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There was action and drama in Jharkhand on Wednesday night. Hemant Soren, the state’s chief minister, resigned from his post, and was subsequently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. And amid this drama, Hemant Soren’s party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), appointed Cabinet minister and veteran leader Champai Soren as the new state head. Champai Soren met Governor CP Radhakrishnan and staked claim to form the new Jharkhand government, claiming support of 47 MLAs. To form the government, the ruling alliance needs 41 MLAs and presently it has numbers above the magic figure. The ascension of Champai Soren comes at a time when there was heavy speculation that Hemant Soren would install his wife, Kalpana Soren , at the seat of power. As we wait for the swearing-in of Champai Soren, we take a closer look at who he is and how we got here. Champai Soren — the Jharkhand Tiger Champai Soren, the transport minister in the Hemant Soren government, has been a long time member of the JM

Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) Thursday increased the price of commercial LPG cylinders by Rs 14. The hike comes into effect from Thursday, 1 February, 2024. Following the hike, a 19 kg LPG cylinder will now be sold at Rs 1,769.50 in national capital New Delhi from Rs 1,755.50 earlier. In Kolkata, commercial LPG will now be purchased at 1887.00 per cylinder, in Mumbai it will cost 1723.50 a cylinder, and in Chennai a 19 kg LPG cylinder can be fetched at 1937.00. However, price of domestic LPG (14.2 kg) – used in household kitchens for cooking purposes remained unchanged at Rs 903 in Delhi, Rs 1,000 in Kolkata, 902.50 in Mumbai and 918.50 in Chennai. Apart from this, the OMCs have slashed the price of jet fuel or ATF price. The reduction in price is by about Rs 1,221 per kilo litre. This is the fourth consecutive cut in aviation fuel which may reduce air fares. The changed prices are applicable from 1 February, 2024. State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corpo

06:05 (IST) Budget 2024 LIVE Redomiciliation of companies; the India view and expectations India has been successful in navigating several global and domestic challenges. In the backdrop of the global uncertain environment, the rising growth story and the promising environment in India, dealmakers have been having their own share of successes. From a successful streak of IPOs to private equity interest, to active family offices, the M&A market continues to be buoyant. Tapping the financial markets and public funds is one of the discussion points on cross-border deals. A related topic which often comes up is tax implications of undertaking any such steps to achieve these objectives. Legal entity structuring plays an important role in such conversations. Read More 06:03 (IST) Budget 2024 LIVE Why MSMEs seek de-risking of credit inflows Private businesses majorly comprise of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). MSMEs are poised as the growth engine of Indian econom

India has expressed its gratitude to the Washington State Senate and all the Senators who on 26 January, 2024, passed a resolution welcoming India’s 75th Republic Day. On 26 January this year, Washington State Senate passed a Resolution welcoming India’s 75th Republic Day. “The Washington State Senate honor the 2024 Republic Day of India as a symbol of the shared values of democracy, diversity and inclusion between the nation of India and both the State of Washington and the United States of America,” read the resolution passed by the Washington State Senate. “Thank you Washington State Senate and all Senators who supported this Resolution!” the Consulate General of India, Seattle said in a post on social media platform, X. On 26 January 2024, Washington State Senate passed a Resolution welcoming India’s 75th Republic Day! Acknowledges India’s strong tradition of maintaining democratic ideals and recognizes our Republic Day as a symbol of shared values of democracy, diversity and

India’s gold demand dipped by 3 per cent year-on-year to 747.5 tonnes in 2023, according to the World Gold Council. However, the demand is expected to rise to between 800 and 900 tonnes in the coming year if prices remain stable. In 2022, the country’s total gold demand was recorded at 774.1 tonnes, as per the World Gold Council’s Gold Demand Trends report for 2023. “India’s gold demand in 2023 declined by 3 per cent to 747.5 tonnes, strongly influenced by rising gold prices. Although consumer interest remained high, it lagged trade sentiment. October’s price correction during Navratri stimulated a robust consumer response, boosting Diwali sales in November. “However, demand declined in December as gold prices resumed an upward trend, resulting in a 9 per cent drop in fourth quarter jewellery demand compared to the same period of 2022,” WGC Regional CEO, India, Somasundaram PR told PTI. Price of gold was volatile throughout 2023, with the yellow metal reaching a new high of Rs 61,8

Ahead of Union Budget 2024, the Indian government reduced the import duty for components used in the manufacture of mobile phones from 15 per cent to 10 per cent. According to a report by Reuters , the announcement of reduction in the import duty for components used in the manufacture of mobile phones was made by the Government of India on Tuesday. The decision aims at boosting exports from Asia’s third-largest economy. The move will benefit companies like Apple and other high-end Android phones, as well as bolster India’s export. Components on which import duty has been cut The components on which the import duty has been cut to 10 per cent includes battery cover, front cover, middle cover, main lens, back cover, GSM Antenna/Antenna of any technology, PU case/sealing gasket and other articles of polyurethane foam like sealing gaskets/case, sealing gaskets/cases from PE, PP, EPS, PC and all other individual polymers or combination/combinations of polymers, SIM socket, screw, other

It almost sounds like a television show, but, in fact, it’s reality. As Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren prepares to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to record his statement in an alleged land fraud case, and rumours of his arrest are swirling, there’s speculation that his wife, Kalpana Soren, will take over the chief ministerial post. While Soren’s party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has refuted this speculation, it has got credence after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey made a similar claim. But who is Kalpana Soren? And how did we get here? Who is Kalpana Soren? Born in 1976 in Ranchi, Kalpana grew up in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district and has no political background. Her father is a businessman and her mother a homemaker. She did her graduation in engineering, followed by an MBA. On 7 February 2006, Kalpana tied the knot with Hemant Soren and today, the couple has two children — Nikhil and Ansh. Kalpana has refrained from entering the political sphere and is an ent

Due to competitor India’s decision to reduce its own shipments, Pakistan is expected to export more rice than ever before in the year that ends in June. This is because Islamabad is selling the grain at rates that are over 16 years higher than they have been in the past. The world’s largest exporter, India, placed curbs on shipments last year. The record exports are relieving some of those restrictions and will help Pakistan replenish its depleted foreign exchange reserves, which are essential for paying for imports. “We’ve seen a solid demand for rice in the last few months, mainly because India stopped exporting,” Chela Ram Kewlani, chairman of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) told Reuters. India, which ships about 40% of global rice, unexpectedly prohibited shipments of non-basmati white rice last year and placed export duties on parboiled rice. Pakistan’s exports might reach 5 million metric tonnes in the fiscal year 2023/24, up from 3.7 million tonnes the previous

Madame Tussauds New York unveiled the wax statue of Yoga guru Ramdev on Tuesday in Delhi. The wax statue will be placed at the Wax Museum in Times Square, Manhattan. The wax statue of Baba Ramdev has been crafted in the Vrikshasana pose, also known as the Tree Pose in yoga. This pose involves standing on one leg with the other leg bent, resting the sole of the foot against the thigh. The hands are clasped and stretched overhead. The name “Vrikshasana” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Vriksha,” which means a tree, reflecting the pose’s resemblance to the stability and grace of a tree. According to reports, in 2018, Ramdev gave his photographs and measurements to the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London to a 20-member team to prepare his wax statue. He also tweeted a series of photographs of himself at the museum, including a yoga pose of vrikshasan (standing on one leg), which is the current statue’s pose as well. VIDEO | Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's wax statue unveiled by 'Mad

Neel Acharya, an Indian student studying at Purdue University in Indiana state of the United States, who was reported missing since Sunday has been confirmed dead. As per the office of Tippecanoe County Coroner, officials were called to identify a body on Sunday to the 500 Allison Road in West Lafayette for a possible dead body. Upon arrival, they found a “college-aged male” deceased on Purdue’s campus. The deceased student was identified as Neel Acharya, a double major in computer science and data science at the John Martinson Honors College of Purdue University. He was reported missing on social media on Sunday. In an email addressed to the university’s computer science department on Monday, interim CS head Chris Clifton told students and faculty of Neel’s death, The Exponent reported. “It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students, Neel Acharya, has passed away,” Clifton was quoted as saying by The Exponent . “My condolences go out to his friends, family,

The US Consular Team in India achieved a milestone by processing an unprecedented 1.4 million US visas in 2023, bringing down visitor visa appointment wait time by 75 per cent. The US Embassy and Consulates in India reported that Indians now account for one-tenth of all US visa applicants globally. “In 2023, the US Embassy and Consulates in India processed a record-smashing 1.4 million US visas. Demand across all visa classes was unprecedented, with a 60 per cent increase in applications compared to 2022. Indians now represent one out of every ten US visa applicants around the world,” said US embassy in a statement. Visitor visas (B1/B2) have surged, marking the second-highest volume of applications in the history of the US Mission, totaling over 700,000. Through enhancements in processes and investments in staffing, the wait time for visitor visa appointments across the nation has drastically reduced from an average of 1,000 days to a mere 250 days, with minimal waiting periods ac

The Centre on Monday extended ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as an ‘unlawful association’ for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Bolstering PM @narendramodi Ji’s vision of zero tolerance against terrorism ‘Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)’ has been declared as an ‘Unlawful Association’ for a further period of five years under the UAPA. The SIMI has been found involved in fomenting terrorism,… — गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) January 29, 2024 Taking to X, Home Minister’s Office posted on X, “ Bolstering PM @narendramodi Ji’s vision of zero tolerance against terrorism ‘Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)’ has been declared as an ‘Unlawful Association’ for a further period of five years under the UAPA.” “The SIMI has been found involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace and communal harmony to threaten the sovereignty, security and integrity of Bharat,” it added. The Indian government initia

The Centre has shortlisted 30 cities spanning from Ayodhya in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south and Guwahati in the east to Trimbakeshwar in the west for the survey and rehabilitation of adults, especially women and children, involved in begging, according to a Times of India report. According to the report, citing officials, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment aims to assist district and municipal authorities in identifying ‘hotspots’ within these cities to eradicate beggary by 2026. More cities are likely to be included in this initiative over the next two years, added the officials. This effort, focusing on 30 cities with significant cultural, historical, or tourist importance, falls under a sub-scheme named ‘Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprises’ (SMILE). To ensure compliance with uniform survey and rehabilitation guidelines, in pursuit of the ‘Bhiksha-Vritti Mukt Bharat’ (beggary-free India) initiative, the ministry plans to

It feels like déjà vu all over again. Nitish Kumar is back to where he was in early 2022 — with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On Sunday (28 January), the Janata Dal (United) {JD(U)} chief took the oath of office for the ninth time with the support of the BJP, after dumping his former allies — the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the INDIA bloc. It’s no surprise that the JD(U)’s flip — fifth time in over 10 years — has earned him the title of ‘ Paltu Ram ’ in Bihar politics. Shortly after he took the oath of chief minister, he was congratulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders. On the other hand, leaders from the INDIA alliance voiced their displeasure with the veteran politician, with some even describing him as a turncoat and ‘girgit’ (chameleon). But Nitish Kumar remains unfazed. He asserted that there is now no question of leaving the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-fold. “I was with them (NDA) earlier, too. We went on different paths, but now we are tog