Latest news LIVE: Bhupendra Patel takes oath as Gujarat CM for second term

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2:35 PM

BJP's Bhupendra Patel takes oath as Gujarat CM in presence of PM Modi, Amit Shah

2:06 PM

Bhupendra Patel takes oath as Gujarat CM for second term

Bhupendra Patel takes oath as Gujarat Chief Minister for second term

1:54 PM

Bhupendra Patel's swearing in ceremony to begin soon

1:22 PM

ONGC to invest Rs 2,150 cr on drilling 53 exploratory wells in Andhra Pradesh

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd proposes to drill 53 exploratory wells in Andhra Pradesh- 50 in Godavari on-Land PML (Petroleum Mining Lease) Block of KG Basin and three in CD-ONHP-2020/1 (OALP-Vi) Block Of Cuddapah basin with an investment outlay of Rs 2,150 crore.

Andhra Pradesh State-Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) in a meeting held last month cleared two separate proposals put up by the ONGC for environmental clearance.

According to ONGC, it proposes to carry out the onshore exploration of 50 wells during 2021-'28 in Godavari on-land PML block of KG basin in East and West Godavari Districts of AP based on the geological and geophysical studies.

 

1:04 PM

India's steel output grows 5% to 10.34 million tonne in Nov: Report

India's crude steel output rose by about 5 per cent to 10.34 million tonne (MT) in November 2022, according to SteelMint India.

As per the research firm, the top six steel makers -- SAIL, Tata Steel, JSW Steel, JSPL, AMNS India and RINL -- produced 6.28 MT steel and the rest 4.06 MT came from the secondary sector.

The country had produced 9.88 MT of steel during the same month of 2021, the SteelMint data showed.

In November 2021, large producers jointly manufactured 6.09 MT steel, while the secondary industry produced 3.79 MT, it added.

The production of finished steel rose 3.41 per cent to 9.55 MT from 9.23 MT in November last year.

 

12:49 PM

India largest 'connected' nation with over 800 mn broadband users: MoS IT

India has become the largest 'connected' nation in the world with 800 million users, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said.

Speaking at the India Internet Governance Forum 2022 (IIGF2022), the minister said that 5G and the largest rural broadband connectivity network project at BharatNet will have 1.2 billion Indian users constituting the single largest presence of the global internet.

"We also expect further technological innovations as well as updated regulatory policies to remain relevant. The deep involvement by all stakeholders will be the third leg of this 'Global Standard Cyber Law Framework' that, we hope, will catalyse the Indian Internet and the economy," Chandrasekhar told the gathering at the three-day event in the national capital on Sunday.

The IIGF2022 brought together all stakeholders in the global Internet governance ecosystem, including government, industry, civil society and academia.

 

12:30 PM

Entry gates at T3 of Delhi airport increased to 16, says Scindia

After complaints of congestion from passengers at the Terminal 3 of Delhi's IGI airport, Union aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia visited the airport. He said, "Today, we have increased the number of entry gates from 14 to 16. There was a meeting with officials inside the airport where we have decided that a board should be placed at every entry gate to display the waiting time before entry. This will help people reach the gate where there is minimum waiting time."

"Another important decision taken today was regarding the security process. A total of 13 lines are in use presently at Delhi airport which we have increased to 16. We are also trying to add a few more lines taking it close to 20 lines," he adds. 

 

12:03 PM

Anil Deshmukh's bail by Bombay HC put on hold for 10 days

Former Maharashtra's minister Anil Deshmukh's bail by Bombay High Court has been put on hold for 10 days as the CBI has sought time to challenge it in the Supreme Court.

11:56 AM

Rupee has been strong against every currency: FM Sitharaman in Lok Sabha

"It is sad that some people in Parliament are jealous of country's increasing economy. India has the fastest-growing economy but opposition has a problem with it. Everyone should be proud of India's growth but some people take it as a joke," says Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha.

The FM adds, "The Indian rupee has been strong against every currency. Reserve Bank has used foreign exchange reserves that it has to intervene in the market to make sure that the Dollar-Rupee fluctuation does not go too much."

11:24 AM

Samajwadi Party's Dimple Yadav takes oath as Lok Sabha MP

Samajwadi Party's Dimple Yadav takes oath as Lok Sabha MP after getting elected from Mainpuri parliamentary seat

 

11:17 AM

Priyanka Gandhi joins artists performing traditional folk dance in Rajasthan

11:09 AM

Bombay HC grants bail to Anil Deshmukh in corruption case

Bombay High Court grants bail to former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in corruption case being probed by CBI

 

10:57 AM

Bombay HC Court Chief Justice Dipankar Datta takes oath as SC judge

Bombay High Court Chief Justice Dipankar Datta administered oath as Supreme Court judge by CJI D Y Chandrachud

 

10:42 AM

Direct tax collection up 24% to Rs 8.77 trn; nears 62% of Budget estimates

The net direct tax collection grew 24 per cent to Rs 8.77 lakh crore in the April-November of the current fiscal, the Finance Ministry said on Monday.

This represents 61.79 per cent of the full-year Budget Estimates (BE) of direct tax collection for 2022-23 (April-March).

"Direct tax collection net of refund stands at Rs 8.77 lakh crore as of November 30, which is 24.26 per cent higher than the net collection for the corresponding period last year," the ministry tweeted.

The collection accounts for 61.79 per cent of Budget Estimates for FY 2022-23.

 

10:31 AM

Scindia visits T3 of IGI airport in Delhi amid complaints of congestion

10:19 AM

Rupee falls 35 paise against US dollar amid heavy selling in equities

The rupee declined 35 paise to 82.63 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday as heavy selling pressure in domestic equities and a strong greenback in the overseas market weighed on investor sentiments.

Besides, foreign fund outflows and rising crude oil prices in the international market impacted the domestic unit, forex traders said.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened weak at 82.54 against the dollar, then lost further ground to quote at 82.63, registering a fall of 35 paise over its previous close.

On Friday, the rupee settled 10 paise higher at 82.28 against the US dollar.

 

10:06 AM

Air quality in Delhi remains in 'very poor' category with AQI at 301

The air quality in the national capital here remained in the 'very poor' category with AQI recorded at 301 on Monday.

The areas near Delhi university saw an AQI of 314. As the mercury dropped in the national capital the smog levels increased. In the NCR region, the air quality peaked in Noida with an AQI of 351. The AQI in Gurugram was recorded at 156.

On December 7, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) decided to revoke Stage III of the GRAP in the entire NCR immediately after the overall air quality in Delhi improved.

The CAQM, a Union government panel that recommends steps to control air pollution in the national capital, chaired a meeting to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR on December 7.

9:52 AM

Modi has a clear vision that India should not go towards shortcut politics: Ashwini Vaishnaw

"PM Narendra Modi has a clear vision that the country should not go towards shortcut politics but good governance. PM has prepared a digital structure to make sure that good governance reaches every person in the country," says Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

He adds, "Former PM Rajiv Gandhi had once said that only 15 paise of every rupee meant for welfare of poor reaches them. But today, hundred per cent of the amount reaches the beneficiaries through DBT."

9:41 AM

India logs 159 new Covid cases, zero deaths in 24 hours

India reports a single-day rise of 159 Covid infections; the active case count declines by seven to 3,906. Zero deaths reported in the last 24 hours, and the nation's fatality toll from the pandemic is at 530,658.

9:22 AM

Centre to move SC, ST Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha today

Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda is to move 'The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022' in the Rajya Sabha to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Uttar Pradesh) Order, 1967.

The Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 28, 2022. It was passed in the Lok Sabha in April.

The Bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Uttar Pradesh) Order, 1967 (ST Order) and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 (SC Order) with respect to its application to Uttar Pradesh.

 

9:01 AM

EAM Jaishankar to inaugurate India Global Forum 2022 in UAE today

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will inaugurate the India Global Forum UAE 2022 that gets underway here on Monday.

It is a gala five-day event that will bring together leading political, business and cultural personalities from India, the UAE and across the world.

This is the first major international event following India's ascendency to the G20 Presidency, and will be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from December 12 to 16.

India formally assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1.

 

8:29 AM

India one of the leading countries in terms of economic growth: Russian FM

"India is one of the leading countries in terms of economic growth, maybe even the leader. Its population will soon be bigger than any other country. India has vast diplomatic experience in settling various kinds of problems," says Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Lavrov adds, "India is part of a range of integration structures in South Asia within SCO and it takes an active role in United Nations. India is a country that not only aspires to be but is at the essence of the forming of a multipolar world as one of its most important poles."
"India and Brazil have been promoting their applications to join UN Security Council together with Japan and Germany, which is a sign of multipolarity. We see what added value India & Brazil can bring to UNSC knowing their stances on global & regional issues," Lavrov says.

8:14 AM

Nasa's Orion capsule returns from moon, lands in Pacific Ocean off Mexico

NASA's Orion capsule made a blisteringly fast return from the moon Sunday, parachuting into the Pacific off Mexico to conclude a test flight that should clear the way for astronauts on the next lunar flyby.

The incoming capsule hit the atmosphere at Mach 32, or 32 times the speed of sound, and endured reentry temperatures of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius) before splashing down west of Mexico's Baja California near Guadalupe Island.

A Navy ship quickly moved in to recover the spacecraft and its silent occupants three test dummies rigged with vibration sensors and radiation monitors.

 

7:58 AM

Musk threatens to sue Twitter employees for leaking company info to media

Elon Musk has reportedly threatened to sue Twitter employees who leak company information to the media, and has told them to sign a pledge indicating they've understood him clearly. An email by Musk to employees, accessed by Platformer's Zoe Schiffer, has earned them that Twitter will "immediately seek damages" if they violate their non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). "As evidenced by the many detailed leaks of confidential Twitter information, a few people at our company continue to act in a manner contrary to the company's interests and in violation of their NDA," read the email.

7:37 AM

UK trade minister in India to kickstart sixth round of FTA talks

UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch arrives in New Delhi on Monday to kickstart the sixth round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations and hold bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal. The new round marks the first formal meeting between the India-UK negotiating teams since July and the first since Rishi Sunak took charge as British Prime Minister. Sunak's Trade Secretary will address both teams of senior negotiators ahead of the sixth round of formal negotiations, scheduled to take place throughout the week.

7:18 AM

BJP's Bhupendra Patel to take oath as Gujarat CM for second term

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhupendra Patel will take oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second consecutive time in Gandhinagar on Monday. Patel will be administered the oath as the 18th Chief Minister by Governor Acharya Devvrat in Gandhinagar at 2 pm. The ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers of BJP-led states.