The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you're not going to stay where you are. It is always a good opportunity to take stock of the past year. After scaling new heights in 2019, we believe in continuing to lead the MBD Group to higher ground in the year ahead. In a special edition we bring to you the Newsmakers of the past year who dominated the headlines with their meaningful contribution to India and the world at large. Though there are quite a few who made it to the top in some of the most significant stories of the year, I would personally congratulate IAF braveheart Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who will be conferred with Vir Chakra on Independence Day 2020, for showing exemplary courage after having shot down F-16 jet of Pakistan Air Force and thereafter being held captive before being returned to India, under diplomatic pressure. Few other noteable examples are Indian space scientist and Chairperson (ISRO) Kailasavadivoo Sivan for his huge contribution to India’s space journey along with IndianAmerican economist Abhijit Banerjee for winning the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics, along with Esther Duflo of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Michael Kremer of Harvard University “for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.” Let’s give it up for all those who made us proud.
In this issue, the Platform section deals with a long awaited reform in India’s military and higher defence organisation which took place on 24 December 2019, when the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally approved the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). This follows the 15 August 2019 announcement by the Prime Minister in his address to the nation, where he stated that, “India should not have a fragmented approach. Our entire military power will have to work in unison and move forward… All the three (Services) should move simultaneously at the same pace”.
The Hitchhiker section takes you to Australia, where Kangaroo Island, a few kilometers off the coast of South Australia is brimming with native animals, artisanal food, epic rock formations and even the world's best hotels, perched on the edge of the sea. There's enough to do here to fill your days.
Last but not the least, at MBD Group, hospitality is not about serving but also treating guests with elegance and excellence. Driven by the vision of the founder, Shri Ashok Kumar Malhotra, Radisson Blu MBD Hotel Ludhiana marked the 7th Anniversary of providing comfort to its guests. We are proud to have written another chapter in the brand’s legacy, reinstating our commitment to contribute in the growth of the hospitality segment in India. It has been a wonderful journey of 7 years, hotel has quietly, but distinctly defined itself as a trendsetter and is the top performing hotel in the competition set. We consistently achieved outstanding milestones, manoeuvring several challenges. At MBD Group, we always maintain that one must strive to attract, nurture, retain local talent and ensure there’s always a positive impact on the local community. Every reason to celebrate India!
Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party surged to power in Delhi for a third term on Tuesday , boosted by a massive mandate of 62 seats - just a shade lower than its record 67 seats of 2015. "I love you Delhi," the Chief Minister declared from the party office, predicting the beginning of a "new kind of politics" focussed on local issues and the government's delivery. The BJP, which ran a massive campaign under the leadership of Amit Shah built around the anti-CAA protests of Shaheen Bagh, received scant returns. The party was confined to a single-digit score, 8 seats, but an improvement on its 2015 tally of three. The opposition and AAP hailed the mandate as one against the divisive campaign of the BJP. Mr Kejriwal had steered clear of controversy, focussing instead on bread-and-butter issues like power and water, education, health and environment.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party's victory signalled the victory of a "new kind of politics". "People of Delhi have given a message that they will vote for schools, mohalla clinics, 24-hour electricity and free water. This is a great message for the country," he said, addressing a huge crowd at the AAP office. Mr Kejriwal later held a roadshow, delivering on his promise to visit the Hanuman Mandir at the heart of the city. "Today is Tuesday, Hanuman-ji's day. Hanuman-ji has showered Delhi with blessings," said the Chief Minister, who was mocked by the BJP after he recited verses in praise of Lord Hanuman on live television. He had said he would visit the temple after the election results
Prices of things we use every day are rising, leading to a phenomenon called inflation. Data released by the Indian government this week shows that food prices overall have jumped 15% in just one month and that of vegetables have jumped 60% between November and December 2019. Prices of the onion, a common ingredient in Indian cooking, have increased four-fold-a kilogram of onions which cost `15-20 in June now costs more than `60. What does this mean? For one, it means that a family which spends `1000 per week on food, will now be spending at least `200-300 more. Average monthly salaries in India are less than `5000 so spending `1200 more per month (`300 more per week into four weeks) will hurt many people a lot. People deal with this by eating less, and by buying fewer vegetables. Neither are healthy options, especially for children and young people
It appears that the weather last year, which saw a delayed monsoon, changed the pattern of crops sowed by farmers. This led to lower harvests than usual. When supply is low, prices rise, and this is what happened. It may take another month for prices to climb down. Fresh harvests are expected in February and once these arrive in the market, food items and vegetables may become cheaper.
A volcano located near Manila, the capital of Philippines erupted last month causing people to flee the area. The eruption also resulted in Manila’s airport being shut down as ash clouded the air.
The volcano called Taal is located in the middle of a lake. More than 6000 people who lived in an island in the middle of the lake and thousands of others who lived in the area had to be evacuated (moved to safer areas).
Just before the volcano erupted, a series of earthquakes was also recorded in the region. Taal is one of the smallest volcanoes in the world and one of the more than 20 volcanoes located in the Philippines. The country itself lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area bordering the Pacific Ocean along the Asian and American coasts, which is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
For over two months now, a group of women have been protesting at an area called Shaheen Bagh in Delhi against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The law makes it easier for immigrants from the neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who are not Muslims to become citizens of India.
Since the law was cleared by India’s Parliament in December, there have been protests across the country. People are angry with the law because it leaves out Muslims. This is the first law to deliberately exclude a community and some people say it goes against the basic tenets of the Indian constitution.
The protest at Shaheen Bagh is unique as it is led by women. For more than four weeks now they have been camping on the road in the coldest part of the year. Many of the women protesting at Shaheen Bagh have also been fasting, in a way imitating Mahatma Gandhi’s style of protest during the freedom struggle. Their protest has become a gathering point for many others who oppose the CAA
The impact of the protest has also been felt by those who regularly use the road where the women are protesting. This is one of the key roads linking the NOIDA region with Delhi and the protest has led to major traffic jams in the area. The police would like the protestors to move to another location, but they are in no mood to agree.
Outbreak of a viral disease in Wuhan, China, that has already killed over a hundred people in the country, has the world worried as the highly infectious virus spreads easily among humans.
Called the 2019-nCoVCoronavirus, the disease is said to have originated in a meat market in Wuhan, where the virus ‘jumped’ and infected humans. It then began spreading from person to person. The rapid spread of the virus has caused the Chinese government to isolate Wuhan and 17 nearby cities where the infection was noticed, from the rest of China
Stations, buses and airports have been shut down and the people of Wuhan and these other cities have been told to stay indoors. The Chinese government took this action on January 23 as this is the time of the year when the Lunar New Year is celebrated, and families travel in large numbers across China to celebrate the holiday. As that would have caused the virus to infect people across China, the government moved to “fence-off” Wuhan. Around 56 million people in these cities have been affected by this forced isolation or quarantine. More than 4000 people across China have been infected with the virus. The disease has also crossed borders with cases being reported from the United States, Canada and Sri Lanka. No case has been reported from India yet
With fears of the virus arriving with travellers from China, major airports like Delhi and Mumbai have installed thermal scanners that identify people with high body temperature, one of the symptoms of the disease
The viral disease, currently known as 2019- nCoV, is part of the family of coronaviruses, several types of which exist around the world. Signs of the disease include fever, cough and shortness of breath. The coronavirus belongs to a large family of viruses that mostly sicken animals. But this coronavirus has jumped the species barrier to infect people on a large scale. Having ‘jumped’ it has also acquired the ability to spread from human to human. As there is no vaccine for the virus, the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus. It also helps to keep clean, wash and sanitize hands regularly to avoid picking up an infection
World chess champion Magnus Carlsen has stretched his unbeaten record to 111 games, going past the record of staying unbeaten for 110 games set by the Russian player Sergei Tiviakov in 2005. Carlsen is playing in the Wijk aan Zee chess tournament in the Netherlands, where on Sunday he drew the 111th game against Jorden van Foreest in the fourth round.
The difference between Carlsen’s record and Tiviakov’s is that Carlsen achieved his unbeaten streak against a better class of opponents. Carlsen’s wins and draws came against players with an average FIDE (the international chess association) rating of 2700 as compared to the average rating of 2476 for Tiviakov’s opponents.
Some of the most dedicated soldiers in the Indian Army, who have performed rare acts of courage and delivered years of loyal service are four legged. Yes, we are speaking of army dogs, mules and horses. To honour them, the army is now planning to create a war memorial for these service animals.
The war memorial will be built at the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College in Meerut where the army breeds, rears, and trains dogs, mules and horses. The monument will be similar to the National War Memorial that was opened in Delhi last year, but on a smaller scale. The names and service numbers of more than 300 dogs, 350 handlers and a few horses and mules will be inscribed on granite tablets at the memorial. These include around 25 dogs killed in action in Kashmir and in north-eastern India.
The army dogs, mainly Labrador Retrievers and Belgian Malinois, help in sniffing out enemy mines (explosives buried underground), patrol and search and rescue operations. Transport units of the army use mules which carry loads up to heights of 19,000 feet. Mules were in fact used during the 1999 Kargil War. Camels are also used by the Border Security Force along the western border with Pakistan. The new memorial will honour these service animals for their dedication and bravery.
All-time basketball great Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter accident last Sunday in California, United States (US). He played for 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016 and was one of the best and most competitive players the game has seen. He helped his team win five NBA Championships as well as Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012. He even won an Oscar in 2018 for the film ‘Dear Basketball’, which was based on a poem he wrote in 2015
Bryant believed that single-minded determination was the only path to excellence. Here is what he said in the 2015 documentary, ‘Kobe Bryant’s Muse’, “We all can be masters at our craft, but you have to make a choice. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that. Family time, hanging out with friends, being a great friend, being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be. There are sacrifices that come along with making that decision.”
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Reddy has announced that his state will have three capitals instead of one. While Amaravati will be the legislative capital where the elected members of the state’s legislative assembly will operate from, Visakhapatnam on the coast will be the executive capital where the various government departments will be located, and Kurnool will become the judicial capital where the state’s courts of law will be based.
The previous CM Chandrababu Naidu had selected Amaravati as the capital after the original Andhra state was divided into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2014. He began building Amaravati and all three branches-legislature, executive and judiciary-were to be located there.
Jagan Reddy’s reason for creating three capitals is that it will help the development of the three locations into three important cities in Andhra, instead of having just one important city. While Visakhapatnam or Vizag is already a big city, Kurnool is not as developed. But the real reason, people in Andhra say, is that Reddy wants to undo whatever Naidu had done, and the building of Amaravati was Naidu’s pet project.
Farmers who had given their land to build Amaravati are protesting as they fear that their region will not develop as fast since its importance will be shared with two other cities. Many others oppose the choice of Vizag and Kurnool as well. Although Reddy is determined to have his way, the road to a three capital state (never seen before in India) will not be a smooth one
He joined Google in 2004 and became the CEO in 2015, the year Google’s founders announced the creation of Alphabet. As luck would have it, this year he went up higher to become the CEO of both companies. He was also appointed as the CEO of Alphabet, the parent company of Google. On December 4, 2019, a letter was released that stated that Sundar will be the CEO of both Google and Alphabet. The letter read, "Today, in 2019, if the company (Google) was a person, it would be a young adult of 21 and it would be time to leave the roost. While it has been a tremendous privilege to be deeply involved in the day-to-day management of the company for so long, we believe it's time to assume the role of proud parents-offering advice and love, but not daily nagging!"
In recognition of his stellar contribution in promotion of science and technology, Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K Sivan was awarded the Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Award by the Tamil Nadu government. After leading the successful launch of Chandrayaan-2 mission, Kailasavadivoo Sivan, was awarded 8 gm gold medal and Rs five lakh in cash and a citation. A native of Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, the citation hailed him as "Rocket Man" and traced his humble origins to his splendid rise in career which includes a stint as director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and Liquid Propulsion Centre. Sivan's leadership led to the "historical achievement of most successful GSLV flight with indigenous cryogenic stage." Under his tutelage, ISRO successfully launched Chandrayan 2, the second mission to the moon on July 22 and he was the chief architect of SITARA, a 6D trajectory simulation software, the citation read. He worked on the design and development of launch vehicles for ISRO and has immensely contributed towards end to end mission planning, design, and mission integration and analysis, the government said. The 62-year-old space scientist was a first graduate in his family, who got a Bachelor's degree in engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1980.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday took oath as the 18th chief minister of Maharashtra. Thackeray, 59, became the third Sena leader after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane to occupy the top post. Thackeray took over as chief minister over a month after results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections were declared on October 24.
Thackeray, 59, an affable, mild- mannered politician, stood his ground and refused to budge on the issue of splitting the chief ministership, a stand that eventually led to the collapse of the three-decade old saffron alliance. Thackeray has taken plunge into governance and he will be one of the most closely watched politicians in the country in these media-driven times.
Indian-American economist Abhijit Banerjee has won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics, along with Esther Duflo of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Michael Kremer of Harvard University “for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.” The three were recognised for their ability to divide the issue of tackling global poverty into smaller subjects, said the committee. “The research conducted by this year’s laureates has considerably improved our ability to fight global poverty,” The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. Abhijit Banerjee was born in Parbhani, 1961, to a family of academics. He attended the Presidency College, Kolkata in economics in 1981. Later, the 58-year-old economist later got his PhD in 1988 from Harvard University. His early education life included study at the University of Calcutta and Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. Abhijit was a joint supervisor of Esther's PhD in economics at MIT in 1999. He was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2004. He received the Infosys Prize 2009 in the social sciences category of economics. In 2014, Banerjee received the Bernhard-Harms-Prize from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and delivered the Export-Import Bank Of India's 34th Commencement Day Annual Lecture on Redesigning Social Policy.
2019 have been a rollercoaster ride for India’s top-ranked women’s singles shuttler PV Sindhu. The 24-year-old’s campaign will be remembered for the historic BWF World Championships gold medal in August. As a player who profits more from her power rather than her precision, PV Sindhu has been the most effective when she’s had the right amount of rest and recuperation, which hasn’t always been the case due to the scheduling of tournaments.
“I think it has been a tough year for her as I would say, in difficult condition she is not been able to adapt. The World Championship result was phenomenal, but the other results could have been better, she has lost quite a few close matches and hasn’t been able to close on a few matches but overall, I think it’s been a tough year for her,” Sindhu’s coach P Gopichand said in an interview to Olympic Channel regarding her performance.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly formally took charge as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). After 33 months of Committee of Administrators (CoA) being in charge, the 47-year old Ganguly was elected the president unopposed. At the General Body meeting, chaired by the members of the CoA, Ganguly was officially handed over the charge by BCCI Electoral officer, N Gopalswami. Ganguly is the 39th president of the BCCI. "I am happy that a cricketer has taken charge. I am sure he will take BCCI to a new height," CoA member, Diana Edulji said. While Ganguly will be the chief, Jay Shah is the secretary and Arun Singh Dhumal is the treasurer. For now, Ganguly has a 10-month term before he goes for the mandatory cooling off. After a stint in the Cricket Association of Bengal, leaving him with just 10 months to play his first innings in Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), Ganguly plunged into the politics of the sport as the “unanimous” face of the cricket administrators. Within the BCCI, Ganguly has made it very clear who is the boss. The professional management of the Board led by its CEO which became all powerful in the absence of a constitutional check in the last three years is now no more at the forefront. The Lodha reforms vested a lot more powers in the CEO's kitty — the Board is looking to switch the balance of power back in the favour of the president and secretary. Ganguly leads a team of new and young faces, but one undeniably underlined with shades of nepotism. Jay Shah was elected BCCI secretary: he was the joint secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association prior to this. Arun Singh Dhumal was elected Treasurer―he has been running the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association affairs after his brother and Union Minister for state for Finance Anurag Thakur stepped aside. Mahim Verma, from Cricket Association of Uttarakhand was elected vice-president while Jayesh George of Kerala Cricket Ass
L udhiana’s first 5 star luxury hotel, Radisson Blu MBD Hotel marks the 7th anniversary of providing bespoke indulgence and comfort to its guests. Started in 2012, this hotel has set a high standard for luxury hospitality in the city’s central business district. Driven by the vision of the founder, Shri Ashok Kumar Malhotra who established the MBD Group as the largest education company in India, an entrepreneur par excellence also envisioned the Group’s diversification into Hospitality and Retail amongst others.
Since opening its doors, Radisson Blu Hotel MBD Ludhiana paved the way for the new standard of hospitality in Punjab. In these 7 years, this hotel of MBD Group has not only showcased the transformation efforts but also reinstated Group’s commitment to contribute in the growth of the hospitality segment in India. Radisson Blu MBD Hotel’s renowned hospitality has attracted thousands of guests and has distinctly defined itself as a trendsetter.
Recently, Radisson Blu Hotel MBD Ludhiana is also named as the “Iconic Luxury Hotel” by Times Hospitality Icons 2019 whereas Made in India, fine dining specialty restaurant has been honored with Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards for 'Best Hotel Restaurant in India'. Known for providing travelers with quality service, this hotel is grateful to it loyal guest for this honor. We will continue to refine our personalised service standards, whilst connecting with and giving back to the community we serve.
Mrs. Satish Bala Malhotra, Chairperson, MBD Group, said, “Since the day our hotel doors opened, our team has been dedicated to providing exceptional hospitality and creating memorable moments for each guest. The leadership and dynamic vision of Shri Ashok Kumar Malhotra guided the Group’s expansion and diversification goals to become a successful conglomerate.”
Commenting on the special occasion, Ms. Monica Malhotra Kandhari, Managing Director, MBD Group, said, “The story of Radisson Blu Hotel MBD Ludhiana has been one of incredible success, innovation, and perseverance. Thank you to every associate for bringing our Founder’s vision to life, and thank you to our guests for embracing MBD Hospitality to create their favorite travel, culinary, wellness and cultural memories over these years. The future is bright for us, and we are looking forward to crafting more memories for years to come
Ms. Sonica Malhotra, Joint Managing Director, MBD Group, said, “We are proud to have written another chapter in the brand’s legacy, reinstating our commitment to contribute in the growth of the hospitality segment in India. It has been a wonderful journey of 7 years, hotel has quietly, but distinctly defined itself as a trendsetter and is the top performing hotel in the competition set. We consistently achieved outstanding milestones, manoeuvring several challenges. At MBD Group, we always maintain that one must strive to attract, nurture, retain local talent and ensure there’s always a positive impact on the local community.”
At MBD Group, hospitality is not about serving but also treating guests with elegance and excellence. Radisson Blu MBD Hotel Noida, the flagship hotel of MBD Group has been rated as on one of the most revered name in the hospitality sector and has been distinctly defined as a top performing hotel in Delhi NCR with highest guest scores. Aimed at redefining luxury at Bengaluru, Zephyr, An MBD Steigenberger Hotel is the pioneering mixed-use development entailing Luxury Hotel and Luxury Serviced Apartments. MBD Steigenberger promise hospitality made in Germany and delivered in India. Targeting to open at least 20 hotels in India over the next 15 years, this JV presents German precision tailor-made for Indian guests while ensuring outstanding global standards and a luxurious environment. MBD Express aims to tap remarkable increase in demand for quality accommodation in budget segment.
To celebrate this important moment in the hotel’s history with guests, an exclusive series of special packages across rooms and restaurants along with a lineup of CSR events was organised. The hotel offered a special 7th Anniversary Celebration Package including, buffet breakfast, late checkout and signature giveaways.
A long awaited reform in India’s military and higher defence organisation took place on 24 December 2019, when the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally approved the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). This follows the 15 August 2019 announcement by the Prime Minister in his address to the nation, where he stated that, “India should not have a fragmented approach. Our entire military power will have to work in unison and move forward…All the three (Services) should move simultaneously at the same pace. There should be good coordination and it should be relevant to the hopes and aspirations of our people. It should be in line with the changing war and security environment with the world…after formation of this post (CDS), all the three forces will get effective leadership at the top level”.
Political and bureaucratic resistance had earlier stymied these reforms, over the past five decades. There was a possibility of a CDS being appointed post the victory in the Liberation War, but that proposal was scuttled by a recalcitrant bureaucracy. Many years later, at the termination of the Kargil war, The Kargil Review Committee (KRC) was set up by the Government of India, on 29 July 1999 “to examine the sequence of events and make recommendations for the future”.
Following the KRC report, a Group of Ministers (GoM) was set up by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on 17 April 2000 to consider the recommendations of the KRC. The GoM recommended the creation of the post of CDS, and that proposal has finally fructified now.
The post of Chief of Defence Staff has been created in the rank of a four star General with salary and perquisites equivalent to a Service Chief. The Chief of Defence Staff will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to be created within the Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary. Apart from being the head of the Department of Military Affairs, the CDS will also be the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. He will act as the Principal Military Adviser to Raksha Mantri on all tri-Services matters. The three Chiefs will continue to advise RM on matters exclusively concerning their respective Services. CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so as to be able to provide impartial advice to the political leadership
The Department of Military Affairs headed by CDS will look after the following
Apart from the above, the mandate of the Department of Military Affairs will include the following areas:
As the Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, CDS will perform the following functions:
It is expected that this reform in the Higher Defence Management would enable the Armed Forces to implement coordinated defence doctrines and procedures and go a long way in fostering jointmanship among the three Services. The country would be benefitted by coordinated action on greater jointmanship in training, logistics and operations as well as for prioritisation of procurements.
The job profile as given above is what has been promulgated by the government. It is detailed and fundamentally alters the existing civilmilitary relationship by making the military central to defence related and military related decision making. We now have a permanent Chairman of the Chief’s of Staff Committee, which earlier was tenanted by the senior most officer amongst the three service chiefs. This had its drawbacks, as the Chairman had a limited tenure and lacked a clear job profile. The creation of a Department of Military Affairs headed by the CDS makes sense as a great deal of duplication can be avoided and processes streamlined in procurements for the forces and in the execution of works. There will be a better appreciation of the requirements as there will be professional military leadership to guide the process, which hitherto was carried out by civilians who had no ground experience and who had but limited knowledge of the subject
The Department of Military Affairs (DMA)headed by the CDS will deal with issues that relate exclusively to military matters, while the Department of Defence (DoD) will deal with the larger issues pertaining to the defence of the country. Much greater role clarity is however needed, as perforce, the role of the Defence Secretary will now get diluted. Both the CDS and the Defence Secretary will have direct access to the Raksha Mantri get diluted. Both the CDS and the Defence Secretary will have direct access to the Raksha Mantri.
As of now, the Department of Defence deals with the three Services i.e Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. It also deals with InterServices Organisation. It is also responsible for the Defence Budget, establishment matters, defence policy, matters relating to Parliament, defence cooperation with foreign countries, and coordination of all defence related activities. It is headed by Defence Secretary who is assisted by Director General (Acquisition), Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries. Defence Secretary is also responsible for coordinating the activities of the other Departments i.e DDP, DESW and DRDO in Ministry of Defence.
With the CDS heading the Department of Military Affairs, he will evidently deal with most of what is currently being dealt with by the Defence Secretary. Perhaps the role of the Defence Secretary will be restricted to the defence budget, defence policy (In conjunction with the CDS), capital acquisitions, matters relating to parliament defence cooperation with other countries and in coordinating the activities of the other Departments i.e DDP, DESW and DRDO in Ministry of Defence.
It is the job of the CDS to facilitate the restructuring of Military Commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through establishment of joint/theatre commands.As of now, the CDS has not got any operational role. But this state will have to change in future, once the theatre commands are formed, as the only person who can command such a force is the CDS. There would be a requirement to factor this into account once the theatres are integrated. How this will pan out remains to be seen.
If integrated theatres are formed, a likely scenario could be the formation of four Theatre Commands. One theatre could be on India’s Western land border, dealing with Pakistan and partially with China (where the Union Territory of Ladakh borders Tibet and Xinjiang). The second theatre could be on India’s land border with Tibet in Arunachal Pradesh. This would also look after India’s security interests in Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The third theatre could be on the maritime front, which would include both India’s Eastern and Western sea coasts as also all the Island territories. And the fourth theatre could be an overarching one, covering the air and space above India and would include the cyber domain. These theatres, if formed as suggested here, would have to be commanded by a four star ranked officer. The job of the CDS would then be overall security coordination, and would merit an upgrade to five star rank.
An important part of the responsibilities of the CDS is his role as the Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority. While nuclear waris but a distant and very unlikely possibility, its occurrence will have very serious consequences for India and indeed for the entire human race. A strong nuclear capability and effective command and control mechanisms are nevertheless vital as a deterrent to potential nuclear attacks against India. The control over the nuclear button will always be with the Prime Minister and its execution a political decision, but the fact that we now have a CDS to advise the political authority on the consequences and implications of the use of nuclear force will ensure that strategic oversight is exercised overthe Strategic Forces Command. This indeed is a welcome forward step. In the event of a conflict, while each theatre commander will be engrossed in his own concerns, it is the CDS who will have the space to look into issues more holistically, from a national and international perspective. This role of the CDS would be vital in providing advice and other inputs to the political authority on the use of nuclear force.
The CDS, as the principal military adviser to the defence minister on tri-Services issues and the three Chiefs will continue to render advice to the defence minister on matters pertaining exclusively to their service. This is a welcome step. While the CDS will not exercise military command (as of now), while carrying out his functions as the head of DMA, he would most likely be involved during war in Joint Services operational decision making as PC-COSC (Permanent Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee). It thus appears that the CDS will have to adjudge contentious issues initially at the inter-service level as PCCOSC, and thereafter as CDS at the departmental level. He will also be wearing two hats simultaneously as part of the Defence Planning Committee headed by the NSA and Defence Acquisition Committee headed by Defence Minister. This would require to be streamlined as time goes by, based on the experience gained in determining the shortcomings, if any. But importantly, the CDS will be a bridge between the political leadership and the military.
A major challenge, which may require political intervention would pertain to the division of responsibility between the CDS and the defence secretary. There would be overlaps, but if the defence of the nation is the real priority of the government, the post of the defence secretary would have to be done away with. It is laughable that even now, the role of the Defence of India has been assigned to the defence secretary. If this has been done to temporarily appease the IAS babus, it is understandable. But if India wishes to be a major player in world affairs, then the CDS must be the prime mover. It would be necessary to abolish the post, or at least place the defence secretary under the CDS. Then India can aspire to be a world power.
A major concern of the CDS would be to internal resistance to change. Undoubtedly, there is need for jointmanship between the Services and for greater integration within the MoD. The CDS, with his dual hat as CDS and PC-COSC and with the required political backing, could make a start in breaking such resistance, but he would require political backing.
Finally, without the DMA, the CDS would have been challenged to fulfil the roles envisaged. With it, the CDS is empowered and structurally positioned to be the prime mover to significantly improve military effectiveness. The first step has been taken, which perhaps is the most significant military decision since independence by the political authority. Time will tell, whether the party in power can walk the talk, or will give way to pressure front the babus, who hold sway over the government. But with the Modi government, there is hope that for the first time since independence, national interests will take centre stage over other issues
GOOGLE’S quantum supremacy claim has now been disputed by its close competitor IBM. Not because Google’s Sycamore quantum computer’s calculations are wrong, but because Google had underestimated what IBM’s Summit, the most powerful super computer in the world, could do. Meanwhile Google’s paper, which had accidentally been leaked by a NASA researcher has now been published in the prestigious science journal Nature. So Google’s claims are official now, and can be examined in the way any new science claim should be examined: sceptically until all the doubts are answered
The tech giant announced it had reached a long-anticipated milestone known as “quantum supremacy” — a watershed moment in which a quantum computer executes a calculation that no ordinary computer can match. In a new paper in Nature, Google described just such a feat performed on their state-of-the-art quantum machine, code named “Sycamore.” While quantum computers are not yet at a point where they can do useful things, this result demonstrates that they have an inherent advantage over ordinary computers for some tasks.
Quantum computers have been under development for decades. While ordinary, or classical, computers perform calculations using bits — strings of 1s and 0s — quantum computers encode information using quantum bits, or qubits, that behave according to the strange rules of quantum mechanics. Quantum computers aim to harness those features to rapidly perform calculations far beyond the capacity of any ordinary computer. But for years, quantum computers struggled to match the computing power of a handheld calculator.
The bad news – for the science fiction enthusiasts – is that it is not going to replace our computers but will be useful for a special class of problems. Its construction requires conditions such as super low temperatures that can be created only in a special environment. We are not going to wear it on our sleeves or use it on our cell phones. At least not yet, and not with today’s physics! And our encryption algorithms on which all our internet protocols and world’s financial transactions are based are safe, at least for now.
According to IBM, this does not establish quantum supremacy as that requires solving a problem a conventional computer cannot solve in a reasonable amount of time. Two and a half days is reasonable, therefore – according to IBM – quantum supremacy is yet to be attained.
In their Nature paper, Google claims that their Sycamore processor took 200 seconds to perform a calculation that the world’s best supercomputer — which happens to be IBM’s Summit machine — would need 10,000 years to match. That’s not a practical time frame. But IBM now argues that Summit, which fills an area the size of two basketball courts at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, could perform the calculation in 2.5 days.
Google stands by their 10,000 year estimate, though several computer experts interviewed for this article said IBM is probably right on that point. “IBM’s claim looks plausible to me,” emailed Scott Aaronson of the University of Texas, Austin.
Regarding IBM’s claim that quantum supremacy has yet to be achieved, Scott Aaronsen, a leading quantum computing scientist, wrote that though Google should have foreseen what IBM has done, it does not invalidate Google’s claim. The key issue is not that Summit had a special way to solve the specific quantum problem Google had chosen, but that Summit cannot scale: if Google’s Sycamore goes from 53 to 60 qubits, IBM will require 33 Summits; if to 70 Qubits, a super computer the size of a city!
Why does Summit have to increase at this rate to match Sycamore’s extra qubits? For the demonstration of quantum supremacy, Google chose the simulation of quantum circuits. The resources – disk space, memory, computing power – requited to solve this problem in reasonable time by classical computers increases exponentially with size of the problem. For quantum computers, adding qubits linearly – meaning simply adding more qubits – increases its computing capacity exponentially. Just extra 7 qubits of Sycamore needs IBM to increase the size of Summit 33 times; 17- qubit increase of Sycamore, needs Summit to increase thousands of times. This is the key difference between Summit and Sycamore. For each extra qubit, a conventional computer will have to scale its resources exponentially and this is a losing game for the conventional computer
So why do the machines based on classical physics not work on quantum phenomena? Simply put, the calculations of such systems would grow exponentially with the size of the system, or the increase in time horizon for which the end state is being computed. In any case, the future states of the quantum world are probability distributions, and are captured better by quantum computers which give their results also as probability distributions.
So what is the difference between computers built on quantum principles and those on classical physics? All our computers in everyday use – classical computers in this language – the information in the system exists only in binary form, the smallest bit of information that exists is either a 0 or a 1 (False=0, True=1). The quantum computer has quantum bits – qubits – that exist in many different states simultaneously, using the quantum phenomenon of superposition. The final value of this superposition can be found only when it is measured, when it “collapses” to either a 0 or a 1. When that happens the qubit life is essentially over, it can no longer be used in further calculations.
The key issue in creating viable quantum computers should not be confused with a race between classical computers, and the new kid on the block, the quantum computers. If we see the race as between two classes of computers in solving a specific problem, we are missing the big picture. It is simply that for classical computers, solution time for a certain class of problems increases exponentially with the size of the problem, and beyond a certain size, we just can’t solve them in any reasonable time. Quantum computers have the potential for solving such problems in a reasonable time, therefore opening the door for computing such problems.
Are there such problems and will they yield worthwhile technological applications? The first problem chosen, computing the future states of quantum circuits were not chosen for any practical application. It was simply chosen to showcase quantum supremacy, defined as a quantum computer solving a problem that a classical computer cannot solve in reasonable time. Recently, a Chinese team led by Jianwei Pan, has a paper that shows another problem, a Boson Sampling experiment with 20 photons can also be a pathway to show quantum supremacy. These problems are constructed not for showing real world applications, but simply that quantum computing works can potentially solve real world problems. Provided we find the right problem
The question is what are the class of problems that can use quantum computers?
The first class of problems are the ones for which Feynman had postulated the quantum computers, a simulation of the quantum world. Why do we need such simulations, as after all, we live in the macro-world in which quantum effects are not visible to us? The right word is visible to us, but they are all around us in different ways.
There’s Nothing Like Australia' is Tourism Australia’s global consumer marketing campaign highlighting some of the very best attractions and experiences Australian tourism has to offer. Designed to be long-lasting and flexible, the campaign evolves to stay relevant for target consumers in a highly competitive and fastchanging global tourism environment.Australia is a place where the world’s oldest cultures share vast ochre plains, stylish laneways and unimaginably blue waters — the land of the unexpected. Backed by Tourism Australia's consumer research, this focus both defends the high ranking for world-class natural beauty in today’s competitive market and renews and reinvigorates consumers' perceptions of the country's aquatic and coastal offering.
Kangaroo Island, 13 kilometres (8 miles) off the coast of South Australia and 30 minutes by plane from Adelaide, is brimming with native animals, artisanal food, epic rock formations and even the world's best hotels, perched on the edge of the sea. There's enough to do here to fill your days, but don't forget to follow the local's leave and simply enjoy the fresh air, beautiful food and unique wildlife.
With a blue horizon of eucalyptus trees that appear to stretch on forever, expect to be enchanted by the natural beauty of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Set out on foot to explore some of the 140 kilometres (87 miles) of walking tracks, admire the native bushland, marvel at the impressive rock formations and explore underground caves on a holiday centred around the outdoors. Listen to Dreaming stories told by local Aboriginal guides and admire the work of resident artists before retiring to a luxury retreat surrounded by wilderness.
Go beyond well-known destinations to discover Australia’s beach and island gems. You’ll soon learn why the sand and sea hold such a special place in our national identity.
From city beaches to secluded spots where you’ll share the sand with more wildlife than humans, there are gorgeous beaches and islands across the country. Sail through the Whitsundays, marvel at a sea of red crabs on Christmas Island or embark on a coastal drive in search of the perfect spot for a surf. It won't take long to find.
From elusive echidnas to adorable wombats, Australia boasts some of the most unique wildlife on the planet. Nowhere else in the world can you watch kangaroos hop across beautiful pastures, spot koalas sleeping in gum trees or snorkel with schools of fish on the Great Barrier Reef. See saltwater crocodiles in their natural habitat, snap a selfie with a quokka or swim with Australian fur seals in wildlife experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
From the humble meat pie to freshly shucked oysters, Australia’s flourishing culinary scene is both steeped in tradition and infused with creative twists. Beyond food, you’ll find an incredible drinks offering that includes big, bold red wine, hand-crafted gin and whisky, and one-of-a-kind craft beer. Whether it’s a backyard barbecue or a fine dining restaurant, Australia’s food and drink scene is fit for every appetite.
Have you ever considered backpacking across Australia or working aboard a catamaran in Cairns? There are so many reasons to travel Down Under while you’re young. From exploring the world’s oldest rainforest to navigating hidden laneways, travel is about learning through experience. When you’re young, you can leave your worries behind and embark on an amazing journey of discovery and exploration. You’ll find freedom, independence, and adventure - all while creating lifelong memories.
In Australia, you can learn about Aboriginal culture as you seek out ancient rock art, interact with incredible native wildlife as you swim through turquoise water or simply recharge on a beach surrounded by palm trees. You have the freedom to choose who you’ll be, where you’ll go and what you’ll discover along the way
Presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a bid to revive the economic growth and boost people's income, the fiscal deficit is estimated at 3.8 per cent (revised estimate for 2019-20) of the gross domestic product in the current financial year, and the government aims to lower it to 3.5 per cent (budget estimate for 2020-21) in the financial year ending March 2021. She proposed to allocate Rs 69,000 crore to the healthcare sector and Rs 12,300 crore to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship cleanliness programme Swachh Bharat Mission. The Finance Minister also earmarked another Rs 3.6 lakh crore towards the supply of piped water to households. Here are some of the highlights of budget 2020.
The income tax rates have been revised.
5% tax for income between Rs 2.5-5 lakh
10% tax for income between Rs 5-7.5 lakh as against 20%
15% tax for income between Rs 7.5-10 lakh as against 20%
20% tax for income between Rs 10-12.5 lakh as against 30%
25% tax for income between Rs 12.5-15 lakh as against 30%
30% tax for income above Rs 15 lakh
Income tax rates will be significantly reduced for those who forego reliefs, exemptions, said Finance Minister
Budget Highlight:HEALTHCARE
Rs 690 billion will be spent toward healthcare spending
100 more airports are planned by 2024
Over 6,000 km of highways in 12 lots will be monetized by 2024
One major airport will be privatized
High-speed train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be actively pursued, Nirmala Sitharaman says while presenting Union Budget 2020.
100 more airports are planned by 2024
Over 6,000 km of highways in 12 lots will be monetized by 2024
One major airport will be privatized
High-speed train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be actively pursued, Nirmala Sitharaman says while presenting Union Budget 2020.
The government is committed to doubling farmers' income by 2022, the Finance Minister said, as she proposed to allocate Rs 2.83 lakh crore for agriculture and rural sectors such as irrigation.
Schemes that encourage manufacturing of mobile phones, electronic equipment and semiconductor packaging will be introduced.
Private sector to build Data Centre Parks throughout the country will be encouraged.
80 billion rupees over five years to be provided for quantum technologies and applications
Milk processing capacity to be doubled by 2025
Budget Highlight: BANKING/INSURANCE
Insurance cover for bank depositors to be raised to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 1 lakh
5 new smart cities in public-private partnership mode
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to be completed by 2023
100 more airports to be developed by 2024
Estimated nominal GDP growth rate for 2020-21 is 10 per cent, said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Wealth creators will be respected in this country, tax harassment will not be tolerated, she added.
Billionaire real estate mogul and former reality television personality Donald Trump is the 45th president of the United States who he took office on January 20, 2017. Previously, he was a real estate mogul and a former reality TV star. Born in Queens, New York, in 1946, Trump became involved in large, profitable building projects in Manhattan. In 1980, he opened the Grand Hyatt New York, which made him the city's best-known developer. Trump turned his attention to politics, and in 2015 he announced his candidacy for president of the US.
Born in Leningrad on Oct. 7, 1952, President Vladimir Putin graduated from Leningrad State University in 1975 with a law degree and joined the KGB — the main security agency operating at the behest of the Soviet Union, where he became a Soviet intelligence officer. Since winning the presidential election in 2000, Putin has remained Russia's dominant political figure, tightening control over the media, marginalizing his party's opposition, and adopting a nationalist and antiWestern course for decades.
Born in Beijing in 1953, Xi Jinping is the son of revolutionary veteran Xi Zhongxun, one of the Communist Party's founding fathers and a vice-premier. Xi Jinping is a Chinese politician serving as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), president of the People's Republic of China (PRC), and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). Xi has been the paramount leader, the highest-ranking official in China, since 2012 and he officially received the title of "leadership core" from the CPC in 2016.
Angela Dorothea Merkel, born 17 July 1954 is a German politician serving as the chancellor of Germany since 2005. She served as the leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 2000 to 2018. Merkel has been widely described as the de facto leader of the European Union, the most powerful woman in the world. In the 2009 federal election the CDU obtained the largest share of the vote, and Merkel was able to form a coalition government with the Free Democratic Party. Currently she is in her fourth term since 14 March 2018.
Abe Shinzo was born on September 21, 1954 in Tokyo, and has been an active Japanese politician, who is presently the prime minister of Japan since 2006. Abe’s grandfather Kishi Nobusuke served as Japan’s prime minister from 1957 to 1960, and his great-uncle Sato Eisaku held the same post from 1964 to 1972. After graduating from Seikei University in Tokyo, Abe moved to the United States, where he studied political science at the University of Southern California. In 1979 he returned to Japan and joined Kōbe Steel, Ltd. He subsequently became active in the Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP), and in 1982 he began working as secretary to his father, Abe Shintaro, who was Japan’s foreign minister
Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei was born on 19 April 1939 and is the second and current supreme leader of Iran, in office since 1989. He was previously the president of Iran from 1981 to 1989. Khamenei is the longest serving head of state in the Middle East, as well as the second-longest serving Iranian leader of the last century, after Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Khamenei was elected by the Assembly of Experts as the new Supreme Leader on 4 June 1989, at the age of 49. He has been head of the servants of Astan Quds Razavi since 14 April 1979.
Now in his second year as prime minister of India, Narendra Damodardas Modi was born on September 17, 1950, Vadnagar, India and is an Indian politician and government official who rose to become a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In 2014 he led his party to victory in elections to the Lok Sabha, after which he was sworn in as prime minister of India. Prior to that he had served (2001–14) as chief minister of Gujarat. Modi became India’s first prime minister outside of the Congress Party to be reelected after a full term.
Benjamin Netanyahu was born on October 21, 1949, in Tel Aviv, Israel. He joined the Israeli military in 1967, moving into the special operations force that rescued a hijacked airplane at the Tel Aviv airport in 1972. Netanyahu became leader of the right-wing Likud party in 1993 and went on to serve as prime minister for multiple terms. Following the contested 2019 elections, he was indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. On April 10, 2019, following a closely contested race, Gantz conceded defeat to his opponent; however, because Netanyahu was unable to put together a majority coalition, the Knesset voted to dissolve itself and hold another election. In late 2019, Netanyahu easily survived a primary challenge from Gideon Saar to retain control of the Likud party.
Pope Francis was born on 17 December 1936 and is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory III, who reigned in the 8th century. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969, and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998.
Elizabeth was born in London as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. She began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In 1947, she married Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, with whom she has four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. When her father died in February 1952, Elizabeth became head of the Commonwealth.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was born on 31 December 1935 and has been the king and prime minister of Saudi Arabia and custodian of the Two Holy Mosques since 23 January 2015. After being the governor of Riyadh for 48 years from 1963 to 2011,he was appointed minister of Defense. He was also named the crown prince in 2012 following the death of his brother Nayef bin Abdulaziz. Salman became the new king of Saudi Arabia on 23 January 2015 following the death of his half-brother, King Abdullah. Since 2019 he is also the oldest surviving son of Ibn Saud. His major initiatives as king include the Saudi intervention in the Yemeni Civil War, Saudi Vision 2030, and a 2017 decree allowing Saudi women to drive.
I was 21 and had spent the last few years in Stanford University Engineering School at California. Many people advised me to take up a nice, cushy job rather than face the challenges of running a hydrogenated oil business. Looking back, I am glad I decided to take charge instead. Essentially leadership begins from within. It is a small voice that tells you where to go when you feel lost. If you believe in that voice, you believe in yourself. -Azim Premji
Indian Business tycoon, investor, philanthropist and a chairman of Wipro Limited, Azim Premji is a generous billionaire and first person in India who has signed The Giving Pledge. A graduate in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, he has been at the helm of Wipro Limited since the late 1960s, turning what was then a $2 million hydrogenated cooking fat company into close to $8.5 billion Revenue IT, BPO and R&D Services organization with a presence in 58 countries. Asiaweek voted him as the 20 most powerful men in the world in 2010 and he was listed twice among the 100 most influential people by the Time Magazine. He is the India's third largest outsourcer.
After his father’s demise in 1966 he gave up his studies at Stanford to look after the family's cooking oil Sunflower Vanaspati business. Their family company Western Indian Vegetable Products which dealt in hydrogenated oil manufacturing was later diversified by Premji into bakery fats, ethnic ingredient based toiletries, hare care soaps, lighting products etc. In 1980s, he recognised the importance of the emerging IT field and took advantage of the vacuum left behind by the expulsion of IBM from India and changed the name to Wipro. His entry in the technology sector was by manufacturing minicomputers in collaboration with an American Company Sentinel Computer Corporation.
Despite all his great achievements he is known for his modest lifestyle and humane personality. Premji has been driven by one fundamental business idea – to build an organization deeply committed to Values with the Client as the focus of all efforts. Unflinching commitment to Values continues to remain at the core of Wipro. Premji strongly believes that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things when organized into highly charged teams
In the Silicon Valley, Wipro has an innovation centre which develops new technologies and collaborates with startups. In September 2018, Wipro won a landmark $1.6 billion, 10 year contract from Alight Solutions of Illinois.
Wipro’s success has been driven by its cutting-edge expertise in technology and understanding of global industries, which deliver real business value to its clients innovatively and consistently. This innovation and consistency is driven by its pioneering efforts in technology, service quality and predictability. Other companies of the Wipro group led by Premji, have revenues of close to $2 billion, spanning successful businesses across consumer goods, precision engineering and healthcare systems.
Azim Premji avery generous philanthropist contributed a large amount of his wealth in the establishment of the Azim Premji Foundation which is a nonprofit organisation that focuses on the children's education and improvements in them. With a vision of enhancing quality and equity in the public school education system in India and to build a better society, the Foundation works in 7 states of India which have over 350,000 schools. It also runs the Azim Premji University, which is focused on teaching and research programs in Education and other areas of Human Development. Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives supports not-forprofits, through financial grants, which work in areas of human development complementing education, such as nutrition, local governance, and well-being of vulnerable groups. Premji’s donations to the endowment of the Foundation, at USD 15 Billion, make it one of the largest Foundations in the world.
Premji firmly believes that businesses have a deep responsibility to employ ethical, fair and ecologically sensitive business practices, and also to actively engage with fundamental societal issues. Wipro’s deep and focused social and environmental initiatives span the countries across its operational footprint, leading to Wipro being recognized as a global leader in Sustainability.
Over the years, Azim Premji has received numerous honors and accolades, which he considers as recognitions for the team of Wipro and the Foundation. BusinessWeek listed him amongst the top 30 entrepreneurs in world history. Financial Times, Time, Fortune and Forbes have all named him as of one the most influential people in the world, citing his leadership in business and philanthropy, including the contributions to improving public education. The Journal of Foreign Policy has listed him amongst the top global thinkers. Economic Times bestowed Mr. Premji with the Life Time Achievement Award.
Premji is the first Indian recipient of the Faraday Medal and has been conferred with honorary doctorates by the Michigan State University and Wesleyan University and the Indian Institutes of Technology at Bombay, Roorkee and Kharagpur amongst others. The Republic of France has conferred upon him their highest civilian award, “Knight of the Legion of Honor”. He was conferred in January 2011 with the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in India. The Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy was bestowed on him in 2017, hailing the “conscience, integrity, and compassion that have guided his visionary giving (with) invaluable benefit to both that nation and to the world.”
Several awards and honours are attributed to him are: