Singapore passport world’s most powerful, India’s ranking improves

Singapore passport world’s most powerful, India’s ranking improves

The 2024 Henley Passport Index has revealed that the Singapore passport is the most powerful in the world, granting visa-free access to 195 countries and there is a slight improvement in India’s passport ranking from 84th place in 2023 to the current 82nd rank.

Following closely are France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, which share the second position with access to 192 countries, alongside Japan.

Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden rank third, allowing entry to 191 destinations. The United Kingdom is in fourth place, tied with New Zealand, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland. Australia and Portugal are tied for fifth place, while the United States has dropped to eighth, providing visa-free access to 186 countries.

As per the data from the Henley Passport Index, India’s ranking fell from 71st place in 2006 to the current 82nd rank and has mostly stayed in the early to mid-eighties ranking since 2015. The country’s ranking was at its worst since 2006 in 2021, at 90th place.

The ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the most extensive and precise database of travel information worldwide.

Sensex trades lower amid volatility

Sensex trades lower amid volatility

Mumbai: India’s frontline indices opened in the red on Wednesday as heavyweights like HUL and Bajaj Finance emerged as top losers.

At 9:52 a.m., Sensex was down 280 points or 0.35 per cent, at 80,174 and Nifty was down 72 points or 0.30 per cent.

Buying is seen in the broader market. On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 1712 shares are in the green and 477 shares are in the red.

Midcap and smallcap stocks are performing better compared to largecaps. Nifty midcap 100 index is up 384 points or 0.68 per cent, at 56,669 and Nifty smallcap 100 index is up 248 points or 1.35 per cent, at 18,649.

Among the sectoral indices, IT, PSU Bank, Fin service, pharma, metal and media are major gainers. Auto and realty are major laggards.

ITC, Titan, Tata Motors, NTPC, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, Kotak Mahindra, Tata Steel, SBI, Asian Paints and ICICI Bank are the top gainers in the Sensex pack. HUL, Bajaj Finance, Nestle, UltraTech Cement, HCL Tech and M&M are the top losers.

Will Rahul Gandhi apologise after SC verdict on NEET

Will Rahul Gandhi apologise after SC verdict on NEET

New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday accused Rahul Gandhi of fuelling lack of trust in India’s examination system following the NEET-UG paper leak at a few places, and asked if he will apologise after the Supreme Court’s verdict on the issue.

The court on Tuesday dismissed the pleas seeking cancellation and re-test of the exam, holding that there was no evidence on record to conclude that it was “vitiated” on account of “systemic breach” of its sanctity. The court said the leak occurred in a couple of cities.

BJP leader and former union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at the opposition, especially Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, following the verdict, accusing him of defaming India’s examination globally with his strong words.

His choice of words were violative of Parliament’s dignity and the dignity of the office of the Leader of Opposition, a position Gandhi holds, Prasad said.

He also dismissed Gandhi’s criticism of the budget as a “kursi bachao budget”, saying it was not the BJP’s fault if people have repeatedly rejected him and his party in the elections.

Defending the government’s action on the NEET row, the BJP leader said the probe in the matter was handed over to the CBI and the candidature of 155 examinees was cancelled.

RTI applicant has no locus in penalty proceedings against officer, says Delhi HC

RTI applicant has no locus in penalty proceedings against officer, says Delhi HC

New Delhi: An RTI applicant has no locus standi in penalty proceedings initiated against a public information officer (PIO) for denying or furnishing incorrect information, ruled the Delhi High Court.

“The formation of opinion under Section 20(2) of the RTI Act (regarding the imposition of penalties) is in the exercise of supervisory powers of CIC and not in the exercise of the adjudicatory powers. This Court is also of the view that the information seeker has no locus standi in penalty proceedings under Section 20 of the RTI Act,” observed a bench presided over by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan.

The Bench, also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, was considering an appeal filed against a decision rendered by a single-judge bench, which had dismissed the plea of the appellant seeking imposition of penalty on the concerned officials for furnishing incorrect replies to his application made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Will Vijayan join list of CMs boycotting NITI Aayog meet on July 27?

Will Vijayan join list of CMs boycotting NITI Aayog meet on July 27?

Thiruvananthapuram: All eyes are on the forthcoming NITI Aayog meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as by now four chief ministers have refused to attend it as a mark of protest against the Union Budget.

The chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh have gone on record saying that they will stay away from the July 27 meeting in the National Capital.

The question doing the rounds in Kerala is whether Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will attend the meeting as he had also criticised the Union Budget.

Soon after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget, CM Vijayan slammed the Centre and said he would not complain about some states getting more, but, he would speak about states like Kerala being ignored.

CM Vijayan said such a thing should not have happened as it puts brakes on Kerala’s future development.

We will put pressure on govt to get legal guarantee for MSP: Rahul Gandhi

We will put pressure on govt to get legal guarantee for MSP: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: The INDIA bloc will put pressure on the government and ensure that the farmers get a legal guarantee for MSP, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday after he met a delegation of farmer leaders in the Parliament House complex.

The delegation of farmer leaders from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka apprised Gandhi of the issues being faced by the tillers.

“We will have a discussion with INDIA bloc leaders and will put pressure on the government to ensure that the farmers get a legal guarantee for MSP,” Gandhi told reporters after the meeting.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Congress leaders Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Dharamvir Gandhi, Amar Singh, Deepender Singh Hooda and Jai Prakash were also present in the meeting.

The delegation comprised 12 farmer leaders from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Sources said they apprised Gandhi of the issues being faced by farmers in their respective states.