Govt announces various measures to check rising Current Account Deficit, fall in rupee
The government has announced an array of steps to check the rising Current Account Deficit (CAD), and the fall in rupee. The steps include removal of withholding tax on rupee-denominated bonds known as Masala bonds issued till March next year, relaxation for Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI), and curbs on non-essential imports.
The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi yesterday to review the state of the economy. During the meeting, Mr Modi was briefed by RBI Governor Urjit Patel and officials of the Finance Ministry.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters after the meeting that several issues were discussed during the meeting and decision on them are likely in the next few days. He said, the government has decided on a number of steps to contain CAD, which widened to 2.4 per cent of the GDP in the first quarter of 2018-19.
One of the important decisions is that mandatory hedging condition for infrastructure loans will be reviewed.
Asia Cup 2018: Subcontinental rivalry resumes once again, this time in Middle East
Asia Cup 2018 will witness subcontinental rivalry resume once again, but this time in the Middle East. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong will battle among themselves for the coveted title. India have been the most successful team with six titles including the only time it was played in the Twenty20 format, in 2016. However, the other teams in the event will be no pushovers will be looking forward to make a mark at the 13th edition of the tournament. Before the event kickstarts on Saturday, let’s take a look at all the teams
GROUP A-
India: Defending champions India boasts of a strong all-around contingent despite the absence of skipper Virat Kohli. Rohit Sharma will lead the team in his place. Sharma will be one of the key players to watch out for with an impressive record in the limited formats. Spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will be equally crucial on the drier UAE tracks. Young Khaleel Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar will bolster the seam attack.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Khaleel Ahmed, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Shardul Thakur
‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’ launch LIVE updates: Clean India will fulfil Bapu’s dream, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’, saying ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’ aims at fulfilling Bapu’s dream of a Clean India. From today till Gandhi Jayanti, let us re-dedicate ourselves towards fulfilling Bapu’s dream of Clean India. He is interacting with people from different walks of life including Amitabh Bachchan, Sadhguru, Ratan Tata, Army personel through video conferencing.
“I look forward to interacting with those who have worked assiduously on the ground to strengthen the Swachh Bharat Mission after which Swachhata activities will begin,” he had said on Thursday while announcing about the movement. He had asked people to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary this year by being a part of the Clean India movement. “The ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’ commences on 15th September. This is a great way to pay tributes to Bapu. Come, be a part of this movement and strengthen the efforts to create a Swachh Bharat!” tweeted Modi.
UN Secy General Calls on People to Make Democracy More Inclusive This International Democracy Day
United States (US): United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday said that democracy was under strain and called on people to make democracies more inclusive by bringing in both the young and the marginalised into the political system.
Speaking on International Democracy Day, Guterres said, “That is why this International Day should make us look for ways to invigorate democracy and seek answers for the systemic challenges it faces.” Guterres called on people and asked them to work together for a future that left no one behind and asked them to ponder on all pressing questions such as ‘What impact will migration or climate change have on democracy in the next generation? How do build better governance so that democracy delivers better lives and fully meets the public’s aspirations?’ among many others.
The UN chief said this meant tackling inequality, both economic and political. He added, “It means making our democracies more inclusive, by bringing the young and marginalised into the political system. It means making democracies more innovative and responsive to emerging challenges.”
Fuel price hike: Petrol at Rs 81.63/litre in Delhi, Rs 89.01/litre in Mumbai today
Fuel prices are continuing to set an all-time high record with each passing day across the country. Today, petrol price touched Rs 81.63 per litre (up by Rs 0.35 per litre) in New Delhi, and in Mumbai people will have to shell out Rs 89.01 per litre (up by Rs 0.34/litre), according to ANI.
Diesel prices, on the other hand, registered a similar surge in both the metropolitan cities. It is retailing at Rs 73.54 per litre (increased by Rs 0.24 per litre) in the national capital and at Rs 78.07 per litre (increased by Rs 0.25 per litre) in the financial capital.
On Friday, petrol prices were Rs 81.28 per litre in New Delhi and Rs 88.67 per litre in Mumbai. While the diesel was sold at Rs 73.30 per litre and Rs 77.82 in Delhi and Mumbai, respectively.
After a day’s lull, the upward march of fuel prices resumed Thursday with petrol price being hiked by 13 paise per litre to Rs 81 per litre and diesel by 11 paise to Rs 73.08 a litre, according to a price notification of state-owned oil marketing companies.
Jharkhand officials first to drive electric cars
RANCHI: Marking the beginning of e-mobility in the state, Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Wednesday flagged off electric vehicles at Jharkhand Secretariat in the presence of senior government officials. Initially, 20 vehicles were handed over to Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL), with the remaining 30 to be given in the next two weeks.
Twelve charging stations have been set up at four offices of JBVNL, including its corporate office in Ranchi, for creating a supporting infrastructure, which is crucial for the promotion of e-mobility.
"Electric mobility is an attractive, sustainable and profitable solution to mitigate climate change and the threat to public health caused by vehicular emissions. Today's event is an important milestone for ushering in an era of clean, green and future-oriented technologies in Jharkhand. We are glad to join the Government of India's mission of rapid adoption of e-mobility in the country and we would like to see our state at the forefront of this revolution," said the chief minister. This initiative is expected to help JBVNL save more than 1.20 lakh litres of fuel every year and reduce CO2 emissions by over 1,400 tonnes annually. In addition, the JBVNL will make monetary savings in maintenance as the operating cost of the electric vehicles is one-fourth of that of vehicles with an internal combustion engine.
The electric vehicles were provided to JBVNL following an agreement with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, for the deployment of 50 electric vehicles at various JBVNL offices in Ranchi.
National Scholarship Portal Mobile App launched
Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today launched the country's first National Scholarship Portal Mobile App in New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Navqi said, this Portal will ensure a smooth, accessible and hassle-free scholarship system for students belonging to poor and weaker sections.
He said all the scholarships are being directly transferred into bank accounts of the needy students under Director Benefit Transfer mode, which has prevented duplication and leakage.
Mr Naqvi said this portal will prove beneficial for students and will help in strengthening a transparent mechanism for the scholarships.
The Minister said during the last four years, about three crore students belonging to poor and weaker sections of minorities have been benefited from various scholarship programmes.
The beneficiaries include about one crore 63 lakh girls
Ministry of Steel t gave away Secondary Steel sector awards, for the first time
Speaking on this occasion Chaudhary Birender Singh said secondary steel sector contributes to more than half of the total steel production in the country. In order to enhance their global competitiveness, the awardhas been constituted. The Minister further added that in the context of India’s aim to create a globally competitive steel industry the secondary steel sector has to play an important role along with integrated steel players in order to achieve 300 million tonne capacity by the year 2030-31. At present India has 134 MT capacity. Secretary Steel, Binoy Kumar, said this recognition will encourage the secondary steel sector to strive for improving performance as well as quality of production. He said the consumption of steel in India has almost touched 70 kg per capita.
The secondary steel sector is a critical and important segment of the market spanning from construction, machine tools, cold rolled products, pipes, stainless steel, galvanized and color coated steel as well as exports. Nearly 150 units had applied for the awards, of which 82 units were inspected by the selection committee and the awardees were selected based on well-defined criteria.
Ranjan Gogoi appointed next Chief Justice of India
President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday appointed Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the next Chief Justice of India, the law ministry confirmed in a notification. Taking the baton from CJI Dipak Misra, Justice Gogoi will assume office on October 3, 2018, as the 46th CJI. His tenure will end in November 2019.
Read: Challenges for the next CJI
CJI Misra on September 4 had recommended Justice Ranjan Gogoi, the senior most judge present in the Supreme Court, as his successor. The recommendation was processed to President Kovind to issue the warrant of appointment, which was confirmed on Thursday.
Earlier, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar had said that government’s intention on the appointment of the next CJI should not be questioned and that the executive would take a call.
Haryana Vidhan Sabha passes State Commission for SC Bill
The Haryana Vidhan Sabha has passed the Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes Bill, 2018, for development and safeguarding the interests of people belonging to the community.
This Bill was passed Tuesday, which was the last day of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha session.
The Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes Bill, 2018, has been passed to provide for the constitution of Commission for Scheduled Castes in the state for the overall development and welfare of scheduled castes and safeguard their interests as per the Bill.
Besides, the commission would also check and curb the trocities being committed on the Scheduled Castes.
The commission will investigate and examine the working of various safeguards provided in the Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the government for the