Author: sureshzmc07

NEW DELHI: The Center on Thursday announced that it has maintained its borrowing goal for the current financial year and will sell bonds worth Rs 6.61 lakh crore between October and March. The borrowing for the second half will be done through bonds with various maturities, ranging from three to 50 years.
This includes the issuance of green bonds worth 200 billion rupees, which will be completed through 21 weekly auctions.
The three-year, five-year, and seven-year bonds will make up a combined 23.50% of the total borrowing, while the 10-year and 15-year bonds will constitute 24.8% and 13.2%, respectively. The 30-year and 40-year bonds will account for 12.1% and 15.9% of the borrowing, and the 50-year bonds will make up 10.6%.
“Out of Gross Market borrowing of Rs 14.01 lakh crore budgeted for 2024-25, Rs 6.61 lakh crore (47.2 per cent) is planned to be borrowed in H2 through issuance of dated securities, including Rs 20,000 crore of Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs),” the finance ministry said.
The government will carry out switching/buyback of securities to smoothen the redemption profile, it said. It will also maintain the right to exercise the greenshoe option, allowing it to retain an additional subscription of up to Rs 2,000 crore against each of the securities specified in the auction notifications.
Meanwhile, weekly borrowing through the issuance of Treasury Bills is expected to be Rs 19,000 crore for 13 weeks in the third quarter of 2024-25, with the issuance of Rs 7,000 crore under 91 dated treasury bills (DTBs), Rs 6,000 crore under 182 DTBs, and Rs 6,000 crore under 364 DTBs.
To address temporary mismatches in government accounts, the Reserve Bank of India has set the Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit for the second half of FY 2024-25 at Rs 50,000 crore.
Additionally, the government has already raised Rs 7.4 lakh crore, which constitutes 52.8 per cent of the total estimated gross market borrowing of Rs 14.01 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2024-25, in the first half of the year.
Earlier, the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had initially proposed a gross borrowing of Rs 14.13 lakh crore through the issuance of dated securities to address the revenue shortfall in the upcoming financial year in the interim budget. However, in the final Budget presented in July, she reduced the gross borrowing estimate by Rs 12,000 crore, attributing it to strong revenue collection.
The gross borrowing for FY25 is lower compared to the previous year’s estimate of Rs 15.43 lakh crore, which was the highest ever recorded.
“The gross and net market borrowings through dated securities during 2024-25 are estimated at Rs 14.01 lakh crore and Rs 11.63 lakh crore respectively. Both will be less than that in 2023-24,” said Sitharaman.

Indore: Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) commenced the last examination of 2023 with MBA second semester exams on Thursday. With the conclusion of this exam cycle, the university has set ambitious goals to address delays in the examination schedule and evaluation process, aiming for a smoother and timely academic year ahead.
In a significant move to prevent mishaps like the previous paper leaks, DAVV delivered question papers to the examination centres just an hour before the exam began, rather than the day prior.The MBA second semester exams were held from 11am to 2pm with the question papers being dispatched at 10am on the exam day.
To bolster examination oversight, the number of flying squads has been increased from 4 to 6. Around 7,000 students, including those who received ATKT (Allowed to Keep Terms) in their first semester, are appearing for the exam. Originally scheduled for September 12, the exam was postponed following student protests over insufficient preparation time between the first-sem results and the second-sem exams.
“With this last exam, we are now focused on bringing the examination calendar on track for the coming academic session,” said Dr Ashesh Tiwari, DAVV examination controller. Learning from the past, DAVV has made extensive efforts to address examination challenges. Earlier this year, the first-semester exams were marred by question paper leaks, resulting in only 30% of students passing. In response, DAVV has introduced new monitoring systems, including observers for the exam centres. The university conducts over 355 examinations annually, serving 258,000 students enrolled in its affiliated colleges.
On the evaluation front, DAVV has also taken significant steps to fast-track results. Alongside affiliated college faculty, 40 professors from UTD (University Teaching Departments) have been assigned the task of evaluating answer sheets, with plans to increase this to 100 evaluators. This shift aims to reduce the delay in results, which often disrupts the academic cycle.
“Although we have approximately 1,100 evaluators, this is the first time we are entrusting the responsibility of evaluation to the faculty of UTD, with the aim of improving the traditional evaluation process. This change will also help ensure that results are delivered on time. We have initially assigned 40 evaluators, and this number will soon be increased to 100,” added Tiwari.
As per the university’s examination calendar, the varsity plans to conduct the first semester exams for MA, MSc, and MCom courses, followed by MBA and BEd exams in October. If there are no legal issues regarding the recognition by the Bar Council of India (BCI), the LLB and BA LLB exams will also be held during this period. Meanwhile, the first-year exams for UG courses like BCom, BA, BSc, and BBA will take place in May 2025.

Batman is making history today as the first superhero to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This momentous occasion marks the 2,790th star to be added to the iconic sidewalk, which has celebrated numerous fictional characters and real-life celebrities since its inception. The ceremony is set to take place on September 26, 2024, at 11:00 AM PT in front of the Guinness World Records Museum on Hollywood Boulevard.
In addition to receiving his star, Batman will be awarded a Guinness World Records title for being the first superhero honored in this way.
Batman, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in March 1939. Over the past 85 years, he has become a symbol of justice, courage, and resilience, captivating audiences worldwide through comics, television shows, animated series, and blockbuster films.
“Fans from around the world will be thrilled to know that Batman will have his star dedicated next to the stars of television’s Batman, Adam West, and the co-creator of Batman, Bob Kane,” Hollywood Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez said in a statement shared by The Independent.
This honor is particularly significant as Batman becomes only the 20th fictional character to be awarded a star on the Walk of Fame. The character joins an elite group that includes iconic figures such as Bugs Bunny, Godzilla, and Mickey Mouse. The placement of Batman’s star not only recognizes his impact on pop culture but also sets a precedent for future superhero honors.
Batman’s journey through various adaptations has contributed to his legendary status. Starting with Lewis Wilson in 1943 and continuing through actors like Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson, each portrayal has added layers to the character’s complexity.
Today’s ceremony will feature notable attendees, including DC president Jim Lee and senior vice president Anne DePies. While it remains unclear if any actors who have portrayed Batman will attend the event, the presence of Lee signifies the importance of this milestone for DC Comics.
With this recognition, one can only anticipate that future superheroes will follow in Batman’s footsteps on this prestigious sidewalk.

NEW DELHI: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel feels there is “no harm” in trying Yash Dayal in place of either Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj for the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, beginning on Friday.
Before the beginning of the Test series against Bangladesh in Chennai, skipper Rohit Sharma asserted that the workload management of their pacers will be monitored throughout their jam-packed Test schedule, which will last till January next year.
India stamped their authority in the opening Test by sealing a 280-run victory. In the pre-match press conference on Thursday, assistant coach Abhishek Nayar didn’t dwell on the details of the playing XI.
Parthiv feels that Dayal, who has “tremendous potential,” can come in place of either Siraj or Bumrah, presenting a chance for everyone to see a left-arm pacer in action for India.
“This will be a great chance to see a left-armer. It has been a while since India had a left-arm seamer, so I feel if he gets the chance, it will be good. We will know. Yash Dayal has tremendous potential. So I don’t think there is harm in trying,” Parthiv Patel, who is an expert on JioCinema & Sports18 told ANI.
Another aspect that will be keenly looked at will be the middle-order setup of the Rohit-led side. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Dhruv Jurel are knocking on the door after impressing during India’s 4-1 series triumph over England earlier this year.
With the return of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul in the Test setup, Parthiv finds it hard to see the duo feature in the playing XI and could have to wait for their opportunities.
“I don’t think Sarfaraz and Dhruv will make a comeback to the side. Rishabh has just made a comeback. Both of them are very very talented players and very much ready for Test cricket. But they will have to wait for their chances,” Parthiv added.
Jurel earned his maiden Test cap for India against England in the 3rd Test in Rajkot. In his debut Test, the young wicketkeeper batter played a promising 46-run knock.
In the fourth Test, he played a match-saving knock of 90 (149) in the first inning, which propelled India’s score to 307.
Sarfaraz acted as the backbone of the Indian middle order. He garnered 200 in three matches at an average of 50.00.
Jurel and Dayal have been drafted in the Rest of India’s squad for the upcoming Irani Cup. On the other hand, Sarfaraz has been selected in Mumbai’s squad. If they are unable to make it to the playing XI against Bangladesh, they will be available to feature in the Irani Cup.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Former English cricketer and commentator David Lloyd expressed his concerns about the future of Test cricket, as ticket prices for the upcoming third Test between England and India at Lord’s next July have skyrocketed.
The cost of tickets has increased, reaching an astonishing £175 (Rs 19,557). Even the most affordable seats available for the first three days come at a steep price of £90 (around Rs 10,000), and unfortunately, these seats offer limited visibility of the event.
“Paying that much for a seat where you can’t see the entire field is ridiculous.What might you miss? The batsman? A catch down at fine leg?”, Lloyd wrote in his Daily Mail article.
“Test cricket is in danger of becoming an event only for the elite. It risks excluding regular fans who can’t afford such high prices. Sure, it’s fun to spot celebrities in the crowd, but cricket needs to cater to everyone, not just the rich,” he said.
Lloyd suggests that Lord’s is a trendsetter for other cricket venues. If the ticket prices at Lord’s range from £120 – £175 (around Rs 13,000 -Rs 19,000), it could lead to similar pricing strategies being adopted by other grounds.
“But who sets these prices? Who decides that £175 is fair? I’d love to know the answer,” he added.
“At Lord’s, stewards collect champagne corks after every over. But, at places like Headingley, try throwing a can of Tetley’s over the boundary and see what happens!”
“I’m speaking for the everyday fan. The kind who enjoys a football match with a pie and Bovril. For us, paying £120-£175 (for one day of cricket is outrageous. It feels like the MCC knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing. They’re risking losing the connection between this great England team and the public.” .
“So, the face value cost of attending a single day of a Lord’s Test is utterly preposterous to me. The MCC seem to know the price of everything and the value of nothing,” Lloyd concluded.

Former President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during Zelensky’s visit to Washington, demanding a clear exit strategy from the Ukraine-Russia war. Trump claimed that President Biden and Vice President Harris have failed to navigate the conflict, asserting he could negotiate peace if re-elected. He suggested that Zelensky seeks Harris’s victory to secure ongoing US funding. Meanwhile, Zelensky questioned Trump’s understanding of the war and sought additional military aid and security guarantees from Biden, emphasizing his “victory plan” to end the conflict.