Monday, November 30, 2009
Web address in indian languages soon..
C-DAC, GIST, P7une, in close association with DIT and with contributions from C-DAC Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram have evolved a policy document for International Domain Names in Indian languages.
Over three years, out of 22 scheduled Indian languages, work on 14 major languages has been completed. The remaining eight languages would be taken up soon
The awareness workshop for availability of domain names in Indian languages, was an effort of the DIT, Govt of India, C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advances Computing) and NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India - the designated registry in Domain Names.
However, the fact remains the majority of keyboards are not designed to input local languages. So it would be interesting to see how this development is successful in converting "Non users" to internet users.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
What you do with your extra money? Investment Options in India
Here I'm presenting consolidated list of investment options in india. Actual allocation of funds should depend on your short/long-term cash needs.
Typically when you are young and have steady savings, you can afford to take more risk intern maximize your gain and later part of your life reduce risk and focus on steady gain.
Bank FDs
- Very low risk and low liquidity.
- Low returns, but assured. Depending on the tenure and bank, could be around 6-9%
- Since returns are fully taxable, the post-tax returns will be still lower.
- Good for very low risk investors and those in the nil or low tax brackets.
- Low risk and low Liquidity.
- No assured returns but depending on tenure and the MF, could be around 6-9%. (Ability to deliver the indicative returns).
- MFs attract much lower taxation and hence give better post-tax returns vis-à-vis Bank FDs.
- Good for low risk investors, but in high tax brackets.
- Low risk and high liquidity.
- Market linked. Today could be around 5-7%.
- Lower taxation of MFs makes Floating Rate funds attractive.
- Good for investing short-term money where one needs higher liquidity.
- Low to Medium risk.
- Returns are market-linked. Today could be around 5-7%, but susceptible to interest rate risk.
- Lower taxation of MFs makes such funds attractive.
- Can be avoided in a rising interest rate scenario but is good in a falling interest rate scenario.
- Low risk and low Liquidity.
- MIS scheme give 8% interest.
- Since returns are taxable, the post-tax returns will be still lower.
- Good for very low risk investors and those in the nil or low tax brackets.
- Low risk with very low liquidity (15-year lock-in period. Partial withdrawal allowed after 6 years).
- 8% assured returns. Interest is tax-free.
- Good tax saving investment option.
- Low risk with low liquidity (6 years lock-in).
- 8% assured returns.
- Interest fully taxable. But eligible for Sec 80C benefit.
- Not very attractive vis-à-vis other options like 5-year Bank FDs.
- High risk and high liquidity.
- Market linked returns. Good potential.
- Attractive tax treatment. No Long Term (investment of more than 1 year) Capital Gain Tax and 10% Short Term Capital Gains Tax.
- Needs high risk appetite.
- High risk and high liquidity in open-ended funds.
- Market linked returns. Good potential.
- Attractive tax treatment. No Long Term Capital Gain Tax and 10% Short Term Capital Gains Tax.
- Ideal for small and common investors, but with high risk appetite.
- High risk with low liquidity (3 years lock-in period).
- Market linked returns. Good potential.
- Attractive tax treatment. No Long Term Capital Gain Tax and 10% Short Term Capital Gains Tax. Also Sec 80C benefit.
- Good tax saving investment option. Amounts beyond Rs.1 lakh limit could be invested in open-ended funds.
- Medium to High risk.
- Medium to high returns. Market linked.
- Attractive tax treatment. No Long Term Capital Gain Tax and 10% Short Term Capital Gains Tax.
- Though convenient as both debt and equity investment is covered under one fund, it may be better to invest separately in equity and debt funds for better control.
- Low to High Risk depending on the investment option i.e. Pure Debt or Mixed or Pure Equity. Low Liquidity (3-5 years lock-in period).
- Low to high depending on the investment option. Market linked returns.
- Tax free returns.Allso Sec 80 C benefit available.
- Not an attractive option due to high charges, low flexibility and low diversification. There are other better similar investment products like MFs with low charges, high flexibility and high diversification. As regards life cover, the same could be done through a term policy.
- Low risk and very low liquidity
- Low returns. Generally around 6-6.5%.
- Tax free returns.
- Not an attractive option due to low returns. There are other better similar investment products like PPF. As regards life cover, the same could be done through a term policy.
- Variable risk and variable liquidity depending on the type and location of property.
- Market linked returns. Good potential.
- No tax advantages, except attractive tax benefits on the home loans.
- High initial investment required which could make one’s portfolio lopsided; high transactions costs like title-search, registration brokerage etc.; and cannot be partly liquidated. Therefore, real-estate MFs (expected in the near future) may be a better alternative than direct property investment.
- High risk with high liquidity.
- Market linked returns.
- No tax advantages.
- Highly cyclical.
- Low long-term risk. But volatile in short term. High Liquidity.
- Has traditionally been a hedge against inflation. So returns could be around inflation levels.
- No tax advantages.
- Not an attractive investment option. Can be used for portfolio diversification to partly hedge against inflation.
Happy Investing !!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Keep your mobile no., dump your service provide at just Rs19
Jan 2010 is when mobile world will turn truly democratic.
The country is set to introduce mobile number portability (MNP) on December 31. MNP allows the subscribers to retain their existing mobile telephone number even as they move from one access provider to another. This move is irrespective of the mobile technology or from one cellular mobile technology to another of the same access provider, in a licensed service area. In other words, the consumer can switch from CDMA to GSM.
Is your mobile fake? Track IMEI via SMS or online
The International Mobile Equipment Identification (IMEI) is a 15-digit code that helps to identify a stolen handset and helps the security agencies to track the users. No two mobile phones have same IMEI number. The Global Systems for Mobile Communications Association is the only body which assigns the 15 digits unique IMEI numbers to each and every mobile phone manufacturers worldwide under any legitimate brand.
How can you verify your handset has valid IMEI?
Mobile users can check the IMEI no of the Mobile Handset by pressing *#06# Otherwise check the compliance plate under the battery.
The Very simple step is to SMS a text message:
A simple SMS can help you to verify your IMEI number
Type an SMS “IMEI {followed by your} (15 digit IMEI No.) to 53232
For eg : IMEI 351868910323340 to 53232
Message displayed for correct IMEI – Success
Message displayed for incorrect IMEI – Invalid IMEI
Monday, November 2, 2009
Why Not Me? An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Chasing Your Dreams.
This guest post is from Robert Tuchman. As president of TSE Sports & Entertainment, Robert has recently published Young Guns: The Fearless Entrepreneurs Guide to Chasing Your Dreams and Breaking Out On Your Own
An entrepreneur needs to be someone who can both visualize and actualize. He needs to be able to visualize something—and once that “something” is visualized, he needs to see exactly how to make it happen. In order to make it happen, there are several steps that you as an entrepreneur must take on your way to entrepreneurial success. Do not just enhance what is, but advance towards what will be.
WHY NOT ME?
Get into the habit of asking, “Why not me?” The answer to this question will be the single most important thing in your personal campaign to build a great business from scratch. The answer to this question will lead you to success: it will strengthen your resiliency, persistency, fortitude and sense of purpose.
THE DECISION
You have to make a decision to make a name for yourself in the field that inspires you. The decision to change, whether it is catalyzed by unhappiness or otherwise, must come first. Commit yourself, with all your energy and enthusiasm, without reservation to what you love.
THE BIG IDEA
You need a big idea to transform roadblocks into reasons to move forward. The big idea will awaken you and ignite your motivation. Find ONE passion and pursue it—it should be one connected to an activity you love and should engage you emotionally.
THE FIRST TEST… AND THE FIRST PLAN
Once you have the big idea, test it. If what you are doing reminds you in any way of doing homework or feels like a chore, you have the wrong “Big Idea.” If your work passes this test, do your research and build a plan. Find a mentor! Stay focused on your short-term goals leading you to your long-term end.
THE PARTNER PRINCIPLE
Start-ups that feature two people have a significant competitive advantage over businesses in which one person, without consultation, makes all the major decisions. Picking a partner is analogous to picking a spouse: find someone who compensates for your weaknesses. Take your time: be positive about your choice as partnering with the wrong person can destroy your business, reputation, vision for the future, and physical or mental health.
GUT CHECK: GETTING STARTING
Prioritize internal workings before external: the external observable processes will not make or break your company in the first year. Your answer to “Why not me?” will lead you past your gut-check moment. You will have to expose yourself to short-term pain in order to secure the long-term that you believe you deserve.
PRIORITIES FOR THAT FIRST ALL-CONSUMING YEAR
Make a commitment: three years of long hours, hard work, and high energy. Your commitment to yourself will shape the commitment others will make with your company. You should have some main priorities—some of these being building a culture of action and enthusiasm and taking daily action on your business plan.
YOU ARE THE COMPANY
The best entrepreneurs are focused on their “why” that drives them to connect to customers—if you are truly connected you will never stop selling; it will be automatic. There is no right or wrong way to sell: just jump on the phone and talk to everyone you can with all your passion and enthusiasm.
TECHNOLOGY: OUR GENERATION’S GREAT EQUALIZER
Online, your message must be crafted carefully, resources invested wisely, and potential and actual payoff evaluated closely. To sell, find out how your customers are communicated and connecting. Hang out with customers online and in person. There are inexpensive ways to launch and promote a business and its target message.
SERVICE IS WHAT YOU’RE SELLING
Business is all about relationships—it is the service that you deliver to support these relationships that is your one true product. And that service is all about follow-through. Be upfront about everything of consequence that affects your client; take ownership of any problem. Sell light, perform heavy!
BACK UP YOUR SELL
Honesty is the only policy. There is only one way to build credibility: tell the truth to clients and prospective clients, and then surprise them and deliver more.
INSIDE PLAYERS: YOUR TEAM
Entrepreneurship is not just founding a stage where you as the founder deliver all the good results yourself—it means building a good team. Delegate! Hire people who share your values and attitudes. You should have a strong personal connection with every person you hire. Keep in mind that the general atmosphere is more important than any one employee.
CELEBRATE FAILURE, REWARD SUCCESS
You learn the least when you succeed, and the most when you fail. To never fail is an impossibility. Failure does not equal losing! You only lose when you halt your momentum and do not move forward to help the people on your team to success. Learn to bounce back and look for a silver lining.
YOUR VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS MATTER
It is just as important to keep your vendors happy as your employees. Nurture, sustain and service your relationships with the right vendors. You are placing the future of your business in the hands of the vendors: you relationship with them needs to be one of trust. The two most important outside vendors you can have are your accountant and lawyer.
BY THE NUMBERS
Find someone who can keep you organized and on top of your expenses and obligations AND who can adapt and expand as the business starts to take off.
WHY NOT YOU?
Over time, you will have to find different ways to answer that question to keep you motivated on your path to success. Find new rituals that engage you in a fresh and motivating way. Master the art of supporting, learning about, and growing yourself before you try to do the same for your business.
In the end, take energy from taking risks. Live in the spirit of the entrepreneur!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Italian gravy with Indian ingredients...
Ingredients- Tur Dal (4 table spoon)
- 1 Tomato
- 1 Carrot / 1 potato
- 4-5 green chillies
- 1 Onion
- Elaichi / Cardamom (optional)
- Salt
- 1 cup water
- Make powder of tur dal in mixer
- Add chopped Tomato, Chillies, Carrot/Potato, Onion in the powder,
- Half spoon of salt & Elaichi for flavor
- Grind it till it becomes paste then take out the paste in hit vessel,
- Add 1 cup of water and mix it to make uniform
- Put the mixture on low flame for 5 mins, Keep steering it.
- Serve the gravy on toast, pasta for delicious flavor
PS. Cooking, as alternative career option, is not a bad idea :)
