The UK Immigration Service, now known as “UK Borders Agency” has suspended the applications process for student visas from northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh after a dramatic upsurge in numbers and allegations of fraud.

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Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) from tourism on the basis of data received from major airports. Following are the important highlights regarding these two important indicators of tourism sector.

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To improve the connectivity between the mega tourist destination/ circuits, a pilot project on seamless travel will be undertaken on the golden triangle tourist circuit (Jaipur-Delhi-Agra) from 1st December 2009. In a meeting held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Shri Brahm Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, it was decided that vehicles registered in one state would collect tax on behalf of the three other states lying on the circuit. Thus, Delhi will collect tax on behalf of Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Likewise, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh would collect taxes for themselves and two other states and Haryana (which is on transit). This would prevent harassment and undue time delay faced by commercial tour operators. Tax would be collected a day or two in advance. A formatted sticker, designed by Ministry of Tourism, will be issued to the vehicles indicating the period for which the permit will be valid. The scheme would be valid only for the tour operators authorized by the Ministry of Tourism. Those misusing the permit would be de-registered by the Ministry of Tourism. Read the rest of this entry »