Category: India

17 Essential Tips for Young Entrepreneurs

Youth is the biggest resource of the Nation. Today’s generation is not only smarter but also ahead in innovation and dare to build their own empire at the prime of their youth. Though it takes a lot of efforts, a right amount of motivation and guidance can help the young budding entrepreneurs go a long way. Well who learn from than the experienced businessmen who started out at your age and now are known as the Young minds who made it to Big Shots.

Here are 17 essential tips for young entrepreneurs inspired by 17 people who made it under 17 years of age:

  • Dare to Dream:

Dr.A.P. J Abdul Kalam once rightfully said, ‘Dream is not what you see while sleeping, it is something that doesn’t let you sleep.’ Your dreams don’t have to look like anyone else’s. You get to define what success looks like in your life. Dare to dream your own unique dream of what living well looks like.

  •  Have a Vision:

The founder and CEO of Tumblr, David Karp, notes that an entrepreneur is someone who has a vision for something and a desire to create it. Keep your vision clear at all times. Having a vision means we have a clear sense of purpose.

It means we have a much larger picture of our business, than simply setting and reaching short term goals and tackling problems as they come along. In business, having a clear vision is absolutely critical. It is an extremely powerful tool to achieve the results you want.

  •  Do what you are Passionate about:

Where you care about DOING that thing, rather than what you get at the END of doing that thing. The dictionary definition of passion is “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something” The spark of passion when gets action it fires up and lights the way ahead.

  •  Take Action:

The world is full of great ideas, but success only comes through action. Walt Disney once said that the easiest way to get started is to quit talking and start doing. That’s true for your success as well. Work in silence, let your success make the sound.

  •  Face your Fears:

Overcoming fear isn’t easy, but it must be done. Arianna Huffington once said that she found fearlessness was like a muscle — the more she exercised it, the stronger it became.

  •  Take the Risk:

We never know the outcome of our efforts unless we actually do it. Jeff Bezos said it helped to know that he wouldn’t regret failure, but he would regret not trying.

  •  Believe in Yourself:

As Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” Believe that you can succeed, and you’ll find ways through different obstacles. If you don’t, you’ll just find excuses.

  •  Rome was not built in a day:

No one succeeds immediately, and everyone was once a beginner. As Steve Jobs wisely noted, “if you look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” Don’t be afraid to invest time in your company.

  •  Plan for raising funds & capital:

Richard Harroch, a venture capitalist, has this advice for upcoming entrepreneurs: “It’s almost always harder to raise capital than you thought it would be, and it always takes longer. So plan for that.”

  • Set goals and targets:

Ryan Allis, co-founder of iContact, pointed out that having the end in mind every day ensures you’re working toward it. Set goals and remind yourself of them each day.

  • Learn from your mistakes:

Many entrepreneurs point to mistakes as being their best teacher. When you learn from your mistakes, you move closer to success, since learning from failure is the first step towards succeeding.

  • Adapt to the market:

Bill Gates once said that your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. Let unhappy customers teach you where the holes in your service are.

  • Put customer needs at the top:

“Customer is the king,” is the first rule of any market and business organizations.

  • Manage Energy, not Time:

Your energy limits what you can do with your time, so manage it wisely. Plan a proper schedule keeping your physical and mental potential as priority.

  • Invest your money wisely:

Investing your money can allow you to grow it. Most investment vehicles, such as stocks, certificates of deposit, or bonds, offer returns on your money over the long term. This return allows your money to build, creating wealth over time.

  • Be Consistent and determined:

       Consistency in your business is far more important that you can imagine. Being consistent allows you to establish awareness, build trust and deliver your services efficiently and profitably.

Whether you are establishing your brand or determining the course of your sales and marketing strategy, you have to recognise the power of consistency. Give yourself an advantage over fickle competitors by becoming consistent in how you operate your business, and what you present and offer to your customers.

  • Deliver more than expected:

Google’s Larry Page encourages entrepreneurs to deliver more than customers expect. It’s a great way to get noticed in your industry and build a loyal following of advocates.

Being a successful entrepreneur takes a lot of work, a lot of vision and a lot of perseverance. These 17 tips, from entrepreneurs who have already found success, will help you navigate the path much more easily.

Pollution

Pollution is a term which even kids are aware of these days. It has become so common that almost everyone acknowledges the fact that pollution is rising continuously. The term ‘pollution’ means the manifestation of any unsolicited foreign substance in something. When we talk about pollution on earth, we refer to the contamination that is happening of the natural resources by various pollutants. All this is mainly caused by human activities which harm the environment in ways more than one. Therefore, an urgent need has arisen to tackle this issue straightaway. That is to say, pollution is damaging our earth severely and we need to realize its effects and prevent this damage. In this essay on pollution, we will see what are the effects of pollution and how to reduce it.

Effects of Pollution

Pollution affects the quality of life more than one can imagine. It works in mysterious ways, sometimes which cannot be seen by the naked eye. However, it is very much present in the environment. For instance, you might not be able to see the natural gases present in the air, but they are still there. Similarly, the pollutants which are messing up the air and increasing the levels of carbon dioxide is very dangerous for humans. Increased level of carbon dioxide will lead to global warming.

Further, the water is polluted in the name of industrial development, religious practices and more will cause a shortage of drinking water. Without water, human life is not possible. Moreover, the way waste is dumped on the land eventually ends up in the soil and turns toxic. If land pollution keeps on happening at this rate, we won’t have fertile soil to grow our crops on. Therefore, serious measures must be taken to reduce pollution to the core.

Types of Pollution

How to Reduce Pollution?

After learning the harmful effects of pollution, one must get on the task of preventing or reducing pollution as soon as possible. To reduce air pollution, people should take public transport or carpool to reduce vehicular smoke. While it may be hard, avoiding firecrackers at festivals and celebrations can also cut down on air and noise pollution. Above all, we must adopt the habit of recycling. All the used plastic ends up in the oceans and land, which pollutes them.

So, remember to not dispose of them off after use, rather reuse them as long as you can. We must also encourage everyone to plant more trees which will absorb the harmful gases and make the air cleaner. When talking on a bigger level, the government must limit the usage of fertilizers to maintain the soil’s fertility. In addition, industries must be banned from dumping their waste into oceans and rivers, causing water pollution.

To sum it up, all types of pollution is hazardous and comes with grave consequences. Everyone must take a step towards change ranging from individuals to the industries. As tackling this problem calls for a joint effort, so we must join hands now. Moreover, the innocent lives of animals are being lost because of such human activities. So, all of us must take a stand and become a voice for the unheard in order to make this earth pollution-free.

Best low-risk Investments in 2020

Due to the Corona Virus Global Pandemic 2020, our economy has faced unprecedented challenges. With businesses shutting down and stocks facing a fall, INVESTORS are looking for stability in their returns by opting for low-risk investment options. Low-risk investments earn only modest or meager returns; and inflation can erode the purchasing power of money stashed in low-risk investments. But it all depends on what your economic requirement is and how much risk you are willing to accept.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Lets dive into the top low-risk Investments in the year 2020.

  • High YEILD Savings Accounts.

Savings accounts offer a modest return on your money. A savings account is completely safe in the sense that you’ll never lose money. Most accounts are Government insured up to certain limits, so you’ll be compensated even if the financial institution fails.

  • Saving Bonds

Scrictly speaking rather than investments these bonds are more like saving instruments. Bond is a good choice for protection against inflation because you get a fixed rate and an inflation rate added to that every six months.

  • Certificate of Deposits

With a CD, the bank promises to pay you a set rate of interest over a specified term if you leave the Certificate of deposits intact until the term ends. Some savings accounts pay higher rates of interest than some CDs, but those so-called high-yield accounts may require a large deposit.

  • Money Market Funds

Unlike a CD, a Money market fund is liquid, which means you typically can take out your funds at any time without being penalized. Money market funds usually are pretty safe. The bank tells you what rate you’ll get, and its goal is that the value per share won’t be less than $1.

  • Corporate Bonds

Companies also issue bonds, which can come in relatively low-risk varieties (issued by large profitable companies) down to very risky ones. The lowest of the low are known as “junk bonds.” When you buy a corporate bond, you’re loaning money to the company. In return, you receive periodic interest payments until the bond matures and your principal investment is returned.

  • Dividend paying stocks

A dividend is a portion of a company’s profits paid out to the company’s shareholders. When a company makes a profit, it can choose to reinvest that profit back into the business, but sometimes it pays a percentage of it back out to shareholders. Not every company pays dividends, but those that do often have slow, reliable growth.

  • Preferred Stocks

Preferred stock is more like a lower-grade bond than it is a stock. Still, it may fluctuate substantially if the market falls. Like a bond, preferred stock makes a regular cash payout. But, unusually, preferred stock may be able to suspend this dividend in some circumstances, though often it has to make up any missed payments.

Building an investment portfolio that has at least some less-risky assets can be useful in helping you ride out the volatility in the market, and there’s been no shortage of that this year.

Abortion – The Debate on the Sole Choice of the Mother

Abortion is the term used to identify the act of intentionally interrupting pregnancy and not allowing the embryo or foetus to continue its normal process. The definition clearly recognizes only women reproductive parts giving a clear message that it only affects the women. But the question is whether it is actually true and justified from a general point of view. 

Up to some extent, we find the world comfortable with the debate being a sole decision of the mother because there is no proper legislation regarding it yet. Our Legislation gives special Right to Women in order to encourage them to be at par to men in day to day life but no where does it mention that Men should compromise for the same. What is fair should remain fair according to law. If it is a “women’s choice” whether or not she wants to become a mother then it is also a man’s choice whether or not he wants to become a father.

When a father doesn’t have an opportunity to express his opinion it only disapproves that he as a human, can have feelings. It is totally unjust that he doesn’t have a preference in the birth of his own child. In the support of my argument, there are provisions that I feel can be enforced. Like, if both parents choose to have an abortion then the child is aborted where both of them have an equal share in costs of the procedure. But if the mother chooses to have an abortion and the father wants to keep the child then she shall not be required to fund any part of procedure or any costs that may arise from it. Similarly, if the mother chooses to keep the child but the father wanted the abortion, then the father shall have zero legal or financial obligations from the day forward. In each case, the father shall likewise be recognized, and his choice duly recorded as a matter of legal record.

Another point to give light to is, when we claim that it is only about the mother’s choice, we tend to deny the whole of father’s responsibility in the scenario. Perpetually like that men need to stay out of the discussion about abortion because it is a woman’s body is not only untrue, it is catastrophic for generations to come. It is a sort of hindrance to the society we need for its utmost development. What we need is a generation of young men who honour ladies by helping them protect the precious gift of their sexuality as it was intended to be. We need a generation of young men who will not treat women like objects but honour them with dignity and respect. A generation who will not run away when they get a woman pregnant or pressure a woman to end their life. We need a generation of men who will love their unborn child and go to utmost lengths to encourage the mother to have their baby. They must be willing to help raise the child or place the child for adoption. In addition to that, we also need a generation of women who will encourage men to take responsibility and show the sacrificial love and empathy that ought to mark men, not push them out of the conversation of abortion.

Though abortion uniquely affects women, it is not only about women. It is also about the child in her womb, and the child’s father. Because in the end, it is her body but it is THEIR baby.

HOME UNDER JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT

Addressing the lack of safe shelters for children in conflict with the law, the court urged every state to evaluate the condition of their Child Care Institutions as well as to provide education, healthcare, and proper nutrition to its residents. The court reiterated that government registration in accordance with the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act was compulsory for child care institutions run by individuals or NGOs to avoid incidents of trafficking or child sexual abuse.

Shelter Homes

While a large number of urban marginalized children are in need of day care services, there are many others who require residential care for a temporary period for one or more reasons. These include children without parental care, run away children, migrant children, and child substance abusers etc. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 empowers State Governments to recognize reputed and competent voluntary organizations, to cater to the needs of such children. The State Government shall provide financial assistance to set up and administer
Shelter Homes for such children. At least one such Shelter Home in the State is to be notified and designated by the States/UTs as a Home for the care, detoxification and counselling of children affected by substance abuse. These Shelter Homes shall offer day and night shelter facilities to the children in need of support services for a temporary period, while efforts are made to rehabilitate them. In order to facilitate and expedite the setting up of Shelter Homes in every district or group of districts, the scheme shall provide financial support to the State Governments and Union Territories.

Children’s Homes

A large number of children in need of care and protection who enter the juvenile justice system through the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) are in need of residential care and protection during the pendency of any inquiry and subsequently for their long-term care, treatment, education, training, development and rehabilitation. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 empowers the State Government either by itself or in collaboration with voluntary organizations to set up Children’s Homes in every district or group of districts for the reception and residential care of such children. These homes shall serve as a home away from home and provide comprehensive child care facilities to children for ensuring their all-round development. They shall work towards enhancing the capabilities and skills of children and work with their families with the view of facilitating their reintegration and rehabilitation into mainstream society.
Children in conflict with law who enter the juvenile justice system through the Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) are in need of adequate residential care and protection during the pendency of any inquiry regarding them under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000. The Act empowers the State Governments to establish and maintain either by itself or under an agreement with voluntary organizations, observation homes in every district or group of districts for their temporary reception. In order to facilitate and expedite setting up of Observation Homes in every district or group of districts, the scheme shall provide financial support to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.

Observation homes

The State Government shall establish and maintain in every district or a group of districts, either by itself, or through voluntary or non-governmental organisations, observation homes, which shall be registered under section 41 of this Act, for temporary reception, care and rehabilitation of any child alleged to be in conflict with law, during the pendency of any inquiry under this Act Where the State Government is of the opinion that any registered institution other than a home established or maintained under sub-section (1), is fit for the temporary reception of such child alleged to be in conflict with law during the pendency of any inquiry under this Act, it may register such institution as an observation home for the purposes of this Act. The State Government may, by rules made under this Act, provide for the management and monitoring of observation homes, including the standards and various types of services to be provided by them for rehabilitation and social integration of a child alleged to be in conflict with law and the circumstances under which, and the manner in which, the registration of an observation home may be granted or withdrawn. Every child alleged to be in conflict with law who is not placed under the charge of parent or guardian and is sent to an observation home shall be segregated according to the child’s age and gender, after giving due consideration to physical and mental status of the child and degree of the offence committed.


Special Homes

Children in conflict with the law committed by the Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) for long term rehabilitation and protection require institutional services. The State Governments are empowered to establish and maintain either by itself or under an agreement with voluntary organisations, special homes in every district or group of districts for the reception and rehabilitation of juveniles in conflict with law.
In order to facilitate and expedite setting up of Special Homes in every district or group of districts, the scheme shall provide financial support to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.

Place of Safety

As per section 16, of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, the Juvenile Justice Board is empowered to place a juvenile above the age of 16 years in a Place of Safety, if the Board is of the opinion that the seriousness of the offence and/or the said juvenile’s behaviour, makes it unsuitable for them to be placed in a Special Home. A ‘Place of Safety’ is any place or institution, (not being a police lockup or jail), established separately or attached to an observation home or a special home, the person in-charge of which is willing to receive and take care of the juvenile in conflict with law placed there, by order of the Board, for a period and purpose as defined in the order.
The Act also states that the State Government may arrange to place a juvenile referred to it by the Board, in a ‘Place of Safety’, which has been declared fit by the State Government for such purpose, and may order such juvenile to be kept under protective custody, at such place and on such conditions, as it deems proper. The State Government may, by rules, prescribe the types of places that can be designated as ‘Place of Safety’ and the facilities and services that may be provided therein.

New Domestic Cleaning Technologies That Help Save Water

Technology has always aimed in making our lives better – be it the automatic machines or smart devices- appliances have long brought convenience to our lives. 

But in the World of Climate Change and Environment preservation, we need technology to focus on Sustainability in order to save resources for the future generations.

CLEAN WASHING, LESS WATER

Washing Machines and Dish Washers have gained popularity across various parts the country due to their efficiency and convenience. But are they also water efficient?

The advertisements for various washing machines now have started to show how one can save more than two buckets of water when the clothes are washed in the machine as compared to when they are washed by hand. Dishwashers nowadays use ultrasonic technology to reduce consumption of water while making sure there is no reduction in the efficiency of cleaning. Due to technology we have been able to invent appliances that help in deeper cleaning and use less water.

DAILY ROUTINE, WATER WASTAGE

Right from brushing our teeth to taking a shower we use water that very conveniently reaches our house in pipes and showerheads

But not to worry about saving water anymore as the latest achievement in the field of technology is OPTIMIZED showerheads designed to maintain the flow pressure while drastically reducing the water consumption. One can research and purchase the one which best suits your showering needs and also saves water.

FLUSHING ACTION, SMART SOLUTION

Technologists have been continuously working towards designing a flush system to produce an alternative which is more hygienic and water-efficient in its operation. 

Apart from standard improvements, there are new water treatment systems being developed which could help recycle sink water to flush toilets in Indian homes in the near future. Such a system would save gallons of water, while making the required amount available for comprehensive and hygienic flushing action.

SUSTAINABILITY BEGINS AT HOME

The simplest method for conserving water is to turn off the tap whenever possible.

Running the water when you’re brushing your teeth, for example, wastes at least a quart of water. That may not seem like much, but it can really add up over time: a family of four could save at least 60 gallons of water a month by simply turning off the faucet.

FLOWING FAUCETS

New faucets utilize several different kinds of aerators, but all conserve water without sacrificing pressure. Older faucets use three to seven gallons of water per minute, while newer ones can cut that to around two gallons per minute, or even less.

WASTING WATER FOR WASHING WASTE

New low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush. They work as well as the older types but use considerably less water. Homeowners can also consider using dual-flush toilets, which offer two settings, depending on the type of waste in the bowl.

WATER HEATER, PRESERVE DROPS

A small pump that runs on minimal electricity can be attached to your hot water system and can help keep hot water circulating when it’s not in use. This prevents waste of up to 10 gallons of water while waiting for the shower to heat up. Tank less water heaters offer the same convenience, but cost more; a recirculation system can be sometimes be installed for as little as $300.

FIX LEAKS, SAVE GALLONS

Have water leaks in your home fixed right away. Even a tiny leak can quickly add up to a huge amount of wasted water. A faucet leak of just one drip per second can waste more than 2,000 gallons of water in a year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

These are some of the latest technologies that have brought the twin objectives of more hygienic homes and water conservations to the fore. As more manufacturers innovate, such technologies are projected to become standard in all Indian homes. Helping create cleaner homes at the cost of less water is also a mission of MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, a movement dedicated to creating a more sustainable future for our water resources. You can also support such initiatives they’ve undertaken and join in to help conserve water for a healthier tomorrow.

MOST LOW-PRICE & AFFORDABLE INTERNET IN THE WORLD

Internet has become the most essential virtual commodity due to the Global Pandemic 2020. Its demand has reached a peak now more than ever. It has been declared as the basic necessity along with Food, Clothing, Shelter and Education.

In most Countries, schools and colleges are functioning through digitalized classrooms which require high speed data. 75% of office goers are working from home and the servers that connects the employers to the employees is kept alive on internet connections.

How can everybody afford the Internet? A recent report by Visual Capitalist reveals how much 1GB of mobile data costs in every country. Let’s have a look at what it costs to stay virtually connected in many Countries of the World:

 

1) India:

The Visual Capitalist report states that India has the most-affordable mobile data plans worldwide. India offers 1GB mobile data for just under Rs. 7, which is the cheapest in the world.

 Why is data so cheap in India? A significant factor is the country’s intense market competition, driven by Reliance Jio—a telecom company owned by Reliance Industries, one of the largest conglomerates in India. Reliance Jio launched in 2016, offering customers free trial periods and plans for less than a $1 a month. This forced other providers to drop their pricing, driving down the overall cost of data in the region.

 

2)  Sri Lanka:

Mobile internet in India’s southern neighbouring country, Sri Lanka, costs roughly Rs 38 per 1GB data. Some of the biggest Telcos in the country are Dialog, Airtel Lanka, SLT Mobitel, etc.

 

3)  Russian Federation:

1GB of mobile data plan in Russia costs roughly Rs 39. This makes Russia the ninth most-affordable country for cheap mobile data plans. Some of the biggest telecoms in the country, which is the fourth biggest smartphone market, are Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), Beeline, MegaFon, etc.

 

4)  Vietnam:

Mobile Internet in Vietnam costs roughly Rs 43, which according to the latest data, ranks 10th in the list of countries that offer the most affordable 1GB data plan. The biggest telecom operators in the Asian country are Viettel, MobiFone, Vinaphone.

 

5)  Italy:

Italy ranks fourth in the list of countries that offer the most affordable data plans worldwide. In Italy, 1GB of mobile data Rs.32.

 

6)  Israel:

 1GB of mobile data in Israel costs roughly Rs 8, making it the second most-affordable nation for internet usage.

 

7)  Ukraine:

Ukraine shares a similar per GB mobile data tariff cost as Kazakhstan, where 1GB mobile data costs Rs 34.

 

8)  Somalia:

1GB mobile data in Somalia costs roughly Rs 38, slightly cheaper than Sri Lanka’s per GB cost. The biggest telecom operators in the African country are Hormuud, Telecom Somalia, etc.

 

There has been a significant surge in the number of internet users over the last few years, which has led to telecom service providers competing against each other and lure consumers with the most value-for-money packs. the internet in India is quite affordable if you compare it with the rest of the world. 

‘Aryabhata’- Father Of Indian Mathematics

Aryabhata was one of the first Indian mathematicians and astronomers belonging to the classical age. He was born in 476 BC in Tarenaga, a town in Bihar, India. His major work, Aryabhatiya, a compendium of mathematics and astronomy, was extensively referred to in the Indian mathematical literature and has survived to modern times. The mathematical part of the Aryabhatiya covers arithmetic, algebra, plane trigonometry, and spherical trigonometry. It also contains continued fractions, quadratic equations, sums-of-power series, and a table of sines. It is however definite that he travelled to Kusumapara for studies and even resided there for some time. It is mentioned in a few places that Aryabhata was the head of the educational institute in Kusumapara. The University of Nalanda had an observatory in its premises so it is hypothesized that Aryabhata was the principal of the university as well. On the other hand some other commentaries mention that he belonged to Kerala.

Mathematical Work

Aryabhata wrote many mathematical and astronomical treatises. His major work, Aryabhatiya, a compendium of mathematics and astronomy, was extensively referred to in the Indian mathematical literature and has survived to modern times. The mathematical part of the Aryabhatiya covers arithmetic, algebra, plane trigonometry, and spherical trigonometry. It also contains continued fractions, quadratic equations, sums-of-power series, and a table of sines. His chief work was the ‘Aryabhatiya’ which was a compilation of mathematics and astronomy. The name of this treatise was not given to it by Aryabhata but by later commentators. A disciple by him called the ‘Bhaskara’ names it ‘Ashmakatanra’ meaning ‘treatise from the Ashmaka’. This treatise is also referred to as ‘Arya-shatas-ashta’ which translates to ‘Aryabhata’s 108’. This is a very literal name because the treatise did in fact consist of 108 verses.

Aryabhata worked on the place value system using letters to signify numbers and stating qualities. He also came up with an approximation of pi and area of a triangle. He introduced the concept of sine in his work called ‘Ardha-jya’ which is translated as ‘half-chord’.

Astronomical Work

Aryabhata also did a considerable amount of work in astronomy. He knew that the Earth is rotating on an axis around the sun and the moon rotated around it. He also discovered the position of nine planets and stated that these also revolved around the sun. He pointed out the eclipses, both lunar and solar. Aryabhata stated the correct number of days in a year that is 365 days. He was the first person to mention that the earth was not flat but in fact a spherical shape. He also gave the circumference and diameter of the earth and the radius of the orbits of 9 planets.

More about Aryabhata

Aryabhata was a very intelligent man. The theories that he came up with at that time present a wonder to the scientific world today. His works were used by the Greeks and the Arabs to develop further. A commentary by Bhaskara I, a century later on Aryabhatiya says:

‘Aryabhata is the master who, after reaching the furthest shores and plumbing the inmost depths of the sea of ultimate knowledge of mathematics, kinematics and spherics, handed over the three sciences to the learned world.’

Aryabhata’s Legacy

Aryabhata was an immense influence to mathematics and astronomy. Many of his works inspired Arabs more particularly. His astronomical calculations helped form the ‘Jalali calendar’. He has been honored in many ways. The first Indian satellite is named after him as ‘Aryabhata’, so is the lunar crater. An Indian research center is called ‘Aryabhata Research Institute of Observational Sciences’.

Who is Aryabhatta? What is he known for? - Quora

The New Consumer Protection Act,2019 in India is an upper hand and an added advantage for the consumers in manifold ways

The Consumers can now cheer as the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 has recently replaced the three decade old Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 which came into effect on Monday (July 20) has replaced the earlier Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

The new Act as per the Experts say that “it gives more power to the consumers”. It seeks to revamp the process of administration and settlement of consumer disputes, with strict penalties, including jail term for adulteration and misleading ads by firms.

On July 20, 2020 certain provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 came into force as notified by the Central Government. Following the the key features of the relevant provisions:-

Key features of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 which came into effect on July 20, 2020:-

1) Consumers can now institute a complaint from where they reside or work for gain.

2) The original pecuniary jurisdiction of the District Commissions has increased upto ₹1 crore from ₹20 lakh earlier.

3) The Pecuniary jurisdiction of State Commissions has been increased from ₹1 crore to Rs. 10 crore.

4) The National Commission can hear cases above ₹10 crore when compared to above ₹1 crore earlier.

5) While the provisions relating to e-commerce are not yet notified, a section relating to electronic service provider (covering software services, electronic payments) is notified.

6) The opposite party needs to deposit 50% of the amount ordered by the District Commission before filing an appeal before the State Commission. Earlier, the ceiling was a maximum of ₹25,000, which has been removed.

7) The limitation period for filing of appeals to the State Commission has been increased from 30 days to 45 days.

8) The Parties can be allowed to settle the disputes through mediation.

Following are the Sections which came into force:

Consumer Protection Act 2019- Sections to come into force from July 20,2020

Above mentioned provisions pertain to the Consumer Protection Councils, Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Mediation, Product Liability, punishment for manufacturing, selling, distributing etc spurious good or products which contain adulterant.

As per the rules, the e-commerce players will have to display the total ‘price’ of goods and services offered for sale along with break-up of other charges. Only a few certain miscellaneous provisions with regards and respect to the powers of the Central and State Government to make the rules and regulations have also been enforced.

On misleading advertisements there is provision for jail term and fine for manufacturers. There is no provision for jail for celebrities but they could be banned for endorsing products if it is found to be misleading.

For the first time there will be an exclusive law dealing with Product Liability. A manufacturer or product service provider or product seller will now be responsible to compensate for an injury or damage caused by the defective product or deficiency in services.

The Act has also defined an “e-commerce” as the buying or selling of goods or services including the digital products over digital or electronic networks. The existing definition of e-commerce has been adopted from India’s FDI Guidelines on e-commerce.

The definition of ‘e-commerce Entity’ as provided under the FDI Guidelines includes inventory and market place models.

There is also a provision for class action law suit for ensuring that rights of consumers are not infringed upon. The authority will have power to impose a penalty on a manufacturer or an endorser of up to 10 lakh rupees and imprisonment for up to two years for a false or misleading advertisement.

WEBSITES REFERRED

1)https://consumeraffairs.nic.in/acts-and-rules/consumer-protection

2)https://www.barandbench.com/news/law-policy/provisions-under-consumer-protection-act-2019-to-come-into-force-on-july-20-2020-centre-notifies

3)https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/new-consumer-protection-act-gives-more-power-to-consumers-experts-say/article32135908.ece/amp/

4)https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.livemint.com/news/india/consumer-protection-act-rules-for-e-retailers-to-be-effective-by-this-weekend/amp-11595291549084.html

5)https://www.google.com/amp/s/zeenews.india.com/economy/new-consumer-protection-act-2019-comes-into-force-today-know-how-it-will-benefit-you-2297012.html/amp

6)https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.economictimes.com/wealth/spend/heres-how-consumers-will-benefit-under-the-new-consumer-protection-act/amp_articleshow/70711304.cms

7)https://www.google.com/search?q=consumer+protection+act%2C2019&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjOhv7-sN7qAhVIH3IKHTOCBfMQ2-cCegQIABAC&oq=Consumer&gs_lcp=ChJtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1pbWcQARgAMgQIIxAnMgUIABCxAzIFCAAQsQMyBQgAELEDMgUIABCxAzoHCCMQ6gIQJzoCCAA6BwgAELEDEEM6BAgAEENQ0xRYzipg1jBoAnAAeACAAZABiAGHCJIBAzAuOJgBAKABAbABBcABAQ&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-img&ei=e-QWX47dJsi-yAOzhJaYDw&bih=682&biw=393&prmd=ivn#imgrc=eILduqMFjleJaM

8)https://www.vecteezy.com/free-vector/consumer

9)https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.livelaw.in/amp/news-updates/most-provisions-of-consumer-protection-act-to-come-into-force-160003

Human Rights Violations

“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”

James Baldwin

What are Human Rights?

We learn social and moral cues from our environment. No one teaches us norms, things that come “naturally” to us. However, the basic freedom that everyone needs can’t be left up to the general public. They need to be written down and strictly monitored. 

Human Rights are basic rights each person deserves and gets, to live, express, study freely, and more.

Towards the end of World War II, the UN and other organizations created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the Universal Constitution. 

There are 30 Rights given to each individual and they are entitled to them regardless of their sex, age, orientation, colour, or any other differential characteristic.

Why is Human Rights important?

Every person is unique and so is every culture, religion, and nationality. These differences and the human urge to control and dominate makes it hard to maintain human rights for everyone. So a list was of articles were made to ensure:

  • Everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities
  • Protects those vulnerable from exploitation
  • Give citizens the opportunity and support to stand against societal corruption and inequality
  • Encourage freedom of speech and expression
  • Provide an opportunity for education
  • Allows everyone to practice their religion or any other practice
  • Allow people to love, marry, and start a family with whomever.
  • Encourages equal work opportunities
  • Protects the environment
  • To protect the world from having another war.

Who governs the Human Rights? How to Protect Human Rights?

The UN has set up a lot of committees that govern Human Rights. 

  • Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
    • The OHCHR is most responsible for promoting and protecting human rights.
    • The High Commissioner of Human Rights regularly comments on Human Rights situations in the world and has the authority to investigate situations and issue reports on them.
  • Human Rights Council
    • Established in 2006, is the key independent UN intergovernmental body responsible for human rights.
  • Human Rights Treaty Bodies
    • Is the committee of independent experts that monitor implementation of the core International Human Rights Treaties.
  • Special Procedures
    • Experts working voluntarily, who examine, monitor and publicly report and advice on Human Rights
  • UNDG-HRM
    • UN Development Group’s Human Rights Mainstreaming Mechanism pushes the mainstreaming efforts within the UN.

Enforcing International Human Rights:

  • The International Bill of Human Rights
    • The first legal document protecting universal rights
  • Democracy
    • Democracy is the ultimate means of achieving the 3 pillars of the UN Charter, international peace and security, economic and social progress, and development. 
  • Security Council
    • Main duties involve dealing with grave human rights violations. 
  • Third Committee of the General Assembly
    • Examines a range of issues including human rights questions.
  • Other Bodies
    • Secretary-General, General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Member States, The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues are a few other committees that work to maintain the UDHR’s promise of providing each individual all the Human Rights.

Retribution for Violations:    

Violating Human Rights not only weakens a country’s strength, but also affects an individual socially, emotionally, and economically. Human Rights are set in place to protest people, breaking them causes deep psychological trauma for years to come. African-Americans freed from slavery centuries ago, still are restricted and living lives fighting systematic racism each day.

In 1996, the International Criminal Court (ICC) was created to prosecute any human rights violator. “The ICC is authorized to try crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, slavery, mass rape, torture, and racism.”

The ICC can prosecute any individual, group, or government out of power and sentence them to prison (in their state) or death.

Why hasn’t Human Rights bettered the World?

Countries that are Violating Human Rights:

Almost every country is violating at least 3 human rights. Below is a list of violations from a few countries.

Australia

  • Denying basic rights to Asylum seekers and Refugees
  • Exploiting Indigenous people
  • Unreliable cyber surveillance
  • Lacking support and rights for Disabled citizens
  • Forced labor in the form of the recent Modern Slavery Bill

Brazil

  • Horrifying Prison Conditions
  • Prisoners face torture, assault, and unfair punishments
  • High rates of Juvenile Detainees
  • Reporters being made political prisoners
  • Denying basic rights to Asylum seekers and Refugees

Cuba

  • Illegal detaining
  • Denied freedom of speech and expression
  • An increasing number of political prisoners
  • Horrifying prison conditions
  • Exploiting workers

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Denied freedom of speech and expression
  • Frequent attacks on civilians
  • Corrupted justice system
  • Women being denied basic rights
  • LGBTQ people denied basic rights
  • Disabled people being denied rights

El Salvador

  • Police Brutality
  • Horrifying Prison Conditions
  • Degrading prisoners and abusing them
  • Increasing gang violence
  • Women being denied basic rights and reproductive rights
  • Attacks on media

France

  • Flawed Asylum and Immigration Laws
  • Denying basic rights to Asylum seekers and Refugees
  • Flawed Child Protection services
  • Increased Sexual Assault and Rapes

Germany

  • Flawed Asylum and Immigration Laws
  • Denying basic rights to Asylum seekers and Refugees
  • Xenophobic culture
  • Illegal detaining
  • Corrupted Criminal Justice System

Haiti

  • Corrupted Criminal Justice System
  • Illiteracy
  • Women being denied basic rights
  • LGBTQ people denied basic rights
  • Disabled people being denied rights
  • Child Labor
  • Illegal detaining
  • Exploiting workers

India

  • Increased violence against Dalits, Tribals, Muslims and other marginalized communities
  • Denied freedom of expression
  • Police brutality
  • Women being denied basic rights
  • LGBTQ people denied basic rights
  • Disabled people being denied rights
  • Targeting political oppositions
  • Denied freedom of speech
  • High rates of Human trafficking
  • Corrupted Criminal Justice System
  • Child Labor
  • Illiteracy
  • Forced Prostitution and Begging
  • Increased Violence against women, LGBTQ and marginalized communities
  • Honour Killings
  • Denying Inter-Caste Marriages
  • Female Foeticide
  • Conservative Abortion Laws
  • Exploiting workers
  • Racist courts, hospitals, educational institutions, work places
  • Corruption
  • Poverty
  • Alarming rise in Sexual Assault and Rapes
  • Broken Healthcare System
  • Pollution
  • inconsistent access to food
  • Inconsistent access to sanitation
  • Regionalism, Casteism
  • Increasing addiction amongst the youth
  • domestic violence
  • Double Burden of Malnutrition

Japan

  • High rates of Death Penalty
  • Denied freedom of speech
  • Women being denied basic rights
  • LGBTQ people denied basic rights
  • Disabled people being denied rights

Kenya

  • Government controlled Media
  • Open threats to oppositions
  • Lack of accountability for rape and sexual violence
  • Women being denied basic rights
  • LGBTQ people denied basic rights

Libya

  • Armed Conflicts and War Crimes
  • Illegal Detaining
  • High rates of Death Penalty
  • Denied freedom of speech
  • Denied freedom to practice one’s religion 

Maldives

  • Targeting political oppositions
  • Denied freedom of expression
  • Women being denied basic rights
  • LGBTQ people denied basic rights
  • High rates of Human trafficking

Nepal

  • Changing Criminal Codes
  • Exploiting migrant workers
  • Women being denied basic rights
  • Disabled people being denied rights
  • LGBTQ people denied basic rights

Oman

  • Denied freedom of expression
  • Women being denied basic rights
  • Disabled people being denied rights
  • LGBTQ people denied basic rights
  • Exploiting migrant workers

Peru

  • Police brutality
  • Denied freedom of expression
  • Women being denied basic rights
  • Disabled people being denied rights
  • LGBTQ people denied basic rights

Qatar

  • Women being denied basic rights
  • Exploiting migrant workers
  • LGBTQ people denied basic rights
  • Refugees being treated horribly

Russia

  • Opposing citizens are openly tortured to death
  • Denied freedom of speech
  • Denied freedom of web use
  • LGBTQ people denied basic rights
  • A high number of domestic violence cases

South Korea

  • Denied freedom of expression
  • Exploiting workers
  • Women being denied basic rights
  • LGBTQ people being denied basic rights

Tunisia

  • Inoperative Constitution and parliament
  • Denying freedom of expression
  • Women are denied basic rights
  • LGBTQ people are denied basic rights

United States of America

  • Unfair and Harsh Criminal Sentencing of marginalized communities
  • Police Brutality often leading to deaths
  • Increasing Hate Crimes
  • No Health Insurance
  • Many are denied education/employment-based on discriminatory grounds

Venezuela

  • Prosecuting political opponents and those who speak against the government
  • Dictator as the Country Head
  • Preventing peaceful protests
  • Humanitarian Crisis

Zimbabwe

  • Media is controlled by the government
  • Non-heterosexual relationships are a criminal offense
  • Right to health has been violated multiple times

What happens when a Country Violates Human Rights?

Enforcing Human Rights on an international level is difficult and often problematic. Many countries might be unwilling to cooperate. The Human Rights Council was set up in 2006 to promote and protect human rights and is the main committee that overlooks the workings. The UN has a screening process in place to filter out any breach ton human rights violations.

When the UN receives a complaint, it launches an investigation. The International Criminal Court carries out the criminal proceedings of human rights abuse. 

Why isn’t the UN and the ICC able to control Human Right Violations?

The UN has the right to intervene and fix any violations of Human Rights. The problem arises when the country in question refuses to let the UN intervene. The UN cannot carry out an investigation when the country denies consent. A debate may be held on the country’s human rights abuses. If neither the investigation, not the debate allows the UN to intervene, all the UN can do is pass a resolution condemning the country’s human rights abuse.

Unlike the UN, this court is authorized to extend legal opinions without consent from the offending country. 

The ICC may hold the authority to prosecute the North Korean Dictator. Where it lacks is the manpower force. Without support from the North Korean Police, the ICC cannot arrest the dictator. 

While International Law and Human Rights seem strong on paper, they continue to prove weak and unorganized in practice. Without complete support from a state, none of the rulings of the ICC nor the presence of the UN are of any use.

The International Criminal Court works independently from the UN and hols the authority to prosecute individuals or groups for crimes violating human rights. If the UN violates Human Rights, then the ICC, which operates separately from the UN and holds the right to call out the UN on their wrongdoings. However, without the support of manpower, the pronouncement has no merit.

Key to being Financially Independent in India

We all work right from graduating till retirement for five days a week -sometimes six days – only to spend what we have earned. In the midst of this daily hustle, how much time do we actually devote to plan for financial independence? Hardly any! Is financial independence a plan only for retirement? The answer is NO.

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

The first step towards financial independence is to not procrastinate it. A single drop of penny today will contribute to an ocean of financial resource. Then comes the below mentioned road map to a start of a great solo journey of life.

  • Financial planning – First, define clear and realistic financial goals like child’s education or a comfortable retired life. It is critical to factor in inflation while drawing up your financial plan. If you are planning your child’s education, you should be aware that a professional degree that costs Rs.4 lakhs today, is likely to cost around Rs.20 lakhs, 10 years from now.
  • Personal research – While a qualified financial planner can give you investment advice, the importance of doing your own research cannot be undermined. You can rely on credible websites to understand the pros and cons of each financial instrument.
  • Personalized financial plan – A common mistake is to opt for a particular plan simply because others are doing so. An investment plan must be customized according to personal factors such as your risk appetite, financial goals and life-stage needs.
  • Adequate time horizon – It is necessary to align the investment plan and the expected time frame for getting returns out of it. It is irrational to expect immediate returns from long term products like insurance, PPF etc.
  • Risk diversification – A smart investor would always ensure that the risk is distributed over a variety of instruments. A high risk instrument such as, an equity should ideally be balanced with a stable one such as bonds. Your investment portfolio should be a judicious mix of equity, debt, life insurance, real estate etc.
  • Planning for unforeseen events – Along with the current assessment of your future needs, risk of unexpected events must also be factored in. As a woman, it is crucial to be financially prepared to deal with unfortunate events like death, divorce etc.
  • Regularly track your investment – It is common to become complacent and expect the returns to flow in, once the investments are done. However, it is every investor`s responsibility to keep a tab on the performance of their portfolio.
  • Proper paperwork – There have been several instances where an investor is unable to claim returns from a bona fide investment simply because of misplaced or wrongly-filled documents. Proper documentation is a must to safeguard your investments. Also, ensure that someone other than yourself is fully aware of all your investments.
  • Securing your future: As a working member of the family, it is crucial for you to have adequate insurance to ensure that in your absence, your family does not go through any financial stress. Investing in a simple term insurance plan will ensure financial continuity.
  • Plan and execute – Last, but most important is to begin planning for all your financial needs from an early stage. The cost of postponement will weigh heavily on you in the later years when investing will become a compulsion rather than a choice.

In this world of instant gratification, have patience and watch as your pot fills with money one sweat and hard work at a time. Kudos to being financially independent!

Dowry – A social evil

A relic of a historical traditi on no longer relevant, the insti tuti on of dowry is one of the most pervasive and damaging features of India’s modern social fabric. It is one of the main causes of violence against women and has caused scores of men to treat women like mere property that can be owned and disposed of, rather than human beings to be respected. While dowry may have initially been seen as a way to help the newly-married couple set up their home, greedy husbands and their families have used it to reduce marriage to a business arrangement where the element of money takes precedence over all other considerations. This greed has led to the horrific and painful death of thousands of women all over India, who have not been able to meet their husband’s family’s ever-increasing demands for dowry and is conti nuing to do so. In order to combat this clear social evil, in 1961 Parliament took the step of introducing legislati on to combat it by enacting the Dowry Prohibiti on Act 1961. This was the first law that made the giving of dowry, the taking of dowry and the demanding of dowry criminal off ences.
A key part of all of these newly-created off ences was the concept of ‘dowry’ and what it included. Therefore, at Section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961, the legislature introduced the following definition of dowry:

‘Dowry’ means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly-
(a) by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage; or
(b) by the parents of either party to a marriage or by any other person, to either party to the marriage or to any other person;
at or before or anytime aft er the marriage in connecti on with the marriage of said parties but does not include dower or mahr in the case of persons to whom the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) applies.

The institution of dowry prevalent in India cuts across all religions, castes, races and socio-economic groups. It is seen as a religious obligati on of the father to part with authority over his daughter and, in the course of fulfi llment of this ‘dharma’, the husband and his family are endowed with monetary and other benefi ts bestowed by the bride’s family. Usually the demand made is far beyond the capacity of the woman’s family, resulti ng in huge debts incurred in order to fulfil this religious duty. This custom is so deeply embedded in the larger framework of the society that, more oft en than not, this phenomenon is seen as a regular social practice, surpassing the enormity and threat that it poses to the delicate structure of a healthy and balanced society.


Quite often the form and nature of dowry differs, making it impossible to recognize any one disti nct method of transacti on that would consti tute the giving or taking of dowry. Therefore in additi on to the traditional payments made to the groom and his family, the amount or valuables paid to the husband or his relati ves subsequent to the marriage is also regarded as dowry, the underlying premise being that the transaction is made in connecti on with marriage.


Appallingly but not surprisingly, a major proporti on of violence against women is in relati on to and in connecti on with the failure to pay the amount demanded as dowry. As the phenomenon is not restricted to demands made solely on the occasion of marriage but long after the sacrament has been solemnized, there have been instances where torture of the bride and ‘bride burning’ have been reported years aft er the couple have cohabited together under the insti tuti on of marriage.


To combat the growing menace of dowry, the legislature enacted the Dowry Prohibition Act in 1961. Though the Act was the first major step by the legislature to deal with the ever increasing and variant forms of dowry, several legal infi rmiti es within the Act have prevented it from achieving what was intended of it, which necessitated further steps being taken to combat the problem.


As a result the legislature added Secti on 304-B to the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which made ‘dowry death’ a specific offence punishable with a minimum sentence of imprisonment for seven years and a maximum sentence of imprisonment for life. Although this provision, when read in conjuncti on with secti on 113B of the Evidence Act 1872, has enabled the convicti on of many who were not caught by the Dowry Preventi on Act, it too has failed to fully combat the menace of dowry. Perhaps in response to this failure, a recent trend of the judiciary has been to include a charge under Section 302 IPC, a murder charge, in additi on charges under Secti on 304-B IPC, as this allows courts to impose the death penalty on the perpetrators of the off ence. It remains to be seen whether this trend will conti nue but it is our sincere hope that it will not – Whilst the crime of dowry death is indeed a heinous and terrible crime, the implementati on of the death penalty for those convicted does no justi ce to either party.

According to NCRB reports on an average, every hour a woman succumbs to dowry deaths in India with the annual figure rising upwards of 7000. No matter how many PhDs a woman earns, her identity and the right to live is decided according to the kilos of gold, cash, latest vehicles and appliances she brings in dowry for her in-laws. If you are reading this article, share it widely so we can push for conversations that question this and helps us all change the system.
If the society as a whole understands more clearly the social evil only with society’s wider acceptance that dowry is deeply damaging can the menace that it presents be truly eradicated.

Covid-19:India adds 24,879 new cases, total cases 7,67,296.

India had a record single-day surge of 24,879 Corona cases taking the cases to 7,67,296 on Thursday, with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi, Telangana, UP and Andhra Pradesh contributing to around 75 per cent of the new cases, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The death toll climbed to 21,129 with 487 new deaths, the updated data at 8 am showed.

There have been 4,76,377 recovered cases, while there are 2,69,789 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country.

“Around 62.08 per cent of patients have recovered so far,” an official said.

The total number of confirmed cases included foreigners.

Of the 487 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, 198 are from Maharashtra, 64 from Tamil Nadu, 54 from Karnataka, 48 from Delhi, 23 from West Bengal, 18 from Uttar Pradesh, 16 from Gujarat, 12 from Andhra Pradesh, 11 from Telangana, 10 from Rajasthan, seven from Madhya Pradesh, six each from Jammu and Kashmir and Odisha, three each from Bihar, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana and two from Assam.

India is seeing huge surge in cases with almost 20,000 to 25,000 new cases every day. The positive fact is that recovery rate is very good around 61 % and death rate is also nearly 4-5% .India is facing many tensions amid such pandemic ie border disputes with China, terrorist attacks from Pakistan as well as internal attacks from gangsters. But India would soon sort out things and pave way for world to recover from this crisis.

The US may impose ban on TikTok along with other Chinese apps after India.

Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, has said that the country is contemplating to ban Chinese apps which include the majorly popular app, TikTok. Having said that, he also has mentioned how TikTok has caused security breaches by sharing information with the Chinese government. The app has experienced massive growth all over the world and now this statement by the Secretary of State could cause a major blow to the app.

On being asked a question which was on the lines of recommending users to download TikTok, Mike Pompeo replied saying, ‘ Only if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. ‘

This is definitely not the first time the TikTok has received a backlash on how this particular app is responsible for relaying information of a particular country back to China, India too has made the same allegations recently.

The ban may be seen in coming week after India had raised questions against The Chinese apps for sharing information with other servers located outside India. This can be huge blow to TikTok company after its ban in India.Now, U.S. lawmakers are also of the same opinion that the app definitely has some serious security concerns that should not be overlooked at any cost. Chinese laws also need domestic companies ‘to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.’ The U.S government has now made it very clear that the citizens of the country should be wary of the app.

The Chinese based app, which is owned by ByteDance, was asked to clarify the statements that stated the security concerns, to which it had completely denied the same. ‘We have no higher priority than promoting a safe and secure app experience for our users. We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked,’ TikTok has mentioned in the email it has sent.

It has now created a safe distance from its Chinese roots hoping to calm the global uproar it has created. In the case of the U.S., it is still unclear if the sole reason behind the thought of banning this app is purely based on security concerns.

‘Dhoni not thinking about retirement:’, his manager provides huge updates on former Indian captain’s future.

MS Dhoni’s manager Mihir Diwakar has clarified that the wicketkeeper batsman does not seem to be harbouring thoughts of retirement as of now. The former India captain, who has not played any form of cricket since India’s World Cup exit last year, turned 39 on Tuesday.

His manager and childhood friend Mihir Diwakar, while speaking to PTI, gave a peek into the trailblazer’s reclusive life at his home in Ranchi.

“Patriotism is in his blood, be it serving for the country (in defence) or (farming) the land, he’s very passionate about it. He has about 40-50 acres of farm land and he is busy growing organic crops like papaya, banana there,” Diwakar said.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was expected to be back in action at the IPL but that has been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.He was recently seen driving a tractor during the lockdown. Diwakar said they are soon going to launch their organic fertiliser under their company’s name Neo Global.

He said the fertiliser is being tested at Dhoni’s farm. Dhoni recently spoke about the harmful impact of pesticides in a video to promote organic farming. “We have a team of experts and scientists and they have developed the fertiliser and it should be launched within two-three months,” Diwakar said.”I spoke to him past midnight. It was a normal business talk. As usual, Dhoni would be at home with his family, with a quiet birthday celebration.”

India's MS Dhoni, second right, carries his bats before batting in the nets during a training session.

Asked whether retirement has crossed Dhoni’s mind, Diwakar said: “Being friends, we don’t talk about his cricket. But looking at him, he’s not all thinking about retirement.”He is very determined to play the IPL. He has worked really hard for this. If you remember he was there in Chennai one month in advance before everything was shut down,” he pointed out.

“He is very determined to play the IPL. He has worked really hard for this. If you remember he was there in Chennai one month in advance before everything was shut down,” he pointed out.

“He has maintained his fitness regimen at his farmhouse and will start practice after the lockdown is lifted. Everything now depends on how fast the situation returns to normalcy,” he concluded.

MS Dhoni