Beyond Layoff

The recent news of the horrific death of Vivek Saini, a 25-year-old Indian student sent shockwaves across the tightly connected Indian student community in America. The incident captured on the store’s CCTV camera shows him being bludgeoned by a homeless man at a convenience store in US's Georgia where Vivek was working part-time.  This incident raises question of safety of Indian students who travel half-way across the globe in pursuit of their American dream. It also raises question about the legality of their actions in taking up work outside their universities .  The American Dream The United States has long been a magnet for international students seeking world-class education and diverse cultural experiences. While many foreign students adhere to the rules and regulations governing their stay, a concerning trend has emerged – some students are engaging in illegal employment. This practice, though providing financial relief for students facing economic pressures, raises comple

Indians are getting ready to file their Income Tax Returns. After extensions, the last date for filing individual tax returns for AY20-21 filing is 31st December 2020, and most likely it won't be extended again. Some Indian Income tax payers are eligible to receive a "Certificate of Appreciation" from the Income Tax Department.  This initiative of the Modi government is a step towards acknowledging the contribution of taxpayers.   Taxpayers are eligible to  receive a certificate of appreciation based on the amount of tax they paid.  Depending on the amount of tax paid, the four categories identified by CBDT for individual taxpayers are: Platinum: For those taxpayers who have contributed Rs 1 crore and above as tax  Gold: For those taxpayers who have contributed between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore as tax  Silver: For those taxpayers who have contributed between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 50 lakh as tax  Bronze: For those taxpayers who have contributed between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1