SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC www.thestatesman.com KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR P7 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. MIST IN THE MORNING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 23 AND 10 DEGREES CELCIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 84 % TEMPERATURE Max: 23.1°C (-2) SUN RISES 07:14 hrs MOON RISES 07:48 hrs VAISHNAW HIGHLIGHTS INDIA’S DIGITAL PAYMENTS GROWTH AT WEF REJECT MAFIA IN ELECTIONS: NADDA ‘G-20 SUMMIT WILL BE NDMC'S FOCUS’ P4 P8 PM virtually distributes 71k appointment letters Says Rozgar Mela will bring jobs to lakhs of more families in coming days Min. 41 % Min: 10.6°C (-1) SUN SETS 17:51 hrs MOON SETS 17:12 hrs THUMBNAILS Child Bravehearts at a Press conference at the ICCW centre, DDU Marg, in the Capital on Friday.  SUBRATA DUTTA IOA sets up seven-member panel to probe m wrestlers’ allegations: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Friday has formed a seven-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.The members of the committee include Mary Kom, Dola Banerjee, Alaknanda Ashok, Yogeshwar Dutt, Sahdev Yadav and two advocates.Earlier, the wrestlers who had made the allegations of sexual harassment against Sharan Singh had written a letter to the Indian Olympic Association presPG5 ident PT Usha. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 JANUARY P rime Minister Narendra Modi today distributed about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in government departments and said the Rozgar Mela process will bring jobs to lakhs of more families in coming days. The Prime Minister also interacted with the appointees. Addressing the gathering, Mr Modi said that this is the first Rozgar Mela of 2023 and congratulated the new appointees. He noted that these employment opportunities will infuse a new ray of hope not just in the appointees but also among crores of families. The Prime Minister said that, in fact, “regular Rozgar Melas have become a mark of this government.” This showed that whatever the Government resolves to do, it is realised, he said. He said that lakhs of new families will get appointed to government jobs in the days to PM Narendra Modi at the distribution ceremony of 71,000 appointment letters under Rozgar Mela via video conferencing, on Friday. ANI Newly appointed recruits pose for a picture with their appointment letters in Gurugram on Friday.  ANI come as Rozgar Melas are being organised regularly in NDA-ruled states and Union Territories. The Assam government organised a Rozgar Mela only yesterday, and states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand are going to organise their own very soon, he said. The Prime Minister said that he could clearly see happiness and sat- isfaction on the faces of the new appointees and noted that most of these candidates come from ordinary backgrounds and many are the first to get a government job in five generations in their family. This, the Prime Minister said, goes beyond getting a government job. The candidates are happy that through a transparent and clear recruitment process, their talent has been recognised. “You must have felt a massive change in the recruitment process. In central jobs, the recruitment process has become more streamlined and time-bound,” the Prime Minister said.The Prime Minister said that the transparency and speed of this recruitment process today characterises every aspect of the functioning of the government today. Mr Modi recalled the time when even routine promotions were mired in delay and disputes. He said that this government has addressed such issues and ensured a transparent process. “Transparent recruitment and promotion generate trust among the youth,” he said. Underlining that it is the beginning of a new journey for those who received their appointment letters today, the Prime Minister highlighted the contributions and partnerships that they will make by being a part of the government machinery in the developmental journey of the nation. ‘Modi’s leadership critical in a fractured world’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 JANUARY Terming Prime Minister Modi's leadership critical in this fractured world, Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum has said that India is promoting a just and equitable growth for all in the world during its G20 presidency. “I had the pleasure of meeting the Indian ministerial delegation and many of its top business leaders," Mr Schwab was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the WEF amid the ongoing Davos Forum. “I commend the country's decisive action on the climate case for renewables, its contribution to the global healthcare ecosystem, the focus on an economic model for women-led development, and its leadership on digital public infrastructure.” “India remains a bright spot amid global geoeconomics and geopolitical crises,” he added. IND VS NZ: RAIPUR GEARS UP FOR BATTLE ROYALE P12 DGCA slaps `30L fine on Air India, pilot’s license suspended STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 JANUARY In connection with the Air India urination case, Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday said it has imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India and suspended the license of the pilot-in-command of the flight involve for three months. The aviation regulator said it has also imposed a penalty of Rs 3 lakh on Director, inflight services, of Air India for failing to discharge her duties on 26 November last year. The development in the case came a day after the airline banned the alleged accused Shankar Mishra for four months on the basis of a report by the internal committee. The incident of passenger misbehaviour which occurred on AI-102 flight from New York to New Delhi on 26 November last year, came to the notice of DGCA on 4 January this year wherein a male passenger conducted himself in a disorderly manner and allegedly relieved himself on a female passenger, said a senior DGCA official. The DGCA issued showcause notices to Accountable Manager of Air India, Director, In-flight Services of Air India, all the pilots and cabin crew members of that New Constitution bench for Polygamy & Nikah halala hearing SC protects filmmaker STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 JANUARY The Supreme Court on Friday said that it will set up a new 5-judge Constitution bench to hear pleas challenging the constitutional validity of polygamy and Nikah halala among Muslims as Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Hemant Gupta who were part of the earlier five-judge bench have since retired. Chief Justice D.Y. Chan- drachud, heading a Bench also comprising Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha said this on BJP leader and advocate Ashiwini Upadhyay's plea for a fresh 5judge bench to adjudicate the validity of polygamy and Nikah halala.Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Hemant Gupta had retired last year on 23 September and 16 October respectively. There are very important matters which are pending before a five-judge bench. We will constitute one and bear this matter in mind, the CJI said, noting that the Bench was to hear eight petitions against the practice of polygamy and nikah halala. The matter was earlier mentioned by Upadhyay on 2 November. On 30 August last year, a five-judge Bench comprising Justices Indira Banerjee, Hemant Gupta, Surya Kant, M. M. Sundresh and Sudhanshu Dhulia had made the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Commission for Women (NCW) and the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) parties to the PILs and sought their responses. While polygamy allows a Muslim man to have four wives, ‘nikah halala’ deals with the process in which a Muslim woman, who wants to remarry her husband after divorce, has to first marry another person and get a divorce from him after the consummation of marriage. The apex court had in July 2018 considered the plea and referred the matter to a constitution bench already tasked with hearing a batch of similar petitions. DAREDEVILS OF THE AIR Indian Air Force helicopters take part in the Republic Day Parade rehearsal, at Kartavya Path, in New Delhi on Friday.  ANI flight as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for dereliction of their regulatory obligations. The written reply of Air India and the personnel involved were examined, added the official. Accordingly, enforcement actions have been taken. "Financial penalty of Rs 30,00,000 has been imposed to Air India for violation of applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements. License of Pilot-In-Command of the said flight has been suspended for a period of three months for failing to discharge his duties as per Rule 141 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements.And, Financial Penalty of Rs 3,00,000 has been imposed on Director, in-flight services of Air India for failing to discharge her duties as per applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements," said the regulator on Friday. Earlier, on Thursday, the independent three-member Internal Committee under the chairmanship of a former district judge concluded that Shankar Mishra is covered under the definition of “unruly passenger” and is banned from flying for a period of four months as per the relevant provisions of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). Manimekalai from arrest over Goddess Kali poster Cong to release charge-sheet on Modi govt’s failures: Ramesh STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 JANUARY JAMMU, 20 JANUARY The Supreme Court on Friday protected documentary filmmaker Leena Manimekalai from any coercive steps in the existing six FIRs registered against her in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi, or any other FIR that may be registered for portraying Goddess Kaali smoking in a poster of her documentary film.Madurai-born Torontobased filmmaker Leena Manimekalai is a Tamil poet whose works are recognised and awarded. Issuing notice to the Centre, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi governments on the filmmaker Leena Manimekalai plea seeking the quashing of the FIRs and protection, a bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha posted the matter for further hearing on 17 February 2023.“No coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner either on the basis of FIRs or pursuant to any FIR As Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday joined Rahul Gandhi on the last leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Hatli Morh in Kathua amidst rain and inclement weather, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the party will on Saturday release a chargesheet on the failures of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.Announcing this while interacting with mediapersons here, Mr Ramesh said that the chargesheet will be released at New Delhi. Amidst the chill, Rahul who has walked for 126 days wearing a white shirt, was seen donning a black raincoat to protect himself from rain. Mr Ramesh said attempts were being made to divert attention of the people from the burning issues that include; political dictatorship in India because of Mr Modi, increasing economic inequality in the country because of Mr Modi's policies and rising social SEE PG5 polarisation. Madurai-born Torontobased filmmaker Leena Manimekalai is a Tamil poet whose works are recognised and awarded which may have been lodged or may be lodged in relation of the same matter,” the court said in its order.The top court order directing no coercive step against Ms Manimekalai has also stalled the look out notice, rooted in these FIRs, issued against her.Asking senior lawyer Kamini Jaiswal, appearing for Ms Manimekalai, whether they have already filed an application for the clubbing of the FIRs, the bench said that the lodging of FIRs in different States may cause serious prejudice to the filmmaker and issued notice to the States for the consolidation of all the FIRs at one place. UIDAI to work on 5 core areas of Aadhaar New rules to curb misleading ads in social media to improve ease of living for citizens STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 JANUARY STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 JANUARY As Aadhaar saturation is now near universal among the adult population, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has decided to work on five core areas to provide continued support to residents in their daily lives, enhance data security, and further the cause of good governance. The five core areas are ~ resident centricity; expanding the usage of Aadhaar; security and privacy; continuous technology upgradation; and collaborating with global economies and supporting them in their aspiration to achieve the sustainable development goal (SDG) of providing legal identity for all. The five core areas are ~ resident centricity; expanding the usage of Aadhaar; security and privacy; continuous technology upgradation; and collaborating with global economies and supporting them in their aspiration to achieve the sustainable development goal of providing legal identity for all. These five focus areas were deliberated in a daylong brainstorming session at Kevadia (Gujarat). UIDAI CEO Dr Saurabh Garg maintained that there is and will always be a continuous focus on how to support residents in improving ease of living, and better their experience in availing services. The Authority is constantly exploring and adopting ways to expand the use of Aadhaar for both ease of living as well as ease of doing business. Its sandbox environment will allow startups, professionals, and companies to explore and test innovation applications for increasing the use of Aadhaar. From expanding eKYC adoption to popularizing offline verification for better service delivery to residents, UIDAI will strive to expand use of Aadhaar in multiple ways. Aadhaar has emerged as a tool of good governance, of empowerment and service delivery. Since the first Aadhaar number was generated in 2010, UIDAI has issued over 1.35 billion Aadhaars and has carried out more than 88 billion authentication transactions so far; indicative of how it is touching residents' lives. UIDAI has also executed over 710 million Aadhaar updations following requests from residents since 2010.UIDAI will be at the forefront of technology up-gradation to further enhance data security and privacy, seamless service delivery, and proactively address new-age cyber security risks. UIDAI has urged residents who have got their Aadhaar issued 10 years back and have never updated after that in these years, to get their documents updated. Residents can update their Aadhaars by uploading supportive documents, (proof of identity and proof of address) either online through myAadhaar portal or offline by visiting the nearest Aadhaar centre. The Department of Consumer Affairs on Friday issued strict guidelines to crack down on misleading advertisements on social media platforms. Under this, now it will be mandatory for every celebrity, social media influencer, or virtual influencer who does product endorsement of companies on social media platforms to state whether they have taken money to promote a product or they have any personal involvement in the endorsement of that product, that is, whether a commercial or financial interest is involved. Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said, "We have issued guidelines under the Consumer Protection Act. No one can do business on social media in the wrong way. Under this, we have We have issued guidelines under the Consumer Protection Act. No one can do business on social media in the wrong way. Under this, we have issued guidelines to prevent misleading advertisements, Those who are consumers should be given this disclosure that people advertise on social media platforms by taking money ROHIT KUMAR SINGH CONSUMER AFFAIRS SECRETARY issued guidelines to prevent misleading advertisements, Those who are consumers should be given this disclosure that people advertise on social media platforms by taking money.” He said that under the new guidelines, now every celebrity, social media influencer, and virtual influencer will have to prominently mention on their social media account whether the product endorsement is “paid” or “paid promotion”. If they endorse a product by releasing a video, then they will have to display this prominently in the entire video. This rule will also apply to the live-stream of a product endorsement. Along with this, the language of disclosure of product endorsement and paid content should also be the same. Action will be taken against any celebrity or social media influencer who violates the new guidelines. Mr Singh said: "There is a provision in this law that celebrities can be prevented from endorsing any product for a limited time for violating the guidelines. Not only this, they can be fined. Under this, product endorsement can be stopped from 6 months to 2 years and a fine of 10 lakh to 50 lakh can also be imposed. The new guidelines have been implemented across the country from Friday itself. Any social media user or consumer will now be able to complain about the violation of rules to the Central Consumer Protection Authority. According to the ministry, today there are about 1 lakh social media influencers in the country and the market for product endorsement on social media is continuously increasing. According to an estimate, in the next two years, the market for product endorsement will be more than Rs 2800 crore. Now the next challenge before the Central Consumer Protection Authority will be to strictly implement these new guidelines.