“Picasso of India”passes away: R.I.P M.F.Hussain!!!

Renowned Indian painter Maqbool Fida Hussain, who lived the last five years of his life in exile, died of heart attack in London on Thursday morning. He was 95.
According to agency reports, Hussain died at London’s Royal Brompton Hospital at 2.30 am.
In his long and illustrious career as a painter, M F Hussain brought global recognition to Indian art. He was even described by Forbes magazine as the “Picasso of India”. He was doubtlessly the highest earning painter of India, with one painting of his even fetching $2 million at a Christie’s auction.
However, in the mid 1990s Hussain angered a section of Hindu community by painting the nude images of Hindu goddesses.
Beleaguered with legal cases and even death threats, Maqbool Fida Hussain went into a self imposed exile in 2006 and never returned to India again. In January 2010, he even accepted the citizenship of Qatar.
But in one of his last interviews, Hussain said that his heart would always remain in India.
M F Hussain also directed a few Hindi films — Gajagamini and Meenaxi – A Tale of Three Cities with actresses Madhuri Dixit and Tabu respectively. His cinematic style was often criticized as too poetically theatrical. Hussain also painted the canvases of Madhuri Dixit — his muse for a long time — and Tabu and Amrita Rao.
May hid soul rest in peace.

Sathya Sai Baba's Message and work

Sathya Sai Baba was born in Puttaparthi, a small village in South India, on 23 November 1926. As a child, he demonstrated exemplary qualities of compassion, generosity, and wisdom, which clearly distinguished him from the other children of his village.
On 29 October 1940, at the age of 14, he declared to his family and to the people of his village that he would henceforth by known as Sai Baba and that his mission was to bring about the spiritual regeneration of humanity by demonstrating and teaching the highest principles of truth, righteous conduct, peace, and divine love.
His mission was further amplified in a letter he wrote to his brother in 1947. I have a task, he said, To foster all mankind and ensure for all of them lives full of bliss. I have a vow: To lead all who stray away from the straight path again into goodness and save them. I am attached to a work that I love: To remove the sufferings of the poor and grant them what they lack.
Sai Baba's ashram, built by his devotees close to the village where he was born, was inaugurated on 23 November 1950. It is called Prasanthi Nilayam (the Abode of Divine Peace). It has been the gathering place of millions of spiritual pilgrims of various faiths from all over the world. Every day, Sai Baba graciously walks among them to guide, comfort, console, and uplift them.
The small temple dedicated in 1950 has grown into a spiritual oasis of unprecedented magnitude. The temple and the darshan area in front of it, which is completely covered by a beautiful roof, together encompass an area that is over 10,000 square yards. During the period 14-23 November 1995, the celebrations of the 70th birthday of Sathya Sai Baba took place in Prasanthi Nilayam. More than one million people, including the President and Prime Minister of India, assembled in Prasanthi Nilayam to pay homage to Sathya Sai Baba during the 70th birthday celebrations.
In a discourse on 29 September 1960 (Chapter 31 of Sathya Sai Speaks volume 1), Sathya Sai Baba said this:

I will be in this mortal human form for 59 years more and I shall certainly achieve the purpose of this avatar; do not doubt it. I will take My own time to carry out My Plan so far as you are concerned. I cannot hurry because you are hurrying.
I may sometimes wait until I can achieve ten things at one stroke; just as an engine is not used to haul one coach, but awaits until sufficient haulage in proportion to its capacity is ready. But My Word will never fail; it must happen as I will.

This means that He is expected to leave His body 2019.

Sathya Sai Baba -- His Works

Sathya Sai Baba is a highly revered spiritual leader and world teacher, whose life and message are inspiring millions of people throughout the world to turn God-ward and to lead more purposeful and moral lives. His timeless and universal teachings, along with the manner in which he leads his own life, are attracting seekers of Truth from all the religions of the world. Yet, he is not seeking to start a new religion. Nor does he wish to direct followers to any particular religion. Rather, he urges us to continue to follow the religion of our choice and/or upbringing.
Sathya Sai Baba publicly declared his mission in 1940, at the age of 14. Since then, he has daily exhibited in practical and concrete terms the highest ideals of truth, right conduct, peace, love, and nonviolence. He has often stated, "My life is my message." Each day, hundreds of pilgrims make their way to the tiny hamlet in southern India where Sathya Sai Baba's ashram (spiritual headquarters) is located. They come not only from India but from virtually every country of the world. Over the years, followers have organized to foster the construction of a variety of buildings and facilities to house and otherwise accommodate the ever-increasing number of visitors. The name of Sathya Sai Baba's ashram is Prasanthi Nilayam, which means "abode of the highest peace".
Sathya Sai Baba interacts with all people on a heart-to-heart basis. There are no intermediaries between himself and those who yearn for knowledge and experience of God. Every day for more than 50 years, Sathya Sai Baba has walked among and talked with the spiritual pilgrims who gather around him in increasing numbers. He offers solace and inspiration to all sincere seekers of truth.
Education. Sathya Sai Baba places great importance on proper education for young people. Parents and community leaders are urged to concern themselves with the informal as well as the formal experiences to which their children and young adults are exposed.
He has established a model education system, which includes primary schools, secondary schools, and an accredited university with three campuses, offering undergraduate, Masters, and Ph.D. degrees. No fees are charged to students, and admission is open to all, regardless of race, religion, or economic condition.
In addition to emphasizing the pursuit of academic excellence, Sathya Sai Baba's system of "integral education" is designed to foster self-discipline and pro-social conduct. Students are required to take courses on morality and spirituality and to devote several hours each week to some form of community service. Sathya Sai Baba says that "the end of education is character".
Health care. Sathya Sai Baba has built an ultra-modern 300-bed hospital close to the university and ashram. Highly specialized operations, including open-heart operations and kidney transplants, are performed routinely. There is absolutely no charge to the patient for professional or hospital expenses. Motivated by the desire to serve humanity, doctors, nurses, and workers in the hospital render extraordinary, compassionate, and loving care to all patients.
Service to those in need. Recently, Sathya Sai Baba initiated a project to provide an adequate supply of pure water to 1.5 million inhabitants of the State of Andhra Pradesh (India) who were living in drought conditions. The Prime Minister of India traveled to Prasanthi Nilayam (Sathya Sai Baba's main ashram) in order to inaugurate the project. Sathya Sai Baba demonstrates that it is the duty of society to ensure that all people have access to the basic requirements for the sustenance of human life.
Sathya Sai Baba has given his life, selflessly and magnanimously, to the service of mankind.

If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.
Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba -- His Message    top of page

Sathya Sai Baba encourages us to recognize who we are. We are not these minds. We are not these bodies. We are the eternal spirit that temporarily occupies these minds and bodies. We can appreciate and become who we really are by turning inward with faith in God and an intense yearning to know Him. Our conscience is a reflection of the eternal spirit. Sathya Sai Baba tells us that our conscience is our master. When we follow our conscience, our thoughts, words, and deeds will be noble and consistent. Spirituality is having the courage and determination to follow our conscience in all things and at all times. In doing so, we recognize that we are all united in God. We are bound together by divine love.

I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added luster. I have come to tell you of this universal, unitary faith, this spiritual principle, this path of love, this duty of love, this obligation to love. Every religion teaches man to fill his being with the glory of God and to evict the pettiness of conceit. It trains him in the methods of unattachment and discernment, so that he may aim high and attain spiritual liberation. Believe that all hearts are motivated by the one and only God; that all faiths glorify the one and only God; that all names in all languages and all forms man can conceive denote the one and only God. His adoration is best done by means of love. Cultivate that attitude of oneness between men of all creeds and all countries. That is the message of love I bring. That is the message I wish you to take to heart. Sathya Sai Baba

Let the different faiths exist, let them flourish, and let the glory of God be sung in all the languages and a variety of tunes. That should be the ideal. Respect the differences between the faiths and recognize them as valid as long as they do not extinguish the flame of unity. Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba passes away

Sathya Sai Baba who was in critical condition for last 28 days passed away on April 24, 2011 at 7.40 am. He was admitted in a super-specialty hospital at Prashantigram at Puttaparthi which he himself had created for the common people.  After being on ventilator support for many days with all his vital parameters failing, Sai Baba died of cardio-respiratory failure.

According to an official note, Baba's body will be kept for darshan in Puttaparthi for two days. The note also stated that people shouldn’t rush to the hospital and obtain darshan in a systematic manner. About 4 lakhs followers are expected to make a visit to Puttaparthi for the darshan.  The expected visitors include VVIPs, VIPs and common devotees from across the globe and India. The chief minister and governor of Andhra Pradesh will be the first of the VVIPs to visit the ashram.

Scores of devotees have already started pouring into the small town of Puttaparthi. However, the security is very tight and the area has been sealed off. Since the vehicles aren’t being allowed into the town, devotees would have to walk at least eight kilometres into the town to reach the ashram.

The followers of Sathya Sai Baba, are in a state of grief and shock as they expected him to recover. The devotees were expecting a miracle as Sai Baba is believed to survive two heart attacks, few years back.

Sathya Sai Baba was born in Puttaparthi in the Ananthpur district of Andhra Pradesh on November 23 1926.
Considered to be an incarnation of Shiridi Sai Baba, he was said to be unique since his childhood. When he was 14 years old, he declared to his family that he would be referred to Sai Baba and his mission would be to create spiritual regeneration of humanity. He said "My objective is the establishment of sanatana dharma, which believes in one God as propitiated by the founders of all religions."

War on corruption: India wins, Anna Hazare to end fast at 10 am

New Delhi: Anna Hazare is believed to have won the battle on corruption with the government relenting to the demands made by the veteran social activist, according to reports.
Hazare announced on Friday night that he is likely to end his fast at 10 am on Saturday, but only if the government accepts all his conditions on the drafting of the Jan Lokpal bill.
Reports suggest the government had conceded most of the demands related to the anti-corruption bill.
Hazare's announcement came after Arvind Kejriwal and Swami Agnivesh met with Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal, law minister Veerappa Moily and minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid.
According to reports, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be the chairman and senior lawyer Shanti Bhushan will be the co-chairman of the proposed joint committee to draft an effective Lokpal Bill.
Anna Hazare had demanded no "tainted" ministers should be appointed in the committee that will draft the stringent anti-corruption bill.

Bhaskar

Earthquake in Delhi\North India 5.7 magnitude scale 4-April-2011

Earthquake in Delhi and North India was declared 4th April 2011. The earthquake tremors were felt over North India including Delhi, Ghaziabad and Noida.
People tremors and have started coming out of their houses. There is no report of any human loss or damage to property.Reports from Noida and Gurgaon and parts of Delhi said strong tremors were felt, with furniture shaking in buildings.
Epicentre at the earthquake was said India-Nepal border.Earthquake was of 5.7-magnitude on the rictor scale the time was 5.00 PM to 5.05 PM.
The epicentre on the Nepal side of the India-Nepal border was 130 km away from Haldwani in Uttaranchal and 363 km from Delhi.The earthquake was pretty strong and was there for more than 15-20 seconds. It shook the entire building," wrote Pankaj from Noida
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd has said that the nuclear power plant closest to the epicentre of the earthquake, in Narora, is unaffected. Both reactor units of the Narora nuclear plant were operating normally, the NPCIL said.Quick assurance of the huge quake and tsunami in Japan last month crippling a nuclear plant which has been leaking radiation ever since

Fake World Cup trophy handed over to Champions 'Team India'

It has been the worst and shameless act by irresponsible authorities who have failed to make sure that the victorious team is being presented with the original World Cup trophy and not the fake one. Yes, it is true that the trophy which the Indian team players proudly lifted was not the real one, but just a replica.
The main reason was the lethargic cricket officials and ICC who had failed to pay the import duties for bringing in the precious cup to India. According to India's Byzantine customs rules, the World CUP trophy was not an exception from paying import duty. Since the import duty has not been payed ICC has managed to lock the original in Mumbai airport.

However, ICC is managing somehow to pacify the reporters by mentioning that the real trophy is never presented to the winning team, and that only the replica is presented to the winners. Contradictory to the statement the photographic evidence of Australia captains Steve Waugh (1999) and Ricky Ponting (2003, 2007) receiving the original trophy has proved the ICC officials to be wrong.

It is a worst dishonor for any country and unfortunately India has been the victims this time.

ICC Cricket T20 World Cup winner Team

The following is a list of the winning country and runner country up for each Cricket World Cup in ODI and T-20 series.
ICC ODI (One Day) Cricket Match World Cup winner Name
Year    Winner          Runner-up
1975   West Indies   Australia
1979   West Indies   Australia
1983   India             West Indies
1987   Australia        England
1992   Pakistan        England
1996   Sri Lanka      Australia
1999   Australia       Pakistan
2003   Australia       India
2007   Australia       Sri Lanka
2011
ICC T20 Cricket Match World Cup winner Name

India beat Sri Lanka to win ICC World Cup 2011

MUMBAI: An inspired India on Saturday night regained the coveted World Cup after 28 years as they suppressed Sri Lanka with a six-wicket victory in a nerve-wrecking final to script a glorious new chapter in their cricketing history. 

Chasing 275 for a historic win, the Indians held their nerves as they rode on Gautam Gambhir's 97 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's unbeaten 91 to overhaul the target with 10 balls to spare and send the cricket-crazy nation into a frenzy.

The vociferous, jam-packed crowd at the Wankhede stadium erupted in wild celebrations as Dhoni hit the winning six runs to give India their biggest cricketing moment and crown themselves the ODI world champions, in addition to being the number one Test team.

The World Cup title triumph, coming as it did after more than two decades, was doubly special for Sachin Tendulkar since it was the only silverware missing from his collection.

It was also a fitting farewell to coach Gary Kirsten, for whom it was the last day in office as the Indian coach.

It was a momentous Saturday night marked by high emotion and poignant scenes as India, for long the game's financial power, stamped their supremacy on the field as well, eight years after Sourav Ganguly's team had made an abortive attempt to scale the pinnacle.

The players, many of them with tears in their eyes, rushed to the ground to hug each other as Dhoni finished it off in style by hitting a six, as fire crackers lit up the evening sky to mark the moment.

The highlight of the Lankan innings was Mahela Jayawardene's rollicking 103 as Sri Lanka capitalised on the batting powerplay to post a decent 274 for six.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Jayawardene used his vast experience to good effect and anchored the Lankan innings together.

The islanders, desperate to regain the coveted cup after nearly 15 years, lost wickets at regular intervals against the Indians, who were spurred on by a vociferous jam-packed crowd.

The Indian bowlers were disciplined in the first half of the innings but conceded as many as 63 runs in the batting powerplay to undo all the good work.

Apart from Jayawardene's 88-ball knock, captain Kumar Sangakkara (48) Tillakaratne Dilshan (33) and Nuwan Kulasekara (32) were the other notable performers.

The Indian innings began on a disastrous note as the destructive Virender Sehwag was dismissed in the very second ball of the innings with paceman Lasith Malinga scalping the prized wicket.

Sehwag was hit on the pads by an incoming delivery by Malinga as he went for a flick. Umpire Aleem Dar ruled him out before he asked for review but television replays showed that the ball would have hit the stumps.

Tendulkar, playing in what probably is his last World Cup game, entertained his home crowd with a couple of delightful boundaries while Gambhir also looked for runs at the other end.

The Indians suffered a huge jolt went Malinga struck again by dismissing the champion batsman as he snicked an away-going delivery and captain Sangakkara latched on to a low catch. A hushed silence descended on the Wankhede stadium as he started his walk back to the pavilion.

Gambhir drove Kulasekara for a boundary in the extra cover region to notch up 4000 ODI runs while Virat Kohli also pulled the bowler to the boundary in the same over.

Gambhir was lucky to get a reprieve in spinner Suraj Randiv's first over when Kulasekara dropped him at the long off region.

The third-wicket pair of Gambhir and Kohli put on 83 runs before Dilshan broke the partnership by taking a brilliant acrobatic return catch.

The out-of-form Dhoni came ahead of Yuvraj to keep the left-right combination going and was immediately given two 'lives' by the Lankans -- first Sangakkara messing up a stumping chance off Muralitharan and then Dilshan dropping a return catch as he collided with non-striker Gambhir.

Dhoni, however, made the most of the Sri Lankan lapses to rediscover his form which had deserted him in the mega event.

Dhoni and Gambhir scored at a brisk pace to keep India in the hunt.

The pair stitched 109 runs for the fourth wicket before Gambhir paid the price for a horrendous stroke, just three runs short of what would have been a well-deserved century.

Gambhir made room to cut the ball but missed it completely to see his stumps dislodged.

Earlier, both the Indian new ball bowlers bowled a tidy line and length and did not allow the Sri Lankan openers to get off to a flying start while the fielding was also sharp.

Pace spearhead Zaheer's first three overs were maidens and that put some pressure on the two Lankan openers who were not being able to capitalise on the powerplay overs.

Dilshan broke the stranglehold by hitting the first boundary of the innings in the 5th over by pulling Sreesanth to the square leg fence.

In the same over, he produced a delightful cut to the point for his second boundary.

Tharanga looked completely out of sorts at the other end as he found it difficult to find the gaps as Zaheer bowled a searching length right through his opening spell.

Zaheer drew first blood in his fourth over by evicting Tharanga with an outgoing delivery and Virender Sehwag holding on to diving catch at first slip much to the delight of a capacity crowd at the stadium. Tharanga scored just two runs off 20 balls.

The Lankans could manage just 31 runs in the first ten overs, their lowest in the tournament. That was largely because of Zaheer's excellent first spell of 5-3-6-1.

Dilshan and Sangakkara put on 43 runs for the second wicket before Harbhajan Singh struck for his team by getting rid of Dilshan (33), who scored 500 runs in the tournament.

Dilshan went for a sweep but the ball hit his gloves and lobbed onto his stumps to trigger off wild celebrations in the galleries.

Sangakkara and Jayawardene then took upon themselves the task of rebuilding the innings and the duo scored at a decent pace to steer the team to a comfortable position.

Yuvraj Singh, who had a dream tournament with both the bat and the ball, was introduced into the attack in the 22nd over but the two experienced batsmen were not really troubled by his left arm spin.

It was Yuvraj who finally broke the 62-run third wicket partnership which was assuming dangerous proportions by dismissing Sangakkara who tried to cut a wide ball outside the off stump but only succeeded in edging the ball to Dhoni behind the stump. His knock of 48 came off 67 balls and contained five boundaries.

It was left to the well-settled Jayawardene to hold the innings together and he found an able ally in Thilan Samaraweera to take the Sri Lankan total close to the 180 mark.

Yuvraj was again instrumental in breaking the fourth- wicket partnership by accounting for Samaraweera. Umpire Simon Taufel turned down the leg before appeal but the Indians went for the referral and television replays showed that the ball would have hit the stumps.

New batsman Chamara Kapugedera did not survive long as he offered a simple catch to Suresh Raina at extra cover off a slower delivery from Zaheer, leaving the visitors in a spot of bother at 182 for five.

Jayawardene and Nuwan Kulasekara then teamed up ensure that Sri Lanka had a competitive total on the board as they went about accumulating runs in the batting powerplay, which was taken in the last five overs.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Munaf Patel.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Suraj Randiv, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.

Umpires: Simon Taufel (AUS) and Aleem Dar (PAK)
TV umpire: Ian Gould (ENG)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL) 




Source
Times Of  India

DMk congress alliance deadlock – No development Till Now

Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, exactly who  discussed with all the DMK on chair discussing for Tamil Nadu assembly polls, on Monday stated there is absolutely no development in the deadlock as of this moment. ‘As of there is absolutely no advancement.

DMK declared on Saturday its conclusion to pull away its ministers in the Manmohan Singh cabinet.

Rani Durgavati University scandal marks for sex

The Madhya Pradesh government has requested an investigation towards the  marks for sex scandal in the Rani Durgavati University in Jabalpur
2 administrators of Jabalpur University are already caught regarding  scandal

Controller of Examination Prof S S Rana as well as Deputy Registrar R S Kakodia  had been imprisoned on March 1, police said.
The scandal stumbled on light following a first year medical college student complained that she had been informed which she might get her marks elevated if she had sex with Khan.

Arjun Singh dead

Arjun Singh was bon on 5 November 1930
Congress leader Arjun Singh, union minister, chief minister as well as governor,He was 81.
Admitted to the AIIMS a few days ago along with heart problems and also neuro troubles, Singh reported inhaling and exhaling problem around 6.30 pm hrs.
He suffered a cardiac arrest and and died at the 6:15

He is survived two sons and a daughter.
, Arjun Singh had been 2 times the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, governor of Punjab and also commerce and human resource minister at the centre.
He has held it’s place in the media of late due to controversy concerning the Bhopal Gas Disaster, where he had been the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh.
Arjun Singh died 4 March 2011(2011-03-04) (aged 80)

Budget highlights 2011-2012|On direct tax code|Budget 2011 income tax Slab

Budget highlights 2011-2012 On direct tax code

The finance minister Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee stated the actual direct tax code is going to be beneficial from April 1, 2012.
The Direct Tax Code Bill has been around since parliament in August a year ago.

Budget highlights 2011-2012 On Budget 2011 income tax Slab

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee additionally elevated the income tax Slab exemption restrict for general tax payers to Rs 1.80 lakh per year from Rs 1.60 lakh at the moment as well as launched a higher new tax slab for senior citizens of eighty years and above. He also suggested to lessen the age restrict for concern as older persons senior citizens from 65 years to 60.
Senior citizens can get tax exemption for earnings up to Rs 2.5 lakh, greater from Rs 2.4 lakh right now. According to the statement, the rise in the income tax exemption restrict for general tax payers (eliminating ladies and senior citizens) to Rs 1.8 lakh per year might result in an advantage of Rs 2,000 for all those tax payers.
At present, the overall tax payers making greater than Rs 1.6 lakhs per year are needed to pay income tax.
Presenting a new tax slab for extremely senior citizens (eighty years and above), Mukherjee stated, they’re not going to pay any tax for yearly income around Rs 5 lakh.

More budget highlights for 2011-12:Budget highlights 2011-2012

1. * Revenue gain of Rs.11,000 crore from increase in indirect taxes.
2. * Service tax payers with turnover of Rs.60 lakh exempt from government audit.
3. * Electronic filing of TDS returns at source stabilised; simplified forms to be introduced for small taxpayers.
4. * Bill to be introduced to review Indian Stamp Act.
5. * New coins carrying new rupee symbol to be issued.
6. * Direct tax reductions to result in revenue loss of Rs.11,500 crore.
7. * Rs.3.43 lakh crore of market borrowings in 2011-12.
8. * Had option to rollback indirect tax rates to 2008 levels but will maintain standard rate of central excise duty at 10 percent.
9. * Service tax to stay at 10 percent.
10. * Excise duty on hybrid car kits reduced.
11. * Works of art exempt from customs when imported for exhibition in state-run institutions; this now extended to private institutions.
12. * Expenditure in 2011-12 estimated at Rs.12,57,729 crore, an increase of 13.4 percent.
13. * Tax receipts in 2010-11 at Rs.932,440 crore, an increase of 24.9 percent; non-tax receipts at Rs.125,435 crore
14. * Tax exemption limit raised from 160,000 to 180,000; for senior citizens qualifying age reduced from 65 to 60 years.
15. * Rs.1.64 lakh crore for defence; more will be given if required.
16. * Twenty-four percent increase in educational outlay; Rs.21,000 crore for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
17. * Rs.500 crore more for national skill development fund.
18. * Rs.54 crore each for AMU (Aligarh Muslim University) centres at Murshidabad and Mallapuram.
19. * Anganwadi workers salary raised from Rs.1,500 to Rs.3,000.
20. * Age for below poverty line old age pension scheme to be reduced from 65 to 60 years.
21. * Five-fold strategy against black money; 13 new double taxation avoidance agreements; foreign tax division of CTBT strengthened; strength of Enforcement Directorate increased three-fold.
22. * Close to finalising food security bill.
23. * Rs.58,000 crore for Bharat Nirman; increase of Rs.10,000 crore.
24. * Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme wage rates linked to consumer price index; will rise from existing Rs.100 per day.
25. * Increased outlay on social sector schemes.
26. * Infrastructure critical for development; 23 percent higher allocation in 2011-12.
27. * Rs.30,000 crore to be raised through tax-free bonds.
28. * Food storage capacity to be augmented – 15 more mega food parks to be set up in 2011-12; of 30 sanctioned in previous fiscal, 15 set up.
29. * Cold storage facilities to be recognised as infrastructure sector.
30. * Comprehensive policy on further developing PPP (public-private-partnership) model.
31. * Farmers need access to affordable credit.
32. * Moving to improve nutritional security.
33. * Necessary to accelerate production of fodder.
34. * Number three (third consecutive budget) may be lucky for me.
35. * Women’s self-help development panel to be set up.
36. * FIIs can invest $40 billion in corporate bonds.
37. * Rs.100 crore equity fund for microfinance companies.
38. * Mortgage risk guarantee fund to be created for economically weaker sections.
39. * Housing loan limit for priority sector lending raised to Rs.25 lakh.
40. * Agriculture growth key to development: Green Revolution waiting to happen in eastern region.
41. * Growth at 8.75 percent to 9.25 percent in 2011-12.
42. * Bills on insurance, pension funds, banking to be introduced.
43. * Gap between wholesale and retail prices not acceptable.
44. * Setting up independent debt management office; public debt management bill to be introduced in parliament.
45. * Seek Lord Indra’s blessings for good monsoon.
46. * Introduction of GST will improve compliance; bill in current session; setting up strong IT network for implementation.
47. * Expenditure has to be oriented towards production of goods and services.
48. * Government committed to retaining 51 percent stake in public sector enterprises.
49. * FDI policy being liberalised.
50. * Current account deficit at 2009-10 levels.
51. * Corruption a problem we have to fight collectively.
52. * Development needs to be more inclusive.
53. * Stronger fiscal consolidation needed.
54. * Setting tone for newer, vibrant economy.
55. * Economy has shown remarkable resilience to external and internal shocks.
56. * Economy back to pre-crisis trajectory.
57. * Set pace for double digit growth.
58. * Total food inflation declined to less than 9 percent in January.
59. * Could have performed better.