Citizens Financial News

Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Modi on Friday urged people casting their votes in the second phase to turn out in record numbers. He highlighted that a substantial voter turnout serves as a cornerstone of a vibrant democracy, underlining the significance of each individual's contribution to the electoral process. PM Modi also directed a special appeal to the nation's young and female electorate, urging them to exercise their franchise in large numbers.

National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Silchar is a tough contest in the making. Assam had published an NRC in 2019, which did not feature the names of several residents of Silchar. While the CAA was passed in December 2019, its rules were notified last month just ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 schedule.

Get all the Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates with LiveMint. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 2 Voting Live: Union Minister and BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said Thiruvananthapuram has seen little progress in last two decades. “Since the last 15-20 years, there has been very little progress in Thiruvananthapuram and in the lives of many people who are suffering from many problems that have not been solved...I request all of you to come out and vote today. This is an important day, not just for democracy, but for the future of Thiruvananthapuram and the future of your own families and children.

Venice is divided — not just by canals, but since Thursday 8.30 am after the city started charging visitors Rs 5 (about Rs 450) for entering it. Paying a toll to enter Venice is being tried out as a plan to control 'over-tourism'.

Supreme Court recognised the fundamental right of all citizens to be free from adverse impacts of climate change. This was in the context of a plea by environmentalists to protect the great Indian bustard from encroachment of its natural habitat by companies building wind and solar farms for expanding India's capacity for RE. Meanwhile, a political controversy has flared up on the question of whether private property belongs only to its present owner and his or her inheritor(s), or should return to the public with owner's demise. At the same time, a nine-bench of the Supreme Court is re-examining its interpretation in 1978 of constitutional rights to private versus public property. Here, too, the question is about the fair redistribution of wealth in society. These cases before the court point to fundamental questions about rule of law in a democracy. In a 'true' democracy, every human — whether she or he is wealthy or not, or having formal higher education or not — has an equal vote with others, and all voices must be heard while framing laws.

Rahul Gandhi appealed to the voters to support the Congress and vote for the 'hand' symbol to form a 'government of the Indians'. In a video message shared on his official 'X' handle, Gandhi said that this election is meant to protect the Constitution and democracy while urging the citizens to «fulfil their duty towards democracy». «This election is an election to save democracy and principles. On one side, BJP and RSS are trying to destroy democracy and the constitution. And on the other side, Congress party and INDI alliance are making efforts to protect the constitution and democracy,» Rahul Gandhi said.

Out of the total voters, around 1.44 crore are men, 1.43 crore are women, and 3,067 voters belong to the third gender. The election commission has set up 30,602 polling booths in these constituencies. A total of 1.40 lakh polling officers, 5,000 micro observers and 50,000 civil police, apart from 65 companies of CRPF and Reserved Armed Forces from other States have been deployed in these stations for the polls. With Karnataka seeing soaring temperatures in most parts of the state, people will be allowed to vote till 6 pm, and the booths will remain open till the last person votes. “The EC has issued guidelines on addressing the potential challenges posed by the heatwave and to ensure the safety and well-being of electors, especially senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PwD), as well as election personnel in the polling stations. Polling stations are equipped with adequate shade structures, such as tents, canopies of umbrellas, with provision for chairs, to protect voters from direct sunlight,” said Chief Electoral Officer for Karnataka Manoj Kumar Meena.

Also read: India Should Clear the Air on a Killing in Canada Prime Minister Narendra Modi had during September 2023 expressed concern over anti-India activities and Khalistan extremism in Canada in a meeting with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. A few weeks later, Trudeau told Canada's House of Commons that the Indian government may have been involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and a prominent figure in the pro-Khalistan movement.

Bengaluru, several businesses are providing incentives for voters’ engagement in the democratic process on Friday. Over 1 crore individuals are eligible to vote in Bengaluru. To motivate them to utilize their privilege, numerous hotels, pubs, and taxi aggregators have declared discounts, freebies, and complimentary rides. «They will have to show their inked index finger to avail the benefits.» This is not the first instance of such initiatives being publicized. Nisarga Grand Hotel on Nrupatunga Road is providing voters on polling day with complimentary butter dosa, ghee rice, and a beverage.

PM Awas Yojana Update: The Centre is reportedly planning to widen the scope and size of its flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Now shopkeepers, traders and self-employed will also be brought under the ambit of the scheme, part of the ‘Housing for All’ mission of the central government, CNBC-TV18 reported citing sources.

Lok Sabha elections on April 26, restaurants and hospitals in Noida and Greater Noida are offering discounts to citizens who exercise their right to vote tomorrow. Officials said restaurants are offering up to 20% discount on bills, while hospitals are giving free full body check up to voters, PTI reported.

As per the manifesto, titled 'Shapatnama', the NCP (SP) commits to reviewing and suggesting modifications to various laws. These include the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), National Register for Citizens (NRC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and other laws that are deemed 'conflicting' with constitutional principles. The manifesto also highlights the party's stance on empowering state and local governments. It emphasizes the need for reviewing power distribution and ensuring the enforcement of constitutional amendments.

Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi are likely to contest the Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli and Amethi seats, respectively, sources told ANI on Thursday. According to the sources, the final decision will be taken after April 26 and nominations can be filed next week. Phase 2 of the elections are scheduled on April 26. In this phase Wayanad from where Rahul Gandhi is contesting will go to the polls. Smriti Irani defeated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi. Irani has again been fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party from the seat. As per the seat agreement between the Samajwadi Party and Congress in Uttar Pradesh, Congress will contest 17 seats and the Samajwadi Party the remaining 63 seats in the electorally crucial state. Apart from its traditional strongholds of Rae Bareli and Amethi, the Congress is also contesting on Varanasi, Ghaziabad and Kanpur.

Karimganj Lok Sabha seat on April 26. As Indian Express reports, the Barak Valley, is experiencing a never before witnessed enthusiasm for the Lok Sabha Polls 2024. But why? Barak Valley in Assam is the nuanced location bordering Bangladesh, and often at the center of Bangali infiltration debate for Assam.

Higher-for-longer interest rates are continuing to weigh on Main Street banks. Regional banks posted steep profit declines in the first quarter and predicted more pain ahead. The results underscore the uneven toll that two years of higher interest rates have taken on regional banks, which tend to have plain-vanilla businesses taking in deposits and making loans.

Some of them come with impeccable credentials with the sole aim of being noticed and heard. There are also plenty of namesakes across constituencies – for instance little known Dr CN Manjunath taking on well-known Dr CN Manjunath (BJP) or dozens of Suresh taking on DK Suresh (Congress) in Bengaluru Rural or Shobha pitted against Shoba in Bengaluru North.

Economic Club of New York, Dimon highlighted PM Modi's achievements, including the extensive recognition system, widespread banking access, and significant poverty reduction initiatives. Dimon at the event said a lot of US government officials are “fantasizing... how we think they should be running their country".

Amit Shah on Tuesday said the BJP used its majority in Parliament to nullify Article 370, ban instant triple talaq and bring a new citizenship law, and asserted the Modi government will never change the Constitution. Addressing an election rally in Akola in eastern Maharashtra in support of BJP candidate Anup Dhotre, Shah accused the Congress of putting hurdles in the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The senior BJP leader noted it was Modi who ensured that a grand and magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Ram was built in Ayodhya. Shah said the Modi government, on returning to office after the Lok Sabha polls, will bring citizens above 70 years under the ambit of the free health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh and provide cooking gas cylinders directly to consumers. Shah slammed the INDIA alliance, saying they did not want the Ram temple to come up in Ayodhya.

America’s teenagers are well aware of the financial challenges of their parents and caregivers in today’s economic environment and are keen to learn life lessons about managing money.

In a relief for senior citizens, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has removed the age limit restriction for buying a health insurance policy, effective April 1.

Good news for senior citizens looking to invest in fixed deposits! HDFC Bank has yet again extended the deadline to invest in its special senior citizen FD plan – HDFC Senior Citizen Care FD. The special fixed deposit scheme for seniors offers an interest rate of 7.75%.