Vice Chancellors have a duty to inculcate scientific temperament: Stalin

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Vice Chancellors have a duty to inculcate scientific temperament: Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin on Friday told the Vice-Chancellors of universities in the state that they have a duty to inculcate scientific temperament in students.

In his address at the inauguration of the Association of Indian Universities — South Zone Vice Chancellors’ meet held at the Bharathiar University in Coimbatore district, he said: “As Vice-Chancellors, you play an important role in shaping the functioning and quality of universities. You should discharge your duties in such a way to promote scientific temperament among students.”

Lashing out against the Union government, he said: “The Centre making use of education coming under concurrent list and using its powers to introduce regressive ideas in the syllabus is worrisome.”

He said the best solution to this issue was to place education in the State List in the Constitution.

Stalin told the Vice Chancellors that they should function keeping in mind the people’s wish that the universities must follow the state’s education policy.

He also exhorted them to remember they have a duty to impart an education that makes the students ready.

The Chief Minister said the enrollment rate of Tamil Nadu students in higher educational institutions was 57.4 percent, far ahead of the country’s 27.1 percent.

He added that 19 colleges and 33 universities in the state are ranked among the top 100 in the National Institutional Ranking framework.

Telangana CM KCR indisposed

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Telangana CM KCR indisposed

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was slightly indisposed on Friday.

He visited Yashoda Hospital for a check-up. According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), doctors were conducting heart-related angiogram tests.

KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, was accompanied by his wife Shobha Rao, daughter and legislator K. Kavitha and other family members.

Following the indisposition, KCR canceled his visit to Yadadri temple. He was scheduled to participate in some rituals at Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple.

The chief minister had also planned a meeting to review the arrangements for the reopening of the temple for devotees after the renovation later this month.

PM Modi’s 2-day Gujarat visit begins on Friday

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PM Modi’s 2-day Gujarat visit begins on Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Gujarat begins on Friday, during which he is scheduled to address the ‘Gujarat Panchayat Mahasammelan’.

The sammelan will be attended by over 1 lakh Panchayati raj representatives from the state. Before leaving for Gujarat, Modi tweeted, “Leaving for Gujarat, where I will be attending various programs today and tomorrow. At 4 PM today will address a Panchayat Mahasammelan, where several representatives from Panchayati Raj institutions will attend.”

The Prime Minister will dedicate the building of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) to the nation on March 12. He will also deliver the first Convocation address of the RRU as the Chief Guest and in the evening, the Prime Minister will declare open the 11th ‘Khel Mahakumbh’, and deliver an address on the occasion.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said: “Gujarat has three-tier Panchayati Raj structure, with 33 district panchayats, 248 taluka panchayats, and over 14,500-gram panchayats. ‘Gujarat Panchayat Mahasammelan: Aapnu Gaam, Aapnu Gaurav’ will witness the participation of more than 1 lakh representatives from the three tiers of the Panchayati Raj institutions in the state.”

The RRU, which is an Institution of National Importance, commenced its operations on October 1, 2020. “The University will develop synergies with the private sector by leveraging knowledge and resources from the industry and would also set up Centres of Excellence in various fields relating to police and security,” the PMO said.

Andhra Pradesh presents Rs 2.56 lakh crore budget

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Andhra Pradesh presents Rs 2.56 lakh crore budget

Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Buggana Rajendernath on Friday presented the budget for the year 2022-23, with an outlay of Rs 2,56,257 crore, an increase of 11.50 percent over the previous year.

The revenue expenditure has been pegged at Rs 2,08,261 crore, while the capital expenditure is estimated at Rs 47,996 crore.

The estimated revenue deficit is around Rs 17,036 crore up from Rs 5,000 crore the previous year, while the fiscal deficit is estimated at around Rs 48,724 crore, up from Rs 37,030 crore.

Presenting his fourth consecutive budget, the finance minister allocated the lion’s share for social welfare, in tune with the policies and priorities of the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government.

Agriculture has been allocated Rs 11,387 crore, medical and health Rs 15,384 crore up from Rs 13,830 crore for FY 2021-22.

The sub-plan for Scheduled Castes (SCs) has been fixed at Rs 18,518 crore, for Scheduled Tribes (STs) Rs 6,145 crore, for Backward Classes (BCs) Rs 29,143.65 crore and for minorities Rs 3,532 crore. The allocation for minorities has come down from Rs 3,841 crore in the previous fiscal. For the welfare of Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), the government allocated Rs 6,693 crore, up from Rs 5,478 crore in 2021-22.

The finance minister allocated Rs 22,706 crore for secondary education and Rs 2,104 crore for higher education.

The health sector has been allocated Rs 15,384 crore which includes Rs 2,000 for YSR Aarogyasri (free health insurance for poor), Rs 500 Nadu Nedu hospitals, Rs 2,462 crore for National Health Mission, Rs 753 crore for medical colleges, Rs 300 crore for YSR Arogya Asra and Rs 170 crore for hospitals in tribal areas.

On the development and infrastructure front, Rs 2,755 crore was allocated for industrial development. Rs 1,142 crore for infrastructure, roads, and buildings Rs 8,581 crore allocated for transport, roads and buildings department and Rs 10,281 crore for the energy sector.

The finance minister has also made a provision of Rs 236 crore for the Visakhapatnam-Chennai industrial corridor.

Shah thanks voters for reposing faith in BJP and PM Modi’s leadership

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Shah thanks voters for reposing faith in BJP and PM Modi’s leadership

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday thanked the voters of four states — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa — for reposing faith in the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

In a series of tweets, Shah said, “The BJP’s grand victory in Uttar Pradesh is the victory of the unshakeable faith of village, the poor and farmers in Prime Minister Modi’s welfare for the poor. Voters have re-affirmed in Yogi Adityanath’s government’s fearless and corruption-free governance. I thank people from the bottom of my heart for this massive victory.”

Shah also congratulated Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh and party workers for the grand victory and said, “BJP is committed to fulfilling the expectation and aspiration of people of Uttar Pradesh.”

He also thanked the people of Uttar Pradesh for reposing faith in Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in 2014, 2017, 2019 and now in 2022.

Shah assured voters of Goa that the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi will leave no stone unturned in fulfilling their aspirations. “Grateful to the people of Goa for reposing their faith in the BJP. BJP under the leadership of PM @narendramodi Ji will leave no stone unturned in fulfilling the aspirations of our sisters & brothers of Goa. Congratulations to @DrPramodPSawant, @ShetSadanand & our karyakartas,” Shah tweeted.

Thanking voters in Manipur, Shah said, “Thank you, Manipur. PM @narendramodi Ji’s resolve for a prosperous North-East has earned him a special place in the hearts of the people of our NE region, this victory is a testament to the same. Congratulations to CM@NBirenSingh Ji, @AShardaDevi Ji and our karyakartas.”

He also thanked the people of Uttarakhand for giving BJP an opportunity to serve again. “Devbhoomi has reposed its faith in developmental and public welfare works under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi-led BJP government,” Shah said.

K’taka BJP, Cong leaders competing in Goa power race

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K’taka BJP, Cong leaders competing in Goa power race

Leaders from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in Karnataka have been toiling hard since the Goa Assembly election campaign began to help their parties form the government.

Both the parties are now focusing on the post-poll scenario as the state seems headed for a hung assembly.

The BJP has made staunch Hindutva leader C.T. Ravi the party’s National General Secretary in-charge of Goa while the Congress has made party loyalist Dinesh Gundu Rao the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Goa in charge.

Most of the prominent north Karnataka leaders, especially from Belagavi and surrounding regions, camped in the coastal state for campaigning.

Though the BJP seems likely to form the government in Goa as it is leading in the most number of seats (20), the Congress has still not given up hope of forming the government as it leads in 12 seats.

Karnataka Congress leaders have the experience of wresting power from the BJP and formed the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in 2019 and countered the BJP’s strategy to poach opposition party MLAs.

BJP leaders have first-hand experience of carrying out ‘Operation Lotus’ to bring the party to power twice in Karnataka.

In the Goa elections, the AICC has sent Karnataka party President D.K. Shivakumar, the party’s troubleshooter, to Goa.

The drama in Goa politics is likely to continue for some more time, even as the BJP is staking a claim and is confident of mustering the required strength of 21 seats.

Sources from both the BJP and the Congress claim that Goa is going to witness the drama of resort politics with ‘Operation Lotus’ as well as ‘Operation Hasth’.

Both parties have asked their top leaders from Karnataka to chalk out the strategy to form the government in Goa.

Though Congress had emerged as the largest party in the 2017 Assembly elections by winning 17 seats, the BJP seized the opportunity and manipulated to form the government in Goa.

AAP sweeps Punjab, BJP to retain power in UP, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur

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AAP sweeps Punjab, BJP to retain power in UP, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur

The latest counting trend shows that the Aam Aadmi Party is heading for a landslide victory in Punjab assembly elections while the BJP is to retain power in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur with a comfortable margin, according to the Election Commission’s latest update at 5 p.m.

The AAP has won 73 seats and is leading in 19 others with a 42 percent vote share in Punjab, while the Congress has won 13 seats and is leading in five others with 22.92 percent votes. The BJP has won two seats with a vote percentage of 6.6. The Shiromani Akali Dal has won two seats and is leading in one with 18.4 percent votes. The Bahujan Samaj Party has won one seat with 1.78 percent while one independent candidate has also won the election in Punjab.

In Uttar Pradesh, the ruling BJP has won 25 seats in UP and is leading in 277 others with a 41.8 percent vote share whereas the Samajwadi Party has not won any seat so far but is leading in 115 seats with a 31.8 percent vote share.

The Rashtriya Lok Dal is leading only in seven seats with 3.14 percent votes whereas the BSP has won one seat and was leading in five others with 12.9 percent votes.

Till 5 p.m. in Uttarakhand, the BJP won 15 seats and is leading in 32 others with 44.3 percent vote share while the principal opposition party Congress has won four seats and is leading in only in 15 others with 37.97 percent vote share. The BSP is leading in two seats with a 4.86 percent vote share while two independents are also leading with a 3.51 percent vote share.

In Goa, the BJP has won 20 seats with 33.3 percent vote share, the Congress nine seats and is leading in two others with 23.49 percent vote share, Goa Forward Party won one seat with 1.84 percent votes, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) won two seats with 7.60 percent vote share and the independents have won three seats.

Similarly in Manipur, the BJP has won 15 seats and is leading in 14 others and is likely to retain power in the state whereas the Congress has won three seats and is leading in one. Janata Dal (U) has won five seats and leading in two others with 10.85 percent votes, the Kuki People’s Alliance has won one seat and is leading in one constituency, the Naga Peoples Front has won three seats and is leading now in two seats. The National People’s Party has won two seats and is leading in five others while the independents have won two seats and are leading in one constituency.

Chief ministerial candidates of all parties face defeat in Uttarakhand

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Chief ministerial candidates of all parties face defeat in Uttarakhand

The chief ministerial candidates of the BJP, Congress, and AAP faced defeat in the Uttarakhand Assembly polls.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami lost to Congress candidate Bhuvan Chand Kapri in the Khatima constituency.

Kapdi bagged 52 percent (44,479) votes while Dhami secured 37,425 votes.

In the Lalkuan constituency, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat lost to BJP’s Mohan Singh Bisht by 14,000 votes.

Bisht won 53 percent votes securing 44,851 against Harish Rawat’s 28,251.

Congress rebel candidate Sandhya Dalakoti is said to be one of the reasons for Harish Rawat’s defeat. Earlier, the grand old party had given the ticket to Sandhya Dalakoti from Lalkuan but later fielded Harish Rawat from the seat. Annoyed over the change, Sandhya Dalakoti contested as an independent candidate. The rebel Congress candidate dented Harish Rawat’s poll prospects.

This is a second big defeat for Harish Rawat. In the earlier polls, Harish Rawat had contested from Haridwar and Kichha and lost both the seats.

In the Gangotri seat, AAP chief ministerial candidate Ajay Kothiyal got 5,998 votes and lost to the BJP’s Suresh Chandra Chauhan who secured 28,667 votes.

Voting for the 70-member Uttarakhand Assembly was held on February 14.

Results of 5 states will have positive impact in K’taka: Bommai

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Results of 5 states will have positive impact in K’taka: Bommai

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said the election results in the five states will have a positive impact in Karnataka.

Bommai added that he is also confident of continuing the poll performance of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka as well by ensuring victory in the 2023 Assembly elections.

Speaking to the media, he said the poll victory in four states will inspire and empower BJP workers with more vigor.

“Our (BJP) government will now focus on implementing programs given in the Budget and win the confidence of people to register a resounding victory in the state,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Karnataka in April and he will be launching all the state programmes for the people, Bommai said.

The election results have given positive feedback to the people and the party, the Chief Minister added.

The BJP has won the mandate in four states to form the government, especially in Uttar Pradesh, where the people have voted for a double-engine government, he said.

“I congratulate the people of all five states. I also congratulate our leaders — Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Ministers of the concerned states,” he added.

“The policy and programs of Modi are in favor of the poor, farmers and women. The people have appreciated the management of Covid-19 and the empowerment of the economy. The opposition has been left decimated.”

“Our party leaders have pledged to be involved in more development work. The results have shown that Modi is the only leader with a connection with the people throughout the country,” Bommai said.

Humbly accept people’s verdict: Rahul

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Humbly accept people’s verdict: Rahul

After the Congress’ dismal performance in the Assembly elections in five states, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said he accepted the people’s verdict and congratulated the winning parties.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted in the afternoon: “Humbly accept the people’s verdict. Best wishes to those who have won the mandate. My gratitude to all Congress workers and volunteers for their hard work and dedication. We will learn from this and keep working for the interests of the people of India.”

Despite Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi putting in their best efforts, the Congress was wiped out in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, failed to wrest power in Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur. The party failed to beat the BJP, which retained power despite the anti-incumbency factor.

The Congress headquarters wore a deserted look as celebrations erupted at the BJP headquarters in the national capital after the trends indicated a thumping victory for the saffron party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

BJP’s party activists could be seen dancing, bursting crackers, and congratulating each other.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP national president J.P. Nadda are likely to reach the party headquarters late in the evening and thank the people.

Stalin urges Jaishankar to secure release of Indian fishermen

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Stalin urges Jaishankar to secure release of Indian fishermen

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday sought External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s personal intervention to secure the release of Indian fishermen arrested by the Indonesian and Seychelles authorities.

Stalin in a letter to Jaishankar citing reports said five fishermen belonging to Tamil Nadu and Kerala were apprehended by the Indonesian air and sea police for allegedly entering Indonesian waters and were taken to Ditpolairud Pier, Aceh, Indonesia, for legal proceedings.

The fishermen had gone fishing on February 17 in an Andaman registered fishing vessel.

Stalin said that according to fishermen associations, 33 fishermen and three mechanized fishing boats had left from Cochin harbor on February 22.

On March 7, the fishermen were apprehended by the Seychelles authorities for allegedly entering Seychelles waters.

As Akhilesh fails again, criticism likely to mount against his team

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As Akhilesh fails again, criticism likely to mount against his team

As the incumbent BJP was moving towards a thumping majority in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party even though managing to better its tally from the previous election, has failed to reach the magic mark. The failure could bring focus upon the team on which Akhilesh Yadav was relying for feedback and action.

Criticism will mount on the Akhilesh team comprising leaders like Udayveer Singh, Rajendra Chaudhary, Abhishek Mishra, Naresh Uttam Patel, and others for giving wrong ground reports. It was based on these reports that tickets were distributed. After the failure, it is likely to be said that the party distributed the wrong tickets which led to the defeat of many seats which the SP could have won. On some seats, the SP leader fielded new candidates and the old-timers either worked against the party candidate or contested from other parties which led to the defeat of the official nominee.

For having a wide and effective media coverage, the team led by Ashish Yadav was deciding on the coverage. It, however, relied on National News Channels and in those interviews Akhilesh Yadav was asked hard questions, which led to a dent in his image. The media narrative could not be set up in favor of the Samajwadi Party despite drawing huge crowds in elections. The media narrative could have been built up in favor if a good media strategy was drawn, and better preparation during the interviews could have led to good perceptions.

The party insiders blame the wrong strategy, ticket distribution, and last-minute entrants from the BJP for the loss in the elections.

The former Chief Minister over-relied on its non-political team and ignored the party leaders in the ticket distribution in the state. He could not match Mulayam Singh Yadav’s strategy and could not establish a team of second-rung leaders like his father did with Janeshwar Mishra, Reoti Raman Singh, Mata Prasad Pandey, Beni Prasad Verma, and Mohan Singh.

In the three elections, which Akhilesh Yadav fought in 2017, 2019, and 2022 he experimented and failed. In 2017, he allied with the Congress and was reduced to less than 50 seats, then in 2019 his alliance with the BSP failed, and in 2022 inducting BJP rebels and giving tickets to the new leaders have not paid well, said sources.

Bypoll trend: BJP leads in Assam’s Majuli

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Bypoll trend: BJP leads in Assam’s Majuli

The Bharatiya Janata Party is leading in the early trends of the bypoll results in Assam’s Majuli Assembly constituency.

The bypoll at this constituency was necessitated after former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal tendered his resignation from the Assembly.

As per the Election Commission update around 10.00 a.m., BJP’s candidate Bhuban Gam had secured 9,173 votes while Assam Jatiya Parishad’s Chittaranjan Basumatary was trailing with 2,515 votes.

Socialist Unity Centre of India’s (Communist) Bhaity Richong had so far secured 180 votes while 192 of the voters chose not to vote for anyone and cast NOTA.

Was shot at in Nandigram during campaigning, says Mamta in Assembly

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Was shot at in Nandigram during campaigning, says Mamta in Assembly

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, alleged that she was shot at in Nandigram during the Assembly polls last year.

Banerjee, who contested from Nandigram in East Midnapore, lost to the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.

“I was not allowed to campaign. I was shot at in Nandigram. There was ‘adjustment to defeat her there’. Those who conspired against me should now apologize to the people!” the Chief Minister said in her reply to the debate on the Governor’s Address, but did not elaborate about the nature of “adjustment” and the people involved in the conspiracy.

In the Nandigram constituency, Banerjee lost to Adhikari by mere 1,956 votes. The Trinamool Congress has approached the court challenging the result, and the case is still pending. Meanwhile, she contested from the Bhabanipur constituency in the by-election and won by a record margin.

In her reply to the debate on the Governor’s address, she alleged that all arrangements were made to assassinate her at Nandigram.

The Governor’s Budget speech saw a lot of controversies after BJP MLAs demonstrated in the Assembly following which the Governor failed to complete his speech.

BJP MLAs Mihir Goswami and Sudip Mukherjee were suspended from the Assembly session on charges of disrupting the Governor’s speech.

Though the BJP didn’t raise any protest during the Chief Minister’s speech in the Assembly but later in the day, Adhikari, who is the Leader of Opposition, responded to the allegations outside the house. “Actually, the Chief Minister cannot forget the pain of losing in Nandigram! That is why she is saying this again and again out of frustration. If she has any complaints then the government should investigate. After all, she only runs the administration!” he said.

Haryana CM presents budget of Rs 177,256 crore, announces Sushma Swaraj Award

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Haryana CM presents budget of Rs 177,256 crore, announces Sushma Swaraj Award

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who also holds the finance portfolio, on Tuesday, proposed a populist budget of Rs 177,256 crore for 2022-23, an increase of 15.6 percent over this fiscal of Rs 153,384 crore.

He also announced a ‘Sushma Swaraj Award’ for women for their significant contributions or achievements in different walks of life.

The budget outlay comprises 34.4 percent as capital expenditure of Rs 61,057.36 crore, while 65.6 percent as revenue expenditure of Rs 1,6,198.63 crore.

Presenting the budget, Khattar said the state has laid special emphasis on increasing capital infrastructure investment to boost demand, which holds a key role in speedy economic revival with a multiplier effect.

He announced tablets for all students from class 10 to 12, a scheme to provide soft loans to women entrepreneurs, and set up three dedicated funds to accelerate growth in various sectors.

A climate and sustainable development fund to achieve green development objectives, research, and innovation fund to promote scientific activity, besides scholarships in universities and educational institutions, and a venture capital fund to promote entrepreneurship was also announced.

According to the budget, the State Gross Domestic Product (GSDP) has increased from Rs 370,535 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 588,771 crore in 2021-22, at an annual increase of 6.5 percent.

The budget’s outlay includes revenue expenditure of Rs 61,057.35 crore and Rs 116,198.63 crore, which is 34.4 percent and 65.6 percent, respectively.

The total revenue receipts in the budget estimate for 2022-23 are projected at Rs 106,424.70 crore, which comprises tax revenue of Rs 73,727.50 crore, non-tax revenue of Rs 12,205.36 crore, the share of Central taxes at Rs 8,925.98 crore, and grants-in-aid of Rs 11,565.86 crore.

Besides, the capital receipts are projected to be Rs 5,393.89 crore.

This budget allocation has been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Out of the total budget of Rs 177,255.99 crore, Rs 114,444.77 crore has been allocated for SDG-related schemes.

Haryana has remained successful in keeping the fiscal deficit within the percentage of GSDP as recommended by the 15th Central Finance Commission for the year 2021-22, said the Chief Minister.

Despite the Covid-19 crisis, about Rs, 30,820 crores have been borrowed from the market, while the permissible borrowing limit of the 15th Finance Commission was Rs 40,872 crore.

The fiscal deficit is estimated to be 2.99 percent of GSDP in 2021-22.

For 2022-23, it is estimated to reduce to 2.98 percent of GSDP. “This is within the limit of 3.5 percent as fixed by the 15th Finance Commission for 2022-23,” Khattar said.

The revenue deficit is also decreasing continuously. This revised estimate is estimated at 1.40 percent in 2021-22. It has been projected to further decrease to 0.98 percent of the GSDP in budget estimates of 2022-23.

The debt liability has also been successfully included.

The ratio of debt to GSDP in the Revised Estimates 2021-22 is estimated at 24.98 percent, while the stipulated limit recommended by the 15th Finance Commission is 32.6 percent of GSDP.

For budget estimates, the debt stock is expected to be 24.52 percent of GSDP, below the stipulated limit of 33.3 percent of GSDP recommended by the 15th Finance Commission.

Capital expenditure has a direct impact on economic development. The government is committed to enhancing the proportion of capital expenditure in the total expenditure, said the Chief Minister in his third consecutive budget speech in the House as the Finance Minister.

The capital share in the total expenditure has increased to 31.5 percent with Rs 48,265.49 crore in 2021-22.

It is proposed to increase the capital expenditure by 34.4 percent with Rs 61,057.35 crore in 2022-23.

In addition to the budgetary allocation for capital expenditure, Public Sector Undertakings are also investing substantial capital for the creation and strengthening of capital infrastructure in the state.

Dedicating the budget to women, Khattar announced many significant gifts for them on International Women’s Day.

He announced to start an award of Rs 5 lakh in the name of former Union minister Sushma Swaraj, who belonged to the state.

Noting that without women, society cannot even be imagined, he said that the women of Haryana have made their mark in many fields at the national and international level.

In his speech, he mentioned the first woman state Speaker, Shanno Devi, and the first woman Deputy Speaker, Lekhvati Jain.

The Chief Minister also announced to increase the participation of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions to 50 percent seats from 33 percent.

In addition, to attract women towards entrepreneurship, a new scheme, Haryana Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana, has been announced. For this, assuming the annual income of the woman and her family members is less than Rs 5 lakh on the basis of the data of the Parivar Pehchan Patra, financial assistance of up to Rs 3 lakh will be given to the self-help group in the form of a loan.

Under this scheme, the Haryana Women Development Corporation will give a rebate of up to 7 percent in interest for three years.

Battle for UP: We fought hard, says Priyanka Gandhi

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Battle for UP: We fought hard, says Priyanka Gandhi

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, on Tuesday, that her party fought the electoral battle hard. “We fought as hard as we could. We will wait and see the results,” she said.

Priyanka, who reached Lucknow on Tuesday to lead a march under the party’s ‘Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon’ campaign in Uttar Pradesh, said, “Today’s march is to celebrate our 159 women candidates. I think it is a big thing that all of them fought, and on International Women’s Day we should celebrate them.”

Priyanka led the all-women march from the 1090 crossing to the National Botanical Garden crossing.

The exit polls have predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP in UP while the Congress remains at the periphery with most polls giving it a single-digit tally.

The exit polls were released on Monday evening after the seventh and last phase of the election in Uttar Pradesh.

K’taka student’s body preserved in Ukraine mortuary: CM Bommai

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K’taka student’s body preserved in Ukraine mortuary: CM Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday stated that the authorities have recovered the body of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagaudar, the Indian student from the state who died in Russian shelling in Ukraine.

“I have spoken to the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in this regard. He has informed that the body has been embalmed and preserved at a mortuary. He has assured that as soon as the shelling is stopped, attempts will be made to bring it back to India,” he said.

“Continuous attempts are being made, the embassy officers have also told us that they are in touch with mortuary authorities where the body is kept,” he added.

Naveen Shekarappa Gyangaudar was killed on March 1 on Maha Shivratri after being hit by the Russian shelling. He had come out of his bunker in search of food early in the morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called up Naveen’s father and consoled him. Shekarappa, Naveen’s father had requested the Prime Minister to arrange for safe passage of other students stuck in Ukraine as they are the assets of the country.

Naveen’s death has also raised questions on the cost of medical education in India and opposition parties in Karnataka are demanding scrapping of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in this regard. The ruling BJP government has granted compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the family of Naveen.

As many as 500 students from Karnataka have returned home from Ukraine since the war broke out. Manoj Rajan, nodal officer, and commissioner, Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has stated that 142 students from the state are still stranded in war-torn Ukraine. The largest batch of students returned on Thursday.

Modi urges Putin to hold direct talks with Zelensky

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Modi urges Putin to hold direct talks with Zelensky

In a phone call that lasted for about 50 minutes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold direct talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky amid the ongoing Moscow-Kiev war, according to sources.

During the conversation, which is the second between Modi and Putin since Russia began its war on February 24, the President briefed the Prime Minister on the status of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian teams.

Modi also appreciated the Russian military’s announcement earlier in the day to hold fire and open humanitarian corridors in the four Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Kharkov, Sumy, and Mariupol.

The Prime Minister further stressed the importance of the safe evacuation of Indian citizens from Sumy at the earliest, to which Putin assured of all possible cooperation.

Also on Monday, the Prime Minister spoke to Zelensky and expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflict and resultant humanitarian crisis, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

“(The) Prime Minister reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and noted that India has always stood for peaceful resolution of issues and direct dialogue between the two parties,” it said.

According to the statement, Modi “thanked Ukrainian authorities for their facilitation in evacuating more than 20,000 Indian citizens from Ukraine”, but also expressed deep concern for the safety and security of Indian students still remaining in the war-torn nation and emphasized the need for their quick and safe evacuation.

The first time Modi and Zelensky spoke was on February 26, just two days after Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine.

Modi likely to speak to Zelensky on Monday

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Modi likely to speak to Zelensky on Monday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday afternoon as Russia’s war on Kiev has continued for the 12th day, government sources said here.

Modi’s interaction with Zelensky, the second since the Russian invasion began on February 24, will take place amid India’s all-out efforts to evacuate its nationals, mostly students, from the war-torn nation.

The Prime Minister had spoken to the Ukrainian leader for the first time on February 26.

According to the sources, Modi is expected to seek a safe passage for Indian students stuck in the cities of Sumy and Odesa during the call on Monday.

Since the war began, Modi has also spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin twice during which he urged the latter to give a safe passage to Indian nationals from Kharkiv, Sumy, and Odesa.

Meanwhile, India has continued sending relief material to the war-torn nation as part of humanitarian assistance via Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft which are deployed for the evacuations of stranded Indians.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shared a video of the relief materials being loaded in an IAF aircraft by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel. These supplies are being sent to Poland from where they would be moved to Ukraine.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India has sent two trenches of humanitarian assistance that included medicines, medical equipment, and relief materials, via IAF aircraft. While one flight carried six tonnes of material to Romania, the second carried nine tonnes of material to Slovakia on March 3.

On March 2 however, India had again abstained from a vote on Ukraine at the UN General Assembly “in view the totality of the evolving situation”.

This was the fourth abstention by New Delhi on a vote on the Ukraine issue at the UN — the other three at the Security Council where India is an elected member.

K’taka Assembly session to resume, govt to table anti-conversion Bill

TB Team
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K’taka Assembly session to resume, govt to table anti-conversion Bill

The ruling BJP government is all set to table the controversial anti-conversion Bill in the Karnataka Assembly session, which will resume on Monday. The Bill is likely to be tabled in the last leg of the ongoing session.

The Budget Session, which began on March 4, will continue till March 30.

The anti-conversion bill, which was tabled and passed in the state Legislature Assembly, is yet to be presented before the Legislative Council. The BJP attempted to present it on the last day of the winter session in Belagavi, however, the opposition raised a strong objection to presenting the bill in the council without bringing it first on the agenda. The council session ended after witnessing a high drama.

The government, though prepared to get the Bill passed in the session held in February, the plan was dropped after the Congress resorted to day-night protest in the midst of the session demanding the sacking of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa for his remarks on hoisting the saffron flag on the Red Fort.

However, BJP is all set to present and get the Bill passed in the council this time. The Bill is likely to be passed in the council, as BJP doesn’t have sufficient numbers. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress and JD(S) are all set to swoop down on the government during the discussion on the Budget in the state Assembly.

The Congress, which completed the Mekedatu Padayatra, is claiming that it has forced the BJP to allot Rs 1,000 crore for building the reservoir. The opposition party is demanding BJP to reserve Rs 5,000 crore for the project. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who had presented the maiden Budget, is expected to face a litmus test in the assembly facing the opposition in the election year.

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