THE HEADLINES:

• President Droupadi Murmu calls for greater role of women in policy formation and decision making in agriculture sector.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release 22nd installment of PM Kisan scheme from Guwahati in Assam tomorrow.

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla says, he always ensures proceedings of House are conducted with impartiality, discipline and in accordance with the rules.

• Government to conduct comprehensive probe into reported attack on former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.

• Tensions rise in West Asia after Iran targets commercial vessels in Persian Gulf.

• In Swiss Open Badminton, Kiran George to take on Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan in Men’s Singles pre-quarterfinal at Basel tonight.

 

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President Droupadi Murmu has called for greater role of women in policy formation, decision making and leadership positions in the agriculture sector. The President made these remarks after inaugurating the three-day Global Conference on the Role of Women in Agri Food System in New Delhi today. The President said, larger participation of women at all levels in the sector will promote gender inclusive agricultural growth.

 

 

 

Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture and Farmers’ welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, the platform will provide pace and direction to women centric work in agricultural research network across the country.

 

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 22nd installment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan) from Guwahati in Assam tomorrow. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced this while addressing the media in New Delhi this morning. He noted that Prime Minister Modi will release 18 thousand 640 crore rupees through Direct Benefit Transfer to the bank accounts of around 9 crore 32 lakh farmers.

 

 

The Minister highlighted that the government has also launched the first phase of an AI-based digital platform, Bharat Vistar, to provide farmers with comprehensive information related to agricultural queries.

 

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The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 PM following opposition uproar over various issues, including a demand for discussion on the LPG crisis.

 

When the House reassembled after the first adjournment at 12 Noon, Speaker Om Birla gave a statement on the resolution brought by opposition parties seeking his removal, which was rejected by the House yesterday. Mr Birla said, he has always tried to ensure that the proceedings of the House are conducted with impartiality, discipline, balance, and in accordance with the rules. The Speaker, clarified that whether it is the leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition or any other member, everyone has the right to speak in the House only in accordance with the rules and procedures. The Speaker said, no member has any special privilege to speak in this House beyond the rules.

 

 

Later, Congress leader K C Venugopal said that Leader of Opposition has given an adjournment notice on the LPG Crisis and demanded immediate discussion on the issue. Mr Birla said, he has received the notice and has informed the government about it.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, the issue is important and the government wants to reply on it. He said, the Government also wants to respond immediately. As the uproar continued, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 PM.

 

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Chief Whip of BJP in the Lok Sabha Dr Sanjay Jaiswal has criticised the Congress party over the no-confidence motion related to the Lok Sabha Speaker, saying that the opposition failed to secure adequate support. Mr Jaiswal was talking to Akashvani News.

 

 

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Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that Indian Railways has deployed advanced AI and Machine Learning Devices to enhance safety and its operational efficiency by adopting smart monitoring. Mr Vaishnaw stated this in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. He said, TRI-Netra System is being developed to assist loco pilots with enhanced vision during foggy and adverse weather conditions.

 

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Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha JP Nadda has assured the Upper House that a comprehensive investigation will be carried out to uncover the full circumstances behind the reported attack on former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah. Responding to the issue raised by the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Mr  Nadda said, the government is taking the matter very seriously.

 

 

However, the Union Minister also criticised the opposition for giving the incident a political colour.

 

During the Zero Hour, the leader of the opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, raised concerns over law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir after an assasination attempt on Farooq Abdullah.

 

National Conference President and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who was attending a marriage ceremony in Jammu last evening, had a miraculous escape after a gunman opened fire on him.

 

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Tensions in West Asia have escalated after a maritime attack by Iran in the Persian Gulf involving commercial vessels near Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. An Indian crew member lost his life after a US-owned crude oil tanker was attacked near Basra in Iraq. In a social media post, Indian Embassy in Iraq said that the tanker Safesea Vishnu, was sailing under the Marshall Islands flag. It added that the remaining 15 member Indian crew has been evacuated to a safe place. The Embassy noted that they are in regular touch with the Iraqi authorities and the rescued Indian sailors and are offering all possible assistance.

 

Meanwhile, UAE authorities responded to a drone attack near Dubai Creek Harbour this morning, prompting evacuations. No casualties were reported. The incident comes amid a series of overnight interceptions of missiles and drones across the Gulf region as the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to widen. More from our correspondent:

 

 

 

“Regional governments remain on high alert as air defence systems in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE reportedly intercepted additional Iranian projectiles overnight. Iraq has also suspended operations at one of its key oil ports following deadly attacks on two foreign oil tankers, adding to growing concerns about the safety of energy infrastructure and maritime routes across West Asia. Iran’s armed forces have meanwhile issued a fresh warning over maritime security, saying that if Iranian ports come under attack, ports across the region would be treated as legitimate targets. Tehran’s message signals a possible expansion of the conflict into commercial shipping lanes and port facilities, a development that could significantly disrupt trade flows in West Asia. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has outlined three conditions for ending the war, calling for recognition of Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations and firm international guarantees against future attacks. VINOD KUMAR, AKASHVANI NEWS, DUBAI”

 

Despite the escalation, US President Donald Trump has suggested the campaign could be nearing its end, and that the war could conclude soon. The Pentagon said seven American service members have been killed and one hundred and forty wounded since Operation Epic Fury began on 28th of February. On global energy markets, Brent crude prices remain above one hundred dollars a barrel as the continued disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz tightens supplies.

 

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India’s LPG production has increased by 25 per cent following several measures taken by the government aimed at boosting domestic supply for household consumers. Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sujata Sharma stated this while addressing an inter-ministerial briefing on recent West Asia developments in New Delhi last evening.

 

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The country is observing the 96th anniversary of the historic Dandi March, or Salt Satyagraha today. The Dandi March began on this day in 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi and a group of followers set out on a 24-day, nearly 390-kilometre non violent march from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to the coastal village of Dandi in Gujarat to challenge the British monopoly on salt production and taxation. It sparked the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement, breaking unjust laws.

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and all the brave freedom fighters who participated in the historic Dandi March.

 

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World Kidney Day is being observed today. In his message on the occasion, Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda called upon everyone to join hands in spreading awareness and ensuring that kidney health remains a priority for all.

 

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Benchmark domestic equity indices trimmed some of their early losses and were trading around 0.4 percent lower in forenoon trade today. The Sensex slipped 310 points to 76 thousand and 555, while the Nifty lost 73 points to 23 thousand and 794, when reports last came in.

 

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The India Meteorological Department, IMD has forecast heat wave conditions over Gujarat tomorrow. The weather agency has predicted heavy rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya tomorrow. The IMD said that thunderstorm and lightning will prevail over Chhattisgarh, Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Vidarbha, Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura for the next three days.

 

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In Swiss Open Badminton, Indian shuttlers will play pre-quarterfinal matches in Basel tonight. Kiran George will face Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan in Men’s Singles. Kiran edged past former world champion and third seed Loh Kean Yew of Singapore, in the opening match last night. Gunawan, on the other hand, ended the campaign of former world no. 1 Kidambi Srikanth in the opening round.

World No. 4 Men’s Doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will be taking on the Japanese duo of Hiroki Okamura and Kyohei Yamashita in their Round of 16 match. They advanced to the pre-quarterfinal with a win over Singapore’s Eng Keat Wesley Koh and Junsuke Kubo.

Following them, another Indian men’s doubles pair of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun also booked their spot in Round of 16 with a straight-game win. They will next take on Chinese Taipei pair, Cheng Kuan Chen and Lin Bing Wei, in the pre-quarterfinal.

Indian Mixed Doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto will face China’s Gao Jia Xuan and Wu Meng Ying. They beat fourth seed Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund of Denmark.

 

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:

 

• President Droupadi Murmu calls for greater role of women in policy formation and decision making in agriculture sector.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release 22nd installment of PM Kisan scheme from Guwahati in Assam tomorrow.

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla says, he always ensures proceedings of House are conducted with impartiality, discipline and in accordance with the rules.

• Government to conduct comprehensive probe into reported attack on former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.

• Tensions rise in West Asia after Iran targets commercial vessels in Persian Gulf.

• In Swiss Open Badminton, Kiran George to take on Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan in Men’s Singles pre-quarterfinal at Basel tonight.

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