Indian Authorities Research Articles

The Potential Subversion of Biometric Measurements

Aadhaar, a system implemented by the Unique ID Authority of India, aims to collect an assortment of personally identifying information, including iris scans, on the 1.2 billion inhabitants of India. Iris scans are considered the gold standard of biometric identification, and are highly accurate in matching scans from the same eye, even among millions of eyes over time. Various sophisticated technologies have been designed and shown to fool iris scanners, but is it possible that low-tech and low-cost means can fool iris scanners in ways that can undermine Aadhaar? For example, can the same person be registered as multiple distinct biometric identities using low-tech solutions? Can someone be falsely recognized as someone else to the duplicitous individual’s advantage? We show that both are possible using partially obscured eyes and photographs of other people. Of course, the person capturing the images would be aware of these deceptions, but if the system does not protect against collusion, or provide proper incentives against corruption, then it is probable that even the best iris scanners will fail.

Employee Motivation in Airports Authority of India

Employee motivation is the vital element in making employees get attached towards an organization. The main aim of this study is to identify the factors that influence motivational behaviour among employees in a public sector organization. The research design used in this study is descriptive in nature and thus 310 employees were selected for the study. The sampling procedure used in this study is unrestricted or simple random sampling. A well-structured questionnaire comprising of close-ended questions were used. Analysis and interpretation were drawn from the collected data. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher has drawn a few suggestions for consideration of the management and concludes the research with a positive note.

Interface between Competition law and Intellectual Property Rights: A Comparative Study of the US, EU and India

It is generally viewed that Intellectual property protection and competition law are odds with each other. Is there really any tussle between intellectual property protection and competition law? Intellectual property law creates and protects monopoly power and the other seeks to exclude it. IP exclusion provisions are included in the Indian Competition Act, 2002 in Section 3(5). This is to provide enforcement to intellectual property rights. But protection of intellectual property rights are not per se violates any competition provisions. The objective of competition law is to prohibit anti-competitive practices and the objective of both the stream is wealth maximization in any economy. Intellectual property protection is necessary to foster innovation and choices of products in the market. It infuses efficiency in the market and increases consumer welfare. India is in the nascent state of its administration of competition laws. There are sizable number of cases came before the Indian competition authorities (CCI) and Indian courts. Cases against Microsoft India and abuse of dominant case against Ericsson filed by an Indian company named Micromax is only the beginning of the interface cases on intellectual property and competition law. There is no sufficient case laws and jurisprudence is available in India in guiding the Indian authorities and courts on the interface between intellectual property and competition. It is necessary to make an analysis of the jurisprudence in the US and EU. First part of this paper deals with the US Antitrust Act, 1890 and analysis of a number of cases dealt by the US courts. The EU Regulations and cases are clearer on issues of intellectual property and competition law. Indian jurisprudence is not clear so far and few cases are dealt by the CCI and Indian courts. The study concludes that Indian authorities should learn from other jurisdictions and the jurisprudence will act as guideline for Indian authorities.

Insecticide susceptibility and dengue vector status of wild Stegomyia albopicta in a strategically important area of Assam, India.

BackgroundDengue vector control programmes are facing operational challenges due to resistance against commonly used insecticides throughout the endemic countries. Recently, there has been appreciable increase in the dengue cases in India, however, no recent data are available on susceptible status of dengue vectors. We have studied the susceptibility level of St. albopicta to commonly used insecticides in India. Adult mosquitoes were tested for the presence of dengue virus.MethodsSt. albopicta larval bioassays were carried out to determine the lethal concentrations (LC10, LC50 and LC99) and the resistance ratios (RR10, RR50 and RR99) for temephos. Susceptibility to 4% DDT, 0.05% deltamethrin and 5% malathion was assessed following standard procedure. Knock-down times (KDT10, KDT50 and KDT99) were estimated and knock-down resistance ratios (KRR10, KRR50 and KRR99) were calculated. VectorTest™ dengue antigen assay was used to detect the dengue virus in the field collected mosquitoes.ResultsIn larval bioassays, the RR ranged from 1.4 (for RR99) to 1.7 (for RR50), which suggested that the tested St. albopicta were susceptible to temephos. There was no deviation among the lethal concentration data from linearity (r2 = 0.61). Adult St. albopicta mosquitoes were resistant to DDT, while fully susceptible to deltamethrin and malathion. The knock-down values (KDT10, KDT50 and KDT99) obtained for DDT displayed straight line in log-dose-probit analysis and follow linear regression model. The KRR99 for DDT was 4.9, which indicated a 4.9 folds increase in knock-down resistance to DDT. However, for malathion and deltamethrin, the KRR99 values were 1.6 and 1.5 respectively suggesting that mosquitoes were knock-down sensitive. None of the mosquito pool was dengue virus positive.ConclusionSt. albopicta showed resistance to DDT and reduced sensitivity to deltamethrin and malathion. This data on insecticide resistance could help public health authorities in India to design more effective vector control measures. More dengue vector specimens need to be scanned to identify the potential dengue vector.

Implied valuation of environmental externalities: a study of investor responses to rejection of Indian CDM project proposals

The project registration process under the Kyoto Protocol/CDM is clearly defined, and rather elaborate, involving approval by the designated national authority (‘host country approval’) and culminating in the approval and issue of carbon emission reduction certificates by the CDM-executive board (EB). This paper measures the environmental externality embedded in the market valuation of a portfolio of Indian firms whose project proposals had been approved by the national authority in India, but had eventually been rejected by the CDM-EB. It is observed that approval by the host country generally triggers an unambiguous positive response from investors. However, responses on rejection tend to be uncharacteristic and inconsistent and completely divorced from futures prices discovered for issued and traded emission-reduction certificates (CER). A few suggestions are presented to try and explain such anomalous behaviour.

Food safety in India: a case of Deli Processed Food Products Ltd.

Food safety issues are becoming more important in India. It is not because of global pressure of the World Trade Organization (WTO), a monitoring agency in this respective field, it is because of customers’ increasing demand for better quality food. The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) came into existence under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It covers all the global food safety norms laid down by WTO such as goods manufacturing practices (GMP), good hygienic practice (GHP), and hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP). This paper illustrates implementation of HACCP, food safety controls and its status in India using a case study of Deli Processed Food Products Ltd. (DPFPL, organisation’s name is disguised) which deals in milk processing and milk products production in India.

Ratio of second to fourth digit as a predictor of performance in elite Indian volley ball players

Background: Digit ratio (2D:4D) is considered as a marker of prenatal androgen exposure. There are evidences showing association between sporting ability and 2D:4D ratio. Aims & Objective: To determine the ratio of second to fourth digit in elite Indian volley ball players and compare them with controls. Materials and Methods: Both right and left hands of 16 male volley ball players attending training camp at the Bangalore regional centre of Sports Authority of India were scanned. Lengths of second and fourth digits were measured and their ratio calculated. The values were compared with Age & BMI matched subjects (25 males) who did not participate in any sports who formed the control group. Results: A highly significant difference was found in 2D:4D ratios of both the hands with volley ball players having a lower ratio compared to their controls. There was no statistically significant difference in 2D:4D (Δ r –l) between volley ball players and controls. Conclusion: Lower second to fourth digit ratios was found in volley ball players in comparison with the controls.

Mouth Guard - A Dental Gift for Sports

s www.ijhrs.com Sports dentistry deals with the correct diagnosis, prevention and treatment of sports related orofacial injuries and related oral diseases, as well as the collection and assessment of information on dental athletic injuries and the encouragement of research for prevention of such injuries which involves orthodontic correction of protruding anterior teeth and using facemasks and mouth guards while taking part in sports. Several functions and types of mouth guards have been explained in this article. Different studies have provided enough evidence that the use of specific mouth guard headgear or helmets reduces the risk of facial trauma. Currently there is a very limited data regarding sports dentistry in India. There is no dental institute in India that have course on Sports Dentistry. The Sports Authority of India does not have any policy on Sports Dentistry. Dentists should educate the general public, parents/guardians, staffs of emergency department, coaches and athletes regarding health risks and benefits of mouth guards including the importance of emergency care for orofacial injuries.

Pioglitazone suspension and its aftermath: A wake up call for the Indian drug regulatory authorities

Pioglitazone suspension and its aftermath: A wake up call for the Indian drug regulatory authorities

Implementation of an Advanced Process Automation System for Improvement of Sinter Machine # 3 Operation at Bokaro Steel Plant

Sinter making process in an integrated steel plant substantially depends on efficacious functioning of series of operations. Owing to their complex nature and frequent process fluctuations, a precision automation system is imperative in each of these operations. A state-of-the-art Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) based automation system has been developed and successfully implemented for operation and control of Sinter Machine # 3 at Bokaro Steel Plant of Steel Authority of India Limited, India. The new system renders a comprehensive process control and visualization system for entire Sinter Machine. The application of advanced process automation system has significantly improved the plant performance and reduced the energy consumption.

An empirical study on the financial health of the main steel producing segment in India: application of factor analysis and multiple regression analysis

The preset study is an attempt to measure the influence of different financial ratios selected from different categories like liquidity, activity, and leverage on the profitability of the selected companies. For the purpose of the study, three main producers of steel in India—Steel Authority of India, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited and Tata Steel Limited—are selected for a period of 20 years. Initially, the factor analysis is conducted on all the 15 selected ratios and on the basis of inter correlation matrix the variables (financial ratios) which have the correlation coefficient less than ±6 are excluded from the study. The factor analysis is again conducted on the remaining variables and two factors are extracted. The extracted factors are named suitably. To validate those factors cluster analysis is conducted. Afterwards, to estimate the impact of selected variables on the profitability multiple regression analysis is carried on and a model is predicted for such purpose.

‘One in infinity’: failing to learn from accidents and implications for nuclear safety in India

Safe operation of nuclear power facilities requires a culture of learning, but Indian nuclear authorities appear to continuously fail to learn the lessons of accidents including at facilities they operate. This paper examines how nuclear authorities in India responded to the Fukushima accidents and a previous accident at one of India’s nuclear power plants, and infers what they seem to have learned from them. By evaluating this experience in light of a wide body of research on factors promoting reliability and safety in organizations managing complex and hazardous systems, it seeks to draw lessons about the prospects for nuclear safety in India.

Access to antibiotics in New Delhi, India: implications for antibiotic policy.

ObjectiveThe present survey was conducted to investigate the price and availability of a basket of 24 essential antibiotics and eight high-end antibiotics at various levels of health care in public and private sector in National Capital Territory of Delhi, India using standardized WHO/HAI methodology.MethodsData on procurement price and availability was collected from three public healthcare providers in the state: the federal (central) government, state government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Overall a total of 83 public facilities, 68 primary care, 10 secondary cares and 5 tertiary care facilities were surveyed. Data was also collected from private retail (n = 40) and chain pharmacies (n = 40) of a leading corporate house. Prices were compared to an international reference price (expressed as median price ratio-MPR).ResultsPublic sector: Delhi state government has its essential medicine list (Delhi state EML) and was using Delhi state EML 2007 for procurement; the other two agencies had their own procurement list. All the antibiotics procured including second and third generation antibiotics except for injections were available at primary care facilities. Antibiotic available were on the basis of supply rather than rationality or the Delhi state EML and none was 100% available. There was sub-optimal availability of some essential antibiotics while other non-essential ones were freely available. Availability of antibiotics at tertiary care facilities was also sub-optimal. Private sector: Availability of antibiotics was good. For most of the antibiotics the most expensive and popular trade names were often available. High-end antibiotics, meropenam, gemifloxacin, and moxifloxacin were commonly available. In retail pharmacies some newer generation non-essential antibiotics like gemifloxacin were priced lower than the highest-priced generic of amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, azithromycin, and cefuroxime aexitl.ConclusionsInappropriate availability and pricing of newer generation antibiotics, which may currently be bought without prescription, is likely to lead to their over-use and increased resistance. All providers should follow the EML of whichever of the three concerned Delhi public sector agencies that it is under and these EMLs should follow the essential medicine concept. The Indian regulatory authorities need to consider urgently, drug schedules and pricing policies that will curtail inappropriate access to new generation antibiotics.

FDI Trapped in Transfer Pricing Controversy – A Few Thoughts on Shell’s USD 2.7 Billion Tax Dispute

The Indian tax authorities have recently taken steps to apply transfer pricing rules to tax companies on the issue of shares to foreign related parties on the basis that the shares have been undervalued. The authors critically analyse the steps taken by the tax authorities and their impact.

Critique of the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill

The first hue was raised when the BT Cotton was approved as a commercial GM crop in India. The events that followed (mass farmer suicides, farmers’ unrest and resistance all over the Deccan region) ensured that it was the first and the last GM crop to be approved and adopted. Therefore, the pressing need of the hour is to have a proper mechanism to regulate this sector, which affects not only health of individual citizens, but of the entire country as a whole.Therefore, the Parliament seeks to form a new regulatory authority, the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI), which would single-handedly be responsible for the entire regulatory system, from research, transport, import and export to manufacture and use of GM organisms throughout India.

Reincarnation Under Stress: The Dalai Lama's Succession and India–China Relations

The article seeks to assess the evolution of the Tibet question against the backdrop of the problems associated with the succession of the Dalai Lama. It also discusses the implications of all this for India and provides policy recommendations the Indian authorities could use to deal with this situation.

Value communication: low-cost marketing initiatives for “Guru Ki Bani 58282”

Subject area Pricing, digital marketing, marketing management and strategic marketing. Study level/applicability The case can be used for pricing or digital marketing courses as well as marketing management courses to MBA students and/or for management development programmes. Case overview Goldfinch Mobile Solutions, a Hong-Kong based value added services (VAS) and gaming platform provider, had an exclusive tie up with Bharti Airtel in India for providing value added voice applications on an interactive voice response system (IVRS) platform. The Goldfinch flagship service is “Guru Ki Bani” which may be subscribed to by dialing the short code 58282. This “58282” service has a repository of all Sikh religion daily prayers, religious songs, teachings, stories from Guru's life and similar information that is derived from the Sikh Holy book Guru Granth Sahib Ji. As per mutual agreement between Goldfinch Mobile Solutions and Bharti Airtel, the telecom operator had the responsibility to promote Goldfinch's Guru Ki Bani service amongst its subscriber base through its below the line (BTL) promotional channels such as short messaging service (SMS), outbound calls, cell information, notification SMS after call and above the line (ATL) activities such as posters, leaflets, print, promoters, regional TV, outdoors, etc. The revenue sharing arrangement between Airtel and Golfinch was in the ratio of 75 percent and 25 percent. However, with recent changes in the policies of Telephone Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), promotional marketing used by telecom operators has been constrained. Declining customer share, decreasing profits (after Bharti Airtel halted promotions) and increasing organization cost per customer have made MD and CEO Mr Newton Bubber think of various options including low-cost marketing initiatives besides digital marketing to promote Guru Ki Bani services. Value communication to its huge potential customer base, i.e. 184.19 million Bharti Airtel subscribers was another challenge facing Mr Newton and his marketing team at Goldfinch. Expected learning outcomes The case enables students to learn the concepts and application of value creation, effective value communication, price waterfall analysis, importance of costing parameters in pricing decisions, low-cost marketing strategies and digital marketing. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Taxing Indirect Transfers: Rules and Doctrines

Numerous countries (e.g. Canada, Australia and Japan) tax foreigners on the gain realized on their transfers of interests in foreign entities that invest in real estates in these countries. In the last few years, actions taken by tax authorities in India, China, Brazil, Indonesia and other non-OECD countries have highlighted the possibility of taxing a broader range of “indirect transfers” by foreigners. This Article argues taxing indirect transfers can have vital policy significance in countries where foreign inbound investments are actively traded in offshore markets: it may not only deter tax avoidance, but also stanch “legal base erosion” — the substitution of offshore investment structures for deploying legal mechanisms in onshore markets. However, the successful implementation of a broad policy of taxing indirect transfers depends crucially on securing voluntary taxpayer compliance. To this end, this Article proposes to rationalize existing practices for taxing indirect transfers in two major ways: (1) striking a better balance between ex ante and ex post lawmaking, and (2) consistently treating taxable indirect transfers as sales of underlying target assets (thus allowing conforming adjustments in tax basis). These improvements better target tax avoidance, result in fewer arbitrary consequences, and create incentives in the market place that facilitate compliance.

Whistleblowing: Indian Paradigm and Blemishes

A whistleblower is defined as someone who divulges wrongdoing, fraud, corruption or mismanagement. Mostly the person could be an employee because he is the person who becomes adept in about the corruption or frauds which takes place inside a company or organisation. However since all organisations restricts publishing institutional information, the whistleblower often faces retaliation like dismissal from employment and even physical harm. Satyam scam opened the eyes of authorities and drafted Companies Bill 2009 to prevent further corporate frauds. The murder of Satyendra Dubey an engineer worked with National Highway Authority of India and the case of Manjunath Shanmugham induces the necessity of a stringent law which can protect the whistleblower. The introduction of Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosure Bill, 2010 will make the condition safer but need for an independent competent authority cannot be ignored. Strict criminal prosecution should be instigated in counter to those thwarting whistleblowers from acting against a corporation. SOX Act, 2002 effectively lays down the protection to whistleblowers and that should be followed by our nation a mere amendment to cl.49 will not serve the purpose. Private companies are not coming under the ambit.

Taxation of Foreign Institutional Investors in India: The Hanging Fire

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have always remained influential players in India's investment market. However, India's tax regime in respect of FIIs has constantly undergone turbulent phases. To start with, the controversy pertained to classification of FII income under the income heads of business income versus capital gains, which classification was critical considering its tax chargeability and tax rate implications under India's direct tax laws. While this debate appears to have been put at rest by the 2008 ruling in LG Asian Plus Ltd. v. ACIT, uncertainties for FIIs in the context of non-resident taxation in India followed. The first limb of this uncertainty is found in the proposed General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) which seeks to implement the 'commercial substance' test if the Indian tax authorities believe that the transaction was undertaken only to avoid taxes or lacked commercial substance. This is proposed to apply notwithstanding that the transaction was routed through a tax friendly jurisdiction, and as per India's tax treaty with such jurisdiction, no tax liability arises in India. While effectuating of GAAR has been pushed back to 2016, the retrospective amendments of 2012 undertaken in India's Income Tax Act, 1961, pursuant to the Vodafone ruling by India's apex court, has brought FII taxation under radar. The amendment, which adopted the 'look through' approach against the 'look at' approach, may expose investors/P-Note Holders behind the FIIs to taxation in India, notwithstanding that the FII may be located in jurisdiction like Mauritius, with whom India has a favourable tax treaty. Also, as no time limit is prescribed for retrospective application of the amendment, the whip will keep hanging on FII investments time immemorial. Expert committees have been set up to scrutinize and settle these tax controversies and to create conducive tax environment for foreign investors in India, which is of utmost significance both, from an investment and economic standpoint. However, with the foregoing retrospective amendment in effect, it is to be seen how Indian authorities pacify FIIs from drawing out their investments from India amidst the tax qualms and mitigate the uncertainties and associated risks. This article discusses India's FII tax regime in light of the foregoing controversies, the prevailing uncertainties and challenges, their impact on FII investments in India, and India's consequent exposure to potential actions under bilateral investment treaties.