Social Networking : Boon or Bane

The evolution of human kind always went hand in hand with technology. Today, even the interactions between people are made easier via the social networking sites. The current generation is growing up with tablet computers, hi-tech mobiles and online friends around them. This turned to be the most relevant reason for people getting close with social networking sites. The number of social networking website is soaring day by day. Some interactive sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram made the social media a vital aspect of people’s life. They help to create friends worldwide. It also opens a wide range of opportunities to develop business spaces globally. Entrenchment of online businesses are also sustaining strongly through social networking sites. People can share pictures, videos and sensible messages in these. The freedom of speech over the internet allows more people to access the social networking websites world wide. Communication over the internet is more accessible since distance is not a barrier over here. For every good, there exists evil. Obviously, there are inducements which lead the governments of many countries , to think over banning social networking sites. Indubitably, there are people with powerful brains who bullies such websites. This makes social networking unsafe and an obvious threat. These sites also allow seemingly trivial gossips to be distributed to a world wide audience. People should always be aware that the online conversations are not transient. Social networking should never turn to be an escapism, but an evolution. Now a days, as science and technology develops people are getting busy with their social life rather than having a life with its core meaning. Let the world evolve but think enough before you take a step. Live the life with a life that beats in peace and keeps the relations alive. Works Cited: www.googleweblight.com www.askwriter.com www.studyfreak.com

GST: Advantages and Disadvantages

The goods and service tax or GST is a taxation system where there is a single tax in the economy for goods and services. The GST is basically an indirect tax that brings most of the taxes imposed on most goods and services, on manufacture, sales and consumption of goods and services under a single domain at the national level. In the present system taxes are levied separately on goods and services. The GST is a consolidated tax based on a uniform rate of tax fixed for both goods and services and it is payable at the final point of consumption. At each stage of sale and purchase in the supply chain, this tax is collected on value added goods and services, through a tax credit mechanism. Introduction of GST is very much essential in the emerging environment of the Indian economy and it has many advantages. In the GST system, when all the taxes are integrated it would make possible the taxation burden to be split equitably between manufacturing and services. It will also help to build a transparent and corruption free tax administration. GST can also help to diversification of income sources for government other than income tax and petroleum tax. Biggest benefit will be that multiple taxes like octroi, central sales tax, state sales tax, entry tax, license fees, turnover tax etc will no longer be present and all that will be brought under the GST. There are also some disadvantages for this system. Critics say that GST would impact negatively on the real estate market. It would add up to 8 percent to the cost of new homes and reduce demand by about 12 percent. Some economist says that CGST, SGST and IGST are nothing but new names for central excise/service tax, VAT and CST and hence GST brings nothing new for which we should cheer. According to the experts, by implementing the GST, India will gain $15 billion a year. This is because, it will promote more exports, create more employment opportunities and boost growth. The GST rate is expected to be around 14-16 percent. After the combined GST rate is fixed, the state and the centre will decide on the SGST and CGST rates. At present 10 percent is levied on services and the indirect taxes on most goods is around 20 percent. Works Cited: www.mapsofindia.com www.googleweblight.com : “Advantages and Disadvantages of GST”

K. T. U. Challenges and Chances

APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (initially Kerala Technological University), a State Government University came into existence on May 21, 2014. It’s aim was to give leadership to the technology related policy formulation and engineering planning for the state. It also emphasizes to improve the academic standards of the Gruaduate, Post Graduate and Research Programme in Engineering Sciences, Technology and Management and regulate the academic standards of all colleges affiliated to the University. The main thrust areas of the University are Research, Development and Innovation. APJKTU is aiming to match the equivalence of leading Indian universities like that of IITs, NITs with further ambition to be an internationally accredited University. The university being new has a lot to live up to in Kerala where the multitudes of universities have degraded the quality of engineering studies. It has a very tight curriculum and also an extended moduled syllabus compared to the former universities to keep track of development in the world. As such the students in Kerala who aren’t used to such heavier syllabus and intense education are unable to cope with the prescribed system. The students further feel aggrieved about the fact that the rules where not exactly formulated and the students not informed before enrolment in the university. Thus multitudes of students failed and had extremely poor results in the first semester examinations which put further pressure on the university. It further developed anti KTU sentiment amongthe minds of students. The matter got even worse with the year back system which denied students who lacked credits to enter successive years. Credits can be obtained by passing in each subjects. Unlike the former universities where the students could carry on with their successive semesters even with several back papers. However the university has made all its attempts to be student friendly. It has made several allowances in its system in the first year to ensure the transformation is as smooth as possible. The APJKTU is an internationally accredited university. It has potential to match the standards of IITs and NITs. The university through its intense system aims to enhance and prepare students to meet the engineering standards required in the fast paced and competitive society. The KTU has a credit based year back system. Each semester takes a period of almost four months which includes three and a half months of classes and half a month of examination. After the examination the evaluations are completed within a week after the exam and the results published within two weeks of exam. Thus it is a fast and sophisticated system. Further the supplementary exams are conducted within the following months. The semester end is followed by arts, sports and internships as per the university regulations. The system though had its flaws initially has improved substantially and had an improved result. The university encourages students to be innovative and environment friendly and to further this mindset they brought two subjects like design and engineering and sustainable engineering. The university has a lot to live upto. However it has showed signs of improvements. In some years time KTU aims to be a university bringing laurels to the Indian education system and its students to be future pioneers. For more refer: www.ktu.edu.in

Traffic Accidents in Kerala: Causes and Remedies!

Traffic accident is a major cause of injuries and death worldwide, but it has been declining in developed countries with the advancement in the field of road traffic. In a developing country like India, with a large population and increased traffic the rate of accidents doesn’t seem to get low instead increases on a high, day by day. As a state known for its literacy, Kerala is facing a worst face of road accidents. While having a precise look throughout, the victims are falling under the age group of 20-55. Majority of the accidents are caused due to over speeding of the youngsters. The families lost their bread of life and the conditions are turning catastrophic. Over speeding is not the only cause for accidents in Kerala, careless driving, not obeying traffic rules, un-efficient road works, drunken driving , rash driving of busses and trucks, late night driving, use of mobiles while driving also makes the accident rates soaring. The remedies for the increased rate of accidents in Kerala is turning out to be a subject of prime importance. Implementation of strict traffic rules and following the same, providing awareness classes on safe driving, using helmets and seat belts, using public vehicles instead of private ones helps in dwindling the accident rates. Kerala being the third most accident prone state in India is not too far behind achieving the first. Think, not a glory rather a disaster. Safe driving is quite necessary for us to keep us alive so that we never make our beloved ones cry. Having a life is the gift of god and living it the way it needed to be is our gift towards him. So Drive Safe, Live Life! Works Cited: www.keralapolice.org : “Road Accidents in Kerala” www.newindianexpress.com : “Alarming Rise in Road Accidents in Kerala” (February 29, 2016)

Apple CEO expects to bring back global profits to US next year!

DUBLIN: Apple expects to repatriate billions of dollars of global profits to the United States next year, chief executive Tim Cook said in a radio interview on Thursday, but did not specify exactly how much would be returned. Apple was found to be holding over $181 billion in accumulated profits offshore, more than any US company, in a study published last year by two left-leaning nonprofit groups, a policy critics say is designed to avoid paying US taxes. Asked about the level of tax paid by Apple on profits in 2014, Cook told Irish broadcaster RTE that $800 million had been paid and that billions of dollars more had been provisioned and would likely be returned to the United States next year. "We paid 400 (million dollars) to Ireland, we paid 400 to the US and we provisioned several billion dollars for the US for payment as soon as we repatriate it and right now I forecast that repatriation to occur next year," Cook said in comments broadcast by RTE.