It’s been quite some time and you are struggling with your weight. But when you step on the scale, the needle stays the same or just moves a pound as it shows last time. Although you are having a diet full of nutrients, doing exercise regularly but still wondering what is wrong with your weight. Well, losing weight is a tricky business, your weight loss efforts can be messed up because all your focus is on losing weight instead of losing it in a sustainable healthy way. All you need is to clear your mind and do not fall into the trap. Weight loss is way more than just a calorie count. A health-based approach towards your goals with realistic expectations is the most important thing to pursue weight loss. A healthy diet with enough sleep, less stress, and other significant health conditions are necessary to take into account. Here are the Top 10 Weight Loss Mistakes that stop you from attaining your intended / targeted weight loss. Calories ConsumptionPoor planning of three meals a day can deviates you from your well-disciplined weight loss goals. A calorie is a measure of energy absorbed by your body from the food you consumed. Burn more and consume less calories is important to lose weight. Depending on the age, weight, height, and other health-related factors, you can accurately determine the daily intake of calories. But it does not make any sense if you stop taking calories, because cutting down the calorie intake through starving is not an appropriate way to lose weight. Calculate your daily calorie need here. Studies reveal that low-calorie diets do not help you lose weight and eventually results in muscle loss and drastically slows down the metabolism. Therefore, a proper amount of calories should be taken by different means to get your body goals. On average, an adult can consume a 2000 calorie diet to maintain his body healthy. Research evidence shows that a high protein diet can suppress your appetite and helps to increase the metabolic activity of your body. A high protein diet is not only a source of good calories but also burns about 80-900 calories per day. Stop taking sugary soft drinks and juices because the liquid sugar slows down metabolic activity and causes other diseases such as elevated blood sugar levels. Escape the “Diet” Food TrapA healthy approach to lose weight means that you need to avoid diet food traps. Avoiding means you need to treat your body with what it needs, prepare the body for a lifetime with falling in the traps in the name of diets. As we know that these diet food traps are quite attractive due to the advertisements by celebrities and Instagram stars. You may lose weight in a few weeks by diet traps but later it is hard to control the regained weight and hence spoil your body functioning. The real goal towards a healthy weight loss is to get away from the thought of wanting quick results. You have to eat differently, get to know which food is suitable for your body. Try to avoid pre-cooked meals and packaged sauces. It is best to get your raw ingredients and cook a healthy and fresh meal without any preservatives. Scale Doesn’t MatterYou stop focusing on the number on a scale when you realize that your health is much are than your weight. Don’t give up your weight loss journey when your desired number does not show up. One has to understand the science behind weight loss, when you lose fat, you gain muscle and that is the reason your weight stays the same. If your scale does not change even after losing a few inches, don’t panic, you are going in the right direction and very much near to your perfect body goals. Don’t Fall for Shady Food LabelsFood labels are sometimes so confusing. In this modern era, the trend of being “healthy” makes the market apply tricks and convince us of the products in the name of health. It is not always true what it says. In reality, make sure to do some research when going to buy a product with a shady food label.
For the sake of competition, brands are designed labels that mislead you from your weight loss goals. The best way is to check the list of ingredients first instead of the front label. If you find refined grains, hydrogenated oils, and sugar in the list of ingredients, the product is not meant for healthy weight loss. Make sure to identify the number of calories you are taking than a mention of the product. Do not fall for slogans such as No sugar: It may mean the products do not have artificial sugar but it may contain natural sugar. Most of the time, gluten-free means the product may have processed unhealthy fat and does not contain wheat. Portion Control DietOne of the mistakes that do not let people lose weight is random eating. It is simply that to lose weight, one has to burn more calories than he consumes. It doesn’t mean eating portions but the best way is to divide your plate into small portions with several nutrients your body needs every day. The key is to consume fewer calories but with different sources such as protein, healthy fat, and carbohydrates. Hydration is KeyDo not confuse “water weight” with drinking water while losing weight. The water retention in a human may be caused by several means such as hormonal changes, increased sodium in the body, lack of sleep, and stress. Interestingly, according to research, water retention can be reduced by being hydrated. Water is a great source to cleanse your body, boost metabolism, help the body to retain water, and enhance the weight loss process. Exercise In ModerationResearch evidence reveals that doing excessive exercise is not healthy and leads to serious damage to your body and induces stress. On the other hand, the lack of exercise also has diverse effects on your body such as muscle loss and lower metabolism. However, exercising in moderation accelerates the process of fat loss and helps to maintain a lean mass. Stop Skipping MealsSkipping a meal for the sake of weight loss increases the water retention in your body, slows down metabolism and in the end, you are wondering why I am not losing weight. Starvation has many disastrous effects on your body. Weight loss is not proportional to calorie intake; many people confuse their bodies by taking low-calorie diets. Breakfast is very important for your health and it gives you energy for the whole day. Kick-starting your day with a perfect combination of carbs, protein, and fiber such as fat-free yogurt, a bowl of oatmeal, egg and some fresh fruits can be the best option for a healthy breakfast. Track Your FoodHave a check on your food and know the consumption of nutrients and calories is the healthiest way to lose weight. The right amount of fiber, proteins, fat, and carbs can enhance your weight loss journey by keeping you healthy. There are many online tracking websites and different apps that help to keep an eye on your daily nutrient and calorie consumption. Realistic Approach Towards Weight LossThe first and foremost thing to understand is whether your body needs weight loss. Being “skinny” is the latest trend but don’t fall for that trap. Start your weight loss journey healthily and keep expectations low. Patience is a key to success because the unrealistic approach can lead to frustration and divert your mind from the actual goal. Don’t give up in the middle of your journey, give your best and wait for wonders. The post 10 Weight Loss Mistakes That Don’t Let You Lose Weight appeared first on N4M (News4masses). from https://news4masses.com/10-weight-loss-mistakes-that-dont-let-you-lose-weight/
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Think of masks as a utility in the pre-COVID times, and one could only imagine them being worn by healthcare practitioners. Suddenly, the world changed to the unusual ways of living life because of the novel Corona virus. From the time when hygiene was given least priority in our lives, we entered into this pandemic era where maintaining frequent personal hygiene became the new norm. Then, came the news of masks to be used for personal safety and Corona virus prevention. Things did not end there. While face masks became mandatory to battle against this viral outbreak, no one ever imagined them to become a fashionable product. Just like surgical masks and respirators, designer masksnow are available everywhere. The markets are brimming with designer masks having quirky embellishments and prints, classic embroideries, and what not. From local stores to branded showrooms and everything in between, designer masks are everywhere. As a result, there has been a shift in the mindset of people from protection to style. The question is – Is it okay to feel inclined towards design than the protection quotient of a mask? Let us talk about the impact of easy availability of designer masks that have found their way to the markets.
What Needs to Change in the Contemporary Scenario?You cannot advise those who have made their minds to keep life at stake while dealing with this pandemic. However, you must understand the purpose of wearing a good quality mask and let your loved ones know that too. Think of mask as a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the public. Its quality determines the risk of contracting COVID-19 disease you face. It is not the color or appeal but the filtration efficiency of a mask that matters the most. In other words, wearing a designer mask solves no puzzle if it cannot protect you from tiny droplets in the air that contain viruses. Hence, the need of the hour is to tilt your perspective towards health protection than to look good wearing a mask. What Should You Consider While Buying Masks?1. Viral Filtration EfficiencyThink of it as the power of masks to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. The higher the efficiency, the better a mask. Unlike designer masks, you can find anti-viral masks having a filtration efficiency of above 95%. Take the case of Airific – anadvanced range of anti-viral masks from Nirvana Being. This brand offers exclusively-designed masks that are certified to have 96% viral filtration efficiency. These masks can provide protection from Coronaviruswhen used regularly. 2. ComfortThese days, you mustbe wearing masks while going out for work or meeting people or any other purpose. No one can wear a mask that causes discomfort while breathing or sweating on the face when worn for consecutive hours. That’s why you should also consider comfort while purchasing masks. 3. ReusabilityBuying a good quality mask is an additional expense in life for many. While there are surgical masks that are meant for single-use, there are masks that work well for a certain number of wearable hours. So, you should choose masks that offer protection from viruses and are budget-friendly. Additionally, with pollution season around the corner, any mask you buy from this point on should be reusable and washable in order to last you through the coming months. The Airific Mask is not just antiviral but also anti-pollution. Now that’s what you call killing two birds with one stone! The post Design Over Protection – Which Way To Go While Buying Masks? appeared first on N4M (News4masses). from https://news4masses.com/design-over-protection-which-way-to-go-while-buying-masks/ NPS or National Pension Scheme is the Indian Government’s pension scheme. Launched in the year 2004. It was initially restricted to government employees, however, after 2009, the scheme was opened for all. In this scheme, you are required to keep investing in NPS till your working years. Upon retirement, you will be able to withdraw as much as 60% of the total amount accrued over the years. A minimum of 40% of NPS necessarily has to be used for the purchase of annuities so that a regular income can be fixed for the rest of your post-retirement period. An annuity provides regular income at a fixed rate for a period as determined by an individual. 40% of the NPS can be paid to an ASP or Annuity Service Provider to opt for a desired annuity option so as to ensure a regular income after retirement. NPS is also a great tool for saving tax as it follows the exempt-exempt-exempt (E-E-E) tax status. Therefore, you would do well to understand you can save taxes through NPS and at the same time manage to get a regular pension at your retirement. Also, with the help of an NPS calculator, you can learn about the amount deposited by you, the interest earned on the said amount and the maturity value of your NPS account. Thus, with the NPS calculator, you can learn how pension you will get along with the lump sum amount at the period of maturity. Click here to learn more about the NPS calculator. Tax Benefits In NPSThere are basically three sections under which you can get tax benefits at the time of investment. They are as follows: 1. Section 80CCD (1)Section 80CCD (1) is applicable to the Tier-I account of NPS. An individual can claim the tax benefits up to Rs. 1.5 lakh in a financial year with the help of this section. The said amount of Rs. 1.5 lakh or anything less than that will be deducted from your annual taxable income and hence will reduce the tax liability. Suppose you deposit Rs. 1.8 lakh in your NPS account, the amount up to the extent of Rs. 1.5 lakh will directly come under the tax benefits claim while the rest of Rs. 30,000 will be liable for taxation. As there is no limit to how much you can deposit in NPS, it is to be made clear that you can avail the benefit only up to Rs. 1.5 lakh in a financial year. The following year, you will again be entitled to the same benefit up to the said amount. 2. Section 80CCD (2)According to this section, tax benefits can be claimed by you if your employer deposits a portion from your salary into your NPS Tier-I account. It is to be noted that the portion deposited by your employer should not exceed 10% of your total salary. Tax benefits can only be had on the 10% of the salary deposited duly by your employer in the NPS account. The amount deposited by your employer will also be exempted from your annual taxable income and hence will reduce the overall tax amount to be paid. There is no maximum amount limit to be deposited by the employer. Though, as much as the amount is, you should make sure it does not exceed the 10% mark of your total salary which includes basic salary along with dearness allowance. 3. Section 80CCD (1b)Under section 80CCD (1b), you can claim further tax deduction up to Rs. 50,000 in each financial year. This benefit was not available to individuals prior to the year 2015. This amount of Rs. 50,000 will also be computed out of your total taxable income and therefore keep your taxable amount lower than it would be otherwise. In addition to the three sections above, we have another provision of Partial Withdrawal for tax benefits. Partial WithdrawalYou can make a partial withdrawal if your NPS Tier-I account has completed 3 years. The maximum partial withdrawal amount, in this case, cannot be more than 25% of the total NPS amount. Also, the tax exemption on withdrawal is also up to 25%. Therefore, both the withdrawal amount and the tax-free amount are the same. At the age of 60, NPS will get matured and you will be entitled to withdraw 60% of the total amount and keep the remaining 40% for the purchase of the annuities. These annuities will fix a regular pension for you so that you do not have to work and can easily live off of your pension money, not to mention the lump sum money withdrawn. The withdrawn money up to 60% is exempted from tax. Use an NPS calculator to see how far you have progressed and what the returns you can expect at the maturity of your NPS account. NPS, therefore, is perfect for your retirement plan where you will get a regular pension as well as save a good amount of money over the years through tax exemption. The post How Investing In NPS Can Help You Save Tax & Get A Regular Pension appeared first on N4M (News4masses). from https://news4masses.com/how-investing-in-nps-help-save-tax-get-regular-pension/ Amity School of Engineering & Technology (ASET), Amity University Haryana (AUH) organized its National Virtual Conference on “Advancements & Modern Innovations in Engineering and Technology (AMIET-2020)”. The conference was technically sponsored by the Gurugram Chapter of the Computer Society of India (CSI). The AMIET-2020 was conceptualized and materialized by the organizing chair Prof. (Dr.) S. N. Sridhara, Director (ASET) under the guidance and motivation of the patrons of the conference, namely, Hon’ble Founder President Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Hon’ble Chancellor Dr. Aseem K. Chauhan, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) P. B. Sharma, Hon’ble Deputy-Vice-Chancellor Maj. Gen. B. S. Suhag (Retd.) and Hon’ble Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Padmakali Banerjee. The inaugural session of the conference commenced with the virtual lighting of lamp as light symbolizes the absence of darkness, grief and unhappiness. The vision and driving force behind the conduct of the conference was to provide a virtual platform for the researchers, scholars, academicians and students for dissemination and exchange of information, ideas and novel innovations especially during this ongoing global pandemic time. Dr. Arun K Tripathi, Director General, National Institute of Solar Energy, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt of India, emphasized on planning, development and implementation of solar power plant installations, Renewable energy generations, energy efficient green buildings, waste management and public awareness in the country. He elaborated on how solar industrial uprising gave birth to industrial, technological and economic plethora towards growth and prosperous competence building of the nation. He further affirmed that solar industry globalics have combined innovation with economic development, sectoral transformations and self-reliant productive strategy of human community. As an environmental metaphor, he sensitized to bridge the gap between science, technology, societal aspirations with responsible research and innovation globally. Shri R. K. Vyas, President CSI & Dr. Brijesh Kumar, Head, CSI, Gurgaon Chapter, Prof A.K Nayak, Immediate Past President, CSI, addressed the august gathering with their words of wisdom and congratulated Amity fraternity to organize such rebellious online event helping in digital knowledge sharing and concept framing among researchers and scientists globally. They stressed upon the importance of blended teaching learning as a paradigm shift in education and overall development of the country. Prof P B Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Haryana, marked his presence with ecstatic and vibrant note and congratulated Amity School of Engineering & Technology for organizing AMIET-2020 in Amity University Haryana. He expressed how necessary the knowledge sharing, learning, research, innovation and capacity building are, to provide an alternative framework for economic and evolutionary development of the country. Prof Sharma emphasized on the role of engineering & Technology for societal development, prosperity, empowering humanity, enhancing quality and standard of life for current and upcoming generations. He accentuates the importance of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Robotics, Industry 4.0, Industry 5.0, Solar energy, environmental and sustainable evolution, indoor and outdoor air quality, through men, machine, architecture and innovative genius minds of today’s and tomorrow. Further, he highlighted marketing & media, patenting, research, innovation and industrial development as the phenomenal tools for strengthening the economy, nation building and to emerge India as vibrant, prosperous, healthy and safe habitat for all. Integrating the concept of research, innovation, blended learning with the digitalization of education in today’s era, Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Padmakali Banerjee expressed her deep concern for vitalizing researchers and young minds in education, development and quality driven skills for technological advancements across the globe.She announced September as a month of innovation & enthusiasm on the path of patenting, research publications, and thinking beyond innovation to conceptualize our dreams in this world. She proudly mentioned about Swami Vivekanand who delivered a heart touching speech in Chicago to reflect the culture, religion & scientific credentials of our India, in the month of September only. Dr. S. N. Sridhara concluded his hope that such platforms would give a pool of innovative and revolutionary ideas to curb the challenges occurring in technical growth and development of the country. All the honorable dignitaries on the dais, released conference proceeding published with ISBN in collaboration with CSI Gurgaon Chapter. The conference received 150+ papers and posters from 20 different colleges and Universities. The conference proceedings will also be submitted to Information and Library Network Centre, to further augment the visibility and citations of these papers. Additionally, a book of abstracts is also prepared and released by the dignitaries along with conference proceedings on this auspicious day of National Conference. The technical sessions were followed by the Valedictory Session of the conference where Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof PB Sharma of AUH and Immediate Past President, CSI, Prof, A.K Nayak motivated and congratulated the participants, attendees and the organizers of the conference. Dr Rajesh Arora, Associate Professor, ME Department, AUH delivered a detailed report of the AMIET-2020 conference. He presented highlights and informed the audience about the outcome of the various events of the day.The winners of best paper and poster presentation from each theme of the technical sessions were announced by Mr. Manish Bharti and Mr. Anuj Kumar Singh. The conference ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. Akshat Aggarwal and with a positive note and satisfaction of all stakeholders. The post Advancements & Modern Innovations in Engineering and Technology appeared first on N4M (News4masses). from https://news4masses.com/advancements-modern-innovations-engineering-technology/ News started trickling in a couple of weeks back – in fact around “Teacher’s day” in India – that the Trump administration is “considering whether to add China’s top chipmaker SMIC to a trade blacklist”. This New York Times report by Reuters has a date stamp of 4th September and says: “A Pentagon spokeswoman said the Defense Department was working with other agencies to determine whether to make the move against Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), which would force U.S. suppliers to seek a difficult-to-obtain license before shipping to the company” Reuters report mentions that Pentagon made a proposal earlier that week . On 6th of September, Washington Post put out a report, which said, “Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough said by email Saturday, confirming an earlier report by Reuters”. The Reuters article also says “While the Pentagon official did not outline the reasons for the action, SMICs relationship to the Chinese military is under scrutiny, another U.S. official and two former officials briefed on the matter said. In Saturday’s statement, SMIC said it had no ties to the Chinese military.” For those who may not be fully familiar with the world of semiconductor fabs or foundries, my first article in new4masses will give a general overview and my second article will give an idea of what are pure-play foundries (PPF) and Integrated Device Manufacturers. In the foundry market, TSMC leads with slightly above 50% market share, Samsung is second, Global Foundries third, UMC fourth and SMIC is fifth with about 5% market share – note that in that list Samsung is an IDM and the rest are PPF. This report says “As of 3Q20, SMIC earned around 70% of its revenue from Chinese companies”, so one may think that the US move if finalised may not be such a bad hit on SMIC, however it may not be that easy to conclude. BBC reported on 7th September that “SMIC said it was in complete shock and perplexity” and “Beijing said it was firmly opposed”. Many articles followed, both in mainstream media and in tech-portals about the impact of finalising such a move by the US – two weeks thenceforth, US has not made a final decision yet. Interestingly, now there are reports that “SMIC has asked for approval from the United States to continue supplying Huawei“. Huawei brings 20% of SMIC’s foundry revenue. Both SMIC and Huawei are Chinese companies and yet one has to ‘take permission’ from US to supply the other! Though US does not occupy a considerable space in the foundry space itself (There is no “US-owned” PPF in top 10 and Intel does not offer much of its fabrication capacity as a foundry service) it still has significant hold on the equipment suppliers. China has ambitious plans to have its in-house Chip manufacturing go from a current “supplies to only 20% of its domestic needs” to a future “supplies to 70% of its domestic needs” by 2025. SMIC is a key player and they will need a lot of equipments, including high-end ones if it were to develop latest tech-node capabilities. India right now is perhaps in a situation to just watch the new age “semiconductor trade war” from the sidelines, but there should be lessons learned from both the way US is flexing its muscles with what it can control, and China’s continued ambitions to take its self-sufficiency in chip manufacturing forward despite so many challenges. India sadly continues to be at a near zero percent in terms of self-sufficiency in Chip manufacturing and my news4masses articles and Swarajyamag articles have been dealing with this topic in detail. In this article, I will use the rest of the space to quote two or my friends, each founders of ‘fabless’ startups, on their opinions on the need for #FabInIndia
The post Whatever Aim US Is SMI(C)tten By, There Are Lessons For India appeared first on N4M (News4masses). from https://news4masses.com/whatever-aim-us-smitten-by-there-are-lessons-for-india/ An online 5-level Sanskrit Course was launched in July 2020 by the IIT Roorkee Sanskrit club in collaboration with the volunteer driven organization Samskrita Bharati which attracted thousands of registrations from across 20 countries. The course named “Subhashitam Samskritam” aims at teaching basic Samskritam (Sanskrit) through 108 Subhashitams, which are known for their inherent moral and ethical advice and also relevant for all times and appeals to all age groups. The Subhashitam Samskritam course commenced on 5th of July which was also Gurupoornima. The classes followed the LSRW (Listen, Speak, Read, Write) methodology and the medium of instruction was in Sanskrit. Given the fact that many registrants were learning Sanskrit for the first time, level-1 of the course focused mainly on the listening and speaking skills and engaged in imparting general conversational skills to the participants. The twelve (12) lectures of level-1 were delivered via WebEx and live YouTube streaming by Samskrita Bharati volunteer Suchitra Viswajit. Many volunteers, both from the IIT Roorkee Sanskrit club and Samskrita Bharati also assisted in preparing supplementary material for self-evaluation like google form-based quizzes and practice audio clips. The fact that these lectures continued to receive tens of thousands of views on YouTube shows that there were many non-registered but interested viewers watching them too. Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee received a letter of appreciation from the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on 17th July. The IIT Roorkee Sanskrit Club members on 19th July organized an online valedictory function on the occasion of completion of the level-1, which was attended by Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Minister of Education. An online exam for the level-1 was conducted on 21st and 22nd July. Out of the total participants who attempted, 5108 participants cleared it and were sent e-certificates with grades (class) obtained. While the evaluation of the level-1 exam was ongoing, the “1 Bridge 2″ series of videos were published on the IIT Roorkee Sanskrit club’s YouTube channel, which covered topics like “Learn Devanagari” taught by Prof. Ramachandran from Chennai as well as additional topics for improving Sanskrit conversation. Twelve participants opted out at this stage from moving into next levels and at present 5096 participants are registered for the next four (4) levels. In each of these four levels, Subhashitams are being taught and explained in the Sanskrit language itself. They are also used as examples to teach grammar concepts. Each level will have 12 to 15 lectures, with typically two Subhashitams in each lecture. The lectures are held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and are streamed live through YouTube and hence open to all. Wednesday and Saturday have optional doubt clearance sessions for registrants using WebEx at three different time slots. Sunday has nine WebEx sessions at various times for revision and practice where the registrants can choose to attend one. Detailed study material in the form of pdf files, audios, and google form quiz for self-evaluation are also sent to the registrants by email. Telegram discussion groups continue to have “question windows” at specified times and teachers give answers later. There are also additional optional telegram groups where the focus is only on practicing to speak in Samskritam on topics specified ad hoc or at short notice The 15 lectures of level-2 started on 3rd August, which was also World Sanskrit Day and Raksha Bandhan. This level focused on Vibhaktis and some lakaaras (tense and mood forms of verbs) through 33 Subhashitams and was taught by Vachaspati Nandakumar, All India Samparka pramukh of Samskrita Bharati. An online exam was conducted on 29th and 30th August which 3808 participants attempted. Pro-rated percentage of the marks they scored would be added to the final marks after all the 4 levels. Out of those who attempted, 3700 scored 40% or more, and they would receive e-certificates of a successful attempt of the level-2 exam. In the one-week time, after the level-2 exam and start of level-3 lectures, some participants of the Subhashitam Samskritam course decided to put together an hour-long program titled ‘SamskritaSabhaa – episode1’. Except for guidance and some technical support from Samskrita Bharati and IIT Roorkee Sanskrit club members, the content of the first 42 mins of this online effort was coordinated, anchored, and segments performed by registrants of level-2. The one-hour long program has news in Samskritam, two small skits, three quiz questions, one advertisement break as well as a Samskrita Bharati song – all in Sanskrit and performed by level-2 registrants. The video was released on the “Teachers’ Day” and so there were interviews taken from a Samskrita Bharati teacher in the USA and a young Bhagavad Gita teacher in Karnataka – in Sanskrit and the interviewers are level-2 registrants. A well-known Hindi bhajan was translated into Sanskrit and presented as a video segment as well. After the 42 min segment with anchors, there is also an 18 min drama in Sanskrit performed by Samskrita Bharati group from Singapore, some of who are also students of the level-2 course. The video is available here and has received more than 5500 views and 145 comments within five days. In all likelihood, this may be a first of a kind program and video where performances from various parts of the world have been combined as in a thread into a single program which is end to end in Sanskrit. Organisers inform that the Level-3 of the Course which started from 7th of September will have 14 lectures and will end on the 29th September. This level has 27 subhashitams with a focus on concepts like Avyayas, Krudantas, and Prayogas. Exam for level-3 is tentatively planned for 3rd and 4th October. Many participants hope that the second episode of SamskritaSabhaa can be released after the level-3 exam and tentatively around 10th October. Level-4 lectures are planned to start from 12th October followed by an exam in early November, and Level-5 lectures planned to start from 16th November tentatively. Similar initiatives by different institutions in India and across the world shows the rising interest and enthusiasm among the people to learn Sanskrit. The post IIT Roorkee Sanskrit Course Rolls On – Attendees Display Laudable Zeal appeared first on N4M (News4masses). from https://news4masses.com/iit-roorkee-sanskrit-course-rolls-on/
Jammu: American Oncology Institute (AOI) at Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences, Jammu is pleased to announce the first and only PET-CT Scanof the Jammu city, to help people fight cancer through early detection and diagnosis. In order to improve the diagnostic and treatment care facility, American Oncology Institute at Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences, Jammu, the city’s first and only dedicated Comprehensive Cancer Unit with the biggest team of Cancer Super-Specialists, providing all the modalities of Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Cancer Surgeries under one roof, has installed the first and only state-of-the-art PET CT Scan in Jammu city to provide patients with a better treatment experienceat an affordable cost. Dr.Sangeeta Tikkoo, Consultant Nuclear Medicine, American Oncology Institute says, “Every year more than 400,000 Indians lose their lives because of cancer and the disease is increasing at 11% per year. Precision, accuracy and early detection is the need for the hour in cancer care, and PET CT has emerged as an integral imaging tool in oncology. It provides advanced imaging solutions for early detection of cancer and also helps to detect the nature of the tumour. To make it affordable for all class of people, as an introductory package, AOI Jammu has reduced the cost of PET CT diagnosis by 20% along with afree OPD consultation till October 31, 2020 for patients undergoing PET-CT. Dr. Neeraj Bishnoi, Regional Director – North, American Oncology Institute, emphasized, “Making cancer treatment affordable is the need of the hour looking at the increasing number of cancer cases across the country. Our offerings ensure top class cancer care to the best possible health care facilities to the patients”. “The management has extensively reviewed the functioning of this premier cancer care hospital, besides taking several significant decisions to further enhance its operational capabilities vis a vis ensuring the highest standards of patient care in tune with the emerging requirements”,he added. About American Oncology Institute:American Oncology Institute is the leading cancer care provider across South Asia operating a chain of cancer hospitals in multiple cities across South Asia. AOI today is a wholly owned subsidiary of Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR). The team of clinical, paraclinical and healthcare operations experts pride themselves with the aim of closing the gap between standards of cancer care in South Asia and the developed cancer hospitals in the West. AOI provides comprehensive cancer management that is powered by clinical excellence, world class technology as well as best in class clinical pathways and protocols for treatment planning and execution, providing best in-class quality in cancer care across South Asia. The post Jammu Gets Its First PET-CT Scan For Early Cancer Detection appeared first on N4M (News4masses). from https://news4masses.com/jammu-first-pet-ct-scan-for-early-cancer-detection/ Kolkata: “The Atmanirbhar Bharat spirit will result in India coming out much stronger after Covid-19 because we are unleashing our animus spirits in terms of self reliance and work. Some of this is in reaction to the global trends. If the global supply chains are unduly dominated by a particular country and you apprehend difficulties, well thats the genius of the Indian people to quickly rebound and the results are heartwarming,” said Mr Hardeep Singh Puri at a special online session of The Write Circle and in conversation with former diplomat, author and foreign policy analyst, T C A Raghavan, organized by Prabha Khaitan Foundation of Kolkata. The Write Circle is a forum that brings top minds and experts to share perspectives and deep insights from diverse fields and spheres of activity. Mr Puri, who currently holds three portfolios as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in response to a question by Mr Raghavan further said, “Atmanirbhar Bharat is not intended to be an inward looking excuse to close our borders to the world. It is a spirit and a resolve to make us more productive and better members of International community and global system. We are on the cusp of the fourth industrial revolution with the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and artificial intelligence and the spirit is to make sure we don’t become a lego or just nuts and bolts. Atmanirbhar will resonate strongly because we want to take advantage of the other supply chains in the world.” As a career diplomat for 39 years, Mr Puri has held many important posts including former Representative of India in the United Nations, President of UN Security Council and Chairman of UNSC Counter Terrorism Committee and others. Mr Puri has also authored two books Perilous Interventions and Delusional Politics. Commenting on various challenges and struggles of covid pandemic, Mr Puri said, “Since 6th May India has now (in the fifth phase) brought back over 1.4 million citizens from across the globe during the pandemic. I can say with a sense of confidence that this is the largest evacuation and repatriation mission undertaken at any point of time in human history and the rate at which things are moving we shall set a new record. We were able to do it within reasonable arrangements of social distancing and other safety quotients.” Touching upon different topics he said that the lockdown has helped us to create necessary infrastructure – the number of beds required; PPEs, ventilators, medicines etc., that have been exported to many countries in the world, including the developed West. Even though a scheme such Awas Yojana shouldn’t be a factor in deciding who to vote for, there is some sort of correlation according to Puri. Even in the case of youngsters who faced job problems came in and voted for Modi ji because there was a clear outline of the plan. The post “Atmanirbhar Spirit Will Make India Emerge Stronger After Covid-19”: Puri appeared first on N4M (News4masses). from https://news4masses.com/atmanirbhar-spirit-india-to-come-out-stronger/ The GST agreement for cooperative federalism was that the center and states would share the GST revenues. Accordingly, the States gave up their taxing rights on the condition that the Center would compensate the states for loss of State revenue for five years. GST revenues were to be calculated, as the GST Revenues of the state plus a 14% pa compounded growth with 2015 as the base year. Based on the good experience of the VAT in action, it was reasonable for policy makers and designers to assume a decline in revenue of a marginal nature. No one could predict a serious setback by things like Covid striking. The last time that such a situation arose was around 1857. So, the spirit of compensation was more to do with providing additional funds for states to pursue a 14% growth each year. GST design has envisaged States to get SGST revenue, which constitutes 43% of their revenues, and compensation from the center. Covid has caused a steep decline of Government Direct Taxes and GST revenues. Imports have collapsed. In such a situation, the challenge has become arduous. From a management perspective, any Good government needs to appraise all the states of a realistic picture and reach out to them for their cooperation. Instead of that, the BJP government took a belligerent approach claiming that they cannot meet their commitments. They gave to options for the states to take loans. Their political messaging was aimed at States being unreasonable and unresponsive to the calamity faced. States opposed both the proposals and demanded that the center should take loans and meet their commitments. Instead of going the extra mile to seek consensus and attempting to win over opposing states, the Center engineered their BJP and allies ruled states to accept their proposal with an aim to isolate the states being run by their political opponents. This has hardened the fault lines and does not auger well for cooperative federalism.Center has the ability to raise much higher quantum of funds than the states. It has more access to revenue sources like Direct Taxes, Customs duty to take loans etc. It is also in a much better position to raise loans at better rates than the States. So, why has it been pushing for States to raise loans and bear interest? The Center claims that it will impact the Country’s credit rating. This is a disingenuous argument. The Credit rating of any country is taken on the holistic approach and includes the financials of the Center and the State. Therefore, one has to only conclude that the reason for insisting that States take loans is to deflect blame for their economic handling and pushing the blame on States for the country’s economic situation. BJP Government’s handling of Covid has clearly demonstrated that it has no compunctions in putting the blame on States. Its ill-conceived stand on the ‘Act of God’ has serious ramifications. For one, it makes it complicit, from a moral perspective, of breaching its commitment, the most serious lapse of damaging the Center’s credibility. Second, it opens up a Pandora’s boxin going after defaulters for not paying tax as they can also claim the same from a legal perspective. More concerning is the attitude displayed by the Central Government. Center is not doing a favour to the States by giving them money. The Constitution has mandated the Center to raise revenues from multiple sources and share it with the States as per the Finance Commission’s recommendations. Therefore, it is obliged and is customary to provide subsidies and grants to States for various programs. Center’s track record of delays in disbursements has already impinged its credibility. Revenues of GST have been having shortfalls from its inception. Barring a few months, over the last three years, GST revenues have remained below the Rs.1, 00,000 crores level. July 2017 had Rs.93,590 Crores but declined to the lowest in November 2017 to Rs.83,716 Crores. For the first 12 months from July 1, 2017 – July 1, 2018 the total revenues collected was around Rs.10, 78,620 Crores. Government refused to acknowledge the financial impact of demonetization and failed to stimulate consumption while its direct taxes were going down. GST revenue collections remained almost flat for the financial year 2018-2019 and touched Rs.11, 50,000 crores barely a 9% increase and far short of the targets for the two years. This is mostly, due to lack of compliance. A hurried implementation without preparations of technology platform, lack of clarity, ever changing policies and declining rates has only provided opportunities for defaulters to get away with noncompliance. Be as it may, the reality staring in the face is that for the year 2019-2020, the revenues from Cess has been Rs.95, 444 crores while it had to pay Rs.1.65 lakh crores to states–73% more than its cess collections. Even if the cess rates are increased by 5% more for the coming year, it will contribute only around Rs.23, 000 crores assuming the GST revenues would fall by 35%,the financial GST revenues of 2019-2020 would be Rs.2.67lakh Crores. Therefore, it is obvious there is no way the center can meet its commitments even in the next two years. From a moral perspective, States cannot demand reimbursement for GST shortfalls due to Covid. They have contributed by indiscriminate rate cuts and not monitoring defaults. Therefore, both have to make compromises and find a solution. Some of them could be:
This will prevent Center from defaulting and will be truly cooperative federalism in the making. The post GST – An Opportunity To Strengthen Cooperative Federalism appeared first on N4M (News4masses). from https://news4masses.com/gst-opportunity-to-strengthen-cooperative-federalism/ Give the old photos lying uselessly around a bit of flair by transforming them into something share-worthy and exciting. Yes, you got it right; why not create an attractive video collage using those old pictures in your home? However, above anything else, know what a collage is. It is a series of pictures placed together in an appealing format. Adding a good collage to a video can help in shortening the runtime of the video while offering it a visual interest at the same time. In a photo collage, makers can form a collage using various layouts. You can either start from scratch or use a template of your choice. The matter of the fact is you get several layouts to be added to a photo collage and include the same in your video. Here are the Top 7 Tips that can help you create the best video collages using old photos: Creating Video Collages Gets Easy Using the Right SoftwareAre you in possession of a bunch of old photos? Looking to create a video collage out of them? Not a problem when you have the right software at your disposal. You must put in your time to find software or the best video editor for YouTube, probably for the ones interested in posting their content on YouTube that helps you make fancy collages. Launch the software and install it on your device to create collages that not only impress the onlookers but help you take pride in your talent. Different tools can help you create dazzling galleries of in-motion pictures. Once you are done with the installation of these creative tools on your device, they will automatically open and give you the ease of creating some great work. Choose the Right Background for the CollageChoose backgrounds from a complete list of backgrounds available with your collage maker. You should only drag and drop the chosen background-clip onto the video timeline. If you are looking to add your very own customized background, you can do so easily. Choose the files to add in the video and include them in the collage. You even have the option of using the content available at the online stocks or video collections provided by different sources. Check out the sources offering relevant material. Best is to select professionally developed background videos because they make the best collages. Here, you should create the overlay as the very first thing. Audio Management Is the Next StepThe next step of this process is adding proper music to the video. Here, you even have the option of applying your very own voice-over. For adding the right music, simply choose the audio files you want to add from distinct folders on your device. Drag and drop the audio files to the location where you want them to play in the video. For recording voice-overs, you can use special features on the video editing tool that you are using. The majority of these tools available these days come with options where users can record their voices and use the same in their content.
Aim at Making the Collage Look Appealing and GorgeousWhen turning old photos into video collages, there are some important factors you need to consider in making your work more appealing and attractive. First of all, you should be very particular about the images. Make sure the pictures are not too old as they might ruin the quality and the eye-catching appeal of the collage. When working on creating the collage, you must try and incorporate some of your ideas for making the work more interesting to the viewers. For example, you have the option of bringing in a bit of creativity in the shape of the collage. Video collages will grab attention only when they have an X factor about them. Remember this, and continue putting in the best efforts. Always Choose Images that Relate to Each OtherVideo collages work best assets of pictures with one common message. Even before starting to put together a video collage, think about the patterns for connecting all the different pictures. There are different ways of combining the images for creating an attractive visual effect. You can use different ways to make the pictures look very best in the visual collage. First, choose images in the same color, feel, and texture. Also, have your eyes on finding pictures that relate to each other by the theme and the topic of the collage. Using a bit of negative space in collage is very important. It is the space around the main subject of the image. In video collages, this space offers all the images in some room to stand out. It even makes it easier for the viewers to see the minutest details of the pictures and how they relate to one another. Add Text to the CollageWhile including text in the collage, make sure it supports the story you are trying to narrate with the pictures. Center the text in a way that they create words that have the focus on the collage. Always use large fonts. Jump cuts and brush strokes are the perfect styles to go for. Do not include backgrounds for the texts because it might make the collage look drab. Make sure the words you are choosing for the collage are easy to read. Save the WorkSelecting the desired format of the video collage is very important. The tool that you are using for making the collage will offer you options to choose different formats. So, going for the one that pops up the moment you use the tool is not wise. Once the format parameters have been specified, you can move on to saving the work so it can be uploaded on a site as instantly as possible. Experiment with diverse styles and formats for creating a fun experience for the viewers. ConclusionThere you are, ready to transform your old pictures into a beautiful and appealing visual collage. Simply follow the tips mentioned above religiously and give the process a try! The post Top 7 Tips for Using Your Old Photos to Create a Video Collage appeared first on N4M (News4masses). from https://news4masses.com/top-7-tips-old-photos-create-video-collage/ |