19.08.2007

• A thought-provoking editorial appeared in ET yesterday. I was compelled to write a counter argument about the subject. It is about reserving certain items for procurement from the SSI sector. Take a look at it here.
  
• The government ‘nuked’ on the Indo-US nuclear deal
• The Left has served a stern message that its support to the UPA government cannot be taken for granted if the Indo-US nuclear deal is pressed ahead with.
• These are tough times for the government led by the Congress party.
• Though it is unlikely that the Left will pull the rug from under the feet of the UPA government; nothing can be successfully prognosticated in politics. Let’s wait and watch the developments.
• Online realty sales
• The Government of Rajasthan has begun the process of ‘dematting’ the property title deeds in a bid to make the real estate sales far more transparent.
• It is being done with the help of an NGO or urban governance – Janaagraha.
• Once dematerialized, all property deeds will reflect the authenticity of the land titles, payment of property tax and dues to banks etc.
• North-East set for mega power drive
• Arunachal Pradesh may produce 25,000 MW of hydel power in the next 7 to 8 years. Of this around 65% generation may come from private sector alone.
• The policy envisaged provides that the private developers will have to give 12% of the generated power free to the state government. In addition they will have to pay a cess of 1 pase per unit of power produced.
• Death threats to Taslima Nasrin
• Majidullah Khan Farhad of Hyderabad based Majlis Bachao Tehriq (MBT) accused Taslima of ‘defaming’ Islam and announced ‘unlimited financial reward’ to anybody who would kill her.
• I am left to wonder, what is the government doing about such publicly aired threats?
• Taslima has moved from Bangladesh after her book ‘Lazza’ invoked the ire of fundamentalists there. She moved to Sweden then and has been living there till 2002, when she moved to India.
• Though she has not been granted any citizenship or permanent residence, her visa has been extended from time to time.
• What are most common characteristics of innovators?
• The Business Week magazine has come out with a directory of the top Champions on Innovation. Let’s take a look at some of the common characteristics identified in them:
• They speak the language of design and user-friendliness.
• They derive their clout directly from the top and are the CEO’s consiglieri on creativity.
• They are mostly women.
• Cricket
• What is Nisar trophy about?
• It is a match between India’s Ranji Trophy winners and Pakistan’s Quaid Trophy winners.
• Pakistan and India, who in 2004 resumed their high-profile bilateral cricket rivalry after a four-year hiatus amid political tensions, had agreed to stage an annual match between the winners of their respective domestic tournaments.
• The match is played in memory of late Mohammad Nisar who played six Tests for India in the 1930’s before migrating to Pakistan in 1950’s. He died in Lahore in 1963.
• Excerpts from Open Space of Sunday Times
• Why are athletic events held in anti-clock wise direction?
• Earth rotates in anti-clockwise direction. Hence, it is much easier to go around a circle in anti-clockwise direction.
• Can you name all the Himalayan ranges?
• Pir Panjal range (It is home to Kashmir)
• Dhaula Dhar range
• Zanskar range
• Ladakh range
• East Korakoram range