Fact of the Day: April Fools' Day
There are several explanations for the origin of April Fools' Day, but here is the most plausible one. April 1st was once New Year's Day in France. In 1582, Pope Gregory declared the adoption of his Gregorian calendar to replace the Julian calendar and New Year's Day was officially changed to January 1st. It took awhile for everyone in France to hear the news of this major change and others obstinately refused to accept the new calendar, so a lot of people continued to celebrate New Year's Day on the first of April - earning them the name "April fools." The April fools were subjected to ridicule and practical jokes and the tradition was born. The butts of these pranks were first called poisson d'avril or "April fish" because a young naive fish is easily caught. A common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke. This evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continues on the first day of April.
Showing posts with label Info. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Info. Show all posts
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The truth about cash-back credit cards
With increase in the competitiveness between different banks for credit card services, card companies offer a host of additional benefits such as rewards programmes, 'lifetime-free' services and cash-back offers increasingly nowadays to engage the brand awareness of the consumer consistently.
The hidden agenda behind each of these offerings is that the banks and financial institutions want the users to spend more. Spending is good as long as it is within predefined limits. This is within the user's control and must be exercised in order to reap the benefits of such offers and yet not become addicted to spending excessively.
Let's take a look at the features of one particular offering which has generated quite a following in recent times -- 'cash-back' offers, which are often promotional schemes for limited periods that are run periodically by all the credit card companies.
What are cash-back credit cards?
When accepting payment by credit cards, merchants typically pay a percentage of the transaction amount in commission to their bank or merchant services provider. Many credit card issuers share the commission with the cardholder by giving the card holder points, air miles or a monetary amount.
A cash-back offer is specifically for providing the card holder a small monetary amount as a reward for using the card.
Which transactions are included in cash-back offers?
Cash-back offers are valid on almost all kinds of expenditures or purchases done through the credit card. That is, besides spends on shopping and eating out, even balance transfers and bill payments are eligible.
How much money is returned through the cash-back offer?
Where a card issuer operates such a cash-back scheme, card holders typically receive between 0.5 per cent and 2 per cent of their net expenditure (purchases minus refunds) as an annual rebate, which is either credited to the credit card account or paid to the card holder separately, for example by cheque.
Cash-back percentage ranges around 2 per cent - 5 per cent for different cards and in some promotional schemes may even go up to 10 per cent exclusive to customers with a good credit profile.
What are the things to keep in mind while using cash-back cards?
There are some things that you should always keep in mind when you opt to avail such cash-back offers.
Where you are spending
The credit card cannot be used at any establishment that you choose. There will be a list of shops, stores, restaurants etc. that will fall into the category of cash-back transactions. If you spend at the establishments mentioned in this list you can avail cash-back, else you do not receive any reward.
The list of approved establishments is available on the credit card issuer's website or else can be asked for from the customer service department.
To ensure that you do receive cash-back, always ensure that you are spending at an establishment mentioned in the list of the bank's approved merchants.
Minimum cash spent
Normally, cash-back is offered only when the credit card holder spends a minimum amount on it. This could range anywhere between Rs. 1500 and Rs. 2500. So if you spend only Rs. 500 on the card, chances are very slim that you would be able to get any cash-back on that transaction.
Amount of cash-back
Normally, banks place a cap on the maximum amount of cash-back that it offers. It is important to check this because even if you have spent more doesn't necessarily mean that you are going to get a cash-back amount as per that transaction.
For example, if the bank's says that there would be a 10 per cent cash-back offer on all purchases, they would normally cap the maximum cash-back amount at Rs 1,000. So even if you spent Rs 40,000 and expected a cash-back of Rs 4,000, you are still going to get only Rs 1,000.
Other hidden requirements
Check for other requirements such as:
Whether the card falls under the offer category
Whether registration is required for earning cash-back
Should one apply for a new card meant only for cash-back
The period during which the offer is valid
Does the offer apply at outlets having point-of-sale terminals, or should the purchases be made only where the card-issuing bank has installed such terminals?
The products categories, which are eligible for the offer
Should cash-back be collected at bank branches, redeem them at the POS outlets, or will the amount get credited automatically in the card-holder's savings account
Using a cash-back card can be very good indeed, provided that you use the card smartly within its limitations.
As mentioned before, it is important to confirm the minimum amount to be spent to be eligible for cash-back and the maximum amount you can receive as cash-back, because if the delicate balance between the two is not struck correctly, you may be over-spending which can lead to interest charges.
These things can completely overshadow the benefits of a cash-back card.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Basics of a personal loan
Personal loans are the one of the most widely chosen options, in case you are in a spot and need some urgent cash. However, personal loans are tricky and you need to know as much as possible about their basics before applying for one. Let's start with some common questions.
What is a personal loan?
Personal loan is credit that is granted to the borrower for personal use. These loans are usually unsecured (no security or collateral required/asked) and is based solely on the borrower's integrity and ability to pay.
Who is eligible for a personal loan?
The eligibility criteria and their specific details may differ from banks to bank based on their perception of the risks associated with given out personal loans. However, nearly all banks divide the potential borrowers into three categories:
- Salaried individuals
- Self employed individuals
- Self employed professionals
Other factors which are taken into consideration are, age, residence, work experience, repayment capacity, past obligations and place of work.
What kinds of interest rates are offered on personal loans?
Personal loans are offered in:
- Fixed rate
- Floating rate
- Flat rate
Of the three, flat rates turn out to be the most expensive since the other two are calculated on a reducing balance basis.
What is the average interest rate for personal loans?
The interest rate for a personal loan is decided on the basis of your credit repayment capability and history. Depending on this, interest rates could be anywhere between 14% and 25%, depending on the financial institution.
What documents are required for personal loans?
Personal loans require the least number of documents, making it the fastest to be approved. Typically, financial institutions would require proof of identity, residence, income and also 3 to 6 months of your bank statements. Some banks also require guarantors and the same set of their documents.
How is a personal loan repaid? Is prepayment of a loan possible?
Normally, personal loans are offered between 1 to 5 years. The loan is repaid with Equal Monthly Instalments (EMIs). Prepayment is possible but will generally carry a significant prepayment charge.
How is a personal loan different from credit card cash advances and loan against property?
These are some basics that you should know when obtaining a personal loan. These days, securing a loan is easy. Repayment is the tough bit. When you don't repay on time, the recovery agent may come knocking at your door.
When getting a personal loan it is important to ask yourself 'Will I be able to pay it off?' Some things which can help you pay back your personal loans are:
Pay off your credit cards: Try to pay off your credit cards as soon as possible, since credit card debts inadvertently hamper loan payments.
Budget your spending: Once you have taken a loan, ensure that you budget your spending, so that if in any unforeseen circumstance you cannot make a monthly payment, your savings will help you out.
Personal loans if not utilized and repaid properly, can become a curse in disguise. Make your decisions prudently to ensure a safe financial future.Thursday, January 15, 2009
GOOGLE Searches Affect Environment
The next time you do a Google search from your computer, please spare a little thought for the environment.
A new study has revealed that performing two Google searches from a desktop computer can generate about the same amount of carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle for a cup of tea, which adversely affects the environment. According to researchers, a typical search generates about 7g of CO2 while boiling a kettle generates about 15g.
“Google operates huge data centres around the world that consume a great deal of power. Google are very efficient but their primary concern is to make searches fast and that means they have a lot of extra capacity that burns energy.
“A Google search has a definite environmental impact,” lead researcher Alex Wissner-Gross of Harvard University was quoted by The Sunday Times as saying.
In fact, Google’s search engine generates high levels of CO2 because of the way it operates—when one types in a Google search for, say, “energy saving tips”, the request does not go to just one server but to several even miles apart. And, Google’s infrastructure sends data from whichever produces the answer fastest. Though the system helps minimize delays, it raises energy consumption. Google has servers in the US, Europe, Japan and China.
Wissner-Gross and colleagues have also calculated the CO2 emissions caused by individual use of the Internet. They have found that viewing a simple web page generates about 0.02 g of CO2 per second. And, this rises tenfold to about 0.2g of CO2 a second when viewing a website with complex images, animations or even videos, the study has found.
A new study has revealed that performing two Google searches from a desktop computer can generate about the same amount of carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle for a cup of tea, which adversely affects the environment. According to researchers, a typical search generates about 7g of CO2 while boiling a kettle generates about 15g.
“Google operates huge data centres around the world that consume a great deal of power. Google are very efficient but their primary concern is to make searches fast and that means they have a lot of extra capacity that burns energy.
“A Google search has a definite environmental impact,” lead researcher Alex Wissner-Gross of Harvard University was quoted by The Sunday Times as saying.
In fact, Google’s search engine generates high levels of CO2 because of the way it operates—when one types in a Google search for, say, “energy saving tips”, the request does not go to just one server but to several even miles apart. And, Google’s infrastructure sends data from whichever produces the answer fastest. Though the system helps minimize delays, it raises energy consumption. Google has servers in the US, Europe, Japan and China.
Wissner-Gross and colleagues have also calculated the CO2 emissions caused by individual use of the Internet. They have found that viewing a simple web page generates about 0.02 g of CO2 per second. And, this rises tenfold to about 0.2g of CO2 a second when viewing a website with complex images, animations or even videos, the study has found.
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Year's Day
Fact of the Day: New Year's Day
On the Roman republican calendar, the year began on March 1, but after 153 BC the official date was January 1, and this tradition was continued in the Julian calendar of 46 BC. This day was first recognized as New Year's Day with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain in 1582. It was not until 1752 that the New Style was adopted in Britain -- and Russia was last to recognize this as the date, in 1918. The earliest-known record of a New Year festival dates from about 2000 BC in Mesopotamia, where in Babylonia the new year began with the new moon after the spring equinox and in Assyria with the new moon nearest the autumn equinox.
On the Roman republican calendar, the year began on March 1, but after 153 BC the official date was January 1, and this tradition was continued in the Julian calendar of 46 BC. This day was first recognized as New Year's Day with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain in 1582. It was not until 1752 that the New Style was adopted in Britain -- and Russia was last to recognize this as the date, in 1918. The earliest-known record of a New Year festival dates from about 2000 BC in Mesopotamia, where in Babylonia the new year began with the new moon after the spring equinox and in Assyria with the new moon nearest the autumn equinox.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Most Popular Search Terms for 2008 in Google [India]
Top 10 Lists: General for India
Most Popular Searches
1. Orkut
2. GMail
3. Yahoo
4. Google
5. YouTube
6. Yahoomail
7. Indian Railway
8. Rediff
9. Cricket
10. Katrina Kaif
Fastest Rising Searches
1. YouTube
2. Orkut
3. Katrina Kaif
4. Cricket
5. irctc
6. Facebook
7. Genelia d'souza
8. Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
9. sixth pay commission
10. IPL
Most Popular Searches from Mobiles
1. Orkut
2. Yahoo
3. Waptrick
4. Gmail
5. Games
6. Katrina Kaif
7. Rediffmail
8. Yahoomail
9. Namitha
10. Google
Top 10 Lists: Categorized most searched queries for India
Bollywood Celebrities
1. Katrina Kaif
2. Aishwarya Rai
3. Salman Khan
4. Hrithik Roshan
5. Kareena Kapoor
6. Shahid Kapur
7. Deepika Padukone
8. Shahrukh Khan
9. Mallika Sherawat
10. Genelia D'souza
Sports Stars
1. Sania Mirza
2. Sachin Tendulkar
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
4. John Cena
5. Dhoni
6. David Beckham
7. Brett Lee
8. Khali
9. Kaka
10. Roger Federer
Politicians
1. Mahatma Gandhi
2. Raj Thackeray
3. Sarah Palin
4. Sonia Gandhi
5. Barack Obama
6. Indira Gandhi
7. Rahul Gandhi
8. Abdul Kalam
9. Manmohan Singh
10. Mayawati
Movies
1. Jodha Akbar
2. Dasavatharam
3. Singh Is King
4. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
5. Jannat
6. Tashan
7. Ganesha
8. Fashion
9. Rock On
10. Race
Holiday Destinations
1. Goa
2. Kerala
3. Kashmir
4. Dubai
5. Singapore
6. Australia
7. London
8. Shimla
9. Switzerland
10. Manali
Economic Concerns
1. Bombay Stock Exchange
2. Pay Commission
3. Income Tax
4. Gold Rates
5. RBI
6. Inflation
7. Crude Oil
8. Budget 2008
9. Forex Trading
10. Indian Economy
Important Days
1. Independence Day
2. Valentine's Day
3. Friendship Day
4. Teacher's Day
5. Earth Day
6. Republic Day
7. Mothers Day
8. Women's Day
9. Father’s Day
10. World Environment Day
Child Cartoon Characters
1. Tom And Jerry
2. Ben 10
3. Naruto
4. Mickey Mouse
5. Spiderman
6. Batman
7. Pokemon
8. Tweety
9. Superman
10. Donald Duck
How to do Stuff
1. How to reduce weight
2. How to kiss
3. How to earn money
4. How to get pregnant
5. How to learn english
6. How to gain weight
7. How to play guitar
8. How to create a website
9. How to impress a girl
10. How to tie a tie
"Please" requests
1. Please teacher
2. Please note that
3. Please feel free
4. Please do the needful
5. Please find attached
6. Please help me
7. Please investigate your browser
8. Please don’t go
9. Please contact service provider
10. Please wait while we are opening the image for cropping.
"Where" requests
1. Where the mind is without fear
2. Where there is a will there is a way
3. Where eagles dare
4. Where to invest
5. Where the truth lies
6. Where is god
7. Where the world meets
8. Where is the love
9. Where is my boss
10. Where is Mauritius
"Why" requests
1. Why MBA
2. Why should I hire you
3. Why so serious
4. Why Walmart failed in Korea
5. Why do people smoke
6. Why is the sky blue
7. Why did I get married
8. Why do we fall ill
9. Why did the chicken cross the road
10. Why do we dream
Government Websites
1. indianrail.gov.in
2. cbseresults.nic.in
3. incometaxindia.gov.in
4. mca.gov.in
5. incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in
6. passport.nic.in
7. tn.gov.in
8. cbse.nic.in
9. sebi.gov.in
10. indiapost.gov.in
"What is" requests
1. what is global warming
2. what is internet
3. what is computer
4. what is love
5. what is repo rate
6. what is inflation
7. what is sensex
8. what is bpo
9. what is erp
10. what is mutual fund
"How do I" requests
1. how do i enable javascript
2. how do i live without you
3. how do i know ration card details in hyderabad
4. how do i remove virus from my pc
5. how do i get rid of old acne scars
6. how do i register a company in india
7. how do i know i am pregnant
8. how do i breathe
9. how do i write an authentication letter for art
10. how do i get pregnant
Price Query
1. gold price
2. mobile prices
3. crude oil price
4. nokia price list
5. iphone price
6. steel prices
7. share prices
8. laptop prices
9. car prices
10. wholesale price index
Looking for Cheap things
1. cheap air tickets
2. cheap web hosting
3. cheap laptops
4. cheap hotels
5. cheap mobile phones
6. cheap travel insurance
7. cheap domain registration
8. cheap car insurance
9. cheap books
10. cheap package holidays
Hindi Queries
1. राशिफल
2. फोटो गैलरी
3. शायरी हिन्दी
4. ऐश्वर्या राय
5. इंडियन रेलवे
6. कैटरीना कैफ
7. समाचार
8. हिन्दी गाने
9. जोक्स
10. ॐ
Tamil Queries
1. தினமலர்
2. சினிமா
3. செய்திகள்
4. சமையல்
5. கவிதை
6. ஜோதிடம்
7. சென்னை
8. திருமணம்
9. மருத்துவம்
10. ஜாதகம்
Top 10 Lists: City specific Lists most searched queries from a city compared to rest of India
Mumbai
1. mtnl mumbai
2.cinemax
3.apnaloan
4.mhada
5.fame adlabs
6.mtdc
7.tardeo
8.marathi
9.marathi news
10.marathi kavita
Kolkata
1.calcutta telephones
2.list of colleges in west bengal
3.induna.com
4.air pollution pics
5.mobile videos download
6.inox kolkata
7.mandarmani
8.pscwb
9.west bengal tourism
10.lici
Delhi
1.mtnl delhi
2.mcd
3.dvat
4.delhi high court
5.dda
6.www.edudel.nic.in
7.delhi govt
8.affordable quality homes
9.delhi police
10.hardy thomas
Most Popular Searches
1. Orkut
2. GMail
3. Yahoo
4. Google
5. YouTube
6. Yahoomail
7. Indian Railway
8. Rediff
9. Cricket
10. Katrina Kaif
Fastest Rising Searches
1. YouTube
2. Orkut
3. Katrina Kaif
4. Cricket
5. irctc
6. Facebook
7. Genelia d'souza
8. Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
9. sixth pay commission
10. IPL
Most Popular Searches from Mobiles
1. Orkut
2. Yahoo
3. Waptrick
4. Gmail
5. Games
6. Katrina Kaif
7. Rediffmail
8. Yahoomail
9. Namitha
10. Google
Top 10 Lists: Categorized most searched queries for India
Bollywood Celebrities
1. Katrina Kaif
2. Aishwarya Rai
3. Salman Khan
4. Hrithik Roshan
5. Kareena Kapoor
6. Shahid Kapur
7. Deepika Padukone
8. Shahrukh Khan
9. Mallika Sherawat
10. Genelia D'souza
Sports Stars
1. Sania Mirza
2. Sachin Tendulkar
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
4. John Cena
5. Dhoni
6. David Beckham
7. Brett Lee
8. Khali
9. Kaka
10. Roger Federer
Politicians
1. Mahatma Gandhi
2. Raj Thackeray
3. Sarah Palin
4. Sonia Gandhi
5. Barack Obama
6. Indira Gandhi
7. Rahul Gandhi
8. Abdul Kalam
9. Manmohan Singh
10. Mayawati
Movies
1. Jodha Akbar
2. Dasavatharam
3. Singh Is King
4. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
5. Jannat
6. Tashan
7. Ganesha
8. Fashion
9. Rock On
10. Race
Holiday Destinations
1. Goa
2. Kerala
3. Kashmir
4. Dubai
5. Singapore
6. Australia
7. London
8. Shimla
9. Switzerland
10. Manali
Economic Concerns
1. Bombay Stock Exchange
2. Pay Commission
3. Income Tax
4. Gold Rates
5. RBI
6. Inflation
7. Crude Oil
8. Budget 2008
9. Forex Trading
10. Indian Economy
Important Days
1. Independence Day
2. Valentine's Day
3. Friendship Day
4. Teacher's Day
5. Earth Day
6. Republic Day
7. Mothers Day
8. Women's Day
9. Father’s Day
10. World Environment Day
Child Cartoon Characters
1. Tom And Jerry
2. Ben 10
3. Naruto
4. Mickey Mouse
5. Spiderman
6. Batman
7. Pokemon
8. Tweety
9. Superman
10. Donald Duck
How to do Stuff
1. How to reduce weight
2. How to kiss
3. How to earn money
4. How to get pregnant
5. How to learn english
6. How to gain weight
7. How to play guitar
8. How to create a website
9. How to impress a girl
10. How to tie a tie
"Please" requests
1. Please teacher
2. Please note that
3. Please feel free
4. Please do the needful
5. Please find attached
6. Please help me
7. Please investigate your browser
8. Please don’t go
9. Please contact service provider
10. Please wait while we are opening the image for cropping.
"Where" requests
1. Where the mind is without fear
2. Where there is a will there is a way
3. Where eagles dare
4. Where to invest
5. Where the truth lies
6. Where is god
7. Where the world meets
8. Where is the love
9. Where is my boss
10. Where is Mauritius
"Why" requests
1. Why MBA
2. Why should I hire you
3. Why so serious
4. Why Walmart failed in Korea
5. Why do people smoke
6. Why is the sky blue
7. Why did I get married
8. Why do we fall ill
9. Why did the chicken cross the road
10. Why do we dream
Government Websites
1. indianrail.gov.in
2. cbseresults.nic.in
3. incometaxindia.gov.in
4. mca.gov.in
5. incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in
6. passport.nic.in
7. tn.gov.in
8. cbse.nic.in
9. sebi.gov.in
10. indiapost.gov.in
"What is" requests
1. what is global warming
2. what is internet
3. what is computer
4. what is love
5. what is repo rate
6. what is inflation
7. what is sensex
8. what is bpo
9. what is erp
10. what is mutual fund
"How do I" requests
1. how do i enable javascript
2. how do i live without you
3. how do i know ration card details in hyderabad
4. how do i remove virus from my pc
5. how do i get rid of old acne scars
6. how do i register a company in india
7. how do i know i am pregnant
8. how do i breathe
9. how do i write an authentication letter for art
10. how do i get pregnant
Price Query
1. gold price
2. mobile prices
3. crude oil price
4. nokia price list
5. iphone price
6. steel prices
7. share prices
8. laptop prices
9. car prices
10. wholesale price index
Looking for Cheap things
1. cheap air tickets
2. cheap web hosting
3. cheap laptops
4. cheap hotels
5. cheap mobile phones
6. cheap travel insurance
7. cheap domain registration
8. cheap car insurance
9. cheap books
10. cheap package holidays
Hindi Queries
1. राशिफल
2. फोटो गैलरी
3. शायरी हिन्दी
4. ऐश्वर्या राय
5. इंडियन रेलवे
6. कैटरीना कैफ
7. समाचार
8. हिन्दी गाने
9. जोक्स
10. ॐ
Tamil Queries
1. தினமலர்
2. சினிமா
3. செய்திகள்
4. சமையல்
5. கவிதை
6. ஜோதிடம்
7. சென்னை
8. திருமணம்
9. மருத்துவம்
10. ஜாதகம்
Top 10 Lists: City specific Lists most searched queries from a city compared to rest of India
Mumbai
1. mtnl mumbai
2.cinemax
3.apnaloan
4.mhada
5.fame adlabs
6.mtdc
7.tardeo
8.marathi
9.marathi news
10.marathi kavita
Kolkata
1.calcutta telephones
2.list of colleges in west bengal
3.induna.com
4.air pollution pics
5.mobile videos download
6.inox kolkata
7.mandarmani
8.pscwb
9.west bengal tourism
10.lici
Delhi
1.mtnl delhi
2.mcd
3.dvat
4.delhi high court
5.dda
6.www.edudel.nic.in
7.delhi govt
8.affordable quality homes
9.delhi police
10.hardy thomas
Friday, December 5, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Rediff WebinMail
Rediff has announced a new service that will allows internet users to view web pages directly in their E-Mail. “Web-in-Mail” service is perfect for those who have internet connections in their office but certain web pages or websites are blocked. Rediff said that Web-in-Mail service only works with MS Outlook, Outlook Express and Blackberry device, but I found that this service is also work fine with Windows Live Mail
How Web-in-Mail Works
Send an E-Mail to browse@webinmail.com , with subject line webpage you want to browse
Monday, December 1, 2008
Section 49–O of the Constitution
Section 49–O of the Constitution
Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the 1969 act, in section "49–O" that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn't want to vote anyone!
Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these seemingly notorious leaders have never disclosed it. This is called "49–O".
Why should you go and say "I VOTE NOBODY"... because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received "49–O" votes more than 123, then that polling will be canceled and will have to be re–polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re–polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them. This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way; of our whole political system... it is seemingly surprising why the election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public....
Please spread this news to as many as you know...Seems to be a wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India... show your power, expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful than voting... so don't miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49–O) and pass this info on...
"Please forward this mail to as many as possible, so that we, the people of India, can really use this power to save our nation". Use your voting right for a better INDIA.
Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the 1969 act, in section "49–O" that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn't want to vote anyone!
Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these seemingly notorious leaders have never disclosed it. This is called "49–O".
Why should you go and say "I VOTE NOBODY"... because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received "49–O" votes more than 123, then that polling will be canceled and will have to be re–polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re–polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them. This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way; of our whole political system... it is seemingly surprising why the election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public....
Please spread this news to as many as you know...Seems to be a wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India... show your power, expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful than voting... so don't miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49–O) and pass this info on...
"Please forward this mail to as many as possible, so that we, the people of India, can really use this power to save our nation". Use your voting right for a better INDIA.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Google SMS Search on 9-77-33-00000
- Power cut during a nail biting cricket match?
- New city, late night and you're out of cash with an upset tummy. Need to find an ATM, a doctor and a taxi service?
- Dread long queues at the railway reservation enquiry counter simply to confirm your seat or find the train information?
If you've been through any of above then we have a great friend for you - Google SMS Search (9-77-33-00000), which lets you find answers to these specific problems and a lot more questions on the go.
In the past, cricket scores and astrology updates on SMS brought a smile to a lot of us until seeing the premium charges associated with short code services. And this was after we had to remember a complicated set of prefixes for different types of information.
Understanding these woes, the SMS team at Google has come up with Google SMS Search. Now send all your queries to 9-77-33-00000 without paying any premium charges! SMS Search offers an easy-to-use way to type in free-form searches. No longer will your questions require complicated prefixes or a tight syntax. You can learn about the interesting features and try our interactive demo at http://www.google.co.in/sms.
Launched nationally, this service is available across all operators on both GSM and CDMA mobile phones. Give it a try by SMSing "help" to 9-77-33-00000 and don't forget to save the number of your newly found friend (Google SMS) in your phone book!
- New city, late night and you're out of cash with an upset tummy. Need to find an ATM, a doctor and a taxi service?
- Dread long queues at the railway reservation enquiry counter simply to confirm your seat or find the train information?
If you've been through any of above then we have a great friend for you - Google SMS Search (9-77-33-00000), which lets you find answers to these specific problems and a lot more questions on the go.
In the past, cricket scores and astrology updates on SMS brought a smile to a lot of us until seeing the premium charges associated with short code services. And this was after we had to remember a complicated set of prefixes for different types of information.
Understanding these woes, the SMS team at Google has come up with Google SMS Search. Now send all your queries to 9-77-33-00000 without paying any premium charges! SMS Search offers an easy-to-use way to type in free-form searches. No longer will your questions require complicated prefixes or a tight syntax. You can learn about the interesting features and try our interactive demo at http://www.google.co.in/sms.
Launched nationally, this service is available across all operators on both GSM and CDMA mobile phones. Give it a try by SMSing "help" to 9-77-33-00000 and don't forget to save the number of your newly found friend (Google SMS) in your phone book!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
NearHop.com
Travel aggregation is a crowded market and what’s really needed is travel planning - across the different modes of travel (bus, train and flight)
Hyderbad based, Nearhop is attempting to be the travel planner and computes all the possible ways using bus/ flight/ train with combinations upto 3-hops.
Nearhop claims 5,000 places and has database of 38000 flights/trains/buses. For eg if you give ‘AAA’ as the source and ‘BBB’ as the destination,
NearHop enumerates the list of all direct services from ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’. It also enumerates the list of all 2-hop paths to reach from ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’. An example of a 2-hop path is first to reach a station, say ‘CCC’ from ‘AAA’ by flight/train/bus and from there go to ‘BBB’ by flight/train/bus. 3-hop paths are also enumerated if they are appropriate.
Few features:
- Given a source, destination and date, NearHop creates a travel plan. i.e it computes and enumerates the list of all "possible paths which include arrival time, departure time, fare, number of hops, service details, availability" to reach the destination from the source. A "possible path" can be either direct bus/flight/train or combination of the above.
- Lists the possible paths upto 3-hops.
- Lists the day specific schedules. ie A flight may deptart at 3:00PM on sun, mon and tue and depart at 7:00PM on remaining days.NearHop computes the schedules specific to a day.
- Lists the links to book the tickets.
- Displays timetable of flight, bus and train for each city; shows the map for your journey
NearHop has also created database of bus/local train routes (for Bangalore,Mumbai,Chennai,Delhi,Hyderabad and Kolkata) and one can download the .jar/.jad file from here.
One of the most interesting feature is the local travel part: you can search for local train and bus timings (sort of navigator) and to me, that seems like a very relevant and useful info.
Aggregation of this sort is quite needed in the travel space, and Nearhop really needs to improve on data presentation - the current version seems too complex (and cluttered) to understand.
Do give Nearhop a hop and share your comments.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
MSN India Launches Live Search Maps
MSN India has launched it’s live search maps product and now supports 9 cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur (as well as integration with national highways/roads).
Live maps supports driving directions, business listing/PoI searches as well as local search - though the data quality is nothing great to talk about.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Seven days that shook the financial world
Seven Days That Shook Wall Street
A look back at the historic—and often scary—events that changed the U.S. financial system forever
It was the week that shook the financial world to the core. On Friday, Sept. 12, traders left the New York Stock Exchange for the weekend. But key banking officials, facing the impending failure of the venerable Lehman Brothers investment house and a shaky outlook for two other huge financial players—investment firm Merrill Lynch (MER) and insurance giant American International Group (AIG)—began a series of weekend meetings in an effort to prevent a possible collapse of the global financial system.
Over the next seven days, the nation's financial leaders, captained by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, produced a rapid succession of moves that reversed a decades-long trend toward financial deregulation and fundamentally changed the face of the American financial system. Lehman failed and Merrill was sold to Bank of America (BAC). The government took effective control of AIG in an $85 billion bailout. And, in the biggest intervention of all, officials proposed to purchase the troubled mortgage assets of financial firms, a move that could cost hundreds of billions of additional dollars.
Meanwhile, worried investors sent the stock markets into a dizzying ride of huge gains and losses.
Here's how the events unfolded:
Friday, Sept. 12: The trading week ends with the fate of 158-year-old Lehman Brothers in grave doubt. Its stock had fallen sharply due to fears over its financial condition. Paulson, Bernanke, and New York Fed President Tim Geithner begin a series of meetings in Lower Manhattan with top bankers in an effort to engineer a bailout of Lehman, which had bet heavily in the subprime mortgage market. Two possible buyers emerge: Britain's Barclays (BCS) and Bank of America.
Saturday, Sept. 13: Talks on a possible Lehman buyout continue. The would-be rescuers look to the government to take on some of the risk, as it did in the shotgun sale of Bear Stearns to JPMorgan Chase (JPM) in March and the effective nationalization on Sept. 8 of mortgage giants Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE). Government officials hold fast that there will be no federal bailout. Talks are inconclusive.
Sunday, Sept. 14: The negotiators continue meeting, facing a deadline to act before Asian markets open for Monday morning trading. But government officials insist there will be no federal backing of a Lehman rescue. With no help from Washington forthcoming, Barclays—the only possibility left after Bank of America leaves the table—withdraws. Lehman is done for. Meanwhile, Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain, seeing the writing on the wall, arranges the sale of his company to Bank of America for about $50 billion. In one day, the fates of two storied companies are sealed.
Monday, Sept. 15: Lehman Brothers Holdings, the bank's holding company, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and says it will try to sell key business units. Investor concern now turns to the fate of AIG, fearing a liquidity crisis. Rating agencies cut AIG's credit rating. Despite reassurances about the economy from Paulson and President George W. Bush, the stock market plummets. The Dow Jones industrial average drops more than 504 points, or 4.4%, the biggest loss since right after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. The failure also roils overseas stocks, sending them plunging. Meanwhile, concerns about a slowing economy take oil below the psychological benchmark of $100 a barrel, its lowest level since February.
Tuesday, Sept. 16: The Federal Reserve meets and keeps the federal funds rate unchanged at 2%. Asian markets, some of which had been closed for a holiday on Monday, plummet. The Russian stock market goes into a tailspin, with the largest exchange down more than 17% before the Russian government halts trading. Managers of the Primary Fund, a supposedly supersafe money market fund, say that shares have fallen below the sacrosanct $1 valuation. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs (GS) and Morgan Stanley (MS), the two remaining independent investment banks, report stronger-than-expected results. However, investors continue to beat down the companies' shares. Amid all the turbulence, U.S. officials decide that AIG is indeed "too big to fail." In a move that would have been unthinkable before the credit crisis began, the Fed arranges to lend $85 billion to AIG in exchange for a 79.9% equity stake. The deal is announced Tuesday evening. Even before the deal is finalized, the Dow reverses an earlier loss and gains 141 points.
Wednesday, Sept. 17: The government bailout of AIG fails to stem investor fears as they flee to safety. Credit markets tighten. The New York Times reports that Washington Mutual (WM), the nation's largest thrift, has put itself up for sale. The Dow plunges 449 points.
Thursday, Sept. 18: The New York Times reports that Morgan Stanley has "stepped up" merger talks with Wachovia (WB). The Fed moves to pump money into the financial system through lending programs operated by several overseas central banks and the Fed's own moves. At the same time, the government begins action on the hugest bailout of all, committing hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to buy troubled mortgage assets from beleaguered financial institutions. As word of the evolving plan spreads, stocks rally. The Dow closes up 410 points. In the evening, Paulson and Bernanke and Securities & Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox go to the U.S. Capitol to brief lawmakers on the plan, which requires congressional authorization.
Friday, Sept. 19: The buyout plan—with few firm details—is announced and stocks soar worldwide. President Bush says the move puts "a significant amount of taxpayer dollars on the line," but he says the risk of not acting "would be far higher." In additional actions, the Treasury and Fed act to guarantee the assets of money-market funds, which had been threatened by the meltdown of the financial markets, and the SEC places a temporary ban on the short-selling of nearly 799 financial stocks. The Dow closes up 368.75 points, 45 points below where it was a week earlier but still 911 points over its bottom on Thursday morning.
A momentous week indeed, but there is no sign the economic drama will limit itself to a mere seven days. Lawmakers and regulators are to work through this weekend in an effort to devise bailout plan legislation that can come to a vote next week. The bipartisan consensus surrounding the deal can come undone as the details are ironed out. But for drama, it will be hard to match events that have reshaped the U.S. financial landscape for years, if not decades to come.
A look back at the historic—and often scary—events that changed the U.S. financial system forever
It was the week that shook the financial world to the core. On Friday, Sept. 12, traders left the New York Stock Exchange for the weekend. But key banking officials, facing the impending failure of the venerable Lehman Brothers investment house and a shaky outlook for two other huge financial players—investment firm Merrill Lynch (MER) and insurance giant American International Group (AIG)—began a series of weekend meetings in an effort to prevent a possible collapse of the global financial system.
Over the next seven days, the nation's financial leaders, captained by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, produced a rapid succession of moves that reversed a decades-long trend toward financial deregulation and fundamentally changed the face of the American financial system. Lehman failed and Merrill was sold to Bank of America (BAC). The government took effective control of AIG in an $85 billion bailout. And, in the biggest intervention of all, officials proposed to purchase the troubled mortgage assets of financial firms, a move that could cost hundreds of billions of additional dollars.
Meanwhile, worried investors sent the stock markets into a dizzying ride of huge gains and losses.
Here's how the events unfolded:
Friday, Sept. 12: The trading week ends with the fate of 158-year-old Lehman Brothers in grave doubt. Its stock had fallen sharply due to fears over its financial condition. Paulson, Bernanke, and New York Fed President Tim Geithner begin a series of meetings in Lower Manhattan with top bankers in an effort to engineer a bailout of Lehman, which had bet heavily in the subprime mortgage market. Two possible buyers emerge: Britain's Barclays (BCS) and Bank of America.
Saturday, Sept. 13: Talks on a possible Lehman buyout continue. The would-be rescuers look to the government to take on some of the risk, as it did in the shotgun sale of Bear Stearns to JPMorgan Chase (JPM) in March and the effective nationalization on Sept. 8 of mortgage giants Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE). Government officials hold fast that there will be no federal bailout. Talks are inconclusive.
Sunday, Sept. 14: The negotiators continue meeting, facing a deadline to act before Asian markets open for Monday morning trading. But government officials insist there will be no federal backing of a Lehman rescue. With no help from Washington forthcoming, Barclays—the only possibility left after Bank of America leaves the table—withdraws. Lehman is done for. Meanwhile, Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain, seeing the writing on the wall, arranges the sale of his company to Bank of America for about $50 billion. In one day, the fates of two storied companies are sealed.
Monday, Sept. 15: Lehman Brothers Holdings, the bank's holding company, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and says it will try to sell key business units. Investor concern now turns to the fate of AIG, fearing a liquidity crisis. Rating agencies cut AIG's credit rating. Despite reassurances about the economy from Paulson and President George W. Bush, the stock market plummets. The Dow Jones industrial average drops more than 504 points, or 4.4%, the biggest loss since right after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. The failure also roils overseas stocks, sending them plunging. Meanwhile, concerns about a slowing economy take oil below the psychological benchmark of $100 a barrel, its lowest level since February.
Tuesday, Sept. 16: The Federal Reserve meets and keeps the federal funds rate unchanged at 2%. Asian markets, some of which had been closed for a holiday on Monday, plummet. The Russian stock market goes into a tailspin, with the largest exchange down more than 17% before the Russian government halts trading. Managers of the Primary Fund, a supposedly supersafe money market fund, say that shares have fallen below the sacrosanct $1 valuation. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs (GS) and Morgan Stanley (MS), the two remaining independent investment banks, report stronger-than-expected results. However, investors continue to beat down the companies' shares. Amid all the turbulence, U.S. officials decide that AIG is indeed "too big to fail." In a move that would have been unthinkable before the credit crisis began, the Fed arranges to lend $85 billion to AIG in exchange for a 79.9% equity stake. The deal is announced Tuesday evening. Even before the deal is finalized, the Dow reverses an earlier loss and gains 141 points.
Wednesday, Sept. 17: The government bailout of AIG fails to stem investor fears as they flee to safety. Credit markets tighten. The New York Times reports that Washington Mutual (WM), the nation's largest thrift, has put itself up for sale. The Dow plunges 449 points.
Thursday, Sept. 18: The New York Times reports that Morgan Stanley has "stepped up" merger talks with Wachovia (WB). The Fed moves to pump money into the financial system through lending programs operated by several overseas central banks and the Fed's own moves. At the same time, the government begins action on the hugest bailout of all, committing hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to buy troubled mortgage assets from beleaguered financial institutions. As word of the evolving plan spreads, stocks rally. The Dow closes up 410 points. In the evening, Paulson and Bernanke and Securities & Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox go to the U.S. Capitol to brief lawmakers on the plan, which requires congressional authorization.
Friday, Sept. 19: The buyout plan—with few firm details—is announced and stocks soar worldwide. President Bush says the move puts "a significant amount of taxpayer dollars on the line," but he says the risk of not acting "would be far higher." In additional actions, the Treasury and Fed act to guarantee the assets of money-market funds, which had been threatened by the meltdown of the financial markets, and the SEC places a temporary ban on the short-selling of nearly 799 financial stocks. The Dow closes up 368.75 points, 45 points below where it was a week earlier but still 911 points over its bottom on Thursday morning.
A momentous week indeed, but there is no sign the economic drama will limit itself to a mere seven days. Lawmakers and regulators are to work through this weekend in an effort to devise bailout plan legislation that can come to a vote next week. The bipartisan consensus surrounding the deal can come undone as the details are ironed out. But for drama, it will be hard to match events that have reshaped the U.S. financial landscape for years, if not decades to come.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Mind Your Language
Tell them what you want
One of the staff in a high school found it difficult to stop students running up and down the stairs. She continually told them not to run but it made little difference. She was at her wits’ end. I suggested that instead of telling them not to run she say something like: “Slow down please” or “Walk down the stairs.” She was excited and somewhat amazed to report that it had worked – such a little change in language brought such a marked improvement in the match between what she wanted the kids to do and what they actually did.
How does this happen?
If I don’t want you to think of pink elephants and I say “Don’t think of pink elephants” what happens? You immediately get a picture of pink elephants in your mind and then, if you are feeling complicit as you read this, you try not to think about them. Now, if I’d asked you not to think about red rhinos, for example, there is much less chance of you conjuring up those pink elephants.
The mind works a bit like a search engine on the internet. Put in a word, press SEARCH and all the references to that word come up on the screen. Put in a mental suggestion like pink elephants and you don’t even have to press a button; up come images of pink elephants on the screen of the mind.
And that’s what happens in kids’ minds when we tell them not to do something. Its not wilful disobedience so much as the mind making pictures and the body going towards them.
Bill Rogers – in his excellent behaviour management series “Corrective Discipline” – suggests using the pattern “When …. then ….” rather than “You can’t …. because….”
For example: “Johnny, when you have finished tidying your room, then you can go out to play.” rather than: “Johnny you can’t go out to play because your room is a mess”
With the first sentence Johnny gets a picture in his mind of tidying his room, then going out to play. Just what we want. In the second sentence we’re inviting his subconscious to picture himself not being able to go out to play and with an untidy room.
This works for our own internal dialogue as well. If we continually tell ourselves that we shouldn’t be eating those cream cakes (assuming we want to lose weight) we’re making things unnecessarily difficult for ourselves.
Suggestion
If you catch yourself about to ask a child, or tell yourself, not to do something, ask them/tell yourself to do an alternative instead. The unconscious mind will make pictures of whatever words you say – so choose the ones you want the listener to see.
Some alternatives to use.
I mustn’t eat that cream cake – I will leave the cream cake in the shop.
Don’t be late – Come home in good time.
Stop shouting – Talk quietly.
You can’t have any pudding because you haven’t eaten your meat. – When you’ve eaten your meat you can have some pudding
One of the staff in a high school found it difficult to stop students running up and down the stairs. She continually told them not to run but it made little difference. She was at her wits’ end. I suggested that instead of telling them not to run she say something like: “Slow down please” or “Walk down the stairs.” She was excited and somewhat amazed to report that it had worked – such a little change in language brought such a marked improvement in the match between what she wanted the kids to do and what they actually did.
How does this happen?
If I don’t want you to think of pink elephants and I say “Don’t think of pink elephants” what happens? You immediately get a picture of pink elephants in your mind and then, if you are feeling complicit as you read this, you try not to think about them. Now, if I’d asked you not to think about red rhinos, for example, there is much less chance of you conjuring up those pink elephants.
The mind works a bit like a search engine on the internet. Put in a word, press SEARCH and all the references to that word come up on the screen. Put in a mental suggestion like pink elephants and you don’t even have to press a button; up come images of pink elephants on the screen of the mind.
And that’s what happens in kids’ minds when we tell them not to do something. Its not wilful disobedience so much as the mind making pictures and the body going towards them.
Bill Rogers – in his excellent behaviour management series “Corrective Discipline” – suggests using the pattern “When …. then ….” rather than “You can’t …. because….”
For example: “Johnny, when you have finished tidying your room, then you can go out to play.” rather than: “Johnny you can’t go out to play because your room is a mess”
With the first sentence Johnny gets a picture in his mind of tidying his room, then going out to play. Just what we want. In the second sentence we’re inviting his subconscious to picture himself not being able to go out to play and with an untidy room.
This works for our own internal dialogue as well. If we continually tell ourselves that we shouldn’t be eating those cream cakes (assuming we want to lose weight) we’re making things unnecessarily difficult for ourselves.
Suggestion
If you catch yourself about to ask a child, or tell yourself, not to do something, ask them/tell yourself to do an alternative instead. The unconscious mind will make pictures of whatever words you say – so choose the ones you want the listener to see.
Some alternatives to use.
I mustn’t eat that cream cake – I will leave the cream cake in the shop.
Don’t be late – Come home in good time.
Stop shouting – Talk quietly.
You can’t have any pudding because you haven’t eaten your meat. – When you’ve eaten your meat you can have some pudding
Saturday, September 13, 2008
No-frills accounts? Be Careful
Banks will soon start offering 'no-frills' savings accounts, and it's good news for customers who are either averse to or not comfortable with maintaining high minimum balances.
You may like to opt for such an account, but it actually depends on individual needs. The two key factors that you should examine before deciding whether to go in for a no-frills account are:
The Reserve Bank of India [Get Quote] has directed banks to offer zero balance or low minimum balance accounts to bring in a greater number of people into the banking fold. The policy of 'financial inclusion' of the poorer section allows banks to restrict the number of withdrawals and the number of cheques that could be issued in a month.
Banks are now in the process of developing their respective no-frills savings account products. The variations being considered include savings accounts where the customer agrees to transact only through ATMs, Internet and phone banking. Such customers will be allowed to visit the branches only for resolution of some disputes.
The zero-balance account could also entail higher charges for services like frequent account statements.
The other variant being considered is to allow a no-frills account with a very low balance of say about Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 and allowing customers to have greater services than those offered to zero-balance account-holders.
Such account-holders could be allowed a certain number of transactions at the branches.
The RBI move is to counter a trend whereby all banks want to target the 'affluent' class. The competition from private and foreign banks has put public sector banks at a disadvantage in their quest for enlisting new clients.
Public sector banks serve clients from the poorest class to the millionaires, while private and foreign banks are seen catering to the well-off classes only.
You may like to opt for such an account, but it actually depends on individual needs. The two key factors that you should examine before deciding whether to go in for a no-frills account are:
- How frequently do you need to issue cheques?
- How frequently do you need to withdraw money?
The Reserve Bank of India [Get Quote] has directed banks to offer zero balance or low minimum balance accounts to bring in a greater number of people into the banking fold. The policy of 'financial inclusion' of the poorer section allows banks to restrict the number of withdrawals and the number of cheques that could be issued in a month.
Banks are now in the process of developing their respective no-frills savings account products. The variations being considered include savings accounts where the customer agrees to transact only through ATMs, Internet and phone banking. Such customers will be allowed to visit the branches only for resolution of some disputes.
The zero-balance account could also entail higher charges for services like frequent account statements.
The other variant being considered is to allow a no-frills account with a very low balance of say about Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 and allowing customers to have greater services than those offered to zero-balance account-holders.
Such account-holders could be allowed a certain number of transactions at the branches.
The RBI move is to counter a trend whereby all banks want to target the 'affluent' class. The competition from private and foreign banks has put public sector banks at a disadvantage in their quest for enlisting new clients.
Public sector banks serve clients from the poorest class to the millionaires, while private and foreign banks are seen catering to the well-off classes only.
Monday, August 11, 2008
FAQ's on Income Tax
1. If I have paid excess tax how and when will it be refunded?
The excess tax can be claimed as refund by filing your income tax return. It will be refunded by issue of cheque or by crediting to your bank account. The department has been making efforts to settle refund claims within four months from the month of filing return.
2. Why is return filing mandatory even though all my taxes and interests have been paid and there is no refund due to me?
Amounts paid as advance tax and withheld in the form of TDS or collected in the form of TCS will take the character of your tax due only on completion of self-assessment of your income. This self-assessment is intimated to the department by way of filing of return. Only then does the government acquire rights over the prepaid taxes as its own revenue. Filing of return is critical for this process and, hence, has been made mandatory. Failure will attract levy of penalty.
3. Am I liable for any criminal prosecution [arrest/imprisonment etc] if I don’t file my income tax return even though my income is taxable?
Non-payment of tax attracts interests, penalty and prosecution. The prosecution can lead to rigorous imprisonment from 6 months to 7 years and fine.
4. What are the benefits of obtaining a Permanent Account Number [PAN] and PAN card?
A PAN number has been made compulsory for every transaction with the Income Tax department. It is also mandatory for numerous other financial transactions such as opening of bank accounts, availing institutional financial credits, purchase of high-end consumer item, foreign travel, transaction of immovable properties, dealing in securities etc. A PAN card is a valuable means of photo identification accepted by all government and non-government institutions in the country.
5. Is it mandatory to file return of income after getting PAN?
No. Return is to be filed only if you have taxable income.
6. During the year, I had worked with three different employers and none of them deducted any tax from salary paid to me. If all these amounts are clubbed, my income will exceed the minimum exemption limit. Do I have to pay taxes on my own?
Yes. You will have to pay self-assessment tax and file the return.
7. Even if no taxes have been deducted from salary, is there any need for my employer to issue Form-16 to me?
Form-16 is a certificate of TDS and in your case it will not apply. However your employer must issue a salary statement.
8. What is TDS?
TDS means Tax Deducted at Source. It is the amount withheld from payments of various kinds such as salary, contract payment, commission etc. This withheld amount can be adjusted against your tax due.
9. What can I do if I am unable to get the TDS certificate [form-16 or 16A]?
It is the duty of every person deducting tax to issue TDS certificate. In spite of your asking if you are denied the certificate then there is a chance that the tax deducted has not been deposited by the deductor to the government account. Please inform the department [PRO or TDS section] which will then do the needful.
10. If I have committed any mistake in my original return, am I permitted to file a corrected return?
Yes, provided the original return has been filed before the due date and provided the department has not completed assessment. However it is expected that the mistake in the original return is of a genuine and bona fide nature.
The excess tax can be claimed as refund by filing your income tax return. It will be refunded by issue of cheque or by crediting to your bank account. The department has been making efforts to settle refund claims within four months from the month of filing return.
2. Why is return filing mandatory even though all my taxes and interests have been paid and there is no refund due to me?
Amounts paid as advance tax and withheld in the form of TDS or collected in the form of TCS will take the character of your tax due only on completion of self-assessment of your income. This self-assessment is intimated to the department by way of filing of return. Only then does the government acquire rights over the prepaid taxes as its own revenue. Filing of return is critical for this process and, hence, has been made mandatory. Failure will attract levy of penalty.
3. Am I liable for any criminal prosecution [arrest/imprisonment etc] if I don’t file my income tax return even though my income is taxable?
Non-payment of tax attracts interests, penalty and prosecution. The prosecution can lead to rigorous imprisonment from 6 months to 7 years and fine.
4. What are the benefits of obtaining a Permanent Account Number [PAN] and PAN card?
A PAN number has been made compulsory for every transaction with the Income Tax department. It is also mandatory for numerous other financial transactions such as opening of bank accounts, availing institutional financial credits, purchase of high-end consumer item, foreign travel, transaction of immovable properties, dealing in securities etc. A PAN card is a valuable means of photo identification accepted by all government and non-government institutions in the country.
5. Is it mandatory to file return of income after getting PAN?
No. Return is to be filed only if you have taxable income.
6. During the year, I had worked with three different employers and none of them deducted any tax from salary paid to me. If all these amounts are clubbed, my income will exceed the minimum exemption limit. Do I have to pay taxes on my own?
Yes. You will have to pay self-assessment tax and file the return.
7. Even if no taxes have been deducted from salary, is there any need for my employer to issue Form-16 to me?
Form-16 is a certificate of TDS and in your case it will not apply. However your employer must issue a salary statement.
8. What is TDS?
TDS means Tax Deducted at Source. It is the amount withheld from payments of various kinds such as salary, contract payment, commission etc. This withheld amount can be adjusted against your tax due.
9. What can I do if I am unable to get the TDS certificate [form-16 or 16A]?
It is the duty of every person deducting tax to issue TDS certificate. In spite of your asking if you are denied the certificate then there is a chance that the tax deducted has not been deposited by the deductor to the government account. Please inform the department [PRO or TDS section] which will then do the needful.
10. If I have committed any mistake in my original return, am I permitted to file a corrected return?
Yes, provided the original return has been filed before the due date and provided the department has not completed assessment. However it is expected that the mistake in the original return is of a genuine and bona fide nature.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Canadian IT Firms Eager to Hire Skilled Migrants
As job openings in Canada are rapidly surpassing available IT graduates, finding skilled IT workers in Canada is becoming increasingly difficult.
You can live & work in Canada! go >
That is why local IT firms, like Keane Canada, are looking to fill their skilled labour shortage by recruiting across Canada as well as overseas.
Keane Canada employs 500 people in Halifax and is looking for skilled workers in places like Toronto and other large Canadian centres to meet its expanding personnel requirements.
"We do a fair bit of recruiting from Ontario and across Canada," said Pam Johnson, a senior director of human resources with the firm, which provides software development and maintenance services for its clients, which include Fortune 100 companies in the U.S. Pam Johnson, a senior director of human resources within the firm, said Keane Canada employs about 105 new Canadians in Halifax.
According to Ms. Johnson, about half of those employees come from places like India or China but the rest are from other parts of Canada.
Most employers recruit by telephone or through Internet job posting sites like Workopolis.
According to a recent report by the Information and Communications Technology Council in Canada, enrolment in university IT courses has declined about 50 per cent in the past few years, while almost 90,000 new Canadian IT jobs will become available in the next three years.
Keane Canada said earlier this year that it plans to hire up to 375 people for its Halifax operations in the next five years.
Ms. Johnson said the company likely won’t find all the skilled workers it needs locally, and given the domestic shortages, she said more should be done in Nova Scotia to provide a support system to welcome and retain skilled immigrant workers, who tend to gravitate to larger centres like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Keane, which has been recognized as one of the country’s top 20 employers for new Canadians, works with local immigrant agencies like the Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association and helps provide its new Canadian employees with language training and other services to help accustom them to their new surroundings.
If you are interested in Visas to Canada, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Canada.
You can live & work in Canada! go >
That is why local IT firms, like Keane Canada, are looking to fill their skilled labour shortage by recruiting across Canada as well as overseas.
Keane Canada employs 500 people in Halifax and is looking for skilled workers in places like Toronto and other large Canadian centres to meet its expanding personnel requirements.
"We do a fair bit of recruiting from Ontario and across Canada," said Pam Johnson, a senior director of human resources with the firm, which provides software development and maintenance services for its clients, which include Fortune 100 companies in the U.S. Pam Johnson, a senior director of human resources within the firm, said Keane Canada employs about 105 new Canadians in Halifax.
According to Ms. Johnson, about half of those employees come from places like India or China but the rest are from other parts of Canada.
Most employers recruit by telephone or through Internet job posting sites like Workopolis.
According to a recent report by the Information and Communications Technology Council in Canada, enrolment in university IT courses has declined about 50 per cent in the past few years, while almost 90,000 new Canadian IT jobs will become available in the next three years.
Keane Canada said earlier this year that it plans to hire up to 375 people for its Halifax operations in the next five years.
Ms. Johnson said the company likely won’t find all the skilled workers it needs locally, and given the domestic shortages, she said more should be done in Nova Scotia to provide a support system to welcome and retain skilled immigrant workers, who tend to gravitate to larger centres like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Keane, which has been recognized as one of the country’s top 20 employers for new Canadians, works with local immigrant agencies like the Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association and helps provide its new Canadian employees with language training and other services to help accustom them to their new surroundings.
If you are interested in Visas to Canada, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Canada.
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