Ashok Srivastava (akscnb)

Electrical Protections

2010-02-08T21:24:00.002+05:30

The following tutorials provide a brief overview of some of the key technical issues associated with power transformers. Whilst they are offered in good faith as introductory information, users should be aware that they are neither comprehensive nor complete. We hope you find them useful.

Index
T1 Percentage Impedance (Z%)
T2 Differential Protection
T3 Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA)
T4 Moisture
T5 Buchholz Relays
T6 Vector Groups
T7 to be added
T8 to be added
Differential Protection
Differential protection is a unit scheme that compares the current on the primary side of a transformer with that on the secondary side. Where a difference exists (other than that due to the voltage ratio) it is assumed that the transformer has developed a fault and the plant is automatically disconnected by tripping the relevant circuit breakers. The principle of operation is made possible by virtue of the fact that large transformers are very efficient and hence under normal operation power-in equals power-out. Differential protection detects faults on all of the plant and equipment within the protected zone, including inter-turn short circuits.
Principle of Operation
The operating principle employed by transformer differential protection is the Merz-Price circulating current system as shown below. Under normal conditions I₁and I₂ are equal and opposite such that the resultant current through the relay is zero. An internal fault produces an unbalance or 'spill' current that is detected by the relay, leading to operation.

Design Objectives
An ideal scheme is required to be:

	Extremely stable under through fault conditions
	Very fast to operate for an internal fault

Design Considerations

A number of factors have to be taken into account in designing a scheme to meet these objectives. These include:

	The matching of CT ratios
	Current imbalance produced by tap changing
	Dealing with zero sequence currents
	Phase shift through the transformer
	Magnetising inrush current

Each of these is considered further below.

The Matching of CT Ratios

The CTs used for the Protection Scheme will normally be selected from a range of current transformers with standard ratios such as 1600/1, 1000/5, 200/1 etc. This could mean that the currents fed into the relay from the two sides of the power transformer may not balance perfectly. Any imbalance must be compensated for and methods used include the application of biased relays (see below) and/or the use of the interposing CTs (see below).

Current Imbalance Produced by Tap Changing

A transformer equipped with an on-load tap changer (OLTC) will by definition experience a change in voltage ratio as it moves over its tapping range. This in turn changes the ratio of primary to secondary current and produces out-of-balance (or spill) current in the relay. As the transformer taps further from the balance position, so the magnitude of the spill current increases. To make the situation worse, as the load on the transformer increases the magnitude of the spill current increases yet again. And finally through faults could produce spill currents that exceed the setting of the relay. However, none of these conditions is 'in zone' and therefore the protection must remain stable ie. it must not operate. Biased relays provide the solution (see below).

Dealing with Zero Sequence Currents

Earth faults down stream of the transformer may give rise to zero sequence current, depending upon winding connections and earthing arrangements. Since zero sequence current does not pass through a transformer, it will be seen on one side only producing spill current and possible relay operation for an out-of-zone fault. To prevent such occurrence, zero sequence current must be eliminated from the differential scheme. This is achieved by using delta connections on the secondary side of any CTs that are associated with main transformer windings connected in star.

Where CT secondaries are connected in star on one side of a transformer and delta on the other, allowance must be made for the fact that the secondary currents outside the delta will only be 1/√3 of the star equivalent.

Phase Shift Through the Transformer

Having eliminated the problem of zero sequence currents (see above) through faults will still produce positive and negative sequence currents that will be seen by the protection CTs. These currents may experience a phase shift as they pass through the transformer depending upon the transformer vector group. CT secondary connections must compensate to avoid imbalance and a possible mal-operation.

Magnetising Inrush Current

When a transformer is first energised, magnetising inrush has the effect of producing a high magnitude current for a short period of time. This will be seen by the supply side CTs only and could be interpreted as an internal fault. Precautions must therefore be taken to prevent a protection operation. Solutions include building a time delay feature into the relay and the use of harmonic restraint driven, typically, by the high level of second harmonic associated with inrush current.

Other Issues

Biased Relays

The use of a bias feature within a differential relay permits low settings and fast operating times even when a transformer is fitted with an on-load tapchanger (see above). The effect of the bias is to progressively increase the amount of spill current required for operation as the magnitude of through current increases. Biased relays are given a specific characteristic by the manufacturer.

Interposing CTs

The main function of an interposing CT is to balance the currents supplied to the relay where there would otherwise be an imbalance due to the ratios of the main CTs. Interposing CTs are equipped with a wide range of taps that can be selected by the user to achieve the balance required.

As the name suggests, an interposing CT is installed between the secondary winding of the main CT and the relay. They can be used on the primary side or secondary side of the power transformer being protected, or both. Interposing CTs also provide a convenient method of establishing a delta connection for the elimination of zero sequence currents where this is necessary.

Modern Relays

It should be noted that some of the newer digital relays eliminate the need for interposing CTs by enabling essentials such as phase shift, CT ratios and zero sequence current elimination to be programed directly into the relay.

Tutorial Index
Buchholz Relays
A Buchholz relay is a gas and oil operated device installed in the pipework between the top of the transformer main tank and the conservator. A second relay is sometimes used for the tapchanger selector chamber. The function of the relay is to detect an abnormal condition within the tank and send an alarm or trip signal. Under normal conditions the relay is completely full of oil. Operation occurs when floats are displaced by an accumulation of gas, or a flap is moved by a surge of oil. Almost all large oil-filled transformers are equipped with a Buchholz relay, first developed by Max Buchholz in 1921.
General Arrangement

Front View	Rear View (Cover Removed)

A - Gas Collection Chamber	B - Upper Float C - Lower Float D - Oil Surge Detector

Conditions Detected
A Buchholz relay will detect:

	Gas produced within the transformer
	An oil surge from the tank to the conservator
	A complete loss of oil from the conservator (very low oil level)

Fault conditions within a transformer produce gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen and a range of hydrocarbons (Tutorial T3). A small fault produces a small volume of gas that is deliberately trapped in the gas collection chamber (A) built into the relay. Typically, as the oil is displaced a float (B) falls and a switch operates - normally to send an alarm. A large fault produces a large volume of gas which drives a surge of oil towards the conservator. This surge moves a flap (D) in the relay to operate a switch and send a trip signal. A severe reduction in the oil level will also result in a float falling. Where two floats are available these are normally arranged in two stages, alarm (B) followed by trip (C).
Gas and Oil Flows
Buchholz relays are equipped with a number of gas and oil inputs and outputs, including test and sampling facilities Gas sampling - a graduated sight glass provides an indication of the volume of gas that has accumulated, typically 100-400cm³. After an alarm or trip signal has been received this must be collected and analysed before the transformer is returned to service. Gas collection can be done at the relay, or at ground level if suitable arrangements exist. Clearly the latter is a safer and more convenient option.
Functional Tests - a test petcock enables dry air to be admitted into the relay to check correct operation. A trickle of air is equivalent to a gradual accumulation of gas. A blast simulates an oil surge. These tests are sometimes referred to as 'blowing the Buchholz'. On completion it is important that the relay is bled to remove the air that has been introduced.
Draining - a valve in the bottom of the relay enables an oil sample to be taken or the relay to be drained. As with gas sampling, this facility can be brought down to ground level for enhanced operator safety and convenience.
Accessories
A range of accessories and services are available to assist with the safe and correct operation of Buchholz relays including:

	Ground level oil and gas sampling kits
	Gas sampling devices - automatic
	Gas sampling devices - manual
	On-site gas testers - simple air/fault gas analysis
	On-site gas testers - complex fault gas composition
	Relay test kits
	Recalibration

For further information visit our Catalogue of products and services or contact us

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Tutorial Index

Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA)

DGA is one of the most valuable diagnostic tools available. It is a procedure used to assess the condition of an oil-filled transformer from an analysis of the gases dissolved in the cooling/insulating medium. It is a well established technique that is cost effective, providing essential information from a relatively simple, non-destructive test based upon oil sampling. Whilst the analysis is normally done in a laboratory, on-line devices are also available. The results reveal much about the health of the plant including its present condition, any changes that are taking place, the degradation effects of overload, ageing, the inception of minor faults and the most likely cause of major failures.

Oil sampling from transformers is equivalent to blood sampling from humans.

It should be noted that a severe fault may also produce free gases that collect in the Buchholz relay. This closely associated topic is dealt with in Tutorial T5

Taking an Oil Sample

It is important that oil samples are taken carefully to avoid contamination or the loss of gas. Techniques vary from the use of syringes to kits made up from bungs, tubes and sealed bottles. Opening a drain valve, filling a bucket and pouring the contents into a jar will not produce meaningful results.

In the Laboratory

In the laboratory the mixture of gases must be extracted from the oil, for example by the application of a vacuum. The mixture is then passed through a chromatograph where the individual components are separated, identified and quantified. The results are normally presented in tabular form with each gas listed together with the quantity found in parts per million (ppm) by volume.

Interpreting the Results

Interpreting the results is a specialist science. With knowledge and experience the results of a DGA test can be used to produce a detailed and accurate profile of an individual item of plant. This is made possible by the fact that different conditions within a transformer give rise to different quantities and types of gas. For example, acetylene is only produced by arcing.

The Gases Measured

The main gases that are measured and their sources are as follows:

From the oil
Hydrogen	H₂
Methane	CH₄
Ethane	C₂H₆
Ethylene	C₂H₄
Acetylene	C₂H₂
From the paper
Carbon Dioxide	CO₂
Carbon Monoxide	CO

The Application of DGA

DGA can be used in a variety of ways such as:

	On-line sampling for continuous monitoring - see Catalogue
	One-off sampling with the results checked against statistical norms
	Periodic sampling of a single item to establish trends
	Selective sampling of large numbers with statistical predictions for the remainder
	Mass sampling on a routine basis to collect detailed historical data
	Fault analysis after a Buchholz alarm or trip

Responding to Abnormal Results
Abnormal results are likely to require follow-up action in the form of more frequent sampling and closer monitoring. Internal conditions that produce gases include over-heating, partial discharges and arcing. Where discharges or arcing are taking place techniques that enable insulation defects to be located with accuracy have reached an advanced stage of development - see Catalogue (Field Services)

Other Information Available from Oil Sampling

This tutorial deals briefly with the subject of DGA. However, transformer oil contains a great deal more information than is available from an understanding of the gases dissolved in it. Other parameters that need to be taken into account include moisture content, acidity, dielectric strength, the presence of furans etc. These are all important but outside the scope of this tutorial

End

Tutorial Index

The Threat from Oxygen
Overview
The following notes are based upon a seminar presented by Lars Arvidsson¹ in the UK during March 2002 on the subject of Transformer Life Extension. They are written from the perspective of an asset manager and focus on the adverse effects of oxygen on the life of a transformer. It is Lars' view that oxygen has a far more detrimental effect on life expectancy than any other operational parameter.
It is important to be aware that these notes deal only with the effects of oxygen. Other important factors that affect the life of a transformer (such as temperature and moisture) will be added later as separate topics in this series.
Oxidation
The laws of chemistry state that oxygen has a strong affinity for electrons. An atom that has lost electrons to oxygen is said to be oxidised. In a transformer, oil and paper both degrade as a result of oxidation.
Oxidation of Oil
Transformer oil is produced to various specifications such as the paraffinic, naphthenic and ester types. Some oils possess a degree of natural protection against oxidation and are used without the addition of anti-oxidants. These are referred to as uninhibited oils. The more highly refined oils do not generally possess this natural protection and require anti-oxidants to be added. These are known as inhibited oils.
Ageing and oxidation are synonymous. The ageing of oil begins slowly as the anti-oxidants that are present work to neutralise the harmful peroxides and radicals as they are formed. However, with time the anti-oxidants decrease in quantity and the ageing process increases exponentially.
Ageing leads to the formation of acids, aldehydes, ketones, esters and eventually sludge (a mixture of long insoluble hydrocarbon molecules and particles). The process occurs in the presence of peroxides (unstable oxygen compounds) and free radicals and is accelerated by catalysts such as water and copper.
Oxidised oil presents a maintenance requirement that demands action. Left unattended, oxidised oil continues to deteriorate and transports contamination to the cellulose insulation within the transformer. Here the effects are much more serious. Whilst oil can be changed, cellulose cannot. If the oil is not maintained, sooner or later the condition of the cellulose will deteriorate to the point where it has to be accepted that the transformer has reached the end of its working life.
Oxidation of Cellulose (Paper)
Cellulose degrades (oxidises) much faster than oil because it contains oxygen within its molecular structure. The degradation process generates water, carbon dioxide and furfurals, and is accelerated by external sources of oxygen, high temperature and high levels of oil acidity. The water that is generated combines with moisture drawn in from the atmosphere to further accelerate the degradation process and set up a vicious cycle. The end result is broken molecular chains, a lower degree of polymerisation (DP) and loss of mechanical strength. In the absence of oxygen, decomposition occurs more slowly through the process of pyrolysis.
Action to Minimise Oxidation
Set out below are practical steps that can be taken to reduce the harmful effects of oxygen and extend the life of a transformer:

	Be aware that less oxygen means more life
	Use sealed systems where practicable
	Consider measures to prevent the ingress of oxygen (eg a bag or membrane in the conservator)
	Eliminate the frequent cycling of forced cooling systems to avoid pumping in large quantities of air
	Consider de-gassing treatments for the oil - either as a continuous process or as a maintenance exercise
	Measure anti-oxidant concentrations in oil and add new inhibitor to old oil where appropriate
	Measure the copper content in the oil (to reduce the catalytic acceleration of oxidation)
	Test oil for sulphur (sulphur behaves in a similar way to oxygen)
	Measure the peroxide number (PXN) of the oil

Conclusions and Observations
Oxygen has a seriously detrimental effect upon the life of a transformer. Oxidised oil can be maintained but once the effects have extended to the cellulose, the life of a transformer is at risk. Fortunately preventive measures are available that are cost effective and suitable for all asset management programmes.
Index of Hot Topics
Tutorial Index
¹ Lars Arvidsson MSc. Chemistry, is chief executive of Vasteras PetroleumKemi AB, an independent chemical analysis and consultancy company based in Sweden. His many published papers include Microbiological Activity within Hydrocarbon Bulks and his pioneering work in the transformer field includes the development of unique methods for assessing the condition of transformers. Email: lars.arvidsson@petroleumkemi.se

http://www.transformerworld.co.uk/tutorials.htm

World's largest diamond found

2010-01-25T22:45:00.000+05:30

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On 25 January, 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106 Carat Diamond is discovered during a routine inspection by the mine's superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, and christened the "Cullinan," it was the largest diamond ever found.
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ATM Transaction Not Free for Banks

2010-01-25T22:21:00.001+05:30

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ATM transactions may have become free for customers, but banks now have to pay Re 1 for every ATM transaction that is routed through the National Financial Switch — the backbone of ATM networks in the country. The charge has been introduced after RBI transferred ownership of NFS from its technology arm IDRBT to the newly-formed National Payments Corporation.

National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI), which recently took over ATM-switching service from the Institute of Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), has re-imposed on member banks a switching fee of Re 1 on every ATM transaction routed through the NFS. Incidentally, the switching charge, which was Rs 2 per transaction until 2007, was completely waived in December 2007 to bring down ATM interchange charges.

Speaking at a seminar organised by Banknet, NPCI CEO AP Hota said NPCI has began charging banks Re 1 from January 1. “However, we are looking at lowering the cost below Re 1. Secondly, we are looking at adding more members from 37 to 78 banks.” The 37 members have 49,467 ATMs and the daily average volume is around 1.6 million with a peak volume of 2.6 million so far. IDRBT is a subsidiary of RBI, while NPCI is owned by six commercial banks, including State Bank of India. A senior banker said banks have urged NPCI to reduce the fee levied on ATM transaction.”

Speaking at the seminar, Mr Hota said NPCI’s objective is to shift all retail payment services through NPCL. As of now, 70% of the payments are paper based (cheques payment), while only 30% of the payment is done through the electronic mode. The idea is to switch this ratio to 30% as paper based and 70% through electronic mode in three years’ time. He also pointed out that due to the high usage of paper-based transaction, the payment system is the cost centre of banks unlike in many developed countries, where the payment system is the revenue centre.

For this, banks will have to market and educate customers to use the electronic payment mode, which will help them bring down the cost. Further, Mr Hota said: “As the impact of RTGS is visible on trade and commerce, there is a need to develop a similar service for retail sector as well.”

At the same seminar, RBI general manager R Sivaraman said the central bank’s cheque truncation has been successfully implemented in Delhi, and RBI has decided to replicate this exercise in Chennai also. “We have totally discontinued MICR from Delhi and we are hopeful that by December 2010, we will discontinue MICR from Chennai as well. However, we have not decided any timeline for other cities.”

It may be recalled that the Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement systems (BPSS), a body of RBI, at its meeting held on September 24, 2009, has approved in principle to issue authorisation to NPCI for operating various retail payment systems in the country. Subsequently, on October 15, 2009, RBI granted green signal to NPCI to take over the operations of National Financial Switch (NFS) from IDRBT on an ‘as is where is basis’.
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IMEI number Verification

2009-12-27T11:29:00.002+05:30

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IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number which do not have for Chinese handsets will stop working from 1st December 2009 because all mobile operators across India are asked The Department of Telecommunication to stop services to such handsets. To check your IMEI Number or IMEI Number Check or IMEI Check from datebase or IMEI number verification or IMEI number Tracking can be made by following steps given below.

What is an IMEI number?

•IMEI is unique 15 digit identification number of the Mobile Handset. It's like Registration No.
•One can confirm his handset's IMEI No. by inputting / dialing *#06# on Handset.
•IMEI numbers are being allotted by five bodies authorized by GSMA.
•From IMEI number one can identify the make and model of the handset.

•To verify send a message “IMEI XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX to 53232 or to 57886.

Message displayed for correct IMEI – Success!!
Message displayed for incorrect IMEI – Alert!!! Invalid IMEI

•No two mobile handsets in the world should have the same IMEI number.
•IMEI number is an important tool for the handset tracking.

The Structure of an IMEI Number :

IMEI numbers either come in a 17 digit or 15 digit sequences of numbers. The IMEI format currently utilized is AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D:

* AA: These two digits are for the Reporting Body Identifier, indicating the GSMA approved group that allocated the TAC (Type Allocation Code).
* BBBBBB: The remainder of the TAC
* CCCCCC: Serial sequence of the Model
* D: Luhn check digit of the entire model or 0 (This is an algorithm that validates the ID number)

IMEI Number Verification :

Moreover, even if your Chinese handset is showing an unique IMEI number, it is important to validate that it is an unique IMEI number and not a cloned or duplicate IMEI number because recently many local Chinese firms sent millions of cheap mobiles in India with duplicate or cloned IMEI number which are also equally invalid as per international and Indian laws.

People can validate IMEI numbers of their handsets by sending their IMEI numbers of two numbers 57886 and 53232.

First Type IMEI (in Capital) space IMEI number and then send it to either 57886 or 53232. Within few minutes, people will receive a message about validity of IMEI number.

e.g. IMEI 352536650070854

In both cases of no IMEI number or duplicate IMEI number, people can use a service started by Mobile Standards Alliance of India (Govt. Approved) to provide valid and unique IMEI to all such handsets by paying just Rs 199. After getting new IMEI number, any person can use such handsets for as long as he wants.

People can get the list of all available authorized service centers in their area by visiting this link http://www.msai.in/listofcentre.php. It is important to get new IMEI number from only authorized shops approved by Mobile Standards Alliance of India.

Home Remedies

2009-12-14T07:48:00.002+05:30

= = = = =
10 Simple and Natural Home Remedies for Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a common illness that refers to an infection of the lungs. It occurs in all age groups, and is a leading cause of death among children and elderly people in chronic conditions. The major symptoms of pneumonia are productive cough resulting in mucus, chest pains, fever, chills and breathing shortness.

Here, in this article you will find home remedies for pneumonia. These home remedies are simple, easy to prepare and easy to follow. You will get benefited from these home remedies if followed as instructed below. These remedies can be taken along with your medication to improve your health and give relief from pneumonia symptoms.

1. Turmeric has several medicinal properties and is widely used in treating a number of ailments. It also helps in treating pneumonia. Other herbs such as black pepper, fenugreek and ginger are also beneficial for your lungs. You can take these herbs in raw or cooked form.

2. Sesame seeds are also helpful in treating pneumonia. Add 15 grams of sesame seeds in 250 ml water. Add a pinch of common salt, a teaspoon of linseed, and a tablespoon of honey in this mixture. Consume daily to expel phlegm from the bronchial tubes.

3. Ginger is a popular home remedy for treating most of the respiratory disorders. Take 10 ml juice of the fresh ginger, or one or two grams dried ginger powder along with honey two times daily.

4. Add a teaspoon of honey to a glass of lukewarm water. Drink it two or three times a day. This drink has very soothing effect and relieves symptoms.

5. Mix some camphor with warm turpentine oil and apply it on the chest. Gently massage to get relief from pneumonia.

6. The patient should be kept in a clean, hot and healthy room. Make sure that sunshine enters in the patient room.

7. Try to keep the chest and the feet of the patient warmer than the other parts of the body.

8. Do not take foods that may lead to constipation. It may aggravate the condition.

9. To get relief from chest pain and discomfort, take a teaspoonful of garlic juice.

10. Holy basil is also very useful in pneumonia. Take the juice of few fresh leaves of holy basil. Add a pinch of ground black pepper to this juice and consume at six hourly intervals.

Copyright © Ryan Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

Read Home Remedies for Cough and how to make homemade cough syrup naturally. Also know Home Remedies for Common Cold.
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What life has taught - Read NO MATTER if u r OLD or YOUNG

2009-09-27T11:33:00.000+05:30

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you always but the friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind & soothes the soul

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Listen, yield and share hugs and knowledge with abandon

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
--
AK Srivastava

Mutual Fund : Monthly Income Plans?

2009-08-29T07:11:00.003+05:30

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Should you invest in Monthly Income Plans?

It's common for diversified equity funds to emerge as a top-of-the-mind investment when stock markets are booming. In such a scenario, hybrid funds like Balanced Funds and Monthly Income Plans (MIPs) are relegated to the sidelines. Investors can miss out on a very critical component in their portfolio by shutting out hybrid funds completely. Hybrid funds (powered by their flexibility to invest across asset classes) can add immense value to the investor's portfolio (especially during the down turn). While the role of balanced funds in the investor's portfolio has been well-documented, it is time for investors to sit up and recognise the value MIPs can add to their portfolio.

MIPs invest predominantly in debt instruments with a small portion of assets allocated to equities. The equity component provides MIPs with just the edge it needs to outperform conventional debt funds. The equity component usually varies between 5%-30% of assets. So under what circumstances would MIPs add value to an investor's portfolio? The graph below answers this question.

MIPs vs. Sensex
As is evident from the graph, during the crash in the stock markets last year, MIPs have fallen less as compared to the BSE Sensex indices. And this is where it adds value to an investor's portfolio. When the stock markets rally, they will lag conventional equity funds, but when the markets move down, they will limit the fall in an investor's portfolio.

Hence MIPs become important from an asset allocation perspective. Although, you can reach the desired asset allocation by allocating the assets in equity and debt; MIPs offer a convenient way of achieving the same.
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Time to cash out?

Though the stock markets continue to be volatile, they have recovered from the lows touched in March this year. The markets have posted a growth of around 93% (as on August 26, 2009) since March 8, 2009. Expectedly, many investors who have lost a huge chunk of their invested corpus in the stock market crash last year are now eager to recover whatever they can. Now the question is - is it the right time for you to cash out? While you would promptly say YES, at Personal FN we have a contrarian view on this.

Broadly, there could be two reasons for making investments. First, and the most ideal reason, is to invest for the purpose of meeting one or more of your future goals/objectives. Second, and unfortunately the most commonly practiced, is to make "quick bucks" by participating in market movements. The latter option amounts to timing the markets, something that many investors try to do, but rarely succeed.

In our view, redeeming investments should not be a function of market movements, but rather a result of the following:

Redeem if you are sure that the fund in question has failed to meet its purpose in your financial plan. The reasons behind this could include poor performance or change in investment mandate of the fund, which makes it a misfit in your portfolio.

Redeem if you have to rebalance your asset allocation. Also,before you cash out, make sure that you have decided where to reinvest the redemtpion proceeds.

Redeem when you have achieved your investment objective.

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Charles and Diana Divorce

2009-08-28T19:34:00.003+05:30

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28 August 1996

After four years of separation, Charles, Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, and his wife, Princess Diana, formally divorce.

On July 29, 1981, nearly one billion television viewers in 74 countries tuned in to witness the marriage of Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, to Lady Diana Spencer, a young English schoolteacher. Married in a grand ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral in the presence of 2,650 guests, the couple's romance was, for the moment, the envy of the world. Their first child, Prince William, was born in 1982, and their second, Prince Harry, in 1984.

Before long, however, the fairy tale couple grew apart, an experience that was particularly painful under the ubiquitous eyes of the world's tabloid media. Diana and Charles announced a separation in 1992, though they continued to carry out their royal duties. In August 1996, two months after Queen Elizabeth II urged the couple to divorce, the prince and princess reached a final agreement. In exchange for a generous settlement, and the right to retain her apartments at Kensington Palace and her title of "Princess of Wales," Diana agreed to relinquish the title of "Her Royal Highness" and any future claims to the British throne.

In the year following the divorce, the popular princess seemed well on her way to achieving her dream of becoming "a queen in people's hearts," but on August 31, 1997, she was killed with her companion Dodi Fayed in a car accident in Paris. An investigation conducted by the French police concluded that the driver, who also died in the crash, was heavily intoxicated and caused the accident while trying to escape the paparazzi photographers who consistently tailed Diana during any public outing.

Prince Charles married his longtime mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles, on April 9, 2005.
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Chances of Death ?

2009-08-28T12:41:00.000+05:30

Now, a website to rank your chances of death

Want to know the chances of your death in the near future along with its cause? Well, then log on to DEATH RISK RANKING . Website that can rank people's chances of death (Getty Images)

The new website, developed by researchers and students at Carnegie Mellon University, allows users to query publicly available data from the United States and Europe, and compare mortality risks by gender, age, cause of death and geographic region.

The Web site not only gives the risk of dying within the next year, but it also ranks the probable causes and allows for quick side-by-side comparison between groups.

For example, if a person wanted to know who is more likely to die next year from breast cancer-a 54-year-old Pennsylvania woman or her counterpart in the United Kingdom.

"This is the only place to look. It turns out that the British woman has a 33 percent higher risk of breast cancer death. But for lung/throat cancer, the results are almost reversed, and the Pennsylvania woman has a 29 percent higher risk," said Paul Fischbeck, site developer and professor of social and decision sciences and engineering and public policy (EPP) at Carnegie Mellon.

"Most Americans don''t have a particularly good understanding of their own mortality risks, let alone ranking of their relevant risks," said David Gerard, a former EPP professor at Carnegie Mellon.

They found that beyond infancy, the risk of dying increases annually at an exponential rate. A 20-year-old U.S. woman has a 1 in 2,000 (or 0.05 percent) chance of dying in the next year. By 40 years of age, the risk is three times greater, by age 60, it is 16 times greater; and by age 80, it is 100 times greater (around 1 in 20 or 5 percent).

"The risks are higher, but still not that bad. At 80, the average U.S. woman still has a 95 percent chance of making it to her 81st birthday," said Gerard.

The researchers are hoping that the new Web site will help bring focus to some of the discussion now raging over health care policy in the United States.

"It''s much easier to make a persuasive argument when you have the facts to back it up, and this site provides all sides with the facts. We believe that this tool, which allows anyone to assess their own risk of dying and to compare their risks with counterparts in the United States and Europe, could help inform the public and constructively engage them in the debate," said Fischbeck.

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Missing for 18 Years

2009-08-28T07:03:00.002+05:30

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Kidnapped US Girl Resurfaces After 18 Years As Sex Slave

SAN FRANCISCO: A woman who was snatched as an 11-year-old from a bus stop was reunited on Thursday with her family after spending 18 years as the captive of a convicted rapist who fathered her two children, police said.

Throughout her capture, Jaycee Dugard, was held in a shed and other outbuildings hidden on the property of Phillip Garrido, 58, in a rural area of Antioch, California, some 80 km northeast of San Francisco.

Garrido and his wife Nancy, 54, were each being held on $1-million bail on a number of charges including kidnapping, rape and conspiracy.

"None of the children have ever been to school. They've never been to a doctor," a police representative told a press conference. "They were kept in complete isolation in this compound, if you will."

Police discovered Dugard Wednesday when they questioned Garrido after reported suspicious activity involving him and two children at the University of California, Berkeley.

Dugard was reunited with her family Thursday. Her stepfather, Carl Probyn, who was with her when she was abducted in June 1991, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the family was overjoyed at her appearance.

"She sounds normal. She told my wife she remembers everything," Probyn said.

"I gave up hope for 18 years, just went into recovery mode," he said. "I thought it would be nice just to recover her and capture the people and find out why they did this. Now, I just won the lotto. It's just unbelievable. This is going to be a great day today."
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Nokia's Laptop

2009-08-27T22:41:00.001+05:30

Nokia Booklet 3G Mini Laptop Unveiled

GLOBAL – Nokia has just whipped the dust sheet off the Nokia Booklet 3G. A brand new breed of portable device for Nokia, this mini laptop PC sees the company step foot on freshly cut turf, and we’re a little dumb-struck with excitement at the prospect of the experience that this bite-size Booklet promises to deliver when it arrives. Not to mention what it means bigger picture, and how this product could affect the entire mobile landscape for the better (we’ll save that for another story), but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

First, let’s get down off our tip-toes, take a deep breath, and soak up all the initial details on what the upcoming Nokia Booklet 3G mini laptop is set to deliver when it lands on laps. Read on for every shred of info currently available on this landmark new product, and get the first close-up look at the Nokia Booklet 3G mini laptop in our photo gallery.

The new Nokia Booklet 3G will be a Windows-based machine, supported by an efficient Intel Atom processor that promises the performance of a full-function PC. It’s efficiency credentials are boldly punctuated with battery life that stretches up to 12 hours (with normal daily use, of course – don’t expect a 12-hour Quake-fest off a single hit of juice).

Turning our attention to mini matters of a tape-measure nature, the Nokia Booklet 3G comes toting a glass 10.1-inch HD display (it has an HDMI port for HD video out). This lives within its smart aluminium shell which measures in at just 2cm thin and tips the scales at around a kilogram to ensure it’s extremely portable.

Connecting at speed is crucial with a product of this nature, so the Booklet 3G has been designed with fast downloading and uploading front of mind – it’s 3G/HSPA ready for rapid mobile broadband anywhere-access on the move. Wi-Fi has also been wedged into it’s slim body. Plus, it supports hot-swappable SIM card functionality.

It’s talents don’t end there, with Nokia’s mini laptop PC also featuring onboard assisted-GPS with Ovi Maps neatly sat in the passenger seat. There’s a single front-facing camera nestled above the 10.1-inch HD screen for video chat, with Bluetooth and a built-in SD card reader also making appearances.

You may be wondering why Nokia is adding to its range of products with an ultra portable laptop PC? Well, Nokia’s Executive Vice President for Devices, Kai Oistamo, summed it up simply as follows:

“A growing number of people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility. We are in the business of connecting people and the Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for us. Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design and all day, always on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling. In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful and more personal.”

There’s already a lot of info to digest here, but there are still more details to come at Nokia World 09 on 2 September – expect official word on where the Nokia Booklet 3G will be available, news on how much it’ll cost, along with a detailed list of specs for the number-hungry among us.

In the meantime, share your opinions on the new Nokia Booklet 3G in the comments section below, and be sure to follow all our coverage of Nokia World 09 right here on Conversations.

SOS : Distress Signal

2009-08-27T22:25:00.003+05:30

SOS is the commonly used description for the International Morse code distress signal (· · · — — — · · ·).

This distress signal was first adopted by the German government in radio regulations effective April 1, 1905, and became the worldwide standard under the second International Radiotelegraphic Convention, which was signed on November 3, 1906 and became effective on July 1, 1908.

SOS remained the maritime radio distress signal until 1999, when it was replaced by the Global Maritime Distress Safety System. SOS is still recognized as a visual distress signal.

From the beginning, the SOS distress signal has actually consisted of a continuous sequence of three-dits/three-dahs/three-dits, all run together without letter spacing.

In International Morse Code, three dits form the letter S, and three dahs make the letter O, so "SOS" became an easy way to remember the correct order of the dits and dahs. In modern terminology, SOS is a Morse "procedural signal" or "prosign", and the formal way to write it is with a bar above the letters, i.e. SOS.

In popular usage, SOS became associated with phrases such as "Save Our Seamen", "Save our Ship", "Survivors On Shore" or "Save Our Souls". These were a later development, most likely used to help remember the correct letters (something known as a backronym).

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Seven New IIMs

2009-08-27T22:25:00.002+05:30

Cabinet Approves Seven (7) New IIMs

NEW DELHI: The country will soon have seven new IIMs, of which four will start functioning from next year with the Union Cabinet today approving a

HRD ministry proposal to set up these management institutes.

The new Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will be set up in Tami Nadu, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.

Aimed at generating a highly competent and trained manpower, the institutes are also expected to act as a major catalyst for developing a knowledge society that would inevitably impact on the economic growth of the country.

In the first phase, four IIMs at Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Rohtak (Haryana) will be set up in 2009-10, which would become functional from academic session 2010-11.

The IIMs in Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan will be set up in 2010-11.

In phase-I there would be an intake of 140 students in the PG course and by the end of phase-II, it would reach 560 students per year.

The 11th Five Year Plan endorsed by the National Development Council (NDC) in December 2007, envisaged establishment of seven new IIMs in the country.

With these new IIMs, the country will have 13 B-schools. The Centre has also established one IIM -- Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (RGIIM) in Shillong -- which has commenced its first academic session from 2008-2009.

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Some Fear for 1 - Few Dare to 14

2009-08-27T22:25:00.001+05:30

1 Man - 14 Wives

MUMBAI: You may find it difficult to live a double life but a Mumbai man has been living 14 different lives - with 14 different wives - over the

last couple of years.

The police arrested the 40-year-old man, who used to be an engineer with Air India, on August 18 for marrying 14 women in the last two-and-a-half years. Police officials said Tushar Waghmare alias Tushar Bapat was sacked from his job soon after that.

Five official complaints have been registered so far against Waghmare. The nine other victims were not coming forward to lodge complaints as they feared for their reputation, officials said.

Investigators said Waghmare registered his profile with a marriage portal and mentioned that he had divorced his wife in 2006. He mentioned on his profile that he was looking for working Brahmin women who could be divorcees or widows.

Officials said he ``took care'' of all 14 wives, including one from Nagar, though - in the end - it was they who looked after him after he had exhausted his monthly salary of Rs 70,000. Three of the women Waghmare married were architects or engineers, police officials said, and the others were homemakers.

Waghmare used to visit profiles of girls on marriage portals and would fix appointments with their parents at one of his rented apartments in Lokhandwala or Jogheshwari. ``None of the women or their parents ever thought of doing a background check on him as they would be impressed with his job profile,'' deputy commissioner of police R M Vhatkar told TOI.

Vhatkar said Waghmare would spend at least three consecutive days with each of his wives and then tell them that he had to travel to other states to attend official meetings; this way, he managed to spend time with all his 14 wives.

Senior inspector Vijay Raut said: ``Waghmare married the victims after showing a bogus divorce letter written on stamp paper that was signed and had a notary's stamp. We managed to get hold of five different marriage photographs of Waghmare.'' Interestingly, there are a couple of faces that are common to every one of the five pictures; one them would pretend to be Waghmare's father and the other would pose as his uncle.

Inspector Shivaji Phadtare said: ``Waghmare started marrying women one after the other since his first wife divorced him in 2006. Waghmare changed his surname to Bapat (a Brahmin surname) so that he could marry Brahmin girls.''

Waghmare was finally caught after he married a 29-year-old architect in Mulund on August 11; she was a divorcee and had a son, officials said, and added they were surprised by Waghmare's increasing audacity. He was living with one of his other wives when the architect's parents came to visit him at his Lokhandwala home and he just sent her to the market for a couple of hours.

However, three days after they returned from honeymoon in Lonavala, this last of wives told Waghmare that her employers had asked her to go to Delhi on an assignment. ``I was shocked when Waghmare replied that I could take my own time and could return whenever I wanted to. What shocked me even more was when he told me he would not mind at all if I had extramarital affairs. This prompted me to go to his Lokhandwala flat on August 16, when I met a 29-year-old woman who claimed that Waghmare married her in April 2009,'' the victim mentioned in her complaint.

Investigators said they had received a letter from Air India, saying they were conducting a departmental inquiry against Waghmare for sexually harassing AI women employees since 2006. He has been remanded in police custody till August 29.

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TWO MODERN BROTHERS

2009-08-27T22:25:00.000+05:30

An Old Tale of Two Modern Brothers

Once upon a time there was an ambitious young man named Mukesh Ambani who invested Rs 38,000 crore to look for gas, deep on the ocean’s floor, off the turbulent coast of Andhra Pradesh. Some called him mad.

If ONGC, the government exploration company, had not found anything after wasting thousands of Crores of taxpayer’s money for decades, how could he risk his and his shareholder’s money in this reckless manner? What if nothing was found?

They did not know that Mukesh is one of life’s winners. Not only did he find the gas but the amount was beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. It was the biggest energy discovery in the world at the time. More impressive still, he has brought it into commercial production in half the normal time, thus, creating another world record. No wonder, he is a hero to millions. His breakthrough will reduce significantly the nation’s energy bill for importing oil and it reinforces our faith in private exploration. And there is still much more gas under the ocean floor, according to experts — Myanmar has also found gas at its end of the same ocean. Given the nation’s desperate need for energy, we must hurry and find it.

Mukesh Ambani has a younger, more flamboyant brother named Anil, who is also highly accomplished. But he has a different temperament — he loves glamour and power and cultivates politicians and film stars. In fact, he is married to one. All this does not go down well with his sober, older brother. After their father died, power passed on to Mukesh. Since he did not trust Anil, he ignored and marginalized him. Anil fought back. After a fearsome battle, their mother intervened and divided the business. We have a saying in India: “Haveli ki umar saath saal” which means the life of a business house is 60 years. After that the family splits up, usually in the third generation. But the Ambani brothers have split up in the second.

As part of the family division, Mukesh agreed to provide gas to a power plant which Anil intended to put up in Uttar Pradesh at a price of $2.34 per mmbtu. This was the price that Mukesh also agreed to supply NTPC, the mammoth government-owned power producer. Mukesh refuses to honour these contracts. He claims that the official price is $4.20, which is also closer to today’s market price (based on actual bids made in April 2007). The difference in the two prices is worth tens of thousands of Crores. So, a lot is at stake. Both the brothers, it seems to me, have a strong case, which is now before the Supreme Court, and i am glad i am not the judge.

Normally, a fight between two brothers should not matter to the nation. But it does in this case. The quantity of gas is so vast that it affects the nation’s finances. A lower energy price means lower inflation — it means a lower government subsidy to fertilizer and power plants. But a lower price also implies that the government will make a huge loss from its revenue sharing contract with Mukesh. Hence, the court has to bear in mind the interests of both the producers and the consumers of gas.

Whatever the outcome in the court, it is crucial that the image of India as a mature democracy with a rule of law is protected. Only then can we hope to attract investor-explorers in the future. They are all set to gamble vast sums without any certainty of finding the gas. They should at least have the comfort that they are dealing with a trustworthy government, which will not nationalize, nor change the rules of the game midway, and will uphold their contract. If the court judgement upholds the lower price, it will certainly dampen the spirits of investors. On the other hand, by upholding the prior contract between the brothers, the court will also send a positive signal to future investors that the rule of law prevails in India.

Investors are thus watching the government carefully. The state should not take sides in private conflicts. It should be neutral and fair. This is how trust is built. But last month Anil Ambani attacked Murli Deora, the petroleum minister, at the annual meeting of his company. He suggested that something smelled rotten — the government was favouring Mukesh. The suggestion of crony capitalism has shaken the confidence of investors. I cannot remember the last time when a businessman had the guts to publicly attack a cabinet minister. Businessmen have too much to lose — tax raids, denial of licenses and loans from public institutions. Why did Anil Ambani take this risk? Wait for the next episode.

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Most Powerful Volcanic Eruption in History

2009-08-27T16:17:00.001+05:30

27 August 1883 : Krakatau Explodes

The most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history occurs on Krakatau (also called Krakatoa), a small, uninhabited volcanic island located west of Sumatra in Indonesia, on this day in 1883.

Heard 3,000 miles away, the explosions threw five cubic miles of earth 50 miles into the air, created 120-foot tsunamis and killed 36,000 people.

Krakatau exhibited its first stirrings in more than 200 years on May 20, 1883. A German warship passing by reported a seven-mile high cloud of ash and dust over Krakatau. For the next two months, similar explosions would be witnessed by commercial liners and natives on nearby Java and Sumatra. With little to no idea of the impending catastrophe, the local inhabitants greeted the volcanic activity with festive excitement.

On August 26 and August 27, excitement turned to horror as Krakatau literally blew itself apart, setting off a chain of natural disasters that would be felt around the world for years to come. An enormous blast on the afternoon of August 26 destroyed the northern two-thirds of the island; as it plunged into the Sunda Strait, between the Java Sea and Indian Ocean, the gushing mountain generated a series of pyroclastic flows (fast-moving fluid bodies of molten gas, ash and rock) and monstrous tsunamis that swept over nearby coastlines. Four more eruptions beginning at 5:30 a.m. the following day proved cataclysmic. The explosions could be heard as far as 3,000 miles away, and ash was propelled to a height of 50 miles. Fine dust from the explosion drifted around the earth, causing spectacular sunsets and forming an atmospheric veil that lowered temperatures worldwide by several degrees.

Of the estimated 36,000 deaths resulting from the eruption, at least 31,000 were caused by the tsunamis created when much of the island fell into the water. The greatest of these waves measured 120 feet high, and washed over nearby islands, stripping away vegetation and carrying people out to sea. Another 4,500 people were scorched to death from the pyroclastic flows that rolled over the sea, stretching as far as 40 miles, according to some sources.

In addition to Krakatau, which is still active, Indonesia has another 130 active volcanoes, the most of any country in the world.

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Class X Boards to Become Optional From 2010 ~ 11

2009-08-27T15:52:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: From the coming academic year (2010-11), the Class X board exams will become optional in all CBSE schools. The board will make a formal

Sources in CBSE said board chairman Vineet Joshi will, on Thursday, hold the last presentation and consultation session in Madhya Pradesh on the changes being brought about before the draft is finalized and made public.

The sources said CBSE has prepared the format of an aptitude exam which schools can use to test Class X students on their level of understanding in each subject. The emphasis, however, will be on continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE) through the year instead of a single public exam at the end of Class X.

``CBSE has decided to go strongly on making the Class X board exam optional and implement CCE grading system and other alternatives. The process of review of the present Class X exam system is over,'' Joshi told TOI.

He said that CBSE had also conducted a survey among students on whether they want the board exam to continue. ``In a couple of days, we will come out with final modalities of the new system,'' he added.

Joshi said there were apprehensions that the new format would create two categories of students, those who take the exam and others who don't. ``Concerns have also been raised on the problem of certification for those who opt out. We have addressed these issues in the new plan and provided alternatives,'' he said.

Among these alternatives is the provision of an online, on demand test for those who don't take the board exam but want certification later on. ``The certificate issued after this online exam would be equivalent to the Class X certificate. This test will also help students who want to change streams in Class XI,'' Joshi said.

In another major decision aimed at ensuring that schools maintain the minimim basic standards, CBSE has decided to have an independent agency for accreditation of CBSE schools. All schools under the board will have to get themselves evaluated by this agency within three years. New schools will get CBSE affiliation three years after they have been accredited by this agency.

Joshi said the accreditation agency could be either a government or private body. ``The Quality Council of India has shown interest in the project,'' he added.

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Youngest Mother In The World

2009-08-26T22:20:00.002+05:30

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Lina Medina was born on 27th September 1933 in Paurange. At the age of 5 years 8 months, she gave birth to her first child on 14th May 1939. She still holds the record for the youngest mother in the world.

Lina Medina's parents thought their 5-year-old daughter had a huge abdominal tumour so her father carried her to a hospital, just over a month later; she gave birth to a boy.

"Born at full term at Lima's maternity clinic, her child was taken through a caesarean operation (Dr. Lozada and Busalleu, operators, Dr. Colretta, anaesthesiologist). The child (boy), weighing 2,700 grams, was well formed and in good health. Child and mother were able to leave the clinic after only a few days.

Doctor Lozada has conducted very detailed studies since the diagnostic of the pregnancy which aroused much curiosity in the country; he took an x-ray of the child and her baby, established a diagnostic of the foetal situation, and observed the state of functionality of the little mother who had begun menstruating at the age of 8 months. At four years old she had already developed breasts as well as pubic hair, her body proportions were a bit amazing and her bone hardening a bit advanced things that are often observed in cases of such premature pregnancy."

The child was named Gerardo, which was the name of one of the doctors who attended Medina and who became their mentor. When he reached 10 years old, he discovered that the person he had grown up believing to be his sister was actually his mother.

Within a week of Gerado being born, the story was all over the newspapers.

"Gerardo died in 1979 at age 40 from a disease that attacks the body's bone marrow, but it was said it was not clear there was any link with his illness and the fact his mother had been so young at his birth."

Lina married over 25 years later and in 1972 she had a second son, which was 33 years after her first.
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Class XII Marks Crucial from 2011

2009-08-26T11:19:00.000+05:30

Class XII Marks May Play A Crucial Factor in IIT-JEE from 2011

This may be a good news for those who had scored very good percentage in their XII board exam as Marks scored in the Plus Two board examinations are going to decide your eligibility in the Joint Entrance Examination (IITJEE) for admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) by 2011.

Union human resource development ministry has set up a committee of IITs professors , to suggest reforms to JEE, is expected to submit its report recommending ways to consider the marks scored by students in higher secondary examinations while preparing the IIT merit list. A meeting of all IIT directors and JEE representatives in Chennai over the weekend discussed the proposed changes.

“We hope to devise a methodology to compute a normalised Plus Two cut-off eligibility score for each educational board (CBSE, ICSE, and State Boards). once it’s approved, then only students who have scored this cut-off mark would become eligible to appear for JEE,” said IIT Madras deputy director V G Idichandy, who is heading the committee.

Four years ago, IIT standing council had proposed 85% marks in XII as minimum cut off percentage for JEE but it has been reduced to 60% by considering it too high for benchmark

In the current scenario the admission processes in IITs ,nowhere consider the XII marks in process which is opposed by various committees as it totally ignore the importance of XII board exam and give rise to coaching culture

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How to Evaluate Stocks .....?

2009-08-25T17:30:00.003+05:30

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IndianMoney.com Research Team

Warren Buffet is considered to be a genius when it comes to stock investment. He recommends an important thing to the investors that the stock (company) you are thinking to buy or invest should have been around for at least ten years. There are a number of factors to be considered befere investing in a stock. This article will help you in understanding such factors.

Techniques to Evaluate Stocks
Following are the things that will guide you in taking an investment decision. They will show you the strength of the financial position of a company. So that it will be easy for you to select a stock and invest in that.
• Company History
• Dividend
• Market Cap
• Cash Flow
• Price Earnings Ratio (P/E)
• Return on Assets & Return on Equity (ROA & ROE)
• Financial Leverage

Company History
It is better to invest in companies that have in existence from minimum 10 years. Over the course of a decade, many things can happen to a company. There will be good times and bad times for everything. If a company can survive the bad times for at least ten years then they are more likely to handle future bad times with equivalent skill. So if a company has been around for at least ten years then you can choose these companies to invest. But remember along with this you have to consider other factors also.

Dividend
A dividend is an amount paid out by the company to its existing share holders. Dividends can be paid out at various times of the year, most of the times it seems to be given out on a quarterly basis. These dividends are especially useful for long term investors because your dividends will compound over a period of time.

Market Cap
A market cap is basically how much sales a company will generate in a given year. Invest only in companies with a market cap of a hundred million or more. Anything less than this and the company might go bankrupt if their sales don't pick up.

Cash Flow
Cash flow generally indicates how much profit the company makes per year. If the company has a good cash flow then they are more likely to avoid bankruptcy. And it is great news for investors. Banks or other similar financial institutions are examples of high cash flow. This is mostly due to these companies accept deposits and offer loans to people. Financial institutions can be great stocks.

Price Earnings ratio (P/E)
P/E stands for Price Earnings Ratio. This generally tells you what people expect from this stock. If the P/E ratio is between 10 and 30 then it is considered a reasonably stable stock. On the other hand, if it is really high then that means people have high expectations on this stock. And if those high expectations are not met then the stock is much more likely to lose investors, which will lead the stock to lose its value drastically, this is something that you don't want to happen. So if the stock has a high P/E ratio just be aware of the possible outcomes. If the stock is above 25 then it is usually considered as high.

Return on Assets & Return on Equity (ROA & ROE)
ROA stands for Return on Assets and ROE stands for Return on Equity. Normally, investors like to see both of these figures going up or staying stable over a period of years. If the ROA or ROE is negative or falling, you should think twice about purchasing that stock.

Financial Leverage
Financial leverage generally tells us how much the company has acquired in debt. You should try to avoid investing in companies that have a financial leverage higher than 5. But again, it is normal for banks and other financial institutions to have a financial leverage ratio more than 5.

Picking stocks is a difficult work. It takes time and patience to learn all of the jargon and other tricks of the trade. But when the day is done, you'll be glad to see that your hard work is paying off.

Instructions for Equity Traders/Investors
Following are the things to be considered by an equity trader before executing the trade. Successful stock trading involves many factors such as selecting a good company, diversifying the portfolio, support of a good broker, etc. If you are lacking any of these factors, it affects your trading very badly. Following are the things to be taken care by an investor before trading or investing.

• Know your Risk Tolerance
• Invest in the company not in the stock
• Know your broker
• Reduce your risk by diversifying

Know your risk tolerance
Understanding yourself is very important; you should know your risk tolerance, how much you can afford to invest, how much loss you can suffer, etc. Before investing in any type of stock, know how much risk you are willing and capable to take. In simple terms it means having a look at how much money you can afford to lose.

Invest in the company not in the stock
People normally go behind the stocks without knowing much about the company. Some stocks might perform well in short term without a strong base of business but this growth is not stable. If a company has to perform well in long run it should have a strong and deep rooted business. It is always better to invest in such companies than going behind market trend.

Know your broker
Take time to understand your broker, enquire about his history, past performance, commission charged, etc. Sometimes brokers might have a vested interest in some stocks, including ownership of the stock, in this case they might compel you to buy more stock to raise prices. This could be false inflation of the stock's value therefore making it even more risky.

Reduce your Risk by Diversifying
Reduce your risk in stock investments by diversifying. Purchase good stocks from different industry, this will help you to reduce the investment risk because if one stock fails badly, the other will generate profit this will help you to avoid the overall loss.

There are thousands of stocks in the market to choose from, how do you determine the one that best suits for you? After all, if you pick incorrectly, you could lose all of your hard-earned money. But if you can understand the terms mentioned above then the likelihood of you losing your money will diminish significantly and the chance of making huge profits is more.
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Raped by DAD & UNCLE

2009-08-25T07:35:00.003+05:30

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16 Year Old Repeatedly Raped by Dad Uncle

NAGPUR: The story of a pregnant 16-year-old girl, rescued by neighbours of Vandevi slums recently from the clutches of her 35-year-old father, brought to the fore the grotesque brutality she was made to undergo at home. She has been suffering at the hands of her uncle and then her father for years in Uttar Pradesh and later in city. Neetu (name changed), joined the ranks of the hapless girls who were not spared by the persons whom they trusted the most.

Neetu had lost her mother Chanda when she was just an infant. She desperately looked upon her father to rescue her from an uncle in Uttar Pradesh who was exploiting her repeatedly. Her father did ‘rescue’ her in 2008, but allegedly started forcing himself upon her.

The pregnant girl, sick and mentally upset, is now sheltered at government’s girls’ hostel. Yashodhara Nagar police have arrested father Gurucharan Yadav, alias Gopal, on Sunday. Yadav was nearly lynched by Vandevi Nagar residents before police saved him. He is reminiscent of Austria’s dungeon dad Josef Fritzl and Mumbai businessman Kishore Chowdhury.

The girl, whose case is similar to that of a teenager from Hingna who had indicted her father for rape recently, has named her dad and his younger brother as tormentors.

Neetu had studied till eighth standard in Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh and was keen to continue further. Though the account of her early years could not be known, it is learnt that Neetu had to strive hard to survive since her mother died and father remarried. She had to work as domestic help too.

Yadav left his daughter and migrated to city some years ago. He started earning his livelihood as an auto-rickshaw driver. Meanwhile, he had a son and a daughter from his second wife Nirmala. Neighbours claimed Nirmala, apparently left disgusted by Yadav lifestyle, left him.

“We were curious about the girl. Yadav said she was his daughter. Once I went to see what was going on inside the shanty and was aghast to find him (Yadav) in his towel. There were two pillows on the bed,” said neighbour Noorjahan Quereshi adding that she was sensing some foul play as the girl was never allowed to mingle much with others.

The matter came to fore when Farzana Banoo, another neighbour, was approached by the distraught girl who told Banoo she needed help. “Her father (Yadav) had once urged me to look after her as she was not well. I was shocked when she told me her father was having physical relations with her. I immediately urged her to stop coming to me as it was against my religious belief and there are children who come for spiritual lesson at home,” said Banoo.

They could ignore no longer when the girl started having ill-health. Yadav and three neighbours-- Quereshi, Shaikh Raju and Hamida Begum-- took Neetu to a health centre at Shanti Nagar. She was referred to another clinic at Kamal chowk. There she was discovered to be pregnant.

“We approached the girl the following day in absence of her father to know the truth,” said a neighbour adding that the girl was being sheltered at different places in city including Pension Nagar before she was brought here. “She divulged the facts,” said the neighbour.

She also told them her uncle had raped her repeatedly when his wife was away at native place for delivery. “Yadav and the girl were away from home for a day. When they returned, we challenged Yadav and contacted the police,” neighbour Raju said.

Senior inspector Rajendra Pardesi, in-charge of Yashodhara Nagar police station, said that police wanted to concentrate on the culprit (Yadav) who is in the custody। “It would be better if we decide to make a strong case out of the apprehended culprit and not make it too complicated,” said Pardeshi indicating he did not intent to pursue Yadav’s younger brother although the girl has clearly named him too.
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कलयुग / महा - कलयुग
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Punished for Drinking Beer

2009-08-24T20:32:00.003+05:30

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Muslim Body Punishes Female Model for Drinking Beer

Kuala Lumpur, August 24: A Muslim model, Malaysia's first woman to face caning for drinking beer in public, got a temporary reprieve as her punishment has been postponed till after the fasting month of Ramadan.

Kartika Shukarno, 32, a part time model and a permanent resident of Singapore, was sentenced to six strokes of the cane last month by a religious court for drinking beer as consumption of alcohol is forbidden under the country's Shariah law.

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Communication - A Key Factor in Human Life

2009-08-24T09:12:00.000+05:30

Communication plays a pivotal role ……

…… in all walks of human life. In other words life revolves around communication as the two originate, grow and evolve side by side. Communication may be Verbal or Non-Verbal, Close or Distant, Wrong or Right, Successful or Unsuccessful, Negative or Positive, but it is sure to exist between two or more human beings. Limiting our study to human beings alone, it may not be preposterous to say that right from its beginning, life and communication remain intimately interwoven throughout.

It Carries Civilization Forward

All worldly affairs, emotions, industry, commerce, relationships, personal or formal, science, philosophy and technology, in nutshell any kind of acumen or education could not have happened had it not been passed on from one human being to another or from one place to another. Civilization moves on the wheels of communication, which also serves as the main driving force by translating old information into new goals and aspirations .It may just suffice to say that the universe will freeze or cease to be without communication.

Meaning of Communication

What does communication mean? The word has several connotations and a plethora of definitions. Experts have defined it as ‘interaction between two or more human beings’. Communication is a process in which a message is conveyed ( through a medium-verbal or non-verbal) and received. Once the message travels from the communicator to the receiver, the purpose of the communication is partially achieved. The receiver either responds back providing feedback or the message is passed on to others, forming a chain of communication.

It is a Two Way Process

Communication hence , is a two way process involving at least two parties. We may contend that one can communicate alone with one’s self or Higher Power or Conscience. In that case too one interacts with the twin halves of the same entity .Even in monologue one speaks to one’s alter ego or a shadow of one’s self.

A Message Forms the Core of Communication

We have thus established the fact that communication is basically a dialogue, necessitating the existence of a communicator and a receiver and the give and take of a message is essential to the process. How the message is intercepted, responded to, or passed on to others, what kind of actions follow in it’s wake, makes for another very vast and interesting study.

A Process So Simple Yet So Complicated

A message is conveyed and a message is received. Seems pretty simple .Is it all about communication- verbal ,non-verbal or electronic ?

Had it been so, why is the same message conveyed to different people gets interpreted differently, eliciting different responses? Why do certain people fail to get the simplest message? How is that even a very short message passed on among a number of people gets altered in the course of transmission beyond recognition? What are major factors affecting communication that are instrumental for such a change?

This calls for a very intensive and challenging study.

Conclusion

It is a phenomenon that needs careful handling. It may make or break alliances, topple governments, ignite controversies or foster revolutions .In nutshell the power of communication is immense. Dating back to the Prehistoric Era of sign language, developing into speech and written form and culminating into the most sophisticated electronic devices, communication has not yet come of age. It is still evolving and will continue doing so. It is a force to reckon with that needs to be recognized and channelized properly to reap innumerable benefits for humanity.

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Bye Bye to Bypass

2009-08-23T17:18:00.009+05:30

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Bye Bye By pass Surgery
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I received this Email from one of my elderly BROTHER/RELATIVE, MAJOR BRAJESH, I presume it's all true which will help many needy persons/patients. The Email goe like this :
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This is a new theory which has come to my knowledge very recently and
I thought that I should also share with you all.

A few days back my Friends Father in law was admitted in a nursing
home due to severe chest pain.

He had an attack in 1997 and was undergoing normal treatment.

Due to the sudden pain just 15 days back we once again got him
admitted in a private nursing home at Kandivali, Mumbai.

The doctors later suggested for Angiography.

We conducted the Angiography at Hinduja Hospital and knew from the
reports that he has multiple blockages.

The doctor told that he cannot undergo Angioplasty due to several
blockages but suggested 'By Pass Surgery'.

The same day evening we bought him home since the doctor suggested
that his heart is very weak and we can perform the by-pass only after
15 - 20 days.

In the mean time we were discussing this issue with our relatives and
friends, we got this new information from one of our family friends.

There is a new therapy in the market which is known as - Chelation
Therapy. Or Calation Therapy.

According to this therapy any patient who has to undergo by-pass need
not undergo the same.

The patient is given appx. 18 bottles of blood where in some medicines
are injected along with it.

The blood cleans the system and removes all the blockages from the heart.

The no. of bottles may increase depending upon the age factor and
health of the patient.

The cost of the blood per bottle would be appx. Rs.2,500/- The
treatment takes of appx. 1 month.

There are only 4 doctors in India and one of them is Dr.Dhananjay Shah
at Malad (Mumbai) another at Karnataka.

He has a list of patients who had to undergo by-pass from Lilavati,
Hinduja and other major hospitals but after undergoing the above
treatment they are absolutely fine and leading a normal life.

I give below the Doctor's details for your info:

Dr. Dhananjay Shah.
Hospital Tel: 0091-22-2889 2089.
Mob: 98194 39657.
Email: shahdhananjay@rediffmail.com
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Some other Websites which confirm it:

Chelation Therapy: Conventional Treatments

Chelation Therapy Practitioners and Clinics in India

Benefits of EDTA Chelation Therapy

Chelation Therapy From Wikipedia

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Kindly pass on the message to the people you know and one can save huge amount of money, time and risk of undergoing the operation.
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Taliban Chops Voters' Fingers

2009-08-23T08:07:00.000+05:30

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Taliban chop ink-strained fingers of Afghan voters

London, August 22: Afghanistan’s top election monitoring organisation, the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan, has claimed that the Taliban had chopped off the fingers of at least two Afghan voters during the Presidential election which took place on Thursday (August 20).

Nader Nadery, the head of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan, said Taliban insurgents attacked two voters in Kandahar shortly after voting on Thursday and cut off their ink-stained fingers.

Hundreds of Afghan voters exercised their exclusive right in the country's second-ever direct Presidential election earlier this week. However, the polling percentage remained low as compared to the 2001 elections, primarily due to the extremists’ threat.

While both Hamid Karzai and his rival Abdullah Abdullah have claimed to be ahead in the early voting count, the turn out in the southern part of the country was less than what was anticipated. The lower turnout in the south may dent Karzai’s aspirations of running a second term, as the region primarily consists of his fellowmen, the Pashtuns.
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Eunuchs Cricket Team

2009-08-23T08:04:00.001+05:30

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Eunuchs Cricket Team Beat Local Club in Pakistan

In a first of a kind cricket match played between a team of eunuchs and a team of young men from a local club in Pakistan’s Sukkur city, the eunuchs emerged victors.

Eunuchs are seen as social outcasts by Pakistan's largely conservative Islamic society, which has ignored them over the years.

They are forced to eke out a living at the fringes of society, such as by begging, or by flaunting their difference as dancers or sex workers.

The match was held in front of a sizeable crowd, which had turned out to cheer both teams.

The local club 'Olympians' won the toss and elected to bat first, and eventually managed to score 65 runs in their allotted eight overs.

While, the eunuchs' team 'Sanam XI' comfortably overhauled the target, with Allah Rakhi top scoring 20 runs to win the 'man of the match' award.

The match was allowed to take place after Pakistan Judge Iftikhar Chaudhry ruled that eunuchs must be given greater rights. Chaudhry ordered the government to stop discrimination against eunuchs and grant them special medical and public facilities.
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Free Use of Other ATMs

2009-08-21T20:42:00.002+05:30

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Banks to Ration Free Use of Other ATMs

MUMBAI: Barely five months after the service charge on using automated teller machines (ATMs) of other it will be reintroduced if someone uses this facility mote than 5 times a month, a
high-ranking banking sector official said here on Friday. Also the Reserve Bank of India has said that not more than Rs 10,000 can be withdrawn each time they are used.

The apex bank has sent a communication in this regard to Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and this is expected to be implemented shortly, IBA Chief Executive K Ramakrishnan said.

The Indian Banks Association (IBA), the representative organisation of private and public sector banks in India, has proposed that instead of allowing an unlimited number of free transactions at another bank's ATM, there should be a limit of up to five free transactions a month.

"Beyond five transactions, we propose to levy a transaction fee of Rs.20 per transaction for using another bank's ATM," said IBA deputy chief executive K Unnikrishnan.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has accepted the IBA proposal, but it will be implemented only by October, Unnikrishnan said on Friday.

An RBI spokesperson confirmed the development.

"It will be optional on the part of the banks to levy this charge on customers. We have not made it mandatory but left it to their (banks') discretion," Unnikrishnan said.

He explained that since the RBI's permission has been taken, it would not be improper on the part of banks to levy the charges if they wanted.

There are a little over 40,000 ATMs in India, of which nearly 30,000 are in urban centres and metros. The remaining 10,000 are in semi-urban centres with only a sprinkling in rural areas.

There are around 80 public sector, private, cooperative and foreign participating banks in the ATM network in the country.

After the ATM transactions fees on using other banks' ATMs was scrapped in April, the IBA studied the entire gamut of ATM transactions.

"We found that a majority of the ATM transactions were in the range of average withdrawals of Rs.3,500-4,000, and 90 percent of all transactions were below Rs.10,000. Hence, the intended purpose to serve the common man was achieved," Unnikrishnan said.

However, there was a small minority of users who withdrew very large sums on account of high card limits given by some banks to privileged customers.

At the other extreme, there were some customers who withdrew miniscule amounts, or made other kinds of inquiries. This created several logistics problems causing avoidable expenditure for banks at the cost of the common user, he said.

Taking into account these and related aspects, the IBA submitted a proposal to RBI last month.

"We shall give sufficient notice to the customers before implementing it, and individual banks can also inform their customers about the proposal and whether or not they would charge their customers. It will give time to effect suitable modifications in the ATM programmes to implement it," Unnikrishnan said.
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We Can't Fool INDIA

2009-08-21T20:39:00.002+05:30

We Can't Fool INDIA on Terror Camps: Pak Media Tells Govt.

While Pakistan has been denying the presence of terror camps on its soil, an editorial in a leading English daily of the country suggests that Islamabad and also the international community were aware about such camps operating along the Line of Control (LoC).

“The entire world knew about them. Pakistani journalists knew about them and accounts were written about the heroism of their inmates in in-house journals that jihadi organisations published and circulated all over Pakistan. The truth is that Pakistan gave itself a bad name and endangered its own security at the hands of these ‘trainees’ later on,” the ‘Daily Times’ editorial said.

While New Delhi has accused Islamabad of abetting these terror camps to carry out attacks against it, Pakistan says it is working ‘sincerely’ to dismantle the terror safe haven, but it can hardly guarantee that there is no planning going on inside Pakistan by for more attacks on India.

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Amazing Survey

2009-08-20T18:52:00.002+05:30

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London: Undoubtedly it is shocking and surprising news for British professionals that their women colleagues work without undergarments.

According to a new study, around twenty percent of British women go to work without wearing their knickers.

British writer Charlie Croker has revealed in his latest book “8 Out Of 10 Brits' that women own 22 pairs of knickers on average - and nearly one in five go to work knickerless.

The book further says, British women also spend three hours a day on housework on average while eight percent of them never brush their teeth in the morning.

When it comes to having sex in cars, the 52 percent men and 34 percent women have given positive reply.

The study also shows that 11 percent of don't wash hands after using the toilet while 36 percent Britons do not take a bath regularly.
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Technical Education Of INDIA Is One Of The Best

2009-08-20T18:30:00.004+05:30

Technical education of India is best in the world: Hillary Clinton

It’s a great achievement for India when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that India’s technical education system is one of the best in this field, though it faces a challenge of providing adequate primary education to millions of children.

“You can look at the very best in Indian education, and it’s the best in the world. You can look at the technical education and it is to be envied. It is so effective,” Clinton said.

Clinton admitted that millions of children in India, however, don’t have adequate primary education or secondary education or, certainly, college education. but still they are one of the best in world as far as technical education is concerned

“India faces the challenge of so many people to serve in very rural areas, often without adequate infrastructure, so you have to come to grips with how you actually produce the schools that are needed, the teachers who will be dedicated, the curriculum and materials that are required,” she said.

“It is truly up to all of us — families, governments, businesses, educational institutions — to do everything we can to give every child a chance to grow up and fulfill his or her God-given potential,” Clinton said.

Referring to her trip to Mumbai last month where she discussed education with volunteers from Teach India and Teach for India, Clinton was very impressed said their passion for service lit up their faces as they talked about the importance of giving every Indian child the chance for an excellent education.

“The underpinning of global progress is education across the entire spectrum, from early schooling to the advanced research and post-graduate work,” she said.

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Married But Gay in Private

2009-08-20T09:02:00.002+05:30

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Married in Public, Gay in Private

Not many people would have paid attention to an item buried in the newspaper about a murder most foul in the crowded textile city of Kanpur - a murder apparently prompted by a surreptitious relationship.

Rajendra Kumar Dwivedi was 38-years-old and married to Shakuntala for 15 years. The couple had no children.

Dwivedi had not held a regular job for some time. Four years ago he struck up an unlikely friendship with a man from a different economic and social background. He was the Deputy Chief Medical officer of Allahabad, Dr K D Raj Srivastava. The doctor was married and had a 28-year-old son.

Dwivedi's family says it was an adulterous gay relationship, but neither men were out of the closet.

Dwivedi died of head injuries on July 20 after he was allegedly beaten by the doctor's son

While the police are investigating the case, the doctor and his son are absconding.

The murder pointed to a disturbing and hidden phenomenon of men who engage in sexual activity with other men, regardless of the fact that they are married to women and have children. None of these men are known socially as gays or bisexuals.

There is now a supportive and vibrant gay movement in the country, yet only a small population is visible and identified as gay.

Many men who have sexual relations with other men do not consider themselves as gay nor are they labelled so by others.

The meaning of gay is often mistakenly associated with the stereotype of men who are effiminate or transgenders.

There is a diverse group that is not taken into account. Now public health professionals have started using the term MSM to refer to all men who have sex with other men, whether they identify themselves as gay, bisexual, transgender or heterosexual.

Though there are no precise numbers of MSM, the numbers are believed to be surprisingly large.

Many live as heterosexuals among their community, marry and have children.

Those who were not married, would eventually get married.

Little data is available, but there is anecdotal evidence from MSM who visit cruising sites, gay bars and gay parties to meet others.

The issue of being married in public, gay in private raises a range of ethical concerns, particularly those involving their wives.

But as we speak to a crosssection of MSM, we find an unwillingness to explore these concerns in depth. It stems from their understanding that THEY are the victims...having been pushed underground by a society that has stigmatised male to male sexual relations.

Last month the Delhi High Court overturned Section 377 of the IPC, which criminalised gay sex between consenting adults. It was a victory but the reality on the ground is slow to change and negativity around MSMs continues to exist..

They say that to belong to the mainstream, the straight world, and to maintain bonds with their families and community, they are compelled to marry.

In South Asia, marriage is compulsory for social and religious reasons. Some choose to marry since in a patriarchial society, there is convenience in marriage. It also provides the perfect cover.

With MSM leading double lives, a majority of wives remain unaware of these clandestine encounters for years.

Little is known of what they go through when they learn their trust has been betrayed.

We find MSM are candid about their personal lives, but reluctant to allow us to meet their wives, even in cases where they are out of the closet to them.

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Imran & Benazir Affair

2009-08-20T08:43:00.002+05:30

'Imran, Benazir had a roaring affair at Oxford'

LONDON: The author of a new biography on Imran Khan claims that the cricketer-turned-politician was romantically involved with slain Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto when both of them studied together at Oxford University.

Bhutto when both of them studied together at Oxford University.

In his book, Christopher Sandford has written that Bhutto became infatuated with Khan and the duo enjoyed a "close" and possibly "sexual" relationship. The author has also alleged that Khan's mother even tried to organise an arranged marriage between the pair, but to no avail.

It was believed that Khan and Bhutto had always been at loggerheads, both politically and personally. But Sandford, who interviewed both Khan and his ex-wife Jemima for the book, claimed that a source told him that Bhutto was 21 and in her second year at Lady Margaret Hall when she became close to the debonair cricketer in 1975. The source, he said, also revealed that Bhutto had been "visibly impressed" by Khan and might even have been the first to call him the "Lion of Lahore".

"In any event, it seems fairly clear that for at least a month or two the couple was close. There was a lot of giggling whenever they appeared together in public," the Telegraph quoted Sandford as having told the Daily Mail. He added, "It also seems fair to say that the relationship was 'sexual', in the sense that it could only have existed between a man and a woman. The reason some supposed it went further was because, to quote one Oxford friend, 'Imran slept with everyone'."

Imran rebuffed the claims, saying he never had a sexual relationship with her.

IPL is 5th Largest Brand

2009-08-19T17:45:00.001+05:30

IPL is 5th Largest Brand, above Wimbledon, F1: Lalit Modi

Lalit Modi's brain-child, the Indian Premier League, took the cricketing world by storm. But Modi is not ready to rest on his laurels. Commenting on how much the brand was worth, Lalit Modi, its Chairman and Commissioner, says, according to recent numbers, the IPL brand alone stands at USD 1.65 billon. "It is now the fifth largest brand in the world of sports in two years of operation, just below FIFA and higher than Wimbledon and F1." The IPL has actually become the number one cricketing property in the world and is only growing, he added.

He aims to beat the National Football League (NFL), which stands at USD 4.5 billion, in the next four-five years.

PREFIX & SUFFIX

2009-08-19T17:39:00.001+05:30

Prefix	Symbol	Factor
Yotta	Y	10²⁴
Zetta	Z	10²¹
Exa	E	10¹⁸
Peta	P	10¹⁵
Tera	T	10¹²
Giga	G	10⁹
Mega	M	10⁶
Kilo	k	10³
Hecto	h	10²
Deca	da	10¹
Meter / Gram / Litre / Volts / Amps / Ohms / Rs. …… And So On ……
Deci	d	10^-1
Centi	c	10^-2
Milli	m	10^-3
Micro	mu	10^-6
Nano	n	10^-9
Pico	p	10^-12
Femto	f	10^-15
Atto	a	10^-18
Zepto	z	10^-21
Yocto	y	10^-24

Amar Singh Wealth Rs 37 Crore, Donates 48 Crore

2009-08-19T08:53:00.002+05:30

Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh [ Images ] has been accused of using the contraband 'hawala' operation to dole out a hefty $10 million 'gift' to the Clinton Foundation in United States.

Vishwanath Chaturvedi, who had earlier moved a PIL accusing SP chief Mulayam Singh of amassing disproportionate assets, has filed a petition before the Election Commission in New Delhi [ Images ].

Copies of the complaint have also been sent to the Director of Enforcement and the Reserve Bank of India [ Get Quote ].

Accusing Amar Singh of having donated more than $10 million (approximately Rs 45.8 crore) to the William J Clinton Foundation run by the former US President, Chaturvedi has pointed out, "In his affidavit dated November 6, 2008, filed before the Election Commission, Amar Singh has disclosed net assets to the tune of Rs 37 crore, so where did he get Rs 48.5 crore from?"

He has quoted the donation figure from the Clinton Foundation's published records.

The petitioner alleged, "Singh had neither disclosed the donated amount in his income tax returns nor did he take the mandatory permission of the RBI."

While the original complaint was made on January 30, 2008, Chaturvedi chose to release a copy to the media on Monday, following the Chief Election Commissioner's suggestion that such a complaint could be made only to the returning officer of the Rajya Sabha, since Singh is a member of the Upper House.

"I have sought to draw the attention of the CEC to the fact that the returning officer's role concludes once the election is over, therefore, the CEC must take cognisance of the complaint, which is of a serious nature," he told rediff.com.

Urging the CEC to suspend Singh's RS membership for making a 'false declaration' before the EC, Chaturvedi has also demanded the invocation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, which prohibits such action.

He cites Section 3 of the Act, "Save as otherwise provided in this Act, rules or regulations made thereunder, or with the general or special permission of the Reserve Bank , no person shall - deal in or transfer any foreign exchange or foreign security to any person not being an authorised person; make any payment to or for the credit of any person resident outside India in any manner; receive otherwise than through an authorized person, any payment by order or on behalf of any person resident outside India in any manner ; enter into any financial transaction in India as consideration for or in association with acquisition or creation or transfer of a right to acquire, any asset outside India by any person."

He added "It is evident that Singh had not only given false declaration about his wealth but also made the transaction in contravention of section 3 of FEMA. He should be prosecuted for both offences."

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow.
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All About GOA

2009-08-18T21:17:00.006+05:30

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http://www.bits-goa.ac.in/About%20BPGC/BITS%20360/index.html

Goa is India's smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population. Located on the west coast of India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.

Panaji is the state's capital. Vasco da Gama is the largest city. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the influence of Portuguese culture. The Portuguese first landed in Goa as merchants, in the early 16th century, and conquered it soon thereafter. The Portuguese overseas territory existed for about 450 years, until it was annexed by India in 1961.

Renowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture, Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year. It also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which is classified as a biodiversity hotspot.

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District(s)	2 [goagovt.nic.in]
Established	30 May 1987
Capital	Panaji
Largest city	Vasco da Gama
Governor	Shivinder Singh Sidhu
Chief Minister	Digambar Kamat
Legislature (seats)	Unicameral (40)
Population [ Density ]	14,00,000 (25th) [ 363 /km² (940 /sq mi) ]
Language(s)	Konkani^?
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area	3,702 Km² (1,429 sq mi)
ISO 3166-2	IN-GA

Etymology

The name Goa came to European languages from the Portuguese, but its precise origin is unclear. In the bygone days it came to be known by many names such as Gomanta, Gomanchala, Gopakapattam, Gopakapuri, Govapuri, Gomantak, etc.^[5] The Indian epic Mahabharata refers to the area now known as Goa, as Goparashtra or Govarashtra which means a nation of cowherds. Gopakapuri or Gopakapattanam were used in some ancient Sanskrit texts, and these names were also mentioned in other sacred Hindu texts such as the Harivansa and the Skanda Purana. In the latter, Goa is also known as Gomanchala. Parashurambhoomi is a name that the region is referred to in certain inscriptions and texts such as the Puranas.^[6]

History

Goa's known history stretches back to the third century BCE, when it formed part of the Mauryan Empire, ruled by the Buddhist emperor, Ashoka of Magadha.^[7] It was later ruled by the Satavahanas of Kolhapur, around 2,000 years ago it was passed on to the Chalukya Dynasty, who controlled it between 580 to 750. Over the next few centuries Goa was successively ruled by the Silharas, the Kadambas and the Chalukyas of Kalyani, rulers of Deccan India.^[8]

In 1312, Goa came under the governance of the Delhi Sultanate. However, the kingdom's grip on the region was weak, and by 1370 they were forced to surrender it to Harihara I of the Vijayanagara empire. The Vijayanagara monarchs held on to the territory until 1469, when it was appropriated by the Bahmani sultans of Gulbarga. After that dynasty crumbled, the area fell to the hands of the Adil Shahis of Bijapur who established as their auxiliary capital the city known under the Portuguese as Velha Goa.

In 1510, the Portuguese defeated the ruling Bijapur kings with the help of a local ally, Timayya, leading to the establishment of a permanent settlement in Velha Goa (or Old Goa).

The Portuguese converted a large portion of their subjects in Goa to Christianity. The repeated wars of the Portuguese with the Marathas and the Deccan sultanate, along with the repressive religious policies of Portuguese led to large migrations of Goans to neighbouring areas. Goa was occupied by British between 1812-1815 during Napoleonic Wars.

BIT & BITS ... The Big Difference ...

2009-08-18T21:04:00.001+05:30

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BITS : Birla Institute of Technology and Science

Birla Institute of Technology & Science (known as BITS Pilani) is an Institution declared as Deemed to be University under Sec. 3 of the UGC Act and features in the world map as a renowned science and technology institute. It is located in Pilani, Rajasthan, India. In addition to Pilani, BITS has campuses in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Goa, India and Hyderabad, India and an extension center in Bangalore, India.

BITS Pilani is well known for its flexible academic structure and the institute's policy of admission purely on the basis of merit and not through any kind of reservations. The institute is privately supported and fully residential. BITS Pilani is the first Indian institution to set up a campus outside India.

During the early years of its inception i.e., 1964 to 1970, the Institute had the advantage of having collaboration with MIT (USA), with the help of Ford Foundation Grant. Besides adopting semester system, modular course structure, continuous & internal evaluation, letter grading, etc., the Institute created institutionalized linkages with industries in terms of Practice School and introduced several flexibilities such as dual degree, transfer, etc., in its educational process. In addition, Work Integrated Learning programs leading tovarious degrees are also conducted for employed professionals.

Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla is the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor is Mr LK Maheshwari.

Krishna Kumar Birla

Dr. Krishna Kumar Birla (11 November 1918 – 30 August 2008) was a noted Indian industrialist of the Birla family, and the second son of Ghanshyam Das Birla. He also served as a Member of the Rajya Sabha. K.K. was one of the few noted industrialists who supported economic reforms in India in 1991.

In 1991, Birla established the K.K. Birla Foundation to promote Hindi literature and was the Chancellor of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science at Pilani.

Birla was the group chairman of the Zuari-Chambal group of companies with a turnover of Rs.10,000 crores. He was also the Chairman of ZUARI-CHAMBAL-PARADEEP, India's largest fertilizer combine in private sector.

Birla died on 30 August 2008 after a brief illness.

After the demise of Dr.Birla, his son-in-law Mr.S.K.Poddar have taken over as the chairman of Zuari-Chambal-Paradeep fertilizer combines. The sugar business is now headed by Mrs.Nandini Nopany, eldest daughter of Dr.Birla and Media group, Hindustan Times Media, is now chaired by Mrs.Shobhana Bhartia, Member of Parliament(Rajya Sabha). Mr.Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman-Aditya Birla Group and nephew of Dr.Birla, is the Chancellor of BITS-Pilani, the educational institutes of Birla Group, now.

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BIT : Birla Institute of Technology Mesra

Birla Institute of Technology Mesra (popularly known as BIT, Mesra or BIT, Ranchi) is an autonomous engineering and technology-oriented institute located in Ranchi, Jharkhand in India. It is an institute under Sec. 3 of the UGC act 1956. In addition to Mesra, Ranchi, BIT has extension centres in Lalpur (Ranchi), Allahabad, Kolkata, Noida, Jaipur, Chennai, Patna & Deoghar and overseas extension centres in Bahrain, Muscat (Oman), Ras al-Khaimah (UAE) & Mauritius.

BIT functions under the overall supervision, direction and control of a Board of Governors, comprising representatives of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, the U.G.C., the State Government, the Chancellor, the A.I.C.T.E., the Hindustan Charity Trust and the Institute Faculty.

Mr. G.P. Birla is the Chairman of the Board of Governors. The Governor of the state of Jharkhand is the Chancellor of the Institute. The Technical Council decides the academic policy of the Institute.
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Delirium Mallika

2009-08-18T21:03:00.001+05:30

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Mallika wants body insurance !!!
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What is Mallika Sherawat’s best asset? Her acting, her personality, her wealth, or - ahem, ahem - her hot bod? No prizes for the right answer, but madam Sherawat seems worried that some harm might one day (god forbid) come to her body. So she’s eager to get all HER IMPORTANT BODY-PARTS parts insured.

This was revealed by the sex bomb herself on a social networking site when a fan fawned over her shapely figure and suggested her to get it insured just like the ace footballer Christiano Ronaldo got his legs insured for a mind-boggling £90m.

Mallika quite jumped at the idea and revealed that she would love to get her body insured. Perhaps she is taking a cue from the famous Hollywood stars and celebs that have got their anatomical assets insured for whopping amounts.

Well, now that she’s making her foray into Hollywood with Hissss and another English film, she might well consider this notion seriously.

Talking about Hollywood, Mallika was flaunting her hot body in a scandalous dress at last weeks LA premiere for Brad Pitt's Inglourious Basterds.

7 Honeymoons in 45 Days

2009-08-18T21:02:00.000+05:30

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Woman Marries 7 Times in 45 Days
CAIRO: A 25-year-old Egyptian waitress, ‘addicted to men’ and had allegedly married seven times in 45 days has been arrested by the police in Hurghada on charges of polygamy.

Working in a tourist resort the waitress allegedly developed sexual relationships with young men. Sexual relationships out of wedlock are prohibited by law in Egypt. However, she used to write an unofficial marriage agreement before any new relationship.

The waitress met a young contractor in the cafe who soon fell for her and proposed.

A few days into the marriage, her new husband, Ramadan discovered one of the unofficial marriage agreements dating a few days before they got married. When confronted, she reportedly confessed she was ‘addicted to men’ and had married seven times in 45 days. Two of the marriages were only ten hours apart. She also confessed she was pregnant.

The husband filed an official complaint against his wife and the police detained her on charges of forgery, fornication and polygamy.
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Nest of 20 Dollar Notes

2009-08-18T21:00:00.000+05:30

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Mouse builds nest in Oregon ATM with USD 20 bills

LOUISIANA GRANDE: A mouse found inside an automatic teller machine -- along with a nest it had built with chewed-up USD 20 bills -- gave an Oregon gas station employee the surprise of her life.

The mouse, discovered Thursday, had thoroughly torn up two bills and damaged another 14 to line his nest. Employee Millie Taylor says she screamed and slammed the machine's door shut.

The bank replaced all the money that wasn't extensively damaged, and the ATM has continued to work just fine. The mouse also got a reprieve: He was evicted from his nest but set free outside the station.

Other workers at the Gem Stop Chevron in La Grande in eastern Oregon say they're mystified about how the mouse got inside the machine.

AVOID SWINE FLU ... ?

2009-08-15T18:40:00.000+05:30

10 Home Remedies To Avoid Swine Flu

Are the rising swine flu casualties giving you jitters? Not sure how you can avoid falling prey to the growing epidemic? First and foremost, there is absolutely no need to panic.

Watching television to keep tabs on the progress of H1N1, particularly in the badly affected areas like Pune, is all right. But don't let the hysterical anchors get under your skin and start wearing a mask each time you step out of the house, unless you are visiting a very crowded area. Then too, the mask will protect you only for a specified period.

Without giving in to the swine flu panic and creating a stockpile of Tamiflu and N-95 masks at home and enriching pharma companies, there are a number of other measures you can take to ensure that the virus is not able to get you, irrespective of which part of the world you are in.

It is essential to remember that all kinds of Viruses & Bacteria Can Attack You When Your Immune System Is Weak, or they can weaken it easily. Hence, building your own defences would be a better, more practical, long-lasting and much more economical idea.

Here are some easy steps you can take to tackle a flu virus of any kind, including swine flu. It is not necessary to follow all the steps at once. You can pick and choose a combination of remedies that suit you best. However, if you are already suffering from flu, these measures can help only up to an extent. And, if you have been infected by H1N1, visiting a hospital and staying in solitary confinement is a must.

1. Have five duly washed leaves of Tulsi (known as Basil in English; medicinal name Ocimum sanctum) everyday in the morning. Tulsi has a large number of therapeutic properties. It keeps throat and lungs clear and helps in infections by way of strengthening your immunity.

2. Giloi (medicinal name Tinospora cordifolia) is a commonly available plant in many areas. Take a one-foot long branch of giloi, add five to six leaves of Tulsi and boil in water for 15-20 minutes or long enough to allow the water to extract its properties. Add black pepper and sendha (salt used during religious fasts), rock or black salt, or Misri (crystalised sugar like lumps to make it sweet) according to taste. Let it cool a bit and drink this kadha (concoction) while still warm. It will work wonders for your immunity. If giloi plant is not available, get processed giloi powder from Hamdard or others, and concoct a similar drink once a day.

3. A small piece of camphor (kapoor) approximately the size of a tablet should be taken once or twice a month. It can be swallowed with water by adults while children can take it along with mashed potatoes or banana because they will find it difficult to have it without any aides. Please remember camphor is not to be taken everyday, but only once each season, or once a month.

4. Those who can take garlic, must have two pods of raw garlic first thing in the morning. To be swallowed daily with lukewarm water. Garlic too strengthens immunity like the earlier measures mentioned..

5. Those not allergic to milk, must take a glass of hot or lukewarm milk every night with a small measure of haldi (turmeric).

6. Aloe vera (gwarpatha) too is a commonly available plant. Its thick and long, cactus-like leaves have an odourless gel. A teaspoon gel taken with water daily can work wonders for not only your skin and joint pains, but also boost immunity.

7. Take homeopathic medicines — Pyrogenium 200 and Inflenzium 200 in particular — five tablets three times a day, or two-three drops three times a day. While these are not specifically targeted at H1N1 either, these work well as preventive against common flu virus.

8. Do Pranayam daily (preferably under guidance if you are already not initiated into it) and go for morning jog/walk regularly to keep your throat and lungs in good condition and body in fine fettle. Even in small measures, it will work wonders for your body’s resistance against all such diseases which attack the nose, throat and lungs, besides keeping you fit.

9. Have citrus fruits, particularly Vitamin C rich Amla (Indian gooseberry) juice. Since fresh Amla is not yet available in the market (not for another three to four months), it is not a bad idea to buy packaged Amla juice which is commonly available nowadays.

10. Last but not the least, wash your hands frequently every day with soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds; especially before meals, or each time after touching a surface that you suspect could be contaminated with flu virus such as a door handle or a knob/handle, especially if you have returned from a public place or used public transport. Alcohol-based hand cleaners should be kept handy at all times and used until you can get soap and warm water.

(The author is an avid reader and follower of alternative therapies including spiritual healing, Ayurveda, Yoga and Homeopathy)

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Nilgiri [EUCALYPTUS] Oil for Swine Flu prevention? NIV Pune disowns SMS Message

Currently an SMS is doing rounds stating Nilgiri Oil (Eucalyptus Oil) can be used to prevent Swine Flu infection.

”The SMS reads, Use “Nilgiri Oil” drops on handkerchiefs and masks as one of the preventive measures against swine flu (NIV) National Institute of Vairology”

However, NIV Pune has denied issuing any such notices [look for the SCROLLING MESSAGE at BOTTOM at NIV-WEBSITE].

NIV has not recommended any indigenous formulations like Nilgiri oil, etc as use against novel H1N1 (Swine Flu). Please refer to authentic public health information or call the help lines for queries.
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Who's been India's best and worst PM?

2009-08-15T17:12:00.000+05:30

India's BEST and WORST PM?

In a few days, India will have a new Prime Minister. It's as good a time as any to take stock of the men -- and one woman -- who have served us. Who's been the best PM India's had, and who's done the most damage?

Before I begin my analysis, I'd like to emphasise that these are purely my views, and do not reflect the opinion of The Times of India as an organization in any way. I've tried to be neutral and objective, and mentioned both the faults and positives of all the PMs. But I'm sure many people will vehemently disagree with my opinion, which of course is their democratic right. So, let the debate begin!

Jawaharlal Nehru: India suffered heavily because of his misplaced sense of idealism over Kashmir, resulting in a problem that troubles us to this day, and his naivete over China. But the fact is that much that is good about India today, including world-class institutes of higher learning, our space programme and the widespread use of English that gives India a competitive advantage in a globalised world, are the result of his vision. Unlike many other colonised countries that got freedom at the same time as India and promptly become tinpot dictatorships, India is still a vibrant democracy – and that is surely Nehru’s biggest achievement. It has been rightly observed that if Nehru had been a different kind of man, India would have been a different kind of country. For helping make it a rare success story in South Asia, I think he deserves the title of our best PM ever.

Indira Gandhi: A poll conducted by a leading Indian magazine some years ago rated her as India's all-time best Prime Minister. I'm afraid I don't share that opinion. The Emergency was arguably the worst assault ever on Indian democracy. Much of the ills that plague our politics, including corruption, criminalisation and the degradation of institutions like the Presidency, first flourished in her tenure. She effectively killed inner-party democracy in the Congress, and set the stage for the kind of cliques that are today the bane of Indian political parties. And she encouraged cynical misuse of religion -- the rise of Bhindranwale was originally encouraged by the Congress in a bid to embarrass the Akali Dal.

On the positive side, though, she did lead India to one of its finest hours -- victory in the 1971 war. She was also in charge when India conducted the Pokhran tests. And she held India together during a deeply turbulent time.

Rajiv Gandhi: The 1984 Sikh riots and the Bofors scam will always remain blots on his record. So will his clumsy efforts to woo Muslim fundamentalists through the Shah Bano case while courting the Hindu right wing through his decision to open the locked Ayodhya gates. But he has been proved right on many things, which were scoffed at during his lifetime, including his belief in computers and economic liberalisation.

Rajiv was the first to talk of taking India into the 21st century, and he did a fair bit to help us get there. His contribution in triggering the country’s IT and communications revolution has not got the credit it deserved. Nor have his other worthy initiatives, like panchayati raj. His tragically early death left many wondering what might have been.

Narasimha Rao: Slumbered through the demolition of the Babri mosque and was plagued with charges of graft and buying support in Parliament. But played an important role as the godfather of India's much-needed economic reforms. Had the sense to induct Manmohan Singh as finance minister and back him to a large extent. Is also significant as the first non-Gandhi to complete a five-year term.

A B Vajpayee: The first non-Congress PM to complete at least one full tenure, which marked an important landmark in Indian politics. His failure to do anything as Gujarat burned is a negative mark against him. Also, even though the BJP flaunts its anti-terror credentials, the fact remains that Vajpayee presided over one of the most humiliating moments in Indian history: the escorting of three terrorists to Kandahar by Jaswant Singh in exchange for hostages.

But Vajpayee's tenure also saw India turn an initial setback into a proud victory at Kargil. He finally took India openly nuclear. And despite gloomy predictions to the contrary, the economy didn't collapse under the weight of the sanctions that followed. Ultimately, the US came around to India's N-programme and the economy boomed during Vajpayee's last years. The irony is, the BJP's proud claim of India Shining boomeranged on it in the 2004 elections.

Manmohan Singh: His critics deride him as India's weakest PM ever. But the way he pushed through the N-deal with the US in the face of overwhelming political opposition would seem to belie that charge. The economy didn't do as spectacularly under him as his past record as finance minister had led one to hope. But it stayed on an even keel till it hit the speedbreaker of the global recession. His biggest failure, perhaps, was that his government seemed to be a mute spectator as India reeled under a string of terror serial blasts, and it finally took a 26/11 to shake it out of its stupor.

PMs who completed Full Term or at least one year or more, in office have been talked about. The others hardly did anything of significance, though Chandrashekhar's decision to mortgage India's gold was a much-needed wake-up call that we could no longer continue with our misguided economic policies.

However, there was one man among this bunch who, I believe, did the most damage to India.

V P Singh : wrecked efforts made over decades to turn caste into an irrelevant relic of medieval times, and brought it to the front and centre of Indian politics. Call me naive, but I made it all the way to college without ever knowing -- or caring -- what my caste was. It was enough for me to be an Indian. I'd like to believe it was the same way for many other young Indians. Idealistically, we believed that caste was an evil that had been made redundant in major Indian cities, and would one day be banished from small towns and villages too.

VP's cynical use of the Mandal Report to try and counter the rise of the BJP shattered that hope forever. Worse, it led to the rise of many small parties based on identity politics, which have no vision for India beyond their narrow vested interests. Today, sub-castes actually agitate to be declared backward. India has, thankfully, managed to avoid full-blown caste conflict but that's no thanks to VP. Rarely could a person who spent so little time in office have done so much damage to a country.

Many readers have pointed out that I missed Lal Bahadur Shastri. It is true that his tenure, even though it was very short, had a deep impact on the country. It's interesting to conjecture how India would have been affected if Shastri had not died when he did. His death certainly changed the course of India.

It’s majority’s belief that one of the foremost duties of government -- Centre and states alike -- is to ensure affordable (if not free), high-quality education to all citizens, regardless of caste or community. Thereafter, there should be free and fair competition for jobs, based on equality of opportunity. Having failed to achieve this basic goal, politicians have resorted to lazy, and ultimately deeply divisive tactics like reservations.

It's a shame we haven’t managed to see through their PLOYS.

P "SAVE TREES" ... Please Don't Print This Unless Must .... "MAKE IT GREEN"

Auto Insurance

2009-08-14T18:19:00.000+05:30

All You Must Know About ..... !!!

Auto insurance is a kind of insurance, specially designed to protect the vehicle and vehicle owners against the financial loss caused by an accident. As per laws of auto insurance in India, it is a legal requirement to have auto insurance when owning a vehicle. It also states that every automobile that is used for a social, recreational or individual purpose has to be insured. In case these laws are not followed by a vehicle owner (2 wheeler, 4 wheeler, commercial) he would be subjected to financial punishment as stated by the law. There are many things that you should know about Auto Insurance......

Two Wheeler Insurance
Car Insurance
Commercial Vehicle Insurance
Full coverage auto insurance
Third party auto insurance
How to Calculate Auto Insurance Premium
Procedure of Auto Insurance Claim
Documents Required for Auto Insurance Claim

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