ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Defence
General Bipin Rawat assumes charge of first Chief of Defence Staff;
Vows to create more synergy between the Armed Forces
General Bipin Rawat assumed office of the Chief of Defence Staff  here today. As the CDS, General Rawat will be the Principal Military Advisor to the Raksha Mantri on all Tri-Services matters. He will also head Department of Military Affairs . The CDS will have a key role in ensuring optimum utilisation of allocated budget, usher in more synergy in procurement, training &operations of the Services through joint planning and integration. The CDSwill facilitate indigenisation of weapons and equipment to the maximum extent possible while formulating the overall defence acquisition plan for the three Services.
Interacting with media persons, General Rawat vowed to work to create more synergy among the three Services. “The CDS is mandated to facilitate integration, ensure best economical use of resources allocated to the Armed Forces and bring uniformity in the procurement procedure. I want to assure you that the Army, Navy and Air Force will work as a team and the CDS will ensure integration among these,” he said.
Earlier, General Rawat inspected the Tri-Service Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria and Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravanewere also present on the occasion. General Rawat also laid wreath and paid homage to the martyrs at the National War Memorial.
Ex-Chief of the Army Staff General Rawat, is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; Higher Command, National Defence College. He also attended the Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth in the United States.
During his distinguished career in the Army, General Rawat commanded an Infantry battalion along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector, a Rashtriya Rifles Sector, an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley and a Corps in the North East. General Rawat had also commanded a Multinational Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As an Army Commander, he commanded a theatre of operations along the Western Front and was appointed the Vice Chief of the Army Staff before assuming office of Chief of the Army Staff.
During the span of over 41 years in the Army, General Rawat has been awarded several gallantry and distinguished service awards.
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Ministry of Finance
Provisional figures of Direct Tax collections for FY 2023-24 register steady growth upto 9th July 2023
The provisional figures of Direct Tax collections up to 9th July, 2023 continue to register steady growth. Direct Tax collections up to 9th July, 2023 show that gross collections are at Rs. 5.17 lakh crore which is 14.65% higher than the gross collections for the corresponding period of last year.
Direct Tax collection, net of refunds, stands at Rs. 4.75 lakh crore which is 15.87% higher than the net collections for the corresponding period of last year. This collection is 26.05% of the total Budget Estimates of Direct Taxes for F.Y. 2023-24.
Refunds amounting to Rs. 42,000 crore have been issued during 1st April, 2023 to 9th July 2023, which are 2.55% higher than refunds issued during the same period in the preceding year.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Notification issued for Motor Vehicles Non Transport Vehicles Visiting India Rules, 2022
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued the Motor Vehicles Non Transport Vehicles Visiting India Rules, 2022 vide notification GSR 680 dated 02.09.2022. These rules formalize the movement of Non-Transport  vehicles registered in other countries when entering or plying in the territory of India.
The following documents shall be carried in the vehicle operating under these rules during the duration of stay in the country, namely:–
 A valid registration certificate;
 A valid driving license or international driving permit, whichever is applicable;
 A valid insurance policy;
 A valid pollution under control certificate ;
In case the documents referred above are in a language other than English, then an authorized English translation, duly authenticated by the issuing authority, shall be carried along with the original documents.
Motor vehicles registered in any country other than India shall not be permitted to transport local passengers and goods within the territory of India.
Motor vehicles registered in any country other than India shall be required to comply with rules and regulations made under Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 of India.
Click here for the Gazette Notification
Prime Minister's Office
PM hails feat of tapped water connection for 12 crore houses
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has hailed the feat of tapped water connection for 12 crore houses under Jal Jeevan Mission.
Sharing a tweet by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Prime Minister tweeted:
“इस शानदार उपलब्धि के लिए बहुत-बहुत बधाई! यह अत्यंत खुशी की बात है कि गांवों और गरीबों तक हर जरूरी सुविधा पहुंचाने के हमारे प्रयासों के सुपरिणाम निरंतर सामने आ रहे हैं।”
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Price-Fixing Cartel amongst suppliers of Electric Power Steering Systems to automobile Original Equipment Manufacturers
The Competition Commission of India  passed a final order with respect to cartelisation amongst NSK Limited, Japan and JTEKT Corporation, Japan and their Indian subsidiaries namely Rane NSK Steering Systems Ltd.  and JTEKT Sona Automotive India Limited respectively,in relation to the supply of Electric Power Steering  Systems to three automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers , by means of directly or indirectly determining price, allocating markets, co-ordinating bid response and manipulating the bidding process in Request for Information/ Request for Quotations  issued by these three automobile OEMs. The duration of the cartel was found to be from 2005 to 25.07.2011.
The case was initiated on the basis of an application received by the CCI under Section 46 of the Competition Act, 2002  read with Competition Commission of India  Regulations, 2009 , from NSK/ RNSS. Thereafter, during the pendency of investigation, JTEKT/ JSAI also approached the CCI by filing an application under the Section 46 of the Act read with the LPR.
The evidence collected in the case included instances of meetings and telephonic exchanges in which commercially sensitive information about prices etc. was discussed. Such conduct of the parties was found to have caused appreciable adverse effect on competition in India. Accordingly, the CCI concluded that NSK and JTEKT, and their Indian subsidiaries RNSS and JSAI respectively, indulged into anti-competitive conduct in contravention of the provisions of Section 3 read with Section 3 of the Act.
Considering all the relevant factors, penalty, in terms of the proviso to Section 27  of the Act, was computed for each party, from the date of enforcement of the provisions of Section 3 of the Act i.e. 20.05.2009 till 25.07.2011. In terms thereof, the penalty to be imposed upon NSK/RNSSwas computed at the rate of 4% of the relevant turnover of RNSS and uponJTEKT/JSAI,at the rate of 1 time of the relevant profit of JSAI.Also, considering the totality of facts and circumstances of the case, penalty, in terms of Section 27  of the Act, to be imposed on the individuals of NSK and JTEKT, held liable under Section 48 of the Act, was computed at the rate of 10 percent of the average of their income for the preceding three years.
In view of the fact that NSK/ RNSS was the first to approach the Commission as a Lesser Penalty applicant and had provided complete, true and full disclosures, 100 percent reduction in penalty was granted to NSK/ RNSS and its individuals and the penalty to be paid by them is nil. Further, in view of the fact that JTEKT/ JSAI was the second to approach the Commission as a Lesser Penalty applicant and had provided significant value addition in the matter, 50 percent reduction in penalty was granted to JTEKT/ JSAI and its individuals. Therefore, the total penalty to be paid by JTEKT/ JSAI is INR 17,07,31,443/-.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates the India Pavilion at the ADIPEC
Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan today inaugurated the India Pavilion at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference . The India Pavilion has been set up by 9 Indian Oil & Gas companies from the upstream, midstream, downstream and engineering segments, alongwith Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry , Directorate General of Hydrocarbons  and Confederation of Indian Industry .
Inaugurating the exhibition, Shri Pradhan saidIndia has a huge appetite for energy, and will be a driver of global energy demand in coming decades.In fact, oil and gas would continue to play a critical role in meeting our energy requirement, in coming two decades even as we adapt renewable energy. He said “Our focus is to attract global investments into the oil and gas sector, as India would invest 100 billion dollars by 2024 in refining, pipelines and gas terminals. There is no better place to invest if you are in the business of energy. Political stability, predictable policies and a huge diverse market make India an attractive investment destination for global investors.We have recently liberalized the entry norms for fuel retailing which has paved way for entry of new players in the fuel retailing space and enhancing competition.”
At the ADIPEC inaugural global discussion in Abu Dhabi,Shri Pradhan said that We are working to make PM Modi’s vision to make India a gas based economy and working for a more cleaner and greener environment. “For this we will be working on investing in gas based infrastructure like increase in CGD and PNG network and gas based industries.” He said thatGlobal energy transition is driven by Asia becoming the centre of energy consumption, greater availability of LNG, greater promise of energy independence through renewables including solar and wind energy, emergence of US a leading hydrocarbons exporter and the urgency to meet COP 21 Paris climate commitments.
YB
Ministry of Defence
Closing Ceremony Indo-French Joint Training Exercise Shakti– 2019
The closing ceremony of the joint military exercise between Indian and French Army, Exercise 'SHAKTI-2019’ was held at Mahajan Field Firing Range on 13 November 2019. The aim of the exercise was to achieve interoperability, to acquaint each other with operational procedures, combat drills and understand the functioning in such a situation. It was evident that both the armies were able to achieve this aim.
The exercise was conducted in two phases. The first phase of combat conditioning and tactical training was completed successfully by both the contingents. The training received by both the armies in the first phase was put into practice in the second phase which was termed as validation stage. Both the contingents jointly took part in the validation exercise which included establishment of observation posts, cordon and search operation and house clearing drills including evacuation of causalities using helicopters. The exercise also included newly inducted ‘RUDRA’ helicopter, the weaponised version of the Advanced Light Helicopter 'Dhruv' produced indigenously by India.
The closing ceremony was organised as a solemn occasion to felicitate outstanding soldiers and to showcase each other’s cultural and martial heritage. Both the armies shared valuable combat experience with respect to countering terrorist operations in an international environment. It was a significant milestone achieved in ensuring cordial relations between the two countries and another step forward towards global war on terror.
Col Aman Anand
PRO 
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Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles the loss of lives in a bus accident in Bareilly, UP; announces ex-gratia relief for victims of the accident
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss lives in a bus accident in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh.
“The bus accident in UP’s Bareilly is heart-rending. I condole the loss of lives. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs from PMNRF for the next of kin of those killed and Rs. 50,000 to those seriously injured, in the accident.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Financial assistance of Rs. 46.86 Crore released to States/UTs, NIC/NICSI, during last three financial years 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 under One Nation One Ration Card  plan for nationwide portability of ration cards
The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today shared that through technology-driven One Nation One Ration Card  system, all beneficiaries under National Food Security Act, 2013 , particularly migrant beneficiaries, can lift their monthly entitled foodgrains, either in parts or full, from any electronic Point of Sale  enabled Fair Price Shop  in the country by using their existing ration card or Aadhaar number with biometric authentication. Their family members back home, if any, may also lift the part/balance foodgrains on the same ration card.
One Nation One Ration Card  plan for nationwide portability of ration cards is implemented by this Department under the Central Sector Scheme i.e. Integrated Management of Public Distribution System , which was sanctioned in April 2018 with total outlay of Rs. 127.3 Crore. The scheme is extended till 31st March 2023. So far, financial assistance of Rs. 46.86 Crore has been released to States/UTs, NIC/NICSI, etc. during last three financial years 2020-21 , 2021-22  and 2022-23 .
The One Nation One Ration Card  plan, for nation-wide portability of the National Food Security Act 2013  beneficiaries is presently enabled in all the 36 States/UTs across the country, covering entire NFSA population  in the country. Currently an average of nearly 3.5 crore portability transactions are being reported under ONORC every month in the country. So far, a total of 93.31 crore portability transactions have been recorded under ONORC.
A nationwide campaign has been carried out to create awareness among the NFSA beneficiaries about ONORC in different modes viz. 167 FM and 91 Community Radio stations, displaying audio visual spots at railway stations, banners, posters at outdoors and Fair Price Shops , bus wraps apart from States/UTs employing their own means for such campaigns. The “Mera Ration” App, which is available in 13 languages, also has seen nearly 20 lakh downloads so far.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
EEPC celebrates 50th year of Engineering Exports Awards
111 National Awards given for 2017-2018
First Ever EEPC India-QCI Awards announced
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Minister of State Independent Charge of Civil Aviation and Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, gave away the Engineering Export Promotion Awards  for the year 2017-2018 at a function in New Delhi today. Speaking on this occasion he congratulated the EEPC for reaching a record high exports of USD 76 billion in 2017-18 and USD 87 billion in 2018-19. He hoped that by next year India’s engineering exports will reach the target of USD 1 trillion.
This year EEPC celebrates and completes 50 years of rewarding exporters and 111 winners were given national awards for 2017-18 across 8 categories in over 32 product panels. This year, for the first time, Quality Control of India  has been invited to evaluate EEPC member companies and EEPC India-QCI Quality awards were given away to 7 winners.
Hardeep Singh Puri congratulated EEPC for completing 50 years of rewarding exporters and also complemented 111 winners who received national awards today. He urged the engineering sector, that employs 40 lakh workers, to get abreast with global engineering standards and adopt new technology to upgrade their core efficiency and improve their competency and achieve cost competitiveness. He exhorted the engineering industries to establish smart factories for optimum use of land, labour and capital.
The MoS further said that since fifty-five percent of EEPC members are MSMEs, they must also strategize to upgrade their technology and production profile in order to enter the global value chain.
Hardeep Singh Puri informed the gathering about all the measures taken by the Government of India and the Department of Commerce and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade  to simplify, bring in greater transparency in the export procedures and enhanced credit and insurance to exporters. The DGFT has put in place a fully electronic refund module and an online filing and issuance of preferential certificate of origin. A web portal of industrial schemes of different Ministries of the Government of India is also available to the engineering industries and the NIRVIK scheme has been announced to ensure enhanced loan availability for exporters.
Minister of State Hardeep Singh Puri urged exporters to tap emerging markets like Africa, the CIS countries, countries of Latin America and the GCC and Mexico and thereby ensure that by 2025 India’s engineering exports will reach a target of USD 200 billion.
Chairman EEPC, Ravi Sehgal also addressed the gathering. On this occasion Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, representatives of industry and the award winners were present.
Ministry of Defence
Lieutenant General Manjit Kumar assumed the appointment of Chief of Staff, HQ Southern Command, Pune on 1 December 2022
Pune, 1 December 2022
Lieutenant General Manjit Kumar has assumed the appointment of Chief of Staff at Headquarters Southern Command, Pune on 01 December 2022 with a solemn wreath laying ceremony to honour the fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial, Pune.
The General Officer is an alumnus of Sainik School Kapurthala and National Defence Academy Khadakvasla. He was commissioned into Corps of Signals on 14 June 1986, and has served in varied terrain and operational areas, including command of Indian Military Training Team Signal Company in Bhutan and an Infantry Division Signal Regiment deployed on Line of Control in Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorism environment. He has also had back-to-back Instructor tenures in Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow and Officers Training Academy, Chennai.
The General Officer has attended all important career courses including Staff College Course , Higher Command Course and National Defence College Course. He has also served in numerous staff appointments, some of the important ones being General Staff Officer, Grade - 1  in a Strike Corps Headquarter during Operation PARAKARAM, Colonel Administration in a Headquarter Counter Insurgency Force , Colonel General Staff in Directorate General Information System, Deputy Director General Signals Staff in Signals Directorate, Chief Signal Officer of a Strike Corps, Chief Signal Officer Northern Command and Director General Information System at Army Headquarters.
The outgoing Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Arvind Walia complimented all ranks of the Command for their unflinching commitment, dedication and devotion in accomplishing assigned tasks in extremely challenging operational environment.PIB Pune | M.Iyengar/D.Rane
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Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Tourism will launch ‘NIDHI 2.0’ &‘India Tourism Statistics – At a Glance, 2021’ in World Tourism Day celebration event tomorrow
Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla & Union Tourism Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy will grace the occasion
Key Highlights
- MoS for Tourism Shri Ajay Bhatt and MoS for Tourism Shri Shripad Yesso Naik will also remain present at the event
- An MoU is proposed to be signed between Ministry of Tourism, United Nations Environment Programme  and The Responsible Tourism Society of India 
The Ministry of Tourism is organizing an event to celebrate “World Tourism Day 2021” on 27th September 2021 in New Delhi, which has been designated by the UNWTO as a day to focus on “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”. Speaker of Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla will be chief guest of the event. Union Minister of Tourism, Culture & DoNER Shri G. Kishan Reddy, MoS for Tourism Shri Ajay Bhatt and MoS for Tourism Shri Shripad Yesso Naik will also grace the occasion. Secretary Tourism Shri Arvind Singh and other officials of the Ministry, important dignitaries from the States/ UTs, travel industry and media remain present on the occasion.
India is in unlocking phase and domestic tourism has re-started slowly and steadily. The Covid-19 pandemic has had an immense socio-economic impact worldwide and gradual increase in the domestic tourism will help for recovery and growth in many folds of the society. Tourism has the potential to contribute to inclusive growth by creating opportunities for all different groups, ethnicity, religion and across sectors such as agriculture, arts & crafts etc., services to contribute and benefit from economic growth. Celebrated every September 27 around the world, the purpose of World Tourism Day  is to foster awareness among the international community on the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.
During tomorrow's event, NIDHI 2.0  and ‘India Tourism Statistics – At a Glance, 2021’ will be launched.
A Memorandum of Understanding  will also be signed between Ministry of Tourism, United Nations Environment Programme  and The Responsible Tourism Society of India to actively promote and support ‘sustainability initiatives’ in the tourism sector of each other .