The government today said it will launch awards under the Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana in 100 cities over 100 days on December 25.

The first draw of the Lucky Grahak Yojana to provide a cashback of Rs 1,000 to 15,000 consumers every day for the next 100 days will be launched on December 25, 2016 in New Delhi, the Niti Aayog said in a statement.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of Electronics & IT Ravi Shankar Prasad will inaugurate the first draw of lots in Delhi.

To create awareness in different parts of the country, this event would be followed in 100 different cities across India over the next 100 days until March, Niti Aayog said.

Winners will be selected on a daily and weekly basis under the Lucky Grahak Yojana and weekly basis under the Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana respectively, leading up to a mega draw on April 14, 2017, thereafter the scheme shall be reviewed for further implementation.

With the goal of ensuring that easy and user-friendly methods of digital payments become a mass movement in India, the government had announced a slew of incentives to encourage general public to move from cash to a digital platform, it added.

Thus discounts will now be given for payments made on a digital platform at petrol stations, for insurance premium, tolls at national highways and for railway tickets.

The statement further said to reduce transaction costs of digital payments several fees and charges being levied so far by banks and on various government portals have either been reduced or done away with. -- PTI

JUST IN: India beat Sri Lanka by 34 runs to lift the ACC U-19 Asia Cup title for the third consecutive time.

Altogether Rs 100 crore were found to have been deposited in 500 Jan Dhan accounts in the banks in western Madhya Pradesh post-demonetisation, according to the Income Tax Department.

The department had gathered information of inconsistencies in 500 Jan Dhan accounts with collective cash deposits of over Rs 100 crore, said Prashant Jha, additional director of income tax, investigation wing, in Indore.

The department is also probing 500 other (ordinary) bank accounts which received deposits of Rs one crore or more (each) post November 8.

"We got the information about deposits of over Rs one crore or more, made after November 8 demonetisation announcement, in 350 accounts in various banks in 16 districts of western region of Madhya Pradesh," said V K Mathur, chief income tax commissioner (Indore region).

Another 150 such accounts were found in the cooperative banks, he said. -- PTI

Income Tax department today said it has detected over Rs 3,651 crore of undisclosed income while more than Rs 98 crore in new notes has been seized as part of its country-wide operations against black money hoarders post demonetisation.

Official sources said the taxman has carried out a total of 785 search, survey and enquiry operations under the provisions of the Income Tax Act, across the country, since the note ban was declared on November 8, even as the department has issued 3,647 notices to various entities on charges of tax evasion and hawala-like dealings, till yesterday.

The department has seized cash and jewellery worth over Rs 522 crore, with cash being Rs 433 crore, during the same period and the new currency seized is valued at more than Rs 98 crore.

"The total undisclosed income admitted or detected as part of this action, till December 22, is more than Rs 3,651 crore," they said.

The agency has also referred over 230 cases to the Enforcement Directorate and 190 cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation in order to enable them probe other financial crimes like money laundering, disproportionate assets and corruption as part of their legal mandate. -- PTI

Update on Libyan plane hijack: Both the hijackers have surrendered and all passengers and crew members have been released.

'Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody,' Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted.

'Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers,' he said in another tweet earlier.

Earlier, AFP quoted a Maltese minister as saying that the hijackers 'were asking for asylum in Malta'.

Two persons have been arrested by Crime Branch of Delhi Police for depositing black money worth Rs 34 crore in the fake accounts opened by them in the Naya Bazar branch of a private bank in New Delhi.

The Crime Branch has arrested two men Rajkumar Goel, 47, and Ranjit, 29, from Naya Bazar area of Chandni Chowk, said Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime).

Police received information that Goel is the mastermind of these illegal transactions, he said.

Both the accused were earlier involved in issuing fake bills against bank entries and were involved in theft of sale tax. After demonetisation was announced, they used the opportunity to transfer black money in the fake accounts and earn commission, said another officer.

"He had floated a number of fake companies wherein he used to convert illegitimate money into legitimate money through RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) transfers," the officer said.

Goel and Ranjit were called for interrogation and initially tried to mislead the team by not divulging facts.

"Later, they confessed that Ranjit, in connivance with Rajkumar, had opened an account in the name of Raj Enterprises at Kotak Mahindra Bank and the money was received by them in this account through RTGS. The account is used only for such transactions," said the officer.

Upender, who happens to be the cousin of Ranjit, is the proprietor of the account, he said.

"The accused Rajkumar had opened various accounts in the name of different firms like RK International, Swastik Trading, Sapna Trading, Mahalaxmi Industries, Shri Ganesh Enterprises, Delhi Trading Company, Virgo International etc. at Kotak Mahindra Bank, Naya Bazar.

"They had deposited unaccounted cash worth Rs 34 crores in the accounts," the officer said.

Two sets of pan cards, voter I-cards, Aadhaar cards, etc have been seized from them, he added. -- PTI

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has unseated his actor-friend Shah Rukh Khan to become the top earning celebrity of 2016 in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 List with an estimated income of Rs 270.33 crore. 

Rs 10 lakh cash in new notes and Rs 16 lakh worth foreign currency seized after searches on a forex dealer in Punjab's Jalandhar: ED

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a high-level meeting at NITI Aayog on Tuesday to take stock of the economy and other important issues particularly the currency crunch post demonetisation. 

Pilot of Libyan plane tells traffic control in Tripoli that plane was hijacked and he was not allowed to land there. Hijacker tells plane crew that he's pro Gaddafi. Negotiations are on with the two hijackers. A negotiating team is on standby at airport awaiting instructions from the PM, who is in meeting with National Security Committee. 

Eminent Bangla poet Sankha Ghosh selected for 52nd Jnanpith Award.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly suffers cerebral attack, rushed to AMRI hospital in Kolkata. "She was admitted to the AMRI hospital in Salt Lake at around 4 pm on Friday, after complaining of severe headache and partial loss of vision," State BJP vice president Joyprakash Majumdar told The Hindu.  He also said that doctors attending to Ganguly have advised her to take rest and currently she is kept under observation.

A Libyan passenger plane with 118 people on board has been hijacked and forced to land in Malta, the airline Afriqiyah Airways has confirmed. Two hijackers armed with grenades reported to be in the plane.


The Airbus A320 was flying inside Libya for Afriqiyah Airways when it was diverted, local media report.


There were two hijackers involved, who threatened to bomb the plane, according to initial reports.


Maltese PM Joseph Muscat said security forces were standing by.Malta International Airport confirmed on Twitter that there had been an "unlawful interference" at the airport.


It said emergency teams had been dispatched.Darrin Zammit Lupi, a Reuters news agency photographer based in Malta, told the BBC he could see a number of soldiers and special forces vehicles at the scene. Some flights to Malta are being diverted to the Italian island of Sicily.

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of duping the poor, honest and hard-working people to help the 50 super rich families, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that demonetisation of high-value currency is not a surgical strike on corruption but firebombing on India's poor.


Addressing a rally in Almora, Gandhi escalated his attack on Prime Minister Modi and said that demonetisation is economic robbery.


"The Congress Party wants to obliterate corruption from India. The Congress will support any step against corruption. But notes ban wasn't against black money or corruption, it was economic robbery," said Gandhi.


"You have divided India into two halves. On one side, India's super rich - 50 families, on the other side the 99 percent of India, including the poor, the honest, hard-working people," he added.


The Congress vice-president also used the occasion to reach out to the farmers and labourers.


"Prime Minister Modi hasn't listened to the farmers, but he has forgiven 1.40 lakh crore in loans to 15 rich people but not farmers," said Gandhi.


"Speaking about labourers in Parliament, Prime Minister Modi said they dig holes. They made fun of labourers. Modi ji India's labourers don't dig holes, they build India," he added.Gandhi alleged that the 'suit boot ki Sarkar' was in its bid to help its "rich friends" snatching the rights of the poor.


Pic: Rahul Gandhi at the Almora rally today

Shatrughan Sinha @ShatruganSinha  Dangal - film deserves tax exemption. Will inspire younger generation. All time best performance by dear Amir Khan. Beautiful & patriotic.

Anis Amri reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar' while shooting at police in Italy after being stopped during a routine patrol.


The Berlin attack suspect was shot dead during the gun battle in Milan in the early hours of this morning.


He is thought to have travelled to the city from Paris after a train ticket was discovered in his backpack, suggesting he evaded authorities in at least three countries despite being the subject of a Europe-wide manhunt.

Reuters: An airliner on an internal flight in Libya was hijacked and diverted to Malta where it landed on Friday, Maltese media reported.


The Airbus A320 was flying inside Libya for state-owned airline Afriqiyah Airways with 118 people aboard, the reports said. The two hijackers had threatened to blow the plane up, outlets including the Times of Malta reported.


Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted: "Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM.'

Representational picture

DMK chief M Karunanidhi discharged from Kauvery hospital in Chennai: ANI 

Asserting that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is flogging a dead horse in the name of evidence against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday advised the former not to make himself a laughing stock, but try to become relevant in politics.


"The problem with Rahul Gandhi is that he wants to flog a dead horse. The horse is dead and that has been decided by nobody but the Supreme Court," said BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh.


Singh asked Rahul to come up with credible suggestions and introspect on the way he is leading his party.


Another BJP leader Nalin Kohli alleged that the Congress vice-president is just trying to get coverage in the media by making irrelevant allegations against the Prime Minister.


"The Prime Minister has only pointed out the fact. He has pointed out the inadequacy and also the inaccurate manner in which some kind of a campaign is being made against him for no reason. Based on no foundation, which Rahul Gandhi is doing," he said.


"Rahul is entitled to follow this politics of only allegation for compete with Kejriwal for that space which is the politics of allegation and accusation," he added.


On Thursday, Gandhi quoting poet Mirza Ghalib said - "har ek baat pe kahte ho tum ki tu kya hai. Tumhi kaho ye andaz-e-guftagu kya hai."Gandhi said "Make fun of me as much as you want, but at least reply to my questions".

Russian President Vladimir Putin says 'nothing unusual' about Trump's nuclear call. Putin said nobody believed Donald Trump would win 'except us'.

President-elect Donald Trump has called for an expansion of the United States' nuclear capabilities on Thursday, in a tweet that alarmed nonproliferation experts who said that a boost to the US arsenal could fuel global tensions.

In his Twitter post, Trump said, "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," but gave no further details.

It was not clear what prompted his comment. However, earlier on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia needed to "strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces."

Maharashtra: Naxals torched 40 trucks deployed as part of Surjagarh mining project, in Gadchiroli district.

When 26,000 BJP workers in Varanasi broke for lunch yesterday, they were joined by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi - who brought his own packed lunch. The Prime Minister chatted individually with many of the workers at the DLW ground. "Such equality is only possible in the BJP," the party tweeted yesterday, along with photographs of the meeting.


PM Modi sought to inspire the BJP cadre by sharing his own experiences as a 'karyakarta', or worker, to show how "in the BJP workers have risen through the ranks and on merit," Piyush Vardhan Singh Rajkumar, co-convener of the BJP's IT cell for the Kashi region, said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said India will provide help on the request of the mother of the boy, who has been taken away by the Norway authorities even as Norwegian embassy here asked for "restraint" in the case, assuring that it is being handled with "complete sensitivity and awareness".


Swaraj's reaction came a day after she had asked the Indian Ambassador in Oslo to send a report on the allegations made by the couple that the Norwegian authorities took away their five-year-old child on frivolous complaint of abuse.


While father and son are Norwegian nationals, the mother is an Indian citizen. "I have received the report. Father and son are Norwegian nationals. We will represent on request of the mother, who is an Indian national," Swaraj tweeted.


Reacting to the case, the Spokesperson in Norwegian Embassy said the mission is aware and understands "the concerns on the ongoing child welfare case involving an Norwegian/Indian family in Norway".


"The Embassy would like to reiterate that child welfare cases are handled in accordance to the Norwegian Child Welfare Act, which includes directions from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.


"The Act applies to all children in Norway, regardless of their background, residential status or citizenship. The basic principle of the Act is that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.


"Since child welfare cases are highly sensitive, the cases are therefore subject to a strict duty of confidentiality. The Embassy, therefore, requests restraint and assures that the Norwegian authorities are dealing with the case with complete sensitivity and awareness. When available and permissible, updates on the case will be provided to the media and the general public."


This is the third case since 2011 when children have been taken away from their Indian-origin parents by the authorities in Norway on the grounds of abuse.

Reuters: Berlin market attack suspect shot dead in shootout in Milan, Italy: security source.


Anis Amri, a Tunisian man who turned 24 yesterday, is the chief suspect in a Europe-wide investigation into Germany's worst terrorist attack in decades. His fingerprints and identity document were found inside a tractor-trailer that plowed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing 12 people and injuring about 50 more. Here is a timeline of events in Mr. Amri's life, drawn from government statements, interviews with officials and relatives, and news media accounts.

The Home Ministry asks digital payment and e-commerce companies to beef up their cyber security in the wake of increased digital payments. The government's demonetisation move, and the subsequent cash crunch, has led to a surge in digital payments. According to the government data, the number of daily transactions through e-wallet services such as Oxigen, Paytm and MobiKwik has shot up from 17 lakh -- recorded on November 8 when demonetisation was announced -- to 63 lakh as on December 7 (a growth of 271%). In terms of value, the surge has been 267%, from Rs 52 crore daily to Rs 191 crore now.

Uttrakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat summoned by CBI on December 26 in sting CD case.

Superstar Rajinikanth's younger daughter Soundarya today filed a divorce petition in a family court in Chennai. Soundarya and Ashwin Ramkumar tied the knot at a grand wedding ceremony in 2010 which was attended by the who's who of the film, politics, and business world. They have a one-year-old son, Ved.


Claiming difference of opinion between them, a mutual consent divorce petition was filed in a family court.


After reports about her troubled marriage came out in September, Soundarya confirmed that she has separated from her industrialist husband and said that divorce talks are on.


"News about my marriage is true. We have been separated for over a year and divorce talks are on. I request all to respect my family's privacy," the "Kochadaiiyaan" director had tweeted in September. Soundarya is a graphic designer and filmmaker

Najeeb Jung who tendered his resignation from the position of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor yesterday, leaves PMO.

The Centre today reviewed the situation in Manipur in the wake of the crippling economic blockade of a highway, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asking the state government to end the "worrisome" conditions that have triggered a "humanitarian crisis".


At a high level meeting attended by the Union Minister of State for Home Rijiju, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and senior officials of the central and Manipur governments, the situation in the state was discussed threadbare. Rijiju, who is on a day-long trip to Manipur as a central emissary, stressed that the Manipur government must discharge is "constitutional duties" by ending the blockade and bring back normalcy in state.


The blockade on National Highway 2 by United Naga Council (UNC) has been continuing since November 1 crippling normal life in the landlocked state. The UNC has been protesting against the creation of seven new districts in the state. 

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao inaugurated a two-bedroom housing project for poor Erravelli village.

Housewarming ceremonies were performed 285 two-bedroom homes at Erravalli and Narsannapet villages in Siddipet district. About 600 priests performed the 'gruha pravesham' simultaneously.

These houses have been constructed over the last year at a cost of over six lakh rupees. Each house has two bedrooms, a hall and a kitchen with all basic amenities like water, electricity and sewage connection.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung reached the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) after he tendered his resignation on Thursday, reports news agency ANI. Jung's resignation on Thursday came as a surprise for many as nobody reportedly had the indication of him contemplating the decision.


Meanwhile, Jung and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also met on Friday for breakfast at Raj Niwas in New Delhi. Jung and Kejriwal have had a strained relationship as both of them clashed on several occasions over functioning of the government.


However, sources close to Jung said that Jung's resignation was not a result of this acrimony between both the parties. Kejriwal, when asked about he same, also said that the former LG had quit from his position because of 'personal reasons'.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader MK Stalin has written to Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to remove or sack all vice chancellors who are scholars and academicians who have learnings towards the ruling All India Deravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party and to Sasikala Natrajan.


Stalin said, "Academicians who are torch bearers of higher education in the state calling on a person who is not holding any public office is unethical, unwarranted and unconstitutional. Such an attitude on the part of vice chancellors proves that their loyalty is neither for academic excellence of the state nor for the chancellor of universities."Stalin said the vice chancellors had no business to politicize their offices.

Actor Saif Ali Khan will be on paternity leave till mid-January after which he will resume the shooting of his next film, tentatively titled "Chef". Saif's wife Kareena Kapoor Khan, who gave birth to a boy on December 20, was discharged from Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital yesterday.


The Bollywood star couple, who got married in 2012, have named their son Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi. Taimur is 36-year-old Kareena's first child with Saif, who already has two children -- daughter Sara and son Ibrahim -- from his previous marriage to Amrita Singh. Kareena and her 46-year-old husband Saif yesterday posed with the baby for the shutterbugs at their residence in suburban Bandra.


Image: Saif and Kareena pose with Taimur Ali Khan at their Bandra house after yesterday. They were discharged from hospital yesterday.

Also read: Kapoors, Pataudis, Tagores: Taimur Ali Khan's royal lineage

Name of new L-G likely to be finalised today. PM Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh meet to discuss the appointment.


Anil Baijal, who was home secretary in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led BJP government, tops the list of contenders for the post.


Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung quit abruptly yesterday saying he was going back to his first love -- academics.

This morning he had a special guest for breakfast -- his biggest critic, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

After the meeting Kejriwal said Jung told him he was quitting due to personal reasons. Last night, admitting surprise at the announcement, Kejriwal struck a conciliatory note: "Khatta meetha toh chalta rehta hai zindagi mein (ups and downs are a part of life)."

Jung, 66, resigned yesterday with 18 months left in his tenure.

Just in: DMK Chief Karunanidhi to be discharged from Kauvery hospital in Chennai today by 4 pm.

Just in: Vadodara police seizes Rs 1.10 lakh worth IMFL from Akhand Farmhouse, arrests 225 people including ex-IPL chairman Chirayu Amin during raids

Just in: Girija Vaidyanathan takes charge as Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu. She is the 4th woman to occupy the post in Tamil Nadu.

In November India's government perpetrated an unprecedented act that is not only damaging its economy and threatening destitution to countless millions of its already poor citizens but also breathtaking in its immorality. Without any warning India abruptly scrapped 85% of its currency. That's right: Most of the country's cash ceased to be legal tender. Shocked citizens were given only a few weeks' notice to take their cash and turn it in at a bank for new bills, writes Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media. Do read

Solar scam: Former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy appears before Solar Judicial Commission.

India's Shiva Keshavan added another international medal to his kitty by winning a gold at the Asian Luge Championships in Nagano, Japan. Keshavan has participated in five Winter Olympics. He is the first Indian representative to compete in luge at the Winter Olympic Games and had set a new Asian speed record at 134.3 km/h (83.5 mph) after beating the previous record of 131.9 km/h (82.0 mph) and won gold medal in Asia Cup 2011 at Nagano in Japan. In 2012, he set a new Asian track record at 49.590 seconds.

This is Keshavan's third gold at the Asian Championships in Nagano.

India criticised Moody's ratings methods and pushed aggressively for an upgrade, documents reviewed by Reuters show, but the US-based agency declined to budge citing concerns over the country's debt levels and fragile banks.


Winning a better credit rating on India's sovereign debt would have been a much-needed endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic stewardship, helping to attract foreign investment and accelerate growth.  Read more

President-elect Donald Trump has said that he wants "the people" and not celebrities for his inauguration as the 45th President of the US. Trump's comments came amid reports that several top American celebrities have declined to perform at his inauguration.


"The so-called 'A' list celebrities are all wanting tixs to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary, NOTHING. I want the PEOPLE!" Trump tweeted.


According to The New York Times Elton John would not be performing at the inauguration. Similarly Kanye West, who made an appearance at the Trump Towers early this month, would also not be performing.


Meanwhile, the Presidential inaugural committee spokesman Boris Epshteyn told CNN that the Radio City Rockettes will perform next month. "We're extremely excited. We've had a ton of great performers, entertainers, and just Americans reaching out wanting to be a part [of it]. And I can announce right now on your air that the Radio City Rockettes will be taking part in the inauguration celebration," he said.


Image: A file pic of rapper Kanye West, who has declined to perform at Trump's inauguration. And this seems to be a rare picture of West -- he's smiling!

Sensex edges lower on subdued global cues, slips 34 points; Nifty struggles below 8,000