Budget 2024 For a few hours of Budget presentation, preparations start 6 months in advance know why

Union Budget 2024: On Thursday, February 1, 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to deliver the Interim Budget 2024. Every budget includes some items that address the needs of various government agencies, states, union territories, and citizens from all walks of life in India. For those in business and the salaried class, it is one of the most anticipated occasions of the year. During their potentially multi-hour speech, the finance minister makes several significant announcements. But it takes six months to develop the budget that is presented in a few hours. Are you aware of the reason? Be aware of thisInterim Budget 2024: What can we expect when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents the Interim Budget 2024 on February 1, 2024? A member of the salaried class for tax breaks; an entrepreneur for programs that support entrepreneurs; an experienced businessman for regulations that can protect their company or boost their earnings.For this reason, most Indians pay attention to the significant statements made by the finance minister during their annual speech. These announcements contained in the budget speech could be made in a few minutes or several hours. However, the preparation time for a speech that lasts only a few hours is about six months.Interim Budget 2024: On February 1 at 11 a.m., Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to read the Interim Budget 2024 in the Parliament. The Interim Budget, which will implement the major decisions taken by the Center, is the focus of attention. Prior to the Lok Sabha elections, the departing government presents the interim budget during the budget session. After winning the Lok Sabha elections, the newly formed government then presents the comprehensive budget.In addition to discussing the government's accomplishments since 2014, FM Sitharaman's Interim Budget is anticipated to look ahead to Amrit Kaal in 2047. Similar to the previous interim budget, the Budget 2024 paper is anticipated to provide historical context, assess the current situation, and outline plans for the future. A summary of the government's anticipated revenue and outlays through the formation of the next government is the primary purpose of the interim budget. A comprehensive budget, on the other hand, addresses every facet of government funding, including receipts and outlays as well as allocations and policy declarations. A full-year budget outlines the nation's economic course for the whole fiscal year and acts as a strategic plan. The financial data for the transitional phase is provided by the interim budget.The timeline for presenting an interim budget is identical to that of the Union budget during a regular fiscal year. The Interim Budget has grown in importance for the ruling administrations in recent years as a tactical instrument for national elections. It enables them to outline the ruling party's economic strategy and provide justification for reelection.Some significant modifications were announced by former FM Piyush Goyal in the most recent interim budget: > Earnings up to Rs 5 lakh are exempt from income tax; individuals with gross incomes up to Rs 6.5 lakh are exempt from paying taxes if they invest in authorized stocks and provident funds. The TDS level on interest on bank and post office deposits was raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000. The TDS barrier on rental income was increased from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2.4 lakh. The standard tax deduction for salaried individuals was raised from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000. I-T will process returns in a day.> In the following two years, all tax return verification will be completed electronically without involving the taxpayer. a bundle of Rs.The 74-page report, "The Indian Economy: A Review," authored by Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran, was delivered by the NDA administration this year. It provided an assessment of India's economy and outlined difficulties for the upcoming fiscal year. "This is not the Department of Economic Affairs' Economic Survey of India. Following the general elections, it will take precedence over the entire budget. The paper titled "Indian Economy–A Review" stated, "This review offers a brief sketch of the outlook for the economy in the coming years and takes stock of the state of the Indian economy and its journey over the last ten years." Following the presentation of the Interim Budget, a vote-on-account is held by the Parliament. This clause enables the government to secure parliamentaryA complete budget and an interim budget are comparable. One significant distinction is that it covers forecasts for a shorter time frame instead of the whole fiscal year. Without requiring a formal discussion, Parliament can pass a vote-on-account that just addresses spending.  

Sakshi Malik, a wrestler, claims that the chief of false titles is suspended. The ministry of sports issues a legal notice.

Malik appealed to the sports ministry about the situation, questioning how a federation member who was suspended could embezzle money from the WFI.Olympic wrestler Sakshi Malik accused the suspended chairman of the wrestling federation of India (WFI), Sanjay Singh, on Tuesday of organizing championships and giving phony certificates, a month after the Central government suspended the WFI panel.Malik appealed to the sports ministry about the situation, questioning how a federation member who was suspended could embezzle money from the WFI. She said that athletes would run into problems if they presented phony credentials."The National Wrestling Championship is being run by Sanjay Singh, an associate of Brij Bhushan, as per his wish and he is giving fake certificates to the players, which is illegal," Malik said in a post on X, the previous Twitter platform.She continued by saying that the Sports Ministry was planning to host the national wrestling championship in Jaipur and that Singh was staging a phony tournament in order to "assert his dominance.""To demonstrate his superiority in wrestling, Sanjay Singh is forging and distributing fake certificates of several national championships before of the Sports Ministry's scheduled wrestling national championship in Jaipur. How is it possible for an individual under suspension from the organization to embezzle its funds?Malik went on to say that these certificates can result in the players being punished. "Action will be taken against the poor players when they go tomorrow to ask for jobs with these certificates." However, the players are not at fault.She urged Anurag Thakur, the minister of sports, to investigate the matter. "Sanjay Singh should be held accountable right away for his fraudulent actions, as he continues to conduct fraudulent acts even after his activities have been prohibited. Malik stated, "I beg the Sports Minister, Shri Anurag Thakur ji, to look into this matter and prevent the players' futures from being spoiled."Malik included an image of the purportedly fraudulent credentials being given to athletes in the article. Sanjay Singh received a severe warning from the Sports Ministry about possible legal consequences. Singh recently made "baseless and mischievous" comments about the government's recognition of WFI, to which this is in reaction. The ministry made it clear that any competition run by the WFI would not be accepted as "sanctioned."According to PTI, Singh had previously declared that almost 700 wrestlers would compete in the Senior National Championship, which would take place in Pune from January 29 to January 31.The ministry wrote to Singh, stating, "Again, you are making completely baseless and mischievous claims regarding the recognition of the Executive Committee of the WFI that is currently under suspension and about the competitions that you are holding in Pune."  

Nitishs Return to NDA: Its Wrong to Conclude a Cakewalk for the BJP in Bihar

“The BJP, of course, has got psychological advantage by bringing the Bihar CM and Janata Dal (United) president from the INDIA bloc, of which he was the architect. But there is a palpable anger among the people against Nitish. The BJP will have to pay the price for accepting him back to its fold,” the election strategist turned activist, Prashant Kishor said.Kishore predicted, “Irrespective of whatever alliance Nitish contests with, his party won’t be able to win more than 20 seats in the assembly polls.” Kishore, who is on his Jan Suraj padyatra in north Bihar’s Begusarai district these days, has been advancing this argument in his speeches as well as his interviews with the media. The widely held ‘assumption’ that the BJP’s victory is a “done deal” particularly after Nitish jumping to its side has subsumed the likely troubles that the Hindutva party might face in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, expected in April-May, this year.The first and foremost trouble which the BJP is all set to face is over sharing of seats. Nitish’s JDU and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) of Ram Vilas Paswan (alive then) were the part of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2019. The BJP and the JDU had shared 17 seats each, sparing six seats for the LJP. The NDA had won 39 seats—BJP-17, JDU-16 and LJP-6. Now, besides Nitish’s JDU, the BJP has Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Aawam Morcha – Secular (HAMS), Chirag Paswan’s LJP and his uncle Pashupatinath Paras’s Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) are in the NDA. Creating a buzz in the name of Ram temple and around Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘persona’, the BJP cadres are clamouring for more seats than what they had contested in Bihar in 2019. The RLSP, the HAMS, the LJP and the RLJP, which have been with the BJP from before Nitish’s JDU has joined it, are, obviously, expecting their share of seats. There are only 40 seats in the state to share with. How many seats the BJP will keep in its share and how much will it spare for its five other partners? Needless to say that there is an apparent disquiet in the camps of these parties on Nitish’s return in the NDA; their lack of enthusiasm was obvious at Nitish’s ninth swearing-in as the CM at Patna’s Raj Bhavan on Saturday-January 28.       

Global Corruption Index 2023: India Ranks 93rd Out of 180 Countries, Was 85th in 2022

The index comes at a time when the Union government run by the Bharatiya Janata Party is targeting only opposition leaders through its investigating agencies – ostensibly to weaken their public appeal before the crucial 2024 general elections and project the INDIA alliance as corrupt.Significantly, of India’s 28 states, BJP and its allies were in power in 17 in 2023. As per the country-wise corruption perception index (CPI) of the report put together by Transparency International (TI), a noted platform that works in over a hundred countries to fight corruption and promote transparency in public life, India has slipped from 85th position in 2022 to 93rd in 2023. In all, TI ranks 180 countries in terms of their perceived levels of public sector corruption in a scale of 0 to 100; the perceived levels are drawn from consultations with experts and people in business in the respective countries. Those closer to the scale of 100 are perceived to be highly corrupt. While India stands at 93, the country’s overall score for 2023 stands at 39, one point lower than 2022. About India, the TI report states, “India (39) shows score fluctuations small enough that no firm conclusions can be drawn on any significant change. However, ahead of the elections, India sees further narrowing of civic space, including through the passage of a bill that could be a ‘grave threat to fundamental rights’.”Among India’s neighbours, China is shown at a score of 42 (against India’s 39) but the report cautions that the country’s heavy reliance on punishment rather than institutional checks on power raises doubts over the long-term effectiveness” of its anti-corruption measures. China, which has been grabbing headlines for cracking down on corruption, has punished over 3.7 million public officials in the last 10 years.    

Nasscom wants government to let overseas Indian startups list directly

India-focused startups incorporated overseas should be able to list on the domestic stock exchanges within the existing externalised structures, Indian industry body National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) has suggested as part of its Union Budget 2024-25 recommendations.Out of 139 startups who participated in a survey conducted by Nasscom, approximately 16.5% of Indian-origin startups have externalised legal structures and would consider raising equity capital through public listing in India if the regulations are amended to allow for a direct listing, it said.Out of 139 startups who participated in a survey conducted by Nasscom, approximately 16.5% of Indian-origin startups have externalised legal structures and would consider raising equity capital through public listing in India if the regulations are amended to allow for a direct listing, it said.India-focused startups incorporated overseas should be able to list on the domestic stock exchanges within the existing externalised structures, Indian industry body National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) has suggested as part of its Union Budget 2024-25 recommendations. Previously, the industry body had reached out to the markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the finance ministry seeking a viable framework for such listing. This is the first time it has been part of the Budget suggestions, said Ashish Aggarwal, head of public policy, Nasscom.Existing rules permit only domestically incorporated firms from listing in India. The move could pave the way for reducing considerable tax liabilities for both the company and its investors in the event of ‘reverse flipping’ or moving registration to India.For the Budget, it has recommended to “set up an expert task force, with participation from the relevant government departments, regulators, industry representatives and legal experts, to recommend a comprehensive set of measures to make direct listing an attractive option for Indian origin foreign start-ups to consider.”    

Confident new Parliament building will have productive dialogues, says President Murmu 

“We anticipate the Interim Budget 2024 to align with the government’s mission of uplifting the underprivileged and urge the government to introduce beneficiary schemes, especially as the General Sabha election approaches, focusing on the socio-economic empowerment of the marginalised.”“We hope for policies supporting our growth, particularly in Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, aiming to integrate rural communities into the formal banking system.Incentivising FinTech dedicated to empowering SMEs through financial and technical interventions would mark a significant stride. Addressing loan disbursement including loans against gold/jewellery, we recommend regulations fostering collaboration between traditional banks and digital lenders for accessible loans,” Anuj Arora, Co-founder & COO, SahiBandhu Gold Loans said.“As we approach Budget 2024, we anticipate a continued focus on advancing India’s digital public infrastructure, a key pillar for realising the $5 trillion economy dream. I look forward to enhanced government initiatives fostering financial inclusion benefiting ‘Bharat’, not just India,” said Sarvjeet Virk, Co-founder & MD, Finvasia. “On the tech front, I hope to see further progress in establishing AI Centres of Excellence. I also expect more policies to enable public-private partnership to boost end-use-cases of generative and predictive AI and increase its adoption in India. The fintech industry, as usual, will be the flag bearer of innovation,” Virk added. “The landscape of online new car sales has experienced a substantial surge over the past 4-5 years, driven by an increasing preference for consumers buying cars digitally. We are expecting some key developments from the budget like a reduction in the GST rate that will support home-grown players in investing in newer technologies for enhanced mobility offerings on a global scale. Then, re-evaluation of the import structure for electric vehicles is also sought to address disparities in GST rates, providing a much-needed boost to the start-up community through government loans and investments. As an online new car market player, we are closely monitoring these developments, recognizing their potential impact on the electric vehicle market. Our commitment is to adapt our platform to the evolving landscape, ensuring that our customers have access to the latest and most sustainable automobile options. We look forward to the Union Budget introducing measures that not only support the growth of the electric vehicle industry but also contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future,” Gaurav Aggarwal, CEO and Founder, CarLelo, A Capri Loans Venture said.  

Stocks & sectors likely to benefit from 2024 Interim Budget

Companies building roads, ports and airports are on traders’ watchlist as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration is set to present its last budget before the national elections. Shares linked to rural spending and state-owned firms are likely to be a focus area in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech on Thursday, as policymakers seek ways to boost demand in the vast rural hinterland. Development of highways, tunnels and power plants is among the key focus areas for the government, which has more than doubled its capital spending over the last three years. Modi has made infrastructure building a cornerstone of his economic policy, helping India expand faster than any other major economy. The optimism seeped into the nation’s stock markets, which have advanced in all but one year since Modi first came to power in 2014. The enthusiasm has waned a bit this month, with foreign investors taking out more than $2.6 billion from local equities.The Feb. 1 budget is an interim one until a new administration takes office. It will still be keenly followed as the proposals would provide an indication on the government’s assessment of the economy, with Modi widely expected to win a third term in the elections due around April-May.   

Before polls, stocks are expected to benefit from the governments interim budget.

As the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to unveil its final budget before the national elections, traders are keeping a close eye on companies that are involved in road, port, and airport construction. In her budget speech on Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to highlight shares associated with state-owned companies and rural spending, as policymakers look for ways to increase demand in the vast rural hinterland.Building infrastructure has become a key component of PM Modi's economic strategy, enabling India to grow faster than any other major economy. The nation's stock markets, which have increased in all but one year since PM Modi took office in 2014, began to show signs of optimism. This month, foreign investors withdrew more than $2.6 billion from local equities, indicating a slight decrease in enthusiasm.  Spending on Infrastructure One of the government's main priorities is the construction of power plants, highways, and tunnels; during the past three years, capital spending has more than doubled.The main winners of this policy push have been the shares of industrial and capital goods companies, ranging from billionaire Gautam Adani's conglomerate to engineering behemoth Larsen & Toubro. Over the past year, BSE Ltd.'s sectoral gauges of capital goods and industrial firms have increased by over 70%, outpacing the benchmark index's 17% gain.   Vinit Sambre, head of equities at DSP Mutual Fund, said over the phone, "A lot of the market performance has come from the capex cycle; equity investors would want to see that momentum continue." "Any guidance on the capex path will be closely watched."      

Four killed by bomb explosion near Pakistan political rally

At least four people were killed Tuesday in a bombing near a Pakistan political rally, officials said, as the nation prepares to go to the polls next week.Police in the Balochistan provincial capital of Quetta said a bomb planted on a motorbike detonated as supporters rallied for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan."The PTI rally was passing by there but it is not clear whether the rally was a target or not," senior police official Farhan Zahid told AFP.The 71-year-old former cricket star was ousted from office in 2022 and launched a campaign of defiance against Pakistan's military kingmakers, who he said conspired to end his premiership.Last year saw casualties hit a six-year high, with more than 1,500 civilians, security forces and militants killed, according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.Islamabad has blamed the rise in attacks on the Taliban, saying they are not doing enough to root out militancy in Afghanistan. Waseem Baig, a provincial health department spokesman, said six people were wounded in addition to the four killed.In a statement, PTI said three of its activists were among the dead at the rally -- a convoy of motorbikes and cars parading through the city to curry support for a candidate ahead of national elections scheduled for February 8.A party spokesman told AFP it was too soon to say whether they had been deliberately targeted.The attack came just hours after PTI founder Khan was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of having leaked classified state documents.Khan and PTI say they are suffering under an unprecedented crackdown designed to prevent their return to power through the February 8 poll.Since then he has been buried under an avalanche of legal cases and barred from standing for office, whilst PTI has been largely squeezed out of the public sphere.Pakistan has also been suffering from a security crisis, with a dramatic uptick in militant attacks since the Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan.    

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How to Ease Rising External Debt-Service Pressures in Low-Income Countries

WASHINGTON DC, Jan 29 (IPS) - As 2024 starts, the good news is that there haven’t been any notable requests by a low-income country for comprehensive debt relief since Ghana’s, more than a year ago. Despite this, vulnerabilities remain, with high debt servicing costs a growing challenge for low-income countries. Financing pressures due to relatively high interest payments and the pace at which low-income countries need to repay debt are straining budgets. That prevents these countries from spending more on essential services or the critical investment needed to attract business, create jobs, improve prosperity, and build climate resilience.One important metric is the share of revenues the government collects from its population through taxes and other fees that goes to pay its foreign creditors. While the scale of the burden differs greatly across countries, it’s generally about two and a half times higher than a decade earlier.In addition, central banks have significantly raised borrowing costs to tame inflation. That makes it costlier for governments to raise new debt or refinance existing debt. While central banks may be done raising rates, it is not clear when they will start to cut, and this uncertainty may be reflected in volatile financial market conditions. This means for a typical low-income borrower the share has risen to about 14 percent, from about 6 percent, and as much as 25 percent, from about 9 percent in some economies. This is one of the key indicators used in the framework for assessing debt sustainability that signals a country might be at risk of needing financial support from the IMF or of missing a debt payment.Low-income countries also have significant debt repayments falling due in the next two years. They need to refinance about $60 billion of external debt each year, about three times the average in the decade through 2020.But with many competing demands for financing, including from advanced and emerging market economies that are also trying to adapt to climate change, there’s a significant risk of a liquidity crunch—failure to raise sufficient financing at an affordable cost. That could in turn lead to a destabilizing debt crisis.One factor was higher government borrowing and deficits to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and other external economic shocks. This has increased the level of debt and consequently the cost of servicing it. It’s encouraging that this trend is reversing as countries bring primary deficits back in line with pre-pandemic levels.    

Snow Tales: Too Little, Too Late, Say Climate Experts

KARACHI, Jan 29 (IPS) - Whether the late snow in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region is an anomaly or an indication of the impacts of climate change, which brings erratic and at times devastating weather patterns, experts in the region believe not enough is being invested in the development of capacities, systems, and infrastructure to improve resilience. Alpine skier, 28-year-old Muhammad Karim, has spent the winter with his eyes skyward, wishing and hoping for deep and abundant snow.“My bread and butter depend on the snow,” said the Olympian, who is also a ski trainer, at Naltar Ski Resort, in the valley by the same name nestled in the Gilgit-Baltistan’s Karakoram mountain range.Without prolonged cold winter days to follow the snowfall, the snow will melt away, said Sarfaraz, continuing: “Nor will it compensate for the almost 80–90 percent less precipitation the country faced in December and January.”“Winter has been milder,” he said, due to the El Niño effect. The temperatures recorded by the seven weather stations, however, show “an increase by 0.5 degree Centigrade in the region, on average, since 1983, and a decrease of precipitation (rain and snow) by 8.4 mm,” said Shigri. Heading the ice-hockey and alpine skiing section run by the Ski Federation of Pakistan and with the national skiing competition looming just weeks away (held between February 14 and 20 in Naltar), Karim had been getting sleepless nights as it had not snowed after a slight sprinkling of “half an inch” in November, and there were chances the sporting event would be called off.But as predicted by the Meteorological Department, the snowfall began on January 28 and “will continue for a few days,” said Karachi-based Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz, chief meteorologist at the Pakistan Meteorological Department. “It’s too light,” said Karim, talking to IPS over the phone from Naltar. “We are still uncertain about the event,” he added.This year has been quite unusual. It has been an almost snowless winter in the northern region of the Himalayan-Hindukush-Karakoram ranges.“We usually experience the first snowfall by the end of October in some parts of G-B, and this continues well into March,” said Shehzad Shigri, director of the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency, speaking to IPS from Gilgit city.    

RS revokes suspension of 11 Oppn MPs held guilty of breach of privilege

The Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee on Tuesday held 11 suspended opposition MPs guilty of breach of privilege and contempt of the Council of States, but Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar revoked their suspension allowing them to attend the Budget session, sources said.In its report to the Rajya Sabha chairman a day before the session starts on Wednesday, the committee also recommended that the period of suspension already suffered by the members be treated as "sufficient punishment" for the transgression. The MPs held "guilty of breach of privilege and contempt of the Council" of States are Jebi Mather Hisham, L Hanumanthaiah, Neeraj Dangi, Rajmani Patel, Kumar Ketkar, G C Chandrashekhar, Binoy Viswam, Sandosh Kumar P, M Mohamed Abdulla, John Brittas and A A Rahim.The committee presented the report to Dhankhar, taking note of the situation that the suspended members would not be able to attend the special address of President Droupadi Murmu to both Houses of Parliament, the first address in the new building of Parliament, on Wednesday. The committee usually submits its recommendations to the House.The sources said the chairman invoked the authority vested in him under the rules of procedure to revoke their suspension enabling the members to attend the special address by the president.The matter of 11 MPs suspended by the chairman during the Winter session of Parliament were referred to the Privileges Committee.    

Congress slams govt over UGC dereservation row, demands to sack chairman

Stepping up attack, the Congress on Monday demanded the dismissal of UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar over the draft guidelines for "de-reservation" of posts in higher education institutions, with party leader Rahul Gandhi alleging it was a "conspiracy" to end the reservation given to SC, ST and OBC categories.The party had on Sunday demanded the immediate withdrawal of the UGC's draft guidelines proposing that any vacancy reserved for SC, ST and OBC candidates can be "declared unreserved" if enough candidates from these categories are not available.Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, however, has clarified that not a single post will be de-reserved and there is no scope for ambiguity about reservations after the introduction of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Act, 2019.In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi claimed it was an attempt by BJP and RSS to "eliminate" the participation of deprived sections and the party demanded that Kumar should apologise to the entire backward classes. "In the new draft of UGC, there is a conspiracy to end the reservation given to SC, ST and OBC categories in higher education institutions."Today, out of approximately 7000 reserved posts in 45 central universities, 3000 are vacant, and of which only 7.1 per cent are Dalit, 1.6 per cent are tribal and 4.5 per cent are backward class professors."The BJP-RSS, which have even talked about reviewing reservation, now want to snatch the jobs of the deprived classes from such higher education institutions," Gandhi alleged."This is an attempt to kill the dreams of the heroes who have fought for social justice and to eliminate the participation of the deprived sections," he said.Gandhi said this was the difference between 'politics of symbolism' and 'real justice' and reflected the character of the BJP. He said Congress will never allow this to happen and will continue to fight for social justice. Vacant posts will be filled only with qualified candidates from reserved categories, the former Congress chief asserted.Addressing a press conference alongside Congress' SC Department chief Rajesh Lilothia, Chairman of Unorganised Workers and Employees Congress Udit Raj said after the Congress party protested against the "anti-people" move, the UGC was forced to issue a statement in the media that there is no such decision.  

BJP again crying CAA for votes: Mamata after Union Ministers guarantee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday saying that the party has again started crying "CAA CAA" for the sake of votes as Lok Sabha elections are approaching."We have fought against the NRC. Rajbanshis are citizens of India. They have again started shouting CAA, CAA for the sake of votes," Mamata Banerjee said at a public distribution program in West Bengal's Cooch Behar on Monday.Banerjee's remarks came after Union Minister Shantanu Thakur said on Sunday that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented across the country in a week.The West Bengal Chief Minister said that her government has acknowledged all colonies as "permanent addresses," and all residents who get the benefit of various state government benefits are citizens of the country."All of you are citizens. We have given permanent addresses to all colonies. They get ration, go to school, get scholarships, get Kisan Bandhu, Shikhashree, Oikoshree, Laxmir Bhandar. How could they get these benefits if they had not been citizens? Had they been able to cast votes if they were not citizens?" Banerjee questioned. Hitting out at the central government for misusing central agencies, Banerjee said, "Do you remember the Sitalkuchi case? The CISF has earlier shot four people to death. They shoot people as if they are zamindars. If anyone oppresses you in your village, fire an FIR first. They instil fear and conduct elections through agencies."Various reports have claimed that four people were killed in West Bengal's Sitalkuchi after being fired by CISF during the assembly elections in 2021.Accusing the BJP of misusing the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation, to harass political opponents, Banerjee said, "They call leaders and say that if you do not come with us, we will send ED to your houses. What will the ED do? What will the CBI do? They are here today by they may not be there tomorrow." The CAA, introduced by the Narendra Modi government, aims to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants - including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians - who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. Following the passage of the CAA by Parliament in December 2019 and its subsequent Presidential assent, significant protests erupted in various parts of the country.    

Newly formed Nitish Kumar-led govt holds its first cabinet meeting in Patna

The newly formed Nitish Kumar-led goverment in Bihar held its first cabinet meeting in Patna on Monday.After a dramatic volte-face, ditching the Mahagathbandhan and the opposition bloc INDIA and forming a new government with the BJP, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, along with eight ministers--three each from the BJP and the JD-U, one from HAM and one independent--took oath on Sunday.Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the ninth time at Raj Bhavan on Sunday after snapping ties with "Mahagathbandhan".Among the ministers sworn in were Prem Kumar (BJP), Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Vijay Kumar Chowdhary and Shrawan Kumar (JD-U), Santosh Suman (HAM-S and son of Jitan Ram Manjhi) and Sumit Kumar Singh (Independent).Alongside Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, took the oath as Deputy Chief Ministers Despite turbulence in state politics, Nitish, whether with the Mahagathbandhan or the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has managed to retain the CM's chair and ensured that his party has not split over his repeated flip-flops.In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD has 79 MLAs; followed by the BJP's 78; the JD(U)'s 45' the Congress's 19, the CPI (M-L)'s 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)'s four seats, and the AIMIM's one, plus one Independent legislator.Nitish Kumar, after parting ways with the BJP in 2022, took on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the national election.In 2000, Nitish became CM for the first time after campaigning against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's 'Jungle Raaj'. Till now, he has been Bihar's CM on eight occasions.In 2013, Nitish broke ranks with the NDA after a 17-year alliance following the announcement of Narendra Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.He expressed his displeasure to the BJP over Modi's selection as the PM face, and after the BJP decided to not change its decision, Kumar left the alliance.    

3 CRPF personnel killed, 14 injured in Naxal attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh

At least three CRPF personnel, including two commandos of its elite jungle warfare unit CoBRA, were killed and 14 others injured in an encounter with Naxalites along the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh on January 30, police said.Among the three slain personnel, two belonged to the CoBRA’s 201st battalion and one to the CRPF’s 150th battalion, a senior police officer said.Three personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including two from the specialised Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), were killed in an encounter with Maoists on the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. Tekulagudem village, where Tuesday’s encounter took place, was also the site of another encounter in 2021 that left 23 soldiers dead.Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting with stakeholders in Raipur on Left Wing Extremism (LWE), where he said the Maoist menace should end in the next three years. The incident took place hours after a new security camp was established in the village, which is 616 kilometres from state capital Raipur. On Republic Day, the Indian Tricolour was hoisted for the first time in the Sukma-Bijapur area.After setting up the new camp, a joint team of the CoBRA, the Special Task Force (STF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was conducting anti-Naxal operations in Jonaguda-Aliguda area when Maoists opened fire at the personnel, taking advantage of the forest cover.The security personnel fired back, following which Maoists ran away and took cover in the forest. The injured personnel have been airlifted to Raipur for treatment. The three deceased were identified as constables Deven C and Pawan Kumar from the CoBRA 201 and constable Lambdhar Sinha from CRPF battalion 150. The CoBRA is a specialised force under the CRPF to combat extremists and insurgents in guerrilla/jungle warfare operations.January has also seen five alleged Naxals, including two women, being killed in encounters in the state. A six-month-old girl had also died in cross-firing during an anti-Naxal operation.      

IndiGo’s Delhi-Baku flight takes off without ATC clearance

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has off-rostered two IndiGo pilots after the airline’s Delhi to Baku flight allegedly took off on Monday night without clearance from the air traffic controller.Sources at Indira Gandhi International Airport said that IndiGo’s 6E 1803 from Delhi to Azerbaijan’s Baku at 7:38 p.m. on Monday took off without a departure clearance from the air traffic controller.The pilots of an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Baku have been removed from flying duty with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) investigating whether they took off without the required air traffic control (ATC) clearance.The flight to the capital of Azerbaijan departed at around 7:38 pm on January 29.IndiGo said the incident is currently under investigation and appropriate action will be taken as necessary. This comes amid a series of incidents in recent days involving IndiGo and the action taken against the airlines by aviation bodies. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) had imposed a fine of Rs 1.2 crore on IndiGo after passengers were seen sitting on the tarmac and eating food while waiting for their delayed flight.Around the same time as the tarmac incident, a frustrated passenger was also caught on camera hitting the pilot of an IndiGo flight while the latter was making an announcement regarding delays.Other passengers, including actor Radhika Apte, have been sharing their harrowing experience with IndiGo for the past several weeks as they slam the airlines over cancellations, unreasonable delays and not meeting the standards.    

AAP slams BJP for ‘cheating’ to win Chandigarh mayoral polls

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday alleged that “cheating has been done in broad daylight” in the Chandigarh mayoral polls, and called it “extremely worrying”. He slammed the BJP over its candidate’s victory in a post on X in Hindi, and said “those who did it can go to any extent in the national elections”. “The way cheating has been done in broad daylight in the Chandigarh mayoral polls is extremely worrying. If they can stoop so low in mayoral elections, they can go to any extent in the national elections. This is extremely worrying,” said Kejriwal.BJP’s Manoj Sonkar was declared the Mayor of Chandigarh on Tuesday after he won the mayoral polls with 16 votes against the 12 votes bagged by the Congress-AAP candidate Kuldeep Tita. Eight votes were declared invalid, which led Opposition leaders to raise allegations of rigging. Ruckus followed after Sonkar took the mayor’s seat. As protests broke out against the presiding authority, Anil Masih, marshals were called in to control the situation.Opposition councilors alleged there was tampering with the ballot papers at the elections, a charge rubbished by the BJP. Voicing the same concerns, Punjab Chief Minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann said that it was a “Black Day for India’s democracy.” “Today will be written and remembered as a ‘black day’ in the democracy of our country. Unfortunately, this is the same month when we celebrate Republic Day. Today, the Constitution has been shredded. The manner in which the Chandigarh mayor election was ‘looted’ by the BJP before the media, in front of the cameras… They did this in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and northeastern states before this. So, this is their old habit…” Mann was quoted as saying by ANI.Stating that it was for the first time in the Chandigarh mayoral elections that eight out of the 36 votes were declared invalid, AAP MP Raghav Chadha alleged that “this shows that if the BJP can use all illegal tactics for a mayoral election, what would they do during the Lok Sabha elections”.He also questioned if the “BJP wanted to turn India into North Korea”. “For the first time in the Chandigarh mayoral elections, eight out of the 36 votes were declared invalid. Congress & AAP alliance had to get 20 votes. We got 12 votes & 8 were declared invalid. Not a single vote of the BJP was declared invalid…,” he was quoted as saying. “…This shows that BJP for a mayor election can use all illegal tactics. What would they do during the Lok Sabha elections seeing their loss.