NRIs get right to vote in Indian elections, promises PM

Fulfilling a long-standing demand of its diaspora, India Sunday said it would allow NRIs to vote and participate in the election process.

'Pursuant to the law that was enacted to enable Non-resident Indians to vote in our national elections, the government has issued notifications for registration of overseas electors under the Representation of People Act, 1950,' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.

'The government and people of India recognise and value the important role being played by Indian communities living abroad. We believe that Indian diaspora has much more to contribute to the building of modern India,' the prime minister said.

'We propose to facilitate, encourage and promote this engagement. Over the past year, we have taken a number of steps towards this end,' he added, as he formally inaugurated the 10th annual diaspora meet, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) here.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said NRIs would be able to exercise their franchise in upcoming elections.

'Indian nationals living abroad can now exercise their franchise in India at the time o f the elections,' Ravi said.

Now those NRIs who have registered with the embassies of their respective countries of stay, would be eligible to vote in the upcoming assembly elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. Polls will take place in these countries between Jan 28 and March 3.

Aakash tablet's delivery pushed to next year

DataWind, the Canadian company that is manufacturing Aakash, will start distribution of the much anticipated low cost Android tablet from next month for which online booking had started on December 15.

A spokesperson of Datawind said to The Mobile Indian, "People who have booked the Aakash tablet online will get its delivery in January.” The spokesperson, however, didn't cite any reason for the delay. Earlier the company had said that the Rs 2,500 Aakash tablet will be delivered within seven days of online booking.

Total lunar eclipse on Dec 10

The event will be the second time in the year when earth will be casting a huge shadow over moon and thus create one of the most beautiful phenomenons on the sky.

Observers will have to pray for a clear night on Saturday so that they can observe the celestial phenomenon without any hindrance. The event could be again seen in India after seven years in 2018.

The eclipse will be visible from Asia and Australia.

However, the countries of Europe and Africa will miss the early eclipse phases as it will occur before moonrise.

People will miss the event in South America or Antarctica where the eclipse will not be visible.

The lunar-eclipse process is likely to start around 6.15 pm in India. The total eclipse will commence at 7:36 p.m. and will last till 8:28 p.m. on Saturday.