Finance Minister Sitharaman To Launch New Pension Scheme 'Vatsalya' For Children Today

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Finance Minister Sitharaman To Launch New Pension Scheme 'Vatsalya' For Child...

by Hemanta Pande

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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will launch the New Pension Scheme (NPS) 'Vatsalya' on Wednesday here, which will be joined by school children, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Finance.

New Delhi, Sep 18: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will launch the New Pension Scheme (NPS) 'Vatsalya' on Wednesday here, which will be joined by school children, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Finance.

Announced in the Union Budget 2024, the scheme will allow parents to contribute a certain amount on behalf of their children towards National Pension Scheme (NPS) to secure their future and help them develop a retirement fund.

As part of the launch in New Delhi, NPS Vatsalya events will be organised simultaneously at nearly 75 locations throughout the country, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The Finance Minister will also launch an online platform for subscribing to NPS 'Vatsalya', release of scheme brochure, and distribute PRAN cards to new minor subscribers.

Other locations will join the launch through video conference and will also distribute PRAN (permanent retirement account number) membership to new minor subscribers in that location.

"NPS 'Vatsalya' will allow parents to save for their children's future by investing in a pension account and ensure long-term wealth with the power of compounding,” said the Ministry.

NPS 'Vatsalya' offers flexible contributions and investment options, allowing parents to make investment of Rs 1,000 annually in the name of the child, thus making it accessible to families from all economic backgrounds.

This new initiative is designed to start early in securing financial future of children, marking an important step in India's pension system. The scheme will be run under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

"The launch of NPS Vatsalya highlights the Union government's commitment to promote long-term financial planning and security for all," said the Ministry.

The scheme allows children to withdraw a portion of the accumulated corpus as a lump sum and receive the rest as regular pension payments. (IANS)

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Coldplay India Concert: Dates, Venue, Ticket Price Unveiled!

by Utkalika Mohanty

New Delhi, Sept 19: In a thrilling announcement for music lovers across the nation, the Grammy-winning band Coldplay has confirmed they will bring their celebrated 'Music of the Spheres World Tour' to India.

Scheduled for January 18 and 19, 2025, the iconic DY Patil Sports Stadium in Mumbai will be the stage for two unforgettable nights of music and magic!

"This is the moment you've been waiting for!" said a representative from BookMyShow Live, highlighting the excitement surrounding this monumental event.

Following the phenomenal success of their summer 2024 shows in Europe, Coldplay is ready to make history with their much-anticipated performances in India.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting Coldplay's return since their last visit in 2016, and this announcement is sure to raise anticipation.

"We are thrilled to bring Coldplay back to India," said a promoter, adding, "This tour is going to be an extraordinary experience for everyone."

Tickets for the Mumbai concerts will be available starting September 22, 2024, at 12 PM IST, exclusively through BookMyShow.
Given the massive popularity of the band, fans are encouraged to act fast to secure their spot at what promises to be one of the most talked-about concerts of the decade.

The tour will feature an array of hits from their acclaimed album 'Music of the Spheres', including new singles like 'We Pray' and 'feelslikeimfallinginlove'.

Audiences can also expect to hear beloved classics such as 'Yellow', 'Fix You', and 'Viva La Vida', all presented in a spectacular show complete with lasers, fireworks, and mesmerizing LED displays.

In a bid to make the concert accessible, Coldplay will offer a limited number of 'Infinity Tickets', priced at the equivalent of Euro 20 (approximately Rs 2000) per ticket. These will go on sale on November 22, 2024, allowing fans to purchase them in pairs and enjoy the concert experience together.

Since launching in March 2022, the 'Music of the Spheres World Tour' has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide. The upcoming shows will be held in Abu Dhabi, Seoul, and Hong Kong.

Coldplay's new album, 'Moon Music', is set to release on October 4, 2024, and aims to set new sustainability standards in the music industry, with each vinyl made from 100% recycled plastic.

Chris Martin, the band's lead vocalist, reflected on the album's theme, stating, "I think what 'Moon Music' is trying to say is maybe love is the best response" to the conflicts we face in the world today.

Coldplay previously performed in India in 2016 as part of the Global Citizen Festival in Mumbai.

The band, which was established in 1997, consists of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, and drummer and percussionist Will Champion.

'A Sky Full of Stars', 'Don't Panic', 'Viva La Vida', and 'In My Place' are some of the band's biggest hits.

(ANI)

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Delhi's New Cabinet Finalised Under Incoming CM Atishi, Oath-Taking On September 21

by Utkalika Mohanty

New Delhi, Sept 19: The new cabinet under Delhi's future Chief Minister Atishi on Thursday has been finalised. Four ministers from the Kejriwal cabinet--Saurabh Bhardwaj, Kailash Gehlot, Gopal Rai, and Imran Hussain--will continue in their roles and take oath again. One new face, Mukesh Ahlawat, the MLA from Sultanpur Majra, will join the cabinet.

Ahlawat, from the Dalit community, will be the new minister. One ministerial position remains vacant. The entire cabinet, along with CM Atishi, will take oath on Saturday, 21 September.

Earlier in the day, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced that MLA MP Atishi will take oath as the new Chief Minister of Delhi on September 21. "Atishi will take oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi on September 21, and other ministers will also take their oaths alongside her," said the AAP in a statement. Atishi, who has staked her claim to the position, expressed mixed feelings about the change in leadership. She said that she is happy about the trust placed in her by outgoing CM Arvind Kejriwal but is also sad that he has resigned from his post. Speaking to the media, she added that she would work hard to bring Kejriwal back as Chief Minister after the upcoming assembly elections.

"First of all, I would like to thank the popular CM of Delhi, AAP national convener, and my guru - Arvind Kejriwal. He gave me such a huge responsibility and trusted me for it. This can be done only in AAP, only under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, that a first-time politician becomes the CM of a state. I come from an ordinary family. Had I been in any other party, perhaps I would not have been given even an election ticket," Atishi said.

At 43, Atishi will become the third woman Chief Minister of Delhi, following in the footsteps of Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit. A prominent leader of AAP, Atishi has played a key role in improving education in Delhi's government-run schools during her time as an advisor to the former Education Minister, Manish Sisodia.

Atishi currently represents the Kalkaji constituency in the Delhi Assembly and holds the most portfolios in the Delhi government. She joined the Delhi cabinet in March 2023 and is now set to lead AAP as it prepares for the upcoming assembly polls.

(ANI)

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180 kg Of Narcotics Seized In Myanmar

by Utkalika Mohanty

Yangon, Sep 19: Myanmar authorities have seized 180 kg of narcotics in Myanmar's Shan state on Thursday, local media reported.

Acting on a tip-off, anti-narcotics police searched a vehicle on September 16, seized 100 kg of ICE (methamphetamine) in Mongping township of eastern Shan state, and arrested two suspects.

During further investigation in connection with this case, an additional 50 kg of ICE and 30 kg of ketamine were seized at another suspect's house in the same township, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the state-run daily The Myanma Alinn.

Investigation showed that the drugs were being transported from Kengtung township to Monghpyak township of Shan state.

According to the local media reports, the suspects were charged under the country's laws, and further investigations are ongoing.

Earlier on September 17, Myanmar authorities seized large amounts of narcotic drugs in the regions of Yangon and Mandalay.

The confiscated narcotics included 1 kg of ketamine, 105 g of happy water, 1.9 million stimulant tablets and 50 g of heroin. The narcotic drugs were seized in Dagon Myothit (North) township of Yangon region on September 8 and Chanmyathazi township of Mandalay region on September 13.