Highlights: RBI to halt facility to exchange Rs 2,000 notes on April 1

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10:43 PM

Oppn MVA leaders meet in Mumbai to discuss Lok Sabha poll strategy, campaign

Senior leaders of the opposition grouping Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra met here on Thursday to discuss campaign strategy and draw plans to hold joint rallies in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The meeting was attended by NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, Congress leaders Prithviraj Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat. 

10:10 PM

Mukhtar Ansari health detoriates, shifted to hospital

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari was brought to Banda Medical College hospital after his health deteriorated on Thursday. "I received information that he has been brought here, so I have come here..." Naseem Haider, lawyer for Mukhtar Ansari, told ANI. Earlier, Mukhtar Ansari was shifted from Uttar Pradesh's Rani Durgawati Medical College to jail after his discharge on Tuesday.

9:48 PM

LS polls: Cong complains to EC against 'misleading' ads by BJP

The Congress on Thursday complained to the Election Commission against the BJP's "misleading" advertisements and posters promoting various government schemes and sought their removal. The opposition party also sought action against the alleged violation of poll code by senior BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

8:59 PM

LS elections: 71 nominations rejected in UP's first phase seats

Seventy-one of 155 nominations filed for eight Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh, that will go to polls in the first phase of elections, were rejected, Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said on Thursday. Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit will vote in the first phase on April 19. Thirteen candidates filed nominations from the Saharanpur Lok Sabha seat. During scrutiny of nomination papers, one nomination was rejected and the remaining 12 nomination papers were found valid, the officer said.

8:44 PM

Govt's gross liabilities rise to Rs 160.69 trillion at Dec-end: Finmin

Total gross liabilities of the government increased marginally to Rs 160.69 trillion at the end of December 2023 from Rs 157.84 trillion at September-end, the finance ministry said on Thursday. This represented a quarter-on-quarter increase of 1.8 per cent in the September quarter of 2023-24, said the public debt management quarterly report (October-December 2024).

8:18 PM

Nomination filing for phase II of LS polls announced in UP

Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa on Thursday announced the nomination filing for the second phase of the seven-phase parliamentary elections in Uttar Pradesh. Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh -- Amorha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautambuddha Nagar, Bulandshahr (SC), Aligarh, and Mathura -- will vote in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 26.

7:54 PM

LS elections: PM Modi, 10 Union ministers, 5 CMs among BJP's star campaigners in Rajasthan

The BJP has released its list of star campaigners for the Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan. The list of 40 names includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 10 Union ministers and the chief ministers of five states. The names of Jhalawar MLA and former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and former MLAs Rajendra Rathore and Satish Poonia also feature in the list.

7:37 PM

Facility to exchange, deposit Rs 2,000 notes not available on Apr 1: RBI

The facility to exchange or deposit Rs 2,000 banknotes will not be available on Monday, April 1, 2024 due to operations associated with the annual closing of  accounts, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Friday. The facility will resume on Tuesday (April 2, 2024) at the 19 issue offices of the RBI, it added. "The facility of exchange/deposit of Rs 2,000 banknotes will not be available on Monday, April 1, 2024 at the 19 issue offices of the Reserve Bank of India due to operations associated with the annual closing of accounts," it said.

6:59 PM

Kerala is one of top 5 financially stressed states in India due to poor governance, alleges Nirmala Sitharaman

In past six years since 2016-17, Kerala has far exceeded its permitted borrowing limit, said FM Nirmala Sitharaman. She added, "Kerala is one of top five financially stressed states in India due to poor governance."

5:49 PM

India proud of its democratic institutions; committed to protect them from undue external influences, says MEA

"India proud of its independent and robust democratic institutions. It is committed to protect them from any form of undue external influences," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal after a US diplomat commented on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest. 

5:31 PM

Baltimore Cargo Vessel Accident: There were 21 crew members, including 20 Indians, onboard, says MEA

Our information is that there were 21 crew members onboard, including 20 Indians, said MEA on ship accident in Baltimore. It further added, "Our embassy is in close touch with Indians onboard the ship and also local authorities."

4:34 PM

Any external imputation on India's electoral, legal processes is completely unacceptable: MEA

4:31 PM

Ukraine Foreign Minister pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi

4:28 PM

Fiscal deficit at Feb-end touches 86.5 pc of full-year target: Govt data

The government's fiscal deficit at Rs 15 trillion touched 86.5 per cent of the revised annual target at the end of February, according to official data released on Thursday.

3:51 PM

News update: Court extends ED remand of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal till April 1

3:50 PM

Kejriwal hearing news updates: The grounds (put forth by ED) were baseless, says counsel of Arvind Kejriwal

 "The grounds (put forth by ED) were baseless. Arvind Kejriwal requested the court to say something, which was allowed. He explained that there was no evidence against him and lastly he said that he doesn't oppose the police remand as such, and that they can keep him in the custody and he will cooperate," Ramesh Gupta, counsel of Arvind Kejriwal, said on ED seeking extension of Delhi CM's remand.

2:43 PM

Smokescreen of AAP being corrupt created in front of nation, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in court

CM Kejriwal says that motive of ED is to crush the Aam Aadmi party. 

2:35 PM

CM Arvind Kejriwal has not disclosed digital passwords: ED in Rouse Avenue Court

CM Arvind Kejriwal has not disclosed the passwords. So we do not have access to digital data. He says he will speak to his lawyers and then decide whether the passwords are to be given or not. If he does not, we will have to break open the passwords, says ED before court

2:32 PM

Want to thank ED officers. This case has been going on for two years: CM Kejriwal before court

I want to thank ED officers. This case has been going on for two years, Arvind Kejriwal directly addressed the court. 

2:28 PM

Why have I been arrested? My name came to light only in 4 statements of 4 people: CM Kejriwal before court

"I was arrested, but no court has proved me guilty yet. CBI filed 31,000 pages and ED has filed 25,000 pages related to this matter. Even if you read them together, I would like to ask why have I been arrested? My name came to light only in four statements of four people," Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said in his statement before the Rouse Avenue court.

2:23 PM

Kejriwal giving evasive replies, not disclosing passwords of his digital devices: ED to court

The Enforcement Directorate told the court that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is giving evasive replies and not disclosing passwords of his digital devices.

2:19 PM

Enforcement Directorate moves a remand application in Rouse Avenue court

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has moved a remand application in Rouse Avenue court, elaborating that wit requires Arvind Kejriwal's custody for interrogation to confront him with some other people. Statements of some AAP Goa candidates are being recorded, says ED before the court.

2:08 PM

'It is a political conspiracy and the people will give an answer to it': Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

2:03 PM

News update: CM Kejriwal produced before Rouse Avenue court, claims liquor case is a 'political conspiracy'

1:41 PM

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal being taken to Rouse Avenue Court

1:31 PM

Delhi HC rejects pleas seeking removal of CM Kejriwal

The Delhi High Court (HC) rejected pleas seeking removal of Arvind Kejriwal as chief minister, saying that there is no scope of judicial interference.  

1:15 PM

India, China held talks on border issues, achieving "complete disengagement"

The Ministry of External Affairs stated on Thursday that the 29th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs has been held and the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on how to achieve "complete disengagement" and resolve the remaining issues along the LAC.

"The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on how to achieve complete disengagement and resolve the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of India-China border areas," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

1:09 PM

Made in India LCA Mark 1A Fighter aircraft set for maiden flight today, says HAL

Officials from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on Thursday stated that preparations are underway for carrying out the first flight of the Made in India LCA Mark 1A fighter aircraft in Bengaluru. The first flight is likely to take place today. 

12:10 PM

Group of lawyers, led by Harish Salve, write to CJI Chandrachud against 'vested interest group'

A group of lawyers, including senior advocate Harish Salve and Bar Council of India chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, have complained to the Chief Justice of India, alleging that a "vested interest group" is trying to pressure the judiciary and defame courts "on the basis of frivolous logic and stale political agendas".

 "Their pressure tactics are most obvious in political cases, particularly those involving political figures accused of corruption. These tactics are damaging to our courts and threaten our democratic fabric," their letter, dated March 26, stated.

12:00 PM

ASI continues survey at Bhojshala Complex for seventh day

A delegation from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) reached Bhojshala Complex located in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar on today to continue the survey which began on March 22. For Hindus, the Bhojshala Complex is a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), whereas for Muslims, it is the site of the Kamal Maula mosque. According to an arrangement reached in 2003, Hindus perform puja at the complex on every Tuesday from sunrise to sunset while Muslims offer namaz on every Friday from 1 pm to 3 pm.