Playing the record-longest innings for India, Cheteshwar Pujara’s 505-ball 190 runs (not out) powered India to a strong total of 503/6 at Tea, leading Australia by 52 runs on Day 4 of the third Test at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi.

The lazy Sunday morning witnessed a resolute batting display by Pujara and wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha (99*), who ruled two complete Test sessions.

Pujara has already crossed the milestone set by batting great Rahul Dravid, who batted for 495 deliveries in a Test match in 2004.

The 29-year-old is now aiming for his third double century in Test cricket.

Having put a gigantic 175-run partnership for the seventh-wicket with Pujara, Saha also contributed with sensibility and style.

Saha’s unbeaten 99 was well adorned by a six and seven boundaries and was halted at a notable strike rate of 46.47 at Tea. 

The 32-year-old batsman is bidding for his third international Test hundred at Ranchi.

Hindutva hardliner and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yogi Adityanath was on Sunday sworn in as the new Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister at Kanshiram Smriti Upvan in Lucknow in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

The 44-year-old five-term MP from Gorakhpur was unanimously elected the BJP legislature party leader at a meeting of the newly elected MLAs on Saturday in Lucknow.

The announcement of Adityanath, priest-turned politician, for the CM post took many by surprise. State BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was himself in contention for the top job besides union minister Manoj Sinha, first announced Adityanath's election.

Adityanath, will be the 21st chief minister of UP and the fourth from the BJP. He said he would follow Modi's slogan "sab ka saath, sab ka vikas" and ensure all round development of the the country's most populous state.

"I am confident that the state will march on the path of development," he said in his first brief media interaction at the Raj Bhawan on Saturday.

The Yogi said his efforts would be to provide "good governance" in the state.

(With inputs from agencies)

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has signed definitive agreements to buy out debt-ridden GSPC's entire 80 per cent stake in KG-basin natural gas block for $1.2 billion.

"Subsequent to board approving the deal on February 23, we have now signed farm-in and farm-out agreements," a senior company official said.

The company will close the deal and pay the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) the money after regulatory approvals like government nod for transfer of PI (participating interest) and change of operatorship are secured.

"We are hopeful that the deal will be closed in April," he said.

ONGC will pay $995.26 million for three discoveries in the KG-OSN-2001/3 block that are under trial production since August 2014. Another $200 million will be paid for six other discoveries for which GSPC has been finalising an investment plan to bring them to production.

Jubilant Offshore Drilling Pvt Ltd and Geo Global Resources (India) Inc hold 10 per cent stake in the block.

Originally, GSPC had offered ONGC its 50 per cent stake in the block together with operatorship, but the state-owned firm was not interested. Subsequently, GSPC offered its entire 80 per cent stake in the block and ONGC on December 23 last year agreed to acquire the same for $1.2 billion.

Two months later, the board approved the acquisition.

Besides the payout to GSPC, ONGC will have to pay for the entire development cost of the six discoveries, which may run into at least a couple of billion dollars.

GSPC, with a debt of Rs 19,716.27 crore as on March 31, 2015, has so far made 9 gas discoveries in the Bay of Bengal block. Of these, three — KG-08, KG-17, KG-15 commonly known as Deendayal West (DDW) fields – have been approved for development.

But against an approved field development plan (FDP) cost of $2.75 billion, GSPC has seen a huge cost overrun, incurring $2.83 billion as on March 31, 2015. Additionally, it had run up an exploration cost of $584.63 million, taking total expenditure as on March 31, 2015, to $3.41 billion.

As per the requirement of the field development plan (FDP), 12 more development wells are yet to be completed, which will further bump up the project cost.

The trial production from the DDW field commenced in August 2014, but the average production achieved is only 19.45 million standard cubic feet per day against a targeted commercial production of 200 mmscfd.

Commercial production has not commenced as the rate has not yet stabilised. The DGH-approved FDP had envisaged commercial production from December 2011.

The official said FDP for the six remaining discoveries — KG-16, KG-22, KG-31, KG-21, KG-19 and KG-20SS — is under review of GSPC.

As per the approved FDP of DDW fields, the estimated oil and gas in place (OGIP) was 1.95 trillion cubic feet (tcf).

Delhiites and NCR residents are set to deal with Monday blues with Delhi Police imposing prohibitory orders and traffic restrictions in order to prevent Jat community members from going ahead with their march to Parliament.

The All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti (AIJASS), which is spearheading the agitation demanding reservations in education and government jobs, has given a call for a march to the national capital to gherao Parliament and to hold dharnas on the Delhi border blocking all highways to press for its demands.

The Centre had on Saturday directed governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to invoke CrPC 144 to stop Jat protesters and has mobilised 247 companies (about 24,700 personnel) of paramilitary forces in Haryana, Delhi and Uttar UP in view of the protest.

Metro trains will not travel beyond the city's borders from 11.30 pm while 12 stations in Central Delhi will be shut from 8 pm till further orders.

The affected stations will be Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Lok Kalyan Marg, Janpath, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, R K Ashram Marg, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market and Shivaji stadium.

However, interchange facility will be available at all the interchange stations.

As directed by Delhi Police, services will not be available at Yellow line stations at Gurgaon, Blue Line stations at Noida and Violet Line stations at Faridabad.

Roads like Kamal Ataturk Marg, Safdarjung Road, Kautilya Marg, Kautilaya T Point Near Bihar Bhawan, route from Teen Murti to Gole Methi roundabout and Zakir Hussain Road for the commuters coming from Nizamuddin to India Gate will be closed from 8 PM onwards on Monday.

Other routes between Ring Road and San Martin Marg, Amrita Shergill from Lodhi Road, Max Mueller Mag from Lodhi Road, Arch Bishop Macarious from Lodhi Road and all lanes leading to Panchkuia road except Mandir Marg, RK Ashram Marg and Hospital Road will be closed from 11 pm onwards on Monday.

"Bona fide residents, employees working in offices situated in Lutyens' Delhi, emergency vehicles, entrance exam candidates, ambulance, hearse van, fire brigade, school buses and those who have come to the area for some work will only be allowed entry after furnishing proof," a senior police official said.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has also issued advisory for class 10 and 12 students appearing for board examination on Monday to reach the examination centres well before the scheduled time to avoid any inconvenience in anticipation of the gherao.

Jats are demanding reservations in government jobs and educational institutions, besides withdrawing of criminal cases registered against several youths of the community, release of those lodged in jail, and compensation and government jobs to the next of kin of those killed in last year's agitation.

A 16-year-old Muslim high school girl in the US was not allowed to compete in the regional basketball finals despite playing a full season of games because of her hijab.

Je'Nan Hayes, of Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland, played the first 24 games of the season without a problem but a few weeks ago, she was barred from playing a basketball game at her high school because of the headscarf she was wearing.

She never got to play in the Regional High School Championship game in Gaithersburg on March 3 as her coaches were told that she could not play because of her headscarf.

"We've never been informed of this rule," Hayes's coach Donita Adams told CBS Baltimore. Her coach had no choice but to leave her on the bench.

"I didn't want to look at her and explain to her why she couldn't play," Adams said.

"I was sad, angered, it was just a lot of emotions," Hayes said.

According to state rules, Hayes needed documented evidence to cover her head for religious purposes and still be able to take the court pick.

"I feel a rule like this is discriminatory," Hayes said.

It is not often enforced and had not been for the first 24 games of the season in Montgomery County.

Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) Maryland called for changes with Zainab Chaudry of CAIR saying, "I'd like to think the court has not played a role since we have seen a rise in discrimination." 

After the game, when questioned, the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association issued a statement, saying, "High school athletics in Maryland has a strong and stable tradition of providing safe, meaningful and equitable participation for students." 

"Unfortunately, the officials made a strict interpretation of the National Federation of State High Schools playing rules for basketball instead of the spirit of the rule designed to ensure safety and competitive fairness," it said.

"There should have been no denial of participation and we are committed to working with the school and the family to ensure this does not happen again," the statement said.

Hayes team lost the championship game.

Actress Emma Watson is expected to pull in USD 15 million for the live-action remake of the 1991 Disney classic.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Watson might get the above-mentioned amount if the film performs as well as expected at the box office.

Watson was reportedly offered USD three million upfront, but her profits will likely end up being considerably larger upon the film's total gross.

Considering "Beauty and the Beast," which hit the US theatres on March 18, is set to land one of the top 10 openings of all time and as per the reports, the film has already pulled in a record USD 63.8 million on day one and is projected to make up to USD 170 million over the weekend. PTI SSN
 

Amid speculation that the Sangh pushed for Yogi Adityanath's candidature as UP CM, the RSS on Sunday said it was a political decision and it had no say in the selection of chief ministers in BJP-ruled states.

Replying to a specific question on choosing Adityanath, a swayamsevak, as chief minister, RSS Joint General Secretary Bhagaiah told reporters it was a political decision.

When pointed out that BJP has elected Trivendra Singh Rawat, a RSS pracharak, as chief minister of Uttarakhand, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also an RSS man.

Bhagaiah said RSS was not pressurising in the selection of chief ministers.

Priest-turned politician Yogi Adityanath, the controversial mascot of hardline Hindutva, was on Sunday named as next chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, in a move by the BJP that took many by surprise.

State BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was himself in contention for the top job besides union minister Manoj Sinha, had announced Adityanath's election amid speculation that the RSS pushed for Yogi's candidature.

Senior Congress leader and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Sunday said that the outcome of assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh should serve as a lesson for the Congress.

Talking to reporters here he said the Congress leaders should sit together and evolve effective strategy taking the Uttar Pradesh poll result as a lesson.

Taking strong exception to the BJP seeking support of other parties and foring ministries in Manipur and Goa, Narayanasamy said the BJP by itself did not have the majority but had roped in other parties to project the majority to form the governments.

A thoroughly outplayed New Zealand received a glimmer of hope on Sunday that Ross Taylor and Trent Boult could be fit for the third Test after announcing the pair will rejoin the squad.

But batting coach Craig McMillan cautioned there was still no guarantee that either batsman Taylor or strike bowler Boult would play against South Africa when the third and final Test starts in Hamilton on Saturday.

As South Africa wrapped up the second Test inside three days in Wellington on Saturday to lead the series 1-0, it was evident to New Zealand how little depth they had when two of their few stars were absent.

Taylor tore a calf and Boult suffered upper leg soreness during the drawn first Test in Dunedin.

The prospect of Boult returning looked promising after he comfortably went through a short practice session but Taylor's fitness was unclear.

"You can't take players into a Test against South Africa who aren't fully fit," McMillan said.

"I haven't spoken to (Taylor) for a couple of days but I'm sure he's keen. He loves playing there and he's done well in recent times."

Taylor has scored four of his 16 centuries in Hamilton including an unbeaten 102 in his last outing there against Pakistan in November.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson did not try to hide his frustration at what he called a "very, very poor" effort from his side when they went from being in command at lunch on day two to be soundly beaten five sessions later.

"The frustrating part for us is when you play a side like South Africa, and you do have them under pressure, you have to keep them there," he said.

"That's the challenge and you have to do it for a long period of time, and if you don't, they can change the shape of the match quite quickly. We certainly let it slip very quickly and it went bad quickly."

McMillan described the performance as "unacceptable" but said that did not mean there would be wholesale changes to the line-up.

"We've got the best players in New Zealand in the squad," McMillan said.

"They certainly showed in Dunedin that they are good enough to play well and compete. Yesterday they didn't stand up. Yesterday was a terrible day.

"To lose within three days is unacceptable and the group is hurting and disappointed."

What hurt Williamson was to see South African spinners Keshav Maharaj and JP Duminy take 12 of the 20 wickets on the pitch prepared to favour the quicks.

"But on a surface that was far more suited to the seam bowlers, to lose that many wickets to spin is disappointing and something we need to address," he said.

"We do need to play that a hell of a lot better."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he has made a decision on his future and will make it public very soon.

Wenger revealed after seeing his side humbled 3-1 at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday that he has decided whether to stay with Arsenal when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Fans rounded on the Frenchman at the Hawthorns with 'Wenger Out' banners, anti-Wenger songs and a plane overhead towing a banner calling for his departure.

That was followed by another plane with a pro-Wenger banner, but he still suffered the ignominy of travelling fans singing "you don't know what you're doing" near the end of the game.

Wenger has previously said he will make a decision on his future before the end of the campaign and it appears the news will break in the near future.

"I know what I will do in my future, so you will soon know, very soon," he said.

"You will see. Today I do not necessarily worry about that, we are in a unique bad patch we never had in 20 years.

"We lose game after game at the moment and that for me is much more important than my future."

Wenger insisted he did not pay attention to events in the stands or in the air as he watched his side beaten by two goals from Craig Dawson and one from Hal Robson-Kanu.

Alexis Sanchez equalised for the Gunners but a fourth loss in five league games left Wenger's record of reaching the Champions League in every season of his reign in peril.

"I watch the game, I do not watch the stands during the game," Wenger said.

"We have to live with that. You focus on your job, no matter what people think. We have a big fight, I agree with you and it could be very difficult now.

"Anyway we've no other way than fighting and doing it until the last game of the season and if it is not good enough we have to take the consequences and maybe one day if we don't do it, people will enjoy it again to be in there.

"In our job it is like when you have a problem with your engine you can always find many problems but is important to find the most important one.

"The most important one today was we had 77 per cent of possession and didn't create many chances and we have to focus on that. Fans are a bit disappointed and I can completely understand."

Fantastic season

Wenger revealed Sanchez had been substituted with an ankle injury, which will be assessed before the club decide whether to withdraw him from the Chile squad.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech was also forced off before half-time with a calf problem which will be assessed over the weekend.

West Brom have now won eight of their last 10 home league games and have matched last season's points tally of 43.

Albion manager Tony Pulis said: "We had a meeting on Monday with the players. Although we lost two games, we've got to keep our feet on the ground.

"We are what we are and they've done fantastically well to achieve the 40 points in the time that we've done it. Our output against Everton was as good as any output we've achieved this year.

"We know what we are, we know what we've got. We lack certain things. We could lose the next three games, we've still had a fantastic season.

"I understand, you raise the bar and if you don't reach that again you and the players are going to get criticism. For me, they've just been fantastic this year, irrespective of what happens." 

Enraged over an objectionable post by a man on social media, a group of people allegedly vandalised a police station in suburban Trombay where he was kept after being arrested, police said on Sunday.

The vandals demanded that the accused be handed over to them and in a fit of rage they also set afire some police vehicles outside the police station, they said.

The incident led to tension in the area, police said.

Later, 17 people were arrested for rioting, they said.

A complaint was lodged on Saturday against the man for an objectionable post by him on Facebook that allegedly hurt some religious sentiments, a senior police official said.

The man was arrested and booked under IPC section 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to hurt religion), he said.

However, a group of people went to the Trombay police station late last night and demanded that the man be handed over to them, Additional Commissioner of Police (eastern region) Manoj Lohiya said.

They allegedly set afire some police vehicles and also vandalised the police station in the wee hours today, he said.

A case under sections for rioting was registered against the vandals and 17 people have been arrested in this connection, Lohiya said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-VI, Shahaji Umap said the situation in the area is now under control.

Security has been stepped up in the area to avoid any untoward incident, he added.

Roger Federer's resurgence has already out-stripped his expectations, but the Swiss great says relishing the game is more important now than chasing a ranking.

Sidelined some six months after knee surgery last year, Federer came back to win his 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.

After a hiccup in Dubai, where he was stunned by world number 116 Evgeny Donskoy, Federer has emerged from one of the toughest draws in ATP history to reach the final of the Indian Wells Masters.

"I forgot how tough the draw actually was," Federer said of the quarter that included him along with world number two Novak Djokovic and number six Rafael Nadal, along with former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, dangerous young Australian Nick Kyrgios and talented German Alexander Zverev.

And why not, since Federer has booked a title showdown with fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka without once dropping serve as world number one Andy Murray, Djokovic and the rest fell by the wayside.

But Federer, currently ranked 10th in the world, said he isn't tempted to start dreaming of a return to number one just yet, even with Murray pulling out of next week's Miami Masters with an elbow injury and Djokovic reported to be bothered by elbow trouble as well.

"Because I'm not going to be playing so much you would think I would need to win probably another Grand Slam for that to happen," he said.

"And maybe one is not enough, because they will pick up their level of play and they're going to win tournaments again.

"Sure I'd love to be number one again. But anything else other than world number one for me is not interesting. So that's why the rankings is not a priority right now."

The priority is having fun and playing well. That's also why the 35-year-old said he won't set his clay court schedule until after the Miami Masters, when he can assess his energy level after two tough hard court events.

"What I don't want to do is overplay and just get tired of traveling and tired of just playing tournaments and just entering and doing people a favor just to be there with no aspirations.

"That's a promise I made to myself that if I play tournaments that's how my mindset has to be and will be," he said.

Defense to offense

Federer has certainly looked energized in Indian Wells, where he can join Djokovic as the only five-time winners.

Although he owns a commanding 19-3 record against Wawrinka, Federer said it wouldn't necessarily be an easy match up against a player who has claimed three Grand Slam titles in the past three years.

"A lot of those matches came early when I was the overwhelming favorite when I was maybe still world number one and he was 30 in the world and his game was based heavily on the clay courts," Federer said.

Now, he added, world number three Wawrinka has developed his hard court game, enough so that he lifted the US Open trophy last year.

"I think he does a really nice job of defending and then creating — going from defense to offense," Federer said. "He has improved his serve. Especially as he goes deeper in the tournament his confidence builds. That's when he's harder to stop."

A 10-member Indian delegation on Sunday left for Pakistan to take part in the meeting of Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) beginning on Monday in Islamabad.

The delegation comprises India's Indus Water Commissioner P K Saxena, MEA officials and technical experts.

A government source said India is "always open" to discuss and resolve concerns Pakistan have over its projects under Indus Water Treaty (IWT) bilaterally.

The source, however, reiterated that there will be "no compromise" on India exploiting its due rights under the 57-year-old pact.

However, the agenda for the meeting, taking place nearly six months after India decided to suspend talks on the pact in the wake of the Uri terror attack by Pakistan-based outfits, is yet to be finalised.

Asked whether the delay in reaching consensus over agenda for the meeting will leave little time to resolve issues, the source replied in negative.

"We always go into such meetings with optimistic mindset.. In the past too, there had been delays in finalising agenda for the meeting, yet solutions were achieved," the source added.

To drive the point, the source recalled how Pakistan's concern over India's Uri-II and Chutak hydroelectric projects were resolved seven years ago through discussions.

Pakistan had raised objections over designs of 240 MW Uri-II and 44 MW Chutak projects, built in Baramulla and Kargil districts of Jammu and Kashmir respectively, saying these will deprive it of its water share under the pact.

However, at a meeting held here in May 2010, the neighbouring country withdrew objections after Indian side provided details of these.

Similarly, Pakistan has been flagging concern over designs of India's five other hydroelectricity projects — Pakal Dul (1000 MW), Ratle (850 MW), Kishanganga (330 MW), Miyar (120 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW) — being built/planned in the Indus river basin, contending these violate the treaty.

It had approached the World Bank, the mediator between the two countries of the 57-year-old water distribution treaty, in August, 2016 raising issues over Kishanganga and Ratle projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

While there is no clarity yet whether issues relating to these two projects will figure during the meet as they are before the Bank, the source said Pakal Dul, Miyar and Lower Kalnai may be discussed.

With nearly 70 million sqft of projects under development, realty player Tata Housing Development Company is hoping to reach 100 million mark in FY18, a senior company official said.

"We have already delivered around 25 million sqft and nearly 70 million sqft is under various stages of construction across our three segments — residential, commercial and retail. We will be adding few more projects in the next few months, so we feel that in FY18, our total portfolio will touch 100 million sqft," Tata Housing Head (Marketing) Rajeeb Dash told PTI.

"We will have big projects coming up this year. Some township projects for developing affordable housing stock and along with that Tata Housing will continue to do a couple of luxury projects as well," he said.

Dash further said some of the projects that are currently under construction will get delivered in FY18 and the rest will be delivered in the next 2-2.5 years.

The company has projects in major metros, including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru and Kolkata, among others.

"Our residential projects form a major part of our portfolio. We will continue to grow in our luxury residential as well as affordable housing space, which we execute under Tata Value Homes brand," he said.

The company is also expecting to grow by 20-25 per cent at the topline in the next fiscal, Dash said.

"We are exploring various options when it comes to adding new projects. Apart from green field development, we are also looking at development manager model and we have done a couple of projects under this," he said.

Dash further said with the GST and RERA coming in, there will be a lot of mergers and acquisitions in the sector.

"The development manager role may play a big thing in this situation. Lot of developers will take branded players like us as a partner. We are getting a few proposals and we are evaluating them. But we will take only those projects that have received all clearances and also if they are financially sound," he said.

Dash said the company is evaluating around 10 such proposals.

Dash also noted that the company is planning to develop second homes segment in the luxury real estate market.

"I think the second homes is a big market, in terms of the luxury segment, which has not been explored very much in terms of branded players. We have projects in Goa, Kasauli, Talegaon and Lonavala. In Goa, we have delivered the first project and we are doing a second one. We are exploring other new markets as well," he added.

The Centre is on high alert and has mobilised heavy security forces even as Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday invited Jat community leaders for talks in Delhi ahead of their proposed agitation programme.

"The government is serious about resolving the issue. To maintain peace and brotherhood in the state is our first priority," Khattar said.

The Jat community leaders have decided to intensify their agitation, demanding quotas in government jobs and education. The agitation has been under way for 50 days. Now, the community plans to intensify the protest and storm Parliament.

Meanwhile, to prevent any chaotic and tragic situation in view of the Jat protests, the Centre has called out the Army and mobilised 24,700 paramilitary personnel in Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

Also, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC have been imposed and Internet services suspended in many 'sensitive' districts of Haryana, including in Rohtak, Jhajjar and Sonepat.

Khattar would be holding the talks with Jat community leaders, along with Union Minister of State for Law and Justice P P Chaudhary and Union Minister Birender Singh.

DGP KP Singh said all security measures have been taken and all highways and roads are opened so that people may travel through the state without any fear.

The All-India Jat Aarkashan Sangarsh Samiti has been spearheading the ongoing quota stir which entered its 50th day on Sunday.

On March 16, a Haryana ministerial panel led by senior Minister Ram Bilas Sharma had held talks with the Jats in Panipat, after which he said that an agreement had been reached with the community and the deadlock could end soon.

"Whatever confusion arose earlier, will be removed. Whatever has been decided at the March 16 meeting, we will look to move forward from there," Khattar added.

(With inputs from agencies)

India should consider reviving the long-delayed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline following easing of sanctions on Tehran, a Parliamentary panel has said.

India had almost abandoned the IPI pipeline in 2008 following the US sanctions against Iran over its suspected nuclear programme and has instead pursued a rival line from Turkmenistan, passing through Afghanistan and Pakistan (TAPI pipeline).

"The government should examine the idea of reviving the (IPI) project as international conditions have become favourable following lifting of sanctions against Iran," the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas said in a report submitted to Parliament on Friday.

The Oil Ministry in its comments to the committee stated that IPI pipeline was envisaged to transport natural gas from South Pars gas field of Iran to Pakistan and India with a carrying capacity of 60 million standard cubic meters per day, to be equally split between India and Pakistan.

"The total length of the pipeline up to Indian border (near Barmer) was about 2,135 km (1,100 kms within Iran and the rest within the territory of Pakistan)," the ministry said. "As per past estimates, investments required for this pipeline were in excess of USD 7 billion."

There has been "little or no progress" in the IPI project since 2008 for a number of reasons, the Committee said in its report without elaborating.

India is pursuing transnational pipelines to meet rising energy needs. The country is reliant on imports to meet about half of its natural gas needs.

The panel said a consortium for Turkmenistan-Afghanistan -Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline — TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd (TPCL) — was incorporated in Isle of Man, and shareholders' agreement signed in December 2015.

Turkmenistan will own 85 per cent of TPCL while India, Pakistan and Afghanistan will each have 5 per cent stake.

"The construction of pipeline has commenced in December 2015 and is likely to be completed in about 7 years," it said.

It recommended that TAPI project be monitored closely in collaboration with other participating countries in order to ensure that the project is completed in time.

"The Committee feels that trans-national pipelines are important elements of national energy security and they need to be pursued vigorously," the report added.

On April 7 last year the Investment Agreement (IA) of TPCL was signed in Ashgabat. "It relates to initial equity infusion by the shareholders. TPCL subsequently opened its office in Dubai, UAE and has been holding its board meetings," the ministry said in its submission to the panel.

The Maharashtra government has allocated less funds for the welfare of minorities in the state budget for financial year 2017-18.

In the budget presented on Saturday in the state assembly, the allocation for the welfare of minorities was Rs.350 crore as compared to Rs.405 crore in 2016-17.

Various schemes for scholarships, training of minority youth and creation of basic amenities in minority residential areas are undertaken through this fund.

Out of the Rs.350 crore allocated for 2017-18, Rs.125 crore has been earmarked for improving the settlements of minorities and providing various basic facilities in rural and urban areas.

State Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, while presenting the budget, on Saturday said that training is being provided to students of minority category to appear for competitive exams like UPSC, MPSC, banking services and others.

"Further, skill training is also provided. An amount of Rs.8 crore is being provided for this initiative," he said.

AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan expressed unhappiness over the budgetary allocation for welfare of minorities.

He said, "The government, which talks about 'Sabha Saath-Sabha Vikas', has not increased the budget for minorities to Rs.1,000 crore as was being demanded."