The ministry of urban development has launched a Smart National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) model to enable seamless travel by different metros and other transportation systems across the country besides being used for shopping as well. Urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu has approved the 'EMV Open Loop Card with stored value' for this initiative. Globally, there is no nationwide common card except in Singapore where in inter-operability is confined to the city only.

No power distuption tomorrow, but banks to be hit by strike
While, BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh today claimed that services such as power, oil and gas supplies will not be affected by the general strike tomorrow (September 2) as a large number of public sector workers have pulled out of the action against changes in labour laws, other 10 central unions, however, had said that there will be minimal impact on strike due to BMS' pulling out at the eleventh hour. BMS General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay told reporters that "big PSUs like NTPC, NHPC and PowerGrid will not observe strike tomorrow. Therefore, the power supply will not be affected," he said. However, employees of public sector banks and government-owned non-life insurance companies would go on strike on Wednesday.

Sensex ends 587 points down, Nifty below 7,800
The S&P BSE Sensex plummeted 586.65 points on Tuesday amid weak GDP data and a slump in equity markets the world over, as a contraction in August PMI stoked fears of a sharper slowdown in the Chinese economy. The 30-pack index settled the day 2.23 per cent lower at 25,696.44.  The 50-pack Nifty shed 185.45 points, or 2.33 per cent, to close at 7,785.85. Selling was seen across the board, with all the 12 BSE sectoral indices ending in the red.

I am father of Sheena, Mikhail, but never married Indrani Mukerjea, says Siddharth Das
Siddharth Das, who was reported to be Indrani Mukerjea's first husband, confirmed on Tuesday that Sheena Bora and Mikhail were his children, but added he had never married Indrani. While speaking exclusively to Zee Media, Das, who currently resides in Kolkata's Dum Dum area, said that he first met Indrani, accused in Sheena murder case, in Guwahati and they both started seeing each other.Das maintained that he stayed at Indrani's residence along with her parents and they both had two babies - Sheena and Mikhail - born in 1987 and 1988 respectively.

Clerics urge Muslim bodies for reforms in 'triple talaq'
Stating that the practice of triple talaq was causing immense problems in Muslim society, a body of clerics has written to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Islamic scholars to build consensus on making a three-month period mandatory before finalisation of divorce. In letters to AIMPLB and clerics of Deoband and Barelvi sects, the Sunni Ulema Council claimed that in seven Islamic countries, including Pakistan, Sudan and Jordan, the mandatory condition of three months is in place and the community in India too should consider similar practice. Clerics urge Muslim bodies for reforms in 'triple talaq'

Meru cab service provider starts 'carpool'
Encouraged by huge commuting population by four wheelers, radio taxi service provider Meru has launched ride sharing service 'CarPool' across the country. Integrated into the Meru Cabs mobile app, CarPool offers the 'personal car' ride sharing option for people. The company will conduct thorough credential checks of all the customers who offer to give rides to people, including taking their details of driving licence , Aadhaar and PAN. CarPool by Meru also comes with a wallet partnership with mobile wallet Paytm to offer its customers cashless travel.

India trying to get 129 votes to get Hindi as UN language
India needs 129 votes in the UN to get Hindi included as one of the official languages in the world body, and the financial burden was not a problem, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday. Addressing a press conference ahead of the Hindi World Conference being held next month in Bhopal, Sushma said: "The way India's global stature is growing... for the International Day of Yoga, we got 177 votes, our morale has gone up.

Modi's private secretary promoted to the rank of joint secretary
Sanjeev Kumar Singla, who is Private Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, was today promoted to the rank of joint secretary.The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved empanelment of Singla, a 1997 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS), to hold the Joint Secretary level post at the centre, an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training said. The ACC also approved his appointment as PS in the PMO at the level of JS, it said.

Google misusing search dominance in India?
After the European Union, it is the turn of Indian authorities to investigate Google. 30 companies including Flipkart, Facebook, MapMyIndia, MakeMyTrip, and Nokia Here have accused internet giant Google of abusing its dominance in search advertising. Based on the responses and queries, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) director-general last week filed a report that accuses Google of abusing its dominant position to rig search outcomes, both the actual search result as well as sponsored links. Google needs to file its response to the findings by September 10.

22-year wait ends as India create history on Lankan soil with series win
It was new captain Virat Kohli's first series win. India on Tuesday clinched their first Test series victory on Sri Lankan soil in 22 years with an emphatic 117-run win over the hosts in the third and final cricket Test despite a valiant century by rival skipper Angelo Mathews. After setting a daunting victory target of 386, India managed to dismiss the Sri Lankans for 268 on a wicket which slowed down considerably to wrap up the series 2-1, their first overseas series victory since June, 2011 against the West Indies.

Jet fuel price cut by 11.7%, non-subsidized LPG cut by Rs 25.5 per cylinder
ATF or jet fuel price was on Tuesday slashed by a steep 11.7 per cent while rates of non-subsidized cooking gas LPG were reduced by Rs 25.5 per cylinder in line with dip in international prices. Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price in Delhi was cut by Rs 5,469.12 per kilolitre (kl), or 11.7 per cent, to Rs 40,938.24 per kl, oil companies announced today.