FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLI No. 274 | INDORE | WEDNESDAY | MARCH 12, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE MONEY Sports THE UNSTOPPABLES P.14 ‘India, US to boost mkt access, cut tariff, non-tariff barriers’ UJJAIN PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK Cinema Udit jokes about viral videos P.13 GSDP grows by 11.05%, primary sector contribution sees a dip Our Staff Reporter Madhya Pradesh’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at the prevalent price has grown by 11.05% since the last financial year (2023-24), underlining a robust economy. According to the Economic Survey of Madhya Pradesh 2024-24 tabled in the state assembly on Tuesday, the GSDP at the prevalent price reached Rs 15,03,395 crore, up from Rs 13,53,809 crore in the last financial year. Even at constant price, the GSDP in the financial year 2024-25 was Rs 7,12,260 crore, up from last year’s Rs 6,71,636, registering an actual growth of 6.05%. PER CAPITA NET INCOME  The per capita net income, or the measure of the income of an individual in the state, was Rs 38,497 in 2011-12 which rose to Rs 1,52,615 in 202425. After adjustment of inflation, the per capita income shows a significant rise in the constant price. From Rs 38,497 in 2011-12, it rose to Rs 70,434 in 202425, shows the survey. ANALYSIS Primary Sector: The contribution of the primary sector plays an important Ukraine agrees to ceasefire proposal, US to resume security aid Online Report JEDDAH role in the state’s economy. However, its contribution in 2024-25 declined to 44.36% from 44.55% in 2023-24. The contribution of the cereal sector was reduced to 30.90% from 31.10%. On the other hand, the contribution of the animal husbandry sector rose to 7.45% from 7.42% in the last financial year. The contribution of fisheries and aquatic farming showed a significant growth by rising from 0.52% in the last financial year to 0.57%. Secondary Sector: Construction, electricity, gas, water supply, and other services are part of the secondary sector. In the year 2024-25, the contribution of this sector in the state economy fell to 19.03% from 19.36%. The contribution of the manufacturing sector fell to 7.05% from 7.38% in the last financial year. The construction sector’s contribution grew to 9.03% from 8.93%. Tertiary Sector: This sector involves the service sector and its contribution in the economy rose to 36.61% from36.09% in the last financial year. The contribution of the business, hotel, and restaurant sector rose to 10.37% from 10.09% in the last financial year. Without new taxes, budget to focus on women, youths Budget worth Rs 4.20 L crore to be tabled today Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda is going to present the first and complete budget of the Mohan Yadav-led government on Wednesday. This is the sixth budget to be presented by Devda. Because of the Lok Sabha election last year, a vote on account was passed for four months, so the government came up with the budget for eight months. This is the first and complete budget to be presented by the Mohan Yadav-led government. According to sources, the budget may be worth Rs 4.20 lakh crore. There will be no new taxes in the budget besides the budget will be without any proposal for reducing the prices of diesel and petrol, sources said. The budget is likely to pay more attention on women and youths, so it may consist of a major scheme connected to women’s employment. The government may also announce creation of jobs for youths. The schemes related to Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda discusses budget with finance department officials in Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. 2nd supplementary budget worth Rs 19,206cr put up in House for 20 days Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda put up the second supplementary budget in the House to meet the expenses for 20 days on Tuesday. The supplementary budget is up to March 31 this year, and it will not be in operation afterwards. A sum of Rs 726 crore has been sanctioned to meet the expenses of GIS and Regional Investors Conclave. The Public Works Department has been given a budget to meet the expenses for the GIS in Bhopal. Apart from that, a sum of Rs 205 crore was sanctioned for repairing government bungalows where the ministers are living. A provision for Rs 2,000 crore was made for procurement in the food and civil supplies department. self-employment schemes for the youths may be announced in the budget. It will also focus on industries and tourism sector. The government is going to make provisions for investments in the industries after the Global Investors Summit. Policies have been made to en- Four sites of MP on Unesco tentative world heritage list NEW DELHI FIR AGAINST KEJRIWAL In a setback to Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday okayed a petition seeking an FIR against the AAP chief and others for allegedly misusing public funds to put up large hoardings in Dwarka in 2019. FP News Service MUMBAI Our Staff Reporter dating back to the 9th-12th centuries, embody tantric traditions with their unique circular, open-air designs, intricate stone carvings, and deeprooted spiritual significance are nestled in Khajuraho, Morena, Jabalpur, Mandsaur and Shahdol in MP, and other states. A high-ranking Bangladeshi military official with suspected pro-Pakistan leanings is under surveillance for allegedly plotting to overthrow Army Chief General WakerUz-Zaman, sources told India Today. The official in question, Lieutenant General Faizur Rahman, the Quartermaster General (QMG), reportedly attempted to rally key commanders against the chief. His secret meetings, flagged by the Army Chief’s secretariat, set off alarm bells, leading to swift countermeasures. Rahman, known for his Islamist affiliations and alleged ties to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, reportedly held multiple meetings with Jamaat leaders and Pakistani diplomats in early 2025. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 BHOPAL Ukraine on Tuesday backed a US proposal for a 30-day general ceasefire with Russia, with the United States in turn agreeing to lift restrictions on military aid and intelligence sharing, a joint statement said. After talks in Saudi Arabia, the two sides also agreed to conclude "as soon as possible" a deal on Ukrainian minerals, the statement said. "Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation," a joint statement said after the talks. "The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace," it added. "The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine." Spotlight on Bangladesh army tussle Four historical sites of Madhya Pradesh have been included in UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites. These are: Ashokan edict sites, Chausath Yogini temples, Gupta Period temples, and the palace-fortresses of the Bundelas. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the development highlights Madhya Pradesh’s distinct place inIndia’s cultural and historical landscape. “This recognition is a testament to the state’s commitment to preserving its invaluable heritage,” he said, adding that “it is a matter of pride and joy.” The Ashokan edict sites along the Mauryan routes stand as India’s earliest written records, with rock and pillar inscriptions revealing Emperor Ashoka’s messages on Buddhism, governance and ethics, preserved for over 2,200 years. The Chausath Yogini temples CM calls inclusion of Ashokan edict sites, Chausath Yogini temples, Gupta period temples, palace-fortresses of Bundelas on list ‘a matter of pride & joy’ offgrid 13 of world's 20 most polluted cities in India PTI NEW DELHI Thirteen of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Assam topping the list, according to a new report published on Tuesday. The World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir said Delhi remains the most polluted capital city globally, while India ranked as the world's fifth most polluted country in 2024, marking an improvement from its third rank in 2023. Four cities in neighbouring Pakistan and one in China are among the world's top 20 polluted cities. Most polluted cities in India l Byrnihat (Assam) l Delhi l Mullanpur (Punjab) l Faridabad (Haryana) l Loni (UP) l New Delhi l Gurugram l Ganganagar (Rajasthan) l Greater Noida (UP) l Bhiwadi (Rajasthan) l Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) l Hanumangarh (Rajasthan) l Noida (UP) The report said India saw a 7 per cent decline in PM2.5 concentrations in 2024, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. Yet, 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India. The air pollution in Delhi has worsened, with the annual average PM2.5 concentration rising from 102.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023 to 108.3 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024. The Indian cities in the list of world's top 20 most polluted cities are Byrnihat, Delhi, Punjab's Mullanpur, Faridabad, Loni, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh and Noida. 4Continued on | P8 E-paper Edit Divisive politics over meat P.6 BUDGET SESSION | Economic Survey of Madhya Pradesh 2024-25 tabled in Assembly BHOPAL MUMBAI courage industries, so there will be provisions for it in the budget. There are indications that a huge amount of grants may be set aside for the Water Resources Department and the Narmada Valley Development Department to strengthen the irrigation system. 29% women hold govt jobs, number drops in semi-govt organisations Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL About 29.19% of women are holding government jobs in the state. This fact was brought to light in a report on administrative appointments. According to the report prepared on the situation up to March 31 last year, there are 6, 06,876 government employees in the state. Out of them, 1, 77, 126 are women. Among the government employees, 30.50% of women are first-class of- Number of employees has increased in government offices, but it reduced in corporation, boards ficers; 33.05% of them are second-class officers; 29.90% are class three employees, and 29.19% of them are class four staff. In public sectors, there are 10% of women employees, and the semi-government organisations have 20% of female workers. Similarly, in universities, the number of women employees is 19%, whereas the civic bodies have 20% of women. The authorities have 12% of women workers. 4Continued on | P8 The BLA separatist fighters Bolan Pass, the railway line where the hijack took place TRAIN HIJACKED IN PAKISTAN, 182 HELD HOSTAGE Baloch group claims killing 20 military personnel Agencies BALOCHISTAN The Baloch Liberation Army in a recent statement on Tuesday, claimed that it is holding 182 passengers as hostages onbound the Jaffar Express for the past six hours and has killed 20 military personnel. "After capturing the Jaffar Express, the fighters of the Baloch Liberation Army have taken 182 hostages who have been in our custody for the past six hours. During this operation, an additional eight Pakistani military personnel were eliminated, bringing the total number of enemy casualties to over 20", the BLA said in its statement. In its statement it also noted that it is confronting Pakistani Air Force with the BLA fighters using anti-aircraft artillery. "Throughout the ongoing operation, intense confrontations have taken place with the Pakistani Air Force, with our fighters using anti-aircraft artillery and inflicting severe losses on the enemy. BLA fighters are continuously strengthening their positions, leading the operation and challenging the might of the Pakistani military." According to the statement issued by the BLA, it was noted that not a single BLA fighter has been injured or killed. It also shared that all the hostages are in the custody of BLA's Fidayeen unit, Majeed Brigade as of now. "In this successful operation not a single BLA fighter has been injured or martyred so far. Currently, all hostages are in the custody of the BLA's Fidayeen unit, Majeed Brigade. Clear instructions have been issued to the Majeed Brigade: 4Continued on | P8