India News
Top News Today: Income Tax department seizes unaccounted cash of Rs 2.31 crore and jewellery worth Rs 2.48 crore from Rajasthan
Top News Today: Happy Diwali from ours to yours! We are here, so we will be delivering big news of the day on our live blog, so stay tuned and get to know tthe latest updates here.
The Income Tax (I-T) department has detected unaccounted income of over Rs 50 crore following raids on sand mining, liquor and real estate businesses in the border towns of Rajasthan recently, the Central Board of Direct Taxes said on Thursday.
Out of this, unaccounted cash of Rs 2.31 crore and jewellery worth Rs 2.48 crore had been seized, it said.
In Diwali message, UK PM Boris Johnson appeals to follow Covid-19 protocols
The United kingdom Prime Minister on Thursday extended the Diwali greetings to everyone around the world.
He said: ‘I want to wish everyone in the UK and the world, and particularly our friends in India, who have suffered so much earlier this year, a very Happy Diwali.’
BSF, Border Guard Bangladesh come together to celebrate Diwali in Tripura
The Border Security Force of India and Border Guard Bangladesh on Thursday lit candles and exchanged sweets to celebrate the festival at Akhaura in Tripura.
BSF, Pakistan Rangers exchange sweets at Attari-Wagah border on Diwali
Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers on Thursday exchanged sweets at the Attari-Wagah border on the occasion of Diwali.
Indian Army and Pakistan Army exchange sweets at Tithwal crossing bridge on the Line of Control (LoC)
12 BJP-ruled states, Odisha and Bihar announce additional cuts after Centre reduces excise duty on petrol and diesel
In an attempt to provide relief to people reeling under the impact of spiralling fuel prices, Twelve BJP-ruled states including Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Karnataka, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand announced additional cuts in petrol and diesel prices hours after the Centre reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹ 5 and ₹ 10 on the eve of Diwali.
The price cuts are in effect from Thursday, when the nation celebrates Diwali.
Odisha’s ruling Biju Janta Dal also announced a VAT reduction of ₹ 3 per litre on both petrol and diesel.
Bihar’s Janata Dal (United) government today reduced VAT rates on petrol and diesel by over ₹ 3 per litre.
23 Dead and few others seriously ill after allegedly consuming poisonous liquor
At least 23 people have died and a few others got seriously ill on the eve of Diwali after allegedly consuming poisonous liquor in Bihar’s Gopalganj and West Champaran districts, local authorities informed on Thursday.
While 15 people have died in Gopalganj’s Mohammadpur area, eight people have died in Bettiah area of West Champaran district.
25 people, including 6 IAF personnel, test positive for Zika virus in Kanpur
Twenty-five people, including six Indian Air Force personnel, on Wednesday tested positive for Zika virus in kanpur.
The total number of infection has reached to 36 in the district.
District Magistrate Vishak G informed that among the fresh cases, 14 are women. Six IAF personnel have also contacted the infection, he said.
Odisha reduces VAT on petrol and diesel by Rs 3 each per litre
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) of ₹3 each on petrol and diesel, which will be applicable from midnight of November 5.
In order to provide relief to general public from the rising fuel prices, the decision was taken, said the State government in a statement here. The reduction of ₹3 is over and above the decrease in excise duty announced by Centre.
Delhi air quality could deteriorate to severe on Nov 5, says forecast
Delhi air quality is set to deteriorate and reach the upper end of the very poor category on Thursday, going by a morning bulletin issued by the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi.
On November 5, the air quality will remain in the very poor category, but could deteriorate to severe if there are firecracker emissions on Diwali day, the forecast said.
8 die in West Champaran after consuming spurious liquor
At least eight persons have lost their lives after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in West Champaran district in Bihar
US to allow travellers vaccinated with Covaxin to enter country from Nov 8
The United States has given a green signal to travellers vaccinated with Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin to enter the country. The revised rules will come into effect from November 8, when the US is all set to open its borders to vaccinated foreign travellers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses soldiers in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Diwali, keeping up with his practice of spending the festival with Army jawans.For those who don’t know, this is not the first time when PM Modi is celebrating Diwali with the soldiers. Last year, he celebrated Diwali with the troops in J&K.
India News
President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to Women’s Reservation Bill
The new law provides 33% reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The Women’s Reservation Bill became law in India after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent, days after the historic vote in the Parliament. The new law provides 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. However, the law will be imposed after the new census and delimitation.
The Women’s Reservation Bill which is officially known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in both the houses during the special session of the Parliament. The historic bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on September 20, with 454 MPs voting in its favour and 2 voting against it. In the Rajya Sabha, the bill was passed unanimously on September 21 with 214 MPs voting in favour of the bill.
Issuing a gazette notification, the Government of India stated that the Bill has become an Act after the approval granted by the President. The notification read that the act will come into force on such date as the central government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
While supporting the historic bill in the Parliament, the Opposition condemned the government for not bringing the quota for women into immediate effect. Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the Parliament during the bill’s discussion that it could only come into effect after 2029 due to the pending census and delimitation.
A day after the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that with the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament, the nation usher in an era of stronger representation and empowerment for the women of India. He added that this is not merely legislation but a tribute to the countless women who have made the nation. He exclaimed that India has been enriched by their resilience and contributions.
India News
CM Arvind Kejriwal announces Delhi winter action plan to curb pollution
Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi government will also deploy 530 water sprinklers in an attempt to prevent dust pollution
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday affirmed that pollution levels dropped in the national capital owing to various government initiatives as he announced the winter action plan to curb pollution.
Addressing a press conference, CM Arvind Kejriwal stated that the number of days witnessing severe pollution levels declined in the past eight years due to several initiatives of the government, like the introduction of electric buses and the EV Policy, among others.
Announcing the winter action plan in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal stated that the Pusa bio decomposer that prevents stubble burning will be sprayed on 5,000 hectares of farmland this year against 4,400 hectares the previous year. As far as reports are concerned, the Pusa bio decomposer, developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) is a microbial solution that can turn paddy straw into manure in 15-20 days.
In addition, Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi government will also deploy 530 water sprinklers in an attempt to prevent dust pollution and 385 teams, who will be entrusted to check vehicles pollution certificates and prevent the plying of overage cars.
According to reports, in 2018, the Supreme Court banned diesel and petrol vehicles older than 10 and 15 years, respectively, in Delhi. The top court had added that the vehicles plying in violation of the order would be impounded. Further, a 2014 order of the National Green Tribunal bars vehicles older than 15 years to be parked in public places.
Arvind Kejriwal also reiterated that burning garbage in the open is banned in Delhi. He mentioned that 611 teams will supervise the implementation of the same. He also urged people to download the Green Delhi mobile application on their devices and report any pollution-causing activity to the government.
Speaking about stubble burning, the Delhi Chief Minister noted that in Punjab, they formed a government last year and the data from the last year showed that the steps taken in 6-7 months led to a 30% reduction in stubble burning.
India News
Karnataka Bandh: Pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj detained by Town Hall Police during protest
Five pro-Kannada activists were also detained after they entered the airport premises with a Karnataka flag to stage a protest.
Pro-Kannada and farmers organisations have called for a statewide bandh in Karnataka to protest against the release of Cauvery water to its neighbouring state, Tamil Nadu. During the protest, Town Hall police detained pro-Kanada activist Vatal Nagraj. Reportedly, five pro-Kannada activists were also taken into custody as they entered the Bengaluru International Airport to stage a protest.
According to reports, nearly 44 flights were cancelled at the Bengaluru International Airport on Friday owing to the statewide bandh. The airport authorities asserted that the flights were cancelled due to operational reasons and that the passengers were informed about the same in time. However, sources concerned to the matter said cancellations happened due to the effect of the Karnataka bandh since many passengers had cancelled their tickets.
Meanwhile, five pro-Kannada activists were also detained after they entered the airport premises with a Karnataka flag to stage a protest. According to an India Today report, the five detainees had booked flight tickets in order to gain entry to the airport premises.
On the other hand, normal life was affected, especially in the southern part of the state, with pro-Kannada and farmers’ organisations calling for ‘Karnataka Bandh’. Kannada Okkuta which includes factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha) and various farmers’ bodies that have given a call for the statewide dawn-to-dusk shutdown. The opposition BJP and JD(S) have extended their support to the bandh, together with hotels, auto rickshaws and hail riders associations in Karnataka.
A member from a pro-Kannada organisation in Bengaluru told PTI that they have come over here to protest against the Cauvery water issue. He added that Cauvery water sharing is a very old issue and that they should solve the problem at earliest. He further noted that all the parties of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka should sit and sort out this matter.
