THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says 100 crore citizens included in social security schemes in last eleven years; Participates in birth centenary celebrations of Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Andhra Pradesh.
- Prime Minister to release another instalment of PM-KISAN scheme to 9 crore farmers from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu this afternoon.
- JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar set to take oath as Bihar Chief Minister tomorrow; BJP and JD(U) elect their legislative party leaders.
- Many Retired Judges and bureaucrats write open letter, condemning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for tarnishing constitutional bodies.
- Supreme Court strikes down some provisions of Tribunals Reforms Act; Says it violates separation of powers and judicial independence principles.
- And, Curacao, Caribbean island creates history, becomes smallest nation ever to qualify for FIFA World Cup football.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government has expanded social security coverage from 25 crore people in 2014 to nearly 100 crore people at present. Addressing gathering while participating, in the Centenary Celebrations of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh Prime Minister appealed to the public to support the Vocal for Local initiative by purchasing locally made products and strengthening the local economy.
The Prime Minister said that across the country, more than four crore such accounts have been opened so far, with savings of nearly 3.5 lakh crore rupees, reflecting growing financial security for girl children. He noted that although Sri Sathya Sai Baba is not physically present, his eternal principles of love, service and universal brotherhood continue to guide crores of devotees across the world.
Marking the centenary, he released a special commemorative 100 coin rupees and a set of special postage stamps honouring the life, teachings and enduring legacy of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister performed special prayers at the Maha Samadhi in Prasanthi Nilayam.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Coimbatore a short while ago. The Prime Minister received a warm reception at the airport and is holding a road show of two kilometres distance from the airport to the venue. Mr.Modi will release the 21st installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi at Coimbatore. The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to land holding farmers across the Country. An amount of 6000 is paid directly to the farmers bank account in three instalments. He will inaugurate the South India Natural Farming Summit. More from our Correspondent:-
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a tumultuous welcome by those who gathered on the roads. The visit will be to encourage the farmers in organic natural farming. This is the first time that the Summit is being held at Coimbatore by the farming community.The Prime Minister will spend time conversing on the preservation of seeds, farming practices and also on various natural techniques used by the farmers. Indian Indian products like Non basmati rice, basmati rice, cereal preparations are exported to countries including UAE, Saudi Arabia and the US. India's agriculture production can be seen in the export of food products valued at Rs. 243 thousand 42 Crore. Joy, Akashvani Coimbatore ."
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In Bihar, NDA will elect the leader of its legislative party today. JDU leader and outgoing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to be unanimously chosen as the leader of the NDA legislative party. The meeting will be held at 3 PM in the Central Hall of the Legislative Assembly.
After the NDA legislative party meeting, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will submit his resignation to the Governor and stake claim to form the new government.
Earlier today, a meeting of the Janata Dal (United) legislative party was held at the Chief Minister’s residence, in which Nitish Kumar was unanimously elected as the leader of the legislative party. Meanwhile, in the BJP legislative party meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was elected leader of the legislative party, and Vijay Kumar Sinha was chosen as the deputy leader.
Nitish Kumar will take oath tomorrow for the 10th time as the Chief Minister of Bihar. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna at 11:30 AM. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many dignitaries will attend the event.
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Eminent citizens including Judges and retired bureaucrats have written an open letter condemning the Congress Party and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for their attempt to tarnish constitutional bodies like the Election Commission of India. The letter has been signed by 272 eminent citizens, consisting of 16 Judges, 123 retired bureaucrats, including 14 Ambassadors and 133 retired armed forces officers.
In the letter, they have emphasized that the citizens of the country should stand firmly with the Election Commission, not out of flattery, but out of conviction. They said, the society should demand that political actors stop undermining this vital institution with baseless allegations. It said, Civil society reaffirms its unshakeable faith in the Indian Armed Forces, the Indian Judiciary and Executive, and specifically the Election Commission, in its integrity, and in its role as guardian of democracy.
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In Chhattisgarh, the Special Intensive Revision-SIR-of electoral rolls is underway in full swing. Under the campaign that began on the 4th of November, nearly 99 percent of registered voters in the state have so far been provided with enumeration forms.
Booth Level Officers- BLOs, appointed across all Assembly constituencies, are reaching out to households to distribute and collect these forms. The process is progressing steadily. Alongside this, the digitisation of the collected enumeration forms is also being carried out continuously, and nearly 27 lakh forms have already been digitised.
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President Droupadi Murmu today said that Digital India is a transformative initiative that has opened doors to countless opportunities by bringing technology within the reach of citizens. Addressing the 5th Annual Convocation of National Institute of Technology in New Delhi, the President said that fast internet service and the latest technology are being taken to remote areas to provide equal opportunities. She said that institutions like NITs can play a vital role in creating model digital villages and urged students to think in new directions and strive to discover technologies that do not yet exist.
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Supreme Court today struck down several provisions of the 2021 Tribunals Reforms law related to the appointment, tenure, and service conditions of members of various tribunals. A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said, the provisions had been re-enacted by the Centre with minor tweaks. The bench added that the impugned provisions violated the principles of separation of powers and judicial independence and they should not have been brought back. The bench said that dealing with the backlog of cases is not the sole responsibility of the judiciary, and the onus must be shared by the other arms of the government. The court restored the earlier judicial directions on tenure, making it clear that members of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal shall continue to be in service until the age of 62, while their chairpersons or presidents shall remain in office until the age of 65.
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Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has opened a separate Court Room to ensure faster hearings, timely disposal of cases and overall efficiency in the functioning of the Commission. This initiative is said to be the first of its kind in the country under any State Scheduled Castes Commission. Equipped with modern facilities, an Online Court System would also be introduced soon to enable complainants to appear virtually, saving time, travel, and expenses of the public. Commission Chairman, Jasvir Singh Garhi said that the new Courtroom will play a crucial role in ensuring timely delivery of justice.
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The GST Bachat Utsav started on the 22nd of September of this year with the reduction of Goods and Services Tax on many items, benefiting citizens across the country. Our correspondent brings a report on how the next generation GST reforms are boosting the economy of Kerala. A report
"The next gen GST reform is a major boost for Kerala’s farmers, artisans, coastal communities and small enterprises. Kerala’s cashew processing industry, employing about 3 lakh workers, now attracts 5 percent GST, bringing about a major cost reduction for processors and export units. Similarly, the coffee belt around Wayanad has seen major benefits as tax rates on instant coffee and preparations have been reduced from 18 percent to 5 percent. In the spice sector, the GST on Malabar Pepper has been cut from 18 percent to 5 percent, supporting small hill-farm growers and processing clusters. Meanwhile, GST on fisheries and seafood-processing has been cut to 5 percent, further reducing prices of products in the state. Also, Ayurvedic drugs and wellness-services are now taxed at 5 percent, resulting in cost savings of approximately 6-11 percent. The reforms have lifted the tax burden across key sectors in the state. This move is aimed to deliver inclusive growth across rural and coastal regions of Kerala. With Rishu Jaiswal and Nitika Gupta, Akshit Kumar Vedyan for Akashvani News, Delhi. "
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The 56th International Film Festival (IFFI) of India will begin tomorrow at Panaji, Goa. This cinematic extravaganza, featuring 240 films from 81 countries, will continue until 28th of this month. Our correspondent reports that this year's film festival will continue to live up to its traditional reputation, featuring several unique events.
"Goa, a global tourism destination, is now set to become a global film destination with the grand celebration of IFFI 2025. Spanning across multiple venues, the film festival is a celebration of world cinema. Cultural centres and theatres in the state are set to welcome cinephiles, art lovers and industry professionals from tomorrow. Brazilian film "The Blue Trail" will open the film festival with its premiere at Ravindra Bhavan in Margao. India has further expanded its international collaboration this year, awarding special awards and honours to films and artists from various countries. This edition will see Japan as the Focus Country, Spain as the Partner Nation, and Australia as the Spotlight Country. With the spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," the excitement of the festival is palpable in every corner of Panaji. IFFI 2025 marks the beginning of a unique cinematic celebration of the finest films. With Nikhil Kumar, Adarsh for Akashvani News, Panaji."
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Curacao, the Caribbean island scripted history, becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup football. A draw against Jamaica in Kingston sparked celebrations across the island of barely 156,000 people. With the World Cup expanding to 48 teams next year, opportunities have opened up for emerging football nations, but Curacao’s achievement still stands out.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says 100 crore citizens included in social security schemes in last eleven years; Participates in birth centenary celebrations of Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Andhra Pradesh.
- Prime Minister to release another instalment of PM-KISAN scheme to 9 crore farmers from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu this afternoon.
- JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar set to take oath as Bihar Chief Minister tomorrow; BJP and JD(U) elect their legislative party leaders.
- Many Retired Judges and bureaucrats write open letter, condemning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for tarnishing constitutional bodies.
- Supreme Court strikes down some provisions of Tribunals Reforms Act; Says it violates separation of powers and judicial independence principles.
- And, Curacao, Caribbean island creates history, becomes smallest nation ever to qualify for FIFA World Cup football.
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