The UPA's claim that its flagship rural employment scheme has eradicated an age-old scourge is hard to believe

Bonded labour: The truth is out there

Business Standard

The BJP government in Rajasthan, led by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, completed one year in office on Sunday with a number of accomplishments, including the creation of more than 1.24 lakh jobs, a crackdown on the paper-leak mafia and signing an MoU regarding the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project.
The government organised an investment summit in its first year and signed memoranda of understanding worth Rs 34 lakh crore, a step towards realising its vision of increasing the economy size of the desert state to USD 350 billion, for which the ruling regime has effected a 65-per cent increase in capital expenditure in this year's budget.
Winning five of the seven seats in the recently-held Assembly bypolls is also being credited to the efficiency of Sharma's leadership.
However, the palpable discord of Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, indecisiveness on issues, such as the formation of new districts by the former Congress government, the controversial sub-inspector recruitment of 

BJP Flag, BJP

Mexico, Canada, and 10-nation Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN benefited more from the US-China trade war than India, economic think tank GTRI said in a report.
It said that India has to strengthen its local supply chains and produce critical intermediates to reduce reliance on China, while improving cost efficiency and ease of doing business to enhance competitiveness of domestic industries and increase exports to the US.
With Donald Trump again becoming the US President, the evolving trade landscape offers huge opportunities for the Indian industry as he is now planning new tariffs targeting Mexico, Canada, China, and others.
The US-China trade war, initiated in 2018 under President Trump with tariffs targeting key sectors, has significantly reshaped global trade flows but failed to achieve its primary goals.
"Key beneficiaries of the trade war included Mexico, Canada, and ASEAN nations, which collectively accounted for 57 per cent  of the growth in US imports. India also emerged as a 

US-China, US-China trade

Hospitality firm Sarovar Hotels is broadening focus towards highway hotels and resorts close to major cities, capitalising on the country's rapidly expanding roads network, a top official said.
The hotel chain has 80 projects in the pipeline over the next few years as part of its expansion plan, he said.
"Highway hotels and resort-concept properties close to cities, within three-four hour journey, are a new high-growth segment for hospitality, at a time when competition is getting intense in urban centres," Sarovar Hotels Chairman Ajay K Bakaya told PTI in an interview.
He said this strategic shift aligns with the ongoing road infrastructure development in the country.
Enhanced connectivity is opening up opportunities for leisure and business travel, creating demand for accessible and convenient accommodation options, he said.
"We haven't seen such development of highways in the past. Around 10,000 km of national highways are being constructed annually, which is remarkable. It is 

Sarovar Hotels

The Congress on Sunday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, charging that defamation of Jawaharlal Nehru and minimum democratic governance was his model.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Modi has an "obsession" with Nehru as he invokes him to distract the nation's attention from his own failures and current challenges on which he maintains a complete silence.
The Congress attack on the prime minister came a day after he attacked the party during the debate on the 'Glorious 75 year journey of India's Constitution'.
"It was the famous French philosopher Voltaire who had first said that if God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him.For our self-anointed divinity - if Nehru had not existed, it would have been necessary to invent him," Ramesh said.
The Congress leader asked what would the prime minister do without Nehru, for whom he has a pathological obsession?
"Nehru is necessary to distract the nation's  attention from His own failures.  

Jairam Ramesh, Jairam

Gujarat-based Suchi Semicon has started production of semiconductors without the Centre's incentive and plans to invest USD 100 million in three years, a top official of the company said on Sunday.
Suchi Group Chairman and Suchi Semicon founder Ashok Mehta said though the company has applied for the Centre's incentive under SPECS (Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors) and India Semiconductor Mission, it does not want to hold on to production for the sake of incentives.
"We have a full proof business plan. Our business plan is not primarily for incentives. We have set up a plant to do business. The Centre's approval will come when we meet their requirements. We have made USD 100 million (about Rs 840 crore) investment plan over three years," Mehta said.
He said that the state government has approved 20 per cent incentives for the plant.
"At the time of Covid when there was shortage of semiconductors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked

semiconductor

The Bengaluru police arrested Nikita Singhania from Gurugram while her mother and brother were arrested from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh

Nikita Singhania arrest

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday proposed 11 resolutions which include upholding existing reservations for marginalised sections but  strongly opposing any religion-based quota.
Replying to a two-day debate in Lok Sabha on the 'Glorious Journey of 75 Years of  the Constitution of India', Modi said the Constituent Assembly had decided against religion-based reservations after a thorough discussion, and alleged the Congress is now promising it to appease its vote bank.
The 11 resolutions proposed by Modi towards the end of his over 110-minute speech also included a call for an end to dynastic politics, promoting meritocracy over nepotism in governance and a pledge for having zero tolerance to corruption.
The prime minister said these resolutions are aimed at shaping India's future.
But Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav termed the 11 resolutions "hollow and fake promises."
"Today, we heard resolution of 11 'jumlas'. Doubling the .

Modi, Narendra Modi

Five of the 10 most valued firms added Rs 1,13,117.17 crore to their total market valuation last week with Bharti Airtel stealing the show.
While Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank and Infosys were the gainers, Reliance Industries, State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), ITC and Hindustan Unilever took a hit in their valuations.
Last week, the BSE benchmark gained 623.07 points or 0.76 per cent and the Nifty advanced 90.5 points or 0.36 per cent.
The market valuation of Bharti Airtel surged by Rs 47,836.6 crore to Rs 9,57,842.40 crore.
Infosys added Rs 31,826.97 crore to its valuation at Rs 8,30,387.10 crore.
HDFC Bank's valuation rose by Rs 11,887.78 crore to Rs 14,31,158.06 crore and that of ICICI Bank increased by Rs 11,760.8 crore to Rs 9,49,306.37 crore.
The market capitalisation (mcap) of TCS climbed Rs 9,805.02 crore to Rs 16,18,587.63 crore.
However, the mcap of Reliance Industries declined by Rs 52,031.98 crore 

Airtel

The US Fed interest rate decision, inflation data and FIIs are the key factors that are expected to drive stock markets this week,  analysts said.
Also, global trends will also be tracked by investors for further cues, they added.
"The Indian stock market's future trajectory will be influenced by a blend of global and domestic factors. Global trends, particularly the performance of US markets and the Fed's monetary policy decision, will play a significant role. Additionally, domestic economic indicators like inflation, will shape the market sentiment," Pravesh Gour, Senior Technical Analyst, Swastika Investmart Ltd, said.
The flow of foreign and domestic institutional investments will also be a key driver, he said.
Gour further said the rupee's exchange rate and crude oil prices will be critical determinants of market direction.
From the domestic macroeconomic data announcement, WPI inflation will be in focus on Monday.
"The key focus will be on the US Federal Reserve meeting, wh

Market, Stock market, NSE, National Stock Exchange

With Siraj expected to unleash some more theatrics in the second session, lets take a look how Siraj's ploy helped Nitish Reddy getting the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne.

Siraj vs Labuschagne controversy on Day 2 of India vs Australia 3rd Test

Shares of state owned telecommunications company MTNL surged 13.68 per cent at Rs 61.89 a piece on the BSE in Thursday's intraday deals

MTNL

HDFC Bank said that it will take necessary steps to address the concerns and directives mentioned in the letter

HDFC Bank

The company was founded by Ayyappan R, former senior VP at Flipkart, chief business officer at Myntra, and the erstwhile CEO of Cleartrip

Securitisation market booms as shadow banks diversify funding sources money investment coins

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday amid uproarious scenes over US businessman George Soros and other issues.
In a change from the past few days, the House sat for the entire duration of Question Hour on Thursday, but trouble broke out in the Zero Hour when the chair called Congress member Jothimani to speak. After which the House was adjourned till 1 pm.
When the House resumed at 1 pm, noisy exchanges broke out between the Opposition and BJP members. Following which, Sandhya Ray who was presiding over the House, adjourned it till 2 pm.
Earlier, as the Congress member made a reference to the alleged links between a prominent industrialist of the country and the BJP, presiding officer Jagdambika Pal said the businessman's name will not go on records, triggering protests from the opposition.
Congress member K C Venugopal sought to know whether the rule was selectively applicable for references made by opposition party members.
Venugopal said Commerce Minister 

Parliament, New Parliament

Mere harassment is not sufficient to hold someone guilty of the offence of abetting suicide, and there must be clear evidence of direct or indirect incitement, the Supreme Court has said.
The observations came from a bench of justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale which delivered its verdict on an appeal challenging a Gujarat High Court order which refused to discharge a woman's husband and her two in-laws for allegedly harassing her and driving her to suicide.
The case was registered in 2021 for the alleged offences including under sections 498-A (subjecting a married woman to cruelty) and 306 of the Indian Penal Code which deals with the offence of abetment of suicide and prescribes jail term of up to 10 years and fine.
"For a conviction under section 306 of the IPC, it is a well-established legal principle that the presence of clear mens rea - the intention to abet the act - is essential. Mere harassment, by itself, is not sufficient to find an accused guilty of abetting suicide," t

SC, Supreme Court

At just 18 years old, Gukesh's triumph marks a historic milestone in chess, making him the youngest player to ever claim the World Chess Championship title.

D Gukesh, Gukesh

A Bangladesh delegation is likely to attend the Vijay Diwas celebrations in Kolkata on December 16, which marks the Indian Armed Forces' historic victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, Defence sources said on Thursday.
'Mukti Jodhas' may also take part in the celebrations, they said.
A Bangladesh delegation, comprising 'Mukti Jodhas', who were part of the guerrilla resistance force in East Pakistan opposing the Pakistan rule there, and serving officers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, attend the Vijay Diwas celebrations held by the Indian Army's Eastern Command every year in Kolkata.
The Defence sources, while saying that a Bangladesh delegation is likely to attend the celebrations on December 16, however, did not give details of the size of the delegation.
The Army's eastern Command, which is headquartered at Fort William here, will hold a series of programmes on Vijay Diwas to mark the historic victory of the Indian Armed Forces in the 1971 war against Pakistan, a senior ...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Drass to take part in an event on the 25th anniversary of  Kargil Vijay Diwas	Photo: PTI

Places of Worship Act case: Supreme Court has given the central government four weeks to file its reply to the various pleas

Manoj Varghese

Manoj Varghese

Manoj Varghese

Bonded labour: The truth is out there

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BJP completes 1st year in office in Rajasthan, list several achievements

Mexico, Canada, Asean gained more from US-China trade war than India: GTRI

Sarovar Hotels bets big on highway properties; 80 projects in pipeline

PM Modi invokes Nehru to distract attention from his own 'failures': Cong

Suchi Semicon starts plant without govt's incentive, plans to spend $100 mn

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