How to avail Mobile Banking services- Useful article from TOI

Mobile Banking services

A mobile phone is no longer a simple device to make calls. It's become the hub for all your activities, from e-mailing and browsing to paying bills and transferring money. Banks may have been the first to dip their feet into this technological pool, but telecom companies have begun to catch up. The RBI's step to remove the 50,000 cap that it had imposed earlier on daily mobile transactions has also provided the much-needed boost to mobile banking.

How does mobile banking work?

Mobile banking allows you to conduct financial transactions on your phone just as you would at a bank branch or through Net banking. Banks are now evolving this facility as they launch innovative products.

For instance, IndusInd Bank's cash-to-mobile service enables customers to transfer money to anybody, including those who do not have a bank account. A bank customer can download the bank's app on his phone and then put in the phone number of the person to whom he wants to send the money, along with the transaction amount. The bank will send a message to the remitter and the beneficiary along with different PINs to each. The remitter will have to message his PIN to the beneficiary, who can then use both PINs and his mobile number to withdraw cash from an IndusInd Bank ATM. The service is free but operator charges will apply. Also, the sender will need a Java-enabled handset.

Airtel Money, on the other hand, can be used on any mobile phone and you can register for it by dialling *404# or at an authorised Airtel Money retailer. There are two types of accounts. The first one is an express account , wherein you can load 10,000 and use this to pay utility bills or for booking rail/flight tickets on travel portals.

The upgraded version is called a power account, which can be loaded up to 50,000. This can be done through Net banking or an Airtel Money retailer. Citibank too has started a mobile banking service through its Citibank Cash-to-Mobile Receivables Solution and is aimed at corporate customers. It enables them to receive funds from retailers or end-customers. The advantage is that the money is transferred instantly through IMPS (Interbank Mobile Payment Service), which reduces the cost of transaction.

What banks plan to do?

Banks have decided to take one step at a time. Currently, they are not pushing hardcore banking services, only presenting mobile banking as an enquiry tool to entice the customers to carry out transactions . For example, SMS alerts for bill payment may tempt you to pay the bill through the phone itself.

Banks are also trying to allay customers' fears of data leakage. Each transaction requires multiple PINs or a one-time password (OTP) to ensure it is secure. There are also plans to launch other services under mobile banking to make it more appealing , such as ING Vysya's plans to include wealth management and loan services . "This will allow a client to use his banking app as a gateway for banking, shopping, stock market information and travel," explains Panda.

How to access the wallet in your phone

To register for mobile banking services, you will need... An account with the concerned bank or telecom company. You should be registered forNet banking in case of a bank. A Java-enabled handset for mobile banking, but an ordinary phone will do for Airtel Money. An active GPRS connection in case of mobile banking so that you can access the Net. To download the mobile banking application.

How to transfer funds

Log in to the bank's app menu and input the mobile phone number or bank account number of the beneficiary. Message the PIN you receive from the bank to the beneficiary who will also receive a secret number. He will have to log in both PINs at the ATM to withdraw the money. If the funds are being transferred to a bank account, it will take about four working days.

Is it popular?

While online banking has picked up pace, mobile banking remains subdued. One reason is that when a new technology comes into the market, it takes time for people to familiarise themselves with it, which is why the growth is slow. "Another reason is that the small screen of a mobile phone hampers the usage for transactions," says Ritesh Saxena, head (personal accounts and direct banking ), IndusInd Bank. Moreover , the generation that is hooked on to its mobile phones rarely indulges in banking activities. "However, since the youth prefer phones to PCs, mobile banking will be the preferred channel in the future," adds Saxena.

Phone technology is another problem area as there are different platforms of mobile banking for different phones. However, the advent of smartphones has definitely spelt good news for the mobile banking segment. Says Sharad Mohan, chief operating officer, global consumer bank, Citibank India: "After the launch of Citi Mobile on smartphones we have witnessed a 30% growth in new users."

Source - Times Of India 
via-sapost.blogspot

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Implementation of end to end e-procurement in Department of Posts

Click here to view the Department of Posts letter no  12-9/2011-UPE dated 16.04.2011with Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure OM no 10/3/20112-PPC dated 30.03.2012 on the above subject matter.

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MODEL QUESTIONS FOR IPO & PM GRADE 1 EXAM (Q 51-to Q75)

51.       Transcription centre is a cell established in

            a)         All administrative offices                b)         All HOs          c)         All ROs                      d)         A sorting mail office situated at HQ of the circle or at any convenient sorting

                        office in the circle.                                                                                       Ans: d(12)

52.       The number of office exchange established by the dept of posts

            a)         5                                                          b)         4

            c)         6                                                          d)         3                                              Ans: b(13)

53.       The unit bag office will send its daily bag balance report to

            a)         The local HO                                     b)         The SPOs office

            c)         The SRM office                                d)         The district bag office          Ans:d(18a)

54.       The DBO is inspected by

            a)         The SRM                                           b)         The HRO

            c)         The SPOs                                          d)         The circle Bag office           Ans: d(18a)

55.       Each set of section will have

            a)         Different working hours                  b)         Different establishment                              c)            Different mail arrangements

            d)       Same working hours,same establishment and same mail arrangement 

Ans: d(21a)

56.       When there are no air articles for an airmail bag prescribed

            a)         A suitable remarks should be made in the delivery bill concerned

            b)         A bag with ‘Nil’ contents is to be closed

            c)         It is enough if a remark is made in the office record

            d)         None of the above                                                                                       Ans: a(28a)

57.       Mark correct option

a)         When the airmail bag contain less than 50 articles and there is no insured article            or air parcel an airmail cover of suitable size should be used instead of a bag

            b)         When an air parcel is sent inside of airmail bag  the label should bear “CAP”

            c)         The weight of airmail bag or TB should not exceed 30 KG weight.

            d)         Separate ins letter bag closed when more than 10 ins article for any office.

            e)         All the above                                                                                                 Ans: e

58.       When an insured letter bag is prescribed as a due bag it should be

            a)         Dispatched inside the regd bag with remarks in the regd list.

            b)         Sent loose duly advised in the mail list

            c)         Sent duly included in the mail bag closed

            d)         Closed as a separate D bag                                                                       Ans: a(29)

59.       Mark the correct option

a)         Changing station is a Railway station is where the beats of two transit sections join and where the mails brought by one of them are handed over to the other

b)         A connecting station is an RMS section working in a train in immediate connection with another train in which another RMS section works

c)         Regn of newspaper, renewal or canceling any registration will be issued by Head of the department

d)         All the above                                                                                                 Ans: d

60.       The copies of the newspaper without prepayment will be handed over to window along with an invoice which should be

            a)         In triplicate                                         b)         In duplicate

            c)         In quadruplicate                               d          Single copy                           Ans: b(58a)

61.       The minimum limit  fixed for posting Regd. News paper without prepayment at a time for foreign destination is

            a)         500                                                     b)         200

            c)         100                                                     d)         100                                         Ans:d(58a)

62.       On checking the entries in the invoice (tendered along with the Regd. News paper without prepayment ) if there by any discrepancy noticed.

            a)         The posting should be refused     b)         The PM can use his discretion

            c)         The o/o posting should make the requisite correction under the initial of the HO

            d)         None of these                                                                                          Ans: c(58A)

63.       The payment due in connection with posting of Regd News paper without prepayment is to be made

            a)         Quarterly                                            b)         Monthly

            c)         Weekly                                               d)         fortnightly                              Ans:d(58a)

64.       The posting of the Regd. Newspaper without prepayment should be stopped and license deemed to be cancelled in the event of non payment of a bill

            a)         Within one week following the fortnight to which the bill relates.

            b)         Within one month following the fortnight to which the bill relates.

            c)         Within fortnight following the fortnight to which the bill relates.

            d)         None of these                                                                                         Ans: c(58A)

65.       Machine franked article can be posted not more than

            a)         Three offices                                                 b)         Two offices

            c)         only one office                                             d)         None of these           Ans b(58b)

66.       At the office of posting the officer responsible for seeing that the article have been franked in the prescribed manner and that systematic under payment is not going on is

            a)         The Inspector posts                                     b)         The counter PA

            c)         The Postmaster                                            d)         None of these           Ans:c(58b)

67.       Daily docket in the prescribed form is used by

a)         The licensee along with his last posting of franked article at the prescribed office

            b)         The supervisor of a mail office to submit his report to the divisional Head

            c)         The PRI(P) to send hi dairy to the SPOs

            d)         None of these                                                                                               Ans: a(58b)

68.       Whenever, owing to the unusual bulk mail for an office extra transit bags are closed

            a)         The word ‘extra bag’ should be written on the label

            b)         The number of extra transit bags closed should be entered in the mail list

            c)         Each extra transit bag closed should contain its separate mail list showing the

                        particulars of bags enclosed

            d)         All the above                                                                                                 Ans:d (78)

69.       Mark correct option

            a)         The resetting of the credit meter of the franking machine will be done at the PO

            b)         Cut out labels with frank impression on them for prepayment of postage cannot   be used for insured articles

            c)         The 2^nd class articles treated as 1^st class mail in sorting are Greetins/ Regd             Newspapers/ Wedding invitations

            d)         The duty of taxing postage on foreign articles rest entirely with the office of           foreign exchange of the country of posting

            e)         All the above                                                                                                 Ans: e)

70.       When a cash bag enclosed in a Regd. Bag is forwarded in a mail bag the symble                 to be written on label of the mail bag is

            a)         Cash bag                                           b)         F

            c)         C                                                         d)         A/C                                         Ans b(73)

71.       Mark correct option

            a)         Incharge of Head post office is Head  Post Master

            b)         Incharge of Sub post office is Sub Post Master

            c)         Incharge of Branch post office is Branch post master

            d)         Incharge of transit mail office is Mail agent/mail guard

            e)         All the above                                                                                                 Ans; e)

72.       Sub office is authorized to receive

            a)         Articles all kinds in sorting             b)         Fully pre-paid articles

            c)         Regd articles                                     d)         None of these                       Ans: a(11)

73.       Pre mailing activities are done at

            a)         Business Post centre                      b)         Press sorting office

            c)         Head post office                               d)         None of these                       Ans: b(15b)

74.       The head office is the main office of account

            a)         For itself                                             b)         For all SO kept under it

            c)         For all BO kept under it                   d)         All the above                         Ans: d(5)

75.       The post office seal for sealing the franking machine must be kept

            a)         In the personnel custody of  the PRI(P)

            b)         In the personnel custody of the Postmaster

            c)         In the Divisional office

            d)         None of these                                                                                               Ans:b(58c)

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(Prepared by AB Kantharaja  Kodagu Dn, Karnataka, presently serving in APS

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Conduct and Disciplinary Rules – Glossary D to G

Death while under suspension: If a suspended employee dies during suspension, the period of suspension should be treated as duty for all purposes and his family paid for that period full pay and allowances to which he would have been entitled had he not been suspended, adjusting the subsistence allowance already paid.

 

Conduct and Disciplinary Rules

Glossary D to G

Deemed suspension: Sub-rule (2) Rule 10 of CCS (CCA) Rules creates a fiction that a government servant though not placed under suspension by an order of the competent authority, is in law regarded as having been placed under suspension by an order of the competent authority.

Defence Assistant: A Govt. servant or a retired Govt. servant or a legal practitioner assisting the delinquent Government servant in a departmental inquiry.

Delegate: A person authorized to act on behalf of or as a representative of another, the action of such authorizing.

Delegation of power-quasi-judicial: The disciplinary/appellate/reviewing authorities exercise quasi-judicial powers and as such, they cannot delegate their powers to their subordinates.

Delegation of power-quasi-judicial-partial delegation: A well-established principle in case of delegation of quasi-judicial function is that where a power is entrusted to the personal judgment of a quasi-judicial authority, such trust cannot be delegated.

However, a partial delegation has been conceded. It may not be practically possible for a quasi-judicial authority to personally hear the evidence that may be presented before it. It has accordingly been conceded that it is permissible for such authority to delegate the function of hearing parties and taking evidence, provided the authority itself gives the decision after final hearing.

Delinquent: A person who fails or neglects to do what law or obligation requires him to do; a person who is alleged to have committed a misconduct for which proceedings are initiated or continuing against him.

Demonstration is a public display of group feeling especially towards a person, cause or action of public interest.

De novo proceeding: Fresh proceeding.

Dies non: In service terms, “dies non” means a day, which cannot be treated as duty for any purpose. It does not constitute break in service. But the period treated as ‘dies non’ does not qualify as service for pensionary benefits or increment.

Disciplinary Authority: The term ‘Disciplinary Authority’ has been interpreted in the Rules to mean ‘the authority competent under these rules [CCS (CCA) Rules] to impose on a Government servant any of the penalties specified in Rule 11.

Disciplinary proceedings can be explained as the proceedings taken with a view to imposing a departmental punishment on an employee on account of some alleged misconduct. These proceedings are a matter of discipline within the organization.

Dismissal and removal from service: The only difference in the punishment of dismissal and removal is that in case of dismissal the employee is disqualified from future employment while in case of removal he is not debarred from getting future employment.”

Embezzlement: Dishonest misappropriation of property by a person who comes in possession thereof lawfully.

Evidence: Evidence means and includes

(i) all statements which the Court permits or requires to be made before it by witnesses, in relation to matters of fact under inquiry; such statements are called oral evidence;

(ii) all documents produced for the inspection of the Court; such documents are called documentary evidence.

Examination in chief: The examination of witness by the party who calls him is known as examination-in-chief. It is a process by which a witness narrates before the Inquiry Officer the facts, which are within his personal knowledge and are relevant to the matter under inquiry. The normal procedure is that a witness should state whatever he has to say, verbally and in the presence of the inquiry officer and the charged employee.

Expedient: Advantageous; fit; proper; suitable to the circumstances of the case.

As per clause (iii) to Rule 19 of CCS (CCA) Rules where the President is satisfied that in the interest of the security of the State it is not expedient to hold any inquiry in the manner provided in CCS (CCA) Rules the disciplinary authority may consider the circumstances of the case and make such orders thereon as deems fit, notwithstanding anything contained in Rule 14 to Rule 18 of CCS (CCA) Rules.

Exonerate: To release a person or property from liability.

Ex parte enquiry: Ex parte means from or on one side only. In ex parte proceedings, the entire gamut of the enquiry has to be gone through. The difference between other enquiries in which both the sides participate and the ex parte enquiry is that in ex parte inquiry, the defence side will be absent. However, the absence of the defence side should not persuade the inquiry officer to make short of the whole proceedings and to record that the charges are established having no regard to evidence brought on record.

Expert evidence, oral or documentary is obtained on special skill or processional knowledge, which may be relevant to decide the issues in a case. Examples are opinion of a handwriting expert, a medical practitioner, architect, engineer, and the like.

Finding: The conclusion of a judicial proceeding in respect of an issue, action or trial.

Forfeiture of service: Loss of service. Generally in case of resignation, removal or dismissal from service the entire service is forfeited. In case of break in service, the past service is forfeited.

Functus officio: One who has fulfilled his office or is out of office; an authority who has performed the act authorized so that the authority is exhausted.

The Inquiring Authority in a departmental inquiry becomes functus officio after he signs and submits his report. In other words, his function and authority as inquiry officer comes to end after he signs and submits his report to the disciplinary authority.

Gherao: Gherao literally means encircle or to surround. It has been defined to mean “a physical blockade of a target, either by encirclement or forcible occupation. The target may be a place or persons, usually the managerial or supervisory staff of an industrial establishment. The blockade may be complete or partial and is invariably accompanied by wrongful restraint, and/or wrongful confinement and occasionally by assault, criminal trespass, mischief to person and property, unlawful assembly and various other criminal offences…In short to achieve the object not by peaceful means but by violence.”

Go slow strike: A planned slowing down of industrial production on the part of labour until certain demands are met.

“Wilful go slow is one of the serious misconduct which, even the Supreme Court has laid down, is a pernicious activity per se. The words “per se” are of some importance because the Supreme Court has laid down in Bharat Sugar Mills case that certain misconducts alone will warrant dismissal and in such cases, merely because the worker has put in large number of years of service will not necessarily lead to the conclusion that the order of dismissal constituted a disproportionate punishment”.

Government servant means a person who-

is a member of a Service or holds a civil post under the Union, and includes any such person on foreign service or whose services are temporarily placed at the disposal of a State Government, or a local or other authority;

is a member of a Service or holds a civil post under a State Government, and whose services are temporarily placed at the disposal of the Central Government;

is in the service of a local or other authority and whose services are temporarily placed at the disposal of the Central Government.

Grave: “Grave-held, connotes enormity of misconduct in juxtaposition with technical, trifle or misconduct simpliciter. Grave misconduct- the word grave intent to indicate super-eminent or a very high degree of misconduct.”

Gross misconduct: Misconduct of a flagrant nature.

Gross negligence: Negligence marked by total or nearly total indifference to the consequences of an act.

 Courtesy : http://www.gservants.com/ & http://sapost.blogspot.in/

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Conduct and Disciplinary Rules – Glossary A to C

                                                 Conduct and Disciplinary Rules

Glossary A to C

Abet means to encourage, incite.

Abettor is one who abets the commission of a crime and is present or nearby during the act.

Absolve: To pronounce clear of guilt or blame.

Accused is a person against whom an allegation has been made that he has committed an offence or who is charged with an offence.

Acquit is to set free or deliver from the charge of an offence after trial.

Act: A law made by competent legislature.

Actori incumbit onus probandi: The burden of proof lies on the plaintiff or the prosecution.

Ad hoc disciplinary authority: In a case where the prescribed appointing or disciplinary authority is unable to function as the disciplinary authority in respect of an official, on account of his being personally concerned with the charges or being a material witness in support of the charges, then an ad hoc disciplinary authority is nominated for that case.

Adjudicate: To try and determine judicially.

Appeal: Appeal is a proceeding taken before a superior court or authority for reversing or modifying decision of an inferior court or authority on ground of error.

Appoint means to designate a person to discharge the duties of an office or trust.

Arbitrary: Depending upon the will or pleasure, based on mere opinion or preference, hence capricious.

Arbitrariness being opposed to reasonableness is an antithesis to law. There cannot, however, be any exact definition of arbitrariness, neither can there by any strait-jacket formula evolved therefor, since it is dependent on the varying facts and circumstances of each case.

Audi alteram partem means that both the sides must be heard in a case before it is decided, or that no one shall be condemned unheard. This is one of the rules of natural justice.

Bias may be defined as a preconceived opinion or a predisposition or predetermination to decide a case or an issue in particular manner, so much, so that such predisposition does not leave the mind open to conviction. It is, in fact, a condition of mind, which sways judgments and renders the judge unable to exercise impartially in a particular case.

Becoming conduct: Becoming conduct as defined in Union of India v. K.K. Garg, should conform to the four criteria, namely,

It should be in conformity with the ordinary norms of decency and morality prevalent in the society in which he lives;

It should be in consonance with the laws of the land, which he is bound to respect;

It should not be against the policies of the Govt. which he serves; and

There is not a deliberate breach of departmental rules by the employee.

Benefit of doubt: The advantage derived from doubt about guilt or a possible error of the evidence.

Bigamy: Bigamy is second marriage during the life of the spouse. It is an offence under Section 17 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

Bona fide: In good faith.

Books or documents of reference: Encyclopaedia, dictionaries and other authoritative treatises on different subjects and important and authentic documents of which the court may take judicial notice and to which it may refer without the same being formally proved.

Break in service: A period of unauthorised absence of employees working in industrial establishments during a strike which is declared illegal shall be deemed to cause an interruption or break in service unless otherwise decided by the competent authority.

In the case of other employees, unauthorised absence because of action in combination or in concerted manner shall be deemed to cause break in service.

Bribe: A reward or gift bestowed or promised with a view to perverting the judgment or decision or corrupting the conduct of a judge or other officer.

Taking or demanding bribe is a misconduct. It is also an offence punishable under Section 161 of the Indian Penal Code.

Bribery: The offer or acceptance of a bribe.

Burden of proof: The onus of proving the charges or allegations. When a person is bound to prove the existence of any fact, it is said that the burden of proof lies on that person.

It needs no emphasis that in a departmental inquiry, the onus of establishing a charge against the delinquent official is on the presenting officer or the prosecution. The finding of the inquiry officer should be based of materials presented during enquiry. If the Inquiry Officer places the onus of disproving the charge on the charged employee, the case of the department would straightaway fall.

Censure: An order of “censure” is formal and public act intended to convey that the person concerned has been guilty of some blameworthy act or omission for which it has been found necessary to award him a formal punishment, and nothing can amount to a “censure” unless it is intended to be such a formal punishment and imposed for “good and sufficient reason” after following the prescribed procedure.

Circumstantial evidence is based on circumstances, which get established by either oral or documentary evidence on the point under inquiry. Though the circumstantial evidence has to be assessed with great caution but it will be wrong to think that circumstantial evidence is weak evidence. A well-knit circumstantial evidence can reasonably lead to a correct conclusion. “For the purpose of a departmental inquiry, complaint, certainly not frivolous, but substantiated by circumstantial evidence, is enough.”

Civil Post: Civil post is a post, not connected with defence and outside the regularly constituted civil services.

Classification of Posts: Classification of civil posts under the Union as Group ‘A’, Group ‘B’, Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ posts.

Common Proceedings: Where two or more Government servants are concerned in any case disciplinary action may be taken against all of them in a common proceeding, under order from competent authority, in stead of separate proceeding against each of them.

Compassionate allowance is a kind of pension that may be grated to a Government servant who is dismissed or removed from service.

Complainant is the party who makes the complaint before a competent authority.

The rule is that if a general law is broken, any person has a right to complain, whether he himself has suffered a particular injury or not.

Compulsory retirement is a kind of retirement ordered as a measure of penalty under CCS (CCA) Rules.

Compulsory retirement pension is a kind of pension granted to a Government servant who is compulsorily retired from service as a measure of penalty.

Confession: The action of confessing (to own or admit as a fault) or acknowledging one’s guilt; an admission of guilt by a person who has committed a crime.

“We have the best witness in an accused who confess the charge”.

While there could be no better evidence than ones own confession, yet it is not safe to act upon the same when it is alleged to have been extracted by coercion, especially by the affected party. Such a confession could still be used, if some other independent witness had corroborated it.

Condone: To forgive, overlook, or disregard (a misconduct or offence) without protest or censure.

Condonation of break in service: The past services lost due to imposition of break in service will be allowed to count if the competent authority condones the break in service. “It is not the intention of the Government to deny the pensionary benefits to the employees is all cases of break of service. The question of condonation of break in service for the purpose of Pension Rules may be considered suo motu without waiting for a representation from the affected officials and orders issued so that the retired employees are not put to financial hardship”.

Condonation of break in service for other purposes may be considered on merits, in case of the employee making a representation expressing unqualified regret, etc.

Conduct: The way a person acts; behaviour.

Government servants are bound to conduct themselves in a way consistent with the faithful discharge of the obligations undertaken by them either expressly or impliedly in accepting the service.

Every Government servant is bound to observe certain rules of conduct and discipline both in relation to his employment and outside his employment. There exist both written (not exhaustive) and unwritten codes of conduct for them which must be observed by every Government servant.

Conduct, which has led to conviction of a Government servant: The original conduct, which constituted the offence for which the Government servant has been convicted.

Conviction itself cannot be equated with misconduct. The basis for imposing departmental penalty under Rule 19 of CCS (CCA) Rules is the conduct, which has led to the conviction and not mere conviction.

Control: Power to check or restrain; superintendence. To regulate; to govern; to have under command.

Conviction: The act of a legal tribunal adjudging a person guilty of an offence.

Criminal proceeding: A proceeding instituted and conducted for the purpose either of preventing the commission of a crime or for fixing the guilt of a crime already committed and punishing the offender.

Currency of penalty: The period for which the penalty prevails or is in currency or is operating.

Currency of penalty-promotion during: To punish a servant and at the same time to promote him during the currency of the punishment may justifiably be termed as self-contradictory.”

“In other words, a penalty of ‘Censure’ is deemed to have become final as soon as it is imposed without any further currency, likewise the penalty of recovery should not be a bar to eligibility for consideration (for promotion).”

Courtesy : http://www.gservants.com/ & http://sapost.blogspot.in/

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Walking could be a useful tool in treating depression

 

Walking can play a vital role in fighting depression, a study has claimed.

The study in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity showed walking had a “large effect” on depression.

Vigorous exercise has already been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression, but the effect of less strenuous activities was unclear. One in 10 people may have depression at some point in their lives. The condition can be treated with drugs, but exercise is commonly prescribed by doctors for mild symptoms.

Researchers at the University of Stirling scoured academic studies to find data on one of the mildest forms of exercise, walking. They found eight studies, on a total of 341 patients, which fitted the bill.

The report’s authors showed “walking was an effective intervention for depression” and had an effect similar to other more vigorous forms of exercise.

“Walking has the advantages of being easily undertaken by most people, incurring little or no financial cost and being relatively easy to incorporate into daily living,” they said.

However, they cautioned that much more research needed to be done. There are still questions over how long, how fast and whether walking should take place indoors or outdoors.

Prof. Adrian Taylor, who studies the effects of exercise on depression, addiction and stress at the University of Exeter, told the BBC: “The beauty of walking is that everybody does it.”

“There are benefits for a mental health condition like depression,” he added.

Mr. Taylor said there were ideas about exercise being a distraction from worries, giving a sense of control and releasing “feel-good” hormones.

Source : www.thehindu.com dtd 14/04/2012

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