Mumbai, Oct 20: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) recovered more than four percent in early deals today after a sharp sell-off in the previous session.

At 12:15 p. m., the 30-share of BSE index was up by 4.51 percent at 10,425.53.

The BSE Sensex is seen opening higher today after a sharp sell-off plummeting to lowest close since mid-2006. However the recovery may not hold as fears of a global recession continue to haunt investors.

Guwahati, Oct 20: President Pratibha Patil today said that the gram panchayats play an essential role in development of villages by carrying out social mobilization.

Presenting the Nirmal Gram Puraskar to 1059 gram-panchayat representatives coming from 13 states of the Eastern and North Eastern part of the country here, Patil said many national and global problems including food security and climate change can be tackled by looking at sustainable development of villages and agricultural sectors.

Amritsar, Oct. 20: While Hindus around the world celebrate their biggest festival of lights Diwali with full enthusiasm, Sikhs celebrate the day as `Bandi Chor Diwas'' or, the day of release of detainees.

Sikh history traces these celebrations way back to the 17th century. It was during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir when they got into conflict with Sikhs.

The Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind secured the release of not only himself but also 56 other kings who had been imprisoned at the Gwalior Fort. And, on this day the Guru and the Kings returned to Amritsar to a glorious welcome.

Since then Diwali festival means the marking of the historical event for the Sikhs.

New Delhi, Oct 20: Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma will meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here today

Issues related to the 53-member grouping of former British colonies and developments in South Asia and issues are expected to be discussed during the meeting.

Later, Sharma is scheduled to call on Vice President Hamid Ansari and meet Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

1.15 lakh vacant posts in state police forces are lying vacant across the country. This has posed a serious question over providing effective security to citizens in these states.