Latest news with #Mishra
Time of India
an hour ago
- Business
- Time of India
I-T's benami unit attaches 170 acre of land in MP linked to private firm
Bhopal: In a major crackdown on alleged benami transactions , the Benami Prohibition Unit of the Income Tax department has provisionally attached 170 acres of land in Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh, under Section 24(3) of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions (PBPT) Act, 1988. The attached land is part of a larger block of approximately 700 acres across 112 khasras, originally purchased in 2011 for Rs 10.35 crore. The transactions were made in the names of Kardam Mishra and Ajay Kumar — both salaried employees of a wholly-owned subsidiary firm of a major private company. According to the department's findings, Mishra and Kumar were employees with nominal salaries, and their financial profiles did not support such a substantial investment in immovable property. During investigation, Mishra admitted under oath that the properties were purchased by senior officials of the private company in their names. A forensic financial analysis revealed that payments to the original landowners were made directly from the company's bank accounts. Subsequently, these properties were registered in the name of Prosperous Energy Pvt. Ltd. Meanwhile, the "consideration amount" was shown as routed through the bank accounts of Mishra and Kumar, only to be transferred back to the company in multiple tranches, indicating a classic case of layered benami transactions. The Income Tax department has determined that the real ownership and beneficial use of these properties rested with the private company and its subsidiary. This arrangement falls squarely under the definition of a "benami transaction" as per Section 2(9)(A) of the PBPT Act. A show-cause notice under Section 24(1) has been served to both the benamidars and the beneficial owners. Adding another layer to the case, it was discovered that the company had secured a short-term loan of Rs 925 crore from IDBI Bank by mortgaging these properties, along with others belonging to private firm. Due to default in repayment, IDBI Bank auctioned several of these properties. However, 46 khasras, covering approximately 170 acres, remained unsold and have now been provisionally attached to prevent any further alienation. Further proceedings under the PBPT Act are underway.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- General
- The Hindu
Internalise quality while expanding higher education sector: Ved Prakash Mishra
: While India progresses towards its 2035 goal of 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education, achieving it would still leave 50% of those eligible for higher education out of the system. This means that the current rate of expansion of higher education institutions in the country is not able to match up to the massive requirement, says Ved Prakash Mishra, Pro-Chancellor, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra. He was speaking at the inaugural of an international conference on Accreditation, Ranking, and Quality, organised by Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai. Dr. Mishra outlined the dichotomy that although no other country was able to match the proliferation of higher education institutions as witnessed in India, it could 'cater to only one-fourth of the numerical requirement of the eligible targeted population', with the present GER nationally being 26.8%. That wasn't the only problem. In the context of 'quantified development and rapidity of multiplication, quality cannot be put to sacrifice', he said, adding that accreditation was an important aspect in that context, and ranking of higher education institutions in India, using global metrics, should be a consequence of the gradation system. In the top 500 institutions ranked globally, India has not been able to cut a mark and, therefore, global standards should be the benchmark to be incorporated and built into the operational system for quality centricity in higher education. Linking accreditation and quality certifying mechanisms will ensure that Indian graduates and post-graduates are globally relevant. In India, there were isolated patches or islands of quality centricity. While there were extraordinary quality centric institutions, there also were a bulk of mediocre and sub-mediocre institutions, and they were important for the cause of higher education. Mainstreaming quality in these institutions will require capacity building at a national level. Uma Sekar, Vice-Chancellor, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, said the two-day conference was being organised to decode the accreditation and ranking system, and navigate through the system to help achieve higher ranks. H. Thamizhchelvan, Dean, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, and K. Anbarasi, Professor, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, spoke.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
As BMC polls near, BJP again seeks rehab for first-floor slumdwellers in Mumbai
Mumbai: BJP has again started lobbying to make slumdwellers living on the first floor of hutments eligible for free or affordable housing. Officials said the proposal will soon be sent to the state cabinet for approval. If cleared, said political observers, it will be seen as an attempt by BJP to woo voters ahead of BMC polls. In Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) schemes, only families living on the ground floor of slums are eligible for free housing or under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).by paying Rs 2.5 lakh. Those living on the first floor are not eligible even if they are living there from before 2000. Following former BJP corporator Vinod Mishra's demand for rehab of first-floor slumdwellers, Mumbai Suburban guardian minister Ashish Shelar on Thursday held a review meeting and asked officials to submit a proposal before the cabinet. "The meeting was positive," Shelar told TOI. "There are many legal chawls in declared slum areas that are ground-plus one or two structures. These first- or second-floor residents will be made eligible in SRA schemes. As far as other slums are concerned, the first-floor structures will be surveyed and will be made eligible for PMAY, as per rules." In 2023, a govt resolution (GR) was issued fixing the cost for all such post-2000 beneficiaries at Rs 2.5 lakh (estimated construction cost). "Under the slum protection policy, if a structure came up between 2001 and 2011 and if the resident is able to produce documents to show that the hut existed anytime during this period, she/he will be eligible for a rehab flat on the payment of Rs 2.5 lakh. If a decision is taken, then this same format will be applicable for those living on the first floor," said a senior official. Pointing out that Housing for All is the PM's dream and the Devendra Fadanvis-led Mahayuti govt has been positive about this initiative, Mishra said: "Officials said the file was with the finance department and will be soon placed before the state cabinet. Once that is done, a GR will be issued." In his letter to Shelar, Mishra stated: "We had drawn attention to this issue in 2023 too. The SRA CEO had submitted a proposal to the housing to include the ineligible residents of the first floor in slum rehab schemes. The CM also took a positive the legislative assembly. The housing department conducted a thorough verification of relevant documents was completed. It was concluded that there is no the final approval and GR are still pending. If this decision is taken, it will strengthen state govt's role."
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rajasthan governor hails 'unity in diversity' at foundation day celebration of 4 states
Jaipur, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Friday emphasised the "spirit of unity in diversity" as the Raj Bhavan hosted a cultural celebration to mark the foundation day of Goa, Sikkim, Telangana and West Bengal. Rajasthan governor hails 'unity in diversity' at foundation day celebration of 4 states The event, held at the Raj Bhavan in Jaipur, saw participation of people from the four states currently living in Rajasthan. Governor Mishra extended his greetings and held a warm interaction with the attendees, highlighting the cultural and historical significance of each state. The foundation days of the four states are observed on separate days, all in the last two months. "Celebrating foundation days of various states under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat helps us stay connected with the cultural threads that bind this nation together," the governor said. Mishra recalled Goa's liberation from the Portuguese rule through peaceful satyagraha movements supported by people from Maharashtra and Karnataka, including noted leaders like Jagannath Joshi and Sudhir Phadke. "Goa is not just a scenic tourist destination but also a symbol of resistance and rich folk culture," he added. Referring to Telangana, he praised the formation of the state and acknowledged the unique identity of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with Hyderabad serving as a common capital. He also underlined the importance of the region's language and cultural heritage. Describing Sikkim as a "gift of nature," the governor called it a small but spiritually rich state, often referred to as "mini-Tibet" due to its strong religious and cultural ethos. On West Bengal, he recalled its pivotal role in India's freedom struggle, remembering icons like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. "Bengal remains a powerhouse of art, literature, and culture," he said. Governor Mishra urged the audience, especially the youth, to work together to strengthen national unity and integrity. "Let us all work together to enhance the intellectual and physical capacity of the next generation in the interest of a strong and united India," he added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
UP's Salkhan Fossil Park in Unesco tentative list for heritage sites
Lucknow: Unesco has included the Salkhan Fossil Park, in UP's Sonbhadra, in its tentative list of World Heritage Centre. The revised list, dated June 4, was published by Unesco on Tuesday and released by UP Tourism on Thursday. The park has been recognised for its exceptional palaeobiological and geological significance. "The rings of Salkhan are more than fossils. They are our connection with Earth's earliest days. The state made concerted efforts to make the world understand the importance of this prehistoric site nestled in UP's eastern end," said Prakhar Mishra, director (ecotourism), UP tourism department. He said the Unesco tag, if it comes, would help UP "protect this treasure" and provide "economic opportunities to locals". "The inclusion would bring global recognition to one of the Earth's most ancient life-bearing records. Salkhan Fossil Park would figure among the world's most significant natural heritage sites, securing its place as a geological and cultural cornerstone not just for India, but for humanity," Mishra added. In its note on Salkhan, the Unesco said: "Salkhan Fossil Park is a remarkable geological site, nestled amidst the verdant embrace of the Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Spanning approximately 25 hectares, it sits within the Vindhyan mountain range, characterised by rugged terrain, steep escarpments, and a unique geological landscape. The park is home to a rich repository of fossils dating back approximately 1.4 billion years, making it one of the oldest and most well-preserved fossil sites in the world. " It said the site's fossil assemblage, scattered across various formations, features an exceptional collection of stromatolites (formations created by communities of cyanobacteria or blue-green algae, which are indicators of ancient environmental conditions and microbial life) while noting that the 'fossils appear as ripple or ring-like/circular or oval stony formations scattered across limestone rock surfaces. ' The document also noted that Salkhan's fossils are meticulously preserved, offering invaluable insights into the earliest forms of life that populated our planet during the Proterozoic Eon — a critical time in geological history, essential for understanding the evolution of life forms on Earth. "The park boasts a variety of stromatolitic morphologies, preserved within the Bhander limestone of the Vindhyan Supergroup, which features one of the most extensive and well-preserved collections of Proterozoic sedimentary rocks on Earth. Salkhan Park is situated within the 'Semri Group', the oldest part of the Supergroup," read the description. In Feb this year, six other sites from India were included in the Unesco World Heritage Centre tentative list — Kanger Valley National Park, Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs, Serial nomination for Ashokan Edict sites along the Mauryan Routes, Serial nomination of Chausath Yogini Temples, Serial nomination of Gupta Temples in North India, and Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas.
