India further eases defence offsets norms

New Delhi: India on Monday further eased its defence offsets norms, saying the value of technology transferred under a deal could be written off against the obligation to reinvest 30 per cent of all contracts over Rs 3 billion ($75 million). The offsets clause is expected to bring in investments of $30 billion over the next decade.

Under the Defence Procurement Procedure that was last amended in 2011, a firm winning a defence contract in India worth over Rs 3 billion will have to mandatorily plough back 30 per cent of the deal amount in Indian defence, aerospace and homeland security industries.

This provision is a common practice by several nations which make defence purchases from foreign countries.

"The revised policy recognises TOT (transfer of technology) as eligible for discharge of offset obligations," the revised provisions of offsets clause approved at the Defence Acquisition Council meeting chaired by Defence Minister AK Antony said.

WB: TMC committed to set up industries in Purulia

Kolkata: The West Bengal government was committed to set up heavy industries in the state's backward district Purulia and has already received many proposals, the state assembly was told on Monday.

Replying to a question, Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee said proposals from Jai Balaji, Neo Metalics Ltd, SRMB, Srijan Ltd, Shyam Steel Industries and Adhunik Corporation were under consideration, the minister said.

While Jai Balaji has proposed to invest Rs 16,000 crore, the proposals from Adhunik and Shyam Steel stated of investment of Rs 7,200 crore and Rs 3,425 crore respectively.

Proposals of these three companies, when implemented, would create direct employment of over 4,000 people, he said adding the government also received a detailed project report (DPR) from Reliance for setting up a unit in the district.

Replying to a supplementary, Chatterjee said the state government had no intention for forcible acquisition of land. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of an IT Hub in Purulia on April 12, he said.

Pakistan adds new force to safeguard nuclear arsenal

Islamabad: The new Special Response Force created to protect Pakistan's nuclear arsenal held a passing out parade on Monday, with a top official saying that "all available resources" had been put in place to effectively guard the strategic assets.

The newly raised Special Response Force will be part of the security force of the Strategic Plans Division, which is responsible for maintaining the nuclear arsenal.

The passing out parade at the SPD Training Academy near Rawalpindi was reviewed by SPD chief, Lt Gen (retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai.

Kidwai said "all available resources have been put in place to safeguard the national strategic assets of the country comprehensively", according to a military statement.

The addition of the Special Response Force to SPD's security force "marked the achievement of a qualitative milestone in its rapid response capability", he said.

Sibal regrets lack of movement on education bills

Kolkata: Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on Monday regretted the delay in giving clearance to some education bills in Parliament including the Educational Malpractices Bill and Foreign Education Providers Bill, which are pending before Parliament.

"We have introduced about 14 legislations in Parliament. They are all pending .... for two years. Nobody wishes to debate them, nobody wishes to put them on the agenda," Sibal said.

"We (UPA) don't have majority in the Rajya Sabha. So if somebody says we will not allow the bills to come on the agenda, what can we do"? he said.

The minister noted that by 2020, 100 million additional heads would be part of the workforce from India only. By 2030, one third of the world's workforce would be provided by India.

EPL: Manchester United beat Blackburn to extend lead over City

Blackburn: Manchester United moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Blackburn Rovers 2-0 with dramatic late goals from Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young.

The Old Trafford club dominated for long periods of the game, but had to wait until the last 10 minutes to score as Valencia hit a ferocious effort into the far corner from the wing, while Young hit another good effort on the spin with five minutes remaining.

Sir Alex Ferguson made three changes to the side who beat Fulham 1-0 last Monday, with Hernandez, Paul Scholes and Phil Jones replacing Ryan Giggs, Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young.

Steve Kean, meanwhile, only made one alteration to the team who lost to Bolton last weekend, with Mauro Formica dropping to the bench and Bradley Orr coming in to replace him.

United started much the brighter side, with Hernandez coming close on a few occasions in the opening 15 minutes.

Ajmer shrine authorities silent on Asif Ali Zardari visit

Jaipur: Rajasthan government officials and authorities at the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti remained tightlipped on Monday over preparations for the April 8 visit of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to the Ajmer shrine.

However, according to an official who declined to be named around 1,800 security personnel are to be deployed around the shrine and all shops will be shut that day.

On Monday, neither the government officials nor authorities at the shrine were ready to confirm the visit of Zardari.

"We do not have any official news of his visit," a senior official of the shrine told.

"Till now nothing has been informed to us. Once we get information we would start to put all safety and security measures in place," said GS Sandhu, Rajasthan's home secretary.