Asia Cup: Afghanistan Beat Sri Lanka By 91 Runs
Dubai : All-round Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by 91 runs in the Group B match at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Monday. In the chase, Sri Lanka lost wickets right from the first over. Sri Lanka thus crashed out of the Asia Cup 2018 in the group stages. Upul Tharanga (36) and Dhananjaya de Silva (23) later forged a 54-run second wicket stand but failed to convert their initial starts into big scores.
In the middle-order skipper Angelo Mathews (22) and Thisara Perera (28) played crucial knocks but failed to help their side cross the line. For Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan scalped two wickets each. Earlier, top-order batsman Rahmat Shah scored a brilliant half-century as Afghanistan posted 249 runs against Sri Lanka.
Rahmat Shah played a cautious knock of 72 runs from 90 balls to help his side post a challenging total on a batting-friendly wicket. His innings was laced with five boundaries. Openers Ihsanullah Janat (45) and Mohammad Shahzad (34) also contributed crucial runs on top of the order to get Afghanistan to a decent start. The duo stitched together a crucial first wicket stand of 57 runs before Shahzad fell prey to Akila Dananjaya. Later, Hashmatullah Shahidi (37) played a key knock in the middle-order. For Sri Lanka, Thisara Perera bagged a five-wicket haul while Akila Dananjaya scalped two wickets for 39 runs.
courtesy : ndtv.com
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Why was Indira Gandhi's 1973 budget called the 'Black Budget'?
New Delhi: The Union Budget for 2025 is set to be presented in Parliament on February 1 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. As the nation awaits the financial roadmap of the third term of Narendra Modi-led government, a look back at the 1973-74 budget reveals one of India's most financially challenging periods.
The 1973-74 budget, presented by then-Finance Minister Yashwantrao Chavan under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is often referred to as the ‘Black Budget’ due to its unprecedented fiscal deficit of ₹550 crore. This was a significant sum at the time, reflecting the severe economic strain India faced in the aftermath of the 1971 war with Pakistan.
The war had drained government resources, and a series of natural disasters, including drought, led to a sharp decline in agricultural production. This worsened the financial crisis, with declining revenues and rising expenditures. Presenting the budget, Chavan acknowledged the economic distress, stating that the drought had caused a major drop in food grain production, which contributed to the widening deficit.
In response, the government allocated ₹56 crore for the nationalisation of coal mines, insurance companies, and the Indian Copper Corporation. The move aimed to strengthen the energy sector and ensure state control over key industries. However, the large deficit forced the government to implement cost-cutting measures and financial discipline in subsequent years.
As the Modi 3.0 government prepares to unveil the 2025-26 budget, various sectors are putting forth their demands, including tax reliefs and economic stimulus measures. Social media is rife with memes attacking the Finance Minsiter for the tax policies and it's impact on the middle class. The government’s first estimates project a 7.3% GDP growth for 2023-24, shaping expectations for the upcoming budget.
