New Delhi, Jul 7 () ASI-protected monuments were reopened for the public on Monday but the footfall on day one was very low, even as the number of coronavirus cases in the national capital crossed the one lakh-mark. Qutub Minar, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, attracted maximum crowd of just 100 visitors, sources said. The 12th century minaret on regular days gets a footfall in the range of 8,000-10,000, according to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials. The footfall at other sites was -- Humayun's Tomb (70-80), Purana Quila (20-22), Safdarjung Tomb (8) and Jantar Mantar (12), roughly, as per official figures, the sources said. Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb and a host of other centrally-protected monuments in Delhi on Monday were reopened for visitors after being shut for over three months due to the COVID-19 crisis. However, wearing of masks is mandatory and no one is allowed to enter if they are not wearing it, a senior official said. The Red Fort, which on regular days is closed every Monday, remained closed and reopened on Tuesday. "While the monuments have been reopened, visitors can book tickets in either of the two slots -- forenoon slot which starts in the morning and ends at 12 noon -- and afternoon slot from 12 noon to 6 pm. In each slot, a maximum of 1,500 visitors will be allowed," the official said. So, around 12 noon in the afternoon slot on Tuesday, out of the 1,500 tickets for the Red Fort, 1,478 were still unpurchased, according to live ticketing figures accessed from the ASI website. Around 4:15 pm, the unbought tickets for the Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar stood at 934 and 1,438, respectively, while the same figure stood at 987 for the Safdarjung Tomb, according to official figures. Delhi's ASI-protected monuments have been reopened for the public as per the directions of the culture ministry. All protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) as outlined by the ministry are being followed, including social distancing and sanitisation measures at these heritage sites, officials said. Incidentally, the monuments reopened for the public on a day Delhi COVID-19 tally breached the one lakh-mark as the city recorded 1,379 fresh coronavirus cases, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 3,115. There are 173 monuments in Delhi, protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites -- Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar; Safdarjung Tomb, Purana Quila, Tughlakabad Fort, Hauz Khas, Jantar Mantar and Firoz Shah Kotla. According to the officials, on regular days, the Red Fort gets an average daily footfall in the range of 8,000-12,000 while the Humayun's Tomb gets 6,000-10,000, and both these monuments are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites. However, the Humayun's Tomb attracts more foreign visitors in general, they said. A total of 3,691 centrally-protected monuments and archaeological sites maintained by the ASI across the country were shut from March 17 in view of the coronavirus crisis. The officials said the reopening of sites have been done in compliance with the city and district authorities. The culture ministry recently had issued a set of protocols, saying only those monuments which are in non-containment zones will be reopened. The number of containment zones in the city on Monday stood at 455. As per the protocol, entry tickets being issued by e-mode and only e-payments acceptable at parking and cafeteria at the sites. No group photography and food or eatables shall be allowed inside the premises, it said. KND KJ

COVID-19: Qutub Minar gets max footfall, turnout very low at ASI monuments in Delhi on day 1

(Eds: Adds inputs) New Delhi, Jul 6 () Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb and a host of other centrally-protected monuments in Delhi on Monday were reopened for visitors after being shut for over four months due to the COVID-19 crisis, officials said. However, wearing of masks will be mandatory, and no one will be allowed to enter if they are not wearing it, a senior official said. "Delhi's ASI-protected monuments have been reopened for the public as per the directions of the culture ministry. However, Red Fort, which on regular days is closed every Monday, will remain closed today," he said. All protocols and SOPs as outlined by the ministry will be followed, including social distancing and sanitisation measures at these heritage sites. Incidentally, the monuments reopened for the public on a day Delhi COVID-19 tally breached the 1 lakh-mark as the city recorded 1379 fresh coronavirus cases, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 3,115. There are 173 monuments in Delhi, protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites -- Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar; Safdarjung Tomb, Purana Quila, Tughlakabad Fort, Hauz Khas and Firoz Shah Kotla. "However, visitors can book tickets in either of the two slots -- forenoon slot which starts in the morning and ends at 12 noon; and afternoon slot from 12 noon to 6 PM. In each slot, a maximum of 1500 visitors will be allowed," the official said. According the officials, on regular days, Red Fort gets an average daily footfall in the range of 8,000-12,000; Humayun's Tomb gets 6,000-10,000 and Qutub Minar gets 8,000-10,000. However, Humayun's Tomb attracts more foreign visitors, they said. As many as 3,691 Centrally-protected monuments and archaeological sites maintained by the ASI across the country were shut from March 17 in view of the coronavirus crisis. The official said, the reopening of sites have been done in compliance with the city and district authorities. The culture ministry recently had issued a set of protocols, saying only those monuments which are in non-containment zones will be reopened. The number of containment zones in the city on Monday stood at 455. As per the protocol, entry tickets being issued by e-mode and only e-payments acceptable at parking and cafeteria at the sites. At the entrance of every monument or site, all visitors shall share their phone numbers with the person designated for the purpose by the ASI to help in contact tracing if and when required, the protocol said. The ASI can restrict access to vulnerable and interior parts of any monument while visitors shall be asked to stick to the time limits inside the monument, as far as possible, the ministry had said. No group photography and food or eatables shall be allowed inside the premises, it said. "Cleaning and sanitisation of monuments and museums including toilet blocks, benches and frequently used surfaces shall be done at regular intervals," it said. KND SMN SMN

COVID: ASI monuments in Delhi reopen for visitors, masks mandatory

(Eds: With more inputs) New Delhi, Feb 13 () Senior IAS officer Debasish Panda was on Thursday appointed as the new finance secretary as part of a top level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre. Panda, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is at present special secretary, department of financial services. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment as secretary, department of financial services, in place of Rajiv Kumar, who superannuates this month-end, a personnel ministry order said. Besides him, Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has been appointed secretary, department of consumer affairs. Saraswati Prasad, a 1985-batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, will be secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. He is at present special secretary and financial adviser, ministry of steel. Usha Sharma, Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, has been appointed secretary, department of youth affairs. Senior civil servant Raj Kumar will be secretary, department of defence production. Kumar, a 1987-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, is currently Director General, Employees' State Insurance Corporation. Rajeev Ranjan has been appointed as secretary, department of fisheries. Ranjan is currently special secretary, GST council secretariat. He has been appointed as the fisheries secretary in place of Rajni Sekhri Sibal, who retires on February 29. The tenure of Parameswaran Iyer, secretary, department of drinking water and sanitation, has been extended by one more year. The ACC has approved extension for a further period of one year beyond April 30, 2020, i.e. up to April 30, 2021, in Iyer's tenure, the order said. AKV AKV SMNSMN

Bureaucratic reshuffle: Debasish Panda appointed finance secretary

<ul><li>The searches for job roles in the <keyword id="6473855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism-sector">tourism sector</keyword> projected a 10% increase over the last three years, according to a survey by job search platform Indeed. </li><li>On the heels of <keyword id="73186" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Heritage-Week">World Heritage Week</keyword>, from travel consultants to Archaeologist, here are the jobs in the <keyword id="1980515" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="travel-and-tourism-industry">travel and tourism industry</keyword>.</li></ul>India’s tourism sector has been gaining popularity amongst travellers and job seeking youth alike. Searches for job roles in the tourism sector saw a 10% increase over the last three years, according to a survey by job search platform Indeed. On the heels of World Heritage Week, let us take a look at all the jobs that the sector offers — from travel consultants to archaeologists. Travel Manager Average annual salary: Between ₹6 lakh and ₹15 lakh Travel managers are expected to manage travel plans of clients. This is a wide set of responsibilities including planning a trip, negotiating the price and booking venues etc. The job requires candidates to have a wide knowledge of the tourist sites and spots along with customer servicing skills. Archaeologists Average annual salary: Between ₹4 lakh and ₹ 7lakh Archaeologists scoop out historical relevance, interpret and study historical sites. An archaeologist analyses artefacts and remains of human history. This job requires a degree in archaeology but it also involves a lot of travelling and working on sites along with studying its relevance. Travel Consultant and Coordinator Average annual salary: ₹2 lakh to ₹6 lakh The job of a travel consultant is to guide clients on travel options and tourism packages, as per their needs. The job also requires them to make travel arrangements companies and groups — schedule flights, arrange for transportation and make reservations. History Professor Average annual salary: ₹7 lakh and more Teaching history and imparting knowledge of culture is also a job that is reserved for extremely learned people with doctoral degrees of more. Apart from teaching, history professors also turn custodians of culture and like monuments and other artefacts. Museum or gallery curator Average annual salary: ₹13 lakh Curator supervise and interpret institutional cultural heritage at archives, galleries and museums. The job requires extensive knowledge of arts and culture. This job role generally requires candidates who hold doctoral degrees.

Here are jobs in travel and tourism industry that pay ₹15 lakh and more

For those who think there is dearth of <keyword id="6362949" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Government-jobs">government jobs</keyword> in the country, it might come as a shock that there are over 5,000 vacant posts in 45 organisations, under the Ministry of Culture. This is also leading to difficulties in security, conservation and preservation of historical monuments, as told by Culture Minister <keyword id="210147" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mahesh-Sharma">Mahesh Sharma</keyword>. 
 
It was during his address to Lok Sabha that Sharma informed of 15,607 sanctioned posts in 45 organisations under his Ministry, of which only 10,284 posts are filled. 
 
"These vacancies have occurred over the years and we have taken a number of steps, including appointing people on contractual basis, to fill the vacant posts," he said during Question Hour. He added that old and stringent rules of hiring are the reasons behind these vacant posts. 
 
There are around 80,000 historic monuments in India, of which 3,686 were protected by Archaeological Survey of India. He however added that "no monument of national importance has been neglected or defaced for want of adequate manpower." 
 
<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/3405520/images/o-MAHESH-SHARMA-facebook.jpg">Image source</a>

Culture Ministry has 5,000 vacant positions 45 organisations

<ul><li>At present, there are 5,259 active <keyword id="8644408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coronavirus-cases">Coronavirus cases</keyword> in the Uttar Pradesh.</li><li>Out of the 14,598 confirmed cases in the state, 8,904 patients have recovered and 435 patients have died.</li><li>Uttar Pradesh reported 507 new cases and 18 new deaths on June 16.</li></ul>Uttar Pradesh reported 507 new cases of <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> on June 16, taking the total number of cases in the state to 14,598. Out of the 14,598 confirmed cases, 8,904 patients have recovered and 435 patients have died. The state government has revealed that several patients had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meeting in Nizamuddin or had come in contact with someone who attended the event. The Uttar Pradesh government has started pool testing in view of the increasing number of pending samples. Pool testing, which has been approved by ICMR, involves collective testing of about ten samples at one go. If found negative, all the ten persons are declared Corona free but if the sample tests positive, all ten persons will have to undergo individual tests. Prof Gopal Nath, in-charge of the BHU laboratory, said, "We are conducting over 350 tests every day against our capacity of 300 samples per day, for more than a week now. But, the number of samples collected from all 13 districts connected with this lab is accumulating. Pool testing will quicken the pace of testing now." <table style="width: 560pt;"> </colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup> <tbody><tr> <td class="xl63" style="height: 14.4pt; width: 94pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left: 0.5pt solid black; background: black;">State</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 175pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Total Cases</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 179pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Active Cases</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 56pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Cured</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 56pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right: 0.5pt solid black; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Death</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl63" style="height: 14.4pt; font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left: 0.5pt solid black; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">Uttar Pradesh</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">14,598</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">5,259</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">8,904</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right: 0.5pt solid black; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">435</td> </tr></tbody></table> 'Pani puri' sale banned in UP district There is bad news for those who crave for 'pani puri'. The sale of 'pani puri' has been banned in Kanpur from Tuesday. District Magistrate Brahmadeo Ram Tiwari said there were inputs that corona safety norms were being flouted at street food carts after the relaxation in curbs under 'Unlock 1.0'. "Besides, there was a lack of social distancing at these stalls and we have banned the sale of pani puri so that there is no further spike in corona cases," he said. Agra faces financial loss, yearns for return of tourists India's global tourist destination Taj Mahal, which witnessed a daily footfall of thousands of people, now stands secluded after it was shut to the public exactly three months ago due to the COVID-19-induced lockdown. Taj Mahal is Uttar Pradesh's main attraction and a major source of revenue for the state's tourism industry. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, as many as 15,000 to 20,000 foreigners and Indians used to visit the historical site daily. Superintendent Archaeologist Dr Vasant Kumar Swarnkar told IANS that foreign tourists were charged Rs 1,300 each while domestic tourists paid Rs 250 each for the visit but the pandemic has spelt doom for historical monuments and Agra's economy. It is the first time that the monument has been shut after the devastating 1978 floods. It was previously closed during World War II in 1942 and the Indo-Pak war of 1971. We have effectively checked corona spread: Yogi Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that the state had effectively controlled the spread of coronavirus. He said it could be made possible due to the guidance of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a good teamwork in the state. He, however, cautioned against any complacency and said a minor carelessness could be dangerous. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that the lockdown was implemented strictly and the asymptomatic corona patients were kept in the hospitals which helped in stopping the spread of the virus. Unable to manage train seat, man buys car and heads home Lallan, a painter in the NCR city Ghaziabad, waited near a railway station for three days for his turn to get on to a Shramik special. On the fourth day, he went to the bank, withdrew all his savings of Rs 1.9 lakh and headed straight to a second hand car seller. He bought a used car for Rs 1.5 lakh, and travelled back to his home in Gorakhpur along with his family, vowing never to return. A resident of Kaitholia village in PP Ganj in Gorakhpur, Lallan said, "After the lockdown, I stayed on hoping that things would soon return to normal. When the lockdown kept getting extended, I thought it would be safer for me and my family to return to our village. However, we made several attempts to get seats on buses or trains but failed." Aligarh lock industry seeks Yogi help to restart The Aligarh lock industry has sought financial assistance from the Yogi Adityanath government to enable it to pay salaries to its workers. According to Sunil Datta, general secretary of the Tala Nagri Industrialist Association, a meeting with the state government is scheduled this week in this regard. "We are not in a position to support our workers any longer. We had no business during the lockdown, but we paid salaries to them, but now things are out of our hands too. We need some financial assistance to survive," he said. Yogi to give ration kits, Rs 1,000 to each destitute Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to provide ration kits and Rs 1,000 to all destitutes who do not have ration cards. In his meeting with Team 11 officials on Monday, the Chief Minister said that efforts should also be made to provide ration cards to these people. In the rural areas, the ration kits and Rs 1,000 will be given from the funds allotted to village heads while in the urban areas, the same will be provided by municipal corporations, the government spokesman said. UP government to follow Centre's guidelines on 'Unlock 1' The lockdown in Uttar Pradesh will continue till June 30 but as per the guidelines for 'Unlock 1', as issued by the Centre, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and places of worship will be allowed to reopen from June 8. Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Uttar Pradesh, Avanish Awasthi told reporters that said that the state government will allow religious places, hotels, restaurants and shopping malls to reopen from June 8 but with safety protocols. He said that no relaxations would be allowed in the containment zones and District Magistrates would also be allowed to take decisions on relaxations and restrictions, depending on the COVID-19 situation in their areas. UP prisoners' parole to be extended amid Covid crisis With Corona showing no signs of receding in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has decided to extend by another eight weeks, the parole of 2,257 convicts, sentenced to seven years or less and also those awaiting trial entailing less than seven-year imprisonment. In the last week of March, the Supreme Court had directed states and union territories to consider releasing convicts sentenced to seven years or less and also those awaiting trial entailing less than seven-year imprisonment, in order to decongest jails during the Corona crisis. Yogi govt completes skill mapping of 14.75 lakh migrants The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has completed the task of skill mapping of 14.75 lakh migrant workers who have returned to the state during lockdown. According to the official spokesman, the skill mapping of migrant workers will help in providing employment for them. With inputs from IANS. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-hyderabad-telangana-news-and-updates/articleshow/74823424.cms">Coronavirus cases in Telangana</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-andhra-pradesh-news-and-updates/articleshow/74828808.cms">Coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-gujarat-news-and-updates/articleshow/74830845.cms">Coronavirus cases in Gujarat</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-bihar-news-and-updates/articleshow/74833815.cms">Coronavirus cases in Bihar</a>

UP Coronavirus cases rise to 14,598, 435 dead and 8,904 recovered

What happens when two heads of two nations meet? Discuss defence, talk about economy or maybe something on civil nuclear. But this is not what PM <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> plans to discuss with his French counterpart. In fact, PM Modi plans to have a discussion around culture, heritage and history reveals an Economic Times report. The financial daily mentions that Modi’s agenda of discussion in <keyword id="106" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Paris">Paris</keyword> includes an agreement to pair national monuments and heritage sites - possibly starting with New Delhi's imposing India Gate and the Arc de Triomphe in the heart of the French capital. 
 The agreement that India and <keyword id="6354785" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="France">France</keyword> are expected to sign to 'twin' iconic structures and monuments, based on similarities they share, may include as many as six pairings and are aimed at strengthening the cultural links between the two countries, officials from the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India told the ET. 
 
The modalities of arrangement will be worked out later by the governments and associated bodies such as ASI and its counterpart in France. The ideas being discussed include putting up plaques at the monuments to generate awareness about their foreign twins and to have imprints of both structures on tickets and publicity brochures. India Gate and the Arc de Triomphe have many similarities that make them ideal as paired monuments. 
 
The similarity between the two monuments includes triumphal arches built to commemorate unknown soldiers who laid down their lives for the country, are located in the capital and revered as patriotic sites. The financial daily also said, the 42 metre high India Gate commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during World War I, while the Arc de Triomphe, at 49.5 metres, stands at the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle in honour of those who fought for France, especially during the Napoleonic Wars. The names of soldiers are engraved on both structures. 
 
If all goes well, Jaisalmer Fort in Rajasthan may also be linked to Carcassonne in France. 
 
The Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa is proposed to be twinned with the Chartres Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Chartres. Both are Catholic churches and key pilgrim centres. Other sites that could be linked are the prehistoric rock shelters of Bhimbetka in MP with the Lascaux Caves in southwestern France, famous for Palaeolithic cave paintings. 
 
New Delhi's Lodi Gardens could be linked with the Jardin des Tuileries - both much-frequented and loved public parks in the capital cities. There is also a plan to link Mysore Palace with a Chateau in France. India and France are also expected to collaborate on preventive and underwater archaeology, training of personnel and joint research. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

This is what Narendra Modi will do in France beginning today

The politically charged town of <keyword id="6354931" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ayodhya">Ayodhya</keyword> in Uttar Pradesh would have a state of-the-art Ram museum to promote <keyword id="6363500" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="ramayana">Ramayana</keyword>. <keyword id="6358079" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tourism-Minister">Tourism Minister</keyword> <keyword id="210147" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mahesh-Sharma">Mahesh Sharma</keyword> told the Economic Times that the <keyword id="6360789" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Modi-Government">Modi government</keyword> is coming up with the museum, which would be part of the proposed 'Ramayana circuit'. Fortunately, the ‘disputed site’, the reason for all the battles, would not be touched by the project. "This will be an exclusive museum which will be part of a larger holistic plan. The idea is to depict the mahima (grandeur) of <keyword id="353792" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Lord-Ram">Lord Ram</keyword> and Ramayana," Sharma said. "It is on high priority and the scale will depend on funds available. We will do this next year." The museum would be build on the model of the Swaminarayan <keyword id="76721" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Akshardham-Temple">Akshardham temple</keyword> in Delhi - which features a sound and light show, boat ride and a film on Swaminarayan - and house archaeological material related to the deity. 

	The minister said work would soon begin on the detailed project report. 
 

	In order to again turn Ayodhya into a major cultural hub, the Modi government plans to develop all sites related to Lord Ram in and around the town.. When asked about the political ramifications, the minister said that the museum may reach the state of completion in 2017, a time when UP elections are due. He added, "Tourism we can develop. We are not saying we are going to make a Ram mandir there."
 

	The tourism minister further stated that the government is already working on a chain of five circuits. "For every year we will declare a different circuit. Ramayana circuit will start with the centre somewhere in Ayodhya and Chitrakoot and definitely we go to Makohda in Basti, then Janaki kund in Unnao and nearby areas and places relevant to the life of Ram...that is our idea," he said. 
 

	The Centre would also host what it calls are cultural activities revolving around Ram and Ramayana at events abroad, including festivals and travel marts. According to officials of the Tourism Ministry, the government has already asked Uttar Pradesh to send a proposal for the project under the Centre's Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme. 
 

	"We have requested the state government to develop the proposal under the PRASAD scheme. Cost estimates are open-ended as of now and depend on the outline and scale of the proposal. This is actually an inter-state project as well so we will talk to other states as well," Tourism Secretary Lalit Pawar said. Rakesh Tiwari, director-general of Archaeological Survey of India (<keyword id="46215" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="ASI">ASI</keyword>), said that discussions on the Ramayana circuit are still at a preliminary stage and the ASI would help the tourism ministry with all related inputs. 

	"We will help develop the circuit in whichever way the government asks us to. Cultural bodies are also going to be roped in to bring alive the folklore and legends associated with Ramayana," said Tiwari. 
 

	(Image: Indiatimes)

Not a temple, but a hi-tech Ram museum is coming up in Ayodhya

After taking up various missions like bringing back black money stashed abroad, Swachh Bharat, Digital India and Make in India, the Narendra Modi-led government has embarked on another mission to repeal outdated and archaic laws. 
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Law Ministry to identify these laws and get it repealed through an Act of Parliament. Let’s have a look at six most weird laws in India: 
 
<keyword id="2123426" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Motor-Vehicles-Act">Indian Motor Vehicles Act</keyword>, 1914: This Act requires that a person needs to have ‘well brushed teeth’ in order to be eligible to become an inspector in Andhra Pradesh. A person with dirty, pale teeth cannot become an inspector in the state! 
 
The <keyword id="75223" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Penal-Code">Indian Penal Code</keyword>, 1860 (Section 497): Under this law, a married man can ‘legally’ have sex with an unmarried girl, a divorcee or a widow. It will not be treated as adultery. 
 
If you wish to have sex with a married woman, you need to have her husband’s prior approval! The law states, “Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, is guilty of the offence of adultery, and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.” 
 
On the other hand, women have the special privilege of having as many extra marital affairs as they wish. This is how gender equality exists in our country. 
 
Indian <keyword id="1327581" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Treasure-Trove-Act">Treasure Trove Act</keyword>, 1878: Did you know that you can be jailed if you, by chance, find anything that is worth more than Rs 10 and you do not report it to a revenue officer? The Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878, states that it is mandatory to report it to a revenue officer. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the law was designed to “protect and preserve treasure found accidentally but had archaeological and historical value.” 
 
Indian Post Office Act, 1898: This Act states that “the exclusive privilege of conveying letters is reserved to the government.” So, the whole courier industry in the country is illegal according to this Act. Even sending letters through pigeons might in violation of this Act. 
 
Indian <keyword id="1936372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sarais-Act">Sarais Act</keyword>, 1887: This Act makes it mandatory for an innkeeper to report to the nearest police station if someone falls ill at a hotel. The innkeeper is also required “to thoroughly cleanse the rooms and verandahs, and drains of the sarai (hotel), and the wells, tanks, or other sources from, which water is obtained for the persons or animals using it, to the satisfaction of, and so often as shall be required by, the Magistrate of the District, or such person as he shall appoint in this behalf.” 
 
Moreover, he must “remove all noxious vegetation on or near the sarai (hotel), and all trees and branches of trees capable of affording to thieves means of entering or leaving the sarai.” 
 
Indian Aircraft Act, 1934: Flying a kite might be your hobby, but did you know that you need to get a permit for that? According to the Indian Aircraft Act, 1934, kites are also aircraft, and you must obtain a permit as required for a plane.

Naya
Daur Naya Kanoon: These 6 Weird
Indian Laws Along
With Many Others
Might Get Abolished
Or Changed
By Modi Govt

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav is spending quite a lot of money in branding his state safe but he probably doesn’t know that the foreign tourists are moving away by the hordes from the city that houses the world famous <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Crash-of-Taj-Mahal-chandelier-prompts-ASI-probe/articleshow/48616529.cms">Taj Mahal</a>, Agra. The reason being the tout culture of the place that has an expertise in cheating and duping foreigners and extorting money. While earlier, foreign tourists would stay at the place for a day or two, now they prefer to return to Delhi after touring the Taj city for a day. 
 
A local intelligence unit reports that 53,113 foreigners stayed for more than one day in Agra between April and July in 2015 compared to 78,202 during the corresponding period in 2014. The authorities admitted that the prevailing tout culture and generally shoddy tourism infrastructure are to blame. 
 
Further, a comparison of Long Island University (LIU) figures with the Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) revealed that, out of 3.02 lakh foreigners who visited the Taj between January and May this year, 1.6 lakh (53%) left the city the same day. In 2014, out of 3.23 lakh tourists who saw the monument during the same period, 1.36 lakh (42%) went back on the same day. 
 
Occupancy in hotels used to be very high during the months of October to December, which is deemed to be the season of visiting the Taj. However, in November 2014, the figures stood at just 14,079 compared to 47,606 during the same month in 2013. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Uploading-selfies-at-Taj-Mahal-would-never-be-a-trouble-again/articleshow/47692011.cms">Also Read: Uploading Selfies at the Taj Mahal would never be a trouble again</a> 
 
The UP tourism department had alleged that tickets for Taj were resold and foreign tourist numbers has gone up by 28%. However, ASI responsible for managing the Taj Mahal has claimed that, in 2014, there has been 4.5% dip in 2013 figures. This highly contradicts UP tourism’s claim and puts a doubts the assessment of UP tourism. 
 
Rajiv Tiwari, president, Federation of Travel Associations of Agra, said, "Most foreign tourists come here with a negative image of locals. They are advised by travel agents not to interact with the locals, as they may be duped." Tiwari also blamed the Yamuna Expressway for tourists not staying in Agra. Prahalad Agarwal, president, Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber, said, "There has been negligible improvement as far as city infrastructure is concerned. There is no air connectivity. Tourists first land in Delhi and take rail or road route to come here. However, the access is not very easy once they enter Agra."

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