LIVE
Thu, 01 February 2024
Aadhaar-ration card linking date extended till Feb 29
Timeline Refresh
23:47 Maoist couple surrender before police in Telangana
A Maoist couple allegedly involved in extremist offences in Chhattisgarh, surrendered before police in Mulugu district of Telangana on Thursday, the police said.
N Bheema alias Sanju, working as section commander of the second central reorganisation committee of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist party and his wife Muchaki Duldo alias Soni, area committee member in second CRC surrendered before Mulugu district superintendent of police, P Shabarish in order to join the mainstream and lead a normal life, they said.
The couple, both in their mid 20s, were carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh each on their head, the police said. Bheema, who belongs to Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana, worked as a militia member in the Cherla area of the district in 2019 and later he joined the second CRC of the CPI-Maoist and was promoted to section commander in November 2022.
Soni joined the CPI-Maoist in 2018 and later she attached herself to the second CRC and in December 2022 she was promoted to area committee member.
According to police, the couple were involved in offences including Bechirakumadugu exchange of fire of Elmidi police station limits of Bijapur district, Timmapur-Putkel attack in Basaguda police station limits of Bijapur district in February 2022, Kunded-Jagurugonda attack in Jagurugonda area and Terram attack in April 2021, in which several police personnel died.
On the reasons for the surrender, Mulugu district police said they (couple) decided to leave the CPI-Maoist to lead a normal life as they did not like the discrimination going on in the party against their ideologies. -- PTI
23:32 4 injured in bear attack in Andhra village
Four people were injured in a bear attack at a village in Srikakulam district on Thursday.
The incident occurred in a cashew orchard in Vajrapukotturu village around 11 am today, a forest official said. "... four people were attacked, two of them seriously," Srikakulam district forest officer Nisha Kumari said.
Kumari said the seriously injured were sent to the government hospital in Palasa and then referred to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Srikakulam.
According to the DFO, the bear deemed the victims as a threat to its cubs and attacked them.
Following the attack, the animal vanished into the cashew orchard.
The official said the department will extend assistance and compensation to the injured persons. -- PTI
File image
23:18 Aadhaar-ration card linking date extended till Feb 29
The deadline to link the Aadhaar number with ration cards, and update e-KYC (know your client) and mobile number on ration card has been extended till February 29, officials said in Shimla on Thursday.
The decision to extend the date has been taken in order to facilitate the consumers who have not yet registered or updated their information, the department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs said in a statement issued in Shimla.
The department was linking the Aadhaar number with the ration card of the consumers in order to bring transparency in the public distribution system, the statement said.
It added that if a consumer fails to link their Aadhaar number with ration cards by February 29, their ration cards would be temporary blocked.
The card will be unblocked only after completion of the formalities.
The e-KYC ensures that the name, date of birth and gender entered in the ration card are the same as the data entered in the Aadhaar card of a person.
The e-KYC could be done by a consumer by visiting a nearby Fair Price Shop, the statement said. Consumers can also update their mobile numbers by clicking on 'Update Mobile Number' on https://epds.hp.gov.in/, it added. -- PTI
File image
22:51 Delhi airport sees 13 flight diversions on Thursday morning
More than 100 flights were delayed and 13 flights were diverted at the Delhi airport on Thursday early morning as bad weather impacted operations, an official said.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital is the country's largest airport and handles around 1,300 flight movements daily.
As many as 13 flights were diverted to various cities.
Six flights were diverted to Jaipur, two each to Mumbai, Amritsar and Ahmedabad, and one to Lucknow, according to the official.
These flights were diverted between 12.30 am and 6 am.
During this period, more than 100 flights were also delayed, the official added. -- PTI
File image
22:34 Stress not a licence to behave abusively, says Kerala HC
Stress is not a licence to behave in an abusive manner, the Kerala high court remarked on Thursday while hearing a matter connected with a recent incident in which a police officer allegedly used expletives against a lawyer.
Justice Devan Ramachandran was hearing a matter in which a video of an officer of Alathur police station allegedly using "abusive vocatives" against a lawyer went viral.
The lawyer was allegedly subjected to the verbal onslaught when he arrived at the police station to present a court order in connection with a case.
When the state police chief told the court that the uncivil behaviour of certain police officers could be attributed to "stress", the court said observed that stress is not a licence to behave in an abusive manner.
The officer concerned, meanwhile, told the court that he is ready to tender an unconditional apology.
The court reminded the state police chief that at least 10 circulars have been issued since 1965 in connection with the abusive behaviour of police officials.
Earlier, the state police chief had informed the court that the errant officer has been transferred as punishment. -- PTI
Jharkhand ex-Chief Minister Hemant Soren
22:14 Three-judge SC bench to hear Hemant Soren's plea
The Supreme Court on Thursday set up a special three-judge bench to hear former Jharkhand chief minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren's plea against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh and Bela M Trivedi will hear the plea of jailed JMM leader at 10.30 am on Friday.
According to the updated causelist of the apex court, the special bench has been set up by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud in pursuance to the observations made by him earlier in the day when senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi mentioned Soren's plea for urgent listing.
The CJI assured the lawyers that the plea will be listed for hearing on Friday. Soren, who was arrested on Wednesday night after resigning as the Jharkhand chief minister, had first moved the state high court challenging his arrest in the case.
Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary of the Jharkhand high court were scheduled to hear Soren's plea at 10.30 am on Thursday.
However, Sibal and Singhvi told the CJI-led bench that the plea will be withdrawn from the high court.
"We will keep it tomorrow..," the CJI said. -- PTI
22:01 INDIA bloc to finalise Parliament strategy on Friday morning
Leaders of several parties of the INDIA opposition bloc would meet in New Delhi on Friday morning to chalk out their joint strategy during the budget session of Parliament.
Sources on Thursday said the leaders would meet in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge at 10.30 am on Friday and discuss their joint strategy.
Various parties of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) have been coordinating their floor strategy during Parliament sessions and have moved unitedly to corner the BJP-led Centre on various issues.
21:39 Police stage flag marches in Varanasi
The police held flag marches in sensitive areas of Varanasi ahead of Friday namaaz, a day after the Varanasi district court allowed puja in a cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque.
A large number of people offer Friday namaaz in the Gyanvapi mosque complex.
As a precautionary measure, security has been beefed up in the city in view of Friday namaaz, with police force conducting flag marches in sensitive areas, said Pragya Pathak, assistant police commissioner of Dasheshmegh area.
A view of Ayodhya airport./File image
21:22 Adityanath, Scindia inaugurate SpiceJet's flight service to Ayodhya from 8 cities
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Minister of State V K Singh on Thursday jointly inaugurated SpiceJet's direct flight service connecting Ayodhya with eight cities.
This strategic initiative aims to enhance accessibility for devotees and tourists seeking 'darshan' of Lord Shri Ram Lalla in the newly consecrated temple of Ayodhya.
As per a press statement issued by the state government, the chief minister said, "The commencement of non-stop flight services by SpiceJet to Ayodhya from Darbhanga, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Patna, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru not only enhances Ayodhya's connectivity, but also holds the potential to boost tourism."
Earlier, successful air services had commenced from Ayodhya to Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, the chief minister added.
Adityanath highlighted that the inauguration of Ayodhya Dham's new international airport by the prime minister on December 30, 2023, signifies a promising future for Ayodhya.
Adityanath called upon all citizens to collaborate in enhancing the glory of Ayodhya, encouraging responsible utilisation of the new air services and sharing the beauty and traditions of Ayodhya with the world. -- PTI
File image
21:10 US okays sale of 31 Predator drones to India
In a major development, the US has approved sale of 31 MQ-9B armed drones to India at an estimated cost of $3.99 billion, said American defence agency.
The Biden administration on Thursday notified the US Congress on its proposed supply of 31 MQ-9B Predator long endurance drones to India, officials said.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency of the US government delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today, they said.
More details soon. -- PTI
21:01 HC asks Mumbai police to return luxury cars seized for violating prohibitory orders
The Bombay high court on Thursday directed the city police to return 41 luxury cars seized from the BKC area in Mumbai for allegedly violating prohibitory orders.
The impounded cars include models from Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi, Lamborghini, Jaguar and BMW.
A division bench of Justices Anuja Prabhudessai and Nitin Borkar was hearing petitions filed by some of the car owners, seeking that the cars be returned and the First Information Reports registered by the police be quashed as the action violated legal procedures.
The FIRs claimed that an order prohibiting assembly of five or more persons from January 23 to February 2 had been issued ahead of Republic Day.
The cars were to participate in a rally, organised by an event management company to celebrate Republic Day, from Bandra Kurla Complex to Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and back.
The event, expected to feature at least 100 cars, had no permission and breached the prohibitory orders, hence police took preemptive action by seizing the cars before the rally started, the police said. -- PTI
Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar
20:32 Rajya Sabha chairman reconstitutes panel of vice-chairpersons
Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday reconstituted the panel of vice-chairpersons and gave equal representation to women.
The reconstituted panel of vice-chairpersons has eight members including four women.
It comprises several members from the opposition.
The newly appointed vice-chairpersons include Ramilaben Becharbhai Bara, Seema Dwivedi, Amee Yajnik, Mausam Noor, Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy, Manoj Kumar Jha and Lt Gen D P Vats.
The vice-chairpersons run the House in the absence of the chairman and deputy chairman. -- PTI
Raghuram Rajan
20:20 Unleashing ED on Oppn before elections is wrong: Raghuram @ JLF
Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan on Thursday said "unleashing" the Enforcement Directorate before elections is wrong and "undemocratic", and it should bother everyone, not just politicians.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Hemant Soren on money laundering allegations after he resigned as the chief minister of Jharkhand.
Speaking on the inaugural day of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), Rajan said that to think they are just "putting some politicians behind bars" is wrong because eventually it is the people who are being left with no choice when it comes to choosing Opposition leaders.
"What is your choice if leaders from Opposition parties are put behind bars? If it leaves you with no choice then it is not a politicians' issue alone. This is the issue for everyone. So unleashing the ED before elections is wrong and undemocratic," he said.
Referring to his latest book, Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India's economic future, which he co-authored with economist Rohit Lamba, Rajan said free speech and democracy are "very important" when it comes to the upcoming sectors which need "research, creativity, new ideas".
The 60-year-old also talked about the need to focus on "decentralisation" and changing the mindset of "direct benefit transfers and freebies" which political parties are resorting to due to their "short-sightedness.
He gave the example of states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union territory of Delhi which he said are focussing on sectors such as health and education thanks to the "little decentralisation" that have taken place there.
"I have written this in my book as well that what we require is decentralisation, from the Centre to states, from states to municipalities and panchayats. This is what I believe would give birth to a new movement," he added.
Touted as the "biggest literary festival in the world", JLF 2024 will host some of the world's best thinkers, writers, and speakers over the next five days.
The 550 speakers and artistes attending the event are from across a vast array of nationalities. They include the likes of Paul Lynch, Hernan Diaz, Ben Macintyre, Bonnie Garmus, Richard Osman, Peter Frankopan, Colin Thubron, Mary Beard, Kai Bird, Katie Kitamura, Monica Ali, Nicholas Shakespeare, Damon Galgut.
19:53 Mamata to attend 'important political meeting' in Delhi
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit New Delhi next week to participate in a 'very important political meeting', a top source said on Thursday.
Banerjee's visit to New Delhi will be after her 48-hour dharna in Kolkata from Friday to press upon the Centre to clear the state's dues, he added.
The 'important political meeting' in New Delhi is scheduled on Wednesday, he said.
"The CM is likely to go to New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon after attending the state budget session. She is likely to take part in a very important political meeting there the next day," the source said. -- PTI
Banerjee's visit to New Delhi will be after her 48-hour dharna in Kolkata from Friday to press upon the Centre to clear the state's dues, he added.
The 'important political meeting' in New Delhi is scheduled on Wednesday, he said.
"The CM is likely to go to New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon after attending the state budget session. She is likely to take part in a very important political meeting there the next day," the source said. -- PTI
19:31 Allocation for tribal ministry up by 70%
The government has allocated Rs 13,000 crore to the Tribal Affairs Ministry in the interim Budget 2024-25, a massive increase of 70 per cent from the allotment in the previous financial year.
The tribal ministry was allocated Rs 7,605 crore in the financial year 2023-24.
The Centre has earmarked Rs 6,399 crore for the construction of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in 2024-25, a 150 per cent increase over Rs 2,471.81 crore allocated for this purpose in 2023-24.
The objective of EMRS is to provide quality middle and high-level education to tribal students in remote areas, enabling them to access reservation in high and professional educational courses and jobs in government, public, and private sectors, as well as having access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non-ST population.
The allocation for the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana has been increased from Rs 300 crore to Rs 1,000 crore.
Under the scheme, funds are provided to states or UTs having notified ST population for development and welfare of tribal people to bridge the gaps in sectors like education, health, agriculture, skill development, employment-cum-income generation, among others.
The financial support to tribal research institutes has been increased from Rs 50 crore to Rs 111 crore.
However, the budget allocation for 'National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students' has been reduced from Rs 230 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 165 crore in 2024-25. -- PTI
18:54 Champai Soren meets guv, awaits decision on govt
Amidst the political crisis in Jharkhand, JMM legislative party leader Champai Soren on Wednesday met Governor CP Radhakrishnan in Ranchi's Raj Bhavan.
The governor assured us to take a decision soon on our request go form the government, Soren said after the meeting. "We stand united; all 43 MLAs are staying at Circuit House."
He was accompanied by Congress legislative party leader Alamgir Alam, RJD MLA Satyanand Bhokta, CPI (ML) L legislator Vinod Singh and lawmaker Pradeep Yadav.
"Will seek time again on Friday noon if Jharkhand Raj Bhavan fails to call us by then," Congress leader Alamgir Alam said after meeting the governor.
"Will request the governor to accept our claim to form the government at the earliest," Singh had said before entering the Raj Bhavan.
The governor had asked the JMM-led alliance in the state to meet him at 5.30 pm.
Champai Soren became the new leader of the JMM legislative party after Hemant Soren resigned on Wednesday night as the chief minister following grilling by the ED in a money laundering case and his subsequent arrest.
Pic: ANI/X
18:13 Gyanvapi mosque moves HC over puja in basement
The Gyanvapi mosque management committee on Thursday moved the Allahabad high court challenging a Varanasi court order that allowed Hindu prayers in a cellar of the mosque.
Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee counsel SFA Naqvi said they have requested an urgent hearing.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court asked the committee to approach the high court against the Varanasi district court's order on Wednesday.
The Varanasi court had ruled that a priest can perform prayers before the idols in a cellar of the Gyanvapi Masjid.
The prayers will be conducted by a "pujari" nominated by the Kashi Vishwanath temple trust and the petitioner who has claimed his grandfather offered puja at the cellar up to December 1993.
KBK Infographics
18:00 Budget impact on markets
Indian stock indices took a rollercoaster ride and settled marginally in the red the day the central government presented its interim Budget for 2024-25.
17:53 How did markets do on Budget day? Sensex was...
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty closed lower on the Budget day on Thursday as investors resorted to profit-taking in capital goods, metal and realty shares amid no big announcements by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
After shedding early gains, the markets turned volatile during the presentation of the interim Budget, where in the capital expenditure outlay was marginally hiked but there were no major announcements.
The 30-share BSE Sensex settled lower by 106.81 points or 0.15 per cent at 71,645.30. During the day, it gyrated between a high of 72,151.02 and a low of 71,574.89.
The Nifty dipped 28.25 points or 0.13 per cent to 21,697.45. It oscillated between the day's high of 21,832.95 and a low of 21,658.75. Market sentiment was also dampened after the US Federal Reserve indicated it likely won't cut interest rates in March.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday hiked capital expenditure by 11 per cent for the next fiscal to sustain world-beating economic growth rate while trimming the deficit in a reform-oriented interim Budget that also gave relief to common man from disputed small tax demands of up to Rs 25,000.
Presenting a vote on account or an interim Budget for 2024-25, Sitharaman proposed no changes in income tax rates for individuals and corporates, as well as customs duty. In less than an hour-long budget speech, she presented the Modi government's achievements in the last 10 years that transformed India from being a 'fragile' economy to the world's fastest-growing major economy. -- PTI
17:29 Hemant Soren to spend night in jail
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and former chief minister Hemant Soren was on Thursday sent to one-day judicial custody by a special PMLA court in Ranchi, in connection with the Enforcement Directorate probe into an alleged land scam.
The Directorate of Enforcement had sought 10-day remand of the former Jharkhand Chief Minister but the order has been reserved.
The court has listed the next hearing in the case for tomorrow.
Justice Dinesh Rai, the Special Judge of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court, reserved the order after hearing both sides.
Soren was on Wednesday night arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) after six hours of questioning in the money laundering case linked to the alleged land scam.
According to the ED, CM Soren was questioned as a part of the probe into the "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia".
The probe pertains to huge amounts of proceeds of crime generated by forging official records by showing "fake sellers" and purchasers in the guise of forged or bogus documents to acquire huge parcels of land valued in crores.
17:02 Ram Mandir: 25L visitors, 11 cr donations so far
After the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple on January 22, around 25 lakh devotees visited the temple in the past 11 days and the amount of offerings and donations has crossed Rs 11 crore.
According to Prakash Gupta, office in-charge of the temple trust, in the last 11 days, about Rs 8 crore rupees were deposited in the donation boxes, while the amount received through cheque and online is around Rs 3.50 crore.
He said that in the temple's sanctum sanctorum, where the deity is seated, four big size donation boxes have been kept near the 'darshan path' in front of the sanctum sanctorum, in which the devotees donate the amount. Besides, people also donate at 10 computerised counters.
He said that the temple trust employees are appointed at the donation counter and they submit the account of the donation amount received in the trust office after the counter is closed in the evening.
A team of 14 people, which includes 11 bank employees and three from the temple trust, counts the offerings in four donation boxes. Gupta said that from depositing the donation amount to counting it, everything is done under the surveillance of CCTV cameras. PTI
Jairam Ramesh in Murshidabad
16:52 Congress still hopeful Mamata will share seats
The Congress on Thursday remained optimistic about clinching a mutually an acceptable seat-sharing arrangement with the TMC in West Bengal, despite TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's reluctance to concede seats to the grand-old party in the state.
Addressing reporters in Murshidabad district, once a bastion of the Congress, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh asserted that the paramount objective of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is to unseat the BJP government at the Centre.
"In an alliance, there's a give-and-take dynamics. We are hopeful of reaching a consensus on a joint seat-sharing formula in the state that satisfies all parties involved. Mamata Ji has expressed her commitment to the INDIA bloc and we welcome this stance," Ramesh said.
In Murshidabad, a minority-dominated district, the Congress presently has one out of the three seats. Ramesh's confidence in getting the TMC along in the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal follows Banerjee's declaration on Wednesday that she would not allocate any seats to the Congress, alleging that the party had aligned with the CPI(M) to bolster the BJP's prospects in the state.
"I have heard about her statement, but it reflects her opinion, not the consensus of the alliance. Both the TMC and the Congress share the common goal of defeating the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections," Ramesh remarked. Regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leadership's reluctance to engage in any coalition with the TMC in Bengal, Ramesh clarified.
Representatives from the CPI(M), Congress, TMC, and other parties were present in all meetings of the opposition bloc.
16:27 Congress reacts to budget: Vague, election speech
The Congress reacts to the interim budget.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor: He said that not "very much came out of it" and that FM Nirmala Sitharaman used "vague" and "rhetorical language."
"It was one of the shortest speeches on record in the Budget. Not very much came out of it. As usual, a lot of rhetorical language, very little concrete implementation... She talked about foreign investment without acknowledging that that investment has come down significantly," Tharoor told ANI on Thursday.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that there was nothing new in the Budget speech and no measures were announced to provide relief to the common masses "who are facing the brunt of rising inflation".
Addressing reporters in Jaipur, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, "It's obvious that you have to praise your own government but I was expecting there might be some relief measures. There was nothing to address the rising inflation or issues related to employment. It was more of self-praising. Nothing new was there in the budget. No relief for the middle class, farmers or students. The President's address was also used as political speech."
File pic
16:13 Shimla's 1st snowfall closes 240 roads
Moderate to heavy snowfall continued in high hills and tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday while the state capital received the first snowfall of the season bringing cheers to residents, tourists and farmers. Shimla was wrapped in a thin blanket of snow on Thursday while the 5-km stretch between Kufri and Fagu was entirely covered in snow.
Braving cold, tourists and residents thronged the Mall Road and Ridge in the heart of the city to enjoy the snow.
Shimla was lashed by severe hailstorm on Wednesday night followed by intermittent rains.
Over 240 roads, including six national highways, in the state have been closed for vehicular traffic and 677 transformers got disrupted following heavy snowfall and rain, according to the state emergency operation centre. A maximum of 165 roads remain blocked in tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, the centre said.
The vehicular traffic in the upper Shimla area beyond Dhalli came to a standstill as the roads got blocked due to heavy snow in Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda.
15:56 The key numbers from the interim budget
Don't want to read lengthy copy? We've got your back!Take a look at the image alongside for a snapshot of the budget figures.
15:45 Soren produced in Ranchi's PMLA Court in land scam case
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM executive president Hemant Soren has been produced in the PMLA Court from the ED office in Ranchi. Soren was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in a money laundering case related to the alleged land scam on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, the former Jharkhand Chief Minister alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) tried to tarnish his image by conducting raids at his Delhi residence.
A day after Soren's arrest, the Jharkhand Chief Minister Soren released a video message in which Soren claimed that he was not linked to the money laundering case in which he was arrested.
15:28 Sitharaman's 6th Budget speech was her shortest
Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman on Thursday presented her sixth consecutive budget with a speech lasting 56 minutes, her shortest-ever. Dressed in a turquoise embroidered Kantha silk saree, as Sitharaman delivered her speech, it was applauded at regular intervals by the treasury benches. Her remarks on the presentation of the full budget by "our government" in July receiving the loudest cheer.
The opposition members listened to Sitharaman's budget speech with rapt attention, barring some voices of disapproval to the minister's reference to her government returning to power after the Lok Sabha elections.
Earlier, BJP members raised slogans of Bharat Mata ki Jai, Jai Shri Ram, Jai Siya Ram as Prime Minister Narendra Modi entered the Lok Sabha chamber and took his seat a few minutes before 11:00 am.
At 56 minutes, it was Sitharaman's shortest budget speech. She also holds the distinction of delivering the longest budget speech at two hours and forty minutes in 2020. In 2019, as India's first full-time woman finance minister, Sitharaman's budget speech had lasted for two hours and 17 minutes.
In 2021, her speech lasted for one hour and 50 minutes, followed by 92 minutes in 2022 and 87 minutes in 2023. Sitharaman's budget speech found no mention of Tamil poets and thinkers unlike previous occasions, but she referred to Prime Minister Modi at least eight times and quoted from his speeches.
The public galleries saw thin attendance with a few Rajya Sabha members occupying seats in Gallery 2, while relatives of Finance Minister Sitharaman Krishnamurthy Lakshminarayan and Vidya Lakshminarayan and her daughter Vangmayi Parakala were seated in the first row of Gallery 3. Sitharaman, Ministers of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and Bhagwat Karad, and top officers from the Finance Ministry called on President Droupadi Murmu before presenting the Budget.
The President gave Sitharaman a spoonful of curd and sugar and extended her best wishes for the presentation of the Union Budget. In her budget speech, Sitharaman coined new expansion of FDI First, Develop India and for GDP Governance, Development and Performance. "Besides delivering on high growth in terms of Gross Domestic Product, the government is equally focused on a more comprehensive 'GDP', i.e., 'Governance, Development and Performance'," Sitharaman said.
In 2019, Finance Minister Sitharaman did away with the traditional Budget briefcase and instead went for a 'bahi-khata' with the national emblem to carry the speech and other documents on a tablet computer, a tradition she stuck to on Thursday.
15:08 JMM+ seeks 3pm meeting with guv, if not they will...
Update: JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand has sought time from the governor at 3 pm, says Congress state chief Rajesh Thakur. If the Jharkhand governor delays in inviting JMM-led alliance to form government, the MLAs will fly to Hyderabad, the Congress says.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren was arrested on Wednesday night in a money laundering case after resigning as the Jharkhand chief minister, and party loyalist and state transport minister Champai Soren was named as his successor.
Hemant Soren resigned yesterday as Jharkhand CM
14:38 JMM+ MLAs to be taken to Hyderabad, planes ready
JMM-led alliance MLAs likely to be shifted outside Jharkhand to prevent BJP's poaching attempt. Two chartered planes have been booked for shifting the MLAs in Jharkhand to Hyderabad.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren was arrested on Wednesday night in a money laundering case after resigning as the Jharkhand chief minister, and party loyalist and state transport minister Champai Soren was named as his successor.
KBK Infographics
14:33 The interim budget at a glance
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said there are no changes in tax rates for direct and indirect taxes, including import duties.
14:15 The Actress Who Caught Mrinal Sen's Eye
Sreela Majumdar caught the discerning eye of Mrinal Sen and he cast her as Alhadi in his 1979 Bengali film, Parashuram. It bagged three National Awards as well as the Silver Prize at the 11th Moscow International Film Festival.
The same year, Sreela Majumdar had another release, Mrinal Sen's Ek Din Pratidin.
Over the next four decades, she acted in over 40 films, including Sen's Akaler Sandhane, Kharij and Khandhar, Shaym Benegal's Mandi and Arohan, Prakash Jha's Damul, Utpalendu Chakraborty's Chokh and last year, in Kaushik Ganguly's Palan.
After battling cancer for three years, Sreela passed away on January 27 at the age of 65.
Her co-star Mamata Shankar from Ek Din Pratidin, Kharij and Palan, remembers her as a brilliant actress and a lovely person, who had grown very protective of her.
"She was a brilliant actress who got better with every film, more mature and accomplished," Mamata Shankar tells Rediff.com Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya.
The Big 3 with the PM
14:04 Budget will take us to Modi's vision of Bharat: HM
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the interim budget 2024-25 draws the roadmap to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed Bharat by 2047.
Shah also said the budget speech sheds light on the milestones achieved by the Modi government in the last 10 years in its journey to make Bharat the foremost nation in every sector. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her sixth straight Budget on Thursday.
"The Union Budget draws the roadmap to achieve PM Shri @narendramodi Ji's vision of a Developed Bharat by 2047. The budget speech sheds light on the milestones achieved by the Modi govt in the last 10 years on its journey to make Bharat the foremost nation in every sector during the Amrit Kaal," Shah said on 'X' with the hashtag #ViksitBharatBudget.
"On the very foundation of these feats, the magnificent edifice of a Viksit Bharat is being built. My heartfelt gratitude to Modi Ji for leading the nation through this journey of excellence and to FM @nsitharaman Ji for the insightful budget speech," he said. PTI
13:31 PM reacts to interim budget: This is a sweet spot
"The #ViksitBharatBudget benefits every section of the society and lays the foundation for a developed India," PM Modi reacts to the interim budget.
"In this budget, keeping fiscal deficit under control, capital expenditure has been given a historic high of Rs 11,11,111 Crore. If we speak the languages of the economists, in a manner this is 'sweet spot'.
"With this, besides building India's modern infrastructure of the 21st century, innumerable new job opportunities for the youth will be prepared.
"This Budget stresses on empowerment of the poor and the middle class and creating of new employment opportunities for them. It has been announced to construct 2 crore more houses for the poor. We aim to have 3 crore 'Lakhpati Didis' now. ASHA and Aganwadi workers will also get the benefit of the Ayushman Bharat scheme."
Presenting the interim budget for 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government is working with an approach to ensure development that is all-round, all-pervasive and all-inclusive.
13:16 The Modi effect: Infra to be upped in Lakshwadeep
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said projects for port connectivity, tourism infrastructure and amenities will be taken up "on our islands, including Lakshadweep" to address the "emerging fervour" for domestic tourism in the country.
While presenting the interim Union Budget, she also said "our economic strength has made the country an attractive destination for business and conference tourism".
The mention of Lakshadweep by the finance minister is significant because Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the island on January 4. He had tried snorkelling and said Lakshadweep has to be on the list of visit for those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them. A row erupted on social media when a minister and some other leaders in the Maldives used derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Modi after he posted a video of him on a pristine beach in Lakshadweep.
Following this, several Indians and tour operators cancelled their plans to visit the Maldives, which has tilted towards China and away from India under its new President Mohamed Muizzu. Sitharaman, in her budget speech, said the Indian middle class also now "aspires to travel and explore".
Tourism, including spiritual tourism, has tremendous opportunities for local entrepreneurship, she added.
"States will be encouraged to take up comprehensive development of iconic tourist centres, branding and marketing them at global scale. A framework for rating of the centres based on quality of facilities and services will be established," the finance minister said. Long-term interest-free loans will be provided to states for financing such development on matching basis," she added. -- PTI
Representational image
12:41 Shivling uprooted in MP town, roads blocked
A temple of Lord Shiva has been desecrated allegedly by unidentified persons in Bamori town of Madhya Pradesh's Guna district, a police official said on Thursday.
The miscreants also uprooted the 'Shivling' from the temple and threw it outside, the official said, adding the incident took place on the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday. Some people angry over the incident staged a road blockade in the town, located about 40 km from the district headquarters, and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
Heavy security was deployed in the area to maintain peace, Bamori police station in-charge Arvind Gaud said.
The temple is situated on the outskirts of Bamori town. Some five-six people allegedly desecrated the temple in the night.
When the locals came to know about the incident, they informed the police, the official said. Enraged over the incident, the locals staged a 'chakka jam' (road blockade) on the main square of the town and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits, he said. An FIR has been registered against five-six unidentified persons and a probe is on into the incident, he added. -- PTI
12:19 FM talks 3 Ds: Democracy, demography, diversity
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday asserted that the BJP-led government at the Centre has worked with an approach to development that is "all-round, all-inclusive and all-pervasive" ('sarvangin', 'sarvasparshi' and 'sarvasamaveshi') and said that the trinity of "Democracy, Demography and Diversity" can help fulfil the aspirations of every Indian.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting her sixth Budget ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, said that the Indian economy has witnessed a profound positive transformation in the last 10 years.
"The next five years will be the years of unprecedented development. Trinity of democracy, demography and diversity can help fulfil the aspirations of every Indian. The Indian economy has witnessed a profound positive transformation in the last 10 years, The people of India are looking ahead to the future with hope and optimism," the Finance Minister said in her budget speech.
Stating that her government's vision of development covers all castes and people at all levels, Sitharaman said the aim is to make India a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed Bharat) by 2047.
"As our Prime Minister firmly believes, we need to focus on four major castes, they are gareeb (poor), mahilayein (women), yuva (youth) and annadata (farmers). Their needs, their aspirations and their welfare are our highest priority," Finance Minister said while stating that the main focus of the Interim Budget stands on four pillars. -- PTI
11:48 We worked for people, bless us in polls: FM
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday presented the Interim Budget 2024 and expressed hope that the good policies and the work done by the Central government will help the BJP return to power for the third consecutive time in a row.
Addressing the Lok Sabha, the Union Finance Minister in her budget speech said, "Our young country has high aspirations, pride in its present and hope and confidence for a bright future. We expect that our government based on its stupendous work will be blessed again by the people with a resounding mandate."
She further stated that the government has assisted 25 crore people to come out of multidimensional poverty in the last 10 years."In the second term, our government strengthened its vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas," the Finance Minister said.
Hemant Soren hands in his resignation to the governor
11:38 Soren sent out this message before his arrest...
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha executive president and former chief minister Hemant Soren, who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, has said that the time has come to wage a war against a feudal system that oppresses poor people, Dalits and tribals. The JMM leader also claimed that his arrest was "planned".
"I will not cow down...Ultimately truth will prevail," Soren said in a video message recorded just before his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate and released on Thursday.
He was arrested on Wednesday night by the central agency in the money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam after resigning as the Jharkhand chief minister, and party loyalist and state Transport Minister Champai Soren was named as his successor.
"We will have to wage a war against a feudal system that oppresses poor people, Dalits and tribals," he said. Soren also claimed that he was not linked to the money laundering case in which he was arrested.
"The ED has come to arrest me. After questioning me for the entire day, they decided to arrest me in a planned manner in an issue which is not linked to me. They hatched a conspiracy against me. They (ED) found no evidence and tried to tarnish my image by conducting raids in Delhi," Soren said in the video message.
The JMM leader was arrested after a seven-hour grilling by the ED in the money laundering case at his official residence.
11:20 Next is Kejriwal: BJP MP after Soren's arrest by ED
Calling the action of the Enforcement Directorate on Hemant Soren "right", Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Harnath Singh Yadav said that the next number is Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
"If we think deeply about the roots of corruption that have become strong in India, then it is politics. The ED (Enforcement Directorate) action on Hemant Soren is absolutely right. Next is Kejriwal's number," Harnath Singh Yadav told ANI on Thursday.
Reacting to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's 'Vipaksh Mitao Cell (Remove opposition cell) of the BJP remarks, Yadav said that Rahul Gandhi is on bail in seven cases.
"Whether it is Rahul Gandhi or other leaders involved in corruption, they all just want to save their lives, which is why they talk like this. Rahul Gandhi is on bail in seven cases. He should be ashamed before saying this. All corrupt leaders will go to jail," he added.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the arrest of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case.
"ED, CBI, IT etc are no longer government agencies. They are now the 'Vipaksh Mitao Cell (Remove opposition cell) of the BJP. The BJP, itself sunk deep in corruption, is running a campaign to destroy democracy," Gandhi said in a post on social platform X. -- ANI
11:13 Bengal+Tamil Nadu in FM's sari
Journalist Pallavi Ghosh makes an observation. "The sarees chosen by @nsitharaman do tell a saree - Bengal kantha in mulberry silk.. colour is Ramar (Shri Ram) blue as it's called in Tamil Nadu"
10:58 Gyanvapi: Prayers performed inside Vyas cellar
Prayers were performed inside a cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque here on Wednesday night following court orders, president of the Kashi Vishwanath temple trust Nagendra Pandey said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the district court ruled that a priest can perform prayers before the idols in a cellar of the Gyanvapi Masjid, a significant development in the legal battle over the mosque adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
Pandey told PTI that at around 10.30 pm on Wednesday, "Vyas ji's cellar was opened after 31 years for prayers."
Asked if prayers were performed in the basement, he said, "Yes." "It was necessary to follow the court's orders, so the district administration made all the arrangements with great promptness," Pandey added. District Magistrate S Rajlingam said, "I have complied with the court's order." Some locals claimed that after cleaning the cellar, an 'aarti' of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh was performed.
Official sources in the district administration said at around 9.30 pm on Wednesday, the members of the Kashi-Vishwanath Trust were called and the barricades before the Nandi statue facing the mosque's 'wazukhana' were removed.
The court had directed the local administration to make arrangements within seven days for prayers in the cellar. This will involve "proper arrangements" with metal barricades at the complex, it said. -- PTI
10:51 Sitharam to present 6th Budget, will equal this FM's record...
Update: The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday approved the pre-election budget 2024-25, sources said. Following this, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her sixth budget in the Lok Sabha. She will equal the record of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai.
Sitharaman, the first full-time woman finance minister of the country, has presented five full budgets since July 2019 and will present an interim or vote-on-account budget on Thursday.
With this, she will surpass the records of her predecessors like Manmohan Singh, Arun Jaitley, P Chidambaram, and Yashwant Sinha, who had presented five budgets in a row.
Desai, as finance minister, had presented five annual budgets and one interim budget between 1959 and 1964. The interim budget 2024-25 will be a vote-on-account that will give the government authority to spend certain sums of money till a new government comes to office after the April-May general elections.
10:47 Union Cabinet approves pre-election Budget
Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approves pre-election Budget.
10:41 Rail stocks trade higher ahead of Budget
Stocks of companies related to railways were trading in the positive territory on Thursday morning ahead of the presentation of the interim Budget.
Shares of IRCON International rallied 3.26 per cent, Texmaco Rail & Engineering jumped 2.71 per cent, Indian Railway Finance Corporation climbed 2.58 per cent and Rail Vikas Nigam advanced 1.52 per cent on the BSE. The stock of Jupiter Wagons went up 1.46 per cent, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) (0.88 per cent) and Titagarh Rail Systems (0.71 per cent).
Will the Budget be meetha too?
10:33 Guess who FM met before she arrived at Parl?
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday called on President Droupadi Murmu before presenting the pre-election Budget for 2024-25. As per established tradition, the finance minister met the President at the Rashtrapati Bhawan before heading to Parliament.
"Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt Nirmala Sitharaman along with Ministers of State Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad and Shri Pankaj Chaudhary and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan before presenting the Union Budget," Rashtrapati Bhawan said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). President Murmu extended her best wishes to the finance minister.
The Union Cabinet met thereafter to clear the Budget. Before the actual presentation in Parliament, the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will approve the Budget for fiscal year 2024-25 (April 2024 to March 2025).
Remember masks? Wear them!
10:27 India logs 160 fresh Covid cases
India saw a single-day rise of 160 Covid cases, while the number of active cases stood at 1,338, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.
One death from Maharashtra was reported in 24 hours, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am. The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till December 5, but cases had begun to increase after the emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.
After December 5, a maximum of a single-day rise of 841 new cases was reported on December 31, 2023, which is 0.2 per cent of the peak cases reported in May 2021, official sources said.
No 'Paytm karo' soon
10:21 Paytm shares slump 20%; hit lower circuit limit
Shares of One97 Communications Ltd, which owns Paytm brand, plummeted 20 per cent on Thursday as the RBI directed Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) to stop accepting deposits or top-ups in any customer accounts, wallets, FASTags and other instruments after February 29.
The stock cracked 20 per cent to Rs 608.80 -- its lower circuit limit -- on the BSE. At the NSE, it tumbled 19.99 per cent to hit the lowest trading permissible limit for the day of Rs 609.
The company's market capitalisation (mcap) also eroded by Rs 9,646.31 crore to Rs 38,663.69 crore in early trade. However, any interest, cashbacks, or refunds may be credited back to customers anytime.
The direction follows persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns, the central bank said in a statement.
RBI also said the 'nodal accounts' of One97 Communications Ltd (OCL) and Paytm Payments Services are to be terminated at the earliest, in any case not later than February 29, 2024.
Team Sitharaman
10:18 Sitharaman takes tab in red pouch to Parliament
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday again took a digital tablet wrapped in a traditional 'bahi-khata' style pouch as she headed for Parliament to present the interim Budget 2024-25 in a paperless format just like the previous three years.
She posed for the traditional 'briefcase' picture outside her office, along with her team of officials, before heading to meet the President.
She was holding a tablet instead of a briefcase to present the Budget in a digital format. With the tablet carefully kept inside a red cover with a golden-coloured national emblem embossed on it instead of the briefcase, she went straight to Parliament after meeting President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Sitharaman, India's first full-time woman Finance Minister, had in July 2019 ditched the colonial legacy of a Budget briefcase for the traditional 'bahi-khata' to carry Union Budget papers.
She used the same in the following year, and in a pandemic-hit 2021, she swapped traditional papers with a digital tablet for carrying her speech and other Budget documents. That tradition has continued on Thursday. -- PTI
10:08 FM in Parliament, 7 key numbers to watch for
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting the pre-election Budget which would list out achievements of the Modi government in the past 10 years, while giving a glimpse of the future plans to make India a developed nation by 2047.
All eyes will be on whether Sitharaman will deliver a populist budget leaving more money in hands of the common man or push the reform agenda by staying on the fiscal glide path to lower the fiscal deficit to 4.5 per cent of GDP by 2025-26. Sitharaman, who would be presenting her sixth straight budget, had in her first Budget in 2019 replaced the leather briefcase -- which had been in use for decades for carrying budget documents -- with a traditional 'bahi-khata' wrapped in red cloth.
This year's Budget would be in paperless form, as done in the last three years.
Here are the key numbers to watch for in pre-election Budget 2024-25:
* Fiscal Deficit: The budgeted fiscal deficit, which is the difference between the government expenditure and income, for the current fiscal ending March 2024 is 5.9 per cent, against 6.4 per cent in the last fiscal. The number for 2024-25 would be in focus as it is widely expected that the government would open its purse strings in an election year. The budgeted fiscal deficit of 5.9 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) for the current fiscal is likely to be achieved, but it is nearly twice the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBMA) fiscal deficit to the GDP target of 3 per cent for the central government. Correspondingly, the debt-GDP ratio at 54 per cent is also well above the target of 40 per cent.
* Disinvestment/Privatisation: In current fiscal year the budgeted disinvestment target is likely to be missed, like the past five years. It is expected the government would set a realistic target of sub-Rs 50,000 crore for next fiscal.
* Capital Expenditure: The government's planned capital expenditure for this fiscal year is budgeted at Rs 10 lakh crore, higher than Rs 7.3 lakh crore in the last fiscal. The government has been pushing infrastructure creation and also incentivising states to step up capex.
* Tax Revenue: The Budget had pegged direct and indirect tax mop-up at Rs 18.23 lakh crore and Rs 15.29 lakh crore for current fiscal, taking the gross tax collection to Rs 33.61 lakh crore. The government's tax revenues are expected to overshoot the budget estimates on buoyant collections in GST; and income and corporate tax.
* Borrowing: The government's gross borrowing budget was at Rs 15.43 lakh crore in the current financial year ending March 31. The government borrows from the market to fund its fiscal deficit. The borrowing number would be watched by the market, especially on the back of expected higher capital expenditures to boost growth and populist announcements.
* Nominal GDP: India's nominal GDP growth (real GDP plus inflation) in the current fiscal is estimated to be 11 per cent. The Budget is expected to give an outline on the nominal GDP growth numbers. Real GDP growth in current fiscal is projected at 7.3 per cent and 7 per cent in the next.
* Spotlight would also be on spending on key schemes, like NREGA, as well as key sectors like health and education. PTI
10:03 Nirmala arrives at Parliament to present budget
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at Parliament with the paperless 'bahi katha', the budget tablet, to present the last budget before the general election 2024.
09:54 Markets turn highly volatile ahead of budget
Benchmark equity indices began the trade on an optimistic note on Thursday but later faced heavy volatile trends ahead of presentation of interim Budget.
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 248.4 points to 72,000.51 in early trade after beginning the day on a positive note. The Nifty went up by 62.65 points to 21,788.35.
Later, both the benchmark indices hit choppy waters and were trading between highs and lows.
Among the Sensex firms, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti, Power Grid, NTPC, IndusInd Bank and Sun Pharma were the biggest gainers.
Larsen & Toubro, Titan, Bajaj Finserv and JSW Steel were the major laggards.
Goods and Services Tax collections jumped 10.4 per cent to over Rs 1.72 lakh crore in January, reflecting buoyant economic activity and setting the stage for the next phase of GST reforms.
In Asian markets, Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong quoted in the green while Tokyo traded lower.
The US markets ended sharply lower on Wednesday.
The US Fed on Wednesday left its main interest rate steady and made clear it "does not expect it will be appropriate" to cut rates "until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably towards" its goal of 2 per cent. -- PTI
09:44 Budget copies arrive at Parliament
Interim budget copies have arrived in Parliament as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present her sixth straight budget today.
09:30 FM Sitharaman arrives at Ministry of Finance
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at the Ministry of Finance ahead of interim budget presentation.
09:08 Decomposed body of missing youth found in Manipur
The decomposed remains suspected to be of a 19-year-old youth who had been missing since May last year were found in Sokom village in Manipur's Chandel district, police said.
Ngangom Navy of Sugnu in Kakching district had been missing since May 28 last year and has been presumed dead.
The search for Ngangom resumed on Wednesday after a video went viral on Tuesday on social media where suspected militants were seen decapitating his head. Manipur Police identified the site where the video was shot and a renewed search was carried out during which the decomposed skeletal remains were found on Wednesday.
Clothes seen on the video seemed to match with those that were also recovered, police said, adding that "forensic experts are examining the remains to confirm the identity".
The remains had been deposited at the JNIMS mortuary. -- PTI
08:48 FM to present final budget before LS polls today
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will on Thursday present the Modi 2.0 government's last budget before the general elections, which is likely to contain a mix of measures for the economy and electorally significant segments like farmers and women.
Peppered with political innuendos, her sixth straight budget may present a political document with a snapshot of the Modi government's triumphs over the last 10 years and pointers to how it wants to take the country forward.
With pressure for populist measures off after recent emphatic wins in three states, she is expected to stick to being fiscally prudent while sprinkling sops on sectors like agriculture and engines of the economy that would create jobs and boost consumption.
The budget she will present is technically a vote on account and popularly termed an interim budget as it seeks Parliament's nod for a grant in advance to meet the central government's essential expenditure for the first four months of the new fiscal year that starts in April. A new government elected after the April/May general elections will present the full budget, likely in July.
The interim budget, however, presents an occasion for spectacle just weeks ahead of the Model Code of Conduct coming into force.
While the precedence dictates that no major policy announcements are made in a vote on accounts, going by past conventions hasn't stopped governments from making big announcements like the cash dole for farmers announced in the 2019 interim budget.
The budget is expected to focus on infrastructure and buck a trend of spending big on new vote-garnering measures.
The budget would, however, provide an occasion to assess the fiscal health of the economy against the backdrop of robust economic growth. It would provide an occasion for the government to give a clear roadmap for achieving the Fiscal Responsibility and budget Management Act (FRBMA) targets.
The budgeted fiscal deficit of 5.9 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the current fiscal is likely to be achieved, but it is nearly twice the FRBM fiscal deficit to the GDP target of 3 per cent for the central government. Correspondingly, the debt-GDP ratio at 54 per cent is also well above the target of 40 per cent.
EY, in a note, said the possibility of sustaining nominal GDP growth at 10.5 per cent, it may take up to 13 years to reach a debt-GDP level of 40 per cent. This is based on successfully reducing the fiscal deficit to GDP ratio to 3 per cent by FY29. -- PTI
01:12 Girl raped in front of parents in MP's Gwalior
A 15-year-old girl was gang raped at gun point in front of her parents by three men in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district, the police said on Wednesday.
The incident took place in the Bhanwarpur area on Monday night but the complaint was filed two days later, said additional superintendent of police Rishikesh Meena.
One suspect had been detained, he added.
The girl's family had moved into the locality only a month ago.
Further probe is on, the official said. -- PTI
File image
01:11 Five more Indian wetlands added to Ramsar list
Five more Indian wetlands have been added to the global list of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, taking the total number of such highly-recognised waterlogged ecosystems in the country to 80, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday.
Of the five wetlands added to the Ramsar list, the Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve and the Aghanashini Estuary are in Karnataka while the Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary and the Longwood Shola Reserve Forest are in Tamil Nadu.
The aim of the Ramsar list is to "develop and maintain an international network of wetlands, which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life, through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes, and benefits".
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
It is named after the Iranian city of Ramsar on the Caspian Sea where the treaty was signed on February 2, 1971.
India ratified the convention on February 1, 1982. Yadav said the emphasis Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put on environmental protection and conservation has led to a paradigm shift in how India treats its wetlands.
"This reflects in the Amrit Dharohar initiative envisioned by PM Modi," he said. -- PTI
JMM party workers protest against the ED for summons to Hemant Soren in Ranchi/ANI Photo
00:46 Jharkhand bandh called today against Soren's arrest
Protesting against the arrest of former CM Hemant Soren, several tribal outfits gave a call for Jharkhand bandh on Thursday.
Speaking to PTI, Kendriya Sarna Samiti president Ajay Tirkey said 15-20 tribal organisations from across the state will join the shutdown.
"Despite cooperating with the ED in the investigation, Hemant Soren was arrested. We protest this," he said.
Tirkey said that emergency services would not be hampered by the shutdown.
"We will not disturb schools if they were opened on Thursday," he added.
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Soren after over seven hours of questioning on money laundering charges in an alleged land fraud case.
Before the arrest, Soren tendered his resignation as the chief minister. -- PTI
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances