Highlights of the day: PM Modi prays for best health for Mamata Banerjee

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1:09 PM

Author and philanthropist Sudha Murty takes oath as member Rajya Sabha

11:58 AM

News update: Fitch raises India FY25 GDP forecast to 7% from 6.5% earlier

According to Fitch, prospects for emerging markets have brightened, particularly in India, where it expects growth to reach 7.8 percent in the fiscal year ending March 2024 (FY24) and 7 percent in FY25, both significant upward revisions. The ratings agency cut China’s 2024 forecast to 4.5 percent from 4.6 percent earlier.

11:41 AM

Kovind panel's report on 'One Nation, One Election' submitted to President Murmu

The high-level committee, set up by the central government and headed by by former President Ram Nath Kovind, submitted its report on simultaneous polls to President Droupadi Murmu today.

11:22 AM

Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat: Farmers gather to protest against Centre's policies at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan

Agitating farmers in large numbers gathered at the Ramlila Ground today  to take part in a "Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat" that has been convened to protest against the BJP-led Centre's policies on agriculture-related matters. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has said a resolution will be passed at the "Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat" to "intensify the fight" against the central government's policies. SKM is an umbrella body of farmer organisations that led the agitation at Delhi's borders in 2020-21 against three agriculture laws that have since been repealed.

11:14 AM

Money laundering probe: ED carries out raids at properties of ex-UP Minister Gayatri Prajapati, family

The Enforcement Directorate today conducted raids over a dozen locations in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation against former Uttar Pradesh minister Gayatri Prajapati and his family members, official sources said. The probe agency had in January attached four Mumbai flats and multiple land parcels in Lucknow, worth more than Rs 13 crore of Prajapati, his family members and associates.

10:56 AM

CAA completely insignificant in Assam: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today claimed that the CAA is completely insignificant in Assam, from where there will be the “least number of applications” for Indian citizenship. The Ministry of Home Affairs had on Tuesday launched a portal for people eligible to apply for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019.

9:58 AM

Delhi fire news update: 4 persons including 2 children killed in fire incident at Shahdara

Four people died in a  fire incident at a residential building at Shahdara early this morning. The deceased were identified as Manoj (30 years old), Suman (28) and two girls aged five and three and a half years. "We received a phone call at Geeta Colony Police Station regarding a major fire in a house at approximately 5:30 am. Accordingly, local police, fire brigade, ambulance and PCR vans rushed to the spot. Nine people were rescued and were sent to hospital," DCP Shahdara Surendra Chaudhary said. Officials said that nine people were rescued and were sent to hospital.

 

9:39 AM

CAA will never be taken back, says Home Minister Amit Shah days after implementation

In an interaction with a wire agency, Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act would not be taken back. Shah said, "CAA will never be taken back. It is our sovereign decision to ensure Indian citizenship in our country, we will never compromise on it."

9:24 AM

Former President Pratibha Patil hospitalised in Pune

Former President Pratibha Patil has been hospitalised in Maharashtra's Pune city for the treatment of fever and chest infection, officials of the medical facility said on Thursday. Her condition is stable, they added. "Former President Pratibha Patil was admitted to the hospital last night. She is having fever along with some infection in the chest. Her health condition is stable. She is under treatment and is being monitored closely," a senior official from the Bharati hospital said.

9:20 AM

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami unveils development schemes worth Rs 229.3 crore

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami unveiled and laid the foundation stone of multiple schemes worth Rs 229.3 crores on Wednesday. He was participating in the 'Beneficiary Honor Ceremony' organized at the Police Ground Gopeshwar in Chamoli district on Wednesday.

9:15 AM

Land-grabbing case: ED raids multiple locations related to suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan

Probe agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) today raided several locations in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali in connection with an alleged land-grabbing case against arrested expelled TMC MLA Sheikh Shahjahan. The raids are still underway at the residential places of suspects linked to the case.

9:07 AM

Agitating farmers to hold 'Mahapanchayat' at Ramlila Maidan today

Protesting farmers will march into the national capital today to push for the fulfillment of their demands that include a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP)  on all crops. The gathering, set to from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, aims to "intensify the fight against government's policies", focusing on issues like MSP and implementing the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations.

9:03 AM

Delhi government fined Rs 50,000 for challenging order that gave health benefits to worker

The Delhi High Court today imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the Delhi government after dismissing its appeal against a single judge bench order granting maternity benefits to a woman contractual employee at State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission. The high court observed that it was 'surprised' that a government that publicised schemes promoting the interest of women filed such a 'misconceived appeal'.

8:32 AM

PM Modi-led committee set to pick two Election Commissioners

The Selection Committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Thursday to finalise the names of two new Election Commissioners (ECs) to fill the vacancies created in the Election Commission after the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey in February and the surprise resignation of Arun Goel last Saturday.

8:31 AM

Kovind panel likely submit report on simultaneous polls to President Murmu today

The high-level committee set up by the Centre to draw a blueprint for holding simultaneous elections is expected to submit an eight-volume report to President Droupadi Murmu today, news agency PTI reported citing sources. The panel is likely to suggest having a singular electoral roll for holding Lok Sabha, state assembly and local body elections.