Fri Dec 27 00:43:40 UTC 2024: ## Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Passes Away at 92

**New Delhi, December 27, 2024** – Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away Thursday at the age of 92. Dr. Singh, who retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year, served six terms representing Assam and one representing Rajasthan. His death sparked widespread tributes.

**Other News:**

* **Economic Slowdown:** The Finance Ministry attributed the recent economic slowdown partly to the Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy and macroprudential measures. This follows an RBI bulletin calling for urgent action against inflation.
* **BJP’s Financial Dominance:** The BJP received ₹2,604.74 crore in donations of ₹20,000 or more in 2023-24, nine times the amount received by the Congress party.
* **Ladakh Standoff:** China’s Defence Ministry reported “steady progress” in resolving the eastern Ladakh standoff with India.
* **Temple-Mosque Disputes:** The Vishva Hindu Parishad linked ongoing temple-mosque disputes to the historical context of Mathura and Kashi, suggesting that handing over these sites to the Hindu community, like Ayodhya, might have prevented the current situation. This comes after similar concerns were raised by the RSS chief.
* **Congress Criticizes BJP:** Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP and Prime Minister Modi of refusing to acknowledge Home Minister Amit Shah’s allegedly insulting remarks about B.R. Ambedkar.
* **Election Commission Report:** Over 10.58 lakh votes were rejected or uncounted in the recent Lok Sabha elections, according to the Election Commission’s report.
* **Noted Author Passes Away:** Celebrated Pakistani novelist Bapsi Sidhwa, known for “Ice Candy Man,” passed away at 86 in Houston.
* **TDS System Challenged:** A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Supreme Court seeks to scrap the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) system, citing it as arbitrary and irrational.
* **Bihar Exam Protests:** A Delhi-based tutor was arrested for allegedly instigating aspirants who stormed the Bihar Public Service Commission office demanding exam cancellation.
* **Gaza Strike Kills Journalists:** An Israeli airstrike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a Gaza hospital. The Israeli military claimed it targeted militants.
* **Cold Wave Sweeps North India:** A severe cold wave continues to affect North India, with minimal snowfall in popular tourist destinations.
* **Tamil Nadu Rainfall:** Parts of northern Tamil Nadu experienced intermittent rainfall due to a weakened weather system over the Bay of Bengal.
* **India-West Indies Women’s ODI:** India aims to improve its batting performance in the final Women’s ODI against West Indies.

The article also included sections on book reviews, movie reviews, health, science, technology news, and Karnataka news.

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