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West Bengal Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Significance In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, emerged as the largest party in West Bengal with 18 seats. However, this was a significant decrease from the 30 seats they won in 2014. On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made remarkable gains, securing 18 seats in 2019 compared to just two in 2014.

Previous Elections and Current Scenario: In the 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, Andhra Pradesh emerged as a crucial battleground, contributing to the Congress forming the central government. However, despite winning two seats in 2014 and none in 2019, the BJP managed to secure a central government position. The upcoming 2024 elections are poised to be influenced by the entry of the I.N.D.I.A alliance, comprising various regional parties from the state.

Karnataka government on Friday approved six new projects and eight additional investment proposals worth Rs 17,835.9 crore, with a potential to generate 27,000 jobs across the state, officials said. The State High-Level Clearance Committee (SHLCC), headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, at its meeting here, gave the nod to new projects worth Rs 8,220.05 crore, and additional investment ones worth Rs 9,615.85 crore, they said. The new projects include Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing India's proposal to invest Rs 2,095 crore and provide employment to 21,723 in the state, officials said. According to an official statement, other major proposals that received the government's green signal are: Air India Limited (Rs 1,750 crore investments), ICT Service Management Solutions (India) Private Limited (Rs 1,450 crore), STT Global Data Centres India Private Limited (Rs 1,352.3 crore) and Indian Cane Power Limited (Rs 1,078 crore).

spectrum auction starts May 20 where the government will put airwaves in eight key bands worth Rs 96,317.65 crore on sale. The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) on Friday issued the notice inviting application (NIA), which outlines the auction rules, seeking participation from telecom firms. In the upcoming auction, 5G airwaves in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz bands will be on sale.

Russian army, said Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday. «We have strongly taken up the matter for the early discharge of such Indian nationals. Strong action has been initiated against agents who recruited them on false pretexts,» said Jaiswal. «We remain committed to the early release of our nationals serving as support staff with the Russian army and then eventually return home,» he added.

payments made to units of 14 services sectors in IFSC from TDS provisions effective April 1, a move which will reduce tax compliance burden. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in a notification said that no TDS will have to be deducted for payments to units in sectors like FinTech, banking, fund management entity, finance company, credit rating agency, insurance intermediary and investment banking. The TDS exemption will now be applicable on payments like professional/referral fee, brokerage income, interest on External Commercial Borrowings /Loans, insurance commission, dividend and credit rating fee. International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat is being developed as a tax-neutral enclave for the financial sector.

NPCI on Friday announced that Unified Payment Interface (UPI) is now live in neighbouring Nepal. UPI users can scan QR codes to make payments to Nepalese merchants, said an official statement. This comes after a tie-up between the National Payments Corporation of India International Payments (NIPL) and Nepal's largest payment network Fonepay Payment Service in September last year. In its first phase, the partnership will enable Indian consumers to make instant, secure, and convenient UPI payments across various business stores in Nepal by using UPI-enabled apps, the statement said.

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad's 'Parivarvaad' jibe on PM Modi, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he has «never been in favour of such slogans», allowing the PM to score a goal". RJD and the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference are partners in the opposition INDIA bloc, formed to take on the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. «I have never been in favour of such slogans and we have never benefited from them. Whenever we use such slogans, it harms us,» he said.

CBI sleuths on Friday searched the residence of suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali in connection with its probe into an attack on an ED team in the area, officials said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also visited areas near his house in Akunchipara locality of Sarberia to collect evidence in connection with the attack. Sheikh, who has been suspended from the ruling Trinamool Congress, was arrested in a case related to a mob attack on ED officials at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on January 5 when the central agency had gone to search his premises in connection with an alleged ration distribution scam. The CBI team was also joined by forensic and ED officials to support the investigation.

DMK in Tamil Nadu on Friday allotted one seat to ally MDMK for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. MDMK founder Vaiko told reporters that while the seat-sharing deal has been clinched, the lone constituency from where his party would contest will be announced later. The seat-sharing deal was finalised and signed by DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin and himself, Vaiko said, adding that they were «satisfied» with the arrangement. The DMK had allotted a Lok Sabha constituency and one Rajya Sabha seat to MDMK during the 2019 polls and Vaiko was elected to the Upper House then.

The XC40 Recharge single motor is manufactured at the Volvo facility in Hosakote, Bengaluru. Pre-booking for the car has already begun, and customers can reserve their vehicle at their nearest Volvo Car India business partner. According to the company, the pricing of the car has been strategically set to expand its customer base.

Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the Indian Air Force's contribution to the nation's service is etched in «golden letters» and it is not only guarding the skies but also making a paramount contribution to the country's space programme. In her address at a ceremony held at the Hindan Air Force Station to award President's Standard and Colours to four units of the IAF, Murmu said she believed that more and more women will sign up for the force and serve the nation. She also extended her wishes to women on International Women's Day.

schedule for the Lok Sabha polls, the top brass of the Election Commission has called senior Home ministry officials to review security preparedness for the democratic exercise. Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla will meet Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and fellow Election Commissioner Arun Goel on Friday to discuss deployment of central forces in states, sources said. The meeting also comes days before the Commission's Jammu and Kashmir visit to review poll preparedness. The EC has sought 3.4 lakh Central Armed Police Force personnel for Lok Sabha and four assembly polls.

Mahashivratri 2024: Lord Shiva, also known as Mahadev, is one of the most revered and worshipped gods in Hinduism. He is part of the Trinity, along with Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva embodies qualities such as goodness, protection, and kindness. Lord Shiva is affectionately referred to as Bholenath, meaning 'the innocent one.' Many consider him to be the most merciful and selfless deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as both the creator and the destroyer. Here, we have listed some powerful Lord Shiva mantras and their benefits:

Dibrugarh (Assam): The superintendent of Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam was arrested on Friday over the seizure of electronic gadgets, including a smartphone, from the possession of inmates belonging to radical outfit 'Waris Punjab De', police said. The jail official was arrested early in the morning for «laxity» and is currently at Dibrugarh Sadar Police Station, an officer said. He said the arrest was made in connection with the seizure of electronic gadgets cells of the National Security Act (NSA) detenues in the jail last month. Among the gadgets seized from the possession of the inmates belonging to the pro-Khalistani outfit were a smartphone along with a SIM card, a keypad phone, a TV remote with keyboard, a spy-camera pen, pen-drives, a bluetooth headphone and speakers.

Congress Central Election Committee has cleared the first list of about 60 party candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, including Rahul Gandhi from his sitting seat Wayanad. The list is expected to be released on Friday or Saturday. The CEC will decide the question of Rahul Gandhi also contesting from Amethi when it takes up the proposals for Uttar Pradesh later. After the CEC meeting ended late Thursday night, party sources said almost all 15 sitting Congress MPs of Kerala will fight again this time. The only exception may be in Thrissur from where sitting MP TN Pratapan could be replaced by sitting MP of Vadakara K Muralidharan. This as seen as a precaution against late Congress veteran K Karunakaran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal, joining BJP and reinforcing the party's best bet Sureshgopi's chances in Thrissur. The political heavyweight Muralisharan is the son of Karunakaran besides being a former PCC president. Another significant decision is CEC clearing the proposal of AICC general secretary (org) K C Venugopal, now a Rajya Sabha member, returning to fight from his Alappuzha seat. But if the leaderdhip once again asks Venugopal to focus on AICC organisational matters during election campaign, the seat will go to his nominee from the state Youth Congress.

Aam Aadmi Party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann will launch the Lok Sabha poll campaign of the party here on Friday. The two will launch the campaign in presence of other leaders and workers of AAP from the party headquarters on DDU Marg at noon, a party member said. The AAP will fight the general election in collaboration with INDIA bloc partner Congress under a seat-sharing arrangement it has struck with it in Delhi, Gujarat, and Haryana. In Punjab, however, both parties have decided to contest the Lok Sabha polls independently.

Indra Sena Reddy Nallu on Thursday administered the oath of office and secrecy to the two new ministers — Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, both from Tipra Motha Party (TMP) in Raj Bhavan. Six days after signing of a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the Tripura government, the opposition and the tribal-based TMP decided to join the BJP-led coalition government. TMP legislator Animesh Debbarma, who was the opposition leader before becoming a cabinet minister, and lawyer turned politician Brishaketu Debbarma, took oath as minister of state and both are the new entrants in the council of ministers in Tripura.

Foreign investors bought shares worth ₹16,944 crore between February 16 and 29, after buying ₹3,041 crore in the first half of the month, as per data from NSDL. Consumer services witnessed the highest inflows by foreign funds at ₹4,497 crore, after receiving ₹3,041 crore in the first 15 days of February. After Consumer services, automobiles, capital goods and services were among the sectors that witnessed additional inflows in the second half of the month. Foreign investors bought shares worth ₹3,003 crore in the second half of the month, after dumping shares worth ₹2,067 crore in the automobiles sector in January. Capital goods sector continued to receive foreign funds worth ₹2,985 crore after receiving ₹921 crore in the first 15 days of February. The sector had received foreign funds worth over ₹40,000 crore in 2023.

Bank of India (RBI) directed lenders Thursday to establish a mechanism to monitor the end use of funds for business credit cards and prohibited them from sharing customers' data with outsourcing partners. This is in the context of the RBI clamping down on unregulated co-branded partners working with banks and, in many cases, accessing customer transaction data for their own business purposes.