SABHAपत्र

WEEKLY EDITION
 BJP leader LK Advani will be honoured with
the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest
civilian award, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi announced today in a post on X,
formerly Twitter. Capping a parliamentary
career of nearly three decades, Mr Advani
was first the Home Minister and later, the
Deputy Prime Minister in the former Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet
from 1999 to 2004.

After an alleged “persistent non-

compliance”, the Reserve Bank of
Union Finance Minister Nirmala
India (RBI) on Thursday imposed a
Sitharaman presented her sixth
set of restrictions on Paytm
Budget on February 1. This was
Payments Bank that will come
Sitharaman’s sixth consecutive
into effect on February 29. The
budget. The finance minister wrapped
restrictions will affect fresh
up her speech in 60 minutes.This was
deposits and credit transactions
an interim budget ahead of the
on the platforms.
general elections later this year.
 न्यूज़
THAT MATTERS
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Interim Budget 2024 Highlights

Interim Budget 2024 Extension of Tax Benefits

and Expenditure
Union Finance Minister Nirmala
While there is no change in tax rates
Sitharaman presented her sixth Budget
and slabs, the finance minister
on February 1. This was Sitharaman’s
announced the extension of certain tax
sixth consecutive budget. The finance
benefits to start-ups and investments
minister wrapped up her speech in 60
made by sovereign wealth or pension
minutes.This was an interim budget
funds as well as tax exemption on
ahead of the general elections later
certain incomes of some IFSC unit
this year. The Interim Budget 2024 was
units, by one year till March 2025. She
focused on youth and women
also announced that petty tax disputes
empowerment, while maintaining fiscal
would be withdrawn, a move that will
consolidation and continuing capex.
benefit around 1 crore taxpayers. The
FM Sitharaman lowered down FY25
finance minister proposed to increase
fiscal deficit target to 5.1% of the GDP.
capital expenditure by 11.1 per cent to
There were no changes made to the
Rs 11.11 lakh crore for 2024-25, which
direct tax and indirect tax rates.
would be 3.4 per cent of GDP.
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Interim Budget vs. Annual Budget

Interim Budget: Temporary Annual Financial Statement

Financial Plan
Just so you know, the budget that was
announced recently is a temporary
one. The actual budget will be
announced after the elections in 2024
when a new government takes charge.
An interim budget called a short-term
financial plan is shown before the
general elections that shall be
conducted in a new government. It
could be viewed as a temporary
solution to mention the expenses of the
government till the new government
takes office and makes a new budget.
Overview
For the whole fiscal year, the union
budget is a detailed financial plan that
addresses every aspect of government
expenses, revenue collection, policy
changes, etc. The President in terms of
Article 112 of the constitution will
concerning each fiscal year cause to be
laid before both the house of
parliament a statement of the
approximated receipts and expenses of
the government of India for that year
referred to as the “annual financial
statement”. Receipt and disbursements
are displayed under three parts in which
government accounts are maintained

As there is no constitutional provision for an interim budget, the Center

might opt to utilize the votes on account provision to recommend the
Lower House to approve the funds needed for the transition period (April
to July) till the following administration submits a comprehensive budget.
04 FEBRUARY, 2024
Main Highlights
G: Gareeb
To uplift and assist "the
Garib", govt has transferred
₹34 Lakh Cr so far directly into
their PM-Jan Dhan accounts
through the Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) initiative —
eliminating the need for
middlemen, reducing the
delay in payments, and
preventing fraud.
Annadata (Farmer)
To facilitate “the Annadata”,
farmer-centric policies have
been made by the govt: a.
Direct financial assistance is
provided to 11.8 Cr farmers
under PM-KISAN SAMMAN
Yojana. b. Crop insurance is
given to 4 Cr farmers under
PM Fasal Bima Yojana.
SUNDAY
Y- Yuva (Youth)
Govt acknowledges the extent
of empowering Amrit Peedhi
or “the Yuva”. That’s why the
Skill India Mission has trained
1.4 Cr youth and established a
large no. of new & prestigious
institutions.
Naari (Women)
Last but not least, “the Nari” is
being empowered through
entrepreneurship, ease of
living and dignity for them. 30
Cr Mudra Yojana loans have
been given to women
entrepreneurs.
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Interim Budget mention Blue Economy 2.0

Introducing Blue Economy Boosting Fisheries Sector:

2.0
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman,
proposed the launch of 'Blue Economy
2.0' in her interim budget presentation
to the Parliament. The move is a bid to
boost the country's aquaculture, also
known as aquafarming, which refers to
the cultivation of aquatic organisms in
controlled aquatic environments for
commercial purposes. Blue Economy
2.0 is a blueprint to make further
progress on India's existing initiatives
to explore the potential of the Indian
maritime blue economy
PMMSY Initiative
The govt set up a separate Department
of Fisheries realizing that the fishing
sector supports the livelihood of over 2.8
Cr people in the country. This has helped
double the inland & aquaculture
production as well as seafood exports
since FY2014. The Pradhan Mantri
Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
further aims to bring about the Blue
Revolution by: - enhancing aquaculture
productivity from existing 3-5 tons per
hectare, - doubling exports to ₹1 Lakh Cr,
and - generating 55 lakh employment.

India's Maritime Potential: Key Statistics

India is among the nations to host a huge maritime ecosystem with a coastline of
nearly 7.5 thousand kilometres. Indian geography has 1,382 islands and as many
as nine states in India are coastal. There are 12 major ports in India, handling
1,400 million tons of cargo each year, according to government data. In total,
India boasts 199 ports. India's Exclusive Economic Zone ranges over 2 million
square kilometres with key resources, including crude oil and natural gas.
04 FEBRUARY, 2024
WHERE WE CAN
ACCESS IT?
The interim Budget 2024 can be
accessed in a "paperless form" through
the Union Budget Mobile App. The
bilingual app, available in English and
Hindi, can be downloaded on Android,
iOS, or from the Union Budget Web
Portal (www.indiabudget.gov.in).
WHAT IS THE FISCAL
DEFICIT ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOR FY 2024-2025?
The fiscal deficit target for FY 25, was
fixed by the FM as 5.1% as against the
expectation of 5.3% levels.
Source:
SUNDAY
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR
TAX REFORMS?
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
didn't announce any major income tax
announcements. The tax rates were
kept unchanged. The government has
extended the deadline fortarget certain
tax benefits to startups and exemptions
to specific IFSC units to March 2025.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE
RAILWAYS SECTOR?
In the interim budget, FM Sitharaman
announced three major economic
railway corridor programmes under
are PM Gati Shakti: energy, mineral
and cement corridors; port
connectivity corridors, and high
traffic density corridors.
👆
 04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Bharat Ratna For LK Advani: A Timeline Of

His Political Career

LK Advani Receives Bharat Advani's Legacy: Rath

Ratna
BJP leader LK Advani will be honoured
with the Bharat Ratna, the country's
highest civilian award, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi announced today in a
post on X, formerly Twitter. Capping a
parliamentary career of nearly three
decades, Mr Advani was first the Home
Minister and later, the Deputy Prime
Minister in the former Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet from 1999
to 2004. BJP’s stalwart who catapulted
the party into national reckoning with
his Rath Yatra for Ayodhya's Ram
Temple in the early 1990s.
Yatra and Integrity
Mr Advani has labelled himself the
"charioteer" who steered the 'rath
yatra' that began in Gujarat's Somnath
on September 25, 1990, and
culminated with the demolition of the
Babri masjid on December 6, 1992. He
returned to Ayodhya on January 22 to
see PM Modi, then his aide, headline
the Ram temple consecration
ceremony. Advani Ji’s decades-long
service in public life has been marked
by an unwavering commitment to
transparency and integrity, setting an
exemplary standard in political ethics.

PM Modi, while announcing the honour for the veteran, said LK Advani's role in
the development of India is monumental. He called him one of the most
respected statesmen of India. “One of the most respected statesmen of our
times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental.
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

LK Advani: From Karachi to Bharat Ratna

ABOUT HIM ABOUT

Born in Karachi, LK Advani migrated
to India after the Partition. He
settled down in Bombay. He had
joined the RSS in 1941 at the age of
fourteen. In 1951, he became a
member of the Bharatiya Jana
Sangh, which was founded by BJP
icon Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The
Jana Sangh was the political
precursor to the BJP. Advani
became the member of the Rajya
Sabha for the first time in 1970. He
served four RS terms till 1989.
NEW LAWHIM
He first became the minister for
information and broadcasting and
leader of the house in Rajya Sabha in
1977, following the Janata Party's
victory in the general elections. He is
one of the founding members of the
BJP. He served as the president of
the party three times. In 1989, he
became a Lok Sabha member for the
first time. When the Atal Bihari
Vajpayee formed a government in
1999, Advani served as the minister
of home affairs and the deputy prime
minister. In 2015, LK Advani was
conferred with the Padma Vibhushan,
India's second highest civilian honour.

ABOUT HIM
In 1990, LK Advani embarked on Ram Rath Yatra over the BJP's demand for the
Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The procession began from Somnath in Gujarat and
reached Ayodhya. His Rath Yatra received popular support. In the 1991 general
elections, from a minor played in the national politics, the BJP became the second
largest party in the parliament after the Congress. Then in 2004 he became the
Home Minister and also Deputy Prime Minister
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Reaction of Ruling and Opposition party

BJP leader Brajesh Pathak

congratulated the BJP leader. “We all
extended heartiest congratulations to
Lal Krishna Advani. The kind of work
that has been done in the state and
across the country under his
leadership...He took the country to new
heights during his tenure. I also express
gratitude to the PM for announcing
Bharat Ratna for him," he told ANI.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit,

however, claimed the BJP misbehaved
with him. "Greetings to him. BJP and PM
Modi thought of LK Advani very late. He
has been a tall leader of their party. The
position that the BJP is in today - its
foundation was laid by LK Advani...The
way in which the BJP behaved with him
was not good but now that he is being
awarded the Bharat Ratna, best wishes
to him," he said.

Source: 👆
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

RBI Ban On Paytm Payments Bank: What Will

Work And Not Work For Paytm Users

RBI Imposes Restrictions on Paytm Bank Responds to RBI

Paytm Payments
After an alleged “persistent non-
compliance”, the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) on Thursday imposed a set of
restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank
that will come into effect on February
29. The restrictions will affect fresh
deposits and credit transactions on the
platforms. The new rule may also not
allow new users from creating an
account on the platform. From what
RBI's press release on the matter
suggests, Paytm wallets of all users will
be affected, and so will be Paytm
Fastags and mobility cards.
Restrictions
Early on 1 Feb, Paytm Payments Bank
Limited has also responded to the
statement saying, "PPBL is taking
immediate steps to comply with RBI
directions, including working with the
RBI to address their concerns as
quickly as possible." The company has
also announced that One97
Communications Limited (OCL), going
forward, will only work with other
banks and will stop working with Paytm
Payments Bank. "OCL, as a payments
company, works with various banks
(not just Paytm Payments Bank), on
various payments products.

After February 29, Paytm Payments Bank will not be onboarding new
users. Which means, if you aren’t already a Paytm user, after the
mentioned date, you will not be able to set up a new account on the
platform. As for existing users, they will not be able to use their Paytm
wallets, Paytm Fastags, or Mobility Cards.
04 FEBRUARY, 2024
SO WHAT HAPPENS TO
MY MONEY IN PAYTM
PAYMENTS BANK?
If you are a Paytm Payments Bank
customer with money in your account,
you can easily transfer it to another
bank account through options like UPI
(Unified Payments Interface), IMPS
(Immediate Payment Service), or RTGS
(Real-time Gross Settlement). However,
you won’t be able to add money to your
Paytm account.
CAN I STILL USE THE
PAYTM WALLET AFTER
FEBRUARY 29?
Yes, as of now, there are no restrictions
on transferring money from a Paytm
Payments Bank or Paytm Wallet to
another account, and you can continue
to use the service even after February
29. However, you won’t be able to credit
an additional amount to your Paytm
Wallet. Paytm has also officially stated
that it will soon move services like
Paytm Wallet, FASTags, and NCMC
accounts to other banks.
SUNDAY
WHAT CAN I DO NOW?
If you have money on Paytm Wallet,
then, you can also transfer to a bank
account. However, there is a limit of Rs
25,000 per transaction, and one can only
transfer up to Rs 1,00,000 a day from
Paytm Wallet to a bank account. Also,
note that this will attract a transaction
fee of 3 per cent while sending money to
other bank accounts. Hence, if you are
transferring rs 25,000, you have to pay a
Rs 750 transaction fee.
HOW TO TRANSFER
MONEY TO OTHER BANKS?
To transfer money from your Paytm
Payments Bank follow these
instructions: Open the Paytm app on
your phone > Log in with your phone
number and select banking and
payment option > Select “to bank
account” > Select “your bank account”
and enter the amount > Select “Paytm
Payments Bank” and authenticate the
transaction using pin code.
04 FEBRUARY, 2024
RBI 'ban' on Paytm Payments Bank: Stock
trades nearly 80% lower than the IPO price
Paytm Stock Slumps Amid
RBI Restrictions
Paytm's stock has witnessed a
substantial downturn, hitting the 20%
lower circuit limit for two consecutive
trading sessions. This decline came
after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
barred Paytm Payments Bank from
conducting certain operations following
a system audit report and subsequent
compliance validation report of
external auditors. The Indian central
bank on Wednesday, in a press release,
directed Paytm Payments Bank Ltd.
(PPBL, or the bank) to stop new credit
and deposit operations, top-ups, fund
transfers, and other such banking
operations after February 29 this year.
👆
Source:
SUNDAY
Challenges for Paytm Amid
Regulatory Restrictions
This was a big blow to the company, as
the payment bank currently hosts over
330 million wallet accounts, playing a
pivotal role in Paytm's ecosystem. The
stringent restrictions imposed are
anticipated to hinder Paytm's ability to
retain customers, according to
analysts. The regulatory move
prompted a significant sell-off, marking
one of the most challenging periods for
Paytm since its listing in November
2021. At its trading price of ₹487.20
apiece, the stock is trading at a 77.34%
discount compared to its issue price of
₹2,150 apiece, posing challenges for
investors who entered the stock during
the initial public offering and have
maintained their positions to date.
 Transparency International has Former Jharkhand Chief Minister
unveiled the 2023 Corruption Hemant Soren was on Friday
Perceptions Index (CPI), spotlighting remanded to five days'
the state of corruption across the Enforcement Directorate custody
globe. India held the 93rd position in by a special PMLA court here in
the Corruption Perceptions Index connection with a money
2023, scoring 39. The CPI global laundering case linked to an
average has remained static at 43 for alleged land fraud, lawyers said.
the twelfth consecutive year.

Snow leopards have been dubbed

Breast cancer continues to be the
the "ghosts of the mountains" for
leading form of cancer in India,
their elusive behaviour, but Indian
affecting 1,92,020 women and killing
researchers have successfully
98,337 in the country in 2022 — the
photographed more than 200 in a
highest due to any type of cancer,
landmark study estimating at
according to a World Health
least 718 across the country.
Organization (WHO) report released
Thursday. The report by WHO’s
International Agency for Research in
Cancer (IARC)
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Breast cancer accounted for highest

number of cancer fatalities in India: Report

Breast Cancer: Leading Top Cancers in India:

Cause in India
Breast cancer continues to be the
leading form of cancer in India, affecting
1,92,020 women and killing 98,337 in the
country in 2022 — the highest due to
any type of cancer, according to a World
Health Organization (WHO) report
released Thursday. The report by
WHO’s International Agency for
Research in Cancer (IARC) showed that
a total of 14,13,316 new cancer cases
were detected in the country while 9,16,
827 patients succumbed to the disease.
2022 Stats
Cancers of the breast, lip and oral
cavity, cervix-uteri, lungs, and
oesophagus were the top five
cancers in India in 2022. The total
breast cancer cases in the country
stood at 13.6 percent, followed by
cancers of the lips and oral cavity
(10.2 percent). Cervical cancer came
next at 9 percent while a significant
number of cases — 5.8 percent —
were of lung cancer. More women
developed cancer than men in India
in 2022 — 7,22,138 as against 6,91,178.

For men, the leading sites of cancer were the lips and oral cavity,
lung, and oesophagus while for women the sites included breasts,
cervix, uteri, and ovary.
04 FEBRUARY, 2024
Lung cancer is the leading cancer worldwide
:According to 2021 report
Cancer Prevalence: India
and Global Trends
In 2022, the total five-year
prevalence of cancer cases in India
— that is, the number of people alive
who have had cancer or a specific
cancer diagnosis within the previous
five years — was 32,58,518. Globally,
in 2022, there were an estimated 20
million new cancer cases and 9.7
million deaths. The estimated
number of people who were alive 5
years following a cancer diagnosis
was 53.5 million, said the WHO.
About 1 in 5 people develop cancer
in their lifetime while approximately
1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women die
from the disease, the report said.
Source: 👆 stomach (6,60,000 deaths, 6.8 percent).
SUNDAY
Global Cancer Trends:
Leading Types and Deaths
In contrast to India, globally, lung cancer
was the most commonly occurring
cancer with 2.5 million new cases — it
accounted for 12.4 percent of the total
new cases. Female breast cancer ranked
came second (2.3 million cases, 11.6
percent), followed by colorectal cancer
(1.9 million cases, 9.6 percent), prostate
cancer (1.5 million cases, 7.3 percent),
and stomach cancer (9,70,000 cases,
4.9 percent). Lung cancer was also the
leading cause of cancer deaths (1.8
million or 18.7 percent of the total
cancer deaths) followed by colorectal
(9,00,000 deaths, 9.3 percent), liver
(7,60,000 deaths, 7.8 percent), breast
(670,000 deaths, 6.9 percent) and
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

India ranks 93 among 180 countries in

Global Corruption Index: Report

2023 Corruption Perceptions Interconnection: Rule of

Index Highlights
Transparency International has unveiled
the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index
(CPI), spotlighting the state of
corruption across the globe. India held
the 93rd position in the Corruption
Perceptions Index 2023, scoring 39. The
CPI global average has remained static
at 43 for the twelfth consecutive year,
with over two-thirds of countries scoring
below 50. The CPI ranked 180 countries
and territories by their perceived levels
of public sector corruption on a scale of
zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
Law and Corruption
India, with a score of 39, ranked 93 on
the corruption perceptions index for
2023 as its overall score remained
largely unchanged, the Transparency
International report said. India's
overall score was 40 in 2022 and
ranked 85. The index draws on
perceptions of public sector
corruption and incorporates data
from 13 external sources, including
the World Bank, World Economic
Forum, private risk and consulting
companies, and think tanks.

India (39) shows score fluctuations small enough that no firm conclusions
can be drawn on any significant change. However, ahead of the elections,
India sees further narrowing of civic space, including through the passage
of a bill that could be a ‘grave threat to fundamental rights’.”
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Least corrupt countries in the world

Denmark (90)

Finland (87)

New Zealand (85)

Norway (84)

Singapore (83)

Sweden (82)

Switzerland (82)

Netherlands (79)

Germany (78)

Luxembourg (78)
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Most corrupt countries in the world

Somalia (11)

Venezuela (13)

Syria (13)

South Sudan (13)

Yemen (16)

Nicaragua (17)

North Korea (17)

Haiti (17), Equatorial Guinea (17)

Turkmenistan (18)

Libya (18)

Source: 👆
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

First-ever survey puts India’s snow leopard

count at 718

India's Snow Leopard Study: Snow Leopard Population

Landmark Findings
Snow leopards have been dubbed the
"ghosts of the mountains" for their
elusive behaviour, but Indian
researchers have successfully
photographed more than 200 in a
landmark study estimating at least 718
across the country. The mammoth
five-year survey, the first nationwide
review of snow leopards in India,
monitored 120,000 square kilometres
(46,000 square miles) of their remote
mountain habitat, according to the
environment ministry.
Assessment in India
India has an estimated 718 snow
leopards with Ladakh reporting the
maximum number (477) of these
magnificent cats, the Union
Environment Ministry said on Tuesday.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
carried out the first-ever 'Snow
Leopard Population Assessment in
India' (SPAI) with the support of all
snow leopard range states and two
conservation partners — the Nature
Conservation Foundation, Mysuru, and
WWF-India — between 2019 and 2023.

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav released the report during the

National Board for Wildlife meeting on Tuesday. The SPAI is the first-ever
scientific exercise that reports a snow leopard population of 718 in India," the
ministry said in a statement.
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Two-thirds of the population in Ladakh,

reveals first-ever survey

Jammu & Kashmir (9)

Himachal Pradesh (51)

Ladakh (477)

Uttarakhand (124)

Sikkim (21)
Arunachal Pradesh (36)

The snow leopard range in India remained undefined until recent years
due to a lack of extensive nationwide assessments for this vulnerable
species. Before 2016, approximately one-third of the range (around
1,00,347 km2) received minimal research attention.

Source: 👆
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren sent to

5-day ED custody in land 'scam' case

Hemant Soren Remanded Champai Soren Appointed

to ED Custody
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister
Hemant Soren was on Friday remanded
to five days' Enforcement Directorate
custody by a special PMLA court here in
connection with a money laundering
case linked to an alleged land fraud,
lawyers said. Soren was arrested on
Wednesday night after a seven-hour
grilling by the ED in the money
laundering case. He resigned as the
chief minister before that. The arrest
was made soon after Soren stepped
down as Jharkhand's chief minister.
as Jharkhand CM
Champai Soren was appointed to the
chief minister's post on Thursday after
he urged the governor to accept his
claim to form the government at the
earliest as there was "confusion" in the
state which was without a chief minister
since the resignation of Hemant Soren
on Wednesday, deepening a political
crisis. Champai Soren has been given 10
days to prove his government's
majority, said state Congress chief
Rajesh Thakur whose party is a
constituent of the JMM-led alliance as
the 12th chief minister of the state.

The central probe agency has so far arrested 14 people in the case,
including 2011-batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan who served as the director
of the state's Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of
Ranchi. The case against Soren revolves around his purported involvement
in an extensive land scam
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

What is land scam case?

NEW LAW
ALLEGATIONS ALLEGATIONS

He is alleged to be the key These falsified documents were then

beneficiary of illicitly obtained
land through fraudulent means,
according to the ED. The agency's
investigation points to a
sophisticated operation involving
a network of brokers and
businessmen who manipulated
land records to create fake deeds
– legal documents that transfer
ownership of land or real estate
from one party to another – for
valuable parcels of land.
used to sell off the land to various
individuals and companies, leading to
substantial financial gains for the
perpetrators. A key figure in this
scheme is Kolkata-based businessman
Amit Kumar Agarwal, who was
arrested by the ED last year. Agarwal
is suspected of having handled
tainted funds for several politicians,
including Soren, as alleged in a PIL
filed in the Jharkhand high court. The
ED's investigation has revealed a
pattern of illegal transactions and
land acquisitions, implicating Soren as
a key player in the alleged scam.

ALLEGATIONS
The ED has filed a charge sheet detailing the fraudulent acquisition of prime
land parcels, including defence land, valued at over ₹74 crore in current market
prices. The modus operandi involved manufacturing back-dated deeds,
falsifying records, and using fake stamps and seals to create the appearance of
legitimate transactions. The charge sheet also mentions instances where
multiple individuals laid claim to the same property using falsified documents,
further highlighting the extent of the alleged fraud. While the specific role of
Hemant Soren in these transactions is yet to be fully disclosed by the ED,

Source: 👆
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Hindus Allowed To Worship In Sealed

Basement Of Varanasi's Gyanvapi Mosque

Court Allows Hindu Worship Mosque Committee to

Access
Hindu petitioners can worship inside
the previously sealed basement - the
'Vyas ka tekhana' area - of the Gyanvapi
mosque complex in Varanasi, a city
court ruled Wednesday. The judge also
said arrangements, including removal
of barricades, are to be completed in a
week. The court further said prayers
should be conducted by priests from
the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The
overall case relates to the Gyanvapi
mosque, located adjacent to the iconic
Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Challenge Verdict
The mosque committee is expected to
challenge this order in a higher court.
The mosque has four 'tekhana', or
cellar, in the basement. One is still in
the possession of a family of priests
that used to live there. The family had
argued that, as hereditary priests,
they be allowed to enter the structure
and perform pujas. According to the
petition, the priest, Somnath Vyas,
used to perform prayers till 1993
when the cellar was closed.

"Hindu side allowed to offer prayers... district administration will

have to make arrangements in seven days. Everyone will have the
right to pray there," Vishnu Shankar Jain, the lawyer for the four
Hindu women petitioners in this case, said.
04 FEBRUARY, 2024
Hindu women seek ASI inquiry; Mosque
committee to challenge order
Historical Investigation
Ongoing
The mosque committee is expected to
challenge this order in a higher court.
The mosque has four 'tekhana', or
cellar, in the basement. One is still in
the possession of a family of priests
that used to live there. The family had
argued that, as hereditary priests, they
be allowed to enter the structure and
perform pujas. According to the
petition, the priest, Somnath Vyas, used
to perform prayers till 1993 when the
cellar was closed. The ASI had been
instructed to determine whether the
mosque was constructed over a pre-
existing structure of a Hindu temple.
Source: 👆 that had challenged civil suits seeking
SUNDAY
Hindu Women Seek ASI
investigation
The development followed a day after
the Hindu women plaintiff moved to
the Supreme Court, seeking
directions for the Archeological
Survey of India (ASI) to determine the
details of the 'Shivling', claimed to
have been found at Varanasi's
Gyanvapi mosque, in the sealed area.
The ASI carried out a scientific survey
of the Gyanvapi premises, located
next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple
in Varanasi, after an order from the
district court on July 21 last year. Last
month, in a crucial judgement, the
Allahabad High Court had rejected all
petitions by the mosque committee
restoration of the temple at the site.
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

UPI Services Launched In France At Eiffel

Tower After Macron's India Visit

UPI Goes Global: Launch Revolutionizing Digital

at Eiffel Tower
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has
been formally launched at the Eiffel
Tower in Paris, the Indian Embassy in
France said on Friday and termed it as
part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
"vision of taking UPI global." The UPI was
formally launched at the Republic Day
reception held in France. In a post on X,
the Indian Embassy in France stated,
"UPI formally launched at the iconic
Eiffel Tower at the huge Republic Day
Reception. During his visit to France in
July last year, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi announced that India and France
have agreed to use the UPI payment
Payments in India
The UPI is India's mobile-based
payment system and allows people to
make round-the-clock payments
through a virtual payment address
created by the customer. UPI is a
system that powers multiple bank
accounts into a single mobile
application (of any participating bank),
merging several banking features,
seamless fund routing and merchant
payments into one hood. In 2023, India
and France committed to nurturing a
thriving ecosystem and building
collaborations that empower their
citizens and ensure their full
participation in the digital century,

According to the India-France joint statement. NPCI International

Payments Limited (NIPL) and France's Lyra Collect executed an agreement
to implement the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in France and Europe.

Source: 👆
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

78 lakh Street Vendors benefitted from

PM SVANIdhi Scheme

Empowering Street PM SVANIDHI and

Vendors Across India JANMAN Yojana
PM SVANIDHI, which stands for
Union Finance Minister Nirmala
Prime Minister’s Street Vendor’s
Sitharaman on Thursday has
AtmaNirbhar Nidhi, has been pivotal
announced that PM SVANIDHI, a
in providing financial support to the
flagship initiative focusing on street
street vending community, enabling
vendors has extended credit
them to sustain and grow their
assistance to 78 lakh street vendors
businesses. In addition to PM
across the country. Notably, out of
SVANIDHI, Sitharaman shed light on
this total, 2.3 lakh street vendors
the impact of PM JANMAN Yojana,
have received credit for the third
which specifically targets Particularly
time, showcasing the success and
Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
sustainability of the scheme, she said
“PM SVANIDHI has provided credit assistance to 78 lakh street vendors, from that
total, 2.3 lakh have received credit for the third time PM JANMAN Yojana reaches
out Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups PM Vishakarma Yojana provides end to
end support to artisans and craftspeople Scheme for empowerment of Divyang
and transgender people reflects our resolve to leave no one behind,” the Finance
Minister said while presenting the interim Budget 2024-25
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

PM SVANidhi Scheme: Empowering

Street Vendors
ABOUT THE SCHEME
A working capital loan of up to
₹10,000, without any guarantee, is
provided for a one-year tenure.
Timely repayment allows
beneficiaries to avail a second loan
of ₹20,000 and a third loan of
₹50,000. Regular repayment is
encouraged through a 7% interest
subsidy. Digital transactions are
promoted with a cashback of up to
₹1,200 per year for digital payments.
ABOUT THE SCHEME
NEW LAW
The Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs initiated the Prime Minister
Street Vendors' Atmanirbhar Nidhi
(PM SVANidhi) Scheme on June 1,
2020. The scheme focuses on
assisting street vendors, severely
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,
in restarting their businesses without
the need for any guarantee.
The PM SVANidhi Scheme has played
a crucial role in supporting street
vendors during challenging times,

ABOUT THE SCHEME

The scheme initially started by offering a working capital loan of up to ₹10,000,
and later, recognizing the increased financial requirements, a second loan of up to
₹20,000 was introduced from April 9, 2021. Additionally, a third loan of up to
₹50,000 became available from June 1, 2022. The Ministry modified the cashback
scheme, effective from February 1, 2023. This modification provides a cashback of
₹1 for every digital transaction, capped at ₹100 per month and ₹1,200 per year.

Source: 👆
SHARE
BAZAR
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

"To Shock Everyone Into...": Poonam

Pandey's Reveal After "Death" Post

Poonam Pandey Denies Advocates for Cervical

Death Rumors Cancer Awareness
Poonam Pandey, the model-actor, has The news has sent shockwaves
refuted reports of her death across the industry. Reacting to the
attributed to cervical cancer, video, designer Saisha Shinde
asserting that she is alive and using posted, “Totally disgusted! I called
the moment to advocate for you my friend! You don’t deserve to
awareness around the disease. be my friend! You called this
Speculations regarding her passing awareness? Shut the f*** up! My
emerged on February 2, only to be mom has had a double mastectomy
quashed on Saturday with Pandey's and she has battled cancer! My sister
confirmation of her well-being. has had a kidney failure and she’s
Initially, reports of Pandey's demise passed away, my aunt died of mental
were corroborated by her manager, illness and unlike you they can never
with an official announcement shared come back! Death is not a joke! Death
on Instagram. However, Pandey's is not a publicity stunt! It’s an actual
subsequent clarification on her status non quantifiable fact! Shame on you
has dispelled the earlier narrative.
Source: 👆
04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

Internet explodes with memes after AB

de Villiers reveals Virushka's secret

AB de Villiers spills Memes and jokes roll,

pregnancy secret
In a classic case of "oops, did I just
say that?", former South Africa
captain AB de Villiers left the internet
buzzing when he accidentally spilled
the beans about Virat Kohli and
Anushka Sharma's well-kept secret.
The internet was flooded with memes
and jokes moments after the former
cricketer on Saturday revealed that
Virat Kohli and his actor-wife
Anushka Sharma are expecting their
second baby. Notably, Virat Kohli
withdrew from the first two Tests of
the ongoing 5-match series between
India and England.
poking fun at de Villiers
In a YouTube live video, Virat Kohli's
former Royal Challengers Bangalore
teammate Ab de Villiers said that Virat
Kohli and Anushka Sharma are
expecting their second child and that
is why the Indian cricketer is away
from cricket for some time. "Yes, his
second child is on the way. Yes, it's
family time and things are important
to him. If you are not true and genuine
to yourself, you lose track of what you
are here for. News of the Indian
batter's second baby has left his fans
amazed, with the internet taking it as
an open invitation to let the memes

Source: 👆 and jokes roll, poking fun at de Villiers.

04 FEBRUARY, 2024 SUNDAY

ANSWERS!

What key sector did the What was the estimated gross
interim budget focus on, borrowing for FY25, as
according to the conversation? mentioned in the conversation?

Agriculture ₹14.13 trillion

Youth and women

empowerment ₹1 Lakh Cr

Which state is set to potentially Who headed the

become the first in the country committee appointed to
after Independence to adopt the prepare a draft of the
Uniform Civil Code? Uniform Civil Code (UCC)?

Uttarakhand Rajesh Kumaar

Uttar Pradesh Justice Ranjana

Prakash Desai

Here are the answers of previous quiz

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