R.N.I. NO. DELENG/2022/82311 Magazine Post No.

DL(DS)-63/MP/2023-24-25 Posted in Delhi PSO, old Delhi Railway station TMO Delhi. No. of Pages 12

NEW DELHI, May 6-12, 2024

International Editions (ONLINE)
l US (New York) l UK (London) l Middle East (Dubai)

Building a new nation

Vol. 3. No. 14 COMMITTED TO A DEVELOPED INDIA 50

www.blitzindiamedia.com
Phase 1 & 2
The May 7 May 13 May 20 May 25 June 1
Great Phase 3
Seats 94
Phase 4
Seats 96
Phase 5
Seats 49
Phase 6
Seats 57
Phase 7
Seats 57 Results on
Indian Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Bihar, Bihar, Jharkhand, Bihar, Haryana, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, June 4
Chhattisgarh, Goa, UP, WB, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, Odisha, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab,
Poll Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra,
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and
Chhattisgarh, MP,
Maharashtra, Odisha,
UP, West Bengal, J&K,
Ladakh
UP, West Bengal, Delhi UP, WB, Chandigarh

Carnival Daman & Diu, J&K Telangana, UP, WB, J&K

April 19 & 26

HAT-TRICK
of r sure
Unprecedented
BJP tally on June 4
Deepak Dwivedi
voters in the first two phases of polling

C
ONTRARY to the false
and malicious narrative
being built in certain quar-
ters that the Bharatiya
Janata Party may fall
short of its targets, the party is firmly
heading towards a hat-trick win in the
ongoing General Elections, with its
best-ever performance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
fixed a victory target of 370 seats for the
party, 68 more than what it won in 2019.
For the National Democratic Alliance
(NDA), he has set another lofty target
of beyond-400 (char so paar). The Lok
Sabha has a total of 543 seats, and the
BJP had won 282 and 303 in the last
two parliamentary elections.
Witnessing the enthusiasm of the
and being in no doubt that PM Modi
is unstoppable, forces inimical to his
development agenda have started
working overtime. They have started
circulating fake reports – citing bogus
surveys and quoting shady political
analysts – that say that the BJP-NDA
targets are unachievable.
Modi all the way
This, however, is contrary to the real-
ity on the ground. Reports gathered
by Blitz India’s nationwide network re-
veal that after the conclusion of poll-
ing in 190 seats, it is PM Modi all the
way. The BJP under his leadership is
well on course to win a thumping ma-
jority and its tally is going to cross the
2019 numbers, say the reports.
The top leadership of the BJP, as
also independent analysts, are confi-
dent about the BJP putting up a record
performance and comfortably achiev-
ing the goals that it has set for itself.
Addressing media in Guwahati on
April 30, Union Home Minister Amit
Shah claimed that after two phases
of polling, the BJP and its allies have
crossed 100 seats. "After two phas-
es of elections, based on our inter-
nal assessment we can say that BJP
and its allies have crossed over 100
(seats) and we are confident that we
are moving towards our resolve of
'400 paar',” he said.
Earlier, in an interview with NDTV,
renowned economist and political an-
alyst Surjit Bhalla said the BJP could
end up winning 330 to 350 seats.
"Based on statistical possibility, they
should get 330 to 350 seats on their
own. This is just the BJP, not including
its alliance partners," he said.
With PM Modi’s untiring campaign
for a bigger, and more decisive
mandate, for the Viksit Bharat 247
agenda getting an overwhelming re-
sponse across the country, the pros-
pects of the BJP are likely to improve
even further in the next five phases,
say the ground reports accessed by
Blitz India.
Come June 4, PM Modi is certain
to secure a historic third consecutive
term for the BJP with a record win,
calling the bluff of naysayers.

SC thumbs-up!
“T HE Supreme Court on April 26 upheld the electronic voting
machine (EVM) system of polling and refused a plea to revive
paper ballots. A Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Dat-
ta, also refused petitioners’ suggestion to hand over paper slips from
Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units to electors to take a
leisurely look before inserting them into the ballot boxes. The Bench
further declined the petitioners’ argument to order cross-verification
of 100 per cent EVMs and VVPATs. Currently, only five per cent of
EVM-VVPAT counts are randomly verified in any given Assembly
constituency.
EVMs pass the test – See edit on PAGE 2
 New Delhi
May 6-12, 2024 OPINION www.blitzindiamedia.com

EVMs pass the test

apex court has made it unequivocally clear

I
N a recent ruling, the Supreme Court
dismissed demands for 100 per cent
verification of Voter Verifiable Paper
Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips and rejected
all the other pleas of the petitioners, includ-
ing one which wanted to take the country
back to paper ballot system. Most impor-
tantly, the SC reinforced the credibility of
the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Deepak After conducting a detailed review of the
Dwivedi administrative and technical safeguards
of EVMs, the court concluded that EVMs
Editor-in-Chief
were “simple”, “secure” and “user friendly.”
@deepakdwivedi_
Both the judges on the Bench – Justices
Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta – were
PM Modi unequivocal in their rejection of all three
pleas. They also warned that “blindly dis-
hailed the trusting any aspect of the system can
verdict as breed unwarranted scepticism and impede
‘a tight progress”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed
slap on the the verdict as “a tight slap on the face of the
face of the Opposition”. With the Supreme Court sum-
marily dismissing the idea of reverting to
Opposition’ the ballot papers, the controversial debate
over the efficacy of EVMs must end now. In
the midst of General Elections, it is impor-
tant to refrain from floating new conspiracy
theories surrounding voting machines. The
that the Election Commission, the sole
authority to conduct polls, has clarified all
technical doubts in this regard. The court
also rejected the plea seeking complete
verification of votes cast using EVMs with
VVPAT slips and refused to issue manda-
mus based on mere suspicions in some
sections. During the hearing, the poll panel
clarified, to the satisfaction of the court,
several technical questions raised by the
petitioners. The EC asserted that it was im-
possible to tamper with the EVMs at any
stage. All three units of an EVM – ballot
unit, VVPAT and the chip – have their own
microcontrollers, which are one-time pro-
grammable and cannot be hacked.
The Election Commission has done ev-
erything possible to convince political par-
ties, voters and civil society about the ef-
ficacy of the voting machines. The EVMs
have withstood repeated judicial and tech-
nocratic challenges ever since they were
introduced. The Voter Verification Paper
Trail (VVPAT) was introduced by the poll
panel in 2013 precisely for the purpose of
dispelling apprehensions about the func-
tioning of EVMs and the EC used to tally
only one random EVM per Assembly seg-
ment with VVPAT. In April 2019, when 21
Opposition parties wanted 50 pc verifica-
tion, the apex court raised this number from
1 to 5.
This is not the first time that the court
has declined to interfere with the system
in place. It had earlier refused to order 50
pc verification of the paper trail in one case
and 100 pc in another. The court has uti-
lised this petition to review the administra-
tive and technical safeguards in the system
and found nothing to impair its faith in it.
Doubting Thomases are still not satisfied
and are rooting for going back to the ballot
paper system in the name of confidence-
building. It is a regressive idea to revert to
ballot papers when the EVMs have proved
their trustworthiness over decades and
helped in preventing electoral malpractic-
es, like rigging and booth-capturing. As the
latest verdict pointed out, the weaknesses
of the ballot paper system are well known
and documented. “We would be undoing
the electoral reforms by directing reintro-
duction of the ballot papers,” it said.

India expands its SPR

ISPRL issued a tender asking for EOI to see if oil majors will be interested
in the project. The feedback so far has been overwhelming

A
s the world’s third-biggest oil
importer and consumer, India
requires a steady supply of
crude at all times. It is a nation-
al security element that is non-negotiable.
As the country’s economy continues to
grow, one of the key areas of concern is
ensuring a stable and secure supply of
petroleum products. In fact, it is more or
less a top priority.
While India has strategic petroleum re-
serves (SPR), the costs of constructing
and maintaining these are humongous. In
a smart move, the Government has now
decided to build the country’s first private-
ly-managed SPR by 2029-30, granting
the operator the freedom to trade all of the
stored oil. "We hope to award the tender
on a design, build, finance, operate and
transfer basis by September and the SPR
should be completed in 60 months from
zero data,” LR Jain, chief executive of
India Strategic Petroleum Reserves Lim-
ited (ISPRL), told the media at an industry
event.
Govt has first right
According to ISPRL, a public sector entity,
the Government will have the first right to
the oil in case of a shortage. It issued a
tender asking for an Expression of Inter-
est (EOI) in March to see if oil majors will
be interested in the project. The feedback
so far has been overwhelming with ex-
pectations that both Indian oil majors, like
Reliance and Adani and fossil fuel giants
in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and North Amer-
G LDEN EYE
ica, are eager to participate in the project
At the moment, India has three SPRs
in southern India. ISPRL has built un-
derground storages for crude oil at Vi-
sakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur. It
maintains an emergency fuel store of a
total 5.33 MMT (million metric tonnes).
ISPRL has allowed partial commercialisa-
tion of these three SPRs.
K Srinivasan The Abu Dhabi National Oil Com-
pany (ADNOC) has leased 1.25 million
tonnes (of 2.5 million tonnes) at the Pa-
dur reserve and 0.75 million tonnes (of
1.5 million tonnes) at Mangalore. The
plan now is to build two new SPRs –
the first an 18.3-million barrel facility at
Padur, and a 29.3-million barrel SPR in
eastern Odisha – with private partners
who will have the green signal to trade
At the moment, all of the oil locally.
India has three Expanding capacity
SPRs in southern While the Government will allow pri-
vate companies to trade 100 pc of the
India. ISPRL has oil stored in these new SPRs within the
built underground domestic market, the idea is to rapidly
expand India’s SPR capacity with private-
storages for sector participation and funds. The ratio-
crude oil at nale behind involving private companies
in SPR management is simple:
Visakhapatnam, 8 Ensure efficiency, funds and exper-
tise in the operation of these SPRs
Mangalore 8 Sharply reduce the Government’s
and Padur funding in the building and maintaining of
these asserts
8 Follow global best practices and
strategic flexibility for SPR utilisation and
commercialisation. Involving the private
sector will also help India expand its SPR
capacity.
The project will involve a public-private
partnership (PPP) approach. What this
translates into is that the entire process
of construction, filling and maintenance of
the SPR facilities will be with the private
sector. The Government will only retain
strategic control. As per the policy, the pri-
vate companies will be allowed to freely
sell a portion of the reserves to recover
their costs and generate some returns.
Meeting IEA norms
It is also imperative that India expand its
oil storage capacity for it will help it meet
the International Energy Agency (IEA)
membership requirement of maintaining
a minimum strategic reserve equivalent
to 90 days of domestic oil consumption.
Currently, India’s total oil stocks, including
SPR, are sufficient to cover approximate-
ly 66 days of consumption. The expanded
capacity will help the country have an ad-
ditional 24 days’ worth of oil and meet the
IEA standards.
Countries like South Korea and Japan,
as well as major European economies,
have their SPR maintained in the private
sector. This is, in fact, the global trend.
The only major economy which has 100
per cent Government-owned reserves is
the United States.

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RNI No. DELENG/2022/82311 Edited, Printed and Published by Deepak Dwivedi at Chandra Prabhu Offset Printing Works Pvt.Ltd. Address: C-40, Sector 8, Noida (U.P.) 201301. Editorial, Advertisement
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CHIEF ADVISOR: AK Sharma, MANAGING EDITOR: Manooj Jain, EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Sindhu Jha, RESIDENT EDITOR: Sandeepp Saxena* (*Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act),
CHAIRMAN & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Deepak Dwivedi
(ALL DISPUTES SHALL BE SUBJECT TO JURISDICTION OF DELHI COURTS ONLY) scan, read & share
www.blitzindiamedia.com
Team
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court
on April 29 issued notice to the Union
of India and the state of Kerala on a
writ petition seeking a declaration that
a person who was born a Muslim, but
ceased to be believer, would not be
governed by the Sharia law.
The petition was filed by a Kerala-
based woman, named Safiya PM,
who stated that she was not a believ-
er and hence should be governed by
the Indian Succession Act, 1925, with
respect to inheritance instead of the
Muslim Personal Law.
The petitioner is the general secre-
tary of an organisation of named "Ex-
Muslims of Kerala."
A Bench comprising Chief Justice
of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB
Pardiwala and Manoj Misra requested
the Attorney General to nominate a
law officer who can assist the court.
The matter will be posted next in the
second week of July 2024.
Initial reservations
Initially, the Bench expressed reser-
vations at the petitioner's proposition
that a non-believer won't be governed
by the Sharia Act. "The moment you
are born as Muslim you are governed
by the personal law. Your rights or en-
titlement are not governed by being a
believer or non-believer," CJI Chand-
PATANJALI CASE
Uttarakhand
licensing body
apologises to SC
Team
NEW DELHI: The Uttarakhand
State Licensing Authority has apolo-
gised to the Supreme Court for its
unsatisfactory action against Patanjali
Ayurved for the misleading advertise-
ments published by the latter.
In an affidavit, filed through Advocate
Vanshaja Shukla on April 27, the Ut-
tarakhand body stated that it has filed
a criminal complaint against Patanjali
Ayurved and its founders Baba Ram-
dev and Acharya Balkrishna, for vio-
lating the Drugs and Magic Remedies
(Objectionable Advertisements) Act.
The affidavit was filed in response to
a plea filed by the Indian Medical Asso-
ciation against an alleged smear cam-
paign carried out by Patanjali and its
founders Baba Ramdev and Acharya
Balkrishna against the Covid-19 vacci-
nation drive and modern medicine.
The top court had earlier pulled up
the Uttarakhand Government and the
licensing body for being "hand-in-
glove" with errant licensing officers
who failed to take action against Pa-
tanjali Ayurved.
The affidavit said that body will con-
tinue to take all due steps against Pa-
tanjali Ayurved Limited.
Sharia law and
the non-believer
SC agrees to hear plea of a woman who
wants to be governed by Succession Act
rachud told the petitioner's counsel.
The Bench also wondered how the
court can give a declaration regarding
the non-applicability of personal law to
a person under Article 32 of the Con-
stitution, when the petitioner has not
challenged any statutory provision.
The petitioner's counsel submitted
that as per the personal law, a Muslim
person cannot bequeath more than
one-third of his properties by way of
Will. He pointed out that the petition-
Thoroughly misconceived
Team
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High
Court on April 29 rejected a plea
seeking a six-year ban on Prime
Minister Narendra Modi from con-
testing elections for allegedly vio-
lating the Model Code of Conduct
(MCC) by seeking votes in the
name of religion for the upcoming
Lok Sabha polls.
Justice Sachin Datta said that the
plea was thoroughly misconceived
since it cannot direct the Election
Commission of India (ECI) to act in
a particular manner.
The court also noted the submis-
sion of the ECI that it will decide on
the representation by the petitioner.
"His representation is there. We will
process it in accordance with law,"
ECI counsel Siddhant Kumar said.
Man allowed to proceed against wife
Team
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court
on April 26 emphasised that for sum-
moning of an accused, a prima facie
case is to be made out on the basis
of allegations in the complaint and the
pre-summoning evidence led by the
complainant.
The apex court allowed a man to
proceed against his wife and two oth-
ers for offences of bigamy, cheating
and criminal conspiracy for marrying
him in spite of a subsisting marriage.
According to a published report, a
Bench of Justices CT Ravikumar and
Rajesh Bindal allowed a plea by An-
iruddha Khanwalkar against the Mad-
hya Pradesh High Court's order, which
had upheld the Sessions Court's order
LEGAL
er's father is also not a
believer. He submitted
that Muslim women are
entitled to only one-
third of the share of
male heirs.
Specific
declaration
The CJI pointed out
that Section 58 of the
Indian Succession Act
makes a specific dec-
laration that the Succession Act will
not apply to Muslims. The Bench also
pointed out that the petitioner has not
challenged Section 58 of the Indian
Succession Act.
The petitioner's counsel replied
that Section 58 is under examination
in another petition filed by the Quran
Sunnath Society in which the petition-
er has also intervened.
Ultimately, the Bench agreed to
consider the matter.
Says HC on plea
seeking ban on PM
Modi from contesting
"The present writ petition is thor-
oughly misconceived. The peti-
tioner presupposes that there has
been a violation. It is not permis-
sible for this court to direct the ECI
to take a particular view," the court
said while dismissing the plea.
It added that the petitioner pre-
supposes that there has been a
violation of the Model Code of Con-
duct but this pre-supposition is to-
tally unjustified.
"It is not possible for this court to
direct the Election Commission of
India (ECI) to take a particular view.
ECI is obliged to take independent
view on the petitioner’s complaint,"
Justice Datta said.
Setting aside summoning order
‘is not legally sustainable’: SC
to quash the summons issued against
his wife, Sharmila Das and two others,
Usharani Das and Sangita.
Considering the material on record,
the Bench said, the approach of the
Sessions Court and the High Court
in setting aside the summoning order
New Delhi
May 6-12, 2024
Women taking CDS exam
Address the issue
within eight weeks,
Delhi HC to DefMin
Team
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High
Court has ordered the Defence
Ministry to address within eight
weeks a plea seeking the inclusion
of women candidates in the Indian
Military Academy, the Indian Naval
Academy, and Air Force Academy,
through the Combined Defence
Services (CDS) Examination.
A Bench of Acting Chief Justice
Manmohan and Justice Manmeet
PS Arora urged the Union Govern-
ment to adjudicate on the represen-
tation submitted by petitioner Kush
Kalra.
“The writ petition is disposed of
with direction to Defendant No. 2
(MoD) to decide petitioner’s repre-
sentation dated December 22, 2023,
in accordance with law in 8 weeks,”
the Bench stated in its order.
UPSC notification
Kalra’s petition challenges the UP-
SC’s December 2023, notification
that bars females from participat-
ing in CDS exams for recruitment
in various branches of the Indian
armed forces.
The court said that the Govern-
ment should resolve the matter
promptly, free from the influence of
pending litigation.
Kalra’s representation was filed
due to the lack of response from the
authorities. Her representation ar-
gued that the ministry of defence’s
removal of barriers for entry of
women through the NDA examina-
tion, allowed since 2021, highlights
the inconsistency in barring women
from the CDS examination.
against the accused persons “is not
legally sustainable."
The appellant contended a prima
facie case was made out as he had
been dishonestly induced by the re-
spondents to believe that the woman
had obtained divorce by showing him
a forged order from earlier marriage
knowing well that it had not yet been
dissolved.
The appellant and the woman had
come in contact through a matrimo-
nial site. The appellant was already
divorced whereas the woman had
uploaded her status as “process of di-
vorce is under consideration.”
 New Delhi
May 6-12, 2024
Prof PB
Sharma
T
he making of a New India, the
Viksit Bharat of our dreams,
is no longer debatable. The
growth and the rate at which
the infrastructure push is being pro-
vided for the Viksit Bharat, demonstrate
a steely resolve of the Government to
create robust contours of the nation's
economy in the coming years.
Along with the physical infrastructure
of expressways, bridges and high-tech
buildings, the increasing thrust on ur-
banisation is going to cause a massive
surge to the already-booming econo-
my. Science and technology education
and research will play an important role
in deciding the future trends of develop-
ment and have a profound impact on
the economy.
It is worth recalling that of the 4.33
crore of students currently enrolled in
over 1,043 universities and 45,000-plus
colleges in India, an estimated 57.2
lakh students were enrolled in 2021-
22, at the UG, PG and PhD levels in
Science stream, with female students
(29.8 lakh) outnumbering male stu-
dents (27.4 lakh). The Government-
funded universities, constituting 58.6
per cent of the total universities in India,
contribute 73.7 pc of the total enrol-
ment, while the private universities ac-
count for 26.3 per cent.
Massive investment
As such, a much greater investment in
science education and for scaling up
the quality and quantum of scientific re-
search in Government-funded univer-
sities would be required in the coming
Sandi
Saksena
n my 27 years in the insurance
I industry, I can count the number
of intelligent, farsighted, individ-
uals who not knowing much about
how insurance really works, were
open-minded to learn, understand,
become aware of the different types
of risks, trusted good advice, and
purchased polices.
The majority hesitated, did their
‘flawed half-baked analysis’ and de-
cided that it was a waste of money
and that their money would earn
more for them if ‘invested’ in their
businesses, playing the stock mar-
ket, getting ‘crypto’ rich in minutes,
flipping etc.
April 15 and 16 are indelibly
etched in the mind of every UAE
resident of every financial level.
Financial losses caused by water,
gale forces winds, etc. are still be-
ing assessed, the repercussions of
which will last for many, for a long
April 15 and 16 are indelibly etched in the mind of every
UAE resident of every financial level. Financial losses
caused by water, gale forces winds, etc. are still being
assessed, the repercussions of which will last for many,
for a long time
PERSPECTIVE
Science education
& scientific research
FOR VIKSIT BHARAT 2047
years to empower talented youth
who look towards cost-effective
quality science education and
scientific research in public fund-
ed universities. These include the
central and the state universities
and also the institutions of nation-
al importance, such as the IITs,
IIITs and IISERs.
It is heartening to note that
there has been a significant
growth of the IITs, from seven in
2014 to 23 in 2024 and likewise from
seven AIIMS for medical education and
research in 2013 to 23. This gives clear
signals of the Government’s resolve
to spend more on world-class techni-
cal education and scientific research
for which the IITs have a proven track
record of accomplishments. Likewise,
world-class medical education and
research in AIIMs will continue to em-
power India in the field of medicines
and healthcare.
It would, however, be imperative for
the IITs and other leading universities in
public and private sectors to align their
Investment in science education and scientific research
in research intensive institutions like the IITs need to be
carefully planned to address the immediate and future
challenges facing a nation like India
UAE skies shower insurance lesson
time. Businesses, homes, posses-
sions, vehicles, shopping malls, ho-
tels, schools, restaurants, clinics,
shops, inventory, the list is long.
Extensive damage
The financial losses/payouts at busi-
ness level due to the damage yet to
be determined, will be extensive. On
the personal front, living in rented/
owned accommodation, rent /EMIs,
electricity and water, phones inter-
net etc. have to be paid. Additional
expenses could include replacement
of furniture, household appliances,
extensive repairs, cost of alternative
accommodation, and buying house-
hold groceries/clothes etc.
What does this all add up to?
Money. Lots of money being spent,
savings depleted Investments liq-
uidated, loans from banks, credit
cards maxed out! So, what’s been
and is on offer in the UAE which has
helped, perhaps, a few farsighted
individuals:
Business Interruption Insur-
scientific research to national goals as
also to address the global challenges.
Investment in science education and
scientific research in research0-inten-
sive institutions, like the IITs, needs to
be carefully planned to address the im-
mediate and future challenges facing a
nation like India that aspires to leapfrog
in its developmental goals and achieve
great economic growth along with en-
suring its commitment to environmental
sustainability.
The time is right for redefining the
meaning and purpose of science edu-
cation and research. We need to ask
what ‘science for society’ and ‘science
ance: A crucial type of insurance for
businesses, operating in the UAE,
particularly those that rely heav-
ily on physical location or assets to
generate revenues. This provides
financial protection in the event of
an unexpected disruption. It assists
businesses maintain their financial
stability and recover more quickly
from a loss. The amount of cover-
age depends on the specific needs
of the business, and how compre-
hensive the covers are.
It is imperative to understand the
specific Terms and Conditions of the
policy – what is included, more im-
portantly exclusions or limitations.
Adequate coverage
Property All Risk Insurance:
Those who didn’t think it important
to get home insurance will not only
have to pay out large amounts for
repairs, but also have the added ex-
penses of replacing damaged pos-
sessions, electronic appliances and
home furnishing etc.
It is important for property owners,
or those living in rented properties
in the UAE, to carefully review your
property insurance policies to en-
sure that you have adequate cover-
age for your needs. For those look-
ing to buy a policy, be aware that
insurance policies can vary in terms
www.blitzindiamedia.com
for national development’ mean in the
age of rapidly rising concerns for human
development, environmental health
and economic prosperity. It would also
be important to realise that like technol-
ogy, science has its all-pervading influ-
ence on the quality of life as well as on
wellbeing of people and, of course, on
the environmental health that decides
the future of the planet.
A caring pursuit
The new age of technology-intensive
and innovation-driven industry and ser-
vice sectors demand science education
and research for achieving the goals of
economic prosperity without sacrific-
ing the interest of man and that of the
Mother Nature.
It would, therefore, be absolutely
necessary to delink science from mere
career aspirations or, for that reason,
achieving scientific breakthroughs for
increased productivity and increased
production, to a caring pursuit and an
inbuilt concern for the quality of life of
the people and reduced dependence
on fresh natural resources for produc-
tion systems. This calls for creating a
legitimate place in science education
and scientific research for sustainability
and sustainability sciences and tech-
nology innovations supportive of sus-
tainable development.
(To be continued…)
(The writer is the Vice-Chancellor of
Amity University Gurugram)
of coverage limits, deductibles, and
exclusions. So, it’s important to read
the policy carefully.
Proactive measures
Don’t compromise, consider this
Property All Risk Insurance for pro-
tecting your property and assets
from unexpected loss or damage.
This will help you reduce financial
losses and maintain your finan-
cial stability in the event of an un-
expected incident. Many lenders
and landlords require property own-
ers to have Property All Risk Insur-
ance as a condition of a loan or
lease agreement.
Vehicle Insurance: It is crucial
to understand the factors that im-
pact insurance premiums for dam-
ages caused by rain, storms and
hail. Take proactive measures to
minimise risks, research on what’s
available to get adequate coverage
and manage insurance costs ef-
fectively to have the right level of
protection. Consult with insurance
providers and explore different cov-
erage options.
Insurance is an investment in your
continued wellbeing, mental physi-
cal and financial.
(The writer is a motivator, orator,
commentator and the UAE Editor
of Celestia)
www.blitzindiamedia.com ELECTIONS 2024 New Delhi
May 6-12, 2024

The Great Indian

Poll Carnival Prominent
PUNJAB winners
2014 Total Seats 13 2019 Total Seats 13
Punjab
Total Voters: 19608161 Total Voters: 20892673
Votes Polled: 13849496 Votes Polled: 13777295 Haryana
Turnout: 70.63 pc Som Parkash Turnout: 65.94 pc
(BJP)
Congress Seats won 8 Congress Seats won 8
Vote Share: 33.19 pc Vote share: 40.58 pc
Votes polled: 4575879 Votes polled: 5523066
BJP Seats won 2 Harsimrat Kaur Badal
BJP Seats won 2
Vote Share: 8.77 pc (SAD) Vote share: 9.74 pc
Votes polled: 1209004 Votes polled: 1325445
Voter Turnout
Shiromani Akali Dal Shiromani Akali Dal
Seats won 2 Seats won 2
%

Vote Share: 26.37 pc Vote share: 27.76 pc

4
%

.9
3
65
.6

Votes polled: 3636148 Votes polled: 3778574

70

AAP Seats won 0 AAP Seats won 1

Vote share: 7.46 pc
2014 2019 Votes polled: 1015773

Prominent
RAJASTHAN winners
2019 Total Seats 25
Rajasthan 2014 Total Seats 25 Total Voters: 48955813
Total Voters: 42994657 Votes Polled: 32476481
Votes Polled: 27133776 Turnout: 66.34 pc
Turnout: 63.11 pc Arjun Ram Meghwal
(BJP) BJP Seats won 24
BJP Seats won 25 Vote share: 59.07
Vote Share: 55.61 pc Votes polled: 18968392
Votes polled: 14895106
RLP Seats won 1
RLP Seats won 0 Gajendra Singh
Vote share: 2.06 pc
(Rashtriya Loktantrik Party) Shekhawat (BJP) Votes polled: 660051

Prominent
SIKKIM winners
2014 Total Seats 1 2019 Total Seats 1
Total Voters: 370770 Sikkim
Total Voters: 434128 Sikkim
Votes Polled: 310095
Votes Polled: 353415
Turnout: 83.64 pc Indra Hang Subba
(SKM) Turnout: 81.41 pc
SKM Seats won 0 Voter Turnout
(Sikkim Democratic Front) SKM Seats won 1
Vote share: 47.76 pc
SDF Seats won 1 Votes polled: 166922
4%

1%

(Sikkim Democratic Front)

.6

.4
83

Vote Share: 53.74 pc SDF Seats won 0

81

Votes polled: 163698

2014 2019
Prominent
TAMIL NADU 2014 Total Seats 39 winners 2019 Total Seats 39
Total Voters: 55114867 Total Voters: 59941832
Votes Polled: 40644282 Votes Polled: 43419753
Turnout: 73.74 pc Turnout: 72.44 pc
(DMK) Seats won 0 Dayanidhi Maran (DMK)
DMK Seats won 23
CPI Seats won 0 CPI Seats won 2
Congress Seats won 0 Congress Seats won 8
BJP Seats won 1 BJP Seats won 0
CPI (M) Seats won 0 Karti Chidambaram (INC) CPI (M) Seats won 2
(AIADMK) Seats won 37 (AIADMK) Seats won 1
(IUML) Seats won 0 (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam)
(Indian Union Muslim League) (IUML) Seats won 1
(Indian Union Muslim League)
Tamil Nadu (VCK) Seats won 0 A Raja (DMK)
(Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) (VCK) Seats won 2
(Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi)
(PMK) Seats won 1
(Pattali Makkal Katchi) (PMK) Seats won 0
(Pattali Makkal Katchi)
6 New Delhi
May 6-12, 2024 www.blitzindiamedia.com

Vignettes of
Poll Carnival
BABUS & POLITICOS MANDAP TO
MATDAAN
SPOTLIGHT www.blitzindiamedia.com
New Delhi
May 6-12, 2024

MAKING IT HAPPEN AGE, ACCESS

NO BAR
8 New Delhi
May 6-12, 2024 NATION www.blitzindiamedia.com

India most favoured India successfully

tourist destination
Team
NEW DELHI: Foreign tourist ar-
rivals to India in 2024 is expected
to surpass the number during pre-
pandemic time, according to ANI cit-
ing experts. Industry experts believe
that India is emerging to be a pre-
ferred destination for travellers amid
increased conflicts in West Asia and
the shift of foreign tourists from Chi-
na after the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the report citing re-
cent tourism data, there has been an
annual growth of 305.4 per cent in
foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) in 2023.
In 2023, 9.23 million foreign tourists
visited India. Although the FTAs ar-
rival tally is still less than the pre-
pandemic number of 10.93 million in
2019, experts believe 2024 numbers
will surpass it.
"In the last 12 months the inbound
Foreign tourist footfall is
expected to increase due
to the recent orders by
Indian airlines to acquire
over 1,000 aircraft as it
will enhance accessibility
and connectivity
Foreign tourist arrivals likely to
surpass pre-pandemic level
tourism has grown, and the hotels
have had probably the best year
ever. I think this trend is going to con-
tinue at double-digit growth for the
next two to three years," ANI quoted
Dipak Deva, MD, Travel Corporation
of India, at an event 'Tres 2024' on
the tourism industry by Tres India.
The report says that foreign tourist
footfall is expected to increase due
to the recent orders by Indian air-
lines to acquire over 1,000 aircraft as
it will enhance accessibility and con-
nectivity. In the last year, Air India,
Indigo and Akasa have together or-
dered 1,120 aircraft from Boeing and
Airbus. Also, the number of airports
in India has doubled to 149 in the last
ten years, enhancing connectivity to
tourism destinations in India.
"I believe that from January 2026,
Air India is going to be one of the pil-
lars of growth of inbound tourism to
India after it signed a deal to acquire
470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing",
he said.
tests SMART
missile system
Team
NEW DELHI: India on May 1 suc-
cessfully flight-tested a supersonic
missile-assisted release of torpedo
(SMART) system from Dr APJ Abdul
Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.
“SMART is a next-generation mis-
sile-based light-weight torpedo deliv-
ery system, designed and developed
by the Defence Research and De-
velopment Organisation (DRDO) to
enhance the anti-submarine warfare
capability of the Indian Navy far be-
yond the conventional range of light-
weight torpedo,” the defence ministry
said in a statement.
The canister-based missile system
consists of several advanced sub-
systems, including a two-stage solid
propulsion system, electromechani-
cal actuator system and precision
inertial navigation system, the state-
ment said.
“The system carries advanced
light-weight torpedo as payload
along with parachute-based release
system.”
The missile was launched from a
ground mobile launcher, and several
state-of-the-art mechanisms such as
symmetric separation, ejection and
velocity control were validated.

WHEAT
procurement
sufficient
Team
NEW DELHI: The procurement
of wheat has crossed the minimum
threshold quantity required to cater
to all welfare schemes and accord-
ing to authorities they were on course
to achieve grain-stocking targets for
2024. The Government distributes free
SCIENCE&TECH
IIP Foundation Day
65 YEARS OF
PIONEERING RESEARCH years, which included the Numaligarh Wax
Team
Plant, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, US Grade
ndian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Deh- Gasoline, Medical Oxygen Units, Sweeting
I radun, a premier R&D organisation, cel-
ebrated its 65th Foundation Day on April
27. Dr VK Saraswat, Member NITIAayog
Catalyst, PNG Burner, Improved Gur Bhatti

grains to nearly 800 million beneficia-
ries under the National Food Security
Act.
“Wheat procurement is going on
smoothly. Our requirement for all wel-
fare schemes, including Pradhan Man-
tri Garib Kalyan Yojana, is about 18.4
million tonnes-18.6 million tonnes. Cur-
rently, total procurement has reached
19.6 million tonnes. This is a very fa-
vourable level of procurement com-
pared to our operational requirement,”
FCI chief Ashok KK Meena said. To al-
low farmers sufficient time to sell to the
Government, procurement will be open
beyond May, he said. “We are on track
to meet the wheat procurement esti-
mate,” he added.
The FCI chief said the government
also had 53 million tonnes of rice (in-
cluding 21 million tonnes of unmilled
paddy), nearly four times the buffer re-
quirement of 13.5 million tonnes as on
April 1.
Sufficient procurement is critical this
year to help India, also the world’s sec-
ond biggest wheat consumer, replen-
ish depleted stocks, which have hit a
16-year-low.
and Mentor CSIR-IIP, graced the occasion as
the Chief Guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr.Saraswat
emphasised the importance of developing
carbon-free technologies that will drive the
world in the near future.
Delivering a lecture on the "Energy Transi-
tion in India", he invited scientists to under-
take challenging research in e-Methanol and
Green Hydrogen.
Dr Saraswat congratulated the team CSIR-
IIP and also interacted with the scientific fra-
ternity. He praised the scientists, technicians,
students, and staff, which added glory to the
institute. etc to mention a few. He also emphasised
Dr Harender Singh Bisht, Director CSIR- the importance of continuing research and VK Saraswat,
IIP, presented the roadmap of the institute development in order to create innovative Member
from 2024 to 2030 to accomplish the Vikasit technologies for sustainable growth. NITIAayog,
Bharat. He also highlighted various achieve- Students and teachers from the Oak invited
ments made by the institute during the last 64 Grove School, Mussoorie, also attended scientists to
the programme as part of the Jigyasa 2.0. undertake
IIP Director emphasised the The students visited various laboratories at challenging
the institute and interacted with the scien- research in
importance of continuing research tists and research scholars. The aim of the e-Methanol and
and development in order to Jigyasa 2.0 program is to inculcate scientific Green Hydrogen
create innovative technologies for temperament among school-going kids so
sustainable growth that they grow up as budding scientists in the
country.
www.blitzindiamedia.com
Weeding out fake beneficiaries
Team
NEW DELHI: A saving of over ₹3
lakh crore has resulted to the exche-
quer by weeding out fake beneficia-
ries of the government's schemes
for food security, rural employment
and fuel subsidy between FY18 and
FY24, according to sources in the de-
partment of expenditure. The depart-
ment identified and cancelled 50.1
million fake ration cards, struck off
41.3 million fake beneficiaries of the
LPG subsidy scheme, 700,000 bogus
names under the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guaran-
tee Scheme (MGNREGS) and 17.3
million fake beneficiaries under the
PM Kisan scheme.
Savings in FY24 stood at ₹30,000
Team
New Delhi: Admiral Dinesh Ku-
mar Tripathi took over as the new
Chief of the Naval Staff on April 30,
succeeding Admiral R Hari Kumar.
Talking to reporters after assum-
ing the charge, Admiral Tripathi
said, “Over the years, the Navy has
evolved into a combat-ready force.
The existing and emerging chal-
lenges in the maritime domain man-
date that the Indian Navy should al-
ways remain operationally ready to
deter potential adversaries at sea in
peace, and to win the war at and
from the sea when asked to do so.
This will remain my singular focus
and endeavour.”
He added that another priority
would be to strengthen the ongo-
'The existing and emerging
challenges in the maritime
domain mandate that the
Indian Navy should always
remain operationally ready'
Digitisation of battlefield
Committed to holistic change : Gen Pande
Team
hief of the Army Staff, General
C Manoj Pande, has said that
the Indian Army is committed
to holistic transformation, ensuring a
modern, agile, adaptive, technology-
enabled and self-reliant future ready
force.
Delivering the key note address
at the 4th General Sundarji Memo-
rial Lecture in New Delhi on April
30, Gen. Pande highlighted Gen. K
Sundarji’s vision in the fields of digi-
tisation of the battlefield, information
warfare, technology infusion, conven-
tional strategies and force structure,
reflected in his book ‘Vision 2100’.
The lecture remembered the dy-
namic and visionary Gen. Sundarji,
the 13th Chief of the Army Staff, who
is also fondly called as the ‘Father of
the Mechanised Infantry Regiment’.
He was an accomplished soldier and
Govt saved over Rs 3 lakh crore in schemes
crore, said the source
familiar with the pre-
sentation made to the
Cabinet Secretary
earlier this month on
the economic agenda
for the first 100 days
of the new govern-
ment.
"The amount will
be much higher, if
we take into account
savings over the last
10 years," the source said.
The Centre is working closely with
state governments on plugging leak-
ages and technology could play a
Focus on self-reliant Navy
by 2047, says new chief
ing efforts of the Navy towards At-
manirbharta and introducing new
technologies.
In the new role, Admiral Tripa-
thi will also spearhead the Navy’s
modernisation with a sharp focus
on indigenisation --- the Navy is
working on becoming fully self-reli-
ant by 2047 when India celebrates
100 years of independence.
Admiral Tripathi takes over the
a visionary known for his deep in-
sights, strategic foresights into future
warfare and security paradigms.
“The Indian Army is alive to the
imperative of transformation, and it
is with a progressive outlook, that
we intend, to not only change, but to
change at a good pace too. The holis-
tic transformation of the Indian Army,
that we put into effect two years ago,
is part of our efforts to give shape to a
modern, agile, adaptive, technology
enabled and self-reliant future ready
force”, he said.
NATION
greater role in this endeavour. The
Centre initiated a special drive in
May 2023 to identify leakages in the
fertiliser subsidy. It formed squads to
reins of the Navy at a time when
Indian warships are extensively de-
ployed in the Gulf of Aden and ad-
joining areas, Arabian Sea, and off
the east coast of Somalia, amid the
continuing attacks by Houthi rebels
and Somali pirates that have dis-
rupted sea trade in the region.
Admiral Tripathi has served as
the Flag Officer Commanding-in-
Chief, Western Naval Command.
A Communication and Electronic
Warfare specialist, he has served
on frontline warships of the Navy
as Signal Communication Officer
and Electronic Warfare Officer, and
later as the Executive Officer and
Principal Warfare Officer of Guided
Missile Destroyer INS Mumbai. He
commanded the Indian naval ships
Vinash, Kirch and Trishul. Admiral
Tripathi is a recipient of the Ati Vish-
isht Seva Medal and the Nausena
Medal for devotion to duty.
“When we talk about digi-
tisation of the battlefield, we
are witness to a manifold
increase in the lethality and
accuracy of kinetic instru-
ments and increased prolif-
eration of technologies such
as – Artificial Intelligence,
Quantum Computing, Ro-
botics, 3D printing and Na-
no-technology. Disruptive and dual
use technologies and their prolifera-
tion at unprecedented scale – are
transforming the character of modern
wars,” said the Army Chief.
According to Gen Pande, “Warfare
has transcended into new domains,
such as Space, Cyber, Electromag-
netic Spectrum and Information.
Consequent to these developments,
conventional force ratios, which were
the measure of military strength and
superiority in the past, stand blunted
today.”
New Delhi
May 6-12, 2024 9
check the diversion of fertilisers for
industrial use.
More than 50 first information re-
ports (FIRs) were filed, 100,000 bags
of agrochemical seized and several
arrests were made under the Preven-
tion of Black Marketing and Mainte-
nance of Supplies Act.
Similarly, the Central and state gov-
ernments are jointly working on the
beneficiary list under the PM Kisan
scheme, removing duplicate or fake
beneficiaries.
Officials said the efforts are reflect-
ed in the fall in the direct benefit trans-
fer, which declined by a fifth against
the total subsidy transfer in FY23.
CBSE biannual
exams from
2025-26 likely
Team
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of
Education has indicated that the
CBSE may consider holding bi-
annual board exams starting in
the academic year 2025–2026
in an effort to lessen stress and
give students more opportuni-
ties. However, there are currently
no plans to implement a semes-
ter system as per PTI.
The sources also noted that
the ministry has asked the board
to consult school principals next
month, seeking inputs on the bi-
annual CBSE board exams.
The board is currently figur-
ing out how to modify the CBSE
academic calendar in order to
accommodate a second round of
board exams without having an
effect on the undergraduate ad-
missions timeline.
On February 24, 2024, Union
Education Minister Dharmendra
Pradhan had announced stated
that from the academic year
2025-26, students would get the
opportunity to appear for board
exams twice a year.
"Board exams will be of-
fered at least twice a year to
ensure students have enough
time and opportunity to perform
well. Students can then appear
for a board exam in subjects
they have completed and feel
ready for. They will also be al-
lowed to retain the best score,"
the document, accessed by PTI
stated.
 New Delhi
May 6-12, 2024
EAM praises Navy’s role
In keeping international waters safe
Team
XTERNAL Affairs Minister S
E Jaishankar has lauded India’s
heightened global prestige in the
light of substantial deployment of Indian
Navy vessels securing shipping routes
amid escalating Houthi attacks in the
Red Sea.
Last week the minister disclosed that
21 Indian Navy ships are stationed in
the troubled region, ensuring the secu-
rity of international shipping lanes while
simultaneously curbing trade expenses.
Addressing a session on Northeast
India’s integration with Southeast Asia
and Japan, Jaishankar remarked, “With
all this tension between people firing
missiles and drones and piracy, 21 of
our ships are actually on service out
there, who are actually protecting inter-
national shipping.”
He emphasised the significance of
maintaining low trade costs by securing
shipping routes, thereby attracting re-
spect and attention on the global stage.
Jaishankar’s remarks follow the
swift response of the Indian Navy’s
INS Kochi to aid the Panama-flagged
crude oil tanker, MV Andromeda Star,
which came under a missile attack by
Indo-Russian JV bags
Lankan airport contract
Team
consortium of Indian
A and Russian firms has
secured the manage-
ment rights for Sri Lanka’s Mat-
tala Rajapaksa International
Airport, situated near the Ham-
bantota port on the southern
coast. This USD 209 million fa-
cility, named after former presi-
dent Mahinda Rajapaksa, is set
for a promising future under its
new management.
While the Mattala Airport stood
as a crucial infrastructure en-
deavour during Rajapaksa’s leadership,
it encountered staggering financial diffi-
culties. Its sparse flight activity earned it
the moniker of the ‘world’s emptiest air-
port.’ These financial woes were further
compounded by its construction being
India calls for UN reforms
Pushes for a more representative global body
Team
NDIA has urged for the revitalisa-
I tion of the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) and compre-
hensive reform of the global gover-
nance architecture. Pratik Mathur, Min-
ister at India’s Permanent Mission
to the United Nations, emphasised
the pressing necessity for UN re-
form, which encompasses changes to
the Security Council, during a meeting
on the “working methods of the Gen-
WORLD
With all this tension
between people firing
missiles and drones and
piracy, 21 of our ships are
actually on service out
there, who are actually protecting
international shipping”
S Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister
Houthi militants.
A timely aerial reconnaissance mis-
sion by an Indian Navy helicopter en-
sured the safety of all 30 crew members,
including 22 Indian nationals, allowing
the vessel to continue its journey to the
next port uninterrupted.
The minister also emphasised the in-
terdependence of domestic policies and
financed primarily through high-interest
Chinese commercial loans, notably from
the Exim Bank of China.
The decision to entrust the airport’s
management to Shaurya Aeronautics
(Pvt) Ltd of India and Airports of Regions
Management Company of Russia fol-
eral Assembly.”
Mathur stressed that these reforms
are crucial “to make it reflective of cur-
rent geopolitical realities and enhance
its capability to meet increasingly com-
plex challenges of our time.” He
argued that the Assembly serves as
the closest approximation to a legisla-
tive. “It is the closest thing to a global
parliament. The success of multilat-
eralism depends on the success and
effectiveness of the General Assem-
bly to address the growing number of
global perspectives, highlighting the im-
portance of India’s actions resonating
positively worldwide.
He reiterated that India’s interna-
tional performance is closely ob-
served, particularly as it progresses
towards becoming the world’s fourth-
largest economy.
Jaishankar further highlighted that
India’s engagement with critical issues
like maritime security carries broad-
er implications, particularly in recent
events affecting global trade dynamics.
“So, if we are now in the coming
weeks going to decide our future in
whatever way we wish, it’s not just a
conversation amongst ourselves. It’s a
conversation or a discussion in which
the other 6 billion people are also tuned
in,” he said.
lowed the Sri Lankan Cabinet’s approval
for Expression of Interest from potential
stakeholders on January 9. Out of the
five proposals received, a consultative
committee recommended a
30-year management con-
tract for the joint venture,
which was subsequently
approved by the Cabinet.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka
is in discussions with the
Exim Bank of China to ex-
plore restructuring options
for the loan associated
with the airport, aiming to
ensure its sustainable de-
velopment and operational
viability in the long term.
This collaboration marks
the second India-Russia
joint venture in India’s
neighbouring regions, following the
Rooppur nuclear power plant project
in Bangladesh. While Russia handles
the construction, India’s role extends
to providing training for local person-
nel and logistical support.
challenges facing the world which cut
across national boundaries and re-
gions,” he said.
www.blitzindiamedia.com
Side with Russia,
but don’t overlook
us, EU tells India
Team
prominent member of the
A European Parliament’s
Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs, has emphasised the impor-
tance of a unified response be-
tween Europe and India against
Russian attempts to sow discord.
“Europe and India should invest
in strengthening our bonds and
not allow Russia to play us against
each other,” said Reinhard Bu-
tikofer, in an interview.
Butikofer, who also chairs the
delegation to China, acknowledged
India’s independent stance on Rus-
sia but urged that it shouldn’t affect
New Delhi’s relationship with the
EU. He remarked, “Many of us see
India as a major country that insists
on developing its own perspectives,
and will not want to be subsumed
into somebody else’s camp.”
Acknowledging diverse views
among European nations regard-
ing China, Butikofer advocated
for a more united approach. He
outlined three necessary changes,
“First, Europe must act in a more
united way. Second, Europe must
invest more into building strong
partnerships with other countries
that are also impacted by China’s
revisionist and hegemonic ambi-
tions. Third, Europe must reduce
the risk of economic dependency
on China.”
Regarding Europe’s evolving
perspective on China, Butikofer
highlighted Europe’s shifting
stance towards China – Europe
now sees Beijing as a “systemic
rival.” However, he admitted con-
cerns about Europe’s strategic
capabilities, particularly in light of
the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Regarding EU’s role in Indo-Pa-
cific, Butikofer emphasised collabo-
ration with like-minded partners.
He asserted that any adjustments to
its working methods should prioritise
strengthening its role as the primary
deliberative, policy-making, and repre-
sentative body of the United Nations.
Mathur made a compelling case
regarding the significance of the an-
nual general debate, where heads of
state and government from most of the
193 member states participate in Sep-
tember.
“India has always been of the view
that the General Assembly can be re-
vitalised only when its position as the
primary deliberative, policy-making
and representative organ of the United
Nations is respected in letter and in
spirit,” Mathur said.
www.blitzindiamedia.com
BSE hikes fee for
options contracts
Team
S
TOCK market operator Bom-
bay Stock Exchange (BSE),
announced last week that it
will raise transaction charges
for its two leading options contracts,
linked to the Sensex and Bankex in-
dexes, starting May 13.
BSE has decided to raise charges
from 24 per cent to 32 per cent across
different turnover brackets. This deci-
sion follows request from market reg-
ulator Securities and Exchange Board
of India (Sebi) for a revised fee struc-
ture for options contracts, potentially
impacting the exchange’s earnings.
BSE anticipates SEBI’s total demand
to amount to ₹1.65 billion.
The existing transaction fees for
S&P BSE Sensex options and S&P
BSE Bankex options will remain ap-
plicable from May 1 to May 10.
Between May 13 and May 31, the
When Python
became deadly
for Google team
Team
OOGLE has reportedly fired
G the entire Python team, mark-
ing the latest job cuts in the
tech giant ahead of its annual devel-
oper conference this month.
The tech giant has laid off staff
across key teams like Flutter, Dart,
Python and affected employees have
shared their stories on social media.
A few employees on Hacker News
and Reddit have claimed that the en-
tire Python team was fired. Python is
a major code used in artificial intelli-
gence and machine learning. Accord-
ing to some, the tech giant has not
eliminated its Python team but has re-
placed the existing team with another
group based in Munich.
Some suggest that Google is look-
ing for a cheaper option elsewhere
outside the US.
“As we’ve said, we’re responsibly
investing in our company’s biggest pri-
orities and the significant opportunities
ahead,” said Google spokesperson
Alex Garcia-Kummert told TechCrunch.
“To best position us for these oppor-
tunities, throughout the second half of
2023 and into 2024, a number of our
teams made changes to become more
efficient and work better, remove lay-
ers, and align their resources to their
biggest product priorities. Through
this, we’re simplifying our structures
to give employees more opportunity
to work on our most innovative and
important advances and our biggest
company priorities while reducing bu-
reaucracy and layers,” he added.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
premium turnover of these contracts
will be aggregated, and transaction
charges will be imposed according to
the slab, calculated on an incremental
turnover basis.
Starting from June, premium turn-
over will continue to be aggregated,
and transaction charges will be applied
based on the slab, determined by the
month-on-month incremental turnover.
The market regulator Sebi recently
asked BSE to remit regulatory fees
based on notional turnover rather than
premium turnover.
Another payment
aggregator: Groww
Team
INTECH unicorn Groww has
F received approval from the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
to operate as a payment aggrega-
tor. The firm has joined several fin-
techs which recently received simi-
lar approval from the central bank.
RBI has granted the licence to
Groww Pay, the UPI payments plat-
form of broking firm Groww. The
licence will allow the Tiger Global
and Peak XV Partners-backed firm
to facilitate e-commerce transac-
tions through its UPI app.
Launched in July last year,
Groww’s UPI app allows bill pay-
ment services such as making loan
and credit card repayments, paying
electricity and water bills and DTH
recharge, among others.
In October last year, Groww sur-
passed its arch rival Zerodha for
the first time in terms of active us-
ers. Further, Groww ended 2023
with 7.5 million monthly active us-
ers whereas Zerodha and Ange-
lOne had 6.7 million and 5.3 million
MAUs, respectively.
Team
HE Delhi High Court last week
T said Meta’s “situation is worse
than a government depart-
ment” while criticising it for not send-
ing a proper reply to TV Today’s plea
against the blocking of their Instagram
page, Harper’s Bazaar India.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice
Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pri-
tam Singh Arora said, “Your situation
is worse than a government depart-
ment. Please be careful. You have to
be alive to the situation. Your system
is not working. Your system does not
work. It has to work,” the court said.
GIFT for foreign funds
100pc NRI money allowed
Team
BENGALURU: The Securities
and Exchange Board of India (Sebi)
announced last week that foreign
funds set up at GIFT City in Gujarat
can take full investment from non-
resident Indians (NRIs) and other
Indian-origin citizens.
However, they will need to make
granular disclosures about their in-
vestors if the fund holds more than
33 per cent of its equity assets un-
der management (AUM) in a single
Indian group.
Such disclosures will also be
needed in case the fund along with
its investor group holds more than
Rs 250 billion ($3 billion) of equity
AUM in the Indian markets.
The funds will have to either sub-
mit their investors’ identity docu-
ments such as passport or perma-
nent account number (PAN) to Sebi
In terms of valuation, Zerodha
stood at the top with $3.6 billion fol-
lowed by Upstox and Groww with
$3.4 and $3 billion, respectively.
Last week, Groww’s Mutual Fund
also received SEBI’s approval to
launch the Nifty Non-Cyclical Con-
sumer Index Fund through a new
fund offering (NFO).
Groww registered more than 260
per cent jump in its operating rev-
enue to Rs 1,277 crore in FY23, ac-
cording to startup data intelligence
platform TheKredible. The compa-
ny also posted Rs 448.7 crore profit
against Rs 239 crore loss in FY22.
Like several fintechs, Groww is
also planning to move its domicile to
India. Entrackr exclusively reported
the development in May last year.
Other companies on the list include
KreditBee, Pine Labs, Groww, Ra-
zorpay, Meesho and Zepto.
Mega court warning for Meta
Meta should improve its functioning
or face action, the court said.
TV Today had moved the High
Court after Harper’s Bazaar India’s
Instagram page (@bazaarindia) was
blocked on a third party’s complaint of
copyright violation.
TV Today has also challenged the
constitutionality of Rule 3(1)(c) of the
New Delhi
May 6-12, 2024 11
or adhere to the framework set by
the International Financial Services
Regulatory Authority, which regu-
lates financial services in GIFT City.
The government has been pro-
moting GIFT City as a “gateway for
global capital and financial services
for the economy”.
More than 80 fund managers with
commitments of $30 billion have
set up funds at GIFT City in the last
three years.
The regulator also said that asset
management companies (AMCs)
should put in place a mechanism
to prevent front-running and market
abuse.
Electric 2-wheeler
sales slip in April
Team
LA Electric saw its market
O share expand to more than
50 per cent in April, selling
33,934 electric two-wheelers, despite
a broader 52 per cent slump in over-
all electric vehicle (EV) two-wheeler
sales to 64,013 units from the preced-
ing month, according to Vahan web-
site data as of May 1.
The overall decline in sales is main-
ly due to April being a seasonally slow
sales period coupled with demand ta-
pering down post-festive season, in-
dustry sources told Moneycontrol. EV
two-wheeler sales during April 2023
were at 64,855 units.
Industry experts attribute the low-
er sales to issues around subsidies
being blocked by the Ministry of
Heavy Industries (MHI) since last
year. Also, Vahan only records the
total number of sales registered and
not the bookings. It also does not
take into account low-speed elec-
tric two-wheeler sales and excludes
the data for Lakshadweep, Madhya
Pradesh and Telangana.
India witnessed record electric two-
wheeler sales in March, exceeding
136,000 units, marking a 50 per cent
increase from a year earlier.
Information Technology (Intermediary
Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics
Code) Rules, 2021.
The rule says an intermediary shall
periodically inform its users, at least
once every year, that in case of non-
compliance with rules and regulations,
privacy policy or user agreement for
access or usage of the computer re-
source of such intermediary, it has the
right to terminate the access or usage
rights of the users to the computer
resource immediately or remove non-
compliant information or both, as the
case may be.
 Building a new nation

12 New Delhi
May 6-12, 2024 www.blitzindiamedia.com

INSIGHT
SPECIAL

GOVERNANCE
MJ Akbar
TO DECIDE
OUTCOME
I
F one picture is worth a thousand
words, then one fact can be worth a
thousand stories. A Kolkata news-
paper reported on April 10 that the
Rampurhat Medical College in Birbhum
and Mahakuma Hospital in Bolpur had
run out of blood. Why? The regular do-
nors were occupied elsewhere. Where?
The newspaper did not specify, but here
is my guess: they were making more
money from political assignments as
the frenzy began to bubble. They will go
back to selling blood when democracy
returns to hibernation.

Persuasive statistics
Frenzy ends up in newsprint, but does
it get votes? Exceptions aside, this
election, like its predecessors, will be
determined by the parameters of gov-
ernance, not the variables of senti-
ment. Hard statistics are more persua-
sive than an astrologer’s calculations
or electoral rhetoric. Over the last five
years, India’s growth rate has touched
7.7 per cent, the highest in G20; China
is next with 5.2 per cent. Real wages
have grown at around 5 per cent a year.
Capital expenditure as a percentage of
Government revenue has doubled com-
pared with figures for 2010. India has
more digital payments than the next
four countries combined. Unemploy-
ment among youth remains a genuine
worry, but even that has improved from
the situation in 2019.
The most decisive number is eas-
ily available: some 800 million Indians,
cutting across every other divide, have
been getting basic food. This is the prin-
cipal motivation of the women’s vote,
which will be the most significant influ-
encer in the fortunes of 2024. Indians
want a Government that meets the ba-
sic, existential needs of the underprivi-
leged; they don’t need instructions on
their living philosophy.
Faith in pluralism
India’s heart remains exactly where it
has been for countless centuries. In the
right place. A CSDS-Lokniti poll pub-
lished on April 12 is a remarkable snap-
shot of the Indian mind. Seventy-nine
per cent of Indians believe that their
country belongs equally to every reli-
Seventy-nine per gion. Eight out of 10 Hindus professed
deep faith in pluralism; the percentage
cent of Indians was similar among minorities. The fig-
believe that their ures for villages were 77 per cent and
for towns 85 per cent; there was little dif-
country belongs ference between the “schooled” and the
equally to every “unschooled”. This is a portrait of a ci-
vilisation. This is the philosophy shared
religion. Eight by rich and poor, by people of every reli-
out of 10 Hindus gion. Indians believe in harmony, and a
shared destiny. Those who preach su-
professed deep premacy will soon discover how far they
faith in pluralism; have moved from the heartbeat of India.
Prime Minister Modi ended one arti-
the percentage ficial debate when he refuted the alle-
was similar among gation that his party would change the
Constitution if re-elected. I quote his
minorities exact words in a speech in Barmer on
April 13: “As far as the Constitution is
concerned, even if Babasahe b Ambed-
kar himself comes, he cannot abolish it.
The Constitution is the Gita, Ramaya-
na, Mahabharata, Bible and Quran for
Government.”
Absolute balderdash
On a brief visit to a semi-distant Sin-
gapore, I found yet another of those
inexplicable things that defeat com-
mon sense. Covid has inflicted some
curious casualties. Singapore Airlines,
among the best on the international
skyway, stopped giving excellent play-
ing cards during Covid using, implicitly,
the transition of germs as an excuse. It
now offers ‘Ultimate Antiseptic Wipes’
called Zappy. Zappy claims its product
has been “tested by UK lab” and guar-
antees the destruction of “99.99%” of
“harmful germs”.
I am now absolutely determined to
become acquainted with the 00.01 per
cent germs which are resolutely resis-
tant to these wipes, as certified by the
surprisingly anonymous ‘UK lab’. These
germs must be the toughest minority
on the planet. They have survived all
efforts at extermination by the mighty
‘UK lab’. For some reason unknown
to formal English, this entity describes
itself as a lab rather than a laboratory.
My other objective is to meet the sci-
entists working in the ‘UK lab’ if for no
other reason than to recommend them
for the Nobel Prize in balderdash. Why,
and indeed how, do some of the best
corporations in the world fall for such
bunkum?
(The writer is a veteran journalist, au-
thor of several books, and a former
minister in the Indian Government)

W E S TA N D C O M M IT TE D T O S D G s