SKIT resumes operations, seeks admission in 2nd phase of EAMCET counselling
Established in 1997 by Bojjala Gopala Krishna Reddy as a visionary initiative, SKIT played a vital role in providing affordable engineering education to underprivileged students. However, due to alleged negligence by the previous YSRCP government, admissions to the college were halted during the academic year 2020–21.
Now, under the guidance of Minister for Education Nara Lokesh, Srikalahasti MLA Bojjala Sudheer Reddy fulfilled his election promise and revived the institution, a press release said.
Starting this academic year, junior engineering courses in Computer Science Engineering (CSE), Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE), Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering will be offered. This marks a new chapter in the journey of SKIT which aims at empowering the local youth with quality education, the release added.
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Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: India-US trade deal, Portuguese-era arsenal, and the Cholas
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 3, 2025. If you missed the August 2, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here. Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment. What's the ongoing story: FOLLOWING US President Donald Trump's tariff sledgehammer, the government has kicked off an exercise to thrash out concessions across sectors that can be offered in the tariff negotiations later this month. Key economic ministries have been asked to see what they can still afford to offer to sweeten New Delhi's deal when the US team is here on August 25. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the rationale given by America for imposing a 25 per cent tariff on India? • What are the recent agreements signed between India and the USA? • What are the recent trade agreements signed by India with other countries? • What is the status of trade and economic cooperation between India and Russia? • Why does America want India to reduce defence and energy imports from Russia? • What are the concerns related to GM food crops in India? • What is trade rebalancing? • What are Quality Control Orders (QCOs), and what is the purpose of having them? • What are the TRUST initiatives? Key Takeaways: • To reach an agreement, the Trump administration has been demanding much more than what the government has offered in its market access commitments, including lowering of tariffs across the board and removal of non-tariff trade barriers. • As policymakers grapple with Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on goods from August 7, alongside an additional but unspecified 'penalty' for its defence and energy imports from Russia, economic ministries have started sending in sectoral tariff concessions in their jurisdictions. • India was one of the first countries the Trump administration had expected to sign a deal with, but slow progress has been a source of frustration for Washington DC. Like countries around the world scrambling to deal with Trump's tariff threats, India had largely adopted a principled, but non-confrontational, stance in an attempt to balance selective concessions with caution to safeguard its economic growth, and circumvent a backlash from domestic producers. • What complicates the equation for India is that the Chinese are at an advanced stage of negotiations towards a deal, which could have a favourable tariff rate and potential waivers on secondary tariffs, including possibly the tariff on account of Russian oil imports and the proposed 10 per cent BRICS tariff. • Tariff rebalancing, if done right, could potentially offer an impetus to the economy, given that the biggest beneficiaries of tariff protection, especially the non-tariff barriers such as an increasing array of QCOs (quality control orders), are the big players. MSME units have been calling for these QCOs to be removed, especially in areas such as steel and textiles. • Since 1991, New Delhi has gradually reduced its average tariff from nearly 79 per cent in 1990 to around 12 per cent in 2013, following which it has gone back up to 16-17 per cent by 2023. Sectors such as agriculture, dairy and automobiles, continue to be protected, even as the Ministry of Commerce and industry maintains that its trade measures are WTO-compliant. • Unlike its response during Trump's first term, where retaliatory tariffs were imposed, New Delhi has desisted from retaliating and is working on strategic concessions in sectors that the US is keen to target, while adhering to its own broad red lines. This involves areas symbolic of trade openness, including nuclear energy, fossil fuels and defence procurement. • Once the official level discussions wrap up, there is a sense that a final call on the deal could come down to a conversation between the two leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump. This is especially so since it is Trump who is the trade negotiator-in-chief. Do You Know: • QCOs are a key mechanism through which India is not only raising quality standards to enter the global value chain, but is also restricting imports from China. Economy: Why US President Donald Trump's 'dead economy' jibe at India fails to stand up to scrutiny • US President Donald Trump may have referred to India as a 'dead' economy, but the numbers tell a different story. • The most recent collaboration between India and the US was seen last week as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) placed the NISAR satellite, a first-of-its-kind collaborative project between India and the US, into its intended orbit. • When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US in February, the two countries announced cooperation on several initiatives including the Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) initiative — a bilateral initiative for cooperation in the recovery and processing of critical minerals such as lithium and rare earth elements. • A move towards stronger trade ties was also discussed in detail during Modi's US visit, with the countries agreeing to double their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. India's trade relationship with the US has already been strengthening. • In 2024, the total goods trade between the two nations stood at $129.2 billion, with the US' exports to India rising 3.4 per cent to $41.8 billion, while its imports were up 4.5 per cent at $87.4 billion, resulting in a deficit of $45.7 billion for the US. • India's share in US' smartphone imports surged to nearly 36 per cent in the first five months of 2025, driven mainly by Apple's iPhones, from about 11 per cent in 2024. China, which continues to dominate the category, saw its share drop from 82 per cent to 49 per cent over the same period. • Trump's often-cited charge against India has been of it being a 'Tariff King', and India in response has made a conscious effort to broadcast the message that it is not. In the Union Budget for 2025-26, presented in February, duties on the top 30 US goods imported by India were reduced. • Modi and Trump had also agreed to renew the 10-year defence framework, with the American President having mentioned increasing military supplies to India and ultimately providing the F-35 stealth fighter. • While there are some downside risks to the Indian growth story from Trump's threat of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods and a 'penalty' for its energy and arms imports from Russia, even a 20-40 bps decline in the growth rate to 6 per cent or so will not stop the economy from being the fastest growing large economy in the world. • But these hardly make an economy 'dead' — especially one which the IMF estimates as the fifth-largest in the world with a GDP of $3.9 trillion in 2024. And it's only going to get better — by 2028, the IMF expects India to overtake Germany and Japan and rise to the third spot, only behind the US and China. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍What Trump is actually doing — and why India needs to press reform & reset 📍Is India's economy 'dead' as Donald Trump claimed? Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (1) With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2022) 1. If the inflation is too high, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to buy government securities. 2. If the rupee is rapidly depreciating, RBI is likely to sell dollars in the market. 3. If interest rates in the USA or European Union were to fall, that is likely to induce RBI to buy dollars. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 'What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India's National self-esteem and ambitions'. Explain with suitable examples. (UPSC CSE 2019) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination:Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues. What's the ongoing story: The discovery of cannonballs during an excavation process in Goa in March this year has shed more light on a Portuguese-era arsenal, where coins were minted and warships built, a report submitted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the state's Tourism Department shows. Key Points to Ponder: • Why did the Portuguese come to India? • Who were the first Europeans to arrive in India and the last to leave? • Who led the Portuguese conquest of Goa in the early 16th Century? • Where did the Portuguese set up their factories? • Know about the important Portuguese General • Why did the Portuguese conquer Goa? Key Takeaways: • The report, submitted in June, says the 'arsenal' also consisted of a gun foundry, a naval dockyard, and an elephant stable. 'European weaponry and naval equipment were either stored or manufactured on the site,' the report says. • In March 2025, the ASI Goa circle directed the state's tourism department to halt the excavation work for a project in Old Goa, to allow 'proper documentation' after some cannonballs were discovered at a site. • As per the report, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) had secured a central government grant to upgrade and provide visitor amenities at the Basilica of Bom Jesus. The work was going on west of the church complex to develop a Heritage Interpretation Centre and a parking lot. • Citing authors and historians of Portuguese maritime and colonial history, the report concludes that the area of discovery of cannonballs on March 22 is 'analogous with the location of arsenal' identified in the historical accounts over the years. • 'This arsenal area lies within the city walls of Old Goa, which was the… capital of Portuguese Estado da India (State of India),' the report says. • As per the ASI report, General Afonso de Albuquerque, who led the Portuguese conquest of Goa in the early 16th Century, initiated the complex's development and 'its grandeur was documented by European travellers'. • 'Sources suggest that the arsenal may have predated Portuguese conquest and existed during the Adil Shahi period, implying it was a prominent edifice even before Albuquerque's arrival… When Albuquerque entered Goa, he found at the dock 40 large ships, 26 brigs, numerous fustas, and other materials related to warfare,' the report says. • The arsenal was subsequently restructured. 'By 1540, about 700 workers were employed and the arsenal reached its zenith by the late 16th century,' it said. The report said that French navigator Francois Pyrard de Laval, during his 1608 visit, described it as 'well-fortified and equipped with stone-built rooms for artisans to reduce fire hazards.' • A major fire broke out on June 9, 1753, damaging part of the arsenal. 'It was renovated and expanded in 1773. However, with the decline of Portuguese influence, the arsenal lost its importance and was closed in 1856,' the report adds. • In the book, The Portuguese in India [volume 1], British civil servant Frederick Charles Danvers wrote that when Albuquerque entered Goa in 1510, 'accompanied by his captains, about 1,000 Portuguese and 200 Malabarese' and received the keys of the fortress from the Governor and principal Moors of the city, he found 'a large quantity of artillery and stores, besides forty ships and sixteen fustas, quantities of merchandise, and some spacious stables containing 160 horses…'. Do You Know: • Portugal's first direct contact with India was when the explorer Vasco da Gama reached Calicut, today's Kozhikode in Kerala, in May 1498. da Gama had traversed a long and arduous way — setting sail from Portugal, he had circled Africa through the Cape of Good Hope to finally reach the Malabar coast. • It was this journey, and the full discovery of the prosperous trade flourishing along the entire route, that fuelled the Portuguese determination to dot the Indian Ocean with military posts. The desire for riches, as well as rivalry with the Muslims, who were in power along this route, were the reasons for this. • A mere six years after da Gama, the Portuguese State of India had been established. The first viceroy, Francisco de Almeida, was based in Fort Manuel, in today's Kochi. • Among the Portuguese possessions in India was the island of Bom Bahia — later Bombay and today's Mumbai — until it was given as Catherine de Braganza's dowry to Charles II of England in 1661. • Albuquerque, who had come to succeed Almeida, had been asked to conquer the ports of Hormuz, Aden, and Malacca by his King. However, he realised that a permanent base in Goa, then under the Sultan of Bijapur, would be very helpful to the Portuguese ambition of controlling maritime trade routes of the East. • Albuquerque's decision of conquering Goa also came on the advice of one Timoji or Timmayya, on whose motivations as well as identity some debate exists. What is known, however, is that Timmayya and his men fought alongside Albuquerque. • Albuquerque's first conquest of Goa in February-March of 1510 was almost a walkover. The Sultan's rule was unpopular among the Hindus of Goa, who were happy to back the Portuguese against him. However, the Sultan's forces soon drove Albuquerque and his men out. • After enduring a tough monsoon stranded in the river Mandovi, the Portuguese forces, replenished by more men and ships from the homeland, launched a fresh assault in November, and retook the city. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍How Portuguese saved Daman from the Mughals 📍The Portuguese conquest of Goa: Here are 3 key parts of that story UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (2) Consider the following fruits: (UPSC CSE 2025) I. Papaya II. Pineapple III. Guava How many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All the three (d) None Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity What's the ongoing story: Using technology 'thoughtfully and inclusively…can bridge the persistent gaps in our justice system', said Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant Saturday, and underlined that it cannot, however, replace the human element and 'the heart of justice must remain human'. Key Points to Ponder: • How can technology bridge the gaps in the justice system? • What are the problems facing the judicial system of our country? • What are the tech initiatives that are implemented in the justice delivery system? • What are the challenges in the use of technology? • How is artificial intelligence being implemented in the judicial system? • What are virtual Lok Adalats? Key Takeaways: • Justice Kant said: 'With the right vision and safeguards, technology can break geographical barriers, democratise legal awareness, and bring legal aid to the doorstep — or rather the palm of every citizen. If harnessed thoughtfully and inclusively, it can bridge the persistent gaps in our justice system.' • Emphasising the need 'to address the challenges faced by linguistic and cultural minorities,' Justice Kant said that 'digital platforms must not only be multilingual but also culturally nuanced' and 'when citizens see their own stories, customs, and worldviews reflected in legal education content, barriers of alienation and mistrust crumble, making way for genuine engagement and confidence in the system.' • Justice Kant called for holding virtual Lok Adalats by harnessing secure video platforms but cautioned that 'the excitement of technology must be tempered with restraint. The digital divide is very real.' • 'No technology is neutral. The tools we build reflect the values we embed in them. As we digitise legal aid, we must design systems with built-in ethics. Privacy must be paramount…' he said. Do You Know: • Lok Adalats are an alternative dispute redressal mechanism, where the aim is to settle or compromise cases amicably. While litigants get the benefit of swift justice and substantially reduced litigation costs, as per the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the decision of the court is binding and it cannot be appealed against. • According to NALSA, under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the award (decision) made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal against such an award lies before any court of law. • If the parties are not satisfied with the award of the Lok Adalat though there is no provision for an appeal against such an award, but they are free to initiate litigation by approaching the court of appropriate jurisdiction by filing a case by following the required procedure, in exercise of their right to litigate. • When a matter is filed in a Lok Adalat, the court fee is not payable. If a matter pending in the court of law is referred to the Lok Adalat and is settled subsequently, the court fee originally paid in the court on the complaints/petition is also refunded to the parties. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Justice at your fingertips: How AI is helping Delhi's judges, lawyers deal with caseload 📍Tech integration must not be at cost of right to be heard: Supreme Court judge Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (3) In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens? (UPSC CSE 2020) 1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs. 1,00,000 2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs. 2,00,000 3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than Rs. 3,00,000 4. All Senior Citizens Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1 and 4 only Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. What's the ongoing story: With Odisha and Chhattisgarh having BJP governments, both the states are likely to go for an 'amicable solution' in the long-standing dispute over Mahanadi water sharing. Key Points to Ponder: • What do you understand by the interstate water dispute? • What are the constitutional mechanisms to deal with river water disputes in India? • What are the major river water disputes between states? • What is the Central Water Commission? • What is the inter-state water tribunal? • What are the challenges in resolving the water disputes between states? Key Takeaways: • The issue is pending with the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal formed by the Centre in March 2018 following a Supreme Court direction. • Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who chaired a meeting over the issue on July 23, wrote a letter to his Chhattisgarh counterpart Vishnu Deo Sai two days later seeking a 'mutually beneficial settlement'. Sai responded to Majhi on Friday saying the former's proposal is under 'active consideration'. • In his letter, Majhi proposed a joint committee led by officials of the Central Water Commission and comprising officials from both the states to facilitate dialogue and technical negotiations to reach a 'mutually beneficial settlement'. • River Mahanadi that flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha is a major source of water for agriculture, industry and hydropower generation. • Official sources said the Mahanadi has a total catchment area of 141,600 square kilometres, of which 53.9 per cent is in Chhattisgarh, 45.73 per cent in Odisha and a very small part in Madhya Pradesh. • As the river caused massive flooding, Odisha in 1953 had constructed a massive 25-km long earthen dam at Hirakud in Sambalpur district to reserve water for irrigation facilities in western region of the state and for power generation. Odisha in 2016 claimed a minimum flow of 12.28-million-acre feet of Mahanadi water at Hirakud dam. • The neighbouring states locked horns over Mahanadi water since 2016 after Odisha alleged 'unilateral' construction of multiple barrages by Chhattisgarh in the upper catchment areas that resulted in reduction of flow into Odisha, the lower riparian state, during non-monsoon seasons. Do You Know: • Article 262(1) of the Constitution states that 'Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution, or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river, or river valley'. • Parliament passed the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act of 1956. It allows for the referral of such a disagreement to Tribunals upon receipt of an application from a State if the Union Government is persuaded that the dispute 'cannot be settled by negotiations'. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: Why rule change in BBMB has become a flashpoint between Centre and Punjab Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍Constitutional mechanisms to resolve the inter-state water disputes have failed to address and solve the problems. Is the failure due to structural or process inadequacy or both? Discuss. (2013) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: History of India and Indian National Movement Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. What's the ongoing story: Arup K Chatterjee writes: Once again, public discourse is abuzz with the legacies of the Cholas — thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Gangaikonda Cholapuram, their erstwhile capital. Key Points to Ponder: • Who were the Cholas? • What are the specific features of the temple architecture of the Cholas? • Who are the important Chola leaders? • Who established the Chola dynasty? • What are the major historical sources to understand the Chola dynasty? • What is the three-tiered system of the Chola polity? • Know about the meaning of: Ur, Nadu, and Brahmadeya. Key Takeaways: • The Cholas occupy a hallowed space in Indian imagination for their pioneering experiments in democracy, but one needs to look beyond their basilica-like monuments, gilded Natarajas and temple vimanas (the towering structure above the inner sanctum) piercing the skylines of Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and Darasuram. • Relatively forgotten by nationalists, the Cholas underwent an image makeover around the 1930s. Kanisetti says Sastri and Majumdar found romanticised examples of enlightened Chola imperialism to counter Britain's pride in its Roman past. • Unsurprisingly, Kalki Krishnamurthy's novel Ponniyin Selvan (1950-54) edified Chola king Rajaraja I as an amalgamation of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and C Rajagopalachari. • While most historians date the Cholas between the 9-13th century, ambitious ones have gone back to the Sangam period (between 350 BC and 1279 AD). In the latter periodisation, the Tamil confederacy was defeated by Kalinga in 155 BC, and re-emerged in 850 AD under Vijayalaya, who, with Pallava approval and Velir solidarity, seized Thanjavur. • History enthusiasts are generally captivated by Chola polity's three-tiered system, constituted by nadu (supra-village), ur (village) and brahmadeya (Brahminical agrahara) assemblies, with nagarams (merchant-towns) governed by nagarattars. Simultaneously, Chola temples emerged as economic hubs endowed with devadana (land grants), and empowered as rheostats of irrigation and artisanal production. • Much euphoria has revolved around the concept of Chola elections by kudavolai (lottery) among the local committees. These offered a democratic veneer, but the franchise remained narrowly circumscribed within clannish coteries, while state commissioners retained veto power. • Chola patronage of merchant guilds (ayyavole and manigramam) forged expansive trade-relations with South-East Asia and Sung China, while ships requisitioned from those guilds enlarged Chola warrior fleets. Revenues were reploughed for naval expansion in a commercial empire spanning over 2,200 miles — from Bengal to Sri Lanka and the Malay Archipelago. • Chola naval ascendancy clubbed martial hegemony with mercantile collaboration, provisioning warships, recruiting mariners and amassing siege-equipment without democratic will. This was at odds with the dharmic ideal of righteous rule. Though 11th-century Chola navies realigned trade from the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, their profits were not redistributed for the upkeep of coastal nagarams. • The Cholas were not classical democrats. The real reason behind their return to public discourse is not democracy but the same political impulse that led Margaret Thatcher to turn to the Victorians, or the Victorians to turn to the Greeks. Do You Know: • Three royal temples – the Tanjore Brihadēśvara, Gangaikoṇḍacōl̥apuram, and Darasuram Airavatēśvara – built between the 11th and 12th centuries CE, are the finest examples of the Cholas' artistic brilliance. These temples were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the 'Great Living Chola Temples' in 1987. These state temples were laid out in a manner that they served as focal points of their capitals. These shrines not only outweigh the earlier shrines in terms of their spatial elaboration, but also in their overwhelming monumentality. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27 unveiled a commemorative coin and inaugurated an exhibition on Rajendra Chola's northern conquest. Rajendra I, the maritime monarch of the Chola dynasty, inherited a powerful kingdom from his father Rajaraja I and expansion of the Chola empire continued under him. • To commemorate his successful northern expedition, Rajendra Chola, also known as Rajendra the Great or Gangaikonda Chola (the Chola who conquered Ganga), established Gangaikonda Cholapuram and ceremonially poured Ganges water brought back by his army into a vast man-made reservoir known as the Cholagangam tank, locally referred to as Ponneri. • After establishing his dominance within India, Rajendra Chola I then led several successful maritime campaigns, extending the boundaries of his empire and the reputation of his dynasty as one of the foremost Naval powers of India. He has campaigns from the Ganga to Suvarnadwipa (an ancient term for islands in Southeast Asia, including Java and Sumatra) that turned the Cholas into a pan-Asian maritime empire. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Why Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple 📍UPSC Issue at a Glance | Revisiting Chola dynasty and Rajendra I's achievements: Insights into governance, society, architecture, and more Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (4) Which of the following parts of a temple structure is not correctly matched? (a) entry hall : mukhamaṇḍapa (b) pillared hall : ardhamaṇḍapa (c) vestibule : gopuram (d) sanctum : garbhagṛha UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss. (UPSC CSE 2013) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
KTR-Lokesh ‘secret' meeting reflects BRS support to A.P. projects: Bhatti Vikramarka
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka claimed that the 'secret meeting' between BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao and Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh was a conspiracy of the BRS to extend full support to the Banakacherla project. Mr. Vikramarka issued a stern warning over what he called a conspiracy by BRS, BJP and TDP to compromise Telangana's interests in the name of the Banakacherla and Polavaram projects. He was speaking at a public meeting held in Kollapur constituency marking the launch of new electricity substations, the distribution of ration cards and allocation of Indiramma housing pattas. He questioned why the BRS government remained silent on Banakacherla for a decade. 'Only after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy intervened in Delhi, was the proposal halted,' he said. Referring to A.P. IT Minister Nara Lokesh's comments that Telangana was wasting the flood water, he rebutted that flood water was available for A.P. only because Telangana's upstream projects were never completed. 'Only after securing our rightful needs will Telangana consider any discussion on Banakacherla,' he asserted. Mr. Vikramarka criticised former CM KCR for discarding the Pranahita-Chevella project and instead opting for the Kaleshwaram project. 'KCR spent ₹1.2 lakh crore on Kaleshwaram, which ultimately failed. Pranahita-Chevella could have been completed with just ₹38,000 crore,' he said, accusing BRS of redesigning projects merely to loot the treasury. Tourism and Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao and Nagarkurnool MP Mallu Ravi were among present.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Anti-Defection Law, Linguistic division of states and Myanmar junta
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 1, 2025. If you missed the July 31, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Sense in Govt: Stay calm amid headwinds, not get pushed into 'bad deal' Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: Indications are that the outer limit for a deal with the US, currently pegged at around October from New Delhi's perspective, could be brought forward, if fresh negotiations are positive from India's point of view. Key Points to Ponder: • Why India's assumptions like preferential tariff differentials and respect for its traditional trade redlines were upended by Trump's abrupt tariff-plus-penalty announcement? • What are the projected economic impact as per economists? • Know the rationale behind India's strategic logic in refusing to rush exports-based trade negotiations. • Why is a 'bad deal' seen as more damaging than temporary tariff impact? • 'India's policy of balancing strategic autonomy (e.g. Russia defence ties) with trade expediency'-what are the long-term trade-offs? Key Takeaways: • Amid all the upheaval thrown up by Donald Trump's tariff blitzkrieg, there are some assumptions that the Indian government had implicitly factored in: —That a bilateral trade deal, like all deals, would involve some give and take; that Washington DC will maintain a differential of 10-20 per cent in tariffs between China and countries such as India; —That the American side would be cognizant of India's traditional redlines that have endured for decades, including concerns over GM food crops and the need to safeguard the interest of the country's vast subsistence-level manufacturing base that has an oversized contribution to the country's labour-intensive exports. • All those assumptions are now under a cloud, as policymakers in New Delhi grapple with Trump's statement announcing a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods from August 1, alongside an additional but unspecified 'penalty' for its defence and energy imports from Russia. Do You Know: • From India's perspective, a deal needs to be clinched precisely for ensuring the gap in tariffs between India and China is maintained, even with a limited early-harvest type of deal. New Delhi did back out at the last minute from signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (a trade deal among Asia-Pacific countries including China) given the sensitivities of agri livelihoods. • There is, however, greater receptiveness now within India's policy circles to cut tariffs on some industrial goods, alongside a willingness to grant concessions in sectors such as public procurement and agri provided these are matched by the other side, like in the case of the UK deal. • India has indicated its willingness to import more from the US, especially in three big-ticket sectors – defence equipment, fossil fuels and nuclear – to manage Trump's constant references to the trade gap. • There is also an understanding in sections of the Indian government that the US has historically maintained an open stance on trade, which fostered decades of globalisation that benefited everybody, including America. • China is the largest buyer of Russian oil, at about 2 million barrels per day, followed by India (just under 2 million a day) and Turkey. China had agreed to cut tariffs on US goods to 10 per cent from 125 per cent in May, while the US had agreed to lower tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 per cent from 145 per cent. • New Delhi is closely tracking the final American duty offer on China, given its belief that Trump will maintain a tariff differential. US and Chinese officials wrapped up two days of discussions in Stockholm with no breakthrough announced. • For Indian negotiators, extra tariffs on steel and aluminium, over and above the baseline, is an added complication, alongside the proposed BRICS tariff. New 50 per cent tariffs on copper products from August 1 is yet another problem for India, which exported $2 billion worth of copper and copper products globally in 2024-25, with the US accounting for 17 per cent of that amount. Trump's insistence on zero duty access to the Indian markets, like in its deals with Vietnam and Indonesia, is yet another problem for India. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍On tariffs, a what-if story 📍Surprise 25%+ US tariff could pull down India's GDP growth below 6% EXPRESS NETWORK 10 BRS MLAs' disqualification: SC gives Speaker 3 months to decide Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. What's the ongoing story: The Supreme Court noted that Parliament needs to examine whether the current mechanism of assigning the Speaker the responsibility of deciding on the disqualification of legislators who defect is sufficient. Key Points to Ponder: • What are Articles 122 and 212 of the Constitution of India? • Which constitutional amendment introduced the Anti-Defection Law? • What was the key criticism the Court made regarding the Speaker's delay? • Under Tenth Schedule, who decides defection cases? • 'Supreme Court's rationale in setting a strict timeline for speaker decisions under the Anti-Defection Law'-Discuss • Know the role of the Telangana Speaker in the delay of disqualification petitions. • How the 52nd and 91st Constitutional Amendments shape the exercise of disqualification powers? • What is the Kihoto vs Zachillhu case? • What Supreme Court of India said in Kihoto Hollohan case (1993)? • What Supreme Court said in the SR Bommai case (1994) with respect to Defection? • Compare the Telangana case with other defection crises. Key Takeaways: • DIRECTING THE Speaker of the Telangana Assembly to decide within three months petitions seeking disqualification of 10 BRS MLAs who had switched to Congress following the November 2023 elections, the Supreme Court Thursday called upon Parliament 'to consider whether the mechanism of entrusting the Speaker/Chairman the important task of deciding the issue of disqualification on the ground of defection, is serving the purpose of effectively combating political defections or not'. • 'With the experience of over 30 years of working of the Tenth Schedule (dealing with the anti-defection law) to the Constitution, the question that we will have to ask ourselves is as to whether the trust which Parliament entrusted in the high office of the Speaker or the Chairman of avoiding delays in deciding the issue with regard to disqualification has been adhered to by the incumbents… or not?' • Recounting the various cases that have come up before it challenging the delay by the Speaker/Chairman in deciding disqualification petitions, the bench said, 'We need not answer this question, since the facts of the various cases we have referred to… themselves provide the answer.' • The BRS had initially moved the Telangana High Court, where a single-judge bench gave the Speaker four weeks to fix a schedule for hearing the disqualification petitions. On appeal by the Secretary of the Telangana Assembly, a division bench on November 22, 2024, set aside the single-judge order and asked the Speaker to decide the petitions in a reasonable time. • Directing the Speaker to decide the disqualification petitions expeditiously, within a maximum of three months, the court asked the Speaker not to permit any of the MLAs who are sought to be disqualified to protract the proceedings. 'In the event, any of such MLAs attempts to protract the proceedings, the Speaker would draw an adverse inference against such of the MLAs,' the court said. Do You Know: • The anti-defection law punishes individual MPs/MLAs for leaving one party for another. It allows a group of MP/MLAs to join (i.e. merge with) another political party without inviting the penalty for defection. And it does not penalise political parties for encouraging or accepting defecting legislators. Parliament added it to the Constitution as the Tenth Schedule in 1985. Its purpose was to bring stability to governments by discouraging legislators from changing parties. It was a response to the toppling of multiple state governments by party-hopping MLAs after the general elections of 1967. • The law covers three kinds of scenarios. One is when legislators elected on the ticket of one political party 'voluntarily give up' membership of that party or vote in the legislature against the party's wishes. A legislator's speech and conduct inside and outside the legislature can lead to deciding the voluntarily giving up membership. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: The anti-defection law, and how it has often failed to discourage defection Previous Year Mains Questions Covering the same theme: 📍The role of individual MPs (Members of Parliament) has diminished over the years and as a result healthy constructive debates on policy issues are not usually witnessed. How far can this be attributed to the anti-defection law, which was legislated but with a different intention? (UPSC Mains GS2, 2013) EXPLAINED Language & division of states Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance Main Examination: • General Studies I: Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country • General Studies II: Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure What's the ongoing story: Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has criticised the linguistic division of states. But language was not the only basis of reorganisation in 1956. Scholars have long argued that linguistic states helped ensure India's unity. Key Points to Ponder: • 'The 'linguistic division of states', saying it had created 'second-class citizens'-What you understand by the same? • States Reorganization Act, 1956-What you know about the same? • 'The linguistic reorganization of states has resolved some issues but has also led to new disputes'—Do you agree with the same? • What is the impact of linguistic-based state formation in India? • Despite decades of negotiation, the linguistic dispute persists—Why? • What are the socio-political and economic implications of such disputes on regional development and governance? • Discuss the balance between federalism and regionalism in India in the light of intrastate border disputes. Key Takeaways: • Amid a recent resurgence of language politics in the country, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Tuesday stirred up a fresh row by criticising the linguistic division of states which, he said, had turned a large section of the populace into 'second-class citizens'. • Scholars have long argued, however, that the linguistic organisation of states has been critical in ensuring India's continued unity and integrity. • The British had administered India with two systems running in parallel — a system of direct control in its provinces, and a system of indirect control across 565 princely states. The provincial boundaries India inherited in 1947, were thus products of colonial administrative exigencies and the historical process of integration of erstwhile principalities and kingdoms into the Empire. • The Constitution, which came into force on January 26, 1950, declared India to be a 'Union of States'. The country, at the time, was divided into 28 states, falling under four categories. —There were nine Part A states (governors' provinces in British India), which were ruled by elected legislatures. These were: Assam, Bihar, Bombay, East Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. —There were eight Part B states (former princely states or group of princely states), which were ruled by elected legislatures and a rajpramukh. These were: Hyderabad, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Bharat, Mysore, Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Rajasthan, Saurashtra, and Travancore-Cochin. —The ten Part C states included both the former chief commissioners' provinces and some princely states, and were governed by a chief commissioner appointed by the President. These were: Ajmer, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Coorg State, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Kutch, Manipur, Tripura, and Vindhya Pradesh. —There was only one Part D state, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which was governed by a lieutenant governor appointed by the President. Do You Know: • Pre-Independence, the Congress had supported the formation of linguistic provinces. But after witnessing Partition, New Delhi was not too keen on immediately creating further linguistic divisions. The so-called JVP committee set up in 1949, comprising Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, head of the States Ministry Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Congress president Pattabhi Sittaramaya, cautioned against the 'disintegrative effects of reorganisation'. • But by the early 1950s, there was momentum in many regions for the creation of linguistic states. On October 19, 1952, Potti Sriramulu, a 51-year-old railway engineer, went on a hunger strike demanding the creation of a Telugu-speaking Andhra state. His death, after a 58-day-long fast, triggered widespread public outcry and protests. Two days later, on December 17, Nehru announced the creation of Andhra, which would officially become a state on October 1, 1953. • The creation of Andhra opened a floodgate of demands for linguistic statehood. Less than three months after the state officially came into being, the Centre set up the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) under Justice Fazl Ali. • Justice Ali submitted a 267-page report on September 30, 1955. Based on the SRC's recommendations, the political map of India was redrawn to comprise 14 states and six Union Territories (UTs). • In its December 1953 resolution on the SRC in Parliament, the Centre had made clear that language would not be the only criterion for the reorganisation of states. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍'Linguistic division of states after Independence has created second-class citizens': Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi UPSC Previous Year Mains Practice Question Covering similar theme: 📍Constitutional mechanisms to resolve the inter-state water disputes have failed to address and solve the problems. Is the failure due to structural or process inadequacy or both? Discuss. (2013) ECONOMY The Russian 'penalty': India's move to tank up on discounted oil from Russia faces scrutiny Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: With the West's effort to target Russia's oil revenue gathering steam over the past few weeks, India's significant Russian oil imports are now being subjected to a more aggressive stance by Western powers. Key Points to Ponder: • What percentage of India's oil import is imported from Russia? • What is the significance of Trump's 'Russian penalty' threat for India's energy security? • How credible is Trump's threat? • How much trade does India have with Russia? • Why India imports more oil from Russia? • How can India reduce its dependency on oil imports? • What crude oil means? • What are the types of crude oil? • Why India is dependent on crude oil? • Where does India import oil? • India's domestic crude oil and natural gas production has declined steadily-why? • What steps have been taken by the Government of India to reduce the imports of crude oil? • What is the difference between Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP), New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) and Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP)? • How high reliance on imported crude oil impacts the Indian economy? Key Takeaways: • After threatening 'biting' secondary tariffs of 100 per cent on buyers of Russian exports, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods from August 1, alongside an additional but unspecified 'penalty' for India's defence and oil imports from Russia. • Earlier in July, the European Union announced a sanctions package, widely seen as the most comprehensive effort yet by the EU to restrict Russia's revenue stream, placing a ban on import of fuels into Europe if made from Russian oil in third countries like India. • Among other steps, the EU also sanctioned Russian oil giant Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy that operates the 20-million-tonnes-per-annum Vadinar refinery in Gujarat. • A few weeks ago, concerns surfaced in India over a controversial bill in the US that proposes 500 per cent tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Russia. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had also said that countries like India, China, and Brazil could be hit very hard by secondary sanctions if they continued to do business with Russia. • These renewed efforts from the West — exerting pressure on Russia's top trade partners to cut down on imports from the country — are clearly targetted at forcing the Kremlin's hand into ending the war in Ukraine. Do You Know: • Over the past nearly three-and-a-half years, India has openly defended its higher purchases of Russian crude, arguing the primacy of its critical energy needs in its priority. India depends on imports to meet around 88 per cent of its crude oil needs, and Russia has been the mainstay of India's oil imports for nearly three years now. • Russian oil flows to India have so far remained robust, despite criticism from sections of the West and actions by US and its allies against Russia's oil trade. India has, time and again, maintained that it is willing to buy oil from whoever offers a good price, as long as the oil is not under sanctions. Russia has been offering discounts on its oil, its crude is not technically under sanctions, and is only subject to a price cap imposed by the G7 countries and their allies. • It is no secret that Trump has been rather impulsive and unpredictable when it comes to trade tariffs; making sweeping announcements, then pausing and negotiating. The hope in India's oil sector is that the US won't actually implement higher tariffs related to India's oil imports from Russia, as it is in the interest of the US and the global economy that the international oil market remains well-supplied. If Russia is unable to supply its crude, global oil prices are bound to rise due to lower supply being available. • If India indeed decides to cut down on its appetite for Russian crude under US pressure, industry insiders and experts expect New Delhi to negotiate a potential wind-down period for reducing supplies, as replacing nearly 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil supply overnight is impossible, and it would take at least three-four months to substantially cut down on Russian oil volumes. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India-Russia oil trade a 'point of irritation' in ties with US: Marco Rubio after Trump's 25% tariff plus 'penalty' THE WORLD Canada plans to recognise Palestine, Trump steps up trade war over move Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that Canada's decision to support Palestinian statehood could make it difficult to finalise a trade agreement between the two nations, just a day ahead of looming tariff deadline. Key Points to Ponder: • What does it mean to be recognised as a state? • What is the status of Palestine at the UN? • Which countries recognise Palestine as a state? • What is India's stand on Palestine? • What is the significance of the Canada's plan to recognise a Palestinian state? • Know the implications of linking Canada's recognition of a Palestinian state to its U.S. trade negotiations. • Compare Canada's position and responses with those of France and the UK regarding Palestinian recognition. Key Takeaways: • Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney said that the country plans to recognise a Palestinian state in September, becoming the third G7 nation after France and the UK to make such an announcement, stating that his goal was to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution. • The two countries are currently in negotiations to reach a trade deal before August 1, the date Trump has set as the deadline to impose a 35% tariff on Canadian goods not covered under the existing US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). • Carney said Wednesday that the tariff discussions with the Trump administration had been constructive, but cautioned that a deal might not be reached by the deadline. • Israel and the United States have both rejected Carney's announcement backing Palestinian statehood. Almost 150 countries out of the 193 member countries of the United Nations formally recognise a Palestinian state. Do You Know: • The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933), identified four conditions of a state: 'a permanent population, defined territory, government, and capacity to enter into relations with other states'. • Statehood, according to The Cambridge Companion to International Law, 'has long been the central organising idea in the international system'. While several regions and peoples have over the years sought to declare themselves as independent states, their formal recognition depends on how the rest of the world views them. • The United Nations has a broad criterion for accepting states as Members. Article 4 of the UN Charter states: 'Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations.' • Procedurally, admission to the UN as a Member State is granted by a two-thirds majority vote in the UN General Assembly. However, the UNGA takes up the candidature only upon the recommendation of the UN Security Council. • The UNSC comprises five permanent members — the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France — and 10 temporary member countries chosen on a rotational basis. For the UNSC recommendation to pass there must be a vote, with at least nine members in favour and no permanent members using their veto. Essentially, it is the P5 who determine the fate of an issue in the UNSC. • Currently, Palestine is a 'Permanent Observer State' — and not a 'Member State' — at the UN. There is one other Permanent Observer State in the UN — the Holy See, representing Vatican City. As a Permanent Observer State, Palestine is allowed to 'participate in all of the Organization's proceedings, except for voting on draft resolutions and decisions in its main organs and bodies, from the Security Council to the General Assembly and its six main committees'. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍French President Macron says France will recognise Palestine as a state 📍UK plans to recognise Palestine in Sept unless Israel meets conditions: Starmer Myanmar ends state of emergency, junta chief takes charge as head of interim govt Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations What's the ongoing story: Myanmar's military junta has lifted the state of emergency imposed since the 2021 coup, signalling its intent to proceed with long-delayed elections in December. The junta announced the formation of an 11-member election commission led by military chief and de facto ruler Min Aung Hlaing, Reuters reported on Thursday citing state broadcaster MRTV. Key Points to Ponder: • Who is Myanmar junta? • Who is in charge of Myanmar now? • Know India-Myanmar bilateral relations in detail • Why is Myanmar important for India? • Since coup in Myanmar, how India has taken diplomatic approach on Myanmar? • Know the significance of the junta's lifting of the 4½-year state of emergency. • Know the Myanmar's political trajectory since the 2021 coup. Key Takeaways: • China has welcomed Myanmar's decision to end the state of emergency and called for political differences to be resolved peacefully. 'We are willing to continue to actively carry out efforts to promote peace talks in accordance with the needs of all parties in Myanmar,' foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing, as reported by Reuters. • Since seizing power from Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in February 2021, the military regime has faced sustained resistance from pro-democracy fighters, ethnic armed groups, and civilian militias. The conflict has led to thousands of deaths and widespread displacement. • Amid these tensions, the junta has introduced harsh laws, including prison terms of up to 10 years for speech or protests aimed at disrupting the election process. In a bid to quell rebellion ahead of the vote, it has also offered cash rewards to militants who surrender. Do You Know: • The word junta originates from Spanish, meaning 'meeting' or 'committee'. The term was widely used in 16th-Century Spain to refer to various government advisory committees as a junta. In 1808, national and local juntas were organised as part of Spain's resistance against Napoleon's invasion. In the following years, the word junta was used to describe governing bodies that emerged during political instability in Spain, Greece, and Latin America. • Subsequently, the term became associated with military rule. Notably, it is different from a military dictatorship. While a junta involves a military cabinet acting as the agent of the ruling military organisation, military dictatorship 'involves a military president not acting as the agent of the military and perhaps even converting the military into an instrument of his personal rule,' Paul Brooker wrote in Non-Democratic Regimes (2000). • In the 20th Century, military junta was frequently witnessed in Latin America. But it was different from juntas elsewhere in the world. 'An institutionalised, highly corporate/professional junta became the norm in Latin America, with the core membership being the heads of the three armed services — army, navy and air force,' wrote Brooker. The juntas outside Latin America, however, had 11 members on average. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍This Word Means: Junta For any queries and feedback, contact Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
