FM Nirmala Sitharaman to attend the 55th GST Council Meeting in Jaisalmer

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Jaipur, Dec 20 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has arrived in Jaisalmer for the 55th GST Council meeting scheduled to be held on Saturday at Marriott Hotel.

Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, and Finance Ministers from various states, along with Finance Secretaries and senior officials, also reached Jaisalmer on Friday. The dignitaries were welcomed at Hotel Marriott amidst tight security arrangements.

Jaisalmer Airport witnessed significant activity as leaders from across the country, including Deputy CM Diya Kumari, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, Goa CM Pramod Sawant, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, and Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi, arrived by special flights. Union Finance Minister Sitharaman was received at the airport by Rajasthan Deputy CM Diya Kumari.

Local officials, including MLA Chotu Singh Bhati, District Collector Pratap Singh and SP Sudhir Chaudhary, ensured smooth logistics and security for the event. Over 2,000 security personnel have been deployed across the city, with extensive arrangements in place to ensure the safety of more than 250 VVIPs participating in the meeting.

The pre-meeting discussions at Hotel Marriott included Deputy CMs Samrat Chaudhary (Bihar), Jagdish Devda (MP), Chowna Mein (Arunachal Pradesh), Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu (Telangana), and T. R. Zeliang (Nagaland), alongside Finance Ministers from other states and Chief Economic Advisor Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran.

The main GST Council meeting will commence on Saturday, December 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., followed by a second session at 4:30 p.m. Sitharaman will stay overnight in Jaisalmer and depart for Delhi on Sunday at 2:25 p.m.

For the event, four premier hotels—Marriott, Taj Gorbandh, ITC Hotel, and Rang Mahal—have been fully booked to accommodate the participants. The discussions in the 55th GST Council meeting, chaired by Sitharaman, are expected to address significant fiscal issues ahead of the budget preparations.

–IANS

arc/kvd

Related Posts

Construction of over 1,000 bridges underway in Assam: CM Sarma

Guwahati, Dec 22 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that the government has been building more than 1000 bridges across the state to give a boost to the road network system.

He asserted that infrastructure development remains the top priority of the ruling dispensation in Assam.

CM Sarma said, “Construction of over 1,000 bridges is underway in Assam currently.” He visited one such bridge in the Lakhimpur district on Sunday while unveiling a series of development initiatives there.

The state government has planned to host an investor summit –Advantage Assam 2.0 in the upcoming February month. This will attract investors from different parts of the country as well as global investors will also take part in the summit.

According to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the event, which is set for February 24 and 25, would highlight the traditional Jhumur dance of the tea tribe clans.

Sarma said, “This summit is a platform to showcase Assam’s rich traditions to a global audience in addition to attracting investors.”

A spectacular Jhumur dance performance with more than 7,500 dancers and artists will be part of the event. It will be an extraordinary show, with 32 female dancers and an equal number of male dancers representing each of Assam’s 800+ tea gardens, the Chief Minister stated.

The preparations are underway for this cultural event.

The Chief Minister said, “Perfect execution will be ensured by master training workshops, constituency-level sessions, district-level performances, and final rehearsals in Guwahati.”

The concert, which is planned for either day of the summit, is anticipated to have a lasting effect on those present.

This action comes after Assam already set a Guinness World Record for the biggest Bihu dancing performance.

The goal of Advantage Assam 2.0, the second iteration of the international investor summit since its 2018 launch, is to increase infrastructure development and investment in the state.

The two-day event is expected to draw investors from all around India and the world, solidifying Assam’s standing as a new investment destination in the country.

–IANS

tdr/uk

Jyotiraditya Scindia praises MP student for developing human-carrying drone

Gwalior, Dec 20 (IANS) Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday met a student Medhansh Trivedi, who captured national attention, here for developing a human-carrying drone after being inspired by the drone technology of neighbouring country China.

Medhansh, who studies in class 12 at the Scindia School in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior, has developed a single-seater drone, which can carry a person weighing up to 80 kg and sustain flight for nearly six minutes.

Union Minister Scindia met Medhansh at his residence in Safdarjung in New Delhi on Thursday and congratulated him for his innovation.

The Minister encouraged Medhansh, advising him to consider this innovation his launchpad and set a goal for the future.

Union Minister Scindia also advised Medhansh to prepare himself for studying in the world’s top institutions and assured all possible help.

“I met Medhansh Trivedi and congratulated him for his innovation. I have assured him of all possible help to ensure his bright future,” he said.

Medhansh claimed to have developed a heavy-duty drone able to carry a human being up to 80 kg weight after being inspired by the drone technology of neighbouring country China.

He has developed the drone named MLDT 01 at a cost of Rs 3.5 lakh.

It took Medhansh three months to develop the drone.

“I got the inspiration to make this drone after seeing the drones in China. My teacher Manoj Mishra has helped me a lot technically along with motivation to develop the drone,” Medhansh said in a statement issued from his school.

He said that the drone is 1.8 metres long with equal width and is currently being flown only up to a height of 10 metres for safety concerns.

During the Foundation Day celebrations of Scindia School, Union Minister Scindia and ISRO Chief, S. Somanath also praised Medhansh for developing the human-carrying drone.

–IANS

pd/khz

Family of Bangaluru techie Atul Subhash demands justice

Patna, Dec 12 (IANS) The family of AI engineer Atul Subhash, who allegedly committed suicide under mysterious circumstances in Bangaluru, returned with ashes to Patna on Wednesday evening and made an emotional appeal for justice.

Atul’s mother fainted while speaking to the media at the Patna airport.

“My son was mentally harassed and tortured. I want justice for him,” she said, demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her son’s death.

Atul’s brother, Vikas Kumar, highlighted a poignant detail from a suicide note left by the deceased, which read, “Justice was not delivered to me.”

Expressing his frustration, Vikas remarked, “My brother detailed how men are being harassed under the guise of women’s law. He also accused a ‘judge,’ regarded as the symbol of justice, of allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh. In the note, he even stated that if justice is not served, his ashes should be thrown into the gutter in front of the court.”

The family’s statements have intensified calls for accountability and fairness in addressing Atul’s case, as they urge authorities to uncover the truth behind his alleged suicide and take appropriate action against any wrongdoing.

Atul Subhash’s case has taken a legal turn, with the Marathahalli Police in Bangalore registering an FIR based on a complaint filed by his brother, Vikas Kumar. The FIR accuses four individuals, including Atul’s wife, under Section 108 and Section 3(5) of the BNS. Atul’s mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and his wife’s uncle have also been named in the case. The Marathahalli Police are actively investigating the allegations.

Atul’s cousin, Bajrang Prasad Agarwal, shared insights into his family background, saying, “Atul was my uncle’s son. His house is in Pusa Road Main Bazaar, Samastipur. He completed his education here and was working in Bangalore. We were aware that he was being harassed by his in-laws, but we had no idea the situation had escalated to the point where he would take such an extreme step.”

He added that Atul had spoken to his parents on the day of the incident. Atul had been married since 2019, but according to the family, his relationship with his in-laws was fraught with difficulties that they believe contributed to his distress.

The case has prompted calls for a comprehensive investigation to ensure justice is served.

–IANS

ajk/uk