Govt officials may be allowed to use Facebook
Ahmedabad, September 9
The government is planning to put in place a framework for officials that would allow them to leverage the power of the social media, a top official of the Department of Information and Technology (DIT) said here today.
“We are creating a framework that would help Central departments and officials to use social media like Facebook, Twitter effectively,” said Additional Secretary DIT, Shankar Aggarwal.
“We expect to give a final shape to it (framework) over the next two or three months and notify it,” he said.
“The idea is that they can enter into a dialogue with the public more freely, take suggestions, feedbacks and provide updates. It shall be more of a two-way rather than a one-way communication,” Aggarwal stated.
“Social media is being used extensively by civil society, but unfortunately, we do not have any framework for the Central government and state government,” he said.
“The government officials are scared of using the social media because they are not sure whether they are allowed to use it or not,” he added.
Meanwhile, the government is planning to introduce the Right to Public Services Act soon that would make it mandatory for the government entities to deliver public services in an electronic form too.
“We have already created a framework and for this (Act) and the framework is to be converted into a law. We think we will be able to introduce it in the next session of the Parliament and this will become a law,” he said.
“Under this, we shall be trying to ask the government entities to deliver all the public services in an electronic form also. It has to be achieved over the next five years,” he informed.
Aggarwal said they had been planning to develop a payment gateway for the entire country so that the people could pay electronically for various services. — PTI
Source: Tribune India
Saturday, 10 September 2011
Friday, 9 September 2011
HNBGU Faculty Jobs 2011
Posted: 08 Sep 2011 01:05 AM PDT
HNBGU Faculty Jobs 2011Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University invites following faculty positions in various disciplines : Assistant Professor : 118 posts, Pay Scale : Rs.15600-39100 AGP Rs.6000/-Associate Professor : 14 posts, Pay Scale : Rs.37400-67000 AGP Rs.9000/-Professor : 35 posts, Pay Scale : Rs.37400-67000 AGP Rs.10000/-Librarian : 01 post, Pay Scale : Rs.37400-67000 AGP [...]
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority Jobs 2011
Posted: 08 Sep 2011 12:59 AM PDT
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority Jobs 2011Applications are invited for the following permanent posts in MMRDA. :Post : Sr. Transportation PlannerVacancies : 1Pay Scale : Rs.15600-39100 grade pay Rs.7600/- Post : Transportation PlannerVacancies : 4Pay Scale : Rs.15600-39100 grade pay Rs.6600/- Post : Dy. Transportation PlannerVacancies : 7Pay Scale : Rs.15600-39100 grade pay [...]
for more detail follow
http://way2abroad.com/
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Interesting Facts about India
Interesting Facts about India
India never invaded any country in her last 100000 years of history.
When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilization)
The name 'India' is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu.
The Persian invaders converted it into Hindu. The name 'Hindustan' combines Sindhu and Hindu and thus refers to the land of the Hindus.
Chess was invented in India.
Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies, which originated in India.
The 'Place Value System' and the 'Decimal System' were developed in India in 100 B.C.
The World's First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara Temple at Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The shikhara of the temple is made from a single 80-tonne piece of granite. This magnificent temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola.
India is the largest democracy in the world, the 7th largest Country in the world, and one of the most ancient civilizations.
The game of Snakes & Ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called 'Mokshapat'. The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with cowrie shells and dices. In time, the game underwent several modifications, but its meaning remained the same, i.e. good deeds take people to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births.
The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after leveling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.
India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world.
The largest employer in India is the Indian Railways, employing over a million people.
The world's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The Father of Medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.
India was one of the richest countries till the time of British rule in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus, attracted by India's wealth, had come looking for a sea route to India when he discovered America by mistake.
The Art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh over 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word 'NAVGATIH'. The word navy is also derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nou'.
Bhaskaracharya rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the Sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. According to his calculation, the time taken by the Earth to orbit the Sun was 365.258756484 days.
The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, long before the European mathematicians.
Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus also originated in India.Quadratic Equations were used by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10*53 (i.e. 10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 B.C.during the Vedic period.Even today, the largest used number is Terra: 10*12(10 to the power of 12).
Until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds in the world
(Source: Gemological Institute of America).
The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.
Sushruta is regarded as the Father of Surgery. Over2600 years ago Sushrata & his team conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones, plastic surgery and brain surgeries.
Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient Indian medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism,physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts.
India exports software to 90 countries.
The four religions born in India - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population.
Jainism and Buddhism were founded in India in 600 B.C. and 500 B.C. respectively.
Islam is India's and the world's second largest religion.
There are 300,000 active mosques in India, more than in any other country, including the Muslim world.
The oldest European church and synagogue in India are in the city of Cochin. They were built in 1503 and 1568 respectively.
Jews and Christians have lived continuously in India since 200 B.C. and 52 A.D. respectively
The largest religious building in the world is Angkor Wat, a Hindu Temple in Cambodia built at the end of the 11th century.
The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world's largest religious pilgrimage destination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca, an average of 30,000 visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday.
Sikhism originated in the Holy city of Amritsar in Punjab. Famous for housing the Golden Temple, the city was founded in 1577.
Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.
India provides safety for more than 300,000 refugees originally from Sri Lanka, Tibet, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who escaped to flee religious and political persecution.
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, runs his government in exile from Dharmashala in northern India.
Martial Arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries.
Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.
India never invaded any country in her last 100000 years of history.
When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilization)
The name 'India' is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu.
The Persian invaders converted it into Hindu. The name 'Hindustan' combines Sindhu and Hindu and thus refers to the land of the Hindus.
Chess was invented in India.
Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies, which originated in India.
The 'Place Value System' and the 'Decimal System' were developed in India in 100 B.C.
The World's First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara Temple at Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The shikhara of the temple is made from a single 80-tonne piece of granite. This magnificent temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola.
India is the largest democracy in the world, the 7th largest Country in the world, and one of the most ancient civilizations.
The game of Snakes & Ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called 'Mokshapat'. The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with cowrie shells and dices. In time, the game underwent several modifications, but its meaning remained the same, i.e. good deeds take people to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births.
The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after leveling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.
India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world.
The largest employer in India is the Indian Railways, employing over a million people.
The world's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The Father of Medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.
India was one of the richest countries till the time of British rule in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus, attracted by India's wealth, had come looking for a sea route to India when he discovered America by mistake.
The Art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh over 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word 'NAVGATIH'. The word navy is also derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nou'.
Bhaskaracharya rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the Sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. According to his calculation, the time taken by the Earth to orbit the Sun was 365.258756484 days.
The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, long before the European mathematicians.
Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus also originated in India.Quadratic Equations were used by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10*53 (i.e. 10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 B.C.during the Vedic period.Even today, the largest used number is Terra: 10*12(10 to the power of 12).
Until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds in the world
(Source: Gemological Institute of America).
The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.
Sushruta is regarded as the Father of Surgery. Over2600 years ago Sushrata & his team conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones, plastic surgery and brain surgeries.
Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient Indian medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism,physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts.
India exports software to 90 countries.
The four religions born in India - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population.
Jainism and Buddhism were founded in India in 600 B.C. and 500 B.C. respectively.
Islam is India's and the world's second largest religion.
There are 300,000 active mosques in India, more than in any other country, including the Muslim world.
The oldest European church and synagogue in India are in the city of Cochin. They were built in 1503 and 1568 respectively.
Jews and Christians have lived continuously in India since 200 B.C. and 52 A.D. respectively
The largest religious building in the world is Angkor Wat, a Hindu Temple in Cambodia built at the end of the 11th century.
The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world's largest religious pilgrimage destination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca, an average of 30,000 visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday.
Sikhism originated in the Holy city of Amritsar in Punjab. Famous for housing the Golden Temple, the city was founded in 1577.
Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.
India provides safety for more than 300,000 refugees originally from Sri Lanka, Tibet, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who escaped to flee religious and political persecution.
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, runs his government in exile from Dharmashala in northern India.
Martial Arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries.
Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.
Monday, 5 September 2011
Seven proven ways to live a happy life !
Seven Proven Ways to Live A Happy Life
There has been a lot of research into how to live a happy life, and these are just some findings I came across.
“Proven ways” refers to generalised results suggested by these studies and until you try each one out for yourself, it remains unproven for you as an individual.
So why not try a few and see for yourself which really lead to a happy life?
photo credit: waffler
1. Believe in something
Some studies suggest that religious people are more than twice as likely as the secular to say they were “very happy”. While this in itself is not a reason to hastily adopt a religion, we may do well to believe in something. Have you ever met a happy skeptic?
Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.”
- Dale Carnegie
2. Embrace silence
Almost every person I’ve met who is living a happy life has cited “personal retreats”, “quiet time”, “me time” or some equivalent as an essential contribution to their happiness. Neuroscience professor Richard Davidson measured the brain activity of Buddhist monks and showed that meditation actually altered the physical state of the brain in a way that made them feel happier.
“A happy life must be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in an atmosphere of quiet that true joy dare live.”
- Bertrand Russell
3. Work on your own terms
In a recent study, those who work at their own business were much happier than even those in highly-paid professions. Having control over what we do, how we allocate our time, and choosing to do what we enjoy – these go a long way toward living a happy life. You don’t necessarily have to quit your job though – for example you could negotiate your terms of work so that you’re effectively working the way you want to.
“Drive your business; let not that drive thee.”
- Benjamin Franklin
4. Find your “flow” experience
The concept of “flow” as described by Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi came from his observation that people with happy lives tend to engage in activities which required both a high level of challenge and a high level of skill. High challenge with low skill caused anxiety, while low challenge with high skill brought boredom. (Watching TV, interestingly, is low challenge with low skill and leads to apathy.) Whether your “flow” activity is dancing, painting, or water-skiiing, do it often!
“Live life as a work of art, rather than as a chaotic response to external events.”- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
5. Have something to look forward to
Viktor Frankl’s famous book Man’s Search for Meaning showed the world how having something to look forward to helped him survive extreme conditions of torture and deprivation. Recent research by neuroscientist Brian Knutson using MRI to measure brain activity suggests that even on a normal day-to-day basis, anticipation is a big part of a happy life.
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
- Friedrich Nietzsche
6. Hang out with friends
Friendship seems to have a much greater effect on how happy our life is than a typical person’s income. Economist Professor Oswald estimated that a person needs £50,000 to make up for not having friends. It is even thought that friendship can ward off germs by activating the part of the brain that controls disease. No wonder we reach for the phone to call a friend when we’re feeling blue.
“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.”
- Tennessee Williams
7. Just carry on living
Happiness seems to follow a U-shaped life cycle: it’s highest at the beginning and end of our lives, and lowest in the middle. So if you’re feeling blue now, you may be at the bottom of the U; if you just wait a few years, you may find yourself having a happy life again!
“At my age I do what Mark Twain did. I get my daily paper, look at the obituaries page and if I’m not there I carry on as usual.”
- Patrick Moore
There has been a lot of research into how to live a happy life, and these are just some findings I came across.
“Proven ways” refers to generalised results suggested by these studies and until you try each one out for yourself, it remains unproven for you as an individual.
So why not try a few and see for yourself which really lead to a happy life?
photo credit: waffler
1. Believe in something
Some studies suggest that religious people are more than twice as likely as the secular to say they were “very happy”. While this in itself is not a reason to hastily adopt a religion, we may do well to believe in something. Have you ever met a happy skeptic?
Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.”
- Dale Carnegie
2. Embrace silence
Almost every person I’ve met who is living a happy life has cited “personal retreats”, “quiet time”, “me time” or some equivalent as an essential contribution to their happiness. Neuroscience professor Richard Davidson measured the brain activity of Buddhist monks and showed that meditation actually altered the physical state of the brain in a way that made them feel happier.
“A happy life must be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in an atmosphere of quiet that true joy dare live.”
- Bertrand Russell
3. Work on your own terms
In a recent study, those who work at their own business were much happier than even those in highly-paid professions. Having control over what we do, how we allocate our time, and choosing to do what we enjoy – these go a long way toward living a happy life. You don’t necessarily have to quit your job though – for example you could negotiate your terms of work so that you’re effectively working the way you want to.
“Drive your business; let not that drive thee.”
- Benjamin Franklin
4. Find your “flow” experience
The concept of “flow” as described by Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi came from his observation that people with happy lives tend to engage in activities which required both a high level of challenge and a high level of skill. High challenge with low skill caused anxiety, while low challenge with high skill brought boredom. (Watching TV, interestingly, is low challenge with low skill and leads to apathy.) Whether your “flow” activity is dancing, painting, or water-skiiing, do it often!
“Live life as a work of art, rather than as a chaotic response to external events.”- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
5. Have something to look forward to
Viktor Frankl’s famous book Man’s Search for Meaning showed the world how having something to look forward to helped him survive extreme conditions of torture and deprivation. Recent research by neuroscientist Brian Knutson using MRI to measure brain activity suggests that even on a normal day-to-day basis, anticipation is a big part of a happy life.
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
- Friedrich Nietzsche
6. Hang out with friends
Friendship seems to have a much greater effect on how happy our life is than a typical person’s income. Economist Professor Oswald estimated that a person needs £50,000 to make up for not having friends. It is even thought that friendship can ward off germs by activating the part of the brain that controls disease. No wonder we reach for the phone to call a friend when we’re feeling blue.
“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.”
- Tennessee Williams
7. Just carry on living
Happiness seems to follow a U-shaped life cycle: it’s highest at the beginning and end of our lives, and lowest in the middle. So if you’re feeling blue now, you may be at the bottom of the U; if you just wait a few years, you may find yourself having a happy life again!
“At my age I do what Mark Twain did. I get my daily paper, look at the obituaries page and if I’m not there I carry on as usual.”
- Patrick Moore
Friday, 2 September 2011
Panel for assured Returns on New Pension System
A parliamentary panel has recommended that subscribers to the New Pension System (NPS) should get an assured return on their investments, that is, at least equal to the interest rate given by the Employees' Provident Fund Scheme.
The Standing Committee on Finance headed by Yashwant Sinha has also suggested imposing a 26 per cent cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) in pension programmes.
“The committee notes that foreign investment in the pension sector may be capped at 26 per cent...,” the panel said in its recommendations on the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, 2011.
The Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha in March, 2011, has no provisions pertaining to FDI as yet.
The panel said spelling out the FDI policy in the provisions of the PFRDA Bill would have been more in the “fitness of things, as the pension fund managers holding the stake of the old age income security of their clients cannot be compared” with other agencies in the financial sector.
Currently, FDI is not allowed in pension schemes.
The committee also suggested that the government devised a mechanism so that subscribers of the NPS get guaranteed returns on their pension, so that they were not at any disadvantage via-a-vis other pensioners.
“The committee would recommend that the minimum rate of return on the contributions to the pension fund of the employee should not be less than the rate of interest on the Employees Provident Fund Scheme,” it said.
In India, no pension fund management company offers a guaranteed pension product.
Subscribers to the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) get annualised interest of 9.5 per cent on their contribution. The NPS, launched in January, 2004, has about 24 lakh subscribers, mostly those employed with the Central Government.
The committee further suggested that the government made concerted efforts to extend the coverage of the scheme in both the public and private sector. The committee said that a Pension Advisory Committee be set up under the Bill which would look into the interest of the subscribers.
“The committee desires that the Pension Advisory Committee should be delegated more power and independence... play a more meaningful role by rendering advice suo—motu even on matters not referred to it,” the report said.
As on March 31, 2011, total assets managed by the pension fund managers amounted to Rs.8,585 crore.
At present, seven fund houses — LIC Pension Fund, SBI Pension Funds, UTI Retirement Solutions, IDFC Pension Fund Management Company, ICICI Prudential Pension Fund Management, Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund and Reliance Capital Pensions Fund — manage the investment corpus.
The Standing Committee on Finance headed by Yashwant Sinha has also suggested imposing a 26 per cent cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) in pension programmes.
“The committee notes that foreign investment in the pension sector may be capped at 26 per cent...,” the panel said in its recommendations on the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, 2011.
The Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha in March, 2011, has no provisions pertaining to FDI as yet.
The panel said spelling out the FDI policy in the provisions of the PFRDA Bill would have been more in the “fitness of things, as the pension fund managers holding the stake of the old age income security of their clients cannot be compared” with other agencies in the financial sector.
Currently, FDI is not allowed in pension schemes.
The committee also suggested that the government devised a mechanism so that subscribers of the NPS get guaranteed returns on their pension, so that they were not at any disadvantage via-a-vis other pensioners.
“The committee would recommend that the minimum rate of return on the contributions to the pension fund of the employee should not be less than the rate of interest on the Employees Provident Fund Scheme,” it said.
In India, no pension fund management company offers a guaranteed pension product.
Subscribers to the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) get annualised interest of 9.5 per cent on their contribution. The NPS, launched in January, 2004, has about 24 lakh subscribers, mostly those employed with the Central Government.
The committee further suggested that the government made concerted efforts to extend the coverage of the scheme in both the public and private sector. The committee said that a Pension Advisory Committee be set up under the Bill which would look into the interest of the subscribers.
“The committee desires that the Pension Advisory Committee should be delegated more power and independence... play a more meaningful role by rendering advice suo—motu even on matters not referred to it,” the report said.
As on March 31, 2011, total assets managed by the pension fund managers amounted to Rs.8,585 crore.
At present, seven fund houses — LIC Pension Fund, SBI Pension Funds, UTI Retirement Solutions, IDFC Pension Fund Management Company, ICICI Prudential Pension Fund Management, Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund and Reliance Capital Pensions Fund — manage the investment corpus.
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