Daily Archives: December 20, 2018

Olive ridleys congregate for mating season

Olive ridleys

Debris caused by Titli cyclone cleared by forest department for nesting Thousands of olive ridleys, as part of their annual mating season, have assembled near the Rushikulya rookery on the Odisha coast. The forest department has stepped up its patrol in the area to safeguard the turtles. Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/olive-ridleys-congregate-for-mating-season/article25785560.ece

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Reducing GST is ‘belated wisdom’

Reducing GST

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that the government was trying to reduce goods and services tax (GST) on 99% of the items below 18% as ‘belated wisdom’. “Having scrambled the egg needlessly when GST was introduced, government is trying to unscramble it! …

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Satellite gives IAF a shot in the arm

Satellite gives IAF a shot in the arm

Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa said on Wednesday that the launch of satellite GSAT-7A would enhance the networking and communication capabilities of the Air Force. Big push “We have several platforms (aircraft) which have capabilities of communication through satellite. The communication to the platform (aircraft) through the satellite will be …

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Tejas fuel droptank put through test in Chennai

Tejas fuel droptank

A team of scientists from the Fatigue and Fracture Laboratory and the Advanced Seismic Testing and Research Laboratory, CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC), Chennai, conducted a crucial qualification test of the fuel drop tank of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). The laboratory designed and developed the test in consultation …

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Swaminathan distances himself from GM paper

Swaminathan

In the aftermath of criticism by scientists, eminent agriculture scientist, M.S. Swaminathan, has said that he’s a “supporter of genetic engineering technology” and that he ought not to have co-authored the article, which was a review of genetic modification (GM) technology in crops, in India. “I wish to… reiterate my …

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Rajya Sabha rocked for 7th day

Rajya Sabha rocked for 7th day

For the seventh consecutive day, the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were washed out over a war of words between the government and the Opposition on the Rafale aircraft deal and protests by Tamil Nadu parties over the Cauvery issue. Minutes after the Upper House convened for the day, Congress …

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Two more Kerala naxalites held in Madras

Two more Kerala “Naxalites” were arrested by the City Police last night [December 17, Madras], following the arrest of K.P. Narayanan on Monday night [December 16]. They are A. P. Balan (30), an agricultural worker, and N. P. Viswanathan (18), a beedi worker, both hailing from Pallur, a village near …

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Bihar cane farmers in distress

farmers in distress

The sugar cane farmers of Bihar are in distress as the government has not yet announced the cane price for the mill owners for the current season. The farmers are also agitated with the mill owners over non-payment of their dues. Speaking to The Hindu over phone, sugar cane farmers …

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Fatal fires

The devastating fire at the Andheri hospital of the Employees State Insurance Corporation in Mumbai that killed at least eight people is a shocking reminder of the low priority fire safety gets in India. That a blaze could break out in a relatively new building with such deadly consequences calls …

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President’s Rule in J&K from today

Rule in J&K

President’s Rule will come into force in Jammu and Kashmir from Thursday, after expiry of six months of Governor’s Rule, an official order said on Wednesday. President Ram Nath Kovind signed the proclamation paving the way for imposition of Central rule in the State which was placed under Governor’s Rule …

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9% growth by 2022 must to generate jobs: NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog

Raise investment, reform agriculture and codify labour laws: vision document A growth rate of 9% is essential to generate enough jobs and achieve universal prosperity, according to a vision document released by NITI Aayog on Wednesday. Towards this, the ‘Strategy for New India @75’ document recommends a number of steps, …

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Rupee strengthens 1.5% against dollar

Falling crude oil prices helped the rupee record its highest gain in over five years on Tuesday. The Indian currency appreciated by 112 paise against the U.S. dollar. After making a strong opening at 71.34 a dollar, as compared to the previous close of 71.56, the currency gained further in …

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