Jessica Simpson Opens Up

Jessica Simpson Opens Up

Maintaining her busy schedule, Jessica Simpson was spotted hitting up a local tanning salon before departing on a plane at the Burbank Airport yesterday (September 3).

And recently, the “Come On Over” songstress put her life on pause to talk to FOX Pop Tarts’ Hollie McKay about some of the content on her upcoming album “Do You Know.”

Regarding the track “Remember That,” Jess revealed, “It was one of those moments that just moved me to tears — it’s empowering. It’s about that woman really standing up for herself in an abusive situation whether it is mental, physical, emotional. Everybody has dealt with abuse in some sort of way.”

Miss Simpson continued, “I thought it was important to tell women to take their heart and run as fast as they can if they’re in that situation, because you’re better than that.”

Speaking of abuse, the “With You” singer also spoke about the beating she’s been taking from the media. “I am a very open person, but how the media is these days makes it hard. Unfortunately people want to believe bad stuff and I just don’t understand that — sometimes it is like a personal attack. It’s a challenge for me to act like it’s just part of my career. If they knew your heart, they wouldn’t be talking about you like this.”

Photo Credit: FlynetOnline.com

Source: celebrity-gossip.net

Miley Cyrus: Big Apple Babe

Miley Cyrus: Big Apple Babe

She’s never in one city for very long, and the latest destination for Miley Cyrus is NYC. The “Hannah Montana” babe was spotted out and about in the Big Apple earlier today on her way to Green Spa.

The “7 Things” songstress will be in Manhattan through the end of the week per her “Stand Up To Cancer” benefit duties, including performing “Just Stand Up” with a host of fellow celebrities.

And it sounds like this November, Miss Cyrus will be celebrating her sweet 16 birthday with an uber-cool new car- a Mercedes CLK 550 Cabriolet!

According to sources, Miley plunked down a cool $75,000 for the fully-loaded luxury sports car. And she got it customized to fit her needs. “Miley wanted special options like parking assist and a cream-colored leather interior, so she ordered the car early. She’s telling everyone that she hopes to get a car when she turns 16, so when it comes, she can say it was a surprise from her parents.”

Cyrus recently told press, “I definitely want to get something bad on the road, big enough for all my friends and to scare all the cars away from me. I’m a good driver but it’s everyone else that I’m worried about!”

Photo Credit: INF Daily

Source: celebrity-gossip.net

Cameron Diaz is On Cloud Nine

Cameron Diaz is On Cloud Nine

Following a night at the US Open with her British model beau, Cameron Diaz enjoyed a relaxing girls day out with her gal pal in New York City on Wednesday (September 3).

The “There’s Something About Mary” actress and her companion made their way to the Chelsea neighborhood - proceeding on to a salon for pedicures.

According to a source on the scene, Cameron had her toes painted purple and was in high spirits - laughing the entire time.

Meanwhile, after being spotted canoodling at Arthur Ashe stadium earlier this week, wedding rumors have already begun for Cameron and her boyfriend of 3 months, Paul Sculfor.

“Cameron and Paul have become very close very fast” a source told a Grazia magazine. “Things are moving faster than they thought and they’re even talking about marriage.”

Despite the rumors, Miss Diaz has insisted that they have “a very open relationship” and she was “not yet ready for marriage.”


Source: celebrity-gossip.net

Gujarat University - www.gujaratuniversity.org.in

Gujarat University - www.gujaratuniversity.org.in

The Gujarat University was conceived in the nineteen twenties in the minds of public-spirited and learned men like Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, Acharya Anandshankar B. Dhruva, Dada Saheb Mavlankar, Kasturbhai Lalbhai and many others. However, the University could come into existence only after the achievement of independence.In 1949, the University was incorporated under the Gujarat University Act of the State Government ‘as a teaching and affiliating University.’ This was done as a measure of decentralisation and reorganization of University education in the then Province of Bombay.

During the course of its life of more than five decades, the University has seen the establishment of seven more Universities which were carved out of the jurisdiction of the Gujarat University, viz., Sardar Patel University, Saurashtra University, Bhavnagar University, South Gujarat University, Gujarat Ayurveda University, Gujarat Agricultural University and North Gujarat University. Even then, the Gujarat University is the largest university in the state catering to the needs of higher education of more than two lakh students scattered over 235 colleges, 15 recognised institutions and 24 approved institutions. There are 34 Post-Graduate University departments and 221 P.G. Centres.

Gujarat University is an affiliating University at the under-graduate level, while it is a teaching one at the post-graduate level. Indeed, the responsibility for post-graduate instruction has been statutorily given to the University, and accordingly it has evolved a plan of co-ordinated instruction under the direct control and supervision of the University so as to ensure efficient and diversified instruction. An important feature of this University is the system of external examinations in the Faculties of Arts and Commerce, both and under-graduate and post-graduate levels. The external examinations were introduced with a view to enabling working students and the others who could not afford the high cost of university education to realize their dream.

Gujarat University has developed phenomenally in the last 57 years to be recognized as a premier University in the country today. It provides education in one of the widest range of disciplines to about two lakh students.


M Ed. Admissions -2008
PGDCSA_Admissions_2008
B Ed. Admissions -2008
Circular_for_PG_Centres_and_PG_Courses
Master_in_Development_Communication at_C.D.C._Admissions_200
DM_MCh_Admissions_2008
Talim_Rojgar_Directorate_of_Employment and Training_Gujarat
PG Medical_Dental_Nursing_Physiotheraphy Admissions-2008
Right To Information Act 2005
Online Public Access Catalogue of Gujarat University Library
Examination Results
New Courses


Source: http://www.gujaratuniversity.org.in/web/index.asp

Teachers day: Punjab CM, Education Minister greet on teachers day

Teachers day: Punjab CM, Education Minister greet on teachers day

CHANDIGARH:Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Thursday felicitated the teaching fraternity on the occasion of Teachers' Day and called upon them to become a 'role model' to impart value-based quality education to the students. He also exhorted them make all out efforts to infuse the noble qualities of discipline, righteousness, truthfulness, sense of integrity and high character amongst the students.

In his message on the occasion of Teachers' day, which coincides with the Birth Anniversary of the former President of India late Dr. Sarvpalli Radha Krishnan and an eminent academician, statesman and a great philosopher who is ever remembered by all of us for his unparalleled contribution towards the restructuring of the education system in India, Badal said that after the mother, it was the teacher who leaves an indelible impression on the mind of a child that could never be wiped out with the passage of time. Mr. Badal said, "The real tribute to Dr. Radha Krishnan on this solemn occasion as a teacher would be to discharge our duties with utmost dedication, sincerity and commitment".

Badal said that the SAD-BJP Government was committed to provide quality education to the students and the concept of setting up of Adarsh Schools across the state was a right step in this direction. He also appealed the members of the society to pay due respect and recognition to the teachers as they perform a sagacious duty of nation builder in shaping the destiny of our country.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Punjab Dr. Upinderjit Kaur also extended her warm greetings to the teaching fraternity on the occasion of Teacher's Day and urged them to make all out efforts to infuse the noble qualities of discipline, righteousness, truthfulness, sense of integrity, high character and dedication amongst the students. She said that the teachers have a crucial role to play in such transformation by combining the academic pursuits with values of secularism, humanism and good fellow ship.

In the message on the occasion of teacher's day, this coincides with the birth anniversary of former President of India late Dr. Sarvpalli Radha Krishnan and an eminent academician, statesman and a great philosopher, whose contribution in various fields especially in restructuring the education system was unparalleled and unprecedented.

Describing the teachers as guardians of principles, moral values and socio-economic culture, she said that teachers could play an important role of supportive friends, guides and counsellors for the students besides imparting them value based education to enable them to become ideal citizens of the society.

Dr. Upinderjit Kaur assured the teachers that the State Government was making concerted efforts to create a congenial atmosphere to enable them to discharge their duties efficiently manner. She said that this day also reminds us of our responsibilities towards our teaching community and appealed to the people to pay due respect to our teachers and recognize their role in the process of Nation building.


Source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/12055/38/

Teachers Day: Some thoughts

Teachers Day: Some thoughts

03.09.2008 by arZan Category Education, india

September 5th is this Friday. In India we celebrate this as Teachers Day. It is the birth anniversary of Dr. Radhakrishnan, India’s second President and a literary scholar and life long educator. It is in his honor and to celebrate the educators in our lives that we celebrate September 5th every year as teachers day.

Teachers have always held a revered position in the Indian social structure. They have been given the same status as one’s own parents and not without merit.

Indian mythology has tales abound about student-teacher relationships and one is taught about Eklaviya who gave away his thumb because his teacher asked for it.

In today’s day and age it would be a little difficult to image one doing that. However the ethos behind the tale is the real story.

Sadly in today’s fast paced world, the value of teachers and what they do is fast losing importance.

Teaching is a profession, and as in all professions, some do it merely as that, and some do it with a passion, that changes the lives of the children and teenagers who come into contact with such teachers.

If you ever have come across one teacher in all your student life, who has changed your life and your way of thinking for the better, you have been blessed. Thankfully I have had several such opportunities. Right from pre-primary school right up to architecture college, and then graduate school, I have benefited from teachers who have gone beyond their call of duty, to mould me and my fellow students into better human beings, first and foremost, and then to instill in us a sense of purpose for life, that at a young age seems all too ambiguous.

These teachers went above the regular lectures, exams, viva’s and juries, and made me realize that education is something much more than what is contained in the printed text book.

I consider education to be one of the nobler professions, akin to medicine. Teachers who spend their lives teaching kids, do more than just teach. They help mould the future of our communities, cities and countries.

I shall forever be thankful to all those wonderful teachers, who have enriched my life. To name a few would not be fair, because there are too many to name. And this is a day about all the teachers who have worked silently, under great stress and pressure to produce responsible and capable citizens of this world.


Source: http://wadias.in/site/arzan/blog/teachers-day-some-thoughts/

WWE Unforgiven 2008

WWE Unforgiven 2008

Unforgiven (2008) will be the eleventh annual Unforgiven professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It will take place on September 7, 2008, at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The event will feature wrestlers from the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands.

Information
Promotion World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand (s) Raw
SmackDown
ECW
Date September 7, 2008
Venue Quicken Loans Arena
City Cleveland, Ohio
Pay-per-view chronology
SummerSlam (2008) Unforgiven (2008) No Mercy (2008)
Unforgiven chronology
Unforgiven (2007) Unforgiven (2008) TBD

Background
Six professional wrestling matches are currently scheduled to be featured on the event's card. These matches are planned with predetermined outcomes by WWE's creative staff and feature wrestlers playing a character for the entertainment of the audience. All wrestlers will be from either the Raw, SmackDown, or ECW brands - the three storyline divisions in which WWE assigns its employees.

The primary rivalry on the Raw brand is a Championship Scramble for the World Heavyweight Championship. On the August 18 episode of Raw, General Manager Mike Adamle announced the bout, which will involve CM Punk (Phil Brooks), John "Bradshaw" Layfield (John Layfield), Kane (Glen Jacobs), Batista (Dave Bautista), and Rey Mysterio (Oscar Gutierrez). This match has a 20-minute time limit, during which participants can become the temporary champion via pinfall or submission. The final superstar who gains a victory when the time limit expires will leave the match as the champion. Only the person who wins the match will be officially recognized as the champion. John Cena was one of the initial participants in the match. However, on the August 25 edition of Raw, Adamle announced that Cena had suffered a herniated disc in his neck in his match with Batista at SummerSlam, taking him out of the Scramble. Rey Mysterio was subsequently named as Cena's replacement.

The other rivalry on the Raw brand is between Shawn Michaels (Michael Hickenbottom) and Chris Jericho (Christopher Irvine). At SummerSlam, Jericho accidentally punched Michaels' wife Rebecca in the face when Michaels publicly announced that he was (kayfabe) retiring from WWE. On the August 25 edition of Raw, Michaels revealed that he had denounced his decision to retire and challenged Jericho to an Unsanctioned match at Unforgiven.

The predominant rivalry on the SmackDown brand is another Championship Scramble for the WWE Championship held by Triple H (Paul Levesque). The match was announced on the August 22 broadcast of SmackDown by General Manager Vickie Guerrero, who also announced a series of qualifying matches. The qualifiers were The Brian Kendrick (Brian Kendrick), Shelton Benjamin, Montel Vontavious Porter (Alvin Burke, Jr.), and Jeff Hardy.

The primary rivalry on the ECW brand is a third Championship Scramble for the ECW Championship. The August 26 episode of ECW opened with General Manager Theodore Long announcing that the ECW brand would have its own Championship Scramble match at Unforgiven. During the episode, Matt Hardy, The Miz (Mike Mizanin), Chavo Guerrero (Salvador Guerrero III), and Finlay (Dave Finlay) qualified to be the four challengers for Mark Henry's ECW Championship.


Reception

Despite its promotional build-up, only a reported 6,000 tickets have been sold for the event for an area that holds 20,000 people.


Matches

Match Stipulation
CM Punk (c) vs. Batista vs. Kane vs. John "Bradshaw" Layfield vs. Rey Mysterio[4] Championship Scramble for the World Heavyweight Championship
Triple H (c) vs. The Brian Kendrick vs. Montel Vontavious Porter vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Jeff Hardy Championship Scramble for the WWE Championship
Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels Unsanctioned match
Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase (c) vs. Cryme Tyme (JTG and Shad Gaspard) Tag team match for the World Tag Team Championship
Mark Henry (c) vs. Matt Hardy vs. The Miz vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. Finlay Championship Scramble for the ECW Championship
Michelle McCool (c) vs. Maryse


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unforgiven_(2008)

WWE: Update on Shawn Michaels' Injury; Can He Compete At Unforgiven?

WWE: Update on Shawn Michaels' Injury; Can He Compete At Unforgiven?

by Cassidy Haslett on 2 September 2008 7:54 pm

The following is from WWE.com:

After a comprehensive examination, it has been determined that Shawn Michaels suffered a small tear on his left triceps during a confrontation with Chris Jericho, but is medically cleared to wrestle.

"Before the MRI," Michaels told WWE.com, "my doctor was 99.9 percent sure that I had a full tear of my triceps and that I would experience bruising, swelling and a loss of my range of motion. Through the power of prayer, none of those things happened and I am ready for Unforgiven."

Michaels' Unsanctioned Match with Jericho at Sunday's pay-per-view is as personal as any contest in sports-entertainment history. After Jericho struck HBK's wife during Michaels' retirement announcement at SummerSlam due to an eye injury suffered at Jericho's hands, The Showstopper has had his mind and heart set on revenge.

"Regardless of what the MRI revealed, I made it clear that I was going forward with this match," he said.

At the conclusion of Raw this week, after signing a contract for the pay-per-view match and fending off a surprise attack by Lance Cade, WWE fans at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis saw Michaels favoring his left elbow, which he appeared to injure. Immediate medical examination revealed a damaged left triceps.

What effect will this injury have on Shawn Michaels' attempt at retribution against Chris Jericho this Sunday?


WWE.com


http://www.wrestling101.com/101/newsitem/6278/

WWE Unforgiven Scramble: Utter Destruction or a Walk in the Park?

WWE Unforgiven Scramble: Utter Destruction or a Walk in the Park?

On September 7, Ohio will never be the same again after Mike Adamle's giant announcement of the WWE scramble to be held at WWE Unforgiven. Each brand will have their own scramble. The first scramble to be made was the RAW scramble, consisting of CM Punk, Kane, JBL, Batista, and Rey Mysterio, filling in for John Cena.

This scramble could have more swithcing hands of the title than Hardcore had at Wrestlemania 2000. All of the participants in this scramble were former champions in their time, so odds are that the title will switch hands maybe even more than once.

The man with the highest percentage of holding the title would be Batista because of his three-time reign as WHC. JBL might have a chance of grabbing it because of his desire to be champion again. Kane might not have a big shot becasue of his fued with Mysterio and Batista, so he might not get the title at all. And CM punk could possibly hold the title too, proving he's not a second rate champion.

The second scramble is the Smackdown one consisting of Triple H, MVP, Jeff Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, and Brian Kendrick—but not any Brian Kendrick, The Brian Kendrick.

Well, Triple H thought it was funny, and so did I, that this 12-time champion is facing no former champions. About 90% of winning is going to Triple H because of his skills and determination. Five percent would have to go to MVP or Jeff Hardy because they're fighting as it is, and they're both pretty damn tough in wrestling.

Shelton Benjamin has a bad chance to win because Triple H will be all over him because they hate each other anyways, or Shelton would be on Hardy because of their feud from Summerslam. And The Brian Kendrick? Don't make me laugh. The only way he could get the title is if Zek helps him out.

The final scramble is the ECW scramble, consisting of Mark Henry, Finlay, The Mizz, Matt Hardy, and Chavo. I'd definitely have to say that Mark Henry would be the top dog here because of his size and power above all the others.

My second guess would be Finlay because of his veteran skills and his way to always use that shillelagh.

My next guess would be Chavo because of his former championship reign, so that might come in handy.

Then Matt Hardy would be the next, because of his fued with Mark Henry, so he might have a chance.

Then there's the Mizz, and he's the same as Brian Kendrick. The Mizz might get help from Jon Morrison.

In end terms, is it really worth it or is it going to be a big joke, just like TNA? We'll all have to wait and see on September 7.


Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/52584-wwe-unforgiven-scramble-utter-destruction-or-a-walk-in-the-park

New Title Match Added to WWE's Unforgiven PPV

New Title Match Added to WWE's Unforgiven PPV

Story By: Marc Middleton

WWE has added another Title match to this Sunday's Unforgiven. Below is the updated card:

- World Tag Team Title Match: Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes vs. Cryme Tyme

- Unsanctioned Match: Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho

- ECW Title Scramble Match: Mark Henry vs. Matt Hardy vs. The Miz vs. Finlay vs. Chavo Guerrero

- World Title Scramble Match: CM Punk vs. Kane vs. JBL vs. Batista vs. Rey Mysterio

- WWE Title Scramble Match: HHH vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. MVP vs. The Brian Kendrick

- Divas Championship Match: Michelle McCool vs. Maryse


Source: http://www.prowrestling.com/article/news/10192

WWE Unforgiven Tickets Not Going Good, Maven Update, More Notes

WWE Unforgiven Tickets Not Going Good, Maven Update, More Notes

Reported By marcm0484

Partial source: Wrestling Observer

- Former WWE Intercontinental Champion D-Lo Brown will be appearing at the WWE developmental show this Thursday night at The FCW Arena in Tampa, beginning at 7:30PM.

- WWE announced a show on 4/24/2009 in Geneva, Switzerland at The Arena. Tickets go on sale September 12th.

- Former WWE Superstar Maven Huffman recently appeared on The Home Shopping Network.

- Tickets for WWE's Unforgiven pay-per-view this Sunday in Cleveland are moving unusually slow. Less than 6,000 tickets are believed to have been sold. Many of the local radio stations are also giving away free tickets to fans.


http://www.impactwrestling.com/Content.aspx?ID=19874

Who will win at WWE Unforgiven?

Dr. Wrestling: Who will win at WWE Unforgiven?

Written by: Dr. Wrestling - September 03rd, 2008

This week for That's My Story and I'm Sticking To It, I'll be telling you who I think the winners will be at Unforgiven.

Before I discuss the actually card, I want to take a minute to talk about the main concept of the PPV, which is a "championship scramble" match. The rules of the match are there will be five wrestlers in the match and when a competitor gets a pin, they become the "temporary" champion. There will be a twenty minute time limit and anyone can be pinned with the "official champion being the wrestler that gets that last pin fall of the match. It's a really interesting concept that I think could create some really good back and fourth action. The scramble matches really make Unforgiven probably the most interesting PPV in the past three or four months because with the scramble rules, it's almost a guarantee that there will be a new champion but who? The question of if or who the new champion will be almost makes Unforgiven a "must see" PPV, which is rare for the WWE.

The WWE World tag team titles will be on the line when Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase defend against Cryme Tyme. This should be a very entertaining match because these are two really entertaining teams and they are probably the best two teams in the WWE at the moment. Cryme Tyme is pure entertainment and they do what very few wrestlers do in pro wrestling today and that's interact with the crowd. The "money! money! yeah! yeah!" catch phrase gets the crowd involved with the show and that along with Cryme Tyme's funny antics, it creates some entertaining television. Rhodes and Dibiase are becoming good heels and play their roles well. Rhodes has actually developed some personality as a heel and Dibiase has some good mics skills, which has really helped the team develop their heel characters. It's tough to pick a winner here because if you take the titles from Rhodes and Dibiase it hurts their push some what but Cryme Tyme should have already had a run with the tag titles so they could use a reign as tag champions to solidify themselves as a true fixture of the tag division on Raw. I'll pick Rhodes and Dibiase to get the win with some type of outside interference. After they lost the titles for a week, it would really halt Rhodes and Dibiase's momentum as a team if they would lose the titles again just a month after winning them back.

The Diva's title match will feature Michelle McCool v.s. Maryse. This probably won't be a technical classic and from the match she had on Smackdown this past week, it seems like Maryse has zero wrestling ability so let's hope the WWE keeps this one short. I will predict that McCool retains the title and it would seem like the WWE is building to have Natyla v.s. McCool for the title some time in the near future.

The ECW title match will feature The Miz, Finlay, Chavo Guerrero, Matt Hardy, and Mark Henry. Chavo is a former ECW champion and was probably the worst transitional champion in pro wrestling history so I doubt he will win the ECW title at Unforgiven. Chavo just doesn't have the charisma to make the audience care about his match and his career highlight has to be win he was the tag champions with his uncle, Eddie Guerrero. The Guerreros are a legendary family in wrestling and Chavo is carrying on the name but he will probably always be in Eddie's shadow, Finlay is currently involved in a lower mid card feud with Mike Knox so I wouldn't expect him to win the ECW title but even though he won't win the title, it should be noted that Finlay is a great technical wrestler. If The Miz wins the ECW title, the ratings will probably drop lower then Impact's ratings and then ECW would be canceled so let's all hope that The Miz doesn't win the ECW title...Ha Ha If there's going to be a new ECW champion, I think Matt Hardy has the best chance of it because as I mentioned in a past column, he has a cult following and has some skill in the ring so he could be at least an okay ECW champion. That being said, I have to pick Hardy to win the title because with the scramble rules it seems like there's going to be at least one new champion so I think Hardy will be the new ECW champion at Unforgiven.

The Chris Jericho .v.s. Shawn Micheals match will be "unsanctioned" and it would seem like it will be the final match (at least for now) in the feud. The Jericho/HBK saga has gone on for nearly five months and was really useful in turning Jericho heel, which has really rejuvenated Jericho's character after his return to the WWE fell flat in January. It's being reported on various websites that HBK has torn his tricep and after the match at Unforgiven he will be out of action so based on that I have to pick Jericho to get the win here because it would fit with the storyline and some fans will think Jericho really did "end" HBK's career. Although it's unfortunate that HBK is hurt, it actually provides an opportunity for him and Jericho to write yet another chapter in this feud at a possibly bigger stage such as the Royal Rumble or Wrestlemania. That being said, this will probably be a really good match because of the months worth of build up and although Micheals is reportedly injured, I still expect both HBK and Jericho to try to have the best match possible. That being said, with HBK being injured again the predictable question that will be asked is should/will HBK retire? I have to say, I don't think HBK will retire for a few more years because he is still a top level performer and when he retires it will probably be at a Wrestlemania.

The World Heavy Weight title match will feature the U.S. champion,Shelton Benjamin, The Brian Kendrick, Jeff Hardy, MVP, and the WWE champion, Triple H. I think it's fairly obvious that Triple H is going to retain the title here so I'm going to discuss alittle bit about each other the challengers. Shelton Benjamin finally won the U.S. title a few months ago and he should have been given a chance to be a top star on a brand years ago. It's cool to see him finally getting the push he deserves but since he is the U.S. champion he won't be winning the WWE title at Unforgiven. This match could be MVP's time to shine and he could show that he can be a legitimate main event wrestler, which could lead to a possible feud with Triple H for the WWE title at some point in the future. I'm not even a fan of MVP and I think his in ring work is average at best but his gimmick along with his character is almost tailor made for a main event spot so if he can show some skill in the main event at Unforgiven, he might get a chance in the main event on a more regular basis. I'm not sure what else can be said about Jeff Hardy because he's had his time in the main event and after that he was suspended for sixty days and another violation would get him fired from the company so it really wouldn't be logical for the WWE to invest more time/money into Hardy. It would seem like Hardy will stay at the level he is currently at because an upper level mid carder can let him continue to be a star as well as sell merchandise but it would probably be too risky for the WWE to give him a main event spot again. Brain Kendrick was a jobber on Raw a few months ago but now he has a new gimmick and he is in a main event match at a PPV. I have to say, the decision to give Kendrick a push is a great decision by the WWE and the promo Kendrick did on Smackdown last week proves he has the potential to be a main event star. Not right at the moment but I think in time he can become a top star if he continues to develop his new character the way he has so far. Kendrick was trained by Shawn Micheals and in some ways he could be the next generation HBK so to speak because there's many similarities between the start of Shawn Micheals' HBK character and the start of Kendrick's new character. HBK had a white ring jacket and Kendrick has a white ring jacket. HBK had Desel and Kendrick has Ezekiel as a body guard. Aside from that, Kendrick has shown in the past that he can indeed be in the main event of a show and there's a few examples of that. Kendrick was in the first ever ROH title match when he wrestled Christopher Daniels, Doug Williams, and Low Ki in a sixty minute Iron Man match. He has also toured Japan for the Zero One promotion and even though the WWE is an entirely different level, those examples prove that Kendrick has at least the in ring ability to be a major star.

The World Heavy Weight title features CM Punk, JBL, Kane, Rey Mysterio, and Batista. It's tough to pick a winner here because the WWE could have CM Punk retain it to make him seem like a legitimate champion or someone else could win the title to have an "odds finally catch up to Punk" type of storyline but if that's the case who wins the title? I don't think it will be either Kane or Rey because Rey was added last minute and the feud between them really isn't based around the title so there's really no reason to put the title on either of them at this point. I don't see JBL winning the title either because he's already had shots at the title so if he was going to win the title, he probably would have won it already when he challenged Punk last month. If CM Punk doesn't retain the title at Unforgiven, Batista will probably be the one to win the title because he hasn't been pinned by Punk yet but I just don''t think Batista will win the title back so I will pick Punk to retain the title. That's just a guess because I really have no idea who could win here but either way it should be a great match.

Overall, I think Unforgiven will be a good PPV with some surprises and it should be worth the $40 it costs to watch it.

Until next week
That's My Story and I'm Sticking To It
Dr. Wrestling


Source: http://www.wrestling-edge.com/wwenews.php?subaction=showfull&id=1220493283&archive=&start_from=&ucat=4

Sixth Central Pay Commission: Govt employees to get enhanced HRA

Sixth Central Pay Commission: Govt employees to get enhanced HRA

4 Sep, 2008, 2135 hrs IST, PTI

PUDUCHERRY : Employees of the territorial government will be entitled to enhanced House Rent Allowance from this month, with the central government upgrading the status of the regions constituting the Union Territory.

All along, Puducherry was treated with C status. Based on the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, the earlier classification has been revised and it has now been sanctioned B2 status, official sources said.

The B2 status (now called a city under `Y` classification) conferred on Puducherry city would entitle government staff to get an increase in HRA from 7.5 per cent to 20 per cent this month.

The Centre had accepted the Puducherry Urban Agglomeration which projected more than 5.2 lakh population to sanction revised status for the city.

Government staff working in other `unclassified` areas like Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, which are accorded `Z` category status as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission would be entitled to get HRA at 10 per cent from this month against 5 per cent they were getting all along, they said.

PMK MP M Ramadoss, in a press release, thanked Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram for raising the status of Puducherry B two category by considering Urban Agglomeration for the criterion of population.


Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Sixth Pay Commission: Pay panel award to put pressure on finances: RBI

Sixth Pay Commission: Pay panel award to put pressure on finances: RBI

The RBI on Thursday warned that the government finances will come under pressure due to the Sixth Pay Commission, as also farm-loan waiver and subsidies, and said it will continue tight monetary policy even as inflation eased for the second successive week to 12.34 per cent.

"The finances of the Central Government may come under pressure during 2008-09 on account of implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission award including payment of arrears, higher oil subsidies, increase in fertiliser subsidy due to a sharp rise in the price of raw materials and fertiliser in the international market," RBI said in its report on Currency and Finance 2006-08.

In addition to this, the RBI further said that volatile food and energy prices are other causes of concern that call for attention on urgent basis.

Projecting an eight per cent economic growth, the bank said that the overall stance of monetary policy would be to ensure a monetary and interest rate environment that accords a high priority to price stability.

"It is critical at the prevailing juncture to demonstrate on a continuing basis a determination to act decisively, effectively and swiftly to curb any signs of adverse developments in regard to inflation expectations," the RBI stressed.

The Reserve Bank has gradually raised the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and reserve repo rate to nine per cent to tame rising inflation.

While sounding a word of caution on going ahead with fuller capital account convertibility of rupee by 2011, the report said, "The banking sector requires to develop appropriate capabilities to manage the varied and enhanced risks".


Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Pay-panel-award-to-put-pressure-on-finances-RBI/357341/

Vogue India

Vogue India

India has a rich history of handicrafts and Indian textiles are a true expression of beauty and passion. The eyes of the world have been on Indian artwork for many millennia and some forms and techniques of hand-woven and block printed textiles have survived unscathed; others have been modified or have been dropped out in the face of modern technologies. Inspired by the vast potential of the crafts heritage of
India Vogue India was conceptualized in 2002. An organization, which aims at satisfying the demand for premium quality home furnishings. Every design is exquisitely crafted into a distinct work of art. The unexplained color and richness of texture is evident in our variety of Bedcovers, Table covers, Pillow cover, Quilts, Cushion covers, Drapes, Sheers, Curtains. These are manufactured from the choicest blends of cotton, silks, linen, velvets and voiles. We are proud of our stringent quality culture, precision of detail and customer satisfaction. Compulsive quality checks are instituted at every single stage right unto packaging, thus enabling us to keep our standards high. This is obviously reflected in the lasting business relations with our customers.
Vogue India managed by young entrepreneurs having an experience of many years of designing and manufacturing are promoting trade through their expertise has successfully managed to maintain the old traditional Indian art work, in the era of modern technologies. A blend of hard work, creativity and quality that is what Vogue India is all for. Our hand made products radiate an aura of glory, exhibit hereditary skills and show painstaking craftsmanship. Our products and quality promises everything beauty, dignity, form and style.


Source: http://vogueindia.com/frameindex.htm

Vogue India - www.vogue.in

Vogue India - www.vogue.in

MUMBAI: Sabyasachi Mukherjee has collaborated with GAJA, a brand of the Shree Ganesh Jewellery House Limited, Kolkata to launch his debut jewellery line that will unveil at the Spring Summer '09 season of the Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week this month.

"The jewellery has a handcrafted, hand-me-down feel to it, much like what our great great grandmother would have passed down. It's vintage with a heritage element to it," reveals Sabyasachi who has deliberately removed stones and given a distressed, tarnished look to the pieces.

The jewellery will be available at Gaja-Sabyasachi stores the first of which will open in Kolkata, though initially the collection will be promoted through trunk shows across the country.

Sabyasachi, who started out as a jewellery designer and always wanted to get back to it, told us, "I've been talking to corporates for a long time but somehow things never worked out. Gaja gave me the perfect platform. It was wonderful; no one said I had to do shiny, loud jewellery!"


– Madhur Bharwani


Source: http://www.vogue.in/daily_news_story.aspx?n_id=76

Gwen Stefani Says Babies Make Romance Better

Gwen Stefani Says Babies Make Romance Better

Parenting has turned Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale into better, more attentive lovers, according to the pop star. The new mom is glowing after giving birth to second child Zuma Nesta Rock last month, and she insists babies have brought her and husband closer together.

She tells the UK's Hello! magazine, "(It's great to) see how we've both become more romantic and caring for each other simply because we've seen how beautiful it is to have come this far together and started a new chapter in our lives... I feel we're closer in many ways now that we're building something together outside our own crazy relationship.

"I feel happier now. I know every mother must feel this way, but watching your child grow up and learn new things every day is one of the greatest and purest pleasures you can have."

And though Stefani is keen to get back to business after becoming a mom again at 38, she's keen to have at least one more kid. She adds, "Gavin loves being a dad and he wants to have a bigger family, too."

Source: http://www.starpulse.com

Jessica Biel Denies Pregnancy Rumors

Jessica Biel Denies Pregnancy Rumors

Actress Jessica Biel has once again been forced to deny reports she is expecting her first child with boyfriend Justin Timberlake.

The 26-year-old star has been at the center of pregnancy rumors since reportedly moving into Timberlake's Hollywood Hills home in June. However Biel has dismissed the resurging allegations, with her representative telling Us Weekly magazine: "The reports are false."

Timberlake has been romancing the Hollywood actress since early last year when she joined him at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.


Source: http://www.starpulse.com

Beyonce Knowles: Celebrity Birthdays, September 4

Beyonce Knowles: Celebrity Birthdays, September 4

Happy Birthday to pop superstar Beyonce Knowles (1981), "American Beauty" actor Wes Bentley (1978), New Found Glory bassist Ian Grushka (1977), Pussycat Doll Carmit Bachar (1974), Sepultura drummer Igor Cavalera (1970), baseball catcher Mike Piazza (1968), comedic actor Damon Wayans (1960), "Babylon 5" actress Patricia Tallman (1957), Quicksilver Messenger Service drummer Gary Duncan and guitarist Greg Elmore (both 1946), actress Mitzi Gaynor (1931), "Bewitched" actor Dick York (1928; d. 1992), and English actor Nigel Bruce (1895; d. 1953).


Source: http://www.starpulse.com

Sixth Pay Commission: Armed forces want cabinet to consider pay revision

Sixth Pay Commission: Armed forces want cabinet to consider pay revision

September 4th, 2008 - 8:40 pm ICT by IANS -

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) Contending that dilution of parity with the bureaucracy and paramilitary forces will hinder their operations, the armed forces want the cabinet, rather than the anomalies committee, to consider their demands over the pay panel report.The Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman and Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta wrote a letter to Defence minister A.K. Antony Sep 1 saying these core issues, if left unaddressed, will result in “despondency” among the armed forces.

Mehta said in the letter that the erosion of parity between the armed forces officers and their civilian and paramilitary counterparts would affect the joint operations.

“The command and control functions will be seriously hampered between army, BSF (Border Security Force) and CPMF (Central Paramilitary Forces), where infighting will jeopardize operations,” the letter says.

The reviewed report of the Sixth Pay Commission has upgraded the civilian and paramilitary counterparts of the officers of the ranks of lieutenant colonel and equivalent to the higher pay band.

Because of this, the civilian officers who were in the lower pay bracket and were hitherto drawing lesser pay than lieutenant colonels and officers of equivalent ranks would now draw a higher basic salary.

In fact, subsequent to the revised report even a short service commissioned officer in paramilitary forces will get a higher pay than most permanent commissioned officers in the armed forces.

Besides drawing a higher pay the civilian and paramilitary officials have gained ascendancy in terms of ranks on their armed forces counterparts.

As the armed forces and paramilitary forces have to work in tandem, Mehta has underscored that this lack of parity is “unacceptable” to the officers belonging to the senior services, that is the army, navy and air force.

He urged the defence minister that the relativities between the armed forces and paramilitary and bureaucracy be “immediately restored”.

Earlier, the Personnel Below Officer Ranks (PBORs) used to draw a pension in proportion to their years of service, but after the reviewed report of the finance ministry the PBORs will get pension half of their last pay drawn.

“The PBOR are put at a disadvantage as due to truncation of career they retire early and draw lesser pay relatively and hence ending up getting lesser pension,” Mehta said in the letter.

The letter is seen as the move to preempt the defence ministry’s move to send the demands of the armed forces to the finance ministry’s anomalies committee, set up to look into the grievances arising out of the pay panel’s recommendations.

Mehta has also asked for inclusion of the officers of the rank of Lt. Gen. and equivalent in the “Higher Administrative Grade Plus” category, created in all services except the armed forces. The director generals have been placed in the HAG plus category.

Earlier, Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Fali H. Major, as officiating chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, had written to Antony urging him to intervene before the government implemented the pay panel recommendations.

The report of the Sixth Pay Commission, headed by Justice (retd) B.N. Srikrishna, was submitted to Finance Minister P. Chidambaram March 24.

It led to protests from both civilian and defence personnel, following which the government appointed a committee under Cabinet Secretary K. Chandrashekhar to study the various demands for financial corrections.


Source: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/armed-forces-want-cabinet-to-consider-pay-revision_10092604.html

eamcet.dte.gov.in

eamcet.dte.gov.in

Web counselling Extended upto 5-09-2008 ..5.00 PM

2008 ADMISSION DETAILS at http://eamcet.dte.gov.in/

EAMCET - The EAMCET test is taken by a large number of engineering and medical aspirants in the state. Presently, the JNTU located in Hyderabad conducts the examination. An expert committee constituted by the Educational Department of the State Government decides how the test is conducted.

PNB slashes non-resident deposit rates

PNB slashes non-resident deposit rates

2 Sep, 2008, 2114 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI : Public sector lender Punjab National Bank on Tuesday reduced the interest rates on various non-resident deposits schemes.

Interest rate on FCNR (B) Scheme for dollar deposits with maturity ranging from one to two years has been reduced to 2.46 per cent from 2.50 per cent.

The interest rates for dollar deposits with maturities between 2-3 years, 3-4 years and 4-5 years have been slashed to 2.56 per cent, 2.88 per cent and 3.10 per cent respectively.

Interest rate on one to two years Euro deposits has been reduced to 4.58 per cent from 4.62 per cent.

For NRE deposit schemes, the interest rate for one to two year deposits has been reduced to 3.21 per cent. The deposits with maturity of three to five years will attract an interest rate of 3.63 per cent.


Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Teachers day - President to launch portal on Teachers' Day

Teachers day - President to launch portal on Teachers' Day

NEW DELHI: President, Pratibha Patil will on Friday launch a portal which will act as a forum for teachers to know the best practices and update them in emerging areas.

Ms Patil will launch the portal here on the occasion of Teachers' Day.

The primary aim of the portal designed by the National Knowledge Commission in association with the Azim Premji Foundation is to build knowledge, share knowledge and create a vibrant network of teachers.

“It will act as a forum to share best practices and support the creation of a body of knowledge to motivate teachers to access, apply and add value to existing knowledge,'' said a release issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Besides, it will strengthen initiatives on teacher development and provide a forum for sharing and interaction for teachers outside the formal training environment.

The portal is the outcome of important ideas articulated by the National curriculum Framework-2005.

This year, in all 320 teachers will receive awards from the President at the National Award Function on Friday. Of the 320 teachers, 82 are women teachers. Of all the recipients, nine teachers have been nominated under the Sanskrit category and five tea chers from madrasas. - PTI


Tags: teachers day poems, teachers day cards, teachers day quotes, teachers day poem, teachers day speech


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/14041632.htm

EAMCET - www.eamcet.dte.gov.in

EAMCET - www.eamcet.dte.gov.in

EAMCET - The EAMCET test is taken by a large number of engineering and medical aspirants in the state. Presently, the JNTU located in Hyderabad conducts the examination. An expert committee constituted by the Educational Department of the State Government decides how the test is conducted.

DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

EAMCET ADMISSIONS


2008 ADMISSION DETAILS at http://eamcet.dte.gov.in/


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Stocks to watch: ONGC, BHEL, Bombay Dyeing, Austral Coke

Stocks to watch: ONGC, BHEL, Bombay Dyeing, Austral Coke

4 Sep, 2008, 0931 hrs IST, ECONOMICTIMES.COM

MUMBAI: Equities are likely to open lower on Thursday after global markets fell on renewed economic concerns in the US. Investors fretted about the impact of a global slowdown on corporate bottom lines.

Oil prices were a little higher at $109.17 per barrel post a steep fall Tuesday. Rupee was at 44.42 per dollar from previous close of 44.38/39.

Bharat Heavy Electricals will set up a greenfield project for manufacturing locomotives. It is already in talks with global majors such as French train maker Alstom, German rail transit solutions firm Bombardier Transportation GmbH, Siemens AG and American firm General Electric for forming a joint venture. BHEL proposes to offer 49 per cent equity to its partner in the new venture. The project will start with an initial investment of Rs 1,000 crore.

Capital goods and power stocks may come under some pressure as Indo-US nuclear deal may hit a roadblock. The US state department told the Congress that the nuclear deal would be off if India conducts a nuclear test.

Board of directors of IBN18 Broadcast has approved of raising up to Rs 400 crore in India or overseas market.

ONGC may lists its subsidiary ONGC Videsh next year to finance the latter’s $2.8 billion acquisition of Imperial Energy, say reports.

Bombay Dyeing may raise Rs 900 crore by selling 4,50,000 square feet of commercial property that it is developing, say media reports.

Energy Development has received sub-contract for supply of equipment for Greater Imphal Project under APDRP scheme valued at Rs 51 crore. The order is to be executed in next 6-8 months.

Shares of Austral Coke and Projects will list on the exchanges Thursday. The company, engaged in manufacture of low ash metallurgical coke, has fixed the issue price at Rs 196 per share. Its initial public offering was subscribed 1.65 times.


Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ViewsRecommendations/Stocks_to_watch_ONGC_BHEL_Bombay_Dyeing_Austral_Coke/articleshow/3442803.cms

SGX Nifty: Caution on weak global cues, SGX Nifty at huge discount

SGX Nifty: Caution on weak global cues, SGX Nifty at huge discount

14 Aug, 2008, 0953 hrs IST,Mandar Nimkar, ECONOMICTIMES.COM

MUMBAI: A rebound in crude oil prices, foreign investors selling in futures and Singapore Nifty futures quoting at 64 points discount points to a negative opening for the Indian markets Thursday.

Trade today is seen cautious with negative bias ahead of inflation data. Also, with no respite in the participatory notes issue from the SEBI meet, FII flows may be adversely affected in near term. Analysts expect inflation to have risen to 12.49 per cent in the week to Aug 3.

Ex-chairman of PM’s Economic Advisory Council, Dr. C. Rangarajan expects GDP growth at 7.7 per cent against 8 per cent projected by the government and RBI. He also expects inflation to cross 13 per cent and for RBI to achieve the 7 per cent target by March 2009 challenging.

He expects inflation to moderate to 9 per cent. If 7 per cent target of RBI is to be achieved, then more tightening and moderating consumption and growth is required, which is not good news for equities.

Wednesday's trading pattern suggests that indices are encountering strong resistance at their respective 100DSMA levels-- Nifty at 4611.98 and Sensex at 15411.54. Added to this, the indices have closed below 5DSMA level--Nifty at 4551.01 and Sensex at 15227.27. The relief rally is already 2-3 weeks old, and today being the last day of this trading week, a negative close is likely as global cues suggest. The markets will remain closed Friday for Independence Day elebrations.

"Considering the current cues from global markets, I will advise investors to exit long positions, sell portfolios which are not performing and increase cash levels to minimum 50% from now, so that they get the same stocks much cheaper at a later date. For trading, buy put on any rally," said Sagar Divekar, analyst with Arnava Global.

Crude oil for September delivery advanced 2.6 per cent to $116 a barrel, the largest rise since July 30. A measure of six metals traded on the London Metal Exchange rose 3.2 percent, the largest gain since March 27. Currently crude oil was trading at $116.81.

Foreign investors net sold futures worth Rs 754 crore and options to the tune of Rs 154 crore. Put-call ratio of Nifty open interest declined to 1.24 levels.

Today, most of the Asian stocks climbed after a rebound in oil and metals prices boosted raw material suppliers and transportation companies. US stocks dropped for a second day Wednesday as earnings from Deere disappointed investors, retail sales declined and Merrill Lynch & Co. said the contagion from the collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market is far from over.


Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Market_News/_SGX_Nifty_at_huge_discount/articleshow/3363375.cms

6th Pay Commission: Govt. to tax only 40 percent of arrears

6th Pay Commission: Govt. to tax only 40 percent of arrears

By Khabrein.Info Correspondent,

New Delhi, Sept. 4, 2008: Finally there is good news for 5.5 million central government employees. This year the government will tax only 40 percent of arrears that one would be getting as per 6th Pay Commission recommendations.

Earlier there were reports that government had decided to tax the whole arrear despite the fact that only 40 percent of the arrears was being paid this year.

The news had shattered many a hopes of government employees, but now they are a bit optimistic that they may well at last be able to spend a part of their arrears amount they would be handed over as part of sixth pay commission recommendations.

The government had divided arrears in two installments with central government employees getting 40 percent amount of the arrears this year and the rest 60 percent next year.

Sources in the finance ministry say that the ministry may not deviate from the general practice where tax is charged only on an income from that year and not what he would get next year.

Government instructions issued on August 30, 2008, regarding fixation of pay and payment arrears consequent to implementation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission recommendations clearly states that in authorising the arrears income tax as due may also be deducted and credited to the government. The arrears with effect from January 2006 would cost Rs 29,373 crore. Of the arrears, 40 per cent would be paid during the current year to the 50 lakh employees of the central government.

Had the government decided to go this way it would have wiped out almost the entire amount of 40% arrears to be paid to central government employees this year. Senior bureaucrats will suffer the most as their tax would be topped with a surcharge of 10%, applicable on an income of Rs 10 lakh and above.

The financial implication of Pay Commission on the General Budget would be Rs 15,717 crore and Rs 6414 crore on Railway Budget in 2008-09. The government’s present salary bill is over Rs 70,000 crore and the pension bill is over Rs 30,000 crore.


Source: http://www.khabrein.info/

Sixth Pay Commission: ‘Arrears to be taxed only after payment’

Sixth Pay Commission: ‘Arrears to be taxed only after payment’

Statesman News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept. 3: The government today clarified that the arrears accruing from the pay hike recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission would be taxed as and when it was given and not in a lump-sum. “The income tax as due can only be deducted on the income earned in a particular year,” a finance ministry official said, refuting reports that 100 per cent tax would be collected this year even though the arrears would be split into two installments of 40 per cent this year and 60 per cent next fiscal.

Stating that no special dispensation would be made for government employees, the official said tax would be levied when a payment was made on a person’s total income that year. There would be no advance tax.
The ministry also sought to dispel the feeling that defence personnel would get a lower pay scale as compared to their civilian counterparts.

Asked about the Budget provisions, the official said the total impact in the general Budget was calculated at Rs 15,564 crore. Since all allowances are prospective and would be thus applicable from 1 September, the government would be able to sustain the pay hike this year.


Source: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=12&theme=&usrsess=1&id=220842

Sixth Pay Commission: Incentive-based pay set to debut with science & tech department

Sixth Pay Commission: Incentive-based pay set to debut with science & tech department

The recommendation that an annual bonus of up to 20% be paid to employees whose achievements exceed certain targets has been accepted by the cabinet

Asit Ranjan Mishra

New Delhi: The Union government will soon offer an incentive-based salary package for employees of some departments and allow recruitment from the private sector on contract, in line with the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission aimed at reforming the bureaucracy.
The department of science and technology, or DST, has already moved to put in place an incentive-based system, said a senior finance ministry official, who didn’t wish to be identified. “Once DST implements it, we expect there will be pressure on other government departments to follow suit,” this official added.
The government on 14 August accepted the Pay Commission’s recommendations, offering 5 million employees an average raise of about 21%.

According to the same finance ministry official, the cabinet has laid down that any government department was free to put in place a performance-related incentive system provided that it is “budget-neutral”, meaning the expense will have to be offset through savings in other expenditure.
The Sixth Pay Commission carried out a study through the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, on a performance-based incentive system. The study was aimed at working out a model whereby a base salary is attached to each post based on skills and responsibility; simultaneously, a second component would be payable over and above the salary on the basis of the productivity and performance of employees, either individually or as a group.
The study recommended an annual bonus of up to 20% to employees whose achievements exceed certain targets; this has been accepted by the cabinet. The government has also given in-principle approval to contractual postings in government departments of employees hired from private sector. Their pay scales and other emoluments will be decided later.
According to the official, the impact had been partially mitigated since the allowances, which are a key part of the emoluments structure, are to come into effect only from 1 September. The full impact would be realised only in the next fiscal; the official declined to share the estimates and Mint could not independently confirm the same.
For women government employees, there are some sweetners. Women employees will now receive 180 days of maternity leave as against 135 days previously. This can now be extended to two years, made up of accumulated leave; earlier this had been capped at one year.
“Another two-year childcare leave has also been granted which can be taken in parts till children reach the age limit of 18 years,” the official said. According to the official, this was the first time such a facility was being extended in government and had been modelled on what has already been adopted in Japan.
The government is also working out details to pay special allowances to paramilitary forces in line with the Rs6,000 per month allowance given to military personnel. Asked whether allowances for the paramilitary forces will be at par with the armed forces, the official said, “We would like to give an edge to the defence forces.”
The official also denied news reports that government has decided to tax 100% arrears that will be paid to government staff. The official said that as government employees will receive only 40% of arrears during the current financial year, they have to pay tax on only this amount.


Source: http://www.livemint.com/2008/09/04011343/Incentivebased-pay-set-to-deb.html

Sixth Pay Commission's report: Govt puts payout of arrears on fast track

Sixth Pay Commission's report: Govt puts payout of arrears on fast track

NEW DELHI: To expedite the payment of salary arrears to lakhs of its employees after implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission's report, the government has waived any “pre-check” of the claims they would be submitting.

This has been done to ensure that arrears are cleared at the earliest when the salary for September is paid to employees on the last working day of the month.

The employees would, however, be required to furnish an undertaking so that the government can later deduct any excess payment made to them due to any miscalculation.

Usually, the drawing and disbursement officer in a government office is supposed to verify the salary and arrear bills of every employee but the one-time exception will save the accounts section the additional burden. It will, however, work out the details of
the dues later.

After the new salaries were notified on August 29, the government came out with a detailed “ready reckoner” that took into account each earlier pay scale and the corresponding change in it.

“The calculation of new salary has become easy but some error may occur while calculating the arrears because increments are involved. It is good that the pre-check requirement has been dispensed with,” an officer said.

Although the employees will have to pay income tax on the arrears, most of them are now busy calculating their dues. Only 40% of the arrears are to be paid during the current fiscal and the remaining 60% will be disbursed in 2009-10. The employees have the option to deposit the arrears in their GPF accounts after deduction of tax. For the payment of the hiked salaries, the employees have been asked to submit a statement of fixation of pay after tallying it with the ready reckoner.

The buzz in government offices is also on a possible “anomaly” in the new scales. The pay band system, officers said, is likely to dilute the motivation for promotion because an employee's salary will, anyway, go on increasing annually.

Under the new rules, there are only four pay bands for all employees and officers with assured annual increments. As a result, a large number of employees, despite their in-cadre seniority, would be placed in the same pay band for a considerable period.

“The financial premium on promotions will certainly get diluted. We need to see what impact the new system has on the motivation levels of employees,” a director dealing with accounts said.


Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations: Finmin divided over tax on pay arrears

Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations: Finmin divided over tax on pay arrears

4 Sep, 2008, 0325 hrs IST, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: Confusion prevails on the tax treatment of the pay arrears that Central government staff are set to get as part of their latest wage revision. While tax experts and the income tax department maintained that the entire arrears are to be taxed this fiscal (even though they would get only 40% of the arrears this fiscal), another section of the finance ministry said that they would be taxed for only what they get this year. The government had decided to pay 40% arrears of their increased salaries this year and the rest next year to reduce the burden on the exchequer.

At a briefing on the implementation of the latest wage rise for central government staff, an official of the finance ministry said, “the instruction to the ministry is to deduct tax only when it is paid.” The officials, however, declined to speak on record. “Government instructions issued on August 30 regarding fixation of pay and payment of arrears consequent upon the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations, clearly states that in authorising the arrears, income tax as due may also be deducted and credited to the government. Generally speaking, income earned in a year is taxed in that particular year only”, said the official. Sources in the income tax department, however maintained that law as it stands today, provides for deducting the tax on the entire amount when it is ‘allowed’, irrespective of when they actually get the money. They said that the supreme court had upheld the provision regarding this in a case of CIT versus L W Russel 53ITR91.

Income Tax Act says that any arrears of salary “paid or allowed” to him in the previous year, if not charged to income-tax for any previous year, can be charged to income-tax under the head salaries. The court had in its verdict said the expression “allowed” is of wider connotation and any credit made in an employees account is covered by it.

It is equivalent to find/taking into account/set apart/granted and implies that the right is conferred on the employee in respect of the perquisite, it had said. The government had last month announced an average increase of 21% in the wages of employees.


Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Sixth Pay Commission report: No raw deal for defence officers: Govt

Sixth Pay Commission report: No raw deal for defence officers: Govt

The government on Wednesday refuted reports that there were wide disparities in salaries of civilian employees and defence officers.

“It is wrong to say that defence officers have been given a raw deal,” a senior finance ministry official said.

The Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) has pointed out anomalies in the revised Sixth Pay Commission report and is not in favour of the report being implemented in its current form. The COSC, with the three chiefs on board, has sought the intervention of Defence Minister A.K. Antony to freeze its implementation until issues pertaining to pay parity and dilution of the status of defence officers are addressed. Defence ministry sources said the armed forces have made a presentation to Antony, who has assured support.

The military is livid about the introduction of disparity in pay bands that has placed lieutenant col-onels and equivalents in scales lower than their civilian/paramilitary counterparts.

The main grouse of the armed forces is that director-rank IAS officers have been quietly put in a higher pay band (PB-4), while lieutenant colonels, drawing the same pay earlier, have been retained in the lower PB-3.

The finance ministry official said the comparison is not appropriate as lieutenant colonels and directors were not comparable on rank equivalence terms.

Also, the military brass cannot digest why lieutenant generals and equivalent haven’t been included in the new category of Higher Administrative Grade-plus. Only director generals of police and army commanders figure in this grade. How can the government justify enhancing the status of a DGP over a lieutenant general commanding a strike corps or the Strategic Forces Command,” asked an officer.

A lower grade pay for middle-rung defence officers compared to their civilian counterparts has also not gone down well with the armed forces. The finance ministry official, however, said about 60 per cent of the total pay and allowances (excluding railway employees) after the implementation of the pay commission’s recommendations would accrue to defence forces.


Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/

Saira Sirohi: 8-yr-old girl swims 15 hours non-stop

Saira Sirohi: 8-yr-old girl swims 15 hours non-stop

Saira Sirohi: An eight-year-old girl, who swam 15 hours without stopping to cover a distance of 38 km in the swimming pool of a school here Tuesday, said she aims to represent India at the London Olympics.

Saira Sirohi, a class 5 student of Dehradun Public School in Ghaziabad, entered the school pool at 5 a.m. Tuesday and swam continuously for the next 15 hours.

"If United States can produce a champion like Michael Phelps, why can't India? I want to be part of the next Olympics at London. And before that, I want to represent my country at 2010 Commonwealth Games," said Saira.

"I just wanted to swim and do something for my country," Saira told this correspondent.

Saira swam 380 laps covering 38,000 metres of the 25 X 25 metres swimming pool and completed the distance in fifteen hours.

She nibbled chocolates, biscuits and nuts from the hands of her teachers, principal, mother, sisters and her closest friends. She also sipped energy drinks at intervals.

School principal Richa Sood said: "It's a great moment for us. I will personally approach the Sports Authority of India to provide proper coaching to my student in order to prepare her for the under-14 category at Commonwealth and London Olympics."


Source: ndtv.com