Author: Legal Parivar

“On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 8 that the Centre will slash LPG cylinder prices by Rs 100. Taking to his official X account, PM Modi stated, ‘This move will substantially alleviate the economic strain on numerous households nationwide, particularly benefiting our Nari Shakti. By enhancing the affordability of cooking gas, we also strive to promote the welfare of families and foster a healthier environment. This initiative aligns with our dedication to empowering women and ensuring ‘Ease of Living’ for all.'”

Top food companies, including ITC, PepsiCo India, Balaji Wafers, and Prataap Snacks, are embroiled in a dispute with the Directorate General of GST Intelligence over the application of an 18% goods and services tax (GST) on snack foods. This disagreement stems from a recent government clarification that classifies snacks into extruded and non-extruded categories, as per sources in the food industry. Extrusion involves shaping ingredients by pushing them through a machine, a process commonly used in producing ready-to-eat snacks like Kurkure, Yellow Diamond puffs, and Bingo Mad Angles. Biscuits and potato chips, on the other hand, are considered non-extruded snacks.…

A Delhi court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh regarding a money laundering case linked to an alleged excise scam. According to PTI, Special Judge M K Nagpal prolonged their custody following the expiration of their earlier judicial remand. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought an extension of their judicial custody, citing the critical stage of the case and expressing concerns that the accused might interfere with the ongoing investigation if released. As per the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), irregularities arose during the modification of the Delhi excise policy.…

Delhi Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory for commuters today, March 8, due to Mahashivratri festivities at Guruji ka Ashram, Bhatti Mines, and Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir. Restrictions will be enforced from 6 am to 11.30 am, with an expected influx of 1,50,000 devotees. Roads and junctions to avoid include Bhatti Mines Road, Bandh Road, Sant Shri Nagpal (SSN) Marg, CDR Chowk, Anuvrat Marg, Abdul Gaffar Khan Marg (Vasant Kunj Road), Mehrauli – Gurgaon Road, Mehrauli- Badarpur Road, Dera Road, Y-point Chhatarpur, Main Chhatarpur Road, 100 Feet Road Junction, Andheria More, Mandir Road, and Aurobindo Marg. Heavy and…

The Karnataka Motor Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Act, 2024, has been approved by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on March 6, signaling an impending increase in vehicle registration costs in Karnataka. The recent legislation, gazetted on March 7, mandates an additional 3% cess on transport vehicles for the Karnataka Motor Transport and Other Allied Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund. Furthermore, the amendment grants the state government authority to impose a lifetime tax on electric vehicles (EVs). Electric motor cars, jeeps, omnibuses, and private service vehicles exceeding a cost of Rs 25 lakh will now incur a lifetime tax of 10% of the…

In a historic move, Sweden officially joined NATO on Thursday, becoming the alliance’s 32nd member. The accession documents were handed over at a ceremony in Washington, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken described it as a significant development that underscored Russia’s strategic miscalculations. During the ceremony, Blinken accepted the accession documents from Sweden’s prime minister, following the ratification process by the other 31 NATO members. Reflecting on the journey to this point, Blinken emphasized the unpredictability of Sweden’s NATO membership status just three years ago. He highlighted the current situation as a stark illustration of the strategic blunder caused by…

Nazara Technologies, a gaming firm based in Mumbai, is reportedly aiming to acquire Smaaash Entertainment Pvt. Ltd through the insolvency and bankruptcy process, as per sources familiar with the situation. As part of the corporate insolvency resolution process, Nazara is expected to submit its resolution plan by March 9 to revive the insolvent firm. Last year, various entities including Adlabs Entertainment (Malpani Group), Manikchand Group, FZE, Tech Connect Services, Capri Global, Jindal Enterprises, and iLabs India Special Situation Fund had also shown interest in acquiring Smaaash Entertainment. The bid amount remains confidential under the code, according to one of the…

Rahul Gandhi, former Congress president, is set to contest from Kerala’s Wayanad once again, as per sources. His candidacy was approved during the first meeting of the Congress party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) held in New Delhi. Gandhi, who is also a member of the CEC, participated in the meeting virtually from Gujarat. He had previously won the Wayanad seat in 2019 by a significant margin, although he lost the Amethi constituency to Smriti Irani. The meeting focused on finalizing candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, discussing potential nominees for seven states including the North East, Kerala,…

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sanctioned a hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of raw jute by ₹285 to ₹5,335 per 100 kg for the 2024-25 season. Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced that approximately 4.0 million jute farmers and their households, along with 500,000 workers linked to jute mills, will benefit from this decision. The MSP for the upcoming season adheres to the government’s commitment to fix it at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production, as declared in the 2018-19 budget. The revised support price guarantees a…

Vedanta, led by Anil Agarwal, disclosed on Thursday, March 7, that it has received a regulatory warning from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for “disclosing information related to its unlisted ultimate holding company”. In a filing to the stock exchange, Vedanta revealed that it received a communication from the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on March 6, 2024, conveying SEBI’s issuance of an administrative warning to the conglomerate. SEBI has instructed Vedanta to present the warning letter to its board and implement necessary corrective measures to bolster internal controls for corporate announcements and press releases, as stated in…