India raises issue of overflight clearance with Pakistan

In West Bengal, Deepawali, the festival of lights and Kalipuja was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety. Houses across the state were beautifully adorned with dazzling and vibrant lights and earthen lamps. Kali Puja is celebrated as a major festival in the state. Devotees have gathered in various Kali temples to offer their prayers. Dakshineswar, Kalighat, Tarapith and other famous Kali temples have been decorated on the occasion of Kali Puja.Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also performed Kalipuja at her residence and greeted everyone on the occasion of Deepawali. Following the directive from the Supreme Court, purchase, sell and use of all kinds of fireworks except green fireworks have been banned across the state this year. Only green fireworks were allowed for two hours. 

-The trade between India and Bhutan has more than doubled since 2014. It has reached one thousand 83 million dollar in 2020-21 from 484 million dollar in 2014-15. The Commerce Secretary Level meeting between India and Bhutan was held in New Delhi on trade and transit issues.The Indian delegation was led by Secretary, Department of Commerce B.V.R. Subrahmanyam and the Bhutanese delegation was led by Dasho Karma Tshering, Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs. The two sides held extensive discussions on the current trade and transit issues including measures to further strengthen bilateral trade relations and issues of mutual interest, on ways to increase trade connectivity between the two countries. Through Letters of Exchange, seven additional entry and exit points for trade between India and Bhutan were formalized.

-The air quality in the national capital has reached severe category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the overall air quality index of the national capital was recorded 404 at 8 PM Thursday. An air quality index between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor and 401 to 500 severe.System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research, SAFAR had predicted that Delhi's air quality will slip to the severe category on Deewali day.

-After the Centre’s decision to cut excise duty on petrol and diesel, several BJP and NDA-ruled states announced to reduce Value-Added Tax (VAT) on fuel to further provide relief to consumers. BJP-ruled States including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam, Goa, Tripura, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesah, Manipur and Bihar declared to reduce VAT on fuel.In recent months, crude oil prices have witnessed a global upsurge. Consequently, domestic prices of petrol and diesel had increased in recent weeks exerting inflationary pressure. The Finance Ministry said, the world has also seen shortages and increased prices of all forms of energy. It said, the Government has made efforts to ensure that there is no energy shortage in the country. The Ministry has also urged States to commensurately reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on Petrol and diesel to give relief to consumers.

-India has raised the issue of overflight clearance for the Srinagar-Sharjah flight with Pakistan through diplomatic channels and has asked them to grant it in the larger interest of the common people. This matter was promptly taken up with Pakistan through diplomatic channels and India has requested Pakistan to grant overflight clearance for this flight in the larger interest of the common people who have booked tickets on this route.Earlier,Pakistani authorities had granted overflight clearance to GoFirst flights to operate the Srinagar-Sharjah sector on 23rd, 24th, 26th and 28th of October. Subsequently, Pakistan put the clearance for the same flight on hold for the period October 31 to November 30.