Top stories on 9 January in a capsule
India’s GDP to rise by 7.3% in 2018-19: World Bank
The World Bank has estimated India’s economy to grow by 6.7% during the current fiscal year, higher than the 6.5% which was estimated by the Indian govt. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is expected to rise to 7.3 per cent in 2018-19, making India again the world’s fastest growing economy, according to the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report released on Tuesday.
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Hanging is the best way to carry out death sentence: Centre to SC
The Supreme Court had asked the Centre to come up with a list of the prevailing methods adopted in other countries when it came to executing death sentences. The court granted the Centre represented by the Additional Solicitor General, Pinky Anand to file an affidavit in response to the petition that contended death by hanging, as contemplated under Section 354(5) of the Criminal Procedure Code, was "barbaric, inhuman and cruel".
Journalists accompanying Mamata in London caught stealing cutlery
The CCTV footage of the hotel had picked up footage of guests stealing silverware from a table. The dinner was hosted by none other than the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee and the alleged thieves were the senior journalists who had accompanied her on this official tour. One of them was a senior reporter with a respected Bengali newspaper. He is a regular on all tours were undertaken by the West Bengal Chief Minister. This was confirmed to the Outlook by an editor who was also part of the delegation.
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National anthem not compulsory in cinema halls: SC
The Supreme Court on Tuesday announced that playing the national anthem in cinema halls is an optional choice. Modifying its 2016 verdict which had made the national anthem mandatory before the move screening, the top court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Mishra, and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud took the move a day after the Centre told them to put a hold on the order as it has formed an inter-ministerial committee to frame guildelines for the same.
In the last 4 years, the world has taken notice of India: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that there are no sectors left where the current government has not introduced reforms. Addressing the first PIO parliamentarian conference featuring a diaspora of Indian origin, the PM said “you affect geo-politics and the world and frame laws. The PM further praised the current government for the work saying, "In the last four years, the world has taken notice of India. The old attitude of chalta hai, chalta hi rahega has changed.”
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Diesel rates crosses Rs 60/litre mark
The prices of diesel touched a record high on Tuesday, pegged at 17 paise per liter. The rates were 60.66 in New Delhi, 63.32 in Kolkata, 64.48 in Mumbai and 63.92 in Chennai. But the highest rate for non-branded diesel was in Hyderabad at 65.90. The price of petrol remained same for the third day, with the highest in Mumbai at 78.42.
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Mevani holds rally against PM despite a no from Delhi Police
Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani along with 18 student leaders held ‘Yuva Hunkar rally’ in Delhi’s Parliament Street despite no permission form the police. Mevani is holding the protest against the alleged silence of the PM in Dalit issues and over the release of jailed Dalit leader Chandrashekhar. Ahead of the protest 1,500 security personnel were deployed in the scheduled venue along with tear gas and water cannons to control the situation.
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5,000 officials 'locked out' of Aadhaar portal: Reports
Days the after the Aadhaar data leak controversy, a new development rose on Tuesday when 5,000 designated officials were denied access to the Aadhaar portal. According to Economic Times, the officials, both government and private, were earlier authorized by state governments to have “limited access” on the biometric data system. "All the privileges given to designated officers for access have been immediately withdrawn," an top official was quoted saying in the article.
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Sensex, Nifty extend rallies, close at lifetime highs
Indian equity benchmarks extended their gain for the third straight day, led by gains in Coal India, Wipro and Yes Bank. BSE Sensex hit a fresh record high of 34488 intraday before closing 90 points up at 34,443.19. NSE Nifty also touched an all-time high of 10,659 before settling 13 points up at 10,637. ICICI bank, HDFC, Maruti Suzuki were the top losers, while RIL, ITC were among the other gainers.
___________________Direct Tax collections rise in 18.2% in April- December
Direct Tax collections for the first nine months of the current fiscal year grew 18.2% to 6.56 lakh crore. This increase was mainly on account of income tax mop-up from individuals, the finance ministry said on Tuesday. With this, the government estimates to collect 9.80 lakh crore from direct taxes in the current fiscal. Direct tax includes income tax paid by individuals, wealth tax, and corporate tax paid by companies. The net direct collections represent 67% of the total budget estimates of direct taxes for the financial year 1017-18, which was 99.8 lakh crore.
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Kangana and Amitabh to come together for R Balki's next
Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan and actress Kangana Ranaut to all set to share the screen space for R Balki’s next project. According to media reports, the story is based on the life of Arunima Sinha, the first amputee to climb the Mount Everest. If the project comes into light, Kangana and Bachchan will be collaborating for the first time for a film since they have worked together for a commercial.
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AR Rahman becomes the brand ambassador for Sikkim tourism
Oscar winning singer and music composer AR Rahman was announced the new face of Sikkim tourism in a ceremony on Tuesday. Rahman, who was in the state for the Red Panda Winter Festival Carnival accepted the proposal kept by CM Pawan Kumar Chamling. Expressing his gratitude at the association, Rahman called Sikkim ‘an example of tolerance, peace and compassion for the rest of the country.’
