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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a week-long unique programme for Aspirational Blocks in New Delhi today. The programme has been named as Sankalp Saptaah. It is linked to the effective implementation of the Aspirational Blocks Programme which is aimed at improving governance at the block level to enhance the quality of life of citizens. The event will witness the participation of about three thousand panchayat and block-level people's representatives and functionaries from across the country at Bharat Mandapam in the National Capital. In addition, about two lakh people including block and panchayat level functionaries and farmers will join the programme virtually.
Sankalp Saptaah will be observed in all of the 500 Aspirational Blocks across 329 districts in the country from 3rd to 9th of next month. Each day during the period is dedicated to a specific development theme on which all Aspirational Blocks will work. The themes for the first six days include Sampoorna Swasthya, Suposhit Pariwaar, Swachhta, Krishi, Shiksha, and Samridhi Diwas. The last day of the week will be a celebration of the work conducted during the entire week, as Sankalp Saptaah - Samavesh Samaroh.
The Prime Minister will attend the concluding ceremony of the Parivartan Yatras, organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bilaspur city of Chhattisgarh today. Mr. Modi will also address a public meeting on the occasion. More from our correspondent;
"Chhattisgarh's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, took out two Parivartan Yatras across the state to highlight the Central government's achievements and the 'failures' of the Chhattisgarh's Congress government on various fronts. The first Parivartan Yatra started from Dantewada on 12th September and the second Parivartan Yatra started from Jashpur on 15th September. During the yatras, road-shows were conducted in various assembly constituencies. Apart from this, public meetings were held at many places. Both these Parivartan Yatras are concluding today at Bilaspur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Parivartan Maha Sankalp Rally organized by the BJP. Vikalp Shukla, Akashvani News, Raipur".
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate and lay foundation stone for various development works worth over 1,600 crore rupees in his Lok Sabha constituency Gandhinagar, Gujarat today. Mr. Shah will also inaugurate the permanent campus of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research at Palaj in Gandhinagar. More from our Correspondent:
"Union Home minister Amit Shah will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various people centric projects of Ahmedabad Municipal corporation and Ahmedabad urban development authority worth over 1600 crores at Tragad in Ahmedabad today. These include the inauguration of water supply projects, pink toilets and foundation laying for the renovation work of five lakes in surrounding villages of Ahmedabad. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union minister Devu sinh Chauhan will be present on the occasion. In the noon, the Home' minister will inaugurate the permanent campus of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research spread over 60 acres of land at Palaj in Gandhinagar. Aparna Khunt Akashvani News Ahmedabad".
The 22nd Law Commission has recommended the government to retain the existing age of consent under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. In its report, the Commission noted that reducing it might have damaging effects on fighting child marriage and child trafficking. The current age of consent in India is 18 years. It also said that certain amendments need to be brought in the POCSO Act to remedy the situation in cases where there is tacit approval in fact though not consent in law on part of the child aged between 16 to 18 years. It opined that such cases do not merit to be dealt with the same severity as the cases that were ideally imagined to fall under the POCSO Act. The Commission submitted the Report titled “Age of Consent under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012” to the Law Ministry on 27th of this month.
President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Women's Reservation Bill which was passed by both Houses during the recent special session of Parliament. The Central government has issued a gazette notification for the legislation which is also called Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Now the legislation has become a law.
The law provides for 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies as well as the Delhi Assembly.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will launch Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav and Technology and Bharatiya Bhasha Summit in New Delhi today. The two-day summit aims to set course for a technologically enriched future for Bharatiya languages in education. The summit will encompass three pivotal thematic sessions with special focus on the integration of technology in promoting Bharatiya Bhasha, including its role in teaching, training, examination, and translating educational materials.
The Indian Air Force will carry out a multi-aircraft fly past at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh today on the occasion of 91st anniversary celebration. Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangu Bhai Patel will be the Chief Guest at the event. It will also be attended by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VS Chaudhari and other military & civilian dignitaries. More from our correspondent:
"The spectacular flypast being held for the first time in the capital Bhopal, fighter aircraft like Sukhoi-30, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, LCA Tejas and Hawks will astonish the spectators with their roar and speed. Apart from this, helicopters like Chinook, Mi-17 V5, Chetak and transport aircraft like C-130, IL-78 and AN-32 will also perform various stunts and manoeuvres. Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team, Sarang Helicopter Display Team and Akash Ganga Team will also be the added attraction of this air show. Sanjeev Sharma, Akashvani News, Bhopal".
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the Khalistan issue has returned due to a very permissive Canadian attitude towards those who advocate violence, terrorism and extremism. Addressing a press conference in Washington DC, Dr. Jaishankar said India has flagged the issue with Canada.
Dr. Jaishankar said, in India, it will not come as a surprise to anybody if one tells them that there are people in Canada who are advocating violence, separatism as there is a history out there. He said that it is very important that the US has India’s point of view on the matter as well, because Washington has good relations with both Ottawa and New Delhi.
Dr. Jaishankar highlighted the incidents of threats, violence, and intimidation against Indian diplomats and missions in Canada and questioned whether the reaction would have been the same if a similar situation had occurred in any other country. He said, freedom of speech does not extend to incitement to violence.
The combined Index of Eight Core Industries rose to a 14-month high of 12.1 per cent provisionally in August this year as compared to the Index of August 2022. According to a data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the production of all Eight Core Industries namely, Cement, Coal, Crude Oil, Electricity, Fertilizers, Natural Gas, Refinery Products and Steel recorded positive growth in August 2023 over the corresponding month of last year. The figure for July has been revised upwards to 8.4 percent from 8.0 percent. In August 2022, core sector growth was 4.2 percent.
Index of Core Industries measures the combined and individual performance of production of the eight core industries. The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 percent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production.
The Final growth rate of Index of Eight Core Industries for May 2023 is revised to 5.2 per cent.
The cumulative growth rate of Index of Core Industries during April to August, 2023-24 is 7.7 per cent (provisional) as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
Minister for Development of North East Region, G. Kishan Reddy has launched India's first 5G training labs and 5G applications in Health sector in all the North Eastern States. Addressing the gathering virtually in New Delhi yesterday, he emphasised the significance of this ambitious stride toward establishing a vibrant 5G digital ecosystem in the North East region.
Mr. Reddy highlighted how this technological advancement would unlock vast opportunities for growth and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. He further added that with a burgeoning 5G market, North Eastern States will be able to tap into this opportunity and enhance public delivery of services. Mr Reddy further affirmed the Government's steadfast commitment to establishing the North East as India's new growth engine, with over five lakh crore rupees invested in connectivity and infrastructure development in the region over the past nine and a half years.
In Ladakh, the 2nd edition of The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 began yesterday at Leh Sindhu Sanskriti Kendra. The five-day event was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Dr. B D Mishra. The objective of the festival is to promote budding Ladakhi filmmakers and provide an opportunity to them to develop their talent through learning and networking experience.
In sports, India has achieved 33 medals- eight gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze at the Asian Games 2023 so far in Hangzhou, China. The country currently stands at the 4th position on the scoreboard. There are several exciting events lined up today. In tennis, mixed doubles pair, Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale, are all set to face Chinese Taipei's Liang En-shuo and Huang Tsung-hao in the finals. The Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Mirabai Chanu, will start with her campaign in the women’s 49 kg weightlifting. Reigning Women’s Heptathlon champion, Swapna Barman, will also begin her campaign later today. India has all eyes on Barman for bringing home a medal as she is a 2018 Asian games gold winner.
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22nd Law Commission recommends government to retain existing age of consent under POCSO Act.