News Digest: Budget 2015 - Baba ray: Yoga gurus can now exhale

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, March 01, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Budget 2015 - Baba ray: Yoga gurus can now exhale It’s official. Yoga is now deemed to serve a charitable purpose. This will benefit trusts set up by various gurus such as Baba Ramdev which teach yoga. It will also eliminate tax litigation. Budget 2015: Smokers feel the heat as FM kicks butt The Budget will burn a bigger hole in smokers’ pockets. Like his predecessors, finance minister Arun Jaitley, too, has picked cigarettes to earn more revenue for the second consecutive time. Heart travels 562 km to save a life! It seemed like a sequence straight out of a Hollywood potboiler. More India News»

		Business
		Petrol prices hiked by Rs 3.18 per litre, diesel by Rs 3.09 Petrol price was hiked by Rs 3.18 per litre on Saturday, the third increase this year, and diesel by Rs 3.09 per litre. ITC plunges over 8% as govt hikes excise duty Cigarette stocks, led by ITC, took a severe beating on Saturday and fell over 8 per cent following the Budget proposal to increase excise duty. Sensex logs 1st Budget day gain in 4 years Modi government's first full-fledged budget triggered huge volatility in stock markets on Saturday with the benchmark sensex finally ending 141.38 points higher on promise of lower corporate tax rates — logging the the first rise on a Budget day in four years. More Business News»

		Environment
		Mexico to enforce ban on fishing gillnet Mexican authorities will use satellite tracking, drones, a series of naval bases and a fleet of small patrol boats to enforce a new gillnet fishing ban in the upper Sea of Cortes in a bid to save the critically endangered vaquita marina, the world's smallest porpoise. Study finds high level of toxic benzene in Delhi air For Delhiites, there’s more bad news in the air. The capital not only has the worst air quality among big cities across the world, a new study has found alarmingly high levels of a carcinogenic compound, benzene, in Delhi’s air. 37 elephants, wild animals fell victim to speeding trains As many as 37 elephants and wild animals have come under speeding trains since 2013, the Rajya Sabha was told today. More Environment News»

		World
		Russians to march in memory of murdered critic of Putin Opposition supporters will march through Moscow on Sunday in memory of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov, whose murder has increased concern about Russia's future among opponents of President Vladimir Putin. Attacks kill 37 people in and north of Iraq's capital A series of attacks targeting public places and Shiite militia checkpoints in and north of Iraq's capital killed 37 people on Saturday, authorities said. Blasts from women suicide bombers kill 4 in Nigeria A witness and a security officer say four people died when two women blew themselves up at a bus stop in a village in northeast Nigeria, the latest in a series of suicide bombings carried out by females and blamed on the Boko Haram Islamic extremist group. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'Winning with 9 wickets is just awesome' Kapil rubbishes rumours around SRK's show India defeats UAE: Twitter cheers India scored an easy win over UAE in their third match of the World Cup tournament. Twitter cheers their victory. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Protein helps birds to navigate via magnetic field: Study Researchers have found that a magnetically sensitive protein called Cryptochrome that mediates circadian rhythms in plants and animals helps birds to sense the earth's magnetic field and use it to navigate over long distances. Asian herb may protect against Ebola A molecule derived from an Asian herb may protect against Ebola by switching off channels which the virus uses to enter and infect cells, a study suggests. Cern to test new particle model The Higgs particle can disintegrate into particles of dark matter, according to a new model that is being tested at the particle physics laboratory Cern. More Science News»

		Sports
		India thump UAE by 9 wickets to register third successive win Ravichandran Ashwin picked up career best figures of (4/25) before Rohit Sharma struck an unbeaten fifty to give India a nine-wicket victory over UAE in Perth. Roger Federer stuns Novak Djokovic to win Dubai Open Roger Federer beat the world number one Novak Djokovic in a colourful success which took his title haul in Dubai equal to those of Halle and Wimbledon. Ashwin's line and length was superb, says MS Dhoni Dhoni heaped praise on off-spinner Ashwin for his match-winning bowling effort in India's nine-wicket spanking of United Arab Emirates in the World Cup. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Union Budget 2015: IT Inc speaks Reactions from IT industry on Union Budget 2015. MWC 2015: Smartphone makers look beyond handsets Phone makers will seek to seduce new buyers with even smarter internet-connected watches and other wireless gadgets at the MWC 2015. Trai aims to cut mobile roaming rates by up to 80% India's telecom regulator has proposed to chop roaming call and SMS rates drastically, by around 35% and 80% respectively. More Technology News»

		Education
		Rs 150 crore alloted for research under Atal Innovation Mission Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday announced the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), an innovation promotion platform in the NITI Aayog, with an initial fund of Rs 150 crore for research and development. Discoveries not converted to tech in India: Vision Group secretary India has not been able to transform into technology the discoveries of Indian scientists. Govt announces new IIT, IIMs The government on Saturday announced the setting up of an IIT in Karnataka along with IIMs in Jammu & Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		'Vashi school can't hike fees without PTA approval' A school in Vashi was restrained from increasing fees without the parent-teacher association’s consent by the civic body Farooque Shaikh's 'Tumhari Amrita' would have turned 23 today Exactly 23 years ago, Farooque Shaikh and Shabana Azmi had first staged the landmark play 'Tumhari Amrita' at Prithvi Theatre February 27, 1992. Portable lavatory cheap and reusable, claims Canadian maverick Canada-based maverick "innovator" Nofel Izz claims to have designed a portable lavatory whose manufacturing cost would be less than a cup of coffee, he claims. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		AAP cold war hots up: Yadav may lose PAC role Differences within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to the fore again on Saturday amid reports that chief spokesperson Yogendra Yadav would be dropped from the all-important political affairs committee (PAC). MHA says no to CM's choice for chief secretary The Union home ministry has ruled out Arvind Kejriwal’s choice for Delhi chief secretary, IAS officer Ramesh Negi, and presented him with panel of three seniormost AGMUT cadre officers to choose from. 3 killed as man sets house on fire Three people, including an infant, were killed and 11 others were seriously injured when a man set fire to a three-storey apartment in Palam Vihar on Saturday morning. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Finally, an IIT for Karnataka State’s 17-year-long wait ends. Experts hope netas will not bicker over its location Discoveries not converted to tech in India: Vision Group secretary India has not been able to transform into technology the discoveries of Indian scientists. Sukrutha Wagale meets the press in Bengaluru The actress will next be seen in Flop More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Fight against AIDS turns into a sham Both Sanjeevulu and lab technician Raju quit as they salaries for nine months running into more than Rs one lakh remained unpaid. Garbage burning turns city into gas chamber Despite having launched a helpline for the public to alert GHMC about this menace, authorities pay little attention to the insensitive actions of a section of people and its own sanitary staff, say environmentalists and activists. Students left in the lurch as govt de-recognizes 15 schools Scores of students enrolled in private schools across the city might have to miss the SSC examinations this year as the government has decided to de-recognize many schools at the last minute. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Musical tributes to be paid to K Balachander in Chennai A musical programme to pay tributes to late Tamil film director K Balachander will be held at the Russian Cultural Centre here on Saturday evening. Another fare war? Uber slashes tariff 30% Taxi service provider Uber on Friday slashed the prices for its basic to medium-end services by 30%, setting the stage for a battle of fares between cab operators in a hypercompetitive market, and even taking on autorickshaws, which charge similar prices in Chennai. Hindu activists hoodwink police, stage 'ghar wapsi' Nearly outwitting the police in a cat-and-mouse game, members of a Hindu outfit staged a ‘ghar wapsi’ programme at a temple in Choolai on Friday. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Six accused of killing 3 Britons in Guj riots acquitted Thirteen years after three British nationals were killed near Prantij during the 2002 Gujarat riots, a special SIT court in Himmatnagar on Friday acquitted six people accused of the murders. Rail Budget 2015: NID to redesign train ladders, railway dustbins   In an effort to give Indian Railways a new look, the central government has roped in National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, to redesign some of the infrastructure so that it can address travellers concerns about cleanliness, comfort and service quality.  EPFO files prosecution against five defaulting establishments The regional office of Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has filed prosecution against five defaulting establishments for non-compliance with statutory provisions of the EPF scheme. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Find Rahul, get cash prize, says former Congressman Rahul Gandhi’s ‘disappearance’ during the Parliament’s Budget session has not only put the Congress in an awkward position but also sparked a poster war in Allahabad. Azad's statue languishes in AMC store Resentment is brewing among city residents over non-installation patriot and freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad’s statue at Circuit House even on his martyrdom day. A life-size statue of the martyr is lying uncared in the storehouse of Allahabad Municipal Corporation for the last eight years. Police stations rich repository of freedom struggle The Allahabad Police records are a rich repository of British Raj history, dating back to 1896. The department has painstakingly compiled all records, including FIRs against martyrs and investigation sheets, along with the history of each and every case maintained by Britishers systematically in Conviction Registers (CRs). More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		CM on stone-laying spree in Sambalpur With maiden election to Sambalpur Municipal Corporation due soon, chief minister Naveen Patnaik went on a foundation stone-laying spree in the western Odisha city on Friday. Ward allocation goes up by 30L The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday increased the ward budget allocation by Rs 30 lakh. Earlier, the wards used to be allotted Rs 40 lakh. Jagamara lanes under water long before monsoon arrives Six lanes in Jagamara locality of Ward 63 are flooded with water even when there is no rain. Locals alleged that faulty construction of a road and drain on the stretch between City Women’s College, Siripur and Jagamara, has led to the lanes being water-logged. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		NABARD wants state to improve loan recovery National bank for agriculture and rural development (NABARD) urged the state government to "improve" recovery of loans provided at 0% interest to farmers in the Madhya Pradesh. Girls race ahead of boys on tracks Proving wrong the mind-set that fast racing cars are only boys' game, two teams comprising mostly girls have attracted eye-balls at the national go kart championship. Budding techies restless for prototypes' critical mass They are ready with prototypes, which can bring positive change in life of masses. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Punjab module part of global poaching nexus: WTI Investigations into the astounding seizure of 95kg of leopard bones and 11 of the big cat's skins at Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district, earlier this month from a gang of Bawaria-Pardia tribals point to a well-organised racket and supply chain with indications of Nepal being the next destination for the animal parts. Jeweller accuses 4 of blackmail A Mullanpur-based jeweller has accused four persons, including a girl and Kharar Shiv Sena president of blackmailing him for the past one week. PU all set, NAAC team arrives today With Panjab University (PU) campus all geared up for a four-day exercise that will evaluate and accredit the university with a fresh rating by the University Grants Commission (UGC)'s National Assessment and Accreditation Council, the peer team from the council will arrive on campus for the activity on Sunday. More Chandigarh News»

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Budget 2015: Key Highlights

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, February 28, 2015
		Budget 2015: Key Highlights

		Budget: Concessions for individual taxpayers Not changing the income tax rates or increasing the exemption limits for individuals, union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday proposed increasing the range of tax deductible investments/ spend. Cheaper vs Dearer: Here's the list Finance minister Arun Jaitley presented the first General Budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on Saturday. The various measures announced by the finance minister has resulted in hike in prices of some commodities and reduction in some. Highlights of Union Budget 2015-16 Finance minister Arun Jaitley presented the first full-year Budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on Saturday. India to introduce gold deposit accounts, no mention of import duty India will introduce gold deposit accounts to utilise the 20,000 tonnes available within the country and launch a sovereign bond as an alternative to buying the metal, moves that are likely to cut imports into the biggest gold consumer. Wealth tax abolished; extra 2% surcharge on super rich Asking rich and wealthy to pay higher tax, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today abolished the wealth tax but increased the surcharge to 12 per cent on individuals earning Rs 1 crore and above annually and on firms with an annual income of Rs 10 crore or more. Black money: 6 months for voluntary disclosure? Finance minister Arun Jaitely proposed to enact a comprehensive law to bring back black money stashed abroad. Govt unveils universal social security schemes Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday announced a slew of low-cost pension and insurance schemes, including Atal Pension Yojana and Universal Social Security scheme. Govt announces loan scheme for higher education Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday announced loan scheme for higher education. In his budget speech, Jaitley said, "We will set up an educational loan scheme for higher education." Govt allocates Rs 2,46,727cr to defence Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who presented the Union Budget for fiscal 2015-16 in the Lok Sabha said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government would allocate Rs 2, 46, 727 crore in the defence sector. India sets fiscal deficit target at 3.9% of GDP Finance Minister Arun Jaitley set the country's fiscal deficit target for the 2015/16 fiscal year at 3.9 percent of gross domestic product and said it would reduce the target gradually to 3 percent by 2017/18, one year later than previously expected.

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