NDMC Share : the cronological analysis

NMDC is a state-owned mining company in India that produces iron ore, copper, rock phosphate, limestone, dolomite, gypsum, bentonite, magnesite, diamond, tin, tungsten, graphite etc. It is one of the largest iron ore producers in the country and has a market capitalization of about Rs. 41,878 crore1.

NMDC Technical Analysis - Just a short preview

Based on these sources,  NMDC is in a strong uptrend and has recently broken out of a head and shoulder pattern on the daily chart. The stock is trading above its 20-day exponential moving average (EMA) and has a positive momentum. The stock may face some resistance near its 52-week high of Rs. 144.00 and may consolidate before moving higher. The stock has a good dividend yield and a low valuation compared to its peers.

According to Google Finance2, NMDC share price was Rs. 142.65 as of Sep 8, 2023, which is 0.34% lower than the previous close. The stock has a 52-week high of Rs. 144.00 and a low of Rs. 92.25. The stock has a dividend yield of 4.62% and a price to book ratio of 1.85. The stock has a beta of 0.91, which means it is less volatile than the market.

According to Moneycontrol1, NMDC has a trailing twelve months (TTM) earnings per share (EPS) of Rs. 19.82, which is 23.92% lower than the previous year. The TTM price to earnings (PE) ratio is 7.21, which is lower than the sector PE of 6.55. The TTM net profit margin is 30.63%, which is higher than the sector average of 17.67%. The TTM return on equity (ROE) is 16.64%, which is lower than the sector average of 18.86%.

According to Economic Times3, NMDC has reported a revenue of Rs. 53.95 billion for the quarter ended June 2023, which is 13.17% higher than the same quarter last year. The net profit for the quarter was Rs. 16.52 billion, which is 14.59% higher than the same quarter last year.

According to Zee Business4, NMDC has announced the record date for the demerger of its steel plant as October 27, 2022. The shareholders of NMDC will get one share of NMDC Steel for every one share of NMDC they hold as on the record date.

Based on these data and news, I can say that NMDC is a strong performer stock with consistent financial performance, quality management, and strong growth prospects in the mining sector. The stock also offers a good dividend yield and is trading at a reasonable valuation compared to its peers and industry average. The demerger of its steel plant may unlock value for the shareholders and create two focused entities with different growth drivers and opportunities.

However, some of the risks and challenges that NMDC may face are:

• Fluctuations in iron ore prices and demand due to global and domestic factors
• Regulatory uncertainties and environmental issues related to mining operations
• Competition from other domestic and international players in the mining and steel sectors
• Execution risks and delays in completing its ongoing and planned projects

Therefore, I would suggest that you do your own research and analysis before investing in NMDC shares and consult a financial advisor if needed.

I hope this helps you with your query 

The Tale of Three Sisters: Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle

If you are a fan of Indian music, you must have heard of the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. But did you know that she has two younger sisters who are also accomplished singers in their own right? Usha and Asha are the names of these talented siblings, and together they have created a musical legacy that spans decades and genres.

Lata Mangeshkar was born in 1929 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. She was the eldest daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, a classical singer and theatre actor. She started singing at the age of five, and soon became the main breadwinner of her family after her father's death in 1942. She moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) with her mother and siblings, and began her career as a playback singer for Hindi films. She rose to fame with songs like "Aayega Aanewala" from Mahal (1949), "Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya" from Mughal-e-Azam (1960), and "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). She has recorded songs in over 36 languages, and has won numerous awards and honors, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.

Lata Mangeshkar is one of the most celebrated and respected singers in the history of Indian cinema and music. She has a voice that is unparalleled in its beauty, versatility and emotion. She has sung for generations of actors and actresses, and has given voice to the dreams and aspirations of millions of Indians. She is widely regarded as the greatest female playback singer of all time, and has been called the Nightingale of India.

Lata Mangeshkar was born on September 28, 1929 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. She was the eldest daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, a classical singer and theatre actor. She had four siblings: Meena, Asha, Usha and Hridaynath, who are also singers and composers. Lata showed an early interest in music and started singing at the age of five. She learned classical music from her father, who also taught her Marathi and Sanskrit.

Lata's life changed dramatically when her father passed away in 1942 due to a heart ailment. She was only 13 years old then, and had to shoulder the responsibility of supporting her family. She moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) with her mother and siblings, and began her career as a playback singer for Hindi films. She faced many challenges and hardships in the initial years, as she had to struggle with poverty, exploitation and rejection. She also had to overcome the criticism of her voice, which was considered too thin and nasal by some.

However, Lata did not give up on her passion and talent. She worked hard to improve her voice and style, and gradually won the admiration and respect of the music directors and the audience. She got her first major break with the song "Aayega Aanewala" from Mahal (1949), which was composed by Khemchand Prakash and picturised on Madhubala. The song became a huge hit and established Lata as a leading playback singer in Hindi cinema.

Lata went on to sing for many legendary composers like Naushad, Shankar-Jaikishan, S.D. Burman, R.D. Burman, Madan Mohan, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Kalyanji-Anandji, Ravi Shankar and A.R. Rahman. She also sang for many iconic actors and actresses like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Nargis, Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Waheeda Rehman, Hema Malini and Rekha. Some of her most memorable songs include "Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya" from Mughal-e-Azam (1960), "Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh" from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), "Tere Bina Zindagi Se" from Aandhi (1975), "Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina" from Abhimaan (1973), "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) and "Jiya Jale" from Dil Se (1998).

Lata has recorded songs in over 36 languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi and Urdu. She has also sung ghazals, bhajans, devotional songs and folk songs. She has collaborated with many renowned singers like Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, Manna Dey and Jagjit Singh. She has also mentored many young singers like Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan and Alka Yagnik.

Lata has won numerous awards and honors for her contribution to Indian music and culture. She has received three National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer for Dada (1954), Parichay (1973) and Lekin (1991). She has also received seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer out of 36 nominations. In 1974, she became the first Indian to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London. In 1989, she became the first Indian to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement in cinema. In 2001, she became the second Indian after Mother Teresa to receive the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. She has also received many other prestigious awards like Padma Shri (1969), Padma Vibhushan

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Usha Mangeshkar was born in 1935 in Bombay. She was the second daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, and followed her sister's footsteps into the world of music. She started singing at the age of seven, and made her debut as a playback singer for Marathi films in 1952. She is best known for her songs in Marathi, Gujarati, Bhojpuri, and Nepali languages. She has also sung for Hindi films, especially for music director R.D. Burman. Some of her popular songs are "Mungda" from Inkaar (1977), "Dafli Wale Dafli Baja" from Sargam (1979), and "Main To Aarti Utaru Re Santoshi Mata Ki" from Jai Santoshi Maa (1975). She has won several awards and accolades, including the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award. in english

Usha Mangeshkar: The Versatile Voice of Indian Cinema

Usha Mangeshkar is one of the most celebrated singers in the history of Indian cinema. She belongs to the illustrious Mangeshkar family, which has given India some of its finest musical talents. Her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, is regarded as the "Nightingale of India", while her younger siblings, Asha Bhosle, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, and Meena Khadikar, are also renowned singers and composers.

Usha Mangeshkar was born in 1935 in Bombay (now Mumbai), the second daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, a classical singer and theatre actor. She grew up in a musical environment, and learned the basics of music from her father. She also received guidance from her sister Lata, who had already established herself as a leading playback singer in Hindi films.

Usha Mangeshkar started singing at the age of seven, and made her debut as a playback singer for Marathi films in 1952. She sang for films like Akashganga, Pahili Mangalagaur, and Amar Bhoopali. She soon gained popularity for her melodious and expressive voice, which suited a variety of genres and moods.

She is best known for her songs in Marathi, Gujarati, Bhojpuri, and Nepali languages. She has sung for many regional films and albums, and has worked with some of the finest music directors of India. She has also sung devotional songs and bhajans for various gods and goddesses.

She has also sung for Hindi films, especially for music director R.D. Burman, who gave her some of her most memorable songs. Some of her popular songs are "Mungda" from Inkaar (1977), a peppy dance number that became a huge hit; "Dafli Wale Dafli Baja" from Sargam (1979), a romantic duet with Rafi that showcased her versatility; and "Main To Aarti Utaru Re Santoshi Mata Ki" from Jai Santoshi Maa (1975), a devotional song that became a cult classic.

Usha Mangeshkar has won several awards and accolades for her contribution to Indian music. She has won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer three times: for "Chandane Shimpit Jashi" from Marathi film Chandra Hota Sakshila (1975), for "Mungda" from Inkaar (1977), and for "Seene Se Laga Le" from Nepali film Saino (1987). She has also won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Dafli Wale Dafli Baja" from Sargam (1979).

She has also been honoured with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2008. She has also received several state awards and lifetime achievement awards from various organisations.

Usha Mangeshkar is still active in the music industry, and continues to charm her listeners with her evergreen voice. She is an inspiration to many aspiring singers, and a legend in her own right.

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Asha Bhosle was born in 1933 in Sangli, Maharashtra. She was the third daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, and the most versatile and adventurous of the three sisters. She started singing at the age of nine, and made her debut as a playback singer for Hindi films in 1948. She initially struggled to find her own identity as a singer, as she was often compared to her elder sister Lata. However, she soon carved a niche for herself with her distinctive voice and style. She sang for various genres and composers, ranging from classical to pop, from O.P. Nayyar to A.R. Rahman. Some of her iconic songs are "Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera" from Teesri Manzil (1966), "Dum Maro Dum" from Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), and "Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko" from Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973). She has also sung in over 20 languages, and has collaborated with international artists like Michael Stipe and Boy George. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award for cinema.

If you are a fan of Indian music, you must have heard of Asha Bhosle. She is one of the most celebrated and influential singers in the history of Indian cinema and music. She has a Guinness World Record for being the most recorded artist in the world, with over 12,000 songs to her credit. She has also been recognized by the BBC as one of the 20 greatest singers of all time. But how did she achieve such fame and success? What makes her voice so unique and appealing? Let's find out more about her life and career in this blog post.

Asha Bhosle was born in 1933 in Sangli, Maharashtra. She was the third daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, a renowned classical singer and theater actor. She grew up in a musical family, with her elder sisters Lata and Usha also becoming famous singers. She started singing at the age of nine, and made her debut as a playback singer for Hindi films in 1948. She initially struggled to find her own identity as a singer, as she was often compared to her elder sister Lata, who was already an established star. However, she soon carved a niche for herself with her distinctive voice and style.

She sang for various genres and composers, ranging from classical to pop, from O.P. Nayyar to A.R. Rahman. She was known for her versatility and adaptability, as she could sing any song with ease and grace. She also experimented with different languages and styles, singing in over 20 languages, including Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, Urdu, Nepali, and English. She also collaborated with international artists like Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Boy George of Culture Club, and Code Red. Some of her iconic songs are "Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera" from Teesri Manzil (1966), "Dum Maro Dum" from Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), "Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko" from Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" from Caravan (1971), "In Aankhon Ki Masti" from Umrao Jaan (1981), "Dil Cheez Kya Hai" from Umrao Jaan (1981), "Mera Kuchh Saaman" from Ijaazat (1987), "Tanha Tanha" from Rangeela (1995), and "Radha Kaise Na Jale" from Lagaan (2001).

She has received numerous awards and honors for her contribution to Indian music and cinema. She has won seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer, out of 18 nominations. She has also won two National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer, for Umrao Jaan (1981) and Ijaazat (1987). She has been conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, in 2008. She has also received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award for cinema, in 2000. She has also been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by MTV India in 2001, and by the Filmfare Awards in 2002.

Asha Bhosle is not only a singer but also a composer, producer, actor, restaurateur, and writer. She has composed music for some films like Mai (2013), which was also her acting debut at the age of 79. She has also produced some albums like Rahul and I (1999), which was a tribute to her late son Rahul Dev Burman, who was also a legendary music director and her husband. She has also opened a chain of restaurants called Asha's across the world, serving Indian cuisine. She has also written an autobiography called Asha Bhosle: A Musical Biography (2017), which chronicles her journey from a child artist to a global icon.

Asha Bhosle is an inspiration for millions of music lovers across the world. She is a living legend who has enriched Indian music and culture with her voice and talent. She is a true example of versatility and creativity. She is Asha Bhosle: The Queen of Versatility.

The three sisters have shared a bond of love and respect throughout their lives. They have supported each other in times of joy and sorrow, and have celebrated each other's achievements. They have also performed together on several occasions, creating magic with their harmonious voices. They are truly an inspiration for generations of music lovers across the world.

 

Injective Coin: A opportunity to get multifold price appreciation in this Crypto

 If you are looking for a cryptocurrency project that has the potential to deliver huge returns in the future, you might want to consider Injective Coin (INJ). Injective Coin is the native token of Injective Protocol, a decentralized exchange (DEX) platform that enables fast, secure, and fully customizable trading of any asset.

Injective Coin price history and prediction: - 

- INJ has a total supply and a max supply of 100 million tokens, of which 73 million are currently in circulation.

- INJ was launched in October 2020 with an initial price of $0.6557 USD per token. It reached its all-time high of $25.01 USD on April 30, 2021.

- As of December 14, 2021, INJ is trading at $4.12 USD with a 24-hour volume of $49.28 million USD and a market cap of $300.93 million USD. It is ranked #120 among all cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

- INJ can be traded on various centralized and decentralized exchanges, such as Binance, Deepcoin, Bybit, Bitrue, BTCEX and others.

- INJ price prediction is based on various factors, such as technical analysis, market sentiment, historical trends and future events. However, it is important to note that price prediction is not an exact science and there are many uncertainties and risks involved.

- According to CoinCodex, a cryptocurrency data aggregator, the current sentiment for INJ is neutral and the fear and greed index is showing 57 (greed). The site predicts that INJ will drop by -19.29% and reach $3.35 USD by March 28, 2023.

- According to BitScreener, another cryptocurrency data aggregator, INJ price prediction is based on past price behavior, current events and public opinion. The site predicts that INJ will reach $5.04 USD by the end of 2023, $9.07 USD by the end of 2025, $16.32 USD by the end of 2030 and $58.56 USD by the end of 2050.

What is Injective Protocol?

Injective Protocol is a layer-2 DEX that leverages the Ethereum network for security and the Cosmos network for scalability. It allows users to create and trade any derivative market, such as futures, options, swaps, and synthetic assets, with zero fees and instant settlement. Injective Protocol also supports cross-chain trading, meaning that users can trade assets from different blockchains without intermediaries.

Injective Protocol aims to democratize finance by giving users full control over their trading experience. Users can create their own custom markets, choose their own liquidity providers, and trade with any order type. Injective Protocol also supports advanced features such as limit orders, stop-loss orders, and margin trading.

Injective Protocol is powered by a network of validators who stake INJ tokens to secure the platform and earn rewards. INJ tokens are also used for governance, allowing token holders to vote on protocol upgrades and parameters.

What are the benefits of Injective Coin?

Injective Coin is the fuel of Injective Protocol, and it has several benefits for investors and traders. Some of the benefits are:

- Price appreciation: INJ token has a fixed supply of 100 million tokens, which means that as the demand for the token increases, so does its price. INJ token also benefits from the network effect, as more users join the platform and create more markets and trading volume.

- Staking rewards: INJ token holders can stake their tokens to become validators or delegators on Injective Protocol, and earn passive income from transaction fees and block rewards. The current annualized staking reward rate is around 15%, which is much higher than most traditional investments.

- Governance rights: INJ token holders can participate in the governance of Injective Protocol, and have a say in how the platform evolves and improves. They can propose and vote on protocol changes, such as adding new features, adjusting fees, or upgrading the system.

- Access to exclusive markets: INJ token holders can access exclusive markets on Injective Protocol that are not available on other platforms. For example, they can trade synthetic stocks, commodities, forex, and more.

How to buy Injective Coin?

If you are interested in buying Injective Coin, you have several options. One of the easiest ways is to use a centralized exchange that supports INJ trading, such as Binance, Huobi, or OKEx. You can buy INJ with fiat currency or other cryptocurrencies, depending on the exchange.

Another way is to use a decentralized exchange that supports INJ trading, such as Uniswap or SushiSwap. You can swap INJ with other ERC-20 tokens, such as ETH or USDT, using a web3 wallet like Metamask or Trust Wallet.

A third way is to use Injective Protocol itself to buy INJ with any asset. You can create your own market or join an existing one, and trade INJ with zero fees and instant settlement.

Injective Crypto: A Decentralized Protocol for Cross-Chain Derivatives Trading

Injective crypto is a project that aims to create a fully trustless, permissionless and censorship-resistant platform for trading any financial asset on any market. Injective crypto leverages a layer-2 scalability solution based on Cosmos SDK and Ethereum to achieve fast, secure and low-cost transactions. Injective crypto supports a variety of trading features such as futures, perpetuals, options, swaps and spot markets. Injective crypto empowers users to create and trade on any custom market they choose, such as synthetic assets, prediction markets and NFTs. Injective crypto has its own native token, INJ, which is used for governance, staking, liquidity mining and fee payment. Injective crypto has a strong team of developers, advisors and investors, including Binance Labs, Pantera Capital and Mark Cuban. Injective crypto is one of the most innovative and promising projects in the crypto space, with a vision to democratize finance for everyone.

What is Injective Crypto?

Injective crypto is an open, interoperable layer-one blockchain for building powerful DeFi applications. Injective crypto uniquely provides plug-and-play financial infrastructure primitives, such as a high performance on-chain decentralized exchange infrastructure, decentralized bridges, oracles, and a composable smart contract layer with CosmWasm. Injective’s core exchange module provides state-of-the-art capabilities including an advanced on-chain order book and matching engine for spot, perpetual, futures and options markets, resistance to Miner-Extractable Value (MEV) through frequent batch auction order matching, and zero gas fees for users.

Injective crypto is built on top of Tendermint consensus, which enables fast finality and high throughput. Injective crypto also leverages the Cosmos SDK framework, which allows for modular and interoperable design. Injective crypto connects to Ethereum via Peggy bridge, which enables seamless cross-chain asset transfers and smart contract interactions. Injective crypto also supports other blockchains such as Binance Smart Chain, Avalanche and Polygon through its decentralized bridge network.

Injective crypto is governed by a global DAO through its native crypto asset: INJ. INJ allows Web3 community members to participate in protocol upgrade proposals, validation of Injective's blockchain network, staking for rewards, burn auctions and more. INJ also serves as the utility token for accessing various services and features on Injective's platform, such as liquidity mining programs, fee discounts and premium market access.

Why Injective Crypto?

Injective crypto is designed to solve some of the major challenges and limitations of existing centralized and decentralized exchanges. Some of these challenges include:

- Lack of market diversity: Most exchanges only offer a limited range of assets and markets, which restricts the trading opportunities and preferences of users.

- Lack of user sovereignty: Users have to trust centralized intermediaries with their funds and data, which exposes them to counterparty risk, censorship and manipulation.

- Lack of scalability: Most decentralized exchanges suffer from low throughput, high latency and high gas fees, which degrade the user experience and limit the adoption potential.

- Lack of innovation: Most exchanges follow a rigid and standardized architecture, which hinders the development of new and creative trading products and features.

Injective crypto addresses these challenges by providing a fully decentralized, scalable and customizable platform for trading any financial asset on any market. Some of the benefits of Injective crypto include:

- Market diversity: Users can create and trade on any custom market they want, such as synthetic assets, prediction markets and NFTs. Users can also access a wide range of existing markets offered by Injective's partners and community members.

- User sovereignty: Users have full control over their funds and data, as they do not need to rely on any centralized entity or intermediary. Users can also enjoy full transparency and auditability of all transactions and activities on Injective's platform.

- Scalability: Users can benefit from fast, secure and low-cost transactions thanks to Injective's layer-2 scalability solution based on Cosmos SDK and Ethereum. Users can also avoid MEV attacks by using Injective's frequent batch auction mechanism.

- Innovation: Users can leverage Injective's modular and interoperable design to build and use the best Web3 applications on Injective's platform. Users can also participate in Injective's governance process to shape the future direction of the project.

The Conclusion :- 

Injective Coin is a promising cryptocurrency project that offers a unique value proposition for traders and investors. It enables fast, secure, and fully customizable trading of any asset on a decentralized exchange platform. It also offers staking rewards, governance rights, and access to exclusive markets for token holders.

If you are looking for a opportunity to get multifold price appreciation in the future, you might want to consider adding Injective Coin to your portfolio.

Pakistan : A Never-ending problem of Conflict between Judiciary, Politicians and the Miliatry

 From the judiciary to politics to the military, Pakistan's most important institutions are shaken by squabbles and mudslinging. Here is a complete history of conflicts:

- The conflict between former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his predecessor Shehbaz Sharif escalated in 2023 amid the worst economic crisis in decades. Khan was ousted by a vote of no confidence in 2022 and faced several legal cases. He led a series of protest marches against the government and was shot in an apparent assassination attempt in November 2022.

- Khan dissolved two provincial assemblies, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in January 2023, hoping to force early national elections. But the Election Commission of Pakistan delayed the polls after the military said they could not provide security for Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province.

- The Supreme Court intervened and took a suo-moto notice of the situation, making use of the discretionary power of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The court ruled that Khan's efforts to block the parliamentary no-confidence vote and call early elections were unconstitutional. The decision was controversial and seen by some as a judicial coup.

- The government passed a bill to curb the suo-moto power of the Chief Justice, which was supported by some judges in the top court. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan criticized the feuding political parties for undermining the democratic norms.

- The military still holds a lot of power and influence in the country's politics. The military has often allied with the judiciary, which tends to side with the military leaders in times of crisis. The military has also been accused of meddling in elections and supporting Khan's rise to power.

- The opposition parties have challenged the military's role in politics and demanded civilian supremacy. They have also accused the military of human rights violations and crackdowns on dissent. The opposition parties have formed alliances and staged nationwide protests against the government and the military.

- The situation has worsened in recent months as violence has erupted between different factions and groups. Several bomb blasts have targeted political rallies and public places, killing dozens of people. Some militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attacks, while others have blamed foreign interference.

- The international community has expressed concern over the instability and turmoil in Pakistan. The United States, China, India, and other countries have urged all parties to resolve their differences peacefully and democratically. They have also offered assistance and mediation to help end the crisis.

- The future of Pakistan is uncertain as it faces multiple challenges and threats. The country needs to restore its economy, fight terrorism, improve its governance, protect its sovereignty, and uphold its constitution. The people of Pakistan deserve peace, prosperity, and democracy.

IMF and India and Pakistan: The History and Contribution of India and Pakistan a comparison

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a global financial institution that provides loans and policy advice to countries facing economic difficulties. The IMF aims to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty worldwide.

India and Pakistan are two of the founding members of the IMF, having joined the organization in 1947 and 1950 respectively. Both countries have had a long and complex relationship with the IMF, involving multiple loans, bailouts, reforms, and repayments. In this blog post, we will compare the history and contribution of India and Pakistan to the IMF, and examine their current economic challenges and prospects.

India's history with the IMF

India has borrowed from the IMF 13 times since 1958, mostly to deal with balance of payments crises arising from external shocks, such as oil price hikes, wars, or global recessions. The most notable episodes were in 1966, 1981, and 1991, when India faced severe foreign exchange shortages and had to devalue its currency and adopt structural adjustment programs to restore macroeconomic stability.

India's last loan from the IMF was in 1993, when it received $2.2 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to support its economic liberalization program initiated in 1991. Since then, India has not sought any financial assistance from the IMF, but has maintained a close policy dialogue with the institution through regular consultations and technical assistance.

India's contribution to the IMF

India is currently the eighth largest shareholder of the IMF, with a quota of about 2.75% of the total. India's quota reflects its relative position in the world economy, as well as its financial commitment to the IMF's resources. India has also contributed to various special funds of the IMF, such as the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT), which provides concessional loans to low-income countries, and the New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB), which supplements the IMF's lending capacity in times of crisis.

India has also benefited from the IMF's capacity development activities, such as training and technical assistance on various aspects of macroeconomic management, fiscal policy, monetary policy, financial sector regulation, statistics, and governance. India has also hosted several regional training centers and seminars for officials from other countries in South Asia and beyond.

India's current economic situation

India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with an average annual growth rate of about 7% over the past decade. India has also made significant progress in reducing poverty, improving social indicators, and diversifying its economic structure. However, India still faces many challenges, such as high public debt, fiscal deficits, inflationary pressures, banking sector fragility, infrastructure gaps, environmental degradation, and social inequality.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also severely affected India's economy, causing a contraction of 7.3% in 2020-21, the worst performance since independence. The pandemic has also exacerbated existing vulnerabilities and inequalities, especially for the poor and informal workers. The IMF projects that India's economy will rebound by 9.5% in 2021-22, supported by a strong recovery in domestic demand and exports. However, this outlook is subject to high uncertainty and downside risks, depending on the evolution of the pandemic, the pace of vaccination, and the policy response.

Pakistan's history with the IMF

Pakistan has borrowed from the IMF 22 times since 1958, making it one of the most frequent users of IMF resources. Pakistan has mostly relied on IMF loans to deal with recurrent balance of payments crises stemming from fiscal imbalances, external shocks, exchange rate misalignments, and structural weaknesses. The most recent episodes were in 2008, 2013, and 2019, when Pakistan faced severe external financing gaps and had to adopt comprehensive stabilization and reform programs to restore macroeconomic stability and growth. Pakistan's last loan from the IMF was in 2019, when it received $6 billion under the EFF to address its large fiscal and current account deficits, build up its foreign exchange reserves, strengthen its monetary and exchange rate frameworks, improve its public finances, reform its energy sector, and enhance its social safety nets. The program was suspended in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Pakistan's economy and policy implementation. The program was resumed in March 2021 after Pakistan agreed to implement some prior actions and structural benchmarks.

The History and Contribution of India and Pakistan a comparison in Chronology

- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization that provides financial assistance and policy advice to countries facing economic difficulties.

- India and Pakistan are both founding members of the IMF, having joined in 1947 and 1950 respectively.

- India has been a net contributor to the IMF, having borrowed only four times from the lender between 1966 and 1991, and repaying all its loans ahead of schedule. India has also contributed to the IMF's resources through quota subscriptions, SDR allocations, and bilateral loans.

- Pakistan has been a frequent borrower from the IMF, having received 22 loan programs since 1958, totaling about $38 billion. Pakistan has also faced challenges in meeting the IMF's lending conditions, which often involve fiscal consolidation, monetary tightening, structural reforms, and transparency measures.

- India and Pakistan have different economic profiles and challenges. India is the world's fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP, with a diversified and resilient economic base. Pakistan is the world's 40th-largest economy by nominal GDP, with a narrow and vulnerable economic base.

- India's main economic challenges include reducing poverty and inequality, boosting infrastructure and human capital, enhancing competitiveness and innovation, and addressing environmental and social issues. Pakistan's main economic challenges include stabilizing its macroeconomic situation, increasing its foreign exchange reserves, reducing its debt burden, improving its business climate and governance, and fostering inclusive growth.

- India and Pakistan have different relations with the IMF. India has been a constructive partner of the IMF, supporting its governance reforms, quota increases, crisis response initiatives, and capacity development activities. Pakistan has been a dependent client of the IMF, relying on its financial support to cope with recurrent balance of payments crises, but often failing to implement its policy recommendations.

Amazon announces second round of layoffs - A Shock in IT Jobs

Amazon, the e-commerce giant and one of the world's most valuable companies, has announced another round of layoffs that will affect 9,000 more employees in the coming weeks. This comes after the company fired some 18,000 employees in January as part of its annual planning process.

The latest round of layoffs will impact Amazon's cloud computing, advertising, human resources and Twitch units, according to a memo sent by CEO Andy Jassy to staff on Monday. Jassy said that the decision was made due to the uncertain economy and the need to streamline costs and headcount.

"Given the uncertain economy in which we reside, and the uncertainty that exists in the near future, we have chosen to be more streamlined in our costs and headcount," Jassy wrote. He added that some teams were not done with their analyses in late fall when the first round of layoffs was announced, so they decided to share these decisions as soon as possible.

Jassy also said that Amazon still plans to conduct "limited hiring" in some strategic areas and that it will provide support and severance packages to those who will lose their jobs. He thanked them for their contributions and wished them well.

The news of Amazon's second round of layoffs comes amid a wave of job cuts across the tech industry. Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook), Google, IBM and Cisco are among some of the big names that have announced layoffs this year   , citing various reasons such as restructuring, shifting priorities or economic challenges.

While Amazon has been one of the beneficiaries of the pandemic-driven surge in online shopping and cloud services demand last year, it has also faced increased competition from rivals like Walmart and Microsoft , regulatory scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators around antitrust issues , and labor unrest from its warehouse workers over wages and working conditions .

Amazon's second round of layoffs is expected to be completed by mid to late April. The company has not individually identified everyone who will be affected yet. As of December 2022, Amazon had about 1.3 million employees worldwide.

Indian Very Short Range Air Defence System Missile: A Game Changer for Low Altitude Aerial Threats

India has been developing its own indigenous air defence systems to protect its territory and assets from hostile aerial attacks. One of the key components of this multi-layered air defence system is the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile, which is designed to neutralise low altitude aerial threats at short ranges.

## What is VSHORADS?

VSHORADS is a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) that can be carried and operated by a single soldier or a small team. It consists of a ground-based launcher, a missile and a fire control unit. The missile has a dual thrust solid motor that provides high speed and manoeuvrability. The missile also has an advanced seeker that can lock on to the target using infrared or laser guidance.

The VSHORADS missile can engage targets such as helicopters, drones, cruise missiles and low-flying aircraft at ranges up to 6 km and altitudes up to 3 km. It can also intercept targets approaching or receding from any direction. The VSHORADS missile has a high kill probability and can operate in all weather conditions and day/night scenarios.

## How was VSHORADS developed?

The VSHORADS missile was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India, with the collaboration of other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners. The project was initiated in 2014 as part of the Make in India initiative to reduce dependence on foreign imports and enhance self-reliance in defence technology.

The VSHORADS missile underwent several trials and tests to validate its performance and reliability. The first test flight was conducted in 2018 at Pokhran range in Rajasthan. Since then, several more tests have been conducted at different locations and scenarios. The most recent tests were conducted on March 14, 2023 at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. In these tests, two consecutive successful flight tests were carried out against high speed unmanned aerial targets, mimicking approaching and receding aircraft .

## What are the advantages of VSHORADS?

The VSHORADS missile offers several advantages over existing MANPADS systems such as:

- It is indigenously designed and developed, which reduces costs and ensures availability.

- It has a longer range and higher altitude coverage than other MANPADS systems.

- It has a better seeker that can track multiple targets simultaneously and discriminate between decoys and real targets.

- It has a higher speed and agility that enables it to intercept fast-moving targets.

- It has a modular design that allows easy integration with different platforms such as vehicles, ships or aircraft.

- It has a low maintenance requirement and high operational readiness.

## What are the future plans for VSHORADS?

The VSHORADS missile is expected to be inducted into the Indian Army soon as part of its air defence arsenal. The DRDO is also working on improving the capabilities of the system by incorporating new features such as:

- A multi-mode seeker that can switch between infrared and laser guidance depending on the target type and environment.

- A network-centric capability that can share data with other air defence systems for situational awareness and coordinated action.

- A dual-use capability that can also be used for surface-to-surface missions against ground targets.

The VSHORADS missile is thus a game changer for India's air defence system as it provides an effective solution for countering low altitude aerial threats that pose a serious challenge to conventional air defence systems. With its indigenous development, India has demonstrated its technological prowess and self-reliance in this critical domain.