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To construct about 2,000 kilometres of highways in 12 hill states of India, including Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh and Manipur, the Indian government is preparing a project worth Rs 25,000 crores. 
 
As per officials, most of these projects will be awarded as per the government-funded model of engineering, procurement and construction or 
EPC. However, a few high traction projects connecting religious places in Himachal and J&amp;K will be taken up in accordance with the newly conceived hybrid annuity model. 
 "Projects worth Rs 10,000 crore were awarded in hill states last year, only 10% of the total projects awarded in the country. This year, we're focusing more on hill states as they border with China, Nepal and Pakistan, and are of high strategic importance to India," a senior <keyword id="104973" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Transport-ministry">transport ministry</keyword> official told ET requesting anonymity. 
 
PMO has also asked the road transport and highways ministry to fasten up road development in these states. 
 
Amongst the hilly highways, about 300 km would be in Arunachal Pradesh, 256 km in Mizoram, 250 km each in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, 100 km in Manipur and the remaining would be made in Uttarakhand, Assam, Sikkim, Nagaland and West Bengal. The newly constituted <keyword id="6373156" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Highways">National Highways</keyword> and Industrial Development Corporation will be undertaking majority of these highways. 
 
In last fiscal, the ministry has awarded about 10,000 km of highway contracts worth Rs 1 lakh crore, out of which nearly 6,300 km was made at the rate of almost 18 km a day on average. This fiscal, the target is to construct nearly 10,000 km with a pace of 28 km per day on an average. 
 
<a href="https://photos.travelblog.org/Photos/30184/194848/f/1449442-Truck-down-the-road-from-Lachulung-La-0.jpg">Image source</a>

Government will spend Rs 25,000-cr to construct hilly highways in states bordering with China, Nepal and Pakistan

Imphal, Apr 28 () Manipur Public Works MinisterThongam Biswajit Singh on Tuesday apprised Union MinisterNitin Gadkari about issues faced during transportation ofcommodities and implementation of highway development projectsin the landlocked state, owing to the ongoing lockdown.During a video conference with Gadkari and ministersof other states, Singh highlighted hindrances in the movementof commodities in neighbouring states, an official releasesaid."The state is facing some issues regarding movement ofconstruction materials for highway projects and other non-essential commodities while passing through some neighbouringstates," Singh said.He, however, said there is no such problem intransportation of goods within the state.The country is under a lockdown to contain the spreadof COVID-19. CORRRBT RBT

Manipur minister flags commodity transportation issues during lockdown

New Delhi, May 17 () The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Sunday claimed to have busted an inter-state gang of opium traffickers after it seized 31 kg opium from a truck plying under the garb of ferrying essential goods during the nationwide lockdown. The federal agency arrested four people including the alleged "kingpin" of the racket -- Manoj Dangi from Chatra district of Jharkhand. NCB Deputy Director (operations) K P S Malhotra said sleuths of the agency intercepted a truck bearing a Punjab registration number on National Highway-19 in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. "A total of 31 kgs of opium was recovered from the truck. The consignment was packed in tarpaulin and concealed inside the hood of the vehicle that was operating in the garb of carrying essential commodities during the ongoing lockdown," Malhotra said. The nationwide lockdown was first imposed from March 25 to April 14, then extended until May 3, and again extended to May 17 with an aim to prevent the spread of coronavirus that has claimed over 2,870 lives and infected more than 90,900 people in the country. The consignment belongs Dangi, who is a notorious inter-state drug trafficker hailing from Jharkhand, he said.The four were arrested under the provision of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), he added. NCB officials said the illicit production of opium in India is mainly concentrated in Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Last year, the anti-narcotics agencies destroyed more than 10,000 hectares of illicit opium cultivation in the country. "As per the drug abuse survey conducted by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, there are 2.3 crore users of opioids in the country," Malhotra said. "The most abused derivative of opioids is Heroin which is produced after necessary chemical and physical alterations," he added. NES RHL

NCB seizes 31 kg opium from truck plying under essential services cover during lockdown, 4 held

<ul><li>The Ministry of Health <a href="https://www.mohfw.gov.in/">data</a> shows that the country now has 538 infected people; out of which 37 recovered and nine died. </li><li>Delhi Police registered 1,012 cases in different areas of the national capital on the first day of the lockdown. </li><li>The <keyword id="6356311" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Health-Organisation">World Health Organisation</keyword> (WHO) on Monday denies claims made on social media that Covid-19 could be airborne.</li></ul>A total of 30 states and Union Territories covering 548 districts go on a complete lockdown after the country enters the third and critical phase of the pandemic. The Ministry of Health <a href="https://www.mohfw.gov.in/">data</a> shows that the country now has 538 infected people; out of which 37 recovered and nine died. Of the 434 active cases, 451 were Indians while 41 are foreigners. Manipur woman tests corona positive, first in NE India Manipur reported its first case of <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> as a 23-year-old woman who returned from the United Kingdom tested positive, making it the first case in the northeast, an official said on Tuesday. According to the officials of Manipur's Health and Family Welfare Department, the woman is now undergoing treatment at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal. Delhi Police registers over 1,000 cases against lockdown violators Delhi Police registered 1,012 cases in different areas of the national capital on the first day of the lockdown implemented to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. "These criminal cases were registered under Section 188 of the IPC and Sections 65 and 66 of the Delhi Police Act," said Delhi Police. India shuts all checkpoints at air, sea, land, rail, river ports All integrated check posts (ICPs) at all airports, seaports, land ports, rail ports, and river ports are closed down. "In continuation of restrictions and advisories the undersigned is directed to convey the orders of Central government to stop all incoming passenger traffic on all 107 Immigration Check Posts which includes all Airport ICPs, all seaport ICPs, all land port ICPs, all rail port ICPs and all river port ICPs in view of the spread of COVID-10," said a government memorandum issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Gujarat goes on <keyword id="8946160" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="full-lockdown">full lockdown</keyword> Shocked by the quick rise in the number of infected people to 30, the Gujarat government has decided to go for stringent lockdown-like measures in the entire state from Tuesday till March 31. The Directorate General of Police (DGP) Gujarat, Shivanand Jha, said, "To curb the possible spread of the virus among people, we are going for a lockdown in the entire state. Even in these locked down areas, essential commodities will be allowed to be available for the public." Late on Monday (March 23), the state home department issued a notification under the provisions of 'The Indian Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897' and 'The Gujarat Epidemic Diseases COVID-19 Regulation 2020'. Rajasthan bans private vehicles After the total number of Coronavirus patients in Rajasthan went up to 32 with four new positive cases, two from Pratapgarh and two from Jodhpur, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced a ban on all private vehicles from Tuesday. "To save lives from #coronavirus infection, we have taken the decision to ban all private vehicles on roads from tomorrow. Only vehicles related to essential services and those in exempted services would be allowed. State highway tolls will also be closed from 12 o'clock midnight," he tweeted. Delhi borders sealed, 'curfew passes' to be issued The order issued from Delhi Police Headquarters said that those working in private institutions in Delhi would be mandatorily required to take a 'curfew-pass'. The nearest district DCP office will issue the curfew pass. While those entering Delhi (Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida) outside the national capital border, the curfew pass will have to be issued by the Police DCP office of their nearest Delhi district. The order to this effect was issued by the Delhi Police Commissioner at around 8.45 pm on Monday night. Those living in Gurugram-Manesar (Haryana) will have to contact the DCP office in the South West district of Nelson Mandela Road in Vasant Vihar area of Delhi for curfew pass. No reports of Covid-19's airborne spread: WHO The World Health Organisation (WHO) denied the claims made on social media that the Covid-19 could be airborne. In a statement, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO (Southeast Asia), said "Airborne spread has not been reported for Covid-19. Based on the information and on our experience with other coronaviruses, Covid-19 appears to spread mostly through respiratory droplets, for instance, produced when a sick person coughs, and close contact." "This is why the WHO recommends maintaining hand and respiratory hygiene." SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coronavirus-dos-and-donts-for-protection-against-convid-19/articleshow/74475858.cms">Do’s and Don’ts for protection against COVID-19</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/topic/coronavirus">Coronavirus News and Updates on BI India</a>

India goes into a full lockdown after 538 confirmed cases: 37 recovered and 9 dead

New Delhi, Nov 18 () The government on Monday said it has no information about any state not implementing the amended Motor Vehicles Act.
However, some states have reduced penalties in accordance with the powers granted to them under the new Act.
The new Act with stricter provisions has come into force in the country from September 1, 2019.
"The Ministry has not received any information from any state that have not implemented the provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told Rajya Sabha in a written reply. 
He, however, said that under certain provisions of the Act, states have the right to specify the amount for compounding of certain offences and accordingly some states, including Gujarat have reduced such penalties.
"As per section 200 of the (new) Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 the State Government may by notification in the official gazette specify such amount for compounding of certain offences. As per the available information, for certain offences Gujarat, Karnataka, Manipur and Uttarakhand have reduced the penalties," Gadkari said. 
He said initially there were apprehensions about the implementation of certain provisions, including enhanced penalties for violations, of the new Act which got settled in due course.
"During the process of finalisation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 detailed and numerous consultations with stakeholders were held. Further, the Bill was consulted and deliberated in detail in many meetings held by Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture and the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha," Gadkari said.
In the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, no provisions under Chapter VI "Special Provisions Relating to State Transport Undertakings" i.e. from Sections 97 to 108 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 have been amended, he added. NAM NAM ANU
ANU

No info on non-implementation of new MV Act: Gadkari

New Delhi, Jan 31 () The government has decided to invest more than Rs 100 lakh crore on building modern infrastructure in the country with a special emphasis on connectivity, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Friday.
 In a bid to improve connectivity, the government will also focus on creation of new highways, waterways, airways and I-ways (IT infrastructure), the President said addressing the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament, on the first day of the Budget session here.
 "The poor and the middle-class hope and aspire for a modern 21st century infrastructure in the country. To fulfil this aspiration of the people more than Rs 100 lakh crore will be invested in the next five years. With a special emphasis on connectivity, the government is also focusing on creation of new highways, new waterways, new airways, and new I-ways," the President said.
 Rapid progress is being made towards providing better public transport facilities in urban areas, Kovind said adding, metro facility has now been extended to 18 cities in the country.
 So far, 670-km of metro lines have been operationalised, and work on another 930-km is underway, he said and added the residents of Delhi and NCR have greatly benefitted from the construction of Delhi-Meerut Expressway, as well as from Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways.
 He further said inland waterways are also being developed by the government and in December 2019, for the first time, container cargo reached Pandu in Assam via National Water Way-2.
 Under the Jal Marg Vikas Project, the multi-modal terminal at Haldia on River Ganga and the navigation lock at Farakka will be completed this year, Kovind said adding, it is also our endeavour to operate large transport cargo vessels on River Ganga by next year.
 On air connectivity, he said about 35 lakh people have so far travelled by air under the UDAN scheme and last year, 335 new air routes have been approved.
 Rural roads contributed significantly to the country's infrastructure, he said and added 1.25 lakh kilometers road will be constructed and upgraded under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna.
 Rural roads have now been expanded to every corner of the country through the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, he said adding third phase of the programme has been launched to strengthen rural roads and connect them to schools, hospitals and agricultural markets.
 On Noth East connectivity he said: "More than the physical distance of the North East from Delhi, it was the emotional disconnect that disheartened the people of the region. My Government has transformed this situation by working tirelessly during the last five years. Work is being done at an unprecedented pace in the North East to enhance connectivity, strengthen infrastructure and make people's lives easier."
 As a result of the government's efforts, he said by 2022, the capitals of Sikkim, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland will be connected with the rail network.
 "The work on Agartala-Akhaura rail link is also progressing at a fast pace. In the year 2022, the construction of the new airport being built at 'Holongi' in Arunachal Pradesh will also be completed," he added.
 The President said, during the last few years, there has been extraordinary development of infrastructure related to tourism.
 "Recently a nationwide programme has been launched from Kolkata for conservation and beautification of the heritage buildings of the country. The tourism sector is also being strengthened by the modern infrastructure being developed under Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD schemes. New records are being created every day in the number of tourists visiting the 'Statue of Unity', the statue of Sardar Patel; which is the tallest in the world," he emphasised.
 Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) is a government scheme that focuses on identifying and developing the pilgrim sites across the country. NAM DRR

Over Rs 100 lakh cr to be spent in next 5 yrs on building modern infrastructure: Prez

As the second phase of the <keyword id="43573" type="EVENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="General-Election">general election</keyword> takes off in India, voters in 11 states and 1 union territory— West Bengal, Odisha, <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Manipur and Puducherry — were up early queuing up at the election booths. Nearly 5 million people are eligible to vote in the state of West Bengal with a nearly equal distribution between men and women, albeit there are only 87 registered third-gender voters in the three constituencies going to vote in the state today today. And Puducherry, while being a union territory, is home to nearly one million voters who have been facing <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/puducherry-congress-tries-to-win-back-sole-mp-seat/articleshow/68899027.cms">increasing</a> debt and a fall in social initiatives due to lower devolution of taxes from the central government. A lot of voters and politicians are wondering if the second phase of polling will be marred with problems of EVM malfunctions and poll booth violence like evidenced during the first phase of the general election in India. Two incidents of poll booth violence have already been reported in West Bengal. In Uttar Pradesh, four of the contesting politicians — Samajwadi Party’s Azam Khan, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bahujan Samaj Party’s Mayawati — have been <a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/top-story/up-election-2019-after-yogi-mayawati-ec-bans-azam-maneka-from-campaigning/story/337566.html">banned</a> from campaigning by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for issuing controversial comments. For Tamil Nadu, the days leading up to the election were a little chaotic after the Income Tax (IT) department seized over 1,350 kilograms of gold and nearly ₹14.8 million which was allegedly stashed to bribe voters. Elections in Vellore, one of Tamil Nadu’s most-watched constituencies, were cancelled altogether after ₹1.05 million was found at Durai Murugan’s house, the father of Kathir Anand — a DMK candidate in the district. Another ₹115.3 was also found at Poonjolai Srinivasan’s cement godown, a known associate of Murugan. Even Maharashtra hasn’t had an easy go of it with over 15,000 cases of alleged Model Code of Conduct violations <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-over-15-000-code-of-conduct-cases-filed-in-maharashtra/story-luAZtetS7fq6EUDRsYztmI.html">registered</a> since March 10.The Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Dilip Shinde, has stated that over 700,000 officers and employees of the states are involved in keeping elections in Maharashtra peaceful and efficient for the 10 seats of the state going to the polls today. <div type="ExtQuote" text="The enforcing departments (Income Tax and Police) also lodged total 15,095 FIRs against the offenders for violating the model code of conduct, with most of the cases pertaining to storage and distribution of illicit liquor, followed by possession of firearms." auname="Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dilip Shinde"></div>

 If voters aren’t being bribed, then they’re being threatened. Kawasi Lakhma, a Congress minister from Chhattisgarh, has been <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/general-elections-2019-chhattisgarh-congress-mla-kawasi-lakhma-threatens-voters-with-electric-shocks-2024279">telling</a> voters that they vote against his party, the EVM machine will deliver an electric shock. While Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu struggle with voter bribery issues, Bihar and Karnataka are more concerned with voter turnout. The city of Bengaluru — the Silicon Valley of India — in particular, has issues of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/election-2019-gold-confiscated-in-tamil-nadu-ahead-of-second-phase/articleshow/68933494.cms">voter turnout</a> while Bihar’s <a href="https://www.livemint.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections/bihar-elections-2019-patna-is-missing-a-whole-generation-of-millennials-1555350536677.html">brain drain</a> means that a lot of its eligible millennial voters don’t actually live in the state anymore. As Manipur goes to polls again, the Returning Officer (RO)The Returning Officer (RO) of the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, Haobam Rosita, has <a href="https://www.newsclick.in/returning-officer-recommends-re-poll-19-polling-stations-manipur">recommended</a> that re-polling needs to take place at 19 of the polling stations from the first phase of the general elections in the state. Among the many reasons that Rosita cites for repolling, the most disturbing is probably one of the constituencies showed that voter turnout in excess of 100% and that the polling booth for the Najang Village was put up at a non-designated location. In order to keep disruptive elements from affecting the polls similarly, the west Indian states of West Bengal and Assam are <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/2nd-phase-tight-security-in-five-election-bound-districts/articleshow/68868180.cms">increasing</a> security in constituencies along the border — especially in districts classified as ‘vulnerable’ and ‘critical’. And unfortunately, for Jammu and Kashmir, none of the contesting political parties are talking about the environmental issues which have a heavy bearing on the state’s water supply as well as its tourism industry, which has been suffering as more and more of the state’s green capital is being destroyed. The third phase of the general election will kick off on April 23 covering 14 states — Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Odisha, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Daman and Diu, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and West Bengal. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/election-2019-gold-confiscated-in-tamil-nadu-ahead-of-second-phase/articleshow/68933494.cms">Over a ton of gold seized a day ahead of polls shows the depth of the rot in Tamil Nadu</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/job-losses-will-haunt-bengaluru-indias-silicon-valley-as-it-goes-to-polls-today/articleshow/68930893.cms">Job losses will haunt Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley, as it goes to polls today</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019-second-phase-of-polling-in-tamil-nadu-voters-issues/articleshow/68930595.cms">Tamil Nadu’s angry voters have a small oil field, a big highway, a medical entrance test, and a police shootout in mind</a>

Here’s what the second phase of the Indian general election has in store for the 11 states polling today

New Delhi, Jan 6 () No state can lower traffic penalties below the level prescribed under the new Motor Vehicles Act, the central government said on Monday.
In an advisory to states, the road, transport and highways ministry said the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 is a parliamentary legislation and the state governments cannot pass any law or take executive action to lower penalty below the prescribed limit unless President's assent has been been obtained to related state law.
The transport ministry had sought legal advice on this from the law ministry after one of the states had notified amounts for compounding of certain offences lower to what has been prescribed in the new Act.
The new Act with stricter provisions has come into force in the country from September 1, 2019.
"Ministry of Law and Justice has tendered their advice after seeking opinion of Attorney General of India. The Attorney General has inter alia observed as under: "The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (as amended by Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019) is a Parliamentary legislation, the state governments cannot pass any law/take executive action to lower the penalty/fine below that prescribed under the statutory provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, unless the assent of the President is obtained to such state law," the ministry said in an advisory to states.
The advisory to the principal secretaries of states also mentioned the legal opinion that in case of the failure of states to implement the Act, reference may be made to Article 256 of the Constitution that authorises the Union of India to issue directions to a state as may be necessary for the purpose.
Article 256 provides that the executive power of every state shall be so exercised as to ensure compliance with the laws made by Parliament and any existing laws which apply in that state, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a state as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose.
The advisory also quoted Attorney General's opinion that "the disobedience of these directions could well attract the provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution of India, and one could therefore proceed on the basis that the central law would implicitly be obeyed by the state governments".
The ministry said the objective of the Act and enhancement of penalties for traffic violations was to ensure greater compliance and enhancing deterrence for violation of traffic rules which is intended to provide for better road safety resulting in reduction of accidents and fatalities on roads. 
Earlier, the government had said that for certain offences Gujarat, Karnataka, Manipur and Uttarakhand had reduced the penalties.
Under the amended Act, violations such as drunken driving and dangerous driving attract fines of Rs 10,000 and/or imprisonment of six months to two years.
Penalty for driving without licence was increased to Rs 5,000 from Rs 500 earlier, while riding two-wheeler without helmets will not only attract fine of Rs 1,000 but could lead to suspension of licences for the next three months. NAM MKJ

States cannot lower fines below prescribed limits under Motor Vehicles Act: Centre

<ul><li>Indian government is pushing to amend the Citizenship bill 2016. </li><li>New bill will allow illegal immigrants from specific religions to become citizens. </li><li>Assam is witnessing continuous protests as the bill enters Rajya Sabha for debate.</li></ul>India’s Narendra Modi government is <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/top-bureaucrats-in-assam-concede-situation-is-challenging/story-lAEMW9tS4HdJ7ZkPdHsTuN.html">pushing for a bill</a> which will make illegal migrants from six religions and three countries — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan — eligible for Indian citizenship. Even allies like <keyword id="195349" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Conrad-Sangma">Conrad Sangma</keyword>, the chief minister of Meghalaya whose party is part of the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has opposed the amendments. Representatives of 11 political parties met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday to lodge their protest. Even the Manipur-based filmmaker and music composer Aribam Syam Sharma has decided to return his 2006 Padma Shri award in protest. 
 <div type="image" title="2a0ccca39f94fed61e852179945319e5" msid="67832687" hostid="261"></div>



Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a BJP rally in Silchar, Assam on Jan 4, 2019. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed in lower house of the Parliament, Lok Sabha, on 8 January, 2019. However, the upper house of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, will debate this bill in its ongoing session. Ahead of the debate, protests have broken out in the north eastern state of Assam, where citizens alleged that the new bill violates the Assam Accord, 1985 — which led to deportation of illegal immigrants in the state regardless of their religion. Last week families of around 855 martyrs of the anti-foreigners Assam Agitation of 1979-1985 returned the citation that the government had given them in 2016. Unrest over the issue has sparked violent protests in state for over a month now, and Assam police has reportedly grounded over 15 people. On Friday, two people<a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/3-stage-nude-protest-outside-assam-secretariat-over-citizenship-bill-1986978"> stripped down </a>while a third person was found naked outside the Assam Secretariat in Guwahati, Assam. 
 <div type="image" title="0e51d9c25e9e204c8056e4b85962147e" msid="67832701" hostid="261"></div>



 Three men stage a nude protest near the Assam Secretariat in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Guwahati on Feb 1, 2019. The protesters were swiftly removed by security personnel. “India is a democracy, though people have the right to voice their ideas and demands, such actions are not appreciated in society,” <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/assam-admits-protests-over-citizenship-bill-a-challenge-calls-for-calm-1987411">said</a> Assam Chief Secretary Alok Kumar. The Bill makes illegal immigrants eligible for citizenship on the basis of religion. This may violate Article 14 of the Constitution which guarantees right to equality, according to public policy research organisation PRS. This includes amendments to permit cancellations of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) — which permits foreign citizens of Indian origin to stay and work in India. “This is a wide ground that may cover a range of violations, including minor offences (eg. parking in a no parking zone),” PRS said. Violence in other parts of the country Not just Assam, the bill faced protests from around the world — students from different universities in Assam gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi going against the central government holding placards that said ‘No to Citizenship Amendment Bill’, ‘Down with Citizenship Amendment Bill’ seeking the government to rollback the amendments. 
 <div type="image" title="adb60e5a1820b70ac8d412858c75a9ca" msid="67832702" hostid="261"></div>



Activists of All Assam Students Union (AASU) block National Highway 37 as they stage a demonstration against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, in Guwahati on Jan 29, 2019. The growing unrest will be a challenge for the BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls. The party has recently emerged as a political alternative in north east India. The party has managed to form the government in three out of the seven states in the region in recent years. However, the ongoing agitations may polarise the voters ahead of the next pan-India elections, and divide the votes. Defending the amendments proposed in the bill, BJP President Amit Shah <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/citizenship-bill-necessary-says-amit-shah/article26168945.ece">reportedly said</a> that “There are some decisions that are acceptable to some, not acceptable to others. The BJP has thought deeply about the Citizenship Amendment Bill before bringing it. We cannot leave a large swathe of people fleeing persecution hanging in mid-air. We believe that the Bill is necessary for the country,” he said.

India’s Citizenship Bill is faced with growing protests

Coronavirus cases in India count crosses the 23,000 mark— with 718 dead and a 20.57% recovery rate

Storm in the tea cup is something you have heard. But will you laugh if you hear that a storm is brewing in the coffee cup? Not if you belong to the southern part of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> where coffee is more than a mere beverage. Drinking coffee in the South is a ritual of sorts that sets the tone for the day. Therefore, when the first cup of coffee arrives, it better be caramel-hued, piping hot, steamy, frothy and appropriately sweet. Because when the first cuppa is downed and the taste reaches its crescendo, the day pans out well, in fact, very well.

	 

	A few years ago, coffee was a drink that was predominantly South Indian and came in steel cups, both at home and outside. And each cup cost around Rs 5. But this was before the 1,500-outlets-strong Café Coffee Day started its operations in 1996. Prices at the CCD were then considered insane and experts had even written off the chain as an experiment that hadn’t got its facts right. After all, who would want to pay Rs 50 for a coffee variety, no matter how exotic it is, when normal coffee is available for a fraction of that amount?<o:p></o:p>

	 

	But very soon, the patrons, especially the young people who had arrived fresh as the benefactors of the IT industry, embraced the fashionable coffee shops (they had delightful ambience) as their new socialising hubs that spoke of their status symbol. After all, coffee is all about class, isn’t it?<o:p></o:p>

	 

	The coffee clubs in every city worth their salt will vouch for it. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bangalore</st1:city></st1:place> had some; Kolkata had its charming old coffee houses, some of which date back to the Colonial Era, and many cities came up with their own versions of coffee culture that integrated with their respective cultures. In other words, coffee did form a lifeline for many. What’s more, coffee was the essential part of Indian literature as well, especially in the early 1970s, since coffee clubs hosted numerous poetry sessions, literary discussions and socio-political debates over endless cuppas, shaping the Indian sensibility!<o:p></o:p>

	 

	Indian coffee, which has a comparatively recent origin and is mostly grown in the South, entered the country in the 15th century as a Sufi saint brought the beans back when he returned from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><keyword id="6364756" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Mecca">Mecca</keyword></st1:city></st1:place>. The seeds sown at that time have been bearing fruits ever since.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	The production of coffee beans in the country and the ever expanding café markets are interrelated in some ways, but the growth of the Indian coffee industry and the fast-paced development of the consumer market for coffee are not totally interdependent.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	While <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>’s Arabica and Robusta are known for their distinct aroma and stimulant properties, we must remember that <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> exports nearly 80% of its total coffee produce to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Russia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Germany</st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Belgium</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Slovenia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Greece</st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Netherlands</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region></st1:place>, among others. The country grows nearly 800,000 tonnes of coffee across the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Orissa</st1:place>, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><keyword id="6354915" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Assam">Assam</keyword></st1:country-region></st1:city>, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, <keyword id="46408" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Arunachal-Pradesh">Arunachal Pradesh</keyword> and so on. With the majority of the coffee growers being unorganised farmers, coffee as a cash crop does not have the negotiating power to dictate its procurement prices.<o:p></o:p>

	 
 Although there is a <keyword id="2239954" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Coffee-Board-in-India">Coffee Board in India</keyword> that essentially deals with the welfare of the coffee growers, underdeveloped socio-economic conditions, perpetual labour shortage and absence of government assistance in 98% cases make it more of a traditional crop that has been grown through generations, rather than a cash crop with great profit potential.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	On the other hand, what’s been thriving is the processed coffee business, which is more like a hospitality industry, with customer service and profit-making being its chief objectives. Café Coffee Day has already posted an impressive growth chart of 1,500 outlets in less than two decades and other cafés, which are opening to brisk business, are present across almost all highways, metros and tier II cities. It seems that the market for coffee as a consumer product has been resurrected in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p>

	 
 Consequently, when the world’s largest coffee chain <keyword id="6377922" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Starbucks">Starbucks</keyword> entered the Indian market through a joint venture with the industry biggie <keyword id="6355725" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Tata-Group">TATA Group</keyword> (Tata Starbucks Ltd), the market was warm and more than welcoming. The well-travelled Indian took to Starbucks as the fish takes to water. The brand, which entered the Indian market in October 2012, has been on a roll ever since, opening outlets in all major cities. The company is currently catering to a market worth $300 million and hopes to achieve an impressive 20% annual growth.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	Curiously, the Indian coffee market, in spite of having enough growth potential, has not looked beyond CCD. Other brands such as Barista, ow­ned by Lavazza Spa, had a tough time staying afloat in this volatile market.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	In a largely tea-obsessed nation, coffee feels like an aberration. But brands such as CCD and Starbucks are positioning themselves as lifestyle choices and aspirational names in order to serve more than just coffee. But here is a hitch. In spite of pushing a lot of money into branding, will Indian consumers cold-shoulder these companies after experiencing the initial euphoria of having an international coffee brand in the neighbourhood? In such a case, only constant innovation can save the cup of coffee!<o:p></o:p>

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