Month: July 2024

Major Shake-Up in NITI Aayog: Jual Oram Joins, Ashwini Vaishnaw Excluded

Manish Kumar

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government has reconstituted NITI Aayog, including more members from its allies as special invitees. Odisha Representation Changes From Odisha, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, also a BJP MP from Sundargarh, has been inducted into the government think-tank as a special invitee. He replaced Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, a Rajya Sabha member from Odisha. This move reflects an increase in representation from BJP allies in the NDA. Leadership and Members There have been no changes to the positions of Vice-Chairman and full-time members. Prime Minister Narendra…

Delhi High Court Reserves Order on Kejriwal’s Pleas in Excise Policy Case

Manish Kumar

The Delhi High Court has reserved its order on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the excise policy case. The court also reserved its order on Kejriwal’s interim bail request and scheduled the regular bail plea hearing for July 29. Legal Arguments Presented Senior counsel for Kejriwal, Abhishek Singhvi, criticized the CBI’s arrest of the Chief Minister and sought his release on bail. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna conducted the proceedings on a holiday due to Muharram. She heard arguments from…

Controversy Over Karnataka’s 100% Quota Bill for Kannadigas; CM Deletes Controversial Post

Manish Kumar

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently retracted a social media post announcing 100% reservation for Kannadigas in all Group C and Group D jobs in private companies within the state. This move sparked a significant controversy and prompted immediate clarification from Labour Minister Santosh Lad. Lad stated that job reservations in private firms would actually be capped at 70% for non-management roles and 50% for management-level employees. Clarification on Job Reservations Lad further explained that while the government aims to provide 70% of non-management jobs and 50% of management jobs to…

India to Spend 3.88 trillion Rupees on food and fertiliser Subsidies; Can Budget 2024 Also Solve the Housing Crisis?

Manish Kumar

India’s expenditure on food and fertiliser subsidies is set to reach 3.88 trillion rupees in the 2024 budget. This marks a 5% increase from the interim budget announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman before this year’s parliamentary elections. The country is expected to allocate 2.25 trillion rupees ($11.97 billion) for food subsidies, according to four government sources. This figure is approximately 11% higher than the February interim budget estimate, driven by increased spending on support prices for farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government will present a new budget on July…

Surge in Islamic State Activity: Attacks in Iraq and Syria Expected to Double in 2024

Manish Kumar

Dramatic Increase in Attacks The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has reported a significant resurgence in Islamic State (IS) activity. The group is on track to double its attacks in Syria and Iraq this year. In the first half of 2024 alone, IS claimed responsibility for 153 attacks, a stark increase from the 121 attacks recorded in 2023. IS Regroups and Strengthens CENTCOM has noted that this increase in attacks indicates IS is attempting to reconstitute itself. This resurgence follows several years of reduced capability. The announcement comes as IS marks…

Kishore Jena: From Near Quitting to Paris Olympics

Manish Kumar

Kishore Jena reveals that he wanted to leave javelin Jena will join Neeraj Chopra in the men’s javelin event Kishore Jena reveals how he returned into the fray Kishore Jena, a promising javelin thrower from India, almost gave up his athletic dreams in 2023. A series of disappointing performances led him to doubt his future in the sport. However, with encouragement from his father, Jena pushed through. Now, he is set to compete in the Paris Olympics alongside Neeraj Chopra. The Struggle in 2022 In 2022, Jena couldn’t break the…

Bangladesh Shuts Down Schools Indefinitely Amid Violent Protests

Manish Kumar

In response to violent protests that resulted in the deaths of six students, Bangladesh has ordered the indefinite closure of all high schools, Islamic seminaries, and vocational institutes. The decision, announced on Tuesday, aims to ensure the safety of students amid escalating demonstrations against civil service hiring policies. Violent Clashes and Fatalities The protests reached a peak in violence on Tuesday, with clashes between demonstrators and pro-government student groups. The confrontations involved thrown bricks, bamboo rods, and police using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. At least…

IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Files Harassment Case Against Pune Collector

Manish Kumar

Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar has filed a harassment case against Pune Collector Suhas Divase. Divase had reported Khedkar for allegedly misusing her power, which led to her transfer to Washim. Khedkar, who was serving as an assistant collector in Pune, was moved to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector. She was accused of demanding perks and facilities not entitled to a trainee official. Controversial Allegations and Investigation Khedkar’s transfer followed allegations that she lied about her visual and mental disabilities to clear the Civil Services entrance exam. Additionally, she…

Global Icons Gather in India for Anant Ambani’s Lavish Pre-Wedding Celebration

Manish Kumar

A star-studded guest list featuring Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Ivanka Trump descended upon India to attend billionaire heir Anant Ambani’s extravagant three-day pre-wedding party, which concluded on Sunday. The celebrations, held in Jamnagar, Gujarat, showcased spectacular performances from pop superstar Rihanna and renowned magician David Blaine, attracting around 1,200 guests from Silicon Valley, Bollywood, and beyond. Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and film icon Shah Rukh Khan were among the celebrities present, adding to the event’s glittering ambiance. Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani,…

Amit Mishra Opens Up About His Unique Relationships with Kohli and Rohit

Manish Kumar

Veteran Indian bowler Amit Mishra has shed light on his contrasting relationships with two of India’s cricketing icons, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Despite both players debuting within a year of each other and forming the backbone of the Indian batting lineup over the past decade and a half, Mishra notes significant differences in his connections with them. In a recent interview, Mishra reflected on his bond with Rohit Sharma, describing it as jovial and friendly, dating back to Rohit’s early cricketing days. Their rapport has flourished over the years,…