HOLLA TO HAVE INDIA-SPECIFIC FEATURES

MOBILE APPLICATION MAKER NIMBUZZ PLAN TO OFFER INDIA-SPECIFIC FEATURES ON ITS FREE CALLER IDENTIFICATION APP HOLLA,WHICH IT SAYS HAS CROSSED ONE MONTHS AGO,AS IT SEEKS TO DIFFERENTIATE THE PRODUCT FROM ITS BIGGER RIVAL TRUECALLER IN ITS LARGEST MARKET.

            HOLLA, WHICH EMULATES TRUECALLER IN HELPING, BLOCK SPAM CALLS FROM PESKY SPAMMERS OR OTHER UNWANTED CALLERS,ALLOWS USERS TO SEE DETAILS, INCLUDING THE CALLER’S NAME,PHOTO AND LOCATION DURING AND INCOMING CALL LIVE.

          “WE WILL ADD ANEW FEATURE SOON WHERE YOU CAN PRESS A PANIC BUTTON ON THE APP, WHICH ALERTS THE CENTRAL MONITORINGS SYSTEM OF OF THE DELHI POLICE ABOUT  A NUMBER THAT IS STALKING YOU” SAID NUMBUZZS CEO VIKAS SAXENA ADDING HOLLA WILL BE A BIG DRAW FOR CONSUMERS IN THE INDIAN MARKET WHERE SPAM CALLING IS RAMPANT.

            THE COMPANY IS SIMULTANEOUSLY WORKING WITH SOME TELECOM OPERATORS IN JAKARTA,WHERE SPAM CALLERS WILL BE CHARGED HIGHER THAN NORMAL CALL CHARGES,TOUGHENING THEIR BUSINESS CASE.

            INDIA’S TELECOM REGULATOR HAS IMPOSED TOUGH RULES ON SPAM CALLERS AND SPAM MESSAGES,WITH PENALTIES VARYING FROM HIGH CHARGES TO BLACKLISTING FOR TWO YEARS.MOBILE PHONE USERS CAN ALSO CHOOSE WHETHER THEY WANTS SOLICITED CALLS OR MASSAGES,AND SPECIFIC KIND OF SUCH CALLS CONTINUE,LEADING TO INCREASED USE OF SPAM BLOCKING APPS.

TRUE CALLERS HAS MORE THAN 100 MILLION DOWNLOADS,WITH INDIA BEING ITS BIGGEST MARKET. THE SWEDISH START-UP GOT $60 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM KLEINER PERKINS CAUFIELD &BYERS AND SEQUOIA CAPITAL LAST YEARS-VALUING THE COMPANY AT $250 MILLION –AS PER FINANCIAL TIMES,ENHANCING INTEREST AMONG INVESTORS IN THIS CATEGORY OF SERVICES OR APPS.

            IN COMPARISON, HOLLA IS MUCH SMALLER AND IS YET TO RAISE INVESTMENT ON ITS OWN BUT,NIMBUZZ’S SAXENA SAID THAT IDENTIFYING PHONE CALLS AND BLOCKING SPAM CALLS WILL BECOME MAINSTREAM SOON AS LARGER COMPANIES LIKE FACEBOOK ARE PLANNING TO GET INTO THE RING AND EARLY STARTER TRUECALLER HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED A MARKET.

            FACEBOOK RECENTLY TESTED AN ANDROID CALLER ID APP CALLED’PHONE’,ACCORDING TO SEVERAL MEDIA REPORTS,AND COULD BE READYING TO LAUNCH THE SERVICE SOON.HOWEVER, FACEBOOK HAS NOT TALKED ABOUT THE APP OFFICIALLY YET

            GURGAON-BASED NIMBUZZ,WHICH WAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED BY UK- BASED NEW CALL TELECOM PENDING APPROVAL FROM FOREIGN INVESTMENT PROMOTION BOARD (FIPB),BROUGHT FORMER EMPLOYEES FROM TOP PHONE MAKING COMPANIES,INCLUDING A SOFTWARE CONSULTANT WHO HAS WORKED WITH APPLE INC IN CUPERTINO, A SOFTWARE DEVELOPER AND A PRODUCT MANAGER FROM NOKIA AND ADVERTISING SERVICE MANAGER FROM BLACKBERRY, AT ALMOST THE SAME REMUNERATION LEVELS AS THAT IN SILICON VALLEY.”GIVEN THE PACE AT WHICH THE INDIAN START-UP SPACE IS MOVING, PROFESSIONALS CAN DO THE SAME KIND OF WORK HERE AS IN SILICON VALLEY”. SAXENA SAID.

            HOLLA DOES NOT REQUIRE INTERNET CONNECTION TO WORK, UNLIKE TRUECALLER, AND OFFERS ANALYSIS OF THE USER’S CALL PATTERNS AND TIME SPENT ON PHONE CALLS.

            THE APP IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE,IN ENGLISH,FRENCH,SPANISH,ARABIC,PERSIAN AND PORTUGUESE.NIMBUZZ’S CHAT AND FREE CALLING APP HAS MORE THAN 200 MILLION USERS GLOBALLY, OF WHICH OVER 30 MILLION ARE IN INDIA.  

'Make in India': FDI is also 'First Develop India' says PM Modi

Ease of doing business, focus on Public-Private partnerships, harnessing the potential of Democracy, Demography and Demand - that's what forms the key focus of PM Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' campaign.

Calling development of India a 'collective responsibility', PM Modi on Thursday said, "We must stress on two FDIs - First Develop India and Foreign Direct Investment." "For Indians FDI is a responsibility, it means to First Develop India, for global investors FDI is an opportunity in the form of Foreign Direct Investment," he explained.

Focusing on job creation through growth of the manufacturing sector, Modi said, "We need to enhance the purchasing power of Indians. We need to create jobs to move poor to middle class bracket." "Treat India as not just a market. See every Indian as an opportunity to increase their purchasing power," Modi emphasised.

"We have to change the economic dynamics; we have to improve manufacturing in a fashion that benefits the poor. This is a cycle, move poor people towards being a part of middle class," he added. "Manufacturing boost will create jobs, increase purchasing power, thereby creating a larger market for manufacturers," he explained.

Talking about the ease of doing business, Modi stressed on ensuring smoother state-centre relations. "Development of states is important. States and centre have to work together to attract investment." "Development of states is development of India," he added.

Laying out a red carpet to both global and domestic industrialists and investors, Modi said, "We want our companies to shine as MNCs. We are ready to stand as facilitators." "We can change the direction and fate of India," he sought to assure.

In the context of manufacturing and deficits Modi advocated the importance of exports. "We are aggressively going to work towards export promotion," he said.

Stating that Asia is the next growth story Modi said, "The world is looking to Asia for growth. I don't need to give an invitation; I just need to tell people the address of India."

Seeking to reassure investors of the government's intent to promote growth Modi said, "Development is an article of faith for the government. We are dedicated to growth." "I do not only talk about good governance. I talk about effective governance. Government working as a facilitator can produce results," he added.

Noting the important role that government has to play Modi said, "I want to take India higher on Ease-of-Doing-Business Index. We need to create an environment of growth, development in the country." "Incentives alone won't work; development and growth directed measures are important. Investors need security first, then growth and profit," he said.

"Government should intervene to instil confidence. Government is committed to growth; there is no political agenda but article of faith. Be assured you will not lose your money," Modi told investors. "Rule of law should be there, corporate government responsibility should be the norm," he said while talking about collective development responsibility.

Modi expressed confidence that the NDA government has reversed the trend of investors wanting to leave India. "In the last one year, many industrialists wanted to shift out of India. We don't want that industrialists should be forced to leave India. I can say with confidence that people don't think of leaving India now."

Trust formed the mantra of Modi's pitch to investors. "I agree that money doesn't come by merely inviting it. We should begin by trusting each other. Trust is the first step."

Citing the government's move to allow self-attestation of documents Modi said, "Self-certification may seem a small decision, but we have trusted the citizens of the country. Our motto is to trust citizens; this trust has the potential to change many things."

Modi also talked about the critical importance of robust infrastructure. "We have to move towards next generation infrastructure. We need not just highways, but I-ways too, that is Information-ways." "We have to move towards port-led development. Infrastructure is important to support manufacturing and industry."

Exhibiting confidence in India's talent pool, Modi said, "Nobody can question the talent of our people...especially after yesterday (after ISRO's successful MOM)." At the same time Modi pointed out that skill manned power should be made available based on requirement of the industry and area.

PM Modi concluded his 'Make in India' pitch by urging investors to focusing on developing India and ensuring that the manufacturing sector becomes a success story.

INDIAN TECHNOLOGY GIANTS

INDIAN TECHNOLOGY GIANTS, 17 STATES
TO PARTICIPATE IN HANNOVER FAIR.

NEW DELHI:THE HANNOVER FAIR THAT IS BEING BILLED AS A PLATFORM TO PUSH 'MAKE IN INDIA' INITIATIVE WITH INDIAN AS
THE OFFICIAL PARTNER COUNTRY - WILL HAVE  UNIQUE FEATURES INCLUDING PARTICIPATION BY INDIAN TECHNOLOGICAL
GIANTS AND 17 STATES OF THE COUNTRY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
NARENDRA MODI WHO WILL INAUGURATE THIS EDITION OF THE FAIR ON APRIL 12 JOINTLY WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR HOPES
THAT THAT THE GALA EVENT WILL PROVIDE HIS GOVERNMENT NECESSARY PLATFORM TO SEEK HIGH-END TECHNOLOGY AND
INVESTMENT TO BOOST DOMESTIC ECONOMIC GROWTH ,OFFICIAL SOURCES TOLD ET . MODI WILL ALSO TRAVEL TO BERLIN
DURING THE SAME TRIP TO GERMANY BEFORE FLYING OFF TO CANADA .
WHILE INDIA WAS THE OFFICIAL PARTNER COUNTRY OF THE HANNOVER FAIR IN 2006 THIS EDITION OF THE SHOW WILL FEATURE
UNIQUE ELEMENTS INCLUDING PARTICIPATION BY INDIAN TECHNOLOGICAL GIANTS TCS AND INFOSYS BESIDES OVER 17 INDIAN
STATES COULD BE PRESENT AT THE FAIR WITH AN EYE TO SEEK INVESTMENTS AS WELL AS LOOK FOR MARKETS OF THEIR
PRODUCTS, MEHUL LANVERS SHAH MANAGING DIRECTOR,HANNOVER MILANO FAIRS INDIA,TOLD ET FROM BANGALORE.
"THE SHAPE AND SIZE OF THIS EDITION OF HANNOVER FAIR WILL BE DIFFERENT" INFORMED SHAH .
NEARLY 400 INDIAN FIRMS WILL BE SHOWCASING THEIR STRENGTH AT THE FAIR, ACCORDING TO LANVERS -SHAH .THE INDIAN
DELEGATION WILL INCLUDE AROUND 120 TOP BUSINESS HONCHOS, OVER 100 UNION AND STATE LEVEL MINISTERS
INCLUDING CHIEF MINISTERS OF VARIOUS STATES AND BUREAUCRATS.
PM'S MAKE IN INDIA INITIATIVE WILL BE THE FOCAL THEME, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY AND PROMOTION
(DIPP) HOPING TO ATTRACT INVESTORS AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT(FDI).

India needs $100-b Energy Boost

India needs $100-b Energy Boost

 Annually: IEA Chief Economist

INDIA MUST  SPEND $100 BILLION EVERY YEAR TO MEET THE BALLOONING ENERGY DEMAND OF ITS EXPENDING ECONOMIST FAITH BIROL SAID MONDAY.

“INDIA NEEDS THREE THINGS FOR ITS ENERGY SECTOR-INVESTMENT, INVESTMENT AND INVESTMENT,”BIROL SAID,LAYING EMPHASIS ON INDIA’S NEED TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT IN THE ENERGY SECTOR.

THE COUNTRY’S ENERGY NEEDS HAVE ROCKETED IN THE PAST DECADE,WHEN  ITS ITS ECONOMY GREW AT 7% ON AVERAGE DESPITE GLOBAL HICCUPS.MANY OF INDIA’S POWER PLANTS ARE LYING IDLE WHILE COAL OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION HAVE STRUGGLED TO RISE FOR YEARS.

MEAN WHILE A GROWING PROSPERITY HAS PUSHED UP ENERGY NEEDS OF HOUSEHOLDS, OFFICES AND FACTORIES,LEAVING A WIDE GAP BETWEEN THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY IN ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD.

BIROL SAID THE INVESTMENT OF $ 100 BILLION EVERY YEAR SHOULD BE SPLIT WITH ONE-FOURTH GOING TO COAL,OIL AND GAS SECTORS AND THE REST IN DEVELOPING POWER GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION CAPACITY. HE DIDN'T OFFER DETAILS ON HOW HE HAD ARRIVED AT THE $100 BILLION A YEAR FIGURE.

FOR INVESTMENT OF THIS SCALE, INDIA NEEDS TO ATTRACT INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL, HE SAID.INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS ARE READY TO INVEST BUT ARE WAITING FOR THE “RIGHT CONDITIONS” OF PRICE AND LEGAL FRAME WORK, HE SAID.

“WHEN I LOOK AT THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF THE GOVERNMENT, THEY SEEM TO BE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,”BIROL SAID, REFERRING TO THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION ON GAS PRICES AND OTHER POLICY PRONOUNCEMENTS. HE SAID HE EXPECTS THE GOVERNMENT TO RESOLVE THE LEGAL ISSUES IN A YEAR AND THEREBY, ENHANCE THE CONFIDENCE OF INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS.

INDIA’S RETROSPECTIVE TAX LEGISLATION,BROUGHT IN BY THE PREVIOUS MANMOHAN SINGH GOVERNMENT,RATTLED INTERNATIONAL FIRMS IN THE COUNTRY. THE GOVERNMENT’S DEMAND FROM OIL AND GAS EXPLORER CAIRN INDIA AND FORMER UK PARENTS CAIRN TO PAY ABOUT RS20,000 CRORE IN CAPITAL GAINS TAX AND INTEREST FOR AN EIGHT-YEAR OLD TRANSACTION INDUCED UNCERTAINTY AMONG INVESTORS.

LATE LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED A FORMULA TO CALCULATE THE PRICE GAS PRODUCERS CAN CHARGE FOR OUTPUT FROM LOCAL FIELDS. THE PRICE IS REVISED EVERY SIX MONTHS BASED ON THE AVERAGE RATES AT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY HUBS.

          

RBI warns against fraudulent app

CAUTIONING PUBLIC AGAINST A FRAUDULENT BANK ACCOUNT MOBILE APP IN ITS NAME,THE RESERVE BANK HAS SAID IT HAS NOT DEVELOPED ANY SUCH APPLICATION.
IN A STATEMENT,THE RBI SAID IT HAS COME TO ITS NOTICE THAT AN APP "IS DOING ROUNDS ON WHATSAPP PURPORTEDLY TO FACILITATE CHECKING OF BALANCE IN CUSTOMERS BANK ACCOUNTS".
THE APPLICATION HAS AN RBI LOGO WITH THE TITLE 'ALL BANK BALANCE INQUIRY NO'AND HAS LISTED SEVERAL BANKS WITH EITHER A MOBILE NUMBER OR CALL CENTRE NUMBER, IT FURTHER SAID.
"THE RESERVE BANK WISHES TO CLARIFY THAT IT HAS NOT DEVELOPED ANY SUCH APPLICATION. MEMBERS OF PUBLIC ARE THEREFORE, ADVISED TO USE THE APPLICATION,IF AT ALL AT THEIR OWN RISK" THE RELEASE ADDED.

startups tech

startups tech a giant leap in luring vc funds
indian technology startups have emerged the top draws for venture capital investors so far this year, as early-stage investors breached $1 billion in investment in the country for the first time in a single quarter.
between january and march, vc firms more than doubled their investments in domestic technology startups from a year ago to $621 million (rs 3,875 crore), as their appetite increases for pure technology bets in the country's maturing startups ecosystem.
the number of deals jumped to 43 in the first calendar quarter from 29 in the same period last year, according to financial research platform vccedge.
overall,venture capitalists put $1.1 billion to work across 90 deals in the first quarter, against $362 million across 66 deals in the corresponding quarter last year. "the heightened investment activity is both a function of the opportunities and capital currently available in the market" said vishal gupta,managing partner at bessemer venture partners,an investor in snapdeal and bigbasket.
"the quality of companies and entrepreneurs is fair batter now than 5-6 years ago and investors have also seen some success in terms of exits."

change in india

                         
prime minister narendra modi is on a mission to hard-sell his pet make in india programme. in germany as part of a three nation tour.the pm invited german business people to participate in india's growth stride by investing more in manufacturing and in business environment.
addressing an indo-german business summit on monday in hannover, where he is attending the hannover messe, the world's largest industrial fair, the prime minister asked german businessmen to "come and feel " the change in india's regulatory environment in the past year "please do not go by old perceptions" he said.
his speech continued the theme from the previous evening,as he listed out india's efforts to make doing business easier,and said the government is focused on encouraging innovation,research and entrepreneurship. on sunday addressing an event organised as part of the hannover fair, he promised to protect intellectual property rights and make policies predictive. trying to allay two of the biggest concerns of foreign investors. german drug makers like bayer and boehringer ingelheim, and auto maker BMW are some of the companies facing issues over patents and taxes in india.
on monday modi said the government was committed to creating and improving the business environment, as he highlighted measures such as removing lot of "regressive" taxation regimes."i am here to assure the german companies that india is now a changed country. our regulatory regime is much more transparent,responsive and stable. we are taking a long term and futuristic view on the issues,"he said.
we are very keen to develop the sectors where you are strong. we need your involvement. the scope and potential, the breadth and length of infrastructure and related developments are very huge in india"
germany ranks eighth among foreign investor countries in india.its direct investment in india during january-november 2014 was $995 million (rs 6,200 crore).germany is india's largest trading partner in the eu_ with bilateral trade of around 16 billion euros (1.06 lakh crore)._and one of the top ten global trading partners. the prime minister said there was more potential.
about 600 indo-german joint ventures are currently operating in india,he said. "the purpose of my being here and participating in the hannover fair is to highlight that there is more potential in indo-german economic collaboration.though we have a vibrant relationship,our economic partner ship is not as much as both countries would like to have " he said.
"the flow of investments from germany is well below the potential and less than indian investments in germany"
"many more german companies have the possibility of investing in india to take advantage of india's potential. the potential lies in manufacturing as well infrastructure and in skill development for that purpose."he said.
(this correspondent is in germany on the invitation of siemens india).

Black Money

                                ARE WE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT BLACK MONEY ?

THE TOUGH LAW THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED ON BLACK MONEY ABROAD PUTS THE CART BEFORE A
LOT OF HORSEPOWER . THE PENAL PROVISIONS ARE TRULY TOUGH. ALL GOOD CITIZENS LOOKING UP TO THE GOVERNMENT TO STAMP OUT BLACK MONEY WOULD BE DULY IMPRESSED, SO WHAT IF THE ACTUAL GENERATORS OF
BLACK MONEY WOULD NOT QUITE BE QUAKING IN THEIR SHOES_ OR SANDALS THAT MATCH WITH THEIR KHADI GET UP
THIS NEWSPAPER REPORTS THAT THE LAW, IN ITS AUSTERE, UNSPARING SWEEP,COULD SPELL TROUBLE FOR UNWARY
EXPATS WORKING IN INDIA. SO IT COULD FOR ORDINARY INDIANS,TOO.
INDIA HAS BEEN LIBERALISING THE AMOUNT OF FOREIGNERS EXCHANGE THAT RESIDENT INDIANS CAN LEGITIMATELY TAKE OUT SIDE THE COUNTRY. SO THE CHANCES ARE BRIGHT THAT LAW ABIDING INDIANS WHO DO NOT
EMPLOY FANCY CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AND EXPAT WORKERS WHO BELIEVE THEY FULLY COMPLY WITH THE LAW
END UP VIOLATORS OF A DRACONIAN LAW,EVEN AS CANNY OPERATORS, WHO MOVE MONEY IN AND OUT OF THE COUNTRY AS THEY LIKE, CONTINUE TO SMILE ALL THE WAY TO THEIR BANK IN SOME TAX HAVEN OR THE OTHER. OUR
LEGISLATORS HAVE PASSED ENOUGH DRACONIAN LAWS TO TACKLE ENOUGH PROBLEMS NOT TO HAVE LEARNT THAT
LAWS DO NOT SOLVE PROBLEMS.BUT THEN WHEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN ?
OUR LEGISLATORS HAVE EVERY INCENTIVE.NOT TO REALLY STAMPS OUT BLACK MONEY .THE ENTIRE INDIAN POLITICAL SYSTEM RUNS ON UNACCOUNTED,MONEY VERY OFTEN, THE PROCEEDS OF CORRUPTION. UNLESS THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IS FIRST CLEARED UP, GENERATION OF BLACK MONEY WILL NEVER CEARSE. FOR THAT, THE ELECTION COMMISSION HAS PROPOSED YET ANOTHER TOUGH LAW, FUTILELY, OF COURSE. WHAT  IS NEEDED IS MONTHLY, MANDATORY REPORTING OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE  BY EVERY PARTY AT EVERY LEVEL. THIS FIGURE SHOULD
BE OPEN TO CHALLENGE FOR A PERIOD, BY RIVAL PARTIES, WATCHDOG BODIES AND THE MEDIA. THE COMMISSION SHOULD MODERATE THE CONTEST AND FINALISE THE EXPENDITURE. THEN EVERY PARTY SHOULD BE ASKED TO SHOW
THEIR SOURCE OF INCOME TO MEET THAT EXPENDITURE. IF AND WHEN OPEN, TRANSPARENT FUNDING OF POLITICS BECOMES ROUTINE, THEN ALONE WILL THE GROUND BE READY TO STAMP OUT BLACK MONEY. WITHOUT THAT,IT'S JUST
BLACK HUMOUR.

GUJARAT NEWS

                  46 PSU S EARN PROFIT FOR STATE

AUDIT REPORT BY THE COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL OF INDIA TABLED SAID THAT OF TOTAL
72 WORKING PUBLIC SECTOR UNITS (PSU)OF THE GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT,DURING THE FINANCIAL
YEAR 2013-2014, WHILE 46  EARNED PROFIT AND 20 OF THEM RAN INTO LOSSES.
IF 42 PSU S MADE COLLECTIVE PROFIT TO THE TUNE OF RS.3,363.96 CRORE,THE COLLECTIVE LOSS OF UNITS RAN INTO RS 1,111.85 CRORE.
THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE PROFIT WERE GUJARAT STATE PETRONET LIMITED (RS 659.98 CRORE)GUJARAT MINERAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED (RS 629.59 CRORE) AND GUJRAT GAS COMPANY LIMITED (RS 611.93 CRORE).
MAJOR LOSS-MAKING COMPANIES WERE GSPC PIPAVAV POWER COMPANY LIMITED (RS 307.10
CRORE) GUJARAT STATE ENERGY GENERATION LIMITED (RS 151.21 CRORE), GSPC GAS COMPANY
LIMITED ( RS 134.68 CRORE), GUJARAT STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION ( RS 132.50) AND GUJARAT STATE FINANCIAL CORPORATION (RS 112.36 CRORE).
THE REPORT ALSO HIGH LIGHTED DEFICIENCIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PSU S, WHICH RESULTED IN SERIOUS FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS. IT POINTED OUT THAT  GUJARAT STATE ROAD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED INCORRECTLY CALCULATED THE VALUE OF WORK DONE LEADING
TO EXCESS PAYMENT OF PRICE VARIATION OF RS 4.76 CRORE TO THE CONTRACTORS.
IN ANOTHER INSTANCE, GUJARAT STATE PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED DID NOT OBTAIN
FOREST CLEARANCE FOR USE OF RESERVE FOREST AREA RESULTING IN AVOIDABLE STAND BY CHARGES OF RS 541.68 CRORE. BESIDES, NAINI COAL COMPANY LIMITED CONTRAVENED THE TERMS OF
ALLOTMENT, RESULTING IN DE-ALLOCATION OF THE ALLOCATED MIND AND INVOCATION OF PERFORMANCES GUARANTEE OF RS 16.25 CRORE IN JANUARY 2013.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AUDIT OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF GSPC GAS COMPANY LIMITED REVEALED THAT DUE TO LACK OF PASSWORD POLICY IT WAS RUNNING WITH RISK OF
UNAUTHORISED ACCESS AND VULNERABILITY OF THE ENTIRE DATA BASE.

Dreams come true

                     Dreams come true

HOW INVENTORS HAVE TURNED SCIENCE FICTION INTO PREDICTION
IN ISAAC ASIMOV'S SHORT STORY, "REASON" (1941) THE CALENDAR HAS CROSSED 2058.AGAINST SPACE
SHIP ROOMS THE INTERSTELLAR DEEPS, COLLECTING ENERGY FROM DISTANT SUNS AND BEAMING
THEM TO VARIOUS PLANETS,INCLUDING EARTH. THIS MAY NO LONGER BE FICTION. CHINA BATTLING DENSE
FOG A POLLUTION CRISIS, PLANS TO PUT A COMMERCIALLY VIABLE SOLAR PLANT IN SPACE EVEN SOONER,
BY 2050. THE SOLAR PANELS OF THIS LEVIATHAN WILL SPAN FIVE TO SIX KILOMETERS, LARGER THAN THE
SIZE OF TIANANMEN SQUARE.THE SCIENTIST WHO HAS BEEN BREWING THIS PLAN FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS
SAYS IT WAS INSPIRED BY ASIMOV'S SHORT STORY.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SCIENTISTS HAVE TRIED TO TURN THE STRANGE SHAPES AND FREQUENCIES
OF SCIENCE FICTION INTO THE STUFF OF LIFE.JULES VERNE'S GLITTERING UNDERGROUND VESSEL, THE
NAUTILUS, WOULD GIVE RISE TO THE FIRST SUBMARINE THAT COULD RANGE THE OPEN SEAS. THE FLAYING
MACHINES OF VERNE'S STORIES WOULD LATER BECOME THE HELICOPTER.H.G.WELLS,AUTHOR OF DYSTOPIC,
FIN DE SIECLE FANTASIES,MUST ANSWER FOR THE ROCKET,ATOMIC POWER AND TIME TRAVEL FAD.STAR WARS
WAS BEHIND CELL PHONES AND "WALDOS"OR MANIPULATOR ARMS WERE NAMED AFTER WALDO F.JONES, THE
FICTIONAL INVENTOR OF A ROBERT HEINLEIN SHORT STORY PUBLISHED IN 1942.LIKE OVIDIAN CREATURES,
HUMAN CIVILISATION SEEMS TO HAVE THE POWER TO TRANSFORM IT SELF BY DREAMING.
BUT "REASON" IS ALSO PART OF A SERIES OF SHORT STORIES BASED ON THE "THREE LAWS OF ROBOTIC"
FORMULATED BY ASIMOV. FANS HAD LIKED THE IDEA OF SCIENCE "MADE SAFE" BY "LAW". YET ASIMOV'S STORIES
WARN OF ROBOTS REBELLING AGAINST THEIR HUMAN MASTERS, THE LIMITS TO RATIONAL THOUGHT AND THE
APPROACH OF A CHILLING NEW WORLD ORDER. SO SCIENTIST MIGHT WANT TO READ THEIR ASIMOV WITH CARE.
SOME OF THE GREAT VANITIES OF THE 20TH CENTURY HAVE ALSO BEEN POWERED BY SCIENCE FICTION.

Commercial n-pact with Canada likely

                                                     Commercial n-pact with Canada likely

India and Canada are likely to sign a commercial pact for supply of Canadian fuel to India's exiting nuclear power plants during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-day visit to Ottawa next month.the two nations had signed the civil nuclear cooperation agreement in 2010 followed by the administrative arrangement in  2012. ever since Canada's principal uranium producer cameo has been holding commercial negotiations with Indian entities for supplying uranium to fuel nuclear power plants that has faced uranium shortage.
diplomatic sources said that negotiations could be concluded during Modi's Canada trip (April 14-16). the indication of the
uranium supply from Canada came from the pm himself.
"we look forward to resuming our civil nuclear energy cooperation with Canada, especially for sourcing uranium fuel for our nuclear
power plants" Modi posted on Facebook last Saturday. he also pointed out that Canada was also the first country to have completed
requirements for a civil nuclear cooperation with India after new Delhi secured the waiver from the nuclear suppliers group in 2008.
Canada had backed the NSG decision to provide clean NSG waiver for Delhi and has been keen to re-enter India's nuclear market.
Canada has huge uranium reserves. it was the world's largest uranium producer for many years, accounting for about 22%
of world output , but in 2009 was overtaken by Kazakhstan is India's oldest foreign partner in the field of civil nuclear energy with the cooperation dating back to 1950s. it had supplied the nuclear reactor cirrus to India in mid-1950s under the atom for peace
programme for civilian use of nuclear energy. India's indigenous nuclear reactors are based on Canada's candu (Canada deuterium uranium) reactors.
the nuclear partnership was halted after 1974 nuclear test. Canada accused the Indian government of using plutonium produced in reactor provided by Canada and installed in the bhabha atomic research center in trombay for pokhran i. subsequently
it stopped uranium supply and nuclear technology to India.
however, with global acceptance of India's civil nuclear programme, the two countries could also have joint research and
development in nuclear energy to increase capacity of pressurized heavy water reactors of India. this announcement could also be
made during Modi's trip.
candu reactors is a Canadian invented PHWR. its first success was the sale of early candu designs to India. there are candu
type reactors operating in Pakistan, Argentina, south Korea,Romania and china too.