Mumbai’s cultural spaces just got more inclusive

Mumbai’s cultural spaces just got more inclusive

Now, the differently abled can make the most of museums, heritage walks and nature trails

    Earlier this year, when an exhibition unravelling the mysteries of ancient Egypt was on display at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, every Wednesday was set aside for visitors with special needs. One group of almost 60 youngsters came from the Helen Keller Institute. Some of them had both visual and hearing impairments. In order to help them understand the content, the museum staff created miniature models of the different exhibits, handed out Braille booklets on ancient Egypt and even printed cards with embossed hieroglyphs and the corresponding Braille alphabet. When the tour guide spoke, the teachers would explain using tactile sign language. “The teacher would start signing,” recalled CSMVS education officer Bilwa Kulkarni. “One person would be holding her hand and perceiving the signs. He would be holding another person’s hand and passing on the signs. It was like Chinese Whispers.”
    Several of the CSMVS’s visually challenged visitors find it difficult to wrap their heads around the fact that they are able to visit a museum and “see” an exhibition. In the future, though, the experience might not be so novel. Already there are ways in which the differently abled can engage with Mumbai’s history, culture and natural heritage from city walks to nature treks to museum visits.
    The Bombay Natural History Society’s Conservation Education Centre, for instance, has conducted short treks for special children during which they listen to bird calls and touch the trees they are learning about. Kille Vasai Mohim, a trekking and fort conservation group, organizes historical walks for the differently abled and CSMVS regularly welcomes these individuals.
    In spite of these strides, Mumbai is still a long way from becoming an inclusive city. In June, architectural designer Pallavi Shrivastava will host a walk from Juhu Beach to Bandra’s Carter Road promenade. The walk is part of the Jane Jacobs Walks movement, named after an urbanist who championed humancentric urban design. Shrivastava has invited people on wheelchairs to attend in order to demonstrate the vital need for disabled friendly infrastructure like ramps and sound-enabled assistance at signal crossings.
    The apathy and insensitivity of urban planners, though, hasn’t stopped tour companies from ferrying tourists on wheelchairs and crutches to Chor Bazaar and Dharavi. When asked how differently abled guests navigate these busy localities, Deepa Krishnan, who runs a city tour firm, said, “It is those who are ‘able’ that need a mindset change.”
    Krishnan estimates that between 3% and 5% of her Mumbai clients have mobility issues but all of them manage her basic city tour. On the itinerary are monuments such as the Gateway of India, well-paved stretches such as Marine Drive and open spaces such as Oval Maidan. “They can do a lot actually,” said Krishnan. “We take a slower pace, that’s all. Loo breaks are always a problem, so we have to plan the route such that we can get to a mall or a five-star.” Krishnan plans to share this itinerary on a Facebook page so that tourists with disabilities can better explore Mumbai’s attractions.
    Such a page, might even be useful for locals. Arun Sawant, a retired clerk from Sion Hospital, for instance, visited CSMVS for the first time with the Paraplegic Foundation. Initially, he was worried about navigating the building on his tricycle but was surprised to find that he could easily access almost all the galleries. Another paraplegic visitor, Rajendra Manjrekar, was fascinated by the stuffed bird specimens in the natural history section. “I used to get to see a lot of birds in my village as a child,” said Manjrekar. “So visiting the museum brought back memories of my childhood.”
    Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, the CSMVS’s main counterpart in the city, is accessible to people on wheelchairs and will soon have an audio tour. However, they have no special programming for physically challenged individuals. According to honorary director and managing trustee, Tasneem Mehta, this is because of a lack of space and funding. Each time a differently abled group visits CSMVS, the staff studies the disability and carefully plans the visit. Before welcoming a visually challenged group, for instance, they were taught certain techniques by visually impaired teachers. “To make them understand how long a mummy is, we make them stand at one end of the coffin and step towards the other end,” said Kulkarni.
    All the hard work eventually pays off. The CSMVS’s staff has seen the impact of their programmes firsthand when these groups create clay models of the various things they have learned or touched at the museum. “One of them did this rhinoceros model and I think that guy had only 30 per cent vision but you would think that a normal person with proper vision has done this,” recalled Kulkarni. “It was so beautiful.”

THINKING CAPS: Visually challenged kids try on Egyptian headdresses at the museum

Rishi Dev-Meet BEST’s very own Mr Bean

Comic relief: Meet BEST’s very own Mr Bean

His 3-minute video gags aim to entertain bus passengers

    It takes a secure man to pull his pants down inside a full BEST bus but then Rishi Dev has always liked an audience. Recently, when the 20-year-old took a seat on the commode and prepared for his morning ablutions, entire busloads of unsuspecting Mumbaikars were invited to the show. On the flatscreen television inside their respective buses, they saw this curious young man accompanying every bowel movement with a severe facial expression, drumming his toilet seat and later suffering the consequences of using the nearby butt spray for a mike.
    Unleashing a torrent of distrubing bathroom habits, however, is just one of the things Dev is willing to do if it means a cheap laugh. For over two months now, this young man’s three-minute long sketches have been airing on BEST TV. Here, he pops up on screen in between recipe shows and advertisements to manifest cotton candy from his mouth, wield a stalk of sugarcane like a gun, climb a park ladder with the grit of a soldier and indulge in other antics that he likes to call “comedy of errors”.
    These overly dramatic sketches do not really bear the endearing awkwardness of Mr Bean or the sepia charm of Charlie Chaplin but the intentions of this Jalandhar lad, who came down to Mumbai a year ago to pursue a career in acting, are noble. “The working Mumbaikar’s day is full of tension. I want to soothe his nerves through my act,” says the 20-year-old actor, seated in an air-conditioned dressing room on the set of his TV show for a general entertainment channel. Here, he plays the lead’s jovial friend. Sporting a hairstyle that hides his forehead and dressed in a colourful kurta and jeans, this Punjabi lad looks like a cross between one of the Jonas brothers and Shahid Kapoor. For BEST TV, though, he sheds all make-up. “I want to look like the common man,” he says.
    Dev’s BEST journey began a few months ago when his father, Rajesh Sharma, who runs a production house in Jalandhar, approached Yunus Siddiqui, vice president,
sales, at BEST with the idea of developing content. “Over 50 lakh Mumbaikars travel by bus everyday. We wanted to give them something that they’d enjoy during travel,” says Sharma, adding that it was important that the show could be consumed by everyone across communities. Siddiqui liked the idea of silent comedy and asked the duo to go ahead with it.
    Soon, the father-son duo racked their brains to create videos inspired by everyday happenings such as a visit to the beach or how Indians react in front of a news camera. “We even caught some reactions on a hidden camera,” says Dev, referring to the video in a children’s park where Dev’s attempt to climb up to the top of a slide is punctuated by the reactions of a wideeyed toddler nearby.
    He admits the exaggerated silliness of his videos wherein things like sticking a hot iron to your cheek is entertainment and defends it vehemently. “They have to be slightly over the top in order to grab the attention of distracted passengers,” says the 20-year-old comedian. “I observe people everywhere I go,” adds the actor, who even contemplates modelling his next video on the “spot dada” when he brings in the promised chai half an hour late.
    Once a week, Dev’s team sends a new video to the BEST office where the creative team inspects it. This is then aired at least 32 times a day in the 2,159 BEST buses that boast flatscreen TVs, including air-conditioned buses. “Though the videos are silent gags, we add music as AC buses tend to be quieter,” says Dev, who edits the videos himself. The process of coming up with each sketch costs in the region of Rs 15,000. While both Sharma and Siddiqui are unwilling to disclose details about the funding received from BEST, “you can say that we make at least 15% more than we invest,” says Sharma.
    So far, Dev has come out with 15 such gags that are leaving the audience both bemused and a bit confused. “I thought these videos were adveretisements,” says a commuter. Sharma, though, assures the number of takers is growing. “We are now getting sponsors.”
    “People have started responding to me like they once did to Shaktiman,” says Dev, adding that strangers in resturants have recognized him from his BEST appearance. The best compliment, though, came in the form of an insult. A man requested him to stop churning out such gags. “He was so engrossed in watching my gag that he missed a job interview,” says Dev.

KILLER JOKE: Rishi Dev has made 15 gags for BEST TV so far

Triveni’s home in the narrow lanes of the slum colony of Sundar Nagri. “Kaun? Woh RTI-wali?

How they slayed the food mafia

A few slum women took on a powerful PDS cartel, armed just with resolve and RTI. The fight was hard. Goons even tried to kill one of them. But they persisted. And won.

    It’s easy to locate Triveni’s home in the narrow lanes of the slum colony of Sundar Nagri. “Kaun? Woh RTI-wali?” says a youngster who offers to lead us through a maze of gullies flanked by open drains till we reach a house that sits cheek-by-jowl with other similar haphazardly built structures. Its occupant, though, is a picture of quiet resilience.
    In 2002, Triveni became the first woman in the locality to file an RTI application and take on the powerful PDS (public distribution system) mafia in the area. “The ration shops in our locality opened whenever they felt like and never gave us what was our due. Instead of 22 litres of kerosene which we were entitled to, we would sometimes get 5 litres, sometimes none,” says the mother of two.
    Through the RTI application, Triveni and other women in the area found out how much ration they were entitled to. They also found that the shops had definite timings which they had to adhere to. They also had to prominently display details of the stock. None of this was happening. Armed with this information, the women confronted the shop owners. Santosh, a spunky 27-year-old who filed another RTI application soon after Triveni, says the backlash from the rationwallahs was intense. “At first, they threatened to cancel our ration cards. After we filed complaints with the food supplies office, their henchmen started heckling us.”
    As the RTI campaign picked up in the area, the attacks increased. In December 2004, says Santosh, there was an attempt on her life as a few men tried to slit her throat. The women, though, persisted with their fight. “After more people became aware how they were being swindled by the ration shops, there was widespread anger. Quite a few times, the people themselves took over the ration shops and distributed the ration,” says Triveni. The message finally percolated to the ration shop owners that they could not take people for granted. Today, says Santosh, who now works with Arvind Kejriwal’s NGO Parivartan, households in the area are getting their full quota of ration. “It’s funny how the people who used to heckle us earlier now treat us as VIPs. They even call us to inform when our ration is due to arrive.”
USING RTI Write an application specifying particulars of information sought
Submit evidence of payment of application fee along with application. Fee is usually Rs 10. A further fee is levied later as cost of providing the information
Send application to concerned public information officer, giving address where reply is to be sent

TRIVENI’S TRIUMPH

Vineet Kumar started young. At 16 he floated a company called National Anti-Hacking Group.

Cyber cowboy of Red land

    Vineet Kumar started young. At 16 he floated a company called National Anti-Hacking Group. At 22 he is chief officer in the special branch of the Jharkhand police
What is your role as a ‘government employee’? I was giving suggestions to the Jharkhand police on cyber security since 2008. But in 2011, my proposal to form the Cyber Defence Research Cell was approved by the state cabinet. It created as many as 12 posts headed by a chief technical officer (CTO). As CTO, I supervise the cyber security of government sites, conduct raids and check phishing and leakages. Cyber crimes can range from compromising websites, ATM clones, Facebook profile hacking to retrieval of soft information to help the police investigate cases. Our role in tracking the origin of terror threat mails has been important.
Are you satisfied with the work you started as a youngster? Yes, but a lot needs to be done. Though we have cyber security agencies at the national level, awareness is low and even big groups often fall prey to hackers. We cannot leave experts to solely handle this crisis. Everyone using internet and web space should be alert, aware and be ready to adopt security as it evolves.
You got a gold medal at the UN Youth Assembly in 2008. How did it feel?
Though I could not receive the medal in person because of financial constraints, I was proud of becoming the world’s youngest Microsoft-certified systems engineer when I was in Class IX. The record has now been broken by an 11-year-old girl from Pakistan.
What is your family
background? My father, V K Roy, is a GM with HEC Ltd. I was inspired by him to learn and research on the computer. He gifted me a second-hand computer on my seventh birthday and this changed my life. I used to surf the net for 20 hours at a stretch when the connection came through the STD line from Kolkata and I learnt ethical hacking.

E-DEFENDER OF JHARKHAND

Palak Muchhal was 7 when she sang for Kargil heroes. She’s still singing — now for kids with cardiac problems

Song in her head is for the heart

Palak Muchhal was 7 when she sang for Kargil heroes. She’s still singing — now for kids with cardiac problems

    She was seven years old when the Kargil war broke out in 1999. Blessed with a sweet voice, Palak Muchhal would sing her heart out at Indore’s shops. She raised Rs 25,000 for the martyrs’ families. Now 21, she’s still on song, touching hearts in more ways than one.
    These days also doing playback for Hindi films, Palak sings in 17 different languages — all with one unshakable resolve: to raise funds for poor children with heart ailments. Her charity shows for ‘Save Little Hearts’ have helped 572 children so far. And there are 621 more on her immediate waiting list. Those close to her say she has spent over Rs 2.5 crore for the treatment of these kids.
    What set her off on this path? “While passing through a busy road one day, I saw a group of poor kids loitering aimlessly. That’s when the idea of helping them flashed in my mind,” says Palak. Opportunity knocked three years ago when teachers of a local school approached her for a charity show to raise funds for a poor
student, Lokesh Puril, who was suffering from a congenital heart defect. Palak agreed. She performed in the busy Rajwada area of Indore, on a stage made of trolleys. “I collected Rs 55,000, enough for Lokesh’s treatment.”
    Just then, Bangalore-based cardiac surgeon Dr Devi Shetty agreed to do the operation for free. With the money in her kitty, Palak soon put out a newspaper ad offering help to any child with cardiac complications. There was no looking back after that. “The moment a doctor comes out of an operation theatre and tells me a child can be saved, I feel that’s the
only motivation I need,” says Palak, who has just finished her BCom (final) exams.
    District child welfare & women development officer Vishal Nadkarni, who’s also nodal officer for heart operations in government hospitals, says Palak has indeed “happily sponsored” some operations set up by them.
    Palak also works as a bridge for an NGO run by film actor Salman Khan who, incidentally, has family roots in Indore, and has facilitated surgeries. An Indore-based cardiac surgeon, Dr Manish Porwal, says Palak’s contribution has been significant. “It’s due to her efforts that many poor kids could be treated at some of the big hospitals of the country.”
    Along the way she’s earned the gratitude of parents such as Nazma, mother of Moinuddin, 6. “I lost all hope when a local hospital refused to treat my son who had four holes in his heart. Palak entered my life as an angel when she came forward to bear the costs through the NGO.”
    Noted activist Dr Anil Bhandari says, “Palak’s heart truly beats for poor children. She has set an example. Being young is no bar when it comes to working for a good cause.”

HOPE FLOATS: Palak with a team of doctors after a successful surgery

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ANDROID STARTER KIT

ANDROID STARTER KIT

    MOST Android phones come with some basic apps: Twitter, Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp, Dropbox, Chrome, etc. If you don’t have these installed, go to the Play Store and get them. But there are a few more essential apps that you must download on your shiny new handset… 
 
UTILITIES 

Avast: Better safe than sorry, which is why we suggest you get Avast. This antivirus will guard your phone against malware and viruses. And you can also install Avast Anti Theft – an app that will lock, locate, and wipe your handset in case it falls into the wrong hands. 

SwiftKey Keyboard: If you find it hard to type using the touchscreen, download SwiftKey Keyboard – one of the best virtual keyboards on Android; complete with fantastic auto-correction and predictive-word algorithms. This is the only app in this list that you will have to pay for, though you have the option to try it for a month before you buy a licence. 

File Explorer (by Amey Sakhadeo): One great feature of Android is its open file system that lets you look for files, copy, delete, or move them between different folders. File Explorer is a simple, goodlooking app that lets you do all of this easily. 

Pixlr Express: Powerful and easy to use, Pixlr Express allows for photoediting tasks like adjustments in contrast, colours and brightness in your pictures – and you can even apply filters, remove red-eye, add borders and crop images. Best of all, it allows you to save your edited images in their original resolution, and it even reduces noise and grain to make your pictures look smooth. 

Eye In Sky Weather: Do you know your phone can serve as a weatherman? EISW is a basic app that gives you weather forecasts depending or your location data. And if you have travel plans, you can also manually set the place for which you require weather information. EISW will pull up data for the next 15 days. 

Tiny Flashlight+ LED: You won’t miss this app till you actually need it; Tiny Flashlight uses the camera’s LED flash to turn your handset into a torch, even allowing you to adjust the intensity of the light. And if your phone does not have a flash, this app illuminates your screen to its brightest point to show you the way in the dark. 

    RunKeeper: If you’re the sort that never misses your morning jog, then download RunKeeper. The app uses the GPS feature on your phone to measure the distance you cover, calculate the calories you’ve burnt, and even keep a tab on your jogging speed. And all of this data can be saved on your phone to help you chart your fitness regimen. 
 
ENTERTAINMENT 

    MX Player: The video player bundled with Android still faces problems with formats such as AVI and FLV, depending on the codec used. To play such files, your best bet is MX Player. The app allows you to zoom in and out by pinching and swiping across the screen; and it even supports a ‘kids lock’ plugin that will keep your children entertained without you having to worry about them making calls or touching other apps. 

    Gaana: Gaana is a personalised radio station, that allows you to stream songs in 21 regional languages – including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi and Marathi – using your phone’s data connection. You can search for songs, create your own playlists and even share your favourites with friends on Facebook and Twitter. The app also feeds you with smart recommendations depending on the type of songs and artists you like. 

    TuneIn Radio: So you’ve got access to over a million songs with Gaana, but what if you’re in the mood for something more than just music? TuneIn provides access to 70,000 radio stations, two million podcasts and shows on your phone, all for free. So whether it’s music, news, sports, or comedy you crave, this app promises to meet all your listening needs. 
 
    SoundHound: You’ve just heard this track you like, but you have no way of finding out what it’s called or who the artist is. Well, with SoundHound, you can get all this information and more. Just hum the tune to the app, and it sifts through its database to give you the details. Besides you also get free information on new artists through SoundHound Headlines, and you can even see lyrics move in time with the music with its LiveLyrics feature. 
 
COMMUNICATION 

GO SMS Pro: You may find the SMS app in your new phone a little bland. Go SMS Pro is a replacement that looks cooler and comes with greater functionality, including support for themes and hundred of smileys. You can share files with contacts; schedule SMSes (set a message to go out automatically at the right time); and you also get a private box for messages meant only for your eyes. 

Viber: Want to make calls to the US using Wi-Fi? Try Viber. The app allows free calls between two Viber accounts (data charges apply). When you install the app, you will have to add your number to Viber’s database. After that, the app scans your phone and searches for other Viber users among your contacts. So the next time you make a call, you have the option to use a regular cellular connection or the Viber app. 

Facebook Messenger: Google Talk comes with your phone, but what if most of your friends are on Facebook? Well, get Facebook Messenger. The latest version of the app displays your Facebook messages – whenever you get one – in a floating window on top of any other app that you may have open. You can then click on this floating window to read the message and send a reply. Or you can long press the window and drag it to the bottom of the screen to dismiss it. 
 
PRODUCTIVITY 

Kingsoft Office 5.3.4: There’s no Microsoft Office on Android. But that doesn’t mean you can’t read Excel reports or check PowerPoint presentations on your phone. Kingsoft Office Suite is a free app – with support for common formats like .doc, .xls and .ppt – that allows you to edit and create text documents as well as check spreadsheets and presentation files. As a bonus, it can also read PDFs. 

Any.Do: This free app allows you to create minimalistic to-do lists (with reminders) for all your tasks. It lets you organise your jobs based on due dates, whether they have to be completed by Today, Tomorrow, or Someday (in the near future). Plus, you can also split tasks between your Work and Personal folders. And if the tasks at hand seem overwhelming, you can use Any.Do’s Plan feature to sort tasks according to priority.

    Evernote: The granddaddy of all notetaking apps, Evernote lets you record voice messages, jot down thoughts, annotate images and even save web pages. The latest version supports voice-to-text functionality so you can dictate your musings. And when you shoot photos and store them on Evernote, it automatically saves metadata like GPS location, which you can use to search for the image. Of course, you can attach searchable tags to everything you save into your account. The app is cloud-based so you always have access to your data regardless of the device you’re using; very powerful and very handy. 

    Feedly: If you are fond of reading news and articles on your phone, download Feedly. This app is an aggregator of content that lets you pick and choose the sites you want to follow across different categories like news, DIY, tech, business, design, photography, gaming, sports, cinema, etc. If the websites you follow are not on Feedly’s list, you can add those by searching from within the app. And it’s all presented to you in a very snazzy layout; even allowing for easy sharing with friends and followers on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn. Of course, you also have the option to save for later. 

    Pocket: Pocket, formerly known as Read It Later, is a bookmarking app that lets you save anything for later viewing, whether it’s a web page, a video or even a tweet. Just hit the Share button and add it to Pocket. The app also formats text for a better reading experience on your mobile screen, and is accessible across platforms as well as the web.

ABB India, Union Bank of India, Corporation Bank, South Indian Bank' results update

Multiple Scrip’s Result Updates. Kindly click on the links to view the report.

                  

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MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK STUNNING WITH SOMETHING BEYOND THE REGULAR STORE-BOUGHT OPTIONS

MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK STUNNING WITH SOMETHING BEYOND THE REGULAR STORE-BOUGHT OPTIONS

    Acouple of months ago, when Lotika and Vikram Talwar wanted to re-furnish their house, they explored many options in the market. But, they were disappointed with the regular storebought options. It is then that they consulted home accessory designer, Ruchit Kapoor, who lent his ideas to create customised accessories for their home.
    With a little bit of imagination, you too can add a unique and creative touch to your home to brighten up any corner or wall. Here are a few options.
CUSHIONS AND CURTAINS A few colourful cushions can make a house look vibrant. Options are plenty — embroidered and patterned cushions in silk, velvette and cotton for starters. Curtains, blinds and bedspreads too create resplendency and add to a cheerful atmosphere to the house.
    “Cushions and curtains in different hues and textures definitely add quirkiness to an otherwise dull space,” says Meenakshi Kapoor, Spazio Designs.
CRAFTED CANDLES “Customized home accessories can give your house a feel of home,” says Amrita Kukreja, Aarna Designs, who makes exclusive hand-crafted candles, tissue-boxes, table-covers and bedspreads. Her collection of home accessories is only on silks ranges between Rs 650 to Rs 6,000.
    Expensive fabrics such as leather and jamevar prints are used to decorate the candlesand give them a distinctive look.
RECYCLE YOUR REFRIGERATOR Have an old refrigerator in your home? Get creative. “Don’t discard your old refrigerator, it can be used as a coffee table,” says architect Arjun Rathi. The surface of the coffee table is made from the door of the refrigerator, while the supports are made frommild steel scrap and recycled refrigerator evaporator coils. The table surface is restored to its original colour using the same shade of duco paint with a coat of lacquer.
    “It makes a great indoor or outdoor centre-piece. The lacquered surface is water-resistant and can be cleaned easily,” adds Rathi.
GET ARTSY, GET QUIRKY Out-of-the-box artifacts such as a pair of sun-glasses can be converted into a photo-frame or a metal mug can serve as a planter and aluminium tea-kettles as chandeliers.“Such quirky ideas can make great artifacts and are economical too,” says Shagun Doshi, Sobo Store.
COLOURFUL CABINETS If your décor is brown polished wooden furniture, try adding a bright, hand-painted art furniture piece. For instance, a side cabinet. “This will break the monotony and add cheer to your home,”says Shibani Jain, Baaya Design.
DO-ITYOURSELF CUSHIONS > Take an18x18 cotton or silk fabric.
> Trace a figure or design of your choice with the help of a tracing paper.
> Paint with fabric paints.
> Highlight them with 3D outliners.
> Add finishing touches to the cushion by adding brocade or velvette at the back, piping or tassles or stich in some sequins and beads to add the bling.
> Your cushion is ready to adorn your house!

HONDA BRIO UPDATED WITH NEW FEATURES

HONDA BRIO UPDATED WITH NEW FEATURES

    After the launch of the Brio-based sub-4-metre Amaze sedan last month, Honda has introduced new variants of the Brio with additional features like a driver seat height adjuster and rear windshield defogger. According to the Japanese giant, these features were found to be among the most desirable on the Brio based on customer feedback. Also read: Honda Brio Road Test
    Speaking about the new additions, Jnaneswar Sen, Senior VP, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd said, "Brio is a significant model for Honda in India as the car added more than 32,000 happy customers in the last fiscal year. It is our constant endeavour to study customers' needs and aspirations and introduce features that enhance the overall ownership experience."
    The complete range of Brio comprises six variants including EMT, EXMT, SMT, VMT, VXMT and VXAT. But the new features will be available only in the SMT, VMT, VXMT and VXAT variants with the SMT priced at Rs 4.60 lakh (exshowroom Delhi). The Brio is powered by a 1.2-litre, i-VTEC mill producing 88PS @ 6000 rpm and torque of 109Nm @ 4500 rpm while boasting a fuel efficiency figure of 19.4kmpl (company figure).

VOLKSWAGEN POLO GT TSI LAUNCHED AT RS 7.99 LAKH

VOLKSWAGEN POLO GT TSI LAUNCHED AT RS 7.99 LAKH

Priced at Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI is currently the only hot hatchback in the country and packs in powertrain technology that is a generation ahead of other small cars in the market

    Volkswagen has finally launched the muchawaited performance variant of the Polo hatchback. However, the Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) sticker price may have dampened the spirits of enthusiasts for what is otherwise a brilliant hot hatch. Armed with a 1.2-litre petrol engine featuring direct injection and turbocharging that develops 105PS of power and 175Nm of torque, the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI holds the honour of being the only hot hatchback in the country. The modern engine is mated to an equally modern sevenspeed double clutch automatic gearbox. The DSG gearbox has three modes, namely, automatic, sport and manual.
    Volkswagen claims that the Polo GT TSI can go from 0-100 km/h in 9.7 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 190 km/h. The company also claims that maximum torque is available from 1,500 rpm onwards. The ARAI fuel efficiency figure of the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI has been rated at 17.2 kmpl.
    The Volkswagen Polo GT TSI is available in Highline trim only and will be distinguished externally from the less powerful variants with its GT badges. The Polo GT TSI does, however, feature more equipment than the lesser 1.2 Highline variants in the form of a climate control system and new seat fabric.
    The Highline variants of the Polo also pack in a lane change indicator with triple flash, a stereo with USB, Auxin and SD card connectivity, alloy wheels, front and rear fog lamps, rear defogger, rear wash wipe, electric ORVMs, a 12V power outlet at the front, tilt and telescopic adjustable multifunction steering wheel, remote central locking and leather-wrapped steering, gear knob as well as handbrake lever.
    Active safety equipment on the Polo GT TSI includes front airbags, ABS, ESP (Traction control system) and pinch guard safety for all 4 power windows.
    The Volkswagen Polo GT TSI will be available in three colours, namely, Candy White, Flash Red and Deep Black.
    All in all, the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI packs in powertrain technology that is a generation ahead of other hatchbacks on the market. However, there is a premium of Rs 2.01 lakh over the less powerful top-of-the-line petrol Polo that one has to pay to enjoy this otherwise cracking car.

Bajaj KTM 390 Duke

Enough with the baby steps already. Its time for the big boys to come out and play. And leading the charge is the KTM 390 Duke as it prepares to hit our roads next month! brings you an exhaustive first ride report of the tangerine tornado.

    The 390 Duke is aimed at plugging the gap between the 200cc and the 600cc segments bringing with it strong performance in a lightweight framework offering form and function for the street. Changes on the 390 are more for purpose than poise. For instance, the bigger Duke now gets barend weights on the flat wide handlebars and they do a fairly good job of keeping vibrations from throbbing the rider’s palms. The view from the saddle is unchanged and the infofilled geek-friendly digital console upfront remains identical barring one small yet significant addition – the ABS toggle switch. Located on the lower left side of the digital console, the switch to turn off the Bosch developed ABS is slyly hidden and cannot be spotted visually but only felt on a press of the finger.
    For the stunt crazy lads out there who prefer one wheeling over two, the trick to turn off the ABS is to slot the motorcycle into the neutral gear while the engine is running and to keep the button pressed until the ABS light on the display starts to blink. ABS Activated!!! And to turn it back on (not that I would want to on such a mental machine), simply switch off the engine and crank it up again to get the ABS working again as the ABS indicator light stabilises.
    Thumb the starter and one can instantly figure that the engine note is raspier and the exhaust is significantly louder over the 200 Duke. Gruntier hum at idle, the loudness and crispy ‘brraaaaaap’ of the larger 390 Duke comes to light as the revs build up. The 375cc single cylinder motor, (the name 390 has been coined to maintain the Duke family naming – 690, 990 and the soon to be launched 1290 SuperDuke) gets a new cylinder while the engine crankcase and the cylinder head are retained from the mill that powers the 200 Duke.
    The KTM/Bajaj Auto development team hiked the capacity of the 200cc engine to 375cc by upping the bore and stroke from 72 x 49mm to 89 x 60mm. The dual overhead camshafts operate the four valves via DLC coated aluminium finger followers. The 375cc engine gets a lightweight forged piston and Nikasil coated cylinder for improved engine response and longer life. All the techno-wizardry within the 375cc liquid-cooled fuel injected motor transforms in to a whooping power output of 45PS at 9,500rpm and 35Nm of torque at 7,250rpm. And to keep the temperatures from soaring, especially in warm countries, the 390 Duke gets a bigger radiator as well. Mated to an all-new six-speed transmission, the gear ratios on the 390 Duke are well spaced to make good use of the available torque throughout the midrange. Thanks to the capacity hike and solid torque output, 390 Duke offers a wide powerband that will appeal to fast riders as well as the lazy street bunch all the same.
    A significant change which will appeal to most Indian biker junta is the tall sixth gear ratio, which hands the 390 Duke with some solid touring capabilities for our roads. While the 200 Duke felt stretched and out of breath at 138km/h, the 390 Duke can reach a top whack upwards of 170km/h while effortlessly sustaining triple digits cruising speeds slotted in sixth gear and nowhere near the redline – and all this without compromising on the initial acceleration with the 390 Duke still managing an estimated 0-100km/h time in the region of five seconds.
    All of this would not be so good unless the tyres can keep up with the demands of the 390 Duke’s raw power and supple chassis. And hence the Bajaj/KTM pairing has decided to stick to Metzeler tyres. Unlike the 200 which runs on MRF rubber, the cast alloy 17-inch wheels on the 390 Duke will come to India shod with Metzeler Sportec M5 Interact tyres.
    To sum it up, the 390 Duke indeed packs in a lot more firepower over its younger sibling although without adding more mass and not requiring any extra efforts when on the saddle. The 390 Duke is loud and radical not just too look at but also to ride but not over the top thus making it a proposition that can be all things to all riders be it sport riding, touring or freestyle stunt riding. And knowing how Bajaj Auto/KTM partnership has worked out before in case of the 200 Duke, the 390 too will be well within the reach of the cash-strapped Indian enthusiast.
    Although both the companies are tight-lipped on the pricing, from what we know and understand, expect the KTM 390 Duke to be priced around Rs. 2 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). But what we know for certain is that the motorcycle will be launched in India in the month of June and the deliveries will commence immediately once launched. One more thing we are sure about is that if you are not the one who is too keen on owning a full-faired race-spec machine, the KTM 390 Duke is a sure shot pocket rocket which can give all the jollies of a fast bike without emptying your bank balance or compromising on the dayto-day practicality which is so vital on our Indian roads. SPE C IF IC AT ION S KTM 390 DUKE ENGINE: 375cc, liquid cooled,DOHC
POWER: 45PS @ 9,500rpm
TORQUE: 35Nm @ 7,250rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed
GROUND CLEARANCE: 170mm
SADDLE HEIGHT: 800mm
FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 11 litre
WHEELBASE: 1,367mm
WEIGHT: 132kg (dry)

The 375cc engine boasts lightweight forged piston for more performance and a bigger radiator for better cooling.

The instrument console remains unchanged to the 200 Duke but gets a ABS disenage button that is hidden slyly behind the panel.

Chevrolet MPV

The General Motors offensive continues as we bring you details about the all-new Chevrolet Enjoy which is all set to put up a fight in the burgeoning MPV segment

    This was the third time in six months that I was entering GM’s gates at Talegaon with all the three visits being for all new vehicles. This makes it clear that the American giant means business this time around and is trying hard to get its share of the market. With the Sail U-VA and the Sail sedan already out, GM has brought out the third offering from its GM-SAIC joint venture, the Chevrolet Enjoy. Now this isn’t the first time that we have laid eyes on the Enjoy. GM already showcased it at the 11th Auto Expo in Delhi and the response was terrific. A little over a year later, here it is in the flesh.
    It is pretty evident that people in India like their MPVs but just because the car can seat six or seven, it isn’t reason enough to make it a runaway success. While cars like the Toyota Innova and the more recent Maruti Suzuki Ertiga are ruling the roost, the others haven’t really caught on as well. Which makes it clear that just space is not enough and people are looking for a complete package when it comes to MPVs. So how does the Enjoy fair amongst its fairly stiff competition? Let’s find out.
    The first time you set your eyes on the Enjoy, the big MPV exudes quite a pleasant aura. There is nothing radical about the design and the Enjoy makes no bones about its van-like proportions. The mono-box design is devoid of any fancy creases or any drama whatsoever. The front has a pretty European feel to it with nice swoopy tear-drop headlights linked together by a twin slatted chrome grille with the big bowtie taking centre place. Moving onto the side, one could say that the Enjoy bears a passing resemblance to the Mahindra Xylo, but then most typical MPVs almost boast the same shape. The rear although pleasant has nothing much to talk about. The tailgate is massive and extends almost all the way to the bottom and the only thing enhancing it is a well integrated lip spoiler.
    Step inside the wide opening doors and you are welcomed by a spacious and airy cabin. A beige black theme is used all throughout and we pretty much liked the way it looked and felt. The front seats are extremely comfortable and offer very good support as well. The speedo console is pretty basic with a large speedo flanked by the rev counter on the left and the fuel-cumtemperature gauge on the right. While the dash may look good, the AC controls consist of your average rotary dials (no climate control) with the music system looking like an ‘80s cassette player.
    Moving onto the back, both our cars had captain seats at the rear which were very comfortable with more than adequate legroom. We think a bench seat option might be provided at the time of the launch as well. The rear passengers get their own AC vents at the top with three adjustable blower speeds to play with. Getting into the third row is a little tedious thanks to the middle seats not folding all the way but the seat is quite wide. But thanks to the raised floor at the back, it may get a bit uncomfortable for tall passengers. As far as the space and interiors are concerned we think GM has got it right and all it needs is a tad bit of flair to make it just right.
    Carrying six or seven people with luggage is no measly task. While outright horsepower isn’t important here, the torque and gearing is. The Enjoy is offered with two engine options, a petrol and a diesel with the latter borrowed straight from the Sail sedan/hatch. The petrol in the Enjoy is a 1.4-litre DOHC unit pushing out a 104PS @ 6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 131Nm @ 4400 rpm. The engine feels quite refined but dumping the clutch and getting off the mark is quite a lethargic affair. Once on the move though, the petrol Enjoy can do decent speeds and canters along quite well but other than that, the petrol motor and the Enjoy come across as quite an average combination.
    Getting into the diesel after the petrol brings forth a remarkable change in character. The Smartech 1.3 litre unit in comparison to the petrol puts out 77.5 PS @ 4000 rpm but more importantly a maximum torque of 188 Nm at a lowly 1750 rpm. Getting off the mark, the diesel Enjoy feels much more sprightlier and kept in the meaty part of the power band can chug along all day doing decent speeds. While we have yet to see how the diesel motor performs under a full load, initial impressions make it clear that the diesel is the motor to have in the Enjoy.
    On the suspension front, the Enjoy is equipped with run of the mill McPherson struts with coil springs in the front and a 5-link coil spring suspension at the rear, the Enjoy feels decently stable at low speeds, but as the speeds got higher so did the body oscillations. The suspension set up is pretty soft and while this a good thing in some ways, what is not as good is the damping. Initial impressions are a mixed bag as of now. The Enjoy offers decent looks, very good space and seating and a satisfactory amount of kit as well with our top-end variants boasting driver-passenger airbags, ABS along with EBD. It’s the powertrain (petrol) and the ride quality that felt quite average. But a little amount of tweaking in both the departments is all that’s required and we hope GM is listening. A thing to also note is that the vehicles we got were one step below the actual production vehicles, so we expect the quality to be slightly better in the production ones.
    Apart from that the big question is the pricing and the positioning of the Enjoy. While it’s a tad bigger than the Maruti Ertiga, it is significantly dwarfed by the likes of the Toyota Innova, the Mahindra Xylo and the Nissan Evalia. The question is where will GM slot the Enjoy? Even putting aside the minor discrepancies, what will clearly decide the Enjoy’s fate is how well GM prices it. 

 S P E C I F I C AT I ON S CHEVROLET ENJOY PETROL & DIESEL 

ENGINE: 1.4L, S-TEC II 1.3L Smartech
POWER: 104PS @ 6000rpm 77.5 PS@4000 rpm
TORQUE: 131Nm @ 4400rpm 188 Nm@4000 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual
FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 50 litre
GROUND CLEARANCE: 161mm
TYRE SIZE: 175/70 R14

The overall layout looks good and the combination of beige and black makes it quite airy inside.

The 1.3 litre Smartec diesel unit is the pick of the choice and fares far better than the 1.4 litre S-TEC II petrol engine.

Front seats are extremely comfortable and offer very good support.

With the seat not folding all the way, getting into the third row takes some effort.

On the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, we bring you various kinds of religious activities and festive celebrations associated with the day

FESTIVE FERVOUR

On the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, we bring you various kinds of religious activities and festive celebrations associated with the day

GOLD IN MYTHOLOGY Buying gold is best on Akshaya Tritiya, as it is the ultimate symbol of wealth and prosperity. Gold originated from Sanskrit root “Hri”. It is known as Hiranya in Sanskrit. This word is deeply attached to the Hindu belief system of Hiranyagarbha — one born out of gold. This word popularly refers to the God of creation, Brahma. According to some legends, the creator deposited a seed in the waters of the dark and lifeless universe. The seed became a bright golden egg as radiant as the sun. From this cosmic egg was born Brahma. Thus, it is believed that valuables bought on this day keep on increasing in life. 

SPIRITUAL LEANINGS Popular belief says the offerings on Akshay Tritiya never go away. In fact, one drives more benefit out of it. The donations are believed to help in reducing the sins of previous births. People should offer Satpaatre Daan. That is, donating to activities that not only enhance spiritual progress, but also aim at the protection of the Nation and Dharma. By offering satpaatre daan, the donor does not acquire merit, but his karma becomes akarma (karma performed without any doer-ship) and he becomes happy. With spiritual progress, the seeker, instead of going to Heaven, goes higher in positive spiritual planes (lokas). 

SESAME OFFERINGS This day is marked with increased spiritual purity by 60-70%. Til Tarpan means offering sesame and water to deities as well as ancestors. Sesame is known to negate negative energy. Water is the symbol of pure spiritual emotion. Thus, by offering tarpan, natives surrender before their deities with gratitude. It also means one is repaying his/her debt. As a result, the native is blessed in his spiritual progress and obstacles are removed. 

PRAYERS TO MOTHER EARTH On this day, Goddess Mother Earth (Mrutika Devi) is worshiped. It is believed that Mother Earth blesses her devotees with food grains (Dhaanya Lakshmi), wealth (Dhana Lakshmi) and Prosperity (Vaibhav Lakshmi). It is believed that trees planted on this auspicious day will blossom with abundant fruits. Ayurvedic medicinal herbs, planted on this auspicious day, are believed to survive forever. 

RENDEZVOUS WITH RELIGION The ruler of the day is Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Hayagriv, Narayan and Parshuram descended on Earth on this day. To celebrate the spirit of the day, pujas and offerings to Goddess Vaibhav Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna are performed.
    Kubera, the treasurer of Gods, pray to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and consort of Vishnu, on this day. Devotees also perform a daylong Kubera Lakshmi Puja in which an image of Vaibhav Lakshmi is worshipped along with the Sudarsana chakra and Kubera yantra — symbolising Kubera.
    In charity, rice, salt, ghee, sugar, vegetables, tamarind, fruit and clothes are given. So, here’s wishing a Happy Akshaya Tritya to all!

Buy Gold Coins at 7% discount from India Post

Buy Gold Coins at 7% discount from India Post

·         On the auspicious Muhurat of “Akshaya Tritiya” next week (on May 13, 2013) many of you may be planning to buy gold. And if you are intending to buy gold coins here’s a chance to avail of some discount.

India Post at present is offering a 7% discount on purchase of gold coins through post offices on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. The offer is available on 24 carat gold coins (with 99.99 purity) which will be available in denominations of 0.5 gram, 1 gram, 5 grams, 8 grams, 10 grams, 20 grams and 50 grams.

While India has an insatiable appetite to own the precious yellow metal - mostly in physical form (jewellery, gold coins or gold bars) for both emotional and financial reasons; it is important to recognise the perils of holding gold in a physical form. The passion to hold gold in a physical form has some disadvantages such as holding cost you pay as a locker rent to stack gold in a bank’s safe vault, quality (unless you are buying 99.99 purity gold), premium you pay (in case you are buying jewellery) and sometimes even resale value if you aren’t holding high purity gold. Moreover, you could be under the scanner of tax authorities since your physical gold holdings may attract wealth tax.

Gold is an effective diversifier and hedge against economic uncertainties and therefore one must own it; but it is vital to invest the smart way in gold. Gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are a smart way of investing in gold, as they offer the following benefits: 

·         Convenience

·         Quality is uncompromised

·         No question of paying premium for buying gold, as you do while buying physical gold

·         Low cost (since you don’t pay a steep locker rent to your bank as you do for holding physical gold)

·          

·         Correct resale value (very much unlike in case of physical gold holding - especially jewellery where making charges are deducted) 

But you ought to be careful in selecting gold ETFs and prefer those only which have:

·         Low tracking error (i.e. the gold ETFs holds more percentage of its assets in gold, rather holding cash); and Low expense ratio. 

Also those who want to invest in gold at regular intervals in a systematic manner, can consider gold saving funds (which generally operate like a Fund of Fund (FoF) scheme which invests their corpus into an underlying GETFs), since they offerthe SIP mode of investing which provide you with the benefit of rupee-cost averaging and compounding.

Manage your email better

Manage your email better

Tired of irrelevant emails that clog your inbox each day? Here’s how to streamline your mailing processes

QUALITY TRUMPS QUANTITY Are you one of those people who loves to share links of emails/songs/messages/ pictures and so on of what you happen to be reading? Sharing options on our communications devices have become all too easy today, fooling us into believing that everything we read might be important or relevant to someone else. Instead, how about simply lifting the telephone and calling someone? At the workplace, while being efficient, emails can also be misunderstood. If you don’t have the time to call, a quick SMS gets the message across, too. You already know about the need to be concise on e-mail. Accordingly, don’t let your email run into paragraphs and reams of prose. Save your Shakespearean impulses for that blog you’ve been planning. If you send a certain kind of email to a group of people, use saved templates for greater efficiency. 

GET WITH THE ‘PROGRAM’
    Automated programs, that is. If you look under the hood of your email provider’s settings, you’ll find that you have the ability to filter emails. If you already have folders in your inbox for sorting various emails, then filters are no different or difficult. Additionally, colourlabelling messages gets things more organised.
    Gmail already has a smart filter that marks certain emails as important. This is applied to emails sent by people in your contact list or emails that have an urgent subject line. You can make as many folders and subfolders as you like, but then again, avoid going overboard as it could overcomplicate things once again.
    Furthermore, move messages into appropriate folders for a reason. It’s called an ‘inbox’ and not a ‘storage depot’ for a reason. 

ALIAS ADDRESSES It happens all the time. You call up a service to get a phone number, and the operator asks you for your email. you fill up a customer feedback form at a restaurant and it asks for your email. You fill out a frequent flyer form and — you guessed it — it asks for your email! Do not give out your primary email for these purposes as you
    will soon find your inbox
    flooded with useless junk. Besides, email address (and phone number) lists are sometimes sold to third parties for telemarketing. If you want to create a self-destructing email a d d re s s, you have many options. Try out guerillamail.com or 10minutemail.com or getairmail. com, for example. All are free and eminently disposable.

THE ‘CC’ AND ‘BCC’ FIELDS When was the last time you were irked by being on the receiving end of emails from say, a political activist group, which has no relevance to you? Depending on how public or private the profile is of your line of work, you might find yourself being added to various discussion threads as your email might be in the public domain. While this can be pestering, ‘BCC’ is a better bet when sending mass email to people you know, rather than strangers. It works when people in your email list might not know each other or you simply don’t want them all to see who else is being emailed.

Phil Jones calls Wayne Rooney Manchester United’s worst dressed player

Phil Jones calls Wayne Rooney Manchester United’s worst dressed player

    Philip Jones has named teammate, Wayne Rooney, as the worst dressed player in Manchester United.
Jones, who was tipped for greatness at Old Trafford by Sir Alex Ferguson last week, made his claim during an interview with a magazine, a paper reported.
    He believes that Rooney, who was crowned the Premier League’s richest player in April with a whooping 51-million pounds fortune, has no style in spite of his wealth.
    Earlier in 2013, Rooney had asserted that Jones had the worst clobber on the team, while Man U ace Jonny Evans claimed that the former Blackburn star would wear anything with a designer label. ANI

Wayne Rooney

Sansui’s newest range of Brush Metal LED TVs were unveiled

LAUNCH PAD

GLITZ, GLAM AND GIZMOS

    Sansui’s newest range of Brush Metal LED TVs were unveiled byAnirudh Dhoot, Director – Sansui, Arun Pal, CMO – Sansui and players Pune Warriors India team. The evening saw a fashion show where the cricketers walked the ramp too. Others present at this do include Mohammed Azharuddin, Karishma Kotak, actors Richa Chaddha, Rahul Roy and Mukesh Rishi.
    On the launch, Dhoot said, “Sansui has always been a pioneer in introducing innovations in technology. Our main objective is to design and create innovative products, which would benefit its customers. We believe in redefining entertainment with best and the latest innovations and today we are proud to unveil this range in Pune. The presence of the Pune Warriors Team players has made this occasion even more special. We are indeed proud to be associated with the team.”
    The 46 inches (117 cm) Brush Metal LED TV is a fully integrated digital TV giving its viewers the best 3D experience with extraordinary sound. Some features include internet browsing, YouTube and weather forecast amongst many other applications. This range has a 14 BIT Video Processor, Dual Core processor, FAROUDJA Video & Audio optimized, STRATA certified audio, 10 Band Graphic Equalizer, Easy Connect, Over the Air Software and much more.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the designers on the ramp

Aaron Finch

Yuvraj Singh and Angelo Mathews

Arun Pal

Anirudh Dhoot

Income Tax Return Filing Forms revised for AY 2013-2014

Who can use SAHAJ (ITR-1)  and Who can’t use SAHAJ for Assessment Year 2013-2014

 

1.     Scope of ITR-1 (Sahaj) form has been reduced in AY 2013-14 significantly .In comparison to last year, Two main points has been added under restriction ,first persons is that assessees who have negative income under head "Income from other sources" can’t use this form and second main point is that if assessee's exempted income is more than 5000/ then that assessee can’t use Sahaj (ITR-1) .Most of the person using Sahaj form last year may have more than 5000/- exempted income ,so now they can’t use this form ?

For example : 

• Salaried person getting transport allowance which is exempted 800 per month (more than 5000) can’t  use ITR-1
• Salaried person getting HRA exemption (>5000) are also not eligible.
• Other allowances which are exempted also not eligible.
• If you have agriculture income >5000 Not eligible.
• if you have received maturity amount of insurance ,exempted at the time of receipt > 5000 also not eligible. 

and so many other instances where exempted income is more than 5000/- then ITR-1 can’t be used .so basically 70-80 % persons who have used ITR-1 earlier technically out from its preview. Details is given below.

 

 

2. Who can use this Return Form

 

This Return Form is to be used by an individual whose total income for the assessment year 2013-14 includes:-

(a) Income from Salary/ Pension; or

(b) Income from One House Property (excluding cases where loss is brought forward from previous years); or

(c) Income from Other Sources (excluding Winning from Lottery and Income from Race Horses)

NOTE Further, in a case where the income of another person like spouse, minor child, etc. is to be clubbed with the income of the assessee, this Return Form can be used only if the income being clubbed falls into the above income categories.

 

3. Who cannot use this Return Form

 

This Return Form should not be used by an individual whose total income for the assessment year 2013-14 includes:-

(a) Income from more than one house property; or

(b) Income from Winnings from lottery or income from Race horses; or

(c) Income under the head "Capital Gains" E.g., short-term capital gains or long-term capital gains from sale of house, plot, shares etc.; or

(d) Income from agriculture/exempt income in excess of Rs. 5,000; or

(e) Income from Business or Profession; or

(f) Loss under the head 'Income from other sources'; or

(g) Person claiming relief of foreign tax paid under section 90, 90A or 91; or

(h) Any resident having any asset (including financial interest in any entity) located outside India or signing authority in any account located outside India.

 

4. Annexure-less Return Form

No document (including TDS certificate) should be attached to this Return Form. All such documents enclosed with this Return Form will be detached and returned to the person filing the return.

 

5. Manner of filing this Return Form

This Return Form can be filed with the Income-tax Department in any of the following ways, -

(i) by furnishing the return in a paper form;

(ii) by furnishing the return electronically under digital signature;

(iii) by transmitting the data in the return electronically and thereafter submitting the verification of the return in Return Form ITR-V;

(iv) by furnishing a Bar-coded return.

Where the Return Form is furnished in the manner mentioned at 5(iii), the assessee should print out two copies of Form ITR-V.

 

NOTE One copy of ITR-V, duly signed by the assessee, has to be sent by post to - Post Bag No. 1, Electronic City Office, Bengaluru-560100, Karnataka. The other copy may be retained by the assessee for his record.

 

6. Filling out the acknowledgment

 

Only one copy of this Return Form is required to be filed. Where the Return Form is furnished in the manner mentioned at 5(1) or at 5(iv), the acknowledgment slip attached with this Return Form should be duly filled.

 

7. Obligation to file return

 

Every individual whose total income before allowing deductions under Chapter VI-A of the Income-tax Act, exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income tax is obligated to furnish his return of income. The deductions under Chapter VI-A are mentioned in Part C of this Return Form. The maximum amount not chargeable to income tax in case of different categories of individuals is as follows:-

 

• In case of individuals below the age of 60 years  : Rs 2,00,000/-
• In case of individuals who are of the age of 60 years or more at any time during the financial year 2012-13 : Rs 2,50,000/-
• In case of individuals who are of the age of 80 years or more at any time during the financials year 2012-13: 5,00,000/-

 

E-Filing of Income Tax Return is compulsorily if your income exceeds Rs. 500,000.00

A major change has been done in mode of filing of Income Tax return for assessment year 2013-14. Now E filing of Income tax return is mandatory for all persons having income more than Rs 5,00,000. Further if you have claim double taxation benefit under section 90 ,90A, or section 91, return filing through online mode is mandatory . In previous year almost 1.00 crore assessees, who income is less than 10 lakh has filed voluntary e filing of income tax return . After analyzing these stats ,CBDT has reduced the e filing Income Limit for all assessees to Rs 500000/- from assessment year 2013-14

 

List of forms to be used by different persons for filing of return of income for the Assessment Year 2013-14
Individual and HUF
Nature of income	ITR 1 (Sahaj)	ITR 2	ITR 3	ITR 4	ITR 4S (Sugam)
Income from salary/ pension	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Income from one house property (excluding losses)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Income or losses from more than one house property	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Income not chargeable to tax which exceeds Rs. 5,000	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Income from other sources (other than winnings from lottery and race horses or losses under this head)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Income from other sources (including winnings from lotteryand race horses)	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Capital gains/loss on sale of investments/ property	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Share of profit of partner from a partnership firm	-	-	Yes	Yes	-
Income from proprietary business/ profession	-	-	-	Yes	-
Income from presumptive business	-	-	-	-	Yes
Details of foreign assets	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Claiming relief of tax under sections 90, 90A or 91	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Other Assesses
Nature of income			ITR 5	ITR 6	ITR 7
Firm			Yes	-	-
Association of persons (AOP)			Yes	-	-
Body of Individuals (BOI)			Yes	-	-
Companies other than companies claiming exemption under Sec. 11			-	Yes	-
Persons required to furnish return under:			-	-	Yes
(1) Section 139(4A);
(2) Section 139(4B);
(3) Section 139(4C); and
(4) Section 139(4D)

source-simpletax