to select the nationalist community in this policy making structure due to this fear of getting exposed. The time has come to boycott this bank and I would rather suggest to name this bank as Kashmir bank and put down the name Jammu associated with this biased bank. I hereby demand that the government should come up with a new bank by the name of Jammu Bank which can work according to the wishes of the nationalist community and form transparent policies from which the people of Jammu can be benefitted. KARGIL MARTYRS DESERVE SALUTE: KHAJURIA the year 1999 Pakistan hatched a conspiracy to occupy our territory in Kargil through its regular army and trained militants but our brave soldiers gave a befitting reply and forced the Pakistani army men to run away. Although we got vacated our territory but the great sons of Mother India laid down their precious lives for nation, nation's sovereignty and pride of motherland. Khajuria said that July 26 is observed as martyrs day all over India in the memory of these brave soldiers who were honoured posthumously by the BJP-led NDA government under Atal Behari Vajpayee with full military honours. Besides, the families of these martyrs were provided financial and living support with dignity. It must be noted that the morale of Kargil heroes fighting against the odds at high altitude of Kargil Hills is remembered by the people in high esteem, he added. Commenting on the present Contd p2 Discussions on Telangana over, time for decision says Congress Reddy, deputy chief minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana. Digvijaya Singh's predecessor Ghulam Nabi Azad was also present at the meetings that assumed significance ahead of the Congress core group meeting on Friday evening. The two central leaders held detailed discussions with the three state leaders who rushed to the national capital on summons from the party central leadership. The core group meeting is likely to finalize the date for the meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC), expected to take a final decision. The three state leaders, earlier this month, submitted their reports to the Congress core group. The leadership is believed to have summoned them again to get certain issues clarified. Kiran Kumar Reddy Contd p2 Rs 12 meal controversy; Raj Babbar regrets his statements BRIEFLY Sarpanch fired upon by militants in Sopore SRINAGAR: Militants shot and severely injured a Sarpanch at village Krankshvan, Sopore this afternoon,Police said. According to Police that 45 years old Sarpanch Khazir Mohammad Contd p2 JAMMU, JULY 26: Terming the 1999 Kargil War as yet another attempt to capture our territory by Pakistan, BJP National Executive Member, Leader of Legislative Party & Jammu East MLA Ashok Khajuria said that our brave soldiers laid down their lives protecting mother India to defeat the nefarious designs of neighbouring country and they deserve salute. Ashok Khajuria, while remembering the supreme sacrifices of hundreds of Indian soldiers, said that in Five orphaned children banished to pass life in graveyard NEW DELHI, JULY 26: After feeling the heat for his controversial Rs 12 remarks The Congress spokesperson on Friday regretted his statements. Babbar's regret came after the Congress distanced itself from his remarks as also those of another party colleague Rashid Masood that meals could be had for Rs 5 in Delhi. "He (Babbar) has issued a categorical statement expressing regret. So we should leave the matter there," Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury told a press conference. While seeking to downplay the issue, she said she was not aware in what context Babbar had made the remarks. To repeated questions on the matter, she replied that she had no authority to condemn or otherwise Babbar's statement. But she referred to the statement issued by Congress' communication department in charge Ajay Maken who said, "We do not agree with Rs 12 & Rs 5 statement of some leaders." The meal remarks made by Babbar earned widespread ridicule with parties dubbing these as "absurd", "foolish" and "illogical". Maken, at the same time, attacked BJP Contd p2 LUCKNOW: Their parents already dead with AIDS, five children have banished to a grave yard by the villagers who fear that they too might have AIDS. Five children, siblings orphaned by AIDS, have been forced to live in a village graveyard in Pratapgarh district in Uttar The matter Contd p2 NEW DELHI, JULY 26: The Congress on the issue of Telangana said on Friday that the consultations over the issue was over and time has come to take a decision regarding the matter. The process of consultation over the Telangana issue is over and the time has come for a decision, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh said on Friday. "We shall let you know the decision taken," he said in New Delhi amid hectic activity of the party leadership to take a final decision on the issue of separate statehood to Telangana. Digvijaya Singh, incharge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, was talking to reporters after holding separate meetings with chief minister N Kiran Kumar Weather satellite Insat-3D launched successfully BANGALORE: India's advanced satellite Insat-3D, which was launched early Friday onboard Ariane-5 rocket from Kourou in French Guiana off the Pacific coast, will improve weather and monsoon forecasting Contd p2 CAUSE OF CHINESE INTRUSIONS: CHEAP MEALS!! HINDSIGHT ROHIT SINGH RANA On 20th July, Chinese soldiers again intruded into Chumar Sector, 300 kilometers from Leh. When intercepted by Indian forces, they demanded food because they said they were hungry. Indian soldiers had no food with them but gave them juice cans instead. Relieved, the Chinese went there way. Some curious persons while researching into causes of frequent Chinese intrusions, point out that the Chinese soldiers after hearing that food is available in India at cheapest rates ranging from Rs 1 to Rs 12 are not only lured by the land of India but also by its cheap food! The reason they are frequently intruding into India. Yesterday, they got juice cans free, tomorrow they may get meals free! India is great because the politicians like Raj Babbar, Rasheed Masood and Farooq Abdullah have overnight turned the country into cheapest food court of the world. The Farooq kitchen is churning out cheapest meals at Rs 1. A look at his statement will remove all shreds of doubt if one had, "If you want, you can fill your stomach for Re 1 or Rs 100, depending on what you want to eat. We are working to change the life of the poor so they can eat well be healthy and India can progress, "Said Farooq Abdullah. He is the minister for renewable energy and now he has become Minister for cheap energy provider by making it possible to churn out meals for Rs 1. Without malice to his person, it is not a secret that Farooq Abdullah is still at this age, a good eater but how will he fill the stomach of a poor man on one rupee is any body's guess. The 'Villian' actor, Raj Babbar's statement which he has now regretted sent the media persons scurrying in Mumbai to find whether it was possible to purchase a good meal for Rs 12. But they found no place where it was sold. Instead, they were offered two spoonfuls of Dal, one sixth of a Parantha and one spoonful of Sabzi for Rs 12! Similarly, media men rushed towards Jama Masjid to find if a meal was available for Rs 5. They too returned dejected. Poor journalists returned with hopes dashed. Facing heavy criticism, Masood gave a new twist to his Rs 5 meal statement. He said yesterday that in Nizamudin area, it was available for rupees five. Adding further that a katori of Dal and one roti was available for the price of rupees five. Another tragic dimension to this insensitivity is the brazen manner in which the Congress panelists defend these outrageous remarks of their party politicians. They had nothing to defend and cannot defend anything but still out of a great malady of conceit and ego of political power these panelists brazenly defend the silly and untrue statements, pointing to a deep rooted aversion that such politicians have towards poor of the country. Worth of Raj Babbar is eleven crore, Rasheed Masood is ten crore upwards and Farooq Abdullah does not fall in the line of poorest of the poor, he is no pauper. His health, God bless him, points out to the fact that he is eating well but not from his one rupee kitchen! The cruel fact is that they have through their irresponsible statements proved that there is no connect between them and the teeming multitudes of the country. Poor come out in millions to vote for them do not matter afterwards. Otherwise the reality of India's poverty must have not escaped from their notice. Offer Rs 1 to Farooq Abdullah, Rs 5 to Rasheed Masood and Rs 12 to Raj Babbar and tell them to get a meal for themselves, will be interesting to see what they do. It is a sin to make mockery of poorest of the poor with such non-sense statements. To rub salt on the wounds of the poor is worst form of politics and UPA is practicing it with heartless abandon. These politicians have displayed a total lack of sensitivity and betrayed complete apathy with their fellow countrymen. People should not forget this cruel joke played on them with these callous, heartless and insensitive leaders who are far removed from the real condition of India's poor. DIGVIJAY, KHURSHID STATEMENTS: IT IS NOT PARTY LINE! It happens only in India that terrorists are made victims and the martyrs are disrespected. This happened in Batla House encounter when Indian Mujahedeen terrorists were killed in firefight with police. Inspector Sharma lost his life fighting the terrorists. But politicians like Digvijay Singh and Salman Khurshid said it was fake encounter. Then Home Minister, P Chidambaram said emphatically that the encounter was genuine, how would Digvijay Singh and Khurshid accept. They declined to accept Inspector Sharma as martyr and would have taken away his Ashok Chakra too. They believed the theory that Sharma was killed by one of his own colleagues. Even when the court has pronounced that the encounter was real, the people like Digvijay Singh unashamedly stick to their stand. He and Khurshid went to the home of the terrorists to express sympathy and the martyr was left to his own. His family did not matter to them. Salman Khurshid, during UP polls said that Sonia Gandhi wept on hearing the killing of terrorists in the encounter. Confront the Congress spokesmen about these statements and they will say it is not party line. It is individual opinion. If this is the meaning of free expression and democracy advocated by such politicians then they deserve to be shown the door permanently. RANASAHIB STUDENT AGE SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 CONTD 2 cent). JAMMU AND KASHMIR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION POLO GROUND, SRINAGAR. (www.jkpsc.nic.in) DATED:25.07.2013 The result of SAC Part-II Departmental Examination, Session May 2013 is declared as under:ROLL Name of the Candidate NO S/Shri Parentage S/Shri PI PII PIII PIV Remarks 1 JATINDAR PANDITA AWTAR KRISHAN PANDITA 88 53 79 60 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 2 SHABANA AZMIN MOHD AKRAM KHAN 70 48 82 66 Passes with 8 grace marks in Paper IV. 3 ZAFAR IQBAL MIR HUSSAIN 87 58 84 67 Passes with 7 grace marks in Paper IV. 4 TAHLEELA ASSMAT MOHD ALTAF HUSSAIN RATHER A 57 A 70 Passes in Paper II. Fails in Paper IV. Absent in Papers I & III. 5 IRFAN MAJID ABDUL MAJID MALIIK 80 35 81 49 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 6 MUZAFFER ALI SHAMAS DIN RATHER 78 48 82 57 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 7 LOKESH GUPTA SUDERSHAN KUMAR 81 52 73 53 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 8 ALOK GUPTA BANSI LAL GUPTA 89 47 85 78 Passes. 9 QAMAR REHMAN ABDUL RASHID 90 62 84 71 Passes with 3 grace marks in Paper IV. 10 MOHD SHAFAIT REHMAN GHULAM HUSSAIN 85 46 85 59 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 11 SHOKET ALI RATHER GHULAM HUSSAIN RATHER 92 51 89 82 Passes. 12 SABREENA KADIR GULAM KADIR 102 75 91 111 Passes. 13 MOHD IQBAL ABOUL QAYOOM 68 49 92 61 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 14 MADAN LAL KHAKRU 61 46 85 62 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 15 SAREER AHMAD MIR GII MOHD MIR 97 62 79 90 Passes. 16 RIFAT ARA ABDUL AZIZ MIR 102 49 87 80 Passes. 17 SHADAB MUKHDOOMI JAVED MUKHDOOMI 98 55 81 76 Passes. 18 ARZOO KHAN MOHMADI AFZAL KHAN 90 49 86 A Passes in Papers I, II & III. Absent in Paper IV. 19 ZAFIRAH BASHIR BASHIR AHMED KHAN 101 63 95 90 Passes. 20 AFSHA MEHRAJ KAK MEHRAJ UD DIN KAK 105 49 93 83 Passes. 21 ISHFAQ AHMAD PANDITH BASHIR AHMAD PANDITH 64 38 78 59 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 22 ALIYA IFTIKHAR IFTIKHAR HUSSAIN 36 40 62 43 Fails in Papers I & IV. Passes in Papers II & III. 23 SHAFAAT AHMAD MOHAMMAD YEHYA 73 48 78 69 Passes with 5 grace marks in Paper IV. 24 KANEEZ FATIMA MOHAMMED HASSAN 83 38 89 69 Passes with 5 grace marks in Paper IV. 25 PEERZADA AHTISHAM UL HAQ MOHD ABDULLAH ZAHOOR 68 48 82 73 Passes with 1 grace mark in Paper IV. 26 FEROZE AHMAD MIR MOHD RAMZAN MIR A A A A Absent. 27 YASIR ARAFAT AB KHALIQ MIR 86 47 76 70 Passes with 4 grace marks in Paper IV. 28 MOHD YASSAIN GHULAM QUADIR 83 49 88 60 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 29 NISHAD AKHTAR MOHD AKBAR 74 44 74 62 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 30 SHAHNAWAZ AHMED MOHD BASHIR 64 40 79 60 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 31 AKHTAR ALI MOHD LATIF 77 47 72 59 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 32 LAIKAT KHAN MOHD ISMIAL 66 54 85 67 Passes with 7 grace marks in Paper IV. 33 BIKRAM DUTT MOHAN LAL 78 48 79 55 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 34 KULDEEP KUMAR MAST RAM 84 40 78 63 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 35 JASWINDER PAL SINGH S JASBIR SINGH 86 37 70 74 Passes. 36 MOHD ASHRAF IQBAL MOHD SHAFI 28 28 85 6 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 37 STANZIN DONSAL LOBZANG RINCHEN 82 37 96 83 Passes. 38 ABHISHEK TALWARIA PURAN CHAND 88 42 80 80 Passes. 39 ABDUL RASHID FAQIR MOHD 57 38 79 48 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 40 NAGESH JAMWAL MOHAN SINGH JAMWAL A 41 83 57 Passes in Papers II & III. Fails in Paper IV. Absent in Paper I. 41 MAHESH SHARMA RAM LAL SHARMA 98 54 92 77 Passes. 42 ANISH SINGH RATTAN SINGH 63 43 94 50 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 43 VANEET SINGH BABU RAM MANHAS 87 56 95 51 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 44 DHEERAJ JANDIAL ROMESH CHANDER JANDIAL 94 65 85 85 Passes. 45 JIGMIET NAMGYAL TSEWANG DORJEY 83 39 89 59 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 46 VIVEK SHARMA SURAJ PARKASH 88 44 83 76 Passes. 47 IFTIKHAR HUSSAIN TOWHER HUSSAIN 91 45 82 58 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 48 FAROOQ AHMAD LONE AB SALAM LONE 83 46 78 68 Passes with 6 grace marks in Paper IV. 49 SHAISTA BASHIR BASHIR AHMAD MAKHDOOMI 106 60 89 99 Passes. 50 FARHAD SADEQUI MOHD RASHIED A 16 49 A Fails in Papers II & III. Absent in Papers I & IV. 51 MAHEEN YASEEN MOHAMMAD YASEEN QAZI 54 47 77 68 Fails in Papers I & IV. Passes in Papers II & III. 52 SANDEEP SINGH SHAM LAL 73 38 81 58 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 53 NIMISHA GULSHAN KUMAR ANAND 95 44 89 78 Passes. 54 MOHD IQBAL PEDHAR MOHD YOUSUF PEDHAR 98 44 90 61 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 55 SHIWANI BHAN SH BUSHAN LAL BHAN 98 38 72 78 Passes. 56 JIVTESH SINGH S TARLOK SINGH 105 56 88 83 Passes. 57 ANUDEEP KAUR SUDAN DR NATER SINGH 97 44 84 79 Passes. 58 SONIKA ARORA KEWAL KRISHAN ARORA 105 49 83 87 Passes. 59 RASHMI SHARMA BHAJAN LAL SHARMA A 37 86 A Passes in Papers II & III. Absent in Papers I & IV. 60 SIMARJEET SINGH BACHAN SINGH 107 51 100 93 Passes. 61 JATINDER SINGH SWAMI RAJ BHALL 105 54 95 96 Passes. 62 DEEPAK GUPTA JAGDISH CHANDER GUPTA 68 54 93 51 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 63 SYED MUBASHIRA HUSSAIN SYED MIR HUSSAIN 81 44 87 71 Passes with 3 grace marks in Paper IV. 64 SIVENAY KUMARI THORU RAM 78 45 79 91 Passes. 65 SANIA AHMED GULAM AHMED 87 45 88 75 Passes. 66 RAJNI GUPTA ASHOK KUMAR GUPTA 98 42 90 106 Passes. 67 MOHD SHAFEEQ MOHD RAFIQ 63 27 74 58 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 68 MOHD FARID CHOWDHARY SLAM DIN CHOWDHARY 29 38 70 50 Fails in Papers I & IV. Passes in Papers II & III. 69 ELA CHOWDHARY SUNIL CHOWDHARY 99 39 85 68 Passes with 6 grace marks in Paper IV. 70 REENA SH KARTAR CHAND VERMA 82 41 95 91 Passes. 71 NIDHI GUPTA RAJ KUMAR 89 48 98 90 Passes. 72 RAFIQ AHMAD SHAH GHULAM AHMAD SHAH A A A A Absent. 73 BILAL AHMAD BILAL MOHAMMAD MAQBOOL MIR A 49 65 A Passes in Papers II & III. Absent in Papers I & IV. 74 BELAL AHMAD LONE MOHD SYDULLAH LONE A 48 80 47 Passes in Papers II & III. Fails in Paper IV. Absent in Paper I. 75 ARSHID AHMAD LONE GULAM RASOOL LONE 83 62 88 61 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 76 ALTAF HUSSAIN HAJAM ABDUL REHMAN HAJAM 90 45 95 67 Passes with 7 grace marks in Paper IV. 77 AASIYA DRABU MOHD YOUSUF DRABU 73 55 85 51 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 78 JAVEED MAQBOOL KHANDAY MOHD MAQBOOL KHANDAY 55 37 66 20 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 79 SHOWKAT AHMAD KHAN GULAM MOHD KHAN 45 37 72 33 Fails in Papers I & IV. Passes in Papers II & III. 80 SHOWKAT ALI RATHER GH MOHAMMAD RATHER 83 50 86 63 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 81 VIKAS ATRI MANGAT RAM 19 32 75 30 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 82 VIVEK ATTRI MANGAT RAM ATTRI 14 33 59 39 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 83 MOHD AYOUB LONE GH HASSAN LONE 90 50 95 54 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 84 ABDUL SALAM KUMAR AB SAMAD KUMAR 92 49 87 77 Passes. 85 JOZY ARA AB RASHID KHANDAY 90 47 81 60 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 86 NOUSHEEN MUSHTAQ MUSHTAQ AHMAD A 60 82 A Passes in Papers II & III. Absent in Papers I & IV. 87 MOHD ASHRAF AHANGER AB AHAD AHANGER 64 57 84 49 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 88 NADISH KHURSHEED KHURSHEED AHMAD 74 51 91 59 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 89 VIJAY KUMAR PREM NATH A A A A Absent. 90 PRITPAL SINGH S RAJINDER SINGH 104 43 93 58 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 91 LOKASH KUMAR RESHI RAJ 40 38 69 57 Fails in Papers I & IV. Passes in Papers II & III. 92 MOHD AKRAM RAJ WALI 52 52 87 53 Fails in Papers I & IV. Passes in Papers II & III. 93 MOHD HANIEF SHAH MOHD 72 68 86 50 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 94 TILAK RAJ PAHWA SH AMAR NATH 86 43 75 55 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 95 SAMUEL ZANGPO LATE YONTAN ZANGPO 89 35 81 B.Com.Passes with 2 grace marks in Paper II. 96 MOHD SHAFI WANI GHULAM MOHD WANI 37 20 74 35 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 97 MOHINDER SINGH FAJU RAM 89 42 78 55 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 98 VEENA DEVI SOI SHIV NATH SOI 70 30 68 0 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 99 OM PARKASH SHARMA LATE SH VISHWA NATH 60 19 63 22 Passes in Paper I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 100 SURINDER PAUL LATE SH BANTA SINGH 96 49 70 52 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 101 ANU RADHA ANGREZ SINGH 81 39 80 64 Passes with 10 grace marks in Paper IV. 102 AJAY KUMAR SHARMA SURESH CHANDER SHARMA 66 17 79 42 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 103 GURMEET SINGH S SANT SINGH 55 39 78 55 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 104 LEKH RAJ PARTAP SINGH 74 41 69 43 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 105 KULDEEP KUMAR TARA CHAND 92 48 86 64 Passes with 10 grace marks in Paper IV. 106 SANJAY KUMAR SH JOTI RAM 96 33 79 26 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 107 ASHOK KUMAR SH MUNSHI RAM 84 38 71 29 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 108 SATNAM SINGH S JASBIR SINGH 85 38 74 45 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 109 SHIV DEV SINGH LATE SH BUDHI SINGH 74 27 75 B.Com. Passes with 10 grace marks in Paper II. 110 DINESH GUPTA TILAK RAJ A 37 84 A Passes in Papers II & III. Absent in Papers I & IV. 111 ANU RADHA SH DES RAJ 78 32 82 26 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 112 BISHAN DASS LOTRA BALAK RAM LOTRA 35 19 50 21 Fails. 113 DES RAJ MASSU RAM 77 33 67 16 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 114 RAJNI LANGER SH RATTAN LAL 77 27 77 26 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 115 NEETU KAK ROSHAN LAL KAK 64 35 73 B.Com.Passes with 2 grace marks in Paper II. 116 SOBHA RANA SH PARKASH CHAND RANA 80 39 81 31 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 117 ANJNA KENUE LATE SHRI NIRANJAN 29 20 74 30 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 118 ZAFER JAVED GHULAM HUSSAIN 71 39 75 37 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 119 MANJIT KOUR S BEANT SINGH A A A A Absent. 120 MOHD SAYED LONE GH AHMAD LONE 59 30 64 32 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 121 SHOWKAT AHMAD NAJAR LT MOHD ABDULLAH NAJAR A A A A Absent. 122 TARIQ AHMAD WANI SH GH NABI WANI 62 44 81 50 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 123 RAMINDER JEET SINGH RAINA AJPAL SINGH RAINA 46 13 84 44 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 124 BASHIR AHMAD QURESHI MOHD SULIAMAN QURESHI 17 28 77 19 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 125 IMTIYAZ AHMAD SHEIKH MOHMAD AKRAM SHEIKH 69 39 76 38 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 126 SAJAD HUSSAIN KHAN GULAM RASOOL KHAN 89 50 79 65 Passes with 9 grace marks in Paper IV. 127 MOHD RAFI BISATI HAJI SONAULLAH BISATI Declared to have failed in the examination. 128 GHULAM RASOOL MIR GH NABI MIR 59 37 72 28 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 129 MUSHTAQ AHMAD NAJAR GULAM QADIR NAJAR 37 24 58 B.Com. Fails in Papers I & II. Passes in Paper III. 130 HAMID ULLAH GANAIE AB GANI GANAIE 70 30 74 24 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 131 MANSOOR AHMAD KHAN LT NOOR MOHAMMAD KHAN 52 29 59 0 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 132 GH MOHI UD DIN DAR MOHD AKBAR DAR 37 31 65 9 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 133 BASHIR AHMAD DAR GHULAM RASOOL DAR 80 37 89 35 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 134 RAJA BASHIR AHMAD BHAT GHULAM MOHD BHAT 69 43 76 53 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 135 MUSHTAQ AHMAD BHAT MR AB REHMAN BHAT A A A A Absent. 136 RAFIQ AHMAD GANAYEE ABDUL REHMAN GANAYEE 55 33 78 28 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 137 FAYAZ AHMAD YATOO GH MOHD YATOO 82 45 79 62 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 138 TARLOKE SINGH S MISHER SINGH 38 53 88 43 Fails in Papers I & IV. Passes in Papers II & III. 139 GUN JEET SINGH SARAN SINGH 61 30 72 10 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 140 RIFAT SULTAN LATE MOHD SULTAN 74 43 74 59 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 141 MOHAMMAD ASLAM KHAN ABDUL LATIF KHAN 63 27 70 16 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 142 AFTAB AHMAD SHAWL MOHAMMAD LATIEF SHAWL 80 40 74 29 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 143 MOHD SHABAN WANI GH HASSAN WANI 84 40 74 54 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 144 MOHAMMED RAJAB BHAT GHULAM MOHIUD DIN BHAT 53 29 75 20 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 145 MOHMAD YUSSOF SHIEKH GHULAM MOHMHAD SHEIKH 94 44 86 35 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 146 GHULAM MOHMMAD BHAT ABDUL KAREEM BHAT 75 37 68 41 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 147 SHIV RAM SH MASU RAM A A A A Absent. 148 SUKHDEV SINGH BUDHI SINGH A A A B.Com. Absent. 149 MOHD RAFIQ LATE SH ILAM DIN 46 49 82 27 Fails in Papers I & IV. Passes in Papers II & III. 150 IKHLAQ AHMED KHATANA MOHD AMIR KHATANA 30 24 84 29 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 151 NAZIR AHMAD HASHIM BABA 36 35 51 19 Fails.152 MUBEENA ZARGAR GHULAM NABI ZARGAR A A A 117 Passed in 11/2010 Absent. 153 SHABNAM BASHIR BASHIR AHMAD 55 43 70 125 Passed in 09/2012 Passes. 154 SHOWKAT AHMAD SOFI GULAM MOHD SOFI A 44 Passed in 09/2012 64 Passed in 09/2012 A Absent. 155 REYAZ AHMAD SHAH NOOR MOHD SHAH A 38 Passed in 04/2012 A A Absent. 156 SHEIKH MOHAMMAD ASLAM SHEIKH ABDUL RASHID 32 39 Passed in 06/2011 70 B.Com. Fails in Paper I. Passes in Paper III. 157 IMTIYAZ BANO ABDUL AZIZ BABA 19 A 9 80 Passed in 09/2012 Fails in Papers I & III. Absent in Paper II. 158 MOHAMMAD RAFIQ DAR MOHAMMAD MAQBOOL DAR 48 A 17 A Fails in Papers I & III. Absent in Papers II & IV. 159 MOHD FAROOQ JAN HAJI GH AHMAD 58 40 Passed in 09/2012 78 112 Passed in 09/2012 Passes. 160 JASBIR SINGH KEHAR SINGH A A A A Absent. 161 HAMID HUSSAIN RAHIM BAKSH 54 55 Passed in 06/201156 Passed in 8/2007 B.Com. Passes with 1 grace mark in Paper I. 162 ALAYAS AHMED RANA SH MOHD SHAFI 73 47 Passed in 12/201164 Passed in 09/2012 24 Passes in Paper I. Fails in Paper IV. 163 ASHWANI MAHAJAN CHANDER BHUSHAN A A 70 Passed in 8/2007 B.Com. Absent in Papers I & II. 164 JANAK RAJ LATE GIAN CHAND 56 Passed in 8/2007 47 Passed in 06/2011 11 87 Passed in 8/2007 Fails in Paper III. 165 URMIL PERMANAD AA A A Absent. 166 ROMESH RAINA SH DINA NATH RAINA 48 27 72 A Fails in Papers I & II. Passes in Paper III. Absent in Paper IV. 167 SUNITA ZARU HIRDAY NATH ZARU 73 30 63 26 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 168 BISHAN DASS BELI RAM 84 63 Passed in 04/2012 80 121 Passed in 04/2012 Passes. 169 KEWAL KRISHAN DOGRA SH SARDA RAM 39 38 Passed in 08/2001 62 20 Fails in Papers I & IV. Passes in Paper III. 170 RAJINDER KUMAR DES RAJ 40 48 Passed in 06/201169 Passed in 04/2012 B.Com. Fails in Paper I. 171 SHAM LAL SHARMA MULK RAJ SHARMA A A A B.Com. Absent. 172 VEENA GUPTA ASHOK KUMAR 78 42 Passed in 8/2007 66 83 Passed in 11/2010 Passes. 173 BALVINDER SINGH AMAR SINGH A 38 Passed in 11/201085 Passed in 04/2012 B.Com. Absent in Paper I. 174 ABDUL WHEED BALI AHAMDULLHA BALI 99 Passed in 09/2012 50 Passed in 04/2012 55 Passed in 04/2012 34 Fails in Paper IV. 175 SURAJ PARKASH SH CHAJJU RAM 58 37 Passed in 09/2012 78 Passed in 09/2012 B.Com. Passes. 176 VIJAY KUMAR PESHIN LATE PRITHVI NATH 61 A A A Passes in Paper I. Absent in Papers II, III & IV. 177 SANJAY KOUL LATE ARJAN NATH KOUL 62 19 57 13 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 178 SUMAN BALA SH SHAM SUNDER 43 A A 85 Passed in 8/2007 Fails in Paper I. Absent in Papers II & III. 179 RAJINDER KUMAR VISHWA NATH 38 A A A Fails in Paper I. Absent in Papers II, III & IV. 180 BINANTI PANDITA AMAR NATH PANDITA 77 49 Passed in 06/2011 73 18 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Paper IV. 181 MOHD ALI HAJI MOHD HADI 68 27 72 6 Passes in Papers I & III. Fails in Papers II & IV. 182 BASHIR AHMED ZARGAR MR GHULAM MOHAMMED 51 26 68 B.Com. Fails in Papers I & II. Passes in Paper III. 183 ALI MOHMAD SOFI GHULAM MOHMAD SOFI 84 Passed in 09/2012 44 Passed in 04/2012 53 20 Fails in Papers III & IV. 184 AB RASHID BHAT AB KHALIQ BHAT 24 37 Passed in 04/1998 61 Passed in 04/1998 93 Passed in 11/2010Fails in Paper I. 185 MOHAMMAD SHAFI MISGER KH KHAZIR MOHAMMAD MISGER 45 23 59 Passed in 09/2012 B.Com. Fails in Papers I & II. 186 MANZOOR AHMED AHANGER GHULAM NABI AHANGER 36 37 Passed in 12/2011 77 16 Fails in Papers I & IV. Passes in Paper III. 187 SAJAD JAVEED KHAN ABDUL RASHID KHAN 63 61 Passed in 09/2012 57 Passed in 09/2012 146 Passed in 09/2012Passes. 188 FAYAZ AHMAD SHAH HABIB ULLAH SHAH 41 39 Passed in 09/2012 76 77 Passed in 09/2012 Fails in Paper I. Passes in Paper III. 189 SHAHIDA BEIGH GHULAM QADIR BEIGH 74 49 Passed in 04/2012 71 100 Passed in 11/2010 Passes. 190 GH QADIR SHEIKH AB RAHIM SHEIKH 77 Passed in 09/2012 19 51 28 Fails in Papers II, III & IV. 191 AB MAJID SHEIKH GH AHMAD SHEIKH A A A A Absent. 192 MASARAT MALIK G M MALIK 96 Passed in 09/2012 47 Passed in 12/2011 84 111 Passed in 09/2012 Passes. 193 SYED NISSAR HUSSAIN GEELANI SYED JALAL UDDIN GEELANI 69 Passed in 09/2012 42 Passed in 12/2011 62 93 Passed in 11/2010 Passes. 194 NOOR MOHMMAD ZAHOOR MOHMMAD IBRAHIM LONE A A A B.Com. Absent. 195 TARIQ AHMAD MIR LATE GH AHMAD MIR 60 64 Passed in 09/2012 67 Passed in 09/2012 B.Com. Passes. 196 MANZOOR AHMAD SHEIKH GH MOHD SHEIKH 66 Passed in 06/2011 58 Passed in 06/2011 56 Passed in 06/2011 A Absent in Paper IV. 197 MOHAMMAD SULTAN KHAIRA ABDUL SALAM KHAIRA 63 Passed in 09/2012 35 55 Passed in 09/2012 24 Fails in Papers II & IV. 198 AFROZ AHMAD BHAT MOHD ABDULLAH BHAT 78 Passed in 09/2012 35 65 75 Passed in 12/2010 Passes with 2 grace marks in Paper II. 199 BASHIR AHMAD WAGAY HAJI MOHD MAQBOOL WAGAY 62 41 Passed in 04/2012 A B.Com. Passes in Paper I. Absent in Paper III. 200 GH MOHD BHAT GH HASSAN BHAT A 51 76 A Passes in Papers II & III. Absent in Papers I & IV. 201 TASAWAF AMIN MOHD AMIN PARRAY 84 42 77 B.Com. Passes. 202 ASHOWANI KUMAR LATE SH SULLAH RAM 42 A A A Fails in Paper I. Absent in Papers II, III & IV. 203 AUTAR SINGH BALI S PREM SINGH BALI 82 56 Passed in 12/201172 88 Passed in 09/2012 Passes. 204 FAROOQ MIR SHAH NAWAZ MIR A A A 74 Passed in 8/2007 Absent in Papers I, II & III. 205 JAVEED AHAMD WADOO LATE GHULAM QADIR WADOO 62 Passed in 09/2012 A A A Absent in Papers II, III & IV. 206 POONAM MAKHNOTRA S.P. MAKHNOTRA 99 45 87 62 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 207 ABDUL JALIL KHAN ABDUL RAZAQ KHAN 85 53 78 43 Passes in Papers I, II & III. Fails in Paper IV. 208 NEERU KARIHOLU PRAN NATH KARIHOLU 84 37 Did Not Apply Did Not Apply Passes in Papers I & II. Did not apply for rest of the papers. 209 MOHD MUBARK QAZI QAMER DIN 43 23 66 25 Fails in Papers I, II & IV. Passes in Paper III. 210 MOHAMAD SHAFI KHAN ABDUL JABAR KHAN A A A A Absent. 211 SYED MUSHTAQ AHMAD SHAH SYED GHULAM MOHMAD SHAH A A A A Absent. 212 MOHD YOUSUF LONE AB RAHIM LONE 48 29 68 B.Com. Fails in Papers I & II. Passes in Paper III. E&OE NOTIFICATION NO: PSC/EX/2013/62 CONTD P1 BJP chief . differences whatsoever in the choice of BJP's prime ministerial candidate and it will be a smooth sailing. "The BJP is to bring out a vision document on the state of economy with the help of experts and will be made public end of next month. The document will highlight what we will do in the areas of infrastructure, heavy engineering, manufacturing, energy and technology," he said. Turning to the state of economy, he said India is now facing a serious financial crisis of grave magnitude despite the fact that no one in the global economy can ignore India. "The economy of India is not something that makes us feel comfortable or feel proud of. But India was regarded as third largest economy of the world," he said, recalling that when the NDA government stepped down in 2004, the fiscal deficit was 2.5 per cent and current account deficit was surplus. "The economy witnessed a boom period during 1999 to 2004 when the country was ruled by the NDA and the slide started in 2004. The boom that we created lasted till 2008 and then we are now witnessing is one of the worse economic downturns," Singh said. "The rupee value has depreciated drastically to the USD dollar from Rs 37 a USD in 2008 to Rs 60 in 2013 almost doubling in five years. We thought this would be offset by increase in exports and that did not happen too which went up by just one per cent," he said. "It's very unfortunate that savings that has been the biggest strength of India as it provided capital is now falling at a very rapid rate. The small businesses tend to grow with the increase in savings and in the absence they take a major hit. Savings drop and growth rates drop and what else to drop. "The success of Indian story is over. The success story of India is waiting for the BJP to return to power. The UPA had ruined all the economy," he said. Singh said, "We have proved in the BJP-ruled states how we prioritize economic reforms and Gujarat is a shining example of India. The whole world is now talking about Gujarat and foreign governments are keen to study the success story." Singh said the average GDP of BJP-ruled governments are about 10 per cent whereas the nation is only experiencing a growth rate of less than five per cent. "There are only two models - BJP model for growth and Congress model for destruction," he added. The BJP-led NDA government created 67 million jobs in less than five years whereas the CongressUPA created less than 2.7 million jobs between 2004 and 2009," he claimed. On his visit to Washington, Singh said he had discussions with the Congressmen and the Obama administration officials on the issue of difficulties faced by candidates in H1B and L1 visa to work legally in the US. The GDP cost burden will go up by 0.3 to 0.4 per cent due to increase in fees. "We had lodged our protest against the comprehensive immigration reforms bill and they had raised the issue of patents and compulsory drug license issues. There was only one case under these CDL whereas Indonesia had six cases and Canada four cases," he added. He said the BJP government would not be either a capitalistic government or a socialist government but a nationalist government with the interest of India in mind. "We are not against FDI and in fact Vajpayee government was the one that initiated FDI but we are against FDI in retail sector as it would affect the livelihood of many a small business owner," he said. He said that his party would demand to investigate the issue of forgery of signature of MPs in a letter sent to US President Barack Obama. Kargil martyrs . state of affairs vis-a-vis attitude of the Congress-led UPA and NCCongress coalition of J&K towards army, Khajuria said that the brave soliders and other para military forces, including Jammu & Kashmir Police personals, have been fighting the across the border sponsored terrorism besides helping in maintaining law and order but unfortunately their services are not recognized. He said that every attempt is made to paint the army as the root of all problems and violator of human rights in this border state just for political mileage. as judge for key judicial post WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama has nominated yet another Indian American legal luminary, Vince Girdhari Chhabria, a noted legal luminary to a key judicial post in California. Nominated to be US district judge for the northern district of Contd p2 Obama nominates .. California, Chhabria is currently deputy city attorney for government litigation at the San Francisco city attorney's office, where he has worked since 2005. Announcing Chhabria's nomination along with five other judicial posts, Obama said: "These men and women have had distinguished legal careers and I am honoured to ask them to continue their work as judges on the federal bench." "They will serve the American people with integrity and an unwavering commitment to justice," he added. On confirmation by the Senate, Chhabria would become the first South Asian judge in California and the fourth South Asian judge in the US. Chhabria's nomination comes close on the heels of confirmation of Chandigarh-born Sri Srinivasan as a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, often described as the second highest court in the US. Chhabria began his legal career by clerking for judge Charles R. Breyer of the US District Court for the Northern District of California from 1998 to 1999. He also worked as an associate at the law firm Covington & Burling LLP from 2002 to 2004. From 2001 to 2002, he clerked for Justice Stephen G. Breyer on the US Supreme Court. In 2001, Chhabria worked at the law firm of Keker & Van Nest, LLP, after completing a one-year clerkship for Judge James R. Browning of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Discussions on .. and Botsa Satyanarayana, in their separate reports, are understood to have opposed any move to divide the state while Damodar Rajanarasimha, who is from Telangana, backed the statehood demand. Earlier in the day, Congress leaders from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra regions) called on the chief minister and urged him to convey to the leadership their strong opposition to the state's division, party sources said. Seemandhra leaders, who made a beeline to the national capital in a last-ditch attempt to stall a possible decision to carve out Telangana state, held a meeting to chalk out their strategy. The meeting was attended by state and central ministers and Congress MPs from Seemandhra. S. Sailajanth, the state minister heading the group opposed to state's division, told reporters after the meeting that they were confident the state would remain united. He termed as speculations the talk of a likely decision to carve out Telangana state. "We have decided to exhaust all options to ensure the state remains united," he said. Hectic activity in Delhi has began amid the continuing resignations of Seemandhra leaders to mount pressure on the central government. Two Congress legislators on Friday submitted their resignations to the assembly speaker. As many as 16 legislators of the YSR Congress party and one of Congress on Thursday announced their resignations. Weather satellite .. system."After a perfect lift-off at 01:24 am from the European Arianespace spaceport at Kourou, the two-tonne advanced weather satellite was placed in the geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) 32 minutes later, about 36,000 km above from earth," the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) explained. The sophisticated spacecraft is orbiting at perigee (closest to the earth) of 249.9 km and apogee (farthest from the earth) of 35,880 km in the orbit. "The satellite's solar panel was automatically deployed soon after it was separated from the rocket's upper cryogenic stage and our master control facility at Hassan took over its control for further manoeuvres," the ISRO statement said. Hassan is about 200 km from Bangalore. Preliminary checks of the subsystems showed the health of the spacecraft was satisfactory. "The MCT will perform the orbitraising manoeuvres over the next few days using the satellite's propulsion system to place it in the intended geostationary orbit," was further added.The satellite will improve weather forecasting system, including predictions about the monsoon. "This is a big step and will certainly improve our forecasting system," Shailesh Nayak, secretary, union ministry of earth sciences, told reporters in New Delhi. "Insat will send us data on weather every half-an-hour and these will be put in our computing models for preparing weather forecast," he said. Nayak, however, denied commenting on the accuracy. "The accuracy part, we will only come to know after using it for 6-8 months." The satellite's observational instruments will be switched on during the second week of August after it reaches the orbital slot at 82 degrees east to the equatorial plane for extensive tests by the MCF. The four instruments onboard the spacecraft are Imager, Sounder, Data Relay Transponder and Satellite Aided Search & Rescue. The six channel imager can take weather pictures of the earth and has improved features compared to the instrument in (Kalpana-1) and Insat-3A, the two Indian geostationary satellites, which have been providing weather services over the past decade. "The 19-channel sounder payload adds a new dimension to monitor weather through its atmospheric sounding system, and provides vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and integrated ozone," the statement noted. Data relay transponder receives meteorological, hydrological, oceanographic parameters sent by the automatic data collection platforms located at remote uninhabited places and relays them to a processing centre for generating accurate weather forecasts.The search and rescue instrument picks up and relays alert signals originating from the distress beacons of maritime, aviation and land-based Rs 12 .. for criticizing the Rs 33.30 Poverty Line figures of the Planning Commission, saying the opposition party, "should explain why it was Rs 16.73 in 59th NSSO survey of 2003 and accepted by BJP/NDA Govt?". "Unlike the BJP NDA, we have delinked this poverty line from all 150 Central govt schemes including NREGA, ICDS, MDM, NRHM, SSA, PDS except 1. "NSSO survey-1993-94 to 2004-05 the avg. decline in poverty was 0.74%/year. During UPA it accelerated three times to 2.18% pts per year," Maken said on twitter. He instead claimed that during Congress-led UPA, poverty has declined from 37.2 per cent in 2004-5 to 21.9 per cent...a decline from 40.71 crore to 26.93 crore people below the poverty line. users and relays them to the mission control centre to facilitate speedy search and rescue operations. The state-run space agency will process the satellite's data and the derivation of meteorological parameters with the Indian meteorological department in New Delhi. An indigenously designed and developed meteorological data processing system has been commissioned at IMD, with a mirror site at the space agency's space applications centre at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh and Ahmedabad in Gujarat. JK Bank .. and flourished nepotism and favoritism under his leadership in the bank. The chairman has to break his silence on this issue and I dare Mr. Mushtaq to come for an open debate on its policies and I am sure that I will prove that this bank has damaged the economic stability of the state and done absolutely nothing to encourage entrepreneurship in Jammu region. Today's era is the age of internet, information and technology but I can't understand the compulsions why neither the number of vacancies nor the list of qualifiers was publishes on the official website of the bank. I request the Honb'le Chief Minister to intervene and set up an enquiry to probe the affairs of the bank. BJP will not tolerate these biased policies of the bank. We demand that the hard earned money of Jammuites which was taken as the examination fee must be refunded to the tens of thousands of candidates who were cheated in this whole examination drama. This issue has been raised by us so many times in the assembly also but it seems that JK bank wants to see the anger of the Jammu youth on streets and outside each and every branch of JK bank. Sri Ram .. authorities for not mentioning the number of vacancies of REs for which exams were conducted and results declared abruptly in March this year without publishing selection list. Majority of the selected REs were appointed on the recommendations of the National Conference Ministers who even have not qualified the written test, Mahajan alleged. Mahajan criticized the Bank Chairman, Sheikh Mushtaq for appeasing the National Conference people particularly the Ministers and senior leaders. Mahajan demanded an impartial probe into the whole matter and action against the corrupt Bank officials for playing with the future of the meritorious students. Meanwhile, Mahajan has again voiced the demand for trifurcation of the state on regional basis for getting due share and appealed the people of Jammu region to learn lesson from the misdeeds of the Kashmir centered political parties and gather under a united platform for demand of a separate Jammu state for peace and progress of Jammu people. LOST OF RC I Balveer Singh Slathia S/O Gandharb Singh Slathia R/O H.No. 20 Subash Nagar, 2nd Ext , Jammu, Teh. & Distt Jammu I have lost RC of my scooter No. JK02AL-3095. If anybody found the document can please contact me on my mobile number 94191-73721, I am applying for the duplicate of the above mentioned document. Objection if any may conveyed to concerned authority within 7 days from the date of publication of this notice. Sarpanch fired . Parry resident of village Krankshvan, Sopore was fired upon by militants when he was coming out from the local Masjid after offering Friday prayers. He was shifted to the Srinagar hospital for treatment. He has got severe injury in his mouth. Doctors are attending him. Police and security forces have cordoned off the area. Sopore police has registered a case in this regard and the investigation has been started. TRANSFER NOTICE I Ram Krishan S/O B R Karnathia R/O Kana Chak Jammu have applied for the transfer of Vehicle No JK02G-2580 in favour of Ravinder Singh S/O Gori Lal R/O Dhossa Teh Gandho Distt. Doda. Objection if any may be Conveyed to RTO Jammu With in 7 Days. TRANSFER NOTICE I Dr Sindhoor Sigh S/O Shonka Ram R/O H. No. 42 Ext. 2 Subash Nagar Jammu have applied for the transfer of Vehicle No. JK02U-9605 in favour of Sandeep Sudan S/O Mahesh Kumar R/O Indra N agar Miran Sahib R.S Pura Jammu. Objection if any may be Conveyed to RTO Jammu With in 7 Days. Five orphaned . was first reported by local newspapers. Pratapgarh is about 160 km from state capital Lucknow. The children are all aged between 17 and seven, and were earlier residents of Jamua village in Pratapgarh district. For the past four months, after their parents died, the children have made a graveyard a little outside the village their home - they have two broken cots and a plastic sheet to protect them from elements. The siblings, four boys and a girl, were deserted by relatives who feared the children too may be infected with HIV. After local newspapers reported their plight, the news spread. The district administration swung into action, and has assured the children a home under the Indira Aawas scheme. A senior district official told IANS that all efforts would be made to bring the children back into the mainstream. District officials have since ordered a medical check-up of the children to ascertain if they too are HIVpositive. A district official said that even if the children test HIV-positive, proper treatment would be given to them, and they will be taken care of. Obama nominates Indian American TRANSFER NOTICE I Sohan Lal S/O Madan Lal R/O Berola Teh Akhnoor Jammu have applied for the transfer of Vehicle No JK02R-9466 in favour of Gopal Dass S/O Gian Chand R/O Osssu Udhampur. Objection if any may be Conveyed to RTO Jammu With in 7 Days. TRANSFER NOTICE I H.LMaini S/O Sh. R.C Maini R/O 35 D/C andhi Nagar Jammu have applied for the transfer of Vehicle No JK11-0729 in favour of Gopal Sharma S/O Sh Durga Dass R/O Bhour Cap W No. 1Jammu. Objection if any may be Conveyed to RTO Jammu With in 7 Days. Modi top .. (18 per cent) amongst Muslim voters. Sixty-six per cent Congress supporters want Rahul to be projected as the prime ministerial candidate while 79 per cent BJP supporters want Modi to be projected for the post. While current Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is considered to be an honest leader by 25 per cent of those surveyed, 14 per cent say he has little control over decisions and nine per cent say that he has allowed corruption to flourish. The satisfaction level with his regime has fallen to 49 per cent in July 2013 from 56 per cent two years ago. There is a sliver lining too with Manmohan still the most liked among top leaders with 63 per cent votes followed by Rahul Gandhi (56 per cent) and Modi (54 per TRANSFER NOTICE I ijay Kumar S/O Prem Nath R/O Near Shrine Board Colony Noai Kara Jammu have applied for the transfer of Vehicle No. JK20-1866 in favour of Rakesh Kumar S/O Amarjeet Lal R/O H.No 236Mira Sahib Jammu. Objection if any may be Conveyed to RTO Jammu With in 7 Days. (Dr. T.S. Ashok Kumar) IFS Secretary & Controller of Examinations, J&K Public Service Commission. No: PSC/Ex-SEC/16/2013 Dated: 25 .07.2013 Page 3.qxd 7/27/2013 8:03 AM Page 1 STUDENT AGE SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 STATE 3 and mutually benefitting strategy and setting achievable goals. She said that domain experts working in the area of innovation will be collaborating with the State in coming days and sharing their valuable experiences for successful implementation of the road map. She said Universities and Technology Institutes can develop Technology Incubation Centers to help and nurture talented students to realise their potential for innovation. She said J&K State innovation council can create a separate fund to finance innovation projects which are identified and assessed as having considerable social benefit and impact. She said steps should also be taken towards fostering creativity in education, industries and other sectors, moreover, She suggested that the State Innovation Council can also include members of National Level bodies to facilitate greater exchange and benefits. Bhalla felicitates JKCCE topper Ms. Neha J&K State Innovation Council setup to encourage talented youth: CS Warns strict action against encroachers Interaction session held to discuss innovation road map SRINAGAR, JULY 26: Terming setting up of the J&K State Innovation Council as an important step towards encouraging new ideas and innovations among the talented youth in the State, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday Friday said that Jammu and Kashmir Government has already set out on the path to scout for innovation in the State. The Chief Secretary was speaking during the interaction session to discuss and exchange ideas for the formulation of State's Innovation Road Map for creating an innovation ecosystem and its effective implementation. Experts from National Innovation Council and Confederation of Indian industries, NIF, CSIR, and members of J&K State innovation Council participated in the interaction session. The Chief Secretary said that the State Innovation Council is keeping constant touch JAMMU, JULY 26-Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Mr. Raman Bhalla today felicitated Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination topper Ms. Neha Sharma of Trikuta Nagar,. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bhalla said that youth of Jammu and Kashmir have ample talent and calibre to bring laurels for State and they have proved their mettle in various fields .He called upon the students to work hard and strive to achieve their goals and work for the development of the state and nation. He said 'Education sector is the priority of the Government', adding that in this regard Government is making all out efforts to upgrade educational institutions with improved infrastructure so that the students can avail quality education. The Minister congratulated Dr Neha for her splendid performance and wished her a bright career ahead He called upon the parents to ensure education of their children specially the girl child and urged upon the students to follow the path of this topper who has set a benchmark with their hard work. Later, a deputation of Trikuta Nagar Sector-1 met the Minister and apprised him about the encroachment in a nallah. They informed that this has cause lots of problem to the people as the chocked water outlet has caused damage to their property. Mr. Bhalla directed the accompanied JMC and UEED officers to immediate remove the encroachment and debris from the nallah so that the people of the area get relief from the problem. with the National Innovation Council to make use of its experience at the National Level to enable the State to crystalize the programme in an effective manner. He said that the State Innovation Council has already taken steps to put in place an effective institutional mechanism to identify and support innovation in local Universities, Colleges, Schools, MSME and R&D institutes adding that directions have already been issued to the Science and Technology Department along with School and Higher Education Department to give orientation to the Education System towards innovations. Chief Secretary also expressed gratitude to Ms Veena Upadhyay an expert from the National Innovation Council and her team of experts for their presentations and sharing valuable experiences to support the State carry forward the work of encouraging and supporting innovations in various fields and to prepare an effec- tive road map for future. Earlier, Ms Veena Upadhyay, while expressing her gratitude to the State Government for holding the interaction session said that the innovation road map should be inclusive covering high level to lower level technologies with maximum social benefit at minimum cost. Ms. Upadhyay gave a detailed presentation touching various aspects of innovation and its significance, highlighting the need for multipronged, cross-sectoral Enrolment for Aadhaar project in full swing REASI, JULY 26 - The Aadhaar project, which issues 12-figure unified identity card to those above five years of age, has begun in Reasi district through a network of its 35 registration centers. The project is expected to be completed by November-end. Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that 35 technically qualified persons have been engaged to handle the sensitive biometric machine. Choudhary said that the applications will be received and the biometric cards would be provided by Comtech Private Limited in the district. Wani conducts city tour, assesses peoples' problems Orientation Programme on MGNREGA organised KISHWAR, JULY 26- A one day orientation cum training programme for the field functionaries of Rural Development Department of district Kishtwar was held on Friday at TRC complex Kishtwar. District Development Commissioner Kishtwar Saleem Mohammed presided over the function. While addressing the gathering the DDC stressed on bringing about more transparency and accountability to improve the work culture to ensure benefits of MGNREGA reach the masses . He said that it is the prime responsibility of VLW's/Gram Seveks/ MPW's/JE's/BDO's and ACD's to monitor the quantity and quality of developmental works at ground level. He said that any laxity on the part of any employe will be dealt severely. Akhtar Hussain ACD DDC reviews progress under RMSA, SSA KATHUA, JULY 26 District Development Commissioner, Kathua, Jitendra K Singh, in Friday reviewed progress on construction of school buildings and other interventions under Rashtriya Madhmik Shiksha Aabhiyan (RMSA) and Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in an officers meeting. The meeting discussed in detail the status of completion of school buildings under the schemes with the CEO Kathua and ZEOs of different education zones. It was disclosed that construction of 542 primary school buildings have been taken up in the different education Zones of the district under SSA, of which, 384 have been completed. While reviewing the status of completion of buildings under RMSA, it was revealed that 35 buildings have been taken up under this scheme and buildings of high school Sumo and Pallad have been completed. The DDC directed the ZEOs concerned to expedite the process of land identification and land acquisition for construction of school buildings. He further asked the officers of education department to work in close coordination with the revenue and engineering wings so that desired targets could be achieved in time. The DDC also directed the officers to supervise the Mid Day Meal Scheme and ensure that proper quality and hygiene is maintained. Kishtwar while speaking on the occasion stressed upon the employees to work with zeal and zest so that the development target set by the government are achieved. ACD asked the field functionaries to have the clear vision of the scheme and strive hard to fulfil the goals and objectives of the flagship programme in letter and spirit. Sunil Bhutyal Block Development Officer Negseni in his speech deliv- ered the salient features of the MG NREGA programme and briefed the functionaries about the vision, objective and impact of the programme. Besides this, he enjoined upon all the employees to work vigorously so that the people of area do not remain bereft of the benefits of the programme. Others who spoke on the occasion included Shokat Hayat Matoo, Ms Seema Parihar, Ajaz Hussain Butt and Shiv Kumar. Students from colleges/school join NPSU JAMMU, JULY 26: Several student activists from various colleges/schools of Jammu Province joined National Panthers Student Union under the leadership of Prov President Thakur Virender Singh in presence of Prof. Bhim Singh, Chief Patron, Harsh Dev Singh MLA & Chairman JKNPP, P.K. Ganju and S. Daljit Singh (VicePresidents), Anita Thakur (Gen Sect), Faqir Nath Ex-MLA & Provincial President of Party, Jagdev Singh (Co-ordiantion Sect), District President Jammu city Kamal Singh besides others. Addressing the students and youth Chief Patron, Prof. Bhim Singh and chairman, Shri Harsh Dev Singh welcomed the new entrants in the party fold and expressed the hope that they will uphold the flag of revolution to restore identity and integrity of Jammu Pradesh, as was done by the students and youth in the agitation of 1966 at Jammu in which several students sacrificed their precious life for Jammu cause. Harsh Dev Singh urged youth to launch crusade against drug idiction among the new generation which has retarded the personal development of our young boys. Among those who joined the party are students from Ranbir Hr. Sec Jammu namely Sunil Saini (chairman), Rahul Saini (President), Anit Charak & Rohit Saini (vice-Presidents), Rohit Sharma & Harsh Sharma (Gen Sect), Arun Charak (Joint Sect), Nitin Saini (Sect), Mudassir Ahmad (Press Sect) & others. Provl Committee NPSU was reconstituted as Lovely Singh (Prov VicePresident), Roopesh Singh (Prov Gen Sect), Shubam Jamwal (Prov Joint Sect). Meanwhile Thakur Virender Singh assured the Panthers high command that students and youth who joined the party shall uphold the principles for which JKNPP was born in Jammu. DC Budgam distributed financial assistance BUDGAM, JULY 26- On the instructions of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Divisional Commissioner's office through Regional Red Cross Society provided aid and assistance to the natives of Budgam who were affected by the recent violence, which started from a scuffle between two people near Khomeni Chowk but snowballed into violence engulfing large areas in the district. Deputy Commissioner Budgam distributed 181 blankets, 45 sets of kitchenware, dress material and other things to around 100 affected people. 52 victims of violence from Sofipora, Shahpora and Allahpora were also given Rs 5000 each by the regional Red Cross society as a gesture of assistance. JAMMU, JULY 26Minister for Roads and Buildings Mr. Abdul Majid Wani on Friday conducted an extensive tour of Jammu city and took stock of the problems of the people. During the tour, the Minister visited Govind Nagar, Gol Gujral, Vikas Lane Talab Tillo and its adjoining areas. Interacting with the people, the Minister said that government is making concrete efforts to redress their problems and various micro and mega developmental projects are underway for improving the core amenities and facilities for the people. En-route, several deputations and individuals met the Minister and apprised him with their problems. Besides, uninterrupted water and power supply to the area, the locals also demanded black-topping of the interior roads and widening of Revenue Complex road connecting the 4th Tawi Bridge to ease the traffic congestion in the area. The Minister issued on-the- spot directions to the concerned officers for attending the peoples' problem and to take steps for their early redressal. He also directed for constituting a joint team of officers of JMC, R&B, Revenue and PDD to assess the problems of the locals and suggest measures for their redressal. Among others, Commissioner JMC K. L. Khajuria and other officers of line departments accompanied the Minister during the tour. 13 new WSSs in Gurez to be taken up at Rs.11.41 cr soon: Gurezi SRINAGAR, JULY 26: Minister of State for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Mr. Nazir Ahmad Gurezi on Friday visited various areas in Tehsil Gurez including Budgam of Tuilal area and took stock of different developmental works under execution in these areas. Interacting with the people at different places, the Minister said that the construction work on 13 new water supply schemes at an estimated cost of Rs.11.41 crore to be taken in hand in the Tehsil Gurez soon. These schemes included Check Journiyal, Check Wali, Boola Mari Buglinder, Darthan Wanpora, Byant Burnia, Gujran New, Khutroon Buglinder, Mukhruf Shahpora Bala, Mehdoodat Shahpora Payeen, Thapa Achoora, Shokput Kanzalwan, Wazirthat and Kashpart. Mr. Gurezi said by commissioning these projects it will further augment the drinking water facility in the Tehsil and fulfil the long pending demand of the people of these areas. The Minister said that the Government is committed to provide basic amenities to the people in all the three regions of the State. He said that the Government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is committed to ensure to upgrade the living standard of the people especially the weaker and down trodden sections of the society. He said several State and Central welfare schemes have been launched in the State in this regard and appealed the people to come forward and take advantage of these schemes. 44 cases under JKSES sanctioned in Kishtwar KISHTWAR, JULY 26-The District level selection committee of J& K Self Employment Scheme (JKSES) for Kishtwar headed by District Development Commissioner, Kishtwar, Saleem Mohammad on Friday sanctioned 44 cases under the scheme. Giving details, Assistant Director Employment, Kishtwar, Ataul- Munim Tak said that the committee scrutinized the cases regarding retail, electric equipment repair and various other small scale business units and sanctioned the cases. Ensure quality food under mid day meal: DDC DODA, JULY 26 - District Development Commissioner, Doda, Mubarak Singh on Friday convened a meeting of officers of ICDS and education department to ensure quality food as per guidelines of ICDS and mid day meal programme among the poor children. Additional District Development Commissioner, G.N Balwan, Programme Officer, ICDS, Arvind Sharma, Chief Planning Officer, Dr. Yassir Balwan besides CDPO's and senior officers of Education Department attended the meeting. The DDC, while stressing the need for providing good quality meal to children, said that ICDS scheme is the most unique programme in providing pre-school education on one hand and fighting malnutrition, morbidity, reduced learning capacity and mortality on the other hand. While as mid day meal programme is a multi-faceted programme of the GoI that seek to address the issue of food security, lack of nutrition and access to education, it involves provision of free lunch on working days for children in Govt. Schools. He emphasized upon the need of proper and vigilant monitoring of food stores where ration is being kept in schools and anganwadi centres and utilization of services of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) in this regard. Mir reviews NABARD projects of Agriculture Deptt Says Deptt has to play pro-active role for its successful implementation Manohar Lal conducts extensive tour of Billawar KATHUA, JULY 26Minister of State for Fisheries, Cooperatives, Finance and Planning Dr Manohar Lal Sharma conducted an extensive tour of tehsil Billawar. Assistant Commissioner (Dev) Kathua, SDM Billawar, SDPO Basohli, Dy CEO Billawar also accompanied the Minister during the tour.At Ghatt Dr Manohar Lal Sharma laid foundation of additional rooms at upgraded Government Middle School Ghatt and announced Rs 1 lakh for ground levelling and repair of the old school building. Dr Sharma also inspected Billawar - Macchedi Road works to be taken up under PMGSY. Later Dr Sharma convened a public grievance redressal camp at Seroo Badola village of Lower Baggan Panchayat of block Billawar. The people from Lower Baggan, Upper Baggan and other adjoining areas apprised Manohar Lal Sharma passed instructions to the concerned department to take necessary action in a time bound manner. He directed the PHE department to repair the defunct hand pumps, and to install new hand pumps at Hatt and Seroo Badola. He assured the inhabitants that the demands of Higher Secondary School Baggan will be taken up on priority. He announced 50 electric poles for the area. He also passed instructions to XEN Rural Development to make project for constructing Footbridges in Ghatt, Dhakkiyan and Seroo areas. He also announced Rs 1 lakh for seroo badola for development works. Dr Shama also announced two New Primary Schools for Dhallian and Oga in Malhar zone. Panches , Sarpanches, District and Tehsil level officers and large number of people were present on the occasion. the minister with their demands and problems. The main demands projected include a CAPD store in the area , lift irrigation scheme for Baggan, expansion of Baggan road under PMGSY, dispensary, electric poles, opening of J&K bank branch and up gradation of High School Upper Baggan Dr Manohar Lal Sharma gave a patient hearing to the demands of the people and assured them of timely disposal of their problems The minister said that government has initiated several steps to explore the tourism potential of Billawar and with coming up of Mata Sukrala Devi and Mata Bala Sundri Shrine Boards the development of the area will increase manifold in coming time. Dr Sharma said the scenic landscapes of Ghatt, Sujjara, Machhedi has huge tourism potential and with the completion of Billawar - Machhedi road steps will be taken to establish tourism infrastructure in these areas. Responding to the projected demands of the people Dr SRINAGAR, JULY 26:Minister for Agriculture, Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir on Friday said that the Agriculture and its associated departments have pivotal role in the success of NABARD funding projects. He urged upon the officers to put in their efforts by taking proactive role in such projects so that GDP from Agriculture sector is increased besides the people associated with Agriculture, Horticulture and its allied sectors are benefited. The Minister was addressing a high level meeting of offi- cers convened to review NABARD funding in various projects in the Agriculture sector in J&K. Mr. Mir said that government has opened the doors of support by launching various schemes and projects for the welfare and development of the people related with agriculture sector. The Minister emphasized for adopting latest scientific methods and techniques for increased agriculture production besides improving quality. He also stressed for identifying the research fields in the agriculture sector. On the occasion, the Minister was apprised about various Agro based projects to be implemented with NABARD funding in various States of the country through PowerPoint presentation. Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, Principal Secretary Finance, Commissioner Secretary Agriculture, Directors of Agriculture, Horticulture, MD Agro Departments, MD JKHPMC, Director Planning Agriculture, Director Research, SKUAST and other concerned officers were present in the meeting. AGE 4.qxd 7/27/2013 8:02 AM Page 1 STUDENT AGE SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 EDUCATION AGE 4 Examination is conducted by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). Besides ICAR other universities like Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi also conduct entrance examinations for the vacancies in their respective institutes. Personal Skills: People interested in floriculture as a career should be patient, analytical and observant. They must be detail oriented and accurate in their work. As in any horticultural career field, a love of nature is essential. Creativity and artistic flair along with physical stamina and manual dexterity will make candidates apt to work in this field. Good verbal communication skills are essential for interacting with both suppliers and customers. Computer skills are helpful for placing supply orders, maintaining inventory records, and doing book keeping for those intending to turn entrepreneurs and manage their own businesses. JOB PROSPECTS & CAREER OPTIONS Floriculture is a colourful career which offers aspirants good growth prospects and opportunity to explore new avenues. Qualified floriculture specialists can be employed at various levels both in the government sector as well as the corporate sector. Some of the potential employers are : Floriculture units- Floriculturists are involved in the propagation and growing of cut flowers, flowering potted plants, foliage plants and bedding plants. They plant , prune, water, fertilize, harvest and ship these plants as well as monitor and manipulate the environment under which they are grown both indoors in green houses and outdoors in field production where the climate is favourable. Outdoor design consultancy firmsCompanies engaged in horticulture landscaping and plantation employ floriculturists and horticulturists in supervisory positions and for development and maintenance of gardens. City planners and builders-and those who carry out maintenance at various sites employ floriculturists and horticulturists. Educational institutions offering related courses- Floriculturists may teach at the college and university level. Floriculturists in college teaching follow the typical career path from instructor to assistant professor to associate professor to full professor. Cosmetics and perfume industryValue addition in the form of extraction of pigments, essential oils, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compounds has emerged as one of the frontline avenues in floriculture and it is in this connection that floriculturists are employed in perfume industry. Self employment- You can set up your own venture, growing flowers for the domestic or export market, growing ornamental plants, running nurseries, or providing gardening and landscaping advisory services. REMUNERATION Salaries depend on the nature of work one is involved in. While gardeners and labourers may get paid anything between Rs2000 to Rs 3000 per month, Freelance workers, designers and consultants may negotiate their pay packets depending on the place and nature of work. As this industry depends on lifestyle and purchasing power of the public in general, and on the availability of raw materials and finished products remunerations and profits may vary. Researchers and academicians are paid as per the government norms. CAREER IN FLORICULTURE INTRODUCTION Floriculture or flower farming as it is popularly called is a discipline of Horticulture, and is the study of growing and marketing flowers and foliage plants. Floriculture includes cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for sales or for use as raw materials in cosmetic and perfume industry and the pharmaceutical sector. The persons associated with this field are called floriculturists. Officially Floriculture began in the late 1800's in England where flowers were grown in large estates, and now has spread to most other countries as well. The floral industry today has grown to much larger proportions and offers a wide scope for growth and profits. The countries involved in the import of flowers are Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Japan while those involved in export are Columbia, Israel, Spain and Kenya. In India, Floriculture industry comprises flower trade, production of nursery plants and potted plants, seed and bulb production, micro propagation and extraction of essential oils. Though the annual domestic demand for the flowers is growing at a rate of over 25% and international demand at around Rs 90,000 crore India's share in international market of flowers is negligible. India has a blooming future as far as floriculture is concerned. Enormous genetic diversity, varied agro climatic conditions, versatile human resources etc offer India a unique scope for judicious employment of existing resources and exploration of avenues yet untouched. Karnataka is the leader in floriculture, accounting for 75% of India's total flower production. The state has the highest area under modern cut flowers, and 40 flower growing and exporting units. The expert committee set up by Govt. of India for promotion of export oriented floriculture units has identified Bangalore, Pune, New Delhi and Hyderabad as the major areas suitable for such activity especially for cut flowers. APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) is the registering authority for such units. The employment opportunities in this field are as varied as the nature of work itself. One can join the field of floriculture as farm/estate managers, plantation experts and supervisors, project coordinators etc. Research and teaching are some other avenues of employment in the field. Marketing of Floriculture products for different ventures is emerging as a potential segment of this field. Besides one can work as consultant, landscape architect etc with proper training. One can also work as entrepreneur and offer employment to others. In addition to these careers which involve research and actual growing of crops, floriculture also provides service career opportunities which include such jobs as floral designers, groundskeepers, landscape designers, architects and horticultural therapists. Such jobs require practitioners to deal directly with clients. Professional qualification combined with an inclination towards gardening and such other activities produces efficient floriculturists and landscaping professionals. The skills and knowledge required are imparted under the professional courses of floriculture and landscaping. ELIGIBILITY & COURSE AREAS Floriculture is not available as a subject at the undergraduate/degree level. Those who wish to join the floriculture stream should enroll for an undergraduate course in Agriculture (i.e a BSc Agriculture degree) after which they can opt for an MSc in Horticulture at the post graduate level. An MSc in Horticulture offers specialisations in floriculture, pomology (cultivation of fruits), and olericulture ( cultivation of vegetables). Students graduating in these subjects find jobs with companies as supervisors, farm or estate managers, handling largescale production of certain varieties of flowers. A combined knowledge of floriculture with management enables one to get managerial or marketing positions with organisations involved in the processing and marketing of flowers and flowering plants. Those with PhD in floriculture, horticulture and related fields can get placed with reputed Research & Development cells of companies and corporate houses. Course Areas: Courses in floriculture are available as specialisations at the postgraduate and doctoral levels. Besides there are Certificate courses and diploma courses offered by some universities. Most colleges do not conduct a separate course for floriculture or horticulture at the under-graduate level, but treat it as part of the academic curriculum of agriculture. The basic eligibility criteria for a B.Sc. in Agriculture is 10+2 with sciences including Physics and Biology. For an M.Sc. in Horticulture, one must have a B.Sc. degree in Agriculture or a related subject. For Ph.D the basic eligibility criteria is a Master's degree in Horticulture/Agriculture or allied sciences and the other qualifications required may vary from one university to another for eg, some universities require that the candidate must be qualified in Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) conducted by UGC. Duration: An undergraduate course in agriculture may take anything from 3-4 years for completion. An MSc course is usually a two year course. The duration of Diploma and Certificate courses varies according to the schedule of the Universities and Institutes offering such courses. Selection: In most of the States, selection to the graduate course in Agriculture colleges is on the basis of an All India Entrance Examination in Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Maths of plus 2 level OR on the basis of the entrance examination conducted by the concerned universities. For admission to masters degree programme, an All India Entrance Over 65% MBA seats remain vacant NAGPUR: The MBA degree, once coveted, seems to have lost its sheen. A global slowdown and lack of employment opportunities have taken this course the engineering way with seats going abegging. Figures provided by joint director for technical education Gulab Thakre for the Nagpur region show a disturbing trend of students losing interest in taking up courses in local colleges. Out of 5,100 MBA seats in 56 colleges of six districts under Nagpur region, only 1,770 have been taken after the end of all admission rounds. This means a whopping 3,330 seats - about 65% -- will remain vacant this year, across all colleges coming under Nagpur University. The situation seems same across the state. DTE sources claimed that out of over 45,700 MBA seats in Maharashtra, only 12,321 seats were filled so far. Some 37 colleges surrendered over 2,000 minority seats for general category in order to get more students. Clearly, the MBA bubble has burst in the state. All top colleges, where getting admission was once a dream, witnessed a severe downfall in number of students. These include Dr Ambedkar, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh, GS College, Tirpude, CIBMRD, Priyadarshini, CP and Berar, Ramdeobaba, Wanjari, Guru Nanak, KDK, Datta Meghe, Pandav, Central India, Real, Radhakrishnan, Renaissance, Shantiniketan, SB Jain, Kavi Kulguru (Ramtek), Sardar Patel (Gondia), and Nabira (Katol) apart from eight belonging to GH Raisoni group. Except NU's Department of Business Management, none of the 55 other colleges filled up their quota of seats. Interestingly, some less known and new colleges got good response with a majority of their seats filled up. They include- Kamla Nehru Mahavidyalya, Green Heaven Institute, NITGraduate School, JD College of Engineering, and Tulsiramji Gaikwad-Patil College among others. DTE sources, however, added that they had received many complaints of irregularities by colleges that were also application receipt centres (ARCs) for the centralized admissions. They allegedly took password from candidates and changed the priority to put their own name on top. They added the present number of students may increase slightly as many colleges had provisionally admitted final year students whose results were yet to be declared by NU and other universities. DTE admits students into banned colleges Despite NU's ban on 250 colleges for operating without teachers and infrastructure, DTE has allowed admission to a couple of them offering MBA courses. These are Kirsan Mission's Institute of Management at Gondia and Dr Arun Motghare College of Management in Bhandara. Thakre defended DTE's move stating that director Subhash Mahajan had taken legal opinion in this regard. "Even the high court hadn't banned admissions into these colleges. We have made it clear that the admissions would be subject to court's orders and students should do so at their own risk. I was surprised that despite being marked in red ink, the students took admissions in these colleges," he said. Reasons for the lack of response: * Lack of job opportunities, especially in Vidarbha region * Absence of big industries and failure of Mihan to take off * NU's ban on 250 colleges that included some management ones * Failure of colleges to attract companies for campus placements * Absence of good faculty and infrastructure * Students attraction towards colleges in Mumbai and Pune * Better job prospects in western Maharashtra * Exorbitant fees charged by colleges Over 50 Delhi University students Uttar Pradesh bags award for free denied PhD admission NEW DELHI: More than 50 Delhi University students have been denied admission to the PhD course in Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies due to late declaration of the master's result by the same varsity, an official said on Friday. "It is a travesty that these candidates were denied the opportunity for admissions due to no fault of theirs. It is DU (Delhi University) that did not declare the result of the master's examination in May," said Sachin N, elected executive member of Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA). Students applying for the PhD programme were called for the entrance examination. Those who qualified were called for the viva. It was only during the admission process that the authorities notified that admission could not be granted as their results had not been declared. "They should be granted provisional admission till the results are out. It is very unfair because these students had also already declared in their admission forms that their results were awaited," added Sachin N. He added that since Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies is an interdisciplinary department, such a process would lead to students losing an academic year. laptop scheme LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government's ambitious free laptop scheme to class XII passout students has bagged the Certificate of Excellence Award in the category of Best Government Initiative in Education at a conclave held in Hyderabad. A state government spokesperson said the award came Uttar Pradesh's way at the e-India Governance Summit 2013 organised at Hyderabad between July 2324. No takers for over 50k engineering seats in Maharashtra NAGPUR: It's a double whammy for educational institutions offering both engineering and management courses. A staggering 33,000 MBA and 50,000 engineering seats have remained vacant across Maharashtra, raising serious questions about both these once popular courses. Once, engineering and MBA combination was considered fail-safe mantra for landing a plum job. Even AICTE had asked the universities to start integrated courses of engineering and management considering their popularity. Statistics provided by Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) indicate that may no longer be the case. At the end of third counselling round in Aurangabad on Wednesday, 50,603 engineering seats remained vacant out of over 1.55 lakh in 366 colleges across 12 universities. At the end of second round, 54,941 seats were vacant, while after first about 93,000 were not filled up. Over 4,200 seats were filled up in the last round. Though over 2.80 lakh candidates appeared for engineering entrance (MT-CET), not even half have taken admission. Last year over 44,000 seats were not filled up. Though technical education director Subhash Mahajan refused to take calls, he had earlier said that two new engineering colleges were started in the state while over 10,000 seats were added in existing ones after AICTE granted permission to enhance capacity, including starting second shift. He had said that about 7,500 seats were cancelled by colleges voluntarily. Sources said this was for the first time leading colleges like VJTI, Mumbai, and CoE, Pune, witnessed vacancies in third round as admissions to IITs and NITs commenced late. Many students opted out after getting a seat in these premier institutions. Accordingly, the seats were later filled up during first day of counselling round on July 16. DTE statistics further indicated that students gave least preference to branches like IT and electronics and telecommunications (E&T), while core ones like civil and mechanical ruled the roost. Interestingly, Pune University with 75 colleges has dislodged Nagpur University with 58 in as having most vacant seats. In Pune area, 15,201 remained unfilled while the number was 8,862 in NU. Shivaji University in Kolhapur is third with 5,934 seats. Interestingly, Dr Babasaheb Technological University in Lonere, Raigad, and SNDT Women's university, Mumbai, have no vacant engineering seats. Vacant engg seats across state varieties: UniversityVacancy Pune 15,201, Nagpur 8,862, Kolhapur 5,934, Marathwada 4,202, Amravati 3,972, Solapur 3,567, North Maha3,285, Mumbai 3,241, Rama Tirth 1,571, Gondwana 768, BATU 0, SNDT 0, Total: 50,603 University of Mysore council amends PhD regulations MYSORE: The University of Mysore limited the number of PhD students who can be enrolled by a guide. The university also made it clear that getting through in the entrance test for admission to PhD doesn't ensure that the candidate will get admission. It has clarified that passing in the test makes the candidate eligible for PhD degree. However, candidates have three years to get admission after clearing the test. The council approved the amendments to PhD regulations, which specify that 'successful completion of entrance test just implies the eligibility of a candidate for admission to PhD degree in the university, but shall not guarantee an admission to PhD degree programme'. A committee constituted by the vice-chancellor had suggested the amendments, which were approved by the Syndicate at its meeting on May 28. Council, the apex body on academic matters, approved the amendments, which has specified the number of candidates who can be enrolled for PhD degree by a guide. Earlier, it was eight, which has now been reduced to six. It has also limited the number of candidates working on projects funded through UoM. Each guide can supervise two students, which was not specified earlier. The varsity also decided to hold the entrance exam in September. The amended regulations will be sent to the governor-chancellor for clearance. Amendments were suggested to conform to the directives of UGC. During the meeting, it was stressed that UoM should ensure that there are no malpractices in PhD degrees, which, the members felt, will dent the reputation of the university which will celebrate its century in three years. Some of the members objected to UoM's move to tie up with educational institutions which are outside its jurisdiction. They also opposed the move to partner with institutions based in Bangalore, arguing that Bangalore University can extend affiliation. The Council approved new courses, including two to teach Tibetan and Chinese languages and literature. Another fake US varsity closes leaving Indian students stranded WASHINGTON: Closure of another bogus American university has left hundreds of students, many of them from India's Andhra Pradesh state, scrambling for options for continuing their studies. The University of Northern Virginia was ordered to cease operations and close immediately July 16, after the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia revoked the college's license to operate. UNVA operated on the ground floor of an office building in Annandale, a Washington suburb in neighbouring Virginia, for 15 years, according to the Washington Post. It remained unaccredited for the last five years and failed four audits by the state for not hiring "qualified faculty." The council said once it has received the student academic and financial records from the university it would communicate with students "regarding the impact of revocation and currently enrolled students' options for continuing education." Students who are in the US on FI visas were also advised to make inquiries regarding immigration, Optional Practical Training (OPT) and the SEVP/SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Programme and Information System) from the US Department of Homeland Security at (202) 282 -8000 or via its website at www.dhs.gov. In a 2011 raid on UNVA federal officials found, almost exclusively enrolled foreign students from India whom the college had helped obtain visas by exploiting loopholes, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. The next month, UNVA's chancellor David Lee resigned following separate reports of his kinky personal life. Lee had advertised his private basement sex dungeon on a BDSM website, saying he was seeking "attractive submissive" women, according to The Smoking Gun, which posted photos from Lee's profile on the site on Aug 1, 2011. Many Indian students had transferred to UNVA from Tri-Valley University, another bogus university in California, that was shut down by immigration authorities in 2011 for alleged visa fraud. PAGE 5.qxd 7/27/2013 7:59 AM Page 1 STUDENT AGE SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 EDITORIAL 5 and Bhagwati saying that they had read Krishna Iyer's judgment closely and found that there was nothing useful that they could add to it. If the full text of Krishna Iyer's judgment had been available to them "sufficiently in advance," they said they would not have delivered a separate order saying "fuller reasons" will follow! And so the majority view is articulated only in the self-confessedly "hurried" judgment of Krishna Iyer. Appointments Many years later, a nine judge Bench of the Supreme Court decided by a majority that primacy in the matter of appointments to the superior judiciary vests with the Judiciary and not the Executive (Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association, 1993). M.M. Punchhi, a dissenting judge, wrote in his judgment that he had hoped that some "meaningful meetings" would be held, so that the court could strive to reach a unanimous decision. He complained that he was "overtaken" when he received the draft opinion of Justice J.S. Verma for himself and on behalf of four others. In despair he wrote "the fait accompli appeared a stark reality; the majority opinion an accomplishment." Here there was no retirement looming large, and so one can only wonder why meetings could not be held. These instances, spread over four decades, are telling. Pressure of work Today, the judges of the Supreme Court, like judges of all other courts in the country, are more overworked than ever before. Under the pressure of special leave petitions they are left with little time for reflection on their own, let alone time for "collegiate" decision making with their colleagues. If the court has still managed to deliver great judgments from time to time, it is only because their authors were superhuman. This is a problem which needs to be seriously addressed now for the sake of the law. After all, Supreme Court judges sit in divisions of two, three, five or more (and not singly) only because the law laid down by the court must be well considered and authoritative. Numerical strength Fortunately, the strength of the Supreme Court has now risen to 31. It is time now to have a permanent Constitution Bench of five judges, whose composition should remain fixed for a full court term. The judges on this Bench should be free from all the other kind of cases which presently occupy their time. It is only then that they can form their views, confer among themselves and respond to each other's concerns. Also, retiring judges should stay off Benches dealing with "heavy" cases, where judgments are likely to be "reserved." From about three months prior to their retirement, they should confine themselves to "admission" work or decide smaller cases where judgments can be delivered then and there (or "orally" as we lawyers like to put it). The growth of the law should not be stunted by dates of superannuation. (Raju Ramachandran is senior advocate, Supreme Court of India.) THIS LETTER STINKS There is clearly more to the anti-Modi letter which some Members of Parliament have supposedly addressed to the US President than meets the eye. The missive, apparently the brainchild of an independent Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, has called upon Mr Barack Obama to deny Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi a visa to visit the US anytime in the future. As it turns out, there appears to be some fraud involved, because a number of MPs whose signatures are found in the letter have denied ever signing such a note. One of them, Mr Sitaram Yechury, even alleged that his signature on the letter appeared to be a "cut and paste" job - meaning that his signature could have been lifted from another piece of document and affixed on this infamous letter. With many supposed signatories backing out and the Independent MP sticking to his claim that they had indeed signed the letter, the issue stinks and deserves to be thoroughly probed. Since the matter involves Members of Parliament, both the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha must initiate a House inquiry into the murky affair. If the probe throws up a prima facie case of wrongdoing, as many suspect it to be, the police must step in and the law should be allowed to take its course. Meanwhile, the Congress has been behaving in a strangely ambivalent manner on the episode. Instead of taking a strong stand on the alleged forgery, the party's leaders have distanced themselves from the affair and are sitting on the sidelines, watching the issue unfold. Obviously, they do not wish to dilute the so-called embarrassment that the discredited letter has caused to Mr Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party. That's engaging in cheap politics. But the more they remain vague on the matter, the more the impression will gain ground that they have had a role to play in the execution of the disgraceful act, or at least they knew of the act and did nothing to prevent it. Let us for a moment leave aside the questionable credibility of the letter itself. While political detractors of Mr Modi have the right to vent their opposition to him, there are limits to which they should go in their mission. The very act of petitioning the head of a foreign regime against a democratically elected Chief Minister of the country is condemnable. Mr Modi's critics can fight him politically at home; they can move the courts against him on allegations that they believe are true. But by seeking the intervention of a foreign head of state in their domestic political battles, they are making a mockery of the very democratic institutions of which they are the beneficiaries. Through their dubious letter, the MPs have sought to subordinate Parliament to the White House. It is amazing that these MPs should have allowed their bilious hatred for Mr Modi to lead them to this most ridiculous act which has shamed the country. That they should have released the letter to the media now to coincide it with the visit of BJP president Rajnath Singh to that country, demonstrates the sordid politics at play. It is for the US Administration to decide whether it should give a visa to Mr Modi. It is entirely unbecoming of a free country and its elected representatives to formally petition the US President on such matters, and moreso through a dubiously-crafted letter. Hurrying the law in the time of retirement RAJU RAMACHANDRAN Supreme Court judges who are about to leave office should stay away from cases in which judgments are likely to be reserved In his dissent in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) case last week, Justice A.R. Dave said he had to be "quick and short" because the Chief Justice was soon retiring. Due to paucity of time, he said the judges had no discussion on the subject before they started writing their judgments. In making this public disclosure of the judges not being able to confer, Justice Dave is not alone. Distinguished predecessors over the last 40 years have voiced similar complaints. It is worth recalling examples of some momentous cases where collective decision-making did not happen. Kesavananda Bharati (1973) is the most celebrated case in Indian constitutional law. It is the majority opinion in this case which laid down the basic structure doctrine (that the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution did not extend to destroying its essential features). In his judgment, Justice Chandrachud (a 'minority' judge) wrote that the impending retirement of Chief Justice Sikri did not leave enough time after the conclusion of arguments for an exchange of draft judgments. Of the 13 judges who constituted the bench, he said that he had the benefit of fully knowing the views of only four of them. Later, Justice Jaganmohan Reddy (a 'majority' Judge) wrote in his autobiography (The Judiciary I Served, 1999) that there were only eight judges at a conference convened by Sikri to discuss the case. He records that Justice A.N. Ray had told him that he had not been invited, that when he asked Sikri why some had not been called he said that he knew the views of those others but not those of the judges he had invited, and that he (Reddy) had told Sikri that it was not proper. Land act Some years later, Chandrachud as Chief Justice presided over a five judge Constitution Bench, which heard a challenge to the validity of the Urban Land (Ceiling & Regulation) Act, 1976 (Bhim Singhji, 1980). The judgment was delivered on November 13, 1980 since Justice Krishna Iyer was retiring two days later. Justice Tulzapurkar delivered a detailed judgment striking down the Act. On the other hand, Justice A.P. Sen wrote a detailed judgment declaring certain provisions of Sections 23 and 27 of the Act as invalid, but the rest of the Act as valid. In a very short order of seven paragraphs, Justices Chandrachud and Bhagwati declared the Act valid except for Section 27 (1) (unlike Sen who found fault with Section 23 as well) saying that "fuller reasons" would follow later. Krishna Iyer wrote an uncharacteristically short judgment agreeing with Chandrachud and Bhagwati saying: "I have not had the leisurely advantage of my learned Brothers' full judgments save some discussion but my impending retirement impels a hurried recording of my reasons for subscribing to the order passed just now." Almost five years later, just before Chandrachud's retirement in July 1985, a short order was delivered by him Some years later, Chandrachud as Chief Justice presided over a five judge Constitution Bench, which heard a challenge to the validity of the Urban Land (Ceiling & Regulation) Act, 1976 (Bhim Singhji, 1980). The judgment was delivered on November 13, 1980 since Justice Krishna Iyer was retiring two days later. WHAT ABOUT 1984? Pogroms and political virtue MUKUL KESAVAN Detox for Pollution Boards Making the Gross Domestic Product the sole measure of national development for many years has left Indians with a natural environment that is among the most polluted in the world. Regardless of that dismal outcome, and in spite of settled law that polluters should pay, the Centre and State governments continue to balk at stronger enforcement of environmental laws. New evidence from a study by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences on the approach of the States to their environment protection duties only confirms the view that they pay no more than lip service. The findings make it clear that the position of Chairman of a State Pollution Control Board is often used to reward political loyalists. This has been done even when the candidates lack prescribed qualifications, brazenly violating the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981. The malaise, though, is not of recent origin. An evaluation of SPCBs done more than a dozen years ago during the Eighth Plan and published by the Planning Commission referred to 'the predominance of nontechnical members in most of the Boards and the lack of professionals.' The effects of such policies of convenience were felt acutely over the last decade when GDP growth was robust. Unsurprisingly, India today brings up the rear in air quality even among Asian countries. Last year, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests disclosed that the Central Pollution Control Board had identified 43 critically polluted industrial clusters in 2009 for remediation. The outcomes are far from clear. Moreover, the poor record of SPCBs became evident when the CPCB issued 118 directions, after surprise checks, on failure of industries to comply with water and air quality laws between 2009 and 2012. Surprise checks and directions to State Boards can, however, cover only a small portion of industrial activity. Major laws relating to pollution remain a dead letter in most States, with rivers turned into sewers transporting waste downstream. Such contemptuous disregard for the environment can continue only at the cost of public health. There is a strong case to compel the SPCBs to publish, in real time on the Internet, data they gather under various laws and rules, particularly on water and air quality, noise pollution, and disposal of different types of waste. Lack of transparency in their working should be eliminated by setting up oversight panels with civil society representatives and independent technical members from reputed institutions, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology. The moribund environment protection boards need a thorough shake-up, starting with the appointment of individuals with the right credentials to lead them. Despite overtaking Japan as the third largest economy, India has lost its leadership role in the continent because, unlike its eastern neighbours, it has ignored its poor The stock response of the Bharatiya Janata Party to the argument that Godhra makes Narendra Modi politically untouchable is "What about 1984?" There are several inadequate comebacks to that question and the best of them is that no one should use one pogrom to justify another. I once heard this used to good effect by the columnist, Aakar Patel, in a television discussion. This answer has the virtue of not being party-political nor attempting in some grotesque way to demonstrate that the pogrom permitted and encouraged by the Congress government in Delhi in 1984 was morally less horrible than the pogrom that occurred on the BJP's watch in Gujarat in 2002. The problem with this response, though, is that it doesn't answer the questions that fly in close formation behind the "What about 1984?" question, namely, "Why is the BJP worse than the Congress?" and, relatedly, "Why is Narendra Modi any worse than Rajiv Gandhi?" specially given the latter's infamous comment, "When a big tree falls, the earth shakes," which seemed, retrospectively, to rationalize the systematic killing of Sikhs in the days that followed Indira Gandhi's assassination. These are important questions regardless of who asks them. The fact that they are often asked by Narendra Modi's unlovely supporters isn't a good reason for not taking them seriously. It has been nearly thirty years since the earth shook, and for those who didn't live through the horror of those days as reasoning adults, it is worth rehearsing the hideous significance of 1984 in the history of the republic. There had been communal violence right through the early history of the republic with mostly Muslims at the receiving end. The complicity of the lower echelons of the state apparatus in this violence - Uttar Pradesh's Provincial Armed Constabulary was notorious for its institutionalized animus against Muslims - was widely recognized. But the scale on which Sikhs were killed, the participation of Congressmen at every level, the total complicity of the police and the fact that the butchery happened in the country's capital, in Delhi, made 1984 a watershed in the history of the republic. In a previous column, I wrote about Modi doubling down on the Gujarat killings by refusing any expression of regret or responsibility and also by continuing to sponsor individuals like Maya Kodnani who had taken an active part in the violence. In this context, we should remember the way in which Rajiv Gandhi's Congress exploited the Delhi pogrom by running a fear-mongering election campaign that suggested that 1984 was a feature not a bug. I remember a Congress advertisement that unsubtly suggested that Indians ought to vote for the party of firm governance if their taxidrivers made them nervous, this, remember, at a time when Sikhs drove taxis in large numbers in Indian cities. I remember the Congress's election doggerel: "Chunauti nayi, ek sandesh,/ Mazboot hai haath, akhand hai desh." This, roughly translated, encouraged voters to vote for the 'Hand' (the Congress's election symbol) if they wanted a government capable of preserving India's unity. The use of the word, akhand, to indicate the unity and integrity of the nation was significant: the Congress, unprecedentedly, was using a word from the sangh parivar's playbook, stealing the idea of a majoritarian "akhand Bharat". Similarly, the reluctance of the Congress to purge itself of members accused of participating in the 1984 pogrom, its willingness to field them as parliamentary candidates and to appoint them to ministerial office, doesn't add up to a record that can be virtuously contrasted with the BJP's and Narendra Modi's brazenness after Godhra. 1984 had two major consequences. First, it radically undermined the Congress's claim to being a secular party that respected the political tradition of pluralism pioneered by its colonial avatar and consolidated by Nehru in the early years of the republic. The willingness of the Congress under Indira Gandhi to use sectarian issues for political ends had been evident before 1984 but the party's willingness to sell its pluralist soul for immediate political advantage was most vividly illustrated in the days and months after her death. The Congress, after 1984, stood out more and more clearly as a party that couldn't even be accused of not having the courage of its convictions because it didn't have any convictions at all. Pluralism and its traditional opposition Muslim ten years from now. It doesn't work even as a thought experiment. And the reason it doesn't work is that the BJP's ideology is essentially the encrustation of prejudice around an inconvenient and irreducible fact: the substantial and undeferential presence of minority communities in the republic, specially Muslims who, for the sangh parivar, are the unfinished business of Partition. The idea that In a previous column, I wrote about Modi doubling down on the Gujarat killings by refusing any expression of regret or responsibility and also by continuing to sponsor individuals like Maya Kodnani who had taken an active part in the violence. In this context, we should remember the way in which Rajiv Gandhi's Congress exploited the Delhi pogrom by running a fearmongering election campaign that suggested that 1984 was a feature not a bug. to majoritarianism became labels that the Congress used for brand management in particular political contexts, not as principles that shaped its political agenda. The second consequence of 1984 was that Indira Gandhi's assassination sealed the Congress's long transition to dynastic rule in blood. The rhetoric of martyrdom that debases the political utterances of the Congress faithful dates back to that time. From being a great pan-Indian party that made a subcontinent cohere into a republic, the Congress after 1984 regressed into a de- natured dynastic rump. Let us return to our question, namely, "What makes Modi and the BJP worse than the Congress and its dynasts, given the horror of 1984?" The answer is simple and unedifying. The Congress, by a kind of historical default, is a pluralist party that is opportunistically communal while the BJP is an ideologically communal (or majoritarian) party that is opportunistically 'secular'. The difference between the Congress and the BJP doesn't lie mainly in the willingness of the former to express contrition about pogroms it helped organize; it is, perhaps, best illustrated by the fact that twenty years after the 1984 pogrom, the Congress assumed office with a Sikh at the helm who served as prime minister for two terms. Try to imagine a BJP government headed by a the BJP might appoint a Muslim head of government (as opposed to, say, the nomination of President Kalam to titular office) is unthinkable. It doesn't follow from this that Manmohan Singh's prime ministership is a sign of the Congress's political virtue; it isn't. It is, if anything, a symptom of the dynastic dysfunction that has diminished the Congress. But the reason his prime ministership is possible is that the Congress isn't ideologically committed to anti-Sikh bigotry (despite 1984) in the way that the BJP is committed to Hindu supremacy and the subordination of Muslims. That's why Narendra Modi so excites the sangh parivar's rank and file: the Gujarat Model is the BJP's test run for India, and it isn't the economics of it that sets the pulses of its cadres racing. So the reason the dynastic Congress isn't as dangerous as Modi's BJP is dispiriting but straightforward: while the Congress is capable of communalism, it isn't constituted by bigotry. With Modi, even when he's talking economics and good governance, we get the "burqa of secularism" and Muslims as road kill. It's not his fault; from the time that Golwalkar sketched out his vision of an India where religious minorities were docile helots, bigotry has been Hindutva's calling card. Page 6.qxd 7/27/2013 8:00 AM Page 1 STUDENT AGE SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 NATIONAL 'Dead' student walks back home SAMBALPUR, JULY 26: A youth thought to be murdered earlier this month walked back home in Odisha's Deogarh district, about a week after police arrested six persons in connection with the case. Deogarh Police had arrested six persons in connection with purported murder of Dibyasankar Gartia of Bijayanagar of Deogarh district, a student of Diploma of Gurukul Engineering College, Bhubaneswar. The six arrested persons were Santosh Jena, Satya Badia, Alok Behera, Rabindra Swain, Harihar Naik and Sudhir Badia, police said on Friday. Dibyasankar and his friends had organised a party in Bijayanagar on July 8. However, Dibyasankar did not return home after the feast following which his father lodged a complaint in Deogarh Police Station on July 12, they said. However, police spotted an unidentified decomposed body at Phoolpathar in Deogarh district on July 16 and parents of Dibyasankar were called to identify the body. The body was claimed to be that of Dibyasankar by family, they said. The police sent the body for autopsy and later handed it over to the family for the last rites. Govt. cannot afford ‘timid mindset’, asserts Moily MUMBAI, JULY 26: Defending the decision to double gas prices from next fiscal, Oil Minister M. Veerappa Moily on Friday said the government cannot afford a “timid mindset” while taking policy decisions of national importance. “We cannot be afraid of the ghosts of 2G, CBI, CAG, (when we take decisions of national importance),” he said addressing an oil conference in Mumbai. In the aftermath of a string of scams in telecom spectrum and coal block allocation, the bureaucracy has been very cautions in taking decisions and on may occasions put off decisions for fear of being criticised by CAG, CVC or CBI. “Bureaucracy needs to be operated by giants and not pygmies,” he said. “We have to destroy bureaucratic delays and focus more on delivery rather than processes.” “We don’t have the giants like Exxon, except BP, coming to India. Nobody is coming. That is because of our timidness to take decisions... what we need is boldness,” he said. The government’s decision late last month to double natural gas rates to $8.4 per million British thermal units from April 2014 had come in for sharp criticism as it would lead to sharp rise in urea and power production cost and was seen as benefiting Mukesh Ambani-run Reliance Industries. Mr. Moily, however, defended the move saying it would help bring to production at least 3 Trillion cubic feet, or equivalent to RIL’s currently producing fields in KG-D6 block. “Everything has a price and you have to give the price,” he said. “Over 3 Tcf of discovered gas reserves are not being developed as they are not viable at $4.2 (per mmBtu).” Mr. Moily said even upstream regulator, the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) had not approved commercial production from several of the discoveries as they were not viable at current rate of $ 4.2. “In future, nobody will come if gas prices are not revised. We have come to a grinding halt. We are not ready to pay $17,” he said. With government deciding to price all gas in the country at the Rangarajan formula of an average of imported LNG cost and international gas hub rates, this will help improve gas production in the country, Mr. Moily said. The price as per this formula currently comes to $6.83 but in April when it is to be implemented, it would be around $8.2-8.4. “If volumes increase and more investments and latest technologies come into the sector, gas prices may even come down in the future,” he said. “I would like to say that either produce oil and gas or perish. There is no intermediate way.” Oil imports stood at Rs. 5.27 lakh crore in FY’13 and it needs to be asked for how long such high levels can be sustained, Mr. Moily said. The oil minister also said he has met executives of the state-run oil and gas companies a fortnight ago and asked them to increase their capital expenditure. He will be meeting them again in the next few days to prepare a road-map to achieve the same, Mr. Moily said. 6 Larger bench of SC to hear pleas of death row convicts NEW DELHI, JULY 26: A larger bench of the Supreme Court will hear from October 22 a batch of petitions seeking commutation of their death sentence into life imprisonment on account of delay in carrying out the execution following the dismissal of their mercy petitions by the President.“Death sentence matters will be taken up immediately after the Dussehra holidays from October 22,” a bench, comprising Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said.Before taking over as the CJI, Justice Sathasivam had told PTI that there was a need for “authoritative pronouncements” by a larger bench or a Constitution Bench on issues like mercy pleas to avoid conflicting views by smaller benches.The hearing by a larger bench assumes significance as on April 12, a two-judge bench had held that long delay in disposing off mercy pleas by the President or the Governor of persons convicted under antiterror laws or similar statutes cannot be a ground for commutation of death sentence.The ruling was pronounced while rejecting the plea of Khalistani terrorist and death row convict Devinderpal Singh Bhullar.When the April 12 judgement was delivered, there were over 20 convicts facing execution. Later on, an apex court bench had granted relief to a condemned prisoner M N Das who had sought conversion of his death sentence to life imprisonment on the ground of delay in deciding his mercy plea. On February 18 this year, a bench headed by Justice Sathasivam, which in an urgent hearing had stayed the execution of death sentence of sandalwood smuggler Veerapan’s associates in a Karnataka jail, had said it would wait for the Bhullar’s case judgement before dealing with other identical petitions.It had stayed the execution of death sentence of Veerappan’s elder brother Gnanaprakash and his aides Simon, Meesekar Madaiah and Bilavendran. The outcome of the hearing before a larger bench will also have its bearing on three persons Murgan, Santhan and Perarivalan who are awaiting execution after conviction under TADA in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. A bench headed by Justice Sathasivam had on April 6 stayed the execution of eight more death row prisoners, convicted in different murder cases, whose clemency pleas were rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee. The eight convicts facing death row in different cases are Suresh, Ramji, Gurmeet Singh, Praveen Kumar, Sonia and her husband Sanjeev, Sundar Singh and Jafar Ali. $6.8 (per mmBtu) in India but are importing (LNG) at Rahul, Modi not fit for PM’s post: Hazare FARRUKHABAD (UP), JULY 26: Social activist Anna Hazare on Friday said that both Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi are “unacceptable” as prime minister as both are “not fit” to acquire the dignified post. “Both Modi and Rahul Gandhi are unacceptable to me for prime ministership as both are not fit to take over the dignified and respected post,” Mr. Hazare said responding to a question by reporters on different forces depicting the two as the prime minister’s candidate. Hazare, who was in Farrukhabad to participate in his ‘Jantantra Yatra’, said that in the past ten years of his being the chief minister of Gujarat, Mr. Modi created hurdles in setting up Lokayukta which only goes on to stress his views that appointment of anti-graft ombudsman was not required to bring an end to corruption. Mr. Hazare said that Mr. Rahul Gandhi was also not the right candidate for the post of prime minister. Saying that corruption and wrongdoings are the result of party politics in the country, Mr. Hazare said that his Jankranti Morcha was trying to bring six crore dedicated workers together and with their help launch the second innings of struggle for the Jan Lokpal at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in December. To a question on norms for poverty, Mr. Hazare said that those sitting in air-conditioned offices cannot rightly evaluate poverty . “Rs 33 Ishrat case: SC directs Pandey to appear before court NEW DELHI, JULY 26: The Supreme Court on Friday directed senior Gujarat IPS officer P.P. Pandey, an abscounder in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, to appear before a trial court in Ahmedabad on July 29 and restrained the CBI from arresting him till then. A bench heased by Justice B.S. Chauhan, however, made it clear that the protection from arrest to Additional DGP Pandey, a 1982-batch IPS officer, will come to an end if he fails to appear before the special CBI court on Monday. The court passed the order after senior advocate Jaspal Singh, appearing for Mr. Pandey, assured that the police officer will appear before the concerned court and he should be protected till then. Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising, appearing for the agency, vehemently opposed court’s order for giving any protection to Mr. Pandey. “He has gone underground and there is no need to give him any protection. He is an accused in the case,” she said. The court, however, granted him interim protection and said that due procedure of law should be followed after he appears before the trial court. “Pandey will appear before the concerned court on Monday and the law will take its course,” the bench, also comprising justice S.A. Bobde, said while making it clear that if the IPS officer fails to appear before the trial court on Monday then he will not get any relief. One can eat for Re. 1, says Farooq Abdullah NEW DELHI, JULY 26: After Congress spokesperson Raj Babbar and Congress leader Rasheed Masood, now Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah on Friday has said that one can have full meal for Re.1. “One can eat for Re.1, if desired. It depends on the common man how much they can afford and they have to manage in that only,” Mr. Abdullah said on the ongoing debate on poverty.Mr. Masood on Thursday claimed that “one can eat well” for Rs.5 in the national capital, a day after Mr. Raj Babbar said that one can have a full meal for Rs.12 in Mumbai.“You can eat well for Rs.5 in the Jama Masjid area of Delhi,” Mr. Masood, a Rajya Sabha member from the Congress, said in New Delhi.The comment has opened floodgates of criticism with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying the government is just trying to perpetuate poverty.The Planning Commission on Tuesday said poverty ratio in the country had declined to 21.9 per cent in 201112 from 37.2 per cent in 2004-05 on account of increase in per capita consumption.The commission estimated the 2011-12 national poverty line at Rs.816 per capita per month for rural areas and Rs.1,000 per capita per month for urban areas.This would mean that the people whose daily consumption of goods and services exceed Rs.27.20 in villages and Rs.33.33 in cities are not poor. cannot provide meal to one mouth,” he added. After Dr. Amartya Sen’s controversial remarks that he would not like to see Mr. Modi as India’s Prime Minister, another noted economist Jagdish Bhagwati had told CNN-IBN in an interview that he has no particular affection for either Mr. Modi or Mr. Rahul Gandhi. Clinical trial of untested drugs must be regulated: SC NEW DELHI, JULY 26: Clinical trials of untested drugs on humans require certain mandatory standards to be followed, the Supreme Court said on Friday while directing the government to put in place a mechanism to monitor them. The apex court directed the Centre to convene a meeting of Chief Secretaries or Health Secretaries of all the states to frame a law for regulation of clinical trials of drugs by multinational pharma companies. A bench of justices R.M. Lodha and Madan B. Lokur granted four weeks time to the Centre to convene the meeting and for framing rules. “Certain standards and protocol should be followed while conducting clinical trials of drugs on humans. We are concerned about human life,” the bench said, asking the Centre to consider suggestions of the National Human Rights Commission on the issue. “How do you monitor that clinical trial does not result in death and there are no side effects. There should also be proper compensation,” it said. It said that there should be an oversight committee to monitor such trials and directed the Centre to file an affidavit by September 24 after consulting state governments. Additional Solicitor General Siddharth Luthra submitted that the Centre is considering making amendments in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act by introducing penal provision for any violation. Earlier, the apex court had said that uncontrolled clinical trial of drugs by multinational companies was creating “havoc” and slammed the Centre for failing to stop the “rackets” which caused deaths. Centre’s poverty definition ‘cruel joke’ on poor: Nitish PATNA, JULY 26: Slamming the government’s poverty fixation criteria as a “cruel joke” on the poor, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said poverty should not be measured in terms of calories and money but on the basis of right to live with dignity. “We do not agree with the criteria fixed for poverty...poverty should not be decided in terms of calories and money to purchase food but on the basis of the right to live respectfully,” Mr. Kumar told reporters in Assembly premises. The senior JD(U) leader termed as “cruel joke” the latest poverty figures that put anyone earning more than Rs. 32 a day in urban areas and Rs. 27 per day in rural areas above poverty line. On Congress leader Rashid Masood’s assertion that one can have food in Jama Masjid area in Rs. 5 and Mr. Raj Babbar saying one can have proper meal for Rs. 12 in Mumbai, Mr. Kumar said these are “hilarious” examples. “In Delhi, people get free food in langar (community kitchens) in gurudwaras and there is no need to spend any money on food there. Can we say food is served free,” he said. 10-yr old boy commits suicide when asked to go to school KEONJHAR (ODISHA), JULY 26: A 10-year-old tribal boy allegedly committed suicide in Odisha's Keonjhar district when his mother asked him to go to school. The incident occurred at Dania village in Banspal block yesterday when the boy Sanjay Dehury allegedly set himself afire after pouring kerosene. He died while being shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital from the district headquarters hospital, the police said. Sanjay, a Class V student in Saharpur Ashram School, had come home for Rath Yatra and was unwilling to return to school, they said. When his mother tried to persuade him, Sanjay locked her up in a room and set himself on fire, they said. 23-year-old married woman commits suicide The Bihar chief minister disagreed with the estimate that the number of people living below the poverty line has shrunk to 21.9 per cent in 2011-12 from 37.2 per cent in 2004-05. “In Bihar, the number of poor is much more than this estimate,” he said. Mr. Kumar said his government had organised an international meet on poverty here in 2008 which had issued a ‘Patna declaration’ emphasising right to live with dignity should be the criteria for estimation of poor. A copy of the declaration was sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also, he said. VARANASI, JULY 26: A 23-year-old married woman on Friday allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling, police said. The deceased, Khushbu a resident of Laxmikund was found hanging in her house by her husband Pawan Sharma, a shopkeeper, in the afternoon when he had returned home to have lunch, they said. According to the police, in an alleged suicide note Khushbu wrote that she was unhappy with her life and no one is responsible for her taking the extreme step. Chandan Mitra regrets remarks against Amartya Sen NEW DELHI, JULY 26: In the eye of a storm over his remarks that Bharat Ratna should be taken back from Amartya Sen, BJP MP Chandan Mitra on Friday expressed regret over them, saying he “oversaid it”. “I think I may have exaggerated. I do regret the part about taking away of Bharat Ratna from Dr. Sen, I oversaid it,” Mr. Mitra said in New Delhi. BJP has distanced itself from Mr. Mitra’s remarks. He too maintained on Friday that his tweets on the issue reflect his personal views and not the party line. But Mr. Mitra was critical of Dr. Sen’s economics and described them as “outdated and one that needs to be discarded”. He also advised Dr. Sen to not engage in politics. “Dr. Amartya Sen should behave like a Bharat Ratna does,” he said. Dr. Sen had earlier said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi should not be the Prime Minister of the country. This had led Mr. Mitra to hit out at him. Incidentally, Dr. Sen was given the Bharat Ratna by the erstwhile BJP-led NDA government. Distancing the party from Mr. Mitra’s strong views, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman had said on Thursday that the debate over Dr. Sen’s Bharat Ratna is Cong. distances itself from meal remarks NEW DELHI, JULY 26: Put on the back foot, Congress on Friday distanced itself from the remarks by two of its leaders that one could have meals at Rs. 5 and Rs. 12 which have been ridiculed by several parties. “We do not agree with Rs. 12 & Rs. 5 statement of some leaders,” said Ajay Maken, Congress General Secretary and Incharge of Communication Department. The meal remarks made by Congress spokesperson Mr. Raj Babbar and another party leader Mr. Rasheed Masood were dubbed as “absurd”, “foolish” and “illogical” by various parties putting the Congress on the defensive. Mr. Babbar had said that a hearty meal in Mumbai can be bought for Rs. 12, while his party colleague Mr. opposition party, “should explain why it was Rs. 16.73 in 59th NSSO survey of 2003 and accepted by BJP/NDA Govt?” “Unlike the BJP NDA, we have de-linked this poverty line from all 150 Central Govt schemes including NREGA, ICDS, MDM, NRHM, SSA, PDS except 1. “NSSO survey-1993-94 to 2004-05 the average decline in poverty was 0.74%/year. During UPA it accelerated three times to 2.18% pts per year,” Mr. Maken said on twitter. He instead claimed that during Congress-led UPA, poverty has declined from 37.2 per cent in 2004-05 to 21.9 per cent...a decline from 40.71 crore to 26.93 crore people below the poverty line. unfortunate.“BJP is not a part of it. Views expressed by member/s can only be construed as their personal opinion,” she said. Dr. Sen had hit back at Mr. Mitra, saying if former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asks him to return the Bharat Ratna, he will do so. Masood had claimed that a mere Rs. 5 was sufficient for a meal in Delhi. Mr. Maken, in a statement, attacked BJP for criticizing the Rs. 33.30 Poverty Line figures of the Planning Commission, saying the Page 07.qxd 7/27/2013 8:02 AM Page 1 STUDENT AGE SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 INTERNATIONAL & ECONOMY India, France hold discussions on military cooperation NEW DELHI, JULY 26: India and France on Friday discussed their ongoing military cooperation during the Defence Minister-level talks, stressing that defence cooperation was an important pillar of the strategic partnership between both the countries. In a joint statement issued after deliberations between Defence Minister A K Antony and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, the two sides said they have agreed to further strengthen their defence ties as they were mutually beneficial. “The Ministers had detailed discussions regarding current and future cooperation in the areas of defence equipment and technology collaboration. They agreed that such cooperation should continue to be progressed to the mutual benefit of both countries, including in high technology areas involving joint research and development and transfer of technology,’’ it said. Negotiations between India and France are in final stages for the Rs 50,000-crore deal for procuring 126 Rafale combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The two sides are also holding negotiations for a Rs 30,000-crore project for co-developing the Maitri surface-to-air missile defence system. France has emerged as a key player in defence cooperation with India, bagging several big contracts, including the deal for building six Scorpene submarines for the Navy though it has been further delayed. “Mr. Antony and Mr. Le Drian held detailed and useful talks on regional and international security challenges of mutual interest,’’ the joint statement said. India has its concerns over the impact of withdrawal of American troops in 2014 from Afghanistan on the security scenario in its neighthat defence cooperation is an important pillar of the strategic partnership between both countries and that the ongoing dialogue and cooperation is mutually beneficial to both nations,’’ it said. The two Defence Ministers agreed to enhance exchanges between their respective defence institutions and armed forces including in the areas of military education and training and through the conduct of military exercises. They welcomed the upcoming bilateral exercise 'Shakti' in September 2013 in France between the two armies. “The Ministers noted with satisfaction that the Navies of both countries are working towards finalising the schedule for the conduct of exercise 'Varuna' off the coast of India and also that the next Air Force exercise 'Garuda' would be held during the first half of 2014,’’ the joint statement said. 7 SPANISH TRAIN CRASH: POLICE LOWER DEATH COUNT TO 78 SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, SPAIN, JULY 26: Spanish police on Friday detained the driver of a train that crashed in northwestern Spain, lowered the death toll from 80 to 78 and took possession of the “black boxes” of the train expected to shed light on why it was going faster than the speed limit on the curve where it derailed. Police scientists examining the remains of those killed in Spain’s worst train crash in decades lowered the death count from 80 people to 78 on Friday and said the count could change as they continue their work identifying body parts and associating them with others. Investigators, meanwhile, have taken possession of the “black boxes” of the train, which hurtled at high-speed along a curve and derailed, court spokeswoman Maria Pardo Rios said on Friday. The boxes record train’s trip data, including speed and distances and braking and are similar to flight recorders for airplanes. The revised death toll came as bourhood. The two sides also reviewed the status of various measures for bilateral defence cooperation and the progress in areas pursuant to their discussions in February this year during the French President's visit to India, the statement said. “The Ministers noted forensic scientists matched body parts with each other at a makeshift morgue in Santiago de Compostela, in the northwestern Galicia region, where the train crashed on Wednesday just as it was entering the outskirts of the city, said Antonio de Amo, the police chief in charge of the scientific service for Spain’s National Police. Mr. De Amo said police are still working to identify what they believe are the remains of six people. The driver, Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, was officially detained in the hospital where he was recover- ing, said Jaime Iglesias, the National Police chief of the Galicia region where the crash happened just on the outskirts of the regional capital, Santiago de Compostela. Mr. Iglesias said that Mr. Garzon Amo would be questioned “as a suspect for a crime linked to the cause of the accident.” The driver, under guard by police, cannot yet testify because of his medical condition, Mr. Iglesias said, adding that he did not have details of the medical condition but that it could delay efforts by police to question him. SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (SPAIN), JULY 26: Probe of deadly derailment in Spain focuses on train speed By all accounts, the train was going way too fast as it curled around a gentle bend. Then in an instant, one car tumbled off the track, followed by the rest of the locomotive, which seemed to come apart like a zipper being pulled. The derailment sent pieces of the sleek train plowing across the ground in a ghastly jumble of smashed metal, dirt and smoke. But a day after Spain suffered its deadliest rail disaster in decades, which killed 80 people and maimed scores of others, one question surpassed all others: Why was the train moving so fast? Investigators opened a probe on Thursday into possible failings by the 52-year-old driver and the train’s in-built speed-regulation systems. Experts said one, or both, must be at fault for the disastrous Wednesday night crash of the train that was carrying 218 passengers and five crew Spain train crash: King Juan Carlos visits injured survivors PROTESTS AFTER TUNISIAN OPPOSITION LEADER KILLED TUNIS, TUNISIA, JULY 26: Angry anti-government demonstrations broke out on Thursday across Tunisia after gunmen killed the leader of a leftist opposition party, raising fears of new chaos on the difficult road to democracy in the cradle of the Arab Spring. Just five months after a similar assassination plunged the country into crisis, two gunmen shot Mohammed Brahmi, leader of the Popular Current party, in his car outside his home. Tunisia is struggling after overthrowing dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011. Many Tunisians are fed up with the government led by the moderate Islamist ruling party, Ennahda, which appears unable to handle a faltering economy, address popular unrest over unmet expectations and crack down on a rising extremist Islamist movement. Protesters immediately blamed the latest killing on the government. Soon after news broke, crowds gathered outside the Interior Ministry in the heart of Tunis calling for its downfall. There were also demonstrations around the country, including in Sidi Bouzid, Brahmi’s impoverished home town and the birthplace of the country’s revolution. Crowds in the nearby town of Meknassi burned down the local headquarters of Ennahda, which rules in a coalition with two secular parties. The Popular Front coalition of leftist parties that included Brahmi’s called for “civil disobedience in all locations of the country until the fall of the governing coalition.” The country’s largest trade unions called for a general strike on Friday that will shutter the government, public transportation and most shops freeing people up for what are expected to be large anti-government protests. There were Morsy detained over Hamas contact CAIRO, JULY 26: An investigating judge has ordered the detention of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsy over alleged contacts with Hamas to help in his escape from prison in 2011, the official state news agency reported on Friday in the first official word on his status since a military coup on July 3. The MENA news agency said Mr. Morsy has been detained for 15 days for investigation into the charges. His detention can be extended as the inquiry continues. The announcement comes after military strongman Gen. Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi called for mass demonstrations on Friday to oppose what he called “terrorism,” a reference to Mr. Morsy’s Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood also called for mass protests on Friday, escalating fears of clashes between the two opposing groups of demonstrators or with the military, which has pledged to keep order and prevent violence. members to Santiago de Compostela, a destination of Catholic pilgrimage preparing to celebrate its most revered saint. Instead, this stunned city of nearly 100,000 converted its sports arena into a shelter for the dead and the grieving. “All Spaniards feel the pain of the families,” said Spain’s head of state, King Juan Carlos, as he and Queen Sofia met hospitalised survivors of the crash 4 kilometres south of Santiago de Compostela. The royal couple dressed in funereal black. “For a native of Santiago like me, this is the saddest day,” said Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who toured the crash scene and declared a national three-day mourning period. The regional government of Galicia, in northwest Spain, said 94 people remained hospitalised, 31 of them in critical condition, including four children. The U.S. State Department said one American died and at least five others were hurt but cautioned that those figures could be revised upward. no immediate claims of responsibility for Brahmi’s killing. The two attackers sped off on a moped, according to a neighbour cited by the state news agency. Local media reported Brahmi was shot 11 times and his daughter witnessed his killing. The killing immediately brought to mind the assassination of Chokri Belaid, also a member of the Popular Front coalition, who was killed in his car out- side his home in February. Many members of Belaid’s party hold the government responsible for his assassination, believing it either turned a blind eye to Islamist extremists or actively used them to target their opponents. The government has blamed Belaid’s assassination on Islamist militants and said that six suspects are still on the run and their names will soon be revealed. ECONOMY TOP GAINERS BSE ITC LTD 368.50 SUNPHRMIND 1117.70 HEROMOTOCO1865.10 WIPRO 382.80 MAH&MAH 893.55 +2.70% +2.18% +1.97% +1.74% +1.53% Sensex declines for third day, down 56 points as HUL falls nomic growth prospects in the short-term. Pressure was more confined to banking and interest-sensitive stocks, besides metal and PSU shares. The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty dipped below another crucial level of 5,900 this week by losing 21.30 points, or 0.36 percent to 5,886.20. Also, SX40 index, the flagship index of MCX-SX, fell by 37.91 points, or 0.32 percent, to end at 11,791.25. State Bank of India, the country's biggest lender, dropped by 1.93 percent, ICICI Bank by 0.32 percent and HDFC Bank by 1.45 percent, Others like Yes Bank and Axis Bank also ended lower. Hindustan Unilever, an Indian unit of the world?s second-biggest consumer-goods company, plunged by 3.38 percent after lower quarter earnings, said analysts. Etihad agrees to cut number of directors on Jet board NEW DELHI, JULY 26: Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airlines has agreed to halve the number of directors on the Jet Airways Board to two posts under the Rs 2,058 crore deal, giving the Indian promoters 'effective control' of the carrier. This, alongwith other details of an amended shareholding agreement (SHA), has been forwarded to Finance Ministry ahead of the FIPB meeting on July 29 to consider the proposal. As per the revised shareholding agreement, Etihad would have two directors on the board after the deal, as against the earlier proposal of four directors in the 10-member board, sources said. This seeks to address the concerns of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and market regulator Sebi with regard to effective control after the foreign direct investment, which is the largest FDI in the aviation space so far. The agreement says that major decisions, including appointment of independent directors and the chairman and vice-chairman will now be taken on the basis of majority of votes. However, there will be no change in the shareholding pattern with Etihad picking up 24 percent, key promoter Naresh Goyal holding 51 percent and the remaining 25 percent with others, including institutions and individuals. Besides Finance Ministry, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) would be scrutinising the revised proposal over the weekend so that a firm view could be taken at the meeting on Monday. Shares of Jet Airways jumped 19.36 percent to Rs 402 in afternoon trade on the BSE. An NRI can hold up to 100 percent equity in aviation companies, sources said adding the FIPB would have to satisfy itself about the NRI status of Goyal before giving its nod to the deal. The FIPB last month deferred a decision on Jet's proposal to sell a 24 percent stake to Etihad. "Jet have given revised shareholding agreement to the Finance Ministry and we are examining it. The matter will come before FIPB on July 29," a finance ministry official said. TOP GAINERS NSE AMBUJA CEM 178.05 ITC LTD SUNPHRMIND MAH&MAH 368.15 +4.12% +2.58% HEROMOTOCO 1865.45 +2.04% 1117.30 +2.01% 894.85 +1.69% MUMBAI, JULY 26: The BSE benchmark Sensex on Friday slid for the third straight day by losing 56 points to a fresh two-week low 19,748.19 on selling in HUL and Tata Motors shares, amid nervousness in rate-sensitive sectors ahead of the RBI credit policy review next week. The Sensex, which had lost 498 points in past two days, declined further by 56.57 points, or 0.29 percent, to 19,748.19 -- the lowest close since 19,676.06 on July 11. Brokers said investors refrained from creating major positions before RBI credit policy scheduled on July 30. They also said market participants feared that the RBI's recent liquidity tightening measures to curb weakening rupee might hurt eco- TOP LOSERS BSE HINDALCO STERLITEIN COAL INDIA JINDALSTLP HIND.UNILE 94.40 76.60 282.40 190.05 663.30 -7.59% -4.61% -4.08% -3.41% -3.38% TOP LOSERS NSE HINDALCO SESA GOA PNB COAL INDIA HIND.UNILE 94.45 131.20 593.90 282.25 663.70 -7.58% -6.25% -5.07% -4.11% -3.52% PNB Q1 PROFIT INCHES UP EPFO starts registration of digital signatures of employers 2.4% TO RS 1,275 CRORE NEW DELHI, JULY 26: Online transfer of PF accounts on changing jobs will soon be a reality as retirement fund manager EPFO has started registering digital signatures of employers, a prerequisite for providing the facility. According to an official circular, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has directed its over 120 field offices to depute a nodal officer to facilitate the registration of digital signatures of firms. The facility of uploading digital signatures will be available on the Online Transfer Claim Portal through the EPFO website, www.Epfindia.Gov.In. According to EPFO, the success of online transfer of PF accounts would depend on how many employers register their digital signatures, which are essential to authenticate transfer claims. Taking the first step towards launching online PF transfer claim facilities, EPFO had earlier this month unveiled a revised claim form for the purpose. EPFO is likely to start the online PF transfer claim facility by the end of next month. With this, EPF subscribers would be able to apply online to transfer their accounts through their new employers. The revised transfer claim form can be presented after verification by the present NEW DELHI, JULY 26: Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Friday posted a marginal 2.4 percent growth in net profit at Rs 1,275 crore during the first quarter of the ongoing fiscal due to higher provisioning. The bank had a net profit of Rs 1,246 crore during the April-June quarter of the previous fiscal. Total income of the bank rose to Rs 11,747 as against Rs 11,722 crore in the same quarter a year ago, PNB Chairman and Managing Director K R Kamath said here. However, interest income during the quarter declined by 1.4 percent at Rs 10,405 crore against Rs 10,554 crore in the first quarter of the previous fiscal. The gross non-performance asset (NPA) as a proportion of advances went up significantly to 4.84 percent against 3.34 percent at the end of June last year. Net NPA also rose to 2.98 percent during the period from 1.68 percent in the same period of previous year. In absolute terms, the gross NPA MCX CRUDE OIL CHANA 6218.00 +1.87% 2786.00 +1.20% MENTHA OIL C 986.10 +1.11% GOLD GUINEA 22203.00+1.10% NCDEX IND 28.5 MM SESAME SEEDS SOYMEAL 28500.00 YELLO SOYA. MASOOR GRAIN 42000.00 10504.00 +67.65% 30400.00 4200.00 +95.09% +72.65% +65.22% +40.00% employer or the previous employer. Previously, the form could be submitted only after verification by the present employer. EPFO has set up a central clearance house to enable subscribers to apply online for PF withdrawal and transfer claim settlements. During 2012-13, 107.62 lakh claims were settled, of which 88 per cent were processed within 30 days, as prescribed by the body's citizen charter. EPFO expects 1.2 crore claims in 201314, including around 13 lakh PF transfer claims. It plans online settlements of about 10 lakh transfer claims of tech-savy applicants from industries such as IT this fiscal. rose by 51 percent to Rs 15,090 crore while net NPA increased by 84 percent to Rs 9,060 crore at the end of June 2012 on year-on-year basis. One big account in gems and jewellery segment (Winsome Diamonds and Jewellery) failed during the quarter, he said, adding, Rs 1,600 crore turned NPA. Thus, the bank made provision of Rs 401 crore for exposure to the Winsome account out of the total provision of Rs 674 crore during the quarter. When asked if the bank is considering to further lower the base rate, Kamath said there is no plan as of now. "We are watching the market," he said. On a deposit rate hike he said, there is no plan as liquidity is comfortable as of now. Asked about rising bad loans, Kamath said: "This has been an area of concern but we have been able to contain this in the last two quarters." Lower than expected performance, pulled down shares of PNB by 5.15 percent to Rs 595.95 apiece at the end of today's trading session on the BSE. STUDENT AGE SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 MISC gle resulted in Taylor's run out in the same over. In a matter of deliveries, Zimbabwe went from 109 for one to 109 for three, almost effectively taking the sting out of their attempted 8 J&K fencers bag overall 2nd place in Mini National JAMMU, JULY 26: The team of young fencers from the state returned home with overall runners-up trophy in the boys section in the just concluded 4th Mini Fencing Championship held at Nashik in Maharashtra. To claim the runners-up trophy, J&K fencers won three medals, including gold in Sarbe individual competition. Earlier, in Sabre team event, J&K lost to Manipur 13-15 in a close contest to finish second in the team championship. The Sabre team was comprised of Mayank Sharma, Amit Chib, Abhishek Chib and Tanish Mahajan. In individual Sabre event, Amit Chib clinched gold while Mayank Sharma finished third to secure a India beat Zimbabwe by 58 runs in 2nd ODI HARARE, JUL 26: India register 58-run victory over Zimbabwe to go 2-0 up in the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series on Friday. Chasing a mammoth total of 295, Zimbabwe openers showed a positive intent and looked for a big partnership early on. They added 45 runs before India's first-change bowler Jaydev Unadkat struck. Unadkat bowled at a good line and length and did not let the batsmen score freely. With the asking rate climbing by the minute, Sikandar Raza decided to take the attack to Unadkat. He attempted a pull off a short delivery but the ball went off the toe-end of the bat to Shikhar Dhawan, who showed no signs of fatigue after a gallant century in the first essay. He covered a lot of ground before taking a catch at midwicket. Hamilton Masakadza joined Vusi Sibanda in the middle and put on another good partnership, this time over 50 runs to keep Zimbabwe in the game. They looked to score a boundary from each over and even punished Vinay Kumar for his mediocre line and length. Sibanda slammed him for a six over backward square leg and followed it up with a boundary past the mid-off fielder. He finished the over by shuffling across and hoisting it to the square leg fence. Skipper Virat Kohli rotated his bowlers well to keep the batsmen on their toes as Zimbabwe refused to give up. They were still way behind on the asking rate but kept the scoreboard ticking and did not let the Indians to kill the game early. Sibanda attacked Amit Mishra who was bowling a lot of short deliveries and giving the batsman enough time to negate the spin. When Mishra tossed one up out of the blue, Sibanda used all his might to pick it up from outside the off- 4th ODI postponed due to elections HARARE, JUL 26: The fourth One-Day International (ODI) of the ongoing series between India and Zimbabwe has been postponed by a day due to general elections in the African country. The match will now be played at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, on August 1 instead of the original date of July 31. "The fourth ODI of the ongoing series between India and Zimbabwe has been postponed by a day on account of Elections in Zimbabwe," a BCCI release said. India leads the series 20 after defeating the hosts by 58 runs on Friday. Prosper Utseya and Chigumbura came together and hoped to keep their side alive with some quick runs in the powerplay overs. However, they couldn't do something out of the ordinary as they added just 22 runs in the five-over period. At the end of the powerplay, they needed 118 runs from the last 60 deliveries. Utseya and Chigumbura went after the bowling but it was too much to ask for in the end. Shami Ahmed picked up his wicket of the game when Chigumbura edged a delivery straight into the hands of Dinesh Karthik to depart for a valiant 46. In the dying moments, Utseya gave the sparse home crowd something to cheer about as he got his half-century with back-to-back boundaries of Shami Ahmed. His knock came in 60 deliveries. stump to hit it for a six over long on to reach his half-century in style. Sibanda and Masakadza added 64 runs from 57 deliveries before a breakthrough arrived. Just when the duo was starting to settle down, Kohli brought back Unadkat and the move worked instantly. Unadkat started with a short delivery to Sibanda who failed to clear Amit Mishra at deep midwicket. He fell for 55 from 65 deliveries. At this stage, Zimbabwe were 109 for two in the 21st over. Skipper Brendon Taylor walked out with the entire nation's hopes of orchestrating an upset on his broad shoulders. But that was out of question within moments of his arrival as a hesitant attempt to take a quick sin- chase. Malcolm Waller walked out with the score at 127 for four in the 27th over. But, Zimbabwe suffered another setback as a set Masakadza threw his wicket away. Mishra was lucky to get a wicket off a half-tracker when Masakadza failed to clear Shami Ahmed when he tried to play an aerial shot over short fine leg. He departed for 34. Elton Chigumbura walked out but couldn't garner a big partnership as Mishra dismissed Waller. Waller attempted a sweep and Mishra struck with another googly. He used three googlies to pick up as many wickets in the first ODI and he unleashed another lethal one to send back Waller. Zimbabwe were down 133 for six in the 31st over. J&K fencing team with overall Fencing Championship. bronze medal. Meanwhile, president of J&K Amateur Fencing Association, M J Sharma and secretary, Vijay Sharma congratulated the young fencers their performance at the maiden participa- runners-up trophy won in Mini tion in Mini National. The winning team was accompanied by Shottu Lal Sharma as coach while Ujjwal Gupta, Javed Ahmed, Nakul Sharma and Monika Sharma were managers. Durban to host World Transplant Games Karnataka beats Delhi 5-3, sets up semifinal date with UP NEW DELHI: Karnataka defeated Delhi 5-3 to top Pool A and set up a semifinal clash against Uttar Pradesh in the Alchemist Federation Cup hockey tournament on Friday. In the other semifinal, Pool B champions Punjab will take on Tamil Nadu at the Shivaji stadium tomorrow. The final day of pool matches, Karnataka opened the scoring in the 13th minute through a goal from Shankar Patil before Deepak Bijawad doubled the lead in the 32nd minute. Delhi, however, made a strong comeback after the change of ends and scored twice through Atuldeep (36th minute) and Pradeep Khatri (52nd) to restore the parity. But two minutes later Deepak scored his second goal of the day to put Karnataka ahead before Kusha J P (57th) and Biju Yirkal (63rd) found the back of the net once to hand the southern side a 5-2 lead. Delhi managed to reduce the margin, courtesy an own goal from Karnataka in the dying minutes of the game. Meanwhile, in an inconsequential match Haryana came up with a spirited effort to get the better of Manipur 5-3. Football expert ridicules AIFF idea of IPL-style league MUMBAI: Footballerturned-analyst Paul Masefield today criticised All India Football Federation's idea of holding an IPL-style league, saying that it can have an adverse impact on the development of the game in the country. "This is a ridiculous idea that could have a real negative and adverse effect on Indian football and the I-League, in particular. This isn't cricket. It's football. You can't do it with football. You can do it with cricket. It's great," the former English professional said. The AIFF and its marketing partner IMG-Reliance have proposed to hold a citybased franchise league on the lines of popular Indian Premier League in cricket. But the proposal has met with opposition from the I-League clubs who have decided not to release any of their players for the proposed tournament. Masefield, who was recently appointed Technical Director of Mumbai-based Kooh Sports Football Development Centre, pointed out that a similar thing happened in Indonesia with two domestic leagues in place -- the Indonesian Premier League and the Indonesia Super League -- and it threatened the sport in that country. The former footballer saw a huge boost to the game in the country if India's proposed bid to host the Under-17 JOHANNESBURG, JULY 26: The 2013 World Transplant Summer Games will take place in the South African port city of Durban from Sunday. More than 1,800 participants from 50 countries and regions will take part in the Games, in which there would be over 50 events including golf, volleyball, bowling, athletics, swimming, tennis and squash. The Games are the biggest organ donor awareness event in the world, those who will compete in the event will be recipients of either solid organs or bone marrow. The event is aimed at encouraging the public to be organ donors and offer hope to those waiting transplants. The World Transplant Games Federation president Olivier Coustere Thursday said: "Countries that have hosted the event have experienced a 30 percent or higher increase in organ donation rates." James Nxumalo, Mayor of Ethekwini Municipality where the games would be held, Thursday expressed joy at hosting the competition. "The world transplant games are a celebration of the human spirit, giving individuals with previously life-threatening illnesses the chance to compete in a high-level sports event and prove that they can not only lead normal, fulfilling lives, but push the boundaries of their physical endurance," Nxumalo said. Narinder Batra not to contest for any IOA post Masefield, who was a part of the Birmingham City squad in the late 80s and early 90s, felt Indian players don't measure up to the standards of their European counterparts, because they don't receive a proper grounding in basic skills. "A lot of European clubs, they just come in, have a camp and they go away. Now I have lived in Asia over half my life and I can tell you that a lot of these European Clubs try to take money and go. They are not giving anything back. They are not doing it right," he added. FIFA World Cup in four years' time is successful. "Football in India is big anyways. Everyone says it's a second cousin to cricket. Why should football be cast as a second fiddle? I think within the next 12 months, everything is going to flip. Viewership for the English Premier League is going to be massive this year. "Next year we have got the World Cup. It would not surprise me if the number of participation within football would be doubling or trebling in the next 12-14 months due to these two events," he said. NEW DELHI, JULY 26: Hockey India (HI) secretary general Narinder Batra on Friday stepped down as the coordinator between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the government in the suspension of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and said he is not in the running for any IOA post. Batra was a part of the delegation that went to Lausanne for a meeting with the IOC and the sports ministry in May to work out a roadmap for India's return to the Olympic fold. Batra blasted India's IOC member Randhir Singh and Jharkhand Olympic Association president R.K. Anand and blamed them for conspiring against him. "I want to withdraw myself from all future interactions with the government and the IOC," Batra wrote in a letter to banned IOA president Abhay Singh Chautala and secretary general Lalit Bhanot. "I also wish to further inform you that I am not a candidate for any post in IOA and do not wish to contest elections for any posts in IOA," he added. Batra also criticised former IOA president V.K. Malhotra and said he was being influenced by Randhir Singh "I was aware that since the time I stopped going to the residence of Mr V K Malhotra for meetings, because of his habits of showering sarcastic comments and insults, he started saying wrong things about me to whoever went to meet him from IOA. I was aware that he was reluctantly doing all this PepsiCo to enter premium water market with 'Om' NEW YORK: PepsiCo plans to jump into the premium bottled water market with a drink called Om, following the popularity of Coca-Cola's Smartwater. The soda and snack food company, which also makes Aquafina bottled water, plans to launch the line next year, according to the trade publication Beverage Digest. PepsiCo Inc. has so far been on the sidelines when it comes to the premium water segment, which includes brands such as Evian and Fiji. A representative for PepsiCo, based in Purchase, New York, declined to comment or provide any details. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have been diversifying their drink portfolios as Americans cut back on soda. Bottled water in particular has been growing in popularity over the years, but the problem for companies is that the bulk cases of bottled water sold in supermarkets typically aren't as profitable as other branded drinks. Premium bottled waters are different, however, because people are willing to pay more for them. Whether there's any difference in the quality of various bottled waters is up for debate. For example, Coca-Cola's Smartwater and its cheaper Dasani water are both made from municipal sources, or tap water. But the Atlantabased company says Smartwater, which comes in distinct cylindrical bottles, is purified differently. Sales volume for Smartwater is up 16 percent for the first half of the year, according to Beverage Digest. Notably, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo aren't the biggest players in the bottled water category. That distinction goes to Nestle, which owns brands including Deer Park and Poland Spring, and has nearly a third of the market. Viktor Troicki handed 18-month doping ban - ITF Hong Kong beat India in in World Junior Team C'ships NEW DELHI: India will play Canada in the 5-8th classification tie after losing their quarterfinal match against fourth seed Hong Kong in the World Junior Women's Squash Team Championships being played in the historic city of Wroclaw, Poland. The sixth seed Indian eves lost their quarterfinal tie 0-2 but not before putting up a spirited fight against their Asian rivals in the biennial World Squash Federation event at the Hasta La Vista Club. Harshit Kaur Jawanda played her best but was outwitted by Asian Junior Champion Ho Ka Po in straight games. Ka Po was fierce from the word go and volleyed brilliantly to keep Harshit at bay winning in three games. Urwashi Joshi, playing her first match in the team event, did trouble Choi with her aggressive play but the Asian under-17 champion patiently waited for the Indian to commit errors before settling the issue in her team's favour. Results: Harshit Kaur Jawanda lost to Ka Po Ho 611 3-11 6-11. Urwashi Joshi lost to Choi Uen Shan 7-11 5-11 8-11 5th - 8th place play-offs: [6] India V [7] Canada. on insistence of Mr. Randhir Singh. "Mr. Randhir Singh recently spent 15 days in June/July 2013 shuttling between London and Lausanne and meeting most of the IOC members to get conditions put in Ethics Code to harm the interest of few persons within IOA and also get the scheduled IOA meetings delayed and both of you (Chautala and Bhanot) are aware of it," he wrote. "The venues blocked for both the meetings for 25 August and 29 September by me, will stand blocked for the meeting as committed by me and be rest assured there will be no backing out on the commitments done by me. "I confirm and assure you of my unconditional support and respect for both of you and you will always find me standing behind you whenever you require my services." DG DYSS visits proposed sites for stadium JAMMU, JULY 26: Director General of Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS), Naveen Aggarwal today paid visit to the proposed sites for the sports stadium (block level) at Bhalwal and Khour in district Jammu. Accompanied by the District Officer Jammu, Tirath Ram, the DG also interacted with the local Panch and Sarpanch as also other prominent people and assured them of early start of construction work. At Bhalwal, the Department has identified 25 kanals of land whereas in Khour block, a big chunk of around 500 kanals of land has been earmarked at Sormala for construction of sports stadiums. The DG also paid a visit to Government Higher Secondary School Gharota where he issued on the spot directions to District Officer for development of school playfield. Clean as a whistle` Bolt aims to renew faith in athletics following drug scandal revealed that he was even more focused and ready to do better to inspire people and show them that it was possible, insisting that he never took drugs along with admitting that more care needed to be exercised as an athlete now that there were many things on the banned list. Bolt said that he was tested just day before Thursday and it was all part of the routine and added that he was fast because he had a talent. Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson recently tested positive, as did American Tyson Gay, the fastest man in the world this year, the report said. LONDON: After fellow Jamaican athletes failed crucial drug tests, six-time Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt has assured that he wants to help restore faith in the sport, adding that he would work even harder to help the country and the sport. According to BBC, Bolt PARIS: Serbia`s Viktor Troicki, a former world number 12 and a Davis Cup winner in 2010, was banned for 18 months for flouting doping rules, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said. The 27-year-old Troicki was found guilty of failing to provide a blood sample during a drugs test at the Monte Carlo Masters in April. "Mr Troicki provided a urine sample, but did not provide a blood sample," said an ITF statement on Thursday. "He asserted to an independent tribunal that he was assured by the doping control officer (DCO) that it would be acceptable not to provide a sample on account of him feeling unwell that day. "However, the tribunal concluded that the DCO told Mr Troicki that she could not advise him as to whether his reason for not providing a blood sample was valid, and that no such assurances were given by her." Yet another win for Surya Risers in League JAMMU, JULY 26: Sailing on superb performance from the duo of Pranav Gupta and Shiv Dutt, Surya Risers today registered second win in a row beating Kehwa Kings by a narrow margin of three runs in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Corporate Premier League (JKCPL) at MA Stadium. While Pranav helped the side set a competitive total of 164 runs for six with his fine innings of 57 runs, Shiv Dutt restricted Kehwa Kings to 161 runs for nine through is calculated bowling in the last over of the innings. Besides Pranav, Ian Dev and Vikas also played fine innings contributing 36 and 25 runs respectively. From Kehwa Kings, Arshid, Pardeep Bali, Shahid Baba and Adil Rishi shared one wicket each. In reply, Kehwa Kings exhausted their quota of overs for 161 runs with one wicket remaining. Needing 10 runs to win in the last over bowled by Shiv Dutt, Kehwa Kings could add only six runs. Arshad Khawja remained top scorer with 36 runs, followed by Hilal and Sahil Shabir, who contributed 28 and 31 runs respectively. From Surya Risers, Shiv Dutt and Rompy Sharma took two wickets each while Nitin Mehra and Inderjeet Singh shared apiece each. For his superb batting, Pranav Gupta was declared man of the match while award for maximum sixes went to Arshid Khwaja. J&K Corporate Premier League CHIEF-EDITOR, PUBLISHER, OWNER: Rohit Singh Rana, C.E.O.:Pawan Rathore, Administrative Head J&K: Vikram Singh, LEGAL ADVISOR: Advocate Ashok Parihar PRINTED AT JK PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS, SUJWAN, JAMMU TAWI. For Contributing articles mail us at [email protected], [email protected]. For Complaints, Querries or Advertisement Contact us: 0191-2580342.. 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