Centre Receives 28 Proposals from 23 States for New City Development
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs received 28 proposals from 23 states for the development of new cities, as part of the central government's initiative to meet the growing demand for urban expansion. This marks a significant step in fulfilling the commitment made in February 2021 to develop eight new cities. The proposals are under scrutiny, with a focus on ensuring quality and adherence to eligibility criteria set by the 15th Finance Commission.
In line with the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, the central government has allocated Rs. 8,000 crore for the development of eight new cities across different states. Each city will receive Rs. 1,000 crore. States are eligible to propose only one city each, and the proposals are being reviewed by an expert committee formed for finalising bid parameters.
The 13th National Seed Congress in Varanasi
The 13th National Seed Congress (NSC) 2024, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, was inaugurated by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan via virtual address. The three-day event hosted at the International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), Varanasi, brought together over 700 delegates from various sectors. The Congress focused on innovation, collaboration, and actionable strategies to enhance the Indian and global seed sectors.
Three-Member Judicial Inquiry Commission to Probe Sambhal Violence
The Supreme Court ordered the trial court in Sambhal not to proceed with the mosque survey case till the Shahi Idgah committee of the Jama Masjid moves the High Court. The court also said that the report of the mosque survey should be kept in a sealed cover and not to be opened in the meantime.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member judicial inquiry commission to investigate the November 24 violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, which killed four people during clashes over a court-ordered mosque survey in a Mughal-era mosque.
The panel is headed by Justice Devendra Kumar Arora, a retired judge of the Allahabad High Court. The other members include Amit Mohan Prasad, a retired IAS officer, and Arvind Kumar Jain, a retired IPS officer.
According to the government, the commission will investigate whether the violence in Sambhal was a planned conspiracy or a sudden incident. It will also investigate the role of people behind the clashes and submit a report in two months.
Nov 30, 2024
India and Bosnia & Herzegovina Strengthen Ties at 4th Foreign Office Consultations
India and Bosnia & Herzegovina held the 4th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina led by Arun Kumar Sahu, Additional Secretary (Central Europe) from India, and Tarik Bukvic, Head of the Department for Asia and Africa from Bosnia. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral political ties, trade and investment, scientific collaboration, cultural relations, and enhancing people-to-people connections through student and youth exchanges.
Both sides reviewed developments in their respective regions and addressed global issues, including multilateral cooperation through BRICS, the UN, EU, and NAM. The consultations are part of a broader effort to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties in 2025 and deepen multi-faceted relations.
Sanraksha App Launched for Enhancing Rail Passenger Safety
The Indian Railways launched the 'Sanraksha' mobile application aims to enhance the safety and security of passengers. It integrates advanced technology, including data analytics and potential AI applications, to train and build the capacity of railway staff while ensuring passenger safety. The app was launched after a successful pilot project in the Nagpur division, and it is being rolled out across various railway zones to create a more secure environment for travellers.
GST & Customs Pavilion Gets Bronze Medal for Excellence for the Public Communication and Outreach...
The GST and Customs Pavilion by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) was awarded the Bronze Medal for its exceptional contribution to Public Communication and Outreach at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024. This recognition underscored the CBIC's Pavilion's unwavering commitment to promoting taxpayer awareness and ensuring seamless information dissemination.
The theme of "Facilitating Trade, Fostering Economy" focused on creating an interactive and informative experience for visitors. Fostering greater understanding of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system and Customs procedures, the pavilion featured comprehensive exhibits and dynamic displays highlighting key aspects of India's Indirect tax ecosystem. For the first time, CBIC also adopted the Red Indian Panda as the official Mascot for the IITF-2024.
India Re-elected to UN Peacebuilding Commission
India was re-elected to the UN Peacebuilding Commission for 2025–2026.
India's current term on the Commission was expiring on December 31.
The Peacebuilding Commission is an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict-affected countries and is a key addition to the capacity of the International Community in the broad peace agenda, according to its website.
The PBC is composed of 31 Member States, elected from the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Economic and Social Council. The top financial contributing countries and the top troop-contributing countries to the United Nations system are also members.
It was established in 2005 with the passage of both A/RES/60/180 and S/RES/1645. Sérgio França Danese (Brazil) is the incumbent chair of the PBC.
Nov 29, 2024
Digital India State Consultation Workshop Held in Lucknow
A Digital India State Consultation Workshop was organised by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Uttar Pradesh Development Systems Corporation Ltd. (UPDESCO) in Lucknow.
The workshop focused on various national initiatives launched by NeGD under the Government's flagship Digital India Programme such as DigiLocker, Entity Locker, API Setu, OpenForge, myScheme, UMANG, UX4G among others. Important verticals like Cyber Security and Capacity Building were also discussed. The State led discussions on CM Helpline (1076) & IGRS, UIDAI Ecosystem and Aadhaar Authentication Services.
India, Japan Begin First Talks on Economic Security and Trade
The first round of the India-Japan Dialogue on Economic Security, Strategic Trade, and Technology took place in Tokyo. This important meeting focused on enhancing collaboration between the two nations in areas like economic security, supply chain resilience, and the application of emerging technologies. The dialogue was co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri from India and Vice Minister Masataka Okano from Japan, and it marked a significant step in strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
Nov 28, 2024
President Droupadi Murmu Unveils Sanskrit and Maithili Translations of the Indian Constitution
President Droupadi Murmu commemorated the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution by releasing a commemorative coin and stamp during the 'Samvidhan Diwas' celebrations at Samvidhan Sadan in Parliament.
Murmu also released three books on the Constitution to mark the occasion. The books, titled 'Making of the Constitution of India: A Glimpse', 'Making of the Constitution of India & its Glorious Journey'* and a booklet dedicated to the art of the Constitution, were released by dignitaries from both Houses of Parliament.
The President also unveiled translated versions of the Constitution in Sanskrit and Maithili.
Government Accepts Opposition Demand for Extension to Waqf Panel
While parliamentary proceedings got washed out for the second consecutive day amid protests by Congress-led Opposition on Gautam Adani's bribery indictment and Sambhal violence in Uttar Pradesh, the Centre offered an olive branch by acceding to its demands for extending the deadline for presenting the report on Waqf Bill by a joint Parliamentary panel till the Budget session and holding a discussion on the Constitution in Rajya Sabha.
Hemant Soren's Fourth Stint as Jharkhand Chief Minister
Hemant Soren took oath as the 14th Chief Minister of Jharkhand after his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led coalition won the 2024 state elections by securing 56 out of the total 81 Assembly seats. This is the 49-year-old's fourth stint as the Chief Minister of the state.
The oath of office was administered by Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, with several top leaders of the INDIA bloc and other dignitaries who attended the ceremony.
Centre Launches E-Daakhil in Ladakh, Completes Pan-India Rollout
The Government of India achieved a major milestone with the nationwide implementation of the E-Daakhil portal, an online consumer grievance redressal platform, now operational across all states and union territories. The final phase of this rollout was marked by the portal's launch in Ladakh, by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd.).
Introduced under the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 and launched in September 2020, E-Daakhil is an innovative platform designed to provide consumers with a hassle-free, paperless mechanism to file complaints online.
Nov 27, 2024
Cabinet Approves Continuation of the Atal Innovation Mission
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the continuation of its flagship initiative, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under the aegis of NITI Aayog, with an enhanced scope of work and an allocated budget of Rs. 2,750 crore for the period till March 31, 2028.
AIM 2.0 is a step towards Viksit Bharat that aims to expand, strengthen, and deepen India's already vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The approval underscores the government's commitment to fostering a robust innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in India.
The Atal Innovation Mission was set up in 2016.
Cabinet Approves 2 Hydro Projects in Arunachal Pradesh
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved two hydropower projects entailing an investment of Rs. 3,689 crore in Arunachal Pradesh.
An investment of Rs. 1,750 crore was approved for the construction of 186 MW Tato-I Hydro Electric Project and Rs. 1,939 crore for 240 MW Heo Hydro Electric Project in Shi Yomi District of Arunachal Pradesh.
Power generated from the two projects will help improve the power supply position in Arunachal Pradesh and will also help in balancing the national grid.
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