New Delhi: As part of the crackdown on the parallel economy and in a bid to bring transparency in the real estate sector, the GST Council meeting at Guwahati is likely to take a decision to bring the real estate sector under the GST regime. The issue is being deliberated today by the officials and a final shape is expected to be given during the Ministerial meeting of the GST Council which is scheduled to be held tomorrow (Friday). 

The officials are trying to fix not only the rate at which GST will be imposed on the real estate sector but also to deliberate whether registration of property would invite stamp duty separately or shall it be subsumed into the GST regime. At present, various states charge different rates of stamp duty on property registration but majority of them give a special discount in the rates if the property is being registered in the name of a women. Similarly, following the submission of the report by a Ministerial group to study the rationalising of GST rates and making them simple and compliant, the GST Council is likely to take out majority of the items from the 28 per cent category and shift them to the 18 per cent and 12 per cent category each. There could be relief for consumers eating out in restaurants as the GST Council is likely to bring down the rate from 18 per cent to 12 per cent category. Also, it is expected that lot of other items under the 28 per cent regime will be shuffled to lower rates including textiles and fabrics. 

The government is of the view that real estate is one sector where maximum amount of tax evasion and cash generation takes place. It is understood that a number of states have backed the move to bring real state under GST regime but some others are against such a move. The Congress state ruled Chief Ministers are expected to push for abolition of the 28 per cent category and cap the GST rate at 18 per cent maximum.

Speaking about the GST Council meeting, Saloni Roy, Senior Director, Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP said: “The move to introduce GST was a historic step. There have been hiccups in its implementation. Concerns have been raised by various sectors of the economy, but the silver lining is that Government has adopted a positive approach and its taking action to ease the pain. It is expected that the GST Council meeting scheduled for today and tomorrow would bring relief to small and medium enterprises in terms of simpler GST filing norms. Also, reduction in tax rates for several items under the 28 per cent tax bracket along with rationalization of tax rates for daily use items is anticipated. GST Council is also looking at attending to issues of trade and industry with respect to higher rates of tax in respect of items which were subject to a lower rate under the pre GST regime.”

There has been outcry and unrest among traders and businesses over the complex GST regime and the high GST rates. The difficult in compliance has also come in for strong criticism forcing the government to have a relook at the whole issue on a war footing. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has also promised that next GST Council meeting will end the pain of GST for traders and make things simple including giving relief in shape of reduction of higher tax regime.

With the Assembly elections scheduled in Gujarat for next month, the Government is keen that the unrest among trading and business community needs to be addressed on a war footing and that is one of the reasons that Mr. Modi himself came out to reassure the traders that their grievances pertaining to the GST regime will be addressed soon. 

The Central Bureau of Investigation after a one and a half months investigation in Pradyuman’s murder case scraped the hypothetical theory by the Gurugram police which explained that the bus conductor, Ashok Kumar 42, was the accused of the murder. Now the CBI has detained a 16-years-old class XI student of Ryan International school with the charges of Pradyuman’s murder. 

The Gurugram police on 9th September had produced Ashok handcuffed in front of the media and the poor guy read the script of the confession and rested under custody for next 61 days. Sources say that Ashok was tortured brutally under the custody of Gurugram police. It is also said that even before his arrest and confession, he was manhandled and forced to confess the crime.

Now as the CBI has rejected the so called investigation in the Pradyuman’s case, Gurugram police department have to be answerable to a detailed questionnaire after their dubious role and murky preliminary inquiries in the extra-sensitive murder case of 7 years old child, that shocked the nation on 8th September 2017. 

10 Questions To Gurugram Police

1- In the initial probe, Gurugram police arrested Ashok Kumar and treated him as the prime accused of the Pradyuman’s murder case, after he confessed the crime. On 9th September 2017, The Deputy Commissioner of Police South Gurugram, Ashok Bakshi, had said, “The accused has been arrested and we are also integrating POCSO Act in this case. More names will be added soon.” What type of prima facie did the Gurugram police officials collect at the crime scene to accuse Ashok Kumar?

2- Ashok Kumar confessed the crime then and admitted that he tried to sexually exploit Pradyuman in the toilet of the school and then stabbed him twice near the neck after he boy objected to sex. Now CBI has rejected this so called fact which was a ‘cornerstone’ for the Gurugram police investigation two months ago. Who forced Ashok to confess a crime that he has not committed? Who manoeuvred the script for Ashok?

3- Gurugram Police had produced a knife, the weapon used to kill Pradyuman, however, the weapon used buy the 11 class boy, as investigated by CBI, was not the same. Did the police wait for the forensic evidences like finger print matching Ashok on the knife?

4- Police Commissioner, Gurugram, Sandeep Khirwar, said, “we didn’t compete our investigation. We escalated the matter to  the CBI. Now let the investigation be complete.” How without proof did they believe the theory of Ashok without reaching on any conclusion of investigation?

5- If it was an attempt to ‘cover-up’ then who put the pressure on police officials and Ashok to go out make people believe a fake and planted story of confession?

6- CCTV footage is believed to be one of the prime evidences in this case. Why didn’t the Gurugram Police carry out a thorough surveillance of the CCTV footage of the Ryan International School?

7- Since CBI is likely to release Ashok Kumar soon, will the Gurugram police apologise for the torture they have done to man who was framed by powerful people and due to the incompetence of the police? 

8- Did the persistent public demand, victim’s family pressure and media outrage compel the police to act in ‘quick-fix’ manner? 

9- If the Gurugram Police was aware about the 11th std student involved in the crime, then who stopped them to act against him?

10- Did the lawyer father of the accused boy try to ‘fix’ Ashok as a scapegoat by the means of money or muscle? Was the Gurugram police aware of any such information? 

Our sources have also told that the father of the accused is a powerful lawyer in Gururgam and it is being seen as a possible obvious reason behind the boycott of the Bar Association to fight in the favour of Ashok Kumar. Why none of the lawyers come up with same boycott for the new accused by the CBI?

The India Saga also went ahead for the reactions of the DGP Haryana, BS Sandhu, but he refused to comment on it as he said, “Gurugram Police Commissioner Sandeep Khirwar will be addressing a press conference on this matter. I cannot comment.”

The Commissioner of Police Sandeep Khirwar in a press conference didn’t answer any of the above questions. The entire Gururgam police department seem to be on back-foot after CBI rejected their so called investigation which has questioned the dubious proceedings in the Pradyuman’s murder case.

New Delhi : Indian scientists have developed new sensor-based technique for detecting the presence of S. pyogenes bacteria, the most common cause of throat infections. It is claimed to be a quick and cost-effective.

The device, a DNA chip-based sensor, consists of a carbon electrode embedded with gold nanoparticles to improve electronic properties. Many small-sized DNA probes are located on the modified chip. They attach themselves to the target DNA samples of bacteria taken from throat swabs of the patient.

The new sensor has been found to be better than earlier reported sensors due to its ability to pick up bacterial DNA even if present in small numbers, within 30 minutes. It correctly distinguishes S. pyogenes from other bacteria, according to the study published in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 

“The aim was to develop a rapid, accurate, sensitive, specific and cost-effective method for detection of S. pyogenes. The current methods of detection S. pyogenes infection are culture test, biochemical assays, polymerase chain reaction, genetic markers. And these methods are time consuming, expensive, are unable to pick up the bacteria if present in small numbers and may even wrongly identify other bacteria as S. pyogenes,” Professor Ashok Kumar from the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, who led the research, told India Science Wire.

Based on this technique, he said, several other infection-causing microbes can be identified to prevent the disease by taking medical treatment at early stage of infection.

The most common cause of throat infections in humans is S. pyogenes bacteria. If left untreated it may lead to damage of human heart valves resulting in a severe form of rheumatic heart disease. Early diagnosis can prevent damage of human heart valves by taking timely and correct medical care. 

The team of researchers included Swati Singh and Ankur Kaushal from the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, and Dr. Shashi Khare from the National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi. 

New Delhi : Two months after the gruesome killing of eight years old student Pradyuman Thakur in Ryan International School (Bhondsi) Gurugram, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its probe of the murder case has detained a student of standard XI of the Ryan school and took him under custody. CBI in its preliminary reports has alleged that the motive behind the killing of Pradyuman was to postpone the ‘Parents-Teacher Meeting (PTM)’ in the school. The top investigating agency in its briefing reported that the accused student bought the weapon from outside and slit Pradyuman’s throat in the bathroom. CBI has relied on the forensic evidences and CCTV footage in this case. The std. XI student will be produced as a prime accused before the Juvenile Justice Board this afternoon at 2PM. The CBI officials were in regular touch with the accused family since the start of the investigation in Pradyuman’s murder case.

According to the media reports, the detainee’s father has expressed that the CBI arrested his innocent son. “He (the detainee) was the one who broke the murder of Pradyuman to the gardener, teachers and other school authorities. He didn’t even know Pradyuman. CBI has been doing injustice and framing my child in this murder case. I have sympathy for the deceased and his family, but this is wrong to detain my son. They (CBI officials) kept me waiting at the CBI headquarters for late yesterday night and forced me to sign an alleged confession of my son,” he added. The sudden twist in the Ryan International shocking murder case has challenged the earlier confession of the bus conductor, Ashok, which stated that he stabbed Pradyuman twice in the bathroom of the school after the boy objected to sex, however CBI has refused the theory of sexual assault.

Pradyuman’s father Varun Thakur after the dramatic turn in the case has expressed that he was opined that the offender school had been deliberately trying to hide something from the police since day one.

Gurugram police in its preliminary investigation had arrested the bus conductor of Ryan school, Ashok Kumar, 42, with his confession of Pradyuman’s murder and sexual assault. The police had also produced the weapon used in the killing that time.

What had happened earlier?

On 9th September after the horrific murder of Pradyuman Thakur, a conductor of the school bus, Ashok Kumar 42, had confessed that he killed the boy. He confessed, “I was doing some objectionable activities alone inside the bathroom. The boy came inside and saw me. I got scared and pulled him inside. Then I attempted to have sex with the boy, he objected to surrender. I pulled him again and he fell on the ground. I panicked and slit his throat with a knife. I stabbed him twice near the part of his throat and ears. The boy cried and yelled, I flew away.”

Pradyuman’s father Varun Chand Thakur had said that he used to drop Pradyuman at school every day. On 8th September, he had dropped his son and daughter at the gate of Ryan International School and came back home. After fifteen minutes, he got distressed calls from Ryan International School that his son fell in the bathroom. The school management took the boy to Artemis hospital. Varun reached the hospital and saw the body of his son.

The victim’s father had complained, “Simply arresting the bus conductor is not sufficient. It is negligence of part of the school administration and they should be booked.”

“The school couldn’t even ensure basic safety for my son, how will then parents send children to school,” told the victim’s mother Jyoti to ANI.

The Gurugram police had investigaed different possible angles and motives behind the murder. The Deputy Commissioner of Police South Gurugram, Ashok Bakshi, had said, “The accused has been arrested and we are also integrating POCSO Act in this case. More names will be added soon.”

Amid outrage for strict action against the school, the acting principal was then suspended. “Principal Neerja Batra has been suspended. A special committee is probing the case. We took action against the security agency of the school,” said Gurugram Deputy Commissioner of Police Simardeep Singh. 

Present

Now after the CBI report on Pradyuman’s murder, every earlier false theories behind the murder are rejected by the CBI. 

Read More About Pradyuman Case..

I Stabbed Him Twice As He Objected To Sex: Bus Conductor, Ryan International School

Ryan International School Is A Repeat Offender, Devansh Was Killed Last Year

Over the past one year, demonetization has been a buzzword across all Indian industries, but much more so in real estate. The radical move of banning high-value currency notes, seen as the Government’s surgical strike on black money, has become a landmark event in the history of the Indian economy. Looking back on Year 1 AD (After Demonetization), it is plain to see that it has brought significant disruptions into the overall economy – and particularly the real estate sector.

The rolling out of key policy reforms such as the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act [RERA] and the Goods and Services Tax [GST] compounded the aftermath effects of demonetization. Although there was a lot of confusion and uncertainty immediately after demonetization, the shadow of this radical move now appears to be fading. The long-term effects of demonetization on the real estate sector are aptly summed up by the wise words of the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche – “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.”

The triple tsunami of demonetization, RERA and GST resulted in a deceleration of new property launches. The supply of new housing units in the top 6 cities in India during the first three quarters of 2017 was down by around 60% compared to the same period of 2016. However, this curtailed pipeline of new launches serves to cover the prevailing demand-supply mismatch, impart equilibrium to the market and make it unprecedentedly end-user friendly. 

The prevailing attractive home loan rates, flexible payment plans and other attractive offers by developers, coupled with restricted new supply addition, has led to a steady decline in the unsold inventory. As of Q3 2017, only 638,500 units were unsold in the top 6 cities, registering a 9% decline from Q4 2016 levels. As per ANAROCK’s analysis, the quarterly absorption levels across the top 6 cities reached pre-demonetization levels in Q2 2017 itself and maintained similar levels in Q3 2017 as well.

With respect to property sales, the secondary market was obviously highly susceptible to demonetization as compared to the primary market. Property transactions in the secondary sales and luxury housing segments tended to have significant cash components, and such sales have been hampered significantly due to demonetization. In contrast, demand for affordable and mid-segment housing has been on a rise.

Initiatives such as interest waivers on the home loans, the Government’s push for affordable housing through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and the ‘Housing for all by 2022’ mission have come to the forefront over the past one year. Various policy initiatives, amendments, and reforms were all aimed at making the real estate sector more transparent, organized and fundamentally stronger. Demonetization played a significant role in this process.  

In the long term, the real estate sector is likely to regain a faster growth trajectory and is estimated to contribute around 13% to India’s GDP by 2028. This optimistic forecast is very much attainable because the various reforms now redefining the realty landscape in India will not only incrementally boost consumer sentiment but also improve investment inflows from foreign and domestic institutional investors going forward.

(Author is expert in Real Estate Business)

The World Health Organisation has advised the farmers and the food industry against using antibiotics routinely to promote growth and prevent disease in healthy animals.

The new WHO recommendations aim to help preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics that are important for human medicine by reducing their unnecessary use in animals. In some countries, approximately 80% of total consumption of medically important antibiotics is in the animal sector, largely for growth promotion in healthy animals.

Over-use and misuse of antibiotics in animals and humans is contributing to the rising threat of antibiotic resistance. Some types of bacteria that cause serious infections in humans have already developed resistance to most or all of the available treatments, and there are very few promising options in the research pipeline, WHO said in a statement.

“A lack of effective antibiotics is as serious a security threat as a sudden and deadly disease outbreak,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “Strong, sustained action across all sectors is vital if we are to turn back the tide of antimicrobial resistance and keep the world safe.”

A systematic review published today in The Lancet Planetary Health found that interventions that restrict antibiotic use in food-producing animals reduced antibiotic-resistant bacteria in these animals by up to 39%. This research directly informed the development of WHO’s new guidelines.

WHO has strongly recommended an overall reduction in the use of all classes of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animals, including complete restriction of these antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention without diagnosis. Healthy animals should only receive antibiotics to prevent disease if it has been diagnosed in other animals in the same flock, herd, or fish population, it has said.

Wherever possible, sick animals should be tested to determine the most effective antibiotic to treat their specific infection. Antibiotics used in animals should be selected from those WHO has listed as being “least important” to human health, and not from those classified as “highest priority critically important”. These antibiotics are often the last line, or one of limited treatments, available to treat serious bacterial infections in humans.

Many countries have already taken action to reduce the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals. For example, since 2006, the European Union has banned the use of antibiotics for growth promotion. Consumers are also driving the demand for meat raised without routine use of antibiotics, with some major food chains adopting “antibiotic-free” policies for their meat supplies.

Alternative options to using antibiotics for disease prevention in animals include improving hygiene, better use of vaccination, and changes in animal housing and husbandry practices.

WHO’s Guidelines on use of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals build on decades of expert reports and evaluations of the role of agricultural antibiotic use in the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance. They contribute directly to the aims of the Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2015 and the Declaration of the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Antimicrobial Resistance, adopted in 2016.

Since 2005, WHO has published a list of critically important antimicrobials for human medicine, with regular revisions, to be used as a basis for promoting their prudent use. The list groups all antibiotics currently used in humans and animals into three categories – “important”, “highly important” and “critically important” – based on their importance to human medicine.

The controversy over Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s mega movie `Padmavati’ refuses to die with the royal family of Jaipur jumping on to the bandwagon.

In a statement issued in Jaipur, Ms Diya Kumari of the Jaipur royal family and a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA said that if the movie distorts historical facts, it would not be allowed to be released.  

Ms Diya Kumari said that no film should hurt the sentiments of a community by twisting historical facts. The director of the film Padmavati, Sanjay Leela Bhansali should not wrongly depict the story of Queen Padmavati of Chittor. He should get the facts in the film verified by a forum of historians and then release the film, the statement said.

She further added that the Rajputs will not allow any distortion of the valiant history of Rajasthan and sacrifice of its people in fighting barbarians. If movie does not display authentic history or takes any liberties, it will not be allowed to be released.

The movie is set for released on 1 December, 2017 but is facing stiff resistance from Rajput groups who allege that the Director had distorted historical facts. In fact, the movie had faced trouble while shooting in Jaipur but the matter had been settled after an agreement between Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the protestors under which Bhansali had assured to drop the scenes which had angered the community.

However, the Rajput groups and some self-styled organizations have threatened to stall the release as they allege that the movie should be shown to historians before the release to ensure that it did not hurt their sentiments.

The protestors have already said they would not allow the movie to be released in Rajasthan and Gujarat. And, with the backing of the royal family, the protest will get a boost.

Historically, it is said Padmavati was stunningly beautiful queen of Chittor who committed `jauhar’ to save her honour when her husband Rattan Singh lost to Allaudin Khilji, the most powerful emperor of Khilji dynasty.  

New Delhi,  It may appear to be a bit trivial but zippers do matter. Inexpensive and convenient, zippers have become an integral part of the textile industry. Voicing concerns on behalf of the manufacturers from across the country, the Zippers Association of India has urged the GST Council to lower tariff on zippers from 18 per cent to 12 per cent.

In a letter to the GST Council, the association said that zippers and slide fasteners are part of the textile industry and should not be burdened with high tariff.   

The Zippers Association of India said the industry was already ailing due to GST and its impact on the business of slide fasteners and apparel export industry had been adverse.

“This is already a sick industry; Zipper manufacturing provides employment to about one lakh workers, mainly women. The existing tax rate of 18% is too high and unjust in comparison it was 12 per cent on textiles. The sector has been suffering not due to its capabilities but due to inconsistencies in the policies. The lowering of tariffs will provide the fastener as well as apparel export industry with competitive edge in the existing quota free world,’’ the Association said.

It said that local manufacturing and supply of zippers will shorten delivery time, boost export orders and enhance brand reputation of the garment export industry. Zippers industry will also assist in retaining and generating employment, especially to women, minimize loss of turnover and government revenue collections, the Association contended.

Zippers are used in the manufacture of readymade garments, woolen products, hosiery products, jackets, gloves, windcheaters and covers of pillows, mattresses, quilts and blankets. They are mostly made from textile materials like polyester or monofilament yarn, thread and tapes. 

Has the Congress party given up without a contest? Well that is the impression one gets from the way the election campaign of the party is being conducted in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls scheduled for November 9.

And the fissures are not only at the state level but it seems the division is right at the top also. While the BJP has not only stolen a march over Congress by announcing former Chief Minister and Sujanpur party candidate, Prem Kumar Dhumal as the choice for the post of the Chief Minister in case party wins the mandate, it has also unleashed a stream of start campaigners led by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to win over the voters of the Hill State. In fact, Mr. Modi has been driving this point to the voters during his election rallies in the state.

In contrast, the Congress campaign is being mostly led by the old fox and Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh who, despite being 83, is trans-versing across the State and will wrap up the election campaign with canvassing in Shimla (Rural) assembly segment from where his son, Vikramaditya Singh is contesting. The Congress campaign in the state is in complete disarray as its “war room’’ in the party office in Shimla is virtually non-functional indicating the trust deficit between the party and the Government. The State Congress president, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu is contesting from Nadaun assembly segment.  

Surprisingly, there is already buzz that Congress vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, who has been upset with the threats and blackmailing tactics of Mr. Singh is keeping a deliberate distance from the Himachal polls and instead focusing on Gujarat which will go to polls only mid next month. With campaigning scheduled to end on November 7, there are hardly four days left for senior party leaders to jump into the electoral battle. Mr. Gandhi, who had addressed a election rally in Mandi in early October, has yet to address a rally in support of the party candidates. Similarly, the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, who has been keeping poor health, has also not addressed any rally in the state.

Mr. Gandhi has been upset with the manner in which Mr. Singh had held the party to ransom by dictating terms for the past six months and even threatening to split the party in case his demands are not accepted. The Chief Minister has been demanding the removal of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhwiner Singh Sukhu which was strongly resisted by Mr. Gandhi. Not only this, he even forced the Congress high command to remove Sukhu as the chairman of the Campaign Committee and get himself nominated for the same. Even in the distribution of tickets, Mr. Virbhadra Singh left no stone unturned to put down the State Congress president and his supporters.

With Congress having little or no option at the eleventh hour, Mr Singh managed to have his way. Interestingly, Mr. Singh also accused veteran Congress leader and party general secretary, Sushil Kumar Shinde of giving preference or patronage to dissidents and his rivals within the party. On the other hand, senior party leader, Anand Sharma has been doing his party of the campaign in the state especially for his supporters. Mr. Sharma and Mr. Singh don’t see eye to eye which has further created issues within the party and the direction of his campaign. “The Congress vice president has left it to the Chief Minister to lead the campaign. He is upset with Mr. Singh for having virtually hijacked the party in the state. Now he wants that if the party does not win, it is Mr. Singh who should take the entire blame and hold others responsible for the loss as he was given a free hand,’’ a Congress party functionary remarked.

President Xi Jinping ruling the roost at the 19 Congress of the Communist Party of China. Will he made a bid for a third term as President of China as the CPC Congress side stepped announcing his successor.

CPC steers clear of naming Chinese President Xi Jinping’s successor. Xi maintains political system of China is a great creation.

Having consolidated his position, Chinese President Xi Jinping has outlined the way forward emphasising Beijing did not seek global hegemony but “no one should expect China to swallow anything that undermines its interests”. 

He remained uncompromising about his country’s political model steering clear of offering any hint about democratic reforms being on the horizon. “The political system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a great creation,” Xi observed in a marathon three hour 23 minute address at the week-long 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held in Beijing recently. 

He affirmed it was time for his country to transform itself into a mighty force that could lead the world in political, economic, military and environmental issues. “This is a new historic juncture in China’s development,” Xi added. 

Having taken over as his country’s leader at the 2012 Congress of the CPC, he has emerged as the most dominant ruler since Mao Zedong.  He believed achieving the China dream will not be a walk in the park and “take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there”. Having seen the back of his rivals posing a threat to his leadership, one wonders if Xi will adhere to the party constitution ruling out a “life tenure” as there is no term limit for any office unlike the state constitution which prescribes a two-term limit for the presidency. 

It might be premature at this juncture to fathom the post 2022 developments but it seems unlikely that Xi will bid adieu to his pre eminent leadership position like his predecessor Hu Jintao who made his exit after completing two terms as the Chinese President. 

At the same time the most notable and significant aspect of the CPC deliberations is that it did no announce a successor to Xi on completing his second term in 2022 as the President of China. Keen observers of the CPC deliberations believe Xi pitching for a third term as President cannot be ruled out. 

If Xi wants to remain President of China for a third consecutive term, amending the constitution might become a cake walk as he will be overseeing the agenda in the National Peoples’ Congress. On the other hand not having a succession plan has caused factional feuds in the past. 

Since Xi’s arrival on the global scene five years back in 2012, China has emerged as a power calling the shots much to the chagrin of the United States of America as the lone super power amid the waning of influence of other major powers including the Russian Federation.  

Beijing’s growing expansionist tendency encompassing its assertions in the South China Sea, could pose a challenge to India along with the countries in the East. Beijing’s growing clout and heft cannot be undermined thanks to its investments in the far corners of the globe including Africa, South America and Latin America.

It has also taken up the massive “One Belt One Road” project linking Europe with China. OBOR seeks to link no less than 60 nations in the process.  On its part New Delhi has serious objections to joining this project as it passes through the disputed Kashmir territory. 

President Xi remains all powerful in his country at present which will largely depend on how he harnesses the energy of the people of China. There is no doubt he will be keenly watched globally.