|
.
|
College / University | Overall Admit Rate | Total Applicants | Accepted | Denied | Wait- Listed | Regular Admit Rate | Early Admit Rate |
|
.
|
Brown | 9.16% | 28,919 | 2,649 | N/A | 8.07% | 18.54% | |
|
.
|
Columbia | 6.89% | 33,531 | 2,311 | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
|
.
|
Cornell | 15.15% | 40,006 | 6,062 | 28,477 | 3,142 | N/A | 29.50% |
|
.
|
Dartmouth | 10.05% | 22,416 | 2,252 | N/A | N/A | 29.48% | |
|
.
|
Harvard | 5.79% | 35,023 | 2,029 | N/A | N/A | 18.43% | |
|
.
|
Princeton | 7.29% | 26,498 | 1,931 | 23,172 | 1,395 | 5.44% | 18.30% |
|
.
|
U. of Pennsylvania | 12.10% | 31,280 | 3,785 | 2,800 | 9.40% | 24.85% | |
|
.
|
Yale | 6.72% | 29,610 | 1,991 | 1,001 | N/A | 14.36% | |
|
.
|
* Early admission applicants who were deferred and accepted in regular admissions were counted twice: as early applicants, and again as regular admits. | |||||||
Saturday, March 30, 2013
LEAGUE SCHOOL REPORT- US
A wonderful edit by Pratap Bhanu Mehta says it all.
The Government is pursuing an irresponsible course of destroying the
independence of institutions. It is such institutions that are the bedrock of a
strong democracy, and the undermining of them weakens and ultimately destroys
democracy. As Mehta puts it beautifully, "In a democracy, institutions are all
that stand in the way of tyranny and caprice."
The manner in which independent institutions are being misused smacks of capriciousness. The use of investigative institutions, such as the CBI, to control and subjugate opposition political parties is a bad portend; for, when the shoe is on the other foot, as does happen in a democracy, the opposition would, too. This undermines the legitimacy and authority of such investigative agencies.
Or consider how DoT is arm twisting telcos to bid for spectrum under threat of cancellation of licences! This is ludicrous! Once a business has been licensed and the company has built the infrastructure, the renewal of licences to operate cannot be subject to whims and fancies. If the renewal of licence to operate is based upon an insistence to participate in a spectrum auction it is an appalingly poor display of governance.
And now its the turn of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to be destroyed as an independent institution. The Justice BN Srikrishna Committee has just submitted its recommendations for the changes necessary in the financial sector
Some of the suggestions, such as pooling 4 regulators, viz. SEBI, IRDA, PFRDA and FMC, together, appears, prima facie, to be an idea worth considering.
However, the committee has suggestions that would significantly erode the independence and the ability of the RBI, one of the institutions that we can be rightly proud of.
It recommends that the RBI be responsible only for overseeing the banking industry and for monetary policy. The management of Government of India debt as well as of foreign remittances would be directly under the purview of the Government. With these taken out of its purview, how can it manage monetary policy?
Also, for monetary policy, there would be a 7 member committee, of which only 2 would be from the RBI (including the Governor) and 5 would be nominees of the Finance Ministry. Thus RBI is emasculated. The Governor would have a casting vote, though he would have to justify it!
Bottom line is, that, if these suggestions were to be accepted, the RBI would not remain an independent institution. That would be a disaster.
Even in the US, under the guise of national security, the Government is trying to bulldoze its way through. However, a District Court judge has ruled that National Security Letters, which seek customer details en masse from telecommunication companies, are illegal orders. Governments must, of course, have the right to seek information (call records) in the case of national security, but it is not an unfettered right and must be used with discretion and wisely.
What happens when independent bodies are continually interfered with? They take action that are devoid of economic justification. Thanks to high procurement prices (to keep the famer vote bank happy) our foodgrain godowns are overflowing; yet food inflation remains high because, for reasons best known to the authorities, the stocks are not released fast enough to bring down the prices. This, at a time when global food and commodity prices are coming down. And, since food inflation is a worry for RBI, it does not bring down interest rates, which displeases the Finance Ministry.
The high inflation also means that bank deposits earn, net of inflation, a negative rate of return. This drives people to invest in gold which, in turn, makes our current account deficit unsustainably high at 6.7%. As the saying goes, 'and oh, the tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive'.
Governments also have a nasty habit of dipping their grubby fingers into the coffers of profitable companies under their control. In India, companies like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) suffer; it has had to bear a share of subsidy on petro products that belongs to the Budget. In Venezuela the late Hugo Chavez used the funds of its oil company, PDVSA, to pursue his social agenda. In Brazil, the Government has asked its oil company, Petrobras, to do several things.
Petrobras has been asked to provide thousands of jobs, which has led to Brazil having a low rate of unemployment, and to buy ships from the local shipbuilding industry (delivered with time and cost overruns) but, as a result, its oil production has stagnated and unable to meet Brazil's growing energy needs. Its market cap., which was once second only to Exxon Mobil, has fallen sharply.
In global news, the troika (European Union, IMF and ECB) have arm twisted the Cyprus banks to give a haircut (compulsory forfeiture) to those having deposits of over Euro 100,000. The haircut is probably around 40%. The new ATMs for Cypriot banks would come with a shredder attached!
At first glance this seems to be a travesty of justice. It is the shareholder of the banks who ought to take the first hit, and the depositors who ought to get protection; not the converse.
However, ironically, this would be a quirky achievement of justice. For, most of the accounts having over Euro 100,000 as deposits belong to tax evaders! Several of them are Russian oligarchs who, with political backing and skulduggery, obtained State assets cheaply on the sly. Few would shed a tear for them. The loss of 40% of their deposits would be a smaller price than that paid by another oligarch, Boris Berezovsky, who had migrated to London and was found hanging in his apartment.
Another global issue of concern is the looming global scarcity of water. Farmers in New Mexico, when informed that they would be getting only 10% of their requirement of water, voiced their objection and are legally challenging the rights of those who used water later than them (i.e. industry) to get it. We are seeing similar agitations in India too.
The problem of crude oil shortage has been technologically averted by using a technique called fracking to extract shale oil/gas. Fracking, however, uses considerable amounts of water which, as seen above, is becoming a major issue. However, technology is now emerging to use carbon dioxide, instead of water, in fracking. The CO2, after use in fracking, would be stored underground, solving another problem of its emission.
Technology is also trying to solve a third problem, that of shortage of conventional energy. Companies like Bright Source, which have already set up one project, are setting up another huge concentrated solar power projects.
Thus scientists are solving problems created by the policy makers all over the world.
India is also facing an energy shortage. It consumes some 17% of the world's energy but has only 0.8% of the world's oil and gas reserves. It must attract more expoloration, both of conventional oil/gas as well as of non conventional shale oil/gas. Now here is where good governance and vision is needed.
Just consider this. India's IT Department has raised a ludicrous demand of Rs 15,000 crores on Shell India for underpricing shares issued to its parent at par instead of at an assumed higher valuation that the subsidiary deserved, according to the Department.
On the other hand China has given clearance to Shell to invest $ 100b. (Rs 550,000 crores) to exploit shale gas reserves in the country.
Which is more sensible?
Can technology correct such problems, created by myopic policy and action? It can't.
The BRIC countries are considering setting up another development bank, a la IMF/World Bank, to serve the interest of emerging markets. They will fund it with an initial corpus of $ 100b. This would be a good move.
Indian stock markets, perhaps inspired by Cyprus, took a 40% haircut and were open only 3 out of the 5 working days last week, with holidays for Holi and Good Friday. The BSE-Sensex ended 100 points up at 18,835 and the NSE-Nifty closed 31 points higher at 5,682.
The sensex is poised just above its 200 day exponential moving average of 18,719 and a long term support line of 18,000. A breach of these levels would spell trouble. Caution is advocated for investors. It is also advocated for policymakers, particularly in their wanton destruction of independent institutions, but they are less likely to listen.
By J Mulraj
The manner in which independent institutions are being misused smacks of capriciousness. The use of investigative institutions, such as the CBI, to control and subjugate opposition political parties is a bad portend; for, when the shoe is on the other foot, as does happen in a democracy, the opposition would, too. This undermines the legitimacy and authority of such investigative agencies.
Or consider how DoT is arm twisting telcos to bid for spectrum under threat of cancellation of licences! This is ludicrous! Once a business has been licensed and the company has built the infrastructure, the renewal of licences to operate cannot be subject to whims and fancies. If the renewal of licence to operate is based upon an insistence to participate in a spectrum auction it is an appalingly poor display of governance.
And now its the turn of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to be destroyed as an independent institution. The Justice BN Srikrishna Committee has just submitted its recommendations for the changes necessary in the financial sector
Some of the suggestions, such as pooling 4 regulators, viz. SEBI, IRDA, PFRDA and FMC, together, appears, prima facie, to be an idea worth considering.
However, the committee has suggestions that would significantly erode the independence and the ability of the RBI, one of the institutions that we can be rightly proud of.
It recommends that the RBI be responsible only for overseeing the banking industry and for monetary policy. The management of Government of India debt as well as of foreign remittances would be directly under the purview of the Government. With these taken out of its purview, how can it manage monetary policy?
Also, for monetary policy, there would be a 7 member committee, of which only 2 would be from the RBI (including the Governor) and 5 would be nominees of the Finance Ministry. Thus RBI is emasculated. The Governor would have a casting vote, though he would have to justify it!
Bottom line is, that, if these suggestions were to be accepted, the RBI would not remain an independent institution. That would be a disaster.
Even in the US, under the guise of national security, the Government is trying to bulldoze its way through. However, a District Court judge has ruled that National Security Letters, which seek customer details en masse from telecommunication companies, are illegal orders. Governments must, of course, have the right to seek information (call records) in the case of national security, but it is not an unfettered right and must be used with discretion and wisely.
What happens when independent bodies are continually interfered with? They take action that are devoid of economic justification. Thanks to high procurement prices (to keep the famer vote bank happy) our foodgrain godowns are overflowing; yet food inflation remains high because, for reasons best known to the authorities, the stocks are not released fast enough to bring down the prices. This, at a time when global food and commodity prices are coming down. And, since food inflation is a worry for RBI, it does not bring down interest rates, which displeases the Finance Ministry.
The high inflation also means that bank deposits earn, net of inflation, a negative rate of return. This drives people to invest in gold which, in turn, makes our current account deficit unsustainably high at 6.7%. As the saying goes, 'and oh, the tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive'.
Governments also have a nasty habit of dipping their grubby fingers into the coffers of profitable companies under their control. In India, companies like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) suffer; it has had to bear a share of subsidy on petro products that belongs to the Budget. In Venezuela the late Hugo Chavez used the funds of its oil company, PDVSA, to pursue his social agenda. In Brazil, the Government has asked its oil company, Petrobras, to do several things.
Petrobras has been asked to provide thousands of jobs, which has led to Brazil having a low rate of unemployment, and to buy ships from the local shipbuilding industry (delivered with time and cost overruns) but, as a result, its oil production has stagnated and unable to meet Brazil's growing energy needs. Its market cap., which was once second only to Exxon Mobil, has fallen sharply.
In global news, the troika (European Union, IMF and ECB) have arm twisted the Cyprus banks to give a haircut (compulsory forfeiture) to those having deposits of over Euro 100,000. The haircut is probably around 40%. The new ATMs for Cypriot banks would come with a shredder attached!
At first glance this seems to be a travesty of justice. It is the shareholder of the banks who ought to take the first hit, and the depositors who ought to get protection; not the converse.
However, ironically, this would be a quirky achievement of justice. For, most of the accounts having over Euro 100,000 as deposits belong to tax evaders! Several of them are Russian oligarchs who, with political backing and skulduggery, obtained State assets cheaply on the sly. Few would shed a tear for them. The loss of 40% of their deposits would be a smaller price than that paid by another oligarch, Boris Berezovsky, who had migrated to London and was found hanging in his apartment.
Another global issue of concern is the looming global scarcity of water. Farmers in New Mexico, when informed that they would be getting only 10% of their requirement of water, voiced their objection and are legally challenging the rights of those who used water later than them (i.e. industry) to get it. We are seeing similar agitations in India too.
The problem of crude oil shortage has been technologically averted by using a technique called fracking to extract shale oil/gas. Fracking, however, uses considerable amounts of water which, as seen above, is becoming a major issue. However, technology is now emerging to use carbon dioxide, instead of water, in fracking. The CO2, after use in fracking, would be stored underground, solving another problem of its emission.
Technology is also trying to solve a third problem, that of shortage of conventional energy. Companies like Bright Source, which have already set up one project, are setting up another huge concentrated solar power projects.
Thus scientists are solving problems created by the policy makers all over the world.
India is also facing an energy shortage. It consumes some 17% of the world's energy but has only 0.8% of the world's oil and gas reserves. It must attract more expoloration, both of conventional oil/gas as well as of non conventional shale oil/gas. Now here is where good governance and vision is needed.
Just consider this. India's IT Department has raised a ludicrous demand of Rs 15,000 crores on Shell India for underpricing shares issued to its parent at par instead of at an assumed higher valuation that the subsidiary deserved, according to the Department.
On the other hand China has given clearance to Shell to invest $ 100b. (Rs 550,000 crores) to exploit shale gas reserves in the country.
Which is more sensible?
Can technology correct such problems, created by myopic policy and action? It can't.
The BRIC countries are considering setting up another development bank, a la IMF/World Bank, to serve the interest of emerging markets. They will fund it with an initial corpus of $ 100b. This would be a good move.
Indian stock markets, perhaps inspired by Cyprus, took a 40% haircut and were open only 3 out of the 5 working days last week, with holidays for Holi and Good Friday. The BSE-Sensex ended 100 points up at 18,835 and the NSE-Nifty closed 31 points higher at 5,682.
The sensex is poised just above its 200 day exponential moving average of 18,719 and a long term support line of 18,000. A breach of these levels would spell trouble. Caution is advocated for investors. It is also advocated for policymakers, particularly in their wanton destruction of independent institutions, but they are less likely to listen.
By J Mulraj
Friday, March 29, 2013
Weighed down by the European crisis, the Chinese economy is moving away from an
overreliance on export-driven growth. This opens the door for other countries,
as industries that once moved to China are increasingly choosing other nations.
China will continue to dominate the global market for
low-cost exports in the near future, but unsustainable growth patterns will
eventually present opportunities for emerging economies with cheaper labor pools
and other advantages. As global dynamics continue to shift, count on Stratfor to
give you a clear understanding of their implications.
China will continue to dominate the global market for
low-cost exports in the near future, but unsustainable growth patterns will
eventually present opportunities for emerging economies with cheaper labor pools
and other advantages. As global dynamics continue to shift, count on Stratfor to
give you a clear understanding of their implications. Thursday, March 28, 2013
जी.डी. गुरुमालाई अन्तिम श्रद्धाजलि र विदा
मुख्यमन्त्री चामलिङद्वारा
जी.डी. गुरुमालाई अन्तिम श्रद्धाजलि र विदा
कड़ा अनुशासनको एक ज्वलन्त
उदाहरण थिइन् गुरुमा
-विजय बान्तवा
सिक्किमको समाजमा शैक्षिक र
सामाजिक विकासमा भरोसिलो र निष्ठावान सेवा पुर्याएर विगतमा अवकाश प्राप्त गरेकी
श्रीमती गंगादेवी राई वा जी.डी. गुरुमाको लामो समयको बिमारीपछि 26 मार्चको बेलुकी 4.55 मा निधन भयो।दार्जीलिङमा जन्मेर सिक्किमका
वरिष्ठ नागरिक, युग पुरुष तथा पूर्व प्रशासक एवं वरिष्ठ
पत्रकार श्री चन्द्रदास राई वा सीडी राईसित उनको बिहे भएर लगभग 6 दशक उनीहरूले बिताएका थिए।निधनको समय जीडी गुरुमाको उमेर 81 वर्ष पुगेको थियो जबकि श्री सीडी सर 88 वर्षको उमेरमा अझ पनि तन्दुरुस्त र नयॉं पिंड़ीका प्रेरणाका स्रोत
बनिरहनु भएको छ।
उनको निधनको खबर सुन्नु साथ
मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङ र उनका मन्त्रीमण्डलका साथीहरू तादोङ स्थित उनको निवास
स्थानमा 27 मार्च उपस्थित भएका थिए।सीडी सर, उनको पुत्र सासंद् पीडी राई र एन.के.राईलाई सम्वेदना व्य[त गर्दै
मुख्यमन्त्री चामलिङले भने,
सीडी सर, जन्म र मृ[यु त मानिसले लिएर
आएका छौं, कोही अगि कोही पछि मात्र, यहॉंलाई हाम्रो सम्वेदना छ, यहॉंको दु:खको क्षणमा हामी
सरकार यहॉंको साथमा छौं,
सिक्किमे जनता साथमा छन्, यहॉंलाई सहने शि[त ईश्वरले प्रदान गरुन्।
सीडी सरको अनुहारमा [यसबेला
प्रशस्तै दु:खका छापहरू देखिन्थ्यो,
ता पनि उनले पछिबाट आउने जान ईष्ट
मित्रहरूसित बातचीत गरिरहेका थिए।
उनको श्रीमतीको जीवन
यात्राबारे संक्षेपमा यस पंि[तकारसित सीडी सरले बोल्दै भने- गुरुमा स्व. काशीराज
प्रधानको कालमा सन् 1957
को 7 मईमा शिक्षिकाको रुपमा
नियुि[त भएकी थिइन्, सो बेला उनको वेतनमान मात्र 62 रुपियॉं थियो अनि सो बेला शिक्षा विभागका निर्देशक थिए ए.आर. घोष।
लोकप्रिय प्रजातान्त्रिक
सरकार 1975 मा आएपछि धेरै जसो शिक्षक शिक्षिकाहरूलाई
शिक्षा विभागको अन्य प्रशासकीय विभागहरूमा तान्ने काम भयो, तर गुरुमालाई [यहॉं निम्तो हुँदा हुँदै आफ्नै पेशालाई मन पराएर तथा
दिलोज्यान दिएर अघि बढ़ाइरहिन्।यसरी आफ्नो जीवनको धेरै लामो समयसम्म शिक्षिका बनेर
तथा देवराली पाठशालाकी प्रिन्सिपल बनरे 30 अप्रेल 1990 मा अवकाश उनले प्राप्त गरिन्।
जीवन भएर शिक्षिका रहेकी जीडी
गुरुमालाई अति कठोर अनुशासनमा विद्यार्थीहरूलाई पढ़ाउने र नियमको डटेर अध्ययन गर्नु
लगाउथिन्, यसको लागि उनी सबैतिर कड़ा अनुशासन पालन
गराउने गुरुमा भनेर परिचित थिइन्।[यसबेलाको प्रसंग सम्झिन्दै सीडी राई भन्छन्, विद्यार्थीहरूले पाठशालामा राम्ररी पढ़ेन भने उनीहरूको बाबु आमालाई
बोलाउने र घर र पाठशालामा पनि अब उसो राम्ररी नपढ़े पाठशालाबाटै निकालिदिने आदेश
जारी गर्थिन्।कहिले त नटेर्ने केटाकेटीहरूलाई पुलिसलाई बोलाएरसम्म कार्यवाही गर्नु
हिच्किचाउन दिनथिइन्।
उनले पढ़ाएर अहिले सिक्किममा
धेरै अफिसरहरू भएका छन् र उनीहरूमध्ये धेरैले सीडी सरलाई भनेका कुरा स्वयं सीडी
सरले भन्छन्, ती अफिसरहरूले मलाई भेट्दा अहिले भन्छन्,जीडी गुरुमाले [यसबेला कड़ा शास्ति दिंदा उनलाई नराम्रो
सम्झिन्थ्यौं तर उनैको कारणले राम्रो पढ़ेर आज हामी अफिसर बनेका छौँ, उहॉंले त हाम्रै भलाइको लागि पो [यस्तो गर्नु भएको थिएछ।
उनैको सुझाउ लिएर उनको
ज्येष्ठ पुत्र पीडी राईलाई पनि कानपुरमा आइआइटी अध्ययन गर्नु सक्षम भएको कुरो श्री
राईले जनाए।
सिक्किमको समाजलाई शिक्षा र
सामाजिक क्षेत्रमा विकास गराउने दिशामा योगदान दिए वापत् 4 अप्रेल 1967 मा सिक्किमका छोग्यालले उनलाई पुरस्कार एवं
सम्मान प्रदान गरेका थिए भने शिक्षा कै क्षेत्रमा उनको अतुलनीय योगदानको लागि
राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार सन् 1985 मा ज्ञानी जेलसिंह, भारतका पूर्व राष्ट्रपतिको बाहुलीबाट प्रदान गरिएको थियो। उनको
अवकाशपछि पनि उनलाई सिक्किम महिला राज्य परिषद्को अध्यक्षा पद्मा सिक्किम सरकारलाई
नियुि[त गरिएको थियो, [यहॉं पनि उनले आफ्नो दक्ष सेवा पुर्याएकी
थिइन्।
उनले आफू पछि पति दुई छोरा एक
छोरी डा.अरुणा राई, नाति नितिन राई , नातिनी जुनेली राई र अन्यलाई छोड़ेर सदाको लागि अनन्तको यात्रामा
समाधीस्थ बनिन्।उनी झै कर्मठ,
अनुशासन कर्मी गुरुमालाई सिक्किमको समाजले
शतत् नमन र श्रद्धाञ्जलि व्य[त गर्दछ। ( by Bijay Bantawa)
PM's statement at the BRICS Leaders - Africa Dialogue Forum
Following is the text of the Prime Minister's statement at the BRICS Leaders - Africa Dialogue Forum in Durban on March 27, 2013: "I am pleased to have this opportunity for a dialogue on how BRICS, and in particular India, could contribute to and benefit from the tremendous transformation that has made Africa the continent of hope today. India’s relations with Africa are rooted in the history of our solidarity against colonialism and apartheid. Mahatma Gandhi developed the tools of peaceful resistance on this very soil. Our engagement with Africa has come a long way since then and today we have built a new template for partnership in the form of the India-Africa Forum Summit.This partnership is guided by the vision and priorities of our African partners. India will assist Africa in charting its own course through institution-building, infrastructure development and technical and vocational skill development. The pan-Africa e-Network for tele-medicine and tele-education, which is functional in 47 countries in Africa, is a major success story of our institution-building partnership with Africa. We are ready to work with our African partners on e-governance to help bridge the digital divide in Africa. India is also happy to share its experiences of participative political institutions, local governance, media and civil society with Africa. Human resource development and capacity-building assistance are at the core of India’s cooperation with Africa, because they enable and empower people to take charge of their own future. Over 15,000 African students are studying in India. Agricultural and scientific fellowships specially designed for African scholars are highly popular. Our assistance with vocational and entrepreneurial skill development, with particular emphasis on small and medium enterprises, is helping promote employability and job creation in Africa. Our concessional assistance is directed towards development of agriculture, infrastructure and industry. We are reviewing the terms and conditions of our lines of credit so that they meet the budgetary requirements of our partners, are in line with their own development priorities, utilize local resources and skills, and create sustainable revenue-generating assets. On the trade front, our non-reciprocal Duty Free Tariff Preference Scheme Scheme for LDCs has significantly enhanced the access of African LDCs to the growing Indian market. India’s enterprising private sector is one of the key drivers of the India-Africa partnership. The Confederation of Indian Industries and the EXIM Bank of India last week organized the 9th Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership, which generated interest in 500 projects worth 70 billion US dollars. Sustainable economic development requires an environment of social and political stability. India actively supports African initiatives for peace and security in the continent. More than 6,500 Indian soldiers support UN Peacekeeping Operations in various parts of Africa. A large Indian contingent is helping the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo carry out its mandate. We have also made financial contributions to the African Union Mission in Somalia and the African-led International Support Mission to Mali. We strongly support the restoration of Mali’s territorial integrity as well as constitutional order in that country. Let me conclude by reiterating India’s resolve to assist Africa with the entire spectrum of our expertise and capacity. The BRICS forum offers another avenue for our cooperation. Initiatives such as the BRICS bank could further leverage the collective capacity of the BRICS countries to assist the transformation of Africa. This is an objective that India remains committed to." |
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Arun Sankar K/Associated Press
A
Hindu devotee, with his body pierced with skewers, participating in a religious
procession during the festival of Panguni Uthiram in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is
traditionally celebrated by Tamils during the first full moon in the twelfth
month of the Tamil solar calendar, “Panguni.” SOURCE:NYTIMES
| Extension of Banking Hours on Saturday, 30th March, 2013 and Opening of All Agency Banks Collecting Direct Taxes on Friday, 29th March and on Sunday, 31st March, 2013 |
| In view of the ensuing holidays in several parts of the country and keeping in view the likely rush of taxpayers to deposit direct taxes in the last week of March, 2013, the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has directed all the agency banks receiving direct taxes from public to keep the counters of their designated bank branches collecting direct taxes open for transactions (full day with extended hours) on all the three days viz. Friday, 29th March, Saturday, 30th March as well as on Sunday, 31st March, 2013. All concerned may take advantage of the extended banking hours. |
An excerpt from The Power of Discipline by Brian Tracy
| Why are some people more successful
than others? Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and
accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great
majority? I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future. And then I began asking, "Why are some people more successful than others?" This question changed my life. Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way. One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, "Success is tons of discipline." Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four. A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit. With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch. It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer. As it happened, I immediately knew who he was. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement. Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study. I had read all four books from cover to cover, more than once. After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask, "Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?" He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating, "The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, 'Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.'" He went on to say, "There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work." Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity. In the pages ahead I will describe seven areas of your life where the practice of self-discipline will be key to your success. These areas include goals, character, time management, personal health, money, courage and responsibility. It is my hope that you'll find a few "nuggets" that will help make your dreams come true. |
Be positive, create positive karma, Dalai Lama advises students in Sikkim
India TV webteam [ Updated 26 Mar 2013,
20:50:21 ]
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Gangtok, Mar 26: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today advised
students of Sikkim to be positive in attitude and create a positive "karma".
Speaking to students at Manan Kendra
here, the Dalai Lama said: "future of an individual depends on a community, and
of a community depends on a society and of a society depends on
nation”.
"Therefore, the younger generation being the builder of this nation should be practical and realistic in their thinking."
The Dalai Lama said, mankind commited heinous mistakes during the 20th century bringing forth huge destruction with the use of atomic bombs. "The future generation of 21st century should learn from this and work towards peace.'
Answering queries of students, he said, one should keep a positive attitude and create positive karma thereby eradicating the negativity within us and further making us sensible and responsible person in the society.
He said that one should not be materialistic, instead serve and help other people to lead a meaningful life.
H.H. also spoke on compassion and taught the ways and methods to control anger. Sikkim's HRD minister N K Pradhan welcomed the Tibetan leader at the function.
"Therefore, the younger generation being the builder of this nation should be practical and realistic in their thinking."
The Dalai Lama said, mankind commited heinous mistakes during the 20th century bringing forth huge destruction with the use of atomic bombs. "The future generation of 21st century should learn from this and work towards peace.'
Answering queries of students, he said, one should keep a positive attitude and create positive karma thereby eradicating the negativity within us and further making us sensible and responsible person in the society.
He said that one should not be materialistic, instead serve and help other people to lead a meaningful life.
H.H. also spoke on compassion and taught the ways and methods to control anger. Sikkim's HRD minister N K Pradhan welcomed the Tibetan leader at the function.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama consecrates Buddha statue in Sikkim
Dharamshala: On March 25, The spiritual leader of Tibet His
Holiness the Dalai Lama consecrated a colossal 128 foot hammered copper statue
of the Buddha, which he had earlier named Tathagata Tsal, at Ravangla Sikkim,
India.
His
Holiness was escorted to the base of the statue where he ceremonially cut the
ribbon and opened the doors into the chamber beneath. He examined the chamber
admiringly, which is elaborately decorated with fierce deities on the inner
walls and scenes from the Buddha's life on the outer walls. He was accompanied
by Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche while he conducted the ritual of
consecration.
Sikkim
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and the Governor, H.E. BP Singh soon joined His
Holiness at the statue. Final prayers were said and auspicious rice thrown
outside in view of the statue, followed by a ritual circumambulation.
In the
pavilion below the statue dignitaries gathered, high above them the Chief
Secretary Mrs R Ongmu gave an exuberant welcome address, inviting His Holiness
to release a book about the Tathagata Tsal.
The
assembly was then addressed by the Chief Minister, Mr Pawan Chamling welcoming
His Holiness and the Governor as well as all the other guests. Mr Chamling gave
special thanks to His Holiness for taking the time to come and conduct the
consecration.
The Chief
Minister highlighted that his government is based on Buddhist values and is
committed to supporting the states various religions and inculcating positive
values in the people. He hopes that this new Buddha statue complex, which
incorporates a library and a study centre, will attract pilgrims from far and
wide.
The
Governor of Sikkim, H.E. BP Singh then spoke, calling attention to His
Holiness's fondness for Sikkim and its people. Comparing the Chief Minister to
the great Indian Emperor Ashoka, who established Buddhism throughout India, he
urged the public to remember the Buddha's teachings about non-violence and
compassion.
His
Holiness expressed his greetings to the crowd and said:
"I've come
to consecrate this outstanding statue, which we did according to the rites of
Vajrakilaya, because this locality has historical connections with that
meditational deity. The place itself is quiet, open and peaceful and the statue
adds to the natural beauty of the landscape, which I hope will inspire an inner
transformation within the pilgrims who come here." His Holiness said that like
the statue of Guru Padmasambhava this statue will last for many years to
come
He added
that he has known the Chief Minister for many years, admiring his projects to
build on Sikkim's Buddhist heritage, "I pray that all his good wishes be
fulfilled swiftly and without obstruction."
Recalling
his own connections with Sikkim he said that although he has visited several
times since 1959, he came first when passing through on his way to the Buddha
Jayanti celebrations in Bodhgaya in 1956.
His
Holiness said that twenty years ago, the Japanese World Peace Stupa was
inaugurated in Rajgir in the presence of the President of India. He pointed out
that the real stupa needs to be built within ourselves, saying that what we need
is guidance about how to train our minds.
His Holiness talked about the Buddha's teachings, that they contain many methods for training the mind because of the wide variety of people's dispositions. We should study this in the collections of Buddhist scriptures, in the volumes of the Kangyur and Tengyur.
His Holiness talked about the Buddha's teachings, that they contain many methods for training the mind because of the wide variety of people's dispositions. We should study this in the collections of Buddhist scriptures, in the volumes of the Kangyur and Tengyur.
Books are
not just to be treated as objects of respect, we need to open and read them, His
Holiness pointed out. We need to find out how the mind works, how the emotions
function. Prayer is not enough, we have to train ourselves. Buddhist literature
is so rich in knowledge about the mind that it is now attracting the interest of
modern scientists, who see these methods as authentic sources of inner
peace.
The
secretary of the Ecclesiastical Affairs Department, Tsechokling Rinpoche,
offered the final words of thanks; expressing gratitude to His Holiness and all
the other dignitaries and guests for attending the occasion.
In the afternoon, His Holiness returned to the pavilion to teach Ngulchu Thogme Sangpo's "37 Practices of Bodhisattvas". He explained that the word Dharma means holding back or saving you from something, which means saving you from suffering. It does so by training us to combat the destructive emotions that give rise to suffering, enabling us to transform ourselves so that we become free from it.
In the afternoon, His Holiness returned to the pavilion to teach Ngulchu Thogme Sangpo's "37 Practices of Bodhisattvas". He explained that the word Dharma means holding back or saving you from something, which means saving you from suffering. It does so by training us to combat the destructive emotions that give rise to suffering, enabling us to transform ourselves so that we become free from it.
His
Holiness discussed the differences between the theistic religions that tend to
believe in a creator god and the non-theistic traditions that do not believe in
a creator, but instead teach about the law of causality – karma. Buddhism
teaches that if you do good, you achieve a happy result and if you do bad you
create the causes for suffering and discomfort. From this point of view our
experience of pain and pleasure is in our own hands. Today, all the world's
major religious traditions flourish in India, where respect for other traditions
and harmony among them is an ancient but living reality.
"Once we've
gone over this text together, don't just forget it and let it gather dust on the
shelf. Just having it in the house is of no help; you have to read, think about
it, and become familiar with it. You have to apply the teaching in your daily
life day by day."
His
Holiness reiterated that the Bodhisattva paths have to be practised not merely
remaining the object of prayers; just as the Buddha did, you have to practise
and gather merit. This is how we will make our lives meaningful. The "37
Practices" teaches about the common paths, and then discusses ways to develop
the awakening mind of enlightenment. After this come skilful means, wisdom and
the Six Perfections, and finally dedication, this completes the 37
practices.
On March 26
His Holiness is to give a White Tara Long Life Empowerment, followed by the
offering to him of prayers for his long life.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Take China and India for instance. For three decades, the dragon nation grew at
an average annual growth rate of 10%, which drastically improved the standard of
living of its citizens and made it a force to reckon with in the international
arena. But its growth engine has slowed down due to many reasons; its sheer size
and a business model relying too much on exports being part of them.
India's issues are too well known. Difficulty in doing business in the country due to redundant land and labour laws, corruption and red tape continue to pose problems. Not to mention a high fiscal and current account deficit, which have not left much headroom for the government to spend on productive areas.
India's issues are too well known. Difficulty in doing business in the country due to redundant land and labour laws, corruption and red tape continue to pose problems. Not to mention a high fiscal and current account deficit, which have not left much headroom for the government to spend on productive areas.
Small Savings Schemes
Revision of Interest rates on Small Savings
Schemes
| Scheme | Interest Rates for FY 2012-13 |
Interest Rates for FY 2013-14 |
Action wef. April 1, 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savings Deposits | 4.0% | 4.0% | Unchanged |
| 1 Year Time Deposit | 8.2% | 8.2% | Unchanged |
| 2 Year Time Deposit | 8.3% | 8.2% | Lowered by 0.10% |
| 3 Year Time Deposit | 8.4% | 8.3% | Lowered by 0.10% |
| 5 Year Time Deposit | 8.5% | 8.4% | Lowered by 0.10% |
| 5 Year Recurring Deposit | 8.4% | 8.3% | Lowered by 0.10% |
| 5 Year Senior Citizen's Savings Scheme | 9.3% | 9.2% | Lowered by 0.10% |
| 5 Year Monthly Income Scheme | 8.5% | 8.4% | Lowered by 0.10% |
| 5 Year National Savings Certificate | 8.6% | 8.5% | Lowered by 0.10% |
| 10 year National Savings Certificate | 8.9% | 8.8% | Lowered by 0.10% |
| Public Provident Fund | 8.8% | 8.7% | Lowered by 0.10% |
Tathagata Tsal at Rabong,Sikkim consecrated by H H Dalai Lama
The Mane Choekerling Development and Management Committee (MCDMC) of
Tathagata Tsal, Rabong would like to express our gratitude to His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama for
sparing his invaluable time to be amongst the people of Sikkim and consecrate
the Tathagata Tsal at Rabong from 24 to 26 March, 2013.The Tsal and Sikkim is
blessed once again by his visit.
MCDMC would also like to express our sincere thanks to His Excellency, the
Governor Shri Balmiki Prasad Singh for making time to attend the Consecration
Ceremony.
Our gratitude also to the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling
without whose vision and guidance, the Tathagata Tsal would not be a reality.
Tathagata Tsal would also like to thank everyone from Sikkim and outside
who were here for all the three days of the Consecration ceremony.
We would also like to express our gratitude to the Government of Sikkim,
Chief Secretary, Mrs. R. Ongmu, Director General of Police Shri Jasbir Singh,
all Heads of Departments, Police and Security personnel and everyone who
volunteered to help during the three days of consecration ceremony. We regret
that we could not thank you individually.
We would also like to inform you that the Tsal will be open for all from
15th April, 2013.
On behalf of MCDMC
Tathagata Tsal,
Rabong
(C. Zangpo)
General Secretary
Vice President Greets Citizens on Holi
| Vice President Greets Citizens on Holi |
The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has greeted the citizens on the joyous occasion of Holi, the festival of colours. In his message he has said that Holi, which is celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm throughout the country, reinforces the message of our unity in diversity and of equality of all human beings.
Following is the text of Vice President’s message :
“I extend my greetings and best wishes to all our citizens on the joyous occasion of Holi, the festival of colours.
Holi, which is celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm throughout the country, reinforces the message of our unity in diversity and of equality of all human beings.
May the festival bring peace, prosperity and happiness for all.”
*****
|
RISE UP ON TRAIN CHARGES EFFECTIVE 1.4.2013
| Revision of Tatkal Charges for Train Journeys to be Effective From 1stApril 2013 Onwards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As per announcement made in the Railway Budget 2013-14, it has been decided by the Ministry of Railways to revise Tatkal charges. These charges will be applicable for journey starting from 01.04.2013 onwards. Now, the Tatkal charges will be realized @ 10% of basic far for reserved Second (2S) class and 30% of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum as given below:-
AKS/HK/BS
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