Evening News

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 HEADLINES 

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• Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India is a beacon of growth and stability for the world; Highlights Government’s focus on ease of living, skill development and employment.

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, Government is committed to bring fiscal deficit below 4.5 per cent by 2025-26.

• Death toll rises to 110 in landslides at Wayanad in Kerala; Relief and rescue operations underway.

• In Paris Olympics, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh bag second medal for India with Bronze in 10 meter Air Pistol Mixed team event; Indian Hockey Men’s team beats Ireland 2-0 to lead Pool B.

• And in Cricket, hosts Sri Lanka win the toss and elect to field against India in third and final T20 match at Pallekele.

 

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reiterated that Government has given special focus on ease of living, skill development and employment. He was addressing the inaugural session of ‘Journey Towards Viksit Bharat: A Post Union Budget 2024-25 Conference’ in New Delhi. Mr. Modi assured that special focus is also on MSMEs which generates employment. He added that Government is ensuring Ease of Living and Quality of Life for all its citizens. He said, the country’s GDP is growing at eight per cent and the day is not far when it will become the third largest economy globally.

 

Mr Modi said, today India’s policy, dedication, determination and decisions are attracting the whole world to invest in the country. He said, India is a beacon of growth and stability for the world. Mr. Modi highlighted that the speed and scale at which the government is building infrastructure is unprecedented.                                      

 

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Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has said that India will be a developed nation by 2047 in which PM Gati Shakti will be a game changer. Addressing the session of ‘Journey Towards Viksit Bharat: A Post Union Budget 2024-25 Conference’ in New Delhi today, Mr Goyal said, the country will be a 35 trillion economy at that time.

 

Mr. Goyal emphasized that the government is committed to development in the Health, Education, Infrastructure, and Digital Sector.

 

The Minister said that the government made industrial parks for the economic boom and invited the whole world to invest in India.

 

The day-long Conference organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) aimed at presenting the outline for the Government’s larger vision for growth and the industry’s role in this endeavor.

 

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today emphasised that Government is complying with fiscal deficit trajectory and will bring it down to below 4.5 per cent by 2025-26. Ms Sitharaman was replying to the discussion on the Union Budget 2024-25 and the Budget for Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha today.

 

Ms Sitharaman said India is the fastest growing economy post-Covid. She said everyone should work together to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047. She pointed out that Indian economy is shining like a bright spot even after the Covid pandemic.

 

The Finance Minister pointed out that the Budget allocation for the department of agriculture and farmers’ welfare was only 21 thousand 934 crore rupees in 2013-2014. She emphasised that this has increased to 1.23 lakh crore rupees, which is an increase of five times. She added that more than 3.2 lakh crore rupees have been disbursed to over 11 crore farmers under PM Kisan since its launch. 

 

On the issue of unemployment, Ms Sitharaman claimed that the NDA government created 12.5 crore jobs in the last ten years in comparison to 2.3 crore jobs created by the UPA government in ten years. She added that employment opportunities have increased in the last decade and it has increased from 34 percent in 2014 to 51 percent in 2025.

 

Earlier, participating in the discussion, Devendra Singh of BJP said, this budget will take the country towards inclusive growth. Akhilesh Yadav of Samajwadi Party said, this year’s budget is silent about unemployment and development of rural areas.

 

Amraram of CPI (M) alleged that the Union Budget has no concrete provisions to address the concerns of farmers, soldiers, women and poor. Rajesh Verma of LJP (Ram Vilas) said, through this budget, efforts have been made to empower youth, women, poor and farmers. Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka of Congress alleged that it is a weak budget. 

 

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The Rajya Sabha today resumed discussion on the Union Budget 2024-25 and Budget of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir 2024-25. Participating in the discussion, Praful Patel of NCP said, the government has adopted a fiscal discipline approach and maintained the financial health of the country since 2014.

 

Intervening in the discussion, Union Minister and BJP President J P Nadda asserted that the Union Budget is for inclusive growth and economic and social development of the country. Mr. Nadda added that infrastructure development is the focus of the Budget along with job creation.

 

Participating in the discussion  Dr V Sivadasan of CPI (M)  alleged that this budget is against the federal spirit of the country.

 

Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena said she does not support the budget as it has nothing concrete for Maharashtra. The house is adjourned for the day.

 

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Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh will arrive in New Delhi tonight on a three day State Visit to India. He will be accompanied by a high level delegation including several Ministers, deputy Ministers and business leaders. On Friday, he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. He will also visit Raj Ghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. He will hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will also host a luncheon in his honour. Prime Minister Chinh is scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar is scheduled to call on the visiting Prime Minister. 

 

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In Kerala, the death toll has reached 110 in the landslide that ravaged Wayanad earlier this morning. Relief and rescue operations by Army and Navy personnel are underway in the region. Our correspondent reports that state mourning has been declared in the state till tomorrow.

 

“The army, navy and airforce along with the NDRF and other agencies today launched a coordinated effort to save the lives of those hit by the landslide. IAF choppers conducted sorties to shift the seriously injured from Chooralmala area to nearby hospitals. Army personnel ensured that many others were also shifted to safety by using ropes, pulleys and winches. The rescue efforts are continuing. The army will be moving a set of Bailey Bridge and flood relief materials from Bengaluru to the mishap site. Three sniffer dogs are being mobilised. It said around 150 persons were evacuated to safety from the affected area. Raj Mohan, Akashvani News, Kochi”.

 

NDRF Deputy Commandant, S Shankar Pandian said, NDRF teams are conducting search and rescue operation at various locations in Wayanad.

 

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi  have expressed condolences over the loss of lives in Wayanad.

 

Prime Minister Modi has announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased.

 

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In Jharkhand, relief and rescue operation after Howrah- Mumbai train accident has been completed. Two passengers were killed and 24 others injured following the derailment of 18 bogies of Howrah-Mumbai mail this morning between Barabambo and Kharsawa railway station under Chakradharpur railway division. Stranded passengers were sent to their destination by a special train. The railway has announced an ex- gratia of 10 lakh rupees to the next of the kin of the deceased.

 

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to Delhi Chief Secretary, Delhi Police Commissioner and Commissioner of Delhi Municipal Corporation over the deaths of three students due to drowning in the city. The Commission asked them to submit a detailed report in the matter within two weeks.

 

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In Paris Olympics, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh today bagged second medal for India with Bronze in 10 meter Air Pistol Mixed team event while Indian Hockey Men’s team defeated Ireland 2-0 to lead Pool B. More Details from our correspondent who is covering the games in Paris.

 

“Two in two for Manu Bhaker! The shooter has won her second consecutive medal for India in Chateauroux in an unprecedented and remarkable showing. Manu, teaming up with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed bronze medal match, defeated Lee Won Ho and Oh ye jin 16-10. Manu is the first athlete from India after Independence to win two medals at the same Olympics. The last time an Indian had achieved this feat was also in Paris in the year 1900, when Norman Pritchard claimed two medals in athletics. What an achievement. This is Sarabjot Singh’s first Olympic medal. The duo spoke to Akashvani.

 

Manu can get a hat-trick of medals if she triumphs in the 25m pistol event. Bhajan Kaur is playing in her first Olympics and survived the onslaught of a heatwave and two gritty opponents to make it to the round of 16 in the Women’s Individual Archery event. In other sports, the Indian hockey team easily defeated Ireland to remain unbeaten in the tournament and on course for a medal charge. The beautiful city of light has been lit up by the star Indian badminton duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, seeded third. They beat the Indonesian pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto in straight sets in their final Group C match to go through to the quarterfinals by topping their group. This is Shaurya Choudhary, Akashvani News, from Paris.”

 

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In Cricket, India were 102 for 5 wickets in 15 overs against hosts Sri Lanka in third and final T20 match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium when reports last came in. Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl. India have already sealed the series by winning the first two games. After today’s game, the two teams will move to Colombo for three one day internationals.

 

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast extremely heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe, and South Interior Karnataka for tomorrow. The weather agency has made similar forecast for Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh,West Uttar Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh till Thursday. According to IMD, the Monsoon trough is active and south of its normal position at mean sea level. It will gradually shift northwards during the next 4 to 5 days.

 

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN

 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India is a beacon of growth and stability for the world; Highlights Government’s focus on ease of living, skill development and employment.

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, Government is committed to bring fiscal deficit below 4.5 per cent by 2025-26.

• Death toll rises to 110 in landslides at Wayanad in Kerala; Relief and rescue operations underway.

• In Paris Olympics, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh bag second medal for India with Bronze in 10 meter Air Pistol Mixed team event; Indian Hockey Men’s team beats Ireland 2-0 to lead Pool B.

• And in Cricket, hosts Sri Lanka win the toss and elect to field against India in third and final T20 match at Pallekele.