Fighter Aircraft Rafale procurement - IGA, MoU

Rafale Fighter - India, France sign agreement

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".. The procurement of Rafale fighters from France has a long, chequered history of over a decade.
As expected, India and France have signed a MoU towards an Inter-governmental agreement (IGA) to purchase 36 Rafale aircraft from Dassault Aviation during the visit of French President Francois Hollande. Hollande is in Delhi as the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations.
The procurement of Rafale fighters from France has a long, chequered history of over a decade. India had issued a tender for 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) fighters in 2007, and at the end of the selection process in 2012, Rafale fighters were selected. Things got in a logjam when the price negotiations were taking place, and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar later disclosed that his predecessor, AK Antony’s noting on the negotiations had ensured that the process gets stalled.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris in April last year, India announced a plan to buy 36 Rafale fighters in a government-to-government deal. A few days later, Parrikar announced that the old 126 fighter deal was dead and the 36 fighter deal will be a fresh acquisition.
Since Modi’s announcement in Paris, India and France have been negotiating the terms of the sale. The two sticking points have been the price of the aircraft – a fact confirmed by the French President and Indian Prime Minister during their joint press briefing – and the quantum of offsets which will be discharged by Dassault’s Indian partner. .."

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Find this at http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/rafales-to-form-two-squadrons-of-indian-air-force .

Kollam Temple Tragedy - Fireworks in Kerala Festivals

Kollam temple tragedy - history of fireworks in India

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"Use of fireworks originated in China and later spread to India through trade and military contact. Fireworks constitute an integral part of Indian festivals and are particularly important in Kerala temples.
When and how did the usage of fireworks originate?
The use of fireworks originated in China. The prime constituent of fireworks is gunpowder, which in turn is formed of saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal. It is saltpeter which gives the colours to fireworks, while the other two ingredients are required for prolonging its effects. In his work, “Book of the kinship of the three”, Wei Boyang of the Han dynasty in second century CE, had first mentioned the use of a substance which historians believe was the first reference to gunpowder.
There are other historians who ascribe the origins of gunpowder to Indian Sanskrit texts such as the Nitiprakasika of Vaisampayana which was compiled in the 8th century BCE. However, the potential of gunpowder to be used in fireworks was not realised during this period.
Saltpeter and Sulphur appeared in Chinese texts before the first century CE. Historian Kaushik Roy is of the opinion that ancient India was aware of the existence of saltpeter which was known as ‘agnichurna’ (powder that creates fire). Reference to the substance is available in Kautilya’s Arthashastra, an ancient Sanskrit treatise on statecraft and military strategy. It was composed between 300 BCE and 300 CE. .."

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Find this at http://indianexpress.com/article/research/kollam-temple-fire-kerala-fireworks-history .

Demonetisation not the first time

India pulling bank notes from circulation

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".. Narendra Modi may have shocked the nation with his Nov. 8 announcement, but the prime minister’s move was hardly unprecedented. India has pulled select denominations of its currency twice before.
The first was when Rs1,000, Rs5,000, and Rs10,000 notes were taken out of circulation in January 1946, a year and a half before the country won independence from the British. The Rs10,000 notes were the largest currency denomination ever printed by the Reserve Bank of India, introduced for the first time in 1938. All three notes were reintroduced in 1954.
In the early ’70s, the Wanchoo committee, a direct tax inquiry committee set up by the government, suggested demonetization as a measure to unearth and counter the spread of black money. However, the public nature of the recommendation sparked black money hoarders to act fast and rid themselves of high denominations before the government was able to clamp down on them, Mint reported. .."
".. For the most part, Modi’s measure mirrors Desai’s—except this time, he has the backing of his RBI governor, Urjit Patel, who applauded Modi’s “very bold step” addressing concerns about the “growing menace of fake Indian currency notes.” But that doesn’t mean all the skeptics are off his back. Economists doubt the impact of his decision. .."

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Find this at http://qz.com/831674/rupee-currency-demonetization-a-brief-history-of-india-pulling-bank-notes-from-circulation .

India Pakistan Conflict, Disputes - A History

Consistent feature of relationship

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"Here is a history of India-Pakistan conflict
Since August 1947 when Partition led to the creation of these two independent countries, disputes, in particular with regard to the claim over Kashmir, have been a consistent feature of the relationship between India and Pakistan.
Following the Uri attack on September 18 and the unsuccessful diplomatic conversations between India and Pakistan, the Defence Ministry on Thursday confirmed to have carried out surgical strikes along the LoC. Reportedly, the military activity has led to significant casualties being caused to terrorists who had established themselves at launchpads along the LoC with an aim to infiltrate and cause terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir. .."
"1947
The first instance of an armed conflict between the two countries was immediately after Independence and Partition in October 1947. The fear of Kashmir acceding to India was what had triggered the struggle. The Pakistani Army infiltrated Kashmir through tribal forces in an attempt to occupy Kashmir. This was followed by the Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh signing the agreement of accession to the dominion of India resulting in a full fledged war between India and Pakistan and the solidification of the Line of Control. Even though the war did not have a conclusive victor, India managed to claim two-thirds of Kashmir, while Pakistan got about a third of the territory. .."

 

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Find this at http://indianexpress.com/article/research/here-is-a-history-of-india-pakistan-conflict .

Blogger Web Address

This Blogspot

The cyber address http://www.OnceUponInIndia.blogspot.com is the Blogger of 'Once Upon in India' (O-U-i-I). It will share Blogger posts and blogspot stuff from BSF (Boy Slender Frame), all blogger addresses of / from / via BSF and SFE (Slender Frame Enterprises), including of course all blogspot addresses belonging to / being run by SFE Projects. You are reading the address there.

Facebook Web Address

The Facebook Address

The Facebook cyber address of 'Once Upon in India' (O-U-i-I) is http://www.facebook.com/Once-Upon-In-India-270262250072094 . It will share Facebook posts and f/b stuff from BSF (Boy Slender Frame), all facebook addresses of / from / via BSF and SFE (Slender Frame Enterprises), including of course all f/b addresses belonging to / being run by SFE Projects.

Twitter Handle

The Twitter Web Address of O-U-i-I

Twitter address of 'Once Upon in India' (O-U-i-I) is http://www.twitter.com/OnceUponInIndia . It will retweet tweets from BSF (Boy Slender Frame), all twitter handles of / from / via BSF and SFE (Slender Frame Enterprises), including of course all twitter handles belonging to / being run by SFE Projects.

Architecture News India: Technology application will help India's infrastructure development

Architecture News India: Technology application will help India's infrastructure development
Technology brings efficiency improvements to infrastructure.

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Technology is bringing efficiency improvements to infrastructure sector globally. Six Technology based solutions to improve India's infrastructure are given below.
1. Smart Cities
2. Intelligent Freight Logistics
3. Smart Highways
4. Advanced water treatment systems
5. Next-generation construction methods
6. IT-enabled project management systems

Pre fabricated components - - - GIS based surveys - - - frame bids - - - Internet Of Things - - - fresh water demand can be met by water reclamation and recycling
Infrastructure deficiency: India is infrastructure deficient. For faster completion of works at various levels India needs to invest variously in infrastructure, but the funds are not all available. Therefore, investing in Technology makes sense (they are saying) since that drastically improves efficiency.
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Cover Picture

Cover Photo

Cover Picture

That's the Cover Photo at 'Once Upon In India'. This illustration shows Panchmukhi Hanuman which helps ward off evil eye. Hanuman Ji Ki Jai. हनुमान जी की जय |

Profile Photo

Profile Picture

Profile Picture

That's the Profile Photo across 'Once Upon In India'.

Protagonist got sketched unawares!

Looks for discernible folks around town! :-)

That's him, the entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur, Protagonist looks for discernible folks. Once Upon In India.

His name is Sandeep Vij. He is an Architect (Construction). He is a Delhiite, single male, and the protagonist looks for discernible folks around town .. for most stuff around him / about him.

Entrepreneur from India yearned to be useful

"Once Upon In India" Project takes off

An Entrepreneur from India yearned to earn a living and make himself useful for the world around him. This Project "Once Upon In India" covers 'Boy Slender Frame', his 'Slender Frame Enterprises' under which lie all works of BSF.
BSF is an avatar of the entrepreneur actually. Another avatar of the protagonist is 'Brief Takes'. So 'Once Upon In India' will cover BSF (Boy Slender Frame), SFE (Slender Frame Enterprises), BT (Brief Takes), entrepreneur himself of course (initials are SV, name comes later), 'Decent Guerilla' (marketing entity of BSF), 'Spreading Thin' (marketing entity of protagonist), 'Nimble Footed' (marketing entity of SFE), and whatever else gets created. SFE includes the 'Architecture' and the 'Internet' works of the protagonist, the entrepreneur.
Architecture is divided into SVA (full form to come later), Environs, and another one to be disclosed later. Internet is broadly divided into 'Tripodot' and 'Ether Domains' (ED). ED further covers many projects.
So 'Once Upon In India' might become a marketing entity for the protagonist himself and all his works, his world. OUI shall include the personal stuff of the entrepreneur. OUI may also do something else, on the fringes only though. It is not detailed yet. :-)
Once Upon In India was needed. It covers everything. It is supposed to encompass or embrace everything .. of / by / for / from / pertaining to / regarding .. the entrepreneur, this protagonist. OUI shall serve as end point marketing for everything within. Reverse mention or marketing may happen, but rarely. :-) Reverse Marketing implies, for instance, that one or more of the various works echo what OUI says or writes.

Good Day To Start!

Starting Off With Once Upon In India

Feb. 20, 2017, Monday was a good day to start off with Once Upon In India. We are surrounded by Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Bay Of Bengal.
Our neighbours are Bhutan (Happiness Index ones), Nepal, Tibet (Free Tibet! Free Tibet!), China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan (breaking, self imploding).