Blog@GraceJunction

The Reserve Bank of India came out with advertisements titled ‘Know your Bank Note’in newspapers across the country to educate people in spotting counterfeit currency. Indians were exposed to terminologies and technologies there were unaware about earlier like watermark, latent image, micro lettering, see through register, optically variable ink, security thread, intaglio printing, omron anti-photocopying feature, flouresence et cetera. Most people never knew that the note in their hand had so many in-built security features. Most people, even now, do not understand the need for it!

Why should Reserve Bank be so concerned about counterfeit at all? Are these notes a threat at all? (more…)

Come Olympics and most of us would be glued to this mega event unfold itself. More so because the built up to it and the country in which it is taking place promises much drama. This is one event which commands the most number of eyeballs, with the Athens Olympics drawing more than 4 billion people watching it just on TV. Most of us have already witnessed the violence that has marred the carrying of the Olympic torch, which signifies the uniting thread between the ancient games and modern games.

The purpose of the ancient games has been replaced by the spirit of the modern games. The Greeks placed emphasis on the Artistic nature of athletics and the preparatory role it played for its warriors. Games were important due to the impact it had on the regions economy and politics. But over a period of time the athletes began to be paid heavily for their sporting achievements and sports heroes emerged resulting in the demise of the amateurs and with it so many other things that sports stood for. (more…)

It been some time since I blogged. Well, I didn’t have any withdrawal symptom for sure. I wanted to ensure that too because of the way I was blogging, I had a feeling, whether it was becoming a compulsion. Gladly, all is fine.

During the time of this hiatus, however, I did have my urges to blog over certain issues that came up, but then I was really held up with some or the other work.

During the week, two figures firmed up significantly enough to impact thousands of people.

One is the inflation in India. It is almost becoming a sinful indulgence to buy simple fruits and vegetables. The Alphonso Mango has become unapproachable. The vendor showed me four pieces and said with absolutely no feelings at all, “one hundred fifty”!! I mean, almost 38 for a mango! Gold is firming. Good. Realty is firming. Good. Deposits in bank are firming. Ok. What about liquid cash? We need cash for our regular routines and its power is surely draining away. We can’t sell gold everytime and eat the profits! Inflation is hitting everyone hard. I am buying Kesar and Badaam mangoes to make up for the Alphonso vacuum! (more…)

Picture this: A young marketing manager in his early twenties living in a posh locality and earning a handsome Rs 60,000 per month (and thankfully a bachelor) is contemplating suicide.

And why not? The guy just finds out that he is supposed to pay equated monthly installments (EMIs) worth Rs 80,000. No wonder, the very thought of burly collection executives thumping at his door might be giving him sleepless nights.

But who is to be blamed? The one who takes such loans or the one who gives?

From the time when applying for a loan was an ordeal to a time when it has been made a child’s play, the sheer availability of money has led many to take the plunge. From the time when providing all the right documents to assure your credibility to the bank or a financial institution was like walking through fire, to a time when one can avail credit even through a phone call. (more…)