India likely to let budget deficit rise as tax receipts fall short

The government is likely to overshoot the budget deficit target previously set for the current fiscal year, three officials have warned, as a slowing economy creates a big shortfall in tax collections and prompts new stimulus plans. Budget 2019

New Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents her first budget on July 5, for the fiscal year ending March 2020. It is also the first budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second term after his government was returned in a landslide election win last month.

Since becoming prime minister in 2014, Modi succeeded in improving public finances, trimming the fiscal deficit to 3.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) from 4.5% in 2013/14, mostly through subsidies cuts and fuel taxes.

He is now, however, under pressure to loosen the purse strings to follow through on election promises such as increased spending on roads and housing and tax cuts for companies and individuals.

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Gearing up for Yoga Day, Modi posts ‘Vakrasana’ video

Ahead of the International Day of Yoga on June 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday again tweeted a video of his animated version performing the ‘Vakrasana’ that he said helps spinal cord in gaining flexibility.

Demonstrated ‘Vakrasana’ or the spinal twist yoga pose, the animation took the audience step by step through each detail and also explained the benefits.

“Have you ever practiced Vakrasana? Its advantages are numerous and long lasting. Watch this video,” Modi tweeted.

With a few days left for June 21, Modi urges every person to prepare for the day that was designated as World Yoga Day on his suggestion at the UN General Assembly speech in 2014, and over the last five years it has only improved its reach throughout the world.

Governments of many nation mark the day in a big way with thousands participating in mass Yoga events across the country. Modi is expected to join an event in Ranchi this year.

Change of guard: #Chowkidaar prefix to make way for new campaign

It seems chowkidaar would not be guarding BJP’s interest on the back of which it won its massive mandate. The tagline has been dropped from the Twitter handle of the PM. And other leaders, sources said, might follow suit.

“The time has come to take the chowkidaar spirit to the next level. The word chowkidaar goes from my Twitter name but it remains an integral part of me. Urging you all to do the same too!” Modi tweeted on Thursday evening.

According to sources in Bharatiya Janata Party, the party is going to coin a new term that would replace chowkidaar. This term would portray how the government would function over the next five years. “The people of India became chowkidaars and rendered great service to the nation. Chowkidaar has become a powerful symbol to safeguard India from the evils of casteism, communalism, corruption and cronyism,” the PM said in another tweet.

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Lok Sabha elections 2019 exit polls out today: How reliable are they?

When the last phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019 end on Sunday, all eyes will be on exit polls that will be released after voting concludes. The counting of votes, which will begin at 8 am on May 23, is expected to take longer than usual this time around and will reportedly continue well into the night. Till then, the numerous exit polls — regardless of their accuracy — will put forward their predictions on whether the Narendra Modi-led BJP government will come back to power or not.

With the embargo on their broadcast being lifted on Sunday evening, the following exit polls will be announced today: Republic-Jan Ki Baat, Republic-CVoter, Today’s Chanakya, ABP-CSDS, News18–IPSOS, India Today-Axis, Times Now-CNX, and NewsX-Neta. Here’s everything you need to know about them.

ALSO READ: Exit Polls 2019: Be careful; take their forecasts with a bucketful of salt

What are exit polls and how are they conducted?

An exit poll is a poll of voters conducted soon after they walk out having cast their vote. Conducted by a number of organisations, these post-voting polls ask voters for whom they actually voted, unlike opinion polls that ask voters for whom they plan to vote. Their aim it to predict the actual result of the elections based on the information gathered from the voters. To accurately predict election results, it is important that the exit poll’s sample size is geographically, demographically and socially representative.

ALSO READ: Exit polls 2019 LIVE: Will Modi magic work again for BJP in LS polls 2019?