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Did Mamata Banerjee’s Mic Get Turned Off? NITI Aayog Responds To Controversy

July 27, 2024, 10:24 pm

The NITI Aayog meeting on Saturday, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sparked a major controversy when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that her microphone was turned off while she was speaking. Here’s what happened and the responses from various officials.

Mamata Banerjee’s Allegations:

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that she was allowed to speak for only a few minutes before her microphone was turned off. She walked out of the meeting in New Delhi, expressing her frustration and claiming discrimination. Banerjee stated, “I was speaking, my mic was stopped. This is not only the insult of Bengal but also of all regional parties.”

BJP’s Response:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, rejected Banerjee’s claims. They stated that all participants were given equal time to speak, and that Mamata’s reaction was “premeditated.” According to the BJP, each chief minister was allotted seven minutes to speak for their respective states.

NITI Aayog’s Explanation:

#WATCH | After the NITI Aayog meeting, CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam says, “…We had 10 absentees and 26 participants. We had absentees from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Puducherry. The chief minister of West Bengal… pic.twitter.com/dedCuQOHca

— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2024

During a press conference after the meeting, NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam clarified the situation. He explained that every chief minister had a seven-minute speaking slot, with the time displayed on a screen. He stated, “After her allotted time was up, Mamata said, ‘I would like to speak for a few more minutes but I would not.'”

Subrahmanyam also mentioned that Mamata had requested to speak before lunchtime due to her travel schedule, and her slot was adjusted accordingly. “The chief minister of West Bengal had made a request to be given a turn before lunchtime. We adjusted and the Defence Minister called her in just before Gujarat,” he said.

Absentees and Boycotts:

The meeting had 26 participants and 10 absentees. Chief ministers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Puducherry did not attend. Subrahmanyam noted that not all absentees were due to boycott reasons, citing last-minute dropouts.

Participants’ Observations:

Chief ministers who participated in the meeting told News18 that once Mamata’s seven-minute time was over, a bell rang, and she quickly left. They noted that other chief ministers who exceeded their time were given extensions by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Conclusion:

The controversy surrounding Mamata Banerjee’s mic at the NITI Aayog meeting has led to differing accounts from various officials. While Banerjee claims discrimination, NITI Aayog and BJP leaders assert that she was given her allotted time and that her early departure was unplanned.

Key Takeaway:

The conflicting narratives highlight the ongoing tensions between state and central governments in India, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and procedural fairness in high-stakes political meetings.

PM Modi To Chair NITI Aayog Meeting Today: Who Is Attending And Who Is Not?

July 27, 2024, 7:23 am

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the ninth governing council meeting of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) on Saturday, July 27. The council, the apex decision-making body of NITI Aayog, includes chief ministers from all states, lieutenant governors of union territories, and several union ministers, with Modi serving as the chairman. The meeting aims to foster participative governance and strengthen cooperation between the Centre and state governments.

Chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, including Maharashtra’s Eknath Shinde, Uttar Pradesh’s Yogi Adityanath, Arunachal Pradesh’s Pema Khandu and deputy CM Chowna Mein, Tripura’s Manik Saha, Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma, Odisha’s Mohan Charan Majhi, Chhattisgarh’s Vishnu Deo Sai, Gujarat’s Bhupendra Patel, and Meghalaya’s Conrad Sangma, are expected to attend. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are also slated to participate. However, Banerjee has expressed concerns about what she perceives as a “step-motherly attitude” of the Centre towards opposition-ruled states in the Union Budget 2024-25 and plans to address this issue during the meeting.

Banerjee stated, “I intend to discuss the neglect of opposition-ruled states in the budget. If I’m allowed to speak, I will; if not, I will protest and leave.”

Several opposition leaders, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Himachal Pradesh’s Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah, Telangana’s Revanth Reddy, Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann, Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan, and Puducherry’s N Rangasamy, have opted to boycott the event. The attendance of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren remains uncertain.

The meeting will primarily focus on the ‘Approach Paper’ for the vision document on ‘Viksit Bharat @2047,’ outlining India’s developmental roadmap. It will also discuss recommendations from the third National Conference of chief secretaries held last December, covering critical themes such as drinking water access, quality and quantity, electricity reliability, healthcare affordability, quality education, and digitization of land and property records. Other topics on the agenda include cyber security, the aspirational districts and blocks programme, the role of states in governance, and the potential of AI in public administration.

This gathering represents a significant opportunity for dialogue and collaboration, aimed at enhancing the quality of life for India’s rural and urban populations through improved government intervention delivery mechanisms.

Decision By CM Shinde Opposed By Ajit Pawar’s MLAs

July 27, 2024, 2:29 am

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to establish Onion Mahabanks in the state, with locations planned for Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Solapur in Maharashtra.

However, this decision has been opposed by MLAs from Ajit Pawar’s faction. These MLAs have demanded a reduction in the 40 per cent export duty imposed on onions instead of creating the Mahabank.Opponents claim there is a lack of coordination between the three-party government currently in the state, with the assembly elections approaching. Sources indicate that there was an argument between BJP MLA and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar during a Cabinet meeting. Subsequently, it was revealed that Ajit Pawar’s MLAs opposed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s decision to create the Mahabank for onions.

Ajit Pawar’s MLAs argue that reducing the export duty on onions would be more beneficial for onion farmers. They have requested that the Chief Minister raise the issue of onion export duty at the upcoming Niti Aayog meeting in Delhi. They believe that while the concept of the Onion Mahabank is good, it is costly and will not provide significant benefits to onion farmers. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Grand Alliance faced the consequences of the onion farmers’ anger. Therefore, Ajit Pawar’s MLAs have urged the state government to provide relief to these farmers before the assembly elections.

Mamta Breaks Oppn Ranks To Join Meeting

July 27, 2024, 1:03 am

In a surprise move, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today flew to New Delhi to attend the NITI Aayog meeting, breaking ranks with other Opposition leaders who have announced that they would boycott the event.

The meeting, to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, will focus on the ‘Vikshit Bharat@2047’ initiative aimed at making India a developed nation by 2047.
Banerjee’s decision to attend marks a notable departure from the stance taken by several Opposition Chief Ministers, including MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu), Siddaramaiah (Karnataka), Revanth Reddy (Telangana), Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala) Bhagwant Mann (Punjab) and Sukhvinder Sukhu (Himachal Pradesh), who protested the Union Budget 2024-25, citing it as extremely discriminatory towards their States and against federal principles and had announced their decision to skip the meeting as a mark of protest.

Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by her nephew and Trinamool Congress MP-cum-national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, left for Delhi on Friday afternoon, advancing her trip to the national capital by a day.

“I will stay at the meeting for a while. If I get an opportunity to deliver my speech at the meeting and record my protest against the discrimination and political bias against the Opposition-ruled States in the Budget besides the conspiracy that is being hatched to divide Bengal and its neighbouring States, I will do so. Else, I will walk out of the meeting,” the Chief Minister said.

Speaking to the media before leaving for New Delhi, Banerjee said that the NITI Aayog asked to submit the written speech seven days before the meeting, following which the Budget was placed.

“All Opposition-ruled States, including Bengal, have been totally deprived in this Budget. The Centre has taken a step-motherly attitude towards these states. I cannot accept such discrimination and political bias against us,” Banerjee said.

Mamata Banerjee Calls For Abolition Of NITI Aayog Before PM Modi’s Meeting

July 26, 2024, 6:28 pm

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged on Friday the closure of NITI Aayog, the national government think tank established in 2015 by Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) administration. She urged that the Planning Commission, which is responsible for developing Five-Year Plans, be reinstated.

“Stop this niti Aayog. It does not do anything other than convene meetings. Bring back the Planning Commission,” Banerjee spoke in the capital a day before she is scheduled to attend the NITI Aayog conference convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

When asked why she is attending the NITI Aayog conference while some of her coalition partners have opted to boycott, Banerjee replied, “There is no reason to come, and I had cancelled my programme due to their budget. But Abhishek and others persuaded me, and I spoke with Hemant, who was also coming.”

The issue is cooperation. Although each state has its own set of goals, I support federalism. The BJP aims to divide the country. “Their leaders are talking about dividing,” she stated, alluding to Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar’s remarks on north Bengal.

Majumdar requested to PM Modi on Wednesday that northern West Bengal, due to its similarities to the Northeast area, be placed in the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern area (DoNER) to permit additional development money for various regional projects.

“If the BJP doesn’t listen to the verdict of the people, then it is their choice. All opposition-ruled states are deprived. You can give the special package to your friends but can’t deprive others,” she added.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Leader M K Stalin, Kerala’s Chief Minister and CPI(M) Leader Pinnarayi Vijayan, and the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab and Delhi administrations have all indicated that they will boycott the conference.

PM Modi to Chair 9th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting on Saturday

July 26, 2024, 5:25 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to preside over the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog on Saturday, which will take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, as announced by the government think tank on Friday.

The theme for this year’s meeting is ‘Viksit Bharat@2047,’ with the primary objective of transforming India into a developed nation.

During the session, participants will review the Approach Paper for the Vision Document related to Viksit Bharat @2047. The discussions will emphasize promoting collaborative governance and enhancing cooperation between the central and state governments. This collaboration aims to improve the quality of life for both rural and urban communities by refining the delivery mechanisms for government services.

The meeting will also focus on the states’ contributions towards realizing the Viksit Bharat @2047 goal. India is progressing towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy, with its GDP projected to exceed USD 5 trillion, and with aspirations to reach a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047. Achieving this vision will necessitate joint efforts from both central and state governments, and the 9th Governing Council Meeting is designed to establish a strategic plan for this goal.

The governing council will also address the recommendations from the 3rd National Conference of Chief Secretaries, which took place from December 27-29, 2023. The conference included special sessions on critical topics such as cybersecurity, the aspirational districts and blocks program, the role of states, and the application of AI in governance.

The Chief Secretaries Conference, which preceded the 9th Governing Council Meeting, involved comprehensive discussions on these key themes to prepare for the upcoming session. The Prime Minister, as the Chairperson of NITI Aayog, will be joined by Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors of States and Union Territories, Union Ministers as ex-officio members and special invitees, and the Vice Chairman and Members of NITI Aayog.

Niti Aayog Reorganized: New Members Include Shivraj Singh Chouhan, HD Kumaraswamy, Chirag Paswan

July 17, 2024, 3:52 am

The Central government on Tuesday reorganized the composition of the Niti Aayog, including representatives from the National Democratic Alliance’s ally parties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains the chairperson, with no changes to the Vice Chairman and other full-time members. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is now an ex officio member, while Union ministers JP Nadda, HD Kumaraswamy, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Ram Mohan Naidu, Jual Oram, Chirag Paswan, and Annapurna Devi have been added as special invitees.

“In continuation of Cabinet Secretariat notification… the Prime Minister has approved the revised composition of NITI Aayog,” a notification from the Rashtrapati Bhawan said.

Meanwhile, Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Anurag Thakur, who were inducted into the commission last year, did not retain their seats this year. According to a notification from Rashtrapati Bhawan, Suman K Bery will continue as the Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog, alongside full-time members VK Saraswat, Ramesh Chand, VK Paul, and Arvind Virmani.

NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Informs UN: India To Meet SDG Targets Ahead Of 2030 Deadline

July 16, 2024, 11:53 am

During the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) General Debate, Suman K Bery, Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, highlighted India’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Bery noted that India is on track to meet SDG Goal 1.2, which aims to halve the poverty rate, well before the 2030 target.

Bery shared that between 2015-16 and 2019-21, about 135 million Indians rose out of multidimensional poverty. This achievement was due to the integration of social safety nets, infrastructure development, and financial inclusion programs. He pointed out that the SDG index compiled by NITI Aayog shows continued national progress for 2023-24, even in less affluent states.

He attributed India’s success to key national programs such as large-scale delivery of physical and digital infrastructure, targeted national safety net programs with digital delivery to reduce fraud, enhanced women’s empowerment, and improved program delivery in underdeveloped regions. Bery also highlighted the importance of reviewing SDGs focused on poverty, hunger, environmental protection, peace, justice, and partnerships, especially given recent setbacks in some areas.

Bery noted that over 500 million Indians now benefit from cashless health insurance, with out-of-pocket health expenses dropping from 63% in 2014 to 39% in 2024. Additionally, India provided free food supplies to over 800 million citizens during the pandemic, making it the largest food security program in the world.

He also emphasized India’s significant investments in renewable energy and the decarbonization of its economy, despite having one of the lowest per capita emissions globally. Bery concluded by stressing the importance of partnerships in achieving SDG 17, especially during India’s G20 Presidency.

India Sees Surge in Ethanol Production from Maize and Rice, Shifts from Sugar

June 27, 2024, 12:29 pm

India has reportedly seen a rise in ethanol production from grains like maize, surpassing that from sugar, as part of the government’s shift away from sugar-based ethanol production. According to sources familiar with the data, the proportion of ethanol derived from grains has reached 51% for the period from November 2023 to October 2024, up from 37.4% in the previous year.

As of June 9, India’s total ethanol production stood at 357.12 crore litres, with 175.74 crore litres from sugar and 181.38 crore litres from grains. Maize alone contributed 110.82 crore litres, with additional quantities sourced from damaged foodgrain and surplus rice managed by the Food Corporation of India, according to sources.

The government aims to achieve a 20% ethanol blend in petrol by 2025-26, with current blending rates at 12.7% against a 15% target for this year. This move is aimed at reducing India’s reliance on imported crude oil.

The government’s policy shift away from sugar-based ethanol is primarily driven by concerns over sugarcane’s high water consumption. According to reports, cultivating one acre of sugarcane, yielding 60-80 tonnes, requires approximately nine lakh litres of water bi-monthly on average.

Meeting the ethanol blending target for 2025 would necessitate significant additional resources—1320 million tons of sugarcane, 19 million hectares of land, and 348 billion cubic metres of water, according to estimates from Mongabay-India and NITI Aayog.

Kharge criticises idea of ‘One Nation, One Poll’

January 20, 2024, 9:11 am

The president of the Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, shared his thoughts on One Nation One Election and stated that he is against holding simultaneous elections in a parliamentary system of governance. Kharge suggested that the High Power Committee, which was established to investigate the notion, be dissolved and that the concept be abandoned in a letter to Niten Chandra, the Secretary of the High-Level Committee of One Nation One Election.

Kharge argued that simultaneous elections contradict the principles of federalism outlined in the Constitution and its basic structure. He emphasized this point in his letter, stating, “On behalf of the Congress party and the people of the country, I humbly request the Chairman of the High-Level Committee not to allow his persona and the office of former President of India to be abused by the Union Government to subvert the constitution and parliamentary democracy in this country.”

The Congress president raised concerns about the potential dissolution of legislative assemblies still in the middle of their terms, characterizing it as a betrayal of the electorate in those states. He emphasized that in a parliamentary system, there is no place for simultaneous elections.

Regarding the synchronization of state assemblies with the Parliament for simultaneous elections, Kharge criticized the reliance on the Niti Aayog report, describing it as neither a constitutional nor a statutory body. He pointed out the alleged malicious interpretation of the constitution by the Niti Aayog, suggesting the curtailment or extension of state assembly tenures.

Kharge dismissed the argument that the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct affects welfare schemes or development works, calling it baseless. He added that pre-existing schemes continue during elections, and the Election Commission can approve disbursements of these schemes.

Addressing the claim that the cost of conducting elections is excessively high, Kharge deemed it “baseless” by highlighting that election expenses make up a small percentage of the total Union budget. He noted that when elections are held separately for state assemblies, the respective states bear the full cost.

The Central government established a high-level committee, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, to study the concept of simultaneous polls. Last year, the government sought suggestions from national and state parties on holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies.

Good News! India to Achieve Single-Digit Poverty Rate by 2024-25

January 15, 2024, 5:28 pm

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) has released the latest report on ‘Multidimensional Poverty in India 2022-2023’ which shows a steep decline in the poverty ratio in the span of nine years.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the poverty headcount ratio has reduced from 29.17 percent in 2013-14 to 11.28 percent in 2022-23, which means 24.82 crore individuals are estimated to have escaped multidimensional poverty in the last nine years.

As per the latest report, Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 5.94 crore people escaping poverty. Followed by the state of Bihar at 3.77 crore and Madhya Pradesh at 2.30 crore.Informing that the multidimensional poverty report is based on the improvement in health, education and standard of living.

The report also clarifies that the reduction in poverty might differ due to various reasons, and since a part of NFHS-5 data were collected before the pandemic, the estimates present in the paper may not fully reflect the impact of Covid on the economy and implications of subsequent government interventions.

Former Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya appointed head of 16th Finance Commission

December 31, 2023, 4:35 pm

Arvind Panagariya, formerly the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog and a Columbia University Professor, has been designated as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, as per the official notification from the Union Ministry of Finance. The commission is tasked with advising on the allocation of tax proceeds between the Union and the States.

From January 2015 to August 2017, Panagariya held the position of the inaugural Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, equivalent to the rank of a Cabinet Minister. During this period, he also represented India as the G20 Sherpa, leading the negotiations for G20 communiques in the presidencies of Turkey (2015), China (2016), and Germany (2017).

Panagariya, a former Chief Economist of the Asian Development Bank, has an extensive background, having been part of the faculty at the University of Maryland at College Park from 1978 to 2003. He also contributed to international organizations such as the World Bank, IMF, and UNCTAD, in various capacities, and holds a Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University.

The Finance Commission’s Secretary, Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey, affiliated with the finance ministry, was also mentioned in the notification. The Chairman and other members are slated to serve until the submission of the report or October 31, 2025, whichever is earlier.

The commission, as outlined in the notification, has the authority to reassess the current financing arrangements for disaster management initiatives, particularly in relation to funds established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (53 of 2005), and provide suitable recommendations. The final report, covering a span of five years from April 1, 2026, is expected to be released by October 31, 2025.

PM Modi to chair NITI Aayog governing council meet tomorrow

May 26, 2023, 4:27 pm

The Eighth Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, the government’s policy think tank, is scheduled to take place in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on Saturday. The meeting will focus on the main theme of ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Role of Team India’, as stated by the think tank in an official statement.

Additionally, significant topics such as Thrust on MSMEs, Infrastructure and Investments, “Minimising Compliances, Women Empowerment, Health and Nutrition, Skill Development, and Gati Shakti for Area Development and Social Infrastructure will be discussed during the day-long meeting.

The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also serves as the chairman of NITI Aayog, according to a statement released by the organization. The event will be attended by chief ministers or lieutenant governors from all states and Union Territories, Union Ministers as ex-officio members, as well as the vice chairman and members of NITI Aayog.

In preparation for the Eighth Governing Council Meeting, the second Chief Secretaries Conference took place in January 2023, where these topics were extensively deliberated upon.

Kejriwal writes to PM Modi, to skip Niti Aayog meeting

May 26, 2023, 4:11 pm

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in writing that he will not attend the upcoming Niti Aayog conference.

What use is it, Kejriwal questioned, to attend the Niti Aayog meeting when “cooperative federalism is a joke”?

“People want to know where they can turn for justice if the PM doesn’t follow the Supreme Court. The leader of the Aam Aadmi Party penned a letter to Prime Minister Modi asking, “What’s the sense of attending Niti Aayog meetings when cooperative federalism is a joke.

The Niti Aayog conference, which is slated for May 27, will discuss a number of topics, including infrastructure development, women’s empowerment, skill development, and health, with the goal of making India a developed country by 2047.

The council, the apex body of Niti Aayog, includes all chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and several Union ministers.

Apart from Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have also decided that they will not take part in the May 27 meeting.

NITI Aayog Member visits the State Emergency Response Centre in Haryana.

January 17, 2023, 2:13 pm

V.K. Paul, NITI Aayog member visited the Centralized State Emergency Response Centre, ‘Haryana 112’, in Panchkula, Haryana. Haryana 112 is a historic initiative of the government of Haryana, aids citizens in distress in the shortest possible time. Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Government of Haryana G. Anupama and Director, National Health Mission Prabhjot Singh also accompanied during the visit.

During his visit, Paul commended the efforts of the Haryana Government and the ERSS Haryana Team for establishing and smoothly running world-class Emergency Response Operations in an integrated mode. He also hailed ERSS Haryana for providing exceptional services to all people in distress and cited it as a model for the nation to emulate in the future.

Mansukh Mandaviya to hold meeting with Indian Medical Association

December 26, 2022, 12:25 pm

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) will hold a virtual meeting with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday.

Meanwhile, regarding the Covid-19 situation and preparedness, the meeting with IMA will be held at 4 pm.

Earlier on Saturday, Mandaviya urged people to wear masks and follow covid appropriate behavior.

“We are working on alert mode to control the spread of Covid-19 and are conducting environmental, sewage, and human surveillance. Virus RNA was found in the sewage samples in Delhi and Mumbai,” Mandaviya said.

Moreover, Mandaviya has also urged people to avoid crowded places and also requested people wear a mask.

In the wake of the COVID alarm, mock drills will be held on 27 December at all health facilities across the country.

However, on Thursday Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chaired a high-level meeting to assess the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Furthermore, the meeting was also attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Health Miniter Mansukh Mandaviya, and NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer Parameswaran Iyer.

Odisha: Home Minister Amit Shah and Dharmendra Pradhan take part in ‘Tiranga Yatra’

August 8, 2022, 3:25 pm

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took part in ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Cuttack on Monday.

Moreover, Shah also offered prayers at the Shree Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar. After that Union Minister Shah visited the birthplace of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Odia Bazar.

Earlier today, Shah and Pardhan both arrived at Bhubaneswar temple and were welcomed by locals and BJP workers.

Meanwhile, BJP leader will also attend the 75-anniversary event of the ‘Prajatantra’.

Earlier on Sunday, Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.

The meeting includes issues related to agriculture, health, and the economy. This meeting of the council is held regularly.

However, the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog is expected to pave the way for synergy between the Center and the States and Union Territories towards a new era of cooperation.

PM Narendra Modi chairs NITI Aayog’s governing council meeting in Delhi

August 7, 2022, 1:10 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing the 7th governing council meeting of NITI Aayog. The meeting is held at Rashtrapati Bhawan’s Cultural Center in Delhi.

Meanwhile, all the state’s Chief Ministers are attending the meeting, excluding Telangana CM.

Notably, after 2019, this meeting is the first in-person meeting of the Governing Council.

The meeting includes issues related to agriculture, health, and the economy. This meeting of the council is held regularly. Its first meeting was held on 8 February 2015.

Notably, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao boycotted the meeting and also wrote a letter to PM Modi.

“I do not find it useful to attend the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog scheduled to be held on August 7 and I am staying away from it as a mark of strong protest against the present trend of the Central Govt to discriminate against the states and not treating them as equal partners in our collective efforts to mark India a strong and developed country,” the letter said.

Moreover, after CM K Chandrashekar Rao’s boycott, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP K Laxman slammed Telangana CM. “This is most unfortunate politics as it has nothing to do with Niti Aayog. Boycotting the meeting will not cause loss to him or his family but it is a big loss for the state,” Laxman said.

However, the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog is expected to pave the way for synergy between the Center and the States and Union Territories towards a new era of cooperation.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee meets PM Narendra Modi at his residence

August 5, 2022, 6:41 pm

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.

According to the sources, Banerjee is likely to discuss issues about the state including GST dues with PM Modi.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is on a four-day visit to Delhi. CM Banerjee arrived in Delhi on Thursday and is slated to call on President Droupadi Murmu.

During her visit, Trinamool Congress chief Banerjee will participate in the proposed NITI Aayog program on 7 August. The 7th meeting of the governing council of Niti Aayog will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting will be held at Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Center on 7 August. However, Banerjee did not attend the meeting last year.

Earlier on Thursday, CM Banerjee met the party MPs at the residence of TMC Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Shekhar Roy. During the meeting, the party’s MP discussed the party’s strategy during the monsoon session in Parliament.

Taking to Twitter All India Trinamool Congress tweeted, “Our Chairperson @MamataOfficial held a meeting with all MPs in Delhi. The current Parliament session, the road to 2024, and various issues were discussed, with several activities and initiatives outlined for the coming days. We are always committed to serving the people.”

Meanwhile, the TMC chief is also likely to hold discussions with non-Congress opposition leaders on some political issues in the Central Hall of Parliament on Saturday.

Mamata Banerjee will participate in the program of NITI Aayog; will meet opposition leaders

August 5, 2022, 11:31 am

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee left on Thursday afternoon on a four-day visit to Delhi. During this, Trinamool Congress chief Banerjee will participate in the proposed NITI Aayog program on 7 August.

Moreover, Banerjee will also meet senior leaders of various opposition parties.

According to the information received, Banerjee will first meet the party MPs at the residence of TMC Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Shekhar Roy. According to sources, it has been learned that Banerjee’s visit is mainly to participate in the NITI Aayog. But it is also learned that she is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, the TMC chief is also likely to hold discussions with non-Congress opposition leaders on some political issues in the Central Hall of Parliament on Saturday.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister will chair the meeting of NITI Aayog on August 7. In which issues related to agriculture, health, and economy will be discussed. This meeting of the council is held regularly. Its first meeting was held on 8 February 2015. However, Banerjee did not attend the meeting last year.

Think Tank of India outlines map for Digital banks

July 21, 2022, 12:56 pm

The National Institution for Transforming India has outlined a licencing and regulatory scheme for digital banks that works to cut down on any regulatory or policy arbitrage and provides a level playing field for the incumbents as well as competitors.

The think tank of India, NITI Aayog, in a report titled “Digital Bank-A Proposal for Licensing and Regulatory Regime for India”, has recommended a proposal to issue a restricted digital bank licence to these financial entities.

Four factors shall be considered for the licencing and regulatory template, i.e., entry barriers; business restrictions; competition; and technological neutrality.

75 digital banks are to be set up in 75 districts of the nation by the scheduled commercial banks to mark the 75^th independent year of India, moving forward with the agenda of fintech innovations.

It outlines the challenges presented by the partnership model of the neo-banking model in India, which has emerged as a result of the regulatory vacuum and absence of licence in digital banking. The report also mentions the need for leveraging technology for the needs of baking in India, and the report also analyses the niches that are underserved. In recent years, the Pradhan

Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna has contributed to furthering financial inclusion for the unserved.

Credit presentation remains a challenge for the nation’s MSMEs, which account for 30 per cent contribution to the GDP, 45 percent of the manufacturing output, and 40 percent of exports, and also an employment opportunity for a significant population.

NITI AAYOG MEMBER HAD SOUGHT KEJRIWAL’S VIEW ON FARM LAWS

December 29, 2020, 2:45 am

New Delhi: A day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal went to the Singhu border to extend his support to protesting farmers and talked of an open debate on farm laws, an internal communication has come out in which a member of Niti Aayog had sought his feedback on his working paper “to address implications of the Acts from the perspective of farmers, farm sector and rural economy”.

Official sources said Niti Aayog member had shared the documents with the view to eliciting comments from the Kejriwal government. They said this was more than a month before the Chief Minister tore copies of the farm laws in Delhi assembly accusing the Central government of getting them passed “in a hurry during the pandemic” and was contrary to his allegations.

The Chief Minister had also accused the government of getting the bills passed without voting in Rajya Sabha even as his government has notified farm law.Sources said the internal communication was sent to Delhi Chief Minister’s office by a member of Niti Aayog on 12 November seeking his feedback. They said it was forwarded to a Delhi minister for perusal. The sources said that the communication sent to Kejriwal’s office noted that the central government has enacted three farm laws in September 2020 “to implement long-pending policy reforms to give a strong impetus to rural and agriculture economy and to usher in the prosperity of India’s farmers”.

“It gives me immense pleasure to share a soft copy of the working paper prepared by me to address the implications of the Acts from the perspective of farmers, farm sectors and rural economy. Your feedback is welcome,” the member wrote.

The Chief Minister went to the Singhu border on Sunday to extend support to agitating farmers who are seeking repeal of three farm laws. It was his second visit to the Singhu border.

The AAP government has come out in support of agitating farmers and made arrangements for them.

WITH ANI INPUTS