Today's Current Affairs 24th July 2023

NATIONAL

Shri Amit Shah lays the foundation stone of 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shri Ram in Kurnool,

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah lays the foundation stone of 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shri Ram in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh through video conferencing. the grand statue of Lord Shri Ram to be built at a cost of more than Rs 500 crore.

This project is spread over an area of 10 acres in Mantralayam village situated on the banks of Tungabhadra river and would be completed in two and a half years.

Mantralayam village is very famous for the temple of Raghavendra Swamy. This place has historical significance. The great Vijayanagara Empire was originated on the banks of the Tungabhadra river, it restored Swadesh and Swadharma by driving out the invaders from the entire South.

He said that this 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shri Ram to be installed in Mantralayam will give the message of our Sanatan Dharma to the entire world for many ages and will strengthen the Vaishnava tradition in the country and the world. Shri Shah said that 108 is a very sacred number in our Hindu culture.

Jammu to pioneer India's first Cannabis Medicine Project

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said, Jammu is going to pioneer India's first Cannabis Medicine Project.

‘Cannabis Research Project’ of CSIR-IIIM Jammu is a first of its kind in India initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Private Public Partnership with a Canadian firm, which has a great potential to put substance of abuse for the good of mankind especially for patients suffering from neuropathies, cancer and epilepsy.

CSIR-IIIM - Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research–Indian Institute Of Integrative Medicine (CSIR–IIIM), The Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine is a premier institute located in Jammu under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Government of India and dedicated to the research of drug discovery

Lavasa, India's first private hill station, sold to Darwin Platform Infrastructure

ndia's first private hill station Lavasa was sold to Darwin Platform Infrastructure for Rs 1.8 thousand crore after the approval of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

he resolution plan of Darwin Platform Infrastructure has been accepted by the NCLT and includes payment of Rs 1,814 crore. This payment includes Rs 929 crore to be paid to lenders and Rs 438 crore allocated to provide fully constructed houses to 837 approved home owners.

The primary objective of Darwin Platform Infrastructure's resolution plan is to address claims of home buyers and ensure delivery of completed homes within five years, subject to obtaining environment clearance, with a total claim amount of Rs 6,642 crore.

The resolution plan for Lavasa aims to reduce the concerns and uncertainties that have arisen among various stakeholders associated with the Lavasa project.

As per the approved resolution plan, home buyers will be required to bear the actual future construction cost payable to Darwin Platform Infrastructure, while ensuring transparency and accountability in the process of receiving fully constructed properties.

Odisha cabinet approves Mission Shakti Scooter Yojana

Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved the Mission Shakti Scooter Yojana, a scheme aimed at providing interest subvention on bank loans up to INR 1,00,000 to beneficiaries, enabling them to purchase a scooter.

This initiative grants affordable access to two-wheelers for Mission Shakti Federation Leaders and CSS (Community Support Staff). It will empower them to fulfill their responsibilities more efficiently, thus increasing their effectiveness and extending their outreach within the community.

This scheme is expected to benefit roughly 75,000 community support staff members of SHGs (Self Help Groups) and approximately 1,25,000 federation leaders associated with SHGs.

SPORTS

Max Verstappen won the Hungarian GP

Max Verstappen won the Hungarian GP at the Hungaroring, by a comfortable 33.731 secs margin over McLaren’s Lando Norris. Verstappen’s lead at the top of the standings grows to an even more gargantuan 110 points, and the Dutchman seems firmly on course to pick up a second world championship in a row. Teammate Perez also furthered his advantage over third place man Fernando Alonso, who finished a disappointing ninth in Hungary

OBITURY

RSS ideologue Madan Das Devi passes away

Veteran Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Madan Das Devi who had served as the joint secretary of the outfit, passed away ,

Hailing from Maharashtra, the 81-year old Hindutva ideologue died at the Rashtrotthan Hospital after a prolonged illness, an RSS functionary told PTI. He said Devi’s mortal remains will be kept at the RSS local headquarters, Keshava Kripa from 1.30 pm to 4 pm before being flown to Pune for the last rites on Tuesda

The RSS ideologue was instrumental in developing leadership skills among top-rung BJP and RSS leaders. A full-time Pracharak (campaigner), Devi was staying in Bengaluru for treatment of his old age-related ailment.

Devi had served as the RSS joint general secretary and organisation secretary of the RSS’ student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). He was responsible for developing leadership skills among the national level top rung BJP leaders

Former Australia wicketkeeper Brian Taber passes away a the aged of 83

Former Australia and New South Wales wicketkeeper Brian Taber has passed away at the age of 83. Taber, who played 16 Test matches for Australia between 1966 and 1970. He made his Test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg where he claimed seven catches and a stumping. He would go on to also face England, India and West Indies during his career. His highest Test score of 48 came against West Indies at Sydney in 1969 in a match Australia won by 382 runs.

In his domestic career, he played more than 100 games for New South Wales and is a member of the state’s Hall of Fame. After finishing playing, he held various roles within the game, including NSW coach and selector and manager of the Australian Under-19 men’s team. He was elected to the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame in 2021, and had a reputation as one of the nice guys of Australian cricket. A book about Taber’s life was published in 2014, in which former Test captain Brian Booth called him a “wonderful team man”.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Income Tax Day

The Income Tax department observes July 24 every year as Income Tax Day or ‘Aaykar Diwas’, to commemorate the introduction of provision of income tax in the country. On the same day in the year 1860, Income tax was originally introduced in India by Sir James Wilson, to compensate for the losses incurred during the first war of independence. This is the 163rd anniversary of Income Tax Day.

On Income Tax Day, the CBDT organizes various events and activities to raise awareness about income tax and its importance. These events include seminars, workshops, and outreach programs. The CBDT also releases a commemorative postage stamp on Income Tax Day. Income Tax Day is an important day for the Indian government and for taxpayers. It is a day to celebrate the importance of income tax and to reaffirm our commitment to paying our taxes honestly and on time.

This year, the Income Tax department surpassed its previous year milestone target of filing 3 crore ITRs, days before the deadline. This year, the target in income tax return (ITR) filling reached 7 days earlier in the year.

On the occasion of 164th Income Tax Day celebrations, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will join the celebration at Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.