Author: TheStateLine

Patna, Dec 4 (IANS) An Entrepreneur and Handicraft Fair, currently underway in Bihar’s Bhagalpur, is in the spotlight due to an elaborate display of indigenous products and thrust on “Vocal for Local”, a pledge that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been urging the countrymen to adhere to.Besides the wide array of desi products, what is drawing the people to the fair is the stalls set up by Jeevika Didis and women entrepreneurs.The buyers and visitors were left delighted over a one-of-a-kind experience and also pledged to extend their support to local ventures over foreign-made goods.Monica Kumari, a resident of Bhagalpur, told IANS, "I started a business with Rs 1,500 has now reached Rs 16.5 million annually with the help of Startup India and the IT Ministry. A heartfelt thank you to PM ...

New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) The political landscape in Bangladesh has been changing rapidly and contrary to the perception that it would be a cake walk for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the Jamaat-e-Islami is rapidly picking up the pace. With the Awami League out of the picture owing to the ban on it from contesting the elections, the fight is a direct one between the Jamaat and the BNP. A year back, all polls suggested a sweep for the BNP. However, the gap is closing, and the Jamaat seems to be making massive inroads. As per a survey by the International Republican Institute (IRI), a US-based think-tank, 39 per cent said that they would most likely vote for the BNP. In the case of the Jamaat, it is 29 per cent, and Bangladesh watchers say that this gap would close further closer to ...

Moscow/New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) Hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin's arrival in India, a throwback image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his visit to Moscow with late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is once again being widely shared on social media, spotlighting the deep friendship between both nations which has bolstered further over the last decade.The image - from Late PM Vajpayee's State Visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin in November 2001 - shows PM Modi, then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, witnessing the signing of various documents - including the Moscow Declaration between India and Russia on International Terrorism.The Gujarat CM also signed an agreement titled 'the Protocol of Cooperation between Astrakhan Region of Russian F...

New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday reported significant progress in Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with 99.87 per cent of Enumeration Forms (EFs) already distributed across 12 states and Union Territories.According to the ECI's daily bulletin, the nationwide EF distribution has reflected strong field mobilisation by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and participation from Booth Level Agents (BLAs).During the ongoing enumeration phase, which runs from November 4 to December 11 (earlier the last date was December 4) -- a total of 50.90crore EFs have already been distributed out of the eligible 50.97 crore electors.Digitisation of EFs has also picked up in the last few weeks, with 48.37 crore forms digitised so far, marki...

New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) As part of 'Nyaya Bandhu' (Pro Bono Legal Services) programme, panels have been made functional at 23 High Courts to link persons eligible to avail free legal aid with volunteer lawyers, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, in reply to a question, said, "As on November 30, 9,776 Pro Bono Advocates have registered on Nyaya Bandhu Portal.""In order to bolster the culture of Pro Bono among young legal minds, Pro Bono Club sub-scheme has been operationalised across 109 law schools in the country," he said.The Government launched the Nyaya Bandhu programme in 2017, intending to advance the culture of voluntary service by legal professionals and create a framework for the di...

New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) About 30 lakh beneficiaries have been registered under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme and out of which, 23.09 Lakh beneficiaries have been trained (as on December 1), the Parliament was informed on Thursday.The PM Vishwakarma Scheme was launched on September 17, 2023 to provide end-to-end holistic support to artisans and craftspeople of 18 traditional trades who work with their hands and tools.Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shobha Karandlaje, replied to a question in Lok Sabha that as on date, more than 6.8 lakh artisans/craftspeople have been given digital payment Incentives amounting to Rs 22 crore.Under PM Vishwakarma scheme, MoUs have been signed with India Post Payment Bank and several private entities for creating QR codes to enable bene...