FASTags mandatory for all 4 wheel vehicles from January 1

The Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikyo Parishad, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Bangladesh Hindu League, and several other minority organisations held a protest demonstration in Dhaka on Saturday against the human rights violation of minorities in the country. The minority organisations demanded the implementation of their  7 point charter of demands including the enactment of the minority protection law. The demands include reservation of 20 percent seats for minorities and appointment of minorities at all levels of administration.The organisations were protesting against the incidents of attack on minority communities from some parts of Bangladesh. Demanding an end to attacks on minority communities, the organisations claimed that it is done by spreading rumours about hurting of religious sentiment.

-Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification making FASTags mandatory for all four wheel vehicles from 1st January 2021. This will apply to old vehicles as well as M and N category of motor vehicles sold before 1st December, 2017.As per Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, the FASTag had been made mandatory for all registration of new four wheeled Vehicles since 1st December 2017 and is being supplied by the Vehicle Manufacturer or their dealers. It had further been mandated that the renewal of fitness certificate will be done only after the fitment of FASTag for the Transport Vehicles. For National Permit Vehicles the fitment of FASTag has been mandated since 1st of October, 2019.The Ministry said that a valid FASTag is also mandatory while getting a new third Party Insurance through an amendment in certificate of Insurance, wherein the details of FASTag ID will be captured. This will be applicable with effect from 1st of April 2021. The Ministry said, this notification would be a major step for ensuring that the payment of fees be 100 per cent at Toll Plazas through the Electronic Means only and that the vehicles pass seamlessly through the Fee Plazas.

-Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has reported a consolidated net profit of 393.32 crore rupees during the September quarter of Financial Year 2020-21, as against a loss of 342.84 crore rupees during the same period last year.The public sector steel manufacturing company said that the turnaround can be attributed to the increase in domestic demand as economic activity picked up in the second quarter.SAIL has also registered an impressive growth of 31.3 per cent in sales during the second quarter in the current financial year compared to the corresponding period last year.Speaking on the turnaround results Chairman, SAIL, Anil Kumar Chaudhary, said, the Company is determined to perform better in future and is geared up to take all necessary actions to remain a world-class domestic steel producer towards building an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

-Online application process for Haj 2021 started from Saturday with Union Minister for Minority Affairs  Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi announcing Haj 2021 with significant changes keeping in view the Corona pandemic. These include accommodation, period of stay of pilgrims, transportation, health and other facilities both in India and Saudi Arabia.While announcingt the programme in  Mumbai, Naqvi said that national-international Protocol Guidelines due to the pandemic will be implemented and followed strictly during the Haj 2021. The last date of applying for Haj 2021 is 10th December, 2020. People can apply online, offline and through Haj Mobile App. Naqvi said Haj 2021 is scheduled for June-July 2021, and the entire Haj process is being held according to the necessary guidelines issued by the Saudi Arabia Government and the Government of India in view of Corona Pandemic.

-In Guatemala, death toll reached to around 150 from torrential downpour triggered by storm Eta.President Alejandro Giammattei said around 100 people are feared dead in Quejá in the central region of Alta Verapaz . He said bad weather has hampered rescue efforts while roads are still blocked and large areas remain flooded.Authorities also confirmed at least 50 deaths across the country.Storm Eta had made landfall in neighbouring Nicaragua on Tuesday as a Category Four hurricane with winds of 225 km per hour and torrential rains. It then weakened into a tropical depression as it moved into neighbouring Honduras and later Guatemala.