Ahead of Diwali, Centre Announces 3 Per Cent Hike In DA For Employees

by Hemanta Pande

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Union Cabinet led by PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved a 3 per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) for Central government employees and pensioners.

New Delhi, Oct 16: Union Cabinet led by PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved a 3 per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) for Central government employees and pensioners.

The latest hike raises the DA or DR from 50 per cent to 53 per cent. The increase will come into effect from 1 July.

This decision is a major relief for Central government employees ahead of Diwali.

The biannual revision of DA and DR, which impacts approximately one crore Central government employees and pensioners, aims to mitigate the effects of inflation.

DA is given to the Central government employees which is calculated based on the average of the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW), which is published monthly by the Labour Bureau, making it a crucial component in determining government salaries and pensions.

In March, the government raised the dearness allowance by 4 per cent, effective from January 2024, bringing the total dearness allowance to 50 per cent of basic pay from 46 per cent.

According to the Seventh Pay Commission report, a slew of allowances including house rent allowance is eligible for automatic revision once the DA reaches 50 per cent of the basic pay. These allowances, including HRA, were accordingly raised earlier this year, the Confederation of Central Government Employees confirmed.

However, the basic pay has not been raised as such a recommendation was not part of the final Seventh Pay Commission report.

Apart from this, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai on Wednesday announced that DA for state government employees will be increased by 4 per cent ahead of Diwali. Due to hike, DA will become 50 per cent of the basic salary. This increase will be effective from October 1. (IANS)

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Kho Kho World Cup 2025 To Start In New Delhi From January 13

by Hemanta Pande

New Delhi, Oct 16: In a landmark moment for traditional Indian sports, New Delhi's Thyagraj Stadium erupted with excitement as the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) unveiled the dates and logo for the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup.

Set to enter the global sporting landscape, the inaugural edition of the tournament will take place between January 13 and January 19, in New Delhi. The groundbreaking tournament promises to showcase India's indigenous sport on the global stage.

The announcement ceremony featured a spectacular exhibition match between Team Maharashtra and the Rest Of India. The match ended 26-24 in Maharashtra's favour as the crowd were left on the edge of their seats.

This was followed by the unveiling of the World Cup's official logo and tagline #TheWorldGoesKho. The air was charged with enthusiasm as hundreds of young aspiring athletes and school students witnessed what could be the dawn of their sporting dreams.

Making this ancient Indian game truly international, the tournament will feature an impressive lineup of 24 nations, with both men's and women's teams competing for world supremacy. The championship structure includes 16 teams in each division, setting the stage for an intense battle.

KKFI president Sudhanshu Mittal captured the spirit of the moment with his passionate declaration, "Kho Kho is a sport of our country's mud. So, we are very proud to bring this sport to the mat. A big thank you to the federation which has worked hard to ensure that Kho Kho becomes an international sport. We first brought the sport to its fans through the Ultimate Kho Kho League, and now, it is time to take things to the next step with the First Kho Kho World Cup."

Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, graced the event and said, "Kho kho has been a part of our country's history from the time of the Mahabharata. The government of India has been promoting as many indigenous games, and hosting the inaugural edition of the Kho Kho World Cup in 2025 is a step in that direction. A big congratulations to the KKFI for their endeavours in different fields, especially sports science, as this takes the level of the game to another level."

"We are excited to be the official partner for the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in 2025. This event marks a significant step not only in showcasing the dynamic spirit of Kho Kho but also in promoting its inclusion on the global stage, with aspirations to bring it to the Olympics and Asian Games. Just as EaseMyTrip strives for excellence in the travel industry, we are committed to supporting the sport's journey to international prominence," said Nishant Pitti, CEO and Co-founder of EaseMyTrip.

This historic championship represents a massive leap for Kho Kho, transforming it from a beloved local sport to a global phenomenon. With India leading this sporting revolution, the 2025 World Cup promises to be an unforgettable celebration of speed, strategy, and sporting excellence. (ANI)

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EAM Jaishankar Wraps Up Pak Visit, Thanks SCO Meet Hosts For 'Hospitality And Courtesies'

by Hemanta Pande

Islamabad, Oct 16: As he wrapped up his flying visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Islamabad, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Wednesday afternoon thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for the "hospitality and courtesies" during his nearly 24-hour stay in the neighbouring country.

"Departing from Islamabad. Thank PM Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Government of Pakistan for the hospitality and courtesies," the minister posted on X as he boarded the IAF plane at Rawalpindi's Nur Khan airbase.

The last time an Indian EAM visited Pakistan was in 2015 when late Sushma Swaraj attended the Heart of Asia Conference in Islamabad.

EAM Jaishankar highlighted that India made a "positive and constructive contribution" to the deliberations at a "productive" meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad on Wednesday.

A total of eight outcome documents were signed with many key takeaways from the Indian perspective.

It included Developing a dialogue on the idea of One Earth, One Family, One Future; Outcomes of India's initiatives like SCO Startup Forum, SWG on Startups and Innovation and Traditional Medicine welcomed by SCO members; DPI and Digital inclusion becoming part of SCO cooperation framework; SCO taking inspiration from Mission LiFE to achieving UNSDGs; and, enhancing global food security and nutrition through promoting use of climate-resilient and nutritious grains such as millets.

The signed documents also included Upholding fair and balanced connectivity projects in accordance with international law, the goals and principles of the UN Charter and SCO Charter; Reemphasizing rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive and transparent multilateral trading system with WTO at its core; and, opposing protectionist actions, unilateral sanctions, and trade restrictions that undermine the multilateral trading system and impede global sustainable development.

During his much-anticipated address, the EAM called "terrorism, extremism and separatism" as the, "three evils" while emphasising that if trust is lacking and good neighbourliness is missing somewhere, there are surely reasons to introspect and causes to address.

"If activities across borders are characterised by terrorism, extremism and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges in parallel," said Jaishankar without naming Pakistan. (IANS)

Ahead of Diwali, Centre Announces 3 Per Cent Hike In DA For Employees

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