India's Sports Ministry's announces 8-Member Olympic Task Force

India's lone Olympic gold-medallist Abhinav Bindra and national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand have found a place in an eight-member Task Force of the Sports Ministry to draw up an action plan for the next three Olympic Games.

Just days after the end of the Rio Olympics, where India won just two medals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the setting up of a task force which will help plan for the "effective participation" of Indian sportspersons in the next three Olympics -- in 2020, 2024 and 2028.

Bindra, Gopichand and former Indian hockey captain Viren Rasquinha were the only three former sportspersons named in the task force.

The other 5 members of the task force are -

1. School Sports Promotion Board head Om Pathak
2.  hockey coach S Baldev Singh, who runs an academy in Shahabad
3.  G L Khanna (Professor and Dean of Exercise and Physiology at Manav Rachna International University at Faridabad)
4.  journalist Rajesh Kalra and 
5. Sports Authority of Gujarat Director General Sandeep Pradhan.

Announcing the task force in New Delhi, Sports Minister Vijay Goel told that "the tenure of the committee will be for three months or till the time it submits its report".

He said the job of the chairman of the committee will be given on rotational basis while Pradhan will be the convener.

Asked to whom the task force will submit its report, Goel said, "The report will be submitted to Sports Ministry. But since the Prime Minister has approved the committee, the final report will be submitted to the PMO."

Vodafone, Idea in merger talks

In a move aimed at thwarting the threat from Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, two of India’s biggest telecom operators, Vodafone and Idea Cellular, have initiated talks to merge their operations.

If the merger goes through, it will result in the creation of the country’s biggest telecom company, both in terms of revenue and subscriber base.

At present, Bharti Airtel is the leader with a total subscriber base of 265 million. Vodafone India ranks second with 204 million users and Idea Cellular is third with 190 million subscribers.

In the event of a merger, the new entity would have a subscriber base of 395.21 million.

“Any merger would be effected through the issue of new shares in Idea Cellular to Vodafone and would result in Vodafone de-consolidating Vodafone India.

“There is no certainty that any transaction will be agreed, nor as to the terms or timing of any transaction,” Vodafone Plc said in a statement.

What is Surcharge on Income Tax in India?

‘Surcharge’ is an additional charge or tax levied on an existing tax. 

Unlike a cess, which is meant to raise revenue for a temporary need, surcharge is usually permanent in nature.

 It is levied as a percentage on the income tax payable as per normal rates. 

In case no tax is due for a financial year, then no surcharge is levied.

 The revenue earned via surcharge is solely retained by the Centre and, unlike other tax revenues, is not shared with States. 

Collections from surcharge flow into the Consolidated Fund of India.

Surcharges, in India, are used to make the taxation system more ‘progressive’. 

They are used to ensure that the rich contribute more to the tax kitty than the poor. 

Traditionally, the assumption has been that companies can pay higher taxes than individuals and corporate taxes have been subject to surcharge.

In the 2013 Budget, a 10-per cent surcharge on super-rich individuals was introduced by the UPA government.

 It was thereafter hiked to 12 per cent by the NDA in the 2015 Budget.

 In 2016, the rate climbed to 15 per cent. Increases in surcharge are usually easy to push through than across-the-board increases in tax rates, as they only impact a small, more affluent segment.

Currently, wealthy individuals and companies are liable to pay a surcharge on their tax outgo. 

Individuals earning a taxable income of over ₹1 crore have to shell out a surcharge amounting to 15 per cent of their tax outgo.

So, if your taxable income is ₹1.2 crore, your income tax payable works out to ₹34.25 lakh.

 The 15 per cent surcharge will be computed on this amount, at ₹5.13 lakh. 

Thus, the total tax payable is ₹39.38 lakh without including cess.

Partnership firms earning over ₹1 crore in taxable income pay a surcharge of 12 per cent. Domestic firms earning ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore pay a 7 per cent surcharge and those earning over ₹10 crore pay 12 per cent.

US President Donald Trump Fires Acting Attorney General Sally Yates who defied immigration order Monday Jan 30,2017

U.S. President Donald Trump fired top federal government lawyer Sally Yates on Monday Jan 30,2017 after she took the extraordinarily rare step of defying the White House and refused to defend new travel restrictions targeting seven Muslim-majority nations.

It was another dramatic twist in the unusually raucous roll-out of Trump's directive that put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The Friday night ban prompted protests and chaos at airports on the weekend as customs officials struggled to put the order into practise, and the fallout spread to U.S. markets on Monday, where stocks suffered their biggest drop of 2017 and companies affected by the change spoke out against it.

Yates said late on Monday that the Justice Department would not defend the order against court challenges, saying that she did not believe it would be "consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right."

Hours later, she was fired. The White House said Yates "has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States" and portrayed her actions as political

Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has been appointed as her replacement until Senator Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the Senate

WHO IS DANA BOENTE? 

Dana Boente, who has spent 33 years in the Justice Department, is described as tough but fair by fellow attorneys.

He has never been vocal about his political views during his lengthy career and was not known as a risk taker.

Peers say he was unlikely to have accepted the job as Attorney General unless he thought Donald Trump's executive orders were legally enforceable.

Former assistant U.S. attorney Gene Rossi, now a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said: 'I never saw Dana in the 22 years I worked with him make what I considered to a political decision. He will try his best to enforce what he thinks is the law.' 

 Boente was appointed during the Obama administration, first as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, then for the Eastern District of Virginia when he worked in the Fraud Unit.

US President Donald Trump Replaces Acting Director of Immigration Enforcement Monday Jan 30,2017

US President Donald Trump replaced the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday night Jan 30,2017, shortly after he fired the acting attorney general, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed.

Unlike the firing of Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, the replacement of Acting ICE Director Daniel Ragsdale came with no explanation. Ragsdale was replaced by Thomas Homan, ICE's executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations since 2013.

"I am confident that he will continue to serve as a strong, effective leader for the men and women of ICE," John Kelly, the secretary of Homeland Security, said in a brief statement.

Turkey Puts Gulen, 269 Others on Trial Over Coup Bid Monday Jan 30,2017

Turkey on Monday Jan 30,2017 opened the biggest trial yet over the failed July coup aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, trying 270 suspects including, in absentia, the alleged mastermind Fethullah Gulen.

The suspects, 152 of whom are in pre-trial detention, include ex high-ranking military officials like former Aegean Army Command Chief of Staff Major General Memduh Hakbilen, the state news agency Anadolu reported.

The "number one" suspect is US-based Islamic preacher Gulen who is charged with ordering the failed July 15 coup, an accusation he strongly denies.

Ankara also accuses the movement Gulen leads of being a "terror organisation" although the group insists it is a peaceful organisation promoting moderate Islam.

Those on trial in the western city of Izmir face multiple charges including being a member of the "armed terror group".

Turkey has repeatedly asked the United States to extradite Gulen, who has been living in exile there since 1999.

The previous administration of Barack Obama had insisted that a possibly slow legal process should take its course but Ankara is hoping for a more eager response to its extradition request from new President Donald Trump.

Other charges against the suspects include seeking to prevent parliament performing its duty as well as attempting to remove the constitutional order, the agency said.

The suspects face life imprisonment if convicted in a trial expected to take two months, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.

It said Izmir was believed to be one of the main plotting hubs of the coup with the Aegean city used as a "logistical base".

A special courtroom was built to accommodate the size of the trial and security was tight ahead of the hearing.

Intensive security measures included a drone above the courthouse, bomb-sniffing dogs and commando units.

Previous trials have opened in Istanbul and smaller cases in other provinces in what is expected to be the largest legal process in the country's history.

Some 43,000 people are under arrest ahead of trial in a large-scale crackdown within a state of emergency declared after the coup which remains in place.

In December, 29 police officers went on trial in Istanbul accused of failing to defend Erdogan while 62 rebel soldiers are being tried over claims they attempted to take over Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the night of July 15.

10 Best Foods For Flat Abs

It is well known that the best way to get a flat stomach or abs is to do abdominal exercises daily along with eating a well-balanced diet. 

However, there are a few foods that can help you achieve your fitness goals faster. 

The foods for flat abs provide good nutrition, help reduce bloating, and slim down your belly.

 Consider incorporating these 10 best foods for flat abs into your daily diet and you will feel leaner and sculpted in no time.

1. Eggs are among the best foods for flat abs since they are high in natural fat burning elements such as protein. In fact, eggs are a great choice due to their amino acids which are the building blocks of the cells. Eating eggs for breakfast will help you eat less and make healthy food choices during the day.
2. 
   
3. Berries are low in sugar and rich in antioxidants, and they make a great snack for flat abs. Eat a cup of berries every day to achieve a lean tummy.  Berries help boost the digestive process, stabilize your blood sugar and reduce bloating. They can provide lots of energy in the middle of the day or when you work out. Besides raspberries, 
4. blueberries, and strawberries, you could also have gooseberries and black currants.
5. 
   
6. Yogurt is high in protein and the perfect snack to eat any time of the day. The protein in plain yogurt helps curb your cravings for food and helps keep your stomach feeling fuller for longer. Many yogurts also contain active cultures (probiotics) which promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut and help with digestion, excess gas and bloating. You can add your favorite fruits to turn plain yogurt into super delicious and a healthy snack.
7. 
   
8. Nuts like almonds, walnuts, pistachios are high in fat, but if you consume them in moderation they can help you achieve any weight loss goal. A handful of nuts is an excellent way to get healthy fats that you should be consuming daily. Nuts are rich in protein and fiber which help stabilize your blood sugar and curb your cravings. Flax seeds are nutritious seeds packed with monounsaturated fats which are diet-friendly. Monounsaturated fats not only lower cholesterol levels but they can also help to reduce body fat. Flax seeds provide high levels of fiber and can help to keep the digestive system running smoothly, helping to banish bloating, constipation and other digestive problems. You can add flax seeds to your morning cereal, lunchtime salad, or homemade smoothie to enjoy their belly-flattening benefits.
9. 
   
10. Fish helps speed up your metabolism and reduce your cravings. The protein in fish is filling and if you eat fish such as salmon and tuna, they contain Omega 3 fatty acids, which help increase weight loss and fat burning.
11. 
    
12. Soybeans are an excellent source of protein, fiber, and powerful antioxidants. Moreover, they are very versatile.  You can munch on dry-roasted soybeans, or add a spoonful of silken tofu to your smoothie. You can also opt for liquid soy.
13. 
    
14. Apples are amazing and they are one of the healthiest foods you can eat daily. Each apple contains 5 grams of fiber as well as pectin, which is a natural fat burner. Apples are low in sugar and calories, which makes them a great snack for flat abs. Studies show that those who have at least one apple a day lose more weight than those who don’t eat apples at all.
15. 
    
16. Green leafy vegetables are packed in phytonutrients and rich in fiber, hence one of the best foods for flat abs.  One cup of spinach contains only about 40 calories, while a cup of broccoli has 55 calories and satisfies 20 percent of your day's fiber requirement. Most leafy greens are also a good source of calcium, an essential ingredient for muscle contraction. In other words, they help fuel your workouts. A leafy green salad will help you boost your energy levels, feel better and become leaner.
17. 
    
18. Whole grains are great for weight management and shedding those excess pounds. Not only are they a low-fat source of slow-release energy but, due to their high levels of fiber, they will help to regulate the digestive system and also keep you feeling fuller for longer. Eating whole grains also helps to lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and insulin in the body, both of which encourage fat to be stored around the belly. Many people, instinctively opt for wheat as their primary source of whole grains, which is often not the best choice. Not only is wheat difficult to digest - which can cause bloating in some - but it is better to eat grains in their natural form rather than as a processed flour. Good alternatives to try are brown rice, oats, buckwheat. Quinoa is also a nutritious alternative that can be used.
19. 
    
20. Water, though technically not a food, but a lack of it in the diet can come in the way of a flat belly. Bloating is something that affects many and the problem is often worsened by a lack of fluids in the system. Drinking water helps flush toxins out of the system, curb hunger, improve the digestive system and reduce fluid retention, all of which will leave your stomach looking flatter. If you are aiming for a flat belly, it is important to drink a minimum of eight glasses of liquids a day. This could also include green tea or fennel, dandelion or peppermint teas, all of which help combat bloating.

Idea Launches Digital Services With Free Subscription For 3 Months

Idea Cellular on Monday Jan 30,2017 forayed into digital services with 'Digital Idea' and launched three new mobile apps -- 

• Idea Music Lounge
• Idea Movie Club and 
• Idea Game Spark.

These digital content applications will serve as a one-stop entertainment destination initially for Idea subscribers, providing access to a large collection of popular and premium content, including an assortment of Hindi, vernacular and international content, said Himanshu Kapania, Managing Director of Idea Cellular here.

"Having committed significant investments in building a world-class wireless broadband network in the country, Idea has decided to enhance its portfolio of services. With the birth of 'Digital Idea', the company is gearing itself for catering to the growing population of mobile users who consume digital content on their mobile devices," he said.

Lenskart Unveils App That Doesn't Need Internet

In a first for the Indian e-commerce industry, leading eyewear company Lenskart has launched a unique 'Lenskart Lite' app for Android users which requires no internet connection to shop from its website. The app is based on SMS.

In the absence of internet, the app uses proprietary protocol on top of SMS to communicate with the internal system and, thereby, process the user's request.

"With the changing online business models and evolving consumer behaviour with regard to online shopping, Lenskart aims to provide a hassle-free experience to shoppers through this initiative," said Peyush Bansal, CEO Lenskart, in a statement on Monday Jan 30,2017

When the internet connection is available, the app switches back to internet.

The app requires internet only at the point of download and is a little over 1 MB in size

A Petition Calling On Britain To Rescind Trump's State Visit Surpasses 1 Million Signatures

 A petition calling on Britain to cancel President Donald Trump's state visit surpassed a million signatures Monday Jan 30,2017, meaning that it will be considered for debate in the British Parliament.

The popularity of the petition follows the controversial introduction of strict new rules on traveling to America. 

Trump provoked a worldwide backlash after signing an executive order for a 30-day ban to prevent people from seven predominantly Muslim countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - from entering the United States.

 It also stopped the U.S. refugee program for three months. Trump has insisted that the order is not about religion, but an interim measure.

British Prime Minister Theresa May announced during a joint press conference with Trump on Friday Jan 27,2017 - before the ban was ordered - that Trump had accepted an offer by Queen Elizabeth II for a state visit later this year.

The petition to rescind the state visit began two months ago, but signatures began to pour in after the travel restrictions were announced

Journey of Paytm is Now a Case Study at Harvard Business School

Paytm's journey from being an online recharges platform to building India's largest mobile payments platform has been selected as a case study by the India Research Centre of the Harvard Business School, the e-wallet company said on Monday Jan 30,2017

The study, titled 'Paytm: Building a Payments Network,' also researches on how Paytm's focus on enabling offline payments even for the smallest retailers and businesses by using smartphones and QR codes has disrupted the payments ecosystem in the country.

"We are on a mission to bring half a billion Indians to the mainstream economy and, in turn, build a business that India would be proud of," said Vijay Shekhar Sharma, CEO Paytm, in a statement.

The study is currently in the process of being published and will be available for teaching purposes both within and outside Harvard.

"Paytm is revolutionising payments in India and it is a shining example of India's digital future," said Sunil Gupta, Professor at Harvard Business School.

Paytm is now accepted by over 3 million merchants and has over 185 million registered wallet users.

Mahindra KUV100 Anniversary Edition Launched At Rs 6.37 Lakh

Mahindra has launched the anniversary edition of their popular mini-SUV KUV100, which will be available at the top end variant 'K8' of the car, at a price tag of Rs 6.37 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), at a differential of Rs 13,000. Bookings for the anniversary edition have begun at all Mahindra dealerships.

The introduction of the refreshed edition comes after the model has completed one year since its launch.

The KUV100 anniversary edition will be available with two options for dual tone exterior colour – Flamboyant Red or a Dazzling Silver body with a Metallic Black roof. The SUV stance has been enhanced with larger sized 15-inch alloy wheels. The interiors have been given a black theme. In addition to this, the K6 & K6+ variant will now be available with spider design 14-inch alloy wheels.

The company has also given options for customisation with 4 accessory kits namely sporty exterior and interior kits and premium exterior and interior kits.

Launched in January 2016, the KUV100 has sold more than 42,000 units till now.

Speaking on the introduction of the new variant Pravin Shah, President & Chief Executive (Automotive), M&M Ltd., said, “We have introduced the new avatar of the KUV100 with dual tone exterior colour, sporty and premium black interiors and bigger dynamic design alloys wheels along with various accessory kits. We are confident that it will further build on the KUV100’s style quotient and make it a popular choice amongst the youth.”

The KUV100 has a starting price of Rs 4.58 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for its base model.

iBall Launches 7-Inch Tablet at Rs 8,999

In an addition to its Slide series, domestic consumer electronics company iBall on Monday unveiled ‘iBall Slide Brisk 4G2' tablet featuring a 7-inch HD display at Rs 8,999.

The device comes with 3GB RAM, 16GB onboard memory that can be extended up to 32GB, powered by 64-bit Quad Core Processor and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system.

An extension to the iBall Slide Snap 4G2, the device sports a 2MP front camera and 5MP rear camera with LED Flash. With its 3500mAh battery, the device runs for long hours.

Available in Cobalt Blue colour, the device supports 21 regional languages.

Syrian 'Twitter Girl' Bana Alabed Pens A Letter To Donald Trump

Bana Alabed, the seven-year-old girl whose tweets from Aleppo gave devastating insights into the Syrian war, has pleaded with new US President Donald Trump to "do something for the children in Syria" in an open letter

Bana amassed hundreds of thousands of followers for her messages from war-torn Aleppo sent with the help of her mother, Fatemah. The family was evacuated to Turkey in December during the mass evacuations, and is now living in Turkey.

"You must do something for the children of Syria because they are like your children and deserve peace like you," she said in the letter. Her mother said Bana wrote the letter days before Trump's inauguration, because "she has seen Trump many times on the TV"

"I am part of the Syrian children who suffered from the Syrian war," she wrote in the letter. The girl told Trump her school in Aleppo was destroyed by the bombing and some of her friends had died.

"Right now in Turkey, I can go out and enjoy. I can go to school although I didn't yet. That is why peace is important for everyone including you."

"However, millions of Syrian children are not like me right now and suffering in different parts of Syria," she wrote.

Bana also offered her friendship to Trump saying, "If you promise me you will do something for the children of Syria, I am already your new friend."

At least 15,000 children are among the more than 300,000 people who have been killed in Syria's six-year war between President Bashar al-Assad's regime and rebel forces.

Bana Alabed,,the seven-year-old girl who found fame online by tweeting about her life in the war-ravaged Syrian city of Aleppo

Bana first shot to prominence in November last year for depicting the plight many faced in Aleppo, as she tweeted pictures of the city's bombed buildings and of herself at home

Bana Alabed 

✔@AlabedBana

This is our house, My beloved dolls died in the bombing of our house. I am very sad but happy to be alive.- Bana

7:07 PM - 29 Nov 2016

She currently has more than 360,000 followers on her Twitter account, which was initially managed by her mother, Fatemah.

Bana and her mother, along with 25,000 other refugees, were evacuated safely from the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo to Turkey last month.

On Dec 21, she met Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who supports the rebels fighting his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, and expressed her wish to go back to her home one day and fulfil her dream of becoming a teacher

Bana and her younger brother siting on the lap of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan as his wife Ermine looks on

Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Engaged Sunday Jan 29,2017

The much-anticipated wedlock of this year is finally on the cards as actors Naga Chaitanya and Samantha got engaged on Sunday Jan 29,2017

The two of them have been in a relationship for nearly three years. 

A happy Nagarjuna made it official on his Twitter handle and even shared some photos from the engagement ceremony of his son. 

The elated father wrote, "#Chaisam It's official now. My mother is my daughter now. Couldn't be happier!! more pics to come".

The ceremony was solemnised in the presence of close family members including Nagarjuna's wife Amala Akkineni, younger son Akhil Akkineni and daughter-in-law Shreya Bhopal. 

Sharing a family photo on Twitter, Nagarjuna wrote, "#Chaisam...can't express my happiness in words!!". For the big night, Samantha chose a Kresha Bajaj sari and Chaitanya opted for a formal suit.

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) opens 200th NEXA showroom in Hyderabad Monday Jan 30,2017

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) on  Monday Jan 30,2017 inaugurated its 200th NEXA Showroom in the country at Hyderabad. NEXA, the fastest growing retail channel in India, is now present in 121 cities and has sold over 1.85 lakh vehicles since its inception.

Maruti Suzuki plans to expand the number of NEXA outlets to 250 by end of FY 2016-17. By March 2017, when NEXA completes 20 months of its launch, it expects to sell 2,00,000 units.

One of the important initiatives by Maruti Suzuki in its journey of achieving 2 million sales target in 2020, NEXA has redefined the car purchase experience in India. 

At present, the NEXA chain showcases premium cross-over S-Cross, Baleno and IGNIS.

Launched in July 2015, NEXA has enabled the company to attract newer categories of customers while retaining existing customers within the fold.

Inaugurating the 200th NEXA showroom, R S Kalsi, Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd said, “Since its launch, NEXA has received an overwhelming response from customers and has done extremely well in its objective of changing the way cars are sold in India. Through NEXA, we offer a unique car buying experience, built on pampering, innovation and technology. With all these initiatives, we are able to attract new categories of customers who were earlier not considering us. We have taken the challenge to create newer segments to fulfil the wishes of our customers.”

“NEXA will continue to create new and unique experiences for its customer beyond selling cars, and forge relationships which last beyond car purchase. NEXA is a response to changing customer needs, expectations and aspirations,” he added.

NEXA marks the first initiative by an automobile company to go beyond selling cars and create a new format of lifestyle experience for the customers.

In doing this, NEXA is creating properties around Fashion, Music and Travel in order to build communities amongst people who share common passion in these genres

Reserve Bank of India(RBI) Lifts Restrictions on Withdrawals from ATMs, Current Accounts wef Feb 01,2017

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has lifted the restrictions on cash withdrawals from bank accounts and ATMs, in a sign that the pace of remonetisation is picking up.

In a statement on its website, the central bank said that restrictions on withdrawal of cash from current accounts, cash credit and overdraft accounts have been lifted with immediate effect.

Further, limits on cash withdrawals from ATMs will be withdrawn from February 1, 2017.

However, the limits on savings bank accounts will continue for the present, until further review by the RBI.

Supreme Court of India(SCI) appoints 4-member panel led by Vinod Rai to run BCCI Monday Jan 30,2017

Supreme Court of India(SCI) appoints four-member committee of administrators led by former former comptroller and auditor general of India Vinod Rai to run BCCI.

Historian Ramachandra Guha, IDFC official Vikram Limaye, former women cricket captain Diana Edulji also in the panel.

The SCI rejects Centre’s plea to appoint Secretary of Sports Ministry as one of the administrators.

The SCI refers to its earlier judgement debarring ministers and government servants from holding office in BCCI.

Amitabh Chaudhary of BCCI and Vikram Limaye to represent BCCI at the ICC meeting in the first week of February: Supreme Court.

Anirudh Chaudhary of BCCI shall be the third member to represent the Indian cricket board at the ICC meeting.

Know More About the SCI - appointed BCCI Administrators

 

Vinod Rai

Vinod Rai was the 11th Comptroller and Auditor General of India. He assumed office on January 7, 2008 till May 22, 2013. He is the current chairman of the UN Panel of External Auditors and Honorary Advisor to the Railways and a member of the Railway Kaya Kalp Council.
He was appointed as Comptroller and Auditor General of India with the backing of finance minister P Chidambaram. Rai has prepared uncomfortable audit reports that have pinned many government departments, ranging from the scathing report on the shoddy preparation for the Commonwealth Games to the latest on spectrum allocations for second generation (2G) telecom services.

Ramachandra Guha

Ramachandra Guha is an Indian historian and writer whose research interests include environmental, social, political and cricket history.

For the year 2011–2012, he held a visiting position at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the Philippe Roman Chair in History and International Affairs. His large body of work, covering a wide range of fields and yielding a number of rational insights has made him a significant figure in Indian historical studies and Guha is valued as one of the major historians of the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries. A Corner of a Foreign Field: The Indian History of a British Sport and The States Of Indian Cricket: Anecdotal Histories are among the books written by Guha on cricket.

Diana Edulji

Diana Edulji is a former Indian women’s Test cricketer and former captain of the women’s national team. Born in Mumbai, she grew up playing cricket with a tennis ball. She then went on to play basketball and table tennis at the junior national level, before migrating to cricket. At a cricket camp hosted by former Test cricketer Lala Amarnath, she honed her skills.
Diana went on to play for the Railways and then the Indian national cricket team where she was a successful slow left-arm orthodox bowler. She played her first series in 1975. In 1978, she was made the captain of team. With 120 wickets, she remains the highest wicket taker of the game. Diana received the Arjuna Award in 1983 and the Padma Shri in 2002.

Vikram Limaye

Madhu Limaye is the Managing Director & CEO of IDFC Limited. He started his professional career with Arthur Andersen in Mumbai in 1987 while pursuing his Chartered Accountancy and worked in the audit and business advisory services groups of Arthur Andersen, Ernst & Young and the consumer banking group of Citibank before going to the US in 1994 to pursue a MBA.
After completing his MBA, he worked on Wall Street in USA for 8 years with Credit Suisse First Boston in a variety of roles in investment banking, capital markets, structured finance and credit portfolio management before returning to Mumbai, India in 2004.

10 things parents must teach children to nurture essential values

The behaviour of a person reflects the quality of his or her upbringing. And hence, it is extremely important for parents to pay special attention to children during their growing up years.

Parents also need to ensure that they instil moral values in the minds of children at an early age.

Children’s good behaviour and conduct will make parents feel proud. This will also help in making children responsible individuals when they grow up.

10 things parents need to teach their young ones to nurture essential values are -

• Don’t waste food – By wasting food, we will be doing injustice to the millions of people who die of starvation across the globe.
• Don’t waste water – A number of people across the globe aren’t privileged enough to get a drop of water to drink to quench their thirst. It would be a crime to waste water.
• To not waste consumable energy – Tell you children to use lights and fans only when they need it. They should know why it is important to switch them off when not needed.
• Sharing and caring – Kids need to learn the art of sharing and caring.
• To speak the truth – Lying will only lead to the cooking up of more lies in the future.  One harsh truth is better than a bitter lie.
• To keep self and the surrounding clean – Teach the importance of self hygiene to children. Also, they must be taught to keep the surroundings clean.
• To be responsible citizens of the country- They need to be told that their contributions matter a lot to the development of their country. They must be made to feel proud citizens.
• To stand by the side of truth – They must know that falsehood is evil and truth alone triumphs. They should know the difference between the good and the bad.
• To value family bonds – Money may come and go. But family is what matters the most.
• To be compassionate – Compassion must extend beyond humans. Children must be taught to respect all forms of life on earth and admire nature’s creations.