Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 12 (ANI): The World Health Organisation has confirmed the human case of <keyword id="3653784" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bird-flu-in-india" source="Orion">bird flu in India</keyword>, after the <keyword id="15897682" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="H9N2-virus" source="Orion">H9N2 virus</keyword> was detected in a four-year child in West Bengal. Overall, this is the second <keyword id="21166335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="human-infection" source="keywords">human infection</keyword> of <keyword id="2663051" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Avian-Influenza-A" source="Orion">avian influenza A</keyword> (H9N2) notified to WHO from India, with the first being done in 2019. The child has recovered and was discharged from the hospital. WHO received a notification from the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) for India, regarding a human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) virus infection in West Bengal, the health body said in a press release. "The patient is a 4-year-old child residing in West Bengal state. The case, previously diagnosed with hyperreactive airway disease, initially presented to the paediatrician with fever and abdominal pain on 26 January 2024. He developed seizures on January 29 after which he was brought to the same paediatrician. The patient was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) of a local hospital due to the persistence of severe respiratory distress, recurrent high-grade fever and abdominal cramps. The patient tested positive for influenza B and adenovirus. He was discharged from the hospital on February 28 but with a recurrence of severe respiratory distress, he was referred to another government hospital and was admitted to the pediatric ICU and intubated on March 3. His nasopharyngeal swab was sent to the Kolkata Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory and tested positive for influenza A (not sub-typed) and rhinovirus. On April 26, the sample was sub-typed as influenza A(H9N2) through a real-time polymerase chain reaction. The patient was discharged from the hospital with oxygen support on May 1. WHO said that the infected patient had exposure to poultry at home and in the surroundings. It, however, also affirmed there were no known persons reporting symptoms of respiratory illness in the family, the neighbourhood, or among healthcare workers at health facilities attended by the case at the time of reporting. The health body further warned that sporadic human cases could occur in the future as this virus is "one of the most prevalent avian influenza viruses circulating in poultry in different regions." Animal influenza viruses normally circulate in animals but can also infect humans. Infections in humans have primarily been acquired through direct contact with infected animals or through indirect contact with contaminated environments. Depending on the original host, influenza A viruses can be classified as avian influenza, swine influenza, or other types of animal influenza viruses, the WHO stated in the release. The health body further said that it is providing continued support to the government of India through technical advice, updates on risk assessment and updating contingency plans- both in the human and animal sectors in line with the global guidance.

WHO confirms human case of bird flu in India! H9N2 virus detected in a four-year child in West Bengal

New Delhi [India], March 6 (ANI): The Delhi All <keyword id="20858468" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india-institute-of-medical-sciences" source="keywords">India Institute Of Medical Sciences</keyword> (<keyword id="19914075" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aiims" source="keywords">AIIMS</keyword>) has said that the problem of poor eyesight in children has increased in the last 10 years. While earlier this problem was present in 13 to 15 per cent of children, it has increased to 20 to 25 per cent in the last 10 years. That means if there are 50 children in a classroom, then out of them there will be 15 to 20 children who require glasses. Dr <keyword id="20858465" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rohit-saxena" source="keywords">Rohit Saxena</keyword>, professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics, <keyword id="20858467" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rp-center" source="keywords">RP Center</keyword> at AIIMS, said that in earlier times, only 3 to 4 per cent of children required spectacles but now this number has increased. "Earlier, the problem of vision defects was seen in children 10 to 12 years of age. But now, at the age of 6 to 7 years, the eyesight of children has started deteriorating and they need to wear glasses," said the doctor. Not only this, but the doctor also said that even children under 4 years of age are facing the problem of myopia, or vision defect and the reason for its increase is the continuous use of gadgets like mobile phones, tablets, etc. in children. Children keep using mobile phones and other gadgets for many hours and parents do not interrupt them, Dr Rohit said, adding that before Corona, when parents used to come to us, they used to complain about television hours and ways to solve them. "But now parents say that he uses the phone only for 2 hours, which means that there has been a change in the mentality of the parents, which is affecting the eyesight of children," he added. Dr Rohit Saxena said that if children are studying online, then parents should ask them to study on a computer or laptop only and use smart screens for entertainment. "The distance should be equal to one hand and if the distance is greater than that, then it will also be fine," he added. Professor <keyword id="20858466" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dr-saxena" source="keywords">Dr Saxena</keyword> of the RP Center said that in the last 30 years, the problem of poor eyesight in children has increased rapidly. In this regard, the countries of East Asia are at the forefront. This includes countries like China, Singapore, and Hong Kong. "In the countries of East Asia, 80 to 90 per cent of children suffer from visual impairment. Not only this, if we talk about <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>, this problem is continuously increasing among children in India," said the doctor. "Especially earlier, we used to think that the problem of visual impairment was less common in children in rural areas, but now the figures coming out show that even in rural areas, the problem of visual impairment is seen in small children. This means that even in those areas, the use of mobile phones and other gadgets has increased among children," he said. Dr Rohit said that in the data collected from rural areas in the last 10 years, earlier, 3 to 4 per cent of children had the problem of visual impairment, which has now increased to 7 to 8 per cent. The doctor said that it is very important to increase digitalization, which is a good thing. People are becoming aware of this, even in rural areas. Along with this, excessive use of mobile phones, tablets and other gadgets is harmful to children. "Parents need to be made aware of this and will have to explain this to their children since young minds are not aware of the potential damage," he stated. In such a situation, there are some symptoms. If the symptoms are visible in your child, then pay attention to them. For example, if the child is not able to copy the homework from the board in the class, if the child is copying homework from the other child's notebook, or if the child is watching the board with eyes slightly closed. Additionally, if the child is watching TV very closely, reading books very closely or has watery eyes and is used to constant rubbing of their eyes, these are all symptoms of a vision defect or myopia. Regarding this, parents should immediately take their children to the doctor and get their eyes checked. Along with this, if children use the phone continuously or have to do homework online, then parents should keep in mind that they must take a 5-minute break every half hour and always keep their computer or laptop near the window so that their children keep looking outside while studying. Along with this, if possible, study in the open on the balcony or terrace. Children need to go out 2 hours during the day in the morning or anytime before evening. (ANI)

Poor eyesight in children increased in past 10 years: AIIMS

India has emerged as the world’s fastest growing economy. However, Asia’s third largest economy just ranked 97th among 118 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) released by the <keyword id="108578" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="International-Food-Policy-Research-Institute">International Food Policy Research Institute</keyword> (<keyword id="6557928" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ifpri">IFPRI</keyword>). This puts the country behind even <keyword id="6354759" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</keyword>, <keyword id="41896" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Iran">Iran</keyword>, <keyword id="6355112" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Iraq">Iraq</keyword>, and <keyword id="6354767" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nigeria">Nigeria</keyword> in the hunger map. 
 
India’s policy addressing hunger and malnutrition in all age groups has a feast of questions and a famine of answers. India’s hunger, being worse than any sub-Saharan country, needs crisis management and a long term vision. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Excise-duty-in-cigarette-hiked-Tobacco-farmers-in-india-are-struggling-to-make-ends-meet/articleshow/56872791.cms">ALSO READ: Excise duty in cigarette hiked. Tobacco farmers in India are struggling to make ends meet</a> 
 Be it <keyword id="4227644" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="manohar-das">Manohar Das</keyword> of <keyword id="4227647" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="tewri">Tewri</keyword> village in <keyword id="6360371" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jharkhand">Jharkhand</keyword>, who works in hundred days of wage-employment or <keyword id="4227646" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="shib-baksha">Shib Baksha</keyword> of <keyword id="4227645" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="amlasol">Amlasol</keyword> village in <keyword id="61773" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-Midnapore">West Midnapore</keyword> district of <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword>, who works as contract labour at nearby village, the thin line that connects them is the ignorance about ‘<keyword id="2209492" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi-Sarkar">Modi Sarkar</keyword>’. The only thing they understand by the government is getting staples at Rs 2/kg and free goodies. However, staples alone can’t fulfill nutritional needs, as a result they end up with stunted growth and other diseases. Not everyone is as lucky as them. Their neighbours, unable to procure <keyword id="49514" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="bpl">BPL</keyword> (below poverty level) identity cards and Ration Cards aren’t entitled to these basic facilities and have to starve most of the days. Only feast they can think of is ant eggs roast during the scorching summer months. 
 
 
 
India’s overall GDP growth is expected to end at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Excise-duty-in-cigarette-hiked-Tobacco-farmers-in-india-are-struggling-to-make-ends-meet/articleshow/56872791.cms">7.1% this financial year</a>, as compared to 4.6% two years back. While food still counts as the basic requirement of human existence, India is a country that not only produces enough, but ironically, there is never enough for its ever growing population to eat. Funnily, while millions go hungry, for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Excise-duty-in-cigarette-hiked-Tobacco-farmers-in-india-are-struggling-to-make-ends-meet/articleshow/56872791.cms">India storage of surplus food</a> has always been a problem. 
 
 
 
India’s hunger-management disaster 
While development in many sectors is acknowledged, what is lesser known is that India has also made considerable progress on many social fronts, such as fertility decline, expansion of schooling and bridging the gender gap in education, especially at the primary and lower secondary levels. However, there is one <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Excise-duty-in-cigarette-hiked-Tobacco-farmers-in-india-are-struggling-to-make-ends-meet/articleshow/56872791.cms">area of human development</a>, where India has been a disaster: tackling hunger and malnutrition. 
 
Child malnutrition rates in India are extraordinarily high- among the highest in the world, with nearly one-half of all children under 3 years of age being either underweight or stunted. Indeed, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Excise-duty-in-cigarette-hiked-Tobacco-farmers-in-india-are-struggling-to-make-ends-meet/articleshow/56872791.cms">child malnutrition rates </a>are higher in India than in many countries of sub-Saharan <keyword id="12925" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Africa">Africa</keyword>, even though income levels are significantly higher and levels of infant and child mortality are lower in India. 
 
 
 
Pediatric malnutrition Prevalence of child malnutrition in India has remained stubbornly high even after nearly a half-century of respectable agricultural productivity growth and two decades of post-reform economic growth and prosperity in the country. Adding more support to the view that child malnutrition is weakly correlated with income is the finding that among children of mothers with 10 or more years of schooling as well as mothers from the top income quintile, around one-quarter are underweight. Even in a relatively prosperous and dynamic state like <keyword id="6354766" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gujarat">Gujarat</keyword>, child malnutrition rates have been stagnant over the past decade. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-indepay-is-making-rural-india-cashless/articleshow/57232771.cms">ALSO READ: HOW INDEPAY IS MAKING RURAL INDIA CASHLESS</a> 
 The <keyword id="121300" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Family-Health-Survey">National Family Health Survey</keyword> (NFHS) found that a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-indepay-is-making-rural-india-cashless/articleshow/57232771.cms">significant number of adults</a> in India suffer from malnutrition. Almost 58 per cent of pregnant women aged 15-49 were found to be anaemic. The Global Food Security Index also revealed that Indians lack adequate quantities of iron, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-indepay-is-making-rural-india-cashless/articleshow/57232771.cms">Vitamin A and protein in their diets</a>. 
 
 
 
“Half of the children who die before five years of age have malnutrion as a cause in their pathogenesis. If we look at proportion of weight at birth, 23 per cent of children weigh less than 2.5 kg, which is below normal. This low birth weight has its reason in the womb, which is where they are malnourished already before being born. Low birth weight increases over time and so by the time they are three-years-old, half the children are malnourished. Because of poor sanitation we have widespread <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-indepay-is-making-rural-india-cashless/articleshow/57232771.cms">faecal oral contamination</a>. Water and food sources have high degrees of contamination and it results in diarrhoea and other gastro intestinal illnesses, which increases the child mortality rate,” said renowned public health specialist and activist Dr <keyword id="43944" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Binayak-Sen">Binayak Sen</keyword>. 
 
 
 
State of famine 
In 1943, three million people died in the infamous <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/author_articles_all.cms?query=%22Suchayan%20Mandal%22&amp;author=Suchayan-Mandal-479239841">Bengal famine</a>. There was no shortage of grain in <keyword id="6356978" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengal">Bengal</keyword> at that time, yet people had nothing to eat. Interpreting the Famine of 1943,<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/author_articles_all.cms?query=%22Suchayan%20Mandal%22&amp;author=Suchayan-Mandal-479239841"> Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen </a>suggested that the reason for it was the breakdown of the social arrangement in distributing food. To put the matter in a world context, every three seconds somewhere around the world, a child dies of causes related to avoidable malnutrition. "In those three seconds, the world armaments industry spends 120,000 USD in order to keep the system responsible safely in place,” Binayak Sen told <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword>. 
 
 
 
Ignorant policies that do the most harm Skyrocketing prices of daily food items spell more woe for the people, who are already paying "too much" to survive. International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (<keyword id="1367836" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="IFAD">IFAD</keyword>) Rural Poverty Report-2011 states, “While international food prices have declined since mid-2008, they are still substantially higher than prior to the price surge, and they are likely to remain at 2010 levels or higher for the next decade.” The report has suggested that about 100 million of world’s rural and urban people have to remain hungry. 
 “It will remain high, the era of cheap food is over," said <keyword id="669006" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Richard-Mahapatra">Richard Mahapatra</keyword>, managing editor of Down to <keyword id="6359982" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="earth">Earth</keyword>. "This is because productivity of agriculture is low and thus impacts production. This is the supply side issue. Also the rainfed areas that contribute a signifcant amount of foodgrain is not getting the policy focus. Even though the new second Green <keyword id="24385" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="revolution">Revolution</keyword> is aimed at that, it seems to be flawed. Now, the demand side. Demand is increasing but we don't have robust distribution mechanism. So, it creates further price rise. Also, there is huge diversion of agricultural lands to other uses. Combined with low productivity, less lands and absence of distribution mechanism, we are set for high price rise.” 
 Due to the PDS (<keyword id="89442" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Public-distribution-system">Public Distribution System</keyword>) and the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/author_articles_all.cms?query=%22Suchayan%20Mandal%22&amp;author=Suchayan-Mandal-479239841">public wage programmes</a> starvation deaths have definitely come down, he contended. Often we call cheap food grain programmes as populist. They are indeed popular as poor find them useful and their starvation is avoided with this entitlement. 
 
 
 
Adult malnutrition 
“Roughly 33-35 per cent of the entire Indian population have a BMI below 18.5, which is indicative of calorie malnutrition. They aren't getting enough food to eat. More than one-third of India is on a chronic basis not getting proper food to eat. Low BMI is also restricting people’s immunity,” said Binayak Sen. 
 “Without addressing nutritional status, there can be no adequate development. Food Security Act does nothing for betterment of nutritional status of the poeple as such. <keyword id="250148" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Bill">The Bill</keyword> is like 'something is better than nothing'. Five kilos of wheat per person per month make two chapattis per day. With two chapatis the nutritional question isn’t answered. This terrible nutritional deficit is yielding polarization in society,” he added. 
 
Urban malnutrition 
In villages, people stay in close bond with each other, who can be approached for help in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/author_articles_all.cms?query=%22Suchayan%20Mandal%22&amp;author=Suchayan-Mandal-479239841">times of crisis</a>. Migrating people in cities start living in slums and ghettos, where they have to live with people unknown and untrustworthy. Moreover, people fight here to make ends meet, which actually leads to self-centric attitude. 
 
Red corridor hunger 
“People who are in chronic situation and stable famine are able to withstand only because of their access to natural resources like land, water and forest," opined Binayak Sen. "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/author_articles_all.cms?query=%22Suchayan%20Mandal%22&amp;author=Suchayan-Mandal-479239841">Access to this resources was unrestricted</a>. Designating the common properties as commodities that can be owned by corporates is restricting poeple’s right to access and in a way right to live. Any form of resistance is labelled as insurgency. First they try civil ways and then take recourse in military measures. People have to confront. Application of eminent domain needs to be questioned. Under 5th schedule, govt has to ensure people’s access to natural resources but there is not a single instances of government intervening.” 
 
“They have mapped it as red corridor but poeple’s deprivation hasn't been mapped yet," said Sen. 
 
"We need to relook at the arm forces and UAPA laws. Whole discourse in election has become restricted to attitudes to development. Development is about accessing resources. Nobody is saying there are vital issues involved. What is going to happen to the poeple whose right has been denied? State will not be thwarted in its course. There needs to be a contestaion in the level of people. They need to raise the issue.” 
 
Business Insider’s Take 
Agriculture contributes around 16 per cent to<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/author_articles_all.cms?query=%22Suchayan%20Mandal%22&amp;author=Suchayan-Mandal-479239841"> India’s GDP</a>; it is coming down over the years. But still 60 per cent people depend on this. What does this mean? Is it that it is reliable as a source of livelihood or people don't have any other source thus depend on agriculture? In both the cases, shifting people out of agriculture is going to be a tough challenge. Industries or the service sectors have their own limitation and can't absorb such a huge number of people. Strategically, this will be a blunder as we kill out food self-sufficiency.

BI Investigation: India’s food nightmare is killing millions of
children across the country every day

Myopia or near-sightedness is a condition in which near objects appear clear but objects farther away look blurry. It is the commonest refractive error typically affecting the younger population across the globe. With its rising numbers, it is estimated to affect half of the global population by 2050. Genetic and many environmental factors are responsible for developing Myopia. Myopia starts to develop during childhood and adolescent age. The older children may be able to tell the difficulties they are experiencing with their vision. Younger children might not express difficulty seeing but a change in their behaviour or other signs can direct us towards their vision difficulty. Dr Jitendra Jeth- MS, DO, DNB, FNB, PHD scholar Director, Baroda children eye care and Squint clinic, Baroda quoted "Progressive myopia occurs in school going children and the two major causes for progression are near work and indoor sitting.If parents have glasses, the children should be checked at a younger age for glasses. With newer drugs and interventions the progression can be slowed down" The most common sign you can see is, the child goes very close to the screen of the television or laptop. Similar behaviour is observed in school as well, the child goes very close to the board or screen or prefers to sit in the front row of the classroom to see things, clearly. Some children may complain of blurred vision or intermittent headaches. <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> is the most populous country in the world with a greater number of young people. In this era of digitalization, the screen time of an individual has increased to a great extent. And kids are not exception. The use of smart phones, computers, laptops or TV screens have become a part of their daily routine. In past few years the kids are more home bound, involved in near work and their hours of outside playing has reduced significantly. Dr Lav Kochgaway - Senior Consultant and Executive Director <keyword id="18124710" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="netralayam" source="Orion">Netralayam</keyword>, Kolkata quoted "As we are heading towards a situation in which almost 50 percent of urban children may have minus power - mandatory eye check up at three years and annually thereafter becomes even more important. Awareness about reduced use of digital devices and more outdoor games in children will help". The pandemic of COVID has added to this increased exposure of screen as more time was spent on smart phones for online schooling. Excessive exposure to smartphone screen has posed a severe surge in cases of Myopia across the globe. This environmental risk factor is found to be associated with both development and Progression of Myopia as many studies have determined. The GenNext's inseparable connectivity to the devices is risking their vision multifold. Let's understand how these <keyword id="6354775" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="smartphones" source="Orion">smartphones</keyword> or screens are affecting the vision? It is the 'blue light emitted by these devices to be blamed. Dr Siddarth Kesarwani - Senior Consultant Pediatric Ophthalmologist, JNR Children Eye Care &amp; Squint Clinic, Mumbai quoted "An entire generation of children is at a high risk for getting progressive myopia due to excessive syllabus, early schooling, increased screen time and less time spent playing outdoors. Myopia is a lifestyle disease. Newer interventions like dilute atropine and novel spectacle designs can help slow the progression of myopia". Sunlight has a spectrum of light which contains red, orange, yellow, blue and green lights. But the light emitted by these devices is generally blue one which has high energy and short wavelength. Though blue light is naturally present in the environment, it is something in higher amounts from the screens of smartphones and is harming the vision. It was observed in a study that children's eyes absorb more blue light than the adult's eyes emitted by these devices. A study says, Myopic children use twice as much smartphone data each day as their non-myopic peers. This added blue light exposure from these devices lead to eye strain and more seriously a condition called macular degeneration. It was estimated in an article published in 2020 that, Myopia prevalence globally could reach 52% in the next 3 decades, which is alarming. Dr Ramesh Kekunnaya - FRCS, Network Director <keyword id="18124711" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="l-v" source="Orion">L V</keyword> <keyword id="178632" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="prasad-eye-institute" source="Orion">Prasad Eye Institute</keyword>, Hyderabad quoted "Overviewing / over usage of screens of smartphones and tablets could be a risk factor for the onset of myopia and its progression. Additionally, it can cause issues related to sleeping, eating, and other behavioural issues in children. So I urge parents to use all these gadgets wisely and keep the children away from using them unnecessarily and encourage /engage them in various outdoor activities and games". There has been found a steady growth in cases of Myopia or short-sightedness over last few decades. In Indian many studies had been conducted to assess the Myopia situation in rural and urban set ups. The prevalence of Myopia in kids in urban area was 8.5% while in rural area it was 6.1%, a study published in 2020 says. But the more concern has risen up with the figures of the recent study conducted by AIIMS which says over 13% of the school going children in India have turned myopic, and the number has doubled in the last decade due to excess usage of electronic gadgets. Early detection and timely intervention are effective in controlling development and progression of Myopia. Children's screen time should be restricted and they should be encouraged to play outdoors than playing with smartphones. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by Mediawire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/netweb-technologies-ipo-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/102068898.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/netweb-technologies-ipo-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/102068898.cms" target="_blank">Netweb Technologies IPO allotment – how to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/the-ola-s1-air-is-the-affordable-offering-from-the-company-and-will-soon-go-on-sale-in-india/slidelist/102074223.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/the-ola-s1-air-is-the-affordable-offering-from-the-company-and-will-soon-go-on-sale-in-india/slidelist/102074223.cms" target="_blank">Ola S1 Air to hit Indian roads soon – price, features and everything you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-5-z-flip-5-galaxy-watch-series-6-and-more-set-to-launch-july-end/articleshow/101538049.cms">Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, Galaxy Watch Series 6 and more set to launch July-end</a>

Smartphones are making Indian kids myopic, numbers double in a decade

Becoming a doctor is the aspiration of a lot of students. Doctor’s profession lets the candidates enjoy a prestigious social and professional life being able to serve a lot of people as well as make a lucrative income. If you wish to become a doctor, the planning and preparation must start very early in your life not later than your high schooling. Here is a step by step guide to becoming a doctor. If you have chosen to become a doctor in your life, know that your path is never going to be easy. You must put in a diligent work right from your young age. You must be able to grasp things quickly as well as do the much-needed sacrifice for several years to land on a doctor’s profession. Also, a passion to help others and a genuine interest in the welfare and happiness of others are two important characteristics that are necessary for a doctor. As a doctor, your journey is not going to be on a bed of roses. Prepare yourself for a tough life during studies and during your profession. <keyword id="7760185" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="steps-to-become-a-doctor">Steps to become a doctor</keyword> Secondary School Education In the secondary school or plus two levels, you must opt for subjects including Physics, Chemistry and Biology. When you apply for the MBBS program through the general category, you must have completed 17 years, but must not be older than 25 years. Graduation MBBS is the basic degree required to become a doctor. This is the entry card to a career in medicine. This is usually a 5 and a half year course that will conclude with a year of internship that is compulsory. Entrance examination Those who wish to pursue graduation in MBBS, BDS or Veterinary Science program must go through NEET examination. This is a common entrance examination conducted by the Central Board Of Secondary Education in India year on year for giving entry to students to various medical colleges in the country. Your ranking in the NEET examination decides which colleges you can join. If you wish to specialize in fields like Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani, there are special courses you can do during your graduation. Some colleges like JIPMER, AIIMS, Armed Force Medical College, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Kasturba Medical College, Maulana Azad Medical College, Christian Medical College, etc., conduct their own entrance examinations. Students wishing to join these institutions must take these exclusive tests organized by these colleges and need not go through the route of NEET. Specializations In India, about 12,000 professionals complete their doctor’s degree in a typical year. After completing your MBBS, you must pursue a Masters course to specialize in a field of medicine. NEET PG is the common entrance examination that will give you an entry to the various PG Diploma courses. In the Master’s program, those who take MD can become a physician while those who take MS will become surgeons. Some interesting specializations in MD and DM Obstetrics &amp; Gynaecology Dermatology Orthopedics Psychiatry Cardiology (DM not MD) Endocrinology (DM) Neurology (DM) and Anaesthesiology Gynecology Paediatric Some interesting specializations in M.Ch Pediatric Surgery (M.Ch not MS) Plastic surgery M.Ch Cardio-thoracic surgery Urology Cardiac surgery Cosmetic surgery See Also - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/difference-between-weather-and-climate/articleshow/69285821.cms">Difference between weather and climate</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/difference-between-cv-and-resume/articleshow/69267449.cms">Difference between CV and Resume</a>

How to become a Doctor in India

Analysis shows that children in the age group of 0-14 years are less affected by <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword>, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan informed the Lok Sabha on Friday. He said in a written reply that infection among children is mild and most of them remain asymptomatic. "Hence no specific action plan has been formulated in the current response phase to minimise the adverse effects of COVID-19 on such children," he said. Very rarely a severe illness, in form of multi-system inflammatory syndrome, has been identified, Vardhan said, adding this happens usually three to six weeks after the infection. The Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS, is documenting the long term effect of COVID-19 infection in children, he said. The minister was responding to a question on whether the government had formulated any action plan to control and minimise the adverse effects of COVID-19 in children aged 0-14. For appropriate management of COVID-19 cases, a three-tier arrangement of health facilities has been implemented -- <keyword id="8995444" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-care-centre">COVID Care Centre</keyword> with isolation beds for mild or pre-symptomatic cases, Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) with oxygen supported isolation beds for moderate cases and Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH) with ICU beds for severe cases, he said. Guidelines on clinical management of COVID-19 have been issued, Vardhan said. They also provides for management of complications. On whether the government has made any assessment of adverse effects of COVID-19 on <keyword id="6354774" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mental-health">mental health</keyword> of children and has provided psychological support through healthcare professionals, Vardhan said the <keyword id="263716" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-education">Ministry of Education</keyword> has initiated a programme called 'manodarpan' covering a wide range of activities to provide psycho-social support to students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional wellbeing. There is a national toll-free helpline 8448440632 to provide tele-counselling for students, parents and teachers to help cope with the situation, he said. The standard operating procedure for health and safety protocols for reopening of schools issued by the Ministry of Education has incorporated guidelines for promoting emotional well-being of students and teachers, the minister said. The <keyword id="210071" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Health">Ministry of Health</keyword> set up a 24/7 helpline through NIMHANS, Bangalore, on March 29, 2020 to provide psycho-social support to the affected population, divided into different target groups, Vardhan said. Two central mental health institutions -- namely LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi -- along with various states and UTs were also on-boarded to extend the services in regional and local languages. He said guidelines and advisories on management of mental health issues, catering to different segments of the society, were issued. All the guidelines, advisories and advocacy material can be accessed on the <keyword id="191419" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Health-and-Family-Welfare">Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</keyword> website under 'Behavioural Health - Psycho-social helpline', Vardhan said. He further said that various media platforms were used for creative and audio-visual materials on managing stress and anxiety, and promoting an environment of support and care for all. To address the burden of mental disorders, <keyword id="6377129" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-of-india">Government of India</keyword> is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), Vardhan said, adding the government is supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under NMHP in 692 districts of the country. To generate awareness among masses about mental illnesses, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities are an integral part of the NMHP, he said, and at the District level, funds up to ₹4 lakh per annum are provided under the DMHP for awareness generation activities, he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/easemytrip-ipo-listing-price-at-13-5-premium/articleshow/81581828.cms">EaseMyTrip lists at 13.5% premium – but gives up some of the listing gains soon after</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-9-pro-specs-oneplus-9e-specs-and-price-leak-and-oneplus-9-series-launch-date/articleshow/81168227.cms">OnePlus 9 series specifications and features leaked – here's everything we know about the upcoming OnePlus smartphones</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/checkout-review-of-moto-g10-power-mobile-phone-review-and-features-information/articleshow/81583548.cms">Moto G10 Power mobile review – big battery on a shoestring budget</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/future-retail-shares-take-a-massive-hit-as-it-loses-the-case-against-amazon-in-delhi-high-court/articleshow/81583165.cms">Future Retail shares take a massive hit as it loses the case against Amazon in Delhi High Court</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-9r-will-be-the-companys-next-affordable-smartphone-india-launch-confirmed-for-march-23/articleshow/81586104.cms">OnePlus 9R will be the company’s next affordable smartphone, India launch confirmed for March 23</a>

Analysis shows children between 0-14 years less affected by COVID, says Health Minister

<ul><li>A new Standford-led study now says children who vape face increased <keyword id="8640712" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="risk-of-coronavirus">risk of coronavirus</keyword>. </li><li>The research found that those who vaped were five to seven times more likely to be infected than those who did not use e-cigarettes. </li><li>According to the study, young people who had used both cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the previous 30 days were almost five times as likely to experience <keyword id="8889783" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Covid-19-symptoms">COVID-19 symptoms</keyword>. </li></ul>Ever since the beginning of coronavirus, scientists have claimed that young adults and children have reported fewer cases in comparison to adults. However, a new Standford-led study now says children who vape face increased risk of coronavirus. "Teens and young adults need to know that if you use e-cigarettes, you are likely at immediate risk of COVID-19 because you are damaging your lungs," said the study's senior author, Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, professor of pediatrics. Among young people who were tested for the virus that causes COVID-19, the research found that those who vaped were five to seven times more likely to be infected than those who did not use e-cigarettes. The researchers used survey data collected from 4,351 participants ages 13 to 24 who lived in all 50 states in America. <div type="Youtube" id="wGJpGSCBzZ8" title="Why Vaping Is Bad For You" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wGJpGSCBzZ8/mqdefault.jpg"></div> “Young people may believe their age protects them from contracting the virus or that they will not experience symptoms of COVID-19, but the data show this isn't true among those who vape," said the study's lead author, postdoctoral scholar Shivani Mathur Gaiha, PhD. The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, is the first to examine connections between youth vaping and COVID-19 using the US population-based data collected during the pandemic. The researchers recruited a sample of participants that was evenly divided between those who had used e-cigarettes and those who had never used nicotine products. The sample also included approximately equal numbers of people in different age groups (adolescent, young adult and adult), races and genders. "This study tells us pretty clearly that youth who are using vapes or are dual-using [e-cigarettes and cigarettes] are at elevated risk, and it's not just a small increase in risk; it's a big one," Gaiha said. According to the study, young people who had used both cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the previous 30 days were almost five times as likely to experience COVID-19 symptoms, such as coughing, fever, tiredness and difficulty breathing as those who never smoked or vaped. Hence, according to Halpern-Felsher, they were the ones who got tested in May when many regions limited COVID-19 testing to people with symptoms. Depending on which nicotine products they used, and how recently they had used them, young people who vaped or smoked, or both, were 2.6 to nine times more likely to receive COVID-19 tests than nonusers. Among the participants who were tested for COVID-19, those who had ever used e-cigarettes were five times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than nonusers. Those who had used both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes in the previous 30 days were 6.8 times more likely to be diagnosed with the disease. “The researchers did not find a connection between COVID-19 diagnosis and smoking conventional cigarettes alone, perhaps because the prevalent pattern among youth is to use both vaping devices and traditional cigarettes. Other research has shown that nearly all nicotine-using youth vape, and some also smoke cigarettes, but very few use cigarettes only,” Halpern-Felsher said. In addition to warning teenagers and young adults about the dangers of vaping, the researchers hope their findings will prompt the Food and Drug Administration to further tighten regulations governing how vaping products are sold to young people. "If you are a vaper, you are putting yourself at risk for COVID-19 and other lung disease," Halpern-Felsher said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/trump-was-rushed-from-the-briefing-room-by-secret-service-after-a-shooting-outside-of-the-white-house/articleshow/77474005.cms">Trump was rushed from the briefing room by Secret Service after a shooting outside the White House</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/mckinsey-facebook-amazon-nokia-and-some-other-companies-looking-for-a-product-manager-right-now/slidelist/77464438.cms">McKinsey, Facebook, Amazon, Nokia — and some other companies looking for a product manager right now</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/how-karan-bajaj-sold-his-less-than-18-month-old-startup-white-hat-jr-to-byjus/articleshow/77415329.cms">A WhatsApp message, six weeks of talks and a $300 million deal – how Karan Bajaj sold his less than 18-month old startup White Hat Jr to Byju’s</a>

Vaping makes teenagers more vulnerable to COVID-19, says Stanford-led study

In this era of digitalization, there’s a thin line between dependence and addiction to digital devices. And digital addiction is real and growing fast. Developing a compulsive need to use your digital devices, even if it interferes with your life and stops you from doing things is the hallmark of addiction. Digital addiction can be broadly grouped as phone addiction, <keyword id="21708" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet-Addiction">Internet addiction</keyword> and social media addiction. Smartphone dependence and addiction is probably the most common and widespread form of digital addiction. It is not uncommon to see just about every child who can hold a phone in their hands glued to their mobile screen. Studies have shown that children as young as three years old are being given their own tablet device and even 10-year-olds their own smartphones. Social media addiction is quite easy to define. If you spend far too much time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram to document every aspect of your life on any or all of the platforms, you could be a social media addict. Internet addiction is where some may find it difficult to differentiate between the virtual world and reality. Sufferers tend to spend excessive amounts of time online, causing a higher risk of overspending by getting involved in online gambling and gaming. The hazard The explosion of technology in recent years has impacted both adults and children alike. However, it may be more hazardous for children since they are exposed to these devices at a tender age. Once they figure out that there is an entire world accessible to them through that little device, it becomes their most treasured possession. All forms of digital addiction eventually lead to excessive screen time. Digital addiction not only affects our behaviour and functioning, but it also affects us structurally. Parts of the brain begin to shrink (atrophy) because children are not receiving the human interactions that develop those areas. Most of the damage occurs in the brain’s frontal lobe that controls important functions such as planning, organising, decision-making and prioritising. Excessive screen time leads to eye related problems like eye strain, dry eyes, computer vision syndrome as well. It could lead to rapid progression of refractive errors especially myopia in children. Even in the older age group, chances of retinal and macular degeneration due to the blue light emission is seen more in people who are constantly on their devices. To make things worse, most enterprises, schools and even homes now have WI-FI. As technology continues to tighten its grip on our lives, we are losing human connection - our voices, touch, and facial expressions and we are actually drifting away. These devices lead us into a vicious cycle -- It may not be long from now that digital addiction will be medically recognised as a disease, just like the ‘gaming disorder’- the inability to stop gaming, which is now included in the international classification of diseases (ICD) by the WHO. Possible solution The solution to this problem can be a challenge. These devices have proved their worth and importance in our day to day lives. But wireless technology – like any other technology – must be used judiciously and with caution. We need to make a conscious effort to reduce our addiction to our ‘smart’ devices. This is applicable to both adults and children. Children should be encouraged to play real outdoor games rather than playing simulated ones on phones and tablets. Reading e-books, articles and newspapers from these devices is another commonly encountered phenomenon which can be reduced by simple measures. Online learning apps too could be addictive and have detrimental effects in the ways mentioned above. Moreover, even schools are promoting and encouraging the use of tablets and IPADs as a medium of education. Children should be encouraged to read from books. The time spent on computers and TVs too should be monitored and regulated. The WI- FI routers can be turned off for at least a few hours in the day and at night. Families should make an effort to sit together without our ‘smart’ companions and indulge in real communication. Routine but effective restrains like no cell phones, tablets on dining tables, no use of gadgets in dark before sleeping etc. should be practiced. We need to devote time to ourselves, nourish our brains and engage in exercise as an antidote to digital addiction. Reconnecting with nature, taking time to look at our surroundings, meeting real people, playing real games—instead of burying our heads in our gadgets—is a step in the right direction. Let these devices ease your life but do not let them become your life. We need to understand that we are smarter than our smart phones and watches. And we can survive even without them. (Dr Uppal Gandhi is a Pediatric Ophthalmologist at L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad)

An eye doctor breaks down how digital addiction can hurt you

<ul><li>Farmers in <keyword id="6355588" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajasthan">Rajasthan</keyword> are beefing up their revenues by almost 30% by selling <keyword id="127636" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="cow-urine">cow urine</keyword>. </li><li>Urine of some cow breeds, such as Gir and Tharparkar, can fetch up to ₹15 and ₹30 per litre whereas cow milk fetches anything from ₹22 and ₹25. </li><li>Some of the urine sold is used for holy rituals and scientifically-backed purposes like plant pesticides in organic farming.</li><li>Some buy cow urine because they believe it can cure ailments and diseases like cancer. </li></ul>Indians are nothing if not enterprising. While the government has tightened its noose around one revenue stream of livestock farmers in Rajasthan - yes, we mean the all too famous <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/states-where-cow-slaughter-is-banned-so-far-and-states-where-it-isnt-1413425.html">ban</a> on cow slaughter - the unrelenting farmers have found a new way to milk the humble cow. According to a report in the <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/cow-urine-new-revenue-stream-for-dairy-farmers/articleshow/65111454.cms">Times of India</a>, farmers in Rajasthan are beefing up their revenues by almost 30% by selling cow urine. Urine of some cow breeds, such as Gir and Tharparkar, can fetch up to ₹15 and ₹30 per litre whereas cow milk fetches anything from ₹22 and ₹25. Add sale of <a href="https://www.firstpost.com/india/rajasthan-dairy-farmers-sell-cow-dung-cakes-on-amazon-3428576.html">cow dung</a> to the mix, which is now available on <a href="https://www.amazon.in/Srirangam-Pure-Organic-Central-Pieces/dp/B071CHQH13?tag=googinhydr18418-21&amp;tag=googinkenshoo-21&amp;ascsubtag=70e04577-08ff-4c35-9406-034e96f1e05a">Amazon</a> for around ₹215 for half a dozen dung cakes, and we are looking at the reason the word ‘cash cow’ was coined. However, ensuring that cow urine is collected without spillage is no mean feat. Kailesh Gujjar, a farmer from Jaipur told TOI that he has to stay up all night to keep a watch on the cows and to collect the urine when the animal starts to tinkle. While some of the ‘liquid gold’ sold is used for holy rituals and scientifically-backed purposes like plant pesticides in organic farming, they are also sold for not-so-scientific reasons like curing ailments and diseases like cancer, a theory that has been rubbished by many oncologists and researchers. In July 2018, the TOI <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cow-urine-can-cure-cancer-gujarat-team/articleshow/64833781.cms">reported</a> biotechnology scientists in <keyword id="6354766" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gujarat">Gujarat</keyword>’s Junagadh Agriculture University claiming that they had successfully managed to kill cancer cells using cow urine and that too in their first attempt. This claim ignited a heated debate on whether cow urine can actually cure cancer. Senior oncologist Dr Anitha Ramesh told the <a href="https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/100718/can-cow-urine-treat-cancer.html">Deccan Chronicle</a> that the theory of cow urine curing cancer is “based on weak or no scientific data”. In fact, Dr Ramesh stressed on the fact that urine has toxins that can be harmful. This opinion was <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/can-cow-urine-really-cure-cancer-this-is-what-oncologists-told-us-1799607.html">echoed</a> by Venkatraman Radhakrishnan, Associate Professor Medical and Pediatric Oncology, who responded to a question on Quora on whether <keyword id="3316084" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="gaumutra">gaumutra</keyword> (cow urine) can cure or at least prevent cancer with a sharp “No”. He also added that “My fellow oncologists and I are yet to see a patient who exclusively consumed cow urine to be cured of cancer.” However, there were other doctors who believed that there may be some truth to the theory. Apart from cancer, some doctors also believe that gaumutra helps <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/well-promote-cow-urine-as-a-health-giving-drink-say-doctors-at-up-govts-ayurvedic-pharmacy/articleshow/62795369.cms">cure</a> several ailments, including fever, jaundice, piles, stomach and liver-related diseases. And that’s not all, Dr Prakash Chandra Saxena, principal and superintendent of Government Ayurveda College and Hospital in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh told the <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/well-promote-cow-urine-as-a-health-giving-drink-say-doctors-at-up-govts-ayurvedic-pharmacy/articleshow/62795369.cms">Times of India</a> that he recommends cow urine as a health drink to boost immunity. And while the verdict is still out on whether or not cow urine has any medicinal value, should you be interested in giving it a go, it is easily available on <a href="https://www.amazon.in/CERO-Desi-Gomutra-Months-200ml/dp/B074YFPDDG/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1532430926&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=cow+urine">Amazon</a> for a meagre ₹189 for 200ml.

Cattle farmers in Rajasthan cashing in on the rising demand for cow urine

Less than 1% of the world’s <keyword id="18712" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gold">gold</keyword> is mined in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>. The rest comes from somewhere else. Still, India can’t get enough. It is the largest consumer of gold in the world, buying nearly a third of production in recent years. Some estimates say that 10% of all gold is held in India.
Indians save roughly 30% of their income, as opposed Americans, who save 5%. Plus, Indians are getting richer all the time. Once a very poor country, the rich and middle classes now outnumber the poor in this nation of 1.2 billion. The country has the sixth-largest economy in the world.
If people are left alone, high gold demand going forward is a lock.
Yet India’s policymakers are disturbed. Yellow metal purchases have widened the country’s current account deficit to 5.4% of GDP.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has produced a report indicating “a need to moderate gold import, as the insatiable appetite for the yellow metal could jeopardize economic stability,” reports BullionStreet.com.
So the Indian government and its central bank are trying to get people to buy other financial products. “There is a need for banks to introduce new gold-backed financial products that may reduce or postpone the demand for gold imports,” the RBI report said.
The central banking wonks are thinking that if the Indian public can be made aware of financial paper instruments such as gold accumulation plans, gold pensions, and gold-linked accounts, it will drop its obsession with the barbarous relic.
A leading Indian trade body said country’s gold imports could fall to just 550 tonnes next year, little more than half of the peak of 967 tonnes in 2011.
Well, good luck with that. The people of India have cultural, historical, and traditional reasons to buy gold. They consider it the most valuable asset there is. Indians want to own gold like Americans want to own houses.
Ganesh Rathnam <a href="http://mises.org/daily/3781/Gold-Indias-Capital-Asset-through-History" target="_blank">related</a> a story that explains India’s gold obsession. When his father, a pediatric surgeon, wanted to buy land to build a new clinic, he mortgaged his wife’s jewelry to raise the purchase money. “Similarly, millions of people in India have capitalized their businesses or farms, or secured their basic necessities after severe business reversals, by pledging their gold jewelry,” he writes.
Last year, 60 Minutes ran a segment, “<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7398482n" target="_blank">India’s Love Affair With Gold</a>.” Correspondent Byron Pitts was stunned that the Indian people consider gold purchases as savings. Indians do not believe that they are spending when they buy gold, but, instead, that they are putting their money in a savings account. Oftentimes, a savings account that is worn around the neck or wrist.
There are 22 official languages in India, so there are 22 ways to say gold. And nothing says gold in India like a wedding. Half the country’s gold purchases are for wedding jewelry. It is said in India, “If there is no gold, there will be no wedding.” Gold must be widely owned, because there are 10 million weddings a year. Some are extravagant affairs that last for days on end.
Parents start accumulating gold for their daughter’s wedding day as soon as she is born. This gold represents some financial security that the bride brings to the union. It also gives the bride some economic status in the relationship. And while it provides security, gold is hardly ever sold, but instead passed on for generations. But it can be mortgaged if needed.
Gold is a symbol of purity and is considered sacred, but also signals prosperity. Jewelry does the talking and gold speaks loud and clear. Not for vanity’s sake, however, as gold is considered honorable. You can’t have a family without gold. The yellow metal is a way of life.
A gold analyst told Pitts that it’s impossible to explain to an Indian that gold might go down in price. Indian society has been around a few thousand years. People learn a thing or two in that time. First, save money for the unexpected. Second, don’t trust banks. And third, don’t trust the government’s paper money. They’re not interested in mutual funds and other financial products.
Even the poorest people in India buy gold, saving a little each week to buy a gram at a time.
“Gold has a rich tradition in the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata,” writes Rathnam. “It was associated with the pomp and splendor of the gods and kings who appear in these mythological stories.”
He explains that silver coins were widely used in India during the reign of the Mauryas circa 250 B.C., and the first gold coins were issued widely during the Gupta dynasty around A.D. 250. India has been a collection of kingdoms and fiefdoms often at odds. Gold was easily hidden, “enabling ordinary citizens to avoid being looted by marauding armies,” Rathnam writes. The kings changed, as did the coins, and thus gold became the preferred medium of exchange and store of wealth.
After India’s foreign reserves were decimated by its war with China, the government instituted the Gold Control Act of 1962, which forbade private ownership of gold bullion and forced all bullion to be turned into jewelry.
In the 1970s, tax rates reached 95%, and the Indian currency, the rupee, plunged in value. Indians took to not only hiding assets from the taxman, but also trying to survive inflation. Gold and real estate were the chosen vehicles. Rathnam also points out that bank deposit insurance in India is the equivalent of just over $2,000, making bank deposits a risky asset.
But finance minister Chidambaram Palaniappan doesn’t care about tradition or prudence. He sees gold purchases as consumption that has contributed $64 billion to the country’s widening current account deficit.
While the average Indian loves gold, the country’s bureaucrats do not. The numbers tell the story. The Indian government owns only 360 metric tons, while private gold holdings are estimated to be 15,000 metric tons. It is, indeed, the people’s money.
An Indian gold expert told 60 Minutes’ Pitts, “If India sneezes, the gold industry will catch a cold.”
The government is trying to make it sneeze, but the people are wise. Thousands of years of tradition will likely keep the gold market healthy, no matter how much the politicians hate it.
Sincerely, Doug French
Original article posted on <a href="http://lfb.org/today/indias-gold-mania/">Laissez-Faire Today </a>
<a href="http://dailyreckoning.com/indias-gold-mania/">India’s Gold Mania</a> appeared in the <a href="http://dailyreckoning">Daily Reckoning</a>. Subscribe to The <keyword id="1781981" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Daily-Reckoning">Daily Reckoning</keyword> by visiting <a href="http://dailyreckoning.com/agora-financials-free-e-letters/">signup for an Agora Financial newsletter</a>.
 
Read more posts on <a href="http://dailyreckoning.com/">The Daily Reckoning »</a>

You Searched For "india pediatric" and got 10 results

WHO confirms human case of bird flu in India! H9N2 virus detected in a four-year child in West Bengal

ANI

Poor eyesight in children increased in past 10 years: AIIMS

ANI

BI Investigation: India’s food nightmare is killing millions of children across the country every day

Suchayan Mandal

Smartphones are making Indian kids myopic, numbers double in a decade

ANI

How to become a Doctor in India

BI India Bureau

Analysis shows children between 0-14 years less affected by COVID, says Health Minister

PTI

Vaping makes teenagers more vulnerable to COVID-19, says Stanford-led study

BI India Bureau

An eye doctor breaks down how digital addiction can hurt you

Guest Author

Cattle farmers in Rajasthan cashing in on the rising demand for cow urine

Kavita Majumdar

Even The Poorest People In India Buy Gold

The Daily Reckoning

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides