Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik was arrested here on Wednesday while senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was put under house arrest.

Malik was taken into preventive custody from his uptown Abi Guzar Party office.

Earlier, authorities placed Mirwaiz Farooq in house arrest at his residence at Nigeen on Srinagar’s outskirts.

Reacting to his house arrest, Mirwaiz Umer said tweeted: “After three days, again put under #HouseArrest! Panic and fright of the paranoid Autocratic State getting more and more chronic by the day!”

The New Year is upon us. It has been 17 years into the 21st century and if one word has to define this period, ‘innovation is bound to reign supreme. Technological innovation in every field has taken place at such a rapid pace over the last two decades that most of it is taken as given.

It is hard to imagine that a world obsessed with acronyms like AI, VR, and EV was still very much dependent on the post office barely 17 years ago. It is unfathomable and potentially scary from some aspects as to what the future holds for mankind.

With the world innovating at breakneck speed, no country wants to be left behind the curve. China is the latest kid in the block. It is no longer the low-labour-cost country that makes it the manufacturing powerhouse of the world. Now, the country’s manufacturing strengths lie in its strong supply chain networks and advanced production knowhow. In fact, in its 13 Five Year Plan that began in May 2016, China laid out a roadmap to become an “innovative nation” by 2020 and an “international innovation leader” by 2030.

Even before these goals were set, the country had doubled its spending on R&D between 2000 and 2016 from 0.9 percent of its GDP to 2.1 percent. It is no surprise then, that the greater Shenzhen-Hong Kong area finds itself ranked second in terms of global inventive clusters as measured by patents.

It is clearly time for India to adopt innovation as a paradigm and a long-term principle to be competitive on the world stage. Like China, it is critical that India works upon building an enabling conducive environment for innovation to take place. This includes, but is not limited to, access to technology required for scaling, availability of funding, leadership and skill, and also a market for all this.

As per the Global Innovation Index, India has shown consistent improvement since 2011 and its performance has been ahead of the average lower-middle- and upper-middle-income countries of the world. However, the India State Innovation Report 2017 has brought out some interesting highlights on the state of innovation in India.

First, on a national scale India lags considerably behind the major economies of the world. As of 2015, India spent 0.88 percent of its GDP on R&D while Brazil, the US and Japan spent 1.2, 2.8 and 3.4 percent respectively. As for patents, India had filed 17 per million people while Brazil, China, the US and Japan were at 34, 541, 910 and 3,716 respectively. Finally, the India’s share of global publications stood at 4.2 percent while China and the US were at 20.2 and 25.3 respectively. Therefore, there remains a vast gap for India to cover if it to catch up with the global economies in the field of innovation.

It is not a preposterous argument to make that the economy which stays ahead in the race for innovation will dictate global dominance. As things have panned out over the last year, USA seems to have been ceding that ground to China. Denying realities like climate change to support industries of yesteryears like coal and closing doors on the very people who built the country seem inimical to the innovative spirit that has come to define America. A huge vacuum will probably be left behind, and India needs to grasp the opportunity while the time is ripe.

Second, coming to the sub-national level, India shows a very mixed performance. Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra were the most innovative states in 2017. A three-way categorisation was also done based on the classification for developmental stages of economies by Michael Porter, considered the guru of competiveness. Delhi, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh turned out to be the leading states in their respective stages.

A striking feature of the state performance on innovation is that there is a clear demarcation running across India where the western and southern belt of states score considerable better than the rest of the country. This belt of states also performs economically well than the rest of India, but per capita income explains only 60 percent of the innovation scores. Higher industry presence and better prevalence of institutes of higher education along with improving linkages between the two has a substantial impact making the environment conducive for innovation across these states.

However, there are a multitude of challenges faced even by these states in undertaking innovation. The first and most basic one is that the university system in India lacks focus on research and innovation. Inadequate funding dedicated to education does not help in building adequate facilities for research either. Second, the patenting process is quite cumbersome in India and significant amount of resources need to be devoted towards it, something which the industry typically lacks. Finally, India lacks stringent regulations and IP laws, which hinder any innovative activities. It is a telling fact that in the International IP Index released by the US Chamber of Commerce, which ranks 45 economies based on patents, trademarks, copyrights, enforcement and international treaties, India ranks 43.

There is simply no time for complacency for India when it comes to matters of innovation. The country has a perfect opportunity to get onboard the innovation train that is swiftly chugging away beyond its reach. Almost 15 percent of the start-ups in Silicon Valley have been founded by Indians. We clearly have the capability to do the same in India. Only the enabling factors are lacking.

A total of 141 Kerala fishermen remain missing following Cyclone Ockhi that hit the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on November 30, according to official figures released here on Wednesday.

Another 75 fishermen from other states who went fishing from the Kerala coast are also untraced. A total of 79 Kerala fishermen have been declared dead.

There are 33 unclaimed bodies in various mortuaries of Kerala, with the Kozhikode Medical College having the most with 13. Three bodies were handed over on Wednesday to the kith and kin after DNA tests.

On Monday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented cheques for Rs 2.2 million each to the families of 25 of the dead fishermen.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian says her two-year-old son Saint West, who was hospitalised due to pneumonia last week, is now better. Kim took to Instagram on Tuesday to share the health condition of her son, reports aceshowbiz.com.

“My precious baby boy is so strong. After spending three nights in the hospital and seeing my baby get multiple IVs and hooked up to oxygen machines, our end of year was challenging. Pneumonia is so scary,” Kim wrote. Kim went on to say that her son “is home and all better” now, thanking the doctors who helped her get through her “challenging” time.

“I just want to thank every nurse and doctor out there who works so hard round the clock. We are so grateful for you all. He’s home and all better. He’s so resilient I’m sure he will still say the ambulance ride was cool! My strong Saint,” she added.

It was not long ago when singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh confessed his admiration for model and actress Kylie Jenner, but now it seems like the beloved ‘Disco Singh’ has found a new crush from Hollywood and you’ll be surprised to know who is the celebrity that has got the singer’s attention.

It’s none other than Hollywood’s Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot, who just got one more admirer in her long list all the way from India.

Recently Gadot shared an image of herself on Instagram and it got the attention of the Patola singer.

Diljit was awestruck by the gorgeous Gadot and commented something that only proves his admiration for the actress.

Looking forward to the New Year..

A post shared by Gal Gadot (@gal_gadot) on Dec 27, 2017 at 10:52am PST

Diljit commented: “Kudi Punjabn lagti ah” (The girl is of Punjabi decent)

Well that’s quite the way to make a statement and confess your admiration for someone. But that didn’t stop there as after reading Diljit’s comment many fans replied to the singer and their replies are something you can’t miss to read.

This is not the first time when Diljit expressed his feelings for someone who is miles and miles away. In the past, he posted a series of hilarious tweets, when he got to know his crush’s (Kylie) post pregnancy news.

https://t.co/LZ32LtuHbk 5 Taara Theke Uttey Beh Ke Taareya Mai Tera Sara Gussa

— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) September 23, 2017

Main theek theek an.. Theek an Mai.. https://t.co/VUiThcflFz

— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) September 23, 2017

But for now it’s Gadot who has got all the attention from Diljit and everyone is waiting for the Israeli beauty to reply to Diljit’s comment. And who knows if her reply might just spark a hilarious conversation between the two and something which their fans won’t miss for sure.

The AAP on Wednesday named veteran leader Sanjay Singh, businessman Sushil Gupta and chartered accountant Narain Dass Gupta as its debutants for the Rajya Sabha, sparking criticism from founding member Kumar Vishwas and other political parties.

The decision was finalised at a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), the AAP’s highest decision making body, at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. The meeting was attended by an overwhelming majority of Aam Aadmi Party MLAs.

Three Rajya Sabha seats from Delhi will fall vacant by the end of this month when the tenure of Congress members Janardhan Dwivedi, Parvez Hashmi and Karan Singh end.

It would be for the first time that the AAP, which officially has 66 members in the 70-member Delhi Assembly including some dissidents, will elect members to the upper house. The Congress has no presence in the House.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, announcing the names of the three nominees, said party convenor Kejriwal wanted a “mix” of people from outside and those already associated with the party.

He said Kejriwal wanted to nominate people who have contributed in the field of media, economics, law and academics and thus “18 such big names were considered”.

“Sanjay Singh has not only been working for the party since the very beginning but has also had a contribution in the fight against corruption,” he said.

Sisodia said Narain Gupta, a former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, was an expert on taxation who had been keeping a “close eye” on how the Narendra Modi government hastily implemented the Goods and Services Tax.

An alumnus of Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce, Narain Gupta has been on the Board of International Federation of Accountants — an amalgam of 164 regulatory accounting bodies in 116 countries.

Sisodia said Sushil Gupta had contributed in the education and health sectors in Delhi and Haryana. “He provides free education to 15,000 children.”

The selection of the nominees, particularly businessman Sushil Gupta, did not well with Vishwas, who expressed his disappointment over not being considered for the Upper House of Parliament and said he was being “punished” for speaking the truth.

“I congratulate (Sushil) Gupta for working with Sisodia for the last 40 years, with Kejriwal for 12 years, with party workers for seven years and for party legislators for the last five years,

“For the last one-and-a-half years, be it the PAC or my elder brother Arvind’s decision on issues like surgical strike, taking a soft stand on terrorists, his silence on ticket distribution and JNU…whatever truth I spoke, I have been punished today,” he said.

Vishwas’ supporters had picketed the party office demanding that he be sent to Parliament.

Clearly blaming Kejriwal for the decision not to nominate him, he said nothing happens in the AAP without Kejriwal’s consent. “It is impossible for anyone to survive in the party by speaking against you.”

Sisodia, however, said there was no discussion in the party over Vishwas’ nomination. “There were discussions in the media, not among the party members,” said Sisodia, whose personal friendship with poet-activist Vishwas goes a long way back.

The Congress, the BJP and the Swaraj Abhiyan of former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav too criticized the AAP.

Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken said Sushil Gupta resigned from the Congress because the AAP promised him a Rajya Sabha nomination.

“On November 28, Sushil Gupta came to submit his resignation. Less than 40 days. Less said the better! Otherwise, Sushil is a good man known for his charity,” he said.

Sushil Gupta’s nomination also triggered an angry reaction from Yogendra Yadav. “Speechless, ashamed and numb,” he tweeted.

Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari hit out at Kejriwal, saying he had “betrayed” the people of Delhi. “Kejriwal came to power seeking to fight corruption. Now, he is sending two businessmen to the Rajya Sabha. He has betrayed not only Delhi but also the whole country.”

Holding the BJP government in Centre and Maharashtra responsible for the violent protests in the state, the Congress on Wednesday accused the party’s ideological mentor RSS of dividing the society on “caste lines” and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi “mauni baba” for staying mum on the issue.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge said: “Fanatic Hindutva propagated by RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) is responsible for dividing our society.”

“People from Sangh Parivaar have created unrest in Maharashtra,” he added.

He further said that there was injustice in all states where the BJP was in power and demanded a probe by a Supreme Court judge.

“Whether it is in Gujarat, Una or Rajasthan, wherever BJP is in power, there is injustice. A Supreme Court judge should be appointed for inquiry in this,” he said.

He went on to slam Modi for keeping mum on the issue.

“PM should come to the House and make a statement. When such incidents are happening, he does nothing and becomes a mauni baba,” the Congress leader said.

Congress’ Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad too attacked the BJP.

“Atrocities are being inflicted on Dalits since the last three and a half years, since BJP came to power in the centre,” Azad said.

Reacting strongly to the allegations, the BJP too hit back and accused the Congress of “employing divide and rule policy” while targeting party chief Rahul Gandhi in particular.

“The Congress is employing divide and rule policy whereas Narendra Modi ji is working tirelessly to maintain the country’s unity and development of every section,” Union Minister Ananth Kumar said.

“Instead of dousing the flames, people like Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi are adding fuel to the fire. The country will not tolerate this,” he added.

The Gandhi scion had on Tuesday took to Twitter to slam the government in the wake of Dalit protests in Maharashtra.

The riots in Koregaon-Bhima in Pune district on Monday led to the death of a 28-year-old, Rahul Fatangale.

The Rajya Sabha was repeatedly disrupted and adjourned till 2 p.m. on Wednesday after the opposition created a ruckus over the violence in Maharashtra.

The first adjournment came minutes after the House met for the day. As the opposition members raised the issue and sought a discussion during Zero Hour, Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu adjourned it till 12 noon.

As soon as the House met again, the opposition members protested again — against the anti-Dalit violence. The Chair then adjourned the House till 2.

For a second time in this session, the Rajya Sabha TV suspended live telecast on Naidu’s instructions.

The riots in Koregaon-Bhima in Pune district on Monday led to the death of a 28-year-old, Rahul Fatangale.

The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party blamed the BJP-Shiv Sena government in the state for security lapses that led to the violence.

Amaal Mallik, who has composed music for films like “Badrinath Ki Dulhania” and “Golmaal Again”, says he got tired of following the rulebook. The composer has given many hit fast-paced songs and romantic numbers.

His latest composition “Subah Subah” from director Luv Ranjan’s forthcoming film “Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety” is a multi-genre track. It has traces of genres like tropical house, deep house and dance hall.  “I was getting tired of sticking to a certain rulebook and a style of working in the past year. Luv Sir is the man responsible for pulling me out of a rut,” Mallik said in a statement to IANS.

Singers Prakriti Kakar and Arijit Singh have lent their voice to the track. The lyrics have been penned by Kumaar. On his first release of 2018, Mallik said: “I have collaborated with Arijit for such a song after so many years. It’s like a ‘Sooraj dooba hai’ reunion for us. Prakriti has done a wonderful job.”

A MiG-29K aircraft on a training sortie with under-trainee pilot veered off runway, while taking off at Naval Air Station Hansa, Goa airport on Wednesday.

The aircraft had caught fire but the pilot ejected safely, an Indian Navy spokesperson said

“A MiG-29K aircraft with under-trainee pilot goes off runway while taking off at Goa airport. Pilot eject(ed) to safety,” the spokesperson tweeted.

A Mig29K aircraft with under-trainee pilot goes off runway while taking off at Goa airport. Pilot ejects to safety. Fire on aircraft being extinguished @DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 3, 2018

The spokesperson said the aircraft caught fire and the blaze was being extinguished. The accident halted flight operations at Dabolim, — the only airport in Goa.

The runway was closed for an hour, said senior airport official.

(with agency inputs)

Amid call for a shut-down across Maharashtra given by Dalit leaders to protest the violence during the bicentennial celebration of the Bhima-Koregaon battle, civic buses were again targeted in Mumbai today.

Thirteen buses of the civic transport service ‘BEST’ were damaged by protesters in Kalanagar area (Bandra), Dharavi, Kamraj Nagar, Santosh Nagar, Dindoshi and Hanuman Nagar, an official from the Disaster Management Unit of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

The city had witnessed a major disruption of road traffic owing to protests in the eastern suburbs yesterday.

Suburban trains were running normally today morning though activists tried to stage blockades on tracks at Thane on the Central line and Goregaon on the Western line, railway officials said.

Mumbai’s famed tiffin carriers, Dabbawalas, chose not to provide their services today.

Mahesh Narvekar, senior official from the civic body’s Disaster Management Unit, had said earlier that the BEST buses will not run on some sensitive routes including Kandivali-Akurli, Dindoshi-Hanuman Nagar, Chandivali-Sangharsh Nagar, Khairani Road-Sakinaka, Sahar Cargo, Mulund Check Naka and Jijamata Nagar.

Anil Garg, president of the School Bus Owners Association (SBOA), told PTI, “99 per cent of our buses are off the road in the state today for security reasons. Only one or two per cent of buses are on roads.”

“We have decided not to ply school buses in the first shift (during morning hours) today and if circumstances allow, we will run the buses in the second shift,” Garg said.

“Since law and order situation is beyond our control, we cannot take risk,” he added.

Some 40,000 school buses are affiliated to the SBOA in the state.

Garg also claimed that some school buses were damaged by protesters in Mumbai today, but police did not corroborate the claim.

Though the government has not declared a school holiday, many parents chose not to send children to school.
Vijay Shukla, a resident of suburban Vikhroli, said, “I have twop kids, both studying at a school in Vikhroli east. Though school was open today, I suggested they stay at home.”

Offices in major commercial hubs too witnessed low attendance, as employees stayed away from work fearing violence.

Subhash Talekar, spokesperson of the Mumbai Dabbawala Association, said, “Since most of our customers may find it difficult to reach office, we have decided to suspend our services today.”

Dalit protesters descended on tracks at Thane and Goregaon stations in the morning.

“Few protesters tried to disrupt Railway services at Thane but were immediately cleared by the Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police. Services are running uninterrupted on Central Railway,” said Sunil Udasi, chief spokesperson, Central Railway.

There were protests at Goregaon and Virar on the Western suburban line too. “Tracks have been evacuated of protesters and train services have been resumed at Virar and Goregaon from 9.05 am,” Western Railway said in a tweet.

Mumbai Police today registered nine cases in connection with yesterday’s violent protests. Over hundred people have been detained in the city since yesterday.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani has said he has no problem with Brazilian teammate Neymar, rejecting speculation of a feud between the two.

Cavani and Neymar appeared to argue over penalty taking duties in Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 victory over Lyon in September and the forwards reportedly continued quarrelling in the dressing room after the match, reports Xinhua news agency.

“With Neymar, there is nothing special in what happened,” Cavani told Uruguayan magazine Ovacion.

“People exaggerated things that happened on the pitch or in the dressing room, and that’s where they should stay because it’s a part of football.

“Stories that do not exist are invented or created (but) what counts is the group’s objective,” he added.

Cavani, who has scored 19 goals from 25 matches for Paris Saint-Germain this season, was similarly forthright about Uruguay’s chances at this year’s World Cup in Russia.

“Honestly, we have the aim of winning every competition,” he said, adding that Uruguay’s semi-final appearance at the 2010 World Cup showed their capability.

“We are going to approach this World Cup the same way and hopefully history can be repeated,” the 30-year-old added.

Raheem Sterling scored the fastest goal of the Premier League season as leaders Manchester City got back on track with a 3-1 win against Watford, while Fernando Llorente put Tottenham on course for a 2-0 victory at his former club Swansea.

Sterling struck after just 38 seconds before Christian Kabasele’s first-half own goal put Pep Guardiola’s side in control at Eastlands.

Sergio Aguero made it three as City gave the perfect response after their 18-game winning run was ended in a goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Unbeaten City are 15 points clear of second-placed Manchester United as they continue to turn the title race into a lengthy coronation party.

Guardiola had complained that the hectic festive fixture schedule was a “disaster” after City striker Gabriel Jesus suffered a knee ligament injury at Palace.

But Guardiola was able to replace the Brazilian with Sergio Aguero, while David Silva returned from a two-game absence.

City, playing their fourth match in 11 days, were ahead inside a minute as Sterling met Leroy Sane’s cross with a near-post finish for his 18th goal this season.

Having won 6-0 at Watford in September, City looked on course for another rout in the 13th minute when Watford’s Kabasele sliced an attempted clearance into his own net from Kevin De Bruyne’s cross.

Yet they had to wait 50 minutes to score again as Argentine forward Aguero netted from close-range for his 16th goal of the season.

Andre Gray’s 82nd minute goal for Watford came way too late to avoid a sixth defeat in their last seven league matches.

“We played really well. After dropping two points, we spoke about our reaction because big teams drop points but not too much,” Guardiola said.

With Harry Kane only fit enough for a place on the bench after illness, former Swansea striker Llorente made his first league start for Tottenham at the rain-lashed Liberty Stadium.

Llorente marked the occasion with a 12th minute goal, the Spaniard powering home a header from Christian Eriksen’s free-kick despite Swansea’s appeals for offside.

Puddles all over the pitch made it hard for Tottenham to establish their smooth-passing game and Kane, who finished 2017 with consecutive hat-tricks, was sent on for Llorente after 68 minutes.

– Dramatic winner –

Kane made his presence felt with a perfect pass to Dele Alli and the Tottenham midfielder finished at the second attempt to wrap up the points in the 89th minute.

Tottenham move above Arsenal into fifth place and sit four points behind fourth placed Liverpool with a game in hand.

“The weather was horrible but we dominated and tried to play football. Overall I think we were better and deserved the three points,” Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said.

Swansea remain bottom of the table as new boss Carlos Carvalhal was beaten for the first time in his second match since replacing the sacked Paul Clement.

Andy Carroll’s stoppage-time strike sealed a vital 2-1 win for West Ham against second bottom West Bromwich Albion at the London Stadium.

James McClean’s deflected shot from the edge of the area put Albion in front in the 30th minute.

But Carroll equalised with a bullet header in the 59th minute, his first goal since April.

Carroll followed up his opener with a dramatic winner from close-range, lifting David Moyes’ side out of the bottom three.

West Brom are winless in 20 top-flight fixtures — only three clubs have endured longer runs without a victory in the Premier League: Derby with 32, Sunderland with 26 and Norwich with 21.

Crystal Palace came from behind to win 2-1 at Southampton thanks to Luka Milivojevic’s late goal.

Palace fell behind in the 17th minute as Saints striker Shane Long scored for the first time since February last year.

Long’s fine finish raced into the top corner from Jeremy Pied’s cross.

But Palace equalised in the 69th minute when Scotland midfielder James McArthur volleyed home from Christian Benteke’s header.

And Serbia midfielder Milivojevic redeemed himself for missing a last-minute penalty against Manchester City at the weekend as his long-range curler in the 80th minute lifted Palace away from the relegation zone.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been charged by the Football Association (FA) over his conduct following the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Sunday English football’s governing body announced today.

The 68-year-old Frenchman reacted furiously to referee Mike Dean’s decision to award a penalty to West Brom in the 89th minute for handball by Calum Chambers.

The FA said the charge against Wenger was for his conduct in the match officials’ dressing room after the final whistle — he has till 1800GMT on Friday to respond to the charge.

Wenger did not sound repentant earlier on Tuesday at his press conference on the eve of their game with Chelsea.

“It was very disappointing,” Wenger said.

“What is more frustrating for me is it happened many times this season — at Stoke, Watford, Man City, now West Brom.

“It is a concerning coincidence for me.

“That is why as well I was not at all happy with the movement the referee made as to why he gave the penalty. It did not correspond at all with what happened.

“On that front it’s a bit worrying. He saw what he wanted to see.”

The government on Tuesday said that a Rs 10,000 cap on education fund paid to the children of armed forces martyrs was not being lifted, with Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre telling Parliament that the measure was accepted as part of 7th Pay Commission recommendations.

He also said that around 250 students have been reported to be affected during the current financial year.

“The combined amount of tuition fee and hostel charges has been capped at Rs 10,000 per month in accordance with the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission as accepted by the Government. The allowance shall go up by 25 per cent each time DA rises by 50 per cent,” Bhamre said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Asked if any representations were received by the government on the issue, Bhamre replied in affirmative.

In response to a question on what was the response of the government, the minister said: “The reply has been sent stating that the combined amount of tuition fee and hostel charges has been capped at Rs 10,000 per month in accordance with the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission as accepted by the Government.”

Asked how much money the government will save with this cap, he said out of total reported 2,679 students during the year 2017-18, 193 students were drawing more than the capped amount of tuition and hostel fee.

“Savings have been reported to be Rs.3.20 crore (approximately),” he said.

The highest amount drawn is around Rs 18.95 lakh per annum for a student, Bhamre added.

An order dated September 13 by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare of the Defence Ministry said the fee for tuition and hostel expenses for children of martyrs would be capped at Rs 10,000 per month, as per the recommendations by the 7th Pay Commission. The order came into effect from July 1.

The demand for a rollback of the decision was also raised by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, and Union Minister of State for External Affairs, General V.K. Singh (retd.), who is himself a former chief of the Indian Army.