FRIDAY 01 SEPTEMBER 2023 www.thestatesman.com twitter.com/thestatesman facebook.com/thestatesman INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR THE BURDEN OF BEING CHINA UNDER XI YS SHARMILA EYES KEY POST IN CONG, 15 ASSEMBLY TICKETS P7 P4 SENSEX 64,831.41255.84 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. STRONG SURFACE WINDS SPEED 25-35 KMPH DURING THE DAY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 37 AND 27 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY NIFTY 19,253.8093.65 ` vs $ 82.7916 PAISE TEMPERATURE Min: 25.9 °C (-1) SUN SETS 18:43 hrs MOON SETS 18:13 hrs THUMBNAILS Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Indian chess prodigy and FIDE World Cup 2023 runner-up Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and his parents, at his residence, in New Delhi on Thursday.  ANI Jaya Verma Sinha becomes first female chairman, CEO of Indian Railways: In a historic move, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has granted approval for the appointment of Jaya Verma Sinha, a seasoned member of the Indian Railway Management Services (IRMS), as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Railway Board. NEW DELHI, 31 AUGUST India’s GDP rose by 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of 202324, a four-quarter high, official data released on Thursday showed. The country is on a steady growth path, as in Q4FY23, GDP growth stood at 6.1 per cent, compared to 4.4 per cent growth rate witnessed in Q3 of the same fiscal. On an annualised basis, the GDP growth in the first quarter of the current financial year was slower than the corresponding three months in the last financial year (202223), which stood at 13.1 per cent. However, the higher growth in Q12022-23 was due to base effect, following a sharp pick-up as the economy recovered from the Covid-induced recesion. As per the data released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation, real GDP in Q1 2023-24 is estimated to attain a level of Rs 40.37 lakh crore, as against Rs 37.44 lakh crore in Q1 2022- Govt counsel says that the process of updating voters' list in J&K is underway he Central government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it is ready for holding elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir at any time and that the decision depended on Election Commission of India, and the State Election Commission. The government, however, said that it cannot give an exact time frame for restoration of statehood to the Union Territory. Telling the five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that the “Central government is ready for elections any time now,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the process of updating voters' list in Jammu and Kashmir is underway and it will take a month or so to complete. Reiterating the position that was stated before the Constitution Bench on Tuesday – 29 August – that the Union Territory status of J&K is a temporary feature and Statehood will be restored to it, the central government, however, today said that it is T Senior Advocate Harish Salve (inset) speaks in the presence of the five-judge Constitution bench headed by CJI Justice DY Chandrachud during a hearing challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India. In New Delhi. ANI unable to give a specific timeframe for restoring Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre today said this in response to a query by the top court on 29 August. The Constitution Bench in the last hearing of the matter on 29 August, had sought the “roadmap and the timeframe” within which J&K will be restored its Statehood which was taken away with the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile State into two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Stating that for the first time, three-tier Panchayat Raj system is being introduced in the State, Mr Mehta told the Constitution Bench also comprising Justice San- jay Kishan Kaul, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice B.R. Gavai, and Justice Surya Kant, that the election to the legislature in the J&K is likely to be held after panchayat and the municipal bodies elections. He said: “Till date, updating of voters list was going on, which is substantially over. Some part is remaining, that the Election Commission is doing.” Dwelling further on the course being followed for restoring Statehood to the Union Territory of J&K, Mr Mehta said that steps are being taken by the Central government for the Statehood of Jammu and Kashmir and these steps can be taken only if it is a Union Territory. 23. Nominal GDP is estimated at Rs 70.67 lakh crore, as against Rs 65.42 lakh crore in Q1 2022-23, showing a growth of 8 per cent as compared to 27.7 per cent. With this, India maintains its position as the fastest-expanding major economy. It is to be noted that China's GDP growth stands at 6.3 per cent for the AprilJune quarter. The agricultural sector witnessed a growth of 3.5 per cent, marking an improvement from the 2.4 per cent recorded in the same period of the fiscal year 2022-23. The pace of growth in the manufacturing sector eased to 4.7 per cent during the initial quarter of the current fiscal year, a decline from the 6.1 per cent seen in the corresponding period of the previous year.It is to be noted that RBI in its MPC meeting in August had anticipated a growth rate of 6.5 per cent for the entire fiscal year. The IMF also has adjusted its outlook for India's GDP growth in 2023, upgrading it to 6.1 per cent. Real GDP in Q1 2023-24 is estimated to attain a level of Rs 40.37 lakh crore, as against Rs 37.44 lakh crore in Q1 2022-23. Nominal GDP is estimated at Rs 70.67 lakh crore, as against Rs 65.42 lakh crore in Q1 2022-23 Illegal trade threatens extinction of Red Sand Boa in India DEVANSH DAS NEW DELHI, 31 AUGUST Illegal trade in the Red Sand Boa Snake (Eryx Johnii) has put it on the verge of becoming extinct in India. According to a report on the illegal trade of Red Sand Boa snake released by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), 172 incidents of seizure of this reptile were reported in media from January 2016 to December 2021. The Red Sand Boa is listed as near-threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The report says: “Red Sand Boas have reportedly declined by as much as 80 per cent in some areas, with the species being one of the most traded reptiles in India.” Maharashtra tops in this illegal trade with a record of 59 cases of Red Sand Boa trafficking, numbers are high in urban areas such as the districts of Pune (11), Thane (9), Raigad (7), and Mumbai Suburban (5). GOLD 60,160160 SILVER 77,600 ‘VIRAT IS A WORLD-CLASS PLAYER’ P12 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 85.340.59 Govt tells SC: Ready for Parliament to have Spl Session from 18 Sept J&K polls at any time India sees 7.8 pc GDP growth in Q1FY2023-24 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE P5 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 AUGUST Max.88 % Min. 51 % Max: 36.8 °C (+2) SUN RISES 06:00 hrs MOON RISES 19:49 hrs ‘A TIME WHEN INDIA IS MATTERING MORE AND MORE TO THE WORLD’ 172 illegal trading incidents of the red sand boa snake in five years; Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh top in WCS report The second highest incidence of illegal trading in the species was in Uttar Pradesh with 33 incidents of illegal trading of red sand boa; districts Bahraich (8) and Lakhimpur-Kheri (7) near the international border with Nepal reporting the highest number of trafficking incidents as per the report. “It’s not traded for venom as the snake is non-venomous, it’s a victim of black magic or occult rituals which makes it an ideal target for trafficking. Wildlife SOS has been working to reform communities of saperas with alternative livelihood.” says Wasim Akram Deputy Director of Special Projects, Wildlife SOS. “Red Sand Boa mostly feeds on mammals like rats, mice, and other small rodents, so poaching of this species will impact overall ecological balance and will disturb the delicate structure of various ecosystems,” says Kartick Satyanarayan, CO-founder and CEO, Wildlife SOS. “People forget that the snake is protected under Schedule IV of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, making any sale or possession of sand boas punishable.” says Mr Satyanarayan. India is home to three species of Boas ~ the common Sand Boa (Eryx conicus), the endemic Whitaker’s Boa (Eryx whitakeri), and the Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii). Of these three species, the Red Sand Boa, also commonly known as the Brown Sand Boa or Indian Sand Boa, is the most encountered boa species in illegal trade in India, as per reports. The entire Boidae family, previously protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) of India, is now protected under Schedule II under recent amendments to the act. This prohibits the capture, hunting, possession, and sale of all endemic species of this family across India. Stating the various steps that have been taken by the Central government for the J&K to become a full-fledged State, Mr Mehta said that the terrorist instances have reduced by 45.2 per cent compared to 2018 and infiltration has been reduced by 90 per cent. Law and order issues like stone pelting etc. reduced by 97 per cent. Casualties amongst security personnel has come down by 65 per cent. Referring to the instances of stone pelting, Mr Mehta said that in 2018 there were 1767 cases, now it is nil. Youth has been gainfully employed now, earlier they were misled by secessionist forces. Organised bandhs etc. in 2018 were 52 and now it is nil. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 AUGUST The government has decided to call a Special Session of Parliament from 18 to 22 September, which will five sittings. There is no official word on the agenda for the Special Session, which has set political circles and social media abuzz with speculation. The information was given by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi in a tweet. “Special Session of Parliament (13th Session of 17th Lok Sabha and 261st Session of Rajya Sabha) is being called from 18th to 22nd September having 5 sittings. Amid Amrit Kaal looking forward to having fruitful discussions and debate in Parliament,” he posted on microblogging site X (formerly Twitter). He attached a picture of the old Parliament building and the new building, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 May. The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which concluded on 11 August, was held in the old Parliament building. The announcement of the Special Session came as a surprise in political circles at a time when parties are gearing up for Assembly polls to be held in five states later this year. These states are Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. The Monsoon session was a stormy one, although it saw the passage of a large number of significant Bills. The Opposition and the government continued to clash throughout the session. There was no immediate information on the agenda for the Special Session. It will, however, be significant as it comes after the historic success of India’s Chandrayaan-3 Mission, which culminated in a softlanding on a region close to Moon’s South Pole on 23 August. India’s scientific achievement was hailed universally, including by Opposition parties. The special session will also follow the G-20 Summit being held under India’s Presidency from 8-10 September. A large number of international leaders is likely to attend the Summit and discuss significant issues affecting humanity. The call for the special session has been criticised by several Opposition leaders, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) pointing out that the dates clash with “India's most important festival of Ganesh Chaturthi”. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh called the Special Session “managing the news cycle, Modi style” and flagged the mega opposition meet in Mumbai that started today, and the fresh allegations raised regarding stock manipulation by the Adani group of companies.