Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Bengaluru, Five activists were arrested while trying to stage a protest inside the <keyword id="404712" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru-airport" source="Orion">Bengaluru airport</keyword> on Friday, and the authorities cancelled the departure and arrival of 44 flights in view of the <keyword id="535643" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka-bandh" source="Orion">Karnataka bandh</keyword> called by pro-Kannada organisations over the Cauvery water issue The flights scheduled to fly to metro cities New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and other destinations have been cancelled, sources confirmed. According to sources, the activists had purchased a ticket for the Indigo 7731 flight and entered the premises of the Bengaluru airport at 9.50 a.m. They were planning to stage a protest near the flight. The authorities took them into custody as they were preparing to stage the protest. The protesters were taken into custody and handed over to the police. The official statement in this regard is yet to be made by the police department. Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy urged the state government to immediately release the Kannada activists taken into custody or arrested while staging protests over the Cauvery issue. "The whole state has responded well to the <keyword id="6354780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="karnataka" source="Orion">Karnataka</keyword> bandh call. All should be united when it comes to the interests of the state. The integrity and unity of the state should be a warning bell to the neighbouring states," he stated without taking the name of Tamil Nadu."The feelings of Kannada people should not be trampled upon," he said. "We extend total support to the bandh from JD(S). The agitation for Cauvery has become inevitable under the present circumstances. The government in Karnataka is practicing appeasement politics. The politics should not be carried over the Cauvery issue. Tamil Nadu is receiving good rainfall and predictions of rain are also positive. Still, the quarrel is made for water. The state government in Karnataka is not taking a stand for the people," Kumaraswamy stated. The agitators ridiculed and torched the effigies of 28 MPs from Karnataka for not speaking for the state over the Cauvery issue. Among the 28 MLAs, 25 are from BJP, one each from JD(S) and Congress. Another is an independent candidate presently supporting the BJP.

Karnataka bandh: 44 flights cancelled, five activists arrested for trying to stage protest inside Bengaluru airport

<ul><li>Normal life in Karnataka might be disturbed in the face of a dawn to dusk bandh called for by Pro-Kannada Organizations on February 13, 2020. </li><li>Some political experts say the February 13 bandh might turn as a low impact mission. </li><li>Read on to know what the one-day strike in the Kannada Speaking state could impact. </li></ul>The Pro-Kannada Organizations in the state of Karnataka have called for a day’s bandh in the state in demand of boosting up the reservation of jobs in Karnataka for the Kannadigas. Championed by Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota, the February 13 bandh calls for implementing the Sarojini Mahishi report that advocates job reservations in Karnataka for Kannadigas both in the private and public sectors. Support to the bandh The organizations that have supported the bandh in Karnataka on February 13 are The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Lorry Owners Association, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Cabs and taxis will not ply in the state For the bandh that will extend from 6 am to 6 pm on February 13, the app-based cab operating companies like Uber and Ola have extended their support and hence they will not ply on the day. Some drivers association in the state like Jai Bharatha Vehicle Owners and Drivers Association and Adarsha Auto and Taxi Union are also supporting the Bandh. What will be closed in the state Due to the bandh on Thursday, educational institutions including schools and colleges in Karnataka will remain closed. Only emergency services like medical shops, ambulance service, hospitals, medical shops and milk booths will remain open. Since the hotel owners have not extended their support to the bandh, it is expected that most of the eateries in the state of Karnataka will be opened on the day. Namma Metro is expected to function as usual without any break. About Sarojini Mahishi report Sarojini Mahishi was a prominent leader in Janata Party. An MP for four times, she was appointed by the Ramakrishna Hegde Government to chair the panel in 1983 for making recommendations regarding the reservation of jobs in the state. In June 1984, the committee submitted an interim report and later tabled a final report in 1986 that made 56 recommendations. Out of them, 45 recommendations were accepted by the Karnataka Government. Why the bandh in Karnataka Some of the suggestions made in the Sarojini Mahishi report recommend that a certain percentage of jobs must be given to the Kannadigas in private and public sector and multinational firms operating in the state of Karnataka. Some recommendations made by the report urge that all the jobs in Group C and Group D categories in the central government departments and PSUs functioning in Karnataka must be given to Kannadigas while the report also advocates making 80 percent reservations for Kannadigas in Group B and Group A jobs of the abovementioned segments. Several suggestions made by the report are yet to be implemented and the February 13 bandh urges for the same.

One Day Bandh In Karnataka on February 13: What will Remain Closed In The State

<ul><li>Apart from the heatwave, <keyword id="8759918" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="farm-incomes" source="Orion">farm incomes</keyword> were hit by pests, disease and a bad sowing experience.</li></ul><ul><li>Dairy farmers had gained from increased prices but were hit by the fodder crisis.</li></ul><ul><li>Rural families coped with inflation and lower income by reducing spending on essentials and wiping off their savings to spend on essentials and white goods.</li></ul><ul><li>Non-agricultural factors like rural wage increases and government subsidies saw an uptick, with a positive effect on the <keyword id="74478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-economy" source="Orion">rural economy</keyword>. </li></ul>India’s heatwave has abated but left lasting effects, especially on villages. It came in March — just when the <keyword id="6418449" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rabi-crop" source="Orion">Rabi crop</keyword> was set to ripen. As a result, farm outputs were truncated by 5-10% across five states – Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. This Rabi crop has been cursed by weather gods since the beginning as unseasonal rains had hit them hard during the sowing season. Pest, disease and hail “Extreme hot weather in March 2022 – highest temperature since 1901 - that is a ripening stage, led to shrivelled grain. Pests and disease also impacted yields this year,” said a report by Spark Capital. Especially in the Northern region of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, the yields of wheat and cumin seeds witnessed a sharp decline of 10-20%. Sugarcane yields too fell by 10% and so was the maize yield. Added to that, mango yields were lower by 50% in some states – eating into this premium crop earnings that many farmers bank on. Farmers of onions and grapes where the yield was good, were hit by low prices. Dairy farmers may look better in comparison as their prices rose, but they took home less of it as the fodder crisis hit them hard. A bumper crop ahead? In spite of a bad season, it looks like farmers are setting themselves for another round of good sowing season – with record fertilizer purchases in April this year – aided by good monsoon predictions and good water levels at reservoirs. This time around, they might get paid better too as the government has increased the minimum support prices (MSP) for the <keyword id="6617893" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kharif-crop" source="Orion">Kharif crop</keyword> by 6.1% - the best hike in the last four years. “We calculate the net farm income to go up by 19% in FY23 versus a decline of 2.6% in FY22 (estimates),” the Spark Capital report said. This will cushion the effect of an 8-10% hike in input prices like diesel costs, seed and fertilizer prices and labour costs. An increase in <keyword id="710199" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-wages" source="Orion">rural wages</keyword> also helps improve the rural economy. Also, there has been an uptick in domestic remittances – as more migrant workers are sending more back to their homes. The land prices jumped by 15-20% in rural areas and nearby cities in two years, across India. “People want to own a house rather than living in a rented place post the pandemic. People, who are living in cities and other countries, are purchasing land/houses, post the pandemic, which has increased the prices,” the report surmised. Biscuits are out but TVs are in The pandemic has changed the purchase patterns of villagers but their purchasing power has remained intact according to Spark Capital’s ground report. In fact, their frugality is reflected in decreased consumption of packaged items. However, at the same time demand for durable goods had increased. For example, with rising labour costs, most farmers are going in for mechanization and buying tractors, while food consumption as a theme shifted to staples. “People have reduced consumption to only necessity and down trading to cheaper FMCG products or reducing the quantity,” the report said. The rural inflation is higher than it is in urban areas, due to a higher food mix, and the biggest hit was taken by FMCG players whose biscuit and other sales fell in the last few months. However, government subsidies and their increased rural spending via various schemes have given a slight boost to the economy. The spending priorities of farm families are much different than urban families that are lifestyle based. The first on the list of farm income spends is repaying dues – reflected in the improvement in debt repayment. It is followed by farm investments and when they spend, they spend on the events and white goods. “As the activities opened after 2 years of Covid fear, people have started spending on marriage, house, ACs, 2/4 wheelers etc. though they are conscious of spending as high inflation has limited their options,” the report said. There has been an unfavourable effect of these spending patterns as well – a bad Rabi crop along with post-pandemic spending patterns have left most of rural India without any savings. “They are mostly in a hand to mouth existence,” the report says. Even as all of India is limping back from the pandemic crisis, the rural economy might move only slower than the ruined Rabi earnings, the only saving grace being the hope of a better Rabi crop. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/bharat-bandh-against-agnipath-bihar-suspends-internet-services-in-20-districts/articleshow/92331931.cms" style="">Bharat Bandh against Agnipath: Bihar suspends Internet services in 20 districts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/citymall-lays-off-191-employees-as-it-battles-market-conditions/articleshow/92328638.cms" style="">Social commerce platform CityMall lays off 191 employees as it battles market conditions</a>

Vanished savings, trading down to cheaper essentials – life in rural India hit by a wilted Rabi crop

<keyword id="45092" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers">Farmers</keyword> protesting against the three Central farm <keyword id="72809" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Laws">laws</keyword> have announced a series of Mahapanchayats in March as the stalemate between the farmers and the <keyword id="26362" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Government">government</keyword> continues over the <keyword id="21735" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="withdrawal">withdrawal</keyword> of the laws. The <keyword id="65264" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Kisan-Union">Bharatiya Kisan Union</keyword> (BKU) has released the list of Mahapanchayats to be held from February 28 to March 22 in various parts of the country. BKU leader Rakesh Tikait will be attending all the 'Mahapanchayats' starting from February 28 at Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. In March, Mahapanchayats will be organised in Rudrapur in Uttarakhand on March 1, in Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan on March 2, in Nagaur on March 3, in Etawah on March 5 and in Telangana on March 6. After this, Tikait will be attending a programme at Ghazipur on March 7 and the reach Sheopur in Madhya Pradesh on March 8. On March 10, a <keyword id="391168" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="mahapanchayat">Mahapanchayat</keyword> will organised in Ballia in UP while in Jodhpur on March 12, in Rewa (MP) on March 14 and three Mahapanchayats in Karnataka on March 20, 21 and 22. The farmers have announced the series of Mahapanchayats with an aim to intensify their agitation against the contentious farm laws. The 11 rounds of talks between the farmers and the government have been inconclusive as the farmers are adamant on their demand of withdrawal of the laws. When asked that if the farmers will not hold the discussion then how will this stalemate end and the public will continue to face the problems because of the protest, Tikait said, "We are ready for the discussion. We have even sent messages regarding our issues but the government has not replied to them. This protest is for everyone." Apart from the BKU, several parties are also organising their Mahapanchayats to show solidarity with the farmers' protest. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/bharat-bandh-over-eight-crore-traders-across-india-shut-shop-in-protest-against-rising-fuel-prices-and-changes-in-gst-rules/articleshow/81223361.cms">Bharat Bandh – over eight crore traders across India shut shop in protest against rising fuel prices and changes in GST rules</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/ignore-low-cibil-score-for-street-vendor-loans-work-on-holidays-and-other-diktats-from-indian-government-to-banks-rushing-to-meet-march-target/articleshow/81223572.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Ignore low CIBIL score for street vendor loans, work on holidays, and other diktats from Indian government to banks rushing to meet March target</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-now-allows-you-to-avail-a-discount-on-flight-ticket-if-you-are-not-carrying-a-check-in-baggage/articleshow/81225977.cms">India now allows you to avail a discount on flight ticket if you are not carrying a check-in baggage</a>

Farmers announce series of Mahapanchayats in March

<ul><li>Around 15-20 people set a <keyword id="10012878" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="tractor-on-fire-at-india-gate">tractor on fire at India Gate</keyword> on Monday morning following protests by farmers and opposition parties across the country. </li><li>Farmers across the country — in Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi — have been blocking highways, restricting access to rail and other transport to raise their voice against the agricultural-related laws. </li><li>These laws allow farmers to sell their produce to private players outside the market set up by the government. </li><li>Thousands of farmers in Karnataka have called for a day-long shutdown to protest the amendments.</li></ul>Fresh violent protests have erupted in New Delhi a day after President Ram Nath Kovind approved the three <keyword id="6123679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="farm-bills">farm bills</keyword>. Around 15-20 people set a tractor on fire at <keyword id="6354210" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="india-gate">India Gate</keyword> on Monday morning following protests by farmers and opposition parties across the country over the contentious farm legislations that were passed by the Parliament last week. The fire has been doused, and the tractor was removed. <div type="twitter" handle="ANI" handlename="ANI" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1497864299/ani_mic_logo_normal.jpg" favoritecount="3499" retweetcount="722" status="#WATCH: Punjab Youth Congress workers stage a protest against the farm laws near India Gate in Delhi. A tractor was… https://t.co/ixRAoLMceE" createdat="1601264172000" id="1310423032943407105"></div> <div type="twitter" handle="Sonu_indiatv" handlename="Sonu Kumar🇮🇳 (India TV)" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1280196840726487040/gKafepNI_normal.jpg" favoritecount="17" retweetcount="3" status="किसान बिल के विरोध में कुछ लोगों ने इंडिया गेट के पास राजपथ पर ट्रैक्टर में आग लगाई। #KisanBill2020 @indiatvnews https://t.co/1xCWlvk6QW" createdat="1601261686000" id="1310412605891080194"></div> Farmers across the country — in Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi — have been blocking highways, restricting access to rail and other transport to raise their voice against the agricultural-related laws. Protesters are also said to have <a href="https://twitter.com/Vivisash68/status/1310437875880587264">reportedly </a>burned effigies of political leaders who support these bills. <div type="image" title="Punjab Youth Congress" msid="78358917" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Workers of Punjab Youth Congress staging a protest against BJP government in Delhi on September 28. &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> These laws allow farmers to sell their produce to private players outside the market set up by the government. Before the law, farmers weren’t allowed to sell their produce outside an Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC). PM Narendra Modi has insisted in his latest Mann ki Baat that these laws will allow farmers to fetch a good price for their produce. However, farmers believe the laws remove the provision of the minimum support price, which gives an edge to a private player. The Punjab Youth Congress staged a protest — <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=321932482371481&amp;extid=W3vFGq2yuZk64WJ0">and live-streamed the protest on their official Facebook page </a>— against the Central government this morning <div type="twitter" handle="IYC" handlename="Youth Congress" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1303619063130726400/oVeCC1cp_normal.jpg" favoritecount="791" retweetcount="296" status="If the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud: Bhagat Singh.In honour of the memory of Shaheed… https://t.co/kgDbDuBLYq" createdat="1601265386000" id="1310428125738786816"></div>They said they are here to protest against the ‘black laws’ brought by the government for farmers of the country and are supported by the Amarinder Singh government in Punjab. Protests across rest of India <div type="image" title="dae273e8c1604bd02b9f603778dd8130" msid="78358590" hostid="261"></div> Thousands of farmers in Karnataka have called for a day-long shutdown to protest the amendments. The dawn-to-dusk bandh call has been supported by several pro-Kannada and other outfits besides the opposition Congress and the JD(S), who had opposed the amendment bills in the assembly. In Goa, Congress is planning to hold a protest against the Centre's farm bills, which were passed by Parliament recently. The party said it would submit a memorandum against these "anti-farmer" bills to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari as part of its 'Chalo Raj Bhavan' protest. In Punjab, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee has been protesting by blocking the rail tracks since last Wednesday. Meanwhile, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-likely-to-join-farmers-protest-in-punjab/story-M8hK04yBEJ12o6RjVGl7mK.html">likely </a>to join the farmers’ protests in Punjab and Haryana. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/trump-spent-more-than-70000-to-style-his-hair-when-he-was-on-the-apprentice-and-wrote-it-off-as-a-business-expense-nyt/articleshow/78355708.cms">Trump spent more than $70,000 to style his hair when he was on 'The Apprentice' and wrote it off as a business expense: NYT</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/hyperloop-in-bengaluru-might-help-you-reach-the-city-in-10-minutes-from-the-airport/articleshow/78357354.cms">Hyperloop in Bengaluru might help you reach the city in 10 minutes from the airport</a>

Farmers protest against three farm bills turn violent after protestors set a tractor on fire near India Gate

<ul><li>It’s been over 30 days since farmers protesting India’s new farming laws have gathered at New Delhi’s borders.</li><li>Since the December 8 nationwide Bharat Bandh, farmers’ protests have also erupted in other parts of the country. </li><li>The farmers’ agitation is on the rise and they refuse to give into the government’s narrative. </li><li>Asking supporters to boycott Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani businesses, protestors have also reportedly been damaging telecom towers in agitation against Reliance Jio.</li></ul>It’s been over a month since farmers arrived at the border of India’s national capital, New Delhi, to protest the country’s three new contentious farm laws. What started out as peaceful protests centered around one city have now expanded to other cities with pockets of violence emerging in places. The critical sixth round of talks scheduled to take place on December 29 has now been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/government-calls-for-a-sixth-round-of-talks-with-protesting-farmers-organisations-on-december-30/articleshow/79993405.cms">postponed to December 30</a> at the government’s request. The delay comes even as the agitation among protesting farmers is on the rise, and they refuse to give into the government’s narrative. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attempts to assuage them thus far have failed. <div type="image" title="protests" msid="80006747" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Protestors at Singhu border during farmers&amp;#39; protest against India&amp;#39;s new farm laws&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The farmers claim that the laws are biased to play into the hands of big corporates, who only care about the bottom line in the long run. The government, on the other hand, believes that the new laws will fetch the farmers better prices and more options to sell their produce. The lack of trust between the two sides seems to be widening. It has even captured the attention of international governments — some of whom have questioned India's government’s handling of the situation. <div type="image" title="protests1" msid="80006770" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Kisan Mall has been set up at Singhu border, which sells everything from thermals to desi geysers to toothpaste&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Farmers’ protests in India turn violent in agitation against Reliance Jio Farmers in India have called for a boycott of products by companies owned by billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. Since last week, farmers have reportedly been damaging telecom towers in Punjab to protest the monopolistic practices of Reliance Jio, owned by Ambani. According to the protestors, India’s new arm laws play in favour of the giant corporates and will cause farmers more harm than good in the long run. <div type="image" title="protests3" msid="80006789" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A woman holds a placard at Singhu border where the farmers protest against the Center&amp;#39;s farm laws, in New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> According to the government, over 1,500 telecom towers have been ‘impacted’ by farmers in Punjab. But, only 23 towers have sustained actual damage. Nonetheless, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh issued a warning, directing the police to take strict action against anyone seen participating in vandalism or the disruption of telecom services. <div type="image" title="protests7" msid="80006801" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Farmers during the protest against Farm bills at Ghazipur in New Delhi &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> It seems to have done little to dissuade some parties. In Punjab’s Moga, farmers were reportedly spotted damaging telecom towers on December 29, even after Singh’s warning. This is the same region where Adani had already set up silo for crops, well before the new laws came into being. Before the march to Delhi, one of the protests to get the government’s attention was outside the same warehouse. The farmers have one main demand — repeal the laws Some farmer’s unions have localised issues that they want addressed. However, the primary cause of impasse between the Indian government and the farmers is that the latter is firm on its main demand — repeal the three new laws. <div type="image" title="protests8" msid="80006811" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Farmers during a protest against the Center&amp;#39;s farm laws at Singhu Border&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Their other demands include, but are not limited to: <ol><li>A written assurance that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme will continue in the future</li><li>The central government should drop amendments to the Electricity Ordinance 2020</li><li>Reduce and amend the penalties for stubble burning</li><li>Release farmers arrested on charges of stubble burning in Punjab</li><li>No impact on land ownership of farmers</li></ol>Farmers protests spread beyond the national capital — and beyond India Small scale protests started in Punjab as early as August when the new farmer laws were made public. It was only two months later that the unions issued the call for the ‘Delhi Chalo’ (Let’s go to Delhi) march. After the first few rounds of talks between the government and union leaders, the centre issued a new proposal agreeing to all of the farmers’ demands but one — repealing the new farm laws entirely. <div type="image" title="protests2" msid="80006828" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Farmers sitting against India&amp;#39;s new farm laws performing yoga on the Chilla border&amp;lt;span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The farmers shot down the government’s proposal and called for a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-farmers-call-for-bharat-bandh-on-december-8-amid-protests/articleshow/79567981.cms">nationwide Bharat Bandh on December 8.</a> Thereafter — even though most widespread protests continue to be centred around Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh — demonstrations were also reported in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala and other states. A <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/farmers-protest-farmers-from-maharashtra-joined-protestors-at-delhi-border/articleshow/79966263.cms">group of farmers from 21 districts in Maharashtra</a> started on a ‘vehicle march’ from Nashik and have joined the protestors along Delhi’s borders. <div type="image" title="protests5" msid="80006849" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;New tents placed by farmers at Gazipur border during a protests in New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Several Indian-American protests were also held outside Indian consulates in San Francisco, Chicago, Indianapolis, New York, Houston, Michigan, Atlanta and Washington D.C. Even in New Zealand, 1,500 protesters gathered around Auckland’s Aotea Square to raise their voice against the new laws. Labour party members in the UK have also expressed their support and raised concerns as to how the Indian government is handling the crisis. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/three-anil-ambani-companies-accused-of-fraud-ten-times-more-than-vijay-mallya/articleshow/80002892.cms">Three Anil Ambani companies have reportedly been accused of fraud by banks⁠ — the amount at stake is nearly ten times more than what Mallya owed</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/jack-ma-ant-group-asked-to-overhaul-its-business-model-by-china-central-bank/articleshow/79987683.cms">China's central bank wants Jack Ma's Ant Group to overhaul its business model</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/top-10-most-expensive-natural-disasters-of-2020-in-the-world/slidelist/79986294.cms">Cyclone Amphan was the most expensive cyclone of 2020 and the fourth most expensive natural disaster overall</a>

From uprooting mobile towers to cries of #BoycottJio— the farmers’ protests in India are heating up and spreading far and wide

<ul><li>The <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> has upheld the notification issued for acquiring land for the ₹10,000 crore Chennai-Salem eight-lane greenfield expressway project.</li><li>The SC verdict allows the Indian government and the <keyword id="87432" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Highways-Authority-of-India">National Highways Authority of India</keyword> (NHAI) to issue notifications for the land they wish to acquire for the project.</li><li>However, further proceedings will determine whether or not the actual acquisition of the land will occur.</li></ul>The ₹10,000 crore Chennai-Salem expressway project, which has been at the center of controversy in the poll-bound state of <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, got the nod to proceed from the <a href="https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/chennai-salem-expressway-supreme-court-land-acquisition-166940">Supreme Court on December 8</a>. The apex institution has ruled that the central government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) can acquire the land they require for this massive endeavour. But, it’s not a complete green light. The judgement only means that the authorities can issue notifications of their intent to buy the land without any environmental clearance. Fresh proceedings will be initiated to determine the actual acquisition of the land by the central government and the NHAI. The verdict, in part, reverses the Madras High Court’s judgement concerning the notification of land acquisition for the eight-lane expressway. Concerns around the Chennai-Salem expressway project Even though the project got approval back in February 2018, it has faced delays in the face of protests and legal battles. Activists and farmers in five districts — including Tiruvannamalai and Salem — have been up in arms over the proposed 277.30-kilometre highway, alleging that it would be a monumental loss of agricultural land and the biodiversity in the area. When the <a href="https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/prior-environmental-clearance-necessary-for-nh-land-acquisition-madras-hc-quashes-acquisition-for-chennai-salem-8-lane-highway-read-judgment-144159">Madras High Court</a> looked a little closer, they found that the proposal itself for a ‘copy-paste’ job with references to Bangalore and a town in China, which had nothing to do with the Chennai-Salem expressway. It also found that the NHAI’s selection process for project consultants was faulty. The final contender was given the project without any written orders or tender. The bench also disagreed with the pitch of the assertion that the expressway would help the common man in its 117-page verdict. Since there are only around four to six exits along the entire stretch of the highway, the locals have nothing to gain. If anything, the project would make it harder for them to zip between small towns, according to the Madras High Court. “The projection made by NHAI, as to the benefits of the project highway appears to be illusory,” it said. According to the government, the Chennai-Salem ‘Greenfield Corridor’ under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, would cut down the travel time between Chennai and Salem. <keyword id="24659" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tamil-nadu-Chief-Minister">Tamil Nadu Chief Minister</keyword> Edappadi K Palaniswami <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/renewed-efforts-to-implement-chennai-salem-corridor-sparks-fresh-protests/article27699974.ece">claims</a> that the corridor is required to fuel growth in the western districts of the state. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/canara-bank-launches-2000-crore-qip-sets-the-floor-price-at-103-50-per-share/articleshow/79617503.cms">Canara Bank’s ₹2,000 crore fundraising plan boosts the share price by over 12% in two days</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/jupiter-and-saturn-will-reunite-after-800-years-on-the-longest-night-of-2020-to-form-a-rare-christmas-star/articleshow/79620041.cms">Jupiter and Saturn will reunite after 800 years on the longest night of 2020 to form a rare 'Christmas star'</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/checkout-effects-of-bharat-bandh-in-haryana-delhi-gujarat-maharashtra-karnataka-rajasthan-and-chhattisgarh/slidelist/79619898.cms">From Haryana, Delhi to Maharashtra and Karnataka — here’s how Bharat Bandh is affecting the common life in India</a>

Chennai-Salem expressway: Supreme Court gives Indian government partial nod — land still needs to be acquired

<ul><li>Nutrition expert Dr. <keyword id="4449519" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="nandita-iyer">Nandita Iyer</keyword> shares her views on what the term ‘<keyword id="1695225" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Superfood">superfood</keyword>’ actually means, and whether we need to indulge in the trend or not. </li><li>Any food that has a high proportion of one or more of these nutrients — such as vitamins, minerals or antioxidants — qualifies to be known as a superfood</li><li>"If you look at Indian superfoods, something like <keyword id="6400986" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="amla">amla</keyword> clearly tops the list because if blueberries are topping every international listicle on superfoods, amla has fifty times the antioxidant capacity of blueberries." - Dr. Nandita Iyer </li></ul> From <keyword id="55635" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Turmeric">turmeric</keyword> to <keyword id="6446946" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ghee">ghee</keyword>, Indians often tend to undervalue their historic possessions, but the moment it starts making waves abroad, we are more than willing to embrace something that was available to us all along. And strangely enough, some also resort to splurging copious amounts of money on imported fruits, vegetables, seeds, oils and whatnot while ignoring the real gems our land provides us. Business Insider spoke to nutrition expert Dr. Nandita Iyer who, after her first book — The Everyday Healthy Vegetarian — is set to launch her next book Everyday Superfoods in March, this year. She shares her views on what the term ‘superfood’ actually means, and whether we need to indulge in the trend or not. <div type="Video" msid="81211869" hostid="261" title="Dr. Nandita Iyer weighs in on how Indian cuisine is and always has been packed with 'superfoods'" dataSource="BUSINESSINSIDER" thumbUrl="https://denmark.timesinternet.in/cmslite/api/app/images.jpg?msid=81211869"></div> In her book, she has a section on 'Superfood Compendium' in which she lists out 39 of the most potent superfoods grown in India. These include: <div type="image" title="Superfoods" msid="81242013" hostid="261"></div> <div type="image" title="Indian superfoods" msid="81241421" hostid="261"></div> Edited excerpts of the conversation with Dr. Nandita Iyer follow: What is your definition of a superfood? When I was researching my book Everyday Superfoods, the first question that came to my mind is, how did this word come into being? And what I discovered was quite funny. The first-ever recorded usage of this word was in a Jamaican newspaper, and it was actually a reference to a wine brand — they just got creative. And the second known instance was in 1949, where another Canadian newspaper was advertising a muffin using the word superfood. So I think that the whole thing of using this term for marketing is definitely not a new thing because even before the term started being used in its true sense of the word, it was actually being used by brands. The definition of a superfood is pretty simple — it is any food that is nutrient-dense. Any food that has a high proportion of one or more of these nutrients — such as vitamins, minerals or antioxidants — qualifies to be known as a superfood, which is the well-accepted definition in the scientific community. Some believe it is just a marketing gimmick. Would you say otherwise? A true superfood will definitely have health benefits that are good for general health and boosting immunity. But to loosely use this term for processed goods, packaged foods, is definitely, I would say, a marketing gimmick. In the pre-Covid times, I used to love walking around supermarkets and see what new products were there. And invariably, there would be a whole bunch of new products that called themselves superfood, which is pretty misleading. It is the worst possible way to mislead people who may not be aware of nutrition and who may not be having a scientific bent of mind, so they may believe what is written on the packet. It is just a way to jack up the price of any product — if a regular food item costs X, by calling it a superfood, you can easily charge 5X. Considering the environmental cost, what are your thoughts on imported food items like avocados, <keyword id="573117" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Quinoa">quinoa</keyword> etc. In my book Everyday Superfoods, I have a whole chapter on sustainability. Anything that gets the label of a superfood does benefit the farmers who are growing that particular superfood. However, it also leads to a whole bunch of other unpleasant side effects. Instead of focusing on what is local, instead of focusing on what is in season, everybody starts rushing towards buying that one thing because it is in trend, it is popular, and it is getting a lot of attention and likes on Instagram, and that is not a good way to eat at all. If a lot of farmers start growing turmeric alone because it is the next big thing it will lead to monocropping - where farmers, instead of growing a variety of foods, grow one kind of food in one place. And that means the soil gets depleted, so they are adding extra fertilisers, further polluting groundwater. So it is like a vicious cycle. When it comes to quinoa, I think it started getting popular in the 1980s in the US because it began getting imported from Central America etc. Then the United Nations (UN) declared 2013 "The International Year of Quinoa." That just led to prices going up, and every farmer in South America was growing quinoa, and they did not even want to eat it themselves because they said, 'I could sell it for so much more so why should I eat into my own earnings, right?' The locals themselves stopped eating their ancient grains, something they were so used to, and they started eating wheat and other grains. It just destroys the balance of things in nature. This is why the emphasis is on - what is local, what is in season, and what have your ancestors been eating? Michael Pollan is someone I really consider a guru, and he says, "Don't eat anything your great-great-grandmother wouldn't recognise as food." And did my great, great grandmother know about quinoa? That said, this is a complex issue. Quinoa is now well grown in Karnataka. That is why the prices have fallen from what used to be like Rs 1500 or kilo to now it is literally Rs 200 a kilo. The good thing is that the crop does not consume as much water as rice because it is a pseudo-grain and grows in slightly harsher conditions. So it is okay for me to buy quinoa, which is locally-grown and it has not travelled 10,000 miles to reach me. So there is no binary in this aspect, which is why this whole subject is so complex and so tough for people to decide what to eat, what not to eat. It takes a few extra seconds to see the back of the pack and see where it is grown because it will definitely be mentioned. <div type="image" title="Amla" msid="81241745" hostid="261"></div> Can you give us a bit of a primer on Indian superfoods? Since we talked about how it is not really a label that matters, the questions we need to ask are, is this a nutrient-dense food? Is this locally available? Is it readily available? Because anything you label as a superfood is usually costly, it is not available round the year and is often imported from far away. These will be very difficult to include in your daily diet, and like we already discussed, no superfood is a miracle pill that you eat once a year, and your life will be sorted. So, whatever it is, it needs to be consumed in a fairly regular way. It needs to be part of your lifestyle, and for that purpose, these can only be readily available and affordable foods. If you look at Indian superfoods, something like amla clearly tops the list because if blueberries are topping every international listicle on superfoods, amla has fifty times the antioxidant capacity of blueberries. And it is so cheap, local, and though it is seasonal, the beauty in Indian food and Indian cuisine is that there are at least five different ways in which amla is preserved - it is dried, it is made into a supari, it is preserved in honey, it is preserved as a sharbat, and of course, pickled. So while amla is available possibly for three months in a year, we can actually eat it round the year by just using our traditional preservation techniques. We do not need any factory or industry to be preserving it, these are all home-based preservation techniques. Fermented drinks like kombucha seem to be all the rage. What are the Indian alternatives to the same? So, we have our chaach, and there is a kaanji made in the North using mustard seeds and carrots fermented over two to three days. In the South, you have kanji, which is nothing but rice that is overcooked and soft and some buttermilk is added to that, and it is actually kept overnight to ferment. Sometimes it is also hard because when there was rice leftover the previous night and there was no refrigeration in the earlier days, so people would just add water to the rice and leave it outside on the counter. Next morning, it will be slightly fermented, and they will have it with some chopped onion or pickle. In Odisha, you have the pakhala bhata, which is again a similar thing where it is an overnight fermented rice gruel. This is a double dose of probiotics from fermenting the rice itself, and you are adding buttermilk, which is also a fermented drink. Do you believe that those who are not buying into this trend are destined for doom? I definitely think they are not doomed. But the superfoods I have mentioned in my book are so every day that invariably, people living in India are eating many of them in their standard diet. Like dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, lobia (black-eyed peas), green moong, these are all everyday ingredients but poor things — they do not come with this crown or this fancy label, but they are superfoods. Whether you buy into the trend or not, if you are eating Indian cuisine, you are already eating many of these things. We eat turmeric every single day, and black pepper is there in our masalas, plus our chai masala has so many ingredients. So Indian cuisine is so rich in superfoods by itself that even if someone is a non-believer in this trend, they are already eating it. I am sorry to disappoint them. However, it is definitely not true that they are doomed if they do not buy into the trend because, anything that we adapt, it has to be a gradual change in lifestyle itself, and that is what we need to believe and invest in it rather than just flipping from trend to trend because a trend is very temporary and a lifestyle is forever. In life, health and nutrition, there are absolutely no binaries. People want binary answers because it saves them from analysing their own life and health problems. They need to think for themselves and find out, 'Am I able to do this? Is this sustainable for me?' This is why I get quite frustrated when I see a YouTube video saying, 'drink this pink tea and you will lose 20 kilos'. Which is one of the reasons I wrote this book. It is not fancy, it is not clickbait, and it is not anything shocking. It is pretty much everyday knowledge, but definitely, that common knowledge and moderation seem to be somewhere lurking in the background. It is not convincing enough for people to follow a more moderate path. Also, our health is heavily dependent on our genetic lottery. I may abuse my health in every possible way, and I may still live to 100 with absolutely no problems. And someone who is so careful about their health does everything right and suffers a cardiac problem in their 40s. I am not saying follow the trend and go after every superfood you see, but try to take some baby steps towards a good lifestyle that you sustain for life. Not something you do because it is in the news today. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/ignore-low-cibil-score-for-street-vendor-loans-work-on-holidays-and-other-diktats-from-indian-government-to-banks-rushing-to-meet-march-target/articleshow/81223572.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">EXCLUSIVE: Ignore low CIBIL score for street vendor loans, work on holidays, and other diktats from Indian government to banks rushing to meet March target</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/bharat-bandh-over-eight-crore-traders-across-india-shut-shop-in-protest-against-rising-fuel-prices-and-changes-in-gst-rules/articleshow/81223361.cms">Bharat Bandh – over eight crore traders across India shut shop in protest against rising fuel prices and changes in GST rules</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rbi-wants-you-to-memorise-all-your-debit-and-credit-card-numbers/articleshow/81186570.cms">RBI wants you to memorise all your debit and credit card numbers — Amazon, Zomato, Netflix and others argue this will make online payments more tedious</a>

You Searched For "when karnataka bandh" and got 8 results

Karnataka bandh: 44 flights cancelled, five activists arrested for trying to stage protest inside Bengaluru airport

IANS

One Day Bandh In Karnataka on February 13: What will Remain Closed In The State

BI India Bureau

Vanished savings, trading down to cheaper essentials – life in rural India hit by a wilted Rabi crop

Katya Naidu

Farmers announce series of Mahapanchayats in March

IANS

Farmers protest against three farm bills turn violent after protestors set a tractor on fire near India Gate

Preeti Soni

From uprooting mobile towers to cries of #BoycottJio— the farmers’ protests in India are heating up and spreading far and wide

Prabhjote Gill

Chennai-Salem expressway: Supreme Court gives Indian government partial nod — land still needs to be acquired

Prabhjote Gill

Whether we like it or not, Indians are already partaking in the superfood ‘trend’

Kavita Majumdar

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides