An Indian green energy entrepreneur is among the six ‘Champions of Earth’ announced by the United Nations that include heads of state of Maldives and Guyana as well Chinese actress Zhou Xun. The Champions of the Earth is an international environment award given out every year by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for commitment and vision towards environmental leadership.

Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and green energy entrepreneur, was named as one of “Champions of the Earth” for his efforts to encourage people to live a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle.  Entrepreneur Vinod Khosla has made it a personal mission to realize a low-carbon path by establishing investments in clean and renewable energy start-ups.

A venture capitalist, Khosla is dubbed as Silicon Valley’s ‘Mr Green’. In September 2009, his firm, Khosla Ventures, raised USD 1.1 billion in a “green fund” that would be used to spur development of renewable energy and other clean technologies. Khosla has initiated several start-ups to try to reduce the world’s dependence on petroleum as he is of the opinion that burgeoning revolution in oil alternatives will be far bigger than the internet revolution.

Other winners included Afghanistan’s Director General of the National Environmental Protection Agency Prince Mostapha Zaher and Japanese earth scientist and pioneer of research into how the oceans cycle carbon, Dr Taro Takahashi.

While the six winners represent some of the key pillars upon which society can build Green Growth and a development path, I appeal all the members of ZaaBiz to contribute to green growth by taking small initiatives.

The 2010-11 general budget today provided considerable relief to income tax payers by raising the slabs at two levels but hiked the central excise duty on non-petroleum products across the board from 8 to 10 per cent and the basic duty on crude and petroleum products besides effecting a one-rupee increase per litre on petrol and diesel.

The basic threshold limit for income tax exemption will remain at Rs 1.60 lakh. Under the new proposal, 10 per cent tax will be levied between Rs 1,60,001 and Rs 5,00,000, 20 per cent on incomes between Rs 5,00,001 and Rs 8,00,000 and 30 per cent above Rs 8,00,000.

The present income tax slabs and rates are 10 per cent for income between Rs 1,60,001 and Rs 3,00,000, 20 per cent for income between Rs 3,00,001 and Rs 5,00,000 and 30 per cent for income above Rs 5,00,001. Proportionately, similar changes have been made in the taxes related to women and senior citizens aged above 65 years.

Mukherjee also gave another relief to individual tax payers by raising the existing limit of Rs 1,00,000 on tax savings by an additional amount of Rs 20,000 for investments in long-term infrastructure bonds.Contributions to Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) have also been allowed as deductions within the overall ceiling for tax rebate besides contributions to health insurance schemes which are currently allowed as deductions under the Income Tax Act.

The budget brings in sense of happiness among the young working class due to a substantial revision of tax slabs. The economy is also expected to boom as the government expects young Indian brigade to spend their tax incentive.

As you are aware that we have a phenomenal growth in Indian member base from Singapore and many business groups like Business Networking in Mumbai, Business People in Chennai, Business People in Delhi and Bangalore demanding a group based out of Singapore establish and connect with business people in Singapore we have recently launched this group. Our members in from Indian, Australia and other Asia Pacific regions who have business interest in Singapore need to gear up and grab this unique opportunity of networking

The focus of the group would largely be on business people living in Singapore or people who have business interest in Singapore and are willing to connect with the business community through networking to gain new business opportunities. There are forums like “Introduction”: which includes education, occupation, interest and hobbies of the members, “Business” where members can share learn and share business experiences in Singapore. Members who want to actively get involved and are willing to take a leap ahead to manage the group are also welcomed. Additionally, do let us know is your wish to add other forums of your interest and relevance. Join the group “Business People in Singapore” today to encash on this opportunity to network and get business contacts in Singapore.

The midnight of August 15, 1947 is memorable for every Indian within the country or an NRI, as it is the time, when India gained independence.

Flowers and Flags are sold at Colaba Market

I had the pleasure of experiencing India’s Independence Day celebrations last year while being in Mumbai. It was a very memorable event, very peaceful, colourful, joyful and it was the whole family that celebrated in the streets, on the many markets and in bars, cafes and restaurants. Nearly everyone I met was carrying a flag or wearing flowers as a sign of celebration.

Since 1947, it is celebrated with pomp and gaiety, across the length and breadth of India. Cultural programs and flag-hoisting ceremonies are the principal affair of the day. People indulge themselves in remembering the heroes of the freedom struggle and pay homage to them.

In all the schools and colleges across India, no academic work is done on Independence Day, but all the students and staff members would be present to celebrate the day. A sort of social gathering is arranged in the educational institutions, wherein cultural programs are organised. A majority of prominent business houses in India have the same routine as the educational institutions, while the rest spend their time on watching Independence day special LIVE from Red Fort.

Contradicting to the traditional Independence Day celebration, Generation Y in India is busy celebrating the same on the networking platform with their pals and business connects. It is a true day of India’s freedom and independence.

Our team here at ZaaBiz wish all our Indian members a “Happy Independence Day”.

Michael Brecht

The key driver for BPO in telecom is demand for customer care services. The major reason for the growing importance of the quality customer care services is that it is the only differentiator and more so technology is uniformly accessible to all providers.

BPO for telecom is also a huge job creator, employing over 1,22,440 people in BPO firms in 2008  a number that is set to more than double to 2,94,444 in 2012. After telecom, banking is the biggest employment generator for domestic BPO firms. The primary reason for the growth of the sector is due to telecom companies like Bharti Airtel, which played a pioneering role by outsourcing many of its non-core functions in 2005, changed the way Indian firms have traditionally run business and putting pressure on others to follow suit. Telecom revenues made up 50% of the domestic BPO revenues at $661 million in 2008.

The job opportunities in BPO industry are rising and to tap these opportunities use the power of networking. Sign up for ZaaBiz and use the platform to connect with our members and find the right job.

Getting admission into IIT’s not an easy job. The competition is fierce as the number of candidates appearing multiply while the seats remain the same. This year’s IIT joint entrance exam was no different. A total of 384977 candidates appeared in JEE-2009 which was conducted by seven of the IITs on April 12, 2009. Out of them 10035 candidates have been declared qualified to seek admission for 8295 seats in the IITs at Bhubaneswar, Bombay, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Mandi (H.P.), Patna, Punjab, Rajasthan and Roorkee, IT-BHU Varanasi and ISMU Dhanbad. The number of candidates who appeared in JEE-2009 is nearly 24% more than that in the previous year.

The maximum number of students making it to the IITs this year is from the Bombay zone, with the Maximum City also contributing two among the top ten rankers. But all-India topper Nitin Jain, from Haryana’s Faridabad, gave Delhi zone the icing as the IIT-JEE results were announced on Monday. The all-India success rate has fallen to 2.6% this year from 2.8% in 2008.

We at ZaaBiz congratulate all the candidates who have managed to clear one of the toughest and the most competitive exam with flying colours.

In the forthcoming session of the parliament the re-elected UPA government will present the budget. The tax exemption limit will be increased upto Rs 1.75-Rs 2 lakh from the current Rs 1.50 lakh, which is a great news for Indian middle class. The other benefit in the direct tax segments could be withdrawal of the Fringe Benefit Tax.

Raising of the tax exemption limit along with the withdrawal of FBT will act as another stimulus since the large middle class population will be left with more money in hand, especially at a time when the government is likely to release the remaining 60% salary arrears of the 6th Pay Commission. The removal of FBT has also been mooted by the commerce ministry. It had also sought continuation of interest rate subsidy while seeking to further raise it from the existing 2% to 4%.

Betting on horses, cards and cricket is a common news, betting on the Indian Prime Minister is not a commonly heard of one. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a hot shot candidate for Prime Ministers post for the next term. With the ongoing elections, bets worth several thousand crore rupees have already been laid so far, and the tempo is likely to go up in the next couple of days. Mumbai has created a record of sorts with a punter — who is in the real estate business — betting as much as Rs 30 crore on different candidates, parties and their combination.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Wow, now that is something unheard of. ZaaBiz would like to wish Dr.Manmohan Singh all the very best for the results.

Popular sedans, the Maruti SX4, the Honda Civic and luxury cars may become cheaper by up to Rs 50,000, if a proposed duty cut being discussed by the government gets implemented. The ministry of heavy industries has written to the finance ministry to waive off the specific excise duty levied on mid-size and top-end cars last year.

The government had imposed an additional tax of Rs 15,000 on cars having engine size between 1,500-2,000cc and Rs 20,000 on all vehicles beyond 2,000cc. But the actual impact on the selling price of cars was much higher, as the tax was imposed on ex-factory price of vehicles over which consumers have to incur the burden of sales tax and other local levies.

The additional tax, which was to discourage consumers from buying the gas guzzling vehicles, has impacted sales of premium cars. Besides withdrawing the specific excise duty, the heavy industries ministry is also planning to extend help to multi-purpose vehicles, as they have been badly hit by the financial slowdown.

With the government reducing the duties it is for sure that the premium car market sales is set to boom or at least meet the desired growth level.

Rahul Gandhi - The name that symbolizes young shoulders of Indian Congress party is the most popular leader of the youth brigade. Off late Indian Politics has seen a flurry of young Indians participating in politics and taking charge of campaigns. Rahul has been a front runner for these campaigns of Congress Party. Although he is not contending for the elections, however there is a deep dedication to the job and is undoubtedly proving to be masses favorite.

Rahul Gandhi