Latest news with #Ujjwala
News18
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
When Deepika Padukone's Father Prakash Padukone Opened Up On Marrying His Second Cousin
1/5 Prakash Padukone, a former badminton player, was devastated following a career setback and subsequently married his second cousin Ujjwala. He himself revealed this in an interview, reflecting on his career's highs and lows. He disclosed that his wife Ujjwala is his second cousin. He said, 'Despite being ranked world number one, I lost the National Championship for the first time. I nearly quit badminton. I married my cousin Ujjwala while in a state of depression. After our marriage, we moved to Copenhagen, where I played until 1986. Deepika was born there. I retired in 1989.' This revelation sparked considerable discussion on social media. While marriages between cousins are common in South India, reactions were mixed, with some expressing support and others opposition. Furthermore, in a 2016 interview with India Today, Deepika Padukone revealed that her father had a crush on Madhuri Dixit. She shared, 'When my father heard about Madhuri Dixit's marriage, he locked himself in the bathroom and cried. Our family teased him about it for quite some time.' Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are among Bollywood's leading stars. Deepika Padukone, one of the highest-paid actresses, began her career in 2007 with Om Shanti Om alongside Shah Rukh Khan. Together, they have delivered numerous box-office hits such as Chennai Express (2013), Happy New Year (2014), Jawan (2023) and Pathaan (2023). In 2018, Deepika Padukone married Ranveer Singh in an extravagant ceremony in Italy. In September 2024, she became a mother and named her daughter Dua.
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Cabinet greenlights ₹30,000 crore fuel payout, new I-T bill, infra projects
The Union cabinet approved a massive ₹ 51,407 crore spending plan on Friday, addressing key areas from infrastructure and energy subsidies to a new version of its direct tax law. The new Income Tax Bill, 2025, which incorporates feedback from a parliamentary committee, will be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The spending package includes a significant payout to state-owned fuel retailers for past losses and funds for a new highway, a regional development plan for the Northeast, and a technical education scheme. A substantial portion of the budget— ₹ 30,000 crore—has been earmarked to compensate the country's three public sector oil marketing companies: Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp., and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. These firms have absorbed losses from selling cooking gas (LPG) at government-regulated prices while global prices remained high. The payment will be made in 12 installments, ensuring the companies can continue to procure LPG and maintain their capital expenditure, according to a government statement. The Cabinet has also sanctioned a targeted subsidy of ₹ 12,000 crore for free cooking gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme, for FY26. This programme provides a subsidy of ₹ 300 for each 14.2 kg LPG cylinder, for up to nine refills per year. Under the Ujjwala 2.0 initiative, all beneficiaries receive a deposit-free LPG connection, which includes the cylinder, pressure regulator, Suraksha hose, domestic gas consumer card, and installation charges. The first refill and stove are also provided free of charge, with all costs borne by the government or the fuel retailers. India imports approximately 60% of its LPG requirements. To shield PMUY beneficiaries from the impact of sharp fluctuations in international prices and to encourage sustained usage of LPG, the government first introduced a targeted subsidy of ₹ 200 per 14.2 kg cylinder in May 2022. This subsidy was subsequently increased to ₹ 300 in October 2023. The strategic intervention has been successful, with the average per capita consumption of PMUY consumers improving from around 3 refills in 2019-20 to 4.47 during FY24-25, demonstrating the scheme's positive impact on a national level. The cabinet also approved the revised Income Tax Bill, 2025, which seeks to simplify India's six-decade-old direct tax law, said two persons familiar with the development. The revised bill will be tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday, the people said. It incorporates most of the recommendations of a select committee of Parliament, chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Baijayant Panda, that reviewed the draft of the proposed law, they said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Once passed, it will replace the Income-Tax Act, 1961. The previous version of the Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha in the Budget session of Parliament on 13 February has been formally withdrawn, the government said in a statement. Almost all suggestions of the select committee have been accepted, it said. 'Suggestions have also been received from other sources, which are required to convey the legislative meaning.' A fresh bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha in due course, the statement said. One of the persons quoted earlier said, 'To avoid confusion by multiple versions of the Bill and to provide a clear and updated version with all changes incorporated, the new version of the Income Tax Bill will be introduced for the consideration of the House on Monday.' Mint had reported on Thursday that the cabinet was set to consider the revised bill on Friday. Queries emailed to the finance ministry and to the cabinet secretariat on Friday remained unanswered at the time of publishing. The Cabinet has approved a new Special Development Package (SDP) with a total outlay of ₹ 7,250 crore for the states of Assam and Tripura. The primary goal is to promote peace, foster inclusive development, and rehabilitate affected communities. The funds will be utilized for a range of projects, including infrastructure improvement, job creation, and providing better health services, education, and skill development. Of the total amount, the central government will contribute ₹ 4,250 crore, while the Assam government will provide the balance ₹ 3,000 crore. This initiative is expected to bring stability, integrate affected communities into the national mainstream, and give a major push to tourism in the region, positioning it as a long-term investment in social harmony and economic progress. The Cabinet also greenlit a major infrastructure project with a capital cost of ₹ 2,157 crore for the construction of a new 4-lane highway section from Marakkanam to Puducherry on National Highway-332A. This project addresses the significant congestion on the existing two-lane highway and associated state highways, which are critical for connectivity between Chennai, Puducherry, Viluppuram, and Nagapattinam. The project will upgrade approximately 46 km of NH-332A to a modern 4-lane configuration. This upgrade will not only decongest the existing corridor and improve safety but also cater to the mobility needs of the rapidly growing towns in the region. The new alignment will seamlessly integrate with other major national and state highways, as well as key multimodal transport hubs, including two railway stations, two airports, and a minor port. This will facilitate the faster movement of goods and passengers, boosting regional economic growth and tourism. The project is expected to generate significant employment, with approximately 8 lakh person-days of direct and 10 lakh person-days of indirect employment, opening new avenues for growth and prosperity in the surrounding areas. The government also cleared a new scheme called 'MERITE' (Modernizing Education and Research in Technical Institutions) with a budget of ₹ 4,200 crore. The five-year programme, partly funded by the World Bank, aims to improve the quality of technical education in 275 engineering and polytechnic institutions across India.
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Cabinet greenlights ₹30,000 crore fuel payout, new I-T bill, infra projects
The Union cabinet approved a massive ₹ 51,407 crore spending plan on Friday, addressing key areas from infrastructure and energy subsidies to a new version of its direct tax law. The new Income Tax Bill, 2025, which incorporates feedback from a parliamentary committee, will be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The spending package includes a significant payout to state-owned fuel retailers for past losses and funds for a new highway, a regional development plan for the Northeast, and a technical education scheme. A substantial portion of the budget— ₹ 30,000 crore—has been earmarked to compensate the country's three public sector oil marketing companies: Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp., and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. These firms have absorbed losses from selling cooking gas (LPG) at government-regulated prices while global prices remained high. The payment will be made in 12 installments, ensuring the companies can continue to procure LPG and maintain their capital expenditure, according to a government statement. The Cabinet has also sanctioned a targeted subsidy of ₹ 12,000 crore for free cooking gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme, for FY26. This programme provides a subsidy of ₹ 300 for each 14.2 kg LPG cylinder, for up to nine refills per year. Under the Ujjwala 2.0 initiative, all beneficiaries receive a deposit-free LPG connection, which includes the cylinder, pressure regulator, Suraksha hose, domestic gas consumer card, and installation charges. The first refill and stove are also provided free of charge, with all costs borne by the government or the fuel retailers. India imports approximately 60% of its LPG requirements. To shield PMUY beneficiaries from the impact of sharp fluctuations in international prices and to encourage sustained usage of LPG, the government first introduced a targeted subsidy of ₹ 200 per 14.2 kg cylinder in May 2022. This subsidy was subsequently increased to ₹ 300 in October 2023. The strategic intervention has been successful, with the average per capita consumption of PMUY consumers improving from around 3 refills in 2019-20 to 4.47 during FY24-25, demonstrating the scheme's positive impact on a national level. The cabinet also approved the revised Income Tax Bill, 2025, which seeks to simplify India's six-decade-old direct tax law, said two persons familiar with the development. The revised bill will be tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday, the people said. It incorporates most of the recommendations of a select committee of Parliament, chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Baijayant Panda, that reviewed the draft of the proposed law, they said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Once passed, it will replace the Income-Tax Act, 1961. The previous version of the Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha in the Budget session of Parliament on 13 February has been formally withdrawn, the government said in a statement. Almost all suggestions of the select committee have been accepted, it said. 'Suggestions have also been received from other sources, which are required to convey the legislative meaning.' A fresh bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha in due course, the statement said. One of the persons quoted earlier said, 'To avoid confusion by multiple versions of the Bill and to provide a clear and updated version with all changes incorporated, the new version of the Income Tax Bill will be introduced for the consideration of the House on Monday.' Mint had reported on Thursday that the cabinet was set to consider the revised bill on Friday. Queries emailed to the finance ministry and to the cabinet secretariat on Friday remained unanswered at the time of publishing. The Cabinet has approved a new Special Development Package (SDP) with a total outlay of ₹ 7,250 crore for the states of Assam and Tripura. The primary goal is to promote peace, foster inclusive development, and rehabilitate affected communities. The funds will be utilized for a range of projects, including infrastructure improvement, job creation, and providing better health services, education, and skill development. Of the total amount, the central government will contribute ₹ 4,250 crore, while the Assam government will provide the balance ₹ 3,000 crore. This initiative is expected to bring stability, integrate affected communities into the national mainstream, and give a major push to tourism in the region, positioning it as a long-term investment in social harmony and economic progress. The Cabinet also greenlit a major infrastructure project with a capital cost of ₹ 2,157 crore for the construction of a new 4-lane highway section from Marakkanam to Puducherry on National Highway-332A. This project addresses the significant congestion on the existing two-lane highway and associated state highways, which are critical for connectivity between Chennai, Puducherry, Viluppuram, and Nagapattinam. The project will upgrade approximately 46 km of NH-332A to a modern 4-lane configuration. This upgrade will not only decongest the existing corridor and improve safety but also cater to the mobility needs of the rapidly growing towns in the region. The new alignment will seamlessly integrate with other major national and state highways, as well as key multimodal transport hubs, including two railway stations, two airports, and a minor port. This will facilitate the faster movement of goods and passengers, boosting regional economic growth and tourism. The project is expected to generate significant employment, with approximately 8 lakh person-days of direct and 10 lakh person-days of indirect employment, opening new avenues for growth and prosperity in the surrounding areas. The government also cleared a new scheme called 'MERITE' (Modernizing Education and Research in Technical Institutions) with a budget of ₹ 4,200 crore. The five-year programme, partly funded by the World Bank, aims to improve the quality of technical education in 275 engineering and polytechnic institutions across India. The initiative will focus on modernizing courses, encouraging research, and increasing student employability through internships and skill development. By aligning with the National Education Policy-2020, MERITE is designed to benefit over 7.5 lakh students and is expected to significantly boost placement rates and reduce unemployment among engineering graduates.
News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
XX Factor Of Narendra Modi's 11 Years: Five Unsung Gems For Women
Last Updated: The force that nurtures Bharat and makes up for half her people is quietly rising, and transformation is happening even in the remotest parts of the nation at unprecedented speed Just before the 2014 elections, in an interview with a popular news anchor, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi came across as a deer caught in the headlights. Many believe that with that interview, he did not just throw the election, but his political career as well. Completely out of depth and lunging desperately for words, he kept coming up with just two: 'Empowering women." What then became a national joke has turned into national irony after 11 years of Narendra Modi as prime minister. It is as if the ruling BJP has snatched women's empowerment out of Rahul Gandhi's mouth and turned it into its own mission. On completing 11 years, the Modi government is predictably advertising its achievements. Big-ticket reforms get the most coverage and prominent among them are the deep changes the government brought for the nation's women. Building more than 12 crore toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission, for instance, has transformed the lives of crores of underprivileged women who had to step out in the wee hours before dawn to relieve themselves in the open. Or ensuring 100 per cent penetration of LPG cylinders in households under the Ujjwala scheme, which has freed rural women and those living in India's shantytowns of the lethal smoke from the chulha or clay burners. These are widely acknowledged game-changers. But if one dives into the details of Modi's 11-year report card, there are at least five less-talked-about but fascinating changes that his government has brought for Indian women. First, India now has more girls being born than boys. This used to be unthinkable once. The sex ratio per 1,000 males, which was 943 in 2011, rose to 1,020 by 2019-21. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, a scheme which focused on girl education, and a crackdown on illegal sex determination centres brought about tremendous awareness against female foeticide. Second, female labour force participation has risen from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 41.7 per cent in 2023-24. As India inches towards an equal gender ratio in its labour force, credit must go to skill training, more self-help groups, and entrepreneurship schemes. The second one flows from the third. The number of self-help groups saw a rise from 2.35 crore in 2014 to 10.05 crore in 2024, more than four-fold. Schemes like Lakhpati Didi, in which women cross an annual household income exceeding Rs 1,00,000 through financial inclusion and entrepreneurship, have started showing results. Fourth, institutional deliveries have risen from 61 per cent in 2014-15 to 97.3 per cent in 2023-24. The government's LaQshya programme, which extends quality childbirth and postpartum care and better hospital infrastructure, is leaving an impact. Fifth, maternal mortality is down from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 97 in 2018-20. Two schemes in particular—PM Surakshit Matriva Abhiyan and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana—have driven the change. Behind these figures stand the government's mammoth will and effort. The force that nurtures Bharat and makes up for half her people is quietly rising, and transformation is happening even in the remotest parts of the nation at unprecedented speed. The words Rahul Gandhi clumsily tried to use as a shield in that interview—empowering women—has ironically been set in motion by his nemesis, NaMo. Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments First Published: June 17, 2025, 10:41 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Digitise welfaregovernance, MLAsuggests Yogi
Lucknow: In a push to digitise welfare governance, Sarojininagar MLA Rajeshwar Singh submitted a comprehensive proposal to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, recommending integration of blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) into welfare schemes, beginning with the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The proposal aims to address long-standing issues in welfare implementation such as delay in fund disbursement, duplication of beneficiary data, lack of progress transparency and leakages at the grassroots level. Singh's vision is to leverage cutting-edge technology to ensure real-time monitoring and enhance citizen trust. Key components of the proposal include blockchain-based sanction orders to prevent tampering post-approval, geo-tagged AI verification of construction progress, smart contracts for automated direct benefit transfers and AI dashboards for real-time monitoring and grievance redressal. The plan suggests a unified beneficiary ledger linked with other central schemes like Ujjwala, Saubhagya and Jal Jeevan Mission. The roadmap outlines a three-phase rollout: Pilot phase in one or two blocks/districts with blockchain-enabled PMAY records and AI dashboards. District-level expansion with MIS integration, smart contracts and chatbot-based grievance redress. Statewide rollout including blockchain welfare IDs, predictive AI for fund allocation and decentralised public audits. Singh sought the Chief Minister's approval to initiate the pilot in coordination with the departments of rural development, urban housing and IT.
