Latest news with #Mint
Mint
2 hours ago
- Health
- Mint
Health ministry report bats for liver and heart transplants under PMJAY
New Delhi: The union health ministry has called for including liver and heart transplants under the government's flagship health insurance scheme, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This assumes importance given that health insurance schemes in the country cover life and disability, but not organ donation. Also Read | Why are men ignoring their hormonal health? The recommendation comes in a report, titled the National Review Meeting on Organ Transplantation Activities in Government Hospitals, prepared by the National Organ Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), a top body which manages organ transplantation, under the health ministry. The call for expanding insurance coverage comes in the backdrop of the low number of organ transplants performed in India. Mint has seen a copy of the report, which has been submitted to health ministry. Also Read | Want glowing skin? Take care of your mental health AB PM-JAY is the world's largest health insurance scheme, providing health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year. Notably, the scheme's ambit has been expanded to include free treatment benefits of up to ₹5 lakh per year to senior citizens aged 70 years and above. Earlier this month, a nationwide review meeting was conducted on organ transplants in government hospitals by a group of top government experts to identify bottlenecks in the system and formulate a roadmap for improvement. The report underlined that government institutions have inadequate capacities and that new centres are required to be established and made functional. It emphasized the need for a multi-pronged strategy involving policy changes, financial investment, and capacity building to bridge the demand-supply gap in organ transplantation. Also Read | ₹1-crore health cover is fast becoming a necessity. But how to afford one? The report highlighted a huge gap between demand and supply: while India requires at least 100,000 kidney transplants per year, only 13,476 were performed in 2024 across both government and private centers. 'These recommendations aim to strengthen India's organ transplantation capabilities and make life-saving procedures more accessible to those in need. During the nationwide assessment of the government hospitals, we identified their challenges and suggested measures to improve their capabilities in terms of infrastructure, finance, manpower etc. We have submitted our report to the health ministry and now the ministry will take action on these recommendations," said Dr. Anil Kumar, director, NOTTO. One of the key recommendations is to include comprehensive inclusion of liver and heart transplantation in national health schemes like PMJAY, he added. 'Some states like Maharashtra and Delhi have expanded their coverage under the PM-JAY scheme. So, the recommendation of the report to include liver and heart transplantation under PM-JAY may be considered to accelerate organ transplantation in the government institutions," he said. Dr Anup Kumar, head of kidney transplant and urology department at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, said, ' It is a welcome move. PMJAY offers coverage of up to ₹5 lakh, but these are very expensive procedures require ₹20-25 lakh in the private sector. However, in government institutions these transplants can be done in ₹10 lakh. So, to cover these two transplants, the government has to also consider increasing the coverage plan of PMJAY from ₹5 lakh to at least ₹10 lakh." Further, to bridge the critical demand-supply gap, the expert group has put forth several key recommendations, which include financial incentives for transplant teams, enhanced funding for infrastructure development, establishment of dedicated transplant centres and robust training programmes for medical personnel and transplant coordinators. 'We have tried to understand why government institutions are not able to do the maximum number of organ transplants and what are the solutions. Do we require to build new centres or strengthen the existing capacities. Some government centres like Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC) Ahmedabad conducted a total of 508 organ transplants in the last year, including 195 cadaveric transplants, PGIMER Chandigarh performed 320 organ transplants including 55 cadaveric transplants," Dr. Kumar said. However, the report revealed that government institutions like GB Pant Hospital, New Delhi, despite having the physical infrastructure and licence, did not perform any organ transplants.
Mint
4 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Income Tax: Can I claim relief under Section 89(1) without a break-up of salary arrears?
Q. My company has been going through some financial problems and have been paying me a salary irregularly (less than net every month) since the financial year 2022-2023. Now I have received a lump sum during the financial year 2024-2025 against my outstanding salary. My company has not indicated as to under which head the same is paid to me. Also the years against which I have been paid have not been informed. I have been asking for the same but the company will not be providing any information on it (for reasons not known to me). Can I claim benefit to us 89 and if so then how can I file form 10E without the required information. I have been regularly filling my income tax returns). Salary becomes taxable earlier on receipt or on a due basis. So any salary received in advance becomes taxable in the year of receipt even if the same has not become due. Likewise, the salary due but not paid becomes taxable in the year in which it becomes due to the employee. So the salary for the years 2022-2023 and onwards becomes taxable in your hands in the year to which the same is related, though not fully received during that year. Ideally you should have offered the same for tax in the respective years. Any income received from an employer becomes taxable under the head salaries so that even if the employer does not provide you the details, the same have to be offered for tax as salary. In case you have not offered the full salary in the year to which it relates, it is better that you include the same in your income for the financial year 2024-2025. Since the employer is not willing to provide you the break-up of the year to which the lump sum salary belongs, you cannot submit form no. 10E and therefore cannot claim a rebate under Section 89(1) in respect of arrears of salary received during the financial year 2024-2025. Read all our personal finance stories here. Balwant Jain is a tax and investment expert and can be reached at jainbalwant@ and @jainbalwant on his X handle. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Golden age star, who worked with Sanjeev Kumar, Uttam Kumar, didn't appear in public for 36 years on a holy man's suggestion; rejected Raj Kapoor's ‘personality'
Hollywood actor Great Garbo was one of the biggest stars of the silent films in the 1920s and 1930s. But once she left the movies, she retired from public life and turned into a recluse. No one knew why and people often wondered what prompted a star of her stature to live a lonely life, despite having many fans around the world. Closer home, actor Suchitra Sen went through something similar when she decided to lead a secluded life in the city of Kolkata, where she was widely known and loved. In her heyday, Suchitra was known as Paro from Dilip Kumar-starrer Devdas, the protagonist of Gulzar's Aandhi (who was compared to former PM Indira Gandhi), and her on-screen camaraderie with Uttam Kumar was often compared to the chemistry between Raj Kapoor and Nargis. Suchita primarily worked in Bengali films but she reached a wider audience when she appeared in Hindi films, although she only appeared in a handful of them. But, after her last release in 1978, Pranay Pasha, Suchitra took a retirement from public appearances fully. Many have wondered why she chose to live as a recluse and while some suggest that she never wanted anyone to see her grow old, some have also theorised that there was a deep sadness within her that she did not wish to share with the world. Suchitra was one of the highest paid female actors of her time but as per author Gopal Krishna Roy, who wrote four books on her life, she turned her back on living in a regular society after a holy man told her to do so. Roy shared, in a 2014 chat with NDTV, that after Pranay Pasha flopped, Suchitra was deeply upset about it and headed to Ramakrishna Mission's headquarters near Kolkata. She met a holy man named Bharat Maharaj there and wept for hours. 'I later heard she sat at his feet and wept and wept,' he said and added, 'And Bharat Maharaj told her, 'Ma, ghridho, lobh koro na, don't be greedy. And that, I think, Mrs Sen translated into her own life by becoming a recluse.' Director Buddhadeb Dasgupta, who was an admirer of the actor, told Mint in 2014 that Suchitra, perhaps, wanted to 'remain beautiful for her fans.' 'Maybe, she wanted to remain beautiful for her fans and I see a likeness to Greta Garbo. What surprises me is that she didn't react to anything that happened around the world. Had Satyajit Ray got her to act in his proposed film Debi Chaudhurani maybe we would have seen a different Suchitra Sen, more so because Ray had the ability to get the best acting out of his characters. Maybe she wanted to remain a matinee idol. She did strong, women-centric roles and directors would shape the characters like that. But to be a great actor, you have to come out of that,' he said. ALSO READ | Bollywood star who worked with Rishi Kapoor, Shabana Azmi was arrested for trying to enter an ashram, has been missing for 20 years despite Rishi trying to find him Suchitra was one of the few actors who was offered the chance to work with Ray, and chose not to take it and she did something similar with Raj Kapoor as well. With Ray, when he offered her Debi Chaudhurani, she couldn't commit because he wanted to block a bunch of her dates. She couldn't do that as it would hamper her schedule and the other commitments she had made. Unfortunately, they never got a chance to work together again. In the case of Raj Kapoor, she refused to work with him because she 'did not like his personality.' In a conversation with Amitabh Choudhury for his book Aamar Bondhu Suchitra Sen, she shared that she refused Raj's offer 'almost immediately.' 'In men, I don't look for beauty. I look for intelligence and sharp conversations. I had refused Raj Kapoor's offer almost immediately. He came to my residence offering a lead role and, as I took my seat, he suddenly sat near my foot and offered me a bouquet of roses while offering the role. I rejected the offer. I did not like his personality. The way he behaved – sitting near my foot – did not befit a man,' she said. Suchitra was already married to Dibanath Sen when she was offered her first film. In fact, the offer came via her father-in-law Adinath Sen. But, in 1963, Suchitra and her husband separated, and in 1970, he died during a trip to the US. Their daughter, Moon Moon Sen, was 16 at the time, and Suchitra insisted that Dibanath's remains be brought to Kolkata, so Moon Moon could bid adieu to her late father. After she started living a solitary life in 1978, Suchitra was hardly seen out and about in Kolkata. But, in 1980, when her long-time co-actor and friend Uttam Kumar died, she came out to pay her last respects. Apart from that, she would sometimes be spotted by locals in markets, or on the roads but she would always be careful about walking with a scarf around her face, so no one would recognise her. Such was her resolve about not being in public that when she was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005, she chose not to attend the ceremony. But, despite living a lonely life, her sense of humour never went away. Gopal Krishna Roy, who spent a lot of time with her after she moved away from films, recalled a hilarious anecdote in the same chat with NDTV in 2014. He accompanied her to a gynaecologist's office and after the visit, she confided in him about her conversation with the doctor. He recalled with a laugh, 'Mrs Sen took young Moon Moon on her lap and said, 'Gopal do you know what the doctor told me? The doctor told me I am still… and then she paused. So I said anxiously, what? What? Mrs Sen laughed and said… the doctor said I am still a virgin.' Suchitra left the world the same way she had lived in it for the past 36 years. When she died in 2014 at 82, there was a sea of people on the streets of Kolkata who wanted to catch her last glimpse. But, Suchitra was guarded within a coffin. It was almost like she had made that choice when she was hail and hearty. Nevertheless, her life post-1978 remained a mystery to everyone who knew her as a movie star and the way she detached herself from all the fame, was a constant source of speculation.
Mint
6 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Japan's BeyondNext plans $50 million India fund to back deeptech, AI, semiconductor startups
Japanese venture capital firm BeyondNext Ventures, which focuses on deeptech and deep science startups, plans to raise a $50 million fund to back more Indian ventures, a top company executive said. The firm's rationale is threefold: investing in companies with a strong go-to-market focus, investing in Indians across the world, and bringing these businesses to Japan, where larger conglomerates can act as distribution partners. 'We think of India as a place where there are enormous tailwinds and tonnes of young entrepreneurs," Jay Krishnan, head of India investments at BeyondNext Ventures, told Mint in an interview. 'We want to enable those tailwinds, both from a policy and risk conversion side, and bring them to Japan." BeyondNext entered India in 2019, when it backed 14 startups using capital from its $100 million second fund. 'Back then, the idea was to get a taste, get some exposure. Now, we've decided to go full hog in India," Krishnan said. Also Read | How AI is transforming the role of venture capital for startups Japanese VCs are looking more closely at the Indian startup ecosystem. Clean energy startup Aerem raised about $12 million from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation earlier this year. In November last year, Sumitomo's Asia fund was part of a $35 million funding round in mortgage-tech startup Easy. In July last year, mobility manufacturer Suzuki launched its first India-focused ₹340 crore fund to tap startups working in agriculture, financial inclusion, supply chain and mobility. BeyondNext is fundraising at the moment and will set aside 50% of the fund for 20 to 25 investments in the first five years of the 10-year fund. In the next five years, it will deploy the remaining capital for winners from the India portfolio, reserving $1 million for a pre-Series A cheque and another $1 million for follow-on investments. Bullish on semiconductors The firm will enter companies at the pre-seed stage and is offering cheques that start at $250,000 and go up to $2 million. 'We don't want to do Series A for these startups – we'd rather make them discoverable and visible to investors who come in at that stage," said Krishnan. Also Read | India's venture capital firms are finding that leaner might be better For the India-focused fund, BeyondNext said it is very bullish on the semiconductor industry, specifically startups that are able to disrupt the value chain in the sector. Additionally, the firm is evaluating startups in biotech, space and artificial intelligence. 'We're also eager about anything that has a local/contextualised play where the market is big enough that once they crack India, they can go anywhere," Krishnan said. The firm plans to bring its Japanese deeptech playbook to India. BeyondNext runs an incubation programme called BRAVE, where it matches scientists and researchers with ideas that could become startups with business-facing talent. The programme has yielded 52 ventures, according to BeyondNext's website. Also Read | End of FOMO: Venture capital firms turn cautious over AI startup hype; demand models with clear returns and impact 'We prefer two or three founders where the shortcomings of one are mitigated by someone else," said Krishnan. Some of BeyondNext's previous investments in India include GigIndia, which was acquired by PhonePe in 2022, medical crowdfunding platform ImpactGuru, daycare surgery aggregator Medfin, and low-code digital therapeutics SaaS platform Wellthy Therapeutics.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
5 free money management apps that actually helped me track every rupee spent
Managing personal finances can feel overwhelming, especially with the variety of payment methods available today. Many people find it difficult to keep track of expenses spread across digital wallets, cards, and cash. Fortunately, several free mobile apps can simplify this task by helping users monitor their spending and organise their money more effectively. Here are five notable apps that offer expense tracking and money management tools without any cost. Axio, formerly known as Walnut, has gained over 10 million users and stands out as a reliable expense tracking app. It links your bank accounts and cards by detecting the mobile number associated with them. The app automatically pulls transaction data from SMS messages to log expenses. Users can set monthly budgets to allocate funds for specific needs. Additionally, Axio sends reminders for bills like credit card payments and utilities. For those facing short-term cash shortages, the app also provides select users access to pay-later and personal credit options. Also read: India's digital job scene to expand in 2025 with rise in AI and data-driven roles Loot focuses on helping users save money toward specific goals. It lets you set targets, such as saving for a trip, and calculates the daily amount needed to meet those goals on time. The app uses a virtual savings jar that fills up visually as you record deposits. Users can track progress daily, adjust goals, or delete saving jars they no longer need. Loot's design aims to motivate users with a simple, engaging interface. Many prefer Loot for short-term savings over standard banking apps because of its focused features and easy tracking. A post shared by HT Tech (@hindustantimestech) Mint, launched in 2006, offers a comprehensive finance management service with tools for budgeting, credit score monitoring, and alerts. The app supports mobile devices and integrates with Apple Watch. Users can connect all their online financial accounts to get an overview of their net worth and spending habits. However, Mint's services currently support only accounts based in the United States and Canada. Also read: How to quietly limit someone on Instagram without blocking, unfollowing, or causing drama Wallet serves as an all-in-one budget planner and expense tracker. Like Axio, it connects to bank accounts to import expense data automatically. The app provides detailed reports on spending patterns and cash flow. Users can also monitor stock investments and progress toward financial goals. Additional features include automatic cloud synchronisation, transaction location tracking, and debt management. Also read: Samsung Galaxy S25 review: Flagship features in a handful package Money Manager by RealByte Inc. offers detailed expense tracking and budgeting tools. It provides reports on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis and includes an asset manager for easier budgeting. A key feature is its double-entry bookkeeping system, which records income and expenses simultaneously to maintain accurate financial records. Users can customise categories, set start dates, back up transactions, and bookmark frequent entries. While the free version shows ads and limits assets to 15, it remains a useful tool for precise expense management.
