THE HEADLINES:
- Rajya Sabha resumes debate on 150th anniversary of National Song Vande Mataram today; Union Minister JP Nadda says Vande Mataram awakens the soul of the nation.
- India’s carbon dioxide emission reduced by 736 lakh metric tonnes after 20 percent Ethanol blend in Petrol, Informs Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Lok Sabha today.
- President Droupadi Murmu arrives in Imphal to lay foundation stones of various projects.
- DGCA summons Indigo CEO Pieter Elbers amid widespread flight cancellations and delays.
- And in cricket, India to take on South Africa in second T20 match in New Chandigarh this evening.
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The Rajya Sabha today resumed the discussion on the 150th Anniversary of the National Song Vande Mataram. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had initiated the discussion on Vande Mataram on Tuesday. Concluding the discussion, Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and Union Minister J P Nadda said, Vande Mataram is a mantra that awakens the soul of the nation and also gives an opportunity to connect with the culture of the country. Mr Nadda said, this song has witnessed too many historic events that took place during the freedom movement. He said, the national song energised everyone during the freedom struggle.
He said, the government aim is not to demean Mr Nehru but to keep history straight on record. The Minister said, in 1937, under Jawaharlal Nehru’s presidency, and under pressure from communal elements, the sacred song was altered by discarding the stanzas. Mr Nadda alleged that the national song did not received due respect post-Independence as the then government was responsible for that situation.
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Union Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that India’s carbon dioxide emission has been reduced by 736 lakh metric tonnes due to the use of 20 per cent Ethanol blending in Petrol. Replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour in Lok Sabha today, Mr Gadkari said, Ethanol is a green fuel and it reduces the pollution and helped to increase the income of farmers. He said, currently India is importing around 22 lakh crore rupees worth of fossil fuels annually. He said, India needs to reduce its import bill on fossil fuels sources, to become a developed nation.
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Union Minister Pralhad Joshi today reached Parliament by driving a green Hydrogen-Powered Car to promote green energy. Later Talking to the media, he said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a movement for green hydrogen has been started. He said that for the manufacturing of green hydrogen, a National Green Hydrogen Mission and other initiatives have been launched. Mr Joshi added that twenty four thousand crore rupees have been allocated through the Production Linked Incentive scheme.
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Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that energy is the lifeline of the economy and India’s energy consumption is rising rapidly. Replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour today, Mr Puri said, International Energy Agency, IEA has estimated that for the next 20 years, about 35 percent of the increase in demand for global energy will come from India as it is a rapidly growing economy.
The Minister said, as far as energy prices are concerned, it is determined by factors like cost of production, cost of insurance, freight, refining margin and dealer’s margin. Mr Puri said, money that is being given to farmers as a result of this procurement is about 40 thousand crore rupees a year. He said it is also helping in alleviate the strain in agricultural economy.
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A total of 4.93 crore smart meters have been installed across the country with 1.6 crore smart meters functioning in prepaid mode. In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today, Power Minister Manohar Lal informed that under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, more than 20 crore smart meters have been sanctioned. He said, of them around four crore smart meters have been installed. Mr Lal said, the installation of prepaid smart meters is being prioritised for government establishments, commercial, industrial and high-load consumers.
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The Rajya Sabha today hailed the inscription of Deepawali, in the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radha Krishnan said it is a moment of immense national pride for the county. He added Deepawali is the India 16th inscription sparked celebration in India. He hoped that this achievement would inspire people to preserve and promote and proudly celebrate the country’s rich heritage and traditions with renewed commitment.
Deepavali has been inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, announced at the 20th UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee session at New Delhi’s Red Fort. It is the 16th Indian element on this list.
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Chief Secretary- Dr. Puneet Kumar Goel, DGP, State Security Advisor and other high-ranking officials at Imphal International Airport and accorded guard of honour there by a women contingent of India Reserve Battalion. More from our Correspondent:
“After reaching Imphal, she arrived at Raj Bhavan, Imphal. Later, she will visit at Mapal Kangjeibung Polo Ground to witness a Polo Match followed by a Civic Reception function at City Convention Centre, Imphal. In this event, she will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of various projects. Later in the evening, she will meet and interact with Internally Displaced Persons at Raj Bhavan, Imphal.
Tomorrow, the President Droupadi Murmu will attend Nupi Lal Observation and pay floral tribute at Nupi Lal Memorial Complex in Imphal remembering the brave women of Manipur who stood and fought for justice against the colonial British on 12th December 1939. She will then proceed to Senapati, where she will address a public gathering and lay foundation stones and also inaugurate projects. Later she will meet and interact with Internally Displaced Persons at Senapati Headquarter. JJ Thokchom, Akashvani News, Imphal. “
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The Rajya Sabha has taken up discussion on Election Reforms. Congress MP Ajay Maken initiated the discussion.
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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has summoned Indigo CEO Pieter Elbers this afternoon. Mr Elbers has been directed to appear before DGCA amid widespread flight cancellations and delays across the country. Earlier, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan held a meeting with Indigo’s top management to review the stabilization measures. The Minister also visited the Ministry’s control room to oversee the operations of Indigo across the country. In a social media post, Mr. Naidu said that regular vigil is being maintained for real-time resolution of passenger grievances. He added that the Control Room team is making all efforts to further improve response time for prompt and effective redressal of passenger concerns.
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One of the prime witnesses in the cases against suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan of Sandeshkhali, was injured when a truck collided with his car in Basanti Highway under the Nazat Police Station in Basirhat yesterday.Ghosh, accompanied by his son, was headed for the Basirhat sub-divisional court to appear in connection with one of the many cases that Shahjahan had filed against him. The collision killed Ghosh’s younger son, Satyajit , and the driver, Sahanur Molla . Meanwhile. this morning Ghosh has gone to file a complaint to the Police about yesterday’s incident.His family alleged that the crash was deliberate.The Union Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar has alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was responsible for such attack.
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Over 100 Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha have submitted a notice seeking the removal of Madras High Court judge Justice G.R. Swaminathan. The move follows his order allowing the lighting of a traditional lamp at a stone pillar near the Tirupparankundram hill, close to both a Murugan temple and the Sikandar Badshah Dargah, during the Karthigai Deepam festival. Despite the court’s direction, the Madurai district administration imposed Section 144 on December 3rd, citing law-and-order concerns, and police blocked the event.
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Today is the last date for the second phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the 11 states and Union Territories (UTs). These include Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. A Report:
“The Election Commission had announced the SIR of Electoral Rolls for 12 States and Union Territories on the 27th of October this year. Briefing the media at the time of the announcement, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that the second phase of SIR will cover 51 crore voters. The last date for submitting enumeration forms for all 12 States and Union Territories earlier was the 4th of this month, later which extended till today. However, the Commission granted a separate extension for Kerala, allowing submissions until the 18th of this month.
After the completion of this process the poll body will publish the draft rolls. For 11 States and Union Territories, draft electoral rolls will be published on the 16th of this month, with the final voter lists scheduled for release on the 14th February next year. However, the draft rolls for Kerala will be published on the 23rd December instead of the 16th, and the final electoral roll will be published on the 21st February next year.
According to the latest data from the Election Commission, over 50.96 crore enumeration forms have been distributed among electors since the launch of SIR Phase-2, covering 99.98 percent of the total forms. The Commission also informed that 99.59 per cent of these forms have been digitised. Saklen Akhtar for Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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President Droupadi Murmu has paid floral tributes to the former President Pranab Mukherjee on his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit have also paid tribute to former President Pranab Mukherjee.
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In men’s cricket, India will face South Africa in the second T20 match of the series at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, today. The match will begin at 7 PM Indian Time.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Rajya Sabha resumes debate on 150th anniversary of National Song Vande Mataram today; Union Minister JP Nadda says Vande Mataram awakens the soul of the nation.
- India’s carbon dioxide emission reduced by 736 lakh metric tonnes after 20 percent Ethanol blend in Petrol, Informs Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Lok Sabha today.
- President Droupadi Murmu arrives in Imphal to lay foundation stones of various projects.
- DGCA summons Indigo CEO Pieter Elbers amid widespread flight cancellations and delays.
- And in cricket, India to take on South Africa in second T20 match in New Chandigarh this evening.
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