252

#Chandrayaan-3 Crosses Another Crucial Stage; What ISRO Says

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that the first orbit raising manoeuvre had been successfully completed as India's GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle began its much anticipated voyage to the moon on Friday.  The space agency reported that the health of the spacecraft was "normal" on Twitter.

"The health of the spacecraft is normal. At ISTRAC/ISRO, Bengaluru, the first orbit-raising manoeuvre (Earthbound firing-1) is carried out successfully. The orbit of the spacecraft is currently 41762 km by 173 km," the ISRO tweeted.

251

#BJP: JP Nadda Slams Ashok Gehlot Govt, Says UPA Stands For 'Utpidan, Pakshpat, Atyachar'

BJP president J P Nadda charged on Sunday that the UPA of Congress stands for "utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar" - oppression, favouritism and atrocities - and that the party has no right to be in power in Rajasthan even for a minute. Addressing a rally after launching the BJP's "Nahi Sahega Rajasthan" campaign against the Congress government, he charged that the Ashok Gehlot government is setting new records of corruption.

He targeted the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Congress and said, "UPA of Congress stands for 'utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar'."

250

#Government Contemplating Not To Extend ITR Filing Deadline Of July 31, says Revenue Secretary

Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra has asked income tax payers to file their return at the earliest as the finance ministry is not contemplating extension of the July 31 deadline.

"We expect that the filing would be higher than the last year...we are hopeful that it should be more than the last year," he said in an interview to PTI.

About 5.83 crore income tax returns were filed as on July 31 last year, the last day for filing returns for assessment year 2022-23.

230

#Delhi Flood: Parts of Capital Remain Flooded, Drinking Water Supply Affected; Yellow Alert Issued

Although the water level of Yamuna began to recede gradually, Delhi continued to witness a flood-like situation in the low-lying areas. The water level of Yamuna was recorded at 208.12 metres at 8 pm Friday, which is still well above the river’s ‘danger’ mark of 205.33 metres.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Yellow Alert warning of moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms for the next 4-5 days in the national capital.

229

#Opposition Mega Meeting, Where Congress Stands On Its Ties With AAP And Left

Ahead of the "united" Opposition's meeting on July 17, Monday, the unity seems to lie fractured in pieces. Two of the major parties — the Congress and the AAP — are tied in a deadlock over the Centre's Delhi services ordinance, with either of them refusing to budge.

Last week, Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal lobbed the ball in the Congress's court as it demanded that the Grand Old Party clear its stand before the meeting. The Congress, meanwhile, is buying time and is unlikely to comment on the issue before Parliament's monsoon session that is scheduled to begin on July 19.