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Time of India
26-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Digestive daredevilry: Scientist savours 23 litchis in 3 minutes
Patna: In a spectacle that could only be described as fruity madness or digestive daredevilry, Shaista Tabassum, an agricultural scientist at Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University in Pusa, Samastipur, shocked everyone by downing 23 litchis in just 3 minutes. The occasion? The university's Litchi Mahotsav, a serious (but also seriously juicy) affair aimed at promoting Bihar's famed litchi production. But the highlight was not a groundbreaking climate-resilient farming solution. No, it was the "Litchi Khao, Inam Pao" (Eat Litchi, Win Rewards) contest, essentially an excuse to stuff one's face in the name of agricultural advancement. "The litchis were sweet, the stopwatch was cruel," said Tabassum, still blinking in post-sugar haze. "By the 18th litchi, I could not tell if I was chewing fruit or my own ambition. But science demanded sacrifice," Tabassum added. Vice-chancellor P S Pandey, who observed the event with a mix of pride and mild disbelief, said, "We are combining litchi with honey, lemon, gooseberry, basically anything within arm's reach, to make it marketable year-round. Soon you will find litchi in everything but your shampoo." The event, attended by students, scientists, and an increasingly worried registrar, also discussed long-term litchi storage. But let's be honest – after witnessing someone inhale nearly two dozen litchis in 180 seconds, who is thinking about storage?
India Gazette
12-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Punjab govt
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], May 12 (ANI): Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state has achieved a historic achievement in GST collection and tax compliance. Speaking to the media, Cheema said, 'In the five years of the Congress government from 2017 to 2022, a total GST collection of Rs 63,042 crore was done, while the Aam Aadmi Party government has collected Rs 63,033 crore in just three years.' Describing it as a big success, Cheema said, 'AAP government has completed the GST collection equal to the five years of Congress in just three years.' Cheema targeted the Congress government and said that during the previous governments, large-scale tax evasion and fake billing were done in the state through fake firms, causing huge losses to the government treasury. But the present government, taking strict measures, not only curbed tax evasion but also registered a record increase in GST collection. He informed that in April 2025, Punjab recorded its highest monthly GST collection of Rs 2,654 crore, which is 19.77 per cent more than last year. The Finance Minister further said, 'Recently, a fake billing scam of Rs 163 crore has been exposed in Ludhiana. In this scam, fake ITC was being claimed through 60 fake firms. We are taking strict action against the culprits, and continuous raids and investigation campaigns are going on to stop tax evasion.' Cheema said technology is being used to stop fake firms and fake billing in Punjab. 'A fine of Rs 9 crore 7 lakh has been collected so far through the 'Mera Bill' app,' he said. The Punjab government has launched several new schemes to promote tax compliance, including initiatives like 'Bill Lao, Inam Pao'. In addition, concrete steps are being taken to prevent tax evasion by forming a Tax Intelligence Unit. The Finance Minister clarified that the Punjab government is working on a zero-tolerance policy against tax evasion, and efforts will continue to strengthen tax collection for the development of the state. (ANI)
