Business Standard

News updates: Cabinet approves Unified Pension Scheme, says will benefit 2.3 mn central employees

Latest news updates: From Dhawan's retirement to PM Modi's Ukraine visit updates, catch all the news developments from around the world here

Image BS Web Team New Delhi
Representational image

Representative image

Union Cabinet approves Unified Pension Scheme, says will benefit 2.3 million central employees.

"We believe we will be able to free the country from Left Wing Extremism by March 2026," Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, after a meeting on Maoist menace in Raipur in Chhattisgarh. He added that there has been a 53 per cent drop in Naxal incidents during 2014-24 as compared to 2004-14 period. "Strong, ruthless strategy required for launching last assault against Naxals," he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Saturday said in Prayagraj that 90% of the people are not a part of the system. "90 per cent of the people are not a part of the system. They have the required skill, talent but they are not connected with the system. That's why we are demanding for a caste census. BJP leaders are saying that an OBC section will be given after caste census...We want the list of different communities. For us caste census is not just a census, it is a foundation for policy making...Just conducting a caste census is not enough, it is also important to understand how the wealth is being distributed...It is also important to find out how much is the participation of OBCs, Dalits, workers in the bureaucracy, judiciary, media," he said.

The lie detection tests on prime accused and six others in the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has started. The polygraph test on Sanjay Roy, the main accused will be conducted in the prison, where he is lodged, while the remaining six, including ex-principal Sandip Ghosh and four doctors who were on duty during the night of the incident and a civil volunteer, will undergo test at the agency's office. A team of polygraph specialists from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Delhi have flown to Kolkata to conduct these tests, officials said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to attend an interstate anti-Naxal review meet starting on August 24 in Chattisgarh's Raipur. For the same, Shah arrived in Raipur today, where he was welcomed by Chief Minister Vishnu deo Sai and other state BJP leaders. HM Shah is on a three-day visit to the state and is expected to assess both the measures taken against Naxal insurgency and the advancement of infrastructure projects in regions known as Red corridors within nine states troubled by Left Wing Extremism (LWE)

Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from domestic and international cricket today morning. The left-handed hard-hitting batter took to social media to post an emotional message for fans, announcing his decision to retire from all forms of cricket. Dhawan last played for the Indian cricket team in 2022 during the ODI series against Bangladesh. However, he lost his place to Shubman Gill and other young opening batters in the last couple of years. Dhawan posted a long video message on X thanking his fans and the associations for the love and support he received during his career.

The Ministry of External Affairs has expressed grief over the deaths of Indian nationals in the Nepal road accident in Tanahun district, and assured that the Indian Embassy in Nepal is extending all possible support. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed that Indian Embassy has set up emergency helpline numbers for affected families, to reach out in case of assistance required. This comes after a bus carrying around 43 passengers, mostly Indian tourists, veered off the road into the Marsyangdi River at Ainapahara in Nepal's Tanahun August 23.




 

9:23 PM

Zelenskiy says Kursk operation is going according to plan

Ukraine’s operation across the border into Russia’s Kursk region is going to plan, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said at a press briefing. 
 
The incursion, which started in early August, was done to protect Ukraine’s northeast Sumy region and also to capture Russian soldiers who could be used for prisoner swaps, Ukraine’s leader said at a press briefing. The first swap involving those Kursk POWs took place on Saturday. 
 
At an event that marked Ukrainian Independence Day, Zelenskiy reiterated that he wants to restore the nation’s territorial integrity. 
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed four Ukrainian regions 2022, months after launching a full-scale invasion. Kremlin forces don’t fully control any of those areas. Russia illegally annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.      
9:20 PM

Sexual offenders should be castrated, says Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Amid the outrage over the Badlapur sexual assault incident, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday said those guilty of offences against women should be castrated.
 
He was speaking at an official program about the Mahayuti government's flagship 'Ladki Bahin' scheme for women at Yavatmal in eastern Maharashtra.
 
The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government in the state would not spare anyone accused of offences against women, whoever the person may be, and a bill providing for a more stringent punishment in such offences has been forwarded to the President for the assent, he said.
 
"I personally feel that when such perverts lay hand on our mothers-sisters, our daughters, they should face such a legal punishment that they should not think of (repeating the offence) again. To put it in my language, such persons' private organ should be removed....Some people are so vile, that this must be done," Pawar said.
9:06 PM

Israeli airstrikes kill dozens in Gaza ahead of high-level cease-fire talks in Egypt

Multiple Israeli airstrikes killed at least three dozen Palestinians in southern Gaza, health workers said Saturday, as officials including a Hamas delegation gathered for high-level cease-fire talks in neighboring Egypt.
 
Among the dead were 11 members of a family, including two children, after an airstrike hit their home in Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, which received a total of 33 bodies from three strikes in and around the city that also hit tuk-tuks and passersby.
 
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said it received three bodies from another strike.
 
The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.
8:21 PM

Cabinet approves Vigyan Dhara scheme

The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved the continuation of three umbrella schemes of the Department of Science and Technology, merged into a unified central sector scheme called 'Vigyan Dhara'.
 
The proposed outlay for Vigyan Dhara is Rs 10,579 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters.
 
The scheme has three broad components -- science and technology institutional and human capacity building; research and development; and innovation, technology development and deployment.
7:51 PM

Union Cabinet approves Unified Pension Scheme, says will benefit 2.3 million central employees.

7:13 PM

Naxal violence is challenge to democracy: Shah

Naxal violence is challenge to democracy, says Amit Shah after a meeting on Maoist menace in Raipur in Chhattisgarh. "Total of 17,000 people lost lives in country due to Naxal violence so far," he said.
7:07 PM

We will be able to free the country from left wing extremism by March 2026: Shah

We believe we will be able to free the country from left wing extremism by March 2026: Home Minister Amit Shah.
7:05 PM

Assam has zero-tolerance policy in dealing with crimes against women: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday asserted that his government has a policy of zero-tolerance in dealing with crimes against women and drastic action is taken against the culprits in such cases.
 
He also said the state's police force is setting an example with its prompt action in cases of crimes against women.
 
When an incident (like rape) happens in Assam, police take quick action. No compromise is made. When it comes to matters of crimes against women, we have a zero-tolerance policy, Sarma told reporters.
 
Referring to the gangrape of a 14-year-old girl in Dhing, the main accused in which died while purportedly trying to escape from police custody, Sarma said, The incident happened two days back. The police arrested the accused, he tried to escape by jumping into water and died in the process.
6:55 PM

Strong, ruthless strategy required for launching last assault against Naxals: Shah

Strong, ruthless strategy required for launching last assault against Naxals, says Home Minister Amit Shah in Raipur. 
6:40 PM

Gujarat CM slams Congress' alliance with National Conference for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections 2024

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel has criticised Congress party's alliance with the National Conference ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir elections, accusing them of prioritising power over national unity and security. Patel questioned Congress' intentions, suggesting that by partnering with the National Conference, they are supporting the party's manifesto promises, including the controversial demand for a separate flag in Jammu and Kashmir.
6:29 PM

90% people not a part of the system, says LoP Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Saturday said that 90% of the people are not a part of the system. They have the required skill, talent but they are not connected with the system. That's why we are demanding for a caste census. BJP leaders are saying that an OBC section will be given after caste census...We want the list of different communities.
5:07 PM

PM Modi set to visit Maharashtra, Rajasthan on August 25

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jalgaon in Maharashtra on Sunday to felicitate 11 lakh new 'Lakhpati Didis' who achieved the mark during the third term of his government. A statement on Saturday said Modi would also release a revolving fund of Rs 2,500 crore that would benefit about 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh self-help groups (SHGs).
4:38 PM

22 workers injured in boiler explosion at steel unit in Maharashtra

As many as 22 workers were injured in a boiler explosion at a steel factory in MIDC area in Jalna city of Maharashtra on Saturday, police said. The condition of three workers is critical, said Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar Bansal. The explosion at Gaj Kesari Steel Mill, which occurred around noon, resulted in molten iron falling on workers, he said.
4:03 PM

Delhi Police issues advisory for traffic arrangements at Laxmi Narayan Mandir

Delhi Police on Saturday issued an advisory for traffic arrangements at Laxmi Narayan Mandir on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami on August 26. Entry to the main temple will be from Mandir Marg which can be approached either from Kali Bari Marg side or Peshwa Road, the advisory said. Hand bags, briefcases, parcels, food packets, cameras, mobile phones and other battery-operated equipment are not permitted
2:48 PM

Tripura floods: Victims moved to government relief camps

Because of the ongoing torrential rainfall, flood victims were moved to the government relief camps in Agartala on Saturday to ensure they get the necessary facilities and be safe from the disaster. The rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), in a Friday evening operation, evacuated 125 people, from various flood-affected parts of Tripura.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Aug 24 2024 | 8:41 AM IST

Explore News