Spending on space research has hit an all time high under the Narendra Modi government. Union budget data showed that for F.Y. 2018-19 an amount of ₹ 11,538 crore or 0.46% of total budgetary expenditure was spent on space research. This is the highest amount ever spent in absolute terms, and even as a percentage of budgetary spending, this figure of 0.46% is the highest in much over a decade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India has catapulted into the elite club of four nations which have anti-satellite missile capability which can shoot down enemy satellites attempting to spy on India at a height of 300 kilometres in the Earth’s orbit. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen a massive jump in reach as well as average viewership in its first weekend and brands such as Vivo, Coca-Cola, Swiggy etc. are spending sharply higher amounts on advertisements this season. The network reached 219 million viewers across India for the first three matches in the opening weekend, which is 31% higher than last year’s opening weekend. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has sent a strongly worded letter to senior Income Tax Officials, warning them of an alarming situation. With just four days to go for the end of the financial year, Direct Tax collections stood at 10.29 trillion against a target of 12 trillion ₹, leaving a shortfall of 1.71 trillion ₹.
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