asd
Home Blog Page 22

Manipur Budget 2024-2025: Key Highlights and Economic Initiatives by CM Biren Singh


1. CM N. Biren Singh presented Manipur’s 2024-2025 budget, totaling Rs 34,899 crores in gross expenditure.
2. He highlighted the economic impact of recent unrest, including reduced revenue and increased security costs.
3. Singh emphasized ongoing efforts to recover the economy as normalcy returns.


Imphal, July 31: The sixth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced today, with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who also oversees finance, presenting the budget estimates for 2024-2025, totaling Rs 34,899 crores in gross expenditure.

In his budget speech, CM Biren Singh highlighted the economic impact of recent unrest, noting reduced revenue collection, increased security and relief expenses, inflation, and difficulties in moving goods and services.

He emphasized ongoing efforts to recover the economy as normalcy returns.

Key Budget Figures:

  • Total Gross Expenditure: Rs 34,899 crores from the state’s consolidated fund.
  • Revenue Expenditure: Rs 20,628 crores.
  • Capital Outlay: Rs 8,616 crores.
  • Fiscal Deficit: Estimated at Rs 1,526 crores, or 3% of GSDP.
  • Outstanding Debt: Projected at 35% of GSDP for 2024-2025.
  • Total Receipts: Estimated at Rs 34,815 crores.
  • Revenue Receipts: Rs 27,716 crores.
  • Capital Receipts: Rs 7,099 crores.
  • State’s Tax Receipts: Rs 2,470 crores.
  • Non-Tax Receipts: Rs 300 crores.

Also Read: Assam: Massive Cache of Weapons Seized Along Indo-Bhutan Border, Investigation Underway

Biren Singh acknowledged significant support from the central government to mitigate the state’s revenue loss. This included:

  • Special Assistance for Revenue Loss: Rs 500 crores.
  • Externally Aided Project Funding: Rs 565 crores for infrastructure projects in 2023-2024.
  • Security-Related Expenditures: Over Rs 150 crores.
  • Special Relief Package: Rs 101.75 crores for relief camps and Rs 209.45 crores for relief and rehabilitation schemes.
  • Temporary Shelter Scheme: Rs 145.18 crores for 3,000 shelters for displaced families.

Developmental Projects:

  • DevINE Scheme: Infrastructure development for Dhanamanjuri University (Rs 71 crores) and Manipur Technical University (Rs 54 crores), with work starting this year.
  • Flood Management and Border Area Program: Rs 220 crores allocated for flood management in 10 river basins, with ongoing progress reported.

CM Biren Singh stressed the importance of these measures and projects in fostering Manipur’s economic recovery and development.

Assam: Massive Cache of Weapons Seized Along Indo-Bhutan Border, Investigation Underway


1. Farmers in Shalbari village No. 2, Chirang district, discovered advanced weaponry in their fields.
2. The cache included an AK-56 rifle and three magazines, all wrapped in plastic.
3. Authorities have initiated an investigation, suspecting links to past militant activities.


Guwahati, July 31: In a shocking revelation, farmers in Shalbari village No. 2, near the Indo-Bhutan border in Chirang district, unearthed advanced weaponry while working in their fields.

Among the finds were an AK-56 rifle and three magazines, all wrapped in plastic.

The discovery caused significant alarm and confusion among villagers.


Also Read: Top Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Killed in Iran, Group Blames Israel

The farmers immediately reported the find to the Runikhata police station. Authorities quickly arrived, recovered the rusted firearms, and transported them to the station for further investigation.

Police have launched a thorough investigation into the incident.

Initial theories suggest the weapons may have been buried by a former insurgent group, possibly linking them to past militant activities in the area.

Top Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Killed in Iran, Group Blames Israel


1. Top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed early Wednesday after his residence in Tehran was targeted, according to a statement by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as reported by Reuters.
2. Hamas, the Palestinian group engaged in conflict with Israel in Gaza, claimed that an “Israeli” raid killed Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards at his Tehran residence.
3. In a statement, Hamas described Haniyeh’s death as the result of “a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran.”


Tehran, July 31: Top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed early Wednesday after his residence in Tehran was targeted, according to a statement by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as reported by Reuters.

Hamas, the Palestinian group engaged in conflict with Israel in Gaza, claimed that an “Israeli” raid killed Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards at his Tehran residence.

In a statement, Hamas described Haniyeh’s death as the result of “a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran.”

Following Haniyeh’s killing, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council convened an emergency meeting at Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s residence, a rare occurrence reserved for extraordinary situations, according to US media citing two Iranian officials. The meeting included the chief of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force.


Also Read: Lakshman Prasad Acharya Takes Oath as Manipur Governor

On Tuesday, Haniyeh, who directed Hamas’s political operations from exile in Qatar, attended the inauguration of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and met with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel stated its military was “fully prepared for any scenario,” The New York Times reported. Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, “We prefer to resolve hostilities without a wider war.”

During the Israel-Gaza conflict, Haniyeh played a role as a negotiator in ceasefire talks. Hamas alleged in April that Israeli airstrikes had killed three of Haniyeh’s sons and four of his grandchildren.

Hamas’s military wing is led by Yahya Sinwar, believed to be the mastermind behind the October 7 attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.

The news of Haniyeh’s death follows the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) claim of killing Fuad Shukr, a senior commander of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, who Israel said was responsible for a drone strike that killed 12 children in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Who Was Ismail Haniyeh?

The 62-year-old Haniyeh was born in a refugee camp near Gaza City. He joined Hamas in the late 1980s, quickly rising through the ranks to become a close associate of Hamas’s founder and spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

Haniyeh served multiple sentences in Israeli prisons during the 1980s and 1990s. After Hamas’s victory in the 2006 legislative election, he became the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority government but was dismissed by President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007.

In 2017, Haniyeh was elected head of Hamas’s political wing. That same year, he was designated a “specially designated global terrorist” by the United States.

Lakshman Prasad Acharya Takes Oath as Manipur Governor


1. Lakshman Prasad Acharya, the newly appointed Governor of Manipur, took the oath of office on July 31 in the Darbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan, Imphal.
2. The oath was administered by Justice Siddharth Mridul, Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court.
3. Acharya was warmly received by Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and other officials upon his arrival.


Imphal, July 31: Lakshman Prasad Acharya, the newly appointed Governor of Manipur, took the oath of office on July 31 in the Darbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan, Imphal.

The oath was administered by Justice Siddharth Mridul, Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court.

Acharya arrived in Imphal on July 30 and was warmly received by Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Th. Satyabrata Singh, various ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary Dr. Vineet Joshi, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh, and other senior officials at the Raj Bhavan.


Also Read: PM Modi Commend Assam’s Recruitment Model, Urges Other States to Follow Suit

In addition to his role as the Governor of Manipur, Acharya has also been appointed as the Governor of Assam. He took the oath as Assam Governor on July 30 in Guwahati.

The oath was administered by Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Vijay Bishnoi, at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra, in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, cabinet ministers, and other dignitaries.

PM Modi Commends Assam’s Recruitment Model, Urges Other States to Follow Suit


1. PM Modi has endorsed Assam’s government job recruitment model, urging other states to study and emulate it.
2. Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika highlighted the endorsement in a tweet, praising the model’s success.
3. The model successfully hired nearly 100,000 government employees without any legal disputes.


Guwahati, July 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has endorsed Assam’s government job recruitment model, urging other states to study and emulate it.

This endorsement was highlighted in a tweet by Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika, who praised the model’s success in hiring nearly 100,000 government employees without any legal disputes.

During a recent conclave of BJP chief ministers in New Delhi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma received accolades from senior party members and fellow chief ministers for this remarkable achievement.

Prime Minister Modi’s attention was particularly drawn to the seamless execution of the recruitment process, which was free from controversy or public dissatisfaction.

In recognition of this success, Sarma presented the recruitment strategy at the conclave. Prime Minister Modi then directed central government officials to gather comprehensive details from Assam’s state officials.

Additionally, the Assam team was tasked with sharing their effective approach with other BJP-ruled states to foster broader implementation of this efficient model.


Also Read: Nagaland: Students’ Body Urges CM Neiphiu Rio to Reconsider Non-Naga Candidature in ULBs

Before 2021, Assam’s public sector recruitment faced significant hurdles, with inefficiencies, confusion due to concurrent examinations by different departments, and numerous court cases regarding examination procedures and reservation policies.

These issues severely undermined the recruitment process’s credibility.

Under Chief Minister Sarma’s leadership, the government implemented a transparent and cost-effective centralised recruitment system.

This reform introduced direct recruitment commissions for analogous posts and state-level recruitment commissions for Class III and IV positions.

A combined appointment procedure grouped vacant posts by qualification and conducted common written examinations, standardising the evaluation process and reducing costs.

Despite facing challenges in coordinating with 48 different departments and managing written tests for 1.4 million candidates, the centralised recruitment initiative led to substantial improvements in efficiency and transparency, marking a significant milestone in Assam’s public sector employment strategy.

Nagaland: Students’ Body Urges CM Neiphiu Rio to Reconsider Non-Naga Candidature in ULBs


1. The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has urged Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio to reconsider including non-Nagas as government nominees in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
2. NSF stressed the importance of Indigenous representation for decisions affecting citizens’ daily lives through these governance platforms.
3. The federation highlighted that ULBs are crucial for local governance and should reflect the needs and aspirations of indigenous communities.


Kohima July 30: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has called on Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to reconsider the proposed inclusion of non-Nagas as government nominees in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

The NSF emphasized that decisions impacting citizens’ daily lives are made through these platforms, which are crucial for local governance.

In a letter to the CM, the federation highlighted the need for indigenous representation, stating, “For these decisions to genuinely reflect the needs and aspirations of the people, the representatives must be closely aligned with the local indigenous communities.”

The NSF argued that Indigenous representation is essential not only for presence but also for preserving the unique identity, culture, and historical context of the Naga people.

They stressed that reservations in ULBs should be exclusively for indigenous Nagas of Nagaland to maintain the integrity and agency of the Naga people in local decision-making processes.


Also Read: Manipur CM N Biren Singh Meets PM Modi in New Delhi: Reports

The federation pointed out that including non-indigenous individuals in these reserved categories dilutes the representation of the Naga community and undermines the purpose of these reservations.

They emphasized that the Naga identity is linked to land, traditions, and self-governance, and it is crucial to preserve Naga culture and governance.

“Allowing non-indigenous individuals to occupy positions meant for Indigenous representatives poses a threat to the preservation of our unique cultural and social fabric. Our governance structures must reflect our identity and cater to the needs and aspirations of the indigenous Naga populace,” the letter stated.

While advocating for the rights and representation of indigenous Nagas, the NSF also upheld the principles of inclusivity and equality.

However, they stressed that inclusivity should not compromise the rights of the indigenous Naga people.

The federation urged the Nagaland CM to ensure that reservations within ULBs remain exclusively for indigenous Naga individuals of Nagaland, safeguarding their identity, culture, and governance.

“We trust in your commitment to uphold the democratic principles and the rights of the indigenous people of Nagaland. We look forward to your positive response and action on this matter,” they concluded.

Manipur CM N Biren Singh Meets PM Modi in New Delhi: Reports


1. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.
2. The brief, closed-door meeting lasted about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also attended, but other officials were excluded.


New Delhi, July 29: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.

The brief, closed-door meeting, lasting about 15 to 20 minutes, also included Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh but excluded other officials.

The primary focus of the discussion was the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which has plagued the state since last year.


Also Read: Meghalaya: Government Vehicle Destroyed in Arson Attack in Shillong

Sources indicated that the meeting took place alongside a special conclave for Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states, designed to develop a strategy for resolving the conflict.

Chief Minister Singh, who has been in Delhi for several days, is expected to return to Imphal soon.

Although the meeting was brief, it addressed immediate action points, suggesting that a comprehensive resolution will require further extensive dialogue and planning with central government officials.

The crisis in Manipur has resulted in around 60,000 people being displaced and living in relief camps, with severe disruptions to education, healthcare, and essential services.

Additionally, ten elected legislators from the Kuki community have abstained from assembly sessions for over a year due to security concerns.

Meghalaya: Government Vehicle Destroyed in Arson Attack in Shillong


1. A government-owned Gypsy was destroyed by arson in Shillong’s Nongmynsong early on July 29.
2. The vehicle, ML 01 5989, belonged to the Public Works Department (PWD) and was fully burned.
3. The incident occurred around 3 am near the Nongmensong Umkdait post office.


Shillong, July 29: In Shillong, a government-owned Gypsy was destroyed by an arson attack in Nongmynsong early on July 29.

The vehicle, registered as ML 01 5989 and owned by the Public Works Department (PWD), was completely consumed by the fire.


Also Read: Assam: Ex-APSC Chairman Rakesh Pal Sentenced to 14 Years, 32 Others Convicted

The incident occurred around 3 am near the Nongmensong Umkdait post office.

Emergency services arrived too late to prevent the extensive damage. Authorities have initiated an investigation and are working to identify those responsible.

A case has been filed.

Assam: Ex-APSC Chairman Rakesh Pal Sentenced to 14 Years, 32 Others Convicted


1. Ramita Jindal qualified for the Women’s 10m Air Rifle medal round at Paris 2024.
2. She is the second female shooter in 20 years to achieve this, after Manu Bhaker.
3. Elavenil Valarivan missed out on qualifying for the medal round.


Guwahati, July 29: The quantum of punishment for the 32 people convicted in the cash-for-jobs case related to the appointment of agricultural development officers (ADO) in Assam was delivered on July 29.

Former APSC chairman Rakesh Pal has been sentenced to 14 years in jail with a fine of Rs 2 lakh. Basanta Kumar Doley and Samedur Rahman received 10-year jail terms and fines of Rs 50,000 each. The remaining 29 candidates have been sentenced to 4 years in jail with fines of Rs 10,000 each.

On July 22, the court convicted 32 people, including former Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) chairman Rakesh Pal, under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The case was filed at the Bhangagarh police station in 2017.

After hearing all the convicts, the court decided to pronounce the quantum of punishment.


Also Read: Assam’s State Power Companies Achieve Profitability Under Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Leadership

Judge Thakuria acquitted 11 other accused for lack of evidence, while APSC member Binita Rynjha turned approver. The case involved 44 accused, including four commission members, one employee, three middlemen, and 36 candidates.

The case began when a candidate who failed to qualify for the job filed a complaint alleging that another candidate’s marks were increased in exchange for money. An investigation was launched based on this complaint.

Paul and other APSC members and officials were arrested in connection with another cash-for-jobs case related to the Combined Competitive Examinations (CCE) for recruiting civil and police officials.

Since 2016, the Assam Police have arrested nearly 70 people, including Paul and 57 civil service officials, concerning such irregularities.

Assam’s State Power Companies Achieve Profitability Under Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Leadership


1. Assam’s three power companies, once loss-making, are now top-performing under CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
2. 311 households in Assam now have 1,073 kW capacity installed under the PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
3. Chief Minister Sarma announced these achievements, highlighting the state’s progress in power utilities.


Guwahati, July 29: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Assam’s three power companies, which were loss-making until three years ago, are now among the best-performing state-owned utilities in the country.

Speaking at an event, Sarma said, “Until three years ago, our power utilities were dependent on government support. We had to divert funds reserved for medicines and school students to keep the power companies running, buying electricity, and paying salaries. However, with our efforts over the last three years, these companies have transitioned to profit-earning entities. Today, our power companies, including APDCL and AEGCL, are recognized as some of the best in the nation.”

Earlier, the Chief Minister announced that under the PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, a total capacity of 1,073 kW has been installed across 311 households in Assam.

With strong support outlined in the Interim Budget 2024 and Union Budget 2024, a significant number of households are expected to adopt this scheme.


Also Read: Paris 2024: Ramita Jindal Makes History by Reaching 10m Air Rifle Final

To ensure affordability, the government plans to provide substantial subsidies directly to people’s bank accounts and offer highly concessional bank loans.

PM Modi emphasized that citizens would not bear any cost burden. The scheme will integrate all stakeholders through a National Online Portal.

To encourage widespread adoption, urban local bodies and panchayats will receive incentives for promoting rooftop solar systems in their respective areas. Modi highlighted that the initiative would contribute to increased income, reduced power bills, and employment generation.

- Advertisement -