Feature
No R-Day tickets without ID proof!
New Delhi: Jan 26 event will have a lot more strict security arrangements this year and the tickets will not be given to the people without the ID proof keeping in mind the US President Barack Obama’s visit as the chief guest on the occasion.
The ministry of defence (MOD), which is in-charge of the over two-hour-long parade at Rajpath, has made it mandatory to show identity proof like a voter ID card, Aadhar card or state government-issued identity proof – for purchasing tickets.
“Due to the heightened security and the presence of the US president we have made ID proof compulsory for ticket buyers,” an official at a ticket counter in South Block in central Delhi told IANS.
This has caused a problem for those purchasing tickets for relatives or friends staying outside Delhi.
“I came two days back to buy ticket for my relatives who live in Bhopal. But at the ticket counter I got to know that without the identity poof of my relatives they will not issue tickets,” Abhishket Dutt, a resident of Ghaziabad, told IANS.
“So I had to come again with the scanned copy of their IDs along with mine,” Dutt said.
This year the MoD has also limited the category of tickets being sold to Rs 10, Rs.50 and Rs.300. Earlier, there used to be other categories, of Rs.200 and Rs.250.
Of the total 36 enclosures spanning the two sides of Rajpath, only six are for ticketed spectators.
Those paying Rs.300 sit closer to the VIP enclosures, while those purchasing the lower amount tickets get seats farther away.
Every year 30,000 people, including VVIPs and dignitaries, watch the ceremonial parade showcasing India’s military might and cultural glimpses along Rajpath, which extends for three kilometres from Raisina Hills to India Gate.
Delhi Police officers have said they would ensure security for the parade.
The security steps for the parade have been planned in consultation with the MoD and the home ministry.
Those sitting near the VIP lounge have been given passes only after scanning and verifying their identity proof.
Like in previous years, no eatables or any metallic objects would be allowed at Rajpath.
Police have also ruled out the possibility of using drones saying they don’t want anything to be flying in the sky during the parade.
The buildings adjoining the venue, like North and South Blocks, Rail Bhavan, Krishi Bhavan, Shastri Bhavan, Vayu Bhavan, Udyog Bhavan, Nirman Bhavan, Jawahar Bhavan, National Museum and Vigyan Bhavan will be shut by Jan 25. Only security personnel will be allowed inside the buildings.
The State Scores Extra High on Gaming-Friendly Industry Index
Meghalaya scored 92.85 out of 100 possible points in a Gaming Industry Index and proved to be India’s most gaming-friendly state following its recent profound legislation changes over the field allowing land-based and online gaming, including games of chance, under a licensing regime.
The index by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) uses a scale of 0 to 100 to measure the level of legalisation on gambling and betting achieved by a state based on the scores over a set of seven different games – lottery, horse racing, betting on sports, poker, rummy, casino and fantasy sports
Starting from February last year, Meghalaya became the third state in India’s northeast to legalise gambling and betting after Sikkim and Nagaland. After consultations with the UKIBC, the state proceeded with the adoption of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 and the nullification of the Meghalaya Prevention of Gambling Act, 1970. Subsequently in December, the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021 were notified and came into force.
All for the Tourists
The move to legalise and license various forms of offline and online betting and gambling in Meghalaya is aimed at boosting tourism and creating jobs, and altogether raising taxation revenues for the northeastern state. At the same time, the opportunities to bet and gamble legally will be reserved only for tourists and visitors.
“We came out with a Gaming Act and subsequently framed the Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021. The government will accordingly issue licenses to operate games of skill and chance, both online and offline,” said James P. K. Sangma, Meghalaya State Law and Taxation Minister speaking in the capital city of Shillong. “But the legalized gambling and gaming will only be for tourists and not residents of Meghalaya,” he continued.
To be allowed to play, tourists and people visiting the state for work or business purposes will have to prove their non-resident status by presenting appropriate documents, in a process similar to a bank KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure.
Meghalaya Reaches Out to a Vast Market
With 140 millions of people in India estimated to bet regularly on sports, and a total of 370 million desi bettors around prominent sporting events, as per data from one of the latest reports by Esse N Videri, Meghalaya is set to reach out and take a piece of a vast market.
Estimates on the financial value of India’s sports betting market, combined across all types of offline channels and online sports and cricket predictions and betting platforms, speak about amounts between $130 and $150 billion (roughly between ₹9.7 and ₹11.5 lakh crore).
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Delhi are shown to deliver the highest number of bettors and Meghalaya can count on substantial tourists flow from their betting circles. The sports betting communities of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are also not to be underestimated.
Among the sports, cricket is most popular, registering 68 percent of the total bet count analyzed by Esse N Videri. Football takes second position with 11 percent of the bets, followed by betting on FIFA at 7 percent and on eCricket at 5 percent. The last position in the Top 5 of popular sports for betting in India is taken by tennis with 3 percent of the bet count.
Local Citizens will Still have Their Teer Betting
Meghalaya residents will still be permitted to participate in teer betting over arrow-shooting results. Teer is a traditional method of gambling, somewhat similar to a lottery draw, and held under the rules of the Meghalaya Regulation of the Game of Arrow Shooting and the Sale of Teer Tickets Act, 2018.
Teer includes bettors wagering on the number of arrows that reach the target which is placed about 50 meters away from a team of 20 archers positioned in a semicircle.
The archers shoot volleys of arrows at the target for ten minutes, and players place their bets choosing a number between 0 and 99 trying to guess the last two digits of the number of arrows that successfully pierce the target.
If, for example, the number of hits is 256, anyone who has bet on 56 wins an amount eight times bigger than their wager.
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