Centre Bans Jammu Kashmir National Front for 5 years under UAPA
The Centre imposed a five-year ban on the Jammu Kashmir National Front (JKNF), a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference, under the stringent anti-terror law for sowing seeds of disaffection among people.
The MHA declared the JKNF headed by Nayeem Ahmad Khan an unlawful association with immediate effect under the UAPA. The order will have effect for a period of five years.
India, Dominican Republic Ink Trade Protocol
India signed the protocol to establish a bilateral institutional mechanism with Dominican Republic on trade and commerce to develop cooperation on trade, services and industrial technologies.
The protocol envisages strengthening and developing cooperation on trade, services, industrial technologies and various other sectors by means of technical assistance, training programmes and capacity building.
Union Minister Inaugurates 'National Speed Breeding Crop Facility' at NABI
Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of Science & Technology, inaugurated the 'National Speed Breeding Crop Facility' at NABI (National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute), Mohali. This initiative aligns with PM Modi's vision of increasing farmers' income and promoting Agri Start-ups.
The facility serves all Indian states, with a focus on North Indian states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir.
It speeds up crop improvement programs by developing advanced varieties resilient to climate change.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates India's First Automobile In-Plant Railway Siding
In a historic moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugural automobile inaugurated India's first in-plant railway siding at Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL). The ceremony, conducted via video conferencing, signifies a pivotal advancement in the execution of the Prime Minister's flagship Gati Shakti programme.
The primary objectives of this in-plant railway siding are to reduce the carbon footprint in logistics, decrease fossil fuel consumption, and alleviate road congestion.
Upon reaching full operational capacity, the Gujarat railway siding facility is poised to dispatch an impressive 300,000 cars annually to 15 destinations across India.
The collaborative effort behind this project includes Gujarat Rail Infrastructure Development (G-RIDE), a partnership between the Government of Gujarat and Indian Railways.
Mar 13, 2024
Nayab Singh Saini New CM of Haryana
Nayab Singh Saini, an influential leader from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community, was appointed as the new Chief Minister of Haryana. The decision was announced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), shortly after Manohar Lal Khattar, the outgoing Chief Minister and his entire cabinet stepped down.
Saini, the sitting Member of Parliament from Kurukshetra, has been associated with the BJP since 1996. He has held various organizational roles within the party and has steadily progressed through significant positions. In 2014, Saini was elected as an MLA from the Narayangarh constituency, and in 2016, he was appointed as a minister in the Haryana government.
Saini's appointment is seen as a strategic move by the BJP to consolidate its support among the OBC community, which constitutes a significant voter base in the state.
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin Announces Non-Implementation of CAA
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), whose rules were notified by the Union Home Ministry, will not be implemented in the state. The decision came amid growing concerns that the CAA goes against minorities and Sri Lankan Tamils living in camps in Tamil Nadu.
Recalling the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly's resolution against the CAA on September 8, 2021, Stalin highlighted the voices of opposition to the controversial act from other states as well.
Stalin hit out at the BJP regime at the Centre for notifying the CAA rules "in haste" when the Lok Sabha polls are approaching. The opposition parties have accused the ruling BJP of introducing the CAA for political gains and to polarize voters along religious lines ahead of the elections.
Kishor Makwana Assumes Charge as Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes
Kishor Makwana assumed the charge of Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) in New Delhi. Luv Kush Kumar also took charge as a Member of the NCSC.
Makwana has served as a joint spokesperson for the Gujarat unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is also a journalist, columnist, and author of more than 33 books on various subjects, including the life and works of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Swami Vivekananda, and Shivaji Maharaj.
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is an Indian constitutional body under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India established with a view to provide safeguards against the exploitation of Scheduled Castes and Anglo Indian communities to promote and protect their social, educational, economic and cultural interests, special provisions were made in the Constitution.
It was formed in 2004 with Suraj Bhan as the chairman.
PM Visits Arunachal and Opens World's Longest Bi-lane Tunnel
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the strategically important Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, the world's longest bi-lane tunnel, which connects Tezpur in Assam to Tawang in Arunachal. Built at a cost of Rs. 825 crore, the tunnel has been built at an altitude of 13,000 feet.
Mar 12, 2024
GOI Announces Implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
The Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government announced the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), bringing the law back into the spotlight. The CAA aims to provide a pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted minority communities from neighbouring countries, but it has faced criticism and protests over the exclusion of Muslims.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act was passed by the Central Government in Parliament in 2019. Its purpose is to grant Indian citizenship to refugees belonging to six non-Muslim communities (Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis) who have fled religious persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan and entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
According to the government's clarification, the CAA does not automatically grant citizenship to anyone. Instead, it modifies the category of people who can apply for citizenship by exempting the applicants from the definition of "illegal migrant" under specific conditions:
The applicant must belong to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian community and hail from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan.
They must have entered India on or before December 31, 2014, due to fear of religious persecution in their home country.
They will need to prove that they have lived in India for five years or more.
They must demonstrate that they have fled their countries due to religious persecution.
They must speak languages from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and fulfill the requirements of the Third Schedule of the Civil Code 1955.
J&K Police Launches "Operation Kamdhenu" to Combat Cattle Smuggling
In Jammu and Kashmir, the police initiated 'Operation Kamdhenu' to curb the rampant issue of cattle smuggling in the Jammu, Samba, and Kathua (JSK) police ranges. This crackdown aims to tackle not only the immediate smuggling activities but also to target the masterminds behind these illicit operations.
Under Operation Kamdhenu, a comprehensive strategy has been devised to scrutinize the activities of cattle smugglers. The focus is not just on apprehending the immediate perpetrators but also on identifying and registering the names of the main conspirators in the FIR (First Information Report).
Mar 11, 2024
PM Modi Participates in 'Sashakt Nari-Viksit Bharat' Programme in Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 'Sashakt Nari-Viksit Bharat' programme and witness agricultural drone demonstrations conducted by 'Namo Drone Didis' at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute on Monday.
Namo Drone Didis from 11 different locations nationwide will also participate in the demonstration simultaneously. During the programme, Modi will also hand over drones to 1,000 Namo Drone Didis, a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.
The 'Namo Drone Didi' and 'Lakhpati Didi' initiatives are integral to the prime minister's vision of fostering economic empowerment and financial autonomy among women, especially in rural areas, the statement said.
To further this vision, Prime Minister Modi will felicitate 'Lakhpati Didis', who have achieved success with the support of the 'Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission' and are supporting and motivating other self-help group members for their upliftment.
PM Inaugurates Gurugram Section of Dwarka Expressway
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurate the Haryana section of the much-awaited Dwarka Expressway in Gurugram (Haryana) in March 2024.
The eight-lane high-speed expressway is India's first elevated highway, and is expected to help improve traffic flow and ease congestion between Delhi and Gurugram.
The Haryana section includes two packages -- from the Delhi-Haryana border to Basai ROB (10.2 km) and from Basai ROB to Kherki Daula (Cloverleaf Interchange) (8.7 km).
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Gurugram section of the Dwarka Expressway on March 11.
"The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Dwarka expressway on March 11, subject to clearance from the department," Khattar said, referring to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
According to NHAI officials, approximately 99 per cent of the work on the Gurugram section of the expressway has been finished, with around 90 per cent completion in the Delhi segment.
Bichom Becomes the 27th District of Arunachal Pradesh
Bichom, the 27th district of Arunachal Pradesh, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
The state assembly passed the Arunachal Pradesh (Re-Organisation of Districts) (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in February, leading to the creation of Bichom and Keyi Panyor districts.
Bichom, carved out of West and East Kameng, includes 27 villages from West Kameng and 28 from East Kameng, marking a significant milestone for the region.
Rangpo, Sikkim's First Railway Station
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Sikkim's first railway station at Rangpo. The prime minister emphasised that the station's design will draw inspiration from the rich culture, heritage, and architecture of the Himalayan state.
The foundation stone laying for the Rangpo railway station is a historic and proud moment for Sikkim. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who was present at the function held in Khanikola, Rangpo, highlighted the station's significance in the context of 'Viksit Bharat@2047' and its potential to enhance the tourism sector by offering expedited and convenient travel options.
Mar 10, 2024
The government has announced the extension of the Rs 300 per LPG cylinder subsidy to poor women u...
Mr. Munda said, the Tribal Affairs Ministry has collaborated with the Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru to provide skill training to Scheduled Tribe students in the field of Semiconductor.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda has said that 740 Eklavya Model Residential Schools will be made functional across the country by 2025-26. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Mr Munda said, out of these, 401 Eklavya Model Residential schools have been started. He said that ten thousand teachers have been recruited for these schools and soon ten thousand more teachers will be recruited.
Ujjwala Scheme: Govt extends Rs 300 LPG subsidy for beneficiaries for FY25
Union Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has decided to extend this subsidy until 2024-25. It is expected to benefit nearly 10 crore families and will cost the government Rs 12,000 crore.
The government has announced the extension of the Rs 300 per LPG cylinder subsidy to poor women under the Ujjwala Yojana for the next fiscal starting April 1. The subsidy was increased from Rs 200 per cylinder last year.
The announcement comes ahead of the general elections scheduled for April-May. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in May 2016 to provide deposit-free LPG connections to adult women of poor households.
WCD Ministry organises Poshan Pakhwada 2024 from 9th March to 23rd March
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is organising Poshan Pakhwada 2024 from today to the 23rd of March. During the Pakhwada, mass sensitisation and community activities will be held around the themes including Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, dietary practices focused on sensitisation around nutrition and health of pregnant women.
The Ministry in a statement said that in addition to these themes, States and partner Ministries and Departments can also organise additional sensitisation activities around other important areas. They include improving nutrition through Mission LiFE and adopting Sustainable
Food Systems by promoting Millet and Poshan Vatikas at Anganwadi Centres. Besides, Diarrhea management; Tests, Treat, Talk Anemia; and Swasth Balak Spardha can also be organised to promote regular growth measurement of enrolled children at Anganwadi Centres.