The Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Kerala‘s Thrissur district has become the first in the country to use a mechanical, lifelike elephant for temple rituals. The temple priests performed ‘Nadayiruthal’ or ceremonial offering to the deity, of Irinjadappilly Raman, a magnificent, lifelike mechanical or “robotic” elephant.
World Civil Defence Day is observed on 1st March to raise awareness about the importance of civil defence measures in protecting people and their property from natural disasters, accidents, and other emergencies. The day honours the work of several civil defence organisations. The day also recognises the efforts put in by the organisations in protecting communities and saving lives. The day also recognises the contribution.
The theme for this year is “The role of information technology in risk assessment”. The theme is based on the interest and importance of the role of technical systems, technological applications, and artificial intelligence techniques in determining risks related to civil protection and civil defence
According to the Tass news agency, the unmanned Soyuz MS-23 launched from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur space centre and was successfully sent into orbit. The ISS was to be docked with it.
The mission of US astronaut Francisco Rubio, Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin, and them were supposed to terminate in March.
Their Soyuz MS-22 capsule’s cooling system began to leak two months ago, leaving them stranded in orbit.
This Monday, the Russian space agency Roscosmos announced that the trio would now travel back to Earth in September on the Soyuz MS-23.
In March, the damaged MS-22 spacecraft is now slated to touch down without a crew.
With the BOI’s clearance, the Adani Group’s total investments in the island nation have now surpassed $1 billion.
It has already promised to contribute $700 million to a crucial Colombo port terminal, and construction on the West Container Terminal got under way in November 2022.
Authorities in Sri Lanka have yet to publicly address whether the Group’s plummeting stock price in the wake of the Hindenburg claims would have an effect on its ambitious ambitions in the island nation’s investment-starved economy.
The Group has denied any wrongdoing, despite the new report’s allegations that Adani Companies engaged in “brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme over the course of decades.”
The projects of the Adani Group caused controversy in Sri Lanka last year, with government critics questioning the openness and due procedure used to approve the projects.
Within months, Sri Lanka altered its energy legislation to do away with competitive bidding in the country’s energy industry after the Opposition accused the Group of making a “backdoor entry” into the sector.
On February 21, also known as International Mother Language Day, the Kerala High Court published two of its most recent decisions in Malayalam, making it the first high court in the nation to do so.
The news comes a day after the Supreme Court began testing a live transcription service to record its hearings and then translate them into text using artificial intelligence (AI) and NLP-based technology.
The facility was used in Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud‘s courtroom, when he presided over a Constitution bench hearing the Maharashtra constitutional crisis.
In order to translate rulings from English to regional languages, the Supreme Court established an artificial intelligence team to create the SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuwad Software), an open-source judicial domain language translation tool.
This tool was used by the Kerala High Court to translate the rulings.
Every year on February 24, Central Excise Day is observed to recognise and honour the contributions made by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). Every year, Central Excise Day is observed to raise public awareness of the dedication and labor-intensiveness of CBIC. The primary responsibility of CBIC is to prevent the tampering of manufactured items.
The agency hosts a number of programmes and events on Central Excise Day to raise public awareness of the value of paying taxes and abiding by customs procedures. On this day, CBIC also launches brand-new campaigns with a variety of topics across its offices all over India to raise awareness of the rules governing Central Excise and Customs.
Purpose of Central Excise Day
The purpose of Central Excise Day is to honour the commitment and hard work of the employees who fight to collect taxes, stop smuggling, and stop fraud. The day also draws attention to the part the department plays in fostering economic development. Every year, the day is observed throughout the nation to motivate excise department employees to carry out their tasks effectively across India in order to prevent corruption in the goods manufacturing sector and to ensure that other regulations are put into place to ensure the best excise services are offered.
History of Central Excise Day
From the starting of the civilisations, salt has been an important commodity. Salt was considered to be one of the sources of revenue by the native governments in India in various forms, such as excise duties, transit tax and much more. There was generally no uniformity in the matter of administrative control for the collection of salt revenue.
The Central Excise and Salt Act was passed on February 24, 1944, to make changes in the law related to salt and Central duties. In total, it was a combination of 11 Acts concerning the excise duties. In 1985, a Central Excise Tariff Act was introduced and it became a part of the old Central Excises and Salt Act. With effect from September 28, 1996, the Act was known as the Central Excise Act 1944.
Governor of Odisha Prof. Ganeshi Lal launched India’s first AI Chatbot for the Agricultural sector ‘Ama KrushAI’ at the valedictory session of ‘Krushi Odisha 2023’. Ama KrushAI chatbot will help the farmers with the best agronomic practices, inform them about government schemes, and loan products from more than 40 commercial and cooperative banks.
Ama KrushAI will run under a pilot project involving more than 10,000 farmers and will be implemented in full-fledged in the next two months. Addressing the gathering, the Governor urged farmers to take advantage of different schemes announced by the state government to promote agriculture and help the state prosper.
After winning the 24th NordWest Cup 2023 at Bad Zwischenahn in Germany and defeating German IM Ilja Schneider, Indian chess player Vignesh NR became the 80th Grandmaster of India. The Chennai boy reached the milestone after crossing 2500 in the live ratings. Vignesh’s elder brother Visakh NR had become India’s 59th GM in 2019. Thus, Visakh and Vignesh become India’s first brothers who are Grandmasters.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari laid the Foundation Stone of the world’s largest and unique Divyang Park – Anubhuti Inclusive Park in Nagpur, Maharashtra. On the occasion, he informed that the park is being developed keeping in mind the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build an inclusive society. Instead of sympathy, this park will show empathy, hence this park has been named Anubhuti Divyang Park.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari noted that through the unique Divyang Park, the message of inclusion will reach not only the country but also in the whole world.
The Minister noted that the park will have adapted facilities for all 21 types of disabilities, it will have facilities like a touch and-smell garden, hydrotherapy unit, water therapy, and independent room for mentally challenged children, and mothers.
He informed that Nagpur city is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. In 2016, the central government passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act for the rights of persons with disabilities.
He noted that this law is to give the disabled the right to live with dignity. Taking initiative under this, the Central Government has created some Divyang Parks in South India and Madhya Pradesh, In this series, this ‘Anubhuti Inclusive Park’ is being built for disabled children and general citizens in the Pardi campus of Nagpur.
He added that it is the world’s first inclusive disabled park, and a provision of about Rs 12 crore has been made by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, for this park being built in an area of 90 thousand square feet.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has recently launched a chatbot to help people get an answer to their queries related to the Aadhaar card. It is called “Aadhaar Mitra”. The Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-a based chatbot can answer queries related to Aadhaar enrolment number, PVC Card order status, and complaint status, among other things. It is available in both English and Hindi languages.
After every answer given by Aadhaar Chatbot, there is a Thumbs Up/Thumbs down icon below every chat response. Also, after the end of the session, on closing the window resident can provide a star rating (on a scale of 1 to 5).
Aadhaar Chatbot is well-trained to answer queries on Aadhaar-related topics, provide information about Locate Aadhaar Center, Check Aadhaar Enrolment/ Update status, Check PVC Card Order status, file a Complaint, Check Complaint status, Locate Enrolment Center, and Book An Appointment.
The user does not need to go to an Aadhaar enrolment center to update the card anymore. It can be done through the chatbot. They can also apply for a duplicate Aadhaar if the original is lost.
The users can simply type their query in Chatbot and get the desired answers immediately.
Step 1: Go to www.uidai.gov.in
Step 2: Click on the “Aadhaar Mitra” box in the bottom right corner. The chatbot will open saying, “Hi, I am your Aadhaar Mitra. How May I help you!!”
Step 3: Tap on “Get Started” to ask the query.
Step 4: In the search box, enter the query and click on the Enter button. The chatbot will reply with the answer.
Step 5: Also, you can click on the suggested query option available at the top. You can also give feedback on the answ.
The “mPassport Police App, developed by the consular, passport and visa division of the external affairs ministry for law enforcement agencies, is being rolled out along with 350 tablets to personnel of the Special Branch of Delhi Police. These personnel are responsible for carrying out verification of antecedents of passport applicants. A new app developed by the external affairs ministry and rolled out in New Delhi is expected to cut the time for police verification of passport applicants to five days and reduce the scope for misuse of the process. The new digital services were launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 76th Raising Day Parade of Delhi Police.
Step 1: Register on the online portal for Passport Seva
Step 2: Login to the Portal and click the “Apply for Police Clearance Certificate” link
Step 3: Submit after filling all the details in the form
Step 4: Now, click on “Pay and Schedule Appointment” on the “View Saved/Submitted Applications” screen to schedule an appointment and make your payment
Step 5: Once your payment is successful, click “Print Application Receipt”, or wait for an SMS of the receipt which you can show instead of a printout
Step 6: Visit the Passport Seva Kendra where your appointment is scheduled with all necessary documents along../
Equality Minister Irene Montero noted that the move would be a step towards addressing a health problem that has been largely swept under the carpet.
Equality Minister Irene Montero informed that periods will no longer be taboo. No more going to work in pain, no more taking pills before arriving at work, and having to hide the fact that they are in pain that makes us unable to work.
Montero noted that after the law was initially approved by the cabinet in May 2022. The menstrual leave law was part of a broader mandate that also bolsters access to abortion services in public hospitals.
The new legislation also allows minors aged 16 and 17 to have an abortion without parental permission, reversing a requirement introduced by a previous conservative government in 2015.
While the legislation passed smoothly under Spain’s left-wing government, it has created divisions among both politicians and unions.
The CCOO, one of Spain’s main trade unions, welcomed the move as a major “legislative advance” to recognize a problem that has been “ignored” until now.
Meanwhile, the country’s other main union warned that it could stigmatize women in the workplace and indirectly hinder their “access to the labor market”. UGT’s stance has also been echoed by the opposition right-wing Popular Party (PP).
NewSpace Research, a Bengaluru-based start-up has delivered SWARM drones to Indian Army, which makes the Army the first major armed force in the world to operationalise these high-density SWARM drones. This delivery may possibly be the world’s first operational high density swarming UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) induction for military applications, especially given that most swarm drone research is yet to be operationalised across the world. The swarm of 100 drones is capable of hitting targets at least 50 kms away into enemy territory.
Indian Army Headquarters: New Delhi;
Indian Army Founded: 1 April 1895, India;
General Manoj Pande is the current Chief of Army Staff.
(PPBL) has launched Unified Payments Interface (UPI) LITE, enabled by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for multiple small-value UPI transactions. This feature will help with faster real-time transactions with a single click through Paytm as the bank aims to drive the adoption of digital payments across the country. As a part of its efforts to drive innovation, the Bank said it is the first payments bank to launch such UPI LITE feature.
UPI LITE is a new payment solution that leverages the trusted NPCI Common Library (CL) application to process low value transactions that have been set at below ₹ 200. The solution runs off existing UPI ecosystem protocols for mobile phones to ensure commonality, compliance and system acceptance.
Designed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI LITE was launched by the Reserve Bank of India in September 2022. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is an instant real-time payment system developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
The interface facilitates inter-bank peer-to-peer (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions. It is used on mobile devices to instantly transfer funds between two bank
The country’s strictest Anti-Copying Law has come into force in Uttarakhand. Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh has approved the Uttarakhand Competitive Examination (Measures for Prevention and Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Ordinance 2023. In view of this, the Anti-Copying Law is being described as the biggest anti-copying law in the country. This comes after the UKPSC paper leak which led to cancellation of exam for around 1.4 lakh government job aspirants.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
Uttarakhand Governor: Gurmit Singh;
Uttarakhand Chief minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami;
Uttarakhand Capitals: Dehradun (Winter), Gairsain (Summer).
A former judge and freedom fighter, Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu, was elected unopposed as Bangladesh’s 22nd President. A gazette was issued on the appointment of the new Bangladesh President by the Chief Election Commissioner. According to the country’s Chief Election Commission, 74-year-old Chuppu will replace President Mohammad Abdul Hami.
The 68-year-old lawmaker was complimented for her work by the award jury’s president, Denis Mukwege, a year prior to receiving the honour.
Her selfless choice in 2015 to accept more than 1,2 million refugees, particularly those from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Eritrea, moved every jury member.
She leaves behind a legacy like this. The former German Chancellor conveyed her appreciation for the honour.
In her acceptance address, Merkel emphasised how crucial it is now more than ever to work tirelessly and resolutely for peace.
She continued by quoting Houphout-Boigny, the Ivory Coast’s first president following its independence in 1960.
Merkel continued, “Dialogue is the weapon of the strong and not the weak.”.
Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the wider area of Kashmir and is situated in the northern section of the Indian subcontinent and has been the subject of a conflict between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947, was granted special status under Article 370 of the Indian constitution. Article 370 granted Jammu and Kashmir the authority to have a separate constitution, a state flag, and internal administrative autonomy while it was governed by India as a state from 1952 until 31 October 2019.
● The Government of India issued a Presidential Order on August 5, 2019, which replaced the order from 1954 and made Jammu and Kashmir subject to all of the articles of the Indian Constitution.
● The resolution that received a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the Indian parliament served as the foundation for the order. All of Article 370’s clauses—all but clause 1—were rendered inoperative by a subsequent order on August 6.
● Additionally, the parliament approved the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which established the division of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh. The restructuring happened on October 31, 2019.
● The Supreme Court of India received a total of 23 petitions contesting the central government’s intention to repeal Article 370 of the Constitution, which resulted in the formation of a five judge bench.
Article 370 of Indian Constitution Provisions
● Except in circumstances involving defence, foreign affairs, finance, and communications, Parliament needs the Jammu & Kashmir government’s consent before enacting laws in the territory.
● Residents of Jammu and Kashmir are subject to distinct citizenship, property, and fundamental rights laws than those of the rest of India. Article 370 prohibits residents of other states from purchasing real estate in Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre is not authorised by Article 370 to declare a state financial emergency.
● It’s vital to note that Article 370(1)(c) specifically states that Kashmir is subject to Article 370’s application of Article 1 of the Indian Constitution. The Union’s states are listed in Article 1. This indicates that the state of J&K is bound to the Indian Union by Article 370. Unless new overriding laws are created, removing Article 370, which can be done by a Presidential Order, would make the state independent of India.
● Both India and Pakistan claim full sovereignty over the Himalayan territory of Kashmir.
● Previously known as Jammu and Kashmir, the region became part of India in 1947, not long after the subcontinent was partitioned following the end of British administration.
● A ceasefire line was agreed upon after India and Pakistan went to war over it and came to control separate portions of the area.
● The state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is controlled by India, has experienced violence for 30 years as a result of a separatist uprising against Indian rule.
The Uttar Pradesh government has launched the portal for the creation of ‘Family ID – One Family One Identity’, to identify families as a unit for implementing the ‘one job per family’ proposal. According to a state government, all such families that are not eligible for the National Food Security Scheme will be able to avail of the ID, while the ration card ID of the families having it, will be considered as their family ID.
An exceptional campaign called “Digital Payments Utsav” will highlight India’s digital transformation path through a number of events and activities from 9 February to 9 October 2023.
As part of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) event, the campaign will concentrate on promoting digital payments throughout the nation, particularly in the cities of Lucknow, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed his goal of having the entire digital credit system in place by 2023 and gave the NPCI the go-ahead to lead the charge in that regard.
He also wished each bank much luck and urged people to embrace the prime minister’s vision of how the digital revolution will alter the lives of the nation’s hard-to-reach citizens.
He stated that UPI 123 Pay is now available in the local language thanks to a partnership with Digital Payments and Mission Bhashini, the National Language Translation Mission.
A regular individual will be able to make payments using voice commands in her own language as a result.
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank launched Hello Ujjivan, India’s first mobile banking application with 3 V’s – voice, visual, and vernacular-enabled features – to provide banking access to individuals who have limited reading and writing skills. The app is designed to instill banking habits in MicroBanking and Rural customers who are digitally challenged.
India’s leading fintech, MobiKwik has become the first fintech apps to support RuPay Credit Cards on UPI. The development brings a new level of convenience to the millions of Indians who use UPI for their daily transactions. With nearly 50 million users possessing one or more credit cards, this is a significant milestone in India’s drive towards a cashless economy.
With RuPay Credit Cards now linked directly to UPI IDs, MobiKwik’s customers can easily make payments to merchants by scanning the UPI QR code and using UPI PIN for payment authentication.
Visva-Bharati University was founded by Rabindranath in 1921. It will soon receive the UNESCO ‘heritage” tag. This will allow it to be the first university of living heritage. Bidyut Chakraborty, Vice-Chancellor of Visva-Bharati University, stated that the university would be designated a heritage university.
According to UNESCO, in 1922, Visva-Bharati was inaugurated as a Centre for Culture with exploration into the arts, language, humanities, music and these are reflected in diverse institutes that continue in their educational programmes like including Hindi studies, Sino-Asian studies, humanities, fine arts, and music.
A 13-year-old girl, Natasha Perianayagam won the title of “world’s brightest” student. Natasha Perianayagam, an Indian American, was named to the list compiled by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth in the United States. Natasha has been listed on the “world’s brightest” list, previously she also took the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) test in 2021, when she was still in the 5th grade. The test is a worldwide operation, with over 1500 students participating in the project across 76 countries.
The Yuva Sangam registration portal was launched in New Delhi. The Yuva Sangam is an initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build close ties between the youth of the Northeast Region and the rest of India under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Under the initiative, over 20 thousand youth will travel across the country and gain a unique opportunity for cross-cultural learning.
The Union government notified the appointment of five new judges to the Supreme Court. With their appointments, the number of judges in the Supreme Court will rise to 32. Currently, the Supreme Court of India has a sanctioned strength of thirty-four Judges and is presently functioning with twenty-seven Judges.
We are happy to start UNSCRAMBLE Series as part of knowledge dissemination for students & teachers.. We will be sharing a new term every week.
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Passengers traveling in Indian Railways can now order food online through WhatsApp while undertaking a journey by using their PNR number. This comes as a step further towards making e-catering services more customer-centric in Indian Railways. The Indian Railways has recently started WhatsApp Communication for railway passengers to order food through e-catering services..
The Indian Railways initially planned a two-stage implementation of e-catering services through WhatsApp Communication.
In the first phase, the Business WhatsApp number will send a message to the customer booking e-ticket for opting for e-catering services by clicking the link www.ecatering.irctc.co.in.
The customers will be able to book meals of their choice with this option from the restaurant of their choice available at stations enroute directly through the e-catering website of IRCTC.
The customers may or may not need to download the app.
In the next phase of the service, WhatsApp number will be enabled to become an interactive two-way communication platform for the customer.
An AI power chatbot will handle all queries about e-catering services for the passengers and will also book meals for them.
WhatsApp Communication gas has been implemented for e-catering services on selected trains based on customer feedback and suggestions.
Approximately 50,000 meals are served in a day to customers through IRCTC e-catering services enabled through its website..
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India Energy Week (IEW) 2023 event that aimed to showcase India’s rising prowess as an energy transition powerhouse. The IEW is being held in Bengaluru from 6th to 8th February 2023. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, and CM Basavaraj Bommai also felicitated the event..
Yaya Tso, known as birds’ paradise for its beautiful lake located at an altitude of 4,820 metres, has been proposed as Ladakh’s first biodiversity heritage site (BHS). The Biodiversity Management Committee, the panchayat of Chumathang village, along with SECURE Himalaya Project recently resolved to declare Yaya Tso as Ladakh’s first BHS under the Biological Diversity Act.
Further, the project will facilitate the official notification of the BHS after taking the application up with the Ladakh Biodiversity Council.
SECURE Himalaya has also proposed to subsequently develop a management plan for the BHS and pilot interventions to support conservation of this lake, they said.
The proposed Yaya Tso site will have an approximate area of 60 square kilometers, which will also include the lake’s watershed, they said, adding Yaya Tso is among the most beautiful lakes in Ladakh.
The lake could be reached from Mahe monastery on the way to Tsomoriri lake after driving up to the nunnery and then crossing a small mountain pass.
Google has invested around $300 million in Anthropic, an artificial intelligence startup whose technology is said to rival OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. According to the deal, Anthropic has agreed to purchase some of Google’s services to support its technology. The terms of the deal, through which Google will take a stake of about 10 per cent, requires Anthropic to use the money to buy computing resources from the search company’s cloud computing division.
About Anthropic and its startup Claude:
Anthropic was founded in 2021 by OpenAI former leaders at OpenAI, including Daniela and Dario Amodei. Since its founding, Anthropic has published 14 research papers showing how to build language models that are reliable and controllable.
In January, Anthropic began deploying its technology publicly, starting off with a language model assistant named ‘Claude’. The AI startup is working with a broad range of early partners on deploying Claude and will be expanding access to the assistant in the coming months. Claude pairs RLHF with a variety of safety techniques built by Anthropic to make AI systems that are predictable, steerable, and easier to interpret. Claude runs on Google Cloud as will other systems developed by Anthropic.
Nirmala Sitharaman, the finance minister, unveiled the Union Budget 2023 on Wednesday. She made adjustments to the income tax system and emphasised projects related to agriculture and tourism, introducing a new agriculture accelerator fund and putting tourism promotion on “mission mode.”
This is Sitharaman’s sixth budget address and the last comprehensive one for the Modi administration before the Lok Sabha elections early the next year. The Union Budget for this year focuses on seven important topics, including “inclusive development,” “reaching the last mile,” “unleashing the potential,” “green growth,” “young power,” and “financial sector.”
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Embassy of Data
The government would make it easier for nations looking for digital continuity solutions to set up Data Embassies in GIFT IFSC.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Encouraging coastal shipping.
Through a PPP model with viability gap funding, the government would promote coastal shipping as the more affordable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective means of transportation for both people and goods.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Gobardhan Scheme
Under the GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) programme, 500 new “waste to wealth” plants will be created. There will be 300 community- or cluster-based plants, 200 compressed biogas (CBG) plants, with a total investment of Rs 10,000 crore, 75 of which will be in metropolitan areas.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: PM-PRANAM
To encourage States and Union Territories to promote alternative fertilisers and balanced usage of chemical fertilisers, PM-PRANAM, or the “PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth,” would be introduced.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Green Credit Program
The Environment (Protection) Act will provide for the notification of a green credit programme. This would encourage ecologically responsible behaviour on the part of businesses, people, and local organisations while also assisting in the mobilisation of additional resources for such efforts.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: To make doing business easier
More than 3,400 law requirements have been made less punishable, and more than 39,000 compliances have been decreased. The Jan Vishwas Bill to alter 42 Central Acts was introduced by the government to advance trust-based governance.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Project Karmayogi
Plans for civil servant capacity-building are being developed and put into action by the Center, States, and UTs as part of Mission Karmayogi. To help thousands of government workers enhance their skills and promote a people-centric approach, the government has introduced iGOT Karmayogi, an integrated online training platform
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: E-Courts initiative
With an investment of Rs 7,000 crore, Phase 3 of the E-Courts project would be launched for effective administration.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Try to get rid of sickle cell Anemia by 2047
FM stated that a mission will shortly be launched with the goal of eradicating sickle cell anaemia by the year 2047. Through the joint efforts of national ministries and state governments, the mission would raise awareness among the general public by universally screening seven crore persons in the age range of 0 to 40 years in tribal areas and providing counselling.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: PM Modi On the Union Budget
The success of digital payments needs to be duplicated in the agricultural sector, so we introduced a programme for digital agriculture infrastructure in the Union Budget.
Infrastructure spending of an unprecedented Rs 10 lakh crore will speed up and revitalise development.
Cooperatives will become the rural economy’s pivot as a result of the budget.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions and the wetlands project Amrit Dharohar
One lakh ancient inscriptions will be added to the Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions, With the first step of digitization. It will be housed in a digital epigraphy museum. The Amrit Dharohar project will be put into place over the following three years in order to promote the best use of wetlands and improve biodiversity.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Karnataka receives a $5,300 million grant
The Upper Bhadra project in Karnataka would receive help from the Center in the sum of Rs 5,300 crore. “In the drought-prone central parts of Karnataka, a central assistance of Rs 5,300 crore will be supplied for the Upper Bhadra Project,” FM stated in his budget speech.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Target for divestment set at Rs. 51,000 crore
Through the sale of stakes in numerous state-run businesses, the government hopes to raise Rs 51,000 crore. In FY23, the government planned to raise Rs 65,000 crore through divestitures.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: PM Modi on “Vishvakarma” training and support
The people who built this nation traditionally via their labours, or “Vishvakarma,” are responsible. For the first time, a plan for “Vishvakarma” training and support has been included in the budget: PM Narendra Modi.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: What’s in for Defense Budget
The allotment for the defence budget for 2023–2024 increased from Rs. 5.25 lakh crore to Rs. 5.94 lakh crore.
For capital expenses, a total of Rs. 1.62 lakh crore has been put aside.
Buying new guns, aircraft, warships, and other military gear is part of it.
The financial allotment for capital spending for 2022–2023 was Rs. 1.52 lakh crore, while the updated estimate put the cost at Rs. 1.50 lakh crore.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Government doubles Senior Citizens Savings Scheme deposit cap
FM suggested doubling the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme and Monthly Income Account Scheme deposit limits to Rs. 30 lakh and Rs. 9 lakh, respectively. She announced that the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme’s maximum deposit amount would increase from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh.
She also suggested raising the monthly income account scheme’s maximum deposit limits from 4.5 lakh rupees to 9 lakh rupees for a single account and from 9 lakh to 15 lakh rupees for a joint account.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Women’s savings programme launched
A “Mahila Samman Saving Certificate” with a fixed interest rate of 7.5% for two years launched by FM. The deposit may be made in a woman’s or a girl child’s name. The scheme will also allow for partial withdrawals, and the maximum deposit amount has been set at Rs 2 lakh.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Increased import taxes on silverware, bars, and other items
To encourage home manufacture, the government proposed raising the import duty on silver dore, bars, and articles. She added that there are now higher customs taxes on items made of dore and bars of gold and platinum.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: What increases in cost
Cigarette taxes increased by 16%.
Compound rubber’s basic import tariff increased from 10% to 25%.
Basic customs duties on items manufactured from gold bars have increased
Kitchen electric chimney now carries a 15% customs charge instead of a 7.5% one.
As the government increases customs charge from 60% to 70% in the budget, fully imported luxury cars and EVs will cost more.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Costs decreased
Reduced import taxes will result in lower prices for mobile phones.
Customs fees on open-cell TV panel components have been reduced to 2.5%
Reduced basic customs charge on seeds used in the production of lab-grown diamonds
To encourage exports, the customs tax on shrimp feed will be cut.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Government slashes money for the rural jobs programme
For the upcoming fiscal year, the government reduced its budget for the scheme to 600 billion rupees ($7.34 billion). The amount is the smallest since 2017–18 and less than the projected 894 billion rupee spending commitment for 2022–23. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, passed more than 15 years ago, allows people to sign up for jobs that pay a minimum wage for at least 100 days per year, such as building roads, drilling wells, or developing other rural infrastructure.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: FM’s seven ‘Saptarishi’ mantras
Union Budget 2023-24: All About the Union Budget 2023-24 Presentation_50.1
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: FM’s seven ‘Saptarishi’ mantras
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Budget fulfils all requirements
The Union Budget checks off all the expected boxes, including boosting investment in capital expenditures by 33%, promoting consumption by enticing taxpayers to switch to the new tax system with lower taxes and spend the extra money instead of using savings to lessen the tax burden under the old system, and continuing on the fiscal consolidation path with a fiscal deficit target of 5.9%. To address concerns about the exodus of HNIs, the maximum tax rate on personal income has also been lowered, according to Ranen Banerjee, partner and leader of PwC India’s Economic Advisory Services.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Five major updates you must not miss
FM declared that the new tax system would henceforth be the default tax regime and increased the income tax rebate maximum from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh.
Additionally, she suggested lowering the number of tax slabs in this regime to 5 and raising the threshold for tax exemptions to Rs 3 lakh.
For the upcoming fiscal year beginning on April 1, FM suggested raising the capital expenditure target by 33% to Rs. 10 lakh crore, or 3.3% of the nation’s GDP. The finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated Rs 35,000 crore to accomplish net zero and energy transition goals, and designated green growth as one of seven priorities.
According to the government, the railroads have received a capital budget of Rs 2.4 lakh crore, the biggest allocation since 2013–14. According to Nirmala Sitharaman, minister of finance, the capital expenditure is set for 2023–2024.
Compared to the 6.4% budget deficit for the current fiscal year, the government plans to reduce it to 5.9% of GDP for 2023–2024.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: For better targeting of tax breaks
The FM proposed capping the deduction from capital gains on investment in residential property under sections 54 and 54F at Rs 10 crore in order to effectively target tax breaks and exemptions. Limiting the income tax exemption from the payouts of extremely valuable insurance plans is another suggestion.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Additional announcements
Extension of the time period during which funds moving to the IFSC in GIFT City will receive tax benefits until March 31, 2025
decriminalisation under section 276A of the Income Tax Act
allowing carryover of losses from strategic disinvestments, including IDBI Bank’s
granting Agniveer Fund EEE status.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Cashing out of leaves
Last but not least, in 2002, when the highest basic pay in the government was Rs 30,000/pm, the limit of Rs 3 lakh for tax exemption on leave encashment upon retirement of non-government salaried employees was last set. I suggest raising this cap to Rs. 25 lakh in order to keep up with increases in government wages.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Lowering the highest surcharge rate
In the new tax system, FM advocated lowering the highest surcharge rate from 37% to 25%. The maximum tax rate would be reduced as a result to 39%.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Information on taxes
FM expanded the standard deduction’s benefits to the new tax system for the salaried class and retirees, including family pensioners. Thus, each salaried individual earning Rs 15.5 lakh or more will stand to gain Rs 52,500.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: FM explains the “relief” under the new system to all taxpayers
Someone making Rs 9 lakh a year income will only require to pay Rs 45,000. Only 5% of his or her income comes from this. It represents a decrease of 25% off the current amount due, which is Rs 60,000/-. A person earning Rs 15 lakh would also only be needed to pay Rs 1.5 lakh, or 10% of their income, which represents a 20% reduction from their current responsibility of Rs 1,87,500.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: How much India would lose following changes to its income tax
According to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, India will lose Rs. 35,000 crore in net tax collection as a result of changes made to direct and indirect taxes in the Union Budget to help people with middle-class incomes.
“Around Rs. 38,000 crore in revenue would be lost, of which Rs. 37,000 crore will come from direct taxes and Rs. 1,000 crore from indirect taxes, while an extra Rs. 3,000 crore in income will be mobilised. So, around Rs. 35,000 crore in revenue are lost each year, according to Sitharaman, who also announced the Union Budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on April 1. “
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a significant announcement, saying that although the new tax system would now be the default tax system, citizens can still benefit from the previous tax system on an opt-out basis.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: New tax legislation’s updated tax slabs
Income between Rs 0 and Rs 3 lakh is not taxed under the new system.
Under the new system, income over Rs 3 lakh and up to Rs 6 lakh will be taxed at 5%.
Under the new system, income over Rs 6 lakh and up to Rs 9 lakh will be taxed at 10%.
Under the new system, income over Rs 12 lakh and up to Rs 15 lakh will be taxed at 20%.
30% tax will be applied on income over Rs 15 lakh.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Key Updates
9% of GDP is the fiscal deficit goal for FY 2024.
In 2023–2024, capital expenditures climbed 33% to 10 trillion rupees.
Budget suggests a 16% duty increase, which will increase the price of cigarettes.
establishing an agribusiness accelerator fund
increases the budgetary allotment for affordable housing to 790 billion rupees in 2023–2024
Increased governmental capital expenditures, according to the finance minister, will drive out private investments.
In the past nine years, the Indian economy has grown to be the fifth-largest in the world.
7 priorities are adopted by the budget, including inclusive and green growth.
For 2023–2024, the agricultural credit goal has been increased to 20 trillion rupees ($244.42 billion).
According to Sitharaman, out of all the big economies, this one is growing the fastest.
Budget announcements 2023
An increase in capital expenditure of 33% to Rs. 10 lakh crores, or 3.3% of GDP Sitharaman, FM
An agriculture accelerator fund to support young rural entrepreneurs’ agritech firms. The fund will concentrate on supplying creative answers to problems encountered by farmers.
With an investment of Rs 2,200 crore, the government would introduce the Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme to increase the availability of high-value horticulture crops with disease-free planting material.
The PM Vishwa Karma Kaushal Samman-conceived package of help for traditional artists and craftspeople will allow them to increase the calibre, scope, and reach of their products while integrating into the MSME value chain.
Union Budget 2023-24 Live Updates: Income tax rebate limit increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh
According to the new tax system, the income tax rebate maximum will rise from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh, according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. She continued by saying that the new tax system will now be used by default.
