In this edition of WION World Is One, here are the latest major stories from India. The Federation of Indian Pilots has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish an independent Civil Aviation Authority of India, citing the rapid expansion of the aviation sector and concerns raised by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The proposed statutory body would oversee aviation safety, airworthiness, licensing and consumer protection with administrative and financial autonomy.

Meanwhile, the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting has concluded in Bhopal with the adoption of the Bhopal Declaration. Representatives from 14 countries, including BRICS members and partner countries, participated in discussions aimed at strengthening cultural cooperation.

In Manipur, protests were reported as the convoy of Chief Minister YK Khemchand Singh passed through Makan village. Hundreds of Naga and Meitei villagers reportedly waved black flags and protested along National Highway 2, demanding justice for six Naga civilians who were allegedly abducted and later found dead. Protesters have also raised concerns over delays in the investigation.

The Amarnath Yatra will be suspended from August 9 on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes as authorities move to conclude the pilgrimage ahead of schedule. The decision has been taken amid forecasts of bad weather and to facilitate track restoration and maintenance work by the Border Roads Organisation. More than 4.8 lakh pilgrims have performed darshan at the shrine so far this year.

BRICS Culture Meet | Manipur Protest | Amarnath Yatra Halt | UPI Payment Update | Indian News 

The Manipur government is facing an acute financial crisis. At the root of this crisis is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which monitors and controls the banking system in India.

The crisis stems from an order of the RBI to stop all kinds of payments to the Manipur government since it has withdrawn more than the approved amount of overdraft cash.

The overdraft cash is a kind of arrangement made by state governments with the Centre where they can withdraw certain amount of cash. The Manipur government is reportedly facing overdraft of nearly Rs 300 crore.

Most of the state governments are usually in deficit and they keep borrowing from Centre. So, a mechanism of overdraft has been created by the Centre to help state governments financially.

A letter by RBI assistant general manager Anita Kumari to State Bank of India has asked all the payments to Manipur government to be stopped (bills and cheques).

As a result of this order, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has put on hold all the appointments and is meeting his Cabinet ministers and bank officials to find a way to deal with the crisis.

The salaries of government employees in Manipur will also be affected due to this.

The Manipur government is facing an acute financial crisis. At the root of this crisis is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which monitors and controls the banking system in India.

The Manipur government is facing an acute financial crisis. At the root of this crisis is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which monitors and controls the banking system in India. The crisis stems from an order of the RBI to stop all kinds of payments to the Manipur government since it has withdrawn more than the approved amount of overdraft cash. The overdraft cash is a kind of arrangement made by state governments with the Centre where they can withdraw certain amount of cash. The Manipur government is reportedly facing overdraft of nearly Rs 300 crore. Most of the state governments are usually in deficit and they keep borrowing from Centre. So, a mechanism of overdraft has been created by the Centre to help state governments financially. A letter by RBI assistant general manager Anita Kumari to State Bank of India has asked all the payments to Manipur government to be stopped (bills and cheques). As a result of this order, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has put on hold all the appointments and is meeting his Cabinet ministers and bank officials to find a way to deal with the crisis. The salaries of government employees in Manipur will also be affected due to this.

Overdraft haunts Manipur government, employees to suffer

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nongthombam Biren Singh on Wednesday took charge as the chief minister of Manipur.

He was sworn-in as chief minister of the north-eastern state earlier in the day and was administered oath of office by Governor Najma Heptullah.

The Governor on Tuesday invited Biren Singh -- who was unanimously elected the leader of the 21-member BJP legislature party a day earlier -- to form the government after four members of the Naga People&#39;s Front NPF, an NDA ally, met her and declared their support to the BJP.

The party has enlisted the support of regional parties, the National People&#39;s Party (NPP) and NPF -- each with four seats -- and one legislator each of the Lok Janshakti Party, Trinamool Congress and Congress. The NPP, NPF and LJP are BJP allies at the Centre.

Biren Singh, a national-level footballer-turned-journalist, joined politics in 2002. He was elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly from the Democratic Revolutionary People&#39;s Party, which later merged with the Congress. In 2003, he was appointed as a minister in the state government and retained his assembly seat in both the 2007 and 2012 Assembly elections.&nbsp;

His relationship with then chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh fell apart after he was excluded from the Cabinet in 2012.&nbsp;

In October 2016, Singh left the Congress and joined BJP.

Thirty-one MLAs are needed to form the government in the 60 member-Assembly.&nbsp;

Both the BJP and Congress had earlier staked claim to form the government. The Congress, which has 28 MLAs, led the tally.&nbsp;

(ANI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Biren Singh was administered oath of office by Governor Najma Heptullah

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nongthombam Biren Singh on Wednesday took charge as the chief minister of Manipur. He was sworn-in as chief minister of the north-eastern state earlier in the day and was administered oath of office by Governor Najma Heptullah. The Governor on Tuesday invited Biren Singh -- who was unanimously elected the leader of the 21-member BJP legislature party a day earlier -- to form the government after four members of the Naga People's Front NPF, an NDA ally, met her and declared their support to the BJP. The party has enlisted the support of regional parties, the National People's Party (NPP) and NPF -- each with four seats -- and one legislator each of the Lok Janshakti Party, Trinamool Congress and Congress. The NPP, NPF and LJP are BJP allies at the Centre. Biren Singh, a national-level footballer-turned-journalist, joined politics in 2002. He was elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly from the Democratic Revolutionary People's Party, which later merged with the Congress. In 2003, he was appointed as a minister in the state government and retained his assembly seat in both the 2007 and 2012 Assembly elections. His relationship with then chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh fell apart after he was excluded from the Cabinet in 2012. In October 2016, Singh left the Congress and joined BJP. Thirty-one MLAs are needed to form the government in the 60 member-Assembly. Both the BJP and Congress had earlier staked claim to form the government. The Congress, which has 28 MLAs, led the tally. (ANI)

Biren Singh sworn-in as Manipur chief minister

Outgoing Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh resigned today after Governor Najma Heptullah said she could not start the process of government formation in the state that has got a hung Assembly, till he quits.

Singh, who had earlier today said he would resign by tomorrow, submitted his resignation papers to the Governor, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam told PTI.

Singh has been arguing that Congress being the single largest party with 28 seats, he should be given the first opportunity to form the government.

&quot;I am ready for a floor test and I have the numbers with me,&quot; said Singh.

Heptullah, however, said earlier that she could only start the process of government formation once the incumbent chief minister resigned as per norms.

&quot;I have not received till today any resignation from the chief minister (O Ibobi Singh) though I told him yesterday I can start the process of government formation only after you resign,&quot; Heptullah said.

As per rules, until the present chief minister resigns, the process of government formation cannot be started, said a highly-placed Raj Bhavan source.

Singh, who has been serving as chief minister for 15 years since 2002, was elected as leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) yesterday and had staked claim to form the government late last night. 
 
(PTI)

Governor Najma Heptullah had said she could not start the process of government formation in the state till he quit

Outgoing Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh resigned today after Governor Najma Heptullah said she could not start the process of government formation in the state that has got a hung Assembly, till he quits. Singh, who had earlier today said he would resign by tomorrow, submitted his resignation papers to the Governor, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam told PTI. Singh has been arguing that Congress being the single largest party with 28 seats, he should be given the first opportunity to form the government. "I am ready for a floor test and I have the numbers with me," said Singh. Heptullah, however, said earlier that she could only start the process of government formation once the incumbent chief minister resigned as per norms. "I have not received till today any resignation from the chief minister (O Ibobi Singh) though I told him yesterday I can start the process of government formation only after you resign," Heptullah said. As per rules, until the present chief minister resigns, the process of government formation cannot be started, said a highly-placed Raj Bhavan source. Singh, who has been serving as chief minister for 15 years since 2002, was elected as leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) yesterday and had staked claim to form the government late last night. (PTI)

Ibobi Singh resigns as Manipur chief minister

N Biren Singh was today unanimously elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party in Manipur, paving the way for his becoming the next chief minister. 
 
&quot;N Biren has been unanimously elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party. He is the party&#39;s chief ministerial candidate,&quot; Union minister Piyush Goel told reporters. 
 
Biren will meet Governor Najma Heptulla and stake claim to form the next government in the state, said Goel, who was present at the meeting, adding &quot;we have the support of smaller parties&quot;. 
 
A former minister in the Ibobi Singh-led Congress government, Biren thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership for giving him an opportunity to serve Manipur. 
 
&quot;I thank the Prime Minister and the entire BJP leadership. I had left the Congress protesting against its misrule and misgovernance. 
 
&quot;I assure you that our team under the leadership of Prime Minister Modiji will provide good governance,&quot; he said. 
 
(PTI)

Biren Singh will meet Governor Najma Heptulla and stake claim to form the next government in the state

N Biren Singh was today unanimously elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party in Manipur, paving the way for his becoming the next chief minister. "N Biren has been unanimously elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party. He is the party's chief ministerial candidate," Union minister Piyush Goel told reporters. Biren will meet Governor Najma Heptulla and stake claim to form the next government in the state, said Goel, who was present at the meeting, adding "we have the support of smaller parties". A former minister in the Ibobi Singh-led Congress government, Biren thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership for giving him an opportunity to serve Manipur. "I thank the Prime Minister and the entire BJP leadership. I had left the Congress protesting against its misrule and misgovernance. "I assure you that our team under the leadership of Prime Minister Modiji will provide good governance," he said. (PTI)

India: BJP's Biren Singh to be Manipur's new chief minister

Suspected National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) militants ambushed Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi&rsquo;s chopper at Ukhrul district headquarters, in India&rsquo;s north-eastern state of Manipur, on Monday.

Militants reportedly opened fire when the chief minister&rsquo;s chopper landed at a helipad at around 10:30 am today. He escaped unhurt amidst firing by the militants.

He was immediately flown back to the state&rsquo;s capital city of Imphal. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Ibobi was headed to an inauguration site for developmental projects in Ukhrul and Chingai districts.

The attack injured two Manipur Rifles jawan, the Times of India reported.

Reports said there was tight security in Ukhrul ahead of chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh&#39;s visit.

More details are awaited.

(WION with inputs from ANI)

He escaped unhurt amidst firing by the militants at Ukhrul helipad. He has now flown out of Ukhrul to Manipur's capital, Imphal

Suspected National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) militants ambushed Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi’s chopper at Ukhrul district headquarters, in India’s north-eastern state of Manipur, on Monday. Militants reportedly opened fire when the chief minister’s chopper landed at a helipad at around 10:30 am today. He escaped unhurt amidst firing by the militants. He was immediately flown back to the state’s capital city of Imphal. Ibobi was headed to an inauguration site for developmental projects in Ukhrul and Chingai districts. The attack injured two Manipur Rifles jawan, the Times of India reported. Reports said there was tight security in Ukhrul ahead of chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh's visit. More details are awaited. (WION with inputs from ANI)

India: Manipur chief minister Ibobi escapes ambush by suspected militants