Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited his constituency of Varanasi for the first time since the Lok Sabha polls and announced the release of Rs. 20,000 crore to 9.26 crore farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme. He also presented certificates to over 30,000 women from self help groups. In other news, IAS officer Ashwani Kumar has been appointed as the Commissioner of the MCD by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, while rescue operations are underway to relocate stranded tourists in Sikkim. In a surprise move, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has resigned from the Wayanad seat in Kerala and will now only represent Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.
Prime Minister Modi's Visit to Varanasi: Key Announcements and Updates
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited his constituency, Varanasi, for the first time since the Lok Sabha polls. During his visit, he made several significant announcements and unveiled new initiatives.
Announcements and Initiatives:
Background:
Top 5 FAQs and Answers:
1. What is the significance of the PM-KISAN scheme? A: The PM-KISAN scheme provides much-needed financial support to small and marginal farmers, who are often vulnerable to economic shocks.
2. How does the MCD contribute to the governance of Delhi? A: The MCD provides essential services such as water supply, sanitation, and garbage collection. It also plays a role in urban planning and development.
3. Why did Rahul Gandhi resign from the Wayanad seat? A: The reasons for his resignation are not entirely clear, but it has been speculated that he may want to focus more on national politics.
4. How is the rescue operation in Sikkim being conducted? A: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Army, and local authorities are working together to rescue stranded tourists and provide relief to affected communities.
5. What are the future plans for Varanasi? A: Prime Minister Modi has announced several development initiatives for Varanasi, including a Smart City project, a new railway station, and a cultural center.
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Fox News host and former army veteran Pete Hegseth as his nominee for the Defense Secretary role. Critics are raising concerns about his lack of experience and right-wing views, while supporters applaud him for his strong advocacy for military members and pardons for U.S. military service members facing war crime charges. Despite some surprise and hesitancy from Republican senators, former Rep. Jason Chaffetz believes Hegseth's nomination will easily be confirmed.
Senator John Thune of South Dakota has been elected as the new majority leader for Senate Republicans, replacing Mitch McConnell. Thune, who has promised to collaborate closely with President-elect Donald Trump, won the internal election against competitors John Cornyn and Rick Scott. As the GOP prepares to take majority control of the Senate, Thune will have the challenging task of managing a divided conference, navigating Trump's demands, and securing policy wins for the new administration.
In a momentous shift of power within the GOP, South Dakota Senator John Thune has been elected as the next Senate majority leader, replacing Mitch McConnell. Thune promised to work closely with President-elect Donald Trump, despite their past differences, and will play a crucial role in enacting Trump's policy agenda. By securing the majority support of Republican senators in two rounds of secret ballots, Thune emerged victorious over competitors John Cornyn and Rick Scott. As the first competitive election for Senate leader in three decades, Thune's victory represents a new era in the GOP and a test of his leadership abilities.
In a surprise move, US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen John Ratcliffe, former director of National Intelligence and close ally, as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Amid speculation that an Indian-origin candidate may be picked, Ratcliffe's selection is seen as a more traditional choice due to his experience in counteracting foreign interference in American politics. Trump has praised Ratcliffe for his honesty and commitment to national security, and announced him as the first person to serve in both the top intelligence roles in the country.
Donald Trump has chosen John Ratcliffe, a former representative from Texas who served as Director of National Intelligence in 2020, to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. Ratcliffe faced earlier controversy when Trump attempted to appoint him as DNI in 2019, but was deemed inexperienced by Congress. He has also advised Trump on national security during his presidential campaign and served as co-chair of a think tank focused on American security. If confirmed, Ratcliffe would be the first person to serve in both of the nation's highest intelligence positions.
Hindu-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to oversee federal government spending in the newly-formed “Department of Government Efficiency”. This marks a major career milestone for Ramaswamy, who has risen from being Trump's rival in the 2016 presidential race to becoming one of his influential supporters. A self-proclaimed 'apolitical' businessman, Ramaswamy recently made headlines for his criticisms of 'woke' culture and has now announced his presidential campaign for the Republican Party in 2023.
The constituency of Dumka, located in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, is set to hold its Assembly Elections on November 20th. With a total of 165,820 eligible voters, the main parties vying for the seat are the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). In the previous elections, JMM's Hemant Soren came out victorious, defeating BJP's Lois Marandi. The result for Dumka will be declared on November 23rd along with the other 80 constituencies in Jharkhand. Both the BJP and JMM are yet to announce their candidates for the upcoming elections, making the political landscape in Dumka even more intriguing.
The 2024 Assembly Elections in Jamshedpur East, Jharkhand has become a closely watched battleground as Congress candidate Ajoy Kumar faces off against BJP candidate Purnima Das Sahu in a bid to retain his seat. With a significant reduction in the margin of votes in the last election, both parties have pulled out all the stops to secure victory. This election also marks the return of BJP's Raghubar Das, a constant winner from 1995 to 2014, as their candidate. The results will have a significant impact on the state's political landscape as the BJP aims to regain control from the Hemant Soren-led JMM.
President-Elect Donald Trump has announced that Tesla CEO Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will be leading the newly established 'Department of Government Efficiency' (DOGE), which is tasked with reducing government size and regulations. The duo will offer advice and recommendations to the White House and its budget office, but it is unclear how the department will work and be funded. Trump has called this effort the "Manhattan Project" and expects it to be completed by the next midterm election.
In a shocking turn of events, Archbishop Justin Welby has announced his resignation following a recently released report exposing a cover-up of child abuse within the Church of England. The report reveals that Welby was aware of the allegations in 2013 but believed justice would be served. However, the abuser, John Smyth, was not brought to justice before his death in 2018. This resignation comes after one of Smyth's victims spoke out about the beatings he endured. Learn more about the scandal and the process for selecting the new leader of the Church of England in this comprehensive report by BBC's Matt Spivey.