Morning Brief: Quota Bill To Face Rajya Sabha Test Today; Malaysia ‘Shifts Interest’ From Pakistani-Chinese JF-17 To India’s Tejas: Report; And More

Good Morning, dear reader! Here’s your morning news brief for today.

Lok Sabha Clears Quota Bill; Rajya Sabha Test Today

The Lok Sabah on Tuesday passed the Constitution Amendment Bill 2019 for the introduction of a quota for the economically backward of the general category. The bill, introduced on the last day of the winter session of the Lower House, was passed with 323 votes in favour and three against. It will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha today, where the ruling-National Democratic Alliance does not have a majority. Earlier, the session in the Rajya Sabha was extended by a day to enable the house to take up the reservation bill.

The government will need a two-thirds majority to get the bill passed in the Rajya Sabha. While the United Progressive Alliance has 112 members, the National Democratic Alliance has 93. Other parties have 39 members. However, the Opposition is unlikely to vote against the bill just months ahead of the elections.

Malaysia Expresses Interest In LCA Tejas

Malaysia has reportedly expressed interest in India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, Business Standard has reported. According to the daily’s report, the Southeast Asian nation, which was earlier interested in buying the Pakistani-Chinese JF-17 Thunder, is now shifting interest to Tejas. It has asked India to send the Tejas to participate in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is likely to send a twin-seat prototype. Reports of countries expressing ‘interest’ in Tejas have appeared in the past as well, but no agreements have been signed till date. Moreover, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has been missing its targets and has failed to ramp up the production of the fighter for the Indian Air Force.

Malaysia is planning to buy 30 light fighters. It is reported to have expressed keen interest in the JF-17 at the IDEAS 2018 defence exhibition in Karachi. While the JF-17 will cost it around $25 million a unit, the current version of the Tejas will cost it around $28.5 million. However, with its quadruplex digital flight control and light composite material structure, Tejas offers better performance.

NDA Government’s Print Ad Volume Less Than UPA’s: Data

Between 2014-15 and December 2018, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government has bought 460 million cm of advertisement space in print media, Hindustan Times has reported. In comparison, the Congress-led UPA government had bought 560 million cm of advertisement space. However, the NDA government has spent Rs 2,156.22 crore on these advertisements, slightly more than the UPA government’s expenditure of Rs 1,896.73 crore.

According to a government official quoted in the report, if the ad space bought by the UPA government between 2010 and 2014 was bought now, it may cost Rs 2,558 crore. The government has spent Rs 4,880 crore on ads across electronic, print and other media between 2014-15 and July 2018.

Banks Propose $900 Million Turnaround Plan For Jet Airways

Banks have come up with a $900 million plan to provide relief to the cash-strapped jet airways, Mint has reported. According to the report, the plan involves equity infusion and restructuring of $450 million of the carrier’s loans. However, if this turnaround plan is implemented, Jet Airways’ founder chairman Naresh Goyal’s stake in the carrier will fall below the current 51 per cent.

Under this plan, Goyal and Etihad Airways PJSC, which holds a 24 per cent stake in the carrier, will together infuse $450 million in the company, while the Indian lenders will restructure another $450 million of the airline’s debt. The plan will be finalised by the end of this month and implemented by 31 March.

Top Court Informed Of Assessment Order On Rahul, Sonia Gandhi's Taxes

The Income Tax (I-T) department has told the Supreme Court that it has passed an assessment order on the tax of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi for 2011-12 in relation with the National Herald case but has not given it effect. The top court allowed the I-T department to place the assessment order on record.

The court has also asked UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi to file an affidavit and place on record a Central Board of Direct Taxation circular which was issued on 31 December 2018 to clarify about taxes on valuations, but was recalled on 4 January 2019, reports said.

From Swarajya

Ground Report: How IndiaSpend Twisted Facts To List Fight Between Muslims As ‘Communal Clashes’ For Hate Database: IndiaSpend’s so called ‘hate tracker’ does not seem to be exposing hate as much as manufacturing it.

10 Per Cent Reservation For General Category: Four Reasons Why This May Be A Political Game-Changer: The BJP has taken a bold step of moving towards eliminating caste-based reservations. It helps politically as well after suffering setbacks in three states as it assuages its core vote bank.

SC Verdict On CBI Vs CBI Is Rap On Wrist For Government, But Endgame Is Unclear: The judgement is a small slap on the government’s wrists, but the final word on it is a week away. It is too early for the Congress to celebrate Alok Verma’s restoration. Picture abhi baaki hai.

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