THE HEADLINES:-
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauds bravery of CRPF personnel; Says their valour will live on in nation’s history.
- Supreme Court to resume hearing pleas challenging constitutional validity of Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
- India’s smartphone export touched record two lakh crore rupees in last fiscal, says Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- UN Trade and Development report says, India expected to remain fastest growing major economy with a 6.5 per cent growth rate in 2025.
- Markets surge by over one and a half per cent in afternoon trade.
- In Tennis, Rohan Bopanna and his American partner Ben Shelton to play Men’s doubles quarterfinal of Bavarian International Championships in Munich, Germany today.
<><><>
Union Home Minister Amit Shah today reiterated that Naxalism will be completely eradicated from the country by the 31st of March next year and CRPF jawans will play the most important role in this. The Home Minister was addressing the function of the 86th Foundation Day of CRPF in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh this morning. Mr Shah said, the country’s resolve to completely get rid of Naxalism will be fulfilled on the strength of their indomitable courage. He said, the soldiers of Cobra Battalion are doing unprecedented work in making the country Naxal-free.
Paying homage to the sacrifice of the immortal martyrs of the country, Mr Shah said the saga of bravery of the martyrs of the security forces will be written in golden letters in history. The Home Minister praised the families of all the martyred CRPF jawans.
On the occasion, the Home Minister inspected the parade, honoured the jawans with gallantry awards and paid tribute at the Shahid Sthal. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and DG, CRPF also attended the programme.
<><><>
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said India’s defence sector is moving ahead on the path of self-reliance and is also strengthening its potential of defence exports in the world. Speaking at the inaugural session of Defence Conclave- Force of the Future in New Delhi, he said the primary focus of the government is to enhance the capabilities of the defence sector.
The Defence Minister said, the Narendra Modi government has also focused on the modernisation of the armed forces. Mr Singh added that to further promote self-reliance in the defence sector the Ministry has declared the year 2025 as the Year of reforms.
<><><>
The Supreme Court will resume hearing today on the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 after the Centre requested more time to respond to three key questions raised by the bench yesterday. The three-judge bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan yesterday paused its planned interim order while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
The court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, on how “waqf by user” can be disallowed as many will not have requisite documents to get such waqfs registered.
CJI Khanna also expressed concern over the violence that has broken out in West Bengal against the amendments to the Waqf Act.
<><><>
In West Bengal, leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP has demanded an NIA investigation in the Murshidabad violence case. The party also demanded compensation for those who were affected by the violence over the Waqf Amendment Act. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said, the houses and shops which were damaged in the violence, should be repaired by the state government. He also said, the Mamata Banerjee led government should give 5 lakh rupees as compensation to each affected family.
<><><>
India’s smartphone export has reached a record level of two lakh crore rupees in the last fiscal. Smartphones have emerged as India’s largest export in the first ten months of last financial year. This was stated by Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a social media post. He said, in 2013-14, the Country’s the smartphone exports were ranked 167th and now it has reached to number one position. He added that the government had launched a production linked incentive scheme for smartphones in 2020, marking a pivotal moment for this sector.
<><><>
The Select Committee of Lok Sabha on the new Income Tax Bill – 2025 is holding a meeting at the Parliament House in New Delhi. The 31-member panel is headed by BJP MP Baijayant Panda. The Committee will submit its report on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament.
The Income-Tax Bill 2025 aims at consolidating and amending the law relating to income tax.
<><><>
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is questioning Robert Vadra, the husband of senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the third consecutive day today in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to a land deal in Haryana. He is being questioned at the ED office in New Delhi. The case is related to purchase of a land in Gurugram by Mr. Vadra’s company.
<><><>
BJP today asserted that strongest war has been waged against corrupts and corruption referring to ED questioning of Robert Vadra, the husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi. Briefing media in New Delhi, party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that Vadra had done rampant corruption and he was protected by the previous Congress government. He said around 700 percent profit was earned in just four months in this land deal which is under scanner.
Mr. Bhatia rejected the allegations of Congress that the action in the land deal and in National Herald case are political vendetta.
<><><>
In Bihar, a crucial meeting of the RJD-Congress led Grand Alliance in view of the upcoming state assembly elections is being held in Patna. All six constituents of the opposition alliance will attend the meeting convened at the RJD office. Our correspondent reports that all the six constituents of the opposition alliance are attending the meeting at the RJD office.
Apart from discussing seat sharing and identifying mutual seats, the leaders of the Grand Alliance are also likely to brainstorm over the Chief Ministerial candidate.
<><><>
In Punjab, the procurement of wheat crop has started. As of now, over 4 Lakh Meteric Ton (LMT) has already arrived in various mandis in the state out of which more than 3.20 LMT has been procured.
As the state is expecting a bumper 124 LMT crop this season, concerned authorities have directed all concerned to ensure foolproof arrangements in the mandis.
<><><>
India is expected to remain the fastest growing major economy with a 6.5 per cent growth rate in 2025 while global growth is seen as marking a shift towards a recessionary path, according to the latest UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report.
India has been listed among the countries that are propelling growth with higher government expenditure and monetary policy stimulus in the report titled ‘Trade and Development Foresights 2025. The report projected China’s growth rate at 4.4 per cent, while the US economy is expected to grow at 1 per cent. The growth for the European Union has also been projected at 1 per cent, although France, Germany and Italy are all expected to record below 1 per cent growth. Similarly, Japan’s economic growth rate is expected to come down to a mere 0.5 per cent. with Sudhir Yadav, Vishnu PS, news desk.
<><><>
US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has warned that Donald Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariff policy is likely to increase inflation, despite the president’s earlier promises to lower prices upon taking office. Speaking at an event hosted by the Economic Club of Chicago last night, Powell noted that the announced tariff hikes are significantly larger than expected. He warned that the economic consequences such as higher inflation and slower growth are likely to follow.
<><><>
Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is addressing the media on the issue of ED chargesheet against senior Congress leaders. We take you live to the press briefing:
<><><>
The Indian stock market is witnessing a bull run, as both the Sensex and Nifty 50 posted significant intraday gains today. Both indices appear poised to close in positive territory for the fourth consecutive session.
The 30-share Sensex surged over 1.5 percent to 78,503, while the Nifty 50 recorded a rise of over 1.5 percent, reaching 23,862 when the reports last came in.
<><><>
In Himachal Pradesh, the weather is likely to remain bad during the next two days. The Met Department has issued an orange alert for heavy rain and hailstorm in five districts of the state including Shimla on the 18th and 19th of April.
<><><>
In Tennis, India’s veteran tennis player Rohan Bopanna and his partner Ben Shelton of United States will be in action at the Bavarian International Championships in Munich, Germany this afternoon. 45 year old Bopanna and 22 year old Shelton will face Sander Gillé of Belgium and Jan Zieliński of Poland in the Men’s doubles quarterfinal.
<><><>
In IPL Cricket today, hosts Mumbai Indians will clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad at Wankhede Stadium from 07:30 PM.
<><><>
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauds bravery of CRPF personnel; Says their valour will live on in nation’s history.
- Supreme Court to resume hearing pleas challenging constitutional validity of Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
- India’s smartphone export touched record two lakh crore rupees in last fiscal, says Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- UN Trade and Development report says, India expected to remain fastest growing major economy with a 6.5 per cent growth rate in 2025.
- Markets surge by over one and a half per cent in afternoon trade.
- In Tennis, Rohan Bopanna and his American partner Ben Shelton to play Men’s doubles quarterfinal of Bavarian International Championships in Munich, Germany today.
<><><>
