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Reliance Jio on Friday made a slew of announcements related to its Prime membership,  including no tariff for the first three months under the scheme. To avail the offer, customers will have to first subscribe to the Prime membership by paying Rs 99 and also purchase Jio's Rs 303 and other plans. Following which, they will get the first three months as "complimentary" and their paid tariff plan will begin from July. "Every Jio Prime member - when they make their first paid recharge prior to 15th April using Jio's Rs 303 plan (or any higher value plan) - will get services for the initial 3 months on a complimentary basis. Your paid tariff plan will be applied only in July, after the expiry of the complimentary service," Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani said. Jio Summer Surprise  While thanking customers who have purchased the Prime membership, Ambani termed the new offer as Jio Summer Surprise. "The Jio Summer Surprise is the f

The passage of the four GST Bills in the Lok Sabha is significant for two reasons. The first is political because it does appear that while the government was always open to taking suggestions, the opposition was keen on shouting it down by bringing in other extraneous issues. Hence, getting it through the House is satisfying. The second is that it now looks likely that the government will meet the target of 1 July for implementation which is what was intended to begin with. There is hence reason to feel sanguine about this development. Getting acquiescence from all states is a major achievement but the task really begins once it is implemented. The demonetisation drive, it may be remembered, had arguments on both sides from the point of view of ideology, but it was almost universally accepted that the implementation was far from satisfactory. This has always been a problem with Indian policies where we slip on implementation even though we are astute in design. As a diversio

One year before Vice President Hamid Ansari's term ends in 2017, the NDA government appears to have already identified his replacement. BJP MP and former union minister Hukmdev Narayan Yadav has been sounded out that he will be the next occupant of 6, Maulana Azad Road, the official residence of the Vice President of India. Yadav represents Bihar's Madhubani parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha and is in his fifth term in the lower house. An interesting mix of attributes is said to have made him emerge as the favourite. Firstly, his OBC credentials will help the BJP in sending out a message to the OBC vote bank throughout the country, the absence of whose support cost the party the Bihar assembly polls in 2015. Second, Yadav is a rare socialist in the BJP-RSS ranks, having begun his legislative career as a member of the Sanyukt Socialist Party (SANSOPA) in the Bihar Assembly in 1967. He is also considered to be a protege of iconic socialist leaders like Ram Manoha

Cyclone Debbie: Cyclone Debbie made landfall between Bowen and Airlie Beach in Queensland as a category four storm, whipping gusts of up to  263km/h (163mph). It is moving inland as a category two storm but could cause damage for hours yet. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he was aware of one death so far. Activating a disaster response plan, he stressed the picture could develop when emergency crews were able to assess the damage. "Conditions have deteriorated rapidly," he told parliament. "Take care and stay safe. Be prepared to shelter in place until Wednesday." Defence force helicopters and naval vessels would be sent to Queensland with aid, he added. He said the Australian government would be urging insurance companies to be "compassionate" and supportive of people who have claims to make following the cyclone. 'Battering Ram Effect' The extent of Cyclone Debbie's devastation, which has a 50km-diameter eye wall, ma

There lies a possibility of a cricket series being played between India and Pakistan in Dubai later this year if the government gives its go-ahead to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. BCCI has written to the Home Ministry, seeking permission to play Pakistan to complete their obligations under the Future Tours & Programme (FTP) agreement which was inked in 2014.  According to reports, BCCI has proposed a full series consisting of three Tests, five one day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals. If all goes well, the proposed series will be the first bilateral series between India and Pakistan since 2012. The arch-rivals only face-off in multi-nation tournaments and will be at loggerheads during the ICC Champions Trophy in England in June. As per the International Cricket Council's FTP, Pakistan were to host India in 2014 but the vehement protest by Shiv Sena derailed the scheduled talks on the issue between then BCCI president Shashank Manohar and