Highlights: Make life simpler for Indian innovators, says Anand Mahindra

Latest LIVE: Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, TMC has announced to go solo in West Bengal, Assam.

9:07 PM

SJVN Green Energy to supply 600 MW solar power to Rajasthan

A subsidiary of state-owned power producer SJVN, SJVN Green Energy, has entered into a long term pact to supply 600 MW solar electricity to Rajasthan. The Power Usage Agreement is for 500 MW Solar Power from Bikaner Solar Power Project and the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is for 100 MW Solar Power from Rajasthan Solar Power Project, both for a period of 25 years, a power ministry statement said. According to the statement SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of SJVN, has signed a Long Term Power Usage Agreement (PUA) for 500 MW Solar Power and a Long Term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 100 MW Solar Power, with Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services Limited (RUVITL) in Jaipur on March 10, 2024.

7:52 PM

Anand Mahindra pitches for govt-Indian companies partnership for scale, innovation, global reach

Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra on Sunday pitched for a partnership between the government and Indian companies for scale, innovation, global reach to help domestic firms play their part in realising India's ambition of becoming a global power. He also sought support from the government for domestic industry such as extending the PLI scheme to more sectors, simplifying regulations for start-ups and innovators and help in increasing their competitiveness through steps such as lowering logistics costs. Speaking at the 4th Annual Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lecture, Mahindra also called for India to increase spending on research and development, while acknowledging that the private sector is lagging when it comes to making investments due to a mindset of risk aversion and lowered aspirations.

7:50 PM

Two election commissioners likely to be appointed by March 15, says report

Two election commissioners are likely to be appointed by March 15 to fill the vacancies created by the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey and the surprise resignation of Arun Goel, sources said on Sunday. Days before the poll panel is expected to announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls, Goel resigned on Friday morning. His resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday and the Law Ministry issued a notification to announce it, PTI reported. This leaves Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as the sole member of the poll authority. Pandey had demitted office on February 14 on attaining the age of 65 years. A search committee under Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and comprising the Home Secretary and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Secretary will first prepare two separate panels of five names each for the two posts.

 

7:48 PM

Uttar Pradesh Police pelted with stones during anti-encroachment drive in Lucknow

Residents of Lucknow's Akbar Nagar on Sunday allegedly clashed with police and administration officials and pelted them with stones during an anti-encroachment drive in the locality, officials said. The alleged incident occurred in the evening when a team of the Lucknow Development Authority and the administration, accompanied by the police, was demolishing illegal structures in the locality along the Faizabad Road. "Three commercial establishments were being demolished after the high court dismissed writs. While two structures were demolished, locals -- spurred on by some rumour -- started pelting the administration officials and the police with stones during demolition of the third one," Lucknow Development Authority Vice-Chairman Indramani Tripathi said.

7:46 PM

Champions Trophy 2025: New PCB chairman Naqvi wants "participation assurance" from BCCI at Dubai Meet

Newly appointed PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi would be eyeing an assurance from BCCI secretary Jay Shah on India's participation in next year's Champions Trophy in Pakistan during next week's ICC Meeting in Dubai but is unlikely to make headway as of now. The ICC Executive board will meet in Dubai next week and Naqvi plans to speak to the global body's brass as well as Indian board's top boss Shah on the sidelines but for a tournament scheduled in February-March of 2025, there is no way that Indian board will right away make any commitments of travelling to Pakistan with nearly one year left. While Champions Trophy is an ICC tournament and with every other cricketing nation travelling to Pakistan, the BCCI will not entirely close its door but any clearance from the government of India will not come at least weeks before the tournament commences.

 

7:06 PM

Lok Sabha polls Live: Is Election Commission working under pressure, asks Akhilesh after EC chief Goel resigns

A day after Arun Goel resigned as election commissioner, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday asked whether the Election Commission is working under pressure. "Just before the elections, whose pressure there is on the Election Commission which is a constitutional body," Yadav told reporters here when asked about Goel's resignation. He also said that such a thing has happened several times in the BJP rule, when officials have had to leave their job due to pressure. "The resignation (of Arun Goel) raises questions that whose pressure is there on the Election Commission," the former chief minister said. Goel, who resigned on Saturday, has not given any reason for his decision. His tenure was till December 5, 2027. On inauguration of projects by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Azamgarh earlier in the day, Yadav said, "This is just a show. Elections are near so they (BJP) have to show that they have worked. And that too telling someone else's work their own." "Azamgarh airport was built by 'Netaji' (SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav), it has been inaugurated today. Moradabad airport was also built by Netaji and Samajwadi Party, it has been inaugurated now. Will this government inaugurate any work of its own?," he asked.

7:04 PM

Kohli will have to master Chepauk challenge for RCB against CSK: Harbhajan

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said it was imperative for Kohli to produce a better effort when RCB face defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural match of this year's IPL at the Chepauk on March 22. "The greatness of Virat has been reduced in terms of his overall performance at that venue. It is a tricky venue to bat, especially as an opening batsman against a sort of weird tennis ball type bounce. "They've (CSK) got the great (Ravindra) Jadeja bowling stump to stump. He'll get the oddball to turn and then the oddball to stay low. It's really tricky,” Harbhajan told Star Sports.

5:33 PM

SC's responsibility to protect its dignity: Kapil Sibal on SBI plea on electoral bonds issue

Terming the SBI's reasons for seeking an extension in disclosing electoral bond details "puerile", Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal Sunday said it is the Supreme Court's responsibility to protect its dignity and that it "would not be easy" to accept the bank's plea when a Constitution bench has rendered a judgement. Sibal, who led the argument for the petitioners in the Supreme Court case against the electoral bond scheme, said the State Bank of India (SBI) claiming that it would take several weeks to make the data public sounds like "somebody wants to protect somebody". In a video interview with PTI, Sibal claimed it was clear that the SBI intended to protect the government. Otherwise, the bank would not have filed an application seeking an extension till June 30 in disclosing electoral bond details when elections are set to take place in April-May, he said.

5:32 PM

Edtech firms Live: Byju's releases full payment of 25% employees, partial payment to others

Edtech major Think and Learn, which owns BYJU's brand, has released the full salary of 25 per cent of employees in the lower pay scale while it has made partial payment to the rest of the workforce, according to sources. BYJU's management wrote two sets of letters to employees on Sunday, informing them about salary payment through alternate fund arrangements and mentioning financial constraints the company is facing due to the blocking of funds by a select group of investors.

5:09 PM

Stress disclosures on small, mid-Cap funds by AMCs from March: Officials

In a bid to maintain stability, instil investors' confidence and enhance transparency, market regulator SEBI and AMFI, a body representing the mutual fund industry, have directed fund houses to provide additional disclosures for small and mid-cap funds from this month, officials said. The additional disclosure parameters for mutual fund managers include valuation, volatility, investor concentration and stress tests, they said. "We have instructed AMFI to direct AMCs to disclose certain additional data points relating to valuation, volatility, investor concentration, and the percentage holding in small and mid-cap stocks, along with disclosures on stress testing results," SEBI wholetime member Amarjeet Singh said at an event organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce.

4:28 PM

BJP, RSS have devious agenda of re-writing, destroying Constitution: Congress over BJP MPs remarks

The Congress on Sunday accused the BJP and the RSS of having a "hidden and devious" agenda of "re-writing and destroying" the Constitution while claiming that its MP Anantkumar Hegde has said the party needs 400 seats to "change the Indian Constitution". Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed the BJP MP's reported remark was a public declaration of the "hidden intentions" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and their "Sangh Parivar". Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the BJP MP's statement "yet again exposes Modi-RSS' devious agenda to impose dictatorship". "The Modi Government, BJP and RSS secretly desire to impose a dictatorship, whereby they will impose their 'Manuvaadi mindset' on the people of India and snatch away the rights of SCs, STs and OBCs," he said in a post on X.

3:27 PM

I respect judiciary but a few judges worked as BJP agents: Mamata takes dig at ex-Calcutta HC judge Abhijit

I respect judiciary but a few judges worked as BJP agents, said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in an apparent dig at ex-Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay. She further added, “I salute [ex-chief election commissioner] Arun Goel for not succumbing to pressure by Delhi leaders (of BJP) and his top bosses in connection with the West Bengal LS polls and the deployment of forces. It is proven that what they (the BJP-led NDA government.) want to do in the name of election. They want to loot votes,” 

3:23 PM

TMC renominates Mahua Motira from Krishnanagar, ex-cricketer Yusuf Pathan fielded from Baharampur

TMC renominates Mahua Motira from Krishnanagar LS seat in Bengal while former cricketer Yusuf Pathan has been named as TMC's candidate from Baharampur Lok Sabha seat. 

3:10 PM

Farmers, youths have been the utmost priority of this govt: Rajnath Singh

'Farmers and youths have been the utmost priority of this government. We have strengthened the innovation and innovative minds of youth. To convert innovative minds into wealth creation, we have commenced, the startup, standup, MUDRA and other yojanas,' Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said today while addressing the 'Kaushal Mahotsav'

2:39 PM

Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, TMC has announced to go solo in West Bengal, Assam

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today announced the list of 42 candidates for the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal. The CM further stated that she has spoken to Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav over seat-sharing and that the party will contest solo in Assam as well. In its announcement, the TMC has named former cricketer Yusuf Pathan and party leader Mahua Moitra among the candidates.

1:42 PM

Security forces bust terror hideout in J-K's Poonch, siez 7 IEDs

Security forces today busted a terror hideout in a forest in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district and seized seven rusted improvised explosive devices and a wireless set, officials said. They said the hideout located inside a cave was uncovered during a joint search operation by police and the Army at Dara Sangla in the Surankote area. Blankets and some other materials were also found in the hideout, the officials said.

1:23 PM

Over 10 mn 'Ayushman Bharat' cards issued in 6 days in Bihar, says Dy CM Samrat Chaudhary

Obove 10 mn health cards under the 'Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' have been issued in Bihar during a six-day special campaign from March 2, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said. The NDA government in the state has decided to provide "free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh every year to all ration card holders of the state under the Ayushman scheme", the minister further noted.

12:54 PM

15 airport projects inaugurated in UP to boost civil aviation sector

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated 15 airport projects, including 12 new terminal buildings of almost worth Rs 10,000 crore in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh. The inaugural marks the event to be the single biggest infra addition that will see a mix of new airports, expanded terminals, laying of foundation stones for upcoming airports and other related facilities. The projects initiate the groundwork for multiple airport projects nationwide in a significant boost to the civil aviation sector

 

12:23 PM

Haryana politics: Hisar MP Brijendra Singh resigns, states 'compelling political reasons'

BJP MP Brijendra Singh today resigned from the party citing 'compelling political reasons'. Singh, the son of former union minister Birender Singh, is likely to join the Congress party today, as per reports. He had won from the Hisar Lok Sabha seat in 2019.

12:04 PM

India-EFTA have signed a free trade agreement to boost investments, exports: Piyush Goyal

India and the four-nation European bloc EFTA today signed a free trade agreement to help promote investments and exports of key domestic services sectors such as IT, audio-visual, and movement of skilled professionals. Announcing the deal, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that, 'despite structural diversities in many aspects, our economies possess complementarities that promise to be a win-win situation for all nations.'

11:47 AM

PM Modi sends a message as India signs Trade and Economic Participation Agreement (TEPA) with EFTA

11:44 AM

LS elections: TMC set to launch poll campaign with mega rally in Kolkata today

Ahead of LS polls, Trinamool Congress is set to launch its election campaign with a grand rally today at Kolkata's famed Brigade Parade Grounds, where party supremo Mamata Banerjee is expected to set the tone for the upcoming elections. Christened 'Jana Garjan Sabha', the mega event will feature three platforms, including a cross ramp, with Mamata Banerjee and TMC's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee taking centre-stage as the main speakers.

11:27 AM

Bengaluru water crisis: Govt to replenish groundwater by filling Treated water in drying lakes

Civic authorities in Bengaluru have decided to fill the drying lakes with 1,300 million litres per day of treated water to replenish groundwater sources in the city. Flaring up the water woes of Karnataka, about 50 per cent of the borewells in Bengaluru have dried up. The civic body Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will also install filter borewells and construct water plants using an innovative technology near the restored lake beds to supply water after testing, BWSSB officials said.

10:58 AM

Aviation boost: Odisha govt to set up Rs 562 crore training centre to meet future demand for pilots

The Odisha government is set to build a Rs 562 crore aviation training centre to meet future demand for pilots and skilled personnel in the sector. A proposal to set up Biju Patnaik Aviation Centre (BPAC) at Birasal airstrip in Dhenkanal district was approved at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik yesterday. 'The proposed centre will provide training for pilots, simulators and cabin crew,' Revenue minister Sudam Marndi said after the cabinet meeting.

10:25 AM

PM Modi to inaugurate development projects worth Rs 42,000 cr in Uttar Pradesh today

PM Modi is set to attend a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh today where he will unveil numerous development initiatives woth Rs 42,000 crore. The Prime Minister will initiate the groundwork for multiple airport projects nationwide in a significant boost to the civil aviation sector. 

10:10 AM

Bihar: ED arrests Subhash Yadav in money laundering case linked to illegal sand mining

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Subhash Yadav in Patna, Bihar today.  Yadav, who is allegedly linked to the RJD, was arrested in a money laundering case related to alleged illegal sand mining. The premises of Yadav and some others have been searched since Saturday as part of a case registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

9:54 AM

Illegal sand mining: ED arrests a man in Patna in link to money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate today arrested Subhash Yadav, a man allegedly linked to the RJD, in Patna, Bihar in a money laundering case related to alleged illegal sand mining. The premises of Yadav and some others were being searched since Saturday as part of a case registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

9:35 AM

Two dead as bus, truck collide, hit flyover pillar in Ranchi, Jharkhand

Two persons were killed today as a bus collided with a truck and then both vehicles rammed into a flyover pillar in Jharkhand's Ranchi district. The accident occurred around 5 am when the bus and the truck hit a pillar of the Tupudana flyover, following the collision, a senior officer said.

9:17 AM

People of Kerala are totally in favor of Congress-led UDF, says party leader Ramesh Chennithala

Lok Sabha polls: During Congress general secretary K C Venugopal's road show, party leader Ramesh Chennithala said that, 'People of Kerala are totally in favor of Congress-led UDF. Last time we won 19 seats, but this time we are going to win all 20 seats in the state. People are against the central government and the Pinarayi Vijayan government.' 

8:59 AM

Rajasthan Petroleum Dealers Association stages protest, demands reduction in VAT on on petrol, diesel

Fuel pump stations in Jaipur are repostedly deserted today as the Rajasthan Petroleum Dealers Association begins its two-day strike, demanding a reduction in value-added tax (VAT) levied on petrol and diesel. The strike began from 6 am today and will continue till 6 am on March 12.