THURSDAY INDIA TESTS FIRST INDIGENOUSLY-MADE 1500 HP TANK ENGINE 21 MARCH, 2024 In what is billed as a transformative moment, India tested its first indigenously-made 1500 horsepower engine for Main Battle Tanks on Wednesday epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard 1500 HORSEPOWER GAZA WAR ENGINE WAS DEVELOPED BY BHARAT EARTH MOVERS LIMITED BLINKEN IN JEDDAH FOR TRUCE TALKS A PARADIGM SHIFT The defence ministry in a statement said the 1500 HP engine represents a paradigm shift in military propulsion systems US Secretary of State landed in Saudi Arabia to discuss efforts to secure ceasefire in Gaza A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 SCALE OF INEQUALITY INCOME Group Average Avg income (K) WEALTH Share (%) 2,34,551 Average wealth (K) 1922 Share (%) 13,49,029 Bottom 50% 71,163 15.0 1,73,184 6.4 Middle 40% 1,65,273 27.3 9,63,560 28.6 Top 10% 13,52,985 57.7 87,70,132 65.0 Top 1% 53,00,549 22.6 54,141,525 40.1 *As of 2022-23 Source: World Inequality Lab 13% of national income pocketed by the top 1% 1982 6.1% of national income went to the top 1% 2022 * 22.6% of national income with top 1% ‘Inequality today worse than under British Raj’ D I PA K M O N D A L @ New Delhi INDIA is more unequal now than it was under the British rule, says a paper released by Paris-based World Inequality Lab. The report, co-authored by Nitin Kumar Bharti, Lucas Chancel, Thomas Piketty, and Anmol Somanchi, also recommends a 2% super tax on the net wealth of the wealthiest families to generate resources for public investment. The report says top-end inequality peaked between 2014-15 and 2022-23, driven by wealth concentration. By 2022-23, India’s top 1% income and wealth shares (22.6% and 40.1%) were at their highest historical levels. For context, the US’s top 1% income share was 21%. The report cautions such high levels inequality could trigger concentration of income and wealth, which could in turn negatively influence the society and the government at large. To arrive at these conclusions, the inequality report has taken into consideration the national income accounts, wealth aggregates, tax tabulations, rich lists, and surveys on income, consumption, and wealth. The report calls for a restructuring of India’s tax system to account for both income and wealth. It also stresses on the need for generating resources for investments in health and education to enable the common man to benefit from the ongoing wave of globalisation. The government should tap India’s wealthiest families to generate resources for public investments, it says, adding that India’s 167 wealthiest families in 202223 would yield 0.5% of national income in revenues. NEW DELHI J8.00 PAGES 12 PM calls Putin, Zelenskyy in fresh push for dialogue and diplomacy Greets Russian president on his re-election; assures continued humanitarian aid to Ukraine Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday used the o p p o r t u n i t y o f g re e t i n g Vladimir Putin on his re-election as Russian President by nudging him during their telephonic conversation to resolve the ongoing Ukraine war through dialogue and diplomacy He had a similar message for . Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his separate conversation with him. “I spoke with President Putin and congratulated him on his re-election and also agreed to work together to further deepen and expand India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership in the years ahead,” Modi said. “Both leaders expressed sat- Narendra Modi Vladimir Putin isfaction with the consistent and dynamic development of mutually beneficial ties in trade, economy, energy, and transport,” a Russian readout of the call said. President Putin conveyed his wishes to Modi for the successful conduct of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Modi is one of the few world leaders who have congratulated Putin for his re-election. Volodymyr Zelenskyy Many Western leaders have slammed the Russian election process as “undemocratic” and refrained from greeting Putin. Speaking to Zelenskyy Modi , assured India will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, guided by its “people-centric” approach. The prime minister reiterated India’s consistent support for all efforts for peace and bringing an early end to the ongoing con- E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai THE DMK on Wednesday released the list of candidates for 21 seats for the April 19 Lok Sabha polls retaining 10 incumbents, including Kanimozhi, TR Baalu and A Raja. Kanimozhi (Thoothukudi), Thamizhachi Thangapandian (Chennai South) and Rani Srikumar (Tenkasi SC seat) are the three women candidates fielded by the party . While Dayanidhi Maran, S Jagathrakshakan, Kalanidhi Veerasamy, Kathir Anand and C N Annadurai were among the candidates retained by the party , former minister K Ponmudy’s son Gautham Sigamani, S S Palanimanickam, and S Senthilkumar of Dharmapuri were among the six MPs dropped from the fray. The DMK has allotted 18 seats to Congress (9), CPI (2), CPM (2), VCK (2), MDMK (1), IUML (1), and KDMK (1). The party also released its manifesto promising to repeal CAA, annulling of Article 361 that gives protection to governors from legal action, and making consultation with CMs mandatory in the appointment of governors. The AIADMK on Wednesday named the first set of 16 candidates, including former MP J Jayavardhan and ex-MLA Dr P Saravanan, for the poll. The opposition party, which is likely to contest in 32 seats, also final- RAKESH KUMAR & PARVEZ SULTAN @ New Delhi AHEAD of the general elections, the gover nment on Wednesday notified the Fact Check Unit under the Press Information Bureau to monitor content on social media tied to the Centre. The unit was notified under the 2021 IT Rules. According to the new regulation, if a government information is misrepresented on any online platform, the fact-checking unit will flag it. Social media platforms and other online intermediaries will then decide on taking down the content. If they refuse to drop the content, they risk losing the protections granted under Section 79 of the IT Act. This section provides immunity to online platforms from content posted by users and third parties. The notification comes a week after the Bombay High Court rejected a petition filed by Editors Guild of India and others against the fact checker. They argued that the regulations could lead to censorship of free speech in the country . The Editors Guild has now filed a petition before the Supreme Court. “We remain opposed to it because I don’t think that in a democratic country like us, the government alone can’t decide what is fake information,” said Editors Guild general secretary Ruben Banerjee. Political satirist Kunal Kamra, too, has moved the SC. E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ Guwahati RIOTS OF COLOUR People from all walks of life revel in Holi celebrations in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura on Wednesday | PTI Green corridor takes liver to hosp in 18 minutes U J W A L J A L A L I @ New Delhi 16-KM-LONG ROUTE FROM IGIA TO DWARKA A green corridor of about 16 km was planned and around 35 traffic personnel were deployed for smooth and fast transportation of the ambulance carrying the organ. A total of 16 km were covered in only 18 minutes, and the organ from Chandigarh was safely transported from the IGI Airport to the Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka. The green corridor system is one of the ways to expedite organ transplants and save lives. utes, and the organ was safely transported to the hospital. The official added that the green corridor ensured that the organ reached its destination in the shortest possible time, minimising transit delays and maximising the viability of the organ for transplantation. A video shared by the officer showed an ambulance, accom- ised a seat-sharing arrangement with DMDK. Announcing the electoral pact, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said the DMDK would contest from Tiruvallur (SC), Central Chennai, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, and Virudhunagar. Calling AIADMK a “natural ally”, DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth said a “big victory alliance” has again been formed like the one in 2011. Petitions in SC as govt notifies fact check unit ahead of polls Haris Farooqi, IS India head, key aide held by Assam STF in Dhubri S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE traffic police provided a 16-kilometre green corridor and facilitated transport of a cadaveric liver from IGI Airport to a Dwarka hospital in 18 minutes, an official said on Wednesday. The official said the cadaveric liver was transported from IGI Airport to the Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, with the utmost urgency in a collaborative effort between healthcare institutions, law enforcement agencies, and transportation authorities. “A green corridor of about 16 km was planned and around 35 traffic personnel were deployed for smooth and fast transportation of the ambulance carrying the organ,” DCP (Traffic) Prashant Gautam said. He said that a total of 16-km were covered in only 18 min- flict. In a post on X, Zelenskyy thanked India’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, humanitarian aid, and active participation in Peace Formula meetings. The Kremlin statement said both sides noted that bilateral ties are progressively and dynamically developing in line with a particularly privileged strategic partnership. “An exchange of views was also held on a number of issues on the international agenda, in particular in the context of the situation around Ukraine,” the statement said. “The mood for further coordination between Russia and India in multilateral formats, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, was confirmed,” it added. DMK promises to scrap governor’s post, CAA ED officer nabbed in TN graft case gets interim bail THE Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim bail to Enforcement Directorate officer Ankit Tiwari who was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for alleged bribery in December last year. A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Surya `20L bribe Kant and also comprising Justice KV Viswafrom doctor nathan, however, said that Tiwari shall not directly or indirectly contact or influence the witThe Tamil Nadu nesses in the case. The apex court, while DVAC said Ankit pronouncing the order, said that as a bail condiTiwari was tion, Tiwari shall not leave the state without the caught “redofficial permission and also surrender his passhanded” while port if asked to do so. accepting a bribe The SC was hearing a batch of petitions reof `20 lakh from lated to DVAC’s bribery case against Tiwari, ina doctor in cluding that of an appeal filed by him challengDindigul district ing the dismissal of his plea seeking bail by the Madras High Court. The ED pleaded before the court that the probe into the bribery case against Tiwari (currently being investigated by the DVAC) be handed over to the CBI. The SC did not pas any order. Tamil Nadu officials have claimed that Tiwari, along with his team of ED officers, had allegedly been “threatening several people and receiving bribes” in the name of closing their cases. The DVAC said that Tiwari was caught “red-handed” while accepting a bribe of `20 lakh from a doctor in Dindigul district. It has many cutting-edge features such as a high power-to-weight ratio. It can be operated in extreme conditions, including high altitudes, sub-zero temperatures, and desert environments | P7 panied by a police vehicle, being driven at high speed. At every intersection, the cops halted the traffic for hassle-free passage of the vehicle to ensure that the organ reaches the hospital on time. Gautam said that the seamless execution of the green corridor operation reflects the dedication and professionalism of the Delhi traf- fic police in managing complex logistical challenges for the betterment of society . By prioritising the transportation of critical medical supplies such as organs for transplantation, the traffic police have once again proven its invaluable role in supporting healthcare initiatives and saving lives, he added. A green corridor is a special route that is managed in a manner that all the traffic signals in the route of the hospital where an organ is harvested and the hospital where it is to be transplanted, are green and controlled manually The green corri. dor system is one of the ways to expedite organ transplants and save lives. The traffic department collaborates to transport a vital organ in less than 60-70% of the time that is usually taken to go from place A to place B. EXPRESS READ PM’s Bhutan visit put off due to bad weather Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan has been postponed due to inclement weather conditions in the Himalayan nation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Wednesday evening. India and Bhutan are working on new dates for Modi’s two-day State visit, which was scheduled to begin on Thursday, the MEA said. NEET PG rescheduled to June 23, says NMC The National Medical Commission on Wednesday rescheduled medical entrance exam NEET PG to June 23. The exam was scheduled to be held on July 7. The result will be announced by July 15, and the counselling for admission will be held from August 5 to October 15. TWO top ISIS operatives were arrested in Assam on Wednesday Haris Farooqi, who is the . head of ISIS in India, and his aide Anurag Singh, were arrested in lower Assam’s Dhubri soon after they had crossed over from Bangladesh. Earlier, a police team was deployed following intelligence inputs that the duo would cross over into Assam. A police statement said, “Information was received from sister agencies that two top-rung leaders of ISIS in India who were camping in a neighbouring country would cross over to India at the Dhubri Sector to carry out sabotage activities.” Based on the input, a special task force team, led by IG Parthasarathi Mahanta, was deputed to locate and apprehend the accused who were wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). “Thereafter, since the input was credible in nature, a manhunt was launched on the international border to nab the culprits. At around 4.15 am of 20/03/24, the accused persons were detected at Dharmasala area of Dhubri after they had crossed the international border,” the statement said. Following their arrest, the two were brought to Guwahati. “The identity of both was as- Haris Farooqi Anurag Singh Dehradun, Panipat Haris Farooqi alias Harish Ajmal of Dehradun is head of IS in India, while his aide Anurag Singh alias Rehan of Diwana, Panipat, was converted to Islam and his wife is a Bangladeshi national. Both carried out recruitment, funding and terror acts. certained and it is found that accused Haris Farooqi alias Harish Ajmal of Dehradun is the head of ISIS in India. His associate Anurag Singh alias Rehan of Diwana, Panipat, got converted to Islam and his wife is a Bangladeshi national. Both of them are highly indoctrinated and motivated leaders/members of ISIS in India,” the statement further said. The police said that the two furthered the cause of ISIS in India through conspiracies to carry out recruitment, funding and terror acts “by means of IEDs” at several places. Several cases are pending against them at the NIA, Delhi and ATS, Lucknow. IRELAND PM ANNOUNCES SHOCK RESIGNATION Leo Varadkar says he is stepping down from the post due to ‘personal and political’ reasons | P9
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