No intervention of third party on Kashmir: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected the intervention of any third party on Kashmir. On Monday, August 26, while he was in France attending the G-7 meeting, Modi reiterated that India and Pakistan can discuss all issues and “we don’t want to trouble any third country.” The PM made this remark while talking to the media alongside the US President Donald Trump. India has made it amply clear that Kashmir is a bilateral matter and scrapping of Article 370 is an internal matter of India.
Assam govt to provide free legal aid to the poor on NRC
The Assam government on Tuesday, August 27, announced to bear the legal expenses of the deprived section who are excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC), so that they can appeal in tribunals to register their names. The state government has made it clear that people whose annual income is less than Rs 3 lakhs can avail free legal services. The deadline for the publication of NRC is August 31.
Fit India Movement, a tribute to Dhyan Chand
On Thursday, August 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Fit India Movement’ on the occasion of National Sports Day at Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex in New Delhi. The aim behind this campaign is to encourage people to participate in sporting activities and remain healthy and fit. The move was a tribute to hockey wizard Dhyan Chand on his 114th birth anniversary. In recent months, public mood in India has turned buoyant due to the success of sports persons like PV Sidhu, Hima Das and others at the international level.
Sumit Nagal goes down fighting
India’s Sumit Nagal went down to Roger Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion, in the first round of the 2019 US Open Tennis Championship in New York on Tuesday. August 27, but not before giving a tough fight to the tennis legend. The promising tennis star snatched the first set by 4-6. But later the legend changed his gear and stamped his authority to defeat world No.190 rank Nagal 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. In return, Sumit Nagal not only bagged US$58,000 but also got the enriching experience of playing against the master of tennis.
RBI approves to transfer Rs.1.76 lakh crore to govt
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday, August 26, accepted the recommendations of the Bimal Jalan Panel and approved a record transfer of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the Central government. This transfer had been a matter of debate between the government, the RBI and the financial circle. Two former governors of RBI, Raghuram Rajan and Urjit Patel, were against the transfer of excessive reserves saying it would hit RBI’s ratings and borrowing costs. But the present governor of RBI, Shaktikanta Das, holds the opinion that such huge transfer is not going to hit the bank’s reserves. All in all, with this decision, it looks like the Modi government must have finally heaved a sigh of relief.
Congress dream project NYAY underway in Chhattisgarh
The Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) or minimum income guarantee scheme was the key promise made by the Congress before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This pilot project is set to be introduced first in Chhattisgarh. The state government, after meeting with the party high command, has decided to launch this project soon. Under NYAY, the poor citizens are slated to receive Rs 72,000 per annum.
Feroz Shah Kotla to be rechristened as Arun Jaitley Stadium
The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) on Tuesday, August 27, decided that Feroz Shah Kotla will be renamed after former Union Minister Arun Jaitely. The official announcement will take place on September 12, 2019 in Delhi. Feroz Shah Kotla is one of the oldest stadiums in India. This historic stadium is going to be rechristened as a tribute to the former finance and defence minister who left for his heavenly abode recently. However, the ground will continue to be known as Feroz Shah Kotla.
BJP to kick off awareness drive on J&K
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, August 26, announced the beginning of its month-long outreach programme across the country. The notion behind this decision is to create awareness in general public about the reasons behind scrapping Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and creating two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. During this month-long show, BJP leaders will meet well-known personalities from different fields across the country. Top brass of the party will also hold public meetings in 35 big cities. Apart from this, 370 meetings will also take place in Tier 1 and 2 towns, including four places in Jammu and Kashmir in September.
Read More: Jammu and Kashmir: The Unfolding Situation
Delhi govt decides to waive off water dues
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Delhi government has recently taken another decision to keep the Delhiites happy. On Tuesday, August 27, Delhi government announced the waiver of all water arrears of domestic consumers living in E, F, G, and H category colonies. The residents of upscale A to D colonies will also get partial relief on accumulated bills till March 31, 2019. Opposition parties are claiming that this move is nothing more than a pre-poll sop, while environmental activists feel it may encourage wastage of water, which is a precious resource. However, the ‘aam aadmi’ is definitely happy.
PC challenges ED in apex court to prove assets
An argument broke out on Tuesday, August 27, between the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and former Union Minister P Chidambaram over the latter’s properties and bank accounts. ED told the Supreme Court that Chidambaram has 17 bank accounts and several properties abroad. However, Chidambaram denied the same and challenged the investigating agency to present the details of such properties and accounts in the court.
Double life term to 10 convicts in Kevin honour killing
On Tuesday, August 27, a court in Kerala awarded double life term to all 10 convicts in the 24 year old Dalit Christian Kevin murder case. It was probably the first honour killing in the state, which led to widespread protests in Kerala. Dalit organisations had actively raised their voice against the inaction of the police. Kevin was allegedly kidnapped last year on May 27, 2018 by his upper-caste fiancée’s family in Kottayam. Next day Kevin’s body was found in a canal in Kollam. It is hoped that the punishment will serve as a deterrent to people who resort to killings in order to protect their so-called ‘family honour’.
Colleagues debar Patna High Court judge from all judicial matters
The Patna High Court has taken a unique decision and curtailed the working power of one of its own colleagues. This action followed an order passed by Justice Rakesh Kumar on Wednesday, August 28, in which he had alleged “casteism and corruption in the high court and the entire judicial system”. An 11-judge bench of the Patna High Court presided by the chief justice on Thursday, August 29, termed it an attack on judicial hierarchy and integrity, and announced the withdrawal of all matters pending before Justice Rakesh Kumar with immediate effect.
Didi set to put lynchers away for life
Taking a leaf from Manipur and Rajasthan’s rulebook, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is set to make lynching in the state an offence punishable with life term and Rs. 5 lakhs fine. This new law is likely to be passed in the current session of the assembly.
Delhi govt to provide free coaching for competitive exams
The AAP party led Delhi government is going to arrange free coaching classes for IIT, UPSC, medical and other competitive examinations for the poor students of OBC and General categories. Students belonging to the families whose annual income is less than Rs 8 lakhs per annum can avail this facility, whereas earlier it was reserved for SC students only. The coaching facility has had some grand success, with a tailor’s son Vinay Kumar famously gaining admission into IIT Delhi, and a daily wager’s daughter Shashi making it to the coveted Lady Hardinge Medical College. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “We have narrowed the gap between the poor and the rich by providing good education.”
Robot takes Physics class in a Bengaluru school
We have all heard of robots that can clean houses or perform surgeries. But now, robots are making inroads into classrooms too. Eagle 2.0, a robot, appeared in a Physics class in Indus International School in Bengaluru. This may be the first instance in the country that a robot has taken academic lesson. The robot is reported to have begun the lecture with: “Hello everyone, our topic of discussion is thermal physics today.” The female robot was formally dressed in a white top and black skirt along with a scarf around her neck. Almost mimicking a human teacher, the robot asked questions from the students and then reacted over their answers. However, it remains to be seen how the robot will deal with unruly pupils!
Russia to train 4 Indians for Gaganyaan mission
Russia has picked 4 Indian astronauts out of 12 to train them for the country’s Gaganyaan mission, which is scheduled to be launched in 2022. This was decided during a meeting between Russian Space Agency officials and NSA Ajit Doval in Moscow. The 15 months training will start in November 2019.
Govt attracts FDI in new sectors
The Central government on Wednesday, August 28, opened the gate of various sectors like coal mining, contract manufacturing and digital media in India for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Changes in the FDI policy are expected to make India a more attractive destination and have a positive effect on its economy in the coming years.
Manasi pips Parul to clinch gold
Manasi Joshi bagged the gold medal at the world para-badminton championship at Basel in Switzerland on August 25, without much hue and cry. The 30-year old defeated world no. 1 and compatriot Parul Parmar 21-12, 21-7.
No safety gear, four sewer workers killed in Udaipur
The life of sewer workers in the country continues to be dogged by death and disaster. Last week, four sewer workers lost their lives in Ghaziabad in cleaning the sewer. The calamity was repeated in Udaipur in Rajasthan this time, where four sewer workers died by suffocation or electrocution on Monday, August 26. And the same old story emerged once again, of the sewer workers lacking safety gears. It is sincerely hoped that these deaths will jolt the collective consciousness of the nation and lead to precautionary measures to safeguard the life of manual scavengers.
Cops catch 88-yr old drug peddler
The long arm of the law again caught up with 88-year old woman drug peddler, Rajrani Topli, who was arrested for the tenth time on Wednesday, August 28, for selling drugs. As per news reports from Delhi, she has been selling drugs for more than six decades. She might be the oldest drug dealer in the country.
Weight up to 25 kg allowed in Metro rail
Passengers can now carry luggage weighing up to 25kg in the Delhi Metro, where earlier the limit was 15kg. The State urban affairs minister has issued a notice specifying that only one bag of 25kg is allowed. Apart from this, baggage in the form of bundles won’t be allowed in Metro anymore.
RBI reduces printing of Rs 2000 notes
The Rs 2000 denomination note, which was introduced in 2017 after the demonetisation in 2016, accounts for half of the total value of currency in circulation in the country. However, as per reports, in recent times the RBI has ordered to decrease the printing of Rs 2000 notes.
Indian shooters bag gold & bronze in world championship
Following in the footsteps of PV Sindhu, Indian shooters Abhishek Verma bagged the gold medal and his fellow Saurabh Chaudhary brought home the bronze in the men’s 10m Air Pistol World Cup in Rio De Janeiro in Brazil. Verma shot 244.2 and Chaudhary 221.9 in the eight-man final.
Architect of Vande Bharat Express seeks conducive work conditions
The brain behind Train 18 and Southern Railways Principal Mechanical Engineer Shubhranshu has demanded that the working environment should be “free from fear, suspicion and interdepartmental conflicts”. As per his submission to the Central Administrative Tribunal’s (CAT) Chennai bench, he was transferred abruptly 7 months ago when he raised certain issues regarding administrative lacunae at the Railway Board level. He was again transferred last week. The CAT in its order on Wednesday, August 28, refused to stay his transfer but directed the Railway Board to look into his representation.
Read More: Vande Bharat Express: Routes, Stations, and Features
Chhattisgarh former CM Ajit Jogi booked for violating tribal status
Former Chief Minister of Chattisgarh, Ajit Jogi, landed himself in trouble for his claim of belonging to a Scheduled Tribe. The police have registered a case when his caste certificate was rejected by the state government on Friday. The violation of section 10-1 of Chhattisgarh SC/ST rule of 2013 can land violators behind bars for two years.
AAP govt pushes Hindi
In spite of the stress on English in schools and colleges, the Delhi government has asked all its departments to use Hindi as the official language. The government also said if communication is made in either Urdu or Punjabi, the reply should be made in the same language.
New Karnataka BJP chief stresses on discipline
The newly appointed Karnataka chief of BJP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, has announced that maintaining discipline will be the most beneficial tonic for the party state unit. Speaking at a programme organised by the Dakshina Kannada unit on Thursday, he asserted that the party will not compromise on the issue of discipline at any cost.
Acid attack during brawl injures 20 in Bihar
Differences between two families in the Vaishali district of Bihar led to acid war on Wednesday, August 28. The argument between the members of the two houses turned ugly when acid was thrown. Over 20 people, including 3 women, were injured, some of them seriously. The injured were referred to Sadar Hospital in Hajipur.
Coimbatore restaurant offers Rs 5 as token gift for not wasting food
Wastage of food and water is common, especially in restaurants. But a Coimbatore restaurant has innovated a new idea to stop wastage of food. The customers who eat their food in a proper manner, served to them on a banana leaf, get Rs 5 as a gift from the restaurant for not wasting food and water. The hotel owner says the response on the part of customers is encouraging and wastage has indeed reduced.
Canal built over 42 years vanishes within 24 hours in Jharkhand
A canal was inaugurated with much fanfare by the Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das on Wednesday, August 28, to provide water in 85 villages. It had taken almost 42 years and a huge investment of more than Rs 2000 crores to build the canal. But less than 24 hours after the inauguration, the canal developed a crack and vanished with the waters, which led to flash floods in many surrounding villages.
Govt to set up 75 new medical colleges
Cabinet committee on Economic Affairs has given its nod on Wednesday, August 28, to set up 75 government medical colleges by 2021-2022. The new medical colleges would be opened in such areas where medical colleges are not existing. Additional 16,000 seats for MBBS will be created with the opening of these medical colleges.
Be quick! In selling liquor
The Delhi government has issued an order that all stock of wine and beer transferred from the stockroom to the bar counter has to be sold within 3 days. Liquor brands priced less than Rs 1,500 will have to cleared within five days, while brands costing up to Rs 6,000 must be cleared within 8 days. At the expiry of the time period, the unsold stock must be destroyed. The order comes into effect from Saturday, August 31, and is aimed at checking adulteration/ refilling at restaurants.
Govt to merge 10 PSBs to make final four
The Central government has once again changed bank theory after its nationalisation in 1969. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, August 30, unveiled a new plan to merge 10 public sector banks into four financial giants. It is expected that these four biggies would be capable of meeting higher funding requirements and corporate governance norms of the economy.
India’s GDP growth plummets to 5%
The country’s GDP growth rate has reached a low of 5% in the April-June quarter of FY2019, which is lowest in six years. This slowdown has affected many sectors. From manufacturing to construction, all sectors of the economy are in the doldrums. Employees are losing their jobs, because there is no flow of money in the market. For this reason, the Finance Minister has recently announced a slew of measures to give a boost to the economy.
CBL gets underway today
The much-awaited Championships Boat League (CBL) is getting underway on Saturday, August 31 in Kerala. This year’s event is special because it will be held on basis of IPL model. This year, 79 boats along with 23 snake boats will take part in the action packed CBL for the prestigious Nehru Trophy. The race is delayed due to flood and other natural calamities in the state. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will flag off the race at Punnamada Lake on Saturday at 2 p.m. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar along with other dignitaries will also be present on this grand occasion.
86-year-old Spanish nun heads home
An 86-year old nun from Spain, Sister Enedina, a doctor by profession, initially landed in Berhampur in 1966 and served as a social worker. The compassionate doctor then moved to Aliganda village, set up a clinic and served the people for almost 50 years. However, she was forced to pack her bags and head home because the Indian government did not grant renewal on her visa application. She had no choice but to leave for Spain on August 20, after spending more than 50 years in India.
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Friday Closing rates-
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Gold: Rs 39,720 per 10 grams
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