This is an archive article published on July 20, 2016

Opinion July 20, 1976, Forty Years Ago: Train to Pakistan

This day in history.

train to pakistan, amritsar to lahore train, amritsar train, lahore train, viking aircraft, mars mission, tax panel, vat, value added tax, history india, indian history, india news history
indianexpress

By: Editorial

July 20, 2016 12:15 AM IST First published on: Jul 20, 2016 at 12:15 AM IST
train to pakistan, amritsar to lahore train, amritsar train, lahore train, viking aircraft, mars mission, tax panel, vat, value added tax, history india, indian history, india news history Indian Express front page today, forty years ago.

Train To Pakistan

With only two more days left for the first international train to leave for Lahore from here, the Amritsar railway station was receiving a new look. The old ornamental gate meant for entry and exit of passengers was finally removed with the help of gas-powered electric cutters to be replaced by an easy-to-operate aluminium gate. Lahore express has been given title of 175 Up while it would be known as 176 Down on its way back to this station. The eight bogie train will be shared equally by the Indian and Pakistani railways.

Touchdown Mars

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An unmanned American spacecraft was scheduled to land on Mars to begin an elaborate search for signs of life on the mysterious red planet. The Viking landing craft will touch down on the dusty martian surface at 0512 local, three hours and 10 minutes after it is automatically detached from the orbiting mother ship. Minutes after it lands, the Viking will send back two pictures. The first will be of the ground beneath the lander showing the impact the saucer-like pods on its legs make at touchdown. The second will be a panorama of the surrounding surface. The bug-like miniaturised lander bristles with gadgets to test the weather and atmosphere on Mars. Inside, the vehicle is a biological laboratory, designed to detect traces of life, past or present. Experiments to test Mars’ temperatures, air pressure, the gases of its atmosphere, windspeed and wind direction will begin almost immediately.

New Tax Panel

The government was setting up two committees with wide terms of reference in two crucial sectors of the economy, the indirect tax structure and the nationalised banking sector. The committee on indirect taxes will undertake a review of the existing structure of indirect taxes, central excise and customs duty, and advise the government how to rationalise the system including the feasibility of adapting VAT (value added tax).