Different protesting <keyword id="500933" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Punjab-farmer">Punjab farmer</keyword> bodies on Tuesday decided to hold talks with the Centre over the <keyword id="10002582" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-farm-laws">new farm laws</keyword> in New Delhi on Wednesday. The decision to this effect was taken by representatives of several farmers' organisations at a meeting here. A seven-member panel has been formed to hold talks with the Centre, said Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) chief <keyword id="276944" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Balbir-Singh-Rajewal">Balbir Singh Rajewal</keyword> while addressing the media here. "We have decided that representatives of all farmers' bodies will attend the meeting," said Rajewal. The leaders included in the panel are Balbir Singh Rajewal, <keyword id="4361892" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="darshan-pal">Darshan Pal</keyword>, Jagjit singh Dalewal, <keyword id="33921" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="jagmohan-singh">Jagmohan Singh</keyword>, Kulwant Singh, Surjit Singh and Satnam Singh Sahni. Earlier on Monday, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, a farmers' body in Punjab, decided not to attend the meeting called by the Union Agriculture Department on October 14. The farmers' organisations, whose agitation against the laws has disrupted rail traffic and severely impacted coal supply to thermal power plants in Punjab, had last week rejected the Centre's invitation to participate in a "conference to address their concerns" on October 8. Rajewal said as per the invitation sent by the secretary of the Union Agriculture Department, the Centre wants to hold talks with them. "We are going because if we continue to reject the invitation, then they will say we are not ready for any talks. We do not want to give them any excuse. We will go there," said Rajewal. Farmers in Punjab have been demanding that the three laws passed by Parliament recently be repealed. Farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws will pave a way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporates. The government, however, has been saying that the laws passed by Parliament recently amid a vociferous protest will raise farmers' income, free them from the clutches of the middlemen and usher in new technology in farming. <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/airtel-partners-with-aakash-institute-to-bring-medical-and-engineering-education-content-to-its-dth-platform/articleshow/78640408.cms">Airtel partners with Aakash Institute to bring medical and engineering education content to its DTH platform</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/wipro-posts-stable-quarter-profit-rises-3-2-with-revenue-guidance-of-1-5-to-3-5-over-the-next-three-months/articleshow/78640025.cms">Wipro posts stable quarter — profit rises 3.2% with revenue guidance of 1.5% to 3.5% over the next three months</a>

Farm laws: Punjab farmer bodies to talk to Centre

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/54880272.cms" /> If everything at the <keyword id="485337" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Institute-of-Microbial-Technology">Institute of Microbial Technology</keyword> (<keyword id="4897172" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="IMTECH">IMTECH</keyword>), Chandigarh goes as planned, you can expect a heavy drop up to three times in prices of insulin and <keyword id="65371" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="hepatitis-B">hepatitis B</keyword> vaccines. The scientists at the centre have developed indigenous technology to produce protein based medicines like insulin, streptokinase (clot buster) and the hepatitis B vaccine. 
 
Presently India has to depend on patented technology of the foreign countries to produce insulin, streptokinase and hepatitis B etc. With 66 million diabetics and 40 million hepatitis B patients in the country, this will be a major reliever for many. 
 
Pichia is the vector that is currently used in insulin. 
 "Because Pichia is patented, Indian biotech companies have to pay the inventor, which adds to the cost of the vaccine. Thus, we felt the need to develop new expression systems," Dr <keyword id="33921" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="jagmohan-singh">Jagmohan Singh</keyword>, chief scientist at IMTECH whose team developed India's first expression vector for therapeutic proteins, told the Economic Times. 
 
Pichia vector is generally licensed for commercial research for $50,000 with annual maintenance fee of $5000 to $30,000. In case the product is commercialized, the fee is $75,000 plus royalty ranging between 3% and 5%. 
 The present cost of hepatitis B vaccine in India ranges between Rs 45 (<keyword id="242973" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Serum-Institute">Serum Institute</keyword>) and Rs 250 per paediatric dose of 10 microgram in 0.5 ml, according to the news report. The cost of adult dose of 20 microgram is nearly double. The normal regimen of vaccination involves three such injections. For insulin, the price varies from Rs 140 to Rs 325 per injection. The slow release variant of insulin called Glargine costs between Rs 410 and Rs 1,475 for a 10 ml vial. 
 "So far we have expressed hepatitis B vaccine at laboratory scale level in fission yeast. Once the production is scaled up, the production cost is estimated to be around Re 1 per dose, while the lowest production cost reported for Pichia-based system is Rs. 4 per dose and the lowest <keyword id="6357388" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="MRP">MRP</keyword> in market is Rs 45/- dose. Even this is beyond the reach of people below poverty line. Thus, there is scope to bring the commercial price of hepatitis B vaccine further down. Once the proof-of-concept stage is complete, we will undertake expression of other proteins like insulin, antibodies in fission yeast," <keyword id="263572" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Virendra-Singh">Virendra Singh</keyword>, department of hepatology Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, told the ET.

‘Made in Chandigarh’ technology to bring down prices of insulin
and Hepatitis B vaccine

The Centre on Monday night invited agitating <keyword id="3627663" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmer-unions">farmer unions</keyword> for talks on December 1, two days ahead of a scheduled meeting, as their stir against the new agri-marketing laws appeared to intensify despite a strong defence of the legislation by the government and <keyword id="6354814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="prime-minister-narendra-modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword> who accused the opposition of "playing tricks" on farmers again through misinformation. The development came a day after the protesting farmers rejected the Centre's offer to start talks as soon as they move to Burari and continued to stay put Singhu and Tikri borders of the national capital. "Keeping in view the cold and COVID-19, we have invited leaders of farmer unions for discussion much before the scheduled December 3 meeting," Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told and urged the farmers to end their stir. Addressing a press conference on Monday, representatives of agitating farmers said on Monday they have come to Delhi for a "decisive" battle and asked Prime Minister Modi to listen to their "mann ki baat". Peaceful sit-ins by farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, continued for the fifth day at the Singhu and Tikri borders with no untoward incident reported after Friday's violence, while the numbers of protestors swelled at the Ghazipur border. "Our demands are non-negotiable," Jagmohan Singh, general secretary Bhartiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda), said addressing a press conference by representatives of farmers at Singhu border. "We have come here to fight a decisive battle.... We have come to Delhi to ask the prime minister to listen to 'mann ki baat' of farmers, else the government and the ruling party will have to pay a heavy price...," he said. The opposition parties too stepped up pressure, asking the Centre to "respect the democratic struggle" of the farmers and repeal the laws. Security was beefed up by the Delhi Police and concrete barriers placed at all borders points connecting the city with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as the farmers threatened to block all highways to the national capital. Long queues of vehicles choked the roads as the Delhi Police kept the Singhu and Tikri borders closed and heightened checking at others. Amid the rancour of protests, farmers were seen performing 'Ardas' (prayer) at the Haryana-Delhi border and distributing 'karah parshad' among the people on <keyword id="3846034" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Guru-Nanak-Jayanti">Guru Nanak Jayanti</keyword>. At dusk, earthen lamps were placed on the barricades by the protesting farmers who exchanged sweets while preparing for another winter night in their tractor-trollys which have been turned into makeshift shelters. Many protesters said that they have come prepared for a long haul with rations and other necessities. During the day several union ministers and BJP leaders again urged the farmers not to have "misconceptions" about these reforms which, they asserted, have nothing to do with the mechanism of minimum support price (MSP) and 'mandi' that will continue along with the government's purchase of grains. The prime minister, who was visiting his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, too allayed concerns that MSP and mandi mechanism would be discontinued, even as he attacked the opposition. "The farmers are being deceived on these historic agriculture reform laws by the same people who have misled them for decades," he said, in an apparent reference to parties that are supporting the protest. He reiterated that farmers who wanted to follow the old system of trading - referring to the 'mandis' where they can get the MSP - are still free to do so. But the three laws gave them new options to sell for more, he said. He said whenever new laws are enacted questions are bound to be asked. "But presently a new trend is being seen in the country. The protests are based on creating doubts through misinformation," Modi said at a public gathering. "We must remember that those doing so are the ones who had for decades deceived farmers," he claimed. The MSP used to be declared but very little procurement was done on it, he claimed. "Farmers have faced deceit on MSP, loan waiver schemes, urea and productivity for a long time in the past," he said. He claimed that it is because of this "long history of deceit" that farmers are again wary as they are seeing the new move in the same manner. Though the protesting farmers have been adamant about not allowing any political party to use their platform, the opposition has come out in their support. The Congress launched a social media campaign to muster support for the farmers and said its members will extend assistance to the protesters, while the DMK and its allies too issued a statement slamming the government's stand. "The Modi government has persecuted the farmer - first it brought black laws and then used lathis against them, but it forgot that when the farmer raises his voice, it resonates throughout the country. You also raise your voice against the exploitation of farmers and join the #SpeakUpForFarmers campaign," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. A joint statement was issued by DMK president M K Stalin, TNCC chief K S Alagiri, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, CPI(M) state secretary K Balakrishnan, Communist Party of India state secretary R Mutharasan and others slamming the Centre's stand. "More than 500 farmer unions from across India have rallied on behalf of the country's 62 million farmers. We all strongly condemn the dictatorial, hegemonic BJP government for disregarding this massive rally and stipulating that negotiations will only take place only if the farmers go to the Burari ground," it said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the people of Delhi to help the protesters and urged the Centre to hold talks with them at the earliest. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose JD(U) is a constituent of the BJP-led, expressed the hope that the Centre will be able to allay the fears about MSP in its dialogue with the farmers. "The Centre has proposed to hold talks with the agitating farmers. Once they sit across the table, it will become clear that fears over MSP are unfounded," he told reporters. Nagaur (Rajasthan) MP Hanuman Beniwal, an alliance partner of NDA , said he will have to reconsider his party's support to the Centre if the new agricultural reform laws are not withdrawn. Beniwal, the convener of <keyword id="6996429" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rashtriya-Loktantrik-Party">Rashtriya Loktantrik Party</keyword> (RLP), appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to withdraw the three farm laws immediately and implement all the recommendations made by the Swaminathan Commission. Farmers, who had reached the Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari on Saturday, also continued their protest. Sukhwinder Singh, who has been agitating at the Tikri border for the fifth consecutive day, said farmers don't want to go to Burari ground --- the designated protest site identified for the demonstration. "We have enough ration to sustain for at least six months. We do not wish to go to Burari. If we proceed from here, we will only go to Jantar Mantar. We will not protest anywhere else," Singh said. Tractor-trolleys have occupied over a 10-km-long stretch along the Ambala-Delhi national highway. Many protesters have cushioned their trolleys with layers of straw and laid mattresses over them to protect them from the cold. Night temperatures over the last few days have been settling at around 9 degrees Celsius. Among the protesters are men and women aged over 70 years. Flags of various farmers' outfits from Punjab and Haryana can be seen fluttering atop the tractors, some of which are fitted with loudspeakers and used by the leaders of peasants' bodies to address the gatherings. Having gathered here in thousands amid the coronavirus pandemic, the farmers claim adverse conditions do not affect them as they are used to various challenges anyway while working in the fields. Experts warn their agitation could well be a COVID-19 superspreader as there have been few signs of social distancing during the protests that started last week with the farmers, banded under various organisations, leaving their homes and moving towards Delhi. "A protest is a mass gathering and thus from a public health perspective, I would urge protective and preventive behaviour against the spread of coronavirus infection, failing which a superspreading event might set in," cautioned Dr Samiran Panda, head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases division at the Indian Council of Medical Research. The farmers are protesting against the three laws -- Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020 -- that took effect from September 27 after President <keyword id="6354561" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ram-nath-kovind">Ram Nath Kovind</keyword>'s assent. The farmers have expressed apprehension that the Centre's farm laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporates. The government has maintained that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture. In a series of tweets in Hindi, BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad sought to refute criticism of these bills. "New agri laws do not end APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) mandis. Mandis will continue to operate as they have been. New laws have given farmers the freedom to sell their produce anywhere. Whoever gives farmers the best price will get to buy their produce be it inside the mandis or outside," he said. Many misconceptions like the farm bills are a conspiracy to not offer farmers MSP, are being spread, he said, adding that the reality is that these legislations have nothing to do with the minimum support price. "The MSP has been in force and will remain in force," he said. Another senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said, "Don't have misconceptions about the farm laws. Farmers of Punjab have sold more paddy in mandi than they did last year and at a higher MSP. MSP is alive and so is mandi. And government purchase is also taking place." SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/fauci-and-public-health-experts-are-sounding-the-alarms-about-another-coronavirus-surge-after-americans-traveled-for-the-thanksgiving-holiday/articleshow/79479417.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Fauci and public health experts are sounding the alarms about another coronavirus surge after Americans traveled for the Thanksgiving holiday</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/from-whitehat-jr-big-basket-and-unacademy-to-dunzo-these-are-the-indian-startups-that-reported-data-leaks-over-the-past-few-months/slidelist/79467618.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">From WhiteHat Jr, Big Basket, and Unacademy to Dunzo — these are the Indian startups that reported data leaks over the past few months</a>

Centre invites agitating farmer unions for talks on December 1, two days ahead of a scheduled meeting

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/50482368.cms" />With the news of demise of J&amp;K Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed goes a dignified man from this world who lived the life of a true Indian Muslim to say the least. Born to a humble family in south Kashmir’s Bijbehara area of Anantnag district on January 12, 1936, he looked at the conflicted region of Kashmir through the prism of Indian ethos. 
 
Several times, he lifted the tricolor in the Valley knowing that it was life-threatening from him to do so. In a political career spanning nearly six decades, the veteran politician who entered the political field in the 1950s emerged as a rival power centre to the mighty Abdullahs, making friends with parties following conflicting ideologies to suit his political agenda. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Jammu-and-Kashmir-CM-Mufti-Mohammad-Sayeed-passes-away-at-79/articleshow/50478820.cms">ALSO READ: Jammu and Kashmir CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passes away at 79</a> 
 
Childhood: Born in Baba Mohalla of Bijbehara, Sayeed had his early education at a local school and graduated from SP College, Srinagar. He went on to obtain a law degree and Master's degree in Arab History from Aligarh Muslim University. 
 
Late 1950s: He cut his political teeth early, having joined the Democratic National Conference of GM Sadiq in the late 1950s. Recognising the potential of the young lawyer, Sadiq appointed him as the District Convenor of the party. 
 
1962: Sayeed was elected to the state assembly from Bijbehara, the seat which he retained five years later. He was appointed a Deputy Minister by Sadiq, who by then had become Chief Minister. However, he fell out with the party a few years later and joined the Indian National Congress, a courageous but risky decision at that time given the unstinted support of most Kashmiris to Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who was in jail. Considered an astute organiser and administrator, Sayeed ensured that Congress not only got a foothold in the Valley but created pockets of staunch support for the party. 
 
1972: He became a Cabinet Minister and also Congress party's leader in the Legislative Council. He was made the state Congress president a couple of years later. As he rapidly grew in stature, Sayeed saw himself as the next Chief Minister of the state. However, all hopes he might have harboured of occupying the hot seat were dashed when the then Prime Minister <keyword id="6354478" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indira-Gandhi">Indira Gandhi</keyword> entered into an accord with Abdullah and facilitated his return as chief minister after a hiatus of 11 years, much against the wishes of Congress workers in general and Sayeed in particular. 
 
Not the one to give up easily, Sayeed engineered a coup of sorts ahead of the 1977 elections as Congress withdrew support to Abdullah's government. The aim was to have a Congress Chief Minister - which would have been Sayeed - in place for elections to control the official machinery but Governor LK Jha brought the state under Governor's rule. It was the first time that Jammu and Kashmir was brought under Governor's rule. . 
 
1977: Assembly election results killed Sayeed's dream of becoming the Chief Minister as Abdullah's National Conference came to power with a thumping majority. 
 
1986: As Farooq Abdullah warmed up to <keyword id="12596" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajiv-Gandhi">Rajiv Gandhi</keyword> in 1986 to ensure his return as Chief Minister ahead of the 1987 assembly elections, Sayeed was shifted to Delhi and appointed as the Union Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation. <keyword id="222693" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-National">The National</keyword> Conference and Abdullahs have privately held the wily man from south Kashmir responsible for the intra-party rebellion against and subsequent dismissal of Farooq Abdullah by Governor Jagmohan in 1984. The power tussle between Farooq and his brother-in-law GM Shah led to a permanent estrangement and also saw the latter becoming Chief Minister with Congress support. 
Sayeed was a key player when Governor's Rule was imposed for the second time in the state in 1986. Shah's tenure also did not last long as Congress headed by Sayeed withdrew support to his government leading to imposition of Governor's rule for the second time in 1986. 
 
1987: Sayeed meanwhile quit as tourism minister in 1987 and later co-founded Jan Morcha with VP Singh, who had quit Congress over the Bofors scandal. 
 
1989: He won the Lok Sabha election from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh as a <keyword id="123462" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Janata-Dal">Janata Dal</keyword> candidate and became Union Home Minister in VP Singh's cabinet. The high-points in the political journey of Sayeed, who would have turned 80 on January 12, was his being catapulted to the chair of free India's first Muslim Home Minister at a time when militancy broke out in Kashmir and, years later, becoming the Chief Minister of the restive state for a second time in 2015, heading a coalition with BJP, which had its first brush with power in the only Muslim-majority state. 
 
Sayeed's stint in the Home Ministry, at a time when militancy had begun to rear its ugly head in his home state, would, however, be most remembered for the kidnapping of his third daughter Rubaiya by JKLF. The militants demanded freeing five of their comrades in exchange for Rubaiya's freedom and let her off only after their demand had been met. The kidnapping and subsequent release of the militants, according to Sayeed's rivals, projected India as a "soft state" for the first time. He appointed Jagmohan as Governor despite protests by Farooq Abdullah, who resigned and the state came under Governor's rule again in 1990. 
 
1998: Towards the end of PV Narsimha Rao's tenure as Prime Minister, Sayeed returned to Congress fold with daughter Mehbooba Mufti. Sayeed won the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in 1998 general elections, while Mehbooba became Congress MLA in 1996. 
While the state was brought under <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/A-Fractured-Verdict-Paves-Way-For-Governors-Rule/articleshow/45826306.cms">Governor's Rule in 2002 and 2014</a> due to Sayeed taking time to thrash out coalition dispensations with Congress and BJP respectively, it was his manoeuvrings that saw a democratically elected government give way to administration by the Raj Bhawan in 2008. 
 
1999: With his dream of becoming Chief Minister of the state still unfulfilled, Sayeed parted ways with Congress and floated a regional outfit - Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - in 1999. Some of the things associated with the PDP are considered exemplary of Sayeed's political genius. 
The green flag and pen-inkpot election symbol of the PDP were lifted straight from the Muslim United Front (MUF) - the Jamaat-e-Islami-led conglomerate of anti-National Conference, anti-Congress parties in 1987 assembly elections. 
 
2002: Though MUF received wide public support in the Valley, it had only four seats to show. Its symbols found ready acceptance in the Valley as PDP made significant gains and won 16 seats in the 2002 assembly elections. Although way short of majority in the 87-member house, Sayeed managed to bargain with Congress and secure a three-year stint as the Chief Minister on rotational basis. Sayeed was sworn in as the ninth chief minister of state on November 2, 2002 - fulfilling a long-standing dream. 
 
2008: The wily politician, who enjoyed good relations across the political spectrum at national level, saw his PDP grow to 21 seats in 2008 Assembly elections but surprisingly decided to sit in the opposition. He withdrew support to coalition government headed by Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad in July 2008 following widespread protests over the Amarnath land allotment row that pitted the people of Hindu-dominated Jammu region against the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley. 
 
2014: The youngest party in the state continued to gain in strength as it not only won all the three Lok Sabha seats in the Valley in 2014 general elections but also emerged as the single largest party in the state elections later in the year. Sayeed became the unanimous choice for Chief Minister when PDP and BJP reached an agreement to form a coalition government and took oath on March 1, 2015. 
 
(image credits: JKPDP website)

How this two-time J&K CM rose from being a
lawyer to becoming a political powerhouse #RIPMohammadMuftiSayeed

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/50720394.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> Women dominated this year's <keyword id="6391019" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Padma-awards">Padma awards</keyword> for sports with tennis star Sania Mirza and ace shuttler <keyword id="30618" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saina-Nehwal">Saina Nehwal</keyword> getting the nod for the Padma Bhushan, while archer <keyword id="86231" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Deepika-Kumari">Deepika Kumari</keyword> was chosen for the Padma Shri here today. 

	All three were in sublime touch last year and brought the country laurels in their respective sports. 
 Sania enjoyed the most sensational run, clinching nine titles -- including two Grand Slams last year with Swiss great Martina Hingis. The exceptional performance propelled her to the top of the <keyword id="935171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="WTA-doubles-rankings">WTA doubles rankings</keyword>. 

	The 29-year-old is currently competing in the Australian Open in Melbourne, where she has reached the women's doubles quarterfinals with Hingis. 
 Saina has also been in spectacular touch, winning silver medals at the All England and World Badminton Championship last year besides clinching the India Open Super Series and <keyword id="2039194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Syed-Modi-Grand-Prix-Gold">Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold</keyword>. 

	Deepika, on the other hand, won a silver at the Archery World Cup Final besides bronze medals at the World Cup Stage II and the Asian Team Championships. 
 

	Saina, who is in the country to compete in this week's Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold Tournament, said the honour has left her surprised. Interestingly, the 25-year-old had expressed her displeasure at being ignored for the award last year. 
 
 

	"It is a great honour and I want to thank the Ministry for giving me the award. I am very happy with the way the last year has gone, I have been performing well. I reached World No.1 last year and now I am World No.2. I am sure this award will give me more motivation to do well further this year," Saina said. 
 

	"It came as a complete surprise to me. I had no clue. I did not expect at all. There was no news of it at all. When I think that I am just 25 and I have received this award, it makes me feel great. But it is still a long way to go." 
 

	Saina was left disappointed after the Sports Ministry decided to reject her application for the award in January last year, citing norms. 
 

	The ministry had picked two-time Olympic-medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar for the honour last year. 
 

	Saina was bestowed the Khel Ratna and Padma Shri in 2010 and also received the Arjuna Award in 2009. 
 

	The 21-year-old Deepika, meanwhile, had also won the team silver along with Laxmirani Majhi and Rimil Buriuly in the World Championships. 
	 
	
		Superstar Rajinikanth, founder of the Reliance empire late Dhirubhai Ambani, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and media baron Ramoji Rao have been chosen for Padma Vibhushan, country's second highest civilian award, this year. 
	 
	
		Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Jagmohan, former DRDO chief V K Aatre, cancer specialist and chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute Dr V Shanta and eminent Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancer Yamini Krishnamurthi and classical vocalist Girija Devi and Indian-American economist Avinash Dixit have also been named for Padma Vibhushan on the occasion of this year's Republic Day celebrations. 
	 
	
		Noted actor Anupam Kher, singer Udit Narayan, former CAG Vinod Rai, chairperson of media group Bennett, Coleman &amp; Co. Indu Jain, sports star Sania Mirza and Saina Nehwal, spiritual leaders late Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Tejomayananda and former US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill are among the 19 eminent people chosen for Padma Bhushan. 
	 
	
		Industrialist Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, Maruti Suzuki chairman R C Bhargava and eminent architect Hafeez Contractor also figure in the list of Padma Bhushan awardees. 
	 
	
		Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who was the prosecution counsel in the Mumbai terror attack case, actors Ajay Devgn and Priyanka Chopra get Padma Shri.
	
		 
		Renowned sculptor Ram V Sutar, Manipuri theatre personality Heisnam Kanhailal, Hindi and Telugu writer Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, Sanskrit scholar N S Ramanuja Tatacharya, Punjabi journalist Barjinder Singh Hamdard, gastroenterologist D Nageshwar Reddy and scientist A V Rama Rao have been chosen for Padma Bhushan. 
	 
	
		Actor the late Saeed Jaffrey, CEO of MasterCard Ajaypal Singh Banga, archer Deepika Kumari, Bharatanatyam dancer Prathibha Prahlad, Gujarati folk musician Bhikhudan Gadhvi, Goa's musician Tulsidas Borkar and scientist Onkar Nath Srivastava were among those who were named for Padma Shri awards.

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Farm laws: Punjab farmer bodies to talk to Centre

PTI

‘Made in Chandigarh’ technology to bring down prices of insulin and Hepatitis B vaccine

BI India Bureau

Centre invites agitating farmer unions for talks on December 1, two days ahead of a scheduled meeting

PTI

How this two-time J&K CM rose from being a lawyer to becoming a political powerhouse #RIPMohammadMuftiSayeed

Anushree Singh

Padma Bhushan for Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal

BI India Bureau