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START-UP: A quest to find solutions

The Start-up India campaign is gaining traction as the country focuses on economic development and diversification while tackling unemployment. Two weeks ago Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced a range of incentives to support the sector. These include a $1.5-billion (about Dh5.5 billion) government-backed venture fund, tax breaks and a commitment to eliminate red tape.

“We want to focus on hand-holding,” Modi said. “This movement... is about finding solutions to problems of common people. Start-up does not mean a billion-dollar company where thousands of people work. It is about employing even five people and developing India.”

The industry attracted $5 billion in venture capital last year.

POLLUTION: Fighting the smog

The Delhi government’s restrictions on the use of private cars have been the talk of the country. The ambitious 15-day pilot project has had mixed responses, but environmental NGO CSE estimates direct emission of pollutants was reduced by 30-40 per cent.

Delhi is now looking at an improved version of the scheme, This comes as India is said to be home to 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world.

“We have a public health emergency in many countries from pollution,” Maria Neira, Head of Public Health at the World Health Organisation, said when the WHO recently issued a stark new warning about deadly levels of pollution around the world.

The UN says 3.3 million people die prematurely every year from air pollution. With 645,000, India is second to China (1.4 million) and is followed by Pakistan (110,000).

OLYMPICS: The race to Rio is on

With 2016 being an Olympic year, the Rio Games are on everyone’s lips. More than 10,500 athletes from 206 countries are expected to descend on Brazil in August, and more than 60 Indians have already qualified.

The country will look to improve on its performance at London 2012, where 83 athletes took home two silver and four bronze medals. The government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme has identified and is supporting 106 medal prospects for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

Abhinav Bindra is one of the favourites to reach the podium with his rifle, alongside Jitu Rai and Gurpreet Singh with their pistols. Others include Saina Nehwal (badminton), Mary Kom, Devendro Singh and Vikas Krishan (boxing), and Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt (wrestling).

Tennis ace Leander Paes also hopes to make the selection, although the 43-year-old hasn’t yet found a partner for either doubles or mixed doubles.