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Friday, April 22, 2011, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 2:30 am (IST)

Lokpal Bill this monsoon session: Manmohan
New Delhi, April 21
With his government’s image taking a beating over the corruption issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today promised to introduce the Lokpal Bill in Parliament in the coming monsoon session. “Corruption is an impediment to faster growth, and hurts the poor the most. It is a challenge that we must tackle boldly and we stand committed to doing so,” he said in his address on Civil Services Day.

No space for industry in Punjab
* When land is found, it’s costly
* Conversion charges prohibitive
Chandigarh, April 21
Unavailability of land, its high cost - when available - and inordinate delays in clearance for change in land use (CLU) have meant that Punjab has not attracted any large industrial investment for over two years. Industry from outside prefers to set base in surrounding hill states, as these allow them huge tax concessions.

Thanks to divided PAC, fate of 2G report uncertain
New Delhi, April 21
There is no certainty whether the Public accounts Committee (PAC) would be able to submit its report on the 2G scam it is probing for the last two years, even as its term comes to an end on April 30. The PAC members, belonging to the ruling Congress and the DMK, are opposing any further PAC probe now that Parliament has constituted a JPC.

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3 in race for PGI Director’s post
All three from the institute; Cabinet panel to take final call
New Delhi, April 21
The PGI Institute Body has drawn up a panel of three candidates for selecting the new Director of the institute. The 18-member body, the highest decision-making panel of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Chandigarh, chose finalists from a shortlist of five that the technical selection committee had earlier prepared after interviewing all 24 applicants.

VAT exemption on wheat bonus
New Delhi, April 21
The Centre today directed the state governments to exempt the bonus amount payable on wheat procured from farmers at minimum support price from the purview of value added tax (VAT) and other levies. "The Government of India has decided to give an incentive bonus of Rs 50 per quintal for procurement of wheat in 2011-12 marketing season over and above the wheat support price of Rs 1120 per quintal," an official statement said.

India’s well-being rank: 71
64% Indians believe they are ‘struggling’ while 19% think they are ‘suffering’: Study
Washington, April 21
With only 17 per cent people describing themselves as “thriving”, India ranked 71 in a new Gallup study on overall well-being conducted in 124 countries. According to the study, which combined the results of Gallup's 2010 global well-being surveys, majority of Indians (64 per cent) believe they are “struggling” while 19 per cent think they are “suffering”. The surveys asked people to rate themselves on a ladder with steps labelled 0 to 10. People who rate their current lives a 7 or higher and say they expect their lives in five years to be an 8 or higher are considered to be thriving.

Misty-eyed devotees pray for Sathya Sai Baba * Godman fights a losing battle * Town turns into a fortress * State govt strengthens security Hyderabad, April 21 An uneasy calm prevails in Puttaparthi where the ailing Godman Sathya Sai Baba is fighting a losing battle following multiple organ dysfunction. A panel of specialist doctors treating him for the last 25 days appears to have given up all hopes of recovery. Several misty-eyed devotees were huddled together praying for the recovery while the Andhra Pradesh government is preparing for the inevitable.