THE HEADLINES :-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds delegation level talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in New Delhi; Says, both nations believe, it is duty of all humanitarian countries to unite and fight against terrorism.
- India and Singapore sign five agreements including Civil Aviation, Space, Skill Development, and Digital asset innovation.
- Union Health Minister JP Nadda asserts, GST Reforms to make healthcare more affordable to all; Says they reaffirm government’s commitment to the poor and middle class.
- Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan reviews flood situation in Punjab.
- In Jammu and Kashmir, train shuttle services between Jammu and Katra suspended due to heavy rain and flooding; Rainfall eases in most parts of Himachal Pradesh.
- In US Open Tennis, Indo-Kiwi Pair of Yuki Bhambri and Michael Venus to take on British pair of Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury in Men’s doubles Semifinal this evening.
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India and Singapore today signed five agreements on Civil Aviation, Space, Skill Development, Digital asset innovation and Green and Digital shipping corridore. The MoUs were exchanged after the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in New Delhi today.
In his press statement, Prime Minister Modi said, both nations share common concerns regarding terrorism. He said, India and Singapore believe that fighting against terrorism with unity is the duty of all humanitarian countries.
Mr Modi said, India and Singapore will continue to work together to advance the Joint Vision for cooperation with ASEAN and for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. He said, Singapore is India’s biggest trade partner in South-East Asia and it is an important pillar of the Act East Policy.
Prime Minister Modi said, to give momentum to mutual business, both the countries have decided to do time bound review of the Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement and ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong said that India and Singapore will expand cooperation in frontier areas like space. He said, more than 20 Singapore-made satellites have been launched by India.
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Union Health Minister J P Nadda has said, the GST reforms will reduce healthcare costs and improve the lives of people. In a social media post, Mr Nadda said, they reaffirm the government’s commitment to the poor and middle class. He said, abolishing GST on 36 life saving drugs, including cancer and rare diseases, exempting health and life insurance, and slashing it on medicines, medical devices and diagnostics marks a giant step towards affordable healthcare for all.
The GST Council has unanimously approved rate cuts on scores of items of daily use, making most goods and services cheaper.
Briefing media after the 56th GST council meeting in New Delhi yesterday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the new rates will come into effect from the 22nd of this month, the first day of Navratri festivle delivering on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day promise of a GST Diwali gift. More from our correspondent:
The biggest tax cuts have come on food, medicines, essential items, farm goods, green energy, small cars and bikes. The GST rate on individual life and health insurance policies have been cut down to nil from 18 per cent. The move will make health insurance policy affordable for the common man and increase the insurance coverage in the country. The GST on 36 life saving drugs including cancer and rare diseases tratment has been reduced to zero percent. Beside, the GST rate on medical items of regular use including thermometer and glucometer has been reduced from 12 per cent to five per cent tax bracket. The GST exemption on Health insurance and rate cut on life saving drugs is a decisive step in making Swasthya Bharat, Samruddh Bharat. With Dipendra Kumar, Adarsh, Akashwani News Delhi.
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Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw has hailed the government’s decision to reduce Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates. Addressing the media in Sohna, Gurugram today, the Minister described the move as a landmark step that will ease the financial burden on middle-class and low-income families.
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Industry bodies have welcomed the next-generation GST reforms saying that the simplification of the tax set-up will help in ease of doing business.
The Confederation of Indian Industry – CII said the two rates of 5 percent and 18 percent, will simplify refunds and MSME procedures. It also hailed the exemption of individual life and health insurance from GST as pathbreaking. It further added that this clarity will ease compliance, reduce litigation, and give businesses and consumers the predictability they need.
Forum Coordinator at the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry, Rajiv Nath has said, they are very happy with the Government decision, which will provide affordable access to consumers and patients and lower their healthcare cost.
President, PHDCCI, Hemant Jain said, the timing of the reforms is very important in view of the coming festivals.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry – FICCI said the reforms reflect the maturation of the indirect tax regime which has seen a steady rise in collections.
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Secretary General ASSOCHAM, Manish Singhal said that production and industial capacity will increase among other things. He also added that these reforms will give a big boost to the economy.
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Union Agriculture Minister, Shivraj Singh Chauhan has arrived in Punjab to take stock of the present situation in the severely flood affected border state. Our Correspondent reports, Punjab Governor, Gulab Chand Kataria submitted a detailed report to the Union Minister on the flood situation in five most affected districts Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur. Mr Chauhan is also scheduled to visit villages in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Kapurthala before convening a review meeting of the concerned officials of centre and state government.
Our correspondent reports, Border Security Force has evacuated hundreds of villagers to safer places is continuously making efforts in coordination with concerned district administrations.
Their own Border out Posts (BoPs) being inundated by floods in border areas, their Josh is still High as always. The force is standing firm as a pillar of strength with the border residents of Punjab.Inspector General of BSF, Punjab Frontier, Dr Atul Fulzule has assured full support of the force in this hour of crisis.From airlifting critically injured and sick besides others, to providing medical aid, distributing ration and fodder, to strengthening and plugging breached bundhs, the dedicated officers and jawans are all around with their Choppers and Boats in this humanitarian effort.At the same time, the troops have foiled multiple narco-smuggling attempts along Punjab border as well. Rajesh Bali/Akashvani News/Jalandhar.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, the local Meteorological Department issued a fresh weather forecast saying that the weather will remain generally cloudy today with light to moderate rain and thundershowers at many places. The shuttle services of four trains that were introduced to help locals and stranded passengers travel between Jammu and Katra, the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine was suspended due to heavy rain and flooding on Wednesday. More from our correspondent:
The MeT department has issued an advisory urging people to remain cautious amid the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in some districts leading to flash floods, landslides and shooting stones in vulnerable areas. while travelers on hilly routes have been advised to stay updated and follow weather advisories high-level seven-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) deputed by the MHA and headed by Colonel K P Singh, Advisor (Operations and Communication), NDMA is in Jammu and will tour all the 10 districts of Jammu division upto September 7 before returning to the Union Capital with its findings. This is N. Gulshan Raina For Akashvani Jammu.
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In most parts of Himachal Pradesh, rainfall eased today, giving a push to relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. However, the Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain at several places in the state during the next 24 hours.
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In US Open Tennis, Pair of Yuki Bhambri and his New Zealand partner Michael Venus will take on the British pair of Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury in the men’s doubles semifinal this evening.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds delegation level talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in New Delhi; Says, both nations believe, it is duty of all humanitarian countries to unite and fight against terrorism.
- India and Singapore sign five agreements including Civil Aviation, Space, Skill Development, and Digital asset innovation.
- Union Health Minister JP Nadda asserts, GST Reforms to make healthcare more affordable to all; Says they reaffirm government’s commitment to the poor and middle class.
- Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan reviews flood situation in Punjab.
- In Jammu and Kashmir, train shuttle services between Jammu and Katra suspended due to heavy rain and flooding; Rainfall eases in most parts of Himachal Pradesh.
- In US Open Tennis, Indo-Kiwi Pair of Yuki Bhambri and Michael Venus to take on British pair of Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury in Men’s doubles Semifinal this evening.
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