<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/43161052.cms" /> <keyword id="116095" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Indian-Space-Research-Organisation">Indian Space Research Organisation</keyword>'s <keyword id="6625456" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mars-Orbiter-Mission">Mars orbiter Mission</keyword> (MOM), <keyword id="1506013" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="mangalyaan">Mangalyaan</keyword>, is just two days away from its much talked-about date with the <keyword id="6385434" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Red-Planet">Red Planet</keyword>. Scientists at ISRO have successfully tired-fired its main liquid engine at 2:30 pm (IST) on Monday. Soon after the test-firing of the MOM, the Indian space agency's <keyword id="6354576" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Facebook">Facebook</keyword> page said, "We had a perfect burn for four seconds as programmed. The trajectory has been corrected. MOM will now go for the nominal plan for <keyword id="47638" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mars">Mars</keyword> Orbit Insertion." 
 
India also became the first Asian country to reach the Martian neighbourhood earlier during the day. "Our navigators' calculations show that MOM has entered the gravitational sphere of influence of Mars around 9am," said ISRO’s Facebook page. 
 Reports suggest that on September 24, Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> is scheduled to witness the historic occasion when the ISRO’s spacecraft will be inserted into the Mars orbit around 7:30 am at a distance of 423 km from its surface and 215 million km away (radio distance) from Earth. Researchers believe that this step will certainly boost up the morale of Indian space scientists. 
 
The Mangalyaan probe, which is India’s first interplanetary mission, has a Rs 450-crore price tag. The mission was launched on November 5, 2013 to find evidence of life on the Red Planet. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Mission-Mars-ISROs-Mangalyaan-Heads-For-Final-Destination/articleshow/42791735.cms">Earlier, we had reported that the mission is simply to test the ISRO’s ability to take something all the way upto Mars and make it go around the planet.</a> 
 
If ISRO’s MOM reaches its destination successfully, India will become fourth country after the US, Russia and Europe to send a probe to Mars. 
(Image: indiatimes)

India's Voyage To Mars: ISRO's Mangalyaan Wakes Up After 300 Days Of Sleep!

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/57107628.cms" /> 
India will boldly go to Venus for the first time and re-visit the Red Planvery soon, according to a news by the PTI. 
 
Buried and hidden in the hundreds of pages of the new format electronic budget documents, is the first formal acknowledgement by the government about these two new bold inter-planetary sojourns to Earth's immediate neighbours. 
 
This uplifting news comes ahead of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) attempting to undertake its mega launch where it will drop off into space not one, two or three but a full load of 104 satellites in space in a single mission. 
 
No other country has ever tried to hit a century in a single mission. The last world record is held by Russia which in 2014 rocketed 37 satellites in a single launch using a modified inter-continental ballistic missile. 
 
If all goes according to plan, on the morning of February 15, ISRO will hurl into space using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) three Indian satellites and a 101 small foreign satellites. 
 
India is hoping to better the previous world record by a whopping two-and-a-half times. ISRO, considered the new kid on the block in the multi-billion dollar world launcher market, hopes to set an enviable benchmark for the space fairing nations. 
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's love affair with space is quite evident. The government, it seems, is rather pleased with the Indian space agency as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gave the Department of Space a whopping 23 per cent increase in its budget. Under the space sciences section, the budget mentions provisions "for Mars Orbiter Mission II and Mission to Venus". 
 
The second mission to Mars is tentatively slated for in 2021-2022 timeframe and as per existing plans it may well involve putting a robot on the surface of the Red Planet. 
 
While India's first mission to Mars undertaken in 2013 was a purely Indian mission, the French space agency wants to collaborate in making the Mars rover. 
 
In fact on a visit to India this month, Michael M Watkins, Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA, said they would be keen to at least put a telematics module so NASA's rovers and the Indian satellites are able to talk to each other. 
 
The second Indian mission to Mars is likely to be all about doing good science since the first one had a nationalistic streak on it in trying to beat China to the orbit of Mars which the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) did magnificently. 
 
India's maiden mission to Venus, the second planet of the Solar System named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, is in all probability going to be a modest orbiter mission. 
 
Watkins said a mission to Venus is very-very worthwhile as so little is understood about that planet and NASA would definitely be willing to partner in India's maiden voyage to Venus. 
 
Towards that, NASA and ISRO have already initiated talks this month on trying to jointly undertake studies on using electrical propulsion for powering this mission.

ISRO’s next: Mars and
Venus

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/40868684.cms" /> The countdown of India's much talked-about <keyword id="6625456" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mars-Orbiter-Mission">Mars Orbiter Mission</keyword>, better known as Mangalyaan, has begun with just a month to go before it is placed in orbit around the <keyword id="6385434" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Red-Planet">red planet</keyword> on September 24. 
 
According to Indian space agency ISRO's Facebook profile, the orbiter is nine million kilometres away from Mars and 189 million kilometres away from Earth. It also added that the orbiter will take 33 more days to complete its mission to Mars. 
 The engine firing for the crucial Mars Orbital Insertion (MOI) will take place in September to place India's first space voyager in orbit around Mars. The orbiter was launched on November 5, 2013 from India's spaceport at the <keyword id="2488774" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Satish-Dhawan-Space-Centre-in-Andhra-Pradesh">Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh</keyword>'s Sriharikota. It is ISRO's tried and tested warhorse. 
 
The probe, which weighs about 1350 kilograms (2980 pounds), will fire its engines on September 24 to be placed into an elliptical orbit around Mars, approaching the closest at 377 kilometres and going as far away as 80,000 kilometres. 
 
The probe did not even require the scheduled trajectory correction this month. It has been moving as planned by the ISRO. The last such manoeuvre was performed on June 11 by firing the spacecraft's thrusters for 16 seconds. 
 The Indian Deep Space Network on the outskirts of Bangalore and NASA JPL's Deep Space Network have been constantly monitoring the <keyword id="1925476" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mars-orbiter">Mars Orbiter</keyword> Mission. 
 
The Mars orbiter has been designed and developed by ISRO at a cost of $69m. The probe will study the atmosphere and the soil of the planet. 
(Image: ISRO)

ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mangalyaan Just A Month Away From Rendezvous With Red Planet

<ul><li>The US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) congratulates India’s AstroSat for discovering one of the farthest galaxies in the universe. </li><li>According to Union Minister Jitendra Singh, AstroSat’s <keyword id="9866507" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ultraviolet-imaging-telescope">Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope</keyword> (UVIT) cuts through noise even better than the Hubble Space Telescope. </li><li>The galaxy, dubbed AUDFs01 is located 9.3 billion light years from Earth. </li></ul>Nearly 10 billion light-years away from Earth, Indian astronomers discovered one of the farthest galaxies in the universe using the country’s first Multi-Wavelength Space Observatory — <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1173-5">AstroSat</a>. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77733544" title="India's first multi-wavelength satellite detects galaxy 9.3 billion light years away" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> And the reason it was able to make the significant discovery was that AstroSat’s Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) has less background noise as compared to the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Hubble Space Telescope, according to Union Minister <a href="http://achemaster.indiatimes.com/?type=login&amp;tempCode=7cTy5BS3wpcxDEBsG3eF6n3PSQUvy_N3zX-XJMcz5oIjdkPWJ2-8SncyRFoLxySJ">Jitendra Singh</a>. Nonetheless, NASA took the discovery in stride, reaching out to congratulate India on its milestone. “Science is collaborative effort around the world &amp; discoveries like these help further humankind’s understanding of where we come from, where are we going, &amp; are we alone,” NASA Public Affairs Officer, Felicia Chou told <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1300930767497777152">ANI.</a> The team of astronomers from the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune published their discovery of the galaxy dubbed AUDFs01 in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1173-5">Nature Astronomy</a> on August 24. AstroSat’s edge over NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Astrosat has been in orbit around Earth for nearly five years — to the day. It launched aboard the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) workhorse, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), on 28 September 2015. <div type="image" title="astrosat_edited" msid="77883484" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;AstroSat during a pre-launch test inside a clean room&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The UVIT was the last of the satellite’s six payloads to come alive on 30 November 2015. It's a three-in-one imaging telescope. This means it can simultaneously observe the visible, the near-ultraviolet (NUV) and the far-ultraviolet (FUV). It has filters to differentiate between the three. Aside from the filters, the most important aspects of the UVIT are the detectors. This is where the AstroSat has a less up over the Hubble Space Telescope. These are photon-counting detectors that can measure the location and time of incidence of each photon — particles of light — individually, according to <a href="https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/article-files/node/7356/astrosat-book-final.pdf">ISRO.</a> “UVIT was a challenging instrument to design and build. It had to deal with unique problems of ultraviolet astronomy, incorporate modern technology and also withstand the intense mechanical vibrations during launch and the thermal and radiative extremes of outer space,” said ISRO in its book about AstroSat. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/musks-spacex-completes-first-polar-orbit-in-off-shore-landing-by-falcon-9-booster/articleshow/77845337.cms">Elon Musk owned SpaceX completes its first polar orbit mission as Falcon 9’s booster nails off-shore landing</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/mars-spotted-first-time-by-uae-hope-probe-on-its-maiden-voyage-in-space/articleshow/77775267.cms">UAE’s Hope probe spots Mars for the very first time on its maiden voyage through space</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isro-chandrayaan-2-identifies-craters-that-may-have-water-after-mapping-4-million-square-kilometres-of-the-moon-in-its-first-year/slidelist/77667105.cms">ISRO’s Chandrayaan 2 identifies craters that may have water after mapping 4 million square kilometres of the Moon in its first year</a>

NASA congratulates Indian scientists for discovering one of the farthest galaxies in the universe

<ul><li>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to share India's space technology with the rest of the world — but only with 'friendly countries'. </li><li>India is known for its pocket friendly missions like its most recent mission to the moon — Chandrayaan 2. </li><li>India is also trying to break into the space launch market with ISRO first fully commercial launch exclusively for foreign satellites pegged to launch later this month. </li></ul>The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to share India's budget space technology with the rest of the world — but only to 'friendly' countries. "I am happy to state that India would be happy to help other friendly countries develop land restoration strategies through cost-effective satellite and space technology," stated Modi during the United Nations Conference of the Parties (<a href="https://www.unccd.int/conventionconference-parties-cop/cop14-2-13-september-new-delhi-india">UN-COP</a>) 14 to combat desertification. India's most recent mission to moon, Chandrayaan 2, cost ₹10 billion ($140 million). It's lauded for being cheaper than the budget of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chandrayaan-2-cheaper-than-avengers-endgame-what-the-foreign-press-says/articleshow/70208309.cms">Avengers: Endgame.</a> India's Mars Orbiter Mission (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/mars-orbiter-mission-completes-4-years-in-pictures/articleshow/65972664.cms">MOM</a>) — also called <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/akshay-kumars-mission-mangal-could-miss-facts-about-mangalyaan/articleshow/70498232.cms">Mangalyaan</a> — also impressed the world by reaching the Red Planet on a budget of ₹4.5 billion ($74 million). Even the upcoming <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-first-manned-mission-to-space-may-have-women-too/articleshow/67486206.cms">Gaganyaan mission</a>, which is India's first attempt to send astronauts into space, has expected to cost less than ₹100 billion ($1.43 billion). The price of keeping costs down India's exploration of space might be considered <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-low-cost-chandrayaan-and-mars-missions-come-at-a-price/articleshow/70226652.cms">budget friendly but it comes at a price.</a> These missions are mostly undertaken to demonstrate India's technological prowess. Other space agencies around the world, like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA), spend a lot more on their voyages into outer space — and have a lot more to gain as well. ESA's missions are categorised from Class A to D, depending on the priority of the mission, its national significance, the mission's lifetime and how much it's going to cost. The longer the mission, the more expensive it likely will be. Capturing the launch market It's not only India's missions into space that are pocket friendly, but also their launch technology. Later this month on 16 September 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to conduct its first ever commercial launch catering exclusively to foreign satellites. It will be launching two British satellites — Novasar and S1-4 — aboard its PSLV C-42 rocket from the launch pad in Sriharikota. "Subsequent two PSLV mission will also carry foreign satellites. However those missions will be on sharing mode (also carrying Indian payloads)," ISRO Chairman K Sivan told <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/isro-to-launch-rocket-solely-for-foreign-satellites-in-september/articleshow/65061764.cms">Times of India</a>. As of now, NASA dominates the commercial satellite launch market. India's apex space agency has only managed to muster 0.6% share of the market pegged at ₹36 billion. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-low-cost-chandrayaan-and-mars-missions-come-at-a-price/articleshow/70226652.cms">India's low cost space missions come at a price</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/heres-why-chandrayaan-2-is-landmark-moon-mission-for-india/articleshow/69842571.cms">India's second moon mission Chandrayaan 2 that will cost ₹10 billion will break new records</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/5-Surprising-Things-That-Cost-More-Than-Indias-Historic-Mission-To-Mars/articleshow/43332986.cms">5 Surprising Things That Cost More Than India's Historic Mission To Mars</a>

Modi offers India's cost-effective technology but only to 'friendly' nations

<ul><li>India is lauded for bringing about cost-effective space exploration globally. </li><li>But, most of India’s missions, like Mangalyaan and the upcoming Gaganyaan, are technology demonstrators rather than long term voyages to collect data. </li><li>Bringing the Space Activities Bill to fruition to allow for private participation might be one way that India can plan for longer and more indulgent space missions. </li></ul>India is globally touted for its cost effective space missions. <keyword id="45499" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrayaan">Chandrayaan</keyword> 2, for example, is revered for being cheaper than producing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chandrayaan-2-cheaper-than-avengers-endgame-what-the-foreign-press-says/articleshow/70208309.cms">Avengers: Endgame</a>. Mangalyaan is celebrated as the <a href="https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2014/09/23/how-india-mounted-the-worlds-cheapest-mission-to-mars/">most affordable</a> mission to Mars in the world. But there’s a catch. Cutting down on costs for space exploration means that India is able to collect less data and its missions are quick. "There are many factors. The entire cycle, the entire process of building a space mission is compromised," Chaitanya Giri, a fellow for space and ocean studies at Gateway House — a think tank focussing of India’s global relations — told Business Insider India. Shorter timelines "So, we’re not investing in these missions as long duration missions. So, if you look at the European Space Agency (<a href="https://m.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/How_a_mission_is_chosen">ESA</a>), for instance, classifies its space missions into three categories — the S class, the M class and the L class (small, medium and large class)," explains Giri. The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (<a href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20180007026.pdf">NASA</a>) also classifies its missions from Class A to D depending on the priority of the mission, its national significance, the mission’s lifetime and how much it’s going to cost. "For instance, there are a few American missions that have been going on for over a decade. And, that takes a lot of money," Giri adds. In India, on the other hand, most of the projects have very short timelines. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/after-mangalyaan-india-wants-to-be-the-first-to-explore-the-dark-side-of-the-moon/articleshow/64793523.cms">Mangalyaan</a> was sanctioned and deployed within a span of two years. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/how-india-is-inching-a-step-closer-to-its-mission-of-sending-an-astronaut-into-space-by-2022/articleshow/66632355.cms">Gangayaan</a> was announced in 2018 and has plans to get astronauts off the ground by 2021. Even <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/what-were-the-challenges-with-chandrayaan-1/articleshow/70202192.cms">Chandrayaan 1</a>, India’s mission to the moon that led to the discovery of water was announced in 2003 and launched by 2008. It was planned that the mission would operate for 2 years, but communication with the probe was lost after 10 months. MAVEN vs MOM The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/mars-orbiter-mission-completes-4-years-in-pictures/articleshow/65972664.cms">Mars Orbiter Mission</a>, or Mangalyaan, was sanctioned in 2011 and launched a mere two years later in 2013 on a budget of $74 million. NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft, on the other hand, cost $671 million and launched a little later in 2013. Explaining the difference between the Mars missions, Giri states, "MOM, when it was launched, was touted as a technology demonstrator mission. We had never gone to Mars before, so the prerogative was to reach there and take those sojourn of months and do some basic science. Secondly, we went there on a PSLV rocket. PSLV can only carry a spacecraft, that’s at most, 1.5 tonnes." "And, if you look in comparison, the MAVEN was much heavier. MAVEN was laden a lot of diverse instruments and we were carrying only 5 instruments. So, we can’t really expect much science from those five instruments," Giri adds. More money more power India’s smaller budgets aren’t a matter of choice but necessity. ESA and NASA aren’t exclusively dependent on government spending — they nurture the private space industrial sector as well. In India, private participation in what is largely considered to be ISRO’s domain, is absent. And, one of the things standing in the way is the Space Activities Bill. "Space Activities Bill has not been discussed in the Parliament. The first version was tabled but it was never taken up. There needs to be some consensus within the space industrial sector in India. If there is unity among them, then things might proceed," says Giri. The government is reportedly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-space-activities-bill-addresses-damage-in-outer-space/articleshow/69960212.cms">processing the bill</a> to align its liabilities in outer space with international standards. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/heres-why-chandrayaan-2-is-landmark-moon-mission-for-india/articleshow/69842571.cms">India's second moon mission Chandrayaan 2 that will cost ₹10 billion will break new records</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-is-spending-1-4-billion-on-a-space-trip-and-there-are-bigger-plans-involved/articleshow/65591318.cms">India is spending $1.4 billion on a space trip and there are bigger plans involved</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/union-budget-2019-isros-new-commerical-arm-is-new-space-india-limited/articleshow/70086097.cms">India forms a new space company to sell ISRO’s space technology products</a>

India’s low cost space missions come at a price

<keyword id="6354335" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="reserve-bank-of-india">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (<keyword id="30067" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI">RBI</keyword>) Governor <keyword id="6359111" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shaktikanta-Das">Shaktikanta Das</keyword> on Thursday said that after containment of spread of the novel Coronavirus, the financial sector will have to return to its normal operations on their own and without regulatory relaxations. Addressing an online event, Das described the RBI's response to the situation arising out of the pandemic as "unprecedented" and said that the measures taken by the central bank are intended to deal with the specific situation of Covid and it cannot be "permanent". "Post containment of Covid-19,... a very careful trajectory needs to be followed for orderly unwinding of the various counter-cyclical measures taken by the RBI and the financial sector should return to normal functioning without relying on the regulatory relaxations and other measures as the new norm," he said. Calling for reforms in the banking sector, Das said that despite several reforms in the banking sector since its nationalisation, lot more needs to be done. He was of the view that with change in time, the nature of reforms needs to be reconfigured. "The current steps towards consolidation of public sector banks in line with the Narasimham Committee recommendation is a step in the right direction. Indian banks this way can reap the benefits of scale, and become partners in the newer business opportunities across the globe," said the <keyword id="64190" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI-Governor">RBI Governor</keyword>. Larger and more efficient banks, both in public and private sectors, can compete shoulder to shoulder with the global banks to get a decent space in the global value chains, he added. He noted that in recent years, the business landscape of banks has undergone significant change and now banks need to look out for "sunrise" sectors while supporting those which have the potential to bounce back, citing the example of prospective business opportunities in the rural sector which remain unexplored despite efforts to support it. "They need to look at start-ups, renewables, logistics, value chains and other such potential areas. The banking sector has a responsible role to play not only as a facilitator of growth of the economy but also to earn its own bread," Das said. According to him, a complete relook at the business strategy and orientation by the banks is the immediate need of the hour. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/china-fires-two-missiles-into-the-south-china-sea-and-asian-markets-feel-the-blow/articleshow/77777358.cms">China fires two missiles into the South China Sea and Asian markets feel the blow</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/ladakh-will-be-the-front-to-hold-for-india-and-china-for-at-least-a-year-if-not-longer-as-per-experts/articleshow/77779668.cms">Ladakh will be the 'front to hold' for India and China for at least a year if not longer as per experts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/mars-spotted-first-time-by-uae-hope-probe-on-its-maiden-voyage-in-space/articleshow/77775267.cms">UAE’s Hope probe spots Mars for the very first time on its maiden voyage through space</a>

RBI Governor tells banks that regulatory easing cannot be 'permanent' — only meant to deal with COVID-19

With the states divided on political lines over holding the NEET-JEE exams, BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh is ready with a plan to go all out to conduct the exams on schedule in September. As a first step the government has offered to double the number of centres for the NEET test and has banned frisking of candidates. They will be expected to go through a metal detector. This year the expected number of NEET candidates is going to be 58,860 and the state plans to have 144 centres as compared to last year's 84 centres for 54,445 candidates. Sources said Bhopal will have 35 centres for about 18,000 candidates. There were 15 centres last year for 12,000 candidates. Among the steps taken for the candidates' safety, alternate seats have been arranged for the JEE (Main) and NEET examinees. There will be 12 NEET candidates in each room. Students will go through thermal scanning. There will be separate entry and exit gates. Document verification will be done in two rooms in batches of 15 candidates each. Face masks will be mandatory. Sanitisation of the centres will be carried out before each test. Isolation wards will be prepared for students with high fever. Facility for disposal of gloves and masks for both the candidates and invigilators will be arranged. Only masks, gloves, hand sanitisers, water in transparent bottles, admit cards and ID cards will be allowed in the centres. The Congress-led opposition is opposing the holding of the exams. Former state Education Minister Jitu Patwari on Wednesday wrote to the Chief Minister to cancel the exams in view of the pandemic. "Like the rest of the world our country is also facing the pandemic. Covid had started infecting the state when you took charge in March. You failed to control it," wrote Patwari. "Under these circumstances, I request you not to permit conducting of the JEE/NEET examination," he said. He asked the state government to write to the Centre to cancel the exams. A senior official in the Education Department said the postponement of the examinations would hamper the academic calendar and cost thousands of students a precious year. "Shifting of the examination would call for a massive logistical exercise. Thousands of centres are to be contacted again for their availability. Also availability of supervisors and invigilators, movement of tonnes of materials and equipment like jammers and CCTV cameras are involved. "It takes almost three months to prepare for the examination for the administration. For the students, it takes even longer to prepare for the tests. If it is postponed again, it will ruin an academic year," he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/china-fires-two-missiles-into-the-south-china-sea-and-asian-markets-feel-the-blow/articleshow/77777358.cms">China fires two missiles into the South China Sea and Asian markets feel the blow</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/ladakh-will-be-the-front-to-hold-for-india-and-china-for-at-least-a-year-if-not-longer-as-per-experts/articleshow/77779668.cms">Ladakh will be the 'front to hold' for India and China for at least a year if not longer as per experts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/mars-spotted-first-time-by-uae-hope-probe-on-its-maiden-voyage-in-space/articleshow/77775267.cms">UAE’s Hope probe spots Mars for the very first time on its maiden voyage through space</a>

Madhya Pradesh is ready to push ahead with NEET-JEE exams

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/43418926.cms" />

	 
	India successfully entered the Red planet orbit on Wednesday. And the sentiment attached to the mission is beyond emotional. BI India lists down 7 amazing reasons why Mangalyan has been India’s best space mission till date. 
	 
	Successful Debut 
	 After the successful completion of Mars Orbiter Mission (<keyword id="6356585" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mom">MOM</keyword>), India becomes the first country to achieve the feat on its maiden voyage. India is the fourth country after the US, European Space Agency and former USSR, and the first Asian country to successfully enter the planet. 
	 
	Shoestring Budget 
	 The entire MOM project was done in a budget of Rs 450 crore or a meager $72 million, a fraction of the budget that the <keyword id="6360409" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="NASA">NASA</keyword> has spent on its newly-arrived <keyword id="443648" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="MAVEN">MAVEN</keyword> Mars mission. The budget of the entire project has left many of the critiques dumbstruck, who had called the project a waste of money. The budget of this interplanetary mission is less than Hollywood’s blockbuster ‘Gravity’. 
	 
	Testifies India’s Prowess in Space Technology 
	 NASA took five years to develop MAVEN. Interestingly, Mangalyaan project was developed and carried out in just 15 months, the shortest time to materialize any interplanetary missions. The minimal time taken to launch a crucial mission such as MOM has only displayed <keyword id="6358064" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ISRO">ISRO</keyword>’s prowess in space exploration. 
	 
	An Edge Over China In Technology 
	 
	China’s maiden mission Yinghuo-1 to Mars failed after it crashed in 2011. India’s recent success only proves that it gains an edge over China when it comes to technology related to space-expeditions. And the entire credit goes to ISRO scientists. 
	 
	Bring In More Investments 
	 
	India’s success might attract funding from investors, who are looking at investing in technology. The government of India has already earmarked a budget of Rs 6,000 crore to ISRO for carrying out India’s space program. 
	 
	Improve Life Conditions On Earth 
	 
	Mangalyaan will be studying the Red planet and will look for Methane, an essential element for life. The spacecraft will be there for six months during which scientists will have the opportunity to understand Martian atmosphere and make use of the knowledge to address environmental issues in our planet. 
	 
	Strengthen Relationships With Neighbours 
	 
	You make friends when you are climbing up the success ladder. Hopefully, India will earn friends too. The recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which ISRO has signed with China National Space Administration, at least suggests so. As per the MoU, both space agencies will cooperate with each other and make peaceful use of Space, thus strengthening ties between India and China.

Seven Reasons Why Mangalyan Is India’s Best Space Mission

Bengaluru, Bowing to the vociferous demand from anxious students, the Karnataka State Law University (KSLU) has postponed its final semester exams from September 21 owing to the grim Covid situation in the state, an official said on Thursday. "The semester exams for law courses have been postponed from September 21 and intermediate exams from October 5 as sought by the students in view of the pandemic still persisting across the state, a KSLU official from Hubballi in the state's northwest region told IANS. The decision to postpone the exams was taken after consultations with State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswsamy here on Wednesday. "Final year exams, however, will be conducted online in October, as directed by the Bar Council of India," said the official. The university will commence regular classes online from September 1 to make up for the time lost as colleges remained shut since April under the Covid-induced lockdown restrictions. The semester and intermediate exams will be held only after classes resume regularly for 45 days to two months. "Though the students will be temporarily promoted to the next semester based on their performance in the internal exams held till March, but they have to take the exams when they are held in the near future," asserted the official. The state higher education department had earlier decided to promote the under-graduate and post-graduate students to the next semester, as classes could not be resumed due to the extended lockdown and Covid crisis. Hundreds of students of the law colleges across the state expressed relief over the university postponing the exams, as many of them from outside the state and rural areas had been staying back at home as educational institutes continued to remain shut in this academic year. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/china-fires-two-missiles-into-the-south-china-sea-and-asian-markets-feel-the-blow/articleshow/77777358.cms">China fires two missiles into the South China Sea and Asian markets feel the blow</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/ladakh-will-be-the-front-to-hold-for-india-and-china-for-at-least-a-year-if-not-longer-as-per-experts/articleshow/77779668.cms">Ladakh will be the 'front to hold' for India and China for at least a year if not longer as per experts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/mars-spotted-first-time-by-uae-hope-probe-on-its-maiden-voyage-in-space/articleshow/77775267.cms">UAE’s Hope probe spots Mars for the very first time on its maiden voyage through space</a>

Karnataka State Law University exams postponed — will now be conducted online in October

<ul><li>After postponing the Young Scientists Programme (YUVIKA) 2020 in April, the event now stands cancelled by the Indian Space Organisation (<keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword>).</li><li>ISRO states that it was forced to cancel the event due to difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic. </li><li>It has not disclosed any details about next year’s programme or if any provisions will be made for students that missed out this year.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/">Check out the latest news and updates on Business Insider.</a></li></ul>The Indian Space Research Organisation’s annual Young Scientists Programme— Yuva Vigyani Karyakram (YUVIKA) — has officially been cancelled this year. “In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated difficulties in organising the program, the <keyword id="8688537" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="yuvika-2020">YUVIKA 2020</keyword> stands cancelled,” ISRO said in a <a href="https://www.isro.gov.in/yuvika-2020-cancelled#:~:text=The%20Young%20Scientist%20Programme(YUVIKA,the%20YUVIKA%202020%20stands%20cancelled">statement. </a> Originally scheduled between May 11 to May 22 — nearly two weeks over summer vacation — ISRO had already <a href="https://www.isro.gov.in/update/20-apr-2020/yuvika-2020-postponed#:~:text=The%20Young%20Scientist%20programme%20(YUVIKA,programme%20will%20be%20informed%20subsequently.">postponed</a> the programme once in April. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="73895413" title="ISRO’s Young Scientist Programme will be open for registrations today, apply @isro.gov.in" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> YUVIKA 2020 would have been the second-edition of ISRO initiative to create awareness about space technology among youngsters in India. The programme selects students who are set to begin the tenth grade when the new academic year kicks in. This means that when applications open in February, ninth-graders are selected based on their eighth-grade performance. It is unclear whether or not the programme will kick start again next year or if any provisions will be made for candidates who may have missed out this time. ISRO is yet to reply to Business Insider’s request for comment. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/mars-spotted-first-time-by-uae-hope-probe-on-its-maiden-voyage-in-space/articleshow/77775267.cms">UAE’s Hope probe spots Mars for the very first time on its maiden voyage through space</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/kepler-supernova-exploded-400-years-ago-but-hasnt-slowed-down-and-two-pieces-of-debris-are-headed-towards-earth/articleshow/77646381.cms">Kepler supernova exploded 400 years ago but hasn’t slowed down — and two pieces of debris are headed towards Earth</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isro-chandrayaan-2-identifies-craters-that-may-have-water-after-mapping-4-million-square-kilometres-of-the-moon-in-its-first-year/slidelist/77667105.cms">ISRO’s Chandrayaan 2 identifies craters that may have water after mapping 4 million square kilometres of the Moon in its first year</a>

ISRO’s Young Scientists Programme stands cancelled due to COVID-19

<ul><li>Elon Musk-owned <keyword id="6360701" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="spacex">SpaceX</keyword> launched three satellites this morning and successfully recovered Falcon 9’s booster. </li><li>The booster used for the SAOCOM 1B launch has now successfully been used for four missions but is yet to break the current record — six successful launches.</li><li>The booster’s successful return also marks SpaceX's first polar orbit mission from Florida.</li></ul>In the wee hours of the morning in India, on the other side of the world, SpaceX was busy getting its signature <keyword id="1064782" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Falcon-9-rocket">Falcon 9 rocket</keyword> back in action. Not only did it place Argentina’s SAOCOM 1B satellite and two smaller piggyback satellites into Earth’s orbit, <keyword id="6355315" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="elon-musk">Elon Musk</keyword>’s space company also completed its first polar orbit mission from Florida. <div type="twitter" handle="SpaceX" handlename="SpaceX" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1082744382585856001/rH_k3PtQ_normal.jpg" favoritecount="16474" retweetcount="2288" status="After launching SAOCOM 1B and two rideshare payloads to orbit, Falcon 9’s first stage returns to Earth and lands at… https://t.co/IgbZRfr49p" createdat="1598842315000" id="1300265030424956928"></div> Instead of making use of the Earth’s gravitation spin to reach low orbits like usual, the rocket flew south along the US’ eastern coast instead along a flight path that’s known as the polar corridor. Falcon 9’s reusable booster also made headway with a rare off-shore landing. The booster, which is normally caught somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, was successfully made to touch down in Cape Canaveral. <div type="twitter" handle="SpaceX" handlename="SpaceX" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1082744382585856001/rH_k3PtQ_normal.jpg" favoritecount="40294" retweetcount="7487" status="Falcon 9’s first stage has landed at Landing Zone 1 https://t.co/0y5FkVqPk8" createdat="1598830148000" id="1300213999187890184"></div> Falcon 9‘s SAOCOM 1B mission — from launch to landing SpaceX launched Argentina’s Earth-observation satellite SAOCOM 1B along with two smaller piggyback satellites off the coast for Florida in the US at around 4:48 am Indian Standard Time (IST). <div type="image" title="saocom1b launch." msid="77845567" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Falcon 9 takes from Cape Canaveral with the SAOCOM 1B satellite onboard&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Nine minutes into its journey towards outer reaches of Earth’s atmosphere, the booster’s first stage created its usual sonic booms as it made its way back to the landing zone back on the planet. <div type="image" title="Saocom1b separation." msid="77845585" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Falcon 9&amp;#39;s booster flies back to Earth after separating from the main rocket&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The sonic booms aren’t just for show. It’s the sounds of the booster dancing through an orbital ballet as it gets into position for landing. Once it was in the right place, the booster conducted a series of three engine burns in order to slow itself down to gently touchdown. <div type="image" title="Saocom 1b landing." msid="77845610" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Falcon 9&amp;#39;s booster at it touches down over Landing Zone 1 in Cape Canaveral&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Usually, SpaceX has two ships that it uses for booster recovery, Of Course I Still Love You and Just Ready the Instructions. These uniquely named floating platforms are usually found drifting out in the Atlantic Ocean enabling SpaceX to launch rockets more frequently. This time, Falcon 9’s booster made its way to Landing Zone-1 on solid ground of sea. <div type="twitter" handle="SpaceX" handlename="SpaceX" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1082744382585856001/rH_k3PtQ_normal.jpg" favoritecount="18079" retweetcount="2620" status="Following launch, Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land at Landing Zone 1 https://t.co/ZM3orMDnrC" createdat="1598829041000" id="1300209352528113664"></div> The SAOCOM 1B mission was originally scheduled for March but was delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/no-other-asteroid-is-going-to-get-closer-to-earth-in-the-next-decade-as-the-one-set-to-fly-by-on-september-1/articleshow/77802359.cms">No other asteroid is going to get closer to Earth in the next decade than the one set to fly by on September 1</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/mars-spotted-first-time-by-uae-hope-probe-on-its-maiden-voyage-in-space/articleshow/77775267.cms">UAE’s Hope probe spots Mars for the very first time on its maiden voyage through space</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isro-chandrayaan-2-identifies-craters-that-may-have-water-after-mapping-4-million-square-kilometres-of-the-moon-in-its-first-year/slidelist/77667105.cms">ISRO’s Chandrayaan 2 identifies craters that may have water after mapping 4 million square kilometres of the Moon in its first year</a>

Elon Musk owned SpaceX completes its first polar orbit mission as Falcon 9’s booster nails off-shore landing

<ul><li>The <keyword id="8684243" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="google-earth-mobile-app">Google Earth mobile app</keyword> has been updated to show what Earth would look like from outer space. </li><li>Instead of a plain black background, the tech giant has brought in stars to make the experience more realistic. </li><li>Despite the update, the mobile app still lacks many of features that users have available on the web browser — like the ability to travel to other planets. </li></ul>Until now the option to explore space was limited to web browsers or Google Earth Pro for desktops. However, the newest update of Google Earth’s mobile app <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-maps-feels-like-star-trek-and-doctor-who-with-new-animation-for-space-exploration/articleshow/73040745.cms">lets you explore the cosmos</a> right from your smartphone. 
<div type="image" title="Googlemapsgif" msid="73771890" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Google Earth&amp;#39;s new update lets users zoom out and view Earth from outer space&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

 All users have to do is completely zoom out and they’ll be in outer space. Before the update, Earth was placed against a black background. Now, Google has integrated stars to make the planet look more realistic. However, unlike the web browser, the Google Earth mobile app doesn’t <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-maps-feels-like-star-trek-and-doctor-who-with-new-animation-for-space-exploration/articleshow/73040745.cms">let you travel to other planets</a> like Mercury, Venus or Mars. <div type="image" title="googlemapsgif2" msid="73772035" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Google Earth&amp;#39;s &amp;#39;Star Trek&amp;#39;-like zoom feature on the web browser&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

 Since users don’t have the option of travelling to other celestial bodies — there’s no ‘Star Trek’-like whoosh either. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="73040745" title="Google Maps lets you explore the cosmos like Star Trek — complete with a warp drive ‘whoosh’" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

 Other features worth exploring on Google Earth Unlike Google Maps, the default app for navigation, Google Earth provides a satellite view of the planet. The Voyager feature allows users to explore unfamiliar terrain with accompanying video stories — like Kakapo, the endangered parrot of the night or follow the Beatles on tour with Beatlemania. Another way to explore the planet is by using the ‘I’m feeling lucky’ feature that will transport users to random cities in different countries around the world. Google will share a short description and important details like population, points of interest, and similar places like it around the world. Users can also measure the distance between any two locations using the in centimeters, meters, or even nautical miles. As you move away from the selected location, the Measure Tool can calculate the distance in any direction. Overall, Google Earth still has a long way to go before catching up to the feature available to users through the web browser. However, it manages to provide an engaging experience for wanderlust users looking to explore new places on-the-go. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/researchers-blame-google-maps-for-misleading-uber-drivers-and-have-created-their-own-ai-model-to-count-roads/articleshow/73575948.cms">Researchers blame Google Maps for misleading Uber drivers and have created their own AI model to count roads</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-apple-and-other-navigation-apps-affected-by-earth-north-pole-movement/articleshow/72947934.cms">Earth's magnetic north pole is on the move and it's confusing the maps on your phone</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/how-google-maps-predicts-traffic-and-accurately-in-india/articleshow/72260956.cms">How Google Maps predicts traffic accurately in India</a>

Google Earth will now let you explore space from your smartphone — but it still pales in comparison to the web browser

<ul><li>Even though <keyword id="6653" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-bank">ICICI Bank</keyword> missed the market rally, analysts still believe that India’s second-largest lender will come out on top by the end of year. </li><li>ICICI Bank’s share price has lost 28% of its value since January but could be back up by as much as 34% as per brokerage firm Edelweiss.</li><li>Analysts believe that ICICI Bank remains the best placed to weather the bad loans storm </li></ul>India’s financial sector may look shrouded in gloom-and-doom, but India’s second-largest private lender, ICICI Bank, remains the world’s favourite banking stock. <a href="https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/bank-stock-most-favored-by-world-s-analysts-has-lagged-behind">Bloomberg</a> data indicates that ICICI Bank has 56 ‘buy’ recommendations with a consensus rating of 4.95 out of 5, ranking it the highest among the top 50 global banks. Even though it missed the market rebound rally, analysts are still positive that things will turn around for the $32 billion lender despite it having a higher percentage of loans under moratorium in comparison to peers. Its share price has lost 28% of its value since January. Yet, analysts expect the stock to revive in the coming year. Edelweiss is most optimistic with a target price of ₹525 — a 34% jump from yesterday’s closing price of ₹389.75. <div type="image" title="icici (1)" msid="77776402" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;ICICI Bank&amp;#39;s share price since January&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Today, ICICI Bank’s share value rallied by nearly 1% as markets opened after its board of directors approved the sale of over 6.4 million equity shares in ICICI Securities at a face value of ₹5 each. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup></colgroup><col /><col /><col /><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Brokerage on ICICI Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Target Price </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">% growth from closing price* </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Edelweiss </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 525 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">34.7% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Nirmal Bang Institutional </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 520 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">33.4% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">YES Securities </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 500 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">28.3% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Axis Direct </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 480 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">23.2% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Motilal Oswal Securities </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 475 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">21.9% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Arihant Capital </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 425 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">9% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Geojit BNP Paribas </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 415 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6.5% </td></tr></tbody></table>*Growth calculated using closing price as of Aug 26 While the moratorium risks remain high, the bank has created ample buffers against bad loans and profit growth despite adding provisions.ICICI bank looks best placed to weather this storm as the moratorium on loan repayments expires on August 31. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup></colgroup><col /><col /><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Top private sector banks </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">% of loans under moratorium </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">ICICI Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">18% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">IndusInd Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">16% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Axis Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">10% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kotak Mahindra Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">10% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">HDFC Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">9% </td></tr></tbody></table>Source: Jefferies <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77758597" title="Loan moratorium still ends on Aug 31 while Supreme Court gives the government another week to clarify if accrued interest should be waived" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Bad loans or not, ICICI Bank has it covered Being a large private sector bank, JM Financial forecasts that ICICI Bank is likely to see limited impact from the moratorium even with 17.5% of loans opting to delay their interest payments. Even though margins dropped and there is a slowdown in credit demand, ICICI Bank still managed to post 36% yearly growth in profit at the end of the first quarter. Supported by core earnings, HDFC Securities estimates that ICICI Bank’s profit is likely to register a sharp 52% growth by the end of the year despite the volatility of 2020. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77167522" title="ICICI Bank's gross bad loans drop to the lowest in 5 years" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The bank was lauded for ‘prudently’ using its gains from the treasury and stake sale in insurance arms by Motilal Oswal Securities. At the end of June, ICICI Bank’s COVID-19 related buffers amounted to ₹82.8 billion — covering 1.3% of loans. Merrill Lynch picks up ₹341 crore worth of ICICI Bank shares Betting on the bank's growth, Merrill Lynch Markets Singapore picked shares worth ₹341 crore from Societe Generale. Data with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) shows that the block deal was more 90 lakh shares were sold at ₹378.6 apiece. This is the second time that Merrill Lynch has bought into ICICI Bank within the last six months. Earlier this month, the bank confirmed that it will be raising funds through a qualified institutional placement (QIP) of its equity shares at a floor price of ₹351.36 per share. It has since closed its QIP and raised ₹15,000 crore. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77140214" title="Just like SBI, ICICI Bank has created a cash cushion in case bad loans rise" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup></colgroup><col /><col /><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Stake sale </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Value </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">ICICI Prudential Life </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 840 crore </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">ICICI Lombard </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 2250 crore </td></tr></tbody></table> SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/china-fires-two-missiles-into-the-south-china-sea-and-asian-markets-feel-the-blow/articleshow/77777358.cms">China fires two missiles into the South China Sea and Asian markets feel the blow</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/ladakh-will-be-the-front-to-hold-for-india-and-china-for-at-least-a-year-if-not-longer-as-per-experts/articleshow/77779668.cms">Ladakh will be the 'front to hold' for India and China for at least a year if not longer as per experts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/mars-spotted-first-time-by-uae-hope-probe-on-its-maiden-voyage-in-space/articleshow/77775267.cms">UAE’s Hope probe spots Mars for the very first time on its maiden voyage through space</a>

You Searched For "India s Voyage To Mars" and got 15 results

India's Voyage To Mars: ISRO's Mangalyaan Wakes Up After 300 Days Of Sleep!

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Prabhjote Gill

Modi offers India's cost-effective technology but only to 'friendly' nations

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India’s low cost space missions come at a price

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RBI Governor tells banks that regulatory easing cannot be 'permanent' — only meant to deal with COVID-19

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Madhya Pradesh is ready to push ahead with NEET-JEE exams

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Seven Reasons Why Mangalyan Is India’s Best Space Mission

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Karnataka State Law University exams postponed — will now be conducted online in October

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ISRO’s Young Scientists Programme stands cancelled due to COVID-19

Prabhjote Gill

Elon Musk owned SpaceX completes its first polar orbit mission as Falcon 9’s booster nails off-shore landing

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Google Earth will now let you explore space from your smartphone — but it still pales in comparison to the web browser

Prabhjote Gill

ICICI Bank's share price is expected to surge as much as 34% in the coming year — despite having more loans under moratorium than other lenders

Prabhjote Gill

Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar lead with the most 2018 Grammy nominations - here's the complete list of nominees

John Lynch