Megastar Rajinikanth on Tuesday wished known Tamil composer and BJP candidate Gangai Amaran success in the by-election to the Tamil Nadu assembly from RK Nagar here.

Rajinikanth met Amaran at his residence and wished him success in his new innings.

"Today our Thalaivar Rajinikanth met and wished my dad for his political victory in RK Nagar by-election," Venkat Prabhu, Amaran's son and also a filmmaker, tweeted on Tuesday.

Prabhu shared a photograph of his father along with Rajinikanth. In 2014, Amaran joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The April 12 contest will be held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of J. Jayalalithaa, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

The West Bengal BJP on Tuesday demanded that TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expel what the former said were corrupt leaders from her party or resign herself if she failed to do so.

"We urge her to remove all corrupt people from her Trinamool Congress. But we know she does not have the guts to do so, as she herself is involved in corruption. The Chief Minister should either expel all wrongdoers from her party or resign from her position," state BJP President Dilip Ghosh told the media here.

The BJP leader's remarks came on a day the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the Calcutta High Court order that asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the Narada sting operation case.

However, the apex court asked the central agency to carry out the probe within a month, which the High Court had sought within 72 hours.

"The political scenario in West Bengal is changing fast. These verdicts (on the Narada sting case) in the High Court and the Supreme Court in quick succession will have a massive impact on state politics," Ghosh said.

The BJP leader said the Trinamool Congress government had no right to stay in power as people had lost faith in it due to several instances of corruption.

"This government has no right to stay in power. People have lost faith in this government. They are not able to tolerate the government any more. We have said earlier as well that we doubt this government would be able to complete its five-year term," he said.

The result of Indian Forest Service examination has been declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Tuesday.

A total of 110 candidates have been declared successful by the Commission, an official release said.

Of these, 48 candidates are of General category, 37 belong to Other Backward Classes, 17 to Scheduled Castes and eight to Scheduled Tribes, it said.

The final selection is based on the results of the Indian Forest Service (main) examination held in November, 2016 followed by personality test in February-March, 2017.

The result will also be available on the UPSC website–www.upsc.gov.in.

The marks of candidates are expected to be available on the UPSC's website within 15 days from the date of publication of result, the release said.

Candidates may obtain any information or clarification regarding their examination or recruitment from the "facilitation counters" set up by UPSC near the examination hall building in its campus here, on working days between 10 AM to 5 PM in person or over telephone. The numbers for the same are 011- 23385271, 23381125, 23098543, the release added.

The result of Indian Forest Service examination has been declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Tuesday.

A total of 110 candidates have been declared successful by the Commission, an official release said.

Of these, 48 candidates are of General category, 37 belong to Other Backward Classes, 17 to Scheduled Castes and eight to Scheduled Tribes, it said.

The final selection is based on the results of the Indian Forest Service (main) examination held in November, 2016 followed by personality test in February-March, 2017.

The result will also be available on the UPSC website–www.upsc.gov.in.

The marks of candidates are expected to be available on the UPSC's website within 15 days from the date of publication of result, the release said.

Candidates may obtain any information or clarification regarding their examination or recruitment from the "facilitation counters" set up by UPSC near the examination hall building in its campus here, on working days between 10 AM to 5 PM in person or over telephone. The numbers for the same are 011- 23385271, 23381125, 23098543, the release added.

The government on Tuesday proposed to lower the cash transaction limit to Rs 2 lakh, from Rs 3 lakh announced in the Budget, as it introduced 40 amendments to the Finance Bill in an unprecedented move.

As the Finance Bill was taken up for consideration in the Lok Sabha, the opposition parties including TMC, BJD and RSP protested against the introduction of these many amendments, saying it was being done as a "back-door entry".

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, however, overruled the objections raised by the opposition parties, saying the 'incidental provisions' involved in the amendments constitute a 'Money Bill' and therefore can be considered as part of the Finance Bill.

The proposed amendments to the Finance Bill include a provision to cap legal cash transactions at Rs 2 lakh. While presenting the Budget on February 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had proposed to make any cash transaction beyond Rs 3 lakh as illegal with effect from April this year.

A penalty of equal amount would be levied in case of any violation of the provision, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia tweeted after the amendment was moved.

Another senior revenue department official said the move was intended to make the law more stringent to clamp down on cash dealings, which was giving rise to black money.

The move to cap legal cash transactions followed recommendations made by the Special Investigation Team on Black Money, which was set by by the government on directions of the Supreme Court.

The amendments to the laws like Companies Act, Employees Provident Fund, Smuggling and Foreign Exchange Act, TRAI Act and Information Technology Act, have also been moved to make the functioning of tribunals more efficient by merging the smaller ones and reducing their numbers from 40 to 12.

While defending the move to make amendments, Jaitley invoked the first Lok Sabha Speaker G V Mavalankar.

He said if a substantial portion of a bill deals with imposition or abolition of tax, it can be introduced as a Money Bill even even if it has other incidental provisions.

"You cannot have a bill which says government will spend Rs 100,000 crore without detailing how it would be spent. You cannot have a bill where you say there will be 5 per cent without specifying what will be the deduction, what will be the power of assessing officer, appeal provision… No tax can be imposed without reference to courts or tribunals.. These are incidental provisions…," Jaitley said.

The Minister said the opposition's objection is borne out the language in Article 110(1) and ever since the inception, the House has been debating on the word 'only' used there.

As Jaitley moved the Finance Bill for discussion, N K Premanchandran (RSP) said the government is pushing the amendments to the House and not following the rules.

"It is being bulldozed… If you conduct the House like this, then there is no need for the Monsoon and the Winter sessions… (Parliamentary) Standing Committee can be curtailed. The supreme right of Parliament is being taken away," Premachandran said.

The government is bringing amendments to the Representation of People Act, the RBI Act and the Sebi Act, he observed, while adding, "How can the issue of electoral bond come under Finance Bill? These amendments do not come under the purview of the Finance Bill."

Jaitley said the electoral bond has been proposed for cleansing the political money since a lot of electoral funding, across the spectrum, comes from unknown sources.

Jaitley said at present the Representation of the People Act provides for revealing of identity of people making donations above Rs 20,000 and the amendment would provide that if money comes by way of electoral bonds, the identity will not be disclosed.

The Finance Minister also said the amendments proposed in the Post Office Act, the Oil Industry Development Act and the Research and Development cess can be made part of the Finance Bill as these squarely come within the purview of Article 110.

Deepender Hooda of Congress said the government should have brought a separate bill on transparency in electoral funding as amendment to the RBI Act was 'consequential' and not 'incidental'.

"Your aim was to bring transparency in electoral funding and that is why you brought amendment to the RBI Act. A separate transparency in electoral funding bill should have been brought," Hooda said.

The government on Tuesday proposed to lower the cash transaction limit to Rs 2 lakh, from Rs 3 lakh announced in the Budget, as it introduced 40 amendments to the Finance Bill in an unprecedented move.

As the Finance Bill was taken up for consideration in the Lok Sabha, the opposition parties including TMC, BJD and RSP protested against the introduction of these many amendments, saying it was being done as a "back-door entry".

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, however, overruled the objections raised by the opposition parties, saying the 'incidental provisions' involved in the amendments constitute a 'Money Bill' and therefore can be considered as part of the Finance Bill.

The proposed amendments to the Finance Bill include a provision to cap legal cash transactions at Rs 2 lakh. While presenting the Budget on February 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had proposed to make any cash transaction beyond Rs 3 lakh as illegal with effect from April this year.

A penalty of equal amount would be levied in case of any violation of the provision, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia tweeted after the amendment was moved.

Another senior revenue department official said the move was intended to make the law more stringent to clamp down on cash dealings, which was giving rise to black money.

The move to cap legal cash transactions followed recommendations made by the Special Investigation Team on Black Money, which was set by by the government on directions of the Supreme Court.

The amendments to the laws like Companies Act, Employees Provident Fund, Smuggling and Foreign Exchange Act, TRAI Act and Information Technology Act, have also been moved to make the functioning of tribunals more efficient by merging the smaller ones and reducing their numbers from 40 to 12.

While defending the move to make amendments, Jaitley invoked the first Lok Sabha Speaker G V Mavalankar.

He said if a substantial portion of a bill deals with imposition or abolition of tax, it can be introduced as a Money Bill even even if it has other incidental provisions.

"You cannot have a bill which says government will spend Rs 100,000 crore without detailing how it would be spent. You cannot have a bill where you say there will be 5 per cent without specifying what will be the deduction, what will be the power of assessing officer, appeal provision… No tax can be imposed without reference to courts or tribunals.. These are incidental provisions…," Jaitley said.

The Minister said the opposition's objection is borne out the language in Article 110(1) and ever since the inception, the House has been debating on the word 'only' used there.

As Jaitley moved the Finance Bill for discussion, N K Premanchandran (RSP) said the government is pushing the amendments to the House and not following the rules.

"It is being bulldozed… If you conduct the House like this, then there is no need for the Monsoon and the Winter sessions… (Parliamentary) Standing Committee can be curtailed. The supreme right of Parliament is being taken away," Premachandran said.

The government is bringing amendments to the Representation of People Act, the RBI Act and the Sebi Act, he observed, while adding, "How can the issue of electoral bond come under Finance Bill? These amendments do not come under the purview of the Finance Bill."

Jaitley said the electoral bond has been proposed for cleansing the political money since a lot of electoral funding, across the spectrum, comes from unknown sources.

Jaitley said at present the Representation of the People Act provides for revealing of identity of people making donations above Rs 20,000 and the amendment would provide that if money comes by way of electoral bonds, the identity will not be disclosed.

The Finance Minister also said the amendments proposed in the Post Office Act, the Oil Industry Development Act and the Research and Development cess can be made part of the Finance Bill as these squarely come within the purview of Article 110.

Deepender Hooda of Congress said the government should have brought a separate bill on transparency in electoral funding as amendment to the RBI Act was 'consequential' and not 'incidental'.

"Your aim was to bring transparency in electoral funding and that is why you brought amendment to the RBI Act. A separate transparency in electoral funding bill should have been brought," Hooda said.

Old-foes will reunite in Dortmund on Wednesday when Germany host England in a high-profile international friendly. It is also German winger Lukas Podolski’s farewell game.

While quite a few big names from both sides are missing out due to injury, there can be no denying that Die Mannschaft hold a definite edge over their perennial rivals, the Three Lions.

Germany 

The big news for Germany is that their captain, Manuel Neuer, will be missing out after suffering a calf injury in training. But with Kevin Trapp and Marc Andre Ter Stegen, the Germans look well covered in that area.

While the spotlight will be on Lukas Podolski, who has an impressive goal scoring record for Germany (48 goals in 129 appearances), the likes of Leroy Sane and Andre Schurrle (ex-Chelsea) will have to pick up the slack in Dortmund.

Arguably the only real flaw in Joachim Low’s side is their defence, with right-back Benedikt Howedes a little slow out of the blocks at times but thanks to the overall quality of the Germans.

Apart from Neuer, Marco Reus, Julian Draxler, Mesut Ozil and Mario Gomez are the other big names missing out due to injury, which does leave the hosts looking a little light up top.

England 

Gareth Southgate has a squad that is full of potential, but England fans will be wary of letting them get carried away after decades of underperforming at major tournaments.

He has boldly dropped Wayne Rooney from the England squad and his side will have to back his manager with a resounding result against a team that are firm favourites. And to make matters even more interesting, Rooney’s long-term replacement— Harry Kane— is out of action as well.

Any way you look at it, England’s biggest weapon is their speed on the counter. Young Marcus Rashford will be leading the line for the Three Lions and he will have fellow speedsters like Nathan Redmond and Raheem Sterling for company. 

A player who may spring a surprise to the Germans is veteran striker Jermain Defoe, enjoying a second wind to his career at struggling club Sunderland. 

Who starts in central defence is difficult to predict, with Gary Cahill, John Stones and Chris Smalling all contenders but it is likely that the Chelsea man will line up with the Manchester United defender. 

Super Stat: The most contentious World Cup final ever was arguably the 1966 one, in which England beat Germany 4-2 thanks to a hattrick from Geoff Hurst. Hurst’s second goal, which gave the Englishmen a 3-2 lead in extra time, is still a bone of contention between fans as to whether it really crossed the line or not!

Old-foes will reunite in Dortmund on Wednesday when Germany host England in a high-profile international friendly. It is also German winger Lukas Podolski’s farewell game.

While quite a few big names from both sides are missing out due to injury, there can be no denying that Die Mannschaft hold a definite edge over their perennial rivals, the Three Lions.

Germany 

The big news for Germany is that their captain, Manuel Neuer, will be missing out after suffering a calf injury in training. But with Kevin Trapp and Marc Andre Ter Stegen, the Germans look well covered in that area.

While the spotlight will be on Lukas Podolski, who has an impressive goal scoring record for Germany (48 goals in 129 appearances), the likes of Leroy Sane and Andre Schurrle (ex-Chelsea) will have to pick up the slack in Dortmund.

Arguably the only real flaw in Joachim Low’s side is their defence, with right-back Benedikt Howedes a little slow out of the blocks at times but thanks to the overall quality of the Germans.

Apart from Neuer, Marco Reus, Julian Draxler, Mesut Ozil and Mario Gomez are the other big names missing out due to injury, which does leave the hosts looking a little light up top.

England 

Gareth Southgate has a squad that is full of potential, but England fans will be wary of letting them get carried away after decades of underperforming at major tournaments.

He has boldly dropped Wayne Rooney from the England squad and his side will have to back his manager with a resounding result against a team that are firm favourites. And to make matters even more interesting, Rooney’s long-term replacement— Harry Kane— is out of action as well.

Any way you look at it, England’s biggest weapon is their speed on the counter. Young Marcus Rashford will be leading the line for the Three Lions and he will have fellow speedsters like Nathan Redmond and Raheem Sterling for company. 

A player who may spring a surprise to the Germans is veteran striker Jermain Defoe, enjoying a second wind to his career at struggling club Sunderland. 

Who starts in central defence is difficult to predict, with Gary Cahill, John Stones and Chris Smalling all contenders but it is likely that the Chelsea man will line up with the Manchester United defender. 

Super Stat: The most contentious World Cup final ever was arguably the 1966 one, in which England beat Germany 4-2 thanks to a hattrick from Geoff Hurst. Hurst’s second goal, which gave the Englishmen a 3-2 lead in extra time, is still a bone of contention between fans as to whether it really crossed the line or not!

Researchers including one of Indian origin have developed a smartphone-controlled, battery-operated diagnostic device that costs as little as $100 and claims to detect Zika, dengue and chikungunya within 30 minutes.

The device, developed by the team at Sandia National Labs, part of the US Department of Energy, is based on the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) diagnostic method which eliminates the need to process a biological sample such as blood or urine, before testing. 

"In addition to creating an app that serves as a simple interface to operate the device, we were able to adapt smartphone camera sensors to replace traditional laboratory sample analysis tools, allowing for unprecedented mobility," said Aashish Priye, chemical engineer and lead author of the paper. 

LAMP also eliminates the need for extra sample preparation before testing. 

"We've demonstrated that the chemistry we're using can amplify viral RNA directly from raw, unprocessed samples," said Sandia chemical engineer and project lead Robert Meagher. 

Meagher and his team developed a technique known as quenching of unincorporated amplification signal reporters (QUASR), that involves tagging fragments of synthesised viral DNA called primers with fluorophores — molecules that emit bright light signals. 

QUASR then causes samples containing viral DNA/RNA to appear bright, while negative reactions remain dark.

For the Zika project, Meagher's team developed a novel algorithm that allows a smartphone sensor to act as a fluorimeter, detecting QUASR LAMP light signals if they appear. 

LAMP works so simply that the user need only place the smartphone on top of the LAMP box and open an app. The app turns on the heater to initiate the LAMP reaction.

This smartphone-based image analysis offers much greater detection certainty than the lab technician's naked eye, the authors said.

By enabling diagnosis in 30 minutes, the device could help clinicians make faster decisions about patient care and isolation, and rapidly alert public health authorities so they can take measures to prevent spread of the virus.

Furthermore, Zika, dengue and chikungunya are spread by the same mosquito type and have similar early symptoms. 

Sandia's prototype diagnostic tool could enable care providers to test quickly for all three at the same time, preventing misdiagnoses. 

The same tool can also be adapted to detect other human or animal pathogens.

The Sandia team described the rapid-testing prototype in a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Researchers including one of Indian origin have developed a smartphone-controlled, battery-operated diagnostic device that costs as little as $100 and claims to detect Zika, dengue and chikungunya within 30 minutes.

The device, developed by the team at Sandia National Labs, part of the US Department of Energy, is based on the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) diagnostic method which eliminates the need to process a biological sample such as blood or urine, before testing. 

"In addition to creating an app that serves as a simple interface to operate the device, we were able to adapt smartphone camera sensors to replace traditional laboratory sample analysis tools, allowing for unprecedented mobility," said Aashish Priye, chemical engineer and lead author of the paper. 

LAMP also eliminates the need for extra sample preparation before testing. 

"We've demonstrated that the chemistry we're using can amplify viral RNA directly from raw, unprocessed samples," said Sandia chemical engineer and project lead Robert Meagher. 

Meagher and his team developed a technique known as quenching of unincorporated amplification signal reporters (QUASR), that involves tagging fragments of synthesised viral DNA called primers with fluorophores — molecules that emit bright light signals. 

QUASR then causes samples containing viral DNA/RNA to appear bright, while negative reactions remain dark.

For the Zika project, Meagher's team developed a novel algorithm that allows a smartphone sensor to act as a fluorimeter, detecting QUASR LAMP light signals if they appear. 

LAMP works so simply that the user need only place the smartphone on top of the LAMP box and open an app. The app turns on the heater to initiate the LAMP reaction.

This smartphone-based image analysis offers much greater detection certainty than the lab technician's naked eye, the authors said.

By enabling diagnosis in 30 minutes, the device could help clinicians make faster decisions about patient care and isolation, and rapidly alert public health authorities so they can take measures to prevent spread of the virus.

Furthermore, Zika, dengue and chikungunya are spread by the same mosquito type and have similar early symptoms. 

Sandia's prototype diagnostic tool could enable care providers to test quickly for all three at the same time, preventing misdiagnoses. 

The same tool can also be adapted to detect other human or animal pathogens.

The Sandia team described the rapid-testing prototype in a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The Ghaziabad administration sealed on Tuesday 15 slaughter houses operating illegally in the city.

Launching a massive drive, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Atul Kumar, accompanied by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Police Inspectors and constables, raided and razed 15 slaughter houses and retail meat outlets in Islam Nagar and Kaila Bhatta, among other areas, of the city.

The team sealed the slaughter houses and the retail outlets after ascertaining that those were being run without any licence and in violation of the municipal laws.

The officials collected samples of meat sold at those places and the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) sent the samples for lab test.

One Aslam produced his licence to the raiding team, which was found fake during verification from the signing officer. Four retail outlets were found running on fake documents.

"FIRs are being lodged against the erring persons for forging documents and violating municipal laws," said SDM Kumar.

"We are taking action in line with the state government's directive to shut illegal slaughter houses and retail outlets across the state," said Additional District Magistrate (ADM)-City Preeti Jaiswal.

"Ghaziabad is one of the first cities to launch the drive. Such raids will be conducted throughout the district up to tehsil and village level and legal action taken against the rule violators," ADM Jaiswal said.
 

Actor Sanjay Dutt, while shooting the climax scene of his comeback film Bhoomi in the ravines of Chambal, ended up with a hairline fracture on the rib cage, says the movie's producer.

Sanjay was told to rest due to the injury, but he insisted on continuing the shoot.

"We were shooting the climax scene in the Chambal ravines and Sanjay was in an action sequence when he hurt himself in the rib cage. He must have been in a lot of pain, but he did not stop. Later, when we went to the doctor, the X-ray showed a hairline fracture," producer Sandeep Singh said in a statement issued on behalf of the makers on Tuesday.

"We wanted to stop the shoot, but Baba (Sanjay) insisted. Really commendable on his part," Singh added.

Producer Bhushan Kumar said: "We really appreciate that Sanjay has been shooting non-stop despite the excruciating pain that he must be in. He is truly a phenomenal person and actor."

Earlier, during the shoot as well, Sanjay had hurt his head in one of the action sequences.

Bhoomi is being directed by Omung Kumar, and it was also shot in Agra.

Amid the raging controversy over Punjab's Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's appearance in a comedy show, his wife and former legislator Navjot Kaur on Tuesday said her husband would leave the show if it attracts the Office of Profit clause.

The CM Captain Amarinder Singh had on Monday said he would seek legal opinion in Sidhu's case to decide whether his minister can continue as a celebrity-judge on a popular TV comedy show.

 “I do not know what the Constitution or the law says on this matter. We will have to ask our advocate general to give us an opinion whether a person who is a minister can do what he wants to do."

“It will entirely depend on legal opinion and then I will bring it to Navjot Singh Sidhu’s notice. Frankly, I do not know whether it is a conflict of interest. Once I get an opinion from them (advocate general and
legal experts), I will have a chat with him,” Singh told the channel.

Kaur, however, maintains that her husband earns his living by working in the show. Sidhu is minister of tourism and culture and local bodies in the new Congress government.

"Such hype has been created about Navjot earning a living from television. When I was working as a MLA, my electricity bill and tea for guests costed more. We have no other business or source of income
except television. He has left 80 percent of shows which included IPL, commentator etc. Shooting for 2 shows of comedy night with Kapil takes only 5 hours in a week and that also mostly on Saturday night. I
think it is a meagre time for a non socially active God fearing workaholic," Kaur said in her Fabebook post on Sunday.

She maintains that since the shooting for The Kapil Sharma Show is done only for about five hours mostly on Saturday, it's not much time to spare.

Sidhu maintains his TV shows will not interfere with his Cabinet responsibilities. “I have no liquor, sand mining or transport business like former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. “I earn a
living through TV shows and I will be in Chandigarh from Monday to Thursday and in Amritsar from Friday to Sunday. What I do at night should not be anyone’s concern. I will take first flight back to
Punjab after TV shoots in Mumbai,” he said.

Justifying his government's decision to ban red-beacon lights in Punjab, the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said VIP culture has eroded the democratic systems of the country and alienated the common people from their own
leaders.

Reacting to reports of certain individuals refusing to let go of the red beacon status symbol, the CM said his government was committed to demolish the VIP culture in the state, as mandated by the Congress manifesto.

He urged all political leaders and others to support the initiative to purge the debt-ridden state of irrelevant power symbols, which it could ill-afford and which had no place in a progressive society.

"Such VIP frills were a legacy of the pre-independence era and had no place in a democratic and progressive society like ours," Amarinder said in a statement.

He urged all his colleagues in the government and in the party, as well as other elected representatives entitled to such privileges, not to make it an issue of prestige but to look at it as a small gesture of gratitude to the people for electing them to power.

Amarinder urged the public figures to respect people’s sentiment, saying such gestures would convey to the people the accessibility and availability of their leaders.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to implementing all the poll manifesto promises and the subsequent cabinet decisions in letter and in spirit, Amarinder said it
was not things like red beacon lights but hard work, commitment and sincerity that were the harbingers of popularity and public respect.

Pointing out that Punjabis had always been at the forefront of positive change and revolution, the chief minister exhorted all MLAs, ex MLAs and other elected leaders to set an example for the rest of the country to follow by shedding the VIP culture.

Besides removal of red beacons from VIP vehicles, the government has
initiated several other measures to rid the state of such symbolism, which Amarinder said would be implemented in toto.

He added that these far-reaching changes would not only help the political leadership to connect better with their electorate at the grassroots but also lead to considerable monetary savings for the cash-starved state exchequer.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday moved the Finance Bill, 2017, for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha, saying that since it provides for electoral bonds, it required consideration as a Money Bill, which can only be debated in the Lower House.

A Finance Bill is ordinarily introduced to give effect to the financial proposals of the government for the next financial year.

Replying to a point of order raised by an opposition member of the House, Jaitley said that following the government's demonetisation drive to curb corruption, various income tax incentives had been introduced, including electoral bonds, to deal with black money in political life. This had necessitated amendments to various Acts, he said. 

"Electoral bonds are one such incentive being issued under the Income Tax Act. Section 13A of the Income Tax Act and clause 11A of The Finance Bill, 2017 deal with electoral bonds," Jaitley told the House.

"These define the procedure how electoral bonds are to be issued, which says that the Reserve Bank (RBI) will, with particular banks, issue electoral bonds," he said.

"The RBI Act required an amendment in this case so that it may notify a particular bank. For this provision, RBI, as well as the Representation of People Act are amended," he added. 

On Monday, the Lok Sabha by voice vote passed the third batch of Supplementary Demand for Grants for 2016-17.

The House also passed the relevant appropriation Bills for drawing the specified sums out of the Consolidated Fund of India.

Jaitley had on Friday tabled the third batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2016-17, seeking approval for additional expenditure of Rs.11.35 lakh crore, including net cash outgo of Rs.14,786.85 crore towards various heads.

It has been a barren run for David Warner since arriving in India but the Australian opener is hopeful of a turnaround, saying he will soon be among runs.

The left-handed opener has managed just 131 runs in six innings with a 33-run knock in the first innings of the Bangalore Test being his best so far.

Warner said there was nothing wrong with him as he was striking the ball quite well.

"I feel fantastic, I couldn't be hitting the ball any better but it's just that the runs aren't coming for me at the moment. That will come, it will turn around," Warner told reporters.

"I just have to keep being disciplined and making sure that my preparation is still the same – not change anything, and just go about my business as I do," he said.

The aggressive batsman said he was not the first cricketer to endure a tough period.

"Numbers always pop up everywhere. For me it's about putting my best foot forward and trying to put my team in a position that we can either defend or win games. That's what that's about. Everyone in world cricket, greats and legends of the game have had stints overseas or at home (where) they've had some form slumps. That's just the game of cricket."

He said he has done it in past, emerging out of a lean patch, adding he can do it again.

"That's in the back of your mind you've got to keep telling yourself you've done the hard yards, you just don't lose it overnight. There were tough periods where I kept on thinking to myself 'am I actually doing the work at training?' I sort of second guessed myself.

"I had a couple of words to some boys around Christmas time and they weren't seeing any trends or anything with my dismissals, everything I was doing at training was spot on and in the normal way I go about it.

"Nothing has changed, it's still the same. I've just got to go out and keep backing myself and, when I'm out there, adapt to the conditions and then keep backing myself to try and keep putting the runs on the board," he said.

Warner said he has been giving Australia steady starts with Matt Renshaw but need to convert those into big ones.

"For the team's sake we need to get off to a good start," Warner said.

"As a partnership, me and Renners have been getting off to an okay start. None for 50 over here, you need those to be none for 100. We've seen the Indians do it before, batting big and (making) partnerships of 200."

With busy lives and money crunches, going out for a movie takes a back seat. Even though you try to take out time to watch one, it is hard to choose from the mainstream movies.

A weekend is awaited when couch becomes your personalised movie theatre and special screening takes place on the laptop with ‘good internet connection’.

This time, treat the movie buff in you with a handful of desi short movies to restore your faith in Indian cinema and make the weekend filmy!

Here are five Indian short films that you must watch to appreciate the art film-making is.

Chutney

This 15 minutes long short-film is a brain teasing experience your brain will appreciate. Tisca Chopra in disguise is something that will leave you shocked, surprised and awestruck at the same time. This twisted tale is worth watching and appreciating.

White Shirt

How often do we get attached to little things we have around us at our home. It can be a flower vase, a plant, a pen or may be a diary but here there is a white shirt that is the only thing that has kept a broken marriage from falling apart. The white shirt is the guiding light and how! Watch Kritika Kamra and Kunal Kapoor in this realistic and highly relatable 18 minutes long short-film.

Mama’s Boys

Sixteen-minute-long Neena Gupta starrer short film is witty and funny. The modern adaptation of Mahabharata for a light-hearted comedy and good laugh, this film is a must watch. The actors are well chosen and present the mythological characters in a modern light with perfection. Draupadi is definitely not a victim here!

Naked

Kalki Koechlin starrer 16 minutes long short film, Naked is based on a real incident from actor Radhika Apte’s life. Over an interview by a journalist, the movie presents some unsaid things which the society must know. Some may call it pure feminism but the movie is a must watch.

The Day After Everyday

A woman goes through one or the other kind of sexual abuse at least once in her life. Be it lewd comments, unwanted touch or more. This film throws light on the life of a woman in India and what all she goes through every day while she steps out of the house. Twenty-one minutes long, the film stars Radhika Apte.

So, check your internet speed and put the laptop on charging if the battery is low. Let the binge watch begin this weekend and utilise Youtube, the ultimate blessing.