India News & Trends


Social Panga to Handle Social Media for Neo by Nippon Paint
Neo by Nippon Paint has appointed Social Panga as its official social media agency. The collaboration aims to strengthen Neo’s presence across digital platforms and connect more directly with its target audience. Social Panga will be responsible for creating and managing content, developing social media strategies, and enhancing engagement across platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The agency brings experience in handling campaigns for brands in the lifestyle and home improvement sectors. Neo, a brand under Nippon Paint, focuses on products for the modern consumer, offering a range of solutions tailored to today’s design and functional needs. This move is part of its broader push to build a stronger identity and stay relevant in a competitive market. Speaking about the partnership, both teams expressed confidence in their shared vision and strategy. Social Panga aims to translate Neo’s brand values into digital conversations that reflect the brand’s tone and connect meaningfully with its followers.
Published 11 Jul 2025 05:02 PM


The Revanth government awarded Allu Arjun the Gaddar award months after he was arrested in the Pushpa 2 stampede case.
In relation to a case involving the death of a lady in a stampede at Hyderabad's Sandhya theater during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2, Arjun was taken into custody last December.Arjun will formally receive the first "Best Leading Actor" award at a later time for his role in the highly successful sequel Pushpa 2: The Rule, which brought in an estimated Rs 1,800 crore at the box office worldwide.Arjun's prize comes months after he was temporarily detained and arrested by Telangana police, who blamed him and others for the stampede that occurred on December 4 at the film's premiere at the Sandhya theater in this city. In the midst of controversy surrounding the death of 39-year-old M. Revathi in the stampede and the severe injuries sustained by her 9-year-old son, the arrest was announced on December 13. On the eve of the release, Arjun went to the renowned Sandhya theater to support his admirers, and Revathi's family of four attended to see the Pushpa-2 premiere event. As the opposition BRS and BJP denounced "the arrest of a national award winner," particularly the way it was executed, the police action took a political turn. In an X post at the time, Telangana BJP politician and Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay wrote, "...lifting national award-winning actor Allu Arjun straight out of his bedroom without even giving him time to change is a disgraceful act of mismanagement and disrespect."The police action took a political turn when the opposition BRS and BJP condemned "the arrest of a national award winner," especially the manner in which it was carried out. Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs and Telangana BJP politician Bandi Sanjay remarked in an X post at the time, "...lifting national award-winning actor Allu Arjun straight out of his bedroom without even giving him time to change is a disgraceful act of mismanagement and disrespect."
Published 31 May 2025 08:00 PM


In a High Court case, Adman Sandeep Goyal wants the government to control surrogate advertisements.
In order to stop surrogate advertising, Sandeep Goyal has petitioned the Punjab and Haryana High Court for a government-led oversight agency. He contends that deceptive advertising of things that are prohibited, such as alcohol and tobacco, cannot be addressed by the self-regulation that is in place at the moment. By acknowledging the issue and sending letters to the appropriate authorities, the court has signaled the start of an important legal discussion over advertising control.The nation is experiencing a health catastrophe as a result of young people developing early alcohol and tobacco addictions. According to the petition, "it is argued that the commercials, which feature well-known celebrities to promote their product, not only encourage the use of alcohol and tobacco but also validate their use through the glamorous representation of these products. "The petition highlights how ineffectual the present self-regulatory frameworks—such as the Advertising Standards Council of India's (ASCI)—are at preventing deceptive advertising. Goyal demands a stronger regulatory framework run by the government to monitor advertising material.Goyal argues that current redressal procedures are not quick to offset the immediate effects of these advertisements, which continue to reach sizable audiences before any kind of regulation is implemented. Additionally, he cites Supreme Court and high court rulings advocating for more stringent regulatory monitoring in the advertising industry.
Published 31 May 2025 07:43 PM


Neelam Kothari Soni, Masaba Gupta, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Rohan Joshi are also featured in the movie.
Neelam Kothari Soni, Masaba Gupta, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Rohan Joshi are also featured in the movie. For the impending End of Reason Sale (EORS), Myntra has released their newest ad, which features a gorgeous cast and a humorous twist.The story, which is set in a stylized living room, centers on a fictitious intervention that Johar's friends conduct, during which they first chastise him for using coupons to purchase. As each of them is ultimately influenced by the sale's offerings, the scenario swiftly becomes comical. With EORS scheduled to begin on May 31, the movie centers on Myntra's claims of the "Lowest Price Guaranteed" and cashback incentives."With each edition of EORS, our goal is not just to deliver unmatched value but to redefine how India experiences fashion," stated Kejal Parekh, Associate Director, Marketing, Myntra, while describing the intentions of the campaign. By bringing together well-known individuals in an entertaining and unusual atmosphere that reflects how our customers interact with fashion today, we wanted to achieve something genuinely novel for the 22nd edition.
Published 27 May 2025 08:55 PM


N Venu is appointed Managing Director of Hitachi India.
According to Hitachi India, N Venu will take over as the company's new Managing Director (MD) on June 2, 2025. This significant change in leadership comes when Bharat Kaushal was promoted to Executive Chairman of Hitachi India, effective April 1, 2025.According to Hitachi India, N Venu will take over as the company's new Managing Director (MD) on June 2, 2025. This significant change in leadership comes when Bharat Kaushal was promoted to Executive Chairman of Hitachi India, effective April 1, 2025.The advancement of Bharat Kaushal Hitachi India's first Indian MD was Bharat Kaushal. He has now been elevated to Hitachi India's Executive Chairman position. He works for Hitachi Ltd. as a corporate officer as well. His guidance has been crucial to Hitachi's expansion in India. N Venu's Present Positions N Venu currently occupies significant positions inside the organization. He serves as both the region head for Hitachi Energy in South Asia and the managing director and CEO of Hitachi Energy India. He will assume the additional duty of serving as MD of Hitachi India starting in June 2025.Put Growth and Innovation First In his capacity as MD, N Venu will support Hitachi's growth in India. His objective is to back Hitachi's new management strategy, "Inspire 2027," which emphasizes innovation and growth via digital technology. In order to increase value for customers, he would also try to unite the approximately 28 Hitachi group entities in India. The Vision of Hitachi for India India is a crucial business destination for Hitachi. The business is expanding in sectors like energy, digital services, railroads, financial inclusion, healthcare, and education. Venu's hiring demonstrates Hitachi's strong commitment to making India a significant component of its worldwide business, according to Bharat Kaushal.Venu's History and Accomplishments N Venu has worked for nearly 40 years. Since 2019, he has served as Hitachi Energy's leader in India, accelerating the company's expansion. In 2024–2025, he also held the position of Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Karnataka Chapter. Venu attended NIT Warangal to study electrical engineering. He also attended the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad, IIM Ahmedabad, and IMD in Switzerland to study management.
Published 31 May 2025 08:01 PM


Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KSDL) has named Tamannaah Bhatia as a brand ambassador.
Actress Tamannaah Bhatia has been appointed as the brand ambassador for Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KSDL), a well-known state-owned enterprise, for a two-year term. The goal of this program is to increase KSDL's market reach in India and abroad while also increasing its visibility among younger consumers.Renowned actress Tamannaah Bhatia has been named the two-year brand ambassador for Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KSDL), a century-old state-owned company. This calculated action seeks to increase KSDL's appeal and exposure among younger consumers while broadening its national and international reach. On May 22, 2025, Karnataka's Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil made the news, emphasizing Tamannaah's widespread appeal and robust online presence throughout India. As KSDL starts a strategic transition to increase brand value, penetrate new markets, and connect with a younger, wider audience, this appointment comes at a critical juncture. With more than 28 million followers on social media and widespread popularity throughout India, Tamannaah is a perfect fit to embody KSDL's fusion of tradition and modern appeal. The action demonstrates KSDL's intention to use celebrity endorsements as a component of its larger marketing and growth plan.
Published 27 May 2025 09:05 PM


The Manipur High Court's Chief Justice is Justice K. Somashekar.
The President of India has chosen Justice K. Somashekar, a former member of the Karnataka High Court, as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. This ruling reflects the Supreme Court collegium's recommendation and comes after Justice D. Krishnakumar's planned retirement.The appointment of Justice Kempaiah Somashekar, a Karnataka High Court judge, as the new Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court is a noteworthy legal move. Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar will retire on May 21, 2025, and this appointment comes after his retirement. More than thirty years of judicial experience and legal service throughout Karnataka are brought to the table by Justice Somashekar. Only a few days after a Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai endorsed his name, Justice K. Somashekar's promotion to Chief Justice of Manipur High Court was formally announced on May 20, 2025. The appointment and recommendation cover the void left by Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar's retirement.He added, "The President of India, after consulting with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint Justice Kempaiah Somashekar, Judge of the Karnataka High Court, as Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court in exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India." The appointment was made a few days after a three-member collegium led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai recommended it due to incumbent Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar's May 21 retirement. In December of last year, Justice Krishnakumar was named chief justice of the High Court.
Published 22 May 2025 04:29 PM

In a bureaucratic reorganization, Sanjeev Ranjan was appointed road transport secretary.
New Delhi: According to a personnel ministry order, senior IAS official Sanjeev Ranjan has been appointed secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), as part of a top-level bureaucratic reorganization carried out by the federal government. Ranjan is currently the chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and was a Tripura-bred IAS officer in 1985. He has been designated as a MoRTH officer on special duty.According to the decision, Yudhvir Singh Malik will be superannuated by the end of this month, and Ranjan will assume the position of MoRTH secretary on April 1, 2019. Ranjan will be replaced as the new head of the NHAI by Nagendra Nath Sinha. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation's managing director is N.N. Sinha. He will also continue to be in charge of this position.Rakesh Srivastava, who is scheduled to superannuate on March 31, will be replaced as secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development by Rabindra Panwar. Until Srivastava retires, Panwar, a special secretary and financial adviser in the Ministry of Home Affairs, will serve as OSD in the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Panwar will be replaced at the Home Ministry as special secretary and financial adviser by Bhupendra Singh, chairman of the National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention.Anant Kumar Singh, who retires at the end of this month, will be replaced as secretary of the Department of Land Resources by senior bureaucrat Ruolkhumlein Buhril. Buhril is the secretary of the Home Ministry's Inter State Council Secretariat. He will assume the position of OSD at the Ministry of Rural Development's Department of Land Resources.The National Archives of India's director general will be P. Venkata Ramesh Babu, a senior IAS officer. Babu now serves as Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd.'s chairman and managing director. Rajni Sekhri Sibal, who is now an additional secretary in the Home Ministry, will serve as the secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's Department of Fisheries. The Medical Council of India has nominated Rakesh Kumar Vats as its secretary general. He currently serves as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's supplementary secretary and financial adviser.Vats will be replaced by Dharmendra S. Gangwar as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's additional secretary and financial adviser. Gangwar holds the same position in the Ministry of Culture. Braj Raj Sharma, a Jammu and Kashmir cadre IAS official, will serve as secretary of the Home Ministry's Department of Border Management. He works in the same department as the special secretary.
Published 21 May 2025 05:32 PM


“Software Was Faulty”: Baba Ramdev’s Take on Shefali Jariwala's Death Upsets Fans
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has drawn criticism online following his remarks on the sudden death of actress Shefali Jariwala. In a recent interview, he said, "The hardware was fine, but the software was faulty," referring to her internal health. His comment, made during a discussion on lifestyle and health, was seen by many as insensitive, especially so soon after the news of her passing. Shefali Jariwala, known for her role in the music video "Kaanta Laga," reportedly died of a sudden cardiac arrest at her Mumbai home. While investigations are ongoing, it has been reported that she was undergoing anti-aging IV treatments and had recently started fasting for religious reasons. Her unexpected death has sparked conversations about wellness practices and their long-term effects. Following Ramdev’s comments, many users on social media reacted strongly. Some accused him of using the moment to promote his views on natural living, while others asked him to show more compassion. Phrases like "Stop this nonsense" and "Let her rest in peace" were commonly echoed in the responses. Ramdev later clarified that he was trying to highlight the dangers of modern health trends that focus on external appearance rather than overall well-being. He suggested that people are increasingly overloading their bodies with supplements and treatments without understanding the consequences. His point was that even people who appear healthy can have underlying issues if their lifestyle isn't balanced.
Published 04 Jul 2025 03:03 PM


Ramayana Teaser: Ranbir is Ram, Yash is Ravan
The first teaser for Ramayana, Nitesh Tiwari’s much-anticipated retelling of the classic epic, is out now. It offers a brief look at Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Yash as Ravan—each bringing very different energy to their roles. Ranbir appears composed and steady, while Yash, as the fierce Ravan, makes a powerful impression. The teaser doesn’t reveal much of the story, but its dramatic visuals and grand scale suggest something big is on the way. What’s catching viewers' attention, beyond the cast, is the look and feel of the teaser. With moody lighting, stark battle sequences, and a weighty tone, many are drawing comparisons to Game of Thrones. Even the way the credits roll seems inspired by the fantasy series. With Sai Pallavi reportedly playing Sita, and a strong supporting cast expected, Ramayana aims to blend tradition with a modern cinematic approach. The teaser has already sparked a wave of curiosity—and some debate—on how this retelling will balance faith, fiction, and visual storytelling.
Published 04 Jul 2025 01:08 PM


Box Office Early Update: Housefull 5 Nears ₹175 Crore Mark, Set to Overtake Raid 2
Akshay Kumar's Housefull 5 continues its steady performance at the box office. On its second Tuesday, the film benefited from discounted ticket prices — a strategy repeated by the makers to draw weekday audiences — resulting in a moderate increase in collections. According to early estimates, the film earned between ₹4 crore and ₹4.5 crore on day 12, marking a growth of 5–18% from Monday’s ₹3.8 crore. With these numbers, the film's total domestic collection is now expected to be in the range of ₹170.49 crore to ₹170.99 crore. At this pace, Housefull 5 is likely to surpass the lifetime earnings of Raid 2 (₹177.83 crore) within the next two days, positioning it as the second highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2025. Housefull5 Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the film has shown consistent performance since its release, and all eyes are now on whether it can maintain momentum heading into its third week.
Published 18 Jun 2025 07:48 AM


The Revanth government awarded Allu Arjun the Gaddar award months after he was arrested in the Pushpa 2 stampede case.
In relation to a case involving the death of a lady in a stampede at Hyderabad's Sandhya theater during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2, Arjun was taken into custody last December.Arjun will formally receive the first "Best Leading Actor" award at a later time for his role in the highly successful sequel Pushpa 2: The Rule, which brought in an estimated Rs 1,800 crore at the box office worldwide.Arjun's prize comes months after he was temporarily detained and arrested by Telangana police, who blamed him and others for the stampede that occurred on December 4 at the film's premiere at the Sandhya theater in this city. In the midst of controversy surrounding the death of 39-year-old M. Revathi in the stampede and the severe injuries sustained by her 9-year-old son, the arrest was announced on December 13. On the eve of the release, Arjun went to the renowned Sandhya theater to support his admirers, and Revathi's family of four attended to see the Pushpa-2 premiere event. As the opposition BRS and BJP denounced "the arrest of a national award winner," particularly the way it was executed, the police action took a political turn. In an X post at the time, Telangana BJP politician and Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay wrote, "...lifting national award-winning actor Allu Arjun straight out of his bedroom without even giving him time to change is a disgraceful act of mismanagement and disrespect."The police action took a political turn when the opposition BRS and BJP condemned "the arrest of a national award winner," especially the manner in which it was carried out. Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs and Telangana BJP politician Bandi Sanjay remarked in an X post at the time, "...lifting national award-winning actor Allu Arjun straight out of his bedroom without even giving him time to change is a disgraceful act of mismanagement and disrespect."
Published 31 May 2025 08:00 PM


RBI Can Still Cut Rates Despite Neutral Stance, Says Governor Malhotra
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra has clarified that the central bank’s current “neutral” policy stance should not be misunderstood as a signal that interest rates cannot be reduced. Speaking to reporters, Malhotra explained that neutrality gives the RBI flexibility—it can raise or lower rates depending on how inflation and the broader economy behave. “There seems to be a misconception that a neutral stance only allows us to hold or hike rates,” Malhotra said. “That’s not the case. We can cut rates if the situation demands.” His remarks come at a time when markets and analysts are closely watching for signs of a rate cut amid easing inflation and global monetary shifts. Since February 2023, the RBI has maintained interest rates, focusing on controlling inflation while monitoring economic growth. Recently, inflation has slowed, increasing expectations that a rate cut might encourage borrowing and investment without exacerbating inflation. Malhotra stressed that the RBI remains data-driven and won’t rush into decisions. “We will act based on incoming data. Our primary goal is to maintain stability while supporting sustainable growth,” he said. This balanced approach, he added, is what the neutral stance is meant to reflect. In short, while the RBI hasn’t cut rates yet, it’s keeping the door open. The message is clear: flexibility is key, and decisions will be shaped by how the economy performs in the coming months.
Published 15 Jul 2025 04:08 PM


The NIFTY50 hovers above 22,800, the SENSEX jumps 1,131 points, and the whole market shines as well.
The NIFTY50 and SENSEX both ended the day at their one-month high. For the first time since February 21, 2025, the 50-share NIFTY 50 index surpassed the 22,800 level. Additionally, the BSE SENSEX leveled off above 75,000.Tuesday, March 18, saw a 1.5% increase in the Indian stock market due to strong buying in the financial and metals sectors and outperformance by the overall market. The encouraging global cues also improved market sentiment. The NIFTY50 and SENSEX both ended the day at their one-month high. For the first time since February 21, 2025, the 50-share NIFTY 50 index surpassed the 22,800 level. Additionally, the BSE SENSEX leveled off above 75,000. The NSE's NIFTY50 index closed 325.55 points, or 1.45%, higher at the 22,834.30 level, while the S&P BSE SENSEX closed at 75,301.26, up 1,131.31 points, or 1.53%. Out of the 3,016 equities that were traded on the NSE, 2,288 scrips rose, indicating that the market attitude continued in favor of bulls. At the end of the day, the smallcap and midcap indices both saw gains of nearly 2.8%. On Tuesday, all sectoral measures ended the day higher.Investors are also anticipating updates about tariffs and the US Fed's interest rate decision.
Published 18 Mar 2025 06:09 PM


How have portfolio managers performed in terms of returns when comparing mutual funds and PMS?
Current Market News Live Updates for Today: Watch the market wrap-up for today! Follow the fluctuations of the Sensex and Nifty 50, as well as the top winners and losers. See which sectors drove the growth (or drop) and how the US and Asian markets performed. Summary: For up-to-date information on your favorite businesses, follow Mint's market blog. This blog provides you with up-to-date information about global markets and Dalal Street.Late September 2024 saw the top of the Indian equity market, with many large-, mid-, and small-cap companies reaching all-time highs. But ever since, the market has been in a gloomy mood as investor morale has been affected by headwinds including high valuations, a slowdown in profitability, uncertainties around international trade, etc. As of February 21, 2025, the BSE Sensex has down 12.2%, the BSE Midcap has fallen 18.6%, and the BSE Smallcap index has fallen 20.5% from its peak.Based on 5-month returns, NAV decreases of 4–26% have been recorded for equity mutual funds across all categories as a result of the market's severe downturn.
Published 01 Mar 2025 07:41 PM


Highlights of the Budget and Economic Survey: As the budget session starts, FM Nirmala Sitharaman presents the Indian economy report.
Highlights of the Budget and Economic Survey: On January 31, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the Economic Survey, which examines the Indian economy, governmental policies, and prospects for the future. It discusses socioeconomic problems including poverty and education as well as macroeconomic performance.Highlights of the Budget and Economic Survey: On January 31, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the Economic Survey to Parliament, which will include a thorough examination of the Indian economy with an emphasis on a few important areas. Economic Survey: What Is It? The Indian economy's performance, governmental policies, and prospects for the next fiscal year are all summarized in the Economic Survey. It is separated into two sections: Part A examines economic performance, focusing on fiscal trends and macroeconomic statistics, while Part B discusses socioeconomic concerns like poverty, education, climate change, and the prospects for GDP growth, inflation, and trade.The Economic Survey is created by whom? The Department of Economic Affairs' economic section, led by Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran, prepares the Economic Survey. The Economic Survey will be presented by whom? One day prior to the budget speech, on January 31, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the Economic Survey to the Parliament.
Published 31 Jan 2025 10:22 PM


Indian Railways Launches 'RailOne': A One-Stop App for All Train Travelers
Indian Railways has launched RailOne, a new all-in-one mobile app designed to make train travel easier, faster, and more convenient for passengers across the country. Instead of juggling multiple apps for booking tickets, tracking trains, ordering food, or filing complaints, travelers can now do it all in one place. Available for free on Android and iOS, the app has been developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and brings together key services previously spread across different platforms like IRCTC, UTS, Rail Madad, and NTES. RailOne allows users to book both reserved and unreserved tickets, buy platform tickets and monthly passes, check PNR status, track live train movement, find coach positions, and order food directly to their seat. It also offers a journey planner, digital wallet (R-Wallet) for payments, and a built-in complaint and refund system. What makes the app especially user-friendly is the option to log in with your IRCTC or UTS credentials—or simply use an OTP as a guest, which is ideal for occasional travelers or those unfamiliar with railway apps. One of the app's biggest strengths is its clean and intuitive interface. Whether you're a daily commuter or someone planning a long-distance journey, you can find everything in one place without needing tech expertise. A standout feature is the new R-Wallet, a digital wallet built into the app that lets you pay securely and even gives a small discount on certain bookings. RailOne also supports multiple Indian languages and has a clean, user-friendly design, making it accessible for a wide range of users, regardless of their familiarity with technology. Overall, RailOne feels like a much-needed upgrade in how we interact with Indian Railways. It’s convenient, comprehensive, and built with real-world travel needs in mind. Whether you're planning a long journey or just heading to work, this app is a simple way to stay connected to everything you need—without the clutter. While the app is still fresh and may face a few technical hiccups, Indian Railways is actively working to smooth out the experience. They’re also rolling out a powerful new backend system that can handle heavy booking traffic, set to be fully in place by the end of 2025. This means faster response times and fewer delays when booking tickets or checking train status. The RailOne app marks a big step forward in simplifying train travel in India, offering passengers a smoother, smarter, and more connected experience. If you travel by train often—or even just once in a while—RailOne is worth checking out. From booking tickets and tracking your train to grabbing a meal en route or filing a complaint, this app is built to save time and reduce hassle, all from your phone.
Published 02 Jul 2025 06:02 PM


To accelerate development, PM Modi calls on states to cooperate with the center.
Punjab laments "step motherly treatment," T.N. demands a larger portion of Central tax income, and the PM encourages States to create world-class tourism destinations and incorporate women into the workforce at the Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting.Some States, including Tamil Nadu and Punjab, complained to the Center while others offered proposals to accelerate their growth, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for the States to unite with the Center to accelerate national development.Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong case for cooperative federalism on Saturday, emphasizing the value of coordinated action between the federal government and the states. He said that no goal is impossible when India works as "Team India." The Prime Minister, who chaired the 10th meeting of Niti Aayog's Governing Council, emphasized the importance of accelerating development efforts in order to achieve a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047. The purpose of the gathering, which had as its topic "Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047," was to synchronize national and state developmental goals. "Every Indian aspires to Viksit Bharat. Bharat will be Viksit once all the states are Viksit. Prime Minister Modi stated, "This is what its 140 crore citizens want."The chief ministers of every state, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and a number of Union ministers make up the Governing Council, the highest authority within Niti Aayog. The Prime Minister promoted a bottom-up approach to development while serving as the council's head. "Our goal should be to make every state, city, Nagar Palika, and hamlet viksit. We won't have to wait till 2047 to achieve Viksit Bharat if we continue along these lines," he continued.He suggested that every state choose and create at least one internationally renowned tourism destination with all the amenities and infrastructure of today. "One State: One Worldwide Location." The Prime Minister pointed out that it will also result in the growth of nearby cities as tourism destinations.He called for an emphasis on creating "future-ready cities" with development driven by growth, innovation, and sustainability, acknowledging the rapid rate of urbanization in India. In addition, the Prime Minister emphasized the significance of boosting women's employment. He stated that in order for them to be politely included into the labor, rules and procedures must be created.
Published 28 May 2025 07:55 PM


Why the Madhya Pradesh Congress has targeted Shivraj Chouhan's stronghold in order to implement changes
Beginning with the district of Vidisha, the Madhya Pradesh Congress has begun what it describes as its most comprehensive organizational reorganization exercise in decades. In order to restore the party's grassroots presence following a string of election setbacks in the state, the plan creates a new level of panchayat and ward-level committees.This new organizational model has chosen Vidisha as a test project, and if it works, it will be used in all 52 Madhya Pradesh districts. This is part of the state Congress's larger proposal to declare 2025 a year of "organizational renaissance."One and a half years have passed after the Congress' disastrous performance in the 2023 state Assembly elections, in which it only managed to get 66 of 230 seats. With 163 seats, the BJP won a resounding majority and was able to hold onto power for another term. Following this, the Congress was overwhelmingly defeated in the state's 2024 Lok Sabha elections, losing 29 seats—including the Vidisha seat—at the hands of the BJP.
Published 27 May 2025 09:06 PM


Lower bond purchase amounts are accepted by RBI in the first FY26 OMO auction.
Mumbai: Despite market participants' attempts to sell assets worth twice the publicized offer on the table, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accepted a lower-than-notified sum to buy bonds during its open market operations on Monday. This most likely means that the central bank is content with the liquidity as it stands right now.At this OMO, the RBI received bids totaling ₹19,203 crore, which was less than the ₹25,000 crore notified amount. Bids of ₹50,369 crore were received by RBI. The RBI has accepted a smaller amount in this first FY26 OMO auction. The actions taken by the RBI have improved system liquidity. The auction on Monday included government notes with maturities in 2029, 2032, 2033, 2034, and 2036. On Monday, the 10-year benchmark yield ended the day at 6.24%. "For the semi-liquid 20, the auction cut-off prices were nearly in line with market levels."It seems that the majority of HTM stock that might be sold in OMOs has either hit or is close to a limit. "Most banks are selective and don't have excess," stated Ritesh Bhusari, joint general manager of South Indian Bank.
Published 20 May 2025 05:10 PM


Is the 'Caveman Skincare Routine' a hoax in terms of hygiene?
I'm a regular TikTok scroller (the four hours of screen time a day speaks for itself), and I've seen a ton of beauty films, from popular trends to amazing hacks that would put a Victorian kid in a coma. The caveman skincare method, however, may just take the biscuit—or perhaps I should say water—as the most talked-about topic on SkinTok lately.The 'Caveman Skincare Method' is the skincare regimen that TikTok creator Tia Zakher has lately described in a number of videos on the platform. "After 8 years of picking and over-exfoliating, I'm healing my skin barrier by doing the one thing I never tried before... absolutely nothing," Tia explains in a video that has received 9.7 million views. In other words, she has stopped using water in addition to all skincare products (I'm referring about moisturizer, exfoliant, and cleanser). Tia responded to Cosmopolitan UK's inquiry on why she chose to utilize the caveman skincare method by saying, "I decided to do it because I wanted to try a different approach and I do think it's working for me."
Published 28 May 2025 07:49 PM


Doctors express an urgent warning that reels are now causing eye issues after "brain rot."
All age groups, but mainly children and young adults, are experiencing an increase in eye diseases as a result of excessive screen use, especially binge-watching reels on social media sites.Following worries about the effect of short-form films on mental health, medical professionals are now sounding the alarm about a brand-new, rapidly developing issue: "reel-induced eye damage."Across all age groups, excessive screen time—especially binge-watching reels on social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok—is contributing to an increase in eye diseases, particularly in children and young adults. Leading ophthalmologists discussed this at the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and All India Ophthalmological Society's ongoing Joint Meeting, which took place Tuesday at the Yashobhoomi-India International Convention and Expo Centre.Dr. Lalit Verma, president of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) 2025 Congress, spoke sternly about the "silent epidemic of digital eye strain" brought on by prolonged screen time. "We are seeing a sharp increase in cases of dry eye syndrome, myopia progression, eye strain, and even early-onset squinting, especially in children who spend hours watching reels," he stated. "We recently had a student who came in complaining of blurred vision and ongoing eye irritation. Upon inspection, we discovered that his eyes were not shedding enough tears as a result of spending too much time at home viewing reels on a screen. He was given eye drops right away, and the doctor told him to observe the 20-20-20 rule, which calls for looking at anything 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.The president of the All India Ophthalmological Society and chairman of the organizing committee, Dr. Harbansh Lal, described the gravity of the situation.
Published 17 Apr 2025 08:59 PM


According to Instagram, rubbing raw ginger can help clear up acne. Are dermatologists in agreement?
Another day, another Instagram beauty tip that has gone viral. You surely have a feed full of skincare tips on how to treat acne if you have it, like I do. Social media is using natural components from your kitchen, such as flax seeds for "botox" and raw garlic. This time, raw ginger is the focus, as influencers assert that applying it topically can help eradicate acne. It seems like a simple solution to acne, doesn't it?Innumerable videos of Indian skinfluencers with radiant skin can be found online these days, stating that the key isn't pricey facials but rather applying raw ginger directly to acne outbreaks to treat them right away. But is this spicy suggestion really supported by any science?To find out if this pattern is reliable, let's take a closer look and get some professional guidance.What are the opinions of experts? First, let's get this out of the way. Anything is not necessarily beneficial to your skin just because it is natural. particularly when used undiluted and raw. Senior consultant dermatologist Dr. Gulhima Arora of Mehektagul Dermaclinic states that ginger has only been indirectly shown to be effective in treating acne in scientific studies. It shouldn't be regarded as the primary or first line of treatment. She emphasizes that acne is a complex condition and that not all of its triggers can be addressed by a single spice.Dermatologist and Kaya Limited medical advisor Dr. Saranya B concurs, saying that using raw ginger to the face is not a clinically validated method of treating acne. Despite its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities, direct application may irritate skin. According to Skin Smart Solutions' founder and principal dermatologist, Dr. Bindu Sthalekar, "there is no scientific proof that applying raw ginger topically treats acne." Theoretically, it might be beneficial, but only if taken in conjunction with other drugs and with good tolerance.
Published 17 Apr 2025 08:57 PM


Doctors express an urgent warning that reels are now causing eye issues after "brain rot."
All age groups, but mainly children and young adults, are experiencing an increase in eye diseases as a result of excessive screen use, especially binge-watching reels on social media sites.Following worries about the effect of short-form films on mental health, medical professionals are now sounding the alarm about a brand-new, rapidly developing issue: "reel-induced eye damage."Across all age groups, excessive screen time—especially binge-watching reels on social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok—is contributing to an increase in eye diseases, particularly in children and young adults. Leading ophthalmologists discussed this at the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and All India Ophthalmological Society's ongoing Joint Meeting, which took place Tuesday at the Yashobhoomi-India International Convention and Expo Centre.Dr. Lalit Verma, president of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) 2025 Congress, spoke sternly about the "silent epidemic of digital eye strain" brought on by prolonged screen time. "We are seeing a sharp increase in cases of dry eye syndrome, myopia progression, eye strain, and even early-onset squinting, especially in children who spend hours watching reels," he stated. "We recently had a student who came in complaining of blurred vision and ongoing eye irritation. Upon inspection, we discovered that his eyes were not shedding enough tears as a result of spending too much time at home viewing reels on a screen. He was given eye drops right away, and the doctor told him to observe the 20-20-20 rule, which calls for looking at anything 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.The president of the All India Ophthalmological Society and chairman of the organizing committee, Dr. Harbansh Lal, described the gravity of the situation.
Published 01 Apr 2025 09:40 PM


Axar Patel leads DC to a decisive victory over Rishabh Pant's LSG on a night that contrasts for the captains.
Returning to Lucknow for the first time since his unsatisfactory dismissal from the team, KL Rahul ended the game with a spectacular six to go undefeated in a run-chase with a 42-ball 57.On a night full of stories at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium, the Delhi Capitals won by 8 wickets in a 160-run chase, solidifying their status as this season's title contenders. KL Rahul, who is making his first appearance in Lucknow after his unsatisfactory dismissal from the team, ended the game with a spectacular six to go undefeated in a run chase with a 42-ball 57. In the twelfth over of their respective innings, LSG and DC both lost their second wicket. Axar Patel entered when a composed Abishek Porel collapsed. At this point, DC was only under a little pressure to take a few wickets, but it might have grown complicated because new batters take time to get comfortable. With two sixes over the midwicket zone, his favorite hit against spin, Axar took out Ravi Bishnoi in the very next over after Avesh Khan had dismissed him after four dot balls.In the following over, facing Avesh once more after being outscored by a few deliveries, he decided to take a chance and hit a four to try to clear the fielder at mid-off. The most impressive stroke came from Shardul Thakur, who took up a not-so-short ball with the weight still on his backfoot and sent it over long on for a six.
Published 23 Apr 2025 08:56 PM


Nitish Rana on RR not selecting him for Super Over against DC despite 51 off 28: "One person never takes the call."
Despite hitting 51 off 28 balls against the Delhi Capitals, Nitish Rana was left out of the Super Over lineup as the Rajasthan Royals entered with Hetmyer and Riyan Parag.Nitish Rana remained in the middle until the 18th over of the chase after smashing 51 off 28 balls. At the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday, the Rajasthan Royals sent neither batsman to bat despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's 51 off 37 balls in the Super Over against the Delhi Capitals. Eyes were rolling when Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag came out to bat in the Super Over. Rana wasn't even on the list of the three batters for the Super Over, but Jaiswal was chosen to bat following a wicket fall.RR's choice proved to be a poor one as Mitchell Starc of DC cramped the Hetmyer for space with yorkers and the reverse swing, allowing him to begin the Super Over with a dot ball. The Australian bowler was hit for four after missing his mark on the next delivery, but he recovered with another low full toss in the third ball. A single was taken by Hetmyer.Starc's low full toss was hit by Riyan Parag over third man for a boundary, sometimes known as a no-ball. After it appeared that RR would easily reach 15 with three balls left, the game took yet another sharp turn. RR was bowled out for just 11 as Parag and Jaiswal were ran out in the following ball.KL Rahul and Tristian Stubbs smash two sixes in the first three balls of Sandeep Sharma's Super Over to give DC a historic victory, so the total was insufficient. Following the game, Nitish Rana stated that the decision to send Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer instead of him for the Super Over was made by the RR management. Rana said he didn't have an alternative response, adding that if Hetmyer had hit a couple of sixes in the Super Over, the questions would have been different."The call is answered by management, not a single individual. Along with two other senior players and coaches, the captain is present. You wouldn't be asking this question if Shimron Hetmyer had hit two sixes. I'll respond with the same response. I have no other response. Every choice we made was the right one. Everyone knows that Hetmyer is our finisher. During the press conference, Rana stated, "He has previously delivered."
Published 17 Apr 2025 09:05 PM


Who Won CSK vs. RR, Match 11 in Yesterday's IPL 2025 Match?
The outcome of yesterday's IPL 2024 match between CSK and RR: Watch the most recent IPL action as CSK and RR square off in the 2025 season's first game. Get all the match information and updates here, along with the results of the encounter.The highly anticipated Match 11 between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season was played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lost against Rajasthan Royals (RR) by a margin of six runs. First to bowl, RR amassed 182 runs. Despite pursuing the objective, CSK ended up at 176 for 6 in 20 overs. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 6 runs in the March 30 IPL 2025 match. After two losses earlier in the season, this victory was RR's first. In contrast, CSK lost this game for the second time in a row.Highlights of the IPL 2025 match between the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings: Wanindu Hasaranga takes four wickets to help the Royals overcome the Super Kings by six runs.
Published 31 Mar 2025 08:23 PM

India's bold strategy aids in a quick T20 reconstruction
The world champions are creating an environment where players perform well without worrying about keeping their spots in the squad or taking wickets.Kolkata: Although it's early, the process and outcomes give hope that India would successfully defend the T20 World Cup at home the following year. Despite the pessimism caused by the Test and ODI transition issues, India's T20 trajectory stands out thanks to series victories against South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and now England. Even more so when one considers that Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal have not been parachuted in.This is most likely a greater accomplishment. However, they have approached it virtually undetected. No culture of stars. Verify. No set order for batting. Verify. Just a group of young, talented, and incredibly self-assured cricket players going about their business without worrying about career curves. By the way, all IPL linchpins.Captain Suryakumar Yadav acknowledges his lack of quality as he is left off the Champions Trophy roster. Abhishek Sharma thinks a ball is there to be struck, hence he doesn't count returns. As long as Tilak Varma is at the crease, the second Twenty20 match in Chennai demonstrated that no equation is too difficult. And the fact that India lost to 12/3 and then 79/5 at Pune on Friday, yet still managed to score 181, demonstrated that the previous game's disaster chasing in Rajkot was really a fluke. The realization that not everything can be managed lies at the core of this long-term upsurge. Earlier this week, Sitanshu Kotak, India's new batting coach, said it. "To achieve a score of 200 or 225, and if you are
Published 04 Feb 2025 04:28 PM


Bengal Migrant Workers Detained in Odisha Without Cause, Says Trinamool
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged that several migrant workers from West Bengal have been illegally detained in Odisha, raising serious concerns about the treatment of laborers working outside their home state. According to the TMC, a group of workers from East Midnapore had travelled to Odisha for construction jobs. Party leaders claim the workers were detained without formal charges and have been missing for several days. “These are poor laborers who went to earn a living. We are deeply concerned for their safety,” said TMC MP Saugata Roy at a press conference in Kolkata. “We urge the West Bengal government to step in and ensure their safe return.” Relatives of the missing workers say they have not heard from their loved ones since early last week. Rina Das, the mother of one of the workers, said, “My son went there to work, not to disappear. We just want to know where he is.” The Trinamool Congress announced it will send a team to Odisha to gather information and assist the families. The party has also written to state authorities demanding an explanation. As of now, Odisha police have not issued an official statement. Sources suggest the matter is being reviewed. This incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety and legal rights of interstate migrant workers in India.
Published 10 Jul 2025 05:57 PM


PM Modi to Visit 5 Countries in 8 Days, Attend BRICS Summit in Brazil
The PM’s eight-day tour from July 2 to July 9 would cover two continents and include visits to Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to begin his longest international trip in ten years, starting Wednesday, July 2. The eight-day journey will cover five countries—Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia—and conclude on July 9. Modi’s visit is expected to boost India’s ties with emerging economies across Africa and Latin America. The tour will begin in Ghana, where discussions will likely center around trade, development, and cultural exchange. In Trinidad and Tobago, Modi will connect with the Indian diaspora and explore bilateral cooperation. The Prime Minister will then head to Argentina to focus on areas such as agriculture, energy, and digital innovation. A key part of the trip will be his participation in the BRICS Summit in Brazil, where leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa will meet to discuss global economic challenges and cooperation among developing nations. Modi will wrap up the tour with a historic visit to Namibia—the first by an Indian Prime Minister. Talks there are expected to explore opportunities in sectors like mining, green energy, and education. This trip reflects India’s growing diplomatic outreach to the Global South, aiming to strengthen strategic, economic, and people-to-people partnerships.
Published 01 Jul 2025 08:30 AM


Muslim leaders in the Karnataka Congress resign as rage over the Dakshina Kannada killings intensifies
In further trouble for the beleaguered Karnataka Congress, a number of Muslim leaders resigned from their positions on Thursday, including KPCC general secretary M S Mohammed and minority wing president K K Shahul Hameed of Dakshina Kannada district. This was due to an increase in communal violence in Dakshina Kannada.In the most recent incidence, a friend and coworker were gravely hurt when Abdul Rahim was hacked to death in broad daylight on Tuesday in Bantwal, close to Mangalaru. The Home Ministry, led by G Parameshwara, has been accused by the Congress employees who resigned of not doing enough to stop intercommunal violence in the area.In protest of the government's alleged inability to stop the string of "communal murders" in the district and its marginalization of community leaders, a number of Muslim Congress leaders in Dakshina Kannada, ranging from booth-level to state-level, announced their resignations from their party positions on Thursday. Under the direction of M.S. Mohammed, general secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, the statement was made at an emergency gathering of party workers held at Shadi Mahal in Bolara here. The leaders were compelled to announce their resignations by irate employees as they debated waiting a few more days for the government's response.Shahul Hameed, the president of the Congress's District Minority branch, informed party members that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had contacted him to caution local leaders against making any snap choices. According to Mr. Hameed, the CM urged him to wait a little while longer and informed him that the matter had also reached the party high command.
Published 31 May 2025 08:03 PM


To accelerate development, PM Modi calls on states to cooperate with the center.
Punjab laments "step motherly treatment," T.N. demands a larger portion of Central tax income, and the PM encourages States to create world-class tourism destinations and incorporate women into the workforce at the Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting.Some States, including Tamil Nadu and Punjab, complained to the Center while others offered proposals to accelerate their growth, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for the States to unite with the Center to accelerate national development.Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong case for cooperative federalism on Saturday, emphasizing the value of coordinated action between the federal government and the states. He said that no goal is impossible when India works as "Team India." The Prime Minister, who chaired the 10th meeting of Niti Aayog's Governing Council, emphasized the importance of accelerating development efforts in order to achieve a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047. The purpose of the gathering, which had as its topic "Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047," was to synchronize national and state developmental goals. "Every Indian aspires to Viksit Bharat. Bharat will be Viksit once all the states are Viksit. Prime Minister Modi stated, "This is what its 140 crore citizens want."The chief ministers of every state, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and a number of Union ministers make up the Governing Council, the highest authority within Niti Aayog. The Prime Minister promoted a bottom-up approach to development while serving as the council's head. "Our goal should be to make every state, city, Nagar Palika, and hamlet viksit. We won't have to wait till 2047 to achieve Viksit Bharat if we continue along these lines," he continued.He suggested that every state choose and create at least one internationally renowned tourism destination with all the amenities and infrastructure of today. "One State: One Worldwide Location." The Prime Minister pointed out that it will also result in the growth of nearby cities as tourism destinations.He called for an emphasis on creating "future-ready cities" with development driven by growth, innovation, and sustainability, acknowledging the rapid rate of urbanization in India. In addition, the Prime Minister emphasized the significance of boosting women's employment. He stated that in order for them to be politely included into the labor, rules and procedures must be created.
Published 28 May 2025 07:55 PM
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All Trending News in India


Disability court asks DGCA to ensure airline websites are accessible to the blind
disabilities has ordered the aviation regulator to ensure that the websites of airlines and travel portals are accessible to people who are visually impaired, failing which they should be barred from selling air tickets. If the travel agents fail to do so, then the DGCA shall not allow them to sell air tickets on any websites throughout the country. The DGCA should also levy fines for non-compliance by the airlines or the travel agents,” the Court of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has said, according to the record of proceedings uploaded on Tuesday. The January 5 order to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also directed the regulator to submit a report on action taken within 30 days.In a significant move towards promoting accessibility for persons with disabilities (PwD) in the aviation sector, the court of the Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) has issued a series of directives to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).The court's intervention came in response to a complaint highlighting critical accessibility issues faced by PwD in the aviation sector. One of the primary concerns raised was the non-compliance of airline and travel agent websites with accessibility guidelines mandated by the DGCA's 2014 instructions. This lack of conformity poses a significant challenge for individuals with total blindness, who are unable to independently book tickets, severely limiting their travel autonomy.Another issue brought to light by the complaint was the lack of awareness among call center and training staff regarding the assistance code required for passengers with disabilities. This oversight, coupled with limited options available in online reservation forms, creates additional barriers for PwD seeking necessary assistance.The complainant also highlighted the limitations faced by passengers with disabilities in web check-in processes. Citing concerns related to emergency seat allocation, airlines currently do not allow PwD to check-in online. This restriction further complicates the travel experience for individuals with disabilities.In response to these concerns, CCPD Rajesh Aggarwal emphasized that these issues fall within the framework of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and various judicial decisions. Recognizing the importance of accessibility, the CCPD directed the DGCA to take decisive action to address these challenges.
Published 23 Jan 2024 08:52 PM


Rahul vs Himanta in Assam: CM alleges Gandhi of ‘Naxalite tactics’; Congress MP says BJP actions helping Yatra. 5 points
Rahul vs Himanta in Assam: From facing restrictions in the state capital to being stopped from entering the temple, Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is vehement opposition in Assam. Meanwhile, the Wayanad MP continued to lash out at the Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP at public addresses during the foot march. Recently, Rahul Gandhi reiterated that the Assam government is one of the most corrupt state governments in the country, and said that BJP's attempts to thwart Bharat Jodo Yatra are helping the foot march to gain publicity. His comments have come after the Assam CM asked the DGP to register a case against the Congress leader for "provoking the crowd" to break barricades in the state. Earlier in the day, the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was stopped from entering Guwahati on Tuesday, triggering protests from Congress workers who broke barricades and raised slogans. Amid the high-voltage drama unfolding in Assam due to the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, here are all the updates on the Rahul Gandhi-led foot march. Whatever the Assam CM is doing against the Yatra, it benefits the Yatra. The publicity that we might have not got, by doing this the Assam CM & Union Home Minister Amit Shah are helping us. Now, the main issue in Assam is the Yatra. It is their intimidation tactics, our message of Nyay is reaching the people," said Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday while commenting on the restrictions imposed on his foot march in Assam. Touching important issues like unemployment, corruption, and inflation in Assam, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called CM Himanta Biswa Sarma one of the most corrupt chief ministers in the country.Earlier in the day, Assam CM instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to file a case against former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for "provoking the crowd" to break barricades, and called their actions "Naxalite tactics". Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was stopped from entering Guwahati. Heavy police force and barricades were placed in the main areas of the city. The restriction triggered massive protests from Congress workers who broke barricades and raised slogans. “We have broken barricades, but will not break the law," said Rahul Gandhi while addressing his party supporters on the outskirts of the city. A student interaction with Rahul Gandhi at the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, (USTM) located in Meghalaya's Ri Bhoi district, bordering Assam, was stopped on the instructions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, claimed the Congress leader.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:19 PM


India’s Republic Day invite to Afghanistan Taliban envoy Badruddin Haqqani is ‘routine’: Report
The Indian Embassy in the UAE has invited Taliban envoy Badruddin Haqqani for Republic Day celebrations. He represents Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. This gesture sparked significant debate. Critics argue that it indicates India's acceptance of the Taliban. However, Indian officials label it as a standard diplomatic procedure, as per The Hindu.Badruddin Haqqani, previously associated with the Haqqani network, is a contentious figure. This network orchestrated attacks on Indian missions in Afghanistan. The most notable was the 2008 Kabul Embassy bombing. It claimed 58 lives, including Indian diplomats and security personnel. The invitation for “His Excellency Badruddin Haqqani" has caused a stir in diplomatic circles. Afghanistan's Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ashraf Haidari, expressed disappointment. “This is utterly against Afghans’ basic expectation of India as an emerging democratic power to protect and defend Afghans’ human rights and to support their growing resistance against the same terrorists who bombed the Indian Embassy in Kabul and killed and wounded many Indian citizens," The Hindu quoted Haidari as saying.Afghanistan's Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ashraf Haidari, expressed disappointment. “This is utterly against Afghans’ basic expectation of India as an emerging democratic power to protect and defend Afghans’ human rights and to support their growing resistance against the same terrorists who bombed the Indian Embassy in Kabul and killed and wounded many Indian citizens," The Hindu quoted Haidari as saying. Globally, no country officially recognises the Taliban regime. However, several nations, including Russia, China and Central Asian states, have accredited Taliban representatives. In December 2023, China even accepted a Taliban-appointed ambassador, a first among nations. The Taliban's appointment of Badruddin Haqqani as envoy was seen as a significant development by their Acting Foreign Ministry. This appointment indicates expectations of strengthened ties between the UAE and the Taliban. The UAE recognised the Taliban during its initial rule from 1996 to 2001. While India has not officially reacted, The Hindu cited official sources to report that it was a “routine" invitation. The invite was extended to all diplomatic missions in the UAE, barring Pakistan, as per the sources. Sources have also revealed to the publication that the Afghan Embassy in Abu Dhabi still displays the Republic's tricolour. This contrasts with the Taliban's black and white flag. The Indian Embassy in New Delhi, reopened by Afghan Consuls linked with the Taliban, also retains the flag of the “Islamic Republic of Afghanistan", the publication added.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:18 PM


Modi shifts political agenda, failed to protect borders from China: Tharoor
Congress Working Committee member and MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shifting the political agenda every election year and alleged that the BJP-government at the Centre was unable to protect the nation's borders from Chinese encroachment.The hard hitting accusations from the MP from Thiruvananthapuram came on the eve of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony at Ayodhya on Monday. Tharoor said that Modi contested and won in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in the name of development and in 2019 in the name of national security by ordering surgical strikes on Pakistan.But now he cannot talk of development, following the problems caused to the public due to demonetisation nor can he raise the issue of national security as the government was unable to take back territory occupied by China, Tharoor claimed."So this time round, the only thing they have is their original cause -- Hindu Hriday Samrat. There is no doubt that would be their propaganda," he said. He further contended that the BJP's agenda was always politics."On January 22 the PM will officiate the ceremony at Ayodhya, then in February he will inaugurate a temple in Abu Dhabi and then elections will be announced. That is what I believe and I have said so earlier too," he told reporters.Tharoor said that the Congress plans to point out to the people the problems they are facing daily like scarcity of jobs, price rise and will ask them whether they have benefitted from the development claimed by the Central government. On being asked by reporters about the Congress leadership declining the invite to attend the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya, Tharoor said that the party felt it was a political programme.The MP from Thiruvananthapuram said that the party has always shown respect for religious beliefs of every individual."Each of us have our own religious beliefs and act accordingly. As a party, the stand is very clear. The Prime Minister is officiating what has become a very political exercise and we do not believe that is a good thing," he said.Asked whether he plans to offer prayers at a temple tomorrow on the occasion of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, Tharoor said, "I go to the temple to pray and not to play politics." He said people's faith and religious beliefs were a personal issue and he does not find fault with that. The Congress MP also found fault with the Central government closing the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on January 22 till 2.30 pm saying it would affect the large number of patients always waiting outside it for getting admitted or those requiring urgent medical aid."The government should withdraw the order. No hospital should be closed down. If people want to pray or watch the event on TV, that option is always available to them," he said.Meanwhile, AIIMS in Delhi has decided to remain open on Monday, reversing its earlier decision to shut OPD services till 2:30 pm on the occasion of the consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple.The Ram temple complex, built in the traditional Nagara style, will be 380 feet in length (east-west direction), 250 feet in width and 161 feet in height.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:18 PM


Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration Live Updates: Ram Temple lit up on eve of Pran Pratishtha; Aarti performed at Saryu Ghat
Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached Dhanushkodi. He visited Arichalmunai, which is said to be the place from where the Ram Setu was built. The PM also performed pooja at Sri Kothandarama Swamy temple. 'Kothandarama' means Rama with the bow. According to popular belief, it was at this place that Ravana's brother Vibhishana first met Lord Ram and sought refuge. According to legends and ancient scriptures, this is also the place where Lord Ram conducted the coronation of Vibhishana. The PM will later wind up his 3-day tour of Tamil Nadu, during which he inaugurated the Khelo India Games 2023 in Chennai on Friday. On Saturday, he visited the Sri Ranganathaswamy and Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy temples in Srirangam and Rameswaram, respectively. Stay with TOI for all live updates. On the eve of pranpratishtha ceremony of Ayodhya Ram Temple, the words 'Jai Sri Ram' illuminates a parade ground in Dehradun. Jewellers come up with new collections to commemorate Ram temple consecrationSeveral jewellery retailers have joined the bandwagon of the Ram Temple consecration, unveiling new collections with temple-style motifs and imagery of Lord Ram.Senco Gold & Diamonds has launched its 'SiyaRam' collection, while Kalyan Jewellers introduced 'Nimah', a heritage jewellery line-up, company officials said. "The atmosphere of devotion to Lord Ram is palpable everywhere in anticipation of the Ram Mandir inauguration,” said Suvankar Sen, MD & CEO of Senco Gold & Diamonds.TTD chairman hands over laddus to Ram temple representative in AyodhyaTirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman B Karunakara Reddy, who is currently in Ayodhya to participate in the consecration of the Lord Ram temple, handed over laddus from the temple body to a representative of the Ram Mandir Trust on Sunday.The TTD, the official custodian of Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, agreed to supply one lakh laddus for the Ayodhya Ram temple's consecration on Monday.Weighing 25 grams each, the laddus are meant for distribution among visitors during the consecration. They were dispatched in 350 boxes on a cargo plane to Ayodhya from Tirupati Airport recently.Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman reacted strongly on Sunday to a report in a Tamil newspaper that the Tamil Nadu government had banned special poojas in temples in the state managed by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments department during the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Monday. HR and CE minister P K Sekar Babu, who is attending the DMK youth conference in Salem, told TOI, “There is no such action.”Actors Kangana Ranaut, Shefali Shah, Pawan Kalyan, and Randeep Hooda were among the Indian cinema personalities who arrived in Ayodhya ahead of the grand Ram temple consecration ceremony.Veteran star Rajinikanth and music composer Shankar Mahadevan, who are also part of the event's guest list, were spotted at the Lucknow airport on Sunday as they left for the temple town. While about 8,000 people are in the long list of invitees for Monday's ceremony, the select list features 506 A-listers, including prominent politicians, leading industrialists, top film stars, sportspersons, diplomats, judges and high priests.Indian community in Taiwan celebrates the pranpratishtha of Ram temple in Ayodhya that will be held tomorrow, 22nd January 2024. Two events were organized on the eve of the occasion - one by the Indian diaspora in Taiwan and another by Isckon Taiwan.Actor Randeep Hooda along with his wife Lin Laishram arrives at the Lucknow airport to attend the Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony in Ayodhya tomorrowHe says, "We are very excited and looking forward to being present there and getting the blessings of Lord Ram. It is not just a religious event, it is also a cultural and heritage event..."Two Arogya Maitri Disaster Management Cube-BHISHM, revolutionary mobile hospitals equipped with cutting-edge technology, have been deployed in Ayodhya to bolster medical readiness and response capabilities during the upcoming 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony. This cube is a part of the broader initiative named “Project BHISHM” – Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri, is tailored to treat up to 200 casualties, emphasizing rapid response and comprehensive care. The Aid Cube is equipped with several innovative tools designed to enhance disaster response and medical support during emergencies. It integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics to facilitate effective coordination, real-time monitoring, and efficient management of medical services in the field: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:17 PM


Today in Politics: PM Modi to inaugurate Boeing campus in Bengaluru, caste census to begin in Andhra Pradesh
Plus, Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy will unveil a 125-foot Ambedkar statue in Vijayawada, and Karnataka Congress’s Lok Sabha election committee to meet in Bengaluru.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set for a whirlwind tour of three states on Friday. Making his second visit to Maharashtra in as many weeks, the PM will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Solapur around 10.45 am. In this week’s State Watch column, Shubhangi Khapre attempts to decipher the political signals from the PM’s Maharashtra focus. The PM will then travel to Bengaluru, where at around 2.45 am he will inaugurate a new state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre (BIETC) campus. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the 43-acre campus has been built for Rs. 1,600 crore and is Boeing’s largest such investment outside the US. Modi will also launch the Boeing Sukanya Programme that aims to support the entry of more girl children into the country’s growing aviation sector. The programme will create STEM Labs at 150 planned locations to help spark interest in STEM careers, according to the PMO. The government said at the time that it had committed to allocating Rs 15,000 crore annually for the welfare of the backward classes and would be able to direct resources to communities that need them the most if the population of each backward class group was known. In context: Last April, Jagan Mohan Reddy forwarded to the Central government an Assembly resolution asking it to simultaneously conduct caste census and population census but learnt that it would not happen anytime soon. The state government then decided to go ahead with the BC caste census to comprehensively enumerate backward classes region-wise, profession-wise, and under other parameters such as socio-economic status. Meanwhile, on Friday evening Jagan Reddy will unveil a 125-foot statue of Dr B R Ambedkar in Vijayawada. The statue, constructed for an estimated Rs 404 crore, stands on an 81-foot pedestal, making it a 206-foot monument. At a time when some of the major players in the INDIA alliance of Opposition parties are pushing for a nationwide caste census in an attempt to find an ideological counter-narrative to the BJP’s Hindutva politics, the Andhra Pradesh government led by YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is all set to begin a comprehensive caste census on Friday to enumerate all castes in the state.Initially, the scope of the exercise was limited to enumerating the 139 Backward Class (BC) communities but now it has been expanded to cover all castes in the state. To conduct the exercise, the government will extensively deploy the village secretariat system along with the volunteer system. The PM will then travel to Bengaluru, where at around 2.45 am he will inaugurate a new state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre (BIETC) campus. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the 43-acre campus has been built for Rs. 1,600 crore and is Boeing’s largest such investment outside the US. Modi will also launch the Boeing Sukanya Programme that aims to support the entry of more girl children into the country’s growing aviation sector. The programme will create STEM Labs at 150 planned locations to help spark interest in STEM careers, according to the PMO. Deputy CM and state Congress president D K Shivakumar has said former BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi who joined the party from the BJP before last year’s Assembly elections have also been invited to the meeting. Ministers in charge of districts have collected opinions from the areas under their jurisdiction and all that will be discussed at the meeting, according to Shivakumar.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:17 PM


In Karnataka, Congress govt fights shy of Dalit sub-quota poll pledge, puts ball in Centre’s court
Siddaramaiah Cabinet decides to urge the Centre to amend the Constitution by inserting a provision under Article 341 – Article 341(3) – to allow states to provide internal reservations Despite promising in its manifesto that it would implement the Justice A J Sadashiva Commission report to provide for internal reservations for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in Karnataka, the Congress dispensation in the state has now put the ball over the issue in the court of the BJP-ruled Centre.This was decided by the Congress Cabinet led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a meeting here on Thursday, following which the government said that the implementation of the Dalit sub-quotas would be only possible if the Central government ensures the amendment of Article 341 of the Constitution. “Parliament is the only authority (on the SC internal reservation issue). State government has no role – it is only a recommendatory body,” Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa said. The state government will compile a list of all recommendations made regarding Dalit sub-quotas and submit them to the Centre, he said.The Congress had made a pledge ahead of the May 2023 Assembly polls that it would accept the Sadashiva panel report soon after coming to power. However, the Minister claimed Thursday that it could not be done as the erstwhile Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government had rejected the panel’s report. “After the Congress announced (that it would accept the Sadashiva panel’s report), the BJP government, in a hurry, formed a Cabinet sub-committee under Law Minister and recommended SC internal reservations to the Centre. They (also) said that the Sadashiva Commission was irrelevant and closed,” Mahadevappa said.The Bommai government had announced the SC internal reservations in March 2023, days before the Election Commission’s model code of conduct came into force for the polls. The BJP government had then proposed sub-quotas in the 17% SC reservation in the state by splitting it into 6% for the most backward SC (Left) group, 5.5% for the less backward SC (Right), and 4.5% for the SC (touchable) group, with other SC communities getting the remaining 1%. This had triggered protests across the state, especially from the SC (touchable) groups such as Bhovis and Banjaras, who, in the past, were accused of cornering a lion’s share of the Dalit quota. The SC sub-quotas announced by the BJP government was based on Justice Nagamohan Das Commission’s report, Mahadevappa said. “They announced it without applying any legal mind.”The Nagamohan Das panel was constituted by the then BJP government in October 2019 to look into the demand of hiking SC/ST reservation.The Sadashiva panel was set up in 2005 by the then Congress-JD(S) government to look into the demand for the SC internal reservations, which submitted its report in 2012 to the then BJP government. However, it has not been tabled by the successive governments led by all the three major players – the Congress, BJP and JD(S).
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:17 PM


FIR against Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra for route deviation in Assam
An FIR has been lodged against the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' and its chief organizer KB Byju for reportedly straying from the approved route within Jorhat town, Assam, on Thursday, PTI reported citing police sources. According to an official statement, the march took an unauthorized direction in the town, deviating from the permitted KB Road route, causing a "chaotic situation" in the area. Some people fell due to the sudden rush of people and a stampede-like situation was created. A suo motu FIR has been registered at Jorhat Sadar Police Station against the Yatra and its chief organiser," he added. As per the official, the FIR states that the Yatra failed to adhere to the norms set by the district administration and violated road safety regulations. In response, Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia informed PTI that the FIR is a strategic move aimed at generating unwarranted obstacles for the Yatra. “There was no police manning the traffic diversion at the PWD point. The assigned route was too small and we had a huge gathering. So, we took a detour for just a few metres. Himanta Biswa Sarma is scared of the Yatra's success on the first day (in Assam) and now wants to derail it," he added. Furthermore, Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra reached Assam's Majuli. Party leader Jairam Ramesh said, “No rules have been broken. Assam Chief Minister is making all attempts to stop people from joining the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra. No one can stop this yatra. We are in Assam for the next 7 years. Let them arrest us, we accept the challenge." Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi in a post on X said, “The Chief Minister of Assam is the most corrupt Chief Minister of India, whose only work is to loot public money under the guise of hatred." The Assam segment of the march is scheduled to persist until January 25, covering a distance of 833 km across 17 districts. The Yatra, under the leadership of the Congress MP, began its journey from Manipur on January 14 and is slated to conclude on March 20 in Mumbai. The overall plan envisions the Yatra traversing a total of 6,713 km over 67 days, encompassing 110 districts in 15 states.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:16 PM


The history of pre-Independence violence at the Ram Janmabhoomi site
In 1855, when a great rapture took place between the Hindus and Muhammadans, the former occupied Hanuman Garhi in force, while the Musalmans took possession of the Janmasthan.On February 8, 1855, Major General G B Outram of the Awadh Frontier Police wrote to Wajid Ali Shah, the Nawab of Awadh, that there was a strong possibility of a Hindu-Muslim clash in Ayodhya. His fears came true five months later, when a bloody clash on July 28 left 75 members of the Muslim community dead. In his recent book Tryst With Ayodhya, journalist-turned-BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Punj quotes Outram’s letter: “It appears that Shah Ghulam Hussein has assembled a large force of Musalmans at the Kotuahain neighbourhood of Faizabad and is intent upon committing some dreadful breach of peace and is determined to destroy and ruin Hanuman Garhi, which is inhabited by Hindus. His Lieut. (asst.) called the Maulvee Sahib is even more diabolically inclined and ready for strife; hence the mendicants and devotees, who are there at the Hanuman Garhi (temple) in defence of their lives, have been obliged to arm themselves. Therefore, the Resident feeling exceedingly anxious on this subject, entreats His Majesty to dispatch a very swift camel messenger with all possible speed, most peremptory orders to cause the immediate apprehension of Ghulam Hussein and his coadjutors.” In its November 2019 judgment granting the Ayodhya title suit to the Hindu side, the Supreme Court too referred to the clash. “The Janmasthan is within a few hundred paces of Hanuman Garhi. In 1855, when a great rapture took place between the Hindus and Muhammadans, the former occupied Hanuman Garhi in force, while the Musalmans took possession of the Janmasthan. The Muhammadans on that occasion actually charged up the steps of the Hanuman Garhi, but were driven back with considerable force. The Hindus then followed up this success, and at the third attempt, took the Janmasthan, at the gate of which 75 Muhammadans are buried in the martyrs’ grave (ganj-e-shahid). Several of the King’s Regiment were looking on all the time, but their orders were not to interfere.” The judgment added: “It is said that up to that time, the Hindus and Muhammadans alike used to worship in the mosque-temple. Since British Rule, a railing has been put up to prevent disputes, within which is the mosque (where) the Muhammadans pray, while outside the fence, the Hindus have raised a platform on which they make their offerings.” Punj argues in his book that even as early as 1751, when the Marathas were on the ascendant, they had appealed to the Nawab of Awadh – whom they had helped vanquish Pathan forces in the Doab region – to transfer control of Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura to them. In 1756, too, when Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula sought their help against an imminent Afghan invasion, the Marathas requested that the three sites be transferred to them. Punj later writes about another unsuccessful attempt to capture Hanuman Garhi made by one Amir Ali Amethawi, who was killed by British troops.This sparked from an FIR filed by a Mohammad Salim on November 30, 1958, against some Nihang Sikhs, who had installed the Nishan Sahib and performed a havan inside the Babri Masjid, also writing ‘Ram’, says Punj.All this happened against the backdrop of the events of 1857-58, variously called the Sepoy Mutiny or India’s First War of Independence.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:16 PM


On way to Ayodhya, Ram is omnipresent, jostled by other concerns
There is Ram on flags, stoles, stickers and diyas as west UP gets ready to celebrate consecration; Muslims hold on to "peace", say Babri has nothing to do with them. IT IS almost noon and the winter fog has just begun to lift. From a distance, one can spot an array of saffron flags featuring Lord Ram fluttering at the shop of Joginder Singh. Located in Meerut on the Delhi-Meerut-Baghpat road, the shop also has on sale Diwali diyas, and piles of stickers and stoles with Ayodhya’s Ram Temple as the theme. A solitary Tricolour jostles for space.“Republic Day is coming, but there is greater enthusiasm for the Ram Temple inauguration. A lot of Shri Ram and Rudra Hanuman flags are being bought,” says Singh, 30. He usually sells baby diapers for a living. “But seeing the enthusiasm around Ram Temple, I have started selling these.” An Armyman, posted in Sikkim and at the shop bargaining for a flag, says, “it is all thanks to Baba (Yogi Adityanath)”. “Now we will celebrate January 22 (the day of the consecration of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya) like Diwali.”Across these western UP districts on the way from Delhi to Ayodhya, which have a significant Muslim population and history of communal tension, the excitement over the Ram Temple is palpable but uneven – tempered by caste, by religion, often, just daily pressures. The Indian Express interacted mostly with those born after the Babri Masjid demolition of 1992, unburdened by the weight of that history, their worldview shaped by the new temple narrative. Across the street, Sumit Sharma, a cigarette shop owner, and Sunny — both 30 – are discussing holding a drive to collect money from shopkeepers to decorate the market with lights on January 22. The talk moves on to how “(Prime Minister) Modi has put Muslims in their place”. Have Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan or Aamir Khan donated for the temple, they ask. “After three decades, the sacrifice of Hindus is bearing fruition. People are euphoric,” beams Sharma. A Brahmin who loves watching YouTube videos, particularly those of his favourite “Khan sir”, Sharma adds: “Once this market was dominated by Muslims. But after the 1987 riots, they retreated to the main city.” Sunny, who is a Kumhar (an OBC caste), says there are more changes ahead. “You will soon see crowds at Mathura Vrindavan falling by half. Krishna’s time is over, Ram is rising.”Outside the gates of the Meerut Institute of Technology, where students are waiting in biting cold to appear for their exams, this euphoria is more nuanced. “I am not interested in politics,” says Jai Dwivedi, when asked about the Ram Temple. “Though it is okay, there should be more focus on education and healthcare. There is not one good government hospital one can go to. People sell their land to get their loved ones treated.”
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:16 PM


Lost in his esoteric world of thesaurus...: Scindia takes aim at Shashi Tharoor in airport chaos spat
Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia responded to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's criticism of the Delhi Airport's handling during the winter fog season. In a series of posts, Scindia provided a detailed rebuttal, highlighting the government's proactive measures and the technical complexities in aviation operations. Tharoor had criticised the aviation ministry in his posts, using various media reports to emphasise the airport chaos.Scindia, taking a dig at Tharoor, remarked, "it is for someone who is lost in his esoteric world of thesaurus that data mining of selective press articles from the internet qualifies as research." He addressed Tharoor's concerns about the recent chaos at Delhi Airport, emphasising the critical importance of runway maintenance for passenger safety. Here are some actual facts for arm-chair critic Shashi Tharoor and the Cong IT Cell that might help tackle their lack of depth in understanding of technical sectors like civil aviation,” Scindia added.Scindia acknowledged that unforeseen pollution incidents and the enforcement of GRAP-IV in Delhi led to a delay in runway recarpeting, pushing its commissioning by a month.Responding to Tharoor's portrayal of the recent chaos as a "Modi govt-made disaster," Scindia clarified that runway maintenance work is a critical safety element, and any compromise with runway conditions directly jeopardises passenger safety. He explained that the maintenance was prioritised to be completed by December 15 before the onset of the fog season. However, due to pollution incidents and GRAP-IV enforcement, the recarpeting got delayed, and the revamped runway is set to become operatio this week. Tharoor had questioned the timing of runway repair, and Scindia clarified that maintenance work was essential for safety and was scheduled with priority. He addressed Tharoor's concern about a crane blocking CAT III-B operation, stating that it was used for another project and would now operate only on non-fog days. Scindia refuted Tharoor's claim about insufficiently trained pilots, presenting data that showed a significant increase in trained pilots over the years.The aviation minister concluded by mentioning that the DGCA mandates airlines to deploy CAT IIIB compliant aircraft only with qualified crews during the winter season. Any violations are strictly dealt with by the regulator, with show cause notices issued to SpiceJet and Air India.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:16 PM


After Gurpatwant Singh Pannuns threat, Bhagwant Mann says won let anti-Punjab forces succeed
A day after Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, designated terrorist by India, issued a veiled threat to him and the Punjab police chief, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said he is the custodian of peace and prosperity of the state and such intimidation tactics cannot stop him from this task. Speaking on the sidelines of a function to hand over job letters to youths, the chief minister said such threats are a natural outcome of the zero-tolerance policy adopted by his government against anti-Punjab forces and efforts are on to bring back criminals involved in anti-national activities from safe havens abroad to punish them.These people are trying to disturb the hard-earned peace of the state but his government will not allow these forces to succeed in their evil designs, he asserted."The masterminds of such anti-Punjab stances have taken shelter in countries abroad but we are trying to bring them back and punish them for their sins," he said.Mann said that being a border state, there are challenges both from within and outside the state but they will face them valiantly by not succumbing to such threats. The countries that are safe haven to such dreaded criminals should also send these hardcore criminals back to the state in the larger interest of world peace, said Mann.The countries that are safe haven to such dreaded criminals should also send these hardcore criminals back to the state in the larger interest of world peace, said Mann.The Indian government should also take steps to bring such dreaded anti-national criminals back to the country and punish them as per the law of the land, said the CM.Khalistani terrorist Pannun had asked gangsters in the state to join the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice and stop top political leaders from attending the Republic Day parade.Pannun was designated as terrorist by the Union home ministry under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Sikh for Justice banned in 2020.CM Mann also took a swipe at Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for targeting his government over the state debt issue.Mann dubbed the former cricketer as a "fugitive" saying he ran away from discharging his duty when he was offered the charge of Power minister."When he (Sidhu) was the minister, he did not do anything and when he was given the power department, he did not take it," said Mann.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:16 PM