Much to the respite, Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) now gets its own oxygen plant in the hospital premises that has started its operations.

IGMC, Senior Medical Superintendent, Ramesh Chand said, “With a functional oxygen plant in the hospital will now ensure non-interrupted supply of oxygen to the hospital for the patients.”

Previously the hospital had been making do with the oxygen cylinders transported in truck from Mandi district, 158 kms from Shimla, which often got affected and delayed due to the inclement weather conditions.

Now with the setting up of oxygen plant in the hospital premises will regulate availability of oxygen supply and also the company running the plant will make available a buffer stock of oxygen supply for two days at least, he added.

Owing to dependence of oxygen cylinder supply from Mandi had, on a number of occasions even lead to shortage of supply to the hospital often affecting oxygen supply to various wards under different departments to ensure that supply to all major sections of the hospital that include Critical care unit (CCU), Intensive Critical Care Unit (ICCU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the operation theatre of departments of Surgery, Cardio, Othro and Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the hospital was unaffected.

India will remain one of the fastest growing major economies and achieving 7-8 per cent growth is ‘natural’ for Asia’s third largest economy, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday. “I think for India to achieve the growth rate of 7-8 per cent is logically plausible,” Jaitley said at the 23rd Conference of Auditors' General of Commonwealth Countries and British Overseas Territories here on Wednesday. “If big growth returns to the world, we probably can push upwards," he added. 

The country's economy grew 7 per cent in October-December, the pace decelerating from the previous quarter’s revised 7.4 per cent expansion. The minister said he expects the agriculture sector to grow at 4.5 per cent this year.

Jaitley added that the government would focus on two important areas -building infrastructure on war footing and substantial expenditure on development of rural India. 

 The Finance Minister said India has the largest infrastructure creating programme in the world which includes constructing 10,000 km of road every year or 30 km a day, connecting every village with a regular road by 2019, to ensure that every village is electrified by 2018 and addition of 40-50 regional airports besides modernising the railway system among others.

Fiscal deficit for the next financial year is aimed at 3.2 per cent, but it will continue to decline after a slight pause, Jaitley also said, adding both current and fiscal deficits are under control. The inflation is also near the 4 percent target, he added.

The Monetary Policy Committee aims to bring headline inflation closer to a previously announced target of 4 per cent on a “durable basis and in a calibrated manner”, Jaitley said. Retail inflation in February had hit a four-month high of 3.65 per cent. India’s banking sector is also expected to improve in the next few quarters, he said, adding that private sector investment, which is currently constrained owing to the banking system, needs to increase.

Meanwhile, Jaitley reiterated the government’s plans to roll out the proposed Goods and Services Tax from 1 July, which he said will replace the “most complicated tax system in the world” with “one of the simplest tax systems.”

“There will be a seamless transfer of goods and services across the country,” he said. 

 Earlier this week, the Union Cabinet had approved four key Bills that will pave way for the implementation of the uniform tax that will subsume all state-level levies. “The laws which enable this are now before Parliament, which hopefully should get cleared and once they do get cleared, then by the middle of this year we hope to see the implementation,” Jaitley added. 

India is also trying to make direct tax rates comparable to international levels, the minister said, adding that the government is making efforts to reduce corporate tax to 25 per cent.

India will remain one of the fastest growing major economies and achieving 7-8 per cent growth is ‘natural’ for Asia’s third largest economy, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday. “I think for India to achieve the growth rate of 7-8 per cent is logically plausible,” Jaitley said at the 23rd Conference of Auditors' General of Commonwealth Countries and British Overseas Territories here on Wednesday. “If big growth returns to the world, we probably can push upwards," he added. 

The country's economy grew 7 per cent in October-December, the pace decelerating from the previous quarter’s revised 7.4 per cent expansion. The minister said he expects the agriculture sector to grow at 4.5 per cent this year.

Jaitley added that the government would focus on two important areas -building infrastructure on war footing and substantial expenditure on development of rural India. 

 The Finance Minister said India has the largest infrastructure creating programme in the world which includes constructing 10,000 km of road every year or 30 km a day, connecting every village with a regular road by 2019, to ensure that every village is electrified by 2018 and addition of 40-50 regional airports besides modernising the railway system among others.

Fiscal deficit for the next financial year is aimed at 3.2 per cent, but it will continue to decline after a slight pause, Jaitley also said, adding both current and fiscal deficits are under control. The inflation is also near the 4 percent target, he added.

The Monetary Policy Committee aims to bring headline inflation closer to a previously announced target of 4 per cent on a “durable basis and in a calibrated manner”, Jaitley said. Retail inflation in February had hit a four-month high of 3.65 per cent. India’s banking sector is also expected to improve in the next few quarters, he said, adding that private sector investment, which is currently constrained owing to the banking system, needs to increase.

Meanwhile, Jaitley reiterated the government’s plans to roll out the proposed Goods and Services Tax from 1 July, which he said will replace the “most complicated tax system in the world” with “one of the simplest tax systems.”

“There will be a seamless transfer of goods and services across the country,” he said. 

 Earlier this week, the Union Cabinet had approved four key Bills that will pave way for the implementation of the uniform tax that will subsume all state-level levies. “The laws which enable this are now before Parliament, which hopefully should get cleared and once they do get cleared, then by the middle of this year we hope to see the implementation,” Jaitley added. 

India is also trying to make direct tax rates comparable to international levels, the minister said, adding that the government is making efforts to reduce corporate tax to 25 per cent.

The government has set in motion a plan to boost nuclear power so that the generation capacity in the country touches nearly 15,000 MW by 2024, the Lok Sabha was told on Wednesday. In 2014, India's nuclear power generation capacity was 4,780 MW.

Replying to queries during Question Hour, Minister of State in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, said a number of steps have been taken by the Narendra Modi government to fast-track all ongoing nuclear projects and setting up new plants in different parts of the country.

"When we came to power in 2014, we had set a target of generating nuclear power by three times in 10 yearsand we hope to reach that target," he said.

The minister, however, said for generating targeted nuclear power, there has to be enough uranium available ~ both from domestic as well as foreign sources.

Singh said the government was actively pursuing the process of acquiring uranium from different sources, including exploration in new places like Bihar and Meghalaya.

He said for the first time, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India has been allowed to go in for setting up joint venture nuclear plants along with public sector undertakings.

The minister said the third stage of India's nuclear power programme contemplates using thorium along with uranium- 233 as fuel in thorium-based reactors. With sustained efforts of years, India has gained experience over the entire thorium fuel cycle on a semi-industrial scale, he said.

"The developmental activities include studies in thorium extraction, fuel fabrication and irradiation, reprocessing studies including construction of an engineering-scale power reactor, thorium reprocessing facility and setting up of uranium-233 fuelled Purnima and KAMINI research reactors," he said.

Singh said the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and research organisations attached with DAE are engaged in various R&D activities to address the utilisation of thorium in different types of reactors, including efforts aimed at enlarging the existing thorium cycle experience to a bigger scale.

The government has set in motion a plan to boost nuclear power so that the generation capacity in the country touches nearly 15,000 MW by 2024, the Lok Sabha was told on Wednesday. In 2014, India's nuclear power generation capacity was 4,780 MW.

Replying to queries during Question Hour, Minister of State in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, said a number of steps have been taken by the Narendra Modi government to fast-track all ongoing nuclear projects and setting up new plants in different parts of the country.

"When we came to power in 2014, we had set a target of generating nuclear power by three times in 10 yearsand we hope to reach that target," he said.

The minister, however, said for generating targeted nuclear power, there has to be enough uranium available ~ both from domestic as well as foreign sources.

Singh said the government was actively pursuing the process of acquiring uranium from different sources, including exploration in new places like Bihar and Meghalaya.

He said for the first time, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India has been allowed to go in for setting up joint venture nuclear plants along with public sector undertakings.

The minister said the third stage of India's nuclear power programme contemplates using thorium along with uranium- 233 as fuel in thorium-based reactors. With sustained efforts of years, India has gained experience over the entire thorium fuel cycle on a semi-industrial scale, he said.

"The developmental activities include studies in thorium extraction, fuel fabrication and irradiation, reprocessing studies including construction of an engineering-scale power reactor, thorium reprocessing facility and setting up of uranium-233 fuelled Purnima and KAMINI research reactors," he said.

Singh said the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and research organisations attached with DAE are engaged in various R&D activities to address the utilisation of thorium in different types of reactors, including efforts aimed at enlarging the existing thorium cycle experience to a bigger scale.

In a move to fast track infrastructure projects, the Railways have agreed to form joint ventures with 17 states, the Lok Sabha was told on Wednesday.

Replying to a spate of supplementaries during Question Hour, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said by entering into a joint venture, the states will have ownership over projects and ensure that infrastructure develops at a faster pace.

He said a new scheme will be launched soon, under which people with waitlisted tickets will be able to get berths in other trains going to the same destination, in case it is not confirmed on the train they had originally opted for. Passengers with ordinary tickets will be able to travel on trains such as Rajdhani if their waitlisted ticket is not confirmed on other trains.

He said once approved by the Parliament Secretariat, MPs can book and cancel their tickets online using a unique identity.

Chintamani Malviya and Ravindra Ray (both BJP) told the Speaker that their questions on Railways were "twisted" and what has appeared in the question list is different from what they had originally asked. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she would look into the matter.

In a move to fast track infrastructure projects, the Railways have agreed to form joint ventures with 17 states, the Lok Sabha was told on Wednesday.

Replying to a spate of supplementaries during Question Hour, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said by entering into a joint venture, the states will have ownership over projects and ensure that infrastructure develops at a faster pace.

He said a new scheme will be launched soon, under which people with waitlisted tickets will be able to get berths in other trains going to the same destination, in case it is not confirmed on the train they had originally opted for. Passengers with ordinary tickets will be able to travel on trains such as Rajdhani if their waitlisted ticket is not confirmed on other trains.

He said once approved by the Parliament Secretariat, MPs can book and cancel their tickets online using a unique identity.

Chintamani Malviya and Ravindra Ray (both BJP) told the Speaker that their questions on Railways were "twisted" and what has appeared in the question list is different from what they had originally asked. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she would look into the matter.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced the key portfolios for his cabinet.

UP CM Adityanath kept Home and Finance portfolios, while his deputies Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma were assigned PWD Ministry and Middle and Higher Education.

Aditynath on Tuesday met the senior leaders of the party Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

According to reports, there was a tussle between Chief Minister Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya over the important home portfolio. Both Adityanath and Maurya wanted the home department and have turned to Delhi for a solution.

Adityanath was sworn in as the UP CM on March 19 and made commitment to work for the development of the state and live up to Modi’s dream of turning Uttar Pradesh into Uttam Pradesh.

“UP will be the state which our honourable Prime Minister has dreamt of, a corruption-free state, a state free of anarchy. It would be an incident free-state…Uttar Pradesh would work to make the dream of Prime Minister a reality," Adityanath said.

The Uttar Pradesh government will hold the first cabinet meeting on Wednesday headed by

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced the key portfolios for his cabinet.

UP CM Adityanath kept Home and Finance portfolios, while his deputies Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma were assigned PWD Ministry and Middle and Higher Education.

Aditynath on Tuesday met the senior leaders of the party Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

According to reports, there was a tussle between Chief Minister Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya over the important home portfolio. Both Adityanath and Maurya wanted the home department and have turned to Delhi for a solution.

Adityanath was sworn in as the UP CM on March 19 and made commitment to work for the development of the state and live up to Modi’s dream of turning Uttar Pradesh into Uttam Pradesh.

“UP will be the state which our honourable Prime Minister has dreamt of, a corruption-free state, a state free of anarchy. It would be an incident free-state…Uttar Pradesh would work to make the dream of Prime Minister a reality," Adityanath said.

The Uttar Pradesh government will hold the first cabinet meeting on Wednesday headed by

Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani has accused Pakistan of supporting terrorist organisations and praised India for being helpful in the development of his country.

Pakistan's reluctance to end its support for terrorism underpins the continuation of violence in Afghanistan and the region, Rabbani said while speaking on Afghanistan's foreign policy priorities and implications for the new US administration at a meeting organised by the Atlantic Council think-tank in Washington on Tuesday.

The Atlantic Council is a forum for countries to discuss key issues such as peace, security, democracy and prosperity around the world.

"Pakistan violates our air-space and frequently shells eastern Afghanistan. These routine violations undermine any prospect of normal bilateral relations, and pose a serious threat to peace and security in our region and beyond," Rabbani said. 

He said Afghanistan tried to open a new chapter of relationship with Islamabad but, "unfortunately, we did not see practical steps taken by Pakistan". 

Rabbani said defeating terrorism in Afghanistan and the region is, fundamentally, dependent on eliminating terrorist safe-havens in countries that harbour terrorists. 

"They must end their sponsorship of terrorism through continual flow of financial, moral and material aid."

The minister said Afghanistan has always chosen cooperation over confrontation and Islamabad should see its neighbour as a sovereign and independent country. 

"It is not subservient to anyone," he said.

Rabbani also called India "an important partner providing support where their means have allowed". He lauded India for the all-round development of Afghanistan.

Referring to the series of recent attacks in Kabul and Kandahar, the Foreign Minister said these incidents proved that the Taliban did not want to come to the peace table.

He said a paradigm shift in Pakistan was needed if any progress has to be made in peace efforts with the Taliban. 

"Now, we have stopped asking Pakistan to deliver Taliban to the peace table. We want Pakistan to take action against the Taliban leadership. They should not support violence in Afghanistan," he said.

Rabbani also urged US President Donald Trump's administration to put pressure on Pakistan to stop using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

Discussing the Finance Bill, 2017, in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Bill would support tax collection and after the implementation, Aadhaar card would be mandatory for filing income tax returns.

"Many people have been found with multiple PAN cards and that's why the government felt the need to introduce the Aadhaar system" Jaitley said, adding, " Today 98 per cent citizens have Aadhaar. 

Meanwhile, clearing the doubts on tax evasion, Jaitley said, "They can either give the Aadhaar number or mention that they have applied for Aadhaar".

 Ahead of municipal elections in the national capital, the Delhi Election Commission has directed the AAP government in the capital to remove "Aam" word from all forms of display of its schemes.

The commission, through a letter on Monday, directed the Delhi Chief Secretary and all the three city municipal commissioners to remove the word "Aam" from all forms of display, including hoardings, banners, name plates, billboards, in Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinic and Aam Aadmi Bypass Express Service or anywhere within the jurisdiction of the Delhi government.

The letter became public on Tuesday.

The commission also demanded a "compliance report" within 48 hours.

The action comes after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Vijender Gupta on March 18 submitted a memorandum to the state Election Commission seeking removal of words "Aam Aadmi" from the names of the government-run schemes, including Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinic and Aam Aadmi Bypass Express Service and others.

Elections for the North, East and South Delhi Municipal Corporations are scheduled to be held on April 22 and the results will be announced on April 25. 

The model code of conduct is in force from March 14.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is gearing up for intensive campaigning for the civic polls from March 31. 

AAP Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has planned several public meetings across the city for the municipal polls.

NABARD on Wednesday announced to launch a major Water Campaign during the current year, covering around 1,00,000 villages in vulnerable/water stressed areas and more specifically where the ground water is over exploited.

NABARD Manager and Public Relations Officer Manavpreet Singh said the decision comes on the heels of a similar campaign undertaken last year which covered some 40,000 villages and received encouraging response at the field level.

“Since NABARD has been implementing a large number of watershed development projects in various states and the rural communities in these areas would sensitised on important local key technologies for efficient conservation and management of water resources,” he said.

Manavpreet said the campaign would essentially focus on creating awareness among the rural community about the methods of water conservation, preservation and its efficient utilisation at various levels. The use of modern technologies like micro irrigation (more crop per drop), traditional water management practices, adopting improved package of agronomic practices, etc would also be shared with them.

He said as a part of the campaign, area specific contents covering different water management practices applicable to local conditions for various agro climatic regions, with emphasis on community participation, is being developed.

“Besides this, NABARD proposes to identify Village Volunteers (Jal Doots) for a localized and more effective approach. These volunteers will increase awareness about various methods of rain water harvesting, efficient water use, recharging groundwater and integrated farming systems besides facilitating creation of water conservation structures and adoption of water efficient practices/technologies,” he said.

He said such initiatives would be linked with ongoing schemes of the government. Involvement of bank branches, government departments, extension agencies and other stakeholders during the campaign process is expected to give impetus to this initiative.

Ronnie Moran, former Liverpool football club captain and coach, breathed his last at the age of 83 here on Wednesday.

Moran played 379 times between 1952 and 1968 for Liverpool, scoring 17 goals, but arguably played a big role under head coach Bill Shankly.

Moran played under Shankly when he was invited by the Scot to join the coaching team and twice filled in as caretaker coach during 49 years of service at the club.

"Liverpool Football Club is deeply saddened by the passing of Ronnie Moran," a statement from the club said.

In a move to save the students’ career by preventing them from taking admission in fake universities and colleges, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has released a list of fake universities that are operating across India.

There are 23 fake universities and 279 technical institutes operating without the regulator’s permission in the country.

While Uttar Pradesh tops the list of highest number of fake universities with nine, Delhi has the most fake colleges (66) offering engineering and technical courses.

Below is the list of the fake universities in the states across the country.

Bihar

1) Maithili University/Vishwavidyalaya, Darbhanga, Bihar.

Delhi

2) Commercial University Ltd., Daryaganj, Delhi.

3) United Nations University, Delhi.

4) Vocational University, Delhi.

5) ADR-Centric Juridical University, ADR House, 8J, Gopala Tower, 25 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110 008.

6) Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, New Delhi.

7) Viswakarma Open University for Self-Employment, Rozgar Sewasadan, 672, Sanjay Enclave, Opp. GTK Depot, Delhi-110033.

Karnataka

8) Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Gokak, Belgaum, Karnataka.

Kerala

9) St. John’s University, Kishanattam, Kerala.

Maharashtra

10) Raja Arabic University, Nagpur, Maharashtra.

West Bengal

11) Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkatta.

12) Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research,8-A, Diamond Harbour Road, Builtech inn, 2nd Floor, Thakurpurkur, Kolkatta – 700063

Uttar Pradesh

13) Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP) Jagatpuri, Delhi.

14) Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya, (Women’s University) Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

15) Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

16) National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

17) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Achaltal, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

18) Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Kosi Kalan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

19) Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.

20) Indraprastha Shiksha Parishad, Institutional Area,Khoda,Makanpur,Noida Phase-II, Uttar Pradesh.

21) Gurukul Vishwavidyala, Vridanvan, Uttar Pradesh.

Odisha

22) Nababharat Shiksha Parishad, Anupoorna Bhawan, Plot No. 242, Pani Tanki Road,Shaktinagar, Rourkela-769014.

23) North Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Odisha.

* Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow, UP – the matter is subjudice before the District Judge – Lucknow

The list of fake universities and fake technical institutes are available on the UGC website www.ugc.ac.in and AICTE website www.aicte-india.org.

Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, now nursing an injury back home, on Wednesday said India are afraid of defeat at the hands of Australia after the first Test debacle in Pune.

India and Australia have won a match each in the four-match series, with one to go in Dharamsala, scheduled to begin on Saturday. The series has not only witnessed some terrific performances but also some controversies.

However, Australia have won over many fans and critics alike by performing way above the expectations.

"It's probably come a lot more from their side than ours. There's been a lot made of it before the series, there was so much hype before the series, and I think we've gone about the cricket as we have done for a long time now. As a young group, we're probably still finding our way. We're still learning about each other's games and how we're going as a team probably since the Hobart Test match (last year)," Starc was quoted as saying by Fox Sports. 

"It's probably showed in how the guys have been playing their cricket, especially the way they batted (in the third Test Ranchi ). A couple of young guys performed outstandingly well, (like) Peter Handscomb. It shows who we are as a group and things have come hard, and it's almost a defensive mechanism for them that we won the first Test match, we're here for the challenge.

"They were scared of us, beating them in India the way they've been playing as well. So it was almost a defensive mechanism for them and obviously they come out in the second Test match, performed really well and got back into it."

Starc revealed details about 20-year old Matt Renshaw who is in India for the first time, saying he talks like a 35-year old and loves his batting.

"The more time he spends out in the middle the less time we have to listen to him. He's different but he's a lovely kid. Loves his cricket, just loves batting – so I think that's obviously shown in how he's gone about his cricket in India," Starc said.

"His first trip there, he's learning — he's probably not eating the right things, being sick all the time — but he's performing quite well. He says some strange things, he comes up with some strange theories. He talks a load about (Don) Bradman and whether he scored those runs. He keeps talking about bats these days. He talks like he's 35."

On his foot fracture that he suffered during the second Test, Starc said it was not serious.

"The foot is okay. It's not snapped in half like the one 18 months go. It's the same foot, so I did the third metatarsal the last time, this is the fourth. Nice fracture. It's not displaced though," he said.

"I don't need a boot fortunately. I'm still in the gym getting myself ready for when I do come back whenever that might be. I see the specialist on Thursday and hopefully get a clearer picture then. But the Champions Trophy is clearly not out of the picture."

On the Dharamsala Test, which is the final frontier for both teams after the series is locked 1-1, Starc said the visitors can win.

"I think we can win. We've showed throughout the series that we're definitely up for the challenge," he said. 

"We're in the fight — we have been for three Test matches. We can knuckle down when we need to but we can attack when we want to and we can."

Rock n’ Roll music pioneer – Chuck Berry passed away on 18 March, but Chuck, his final album, is set for release even as he left a generations of musicians and fans who were highly inspired and influenced by him in his six-decade-long career.

Dualtone Records company on Wednesday made an announcement on social media that the final album by legendary musician Chuck Berry named CHUCK would be released on June 16. This would be his first album since 1979’s Rock It.

The posthumous record contains 10 new songs Wonderful Woman, Big Boys, You Go To My Head, 3/4 Time (Enchiladas), Darlin, Lady B. Goode, She Still Loves You, Jamaica Moon, Dutchman and Eyes Of Man.

Eight out of 10 songs were written by Berry himself, while others were composed in collaboration with featuring musicians such as Nathaniel Rateliff, Tom Morello, Gary Clark Jr and Chuck’s grandson Charles Berry III.

“Working on my dad's record has been one of the best experiences of my life, I will forever treasure the musical conversations we had, and the time we spent together completing it,” said Charles Berry Jr.

Known for his blistering guitar skills, Berry invented Rock n’ Rock by using blues, and created a new form of showmanship in the music industry.

For stage act, Berry’s benchmark ‘Duckwalk’ is still followed by numerous ace guitarists on stage, particularly in guitar solos.