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AAP must leave its headquarters by June 15th, per a Supreme Court order.
The Aam Aadmi Party of Arvind Kejriwal will have to leave its headquarters, which are located on a plot of land designated for the High Court. The good news is that you still have until June 15 to act. The Supreme Court gave the party a long deadline because of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, emphasizing that this is an encroachment case. The party may now submit an application for alternative land to the Land and Development Office of the Center.The bench, which included Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, stated, "We would request the L&DO to process the application and communicate its decision within a period of four weeks." The bench continued, "AAP has no legal right to remain on the land." The Delhi High Court was granted land in February to expand its operations and build more courtrooms for the Rouse Avenue location. The court had noticed that the AAP was intruding on this land. When considering a case involving the nation's judicial system, the highest court took notice of the issue.The state government promised at a meeting on February 15 that the plot would be removed in two months if a substitute plot was provided, in response to a court order. However, the situation remained unchanged. According to India's Chief Justice, DY Chandrachud, nobody has the authority to impose law on others. "It is absurd for any political party to sit on it. Every intrusion will be eliminated... The land should be given to the High Court so that it can be utilized by the general public and citizens, Justice Chandrachud stated.
Published 04 Mar 2024 05:31 PM
Article 21: The Constitutions Soul, with Citizens Liberty Supreme
According to the Supreme Court, Article 21 is the essence of the Constitution because it protects citizens' rights to liberty, which are so valuable that a person would lose them if the high court takes too long to decide cases pertaining to it. Amol Vithal Vahile, a prime accused in the murder of a corporator in Maharashtra, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on January 29 following prodding from the top court, according to a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta.In a recent ruling, the bench stated that it is evident that prior to this court's order being issued on January 29, 2024, the high court had dismissed the bail application on one or more grounds rather than considering it on its merits.It goes without saying that Article 21 of the Indian Constitution is its core because it upholds the fundamental right to liberty for all citizens. It stated, "Depriving the party of their precious right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India would mean not reaching a quick decision and brushing off the issue on one or the other basis pertaining to a citizen's liberty." The bench stated that it has encountered numerous cases from the Bombay High Court in which the applications for bail and anticipatory bail were not resolved promptly. The bench mentioned one instance where the application for anticipatory bail was pending for over four years. "We have also encountered many cases where the judges find an excuse to reroute the case on unrelated grounds rather than rendering a decision based on the merits of the case. As a result, we ask the chief justice of the Bombay High Court to communicate our request to all judges who have criminal jurisdiction so that the issue of bail and anticipatory bail can be decided as soon as possible," the bench stated.It requested that the Supreme Court's Registrar (Judicial) forward this directive to the High Court's Registrar (Judicial), who will present it to the Bombay High Court's chief justice. The bench stated on January 29 that, despite the fact that Vahile had been detained for more than seven years, on March 30, 2023, the high court had ordered him to appear before the trial court for regular bail.
Published 02 Mar 2024 06:02 PM
India Receives Its Second Space Port, Excitement for Rocket Startups
Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for India's second launch site, Kulasekharapatnam, which is situated in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. This will significantly advance the nation's spacefaring endeavors. The new launch pad has the small rocket community in India, including ISRO and startups, giddy with anticipation for more efficient small rocket launches.Up until now, all rockets used to launch satellites into orbit were launched from the nation's single spaceport, which was located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. To date, India has launched 95 rockets from Sriharikota, 80 of which have been declared successful. Renamed the Satish Dhawan Space Center, it began modestly in 1971 with the launch of a sounding rocket, the RH-125. The center is currently getting ready for India's human spaceflight project, Gaganyaan, to launch. Satish Dhawan Space Center has a distinct advantage—it is one of the world's southernmost rocket ports—but it also has a major disadvantage. The land mass of Sri Lanka presents a safety concern for rockets launching in polar or southerly directions because it keeps rocket debris from landing on foreign soil.In order to lessen this, ISRO has traditionally carried out a unique manoeuvre referred to as the "dogleg maneuver" in order to avoid Sri Lanka when conducting direct southward launches. Although there is a penalty for this maneuver, it can be tolerated for larger rockets with sufficient fuel, such as PSLV, GSLV, and LVM-3. But the advantages of using Sriharikota as the preferred launch site become clear as India gains proficiency in the launch of smaller rockets, such as the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which can carry satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms. According to an ISRO rocket specialist, it becomes almost impossible to launch small rockets from Sriharikota in polar or southern trajectories with payloads weighing between 500 and 700 kg. As a result, Kulasekharapatnam has been chosen as the second launch site to address these issues because of its expanding small rocket market.
Published 28 Feb 2024 05:29 PM
Survey Says RBIs Paytm Action Won Affect Merchants Trust
Merchants' trust in the payment platform is unaffected by the severe limitations the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) placed on Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL), according to a survey done. According to Datum Intelligence, a Gurugram-based provider of business consulting and services, 59% of retailers still use Paytm and don't think the government crackdown will have an immediate effect on their business. The business conducted a survey with 2,000 business owners in 12 cities who accept payments through Paytm apps. According to a press release from Datum Intelligence, it was done between February 7 and February 15. Survey Says RBI's Paytm Action Won't Affect Merchants' Trust According to a Datum survey, 76% of retailers accept payments through Paytm. Merchants' trust in the payment platform is unaffected by the severe limitations the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) placed on Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL), according to a survey done. According to Datum Intelligence, a Gurugram-based provider of business consulting and services, 59% of retailers still use Paytm and don't think the government crackdown will have an immediate effect on their business. The business conducted a survey with 2,000 business owners in 12 cities who accept payments through Paytm apps. According to a press release from Datum Intelligence, it was done between February 7 and February 15. According to the survey, 21% of retailers are awaiting additional information The fact that a Paytm representative contacted them following the RBI ruling is what gives retailers their confidence. "After being contacted by a Paytm representative, 71% of merchants feel comfortable continuing to use Paytm for payments. According to the Datum Intelligence survey, only 11% of respondents are less confident about using Paytm for payments, and 14% of respondents are still looking for more information."Overall, the impact is limited on the merchant business and Paytm is engaging with merchants to reduce the damage and merchants are also waiting before deciding on alternatives," it added.
Published 28 Feb 2024 05:01 PM
Government News
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JN shouldn't cause you to panic.One COVID-19 variation is Health Minister
"In response to the introduction of the new COVID-19 variant JN.1, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj urged Delhi residents on Wednesday to ""not panic."" He explained that although the strain is contagious, it is mild, with only a small number of patients requiring oxygen support. ""Take precautions, but don't panic—this [new variant] is not very dangerous. About 90% of patients are recovering while receiving treatment at home, Mr. Bharadwaj informed the media, noting that comorbidity patients were the focus of reports of deaths in other States."
For FY23, Unacademys revenue jumps 26% to Rs 907 crore while its loss cuts
The test-prep startup Unacademy reported that, despite constant layoffs at the company, its losses in FY23 decreased by 41% to Rs 1,678 crore. In FY23, employee-related expenses decreased by 28% to Rs 1,281 crore.The test-prep startup Unacademy reported that, despite constant layoffs at the company, its losses in FY23 decreased by 41% to Rs 1,678 crore. In FY23, employee-related expenses decreased by 28% to Rs 1,281 crore.In what was a difficult year for the startup environment, many modern businesses, like Myntra, ZestMoney, and Curefoods, reported stronger revenues for FY23, but their losses also increased.Revenue at Myntra rises to Rs 4,375 crore: The apparel retailer Myntra, which is owned by Flipkart, reported a 25% increase in operating revenue to Rs 4,375 crore in FY23, despite a 31% increase in losses to Rs 782 crore. The online fashion platform's largest expense, amounting to Rs 1,758 crore, was spent on advertising and promotional activities, representing a 35% increase over the previous year.Unacademy reduces losses to Rs 1,678 crore, or 41%: Unacademy, a startup providing test preparation, reported that its losses in FY23, which included several layoffs at the company, decreased by 41% to Rs 1,678 crore. The Bengaluru-based firm saw a 26% increase in sales to Rs 907 crore during the year, while costs associated with payroll decreased by 28% to Rs 1,281 crore.ZestMoney reports a loss of Rs 412 crore. ZestMoney, a troubled startup that has been searching for a buyer, declared a net loss of Rs 412.4 crore for the fiscal year 2023. On the other hand, while total expenses increased by 21% to Rs 662.2 crore, overall revenue for the buy-now-pay-later platform increased by 72% to Rs 250 crore.
Prime Minister Modi on Veer Bal Diwas: Sikh gurus taught Indians
Speaking on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Sikh gurus had inspired Indians to improve and develop their nation by teaching them to live for the beauty of their homeland. He was giving a speech at a ceremony called "Veer Bal Diwas" to honor the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh's two sons. According to PM Modi, their sacrifices are being honored not only in India but also around the world through initiatives in nations like Australia and the United States. We don't need to squander time or pause for a single moment. These lessons came from the gurus...We must live for the honor and glory of our nation. We must live for the benefit of the nation, PM Modi stated.
Karnataka LoP Arrested For Opposing Karsevak Shrikant Pujaris Arrest Regarding Babri Demolition
Legislative Assembly member and BJP leader R Ashoka was held by Karnataka police for allegedly inciting rioting following the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid. Ashoka had staged a demonstration against the state government over the detention of Shrikant Pujari. The BJP workers who have been protesting the arrest escalated their demonstration on Thursday by starting the 'I'm also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too' campaign.LoP Karnataka Legislative Assembly & BJP politician R Ashoka was taken into custody by the police, according to ANI. Along with party members, he was demonstrating against the state government over the detention of Shrikant Pujari, who was taken into custody for his alleged role in the rioting that followed the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid.LoP Karnataka Legislative Assembly & BJP politician R Ashoka was taken into custody by the police, according to ANI. Along with party members, he was demonstrating against the state government over the detention of Shrikant Pujari, who was taken into custody for his alleged role in the rioting that followed the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid.
2023s Military Innovations and What Defense Technology Can Expect in 2024
Amidst escalating geopolitical tensions worldwide, several nations, such as Russia and India, spearheaded military innovation in 2023. Sputnik India takes a look back at some of the most inventive weapons from the previous year. In 2023, a number of cutting-edge weapon systems made their debuts. Russia, in particular, used its most advanced defense hardware in Ukraine, where the Eurasian sovereign state was engaged in a special military operation against the forces of Volodymyr Zelensky, the leader of that country.India, a longstanding strategic ally of Moscow, was not going to lag behind in terms of military hardware as New Delhi expanded its stockpile in response to the Indo-Pacific region becoming as the center of attention for world geopolitics. It's interesting to note that in 2023, Indian armaments and ammunition production and exports reached a record high.India's Defence Ministry (MoD) reports that during the current fiscal year, the South Asian nation exported military equipment valued at INR 16,000 crore ($1.95 billion). The figures indicate a $360 million increase in exports compared to the previous fiscal year.Additionally, BJP officials informed the media that it is unlikely for the panel to accept requests from rival parties' defectors that they be appointed to prestigious posts in exchange for their allegations. Senior members of the saffron party gathered in New Delhi to plan for the impending parliamentary elections and the dedication of the Ram Temple in the Uttar Pradesh city of Ayodhya. These members included Federal Ministers Bhupendra Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnav, Chief Himanta Biswa Sarma of the Assam State, and general secretaries Tarun Chugh and Sunil Bansal.
A New Panel Is Formated by the BJP to Examine New Hires Before the 2024 Elections
With the new panel, the federally dominant BJP hopes to assess potential members' devotion in advance of the 2024 parliamentary elections. A new panel has been established by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to screen lawmakers from other parties who may want to join the party before the March–April 2024 general elections.The panel will determine whether to accept or reject the politicians who wish to join the party, according to media reports citing party sources. The BJP seeks to reduce the possibility of enlisting supporters who might turn against them if they are elected to the legislature. Only after receiving consent from the committee will anyone wishing to cross the floor be permitted to participate. It is anticipated that the committee will convene for the first time on January 6.
President Muizzu of the Maldives arrives in China for a closely monitored state visit
The visit to China by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu takes place against the backdrop of a diplomatic spat between India and the Maldives following remarks made disparagingly about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu landed in China on Monday and will stay for five days till January 12, according to an official announcement.During his visit, Muizzu is also expected to meet with business executives and senior Chinese government officials at the "Invest Maldives Forum," according to the presidency. China is currently the Maldives' biggest creditor; Male owes Beijing around $1.3 billion in debt obligations. Beijing is among the nation's largest investors and economic partners; in 2017, the two governments signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Maldives has also ratified the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is supported by Beijing.
Odisha is investing more than Rs 2,500 crore to help millet farmers with their income and way of life.
"On Thursday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that his government is investing more than Rs 2,500 crore to help the state's millet farmers with income and livelihood support. The Odisha Millets Mission was recently started by the state government in 2017 with the goal of restoring the cereal's ecosystem.Odisha has been the ""pioneer in designing a people-centric Millet Mission with focus on livelihood and nutrition of tribal communities"" , according to him. According to Patnaik, ""My government will make every effort to turn Odisha into a millet center of excellence and contribute to economic growth, wellbeing, and health of the people of Odisha."" He emphasized that Odisha is the first state to organize an international convention involving all the stakeholders, noting that the UN has declared 2023 to be the International Year of Millets. In the millet value chain, the chief minister commended the work of the Mission Shakti Women Self Help Groups (SHGs). These Self-Help Groups, operating under the name Millet Shakti, have demonstrated to the world the significant role that millet-based businesses can play in enhancing livelihoods. "
V Ramaswamy Resigns from the Presidential Race and Backs Trump Following Victory in the Iowa Caucuses
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who is Indian-American, withdrew from the 2024 US presidential contest today and declared his endorsement of Donald Trump following a lackluster showing in the Iowa Republican primary. Despite being relatively unknown in political circles when he entered the race in February 2023, Mr. Ramaswamy was able to attract the attention and support of Republican voters by emphasizing America first and holding strong views on immigration. His campaign strategy, in terms of both tone and policy, was very similar to that of the former president Trump. Mr. Ramaswamy aimed to reach out to the conservative support base that had helped Trump win earlier elections.Trump's victory in Iowa that same evening cemented his standing as the front-runner for the Republican nomination.Born in Ohio to Keralan immigrants, Mr. Ramaswamy became one of the surprise candidates in a Republican field still heavily influenced by Trump's name. But in the final days before the Iowa caucuses, Mr. Ramaswamy found himself under fire from Trump, who publicly attacked him, calling him a "fraud" on his social media platform Truth Social and saying that supporting the Indian-American represented siding with the "other side."
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.
India’s human capital being ‘systematically decimated’ under Modi govt: Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that the state of India’s human capital is being “systematically decimated” by the Modi government by lowering the spending on the social sector.“The Modi Government’s ‘anyay kaal’ spends less on education and healthcare,” he said in a post on X while tagging a report that the government’s expenditure on health and education has remained low in the last five years.“The state of India’s human capital is being systematically decimated by lowering social spending. Crores thrown on publicity cannot ensure ‘Viksit Bharat’. 2024 is the year to reclaim welfare and justice. We shall ensure Nyay,” Kharge said.The Congress has been targeting the Modi government on social sector spending and have accused the government of reducing their budgets. “The Modi Government’s ‘anyay kaal’ spends less on education and healthcare,” he said in a post on X while tagging a report that the government’s expenditure on health and education has remained low in the last five years.“The state of India’s human capital is being systematically decimated by lowering social spending. Crores thrown on publicity cannot ensure ‘Viksit Bharat’. 2024 is the year to reclaim welfare and justice. We shall ensure Nyay,” Kharge said.The Congress has been targeting the Modi government on social sector spending and have accused the government of reducing their budgets. PTI SKC NB. This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.New Delhi, Jan 30 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that the state of India’s human capital is being “systematically decimated” by the Modi government by lowering the spending on the social sector.
Star Health Insurance Q3 results: Net profit rises 37.5% to Rs 289.55 cr
The largest standalone health insurer, Star Health Insurance, posted a 37.5 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in net profit to Rs 289.55 crore during the third quarter of the financial year 2023-24, as compared to Rs 210.47 crore in the year-ago period, supported by healthy growth in premium and a fall in commissions expenditure.The net profit jumped by 131 per cent from Rs 125.30 crore in Q2 FY24.The new business premium of the company increased by 16 per cent (Y-o-Y) to Rs 3,605.81 crore from Rs 3,096.68 crore. The net investment income of the firm jumped 40.58 per cent to Rs 162.64 crore from the year ago.The net commission of the health insurer dropped 13.11 per cent (Y-o-Y) to Rs 349.85 crore from Rs 402.64 crore. The solvency ratio of the insurer rose to 223 per cent from 217 per cent. The minimum regulatory requirement is 150 per cent.The combined ratio, which is a measure of the profitability of the general insurer, increased to 97.30 per cent from 94.81 per cent in the year-ago period. A combined ratio of less than 100 is considered to be better; it indicates that the insurer is earning more through premiums as compared to claims paid and the operating expense incurred. Therefore, it is better for the company if the combined ratio is lower.The claims ratio of the company was 67.69 per cent, up from 63.75 per cent in Q2 FY24. The health insurance industry typically witnesses higher claims during the monsoon period due to rainy season-related diseases, whereas historically, insurance premium income is higher towards the end of the financial year considering the tax benefits available to policyholders.
Sebi returns IPO papers of Gretex Share Broking
Capital markets regulator Sebi has returned the draft IPO papers of Gretex Share Broking, a move that might delay the company's initial share sale.The proposed IPO is a combination of a fresh issue of 1.67 crore equity shares and an offer-for-sale (OFS) component of 30.96 lakh shares by selling shareholders.Proceeds from the fresh issue would be used towards working capital requirements and for general corporate purposes.The company filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in December 2023.According to an update on Sebi's website on Tuesday, the market regulator returned the company's DRHP on January 25 without giving reasons for the same. Gretex Share Broking is engaged in the business of market making and stock broking, underwriting capital markets issuances and depository participants of NSDL.Pantomath Capital Advisors is the sole book-running lead manager to the issue.Earlier this month, the markets watchdog returned the IPO papers of Stallion India Fluorochemicals.
AU SFB stock falls nearly 12 per cent on weak Q3 results
Shares of AU Small Finance Bank (SFB) tanked nearly 12% in intra-day trading on Monday, closing 11.5% down at Rs 626.80 apiece on the BSE after analysts downgraded the bank’s stock and target price due to weak Q3 results. While analysts at YES Securities downgraded the stock to “neutral” from “add” and cut price target to Rs 780 apiece from Rs 840 earlier, Emkay Global Financial Services has cut the target price from Rs 650 apiece to Rs 625 and maintained its “reduce” rating. Nuvama Institutional Equities and Kotak Institutional, meanwhile, have retained their “reduce” and “sell” rating, respectively. AU SFB’s fresh slippages were elevated in Q3 at Rs 403 crore, higher than Rs 349 crore in Q2 and Rs 231 crore a year ago. This resulted in its gross and net non-performing asset (GNPA, NNPA) ratio rising to 1.98% and 0.68% as on December 31 from 1.91% and 0.60% in Q2, respectively. Analysts at Emkay Global said the stress in the SFB’s credit card business is on the rise. Separately, the bank has counter-intuitively cut down its specific provision coverage ratio (PCR) to 66% amid rising stress, which it believes will need to be shored up and, thereby lead to higher loan loss provisioning going ahead. AU SFB’s overall advances stood at Rs 67,624 crore as of December 31, of which the wheels segment accounted for Rs 20,375 crore and credit card exposure was at Rs 2,740 crore. The proposed merger of Fincare SFB with AU SFB, the brokerage said, will be return on asset (RoA) positive but managing human and tech integration and Fincare’s micro finance portfolio will be an “arduous” task.
Today at 11 AM, Pariksha Pe Charcha: "PM Modi looks forward to seeing you all."
Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow at 11 am for 'Pariksha Pe Charcha'! On X, PM Modi had posted. Pariksha Pe Charcha is a component of the broader 'Exam Warriors' initiative, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which aims to establish a stress-free atmosphere for adolescents.The 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' is a meeting of exam warriors that the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, excitedly anticipates.Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of the Union highlighted on Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Pariksha pe Charcha' project, which has helped students become more self-assured, learn how to handle stress, and maintain good health and fitness.January 29 (ANI): Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday emphasized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Pariksha pe Charcha" program, which has improved students' self-confidence, assisted them in managing stress, and helped them stay healthy and fit."Pariksha pe Charcha" is now a recognized national occasion. The next generation of young people eagerly awaits PM Modi's advice on how to relax amid exams. As a guardian, PM Modi launched a program to offer advice to students in order to raise their spirits. Within the Mandapam will be three thousand students. A vast number of pupils will have digital connections. Parents, teachers, and children totaling 2 crore 25 lakh have registered for the event this time," he stated.He announced that Bharat Mandapam will host the 7th edition of "Pariksha pe Charcha," adding that the program has grown to become a nationwide platform for students to reduce stress. It's scheduled for Monday at 11:00 AM. PM Modi said on 'X': "Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow at 11 AM for 'Pariksha Pe Charcha'!"Pradhan went on to say that by participating in this project, the younger generation would feel more confidence. "This is starting to gain popularity. It appeals to the younger generation. The pupils can't wait to see it. Prime Minister Modi stays informed. He clarifies in layman's terms. Students may now de-stress here on a nationwide scale," he continued. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in response to the controversy surrounding de-reservation in faculty appointments, stated that no faculty seat can be de-reserved by any institute and that the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Act 2019 leaves no room for ambiguity in faculty appointments.He claimed that prior to 2019, there was no legal requirement for keeping the roster up to date, but that all changed with this act. He declared, "There is no room for de-reservation in faculty appointments following the 2019 Act. There's no room for doubt. The roster cannot be altered by anyone."He described the action as decisive, saying that it reflects PM Modi's dedication to the welfare of marginalized groups in society that the government, led by him, has taken this official and decisive step to guarantee that no seat may be de-reserved. He emphasized that the 2019 Act, which replaces all prior rules, must be followed by every institution. (ANI)
