Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Friday, April 22, 2011
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra -Chant for Bhagavan's Recovery
OM. Tryambakam yajamahe
Sugandhim pushti-vardhanam
Urvarukamiva bandhanan
Mrityor mukshiya mamritat
OM. We worship and adore you, O three-eyed one, O Shiva. You are sweet gladness, the fragrance of life, who nourishes us, restores our health, and causes us to thrive. As, in due time, the stem of the cucumber weakens, and the gourd if freed from the vine, so free us from attachment and death, and do not withhold immortality.
The great mantra dedicated to Shiva as Mrityunjaya is found in the Rig Veda. It is called the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra, the Great Death-Conquering mantra. It is a mantra that has many names and forms. It is called the Rudra mantra, referring to the furious aspect of Shiva; the Tryambakam mantra, alluding to Shiva's three eyes; and its is sometimes known as the Mrita-Sanjivini mantra because it is a component of the "life-restoring" practice given to the primordial sage Shukra after he had completed an exhausting period of austerity. The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra is hailed by the sages as the heart of the Veda. Along with the Gayatri mantra it holds the highest place among the many mantras used for contemplation and meditation.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Bids touch 6 lakhs for lunch with Big B
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is auctioning off a lunch date with him to raise money for charity, sparking a frenzy which saw the bids rise above Rs 6 lakhs within hours of the announcement.
The bidding started at Rs 1001 yesterday at online marketplace eBay and it has already reached a whopping amount of Rs 6 lakhs.
The 67-year-old veteran has pipped Bollywood's bad boy Salman Khan and Akshay Khiladi Kumar in the bidding amounts.
A breakfast date with Akshay is currently going for Rs 4,52,000.
On offer is the oppurtunity to spend time with the Shehenshah of Bollywood over lunch. Bachchan will answer the winner's questions about his long career and his easiest, most difficult, funniest and craziest moments.
The winner will also get the opportunity to take photographs with the Big B and get personalized autographs from him.
The actor decided to do the good deed to mark the 'Joy of Giving' week in collaboration with eBay.
The National Award winning actor who is set to host the superhit TV game show Kaun Banega Crorepati for a third time, will donate the proceedings to a charity of his choice.
Also during the Joy of Giving Week Bangalore NGO CMCA (Children's Movement for Civic Awareness) is auctioning an lunch date with actress Raveena Tandon in addition to cricket memorabilia.
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is auctioning off a lunch date with him to raise money for charity, sparking a frenzy which saw the bids rise above Rs 6 lakhs within hours of the announcement.
The bidding started at Rs 1001 yesterday at online marketplace eBay and it has already reached a whopping amount of Rs 6 lakhs.
The 67-year-old veteran has pipped Bollywood's bad boy Salman Khan and Akshay Khiladi Kumar in the bidding amounts.
A breakfast date with Akshay is currently going for Rs 4,52,000.
On offer is the oppurtunity to spend time with the Shehenshah of Bollywood over lunch. Bachchan will answer the winner's questions about his long career and his easiest, most difficult, funniest and craziest moments.
The winner will also get the opportunity to take photographs with the Big B and get personalized autographs from him.
The actor decided to do the good deed to mark the 'Joy of Giving' week in collaboration with eBay.
The National Award winning actor who is set to host the superhit TV game show Kaun Banega Crorepati for a third time, will donate the proceedings to a charity of his choice.
Also during the Joy of Giving Week Bangalore NGO CMCA (Children's Movement for Civic Awareness) is auctioning an lunch date with actress Raveena Tandon in addition to cricket memorabilia.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Scandal Forces India Politician to Step Down (The New York Times Report)
April 18, 2010
NEW DELHI — A former high-level United Nations diplomat who had become a prominent and flamboyant figure in the Indian government resigned Sunday amid accusations that he had wrongly used his official influence to help a female friend get an ownership stake in a new franchise in India’s lucrative professional cricket league.
Times Topic: Shashi TharoorThe official, Shashi Tharoor, 54, submitted his resignation as a junior minister of foreign affairs after leaders of the governing Indian National Congress Party concluded in an emergency meeting on Sunday evening that his position was untenable. Opposition leaders had spent the past week hammering him with accusations that he had exploited his post for personal gain.
“It is a victory of truth,” said Ravi Shankar Prasad, a spokesman for the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, after Mr. Tharoor resigned. “It is a victory of the democratic process.”
Mr. Tharoor, a prolific author who made a failed campaign to become United Nations secretary general in 2006, was considered a favorite of the Congress Party’s president, Sonia Gandhi, and had become one of the more visible figures in the government, partly by building a large following on Twitter.
The allegations involve Mr. Tharoor’s role in helping organize a consortium from his home state of Kerala that made a successful $333 million bid for a new franchise in the Indian Premier League. The league’s commissioner, Lalit Modi, disclosed that one person in the investment group was Sunanda Pushkar, a woman described as a friend of Mr. Tharoor’s and who had been given an equity stake reportedly worth more than $15 million.
Indian news media have reported that Mr. Tharoor, who is married, has been romantically involved with Ms. Pushkar, though it has not been publicly confirmed. Mr. Tharoor could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
In recent days, he has insisted that he is innocent of any financial wrongdoing and denied that he was involved in granting equity stakes to Ms. Pushkar. He accused the cricket commissioner, Mr. Modi, of trying to stir up controversy because he had favored another bidder for the new franchise.
Mr. Modi countered that he had made his disclosure because even some members of the Kerala consortium were not aware of some of the group’s minority shareholders. “If somebody is trying to hide somebody’s identity, my job is to expose it,” Mr. Modi said in an interview last week in Mumbai. Mr. Modi is also under scrutiny; tax officials raided his office last week.
Mr. Tharoor’s resignation ends a turbulent 11-month run in government. He was reprimanded by the Congress Party after the news media disclosed that he was living in a five-star hotel while awaiting renovations on his official residence. He countered that he was personally paying the bills, but the image of a minister living in luxury undercut a public austerity drive by the party.
He also annoyed some elders in the party with his comments on Twitter, even as he won a larger and larger following among young Indians. “A person who could have been the big middle-class hope now stands sullied,” Barkha Dutt, a television commentator, said during a broadcast on Sunday.
NEW DELHI — A former high-level United Nations diplomat who had become a prominent and flamboyant figure in the Indian government resigned Sunday amid accusations that he had wrongly used his official influence to help a female friend get an ownership stake in a new franchise in India’s lucrative professional cricket league.
Times Topic: Shashi TharoorThe official, Shashi Tharoor, 54, submitted his resignation as a junior minister of foreign affairs after leaders of the governing Indian National Congress Party concluded in an emergency meeting on Sunday evening that his position was untenable. Opposition leaders had spent the past week hammering him with accusations that he had exploited his post for personal gain.
“It is a victory of truth,” said Ravi Shankar Prasad, a spokesman for the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, after Mr. Tharoor resigned. “It is a victory of the democratic process.”
Mr. Tharoor, a prolific author who made a failed campaign to become United Nations secretary general in 2006, was considered a favorite of the Congress Party’s president, Sonia Gandhi, and had become one of the more visible figures in the government, partly by building a large following on Twitter.
The allegations involve Mr. Tharoor’s role in helping organize a consortium from his home state of Kerala that made a successful $333 million bid for a new franchise in the Indian Premier League. The league’s commissioner, Lalit Modi, disclosed that one person in the investment group was Sunanda Pushkar, a woman described as a friend of Mr. Tharoor’s and who had been given an equity stake reportedly worth more than $15 million.
Indian news media have reported that Mr. Tharoor, who is married, has been romantically involved with Ms. Pushkar, though it has not been publicly confirmed. Mr. Tharoor could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
In recent days, he has insisted that he is innocent of any financial wrongdoing and denied that he was involved in granting equity stakes to Ms. Pushkar. He accused the cricket commissioner, Mr. Modi, of trying to stir up controversy because he had favored another bidder for the new franchise.
Mr. Modi countered that he had made his disclosure because even some members of the Kerala consortium were not aware of some of the group’s minority shareholders. “If somebody is trying to hide somebody’s identity, my job is to expose it,” Mr. Modi said in an interview last week in Mumbai. Mr. Modi is also under scrutiny; tax officials raided his office last week.
Mr. Tharoor’s resignation ends a turbulent 11-month run in government. He was reprimanded by the Congress Party after the news media disclosed that he was living in a five-star hotel while awaiting renovations on his official residence. He countered that he was personally paying the bills, but the image of a minister living in luxury undercut a public austerity drive by the party.
He also annoyed some elders in the party with his comments on Twitter, even as he won a larger and larger following among young Indians. “A person who could have been the big middle-class hope now stands sullied,” Barkha Dutt, a television commentator, said during a broadcast on Sunday.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Law Minister Moily says US must allow India to interrogate Headley
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Bangalore, Mar 24 (ANI): Union Law and Justice Minister M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday said the United States should permit Indian investigating agencies to probe Lashkar operative David Coleman Headley.
When asked that is 'unfair' and 'unjustified' on part of the US denying access to Indian investigators because the Central Government had permitted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to probe 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Ajmal Kasab, Moily said we don't want to pass a value judgement on their policy.
"But this is the matter we need to hard press our argument, and have a strong bargain and tell them what is necessary. We need to make out a very strong case, which we have already made out how he is involved," said Moily.
"He is really involved. So in view of that, I think one day or the other, the US will have to agree to expedite the issue. Headley will have to undergo interrogation from our agents," he added.
India had earlier expressed satisfaction with Washington's cooperation on Headley.
United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake had on March 20 said Headley cannot be extradited to India now, but Indian investigators would be allowed to interrogate him.
Blake said that Headley would not be extradited to India, but Indian officials would be given the chance to interrogate him.
"The plea bargain agreement that was announced and part of the agreement was that United States would not extradite Headley either to India or to Pakistan or to Denmark on the charges for which he is now admitted guilty. That does not mean that at some future date, some additional charges could not be brought," said Blake.
"So, I don't want to speculate too much about that possibility of future extradition but at least on these charges he cannot be extradited. And the other question that has been raised is that whether Indian investigators will be allowed access to Headley to know more about his involvement in the planning of the Mumbai attacks, and the answer to that is yes," he added.
Headley pleaded guilty before a Chicago court on March 18, admitting he had scouted for targets ahead of a brazen terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
As a result, as per law, Headley will not face any trial or won't be given the death penalty.nder the plea bargain, Headley has escaped the death penalty. He also cannot be extradited from the US to India, Pakistan or Denmark. (ANI)
Bangalore, Mar 24 (ANI): Union Law and Justice Minister M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday said the United States should permit Indian investigating agencies to probe Lashkar operative David Coleman Headley.
When asked that is 'unfair' and 'unjustified' on part of the US denying access to Indian investigators because the Central Government had permitted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to probe 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Ajmal Kasab, Moily said we don't want to pass a value judgement on their policy.
"But this is the matter we need to hard press our argument, and have a strong bargain and tell them what is necessary. We need to make out a very strong case, which we have already made out how he is involved," said Moily.
"He is really involved. So in view of that, I think one day or the other, the US will have to agree to expedite the issue. Headley will have to undergo interrogation from our agents," he added.
India had earlier expressed satisfaction with Washington's cooperation on Headley.
United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake had on March 20 said Headley cannot be extradited to India now, but Indian investigators would be allowed to interrogate him.
Blake said that Headley would not be extradited to India, but Indian officials would be given the chance to interrogate him.
"The plea bargain agreement that was announced and part of the agreement was that United States would not extradite Headley either to India or to Pakistan or to Denmark on the charges for which he is now admitted guilty. That does not mean that at some future date, some additional charges could not be brought," said Blake.
"So, I don't want to speculate too much about that possibility of future extradition but at least on these charges he cannot be extradited. And the other question that has been raised is that whether Indian investigators will be allowed access to Headley to know more about his involvement in the planning of the Mumbai attacks, and the answer to that is yes," he added.
Headley pleaded guilty before a Chicago court on March 18, admitting he had scouted for targets ahead of a brazen terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
As a result, as per law, Headley will not face any trial or won't be given the death penalty.nder the plea bargain, Headley has escaped the death penalty. He also cannot be extradited from the US to India, Pakistan or Denmark. (ANI)
Friday, February 26, 2010
Some of the highlights of Union Budget 2010-2011
India weathered the economic crisis well and emerged from the global slowdown faster than any other country.
Fiscal deficit at 5.5%.
Fiscal deficit seen at 4.8% and 4.1% in 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively.
Gross tax receipts pegged at Rs7,46,656 crore for 2010-11, non-tax revenues at Rs1,48,118 crore.
Total expenditure pegged at Rs11.8 lakh crore, an increase of 8.6%.
Personal income-ax rates pruned:
Income up to Rs1.6 lakh — nil
Income above Rs1.6 lakh and up to Rs5 lakh — 10%
Income above Rs5 lakh and up to Rs8 lakh — 20%
Income above Rs8 lakh — 30%
Additional deduction of Rs20,000 allowed on long-term
Businesses with a turnover of up to Rs60 lakh and professionals earning up to Rs15 lakh to be exempted from the obligation to audit their accounts.
One-time interim relief to housing and real-estate sector.
Customs and central excise proposals to result in a net revenue gain of Rs43,500 crore.
More services to be brought under the service tax net.
Certain accredited news agencies exempted from payment of service tax
.
Net revenue gain from tax proposals pegged at Rs20,500 crore.
Housing projects allowed to be completed in five years instead of four to avail of tax breaks.
Revenue loss of Rs26,000 crore on direct tax proposals.
Central excise duty on all non-petroleum products raised to 10% from 8%.
FM increases customs duty on crude oil to 5%, on diesel and petrol to 7.5%, and on other petroleum products to 10%.
Structural changes in excise duties on cigarettes, cigars, and cigarillos.
Clean energy cess of Rs50 per ton to be levied on coal produced in India.
Concessional excise duty of 4% on solar cycle-rickshaws.
More in the speech
At home there was added uncertainty because of subnormal southwest monsoon.
Yet, the economy now in a far better position than it was
eight years ago.
First challenge before the government is to quickly revert to high GDP growth path of 9%.
Expects 10% economic growth in the near future.
Second challenge is to harness economic growth to make it more inclusive and consolidate gains.
Third challenge is to overcome weakness in government's public delivery mechanism; a long way to go in this.
Impressive recovery in the past few months. Can witness
faster recovery in the coming months.
Food security has been strengthened.
But bottleneck of the public delivery mechanism can hold us back.
Fiscal year 2009-10 was challenging for the economy.
Focus shifted to non-governmental actors and an enabling government. Government now concentrates on supporting and delivering services to the poorer sections.
Economy stabilised in the first quarter of 2009 itself.
18.5% manufacturing growth in December was the highest in two decades.
Figures for merchandise exports for January encouraging
after turnaround in November and December last year.
Double digit food inflation last year due to bad monsoon
and drought-like conditions.
Government conscious of the price rise and taking steps to tackle it.
Erratic monsoon and drought-like conditions forced supply-side bottleneck that fuelled inflation.
Need to review stimulus imparted to economy last year to overcome the recession.
Need to ensure that the demand-supply imbalance is managed.
Need to make growth more broad-based.
Need to review public spending and mobilise resources.
Status paper on public debt within six months.
Government hopes to implement direct tax code from April 2011.
Earnest endeavour to implement general sales tax in April 2011.
Government will raise Rs25,000 crore from divestment of its stake in state-owned firms.
Kirit Parekh report on fuel price deregulation will be taken up by petroleum minister Murli Deora in due course.
Nutrient-based fertiliser subsidy scheme to come into force from April 1 this year.
Nutrient-based fertiliser subsidy will reduce volatility of subsidy and also reduce it.
Market capitalisation of five public-sector undertakings listed since October increased by 3.5 times.
FDI inflows steady during the year. Government has taken
series of steps to simplify FDI regime. Intends to make FDI policy user friendly by compling all guidelines into one document.
Government has decided to set up apex-level Financial
Stability and Development Council.
RBI considering issuing banking licences to private companies. Non-banking finance companies will also be considered if they meet the criteria.
Government to provide Rs16,500 crore to public-sector
banks to maintain tier-I capital.
Government to continue interest subvention of 2% for one more year for exports covering handicrafts, carpets,
handlooms and small and medium enterprises.
Government to provide Rs300 crore to organise 60,000 pulse and oilseed villages and provide integrated intervention of watershed and related programmes.
Rs200 crore provided for climate-resilient agriculture
initiative.
Government committed to ensuring continued growth of
special economic zones.
Need to take firm view on opening up of the retail sector.
Deficit in foodgrains storage capacity to be met with private-sector participation.
Period for repayment of loans by farmers extended by six months to June 30, 2010, in view of the drought and floods in some parts of the country.
Interest subvention for timely repayment of crop loans raised from 1% to 2%, bringing the effective rate of interest to 5%.
Road transport allocation raised by 13% to Rs19,894 crore.
Proposal to maintain thrust of upgrading infrastructure in rural and urban areas. IIFCL authorised to refinance infrastructure projects.
Rs1,73,552 crore provided for infrastructure development.
Allocation for railways fixed at Rs16,752 crore, an increase of Rs950 crore over the last financial year.
Government proposes to set up Coal Development Regulatory Authority.
Mega power plant policy modified to lower cost of generation; allocation to power sector more than doubled to Rs5,130 crore in 2010-11.
Government favours competitive bidding for coal blocks for captive power plants.
Rs500 crore allocated for solar and hydro projects for the Ladakh region in Jammu & Kashmir.
Clean Energy Fund to be created for research in new energy sources.
Allocation for new and renewable energy ministry increased by 61% to Rs1,000 crore.
One-time grant of Rs200 crore provided to Tirupur textile cluster in Tamil Nadu.
Allocation for National Ganga River Basin Authority doubled to Rs500 crore.
Alternative port to be developed at Sagar Island in West Bengal.
Draft of Food Security Bill ready, to be placed in the public domain soon.
Outlay for social sectors pegged at Rs1,37,674 crore, accounting for 37% of the total plan allocation.
Plan allocation for school education raised from Rs26,800 crore to Rs31,036 crore in 2010-11.
25% of plan outlay earmarked for rural infrastructure development.
Plan allocation for health and family welfare increased to Rs22,300 crore from Rs19,534 crore.
For rural development, Rs66,100 crore have been allocated.
Allocation for National Rural Employment Guarantee Authority stepped up to Rs40,100 crore in 2010-11.
Indira Awas Yojana's unit cost raised to Rs45,000 in the plains and Rs48,500 in hilly areas.
Allocation for urban development increased by 75% to Rs5,400 crore in 2010-11.
1% interest subvention loan for houses costing up to Rs20 lakh extended to March 31, 2011; Rs700 crore provided.
Allocation for development of micro and small-scale sector raised from Rs1,794 crore to Rs2,400 crore.
Rs1,270 crore provided for slum development programme, marking an increase of 700%.
Government to set up National Social Security Fund with initial allocation of Rs1,000 crore to provide social security to workers in the unorganised sector.
Government to contribute Rs1,000 per annum to each
account holder under the new pension scheme.
Exclusive skill development programme to be launched for textile and garment-sector employees.
Allocation for woman and child development increased by 80%
Plan outlay for the social justice ministry raised by 80% to Rs4,500 crore.
Plan allocation for minority affairs ministry raised from Rs1,740 crore to Rs2,600 crore.
Financial-Sector Legislative Reforms Committee to be set
up.
Rs1,900 crore allocated for Unique Identification Authority of India.
A unique identity symbol will be provided to the rupee in line with the US dollar, British pound sterling, euro and Japanese yen.
Defence allocation pegged at Rs1,47,344 crore in 2010-11
against Rs1,41,703 crore in the previous year. Of this, capital expenditure would account for Rs60,000 crore.
Planning Commission to prepare integrated action plan for
Naxal-affected areas to encourage "misguided elements" to eschew violence and join the mainstream.
Gross tax receipts pegged at Rs7,46,656 crore for 2010-11, non-tax revenues at Rs1,48,118 crore.
Total expenditure pegged at Rs11.8 lakh crore, an increase of 8.6%.
Fiscal deficit at 5.5%.
Fiscal deficit seen at 4.8% and 4.1% in 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively.
Non-plan expenditure pegged at Rs37,392 crore and plan expenditure at Rs7,35,657 crore in budget estimates. Proposed increase of 15% in plan expenditure and 6% in non-plan expenditure.
Cash subsidy for fuel and fertiliser instead of previous practice of bonds to continue.
Fiscal deficit pegged at 6.9% in 2009-10 as against 7.8% in the previous fiscal.
Government's net borrowing to be Rs3,45,010 crore for 2010-11.
Income-tax department ready with two-page Saral-2 returns
form for individual salaried assesses.
Personal income-ax rates pruned:
Income up to Rs1.6 lakh — nil
Income above Rs1.6 lakh and up to Rs5 lakh — 10%
Income above Rs5 lakh and up to Rs8 lakh — 20%
Income above Rs8 lakh — 30%
Additional deduction of Rs20,000 allowed on long-term
infrastructure bonds for income-tax payers; this is above Rs1 lakh on savings instruments allowed already.
Investment-linked tax deductions to be allowed to two-star hotels anywhere in the country.
Weighted deduction of 125% for payments to approved associations doing social and statistical research.
One-time interim relief to housing and real-estate sector.
Businesses with a turnover of up to Rs60 lakh and professionals earning up to Rs15 lakh to be exempted from the obligation to audit their accounts.
Housing projects allowed to be completed in five years instead of four to avail of tax breaks.
Revenue loss of Rs26,000 crore on direct tax proposals.
Central excise duty on all non-petroleum products raised to 10% from 8%.
FM increases customs duty on crude oil to 5%, on diesel and petrol to 7.5%, and on other petroleum products to 10%.
Structural changes in excise duties on cigarettes, cigars, and cigarillos.
Clean energy cess of Rs50 per ton to be levied on coal produced in India.
Concessional excise duty of 4% on solar cycle-rickshaws.
Balloons exempted from central excise duty.
Customs and central excise proposals to result in a net revenue gain of Rs43,500 crore.
More services to be brought under the service tax net.
Certain accredited news agencies exempted from payment of service tax.
Net revenue gain from tax proposals pegged at Rs20,500 crore.
Fiscal deficit at 5.5%.
Fiscal deficit seen at 4.8% and 4.1% in 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively.
Gross tax receipts pegged at Rs7,46,656 crore for 2010-11, non-tax revenues at Rs1,48,118 crore.
Total expenditure pegged at Rs11.8 lakh crore, an increase of 8.6%.
Personal income-ax rates pruned:
Income up to Rs1.6 lakh — nil
Income above Rs1.6 lakh and up to Rs5 lakh — 10%
Income above Rs5 lakh and up to Rs8 lakh — 20%
Income above Rs8 lakh — 30%
Additional deduction of Rs20,000 allowed on long-term
Businesses with a turnover of up to Rs60 lakh and professionals earning up to Rs15 lakh to be exempted from the obligation to audit their accounts.
One-time interim relief to housing and real-estate sector.
Customs and central excise proposals to result in a net revenue gain of Rs43,500 crore.
More services to be brought under the service tax net.
Certain accredited news agencies exempted from payment of service tax
.
Net revenue gain from tax proposals pegged at Rs20,500 crore.
Housing projects allowed to be completed in five years instead of four to avail of tax breaks.
Revenue loss of Rs26,000 crore on direct tax proposals.
Central excise duty on all non-petroleum products raised to 10% from 8%.
FM increases customs duty on crude oil to 5%, on diesel and petrol to 7.5%, and on other petroleum products to 10%.
Structural changes in excise duties on cigarettes, cigars, and cigarillos.
Clean energy cess of Rs50 per ton to be levied on coal produced in India.
Concessional excise duty of 4% on solar cycle-rickshaws.
More in the speech
At home there was added uncertainty because of subnormal southwest monsoon.
Yet, the economy now in a far better position than it was
eight years ago.
First challenge before the government is to quickly revert to high GDP growth path of 9%.
Expects 10% economic growth in the near future.
Second challenge is to harness economic growth to make it more inclusive and consolidate gains.
Third challenge is to overcome weakness in government's public delivery mechanism; a long way to go in this.
Impressive recovery in the past few months. Can witness
faster recovery in the coming months.
Food security has been strengthened.
But bottleneck of the public delivery mechanism can hold us back.
Fiscal year 2009-10 was challenging for the economy.
Focus shifted to non-governmental actors and an enabling government. Government now concentrates on supporting and delivering services to the poorer sections.
Economy stabilised in the first quarter of 2009 itself.
18.5% manufacturing growth in December was the highest in two decades.
Figures for merchandise exports for January encouraging
after turnaround in November and December last year.
Double digit food inflation last year due to bad monsoon
and drought-like conditions.
Government conscious of the price rise and taking steps to tackle it.
Erratic monsoon and drought-like conditions forced supply-side bottleneck that fuelled inflation.
Need to review stimulus imparted to economy last year to overcome the recession.
Need to ensure that the demand-supply imbalance is managed.
Need to make growth more broad-based.
Need to review public spending and mobilise resources.
Status paper on public debt within six months.
Government hopes to implement direct tax code from April 2011.
Earnest endeavour to implement general sales tax in April 2011.
Government will raise Rs25,000 crore from divestment of its stake in state-owned firms.
Kirit Parekh report on fuel price deregulation will be taken up by petroleum minister Murli Deora in due course.
Nutrient-based fertiliser subsidy scheme to come into force from April 1 this year.
Nutrient-based fertiliser subsidy will reduce volatility of subsidy and also reduce it.
Market capitalisation of five public-sector undertakings listed since October increased by 3.5 times.
FDI inflows steady during the year. Government has taken
series of steps to simplify FDI regime. Intends to make FDI policy user friendly by compling all guidelines into one document.
Government has decided to set up apex-level Financial
Stability and Development Council.
RBI considering issuing banking licences to private companies. Non-banking finance companies will also be considered if they meet the criteria.
Government to provide Rs16,500 crore to public-sector
banks to maintain tier-I capital.
Government to continue interest subvention of 2% for one more year for exports covering handicrafts, carpets,
handlooms and small and medium enterprises.
Government to provide Rs300 crore to organise 60,000 pulse and oilseed villages and provide integrated intervention of watershed and related programmes.
Rs200 crore provided for climate-resilient agriculture
initiative.
Government committed to ensuring continued growth of
special economic zones.
Need to take firm view on opening up of the retail sector.
Deficit in foodgrains storage capacity to be met with private-sector participation.
Period for repayment of loans by farmers extended by six months to June 30, 2010, in view of the drought and floods in some parts of the country.
Interest subvention for timely repayment of crop loans raised from 1% to 2%, bringing the effective rate of interest to 5%.
Road transport allocation raised by 13% to Rs19,894 crore.
Proposal to maintain thrust of upgrading infrastructure in rural and urban areas. IIFCL authorised to refinance infrastructure projects.
Rs1,73,552 crore provided for infrastructure development.
Allocation for railways fixed at Rs16,752 crore, an increase of Rs950 crore over the last financial year.
Government proposes to set up Coal Development Regulatory Authority.
Mega power plant policy modified to lower cost of generation; allocation to power sector more than doubled to Rs5,130 crore in 2010-11.
Government favours competitive bidding for coal blocks for captive power plants.
Rs500 crore allocated for solar and hydro projects for the Ladakh region in Jammu & Kashmir.
Clean Energy Fund to be created for research in new energy sources.
Allocation for new and renewable energy ministry increased by 61% to Rs1,000 crore.
One-time grant of Rs200 crore provided to Tirupur textile cluster in Tamil Nadu.
Allocation for National Ganga River Basin Authority doubled to Rs500 crore.
Alternative port to be developed at Sagar Island in West Bengal.
Draft of Food Security Bill ready, to be placed in the public domain soon.
Outlay for social sectors pegged at Rs1,37,674 crore, accounting for 37% of the total plan allocation.
Plan allocation for school education raised from Rs26,800 crore to Rs31,036 crore in 2010-11.
25% of plan outlay earmarked for rural infrastructure development.
Plan allocation for health and family welfare increased to Rs22,300 crore from Rs19,534 crore.
For rural development, Rs66,100 crore have been allocated.
Allocation for National Rural Employment Guarantee Authority stepped up to Rs40,100 crore in 2010-11.
Indira Awas Yojana's unit cost raised to Rs45,000 in the plains and Rs48,500 in hilly areas.
Allocation for urban development increased by 75% to Rs5,400 crore in 2010-11.
1% interest subvention loan for houses costing up to Rs20 lakh extended to March 31, 2011; Rs700 crore provided.
Allocation for development of micro and small-scale sector raised from Rs1,794 crore to Rs2,400 crore.
Rs1,270 crore provided for slum development programme, marking an increase of 700%.
Government to set up National Social Security Fund with initial allocation of Rs1,000 crore to provide social security to workers in the unorganised sector.
Government to contribute Rs1,000 per annum to each
account holder under the new pension scheme.
Exclusive skill development programme to be launched for textile and garment-sector employees.
Allocation for woman and child development increased by 80%
Plan outlay for the social justice ministry raised by 80% to Rs4,500 crore.
Plan allocation for minority affairs ministry raised from Rs1,740 crore to Rs2,600 crore.
Financial-Sector Legislative Reforms Committee to be set
up.
Rs1,900 crore allocated for Unique Identification Authority of India.
A unique identity symbol will be provided to the rupee in line with the US dollar, British pound sterling, euro and Japanese yen.
Defence allocation pegged at Rs1,47,344 crore in 2010-11
against Rs1,41,703 crore in the previous year. Of this, capital expenditure would account for Rs60,000 crore.
Planning Commission to prepare integrated action plan for
Naxal-affected areas to encourage "misguided elements" to eschew violence and join the mainstream.
Gross tax receipts pegged at Rs7,46,656 crore for 2010-11, non-tax revenues at Rs1,48,118 crore.
Total expenditure pegged at Rs11.8 lakh crore, an increase of 8.6%.
Fiscal deficit at 5.5%.
Fiscal deficit seen at 4.8% and 4.1% in 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively.
Non-plan expenditure pegged at Rs37,392 crore and plan expenditure at Rs7,35,657 crore in budget estimates. Proposed increase of 15% in plan expenditure and 6% in non-plan expenditure.
Cash subsidy for fuel and fertiliser instead of previous practice of bonds to continue.
Fiscal deficit pegged at 6.9% in 2009-10 as against 7.8% in the previous fiscal.
Government's net borrowing to be Rs3,45,010 crore for 2010-11.
Income-tax department ready with two-page Saral-2 returns
form for individual salaried assesses.
Personal income-ax rates pruned:
Income up to Rs1.6 lakh — nil
Income above Rs1.6 lakh and up to Rs5 lakh — 10%
Income above Rs5 lakh and up to Rs8 lakh — 20%
Income above Rs8 lakh — 30%
Additional deduction of Rs20,000 allowed on long-term
infrastructure bonds for income-tax payers; this is above Rs1 lakh on savings instruments allowed already.
Investment-linked tax deductions to be allowed to two-star hotels anywhere in the country.
Weighted deduction of 125% for payments to approved associations doing social and statistical research.
One-time interim relief to housing and real-estate sector.
Businesses with a turnover of up to Rs60 lakh and professionals earning up to Rs15 lakh to be exempted from the obligation to audit their accounts.
Housing projects allowed to be completed in five years instead of four to avail of tax breaks.
Revenue loss of Rs26,000 crore on direct tax proposals.
Central excise duty on all non-petroleum products raised to 10% from 8%.
FM increases customs duty on crude oil to 5%, on diesel and petrol to 7.5%, and on other petroleum products to 10%.
Structural changes in excise duties on cigarettes, cigars, and cigarillos.
Clean energy cess of Rs50 per ton to be levied on coal produced in India.
Concessional excise duty of 4% on solar cycle-rickshaws.
Balloons exempted from central excise duty.
Customs and central excise proposals to result in a net revenue gain of Rs43,500 crore.
More services to be brought under the service tax net.
Certain accredited news agencies exempted from payment of service tax.
Net revenue gain from tax proposals pegged at Rs20,500 crore.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Slowdown brings Kerala's houseboats within reach of many
PTI, February 14, 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India's not-to-miss tourist experiences like a ride on the Palace on Wheels or stay at the Lake Palace are often beyond the means of most Indians, but the economic slowdown has brought at least one experience within the reach of the middle-class -- Kerala's houseboats.
For long patronised by rich foreign tourists, the backwater cruise industry in Kerala has woken up to the benefits of winning domestic tourists who virtually kept it afloat when the waves of the global economic slowdown hit the Indian shores in 2008-end.
An overnight cruise through the coconut lagoon - an experience that the National Geographic Traveler has ranked ahead of viewing the Taj Mahal - is now cheaper by at least 20 per cent, if not more, than the period preceding the slowdown.
"A single bedroom houseboat can be hired for as low as Rs 6,000 a day and the rates include all meals for a couple... there were days when the same ride would have cost Rs 10,000-15,000," says Kochumon alias Sanish, who captains 'Sandra', a well-appointed two bed-room houseboat that in its earlier avatar as 'kettuvallam' (rope-tied country boat) ferried rice and spices in the Kuttanad region, the state's rice bowl.
Compared to this, a ride on the Palace on Wheels costs anywhere around Rs 2,00,000 per person per week.
"We are seeing a lot of interest from tourists from the north, especially Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and Haryana and rates are no longer prohibitive," said Anil James, a houseboat operator.
A typical backwater cruise takes tourists on a 40-km journey through the Vembanad lake, India's longest spread over 1,512 sq.km, with a stopover at night by idyllic fishing villages whose people and tourists alike shop from a floating market 'Triveni' operated by Kerala Consumerfed.
At one point after September 2008, business hit its nadir and stayed that way for about six months before domestic tourists started coming in, said Sanish, but Kerala Tourism officials feel the reason for poor business was not a fall in foreign tourist arrivals, but rather oversupply.
"We have 600 houseboats in Alappuzha and Kollam region and the slowdown in business was because of oversupply here," Kerala Tourism Director M Shivshankar said.
The Tourism Department has written to the Irrigation Department, which is the licensing authority for houseboats, asking them to cap the number of boats. The officials are looking at evenly spreading out the houseboat population so that the experience remains premium.
"We are creating new landing points between Ernakulam and Alappuzha and they would be ready by 2010-11 and ensure that crowding is avoided," Shivshankar said, adding that the state was also developing new backwater cruise circuits in Kayankulam and Ashtamudi, so that people from Thiruvananthapuram in the south need not travel all the way up to Alappuzha for backwater cruise.
He said there are 50 more houseboats in the making now, but the aim was to leverage the backwater asset optimally. Kerala's houseboats have been listed among the world's ten Enchanting Escapes by AsiaSpa, the spa and resort magazine.
There are all kinds of houseboats to choose from - one, two and three-bedroom - to suit different budgets. And then there are the motherships - houseboats with ten bedrooms, he said.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India's not-to-miss tourist experiences like a ride on the Palace on Wheels or stay at the Lake Palace are often beyond the means of most Indians, but the economic slowdown has brought at least one experience within the reach of the middle-class -- Kerala's houseboats.
For long patronised by rich foreign tourists, the backwater cruise industry in Kerala has woken up to the benefits of winning domestic tourists who virtually kept it afloat when the waves of the global economic slowdown hit the Indian shores in 2008-end.
An overnight cruise through the coconut lagoon - an experience that the National Geographic Traveler has ranked ahead of viewing the Taj Mahal - is now cheaper by at least 20 per cent, if not more, than the period preceding the slowdown.
"A single bedroom houseboat can be hired for as low as Rs 6,000 a day and the rates include all meals for a couple... there were days when the same ride would have cost Rs 10,000-15,000," says Kochumon alias Sanish, who captains 'Sandra', a well-appointed two bed-room houseboat that in its earlier avatar as 'kettuvallam' (rope-tied country boat) ferried rice and spices in the Kuttanad region, the state's rice bowl.
Compared to this, a ride on the Palace on Wheels costs anywhere around Rs 2,00,000 per person per week.
"We are seeing a lot of interest from tourists from the north, especially Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and Haryana and rates are no longer prohibitive," said Anil James, a houseboat operator.
A typical backwater cruise takes tourists on a 40-km journey through the Vembanad lake, India's longest spread over 1,512 sq.km, with a stopover at night by idyllic fishing villages whose people and tourists alike shop from a floating market 'Triveni' operated by Kerala Consumerfed.
At one point after September 2008, business hit its nadir and stayed that way for about six months before domestic tourists started coming in, said Sanish, but Kerala Tourism officials feel the reason for poor business was not a fall in foreign tourist arrivals, but rather oversupply.
"We have 600 houseboats in Alappuzha and Kollam region and the slowdown in business was because of oversupply here," Kerala Tourism Director M Shivshankar said.
The Tourism Department has written to the Irrigation Department, which is the licensing authority for houseboats, asking them to cap the number of boats. The officials are looking at evenly spreading out the houseboat population so that the experience remains premium.
"We are creating new landing points between Ernakulam and Alappuzha and they would be ready by 2010-11 and ensure that crowding is avoided," Shivshankar said, adding that the state was also developing new backwater cruise circuits in Kayankulam and Ashtamudi, so that people from Thiruvananthapuram in the south need not travel all the way up to Alappuzha for backwater cruise.
He said there are 50 more houseboats in the making now, but the aim was to leverage the backwater asset optimally. Kerala's houseboats have been listed among the world's ten Enchanting Escapes by AsiaSpa, the spa and resort magazine.
There are all kinds of houseboats to choose from - one, two and three-bedroom - to suit different budgets. And then there are the motherships - houseboats with ten bedrooms, he said.
Violence breaks out on Osmania varsity campus again
Violence again broke out on Osmania University campus on Monday, the second time since Sunday evening, with pro-Telangana students taking to the streets.
Protesting the police firing and the baton charge on them Sunday night, the students took out a rally and threw stones at policemen and paramilitary personnel deployed on the campus.
The police hit back with batons once more. Eyewitnesses said some policemen were injured in stone pelting while a few students and media persons sustained injuries when police used force.
The fresh violence broke out a few hours after large-scale violence on the campus Sunday evening. More than 30 students and six media persons were injured when police fired rubber bullets and used batons and teargas shells.
The trouble had started when students tried to take out a procession hailing15 Telangana legislators who resigned to protest terms of reference of Srikrishna panel looking into the statehood issue.
State government and human rights commission have ordered separate probes into the incidents. Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy told reporters on Monday that action would be taken against policemen if they were found guilty of using excessive force.
Meanwhile, tension prevailed at Moazzam Jahi market, a busy commercial area, when students tried to march towards the assembly building to protest the violence at Osmania University. Police used force to disperse the students.
Police also locked the gates of Nizam College in Basheerbagh area to prevent students from marching towards the assembly, where unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the budget session which began Monday with the address of Governor ESL Narasimhan.
Protesting the police firing and the baton charge on them Sunday night, the students took out a rally and threw stones at policemen and paramilitary personnel deployed on the campus.
The police hit back with batons once more. Eyewitnesses said some policemen were injured in stone pelting while a few students and media persons sustained injuries when police used force.
The fresh violence broke out a few hours after large-scale violence on the campus Sunday evening. More than 30 students and six media persons were injured when police fired rubber bullets and used batons and teargas shells.
The trouble had started when students tried to take out a procession hailing15 Telangana legislators who resigned to protest terms of reference of Srikrishna panel looking into the statehood issue.
State government and human rights commission have ordered separate probes into the incidents. Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy told reporters on Monday that action would be taken against policemen if they were found guilty of using excessive force.
Meanwhile, tension prevailed at Moazzam Jahi market, a busy commercial area, when students tried to march towards the assembly building to protest the violence at Osmania University. Police used force to disperse the students.
Police also locked the gates of Nizam College in Basheerbagh area to prevent students from marching towards the assembly, where unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the budget session which began Monday with the address of Governor ESL Narasimhan.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
United efforts needed to face security threats: PM
New Delhi: United efforts are needed to fight terrorists, Maoists and communal forces that pose 'major threats' to our internal security, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Sunday as he asked the state and central governments to face the challenge with firm determination.
'Utmost vigil, sustained and coordinated efforts of the central and state governments are needed. We must periodically review the systems that are in place and ensure the safety and security of our country and our citizens,' Manmohan Singh said while inaugurating the internal security conclave for state chief ministers held here.
The prime minister listed terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, Maoist insurgency in tribal-dominated central India and communal forces as 'major threats'to the country.
'All of you are aware of the major threats to our security. Hostile groups and elements operate from across the border to perpetrate terrorist acts in our country. The state of Jammu and Kashmir bears the brunt of the acts of these groups.
'There is insurgency and violence in the northeast. Many states are affected by the Leftwing extremism, which I have in the past referred to as the greatest threat to our security.
The prime minister noted that there are also people 'who try to divide our society on communal and regional lines'.
'Each one of these threats require a firm determination and continuous vigil to tackle them. These threats to our society and people constitute a challenge that we shall and must meet at all costs,' he said.
'Utmost vigil, sustained and coordinated efforts of the central and state governments are needed. We must periodically review the systems that are in place and ensure the safety and security of our country and our citizens,' Manmohan Singh said while inaugurating the internal security conclave for state chief ministers held here.
The prime minister listed terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, Maoist insurgency in tribal-dominated central India and communal forces as 'major threats'to the country.
'All of you are aware of the major threats to our security. Hostile groups and elements operate from across the border to perpetrate terrorist acts in our country. The state of Jammu and Kashmir bears the brunt of the acts of these groups.
'There is insurgency and violence in the northeast. Many states are affected by the Leftwing extremism, which I have in the past referred to as the greatest threat to our security.
The prime minister noted that there are also people 'who try to divide our society on communal and regional lines'.
'Each one of these threats require a firm determination and continuous vigil to tackle them. These threats to our society and people constitute a challenge that we shall and must meet at all costs,' he said.
Toyota India chief says global recalls not to hit India sales
6 Feb 2010, PTI
MUMBAI: A day after the Japanese automaker's chief apologised for global recalls, Toyota India's Head said the situation in the US would not affect the Indian market.
"The situation in the US does not affect the models being sold in the Indian market. The recent recall had absolutely no link to India," Toyota Kirloskar Motor's Managing Director, Hiroshi Nakagawa, told PTI on the sidelines of an event here today.
Toyota has recently recalled more than 7.5-million cars worldwide. The company also announed that it will suspend US sales of eight models including the Camry and the Corolla.
"The company's recall of more than 7.5-million cars had absolutely no link to India. We think this is a good chance for us to review quality-related activities here," Nakagawa said, adding the company is undertaking a review of its quality processes.
While the Camry is imported to India from Japan, the company assembles the Corolla at its Bangalore-based facility.
Toyota Camry is one of the largest selling cars in the American market and Corolla is another popular car.
"There has been absolutely no impact of the global recall on our Indian product line-up. We import the Camry from Japan and sell it here as a completely built unit, while the Corolla is manufactured in India with 40 per cent localisation," Nakagawa said.
"There is no defect in either of these models and so no recall in India," he said.
MUMBAI: A day after the Japanese automaker's chief apologised for global recalls, Toyota India's Head said the situation in the US would not affect the Indian market.
"The situation in the US does not affect the models being sold in the Indian market. The recent recall had absolutely no link to India," Toyota Kirloskar Motor's Managing Director, Hiroshi Nakagawa, told PTI on the sidelines of an event here today.
Toyota has recently recalled more than 7.5-million cars worldwide. The company also announed that it will suspend US sales of eight models including the Camry and the Corolla.
"The company's recall of more than 7.5-million cars had absolutely no link to India. We think this is a good chance for us to review quality-related activities here," Nakagawa said, adding the company is undertaking a review of its quality processes.
While the Camry is imported to India from Japan, the company assembles the Corolla at its Bangalore-based facility.
Toyota Camry is one of the largest selling cars in the American market and Corolla is another popular car.
"There has been absolutely no impact of the global recall on our Indian product line-up. We import the Camry from Japan and sell it here as a completely built unit, while the Corolla is manufactured in India with 40 per cent localisation," Nakagawa said.
"There is no defect in either of these models and so no recall in India," he said.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Change in copyright law mooted
Press Trust Of India, Thu, Dec 24, 2009
Musicians to have greater say over their works, according to amendment.
New Delhi: Musicians, writers and cinematographers are a step closer to getting royalty for their works used commercially.
The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved amendments to the Copyright Act of 1957 for introduction in Parliament. One amendment will give "independent rights to authors of literary and musical works in cinematograph films, which were hitherto denied and wrongfully exploited by producers and music companies," said Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.
Another amendment ensures that the authors of works, particularly songs included in the cinematograph films or sound recordings, receive royalty for commercial exploitation of such work, Soni said.
"It has been proposed to introduce a system of statutory licensing to ensure that the public has access to musical works over the FM radio and TV networks and at the same time the owners of copyright works are also not subject to any disadvantages," she said.
The News Broadcasters Association had been apprehensive about the amendments and asked the government to ensure that nothing was done to hurt the "well-established and understood rights of broadcasters to fair use of material, including broadcast reproduction rights."
Earlier, only the film's producer had the copyright of the product. After the amendment in the Act, however, the term of copyright for cinematograph films has been extended by making the producers and principal director as joint authors (of the film).
Soni said the amendments were proposed by the HRD Ministry to gain clarity, remove operational difficulties and address newer issues that have emerged in the context of digital technology and Internet.
The newly introduced copyright term will be for 70 years and can be extended by another 10 years provided the producer enters into an agreement with the director.
Amendments are being made to bring the Act in conformity with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Internet Treaties, namely WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) which have set the international standards in these spheres.
WCT deals with the protection for the authors of literary and artistic works such as writings, computer programmes, original databases, musical works, and works of fine art and photographs.
WPPT protects certain related rights of the performers and producers of the phonograms. "While India has not yet signed these treaties it is necessary to amend domestic legislation to extend the copyright protection in the digital environment," Soni said.
The amendments are in conformity with WCT and WPPT, wherein through a new section in the Act, it is proposed to ensure protection to the right holders against circumvention of effective technological measures for protection of his rights like breaking of passwords.
Other amendments made in the music and film industry include provision of statutory licence for version recordings and authorship to ensure that while making a sound recording of any literary, dramatic or musical work the interest of the copyright holder is duly protected.
A clause for addressing the concerns of the physically challenged has been introduced, which aims at giving a fair deal to such people by allowing the production of copies of copyright material in formats specially designed for the physically challenged.
The physically challenged need access to copyright material in specialised formats like Braille text, talking text, electronic text and large print for the visually challenged, and sign language for the aurally challenged.
Currently the cost of production of materials in such formats is very high. With additional requirement of royalty payments the price of such materials to the target groups would be even higher.
Musicians to have greater say over their works, according to amendment.
New Delhi: Musicians, writers and cinematographers are a step closer to getting royalty for their works used commercially.
The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved amendments to the Copyright Act of 1957 for introduction in Parliament. One amendment will give "independent rights to authors of literary and musical works in cinematograph films, which were hitherto denied and wrongfully exploited by producers and music companies," said Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.
Another amendment ensures that the authors of works, particularly songs included in the cinematograph films or sound recordings, receive royalty for commercial exploitation of such work, Soni said.
"It has been proposed to introduce a system of statutory licensing to ensure that the public has access to musical works over the FM radio and TV networks and at the same time the owners of copyright works are also not subject to any disadvantages," she said.
The News Broadcasters Association had been apprehensive about the amendments and asked the government to ensure that nothing was done to hurt the "well-established and understood rights of broadcasters to fair use of material, including broadcast reproduction rights."
Earlier, only the film's producer had the copyright of the product. After the amendment in the Act, however, the term of copyright for cinematograph films has been extended by making the producers and principal director as joint authors (of the film).
Soni said the amendments were proposed by the HRD Ministry to gain clarity, remove operational difficulties and address newer issues that have emerged in the context of digital technology and Internet.
The newly introduced copyright term will be for 70 years and can be extended by another 10 years provided the producer enters into an agreement with the director.
Amendments are being made to bring the Act in conformity with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Internet Treaties, namely WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) which have set the international standards in these spheres.
WCT deals with the protection for the authors of literary and artistic works such as writings, computer programmes, original databases, musical works, and works of fine art and photographs.
WPPT protects certain related rights of the performers and producers of the phonograms. "While India has not yet signed these treaties it is necessary to amend domestic legislation to extend the copyright protection in the digital environment," Soni said.
The amendments are in conformity with WCT and WPPT, wherein through a new section in the Act, it is proposed to ensure protection to the right holders against circumvention of effective technological measures for protection of his rights like breaking of passwords.
Other amendments made in the music and film industry include provision of statutory licence for version recordings and authorship to ensure that while making a sound recording of any literary, dramatic or musical work the interest of the copyright holder is duly protected.
A clause for addressing the concerns of the physically challenged has been introduced, which aims at giving a fair deal to such people by allowing the production of copies of copyright material in formats specially designed for the physically challenged.
The physically challenged need access to copyright material in specialised formats like Braille text, talking text, electronic text and large print for the visually challenged, and sign language for the aurally challenged.
Currently the cost of production of materials in such formats is very high. With additional requirement of royalty payments the price of such materials to the target groups would be even higher.
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