02012025-TTC-01.qxd 1/2/2025 12:33 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 2 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 UKRAINE STOPS RUSSIAN GAS SUPPLY TO EUROPE WORLD /thetribunechd 4 NON-LOCALS HURT AS MASKED MEN ATTACK BUS J&K GST COLLECTION RISES TO ~1.77L CR IN DECEMBER BUSINESS DEFENCE MINISTRY SET TO MAKE 2025 ‘YEAR OF REFORMS’ BACK PAGE thursday | 2 january 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Cabinet dedicates first decisions of 2025 to farmers Centre extends DAP subsidy, hikes crop insurance outlay Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 1 The Union Cabinet on Wednesday extended a onetime package to subsidise key fertiliser DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) at a cost of up to Rs 3,850 crore and enhanced the outlay and approved a one-year extension of two crop insurance schemes, decisions that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said were dedicated to farmers. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), GOVT A PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR FARMERS The Modi government stands with farmers like a protective shield and on the very first day of 2025, it has reiterated this resolve. The decisions will keep millions of farmers free from worry. Amit Shah, HOME MINISTER ❝ chaired by the PM, extended two crop insurance schemes — Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) On a divine note — for one year till 2025-26 and created a separate Rs 824.77 crore fund for technology infusion in the implementation of the flagship schemes. The insurance schemes have been extended to align these with the 15th Finance Commission period. The total outlay for the PMFBY and the RWBCI has been enhanced to Rs 69,515.71 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26, higher from Rs 66,550 crore for 2020-21 to 2024-25. Union Minister for Information and continued on page 8 Devotees throng the Golden Temple to pay obeisance on New Year’s Day in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR SC deadline ends today, fasting Govt shortlists sites for memorial to MMS Dallewal yet to get medical aid Tribune News Service SUKHU GOVT NAMES INSTITUTE AFTER EX-PM Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 1 The Punjab Government today continued to remain hopeful that the Centre would invite the protesting farmers for talks as the deadline set by the Supreme Court for providing medical aid to Samyukt Mann govt continues to await Centre’s invite to farmers for talks Kisan Morcha (Non-political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal would end tomorrow. Today again, Dallewal and other protesting farmers refused to accept any medical aid till the Centre offered to hold talks. They turned down the pleas made by the state government to provide medical aid to the fasting septuagenarian farm leader. The state government also decided continued on page 8 New Delhi, January 1 The Centre is in the process of finalising a site where a memorial will be set up for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It has inspected some areas near Rajghat, Rashtriya Smriti Sthal and Kisan Ghat in the national capital. Singh — the architect of India’s economic reforms — Shimla: As a mark of respect to the able leadership of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Himachal Government, led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Wednesday renamed the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) at Fairlawn, Mashobra, near here, after the late Prime Minister. died on December 26 at the age of 92 following age-related complications. Following his death, the BJP and the Congress engaged in c m y b a bitter war of words over the cremation and the setting up of a memorial to Manmohan Singh with the grand old party blaming the Centre for dis- respecting the legacy of the two-time Prime Minister by cremating him at Nigambodh Ghat, a cremation place for commoners, instead of giving him a suitable place at Rajghat where former presidents and prime ministers have been cremated. According to official sources, officers from the Ministry of Urban Development continued on page 8 2024 warmest in India since 1901 New Delhi: The year 2024 was the warmest on record in India since 1901, with the average minimum temperature settling 0.90°C above the long-period average, the IMD said on Wednesday. The annual mean temperature in 2024 was 25.75°C, 0.65°C above the long-period average. The average maximum temperature stood at 31.25°C, 0.20°C above normal. INSIDE