Author: Vividh Bharathi

Mumbai, July 1 (IANS) The remittances sent back home by Indians working abroad have registered a 14 per cent rise in the financial year 2024-25 to a record $135.46 billion, according to data compiled by the RBI.

The RBI said the inflows, classified under “private transfers”, accounted for more than 10 per cent of India’s gross current account flows of $1 trillion in FY25.

Personal transfer receipts, mainly representing remittances by Indians employed overseas, rose to $33.9 billion in the January-March quarter of 2024-25 from $31.3 billion in the same quarter of the previous year, RBI data shows.

Indians working abroad sent home a record $129.4 billion in 2024, with the highest ever inflows of $36 billion in the October-December quarter.

India tops the list of recipient countries for remittances in 2024 and is way ahead of second-placed Mexico with $68 billion. China ($48 billion) is in the third spot, followed by the Philippines ($40 billion) and Pakistan ($33 billion), according to figures compiled by World Bank economists.

The growth rate of remittances in the 2024 calendar year is estimated to be 5.8 per cent, compared to 1.2 per cent registered in 2023, according to the World Bank data.

The number of Indians working overseas has tripled from 6.6 million in 1990 to 18.5 million in 2024, with its share in global migrants rising from 4.3 per cent to over 6 per cent during the same period. Indian migrants in the Gulf countries account for around half of the total Indian migrants in the world.

The recovery of the job markets in the high-income countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, has been the key driver of remittances. This is especially true for the United States, where the employment of foreign-born workers has recovered steadily and is 11 per cent higher than the pre-pandemic level seen in February 2020.

Meanwhile, in a big relief to Indian professionals working in the US and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) sending money to India, the updated draft of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act proposed by President Donald Trump has reduced the tax rate on remittances to 1 per cent, down from the 5 per cent proposed initially.

Software services and business services were the other major contributors to India’s current account inflows in FY25, each bringing in over $100 billion. Together with remittances, these three sources accounted for more than 40 per cent of total current account receipts and have helped to keep India’s current account deficit in check.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Tuesday strongly defended the Waqf Amendment Act and lashed out at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for his controversial remarks, accusing him and other Opposition leaders of politicising the issue for electoral gains.

Speaking to IANS, Manjhi said, “Tejashwi Yadav and other Opposition leaders are opposing the Waqf Bill because they believe it targets a particular religion. But this is purely a matter of management. To date, some people have occupied Waqf properties, preventing the benefits from reaching the poor.”

He further stated that Waqf resources could have been used for development if managed correctly.

“If big universities, hospitals, and educational institutions had been established and operated with Waqf funds, it would have been something meaningful. But that never happened. So, through this law, the government is trying to improve management and prevent misuse of Waqf funds. Those who are opposing it are doing so purely for political reasons,” Manjhi said.

He also mentioned, “PM Modi has not made this law for politics. It has been brought in for the welfare of the poor in Bihar and across India.”

Taking a jibe at Tejashwi Yadav’s political background, Manjhi said, “His father was in power for 15 years and created ‘jungle raj’. He is simply following in his father’s footsteps. What experience does he have? He is a product of street protests, but that does not mean he knows how to govern. Anyone can beat a drum, but that does not make them capable.”

Manjhi’s sharp response came after Tejashwi Yadav, while addressing a ‘Save Waqf, Save Constitution’ rally at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Sunday, declared that the Opposition alliance would scrap the Waqf law if it came to power.

Tejashwi had said, “The NDA in Bihar is on its way out, and once we form the government, we will consign the Waqf Act brought by the Narendra Modi government to the dustbin.”

The Waqf Amendment Act, passed by Parliament, has become a new flashpoint in the ongoing political battle between the NDA and the Opposition in Bihar.

–IANS

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Kolkata, July 1 (IANS) Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra, on Tuesday, replied to the show-cause notice slapped on him earlier this week by his party leadership over his controversial comments on the law college student rape case.

Confirming the development, an insider in Trinamool Congress said that in his reply, Mitra has tendered an unconditional apology for his comments made to the media persons about the law college rape case and at the same time given an explanation of the circumstances under which he made the remarks.

Mitra was issued the show-cause notice by Trinamool Congress’ state president in West Bengal, Subrata Bakshi, on Sunday, a day after he spoke about the Kasba law college incident.

The senior Trinamool leader on Saturday said the rape incident would not have happened had the student taken a couple of friends with her or informed people before going there.

“The party leadership will examine the contents of his reply and thereafter take any decision on this issue. However, since he had tendered an unconditional apology in the matter, the possibilities are there he might be spared this time with a note of caution,” the party insider said.

After the rape incident surfaced and three persons accused in the case, all having links with Trinamool Congress’ students’ wing — Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) — were arrested, Mitra also said the incident had sent a message to all girls that they should not go the college alone when it is closed.

“This incident has sent a message to girls that if someone calls you when the college is closed, don’t go; nothing good will come of it. If that girl had not gone there, this incident wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

Soon after that, Trinamool Congress issued a statement claiming that the remarks made by Mitra were made in his personal capacity, and the party unequivocally dissociated itself from his statements and strongly condemned the same.

Following this, Mitra also issued a statement, which he posted on his official X handle, denying that he tried to shield the culprits.

Mitra also claimed that his statement was misread and misused by a motivated group whose basic intentions were to malign the image of Trinamool Congress by wrongly focusing on his statement to serve their purpose.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) Delhi’s decision to enforce a strict fuel ban on ‘end-of-life’ (EoL) vehicles — petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years — has drawn mixed reactions from residents of the national Capital.

While many have welcomed the move as a necessary step to curb pollution, others have questioned its logic and uniformity.

Authorities have already seized two motorcycles flagged under the new policy and sent them for scrapping as part of the enforcement process.

The crackdown follows alarming data from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which, in a November 2024 analysis, revealed that vehicular emissions contribute to 51 per cent of Delhi’s local pollution — the highest share among all sources.

Speaking to IANS, Delhiites shared diverse opinions on the initiative.

A local said, “As you know, pollution in Delhi is very high. Considering all these factors, the government’s step is very good to remove the overage vehicles.”

Another added, “Due to pollution, many people suffer. This decision taken by the government is praiseworthy as it will reduce pollution in Delhi.”

Echoing similar sentiments, another resident said, “The government has taken the right decision to curb pollution in Delhi. Those who are still going on using their EoL vehicles should face strict action.”

However, some questioned the criteria and consistency of the policy.

One resident pointed out, “A law should be equal for everyone. For some vehicles, the time limit is 15 years, and for some, it is 10. Either do it for 10 years or 15 years for all the vehicles. The government is doing just what it likes to.”

“Not much can be achieved through this. The government should either make the time limit 10 years or 15 years. Pollution is the same for all vehicles. We are not with the government in this,” another added.

As enforcement teams continue to monitor and act against violators across 498 petrol pumps using Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and police support, the success of the fuel ban will likely depend on consistent implementation and public cooperation in the days ahead.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia launched a scathing attack on RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav during a Press conference held at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi accusing him of promoting Sharia law and undermining the Constitution.

Bhatia criticised Yadav’s remarks on the Waqf Amendment Act and accused him and his party of disrespecting the Constitution and promoting communal politics.

Addressing the media, Bhatia said, “Those in Bihar who call themselves Samajwadis are, in reality, ‘Namazwadis.’ These ‘Namazwadis’ do not want Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution. They neither respect nor uphold it. What they truly want is Sharia law. They support practices like ‘halal’ and believe that only one particular religion should be empowered.”

“If someone is opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering Dalits, women, and backward communities, then it wouldn’t be wrong to say that it’s the RJD and Tejashwi Yadav,” he claimed.

Referring directly to Tejashwi Yadav’s reported comment about discarding the Waqf Amendment Act, Bhatia said, “The BJP will talk about the Constitution, while you promote Sharia. It is sad the way former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said that the law passed by the Indian Parliament, the Waqf Amendment law, he will put it in the dustbin. Please tell me, did you ever read the Constitution? Do you even know the fundamental rules of the Constitution? A law that is passed in Parliament, approved by the Parliament, how can you even say that a state leader can throw it into the dustbin?”

He added, “This matter is already reserved in the Supreme Court. I want to ask Tejashwi ji, why is your behaviour so intolerant?”

Bhatia went on to compare the current RJD leadership with what he described as the era of ‘Jungle Raj’ under Lalu Prasad Yadav.

“‘Jungle Raj’ is just like Lalu and Tejashwi, the first rule of ‘jungle raj’ is that the Constitution and the law are torn apart. Dr. Ambedkar’s Constitution is shredded and that is exactly what Tejashwi Yadav is doing while being in the Opposition. It is now clear that even though elections haven’t been announced yet, what’s on the minds of RJD, Tejashwi Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav? They want to play communal politics.”

Concluding his remarks, Bhatia said the people of Bihar will reject such politics: “Bihar’s people will ensure that those who talk about putting a law in the dustbin and insult Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, their communal politics will be put in the dustbin instead.”

–IANS

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Hyderabad, July 1 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday visited the pharmaceutical unit at Pashamylaram near Hyderabad, where an explosion killed 36 workers and left many others injured.

The Chief Minister went around the premises of the pharma factory of Sigachi Industries, where the rescue work was continuing more than 24 hours after the deadliest industrial disaster in the state’s history.

CM Reddy spoke to senior officials about the blast and the subsequent fire, which left a trail of destruction in the unit located at Pashamylaram industrial area in Sangareddy district, about 50 km from Hyderabad.

He also enquired about the status of the rescue operation as scores of workers continued clearing debris from a three-storey building of the production unit, which collapsed under the impact of the blast.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by ministers Damodar Raja Narasimha, D. Sridhar Babu, P. Srinivasa Reddy and G. Vivek and senior officials.

CM Reddy later interacted with the officials of industries and other departments and representatives of the company. He asked the director of factories and the boilers’ inspector whether they conducted periodic inspections and had they found any lacunas. He directed the officials to submit a report on inspections conducted and action taken in case of deficiencies.

The Chief Minister also asked officials to take expert opinion on the cause of the explosion to prevent such disasters in future.

He directed departments engaged in rescue and relief operations to ensure coordination to prevent any accidents while removing debris.

The CM enquired with the company representatives if they have taken a decision on the payment of compensation to families of deceased and injured.

The Chief Minister and Industry Minister Sridhar Babu questioned the absence of top management of the company even 24 hours after the accident.

“If you are so preoccupied, why are you running factories?” asked Sridhar Babu. He said the government would take a serious view of it.

The Chief Minister told the company to come forward to help victims on humanitarian grounds.

The state government has appointed a high-powered committee to probe the disaster and its underlying causes.

The committer comprises the Chief Secretary, Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management), Principal Secretary (Labour), Principal Secretary (Health) and Additional DGP (Fire Services).

–IANS

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