TUESDAY 30 JANUARY 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER Scattered thunderstorms along with some cloudy intervals. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 27 °C and 17 °C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 70% TEMPERATURE Max: 8°C SUN RISES 06:16 hrs MOON RISES 21:16 hrs BJP again raking up CAA Situation along LAC stable but sensitive, says Army chief for votes, says Mamata CM’s word of caution on ID cards from BSF to villagers Min. 57% Min: 6°C SUN SETS 17:23 hrs MOON SETS 08:59 hrs STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 29 JANUARY hief minister Mamata Banerjee cautioned residents living near the India-Bangladesh border areas not to accept identity cards provided by the Border Security Force (BSF). The chief minister was talking during an administrative meeting in Cooch Behar, which borders Bangladesh, where she claimed that those accepting ID cards from the BSF might come under the purview of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). “I have got information that the BSF is trying to provide identity cards to the residents in the bordering villages. Do not accept these cards. If you accept them, you might come under the ambit of NRC. Everyone understands who is actually steering the movement against the NRC,” she said. She also said that she will instruct the chief secretary, district magistrate and district police superintendents to look C New Moon on 10 February THUMBNAILS Tourists enjoy a white blanket of snow after fresh snowfall received in Gulmarg on Monday.  ANI Govt. extends ban on SIMI for another 5 years: The government on Monday declared ‘Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)’ as an 'Unlawful Association' for a further period of five years under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967. The last ban on SIMI was imposed on 31 January, 2019. ''SIMI is continuing to be involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace and communal harmony in the country which are prejudicial to the sovereignty, security and integrity of India,'' the Ministry of Home Affairs said. into the matter. While issuing the note of caution, the chief minister also called for the killing of some Trinamul Congress workers in Cooch Behar district by firing from central forces on the polling day during the Assembly elections in 2011. “All those behind the killings have been released on bail. I take a strong objection to that. Murderers getting bail is a dangerous precedent. In future, anyone committing murder will easily be released on bail,” the chief minister said, as per reports. Banerjee also said that the BJP is again trying to resurrect the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. “How can fresh citizenship be granted to those who have already cast their votes for so many years? We have already given citizenship to those coming to West Bengal as refugees. Colonies have also been set up for them. They are entitled to the benefits of all the development schemes of the state government,” she said. "We have fought against the NRC. Rajbanshis are citizens of India. They have again started shouting CAA, CAA for the sake of votes," she added. Banerjee's remarks came after Union Minister Shantanu Thakur said on Sunday that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented across the country in a week. India to become $7 trillion economy by 2030: Finance Ministry ahead of Budget STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 JANUARY Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Manoj Pande on Monday said the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is stable but 'sensitive' while acknowledging that there have not been any more friction areas between India and China in the last one year. "Situation along the LAC remains stable but sensitive. In the last year or thereabouts, we haven't had any more friction areas. In terms of our efforts at resolution, our talks and dialogue both at the military level as well as at the diplomatic level continue with the adversary," he said. He noted that a total of 20 senior higher military commander meetings and 14 meetings ofWorking Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs (WMCC) have taken place since April 2020 when the military stand-off between the two countries began in eastern Ladakh. "We have had a total of 20 senior higher military commander level meetings and 14 WMCC meetings since April 2020. So through these talks, we're hopeful that we'll find a resolution," to the ongoing military face-off, he added. His comments came amid reports that India and China are in touch to decide the next round of talks both at the military and the diplomatic levels to resolve the border standoff which has led to bilateral ties touching a new low. Referring to the Army's preparedness levels along the northern border, Gen Pande told news agency ANI that "Our deployment remains robust as well as balanced and we are also maintaining adequate reserves to be able to deal with any contingencies." The Army, he said, was also focussing on its capability development in these areas in terms of infusion of technology, modernisation, inducting better systems such as protected vehicles, surveillance drones, better communication radio sets etc. ''Simultaneously, our effort and focus are also on infrastructure development. Be it the habitat, forward connectivities to the LAC, or strategic road connectivity...it also includes extending power supply to our forward troops, improving communication in terms of 5G communication to our troops deployed in forward areas," the Army chief said. "We are also working alongside other government agencies, local administration and the local population to make sure that our preparedness levels along the LAC always remain high," he added. BEATING RETREAT CEREMONY Govt calls all-party meet on Tuesday ahead of Parl Session STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 JANUARY A few days ahead of the Interim Union Budget 2024, the finance ministry on Monday released a report titled ‘Indian Economy -- A Review’, saying the Indian economy is expected to grow at a rate above 7% in coming years The growth will be riding on the strength of its financial sector and other recent and future structural reforms and can aspire to become a $7 trillion economy by 2030. “In the next three years, India is expected to become the third-largest economy in the world, with a GDP [gross domestic product] of $5 trillion. The government has, however, set a higher goal of becoming a ‘developed country’ by 2047,” said the report. Importantly, the report indicates continuity in economic reforms if the Modi government comes to the power for a third-term. Accounting for the two terms of the Modi government, the report said, “This 10-year journey is marked by several reforms, both substantive and incrementa. These reforms have also delivered an economic resilience that the country will need to deal with unanticipated global shocks in the future.” India, which was the 10th largest economy in the world with a GDP of $1.9 trillion at current market prices, is now the 5th largest with a GDP of $3.7 trillion (est. FY24), despite the Covid pandemic and “despite inheriting an economy with macro imbalances and a broken financial sector”, it said. “The strength of the domestic demand has driven the economy to a 7% plus growth rate in the last three years… the robustness seen in domestic demand, namely, private consumption and investment, traces its origin to the reforms and measures implemented by the government over the last 10 years,” the report added. The government’s policies also strengthened the supply side with investment in physical and digital infrastructure to boost output. “Accordingly, in FY25, real GDP growth will likely be closer to 7%,” it said. Despite global headwinds such as conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and the Red Sea trade disruption, India’s first advance estimates of growth released on January 5 projected a higher-than-expected GDP growth of 7.3% in FY24. President Droupadi Murmu arrives on horse cart at Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk, in the capital on Monday.  SUBRATA DUTTA NEW DELHI, 29 JANUARY Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi will hold a meeting with the floor Leaders of political parties in both Houses of Parliament, before the start of the Parliament Session. The all-party meeting will be held at 1130 hrs on Tuesday at the Parliament Library Building. The Parliament session will commence with the address of President Droupadi Murmu on 31 January, and subject to exigencies of government business, conclude on 9 February. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Interim Union Budget on 1 February. An interim Budget serves as a financial statement presented during an election year or a transitional period. It functions as a temporary financial plan, catering to government expen- ditures until a new government is elected and can present a full Budget. Traditionally, it seeks approvals for expenses until the end of the government's tenure. This is known as a vote of account. The Parliament session is being held amid simmering tensions between the Modi government and the Opposition over a plethora of issues. The session is expected to witness 'fireworks' between the treasury benches and the Opposition. Govt amends rules to allow women to nominate children instead of husband for pension STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 JANUARY In keeping with its policy to provide equitable rights to women, the government, In a pathbreaking decision, has amended the long-standing established rule, thereby granting a woman employee the right to nominate her son or daughter for family pension instead of her husband as has been the practice so far. Sharing this information with the media, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the Department of Pensions and Pensioners'Welfare (DoP&PW) has introduced an amendment to the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, allowing female government employees or pensioners to grant family pension to their eligible child/children after their own demise, instead of their spouse. The amendment will address situations where marital discord leads to divorce proceedings or cases filed under acts such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Dowry Prohibition Act or the Indian Penal Code, he said. Previously, family pension was granted to the spouse of a deceased government servant or pensioner, while other family members became eligible only after the spouse's ineligibility or demise. However, the new amendment allows female government servants or pensioners to request the grant of family pension to their eligible child/children after their own demise, instead of their spouse. Hailing the move, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the amendment is in line with Prime Minister Modi’s policy of giving equitable, just and legitimate rights to the women functionaries in every sector, whether it be Permanent Commission to Women in the Armed Forces or Women’s Reservation Amendment in Parliament. In an office memorandum, the DoP&PW said, the female government servant or pensioner must make a written request to the concerned Head of Office, stating that family pension should be granted to her eligible child/children in precedence to her spouse, in the event of her death during the ongoing proceedings. If the female government servant or pensioner passes away during the proceedings, the family pension will be disbursed accordingly. The DoP&PW notification said if a woman employee is survived by a widower with no eligible child, the family pension will be payable to the widower. However, if the widower is the guardian of a minor child or a child suffering from a mental disorder, the family pension will be payable to the widower, as long as he remains the guardian. Once the child attains majority and remains eligible for family pension, it will be payable directly to the child. For cases where the deceased female government servant or pensioner is survived by a widower and children who have attained majority but are still eligible for family pension, the family pension will be payable to such children. After all eligible children cease to be eligible for family pension, it will become payable to the widower until his death or remarriage, whichever occurs first. CMYK