Amit Shah announced on Saturday the 10th of February 2024 that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented before the Lok Sabha Election. Moreover, he said there is no provision to remove anybody’s citizenship in this act. He clarified that CAA is not a law to take away citizenship from anyone.
Amit Shah said in the Times Global Business Summit.
Amit Shah said our Muslim brothers are being misled, being provoked. CAA is only to give citizenship to those who have come here after facing persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. This is not a law to take away anyone’s Indian citizenship. Furthermore, Amit Shah said it was the promise made by the Congress to give citizenship of India to minority groups in Pakistan and Bangladesh during the partition. Moreover, the congress not only forgot their promise but also misled Muslims in India.
The Home Ministry official gave a big statement regarding the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He said that the rules of CAA will be notified much before the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
What is the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed in India in December 2019, is a complex and controversial piece of legislation that has sparked much debate. Here’s a neutral overview of the Act:
What it does:
Amends the Citizenship Act of 1955 to provide a faster track to Indian citizenship for undocumented immigrants who belong to six specific religious minority groups (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) from three neighbouring countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan).
These immigrants must have entered India before December 31, 2014, and faced religious persecution in their home country.
The Act does not offer the same expedited pathway to Muslims from these countries. Moreover, this has been a major point of contention.
Arguments in favour of CAA:
Proponents argue that the CAA provides refuge to persecuted marginalized groups who face religious discrimination in their home countries.
They see it as a humanitarian gesture and an acknowledgement of India’s historical role as a haven for those fleeing religious persecution.
Arguments against CAA:
Critics argue that the CAA discriminates against Muslims by excluding them from its provisions, violating India’s secular constitution.
They fear it could be used in conjunction with the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Furthermore, NRC is a proposed nationwide registry of Indian citizens. Moreover, it is to disenfranchise Muslims and other minority groups.
The CAA has also been criticized for being poorly drafted and potentially creating a two-tiered system of citizenship.
Current status of CAA:
The CAA has been challenged in the Supreme Court of India, but a final verdict is still pending.
The implementation of the Act, including the accompanying NRC, has been put on hold due to the legal challenges and ongoing protests.
It’s important to note that the CAA is a complex issue with deeply divided opinions. This summary aims to provide a neutral overview. However, it’s crucial to explore different perspectives and engage with diverse sources to form your own informed opinion.
Amit Shah said in West Bengal
In a closed-door meeting with members of the West Bengal BJP’s social media and IT wing at the National Library in Kolkata, Amit Shah said it is the party’s commitment to implement the CAA.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) has now become the law of the country. No one can stop it from being implemented. He accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of misleading people on this issue. He said that we have to work to form the BJP government in the next assembly elections in West Bengal. The BJP government will stop infiltration, end cow smuggling and provide citizenship to those persecuted based on religion through CAA.
Furthermore, Amit Shah has said that BJP will win more than 35 seats in West Bengal in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh and MS Swaminathan were declared Bharat Ratna by PM Modi on X. Political experts say that the Modi government has solved many equations in different states. Let us know how and which equations have been solved through these personalities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the award of Bharat Ratna to three personalities by tweeting on Friday. These include farmer leader and former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, Congress leader and former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and agricultural scientist Dr MS Swaminathan. Earlier on January 23, it had been announced to give Bharat Ratna to former Chief Minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur and on February 3, former Deputy Prime Minister of the country Lal Krishna Advani.
In the election year, many political meanings are being made out of giving the country’s highest civilian honour to five personalities one after the other. Political experts say that the Modi government has solved many equations in different states. Let us know how and which equations have been solved by BJP through these personalities.
1 Chaudhary Charan Singh (Former Prime Minister)
Chaudhary Charan Singh is being recognized as the messiah of the farmers. The award of Bharat Ratna to Charan Singh may impact the Jat-dominated seats of Western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi in the next Lok Sabha elections. Moreover, it is believed that Jat Voters are influencing 40 Lok Sabha seats in these areas.
There has been speculation for the past several days about Chaudhary Charan Singh’s grandson and Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary joining the BJP. After Charan Singh was given Bharat Ratna, Jayant tweeted, ‘Hearts won.’ If Jayant Chaudhary goes with BJP then BJP can benefit a lot in Western Uttar Pradesh.
Moreover, Jayant Chaudhary is presently associated with the Samajwadi Party an alliance of I.N.D.I.A. Thus this step may weaken the alliance. Furthermore, Nitish Kumar has already left this alliance and Mamta Banerjee may leave this alliance.
2 PV Narasimha Rao (Former Prime Minister)
The opposition continued to allege that Prime Minister Modi always criticizes the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his attitude towards former Prime Ministers of Congress is critical. A day earlier, Prime Minister Modi had praised former PM Dr Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha. The PM said that Manmohan Singh Ji kept coming to the House even in a wheelchair and kept giving strength to democracy.
The next day, it was announced to give Bharat Ratna to PV Narasimha Rao. The announcement of posthumously awarding Bharat Ratna to PV Narasimha Rao is also a befitting reply to the opposition. Furthermore, the BJP has been continuously alleging that Congress always ignored Rao’s contribution as Prime Minister. Even Mani Shankar Aiyar, a staunch critic of Modi, had once called Rao the first Prime Minister of BJP.
3 Dr MS Swaminathan
Dr MS Swaminathan’s achievements as a scientist have been unmatched. Apart from this, his personality has also been representing the talented people of South India. Posthumously awarding Bharat Ratna to Swaminathan can further strengthen the Modi government’s strategy to woo the South. Swaminathan was the father of the agricultural revolution. Awarding him Bharat Ratna is being seen as the BJP’s strategy to woo the South as well as the farmers in the North.
4 Lal Krishna Advani
Lal Krishna Advani has been a strong leader of the BJP and a big face of the Ram Mandir movement. By giving the Bharat Ratna to Advani after the consecration of the Ram Mandir on January 22, the BJP gave a message to its voters. BJP was being accused of neglecting Advani, one of the big faces of the temple movement. Even when the temple was consecrated, the opposition raised this issue. Within 10 days of the consecration of the Ram Mandir, the BJP snatched this issue from the opposition by giving Bharat Ratna to Advani. Along with this, a message is been given to traditional voters about respect for senior leaders.
5 Karpoori Thakur (Former Chief Minister of Bihar)
This year, it was first announced to give Bharat Ratna to Jannayak Karpuri Thakur. The former Chief Minister of Bihar was a hero of social justice. Experts say that this step of the Center can help BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Furthermore, the share of backward and 36% extremely backward classes in Bihar is 27%. Karpoori Thakur has a huge impact on society with overall participation of 63%. This class sees him as their hero.
Karpoori Thakur’s son Ramnath Thakur is a Rajya Sabha MP of JDU. Just eight days after Karpoori received Bharat Ratna, BJP and JDU once again came together. Furthermore, the parties of Chirag Paswan, Pashupati Kumar and Jitan Ram Manjhi were already partners of NDA.
Altogether, in such a situation, based on new political equations, the BJP is considering itself very strong in Bihar. It is being said that by giving Bharat Ratna to Karpoori, the BJP has worked to solve the political equation of Bihar. Moreover, now senior leaders of the party have started claiming to win all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the upcoming elections.
6 multi-tracking Indian Railways projects were approved by the cabinet yesterday on the 8th of February 2024. Out of these 6 railway projects, 3 will be beneficial for Rajasthan.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved six projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total estimated cost of approximately Rs. 12,343 crore. The projects are to be funded 100% by the Central Government. The purpose of multi-tracking is to reduce congestion and improve infrastructure development on the busiest sections of Indian Railways.
The projects align with the vision of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji for a New India. The vision is to empower the people of the region to become “Atmanirbhar” through comprehensive development. Furthermore, this will enhance their employment and self-employment opportunities.
Six projects are underway, covering 18 districts across six states in India. These states are Rajasthan, Assam, Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Nagaland. These projects will increase the existing Indian Railways network by 1020 kilometres. Moreover, it will provide employment opportunities to approximately three crore people across these states.
The PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan has led to these projects. This will result in multi-model connectivity that seamlessly moves people, goods, and services through integrated planning.
Railways Projects details
The following is the detail of the 6 projects of Indian Railways approved by the cabinet
S.No
Name of Section
Length in Kms
Estimate Cost ( Rs)
State
1
Ajmer – Chanderiya
178.28
1813.28
Rajasthan
2
Jaipur – Sawai Madhopur
131.27
1268.57
Rajasthan
3
Luni – Samdari – Bhildi
271.97
3530.92
Rajasthan and Gujrat
4
Agthori-Kamakhya with new Rail cum Road Briedge
7.062
1650.37
Assam
5
Lumding-Furkating
140
2333.84
Assam and Nagaland
6
Motumari-Vishnupuram and Rail over Rail at Motumari
88.81 and 10.87
1746.20
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
These routes are crucial for transporting essential commodities. These are food grains, fertilizers, coal, cement, iron, steel, fly ash, clinker, limestone, POL, containers, and more. Furthermore, by increasing the capacity of these routes, an additional 87 million tonnes of freight can be transported per year. Additionally, Railways are an eco-friendly and energy-efficient mode of transportation. Moreover, it can help achieve climate goals, minimize logistics costs, reduce oil imports, and lower CO2 emissions.
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill was passed in the Uttarakhand assembly by voice vote at around 6 pm yesterday on the 7th of February 2024. After the approval from the governor and President of India, the Uniform Civil Code bill will become a law.
After day-long discussions on the bill during which opposition members demanded to send the bill to a standing committee. Moreover, they demand that this committee examine certain provisions like registration of live-in relationships.
The ruling BJP has a clear majority in the assembly. It has 47 members. BJP also has the support of some independent MLAs. Therefore the BJP was sure to pass the uniform civil code bill.
Before that, the Uttarakhand government had constituted a committee of experts under the leadership of a retired Supreme Court judge in May 2022. The government issued a notification on 27 May 2022 and the terms were notified on 10 June 2022. On February 4, the Uniform Civil Code Bill was approved by the Uttarakhand Cabinet. After that the Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand 2024′ bill was introduced in the Uttarakhand Assembly.
What is the Uniform Civil Code
The Uniform Civil Code aims to replace personal laws based on religion or community with a common set of civil laws governing matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. Furthermore, the uniform civil code bill passed in Uttarakhand has 7 schedules and 392 sections.
The Bill is divided into 13 Chapters, with each further divided into sections. Here’s a high-level overview of some key sections:
Preliminary:
In the first chapter of the Uniform Civil Code bill
Section 1 defines the short title, commencement, and extent of the Bill.
Marriage and Matrimonial Remedies:
Sections 3-9 deal with conditions for a valid marriage, void and voidable marriages, and registration of marriages.
Sections 10-32 cover grounds for divorce, procedures, and related aspects.
Section 33 addresses maintenance during legal proceedings.
Section 34 specifies rights to permanent alimony and maintenance.
Adoption and Guardianship:
Sections 35-42 layout rules for adoption, including conditions, procedures, and rights of adopted children.
Sections 43-52 define guardianship principles and procedures.
Maintenance and Inheritance:
Sections 53-67 establish rights to maintenance for various dependents.
Sections 68-114 detail rules for inheritance, including property division among family members, bequests, and wills.
Incidental Proceedings:
Sections 115-128 cover miscellaneous legal procedures related to the Bill’s implementation.
Savings and Repeals:
Section 129 clarifies that existing personal laws based on religion or community will be saved for specified matters like religious customs and rituals.
Sections 130-132 address repeals of conflicting provisions from other laws.
Important Note:
It’s crucial to remember that the Bill is still in its preliminary stages and details might change before becoming law. Moreover, the final structure and contents of the schedules and sections may differ from the current draft.
What does the Uttarakhand UCC Bill entail?
The bill applies to all citizens of Uttarakhand except the Scheduled Tribal group. It includes provisions for:
Equal property rights for sons and daughters
Elimination of distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children
Equal property rights after death
Registration of live-in relationships and rights for children born from them
Ban on polygamy, Halala, and Iddat
Uniform grounds for marriage and divorce
What about marriage in the Uniform Civil Code Bill?
Part 1 of the Bill deals with marriage and divorce. Whereas in Part 2, place has been given to marriage and divorce registration. Some laws allow polygamy. Since second marriage is a crime for Hindus, Christians and Parsis. Moreover, there is a provision of punishment of seven years. That’s why some people change religion to marry again. After the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), polygamy will be banned. Important provisions for this are:
The Uniform Civil Code clearly defines the minimum age of marriage for all, in which the age of the young man should not be less than 21 years and the age of the girl should not be less than 18 years.
In this code, the parties to marriage, i.e. between whom marriage can take place, have been clearly stated. Marriage can take place only between a man and a woman.
In this code, second marriage is completely prohibited if the husband or wife is alive.
Now, after divorce, a woman cannot be bound by any kind of conditions to marry the same man or any other man again. If any such matter comes to notice, then there is a provision of three years imprisonment or a fine of one lakh rupees or both.
After marriage, if any of the married couple changes religion without the consent of the other, then the other person will have full right to seek divorce and claim maintenance.
Registration is Mandatory
Registration of marriage will now be mandatory. To simplify this process, it will now be possible to register them at Gram Panchayat, Nagar Panchayat, Municipality, Municipal Corporation and district and state levels. To make the process easier, there will also be a web portal that can be visited to complete the registration process.
The religious/social rituals of marriage between a man and a woman have not been touched upon in this code. That is, whatever method those people have been using to get married, such as Saptapadi, Ashirwad, Nikah, Holy Union, Anand Karuj or other such traditions, they will be able to solemnize the marriage based on those prevalent traditions.
What is in the Uniform Civil Code about Divorce?
The government said in the Assembly that due to the non-implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, the mother power has suffered the most loss so far. Men took advantage of the weak laws and continued practicing polygamy, Uttak etc.
Once the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, the cases pending in the court will also be resolved soon. The Uniform Civil Code will improve the condition of Muslim sisters. Muslim women will also get the right to adopt a child.
All religions in the country have different personal laws. After the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, there will be uniform laws for all religions. But apart from the points included in the Uniform Civil Code, the beliefs of any religion have not been tampered with.
Many social evils flourish under the cover of religious customs. This includes slavery, devadasi, dowry, triple talaq, child marriage or other practices. The Uniform Civil Code guarantees the elimination of all these social evils.
What will be the rules regarding live-in relationships?
In the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that in a democratic country like India, the issue of live-in relationships is related to consent versus established social moral norms. Necessary laws have been made and protected to protect the rights of every citizen in the country, but a balance between rights and social order is also necessary. That is why the Government of Uttarakhand has recommended adopting a balanced approach to live-in relationships in the Uniform Civil Code.
There is a provision in this Act for a couple living in a live-in relationship. The girl must be 18 years of age or older. The boy’s age must be more than 21 years of age. Moreover, both will have to get a registration done for identification before living in a live-in relationship. It will be mandatory for both the boy and girl to inform their parents about this registration.
The Uttarakhand government has made registration mandatory in cases of live-in relationships so that such couples do not face any legal hurdles in getting a house on rent or other identification requirements.
What about Succession in the Uniform Civil Code Bill?
Presenting the bill in the Assembly, Chief Minister Dhami said that there has been a wide discrepancy or variation in the rights of succession to property or will in the effective and prevalent systems. For example, in most of the provisions, the mother, spouse and children have rights in the property of the deceased, but the father has not been given the right. Similarly, there is inequality based on gender among the children of the same person. Married and unmarried daughters also have different rights.
The Uniform Civil Code provides for a share in the property of the deceased to the parents. Its provision has been made in the Explanation of Section 49 and Category-1 of Schedule-2. Widespread inequality between sons and daughters in property rights is being removed.
This bill is to remove the differences in succession and daughter’s rights in the Hindu Succession Act, Indian Succession Act and Shariat Act. It provides equal rights to all the children of a person. After centuries, we are going to give concrete shape to the principle of equality between sons and daughters in the right to inherit property.
Rights of Children in the Uniform Civil Code
The Uniform Civil Code has served to secure children’s rights to dignity and property.
In the Uniform Civil Code, a child born out of any relationship has been defined in Section 3 (1-A). While on the other hand, in Section 49, children born in any manner are given equal rights in property.
The Uniform Civil Code is going to deprive the murdered son of his property rights. This provision has been made in Section 58 of the Code. Now a person will stay away from the heinous and heinous crime of murder to inherit property.
Section 3 (1-3), 3 (3-A) and Chapter 2 of the Uniform Civil Code provide that a person can voluntarily bequeath all the property acquired by any means to any person. Moreover, he can change the will during his lifetime or even take it back if he wishes.
Bluesky is a new and innovative microblogging social media platform that is just like X (formerly Twitter). Moreover, it is gaining traction from users. Furthermore, it has come out of its beta version and is now open to the public.
A beta version of a social media platform is an early, incomplete version of the platform that is released to a limited group of users for testing and feedback. The purpose of a beta test is to identify and fix bugs, gather feedback on the features, and make sure the platform is stable and usable before it is released to the general public.
I joined it two months back through an invite. I enjoyed it just like I enjoy other social media platforms. If you wish you may contact me. Click Here
Bluesky a new social media platform
Bluesky is designed to be more open and decentralized than traditional platforms like Twitter or Facebook. Furthermore, it is a microblogging social platform and a public benefit corporation based in the United States. Although It is still in its early stages of development, it has already attracted a lot of attention from users and developers alike.
Here are some of the key features of Bluesky that make it different from other social media platforms:
Bluesky is Decentralized:
It is different from other social media platforms. Bluesky is a social network that is not owned or controlled by any single entity. It is built on a decentralized protocol that allows users to create their social network. This means that users have more control over their data and experience on the platform.
Bluesky is an Open Source:
The code for Bluesky is open source, which means that anyone can inspect it and contribute to its development. This helps to ensure that the platform is transparent and accountable.
User-controlled moderation:
Users have more control over what they see on Bluesky than on other platforms. They can choose to follow specific accounts, block others, and create their moderation lists.
Focus on content:
Bluesky is designed to be a platform for sharing content, rather than just for connecting with friends. This means that it is a good place to find interesting and informative articles, videos, and other media.
More about Bluesky
Bluesky was founded by Jay Graber, and its board of directors includes Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and XMPP creator Jeremie Miller. It is currently in open beta, which means that anyone can sign up for an account. However, it is still a work in progress, and some features are not yet available. The Bluesky team is working on several new features, including the ability to follow hashtags and topics, as well as the ability to create and join communities.
Bluesky is still under development, but it has the potential to be a major force in the social media landscape. If you are looking for a more open and user-controlled social media experience, then it is worth checking out. Overall, Bluesky is an interesting new social media platform that is worth checking out if you are looking for something different from the usual suspects.
Bharat Rice is launched to provide relief from rising prices. Launching the subsidized rice available in 5 kg and 10 kg packs, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal said the government is striving to ensure that daily food items are available to the common people at affordable rates. The government on Tuesday launched Bharat Rice at a concessional rate of Rs 29 per kg. This step has been taken by the government to provide relief to consumers after the 15% increase in grain prices in the last few days.
Launching the subsidized rice, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal said “Wholesale intervention (steps taken to control prices) were not benefiting many people, so retail intervention under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) was introduced”.
Prices of tomatoes and onions came down due to the government’s efforts.
Piyush Goyal said that to provide relief to middle-class consumers and those below poverty, rice under the ‘Bharat Brand’ will be sold at the rate of Rs 29 per kg in the retail business. Moreover, for every kg of ‘Bharat Rice’, there will be 5 % broken rice. Goyal said the government’s efforts have helped in bringing down the prices of tomatoes and onions sharply.
Goyal said, ‘Ever since we started selling ‘Bharat Atta’, there has been zero price rise for wheat in the last six months. Additionally, we will see the same effect in Bharat Rice. Moreover, the minister emphasized that the prices of commodities going on the plates of middle-class people are quite stable. Goyal said that the government is active in providing daily needs at affordable rates. He also flagged off 100 mobile vans selling ‘Bharat Rice’ and distributed 5 kg packs to five beneficiaries.
Where and at what price is Bharat Rice available?
FCI will provide 5 lakh tonnes of rice to NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar in the first phase.
FCI
Food Corporation of India is the full form of FCI. Furthermore, it is a statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
The FCI’s functions include:
Buying food grains and other foods from farmers at a minimum purchasing price
Operating in five zones across India
Ensuring food security for the country
Recruiting a large number of young people every year
NAFED
NAFED is the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India. It is a marketing cooperative for agricultural produce in India. Furthermore, it is controlled by the Minister of Agriculture of the Government of India.
It is registered under the Cooperative Societies Act and is one of the largest procurers and marketing agencies for agricultural products in India.
NCCF
NCCF stands for National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India. Moreover, it’s the apex body of consumer cooperatives in India. The NCCF is the top body of consumer cooperatives in India.
NCCF’s main objectives are to:
Promote the consumer cooperative movement in India
Support consumer cooperatives and other distributing agencies
Provide technical guidance and assistance to consumer cooperatives
Facilitate the voluntary formation and democratic functioning of cooperatives
Help cooperatives function based on self-reliance and mutual aid
Help cooperatives achieve overall economic betterment and financial autonomy
Kendriya Bhandar
Kendriya Bhandar is a cooperative society that sells groceries, consumer items, stationery, and office equipment. Furthermore, it was established by the Central Government of India as a welfare project for employees and the public. Kendriya Bhandar’s head office is in Delhi and it has several branches across India.
Objectives of the Kendriya Bhandar are to:
Obtain, distribute, and market food, essential commodities, and other consumer goods at reasonable prices.
Supply grocery and consumer items to hotels, hostels, hospitals, canteens, and guest houses.
Offer credit facilities to regular customers by opening credit accounts.
Some say that Kendriya Bhandars offer 28–30% cheaper prices than large retail stores.
These agencies will further pack the rice in 5 kg and 10 kg packs and retail through their outlets under the ‘Bharat’ brand. Bharat Rice will also be sold through e-commerce platforms.
The government expects ‘Bharat Rice’ to be as popular as ‘Bharat Atta’.
The government started retail sales of Bharat Rice. Because it was not getting encouraging results on selling rice at a flat rate to bulk users through the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS).
Now the government is hopeful that like Bharat Atta, ‘Bharat Rice’ will also get a good response. Bharat Atta is being sold through the same agencies at the rate of Rs 27.50 per kg and ‘Bharat Chana’ at Rs 60 per kg.
Sharing his personal experience, Goyal said that he has started using ‘Bharat Dal’ and ‘Bharat Atta’ and both are very tasty. Moreover, he said, “I have now bought ‘Bharat Rice’. This will also be of good quality. In response to a question related to the pricing of Bharat Rice, Goyal said that it has been analyzed accurately. Furthermore, this is an active government.
Despite export restrictions and bumper production in 2023-24, retail prices of rice are still not under control. Hence, the government has asked retailers, wholesalers, processors and large retail chains to disclose their stocks to prevent hoarding.
Ministers of State for Consumer Affairs Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and Ashwini Choubey, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh and Food Corporation of India (FCI) CMD Ashok K Meena were present at the event to launch Bharat Rice, among others.
Paytm wallet is going to close on the 29th of February as per the RBI instruction. Now, Paytm is also on the radar of the Enforcement Directorate. A case of money laundering has come to light in Paytm. The Reserve Bank of India has sent this information from the Home Ministry to the Prime Minister’s Office. In such a situation, now the Enforcement Directorate can investigate the matter.
A big fraud has come to light in fintech company Paytm. Here more than a thousand accounts are linked on one PAN account. Many more such accounts have come to light in the audit by the Reserve Bank of India and the auditors. Following this, all kinds of restrictions have been imposed on Paytm with immediate effect. Indian agencies also suspect money laundering. In such a situation, the Enforcement Directorate i.e. ED can also intervene. Reserve Bank of India has tightened its noose due to suspicious transactions worth crores of rupees.
1,000 accounts on 1 PAN Number
An investigation has found that more than a thousand users were added to one PAN number. Such accounts can be used for money laundering. RBI has now sent this information to the Enforcement Directorate, Home Ministry and Prime Minister’s Office. In this regard, Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra has now stated that if any evidence of illegal activity is found then the Enforcement Directorate will investigate the matter.
What is going to be stopped on Paytm?
Reserve Bank of India has banned Paytm from accepting any money after 29th February. Along with this, orders have also been given not to accept any top-ups. Now money cannot be deposited even in a wallet and FastTag. RBI has said that Paytm rules were being violated. Due to this, concerns have increased considerably. Earlier on March 11, 2022, PPBL was stopped from adding new customers.
What to do with Paytm balance
There is no restriction on withdrawing money. Reserve Bank of India has clearly said that there is no restriction on withdrawing the balance from its accounts including Paytm’s savings bank account, current account, prepaid medium, Fastag, and mobility card. However, you can’t add money to these accounts after 29th February 2024.
If you have a certain amount in your Paytm wallet or Fastag you have these option
1 You can spend money even after the 29th of February 2024 but you can add money to the wallet.
2 Transfer money to your account in any bank other than Paytm Bank. Moreover, you can transfer it to other people’s bank accounts including me. HAHAHA
3 Fastag balance can be used after the 29th of February till you have the balance amount.
4 UPI payments will be continued if your account is linked with another bank even after the 29th of February. If not yet linked then link with your account if you want to continue with Paytm. Otherwise, you can choose another company UPI such as BHIM, Phonepe or Google Pay.
Paytm has 35 crore e-wallets.
Paytm has about 35 crore e-wallets. Out of this, 31 crores are inactive. Four crores are active with no money or very little money. In such a situation, there is a possibility of inactive accounts being used for fake accounts. Major irregularities have been found in these accounts. Furthermore, these accounts were found incomplete and incorrect in compliance with bank rules.
Due to this step of the Reserve Bank of India, Paytm’s share has fallen by 40 % in just two days.
Lal Krishna Advani is being honoured by the prestigious Indian award Bharat Ratna. The Modi government at the Center has decided to give Bharat Ratna to the country’s former Deputy Prime Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given this information by posting on X (Twitter). PM Modi said I am very happy to inform you that Lal Krishna Advani ji will be honoured with Bharat Ratna. One of the most respected politicians of our times and his contribution to India’s development is unforgettable.
Reaction from Leaders on Lal Krishna Advani Bharat Ratna
BJP leaders have expressed their pleasure in giving Bharat Ratna to Lal Krishna Advani.
Lal Krishna Advani and Bharat Ratna are trending on X. Every leader of the BJP has given congratulations and expressed happiness. Congress’s top leaders didn’t express anything on X. Although Akhilesh Yadav president of the Samajwadi party critized it in an interview with a news channel.
Not only the leaders but also the Karyakartas and users are delighted with this news. One of the users wrote that Lal Krishna Advani, who played a major role in Ram Mandir, will get Bharat Ratna…this is a good step. Another user said we have brought Bharat Ratna for those who have brought Ram. Jai Shri Ram.
Although a few have posted against Lal Krishna Advani receiving Bharat Ratna by remembering Babri Masjid.
Brief about Lal Krishna Advani
Lal Krishna Advani is an Indian politician who served as the 7th Deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004. He is one of the co-founders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Advani was born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, British India, in a Sindhi Hindu family. He was educated at St. Patrick’s High School, Karachi, and D.G. National College, Hyderabad, Sindh. His family migrated to India during the partition of India and settled in Bombay, where he graduated in Law from the Government Law College of Bombay University.
Lal Krishna Advani Political Career
Lal Krishna Advani joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of 14 and was actively involved in the organisation’s activities. He also worked as a journalist for several years. In 1951, he joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the political arm of the RSS, and quickly rose through the ranks. He became the president of the Jana Sangh in 1973.
In 1980, the Jana Sangh was dissolved and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was formed. Advani became the first president of the BJP and played a key role in building the party into a major force in Indian politics. He served as the president of the BJP on multiple occasions and also led the party in the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian Parliament) for many years.
Advani was the Home Minister of India from 1998 to 2004 and played a key role in the Vajpayee government’s initiatives, including the launch of the Kargil War and the India-Pakistan peace process. He was also the Deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004.
Advani was the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in the 2009 general election, but the party lost to the Indian National Congress. He retired from active politics in 2015.
He is admired by his supporters for his commitment to Hindutva, the ideology of Hindu nationalism, but he is also criticized by his opponents for his role in the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.
Bharat Ratna Awards during the Modi Government
A total of 7 people have been given Bharat Ratna honour so far during the 10-year tenure of the Modi government. Modi government has given Bharat Ratna to people including staunch Congressman. These include freedom fighters, senior politicians, great musicians and staunch Congressmen. However, 4 out of these 7 people were given this honour posthumously.
1. Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya
In the first year of his government, Prime Minister Modi announced giving Bharat Ratna in 2015 to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. He made an incomparable contribution to the freedom movement and was the founder of Banaras Hindu University. However, this honour was given to him posthumously.
2. Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee:
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Immediately after the formation of the central government in 2014, gave the Bharat Ratna in 2015 to Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the former Prime Minister of India. However, due to being ill, then President Pranab Mukherjee gave him this honour at his residence in Delhi.
3. Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh
Nanaji Deshmukh was an Indian social worker. He was formerly a leader of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. In 1977, when the Janata Party government was formed, he was included in the Morarji cabinet. But he rejected the ministerial post saying that people above 60 years of age should stay out of the government and do social service work. He was given Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2019 for his social service.
4. Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika
Bhupen Hazarika was a versatile lyricist, composer and singer from the north-eastern state of Assam in India. Apart from this, he was also an Assamese language poet, filmmaker, writer and well-versed in the culture and music of Assam. Moreover, he was a unique artist of India who wrote, composed and sang his songs. He was given the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2019.
5. Pranab Mukherjee
The Modi government at the Center honoured Pranab Mukherjee, a staunch Congressman and the thirteenth President of India, with the Bharat Ratna on 26 January 2019. Moreover, he was one of the senior leaders of the Indian National Congress. Additionally, he had been the Finance and Home Minister in the United Progressive Alliance government led by the Indian National Congress. Later he became the President of India.
6. Karpoori Thakur:
Modi government announced giving the Bharat Ratna to anti-Congress socialist leader and two-time Chief Minister of Bihar, Karpoori Thakur on January 25 this year. Moreover, the demand for giving Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur has been going on for a long time. However, he too was given this honour only posthumously.
7. Bharat Ratna Lal Krishna Advani:
It has been decided to give Bharat Ratna to the former Deputy Prime Minister of the country and senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Lal Krishna Advani. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has given this information by tweeting. Furthermore, only three people can be given Bharat Ratna in a year. And two are already been announced.
Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundry case last night after a long query for around 7 hours. In the custody of ED, he went to the governor’s house to resign as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
Furthermore, after the resignation of Hemant Soren, Champai Soren submitted his claim to form the government in Jharkhand to the governor. Champai Soren submitted a letter of support from 47 MLAs. The governor said that he would inform Champai Soran about his decision after studying the letter. After the governor’s approval, Champai Soran will become the next Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
How Hemant Soren got arrested
ED has sent 10 summons to Hemant Soren but he avoided the enquiry for the charges against him. On the 29th of January, he was in Delhi and ED officials went to his house in Delhi for enquiry. But he didn’t reach to his house. On the contrary, he hides himself in an unknown place to avoid enquiry. Probably He was anticipating his arrest. It is a surprise that the investing agencies can’t find a Chief Minister with Z+ security.
As per the media reports he was trying to contact the BJP leaders to stop his arrest. But when every effort was in vain he went back to Ranchi probably by road. As his chartered plane was there in Delhi. ED seized a BMW car and 36 lakhs rupees cash from his house in Delhi.
After the hideout of around 36 hours, Hemant Soren appeared in Ranchi on the 30th of January.
Hemant Soren appeared in Ranchi
He agreed to face the enquiry of ED at his residence on the 31st of January. Furthermore, he has given the time of yesterday noon. After the enquiry, ED took Hemant in custody yesterday night at around 9 PM.
Hemant Soren is the third CM of Jharkhand who is arrested
Before Hemant Soren, two such leaders of Jharkhand have been arrested, who were once the Chief Minister of the state. These include the names of Hemant Soren’s father Shibu Soren and the veteran leader of Jharkhand Madhu Koda.
After arrest of Hemant Soren
Before his arrest, Hemant Soren had a meeting on the 30th of January with MLAs at his residence. AS media reports, his agenda was to make his wife Kalpana Soren the next Chief Minister.
Kalpana Soren
Previously Lallu Prasad Yadav has done in Bihar by making Rabdi Devi as Chief minister of Bihar. But probably MLAs didn’t accept this. Kalpana Soren also attended the meeting of MLAs. Despite she is not an MLA. Then Hemant Soren called another meeting in the evening. He also planned the strategies after his probable arrest.
Champai Soren will be the next Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has taken this step after the decision of the resignation of Hemant Soren. Champai is said to be a close relative of Hemant Soren. Champai was holding the responsibility of cabinet minister in the current government. Apart from JMM, Congress was also an ally of the government. This will happen after the confirmation from the governor.
Who is Champai Soren?
Champai Soren
Champai Soren is a member of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. Presently he is the MLA from Seraikela Assembly seat from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Party. As a Cabinet Minister, he was holding the responsibility of Transport, ST and SC and Backward Classes Welfare Department in the Hemant Soren government.
When the demand for a separate Jharkhand state from Bihar was being raised, Champai’s name remained in the news a lot. Along with Shibu Soren, Champai also participated in the movement in Jharkhand. Only after this people started calling him ‘Jharkhand Tiger’.
Champai was elected to the Jharkhand Assembly for the first time in 2005. After this, he became MLA in 2009 also. He held the responsibility of Minister of Science and Technology, Labor and Housing from September 2010 to January 2013. He was the Cabinet Minister for Food and Civil Supplies and Transport from July 2013 to December 2014.
Champai Soren was elected to Jharkhand Assembly for the third time in 2014. He became MLA for the fourth time in 2019. Along with this, he became the Minister of Transport, ST, SC and Backward Class Welfare in the Hemant government.
India Budget 2024 session of Parliament starts today with the President’s address in the joint session of Lok Sabha-Rajya Sabha. President Draupadi Murmu, in her detailed speech lasting one hour and 13 minutes, outlined the policies and vision of the government. After this, following the parliamentary system, the Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed briefly in English.
President’s Speech during India Budget 2024 Session
She said this is her first address in the new Parliament building. The magnificent building was constructed at the beginning of “Azadi ka Amrit Kaal”. Moreover, it serves as a testament to India’s civilization and culture. It represents the commitment to establish new traditions for the new India of the 21st century. She is confident that this new building will witness productive dialogue on policies that will shape the development of ‘Viksit Bharat’ in the Amrit Kaal of our independence. Furthermore, she extended her best wishes.
This year is the 75th anniversary of our Constitution’s adoption. During this time, the Amrit Mahotsav celebration of 75 years of independence was completed with many programs held nationwide. She outlined the work done successfully during this period
During her address in the India budget 2024 session, she highlights the achievements of her government. She highlighted that India is the first country to hoist its flag on the southern pole of the Moon. Furthermore, she talked about the infrastructure developed in India. Moreover, she appreciated the achievements of players in the Olympics and Para Olympics games. She also elaborates on the various law amendments by her government.
Over the past decade, India has completed numerous tasks in the national interest, which the citizens had been waiting for decades. Such as Ram Mandir, Article 370, Triple talaq, CAA, one rank one pension and appointed Chief of Defence staff. Furthermore, she said, “Since childhood, we have been hearing the slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’. Now, for the first time in our lives, we are witnessing the eradication of poverty on a massive scale”.
The Finance Minister will present the India Budget for 2024
Nirmala Sitaraman will present the interim India budget 2024 tomorrow. The government will present the Economic Survey before the interim budget. The report of the Privilege Committee will also be presented in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the case of MPs accused of ruckus and indecent conduct in Parliament.
Under Article 112 of the Indian Constitution, the government presents the Union Budget in Parliament before the beginning of every financial year. A budget is a document related to the income and expenses of the government in a financial year. This financial year starts on 1 April every year and ends on 31 March of the next year.
General elections are to be held this year, so this time it will be an interim budget. This time the budget presented by the government will be only to meet the government expenses till the coming of the new government. The full budget for the financial year 2024-25 will be presented in July by the new government elected after the general elections.
Citizens are expected to get relief as Lok Sabha elections are near. At the same time, the session lasting till February 9 can be turbulent. The opposition can corner the government on various issues.
All Party Meeting Before India Budget 2024 Session
An all-party meeting was held on Tuesday with leaders of all parties of India before the budget 2024 session in Parliament. All parties were invited by the Center for the meeting. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi held a meeting with leaders of all parties of both houses. This meeting was held in the Parliament Library.
Before the meeting began, TMC MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Sukhendu Shekhar Ray met Union ministers Pralhad Joshi and Arjun Ram Meghwal. Apart from him, MDMK MP Vaiko attended this meeting.
Interesting facts of the India Budget
1 First Budget
The first budget of independent India was presented on 16 November 1947. It was introduced by the country’s first Finance Minister RK Shanmukham Chetty. Although in a way it was a review report of the Indian economy. When the country’s first budget was presented, income up to Rs 1500 was tax-free in the country. Now it is Rs 7 lakhs.
2 Married and unmarried people had to pay different taxes
In 1955, to increase the population, for the first time in the country, separate tax-free incomes were kept for married and unmarried people. Married people did not have to pay any tax up to Rs 2000. At the same time, for bachelors, this limit was only Rs 1000.
3 Tax of Rs 97.75 was levied on every Rs 100 earned.
India had the highest tax rate in 1973-74. At that time the maximum rate of income tax collection was made 85 percent. Including the surcharge, this tax rate reached 97.75%. Out of every Rs 100 earned at an income of Rs 2 lakh, only Rs 2.25 went into the earner’s pocket. The remaining Rs 97.75 was kept by the government.
