Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Karnataka govt waives Rs 34,000 cr farm loans

By
Tehelka Web Desk
-

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday waived farm loans of Rs 34,000 crore, providing relief to the farmers of the state.

The budget proposed to waive farm loans totalling Rs 34,000 crore, with Rs 2 lakh per farmer family.

According to the budget for fiscal year 2018-19, “Waiver of all defaulted crop loans of the farmers made upto 31-12-2017 in the first stage. Apart from this, to help the farmers who repaid the loan within time, as an encouragement to the non-defaulting farmers, it is decided to credit the repaid loan amount or Rs.25,000 whichever is less to each of the farmer’s account.”

“To limit the loan waiver amount to Rs. 2 lakh per family. Due to this crop loan waiver scheme, farmers will get the benefit of Rs.34,000 crore. The families of Government officials and officials of the co-operative sector, farmers who have paid income tax for the past 3 years and other ineligible farm loan recipients will be outside the purview of this loan waiver scheme.”

“To facilitate the farmers to avail new loans, action will be taken by the Government to issue clearance certificate by waiving the arrears from the defaulting account. For this purpose, Rs.6500 crore is earmarked in 2018-19 budget. Apart from this, the previous Government has waived loan of Rs.8,165 crore made by farmers in co-operative banks and out of this, Rs.4,165 crore had been released during the previous year. Allocation has also been given to pay the remaining Rs.4,000 crore in this budget.”

The budget, however, proposes to tax people by:

  • Increasing petrol price by Rs 1.14 per litre and diesel Rs 1.12 per litre.
  • increase in excise duty on Indian made foreign liquor by 4 per cent
  • Power tariff will also be increased by 20 paise per unit.

Kumaraswamy, who holds the finance portfolio of the state told the legislators that the overall size of the state budget would be Rs 2,13,734 crore.

Budget allocation for other important sectors are:

  • Education- Rs 26,581 crore
  • Water resources- Rs 18,142 crore
  • Urban development- Rs 17,727 crore
  • Energy- Rs 14,499 crore
  • Social welfare- Rs 14,123 crore
  • Public Works Department (PWD)- 10,200 crore

WhatsApp offers $50,000 for help curb spread of fake news

By
Sunny Sharma
-

In wake of government’s recent move asking WhatsApp to take immediate steps to stop spreading of fake news that led to incidents of lynching in more than five states in last six weeks, WhatsApp in its response is taking initiatives and one such initiative is offering grants to social scientists to help it curb the spread of “irresponsible” messages through its platform.

WhatsApp is offering up to $50,000 for proposals that “foster insights into the impact of technology on contemporary society in this problem space,” including election-related content, digital literacy and “detection of problematic behavior within encrypted systems.”

Nikhil Pahwa, a technology expert warned in a blog post on his site, MediaNama, that India’s “massive” fake news problem is “going to get worse.”

“Like the Government of India, we’re horrified by these terrible acts of violence and wanted to respond quickly to the very important issues you have raised. We believe this is a challenge that requires government, civil society and technology companies to work together,” the WhatsApp said in its response to Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

WhatsApp’s response to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in a letter:

Taking steps to “prevent spam, which includes some of the misinformation that can create mistrust and potentially violence,” noted in letter.

“Over 25 per cent of its user base in India is not part of Groups – this also means a third of WhatsApp users here are exposed to groups in some way.”

 “The way people use the app is by nature still very private.”

Nine out ten messages are still sent from just one person to another, which means that nearly 90 per cent of messages shared on the platform are not on groups. These figures are shared for global usage not specifically to India.

Announced changes that will mark all forwarded messages as ‘Forwarded’ and give Group admins the option to limit the ability to send messages to just other admins, rather than all participants.

More messages are sent on a one-on-one basis, rather than everything being shared to groups, WhatsApp letter revealed.

“We use machine learning to identify accounts sending a high volume of messages (faster than any human could) and we are constantly working to improve our ability to stop unwanted automated messages.”

Shashi Tharoor gets anticipatory bail in Sunanda Pushkar death case

By
Tehelka Web Desk
-

A Delhi court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on a personal bond of ₹1 lakh with one surety in the Sunanda Pushkar death case.

Special Judge Arvind Kumar granted bail to Shashi Tharoor and has asked him not to leave the country without its permission.

Shashi Tharoor had moved the court on July 3 seeking anticipatory bail after he was named as an accused in the case and summoned by the police on July 7.

On July 4, the Judge reserved the order after hearing arguments by both sides.

Sunanda Pushkar, 51, was found dead at a five-star hotel in Delhi on January 17, 2014, after she accused her husband on social media of having an affair with a Pakistani journalist.

India to hold maritime dialogue with China, Russia on Indo-Pacific policy 

By
Tehelka Web Desk
-

In a significant move, India will hold a maritime dialogue with China and Russia soon to explain its new Indo-Pacific policy. “We will have maritime dialogues with China and Russia in the coming months. Our effort is to work out in some more detail and to see how we can get coherence in the Indo-Pacific community about the Indo-Pacific as a concept”, said sources.

According to reports, the maritime dialogue is being initiated as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a broader vision for the Indo-Pacific at the Shangri La dialogue in Singapore last month.

“India does not see the Indo-Pacific region as a strategy or as a club of limited members. Nor as a grouping that seeks to dominate. And by no means do we consider it as directed against any country,” Prime Minister Modi said.

“It is normal to have partnerships on the basis of shared values and interests. India, too, has many in the region and beyond. We will work with them, individually or in formats of three or more, for a stable and peaceful region. But our friendships are not alliances of containment,” Modi added.

The move is significant as India is part of the powerful “Quadrilateral” (India, Australia, Japan and US) coalition which was given shape in November 2017 in order to free the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific from Chinese influence.

Delhi CM Kejriwal hits out at PM Modi government post SC verdict

By
Tehelka Web Desk
-

After the announcement of the verdict by the Supreme Court on July 4, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi government and said, “If Modi govt. had not withdrawn the powers of elected govt. through illegal orders, precious three years would have been saved.”

The Supreme Court verdict has ended the tussle between the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal and the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

“People of Delhi are grateful to judiciary. Today’s order reinforces people’s faith in judiciary,” Kejriwal added.

“Cabinet meeting held. Directed all functionaries of Delhi government to function according to the order of Hon’ble Supreme Court. Also directed to expedite proposals of doorstep delivery of rations and CCTV now,” Kejriwal tweeted.

While this was so, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said, “The verdict had “decided” that Delhi is a Union Territory and the AAP should stop raising their “political demand” for full statehood to the city.”

Updates:

·         SC in the verdict demarcates the powers and responsibility of both the LG and an elected government in Delhi. “Real power must lie with the elected government in a democracy. The state should enjoy freedom, unsolicited interference,” said Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.

·         Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia held a press conference post verdict, and he declared that transfer of bureaucrats will now happen with the Chief Minister’s approval. Transfers and appointments of officials was one of the first points of tussle between AAP and the LG.

·         “IAS officers required the Lieutenant Governor’s permission for posting. I have ordered that this will change. IAS officers, central services transfers will all happen based on Chief Minister’s approval,” deputy CM added after pronouncement of verdict.

·         “The chief minister will meet P. Chidambaram in the evening to thank him. He was one of the lawyers who represented Delhi government in the Supreme Court,” an official said.

·         While hailing the SC judgment Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said, “I welcome the verdict, and it is totally applicable to the government of Puducherry, which is also a Union Territory. Whoever functions contrary to the judgment now delivered by the apex court would face serious action. I myself would file contempt petition against those failing to act in consonance with the Supreme Court verdict.”

·         Sisodia added that service matters are now with the Delhi government. From now onwards there is also no need to send files to the LG, which led to an interference or delay before.

Government announces major relief for farmers as Cabinet approves increase in MSP for Major Crops

By
Tehelka Web Desk
-

Giving a major boost to the income of farmers, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all kharif crops for 2018-19 Season. 

Minimum support price is a form of market intervention by the government to insure farmers against any sudden fall in agricultural produce prices. The MSP is a guaranteed price for their produce from the State.

The Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all kharif crops of 2018-19 season have been increased as follows:

Commodity

 

 Variety

 

 MSP for 2017-18 Season

 

 MSP approved for 2018-19 Season

 
Paddy

 

 Common

 

 1550

 

 1750

 

  
Grade A

Grade A

 

 1590

 

 1770

 

  
Jowar

 

 Hybrid

 

 1700

 

 2430

 

  
Maldandi

Maldandi

 

 1725

 

 2450

 

  
Bajra

 

 –

 

 1425

 

 1950

 

  
Ragi

 

 –

 

 1900

 

 2897

 

  
Maize

 

 –

 

 1425

 

 1700

 

  
Arhar(Tur)

 

 –

 

 5450

 

 5675

 

  
Moong

 

 –

 

 5575

 

 6975

 

  
Urad

 

 –

 

 5400

 

 5600

 

  
Groundnut

 

 –

 

 4450

 

 4890

 

  
Sunflower Seed

 

 –

 

 4100

 

 5388

 

  
Soyabean

 

 –

 

 3050

 

 3399

 

  
Sesamum

 

 –

 

 5300

 

 6249

 

  
Nigerseed

 

 –

 

 4050

 

 5877

 

  
Cotton

 

 Medium Staple

 

 4020

 

 5150

 

  
Long Staple

 

 4320

 

 5450

 

  

Government asks WhatsApp to take urgent steps to curb rumours

By
Tehelka Web Desk
-

The central government has asked WhatsApp messenger to take immediate steps to prevent the circulation of “irresponsible and explosive messages” on its platform that have led to a series of lynching and mob beatings in the past few months.

The government’s warning came in wake of rise in the number of innocent lynching on suspicion of child lifting and other issues.

“Deep disapproval of such developments has been conveyed to the senior management of WhatsApp and they have been advised that necessary remedial measures should be taken,” the IT Ministry said.

The ministry added “The government has also conveyed in no uncertain terms that WhatsApp must take immediate action to end this menace and ensure that their platform is not used for such malafide activities.”

IT Ministry terms the “unfortunate killings” in states like Maharashtra, Assam, Tripura, Karnataka and West Bengal as “deeply painful and regrettable.”

In the recent incident in Dhule District of Maharashtra, five people were beaten to death by a mob on suspicions that they were child abductors.

5 pilgrims dead due to landslide on Amarnath Yatra route, Rajnath Singh expresses grief

By
Tehelka Web Desk
-
Representational Image

Five pilgrims (four men and a woman) were killed and four others got injured when a landslide triggered due to flash floods on the Baltal route of the Amarnath Yatra in Ganderbal District of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday night, police said.

Police official said, “A landslide hit between Railpatri and Brarimarg on the Baltal route.”

“The identities of the deceased and the injured were yet to be ascertained and the bodies were being brought to the Baltal base hospital,” police official added.

“Anguished beyond words on the loss of precious lives due to a landslide on the Baltal route of Shri Amarnathji Yatra. My thoughts are with the bereaved families and my prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.

Police and other security forces and rescue agencies were undergoing rescue operations on the accident site, the official said.

Including these 5 deaths, the death toll in this year’s Amarnath Yatra has reached to 10. 

Is the govt supporting Rupees free fall!

By
Sanjay Thapa Jeet
-

Conjuring up speculations over the government turning a blind eye to the free fall of the rupee, the government think tank Niti Ayog opined in not so many words that the RBI was unlikely to intervene as was in the case of 2013. But time round it must be mentioned the rupee slide comes in the wake of the Trump trade war as well as rising crude oil prices.  

Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, Niti Ayog today said; “The Indian rupee is today overvalued by almost 5 per cent in terms of Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER).. and as such there in no need for panic”. REER is a weighted average of currencies of 36 trading countries adjusted against inflation and weighted against volume of bilateral trade. Moreover he said that since the rupee was on free float and hence there was little to be done by the RBI. 

In 2015, China resorted to deliberate devaluation of the Chinese currency Yuan-Renminbi twice in order to push it exports. China that time had panicked with its stock market index Hang Seng showing a drastic dip indicating that everything was not well with its economy.

But despite the Niti Ayog assurances, the rising crude oil prices as well as Trumps tariff imposition on imports and its trade wars put the Indian currency in a disadvantage position.

Assuaging any panic to the rupee free fall which touched 69 to a US dollar, which last happened in 2013 when the UPA II was in power, the government think tank said that the macro economic conditions then were quite different. That time the rupee had become highly volatile. Kumar, today defended the fall in rupee versus the US dollar and said that the macro economic conditions in 2013 when the rupee had touched an all time low of 69 to a dollar were quite different and as such there was no need to panic on rupee free fall. He said then the rupee had drastic free fall to a record 69 to a dollar in just three months and the REER had slipped. This was when the UPA II brought in a new RBI Governor Rajan Raghunathan to stabilise the fast weakening Indian currency.

Supreme Court asks states to prevent incidents of ‘mob lynching’

By
Tehelka Web Desk
-

While taking a serious view of mob lynching the Supreme Court on July 2 said that mob lynching is a crime and no matter what the motive is whether lynching happens as a result of cow vigilantism or because people believe someone is a child abductor. SC asks states to prevent such incidents, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra said.

“Nobody can take law into their own hands. It is the obligation of the state’s to see these incidents are prevented,” said a three-judge bench headed by the CJI Mishra.

“Anyone can be a victim of mob crime. We do not want to categorize victims of mob violence or lynching on the basis of their caste, gender or religion,” CJI added.

SC says that instances of vigilantism are actually acts of mob violence, which is a crime. Apex court added that plans are underway to issue guidelines to the Centre as well as all states on how to deal with rise in incidents of mob lynching.

The Supreme Court also said that it may lay down guidelines to compensate victims of vigilante violence.”

 “We can deal with this under Article 142 of the Constitution (to do substantive justice), the concept of compensation, monitoring of investigation are aspects that have to be looked into in the judgment,” CJI said.

CJI also asked for compliance reports, saying “nobody can wash off their hands (from their duty).”

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