EXCISE CUT ON FUEL: FM NIRMALA SITHARAMAN SAYS DULL BURDEN TO BE BORNE BY CENTRE

Providing details of the cut in excise duty on fuels, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said the excise duty cut of Rs 8/litre on petrol and Rs 6/litre on diesel has entirely been made in Road & Infrastructure Cess (RIC), which is not shared with states and hence, the burden lies with Centre. The duty cut, effective Sunday, has a revenue implication of Rs 1 lakh crore annually for the Centre, which coupled with the earlier duty cut of November 2021 will result in a total revenue loss of Rs 2.2 lakh crore a year, she said.

“Basic ED which is sharable with states has not been touched. Therefore, the entire burden of these two duty cuts (made in Nov, 21 and yesterday) is borne by the Centre,” she tweeted.

Opposition leaders had said that this round of excise duty cut would reduce the share of states in central taxes.

Former Finance Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram had on Saturday evening stated that the cut in excise duty was “equal to rob Peter more & pay Peter less!” “FM’s exhortation to States is meaningless. When she cuts Central Excise by one rupee, 41 paise of that rupee belongs to the States,” he had stated. On Sunday, he tweeted stating that contrary to what he said on Saturday “the entire burden of the reduction falls on the Centre. To that extent, I stand corrected. The states are getting very little by way of share of duties on Petrol and Diesel. Their revenue is from VAT on Petrol and Diesel.”

QUAD TO TAKE UP GLOBAL CONCERNS, INDO-PACIFIC

The second in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit in Japan will provide an opportunity to leaders of the four countries to review the progress of the grouping’s initiatives and exchange views on developments in the Indo-Pacific region as well as on global issues of mutual interest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

In a pre-departure statement before his visit to Tokyo from May 23 to 24, the PM mentioned that he would have bilaterals with US President Joe Biden, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and the newly elected Australian PM Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the Quad summit.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia.

“I will hold a bilateral meeting with President Joseph Biden, where we will discuss further consolidation of our multi-faceted bilateral relations with the US. We will also continue our dialogue on regional developments and contemporary global issues,” said the pre-departure statement.

In March this year, PM Modi had hosted Kishida for the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit during which Tokyo assured infrastructure financing worth $39 billion over the next five years. “During the forthcoming visit, I will meet with Japanese business leaders with the goal of further strengthening economic linkages between our countries,” he said in this context.

PM Modi also noted that Australia’s Prime Minister-elect Albanese will be joining the Quad Leaders’ Summit for the first time. Modi will be among the few world leaders to interact with the new Australian PM within days of the general elections in that country.

INDIA SENDS MORE HUMANITARIAN AID CONSIGNMENT TO SRI LANKA AMID CRISIS

As Sri Lanka grapples with a massive economic crisis, India handed over a large amount of humanitarian assistance consignment worth over Rs 2 billion to the island country which reached Colombo on Sunday.

The High Commissioner of India in Colombo, Gopal Baglay handed over the consignment to the senior leadership of the Government of Sri Lanka, reported Colombo Page. The consignment comprises 9,000 metric tons of rice, and 50 metric tons of milk powder, coupled with over 25 metric tons of drugs and other pharmaceutical supplies.

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M.K Stalin had flagged off the humanitarian consignment from the Chennai port on May 18. This is the first incoming consignment by the Tamil Nadu Government under a commitment of 40,000 metric tons of rice, 500 metric tons of milk powder, and medicines.

Further, various private and social organizations from India have also aided Sri Lanka to meet the urgent requirements of the island country.

This support for Sri Lanka among the people of India is in addition to the Government of India's economic assistance, which has totalled approximately USD 3.5 billion since January this year.

PRESENCE OF BA.4, BA.5 OMICRON SUB-VARIANTS CONFIRMED IN INDIA

The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium or INSACOG has confirmed the presence of the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants of the coronavirus in India -- one case in Tamil Nadu and another in Telangana.

BA.4 and BA.5 are sub-variants of the highly-transmissible Omicron variant of the virus.

In a statement on Sunday, the INSACOG said a 19-year-old woman in Tamil Nadu has been found infected with the BA.4 sub-variant of the virus. The patient has shown only mild clinical symptoms and has been fully vaccinated. She had no travel history.

Earlier, a South African national was reported positive for the BA.4 sub-variant of Omicron on arrival at the Hyderabad airport.

In another case, an 80-year-old man in Telangana has tested positive for the BA.5 sub-variant of the virus. He has shown only mild clinical symptoms and has been fully vaccinated. The patient had no travel history.

"Contact tracing of the BA.4 and BA.5 patients is being undertaken as a precautionary measure," the INSACOG said.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / May 23

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Sunday 2,022

Active Cases 14,832 (-123)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,24,459 (3)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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KYIV RULES OUT CONCESSIONS FOR CEASEFIRE

Ukraine ruled out a ceasefire or any territorial concessions to Moscow as Russia stepped up its attack in country’s the east and south, pounding the Donbas and Mykolaiv regions with air strikes and artillery fire. Kyiv’s stance has become increasingly uncompromising in recent weeks as Russia experienced military setbacks while Ukrainian officials grew worried they might be pressured to sacrifice land for a peace deal. “The war must end with the complete restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said in a Twitter post on Sunday.

Polish President Andrzej Duda offered Warsaw’s backing, telling lawmakers in Kyiv on Sunday that the international community had to demand Russia’s complete withdrawal and that sacrificing any of it would be a “huge blow” to the entire West. “Worrying voices have appeared, saying that Ukraine should give in to (President Vladimir) Putin’s demands,” Duda said, the first foreign leader to address Ukrainian parliament in person since Russia’s February 24 invasion. “Only Ukraine has the right to decide about its future,” he said. Speaking to the same parliamentary session, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed a plea for stronger economic sanctions against Moscow. “Half measures should not be used when aggression should be stopped,” he said.

CHINA SAYS US’ INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY ‘BOUND TO FAIL’

China on Sunday launched a broadside against the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US ahead of the summit of Quad leaders in Japan, saying that it is “bound to fail” as it is vigorously promoted by Washington to “contain” Beijing. The “Indo-Pacific strategy” is causing more and more vigilance and concern in the international community, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said when asked about it at his joint press conference with Pakistan counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.

The Quad grouping of the US, Japan, India and Australia focuses on free and open Indo-Pacific while Beijing likens it to “Asian Nato” aimed to contain its rise. The US, India and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military manoeuvring in the resource-rich region.

China claims that the grouping intends to “change China’s surrounding environment”. Its purpose is to contain China and make Asia-Pacific countries serve as “pawns” of the US hegemony, Wang said. “Try to mess up other regions and then mess up the AsiaPacific region as well. Facts will prove that the so-called ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy’ is in essence a strategy of creating division. . . No matter how much it is packaged or disguised, it will inevitably fail in the end. The people of this region should tell the US that the outdated Cold War scenario should never be repeated in Asia” he said.

UK CONFIRMS COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION OF MONKEYPOX

Israel, Switzerland and Austria have become the latest countries to confirm cases of monkeypox virus even as Britain said it is seeing daily infections that are unconnected to any travel to west Africa, where the disease is endemic.

The WHO had earlier said that at least 92 monkeypox virus cases have been confirmed in 12 countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden.

Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said new figures for the infection would be released on Monday, after it registered 20 cases on Friday. Asked if community transmission was now the norm in Britain, UKHSA chief medical adviser Susan Hopkins said “absolutely”. “We are finding cases that have no identified contact with an individual from west Africa,” she told BBC. Hopkins said the outbreak was concentrated in urban areas, among gay or bisexual men.

There is no treatment but vaccination against smallpox has been found to be about 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.

THE REST

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BJP FREED NORTHEAST OF CORRUPTION: AMIT SHAH

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today claimed that the BJP had ended the “culture of corruption” in the Northeast and funds meant for development work now get percolated to the last man, while middlemen siphoned off most of the amount during the Congress rule.

He alleged that the region had remained neglected during 50 years of Congress rule and asserted that it came on the fast track of development only after PM Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.

Addressing a public rally in Namsai district, Shah lashed out at the Congress for questioning Modi on what he did for the region, saying that “the grand old party won’t be able to see development if it keeps its eyes closed”. “Rahul Gandhi, open your eyes and discard Italian glasses and wear Indian ones. Then only, you will see what development Modi has brought to the region, which your party failed to do in 50 years,” he said.

“Development funds for the region were siphoned off by middlemen during the Congress rule. But with the NDA under the leadership of PM Modi coming to power in 2014, the culture of corruption has ended and every single penny is being utilised with utter transparency. The PM has ensured that development funds get percolated down to the last man,” Shah said.

He claimed that the Northeast was earlier known for militancy due to faulty policies of the previous government, but now peace prevails as the Centre has signed peace deals with most of the insurgent outfits.

KCR JOINS KAJRIWAL AND BHAGWANT MAAN, IN SOLIDARITY WITH FARMERS

Three non-BJP CMs — K Chandrashekhar Rao (Telangana), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi) and Bhagwant Mann (Punjab) — shared a platform here on Sunday to pay tribute to farmers who died during the anti-farm laws stir as well as the Galwan Valley martyrs.

Amid sloganeering, the Rao urged the farmers to launch a nationwide stir to demand a constitutional guarantee on MSP for all crops. He challenged decision of the Centre on prepaid smart meters for farm consumers, a simmering issue in Punjab. Kejriwal said his government was under pressure from the Centre to convert stadiums into jails and send protesting farmers there, “but we withstood the pressure.”

Rao, Kejriwal and Mann distributed cheques for Rs 3 lakh each to kin of the deceased farmers and Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of Galwan martyrs.

OPPOSITION STATES FOLLOW CENTRE, REDUCE VAT ON PETROL AND DIESEL

The tax incidence on petrol and diesel in states has come down more than what was announced by the Centre due to the ad valorem structure of the value-added tax (VAT) on fuel.

Following the Centre’s lead, the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government on Saturday slashed VAT on fuels in the state. “Due to the reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel by the central government, the state government will reduce VAT by Rs 2.48 per litre on petrol and Rs 1.16 per litre on diesel. With this, petrol will be cheaper by Rs 10.48 and diesel by Rs 7.16 per litre in the state,” tweeted Gehlot.

In a social media post, Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal said: “The Union government has partially reduced the huge tax on petrol and diesel. The Kerala government welcomes this decision. In accordance with the Centre’s decision, the Kerala government would also bring down taxes on petrol by Rs 2.41 a litre and diesel by Rs 1.36 a litre.”

The central excise duty will reduce the price of petrol by Rs 8 per litre, while the state will automatically forgo another Rs 2.23 per litre.

The Maharashtra government on Sunday reduced VAT on per litre petrol by Rs 2.08 and diesel by Rs 1.44.

Among Opposition states, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan was critical of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging states for reduction in state taxes.

“The central government didn’t inform, let alone ask for any state’s view when it increased Union taxes on petrol by Rs 23 per litre (over 250 per cent) and diesel Rs 29 per litre (over 900 per cent) from 2014. After rolling back 50 per cent of the increases, the Centre is exhorting states to cut. Is this federalism?” asked Thiaga Rajan.

DELAYED AYODHYA VISIT AFTER SENSING TRAP: RAJ THACKERAY

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday claimed that political developments around his proposed Ayodhya visit were a ploy to "trap" his party workers into legal tangles and hence, he decided to defer his trip to the Uttar Pradesh city.

Addressing an indoor rally at a hall in Pune city of Maharashtra, Thackeray said he has to undergo a surgery on June 1 and after recovering from it, he would again address a public meeting.

He reiterated that the MNS workers will resume agitation if loudspeakers atop mosques do not follow the noise rules.

Amid the controversy over an All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader's recent visit to Mughal ruler Aurangzeb's tomb in Aurangabad city of Maharashtra, the MNS leader appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre to change the name of Aurangabad to Sambhaji Nagar and to bring the Uniform Civil Code.

BATTERY DEFECTS, INSUFFICIENT TESTING CAUSED EV FIRES: DRDO REPORT

The electric scooter fires that made news in recent weeks were caused by defects in their batteries, including in the designs of the battery packs and modules, says a report by the Defence Research & Development Organisation. The defects may have crept in because electric two-wheeler companies intentionally used lower-grade materials to cut costs and also due to lack of enough testing of battery packs under various temperatures.

The country aims to increase the share of electric scooters and motorcycles in total two-wheeler sales to 80 per cent by 2030 from 2 percent now. However, consumer sentiment has been roiled by the nine reported incidents since last year of electric two-wheelers catching fire, including those by Ola, Okinawa, Pure EV, Boom Motor and Jitendra Electric Vehicles.

In March, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways asked the Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) — the fire science and engineering arm of DRDO — to investigate the circumstances that caused the incidents. The CFEES submitted its report to the ministry last week.

The CFEES, he said, has suggested strengthening the regulations for EV manufacturers as early as possible.

CHESSABLE MASTERS: R PRAGGNANANDHAA STUNS MAGNUS CARLSEN AGAIN

16-year-old Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa stunned World Champion Magnus Carlsen again in the space of three months on Friday at the Chessable Masters online rapid chess tournament.

The Indian teenage sensation made the most of the one-move blunder from Carlsen and kept his chances alive of progressing to the knockout stage. checked with an attack on his back piece.

IPL: PUNJAB KINGS BEAT SUNRISERS TO FINISH SIXTH

Punjab Kings ended their campaign on a winning note, crushing an already demoralised Sunrisers Hyderabad by five wickets in an inconsequential final IPL league match, in Mumbai, on Sunday.

Batting first, Sunrisers Hyderabad managed only 157 for 8 on a good batting track.

In reply, Punjab completed the chase in just 15.1 overs.

IPL Tally At End of League Round

(Team / Wins / Matches Played / NRR)

GT 10/14 / 0.316

RR 9/14 / 0.298

LSG 9/14 /0.251

RCB 8/14 / -0.253

DC 7/14 / 0.204

PBKS 7/14 /0.226

KKR 6/14 / 0.146

SRH 6/14/ -0.379

CSK 4/14 / -0.203

MI 4/14 / -0.506

TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR T20i SERIES A AND FOR ONE TEST AGAINST ENGLAND

Cheteshwar Pujara has made a comeback to India's Test team while youngsters Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh have received an India call-up as the selection committee on Sunday named the squad for the five-match T20I series against South African in June (in India) and the one-off Test against England in July.

Senior pros Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested for the T20Is, while youngsters, who have impressed in IPL 2022, have been given an opportunity.

India's T20I squad: K L Rahul (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain and wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.

India's Test squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain) Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.

The T20i home series will be played form Jun 9 to 19 while the one off Test (the rescheduled Test of the earlier 5-match test series in England) will be played in Edgbaston from July 1

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future, making it predictable and reliable to the extent that this is humanly possible. - Hannah Arendt

OFF TRACK

I called my friend thrice and he didn’t pick up the phone.

Then I sent him a text message saying: “Call me urgently. She wants to meet you.”

Now he’s called me 8 times and I’m not taking his call!!