Online shopping may not be cheap anymore as govt looks to regulate deep discounts

You may not be able to enjoy those great discounts anymore, with the government looking to tighten the noose around deep discounting, which is a practice to lower prices on e-commerce platforms.

The draft e-commerce policy shared with stakeholders on Monday for consultations has proposed that such pricing policy be stopped to regulate the sector. The proposed legislation will also cover food delivery sites and other online service aggregators.

The plan is to include multiple aspects in the legislation - from consumer protection and grievance redressal to ownership, FDI, local storage of data, protecting micro, small and medium enterprises and mergers and acquisitions. The draft, which will undergo a revision before public consultations, has also suggested appointing a regulator for the sector.

The policy would affect consumers who plan on checking discounts, something that offline retail lobbies have been pitching for. The e-commerce companies have however said that the seller offers the discount and not the marketplace.

The policy also says that discount curbs would not be limited to only to the marketplace, but also would be extended to group companies as well. The deep discounts would include checks on differential pricing, which will restrict brands from offering two sets of prices for the same product sold offline and online.

Kerala: Idduki Dam to be reopened because of rising water levels; several threatened

                                      In the face of rising water levels, authorities in Kerala were forced to consider reopening the Idduki Dam, one of the highest arch dams in Asia, making nearly thousands of people evacuate from the downstream areas.

As per a report in The New Indian Express, the Idduki Dam water level rose to nearly 2,935 feet on Sunday, July 29, making the officials deciding to reopen the dam which will affect several people between between Thadyambad, Karimban and Injivarakkuth areas near Cheruthoni on the banks of the Cheruthoni river.

The released water from the dam will flow through the same river, which is a tributary of the Periyar river. The Idduki Dam news today has left the local people under a lot of anxiety.The decision was taken urgently to regulate the rising water levels in the Periyar, caused by record rain in Kerala this season. Idduki experienced 192.3 cm of rainfall this year, which is 49 per cent more than what it had received last year.

According to report in The News Minute, a high-level meeting was conducted with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan where it was decided that the dam will be opened the moment the water levels reached 2,400 feet.

"We decided that we would open the shutters in a trial run even before this. If the water reaches 2400 feet, we would be forced to open the shutters to reduce the levels. So instead of risking this, we will open the shutters in a controlled manner before the level reaches 2,400 so that the pressure is less on us," the report quoted Idukki Collector Jeevan Babu as saying.

The district administration decided to set up temporary shelters but given the high number of displaced people who are also poor, it will be a difficult task to rehabilitate them all in a smooth manner.

Moreover, when the dam as opened last time in 1992, the water flow had caused significant harm and it took years for the affected people to overcome the hardships.The authorities were keeping a close watch on the Idukki Dam water level today (July 30) while the local people were awaiting consequences of the Idduki Dam shutter opening.

Nation remembers 'missile man' APJ Abdul Kalam on 3rd death anniversary: Inspiring quotes and interesting facts

   

The nation on Friday paid homage to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who is fondly remembered as the 'People's President' and the 'Missile Man of India' on his third death anniversary.

Born on October 15, 1931, in Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram, Dr APJ Kalam served as the 11th President of India between 2002 and 2007. Kalam, who had penned several books and inspired millions through his philosophy of 'simple living and high thinking', died due to a cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Shillong on July 27, 2015.

India’s missile man and former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam used to look normal but achieved abnormal achievements, described his associate for several years Dr V Seshagiri Rao, who has worked as scientist at SHAR earlier.Speaking at a one-day programme organised by Centre for Translational Research (CTR) and NSS Bureau of Sri Padmavathi Mahila Visva Vidyalayam (SPMVV) in collaboration with All India Radio, Tirupati on “Science Spoorthi Pradata – Dr APJ Abdul Kalam” in Tirupati on Thursday, he has shared his personal association with Abdul Kalam and narrated the way how the great scientist inculcated values, leadership qualities, commitment and innovative thinking among other scientists.

As an eminent scientist, educationist, author, visionary, philanthropist and orator, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam donned several hats in his life. Fondly known as the 'missile man', he played a crucial role in the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests. He was also associated with India's space program and missile development program.

After serving his full term as the President, Kalam did what he loved the most till he breathed his last – teaching.

In the honour of the late scientist and 'People's President', Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu last year.

He was honoured with several prestigious awards including India's highest civilian honour "Bharat Ratna" in 1997. 

He was very popular among the children and the country's youth and inspired them to think big in life. He also penned nearly 25 books, including India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium, Wings of Fire: An Autobiography, Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power within India, Mission of India: A Vision of Indian Youth.

Govt confident of defeating no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, BJP issues whip to MPs

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is confident that the no-confidence motion moved against it will fail with even parties outside the broader National Democratic Alliance (NDA) grouping supporting the government on Friday as it faces the first floor test in Parliament in 15 years.

Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar said allies of the BJP, such as the Shiv Sena, the Akali Dal, Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party, Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and others would throw their weight behind the BJP, which, on its own has 273 MPs, enough to dismiss the challenge.

Interestingly, in 2003, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government faced a floor test in the last monsoon session before an election year.

The signal is clear that the party, while taking disgruntled allies such as the Shiv Sena on board, will strive to get support from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two regional powerhouses that are vehemently opposed to the Congress. However, BJD's Lok Sabha leader Bhartruhari Mahatab said, 'We are sitting in the Opposition and in the debate we will oppose the government.'

First time in 20 years, Cauvery River dams brimming with water after heavy rains in Karnataka

All four major Cauvery River dams in Karnataka - Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS), Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathi - are full even before July has ended after over 20 years because of heavy rains.

Karnataka has been releasing nearly one lakh cusecs of water from the Cauvery to Tamil Nadu as a result. The two states have been involved in a water sharing dispute for decades.

The last time such heavy inflow was seen was in 1992-93, according to a Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Ltd (CNNL) official, who did not want to be identified. CNNL is a Karnataka government undertaking responsible for managing irrigation projects

'For instance, the full capacity of KRS in Mysuru is 124.8 feet. We are now already at 123.05 feet. Last year at the same time, we were at 78.25 feet,' the official added. He said they have released enough water till August as the Cauvery Water Management Board has mandated.

The official said there is unlikely to be an issue in sharing water with Tamil Nadu this year with heavy rains forecast at least for the next week and continued inflow in the catchment areas.

'The release of the copious amount of water all along the Cauvery delta will ensure recharge of groundwater, fill up lakes and ponds which will aid both states,' he added.

He said the national disaster rescue force, fire and emergency services, home guards and civil defence forces were ready to aid anybody affected by the rains and consequent floods.

Entry of visitors to the Ranganthitu bird sanctuary on the banks of Cauvery in Srirangapatna has been barred.

Heavy rains continue to lash Mumbai

Heavy rains continued to lash Mumbai and its adjoining areas, affecting normal life in several parts of the Mumbai. The city received 54 per cent of its average monsoon season rainfall just in the last 20 day, the city's civic body noted.

Mumbai was hit with 144.47 mm of rain, the eastern suburbs got 107.21 mm and the western suburbs received 131.32 mm till 8.30 a.m. It has continued with short spells of break. A 5-day day weather alert has been issued by the met office for Uttarakhand, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra region.

Train service have been disrupted as incessant rains continue to lash Mumbai and adjoining areas. "Due to heavy rains, Up and Down through line at Nala Sopara is halted. However, local trains on Western Suburbs are running late by 10 to 15 minutes between Virar to Churchgate," said Divisional Railway Manager, Western railway, on Tuesday morning.

Due to incessant rainfall, the Mumbai dabbawalas have cancelled services today.

Several private schools closed in Mumbai due to continuous downpour. No government advisory has been issued for office and education institutions in the city in the wake of continuous downpour and severe waterlogging in Mumbai.

Captain cool the one who changed the history of Indian cricket

The most successful skipper of Indian cricket team, MS Dhoni is celebrating his 37th birthday today and in that age when most of the time cricketers take retirement, MS Dhoni proved that fitness is the only thing that is necessary for cricket. Even after more than 14 years in the cricket field, MS Dhoni is the best wicketkeeper in the world in current time.

If we say MS Dhoni is the Rajinikanth of India cricket then it will not be wrong but how it all started is an interesting story. The day was 31st October 2005, when Sri Lanka came to India for 7 ODI series. In this series, in the second match, Sri Lanka set the target of 299 runs in front of India with the help of Kumar Sangakkara's 138 runs inning.

While coming to chase this score, India lost its first wicket in the form of Sachin Tendulkar on 7 runs. Then came to bat MS Dhoni, he was struggling in his career and he didn't have any big chance to stay in the game. Then what happened, Dhoni arrived and he changed the whole scenario of the game.

One hand when the team was loosing back to back wickets, MS Dhoni stood by and made not out 183 runs on 145 balls. This inning also broke the legendary Adam Gilchrist's record of 173 runs. This match and this inning of MSD turned out as one of the favourite innings of Indian cricket.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: Evacuation of Indian pilgrims in 'total control'

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has confirmed that the evacuation of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims in Nepal is almost over and that everything is in "total control."

"I hope your relatives are now out danger. It has been a very difficult evacuation process but now almost over and we are in total control," First Secretary (Consular) Embassy of India, Kathmandu Pranav Ganesh said.

"We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused during our operations but we couldn't have singled out one person for evacuation at other's expense," he added.

On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had announced that 883 pilgrims, who had been stranded due to inclement weather, have been evacuated from Simikot to Surkhet and Nepalganj in the last three days.

On July 2, a Mission representative conducted a head count and found that 437 pilgrims were stranded in Simikot and 250 pilgrims were stranded in Hilsa.

Day after SC verdict AAP order returned by bureaucrats

Just a day after the Supreme Court order and the Aam Aadmi Party hailed it as a major victory, a file has been returned citing that it was legally incorrect. The Delhi government had introduced a new system for transfer and posting of bureaucrats, making the Chief Minister as the approving authority.

However, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was told by the services department that the order issued by him cannot be implemented as it was "legally incorrect".

The bureaucrats have claimed that the service matters still lie with the office of the Lieutenant Governor because Delhi is a union territory. The officials say that a May 2015 notification of the Ministry for Home Affairs which said that service matters fall under the purview of the LG has not been set aside by the Supreme Court.

According to the order issued by Sisodia, the chief minister will approve transfers of IAS, DANICS, all-India services officers, equivalent officers of the central civil services and provincial civil services. Such orders were earlier being approved by the L-G.

Kerala Village Breaks Ground in Sustainable Living

At a time when excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides has become the norm in agriculture across India, a small community near Kozhikode in Kerala is making an effort to return to much healthier practices of organic farming.

"The basic aim of cultivation is never only harvesting only. It is an attempt to make our lifecycle complete," Babu Parambath, green activist and Project Director of Niravu, told VillageSquare.in . "That is what the Niravu initiative is trying to communicate to society."

Niravu, which means fullness, is today a proven example of the successful efforts of a community to regain a bygone lifestyle. It is a collective engaged in organic cultivation and related nature-friendly activities. Niravu started as a residents association of 101 households in Vengeri, a small village on the outskirts of Kozhikode.

In 2006, VS Achuthanandan, the then Chief Minister of Kerala, requested social workers to focus on the development of Kerala in his golden jubilee year speech to the state. Keeping these words in mind, some social activists in Vengeri planned to conduct a survey with the help of National Service Scheme (NSS) students of Providence Women's College in the neighbourhood.