Firstpost Editor's Picks: Disability pension tax, Article 15 movie review, Pakistan in World Cup; today's must-read stories
The CBDT order has turned around a provision that goes back almost a hundred years, which granted exemption from Income Tax to all those who exited service with a duly certified medical disability.
A problem created by a few cases of dishonest securement of favourable disability verdicts from medical boards, surely could be rectified instead of creating a hullaballoo and giving the waiting bureaucracy one more issue to see the back of a facility enjoyed by veterans of the forces. The political community would hardly have played a role in this, but is guilty to the extent that the final approval is given by the political community.
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Films about marginalised communities are often made to stress the benevolence of progressives from dominant social groups. Article 15 walks a tightrope to ensure that even as it uses Ayushmann Khurrana’s stardom to draw attention to its concerns and utilises Ayan’s quest for knowledge to enlighten the audience about caste, the screenplay does not get condescending towards Dalits and does not write him, a Brahmin, as a patron of the downtrodden who Brahminsplains caste to those suffering most at its hands.
Pakistan yawned. Pakistan slept. Pakistan have woken up. Yes, the sleeping giants have woken up. They are still alive in this World Cup. They were almost dead and now risen from the ashes. How do you explain the madness that is Pakistan? Is there a way to explain? Perhaps, facing a Mitchell Starc reverse swinging yorker is easier than trying to explain or understand Pakistan. Mercurial. Volatile. Predictably unpredictable.
Farm distress: Not just debt, small landholding and poor access to market are also killing farmers
For the first time, an in-depth study on the agrarian crisis and farmers' suicide conducted by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) — an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Rural Development: has suggested that multiple factors including debt, higher tenancy cost to small land holding farmers and complete breakdown of institutional support are the main reasons for farmers' suicide.
Bhutan's plans for Sankosh Dam highlights questions about country's pursuit of hydropower
The Sankosh project will be the most expensive hydropower project ever undertaken in Bhutan at BTN 115 billion ($1.65 billion), costing about 2/3 of Bhutan’s current annual GDP of $2.8 billion. The chance of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) only adds to the risks, with Bhutan currently facing a risk from a GLOF near Thorthomi Lake. While Bhutan is doing well in dealing with GLOFs, it is unclear whether reservoir-based hydropower will add to, or reduce this risk.
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Jammu and Kashmir: LeT terrorist killed in Rajouri encounter
On Thursday, two terrorists associated with the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were arrested along with arms and ammunition in Baramulla
New version of BrahMos missile will be ready in 2 years, says CEO
The new upgraded missile will be half in weight and size compared to the old BrahMos, but there will be no reduction in its firepower. Brahms NG can be loaded on the Tejas and the MiG-29
WATCH: Security forces conduct search ops in Sugnu-Serou region of Manipur
"Inputs indicate casualties to insurgents. This is being verified on the ground. During preliminary search-two AK series rifles, one 51mm mortar, two carbines, ammunition and warlike stores were recovered from the general area. Operations to sanitise the area is in progress," said the Indian Army