Arvind Kejriwals first roadshow following his release on bail will be held by PM Modi in Bengaluru.

A number of political and athletic events are scheduled to take place in India, including PM Modi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other leaders' nationwide campaigns for the Lok Sabha. In addition, today at the Bharat Mandapam, the Arbitration Bar of India will be established, with Union Ministers S. Jaishankar and Ashwini Vaishnaw attending as Chief Guests. View the main May 11 events listed below.Today, PM Modi is scheduled to campaign in Odisha and Bengal. He is also scheduled to attend a public meeting in Balangir. He will then travel to West Bengal, where he would spend the next two days campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.The prime minister will be in the Howrah district on May 11 to support the twin party candidates from the district, Arun Uday Pal Chaudhury from Uluberia and Rathin Chakraborty from Howrah, according to sources close to the BJP.Along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will embark on his maiden roadshow today in South Delhi following the granting of temporary bail in the Delhi Excise Policy case. Priyanka Gandhi, general secretary of the AICC, is scheduled to campaign in Telangana today for the Lok Sabha elections of 2024. She is scheduled to speak at public gatherings in Tandoor (in Chevella) and Kamareddy (in Zaheerabad).Arbitration Bar of India inaugaration.  

BJP MP Dilip Ghosh courts controversy with identify her own father jibe against Mamata Banerjee, TMC fumes

BJP MP Dilip Ghosh has courted controversy with his offensive remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee. Ghosh, in a personal attack, asked Banerjee to ‘identify her own father’.In a video that went viral, Ghosh is seen saying that ‘didi’ calls herself the daughter of whichever state she visits. When Didi (CM Mamata Banerjee) goes to Goa, she calls herself daughter of Goa. When she goes to Tripura, she says that she is the daughter of Tripura. She should first identify her own father," he said. TMC has filed a complaint with the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer against Ghosh for "passing derogatory and offensive comment personally attacking Mamata Banerjee, thereby violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC)" To this, the TMC said that Ghosh has ‘zero respect for women of Bengal’ and called him a disgrace ‘in the name of political leadership’. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the office handle of Trinamool Congress posted the video of  Ghosh and wrote: “Dilip Ghosh is a disgrace in the name of political leadership! From challenging the lineage of Maa Durga to now questioning the ancestry of Smt. Mamata Banerjee, he has wallowed in the filthiest depths of moral bankruptcy." “One thing is crystal clear: Ghosh has ZERO RESPECT for the women of Bengal, whether it be the revered goddess of Hinduism or the only woman Chief Minister of India," the post added.Dilip Ghosh is frustrated. The kind of statements that he has made against Mamata Banerjee - that she should first give an identity of her father - has never before been heard against a woman in this country," she said. Dev also contested that the ‘kind of statements’ that the BJP is making against the West Bengal CM, is against the politics and traditions of India. “For the past two days, the leaders of BJP have been giving long speeches against the insult of one of their women candidates. But the kind of statements BJP is issuing against the only woman CM of this country is against the politics and traditions of this country. BJP is frustrated in Bengal. It is losing. The more the BJP insults Mamata Banerjee, the more people will be with her." Slamming Ghosh for his remarks against Banerjee, the TMC leader claimed that his  ‘filthy thinking’ is that of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). “I would like to tell Dilip Ghosh that we know where this filthy thinking of yours against women comes from. This is RSS' thinking - that which is against women..." She also called the National Commission for Women (NCW) ‘hypocrite’ for being silent when the BJP insults Mamata Banerjee.  "The respect that the people of Bengal give Mamata Didi, she is considered the daughter of the country. You are insulting her again and again, and you get a befitting reply of this in 2024. I would like to tell the BJP leaders and NCW chief - you are so concerned about the woman candidate of BJP but people like you should be ashamed that whenever Mamata Didi is insulted by the BJP, you stay silent. This is your hypocrisy. Country would give you a reply for the same."  

48% of “entitled” MPLAD funds in Gujarat remained unutilised between 2019-24, says ADR

About 48 per cent of the total ₹442 crore that were to be spent as MPLAD funds in Gujarat between 2019 and 2024, remained “unutilised”, stated Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). “The Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme was started in December 1993. Between 2019 and 2024, the Covid pandemic had caused the scheme to be frozen for 1.5 years. Each MP was entitled to spend ₹17 crore instead of ₹25 crore in their respective constituencies. Thus the total entitled amount was ₹442 crore for the 26 MPs in Gujarat,” Pankti Jog, the state coordinator for Gujarat told businessline. All the 26 seats in the State belong to the BJP. “However, the 26 MPs together recommended works worth ₹354 crore, of which ₹269 crore worth of works were sanctioned and ₹220 crore funds were released by the Government of India. This allocated amount of ₹220 crore is just 49.77 per cent of the total entitled amount of the MPs. If MPs do not recommend work, then the government will not allocate more funds. The onus of recommending works within their constituency lies with the MP,” she said. The 26 BJP MPs incurred an expenditure of ₹230 crore (including interest) which is about 52 per cent of the entitled amount of ₹442 crore. Despite just ₹220 crore being released, the MPs failed to spend ₹31 crore which is about 13.5 per cent of the funds released by the government. According to the data shared by ADR, Union home minister Amit Shah’s constituency of Gandhinagar had the highest unspent balance of ₹3.54 crore, followed by Vinod Chavda of Kutch ( ₹2.35 crore of unspent balance), Devusinh Chauhan of Kheda ( ₹2.35 crore) Poonamben Madam of Jamnagar ( ₹2.19 crore) and Bharattsinji Dabhi of Patan ( ₹2.01 crore). “Each MP could have easily used ₹17 crore during these five years. However, they have spent less than this amount,” Jog said. Of the total sanctioned works in Gujarat, the highest –₹114.81 crore – has been spent on railways, roads, pathways and bridges. And ₹71.32 crore on “other public facilities.”  

PM Modi inaugurates modern hospital built with Indian assistance in Bhutan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay on Saturday inaugurated a modern hospital built with Indian assistance here which will be a shining example of India-Bhutan development cooperation.The Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk Mother and Child Hospital is a state-of-the-art 150-bedded facility that has been built with the assistance of the Government of India in Thimphu. "A boost to partnership in healthcare. PM @narendramodi together with PM @tsheringtobgay of Bhutan inaugurated the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital in Thimphu. The state-of-the-art hospital is a shining example of India-Bhutan development cooperation,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X. India has supported the development of the hospital in two phases. The first phase was constructed at a cost of ₹22 crore and has been operational since 2019. The construction of the second phase was taken up in 2019, as part of the 12th Five Year Plan at a cost of ₹119 crore, and was completed recently, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release. It said that the newly constructed hospital would add value to the quality of mother and child health services in Bhutan. The new facility will house state-of-the-art facilities for Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Anesthesiology, Operation Theatre, Neonatal Intensive Care and Pediatric Intensive Care. “The Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk Mother and Child Hospital stands as a shining example of India-Bhutan partnership in health care,” it added."Bhutan has been receiving a lot of support from India, especially in the health sector, starting from the three referral hospitals and also other health facilities,” Bhutan Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk told PTI Videos. “It is an honour for us to have Shri Narendra Modi here, inaugurating the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital," he said, adding that this hospital is purely dedicated to the mothers and the children of Bhutan. He added that there is a proposal for a cancer hospital which will come up on this campus only. “We are referring all the cancer patients to India. So after the completion of the cancer hospital, I think this will also enhance the tertiary care of health services in Bhutan,” he added. Modi, who arrived in Bhutan on Friday for a two-day State visit to further cement India's unique relations with the Himalayan nation, called on the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and held talks with Prime Minister Tobgay on Friday.He also announced that India will provide support of ₹10,000 crore to Bhutan over the next five years. Bhutan's King Wangchuck conferred the ‘Order of the Druk Glyalpo’ to Prime Minister Modi at a public ceremony here on Friday, making him the first foreign Head of the Government to receive the honour.The award recognises Prime Minister Modi’s contribution to strengthening the India-Bhutan friendship and his people-centric leadership. "It is with great humility that I accept the Order of the Druk Gyalpo. I am grateful to HM the King of Bhutan for presenting the Award. I dedicate it to the 140 crore people of India. I am also confident that India-Bhutan relations will keep growing and benefit our citizens," Modi wrote in a post on X on Friday night. India and Bhutan established diplomatic relations in 1968.The basic framework of India- Bhutan relations has been the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 between the two countries, which was revised in February 2007.  

Manorama Online CEO Mariam Mammen Mathew appointed DNPA chairperson

Mariam Mammen Mathew, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Manorama Online, has been appointed as the chairperson of the Digital News Publishers’ Association (DNPA) for a two-year term starting from April 1, 2024.She will be succeeding Tanmay Maheshwari, the Managing Director (MD) of Amar Ujala. Mathew served as the vice-chairperson during Maheshwari’s chairmanship. Expressing her gratitude, Mariam Mammen Mathew stated, “I am honoured to take on the role as chairperson of DNPA and contribute to the country’s digital media landscape. My main goal will be to amplify the scale, influence, and durability of digital news media entities. An integral part of this vision is embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to augment our capabilities and drive transformative change. Additionally, I am committed to nurturing a culture of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity within our organisation, which will play a pivotal role in reshaping the media landscape.”Puneet Gupt, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Times Internet, has been appointed as the new vice-chairman of DNPA, while Puneet Jain, the CEO of Digital HT Media, continues in his role as the treasurer. DNPA serves as a vital umbrella organisation for digital media businesses, including print and broadcasting, and comprises 18 prominent media organisations. These include Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, The Indian Express, Malayala Manorama, ETV, India Today Group, Times Group, Amar Ujala, Hindustan Times, Zee Media, ABP Network, Lokmat, NDTV, The New Indian Express, Mathrubhumi, The Hindu, Network 18 and India TV. Tanmay Maheshwari said, “Having served as DNPA chairman for two years, I was pleased to contribute to the endeavour of democratising India's digital news landscape. I am confident that Mariam Mathew will bring valuable insights to our shared mission.”.Sujata Gupta, the secretary general of DNPA, highlighted the organisation's efforts in making India’s digital news landscape increasingly equitable. “Through events and activities, DNPA seeks to safeguard the interests of India’s digital news media houses. During Tanmay Maheshwari’s tenure as chairman and under his guidance, we made significant strides in making India’s digital news landscape increasingly equitable,” said Sujata Gupta, secretary general, DNPA. DNPA’s endeavours to democratise the digital news space coincide with efforts by Indian regulators to ensure fairness in the operations of Big Tech platforms in the country, led by the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar.  

SC stays Centre’s March 20 notification establishing PIB ‘Fact Checking Units’ 

The stay will operate till third judge in the Bombay HC decides the question of validity of provisions of the Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a government notification of March 20 establishing the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Checking Unit (PIB FCU) to act as a “deterrent” against the creation and dissemination of fake news or misinformation regarding the “business” of the Centre. The order was passed by a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on petitions filed by the Editors Guild of India and stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra. The Bench said the implementation of the March 20, 2024 notification would remain stayed until a third judge of the Bombay High Court takes a final call on the validity of provisions of the Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.It is under this provision that the March 20 notification was issued. The case had gone to the third judge of the High Court following a split verdict by a Division Bench.The notification was issued by the Centre after the third judge found no reason to stay Rule 3 on March 11.The apex court did not comment on the merits or legality of Rule 3(1)(b)(v), saying the impact of the provision on the fundamental rights to free speech and expression would be analysed by the High Court. Appearing for Mr. Kamra, senior advocate Darius Khambata said the establishment of the FCU would result in “every social media intermediary pulling down content for fear of consequences”.“This will set a deep chilling effect on free speech,” he submitted.Mr. Khambata said the Centre setting up a FCU to protect the “business” of the Centre was like “Ceasar judging Caesar”. “Why not an independent unit? Why does only the business of the Central government need protection from misinformation and fake content?” Mr. Khambata asked.He said individuals need more protection from fake content than the state. Mr. Khambata informed the Bench that the Centre had assured the High Court on April 27 last year that it would not implement Rule 3 till a final decision was taken by the court. He pointed to the timing of the issuance of the March 20 notification barely days before the Lok Sabha polls were due to start. Advocate Shadan Farasat, for the Editors Guild, said the implementation of the FCU run by the government would ensure that only the Centre would have monopoly over the truth. “There will be a singularity of truth,” he said.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta referred to several instances in the past when fake news had proliferated on social media, causing harm and even violence. He said the statutory mechanism was found inadequate to combat the viral dissemination of false content.He said, except for a few petitioners, the social media intermediaries have not challenged the Rule.Mr. Kamra, in his petition, argued that the sweep of the Rule operated to “muzzle speech against the Central government”. “By threatening intermediaries with the loss of their statutory safe harbour should they fail to take down content that the Central government’s FCU identifies as fake, false or misleading, the Rule coerces intermediaries to execute a regime of self-interested censorship of online content relating to the business of the Central government,” the petition argued. It said the intermediaries, who were profit-making, commercial enterprises, would choose to bend rather than risk civil or criminal liability for third-party content on their online platforms.  

Indias solar waste could reach 600 kilotonnes by 2030, shows study

India's current installed 66.7 GW capacity (as of FY23) has already generated about 100 kilotonnes of waste, which will increase to 340 kilotonnes by 2030. This will include about 10 kilotonnes of silicon, 12-18 tonnes of silver, and 16 tonnes of cadmium and tellurium the majority of which are critical minerals for India, the study titled "Enabling a Circular Economy in India's Solar Industry: Assessing the Solar Waste Quantum" said.India's solar waste could reach a staggering 600 kilotonnes by 2030 equivalent to filling up 720 Olympic-size swimming pools according to a new study released on Wednesday. The study by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and independent think tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) said around 67 per cent of this waste will come from five states: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.Recycling solar waste to recover these materials will reduce import dependency and enhance India's mineral security. The study found that the rest of the 260 kilotonnes of waste will come from new capacity that will be deployed in this decade (from 2024 to 2030). The solar waste will increase to about 19,000 kilotonnes by 2050; 77 per cent of which will arise from new capacities, CEEW said, adding this is an opportunity for India to emerge as a leading hub of circular economy for the solar industry and ensure resilient solar supply chains. India plans to amass around 292 gigawatt of solar capacity by 2030, making solar PV waste management crucial for environmental, economic, and social reasons.The study, conducted under Niti Aayog's Action Plan for Circular Economy - Solar Panels, for the first time, estimates India-specific solar waste generation from various streams, excluding manufacturing. This information is crucial for creating data-driven waste management policies. India is already implementing several measures to tackle the waste. Last year, the environment ministry issued amended E-waste Management Rules 2022 bringing solar photovoltaic cells, panels, and modules under its ambit. These rules mandate the producers of solar cells and modules to manage their waste under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework. Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, CEEW, said, India must proactively address solar waste, not just as an environmental imperative but as a strategic necessity for ensuring energy security and building a circular economy. As we witness the remarkable growth of solar from only 4 GW in March 2015 to 73 GW in December 2023, robust recycling mechanisms become increasingly crucial. They safeguard renewable ecosystems, create green jobs, enhance mineral security, foster innovation, and build resilient, circular supply chains.  

UP govt aims to develop MSME export hubs to compete in global markets

The MSME department is working on a plan to promote 75 districts as potential export hubs for local industries to create jobs and contribute to the Rs 1 trillion dollar economy goal.The state government will develop local export hubs and nudge the e-commerce sector to double micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) shipments to Rs 3 trillion in two-three years, according to sources. The sector contributes 60 per cent to UP’s annual industrial output and is the leading employment generator after agriculture and allied activities.The state will invest in the promotion and online marketing of MSMEs, especially under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, to compete in the global markets. The sector played a vital role in attracting private investment in the state, said Rakesh Sachan, the state’s MSME minister. The MSME department will send officials to Tamil Nadu and Odisha to study the mechanism of raw material banks set up in these states for possible replication.However, these industries faced impediments to working capital, lack of marketing support, etc. In this regard, the UP government launched the ODOP scheme to revive traditional handicrafts and indigenous industries. Addressing a recent MSME programme in Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that when indigenous products gain traction, it is imperative to nurture and incentivise them with a robust platform to flourish in the market.  

States and Union Territories step on the gas to raise funds

Seventeen States & UTs are expected to cumulatively mop up ₹50,206 crore at an auction of State Government Securities (SGS) to be conducted by RBI on March 19 States & Union Territories (UTs) seem to be in a tearing hurry to raise monies before the close of FY24. This also comes in the backdrop of expectations that the Election Commission will announce general election dates shortly. Seventeen States & UTs are expected to cumulatively mop up ₹50,206 crore at an auction of State Government Securities (SGS) to be conducted by RBI on March 19. The amount that the States & UTs are collectively seeking to raise on March 19th is substantially higher than the ₹27,810 crore they had planned to mop up, going by the Indicative Calendar of Market borrowings. The amount that States and UTs are planning to raise on March 19th will also be the highest amount that they have raised at a weekly auction in FY24 so far. Twenty States and UTs had collectively raised ₹45,160 crore (the second highest amount raised in FY24) on February 27.Venkatakrishnan Srinivasan, Founder & Managing Partner, Rockfort Fincap LLP, said such a large weekly SGS auction size has not been witnessed before. States & UTs usually raise ₹35,000-Rs 37,000 crore, thereabouts at the weekly auctions conducted by RBI.The latest auction announcement also comes in the backdrop of the expected announcement of general election dates on Saturday. Meanwhile, the RBI conducted a variable rate repo (VRR) auction on Friday after a gap of eight days to infuse liquidity into the banking system amidst outflows expected due to direct and indirect tax payments. RBI received bids from Banks for drawing 7-day funds aggregating ₹76,560 crore against the notified amount of ₹75,000 crore. It allotted funds amounting to ₹75,001 crore at a weighted average rate of 6.65 per cent. Yield of the 10-year Government Security (7.18 per cent GS 2033) moved up about two basis points, with its price declining about 17 paise, in sync with rising US Treasury yields. Yield of this benchmark paper closed at 7.0644 per cent (previous close: 7.0401per cent), with its price closing at ₹100.775 (Rs 100.9425).  

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Amazon working with govt agencies to push MSME exports in India

Amazon India’s Global Trade Director Bhupen Wakankar talks to businessline about the company’s growth trajectory, partnerships with government and support provided to MSMEs Amazon Global Selling, the e-commerce giant’s export platform for micro, small and medium enterprises, is collaborating with the Ministry of Commerce and Director General of Foreign Trade to further accelerate sales from districts that have good export potential. “What we have done over the last two years is specifically start forming partnerships at all levels,” Bhupen Wakankar, Director, Global Trade, Amazon India, told businessline. It is collaborating with the central and state government, trade bodies, export promotion councils, and industry bodies such as CII and FICCI as well as logistics, service providers, banks and VCs for funding. Amazon India recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the commerce ministry to deepen engagement in the top 75 districts in the country that account for 80 per cent of its exports. It is also engaging with the DGFT which has an on-the-ground presence and thorough tie-ups with local export promotion councils. “We want to specifically drive awareness, and education of E-commerce exports. So we’re going to go at a district level, and leverage the infrastructure…”, he added. Amazon Global Selling currently has over 1.25 lakh exporters on its platform which has surpassed $8 billion in revenue since its launch in 2015 and is rapidly approaching its target of $20 billion by 2025. Exporters have access to over 200 countries through Amazon’s 18 international websites.  

Vedanta to appeal against SEBI order levying ₹78 crore penalty

Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta has decided to contest the SEBI order of levying a penalty of ₹78 crore on delayed dividend payments to Cairn UK Holdings (now Capricorn UK Holdings) Ltd (CUHL).The dividend payment to CUHL was withheld due to a tax dispute between Cairn UK and the Indian Government, and the dividend of ₹667 crore was deposited in an “unpaid dividend account” as per law. When Cairn UK reached a settlement with the Government in its tax dispute, all dues were cleared including the said dividend amount. Moreover, as per the settlement with the government, Cairn UK undertook the process to surrender its rights to claim interest on tax refund (arising on account of this dividend), said Vedanta in a statement on Wednesday. “There was absolutely no intent on the part of Vedanta to withhold the dividend payment from CUHL. Vedanta has paid out dividend of over ₹84,000 crore to shareholders in the last ten years.” it said. The amount of ₹667 crore is a very small amount in the context of the amount of dividend Vedanta pays, said the company. Vedanta will appeal the SEBI order before the appropriate forum, it added. Besides levying a penalty, the SEBI on Tuesday barred the firm’s entire Board, including Anil Agarwal’s brother Navin and daughter Priya, from accessing the capital market. Interestingly, in 2019, SEBI closed the complaint by CUHL after Vedanta said that the dividend was withheld due to an IT attachment of assets. However, CUHL had moved the Supreme Court in 2019 against the SEBI order. In 2022, the Apex Court ordered SEBI to initiate an enquiry and complete the same within a specific time frame. SEBI started hearing the case afresh and has now levied the penalty on Vedanta.  

Election Commission Confirms Receipt of Electoral Bonds Data From SBI

The State Bank of India (SBI) has furnished information on electoral bonds purchased and encashed since 2019 to the Election Commission of India (ECI).In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the ECI has confirmed receipt of the data from the SBI. “In compliance of Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions to the SBI, contained in its order dated Feb 15 & March 11, 2024 (in the matter of WPC NO.880 of 2017), data on electoral bonds has been supplied by State Bank of India to Election Commission of India, today, March 12, 2024,” the post reads. Yesterday, the Supreme Court rejected the bank’s plea for extra time till June 30 to furnish the details and asked it to do so by today, adding that it may proceed against the bank on grounds on wilful disobedience if the new deadline was not met. It also asked the ECI to make the details public on its website by Friday (March 15). When asked by reporters to confirm when it would upload the details onto its site, the ECI did not immediately offer a response.Electoral bonds are interest-free financial instruments that individuals or groups may use to make anonymous donations to political parties. But on February 15 this year, the Supreme Court said the bonds violated voters’ right to information and were thus unconstitutional. In its judgement, the top court gave the SBI time till March 6 to provide information to the ECI on the details of electoral bonds purchased since April 12, 2019. This data was to include the date the bonds were purchased on, their denominations and the names of who purchased them. The court also said ordered for data on every electoral bond encashed by political parties since that date to be furnished, including the date they were encashed on and the bonds’ denominations.Two days before the March 6 deadline, the SBI said it needed time till June 30 to furnish the data because it had to compile 44,434 sets of information from two ‘information silos’. However, the Supreme Court asked the bank what it had done since February 15 and pointed out that the bank already had the necessary information with it. Rs 16,518 crore worth of electoral bonds were sold from 2018 to the start of 2024, the government recently informed parliament. The ruling BJP has by far been the biggest beneficiary of the scheme.Of the total number of electoral bonds – worth Rs 12,008 crore – sold between 2017-2018 and 2022-2023, the BJP received nearly 55%, or Rs 6,564 crore.    

Anti-CAA Protests Erupt In Assam After MHA Notification

No sooner did the news spread about the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notifying the Citizenship (Amendment) Act – CAA – in Assam on Monday, March 11, protests erupted at several university campuses, including the Cotton University in Guwahati and the Dibrugarh University. According to news reports, students came out in dozens, shouting slogans to protest against the implementation of the CAA across the non-Sixth Scheduled areas of Assam. Student bodies like the All Assam Students Union (AASU) also came out on the streets in different parts of the state and burnt copies of the Act. AASU, which has been at the forefront of the anti-foreigner agitation since the 1980s which ended with the Assam Accord, announced a bandh in the state. AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya told reporters, “The CAA is not acceptable to us. The BJP government has today delivered the biggest blow to the Assamese people, our identity, and our culture. Our protest will continue.” The CAA nullifies the citizenship cut-off date of March 1971 as per the Accord. As per the Act, a Bangladeshi Hindu who had entered the state till 2019 is eligible for citizenship and can settle permanently in the north-eastern state. The two political parties which were born of the movement against the legislation – the Raijor Dal and the Asam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) –  announced a ‘hartal’ and urged the Assamese people to come out of their homes to register protest. AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi called March 11 “a black day for Assam” and condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments both at the state and the Centre for not heeding the Assamese people’s opposition to implementation of the the Act in the state. “This Act will crush the identity, land and cultural rights of the community,” Gogoi said on social media platform X (previously called Twitter). Accusing the BJP of seeking the votes of the Assamese community to protect their rights but ending up giving it the biggest blow, he said, “BJP’s leaders from Assam like Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswa Sarma failed to convince their central government to keep Assam out of the CAA … it is a black day for Assam … I urge people to get ready to fight this Act.”  

The Citizenship Law CAA is expected to become a reality today, four years after it was passed.

According to sources who spoke with NDTV on Monday afternoon, the Union Home Ministry may announce the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act later tonight. The CAA, which for the first time makes religion a citizenship test, was approved by Parliament in December 2019 in the midst of nationwide violent protests and strong opposition from opposition lawmakers and chief ministers of non-BJP states. These protests resulted in the deaths of over 100 people.Non-Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who arrived in India prior to 2015 may be granted Indian nationality by the government once it is granted. News agency ANI was informed by an unidentified official that "the regulations are prepared and an online portal is already set up... applicants can disclose year of entry without travel documents". There will be no need for any further paperwork, the official stated.This occurs less than a month after Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the CAA will be put into effect prior to the April/May Lok Sabha elections. "CAA is a national act; it will undoubtedly be informed. CAA will take effect prior to the election, so there's no need for confusion."Last month, Mr. Shah made an effort to downplay concerns that minority communities would be singled out by the combination of the controversial National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizens Act (CAA). "Muslim brothers of ours are being incited and misled." Citizenship by Assurance (CAA) is only intended for individuals who arrived in India as a result of persecution in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, or Pakistan. It's not intended to take away someone's citizenship."Along with passing resolutions against all three, the then-ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao called on the government to "remove all references to any religion, or to any foreign country" in Telangana, citing concerns voiced by thousands of people nationwide. A resolution was also passed by the Madhya Pradesh government, which was then ruled by the Congress. Interestingly, a number of state legislators and leaders of the BJP also opposed the legislation.

Supreme Court to Hematochal Pradesh Rebel MLAs Case on Tuesday

On Tuesday, the six rebel Congress MLAs from Himachal Pradesh will present their case to the Supreme Court. The MLAs had contested the Speaker's disqualification after they cast cross-party votes in the most recent Rajya Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh. The plea will be heard by a bench consisting of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Dipankar Datta, and Prashant Kumar Mishra. They were disqualified on February 29 by Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania for "defying" the Congress whip's mandate that they be present in the House and cast votes on the budget.In the Rajya Sabha election on February 27, the rebels had cast their votes in support of BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan. Cross-voting was the reason senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi lost the Rajya Sabha election.Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Devinder Kumar Bhutoo, Ravi Thakur, and Chetanya Sharma are the disqualified MLAs. The Himachal Pradesh assembly's effective strength decreased from 68 to 62 after their disqualification, and the number of Congress MLAs decreased from 40 to 34.An MLA was disqualified for the first time in Himachal Pradesh for violating the anti-defection law, which was designed to prevent defections. The Speaker declared on February 29 that the six MLAs would be removed from office due to their disobedience of the party whip and the anti-defection law. He declared that they were no longer House members, effective right away. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister filed the petition to remove them from office. Representing the rebel Congress MLAs, senior attorney Satya Pal Jain had claimed that they had only received the show-cause notice and not the copy of the petition or the annexure. Additionally, he emphasized that while responding to the notice was required to be done within seven days.Any elected member who willingly resigns from their political party, votes in the House, or abstains from voting in defiance of directives from their political party faces disqualification under the anti-defection law. The Speaker said that although the rebel MLAs had signed the attendance register, they had not voted on the budget. They received emails and notices via WhatsApp for disobeying the whip, asking them to come to the hearing.

Electoral Bond Details Readily Available; SBI Has Made Up Excuse For Not Complying

Former finance secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, who was economic affairs secretary when electoral bonds were first introduced, says that the State Bank of India needs “not more than a day” to make available the electoral bond information the Supreme Court has asked the bank to give to the Election Commission. Garg says “this information is readily available”, adding, “it is available at the click of a button”.In an interview to The Wire, Garg says that the State Bank of India has either deliberately misconstrued or failed to understand the simple nature of the six bits of information that they are required to give to the Election Commission and, instead, the bank claims that it has been asked to collate different bits of information which it was not asked to do. In other words, the bank has made the simple things required of it seem more complicated and long drawn out than is the case. This has given the SBI the basis on which to argue that it needs three and a half months more, pushing the deadline to June 30. Garg explained that the Supreme Court simply asked for six simple bits of information: who purchased the bonds, the date and the amount and also which party received the bonds, when they were encashed and the amount. This information is readily available. The electoral bond guidelines of 2018 themselves require that it should be given to any court when demanded and Justice Deepak Gupta has revealed that he was part of a Supreme Court bench which in 2019 ordered the bank to maintain such records. Garg also said he believes that in 2019 details of electoral bonds sold up to that date were given to the Supreme Court in a sealed envelope. At the time the bank did not need or ask for extra time. Why do they need extra time to give similar details for the period post 2019? Garg believes that by failing to meet the March 6 deadline set up by the Supreme Court, the State Bank of India is already guilty of contempt of court. In fact, the Association for Democratic Reforms has today filed a contempt case against the SBI. Has this become a test case for the SBI’s image and integrity? How embarrassed will the management of the SBI be today? What would be the impact if the bank is found guilty of contempt? Those are some of the other issues touched upon in this interview.  

Boost GI products as premium goods globally to boost exports: Experts

The government should promote GI (Geographical Indications) products like Kala namak, rice, and Nagpur oranges as premium offerings on the global stage to boost exports of these items as they hold huge potential in different countries, according to experts.They said that a key weakness of Indian GI products compared to similar international goods is the lack of strong marketing and global brand recognition.Many Indian GI products, despite their unique quality and cultural significance, are not as well-known internationally, Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) Founder Ajay Srivasatava said. He said that this is due to inadequate branding, promotional activities, and limited access to global markets.Additionally, issues related to consistent quality assurance and the efficient management of GI tags can also hinder the potential for Indian GI products to compete effectively on the international stage. "Strengthening these areas could significantly enhance the global presence and market value of Indian GI products," Srivastava said.Great Mission Group Society (GMGS), a non-government organisation that works on such goods, said there are thousands of products in India which can be categorised as GIs as they would benefit local communities and preserve the nation's heritage. Founder and Chairman of GMGS Ganesh Hingmire said the society has so far filed applications seeking GI tags for as many as 89 products and out of that 61 have been published or categorised. "I would like to suggest the government to take steps to fast track the process of granting GI tags to Indian goods," he said, adding that this would help increase the income of communities who are producing those items besides the country's boosting exports as such products hold huge potential in international markets.Measures that are there at present to promote GIs include promotional campaigns, participation in international fairs, quality enhancement measures, legal protection, and the exploration of e-commerce platforms to broaden market access. Financial and technical support is extended to GI producers for capacity building and marketing, fostering a conducive ecosystem for these goods.Srivastava said that steps like implementing strict quality control and establishing traceability systems to meet international standards; developing brand identities and targeted marketing strategies for specific markets; using online marketplaces for wider accessibility; and encouraging partnerships between the government, industry bodies, would help boost exports of these items.Once a product gets this tag, any person or company cannot sell a similar item under that name. This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed. The other benefits of GI registration include legal protection for that item, prevention against unauthorised use by others, and promoting exports. A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory. Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin.  

Scrap 5% Customs duty on newsprint to manage operation cost: INS to govt

The Indian Newspaper Society has urged the government to scrap the five per cent Customs duty on newsprint to allow publishers to manage their operational costs more effectively.In a statement, the INS said a combination of factors affecting the price and availability of newsprint -- geopolitical uncertainties, logistics, rupee depreciation and Customs duty -- have created a formidable burden for publishers in the country. The escalations in the conflict in West Asia, as well as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, have significantly affected the global supply chain, including for newsprint, the organisation said in its statement issued here on Monday. The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) urgently appealed to the government to reconsider the imposition of five per cent Customs duty on newsprint. "This measure, if withdrawn, would provide much-needed relief to the print media industry, allowing publishers to manage their operational costs more effectively and ensure the continued dissemination of credible news and information to the public," INS president Rakesh Sharma said in the statement. It said the Red Sea issue, where cargo ships are being continuously targeted, has further exacerbated the situation, leading to disruptions in the transportation of essential commodities, including newsprint. Resultant, the newsprint suppliers are cancelling the earlier confirmed orders of the publishers, the statement said.Many newsprint mills in India and across the world have either suspended or ceased their operations, causing concerns about the supply of newsprint in India.The declining value of the Indian rupee has compounded these challenges and added "pressure on import-dependent industries like the print media sector", it said. "The fluctuating currency exchange rates contribute to the rising costs of importing newsprint, thereby straining the financial viability of newspapers and publications," the INS statement said."It is pertinent to mention here that survival of print media industry is crucial for the largest democracy of the world, as we not only serve as a vital medium for disseminating knowledge and information at low and affordable costs to the common public but also contribute significantly to the Government's communication efforts, informing citizens about policies and social welfare programs," it said.The INS said in an era of widespread online misinformation, print media retains a commendable level of trust and credibility, distinguishing itself through reliable editorials, comprehensive reporting, and widespread readership.