THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges for use of AI, blockchain and Data Analytics to boost transparency and accountability.
- In a post budget webinar, Prime Minister emphasises on effective implementation of policies for further reforms and Ease of Doing Business.
- Delhi Court discharges former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia in excise policy case; CBI to move High Court.
- Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam joins DMK.
- Pakistan declares open war on Afghanistan; Launches operation Ghazab-lil-Haq with airstrikes on Kabul and other provinces.
- In ICC T-20 Cricket World Cup, England to take on New Zealand in Super 8 clash in Colombo this evening.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the country is riding on the Reform Express with the Government simplifying processes, improved Ease of Doing Business and expanding Technology-Led Governance. He emphasized that the focus must not be limited to policy intent only but also on delivery excellence to maintain this momentum. The Prime Minister was addressing a Post Budget Webinar on “Technology, Reforms and Finance for Viksit Bharat” through video conferencing today.
The Prime Minister said the national Budget should not be judged as a short-term financial document, but as a long-term policy roadmap. He emphasized that its effectiveness must be evaluated using solid and substantive parameters rather than short-term measures.
The Prime Minister said, over the past decade, Government has placed a big focus on infrastructure. He said, Government made this decision thoughtfully, that India’s development will happen only by preparing solid assets like Highways, Railways, Ports, Digital Network, Power Systems.
Mr Modi said, the webinar shouldn’t be limited to only a platform for exchange of ideas, instead it must become brainstorming exercise. He said, when Industry, Academia, Analyst and policy makers think together then implementation of schemes becomes better and it delivers accurate results.
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President Droupadi Murmu today took a sortie in the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand’ at the Jaisalmer Air Force Station in Rajasthan. The President was briefed by Indian Air Force officials about the helicopter’s operational capabilities before the flight. The sortie was conducted by experienced Air Force pilots and showcased the advanced features, agility, and combat readiness of the indigenous platform. The Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand’ is designed for high-altitude operations and has significantly enhanced the combat capabilities of the Indian Air Force. The President also interacted with senior Air Force officers and appreciated the efforts of scientists, engineers and personnel involved in strengthening India’s indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem. In the evening, the President will witness the Indian Air Force’s Exercise ‘Vayu Shakti’ at the Pokhran Field Firing Range. A report:
“Vayu Shakti is the Indian Air Force’s premier combat exercise, showcasing the strike capability, precision targeting, and operational readiness of fighter aircraft, helicopters, transport planes, and missile systems. During the exercise, coordinated air operations will be demonstrated under simulated war-like conditions, both during the day and night. A total of 77 fighter jets and 43 helicopters will participate in this mega event, including the Rafale, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, and the indigenously developed Tejas. Jitendra Dwivedi, Akashvani News, Jaipur.”
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Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has asserted that assembly elections in Tamil Nadu will be setting a record much better than Bihar. In an interaction with the media today in Chennai, the Chief Election Commissioner said that Tamil Nadu has shown the way in percentage of voting every time the state faced elections.
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A Delhi court today discharged former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in an excise policy-related corruption case. The court refused to take cognisance of the CBI chargesheet. Special Judge Jitendra Singh said, the chargesheet had several lacunae not supported by evidence. The court also discharged 21 others in the matter. The CBI has been probing alleged corruption in the formulation and execution of the erstwhile-AAP government’s now-scrapped excise-policy. After getting acquitted, Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister said, the he had full faith in the country’s judicial system.
Meanwhile, the CBI has decided to appeal in the High Court against the judgement of the trial Court immediately in the Delhi excise policy case. CBI sources said that several aspects of the investigation have either been ignored or not considered adequately.
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The BJP today said that the book, Spying in South Asia: Britain, the United States, and India’s Secret Cold War by Paul M McGarr claims that during Indira Gandhi’s tenure, almost every department was under the influence of a foreign intelligence agency. Addressing the media in New Delhi this afternoon, party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said that the book further alleges that the foreign intelligence agency intervened in Indian politics on two occasions. On both occasions, the agency reportedly funnelled money to the ruling Congress Party, and in one instance, the money was allegedly passed directly to Indira Gandhi.
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Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that trust factor in deploying AI is very important. Adressing Rising Bharat Summit organised by a media group in New Delhi this afternoon, Mr Vaisnaw stressed on the need to take the AI transition seriously. He said, every action must be taken pro-actively. The Minister said, the Government is putting huge focus on providing the talent pipeline. He also said that, State Governments will also have to put in a lot of efforts in this regard. Mr Vaishnaw said, keeping a eye on it, Government had launched the future skill programme in partnership with the IT industry nearly four years ago.
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Former Chief Minister and AIADMK Coordinator O. Panneerselvam, his son and former MP P Ravindranath today joined the ruling DMK. His supporters also joined the DMK at the Party headquarters in Chennai.
Panneerselvam served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu from 2001 to 2002, from 2014 to 2015 and in 2016-17. He also served as the deputy chief minister from 2017 to 2021 in the Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led government.
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The Supreme Court today refused to entertain objection of West Bengal government regarding training module for judicial officers deployed in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. The apex court said that it knows its judicial officers and they will not be influenced by anything, after the West Bengal government submitted that the Election Commission had issued a training module for judicial officers.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tribute to freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad on his martyrdom day. In a social media post, Mr Modi said, the life of Chandrashekhar Azad teaches that the resolve to stand firm against injustice is true valour. He noted that Chandrashekhar Azad sacrificed everything to free the nation from the shackles of slavery and will always be remembered for his supreme sacrifice. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tributes to the freedom fighter.
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Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early this morning with Islamabad’s Defence Minister declaring an open war against Afghanistan. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces carried out air strikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Pakistan has claimed that at least 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed after the launch of its operation Ghazab-lil-Haq against Afghanistan last night. On the other hand, the Taliban defence ministry said it captured 19 Pakistani military posts and two bases last night and total of 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed.
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, indirect talks with the US over Iran’s nuclear programme are among the country’s most intense and longest. Araghchi made the comments yesterday in an interview with Iranian state television. He offered no specifics but said what needs to happen has been clearly spelled out from Iranian side. The US has yet to offer a comment on the talks. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Iran and the US held hours of indirect negotiations yesterday over Tehran’s nuclear program but walked away without a deal.
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In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, England will take on New Zealand in a super 8 group 2 match at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo this evening. The match will begin at 7 PM. Last night, India defeated Zimbabwe by 72 runs in a crucial Super Eight match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. India will next face the West Indies in their last Super Eight clash on Sunday at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, were trading around 0.7 per cent down in afternoon trade today. The Sensex slipped 570 points to 81 thousand and 679, while the Nifty declined 194 points to 25 thousand and 303, when reports last came in.
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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast scattered and moderate rainfall along with thunderstorm and lightning over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Kerala and Mahe till tomorrow. The Met Department also predicted thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty winds over Sub Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim till Sunday. The IMD estimated that Jammu and Kashmir will experience isolated light rainfall or snowfall on 3rd and 4th March.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges for use of AI, blockchain and Data Analytics to boost transparency and accountability.
- In a post budget webinar, Prime Minister emphasises on effective implementation of policies for further reforms and Ease of Doing Business.
- Delhi Court discharges former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia in excise policy case; CBI to move High Court.
- Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam joins DMK.
- Pakistan declares open war on Afghanistan; Launches operation Ghazab-lil-Haq with airstrikes on Kabul and other provinces.
- In ICC T-20 Cricket World Cup, England to take on New Zealand in Super 8 clash in Colombo this evening
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