Day: November 13, 2023

PM Modi to launch tribal groups development mission worth Rs 24,000 Cr on 15 Nov

Manish Kumar

In a huge step to empower tribals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the PM PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) Development Mission on Nov 15th.  Last year, the Centre declared November 15 as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’ dedicated to the memory of tribal freedom fighters.   November 15 is the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda who is revered as Bhagwan by tribal communities across the country.  There are 75 PVTGs in 18 States & UTs living in 22,544 villages (220 districts) having a population of around 28 lakhs.  The mission will…

South Asia has the highest number of children struggling with severe water scarcity: UN

Manish Kumar

Nearly 350 million children are struggling with “high or extremely high-water scarcity” in South Asia, the highest number among all regions in the world- a report by the United Nations.  The report also noted how water scarcity affects a child’s well-being and growth and causes food insecurity, malnutrition, and a number of other diseases.  The eight-nation region – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, is home to more than one-quarter of the world’s children.  Across South Asia, 70 million children live in drought-prone regions where aquifers…

Gaza’s largest hospital stops functioning; ‘Countries cannot remain mute spectators,’ says WHO

Manish Kumar

Thousands of Gazans have sought shelter around the Al-Shifa hospital as the battle continued in surrounding areas.   The Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City is out of service due to a lack of generator fuel, said the Palestinian Red Crescent  Around 3,000 patients and staff are trapped at the hospital complex without adequate water and food, according to the UN agencies.  Israeli forces reached the gates of Gaza City’s main hospital,  The primary target in their battle to seize control of the northern half of the Gaza Strip, where medics…

Billionaire Gautam Singhania Announces Separation from Wife After 32 Years of Marriage

Manish Kumar

Billionaire Gautam Singhania on Monday announced separation from his wife Nawaz, saying the two have decided to pursue different paths.  Gautam Singhania, 58, had married Nawaz Modi, daughter of solicitor Nadar Modi, in 1999.  He had married Nawaz, who was 29 years old in 1999, after eight years of courtship.   “32 years of being together as a couple, growing as parents and always being a strength of each other, we traversed with commitment, resolve, faith as along came the two most beautiful additions in our lives,” he said.  He…

Chhattisgarh: 100 of 953 candidates contesting second phase facing criminal cases, says poll watchdog

Manish Kumar

A total of 958 candidates will contest the second phase of the Chhattisgarh elections. At least 100 out of 953 candidates contesting the second phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls have criminal cases against their names.  As per a report by the Chhattisgarh Election Watchdog, out of 953 candidates analysed, 100 candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.  The elections for 20 out of the total 90 Assembly seats in the state were held on November 7, while the remaining 70 constituencies will go to polls in the second phase…

Odisha’s seed girl shines at international convention on millets, I will fight for the farmers’ rights,” said the girl

Manish Kumar

A Class VII student of Odisha’s Koraput district was the cynosure of all eyes at the international convention on millets.  The seed girl Harasita Priyadarshani Mohanty has been able to collect 85 types of millets.  All the millet varieties were on display at the convention and she educated people about its nutritional values.  Besides millets, Harasita has been able to preserve 150 varieties of traditional grains of paddy.  “I want to become an agronomist in the future. I want to help the farmers’ communities. I will fight for the farmers’…

Government think tank proposes end of GST exemption due to unequal benefits

Manish Kumar

A leading government think tank has proposed the end of GST exemption even as the empowered rate-setting panel remains headless for nearly six months.  A study by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) argues for bringing all goods and services under the tax regime as the rich are getting more benefits.  Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) chairman Sanjay Agarwal last week said: “Industry should introspect if it wants a simpler GST structure.  At present, the regime gives tax exemption to several essential and basic…

Delhi Air Crisis Worsens as Diwali Fireworks Wipe Out Rain Relief; Delhi Clocks 140% Spike In Pollutant That Damages Lungs

Manish Kumar

The air quality in Delhi and nearby cities reached hazardous levels a day after Diwali with the widespread violation of the firecracker ban.  Most real-time air monitoring platforms this morning pegged the air quality index (AQI) above 500, with some places reaching as high as 900.  PM2.5, the most damaging of all particles present in the air, clocked an hourly average of 200.8 at 7 am, compared to 83.5 at the same time yesterday.  The Supreme Court last week clarified that its order banning firecrackers containing barium binds every state…

‘This time Madhya Pradesh has to celebrate three Diwalis’: Amit Shah in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh

Manish Kumar

Earlier today, BJP Chief JP Nadda, MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other party leaders released the manifesto for the upcoming Assembly election in Madhya Pradesh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday during a poll rally in Badnawar said that this time Madhya Pradesh has to celebrate three Diwalis. One will be celebrated tomorrow, the second will be on December 3, when the BJP government will be formed and the third Diwali should be celebrated on January 22, when Lord Ram Lalla will come to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.…

Ayodhya ram bhumi sets new Guinness World Record, lights over 22 lakh diyas during Deepotsav celebrations

Manish Kumar

Deepotsav festival is being celebrated in Ayodhya for the past seven years. Every year, the festival creates world record by lighting lakhs of diyas — earthen lamps. This year, the Deepotsav marks special importance as it’s happening before the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir. The Deepotsav festival in Ayodhya once again made a world record after over 22,23000 Diyas (earthen lamps) were lit up as part of Diwali celebrations. During the Deepotsav, 24 lakh ‘diyas’ (earthen lamps) will be lit on Ram ki Pairi. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today…