In Parliament: Nadda, Kharge spar in the Rajya Sabha
JP Nadda and Mallikarjun Kharge, presidents of the ruling BJP and the main Opposition party Congress, respectively, had a noisy showdown in the Rajya Sabha on Monday over American-Hungarian businessman George Soros’ alleged links with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The BJP, which is facing the brunt of Congress’ attacks on the alleged link between PM Modi and Adani Group founder Gautam Adani, came prepared to turn the heat on the Congress.
8.72L Wakf properties in India; 75K in Punjab
The Waqf Assets Management System of India portal, where state wakf boards enter data regarding wakf properties, shows the country has 8,72,352 immovable and movable 16,713 waqf properties registered, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told Rajya Sabha on Monday. Punjab has 75,965 immovable wakf properties, third highest in India.
Tamil Nadu leads in plastic waste generation
Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh on Monday said plastic waste generation in the country has been rising. It was 33,60,043 tonnes per annum (TPA) in 2018-2019 and rose to 41,36,188 tonnes per annum in 2022-23. The information, he said, was based on state pollution control boards’ data. Maximum plastic waste generation in 2022-23 was reported by Tamil Nadu at 7,82,650 TPA.
Rural literacy rises from 67.77% to 77.5%
Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary informed Lok Sabha that rural literacy rate (for 7 years and above) rose from 67.77 per cent in the 2011 Census to 77.5 per cent as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023-24. This is an over 10 per cent rise. He said the gender gap in rural literacy rate has also declined considerably.
