States with biggest solar power projects

India's major grid solar power projects

Is blessed with about an estimated 5000 TWh of solar radiation. We look at the State/Union-Territory-wise list of grid solar power projects commissioned so far in the country.

India's National Solar Mission has targeted to deploy 20 million solar lighting systems for rural areas by 2022. The country is blessed with about an estimated 5000 TWh of solar radiation. This vast resource can be tapped to meet the growing energy demand. Even if a tenth of this potential is utilised, it could solve the country’s power problems.

Solar energy has particular relevance in remote and rural areas, where around 289 million people live without access to electricity. Solar energy is the most cost-effective option for India to reduce energy poverty without having to extend national grid services to provide power for individual homes and buildings.

State:	Capacity:
Andhra Pradesh	100 kWp
Arunanchal Pradesh	25 kWp
Gujarat	5000 kWp
Karnataka	6000 kWp
Kerala	25 kWp
Madhya Pradesh	100 kWp
Maharashtra	1000 kWp
Punjab	2325 kWp
Rajasthan	4950 kWp
Tamil Nadu	5050 kWp
Uttar Pradesh	375 kWp
Uttarakhand	50 kWp
West Bengal	1150 kWp
Andaman & Nicobar	100 kWp
Delhi	2142 kWp
Lakshadweep	750 kWp
Puducherry	25 kWp
Others	790 kWp
	Total for India: 29957 kWp

A replacement for Maruti 800 by Diwali?

Maruti’s new 800cc car to hit market by Diwali

Maruti is gearing up to introduce an all-new 800cc car that could be a replacement for the M800

A little car, but a soaring presence nationwide... Indian automobile history witnessed a dramatic change on a chilly December morning in 1983 when the first Maruti 800 was rolled out of a factory in Gurgaon. Indian roads have never been the same ever since. When Maruti decided to bring the curtains down on the iconic 800, which has always remained a mainstay of personal mobility for the masses, the decision had left a lot of Maruti 800 fans emotional, and some even watery-eyed.

Now, Maruti is gearing up to introduce an all new 800cc car that could potentially be a replacement for the Maruti 800. Faced with declining market share and falling sales of the best seller Alto, the company has already started testing the new car that certainly will be more fuel efficient and technologically advanced, but more expensive than the Alto.

Rumours had it that the new ultra low cost car from Maruti would be the Cervo. However, it's almost certain by now that Maruti has no plans to bring Cervo to India and the new 800cc car will be called the Alto 800.
According to sources close to the development, the company will start commercial production of the new 800cc car at its Gurgaon plant from July or August and will launch it by Diwali.

Although Maruti has officially stopped the production of the M800 in April 2012, it's still being sold in the cities where Bharat Stage IV emission norms are not applicable.

Porsche P'9981 smartphone at Rs 1.39 lakh

RIM launches BlackBerry Porsche P'9981 at Rs 1.39 lakh

Porsche Design and Research In Motion launched a new BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981 smartphone in India. The BlackBerry Porsche P'9981 is priced at Rs 1.39 lakh.

The customized Porsche P'9981 comes with an exclusive Porsche Design UI and a bespoke Wikitude World Browser augmented reality app experience.

    The smartphone also includes a premium, exclusive PIN that easily identifies the user as holder of a Porsche P'9981 smartphone from BlackBerry.

 The Porsche P'9981 is built on a performance driven platform that features a 1.2 GHz processor and Liquid Graphics technology, which enables a highly responsive touch experience with incredibly fast and smooth graphics

  It also features HD video recording, 24-bit high resolution graphics, advanced sensors enabling new augmented reality applications, and built-in support for Near Field Communications.

The Porsche P'9981 comes with 8 GB of on-board memory, expandable to up to 40 GB with a microSD card.

    The new Porsche P'9981 also comes with the latest BlackBerry OS that delivers a highly refined and integrated suite of phone, email, messaging and social apps.

It includes a next generation BlackBerry browser, which provides a fast, fluid web browsing experience that is among the best in the industry, and comes with a number of pre-loaded applications that keep users connected.

"The Porsche P'9981 smartphone from BlackBerry is a perfect culmination of style and functionality," said Sunil Dutt, Managing Director for India at RIM. "The exceptional look and feel of this modern smartphone inspires and we are pleased to be launching the P'9981 in India."

Underwater hotel to come up in Dubai

Dubai reveals plans for amazing underwater hotel

Dubai shipbuilder Drydocks World has inked a deal with Swiss-based BIG InvestConsult, on behalf of partner Deep Ocean Technology (DOT) to create Water Discus Hotel - a leisure facility with a structure that is partly above water and the rest underneath.

Water Discus Underwater Hotel will comprise two discs - an underwater and above-water one. This combination will allow guests to admire the depths of the ocean while making the most of the warm climate.

The two parts of the structure are connected by three solid legs and a vertical shaft containing a lift and stairway. The size of each disc has been adjusted to local conditions. 

The Water Discus complex was designed to ensure safety at all times, even in the most adverse weather conditions. The structure sits up on three sturdy legs fixed to the seabed, and the upper disc is suspended above the water surface. These two technical solutions will ensure that Water Discus remains safe even in the event of a fairly high tsunami, which can normally flood the nearest coastal areas.

The complex is surrounded by a beautifully vibrant coral reef. This unique location will allow visitors to enjoy the tropical weather and the colourful underwater world. The disc, located up to 10 metres beneath the surface of the sea, is composed of 21 hotel rooms adjacent to the underwater dive centre and a bar. Each room is integrated with the underwater world as closely as possible, offering a surprisingly direct, yet safe contact with the local flora and fauna.

The disc and its adjacent satellites located 5 - 7 metres above the water surface comprise a restaurant, a spa and a special recreation area.

A multifunctional lobby built inside an enormous swimming pool shows the centre of the disc. The area around the underwater part of the complex and diving activities may be watched as they happen on the screens hanging on the lobby walls. This part of the complex is connected to the satellites with glass-walled tunnels cutting through a training pool for divers. 

Dubai shipbuilder Drydocks World has inked a deal with Swiss-based BIG InvestConsult, on behalf of partner Deep Ocean Technology (DOT) for creation of the hotel.

The financial details of the deal, exact location and date of commencement of construction are still not known.

Tax exemptions you may not know about

Offbeat tax saving avenues for the Indian tax payer

The importance of planning your savings and understanding tax components that you can utilise to maximize your income cannot be stressed upon enough. One of the best ways to plan your taxes is to start well in advance on this exercise; right in the beginning of the financial year and not wait till the end of the financial year, when there are bound to be constraints on the cash flow and a confusion over what investment route to choose.

It is critical to know all the possible ways one can save tax, to help plan your budget properly. The IT Act of 1961 is loaded with big dollops of taxpaying/tax saving information. Ways to save tax have always been an interesting consideration for tax payers all across the world, as tax saved is money saved. While some of the tax-saving avenues are well-treaded by the tax payers in the nation, there are some roads to tax saving which are lesser known. Two of them are explained below.

In India, you can enjoy a tax deduction if you have contributions to make to a political party. The IT Act says that any amount of money that is donated to an acknowledged political party can be lawfully claimed for deduction, under Section 80GGC (For corporate it is 80 GGB). This deduction was launched very recently, April 2010, and the same applies to any contributions made to electoral trusts as well.

There is no upper limit set for the deduction amount, but it can exclusively be claimed only if the contribution goes into the party funds.

It is interesting to note here that deduction on donations does not come into play if you are donating money to an individual. It is only applicable if you are donating it to specific organizations.

For example, Section 80G of the IT Act says that if you are donating funds to a charitable organization, you are entitled to get a deduction of 50%-100% for that.  However, note that there exists a ceiling here — the percentage of deduction is restricted to 10% of the donor's (gross) total income. Also, only donations in cash are taken into consideration for the purpose and not donations in kind.

Needless to say that the amount of tax you can save is dependent on the amount that you contribute.

You would require a proof to claim this deduction and that's a stamped receipt of the amount donated, from the party or the organization to which you have made the contribution.

Save tax for disabilities

The Indian taxman has a heart of gold and it is seen nowhere better than this. Section 80 U of the IT Act says that if a taxpayer happens to suffer from any of the listed disabilities (see below), he is entitled to a tax deduction of INR 75,000.

If the tax payer has a disabled dependent (spouse/parents/children/siblings) to support, Sec 80DD allows him to claim the same.

Disability list includes low vision, blindness, hearing disability, leprosy, loco-motor impediment, mental illness and mental retardation.

Things to note

• This deduction is obtainable only if the disability is 40% at least.
• For severe impairments, 80% or above, the deductible amount becomes more — 1 Lakh.
• The dependent must be fully dependent for upkeep on the taxpayer and must not be claiming deduction for it independently under Sec 80 U.

Proof required to claim this deduction will be a disability certificate from a CMO of a government aided hospital or a civil surgeon.

More of such special deduction news for income tax is available in IT Act, 1961. Check further to know more.

Can u imagine a car with two wheels?Now, a two-wheeled, self-balancing car?

     Lit C-1"motorbike-car"

Described as a "motorbike-car" hybrid, the Lit C-1 two wheeler uses a set of futuristic electronic gyroscopes to ensure it remains upright and balanced, similar to the technology used by Segway scooters and the recent Honda UNI-CUB.

A group of scientists have announced that within a few years it may be possible to sell a two-wheeled vehicle that can't tip over.

The technology allows drivers to sit and use a steering wheel, as in a car, but allows the C-1 to stay perfectly balanced, even at slow speeds or a standstill.

    The secret to the balance are the gyroscopes under the floor, which spin rapidly in response to electronic sensors to keep the vehicle balanced at all times -- even, says Lit, if the vehicle is involved in a collision.

       Gyroscopes, which harness the unique propensity of a spinning flywheel to stay upright, have been used for some time for stabilization, including on aircraft and on cruise ships to reduce roll caused by waves.

However, this will be one of the most unique applications to date, potentially enabling drivers to switch to smaller vehicles which offer the benefits of a bike with the comparative safety of a car.

The model can even cope with some luggage and an extra passenger, says Lit, although it's likely to involve some considerable acrobatics from the rear passenger given the small size of the device

The C-1 uses electric drive and offers a battery pack capable of 200 miles (321 km/h) from a single charge, as well as reaching a top speed of over 120 mph (193 km/h) -- far faster than most electric cars available on the market today.

The manufacturer says that it could be available in showrooms by the end of 2014 -- it's already offering preorders on the website from $250, although the final price of the vehicle is unclear.

Do gold jewellery schemes benefit buyers?

Gold is one of the most commodities in an an average Indian's life, especially when it comes to festivals or weddings. So naturally, the escalating prices are a cause for great concern for many Indian families. Gold prices have surged to such astronomical levels buying gold has become next to impossible for families with modest income.

Perceiving this difficulty and owing to the drop in sales, various jewelers have come up with indigenous schemes to lure buyers.
Schemes like buying gold in investments where you have to pay only just 11 out of 12 installments, the last installment will be footed by the jeweler itself. You'll own the gold jewelry after the completion of the tenure.
Example
Mrs. Sunita from Delhi decided to buy 20 grams gold as an investment, but realised she lacked sufficient funds. A jeweler offered a scheme under which she could buy gold jewelry after one year at the prevailing market rate after paying 12 monthly installments. The jeweler also offered to pay the 12^th installment after she had completed the 11th installment.
That means for jewelry worth Rs 60000, she had to pay Rs 55000 in 11 months, and Rs 5000 would be borne by the jeweler. She thought it was a good option. She sought to buy gold as an investment and under this scheme she would make both and investment and get herself an ornament.

Did the buyer benefit from this scheme?
The only benefit that a buyer gets is purchasing gold in installments. But from a buyer's point of view, this type of scheme has more to lose than to gain.

Here's why one should not to buy gold under the jewelry scheme
Let's examine the limitations of buying gold jewelry through this scheme:
-          The installment paid, can be used only to buy the jewelry, and it cannot be redeemed against gold biscuit or coins. The jewelry also carries the making charges, and its purity is lesser than the biscuit or coin. So if we compare 10 grams gold biscuit to gold jewelry, then buyer would gain if he chooses the gold biscuit. Let's check the comparison:

Details	Gold Jewelry	Gold Biscuit
Quantity	10 Grams	10 Grams
Purity	22 K	24 K
Making Charges	Up to Rs 30/Gram	Nil
Resale Value	Lower due to impurity	Full Return Value

-          The buyer is under an obligation to the seller to purchase the gold at the prevailing market rate. If at the time of booking jewelry, the gold rate is Rs 2800/gram but after the completion of installments, the rate increased to Rs 3000/grams, then buyer has to pay Rs 2000 extra for every 10 grams due to change in price of gold.
-          If the main purpose of a buyer is to invest, then buying jewellery is not a wise choice. The jewelry is not made of 24 carat gold, and it also carries some making charges, so the return value of jewellery would be much less when compared to gold coin, biscuit or bars.

Other attractive options to buy gold in installments
The buyers have many other options to buy gold at a cheaper cost and at a better quality. Some of the options include:
-          If the buyer wants to buy gold after 12 months under the installment pattern, then it would be a better option if he buys Gold ETF in the stock market every month and averages out the inconsistency. He can also buy it in E-Gold format (National spot exchange) where he can buy as low as 1 gram gold. After 12 months, he can sell the gold in electronic form and buy the gold jewellery from the proceedings, or if he wants to carry it longer then he can keep it in the DEMAT A/c.
-          If the buyer wants to invest in a coin or bar, then he also has the option to put the money every month in a recurring deposit account for 12 months and earn interest on the money and buy gold with the maturity proceedings.
The basic flaw in the gold jewelry scheme is that jewelers not only earn interest on the buyer's installment but also sell the jewelry after earning a handsome margin. For 20 grams gold jewelry, he earns Rs 600 making charge and sells 22 carat gold at rate of 24 carat gold. So he earns approx 8% extra by selling gold of 22 carat purity.
For jewelers, this scheme is a win-win situation as he gets the chance to sell his product, and at the same time he earns interest on the customer's installment whereas buyers, who cannot distinguish whether they are buying gold as jewellery or as an investment, are always set to lose out in this type of deal.

Gorgeous: Underground hotel in China

Sky-high hotels and resorts are invariably impressive – shooting up as if to kiss the clouds. But what if a resort was created inside a deep gorge - would it look equally spectacular? Here are some artist impressions of the Songjiang Shimao Hotel project by engineering and design consultancy, Atkins.

           Songjiang Shimao Hotel is a resort that includes extreme sports facilities, visitor centre and a five-star luxury hotel with some levels of the hotel situated under water.

    The unique resort is being built into an abandoned, water-filled quarry.
   

A naturally-lit internal atrium incorporates the existing rock face, with its waterfalls and green vegetation.

    The design solution for the resort includes the use of green roofing and exploiting the site’s geothermal heat to generate electricity and heating.

    Atkins is providing the architecture, structural and civil engineering services for this leisure resort in China.

    The resort includes extreme sports facilities, visitor centre and a five-star luxury hotel with some levels of the hotel situated under water.
 

How to Manage Stress

Everyone faces stress. It’s just how you deal with it that makes it better or worse for you. Here are some ways you can manage your stress:

Everyone faces stress. It’s just how you deal with it that makes it better or worse for you. Here are some  ways you can manage your stress:

Food

Improper consumption of food could be one of the reasons why your stress levels are up. Try staying away from binge eating and junk foods. Try and eat more salads and fruits. Adopt a healthy food habit.

Alcohol

Don’t think for one second that drinking alcohol is relieving your stress. Sure it relaxes you, takes your mind off things momentarily, but it is not a permanent solution. Avoid alcohol abuse.

How to deal with Burnout

Getting Started: It is vital to start the day with something that lowers your anxiety levels. This is akin to taking an antidepressant early in the day. However, rather than consuming pills, you need to invest time in some form of soothing activity, like a few minutes of yoga or meditation. Combine this with simple things like sipping tea when seated snugly in your balcony or doing a few stretches.

Say no

You don’t have to be a people-pleaser all the time. In fact you don’t have to be one at all. If taking too much work and responsibility is adding to your woes, learn to say no. Tell people you already have too much going on at the moment and can’t take any more work, then be it home or office.

Exercise

Have a regular schedule for exercise. It could be walking, running, skipping, swimming, tennis, anything that is physical in nature and will get your heart running. Exercise releases endorphins that make you feel better. Plus if you are healthier you will be able to cope up with things in a better manner.

Relaxation

Set aside 10-15 min everyday for meditation. The idea is to relax your mind completely. Learn some meditation techniques by reading books on it or by referring the internet. And practise it every day. Even before you go to bed, simply close your eyes, think positive things and go to sleep with a smile on your face.

Plan

Plan your day and life better. Plan for little things. Suppose there’s a meeting coming up, plan for it. Decide what time you want to get there, what you’re going to wear, what you’re going to say – pre-decide everything. Check fuel in your car, air etc. Once you take care of these little things, you will be much more relaxed.

Goals

It’s great to have goals – a millionaire by the time you turn 40. Possible. But when you set goals for yourself make them realistic. Don’t set your goals too high and then stress over it when you can’t reach them.

Let go

There are certain things that are in your control, and certain things that aren’t. If driving in heavy traffic every morning gets you riled up, get a chauffer, or use the public transport or opt for car pooling. You need to learn to let go of things that are beyond your control. If people on the road are honking incessantly or someone is jumping red lights, there’s nothing much you can do about it. By getting angry or stressed about it you will only be boiling your own blood. So chill.Dealing with stress is easy. Make a list of things that are stressing you and eliminate them bit by bit. When you feel you’re getting too stressed, watch a comedy movie and laugh it off. 

Keeping Yourself Energized: Most people suffering from burnout tend to have lower energy levels. A simple way to negate this state of lethargy is consuming a lot of fluids throughout the day. Stay away from the sugar-concentrated drinks. Don’t overdo the coffee bit either. Stick to healthier choices like green tea, nimbu paani, buttermilk and plain water.

Detangle Yourself: Try to set some boundaries. Mostly, Burnout sets-in when you start taking on too much work or start doing too many things that you don’t want to. Just try to give yourself a break from being the person everybody can depend upon. This includes taking a break from counseling depressed friends over the phone or taking on extra work at the office

De-Tech Yourself: Try to reduce your dependency on your gadgets. Many people have an unacknowledged form of anxiety that is mainly due to constant checking of emails or SMS on handheld devices. For a few days, disengage yourself from the habit of staying connected all the time. Less worrying helps to reduce burnout tendencies.

Rediscover Your Hobbies: Indulge in something that you have been ignoring due to a hectic lifestyle. This could be creative things like writing and reading, or doing something more physical like working-out at the gym.

Seek Help: Talk about your state of mind to the people who care about you. There is no shame in admitting that you are going through a low phase and need time to recharge your batteries. This will ensure that people will reduce the pressure on you, at least for a while. This might also mean seeking extra support from your colleagues and family. Don’t hesitate to do so. Help is essentially reciprocal and you shouldn’t mind asking for it, when the chips are down.If things have really gotten out of hand and you have developed serious issues like insomnia or depression, it is time to get counseling. A couple of sessions with a therapist can be very helpful in getting control of the situation

Get Organized: You need to plan-out a recovery phase for yourself. This means taking a sheet of paper and marking-out things that need your attention no matter what, i.e. inescapable responsibilities. Follow this with the kind of chores you can excuse for the time being. Plan the next few weeks in such a way that you set aside at least one hour on a daily basis for doing something you like. This could be something as basic taking a stroll in the garden or jogging to your favorite bakery and digging into your beloved, sweet treats.

Take a Holiday: Taking a vacation is perhaps the best solution to combating a burnout. This could be a family vacation or a travel plan that includes only you, individually exploring new things. The absence of daily chores at work or home will help you.

Address Your Pain: Acknowledging your pain is perhaps the most important aspects of dealing with a Burnout. All of us are prone to suffering from some kind of loss. This includes financial or emotional loss; anything that induces a sense of sorrow. The other type of pain that people tend to carry is repentance. Many times, we aren't able to confess things and they start to weigh on our conscience. Over a period, this begins to deplete our reserves of positive energy. Lastly, you could be suffering from an idealistic loss such as realizing that your career or life isn't progressing according to your ideals or the goals you had established. Whatever might be the reason, try to address and solve such issues and if that is not possible, at least discuss them.A burnout may or may not require professional help, depending upon the severity of the symptoms. However, a serious, burnout episode can be easily prevented by recognizing it before it grips you. Whenever you find yourself frustrated or irrigated without a precise reason and lack of sleep hits you for more than a few days, try to take a break and re-organize yourself.

Tata Megapixel offers 100 kmpl mileage

Tata unveils Megapixel at the Geneva Motor Show

Combining a lithium ion phosphate battery and an on-board petrol engine generator for recharging on the move, the Tata Megapixel offers a range of up to 900 km with a single tank of fuel. With the petrol prices rising to record highs on a regular basis, will Tata put this dream vehicle into production? Only time will tell...

Tata Motors presented at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show the Tata Megapixel, a new four-seater city-smart global range extended electric vehicle (REEV) concept for the performance-seeking and environment-conscious motorist anywhere in the world.

Combining a lithium ion phosphate battery and an on-board petrol engine generator for recharging on the move, the Tata Megapixel offers a range of up to 900 km (with a single tank of fuel), path-breaking CO2 emission of just 22 gm / km and fuel economy of 100 km / litre (under battery only power).

The class-leading ‘Zero Turn’ drive system of the Tata Pixel (shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show) has been taken to an even higher level of manoeuvrability in the Tata Megapixel.

The car’s electric drive has four independent electric motors, one at each wheel. When parking, the electric hub motors drive the wheels in opposite directions, while the front wheels are turned at an acute angle, enabling an exceptional 2.8 metre turning radius

    The at-home charging system is an as innovative induction charging system. The car has simply to be parked over the induction pad for charging to begin.

The Tata Megapixel is as distinctive in elegantly melding Indian uniqueness – in colours, graphic themes or materials – with global styling preferences.

The integrated lamp and grille graphics sweep back over the front wheel arches to render a dynamic front end.

It is echoed on the panoramic roof, creating a harmony between sun & shade and sense of interior space. The floating C-pillar and wrap-around belt line finisher integrate perfectly with the sculpted body surface, flowing freely to the rear and encapsulating the 5-spoke wheel design.

A double-sliding door system and the car’s B-pillar less design make entry/exit easy, besides superb visibility.The battery layout and hub motors maximize the interior package. So, the Tata Megapixel comfortably accommodates four adults with luggage.

The front seats are cantilevered on the central tunnel, releasing floor space for additional storage. Light leather trims and rose metal details accentuate the joyous marriage of richness of tradition and innovativeness of technology.This fusion is heightened by an advanced human machine interface (HMI). The console docking point can connect a smart phone with the car.

    

    The built-in large touchscreen HMI, at the centre of the instrument panel, thus becomes a common access point for the repertoire of the smart device and for controlling the functions of the car, like temperature, ventilation, driving modes and performanceThe Tata Megapixel denotes Tata Motors’ progression from the Tata Pixel, based on the Tata Nano and a city car concept for Europe, reflecting the company’s future design directionThe Tata Megapixel denotes Tata Motors’ progression from the Tata Pixel, based on the Tata Nano and a city car concept for Europe, reflecting the company’s future design directionThe Tata Megapixel denotes Tata Motors’ progression from the Tata Pixel, based on the Tata Nano and a city car concept for Europe, reflecting the company’s future design direction