THE HEADLINES: –
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor in Dehradun and the country’s first 1000 Mega watt Variable Speed Pumped Storage Plant in Tehri in a short while.
- Prime Minister emphasises, women’s active role in decision-making will strengthen the journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047.
- Bhartiya Janata Party releases party manifesto for Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections.
- Nation remembers Dr B R Ambedkar on his birth anniversary today.
- Iran’s Ambassador to the UN calls US naval blockade of Iranian ports as serious violation of its sovereignty.
- In IPL Cricket, Chennai Super Kings to take on Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai this evening.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will shortly inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor from Dehradun, along with the country’s first Variable Speed Pumped Storage Plant of one thousand megawatt capacity in Tehri. The Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor will strengthen regional economic growth by enhancing connectivity between major tourism and economic centres and creating new opportunities for trade and development across the region.
The Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor passes through Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and will reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from more than six hours at present to about two and a half hours. The project includes construction of ten interchanges, three railway overbridges, four major bridges, and twelve roadside public facilities to ensure seamless high-speed connectivity. The corridor has been specially designed to significantly reduce human-wildlife conflict, and includes an approximately twelve-kilometre-long elevated wildlife corridor, one of the longest in Asia.
Prime Minister Modi also held two roadshows, one in Saharanpur and the other in Dehradun before arriving at the venue.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, when women become active participants in policy-making and decision making, the journey towards a Viksit Bharat by 2047 is strengthened. In a letter to India’s Nari Shakti, Mr Modi said that in the next two days, on the 16th April, Parliament will reconvene to discuss an important constitutional amendment relating to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. He expressed hope that the legislation will be passed in the House. He added that women from all over the nation are expressing their joy on getting a stronger opportunity to contribute towards building a Viksit Bharat.
Prime Minister Modi said that at the grassroots, countless Self-Help Groups and Lakhpati Didis are showing how self-reliance can be achieved and how other women can be empowered. He added that Science and innovation, which are guiding the progress of humankind in the 21st century, have seen an increasing participation of women. He reiterated the government’s commitment to implement what has been pending for decades.
Yesterday, addressing Nari Shakti Vandan Sammelan in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said, the country’s democracy will become stronger and more vibrant if the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and various Assembly elections are held with women’s reservation fully in place.
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In Tamilnadu, the State BJP manifesto was released in Chennai today by Union Minister J.P. Nadda. He assured that if NDA comes to power, each family will be given 10 thousand rupees, women will be given 2000 rupees every month and three free gas cylinders annually.
The Manifesto also assured that, Thai Poosam, a festival for lord Murugan will be celebrated as a State Festival, Lamp will be lighted at Deepathoon, drug related issues will be solved and MSP for vegetables will be raised. 50 lakh rupees will be given to women MSMEs to evolve as a manufacturer.
Meanwhile, campaigning is in full swing for Assembly Elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Senior BJP leader Amit Shah will participate in various campaigns in West Bengal today. He is set to hold a roadshow in North Dinajpur’s Kaliaganj and address public meetings in Gangarampur, South Dinajpur district followed by rallies in Manikchak and Gazole in Malda to bolster support for BJP candidates. Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to lead several election campaign programs across the state today. She will address public meetings at Pingla and Sabang in support of party candidates. This will be followed by a rally in Tamluk and another in Jagatballavpur.
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Two thousand 926 candidates are in the fray for the upcoming West Bengal Election. The Assembly election in West Bengal will be held in two phases. The first phase of the election will be held on 23rd April and the second phase on 29th April. The total number of candidates after withdrawals in the first phase is one thousand 478, and one thousand 448 candidates for the second phase. The Election Commission has said that the citizens can view the details of their candidates, including their educational qualifications, criminal antecedents, assets and liabilities, and download their affidavits from ECINet App.
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In a significant political development, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is scheduled to submit his resignation to Governor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain shortly, marking the beginning of the formation of a new government in the state.
The Chief Minister officially informed his cabinet colleagues of his decision during a state cabinet meeting held earlier today. Following the session, Agriculture Minister Ram Kripal Yadav stated that the Chief Minister assured the cabinet that his guidance would continue to be available to the incoming administration.
Meanwhile, BJP State President Sanjay Saraogi announced that the BJP legislative party will meet this afternoon to elect its leader. Senior leader and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will attend the meeting as the central observer.
Separate legislative party meetings are currently being held by the JD(U), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
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The nation is paying homage to the Chief Architect of Indian Constitution Dr B R Ambedkar on his 136th birth anniversary today. Several functions have been organised throughout the country to mark the occasion.
President Droupadi Murmu paid floral tributes at the portrait of Babasaheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar at Lok Bhavan, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Speaking at the ‘Samajik Samrasata Mahotsav’ she called for national unity by rising above the barriers of caste and creed to ensure the national overall development. The President emphasized that the path to a harmonious India begins with harmonious villages.
In New Delhi, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Union Ministers and Members of Parliament also paid tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar at Prerna Sthal in the parliament premises.
“Born on 14th April 1891 in Madhya Pradesh, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar dedicated his life to the fight against social discrimination and worked tirelessly to secure equal rights for women, laborers, and marginalized communities. His vision laid the foundation for a just and inclusive society, as reflected in the Constitution of India, which he was instrumental in drafting. Dr Ambedkar’s multifaceted contributions from economic policy and infrastructure to constitutional law cemented his legacy as a nation-builder, committed to fostering a just and equitable India. Dr Ambedkar was posthumously honoured with Bharat Ratna in the year 1990. This day holds great significance in honouring his remarkable contributions, particularly in the fields of social justice, equality, and the drafting of the Indian Constitution. With Anand Kumar, Saklen Akhtar, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have extended wishes to citizens in India and abroad on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi, Vishu, Vishuv, Bohag Bihu, Poila Boishakh, Meshadi, Vaishakhadi and Puthandu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called on Vice President C P Radhakrishnan at Uprashtrapati Bhawan and conveyed greetings on the occasion of Puthandu, the Tamil New Year and Baisakhi.
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Vice President C P Radhakrishnan today visited Gurudwara Sri Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi and paid his respects on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi. The Vice President prayed for the peace, prosperity, and well-being of all. Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Delhi Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa were also present on the occasion.
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The Odia New Year is being celebrated today with traditional fervour across Odisha on the occasion of ‘Pana Sankranti’, also known as ‘Maha Bishuba Sankranti’. The festival marks the beginning of the new solar calendar year and is observed with the release of the traditional ‘Panjika’, the Hindu almanac. Devotees thronged temples across the state since early this morning, offering prayers and taking holy dips in rivers and sacred water bodies.
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In Bangladesh thousands of people across the country marked Pohela Boishakh with cultural events, traditional processions and community gatherings as they ushered in the Bengali New Year today. Celebrations began early in the morning at Ramna Batamul, Dhaka with a cultural programme organised by Chhayanaut. The programme opened at sunrise with a choral rendition of “Jago Alok-Lagane,” followed by a series of songs, poetry recitations and performances by around 200 artists.
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Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani has strongly condemned the United States over its reported naval blockade of Iranian ports, calling it a serious violation of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a formal letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the President of the UN Security Council, Iravani described the move as an illegal act of aggression that threatens both regional and global peace. He further argued that the action breaches key principles of the international law of the sea, as it disrupts maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports.
This comes after the US Navy began enforcing a full maritime blockade of Iranian ports, sharply escalating tensions in West Asia following the collapse of recent peace talks. The restrictions apply to vessels entering or leaving Iranian coastal areas in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
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In IPL Cricket, Chennai Super Kings will take on Kolkata Knight Riders at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai this evening. The match will begin at 7:30 PM.
Last night, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Rajasthan Royals by 57 runs at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Put to bat first, SRH posted 216 for the loss of 6 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs, largely powered by 91 run innings of skipper Ishan Kishan. Chasing the target, Rajasthan Royals top-order was ripped apart in the first-over as debutant Praful Hinge struck thrice and took another later. Sakib Hussain, also a debutant took four wickets clean sweeping the Rajasthan batting line up. Hinge was declared Player of the Match.
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Indian stock markets remained closed today on account of Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti. Trading in equities, equity derivatives, securities lending and borrowing, currency derivatives, and interest rate derivatives remained shut for the day on both the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN: –
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor in Dehradun and country’s first 1000 Mega watt Variable Speed Pumped Storage Plant in Tehri.
- Prime Minister emphasises, women’s active role in decision-making will strengthen the journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047.
- Bhartiya Janata Party releases party manifesto for Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections.
- Nation remembers Dr B R Ambedkar on his birth anniversary today.
- Iran’s Ambassador to the UN calls US naval blockade of Iranian ports as serious violation of its sovereignty.
- In IPL Cricket, Chennai Super Kings to take on Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai this evening.
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