India Fwire News - Page 3

This is a govt for the poor, says PM Modi; gives free LPG connections to BPL families

The Prime Minister gave away some cooking gas connections to people on the occasion.

What the 10% reservation for EBCs in Gujarat says about Narendra Modi's politics

Gujarat, with its Hindutva rhetoric, is the best to experiment with the creation of a new reservation prototype

Maharashtra day showdown: Former AG Shreehari Aney unfurls 'Vidarbha flag' amid protests by Shiv Sena

The supporters of a separate Vidarbha led by former Maharashtra Advocate General Shreehari Aney said that they would intensify their movement for statehood

India can save $50 bn in logistics costs, raise growth of exports, says study

The government should create a uniform tax structure and do away with multiple checkpoints and documentation requirements which would lead to speedier delivery of cargo, the study said.

Bipan Chandra praised Bhagat Singh when he called him 'revolutionary terrorist': JNU professors

The three professors condemn the attack against the book, India’s Struggle For Independence, which they co-authored with Professor Bipan Chandra

Endorsements issue: Unfair to blame celebrities for misleading ads, say brand gurus

With a parliamentary standing committee calling for stringent penal provisions to make celebrities who hawk brands accountable for misleading advertisements, industry experts feel it is unfair to single out celebs for such mishappenings. The Parliamentary Panel on Consumer Affairs, in its recommendations on the Consumer Protection Bill, 2015, has called for stringent provisions, including jail term up to five years and penalty of up to Rs 50 lakh if a celebrity endorsed product misfires. "I agree that celebs should accept endorsements with a certain amount of responsibility. But it is unfair to make them accountable for products/ads as the subject is technical and requires sound understanding of science as its related to the ingredients of the product and consequent claims," said Madison World chairman Sam Balsara. The committee wants that for first time offence, the celeb in question must be penalised with either a fine of Rs 10 lakh or imprisonment up to two years or both. For the second offence, the fine should be increased to Rs 50 lakh and imprisonment up to five years. For subsequent offences, the penalties may be increased proportionately based on the value of sales of the product/ service in question. After Nestles Maggi noodles were banned by the foods regulator last year for allegedly containing excess lead and the additive monosodium glutamate (MSG), there were many voices demanding accountability from brand endorsers. Some of the noodle brands endorsers included actors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta. The domestic celebrity endorsement market is worth around Rs 5,000-7,500 crore and is growing at a fast clip. But its future looks uncertain with many in the government and Parliament baying for the blood of celebrities who earn most of their incomes from such brand endorsements. Top male celebrities charge anywhere between Rs 12 crore and Rs 25 crore per annum for each endorsement, while their female peers get half of that at Rs 6-12 crore per annum for endorsement, according to industry estimate. On an average, top celebrities endorse as many 8-12 brands. According to Anirban Das Blah, managing director of talent management agency Kwan that handles brand endorsements for top Bollywood stars like Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor, the recommendation makes no sense as celebs dont have the expertise to whet the quality of the product they endorse. "No celebrity has the means to verify what the brand is saying, and they dont run testing labs. What they have is a legally binding document. Almost every endorsement has a contract which warrants that it is making no false representation of any sort in its advertising," he said.

Ensure J&K SMEs get hassle-free loans, says Mehbooba Mufti to Raghuram Rajan

Mufti said banks need to focus on priority sector lending in the state, particularly targeting tourism, handicraft, handloom, agriculture and allied segments, which have a huge potential to generate avenues of employment for youth.

Relief to home buyers: New Real Estate Act comes into force today; builders can't delay projects

The law also makes it mandatory for all residential and commercial projects to register with the Regulator and will apply to new and ongoing projects.

PM Modi to launch Rs 8,000 cr free cooking gas scheme in UP today

The Prime Minister will also launch a scheme for environment-friendly E-Boats at the famous Assi Ghat.

Vodafone India IPO: Company picks BofA, Kotak, UBS, other banks, say sources

The deal offers a rare opportunity for international banks in a market where equity capital raisings worth more than $1 billion are uncommon and where stock underwriting fees are amongst the lowest in the world.

Good times no more: Lenders begin auction of brand Kingfisher, trademarks

The online auction of brand Kingfisher is being conducted by SBI Cap Trustee Company on behalf of lenders under the SARFAESI Act. Mallya had pledged the trademarks as collateral with banks at the time of taking loans from them.

Vijay Mallya bargain: Billionaire in exile is tough case for Modi govt to handle

In the interview to FT, Mallya said he remains an Indian patriot who is “proud to fly the Indian flag”, but as the outcry around him continues, he is more than happy to stay safe in the UK.

No shortage of employment for grads from A-list B-Schools, say officials

Time and again surveys are done on the efficacy of engineering, B-School graduates and they throw up almost the same results – dismal performance of students, colleges and their unemployability.

Glacier of death: 41 soldiers have lost their lives at Siachen since 2013

The count is from 2013 till 31 March 2016 at the Siachen Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir

India has potential to clock 6-7% GDP growth, says Goldman Sachs

There have been quite a lot of micro level reforms, the ease of doing business has improved dramatically, said Timothy Moe, the chief Asia Pacific regional equity strategist at Goldman Sachs Research .

Britain looking forward to start new ventures with India, says envoy

"UK and India are strategic partners and UK is a major trading for India," said British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith.

Scrapping old vehicles: Mahindra to build India's first automobile shredding plant

India is considering introducing a policy to scrap old vehicles, like the cash-for-clunkers programme the United States tried during the global economic recession to boost auto sales.

Trupti Desai in Haji Ali Dargah but won't enter sanctum sanctorum

Trupti Desai's plans to enter the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai has caught the unwanted attention of Haji Rafat Hussain

AAP, Delhi Police face off in Kanhaiya bail cancellation plea

The hearing on pleas seeking cancellation of interim bail granted to JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar witnessed a confrontation between the AAP and Delhi Police in the Delhi HC over the issue of representing the state.

West Bengal polls: Trinamool Congress in confusion

Trinamool Congress caught in internal struggle as Mamata Banerjee has been trying to distance herself from the leaders in the Narada sting operation

Why FM Jaitley’s move to cut EPF rate is good economics, but bad politics

In a scenario when the inflation is falling (CPI inflation is hovering around 5 per cent and the RBI is on course to bring it down even further), the real returns will be positive.

Drinking beer instead of water not our culture: Shiv Sena takes potshots at Maharashtra minister Munde

Shiv Sena on Monday said drinking beer instead of water is not our culture.

Good monsoon can give wings to Modi’s economic ambition, relief to Rajan

For the Modi-government, which has bet big on the rural India as the key economic growth driver and dreams of doubling the farm income in next five years, a good monsoon forecast brings a lot of relief.

Use central funds to mitigate effects of drought: Union minister tells states hit by calamity

Union Minister Birendra Singh on Tuesday asked drought-hit states to utilise 10 percent of their central funds for mitigating natural calamities.

Maharashtra green-lights dance bars, but legal problems are far from over

On Monday, the Maharashtra Cabinet approved the dance bar bill with certain limitations that restrict dance bars from functioning fully. Here's a look at the history of the bill.

BJP 'most anti national of all', party shielding those who raised anti-India slogans: Arvind Kejriwal

The latest attack on BJP by Kejriwal comes following the findings of a report by a JNU panel that the provocative slogans at the controversial 9 February event on JNU campus were raised by a group of outsiders.

Need atmosphere of equal opportunity, public discussion: RSS on 'nationalistic' education and women

After asking the government to check "subversive" elements indulging in "anti-national" activities in universities like JNU, the RSS on Sunday called for value-based and nationalistic education in an atmosphere of equal opportunity.

IED blast injures five CRPF officers in Raipur's Naxal-affected area

Five CRPF men, including two officers, were on Friday injured in an IED blast in Chhattisgarh's Naxal violence affected Sukma district.

Supreme Court extends interim bail of Teesta Setalvad, her husband till April 28

SC extended the interim bail of social activists Teesta Setalvad and her husband in connection with the alleged misuse of funds collected by their NGO

Centre will fulfill commitment on package announced by PM: Govt

Government on Tuesday said in Rajya Sabha that it will fulfill its commitment to provide the special package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore to Bihar announced by PM