Ernakulam in Kerala has been named the first district to achieve the registration of 10,000 new MSMEs. This will help boost the contribution of MSMEs by generating new jobs and diversifying India’s GDP. The availability of highly skilled Human Resources and the good industrial infrastructure are among the key reasons for its excellent communication and networking systems.

Odisha’s Health Minister Naba Kishore Das died after being shot by a policeman. He died after he was shot by a policeman at Gandhi Chhak in Brajrajnagar area of Jharsuguda district, where he had gone to attend an event.
The shooter was identified as Gopal Das, who was posted in the Gandhi Chowk police outpost of. He had earlier served the Minister in the capacity of his personal security officer.

Scientists at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune have found a rare low-altitude basalt plateau in the Western Ghats. This new plateau found by ARI team in Thane, Maharashtra could hold clues to how plant species globally survive climate change.

The first G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting under the G20 Indian Presidency was hosted in Chandigarh. The International Financial Architecture Working Group focuses on strengthening international financial architecture. It also aims to address multiple challenges faced by vulnerable countries.

Patiala’s first Military Literature Festival recently concluded in the city of Patiala, Punjab. The Brave Heart Ride Motorcycle Rally was flagged off. During the Patiala Military Literature Festival’s concluding day, the Black Elephant Division of the Indian Army Major paid tributes to the martyrs by offering floral garlands at the War Memorial complex Cenotaph of Patiala State Forces and Black Elephant.

During the Union Budget presentation, Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman announced that people earning up to Rs 7 lakhs need not pay taxes. Tax surcharges of the taxpayers in the highest tax bracket were reduced from 37% to 25%. The bottom line, the new income tax slab benefits taxpayers in the highest and lowest tax brackets.

Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget 2023 for the 5th time in a row. She will be presenting the financial statements and tax proposals for the fiscal year 2023-24 (April 2023 to March 2024).

The Justice G. Rohini-led commission for the sub-categorisation of other backward classes (OBCs) has now been given another extension in its tenure by the President. This was announced by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This is the 14th extension in a tenure that the commission has been given. The commission was formed in October 2017.

The entomologists have named a new genus of wasp after Soliga, an indigenous community of Biligiri Rangan Hills in Karnataka. The new genus has been named Soliga ecarinata in an acknowledgement of the Soliga lifestyle and recognition of their conservation of forests and biodiversity.

According to finance ministry Nirmala Sitharaman, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in January 2023 saw a significant increase, reaching over Rs 1.55 lakh crore.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival began with a grand opening ceremony in Mumbai.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur and Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi inaugurated the SCO Film Festival. The SCO Film Festival was organized to mark India’s Presidency at SCO and to showcase the diversity of films from the SCO region.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated during the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1, 2023, that the average processing time for income tax returns has been lowered from 93 to 16 days. She stated that 45 per cent of ITRs are handled within 24 hours. “The administration aims to bring out next-generation universal IT Return forms as well as reinforce the grievance redressal process,” she explained.

Union Road Transport and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari announced from April 1 2023, all government-owned vehicles that are older than 15 years will be scrapped. As part of this, more than nine lakh vehicles, owned by central and state governments, transport corporations and public sector undertakings, and new vehicles with alternative fuels will replace them.

Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India, was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Honour by the India-UK Achievers Honours in London for his contributions to economic and political life. The National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK will present Dr. Singh with the Honour, which was revealed during an awards function last week.

The Union Budget 2023-24 includes a capital spending of Rs 2.4 lakh crore for Indian Railways. This is the largest allocation ever made to the national transporter, and it follows the pattern set last year, with a total budgetary assistance of Rs 1.37 lakh crore in fiscal 2022-23. The funds will be used for railway lines, electrification, and station improvements, among other things.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2023 on 1 February 2023 (Wednesday) at 11 AM.

The 30th National Child Science Congress began at Science City in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST) and Gujarat Council of Science City are hosting the congress. Over 1400 delegates including child scientists, teachers, evaluators, and government officials will attend the congress. As many as 850 students from across the country will showcase their projects.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is aiming to launch the Aditya-L1 mission by June or July 2023. Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space mission to observe the Sun and the solar corona. Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru recently handed over one of the most challenging scientific payloads to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel announced giving a monthly allowance to unemployed youth from the next financial year (2023-24). Bhupesh Baghel also announced the formulation of a rural industry policy to boost the cottage industry-based rural economy. He also announced a housing assistance scheme for labourers, and a scheme for women entrepreneurs.

A report recently published by Hindenburg Research has accused Adani Group of stock manipulation, improper use of tax havens and money laundering. It has also raised concerns about the group’s mounting debts. The report has led to sharp erosion in the valuation of listed companies like Adani Enterprises, Adani Power, Adani Total Gas, Adani Transmission, Adani Ports & SEZ, Adani Green Energy and NDTV among others.