Poorna Chandra Tejaswi was renown Indian author and novelist in kannada with a pen name poochanthe. He is son of jnanapith awardee, a famous kannada poet, Raashtrakavi kuvempu and Hemavati. Tejaswi was born on 8 September 1938 in kuppalli in Shimoga district of Karnataka state. Tejaswi has written poems, short stories, novels and also translated many English works into kannada.
His first story is “Linga Banda” which described about the western Ghats from a small boy`s perspective. The story got best story award by newspaper Prajavaani. He graduated from from Maharaja college Mysore and moved to Mudigere Chikmagalur district in Karnataka. because of his immense interest in nature Tejaswi took up farming. If you read his works you will understand the immense love he had for nature. He makes you roam Mudigere while you are sitting in your room through is works.
Tejaswi is known as a navya sahithi, a writer of navya period. He is also a Bandaya poet, a genre of protest literature. He was a polymath. He did farming, writing, photography, painting and many more things. Tejaswi has won many awards like Rajyotsava award, Pampa award, kannada sahithya academy award, Karnataka state film award for his many of his works. Some of his famous works include karvalo, Chidambara rahasya, Jugari cross, huliyoorina sarahaddu, Bellandoorina narabhakshaka, Sahaja krushi, Missing link, Hejje Moodada haadi, Papillon and many more.
He is married to Rajeshwari Tejaswi. Susmitha Tejaswi and Eshanye Tejaswi are his children. He died of cardiac arrest on 5 April 2007 at his farmhouse Niruttara, Mudigere, Chikmagalur district.
Why Tejaswi is everyone’s favorite?
Yes, Tejaswi is everyone’s favorite and mine too. That’s mainly because of his storytelling technique. You go into the dark thick forest while reading his books. You feel the presence of that human eating tiger when he describes it. You are in the adventure while reading his books. He hooks the reader right from the start. he is honest, hilarious and clever at the same time.
Lets take a book called karvalo. In the book they take an adventure to find a strange flying lizard Draco dussumieri, a flying lizard which is capable of gliding from tree to tree found in western Ghats. at the end when the characters, scientist karvalo, the farmer and his fellowmen try to catch the weird creature, but it escapes through the jungle. But the reader, you will feel the fatigue of the efforts they made, you will be annoyed because they didn’t able to catch it.
Not only his storytelling, the other thing that make you read Tejaswi again and again is the knowledge he hides in his books. His book missing links talks about human evolution. The set of three books headed Vismaya , talks about variety of species and facts about them you wouldn’t know ever existed. He doesn’t only entertain you, but he gives nutritious food to your brain.
Tejaswi always links science and philosophy. The incidents that happen in his stories become guard and guide your life. he grows morals in the reader. He grows love and appreciation for nature. Tejaswi puts you in a sense of responsibility towards nature. He makes you believe in simple living. He will push you to think about problems of agriculturists. He talks about culture and and history. He perfectly reaches out to youth.
As the name suggests “Incurable India” is a documentary which talks about the basic health issues in India and unfolds many stories of private and public hospitals. The title is very well suited for the documentary and has a deeper meaning than just those two words.
The documentary is directed by Umesh Agarwal which focuses on the poor quality of health facilities in India despite having the best doctors who are exported to other countries and having the largest number of medical colleges and institutions in the world. The main cause of this problem is overpopulation.
It starts with giving a brief about the country, with soothing music. The documentary starts with praising India’s doctors and facilities then criticizing it by pointing out the problem. It talks about various real life problems which poor class people go through in public hospitals. They have to stand in long queues to get their token, even after standing for so long, you are never sure if you’ll get the token or not. Amit after getting his check up done, gets a waiting of 2 years for his operation. As we see, this is a problem of overpopulation. It not only shows the reality of public hospitals but also of private hospitals, how rich people, who can afford such high fi facilities, are scammed.
The two stories are mixed, one of AIIMS, New Delhi, about a man named Amit and a woman named Smrita who belong to a rural area. The stories are shown simultaneously without having any dots which connect each other. It would have been better if both stories were shown separately.
Also, the one problem that I noticed was, bad camera quality at various places. It looked as if the scene had been recorded from a phone. Good camera quality would have resulted in better delivery of the message. But despite the flaws in this documentary, it shows the harsh truth and reality of what goes on in private hospitals. How people are being used and scammed for money.
It shows the efforts, time and thought put into this documentary for the world to know the reality of Indian hospitals. I would say, here the director acts as an investigative journalist who showed us all the scam of private hospitals and brought to us nothing but truth. My mind was angry the moment I finished watching it. I hadn’t thought or could ever think that people would risk each other’s health for the sake of money.
It has less views on YouTube and it is quite underrated. I think more people should watch it and it should reach a larger audience. So, people are aware and can act accordingly in a similar situation. It is the reality check of Indian hospitals, which everyone should watch.
1 SKILL 4 LIFE: PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT, is a journey which has a great power to lift as knowing one self is the true power. Personality development is the conscious choices taken to improve one’s life to become a better person than yesterday and to grow as an individual. Life is all about growing every single day and thus it is beautifully said that the best investment one makes in life is investing on one self because it not only improves one’s own life but also improves the lives of all those people who are surrounded by you.
“PERSONALITY IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF TRUE FORM OF YOURSELF WITHOUT ANY LIMITATIONS”
Personality development is a set of qualities that makes a person distinct or unique from the rest of the crown. It is a steady journey which is highly concerned about the psychological patterns of an individual’ s thoughts, emotions and feelings. The character, attributes and the trait of the person are totally responsible for molding their personal development. It is the sum of their characteristics that constitute the mental and physical being of a person which includes their daily habit. It is the belief that you worth effort, time and energy needed to develop yourself.
Personality development is the bridge that carries you towards the goal you are yet to reach. The better we become in our personality the lesser time it takes us to achieve our goals. Thus the growth is the bench mark which is the great separator between those who succeed and those who do not. It is very easy to judge the mistakes of other people but difficult to recognize our own mistakes. We must take the personal responsibility to change our self , we can not change the circumstances under going but we can definitely change our personality.
1 SKILL 4 LIFE: PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT BY SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
According to the Vedantic concept advocated by Swami Vivekananda the all round development of in regards with harmony and spiritual development is possible when proper attention is given to developing one’s own personality . This skill is not an overnight task it requires a sufficient amount of time and effort to groom and shape personality.
KEY FACTORS REQUIRED FOR PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
WILL POWER: It is the important key factor to develop as it needs to come from within , the will power is what drives us to develop our personality in a faster way. All the great men of the world who rose to a great height of success were men of strong will.
SELF CONFIDENCE: It is another important factor to succeed in life. A person with self confidence will never give him in the phase of difficulties. do check out my previous article on THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE 2 SUCCESS. Failures and hardships never discourage a confident person
CONCENTRATION: This is yet another important ingredient for personality development as it helps us in bringing the hidden potential in human beings. It is the power of concentration which gives strength in the darkest moments of life. One must do yoga and meditation do attain concentration(do check out my previous article on YOGA AND MEDITATION: 2 PILLARS OF HEALTHY LIFE)
KEEP SMILING: A humorous person keeps one self always above the worries and spreads the cheerfulness in his surroundings.
Innumerable theories are formulated by Haberler , Ohlin , Samuelson , Leontief , Hecksher and many others dealing with the macro and micro parts of international trade .
The principle of Comparative Cost theory by Ricardo, despite being the basis of international trade, has been criticized by many economists . Ricardo’s theory of comparative cost is based on the labour theory of value which means that labour is the only factor of production and labour is homogeneous . Such assumptions are found to be unrealistic .
Gottfired Haberler ‘ s theory of opportunity cost overcomes these shortcomings and explains the doctrine of the theory in terms of ” the substitution curve’ ‘ or as Samuelson entitled it as ” production possibility curve “or “transformation curve ” .
Lerner called it the ” production indifference curve ” or ” production frontier .”
Haberler’s theory is found to be more realistic .
The Theory of Opportunity cost
Opportunity cost is the value of loss when choosing between two or more commodities.
To elaborate more , The opportunity cost theory says that if a country can produce either commodity X or Y , the opportunity cost of commodity X is the amount of the other commodity Y that must be given up in order to get one additional unit of commodity X .
The exchange ratio between the two commodities is expressed in terms of their opportunity costs . The decrease in the quantity of the second commodity represents the opportunity cost of the additional quantity of the given commodity.
Haberler used the concept of opportunity cost with production possibility curves to illustrate international trade theory.
Assumptions :-
The following assumptions are formulated by Haberler to illustrate the theory :-
• There are only two countries , (A,B) • Each country possesses two factors of production – labour and capital. • Each country can produce two commodities , ( X and Y ,) • There is perfect competition in both the factor and commodity markets . • The price of each commodity equals its marginal money costs . • The price of each factor equals its marginal value productivity in each employment . • The supply of each factor is fixed . • Factors are immobile between the two countries. •. There is no change in technology . • Trade between the two countries is completely free and unrestricted.
Key terms :-
Production possibility curve :-
A production possibility curve or transformation curve is the curve that shows various combinations of two goods that can be produced with available amounts of resources . Production possibility curve shows that if an economy wants to produce more of one commodity ,it will have to transfer or divert resources from the production of another commodity to produce the one .
Different points on the production possibility curve show different combinations of the two goods . Points outside the curve are unattainable because of the scarce quantity of resources available.
Marginal Cost of Production :- The marginal cost of production measures the change in the total cost of a good that arises from producing one additional unit of that good.
Marginal Rate Of Transformation :- The marginal rate of transformation is the number of units of one product that can be increased by reducing the quantity of another product. It shows the number of goods that will be foregone to produce an additional unit of other goods while keeping the factors of production constant.
Comparative advantages: – A country can produce one commodity at a lower cost than the other because of comparative advantages such as favourable climate, natural resources, geographical situation and efficiency of labour.
Explanation Of the Opportunity Cost Theory
The production possibility curve indicates such combinations of two commodities . The shape of the production possibility curve determines the basis and the gain from international trade under the theory of opportunity curve .
The slope of the production possibility curve is determined by the ratio of units of the commodity given up in order to have one unit of the other commodity i.e by Marginal rate of transformation. (MRT)
MRT xy = ∆Y/ ∆X , where ,
X and Y are being produced by a country and some quantities of labour and capital input are used from the production of Y into the production process of commodity X.
Trade can take place only when each nation has a different MRT. The gains from trade for a particular nation depend on how much the international exchange rates differ from that nation’s MRT. The greater the difference, the greater is the gains from trade. The gains from trade rest further upon the amount of trade taking place. A larger volume of trade allows larger gains from trade and a greater increase in the standard of living.
Following the assumptions , two countries say A and B enter into a trade together .
Two commodities X and Y are being produced by using various alternative combinations that a country can produce most efficiently by fully utilising it’s factor of production i.e labour and capital ,are homogeneous , with the available technology in the fixed proportion due to perfect substitutability .
Conditions :-
1: Trade under Constant Opportunity Cost
The production possibility curve under constant opportunity cost is a straight line .
In the figure , PA is the production possibility curve of country A , PB is the production possibility curve of country B .
Country A can produce either OP of Y , or OA of X
Similarly , Country B can produce OP of Y OB of X .
The slope of the production possibility curve determines the relative price of the two commodities , since the opportunity cost of leaving a unit of one commodity in order to have an additional unit of another is constant , the cost ratio ( relative price ) is the same on all the points on the production possibility curve.
Since , the MRT is constant i.e the slope of the production possibility curve is also constant, trade between the two countries is not possible as no country stands to gain through the trade .
Trade Under Increasing Opportunity Cost :-
The production possibility curve under the increasing opportunity cost is concave to the origin because when a country specialises in the production of one commodity ,in which it possesses comparative advantage ,its opportunity costs increase .
In the above figure , AA1 is the production possibility curve of country A which is concave to the origin . The slope of this curve shows that country A will specialise in the production of commodity X . The larger amount of commodity Y will be given up to have additional amount of commodity X as we move from point A to A1 Thus ,the country faces increasing opportunity costs .
BB1 is the production possibility curve of a country which is concave to the origin . The slope of this curve shows that country B will specialise in the production of commodity Y. The larger amount of commodity Y will be given up to hsv additional amount of commodity Y as we move from B1` to B . Thus , the country faces increasing opportunity costs.
Let us assume the international price ratio is given by the line PL in country A , and PL1 in country B.
The slope of line PL is greater than domestic price line aa ,making commodity X expensive in international market than in domestic market and resulting in the interest of country A to shift some factor of production from the production of commodity Y to commodity X , moving it’s production level from point K to point E.
It will export TR of X and import QS of Y , domestically consuming OT of X ,and OQ of Y . The export and import can be shown by the “trade triangle ” CDE .
The slope of line PL1 is less steep than domestic price line bb ,making commodity Y expensive in international market than in domestic market and resulting in the interest of country B to shift some factor of production from the production of commodity X to commodity Y , moving it’s production level from point K1 to point E1
It will import D1C1 of X and export D1E1 of Y , domestically consuming OS1 of Y ,and OR1 of X. The export and import can be shown by the “trade triangle ” C1E1D1.
Trade Under Constant Decreasing :-
When two countries experience decreasing opportunity costs their production possibility curves are convex to the origin. Under decreasing opportunity costs , each country completely specialises in the production of only one commodity after trade because there are increasing returns based on internal economies of production .
In the figure , The production possibility curve of country A is AA 1 and B is BB1.
The pre trade production and consumption point of country A is K where it’s domestic price line aa is tangent to its production possibility curve and country B is K1 , where it’s domestic price line bb is tangent to its production possibility curve.
The international price line being BA1, if both the countries enter the trade , BA1 is steeper than the domestic line of country A , making X more expensive in the international market and resulting in shifting of resources of production to X from K to A1 .
On the other hand , the international price line BA1 is flatter than the domestic price line bb of the country making Y commodity expensive in the international market than in the domestic market and resulting in shifting of resources of production to commodity Y and moving from K1 to B .
Thus , country A will completely specialise in commodity X and B in commodity Y . Now both the countries will move along with the international price line BA1, Country A from A to point A1 upward , country B from B to point B1 downward and reach point C in consumption.
Note :-
The straight line tangent represents :-
‘A straight line tangent to the transformation curve indicates the ratio of market prices of the two commodities, and the condition of tangency expresses equilibrium in production, that is, equality between prices and marginal costs stated in opportunity terms. Domestic demand conditions enter into this construction via community indifference curves, or simply as a consumption point determined by a given arrangement of production and income distribution.”
Finally, tangency of a line representing the equilibrium international price ratio to both transformation function and community indifference curve indicates equilibrium in exchange, that is:
(i) Equality domestically between the marginal rate of substitution in consumption and marginal rate of transformation in production, and
(ii) Equality of the value of exports and the value of imports.
Critical Appraisal
As an alternative to classical comparative theory , the opportunity cost theory is more realistic .
The opportunity cost theory analyses pre- trade and post – trade situations under constant , increasing and decreasing opportunity cost whereas comparative advantage theory is based on constant cost of production within a country and comparative advantage and disadvantage between two countries.
Jacob Viber in his ” Studies in The Theory of International Trade ” ( 1937) criticized the opportunity cost theory of values which is the basis of Haberler’s theory . Some of his criticism were :-
• Neglecting of welfare • Failure in measuring in terms of strain , sacrifice or disutility. • Neglecting Change in Factors of Supplies . • Unrealistic Assumptions .
Despite criticism ,the opportunity cost theory has been regarded as more fertile because it can be readily extended into a general equilibrium system .
” Yoga is a light, which one lit, will never dim. The better you practice, the brighter is the flame. “
YOGA AND MEDITATION: 2 PILLARS OF HEALTHY LIFE, a study of balance and essentially a practice for your soul which in turn is works through the medium of your body. It is the science of well being, youthfulness and which beautifully integrates our mind, body and soul. It is very true that we can not always control what goes on outside but we can definitely take control on what goes on inside and thus we say that the nature of yoga is to shine the light of awareness into the darkest corners of the body.
Yoga gives us a safe space and time to the simplicity of breath and movement and enables us to connect ourselves. Yoga is invigoration in relaxation and cessation of the movements in the mind. We all are made up of mainly three elements which are “mind, body and soul” and to be perfect in all three elements we need to have knowledge, health and inner peace for which the yoga and meditation plays a key role in achieving it.
Meditation is same like a gym in which you develop a powerful mental muscles of calm and insight. The true meditation is about feeling being fully present in the current moment. It is a best means of personal and spiritual development because we must always remember that when we inhale, we are taking the strength from god and when you are exhaling it represents the service you are giving to the outer world.
To keep the body in a very healthy condition is our duty otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind stronger and clearer and thus one must practice the 2 pillars of healthy life with firm determination and perseverance without any mental reservation or doubts. By its constant practice, we can easily free ourselves from fear, anguish and loneliness. It greatly helps us in achieving clarity of life and self awareness, it teaches us to cure what need not to be endured and endure what can not be cured.
Centre has reconstituted the six Empowered Groups into ten groups to tackle the COVID situation in the country. The decision is aimed at further improving the efforts in catering the current need of COVID management. NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul will head the Emergency Management Plan Group and the ten-member panel on Vaccination.
Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan will be the convener of the Empowered Group on Emergency Response Capabilities. It will look into the issues related to hospitals, equipment and medicines. A separate Empowered Group has been formed under the chairmanship of Road and Transport Secretary, Giridhar Aramane on oxegen production, import and other related issues.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Balram Bhargava has been made the convener of the panel on COVID testing, while NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant will head the group which will take care of work of private sector, NGOs and international organisations.
Economic and Welfare Measures group which has been tasked with emerging issues related to growth and employment, will be headed by Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth.
Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla will be the convenor of 12 member Empowered Group on Pandemic Response and Coordination. An 11 member group headed by Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare will look after the steps on information, communication and public engagement.
1 HIDDEN SKILL WITHIN, it is the art of giving power to words to influence, inspire and transform the lives of the people which is none other that “PUBLIC SPEAKING”. Public speaking is where if one can speak then one can definitely influence and when they can influence they can change the lives of the entire world. The speech is power and it is the power to persuade as the skill of public speaking is highly based on the quality of their thoughts and perception.
” THEY MAY FORGET WHAT YOU SAID BUT THEY WILL DEFINETLY REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL!”
One of the best skill we develop inside apart from listening, reading and writing is the skill to speak. The skill of speaking in the public is the natural fundamental skill to express our inner feelings and perception on any topic. It is the beautiful ability of people to distinguish the sounds in form of alphabets. Public speaking as the name suggests it is the skill of speaking in front of a group of people for persuasive, informative and most importantly expository purposes. Public speaking’s main objective is to stress on a idea and assert it so as to make the audience think and react over it.
1 HIDDEN SKILL WITHIN: HOW TO OVERCOME ITS FEAR
Face Everything And Rise or Forget Everything and Run , the definition of fear is completely dependent on one’s own perspective. It is often said that the fear of public speaking is a fear greater than the death for most of the people. According to research and psychiatrists the fear of this public speaking is caused by the fear of standing out, fear of ostracism, the fear of criticism, the fear of riddle and last but not the least the fear of being an outcast.
It is very true that we need not be pro while starting any task but we need to start to be pro in that task and also all speakers were not so good at the beginning. The best way to overcome the fear of public speaking is to speak looking at your audience straight in to their eyes with boldness and confidence. Self confidence is the key role playing and the way you express and with the ease the every single member in crowd understands tells how comfortable you are. When you speak about something you are passionate about you will be more comfortable and confident.
If you are willing to work at it you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life. According to research listening to music before taking can not just elevate your mood but also calms your mind do check out my previous article on MAN’S GREATEST CREATION: MUSIC
20 diverse research grants available across various fields:
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants: Offering numerous opportunities across biomedical and health-related research.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Grants: Supporting fundamental research and education in all fields of science and engineering.
European Research Council (ERC) Grants: Funding for groundbreaking research across various disciplines in Europe.
Wellcome Trust Grants: Supporting biomedical research, healthcare, and medical innovation globally.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grants: Focusing on global health, poverty alleviation, and education initiatives.
Google Research Awards: Funding for innovative computer science research projects.
US Department of Energy (DOE) Grants: Supporting research in energy, technology, and national security.
American Heart Association Grants: Funding cardiovascular research and initiatives.
MacArthur Foundation Grants: Supporting projects aimed at addressing critical social challenges.
Smithsonian Research Grants: Funding opportunities for various fields in science, art, history, and culture.
Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Grants: Supporting international collaborations in life sciences.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Grants: Funding for biomedical research and science education.
European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Grants: Supporting life sciences research and training in Europe.
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Grants: Focusing on science, technology, economics, and more.
National Geographic Society Grants: Funding for research and exploration in natural sciences, conservation, and anthropology.
European Union Horizon 2020 Grants: Funding various research and innovation projects across Europe.
Spencer Foundation Grants: Supporting education research aimed at improving outcomes.
Simons Foundation Grants: Funding mathematics, theoretical physics, and autism research.
Arts Council England Grants: Supporting arts, culture, and creative projects across England.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grants: Funding for international collaborative research in Japan.
These grants cater to diverse research interests, providing opportunities for scientists, scholars, and innovators worldwide to pursue impactful projects in their respective fields.
Are you interested in conducting research in Germany or pursuing a research career in Germany? Here you will find information about where you can conduct research and work in Germany, as well as the various opportunities science and research can offer in Germany. Support ranges from funding for conferences to language programs in Germany.
The German Academic Exchange Service, known as DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst), offers an array of research grants for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from around the world. These grants provide financial support, allowing recipients to pursue research opportunities at universities, research institutions, or other academic organizations in Germany.
PhD Research Grants: For individuals pursuing a doctoral degree, DAAD offers various funding options such as the Research Grants – Doctoral Program, which supports short-term research stays for doctoral candidates. It enables them to conduct research in Germany for a period of 1-10 months.
Postdoctoral Research Grants: These grants cater to scholars who have recently completed their doctorate and are seeking opportunities to advance their research. The Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (P.R.I.M.E.) program is one such initiative by DAAD. It provides funding for up to 18 months, split between research abroad and reintegration phases in Germany.
Specialized Grants: DAAD also offers specific grants targeting particular fields of study, interdisciplinary research, or collaborative projects. These could include grants for subjects like renewable energy, sustainability, medicine, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.
Eligibility and Requirements: The eligibility criteria for these grants typically involve academic excellence, a well-defined research proposal, and a collaboration agreement with a German host institution or supervisor. Proficiency in German may be required for some programs, although many research opportunities are available in English.
Application Process: Applicants usually need to submit a detailed research proposal, academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose outlining their research objectives. The application process is competitive, and candidates are selected based on the quality and feasibility of their research proposals.
Benefits: Successful applicants receive financial support in the form of stipends, travel allowances, health insurance, and sometimes assistance with language courses. Additionally, they gain exposure to Germany’s renowned research facilities, academic networks, and cultural experiences.
Duration and Extensions: The duration of these grants varies based on the specific program. Extensions might be possible, subject to funding availability and the approval of the host institution.
DAAD’s research grants play a vital role in fostering international collaboration, supporting academic exchange, and promoting innovative research endeavors. They contribute significantly to the development of global academic networks and the advancement of knowledge across various fields of study. Prospective applicants should regularly check DAAD’s official website for updated information regarding available programs, eligibility criteria, and application deadlines.
Click on the links below to see what opportunities may be relevant for you.
There are several different Research Grants available ranging from short time periods to several years. If you would like to pursue research in the field of German Studies, you may want to consider looking into our German Studies Research Grant.
DAAD has partnered with other research institutes in order to offer you a breadth of research opportunities in various fields. Take a look at the offers below to find just the right fit for you.
You can gain practical research or work experience by doing an internship in Germany. From research in academia to internships at German companies – the choice is yours.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) stands as a cornerstone of biomedical and health-related research, driving innovation and scientific breakthroughs. At its core, NIH functions as the primary agency of the United States government, dedicated to advancing knowledge about health and disease. Among its myriad initiatives, the NIH offers grants that serve as lifeblood for researchers, funding groundbreaking studies across diverse scientific domains. These grants provide not only financial support but also an invaluable endorsement and recognition that catapults research endeavors forward.
The NIH grants cater to a wide spectrum of research areas, covering everything from basic science to clinical trials, public health interventions, and translational research. This expansive reach ensures that investigations into fundamental biological processes, disease mechanisms, therapeutics, and population health are consistently supported and propelled forward.
The significance of NIH grants lies not just in the financial backing they offer, but also in the stamp of credibility they confer upon researchers and their work. The NIH grant review process is rigorous, emphasizing scientific merit, innovation, and potential impact. Successful applicants gain more than just financial resources; they also receive validation and recognition within the scientific community, paving the way for future collaborations and opportunities.
Securing an NIH grant, however, is no easy feat. The process demands meticulous planning, a well-crafted proposal, and a clear understanding of NIH guidelines and priorities. Here are key steps to navigate the NIH grant application process:
Identify the Right Grant Opportunity: NIH offers various grant types (R01, R21, etc.) for different stages and types of research. Choose the grant program aligning best with your research goals.
Develop a Strong Research Proposal: Craft a compelling proposal that outlines the significance, innovation, approach, and potential impact of your research. Emphasize how your work aligns with NIH priorities.
Understand NIH Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with NIH guidelines, submission deadlines, and specific criteria for the grant you are applying for. Follow instructions meticulously.
Collaborate and Network: Collaborate with experts, build collaborations, and seek mentorship. Networking within your field can provide insights and support.
Seek Feedback: Prior to submission, seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, or NIH program officers. Constructive criticism can significantly improve your proposal.
Submit and Follow-up: Submit your application through NIH’s electronic system and monitor the review process. Even if your application is not funded initially, use reviewer feedback to strengthen future submissions.
Persistence and Continuous Learning: Grant writing is a skill that improves with practice. Learn from both successful and unsuccessful attempts to refine your approach.
The National Institutes of Health is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. In fiscal year 2022, NIH invested most of its $45 billion appropriations in research seeking to enhance life, and to reduce illness and disability. NIH-funded research has led to breakthroughs and new treatments helping people live longer, healthier lives, and building the research foundation that drives discovery.
Grant applications and associated documents (e.g., reference letters) are due by 5:00 PM local time of application organization on the specified due date.
By accepting a grant award, recipients agree to comply with the requirements in the NIH Grants Policy Statement unless the notice of award states otherwise.
The NIH Loan Repayment Programs repay up to $50,000 annually of a researcher’s qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.
The National Mineral Policy, 2019 [NMP 2019], states that minerals are valuable natural resources, which are essential raw materials for the core sectors of the economy. The exploration, extraction, and management of minerals are guided by national goals and perspectives, integrated into the overall strategy of the country’s economic development. NMP 2019 also focuses on promoting domestic industry, reducing import dependency, and contributing to the Make in India initiative. NMP 2019 emphasizes on a fair and transparent allocation of mineral resources to ensure equitable distribution of mineral wealth to serve the common good. NMP 2019 aims to ensure environmentally sustainable mining, with stakeholders’ participation; devolution of benefits of mining to mining-affected persons and areas; maintaining high level of trust among all stakeholders; conducive regulatory environment for ease of doing business in the sector; simpler, transparent, and time-bound procedures for obtaining clearances for mining.
Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2017 was framed under Section 18 of MMDR Act, 1957 for the mineral conservation, systematic development of minerals and protection of environment by preventing or controlling any pollution which may be caused by prospecting or mining operations. As per Rule 12(1) of MCDR (amendment) 2017, the prospecting and mining operations shall be carried out in such a manner so as to ensure systematic development of mineral deposits, conservation of minerals and protection of the environment. Rule 35 to 44 under Chapter V of MCDR, 2017 is provided for Sustainable Mining. Adequate emphasis has been given on Sustainable Development in Mining areas in the NMP 2019. Further, to implement the Sustainable Development Framework (SDF), Ministry has evolved a system of Star Rating of Mines.
India is not a member of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). However, India has adopted the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) to report the mineral resources, status of exploration and feasibility of extractions. Further, as per the MMDR Act, 1957 and rules framed thereunder, every lease holder has to adhere to the conditions prescribed under various clearances issued by the different Ministries /Departments of State and Central Government. The lease holders are also mandated to submit the prescribed reports like monthly / annual return, result of exploration, yearly report on progressive mine closure activities, etc. to statutory authorities.
The Government has taken various steps for the economic development of UTs such as promoting tourism, augmentation of telecom & web connectivity, development of road, sea and air connectivity, development and promotion of clean and green energy, waste management including initiatives for waste to energy, commissioning of new power projects, boost to infrastructure, etc.
Tourism has been identified as a key sector due to its multiplier effect. The Government is actively promoting various kinds of tourism like eco-tourism, heritage tourism, adventure tourism, monsoon tourism,
promotion of niche tourism activities, tourist circuits, religious tourism, astro- tourism, cruise tourism, MICE tourism etc. In UT of J&K tourism sector has been accorded the status of industry, UT of DNH&DD have developed world class sea fronts and premier river fronts, in Island UTs eco-tourism resorts are being developed. In the UT of Ladakh first ever dark sky reserve of the country has been set up in Hanle to promote astro-tourism and livelihood of local communities. All these initiatives have resulted in a boost to tourism and other allied economic activities, improvement in civil aviation and other infrastructure, promotion of clean and green energy and “waste to wealth” in the UTs.
Internet/broadband and mobile/digital connectivity in the Island UTs have been considerably enhanced with the commissioning of the Chennai Andaman Nicobar Islands (CANI) Optical Fiber Cable Project at a cost of about ₹ 1,224 cr. This project has revolutionized internet connectivity and increased the bandwidth utilization in the UT of A&NI from 4.1 Gbps to 70.31 Gbps, internet speed has increased from 100 kbps to upto 300Mbps, total mobile connections have increased to about 7 lakh from 4.7 lakhand Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) services, which provide high broadband speeds directly to home and offices, have increased to about 34,500. 5G services were also launched in the UT. As a result, the Islanders have benefitted significantly through greater access to online Government to Citizen (G2C) services, tele-medicine, online education, development of tourism, e-commerce, enhanced participation in the digital economy (the number of digital transactions have increased from about 10 lakh to 2.2 crore) etc. Similarly, The Kochi Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Cable Project (KLI Project), with a cost of about ₹1,072 Cr, has connected the mainland (Kochi) and all the inhabited Islands of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep through submarine cable. The KLI Project is designed to offer speeds upto 100 Gbps and support 4G as well as 5G networks. Trial traffic has been fed in the network. At present 3,972 FTTH connections have been provided through this network. The KLI Project is expected to benefit the public significantly through enhanced online access in the fields of education, tele-medicine, e-commerce, digital governance, tourism etc.
The Government has also been focusing on air, road and sea connectivity in the UTs. A new terminal building of Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair has come up with a cost of about ₹710.00 crore with a capacity to handle 50 lakh passengers per year. ‘Azad Hind FauzSetu’ on Humphrey Strait at a cost of ₹ 203.00 crore has significantly improved the road connectivity in the island UT of A&NI.
Several infrastructure projects to boost road connectivity have also been completed/under way in the other UTs like the construction of Zojila tunnel in UT of Ladakh.
Several steps have also been taken to promote ease of doing business and bring in governance reforms in UTs. To promote industry and business activities compliance burden has been significantly reduced. Single window clearance system has also led to faster clearance of proposals. UTs have implemented suitable policies to promote businesses and entrepreneurship including industrial policy, land allotment policy, logistics policy, policies to promote handicrafts, agriculture, MSMEs through suitable incentivisation etc. Investment promotion schemes have been formulated to encourage investment by way of providing capital and interest subsidy. The thrust sectors identified are tourism, manufacturing, production, IT and ITes, shipping, agriculture, fisheries etc.The Prime Minister’s Employment Generation programme, PM VISHWAKARMA, Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, PMSVANidhi etc. are also being effectively implemented in the UTs with an aim to generate employment, provide financial support and skill development support. UTs have also identified certain priority economic sectors for accelerated economic growth of UTs, based on their unique strengths and resources, such as developing a Blue Economy, transforming into regional knowledge/IT/medical hubs, promoting tourism etc.
The Government’s policy of zero tolerance towards corruption and introduction of IT enabled initiatives have brought greater accountability, transparency and financial transformation resulting in a big push to businesses and economic development in the UTs and also promoting them as new drivers of economic prosperity (Aatmanirbhar Arthvyawastha) and Viksit Bharat.
Initiatives under Aatmanirbhar Bharat have been taken to provide better services to consumers & improvement in operational & financial efficiency in electricity distribution in certain UTs.
Further, a robust monitoring mechanism has been put in place to monitor the implementation of various flagship/development schemes and programmes of Government of India in the UTs.
It is the endeavour of Government of India to make UTs role models of good governance and development. Moreover, it is envisioned to holistically develop the island UTs as global hubs of tourism, raise the standard and quality of living of residents in UTs, create better infrastructure including social infrastructure, achieve saturation of health and educational indicators, enhance health infrastructure to ensure universal access to quality healthcare, promote green energy by leveraging technology, etc. This is a continuous process.
To promote fisheries and blue economy in the island union territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, the Government has taken various initiatives. The focus is primarily on development of infrastructure & logistics, deep sea fishing, aquaculture, capacity building and fisheries management for overall development.
Assistance to fishermen/fish farmers is provided for modernization of existing fishing crafts and acquisition of new fishing vessels. Further, initiatives like creation and upgradation of post-harvest handling & processing infrastructure, export oriented processing units and use of technological advancements like Fish Aggregating Devices have also been taken.
The Government is also creating forward market linkages and promoting fisheries related co-operative societies and Self Help Groups (SHGs). Agencies like the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Export Inspection Agency (EIA) and Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute are providing technical support and training to the fishermen and fish farmers for their capacity building.
The Government is also implementing various subsidy programme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana to improve the post-harvest infrastructure, promote deep sea fishing, and aquaculture, mariculture activities, fish marketing and shore based infrastructure. Institutional credit is extended through Kisan Credit Card scheme.
Seaweed cultivation is also being promoted with the participation of Self Help Groups and fisheries co-operatives.
‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The States/UTs are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes including cyber crime through their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). The Central Government supplements the initiatives of the States/UTs through advisories and financial assistance under various schemes for capacity building of their LEAs. To strengthen the mechanism to deal with cyber crimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, the Central Government has taken steps which, inter-alia, include the following:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has set up the ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’ (I4C) to deal with all types of cyber crime in the country, in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
Seven Joint Cyber Coordination Teams (JCCTs) have been constituted for Mewat, Jamtara, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Vishakhapatnam and Guwahati under I4C covering the whole country based upon cyber crime hotspots/ areas having multi jurisdictional issues by on boarding States/UTs to enhance the coordination framework among the LEAs of the States/UTs. Seven workshops were organized for JCCTs at Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Vishakhapatnam, Lucknow, Ranchi and Chandigarh in 2023.
The state of the art ‘National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Investigation)’ has been established, as a part of the I4C, at New Delhi to provide early stage cyber forensic assistance to Investigating Officers (IOs) of State/UT Police. So far, National Cyber Forensics Laboratory (Investigation) have provided its services to State LEAs in around 8,840 cyber forensics like mobile forensics, memory forensics, CDR Analysis, etc. to help them in investigation of cases pertaining to cyber crimes.
The ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’ (https://cybercrime.gov.in) has been launched, as a part of the I4C, to enable public to report incidents pertaining to all types of cyber crimes, with special focus on cyber crimes against women and children. Cyber crime incidents reported on this portal, their conversion into FIRs and subsequent action thereon are handled by the State/UT LEAs concerned as per the provisions of the law.
The ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System’, under I4C, has been launched for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop siphoning off funds by the fraudsters. So far, an amount of more than Rs. 1000 Crore have been saved in more than 4 lakh incidents. A toll-free Helpline number ‘1930’ has been operationalized to get assistance in lodging online cyber incidents.
The Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) platform, namely ‘CyTrain’ portal has been developed under I4C, for capacity building of police officers/judicial officers through online course on critical aspects of cyber crime investigation, forensics, prosecution etc. along with certification. More than 72,800 Police Officers from States/UTs are registered and more than 50,000 Certificates issued through the portal.
Till date more than 2.45 lakhs SIM cards and 42,000 IMEIs as reported by Police authorities have been blocked by Government of India.
I4C has imparted cyber hygiene training to 5,600 officials of various Ministries/ Departments of Government of India.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 122.24 crores under the ‘Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC)’ Scheme, to the States/UTs for their capacity building such as setting up of cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories, hiring of junior cyber consultants and training of LEAs’ personnel, public prosecutors and judicial officers. So far, cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories have been commissioned in 33 States/UTs. So far, more than 24,600 LEA personnel, judicial officers and prosecutors have been provided training on cyber crime awareness, investigation, forensics etc.
National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Evidence) has been set up at Hyderabad. Establishment of this laboratory provides the necessary forensic support in cases of evidence related to cyber crime, preserving the evidence and its analysis in line with the provisions of IT Act and Evidence Act; and reduced turnaround time.
I4C has imparted cyber hygiene training to more than 17,000 NCC cadets.
To spread awareness on cyber crime, the Central Government has taken steps which, inter-alia, include; dissemination of messages through SMS, I4C social media account i.e. X (formerly Twitter) (@Cyberdost), Facebook(CyberDostI4C), Instagram(cyberdostI4C), Telegram(cyberdosti4c), Radio campaign, engaged MyGov for publicity in multiple mediums, organizing Cyber Safety and Security Awareness weeks in association with States/UTs, publishing of Handbook for Adolescents/Students, etc. The States/UTs have also been requested to carry out publicity to create mass awareness.
The Centre for Financial Literacy pilot project on financial literacy was initiated by the Reserve Bank in 2017 with an objective to adopt community led innovative and participatory approaches to financial literacy engaging various NGOs across the country. Under the Centre for Financial Literacy project, each Centre for Financial Literacy usually covers three blocks while giving focus on the population in the age group of 18-60 years. A total of 1633 Centre for Financial Literacy covering 4,861 blocks have been set up across the country as on September 30, 2023. Awareness about digital banking in one of the areas covered under the Centre for Financial Literacy project.
In a significant enhancement to the D-Remit process, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has now allowed National Pension System (NPS) subscribers to deposit their contributions through the convenience of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) QR code. This advancement aims to simplify the contribution process, making it more accessible and efficient for NPS participants.
The National Pension System (NPS) has long been a reliable savings avenue for those looking to secure their financial futures. Under the NPS, subscribers make voluntary contributions to their NPS Tier I and II accounts. However, the process of directly depositing these contributions, known as D-Remit or Direct Remittance, has just become more user-friendly.
The introduction of QR code – UPI for D-Remit is a positive & revolutionary step towards making NPS contributions more accessible, efficient, and flexible. This initiative by PFRDA empowers NPS subscribers to take control of their retirement savings and benefit from the advantages of systematic investment planning.
D-Remit Virtual Account with UPI QR code
Under this new mechanism, subscribers will utilise the UPI QR Code to transfer their contributions. It is important to note that the D-Remit virtual account is distinct from the Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN). Furthermore, the virtual account numbers differ for Tier I and Tier II NPS accounts and so do the QR codes.
Key Benefits of D-Remit QR code
The D-Remit process offers several advantages for NPS subscribers:
Same-Day Investment: Contributions received by the Trustee Bank (TB) before 9:30 AM will be invested on the same day, optimizing returns.
Periodical Auto Debit: Subscribers can set up periodical auto-debit payments, such as monthly, quarterly, or half-yearly, providing a convenient way to build their retirement corpus.
One-Time or Regular Contribution: The flexibility to choose between one-time or regular contributions based on individual preferences and financial goals.
Optimised Investment: The D-Remit process leverages standing instructions and rupee cost averaging for long-term retirement wealth creation.
Set up SIP in NPS through D-Remit:
For NPS account holders with a PRAN, the D-Remit process opens up the possibility of starting a systematic investment plan (SIP). This can be done online (D-Remit), allowing subscribers to set up standing instructions for SIP payments to their NPS accounts.
SIPs in NPS offer subscribers the convenience of making regular contributions, helping them build a disciplined and convenient approach to retirement savings without the need to time the market. Similar to mutual funds, SIPs enable NPS participants to benefit from rupee cost averaging. Adjusting existing investments becomes a straightforward process, with the potential for higher returns.
How to Use D-Remit QR Code:
To utilise D-Remit, subscribers must possess a virtual D-Remit ID with the trustee bank. This virtual account can only be used for remitting NPS contributions. Setting up an SIP through net banking involves adding the virtual account as a beneficiary to the subscriber’s net banking account and providing a standing instruction for the SIP amount. With a fund receipt cut-off time of 9:30 AM, subscribers receive the same-day Net Asset Value (NAV) in their NPS accounts. Contributions received after this time or on non-working days will reflect the NAV of the next working day.
Eduindex News 
You must be logged in to post a comment.