INDIA

New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) The Union government has invited fresh applications under the Production Linked Incentive scheme for promoting domestic manufacturing of medical devices (PLI-MD), for which nearly Rs 2,700 crore outlay has been earmarked.The applicants can submit applications through an online portal, which would be operational in the next 10 days, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.Launched in 2021-22 the PLI-MD scheme has now been extended up to 2035–36.The scheme has led to domestic manufacturing of more than 60 high end medical devices and components, including X-ray tubes and detectors, 1.5T MRI, LINAC, CT scanners, mammography machines, Cathlab, orthopaedic and cardiac implants, dialysers with the production valued at more than Rs 16,000 crore.On the basi...

New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) Two absconding cyber criminals from a Jamtara-based gang were arrested by Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police Special Cell, five years after they duped a Delhi resident of Rs 27 lakh using a fake bank website, a Delhi Police official said on Tuesday.Mohd. Mehruddin Ansari (30) and Mohd. Arsad Ansari (29), both residents of district Jamtara, Jharkhand, were arrested on October 30 after they surrendered before a Delhi court, the official said.The police said both the accused are educated up to matriculation and played key roles in designing fake bank websites and facilitating fraudulent customer care operations.The case involved a Delhi resident who fell in the gang’s trap and landed on a fake Canara Bank website created by the ga...

Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS) Several firearms and at least 150 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the police outpost (TOP) near the Indian Oil Underpass adjacent to the New Jalpaiguri railway station on Tuesday.The large quantity of arms found in such a populated area and so close to the police outpost has spread panic in the area.Rana Mukherjee, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (East) of Siliguri Police Commissionerate, said, "Firearms and ammunition were recovered in a bag in the NJP area. Who or what kept them there and for what reason, everything is being investigated."According to local sources, a passer-by named Nitai Shil first saw a suspicious bag lying next to the TOP this morning. When he opened the bag a little, he saw a firearm and a lot of cartridges. The NJP police...

New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and senior advocate H.S. Phoolka on Tuesday accused the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi of attempting to give a "clean chit" to her husband and former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi, after she said that the delay in the deployment of the Army during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, was due to certain concerns by the then-Army Chief.This comes after Sonia Gandhi in her memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love' said, "Although the Chief of the Army Staff General A.S. Vaidya had received his orders the same night as the assassination, we heard later that he had decided not to mobilise the nearest units because they were manned by Sikh soldiers, a factor that might have exacerbated the situation."Phoolka, while ad...

New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) In her memoir ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi offers a personal account of the political storm surrounding the Shah Bano case and reveals how deeply she disagreed with the government’s approach to the issue.Sonia recalls questioning her husband, then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, over ‘his government's handling’ of the controversy. ‘Disturbed’ by newspaper and magazine reports, she was particularly concerned by allegations that the government was compromising the rights of Muslim women. Several prominent women’s rights activists, including Muslim women, had also publicly supported Shah Bano’s claim to maintenance.Describing her reaction, Sonia writes: “I argued with him and questioned him: The papers are accusing you of sacrificing Mus...

Agartala, Nov 10 (IANS) Ahead of the November 27 Urban Local Body (ULB) elections, 77 ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates have been declared elected unopposed by the Tripura State Election Commission (SEC) following the conclusion of the withdrawal of candidature process on Tuesday afternoon. A senior SEC official said that as no opposition or other political parties had fielded candidates in the 65 seats across five municipal bodies -- Kamalpur in Dhalai district, Santir Bazar in South Tripura district, and Ranir Bazar, Jirania and Mohanpur in West Tripura district -- all 65 BJP candidates had been declared elected unopposed.Besides, BJP candidates won 12 more seats in three municipal bodies in Ambassa in Dhalai district, Teliamura in Khowai district and Bishalgarh in Sepahijal...

Bhopal/Shahdol, Nov 10 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of three teenagers who drowned in a pond in Shahdol district a day earlier.Yadav expressed grief over the incident and said he had directed officials to provide the assistance from the Chief Minister's discretionary fund.In a post on social media, the Chief Minister described the deaths as "extremely heartbreaking" and said, "I pay my humble tribute to them and extend my deepest condolences to their families." "I have directed that financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each be provided to the families of the deceased from the Chief Minister's discretionary fund," he said.The incident took place on Monday evening between 7.30 p.m. and 7.45 p.m. a...

Bhopal, Nov 10 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Madhya Pradesh government will organise a series of programmes across the state to highlight the contributions of tribal freedom fighters and promote tribal heritage during Tribal Pride Week from November 11 to 18, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Tuesday.The celebrations will centre on the birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda on November 15, with major events scheduled in Jabalpur on November 14, Dhar on November 15, and Khandwa on November 16. Addressing a press conference at the State BJP headquarters, Chief Minister Yadav said the initiative was aimed at making younger generations aware of the struggles and sacrifices of tribal leaders and their contribution to the country's history. He added that the BJP had worke...

Bengaluru, Nov 10 (IANS) The Karnataka government has begun preparations to organise a state-level Constitution Day celebration in Mysuru on November 26, with plans being made to bring together around 1.3 lakh people for the event.Agriculture Minister P.M. Narendra Swamy on Tuesday directed officials to ensure that the programme was organised efficiently and without any lapses.Speaking at a preparatory meeting convened by Social Welfare Minister K.H. Muniyappa at Dr B.R. Ambedkar Bhavan in Bengaluru, Narendra Swamy said Constitution Day should be celebrated in a distinctive manner across the state and should convey a strong political message.He said district in-charge ministers should take responsibility for bringing people to the programme and arranging transportation. The government sh...

Patna, Nov 10 (IANS) The Bihar Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, on Tuesday approved 31 proposals, including an increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees and pensioners ahead of the Chhath festival.As a pre-Chhath gift, the Bihar government has raised DA for employees and pensioners covered under different pay commission scales.Those receiving salaries or pensions under the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) will now get DA at 63 per cent, up from 60 per cent.For beneficiaries under the 5th CPC, the rate has been increased from 483 per cent to 497 per cent, while those covered by the 6th CPC will receive 269 per cent instead of 262 per cent.In another major decision, the state Cabinet approved the launch of the 'Bihar Ki Beti Startup Challenge' scheme,...