Morning Brief: Constitutional Amendment Bill On Quota For Economically Weak In General Category Today; Economic Growth Estimated At 7.2 Per Cent; And More

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

Government Likely To Bring Constitutional Amendment Bill On Quotas For Economically Weaker Sections Today

After announcing the move to carve out 10 per cent reservation for the economically weak in the general category on Monday, the government is likely to bring a constitutional amendment bill in Parliament today, Hindustan Times has reported. After the announcement, the government has decided to extend the Rajya Sabha session by one day. To get the bill passed, the government will have to ensure a two-thirds majority in both the houses of Parliament.

Those earning less than Rs 8 lakh per annum, having land under five acres, a house less than 1000 square feet, a residential plot less than 100 square yards in a notified municipalities, and a residential plot less than 200 square yards in other municipalities would be eligible for the proposed quota. According to multiple reports, as many as 190 million people could benefit from this.

Government Pegs Economic Growth At 7.2 Per Cent In FY19

The Modi government said on Monday that the economy is likely to grow at 7.2 per cent during 2018-19 compared to 6.7 per cent in the previous fiscal. India is likely to retain the tag of the fastest growing major economy, it said. The government’s estimate is a shade lower than the RBI’s, which expects the economy to grow 7.4 per cent in the current fiscal year that ends in March.

The manufacturing sector may grow by 8.3 per cent in 2018-19, an improvement over the previous year’s 5.7 per cent. Farm sector is set to grow by 3.8 per cent compared with 3.4 per cent in 2017-18. The construction sector is likely to grow at 8.9 per cent compared with 5.7 per cent expansion in last year.

Money Laundering Case Against Robert Vadra’s Firm

A new case of money laundering has been filed against Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s brother-in-law Robert Vadra by the Enforcement Directorate. It has been filed on the basis of an FIR registered by the Haryana police in September last year. The FIR says Skylight Hospitality, a firm allegedly linked to Vadra, struck a deal with Onkareshwar Properties, for a 3.5-acre piece of land in Gurgaon’s Sector 83 in 2008.

Police alleged that Skylight Hospitality sold that piece of land to realty major DLF at a price of Rs 58 crore, after procuring a commercial licence for the development of a colony due to the alleged influence of Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress, who was the chief minister of the state then, holding the portfolio of town and county planning department.

Modi And Trump Discuss Trade Deficit, Afghan Security Over Phone

Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump discussed the Afghanistan issue, the India-US strategic partnership, trade deficit and cooperation in defence in a telephonic conversation on Monday. This development comes just days after Trump was seen mocking India’s role in Afghanistan. His comments drew widespread ridicule and anger both in New Delhi and Kabul.

The Trump administration is reportedly planning to withdraw more than 5,000 of the 14,000 US troops stationed in Afghanistan. Security condition in Afghanistan is expected to worsen when the US presence diminishes. India is reported providing more helicopter gunships to Afghanistan.

CBI Vs CBI: SC Verdict On Alok Verma’s Plea Today

The Supreme Court will give its verdict today on two petitions filed against the Center’s decision to divest Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma of his powers and send him on leave following a bitter fallout with Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Verma had challenged the move saying it went against the rules that mandate that the CBI chief has two years in office. In its defence, the government, which meted out the same treatment to Asthana, told the apex court that the two were fighting like "kilkenny cats".

The government had made Joint Director M Nageswara Rao as interim in-charge of the agency. Earlier, the court had said that the acting CBI Director would not take major policy decisions. It later clarified that its order restraining Rao does not mean the agency would stop investigating cases.

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We hope you enjoyed reading our morning brief. Have a great day ahead!

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