The all-India general Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation was steady at 3.21% in August 2019, compared to 3.15% in July 2019. Core CPI inflation eased to 4.20 per cent in August 2019 compared with 4.25 per cent in July 2019. 
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Also, cumulative CPI inflation declined to 3.11 per cent in April-August of 2019-20 compared with 4.44 per cent in April-August 2018-19.

The war on inflation has been won decisively by the Narendra Modi led government, thanks to proactive management of the current account balance. The current account deficit (CAD) for 2018-19 stood at 2.1 per cent of GDP, just a tad higher than the 1.8 per cent for 2017-18.&nbsp;

India’s trade deficit increased to $180.3 billion in 2018-19 from $160 billion in 2017-18, largely due to higher oil import bill. Needless to add, global crude and local fuel prices will, therefore, be the fulcrum around which both CAD and domestic inflation will revolve.

The recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia for instance, led to a 19.5% spike in global crude prices in barely 24 hours, shaving off 5 per cent from global supplies, showcasing how volatile global oil prices can be. Every dollar increase in the price of oil raises India’s import bill by about Rs. 10,700 crore on an annualised basis. India spent $111.9 billion on oil imports in 2018-19.

Also, a 10 per cent spike in crude prices can result in roughly a 0.2-0.40 per cent widening of the CAD, other things remaining constant. This, in turn, can play out into a 2-4 per cent depreciation in the rupee and also push up inflation by 0.1-0.2 per cent.

India’s crude imports averaged 4.5 million barrels per day over the first seven months of this year, of which close to 20 per cent was from Saudi Arabia. While prima facie India may therefore seem vulnerable, the truth is we have enough strategic petroleum reserves (SPRs) and commercial crude stocks as cushion.

Again, India has oil reserves equivalent to at least 75 days of net imports. This will increase further to 87 days once the second phase of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves (ISPRs), which aims to add 12 days’ of crude storage, is fully operational. This includes the refineries’ inbuilt capacity of 65 days.

Concerns have been voiced about India stopping oil imports from Iran since May 2019. Iran used to meet a tenth of our crude demand, making India the third largest customer for the Persian country. The challenge to find alternate suppliers who will be able to deliver at competitive prices is, however, not a problem in the new oil polity that has taken shape in the past few years.

During the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, India suffered. In the case of the Gulf War, there was added impact of Indian workers returning home, straining India’s balance of payments. However India in 2019, under the powerful leadership of Narendra Modi, commands and negotiates from a position of strength.

For instance, the CAD for the June 2019 quarter contracted on a Y-o-y basis on account of higher invisible receipts at $ 31.9 billion as compared with $ 29.9 billion a year ago.

Net services receipts increased by 7.3 per cent on a Y-o-y basis, mainly on the back of a rise in net earnings from travel, financial services and telecommunications, computer and information services. Private transfer receipts, mainly representing remittances by Indians employed overseas, rose to $ 19.9 billion, increasing by 6.2 per cent from their level a year ago in the same quarter.

Lower oil prices in the past few years have significantly improved India’s terms of trade, giving it ample leeway. The cost of the Indian basket of crude, which averaged $47.56 and $56.43 a barrel in 2016-17 and 2017-18, was $59.35 in August 2019, according to data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell.&nbsp;

The average price inched up marginally to $59.35 a barrel on September 13, 2019, &nbsp;and this despite heightened global tensions between US and China, Saudi Arabia and Iran, Yemen and Houthi rebels and of course the standoff between UK and Iran, amidst the festering Brexit crisis. It is worth noting that the Indian basket of crude represents the average of Oman, Dubai and Brent Crude.

Despite Russia, China and Turkey continuing their oil-related engagements with Iran, much to the consternation of the US, India engineered a diplomatic coup of sorts by stopping imports from Iran and earning a strong ally in the Trump administration.

By the end of 2019, the United States will become a net energy exporter, shipping out 1.1 million barrels more than it imports. US had been a net energy importer since 1953. But oil production there will now rise until 2027 when it levels off at around 30 million barrels per day. With the US pumping crude at record levels, any deficit by Iran will be filled in suitably.&nbsp;

The oil industry has changed fundamentally as sell. Global oil demand only increased by 1.6% in 2017 and 1.3% in 2018, according to the International Energy Administration.

Most of the increase came from China, which now consumes 13% of global oil production but that number is slated to fall sharply due to the country’s slowing growth. &nbsp;Again, to the Modi government’s credit, it executed a $75 billion bilateral currency swap agreement with Japan in October 2018, for payments to be settled in Yen and Rupees, eliminating the need to use Dollars as a medium of exchange, with another one executed with UAE, to trade in Rupees and Dirham.&nbsp;

These measures to maintain a comfortable forex kitty hit a high of $434.6 billion in October 2019 and will ensure India is no longer subjected to the whims and fancies of a rapidly changing global dynamic that is no longer greased by the oil wells in Ghawar, but by the bountiful wells in the Gulf of Mexico

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-mexican-gulf-not-ghawar-wells-2795440">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The all-India general Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation was steady at 3.21% in August 2019, compared to 3.15% in July 2019. Core CPI inflation eased to 4.20 per cent in August 2019 compared with 4.

The all-India general Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation was steady at 3.21% in August 2019, compared to 3.15% in July 2019. Core CPI inflation eased to 4.20 per cent in August 2019 compared with 4.25 per cent in July 2019. Advertisement Also, cumulative CPI inflation declined to 3.11 per cent in April-August of 2019-20 compared with 4.44 per cent in April-August 2018-19. The war on inflation has been won decisively by the Narendra Modi led government, thanks to proactive management of the current account balance. The current account deficit (CAD) for 2018-19 stood at 2.1 per cent of GDP, just a tad higher than the 1.8 per cent for 2017-18. India’s trade deficit increased to $180.3 billion in 2018-19 from $160 billion in 2017-18, largely due to higher oil import bill. Needless to add, global crude and local fuel prices will, therefore, be the fulcrum around which both CAD and domestic inflation will revolve. The recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia for instance, led to a 19.5% spike in global crude prices in barely 24 hours, shaving off 5 per cent from global supplies, showcasing how volatile global oil prices can be. Every dollar increase in the price of oil raises India’s import bill by about Rs. 10,700 crore on an annualised basis. India spent $111.9 billion on oil imports in 2018-19. Also, a 10 per cent spike in crude prices can result in roughly a 0.2-0.40 per cent widening of the CAD, other things remaining constant. This, in turn, can play out into a 2-4 per cent depreciation in the rupee and also push up inflation by 0.1-0.2 per cent. India’s crude imports averaged 4.5 million barrels per day over the first seven months of this year, of which close to 20 per cent was from Saudi Arabia. While prima facie India may therefore seem vulnerable, the truth is we have enough strategic petroleum reserves (SPRs) and commercial crude stocks as cushion. Again, India has oil reserves equivalent to at least 75 days of net imports. This will increase further to 87 days once the second phase of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves (ISPRs), which aims to add 12 days’ of crude storage, is fully operational. This includes the refineries’ inbuilt capacity of 65 days. Concerns have been voiced about India stopping oil imports from Iran since May 2019. Iran used to meet a tenth of our crude demand, making India the third largest customer for the Persian country. The challenge to find alternate suppliers who will be able to deliver at competitive prices is, however, not a problem in the new oil polity that has taken shape in the past few years. During the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, India suffered. In the case of the Gulf War, there was added impact of Indian workers returning home, straining India’s balance of payments. However India in 2019, under the powerful leadership of Narendra Modi, commands and negotiates from a position of strength. For instance, the CAD for the June 2019 quarter contracted on a Y-o-y basis on account of higher invisible receipts at $ 31.9 billion as compared with $ 29.9 billion a year ago. Net services receipts increased by 7.3 per cent on a Y-o-y basis, mainly on the back of a rise in net earnings from travel, financial services and telecommunications, computer and information services. Private transfer receipts, mainly representing remittances by Indians employed overseas, rose to $ 19.9 billion, increasing by 6.2 per cent from their level a year ago in the same quarter. Lower oil prices in the past few years have significantly improved India’s terms of trade, giving it ample leeway. The cost of the Indian basket of crude, which averaged $47.56 and $56.43 a barrel in 2016-17 and 2017-18, was $59.35 in August 2019, according to data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell. The average price inched up marginally to $59.35 a barrel on September 13, 2019, and this despite heightened global tensions between US and China, Saudi Arabia and Iran, Yemen and Houthi rebels and of course the standoff between UK and Iran, amidst the festering Brexit crisis. It is worth noting that the Indian basket of crude represents the average of Oman, Dubai and Brent Crude. Despite Russia, China and Turkey continuing their oil-related engagements with Iran, much to the consternation of the US, India engineered a diplomatic coup of sorts by stopping imports from Iran and earning a strong ally in the Trump administration. By the end of 2019, the United States will become a net energy exporter, shipping out 1.1 million barrels more than it imports. US had been a net energy importer since 1953. But oil production there will now rise until 2027 when it levels off at around 30 million barrels per day. With the US pumping crude at record levels, any deficit by Iran will be filled in suitably. The oil industry has changed fundamentally as sell. Global oil demand only increased by 1.6% in 2017 and 1.3% in 2018, according to the International Energy Administration. Most of the increase came from China, which now consumes 13% of global oil production but that number is slated to fall sharply due to the country’s slowing growth. Again, to the Modi government’s credit, it executed a $75 billion bilateral currency swap agreement with Japan in October 2018, for payments to be settled in Yen and Rupees, eliminating the need to use Dollars as a medium of exchange, with another one executed with UAE, to trade in Rupees and Dirham. These measures to maintain a comfortable forex kitty hit a high of $434.6 billion in October 2019 and will ensure India is no longer subjected to the whims and fancies of a rapidly changing global dynamic that is no longer greased by the oil wells in Ghawar, but by the bountiful wells in the Gulf of Mexico (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Dexterous management of India’s fuel reserves is one of the success stories of government

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WION Edit: Jobs: The Achilles heel for Modi government?

Russia has backed India's decision to revoke the special status for Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating into two Union Territories.

In response to a question, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Change in the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and its division into two union territories are carried out within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of India"

Recalling the Simla and Lahore accord, the ministry said, "We hope that the differences between them will be resolved by political and diplomatic means on a bilateral basis in accordance with the provisions of the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999." 
Both the agreement call of no third party mediation and resolution of issues between the two South Asian nations bilaterally.&nbsp;

Moscow also hoped that the "parties involved will not allow a new aggravation of the situation in the region as a result of the decisions" and added that Russia is a "consistent supporter of the normalization of relations between India and Pakistan."

So far, Maldives, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, US, UN have reacted to India's decision on Kashmir. While Maldives, UAE, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Thailand have called it an internal matter of India, Saudi and Malaysia have said that India and Pakistan should settle the issues peacefully.

The Maldives, a member of the organisation of Islamic cooperation (OIC), went ahead to say that "we believe that it is the right of every sovereign nation to amend their laws as required."

Taking note of the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and removal of Article 370, UAE envoy to India Dr Ahmed Al Banna called it India's internal matter and said "We expect that the changes would improve social justice and security and confidence of the people in the local governance and will encourage further stability and peace".

New Delhi has welcomed the positive statements by some OIC members with Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar saying, "There is also a greater understanding that the rhetoric of Pakistan is something which has been seen through and has been exposed on many counts."

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe in a tweet welcomed the creation of "Ladakh state" which he said will be the first Indian state with a Buddhist majority.&nbsp;

"Ladakh will become an Indian State. With 70% of Ladakh’s population being Buddhist it will be the first Indian state with a Buddhist majority. Creation of Ladakh and consequential restructuring is India’s internal matter, it is a beautiful region well worth a visit," he tweeted.

The United Nations, while appealing for "maximum restraint", recalled the '1972 Agreement on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, also known as the Simla Agreement, which states that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be settled by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.'

Interestingly, the UN did not offer its office for mediation between India and Pakistan, a departure from the past actions.

The UN Security Council president Joanna Wronecka said, no comments in response to question by a reporter on Islamabad trying to raise the issue at the top body of the United Nation. 
US was the first country to react and said it has taken note of Indian govt's describing the developments "as strictly an internal matter" and said there has been no policy change by Washington.

Russia has backed India's decision to revoke the special status for Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating into two Union Territories. In response to a question, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Change in the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and its division into two union territories are carried out within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of India" Recalling the Simla and Lahore accord, the ministry said, "We hope that the differences between them will be resolved by political and diplomatic means on a bilateral basis in accordance with the provisions of the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999.

Russia has backed India's decision to revoke the special status for Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating into two Union Territories. In response to a question, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Change in the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and its division into two union territories are carried out within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of India" Recalling the Simla and Lahore accord, the ministry said, "We hope that the differences between them will be resolved by political and diplomatic means on a bilateral basis in accordance with the provisions of the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999." Both the agreement call of no third party mediation and resolution of issues between the two South Asian nations bilaterally. Moscow also hoped that the "parties involved will not allow a new aggravation of the situation in the region as a result of the decisions" and added that Russia is a "consistent supporter of the normalization of relations between India and Pakistan." So far, Maldives, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, US, UN have reacted to India's decision on Kashmir. While Maldives, UAE, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Thailand have called it an internal matter of India, Saudi and Malaysia have said that India and Pakistan should settle the issues peacefully. The Maldives, a member of the organisation of Islamic cooperation (OIC), went ahead to say that "we believe that it is the right of every sovereign nation to amend their laws as required." Taking note of the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and removal of Article 370, UAE envoy to India Dr Ahmed Al Banna called it India's internal matter and said "We expect that the changes would improve social justice and security and confidence of the people in the local governance and will encourage further stability and peace". New Delhi has welcomed the positive statements by some OIC members with Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar saying, "There is also a greater understanding that the rhetoric of Pakistan is something which has been seen through and has been exposed on many counts." Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe in a tweet welcomed the creation of "Ladakh state" which he said will be the first Indian state with a Buddhist majority. "Ladakh will become an Indian State. With 70% of Ladakh’s population being Buddhist it will be the first Indian state with a Buddhist majority. Creation of Ladakh and consequential restructuring is India’s internal matter, it is a beautiful region well worth a visit," he tweeted. The United Nations, while appealing for "maximum restraint", recalled the '1972 Agreement on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, also known as the Simla Agreement, which states that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be settled by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.' Interestingly, the UN did not offer its office for mediation between India and Pakistan, a departure from the past actions. The UN Security Council president Joanna Wronecka said, no comments in response to question by a reporter on Islamabad trying to raise the issue at the top body of the United Nation. US was the first country to react and said it has taken note of Indian govt's describing the developments "as strictly an internal matter" and said there has been no policy change by Washington.

Russia backs India on abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia on Saturday supported India's move of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-territory-status-for-jammu-and-kashmir-not-a-demotion-but-an-effort-to-align-it-with-rest-of-india-more-intensely-sources-241849">scrapping Article 370</a> and bifurcating Jammu and Kashmir, saying the exercise was 'carried out within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of India.'

“We proceed from fact that the changes associated with the change in the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and its division into two Union Territories are carried out within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of India,” said Russian foreign ministry.

Watch: Understanding China's stance on Kashmir

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Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued, said it expects that India and Pakistan will not allow aggravation of the situation in the region due to the change by government of India in the status of the state of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/restrictions-to-be-eased-in-kashmir-police-chief-241675">Jammu and Kashmir</a>.

So far, Maldives, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, US, UN have reacted to the Indian decision on Kashmir. While Maldives, UAE, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Thailand have called it an internal matter of India, Saudi and Malaysia have said that India Pakistan should peacefully settle the issues.

The Maldives, a member of the organisation of Islamic cooperation (OIC) went ahead to say that "we believe that it is the right of every sovereign nation to amend their laws as required."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/history-of-kashmir-and-what-revoking-of-special-status-means-240878">In pics: History of Kashmir and what revoking of special status means</a>

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-nsa-ajit-doval-visit-srinagar-asks-authorities-to-ensure-safety-of-locals-241727">PM Narendra Modi government </a>on August 5 revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Yesterday, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his nod to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, making it into law. The bill was passed in both houses of the Indian Parliament earlier this week with 370 votes in its favour and 70 against it.

The Bill provides for the formation of the Union Territory of Ladakh without legislature and a separate one for Jammu and Kashmir with the legislature. Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will come into existence as separate Union Territories on October 31.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, on its part, has downgraded bilateral ties with India and suspended all bilateral trade activities, communication, and railways, which facilitated people-to-people ties between each other.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia on Saturday supported India's move of scrapping Article 370 and bifurcating Jammu and Kashmir, saying the exercise was 'carried out within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of India.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia on Saturday supported India's move of scrapping Article 370 and bifurcating Jammu and Kashmir, saying the exercise was 'carried out within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of India.' “We proceed from fact that the changes associated with the change in the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and its division into two Union Territories are carried out within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of India,” said Russian foreign ministry. Watch: Understanding China's stance on Kashmir × Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued, said it expects that India and Pakistan will not allow aggravation of the situation in the region due to the change by government of India in the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. So far, Maldives, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, US, UN have reacted to the Indian decision on Kashmir. While Maldives, UAE, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Thailand have called it an internal matter of India, Saudi and Malaysia have said that India Pakistan should peacefully settle the issues. The Maldives, a member of the organisation of Islamic cooperation (OIC) went ahead to say that "we believe that it is the right of every sovereign nation to amend their laws as required." In pics: History of Kashmir and what revoking of special status means The PM Narendra Modi government on August 5 revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Yesterday, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his nod to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, making it into law. The bill was passed in both houses of the Indian Parliament earlier this week with 370 votes in its favour and 70 against it. The Bill provides for the formation of the Union Territory of Ladakh without legislature and a separate one for Jammu and Kashmir with the legislature. Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will come into existence as separate Union Territories on October 31. Meanwhile, Pakistan, on its part, has downgraded bilateral ties with India and suspended all bilateral trade activities, communication, and railways, which facilitated people-to-people ties between each other.

Article 370: Russia backs Modi government's move; says change in status of Jammu and Kashmir within framework of Indian Constitution

The Ministry of Home Affairs Saturday, refuted a news report of mass protest in Kashmir's Srinagar after PM Narendra Modi-led government on August 5 decided to withdraw the special status granted to the state under Article 370 and 35(A) of the Indian Constitution.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
News agency Reuters had published a report, quoting two policemen and an eye witness, claiming police on Friday used tear gas and pellet guns to "Fightback" protesters that numbered "at least 10,000" in the valley.&nbsp;

Taking to Twitter, the spokesperson of the home ministry said, "A news report originally published in Reuters and appeared in Dawn claims there was a protest involving 10000 people in Srinagar. This is completely fabricated &amp; incorrect. There have been a few stray protests in Srinagar/Baramulla and none involved a crowd of more than 20 people."

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A news report originally published in Reuters and appeared in Dawn claims there was a protest involving 10000 people in Srinagar. 
 
This is completely fabricated &amp; incorrect. There have been a few stray protests in Srinagar/Baramulla and none involved a crowd of more than 20 ppl.
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIBHomeAffairs/status/1160081078486368256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The administration has lifted prohibitory orders from Jammu region and asked schools to reopen from Saturday. Jammu and Kashmir was put under complete lockdown on August 11, a day before the government of India revoked Article 370 that gave special status to the state.

The&nbsp;PM Narendra Modi government&nbsp;on August 5 revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Yesterday, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his nod to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, making it into law. The bill was passed in both houses of the Indian Parliament earlier this week with 370 votes in its favour and 70 against it.

The Bill provides for the formation of the Union Territory of Ladakh without legislature and a separate one for Jammu and Kashmir with the legislature. Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will come into existence as separate Union Territories on October 31.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, on its part, has downgraded bilateral ties with India and suspended all bilateral trade activities, communication, and railways, which facilitated people-to-people ties between each other.

The Ministry of Home Affairs Saturday, refuted a news report of mass protest in Kashmir's Srinagar after PM Narendra Modi-led government on August 5 decided to withdraw the special status granted to the state under Article 370 and 35(A) of the Indian Constitution.

The Ministry of Home Affairs Saturday, refuted a news report of mass protest in Kashmir's Srinagar after PM Narendra Modi-led government on August 5 decided to withdraw the special status granted to the state under Article 370 and 35(A) of the Indian Constitution. News agency Reuters had published a report, quoting two policemen and an eye witness, claiming police on Friday used tear gas and pellet guns to "Fightback" protesters that numbered "at least 10,000" in the valley. Taking to Twitter, the spokesperson of the home ministry said, "A news report originally published in Reuters and appeared in Dawn claims there was a protest involving 10000 people in Srinagar. This is completely fabricated & incorrect. There have been a few stray protests in Srinagar/Baramulla and none involved a crowd of more than 20 people." A news report originally published in Reuters and appeared in Dawn claims there was a protest involving 10000 people in Srinagar. This is completely fabricated & incorrect. There have been a few stray protests in Srinagar/Baramulla and none involved a crowd of more than 20 ppl. — Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) August 10, 2019 × The administration has lifted prohibitory orders from Jammu region and asked schools to reopen from Saturday. Jammu and Kashmir was put under complete lockdown on August 11, a day before the government of India revoked Article 370 that gave special status to the state. The PM Narendra Modi government on August 5 revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Yesterday, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his nod to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, making it into law. The bill was passed in both houses of the Indian Parliament earlier this week with 370 votes in its favour and 70 against it. The Bill provides for the formation of the Union Territory of Ladakh without legislature and a separate one for Jammu and Kashmir with the legislature. Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will come into existence as separate Union Territories on October 31. Meanwhile, Pakistan, on its part, has downgraded bilateral ties with India and suspended all bilateral trade activities, communication, and railways, which facilitated people-to-people ties between each other.

Article 370: Ministry of Home Affairs rejects media report claiming massive protests in Srinagar

In this story we will focus on the major reforms & decisions taken by Modi's government in India. From imposing demonetisation, introducing GST in nation, till the decision of scrapping article 370 for the reformation of Jammu and Kashmir; here is a timeline.

Modi govt's reforms & major decisions

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/railways-needs-investment-of-rs-50-lakh-crore-by-2030-to-make-it-worlds-best-piyush-goyal-233681&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi49du-lrHjAhVMpY8KHRJPC_cQFjAGegQIABAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PRa79er7RsPwzDDwByBm6">Railway</a> Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said there is "no question and no meaning" of privatising Railways, but the public-private partnership will be encouraged and there will be corporatisation of some units.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants of his ministry, in which 99 members participated, Goyal outlined the plans of the government to boost safety and technology and said its performance has been far better compared to that of the UPA government.&nbsp;

He made a veiled attack on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi over her opposition to the corporatisation of the Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareli and credited <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-asks-mps-to-take-150-kilometres-march-on-gandhi-jayanti-234213&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjihtD0lrHjAhULUI8KHbPYDVk4ChAWMAN6BAgOEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw2mq2heMNuhNTqHeRsM11JO">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> for its turnaround.

The Minister also accused the UPA government of "inaction" following the July 2006 train blasts and said if the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in power, terrorists would have gotten a befitting reply.

The House passed the demands for grants for railways (2019-20) after cut motions of the opposition were rejected by a voice vote.

Amid desk thumping by MPs of the treasury benches, Goyal said demands raised by members had been compiled overnight over 74 pages and he will individually write to the members.

He said capital expenditure of Railways had increased 2.5 times during the Modi government, adding that the current government had done away with the practice of a separate railway budget as they were mostly "political budgets.

"Slamming the UPA government, Goyal said the work for Dedicated Freight Corridor started in 2007, but not one kilometre of track linking had been done till 2014.&nbsp;

The NDA government completed 1900 kilometres of track linking in five years, he claimed.

The Railway Minister said track kilometre grew slowly in 64 years, while in the past five years it grew by 7,000 kilometres.&nbsp;

He also said railway stations were cleaner and train punctuality improved, as had the safety record of trains.

Goyal accused the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-leaders-stage-protest-over-political-crisis-in-karnataka-and-goa-sonia-gandhi-meets-party-mps-234887&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjtr9OMl7HjAhXJL48KHeTlC90QFjAAegQIBRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2f5YP5GuPo2VEaiA-DDPZt">Congress party</a> of shedding "crocodile tears" over the corporatisation of some units, saying the Modi government was carrying forward a process that had been initiated earlier.&nbsp;

"Sometimes it is said we are going to privatise the railways.&nbsp;

We have spoken loudly so many times that nobody can privatise railways.

There is no meaning, no question of privatising railways," he said.

He said allegations about privatisation had been replied earlier and repeating them will not change the truth.&nbsp;

"The truth is that if you want to increase the facilities of railways, spread them to all parts of the country, we need big investments," he said.

Goyal said passengers want a comfortable journey and the capacity of railways to carry goods should increase.

"The government has decided that in the future it will encourage more public-private partnerships.&nbsp;

To increase route length, to bring foreign investment, we will corporatise some units.&nbsp;

You started it, we will complete the work you left half-finished. Why are you shedding crocodile tears that there is corporatisation?&nbsp;

We have been elected to complete the tasks you did not do," he said.

He said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed an investment of Rs 50 lakh crore in railways and related areas in the next ten-twelve years and has laid a roadmap of how the railways will move forward.&nbsp;

Her budget speech, he said, reflected the "new thinking and new direction" in which the government will work.

He said not a single coach was produced at coach factory in Rae Bareli, the constituency of Sonia Gandhi, during the rule of Congress-led government.&nbsp;

The coach factory produced 1425 coaches in 2018-19 against its capacity of 1,000 due to Modi`s directions and the target was to make it the biggest coach factory in the world which produced 5,000 coaches annually, he added.

Sonia Gandhi had earlier this month opposed corporatisation of Modern Coach Factory and said it was the first step towards privatisation.

Replying to queries, he said some projects in West Bengal were pending for years as the land had not been made available by the state government.&nbsp;

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said there is "no question and no meaning" of privatising Railways, but the public-private partnership will be encouraged and there will be corporatisation of some units.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said there is "no question and no meaning" of privatising Railways, but the public-private partnership will be encouraged and there will be corporatisation of some units. Replying to the debate on the demands for grants of his ministry, in which 99 members participated, Goyal outlined the plans of the government to boost safety and technology and said its performance has been far better compared to that of the UPA government. He made a veiled attack on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi over her opposition to the corporatisation of the Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareli and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its turnaround. The Minister also accused the UPA government of "inaction" following the July 2006 train blasts and said if the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in power, terrorists would have gotten a befitting reply. The House passed the demands for grants for railways (2019-20) after cut motions of the opposition were rejected by a voice vote. Amid desk thumping by MPs of the treasury benches, Goyal said demands raised by members had been compiled overnight over 74 pages and he will individually write to the members. He said capital expenditure of Railways had increased 2.5 times during the Modi government, adding that the current government had done away with the practice of a separate railway budget as they were mostly "political budgets. "Slamming the UPA government, Goyal said the work for Dedicated Freight Corridor started in 2007, but not one kilometre of track linking had been done till 2014. The NDA government completed 1900 kilometres of track linking in five years, he claimed. The Railway Minister said track kilometre grew slowly in 64 years, while in the past five years it grew by 7,000 kilometres. He also said railway stations were cleaner and train punctuality improved, as had the safety record of trains. Goyal accused the Congress party of shedding "crocodile tears" over the corporatisation of some units, saying the Modi government was carrying forward a process that had been initiated earlier. "Sometimes it is said we are going to privatise the railways. We have spoken loudly so many times that nobody can privatise railways. There is no meaning, no question of privatising railways," he said. He said allegations about privatisation had been replied earlier and repeating them will not change the truth. "The truth is that if you want to increase the facilities of railways, spread them to all parts of the country, we need big investments," he said. Goyal said passengers want a comfortable journey and the capacity of railways to carry goods should increase. "The government has decided that in the future it will encourage more public-private partnerships. To increase route length, to bring foreign investment, we will corporatise some units. You started it, we will complete the work you left half-finished. Why are you shedding crocodile tears that there is corporatisation? We have been elected to complete the tasks you did not do," he said. He said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed an investment of Rs 50 lakh crore in railways and related areas in the next ten-twelve years and has laid a roadmap of how the railways will move forward. Her budget speech, he said, reflected the "new thinking and new direction" in which the government will work. He said not a single coach was produced at coach factory in Rae Bareli, the constituency of Sonia Gandhi, during the rule of Congress-led government. The coach factory produced 1425 coaches in 2018-19 against its capacity of 1,000 due to Modi`s directions and the target was to make it the biggest coach factory in the world which produced 5,000 coaches annually, he added. Sonia Gandhi had earlier this month opposed corporatisation of Modern Coach Factory and said it was the first step towards privatisation. Replying to queries, he said some projects in West Bengal were pending for years as the land had not been made available by the state government.

Railways Minister Piyush Goyal says no privatisation of Railways, targets Congress

The Modi government has given "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-compulsorily-retires-15-corrupt-customs-officers-228278">compulsory retirement</a>" to as many as 312 government officers on account of lack of integrity and&nbsp;ineffectiveness.

More than 36,000 Group A government officials and over 82,000 Group B officers were reviewed between July 2014 and May 2019.&nbsp;

After the review, as many as 125 Group A officers and around 187 Group B officials were compulsorily retired by the government on account of "lack of integrity, ineffectiveness" and in public interest.

"As per the applicable disciplinary rule, the government has the right to proceed against corrupt officials on the basis of available evidence. The government has an absolute right to retire government officials prematurely on ground of lack of integrity and ineffectiveness in public interest as per provisions of Fundamental Rules (FR) 56 (j) (i), rule 48 of Central Civil Services (CCS) pension rules 1972 and rule 16 (3) &nbsp;(amended) of All India Services. These rules lay down the policy of periodic review and premature retirement of government services," read the written reply to Lok Sabha by Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and MoS, Prime Minister's Office. &nbsp;

Last month the government compulsorily retired 15 senior Customs officials in its ongoing drive against corruption. The move came over a week after 12 senior income tax officers were dismissed from service on charges of corruption.

Among those suspended were an ADG-rank officer against whom there are two CBI cases and faces charges of bribery.

It also included Commissioners and Additional Commissioners, some of whom have already been suspended. Most of these case are of amassing of disproportionate assets.

The Modi government has given "compulsory retirement" to as many as 312 government officers on account of lack of integrity and ineffectiveness. More than 36,000 Group A government officials and over 82,000 Group B officers were reviewed between July 2014 and May 2019.

The Modi government has given "compulsory retirement" to as many as 312 government officers on account of lack of integrity and ineffectiveness. More than 36,000 Group A government officials and over 82,000 Group B officers were reviewed between July 2014 and May 2019. After the review, as many as 125 Group A officers and around 187 Group B officials were compulsorily retired by the government on account of "lack of integrity, ineffectiveness" and in public interest. "As per the applicable disciplinary rule, the government has the right to proceed against corrupt officials on the basis of available evidence. The government has an absolute right to retire government officials prematurely on ground of lack of integrity and ineffectiveness in public interest as per provisions of Fundamental Rules (FR) 56 (j) (i), rule 48 of Central Civil Services (CCS) pension rules 1972 and rule 16 (3) (amended) of All India Services. These rules lay down the policy of periodic review and premature retirement of government services," read the written reply to Lok Sabha by Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and MoS, Prime Minister's Office. Last month the government compulsorily retired 15 senior Customs officials in its ongoing drive against corruption. The move came over a week after 12 senior income tax officers were dismissed from service on charges of corruption. Among those suspended were an ADG-rank officer against whom there are two CBI cases and faces charges of bribery. It also included Commissioners and Additional Commissioners, some of whom have already been suspended. Most of these case are of amassing of disproportionate assets.

Government puts 312 officials on 'compulsory retirement' over ineffectiveness, lack of integrity

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman breaking from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/union-budget-2019-sitharaman-expected-to-announce-slew-of-measures-to-boost-economy-pronounce-relief-to-tax-payers-233129">tradition carried the Budget documents </a>in a four-fold red cloth instead of a briefcase as the nation awaited the presentation of the Union Budget in Parliament today.

As per tradition, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman called on President Ramnath Kovind before presenting the Union Budget.&nbsp;

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"It is in Indian tradition. It symbolises our departure from slavery of Western thought. It is not a budget but a 'bahi khata'(ledger)," chief economic advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/a-brief-about-what-is-union-budget-233147/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

This will be Nirmala Sitharaman's first Budget presentation as the new finance minister under the Modi government which won a second term after a mammoth victory in the general election on May 23rd.

Ahead of the Budget, the Indian stock market opened up 0.29 per cent higher at 40,025.85, the broader NSE Nifty was also up 0.26 per cent at 11,976.

Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the government's Economic Survey on Thursday had forecast that India's GDP could get back up to 7 per cent in the current fiscal but cautioned that it will face challenges.

Market analysts believe the Narendra Modi-led government will boost spending in the current Budget in order to spur growth.&nbsp;

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman breaking from tradition carried the Budget documents in a four-fold red cloth instead of a briefcase as the nation awaited the presentation of the Union Budget in Parliament today.

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman breaking from tradition carried the Budget documents in a four-fold red cloth instead of a briefcase as the nation awaited the presentation of the Union Budget in Parliament today. As per tradition, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman called on President Ramnath Kovind before presenting the Union Budget. Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian on FM Nirmala Sitharaman keeping budget documents in four fold red cloth instead of a briefcase: It is in Indian tradition. It symbolizes our departure from slavery of Western thought. It is not a budget but a 'bahi khata'(ledger) pic.twitter.com/ZhXdmnfbvl — ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2019 × "It is in Indian tradition. It symbolises our departure from slavery of Western thought. It is not a budget but a 'bahi khata'(ledger)," chief economic advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian said. This will be Nirmala Sitharaman's first Budget presentation as the new finance minister under the Modi government which won a second term after a mammoth victory in the general election on May 23rd. Ahead of the Budget, the Indian stock market opened up 0.29 per cent higher at 40,025.85, the broader NSE Nifty was also up 0.26 per cent at 11,976. Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the government's Economic Survey on Thursday had forecast that India's GDP could get back up to 7 per cent in the current fiscal but cautioned that it will face challenges. Market analysts believe the Narendra Modi-led government will boost spending in the current Budget in order to spur growth.

In a first, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman carries Budget documents in four-fold red cloth

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday was sworn in seven-term member of Parliament <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-mp-dr-virendra-kumar-to-be-protem-speaker-of-17th-lok-sabha-226181">Virendra Kumar as the protem speaker of Lok Sabha</a>.

Kumar will oversee the oath-taking of newly elected LS members on Monday and Tuesday.

On Wednesday, as soon as a new speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha is elected, his role will cease to exist. Kumar, 65, won the Lok Sabha election from Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh on a BJP ticket.

He was a minister of state in the previous Modi government.

As pro-tem speaker, Kumar will preside over the first sitting of the Lok Sabha and administer the oath to the newly elected MPs. He will also oversee the election of the Lok Sabha speaker.

The first session of the newly constituted Lok Sabha will be held from June 17 to July 26.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday was sworn in seven-term member of Parliament Virendra Kumar as the protem speaker of Lok Sabha. Kumar will oversee the oath-taking of newly elected LS members on Monday and Tuesday.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday was sworn in seven-term member of Parliament Virendra Kumar as the protem speaker of Lok Sabha. Kumar will oversee the oath-taking of newly elected LS members on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, as soon as a new speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha is elected, his role will cease to exist. Kumar, 65, won the Lok Sabha election from Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh on a BJP ticket. He was a minister of state in the previous Modi government. As pro-tem speaker, Kumar will preside over the first sitting of the Lok Sabha and administer the oath to the newly elected MPs. He will also oversee the election of the Lok Sabha speaker. The first session of the newly constituted Lok Sabha will be held from June 17 to July 26.

BJP MP Virendra Kumar sworn in as protem speaker of Lok Sabha

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asserted on Saturday that his JD(U) stayed out of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre since it felt there was no need for a "symbolic representation" in the Union cabinet and that the decision must not be construed as a result of any disaffection with its ally BJP.

"We are fully with the Modi government. I had made it clear after returning from New Delhi (after the swearing-in). Their party (BJP) has full majority. It has received the mandate to form government on its own and is not dependent on allies. Yet they expressed the view that there should be a symbolic representation of all alliance partners. We thought it was not needed," Kumar told reporters here.

Kumar was replying to queries on the sidelines of a function where he launched a nationwide membership drive carried out by the JD(U), of which he is the national president.

"It is wrong to think that we have any disaffection with the BJP which has led to the decision. We have a different style of working and having a minister or two in the Centre does not matter much to us. We had returned to the NDA in the interests of Bihar and to that end our alliance remains firm," Kumar said.

Kumar had snapped 17-year-old ties with the BJP in 2013 in protest against Narendra Modi's appointment as the party's chief for Lok Sabha election campaign which was seen as a precursor to his elevation as the Prime Ministerial candidate.&nbsp;

Kumar had till then maintained a distance from his Gujarat counterpart in view of the latter's alleged role in the post-Godhra communal riots.

He fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the CPI, losing badly and resigned as Chief Minister taking moral responsibility for the drubbing. Thereafter he formed a coalition with arch rival Lalu Prasad, who heads the RJD, and their alliance with the Congress handsomely won the 2015 assembly polls and the RJD supremo's sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav were inducted into the new cabinet headed by Kumar.

However, in 2017 a major controversy broke out following lodging of money laundering cases, by central agencies like CBI and ED against Tejashwi who was also the Deputy CM.

This led to Kumar walking out of the Grand Alliance and returning to the NDA as the BJP, now joined by Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP, came with offer of support.

In the recent general elections, the NDA swept Bihar winning 39 out of 40 seats. The JD(U), which had fought 17 seats, won all but one.

Kumar expressed delight over his party earning the status of a "recognized state party" in Arunachal Pradesh.

About reports that his party's unit in the neighbouring Jharkhand wanted to fight the assembly polls early next year on its own which would pit the JD(U) against the BJP, Kumar said, "Our national executive will meet tomorrow. Our Jharkhand unit members will also be present. We will take a decision based on their inputs."

Despite being an NDA constituent, the JD(U) has maintained that its ties with the BJP were limited to Bihar only and it has contested assembly polls in a number of states ruled by its alliance partner, including Gujarat.

Replying to a query about the ghastly killing of a girl child in Aligarh, whose mutilated body was spotted by passersby when it was being dragged by stray dogs, Kumar said, "It is abominable. The guilty must be punished severely."&nbsp;

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asserted on Saturday that his JD(U) stayed out of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre since it felt there was no need for a "symbolic representation" in the Union cabinet and that the decision must not be construed as a result of any disaffection with its ally BJP.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asserted on Saturday that his JD(U) stayed out of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre since it felt there was no need for a "symbolic representation" in the Union cabinet and that the decision must not be construed as a result of any disaffection with its ally BJP. "We are fully with the Modi government. I had made it clear after returning from New Delhi (after the swearing-in). Their party (BJP) has full majority. It has received the mandate to form government on its own and is not dependent on allies. Yet they expressed the view that there should be a symbolic representation of all alliance partners. We thought it was not needed," Kumar told reporters here. Kumar was replying to queries on the sidelines of a function where he launched a nationwide membership drive carried out by the JD(U), of which he is the national president. "It is wrong to think that we have any disaffection with the BJP which has led to the decision. We have a different style of working and having a minister or two in the Centre does not matter much to us. We had returned to the NDA in the interests of Bihar and to that end our alliance remains firm," Kumar said. Kumar had snapped 17-year-old ties with the BJP in 2013 in protest against Narendra Modi's appointment as the party's chief for Lok Sabha election campaign which was seen as a precursor to his elevation as the Prime Ministerial candidate. Kumar had till then maintained a distance from his Gujarat counterpart in view of the latter's alleged role in the post-Godhra communal riots. He fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the CPI, losing badly and resigned as Chief Minister taking moral responsibility for the drubbing. Thereafter he formed a coalition with arch rival Lalu Prasad, who heads the RJD, and their alliance with the Congress handsomely won the 2015 assembly polls and the RJD supremo's sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav were inducted into the new cabinet headed by Kumar. However, in 2017 a major controversy broke out following lodging of money laundering cases, by central agencies like CBI and ED against Tejashwi who was also the Deputy CM. This led to Kumar walking out of the Grand Alliance and returning to the NDA as the BJP, now joined by Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP, came with offer of support. In the recent general elections, the NDA swept Bihar winning 39 out of 40 seats. The JD(U), which had fought 17 seats, won all but one. Kumar expressed delight over his party earning the status of a "recognized state party" in Arunachal Pradesh. About reports that his party's unit in the neighbouring Jharkhand wanted to fight the assembly polls early next year on its own which would pit the JD(U) against the BJP, Kumar said, "Our national executive will meet tomorrow. Our Jharkhand unit members will also be present. We will take a decision based on their inputs." Despite being an NDA constituent, the JD(U) has maintained that its ties with the BJP were limited to Bihar only and it has contested assembly polls in a number of states ruled by its alliance partner, including Gujarat. Replying to a query about the ghastly killing of a girl child in Aligarh, whose mutilated body was spotted by passersby when it was being dragged by stray dogs, Kumar said, "It is abominable. The guilty must be punished severely."

JD(U) stayed out of Modi government as we felt there was no need for symbolic representation: Nitish

India signs deal with Israel to procure 100 SPICE bombs used in Balakot strikes

In a move that could have a massive impact on the polity of the Jammu and Kashmir, the Central government is mulling on lifting the freeze on delimitation in the state. The move could result in increase in the representation of Jammu in the J&K assembly, thereby raising the prospects of the state getting its first Chief Minister, who does not hail from the Kashmir region. At present Kashmir sends more legislators to the J&K assembly than the Jammu

Shah takes the wheel: Delimitation Commission in J&K on the agenda

On his first day in office, the Modi government decided to extend the PM-Kisan scheme to all farmers. But, some challenges still remain. Watch this report from Gravitas.

Gravitas: Modi 2.0: Big Moves For Farmers On Day One

The economy will be the top priority of the Modi government. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you which issues the new government needs to tackle first.

Gravitas: Modi 2.0: Can PM Modi Push 'Big-Bang' Economic Reforms?

Here's look at new cabinet entrants in PM Narendra Modi's Council of Ministers. Watch this video to know more.

Here's look at new cabinet entrants in PM Narendra Modi's Council of Ministers

arendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for the second successive time on Tuesday in a grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was joined by 24 cabinet-ranked ministers, 24 Ministers of State and another nine Ministers of State (Independent Charge). Watch this video to k now more.

PM Modi, 57 ministers take oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan

BJP president Amit Shah took oath at the much awaited swearing-in ceremony as a minster in Modi government's cabinet on Thursday. Watch this video to know more.

BJP chief Amit Shah joins Modi's cabinet 2.0

Putting all speculations to rest, BJP president Amit Shah took oath at the much awaited swearing-in ceremony as a minster in Modi government's cabinet on Thursday. However, the biggest surprise that PM Modi threw up was the inclusion of former foreign secretary S Jaishankar Prasad in cabinet. Watch this video to know more.

Amit Shah, S Jaishankar PM Narendra Modi's surprise pick

43-year-old Smriti Irani, newly elected MP from Amethi, defeated Rahul Gandhi, for the second time took oath as Union minister . After which, he became the youngest minister in the new cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Watch this video to know more.

Smriti Irani takes oath as cabinet minister

Narendra Modi took oath of office and secrecy as Prime Minister for the second consecutive term, administered by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. Watch this video to know more.

Watch: Highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony

BJP president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amit-shah-pm-modis-right-hand-man-is-indias-new-home-minister-223085">Amit Shah </a>and former Foreign Secretary <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/s-jaishankar-is-the-new-foreign-minister-will-replace-sushma-swaraj-223083">S. Jaishankar </a>are the most prominent faces in the considerable number of first-timers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s Cabinet.

While Shah got hold of the Home Ministry, Jaishankar will helm External Affairs.

Modi`s Cabinet has six new Cabinet ministers and close to 15 new Ministers of State.

Here`s how the new faces have fared -Former Uttrakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal will be handling the HRD ministry.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-20-rajnath-singh-is-defence-minister-amit-shah-home-nirmala-sitharaman-gets-finace-223084">Modi 2.0: Rajnath Singh is Defence Minister, Amit Shah Home; Nirmala Sitharaman gets Finance</a>

Popular tribal leader and former chief minister of Jharkhand, Arjun Munda, made it to the big league and will take care of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Shiv Sena`s Arvind Ganpat Sawant, the MP from Mumbai-South, will now be the in-charge of Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

A lawmaker from Karnataka, Pralhad Joshi, who won with one of the highest margins in Karnataka, will head the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs along with the charge of Coal and Mines.

BJP MP from Chandauli, Mahendra Nath Pandey has been given the post of Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the 17th Lok Sabha.

Under the category of Ministers of State, new-inductee Anurag Thakur will be part of the Finance Ministry.

Debasree Chaudhuri from West Bengal will be the MoS in Women and Child Development Ministry.

Talked about for his austere lifestyle, BJP MP from Odisha Pratap Chandra Sarangi will look after MSMEs and Ministry of Animal Husbandry.

Other new Ministers of State are - Prahalad Singh Patel G Kishan Reddy, Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Debasree Chaudhuri, Kailash Choudhary, Rameswar Teli Nityanand Rai, Rattan Lal Kataria, V Muraleedharan, Renuka Singh Saruta, Som Parkash and Angadi Suresh Channabasappa.&nbsp;

BJP president Amit Shah and former Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar are the most prominent faces in the considerable number of first-timers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s Cabinet.

BJP president Amit Shah and former Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar are the most prominent faces in the considerable number of first-timers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s Cabinet. While Shah got hold of the Home Ministry, Jaishankar will helm External Affairs. Modi`s Cabinet has six new Cabinet ministers and close to 15 new Ministers of State. Here`s how the new faces have fared -Former Uttrakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal will be handling the HRD ministry. Also read: Modi 2.0: Rajnath Singh is Defence Minister, Amit Shah Home; Nirmala Sitharaman gets Finance Popular tribal leader and former chief minister of Jharkhand, Arjun Munda, made it to the big league and will take care of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Shiv Sena`s Arvind Ganpat Sawant, the MP from Mumbai-South, will now be the in-charge of Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. A lawmaker from Karnataka, Pralhad Joshi, who won with one of the highest margins in Karnataka, will head the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs along with the charge of Coal and Mines. BJP MP from Chandauli, Mahendra Nath Pandey has been given the post of Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the 17th Lok Sabha. Under the category of Ministers of State, new-inductee Anurag Thakur will be part of the Finance Ministry. Debasree Chaudhuri from West Bengal will be the MoS in Women and Child Development Ministry. Talked about for his austere lifestyle, BJP MP from Odisha Pratap Chandra Sarangi will look after MSMEs and Ministry of Animal Husbandry. Other new Ministers of State are - Prahalad Singh Patel G Kishan Reddy, Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Debasree Chaudhuri, Kailash Choudhary, Rameswar Teli Nityanand Rai, Rattan Lal Kataria, V Muraleedharan, Renuka Singh Saruta, Som Parkash and Angadi Suresh Channabasappa.

Modi Cabinet 2.0: First-timers and their portfolios

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday named <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/nirmala-sitharaman-the-first-full-time-woman-defence-minister-retained-as-union-minister-222866">Nirmala Sitharaman</a> as the next finance minister of the country.

She will replace Arun Jaitley, who had expressed his unwillingness to join the new Modi government owing to his health, in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-20-rajnath-singh-is-defence-minister-amit-shah-home-nirmala-sitharaman-gets-finace-223084">portfolios announced by the government today</a>.

Sitharaman was the defence minister in the previous NDA dispensation. Before being elevated as the Defence minister, Sitharaman served as the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs in the Modi government. She was also Minister for Commerce and Industry with independent charge.

At 59, she is the senior most woman minister in Modi's cabinet and the second woman to head the finance department after late former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

"I have a neutral view. We will have to wait for her to speak to get her thoughts and ideas on reforms for the markets and the economy, but it will be in line with what the BJP-led government would overall target anyway," said Bekxy Kuriakose, head of fixed income, principal asset management in Mumbai.

"Nirmala Sitharaman is a relatively unknown entity despite holding a key portfolio in the previous government. Expectations as such will be low. From the markets' perspective, it's neutral at this stage," said Sandeep Sabharwal, a domestic fund manager.

Watch: Sitharaman takes oath as Union minister

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Sitharaman will take over the finance ministry when there is pressure from industry for the government to provide some stimulus to halt a worrying slowdown in India's $2.7 trillion economy.

India probably lost its spot as the fastest growing major economy to China in the January-March quarter as a chill in domestic and global consumer demand hit manufacturers and service providers. Data for the quarter is set to be released later on Friday.

The government is already considering rolling out a slew of 'big-bang' economic reforms in the first 100 days of Modi's second term, with a focus on privatisation of state assets and relaxation of labour and land rules for businesses, a top official at the government's main think tank said.

A post-graduate in Economics, Sitharaman earlier served as a national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is still remembered as one of its most articulate spokespersons, who fiercely attacked the Congress government over its various policies.

Now a seasoned politician, Sitharaman counts travel, trekking, music and cooking among her hobbies.

(With inputs from agencies)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday named Nirmala Sitharaman as the next finance minister of the country. She will replace Arun Jaitley, who had expressed his unwillingness to join the new Modi government owing to his health, in the portfolios announced by the government today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday named Nirmala Sitharaman as the next finance minister of the country. She will replace Arun Jaitley, who had expressed his unwillingness to join the new Modi government owing to his health, in the portfolios announced by the government today. Sitharaman was the defence minister in the previous NDA dispensation. Before being elevated as the Defence minister, Sitharaman served as the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs in the Modi government. She was also Minister for Commerce and Industry with independent charge. At 59, she is the senior most woman minister in Modi's cabinet and the second woman to head the finance department after late former prime minister Indira Gandhi. "I have a neutral view. We will have to wait for her to speak to get her thoughts and ideas on reforms for the markets and the economy, but it will be in line with what the BJP-led government would overall target anyway," said Bekxy Kuriakose, head of fixed income, principal asset management in Mumbai. "Nirmala Sitharaman is a relatively unknown entity despite holding a key portfolio in the previous government. Expectations as such will be low. From the markets' perspective, it's neutral at this stage," said Sandeep Sabharwal, a domestic fund manager. Watch: Sitharaman takes oath as Union minister Sitharaman will take over the finance ministry when there is pressure from industry for the government to provide some stimulus to halt a worrying slowdown in India's $2.7 trillion economy. India probably lost its spot as the fastest growing major economy to China in the January-March quarter as a chill in domestic and global consumer demand hit manufacturers and service providers. Data for the quarter is set to be released later on Friday. The government is already considering rolling out a slew of 'big-bang' economic reforms in the first 100 days of Modi's second term, with a focus on privatisation of state assets and relaxation of labour and land rules for businesses, a top official at the government's main think tank said. A post-graduate in Economics, Sitharaman earlier served as a national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is still remembered as one of its most articulate spokespersons, who fiercely attacked the Congress government over its various policies. Now a seasoned politician, Sitharaman counts travel, trekking, music and cooking among her hobbies. (With inputs from agencies)

Nirmala Sitharaman replaces Arun Jaitley as India's Finance Minister

BJP president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amit-shah-bjps-chanakya-now-enters-government-222850">Amit Shah</a>, who took oath as a minister on Thursday, has been made the new Home Minister of the country. The portfolio was earlier handled by Rajnath Singh, who has been moved to Defence.

Shah won the Lok Sabha polls from Gandhinagar in Gujarat defeating Congress's J Chavda by a record margin of more than five lakh votes. He is the most notable inclusion in the government and will serve at the Centre for the first time as a minister.

"Thankful to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for reposing faith in me. Your leadership and continued support is a great source of inspiration. I assure you that I will put my best efforts to serve our people and country," he tweeted after taking oath on Thursday.

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Thankful to Prime Minister Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji for reposing faith in me. Your leadership and continued support is a great source of inspiration. I assure you that I will put my best efforts to serve our people and country. <a href="https://t.co/ZDLgv5w4Fw">pic.twitter.com/ZDLgv5w4Fw</a>
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As Prime Minister Narendra Modi's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/narendra-modi-takes-oath-as-prime-minister-for-second-time-222847">right-hand man</a> and long-time strategist, Shah would be in a powerful position as the country's home minister. He masterminded the BJP's landslide victory in the April-May general election in which the party won 303 of the 542 seats and is able to make the government on its own.

Shah has worked as Minister of State for Home Affairs in Gujarat when Modi was the chief minister of the state.

The first meeting of the new Union Cabinet will take place on Friday at 5:30 pm, a government official said.

The Union Cabinet for the 17th Lok Sabha includes 24 Cabinet ministers, nine Ministers of State with independent charge and 24 Ministers of State (MoS).

Top leaders who were sworn in as Cabinet ministers include Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, DV Sadananda Gowda, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ram Vilas Paswan and former foreign secretary S Jaishankar, a surprise pick.

Rajnath Singh, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/nirmala-sitharaman-the-first-full-time-woman-defence-minister-retained-as-union-minister-222866">Nirmala Sitharaman</a>, Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sadanand Gowda and representatives of BJP allies - Ram Vilas Paswan (LJSP), Harsimrat Kaur (Akali Dal), Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena) and Ramdas Athawale (RPI-A) who will be a Minister of State (MoS) also took oath.

Some of the key ministers in the previous Modi government, including Sushma Swaraj, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Maneka Gandhi, are not a part of the new Council of Ministers, while former finance minister Arun Jaitley opted out of the new Cabinet citing health reasons.

BJP president Amit Shah, who took oath as a minister on Thursday, has been made the new Home Minister of the country. The portfolio was earlier handled by Rajnath Singh, who has been moved to Defence.

BJP president Amit Shah, who took oath as a minister on Thursday, has been made the new Home Minister of the country. The portfolio was earlier handled by Rajnath Singh, who has been moved to Defence. Shah won the Lok Sabha polls from Gandhinagar in Gujarat defeating Congress's J Chavda by a record margin of more than five lakh votes. He is the most notable inclusion in the government and will serve at the Centre for the first time as a minister. "Thankful to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for reposing faith in me. Your leadership and continued support is a great source of inspiration. I assure you that I will put my best efforts to serve our people and country," he tweeted after taking oath on Thursday. Thankful to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for reposing faith in me. Your leadership and continued support is a great source of inspiration. I assure you that I will put my best efforts to serve our people and country. pic.twitter.com/ZDLgv5w4Fw — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2019 × As Prime Minister Narendra Modi's right-hand man and long-time strategist, Shah would be in a powerful position as the country's home minister. He masterminded the BJP's landslide victory in the April-May general election in which the party won 303 of the 542 seats and is able to make the government on its own. Shah has worked as Minister of State for Home Affairs in Gujarat when Modi was the chief minister of the state. The first meeting of the new Union Cabinet will take place on Friday at 5:30 pm, a government official said. The Union Cabinet for the 17th Lok Sabha includes 24 Cabinet ministers, nine Ministers of State with independent charge and 24 Ministers of State (MoS). Top leaders who were sworn in as Cabinet ministers include Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, DV Sadananda Gowda, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ram Vilas Paswan and former foreign secretary S Jaishankar, a surprise pick. Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sadanand Gowda and representatives of BJP allies - Ram Vilas Paswan (LJSP), Harsimrat Kaur (Akali Dal), Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena) and Ramdas Athawale (RPI-A) who will be a Minister of State (MoS) also took oath. Some of the key ministers in the previous Modi government, including Sushma Swaraj, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Maneka Gandhi, are not a part of the new Council of Ministers, while former finance minister Arun Jaitley opted out of the new Cabinet citing health reasons.

Amit Shah, PM Modi's right-hand man, is India's new Home Minister

The newly inducted Narendra Modi government will hold its first Cabinet meeting on Friday. According to reports, the cabinet meeting will be held around 5 PM on Friday. Watch this video to know more.

All-new Narendra Modi govt to hold its first Cabinet meet

Sushma Swaraj, Rajyavardhan Rathore and Mahesh Sharma are among the notable omissions in the BJP-led NDA's second innings. Despite winning their seats, eight-time MP Maneka Gandhi, six-time MP Radhamohan Singh, Sharma, Jayant Sinha, Anupriya Patel, Jual Oram, Ram Kripal Yadav and Rathore lost their ministerial berths.

Another key BJP leader, who did not make it to the Cabinet his time, is J P Nadda, the health minister in the first Modi dispensation. He could be the next BJP president as incumbent Amit Shah has joined the government. There were many from Modi's previous Cabinet who either did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections or suffered defeat.

Swaraj had opted out of fighting the polls due to health reasons. Others who decided not to contest were Suresh Prabhu, who held the civil aviation portfolio, Uma Bharati, the minister of drinking water and sanitation and Birender Singh, who was the minister of steel.

Manoj Sinha, the minister of state for railways, Alphons Kannanthanam, the minister of tourism with independent charge, and Hansraj Ahir, the minister of state for home, were among those who tasted defeat in the elections. Former bureaucrat and minister of state for urban affairs (independent charge) Hardeep Singh Puri, however, retained his berth despite losing his seat.

Vijay Sampla, who was the minister of state, social justice and empowerment, was dropped. He had been denied a ticket by the BJP after it accused the party of "cow slaughter". Known for his controversial statements, Anantkumar Hegde, who held the skill development portfolio, has also been dropped.

Arun Jaitley, who was the finance minister, had opted out of being in the government for health reasons.

Sushma Swaraj, Rajyavardhan Rathore and Mahesh Sharma are among the notable omissions in the BJP-led NDA's second innings. Despite winning their seats, eight-time MP Maneka Gandhi, six-time MP Radhamohan Singh, Sharma, Jayant Sinha, Anupriya Patel, Jual Oram, Ram Kripal Yadav and Rathore lost their ministerial berths.

Sushma Swaraj, Rajyavardhan Rathore and Mahesh Sharma are among the notable omissions in the BJP-led NDA's second innings. Despite winning their seats, eight-time MP Maneka Gandhi, six-time MP Radhamohan Singh, Sharma, Jayant Sinha, Anupriya Patel, Jual Oram, Ram Kripal Yadav and Rathore lost their ministerial berths. Another key BJP leader, who did not make it to the Cabinet his time, is J P Nadda, the health minister in the first Modi dispensation. He could be the next BJP president as incumbent Amit Shah has joined the government. There were many from Modi's previous Cabinet who either did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections or suffered defeat. Swaraj had opted out of fighting the polls due to health reasons. Others who decided not to contest were Suresh Prabhu, who held the civil aviation portfolio, Uma Bharati, the minister of drinking water and sanitation and Birender Singh, who was the minister of steel. Manoj Sinha, the minister of state for railways, Alphons Kannanthanam, the minister of tourism with independent charge, and Hansraj Ahir, the minister of state for home, were among those who tasted defeat in the elections. Former bureaucrat and minister of state for urban affairs (independent charge) Hardeep Singh Puri, however, retained his berth despite losing his seat. Vijay Sampla, who was the minister of state, social justice and empowerment, was dropped. He had been denied a ticket by the BJP after it accused the party of "cow slaughter". Known for his controversial statements, Anantkumar Hegde, who held the skill development portfolio, has also been dropped. Arun Jaitley, who was the finance minister, had opted out of being in the government for health reasons.

Sushma Swaraj, Maneka Gandhi, Rajyavardhan Rathore among notable omissions in Modi govt

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is not going to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief announced her decision in a tweet on Wednesday, accusing the BJP of making false claims about political violence in Bengal.

"It was my plan to accept the constitutional invitation and attend the oath-taking ceremony. However, in the last one hour, I am seeing media reports that the BJP are claiming 54 people have been murdered in political violence in Bengal. This is completely untrue," Banerjee said in her statement posted on Twitter. The tweet accompanying the statement reads, "The oath-taking ceremony is an august occasion to celebrate democracy, not one that should be devalued by any political party."

These deaths may have occurred due to personal enmity, family quarrels and other disputes; nothing related to politics. There is no such record with us. So, I am sorry Narendra Modi ji, this has compelled me not to attend the ceremony, Banerjee further said in her statement.

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The BJP lost many workers in panchayat, local body and parliamentary elections in West Bengal during election-related violence. Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah repeatedly highlighted the issue at the rallies they addressed.

Fifty four special guests, besides leaders from BIMSTEC countries and a host of celebrities and politicians, would be attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers on Thursday. The Prime Minister has specially invited family members of BJP workers who were killed in incidents of political violence in West Bengal over the past few years, a senior BJP leader said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Banerjee had said that she has accepted the invite to attend the ceremony. "I have spoken to other Chief Ministers also. Since it is a ceremonial program, we thought of attending it. Yes, I will go," she told media in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Banerjee had indulged in a war of words with Modi during the campaign period in the run-up to the elections, in which the BJP has made deep inroads into the Trinamool territory in West Bengal by winning 18 Lok Sabha seats out of 42. The TMC's victory was reduced from 34 in 2014 to 22 in 2019.

Modi will be sworn in for a second term as the prime minister on Thursday at 7pm in Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, along with members of the Union Council of Ministers.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is not going to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief announced her decision in a tweet on Wednesday, accusing the BJP of making false claims about political violence in Bengal.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is not going to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief announced her decision in a tweet on Wednesday, accusing the BJP of making false claims about political violence in Bengal. "It was my plan to accept the constitutional invitation and attend the oath-taking ceremony. However, in the last one hour, I am seeing media reports that the BJP are claiming 54 people have been murdered in political violence in Bengal. This is completely untrue," Banerjee said in her statement posted on Twitter. The tweet accompanying the statement reads, "The oath-taking ceremony is an august occasion to celebrate democracy, not one that should be devalued by any political party." These deaths may have occurred due to personal enmity, family quarrels and other disputes; nothing related to politics. There is no such record with us. So, I am sorry Narendra Modi ji, this has compelled me not to attend the ceremony, Banerjee further said in her statement. The oath-taking ceremony is an august occasion to celebrate democracy, not one that should be devalued by any political party pic.twitter.com/Mznq0xN11Q — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 29, 2019 × The BJP lost many workers in panchayat, local body and parliamentary elections in West Bengal during election-related violence. Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah repeatedly highlighted the issue at the rallies they addressed. Fifty four special guests, besides leaders from BIMSTEC countries and a host of celebrities and politicians, would be attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers on Thursday. The Prime Minister has specially invited family members of BJP workers who were killed in incidents of political violence in West Bengal over the past few years, a senior BJP leader said. Earlier on Tuesday, Banerjee had said that she has accepted the invite to attend the ceremony. "I have spoken to other Chief Ministers also. Since it is a ceremonial program, we thought of attending it. Yes, I will go," she told media in Kolkata on Tuesday. Banerjee had indulged in a war of words with Modi during the campaign period in the run-up to the elections, in which the BJP has made deep inroads into the Trinamool territory in West Bengal by winning 18 Lok Sabha seats out of 42. The TMC's victory was reduced from 34 in 2014 to 22 in 2019. Modi will be sworn in for a second term as the prime minister on Thursday at 7pm in Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, along with members of the Union Council of Ministers.

Mamata Banerjee won't attend Modi's swearing-in, says BJP using occasion to score political points

YSR Congress Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister designate Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is likely to discuss offering outside or issue-based support to the Modi government when he meets the prime minister on Sunday, sources said Saturday.

Reddy, whose party stormed to power with a landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, is scheduled to meet Modi in Delhi.

The meeting assumes significance as the YSRCP chief during the election campaign had repeatedly said that his party would support whoever promises Andhra Pradesh the Special Category Status.

According to an official source, the YSRCP chief will arrive in the national capital tomorrow morning and will meet the prime minister at noon.&nbsp;

After meeting Modi, he is expected to interact with Andhra Bhawan officials in the capital, the source added.&nbsp;

Reddy will take oath as new Chief Minister of the state on May 30 in Vijayawada.

Earlier Saturday he was unanimously elected as the leader of the YSRC legislature party.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)

YSR Congress Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister designate Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is likely to discuss offering outside or issue-based support to the Modi government when he meets the prime minister on Sunday, sources said Saturday.

YSR Congress Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister designate Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is likely to discuss offering outside or issue-based support to the Modi government when he meets the prime minister on Sunday, sources said Saturday. Reddy, whose party stormed to power with a landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, is scheduled to meet Modi in Delhi. The meeting assumes significance as the YSRCP chief during the election campaign had repeatedly said that his party would support whoever promises Andhra Pradesh the Special Category Status. According to an official source, the YSRCP chief will arrive in the national capital tomorrow morning and will meet the prime minister at noon. After meeting Modi, he is expected to interact with Andhra Bhawan officials in the capital, the source added. Reddy will take oath as new Chief Minister of the state on May 30 in Vijayawada. Earlier Saturday he was unanimously elected as the leader of the YSRC legislature party. (With inputs from PTI)

Jaganmohan to meet Modi, likely discuss outside or issue-based support to NDA govt

The Modi government will present the last budget of the current tenure on Friday. With the election around the corner, the budget is expected to be an interim one and present the outline for the next financial year beginning April 1.

In an election year, the incumbent government usually presents vote-on-account in Parliament which enables the government machinery to meet important expenses of administration, like salaries etc. The vote-on-account is usually for a period of three-four months and is meant to provide a smooth transition for the next government; it gives time to Parliament when it reconstitutes after the elections to discuss and pass the full Budget and allocate money accordingly.

The Modi government has indicated that this year's budget will not be a vote-on-account but an interim one. While the vote-on-account deals only with the expenditure side of the budget, an interim budget has both expenditure and receipts and gives the complete financial statement, much like a full budget.

India had been following a practice of presenting the budget on last working day of February. The Modi government changed that practice in 2017 and started presenting the budget on February 1. The move was challenged in the Supreme Court, but the court refused to intervene.

The budget session of Parliament began on January 31 and will go on till February 13. President Ram Nath Kovind delivered the joint sitting of the two Houses on January 31.&nbsp;

This year's interim Budget is going to be significant, according to a Zee Business channel report. Modi-led government could change the financial year cycle from April-March to January-December, thereby changing the 152-year long tradition that commenced in 1867. The report, citing sources, said that from 2020, the fiscal year will begin on January 1 and end on December 31, adding that the date for budget session of Parliament will also be changed.

The Modi government will present the last budget of the current tenure on Friday. With the election around the corner, the budget is expected to be an interim one and present the outline for the next financial year beginning April 1.

The Modi government will present the last budget of the current tenure on Friday. With the election around the corner, the budget is expected to be an interim one and present the outline for the next financial year beginning April 1. In an election year, the incumbent government usually presents vote-on-account in Parliament which enables the government machinery to meet important expenses of administration, like salaries etc. The vote-on-account is usually for a period of three-four months and is meant to provide a smooth transition for the next government; it gives time to Parliament when it reconstitutes after the elections to discuss and pass the full Budget and allocate money accordingly. The Modi government has indicated that this year's budget will not be a vote-on-account but an interim one. While the vote-on-account deals only with the expenditure side of the budget, an interim budget has both expenditure and receipts and gives the complete financial statement, much like a full budget. India had been following a practice of presenting the budget on last working day of February. The Modi government changed that practice in 2017 and started presenting the budget on February 1. The move was challenged in the Supreme Court, but the court refused to intervene. The budget session of Parliament began on January 31 and will go on till February 13. President Ram Nath Kovind delivered the joint sitting of the two Houses on January 31. This year's interim Budget is going to be significant, according to a Zee Business channel report. Modi-led government could change the financial year cycle from April-March to January-December, thereby changing the 152-year long tradition that commenced in 1867. The report, citing sources, said that from 2020, the fiscal year will begin on January 1 and end on December 31, adding that the date for budget session of Parliament will also be changed.

Budget 2019: What is interim Budget and how is it different from the regular one?

Summoning of an Ambassador or a high commissioner of a country by the foreign secretary is considered the strongest "diplomatic" protest a country does.&nbsp;

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-summons-pak-high-commissioner-over-foreign-minister-qureshis-phone-call-to-hurriyat-leader-mirwaiz-umar-farooq-193958">Pakistan high commissioner</a> Sohail Mahmood was summoned at 10.30 pm on Wednesday night shows New Delhi has taken the Foreign Minister Qureshi's call to Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq very seriously and is miffed with Islamabad.

In all, including the summoning on Wednesday, a Pakistani high commissioner has been summoned six times under the Narendra Modi govt since it took charge in 2014.

While 2018 saw no summoning, the last time New Delhi Summoned a Pakistan high commissioner was on April 10 2017. Back then, the then, high commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned and handed over a demarche following Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan Army media wing press release on awarding death sentence to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Date</td>
			<td>Reason</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>December 24, 2014</td>
			<td>The release of Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, a prime accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>August 16, 2015</td>
			<td>Unprovoked firing by Pakistan troops in Poonch</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>August 9, 2015</td>
			<td>Arrest of Pakistan national with LeT links in J&amp;K&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>September 21, 2016</td>
			<td>Uri attack: Pak envoy summoned, told about evidence recovered</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>April 10, 2017</td>
			<td>Pakistan army court sentences Kulbhushan Jadhav to death</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>January 30, 2018</td>
			<td>Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi dials Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Pakistan high commissioner Basit was summoned two times in 2016, once in September following the Uri Attack and once in August following the arrest of Pakistani national Bahadur Ali in J&amp;K who had confessed with linkages with Lashkar-e-Taiba.&nbsp;

According to a ministry of external affairs release back then, "Bahadur Ali has confessed to our authorities that after training in Lashkar-e-Taiba camps, he was infiltrated into India"

In 2015, the Pakistan high commissioner was summoned once in August to the following firing from Pakistani side in Poonch in which Indian civil population was being targeted when the situation LoC had rapidly deteriorated.&nbsp;

The first time a Pakistan high commissioner was summoned under Modi govt was on December 29, 2014, following the release of Zakir Ur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the key planner behind the 26/11 attacks.

Summoning of an Ambassador or a high commissioner of a country by the foreign secretary is considered the strongest "diplomatic" protest a country does. The Pakistan high commissioner Sohail Mahmood was summoned at 10.

Summoning of an Ambassador or a high commissioner of a country by the foreign secretary is considered the strongest "diplomatic" protest a country does. The Pakistan high commissioner Sohail Mahmood was summoned at 10.30 pm on Wednesday night shows New Delhi has taken the Foreign Minister Qureshi's call to Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq very seriously and is miffed with Islamabad. In all, including the summoning on Wednesday, a Pakistani high commissioner has been summoned six times under the Narendra Modi govt since it took charge in 2014. While 2018 saw no summoning, the last time New Delhi Summoned a Pakistan high commissioner was on April 10 2017. Back then, the then, high commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned and handed over a demarche following Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan Army media wing press release on awarding death sentence to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. Date Reason December 24, 2014 The release of Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, a prime accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. August 16, 2015 Unprovoked firing by Pakistan troops in Poonch August 9, 2015 Arrest of Pakistan national with LeT links in J&K September 21, 2016 Uri attack: Pak envoy summoned, told about evidence recovered April 10, 2017 Pakistan army court sentences Kulbhushan Jadhav to death January 30, 2018 Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi dials Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Pakistan high commissioner Basit was summoned two times in 2016, once in September following the Uri Attack and once in August following the arrest of Pakistani national Bahadur Ali in J&K who had confessed with linkages with Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to a ministry of external affairs release back then, "Bahadur Ali has confessed to our authorities that after training in Lashkar-e-Taiba camps, he was infiltrated into India" In 2015, the Pakistan high commissioner was summoned once in August to the following firing from Pakistani side in Poonch in which Indian civil population was being targeted when the situation LoC had rapidly deteriorated. The first time a Pakistan high commissioner was summoned under Modi govt was on December 29, 2014, following the release of Zakir Ur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the key planner behind the 26/11 attacks.

6 times since 2014: Timeline of summoning of Pak high commissioner by Modi government

The Hugo Chavez model of politics pivoting around the concept of neopatrimonialism was followed with determined zeal by the previous Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at the Centre, presided over by the then Congress party president Sonia Gandhi.

The drawback of the model that was carved and implemented to the hilt by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez between 2002 and 2013, a period that almost coincided with the Manmohan Singh's rule in India, was more tuned to addressing social inequalities rather than structural inequalities.

The present job crisis in India can be attributed and described as a direct fallout of the politics of populism practiced by the Congress party when it was in power between 2004 and 2014 since equity distribution was lopsided and the growth on economic infrastructure front also was compromised with maximum focus on direct cash transfer to the deprived sections through acts passed by the Indian Parliament to guarantee jobs, food, and education. While doing this, they typically aped the cash transfer policy that was being followed in Brazil and Mexico without bothering about the impact it would leave on the middle class wage earners and the economic growth of the country.

Following on the same footsteps, present Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced at a "Kisan Abhaar Sammelan" at Raipur this Monday that his party would implement a minimum income guarantee scheme for every poor if his party comes to power at the Centre this year.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram has laced the Congress decision regarding "minimum income guarantee" with the assertion that it would "wipe out poverty" and uplift about one-fifth of India's population that lacks the purchasing power to provide itself food, clothing and shelter.

Chidambaram has defended the decision by pointing out that India owes itself the responsibility of mobilising resources to rescue the deprived sections caught in the trap of poverty. For this purpose only 1.5 per cent of the GDP would be required and there should be no difficulty in meeting the target, he adds.

Before the nation goes to polls, the Congress party, through the sop of "minimum income guarantee", has tried to address that section of the Indian population which is suffering the most due to joblessness and poverty. According to basic estimates their number is huge - about 200 million. Obviously, the Congress party would like to use them as a vote bank in the coming parliamentary election.

Scarcity of jobs is a burning problem that is haunting the NDA government led by Narendra Modi at the Centre in a big way as its five year term is nearing completion.

Joblessness in India is an issue that has caught the attention of analysts in neighbouring China. Global Times, published under China's official People's Daily, also points to growing discontent, being faced by Prime Minister Modi. Hu Weijia, a reporter with the Global Times says: "If New Delhi restricts Chinese investment, the move will unavoidably cut job opportunities for young people (In India)."

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) also has expressed concerns about financing and the lending environment in India "due to the collapse of Indian infrastructure development and high rate of non-performing assets among Indian banks" in its inaugural Asian Infrastructure Finance report released in Beijing on Tuesday.

The AIIB report talks of the downward trajectory when it comes to India's infrastructure transaction activity in terms of total completed and ongoing transactions each year from 2014 to 2016.

Economists and analysts of the long-term South Asian scenario, especially in the backdrop of the China-US trade disputes that have got aggravated by the US President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Chinese imports, have started talking of the advantages of Chinese companies investing in India's labour intensive industries. The Global Times has underscored that the Modi administration needs good news in terms of job growth ahead of the upcoming general election.

The projection by commentators exploring the prospects of mutual gain by both India and China under the current global scenario notwithstanding, what cannot be ignored is that the clock is ticking for Modi. Come elections and the top bulb of the sandglass will soon be empty.

Instead of populism, it is important at this juncture to address the issue of highly unequal levels of development, human development index and lopsided distribution of equity. Seeking investments and channelising resources for the purpose of building the economic infrastructure, so essential for improving the quality of life of the people across the board, should be the priority. Ahead of elections, the Modi government will have to take the Congress head on. Without wasting time, it will have to place on the table a policy design for evolving and creating a vibrant job market in India.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The Hugo Chavez model of politics pivoting around the concept of neopatrimonialism was followed with determined zeal by the previous Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at the Centre, presided over by the then Congress party president Sonia Gandhi.

The Hugo Chavez model of politics pivoting around the concept of neopatrimonialism was followed with determined zeal by the previous Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at the Centre, presided over by the then Congress party president Sonia Gandhi. The drawback of the model that was carved and implemented to the hilt by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez between 2002 and 2013, a period that almost coincided with the Manmohan Singh's rule in India, was more tuned to addressing social inequalities rather than structural inequalities. The present job crisis in India can be attributed and described as a direct fallout of the politics of populism practiced by the Congress party when it was in power between 2004 and 2014 since equity distribution was lopsided and the growth on economic infrastructure front also was compromised with maximum focus on direct cash transfer to the deprived sections through acts passed by the Indian Parliament to guarantee jobs, food, and education. While doing this, they typically aped the cash transfer policy that was being followed in Brazil and Mexico without bothering about the impact it would leave on the middle class wage earners and the economic growth of the country. Following on the same footsteps, present Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced at a "Kisan Abhaar Sammelan" at Raipur this Monday that his party would implement a minimum income guarantee scheme for every poor if his party comes to power at the Centre this year. Former finance minister P Chidambaram has laced the Congress decision regarding "minimum income guarantee" with the assertion that it would "wipe out poverty" and uplift about one-fifth of India's population that lacks the purchasing power to provide itself food, clothing and shelter. Chidambaram has defended the decision by pointing out that India owes itself the responsibility of mobilising resources to rescue the deprived sections caught in the trap of poverty. For this purpose only 1.5 per cent of the GDP would be required and there should be no difficulty in meeting the target, he adds. Before the nation goes to polls, the Congress party, through the sop of "minimum income guarantee", has tried to address that section of the Indian population which is suffering the most due to joblessness and poverty. According to basic estimates their number is huge - about 200 million. Obviously, the Congress party would like to use them as a vote bank in the coming parliamentary election. Scarcity of jobs is a burning problem that is haunting the NDA government led by Narendra Modi at the Centre in a big way as its five year term is nearing completion. Joblessness in India is an issue that has caught the attention of analysts in neighbouring China. Global Times, published under China's official People's Daily, also points to growing discontent, being faced by Prime Minister Modi. Hu Weijia, a reporter with the Global Times says: "If New Delhi restricts Chinese investment, the move will unavoidably cut job opportunities for young people (In India)." Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) also has expressed concerns about financing and the lending environment in India "due to the collapse of Indian infrastructure development and high rate of non-performing assets among Indian banks" in its inaugural Asian Infrastructure Finance report released in Beijing on Tuesday. The AIIB report talks of the downward trajectory when it comes to India's infrastructure transaction activity in terms of total completed and ongoing transactions each year from 2014 to 2016. Economists and analysts of the long-term South Asian scenario, especially in the backdrop of the China-US trade disputes that have got aggravated by the US President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Chinese imports, have started talking of the advantages of Chinese companies investing in India's labour intensive industries. The Global Times has underscored that the Modi administration needs good news in terms of job growth ahead of the upcoming general election. The projection by commentators exploring the prospects of mutual gain by both India and China under the current global scenario notwithstanding, what cannot be ignored is that the clock is ticking for Modi. Come elections and the top bulb of the sandglass will soon be empty. Instead of populism, it is important at this juncture to address the issue of highly unequal levels of development, human development index and lopsided distribution of equity. Seeking investments and channelising resources for the purpose of building the economic infrastructure, so essential for improving the quality of life of the people across the board, should be the priority. Ahead of elections, the Modi government will have to take the Congress head on. Without wasting time, it will have to place on the table a policy design for evolving and creating a vibrant job market in India. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Minimum income guarantee: Populism versus long-term policy for a vibrant job market

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