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Govt hikes wheat MSP by Rs 150 per quintal to Rs 2,275 for 2024-25

editor October 18, 2023Leave a comment

NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday announced a rise in the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by Rs 150 to Rs 2,275 per quintal for the 2024–25 marketing season, ahead of assembly elections in important wheat-growing regions. Since taking office in 2014, the administration led by Narendra Modi has increased salaries at the greatest rate. Prime Minister Modi presided over the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) meeting when a decision in this regard was made. The marketing-share price (MSP) for wheat for the 2023–24 marketing season (April–March) is currently Rs 2,125 per quintal.Anurag Thakur, the minister of I&B, briefed the media that the CCEA had recommended raising the minimum support price (MSP) for all mandatory rabi crops for the 2024–25 marketing season. "We have raised the MSP of six rabi crops in accordance with the CACP's suggestion. The MSP for wheat has been raised by Rs 150 per quintal, he declared. He also stated that the support price of wheat has been raised from Rs 2,125 per quintal in 2023–24 to Rs 2,275 per quintal for the 2024–25 marketing season. The primary crop grown during the winter months is wheat, which is sown in October and harvested in April. The minimum support price, or MSP, is guaranteed to safeguard farmers' interests. Below this price, government procurement agencies will not buy grain. [caption id="attachment_4150" align="alignnone" width="300"] Govt hikes wheat MSP by Rs 150 per quintal to Rs 2,275 for 2024-25[/caption]

Cabinet approves Rs 20,773.7 cr for transmission line to evacuate power from Ladakh

editor October 18, 2023Leave a comment

NEW DELHI: In order to build a transmission line for the purpose of evacuating power from a 13 GW renewable energy project in Ladakh, the Union Cabinet approved the project on Wednesday for Rs 20,773.7 crore. In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans to establish a 7.5 GW solar park in Ladakh. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) created a plan to install a 12 GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and a 13 GW Renewable Energy (RE) generation capacity in Pang, Ladakh, following a thorough field survey. According to an official announcement, building an interstate transmission system will be required in order to evacuate this enormous amount of power.It further stated that the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II - Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) for 13 GW Renewable Energy Project in Ladakh has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). The transmission line that will be used to evacuate this power will travel across Punjab and Himachal Pradesh before arriving at Kaithal, Haryana, and connecting to the national grid there. The project is expected to be operational by the 2029–2030 fiscal year, with a projected cost of Rs 20,773.70 crore, including 40 percent funding from the national government (Rs 8,309.48 crore). [caption id="attachment_4147" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cabinet approves Rs 20,773.7 cr for transmission line to evacuate power from Ladakh[/caption]

Adani Group ‘fleecing’ people to the tune of Rs 12,000 cr : Rahul

editor October 18, 2023Leave a comment

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress, charged the Adani Group on Wednesday with overbilling for coal imports and defrauding consumers out of Rs 12,000 crore in energy tariffs, citing a media article. Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a press conference at the AICC headquarters, urging him to preserve his credibility and come clean about the Adani problem by launching an investigation. Why is the prime minister being silent?By launching an investigation and requesting that the prime minister come clean, I am simply assisting him and defending his integrity, Gandhi claimed.At the press conference, the former head of the Congress exhibited a recent Financial Times investigation that said the Adani Group appeared to have imported billions of rupees' worth of coal at prices well over market value. According to Gandhi, Adani overcharged for coal imports and stole Rs 12,000 crore from "people's pockets." According to Gandhi, who cited the article, Adani purchased coal in Indonesia, and when it arrived in India, the cost had doubled. Gandhi asserted that the overcharging of coal was having an effect on the nation's electricity rates and increasing consumer electricity costs.Additionally, he claimed that this incident would have brought down any administration in the world, but India was taking no action. "Adani has full protection of the government, everyone know which power is behind him," he stated. The opposition party has also questioned the billionaire Gautam Adani's Group's financial affairs after US research company Hindenburg identified "irregularities" and accused it of manipulating stock prices. The Adani Group asserted there had been no wrongdoing on its behalf and refuted every accusation made in the Hindenburg report. The gang didn't respond right away to the recent accusations. [caption id="attachment_4131" align="alignnone" width="300"] Adani Group 'fleecing' people to the tune of Rs 12,000 cr : Rahul[/caption]

Div Com Jammu reviews periodical revision of Jammu Master Plan 2032

editor October 18, 2023Leave a comment

JAMMU:Ramesh Kumar, the Divisional Commissioner for Jammu, presided over a meeting today to discuss the ongoing revision of the Jammu Master Plan 2032. Rahul Yadav, the commissioner of JMC Jammu, Vivekanand Rai, the director of tourism in Jammu, Shiv Kumar Gupta, the vice chairman of the Jammu Development Authority, DFOs of Jammu and Samba, Jal Shakti, the chief engineer of JPDCL, FA & CAO JDA, and other relevant officers were present at the meeting. Deputy Commissioner Jammu and Samba participated via video conference.Naresh Kumar Dhiman, Chief Planner, TCPO New Delhi; Jit Kumar Gupta, Former Advisor Town Planning, (Retired) PUDA; Jacob Manohar, Associate Town & Country Planner, TCPO New Delhi; and other members of the Technical Committee attended via video conference. The Jammu Master Plan (JMP) 2032 was methodically laid out in a thorough PowerPoint presentation by the Town and Country Planning Government of New Delhi to open the conference. Planning area JMP 2032, which includes the Jammu Municipal Corporation and the municipalities of Bari Bharamna, Vijaypur, Bishnah, and Gho Manasa, was disclosed.The total planned area increases from 652.33 sq KM to 778.3 sq KM with the addition of the recognised 93 plus 54 villages that were not notified and the correction of the JMP 2032 boundary by aligning the Revenue Villages' boundaries at the periphery. There are currently 350 communities included within the ratified Master Plan border, including 54 that were previously unnotified and 93 that have already received approval. It was notified that the land usage survey had been conducted satisfactorily.To increase the success of the strategy, AIILSG & Sustainable Alternative Private Ltd. has been contracted to conduct surveys on socioeconomic issues, traffic, and transportation. Divisional Commissioner emphasised the need to prioritise zones based on their specific needs. To maintain parallel success across many sectors, he emphasised the significance of coordinated efforts on zonal development plans and rural development plans. In-depth discussions were held on important issues, and department heads were instructed to provide thorough information about ongoing projects and allot land for new ideas and projects.The details of all the roads were to be shared by NHAI and PWD officials so that they could be included in the JMP 2023 map. Furthermore, he emphasised the need for public input in order to resolve any concerns and recommended the early submission of the draught master plan. [caption id="attachment_4116" align="alignnone" width="300"] Div Com Jammu reviews periodical revision of Jammu Master Plan 2032[/caption]

Assembly polls in J&K will be held soon : Chugh

editor October 18, 2023Leave a comment

JAMMU: BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh asserted on Tuesday that the BJP's vote share and seat count increased in the just-concluded Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (Kargil) election and that Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held soon once the process of delimitation and preparing the voter list has been completed. He added that the Gupkar alliance, which lost in the vote for local bodies, would have a similar fate in the vote for the Assembly. "The election will start on schedule. It had been decades since there had been any delimitation. The assembly constituency boundaries have now been established. The list of voters has been created.Political parties have received it so they can submit their reservations. The election will thus be held soon, Chugh informed the media present. He said that 700 written complaints indicating inconsistencies in the ward and gramme panchayat listings have been made by local bodies in relation to the urban local body (ULB) polls. We were denied the ability to vote. The Kargil ward and gramme panchayat system is flawed and was created with bias. In response to a query regarding the opposition's claim that the government has failed to hold the eagerly anticipated elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP leader replied, "I request the government to address this. In response to a different inquiry concerning the Kargil polls, he stated that voter turnout was five times more than in previous elections. "We only ran for 16 seats, but we gained the people's entire support. In contrast to the previous election, the BJP won two seats this time around, he noted. According to Chugh, the saffron party's vote share and seat total increased in the Kargil polls, and he accused the opposition of stoking uncertainty over it. The BJP leader commented on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir by claiming that the Union Territory, formerly regarded as the "capital of terrorism," has been transformed into a centre of development and tourism."Jammu and Kashmir has changed from being known as the "capital of terrorism" into a major tourist destination. Jammu & Kashmir, a province that was denied advancement for decades by the previous governments, has entered a period of growth, he added. According to Chugh, a new era of peace and development has arrived in Jammu and Kashmir, and the region's youth are now empowered. "Our effective campaign against terrorism is one of our greatest successes. Nobody can ever be forgiven for hurting our civilians, he declared. "Under the leadership of (Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief) Ravinder Raina, we are conducting jan samvad events at all booths," Chugh stated. [caption id="attachment_4112" align="alignnone" width="300"] Assembly polls in J&K will be held soon :…

Revival, restoration of Jammu heritage places on cards

editor October 18, 2023October 18, 2023Leave a comment

JAMMU: The District Level Coordination-cum-Implementation Committee met under the direction of Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar Vaishya to discuss the revitalization, repair, preservation, and upkeep of the district's historical structures. The DC stressed the necessity of maintaining the cultural and historical riches that define the area while arguing for a much-needed refurbishment and renovation for the beloved heritage monuments. In order to construct a comprehensive plan for the planned development of these prestigious areas, which hold a special place in the hearts of the local population and are rich in cultural significance, he gave instructions to Executive Engineers of PWD and Sub Divisional Magistrates.The Deputy Commissioner emphasised the significant emotional and cultural value associated with these locations, emphasising that the district government should give high attention to maintaining them. He put forth creative ideas to improve these treasured landmarks, including the considerate development of the neighbourhood to include welcoming public spaces and the encouragement of sustainable development, all while honouring the inherent architectural essence. The Jhiri Baba Jitto Shrine, Nagrota Kol Kandoli Temple, R.S. Pura Raghunath Mandir, Kameshwar Temple in Akhnoor, and many other locations will be covered throughout this discussion. SE Public Works Department, ACR Piyush Dhotra, Chief Education Officer, Yoginder Katoch, Deputy Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums, and others were present during the meeting. Virtually participating SDMs. [caption id="attachment_4109" align="alignnone" width="300"] Revival, restoration of Jammu heritage places on cards[/caption]

Dr Jitendra : Rs 117 Cr Earned From 2 Weeks Of ‘Swachhata’ Campaign

editor October 17, 2023October 17, 2023Leave a comment

NEW DELHI, Oct 17 : After reviewing the campaign's progress at the end of the first two weeks, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, revealed that the Government had generated an impressive sum of more than Rs 117 crore in the first two weeks of the ongoing Special Swachhata Campaign 3.0, just by disposing of scrap. According to the Minister, this has also led to the elimination of garbage and the creation of 32.54 lakh square feet of usable office space, which has since been cleared and made accessible for use.While evaluating the developments of Week 2 of Special Campaign 3.0 here today, Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), being the nodal agency. He was grateful for the advancements made in reducing pending cases and institutionalising Swachata during the campaign, which is being carried out at all national government buildings from October 2–14, 2023.According to Dr. Jitendra Singh, there is widespread participation among Ministries, Departments, and their field/outstation offices. He emphasised once more that the campaign's main objective is to cover offices with public interaction. He asked Ministries and Departments to conduct the Campaign in a saturation-style manner, covering all outlying offices, defence facilities, and PSUs throughout the nation.The Special Campaign 3.0, now in its second week, has seen extensive involvement from offices all throughout the nation and is comprehensive in size and scope. 32.54 lakh square feet of space have been cleared and more than 1.47 lakh sites have been covered. Government offices now have a widespread Swachhata movement thanks to the efforts of thousands of employees and residents.Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Secretaries to the Government of India have studied The Special Campaign 3.0 and are providing leadership and guidance in implementation. On October 12, 2023, Secretary of DARPG Shri V. Srinivas made field visits to Central Government Offices in Mumbai, including the Western Naval Command Headquarters, the Textile Commissioner Officer, the Addl. DGFT Office, the GPO Mumbai, and the CSMT Mumbai Railway Station.Every day, the progress of Special Campaign 3.0 is tracked on a special website (https://scdpm.nic.in/). Under the chairmanship of Secretary DARPG, review meetings are regularly held with nodal officers to assess the campaign's progress. With almost 6,000 tweets from Ministries/Departments, 450 tweets from the DARPG handle, 450 infographics on #SpecialCampaign3.0, and 150 press releases published, the Special Campaign 3.0 has significantly increased its online presence.The following advancements have been made as of the second week of Special Campaign 3.0, which runs from October 2–14, 2023: 1,47,757 Swachhata Campaign sites, 17,92,630 records management files evaluated (physical files and electronic files), 32.54 lakh square feet of space freed, 117.33 crore of revenue earned, etc. Best practises for Special Campaign 3.0's second week included the following: Postal service: murals at the Bengaluru Post Office.Tree House at Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Ministry of CultureDepartment of Land Resources: Health & Wellbeing Lectures, Department of Telecommunications: Independent Public Grievance Dashboard.Dr. Jitendra Singh acknowledged the Special Campaign's role in reducing pendency over time and urged all officials to keep up the momentum to meet 75% of their goals by the conclusion of Week 3. The Special Campaign 3.0 comes to an end on October 31st, 2023, and the Evaluation phase starts the first week of November. [caption id="attachment_4104" align="alignnone" width="300"] Dr Jitendra : Rs 117 Cr Earned From 2 Weeks Of ‘Swachhata’…

“Day not far when India will be among top 3 economies”: PM Modi

editor October 17, 2023Leave a comment

MUMBAI: The world is looking to India in the hope that it will lead the efforts for a new world order, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, adding that the day when India will be among the top three global economies is not far off. "In this changing world order, the whole world is looking towards India with new aspirations," Prime Minister Modi said on Tuesday when kicking off the three-day Global Maritime India Summit in the nation's capital. While the rest of the globe is experiencing an economic crisis, the Indian economy is becoming stronger. India will soon rank among the top three economic powers in the world, and that day is not far off.The prime minister of the nation emphasised the significance of the marine industry, saying, "History gives witness that whenever India's maritime capabilities has been strong, the country and the globe have tremendously benefited from it. Using this as our guiding concept, we have been working strategically to strengthen this industry for the past nine years. PM Modi continued by saying that the implementation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor will have a huge positive impact on the maritime industry. "Recently, a historic agreement on the creation of an India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was struck during the G20 Summit. This is a significant measure taken at India's initiative that may revitalise the maritime sector globally in the twenty-first century, according to PM Modi.He also laid the cornerstone for 18 billion rupee projects. He lay the cornerstone for the Tuna Tekra all-weather deep draught terminal, which would be built at Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat for more than Rs. 4,500 crore. A public-private partnership (PPP) strategy will be used to create the cutting-edge greenfield terminal. The "Amrit Kaal Vision 2047" for the Indian maritime blue economy was also unveiled by him. The summit is the largest maritime event that the nation has ever held. The inaugural Maritime India conference took place in Mumbai in 2016, and the second one took place essentially in 2021. The third summit will take place at the MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai from October 17 to October 19. the future of ports, decarbonization, coastal shipping, inland water transportation, shipbuilding, repair, and recycling, finance, insurance, and arbitration, maritime clusters, innovation & technology, maritime safety & security, and maritime tourism, among other topics, will all be covered during the three-day summit. The meeting will serve as a forum for luring investment into the nation's maritime industry. [caption id="attachment_4092" align="alignnone" width="300"] "Day not far when India will be among top 3 economies": PM Modi[/caption]

SC refuses to give marriage equality right to LGBTQIA community

editor October 17, 2023Leave a comment

NEW DELHI: A majority of the five-judge Supreme Court Constitution bench has declared that there is no unqualified right to marriage for LGBTQIA+ couples and that only legislation can grant civil unions legal status. On May 11 of this year, the decision that had been reserved by the bench that included Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha was given. However, the court ruled that the verdict will not restrict the ability of queer people to form relationships. The Special Marriage Act (SMA) challenge on the grounds of under-classification is not supported, according to the supreme court.These seats were shared by Justices Ravindra Bhat, Narasimha, and Hima Kohli, but not by Chief Justice Chandrachud or Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul. The bench made it clear that there were four judgements in the case at the beginning of the judgement. CJI Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Ravindra Bhat, and Justice Narasimha each presided over one, with the last being handled by CJI Chandrachud. According to his ruling, the CJI gave the Union and State governments the mandate to make sure there is no discrimination against the LGBTQ community. It should be made sure that the queer community has equal access to goods and services, according to the CJI. Sensitising the public about LGBT rights is necessary. To stop harassment, the federal and state governments must establish a hotline for the queer community. For gay couples, the government must establish safe houses. Additionally, the government must make sure that intersex youngsters are not made to undergo procedures. It should be made sure that no one is forced to receive hormone therapy, according to the CJI. The gay community shall not be subjected to harassment by being called into a police station merely to answer questions about their sexual orientation. Queer people shouldn't be made to return to their birth families by the police. Before filing a formal complaint (FIR) against a homosexual couple for their relationship, the police should do some preliminary inquiries. According to the CJI, this Court has the authority to consider the case.India has long been aware of the existence of the LGBTQ community. It is neither elite nor urban. Marriage is dynamic. Due to institutional constraints, the Supreme Court is not permitted to invalidate the Special Marriage Act or add new provisions to it. Discrimination occurs when the State refuses to acknowledge the slew of rights that result from an LGBT relationship. There must be any limitations on the right to union based on sexual orientation. According to current legislation, including personal laws, heterosexual relationships including transgender people are legal. In his ruling, the CJI stated that unmarried couples, including LGBT couples, are permitted to jointly adopt children.The right of the LGBT community to form unions must not be subject to discrimination by the Union Government, State Governments, or Union Territories. The CJI ordered the Union Government to form a committee to determine the privileges and rights of those who belong to homosexual unions. The Committee will think about allowing gay couples to apply for joint bank accounts, privileges derived from pensions and gratuities, etc. The Committee will also think about including gay couples as family in ration cards. The Union Government will review the committee report. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul stated in his concurring opinion that while marriage is not the end, legalising same-sex relationships is a step towards marriage equality. Justice Kaul urged us to maintain autonomy because it does not violate the rights of others. On a number of points in the ruling, Justices Ravindra Bhat and Narasimha dissented from the Chief Justice of India. The right to marry cannot be viewed as a fundamental right without any restrictions, according to Justice Bhat. Even while we concur that there is a right to relationships, we are clear that this right is covered by Article 21. It involves the freedom to select a partner and engage in physical intimacy with them, as well as the freedom to enjoy privacy and autonomy. These rights should be exercised freely and unhindered by the rest of society, and the state is required to defend them when they are in danger.…

Same-sex marriage: CJI says it is for Parliament to effect changes in law, equality demands that queer persons not discriminated against

editor October 17, 2023Leave a comment

NEW DELHI:The Special Marriage Act should be changed by Parliament, not the court, according to Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, who delivered his ruling on Tuesday on 21 petitions seeking legal recognition for same-sex unions. Justice Chandrachud stated at the opening that there were four judgements in the case, including those of himself, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, and P S Narasimha. A fifth judge, Justice Hima Kohli, is included on the five-judge panel. The CJI, who is in charge of the constitution bench, instructed the federal government, the states, and the Union Territories (UTs) to make sure that the LGBT population is not subjected to discrimination, stating that queer is a long-known natural phenomena that is neither urban nor elitist. In regards to the CJI's decision to provide certain rights to queer couples, Justice Kaul said he concurs. He added that legal recognition of non-heterosexual unions is a step towards marriage equality and that "non-heterosexual and heterosexual unions must be seen as both sides of the same coin." During the reading of his verdict, Justice Bhat stated that he shares some of the CJI's opinions and holds others of his own. The Chief Justice of India stated in his decision on the crucial issue that Parliament must consider whether a change in the Special Marriage Act's administration is necessary. The court cannot create laws. It can only interpret it and make it happen, he continued. According to Justice Chandrachud, the court has taken note of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's declaration that the government will convene a committee to deliberate on the privileges and rights of those who are members of LGBT unions. He ordered the Centre, states, and UTs to take actions to educate the public about gay rights and make sure that intersex children are not allowed to have sex-change procedures at a young age when they cannot fully understand the consequences as he read out the operative portion of his decision. Before filing a police report (FIR) against a gay couple for their relationship, the CJI instructed the police to make some preliminary inquiries. He claimed that homosexuality or queerness is not a phenomenon unique to urban areas or the wealthy.According to Justice Chandrachud, it would be erasing to think of gay people as just living in metropolitan areas. Queerness can exist regardless of caste or status. To say that marriage is a "static and unchanging institution" would be false, he claimed. According to Justice Chandrachud, the right to life and liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution begins with the freedom to select one's life mate. The CJI stated that refusing to accept such an association would constitute discrimination and that the right to join into a union involves the freedom to select a partner and its recognition. All people, including queers, have the freedom to assess the morality of their own lives, he said. According to the CJI, this court has acknowledged that equality mandates that LGBT people not be subjected to discrimination. According to him, it would be discriminatory against gay couples if the law made the assumption that only heterosexual couples could make excellent parents. The verdict is currently being announced. After a lengthy, 10-day hearing, the bench deferred its decision on the pleas on May 11. The Centre had stated to the Supreme Court during the arguments that any constitutional ruling it reached on the petitions seeking approval of same-sex unions might not be the "correct course of action" since the court would not be able to predict, envision, understand, and cope with any consequences. On April 18, the supreme court began hearing arguments in the case. The bench made it clear during the arguments that it will not consider personal laws governing marriages when deciding the petitions for judicial recognition of same-sex unions and that the Special Marriage Act's definition of a man and a woman is not "an absolute based on genitals." Some petitioners had requested the supreme court to utilise its full authority, "prestige, and moral authority" to pressure society into recognising such a union so that LGBTQIA++ people might live "dignified" lives like heterosexuals. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual, and ally persons are collectively referred to as LGBTQIA++.The Centre informed the court on May 3 that it would form a committee under the direction of the cabinet secretary to look into administrative measures that may be done to meet the "genuine humane concerns" of same-sex couples without addressing the question of legalising their union. On April 27, the court requested information from the Centre regarding whether same-sex couples can receive social welfare advantages such as opening joint bank accounts and designating a life partner in provident fund, gratuity, and pension plans without worrying about whether their marriage would be recognised by the law. [caption id="attachment_4086" align="alignnone" width="300"] Same-sex marriage:…

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