Karnataka Bank Authorised to Collect Direct and Indirect Taxes
The Reserve Bank of India authorised private sector lender Karnataka Bank to collect direct and indirect taxes on behalf of CBDT and CBIC.
This was done on the recommendation from the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance.
Bank customers are already enjoying seamless online payments for custom duty by selecting Karnataka Bank in the Indian Customs Electronic Gateway 'ICEGATE' portal of CBIC.
The (ICEGA TE) portal of the Central Board for Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) provides e-filing services to the trade, cargo carriers and other trading partners electronically.
Canara Bank and NPCI Launch Cross-Border Bill Payment Service for Indians in Oman
Canara Bank and NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) launched a service that allows Indians residing in Oman to make payments for their bills in India. Canara Bank achieved a significant feat by becoming India's first public sector bank to provide inbound cross-border bill payment services through BBPS. This breakthrough means that Indians residing in Oman can now conveniently and securely pay bills for services in their home country with ease.
Musandam Exchange, which is supervised by Canara Bank, launched cross-border inbound bill payment services and became the first exchange house in Oman to do so. The cross-border bill payment service is currently operational in Kuwait and is facilitating the process of inbound remittances for various utilities such as water, electricity, gas, mobile phone, credit card bills, and more. This service's introduction in Oman will enable Indians residing in Oman to avail themselves of these advantages for the first time, signifying a significant milestone in India's progress towards digital payments.
European Space Agency Mission to Jupiter's Icy Moons Postponed
After weather experts warned of the potential for lightning strikes at the European Space Agency's spaceport in French Guiana, the JUICE spacecraft's scheduled launch for an eight-year trip was postponed.
Mission controllers scrapped the launch about 10 minutes before the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice, spacecraft was due to blast off on an eight-year voyage to survey a trio of Jovian moons where life may once have gained a foothold.
Shakib and Ishimwe Clinch ICC Player of the Month Awards for March 2023
The ICC revealed the winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards for March 2023, with Shakib Al Hasan from Bangladesh being named as the ICC Men's Player of the Month, while Henriette Ishimwe from Rwanda was selected as the ICC Women's Player of the Month. This is Shakib's second time winning the Player of the Month award, with his first win being in July 2021.
He beat out tough competition from Asif Khan of UAE and Kane Williamson of New Zealand.
Ishimwe outperformed other strong contenders, including Sibona Jimmy and Ravini Oa from PNG, to clinch the award.
BJP Announces Candidates for Elections in Odisha, Punjab
Bharatiya Janata Party announced the names of candidates for the upcoming Parliamentary and Assembly bypolls in Punjab and Odisha respectively.
Bypolls are scheduled to be held in Punjab's Lok Sabha constituency of Jalandhar (SC) and Odisha's Assembly constituency of Jharsuguda on May 10, the results of which will be declared on May 13, coinciding with those of Assembly elections in Karnataka.
The BJP has fielded Sardar Indar Iqbal Singh Atwal for the Jalandhar (SC) bypoll and Tankadhar Tripathy for the Jharsuguda bypoll.
India's Tallest Ambedkar Statue Unveiled
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao unveiled a 125-feet-tall statue of Dr. B R Ambedkar on the banks of Hussainsagar, marking the latter's 132nd birth anniversary.
The iconic structure of Ambedkar, which set another landmark for the state, is claimed to be the tallest statue in the country ever built for the 'architect of Indian Constitution' – with an overall height of 175-ft, including a 50-ft-high circular base resembling the edifice of Parliament of India.
The statue was designed by renowned sculptors, Ram Vanji Sutar (98) and his son Anil Ram Sutar (65) of Ram Sutar Art Creations in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, who also designed several monumental sculptures, including the world's tallest statue — the Statue of Unity (597 feet) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat.
IAF to Deploy Rafale Jets in First Overseas Exercise
India will deploy four Rafale jets, two C-17 aircraft and two IL-78 mid-air refuellers for a nearly three-week multinational air exercise 'Exercise Orion' at France's Mont-de-Marsan military base.
It will be the first overseas exercise for the Indian Air Force's Rafale jets.
The exercise will be conducted from April 17 to May 5.
Besides the IAF and the French Air and Space Force (FASF), the exercise will be participated by air forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain and the United States.
Amit Shah Confers 'Maharashtra Bhushan' on Appasaheb Dharmadhikari
Union Home Minister Amit Shah conferred the 'Maharashtra Bhushan' Award on renowned social worker and reformer Dattatreya Narayan Dharmadhikari, alias Appasaheb Dharmadhikari.
On February 8, (2023) Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2017, was named for the prestigious 2022 'Maharashtra Bhushan Award', comprising a medal, a citation and Rs. 25 lakh.
Incidentally, his father and the renowned preacher-reformer, the late Dr. Narayan Vishnu Dharmadhikari, revered as Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari was also conferred the 'Maharashtra Bhushan' 2008 award.
National Museum of Natural History and State Museum, Lucknow Sign MoU
National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), New Delhi and State Museum, Lucknow signed an MoU to work together in the direction of environment conservation and environment education among the masses. Under the MoU, multi-dimensional efforts will be made in organizing programmes for school and college students to create awareness about nature.
The MoU was signed by Director, National Museum of Natural History, Naaz Rizvi and Director, State Museum, Lucknow, Dr. Anand Kumar Singh, in the presence of Principal Secretary, Culture & Tourism, Mukesh Mishra at Paryatan Bhawan, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow.
The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) was established as one of the national level institutions during the Silver Jubilee celebrations of India's Independence, to portray and promote awareness on the Natural Heritage of the country.
State Museum, Lucknow works in collaboration with other Museums of the country with the aim of spreading awareness about the rich heritage of the country and the world to different regions of the country.