SRINAGAR: The State Taxes Department of Government of J&K UT has been awarded SKOCH Award 2023 in Silver category for its successful implementation of GST.
On this occasion, Commissioner STD J&K Dr Rashmi Singh applauded the efforts of the department in ensuring successful implementation of GST. She said that winning SKOCH Award is a significant accomplishment and reflects the dedication and hard work of the the whole team of employees of the department in both divisions of UT. She further added that this shall serves as a source of inspiration for others who are working towards similar goals.
During previous financial year, the department launched several initiatives to increase taxpayer awareness, including seminars, workshops, and outreach programs to educate taxpayers about their rights and responsibilities.
The State Taxes Department also stepped up its efforts to crack down on tax evasion, including conducting stock checking, inspections and audit to identify and penalise tax evaders.
Further, the department implemented a range of technological solutions, including the use of data analytics, BIFA, artificial intelligence, machine learning to automate tax administration processes and improve the efficiency of the tax system.
The Commissioner State Taxes Department J&K Dr Rashmi Singh (IAS) conducted various outreach programmes, engaged with taxpayers, understood their concerns, thereby helping build trust and improve communication between the State Taxes Department and the people it serves.
This resulted in awareness and understanding of tax laws and regulations. Dr. Rashmi Singh time and again reiterated that, “interaction with taxpayers offers clear and accessible information about tax requirements and procedures, thereby helping ensure that taxpayers are able to comply with the law and avoid potential penalties. At the same time, this helps in identifying areas where the tax system may need improvement or where there may be opportunities to make the process more efficient and user-friendly.”
The SKOCH Award, instituted in 2003, recognizes excellence in governance, inclusive growth, and other social and economic initiatives across India. The award recognizes projects and initiatives that have made a significant impact in improving the lives of people in the country.
The SKOCH Award in Silver category is a prestigious recognition that signifies that the project or initiative has achieved a high level of success and has demonstrated innovation, scalability, and sustainability.
Srinagar, May 6 (GNS): A Lashker-e-Toiba militant was killed in an encounter with joint team of police, army and paramilitary CRPF in Baramulla district, officials said on Saturday.
SSP Baramulla Amod Ashok Nagpure (IPS) said that a joint cordon-and-search operation was launched on the basis of the information from a reliable source that some militants are hiding in Karhama village which falls under jurisdiction of police station Kunzer Baramulla. “Based on the information, police, army’s 2 Rashtriya Rifles and 176 battalion CRPF launched the joint cordon during which search party came under indiscriminate fire from a residential house,” he said, adding, “In the ensuing encounter, a militant was killed who was resident of Kulgam district and affiliated with Lashker-e-Toiba militant outfit.”
He has been identified as Abid Wani son of Mohammad Rafiq Wani of Yarhol Babapora Kulgam. “One AK 47 rifle was recovered.
“It has come to fore that he had come to carry out a big militant incident. A case has been registered and further investigation taken up,” he told reporters, according to GNS.
While it was the second encounter in the Baramulla district in around 72 hours, the officer said that in view of the G20 summit all security agencies are on the high alert. “Our network is very strong and we have been getting timely information regarding every suspicious movement and due to synergy among all forces, we have been able to neutralize every threat,” he said, adding, “In view of our preparedness and arrangements, we are fully hopeful about successful conduct of the G20 summit.” (GNS)
Srinagar, May 6 (GNS): A Lashker-e-Toiba militant was killed in an encounter with joint team of police, army and paramilitary CRPF in Baramulla district, officials said on Saturday.
SSP Baramulla Amod Ashok Nagpure (IPS) said that a joint cordon-and-search operation was launched on the basis of the information from a reliable source that some militants are hiding in Karhama village which falls under jurisdiction of police station Kunzer Baramulla. “Based on the information, police, army’s 2 Rashtriya Rifles and 176 battalion CRPF launched the joint cordon during which search party came under indiscriminate fire from a residential house,” he said, adding, “In the ensuing encounter, a militant was killed who was resident of Kulgam district and affiliated with Lashker-e-Toiba militant outfit.”
He has been identified as Abid Wani son of Mohammad Rafiq Wani of Yarhol Babapora Kulgam. “One AK 47 rifle was recovered.
“It has come to fore that he had come to carry out a big militant incident. A case has been registered and further investigation taken up,” he told reporters, according to GNS.
While it was the second encounter in the Baramulla district in around 72 hours, the officer said that in view of the G20 summit all security agencies are on the high alert. “Our network is very strong and we have been getting timely information regarding every suspicious movement and due to synergy among all forces, we have been able to neutralize every threat,” he said, adding, “In view of our preparedness and arrangements, we are fully hopeful about successful conduct of the G20 summit.” (GNS)
Hyderabad: The Nizam’s Institute Of Medical Sciences (NIMS) Hospital has completed 50 kidney transplant surgeries successfully and achieved extraordinary momentum in the just past four months under the Arogyasree scheme.
The Arogyasasree scheme is providing free treatment of heart, liver, lung, kidney, pancreas, skin, cornea, bone tissue, heart valve, and blood vessel transplant surgeries worth 15 lakhs per patient.
NIMS Hospital has performed 862 kidney transplants since 2014, averaging 100 operations per year since 2015. The hospital performed 93 kidney transplant surgeries in the previous year.
Finance and Health Minister Harish Rao Thanneeru congratulated the NIMS faculty for performing successful transplant surgeries over the years while describing it as a “feat that is rare in a corporate hospital”
“Congratulations to NIMS Hospital for completing 50 successful kidney transplant surgeries in just 4 months! Under the visionary leadership of CM Shri #KCR garu, free medical expenses worth ₹15lakhs through Aarogyasri has given a new ray of hope to Organ Transplant patients. A remarkable achievement in healthcare!” Rao tweeted.
Congratulations to NIMS Hospital for completing 50 successful kidney transplant surgeries in just 4 months!
Under the visionary leadership of CM Shri #KCR garu, free medical expenses worth ₹15lakhs through Aarogyasri, has given a new ray of hope to Organ Transplant patients. A… pic.twitter.com/0ELMVoPa95
Hyderabad: Marriage is considered one of the most significant events in a person’s life. It is a commitment to spend the rest of the life with a partner who is compatible in every way.
Given the importance of marriage in life, it is crucial to choose the right life partner for a successful marriage. While choosing a life partner, it is important to give preference to the qualities listed in Islam for a successful marriage.
The first and most important quality to look for in a life partner is piety. A religious spouse is highly preferred in Islam. After piety, the next quality to look for in a life partner is good nature. A person with a good heart and a kind soul will make a great partner.
In Islam, class distinctions are discouraged, but believers are asked to consider compatibility when choosing a life partner. Compatibility of the couple does not limits to having common interests but also includes being on the same page when it comes to values, goals, and priorities.
Last but not least, it is important to consider the family background of your potential partner.
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Kolkata: Kolkata witnessed history on Wednesday as a rake of Kolkata Metro conducted a successful trial run through an underwater tunnel under Hooghly river in the route connecting Esplanade in central Kolkata with the iconic Howrah station.
Only senior officials and select engineers of Kolkata Metro were on board during the trial run, the first in the history of the nation.
Describing the event as a historic moment for the city, Kolkata Metro General Manager P. Uday Kumar Reddy said that this is just the beginning and regular underwater trial runs in this route will commence soon.
Reddy, who described the trip as “revolutionary”, was part of the first trial run as he travelled from the Mahakaran station to the Howrah Maidan station.
According to Reddy, regular trial runs on this route will be conducted for the next seven months.
“Soon after that, regular services for the general public will commence,” he said.
The route stretching from Howrah to Esplanade is approximately 4.8 km long, of which 520 metres will be through the tunnel under Hooghly River. The tunnel is 32 metres under the water surface level.
Kohima: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has continued the Naga peace talks, adding it will be a successful one.
Addressing an election rally in Tuensang Sadar in Nagaland, the Home Minister said that the Narendra Modi government has taken forward both peace and development in Nagaland.
“Naga peace talks are going on. What PM Modi has started will be successful, and Naga culture, language, attire, tradition and history would be protected and developed in the coming days,” he told the gathering.
The Home Minister, expressing his happiness about the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation’s (ENPO) withdrawal of the vote boycott (February 27), said that all the issues of ENPO had been discussed and an agreement would be signed after the assembly elections.
“Due to the model code of conduct of the assembly elections, an agreement could not be signed. After the February 27 assembly polls, an agreement would be signed by the Union Home Ministry ensuring the Naga people’s rights and development,” Shah said.
The influential Naga body, ENPO, after getting an assurance from the Home Minister on February 4, withdrew its call to boycott the February 27 Assembly polls in support of its demand for a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state.
The Home Minister said that the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act (AFSPA) was withdrawn from 15 police station areas of seven Nagaland districts, and within three to four years, the AFSPA would be withdrawn from the entire Nagaland.
As the Modi government has done a lot of work, including peace accords with several militant outfits, incidents of extremist violence have been reduced by 70 percent in the entire northeast region during the past eight years, he said.
Shah said that the killing of civilians reduced by 83 percent and the killing of security personnel came down to 60 percent in eight years.
He also said that Narendra Modi is the only Prime Minister who has visited the northeast more than 50 times and took the development of the region to a new height.
Noting that for the first time in 75 years, a poor tribal woman became the President of India, the Union Minister said that the Central budget for the development of tribal areas and tribal people was Rs 21,000 crore before 2014, and now it has been increased to Rs 86,000 crore.
The Home Minister said that to develop the remote and far-flung areas of the northeast, satellite-based surveys and monitoring are being conducted for 130 infrastructure projects.
Since 2015, 53 large infrastructure projects have been completed and 142 such projects are now in the pipeline in Nagaland, he said, adding that 14 lakh people of Nagaland are getting 5 kg of rice per month free of cost.
The Home Minister also highlighted the Centre’s help in providing housing, water supply, cash transfer to farmers and health support.
The Home Minister addressed an election rally in Nagaland’s Mon town on Monday and spent the night in Mon town.
Shah also met representatives of ENPO and other organisations during his stay in Mon district, bordering Myanmar.
Since 1997 when the first cloned mammal was born in Europe, there have been many abortive bids to use the technology in India. It was only in 2009, when Kashmir scientist, Dr Riyaz A Shah’s specially designed technique led to two cloned buffaloes in NDRI Karnal. Back home, after his PhD, he gave Kashmir the first cloned Pashmina goat, Noori, who is already a granny. In a detailed interview with Masood Hussain, Dr Riyaz explains his challenges and successes and his current research focus at SKUAST-K
TheNewsCaravan (KL): What is cloning and what are its applications?
DR RIYAZ AHMAD SHAH (DRAS): In normal conditions, animal breeding takes place by sexual reproduction, in which males and females physically get together to reproduce. However, cloning is an assisted reproductive technology, where the cells of either a male or female animal are taken and developed in laboratory conditions until an embryo is formed. It is then implanted in a surrogate mother. The offspring is born after it completes its gestation period. The process is efficient as it allows farmers to increase the number of their herds by providing more copies of the best-quality breed in the herd. In 1997, the world witnessed its first cloned mammal in the form of a sheep called Dolly, a female Finnish Dorset sheep cloned from an adult somatic cell
KL: Before we talk about your contributions to cloning, kindly tell us about your learning curve and the entire journey from your schools to SKUAST-K.
DRAS: I was born and raised in Batmaloo Srinagar. I did my early schooling at a local school and then joined Tyndale Biscoe for further studies. I aspired to be a doctor but couldn’t crack the entrance test; so, I ended up in veterinary science. I graduated from the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST). Owing to a good number of vacancies in the field, I got a job immediately after completing my degree. However, the thirst for learning more and being mentored by professors who had completed their studies from other states inspired me to go for further studies outside Kashmir. I cracked the prestigious national veterinary entrance test and was post-graduated from Indian Veterinary Research Institute Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.
I came back to Kashmir and worked in the Department of Animal Husbandry for some years. In 1998, I joined SKUAST as an Assistant Professor. Initially, I was posted at Cattle Farm in Manasbal, Ganderbal. It proved to be a good learning experience. In 2005, I got admission as an in-service PhD candidate at National Dairy Research Institute. There, I came across a group who were working on cloning at that time. Interested, I joined them. The group had been working on a project of cloning buffalo. The group was struggling to form a cloned embryo since 1997 but could not succeed. I took the challenge and my PhD guide Dr S K Singla encouraged me for it. It took me nearly two years to standardize various techniques related to cloning but I succeeded.
KL: What were the major takeaways of your PhD programme?
DRAS: The topic of my research was the production of handmade cloned embryos in buffalos. The embryo formed in the laboratory was transferred to a surrogate mother. It was sheer luck that I got the best quality cloned embryos. After completing the gestation period, a healthy buffalo was born on February 6, 2009, at National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal. It was named Samrupa, the world’s first cloned buffalo calf. It made headlines throughout the world. I did not anticipate such a positive outcome. The calf, however, succumbed to lung infection a few days after it was born.
It was followed by another healthy and normal cloned calf named Garima, born on June 6, 2009.
KL: How many scientists were successful in the process of cloning development before you?
DRAS: My guide, Dr SK Singla, already had his PhD in clone generation under his credit but he remained unsuccessful in the formation of a live and healthy cloned progeny. During the course of my research, two other students were working on the same topic. However, they failed to get any positive results. Samrupa was the first live birth of a cloned buffalo at the institute and proved to be a milestone. Since then the institute has produced 20-25 cloned buffalos. The process involved in Samrupa and Garima acted as a road map for the researchers, who are now merging it with the science of gene editing to incorporate the selective qualities in the cloned organisms.
KL: When you were back home, you cloned Noori, the first Pashmina goat in March 2012?
DRAS: After I finished my PhD and returned to SKUAST, we started working on the Pashmina goat clone. We had to first set up facilities here at the SKUAST campus in Shuhama because we lacked the infrastructure. With project funding of Rs 2.50 crore from the Indian Council for Research (ICR), we were able to acquire basic equipment for our research.
Our objective was to develop a cloned embryo, implant it into a female and get a viable cloned organism. Noori was one of the clones. While earlier researchers had tried to develop clones of various species but Pashmina goat was never experimented on. So, we had to start from scratch. We isolated and cultured the cells of the Pashmina goat. We conducted a study on the different species that can provide oocytes. We had to employ the Pashmina goat’s somatic cells and an egg from a different species.
Since people do not prefer goat meat in Kashmir, we had to get access to the ovaries of goats from a slaughterhouse in Delhi. This made the process a bit hectic and it took us two years to standardize the techniques. However, we got successful in the development of cloned embryos, which were then implanted into a surrogate mother. After 20-25 unsuccessful trials, Noori was our first live cloned Pashmina goat. Noori is currently living a normal and healthy life. It has given birth to 5-6 offspring via the natural reproductive process. Noori has also been a source of Pashmina wool like other naturally produced Pashmina goats.
Dr Riyaz A Shah (SKUAST-K)
KL: What are the differences between naturally reproduced organisms and cloned ones?
DRAS: A clone is genetically as good as a naturally bred organism. Cloning allows choosing the characters and traits we want in an organism, thus allowing farmers to increase the overall quality of their breed. Cloning also enables the production of the desired gender of a species. Farmers for example prefer a cow over a bull, cloning helps them have as many cows as they desire.
KL: How different is Noori from her mother and her own offspring?
DRAS: Noori’s mother was a naturally bred Pashmina goat. Its embryo was implanted in a surrogate mother, who also happened to have naturally reproduced. After Noori’s birth, we studied its physiology and other parameters and found it and its progeny as good as any other Pashmina goat. We concluded that it can be used for the same purposes as we do use a normal goat. Also, there is no restriction on it or its progeny being used as food.
KL: What has been your research focus since you completed the landmark Noori’s project?
DRAS: After Noori’s success, we approached various institutes for funding our projects. We got successful and secured a project, where we introduced gene editing in cloning. We tried to incorporate CRISPR-Cas9, a naturally occurring genome editing system in our research. We identified the gene responsible for Pashmina production in Noori and now we are trying to edit the gene so that the cloned progeny will be a source of good quality and improved quantity of Pashmina. We are nearly successful in creating gene-edited and cloned embryos. We are hopeful that we will soon be able to witness its progeny as well.
Simultaneously we are working on gene editing in sheep, where our focus is to increase meat production. This is a collaborative project with ICR, while scientists outside with the same objective are working on buffaloes; we are at the same time working on sheep.
KL: What ethical issues do genetically modified organisms (GMOs) face?
DRAS: One of the main ethical issues that GMOs face is their uncontrolled use. Many countries have allowed using GMOs as food. But yes scientists first have to make sure that gene editing does not lead to any abnormality in the organism.
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday said that the placement of three satellites successfully into their intended orbits showed the prowess of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
CM Jagan Reddy extended congratulations to the team of ISRO for the launch of SSLV-D2, propelling the nation’s space initiatives.
“The mission of placing three satellites into the intended orbits shows the prowess of Indian Space acumen,” Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said and wished ISRO team and the youngsters associated with the project all success in future endeavours.
The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle – SSLV-D2 has been successfully launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in the morning and successfully placed three satellites EOS-07, Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 into their 450 km circular orbit.
“SLV-D2/EOS-07 Mission is accomplished successfully. SSLV-D2 placed EOS-07, Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 into their intended orbits,” said ISRO.
The launch has put ISRO’s an earth observation satellite EOS-07 and two co-passenger satellites Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 into a 450 km circular orbit around the Earth.
Soon after the launch, Mission Director, ISRO Vinoth said “Janus 1 satellite separated. SSLV D2 mission accomplished.”
The new vehicle was developed to capture the emerging small and microsatellite commercial market. Speaking on the occasion, ISRO chief S Somanath said, “Congratulations to all three satellite teams for making the satellites as well as placing them in right orbit.
We analysed the problems faced in SSLV-D1, identified corrective actions and implemented them at a very fast pace to ensure the vehicle becomes successful this time.”
He said, “Today, after this launch, we are preparing to commence the launch campaign of PSLV-C55. This launch is for NSIL and will probably be launched by the end of March. So the launch campaign will commence today by placing the rocket at launch pedestal in a new facility.”
According to ISRO, the second developmental flight of SSLV-D2 was scheduled at 09:18 hours IST from the first launch pad at SDSC SHAR in Sriharikota. SSLV-D2 is intended to inject the EOS-07, Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 satellites into a 450 km circular orbit, in its 15-minute flight.
EOS-07 is a 156.3 kg satellite designed, developed and realized by ISRO. New experiments include mm-Wave Humidity Sounder and Spectrum Monitoring Payload. Janus-1, a 10.2 kg satellite belongs to the US-based firm Antaris. It is configured with three solid propulsion stages and a velocity terminal module. It is a 34 m tall, 2 m diameter vehicle having a lift-off mass of 120 t.
Meanwhile, the 8.7 kg satellite AzaadiSAT-2 is a combined effort of about 750 girl students across India guided by Chennai-based Space Kidz India.
SSLV caters to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to Low Earth Orbits on a ‘launch-on-demand’ basis. The space research body said it provides low-cost access to Space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure. The first test flight of SSLV ended in partial failure on August 9, 2022.
What are the qualities that make a cricket captain successful?
According to former England skipper Ray Illingworth, it is very important to be versatile. “A captain needs the patience of a saint, the diplomacy of an ambassador, the compassion of a social worker, and the skin of a rhino,” is what Illingworth has written in a book on captaincy. Selection headaches and internal politics may require even greater levels of adaptability on the part of the team leader.
One of India’s most successful captains was M S Dhoni. He was made captain almost by chance. It turned out to be one of the best decisions that were ever made by the BCCI. Dhoni is the only Indian captain to lift three big trophies namely the T20 World Cup (2007), the 50-over World Cup (2011) and the Champions Trophy (2013). Moreover he also took India to the top of the ICC Test rankings.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Twitter)
Dhoni had the ideal qualities to lead the team. He had the ability to remain calm and think clearly even when under great pressure in the battles. And he could also get the cooperation and obedience of his teammates. In this matter, Dhoni was fortunate that he was an established player whose talent and skill was evident in his game.
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi’s case was very much the opposite. Pataudi was pitchforked into the post after Nari Contractor was injured. Being only 21 years old, Pataudi was one of the youngest players in the team. But he was put in charge. In his autobiography Tiger’s Tale, Pataudi describes how he had to lead his seniors against one of the most fearsome rivals in the world. It was a trial by fire. But he managed to get the cooperation of his seniors and in due course became a highly respected leader.
Clive Lloyd
Clive Lloyd faced a rebellion within his ranks after losing the 1983 World Cup against India. The book, Fire In Babylon describes how Gordon Greenidge was one of his harshest critics. Facing a backlash after the loss, Lloyd offered to resign. But a few saner elements within the board eventually prevailed and he was retained as captain. Soon after that the West Indies came to India and Lloyd’s men took their revenge in no uncertain terms. So Lloyd’s captaincy regained firm ground. Lloyd, being an exceptionally brilliant batsman, also had that personal charisma to lead. The players generally looked up to him and he led by example.
Mike Brearley
Mike Brearley in his book titled On Form has stated that even captains can be in or out of form from time to time. Sometimes a captain can make all the right decisions by instinct. Something in his head tells him which bowler to bring in. Or where to place a fielder. Everything that he does turns out to be right. At other times, it all goes to pieces and every decision goes wrong. Why this happens is a mystery.
While Brearley was famous for his tact and man management skills, Alan Border was a different type of captain. He laid down the rules like a lawmaker of the Wild West, and it had to be followed. Those who did not follow would have to face the shooting. In Hyderabad we journalists had a brief glimpse of Border’s style. He was playing in a match at the Gymkhana Ground in Secunderabad when we asked him to spend a few minutes with us and answer some questions. He said: “OK gentlemen, I will give you ten minutes.”
But just when we started our conference by the side of the ground, it began raining. So we all scampered inside and arranged a few chairs in a vacant room. Border followed us inside and announced: “Gentlemen, you have wasted five minutes already.”
Thereafter we had asked barely three questions when the Aussie captain announced: “That’s it. I have given you the ten minutes that I had promised.” And he walked out of the room. His personality was like that. He just stuck to his guns under all circumstances.
So, different team leaders have different methods. There is no formula. It depends on each captain’s own mental makeup, their equation with the rest of the team and how they wish to handle their work. There is no prescription that will work under all circumstances. Success in leadership can be achieved by a variety of methods as each of the great captains has proved.
