THE HEADLINES:

• President Droupadi Murmu addresses both Houses of the Parliament; Says India is emerging as a provider of solutions to issues faced by the world.

• Union Budget for Financial Year 2023-24 to be presented in Lok Sabha tomorrow at 11 AM.

• Economic Survey 2022-23 presented in both Houses of Parliament; envisages Indian economy to grow at 6.5 per cent in 2023-24.

• India's economy is poised to do better in the remainder of this decade, says Chief Economic Advisor Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran.

• President Murmu says a strong and healthy society is possible only with women empowerment.

• And in Sports, India to take on New Zealand in third and final T20 international in Ahmedabad tomorrow.

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Addressing the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament on the first day of Budget session, President Droupadi Murmu asserted that India has a stable, fearless and decisive government which is working towards realising big dreams.

On India’s growing stature in the world, President Murmu said, the people have witnessed many positive changes for the first time during the tenure of this government. She said, India which once looked to others for solutions to most of its problems, is today emerging as a provider of solutions for the issues faced by the world. Talking about India’s G20 presidency, the President said, with the mantra of One Earth, One Family, One Future, the country is attempting to find collective solutions to the current global challenges in collaboration with the G-20 member countries.

The President stressed on the need to build a nation by 2047 which not only embraces its glorious past but also encompasses every golden aspect of modernity.

Asserting that corruption is the biggest enemy of democracy and social justice, the President said, there has been a relentless fight against corruption in the last few years.

The President also said, major reforms have been introduced including Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile trinity, One Nation One Ration Card, DBT and Digital India.  

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The Economic Survey 2022-23 was presented in both the Houses of Parliament today by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Survey has projected a baseline GDP growth of 6.5 per cent in real terms in the next financial year. It also said India is to remain the fastest growing major economy in the world.

The survey stated that the rise in consumer prices has slowed considerably. It also stated that India’s agriculture sector has been witnessing robust growth with an average annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent over the last six years.

According to the survey, Gross Tax Revenue registered a year on year growth of 15.5 per cent from April to November last year, and the Net Tax Revenue to the Centre after the assignment to states grew by 7.9 per cent on a year on year basis.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Economic Survey is a comprehensive analysis of India's growth trajectory. Mr Modi said, this survey includes the global optimism towards the nation, focus on infrastructure, growth in agriculture, industries and emphasis on futuristic sectors.

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Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on the highlights of Economic Survey, Chief Economic Advisor Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran said, the country's GDP growth is expected to remain robust in financial year 2023-24. He said, India's economy is poised to do better in the remainder of this decade.

 Dr Nageswaran said that international Monetary Fund- in its World Economic Outlook Update, has maintained India's GDP forecast for current Financial Year at 6.8 per cent. He added that there is no need  to speak of pandemic recovery any more and we have to look ahead to the next phase.

He also added that India is well ahead of its targets for renewable energy mix.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for the Financial Year 2023-24 in the Lok Sabha tomorrow at 11 AM. The copy of the Budget will be laid on the Table of the Rajya Sabha soon thereafter. A meeting of the Union Cabinet will be held in the morning to approve the Union Budget 2023-24. After getting the nod from the Cabinet, Ms Sitharaman will present the Union Budget in Parliament.

Ahead of the presentation of the Budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the world is looking towards India’s budget in the present global headwinds. He also said India's budget is an attempt to meet the hopes and aspirations of the common citizens. He expressed confidence that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will try to meet those aspirations.

आज की वैश्‍विक परिस्‍थिति में भारत के बजट की तरफ न सिर्फ भारत का लेकिन पूरे विश्‍व का ध्‍यान है। डामाडोल विश्‍व की आर्थिक परिस्‍थिति में भारत का बजट भारत के सामान्‍य मानवी की आशा-आकाक्षों को तो पूरा करने का प्रयास करेगा ही लेकिन विश्‍व जो आशा की किरण देख रहा है उसे वो और अधिक प्रकाशमान नजर आए। मुझे पूरा भरोसा है।

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President Droupadi Murmu has said that a strong and healthy society is not possible without women empowerment. She said, women empowerment is not just an issue of social justice, but is also crucial for economic development. President Murmu was addressing the 31st foundation day celebration of National Commission for Women in New Delhi this evening.  She said, a more active role of women would be helpful in making India one of the largest economies of the World and achieving the target of five trillion dollar economy well before set time.

The President also urged all citizens to work towards creating an environment where all women can fully participate and contribute in the socio-economic, cultural and political spheres significantly.

Expressing concerns over the gender discrimination, President Murmu said that examples of female foeticide are also seen in well educated parts of the country which is a matter of worry. She

emphasized that it is not only the responsibility of the government but of the whole society to change this situation.

In her address, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani reiterated government's commitment of empowering women of all sections of the society.

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The two-day meeting of the International Financial Architecture Working Group under the Indian G20 Presidency concluded in Chandigarh today. Addressing the media, Economic Advisor, Department of Economic Affairs, Anu P Mathai said, the meeting deliberated on various issues, including strengthening and reforming Multilateral Development Banks. She said, the meeting saw participation of nearly 100 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries and International Organisations which demonstrates the strong commitment of the global community to support India’s G20 Presidency.

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A G20 delegation will visit the World Heritage Site Kaziranga national park in Assam tomorrow. Over 70 delegates will conduct a jeep safari at Kohora and Bagori range of the park, and also visit the convention centre of the park.

Our Correspondent reports that the 1st Sustainable Finance Working Group meeting will be held in Guwahati on 2nd and 3rd of February. The Assam government has taken all measures for smooth conduct of the meeting.

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Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia today virtually inaugurated a flight connecting Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Jamshedpur. The flight connecting the three cities of Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand will be operated by IndiaOne Air under Regional Connectivity Scheme - UDAN.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Scindia said, this new service will strengthen the economy of these three major cities. He said, this will also increase employment opportunities and promote tourism. Mr Scindia said, more than one crore 15 lakh people have travelled by flight since the launch of UDAN scheme.

The Minister also said, the flights from Dumka and Bokaro in Jharkhand will be operationalised soon.

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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival came to a close today in Mumbai. This edition was the biggest ever SCO Film Festival, with 58 films from 14 countries being showcased.

The closing ceremony saw the winners being declared for the various competition categories. Lyricst and Chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification, Prasoon Joshi and celebrities from the film industry were in attendance. 

Addressing the audience via video message, Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Anurag Thakur congratulated all participants and the jury for the successful conduct of the festival. He expressed optimism that the exchange of ideas the festival has witnessed will lead to futher cooperation, co-production and co-creation in the field of cinema in the SCO region.

In the festival, Marathi Film Godavari, directed by Nikhil Mahajan was judged the best film. Xiaozhi Rao, director of Chinese film Homecoming won the award for the best director. Kazakh actor Askar Ilyasov won the Best Actor male for Paralympian while Rano Shodiyeva from Uzbekistan won the Best Actor female award for The Fate of a Woman.

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In Gujarat, a Sessions court in Gandhinagar today sentenced self-styled godman Asaram to life imprisonment in connection with a rape case of 2013. The Sessions court judge, D K Soni pronounced the ruling after hearing the arguments on the quantum of the sentence. Asaram was convicted yesterday by the court in a rape case filed by a former woman disciple in 2013. 

Asaram is currently lodged in a Jodhpur jail, where he is serving a life sentence in another case of raping a minor girl at his ashram in Rajasthan in 2013.

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Former Law Minister and senior advocate Shanti Bhushan passed away today. He was 97. Shanti Bhushan was India's Law Minister from 1977 to 1979.

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India has extended its condolences to the families of the victims of yesterday's terror attack in Peshawar, Pakistan. In a tweet, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India strongly condemns the attack which has taken the lives of so many people.  Meanwhile, the death toll in the suicide blast has risen to 93.

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A nationwide strike is under way in France in a second wave of protests against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

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India will take on New Zealand in the third and final T20 international in Ahmedabad tomorrow. India won the second T20 in Lucknow and leveled the three-match series 1-1. Winning tomorrow's match will help the Hardik Pandya-led side to not just win the series but also to maintain its number-one ranking. The match will start at 7:00 pm IST.

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AND NOW BEFORE WE END THE BULLETIN,

THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.

• President Droupadi Murmu addresses both Houses of the Parliament; Says India is emerging as a provider of solutions to issues faced by the world.

• Union Budget for Financial Year 2023-24 to be presented in Lok Sabha tomorrow at 11 AM.

• Economic Survey 2022-23 presented in both Houses of Parliament; envisages Indian economy to grow at 6.5 per cent in 2023-24.

• India's economy is poised to do better in the remainder of this decade, says Chief Economic Advisor Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran.

• President Murmu says a strong and healthy society is possible only with women empowerment.

• And in Sports, India to take on New Zealand in third and final T20 international in Ahmedabad tomorrow.

For details of these stories and more, log on to our website www.newsonair.gov.in and News On Air App.

THAT IS ALL IN THE NEWS AT NINE

GOOD NIGHT.

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