Highlights of the day: Above normal heatwave projected for next 3 months

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10:57 PM

Women outfits condemn BJP advertisement parodying 'INDIA' bloc leaders

Several Left-leaning women organisations on Monday condemned an advertisement released by the BJP that parodies INDIA bloc leaders and shows them fighting over a "bride". The advertisement should be withdrawn, they demanded in a statement. It was signed by All India Democratic Women's Association general secretary Mariam Dhawale, National Federation Of Indian Women general secretary Annie Raja, All India Progressive Women's Association general secretary Meena Tiwari and Poonam Kaushik of the All India Coordination of POW- PMS-IJM-G, Jhansi.

10:36 PM

Odisha registers 10.73% increase in gross GST collection during FY24

Odisha has recorded a growth of 10.73 per cent in gross GST collection in the 2023-24 fiscal, a statement said on Monday. The state has collected Rs 54,747.97 crore in gross GST from April 2023 to March 2024. The highest-ever monthly collection of gross GST of Rs 5,135.81 crore was recorded in February, said the statement issued by the Commissionerate of CT & GST, Odisha.

10:03 PM

Nabard provided Rs 6,200 cr in development assistance to J'khand in FY 2023-24

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Monday said it has provided Rs 6,200 crore in development assistance to Jharkhand during the 2023-24 fiscal. "Nabard, India's apex rural development financial institution, has provided a record development support of Rs 6,20,000 lakh (Rs 6,200 crore) to Jharkhand.

9:49 PM

Infosys gets Rs 341 crore tax demand for assessment year 2020-21

Infosys has received a tax demand of Rs 341 crore for assessment year 2020-21 from the Income Tax Department, the IT services company said on Monday adding it is evaluating filing an appeal against the said order. The Bengaluru-headquartered company said it is in the process of evaluating the impact of the order on its financial statements for the quarter and year ending March 31, 2024. Infosys also said it is evaluating filing an appeal against this order.

9:01 PM

Passenger vehicle sales soar to record high in FY24, dispatches cross 4.2 million mark

Driven by robust demand for sports utility vehicles, passenger vehicle sales in India soared to a record high in FY 2023-24 with dispatch of over 4.2 million units. The overall passenger vehicle dispatches from manufacturers to dealers last fiscal rose to 4.23 million units, an increase of 9 per cent, as compared with 3.89 million units in FY2022-23 on the back of record sales by manufacturers, including Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai Motor India and Toyota Kirloskar Motor.

8:46 PM

Govt initiates anti-dumping probe into import of a chemical from China, Japan

India has initiated an anti-dumping probe into the import of a chemical used in the rubber industry from China and Japan following a complaint by a domestic player. The commerce ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) is probing the alleged dumping of 'Insoluble Sulphur'. Oriental Carbon & Chemicals Ltd has filed an application before the authority to undertake a probe into the alleged dumping of the chemicals coming from these two countries.

8:17 PM

Consultants urge govt to allow local deals involving foreign currencies via RBI

Consultants and service providers have urged the government to stop routing domestic deals involving foreign currencies like dollars via the US banking system to avoid transaction fees and save foreign currency. Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats (ICT) chairman K K Kapila said at present a transaction fee is levied on US dollar transactions within the country.

7:48 PM

SC notice to Delhi finance secretary on plea of AAP govt alleging non-release of DJB funds

The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to Delhi's Principal Secretary (Finance) on a plea of the AAP government alleging that the official was not releasing funds to the Delhi Jal Board despite being approved by the legislative assembly. "My civil servants do not listen to me," the counsel representing the Delhi government told a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and added that Rs 1,927 crore is yet to be released for the DJB.

7:07 PM

Katchatheevu issue: EAM says Cong PMs did not care, gave away fishermen's rights

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday claimed that prime ministers from the Congress displayed indifference about Katchatheevu island as if they did not care and gave away Indian fishermen's rights despite legal views to the contrary. Prime ministers such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi dubbed Katchatheevu, given to Sri Lanka in 1974 as part of a maritime boundary agreement, as a "little island" and "little rock", he told a press conference, asserting that the issue has not cropped up abruptly but was always a live matter.

6:38 PM

TMC urges EC to restrain central agencies from action against Oppn till LS polls

The Trinamool Congress on Monday urged the Election Commission to immediately restrain central agencies like the ED, CBI, Income Tax Department and NIA from taking action against candidates, leaders and workers of the Trinamool Congress and other parties opposed to the BJP till the conclusion of Lok Sabha elections. A delegation of TMC leaders that included Derek O'Brien, Dola Sen, Saket Gokhale and Sagarika Ghose met the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners and submitted a memorandum alleging misuse of central agencies by the BJP against the opposition parties.

6:01 PM

Govt pushing ACC battery storage scheme, budget hiked 6x in last few years: Official

The budget for the advanced chemistry cell sector has gone up 6x in the last few years, reflecting the government's continuous focus to boost the country's energy storage ecosystem, a senior official said. The National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) battery storage was approved by the Union Cabinet on May 12, 2021 with budgetary outlay of Rs 18,100 crore.

5:54 PM

Increased heat unlikely to impact wheat crop, says IMD

The increase in maximum temperatures will not have any impact on the harvest-ready wheat crop, the IMD said on Monday. India is set to experience extreme heat during the April to June period, with the central and the western peninsular parts expected to face the worst impact, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.

5:42 PM

LS polls: SDPI extends support to Congress-led UDF in Kerala

The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political arm of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), on Monday extended its support to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly V D Satheesan told the media that the UDF has not reached any understanding with the SDPI.

4:42 PM

Above-normal maximum temperatures likely over India during Apr-Jun

Above-normal heatwave days likely over most parts in plains during April-June period, IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra annouced today. Ten to twenty days of heat wave expected in different parts of country against normal of four to eight days during Apr-Jun period, IMD added. 

4:40 PM

BJP's only objective is to put Kejriwal in jail during Lok Sabha polls: Sunita Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal today accused the BJP of having only one motive -- to put her husband in jail during the Lok Sabha elections. Kejriwal, the AAP's national convenor, was arrested on March 21 and subsequently remanded in Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody

4:28 PM

News update: CM Kejriwal taken to Tihar after court sends him to judicial custody

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was brought to Tihar Jail  today after a city court sent him to judicial custody till April 15, officials said. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an excise policy-linked money laundering case.

4:16 PM

Petition against CM Kejriwal 'passing orders' in custody: HC asks ED to submit its note to special judge

The Delhi High Court today asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to submit its note to the special judge, dealing with the excise policy-linked money laundering case in which Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested, on the issue of the CM passing orders while in custody. The bench ruled that the special judge is directed to pass an order, if required, in accordance with law. It also stated that it has not commented on the locus standi of the petitioner.

3:59 PM

GST collection grows 11.5% year-on-year to second highest ever at Rs 1.78 trillion in March

Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection grows 11.5 per cent year-on-year to second highest ever at Rs 1.78 trillion in March: Finance ministry.

3:07 PM

Home Minister Amit Shah speaks to CMs of WB, Assam, Manipur after storm hits 3 states

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today spoke to the chief ministers of West Bengal, Assam and Manipur in the wake of destruction of property in the three states because of a storm, and assured them of all possible central help. Shah also asked BJP workers in the three states to provide every possible help to the affected people during this hour of distress.

3:02 PM

SC issues notice to Kashi Vishwanath temple trustees on Gyanvapi management's petition

The top court has issued a notice to Kashi Vishwanath temple trustees on Gyanvapi management's plea against allowing Hindu prayers at a mosque cellar. 

2:49 PM

News update: ED files reply on the bail of BRS leader K Kavitha on Delhi liquor policy case

2:16 PM

People of this country will give the requisite reply to this dictatorship: Sunita Kejriwal

2:06 PM

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose visits the storm-affected area

2:05 PM

Supreme Court questions DMK's Udhayanidhi regarding writ jurisdiction for clubbing FIRs

The top court today asked Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin how he can approach the Supreme Court under writ jurisdiction with his plea for clubbing of multiple FIRs for his "eradicate Sanatan dharma" remark. A bench told Udhayanidhi that he could have filed a petition in the apex court under section 406 of CrPC, seeking transfer of criminal cases but not under Article 32 of the Constitution which deals with writ jurisdiction.

2:01 PM

News update: Delhi Assembly adjourned till April 8

The Delhi Assembly on Monday was adjourned till April 8 amid slogan shouting by AAP and BJP members. AAP MLA Rajesh Gupta accused the BJP of "extorting" Rs 60 crore through electoral bonds from an accused in the excise policy case and sought a reply from the BJP. Following his address, AAP MLAs trooped into the Well and raised slogans, seeking a reply from the BJP on the electoral bonds issue. The BJP MLAs, in response, raised slogans against the AAP, following which the proceedings were adjourned till April 8.

1:22 PM

SC refuses to stay survey of Bhojshala complex in MP's Dhar

The top court has refused to stay  the 'scientific survey' of Bhojshala complex in MP's Dhar, says no action should be taken on outcome of ASI survey. The Supreme Court also issued notice to the Centre, ASI, and the Madhya Pradesh government on plea against 'scientific survey' of Bhojshala complex in Dhar district. 

1:08 PM

Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren withdraws plea challenging HC decision

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has withdrawn his plea challenging the Jharkhand High Court's decision refusing to give him permission to attend the Assembly session. Soren withdrew the plea as it has become infructuous because assembly sessions have concluded now. 

12:59 PM

EC warns BJP's Dilip Ghosh, Congress' Supriya Shrinate, asks them to remain careful

The ECI, in its order after the receipt of their replies to notices issued to Dilip Ghosh and Supriya Shrinate over MCC violations, said they are convinced that they made a personal attack and thus violated the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct. They have been warned to remain careful in public utterances during the Model Code of Conduct period. Their election-related communications will be specially and additionally monitored by the Commission from this time onwards.

12:31 PM

SC issues notice to ED on bail plea of Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji in money laundering case

The top court today sought response from the Enforcement Directorate on the bail plea of former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested last year in connection with a money laundering case. The court issued a notice to the agency and directed it to file reply by April 29. The Madras High Court on February 28, while dismissing the bail petition, had said that if he is let out on bail in a case of this nature, it will send a wrong signal and that it will be against larger public interest.

12:15 PM

No coercive action against Congress over tax demand notices in view of General Elections: I-T department to SC

The Income Tax department today informed the Supreme Court that it will not take any coercive action against the Congress over the tax demand notices of approximately Rs 3,500 crore in view of the Lok Sabha elections. The bench posted the Congress' plea against the tax demand notices for July.