News Highlights: Govt proposes more incentives for scrapping vehicles with BS-II

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses press conference on an issue he called ‘very very very’ important.  The Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in Uttarakhand on January 27, making it the first state to implement such a law that will bring uniformity in society while ensuring equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said. In a statement, he said all preparations to implement UCC, including getting approval of the rules for the implementation of the Act and training of officials concerned, have been completed. The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Act was notified on March 12, 2024, after presidential assent. Dhami said the UCC will bring about uniformity in society and ensure equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens.  President Donald Trump has ended his predecessor's hold on sending 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, lifting a pressure point that had been meant to reduce civilian casualties during the US ally's war with Hamas in Gaza that is now halted by a tenuous ceasefire. In a post on his Truth Social network Saturday, Trump said, "A lot of things that were ordered and paid for by Israel, but have not been sent by Biden, are now on their way!" A Trump administration official confirmed that he was referring to the heavy bombs. The official was not authorised to give that detail publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

  Bharatiya Janata Party's Delhi president Virendraa Sacheva accused the Aam Aadmi Party of throwing the Mahila Samman Yojana registration forms into "garbage" and cheating the women of Delhi. BJP leader put forth a bunch of papers he claims to be registration forms for the women's scheme, which the party allegedly found with a rag picker. "This is Kejriwal's Mahila Samman Yojana, one can see that the name, aadhar card, all the details of this woman is here, but we saw that around 30,000 of these forms were with a garbage collector. If this is not cheating the women of Delhi then what is? They say that they have registered around 20-25 lakh women, but they sold the data of women to rag pickers," Sachdeva said. He alleged that the thousands of forms belonged to the people in Timarpur constituency.

 

10:27 PM

National flag unfurled for first time in 35 years at Tral in J-K

For the first time in 35 years, the national tricolour was unfurled at Tral in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday as patriotic songs marked the celebration of 76th Republic Day. Once a bastion of terrorists and separatists, Tral town reverberated with patriotic songs and chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' as PDP MLA Rafiq Naik joined nearly 1,000 participants in the Republic Day function.

9:03 PM

Govt proposes more incentives for scrapping vehicles with BS-II

With an aim to get rid of high-polluting vehicles, the transport ministry has proposed to double the rebate up to 50 per cent in one-time tax on purchase of new vehicles after scrapping those with BS-II and earlier emission standards.

At present, a discount of 25 per cent in Motor Vehicle tax is provided on purchase of a new vehicle after scrapping old personal vehicles, while the rebate is capped at 15 per cent in case of commercial vehicles.

8:42 PM

Ashwini Vaishnaw interacts with special invitees of 'Mann Ki Baat' for 76th Republic Day Parade

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday interacted with special invitees of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' program who have been selected as distinguished guests for the 76th Republic Day Parade.

They were invited by Akashvani to its New Delhi office at Akashvani Bhawan, according to Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

8:07 PM

Remo D'Souza takes a holy dip at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj

Choreographer Remo D'Souza visited the Maha Kumbh Mela and took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, marking a significant moment during his spiritual journey.

Taking to his Instagram handle, he shared a video from his spiritual visit. He also posted a series of pictures in which he along with his wife Lizelle can be seen taking blessings from Swami Kailashanand Giri Maharaj.

7:34 PM

6 VDGs, 3 JKAS officers among over 50 awarded on R-Day in J-K

Jammu and Kashmir government has conferred awards to over 50 people, including a group of six Village Defence Guards (VDGs) and three J-K Administrative Service (JKAS) officers, for their outstanding contribution in different fields on Sunday, an official order said.

Principal Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar Iffat Hassan Shah was among the prominent persons awarded on the Republic Day. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 51,000 and a citation.

6:59 PM

NCLAT set aside penalty on lenders for delay in Mudra Denim insolvency process

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has set aside the penalty imposed against lenders of debt-ridden Mudra Denim, saying there was no laxity on their part for delay in insolvency process.

The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal had, on November 11 last year, while deciding creditors' plea seeking extension of deadline to complete the insolvency process, imposed a cost of Rs 55,000 on the Committee of Creditors (COC).

6:44 PM

Kejriwal insulted Puravanchalis, called them fake voters: Shah

Kejriwal insulted Puravanchalis, called them fake voters, said Amit Shah. ''Kejriwal only told lies to get votes, AAP means 'Awaidh Aamdaniwali Party''', Shah added at Narela rally.

 

 

6:40 PM

Governance of Delhi under Arvind Kejriwal's AAP worsened in past 10 years: Shah

AAP's misgovernance in Delhi will end on February 8, BJP will come to power: Amit Shah at public meeting in Narela. BJP-ruled states progressed due to party's double-engine government, Shah added.

5:15 PM

JK Cement to acquire majority 60% stake in Saifco Cements, to enter J&K

JK Cement, one of the leading cement producers, has said it will acquire a 60 per cent stake of Saifco Cements in a deal through which it will enter into the Jammu & Kashmir market.

The JK Group firm will acquire a 60 per cent stake in Saifco Cements, which has an integrated manufacturing unit at Khunmoh in Srinagar, at a valuation of Rs 174 crore, according to a joint statement.

4:53 PM

Himachal farmer selected for Padma Shri revolutionised apple cultivation

A progressive Himachali farmer, Hariman Sharma revolutionised apple cultivation by developing a variety that can be cultivated under warmer conditions in the lower hills. It was earlier believed that apples could only be grown in the mid and the higher hills under cold conditions. Sharma's innovation, however, busted that myth.

 

3:58 PM

Budget 2025: Tech industry bats for deeptech fund, tweaks in safe harbour rules' threshold

India's apex IT industry body Nasscom has batted for tweaks in safe harbour rules and widening the scope for utilisation of SEZ reinvestment reserves in its Budget wishlist, while advocating for creation of a central deeptech fund to bolster startup ecosystem in India.

Creation of a grant framework for the deeptech ecosystem, and making the deferment of the time of payment of tax on Employee Stock Option Plan available to employees of all DPIIT-recognized startups also tops the Budget expectations of the industry.

3:40 PM

Student killed, 20 others injured in Odisha as pick-up van on way to Republic Day function overturns

A class 10 student died and 20 others were injured as a pick-up van that was taking them to a Republic Day function overturned in Odisha's Cuttack district on Sunday, police said. The incident happened near Anshupa Lake when students of Malaviharapur High School were on the way to the Saranda Parade Ground after attending the flag hoisting programme in their own school, they said.

3:14 PM

Good governance cornerstone for prosperous J&K: LG

Highlighting the transformation in Jammu and Kashmir over the past several years, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said good governance is pivotal to fostering peace, development and inclusivity in the region. He said it is the collective responsibility of all to maintain peace and harmony, ensuring that the dreams of the local youth are not hindered by divisive forces.

2:56 PM

2 empty coaches derail near Padmapukuar railway station in WB's Howrah, no report of any injury

Two empty coaches of a train derailed after it was hit by a parcel van near Padmapukuar railway station of West Bengal's Howrah district on Sunday, an official said. There was no report of any injury in the freak incident, not far from Howrah station, the official of the South Eastern Railway said. Empty coaches of a train were being taken to Shalimar yard from Padmapukur when the parcel van hit the coaches which caused the derailment, he said.

2:51 PM

Kejriwal lashes out at the BJP for labelling welfare measures as "freebies

Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the BJP for labelling welfare measures as "freebies", alleging that the saffron party was trying to create guilt among the middle class while itself offering massive concessions to big businesses. "When the BJP waives loans worth thousands of crores for its friends, is that not a freebie?" he asked.