Rawat, Dhanoa assume charge as army, IAF chiefs

General Bipin Rawat today assumed charge as India's new Army Chief.

New Delhi: General Bipin Rawat assumed charge as India's new army chief, while and Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa took over as the new chief of the Indian Air Force on Saturday.

They succeed General Dalbir Singh and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha respectively.

Separate ceremonies were held on the South Block lawns and at the Air Headquarters.

The new appointments were announced on December 16 by the government.

Chief of Naval staff Admiral Sunil Lanba will head the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

ANI

Air Marshal S.B. Deo hands over command of WAC, says need to prevent loss of life

New Delhi: Newly appointed Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal S.B. Deo on Saturday said it is necessary to preserve precious assets and prevent loss of life at all costs.

Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal S.B. Deo handing over charge of Western Air Command.

"The prevailing security situation poses a big challenge. We must preserve our precious assets and prevent loss of life at all costs. At the same time, it should not take away focus from our operational preparedness, which is the essence of our existence," said Air Marshal Deo while handing over command of Western Air Command (WAC) to Air Marshal C. Harikumar.

He further cautioned armed forces personnel against malicious misinformation campaign on the social media and highlighted the efforts of the outgoing Chief of the Army Staff and Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Dalbir Singh.

ANI

We should accept “reasonably good” OROP scheme: Air Chief

New Delhi: Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, on Wednesday asserted that One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme of the government is reasonably good and said that one should accept it.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha

"The OROP by the government is reasonably good. We should accept it. The anomalies are being resolved by one-judge committee. Some of the anomalies and the discrepancies which cropped up from the transition from the sixth to seventh pay commission have been resolved... others will also be resolved," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday accused the Congress Party of betraying the jawans by not fulfilling the long-pending OROP demand in the last 40 years.

Addressing a parivartan rally in Dehradun, Prime Minister Modi said, "My Army jawans were demanding OROP for the last 40 years, the party that ruled the country then never thought of their demands."

"In reality, the budget for OROP is over Rs. 10,000 crore. Why did they (Congress) betray the Jawans by allocating 500 crore for this," he added.

He said the Centre was always clear that from day one that the Jawans must get their due and therefore, his government always stated that OROP will be a reality.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar earlier last month said 95 percent of veterans have already got the benefits of the OROP scheme and they are happy with it.

The scheme, announced in September 2015, is meant to ensure equal pension to servicemen who retired on the same rank and after the same duration of service, regardless of the year of retirement.

However, retired soldiers have been alleging that the government has not addressed their concerns fully about disparity in pension payments.

ANI

Demonetisation is short term pain for long term gain: PM Narendra Modi

Raigad (Maharashtra): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday articulated that demonetisation is only short term pain for long term gain, adding that the present regime would not shy away from taking difficult decisions that are in the interest of the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said demonetisation is only short term pain for long term gain.

"Demonetisation is only short term pain for a long term gain. We will continue with sound economic policies to ensure India's bright future in the long run," he said.

Speaking at the inaugural function the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) in Raigad, Prime Minister Modi said that India is being seen as bright spot and to see how far India has travelled one should look back to 2012-13 when the currency was falling sharply.

"India has earned a good name for its well regulated securities markets," Prime Minister Modi said.

The Prime Minister Modi also expressed the view that public investment has increased in the last three years and progress has been made in ease of doing business.

"Constitutional amendments on GST that remained pending for years has been passed and the long awaited GST will soon be a reality," he said.

"For financial markets to function successfully, participants need to be well informed," he added.

Prime Minister Modi further said that those who profit from financial markets must make a fair contribution to nation-building through taxes.

Highlighting the progress made by the Indian economy the Prime Minister said, " SEBI should work for closer linkage between spot markets like e-NAM and derivatives markets to benefit farmers. The country has made progress and improved the ease of doing business as foreign direct investment(FDI) has now reached record levels."

The Prime Minister asked stock markets to raise capital in innovative ways for projects in agriculture.

"Government is very keen to encourage start-ups as stock markets are essential for the start-up ecosystem," he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Raigad to inaugurate the new campus of the National Institute of Securities Markets in Panvel.

During his one-day-visit to the state, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the grand memorial of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on an island in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai and a metro project in Pune.

ANI

Digital economy: Govt announces discount on online railway bookings, lowers rental on PoS

New Delhi: In an effort to promote digital and cashless economy in the country, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday announced a slew of measures in the two-day long meeting of the GST Council held here.

FM Arun Jaitley announced a huge number of measures on Sunday to advance cashless exchanges, including discount on the buy of rail tickets, insurance policies and providing PoS machines free of cost.

In this meeting, the government has decided to provide two Point of Sale (PoS) machines free of cost in one lakh villages where the population is less than 10,000. The cost will be borne by the government through the Financial Inclusion Fund.

The government will support Regional Rural Banks and Cooperative Banks through National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to issue Rupay Kisan Cards to 4.32 crore Kisan Credit Card holders.

It was also decided that all railway passengers buying online ticket will be given free accidental insurance cover of up to Rs. 10 lakh and railway would also provide a discount of five percent for digital payment of paid services like. catering, accommodation, retiring rooms etc. offered through its affiliates.

Sub-urban railway consumers making digital payment for monthly/seasonal tickets will get discount up to 0.5 percent from January 1, 2017.

The government has asked the Public sector insurance companies to provide incentive, by way of discount or credit, up to 10 percent of the premium in general insurance policies and eight percent in new life policies of Life Insurance Corporation sold through the customer portals, if the payment is made through digital means.

All the Central Government Departments and the PSUs have been ensure that transactions charges associated with digital payment shall not be passed on to the consumers and all such expenses shall be borne by them. State Governments are also being advised to consider doing the same.

A 10 percent discount will be available to users of Toll Plazas on National Highways using RFID card/Fast Tags

For online payment of toll at Toll Plazas on National Highways using RFID card/Fast Tags, a discount of 10 percent will be available to users in the year 2016-17.

ANI

Digital payments get a boost; cheaper fuel, train tickets: Jaitley

New Delhi: One month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation of high-value currency notes of 500 and 1,000 which accounted for 86 percent of the cash in circulation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday announced various discounts on digital payments for fuel and train tickets.

"Fuel and train tickets will get cheaper for those who choose digital modes of transactions," said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday.

To promote cashless transactions as well as in-built cost in a democratic set-up, the finance minister said the government is promoting payment by credit, debit cards and e-wallets.

"Dealing with cash has its own economic costs, which is why the government is promoting payments by credit cards, debit cards and e-wallets," said the Finance Minister.

"Petrol and Diesel will get cheaper for those who choose digital modes of transactions. They will get a discount of 0.75 percent on every transaction they make at various petrol pumps," said the Finance Minister stating digital payments have witnessed an upward trigger from 20 percent to 40 percent at petrol pumps.

"4.5 crore consumers buy petrol and diesel worth Rs. 1,800 crore daily; in one month, digital payments have doubled to 40 percent," he added.

"People buying monthly seasonal tickets in the suburban railway networks through digital payment mode, to get 0.75 percent discount," added Jaitley specifying that it will be effective from Jan 1, 2017, starting from the Mumbai suburban railways.

"The government will provide two POS or Point of Sale machines for free to each village that has a population of over 8,000. Around 75 crore people will get access to these machines," he said.

Adding to this he said that passengers purchasing tickets online will also get a five percent discount on accommodation, catering and retiring room at railway stations across India.

No service tax will be charged on transactions of up to Rs. 2,000 if a card is used.

"People paying general insurance premiums will get a 10 percent discount and eight percent discount for life insurance if the payment is made online," added the minister.

ANI

GST Panel fixes tax structure at 5, 12, 18 and 28 pct; 50 percent products to fall in consumer basket

New Delh: The most anticipated Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has finally zeroed on a four-rate tax structure of 5, 12, 18 and 28 percent, said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at a press conference here on Thursday.

GST Council has finally zeroed on a four-rate tax structure of 5, 12, 18 and 28 percent, said FM Arun Jaitley at a press conference.

Jaitley said the government has kept about 50 percent of products in the consumer basket, such as foodgrains, as 'zero-rated'.

Also, he added that the cost empowerment issue will be taken up tomorrow.

The GST Council may finalize the entry-level of the Goods and Services Tax rate at five percent while the upper level will be fixed at 28 percent.

The standard rates for most items will be fixed at 12 and 18 percent as was earlier planned, say government officials.

The Centre had recommended tax rates of 5, 12, 18, 25 and 40 percent, but pressure from the industry to keep a higher upper limit at 28 percent and removing the cess over 26 percent has led to the change.

Also, states had asked the GST Council to revise the six percent lower level tax to five percent. The council may also fix the GST tax rate for tobacco at 40 percent plus an additional duty.

Announcing the GST rates, Jaitley said the five percent duty was on items of mass consumption or 'Aam Aadmi' products.

"Tobacco will fetch 28 percent sin tax, excluding cess. Aerated drinks will also fetch tax at the same rate. Most white goods to be taxed at 28 percent but with riders," announced Jaitley at the press conference.

The prices of certain consumer durables like televisions, air conditioners, fridges and washing machines may however become cheaper with decrease in taxes.

ANI

“Bank miscalculation” responsible for delay in OROP for deceased veteran: Sources

New Delhi: The delay in ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal receiving the revised pension as per the One Rank One Pension (OROP) was due to problems in calculation at his bank's end and his case could have been resolved amicably if he had directly approached the government, sources said.

Ram Kishan Grewal was entitled to OROP and all the clearances had been made from the Centre's side but problems at the banks caused the delay.

Sources firmly state that the circumstances surrounding the suicide of Grewal, who took his life by consuming poison, called for thorough investigation, as a probe is also needed to figure out who was with him when he took the extreme step and also who provided the poison.

It also needs to be ascertained if anybody may have taken advantage of his "troubled mind to provoke him to take the extreme step".

Grewal was entitled to OROP and all the clearances had been made from the Centre's side but problems at the banks caused the delay.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has sought details of the incident from the department of ex-servicemen welfare.

"Saddened by the death of subedar Ram Kishen Grewal. I express my heartfelt condolences. I have asked officials to provide me with details," Parrikar tweeted.

Earlier today, Parrikar emphasised that the government was committed to the welfare of ex-servicemen and said a total of Rs 5,507.47 crore has been disbursed under the scheme.

Giving details of the OROP implementation, Parrikar said there were 20,63,763 beneficiaries before July 2014 and that 19,12,520 pensioners have been paid the first instalment and 1,50,313 cases are pending verification and authentication of beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, a massive political storm has broken out over Grewal's death as parties are joining forces to come down heavily on the Centre over the delay in the implementation of OROP.

ANI

Ex-serviceman commits suicide in Delhi over OROP

New Delhi: Ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal allegedly committed suicide at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi over the delay in implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.

Ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal committed suicide by consuming poison at Delhi's Jantar Mantar area over the delay in implementation of the OROP.

He consumed poison last afternoon.

However, the cause behind Grewal's suicide is yet to be ascertained.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be visiting Grewal's family in Haryana's Bhiwani later in the day.

Dubbing the incident as 'unfortunate', Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Commando Surinder Singh alleged that the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre was indulging in politics over the Indian Army.

"A very unfortunate incident has taken place with this family. For the last one day, Grewal and 50 other ex-servicemen were sitting on strike. They wanted to present their memorandum to the Defence Minister. He had to wait for two days for the Defence Minister. When he was going to meet him, he faced many hurdles. In his memorandum he wrote that he is sacrificing his life for the nation and for the soldiers," he told the media.

Singh further said the salary that the soldiers get is not enough for living.

"On one hand, the government is doing politics over the Indian Army and on the other hand, the soldiers are forced to commit suicide today. The salary that a soldier gets is not enough for living. I condemn this incident," said Singh.

The AAP leader also used the occasion to target Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and accused the latter of indulging in petty political gains over the sacrifice of soldiers.

"I want to tell the Defence Minister to wake up...you are the Defence Minister of the nation...you do politics in the name of the soldiers. You try to take votes in the name of the soldiers. You don't even meet the soldiers. The soldiers have to commit suicide to even present a memorandum," said Singh.

"Today, the entire nation and all the ex-servicemen are standing with the family. His sacrifice won't go in vain. We will meet with the Defence Minister with this demand," he added.

Grewal's son Jaswant urged the Modi Government to look into the matter.

"My father sacrificed for the nation. He was demanding the One Rank, One Pension. The Modi Government should think about this," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while celebrating the Diwali with the army and ITBP personnel in Sumdo, Kinnaur, had said that the first instalment of nearly Rs. 5,500 crore has been paid for implementing the OROP scheme.

The Prime Minister also asserted that he has "fulfilled the promise" which he made to ex-servicemen on the issue that has been hanging fire for the last 40 years.

OROP scheme has been a long-standing demand of nearly three-million ex-servicemen and war widows in the country.

It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel, who retire at the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement.

ANI

PM Modi lauds retired Government employee for donating one-third pension to Swachh Bharat Kosh

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded retired government employee Chandrakant Kulkarni for donating one-third of his pension to the Swachh Bharat Kosh.

"Retired government employee Chandrakant Kulkarni is giving almost a third of his pension for Swachh Bharat,” PM Modi said in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme.

"A retired government employee giving almost a third of his pension for a Swachh Bharat. What can be a greater inspiration?" he said while addressing the nation in the 21st edition of his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme.

Kulkarni yesterday presented 52 post-dated cheques, worth Rs. 2,60,000 towards the Swachh Bharat Kosh to Prime Minister Modi during the latter's visit to Pune.

Kulkarni donated almost a third of his pension from June 2015 to Sept 2019 to the Swachh Bharat Kosh.

The Swachh Bharat Kosh has been set up by the government to facilitate channelization of philanthropic contributions and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds towards the Clean India Campaign as individuals and philanthropists expressed interest in contributing to efforts to achieve the objective of ' Swachh Bharat' by the year 2019.

ANI

Mobile internet services suspended in Jammu

Jammu: The mobile internet services in Jammu were suspended on Wednesday after violence erupted in the region following the alleged desecration of Aap Shambu temple in Janipura area.

"The protesters intended to attack the police station, so we resorted to mild lathicharge and tear gas to disperse them," DM Jammu, Simrandeep Singh told the media.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a youth for alleged desecration of Aap Shambu temple in Janipura area.

As per reports, a youth entered Aap Shambu temple in Janipura area and broke the protective glass in front of the idols.

He also allegedly misbehaved with women performing aarti.

"Although we have arrested him, we are unable to carry out a probe into the matter as we are busy managing aggressive crowd. Many of them (protestors) were under influence of alcohol and even tried to gherao the police station," District Magistrate, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh told the media here.

"They intended to attack the police station, so we resorted to mild lathicharge and tear gas to disperse them," he added.

He further said Section 144 is not needed in the area, as the situation is under control.

The protesters were demanding immediate arrest of the accused and suspension of two police officers who allegedly backed the accused and abused the complainants.

Reinforcements were rushed to Janipura to prevent protesters from heading towards the old city. Senior civil and police officers were camping at the police control room to monitor the situation.

ANI

PM gives nod to extend doctors’ retirement age to 65-years

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday approved the proposal of extending the retirement age of all doctors of the Central Health Service to 65 years.

Picture for representational purpose only.

The proposal made by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will be effective from May 31, 2016.

This will enable the Government to retain experienced doctors for a longer period, and to provide better services in its public health facilities, particularly to the poorest, who are entirely dependent on public facilities.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda stated that this step will empower the Government to strengthen the healthcare sector in the country.

"It will help in providing additional doctors in the health pool of the country," he said.

Nadda added that this will strengthen the efforts of the Ministry in conceptualising and rolling out various people-oriented schemes which l need the services of doctors in implementing them.

ANI

Govt making efforts to unearth black money: Jaitley

New Delhi: Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre is making all-out efforts to unearth black money stashed in offshore accounts.

Centre is making all-out efforts to unearth black money stashed in offshore accounts, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley says at a mega event 'Ek Nayi Subah'.

Speaking at a mega event 'Ek Nayi Subah' in the national capital to celebrate NDA government's completion of two years in office, Jaitley said the government has launched a massive crackdown on parallel economies.

"The Indian economy can grow at the rate of 8-9 percent in the years to come. For first time in history, India is growing at a pace no other country can match. Never in the history has any government taken so many steps which NDA has taken in two years," he added.

Emphasising the need for uniform taxation system, Jaitley said the government has made direct tax system simpler and put in place redressal mechanism.

"The rural economy will grow if there is a good monsoon and resources should be pumped in rural areas due to which overall economy will grow. The government has provided the road connectivity in seven lakh villages in the country," he added.

The Finance Minister also said the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been launched to benefit millions of farmers of the country.

Earlier, Minister of state for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said every youth in India has immense potential and what they need are opportunities.

Mega film star Amitabh Bachchan strongly advocated his opinion on 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao', the much ambitious scheme of the government to save girl child.

Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many of his ministerial colleagues are scheduled to attend the event at India Gate.

The government completed two years in office on Thursday and it has launched a series of events to highlight the achievements of the government.

A number of film-stars including Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Anil Kapur and Prasun Joshi are expected to attend the event.

ANI

R.K. Singh backs Haryana DGP’s ‘Right to Kill’ Criminals Remark

New Delhi/Lucknow: Backing Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) K.P. Singh's statement, former union home secretary and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R.K. Singh on Friday said there is a provision in Right of Private Defence, which states that if anyone tries to harm physically or tries to rape can be killed by the victim in defence.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R.K. Singh

"There is a provision in Right of Private Defence. Section 97 and Section 100. If anyone tries to harm physically or tries to rape then that person can be killed in defence. So, the DGP has given a correct statement," Singh told ANI.

Strongly opposing the DGP's statement, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal asked Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar-led government to look into the matter.

"If a DGP uses these kinds of words then it is not right. The government must look into the matter," Agarwal told ANI.

The DGP had earlier said that the common man, when threatened, has the right to take law into his own hands and dole out justice by taking a criminal's life.

The comments from the top cop came at a time when four members of a family were killed and another injured in a clash between two groups at Utavad village in Haryana, where a man, suspected to be a suspended Haryana police personnel, allegedly opened fire.

ANI

Centre to release 25 Netaji files every month

 

 

New Delhi: Following the declassification of the digital version of at least 100 files relating to freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the central government on Saturday declared that it will release 25 files of Netaji every month.

“Every month we will issue 25 files in similar fashion,” said union Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma.

“The people wanted to know that facts in the files. The Prime minister has revealed the files in a transparent manner. Every month we will issue 25 files in similar fashion,” said union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma.

Reacting on the same, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Siddharth Nath Singh said, “The time of transparency has started under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is a very good signal for the nation as well as for democracy. Gradually, the mystery surrounding his death will get revealed. People of the nation are very happy today.”

Singh further said that the Congress had not taken up the issue till date as it feared danger.

Resonating similar sentiments, Union Minister of State for Urban Development Babul Supriyo said, “It’s a great beginning. There are very interesting things and we demand why these files were hidden from the people. I am sure that historians who are doing research on Netaji’s life will come out with many revelations. I am thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is going to solve the mystery of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the digital version of at least 100 declassified files relating to freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the National Archives of India on his birth anniversary on Saturday.

The declassification of files is in line with promises made by Prime Minister Modi to the kin of Netaji a few months back.

The National Archives of India is placing these files in the public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitisation.

In 1997, the National Archives had received 990 declassified files pertaining to the Indian National Army from the Defence Ministry.

In 2012, it received 1,030 files and items pertaining to the Khosla Commission and Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry from the Home Ministry.

All these files and items are already open to the public under the Public Records Rules 1997.

 

[ANI]