LIVE: 50,000 to stage protest in Delhi to demand hike in minimum pension
Catch all the latest updates LIVE from across the globe here
 "Pension protest")
Representative Image
Rajya Sabha chairman accepts resignation of BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said he has accepted the resignation of BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena from the House with immediate effect.
"I have received a letter, dated December 6, personally submitted to me by Kirodi Lal Meena, representing the state of Rajasthan, resigning his seat in Rajya Sabha. I have accepted his resignation with immediate effect," Dhankhar said in the Upper House.
Around 50,000 to stage protest in Delhi to demand hike in minimum pension
Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS-95), an association of pensioners, will organise a rally in the national capital to press the government to hike minimum pension under the scheme.
Presently, the minimum pension under the EPS-95 is Rs 1,000 per month. The EPS-95 is run by retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
"The EPS-95 pensioners are steadfast in their resolve to secure a minimum pension of Rs 7,500, dearness allowance, and additional benefits outlined in the EPFO's letter dated 23.03.2017," Rashtriya Sangharsh Samiti said in a statement.
Nearly 100 million subscribers using 5G services: MoS Communications
The 5G networks have rolled out in 738 districts across the country, and around 100 million subscribers are using these services, marking one of the fastest fifth-generation rollouts in the world, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
Telecom service providers have also committed a total investment of Rs 2 lakh crore, including a commitment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore for spectrum acquired through auction in July-August 2022, Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
PM Modi to inaugurate 'Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023' in Dehradun on Friday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 'Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023' in Dehradun on December 8 as the hill state looks to boost investment in the coming years, his office said in a statement on Wednesday.
Modi will also address the gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in its statement.
The 'Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023' is a step towards establishing Uttarakhand as a new investment destination and the theme of the two-day event is 'Peace to Prosperity'.
Kavach has been deployed in three sections in South Central Zone: Vaishnaw
Kavach, an indigenously developed automatic train protection system, has been deployed in three sections in South Central Railway zone along with 139 locomotives, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Vaishnaw responded to questions raised by two Congress MPs from Kerala - Benny Behanan and Kumbakudi Sudhakaran - on the total number of sections and length under various railway zones that are covered by Kavach.
"Kavach has so far been deployed on 1,465 route km and 139 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on South Central Railway...," Vaishnaw said in a written response.
AI has an opportunity cost; it's important: Invest India CEO
The private sector, government and academia would have to come together and work on Artificial intelligence (AI) as it will help promote economic growth of many countries including India, Invest India Managing Director and CEO Nivruti Rai said on Wednesday.
The chief of the trade and investment promotion agency also said that there is an opportunity cost of AI.
But one has to look at issues like safety, security and privacy-related matters of AI.
"AI is important. Many countries will see about 15 per cent of their GDP growth...anywhere between 5 to 15 per cent. I hope India will be on the higher number (side)...there is so much benefit to humanity. I really think health, education, and environment needs AI," she said here while speaking at the Global Technology Summit 2023.
Delhi excise 'scam': AAP leader Sanjay Singh urges court for bail
AAP MP Sanjay Singh, arrested in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise scam, on Wednesday urged a court here to grant him bail, claiming he was not a flight risk, had deep roots in society and there was no allegation against him of influencing the witnesses.
Singh's counsel made the submission before Special Judge M K Nagpal during the hearing of his bail application.
The court, meanwhile, allowed an application filed by Singh seeking its permission to put his signature on certain documents authorising his lawyer to represent him in a defamation case in Guwahati.
Atishi asks officials to finish work on under-construction flyover in Anand Vihar by April
Delhi PWD Minister Atishi on Wednesday inspected an under-construction flyover in Anand Vihar and directed officials to complete the work by April 2024, a statement said.
The six-lane flyover will decrease the traffic load on the stretch from Apsara Border to Anand Vihar.
She said the flyover is a crucial project to make east Delhi traffic jam-free. Therefore, any delay in its construction will not be tolerated.
Total expenditure under Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I at Rs 4.10 lakh cr: Gadkari
A total expenditure of Rs 4.10 lakh crore has been made under Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I (BPP-I) as on October 31, 2023, and the difference in actual project cost and normative cost is due to increase in cost of raw material and land acquisition, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has made observation about the increase in cost of Phase I of the pariyojana.
"As on October 31, 2023, the total expenditure (BPP-I) is about Rs 4.10 lakh crore...There has been no diversion of funds from other schemes in the execution of BPP-I," he said.
India's economy to grow at 6.8% in current fiscal: CII
Industry chamber CII expects the country's economy to grow at 6.8 per cent in the current fiscal and accelerate to 7 per cent in 2024-25, driven by the government's continued focus on infrastructure development and promotion of ease of doing business.
In an interview with PTI, CII President R Dinesh, who is also the Executive Vice Chairman of TVS Supply Chain Solutions, said even on a conservative basis, the expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.8 per cent will be more than the 6.5-6.7 per cent estimated earlier by the industry body.
ONGC to cut gas flaring, use green power at oil wells: Chairman Arun Kumar Singh
State-controlled Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) plans to wheel green electricity to its installations in the Arabian Sea to replace natural gas it uses in operation of oil wells as part of its ambitious decarbonisation programme, its Chairman Arun Kumar Singh said.
India's top oil and gas producer has substantially cut gas flaring -- burning of methane gas is produced when oil is extracted from below surface -- and would look to bring it down to nil as part of its environmental commitments, he said while speaking at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, called COP28.
Volkswagen India offers priority check for Michaung flood-damaged vehicles; beefs up staff, spares
German automaker Volkswagen India is offering priority comprehensive checks to flood-affected customers in Chennai following the havoc caused by cyclone Michaung over the past two days.
The company said necessary guidelines have been issued across dealerships ensuring adequate manpower and availability of spare parts to take up repairs.
Volkswagen India said it would also ensure timely repair of flood-related damage found in the priority comprehensive service check of their vehicles, a company release here said on Wednesday.
Garba dance of Gujarat included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list Ahmedabad
The inclusion has been made under the provisions of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which began in Kasane, Botswana on Tuesday.
Sikkim CM meets Shah, Munda, sumbits memoranda Gangtok
Tamang submitted memoranda and reports to the two central ministries on behalf of the state government seeking tribal status for 12 indigenous communities and reservation of seats for the Limboo-Tamangs in the Sikkim Assembly, the official said.
J-K Reservation (Amendment) Bill, J-K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill passed by LS
Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel
First Published: Dec 06 2023 | 9:32 AM IST
