THE HEADLINES :-
- Government reduces central excise duty on Petrol and Diesel by 10 rupees per liter; Raises States’s Commercial LPG allocation to 70 percent; Shields 140 crore Indians from global oil prices surge amid West Asia conflict.
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman dismisses lockdown rumours; Calls reports baseless.
- Centre ensures enough fertilizers in the country; Says, domestic urea production surges from 230 to 315 lakh metric tonnes over the past decade.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to interact with Chief Ministers on West Asia conflict to review States’ preparedness and plans, this evening.
- US President Donald Trump extends deadline for Iran to open Strait of Hormuz till April 6th.
- Balendra Shah takes oath as Nepal’s youngest Prime Minister.
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The Central government has reduced the central excise duty on Petrol and Diesel by 10 rupees per liter each for domestic consumption. In a social media post, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the decision has been taken in view of the West Asia crisis. The Minister said that this move will provide protection to consumers from rise in prices.
She further noted that duties have been imposed on exports of Diesel at 21.5 rupees per litre and on Aviation Turbine Fuel at 29.5 rupees per litre which will ensure adequate availability of these products for domestic consumption.
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Union Finance Minister added that the government is ensuring that there is no price hike in petrol, diesel and even Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Speaking to the media in New Delhi, Ms Sitharaman said, keeping the West Asia conflict situation in mind, the Prime Minister held a meeting, in which it was decided that there should be no shortage of petrol, diesel and ATF, and their prices should not be increased due to the global situation.
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The Central Government has also decided to increase the commercial LPG allocation of states to 70 percent, with 20 percent allocation given to industries such as steel, automobile, textile and other labour intensive industries. Announcing this, in a social media post, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the move aims to ease the supply of commercial LPG. He added that priority will be given to those industries where piped gas is not a substitute.
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Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today said the Government has chosen to shield citizens of India from the sharp rise in international crude prices amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz by taking a hit on its own finances rather than passing the burden on to consumers. In a social media post, the Minister underlined that the Government has taken a huge hit on its taxation revenues to ensure that the very high losses of oil companies, approximately 24 rupees per litre for petrol and 30 rupees per litre for diesel-are reduced at a time of sky-high international prices.
Mr Puri said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government, in keeping with its commitment over the last four years since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, decided to take a hit on its own finances again to safeguard its citizens.
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Amid rising international crude prices triggered by the West Asia crisis, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swift and decisive intervention to protect 140 crore Indians from the price and supply shocks amid the West Asia crisis impacting energy and commodity markets. They noted that at a time when several countries are compelled to increase fuel prices, this move underscores the government’s proactive approach and a steadfast commitment to public welfare.
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Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju today said that the primary concern of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to ensure that common Indian citizens do not face difficulties in their daily lives. Speaking to the media in Parliament Premises, Mr Rijiju called the move to reduce excise duty on petrol and diesel unprecedented. He said that Members of Parliament, as representatives of the people, are also expected to welcome and thank the Prime Minister for this step.
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Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has clarified that the rumours of a lockdown in India are completely false and there is no such proposal under consideration by the Government.
Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has also dismissed reports that suggested the government could consider a lockdown like measure. The Finance Minister called such reports baseless and said that there was no such move being considered.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with Chief Ministers of all the States through video conferencing this evening on the West Asia conflict to review state preparedness and plans. Source said, the meeting will focus on ensuring coordinated efforts in the spirit of Team India. However the chief ministers of election-bound states will not be part of this meeting due to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had made a statement in both the Houses of parliament over the ongoing conflict in West Asia and explained India’s position on the issue. He had said that the government is ensuring smooth supplies of petrol, diesel, oil, gas and fertilizers. He had informed the House that India has expanded its energy import sources from 27 countries to 41 countries over the past 11 years, thereby reducing dependence on any single region.
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The government has said that the domestic urea production in the country has significantly increased from 230 lakh metric tonnes to 315 lakh metric tonnes over the past decade. Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha today, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers J P Nadda said that several new fertiliser plants have been established in various places including Gorakhpur, Sindri, Barauni, Ramagundam and Panagarh since 2014 to boost production. Mr Nadda said that the government has taken several steps for a balanced use of Urea and to reduce import dependence. He said, that soil test-based fertilisation is being actively promoted through the Soil Health Card scheme.
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Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel has said that India currently supplies nearly 30 percent of the generic medicines globally, which reflects the country’s growing role in affordable healthcare worldwide. Replying during the question hour in the Lok Sabha, the Minister said India remains the pharmacy of the world and the largest manufacturer and exporter of generic medicines.
The Minister said that under the Indian Medical Council, Regulations, 2002, all registered medical practitioners are required to prescribe generic medicines and follow rational prescription practices.
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The government has said that crop production in dry land and rain-fed areas has recorded an increase of up to 82 percent due to focused policy interventions, research, and development initiatives. Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha today, Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the government has laid special emphasis on the development of dryland, which had remained largely neglected earlier.
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In Uttar Pradesh, the festival of Ram Navami is being celebrated today with religious fervor. The main attraction of the celebration is in Ayodhya where Soorya Snan took place at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. A report..
“More than 10 lakh people are in Ayodhya to celebrate Ram Navami. people are taking bath in Saryu river and Ram ki Paidi before doing darshans of lord Rama. Various kinds of Ram bhajans like Bhai pragat kripala din dayala kaushlya hitkari are reverberating in the City of Ayodhya. At Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, after abhishekam of Lord Ram in the morning, the Surya Tilak took place in the sanctum sanctorum at exactly 12:00 noon, when a beam of sunlight fell on the forehead of the deity for approximately four minutes, creating a divine and historic spectacle. After that, 56 offerings were made. The temple is open for darshan till late at night to accommodate the large influx of pilgrims. Sushil Chandra Tiwari, Akashvani News, Lucknow.”
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers to Lord Ram and virtually witnessed the Surya Tilak ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. While extending greetings to the countrymen yesterday on the occasion of Ram Navami, Mr Modi in a social media post said the life of Maryada Purushottam, filled with sacrifice, austerity, and restraint is an inspiration to confront every situation with full strength. He said that the ideals of Lord Ram will continue to guide not only the people of India but all of humanity for eternity.
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US President Donald Trump has extended his deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz to April 6. In a social media post, Trump said he will hold off on bombing Iran’s energy plants.
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Meanwhile, US President has stated that the relationship between India and the United States will grow even stronger in the times ahead. Trump said that only he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are the two people who always get things done, something that cannot be said for most.
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Balendra Shah, the parliamentary party leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) took oath as Nepal’s youngest Prime Minister today. The 35-year-old RSP leader was administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Ramchandra Paudel at the President’s Office in Sheetal Niwas.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Mr. Balendra Shah. In a social media post, the Prime Minister said that he looks forward to working closely with the Nepal PM to take India-Nepal friendship and cooperation to even greater heights.
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On the third day of the Khelo India Tribal Games currently underway in Chhattisgarh, competitions in swimming, weightlifting, hockey and football are being held today in Raipur. Meanwhile, wrestling events are also commencing today at Ambikapur, the headquarters of the Surguja division.
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India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim for today.The weather agency has predicted thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds over Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana and Uttarakhand till tomorrow.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :-
- Government reduces central excise duty on Petrol and Diesel by 10 rupees per liter; Raises States’s Commercial LPG allocation to 70 percent; Shields 140 crore Indians from global oil prices surge amid West Asia conflict.
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman dismisses lockdown rumours; Calls reports baseless.
- Centre ensures enough fertilizers in the country; Says, domestic urea production surges from 230 to 315 lakh metric tonnes over the past decade.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to interact with Chief Ministers on West Asia conflict to review States’ preparedness and plans, this evening.
- US President Donald Trump extends deadline for Iran to open Strait of Hormuz till April 6th.
- Balendra Shah takes oath as Nepal’s youngest Prime Minister.
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