DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:31:15 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/national/regulations-have-become-increasingly-micro-in-nature-arundhati-bhattacharya-at-jgu-report-release-671490.html Mumbai April 28 âRegulations have become highly micro in nature in India Instead we need to have the kind of ecosystem that rewards innovation encourages you to scale fast and fail fast that you can get up again and try againâ said Arundhati Bhattacharya Chairperson amp CEO Salesforce South Asia and Former Chairman State Bank of India She was speaking during the discussions at the Release of the Report on Regulatory Governance The Scope 2026 in MumbaiâRegulators need to develop a business development department I have found that regulators are almost always behind the innovation cycle Overregulation masks weak enforcement Essentially the enactment of the regulatory system is perfect Where we fail is in the execution Also there are regulators now in every single field It is also important that they keep in mind what is specifically required for a country like India to reach its potential growth Growth today is paramount because it provides the ecosystem for people to create businesses and livelihoods Regulators have a big role to play in this and I hope that with the Report on Regulatory Governance and with the kind of interactions that you and the young population over here have you will be able to nudge our regulators towards that goalâ Arundhati Bhattacharya saidIn his welcome Address Prof Dr C Raj Kumar Founding Vice Chancellor OP Jindal Global University said âWe have been assessing how an academic institution can play an active role in creating both knowledge and perspective towards understanding the regulatory landscape These will help create both legal and statutory as well as policy reforms that can help the regulatory landscape addressing some of the challenges that we face through regulations The Centre for Regulatory Governance CRG established at the OP Jindal Global University JGU focuses on strengthening the effectiveness accountability and transparency of regulatory institutions in India through research dialogue and capacitybuilding The inaugural 2026 report titled âRegulatory Governanceê The Scopeâ does not merely set out an aspirational vision it provides a rigorous analysis of regulatory governance spanning virtually all sectors A detailed analysis has been undertaken of the developments in the regulatory space to date initiatives and reforms aimed at improving effectiveness and aligning with global standards enriched by deep insightful thoughts from students experts and faculty We hope this report will invite wider discussion and collaboration as we move from conception to implementation of a renewed regulatory vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047âThe Government of India in the Union budgets and otherwise has asserted the relevance of enhancing regulatory performance as it has a direct nexus with ease of doing business and building trustbased governance With a projected growth of over 8 per cent in the last quarter of 2025 and initiatives like Digital India which have been actioned to meet the demands of the market the growth of regulatory capacity is not only desirable but also an urgent imperative For this purpose a study of regulators which brings together academics practitioners and the public from an interdisciplinary and comparative lens becomes crucial This scoping report spans multiple regulatory regimes and is an attempt to understand the challenges faced by regulatory authorities and present the reforms undertaken by them to address those challengesAjay Seth Chairman Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India IRDAI said âRegulations are essential for promoting competition protecting consumers and ensuring fair markets Regulators also face challenges in balancing efficiency stability and distribution In general all regulatory steps should be guided by principles that are farsighted The way forward has to be through deregulation as well as better regulationsâDuring the presentation of the report Prof Subhomoy Bhattacharjee Director Centre for Regulatory Governance Jindal Global Law School said that there was a strong need to understand how the regulators worked as a system of study and that the new Centre plans to develop an Annual Report with its core being a Regulatory Effectiveness IndexâThis was much before Budget 202526 announced the setting up of a highpowered committee on regulators and the Economic Survey 202526 discussed the need to set up institutions to study regulators It would be developed by the faculty of the University with the elements including a detailed analysis of Indias key regulators and bring in crosscountry comparisons to thus create a space for debate on the functionality and the effectiveness of the regulators The project was helped right at the inception by the active support of each of the regulators we met and we are deeply grateful to our Board of Advisersâ he saidWhen regulators provide a stable investment environment for companies to invest they automatically reduce the economic risk of failure A company must meet the demands of technology consumers and politics as markets around the world undergo transformation owing to these demands To that end it is the regulators that provide the longterm policy predictability as it is comprised of experts who can gauge the needs of the markets in advanceThe discussion was followed by the Technical Session on the theme Making Regulators Responsive to Citizens and included Archana Bhutani Partner amp India Regulatory Leader Deloitte India Pradeep Jayaraman CEO Adani Ports amp SEZ KG Krishnamoorthy Rao Managing Director amp CEO Generali Central Insurance and was moderated by Prof Avirup Bose Professor Jindal Global Law SchoolDuring the discussion it was opined that the growth of regulators can be attributed in large part to the growth of globalisation As businesses crossed borders it became necessary to formulate policies that provided certainty especially for capital repatriationThe panel provided a deeper insight into the regulatory models of the country especially with new developments like machine learning artificial intelligence and climate change and its impact on various sectors like energy healthcare power telecommunications fintech and coal In this age of AI regulators must defend themselves and prove that they are strategic assets that are necessary for providing a better bargaining power to the specific sector and to citizensThe Vote of Thanks was given by Prof Meghmala Mukherjee Assistant Professor Jindal Global Law School IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/regulations-have-become-increasingly-micro-in-nature-arundhati-bhattacharya-at-jgu-report-release-671490.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/unknown-gunmen-rock-lashkar-leadership-vacuum-deepens-trust-deficit-grows-671491.html New Delhi April 28 Even as the LashkareTayiba tries to rebuild following heavy losses during Operation Sindoor a leadership crisis is fast emerging within the group The killing of Sheikh Afridi a close aide of LashkareTayiba chief Hafiz Saeed clearly signals that the top rung is collapsingAfridi was killed by unknown gunmen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP by unidentified gunmen This follows the pattern of unknown gunmen killing top terrorists of both the LashkareTayiba and Hizbul MujahideenIn 2026 alone more than 30 such people have been killed by unknown gunmenThe incidents have been reported from Lahore Punjab Sindh KP Balochistan and KarachiWhat is interesting is that these unknown persons who carried out these hits have completed their job and vanished They are completely off the radar and the Pakistan security agencies have had hardly any success in nabbing them an official saidAn Intelligence Bureau official said that such killings are weakening the LashkareTayiba largely Like in the case of the JaisheMohammad the LashkareTayiba too is missing a fierce leaderHafiz Saeed is old and cannot lead like the way he used to be ZakiurRehman Lakhvi seems to have taken a back seat as a result of which the outfit lacks a strong operational headEarlier this month Amir Hamza also a very close associate of Hafiz Saeed was shot at This incident dented the prospects of the LashkareTayibaHamza was an ideological mentor and had the capability of bringing in recruits With him out of the picture the recruitment process has been hit badlyThe LashkareTayiba was already facing a major crisis when it came to recruitmentsAnother official said that the killing of Afridi is a huge blow for the LashkareTayiba He was not a lowlevel operative In fact he was overseeing the operations of the outfit in KP as well as Jammu and Kashmir Before his death he was trying to actively recruit youth for operations He was coordinating operations and overseeing the movement of terroristsThe official said that he was part of the inner circle of the LashkareTayiba and with his death the number of decision makers has come downThe official said that Operation Sindoor created a major trust deficit among the cadres of the LashkareTayiba The leadership was being questioned as they felt that all the tall promises which were made at the time of recruitment stood exposed thanks to the operation by the Indian armed forcesMoreover Saeed has not been active since the operation He is making efforts to rebuild the outfit but his presence in the open is very limited This has made the cadres question if Saeed is more bothered about his own safety when compared to that of the cadresThese killings by unknown gunmen too have added to the misery of the cadres They question that if top commanders recruiters and ideological heads can be gunned down with ease then where is the guarantee of their securityApart from the top leadership the cadres are also questioning the Pakistan establishment Not only do their camps get destroyed in operations by the Indian armed forces but their top leaders are not safe anywhere in PakistanThe ISI and Pakistan Army made tall promises at the time of recruitment However the events that have unfolded in the last several months have left the establishment exposed the official addedThe ISI and Pakistan Army are desperately working on a plan to ensure that the LashkareTayiba bounces back It would attempt a big hit in India so that the trust factor among the cadres is backIntelligence agencies say that Pakistan is desperate at the moment and in order to boost the morale of the terrorists and also cause a diversion from internal problems it would look to undertake a major operation on Indian soil IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/unknown-gunmen-rock-lashkar-leadership-vacuum-deepens-trust-deficit-grows-671491.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/chandrababu-naidu-ashwini-vaishnaw-lay-foundation-for-google-cloud-ai-hub-in-vizag-671492.html Visakhapatnam April 28 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu along with Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw laid the foundation stone for the Google Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam marking the beginning of a new era in the stateâs technological journey Google is going to invest 15 billion in the project making it one of the largest foreign direct investments FDIs in Indiaâs historyThe data centre with a total capacity of 1 gigawatt will be developed across nearly 600 acres in Tharluwada Adavivaram and Rambilli regionsSpeaking at the groundbreaking ceremony Chandrababu Naidu urged Google and its partners in the project AdaniConneX and Airtel Nxtra to complete the project for inauguration by September 2028 He assured all the help from the state government for the early completion of the projectHe termed Googles arrival as a gamechanger not just for Visakhapatnam but for the entire state of Andhra PradeshHe recalled that 30 years ago when he laid the foundation for Cyberabad as an IT City it evolved into a hub for wealth creationStating that this will be the largest data centre in Asia the Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh will emerge as the AI data gateway for the nationGoogle which began as a search engine is now transforming into a growth engine for India While everyone typically searches on Google in this instance Google searched and chose Andhra Pradesh he saidNaidu stated that Visakhapatnam has all the advantages and termed it the best destination for the mega project Assuring that there is no shortage of water he promised to bring water from the Godavari River to the city within 60 daysHe said the government would leverage the Google AI Data Centre to enhance the Speed of Governance that the government is committed to deliveringIn addition to the four secretaries at the CMO a new AI assistant will now assist me personally in ensuring effective and good governance he saidHe exuded confidence that with the arrival of Google the youth of Visakhapatnam will gain access to largescale employment opportunitiesChandrababu Naidu also announced that Bhogapuram International Airport will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in JulyThe ceremony was attended by Union Ministers Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu Pemmasani Chandrasekhar and Bhoopati Raju Srinivasa Varma state ministers Nara Lokesh Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy MP M Bharat US Consul General Laura E Williams Google Global Infrastructure and Google Cloud Vice President Vikas Kohli Adani Group Director Jeet Adani Adani Ports amp SEZ Ltd Managing Director Karan Adani Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman Rakesh Mittal and othersUnion Minister Vaishnaw noted that as a country India missed out on many technology cycles and that the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that India should take a lead in the new cycle of technologiesHe said while India became the IT services leader thanks to the initiatives in the 1990s and early 2000s it missed out on manufacturing of semiconductors servers laptops and mobile phones but the situation has changed over the last one decade with the launch of the Make in India initiativeFrom negligible electronic manufacturing today the mobile phone has become the single most exported commodity in the country overtaking gems and jewellery textiles and diesel he saidVaishnaw said that the Prime Minister has the vision to make India a major electronic manufacturing hub in the entire world In todayâs world of geopolitical uncertainties the world is looking for a trusted partner where IT rights will be protected and security concerns will be met This is possible only in India he saidAll global users of electronics were looking at India as a major sourcing design development and manufacturing hub for components modules submodules and finished products he said urging Google to focus on manufacturing their servers in India These data centres require a large number of servers We have the capability of manufacturing servers At least five companies are manufacturing highquality servers in IndiaHe urged the industry to collaborate in the AI Mission in improving power efficiency and also the efficiency in water consumptionThe central minister thanked Google for three subsea cables which will land in VizagHe noted that one cable will go to Australia via the Pacific Ocean to the West Coast of the US the second to the Middle East Europe and the US while the third will go to Cape of Good Hope and from there straight to the USGoogle Global infrastructure and Google Cloud Vice President Kohli stated that this is Googleâs largest commitment to Indiaâs digital future He termed it a foundation step towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047This project represents a 15 billion blueprint to deliver a fullstack AI ecosystem he said adding that they were proud to bring Googleâs bestinclass AI stack to India to help accelerate Indiaâs digital transformationHe noted that this hub includes the AmericaIndia connect initiative to deliver highcapacity subsea connectivity that India needs to lead the global AI economyBy establishing Visakhapatnam as an international subsea gateway we will add vital diversity to the existing landings in Mumbai and Chennai increasing the resilience of Indiaâs digital backbone and improving economic security he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/chandrababu-naidu-ashwini-vaishnaw-lay-foundation-for-google-cloud-ai-hub-in-vizag-671492.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/eam-jaishankar-and-unga-president-discuss-reformed-multilateralism-sdgs-and-west-asia-conflict-671501.html New Delhi April 28 IANS External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar held a meeting with United Nations General Assembly UNGA President Annalena Baerbock in New Delhi on Tuesday discussing UN80 sustainable development goals SDGs Artificial Intelligence AI implications and the ongoing West Asia conflictnbspDuring the meeting EAM Jaishankar stressed the need for reformed multilateralism which is reflective of todays realities especially the Global SouthA pleasure to host UNGA President Annalena Baerbock this afternoon in New Delhi Discussed UN80 SDGs AI implications and the West Asia conflict Underscored the need for reformed multilateralism reflective of todays realities particularly of the Global South Thanked her for her leadership and contributions EAM Jaishankar posted on XEarlier in the day Baerbock paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat in Delhi The UNGA President arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a twoday visit to India at the invitation of EAM JaishankarA warm welcome to UNGA President Ms Annalena Baerbock on her official visit to India The visit reaffirms Indias steadfast engagement with the UN the MEA spokesperson posted on XDuring her visit Baerbock will also have an interactive session with representatives from the Ministry of Electronics and IT MEITY on governance and regulation of Artificial Intelligence AIAhead of her arrival in India the UNGA Presidents spokesperson said that Baerbock will meet with the UN team in India led by Resident Coordinator Stefan PriesnerThis is the second highlevel UN visit to India after SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres trip to attend the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in FebruaryBaerbock is scheduled to travel to China after concluding her visit to IndianbspThe UNGA President is quite familiar with India having even travelled on New Delhis Metro in one of her visits as Germanys Foreign Minister to enhance ties with the country But this is her first time as the president of the General AssemblyDuring her first visit as minister in 2022 she said Without a doubt India will play a key role in shaping the international order of the 21st century in the IndoPacific and beyondThat India has lifted 400 million people out of extreme poverty in 15 years shows that a pluralistic society freedom and democracy are drivers of economic development peace and stability she addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/eam-jaishankar-and-unga-president-discuss-reformed-multilateralism-sdgs-and-west-asia-conflict-671501.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-gets-grand-welcome-in-varanasi-women-power-in-spotlight-671502.html Varanasi April 28 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Tuesday for a twoday visit receiving a grand welcome at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport from Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and senior BJP leadersnbspThe visit is marked by a massive show of womens participation at the JanAakrosh Mahila Sammelan at BLW Ground where the Prime Minister is set to address thousands and roll out 163 development projects aimed at accelerating growth in the regionAfter landing the Prime Minister travelled by helicopter to the Bareka helipad and proceeded to the guest house He is scheduled to address the gathering at around 5 pm Notably the entire event is being managed by women from stage anchoring to security arrangements underscoring the focus on womenled leadershipA large turnout of women and female students is expected with 44 women representatives set to share the stage raising issues related to empowerment safety selfreliance and equal opportunities The event is being described as one of the largest womencentric political gatherings in KashiEarlier in the day PM Modi accompanied by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other ministers offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Along with the Prime Minister BJPs National President Nitin Naveen the Deputy CM and several other senior leaders have also arrived in KashiDuring the visit the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for 163 projects worth Rs 633208 crore Of these 50 projects worth Rs 105469 crore will be inaugurated while foundation stones will be laid for 113 projects valued at Rs 527739 crore He will also transfer a bonus of Rs 105 crore to lakhs of milk producers linked with AmulThe projects span key sectors including road infrastructure railway overbridges flyovers healthcare and education facilities drinking water supply sewerage systems sanitation sports infrastructure pond rejuvenation green energy initiatives and urban development These measures are expected to significantly strengthen infrastructure in Purvanchal and boost regional developmentIn a push to rail connectivity the Prime Minister will also flag off two Amrit Bharat Express trains one between Banaras and Pune Hadapsar and another connecting Ayodhya with Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak TerminusThis is PM Modis 54th visit to Varanasi over the past 11 years and his first in 2026 His previous visit to the city was in November 2025 The visit is being seen as significant for its dual emphasis on women empowerment and a major developmental push in eastern Uttar PradeshIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-gets-grand-welcome-in-varanasi-women-power-in-spotlight-671502.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-offers-prayers-at-tirumala-temple-671505.html Tirupati April 28 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Tuesday offered prayers at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple atop Tirumala near here He was accorded a warm welcome by Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy along with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam TTD Chairman BR Naidu Executive Officer Muddada Ravichandra and other TTD officials A team of temple priests extended a traditional ceremonial welcome âIstikaphalâ to himSubsequently he paid his obeisance to the Dwajasthambham temple flagpole and offered prayers Thereafter he visited and offered prayers at the shrines of Goddess Vakulamata Lord Vimana Venkateswara the Bhashyakara Sannidhi shrine of the Acharyas and Lord Yoga Narasimha SwamyLater at the Ranganayakula Mandapam Vedic scholars rendered âVedasirvachanamâ Vedic blessings The TTD Chairman and the EO presented the Vice President with a portrait of the presiding deity along with âTeertha Prasadamâ sacred water and consecrated foodThe Vice President also visited and offered prayers at the shrine of Bedi Anjaneya Swamy located directly opposite the main templeTTD Additional Executive Officer Venkaiah Chowdary and TTD Board Member Bhanu Prakash Reddy were among those who welcomed the Vice President and facilitated the arrangements for the darshanMeanwhile according to a post on the Vice Presidentâs official âXâ account he prayed for peace prosperity and the wellbeing of allThe Vice President on Monday addressed the centenary celebrations of Andhra University in Visakhapatnam He later arrived in TirupatiThis is the second time that Radhakrishnan has offered prayers at the Tirumala temple after assuming office as Vice PresidentHe earlier visited Andhra Pradesh on September 2425 2025 engaging in a series of cultural and spiritual programmes in Vijayawada and TirumalaOn September 25 he visited the Tirumala temple and had darshan praying for the wellbeing of all citizens He had also inaugurated the newly constructed Pilgrim Amenities Centre PAC âVenkatadri Nilayamâ at TTD in the presence of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ministers and senior officials IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-offers-prayers-at-tirumala-temple-671505.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-attaches-assets-worth-near-rs-8-crore-in-indore-bank-fraud-case-671507.html BhopalIndore April 28 The Indore Sub Zonal Office of the Enforcement Directorate ED has taken a decisive step in a highprofile financial investigation by provisionally attaching immovable properties valued at Rs 776 crore This action was carried out on April 24 under the rigorous provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of 2002 The assets involved in this attachment consist of various land parcels held in the name of Ruchi Acroni Industries Limited a firm currently operating under the name Steeltech Resources LimitedThis latest move brings a renewed focus on the legal consequences of corporate financial irregularities within the region a press release said on TuesdayThe investigation was originally launched by the agency following an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation AntiCorruption Branch in Bhopal The charges against the company include violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal CodeAllegations suggest that the entity engaged in a sophisticated scheme to defraud UCO Bank in Indore Madhya Pradesh resulting in a staggering wrongful loss exceeding Rs 58 croreThe company is accused of dishonestly siphoning and diverting bank funds through a series of investments in group companies and by extending loans and advances to various associate concernsDetailed findings from the Enforcement Directorate reveal a complex pattern of financial deception The probe indicates that credit facilities and letters of credit were obtained through the submission of forged fabricated and manipulated documentsThese transactions lacked any genuine underlying trade activity Once secured the proceeds were intentionally diverted and routed through a web of interlinked entities under common ownership and control to mask their origin The siphoned funds were systematically layered before being utilised to acquire the immovable properties now under state attachmentThis is not the first time the agency has moved against the assets of this group Previously the Indore office had attached properties worth Rs 1015 crore in connection with the same matterWith this latest attachment the total value of seized assets continues to climb as authorities work to recover the proceeds of crimeThe Enforcement Directorate has confirmed that further investigation into the network of transactions and associated entities remains in progress to ensure full accountability for the loss caused to the public sector bank IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-attaches-assets-worth-near-rs-8-crore-in-indore-bank-fraud-case-671507.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/no-plan-to-hike-fuel-prices-govt-assures-amid-west-asia-tensions-671512.html New Delhi April 28 IANS The Centre on Tuesday said there is no proposal at present to increase retail fuel prices seeking to calm concerns amid rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia that have impacted global energy marketsnbspAddressing an interministerial briefing Sujata Sharma Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said petrol and diesel prices will remain unchanged for now even as the government continues to monitor the evolving situationLPG petroleum and diesel are available in sufficient amounts and the prices have not increased so please do not panic Sharma saidShe also reassured consumers about the adequate availability of essential fuelsSharma acknowledged that imports of crude oil liquefied petroleum gas LPG and piped natural gas PNG have been affected due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia but stressed that steps have been taken to ensure minimal disruptionThe government has ensured 100 per cent supply for domestic LPG and PNG consumers as well as for CNG used in transportation she statedWhile commercial LPG supplies have been partially impacted availability has been restored to around 70 per cent with priority being given to critical sectors such as hospitals and educational institutionsEssential industries including pharmaceuticals steel seeds and agriculture are also being prioritised to avoid any major supply bottlenecks she saidIn a bid to support vulnerable sections the supply of 5kg free trade LPG cylinders commonly used by migrant labourers has nearly doubled Sharma addedThe governments reassurance comes at a time when global oil markets remain volatile due to uncertainty in West Asia a key oilproducing regionOfficials said the situation is being closely tracked to maintain supply stability and prevent any immediate impact on domestic fuel pricesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/no-plan-to-hike-fuel-prices-govt-assures-amid-west-asia-tensions-671512.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-attaches-additional-assets-of-anil-ambani-group-worth-rs-3-034-crore-in-rcom-case-671515.html New Delhi April 28 The Enforcement Directorate ED has attached another set of assets valued at Rs 303490 crore in the Reliance Communications RCom Ltd bank fraud case bringing the total attachment in Reliance Anil Ambani Group cases to over Rs 19344 crore according to an agency statement issued on Tuesday The special investigation team SIT constituted on the directions of the Supreme Court is investigating the Reliance Anil Ambani Group RAAG cases involving diversion and laundering of bank and public fundsED has provisionally attached assets worth Rs 303490 crore under section 5 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA in the Ms Reliance Communications Ltd RCom bank fraud case The provisional attachment under PMLA has been made to prevent dissipation of assets and to protect the interests of banks and the public the statement saidThe ED investigation was initiated based on multiple CBI FIRs registered on the complaints of State Bank of India Punjab National Bank Bank of Baroda and Life Insurance Corporation of India against RCom Anil D Ambani and othersRCom and its group companies availed loans from domestic and foreign lenders of which a total amount of Rs 40185 crore is outstandingED investigation revealed certain assets of the Promoter Group including a flat in the Usha Kiran Building Mumbai a farmhouse in Khandala Pune and a land parcel in Sanand Ahmedabad Besides 771 crore shares of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd held by Ms RiseE Infinity Pvt Ltd were also attached RiseE Infinity is a group entity of Anil Ambani under the RiseE Trust umbrella which is a private family trust of the members of Anil Ambaniâs family The RiseE Trust was set up to ensure wealth preservation and resource generation by aggregation of properties in RiseE Trust and shield it from the personal liabilities of Anil Ambani in the form of personal guarantees extended by him to lender banks against the loans sanctioned to RCom The properties were intended to be beneficially used and owned by the Anil Ambani family and not for the distressed public banks whose loans turned NPA the statement saidUnder Section 8 of PMLA confiscated property would be restored to legitimate claimants who suffered loss including victim banks Thus the attachment preserves value so that after due legal process public money can be recovered and restored to banks and ultimately the general public in accordance with the law The ED is committed to safeguarding the financial system and protecting public funds by identifying and attaching assets involved in money laundering the statement saidFurther investigation is in progress in the case the statement added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-attaches-additional-assets-of-anil-ambani-group-worth-rs-3-034-crore-in-rcom-case-671515.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-hc-rejects-suspended-ias-officer-vinay-chaubeys-bail-plea-in-hazaribagh-land-scam-671516.html Ranchi April 28 Suspended IAS officer Vinay Chaubey who has been in judicial custody for the past nearly 11 months in the highâprofile Sevayat land irregularities case in Jharkhand suffered a major setback on Tuesday as the Jharkhand High Court rejected his bail plea After the arguments were completed from both sides the court reserved its order on Thursday and the decision was pronounced on TuesdayThe case relates to ACB Case No 112025 Chaubey is accused of playing a role in the illegal purchase and sale of Sevayat land during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Hazaribagh As per the rules in Jharkhand Sevayat land cannot be sold or purchasedThe investigating agency has alleged that irregularities were committed in land transfers by disregarding established rules and norms resulting in violations of government provisionsThe bail plea was heard in detail by a bench of Justice Anubha Rawat ChoudharyOpposing the bail application Special Public Prosecutor Sumit Garodia appearing on behalf of the AntiâCorruption Bureau ACB argued that the case was of a serious nature and involved the complicity of several influential persons He maintained that granting bail at this stage could adversely affect the ongoing investigationOn the other hand senior advocate RS Mazumdar representing Chaubey submitted before the court that his client had been in jail for a long period of time and had been cooperating with the investigation and therefore deserved bailAfter considering the submissions of both sides the High Court declined to grant bail to ChaubeyApart from Chaubey the ACB has named a total of 73 accused in the case including his close associate Vinay Singh Singhâs wife Snigdha Singh Hazaribagh MLA Pradeep Prasad then Circle Officer Shailesh Kumar and broker Vijay SinghThe ACB is carrying out a detailed investigation into the matter and continues to probe landârelated documents and financial transactions linked to the case IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-hc-rejects-suspended-ias-officer-vinay-chaubeys-bail-plea-in-hazaribagh-land-scam-671516.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-meets-padma-awardees-distinguished-personalities-in-gangtok-671402.html New Delhi April 28 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he interacted with Padma awardees and several distinguished personalities during his visit to Gangtok describing the exchange as engaging and wideranging Taking to X the Prime Minister wrote âIn Gangtok earlier this evening interacted with Padma awardees and people who have distinguished themselves in different fields It was wonderful discussing a wide range of issuesâHe also shared a photograph from the interactionEarlier on Monday Gangtok witnessed a large public turnout during PM Modis roadshow in Sikkim for the closing ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the stateâs statehood Thousands of people from across Sikkim gathered to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister and take part in the occasionThe streets of the capital city were packed from early morning reflecting the public response to the Prime Ministerâs visit Residents from remote and farflung areas travelled long distances to be part of the event turning the roadshow into a large public gathering with visible participation across the cityBikash Basnet Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Sikkim told IANS the turnout was unprecedented âEveryone here in Gangtok was so excited People started gathering since morning Itâs been almost a year since we have been waiting for his presence People from farflung areas of Sikkim gathered here in Gangtok Every corner of the city was filled with people We could see the excitement on peopleâs faces It was historic and a proud moment for every Sikkimeseâ he saidThe Prime Ministerâs visit coincided with celebrations linked to the stateâs golden jubilee year adding to the significance of the eventKunzang Gyatso an Everest climber and President of the Sikkim Sports Climbing Association said the visit had inspired the younger generation âWe are very delighted to see the Prime Minister especially our young generation I would like to thank Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang for inviting him for the golden jubilee celebrationsâ he saidResidents described the visit as a moment of pride for the stateSubedar Ranjit Khaling a former Army personnel said âWe were so excited to see the Prime Minister here that we cannot describe it in words Such a big leader coming to our small state in the Northeast is a very proud moment for usâAfter the roadshow concluded celebrations continued across Gangtok with people seen gathering in groups singing and moving through the streets reflecting the festive atmosphere in the city IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-meets-padma-awardees-distinguished-personalities-in-gangtok-671402.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-hear-pil-challenging-reduction-in-qualifying-percentiles-for-neet-pg-today-671416.html New Delhi April 28 The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear a batch of pleas challenging the reduction in the qualifying cutoff percentile for the NEETPG 2025â26 examination During a brief hearing senior advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan appearing for the petitioners earlier submitted that a sufficient number of candidates had already qualified the NEETPG examination to fill all available postgraduate seats and that a reduction in the cutoff was unwarrantedHe argued that vacant seats persisted not due to a lack of eligible candidates but because many qualified aspirants were unable to take admission owing to high feesOn the other hand senior advocate DS Naidu appearing for a candidate supporting the cutoff reduction backed the Centreâs stand and contended that lowering the percentile would not dilute academic standards as all candidates are required to clear the MBBS qualification examinationHowever the bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe did not go into the merits of the controversy and posted the matter for detailed hearing on TuesdayThe issue stems from a public interest litigation PIL challenging the decision to drastically reduce the qualifying cutoff percentiles for NEETPG 2025â26Earlier the Justice Narasimhaled Bench had issued notice to the Union government the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences NBEMS the National Medical Commission NMC and the Medical Counselling Committee MCCThe plea filed by advocate Satyam Singh Rajput contended that the decision to lower qualifying standards to abnormally low zero or even negative percentiles after declaration of results and completion of two rounds of counselling is arbitrary and unconstitutional violating Articles 14 and 21 of the ConstitutionIt cautioned that allowing candidates with such scores to enter postgraduate medical training could compromise patient safety public health and the integrity of medical educationDescribing the move as unprecedented and extreme the petition argued that NEETPG meant to act as a national screening mechanism had been reduced to an instrument certifying failure as eligibility and further contended that the rules of the game cannot be altered after the selection process has commencedDefending the decision the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare told the Supreme Court that the cutoff reduction was taken after detailed deliberations by expert bodies in view of a large number of vacant postgraduate seats and to ensure optimal utilisation of healthcare infrastructureIn an affidavit the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS said the challenge was misconceived as it pertained to an academic and policy decision taken within the statutory framework of the National Medical Commission Act 2019Placing data on record the Centre said that for the academic session 2025â26 around 70000 seats were available including 31742 under the AllIndia Quota AIQ of which 9621 remained vacant after the second round of counsellingIt added that nearly 20000 postgraduate seats were likely to remain unfilled nationwide prompting a review of the cutoffAccording to the Union government the decision rendered over one lakh additional candidates eligible for the third round of counselling without altering inter se merit or compromising standardsIt also highlighted that similar reductions had been undertaken in previous years including lowering the qualifying percentile to zero across categories in 2023Arguing that courts should refrain from interfering in academic and policy matters unless decisions are shown to be arbitrary or unconstitutional the Centre urged dismissal of the petition as devoid of merit IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-hear-pil-challenging-reduction-in-qualifying-percentiles-for-neet-pg-today-671416.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-local-poll-results-today-counting-to-commence-at-designated-centres-671417.html Gandhinagar April 28 The counting of votes for Gujaratâs extensive local body elections is scheduled on Tuesday with results expected later in the day according to officials from the State Election Commission The counting process will determine the outcome across 15 Municipal Corporations 84 Municipalities 34 District Panchayats and 260 Taluka Panchayats where polling was held on April 26Officials said counting will begin at designated centres with security and administrative arrangements put in place across districtsMore than 9000 seats are at stake in the elections making it one of the largest grassroots electoral exercises in the stateA total of 32748 nominations had been filed with over 26000 candidates remaining in the fray after withdrawals while several seats were declared elected unopposed ahead of pollingThe elections were contested by major political parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Congress and Aam Aadmi Party AAP along with independents and smaller partiesCampaigning had concluded following a mandated silence period before polling which was conducted using electronic voting machines EVMs across thousands of polling stationsVoter turnout in the local body elections varied across tiers according to data released by the State Election CommissionParticipation stood at 4902 per cent in Municipal Corporations reflecting relatively lower engagement in urban centres while Municipalities recorded a turnout of 5950 per centIn rural bodies turnout was higher with 6169 per cent in District Panchayats and 6238 per cent in Taluka PanchayatsMeanwhile byelections to 13 seats in 11 municipalities saw a turnout of 5538 per centIn Ahmedabad counting will take place at centres including LD Engineering College and Gujarat College with traffic restrictions imposed in surrounding areas from midnight to facilitate the process and ensure securityThe polls conducted after delimitation and implementation of a 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in local bodies are being closely watched as an indicator of political strength at the grassroots level ahead of future elections in the stateOfficials said results will be declared after completion of counting procedures across all centres IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-local-poll-results-today-counting-to-commence-at-designated-centres-671417.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/man-killed-in-low-intensity-blast-on-delhi-rajpura-rail-track-in-punjab-671424.html Chandigarh April 28 A man was killed in a lowintensity blast reported on the DelhiRajpura railway track near Shambhu town in Punjabâs Patiala district police said on Tuesday The police believed the man who was trying to plant the bomb was killed when it exploded His badly mutilated body torn into pieces was recovered near the siteThe incident was reported Monday night Officials are probing whether it was an attempted sabotage or part of a larger conspiracyForensic teams are now working to determine the exact nature of the explosionDeputy Inspector General Kuldeep Chahal and Senior Superintendent of Police SSP Varun Sharma reached the spot immediately after the blastâThe body and circumstantial evidence suggest the accused may have died while trying to plant the bomb The investigation is at a very preliminary stageâ an official saidThe blast damaged railway tracks near Shambhu forcing the Indian Railways to stop train movement on the route as a precautionSSP Sharma said swift action prevented any untoward incident âThe area is secured and an investigation is underway to identify those responsibleâ he said adding âThe individual involved in the attempt died at the scene and the body was recovered No loss of life or damage to property was reportedâFormer Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has condemned the incident by saying it was a serious intelligence failure that led to a cowardly blast attempt on the DelhiRajpura railway track near ShambhuâIt is clear that no preventive action was taken despite a specific threat being received days earlier This comes after multiple blasts on police stations and posts and even an RPG attack on the state Intelligence headquartersâ Shiromani Akali Dal President Badal wrote on XâPunjab Chief Minister BhagwantMann who is also the Home Minister must come out of his deep slumber and take urgent steps to secure vital infrastructure His callous approach is pushing Punjab back into the old dark era which is totally unacceptableâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/man-killed-in-low-intensity-blast-on-delhi-rajpura-rail-track-in-punjab-671424.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/char-dham-yatra-role-of-adi-shankaracharya-in-revival-of-badrinath-restoration-of-kedarnath-671427.html New Delhi April 28 Adi Shankaracharya the 8thcentury Indian philosopher and theologian played a foundational role in shaping the Char Dham Yatra and reviving key Hindu pilgrimage sites including Badrinath and Kedarnath His efforts not only restored sacred temples but also helped unify spiritual traditions across the Indian subcontinent The origins of the Char Dham Yatra can be traced to Shankaracharyaâs vision of creating a cohesive spiritual framework for Hindus He established four major pilgrimage centres in the four cardinal directions of India Badrinath in the north Puri in the east Dwarka in the west and Sringeri in the south This network of sacred sites symbolised cultural and religious unity encouraging devotees from different regions to undertake a shared spiritual journeyA significant contribution of Shankaracharya was the establishment of four mathas or monastic centres to oversee these pilgrimage sites These included Jyotirmath in the north near Badrinath Govardhana Math in Puri Sharada Math in Dwarka and Sringeri Math in the south These institutions continue to play a vital role in preserving religious practices and teachingsShankaracharya is also credited with the revival of the Badrinath shrine According to traditional accounts he discovered the idol of Lord Badrinath in the Narad Kund and consecrated it in a newly established temple He further systematised temple rituals and is believed to have brought Nambudiri Brahmins from Kerala to serve as priests a practice that continues to this dayIn Kedarnath Shankaracharya is said to have rebuilt the temple restoring it as a major centre of Shaivite worship It is also widely believed that he attained samadhi near the Kedarnath shrine marking the site as one of immense spiritual importanceHis contributions extended beyond physical restoration Through his travels and teachings Shankaracharya composed several hymns and philosophical texts that reinforced the spiritual significance of these sacred sites His work laid the foundation for the continued prominence of the Char Dham YatraToday the Char Dham Yatra remains one of the most revered pilgrimages in Hinduism attracting hundreds of thousands of devotees annually Pilgrims undertake the journey seeking blessings spiritual purification and ultimately moksha or liberationSet amidst the majestic Himalayan landscape the shrines of Yamunotri Gangotri Kedarnath and Badrinath offer an atmosphere of deep reflection and devotion The traditional sequence of the yatra begins at Yamunotri followed by Gangotri then Kedarnath and concludes at Badrinath IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/char-dham-yatra-role-of-adi-shankaracharya-in-revival-of-badrinath-restoration-of-kedarnath-671427.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jaisalmer-sizzles-at-464-degrees-rajasthan-in-grip-of-intense-heatwave-671445.html Jaipur April 28 Jaisalmer in Rajasthan has recorded an unprecedented spike in temperatures setting a new April record at 464 degrees Celsius This surpasses the previous high of 463 degrees registered on April 18 2025 marking one of the most intense heat episodes in recent years Over the past 24 hours maximum temperatures across all major cities in the state exceeded 40 degrees Severe heatwave conditions were recorded in Jaisalmer Barmer Jodhpur Bikaner Bharatpur Dholpur Karauli and parts of Jaipur Ajmer recorded a high of 425 degrees with minimal relief despite light windsIn Kota the mercury soared to 457 degrees breaking an eight year record on Sunday Authorities at Abheda Biological Park have made special arrangements including water ponds to protect animals from the heatAfter enduring severe heat through the afternoon weather conditions shifted across several districts Regions including Ganganagar Bikaner and Hanumangarh witnessed thunderstorms accompanied by rain while hailstorms were reported in parts of Bikaner and GanganagarBy Monday evening dusty winds and light showers extended to Churu Jhunjhunu Sikar Nagaur Alwar and surrounding areas offering temporary respite The change in weather was triggered by an active Western Disturbance bringing muchneeded relief to residents battling extreme heat and heatwave conditions across RajasthanThe Meteorological Centre in Jaipur has issued a âyellow alertâ for thunderstorms and rain in 11 districts However heatwave conditions are expected to persist in two districts indicating a mixed weather pattern across the state Despite brief evening showers Jaipur remained gripped by intense heat The maximum temperature reached 435 degrees Celsius 32 degrees above normal while the minimum stood at 317 degrees a significant 65 degrees above averageSikar experienced a shift in weather during the evening with strong winds and light rain after a hot day of 42 degreesUdaipur continued to face persistent heat recording maximum temperatures of around 42 degrees over consecutive daysTo mitigate heat impact municipal authorities carried out water sprinkling on city roadsDistrict Collectors have been authorised to declare school holidays based on local heat conditionsEarlier the Directorate of Secondary Education had permitted changes in school timings to safeguard studentsOverall Rajasthan remains under the grip of extreme heat with intermittent weather changes offering only shortlived relief Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while advising residents to take necessary precautions IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jaisalmer-sizzles-at-464-degrees-rajasthan-in-grip-of-intense-heatwave-671445.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/trinamool-worker-shot-at-by-bike-borne-men-in-bengals-halisahar-probe-on-671452.html Kolkata April 28 A Trinamool Congress worker in Halisahar in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district was shot at by bikeborne masked miscreants said the police on Tuesday Trinamool has directly accused the BJP of attacking its worker Prosenjit Maulik alias Raja was seriously injured in the shootout on the last day of campaigningHe has been admitted to the Kalyani JNM Hospital in a critical condition There has been intense tension over this incident before the second phase of voting on WednesdayA large police force has rushed to the spot after receiving the news The reason for this incident is still not clear An investigation into the incident has already started A vigorous search has been started to find the miscreants who were responsible for the shootingAccording to the police Trinamool worker Raja a resident of Khasbati North Road was standing on the roadside on Misri Pukur Road in Ward No 9 of Halishahar on Monday night when some masked miscreants on a bike opened fire at him A total of three rounds of shots were fired at himIt is learnt that one bullet hit Raja in the stomach and the other two bullets hit the mobile phone in his pocket After that the Trinamool worker fell and the locals rescued him and took him to Kalyani JNM HospitalThe political tension in the area intensified after the incidentBijpur Trinamool candidate Subodh Adhikari claimed This is the culture of the BJP This attack was carried out by miscreants out of fear of their impending defeatHowever BJP candidate Sudipta Das dismissed the allegations and said The miscreants in the area are Trinamool supporters It is not known why the incident happened It could also be due to the Trinamools own conflictThe police said that an investigation into the incident has been launched A search is underway to find the attackersAs many as 142 constituencies will go to the polls on Wednesday in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal Counting of votes will be held on May 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/trinamool-worker-shot-at-by-bike-borne-men-in-bengals-halisahar-probe-on-671452.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/we-committed-100-billion-to-build-a-platform-that-supports-indias-ai-growth-jeet-adani-671458.html Visakhapatnam April 28 For India to lead in the age of artificial intelligence AI it must build infrastructure at scale within the country and this is why we have committed 100 billion to build a platform that supports Indiaâs AI growth Jeet Adani Director Adani Group said on Tuesday Addressing an event to lay the foundation for the Google AI Data Centre here Jeet Adani said we are building an integrated platform across energy generation transmission digital networks and data centres powered by clean and reliable energy and designed for scale speed and resilienceâOur role is to enable the ecosystem that AI depends on Because the future of AI will be shaped by infrastructure and enabled by energy For AI to transform economies and societies it must be affordable And affordability begins with energyâ he told the gatheringGoogle is going to invest 15 billion in the project making it one of the largest foreign direct investments in Indiaâs historyJeet Adani further stated that energy efficiency and scale will determine how quickly AI can move from experimentation to widespread adoptionâAs the cost of computing falls the cost of intelligence falls When intelligence becomes more affordable access expands Innovation accelerates Growth becomes more inclusive That is the real promise of AIâ he notedIndia is building the infrastructure that could one day power the worldâs digital intelligence and the Adani Group and Google Cloud which are constructing a huge 15 billion AI data centre campus the largest outside the United States marks a turning pointDeveloped with leading partners like AdaniConneX it will be built with the same cuttingedge infrastructure that powers Google products like Search Workspace and YouTubeAccording to Jeet Adani India will architect intelligence and India will democratise intelligence by expanding access to itâBecause the true power of AI will be measured by how widely it can be used And that journey begins hereâ he addedâJust as Bengaluru defined Indiaâs technology revolution Visakhapatnam is going to anchor Indiaâs AI revolution Visakhapatnam is positioning itself to help define that futureâ Jeet Adani notedToday India stands at approximately 13 GW of data centre capacityâJust for context here in Visakhapatnam we are envisioning nearly 1 GW in a single location That contrast reflects the scale of transformation ahead India is entering a new league of AI infrastructure Indiaâs advantage is very clear Trust Execution And most importantly energyâ he emphasised IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/we-committed-100-billion-to-build-a-platform-that-supports-indias-ai-growth-jeet-adani-671458.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/five-arrested-in-jampks-srinagar-with-grenades-ammunition-posters-671460.html Srinagar April 28 Five people have been arrested in Jammu and Kashmirâs Srinagar district after grenades ammunition and other incriminating material were found on them said police said on Tuesday Officials said these five persons were arrested in the Khanmoh area of the district by a police team during checking at Nard Sangri near KhanmohPolice said two hand grenades two magazines some rounds of ammunition posters and six mobile phones were recovered from their possessionA case under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and the Arms Act has been registered at Panthachowk police stationFurther investigation is going on and more details are awaitedThe JampK Police and the security forces are carrying out aggressive operations against terrorists their overground workers OGWs and sympathisersDrug smugglers drug peddlers and those involved in hawala money rackets are also on the scanner of the security forces It is believed that funds generated through these funds are finally used to sustain terrorism Drugs are used to destroy the future generations of JampK by making the youth slaves to drug addictionThe ongoing 100daylong Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir is part of the campaign to eradicate the menace of drugs Stringent punishments have been announced against drug smugglersThe revised strategy is aimed at targeting the entire support system of terrorism in the union territory rather than just focusing on the gunwielding terrorists It also involves preventing infiltration exfiltration drug smuggling and drone activities initiated from across the Line of Control LoC and the International Border IB by Pakistanbacked terrorist outfitsThese drones are used to drop payloads of arms ammunition drugs and cash to support terrorism in the union territory JampK has a 740kmlong LoC guarded by the Army and a 240kmlong IB guarded by the Border Security Force BSFThe LoC is situated in Baramulla Kupwara and Bandipora districts of the Valley and in Poonch Rajouri and partly in Jammu district of the Jammu division The International Border is situated in Samba Kathua and Jammu districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/five-arrested-in-jampks-srinagar-with-grenades-ammunition-posters-671460.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/salim-dola-deported-major-win-for-india-as-crackdown-tightens-on-underworld-networks-671462.html New Delhi April 28 The deportation of Salim Dola marks a significant breakthrough for Indian law enforcement agencies reinforcing an ongoing crackdown on organised crime and narcotics syndicates Dola a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim was arrested in Turkey and deported to India on Tuesday He was brought to New Delhi in a special aircraft and handed over to the Central Intelligence officials Following the initial interrogation the Mumbai Police which has registered multiple cases against him is expected to seek custodyAn official said that the quick deportation is a result of coordination between the Indian and international Intelligence agencies The official said that the deportation of Dola who ran a Rs 5000 crore drug business is a blow to the underworld and ISIbacked narcotics cartelsThe official added that the Central Intelligence agencies would subject Dola to an intense round of questioning He would be asked about his India operations and also links with international players An Intelligence Bureau official said that Dola would also be questioned about the Dawood Syndicate and his links to it This is important to break Dawoodâs supply chains in India the official addedThe extradition of Dola is a major victory for the Indian agencies The series of decorations and legal victories began with the extradition of Dolaâs son Taher Dola who was also a major player in the business Earlier Salim Mohamed Sheikh a close aide of Dola was deported from Dubai to India He is in the custody of Mumbaiâs antinarcotics cell Apart from the Mumbai police the Enforcement Directorate will also question Dola and all his associatesThe Dola network has been under intense scrutiny by the agency in several money laundering cases These decorations and developments clearly signal Indiaâs resolve in its battle against drugs The Narendra Modi government has aggressively pursued its vision for a drugfree India In the last couple of months several successful operations have been carried out against drug cartels The operations targeted the Dawood network heavily in various parts of the country Further operations have been carried out in the Andamans where massive quantities of drugs have been seizedIt was learned that Mexican cartels were handling these consignments They were trying to send in the consignment to India and then transport it to Thailand Further the Indian agencies are also closely following the cartels that are operating out of Myanmar These cartels are pushing drugs in large numbers into the northeastern statesAn official said that the money raised is being routed to fund insurgent groups in the northeast Another official said that drug cartels have a direct bearing on Pakistanâs terrorist groups The likes of Dawood have long been funding outfits such as the LashkareTaiba The ISI ensures that 40 per cent of the earnings from the drug trade is used to fund terror groupsThe questioning of Dola would be crucial He could provide information on the drug labs that he has set up Further his questioning would also focus on his links with Dawood and the ISI The ISIâs role in shaping the drug industry in India would also be part of the questioning of Dola and his close associates IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/salim-dola-deported-major-win-for-india-as-crackdown-tightens-on-underworld-networks-671462.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/libya-oil-discovery-reflects-growing-global-footprints-of-indian-energy-firms-govt-671464.html New Delhi April 28 IANS The government on Tuesday said the recent oil and gas discovery in Libya by Indian oil marketing companies OMCs Oil India Limited OIL and Indian Oil Corporation Limited IOCL with local operators reflects the growing global footprint of the countrys energy firms and their expanding presence in overseas assetsnbspIn a post on social media platform X the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas MoPNG congratulated OIL and IOCL which were part of an Indian consortium with SIPEX Algeria as the operator for the discovery in the Ghadames BasinThe discovery was made in contract area 9596 where the well was drilled to a final depth of 8440 feet the ministry saidDuring testing the well achieved production of 13 million cubic feet of gas and 327 barrels of condensate per day from the Awynat Wanin and Awyn Kaza formationsThe government also noted that the discovery showed the importance of strategic international partnerships and highlighted Indias push to strengthen energy security through the acquisition of overseas assets by national oil companiesIt also wished the consortium continued success in unlocking greater value from the asset and described the find as a promising development for Indias global energy presenceEarlier this month during the Budget session the government informed that it had set a target to increase domestic crude oil production to 35 million metric tonnes by 2030 from about 29 million tonnes at present to meet rising demand for petroleum products in the countryUnion Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said that the government was taking multiple steps to boost domestic output and reduce dependence on crude oil importsThese included policies for early monetisation of hydrocarbon discoveries under the production sharing contract regime the Discovered Small Field Policy the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy HELP and the extension of production sharing contracts he said in a written reply in the Lok SabhaOn Tuesday OIL shares were increased by more than 4 per cent at an intraday high of Rs 497 on the BSE IOCL shares were trading on a flat note at Rs 145 down 03 per centIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/libya-oil-discovery-reflects-growing-global-footprints-of-indian-energy-firms-govt-671464.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-youth-hacked-to-death-victim-had-recently-been-released-from-jail-671470.html Giridih Jharkhand April 28 A 24yearold youth was allegedly murdered with a sharpedged weapon late Monday night under the Pachamba police station limits in Jharkhandâs Giridih district officials said on Tuesday The deceased has been identified as Taufiq Ansari who had recently been released from jail According to family members Taufiq named his attackers before succumbing to his injuries an alleged dying declaration they claim to have recorded on a mobile phonePolice said the incident occurred near Azad Nagar Chadra Bridge where Taufiq was allegedly lured under the pretext of a meeting as part of a premeditated plan A friend of the deceased said that around midnight Taufiq received a call from one Asif Ali a resident of Ambatand under the Muffasil police station area following which he went to the spot along with three friendsInvestigations suggest that the accused along with four to five accomplices were already waiting for him Eyewitnesses said that an argument broke out soon after Taufiq arrived following which the group attacked him with sharp weapons Though he attempted to flee the assailants chased him overpowered him and assaulted himFamily members who reached the spot found him critically injured and bleeding profusely They allege that in his final moments Taufiq named Sakib Arshad Monu Pathan and Asif Ali as those responsible for the attackUpon receiving information Pachamba police reached the spot sent the body for postmortem examination and recovered the victimâs mobile phone from a nearby drainPolice officials said preliminary findings indicate that the murder may be linked to a personal rivalry and a struggle for local dominance They also confirmed that the deceased had a criminal history and had served jail time in a previous caseThe Police have formed special teams and launched raids at suspected locations to apprehend the accused IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-youth-hacked-to-death-victim-had-recently-been-released-from-jail-671470.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-board-declares-class-12-results-science-dominates-overall-pass-rate-8154-pc-671473.html Guwahati April 28 The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council on Tuesday declared the results of the Higher Secondary HS Final Examinations with the state recording an overall pass percentage of 8154 per cent across all streams Among the four streams Science emerged as the bestperforming category with a pass percentage of 8979 per cent Commerce followed with 8113 per cent while Arts registered 7954 per cent The Vocational stream recorded a pass percentage of 7420 per centOfficials said a total of 322723 candidates had appeared for the examinations held across Assam this yearIn the Arts stream Baksa district topped the state with an impressive pass percentage of 9429 per cent Chirang district secured the second position with 9299 per cent reflecting strong performances from the lower Assam districts The Arts stream also accounted for the highest number of successful candidates A total of 191798 students cleared the examinations including 54755 in the first division 79181 in the second division and 57862 in the third divisionIn the Commerce stream 15796 students passed the examination Of them 7787 candidates secured first division while 5694 were placed in the second division and 2315 in the third divisionThe Science stream recorded 54474 successful candidates Of these 34079 students obtained first division marks 17777 secured second division and 2618 were placed in the third divisionIn the Vocational stream 1465 candidates appeared for the examination Detailed divisionwise figures for the stream were yet to be highlighted in the official announcementThe council also reported disciplinary and attendancerelated figures during the conduct of the examinationsAccording to officials 190 candidates were expelled on charges of malpractice while 8075 candidates remained absent during the examination processThe declaration of results has brought relief and excitement to lakhs of students and parents across the state with successful candidates now preparing for admissions to undergraduate courses and other professional programmesStudents can access their marksheets through the official portals notified by the council and other authorised digital platforms IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-board-declares-class-12-results-science-dominates-overall-pass-rate-8154-pc-671473.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/women-leap-to-safety-as-midnight-blaze-engulfs-bengaluru-pg-video-goes-viral-671474.html Bengaluru April 28 Panic gripped Nandini Layout in Bengaluru after a major fire broke out at a paying guest accommodation forcing more than 30 women residents to jump from the building to escape The videos and CCTV footage of the incident have gone viral on social media on Tuesday The issue has also raised concerns regarding the following of protocols and safety standards by PG facilities across BengaluruEyewitnesses said the swift response and evacuation helped prevent a major tragedy Local residents also assisted in rescue efforts before emergency services arrived at the sceneAccording to police the blaze erupted at around 1240 AM on Monday and is suspected to have originated from a short circuit in the wiring of a nearby LED banner shop The fire quickly spread to the adjacent fourstorey PG building engulfing the structure within minutes and filling it with thick smokeWith flames rapidly intensifying and escape routes cut off several residents were left with no option but to leap from the building to save their lives CCTV footage from the area captured the desperate attempts of young women in night dress jumping to safety as the fire spreadThe videos show girls and young women screaming shouting and crying for help as the fire broke outPolice officials confirmed that no casualties were reported in the incidentFurther investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess safety compliance in the affected buildingsIt can be recalled that in December 2025 a major gas cylinder explosion at a PG accommodation in Kundalahalli in Bengaluru triggered a fire killing a 23yearold techie and injuring three othersThe blast was caused by a commercial LPG cylinder and led to a fire inside the building Authorities later found multiple safety violations at the premises and a case was filed against the management making it one of the most serious recent PGrelated fire tragedies in BengaluruFollowing the Kundalahalli tragedy in 2025 authorities found that many PG accommodations lacked basic fire safety measures including the absence of fire exits the use of illegal kitchens with commercial LPG cylinders and poor compliance with building regulationsSubsequent inspections led to several PGs being fined or sealed for serious fire safety violations highlighting widespread lapses in safety standards IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/women-leap-to-safety-as-midnight-blaze-engulfs-bengaluru-pg-video-goes-viral-671474.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/justice-swarana-kanta-sharma-recuses-from-karti-chidambaram-plea-in-diageo-scotland-linked-cbi-case-671476.html New Delhi April 28 Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court on Tuesday recused herself from hearing a plea filed by Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram seeking quashing of a CBI corruption case linked to alleged bribery involving Diageo Scotland When the matter came up Justice Sharma declined to hear the case which will now be placed before another Bench subject to the orders of the Chief Justice the master of the rosterChidambaram has sought the quashing of the FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on January 1 2025 accusing him of influencing public servants to secure relief for Diageo Scotland over a ban on dutyfree sale of its whiskyIn his plea the Congress MP has contended that he was never called during the preliminary enquiry and denied an opportunity to present his stand before the registration of the FIRHe has also argued that there was an unexplained delay of nearly two decades as the allegations pertain to the period between 2004 and 2010 while the FIR was lodged only in 2025 Chidambaram has further submitted that there is no allegation that he either demanded or accepted any bribe or illegal gratification and therefore offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act are not made out against himThis is not the first time Justice Sharma has recused from a matter involving Chidambaram Earlier she had recused herself from hearing his plea challenging a trial court order framing charges in the alleged Chinese visa scam caseIn that matter Chidambaram has challenged the December 23 2025 order of a special CBI court which framed charges against him for criminal conspiracy and bribing a public servant over alleged irregularities in the issuance of visas to Chinese nationals in 2011 According to the CBI around 250 Chinese workers were allegedly granted project visas for a Punjabbased power project in violation of Ministry of Home Affairs normsJustice Sharma has also recently recused herself from hearing former AAP MLA Naresh Balyanâs bail plea in a case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act MCOCA Balyan who was rearrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in December 2024 under MCOCA shortly after securing bail in an extortion case faces allegations of involvement in organised crime syndicates linked to extortion and arms traffickingSeparately Justice Sharma continues to hear the pending criminal revision petition filed by the CBI challenging a trial court order discharging all 23 accused including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the corruption case linked to the nowscrapped excise policyKejriwal and Sisodia have both sought her recusal from the matterJustice Sharma had earlier rejected Kejriwalâs request observing that though the âeasier pathâ would have been to recuse without hearing the application she chose to decide it on merits in the interest of institutional integrity Subsequently Kejriwal wrote to the judge stating that he would neither appear personally nor through counsel in the proceedings saying he had lost hope of getting justiceA day later Sisodia sent a similar communication stating that he too would abstain from participating further and that the decision was guided by conscience rather than hostility towards the judiciary IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/justice-swarana-kanta-sharma-recuses-from-karti-chidambaram-plea-in-diageo-scotland-linked-cbi-case-671476.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pmks-anbumani-ramadoss-blames-dmk-govt-for-rise-in-illicit-liquor-trade-in-tn-671478.html Chennai April 28 Anbumani Ramadoss criticised the ruling MK Stalinled DMK government alleging that its inaction has led to a surge in illicit liquor sales across Tamil Nadu forcing local communities to take matters into their own hands In a statement on Tuesday the PMK leader referred to a recent incident in Podur village near Bennenagaram in Dharmapuri district where a group of women allegedly ransacked four illegal liquor outlets operating in the area The main accused in the illicit trade identified as Govindan reportedly escaped during the incidentWhile asserting that taking the law into oneâs own hands is not an acceptable solution Ramadoss said the prevailing situation was a direct consequence of administrative failureHe alleged that the DMK government which has been in power for the past five years has created an environment where villagers felt compelled to act due to the unchecked proliferation of illegal liquor shopsAccording to him the four outlets in Podur were not newly established but had been functioning for several years Despite repeated protests by local residents demanding their closure no effective action was taken by the authoritiesHe further claimed that similar illegal roadside liquor outlets operate round the clock across the Dharmapuri districtRamadoss also pointed out that the PMK had organised multiple protests seeking the removal of such outlets and that Dharmapuri MLA SP Venkateshwaran had raised the issue in the Assembly However he alleged that the state government failed to act and instead indulged in âpetty politicsâ by mobilising certain groups to demand the opening of governmentrun liquor outlets in other villagesHighlighting the scale of the issue Ramadoss claimed that while 4787 TASMAC shops function legally across Tamil Nadu more than 20000 illegal liquor outlets are operating in parallelHe alleged that this has not only devastated poor and middleclass families but also resulted in massive revenue losses and corruption estimated at over Rs 50000 crore annually due to evasion of excise duties and taxesDescribing the Podur incident as a reflection of public anger against illicit liquor Ramadoss urged authorities not to take action against the women involved Instead he called upon the government and police to intensify efforts to shut down illegal liquor operations across the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pmks-anbumani-ramadoss-blames-dmk-govt-for-rise-in-illicit-liquor-trade-in-tn-671478.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/siddaramaiah-ready-to-step-down-if-rahul-gandhi-asks-says-ex-ktaka-minister-rajanna-671480.html Bengaluru April 28 Amid the ongoing leadership tussle former Karnataka Minister and Congress MLA KN Rajanna has made a startling statement suggesting that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is ready to step down from his post if Rahul Gandhi says so The statement has assumed significance as Rajanna is a close associate of CM SiddaramaiahIt can also be noted that CM Siddaramaiahs close associates Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and HC Mahadevappa both hailing from the Dalit community have reached Delhi and are demanding an end to the confusion over the leadership issue in the state Speaking in Bengaluru Rajanna said on Tuesday that there is growing confusion within the party over the issue of leadership change He added that while Siddaramaiah is prepared to continue in office he is also willing to relinquish power if directed by the party high commandRajanna who had earlier claimed that Siddaramaiahâs recent silence might be due to external influences now said the Chief Minister has conveyed an openminded stance on the matter According to him Siddaramaiah has indicated that he would abide by any decision taken by Rahul Gandhi and expects cooperation from party membersHe stressed that resolving the ongoing uncertainty would benefit the state and urged the party leadership not to allow the confusion to persist Rajanna noted that this is not a decision to be taken in haste as it involves both the future of the party and the people of KarnatakaExpressing confidence in the high command Rajanna said Siddaramaiah has already made it clear that he will act in accordance with Rahul Gandhiâs direction âPower is not permanent Those who lose it can regain itâ he said describing the Chief Ministerâs mindset as one of compliance with the party leadershipAt the same time Rajanna stated that many leaders including himself have conveyed to the high command that Siddaramaiah should continue as Chief MinisterHe also reiterated his stand in favour of a Dalit Chief Minister saying the AHINDA minorities backward classes and Dalits communities are not fully satisfied He remarked that there is a significant difference between Siddaramaiahâs leadership during 201318 and the current term from 202326With nearly two years remaining for the next election Rajanna said it is too early to predict future developments adding that much can change in politics over time IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/siddaramaiah-ready-to-step-down-if-rahul-gandhi-asks-says-ex-ktaka-minister-rajanna-671480.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mangaluru-blast-case-conviction-ktaka-bjp-chief-demands-apology-from-cong-leaders-671484.html Bengaluru April 28 BJPs Karnataka President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Tuesday welcomed the verdict of an NIA special court sentencing Mohammed Shariq the prime accused in the Mangaluru cooker blast case to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment stating that the ruling reinforces the countryâs firm stance against terrorism He also demanded apologies from Congress leaders for issuing statements in favour of the accused after the incident In a statement Vijayendra claimed that certain leaders had referred to the accused as âbrotherâ and described the blast as an âaccidentâ thereby attempting to justify acts of terrorVijayendra demanded that if those leaders have any moral responsibility they should apologise to the people of the state He said the judgment in the Mangaluru cooker blast case demonstrates that forces threatening national security have no place in the system He added that the efficiency of central investigative agencies and the judiciaryâs strict approach should instil confidence among the publicHowever he also launched a sharp attack on leaders of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC alleging that at the initial stage of the case some had indulged in appeasement politics by supporting antinational elements The BJP leader further warned that such attitudes which he described as standing with antinational elements for political gain pose a serious threat to internal securityReiterating his partyâs position Vijayendra asserted that terrorism has no religion and that there can be no forgiveness for acts of terror or those who support themIt can be recalled that in December 2022 Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar had stirred significant controversy by questioning the official labelling of the Mangaluru cooker blast as a terror actShivakumar alleged that the thenruling BJP government was using the cooker blast which occurred in an autorickshaw to divert attention from a voter data theft scandal in Bengaluru He questioned how the police could declare the suspect a terrorist without a full investigation IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mangaluru-blast-case-conviction-ktaka-bjp-chief-demands-apology-from-cong-leaders-671484.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-chief-nitin-nabin-to-visit-rajasthan-today-671285.html New Delhi April 27 BJP President Nitin Nabin is scheduled to visit Rajasthan on Monday to discuss strengthening the party structure and shaping future strategies In a display of political grandeur and traditional Rajasthani hospitality the BJP is preparing an elaborate welcome for its National President who is visiting Rajasthan for the first time after assuming officeEchoing the spirit of âPadharo Mhare Deshâ the party has planned a redcarpet reception stretching from the airport to the state headquarters in Jaipur with welcome ceremonies scheduled at 11 key locations across the city party workers saidAccording to the proposed schedule Nitin Nabin will arrive in Jaipur in the morning and proceed directly to TonkIn Tonk he will inaugurate seven newly constructed district BJP offices and lay the foundation stones for two more The programme will also see him addressing party workers and the general public with participation expected from workers across seven districts said Rajasthan BJP President Madan RathoreBJP leaders have indicated that partys district offices in Bundi Pratapgarh Dungarpur Barmer Pali and Churu will also be inaugurated during the eventFoundation stones for two additional BJP district offices are expected to be laid party sources addedFollowing these programmes Nitin Nabin will return to Jaipur where he will chair a meeting of the State BJP Core Committee at the partys state headquartersThe visit comes shortly after Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma met the BJP President in New DelhiThe two leaders discussed several issues related to both governance and party organisation in Rajasthan party sources saidKey topics included pending appointments in the state party unit preparations for upcoming Panchayati Raj elections and other crucial issuesSources indicate that Chief Minister Sharma personally requested Nitin Nabin to visit Rajasthan adding to the significance of this tripRajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore emphasised that the party aims to go beyond routine political activity and focus on strengthening and modernising its organisational frameworkAs part of this effort new BJP offices are being established across all districts in Rajasthan IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-chief-nitin-nabin-to-visit-rajasthan-today-671285.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/notorious-criminal-killed-in-shootout-with-police-at-checkpost-in-jammu-671288.html Jammu April 27 A notorious criminal was killed in firing at a âNakaâ checkpost in JampKâs Jammu district the police said on Monday Officials said that the criminal was killed during an encounter after he allegedly opened fire on a police team at a naka in the Miran Sahib area of Jammu late Sunday nightPolice said that acting on specific inputs regarding the movement of the accused a team from Police Station Miran Sahib laid a naka and intensified checking in the areaDuring checking the accused identified as Abhineet Singh a member of the Nagi gang and a historysheeter involved in more than 13 FIRs including attempt to murder rioting and arms smuggling arrived at the spot on a motorcycle along with an associateWhen signalled to stop the duo allegedly tried to evade the naka and opened fire on the police party In retaliation and in selfdefence police fired back following which both accused fled from the spot abandoning their motorcycle under the cover of darknessOfficials said the police team chased the accused and later found Abhineet Singh in an injured condition in a nearby canal while his associate managed to escapeHe was shifted to the Government Medical College Jammu where he succumbed to his injuries The body has been shifted for postmortem examination while a search operation has been launched to nab the absconding associateGang wars among criminals have taken place in Jammu for a long time and these wars are basically caused by greed for domination over one another in smuggling drug supplies and other criminal activitiesIn the past two notorious criminal gangs in Jammu used to engage in gunfights with each other after the dons of these two gangs fell apart after working together for decadesThe police have succeeded to a large extent in eliminating criminal gangs in Jammu although some of these are still reportedly active in the peripheries of the city IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/notorious-criminal-killed-in-shootout-with-police-at-checkpost-in-jammu-671288.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/son-builds-taj-mahal-in-tns-thiruvarur-out-of-love-for-his-late-mother-671301.html Thiruvarur April 27 A unique monument built out of a sonâs deep love for his mother is drawing large crowds in Tamil Nadus Thiruvarur People not only from the state but from across the country are visiting in large numbers to witness and admire this âSouthern Taj Mahalâ In Ammayappan village near Thiruvarur Sheikh Davood and Jailani Beevi had one son Amurdeen 49 a businessman based in Chennai and four daughters All of them are married and living in ChennaiAfter the passing of his father Sheikh Davood several years ago Amurdeenâs mother Jailani Beevi passed away in 2020Following her death Amurdeen wished to build a memorial for his mother in Ammayappan village Inspired by how late DMK leader M Karunanidhi built a memorial for his mother Anjugam Ammaiyar in Kattur village Amurdeen decided to honour his mother in a grand mannerHe said that just as the Taj Mahal was built out of love for a beloved wife he wanted to create a monument expressing his love and affection for his mother He therefore chose to recreate the Mughalstyle architecture of the Taj Mahal using white marble stones brought from RajasthanBuilt on nearly one acre of land and covering around 8000 square feet the structure has a width of 46 feet and features towering minarets This âSouthern Taj Mahalâ was inaugurated on June 2 2022 in a simple ceremonyThe complex includes his motherâs memorial mosque a grand mosque building on one side and a madrasa on the other where students can stay and studySince not everyone can travel to Delhi or Agra to see the original Taj Mahal this has become the first whitemarble Taj Mahalstyle monument in South Tamil NaduSince its opening thousands of visitors have come to see the site with great enthusiasmNow with schools closed for the summer vacation even more visitors from across Tamil Nadu and other parts of India are arriving with their familiesTo help visitors cope with the summer heat the management is providing free buttermilk sundal and peanut candyPeople of all communities are allowed to visit without any discrimination based on caste or religionVisitors are happily taking family photographs and enjoying the experience especially those who may never get the opportunity to visit AgraMany people are also praising Amurdeen for creating such a remarkable monument as a tribute of love and respect for his mother IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/son-builds-taj-mahal-in-tns-thiruvarur-out-of-love-for-his-late-mother-671301.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-responds-to-karnataka-mans-wedding-invitation-extends-warm-wishes-671304.html Bengaluru April 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded to a wedding invitation sent by a man from Karnataka extending his warm wishes through an official letter The development came to light on Monday after Rajesh Nayak shared a video about it with many people appreciating the Prime Ministerâs responsiveness to an invitation from a common citizen Rajesh Nayak a resident of Kanihala village in Raichur district got married to Savitha on April 13 Out of a personal wish he decided to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his wedding and sent the invitation card by postIn a letter dated April 16 PM Modi wrote âShri Ramesh Nayak Ji I thank you heartily for inviting me to your wedding As you enter this auspicious phase of life may you and Savitha be blessed with a wonderful life ahead I express my heartfelt gratitude for inviting me to the ceremonyââMay the coupleâs hearts minds and actions be in harmony Stand by each other at all times hold each otherâs hands in pursuit of your dreams and aspirations and take on responsibilities with care and affection May you and Savitha be ideal partners in the journey of life by accepting each otherâs imperfections and learning from each otherâs strengthsâ the letter further statedâI once again extend my greetings and best wishes to both of you for a long happy and beautiful life togetherâ the Prime Minister addedSpeaking about the letter Rajesh said on Monday âI shared this video to convey a special moment Our wedding took place on April 13 I had sent the wedding invitation a few weeks earlier While sending it I hoped for a response but I did not have high expectations Now I have received a letter from the Prime Minister conveying his greetings It is remarkable that despite holding the highest office he considered a letter from a common man I am grateful to himâHe added âI never thought he would read my wedding invitation Receiving this letter shows how considerate the Prime Minister is I convey my heartfelt regards on behalf of myself my wife my parents and the people of Kanihala village It is a matter of pride for meâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-responds-to-karnataka-mans-wedding-invitation-extends-warm-wishes-671304.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/private-bus-catches-fire-in-telanganas-medak-no-casualties-671314.html Hyderabad April 27 A private travel bus was gutted in a fire in Telanganaâs Medak district in the early morning hours of Monday There were no casualties said officials The bus coming to Hyderabad from Medak caught fire on the National Highway 44 near Masaipet in Medak district around 4 am police said There were no passengers in the bus at the time of the mishap The driver and another person who were in the bus immediately got off after noticing the fire Police said no one was injured in the incident One fire engine reached the spot and doused the fire The bus driver reportedly escaped after the fire broke outThe cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained Police registered a case and took up an investigationTelangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh have seen a series of bus accidents involving buses in recent monthsAt least 14 people were burnt alive and 15 others were injured as a private travel bus caught fire after colliding with a tipper truck in Andhra Pradeshâs Markapuram district on March 26The accident occurred near Rayavaram when the bus collided with a tipper truck near a stone quarry Both vehicles were completely gutted in the fireNineteen people were burnt to death when a private bus caught fire after running over a motorbike lying on the road following an accident near Kurnool town of Andhra Pradesh on October 24 2025The bus belonging to a private tour operator and carrying 46 people was on its way to Bengaluru from Hyderabad when the ghastly accident happened near Chinnatekur village on the outskirts of KurnoolOn November 3 2025 a bustruck collision in the Rangareddy district of Telangana claimed 19 lives and left 24 others injured The tipper truck laden with gravel rammed into the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation TGSRTC bus coming from the opposite direction The bus with 72 people on board was coming to Hyderabad from Tandur IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/private-bus-catches-fire-in-telanganas-medak-no-casualties-671314.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nia-registers-case-over-recovery-of-79-crude-bombs-in-bengal-671315.html New DelhiKolkata April 27 IANS The National Investigation Agency NIA has taken over the investigation into a case involving the recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials in West Bengal where the second and final phase of the Assembly polls is scheduled for April 29 officials saidnbspAccording to an official statement the agency has reregistered FIR No 622026 dated April 25 2026 of Uttar Kashi Police Station under Bhangar Division in Kolkata as RC252026NIADLI dated April 26 2026 and has formally begun its probeIn pursuance of the MHA order the NIA has registered FIR No 622026 dated 25042026 of PS Uttar Kashi Bhangar Division Kolkata as RC252026NIADLI dated 26042026 and taken up the investigation The case pertains to the recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata Police which were being stored at a spot thereby endangering human life and property the statement saidNotably the first phase of the twophase polling in West Bengal was held on April 23The case relates to the recovery of a large number of crude bombs by the Kolkata Police which were allegedly being stored at a particular location posing a serious threat to human life and propertyOfficials said the materials were seized during a police operation in the Bhangar area following inputs about suspicious storage of explosive substancesThe NIA which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs has now taken over the caseAccording to sources the agency will examine the circumstances under which the crude bombs were stored and will look into all aspects of the case including the possible intent behind stockpiling such materialsSources indicated that the focus of the investigation will be on identifying those responsible for storing the explosives and ascertaining whether there was any larger conspiracy linked to the recoveryMeanwhile the NIA on Sunday arrested a prime accused in a separate West Bengal bomb explosion case in which one person was killed and three others were seriously injured earlier this year officials saidAhidul Islam Molla of Bijoyganj Bazar in South 24 Parganas district was arrested following a detailed examination of his role in the explosion which took place in March at Dakshin Bamunia villageAnother accused had been arrested earlier in the case by the state police an NIA statement saidThe NIA said its investigation revealed that Ahidul Islam was a coconspirator in the crime involving the preparation of bombs and the destruction of evidenceThe bombs had exploded while being prepared as part of the conspiracy killing one of the accused involved in the crime the agency said adding that efforts were on to identify other coaccusedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nia-registers-case-over-recovery-of-79-crude-bombs-in-bengal-671315.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jampk-govt-declares-seminary-in-shopian-district-as-unlawful-671316.html Srinagar April 27 The Jammu and Kashmir government has declared a seminary running in Shopian district as unlawful after citing its links with a banned organisation said officials on Monday The officials said the union territory government has declared the seminary an unlawful entity under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA 1967 citing alleged links with a banned organisation financial irregularities and concerns over radicalisationThe order was issued by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg under Section 81 of the Act The action follows a dossier submitted by the Senior Superintendent of Police SSP Shopian on March 24 Based on this the authorities concluded that the institution was involved in âserious legal administrative and financial irregularitiesâ including a lack of mandatory registration and alleged evasion of statutory oversightOfficials said there was credible evidence of covert links between the seminary and JamaateIslami JeI a banned outfit with individuals affiliated with it allegedly occupying key administrative and academic positions The order also cited financial opacity and suspected diversion of funds besides inputs suggesting that the institution fostered an environment conducive to radicalisation with some former students allegedly linked to militancyA showcause notice was issued to the chairman of the institution on March 31 seeking an explanation The reply was examined after seeking comments from the SSP Shopian who termed the objections âfactually untenable and devoid of legal meritâ officials saidThe administration said the proceedings were preventive in nature and aimed at curbing misuse of the premises for unlawful activitiesFollowing the notification authorities are empowered to take further action including sealing of the premises and freezing of financial assets they added The Union Ministry of Home Affairs MHA has already declared some organisations like the JamaateIslami and the Awami Action Committee AAC as unlawful organisations The ministry extended the ban on JeI JampK for five years on February 27 2024 It was initially declared an unlawful association in February 2019 The AAC led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was banned on March 11 2025 for five years IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jampk-govt-declares-seminary-in-shopian-district-as-unlawful-671316.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/true-strength-of-nation-lies-in-selfless-spirit-of-service-of-its-citizens-says-pm-modi-671317.html New Delhi April 27 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stressed the importance of selfless service saying it forms the foundation of a strong and compassionate society while urging citizens to inspire one another through acts of goodwillnbspIn a post on X the Prime Minister wrote The true strength of the nation lies in the selfless spirit of service of its citizens This inspires people to motivate one another while also enriching our society furtherPM Modi also shared a Sanskrit verse meaning Trees bear the harsh sunlight themselves yet they give shade to others Their fruits are also meant for others Trees are like selfless and noble people who always provide comfort and help to others loosely translated from SanskritEarlier on Sunday PM Modi visited the Matua Thakur Mandir in Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal ahead of his election rally where he recalled his meeting with Matua community matriarch Binapani Devi Sharing a photograph from his 2019 visit the Prime Minister said he was reminded of receiving the blessings of Boro Ma during his earlier trip to the templeAddressing a rally in Thakurnagar PM Modi also spoke about his visit to Orakandi describing it as a deeply emotional experience He recalled performing puja at the temple there and meeting members of the Matua community adding that the compassion shown by Binapani Devi left a lasting impression on himThe Prime Minister further highlighted the Centres implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 stating that it was aimed at providing citizenship to communities such as the Matuas He invoked Syama Prasad Mookerjee noting his role in advocating for refugees from East Bengal and asserted that ensuring their rights remains a historical responsibility of IndiaSyama Prasad Mookerjee won from Kolkata At that time Jana Sangh got a lot of support from 24 Parganas and Nadia He stood by the refugees from East Bengal He spoke for them Syama Prasad is considered the spokesperson for the refugees From Partition till today all the refugees are our responsibility It is Indias historical responsibility to think about them That is why Modi brought the CAA Why was this not done before I will tell the Matuas and Namasudras that you will be given citizenship a permanent address papers and all the rights that all citizens of India get This is Modis guarantee said the PMIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/true-strength-of-nation-lies-in-selfless-spirit-of-service-of-its-citizens-says-pm-modi-671317.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-meets-new-niti-aayog-member-gobardhan-das-says-his-rich-work-will-enrich-policy-making-671322.html New Delhi April 27 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Prof Gobardhan Das and said that his personal life journey is very inspiring He further said that his rich work and scholarship will enrich policymaking architecturenbspPM Modi took to social media X and said Met Prof Gobardhan Das Ji this morning His personal life journey is very inspiring Every struggle he faced only strengthened his commitment to serve society and make it free from suffering This has been reflected in his contribution to public health and immunology His rich work and scholarship will enrich our policymaking architectureOn April 25 Gobardhan Das the newly appointed member of NITI Aayog had outlined an ambitious roadmap for national development and regional revitalisation emphasising his commitment to realising PM Modis vision of a developed India by 2047Speaking to IANS following his appointment Das had expressed gratitude to PM Modi for entrusting him with a role at the countrys premier policy think tank He said the appointment was not just an honour for him but for the entire Bengali community and pledged to work tirelessly to propel the nation forward across sectorsA significant portion of Das remarks focused on his home state West BengalInvoking the legacies of iconic figures such as Sri Aurobindo Rabindranath Tagore Bankim Chandra Chatterjee Syama Prasad Mookerjee and renowned scientist Meghnad Saha he said West Bengal is a land of great thinkers and visionaries often referred to as Sonar BanglaHe said his primary objective is to restore the state to its former glory as Sonar BanglaHe noted with concern that the current state of education and healthcare in West Bengal requires urgent intervention to check migration with many citizens forced to seek basic services and employment outside the stateDas said the mandate of NITI Aayog would be utilised to bridge these developmental gapsHe emphasised that for India to become a truly selfreliant and capable global power the principle of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas must remain the bedrock of policymakingHighlighting the countrys response during the Covid19 pandemic he cited the indigenous development of vaccines as a testament to Indias leadership and scientific capability when focused on a common national goalAs a member of NITI Aayog Das said he would focus on revitalising the industrial and manufacturing sectors to generate local employment and ensure that no citizen is left behind in the journey towards prosperityHe reiterated that the goal is not just economic growth but a comprehensive transformation that ensures the welfare and security of every IndianBy fostering collective effort and inclusive policies Das said the vision of a developed selfreliant India is within reach with regional strengths contributing to a stronger national identityIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-meets-new-niti-aayog-member-gobardhan-das-says-his-rich-work-will-enrich-policy-making-671322.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/three-killed-as-speeding-suv-rams-into-auto-rickshaw-in-bihars-saran-671326.html Patna April 27 A tragic road accident in Biharâs Saran district claimed the lives of three people and left four others critically injured after a speeding SUV rammed into an autorickshaw The incident occurred near Manopur village under the Dighwara police station limits on a National Highway on Sunday nightAccording to an official the victims were returning to their native village Jhauwa Basant under Garkha police station after attending a âShiv Charchaâ religious gathering in ManopurNear Manopur village a speeding and outofcontrol SUV crashed violently into their tempo around 1145 pmThe impact was so severe that the autorickshaw was completely mangled leaving passengers trapped and screaming for helpThree individuals lost their lives on the spot in the fatal accidentThey have been identified as Laljhari Devi 48 wife of Kishan Devram Brijmohan Manjhi alias Sukhan 17 son of late Rajeshwari Manjhi and Shankar Ram 60 son of late Janak Ram All the deceased were residents of Jhauwa Basant villageThe injured persons have been identified as Sumitra Devi 45 wife of Satyadev Ram Virendra Manjhi 30 son of Rambabu Manjhi Riya Kumari 15 daughter of Manoj Ram and Lalmuni Devi 50 wife of Rudal Ram All injured individuals are residents of Jhauwa Basant villageThe incident turned a joyful religious outing into a scene of griefAs news reached the village families of the victims broke down and an atmosphere of mourning prevailed with cries and lamentations echoing across householdsWith the help of local residents the injured were rushed to the Dighwara Primary Health CentreAfter initial treatment some were referred to Chhapra Sadar Hospital where doctors stated that the condition of a few injured persons remains criticalMeanwhile the driver of the SUV fled the scene along with the vehiclePolice from Dighwara station reached the spot took custody of the bodies and sent them for postmortem examinationAn investigation has been launched and efforts are underway to identify and trace the absconding driver and vehicleThis tragic incident once again highlights the dangers of speeding and reckless driving on highways IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/three-killed-as-speeding-suv-rams-into-auto-rickshaw-in-bihars-saran-671326.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/salim-dolas-arrest-hits-isi-revenue-stream-india-plans-two-step-extradition-via-uae-671327.html New Delhi April 27 The arrest of Salim Dola who ran a Rs 5000 crore drug empire is a major blow to the Dawood Ibrahim Syndicate Dola was arrested in Turkey in a joint operation by the National Intelligence Organisation and police units India would seek his extradition as his interrogation would be crucial to further break up the Dawood Syndicate Indian agencies would coordinate with the United Arab Emirates UAE to seek his extradition as India does not have an extradition treaty with TurkeyAn official said that the first move would be to have him extradited to the United Arab Emirates since Dola holds a UAE passport Following this the Indian agencies would coordinate with their counterparts in the UAE and then have him extradited to IndiaDola was detained based on an Interpol Red Corner Notice RCN issued following a request by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI He was wanted by the Mumbai police which sought to question him in multiple cases relating to narcotics smugglingAn official said that they are confident about the extradition Last year Dolaâs son Taher Dola was detained in the UAE following an operation conducted by the local authorities and Interpol Taher was extradited to India from the UAE in June 2025 A few months later Salim Mohammed Sohail Shaikh a key player in this cartel and a close aide of Dola was arrested in Dubai and extradited to IndiaThe arrest comes at a time when the agencies from across the country have launched a massive operation against drug cartels Officials are operating at multiple levels as they deal with threats from cartels from Pakistan Myanmar and also MexicoAn official said that dismantling the Dawood Syndicate is a high priority since it is the money that this cartel earns from narcotics smuggling which funds terror groups in Pakistan The ISI as part of its deal with the Dawood network gets 40 per cent of the money that the syndicate earns for each transactionAn Intelligence Bureau official said that the arrest of Dola will significantly weaken the Dawood syndicate operations in Mumbai Gujarat and Delhi The official said that Dolaâs arrest hurts the Dawood Syndicate in a major way especially when it comes to transnational operations and fundsDola was a big contributor to the syndicate and his arrest not just hurts the syndicate but also the ISIâs funds which it routes into terror groups that hurt Indiaâs interests Another official explained that going after the narco syndicates is also key in the fight against terrorWhile the Pakistanbased cartel funds terror groups in the country those operating in Myanmar fund insurgent groups in the northeast The drug cartels and terror groups are directly linked and the war on narcotics will directly impact the operations of terrorist groups the official addedThe arrest of Dola his son and close aide suggests that the network is gradually crumbling They were involved in running a transnational synthetic drug trafficking network which spanned several countries They had set up laboratories and factories in many parts of IndiaThe interrogation of Dola and his aides would lead the police to the production points which eventually would be eliminated The police would also gather information on his lineages with Dawood and the ISI elements who have been backing this network for long another official saidDola was born in Mumbai in 1966 and got close to the underworld at a very young age He worked closely with Dawoodâs righthand man Chhota Shakeel His operations began by supplying ghutkha following which he smuggled weed or marijuana He was arrested in 2012 by the Narcotics Control Bureau NCB after 80 grams of weed were found in his possession He was acquitted after spending five years in jailAfter his release he set up a drug manufacturing unit for a synthetic drug known as Button which is made using fentanyl In 2018 he was arrested once again in Santa Cruz Mumbai after 100 kg of fentanyl was seized from him However he was out on bail after four months as the forensic report said that the tested samples of fentanyl came back negative He fled to the UAE while he was out on bail IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/salim-dolas-arrest-hits-isi-revenue-stream-india-plans-two-step-extradition-via-uae-671327.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/is-the-bjp-breaching-sachin-pilots-fortress-nitin-nabins-tonk-gambit-decoded-671329.html Jaipur April 27 IANS The BJP appears to be setting the stage for an aggressive political push in Rajasthan choosing Tonk long regarded as the political stronghold of Congress leader Sachin Pilot as the starting point of its National President Nitin Nabins maiden tour of the state on MondaynbspParty workers say the choice of Tonk is deliberate signalling the BJPs intent to challenge the Congress in regions where it has traditionally enjoyed influencenbspIn politics geography is strategy By choosing Tonk the BJP is stepping straight into Congress territory signalling that it is ready to challenge the opposition where it feels most secure This isnt optics its intent they addedTonk is not just another assembly seat it represents Pilots influence and Congresss emotional connect in Eastern Rajasthan A BJP show of strength here is being read as a direct political provocation and a calculated one The timing sharpens the intrigue With Congress MP Harish Chandra Meena also rooted in the region Tonk suddenly becomes more than symbolic it becomes a testing groundWhispers of leaders switching sides ahead of the rally have only heightened the political temperatureBehind the headlinegrabbing politics lies a methodical organisational push Nabin will inaugurate the Tonk district BJP office while simultaneously launching offices across multiple districts Bundi Pratapgarh Dungarpur Churu Pali and Barmer and laying the foundation stone in Jalore This is not just expansion its infrastructure politics Booth by booth district by district the BJP is tightening its gripWith Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and senior leadership in attendance the event is both a show of strength and an organisational reboot The BJPs confidence is quite highIn the 2023 Assembly elections it outperformed Congress in key eastern districts winning 13 seats against Congresss 8 Compared to 2018 the BJP has clearly gained ground here The BJP won 13 seats across the five key districts of Bharatpur Karauli Sawai Madhopur Dholpur and Dausa In contrast the Congress was confined to eight seats with one seat being claimed by an independent candidateNow the focus shifts can the BJP flip the remaining Congressheld seatsThe partys programme includes strengthen the network stay mobilised and prepare for the next electoral cycleNabins visit is as much about energising the cadre as it is about unsettling the opposition The Tonk move reveals a threelayered strategy enter opposition strongholds deepen grassroots structure and synchronise government and organisationThe grand Jaipur welcome complete with Yuva Morcha bike rallies and Mahila Morchas traditional Kalash procession adds momentum but the real action will be behind closed doors in the Core Committee meeting where electoral strategy will be finetunedCall it a soft launch of the BJPs next campaign or a psychological push into Congress territory Either way starting from Tonk is a statement the BJP is no longer playing defensive politics in Rajasthan By stepping into Sachin Pilots backyard the party is attempting something bigger reshaping the contest on its own termsThe question now is not whether this move is strategic The question is Will it work and how will it work and what will be its impact on Sachin Pilot who is presently leading the Congress show in Kerala as an observer of the Assembly elections in the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/is-the-bjp-breaching-sachin-pilots-fortress-nitin-nabins-tonk-gambit-decoded-671329.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-supporters-hail-pm-modi-ahead-of-poll-rally-in-bengals-barrackpore-671333.html New Delhi April 27 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a Vijay Sankalp Sabha in Barrackpore West Bengal on the final day of campaigning for the second phase of the assembly elections on MondaynbspThe rally venue is teeming with surge of supporters as well as common people wanting to have a glimpse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Many of them visibly excited and exhilarated over PM Modis rally voiced confidence in his leadership and shared what they expect from the new government after the ongoing Assembly electionsSpeaking ahead of the rally a BJP karyakarta highlighted the enthusiasm among party workers and their connection with the Prime MinisterWe work closely with the Prime Minister We are BJP karyakarta We have met him many times Meeting him makes us proud and energised The BJP is important here because many factories and industries are shut down Earlier Bengal was the capital from where it all started and then we had to face TMC in power for 15 years Now its time for the BJP a worker told IANSAnother supporter echoed similar sentiments expressing faith in PM Modis leadership and vision We are here to see PM Modi and indeed Modi hai to mumkin hai To support this principle we are here We want a Modi government for our betterment in West Bengal We want a doubleengine government the supporter saidThe Prime Ministers visit to Barrackpore on April 27 2026 is a key part of the Bharatiya Janata Partys BJP campaign strategy as it seeks to strengthen its presence in the state ahead of pollingMeanwhile political activity in West Bengal has intensified with parties making their last efforts to connect with voters The BJP has been raising issues such as industrial decline development and governance while also targeting the ruling Trinamool Congress over its long tenure in the stateEarlier on Sunday while addressing a Vijay Sankalp Sabha in Bangaon PM Modi invoked Subhas Chandra Bose and said Bengal has everything The people of Bengal have abundant capability so Bengal can once again become the number one state in the country We just need to remember Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses call Netaji had said Give me blood and I will give you freedom In response to Netajis call the countrymen sacrificed everything they had Today Bengal needs just one vote from you Give us your blessings give us your vote and we will free you from TMCIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-supporters-hail-pm-modi-ahead-of-poll-rally-in-bengals-barrackpore-671333.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cisf-jawan-arrested-for-molesting-minor-in-west-burdwans-kulti-671335.html Kolkata April 27 A Central Industrial Security Force CISF jawan has been accused of molesting a minor girl after offering her mangoes The police have arrested the jawan in connection with the incident The arrested jawan has been identified as Ramakant Vishwakarma said the police on Monday The incident took place in Kulti of West Burdwan district The jawan was arrested by the police of Sanktoria outpost of Kulti police station late on Sunday night It was learnt that the jawan has already been suspendedAccording to the police on Sunday afternoon the 10yearold child had gone to pick mangoes in the area adjacent to the CISF camp in ShitalpurCISF jawan Ramakant Vishwakarma working there allegedly lured the girl to his quarters by offering her ripe mangoes and molested her thereThe terrified child went home and told her grandmother about the incident Then the minors family went to the quarters of the CISF By then the accused Ramakant Vishwakarma had fled from there and his quarters were found lockedLater the family filed a written complaint with the Kulti police stationAs soon as the news spread there was widespread tension in the area Angry local residents blocked the road near Gate No 3 of Sitalpur on Sunday night and started protesting The district Trinamool leadership also was part of the protestThe police of Sanktoria outpost took quick action to bring the situation under control Later the accused jawan was arrestedTrinamool leader Chandan Acharya said that the police action made it possible to arrest the accused within a few hours of the incidentOn Monday accused Ramakant Vishwakarma will be produced before the Asansol court under police security The police have informed that an application will be made to take the accused into their custody in order to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and collect evidenceA case has already been registered against the arrested person under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act 2012 Investigation is on said a senior officer of West Burdwan district policeThe Trinamool leadership said that such behaviour by a member of the central force on which the Central government is relying to conduct Assembly elections in West Bengal is extremely unfortunate IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cisf-jawan-arrested-for-molesting-minor-in-west-burdwans-kulti-671335.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/azharuddin-kodandaram-take-oath-as-telangana-mlcs-671339.html Hyderabad April 27 Telangana Minister for Minority Welfare Mohammad Azharuddin and Professor M Kodandaram Reddy on Monday took oath as members of the states Legislative Council Council Chairman G Sukhender Reddy administered the oath to them at an event held in the Assembly buildingChief Minister A Revanth Reddy his Cabinet colleagues state Congress president Mahesh Kumar Goud and other leaders of the ruling Congress party attended the eventGovernor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Sunday nominated Azharuddin and Kodandaram as members of the Legislative Council under the Governorâs quotaHowever the nominations will be subject to the final outcome of all the appeals pending in this regard reads the notification issued by the state governmentAccording to the notification Azharuddin and Kodandaram have been nominated in place of D Rajeshwar Rao and Farooq Hussain whose term expired on May 27 2023Azharuddinâs nomination as MLC came as a huge relief for the former Indian cricket captain and the ruling Congress partySworn in as the minister on October 31 2025 Azharuddin was constitutionally required to get elected to either the Assembly or the Council by April 30 to continue in the CabinetKodandaram a key figure in the movement for statehood to Telangana is the leader of Telangana Jana Samithi TJS which had supported the Congress party in the 2023 electionsThe nominations ended a long period of uncertainty The Telangana Cabinet had recommended the names of Azharuddin and Kodandaram for nomination to the Council under the Governorâs quota on August 30 2025 However the Governor has not cleared the nominations due to a case pending in the Supreme CourtChief Minister A Revanth Reddy had met the Governor on April 19 to request him to approve the pending nominationsLast month the Chief Minister had cited the Supreme Courtâs observation that it had no objection in the matter and that the state government was free to pursue the issue with the Governor for clearanceThe Cabinetâs decision to nominate them as MLCs in August last year came two weeks after the Supreme Court stayed the appointment of Kodandaram and Amer Ali Khan as MLCs under the Governorâs quotaBoth Kodandaram and Amer Ali Khan were sworn in as MLCs in 2024 The apex court gave a stay on a petition filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS leaders Dasoju Sravan and Kurra Satyanarayana challenging the nominations made by the state governmentKodandaram and Amer Ali Khan were nominated as MLCs in January 2024 but the High Court set aside the nomination in March on petitions by Dasoju Sravan and Kurra Satyanarayana whose nomination as MLCs was recommended by the previous government of BRS in July 2023 The same was rejected by thenGovernor Tamilisai Soundararajan on the grounds that the two were âpolitically aligned personsâThe High Court had quashed the Governorâs decision holding that the Governor can only return the governmentâs recommendation for reconsiderationFollowing the High Court order the BRS leaders had requested the Governor to nominate them as MLCs However as the BRS had lost power to Congress the Governor rejected the requestSravan and Satyanarayana had challenged the Governorâs refusal in the Supreme Court IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/azharuddin-kodandaram-take-oath-as-telangana-mlcs-671339.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-rejects-antony-rajus-plea-to-suspend-conviction-in-underwear-tampering-case-671340.html New Delhi April 27 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by former Kerala Minister Antony Raju seeking suspension of his conviction in the sensational 1990 underwear evidence tampering casenbspnbspA Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma declined to grant relief to Raju who had challenged the Kerala High Courts order refusing to stay his conviction in the decadesold sensational caseWith the dismissal of his plea the conviction recorded by the trial court and affirmed in appeal continues to operate leaving his disqualification as a Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly under the Representation of the People Act 1951 intactRaju a former Transport Minister and the lone legislator of the Janadhipathya Kerala Congress within the ruling Left Democratic Front LDF had ceased to be an MLA from January 3 2026 after the Nedumangad Judicial First Class Magistrate Court convicted and sentenced him to three years imprisonment in the longpending case involving tampering of crucial court evidenceEarlier in March the Kerala High Court declined to stay the conviction despite suspending the sentence rendering Raju ineligible to contest the ongoing Assembly elections from Thiruvananthapuram Central a seat he previously representedThe case dates back to 1990 when Australian national Andrew Salvatore Cervelli was arrested at Thiruvananthapuram airport for allegedly smuggling 615 grams of narcotic substances concealed in his underwearRaju then a young lawyer had represented Cervelli While the trial court convicted Cervelli the Kerala High Court later acquitted him after finding that the undergarment produced as material evidence was too small to belong to him casting serious doubt on the prosecutions caseSubsequent investigations triggered by information from Australian authorities led to allegations that the material evidence had been tampered with while in court custodyA criminal case was eventually registered against Raju and a court clerk in 1994 followed by a chargesheet in 2006 after prolonged investigationIn November 2024 the Supreme Court revived the prosecution by setting aside a Kerala High Court order that had quashed the criminal proceedings on technical grounds directing that the trial be completed within one yearFollowing trial Raju was convicted on charges including criminal conspiracy destruction of evidence fabrication of false evidence and related offencesWhile the Sessions Court refused to interfere with the finding of guilt it temporarily suspended the sentence of imprisonment and fine pending a detailed hearing of the appealIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-rejects-antony-rajus-plea-to-suspend-conviction-in-underwear-tampering-case-671340.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/when-the-heat-rises-so-do-snakebites-in-kerala-671344.html Thiruvananthapuram April 27 Kerala is confronting an unusual and deeply unsettling consequence of its soaring temperatures a sharp spike in snakebite incidents across the state What was once considered an occasional rural hazard has in recent days turned into a widespread public safety concern cutting across districts age groups and even the perceived safety of homesOn a single day 23 people required ambulance assistance for snakebites while several others reported suspected encountersFrom Alappuzha to Kozhikode Malappuram to Thiruvananthapuram the pattern is strikingly similar snakes emerging from their natural habitats and entering human spacesExperts and local observers point to the relentless rise in mercury levels as the triggerWith ground temperatures climbing to uncomfortable highs snakes are being forced out of their burrows in search of cooler environmentsUnfortunately that often means shaded yards cluttered compounds and increasingly the interiors of homesThe human stories behind the numbers are soberingIn Kayamkulam two young children were among five bitten In Kozhikode a young man discovered he had been bitten only after spotting a snake on his bedIn another chilling incident a family found multiple venomous snakes hidden across rooms in their house one on a bed where children had been sleeping moments earlierThese are not isolated episodes but signs of a shifting ecological balance where human and wildlife boundaries are blurring under climate stressHospitals across Kerala have responded swiftly ensuring antivenom serum availability and timely careReassuringly most victims are reported to be in stable condition thanks to quick medical interventionYet the surge raises urgent questions about preparedness and preventionPublic awareness better waste and vegetation management around homes and rapid response systems are now criticalAs Kerala navigates this heatwave the message is clear this is no longer just about rising temperatures it is about adapting to the unforeseen dangers that come with it one snakebite at a time IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/when-the-heat-rises-so-do-snakebites-in-kerala-671344.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mangaluru-blast-verdict-likely-today-will-act-based-on-outcome-ktaka-home-minister-671345.html Bengaluru April 27 Ahead of the verdict by the Special NIA court in the Mangaluru cooker bomb blast case Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday said he expects a fair judgment and that the government will take further action based on the outcome Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru the Minister said the court is expected to pronounce its verdict in the case today âThe police department has done everything required under the law They have collected the necessary evidence and submitted it I expect a just verdict Let us wait and watchâ he saidResponding to allegations made by the BJP regarding the case Parameshwara said two aspects must be kept in mind âOne is the political narrative where statements are made as part of public discourse We have observed the opposition making such remarksâ he notedHowever he stressed that the legal process remains paramount âWhat is important is what needs to be done legally The court will announce its verdict today and we will decide on further action based on the outcomeâ he addedThe Special NIA court for terrorism cases in Bengaluru has accepted a guilty plea filed by Mohammed Shariq the main accused in the Mangaluru cooker bomb blast case The blast occurred inside an autorickshaw in the coastal city on November 19 2022The accused No 1 Mohammed Shariq is known as Shariq aka Mohammed Sharik Premraj Hutagi aka Premraj aka Gowli Arun Kumar Shariq 27 who hails from Shivamogga admitted to the charges nearly three years after the explosion inside an autorickshaw on November 19 2022 He initially pleaded not guilty when the court framed charges on April 20 2024 but reversed his stand in December 2025 by submitting a fresh plea under Section 229 Conviction on plea of guilty of the Code of Criminal Procedure CrPCShariq suffered severe burns when the pressure cooker bomb he was allegedly transporting to be planted in Mangaluru detonated prematurely on his lap due to a faulty timer setting The NIA arrested him soon after he was discharged from a Mangaluru hospitalAccording to the NIA Shariq is part of an Islamic Stateinspired Shivamogga module connected to multiple terrorlinked incidents since 2020 At the time of the blast he was already wanted in a September 2022 Shivamogga case involving IED testing by the same module He was arrested in 2020 for writing antinational graffiti in MangaluruThe module is also accused of the March 1 2024 Rameshwaram Cafe blast in Bengaluru where investigators believe an IED similar to the one allegedly carried by Shariq was planted by founding member Mussavir Hussain along with the nowarrested Abdul Matheen Taha IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mangaluru-blast-verdict-likely-today-will-act-based-on-outcome-ktaka-home-minister-671345.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/trinamool-congress-councillor-arrested-in-bengals-burdwan-671346.html Kolkata April 27 A Trinamool Congress TMC councillor of Ward 22 of Burdwan town West Bnegal was arrested on charges of obstructing police work A team of Central forces and police raided the accuseds house early on Monday morning and arrested himThe accused has been identified as Narugopal BhakatIt has been reported that an incident of unrest broke out between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP in Ward No 22 of Burdwan town on Saturday Upon receiving the information the police arrived at the scene Allegations surfaced that Narugopal was obstructing the police investigationSpecifically he is alleged to have personally stood guard and prevented the police from entering the area He also reportedly became involved in an altercation with the police personnel During this exchange Narugopal told the police that they cannot enter the locality to conduct an investigation without first notifying the local councillor Consequently a complaint was lodged against the Trinamool councillor in connection with this incidentSubsequently just two days before the second phase of voting the police arrested him He would be produced before a district court later in the dayThe second and final phase of voting in West Bengal is scheduled for WednesdayAssembly constituencies in East Burdwan district will go to the polls on that day Ahead of this the arrest of the Trinamool councillor has led to tension in the locality More forces were deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident and as a precautionary measureThe Election Commission is seeking to bolster security arrangements ahead of the second phase of polling They are committed to ensuring a free fair and peaceful election process The arrest was made as part of its preventive measures said officialsThe remaining 142 constituencies will go to the polls in the second and final phase of voting on April 29 Counting of votes will be held on May 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/trinamool-congress-councillor-arrested-in-bengals-burdwan-671346.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/four-of-family-die-in-suspected-food-poisoning-case-in-mumbai-671347.html Mumbai April 27 Four members of a family a 40yearold husband his 35yearold wife and their two daughters aged 16 and 13 have died due to suspected food poisoning in Mumbaiâs Pydhonie area police said on Monday According to Mumbai Police the incident dates back to the night of April 25 when a total of nine family members including close relatives had dinner together at around 1030 PM The relatives later returned to their respective homes In the early hours of the night between 100 AM and 130 AM the four deceased family members reportedly consumed watermelonBy early morning around 530 to 600 AM on April 26 all four began experiencing severe symptoms including vomiting and loose motions They were initially attended to by a family doctor and were later referred to JJ Hospital for further treatmentDespite medical intervention the younger daughter died at approximately 1015 AM while the husband succumbed later that night at around 1030 PM The wife and elder daughter also passed away during treatmentPostmortem examinations have been conducted but the final cause of death will be confirmed only after histopathological reports are received An Accidental Death AD case has been registered at JJ Marg Police StationThe deceased have been identified as Abdullah Dokadia 40 Nasreen Dokadia 35 and their daughters Aisha 16 and Zainab 13 According to preliminary statements one of the victims had informed police that the family had consumed biryani before eating watermelon later in the nightPolice officials stated that the exact cause of the suspected food poisoning remains unclear and is under investigationIn a separate but similar incident a sevenyearold child died and 18 others were hospitalised in Jharkhandâs Giridih district after allegedly consuming contaminated âgolgappaâ and âchaatâ from a street vendor on Sunday The incident occurred in Bajto village under the Muffasil police station limits prompting an investigation by local authorities and the health departmentFood poisoning is typically caused by consuming contaminated food or water and can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea vomiting nausea and abdominal pain Authorities continue to urge caution regarding food hygiene and safety IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/four-of-family-die-in-suspected-food-poisoning-case-in-mumbai-671347.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/man-arrested-for-killing-elderly-sister-dumping-body-in-drain-in-mumbai-671352.html Mumbai April 27 A shocking incident has come to light in Mumbai where a man allegedly murdered his elderly sister following a family dispute and dumped her body in a drainage line in Andheri police said on Monday The accused Josef Thomas Coelho 63 a resident of Andheriâs Marol area lived with his 80yearold sister Blanche SequeiraAccording to police an argument broke out between the siblings on the night of January 10 over familyrelated issues During the altercation Coelho allegedly lost his temper and shoved his sister out of the house Sequeira fell due to the impact and died on the spotRealising that his sister had died Coelho allegedly attempted to cover up the death by disposing of her body the same night in a municipal drainage line located within the premises of Mumbai International Airport LimitedHe then fled the scene and later filed a false missing person complaint at the Andheri Police Station to mislead authoritiesThe case came to light on April 24 when workers of the BMC discovered a body while cleaning a drain in Andheri East The police were immediately informed following which the body was retrieved and sent to Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle West for postmortem examination Due to advanced decomposition identification was initially difficultHowever the deceased was eventually identified through her silver bangles and earrings Police matched these with a photograph submitted earlier by Coelho at Sahar Police Station where he had reported her missingDuring the course of the investigation police questioned neighbours and later subjected Coelho to sustained interrogation during which he confessed to accidentally killing his sister by pushing herPolice have also booked Coelhoâs wife Maria for allegedly attempting to conceal the crime despite having prior knowledge of it Both have been arrested and further investigation is underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/man-arrested-for-killing-elderly-sister-dumping-body-in-drain-in-mumbai-671352.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ktr-urges-brs-cadres-to-pledge-to-protect-telangana-671354.html Hyderabad April 27 Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS working president K T Rama Rao on Monday called upon party cadres to take a pledge on the partyâs Foundation Day to protect Telangana alleging that the state is facing destruction under the Congress regime âOn the Partys foundation day let us pledge once again To protect Telangana let us rise once more and stand united in millionsâ KTR posted on âXâThe former minister urged the party cadres to rededicate themselves to the reconstruction of Telangana on the occasion of its 26th Foundation DayKTR stated that as the party was born out of a movement BRS forced Delhi to achieve the goal of a separate state He also claimed that as the ruling party for a decade it steered Telangana on the path of progress âToday as the main opposition party we are standing firm for the cause of millions of people sounding the war trumpet against the inept government and standing tall as the voice of Telanganaâ he wroteKTR termed BRS a symbol of its unbreakable bond with the people and described the pink flag as representing Telanganaâs selfrespecting political identityKTR said that the journey of the party for twoandahalf decades under K Chandrasekhar Rao was marked by historic struggles and achievementsEarlier in the day he hoisted the party flag at the BRS headquarters Telangana Bhavan to mark the Foundation Day with several party leaders participating in the celebrationsHe declined to comment on certain remarks made by his sister K Kavitha who floated a new political party called Telangana Rashtra Sena TRS on April 25 Kavitha who had quit BRS last year after being suspended by his father and the party president K Chandrasekhar Rao KCR had criticised both KCR and KTRKavitha had called KCR a changed man and also remarked that KTR knows nothingBRS organised the formation day celebrations across the state KTR had called upon the party cadres to hoist party flags in every village town constituency and district headquarters to mark the dayKTR during a teleconference with party leaders on Sunday explained that in light of the massive public meeting recently held in Jagtial and keeping the current intense summer heat in mind the plenary session has been limited to a State Executive Committee meeting this timeThe invitations for this meeting have been extended exclusively to State Executive Committee members MPs MLAs MLCs district presidents former public representatives and former chairpersons of various corporations KCR had floated Telangana Rashtra Samithi TRS in 2001 to revive the Telangana movement The separate state became a reality on June 2 2014 In 2022 TRS changed its name to BRS with KCR planning to expand the party to other statesHowever after ruling Telangana for nearly a decade the BRS lost power to Congress in Telangana in 2023 The party suffered a humiliating defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well drawing a blank its worstever performance IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ktr-urges-brs-cadres-to-pledge-to-protect-telangana-671354.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hopeful-and-happy-enthusiastic-crowds-throng-gangtok-streets-for-pm-modis-roadshow-671360.html Gangtok April 27 Large crowds gathered in Gangtok as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived for the closing ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Sikkims statehood Enthusiastic residents lined both sides of the roads for the Prime Ministers roadshow waving the tricolour and dressed in traditional attire Elaborate security arrangements were put in place across the city for the highprofile visitGangtok was adorned with national flags along the route stretching from Biralu Dwar to MG Marg creating a festive atmosphere as people eagerly awaited the Prime Ministers arrivalLocals expressed excitement and hope ahead of the visit Speaking to reporters entrepreneur Deewakar Basnet said I think one of the first things I would like to say is that we are very thankful to the Prime Minister for visiting Sikkim on the occasion of the 50th year of statehood celebration One of the biggest expectations is that the Prime Minister will provide justice and work to lift up Sikkims deprived communities and this is something that everyone here is hopeful for Apart from that I believe he will certainly talk about the future of Sikkim and what expectations India has from us during his visits today and tomorrowLast year the Prime Minister was unable to make it to the celebrations due to the weather but this time we are hopeful and happy that he will grace us on the occasion of the closing ceremony he added Following his arrival a twokilometrelong cultural roadshow has been planned to welcome the Prime Minister as he travels to Lok Bhawan where he will stay overnightThe visit is part of the golden jubilee celebrations of Sikkims statehood Notably this marks his second attempt to attend the commemorative event within a year after adverse weather conditions last year prevented him from reaching GangtokOn April 28 he is scheduled to visit the Orchidarium in Gangtok developed as a worldclass Orchid Experience Centre to showcase the states rich ecological and floral heritageLater at around 10 am PM Modi will attend the concluding ceremony of the Golden Jubilee celebrations at Paljor Stadium where he will inaugurate launch and lay the foundation stone of projects spanning sectors such as infrastructure connectivity healthcare education power urban development environment tourism and agriculture He will also address the gatheringIn the healthcare sector the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a 100bedded Ayurveda hospital at Yangang in Namchi district and inaugurate a 30bedded Integrated Sowa Rigpa Hospital at NIT DeoraliIn education he will inaugurate the permanent campus of Sikkim University at Yangang the administrative block of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University of Excellence at Chakung Helen Lepcha Medical College at Socheygang and Dentam Professional College in the Gyalshing districtModel residential schools at Hee Gyathang a new Model Degree College at Mangshila and a monastic hostelcumclassroom at Boomtar Gumpa will also be inauguratedAdditionally ITenabled infrastructure projects across 160 schools will be launchedTo boost connectivity PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for two doublelane steel arch bridges over the Teesta river at Sirwani and Lower Samdong and inaugurate the upgraded road from Birdhang to Namchi via KitchudumraIn the power sector he will inaugurate the revamping of the transmission and distribution network in GangtokUnder urban development projects to be inaugurated include the Jan Seva Sachivalaya at Lumsey the Civil Service Officers Institute in Gangtok housing initiatives under the Sikkim Urban Garib Awas Yojana and quarters for police personnelThe foundation stone for a Sadhbhav Mandap at MG Marg will also be laidEnvironmental initiatives include laying the foundation stone for a sewerage system rehabilitation project at Singtam and inaugurating the River Rani Chu pollution abatement schemeIn tourism the Prime Minister will inaugurate the redevelopment of the Ridge Precinct in Gangtok ecotourism and pilgrimage infrastructure at Dodak facilities related to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and a Yatri Niwas at Krishna Pranami MangaldhamThe foundation stone for an EcoPilgrimage Complex at Silnon will also be laidHe will also inaugurate the Sikkim IFFCO Processing Plant aimed at boosting agroprocessing and farmer incomes along with indoor cricket facilities at Mining in Pakyong district IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hopeful-and-happy-enthusiastic-crowds-throng-gangtok-streets-for-pm-modis-roadshow-671360.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/dy-cm-shivakumars-talks-with-high-command-routine-karnataka-hm-671364.html Bengaluru April 27 Regarding the meeting of the DK brothers Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and former MP DK Suresh with the party high command in New Delhi Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara said such developments are part of politics Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on Monday he remarked that this is what defines politics and such situations are naturalOn his meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah he said it is also part of political activityHe added that the state Congress President Shivakumar had gone to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss issues related to the state and matters concerning the Defence sectorResponding to DK Shivakumarâs statement that whatever discussions took place would eventually come out Parameshwara said it was a political statement and does not require further interpretation He said they simply held a meeting and returned after having a mealOn Minister for PWD Satish Jarkiholiâs remark that the government is facing hurdles from AHINDA communities in fulfilling its promises Parameshwara said it was Jarkiholiâs personal statement and he has no comments to offer on itOn the discussion that there is no timebound deadline for the caste census report HM Parameshwara said it could be delayed due to various reasonsHe noted that factors such as elections political developments and Assembly sessions may influence the timeline and it may take some more timeHe added that he does not have detailed information on the matter and it would not be appropriate for him to comment furtherOn the issue of black marketing of IPL tickets and the filing of an FIR he said that if an FIR has been registered the police will take action against those involvedHe stressed that there is no permission for black ticket sales and if anyone is found selling tickets illegally action will be takenHe said the police will verify the allegations He clarified that ticket sales are conducted online and the government has no direct role in the process as it has been left to the authorities concerned The details mentioned in the FIR will be examined IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/dy-cm-shivakumars-talks-with-high-command-routine-karnataka-hm-671364.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pedestrian-dragged-to-death-by-speeding-bus-in-mps-morena-671367.html BhopalMorena April 27 A horrific road accident on Jaura Road in Morena claimed the life of a fortyyearold woman on Monday morning after she was struck and dragged by a speeding bus officials said The victim identified as Kamla Baghel a resident of Baripura was attempting to cross the road around 10 am when the vehicle knocked her downIn a sequence of events described by authorities as particularly brutal the driver failed to apply the brakes after the initial impact instead dragging the woman for approximately thirty feet along the pavement The severity of the incident resulted in her immediate death at the sceneLocal police from the Civil Lines station arrived shortly after the incident to secure the area and begin their investigationAccording to police officials the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene immediately after the collision The authorities have seized the bus and a manhunt has been launched to locate and apprehend the driverThe investigation is being supported by a harrowing eyewitness account from another woman who was accompanying the victim at the time of the crashThe witness informed investigators that the bus was being rashly driven in a negligent manner leaving the victim with no opportunity to move out of the wayShe further emphasised that the driver appeared to show a total disregard for life by continuing to drive while the woman was trapped beneath the vehicle dragging her body a significant distance before finally coming to a haltOther women who were present at the accident site have also come forward to provide statements all of whom have held the driver solely responsible for the gruesome fatalityThe Civil Lines police have officially registered a criminal case and are currently examining the vehicle for any mechanical failures though preliminary reports suggest human negligence and excessive speed were the primary causes IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pedestrian-dragged-to-death-by-speeding-bus-in-mps-morena-671367.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-geared-up-to-meet-peak-summer-power-demand-ensure-uninterrupted-supply-sanjeev-arora-671369.html DW Bureaunbsp nbsp Chandigarh Amid a sharp surge in electricity demand triggered by an intense heatwave the Punjab Government has stepped up measures to ensure uninterrupted power supply across the state Punjab Power Minister Sanjeev Arora on Monday asserted that the state remains wellprepared to handle peak summer demandAddressing a press conference Arora said the states power demand rose steeply from around 7900 MW on April 15 to over 12000 MW by April 25 marking a significant increase compared to last year Despite the sudden spike he said Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has successfully maintained grid stability through advance planning and robust infrastructureHe said Punjab is among the betterprepared states in the country to tackle rising power demand even as several regions face shortages At the national level power demand touched an alltime high of 252 GW on April 24 against an available supply of around 239 GW resulting in a deficit of about 13 GWReferring to directions from Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann the minister said all departments are working in mission mode to ensure that consumers do not face inconvenience due to power outagesArora outlined key measures being taken to meet the demand surge These include advanced negotiations to secure an additional 15002000 MW through banking arrangements with other states restoration of hydel power plants damaged in the 2025 floods to add around 300 MW capacity and procurement of nearly 1500 MW from other states and private sources Punjab is also preparing to draw up to 2000 MW from the central power pool while shortterm tenders have been floated to tap surplus powerHe added that the state has introduced a temporary waiver of wheeling charges and crosssubsidy between 6 PM and 6 AM for two months to enhance power availabilityHighlighting infrastructure upgrades under Mission Roshan Punjab Arora said an investment of over 6000 crore is being made to strengthen the power network Major works include setting up 70 new substations upgrading 200 existing ones installing and augmenting thousands of distribution transformers and deloading 688 feeders to reduce faults caused by overloadingOn system reliability the minister said unplanned outages have declined sharply By the third week of April outages dropped by nearly 70 from 13271 in 2025 to 3974 in 2026 reflecting improved infrastructure and better managementArora said PSPCL teams are working round the clock to ensure reliable power supply to domestic agricultural industrial and commercial consumers during the peak summer seasonnbspThe people of Punjab can be assured that we are fully geared up to meet the rising demand and provide quality uninterrupted power supply he said https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-geared-up-to-meet-peak-summer-power-demand-ensure-uninterrupted-supply-sanjeev-arora-671369.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-launches-year-long-celebrations-of-guru-ravidas-jis-650th-parkash-purb-with-grand-kirtan-darbar-671370.html nbsp DW Bureau Chandigarh RupnagarThe Punjab Government on Sunday commenced statewide celebrations marking the 650th Parkash Purb of Guru Ravidas with a grand spiritual Kirtan Darbar at Nehru Stadium in Rupnagar The event marked the beginning of a yearlong series of programmes aimed at spreading the universal message of the revered saint across the state and beyondnbspHeld under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann the spiritually vibrant evening featured soulful Kirtan performances by noted Hazuri Ragis immersing the Sangat in devotion This was followed by a Katha Vichar session encouraging devotees to imbibe the teachings of Guru Ravidas Ji in their daily livesPunjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema who attended as the chief guest extended greetings to the Sangat and highlighted the significance of the initiative He recalled that during last years celebrations at Khuralgarh Sahib the Chief Minister had announced a series of largescale events to mark the 650th Parkash PurbnbspThe primary objective is to take the universal message of Guru Ravidas Ji to every corner of Punjab and across the globe through educational and spiritual programmes Cheema said adding that Kirtan Darbars will be organised across all districts beginning with RupnagarHighlighting a key initiative he announced that the state government has acquired 10 acres of land near Dera Sachkhand Ballan to establish a Sri Guru Ravidas Bani Adhyayan Kendra The centre with a seating capacity of 750 will be dedicated to the study and research of the Gurus sacred Bani and teachingsnbspHe said architectural plans for the centre have been finalised and construction will begin shortly The facility will also showcase historical research related to Guru Ravidas Ji for public awarenessAdvisor to the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department Deepak Bali emphasised the relevance of the Gurus teachings in present times urging people to rise above differences and work towards a society based on equality and brotherhoodnbspMLA Dinesh Chadha welcomed the dignitaries and said that societal progress can be achieved by following the path shown by the Gurus He also thanked the state government for choosing Rupnagar tonbsp host the inaugural Kirtan DarbarnbspThousands of devotees attended the event which was graced by several religious leaders and public representatives Senior officials including district administration and police officers were also present https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-launches-year-long-celebrations-of-guru-ravidas-jis-650th-parkash-purb-with-grand-kirtan-darbar-671370.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-hc-pulls-up-govt-over-coal-mine-safety-asks-chief-inspector-of-factories-to-appear-671373.html Ranchi April 27 The Jharkhand High Court on Monday took a strict stance on the safety health and rights of coal mine workers Taking suo motu cognisance of the issue a division bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad directed the stateâs Chief Inspector of Factories to appear in person at the next date of hearingThe Supreme Court in recent years has issued stringent directions concerning the safety of mine workers and their right to life The apex court had clearly stated that the life and health of those working in mines are of paramount importance and that negligence at any level would not be toleratedIn this context the Supreme Court had asked all High Courts across the country to monitor the issue following which the Jharkhand High Court initiated these proceedingsDuring the hearing on Monday the state government submitted a review report on inspections of major coal mines and factories along with an assessment of compliance with safety standards to the High CourtHowever the bench expressed deep dissatisfaction with the report observing that there remained a significant gap between conditions on the ground and compliance with prescribed safety normsIt sought details from the government on concrete steps taken so far to ensure workersâ safety during hazardous operations and to safeguard their healthThe court categorically directed that safety rules must be strictly enforced in mines adequate medical facilities must be ensured for workers and illegal mining must be completely curbedThe High Court further asked the state to provide comprehensive information on progress made towards the regularisation of contract workers payment of minimum wages and implementation of welfare schemes for mine workersTaking note of the seriousness of the matter the court directed the Chief Inspector of Factories to remain personally present on the next date of hearing and explain what measures have been taken so far to implement the courtâs directions IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-hc-pulls-up-govt-over-coal-mine-safety-asks-chief-inspector-of-factories-to-appear-671373.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/police-in-jampks-anantnag-bust-massive-drug-racket-arrest-four-671374.html Srinagar April 27 Police in Jammu and Kashmirâs Anantnag district said on Monday that they busted a major drug racket recovered 166 kg contraband and arrested four people A police statement said that in one of the biggest antidrug operations in the district Anantnag Police seized over 166 kilograms of narcotics including ganja and charas and arrested four accused in a series of coordinated actions across the districtOfficials said that acting on specific inputs and during routine checking multiple police teams carried out operations at different locations leading to the recovery of huge quantities of contraband and the arrest of key peddlersAt Shalgam Crossing a police party from Police Station Srigufwara intercepted a car JK01W7328 during patrolling In a search around 110 kilograms of ganja were recovered and one accused identified as Nazir Ahmad Khatana of Gujar Basti Shalgam was arrested on the spot A case under FIR No 392026 has been registeredIn another operation Police Post Dialgam conducted a search at the residence of Mohd Rafiq Itoo at Watrigam after obtaining a court warrant During the search approximately 51 kilograms of charaslike substance were recovered leading to registration of FIR No 1192026 under the NDPS ActFurther during naka checking at Sakhras Crossing police apprehended Rayees Ahmad Shah of Wullarhama and recovered around 5 kilograms of charas powder from his possessionIn a separate action at Doodnad Waghama Police Station Bijbehara arrested another peddler and recovered 170 grams of charas along with Rs 18700 cashPolice said the antidrug campaign has gained significant momentum in Anantnag after SSP Amod Ashok Nagpure took charge with intensified operations leading to major recoveries and arrests in recent weeksPolice said an investigation into all cases is underway to unearth the wider network involved in drug traffickingMeanwhile Anantnag Police reiterated their commitment to eradicate the drug menace and appealed to the public to share any information related to narcotics to assist in the crackdown IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/police-in-jampks-anantnag-bust-massive-drug-racket-arrest-four-671374.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-governor-releases-jgus-ai-governance-report-at-national-seminar-on-ai-law-and-society-671379.html Mumbai April 27 Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma released the AI Governance Report 2026 by OP Jindal Global University in Mumbai âI congratulate the Cyril Shroff Centre for AI Law amp Regulation at OP Jindal Global University where members of industry and public institutions have come together in a spirit of shared values Such seminars demonstrate how innovation and partnerships can lead to impactful solutionsâ Varma said âToday we are talking about AI in governance and I would like to stress the importance of when we bring about change This is the age of research as we are heading towards Viksit Bharat which cannot be defined only in economic terms AI is going to solve a lot of problems but it also comes with challenges We need to use AI with compassion with delivery to the last mile and uplift the masses It becomes more important to preserve our values as technology without purpose is dangerous We must give governance with empathy The concept comes from the ancient Vedas which speak about happiness and peace for everyone for their upliftment It is particularly important to preserve Indian art and culture and schools of thought as it is part of our national identityâ Higher Education Institutions HEIs globally are undergoing structural transformation in response to the rapid integration of AI and evolving student expectations AI tools enable analysis of complex datasets modelling of social phenomena augmentation of qualitative inquiry and the generation of insights that contribute to the public good At an institutional level AI is being embedded into governance in ways that enhance transparency efficiency and evidencebased decisionmaking In her welcome address Dr Indu Shahani President ATLAS SkillTech University said âThe distinguished gathering adds immense value to the seminar and your journeys are deeply inspiringâAddressing the Governor Dr Shahani said âNot many leaders combine governance creativity and poetry I also thank OP Jindal Global University for its strategic and meaningful partnerships We at ATLAS SkillTech University blend design management technology entrepreneurship and law for futureready graduatesâ In his introductory remarks Prof Dr C Raj Kumar Founding Vice Chancellor OP Jindal Global University said âThis report is guided by a central question How can JGU build an education system that uses AI to genuinely enhance learning research and institutional efficiency while ensuring that human judgment creativity and agency remain at the core of the academic experience The university must stand at the frontier of knowledge not as a passive observer of change but as its principled architect AI constitutes one of the most consequential developments in the contemporary history of higher education Its implications extend beyond technological enhancement to the very architecture of knowledge creation and institutional governance Engaging with AI for JGU is therefore not merely a matter of adaptation but of intellectual leadership and normative responsibility The AI Governance Report 2026 articulates a coherent and futureoriented framework for embedding AI across our academic research and administrative domainsâ Contemporary research strongly supports active learning methodologies over purely lecturebased instruction âJGU should progressively embed experiential learning components across disciplines including law business engineering public policy and international relations Structured simulations interdisciplinary capstone projects and immersive learning environments can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and applied competence Such reforms would align JGU with Education 40 principles ensuring that graduates are prepared not merely with conceptual understanding but with contextual and practical skills relevant to complex global challengesâ Dr Raj Kumar added The Cyril Shroff Centre For AI Law amp Regulation JGLS focuses on the concept that sustainable transformation requires more than policy directives It demands cultural change By embedding digital transformation within governance structures and institutional identity JGU can transition from incremental adaptation to proactive leadership in higher education reform Such a culture encourages faculty and students to view technology not merely as a tool but as a catalyst for new forms of knowledge creation It also strengthens the universityâs capacity to respond dynamically to emerging global academic and technological developments Other distinguished guests at the launch ceremony included Cyril Shroff Managing Partner Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Ronnie Screwvala CoFounder amp Chairman upGrad It was further discussed that immersive technologies such as augmented reality virtual reality digital twins and AIenabled tutoring systems represent the next frontier in higher education Higher education institutions should adopt a phased strategy to pilot such technologies in selected programmes where experiential learning offers high pedagogical value Implementation should be guided by costeffectiveness accessibility inclusivity and measurable learning impact Strategic partnerships with technology providers and global institutions may accelerate knowledge transfer and best practice adoption The launch was followed by a panel discussion on the theme of Governing AI Law Technology and Society in the Digital Age The participants included Paridhi Adani Partner Head Ahmedabad Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Gaurav Bansal Founder amp Principal Counsel Equilibria Law Chambers Adheesh Nargolkar Partner Khaitan amp Co Ms Aprajita Rana Partner AZB amp Partners Richa Roy Partner Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Anushree Saha General Counsel amp Company Secretary Qureai Siddharth Shahani Executive President ATLAS SkillTech University and was moderated by Prof Dr C Raj Kumar IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-governor-releases-jgus-ai-governance-report-at-national-seminar-on-ai-law-and-society-671379.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/making-rg-kar-victims-mother-candidate-proves-bjps-commitment-towards-womens-safety-says-pm-modi-671234.html Kolkata April 26 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that standing with and nominating the mother of the RG Kar rapemurder victim as a party candidate in the West Bengal Assembly elections has proved the Bharatiya Janata Partys commitment towards womens safety in the statenbspSwapna Debnath the mother of the woman doctor of staterun RG Kar Medical College ampamp Hospital in Kolkata who was raped and murdered within the hospital premises in August 2024 is the BJP candidate from Panihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district which houses the ancestral residence of the victimMother and sisters have been victims of jungle rule in the Trinamool Congress regime The anger in their eyes is visible the most the reflections of which were felt in the huge polling percentage in the first phase of the Assembly polls on April 23 PM Modi saidGoons tortured sisters in Sandeshkhali and they got the backing of the Trinamool Congress Mothers and sisters are constantly abused in West Bengal by the ruling partys goons Do not forget this Girls have been going missing every day since the current regime in West Bengal came into power Trinamool Congress does care about women But the BJP is committed to womens safety he saidIn the 2024 Lok Sabha polls we nominated one sister from Sandeshkhali who protested the atrocities against women there One sister became a victim at a hospital in Kolkata Giving nomination to her mother as a party candidate this time proves BJPs commitment towards womens safety in West Bengal the Prime Minister said at a campaign rally at Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district in the afternoonSpeaking on the occasion the Prime Minister also said that if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal this time the focus will not just be on ensuring womens safety but also enabling overall womens empowermentThe new government will ensure that all women coming from financially backward sections are able to earn at least a lakh a year If they want to get bank loans at affordable interest rates to start a new business like eateries at affordable interest rates your brother Modi will give the guarantee for that Apart from that the women in West Bengal will be provided with a monthly allowance of Rs 3000 which will amount to Rs 36000 a year At the same time 33 per cent of the state government jobs will be reserved for women the Prime Minister saidPM Modi also took a caustic remark at the Trinamool Congress over his jhalmuri break in the middle of the BJPs poll campaign saying that this has given shock to some people a remark addressed to the ruling party leaders mocking him over snacking on a local street foodThe reels and videos of Bengali youth are being praised on social media nationally I have also seen some of this creative content Those who are so annoyed by my jhalmuri break do not like the creativity of the youth of Bengal BJP will make content creation the strength of Bengal he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/making-rg-kar-victims-mother-candidate-proves-bjps-commitment-towards-womens-safety-says-pm-modi-671234.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 16:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-must-lead-in-critical-technologies-to-ensure-tech-sovereignty-dr-jitendra-singh-671236.html New Delhi April 26 IANS India must emerge as a global leader in critical and emerging technologies to secure its technological sovereignty and define its place in the world order Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh said on SundaynbspAddressing the PANIIT Alumni Conference in Los Angeles virtually Singh asserted that India can no longer remain merely a consumer of technology and must instead become a creator designer and global driver of innovationThis shift is essential for the country to shape its global rise and safeguard longterm strategic interests he notedSpeaking to a gathering of IIT alumni including global technology leaders entrepreneurs researchers and investors the minister highlighted that India stands at a defining moment in its development journeyHe linked this vision to the broader goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047 where science technology and innovation will form the backbone of economic growth and global influenceSingh pointed to Indias expanding space programme rapid progress in biotechnology and the emergence of deeptech startups as signs of the countrys growing technological capabilitiesThese advancements demonstrate Indias potential to compete globally in highimpact sectors Dr Singh explainedEmphasising the importance of the Indian diaspora particularly IIT alumni he described them as key connectors between India and global innovation ecosystemsTheir contributions through investments mentorship and institutional collaborations have played a crucial role in strengthening Indias development trajectory he notedThe minister also acknowledged the role of the Indian Institutes of Technology in building the countrys technological leadership with alumni leading global corporations driving cuttingedge research and influencing public policyHowever he added that the focus must now shift towards identifying and investing in the next frontier of growthHighlighting sectors such as semiconductors artificial intelligence robotics and quantum technologies Singh said these domains will be critical for national security economic resilience and global competitivenessHe called for deeper collaboration between academia industry and government along with new models of education and institutionbuildingIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-must-lead-in-critical-technologies-to-ensure-tech-sovereignty-dr-jitendra-singh-671236.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/piyush-goyal-new-zealand-trade-minister-hold-discussions-with-exporters-in-agra-671238.html New Delhi April 26 IANS Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealands Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay met with leaders from the leather and footwear AYUSH pharma medical devices light engineering and sports goods sectors in Agra on SundaynbspHad an enriching engagement with the business leaders and was also joined by my friend Mr Todd McClay MP Minister for Trade ampamp Investment New Zealand Goyal wrote on XAlso launched the Agra World Capital of Footwear brand campaign celebrating the skills of our artisans and women entrepreneurs and positioning Agra as a global sourcing destination employment engine and export powerhouse the minister saidGoyal further stated that the IndiaNew Zealand FTA marks a defining milestone unlocking new opportunities for our farmers women artisans MSMEs businesses and skilled professionalsIn line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision this agreement is a gateway to a deeper more enduring and peoplecentred partnership between our two nations he addedMcClay reaffirmed that India is a strategic priority for New Zealand and urged businesses to actively pursue joint ventures and investment in IndiaIndia and New Zealand will sign the Free Trade Agreement FTA on Monday which will remove tariffs on 100 per cent of Indias exports to New Zealand and either sharply reduce or remove tariffs on 95 per cent of the countrys imports from New ZealandThe deal will provide India with immediate dutyfree access on 100 per cent of tariff lines This is down from the 10 per cent tariff New Zealand currently levies on about 450 tariff lines that India exports including textiles and apparel products leather and headgear ceramics carpets and automobiles and auto componentsIndia has also managed to keep several items out of the FTA including all dairy products such as milk cream whey yoghurt and cheese as well as farm productsThe FTA also includes a provision wherein New Zealand will invest 20 billion in India over 15 years This is in the same vein as the 100 billion investment commitment the European Free Trade Association made in their FTA with IndiaBesides the FTA also includes several provisions relating to the mobility of working professionals and students New Zealand has signed an annex on student mobility and poststudy work visas for the first time with any country Under this Indian students can work up to 20 hours per week while studying in New Zealand with extended poststudy work visasFurther the agreement includes a quota of 5000 visas for skilled Indians for a stay of up to three years in the sectors of interest to India which include AYUSH practitioners yoga instructors chefs and music teachers as well as other key sectors such as IT engineering healthcare education and constructionUnder the Working Holiday Visa programme included in the agreement 1000 young Indians annually can avail multiple entries in New Zealand for a period of 12 monthsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/piyush-goyal-new-zealand-trade-minister-hold-discussions-with-exporters-in-agra-671238.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 16:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/amit-shah-jeet-adani-cm-bhupendra-patel-cast-votes-as-gujarat-local-body-polls-underway-671239.html Ahmedabad April 26 IANS Voting for local body elections in Gujarat began on Sunday with prominent political leaders and public figures stepping out early to cast their ballots underscoring the importance of grassroots democracy in the statenbspAmong those who voted were Adani Airport Holdings Ltd Director Jeet Adani and his wife Diva Shah who exercised their franchise at a polling station in Ahmedabad amid ongoing voting across the stateUnion Home Minister Amit Shah also cast his vote along with his family at a polling booth in GandhinagarHe was accompanied by his wife Sonal Shah son Jay Shah and daughterinlaw Rishita PatelAfter voting Shah visited a temple and offered prayers and the family was seen displaying their inked fingersGujarat Chief Minister Patel cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad soon after polling commenced at 7 amCalling the elections a festival of democracy Patel urged citizens to participate actively describing voting as an important civic dutyLocal body elections are being held in Gujarat today This is a celebration of democracy and every citizen should take part and fulfil their responsibility he saidChief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also voted in Surat and expressed confidence in strong public participationHe said that people across Gujarat were turning out in large numbers to strengthen what he described as the politics of development championed by Prime Minister Narendra ModiSanghavi added that citizens were enthusiastic and ready to contribute to the states development journeyToday along with my family people from the city and across the state have cast their votes The citizens of Gujarat have stepped forward to further reinforce Prime Minister Modis developmentdriven politics he saidPolling is being held for 15 municipal corporations including Ahmedabad Surat Vadodara and Rajkot along with 84 municipalities 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on April 28IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/amit-shah-jeet-adani-cm-bhupendra-patel-cast-votes-as-gujarat-local-body-polls-underway-671239.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 16:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/srinagar-leh-highway-closed-after-zojila-avalanche-3-drivers-rescued-671243.html Srinagar April 26 IANS The SrinagarLeh highway has been closed for vehicular movement after an avalanche hit the Zojila Pass in Ladakh officials said on SundaynbspThree drivers trapped after the avalanche struck Zojila have been rescued safely while damaged vehicles have been retrieved and placed back on the road the officials saidThe avalanche struck on Sunday near Shaitani Nallah in the Drass sector where multiple vehicles including two tankers moving from Sonamarg towards Kargil were hit and pushed off the roadTeams from UTDRF Kargil Police Station Drass and volunteers carried out the operation and evacuated the drivers safely officials said adding that the vehicles affected in the incident have now been brought out of the snowWhile the SrinagarLeh highway continues to remain closed clearance operations are underway to restore traffic movement along the route which remains vulnerable to snow hazards during this periodSix people were killed and 5 others were injured in another avalanche on the Zojila Pass on March 27The Zojila Pass on the SrinagarLeh highway is the most treacherous stretch of the highway and several accidents resulting in loss of precious human lives have occurred in this stretch of the highway during the last 70 yearsIn order to make the highway an allweather road and bypass the Zojila Pass a tunnel is presently being laid across the Zojila PassThe Zojila Pass tunnel is an underconstruction Himalayan tunnel under the Zojila Pass between Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir and Drass in Kargil district of LadakhIt is 95 m wide 757 m high and 142 km long a horseshoeshaped singletube twolane road tunnel at the height of around 12000 feet above sea levelTogether with the adjacent ZMorh Tunnel this geostrategically important tunnel on the NH1 SrinagarLeh Highway will provide yearround weatherproof connectivity to Ladakh from the rest of the countryIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/srinagar-leh-highway-closed-after-zojila-avalanche-3-drivers-rescued-671243.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vice-prez-radhakrishnan-to-lead-centenary-celebrations-of-andhra-university-tomorrow-671250.html New Delhi April 26 IANS VicePresident VP CP Radhakrishnan will address students faculty and alumni at the centenary celebrations of Andhra University in Visakhapatnam on Monday the first day of his twoday visit to Andhra Pradesh an official said on SundaynbspApart from the VicePresident cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and other dignitaries are expected to attend the celebrations on MondaynbspEarlier addressing the 35th convocation ceremony of the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur on Saturday VicePresident Radhakrishnan urged youth to become job creators and nationbuildersHe said the university continues to shape generations of thinkers leaders and changemakers committed to knowledge integrity and servicenbspCongratulating the graduating students he noted that a convocation marks both an end and a beginning urging them to use education as a tool for societal progressnbspHe emphasised that the true value of education lies in its application for innovation ethical conduct and the betterment of societynbspAndhra University ViceChancellor VC GP Raja Sekhar called upon alumni members to share your memories achievements and goodwill messages that will form part of the Centenary SouvenirHe asked them to send short video clips of nearly 60 seconds duration or halfpage writeups capturing their cherished memories of and association with Andhra University to be featured as part of the centenary documentationnbspVC Sekhar said the centenary year will culminate in a Grand Finale the grandest celebration in the universitys hundredyear historynbspThis will bring together alumni faculty distinguished guests students and wellwishers from across India and abroad for a historic occasion that marks the close of one century and the beginning of the next he noted in a statementAs part of the centenary year the university instituted Vaarotsavam the Centenary Celebrations Week which is being held from April 18 at the Andhra University campusnbspThe Vaarotsavam is a standing open invitation to every alumnus of every batch every department and every era to return to the campus reconnect with friends and mentors relive cherished memories and participate in the vibrant life of the University No formal registration is necessary to feel welcome Andhra University is and will always be your home the Vice Chancellor said in an invitation to the alumninbspThe universitys centenary events began on March 26 with the International Students Cultural Festival at the Andhra University Convention CentreIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vice-prez-radhakrishnan-to-lead-centenary-celebrations-of-andhra-university-tomorrow-671250.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sanjay-tandon-assures-full-support-for-asian-roller-skating-championship-in-chandigarh-671254.html DW Bureau Chandigarh April 26 2026 Sanjay Tandon who is the Chairman of Chandigarh Administrations Standing Committee of Administrators Advisory Council on Sports Management has said that all necessary assistance would be extended to the Roller Skating Federation of India and the Chandigarh Roller Skating Federation for hosting the upcoming 21st Asian Roller Skating Championship in the Tricitynbsp Tandon said All help will be provided to federations for organising the Asian Roller Skating Championship He further informed that discussions have already been held with the Honble Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh in this regard Tandon made these remarks while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 3rd India Skate Games along with Mahender Singh Joint Director Sports Notably the 21st Asian Roller Skating Championship is slated to take place in Chandigarh in 2027Highlighting the Administrations commitment Tandon noted that any required infrastructure upgrades or new facilities for roller skating would be undertaken to ensure the successful conduct of the Asian Championship The Governor of Punjab has also conveyed strong interest and support for hosting the prestigious event reinforcing Chandigarhs emergence as a growing hub for roller sports in India Tandon addedMeanwhile the 3rd India Skate Games has drawn nearly 600 skaters from across the countrynbsp The multidiscipline event features competitions in rink hockey roller hockey inline hockey roller derby alpine skating and downhill skatingTandon assured the skating community of full support from the Chandigarh Administration for the growth of roller sports in the region Tulsi Ram Agarwal President of the Roller Skating Federation of India was also present at the event https://dailyworld.in/national/sanjay-tandon-assures-full-support-for-asian-roller-skating-championship-in-chandigarh-671254.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 20:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/de-addiction-possible-with-awareness-law-enforcement-sameer-wankhede-671176.html Mumbai April 26 Indian Railway Service officer Sameer Wankhede who attended a Hindu conference in Mumbai told the news agency IANS that the programme is very commendableâ He said that his primary focus has always been on initiatives aimed at deaddiction and that when society unites on such critical issues collective efforts combined with effective law enforcement can bring about meaningful changeâSameer Wankhede stated that he has also made an appeal to the Hindu communityâHe said that he has requested all those present including attendees and religious leaders to educate the public through religious scriptures as the principles of deaddiction are enshrined in both Buddhism and HinduismâHe added that he has come to stand in support of the Hindu community and that if people come together they can put a stop to this menaceâHe said that if 100 per cent implementation of the law and public awareness go hand in hand they can successfully fight against drug abuseâHe further remarked that the Hindu community constitutes a vast segment of the nationâs population and that if awareness regarding the fight against drugs takes root within this community drug peddlers will be unable to thrive within societyâHe noted that he has encountered such cases even during his tenure at the Narcotics Control BureauâHe added that those who supply narcotics to children must face severe punishmentIt is pertinent to mention that the Bombay High Court recently heard a petition seeking to quash cancel a First Information Report filed against Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer WankhedeâThis case stems from allegations that Wankhede demanded a bribe from superstar Shah Rukh KhanâDuring the hearing Sameer Wankhede categorically denied all these allegationsâHe asserted that he had not demanded a bribe from Shah Rukh Khan or anyone else in connection with the Cordelia cruise drug caseâIt was in this very case that Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan was arrestedâSenior Counsel Abad Ponda represented Wankhede in courtâHe presented brief arguments before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Chandrashekhar and Justice Suman ShyamâPonda informed the court that his client neither demanded money from anyone nor accepted any sum as alleged in the Central Bureau of Investigations First Information ReportâHe stated that no concrete evidence has been presented thus far in this case which has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Actâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/de-addiction-possible-with-awareness-law-enforcement-sameer-wankhede-671176.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-local-body-elections-to-be-held-today-across-393-civic-bodies-671179.html New Delhi April 26 Voting for Gujaratâs extensive local body elections is set to take place on Sunday covering 393 selfgovernment institutions across the state The elections include 15 municipal corporations 84 municipalities 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats making it a major democratic exercisePolling is scheduled to begin at 700 AM and will conclude at 600 PM If necessary repolling will be conducted the following day The counting of votes will take place on April 28These elections are particularly significant as they are being viewed as a key barometer of public sentiment ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections scheduled for the end of next year as well as the general elections expected within the next two years More than 418 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes with turnout expected to be high across nearly 50000 polling stationsA total of 9992 local representatives are being elected After withdrawals more than 20000 candidates remain in the fray while several candidates have already been elected unopposedThe contest is multicornered with the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Congress Aam Aadmi Party AAP and independent candidates competing across the state The BJP currently holds control over the municipal corporations of Ahmedabad Surat Vadodara and Rajkot all of which are politically significant and expected to influence the broader electoral landscapeThis election cycle is also notable as it is being conducted under revised reservation norms for Other Backward Classes OBCs providing 27 percent reservation The changes required extensive delimitation and ward restructuring in several districts Along with existing reservations for Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes and women these reforms are expected to reshape local governance bodies across Gujarat IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-local-body-elections-to-be-held-today-across-393-civic-bodies-671179.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rs-50-000-bounty-criminal-injured-in-encounter-in-ups-raebareli-671192.html Raebareli Uttar Pradesh April 26 A criminal carrying a reward of Rs 50000 was injured in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police in Raebareli early on Sunday officials said The action was carried out under the polices ongoing Operation Langda a special drive aimed at cracking down on criminals and habitual offenders across the stateAccording to officials the encounter took place during routine checking of suspicious individuals and vehicles in the areaPolice said the accused were travelling in a container truck and attempted to flee after spotting the police team deployed for checkingWhen intercepted the criminals allegedly opened fire on the police personnel prompting retaliatory action from the teamDuring the exchange of fire one of the accused sustained a bullet injury in the leg while his accomplice managed to escape from the spotThe injured accused has been identified as Najmuddin who is described as a notorious criminal carrying a bounty of Rs 50000 and is reportedly a resident of BareillyFollowing the encounter Najmuddin was taken into custody and admitted to the district hospital for treatmentPolice also recovered a countrymade pistol ammunition and the container truck from his possessionThe incident occurred near an ITBP post within the jurisdiction of the Dalmau Kotwali police station areaEfforts are underway to trace and arrest the absconding accomplice officials addedFurther details are awaitedOperation Langda is a law enforcement initiative in Uttar Pradesh India that began in May 2025 as a measure to combat crime In this shoottodisable method police aim for the legs of suspects during reported encounters to incapacitate themThis strategy focuses on habitual offenders and those with extensive criminal records to reduce crime often resulting in arrests after counterfiring IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rs-50-000-bounty-criminal-injured-in-encounter-in-ups-raebareli-671192.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/this-is-opportunism-ts-singh-deo-on-7-aap-mps-joining-bjp-671199.html New Delhi April 26 Senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo on Sunday strongly criticised Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha and six other MPs who left the Aam Aadmi Party AAP and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP calling it a case of political opportunism and a decline in political values Speaking to IANS he said âThis is opportunism The focus has become how to remain in power and how to gain benefits from it and examples of this are emerging one after another The political character of the country has declined rapidly and deeply which is unfortunate Otherwise people come and go and the public observes themThey earlier used to call the Bharatiya Janata Party a group of goons this is on record and openly spoke against them on policy matters Now they are saying that the Aam Aadmi Party has deviated from its principles which is why they have joined another partyâ he addedEarlier Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput also reacted to the developments saying âBoth Arvind Kejriwalâs Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party are claimed to be offshoots of the RSS Both are said to be part of the same larger system It does not make much difference whether someone moves from one side to the other Our allegation is that Arvind Kejriwal has shifted people according to his convenience so that there is no problem in securing a twothirds majority on the impeachment motion being brought against Gyanesh KumarâEarlier on Friday Raghav Chadha effectively announced a major political shift stating that he along with rebel MPs had submitted documents showing the support of seven lawmakers for their move to the Rajya Sabha Chairman He said the AAPâs Rajya Sabha legislature party was splitting with the group of seven MPs joining the ruling BJPHe made the announcement during a press conference alongside fellow lawmakers Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal He later posted on X âToday exercising the provisions of the Constitution of India more than twothirds of the AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha have merged with the BJP Seven MPs have signed the document which was submitted to the Honâble Chairman of the Rajya SabhaâChadha also personally submitted the signed documents to the Rajya Sabha Chairman The MPs involved in the move include Swati Maliwal Harbhajan Singh Sandeep Pathak Ashok Mittal Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahni With the reported split AAPâs strength in the Rajya Sabha is likely to reduce significantly from 10 members to just three IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/this-is-opportunism-ts-singh-deo-on-7-aap-mps-joining-bjp-671199.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 10:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-houses-of-two-kolkata-businessmen-in-sona-pappu-syndicate-case-671205.html Kolkata April 26 The Enforcement Directorate ED on Sunday was conducting searches at three places including the houses of two businessmen in Anandapur and Alipore areas in Kolkata According to ED officials this search was linked to its investigation into a criminallinked syndicate of Sona Pappu alias Biswajit PoddarThe ED has already arrested Joy Kamdar a businessman close to Sona Pappu Kamdar is currently in the EDs custody It is reported that these businessmen whose premises are being searched were traced after questioning Joy KamdarSeveral ED teams accompanied by central forces left the CGO complex in Salt Lake in the morningA search is underway at a businessmans house in a wellknown area in Anandapur A team has also gone to Alipore Sources said that the ED teams are investigating whether the businessmen have any connection with Joys investmentsThe raid was conducted to investigate a money laundering case against Sona Pappu who is booked in multiple cases including attempted murder and extortion said an ED officialMore details are awaitedSona Pappu allegedly runs syndicates in the South Kolkata areas of Kasba and Ballygunge and has several FIRs against him over various allegations He is also a prime accused in the Golpark clashes that took place in February He is at present absconding but from time to time he comes online on social media to target the central investigation agency for harassing his family membersIt is alleged that Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas was also involved in financial transactions with Joy ED conducted a search at Biswas house earlier this monthThe ED raids come amid the ongoing Assembly elections in the state The first phase of voting has been completed in 152 Assembly constituencies and the second phase of voting will be held in the remaining 142 constituencies on April 29The political parties have been campaigning vigorously Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to the state again on Sunday He will hold a roadshow in North KolkataThe ruling party Trinamool Congress has questioned the central agencys excessive activity in the runup to the elections The party has alleged that the ruling BJP at the Centre is using agencies for political gain IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-houses-of-two-kolkata-businessmen-in-sona-pappu-syndicate-case-671205.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/centre-sanctions-over-rs-947-crore-for-relief-rehabilitation-of-manipur-violence-victims-671226.html Imphal April 26 The Union Ministry of Home Affairs MHA has approved Rs 42436 crore for the operation of relief camps set up by the Manipur government to provide shelter to people affected by the ethnic violence in the state officials said According to the state Home Department the MHA has also sanctioned Rs 523 crore for the rehabilitation of violenceaffected Internally Displaced Persons IDPs These details were shared in response to an RTI query filed by senior Manipur Congress leader Hareshwar GoshwamiThe Home Department reported that 58881 people have been displaced from their homes in villages due to the ethnic violence in the state from May 3 2023 until March 30 2026As per the RTI reply 174 relief camps were operational as of March 10 2026 Additionally 3000 prefabricated houses have been constructed by the Manipur Police Housing Corporation Ltd to provide temporary accommodation for displaced personsRegarding casualties the department stated that 217 deaths have been recorded in connection with the violence based on ex gratia payments made to the next of kin NoKThe violence has also caused widespread destruction of private and government properties with 7894 permanent houses completely destroyed and 2646 houses partially damaged since May 3 2023The ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and KukiZo communities on May 3 2023 following a âTribal Solidarity Marchâ organised in the hill districts The march was held to protest the Meitei communityâs demand for Scheduled Tribe statusMeiteis constitute about 53 per cent of Manipurâs population and primarily reside in the Imphal Valley which comprises five to six districts Tribal communities including Nagas and Kukis make up around 40 per cent of the population and largely inhabit the stateâs eleven hill districtsIn response to the crisis the state government had initially set up more than 300 relief camps across the Imphal Valley and hill regions providing shelter to nearly 60000 displaced men women and childrenWith the gradual improvement in the situation many individuals have since returned to their homes and villagesMeanwhile Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has stated that expediting the rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs remains a top priority for the governmentHe noted that the Centre has extended substantial support for constructing permanent housing compensating losses of personal belongings and movable assets and assisting in the repair of partially damaged homesFurthermore an allocation of Rs 734 crore has been made in the 202627 Budget to accelerate the rehabilitation and resettlement efforts for those affected by the violence IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/centre-sanctions-over-rs-947-crore-for-relief-rehabilitation-of-manipur-violence-victims-671226.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/four-arrested-by-chembur-police-for-attempting-to-sell-elephant-tusks-worth-rs-35-crore-671082.html Chembur April 25 The Chembur Police has arrested four persons for allegedly attempting to sell elephant tusks in violation of wildlife laws The action was carried out by the Crime Detection Unit following a tipoff regarding illegal trade in wildlife contraband The accused have been identified as Akash Ashok Avhad 28 Sandip Randhir Bidlan 33 Shashank Chandrashekhar Ranjankar 38 and Dinesh Rammanohar Agnivanshi 40According to the police acting on specific Intelligence a trap was laid on April 22 at a hotel on RC Marg in Chembur Informants were instructed to pose as buyers and arrange a deal with the accused A room was booked at a local lodging facility where the suspects agreed to deliver the tusks for saleAfter receiving a signal from the informants the police team conducted a raid at the hotel During the operation four individuals were found inside the room along with two ivory tusklike objects placed on the bedOfficials from the Maharashtra Forest Department were called to the spot and prima facie confirmed that the seized items were genuine elephant tusks The accused had allegedly planned to sell the tusks for approximately Rs 35 croreThe seized contraband includes two elephant tusks weighing about 11 kg and 206 kg respectively along with bags and packing materials used for transportation Police also recovered four mobile phones from the accusedAll items were seized and sealed as per procedure The accused were taken into custody and brought to the police station for further legal actionA case has been registered under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS along with provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 including Sections 9 39 44 48 50 and 51 Further investigation is underway to trace the source of the tusks and identify other members of the wildlife trafficking networkEarlier in February the Poojappura police launched an investigation into the alleged theft of two elephant tusks worth â¹2 crore from the Pangode Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram Kerala with a suspected link to a DJ party held at the premises IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/four-arrested-by-chembur-police-for-attempting-to-sell-elephant-tusks-worth-rs-35-crore-671082.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-police-arrest-man-with-brown-heroin-valued-at-approximately-rs-10-lakh-671086.html Mumbai April 25 Mumbaiâs Samta Nagar Police have arrested a man in possession of brown heroin near a public toilet in Kandivali East The seized narcotics are estimated to be worth approximately Rs 10 lakh in the illegal market The accused has been identified as Vicky Vidhakar Padmukh a resident of Kandivali East A case has been registered against him under the relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act and he has been taken into custodyAccording to police officials the arrest was made during a routine patrol Officers noticed a man loitering near a public toilet in the Lokhandwala Complex area of Kandivali East Upon spotting the police the suspect attempted to flee which raised suspicion The police quickly pursued and apprehended him A subsequent search led to the recovery of brown heroin from his possessionThe Samta Nagar Police are continuing their investigation to determine the source of the drugs and identify the intended recipients Authorities suspect a larger network may be involvedIn a separate incident earlier this month on April 15 Uran Police seized heroin worth Rs 252 lakh and arrested three individuals during a raid in Jasai UranThe operation was conducted after receiving information about youths consuming drugs behind the Sheetal Parivahan parking lot The arrested individuals were identified as Ravindra Kalyan Shetty 27 Ganesh Dattu Bhide 25 and Ganesh Vinay Patil 19During the raid police had recovered 85 packets of heroin weighing 632 grams from Patil The seized drugs were valued at Rs 252800 in the international marketPolice had stated that the operation was part of a broader campaign against drug trafficking and abuse following complaints from local residents Authorities had also highlighted concerns about increasing drug use among students warning that addiction can lead to serious health issues and contribute to rising crime rates posing significant challenges to law enforcement IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-police-arrest-man-with-brown-heroin-valued-at-approximately-rs-10-lakh-671086.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-gave-full-freedom-placed-full-trust-in-army-gen-naravane-on-india-china-standoff-671098.html New Delhi April 25 Former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane Retd opened up about the recent controversy surrounding the IndiaChina standoff of 2020 stating that the government has given full freedom to the armed forces to take actions in such situations which shows that it has full trust in its military Gen MM Naravane in an interview with IANS in response to a question regarding Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition LoP Rahul Gandhis claims about his unpublished memoir Four Stars of Destiny said without naming anyone that no copy of that book is in circulation and he does not have any idea as to where the LoP got it fromThe former Army chief also spoke about his new book The Curious and the Classified Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries the Indian Armys different War Cries including the famous Badluram ka Badan the apolitical nature and stance of the armed forces Operation Sindoor and the lessons India can learn from the ongoing conflicts across the worldThe following are the full excerpts from the interviewIANS You have written another book The Curious and the Classified Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries which is nonfiction There are many things that people are curious to know about the armed forces things that are only known to soldiers and their families Where did you get the idea to do so There are many who are comparing it with Congress MP Shashi Tharoors A Wonderland of WordsGeneral Naravane Thank you very much for speaking with me about my new book The Curious and the Classified Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries As you mentioned Shashi Tharoor has a book called A Wonderland of Words which contains about 100 or 101 essays and each essay is a chapter It discusses unique things about the English language When I read that I thought why not write a book about the unknown aspects of the military After that I started looking into what ideas or chapters could be includedI had some ideas in mind but I wasnt sure if it would reach the level of a full book or if it had enough substance However when I discussed a few of the ideas I had with my friends and fellow military personnel surprisingly even they didnt know about them So I felt that if people who have been in the military and served in these areas dont know about this then the general public definitely wouldnt know They might just consider it classified information So my intention with this book is to narrate such thrilling stories and anecdotes There are 25 chapters and each chapter is a storyIANS Since we have always seen that there is a mention of War Cries in this book the Assam Regiments Badluram ka Badan is also in it and there are many such war cries We know that when the Army goes to war or forward for any conflict these things are said to raise morale Which is your favouriteGeneral Naravane I was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry and I spent most of my service there So obviously my favourite is Chak De Phatte which is also a slogan of my regiment Its not a war cry in battle we say Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal but during sports or to encourage each other we say Chak De Phatte The phrase Chak De Phatte has even entered civilian life now Whether to encourage someone at a party or even the movie Chak De India featuring Shah Rukh KhanThe general public uses it but no one really knows where it came from It originated during the era when battles were fought between the Sikhs and the Mughals When the Sikh cavalry would attack the large Mughal camps on their way back they would lift the wooden planks phatte of the bridges Thats why it became Chak De Phatte They would tell each other Okay the job is done lift the planks lets go so that the Mughal Army couldnt pursue them So this actually has its foundation in military history which no one knows So all the chapters in this book have some connection to military historyIANS This is your third book There is one unpublished book Four Stars of Destiny which hasnt been published yet but certainly sparked controversies LoP Rahul Gandhi even took the unpublished book outside Parliament and tried to corner the government over it The book he had in his hand do you consider it authenticGeneral Naravane I would just say that I myself havent seen a final copy of that book as an author So I cant say which book it was or where it came from As Penguin has also very clearly stated no copy of that book is in circulation either in print hard copy or soft copy So as for where it came from what can I say about thatIANS At that time there was a lot of focus on one alleged line in a chapter of that book It has also allegedly been mentioned that the Army was told to do whatever you deem appropriate Jo uchit lage vo karo Was the wrong meaning derived from this lineGeneral Naravane The Army is always given full freedom when it comes to taking action And the freedom given implies that the government has full trust in its Army So this should be viewed from that perspective If you always want to see the glass half empty then there is no solution for thatIANS The Indian Army and armed forces as a whole is an apolitical institution however politics involving the Army does happen and has been happening What is your take on thisGeneral Naravane I dont believe that the Army is being brought into politics nor will we as an organisation come into it The Indian Army and armed forces are totally apolitical in every direction However following the orders of the political leadership does not mean you have become political There is a difference between these two thingsIf I pass an order to my junior it is his duty to follow my order So as an Army Chief who is my senior The Defence Minister If the Defence Minister passes an order the Army has to follow it This doesnt mean the Army has become politicalThe Army is apolitical but there is a chain of command and giving respect to that chain of command is the right course of actionUnderstand the difference we are an apolitical Army and we will remain apolitical And the attempts being made to drag the military into politics are bad for the country If we are to move forward the Army must remain apolitical because you have seen what happens in our neighbouring countries and how far ahead of them we have progressed And if we have been able to progress so far ahead compared to other neighbouring countries it is because we are apoliticalIANS Many people drag the Armys name into political discourse like they did regarding the operation that happened in 2020 basically making an issue out of it What is your opinion on thisGeneral Naravane People can make an issue out of anything that is their choice But we have so much selfconfidence among ourselves that no matter what anyone says we are not going to get trapped or caught in that web We have faith in ourselves I always used to tell my soldiers to have faith in themselves Believe in yourself Believe that we are a very good Army a good organisation and whatever actions we take will be for the betterment of the countryIANS At the time when the Indian and Chinese armies were facetoface in 2020 what did the government do for sorting out the whole issue How did the Indian Army retaliate because everyone saw that the Chinese had to go back What is the current status in the area Do we still believe that we are fully capable and deployed to respondGeneral Naravane Whenever any action happens it is always a whole of nation effort Its never just one branch or organisation In this the political dispensation has a contribution the diplomatic side has a contribution and the military has a contribution So everyone moving forward together is a wholeofnation effort And because we took this action unitedly we were able to be successfulEven now we believe that the actions we took are the reason the PLA Peoples Republic Army had to go back All the things coming on TV screens showing them dismantling their bunkers such things had never happened before that China stepped back We forced them to step back So if this isnt a victory then what is And if people arent ready to accept this either which they are seeing with their own eyes on TV then what else can I sayIANS Operation Sindoor is about to complete one year Ever since it was launched Pakistan hasnt dared to conduct any such act again As a former Army Chief how do you view this entire operation and how much change have you seen in this one year regarding preparationsGeneral Naravane I would say that the action taken in Operation Sindoor had a big difference compared to the type of operations conducted previously The surgical strikes after Uri were on camps close to the LoC The airstrikes after Pulwama in Balakot were also in PoK again targeting small camps But this time we targeted their leadership and headquarters where the real pain is felt We were sparing them before and they used to think that if 23 terrorists die on the border what difference does it make Now its differentThis time we consciously made the decision that we wont just attack terrorist camps on the LoC or POK but we will also target their leadership and headquarters that receive financial support This was a big difference And thats why the Defence Minister said Ghar mei ghus ke maarenge jaha par bhi ho koi bachega nahi We will enter their homes and strike wherever they may be no one will be spared I think they have learned a very big lesson that if you take such actions you will have to pay a heavy price for itIANS Every nation learns from war We saw that during the RussiaUkraine war a lot of information came about the drones and other equipment Currently the ongoing West Asia conflict which has impacted energy supplies what lessons do we get and what areas need more workGeneral Naravane Every war provides many lessons Some are immediate lessons from the battlefield but it is difficult to determine how true they are or how much propaganda is involved But when wars end we can extract the real lessonsHowever based on what is happening right now one thing is very clear We urgently need to become Atmanirbhar selfreliant And selfreliance in all aspects not just in military weapons We must be selfreliant in food medicine energy rare earth minerals and everyday equipment Because when such events happen no one comes to your aid everyone thinks of themselves Therefore thinking ahead increasing this capability within our country is crucialIANS The USIran negotiations are being held in Islamabad Do you think Pakistan is always looking to take advantage of disaster opportunitiesGeneral Naravane At any given time players keep changing They are certainly taking advantage of this and this isnt the first time Pakistan has taken advantage of global tensions When the Global War on Terror happened Pakistan brought itself into the middle and supported America Even before that when Russia invaded Afghanistan Pakistan became a frontline state and again supported America So this is nothing new But if you look at its longterm effect it has remained negative for them So lets see what happens moving forward IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-gave-full-freedom-placed-full-trust-in-army-gen-naravane-on-india-china-standoff-671098.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/speaker-khaders-letter-seeking-withdrawal-of-dargah-riot-cases-sparks-controversy-in-karnataka-671103.html Bengaluru April 25 A fresh controversy has erupted in Karnataka after Assembly Speaker UT Khader wrote to Home Minister G Parameshwara seeking a review and possible withdrawal of cases against alleged âinnocent Muslim youthâ in connection with the 2022 Ladle Mashak Dargah violence case The letter has also reignited the Ladle Mashak Dargah dispute in Aland town of Kalaburagi district which had triggered widespread unrest in 2022 Khader in his letter has urged the government to review the case and drop charges against those he claims were falsely implicatedThe Speakerâs move has drawn strong opposition from Hindu organisations including Shiv Sena which have condemned the request and warned the government against withdrawing the cases They have stated that the incident involved serious violence and that any attempt to drop charges would lead to largescale protestsHindu groups have also alleged that the move could send a wrong message and undermine justice for those affected in the incident They have demanded that the government ensure a fair investigation and proceed strictly according to the lawThe case pertains to an incident at the Ladle Mashak Dargah where the Sri Raghav Chaitanya Shivalinga is located Tensions had escalated after allegations that the Shivalinga was desecrated by miscreants In response members of Hindu organisations had visited the site to perform purification ritualsDuring the event largescale violence broke out with stonepelting reported against vehicles and individuals including a Union Minister district officials such as the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police and leaders of Hindu organisations Several people were injured in the incidentFollowing the violence Aland police registered cases against hundreds of persons including an alleged key accused identified as Ansari However Khader has now contended that several innocent Muslim youths were also named in the case and charges against them should be droppedThe development has once again brought the Ladle Mashak Dargah case into focus with the issue threatening to trigger renewed political and communal tensions in the stateIt can be noted that the Ladle Mashak Dargah in Aland Kalaburagi district is a 14thcentury Sufi shrine dedicated to Hazrat Sheikh Alauddin Ansari popularly known as Ladle Mashaikh Historically significant for promoting communal harmony the shrine has traditionally hosted both Sufi Urs celebrations and Hindu rituals dedicated to the Raghava Chaitanya Shivling which is located inside the complex The shrine was mentioned by the 15thcentury Russian traveler Afanasy Nikitin as a major trading hub and pilgrimage site Urs where horses and various goods were traded referring to it as the best fair in IndiaFor centuries it has been a centre of blended culture where both Muslims and Hindus offered prayers IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/speaker-khaders-letter-seeking-withdrawal-of-dargah-riot-cases-sparks-controversy-in-karnataka-671103.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-arrives-in-jaipur-to-attend-rajasthan-university-convocation-671104.html New Delhi April 25 IANS VicePresident CP Radhakrishnan arrived in Jaipur on Saturday to attend key programmes including the 35th Convocation of the University of Rajasthan and the 23rd Cancer Survivors Day event marking a visit focussed on education healthcare and public welfare engagementsnbspnbspHis visit underscores continued highlevel participation in academic and social initiatives aimed at promoting serviceoriented developmentAccording to an official post shared by the VicePresidents social media handle VicePresident Shri CP Radhakrishnan was warmly welcomed at Jaipur International Airport upon his arrival by the Governor of Rajasthan Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Dr Prem Chand Bairwa and other dignitaries The VicePresident will attend the 35th Convocation of the University of Rajasthan and the 23rd Cancer Survivors Day of Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre todayThe VicePresident will also participate in the 23rd Cancer Survivors Day organised by Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre reflecting the emphasis on patient care awareness and support systems for survivorsThe event is expected to highlight advancements in cancer treatment and the importance of communitydriven healthcare initiativesEarlier VP Radhakrishnan chaired the sixth convocation ceremony of AIIMS Rishikesh in Uttarakhand on Thursday where he addressed graduating medical students and said that convocation marks not just the end of academic training but the beginning of a greater responsibility towards society and the nation He urged young doctors to serve with dedication compassion and a strong sense of purposeHe emphasised that healthcare is a public trust and a crucial pillar of nationbuilding encouraging graduates to focus on preventive care rural outreach research and innovation He also highlighted the spiritual and cultural importance of Rishikesh as a global centre of healing and reflection which adds deeper significance to such academic milestonesReferring to Indias response during the COVID19 pandemic the VicePresident praised the countrys resilience under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi He noted the success of the nationwide vaccination drive that reached more than 140 crore citizens and highlighted Indias global contribution through Vaccine Maitri under which vaccines were supplied to over 100 countries reinforcing Indias role in global health cooperationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-arrives-in-jaipur-to-attend-rajasthan-university-convocation-671104.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ward-councillor-killed-three-critically-injured-in-knife-attack-in-bihars-saran-671106.html Patna April 25 A ward councillor was killed and three others sustained critical injuries in a knife attack following a violent clash in Biharâs Saran district police said on Saturday The incident occurred in the Manjhi area around 1130 pm on Friday and has triggered shock and tension across the localityThe deceased has been identified as Raja Babu Thakur the Ward Councillor of Ward No 9 from Godha village under Manjhi Nagar Panchayat in ChhapraThe festive atmosphere of a Tilakotsav ceremony turned tragic when a dispute with neighbours escalated into a violent brawl The incident took place late in the evening during preparations for the ceremonyWhat began as a heated argument soon spiralled into a brutal knife attack leaving four people critically injured including the ward councillorAll the injured were initially taken to the Manjhi Community Health Centre CHC However due to their critical condition they were referred to Chhapra Sadar Hospital Raja Babu Thakur succumbed to his injuries around 1230 am on Saturday while being shifted for treatmentThe deceasedâs cousins Mukesh Thakur Ritesh Thakur and one more individual were also seriously injured in the knife attack and are currently undergoing treatment at Chhapra Sadar HospitalThe incident has caused widespread outrage particularly as it occurred in a home decorated for a Tilakotsav ceremony with tents marquees and celebratory music turning a moment of joy into one of griefSHO of Manjhi police station said âWe have registered an FIR against 12 accused under relevant sections of murder and attempt to murder The preliminary investigation revealed that local politics may be the reason for this murder as the deceased was a ward councillor The detailed investigation is underwayââRaids are currently underway to arrest those involved and additional police forces have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order amid prevailing tensionâ he saidThe district police recovered the dead body of the ward councillor and sent it for the postmortemMeanwhile the victimâs family remains in deep shock with relatives inconsolable following the tragic loss IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ward-councillor-killed-three-critically-injured-in-knife-attack-in-bihars-saran-671106.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pakistan-looks-to-replace-flagged-ogws-in-jampk-moves-to-reboot-student-outreach-plan-671113.html New Delhi April 25 In a bid to rebuild and revive its terror network in Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan has been trying to set up a group of completely new overground workers OGWs The OGW network crucial for terror operations in the Valley has largely fallen following an intense crackdown by the Indian security agenciesAn official said that the new OGW network is being set up because most of them part of the old or existing guard have police records against themThe ones with police records are easy to track and this information has been used several times by the Jammu and Kashmir Police to nab these OGWs the official addedWhile attempts are being made to send in foreign fighters to Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan realises that they cannot operate without a strong OGW networkThis is the network that facilitates the movement of terrorists their shelter food and logisticsThe presence of a strong OGW network is key to a successful terrorist strike by terrorists Hence Pakistan is shunning many within the existing guard and looking for newer ones the official saidSome of the men who are on the target list include shopkeepers tour guides and unemployed youthAnother official said that Pakistan would not entirely dismantle its OGW networkIt would have a couple of them from the old guard to be part of the network These persons have experience and would be needed to train the newer lot the official addedThe ISI is also attempting to get the youth of Jammu and Kashmir onboard It is attempting to restart its earlier programme through which the ISI would sponsor the education of the youthThe education would be imparted in top universities and colleges abroad They would pick countries such as the US UK and Australia for the education of the youth Like in the past they would avoid taking the students to Pakistan and imparting education This would become too obvious and Pakistan would want to avoid thatOnce abroad the Pakistani agents would get in touch with these students and radicalise them The ISI will push money for the education of the youth discreetly so that the funding trail is not traced Once their education and radicalisation programme is completed they would return to Jammu and Kashmir where they would be expected to further the ISIs narrative and rope in more youth an official saidThese developments make it clear that Pakistan is desperate to reset its Kashmir plansA lot has changed in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 The Indian government has been getting the youth into the mainstream and telling them to shun supporting terror and move away from the separatist mindsetPakistan on the other hand is facing heat from its terror groups and hardliners regarding the Kashmir issueThe establishment is being questioned about the lack of action in Jammu and Kashmir and why things have quietened downA majority of Pakistans policy is shaped around Kashmir and in the context of local politics raking up this issue is important for the ISI and ArmyOff late the infiltrations have been hard owing to heavy security Hence Pakistan is trying to take baby steps and trying to reshape the narrativeFor this it has decided to start from the ground level by rebuilding its OGW networkAt the same time it wants to recapture the minds of the youth in Kashmir This explains why it wants to restart its education funding programme This program in reality is not an educational programme but one that is aimed at radicalisation an official added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pakistan-looks-to-replace-flagged-ogws-in-jampk-moves-to-reboot-student-outreach-plan-671113.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/srinagar-police-attach-drug-traffickers-assets-worth-rs-35-crore-671115.html Srinagar April 25 Jammu and Kashmirs Srinagar Police said on Saturday that in the intensified crackdown on drugs it has targeted assets worth Rs 35 crore belonging to a drug smugglers A police statement said that continuing its intensified crackdown against drug trafficking and under the aegis of the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu amp Kashmir Abhiyaan Srinagar Police has attached immovable properties worth Rs 35 crore belonging to narcotics smugglersPolice Station Sangam acting under the provisions of Section 68F of the NDPS Act attached two immovable properties linked to the accused persons involved in FIR No 562025 under Sections 820 and 29 of the NDPS ActThe details of the attached properties include a doublestorey residential house along with 1 kanal of land belonging to accused Shakeel Ahmad Ganie son of Ab Satar Ganie resident of Kreshbal Noorbagh Srinagar and a doublestorey residential house worth over Rs 2 crore along with 1 kanal of land belonging to accused Farooq Ahmad Mir son of Ab Rehman Mir resident of Kreshbal Noorbagh Srinagar and another doublestorey residential house with one kanal of land worth approximately Rs 15 crore owned by Farooq Ahmad Mir of the same areaThe Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Saturday participated in an antidrug campaign in Samba In a post on X he said Today in Samba a massive crowd joined the DrugFree JampK campaign amp pledged to eliminate drugs from society Addressing the gathering I reiterated that this 100day movement will inspire future generations amp stand as proof that when people rise together they can change historyI told Sambas youth that the solution to this grave problem lies in their hands Their dreams are powerful their potential limitless amp society must rally behind them to make those dreams real I urged them to stay firm on the right path with determination he added JampK police and the security forces are carrying out aggressive operations against drug smugglers drug peddlers and those involved in the hawala money racket These illegal activities are under the scanner of the security forces as it is believed that the funds generated by these activities are used to sustain terrorism in the Union TerritoryWhile police and the security forces carry out antidrug operations in the hinterland the army and the Border Security Force BSF prevent drug smuggling infiltration exfiltration and drone activities initiated by terror outfits backed by Pakistans ISI IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/srinagar-police-attach-drug-traffickers-assets-worth-rs-35-crore-671115.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-alleges-historic-betrayal-of-scs-over-karnataka-govts-internal-reservation-move-671119.html Bengaluru April 25 Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Saturday criticised the Congressled state governments decision on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes alleging that it amounts to a historic betrayal of the community In a statement released Vijayendra said the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had backstabbed Scheduled Castes by delaying the implementation of reservation distribution as per Supreme Court directions for nearly twoandahalf yearsHe said the state government has now categorised Scheduled Castes into A B and C groups through a Cabinet decisionHe added that the previous BJP government under Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommais leadership had increased reservation for Scheduled Castes from 15 to 17 per centHowever the State BJP President alleged that the present Congress government has reduced allocations within categoriesAccording to Vijayendra the quota for Category A has been reduced from 6 to 525 per cent while Category B has been cut from 55 per cent to 525 per cent resulting in injustice to multiple communities in the stateHe also alleged that the earlier allocation of 45 per cent for Banjara Bhovi Koracha and Korama communities along with a separate one per cent reservation for nomadic groups has been scrappedHe said these groups have now been merged into a single Category C and instead of a justified 55 per cent share they have been given only 45 per cent which he termed as another act of injusticeThe State BJP President also claimed that despite there being no stay order from the court the state government itself filed an affidavit agreeing to reduce the overall Scheduled Caste reservation from 17 to 15 per cent which led to the reductionCriticising the state governments handling of employment Vijayendra said lakhs of government posts remain vacant and have not been filledHe accused the Congress government of wasting nearly twoandahalf years in the name of internal reservation and now with only about two years left in its tenure announcing recruitment as a means to mislead the public including the Scheduled CastesHe also warned that senior Congress leaders including party President Mallikarjun Kharge Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar would have to pay a political price in the future for the alleged injustice done to Scheduled Castes in KarnatakaVijayendra said that if the Congress is truly committed to Scheduled Castes even now the state government should undertake an appropriate legal battle to retain the 17 per cent reservation implemented under the previous BJP governmentOtherwise the State BJP President cautioned the Congress may face a significant political decline in South IndiaIn a move aimed at ensuring justice to all communities within the Scheduled Castes the Karnataka Cabinet on Friday took a historic decision unanimously approving internal reservation in the ratio of 52552545 for left right and other communitiesSiddaramaiah announced that for communities categorised as left 525 per cent for Right 525 per cent and for other communities 45 per cent reservationAs announced in the Budget the state government will fill 56432 posts this year Notifications will be issued shortly and recruitment will be expedited Until the court gives a final judgment the 50 per cent reservation cap will be followed though the state government remains committed to implementing 56 per cent reservation in the future the Chief Minister said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-alleges-historic-betrayal-of-scs-over-karnataka-govts-internal-reservation-move-671119.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-suspends-sentence-of-bihar-officer-questions-claim-of-rodents-destroying-bribe-money-671121.html New Delhi April 25 IANS The Supreme Court has suspended the sentence of a Bihar government officer convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act and granted her bail while expressing serious concern over the prosecutions claim that seized bribe money was destroyed by rodentsnbspA Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan was hearing a Special Leave Petition SLP filed by Aruna Kumari a former Child Development Programme Officer challenging a judgment of the Patna High Court which had reversed her acquittalThe trial court had earlier acquitted Kumari of charges under Sections 7 and 132 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 However the Patna High Court convicted her and sentenced her to four years Rigorous Imprisonment under Section 132 and three years under Section 7 of the ActTaking note of the submissions made by senior advocate S Nagamuthu appearing for the petitioner the apex court issued a notice and ordered that the substantive order of sentence passed by the High Court is suspended directing that the appellant be released on bail subject to conditions to be imposed by the trial courtDuring the hearing the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench also flagged a troubling aspect of the prosecution case recorded in the Patna High Court judgment that the currency notes allegedly recovered as bribe were destroyed by rodents due to poor storage conditions in the police malkhanaWe are taken by surprise that the currency notes got destroyed by rodents the apex court observedRaising broader concerns the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench remarked We wonder how many such currency notes recovered in this type of offences get destroyed as they are not kept at a safe place Its a huge revenue loss for the StateThe top court also questioned the explanation offered for the destruction of the seized currency noting that it does not inspire any confidenceIndicating that the issue may have wider implications the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench said it would examine the aspect in detail at the stage of final hearing of the matterIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-suspends-sentence-of-bihar-officer-questions-claim-of-rodents-destroying-bribe-money-671121.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/security-forces-arrest-three-ulfa-i-members-in-nagaland-671124.html Kohima April 25 Security forces have apprehended three cadres of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom Independent ULFAI during a counterinsurgency operation in Nagalandâs Mon district officials said on Saturday According to officials the operation was launched on Friday based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of ULFAI cadres in the regionThe cadres were reportedly active in the Phomching area and were attempting to move towards Shangnyu village when security forces initiated the operation Troops of the Assam Rifles carried out a targeted raid at Shangnyu village under the Phomching subdivisionActing swiftly on the intelligence inputs the forces managed to intercept the militants and apprehended all three without any exchange of fire officials addedThe arrested individuals have been identified as selfstyled Lieutenant Gajendra Asom 35 a resident of Tezpur in Assam selfstyled Lance Corporal Brojen Asom 27 from Jorhat district and selfstyled Sergeant Puhor Asom 26 from Golaghat districtPreliminary interrogation revealed that Gajendra Asom had been associated with the outfit since 2011 making him the most experienced among the trio Brojen Asom is believed to have joined the organisation in 2022 while Puhor Asom had been active since 2019Security forces also recovered four grenades from their possession indicating that the cadres were likely involved in planning disruptive activities in the regionThe recovery is being seen as a major success in preventing potential threats to civilian safety and maintaining stability in the border areasOfficials stated that the apprehended cadres are being further interrogated to gather more information about their network movement patterns and possible plansThe operation underscores the continued vigilance and coordination among security agencies in curbing insurgent activities in the NortheastThe region has witnessed sustained counterinsurgency efforts in recent years leading to a decline in militant activitiesHowever security forces remain on high alert to neutralise any residual threats and ensure peace and security in the area IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/security-forces-arrest-three-ulfa-i-members-in-nagaland-671124.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-urges-students-to-become-job-creators-nation-builders-671125.html Jaipur April 25 The VicePresident of India CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday urged youth to become job creators and nationbuilders while addressing the 35th convocation ceremony of the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur Gracing the programme as the chief guest the VicePresident described Rajasthan as a land of rich heritage bravery and cultural depth noting that Jaipur stands as a symbol of both tradition and progress He said the university continues to shape generations of thinkers leaders and changemakers committed to knowledge integrity and serviceCongratulating graduating students he said a convocation marks both an end and a beginning urging them to use education as a tool for societal progress He emphasised that the true value of education lies in its application for innovation ethical conduct and the betterment of societyReferring to the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat he encouraged students to become innovators and employment generatorsHe also appreciated the efforts of the Rajasthan government under Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma in promoting opportunities for the youthHighlighting womenâs empowerment the VicePresident expressed pride in the achievements of women graduates noting that a majority of gold medal winners in recent years have been women He stressed that a truly developed nation cannot exist without equal opportunity dignity and leadership roles for women and expressed hope that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam would enhance womenâs representation in legislative bodiesAddressing the challenges of a rapidly changing world he urged students to think critically act ethically and embrace lifelong learningâExcellence without empathy and achievement without humility are incompleteâ he said calling on graduates to remain resilient and grounded in valuesHe also advised students to contribute meaningfully to society respect diversity avoid drugs and use social media constructivelyAmong those present on the occasion were Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa Rajya Sabha MP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal and ViceChancellor of the university Alpana Kateja IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-urges-students-to-become-job-creators-nation-builders-671125.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/once-a-judge-always-a-judge-says-cji-surya-kant-in-jaipur-671126.html Jaipur April 25 Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant on Saturday emphasised the continued importance of retired judges in strengthening the judiciary likening them to Rajasthans traditional bawris stepwells that serve as vital reservoirs during times of drought Addressing a oneday seminar titled The Bench Beyond Retirement in Jaipur the CJI said former judges act as a dependable resource during institutional stress much like stepwells that sustain communities in arid regionsDrawing from his roots in Churu he noted how people rely on bawris where rainwater accumulates over time and is used during droughtsOur former judges are like those bawris the CJI said noting that their wisdom and experience are often sought in courts Lok Adalats mediation and arbitration during crisisA judge never truly retires Once a judge always a judge he remarked underscoring that their experience cannot be replicated through committees or training programmesWe organise a farewell garland them speak warmly of their service and then quietly assume that the system will move on just fine without them Their chambers are vacated files are handed over and we move ahead But this assumption in my view is not just incorrect it is a wasteful tradition Because a judge never truly retires Once a judge always a judge The experience a judge carries cannot be replicated by any committee nor compressed into any training programmeThey do not carry merely the knowledge of law they carry the knowledge of people They have seen the struggles of a rural farmer whose life savings are at stake the anxieties of a firstgeneration entrepreneur the silent battles of families and individuals at their most vulnerable moments CJI Surya Kant said highlighting that retired judges bring not just legal expertise but also deep understanding of human issues having witnessed a wide range of societal challenges from rural distress to entrepreneurial struggles and personal disputesHe stressed that the trust earned by judges over decades is a national resource and warned that leaving it underutilised amounts to a public lossSuggesting a more structured role for former judges the CJI outlined four key areas where they could contribute significantly as mediators and arbitrators legal educators prelitigation counsellors and institution builders mentoring the next generation of legal professionalsLet me suggest four key roles where former judges can transform our justice system First as mediators and arbitrators where their stature and impartiality can resolve disputes efficiently Second as legal educators reaching schools colleges and even gram panchayats explaining rights in simple language to those who may not even know they possess them Third as prelitigation counsellors helping resolve conflicts before they turn into long exhausting legal battles And fourth as institution builders mentoring young mediators training legal aid lawyers and preserving institutional memory for future generationsWhile noting progress through initiatives like Lok Adalats and emerging arbitration centres the CJI called for a formal framework to engage retired judges with dignity and accountability instead of adhoc arrangementsReferring to poet Dushyant Kumar CJI Surya Kant underlined the enduring faith of common citizens in the judiciary and stressed the responsibility of strengthening that trustWoh aadmi nahin mukammal bayan hai Mathe pe uske chot ka gehra nishaan hai Fatehaal hai par jhole mein ek Samvidhaan haiQuoting lines about resilience in the face of adversity the CJI said that a robust system built on experience and wisdom can withstand even the toughest challengesLet us not allow our bawris to dry up in neglect he added urging preservation and meaningful engagement of retired judges to ensure accessible and enduring justiceHe concluded his address by saying Jisko toofanon se uljhne ki aadat ho Aisi kashti ko samandar bhi dua deta hai IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/once-a-judge-always-a-judge-says-cji-surya-kant-in-jaipur-671126.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-to-challenge-gauhati-hc-order-denying-relief-to-pawan-khera-in-supreme-court-671127.html New Delhi April 25 The Congress said on Saturday that it will challenge the Gauhati High Court order rejecting anticipatory bail to party leader Pawan Khera before the Supreme Court Congress General Secretary Communications Jairam Ramesh said that the party stands solidly in solidarity with Khera and expressed confidence that relief would be granted and justice would prevail over the politics of threat intimidation and harassmentThe entire Indian National Congress stands solidly in solidarity with Pawan Khera the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Department The verdict of the Guwahati High Court is in the process of being challenged in the Supreme Court We are confident that justice will prevail over the politics of threat intimidation and harassment Ramesh said in a post on social media platform XThe reaction comes a day after the Gauhati High Court rejected Kheras plea for anticipatory bail in connection with an FIR lodged in Assam over his alleged remarks against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmas wife Riniki Bhuyan SharmaA singlejudge bench of Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia held that Khera does not deserve to be given the privilege of anticipatory bail and said the case could not be treated as one of defamation simpliciterThe case cannot be termed as a case of defamation simpliciter There are materials for a prima facie case under Section 339 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS 2023 Justice Saikia said while rejecting Kheras anticipatory bail pleaThe case stems from statements made by Khera during a press conference in Guwahati earlier this month where he alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma held multiple foreign passports and had financial dealings abroadFollowing the remarks Riniki Bhuyan Sharma filed an FIR denying the allegations and asserting that she is solely an Indian citizenAppearing for Khera senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the statements were part of political rhetoric made in the context of electoral discourse and at best could amount to defamationHe also alleged political vendetta and apprehended harassment in the event of arrestHowever opposing the plea Assam Advocate General Devajit Lon Saikia said that the allegations were based on documents later found to be false attracting serious offences beyond mere defamation under the Bharatiya Nyaya SanhitaIn its order the Guwahati High Court underlined the need for custodial interrogation to ascertain the source and authenticity of the documents relied upon by KheraThis Court is of the opinion that custodial interrogation is necessary to find out who are the associates of Mr Khera who had collected those documents for him and how and from where they had collected those documents the High Court order saidRejecting the argument of political motivation Gauhati High Court said that the accusations appeared to stem from a motive of furthering the ends of justice and found no material to suggest that the proceedings were intended to injure and humiliate the petitionerEarlier the Supreme Court had refused to grant Khera protection from arrest and declined to extend his transit anticipatory bail directing him to approach the competent court in Assam IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-to-challenge-gauhati-hc-order-denying-relief-to-pawan-khera-in-supreme-court-671127.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cik-conducts-raid-at-srinagar-central-jail-in-terror-related-case-671128.html Srinagar April 25 The CounterIntelligence Kashmir wing CIK on Saturday carried out a raid at the Central Jail in JampKâs Srinagar in connection with a terrorrelated case Officials said that CIK sleuths conducted searches at Central Jail Srinagar in connection with a terrorlinked case and seized digital communication devicesofficials added that the searches were carried out following a warrant issued by a special court designated under the NIA Act in a case registered as FIR No 062023 at Police Station CI KashmirHe said the case was registered under Sections 153A 505 121 and 120B of the IPC along with Sections 13 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention ActâActing on technical inputs about the presence of suspicious digital signatures inside the jail premises search operations were conducted across multiple barracks and blocks in coordination with jail authoritiesâ an official saidThe official said that during the operation digital communication devices and other incriminating material were recovered and seizedThe seized devices will be sent for forensic examination to establish possible links and identify any wider network connected with the case he said adding that an inquiry has also been initiated into how the devices were brought inside the highsecurity prison and the role of any facilitators involvedThe official said the operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb misuse of communication devices in sensitive establishments including prisons and to investigate terrorrelated activities in the Union Territory The CounterIntelligence is a part of the JampK criminal investigation case CID of the police and is assigned counterintelligence dutiesThe wing has worked with appreciable results for many years in countering the designs of the enemy and unearthing plots aimed against the sovereignty and integrity of the country The wing also carries out focused verification of individuals suspected of having terror links IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cik-conducts-raid-at-srinagar-central-jail-in-terror-related-case-671128.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-cm-samrat-choudhary-meets-nitish-kumar-post-trust-vote-in-patna-671135.html Patna April 25 IANS After securing the vote of confidence in the Bihar Assembly Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary reached 1 Anee Marg his official residence on Saturday to pay a courtesy visit to former Chief Minister Nitish KumarUnion Minister and JDU Lok Sabha MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh was also present during the meeting which lasted for about 20 minutesWhile the exact details of the discussion have not been disclosed it is widely speculated that the talks revolved around the muchanticipated Cabinet expansion in BiharChief Minister Samrat Choudhary had proved his majority in the Bihar Assembly on FridayDuring the debate preceding the floor test Samrat Choudhary praised Nitish Kumar saying that the veteran JDU leader could neither be removed from his seat of power nor from their heartsHe credited Nitish Kumar with establishing good governance in the state and expressed confidence that Bihar would continue progressing under his guidanceHighlighting the former Chief Ministers contributions Samrat Choudhary said that over the past two decades Nitish Kumar has given Bihar a new identity by bringing farmers labourers and the underprivileged into the mainstreamHe also mentioned initiatives such as increased government employment opportunities the implementation of liquor ban and steps toward womens empowermentChief Minister Choudhary also clarified that the Bharatiya Janata Party has entrusted him with key responsibilities adding that positions of power are not personal property but a matter of public trustIt is worth noting that even after the formation of the new government the Cabinet in Bihar is yet to be expandedAt present all departments are being handled by the Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad YadavAs a result political circles are closely watching for the Cabinet expansion which is expected in the coming daysEarlier on Saturday former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had also met Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav to deliberate on various issuesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-cm-samrat-choudhary-meets-nitish-kumar-post-trust-vote-in-patna-671135.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 16:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/felt-disappointed-disgusted-raghav-chadha-on-aap-exit-says-party-fell-into-corrupt-hands--671142.html New Delhi April 25 IANS Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha said on Saturday that he and six other Members of Parliament chose to leave the Aam Aadmi Party AAP as the party had fallen into corrupt and compromised hands leaving them disappointed disenchanted and disgustedChadha triggered a major political development on Friday by announcing his resignation from AAP along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs Swati Maliwal Harbhajan Singh Sandeep Pathak Ashok Mittal Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahni all of whom are set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPHe said that this group representing a twothirds faction of AAPs Rajya Sabha MPs will formally merge with the BJP in the coming daysSpeaking to the reporters Chadha said Every true patriot every individual who nurtured the Aam Aadmi Party with their very blood and sweat and who had joined the party with immense hope has either already left the AAP or is in the process of leaving it This is because every honest and hardworking person now feels that there is nothing left in this party The AAP is now going down the wrong path where no one wishes to maintain any association with it Hence one by one numerous leaders have left the Aam Aadmi PartyHe also added that the Constitution empowers elected MPs to take such decisions if they believe their party has deviated from its principlesIf they elected MPs feel that their party has fallen into corrupt and compromised hands or that the party is heading down the wrong path then they have the right to leave their party provided a sufficient number of MPs wish to do so To facilitate this a threshold requiring the support of twothirds or more of the elected members was established he saidReferring to the scale of the exit of large number of lawmakers from AAP Chadha added It is not just 23 but seven MPs who are collectively leaving the Aam Aadmi PartyThey are doing so because they believe that the Aam Aadmi Party has indeed fallen into corrupt and compromised hands And to those who claim specifically the leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party that we left out of fear let us be clear we did not leave the Aam Aadmi Party out of fear we left because we felt disappointed disenchanted and disgusted he saidChadha also raised the longstanding Sheesh Mahal controversy calling it a decisive factor behind the partys defeat in the Delhi Assembly electionsAnd another significant issue is the Sheesh Mahal controversy currently unfolding in Delhi Indeed if there was one single overriding reason for the defeat in the Delhi elections the primary cause behind the Aam Aadmi Partys electoral loss it was precisely that Sheesh Mahal episode he saidThe development comes amid a sharp political attack by the BJP on Arvind Kejriwal following the exit of the seven MPs from AAPThe BJP described Kejriwal as the Rahman Dakait of Delhi and released fresh images of what it termed Sheesh Mahal 2Reacting to this Chadha said Yet even today less than a year after the conclusion of the Delhi elections the pictures of Sheesh Mahal 2 have emerged The Aam Aadmi Party should engage in deep introspection regarding all these issuesOne wonders how the dedicated party workers who remain with the Aam Aadmi Party will manage to answer the people when they are inevitably confronted with questions regarding the Sheesh Mahal controversy The Aam Aadmi Party should engage in selfreflection regarding this and give it careful consideration he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/felt-disappointed-disgusted-raghav-chadha-on-aap-exit-says-party-fell-into-corrupt-hands--671142.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/niti-aayog-emerges-as-vital-pillar-in-indias-policy-making-architecture-pm-modi-671143.html New Delhi April 25 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that NITI Aayog has emerged as a vital pillar in Indias policymaking architecture fostering cooperative federalism furthering reforms and boosting Ease of LivingnbspIt serves as a dynamic platform for innovation and longterm strategic thinking across sectors said Prime Minister as he congratulated Ashok Kumar Lahiri on becoming the Vice Chairman and other fulltime membersThe Government has reconstituted the NITI Aayog My best wishes to Ashok Kumar Lahiri on becoming the Vice Chairman My best wishes also to Rajiv Gauba Prof K V Raju Prof Gobardhan Das Prof Abhay Karandikar and Dr M Srinivas on becoming Full Time Members of NITI Aayog said PM Modi in a post on social media platform XWishing all of them a productive and impactful tenure ahead Prime Minister addedPM Modi met Lahiri and congratulated him on his appointment as Vice Chairman of NITI AayogHis rich experience in economics and public policy will further strengthen the path of reforms in India and the journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat I am confident that his efforts will make our countrys policymaking even more dynamic My best wishes to him for a fruitful tenure said Prime MinisterLahiri who represents Balurghat in the current Bengal Assembly but is not contesting the ongoing elections brings with him a distinguished career in economicsHe served as the 12th Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India and has held positions at the Delhi School of Economics the Asian Development Bank Bandhan Bank and the National Institute of Public Finance and PolicyHis global experience includes stints with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund An alumnus of Presidency University Kolkata Lahiri is widely respected for his academic and policy contributionsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/niti-aayog-emerges-as-vital-pillar-in-indias-policy-making-architecture-pm-modi-671143.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/denied-mobile-phone-ktaka-boy-commits-suicide-police-warn-parents-against-abrupt-withdrawal-670998.html Hubballi April 24 In a shocking case a boy ended his life after being denied a mobile phone by his mother in the Udaynagar locality of Hubballi city in North Karnataka said police on Friday The deceased has been identified as a 14yearold boy HubballiDharwad Police Commissioner N Shashidhar has warned parents against the sudden withdrawal of mobile phones from children who are addicted to them The Keshvapura police in Hubballi have registered a case and are investigating the matterAccording to the police the boy had been addicted to mobile phone use and was playing an online game for the past few days On Thursday night his mother objected to his excessive mobile usage and reprimanded him She asked him to stop focusing on the phone and instead concentrate on his studies She then snatched the mobile phone from himTaking it to heart the boy went into his room and locked the door from inside When he did not come out for about 20 minutes his father peeped through the window and saw him hanging The boy had used his motherâs saree to hang himself The parents broke open the door and rushed him to a hospital However doctors declared him brought deadReacting to the incident HubballiDharwad Police Commissioner N Shashikumar said âThe deceased is a 14yearold boy His mother objected to his mobile addiction and took the phone away Immediately after that he locked himself inside his room and did not open the door for 10 to 15 minutes Later his father noticed that he had hanged himself using a sareeââIt is an unfortunate incident Children taking extreme steps over the denial of mobile phone use is a matter of concern At the same time parents also have responsibilities Children do not become addicted to mobile phones and gaming overnight We have seen parents and relatives handing over mobile phones to children to keep them quietâ he saidâMany times while feeding them or when asking them to study parents allow the use of mobile phones for an hour or so Children also tend to emotionally pressure their parents Without understanding the consequences parents may suddenly snatch away the phones In cases of severe addiction consultation with psychologists and doctors is advisable and mobile usage should be reduced graduallyâ he addedâI appeal to parents that mobile addiction is harmful There are hardly any examples of individuals achieving success in life through excessive mobile use However mobile phones can be used productively to learn English grammar and other skills through YouTube and online courses Many students who scored 625 out of 625 in Class 10 board exams have said they stayed away from distractions including mobile phonesâ he notedHe added that both parents and students should take note of this emphasising the need for proper parenting IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/denied-mobile-phone-ktaka-boy-commits-suicide-police-warn-parents-against-abrupt-withdrawal-670998.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-mlc-arrested-for-threatening-witnesses-in-drivers-murder-case-671000.html Amaravati April 24 Anantha Babu a member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council belonging to YSR Congress Party was arrested on Friday in the case of the murder of Dalit youth and driver Veedhi Subrahmanyam The Member of Legislative Council MLC was arrested by police in Rajamahendravaram amid high drama when he came out of a court after hearing on a petition for cancellation of his bailPolice personnel were deployed in large numbers outside the court to arrest the MLC who was accompanied by his wife Lakshmi Durga also an accused in the murder casePolice are likely to shift the MLC to Kakinada where he is likely to be produced before a court later in the dayPolice were on the lookout for Anantha Babu who had reportedly gone into hiding after being accused of violating bail conditions and intimidating key witnesses in the case Police had formed five special teams comprising five Circle Inspectors and 10 SubInspectors to nab the MLC A fresh case was registered at the Sarpavaram Police Station in Kakinada on April 20 following complaints by four key witnesses in the murder caseThey alleged that Anantha Babu had offered them substantial sums of money to change their statements They also alleged that when they refused the bribe they were met with death threats Three of them claimed that they were forcibly detained in an apartment by the MLCâs followers and were pressured to retract their previous statements and provide false testimony during the trial The MLC was booked for witness tampering and criminal intimidation Special Public Prosecutor Muppalla Subbarao had also filed a petition in the Rajahmundry Special Court seeking the immediate cancellation of Anantha Babuâs bail The petition argued that by attempting to influence witnesses and using threats the accused had breached the conditions set forth by the Supreme Court when he was granted bailThe Special Court had adjourned the hearing to FridayAnantha Babu whose real name is Anantha Uday Bhaskar is accused of killing his former driver Subrahmanyam and later delivering the body to the victimâs houseSubrahmanyam 34 was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Kakinada on May 19 2022 The MLC of the thenruling YSR Congress Party had personally transported the body to the victimâs parentsâ residence around 2 am in his own car claiming it was a road accidentThe family however suspected foul play and refused to accept the body The murder had sparked protests by the victimâs relatives and Dalit organisationsThe MLC was subsequently arrested and the YSRCP suspended him from the partyWith the investigating officer unable to submit the charge sheet within 90 days Anantha Babu was released on default bail in December 2022After coming to power in June 2024 the TDPled coalition government decided to reinvestigate the case In July 2025 the SCST Special Court ordered a reinvestigation into the case IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-mlc-arrested-for-threatening-witnesses-in-drivers-murder-case-671000.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-road-accident-claims-three-lives-highway-blocked-for-hours-671017.html Lohardaga Jharkhand April 24 Three people including a mother and her son were killed in a tragic road accident on National Highway39 in Jharkhandâs Lohardaga district on Friday officials said The accident led to massive traffic jams on the KuruRanchi main road which went on for two hoursThe incident occurred near Dhuluakhunta under the Kuru police station area where a liquorladen goods vehicle collided headon with a scootyFollowing the accident vehicular movement on the highway remained blocked for several hours as a large crowd of villagers gathered at the spotThe deceased were identified as Bishun Bhagatain her son Kishore Bhagat and nephew Niranjan Oraon residents of Ronhaiya Kolsimri village under the Kuru police station areaThey were travelling on a scooty to Mandar hospital where Bishun Bhagatainâs husband is undergoing treatmentAccording to police the goods vehicle was heading from Ranchi towards Palamu when it rammed into the scooty The impact was so severe that Kishore Bhagat and Niranjan Oraon died on the spot while Bishun Bhagatain succumbed to her injuries while being taken to Lohardaga Sadar HospitalAfter the collision the goods vehicle overturned in the middle of the road causing liquor bottles loaded in it to scatter across the highway Soon after the accident a large number of locals gathered and some of them attempted to loot the liquorKuru police station incharge Ajit Kumar rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control chasing away those attempting to loot the liquorAngered by the accident villagers blocked the highway demanding compensation for the victimsâ familiesCircle Officer Santosh Oraon and police station incharge Ajit Kumar later reached the spot and held discussions with the protesters After nearly two hours of negotiations the road blockade was liftedThe administration provided immediate assistance to the bereaved families including some cash for last rites and two quintals of riceThree occupants of the goods vehicle were also injured in the accident They were identified as Vinat Munda Vikas Minz and Tinku Ram residents of Kanke in Ranchi district After primary treatment Vinat Munda and Vikas Minz who were seriously injured were referred to RIMS Ranchi for better medical care IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-road-accident-claims-three-lives-highway-blocked-for-hours-671017.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/up-to-undertake-gps-survey-of-sugarcane-crops-from-may-1-to-june-30-671018.html Lucknow April 24 The Uttar Pradesh government is set to kick off a twomonthlong GPS survey of sugarcane crops in the state starting from May 1 a comprehensive exercise to prepare estimates and devise workable solutions The Sugarcane Development and Sugar Industry Department will conduct a GPSbased survey of sugarcane crops under the state governmentâs sugarcane survey policy 202627The elaborate exercise will proceed for two months and will see farmers being informed and intimated through SMS service three days in advanceNotably the exercise is aimed at getting accurate estimates of sugarcane cultivation in the state while ensuring transparency and addressing farmersâ concernsThe sugarcane survey team will include one government sugarcane supervisor and one sugar mill employee They will also be trained prior to the surveyThe presence of the farmer will be mandatory during the survey The team will visit the farmerâs field and using GPS directly upload production data to the departmentâs serverAfter the survey details such as the field area sugarcane variety and other information will also be sent to farmers via SMSSugarcane Development and Sugar Industry Commissioner Veena Kumari Meena told the newsmen that the verification of any surveyed land of a sugarcane farmer can be done through the Revenue Departmentâs website ie httpwwwupbhulekhgovinSugar mills will upload the final survey data directly to the departmental website online and will also display it on their own websitesAccording to the department registration of new farmers will be carried out during the sugarcane survey Only those farmers registered by September 30 will be eligible to supply sugarcaneApplications for yield enhancement will be accepted from the time of the survey until September 30 For this fees of Rs 10 Rs 100 and Rs 200 per farmer will be collected from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe farmers small farmers and other farmers respectivelyThe survey will record detailed information on plant cane and crops on a yearly basis After completion of the exercise a consolidated summary of the total sugarcane area will be prepared based on the collected data IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/up-to-undertake-gps-survey-of-sugarcane-crops-from-may-1-to-june-30-671018.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bangladesh-faces-deepening-debt-crisis-671019.html New Delhi April 24 In the five fiscal years from 2026 to 2030 Bangladesh will need to spend a staggering 26 billion to repay external debt which is expected to create a huge economic burden on the country according to an article in the local media The debt burden is considered âenormousâ as in the 54 years since independence Bangladesh has spent a total of 40 billion on external debt repayment In contrast in just the next five years it will have to spend nearly twothirds of that amount the Dhaka Tribune article saidAs of last June Bangladeshâs total external debt stood at 77 billion which is 19 per cent of national income and this ratio has been rising over timeCurrently Bangladeshâs debt servicing to government revenue ratio is 165 per cent Although this is slightly below the International Monetary Fundâs risk threshold of 18 per cent the overall picture is far from reassuring the article observedIt further stated that during the 10 fiscal years from 2026 to 2035 Bangladeshâs external debt repayments will total 51 billion double the amount of the next five years By 2030 annual repayments will peak at around 55 billionFrom 2021 to 2025 Bangladesh earned about 2 billion from remittances per month Thus the peak annual repayment could be covered by roughly three months of remittance income If current trends continue it will take Bangladesh 37 years until 2063 to fully free itself from the current debt burden the article pointed outRegarding the factors leading to the piling up of this massive debt the article states that some causes are global such as the Ukraine war the Covid19 pandemic and now the Middle East conflict The global turmoil has negatively affected exports foreign direct investment and remittance inflows of Bangladesh which has weakened the countryâs capacity to repay its debtDomestic factors include Bangladeshâs largescale infrastructure projects largely financed through foreign loans which have contributed heavily to the debt burden These include the 11 billion Ruppur Nuclear Power Project the Karnaphuli Tunnel the Padma Rail Link and the third terminal of the Shahjalal International AirportDelays in the implementation of these projects have increased project costs and consequently debt repayment obligations of BangladeshSecond Bangladesh has failed to adequately expand its tax base Tax revenue especially direct taxes has not reached desired levelsThirdly many bilateral and multilateral lenders have changed their interest structures shortened repayment periods and reduced grace periods Altogether these changes have intensified the pressure on Bangladeshâs debt servicing situation the article added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bangladesh-faces-deepening-debt-crisis-671019.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/panchayati-raj-institutions-a-gift-of-rajiv-gandhi-congress-671022.html New Delhi April 24 The Congress party marked the National Panchayati Raj Day on Friday by recalling some landmark laws enacted by governments headed by Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh to boost grassroots democracy in villages Crediting Rajiv Gandhi for the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution on this day in 1993 Congress MP and Communications Incharge Jairam Ramesh said âThis truly transformational initiative was due wholly to the insistence and persistence of Rajiv GandhiââIt was he who ensured that onethird of the elected seats in Panchayati Raj institutions would be reserved for women including for women belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communitiesâ said the former Union MinisterâIt was entirely his contribution that today there are around 32 lakh elected representatives in Panchayati Raj institutions of whom about 15 lakh are women This amendment 64th had originally been introduced in mid1989 but after passage in the Lok Sabha it could not pass in the Rajya Sabha because of the opposition of the BJPâ said RameshHighlighting the role of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in promoting Panchayati Raj institutions Ramesh wrote on X âIt was the Dr Manmohan Singh government that had created the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in May 2004 and launched the historic MGNREGA in Feb 2006 that gave gram panchayats a pivotal role in planning and executionââRamesh said the 73rd Amendment brought by the Rajiv Gandhi government introduced the extraordinarily detailed Articles 243A to 243O in the Constitution to vastly empower panchayats and make them the foundations of our polityToday there are about 26 lakh gram panchayats over 6700 intermediate panchayats and 673 zilla parishadsâ he saidIn a veiled reference to the recent defeat of the amendment bill on womenâs quota Ramesh said âThe further revival of panchayats and nagarpalikas that form Articles 243P to 243ZG is far more urgent than simply increasing the strength of the Lok Sabhaââ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/panchayati-raj-institutions-a-gift-of-rajiv-gandhi-congress-671022.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/need-to-create-space-infrastructure-for-national-security-shubhanshu-shukla-671023.html New Delhi April 24 Astronaut and Indian Air Force IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Friday urged for the creation of space infrastructure for national security Further dwelling on the preparations for the muchhyped Gaganyaan mission he underlined that human space missions are more complex Speaking to IANS Shukla agreed that indigenous communication through satellites has been the backbone behind India successfully striking adversaries during surgical strikes like Operation SindoorHe said Yes it is the backbone which we have to make stronger We need to create a space infrastructure for national security Our backbone should be strongThere are many initiatives like the SBS3 which has just been released It is working in the same direction I think very soon our sovereign infrastructure for these things will be very strong and selfsufficient from the perspective of national security he addedMeanwhile Shukla will be a part of the Indian Space Research Organisations ISRO first human space flight programme GaganyaanAbout the mission he emphasised that there is much difference between a satellite mission and a human space missionA human space mission is much more complex Many technologies need to be developed for this because in this case a human life needs to be preserved when he or she is sent into the space That is why it takes time he saidEspecially in the developmental programme there is a period of great uncertainty for any astronaut about when will the mission take place what will be its duration or definitionHe explained that initially a mission begins with some concept but later on it gets modified into something else This is a part of the process I am happy that work is being done on these things on a fast track basis the astronaut mentionedHowever he refused to comment on any particular timeline for the missionOnly after the test mission will we get the confidence level to know when exactly we will be able to carry out this mission he addedGroup Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair another astronaut selected for the Gaganyaan mission told reporters that in India we are always preparedDescribing the preparations for the mission he said Everything is going on well Like recently we had a prototype training in Leh We will also have psychological and medical training with the Aerospace Medicine DepartmentApart from this Nair added At ISRO we are doing design reviews of the Gaganyaan capsule IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/need-to-create-space-infrastructure-for-national-security-shubhanshu-shukla-671023.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-green-energys-q4-profit-jumps-34-pc-capacity-expansion-fuels-growth-671024.html Ahmedabad April 24 Renewable energy major Adani Green Energy on Friday reported a strong performance for the March quarter of FY26 with its consolidated net profit rising 34 per cent yearonyear to Rs 514 crore aided by strong EBITDA growth The company had posted a net profit of Rs 383 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year according to its stock exchange filingRevenue from core operations during the JanuaryMarch quarter also saw a healthy increase of 14 per cent climbing to Rs 3502 crore from Rs 3073 crore in the same period of the previous financial yearFor the full financial year FY26 the company delivered a solid operational and financial performance backed by aggressive expansion in renewable capacity and strong plant outputEnergy sales rose 34 per cent yearonyear to 37567 million units while revenue from power supply increased 22 per cent to Rs 11602 croreEBITDA from power supply grew 23 per cent to Rs 10865 crore with the company maintaining an industryleading EBITDA margin of 91 per centCash profit for the year also registered an 11 per cent rise to Rs 5399 crore as per its regulatory filingThe companyâs operational capacity expanded sharply by 35 per cent yearonyear to 193 GW reinforcing its position as Indiaâs largest renewable energy playerDuring FY26 Adani Green added 51 GW of greenfield capacity marking a 15 times increase compared to FY25 and one of the highest annual expansions globally outside ChinaA significant portion of this growth came from projects in Gujarats Khavda and Rajasthan where the company has been commissioning new capacities in resourcerich locationsThe Khavda project touted as the worldâs largest renewable energy plant continues to be a key driver of growthThe company has also made notable progress in energy storage It installed battery energy storage systems BESS capacity of 1376 MWh in Khavda one of the largest singlelocation deployments globally and is targeting over 10000 MWh capacity by FY27 to strengthen its futureready energy ecosystemCommenting on the performance Executive Director Sagar Adani said FY26 was a landmark year for the company marked by record capacity additions and operational excellenceâThe company on the back of robust project and operational excellence commissioned 51 GW of greenfield capacity thereby reaching 193 GW of total operational capacityâ he notedâThe continued recognition of our ESG efforts reaffirms our commitment to sustainable growth and accelerating Indiaâs energy transitionâ he addedAdani Greenâs total operational portfolio of 19294 MW is now capable of powering more than 87 million homes while helping avoid around 36 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-green-energys-q4-profit-jumps-34-pc-capacity-expansion-fuels-growth-671024.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-attend-35th-convocation-of-rajasthan-university-tomorrow-671029.html Jaipur April 24 VicePresident CP Radhakrishnan will visit Jaipur on Saturday to attend the 35th Convocation of the University of Rajasthan and other events an official said on Friday Apart from attending the Convocation the VicePresident will also attend the 23rd Cancer Survivors Day organised by Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Jaipur said the official in a statementEarlier on Thursday VicePresident Radhakrishnan chaired the sixth convocation ceremony of AIIMS Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and reminded them that convocation marks not only the culmination of years of disciplined effort and sacrifice but also the beginning of a greater responsibility towards society and the nationHe urged the graduates to embrace their professional duties with dedication and a sense of purposeThe VicePresident emphasised that healthcare is a public trust and that medical professionals play a vital role in nationbuildingHe urged the young graduates to contribute through preventive care rural outreach research and innovation and to remain guided by the values of empathy integrity and serviceHighlighting the spiritual and cultural significance of Rishikesh as a global centre of reflection and healing and a gateway to the Himalayas VicePresident Radhakrishnan noted that such a setting adds deeper meaning to the solemnity of the convocation ceremonyReflecting on the challenges posed by the pandemic the VicePresident added that India demonstrated resilience innovation and commitment under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra ModiHe highlighted Indias largescale vaccination drive noting that more than 140 crore citizens received free vaccines ensuring equitable access to healthcare especially in underserved regionsHe emphasised that Indian scientists developed vaccines not for profit but for the welfare of humanityThe VicePresident also underlined Indias global responsibility through its Vaccine Maitri initiative under which vaccines were supplied to more than 100 countriesHe said this initiative reflected the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam The World is One Family and reinforced Indias role as a compassionate and responsible global partner IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-attend-35th-convocation-of-rajasthan-university-tomorrow-671029.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/excess-explosives-angle-looked-into-as-search-continues-in-thrissur-pooram-tragedy-671030.html Thrissur Kerala April 24 Amid mounting concern over the scale of the Mundathikode fireworks tragedy associated with the famed Thrissur Pooram Kerala Dewaswoms Minister V N Vasavan on Friday said an investigation would examine whether excessive quantities of explosive materials were stored at the site even as recovery operations continued to yield human remains from surrounding areas The minister said the government would initiate detailed discussions to prevent such disasters in the future including a shift in fireworks practicesHe stressed that displays should prioritise visual appeal over noise drawing parallels with international events such as the OlympicsIn this context he noted that this yearâs Thrissur Pooram fireworks have already been cancelledProviding an update on casualties Vasavan said 10 victims were initially identified with one more confirmed laterIn all 14 people lost their lives So far 29 sets of human remains have been recovered with DNA testing underwayFour individuals remain unaccounted for even as the condition of four injured persons continues to be criticalThose with minor injuries have been dischargedA total of 38 persons were present at the time of the incident though official records confirming the exact number were lost in the explosionMeanwhile search teams have recovered additional body parts from areas far beyond the immediate accident site underlining the intensity of the blastPortions of a head were found in a field about 400 metres away while parts of a hand were recovered nearly a kilometre from the siteAuthorities suspect that stray animals may have carried some of the remainsFurther fragments have been located in nearby paddy fields as search operations continue with the assistance of cadaver dogsPolice teams working in groups are also combing nearby residential areas with the help of local residentsOfficials said the results of DNA analysis are expected to begin arriving from Saturday which will be crucial in identifying victimsTo expedite the process a mobile DNA testing unit has been deployed at Thrissur Medical College where samples from all recovered remains including unidentified bodies have been sent for examinationAuthorities said the findings would be key to bringing clarity to the full extent of the tragedy IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/excess-explosives-angle-looked-into-as-search-continues-in-thrissur-pooram-tragedy-671030.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/madhya-pradesh-cylinder-blast-in-biaora-leaves-one-dead-wife-critical-671031.html Bhopal April 24 A tragic incident shook the town of Biaora on Friday when a massive explosion involving a cooking gas cylinder claimed one life and left another person critically injured According to police officials the blast occurred around 5 am in Shivdham Colony near the Rajgarh bypass road sending shockwaves across the neighbourhoodResidents startled by the deafening sound rushed out of their homes in panic as flames engulfed the kitchen of the affected houseThe explosion took place at the residence of 60yearold Surendra Singh Bhalla who was at home with his wife Padma BhallaPolice officials further said that the LPG cylinder kept in their kitchen suddenly caught fire which intensified within moments and led to a violent blast The force of the explosion damaged part of the house and created chaos in the localityBoth Surendra Singh and his wife sustained severe burn injuries Neighbours quickly intervened carrying out rescue efforts and transporting the couple to the Civil Hospital in BiaoraAfter initial treatment doctors referred them to a hospital in Bhopal due to the critical nature of their condition Tragically Surendra Singh succumbed to his injuries while being taken to Bhopal near NarsinghgarhHis wife Padma remains in critical condition and is undergoing treatmentAuthorities revealed that the house had both a PNG connection and an LPG cylinder raising questions about the source of the fire Preliminary investigations point to a possible gas leak or technical malfunction though the exact cause remains uncertainPolice and administrative officials reached the site soon after receiving information The deceasedâs body was sent to the Civil Hospital in Biaora for postmortem examination and a case of accidental death has been registered A forensic team is also inspecting the site to determine the precise cause of the explosionThe incident has left the community deeply shaken highlighting the dangers posed by gas leaks and the urgent need for safety measures in households As investigations continue residents of Shivdham Colony remain in shock over the sudden tragedy that claimed a life and left another hanging in the balance IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/madhya-pradesh-cylinder-blast-in-biaora-leaves-one-dead-wife-critical-671031.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cet-janeu-row-karnataka-minister-promises-probe-says-no-report-received-yet-671035.html Bengaluru April 24 Minister for Higher Education MC Sudhakar responding to the alleged janeu row stated that the incident has not come to the notice of the Karnataka Examination Authority KEA as yet He said that if any such incident had taken place a report would be sought and strict action would be initiated It may be noted that at a CET examination centre in Koramangala Bengaluru a student was allegedly forced to remove his sacred thread before being allowed to write the examSpeaking to the media in Bengaluru on Friday MC Sudhakar said âThe infrastructure of both government and private colleges is utilised while conducting the Common Entrance Test CET The services of staff from various institutions are also used on a large scale If any staff member of any institution has acted in an extreme or inappropriate manner action will be takenâHe added that no report regarding the incident has reached the authorities so far âWe do not have any information at present It is also unclear whether the issue was resolved at the centre level If we receive any information in this regard strict action will definitely be takenâ he saidâThere are 745 examination centres across the state Just as the traffic police continuously create awareness about wearing helmets to save lives yet violations still occur similar issues arise during examinations as well I do not know how to describe such behaviourâwhether it is due to a particular mindset done deliberately to create controversy or an attempt to bring disrepute We come across various possibilitiesâ he statedâSome incidents may even be staged We will not allow such practices If anything of this sort has happened we will take strict action within the legal frameworkâ Sudhakar addedIt can be noted that the janeu row has resurfaced in Karnataka following reports that a student appearing for the CET was allegedly denied entry into the examination hall unless he removed his âjaneuâThe âjaneuâ is a sacred thread worn by Hindu males especially Brahmins across the left shoulder and under the right arm symbolising initiation into education and spiritual life IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cet-janeu-row-karnataka-minister-promises-probe-says-no-report-received-yet-671035.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indore-police-rescue-two-abducted-boys-within-hours-four-held-671036.html Indore April 24 Indore Police cracked a shocking case of child abduction within hours on April 23 rescuing two minor boys and arresting four accused who according to officials had plotted the crime after suffering heavy losses in the stock market The swift operation carried out under the jurisdiction of Palasia Police Station brought relief to the childrenâs family and the wider community which had been thrown into panic by the sudden disappearanceIndore was gripped by panic on the night of April 23 when two minor boys went missing from Tirupati Garden in Lala Ram Nagar The sudden disappearance of the children plunged their family and the police into crisis but Madhya Pradesh Police rescued them within five hoursAccording to officials at Palasia Police Station the case was reported at around 845 pm prompting an immediate investigation Police officials stated that the boys residents of Geeta Nagar and Khatik Mohalla had gone to play in the garden as they did every day but failed to return homeCCTV footage revealed a young woman luring the children away with chips candies and pictures of pets on her mobile phone Soon after the complainant received a ransom call demanding Rs 15 lakh for the safe release of the boys accompanied by threats of dire consequencesSenior police officials confirmed that joint teams were formed under their guidance with personnel deployed across hotels bus stands railway stations and other public places Technical surveillance and analysis of CCTV footage helped track the suspects to an apartment in Datt Nagar nearly 15 kilometres from the crime sceneThe area was cordoned off and in a coordinated operation the accused were apprehended while attempting to flee Both boys were rescued safelyPolice identified the arrested individuals as Radhika Prajapati Tanisha Sen Lalit Sen and Vineet Prajapati Radhika and Vineet are siblingsDuring questioning the accused admitted to abducting the children in a premeditated manner after suffering losses in the stock market Police officials revealed that the group had been conducting reconnaissance for two days prior to the incident and had even taken one of the boys to a flat earlierInvestigators noted that after abducting the children the accused woman transported them to a flat in Rajendra Nagar recorded videos of them and later fed them milkbased vermicelli when they asked for foodThe mobile phones used in the crime have been seized and legal proceedings have been initiated against all four accused Police officials confirmed that the rescued boys were taken to MY Hospital for medical examination before being reunited with their family bringing relief after hours of fear and uncertainty IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indore-police-rescue-two-abducted-boys-within-hours-four-held-671036.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/swati-maliwal-harbhajan-singh-ashok-mittal-among-aap-rs-mps-switching-sides-to-bjp-claims-raghav-671039.html New Delhi April 24 IANS Raghav Chadha the senior Aam Aadmi Party AAP Rajya Sabha MP dropped a political bombshell on Friday by announcing his exit from the party along with six other party lawmakers all headed to the Bhartiya Janata Party BJPnbspHe said that the twothirds faction of the AAP Rajya Sabha MPs comprising a breakaway faction will merge with the BJP in the coming daysnbspChadha made the announcement in a press conference accompanied by another party Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep PathakAccording to multiple reports citing Chadha those others who have decided to join ranks and take the plunge are Swati Maliwal Harbhajan Singh Sandeep Pathak Ashok Mittal Rajinder Gupta and Vikram SahninbspThe development comes as a body blow for the fledgling party and its convenor as well as former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind KejriwalnbspRaghav one of the youngest parliamentarians also announced that along with him twothirds of AAP Rajya Sabha MPs have decided to switch their political loyalties a stance that will help them bypass the antidefection law and shield them from any action by the parent partyThe development comes days after Raghav Chadhas demotion in the House from the post of Deputy Leader of the party for allegedly not raising key issues against the governmentnbspInterestingly Ashok Mittal who replaced Chadha as the new party Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha has also joined him in the merger with the BJPnbsp nbspCurrently the AAP has 10 members in the Upper House with broad representation from Punjab the only state where it remains in powernbspOut of 10 MPs seven are from Punjab namely Raghav Chadha Rajinder Gupta Ashok Kumar Mittal Sandeep Kumar Pathak Vikramjit Singh Sahney Harbhajan Singh and Sant Balbir SinghnbspThe lawmakers from Delhi are Swati Maliwal Narain Dass Gupta and Sanjay Singh https://dailyworld.in/national/swati-maliwal-harbhajan-singh-ashok-mittal-among-aap-rs-mps-switching-sides-to-bjp-claims-raghav-671039.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-surat-to-realise-metro-dream-soon-trial-run-on-key-corridor-makes-residents-rejoice-671040.html Ahmedabad April 24 After Ahmedabad the Diamond City of Surat in Gujarat is now ready for its tryst with Metro rail services A trial run for the Metro train recently commenced in Surat on an 85kilometrelong route connecting Dream City and Althan Tenament which will speed up connectivity and ease congestion between the two commercial centres The construction work on the Surat Metro network is going at a brisk pace and will be dedicated to the public soonAnand Singh Bisht Project Director of the Surat Metro Rail Project stated that Corridor I also known as the Diamond Corridor connects Dream City to Sarthana It spans a total length of 216 kilometres of which 15 kilometres is elevated and 65 kilometres is underground This corridor comprises 14 elevated and 6 underground stations Corridor II also referred to as the Textile Corridor connects Bhesan to Saroli It has a total length of 187 kilometres and is entirely elevated featuring 18 elevated stationsAn intensive examination of the Metro trains speed braking system and technical aspects is currently underway during a 500hour trial run between Dream City and Althan TenamentFurthermore construction work on seven Metro stations along this route is also in its final stages It is anticipated that following the safety inspections and testing procedures the Surat Metro train service will soon be dedicated to the publicThe commencement of Metro operations will provide direct connectivity to the Surat Diamond Bourse thereby giving a significant boost to the pace of the diamond industry This will facilitate fast and comfortable transportation for the 40000 to 45000 artisans and traders who commute daily from areas such as Varachha Katargam and SarthanaJayanti Savaliya Regional Chairman of the Gujarat Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council stated that the traffic problem would be alleviated to a great extent with the launch of the Metro to the Diamond Bourse 45000 people will be able to commute to and from the facility The Metro system designed to connect the entire city has been exceptionally wellplannedThe launch of the Metro service will not only provide the people of Surat relief from traffic congestion but will also offer them a superior alternative for fast safe and ecofriendly travelRaj Patel a resident of Surat remarked that the arrival of the Metro in the city will bring ease to the daily lives of those who rely on public transport from morning till evening enabling people to travel from one place to another on timeAs a resident of Surat I am delighted After years of waiting we are finally getting the Metro and the heart of every Surati is filled with joy he saidRoshan Chimna a local resident observed The construction work for this project in Surat has been completed remarkably fast What could be a greater source of pride than this IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-surat-to-realise-metro-dream-soon-trial-run-on-key-corridor-makes-residents-rejoice-671040.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bharat-taxi-enters-mumbai-to-boost-urban-transport-671041.html New Delhi April 24 Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the Bharat Taxi driver onboarding initiative in Mumbai it was announced on Friday The move is a significant step towards strengthening urban mobility and improving driver livelihoods The programme witnessed participation from hundreds of autorickshaw and cab drivers transport union representatives and cooperative association membersGoyal emphasised the importance of cooperative and technologydriven models in strengthening Indiaâs evolving mobility ecosystemHe said Bharat Taxi enables drivers to participate as partners while benefiting from digital tools that can improve transparency earnings and dignity of labourThe minister noted that such initiatives represent the future direction of Indiaâs urban transport systemsAccording to the Ministry of Cooperation the initiative aims to expand access to structured digital platforms that enhance driver participation improve transparency and create better earning opportunitiesThe onboarding drive forms part of wider efforts to strengthen driverfirst mobility systems across major citiesBy simplifying onboarding processes improving operational efficiency and ensuring more consistent access to ride demand the initiative seeks to build a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem for drivers and commuters alikeMumbai joins a growing network of cities including DelhiNCR Gujarat Chandigarh and Lucknow where organised mobility networks are expanding steadilyVivek Pandey COO of Bharat Taxi said Mumbai is a highpotential market and the strong support received from local driver unions has reinforced confidence in the platformâs expansion plans and its commitment to building a robust driver ecosystem in the cityRecent operational indicators reflect the platformâs growth with over 517 lakh drivers engaged more than 50 lakh customers onboarded and nearly 10 lakh rides facilitated every month across citiesAccording to the ministry the expansion aligns with the vision of Amit Shah Minster for Home and Cooperation to see Bharat Taxi operate across all major cities in India over the next three years with Mumbai emerging as a key milestone in this national growth roadmap IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bharat-taxi-enters-mumbai-to-boost-urban-transport-671041.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-dy-cm-shivakumar-raises-concern-over-height-restrictions-near-defence-airports-in-bengaluru-671043.html New DelhiBengaluru April 24 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar who is also Bengaluru Development Minister met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi and discussed the height restrictions being imposed around defence airports in Bengaluru Raising concerns about the impact of these restrictions on development in several parts of the city Shivakumar urged the Defence Minister to consider a balanced approach that ensures aviation safety while supporting Bengaluruâs growth the Deputy Chief Ministers office said in a statement Submitting a letter with the demand to Rajnath Singh during the meeting Shivakumar also brought to his attention the letters previously written by the Karnataka government to the Central government on the same issueIn his letter the Deputy Chief Minister cited the excessive restrictions imposed by the authorities of the defence airports in Bengaluru while granting NOC for construction within the 20km range of the airports as per the prevailing RulesBengaluru is one of the fastestgrowing cities in the world and HAL airport is located in the core area of Bengaluru where there is a huge demand for development and the additional restrictions being imposed are hampering the development in the areas around the airport Letters have been written in this regard to the Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation the Secretary Department of Defence Production Ministry of Defence and the Defence Secretary Ministry of Defence copies attached I request you to kindly look into the issue and direct the concerned to take necessary action to resolve the same in the interest of both the flight safety and development demands of the city he saidPresently there are four airports functioning in Bengaluru including the IAFs Yelahanka airbase Authorities concerned need to seek NOC from these airport authorities as per the rules before granting permissions for construction The Greater Bengaluru Authority has brought to the notice of the state government the more stringent restrictions that are being imposed by the defence authorities while granting NOCs In order to sort out the issues and expedite the noobjection certificate clearance process meetings were conducted with the representatives of the airports in Bengaluru The authorities representing the defence airports informed that under rule 52 of the GSR 751E the authorised officer of the defence airports are allowed to impose additional restrictions and hence they are restricting the height based on their calculations IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-dy-cm-shivakumar-raises-concern-over-height-restrictions-near-defence-airports-in-bengaluru-671043.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-could-face-lanka-like-situation-guarantees-have-derailed-economy-kumaraswamy-671048.html Mysuru Karnataka April 24 Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy claimed that the guarantee schemes of the Congress have severely weakened the stateâs economy pushing Karnataka and other states towards financial distress He was speaking after participating in templerelated programmes Kumaraswamy said that while providing Rs 2000 to women may appear beneficial people must examine how the government is funding itReferring to Sri Lankaâs economic crisis Kumaraswamy alleged that mismanagement of the economy could push Karnataka towards a similar fateâThe government is borrowing heavily to fund these guarantees Already this government has accumulated a debt of Rs 726 lakh crore This has placed a burden of at least Rs 1 lakh on each of the stateâs 63 crore peopleâ he allegedHe added that he is ready to debate this claim on any platform and challenged the state government to come forward for a discussion if it has the courageâThe impact of these guarantee schemes has emptied the state treasury The government is struggling to pay salaries to its employees on time Similarly the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh which came to power on the promise of guarantees has financially weakened that state as wellThere are media reports that salaries of officials including the Chief Secretary have been cutâ he claimed expressing concern that Karnataka could face a similar situationQuestioning the effectiveness of cash assistance he said âCan a family be run with Rs 2000 given to womenWhile the government provides money under schemes like Gruha Laxmi rising prices and increased taxes are reducing household incomes At the same time the government is taking on excessive debt burdening future generationsâ he allegedDuring his visit Kumaraswamy participated in the inauguration of the Sri Melanakatte Ganapati Temple in Basavanapura Geradada and Kenchanahalli villages and the inauguration of the gopuram and consecration ceremonies at Sri Basaveshwara Swamy Temple in Hosahagrahara He also offered special prayers at the templesSpeaking at the Ganapati Temple inauguration he said it was his privilege to inaugurate the temple and that the programme attended along with former minister SR Mahesh was spiritually fulfilling He noted that the temple located amidst nature provides a sense of peace and devotionLater he visited the Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple in Saligrama where he offered prayers and spent some time in the presence of the deity along with local leaders IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-could-face-lanka-like-situation-guarantees-have-derailed-economy-kumaraswamy-671048.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-anti-encroachment-drive-turns-violent-mob-attacks-police-671054.html Patna April 24 An incident of mob violence targeting police personnel has surfaced from Bihars East Champaran district where a confrontation during an antiencroachment drive escalated into a serious lawandorder situation A video of the incident is rapidly going viral on social mediaAccording to an official the incident took place at Karamwa Chowk under the jurisdiction of Dhaka Police StationPolice officials had reached the spot on Friday to clear alleged encroachments along a road being constructed under the Bharatmala ProjectHowever the situation quickly turned volatile as tensions flared between the police team and local villagersDuring the operation some antisocial elements began pelting stones at the police vehicle The attackers forced the police personnel to retreat from the spot in order to avoid injuriesAmid the chaos a Chowkidar village watchman who arrived at the scene was surrounded by a group of villagersThe mob allegedly assaulted him and even attempted to drag him into a nearby house seemingly with the intent to confine himFortunately a few responsible locals intervened in time and managed to rescue the Chowkidar ensuring his escape from the violent crowd He sustained injuries in the attackThe incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of law enforcement personnel during field operationsWith the video gaining traction online attention has now turned to the police administration and it remains to be seen what action will be taken against those involved in the attackEarlier on April 20 a police team in Jamui was attacked by locals during a raid conducted to arrest an absconding accusedAccording to an official the incident occurred around 10 am when a police team reached Khairma village to apprehend Dhibu Yadav who had been evading arrest in multiple criminal casesAs the police team moved in to arrest him near a brick kiln close to the Khairma bridge the accused along with his family members and associates allegedly attacked the police personnelDuring the assault the attackers used sticks clubs bricks and stones resulting in serious injuries to two SubInspectors and one constableDespite the attack the police team managed to arrest the accusedThe injured officers have been identified as SubInspectors Sunil Kumar Sah and Bikram Kumar both posted at the Town Police Station and constable Ranbir Kumar IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-anti-encroachment-drive-turns-violent-mob-attacks-police-671054.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/haryana-to-set-up-23-additional-air-quality-monitoring-stations-in-ncr-671056.html Chandigarh April 24 The Haryana government will set up 23 additional air quality monitoring stations in the National Capital Region NCR increasing the total to 52 by July The state will also soon introduce an aggregator policy to regulate transport services while legacy solid waste is targeted for complete elimination within 11 months This information came to light at a comprehensive review meeting on air quality management in the NCR chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi hereThe Chief Secretary directed all departments to strictly adhere to timelines stressing that sustained coordination across sectors is essential for longterm improvement in air qualityRastogi directed Commissioners of Municipal Corporations in the NCR areas as well as the Gurugram Faridabad and Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authorities to identify key roads at least five in each jurisdiction for development or redevelopment as model dustfree stretchesHe asked them to prepare comprehensive plans with clear timelines for all milestones from detailed project report DPR preparation to final completion for this year He emphasised that emissions from transport construction and demolition activities and industries must be tackled through precise planning and timebound action on the groundAdditional Chief Secretary Environment Sudhir Raj Pal stressed the need for checking vehicular pollution across the region He said enforcement of pollution norms must be strengthened and checking drives intensified particularly on heavily trafficked corridors to identify and penalise grossly polluting vehiclesPal also highlighted the need to adopt cuttingedge technology to monitor emissions from moving vehicles and issue challans accordinglyChief Secretary Rastogi directed the Transport Department to collate data from Pollution Under Control PUC centres including the number of cases where certificates were refused and instances where vehicles exceeded prescribed emission normsPrincipal Secretary Transport Raja Shekhar Vundru said the department would soon introduce an aggregator policy to regulate cab and ridesharing services in the stateThe policy aims to bring a large fleet of privately operated vehicles under a structured regulatory framework ensuring compliance with emission standards and contributing to the reduction of transportrelated pollutionHe said that in compliance with directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management diesel autorickshaws have nearly been phased out from major NCR districts as per timelines In the remaining NCR areas they will be phased out by December 31He also briefed the meeting on the Naya Safar Yojana under which nearly 19 lakh old trucks and 16000 buses will be phased out and replaced with cleaner BSVI CNG and electric vehicles through financial incentives IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/haryana-to-set-up-23-additional-air-quality-monitoring-stations-in-ncr-671056.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/normal-lpg-supply-over-1783-lakh-small-cylinders-sold-in-april--671057.html New Delhi April 24 The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said on Friday that more than 81000 small 5 kg LPG cylinders were sold across the country bringing the total to 1783 lakh during Aprilâ âSo far the supply of domestic LPG continues to be normal with no dryouts being reported at retail distributorshipsâ the ministry informedâThe 5 kg LPG cylinders are used by migrant workers in urban areas for cookingâBesides 527 lakh PNG connections have been gasified and infrastructure has been created for an additional 260 lakh connections taking the total to 787 lakh connectionsAbout 597 lakh customers have also been registered for new connections More than 42000 PNG consumers have also surrendered their LPG connections via the MYPNGDin website the statement saidâMeanwhile online domestic LPG cylinder bookings have increased to 98 per cent while authentication codebased deliveries to the registered mobile number of the consumer have increased to around 94 per cent to prevent diversion at the distributor levelâThe supply of cooking gas to domestic households has been prioritised even as overall LPG supply remains affected by the prevailing geopolitical situationâOver 8483 metric tonnes MT of commercial LPG equivalent to more than 446 lakh 19 kg LPG cylinders was sold on Wednesday taking the total sold this month to 140362 MT equivalent to more than 7387 lakh 19 kg LPG cylindersâMeanwhile enforcement actions continue across the country to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG Cumulatively to date more than 15 lakh raids have been conducted and more than 66000 cylinders have been seized across the countryFurther more than 1100 First Information Reports have been registered and 255 persons have been arrestedâPublic sector oil companies have strengthened and continued surprise inspections imposed penalties on 298 LPG distributorships and suspended 70 LPG distributorships so farâThe Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas further stated that it is taking steps to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country in the context of the closure of the Strait of HormuzâCitizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of petrol diesel and LPG and to beware of rumours relying on official sources for correct information LPG consumers are requested to use digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributorsâAll refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories while sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained Local LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption the statement addedâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/normal-lpg-supply-over-1783-lakh-small-cylinders-sold-in-april--671057.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/odisha-crime-branch-arrests-delhi-man-in-rs-206-crore-online-investment-fraud-671058.html Bhubaneswar April 24 The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has arrested a 56yearold man from Delhi in connection with an online investment fraud case in which cybercriminals allegedly duped a businessman of Rs 206 crore through a fake trading platform The accused identified as Vinay Kumar Sharma a resident of the Janakpuri area in West Delhi runs an electronics shop in the national capital Sharma is being brought to Odisha on transit remand and will be produced before the SDJM court in Bhubaneswar on FridayCrime Branch sources said the Bhubaneswarbased businessman was first contacted by fraudsters via WhatsApp on December 23 2024 and was later added to a groupThe fraudsters posing as financial experts falsely introduced one of them as a fund manager of a reputed company and lured him with promises of high returns To gain his trust the cybercriminals regularly shared free stock market tips and daily technical analysis of NIFTY in the groupâBelieving the representations to be genuine the complainant transferred a total amount of Rs 20607500 from his three different bank accounts to five different beneficiary accounts through 54 transactions during the period from December 23 2024 to March 24 2025 as directed by the fraudstersâ the Crime Branch said in a press statementIt added that when the victim tried to withdraw the promised investment returns the fraudsters posing as the ârisk control teamâ repeatedly refused to release the funds on various false pretextsRealising that he had been cheated in a wellorchestrated cyber fraud the businessman filed an FIR at the Cyber Crime Police Station of the Crime Branch on March 28 2025Following the money trail and other evidence Crime Branch sleuths arrested Sharma on the night of April 22 in Delhi He is suspected to have received a significant portion of the defrauded amountNotably another accused in the case was arrested by Crime Branch sleuths from Bihar in February this year IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/odisha-crime-branch-arrests-delhi-man-in-rs-206-crore-online-investment-fraud-671058.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-arrests-tripathi-ex-ceo-of-bhopal-firm-in-money-laundering-case-671059.html Bhopal April 24 The Directorate of Enforcement ED Bhopal Zonal Office has arrested Sunil Tripathi former CEO of Ms Jayshri Gayatri Food Products Pvt Ltd JGFPPL in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation According to an official Press note Tripathi was taken into custody on April 20 under Section 191 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA 2002He was produced before the Special Court PMLA Bhopal which granted ED custody until April 28 for further investigationThe Press note stated that Tripathi had failed to cooperate with investigators deliberately evading multiple summonses and email communicationsEarlier on April 1 searches were conducted at his premises in Vadodara Gujarat under Section 17 of the PMLADuring the operation incriminating documents and electronic devices were seized and account balances amounting to â¹936 lakh were frozen the press note saidThe ED highlighted that Tripathi played a key role in preparing forged documents supervising export operations and generating proceeds of crimeInvestigations revealed that JGFPPL was involved in largescale adulteration of dairy products which were exported using forged laboratory reports submitted to the Export Inspection Agency EIA IndoreOn the strength of these documents the company exported adulterated products and generated proceeds of crime worth approximately â¹2059 crore routed through its bank accountsThe agency further noted that in the same case Kishan Modi Managing Director of JGFPPL had been arrested on March 13 and remains in judicial custodyA Provisional Attachment Order has already been issued attaching properties worth â¹2059 crore belonging to Modi and othersThe ED clarified that the money laundering probe was initiated on the basis of FIRs registered by Police Station Habibganj and the Economic Offences Wing EOW Bhopal under various sections of the Indian Penal CodeThe investigation is continuing to identify additional proceeds of crime trace the money trail and ascertain the involvement of other individuals and entities IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-arrests-tripathi-ex-ceo-of-bhopal-firm-in-money-laundering-case-671059.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/situation-in-iran-remains-serious-embassy-providing-assistance-to-indian-nationals-mea-671060.html New Delhi April 24 India on Friday said that the situation in Iran remains serious and the Embassy in Tehran continues to assist Indian nationals still remaining in the country Addressing an interministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia on Friday the Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson stated that more than 2400 Indian nationals have been safely evacuated and brought home from IranIn Iran and that region the situation has remained serious Although there is a ceasefire for now But you know that what kind of difficult situation has prevailed in Iran and other countries from the beginning until now Despite this our Ambassador continues to work in the Embassy in Tehran I would say that it is inspiring for all of us that our Ambassador there and our entire team are continuously working in the interest of the country They are providing assistance to the people Through their efforts we have safely evacuated 2400 Indian citizens from there and brought home I would say that their commitment is commendable said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal Earlier this week US President Donald Trump unilaterally extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely hours before it was to expire even though Tehran refused to attend a second round of talks that Trump had said were imminentAfter making several threats to Iran if it did not accept his terms for a settlement he announced on Truth Social on Tuesday local time that because Iran is seriously fractured he was extending the ceasefire till Tehran can come up with a unified approachWhile announcing the extension of the ceasefire the President said that he was continuing the Naval blockade of Iranian ports which was one of the factors behind Tehran staying away from the talks he had said would take place this week in IslamabadIrans governmentowned Press TV said Tehran unequivocally insisted on the removal of the blockade and said that it would not rejoin negotiations under pressure IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/situation-in-iran-remains-serious-embassy-providing-assistance-to-indian-nationals-mea-671060.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/main-accused-in-abduction-robbery-case-arrested-in-karnataka-671062.html PanajiBengaluru April 24 Goa Police arrested the main accused in a highprofile abduction and robbery case involving Rs 3 lakh following sustained technical surveillance The accused identified as 53yearold Nilesh Bhimrao Jadhav a resident of Akola in Maharashtra was traced to Davangere in Karnataka and apprehended while attempting to travel towards Bengaluru said the official statementAccording to police the case was registered at Maina Curtorim Police Station under Crime No 212026 on April 1 2026 under Sections 205 impersonating a public servant 1403 kidnapping or abducting someone specifically to wrongfully and secretly confine them 3513 criminal intimidation 3085 extortion 3094 read with 35 robbery of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS 2023 The complaint was filed by Ashok Kumar 56 a resident of Borda Fatorda in GoaThe complainant alleged that on March 24 2026 at around 230 PM he was abducted by a group of individuals including Nilesh Jadhav Balram Shetty Ajit Kumar Kattimani and others from outside Canara Bank at Macazana in Salcete Goa The accused allegedly forced him into his own Hyundai Venue car and drove him to an isolated location in Karwar KarnatakaPolice said the accused threatened the victim with dire consequences including death and extorted money They also allegedly robbed him of â¹3 lakhDuring the investigation one of the accused Ajit Kumar Kattimani a resident of Aquem Margao and originally from Bidar district in Karnataka had earlier been arrested and later released on bailOn Friday acting on technical inputs police tracked the location of the main accused to Davangere Investigators revealed that Jadhav had impersonated an Enforcement Directorate ED officer during the commission of the crimeA special police team was formed and dispatched to Karnataka where Jadhav was successfully apprehended He was subsequently brought to Goa and produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class Court in Margao which remanded him to six days of police custodyPolice said further investigation is underway under the supervision of senior officers IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/main-accused-in-abduction-robbery-case-arrested-in-karnataka-671062.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jaipal-poonia-murder-case-9-including-ex-mlas-brother-convicted-2-acquitted-671063.html Jaipur April 24 In a major development in the highprofile Jaipal Poonia murder case a local court on Friday convicted nine of the eleven accused while acquitting two due to lack of evidence The verdict was delivered by the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Sundarlal Kharol amid tight security arrangements The court premises in Kuchaman City were heavily guarded resembling a police cantonment with a large deployment of personnel to maintain law and order during the proceedingsThe court found nine accused guilty based on the evidence presented by the prosecution Those convicted include Moti Singh Chaudhary Ranjit Firoz Khan Sandeep Tejpal Rajesh Krishna Kumar Haroon and RajeshAmong them Moti Singh Chaudhary is the elder brother of former MLA Mahendra Singh Chaudhary who had served as Deputy Chief Whip in the Congress governmentMeanwhile the court acquitted Kuldeep and Hanuman Saini granting them the benefit of the doubt due to insufficient evidence While delivering the verdict the court reserved its decision on sentencingThe quantum of punishment and the specific legal provisions under which the convicts will be sentenced are scheduled to be announced on SaturdayLegal experts and observers are closely watching the case as the sentencing phase is expected to take into account multiple factors including the gravity of the offence the role of each accused and the broader impact of the crime on public orderThe case has remained under sustained public and political scrutiny and the sentencing is likely to be seen as a decisive moment in determining the extent of accountability fixed on those found guiltyThe murder dates back to May 14 2022 when Jaipal Poonia a local leader associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan Morcha in Nawa tehsil was shot dead in broad daylight by assailants who arrived in an SUV The brazen nature of the attack carried out in a public setting had sent shockwaves across the region and raised serious concerns over law and order Eyewitness accounts at the time had indicated that the attackers executed the crime swiftly before fleeing leaving behind a trail of panic and confusion among local residentsThe attackers fled the scene immediately after carrying out the shooting and the incident triggered widespread outrage across Rajasthan drawing attention at both the state and national levels Political leaders community groups and civil society organisations had demanded swift and transparent action to bring those responsible to justice Fridayâs verdict is being seen as a significant milestone in the protracted legal process marking progress after nearly two years of investigation and trialHowever with the sentencing still pending attention now remains firmly fixed on the final outcome which will ultimately determine the full course of justice in this highprofile case IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jaipal-poonia-murder-case-9-including-ex-mlas-brother-convicted-2-acquitted-671063.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rbi-cancels-paytm-payments-bank-licence-over-compliance-lapses-671064.html Mumbai April 24 The Reserve Bank of India on Friday cancelled the licence of Paytm Payments Bank Limited citing failure to comply with the regulatory conditions laid down under its payments bank licence In a decisive move the central bank said the entity would no longer be permitted to carry out banking operations and announced that it will approach the High Court to initiate the process of winding up the bankâRBI has cancelled the banking licence issued to Paytm Payments Bank Limited under Section 224 of the Banking Regulation Act 1949 âBR Actâ effective from close of business on April 24â the central bank said in its orderâConsequently Paytm Payments Bank Limited is prohibited from conducting the business of âbankingâ as defined in Section 5b or any additional business specified under Section 6 of the Banking Regulation Act 1949 with immediate effectâ RBI addedRBI will make an application for winding up of the bank before the High Court it mentionedThe RBI noted that Paytm Payments Bank has adequate liquidity to repay all its deposit liabilities assuring that depositorsâ interests would be safeguarded during the closure processâPaytm Payments Bank Limited has enough liquidity to repay its entire deposit liability upon winding up of the bankâ the central bank saidIt further stated that allowing the bank to continue operations would serve no useful purpose or public interestâNo useful purpose or public interest would be served by allowing the bank to continue as envisaged in Section 22 3 e of the BR Actâ RBI saidâThe bank failed to comply with the conditions stipulated in the Payments Bank license issued to it thereby violating the provisions of Section 22 3g of the BR Actâ the central bank statedPreviously the bank was directed to stop onboarding of new customers with effect from March 11 2022Thereafter on January 31 2024 and February 16 2024 certain business restrictions were also imposed on the bank which inter alia disallowed any further depositscredits topups in existing customer accounts prepaid instruments wallets etc RBI said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rbi-cancels-paytm-payments-bank-licence-over-compliance-lapses-671064.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/75-lakh-marginalised-students-given-over-rs-7-900-crore-educational-aid-virendra-kumar-671065.html New Delhi April 24 Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar said that as part of educational empowerment of marginalised students Rs 798147 crore were disbursed to more than 75 lakh SC beneficiaries in 202526 an official said The Ministry said in a statement that the expenditure under SC welfare schemes has shown a consistent positive growth with an upward trend with a 21 per cent increase under the Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs and OthersThere has been an 1123 per cent increase under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs an increase of 135 per cent under the Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students and a 16 per cent increase under the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas SHRESHTA Scheme for SCs as compared to the financial year 2024â25 said the statementVirendra Kumar said that the government remains committed to ensuring inclusive development and social justice for all sections of society through targeted interventions and welfare initiativesHe said the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is focused on the implementation of various Acts and welfare schemes aimed at the upliftment of diverse sections of society including Scheduled Castes SCs Other Backward Classes OBCs senior citizens victims of alcoholism and substance abuse transgender persons persons engaged in begging Denotified and Nomadic Tribes DNTs manual scavengers sanitation workers including waste pickers and Economically Weaker Sections EWSIn another statement the Ministry said that 26plus crore people including 95plus crore youth 647plus crore women and 28000plus master volunteers have been sensitised on substance use through more than 83 lakh activities conducted under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan NMBA at various levels including in educational institutionsThe NMBA was launched on August 15 2020 by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in 272 identified most vulnerable districts and now it has been extended to all districts of the country with effect from August 15 2023The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan intends to reach out to the masses and spread awareness about substance useThe NMBA App currently accessible to authorised users supports States Districts spiritual organisations and other stakeholders in uploading and tracking activities under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan through a consolidated dashboard with near realtime visibility said the statementIt also serves as a resource platform by providing Information Education and Communication IEC materials along with basic communication support for Nasha Mukti Mitras to facilitate awareness effortsIn a step towards strengthening the monitoring and implementation framework of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction NAPDDR the Ministry plans to launch the upgraded Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan NMBA App 20 said the statementThe enhanced application is designed as a centralised digital tool for StatesDistricts and other stakeholders to facilitate realtime reporting monitoring and coordination among implementing agencies at the National State District and institutional levelsThe upgraded version builds upon existing capabilities while introducing new features aimed at enhancing transparency accountability and datadriven governance said the statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/75-lakh-marginalised-students-given-over-rs-7-900-crore-educational-aid-virendra-kumar-671065.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-bco-arrested-while-taking-rs-10-000-bribe-in-rohtas-671066.html Patna April 24 In a major anticorruption action in Bihar the Vigilance Investigation Bureau on Friday arrested a Block Cooperative Officer BCO redhanded while accepting a bribe of Rs 10000 in the Rajpur block of Rohtas districtâ The accused Janardan Kumar was apprehended at the exact moment he was receiving the illegal payment an official of the Vigilance Investigation Bureau saidâAccording to a vigilance official the officer had allegedly demanded Rs 10000 from Prashant Kumar PACS Manager of Rajpur in exchange for conducting a physical verification of paddy procurementâDistressed by the demand the PACS Manager lodged a written complaint with the Vigilance Department in PatnaâAfter verifying the complaint a special Vigilance team laid a trapâThe team caught the officer redhanded as the complainant handed over the bribeâThe Vigilance Investigation Bureaus action sent shockwaves through administrative circles in the districtâFollowing the arrest the Vigilance team conducted a search of the accused officerâs residence in Sasaram and examined documents related to his assetsâVigilance Inspector Akhilesh Kumar stated that demanding money for routine official work such as verification of paddy procurement is illegal prompting the trap operationâThe accused is being taken to Patna where he will be produced before a special Vigilance Court after completion of legal formalitiesâOfficials say the action has sent a strong message and created unease among those involved in corrupt practicesâEarlier on April 22 a team from the Vigilance Investigation Bureau VIB conducted a surprise raid and caught a government clerk redhanded while accepting a bribeâThe arrested clerk has been identified as Saket Kumar He was posted at Benipatti Circle Office in Madhubani districtâAlong with him the vigilance team also apprehended a middleman Parmanand Jha a resident of Dhakjari villageâAccording to an official Saket Kumar had allegedly demanded Rs 30000 from Ravindra Yadav a resident of Dahila village under Parjuar Panchayat in exchange for facilitating the removal of an encroachmentâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-bco-arrested-while-taking-rs-10-000-bribe-in-rohtas-671066.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-assembly-to-hold-special-session-today-as-cm-seeks-vote-of-confidenc-670880.html New Delhi April 24 IANS The National Democratic Alliance NDA government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary will seek a vote of confidence in a special session of the Bihar Assembly on FridaynbspAn official notification regarding the session was issued by Assembly Principal Secretary Poonam SinhaAhead of the session Speaker Prem Kumar chaired an allparty meeting earlier urging leaders to ensure smooth functioning of the HouseRepresentatives from various political parties assured full cooperationAmong those present at the meeting were Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav Deputy Speaker Narendra Narayan Yadav and several MLAs including Vijay Kumar Sinha Vinod Narayan Jha Alok Kumar Mehta Manohar Prasad Singh Madhav Anand Raju Tiwari Indrajit Prasad Gupta Satish Kumar Singh Yadav Kumar Sarvajeet and Prafulla ManjhiSpeaking on the upcoming session Deputy Chief Minister and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the House will deliberate and vote on the confidence motion to be moved by the new Bihar governmentHe assured full cooperation from the state government to ensure smooth proceedings in the AssemblyThis will be the second session of the 18th Bihar Legislative AssemblyThe Assembly Secretariat has formally informed all legislators including the Chief Minister and members of the Council of MinistersSamrat Choudhary assumed office on April 15 following a political transition in the state after Nitish Kumar moved to the Rajya SabhaAs per constitutional provisions the new Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary must prove a majority in the Assembly to validate the state governmentIn the November 2025 Bihar Assembly elections the NDA secured a majority with 202 MLAs placing the government in a strong position ahead of the trust voteFollowing the formation of the new government portfolios have been allocated among MinistersChief Minister Samrat Choudhary currently holds charge of 29 departments including General Administration Home Cabinet Secretariat Vigilance and ElectionDeputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary has been assigned 10 departments including Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs while Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav is in charge of eight departments including Energy and Planning and DevelopmentThe Bihar Cabinet expansion is yet to take placeIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-assembly-to-hold-special-session-today-as-cm-seeks-vote-of-confidenc-670880.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-hails-panchayati-raj-day-calls-public-service-a-path-to-nation-building-670881.html New Delhi April 24 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended greetings on National Panchayati Raj Day praising elected representatives across the country for their dedication to public service and nationbuildingnbspIn a post on X PM Modi said Heartiest greetings to public representatives across the country on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Day Your dedication to public service as well as nationbuilding is truly inspiring for everyoneHe also shared a Sanskrit verse highlighting the essence of public office and peoplecentric governance The happiness of the peoples representative lies in the happiness of the people his welfare lies in the welfare of the people A peoples representative has no personal favourites whatever is dear to the people is what is dear to him loosely translated from SanskritExtending greetings on the occasion Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Heartiest greetings to the fellow citizens on National Panchayati Raj Day The Panchayat system one of the oldest democratic traditions of India is a strong pillar of our democracy Panchayats which play a vital role in rural development governanceadministration social justice disaster management and cultural preservation are becoming even more empowered and selfreliant in the Modi government contributing to the creation of Viksit BharatUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari also conveyed his wishes stating Heartfelt greetings on National Panchayati Raj Day Panchayats must be empowered and developed to fulfill the dream of Aatmanirbhar Bharat The Panchayati Raj system plays a vital role in rural development and the nations upliftment Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji our government is making every possible effort to strengthen the Panchayati Raj systemUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also conveyed his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the people of the state on National Panchayati Raj DayThe Panchayati Raj system is a means to strengthen Indias democratic tradition Let us all together resolve to further strengthen the spirit of Gram Swaraj and to build prosperous and selfreliant villages only then will the dream of Developed IndiaDeveloped Uttar Pradesh be realised CM Yogi saidThe Panchayati Raj Day celebrated annually by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj commemorates the 73rd Amendment Act 1992 of the Constitution which came into effect in 1993 This day celebrates the national local selfgovernance and democratic decentralisationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-hails-panchayati-raj-day-calls-public-service-a-path-to-nation-building-670881.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/marks-beginning-of-new-era-of-good-governance-hm-shah-hails-bengal-voters-for-historic-turnout-670882.html New Delhi April 24 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday congratulated the voters of West Bengal for breaking all records of participation by casting a historic vote in the first phase saying this marked the beginning of a new era of good governance in the statenbspAmit Shah took to social media X and said I congratulate the voters of West Bengal for breaking all records of participation in the grand festival of democracy by casting a historic vote in the first phaseI also congratulate the Honorable Election Commission the brave soldiers of all Central Armed Police Forces CAPFs and our West Bengal Police for the most peaceful and safe voting in Bengals history he saidThis marks the beginning of a new era of good governance in Bengal he saidMeanwhile the state on Thursday witnessed the first phase of its Assembly elections with polling held across several districts in northern and southern parts The phase recorded a voter turnout of 926 per cent the highest ever for a first phase in a state which may change after final tabulationThe elections have turned into a highstakes contest between the ruling All India Trinamool Congress led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party amid intense political debate over voter list revisionIn the 2021 Assembly election which was conducted amid the Covid19 pandemic and a fiercely polarised battle between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP turnout was recorded at 8230 per centWith 929 per cent of the 36 crore registered voters recorded on Thursday this means more people have voted in Bengal in this election than in 2021 This is also the highest turnout ever recorded in the state since independenceGyanesh Kumar Chief Election Commissioner of India was quoted as saying Highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu since Independence ECI salutes each voter of West Bengal and Tamil NaduThe second phase of polling is scheduled for April 29 and the counting of votes will take place on May 4IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/marks-beginning-of-new-era-of-good-governance-hm-shah-hails-bengal-voters-for-historic-turnout-670882.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/2020-delhi-riots-delhi-hc-rejects-police-plea-to-cancel-ishrat-jahans-bail-670883.html New Delhi April 24 IANS The Delhi High Court on Friday declined to interfere with the bail granted to former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan in a case linked to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 NorthEast Delhi riotsnbspnbspDismissing an appeal filed by the Delhi Police seeking cancellation of bail a Division Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja observed that more than four years have elapsed since Jahan was granted relief and there were no allegations of breach of conditions imposed by the trial courtWe make it clear that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case the Delhi High Court saidJahan was arrested in February 2020 in connection with a larger conspiracy case linked to the riots registered under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA the Indian Penal Code the Arms Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property ActShe was granted regular bail by a Karkardooma court on March 14 2022 The Delhi Police in its appeal contended that the trial court had ignored material evidence and erred in granting bail despite allegations of a preplanned multilayered conspiracy to engineer largescale violence coinciding with the visit of the then US President to IndiaThe plea further argued that the trial court order was contrary to settled legal principles and suffered from serious infirmities asserting that Jahan played an active role in organising protests that allegedly escalated into riots However the Delhi High Court was not inclined to accept the contentions and upheld the bail order noting the absence of any material to show a violation of bail conditions over the past four yearsIn January 2024 a trial court framed charges against Jahan and several others including offences such as rioting unlawful assembly and attempt to murder observing that there were prima facie grounds to proceed to trialSeparately in April 2024 a local court modified Jahans bail conditions permitting her to practise law beyond the National Capital Region NCR while recording that she had not violated any condition since being released on bailIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/2020-delhi-riots-delhi-hc-rejects-police-plea-to-cancel-ishrat-jahans-bail-670883.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/disinvestment-process-of-idbi-bank-to-continue-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-670884.html Pune April 24 IANS Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday confirmed that the government plans to continue with the disinvestment process of IDBI BanknbspThe comments dispelled the uncertainty hanging over the privatisation of IDBI Bank as the offers received in the earlier bidding round were below the reserve price fixed by the government Consequently the proposed transaction had to be called off last monthUnder the original plan the government was to sell a 3048 per cent stake in IDBI Bank while LIC was to divest 3024 per cent taking the total stake on offer to 6072 per cent Based on earlier market prices the combined value was estimated at Rs 72000 croreThe privatisation process has been underway since January 7 2023 when the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management received multiple expressions of interest from biddersThe Finance Minister further stated that there is nothing on the table at present on consolidation among public sector banks adding that a highlevel banking committee will examine the matter Sitharaman spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the new premises of the State Bank of Indias Local Head Office Maharashtra Circle at PuneSitharaman also highlighted that Indias economic growth must be rooted in domestic activity especially agriculture which can also supply external marketsShe said that the sheer size of the Indian economy and strong internal consumption create the need for large banks This domestic demand itself is capable of sustaining growth which continues to be among the fastest in the worldI reiterate the domestic consumption and the domestic economic wheels moving well have really stood by us Even during times when global markets are in a churn our exports are taking a beating But our exporters to their credit I must say have done well despite all the tariff and other challenges which the global uncertainties are giving them They are because of their ingenuity finding newer markets and performing Exports are doing all right because they are able to find newer markets and keep their growth sustained she addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/disinvestment-process-of-idbi-bank-to-continue-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-670884.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-vision-can-guide-global-unity-rss-670916.html Washington April 24 RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale outlined a civilisational vision of India rooted in unity diversity and sustainability arguing that the country is positioned to play a decisive role in shaping a more harmonious global order Addressing an exclusive dinner reception on âIndiaâs Global Vision and Role in the Emerging Worldâ in the Washington area Hosabale said Indiaâs philosophical traditions offer a framework to address modern global challenges from social fragmentation to environmental stressâThe vision of Indiaâ is that there is a oneness of unity and the oneness is present in all being living and nonlivingâ he said stressing that this idea forms the basis of Indiaâs worldviewHe argued that while humanity has made material progress it faces deep contradictions âWe have multiplied our possessions but our valuesâ we have notâ he said describing a world with âmore knowledge but less judgmentâ more experts but more problemsâHosabale said Indiaâs approach differs in its attempt to balance material advancement with spiritual understanding âIndia philosophy being that recognises nature as motherâ enough for our needâ but not to fulfil our greedâ he said linking traditional thought to contemporary debates on sustainabilityHe emphasised that diversity should be a strength not a source of conflict âDiversity should be celebratingâ the beauty of human societyâ he said adding that cultural uniqueness must coexist with a broader sense of unityExpanding on the idea of global harmony Hosabale said human society has long experimented with faith and relationships at multiple levels â âhuman to humanâ human being and natureâ and the human being and the creatorâ â but stressed that these paths ultimately lead to a common truth âThe truth is one and there will be many ways to approachâ he saidFraming Indiaâs global role Hosabale said the countryâs civilisational experience supports the idea of a shared human future âWhen India say the world is one family it says it from some experience of practiceâ he said pointing to historical examples of religious communities living peacefully in IndiaHe added that Indiaâs rise must be anchored in internal strength âIf India has to play that role India has to be a selfconfident prosperous societyâ he said underlining the need to combine âmodernityâ with âcultural ethos and civilisation valuesâHosabale also said Indiaâs global engagement has historically been nonexpansionist âIndia has never invade anything India has not enslaved anybodyâ he said adding that Indians abroad have âcontributed in nation buildingâ while maintaining harmony in their host societiesForeign policy scholar Walter Russell Mead reinforced the argument saying a âstrong fully developed selfconfident outward looking Indiaâ could reshape global geopolitics and reduce the risk of conflict particularly in AsiaâThe world needs a vibrant developed harmonious strong Indiaâ Mead said adding that Indiaâs growth is âcritically important for all of humanityâAcademic Walter Andersen who has studied the RSS for decades described the organisation as a âstabilising influenceâ in India citing its emphasis on âpatriotismâ and its ability to adapt to changing social needsHosabale also highlighted Indiaâs potential to offer solutions beyond geopolitics including in health and lifestyle He said the world is increasingly looking to India âon the ways of yogaâ and other traditions that promote balance and wellbeingThe event brought together community leaders scholars and policymakers for a discussion on Indiaâs expanding global footprint and its philosophical contributions to international discourseIndiaâs growing global role has been shaped by its economic rise demographic strength and increasing diplomatic engagement across regions In recent years New Delhi has also projected civilisational themes such as âVasudhaiva Kutumbakamâ â the world as one family â in multilateral forums IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-vision-can-guide-global-unity-rss-670916.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/didnt-come-to-delhi-just-for-fresh-air-met-high-command-leaders-ktaka-dy-cm-shivakumar-670925.html New DelhiBengaluru April 24 Amid the continued unease in the ruling party in Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DKShivakumar met Congress leaders in the national capital Adding to speculation he refused to share the details of the meetings saying that he would not reveal them âI have met party leaders I will continue doing my work but I will not reveal who I have met I have not come to Delhi just to enjoy the airâ said Dy CM ShivakumarSpeaking in New Delhi on Thursday night Shivakumar said when asked whether he would submit an election report to party leaders âI toured Tamil Nadu Kerala and Assam for election campaigns I need to brief our leaders about the developments in these states The party had entrusted me with the responsibility of campaigning there Conducting elections in Karnataka is my duty as KPCC President and Deputy Chief Minister and I will do thatâResponding to questions about possible changes in the state he said âBeing in a responsible position can I discuss such matters in front of the media I will not speak about this Please do not try to extract such information from meâWhen asked about the heat he remarked âItâs very hot When I went to Tamil Nadu and Periyapatna in Karnataka the heat was intense Kerala is comparatively betterâOn reports that MLAs and ministers met the Chief Minister over discontent among the Muslim community he said âWe have received some inputs at the party level We must all work togetherâReacting to reports that ministers close to the Chief Minister held a meeting he said âI have no information about it I donât know who is close to whom I donât bother about such meetingsâWhen asked about senior MLAs planning another Delhi visit to press for a cabinet reshuffle he said âLetâs wait and watchâOn elections in various states he said âAssembly elections in Tamil Nadu Kerala and Assam along with bypolls in Karnataka have concluded We even held a Zoom meeting on the Assam elections on Wednesday I will be visiting Assam again We will form the government in alliance in Tamil Nadu and Kerala Our leaders and workers have worked very hard in Assam and the response to our alliance has been positiveâOn his Delhi visit he said âI had gone to Hyderabad with my family and came to Delhi from there I have not come to Delhi just for the fresh air I need to discuss Bengalururelated issues with Union ministers I had sought an appointment and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has given me time at 1145 am on FridayâOn discontent among minority leaders he said âThey have expressed their feelings and opinions which is not wrong Sometimes what we say may not be right sometimes what they say may not be right We will sit together and discussâResponding to demands for revocation of suspension of Muslim leaders he said âWhom have we suspended They themselves have resigned from their positions Please examine what is written in the resignation letter IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/didnt-come-to-delhi-just-for-fresh-air-met-high-command-leaders-ktaka-dy-cm-shivakumar-670925.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/every-single-person-linked-to-rg-kar-rape-murder-conspiracy-will-be-brought-to-justice-says-pm-modi-670926.html Kolkata April 24 IANS Every individual regardless of their influence who is connected to the larger conspiracy surrounding the RG Kar rape and murder case will be identified and held accountable after the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP government in West Bengal next month Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated during a campaign rally at the Panihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district on FridaynbspIncidentally the ancestral residence of the woman doctor who was murdered on the premises of the staterun RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024 is located in Panihati and the BJP candidate from that constituency this time is the victims mother Swapna DebnathIn this Assembly election the women of Bengal will rewrite history and teach the antiwoman ruling party in the state a lesson The Trinamool Congress associates had conducted so many atrocities on women for so long They will all be accounted for after May 4 the day of the results the Prime Minister saidHe said the BJP candidate from Panihati has struggled throughout her life to make her daughter a doctor to serve the nation Her daughter is lost in this jungle of misrule of the Trinamool Congress I promise that not a single person behind that larger conspiracy will be spared PM Modi saidThe Prime Minister also said that the Trinamool Congress leadership has been scared by the polling pattern and voting percentage in the first phase of the Assembly polls for 152 constituencies on ThursdayThey have become desperate now So they have started instigating the criminal elements again They are desperate to fuel the fire once before it gets extinguished the Prime Minister saidHe said that the unemployed youths in the Trinamool Congress regime will never get jobs in the state as long as the corrupt Trinamool Congress regime continues There will be no new investment and even the existing industrial units will also shift their bases Trinamool Congress has vitiated the investment ambience in the state in the last 15 years the Prime Minister saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/every-single-person-linked-to-rg-kar-rape-murder-conspiracy-will-be-brought-to-justice-says-pm-modi-670926.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-1st-phase-polls-ecis-latest-tabulation-shows-9288-pc-polling--670932.html Kolkata April 24 The Election Commission of India ECIâs tabulation till Thursday April 23 midnight showed that the voting in the first phase of Assembly polls for 152 constituencies in West Bengal reached 9288 per cent a record high in the states electoral history However this figure 9288 per cent of polling is not the final figure since the final tabulation is yet to be arrived at confirmed an insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO West Bengal He also said that once the final tabulation ends the final and updated figure of the polling percentage which could be higher will be announcedIn fact the record polling percentage in the electoral history of West Bengal was achieved at 5 pm on Thursday an hour before the official time of conclusion of the polling process The polling percentage figure was 8993 at 5 pm on ThursdayThe previous record of polling percentage was in the 2011 West Bengal Assembly elections the year which marked the end of the previous 34year Left Front regime in the state and the beginning of the Mamata Banerjeeled Trinamool Congress regimeIn the sixphase 2011 West Bengal Assembly polls the average polling percentage was the highest in 15 years at 8433 per cent a record till it was broken on ThursdayAccording to the CEO of West Bengal Manoj Kumar Agarwal at the time of official completion of polling at 6 pm on Thursday there were at least 5000 polling booths in these 152 Assembly constituencies where queues of voters continued In those booths the polling process continued till late eveningIn an overall peaceful polling on Thursday a total of 41 arrests were made for attempts to disrupt the polling process The total number of preventive arrests before the beginning of the polls on Thursday was 571According to Agrwal one major reason behind the high polling percentage was that the polling was conducted after the deduction of absent missing shifted and duplicate voters from the voters list IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-1st-phase-polls-ecis-latest-tabulation-shows-9288-pc-polling--670932.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-cm-chatter-rattles-udf-camp-supporters-ahead-of-kerala-verdict-670934.html Thiruvananthapuram April 24 Even before the counting begins Keralaâs familiar electoral suspense has given way to a more predictable drama one within the Indian National Congress Polling concluded on April 9 with results due only on May 4 The Congressled United Democratic Front UDF buoyed by expectations of returning to power after a decade finds itself grappling with a resurfacing ailment leadership jockeyingThe unusual break in Keralaâs longstanding pattern of alternating governments when the CPIMled Left Front retained power in 2021 had already raised the stakesNow the prospect of a comeback appears to have intensified internal fault linesSupporters of senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala VD Satheesan and KC Venugopal have begun projecting their respective choices for the Chief Ministerâs post in the public domainThe premature contest has not only embarrassed the party but also drawn sharp criticism from within and outsideVeteran media critic MN Karassery was unsparing calling the public posturing âshamelessâ and warning that such open displays of ambition risk eroding voter patienceThe unease is now spilling into alliance ranks P Abdul Hameed Malappuram district general secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League and an MLA has come down heavily on the Congress party cautioning that such discussions should never have been allowed to surfaceHe said the ongoing debate over the Chief Ministerâs post is disappointing to those who voted for the UDF and risks demoralising grassroots workers who have endured a difficult decade in the oppositionAbdul Hameed pointedly observed that those who ought to have curbed the chatter are themselves making public statements aggravating the situationâLeaders at the national level are engaging in such discussions and when they arise it is the responsibility of senior leaders to contain them not amplify themâ he said adding that the League would abide by whatever decision the high command takes with Rahul Gandhi fully aware of Keralaâs political realitiesThe contrast with the CPIM is starkThe Left has maintained a studied silence on leadership questions projecting cohesionIn Congress however factional currents long a defining feature of its Kerala unit have resurfaced with renewed vigour unsettling cadres and allies alikeWith days to go before counting the UDF faces a paradox the closer it appears to power the more its internal discord threatens to cloud the momentSharing the spoils of power has always been done and no one will forget when the spat between K Karunakaran and AK Antony reached a high soon after a stupendous win by the Congress party in 2001 when Antony became the Chief Minister Karunakaranâs son K Muraleedharan was made the state party president by ejecting the then president Thennala Balakrishna Pillai IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-cm-chatter-rattles-udf-camp-supporters-ahead-of-kerala-verdict-670934.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/another-harassment-case-in-maharashtra-mumbai-teen-files-fir-accused-arrested-670936.html New Delhi April 24 A 19yearold woman from Agripada in Mumbai has filed an FIR alleging harassment by a colleague following which the accused has been arrested The case has triggered tension in the area with police stepping up the investigation and security arrangementsAccording to the victim she was working as a telecaller at a company in the Mahalakshmi area when she came into contact with the accused through work She stated that he later obtained her contact number from a company WhatsApp group and began sending inappropriate contentThe victim said âI was working there as a telecaller I used to do calling work We got to know each other there but we never spoke to each other He got my number through the group After getting the number he started sending me vulgar videos and photosâ He only used to say that if he married me he would never ask me to leave the Hindu religion or tell me not to wear a Kalava or go to templesââThe accused identified as Ashraf Siddiqui has been arrested by the police after the FIR was registered Officials said he was first tracked based on his location and detained for questioning His mobile phone has also been seized as part of the investigation Police sources said that he was later formally arrested after the complaint was registered He is expected to undergo a medical examination before being produced in courtFollowing the incident several local residents gathered outside the police stationOne resident Ravindra Dabolkar drew parallels with earlier incidents âThe incident that happened here similar to what happened a few days ago in Nashik in a TCS company which we call âcorporate jihadâ people with a jihadist mindset are carrying out that conspiracy After Nashik this same incident has happened in Mumbaiââ he told IANSAnother local resident Nitin Bankar said âAs you know last week in Amravati an incident happened where a boy from a specific community misled girls from a specific community sexually harassed them and blackmailed themâ I spoke with the senior officials They promised us that they would take the strictest possible action against himââMeanwhile the victimâs family has supported the complaint and police officials have assured that a detailed investigation is underway Authorities are also examining digital evidence including messages and phone records to establish the sequence of eventsPolice said the matter is being handled with seriousness and all allegations are being verified as part of the due legal process Further action will depend on forensic and electronic evidence collected during the investigation IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/another-harassment-case-in-maharashtra-mumbai-teen-files-fir-accused-arrested-670936.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-prepares-for-intensifying-heatwave-delhi-likely-to-hit-44-degrees-670942.html New Delhi April 24 Large parts of India are already experiencing intense summer conditions with the India Meteorological Department IMD forecasting a mix of severe heat and scattered rainfall activity in the coming days According to the latest weather update heatwave conditions are expected to persist across several northern central and eastern states including Punjab Haryana Chandigarh Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh Bihar Jharkhand Odisha West Bengal Chhattisgarh and even parts of Kerala The IMD has cautioned that these conditions are likely to intensify over the next few daysMeanwhile coastal and southern regions such as Konkan Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh Karnataka and Gujarat are expected to face hot and humid weather Warm night conditions are also likely in isolated areas of Haryana Chandigarh Delhi and Odisha till April 25 offering little relief from the daytime heatIn the national capital New Delhi temperatures are projected to rise by 23 degrees Celsius over the next couple of days with no major change afterwards Daytime temperatures are expected to remain above normal with Fridayâs maximum likely to reach around 44 degrees Celsius and the minimum hovering near 26 degrees Celsius A yellow alert has been issued for heatwave conditions with clear skies forecastThe IMD has also indicated a gradual increase in maximum temperatures across northwest and central India pointing to sustained and widespread summer intensityDespite the prevailing heat several regions are expected to receive rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms Parts of northwest India including Jammu and Kashmir Ladakh Himachal Pradesh Uttarakhand Punjab Haryana Uttar Pradesh Chandigarh and Delhi may witness light to moderate rain or snowfall along with lightning and gusty winds reaching 3050 kmphIn the northeastern region fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorms is anticipated Eastern states such as West Bengal Jharkhand and Odisha may also see scattered showers with gusty winds Similarly southern states including Telangana Karnataka Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu and Kerala are likely to experience moderate rainfall and thunderstorm activityThe weather office has also advised fishermen to avoid venturing into the Bay of Bengal particularly along the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal on April 26 and 27 due to the likelihood of rough weather and storms IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-prepares-for-intensifying-heatwave-delhi-likely-to-hit-44-degrees-670942.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fm-sitharaman-warns-of-unprecedented-risks-from-anthropics-mythos-ai-says-banks-must-stay-vigilant-670946.html New Delhi April 24 IANS Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said that Indian banks are adequately prepared to deal with emerging technologyrelated challenges even as she raised fresh concerns over risks linked to a new artificial intelligence model developed by AnthropicnbspSpeaking to reporters FM Sitharaman noted that India is closely monitoring the potential threats posed by Anthropics Mythos AI model which has drawn global attention for its advanced capabilitiesThe finance minister said the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology MeitY is actively engaging with international governments and authorities to better understand the risks associated with the model and assess its possible impact on Indias banking ecosystemThe Finance Minister noted that while Indian banks remain resilient the rapidly evolving nature of artificial intelligence requires greater vigilanceFM Sitharaman indicated that existing regulatory and security frameworks may need to be updated to effectively tackle newer and more sophisticated threats emerging from advanced AI systemsHighlighting the need for coordinated action FM Sitharaman said banks have been asked to work together on this issueHer remarks come a day after she flagged unprecedented risks associated with the Mythos AI modelThe Indian Banks Association will lead consultations among lenders to address concerns and strengthen sectorwide preparednessMeanwhile earlier this month FM Sitharaman said that Indias strong fiscal position and robust foreign exchange reserves provide the Reserve Bank of India with more policy flexibilityAddressing the golden jubilee celebrations of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy on April 6 the Finance Minister said India has fiscal space with room to maintain the governments capex programme room for the RBI to cut rates and room to offer targeted support to affected sectors This is the dividend of a decade of fiscal discipline that is paying dividendsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fm-sitharaman-warns-of-unprecedented-risks-from-anthropics-mythos-ai-says-banks-must-stay-vigilant-670946.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/raj-assembly-receives-yet-another-bomb-threat-search-on-670948.html Jaipur April 24 A fresh bomb threat targeting the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly triggered a massive security response on Friday prompting immediate evacuation and a highalert situation across the state capital According to officials an anonymous email sent to the Assembly Secretariat warned of a powerful explosion scheduled for 100 PM within the premisesTreating the threat with utmost seriousness authorities swiftly activated emergency protocols All employees officials and visitors inside the Assembly complex were evacuated while entry of staff arriving for duty was halted at the main gatesElite commandos along with the Bomb Disposal and Detection Squad BDDS and dog squads have been deployed across the premisesTeams are conducting an extensive antisabotage search operation covering gardens parking zones corridors offices and the main Assembly chamberSenior officers from the Jaipur Police Commissionerate supervised the operation on the groundThe threatening email stated âTodays plan is straightforward Four cyanide gas bombs have already been planted inside the Legislative Assembly Two volunteers â trained by the LTTE in Chennai and Pakistans ISI â have been brought to Jaipur They will be wearing electronic vests jackets concealed beneath their sarees or shirts As soon as they approach within close proximity of the four bombs placed inside the Assembly the GPS systems embedded in the bombs will automatically activate triggering an explosion They will not even need to physically approach the bombs to activate themâHowever should the bombs be neutralised for any reason before they detonate both individuals will be wearing belt bombs â identical to the type used in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi This time the belts are packed with 15 kilograms of silicon Consequently they will approach the Assembly building and blow themselves up We do not wish to cause any harm to our Muslim brethren on this holy Friday therefore we request that you evacuate them from the premises We are providing you with this information because our sole objective is to inflict damage upon property any unfortunate individuals who lose their lives despite this warning shall be deemed the chosen servants of AllahâThe letter also warns of killing Brahmins and said âThis is the punishment for that audacity â the attempt to implement EWS reservation in Tamil Nadu by infiltrating our party with Brahmin agents acting as sleeper cellsâââThe threat comes close on the heels of a similar incident reported just days ago raising serious concerns over recurring security breaches at one of the most protected sites in RajasthanInvestigating agencies including the cyber cell have begun efforts to trace the origin of the threatening email and identify those responsibleSecurity has also been tightened in the surrounding areas with all approach roads to the Assembly sealedPolice imposed strict blockades in Jyoti Nagar and adjoining localities and intensive checking of vehicles is underway to rule out any potential threatThe development gains further significance amid heightened security arrangements across the state following the recent refinery fire incident in Pachpadra and preparations for upcoming highprofile eventsOfficials have stated that no individual will be allowed inside the Assembly premises until the entire complex is declared secure after a comprehensive sweepAuthorities are yet to confirm whether the threat is a hoax or part of a larger conspiracyMeanwhile the incident has once again put the spotlight on Intelligence coordination and internal security preparedness in Rajasthan IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/raj-assembly-receives-yet-another-bomb-threat-search-on-670948.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/intelligence-signals-turmoil-in-jaish-e-mohammad-as-mystery-around-masood-azhar-deepens-670957.html New Delhi April 24 The mystery around JaisheMohammad JeM chief Masood Azhar is growing with each passing day His own cadres have been questioning the top leadership about his whereabouts There are claims within the JeM that their chief is on his deathbed The terror groupâs leadership has been fighting such rumours and has been asking the cadres to calm down and stay hopefulThe Indian agencies however confirm that Azhar is not nearing his death However they add that his health is fragile and he is not facing any lifethreatening condition He is unwell and mentally downThe top leadership has intentionally kept him behind closed doors as they do not want the cadres to see him in the condition that he is in the official also addedAnother official said that Azhar would never be able to fully lead the outfit again He lost a lot of his close family members during Operation Sindoor and this has upset him a lot He has refused to come out and even speak with the members of his outfit since thenAnother official said that before Operation Sindoor Azhar was alright He had health issues but he did make public appearances and met with his people regularly All this has stopped now and he confines himself to his home and only meets with a select few the official saidAn Intelligence Bureau official said that this is the first time that Azhar appears to be vulnerable He is known to be fiery when he talks and the attacks that he plans against India are lethal in nature His speeches and the manner in which he conducted himself are what made him so popular among his cadre All these aspects are missing in him and this has in turn made the cadres demoralised the official also addedThe agencies have also picked up information that prayers for Azhar are being held regularly They pray for his good health and hope that he will come out in the open once again The number of prayer meetings that are being held is what set off rumours about his health conditionMany within the JaisheMohammad feel that the leadership is hiding something big from them The recruitments into the JaisheMohammad are ongoing but at a very small scale Azhar would meet with all the recruits and give them a pep talk once they joined the outfit The few recruits who have joined the JeM were spoken to by other leaders and not AzharAn official said that for all recruits meeting with Azhar was a big deal They look up to him as a hero and a father figure and he is the reason why many even decided to be part of the JaisheMohammad the official saidFor a few months after Operation Sindoor the JaisheMohammad managed to keep the cadres quiet by circulating old videos and audio clips of Azhar However their patience began to run out and questions about Azhar became louder Further within the outfit there is too much discussion about their chiefThe top leadership is finding it hard to keep the cadres calm and is clearly aware that the situation may blow up soonOfficials say that the cadres would sooner or later have to be told about Azhar and his real condition The official also added that they are likely to push this some more until they find a new leader The hunt for a new leader is on and once that takes place the real picture about Azhar would become clear for all the cadres of the JaisheMohammad the official added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/intelligence-signals-turmoil-in-jaish-e-mohammad-as-mystery-around-masood-azhar-deepens-670957.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-eci-suspends-police-officer-for-negligence-in-duty-670958.html Kolkata April 24 The Election Commission of India ECI has suspended Hingalganj Police Station OfficerinCharge Sandeep Sarkar in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district said officials on Friday The order issued on Thursday night sought his immediate removal from duty However the reason for this suspension was not clear in the instructions According to the Commission officials this order pertains to negligence in dutyState Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala has been asked to take action as per the Commissions instructionsThe Commission has ordered that the responsibility be immediately given to someone else in his place Not only suspension but punitive action has also been ordered against Sandeep Sarkar Incidentally Union Home Minister Amit Shah is all set to hold a public meeting in Hingalganj on Friday The Commission removed the OC of Hingalganj Police Station before his election campaignIt is worth noting that Hingalganj will go to the polls in the second phase of voting on April 29 Before that the ECI took the decision to suspend him It is believed that this decision was made to tighten law and order in that area and increase surveillance during the electionsThe Commission has been reshuffling bureaucrats and IPS officers in the state since the announcement of the electionsThe ECI has removed several bureaucrats and police officers from their posts in the state and continued with the action The Commission has made it clear that those being removed cannot be given any electionrelated work in the stateThe second phase of the Assembly polls in the state for the remaining 142 constituencies will be held on April 29âThe results will be declared on May 4The first phase of polling saw an enthusiastic and unprecedented response from the people The phase witnessed a near 93 per cent voting with the final tabulation still awaited from the ECI IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-eci-suspends-police-officer-for-negligence-in-duty-670958.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-acb-once-again-grills-suspended-official-in-disproportionate-assets-case-670960.html Vijayawada April 24 The AntiCorruption Bureau ACB of Andhra Pradesh is once again questioning a suspended Assistant Commissioner in the Endowments Department in a Disproportionate Assets case The ACB officials on Friday took Kalingiri Shanti into custody from Vijayawada district jail and took her to Vijayawada Government General Hospital for medical examination They later began questioning herThe ACB court had Thursday sent Shanti to police custody for two daysThis is the second time that the court had sent her to police custody Earlier the court had allowed questioning of Kalingiri Shanti on April 15 and 16However the antigraft agency told the court that she did not cooperate during the investigation and sought her custody once againShanti arrested on April 7 after simultaneous raids at premises linked to her is currently lodged in Vijayawada district jail She filed a petition seeking permission to meet her twoandahalfyearold son After hearing arguments the court posted the matter for orders on April 16During the raids on April 7 the ACB found that she had amassed assets worth Rs 137 crore disproportionate to her known sources of income Officials conducted searches for 10 hours in different locations including Tadepalli Undavalli and VisakhapatnamThey seized incriminating documents and unearthed assets including a residential flat in Visakhapatnam a G2 building at Kunchanapalli 776 grams of gold ornaments nearly 3 kg of silver articles cash worth Rs 115 lakh bank balances of about Rs 3 lakh a car a motorcycle and electronic gadgetsFollowing the searches the ACB registered a Disproportionate Assets case against the Assistant Commissioner under the Prevention of Corruption Act The same day the ACB court sent her to judicial custody till April 21 Later her custody was further extendedFollowing the arrest the government suspended her This is the second time Shanti has been suspended in two yearsShe was appointed as Assistant Commissioner in the Endowments Department through the Andhra Pradesh State Public Service Commission in 2020 and worked in Visakhapatnam and VijayawadaAfter the TDPled coalition government came to power in 2024 Shanti was suspended over allegations of irregularities She remained under suspension from July 2024 to March 2026 The suspension was lifted last month and she was awaiting a posting IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-acb-once-again-grills-suspended-official-in-disproportionate-assets-case-670960.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/csir-niist-to-celebrate-national-technology-day-with-techno-fest-cum-customer-meet-670962.html Thiruvananthapuram April 24 The CSIRNational Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology CSIRNIIST one of the countryâs premier research institutions located in the state capital will host a TechnoFest cum Customer Meet on May 11 to mark National Technology Day The initiative is aimed at strengthening engagement with industry stakeholders and customers while providing a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and collaborationThe event is expected to bring together representatives from industry academia and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises MSMEs underscoring the instituteâs growing role in bridging laboratory research with realworld applicationsAccording to Director Dr C Anandharamakrishnan the programme reflects the instituteâs continued focus on translating cuttingedge research into technologies that deliver tangible societal and industrial impactâThe TechnoFest cum Customer Meet underscores our commitment to fostering stronger stakeholder engagement promoting industry partnerships and accelerating the deployment of sustainable and innovative solutionsâ he saidHe added that the initiative would contribute significantly to strengthening Indiaâs innovation ecosystem and advancing technological selfrelianceAs part of the event heads of various research divisions at CSIRNIIST will present brief overviews of their expertise and ongoing projects highlighting key technological advancements and capabilitiesParticipants will also have the opportunity to interact directly with scientists tour research facilities and witness live demonstrations of advanced equipment and technologies developed at the instituteThe programme is designed to encourage deeper collaboration particularly with MSMEs by opening avenues for technology transfer commercialisation and joint research initiativesBy facilitating direct engagement between innovators and endusers the institute aims to create a more responsive and industryaligned research environmentCSIRNIIST has extended an open invitation to its customers and industry partners across the country to take part in the event with expectations that the meeting will pave the way for new partnerships and meaningful collaborations in the technology sectorNational Technology Day commemorates the momentous events of May 11 1998 when India conducted successful nuclear tests under Operation Shakti and saw the maiden flight of the indigenously developed Hansa3 aircraft In recognition of these achievements then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared May 11 as National Technology Day Over the years the day has evolved into a flagship occasion for honouring scientific excellence showcasing industrial innovations and reinforcing the partnership between science society and industry IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/csir-niist-to-celebrate-national-technology-day-with-techno-fest-cum-customer-meet-670962.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/being-boatman-for-prime-ministers-ride-today-was-great-experience-gouranga-biswas-670967.html Kolkata April 24 For Gouranga Biswas the boatman who rowed the boat in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi went for a ride on Friday morning the experience was really fascinating Speaking to the IANS Biswas said that he had never imagined that he would row the boat on which the Prime Minister of the country went for a rideâI was not aware till the last moment that the Prime Minister would be going for the boatride on my boat He suddenly appeared and just asked my name I was speechless initially since I had never imagined such a situation He travelled for some time on Hooghly River and also clicked some pictures with his cameraâ Biswas saidHowever he said that there was no opportunity for him to take a picture along with Prime Minister ModiHis boatride continued for some time and I took the boat till the middle of the riverâ Biswas said and added that though quite excited he was not nervous while sailing the boatâBut I did not have the chance to speak much with him He asked my name and I replied That was all The conversation could not continue probably because neither I can understand nor speak Hindi Then he gestured to me to go till the middle of the river which I did But I am very happy that I sailed the boat in which the Prime Minister of the country was travelling The other persons accompanying the Prime Minister were speaking among themselves in Hindi which I could not understandâ Biswas addedAccording to him previously he had the opportunity of being the boatman of the boats in which film stars were travelling âBut sailing the boat in which the Prime Minister was travelling was a different feeling after allâ Biswas addedOn Friday morning Prime Minister Modi took to social media to post a picture of his boat ride In that post he also highlighted the cultural and spiritual importance of the Ganga River for BengalisPM Modi said For every Bengali the Ganga occupies a very special place One can say that the Ganga flows through the soul of Bengal Her divine waters carry the timeless spirit of an entire civilisation IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/being-boatman-for-prime-ministers-ride-today-was-great-experience-gouranga-biswas-670967.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-orders-reinstatement-of-gujarat-judicial-officer-with-full-benefits-670973.html New Delhi April 24 IANS The Supreme Court has directed the reinstatement of a Gujarat judicial officer with all consequential benefits after setting aside a disciplinary action that sought to subject her to a de novo inquirynbspnbspA bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe held that the order initiating a fresh inquiry against Chandni Prateek Sharma was contrary to the governing service rules and consequently quashed the Gujarat High Courts judgment which had upheld the actionnbspThe respondents are directed to reinstate the appellant and to grant her all consequential benefits the apex court ordered while allowing the appealnbspSharma who joined the Gujarat State Judicial Service in 2012 and was promoted to Senior Civil Judge in 2018 had been placed under suspension in February 2020 following complaints alleging misconduct including habitual absenteeism and procedural irregularitiesnbspAn inquiry officer after examining 21 witnesses had found only one charge proved while exonerating her of the remaining allegationsnbspHowever the disciplinary authority disagreed with the findings and ordered a de novo inquiry after issuing a show cause noticenbspThe Gujarat High Court in its September 26 2024 judgment had upheld the decision observing that the disciplinary authority had recorded reasons for ordering a fresh inquirynbspSetting aside this view the Supreme Court clarified that Rule 10 of the Gujarat Civil Services Discipline and Appeal Rules 1971 permits only a further inquiry and not a fresh or de novo inquirynbspThe expression further inquiry does not mean a fresh or a de novo inquiry but only a further inquiry the Justice Narasimhaled Bench observednbspHolding that the initiation of a de novo inquiry was legally unsustainable the top court said the Gujarat High Court failed to appreciate the settled legal position on the issue Quashing the impugned judgment the Supreme Court restored Sharmas service directing that she be reinstated with full consequential benefits flowing from such reinstatementnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-orders-reinstatement-of-gujarat-judicial-officer-with-full-benefits-670973.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-voting-begins-for-152-assembly-constituencies-in-16-districts-670765.html Kolkata April 23 Polling has begun for 152 assembly constituencies scattered over 16 districts from 7 am on Thursday in the first phase of the twophase crucial West Bengal assembly polls The votersâ enthusiasm over the elections seemed to be quite high this time with the queues of voters being witnessed in front of some polling stations in several assembly constituencies much before the beginning of the polling process at 7 am officiallyThis time the voters are required to go through a twostage verification process the first being by the central armed police CAPF personnel before entering the polling station premises and the second by the boothlevel officer BLO concerned before entering the polling roomThe polling process had been peaceful so far at the time the report was filed However there had been reports of some malfunctioning of electronic voting machines EVMs at certain polling booths at the time of the beginning of the polling processMock polling mandatory before the actual polling process could not start in time at a polling station at the industrial township of Durgapur in West Burdwan district because of the inactive battery of the EVM thereSimilarly mock polling could not be conducted at a polling booth at Siliguri in Darjeeling district in North Bengal and Baharampur in the minoritydominated Murshidabad districtThe 16 districts where polling is being held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar Darjeeling Kalimpong Jalpaiguri Alipurduar North Dinajpur South Dinajpur and Malda in North Bengal and Murshidabad East Midnapore West Midnapore Jhargram Purulia Bankura West Burdwan and Birbhum in South BengalSeven of these 16 districts are under the Election Commission of Indiaâs special scanner due to security concerns on the polling dayThe first phase of the Assembly polls is being conducted under unprecedented security cover with the deployment of 2407 companies of central forces including Central Armed Police Forces the India Reserve Battalion and personnel from armed police wings of other states in addition to personnel from West Bengal Police and Kolkata PoliceWebcasting is being conducted in all polling stationsPrime Minister Narendra Modi posted a social media message in Bengal addressing the people of West Bengal âThe first phase of voting for the West Bengal Assembly elections is today I call upon all citizens to participate with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy I especially urge my young friends and the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbersâ the message from the Prime Minister readThe Chief Election Officer CEO West Bengal Manoj Kumar Agarwal the Election Commission of India ECIappointed special observer Subrata Gupta and the ECIappointed police observer NK Mishra stayed back at the CEOâs office in central observer overnight on Wednesday conducting lastminute supervisions to ensure free amp fair and violencefree polls in the first phase on ThursdayThe second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 assembly constituencies will be on April 29 âThe results will be declared on May 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-voting-begins-for-152-assembly-constituencies-in-16-districts-670765.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/early-voter-turnout-in-bengal-stands-at-1876-pc-tn-records-over-17-pc-670779.html KolkataChennai April 23 The voter turnout in the West Bengal Assembly elections was recorded at 1876 per cent and in Tamil Nadu at 1769 per cent as of 9 am on Thursday according to data shared by the Election Commission of India ECI Polling began for 152 assembly constituencies scattered over 16 districts of West Bengal from 7 am on Thursday in the first phase of the twophase crucial Assembly polls Voter enthusiasm for the elections appeared to be quite high this time as long lines were seen in front of several polling stationsThe 16 districts where polling is being held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar Darjeeling Kalimpong Jalpaiguri Alipurduar North Dinajpur South Dinajpur and Malda in North Bengal and Murshidabad East Midnapore West Midnapore Jhargram Purulia Bankura West Burdwan and Birbhum in South BengalThe second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 assembly constituencies will be on April 29 âThe results will be declared on May 4Meanwhile polling for the highstakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies also began at 7 am with over 573 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4023 candidates in a fiercely contested fourcornered battle The electoral contest primarily features the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK making this one of the most competitive elections in recent yearsVoting commenced early in the morning with voters seen queuing up in large numbers at polling booths reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic processWith voter turnout expected to play a decisive role political parties are closely monitoring polling trends across constituenciesThe counting of votes is scheduled for May 4 when the electoral verdict will determine the next government in Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/early-voter-turnout-in-bengal-stands-at-1876-pc-tn-records-over-17-pc-670779.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jai-badri-vishal-resonates-as-portals-of-badrinath-dham-open-cm-dhami-offers-prayers-670781.html Chamoli April 23 With the resounding chants of Jai Badri Vishal the portals of Shri Badrinath Dham opened early on Thursday imbuing the entire atmosphere with devotion and faith This marks the official start to the Char Dham Yatra The portals of one of the most sacred shrines of Hinduism opened at 615 am amid Vedic chants and rituals The temple priests performed worship and rituals for Lord Badri Vishal accompanied by Vedic mantras following which the temple was opened for devotees to offer their prayers and seek darshan Thousands of devotees were present at the site to witness this special occasion Many had even queued up since the previous night eager to be among the very first to catch a glimpse of the LordAs the temple gates opened joy and reverence were clearly visible in the eyes of the devotees Some stood with folded hands in prayer others prayed with deep emotion while some attempted to capture this momentous occasion on their mobile phones A distinct sense of peace and contentment was evident on every faceDuring the event the temple complex was beautifully adorned with flowers further enhancing its grandeur The Army band also added to the sanctity of this auspicious occasion with their melodious tunes A palpable sense of positive energy permeated the entire atmosphereChief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also arrived in Badrinath to offer prayers On this occasion he performed the first puja of Lord Badri Vishal in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi praying for the happiness prosperity and wellbeing of the people of the stateIn a post on X CM Dhami wrote With the opening of the portals of Shri Badrinath Dham the sacred Char Dham Yatra has officially commenced Providing a safe wellorganised and hasslefree travel experience to all devotees arriving from across the country and abroad in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is our governments top priorityIn another post CM Dhami stated I had the privilege of being present on the auspicious occasion of the opening of the portals of Shri Badrinath Dham the holy abode of Lord Shri Hari Vishnu Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas this divine shrine stands as a living symbol of the unwavering faith Sanatan traditions and spiritual consciousness of millions of devotees On this sacred occasion the transcendental devotion divine energy and profound spiritual experience left my heart overwhelmed with emotionPrior to this the gates of Shri Kedarnath Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams had already been opened Now devotees arriving from across the country and abroad will be able to participate in this sacred pilgrimageEvery year hundreds of thousands of devotees undertake this journey considering their lives blessed after having the darshan of Lord Badri Vishal It is believed that offering prayers here brings peace to the mind and alleviates all suffering This is precisely why despite the arduous nature of the journey the devotees faith remains unwavering IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jai-badri-vishal-resonates-as-portals-of-badrinath-dham-open-cm-dhami-offers-prayers-670781.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/stalin-vijay-rajnikanth-among-early-voters-in-tamil-nadu-elections-670782.html Chennai April 23 Chief Minister MK Stalin actorpolitician Vijay and superstar Rajinikanth were among the prominent early voters as polling began across Tamil Naduâs 234 Assembly constituencies on Thursday Stalin cast his vote at a polling station in Teynampet Chennai accompanied by his wife Durga StalinDeputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also exercised his franchise along with his wife Krithika reflecting the ruling DMK leadershipâs early participation in the democratic processVijay the leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK voted at a government middle school polling station in Neelankarai His arrival drew large crowds of fans leading to brief congestion at the venue Police personnel stepped in to manage the situation and escorted him safely into the booth amid tight securityRajinikanth cast his vote at the Stella Maris polling booth in Chennai accompanied by his daughter SoundaryaSpeaking to reporters he urged all eligible voters to come out and vote in large numbers emphasising the importance of participating in the democratic processVoting is being held in a single phase across all 234 constituencies in what is seen as a highstakes electoral battleA total of 4023 candidates are in the fray while over 573 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise according to the Election CommissionThe contest features a fourcornered fight involving the DMKled alliance the AIADMKled front Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and Vijayâs TVK adding a new dimension to the stateâs political landscapeSenior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan cast her vote at a polling station in Saligramam while Union Minister L Murugan contesting from Avinashi voted in KoyambeduMeanwhile polling was briefly delayed at a booth in Thillai Nagar Tiruchy due to technical issues in two Electronic Voting Machines EVMsMinister K N Nehru contesting from Tiruchy West was among those waiting in queues as officials worked to resolve the malfunction Authorities have deployed extensive security arrangements and urged voters to turn out in large numbers to ensure a peaceful and participatory election IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/stalin-vijay-rajnikanth-among-early-voters-in-tamil-nadu-elections-670782.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-bypoll-voting-underway-in-umreth-amid-extensive-arrangements-670783.html Anand April 23 Polling is underway for the Umreth Assembly byelection in Gujaratâs Anand district with voters turning out across urban and rural polling stations since 7 am on Thursday amid tight administrative and security arrangements The byelection covers the Umreth constituency where a total of 245623 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots across 306 polling stations set up by the district election machineryOf these 68 polling stations are in urban areas and 238 in rural locations spanning 46 villages of Umreth taluka and the surrounding Anand rural region along with the municipalities of Ode Umreth and BoriaviVoting is being conducted between 7 am and 6 pm as scheduled by the Election Commission of India Counting of votes will take place on May 4Six candidates are contesting the seat Officials said special arrangements have been made to facilitate inclusive participation including 4174 firsttime voters aged 1819 years and 1556 voters aged above 85 yearsIn addition 1546 voters with disabilities are registered in the constituency According to election officials 88 senior citizens above 85 years of age and 13 voters with disabilities have already exercised their franchise through home voting arrangementsTo ensure smooth conduct of polling around 1348 polling personnel supported by 22 micro observers and 19 districtlevel nodal officers have been deployed taking the total field workforce to nearly 1500 officialsAll staff members were trained in multiple phases prior to polling daySecurity arrangements have been strengthened across the constituency with deployment of two Deputy Superintendents of Police four Police Inspectors around 500 police and home guard personnel and three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force to maintain law and order and ensure a peaceful voting environmentSpecial facilities have been put in place to improve accessibility for voters including 218 wheelchairs assistance from 361 volunteers and six dedicated vehicles for senior citizens above 85 years of age and persons with disabilities to reach polling stationsVoter assistance booths have also been set up at all centres to help citizens with information and support servicesElection authorities have confirmed that voters may use any one of 12 approved identity documents including Aadhaar card driving licence passport PAN card MGNREGA job card pension documents with photographs and other governmentissued identity proofs in addition to voter ID cardsNonresident Indian electors are required to produce their original passports for identification at polling stationsIn a parallel arrangement ahead of polling day 212 officials and staff engaged in election duty cast their votes through postal ballot at a designated centre between April 15 and 17The district administration has also made medical arrangements signing agreements with multiple hospitals in Anand and Karamsad to provide cashless emergency treatment to election personnelOral rehydration solution packets have been distributed at polling stations as a precaution against heatrelated health issuesOfficials said that the polling process is being monitored through webcasting at all stations to ensure transparency and realtime oversight throughout the dayThe Umreth Assembly constituency fell vacant following the death of sitting MLA Govind Parmar a twoterm legislator of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP who died last month after a brief illness leading to the Election Commission announcing a byelection for the seat IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-bypoll-voting-underway-in-umreth-amid-extensive-arrangements-670783.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/elephant-in-queue-outside-bengals-jhargram-voting-booth-causes-brief-alarm-670784.html Kolkata April 23 An elephant was seen in the voting line prior to the commencement of the first phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal causing alarm among voters on Thursday morning This unexpected occurrence in Jhargrams Jitushol led to a brief disturbance at the polling station Subsequently officials from the forest department arrived at the scene and managed to restore order The first phase of voting is underway in 152 Assembly constituencies of the state These include four Assembly constituencies of the Jhargram districtThe incident took place at Jitushol Primary School in this district which was designated as a polling station and voters were beginning to assemble Just before the voting the elephant suddenly appeared in front of the schoolThe elephant known as Ramlal to the locals did not harm anyone It took a peek at a goods vehicle standing in front of the booth and then moved away on its ownA big crowd gathered near the polling station to see Ramlal Soon the forest workers from the Lodhashuli range reached the spot after receiving information about elephants roaming in front of the polling station Ramlal was moved to a safe distance and voting began smoothly at that polling stationThe forest department has also taken up the task of dealing with the elephant menace A special team of 15 people including an Airavat vehicle has been formed to control the movement of elephantsApart from this a quick response team consisting of the Elephant Trekkers Team and experienced Hula Party members is active all the time to keep an eye on other elephant groups moving across the districtPolling began for 152 constituencies scattered over 16 districts from 7 am on Thursday in the first phase of the twophase crucial West Bengal Assembly pollsThe first phase of the Assembly polls is being conducted under unprecedented security cover with the deployment of 2407 companies of central forces including Central Armed Police Forces the India Reserve Battalion and personnel from armed police wings of other states in addition to personnel from West Bengal Police and Kolkata PoliceThe second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 Assembly constituencies will be on April 29 âThe results will be declared on May 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/elephant-in-queue-outside-bengals-jhargram-voting-booth-causes-brief-alarm-670784.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-polling-process-overall-peaceful-1876-pc-voting-in-first-two-hours-670787.html Kolkata April 23 Barring stray incidents of tension in certain pockets the polling process in 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts of West Bengal has been overall peaceful in the first two hours on Thursday with 1876 per cent voting recorded till 9 am Districtwise the highest polling percentage till 9 am has been recorded in West Midnapore at 2051 per cent and the lowest in Malda at 1676 per cent as per the statistics provided by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO West BengalAt a polling booth under Raninagar Assembly constituency in minoritydominated Murshidabad district which had already been earmarked by the Election Commission of India ECI as the most sensitive district tension flared up in the morning following Congressâ allegations of their polling agent being forcefully evicted from the booth by the ruling Trinamool Congress activistsThe Congress candidate from Raninagar Zulfikar Ali alleged that Trinamool Congress backed hooligans were hiding in a forested area with crude bombs and firearms and intimidating voters going to the polling booths âThey have forcefully evicted one of our agents from that boothâ Ali allegedAt the two Assembly constituencies of Nandigram and its adjacent Haldia in East Midnapore district which is the native district of the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari the Trinamool Congress leadership accused the police officers in charge of the polling duties of deliberately harassing the ruling party supporters following the instructions of AdhikariThere were scattered protests by the Trinamool Congress workers in both these constituenciesAdhikari denied the allegations and said that the polling process has been more or less peaceful both in East Midnapore and West Midnapore districts âThey are raising these baseless allegations sensing their inevitable defeat Except in Pingla in West Midnapore there are some tensions because of the role played by the local inspectorincharge Chinmoy Pramanik I have demanded his suspensionâ Adhikari said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-polling-process-overall-peaceful-1876-pc-voting-in-first-two-hours-670787.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/alliance-will-form-govt-in-tn-dmk-delivered-on-key-issues-says-chidambaram-670793.html Karaikudi April 23 Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram cast his vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Thursday and expressed confidence that the Secular Progressive Alliance will return to power in the state Polling for the highstakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies began at 7 am with over 573 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4023 candidates in a fiercely contested fourcornered battleThe electoral contest primarily features the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK making this one of the most competitive elections in recent yearsAfter casting his ballot at Chittal Aachi Memorial High School near Karaikudi senior Congress leader Chidambaram told reporters that voters across the state are focused on three key priorities Across Tamil Nadu the expectations that are resonating are threefold the need for a stable government growth and welfare schemes for the people I am confident that the DMK government which has delivered on these three will be formed and that the Secular Progressive Alliance will be in power for another five years he saidHe also voiced confidence that a stable government led by the alliance would be capable of managing the states finances and addressing its rising debt burden During the Budget Session Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu had stated that as per the Interim Budget Estimates for 2026â27 the states outstanding debt is projected to reach Rs 1071 lakh croreResponding to concerns over the debt Chidambaram maintained that it can be handled with proper financial planning There wont be any problem There are ministers There are capable officials When preparing the budget both the states own revenue and the Central governments revenue should be taken into account and the necessary budget should be drawn up This applies to the Central government as well as the state government he saidHe further stressed that borrowing is a normal economic practice and should not be viewed negatively if managed prudently A stable strong government will definitely manage the budget properly How much debt does the Central government have There is nothing wrong with borrowing all countries borrow Its not just Tamil Nadu that borrows The key is whether the debt can be serviced meaning whether we can pay the interest on the loan thats the calculation he addedChidambaram also took issue with the use of the term freebie in political discourse arguing that welfare measures should be seen differently I reject the term âfreebieâ It is not a freebie I have said this many times Universal Basic Income they are repeatedly providing it so that everyone across Tamil Nadu has a basic income UBI we should see it as ensuring that everyone receives a minimum income It should not be viewed as a freebie he saidThe counting of votes is scheduled for May 4 when the electoral verdict will determine the next government in Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/alliance-will-form-govt-in-tn-dmk-delivered-on-key-issues-says-chidambaram-670793.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-urges-bengal-voters-to-participate-in-festival-of-democracy-as-voting-begins-across-152-seats-670805.html New Delhi April 23 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on voters to take part in large numbers as West Bengal entered the first phase of its Assembly elections on Thursday with polling underway across 152 constituenciesnbspPM Modi posted on X Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections takes place today I urge all citizens to participate in this festival of democracy with full strength I especially appeal to my young friends and to the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbersVoting began at 700 am as West Bengal kicked off the first phase of its Assembly elections across 152 constituencies spread over 16 districts marking the opening of a crucial and closely watched electoral contest in the statenbspLong queues of voters were seen outside polling stations early in the morning with citizens actively participating in the democratic exercise At Primary Health Centre No 1 voters were seen standing in line to cast their votes while at Booth No 12176 polling also got underway with steady turnout reported in the initial hoursAround 36 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase which will decide the fate of 1478 candidates The constituencies are evenly distributed across north and south Bengal reflecting the wide geographical and political spread of this highstakes electoral battleThe Election Commission of India has deployed a record 2407 companies of Central Armed Police Forces for this phase making it one of the most heavily secured elections in the states history Officials said the deployment reflects the Commissions focus on ensuring peaceful and fair polling across sensitive regionsWhile the number of phases has been reduced compared to earlier elections security arrangements have been significantly strengthened The state is witnessing an unprecedented presence of central forces supported by new Election Commission protocols aimed at the strict enforcement of electoral rulesThe current twophase election schedule marks a sharp reduction from eight phases in 2021 and six phases in 2016 when polling itself was spread across multiple daysOn the political front the contest is primarily between the ruling Trinamool Congress TMC led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP which is the main opposition in the state The TMC is aiming for a fourth consecutive term while the BJP which won 77 seats in the previous Assembly elections is making a renewed attempt to form the governmentPolling in the remaining 142 constituencies will be held on April 29 while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-urges-bengal-voters-to-participate-in-festival-of-democracy-as-voting-begins-across-152-seats-670805.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/four-overground-workers-of-terrorist-outfits-arrested-in-jampks-srinagar-670810.html Srinagar April 23 Police in Jammu and Kashmirâs Srinagar district said on Thursday that they have arrested four overground workers OGWs for providing logistics support to the terrorists A senior police officer said the arrests were made from the Hazratbal area of Srinagar on Wednesday evening during a targeted operationThe arrested individuals have been identified as Zahoor Ahmad Mir Bashir Ahmad Bhat Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and Shazia Mohammad all residents of HazratbalâDuring the operation a hand grenade 15 rounds of AK47 ammunition four mobile phones and some cash were recovered from their possessionâFollowing the recovery a case has been registered against them under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA and Arms Act and further investigation has been initiatedâ police saidPolice and security forces have been carrying out aggressive antiterrorist operations across Jammu and Kashmir targeting terrorists their overground workers OGWs sympathisers and those involved in drug smuggling and hawala money racketsThe focus in the revised antiterrorist operations is based on dismantling the entire support system of terrorism rather than just focusing on the gunwielding terrorists aloneThe JampK Police and the security forces carry out antiterrorist operations in the hinterland while the Army and the Border Security Force BSF are deployed on the Line of Control LoC and the International BorderThe LoC is situated in the Baramulla Bandipora and Kupwara districts of the Valley and Poonch Rajouri and partly in Jammu district of the Jammu divisionThe International Border is situated in Samba Kathua and Jammu districts of the Jammu divisionThe Army and BSF are deployed to prevent infiltration exfiltration drug smuggling and drone activities initiated by terror outfits from the Pakistan side of the borderThese drones are used to drop payloads of arms ammunition cash and drugs for the terrorists These payloads are picked up by the OGWs and then passed on to the terrorists to sustain terrorism in the union territory IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/four-overground-workers-of-terrorist-outfits-arrested-in-jampks-srinagar-670810.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-bust-illegal-lpg-racket-in-palam-dwarka-137-cylinders-seized-670811.html New Delhi April 23 IANS In a major breakthrough the AGSCrime Branch of Delhi Police acting on specific and credible intelligence carried out coordinated raids at multiple locations in the Palam and Dwarka areas uncovering a largescale illegal operation involving the unauthorised storage and refilling of LPG cylinders officials said on ThursdayThe crackdown resulted in the recovery of 137 LPG cylinders along with refilling equipment exposing serious violations of safety norms and regulatory guidelines Officials said the operation points to a deliberate misuse of the LPG distribution systemKeeping in view the prevailing circumstances and as a preventive step against hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders a dedicated team was constituted to identify and apprehend those involved in such activitiesThe team comprised Inspector Krishan Kumar along with SubInspectors Narender Kumar and Agam Prasad Assistant SubInspectors Surender Mintu and Deepak Head Constable Shyam Sunder and Constable Dheeraj The operation was carried out under the close supervision of ACP Bhagwati Prasad ACPAGS and overall supervision of IPS officer Harsh Indora DCPCrime BranchFollowing sustained groundwork specific and credible secret information was received regarding hoarding and illegal refilling of LPG cylinders in the Dwarka and Palam areas of DelhiActing on the input a raiding team was formed and a search operation was conducted at JJ Colony Sector7 Dwarka During the raid 77 LPG cylinders were found stored at the premises Some cylinders were also discovered loaded in vehicles present at the spotThe following persons all residents of Delhi were found present along with their vehicles Arjun 45 a resident of Bagdola Surajpal Pandey 42 resident of Raj NagarII Palam Colony Amarjeet Kumar 28 resident of Raj NagarII Palam Colony Prempal Singh 52 resident of Raj NagarII Palam Colony Sukh Ram 48 resident of Goyla Dairy Kutub Vihar Phase1 and Vikram 42 resident of Dada Dev Road Dev Kunj PalamWhen questioned about the possession of such a large number of LPG cylinders they failed to produce any valid documents or a satisfactory explanation Subsequent interrogation led to further raids at two additional locationsIn a second recovery 25 LPG cylinders were seized from a tempo parked near the premises The owner of the vehicle Malkhan 59 a resident of Sector7 Dwarka was found present at the spotA third recovery led to the seizure of 35 LPG cylinders from premises in Gali No 6 near Bachpan Play School Dev Kunj Raj NagarII Palam Colony where the cylinders were stocked in an open area adjoining a houseAt this location the following persons were found present Raju Rai a resident of Manglapuri PhaseII Chander Pal a resident of Palam Dada Dev Road Bablu a resident of Goyla Dairy and Sujeet Kumar a resident of Shyam Vihar Phase1Considering the scale of the recovery the Food and Supply Officer FSO PalamDwarka was informed and called to the spot The official stated that such accumulation of LPG cylinders is not authorised without proper permission In his presence all the recovered cylinders were seizednbspThe FSO subsequently informed the Senior Manager LPGS New Delhi and SouthWest District and the case property was handed over to Shivam Jain Senior Manager LPGSAll the accused persons have been apprehended Investigations revealed that they were illegally storing domestic LPG cylinders for black market purposes and were involved in unauthorised refilling and tampering of cylinders officials saidA case has been registered at the Crime Branch police station under Sections 12535 of the BNS and Section 37 of the Essential Commodities Act 1955During interrogation it emerged that the accused had procured LPG cylinders from a gas agency but instead of delivering them as per the assigned targets they diverted and stored them illegally at the identified premisesnbspThey maintained an unauthorised stock and used illegal equipment to transfer gas from filled cylinders into empty ones which were then sold in the open market for unlawful gainsFurther investigation into the matter is currently underwayIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-bust-illegal-lpg-racket-in-palam-dwarka-137-cylinders-seized-670811.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/centre-refutes-reports-on-fuel-price-hike-in-india-calls-them-mischievous-and-misleading-670812.html New Delhi April 23 IANS Petroleum Ministry on Thursday dismissed media reports regarding petrol and diesel price increase after the assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu calling such reports as mischievous and misleadingnbspIn a social media post on X the ministry clarified that there is no such proposal under government considerationSuch news items are designed to create fear and panic amongst the citizens and are mischievous and misleading the ministry addedIt further stated that India remains the only country where petrol and diesel prices have not increased in the last four yearsThe government and oil PSUs have taken relentless steps to insulate citizens from steep increases in international prices it saidThe government has earlier maintained that retail fuel outlets across the country are operating normallyEven after escalation in West Asia conflict and rise in Brent crude oil prices due to the closure of Strait of Hormuz the fuel prices remain unchanged in India while many countries have witnessed a jump of up to 85 per centRecent industry data highlighted a sharp divergence between India and both advanced and emerging countries where consumers have faced increases in fuel prices so far this year reports NDTV Profit On the diesel front prices have witnessed a sharp rise in several countries in recent months amid geopolitical tensionsMeanwhile Sujata Sharma Joint Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas provided an update on LPG supplies She said that the supply of domestic LPG is normal and no dryout has been reported at any distributorIndianflagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima which crossed the Strait of Hormuz on April 78 2026 carrying 31 Indian seafarers arrived in Mumbai on WednesdayGlobal oil prices edged higher on Thursday due to a stalemate over the next round of peace talks between the United States and Iran that kept the energy artery Strait of Hormuz effectively closedThe June contract for Brent on the Intercontinental Exchange traded at 10335 a barrel up around 4 per cent from the previous close Meanwhile the June futures contract for West Texas Intermediate on the New York Mercantile Exchange NYMEX rose 162 per cent to 9447 a barrelIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/centre-refutes-reports-on-fuel-price-hike-in-india-calls-them-mischievous-and-misleading-670812.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-bypoll-early-turnout-stands-at-2565-pc-as-voting-continues-across-306-booths-670816.html Anand April 23 Polling for the Umreth Assembly byeelection in Gujaratâs Anand district is continuing steadily with 2565 per cent voter turnout recorded by 11 AM according to data released by the Election Commission of India Voting began at 7 AM on Thursday across 306 polling stations spread over urban and rural parts of the constituency which includes 46 villages of Umreth taluka and surrounding Anand rural areas along with the municipalities of Ode Umreth and BoriaviThe constituency has a total electorate of 245623 voters who are deciding the outcome among six candidates in the frayThe Election Commission has scheduled polling to continue until 6 PM while counting of votes will be held on May 4Officials said arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of voting with a workforce of around 1348 polling personnel deployed on duty supported by 22 micro observers and 19 districtlevel nodal officers taking the total field deployment to nearly 1500 staff membersWebcasting facilities have been installed at all polling stations for realtime monitoring of the processSecurity has been tightened across the constituency with the deployment of two Deputy Superintendents of Police four Police Inspectors around 500 police and home guard personnel along with three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force to maintain law and orderTo facilitate voter participation authorities have arranged 218 wheelchairs for elderly and differentlyabled voters along with 361 volunteers stationed across polling centresSix vehicles have also been deployed to assist senior citizens aged 85 and above as well as Persons with Disabilities PwD in reaching polling stationsVoter Assistance Booths have been set up at all locations to help citizens with information and supportThe electorate includes 4174 firsttime voters aged 18â19 years while 1556 voters above the age of 85 and 1546 PwDs are also registered in the constituencyOfficials confirmed that some of these voters have already exercised their franchise through home voting arrangementsAuthorities have also ensured medical preparedness during polling with arrangements made in coordination with hospitals in Anand Bhalej and Karamsad for emergency care of election personnelORS packets have been distributed at polling stations as a precaution against heatrelated issuesVoters are allowed to use any one of 12 approved identity documents for identification including Aadhaar passport driving licence PAN card and voter ID while nonresident Indian electors must produce their original passport at polling stations IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-bypoll-early-turnout-stands-at-2565-pc-as-voting-continues-across-306-booths-670816.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/brisk-polling-in-tn-assembly-elections-3756-pc-turnout-recorded-so-far-670820.html Chennai April 23 Voting is underway across all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu on Thursday with a voter turnout of 3756 per cent being recorded till 11 am The key battle is between the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance while Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and actor Vijayâs Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK have added further intensity to the raceAccording to the Election Commission a total of 4023 candidates are in the fray with over 573 crore eligible voters expected to decide the electoral fate of the statePolling began early in the morning under tight security arrangements and officials reported a steady voter turnout across districts By 11 am Tamil Nadu has recorded a voter turnout of 3756 per cent indicating a brisk polling trend in several regionsElection authorities are closely monitoring the process to ensure smooth and peaceful voting throughout the daySeveral prominent political leaders and public figures exercised their franchise during the morning hours Thol Thirumavalavan leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi VCK cast his vote at a government school polling booth in Anganur located in the Kunnam Assembly constituency of Ariyalur districtV K Sasikala former AIADMK general secretary voted at Stella Maris College in Chennai Speaking to reporters after casting her vote she described the election as a âfestival of democracyâ and urged citizens across Tamil Nadu to fulfil their democratic duty by voting in large numbersGK Vasan president of the Tamil Maanila Congress stood in line and cast his vote at a Corporation School polling booth in Alwarpet Chennai reflecting the enthusiasm among voters and leaders alikeIn Vanur constituency VCK MP D Ravikumar exercised his franchise at a polling booth in MorattandiAmong celebrities actor Trisha Krishnan cast her vote at a polling station in Alwarpet Chennai accompanied by her mother When asked about expectations from the election she refrained from political commentary and simply appealed to citizens to vote stating that participation in the democratic process was most importantWith steady turnout figures and active participation from voters and prominent personalities Tamil Nadu is witnessing a vibrant democratic exercise Polling will continue until the evening with officials expecting turnout percentages to rise further as the day progresses IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/brisk-polling-in-tn-assembly-elections-3756-pc-turnout-recorded-so-far-670820.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/think-about-your-future-then-vote-says-dmks-kanimozhi-after-casting-ballot-in-chennai-670822.html New Delhi April 23 DMK Deputy General Secretary and MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi cast her vote at CSI St Ebbaâs Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai on Thursday and urged citizens to vote thoughtfully emphasising the importance of the election for the stateâs future and identity Speaking after voting she said âThink about your future think about the future of the state think about who will fight for the rights of the state and for the language we stand for and then voteâReacting to claims against DMK she said They will keep raising issues Any government will ensure that there are enough facilities for voters to come and vote If the DMK is confident that people will vote them back to power why would any government do something like this If you want to make accusations then its your politicsPolling for the highstakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began at 7 AM across all 234 constituencies with voters turning up in large numbers at polling booths early in the day Long queues were seen at several locations reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic exerciseAccording to data shared by the Election Commission of India voter turnout stood at 3756 per cent as of 11 AM indicating steady participation in the initial hours of polling Officials expect turnout to increase further as the day progressesA total of over 573 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in this election which will determine the fate of 4023 candidates The contest is shaping up as a fiercely competitive fourcornered battle making it one of the most closely watched elections in recent yearsThe electoral fray primarily features the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK along with several other parties and independent candidatesLeaders from various parties have also appealed to voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchiseSecurity arrangements have been tightened across the state to ensure smooth and peaceful polling with election officials monitoring the process closelyThe counting of votes is scheduled for May 4 when the results will determine the next government in Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/think-about-your-future-then-vote-says-dmks-kanimozhi-after-casting-ballot-in-chennai-670822.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-man-two-children-crushed-under-train-hours-after-he-killed-wife-mother-670823.html Tirupati April 23 An entire family of five lost their lives in a span of a few hours in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh A man killed his wife and mother and later died by suicide by placing his head on a railway track His two children who tried to save him were also crushed to death under the same train The shocking incident occurred at Venkatakrishna Palem panchayat in Narayanavanam mandal on WednesdayPolice shared the details of the incidents on Thursday A middleaged man identified as Mohan killed his wife and mother by strangulating them with a piece of cloth at his house at Chakali Veedhi in Venkatakrishna PalemMohanâs wife Harita 33 used to run a tailoring shop and a beauty parlour while Mohans mother Chandrakala 65 was a housewifeAfter killing the two women Mohan picked up his son Kaushik 14 and daughter Harini 12 from their school in Puttur He told the teacher that their grandfather had passed awayThe killings came to light when Haritaâs brother Balakrishna went to the house Balakrishna was helping Mohan in running a cement shop at NarayanavanamMohan had left the shop to bring lunch for his brotherinlaw When Mohan did not return after a long time and his mobile phone was also switched off Balakrishna went to the house to check on him but was shocked to see Harita and Chandrakala lying deadBalakrishna alerted the police which formed special teams to trace Mohan The teams searched him at Puttur Nagari and other places in the districtPolice investigations revealed that after picking up his children on his motorcycle Mohan took them around in Chittoor and Tirupati districts and around 715 PM reached Vepagunta railway station in Puttur mandal After parking his vehicle he along with the children went to the railway track He then placed his head on the railway track to die by suicide under an approaching trainShocked over this the children tried to pull him away but all of them were crushed under the EgmoreKacheguda Express running with a speed of 100 km per hour The loco pilot informed Puttur station master that three persons died on the railway trackThe killing of the two women by Mohan and his suicide remain a mystery Preliminary investigation by police revealed that Mohan had no financial problems and he was also mentally sound As he owed some money to his sister he had reportedly given cash to a relative on Wednesday morning to hand over the same to herNarayanavanam police have registered a case and taken up an investigation Railway police registered a separate case about the death of Mohan and his two children on railway track IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-man-two-children-crushed-under-train-hours-after-he-killed-wife-mother-670823.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/after-trfs-fall-lashkar-plots-slather-proxy-to-evade-indias-new-doctrine-670832.html New Delhi April 23 The Resistance Front TRF which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack twice before denying any role is almost decimated today The TRF a proxy of the LashkareTaiba carried out a series of attacks in Jammu and Kashmir while posing as a locally grown group Post the Pahalgam attack the TRF was disbanded An Intelligence Bureau official said the Pahalgam attack elicited a strong response from India This led to many terror groups facing the heat The official said that the ISI has asked some of these groups to lie low as there is too much heat on them Moreover Pakistan is trying to reshape its image internationally and hence it is important for it to keep its terror groups at bay at least for nowThe official however warned that the LashkareTaiba is in the process of creating another proxy for operations in Jammu and Kashmir It is identifying men to be part of this new proxy The emphasis is on the locals in Jammu and Kashmir It is also looking for those persons from Kashmir who moved into Pakistan several years ago and would look to rope in these persons to join this new terror groupAnother official explained that unlike the TRF the structure of this new proxy would be different When it was launched the agencies did not have much of a headache in tracing its originsThe funding and handlers shared the same trail as the LashkareTaiba LeT From day one it was clear that the outfit was nothing but a proxy For the new proxy the LeT plans on keeping operations separate The funding channels would not overlap with those of the LashkareTaibaThe LeT would also not want to involve its trainers and handlers with this new group The only similarity would be the ideology and the cause The members of this new group will not interact or connect with anyone from the LeT directly On being asked whether this group is ready or not officials said that its making is in the processThe Lashkar will not rush through anything and would rather want to wait it out at least for a year before this group becomes fully functionalWhile the group would be formed the challenge would be the infiltrations Since it is next to impossible to infiltrate India at the moment the terror outfit would take it slow They are aware that the Indian security agencies are on a state of very high alert Hence they would wait for the security mechanism to turn lax before attempting anything at the borderThe proxy which the LeT feels should operate without any Pakistani linkages is also aimed at tackling Indiaâs new doctrine on terror India following the Pahalgam attack said that any act of terror would not be treated as crossborder terror but as an act of warFollowing the Pahalgam attack investigators were quick in identifying the attackers and the probe learned that the three were Pakistani nationals This is a scenario which the LeT wants to avoid Any attack in Jammu and Kashmir should be carried out by locals and no amount of probing should lead to Pakistan the outfit feelsNot only would the outfit carry out a strike in Jammu and Kashmir but it is also looking to avoid an Operation Sindoor an official said In addition to keeping a close watch on the operational capabilities of this new group the agencies are also tracking funding trails both in Pakistan and IndiaThe outfit would look to carry out donation drives and would even ask people from India to donate The LeT has already formed groups such as the Muslim Medical Mission MMM which claims to be a humanitarian group It says that its formation is to raise funds for Gaza relief In reality all the funds are being pumped into the LashkareTaiba an official said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/after-trfs-fall-lashkar-plots-slather-proxy-to-evade-indias-new-doctrine-670832.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengaluru-social-media-influencer-booked-for-allegedly-blackmailing-clinic-owner-demanding-rs-15-cr-670834.html Bengaluru April 23 A female social media influencer has been accused of blackmailing a citybased clinic owner for Rs 15 crore after allegedly befriending him under the pretext of promoting his clinic police said on Thursday According to police the complaint was filed by 31yearold Karthik Putha owner of HK Permanent MakeUp Clinic at the Jayanagar Police Station in BengaluruIn his complaint he stated that he came into contact with influencer Sadhana Shetty in connection with promotional activities for his clinic The two later developed a friendship and reportedly met frequentlyAccording to the complaint the two went on several dates during which Sadhana allegedly recorded private photos and videos of Karthik without his consent She is accused of later using these videos to blackmail himKarthik alleged that Sadhana extorted large sums of money from him and demanded Rs 15 crore He further claimed that she sent the videos to his family members after he refused to meet her demandsUnder alleged threats Karthik said he transferred Rs 5 lakh online and paid another Rs 5 lakh in cash He also claimed to have given her a gold ring worth Rs 30000 a gold chain worth Rs 70000 and an iPhone worth Rs 15 lakhDespite receiving these items and money Sadhana allegedly continued to demand Rs 15 crore When he failed to pay she is said to have sent messages to his wife on WhatsApp leading to disputes within his familyBased on the complaint police have issued a notice to Sadhana Shetty and initiated a preliminary enquiry During questioning she reportedly denied all allegationsPolice have asked her to appear again for further enquiry and have issued another notice in connection with the caseAn FIR has been registered under Sections 3082 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and Sections 66E and 67 of the Information Technology ActAccording to the FIR Karthik first met the accused at a cafà after which she grew close to him She allegedly threatened that if he failed to pay Rs 15 crore she would send their private videos to his wife She had also told him that she would delete the videos once she received the moneyThe FIR further states that after paying a substantial amount when Karthik informed her that he could not pay more the accused allegedly sent audio and video clips to his wife Following this marital discord reportedly arose between Karthik and his wifeAmid this the accused is said to have frequently visited his clinic and continued to demand money Karthik has urged the police to initiate action against her The police have taken up further investigation IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengaluru-social-media-influencer-booked-for-allegedly-blackmailing-clinic-owner-demanding-rs-15-cr-670834.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-635-complaints-registered-with-eci-in-first-four-hours-of-voting-670835.html Kolkata April 23 A total of 635 complaints were registered with the Election Commission of India ECI till 11 am on Thursday regarding the polling in the first phase of West Bengal Assembly polls covering 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts Of the 635 complaints registered with the ECI 260 have been submitted physically to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO while another 375 have been submitted through the CVigil appThe complaints were mostly regarding violence election malpractices etc said sourcesIn the first four hours of polling the average polling rate in the 152 constituencies was recorded at 4111 per cent Districtwise till that period the maximum polling percentage was reported from Jhargram at 4371 per cent with the figure being lowest in the case of Cooch Behar at 3867 per centA tragic incident took place at a polling booth under the Keshpur Assembly constituency in West Midnapore district when a voter died within the booth while she came to cast her vote The deceased was identified as Isratan Biwi She felt uneasy after reaching the polling booth and died on the spotTension broke out in front of a polling booth in Barwan Assembly constituency in minoritydominated Murshidabad district after the Trinamool Congress leadership alleged that the EVM button was pressed in favour of the ruling party candidates but the vote was getting registered in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP candidateThe polling was stopped for some time However later the polling resumed following the intervention of the ECIappointed general observer for Barwan Ujjwal Singh and the security personnelSingh while describing the allegation as impossible said that since an allegation has been floated the matter would be investigatedMeanwhile fresh tension broke out in the Naoda Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district where Humayun Kabir the former Trinamool Congress legislator who recently floated his own political party is contesting As his convoy reached the Shibnagar area in Naoda it was attacked allegedly by the Trinamool Congress activists However because of the intervention by the Central Armed Police Forces CAPF tension subsided soonAmid such stray incidents former state Congress president in West Bengal and fourtime Congress Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury who is the party candidate this time from Berhampur Assembly constituency also in Murshidabad district expressed satisfaction with the ECI in ensuring overall peaceful polls so farThe incidents of voter intimidation and harassment eviction of the opposition polling agents and largescale violence which became a regular election feature in the last few years are not evident much this time till noon âThe role of ECI this time is really commendableâ he saidThe Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said that of the 152 constituencies where polling is being conducted in the first phase on Thursday the BJP might be able to bag up to 125 constituencies IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-635-complaints-registered-with-eci-in-first-four-hours-of-voting-670835.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-africa-forum-summit-to-shape-next-phase-of-our-partnership-eam-jaishankar--670837.html New Delhi April 23 IANS External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar said on Thursday that the India Africa Forum Summit IAFSIV will shape the next phase of the partnership between two sides stressing that it would be more ambitious inclusive and futureorientednbspThe EAMs statement came as he unveiled the logo theme and website of the summit to be hosted by India in collaboration with the African Union Commission here on May 31Joined African Ambassadors and those invested in IndiaAfrica friendship to launch the Logo Theme and Website of 4th India Africa Forum Summit The forthcoming Summit will shape the next phase of our partnership one that is more ambitious more inclusive and more futureoriented It will enable us to exchange best practices share successful experiences and discuss common challenges he said in a post on XJaishankar stated that the development partnership and capacitybuilding initiatives between India and Africa are driven by African priorities and local ownership He mentioned that the engagement of two sides has increased in various sectors like digital fintech and innovation reshaping economies across the African continentIndia and Africa have been deepening engagement in the International Solar Alliance the Global Biofuels Alliance the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the International Big Cat Alliance he noted He highlighted Indias consistent support to Africas rightful place in global governance demonstrated in the African Unions inclusion in the G20 during Indias 2023 presidencynbspHighlighting Indias growing diplomatic footprint in Africa he said that India and Africa are not just partners in development but partners in shaping a better worldThe IAFSIV will bring together leaders from the African continent the African Union Commission and representatives from regional organisations to strengthen the enduring IndiaAfrica partnership and lay out a roadmap for further expanding cooperation in various sectors according to a Ministry of External Affairs MEAnbsp statementThe summit will be held under the theme IA SPIRIT India Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation Resilience and Inclusive Transformation demonstrating the comprehensive nature of the IndiaAfrica partnership In the leadup to the summit a series of preparatory meetings will be held including the IndiaAfrica Foreign Ministers Meeting on May 29 preceded by the Senior Officials Meeting on May 28 which will deliberate on key areas of cooperation between India and AfricaThe IndiaAfrica Forum Summit is an important platform for fostering dialogue with African countries and the AU Commission and advancing mutually beneficial collaboration guided by the principles of mutual respect equality solidarity and shared prosperity The last edition of the IndiaAfrica Forum Summit resulted in a major expansion of Indian development assistance and capacity building programs for Africa the MEA statement saidAccording to the MEA the upcoming summit will be a landmark engagement for further cementing close ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Africa and strengthening partnership under the SouthSouth framework It will also be an occasion to showcase good governance and inclusive development initiatives developed over the past 10 yearsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-africa-forum-summit-to-shape-next-phase-of-our-partnership-eam-jaishankar--670837.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/records-will-be-broken-this-time-pm-modi-on-bengal-voting-lauds-eci-for-largely-peaceful-polls-670838.html Kolkata April 23 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday gave full credit to the Election Commission of India ECI for ensuring overall peaceful and violencefree polls in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly election being held in 152 constituenciesnbspToday the first phase of voting in West Bengal is underway I congratulate all the voters Everyone should celebrate the festival of democracy There has been less violence this time so far Earlier people were hanged and the ruling party claimed it was suicide I congratulate the Election Commission of India the Prime Minister said while addressing a campaign rally at Krishnanagar in Nadia district which is going to polls in the second phase on April 29The Prime Minister also expressed confidence in the high polling percentage recorded till afternoon and the enthusiasm with which voters were waiting in long queues in front of the polling booths ignoring the scorching heat to cast their votesThe manner in which the polling is going on and the enthusiasm with which the voters are voting it seems all records will be broken this time The state government employees are working responsibly to make the polling process peaceful I congratulate all of them the Prime Minister saidSpeaking on the occasion he also indirectly criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee without taking her name over the latters jibes about PM Modis unexpected stop in Jhargram for a quick bite of the popular Bengali street snack the jhalmuri during his last campaign rally in the state on April 19I heard that my jhalmuri matter jolted some people here The funny thing is that I consumed Jhalmuri and the Trinamool Congress felt the heat After the results are declared on May 4 the BJP will celebrate victory in West Bengal At that time both sweets and jhalmuri will be distributed the Prime Minister saidAccording to him in West Bengal elections this time the battle is more between Trinamool Congress and common people rather than between the BJP and Trinamool CongressThis time the state government employees are voting after coming out of fear Doctors are voting for better medical systems Lawyers are voting to ensure justice Teachers are voting for a fearfree educational system The police are voting to serve the public the Prime Minister saidHe also said that during his recent tours he had realised how the people of West Bengal are frustrated with the misrule of Trinamool Congress I have realised how sick people are of corruption extortion and hooliganism There are many districts where Trinamool Congress will not be able to open their accounts this time the Prime Minister saidKrishnanagar is voicing strong discontent against TMCs misgovernance and lack of accountability People are tired of its corruption and inefficiency the PM saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/records-will-be-broken-this-time-pm-modi-on-bengal-voting-lauds-eci-for-largely-peaceful-polls-670838.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/piyush-goyal-slams-congress-over-indiasouth-korea-fta-as-poorly-negotiated-670839.html New Delhi April 23 IANS Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday that the IndiaSouth Korea free trade agreement FTA signed in 2009 and brought into effect in 2010 during the Congressled UPA II government is the result of a poorly negotiated imbalanced agreement tilted against IndianbspSince then bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries has increased by 927 per cent with Indias imports rising by 1037 per cent clearly not favouring India Thus while overall trade expanded the trade deficit also widened the minister pointed out in a post on social media platform XHe further stated that in 2015 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the Republic of Korea met and agreed to commence negotiations to amend the IndiaKorea CEPA comprehensive economic partnership agreement with a view to achieving both qualitative and quantitative growth in trade through an agreed roadmapThereafter at the ministeriallevel meeting of the joint committee under the IndiaKorea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement IKCEPA the ministers announced the launch of renegotiations under which eleven rounds were held and an Early Harvest Package was agreed uponNow through sustained and concerted efforts the two countries have decided to go beyond the earlier agreed aspects and prioritise a more reciprocal and mutually beneficial partnership with a strong focus on key sectors of shared interest while also addressing nontariff barriers and rules of origin The renegotiation talks are expected to conclude by the end of 2026 or at the latest by mid2027At the same time consistent followup to enhance localisation and reduce import dependency of Korean companies operating in India has begun to yield results We are now witnessing genuine indigenisation and improved reciprocity he explainedAdditionally during the recent state visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to India it was announced that JSW Steel and the Republic of Koreas POSCO have formed a 5050 joint venture to establish a 6 MTPA greenfield integrated steel plant in Odisha with an estimated investment of Rs 35000 crore This joint venture route of investment is unlike earlier investments by Korean companies which were in the form of wholly owned subsidiaries Goyal pointed outnbspIn addition multiple MoUs have been signed between the two nations aimed at strengthening bilateral economic ties across trade industry strategic resources and clean energy enhancing technical cooperation and business matchmaking with a focus on the MSME sector and improving supply chain resilience and boosting industrial coproductionThe PM Modi governments approach is clear ensuring fair trade more balanced outcomes and a steady push to strengthen domestic manufacturing while firmly safeguarding national interests making this a winwin partnership the minister addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/piyush-goyal-slams-congress-over-indiasouth-korea-fta-as-poorly-negotiated-670839.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/55-000-km-tracks-renewed-for-safer-quicker-travel-on-indian-railways-pmo-670841.html New Delhi April 23 IANS Modernisation of railway tracks in the country is powering a faster and more dependable network and track renewal advanced testing and mechanised maintenance have improved ride quality and ensured higher speeds according to a statement issued by the Prime Ministers Office PMO on ThursdaynbspThese changes are reducing delays supporting smoother journeys and helping Indian Railways meet growing passenger and freight demand across the countryThe PMO referred to an article written by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw which highlights that since 2014 about 55000 km of tracks have been renewed thus improving safety and the ride quality and reducing the need for frequent repairsnbspAround 44000 km track of long rail panels have been laid Longer rail panels mean fewer joints which leads to smoother and safer train movement Over 80000 km track of stronger 60kg rails are now in use supporting heavier loads and higher speed the minister statednbspToday nearly 80 per cent of network handles train speeds of 110 km per hour or above and rail and weld failures have fallen by 90 per cent For passengers and businesses these changes are making a real difference the minister explainednbspThe track machine fleet has doubled from 748 in 2014 to 1785 in 2026 These machines carry out tamping ballast cleaning and rail grinding better faster and more evenly than manual worknbspThe track is the foundation on which this entire system works When it is in good shape trains run safely at higher speeds When it is not the results range from speed restrictions and delays to safety risks A cracked rail a loose fitting or a clogged ballast bed can all affect how a train moves the minister explainednbspHe further pointed out that more than 25000 trains run across India every day They carry more than 20 million passengers daily and move large quantities of coal iron ore grains steel cement and other commodities across a network of over 137000 km of tracksIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/55-000-km-tracks-renewed-for-safer-quicker-travel-on-indian-railways-pmo-670841.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-launch-samadhan-samaroh-to-settle-over-45-000-pending-cases-670842.html New Delhi April 23 IANS The Supreme Court is set to launch an ambitious mediationdriven initiative Samadhan Samaroh Supreme Court Action for Mediated Adjudication and Dispute Harmonisation Across Nation under the guidance of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant aimed at promoting amicable resolution of pending casesnbspnbspThe programme scheduled to be held from August 21 to 23 is designed to ensure doorstep delivery of justice by facilitating settlement of suitable cases through mediation and Lok Adalat mechanismsAccording to a circular issued by the Supreme Court Bar Association SCBA the initiative marks a significant step towards reducing pendency by encouraging consensual dispute resolution in appropriate matters identified by the apex courtThe Supreme Court of India under the guidance of Honble the Chief Justice of India has undertaken a significant initiative for doorstep delivery of justice through SAMADHAN SAMAROH aimed at facilitating amicable resolution of suitable pending cases the circular statedHighlighting the scale of the exercise the circular said that as many as 45098 cases across various categories have been identified by the top court for potential settlement under the initiativeThe Bar body has urged advocates to actively participate in the process and assist in identifying matters that can be resolved through mediation stating that their cooperation would be crucial to ensure the success of the initiativeThe cooperation and proactive participation of the Bar will be instrumental in making this initiative a meaningful success it addedUrging advocates to wholeheartedly participate in the settlement process the SCBA requested members to share details of their cases or indicate categories of matters fit for settlement with its office via email along with relevant particularsIt further stated that a Google Form link would soon be circulated to enable advocates to submit details of cases for consideration under the initiativeThe SCBA said that a highlevel meeting was convened on April 21 under the chairmanship of the CJI Surya Kant in the presence of judges of the top court including Justices Vikram Nath JK Maheshwari PS Narasimha Sandeep Mehta Prashant Kumar Mishra and Joymalya Bagchi The meeting was also attended by the Attorney General for India R Venkataraman Solicitor General Tushar Mehta SCBA President Vikas Singh and representatives of the Supreme Court AdvocatesonRecord Association among othersIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-launch-samadhan-samaroh-to-settle-over-45-000-pending-cases-670842.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-records-6118-pc-voter-turnout-tn-touches-56-pc-mark-670845.html KolkataChennai April 23 West Bengal had a voter turnout of 6118 per cent while Tamil Nadu had 5681 per cent by 1 pm as polling for the Assembly elections was ongoing according to data from the Election Commission of India ECI Polling began for 152 assembly constituencies scattered over 16 districts of West Bengal from 7 am on Thursday in the first phase of the twophase crucial Assembly polls Voter enthusiasm for the elections appeared to be quite high this time as long lines were seen in front of several polling stationsThe 16 districts where polling is being held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar Darjeeling Kalimpong Jalpaiguri Alipurduar North Dinajpur South Dinajpur and Malda in North Bengal and Murshidabad East Midnapore West Midnapore Jhargram Purulia Bankura West Burdwan and Birbhum in South BengalThe second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 assembly constituencies will be on April 29 âA total of 635 complaints were registered with the ECI till 11 am regarding the polling in the first phase of elections covering 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts Of the 635 complaints registered with the ECI 260 have been submitted physically to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO while another 375 have been submitted through the CVigil appMeanwhile polling for the highstakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies also began at 7 am with over 573 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4023 candidates in a fiercely contested fourcornered battle The electoral contest primarily features the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK making this one of the most competitive elections in recent yearsVoting commenced early in the morning with voters seen queuing up in large numbers at polling booths reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic processWith voter turnout expected to play a decisive role political parties are closely monitoring polling trends across constituenciesThe counting of votes is scheduled for May 4 when the electoral verdict will determine the next governments in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-records-6118-pc-voter-turnout-tn-touches-56-pc-mark-670845.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/row-erupts-over-bihars-satellite-township-plan-rohini-acharya-questions-land-transaction-ban-670846.html Patna April 23 A political controversy has erupted in Bihar following the state governmentâs decision to develop satellite townships in 11 cities including Patna As part of the plan the NDA government has imposed a temporary ban on the purchase and sale of land in the identified areas triggering sharp reactions from Opposition leaders Rohini Acharya daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav strongly criticised the move calling it shocking and difficult to understandIn a post on X Acharya alleged that the decision could adversely impact Biharâs already fragile economyâThe ban on land transactions in 11 major cities is shocking Given Biharâs current economic condition such a decision raises serious questions about intentâ she saidShe further argued that land transactions form a significant source of revenue and livelihood for manyâThis impractical decision will worsen the stateâs financial condition For common people land transactions are often a means to fulfil social and economic responsibilities as well as a source of financial securityâ she addedAcharya also raised concerns over the implementation of the proposed township projects alleging that the development work could be handed over to corporate entitiesShe claimed that valuable land might be allocated at low rates only to be later sold at high prices within these townshipsThe Bihar government however maintains that the move is aimed at planned urban expansion and the development of modern infrastructure across key cities in the stateThe issue is expected to intensify political debate in the coming days as the Opposition continues to question the intent and potential impact of the policyThe Samrat Choudhary government on Wednesday approved 22 proposals in the Cabinet meeting held in Patna and one of the most important decisions taken during the meeting was the imposition of an immediate moratorium on purchase sale transfer of land development of land and constructionIt is applied to designated township areas across several cities and townsIt is applicable to townships in Patna Sonepur Gaya Darbhanga Saharsa Purnea and Munger till March 27 2027 and in Muzaffarpur Chhapra Bhagalpur and Sitamarhi till June 30 2027 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/row-erupts-over-bihars-satellite-township-plan-rohini-acharya-questions-land-transaction-ban-670846.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sslc-exam-results-karnataka-records-941-pc-pass-rate-sharp-rise-from-last-year-girls-outshine-boys-670848.html Bengaluru April 23 Karnataka on Thursday recorded a historic performance with a pass percentage of 941 per cent in the SSLC Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination1 Class 10 results this year Authorities have reported a sharp rise in the overall pass percentage along with improved outcomes across categories Girls have outperformed boys in the board examinationIt may be noted that the state government has reduced the minimum passing marks from 35 per cent to 33 per centThe SSLC Exam1 was conducted from March 18 to April 2A total of 724794 have passed the examination taking the passing percentage to 941 per cent against 8004 per cent in 202425A total of 775999 regular fresh students registered for the examination of whom 770209 appeared while 5790 students were absentThe attendance rate stood at an impressive 992 per centThe girls have outperformed boys in the board exams by achieving the passing percentage of 9618 the passing percentage of boys stood at 91 94 per centA total of 377922 girl students and 346872 boys have appeared for the examsAccording to official data the pass percentage among regular fresh students stood at 941 per cent this year marking an increase of 1406 percentage points compared to the combined results of all three exams last yearNotably rural students 9480 per cent outperformed their urban counterparts 932 per cent registering a higher pass percentageGovernment schools also recorded a significant improvement with a 168 percentage point increase in pass percentage compared to last yearAnother key highlight is the rise in individual student performance Around 665 per cent of students scored 60 per cent and above Additionally 1532 students benefited from the reduction in the minimum passing marks from 35 per cent to 33 per centKarnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa while announcing the Class 10 results extended congratulations lauded the efforts of officials students and parents for achieving the milestone and also acknowledged the contribution of senior officials Deputy Director of Public Instruction officers Block Education Officers and teachers for their role in delivering the resultsEvaluation of answer scripts was carried out across 237 camps in 35 districts and was completed on April 16The results have been communicated to students and parents via SMS and WhatsApp In a first marks cards have also been made available through DigiLockerOfficials noted that students across all categories performed well this year with no significant gaps observedThe 924 per cent candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste category 9317 per cent of Scheduled Tribe and 9535 hailing from general category have passed the examsThe number of schools achieving a 100 per cent pass rate has increased and notably no government school recorded a zero per cent result this yearAuthorities described the outcome as a reflection of sustained efforts to improve academic performance and ensure equitable results across regions and school typesThe coastal district of Mangaluru stood first by achieving 9840 per cent Udupi stood next with 9818 per cent and Karwar district stood at third position with 9808 per cent Bengaluru North 9533 per cent Bengaluru Rural 9583 per cent and Bengaluru South district 9164 per cent of students passed the examsKalaburagi district in North Karnataka stood at the bottom of the list with 8506 per centIt can noted that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and his son and Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Priyank Kharge hail from this districtPrarthana Nagappa Biradar Patil of Government High School at Kategeri in Belagavi district Bharath G of Sri Vidyalakshmi English Medium School at Kabbala in Davanagere district Brunda M Tapse of St Maryâs High School in Fort Chikkamagaluru Dhanush Sudhir Mysore of Poorna Prajna Education Centre at Sadashivanagar in Bengaluru Preetham G Poojary of Mother Theresa Memorial School at Shankaranarayana in Udupi district Soujanya Basavaraj Kandakur of Oxford English Medium High School at Nagaranabetta in Vijayapura district and Sukhadeva of BVR English Medium High School at Manvi in Raichur district have scored a perfect 625 out of 625 marks IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sslc-exam-results-karnataka-records-941-pc-pass-rate-sharp-rise-from-last-year-girls-outshine-boys-670848.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tamil-nadu-5681-pc-voter-turnout-till-1-pm-670854.html Chennai April 23 Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 5681 per cent till 1 pm on Thursday as polling progressed steadily across all 234 Assembly constituencies in a single phase election marked by a fourcornered contest The battle features the DMKled alliance the AIADMKled front Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and actor Vijayâs Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVKA total of 4023 candidates are in the fray with over 573 crore voters eligible to cast their ballotsAmong districts Tiruppur registered the highest turnout at 6297 per cent followed by Namakkal 6251 per cent Erode 6179 per cent and Salem 6142 per cent The Nilgiris recorded the lowest turnout at 5042 per cent with Kanyakumari 5035 per cent and Tirunelveli 5073 per cent also witnessing relatively lower participationFormer Chief Minister O Panneerselvam cast his vote in Periyakulam in Theni district Speaking to reporters he said the political impact of Vijay would be known only after the results are declaredFilm personalities also joined voters in exercising their franchise and appealed for greater participation Director K Bhagyaraj voted in Chennaiâs Thousand Lights constituency along with his family and urged voters especially the youth to think about the next five years while casting their voteActor Yogi Babu cast his vote in the Maduravoyal constituency after standing in a queue and called upon citizens to recognise the importance of voting and ensure they take part in the democratic processMeanwhile election authorities acted against violations of poll rules In Tirupattur a TVK functionary was arrested for allegedly recording a video inside a polling booth while casting his vote which is prohibited under Election Commission normsPolling is being conducted under tight security arrangements across the State with officials closely monitoring the process to ensure free and fair elections The counting of votes will take place on May 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tamil-nadu-5681-pc-voter-turnout-till-1-pm-670854.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jan-aakrosh-mahila-padyatra-sees-major-turnout-in-shimla-670855.html Shimla April 23 The Jan Aakrosh Mahila Padyatra organised by the BJP Mahila Morcha here witnessed an overwhelming turnout transforming into a show of strength by women from across the state The rally emerged not merely as a political event but as a decisive assertion of womenâs rights dignity and participation in governanceThe event was presided over by Mahila Morcha state President Daisy Thakur amid the presence of state party President Rajeev Bindal state incharge Shrikant Sharma Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and coin charge Sanjay TandonAddressing the gathering Payal Vaidya launched a sharp attack on the Congress stating that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was a historic step aimed at ensuring 33 per cent reservation for women from panchayats to the ParliamentShe said Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a special session of the Parliament to institutionalise womenâs participation in decisionmaking but the Congress and its allies sabotaged this opportunity for political reasonsQuestioning Congress leader Priyanka Gandhiâs slogan she claimed that when the real battle for womenâs rights arose the Congress chose to retreat exposing its hypocrisyDaisy Thakur termed the fall of the Bill as a âblack day in democratic historyâShe accused the Congress of consistently treating women as mere vote banks and denying them real empowermentâThis is not just a political issue but an attack on the dignity of millions of women and the response is now visible on the streetsâ she saidState Vice President Rashmi Dhar Sood said the Congress the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress collectively undermined womenâs aspirationsShe emphasised that those claiming to champion equality had in reality denied women their rightful place in governance âThis is not politics alone it is a question of social justiceâ she addedMLA Reena Kashyap accused the state government of misusing administrative machinery to obstruct the rally She alleged that buses carrying women particularly from Solan and nearby regions were deliberately stopped delayed and divertedâThis was a calculated attempt to suppress womenâs voices but the massive turnout proves that such tactics have failedâ she saidState President Bindal said by blocking the Womenâs Reservation Bill the Congress had âbetrayed 700 million women of the countryâ He highlighted that under Prime Minister Modiâs leadership women have been empowered economically socially and educationally over the past decade and the next logical step was their increased participation in governance IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jan-aakrosh-mahila-padyatra-sees-major-turnout-in-shimla-670855.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/three-minor-siblings-drown-in-aner-river-in-mps-barwan-670857.html BhopalBarwani April 23 Three siblings drowned while bathing in the Aner River in the Varla police station area of Madhya Pradeshs Barwani district said officials on Thursday The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday evening According to police officials the victims have been identified as Radha aged 10 Rajveer aged 8 and Jayveer aged 6 All three were children of Pawan Brahmane a resident of Deoli villageThe family had travelled to Bilwa Panali to visit their maternal uncleâs home where the accident occurred Their eldest sister Radhika was staying at another maternal uncleâs house at the time of the incident and was not present at the riverbank The children had gone to bathe in the Aner River when they slipped into deeper watersPolice officials said that while bathing one of the children drifted into deeper waters and began to drown In an attempt to save him a second child entered the water but also began to drown To rescue both of them the third child jumped into the river as well and all three were engulfed by the deep watersWhen the children did not return home by evening their family members grew concerned During the search their father Pawan Brahmane discovered the childrens clothes and slippers along the riverbank intensifying fears that a tragedy had occurredSubsequently a search operation was launched in the river with the assistance of the villagers After considerable effort the bodies of the three children were recovered from the riverUpon receiving the information the police arrived at the scene and the bodies were sent to Dhavali Hospital for a postmortem examinationA case of accidental death has been registered in the matter and an investigation has been initiated the police officials saidThe sudden loss has left the family and the local community in shock with grief spreading across the village IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/three-minor-siblings-drown-in-aner-river-in-mps-barwan-670857.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-1st-phase-elections-poll-percentage-significantly-high-at-6218-in-first-six-hours-670858.html Kolkata April 23 The polling percentage in the first six hours of the first phase of West Bengal Assembly polls on Thursday till 1 PM was significantly high at 6218 per cent As per records available from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO West Bengal the polling percentages in the first six hours till 1 PM in all the seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal in 2024 were much lowerThe respective poll percentages till 1 PM in the seven phases of polls in 2024 in West Bengal were 51 per cent in the first phase 473 per cent in the second phase 493 per cent in the third phase 519 per cent in the fourth phase 484 per cent in the fifth phase 548 per cent in the sixth phase and 451 per cent in the seventh phaseThis means that the average polling percentage of these seven phases of polls in West Bengal in 2024 in the first six hours was just 496 per centIncidentally addressing an election campaign rally at Krishnanagar in Nadia district earlier in the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed pleasure over the high percentage of pollingâThe manner in which the polling is going on and the enthusiasm with which the voters are voting it seems all records will be broken this timeâ the Prime Minister saidAssemblywise till 1 PM on Thursday the maximum polling percentage had been recorded at Samserganj in Murshidabad district at 7107 per cent Districtwise the maximum polling percentage till 1 PM had been recorded at Jhargram at 6531 per cent on ThursdayMeanwhile reports of pollrelated violence in the last two hours between 11 AM and 1 PM on Thursday were more than what was reported in the first four hours of polling earlier in the dayOn Thursday afternoon the vehicle of fashion designerturnedpolitician and the BJPâs legislatorcumcandidate from Asansol Dakshin Assembly constituency in West Burdwan district Agnimitra Paul was vandalised allegedly by Trinamool Congress supportersThe rearglass of her vehicle was totally smashed following the attack Later she registered a complaint in the matter with the local Hirapur Police StationMeanwhile a voter named Asim Roy died of heatstroke at Suri in Birbhum district of West Bengal while he was on his way to the polling booth on Thursday afternoon This is the second case of a voter dying of a heatstroke during the day IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-1st-phase-elections-poll-percentage-significantly-high-at-6218-in-first-six-hours-670858.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hyderabad-police-commissioner-urges-banks-to-ensure-zero-mule-accounts-670859.html Hyderabad April 23 Hyderabad Police Commissioner V S Sajjanar on Thursday asked the banks to focus on preventing cyber frauds by ensuring zero mule accounts The Hyderabad police chief recommended the introduction of a twinchallenge framework to reorient bank branch priorities away from accountopening targets and towards citizen safety and institutional integrityHe strongly advocated that both these challenges should be embedded as formal Key Performance Indicators KPIs at the branch level with branches achieving compliance to be formally recognised and rewarded by higher officials of the bankThe Police Commissioner held a conclave of senior bank officials to address bank account misuse and strengthen cyber fraud preventionThe conclave was held in the wake of Operation Octopus the Hyderabad City Polices coordinated twophase initiative to dismantle organised cyber fraud networks and the subsequent arrest of bank officials found potentially complicit in the opening of mule accountsThe meeting which was chaired by the Commissioner was coattended by Additional Commissioner of Police Crimes amp SIT M Srinivasulu and Reserve Bank of Indias Regional Director Chinmoy KumarThe coordination meeting was attended by 75 representatives from 45 public and private sector banksThe Commissioner said that no customer should fall victim to cybercrime Zero cybercrime victims is the measurable target â to be monitored via NCRP complaint data linked to the branchNo mule account should be opened at the branch Strict KYC compliance enhanced due diligence and realtime monitoring are the operational requirements underlying this target he saidThe Commissioner emphasised that bank managements must not treat the volume of account openings as a performance metric Branches that prioritise targets over diligence are the primary entry points for fraud networks Safe customer and zero mule account outcomes â not account volumes â must define branch performance he addedHe told the banks that they must adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards cybercrime at every level of the organisation â from frontline staff to senior managementKey Performance Indicators KPIs for branches must incorporate monitoring of NCRP complaints attributed to the branch with proactive remediation expected he saidBank staff must demonstrate empathy and offer prompt structured support to customers who have fallen victim to cyber fraud â including guiding victims to the national helpline 1930 and the cybercrime portal cybercrimegovinStrict disciplinary action must be taken against KYC verifiers found to be involved in fraudulent account openings accompanied by periodic forensic audits of accounts opened by flagged officials Any employee found complicit with cyber criminals should be blacklisted across the banking and financial services ecosystemAdvanced technological tools â including solutions such as Mule Hunter â must be adopted to detect and prevent mule account activity in real timeSajjanar said customers seeking to prematurely close Fixed Deposits must be proactively cautioned and verified particularly where fund transfers are involved to intercept cyber fraud in progressThe Commissioner provided a detailed briefing on the operating methods of cyber fraud syndicates currently active across India These networks are primarily headquartered in countries including Cambodia Vietnam and the UAE and engage intermediaries within India to procure bank accounts by colluding with bank officials â particularly KYC verifiers â to facilitate the siphoning of funds from Indian victimsThe briefing underscored the transnational and organised nature of these networks and the critical role that insider banking complicity plays in enabling them IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hyderabad-police-commissioner-urges-banks-to-ensure-zero-mule-accounts-670859.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-voter-turnout-reaches-70-per-cent-bengal-at-7877-per-cent-670861.html KolkataChennai April 23 The voter turnout for the West Bengal Assembly elections was recorded at 7877 per cent while that for Tamil Nadu stood at 70 per cent as of 3 pm according to data from the Election Commission of India ECI Polling began for 152 assembly constituencies scattered over 16 districts of West Bengal from 7 am on Thursday in the first phase of the twophase crucial Assembly pollsVoter enthusiasm for the elections appeared to be quite high this time as long lines were seen in front of several polling stationsThe 16 districts where polling is being held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar Darjeeling Kalimpong Jalpaiguri Alipurduar North Dinajpur South Dinajpur and Malda in North Bengal and Murshidabad East Midnapore West Midnapore Jhargram Purulia Bankura West Burdwan and Birbhum in South BengalThe second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 assembly constituencies will be on April 29 âA total of 635 complaints were registered with the ECI till 11 am regarding the polling in the first phase of elections covering 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districtsOf the 635 complaints registered with the ECI 260 have been submitted physically to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO while another 375 have been submitted through the CVigil appMeanwhile polling for the highstakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies also began at 7 am with over 573 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4023 candidates in a fiercely contested fourcornered battleThe electoral contest primarily features the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance the Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK making this one of the most competitive elections in recent yearsVoting commenced early in the morning with voters seen queuing up in large numbers at polling booths reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic processWith voter turnout expected to play a decisive role political parties are closely monitoring polling trends across constituenciesThe counting of votes is scheduled for May 4 when the electoral verdict will determine the next governments in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-voter-turnout-reaches-70-per-cent-bengal-at-7877-per-cent-670861.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-3714-pc-turnout-recorded-by-1-pm-in-umreth-assembly-bypoll-as-voting-continues-670862.html Anand April 23 Polling for the Umreth Assembly byelection in Gujarats Anand district continued through Thursday with 3714 per cent voter turnout recorded by 1 pm according to data released by the Election Commission of India Voting began at 7 am on Thursday across 306 polling stations in the Assembly constituency which covers 46 villages of Umreth taluka and parts of Anands rural area along with the municipalities of Ode Umreth and BoriaviA total of 245623 voters are eligible to decide the outcome in the poll contest involving six candidatesThe Election Commission has scheduled polling to continue until 6 pm while counting of votes will be held on May 4Officials said voting has been proceeding in a structured manner under tight administrative supervision with around 1348 polling personnel deployed on duty assisted by 22 micro observers and 19 nodal officersNearly 1500 officials in total are engaged in the polling processWebcasting has been enabled at all polling stations to ensure continuous monitoringSecurity arrangements remain in place with the deployment of two Deputy Superintendents of Police four Police Inspectors around 500 police and home guard personnel and three companies of the Central Reserve Police ForceTo ensure accessibility election authorities have arranged 218 wheelchairs for elderly and differentlyabled voters supported by 361 volunteers across polling stationsSix dedicated vehicles have also been provided for voters aged 85 years and above and persons with disabilities to assist them in reaching polling centresVoter Assistance Booths have been set up at all stations to provide guidance and informationThe electorate includes 4174 firsttime voters aged between 18 to 19 years along with 1556 voters aged above 85 years and 1546 differentlyabled personsOfficials said some voters from these categories have already cast their votes through home voting arrangements conducted ahead of the polling dayEarlier 212 electionduty staff members exercised their vote through postal ballots between April 15 to 17Authorities have also put in place medical arrangements in coordination with hospitals in Anand Bhalej and Karamsad to provide emergency care to election personnelORS packets have been made available at polling stations as a precaution against heatrelated conditionsVoters are permitted to use any one of 12 approved identity documents including Aadhaar card passport driving licence and voter ID while nonresident Indian voters must produce their original passport for identification at polling stations IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-3714-pc-turnout-recorded-by-1-pm-in-umreth-assembly-bypoll-as-voting-continues-670862.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-board-declares-class-10-results-priyanshu-kumari-tops-with-9960-pc-670866.html Ranchi April 23 The Jharkhand Academic Council on Thursday afternoon declared the results of the Class 10 matriculation examination recording an overall pass percentage of 9527 per cent Priyanshu Kumari secured the top position in the merit list by scoring 498 out of 500 marks which is 9960 per centAs per figures released by the council 424001 students registered for the matriculation examination this year of whom 422109 appeared for the test A total of 402178 candidates were declared successfulCategorywise results show that 226957 students passed in the first division 160673 in the second division while 14548 students cleared the examination in the third divisionThe results show a strong academic outcome as a large number of students have secured first division marksStudents can check their results on the official websites of the Jharkhand Academic Council jacresultscom and jacjharkhandgovin by entering their roll code and roll number in the matric result link available on the homepage The scorecard will be displayed on the screen and can be downloaded for future referenceApart from the websites results are also available on the official DigiLocker platformThe council clarified that the online results are provisional in nature Original mark sheets and pass certificates will be distributed through the respective schools after being sent by the councilSuccessful students must now contact their educational institutions to obtain the certificates required for admission to higher secondary educationThe administration had ensured all necessary technical arrangements to facilitate the smooth release of results preventing any inconvenience to students caused by heavy website trafficAuthorities said adequate technical arrangements were in place to ensure a smooth release of results and to prevent inconvenience to students due to heavy website trafficThey said this yearâs results indicate a high success rate due to academic reforms improved teaching standards and better preparedness in both government and private schools IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-board-declares-class-10-results-priyanshu-kumari-tops-with-9960-pc-670866.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-reprimands-ec-over-imposing-restrictions-on-bike-movement-before-bengal-polls-670867.html Kolkata April 23 The Calcutta High Court on Thursday strongly criticised the Election Commission over imposing restrictions on the use of motorbikes two days before the Assembly polls in Bengal On Thursday Justice Krishna Rao told the Election Commission that it was abusing its power and citizens were being harassed in this way After the judgeâs observation the Election Commission will submit an affidavit to the court on Friday In the affidavit the Election Commission will explain why the restrictions were imposed two days before the election The poll panel can also tell the court about past bad incidents regarding bikesOn Thursday Justice Rao also told the Election Commission that the rights of ordinary citizens cannot be taken away in this wayThe judge commented that it could stop the cars too Even then people can carry bombs and guns and create chaos said the judgeThe judge further asked the Election Commission to show the court how many cases in the last five years were examples of bike gangs creating chaosThe court was of the view that this was a step that had been taken to halt everything two days before the election The judge further said that this was being done to cover up the failure of the authoritiesThe Election Commission issued a notification on Tuesday stating that no bike processions will be allowed two days before the pollsThe commissions notification stated that bikes can be ridden only from 6 AM to 6 PM two days before the election However no passenger will be allowed to sit on the back of the bike during this time Bikes can be ridden from 6 AM to 6 PM on the day of the electionHowever this exemption will be available only if the bike is used for voting or for any urgent workThe Commission stated that these restrictions will not be effective for urgent needs like medical emergency family work or taking children to and from school Those who ride bikes to go to social events have also been exemptedAccording to the Commission this rule will not be effective for other Appbased cab and food delivery services Apart from this if anyone wants to get exemption from the restrictions he will have to take written permission from the local police station the poll panel saidChallenging this order of the Election Commission the attention of the Calcutta High Court was drawn to the directives on WednesdayJustice Rao allowed the case to be filed and the hearing of that case was held on Thursday Tomorrow the Election Commission will submit an affidavit in this regard IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-reprimands-ec-over-imposing-restrictions-on-bike-movement-before-bengal-polls-670867.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-police-bust-illegal-cattle-transportation-in-operation-670870.html Guwahati April 23 In a coordinated crackdown on suspected illegal cattle transportation police in Assams Bongaigaon district seized 23 cattle during a joint operation officials said on Thursday The raid was carried out at the residence of an alleged cattle smuggler identified as Mannat Ali located in Bartari a sensitive border area between Bongaigaon and Barpeta districtsThe operation was conducted jointly by teams from Abhayapuri and Mererchar police stations under the supervision of the SubDivisional Police Officer SDPO of AbhayapuriAccording to police sources the search operation led to the recovery of the cattle which were suspected to have been transported in violation of existing regulationsFollowing the seizure the animals were taken into custody and shifted to Abhayapuri Police Station where they are currently being keptOfficials said a detailed investigation has been initiated to ascertain the source of the cattle their intended destination and whether an organised network may be involvedAuthorities are also examining possible violations under relevant laws governing cattle transportation and smugglingNo arrests have been confirmed so far in connection with the case and police indicated that further action would depend on the findings of the ongoing probeMeanwhile the GoriaMoriaDeshi National Council has raised concerns over what it described as the continued prevalence of illegal activities in the regionThe organisation alleged that cattle smuggling along with illicit timber trade has been taking place in parts of Bongaigaon district for a considerable periodCalling for stricter enforcement the council urged the administration to intensify surveillance and take decisive steps to dismantle such networksIt also emphasised the need for coordinated action among enforcement agencies to prevent recurrence of such incidentsPolice officials however said that operations against illegal activities are being carried out regularly and reiterated their commitment to curbing smuggling and related offences in the districtFurther details are expected as the investigation progresses IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-police-bust-illegal-cattle-transportation-in-operation-670870.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/such-disgraceful-conduct-cant-be-normalised-bjp-to-eci-over-kharges-terrorist-remark-670721.html New Delhi April 22 IANS A delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP met the Election Commission of India ECI on Wednesday to lodge a strong protest against Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharges terrorist remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to demand exemplary action to serve as a deterrent for others who try to breach political red linesnbspThe highlevel BJP delegation comprised Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju Nirmala Sitharaman and Arjun Ram Meghwal and BJP national General Secretary Arun Singh who all urged the Election Commission to intervene and take action against venomous remarks by the Congress chiefParliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju while speaking to the media said the BJP delegation conveyed the partys deep sorrow and anger over the abominable language used by Congress president against the Prime Minister and called for taking immediate cognisanceRijiju further said For Kharge to call PM Modi a terrorist is not just a remark but a grave insult to the entire nation Such disgraceful conduct cannot be normalisedAccording to him the poll panel has taken note of their concerns and assured them of adequate action over namecalling in the midst of electionsRijiju further informed that they have demanded that the Congress party and Kharge apologise before the nation and exemplary action should follow so that a clear message goes down in the political discourse so that no one dares to cross the limitsNirmala Sitharaman too in scathing criticism of the Congress party called out its pattern and history of abusing the Prime MinisterToday we appeared before the polling commission to bring to their notice that the President of Congress and the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha have spoken in such condemnable words The Congress has shown a pattern of repeatedly using abusive language against the Prime Minister Sitharaman saidTheres no change or correction in their course They have not changed their approach she addedTerming the conduct outrageous she said that this was driven by the Congress partys deep hatred for the Prime Minister and this calls for a firm and stern action against the guiltyBJPs anger and outrage over Kharge follows the latters obnoxious remarks made against the Prime Minister during a presser in Tamil Nadu on the last day of the poll campaignThough Kharge later claimed that this was not what he meant it has failed to convince the BJP which smells a motive and pattern by the Congress leader just ahead of electionsKharges remarks that created a political firestorm read How can these AIADMK people join hands with Modi when their party itself was founded by Annadurai He is a terrorist His party does not believe in equality and justice These people are joining with them it means they are weakening democracyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/such-disgraceful-conduct-cant-be-normalised-bjp-to-eci-over-kharges-terrorist-remark-670721.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jampk-police-conduct-security-audit-of-shiv-khori-shrine-surrounding-areas-670722.html Jammu April 22 The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday conducted a comprehensive security audit of the area surrounding the Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district As part of the visit the district Senior Superintendent of Police SSP Mukund Tibrewal inspected the area and the key police installations including the Domail Checkpoint Special Police Post Ikhni and SPP Jhandi Morh to assess the prevailing security arrangements and operational readinessHe was accompanied by Additional SP of Reasi Iftkhar Ahmed and Deputy SP of Pouni Smriti Sharma At SPP Ikhni and SPP Jhandi Morh SSP Tibrewal carried out a detailed review of deployment patterns and operational preparednessHe directed personnel to maintain a structured roster for daily area domination and longrange patrols Emphasising the use of technology he stressed optimising patrol mechanisms and strengthening engagement with local communities and Village Defence Guards VDGs particularly in remote and mountainous areasThe SSP also reviewed infrastructure availability of ancillary equipment and preparedness for night operations During the inspection of Police Station Ransoo he conducted a thorough review of critical sections including the Malkhana record room lockup facilities and other operational unitsSpecial emphasis was placed on accurate maintenance of records proper storage and handling of case property and improving overall working conditions within the premises He directed officers and staff to ensure meticulous documentation and systematic record management underlining the importance of professionalism accountability and adherence to established proceduresThe inspection underscores the unwavering commitment of Reasi Police to maintaining high standards of policing strengthening institutional accountability and ensuring robust security preparedness Reasi Police said they remain dedicated to the safety and security of residents as well as tourists visiting the districtPolice regularly check the security arrangements in Reasi district as the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is located in Katra town which is part of the same district Each year lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country and abroad visit the shrine to pay obeisance at the deityâs shrine atop the Trikuta Hills in KatraIt may be recalled that in June 2024 at least nine people were killed and 33 injured after a bus full of pilgrims was attacked by terrorists and it plunged into a gorge in the Reasi district IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jampk-police-conduct-security-audit-of-shiv-khori-shrine-surrounding-areas-670722.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/one-year-since-pahalgam-argentina-backs-indias-fight-against-terrorism-670723.html New Delhi April 22 Argentinas Ambassador to India Mariano Caucino on Wednesday paid tribute to the victims of Pahalgam terror attack expressing his countrys support to India in its right to defend itself India is on Wednesday observing one year of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in which Pakistanbacked terrorists gunned down 26 innocent tourists after identifying their religion in one of the most brutal incidents targetting civilians in recent yearsIn an interview with IANS Caucino said One year after this terrible terrorist attack we want to commemorate the day and pay tribute to those who were lost to their families to their loved ones and absolutely condemn terror and all forms of terrorism The Argentine government has been so emphatic on this supporting India in its right to defend itself and its people So we are supporting the government of India and we know what terrorism isThe attack in Pahalgam was carried out by The Resistance Front TRF an offshoot of the Pakistanbased LashkareTaiba The attackers singled out victims after asking about their religion forcing them to recite the Islamic kalima to identify nonMuslims Among those killed were 25 tourists and one local pony ride operator who tried to save the touristsWhen asked whether peace talks between the US and Iran will lead to any conclusion Caucino responded We hope of course everybody wants this war to be concluded and this conflict to be in a way solved Its not so easy In the Middle East there are a number of conflicts this is one of them But we hope there are peace efforts on the way and we hope this brings stability to the world and to the world economy And of course we are supporting the operation in the sense that some countries are promoting terrorism and that is not acceptableEarlier in the day US President Donald Trump unilaterally extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely hours before it was to expire even though Tehran refused to attend a second round of talks that Trump had said were imminentAmbassador Caucino stressed that oil is still important in the world and will continue to be a geopolitical factor for the next few decadesI think geopolitically the truth is that oil is still important in this world Although there are numerous countries including mine that have a huge reserve of energy for example gas in the case of Argentina but its a world in which we are still dependent on these types of energy resources So I think although Im not an expert on energy I think for a while it will continue being a geopolitical factor maybe for the time we are going to be alive for the next few decades So I think its still a major issue on the global stageHe praised Indias decision to diversify energy resources and said that Argentina can provide energy security to New DelhiEverybody is trying to diversify the energy resources or the energy provisions I think thats a natural course that every country is trying to do In the case of India you are following a strategy of diversifying your energy resources provisions Argentina has already been doing work in that sense especially since last month since this disruption emerged We think that it is wise from Indian side to diversify and Argentina is a country that can not only provide food security to India but also energy security IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/one-year-since-pahalgam-argentina-backs-indias-fight-against-terrorism-670723.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/life-ended-the-day-we-received-news-of-his-death-father-of-pahalgam-terror-attack-victim-lt-vinay-narwal-670726.html Karnal April 22 A year into one of the worst terrorist attacks on tourists in India life seems to have stopped there itself for families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack Rajesh Narwal father of slain Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal who was one of the victims on Wednesday said that life has never been the same for the family On April 22 last year at least 26 people were killed after Pakistanbased terrorists opened fire on innocent civilians in the Baisaran valley of Pahalgam in Jammu and KashmirA newlymarried woman sitting beside the lifeless body of her husband Lt Vinay Narwal remains one of the most haunting images of the attackSpeaking to reporters at his residence in Karnal the bereaved father said There is a world of difference between our life before receiving the news of the attack to what it is now Before the incident we used to be happy and content but now life has been similar to a huge disaster It is extremely difficult to pass each moment with this pain in our heartsRajesh Narwal shared that being the head of the family it is more tough for him as he has to manage his old parents wife and daughterI cant even express my feelings to any of them because they get emotional whenever we discuss it We are just going along with our lives as long as we have to live otherwise it had ended the day we received the news he saidHe expressed that the void can never be filled and that such wounds dont heal with time There is no ambition no energy nothing left in our lives he saidSpeaking about the dreams of his son who had just got married a few days before the dastardly attack claimed his life Rajesh Narwal said His life as a Navy officer had just begun He had made plans for the future about what all he wished to achieve and even used to maintain a diary for that Sometimes I read that when I am able to gather courage But I still dont have the strength to carry on and fulfill his plansHowever Narwal was optimistic that maybe one day he would be able to fulfill his sons aspiration to work for mankindHe was such an honest child and achieved so much at such a young age He never engaged in fights not even with his siblings Moreover he used to jump into other peoples problems as if his own he addedThe father of the slain officer also spoke about receiving support from the government According to the protocol the government and the administration have helped us They also keep asking about our familys wellbeing from time to time he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/life-ended-the-day-we-received-news-of-his-death-father-of-pahalgam-terror-attack-victim-lt-vinay-narwal-670726.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/atal-pension-yojana-surpasses-historic-9-crore-gross-enrolments-670733.html New Delhi April 22 The Union government said on Wednesday that the Atal Pension Yojana APY has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing total gross enrolments of nine crore subscribers Gross enrolments during the Financial Year 2025â26 crossed 135 crore subscribers marking the highestever enrolments recorded in a single financial year since the inception of the scheme according to a Finance Ministry statementLaunched on May 9 2015 with the vision of establishing a universal social security system for all Indians APY is a flagship social security scheme of the Union government administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority PFRDAAccording to the Ministry APY is designed to provide a Sampurna Suraksha Kavach Complete Security Shield by ensuring benefits like a guaranteed monthly pension ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 for subscribers after attaining 60 years of ageAlso same pension continues to the spouse after the subscribers demise and the return of the corpus accumulated till the age of 60 to the nominee after the death of bothThe pension scheme is open to all Indian citizens between the age of 18 and 40 years except those who are or have been income taxpayersAPY is a voluntary contributory pension scheme primarily focused on the poor the underprivileged and workers in the unorganised sectorOver the past decade the scheme has witnessed remarkable growth driven by sustained efforts of banks Public Sector BanksRegional Rural BanksPrivate BanksSmall Finance BanksCooperative banks State Level Bankers CommitteeUnion Territory Level Bankers CommitteesLead District Managers the Department of Posts and continuous support from the Union government the official statement saidAccording to the Ministry PFRDA has played a proactive role in expanding the schemes footprint across all states and districts in the country through extensive outreach initiatives capacitybuilding programmes multilingual awareness materials media campaigns and regular performance reviews IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/atal-pension-yojana-surpasses-historic-9-crore-gross-enrolments-670733.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/farm-tourism-homestays-to-create-new-jobs-for-youth-in-haryana-670616.html Chandigarh April 21 The Haryana government aims to take tourism in the state to new heights through farm tourism and homestays which will create new employment opportunities for the youth officials said To achieve this issues faced by farm tourism and homestay operators will be resolved on a priority basis Amit Kumar Agrawal Haryana Commissioner and State Tourism Department Secretary said on Tuesday At a meeting here with farm tourism and homestay operators Agrawal said the state government is making efforts to promote tourism activities in the state Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is personally taking keen interest in the development of farm tourism and homestays in the state the Haryana Commissioner and State Tourism Department Secretary was quoted as saying During the meeting farm tourism and homestay operators apprised the department of issues related to various departments and requested their resolution They said that the global annual market for farm tourism and homestays is Rs 5000 crore and is continuously growing If the Haryana government addresses the challenges faced by this sector the state can achieve significant progress in this field they added The operators also highlighted difficulties related to necessary facilities and approvals required from different departments in detail Agrawal directed operators to submit their issues in writing within the next five days Based on these inputs a comprehensive farm tourism and homestay policy will be formulated in coordination with all departments and will be presented for Cabinet approval Once implemented it will ensure smooth functioning of these services Additionally services related to this sector will be notified under the Right to Service Act to ensure timely delivery within a stipulated period Agrawal said the state government is also studying policies implemented by other states related to agrotourism and homestays to make Haryanas policy more effective He added that as per the directions of the Chief Minister tourism and hospitality will be promoted on a par with other industries in the state to generate maximum employment opportunitiesHe also told that the Central government has included farm tourism and homestays under the ease of doing business framework IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/farm-tourism-homestays-to-create-new-jobs-for-youth-in-haryana-670616.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/portals-of-shri-kedarnath-dham-to-open-today-amid-grand-rituals-670620.html Rudraprayag April 22 The portals of Kedarnath Dham are set to open on Wednesday marking a significant moment in the annual pilgrimage season and allowing devotees to offer prayers at one of Hinduismâs most revered shrines The temple has been elaborately decorated with nearly 51 quintals of flowers creating a vibrant and spiritual atmosphere ahead of the opening ceremonyOn April 20 the doli proceeded from Phata to Gaurikund and on April 21 it began its final ascent toward Kedarnath The idol of Lord Kedarnath had been stationed at Omkareshwar Temple for 178 days during the winter monthsThe journey was marked by chants of âJai Baba Kedarâ that reverberated across the valley accompanied by performances by the Indian Armyâs Garhwal Rifles BandThe opening date of Kedarnath Temple is traditionally decided by the Char Dham Temple Committee at Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath on the occasion of Maha Shivratri In 2026 Maha Shivratri was observed on February 15The reopening of Badrinath Dham on April 23 will mark the full commencement of the Char Dham Yatra 2026 in Uttarakhand Preparations for the reopening of Badrinath Temple are already underwayFrom the Narsingh Temple which serves as the ceremonial seat of Adi Shankaracharya the palanquin of Garuda and other ritual elements have been dispatched toward BadrinathAll ceremonial palanquins are scheduled to assemble at Pandukeshwar for an overnight halt Following rituals on Wednesday they will proceed toward Badrinath expected to reach by evening after covering a 42kilometre journey The temple gates are set to open for devotees on April 23 at 615 amThere is visible enthusiasm among pilgrims with large numbers of devotees arriving from across India and abroad to undertake the sacred journeyThe Char Dham Yatra regarded as one of the most important spiritual pilgrimages in the country has already commenced with the reopening of Gangotri and Yamunotri on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya after a sixmonth winter closureAmid Vedic chants and traditional rituals the temple doors were opened ushering in a new pilgrimage season expected to attract lakhs of devotees The yatra connects four sacred shrines located in the Himalayas Yamunotri Gangotri Kedarnath and Badrinath each surrounded by snowclad peaks rivers and scenic mountain landscapesTraditionally the pilgrimage begins at Yamunotri followed by Gangotri then Kedarnath and concludes at Badrinath following a westtoeast sequenceAuthorities have made extensive arrangements to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage experience Measures have been implemented for security traffic regulation and healthcare services across the routeFacilities such as sanitation parking and accommodation have been strengthened while both online and offline registration systems are in place to manage the heavy inflow of devotees Police personnel and State Disaster Response Force teams have been deployed at key points with special focus on disaster preparednessHelplines and control rooms have also been activated to assist pilgrims and handle emergencies during the journey IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/portals-of-shri-kedarnath-dham-to-open-today-amid-grand-rituals-670620.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/yellow-alert-for-heatwave-in-delhi-temperature-set-to-touch-44-degrees-670629.html New Delhi April 22 New Delhi is likely to witness heatwave conditions from Wednesday to Friday with the mercury expected to soar to around 44 degrees Celsius in several parts of the national capital In view of the situation authorities have issued a yellow alert Despite gusty winds offering some temporary relief on Tuesday the maximum temperature stood at 388 degrees Celsius which is one degree above the seasonal normal The minimum temperature settled at 205 degrees Celsius and is expected to rise steadily reaching around 26 degrees Celsius by April 25The city experienced intense heat during the day with the base observatory at Safdarjung recording a maximum temperature of 388 degrees Celsius 11 degrees above normal levelsNotably Delhi is yet to officially record heatwave conditions this season even as temperatures continue to climb across various monitoring stationsAmong other key weather stations Palam recorded a maximum temperature of 386 degrees Celsius which is considered normal for this time of the year while Lodhi Road registered a higher reading of 390 degrees Celsius marking a departure of 20 degrees above normalThe Ridge area emerged as the hottest location in the city recording a maximum temperature of 402 degrees Celsius 18 degrees above normal Ayanagar also recorded elevated levels at 398 degrees Celsius which is 14 degrees above the averageOn the minimum temperature front Safdarjung recorded 205 degrees Celsius which is 22 degrees below normal Palam reported a minimum of 222 degrees Celsius 11 degrees below normalLodhi Road recorded a low of 188 degrees Celsius which is 32 degrees below normal levels while the Ridge station logged 223 degrees Celsius 08 degrees below normal Ayanagar recorded a minimum temperature of 212 degrees Celsius which is 12 degrees below the usual averageWith temperatures expected to rise sharply over the coming days residents are likely to face the first spell of heatwave conditions this season even as authorities remain on alert to manage the impact of extreme weather IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/yellow-alert-for-heatwave-in-delhi-temperature-set-to-touch-44-degrees-670629.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-elections-eci-focuses-on-robust-poll-day-arrangements-670631.html Chennai April 22 With polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled on Thursday the Election Commission ECI has put in place extensive arrangements across the state to ensure smooth peaceful and voterfriendly polling Officials said preparations are in full swing with a strong focus on infrastructure accessibility and realtime monitoring at polling stations A total of 75064 polling booths have been set up each equipped with essential facilities and supported by trained personnel The Commission has directed Chief Electoral Officers to ensure that every polling station is fully prepared to handle voters efficiently and without disruption To maintain law and order and ensure peaceful polling microobservers have been deployed at every polling station These officials will closely monitor the voting process and report any irregularities in real time strengthening transparency The distribution of Voter Information Slips VIS has also commenced to help voters easily identify their polling stations and verify their details in advance Minimum facilities at polling stations will include drinking water shaded waiting areas toilets with water supply adequate lighting ramps for persons with disabilities proper signage and wellmaintained booths Seating arrangements will also be made at regular intervals in queues to support voters particularly the elderly and differentlyabled As part of voter awareness efforts four standardised voter information posters will be prominently displayed at all polling stations These will provide details such as polling station information candidate lists voting procedures accepted identity documents and key dos and donâts for voters Voter Assistance Booths will be established at each polling station to help voters locate their polling station number and serial number in the electoral roll Clearly marked guide posters will also be placed along routes leading to polling centres to ensure easy navigation Additionally mobile phone deposit facilities will be provided outside polling stations Voters will be required to switch off their phones and hand them over to designated volunteers before entering the polling booth and can collect them after casting their vote Campaigning for the elections has concluded and the state has now entered the mandatory silence period ahead of voting The Election Commission has reiterated that all arrangements will be strictly monitored with field staff instructed to complete preparations well in advance to ensure a seamless and voterfriendly polling experience IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-elections-eci-focuses-on-robust-poll-day-arrangements-670631.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/direct-train-between-jammu-and-srinagar-to-start-on-april-30-670634.html Jammu April 22 Direct train service between Jammu and Srinagar will start on April 30 the Northern Railway officials said on Wednesday Officials said that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State PMO Dr Jitendra Singh will flag off the service at Jammu railway stationâVande Bharat Express will chug between Jammu and Srinagar on April 30 All preparations have been made The trains and tracks are ready Trials runs have been successful Security arrangements are in place And now the Railways Minister is scheduled to flag off the Vande Bharat Express train directly from Jammu to Srinagar on April 30â officials saidIn addition to Dr Jitendra Singh who is also the Lok Sabha member from KathuaUdhampur seat Jugal Kishore Lok Sabha member from Jammu constituency will also join the railway minister at the flagoff ceremonyAt present two Vande Bharat Express trains are operating between Katra and Srinagar and they will now be extended to Jammu with revised timings to be notified by the Railways DepartmentIn addition to two JammuSrinagar Vande Bharat trains two similar trains also run between New Delhi and Katra The launch of Vande Bharat Express trains will further enhance connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar and also reduce travel time between Jammu and SrinagarThe dream of a rail link between Kashmir and the rest of the country was nurtured for over a century but was finally realised when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the train from Katra town to Srinagar on June 6 2025On the same day the Prime Minister also inaugurated the UdhampurSrinagarBaramulla Rail Link USBRL project which provided the Valley with allweather rail connectivityWith the annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji starting on July 3 yatris can reach Jammu from across the country and then board a train for SrinagarSince all Yatris tourists and commuters cannot be accommodated in the train service the JammuSrinagar National Highway will continue to remain the major source of connectivity between the two divisions of the union territoryHowever in case of adverse weather conditions when the National Highway gets blocked the train services will be a great source of help for the commutersThe premium train service which has been running between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar for past over 10 months will now be extended up to Jammu TawiMarch 1 2026 was earlier announced as the date for the launch of the direct train between Jammu and Srinagar but the date was later deferredThe train currently operating between Srinagar and Katra with an eightcar Vande Bharat rake is now likely to run between Jammu and Srinagar with an upgraded 20car rakeThe Jammu railway division which looks after operational command in the union territory was inaugurated in January 2025 and notified from June 1 2025Since then it has expanded freight operations by setting up goods sheds and handling consignments ranging from military equipment to commercial cargo from different parts of the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/direct-train-between-jammu-and-srinagar-to-start-on-april-30-670634.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pahalgams-reckoning-how-india-crushed-terror-called-pakistans-bluff-670639.html New Delhi April 22 It has been exactly a year since Pakistanâs ISIbacked terrorists carried out one of the most horrific attacks in Pahalgam The victims were 26 innocent people and each one was shot pointblank after they were asked about their religion On the face of it the Pahalgam attack looked like it was executed only to disrupt the booming tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir The industry had started to look up since the abrogation of Article 370 and the death of separatism in the Valley But the officials caution and say that the attack had a large message and was not restricted only to the tourism industryIt was aimed at inciting the people of India over religion The ISI and Pakistanâs army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had blessed the attack and had hoped it would have an impact on Indiaâs communal harmonyCommunal harmony was disturbed but it was brief and the people of India saw the larger picture Counterterrorism officials say that for the Narendra Modi government there were plenty of tough calls to takeâTwo responses that defined Indiaâs response to terror from Pakistan were a change in doctrine and also Operation SindoorOfficials say that Pakistan had long taken advantage of the fact that India would treat every attack as an act of crossborder terrorism The national security planner of the country was firm this time and the doctrine was rewrittenIndia would henceforth treat every terror attack by Pakistan as an act of war This change in doctrine led to Operation Sindoor The brief operation by the Indian armed forces led to massive destruction of the terror infrastructure in PakistanThe most significant hits to be carried out both in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir PoK were the destruction of the LashkareTaibaâs primary training camp at Muridke Another significant hit was on the JaisheMohammadâs headquarters at Bahawalpur This facility was completely razed to rubble and the operation also successfully took out terrorists which included the family members of JaisheMohammad boss Masood AzharThe operation was so hardhitting and swift that it prompted a call from Pakistan seeking a ceasefire An official said Pakistan realised that seeking a ceasefire was the wisest thing to do India had successfully jammed Pakistanâs Chinesesupplied air defence systems that included the HQ9B This was when the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles came into play and proved to be decisive These missiles which travelled at speeds close to Mach 3 managed to evade interception while striking at highprofile targetsThe official said that not only did Operation Sindoor take down terror infrastructure but it also exposed the huge gap between the militaries of India and PakistanIslamabad stood completely exposed With the terror infrastructure being taken down the next important step was to hunt down the killers of PahalgamThe LashkareTaibaâs proxy The Resistance Front had claimed responsibility for the attack twice However it realised that Indiaâs response would be strong and hence it decided to withdraw its claim However for the Indian security forces hunting down these terrorists was extremely crucial both in terms of sending out a clear message to the victimsâ families as well as from a broader perspectiveOperation Mahadev was launched to track down the killers An officer who was part of the operation said it was one of the most comprehensive ones in recent yearsThe challenge was immense as these terrorists had slipped off into the dense forests in Jammu and Kashmir The security forces had to track down these terrorists battling treacherous conditions and also challenging terrains that included dense forests and mountainsThe officer said that they used drones and relied on realtime Intelligence The search area was narrowed down from 300 square kilometres to 25 The forces achieved success on July 28 The Special Para Forces managed to neutralise all three terrorists in the encounter The experts describe the events in the aftermath of the Pahalgam as pathbreaking Pakistanâs military stood exposed and the terror infrastructure was reduced to rubbleThe doctrine had changed and most importantly Pakistanâs nuclear bluff had been exposed thoroughly the experts say IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pahalgams-reckoning-how-india-crushed-terror-called-pakistans-bluff-670639.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mastermind-naseer-6-others-sentenced-in-2023-bengaluru-prison-radicalisation-case-670642.html New Delhi April 22 A total of seven persons including mastermind and LashkareTaiba LeT member T Naseer have been sentenced by a special court of the National Investigation Agency NIA in connection with the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case Apart from Naseer the court sentenced Syed Suhail Khan Mohammed Umar Zahid Tabrez Syed Mudassir Pasha Mohammed Faisal Rabbani and Salman Khan to seven years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 48000 each The sentences were awarded under various provisions of the IPC the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances ActThe accused had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges filed by the NIA in case RC282023NIADLI The case pertains to a terror conspiracy allegedly hatched inside the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru by Naseer The conspiracy involved the identification recruitment training conversion and radicalisation of vulnerable youth lodged in the prison to carry out terror activities in IndiaThe case was initially registered by the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch CCB in July 2023 after the seizure of arms ammunition and digital devices from habitual offenders Investigations revealed that the accused had planned to execute terror strikes in Bengaluru as part of the violent antiIndia agenda of the banned LeT outfitSubsequently the NIA took over the probe and uncovered a larger conspiracy aimed at facilitating Naseerâs escape while he was being transported from prison to court At the time Naseer was an undertrial in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blast casesFollowing a detailed investigation the NIA chargesheeted 11 arrested accused and one absconder identified as Junaid Ahmed Among them Salman Khan was extradited from Rwanda through coordinated efforts by Indian and Rwandan authorities Efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest the absconder Junaid AhmedEarlier on April 18 Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah had been arrested by the National Investigation Agency NIA in connection with a 30yearold case involving alleged attacks on police personnel IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mastermind-naseer-6-others-sentenced-in-2023-bengaluru-prison-radicalisation-case-670642.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/thrissur-fire-tragedy-death-toll-rises-to-13-veteran-firecracker-maker-quits-trade-after-narrow-escape-670648.html Thrissur April 22 The death toll in the Munthathikkode fireworks accident in Thrissur has risen to 13 District Collector Shikha Surendran has confirmed Seven bodies of victims have been recovered so far of which three have been identified while efforts are underway to establish the identity of the remaining deceased through scientific examinationThe identified victims include Sudarshanan 54 of Puthiyannur Vennur Vasudevan 54 of Kumaranellyoor Palakkad and Suvin 39 of KundannurTheir bodies have been handed over to relativesSeveral body parts recovered from the site remain unidentifiable and will require forensic analysisThirteen injured persons are currently under treatment across hospitalsSatheesh 46 and Praveen 45 are on ventilator support while others including Babu Rajesh Hari Anitha Akhil Udayakumar Bhavani and Vishnu are being treated at the Medical College HospitalSajan and Wilson are undergoing treatment at Elite Hospital while two others have been dischargedMedical teams at Thrissur Medical College remain on high alert and authorities have assured that all necessary care is being providedThe District Collector has also set up control rooms for information regarding missing persons or those involved in fireworks work at the site urging relatives and workers to come forward with detailsAmid the tragedy a remarkable story of survival has emerged 70yearold Wilson a veteran fireworks maker popularly known in the trade as âCracker Wilsonâ narrowly escaped the explosion In a moment of presence of mind he also helped four women reach safety before sustaining minor injuries himselfHe is currently undergoing treatment in the hospitalWilson who has been in the fireworks manufacturing business for 45 years said he was never afraid of the work he didHowever under strong pressure from his children he has decided to step away from his lifelong professionâEventually I have to listen to my children After such a long innings I have decided to end my crackermaking careerâ he said marking an emotional end to a decadelong association with the trade IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/thrissur-fire-tragedy-death-toll-rises-to-13-veteran-firecracker-maker-quits-trade-after-narrow-escape-670648.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nadda-bashes-kharges-terrorist-remark-says-cong-gone-berserk-out-of-fear-of-defeat-in-elections-670651.html New Delhi April 22 Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Wednesday hit out at Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge over the terrorist remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the people of the country will give a befitting response to the party He said that the Congress chiefs derogatory remarks were a grave insult to the mandate of the countrys 140 crore peopleKharge triggered a major political controversy on Tuesday while attacking AIADMKs alliance with the BJP ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly elections referring to PM Modi as a terrorist during a press conference He later clarified that he meant the Prime Minister was terrorising people and political parties and not that he was a terroristReacting to this Nadda took to X and said The use of the word terrorist by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji is a grave insult to the mandate of 140 crore countrymenThe issueless and visionless Congress has gone berserk out of fear of the impending defeat in the upcoming elections in five states In its attempt to snatch away womens rights it is facing the wrath of the public across the country irked by its eroding mass base Congress leaders are unable to digest the continuously rising popularity of Prime Minister Modi Ji he saidCondemning Kharges remarks the Union Minister said The shameful and derogatory language used by the Congress President against Prime Minister Modi Ji cannot be condemned enough no matter how strongly it is denouncedThe people of the country will surely give a befitting response to the Congress for its derogatory remark against the Prime Minister he addedEarlier on Tuesday Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a post on X slammed Kharge and accused Congress of repeatedly lowering the standards of public discourse âHe wrote that Kharge had breached every standard of public conduct and brought shame to the nation by calling the elected Prime Minister a terrorist âShah emphasised that PM Modi had curbed terrorism over the past twelve years and described the remark as highly condemnable âHe added that every time Congress hurls abuses at PM Modi the people of India respond and this time too the public will give its answer â IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nadda-bashes-kharges-terrorist-remark-says-cong-gone-berserk-out-of-fear-of-defeat-in-elections-670651.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rtc-buses-go-off-the-roads-in-telangana-as-employees-begin-strike-670654.html Hyderabad April 22 Public road transport services in Telangana came to a grinding halt on Wednesday as employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation TGSRTC began their indefinite strike in support of their demands TGSRTC buses went off the roads across the state since midnight as the Joint Action Committee JAC of employeesâ unions decided to go ahead with the strike following the failure of talks with the state governmentWith the RTC buses remaining confined to all 90 depots commuters faced severe hardships across the state including the capital Hyderabad At many places commuters were seen hiring private vehicles to reach their destinations Striking employees staged a protest outside the depots demanding that the government resolve their longpending demands Police tightened security at the depots to prevent any untoward incidentAt a few places TGSRTC was operating electric buses with the help of contract employeesTGSRTC operates about 9500 buses including 2500 hired buses and over 1000 electric buses About 25 lakh people travel by RTC buses across the state every dayMahatma Gandhi Bus Station MGBS in Hyderabad the biggest bus station in the state wore a deserted look A similar situation prevailed at Jubilee Bus Station JBS in Secunderabad and other bus stations in the state capital and all other districts TGSRTC Managing Director Nagi Reddy has appealed to the employees to return to work He stated that the government is ready to resolve its demands in a phased mannerHe alleged that a few unions were misleading the employees The MD said the government constituted a committee of IAS officers to address the demandsThe talks held Tuesday night between the JAC and the committee failed to resolve the deadlockThe committee sought four weeks to resolve the demands JAC leaders said their demands are not new They made it clear that they will continue the strike till their 32 demands are resolved JAC chairman Eeduru Venkanna told media persons that all unions have extended their support to the strike call Merging TGSRTC with the government is the main demand of the JAC The RTC JAC Chairman asserted that the government ignored the issue of merger even after explicitly including it in its election manifestoHe said that the government constituted a committee as a delaying tactic He recalled that the JAC served the strike notice 41 days agoVenkanna stated that they are compelled to resort to a strike due to unavoidable circumstances He alleged that under the pretext of introducing electric buses attempts are being made to transfer employees currently stationed at Hyderabad depots to the districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rtc-buses-go-off-the-roads-in-telangana-as-employees-begin-strike-670654.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/patna-daylight-jewellery-robbery-criminal-shot-in-leg-while-escaping-670657.html Patna April 22 In a significant development the Patna Police on Wednesday morning hunted down the criminal linked to the recent jewelry robbery in the city The accused identified as Dilip Kumar was suffered bullet injuries in the police encounter and is curently under medical supervision at the hospital The encounter broke out after the criminal purpotedly opened fire at the police personnel According to Kartikeya K Sharma Senior Superintendent of Police SSP Dilip was apprehended on suspicion and he later confessed his involvement in the daylight robbery that took place at Shri Lakshmi Alankar Jewelers located at Dhan Colony under the Ramkrishna Nagar police station limits in Patna on April 19During interrogation Dilip revealed that the weapons used in the crime had been concealed Acting on this information the police took him to the location for recoveryWhile at the site Dilip allegedly attempted to escape and opened fire on the police team In response officers acted in selfdefense and returned fireA bullet struck Dilip in the leg injuring him He was immediately taken to Patna AIIMS and is currently undergoing treatmentPolice officials confirmed that four criminals were involved in the robbery with Dilip being the prime accused Efforts are underway to trace and arrest the remaining suspectsThe accused looted gold and fled the scene on a motorcycle which was later found to be stolenThe original owner had already filed an FIR regarding the theftInvestigators examined multiple CCTV feeds from across the city including key routes such as JP Setu Gandhi Setu DighaâAIIMS elevated road and othersA coordinated operation involving the Bihar Police STF and Dial100 teams is ongoing Authorities have intensified raids to apprehend the remaining accused IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/patna-daylight-jewellery-robbery-criminal-shot-in-leg-while-escaping-670657.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kaleshwaram-commission-telangana-hc-bars-govt-from-taking-action-against-kcr-670661.html Hyderabad April 22 In a huge relief to former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and former Minister T Harish Rao the Telangana High Court barred the state government from taking any action against them and two other petitioners on the basis of the report of the Justice PC Ghose Commission which enquired into alleged irregularities in the execution of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme The High Court observed that the Ghose Commission did not follow the procedure under the Commission of Inquiry ActA Bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin on Wednesday pronounced the orders on the batch of writ petitions filed separately by Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao KCR Harish Rao retired IAS officer and former Chief Secretary SK Joshi and serving IAS officer Smitha Sabharwal challenging the reportThe petitioners had sought a direction to set aside and quash the report of the CommissionThe petitioners had also challenged the constitution of the Commission but the court held that the government has the power to constitute the Commission However the court found that the findings of the Commission canât be a basis for action against any of the petitioners a lawyer saidDuring the hearing counsels for the four petitioners rebutted the findings of the Commission and contended that their clients were not served the mandatory notices under Section 8B and 8C of the Commission of Inquiry ActAfter hearing the arguments on the petitions the court had reserved its orders last month The orders were to be pronounced on April 8 but the same were postponed to April 22The Bench directed the government not to initiate any coercive action against all four petitioners based on the findings of the Ghose Commission reportSupreme Court senior counsel Dama Sheshadri Naidu had argued for KCR while Advocate General A Sudershan Reddy and senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy had appeared for the state government and the Ghose Commission respectivelyThe Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme KLIS said to be the worldâs largest multistage lift irrigation project was started by the then BRS government in May 2016 Its main component was inaugurated by the then CM KCR in 2019In March 2024 the Congress government constituted a commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose to probe alleged irregularities in planning design construction quality control operation and maintenance of Medigadda Annaram and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram projectThe commission submitted its report to the Telangana government on July 31 2025The Commission held KCR directly and vicariously accountable for irregularities in planning execution completion operation and maintenance of the Kaleshwaram project It also indicted Harish Rao then Chief Secretary Joshi and then Secretary to Chief Minister Smitha Sabharwal IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kaleshwaram-commission-telangana-hc-bars-govt-from-taking-action-against-kcr-670661.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-hear-ed-plea-against-mamata-banerjee-in-i-pac-raid-case-today-670665.html New Delhi April 22 IANS The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate ED against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday in connection with the Indian Political Action Committee IPAC raid casenbspThe hearing forms part of an ongoing legal dispute over allegations that the Chief Minister interfered in an ED search operation conducted at the premises of the Indian Political Action CommitteeThe matter traces back to raids carried out by the ED on January 8 as part of a multicrore money laundering investigation linked to an alleged coal smuggling scamAccording to the agency Mamata Banerjee accompanied by more than 100 police personnel and senior officials entered the IPAC office as well as the residence of its founder Pratik Jain while the searches were underwayThe ED has alleged that she unauthoritatively removed key evidence during the operation including laptops mobile phones and documents containing electoral dataDuring earlier proceedings the Supreme Court had described the alleged confrontation as very unusual and termed it an unhappy situation raising concerns about the absence of clear legal remedies in cases where a highranking state functionary is accused of obstructing a central investigationAppearing for the ED Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged interference along with appropriate action against the Chief Minister and the states Director General of Police The agency has argued that central investigative bodies cannot be left remediless if their operations are physically obstructedOn the other hand the West Bengal government represented by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi has contested the maintainability of the plea The state has argued that the ED being a government department cannot claim fundamental rights or invoke Article 32 to directly approach the Supreme CourtThe state has also alleged that the raids are politically motivated and aimed at undermining the All India Trinamool Congress ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly electionsMeanwhile in a related development IPAC cofounder Vinesh Kumar Chandel was arrested on April 13 after which the organisation is reported to have scaled down or paused its operations in West BengalA court at Patiala House Court subsequently remanded Chandel to 10 days of ED custody in connection with the money laundering probe linked to the alleged coal pilferage case He is expected to remain in custody until April 23 for further interrogationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-hear-ed-plea-against-mamata-banerjee-in-i-pac-raid-case-today-670665.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pahalgam-horror-indias-firm-response-forced-isi-to-pause-more-tourist-targeted-attacks-670668.html New Delhi April 22 Pakistan needed a decisive response following the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack and it got the one from India timely and decisively However this was not just one location on terroristsâ radar According to information picked by Intelligence agencies the ISI had planned more such attacks in Jammu and Kashmir with an intent to terrorise the tourists and bleed the tourism industry As tourism remains the lifeline of Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan was looking to hurt the industry and had planned Pahalgam type attacks in various other locations by deploying terrorists of the LashkareTayiba and JaisheMohammad The brief was not to target the locals in JampKThe ISI wanted to continue targeting tourists and wanted to make it appear as though these attacks were carried out by the locals This would have led to the Kashmiris being targeted across the country Ultimately it would have resulted in the people of Kashmir trying to move away from the mainstream and refusing to be a part of India This was apparently the sinister plot behind more Pahalgamstyled attacksFollowing the Pahalgam attack the situation could have turned any way The efforts that the Indian government put in following the abrogation of Article 370 securing peace and bringing the people of Jammu and Kashmir to the mainstream would have all gone down the drain had the ISI gone ahead with the attacksAn Intelligence Bureau official said that post the Pahalgam attack which took place on April 22 2025 the ISI decided to adopt a wait and watch game It wanted to execute more such attacks in a phased manner It had planned at least 3 such attacks with the clear intention of creating a communal divide The response to the Pahalgam attack was strongThe sentiments and anger among the people of India was high and all expected very strong action against Pakistan and its terror proxies the official saidThe government too was clear that it was going to go beyond condemnation and action would need to be taken Pakistan sensed that Indiaâs actions would be strong India was clear that it would hit terror infrastructure and hunt down terrorists Sensing that there would be a nononsense approach by India the ISI decided to keep the rest of its plans on holdAnother official said that the sentiments were so strong that many including Pakistan thought that India would go to war However India decided to execute a measured response and hit back hard with âOperation Sindoorâ During the operation the Indian armed forces took down terror infrastructure both in Pakistan occupied Kashmir PoK and deep within Pakistan The hits that were executed inside Pakistan surprised the ISI and its army This changed a lot within the ISI and terror groupsThe trust that terror groups such as the JaisheMohammad and LashkareTayiba had in the ISI and Pakistan army began to erode Questions were being asked about their protection and why the establishment failed to do so The official said that given the situation and the trust deficit that built up these terror groups would have refused to strike even if the army wanted them to especially Operation SindoorAnother official said that had the response not been so severe then the ISI would have gone ahead with its plans of carrying out three more Pahalgam styled strikes While the abrogation of Article 370 that gave Jammu and Kashmir special status did irritate the Pakistanis the restoration of peace in the Valley came as a surprise to IslamabadMoreover the people of JampK have been gradually moving towards a new development paradigm and lifestyle Livelihood is more important than separatism and terrorism for the younger generationThis is the cycle that the ISI and Pakistan army sought to break and hence had hatched plans for more strikes to hurt the tourism sector IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pahalgam-horror-indias-firm-response-forced-isi-to-pause-more-tourist-targeted-attacks-670668.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-textile-exports-rise-21-pc-to-over-rs-316-lakh-crore-in-fy26-670669.html New Delhi April 22 Indiaâs textile sector remained resilient in global markets with textile exports including handicrafts rising 21 per cent to Rs 3163349 crore in FY26 from earlier fiscal FY25 when it stood at Rs 3098593 crore an official statement said on Wednesday Readyâmade garments RMGs remained the largest contributor to exports with the segment increasing 29 per cent to Rs 1393496 crore while cotton yarn fabrics madeâups and handloom exports were broadly stable at Rs 1023997 crore an official statement saidManmade yarn fabrics and madeups posted a stronger growth of 36 per cent with exports increasing from Rs 411960 crore to Rs 426878 crore the Ministry of Textiles said in a statementAmong valueâadded segments handicrafts excluding handmade carpets recorded the strongest growth rising 61 per cent to Rs 158551 croreExports reached 120 destinations during April 2025 to February 2026 over the corresponding period of the previous year indicating broadbased geographical expansion in Indiaâs textile export basketA notable growth has been observed in key markets such as the UAE 223 per cent the UK 78 per cent Germany 99 per cent Spain 155 per cent Japan 206 per cent Egypt 383 per cent Nigeria 214 per cent Senegal 544 per cent and Sudan 2056 per cent etcThe government has continued to support the sector through key export facilitation and remission measures including the extension of the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies RoSCTL Scheme and the RoDTEP Scheme beyond March 31 2026Indiaâs FTA agenda also saw major progress during 2025â26 with important implications for the textile and apparel sector The IndiaâEFTA TEPA entered into force on October 1 2025 The IndiaâUK CETA IndiaâOman CEPA IndiaâNew Zealand FTA and the IndiaâEU FTA were notable developments in the last two yearsCollectively these FTA developments are expected to improve preferential market access reduce tariff disadvantages support supplychain integration and open new opportunities for textiles apparel handicrafts and technical textiles thereby aiding market diversification export growth investment technology partnerships and Indiaâs deeper integration into global value chains IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-textile-exports-rise-21-pc-to-over-rs-316-lakh-crore-in-fy26-670669.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-stands-united-will-never-bow-to-terror-pm-modi-remembers-pahalgam-victims-670670.html New Delhi April 22 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday remembered the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack on the first anniversary of the dastardly massacre and said that India will never bow to any form of terrornbspHe extended condolences to bereaved families while affirming national unity in grief and a firm resolve that India will never yield to terrorism or allow terrorist designs to succeedIndia on Wednesday is observing one year of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in which Pakistanbacked terrorists gunned down 26 innocent tourists after identifying their religion in one of the most brutal incidents targeting civilians in recent yearsIn a post on X PM Modi said Remembering the innocent lives lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year They will never be forgotten My thoughts are also with the bereaved families as they cope with this lossAs a nation we stand united in grief and resolve India will never bow to any form of terror The heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed the Prime Minister addedEarlier in the day the Indian Army took to social media and warned that any misdeeds against the nation will be met by a responseIn a post on X the Army said For acts against India the response is assured Justice will be served AlwaysIt also shared a photo showcasing Operation Mahadev with the tagline It was only a matter of time in red colour This refers to the intense manhunt and neutralisation of the terrorists involved in the attackOperation Mahadev was launched immediately after the April 22 attack It involved extensive searches in difficult Himalayan terrain near DachigamMahadev Ridge culminating in the elimination of the three main perpetratorsThe Indian armed forces scanned over 300 sq kilometres of treacherous terrain for 93 days and eventually neutralised the terroristsA day ahead of the anniversary the Indian Army reiterated its firm commitment to justice and issued a strong warning that any breach of the boundaries of humanity would invite a decisive responseIn a stronglyworded post on its X handle the Indian Army said When boundaries of humanity are crossed the response is decisive Justice is served India stands unitedThe post was accompanied by a visual message stating Some boundaries should never be crossed featuring a map of India marked with red sindoor powder symbolising the Armys decisive action against terrorists under Operation SindoorThe image also carried the message India does not forget underlining the countrys resolve and unityThe Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22 2025 when 26 people were killed in a brutal massacre targeting tourists The attack was carried out by The Resistance Front an offshoot of the Pakistanbased LashkareTaibaThe attackers singled out victims after asking about their religion forcing them to recite the Islamic kalima to identify nonMuslims Among those killed were 25 tourists and one local pony ride operator who tried to save the touristsSeveral victims were newly married and many were shot at close range in front of their familiesIn response to the attack Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 6 and 7 carrying out what officials described as a focused measured and nonescalatory military action targeting highvalue terror bases in Pakistan and PakistanoccupiedKashmirFollowing the operation Pakistan responded with drone activity and shelling over the next week targeting civilian and religious sites and schoolsIndia subsequently carried out retaliatory strikes including on radar installations in Lahore and facilities near GujranwalaAfter sustaining significant damage Pakistans Director General of Military Operations reached out to his Indian counterpart urging a stop to military action This led to a ceasefire understanding between the two sides on May 10 2025Despite the ceasefire there were continued attempts involving waves of UAVs and small drones entering Indian civilian and military areas These intrusions were intercepted and the Indian armed forces responded firmly with field commanders authorised to take appropriate action in case of any violationsOperation Sindoor was a significant demonstration of Indias military and strategic capability combining both military and nonmilitary measuresThe operation successfully neutralised terrorist threats deterred further aggression and reinforced Indias zerotolerance policy towards terrorism while maintaining strategic restraintIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-stands-united-will-never-bow-to-terror-pm-modi-remembers-pahalgam-victims-670670.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-remains-firm-in-its-commitment-to-fight-terrorism-eam-jaishankar-on-pahalgam-attack-anniversary-670671.html New Delhi April 22 IANS External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Wednesday remembered the victims of the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent people were killed by Pakistanbased terrorists and reaffirmed Indias resolve to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestationsnbspEAM Jaishankar took to X and said Join the nation in remembering the victims of the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack which took place this day last year India stands steadfast in its resolve to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestationsEarlier in the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid homage to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack on its first anniversary and expressed solidarity with their familiesIn a post on X PM Modi said the victims will never be forgotten describing the April 22 2025 attack as a tragedy that continues to weigh on the nations conscience and asserted that the country will not bow to any form of terrorRemembering the innocent lives lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year They will never be forgotten My thoughts are also with the bereaved families as they cope with this loss he said in a post on XAs a nation we stand united in grief and resolve India will never bow to any form of terror The heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed the Prime Minister addedThe Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22 2025 when 26 people were killed in a brutal massacre targeting tourists The attack was carried out by The Resistance Front an offshoot of the Pakistanbased LashkareTaibaThe attackers singled out victims after asking about their religion forcing them to recite the Islamic kalima to identify nonMuslims Among those killed were 25 tourists and one local pony ride operator who tried to save the touristsSeveral victims were newly married and many were shot at close range in front of their familiesIn response to the attack Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 6 and 7 carrying out what officials described as a focused measured and nonescalatory military action targeting highvalue terror bases in Pakistan and PakistanoccupiedKashmirOperation Sindoor was a significant demonstration of Indias military and strategic capability combining both military and nonmilitary measuresThe operation successfully neutralised terrorist threats deterred further aggression and reinforced Indias zerotolerance policy towards terrorism while maintaining strategic restraintMeanwhile the Jammu and Kashmir administration has also stepped up security in Pahalgam deploying additional forces and increasing surveillance to ensure a peaceful commemoration which is expected to be attended by political leaders civil society members and families of the victimsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-remains-firm-in-its-commitment-to-fight-terrorism-eam-jaishankar-on-pahalgam-attack-anniversary-670671.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/two-killed-in-fresh-elephant-attack-in-jharkhands-koderma-herd-wreaks-havoc-in-seraikela-670672.html Ranchi April 22 The menace of wild elephants continues unabated in several districts of Jharkhand In a fresh attack two people were trampled to death by a herd of jumbos in the Koderma district of the state The elephant herd caused damage to property and crops in the SeraikelaKharsawan district officials said on Wednesday In Kodermaâs Jainagar police station area a herd of elephants attacked a brick kiln at Kanjhiyadih village on Tuesday night damaging makeshift houses and triggering panic among workers A 32yearold labourer Rajkumar Manjhi of Fatehpur village in Bihar and a 12yearold boy Lovkush were killed in the attack Three others sustained serious injuries in the incident Rajkumar Manjhiâs wife Gauri Devi Lovkushâs mother Kari Devi and a oneandahalfyearold child They have been admitted to a hospital for treatment Following the incident local residents expressed anger against the forest department alleging that no effective steps were being taken to drive away the pachyderms despite their continuous presence in the areaEarlier on April 19 a youth was killed in an elephant attack in the Satgawan block of Koderma district The incident had led to protests with villagers blocking the GayaDeoghar main road while demanding compensation and enhanced security measuresMeanwhile in neighbouring SeraikelaKharsawan district an elephant created havoc on Tuesday night in Tiruldih village under the Rusuniya panchayat of the Chandil forest area The animal entered a newly upgraded primary school and consumed around one and a half quintals of rice meant for the midday meal scheme It also damaged banana and vegetable crops in Bana village and destroyed cucumber fieldsAccording to local farmers herds of elephants have been camping in the Chandil subdivision area for several years and frequently venture into villages after dusk damaging houses and crops Repeated incidents have created an atmosphere of fear forcing residents to stay awake at night to guard their homes and fields IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/two-killed-in-fresh-elephant-attack-in-jharkhands-koderma-herd-wreaks-havoc-in-seraikela-670672.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/us-woman-sexually-assaulted-at-ktaka-homestay-minister-says-attempts-to-cover-up-case-foiled-670673.html Madikeri Karnataka April 22 A shocking incident of sexual assault on an American woman tourist has come to light in the Madikeri district of Karnataka Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Wednesday that there were attempts to hush up the case but those attempts were foiled by the policeThe alleged sexual assault reportedly took place at a private homestay in Kutta village Ponnampet taluk and came to light after a delayAccording to police sources the woman had checked into the homestay named Devi Villa on April 19 when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man identified as Vrujesh Kumar a native of JharkhandFollowing a complaint a case was registered at the Kutta Police Station The accused Vrujesh Kumar has been arrested by the policeIn connection with the same incident the homestay owner Vishal has also been taken into custody on charges linked to the case officials confirmedPolice have stated that a detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the sequence of events and examine the circumstances surrounding the incidentResponding to the development Home Minister G Parameshwara stated âAs soon as the matter came to light the police arrested the accused Further action will be taken as per the lawâHe added âIt appears that after the incident there were attempts to cover it up But once the police received information they acted promptly and gathered detailsââAction must be taken accordingly Whoever is running such establishments as homestays must have proper licensing We have already laid down SOPs on what needs to be followed to operate a homestay If such incidents occur in violation of those norms legal action must be takenâ he saidâSuch incidents do not send a good message about the state or society Especially when outsiders or foreigners are involved it reflects on our society and our country That is why strict action is necessary and we are taking itâ he addedIt can be recalled that in early March 2023 a group of tourists including an Israeli woman an Indian homestay operator and three male tourists were stargazing near the Tungabhadra canal in the Hampi region Vijayanagara district KarnatakaDuring the night they were allegedly attacked by a group of menThe assailants reportedly assaulted the male tourists and pushed them into the canal Two women including the Israeli tourist were allegedly gangraped during the attackThe accused were caught and charged under sections related to gangrape attempt to murder robbery and criminal conspiracy under the IPCA court in Karnataka has handed down the death penalty to three men convicted in the horrific case IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/us-woman-sexually-assaulted-at-ktaka-homestay-minister-says-attempts-to-cover-up-case-foiled-670673.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-transport-minister-appeals-to-rtc-employees-to-end-strike-670675.html Hyderabad April 22 Telanganaâs Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Wednesday urged employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation TGSRTC to call off the strike to protect the public organisation Stating that a strike is not a solution the minister said a highlevel committee formed by the government is looking into their demands and a report is expected in four weeksThe minister appealed to RTC employees and their families to call off the strike in the interest of protecting the organisation and ensuring public welfare He said in a statement that the government has already constituted a fourmember committee of senior officials to address the issues The committee has been instructed to submit its report within four weeks He clarified that this is not a delay tactic Ponnam Prabhakar said that of the 32 issues raised by RTC employees the government has no objection to 29 issues and they can be resolved immediately The remaining issues of the RTC merger and recognition of unions involve technical aspects and require detailed examination These will be discussed with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister he saidThe minister highlighted key steps taken by the government for the welfare of employees He said salaries were being paid on the first of every month despite delays in the RTC merger The longpending 2017 PRC has been cleared along with pending DA dues while the 2013 pending bonds have been settled He stated that PF dues have been reduced from Rs 1205 crore to Rs 600 crore while CCS dues have been reduced from Rs 690 crore to Rs 300 crore Monthly payments of Rs 75 crore are being made towards PF and CCS He promised that the recruitment of 4538 employees would be completed soon to reduce the workload The government has made 1134 compassionate appointments Around 250 employees previously removed from service have been reinstated The minister emphasised that RTC is gradually recovering and disruptions at this stage would harm both the institution and the public RTC serves as a lifeline for rural and economically weaker sections with around 65 lakh daily passengers including 45 lakh women Many depend on RTC for education employment and healthcare He urged employees to use democratic means of protest through their leadership without disrupting public transport He stressed that poor people cannot afford alternative travel options He assured that the government is committed to resolving all issues and stands firmly with RTC employees while urging them to resume duties and avoid inconvenience to the public IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-transport-minister-appeals-to-rtc-employees-to-end-strike-670675.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-judge-recuses-from-pil-against-kejriwal-aap-over-court-proceedings-leak-670677.html New Delhi April 22 IANS A judge of the Delhi High Court on Wednesday recused himself from hearing a Public Interest Litigation PIL against leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party AAP and members of other political parties for allegedly recording and disseminating audio and video clips of court proceedings during the hearing of a recusal plea moved by former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy casenbspnbspAfter Justice Tejas Karia withdrew himself from hearing the matter a Bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya directed that the PIL filed by advocate Vaibhav Singh be placed before a different Bench on Thursday for hearingList tomorrow before another Bench of which one of us J Karia is not a member the CJ Upadhyayaled Bench orderedThe petitioner alleged that audio and video clips of the court proceedings conducted on April 13 before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma were made and circulated intentionally and deliberately and with the wilful intention to malign the image of this Court and to mislead the general publicAccording to the plea Kejriwal who appeared in person after being permitted by the Delhi High Court argued his recusal application for around 4550 minutes following which the recordings of the proceedings were widely circulated across social media platformsThe circumstances in which the audiovideo recording of the Court Proceedings was done and shared retweeted and posted by various political leaders and the way it went viral smells of a deep conspiracy by Arvind Kejriwal and various leaders of Aam Aadmi Party to malign the image of this noble institution and to mislead the common people of this nation the petition saidIt also alleged that several political leaders amplified the content online with comments supporting Kejriwal and casting aspersions on Justice SharmaThe plea specifically referred to posts by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh who termed Kejriwals arguments as very courageous and suggested recusal a social media post that was reposted by KejriwalThe petition also referred to posts by AAP leaders including Saurabh Bharadwaj Manish Sisodia Sanjay Singh and others alleging that the court proceedings were shared with misleading remarks to influence public perceptionContending that such acts violate the High Court of Delhi Rules for Video Conferencing for Courts 2021 and the Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules 2025 the petitioner said quoting the rules Unless expressly permitted by the Court no person shall record or publish the proceedings There shall be no unauthorised recording of the proceedings by any person or entityThe petitioner also claimed that complaints were sent to the Delhi High Court registry and social media platforms seeking removal of the content but no effective measures have been taken till now necessitating the filing of the PILThe development comes amid ongoing proceedings in the Delhi High Court on a criminal revision petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI which has challenged a trial court order discharging all 23 accused including Kejriwal and Sisodia in the corruption case linked to the nowscrapped Delhi excise policyOn March 9 a singlejudge Bench of Justice Sharma had issued notice to the accused on the CBIs plea and stayed certain directions passed by the trial court including adverse remarks against the probe agencySubsequently Justice Sharma had rejected Kejriwals plea seeking her recusal holding that allegations of bias were based on mere apprehension or personal perception and not supported by cogent materialRecusal cannot be used as a tool to forum shop or to create a perception that justice can be influenced the judge had said cautioning that a courtroom cannot be a theatre of perceptionRejecting the allegations of bias as conjectures and insinuations Justice Sharma said that the application arrived with aspersions and doubts cast on my integrity but without any substantive materialThe Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court had also declined on the administrative side a request by Kejriwal to transfer the matter from Justice Sharmas Bench saying that the case had been assigned as per the roster and there was no reason for reassignmentIn his representation Kejriwal had expressed apprehension that the matter may not receive a hearing marked by impartiality if it remained before the same BenchEarlier a group of senior advocates academicians former police officials and members of the Bar had written to Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant expressing concern over allegations made by Kejriwal against a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court and seeking initiation of suo motu proceedingsIt is a settled principle that a litigant cannot choose the Bench or the Judge before whom their case is to be heard the representation said cautioning that imputing motives to judges without substantiated basis strikes at the very foundation of judicial proprietyThe signatories warned that permitting such conduct to go unchecked could erode public confidence in the justice delivery system and urged the CJI as the custodian and guardian of the judicial system to take appropriate action in accordance with lawIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-judge-recuses-from-pil-against-kejriwal-aap-over-court-proceedings-leak-670677.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pachpadra-refinery-blaze-agencies-examining-cctv-footages-to-find-out-reasons-of-fire-670678.html Jaipur April 22 A highlevel inquiry has been initiated into the massive fire that broke out at the Pachpadra Refinery in Rajasthans Balotra district A key aspect under examination is whether the incident points to a security lapse particularly in the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs protocol or if it indicates a deeper conspiracy Sources indicate that officers responsible for the security of petroleum installations are also part of the probeHowever it remains unclear which agency will lead the overall investigation Security agencies typically conduct extensive checks ahead of any Prime Ministerial visit In this context the fire has raised serious concernsSources suggest that the Ministry of Home Affairs is treating the incident as a potential breach of established security protocolsOn Tuesday officials and experts from multiple agencies including the National Investigation Agency NIA a team from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and technical experts from the Ministry of Petroleum reached the site to begin a detailed investigationCCTV footage from across the refinery is being closely analysed to identify any suspicious activity Entry protocols have been tightened and surveillance of personnel and outsiders has been significantly enhancedSpread over 4500 acres and built for Rs 79459 crore the refinery employs over 20000 workers and staffAs of now Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited HPCL has not released a detailed assessment of the damage Preliminary indications suggest that if the Crude Distillation Unit CDU has not suffered major damage commercial production could potentially resume by July 1Meanwhile CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site on Tuesday I inspected the Rajasthan Refinery located at Pachpadra and held a highlevel review meeting with the officials he wrote on XThe CM also held discussions with the firefighting personnel and emergency response teams who played a leading role in promptly extinguishing the fire in the CDU Taking the incident that occurred within the refinery complex with utmost seriousness instructions have been issued for a detailed investigation he saidAccording to preliminary information provided by HPCL officials the damage is confined to a limited area he saidFormer CM Ashok Gehlot said that he had a discussion with a chemical engineer from Australia who said that the new refinery just cant catch fire Technically refineries have been catching fire due to technical failure after 2025 years he addedMeanwhile a multilayered investigation is underway While central security agencies are probing possible security or sabotage aspects HPCL has initiated an internal investigation into technical causesIn its statement HPCL Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited HPCL stated that the fire broke out around 155 pm in the Crude Distillation Unit CDU section of the refinery Prima facie findings suggest that a hydrocarbon leak from a valve or flange in the heat exchanger circuit may have triggered the fireThe company confirmed that the fire was quickly contained by the emergency response team with support from local authorities No casualties or injuries were reported The fire remained localised within the heat exchanger stack Key units including CDU and VDU were isolated in time and remain structurally safe No other sections of the refinery were affected The exact cause and impact are currently under investigation by both internal and external expertsThe Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has constituted a highlevel committee including external experts to determine the root cause and recommend corrective measures on priorityIn its statement officials of the Ministry of Petroleum amp Natural Gas said that they have constituted a highlevel committee comprising external experts to assess and investigate the root cause behind this incident and recommend remedial actions on an urgent basisOn Tuesday around noon a BSF helicopter arrived from Delhi carrying an expert team landing at the refinery helipad The team conducted a detailed inspection questioned staff and fire personnel and reviewed CCTV footage from the time of the incidentA forensic team arrived shortly thereafter and collected evidence from the siteState Minister Jogaram Patel meanwhile stated that expert teams and senior technical specialists from other refineries are being brought in to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the root causes of the leakage with the aim of ensuring a permanent resolutionHe assured that once the repair work is completed the refinery will begin commercial production as per the planned scheduleMeanwhile both administrative and technical teams are maintaining continuous monitoring to prevent any recurrence of such incidentsHe further added that the refinery equipped with stateoftheart technology is expected to become a significant milestone in the regionâs industrial development and will also create substantial employment opportunities IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pachpadra-refinery-blaze-agencies-examining-cctv-footages-to-find-out-reasons-of-fire-670678.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pachpadra-refinery-blaze-agencies-examining-cctv-footage-to-find-out-reasons-of-fire-670679.html Jaipur April 22 A highlevel inquiry has been initiated into the massive fire that broke out at the Pachpadra Refinery in Rajasthans Balotra district A key aspect under examination is whether the incident points to a security lapse particularly in the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs protocol or if it indicates a deeper conspiracy Sources indicate that officers responsible for the security of petroleum installations are also part of the probeHowever it remains unclear which agency will lead the overall investigation Security agencies typically conduct extensive checks ahead of any Prime Ministerial visit In this context the fire has raised serious concernsSources suggest that the Ministry of Home Affairs is treating the incident as a potential breach of established security protocolsOn Tuesday officials and experts from multiple agencies including the National Investigation Agency NIA a team from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and technical experts from the Ministry of Petroleum reached the site to begin a detailed investigationCCTV footage from across the refinery is being closely analysed to identify any suspicious activity Entry protocols have been tightened and surveillance of personnel and outsiders has been significantly enhancedSpread over 4500 acres and built for Rs 79459 crore the refinery employs over 20000 workers and staffAs of now Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited HPCL has not released a detailed assessment of the damage Preliminary indications suggest that if the Crude Distillation Unit CDU has not suffered major damage commercial production could potentially resume by July 1Meanwhile CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site on Tuesday I inspected the Rajasthan Refinery located at Pachpadra and held a highlevel review meeting with the officials he wrote on XThe CM also held discussions with the firefighting personnel and emergency response teams who played a leading role in promptly extinguishing the fire in the CDUTaking the incident that occurred within the refinery complex with utmost seriousness instructions have been issued for a detailed investigation he saidAccording to preliminary information provided by HPCL officials the damage is confined to a limited area he saidFormer CM Ashok Gehlot said that he had a discussion with a chemical engineer from Australia who said that the new refinery just cant catch fire Technically refineries have been catching fire due to technical failure after 2025 years he addedMeanwhile a multilayered investigation is underway While central security agencies are probing possible security or sabotage aspects HPCL has initiated an internal investigation into technical causesIn its statement HPCL Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited HPCL stated that the fire broke out around 155 pm in the Crude Distillation Unit CDU section of the refinery Prima facie findings suggest that a hydrocarbon leak from a valve or flange in the heat exchanger circuit may have triggered the fireThe company confirmed that the fire was quickly contained by the emergency response team with support from local authorities No casualties or injuries were reported The fire remained localised within the heat exchanger stack Key units including CDU and VDU were isolated in time and remain structurally safe No other sections of the refinery were affected The exact cause and impact are currently under investigation by both internal and external expertsThe Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has constituted a highlevel committee including external experts to determine the root cause and recommend corrective measures on priorityIn its statement officials of the Ministry of Petroleum amp Natural Gas said that they have constituted a highlevel committee comprising external experts to assess and investigate the root cause behind this incident and recommend remedial actions on an urgent basisOn Tuesday around noon a BSF helicopter arrived from Delhi carrying an expert team landing at the refinery helipad The team conducted a detailed inspection questioned staff and fire personnel and reviewed CCTV footage from the time of the incidentA forensic team arrived shortly thereafter and collected evidence from the siteState Minister Jogaram Patel meanwhile stated that expert teams and senior technical specialists from other refineries are being brought in to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the root causes of the leakage with the aim of ensuring a permanent resolutionHe assured that once the repair work is completed the refinery will begin commercial production as per the planned scheduleMeanwhile both administrative and technical teams are maintaining continuous monitoring to prevent any recurrence of such incidentsHe further added that the refinery equipped with stateoftheart technology is expected to become a significant milestone in the regionâs industrial development and will also create substantial employment opportunities IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pachpadra-refinery-blaze-agencies-examining-cctv-footage-to-find-out-reasons-of-fire-670679.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-home-minister-denies-promoting-betting-says-remark-misinterpreted-respects-law-670681.html Bengaluru April 22 Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has responded to a court order directing the registration of an FIR against him in connection with allegations that he placed a Rs 500 bet during a kabaddi match saying that his remarks have been misinterpreted and that he respects the legal process Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Bengaluru Parameshwara said it was not appropriate to comment extensively on the issue He clarified that his earlier statement was made casually in the context of a kabaddi game in a lighthearted manner similar to how people speak in rural settingsâThe context in which I spoke is very important If I had promoted betting that would have been wrong But I am in a responsible position it is completely false to say that I promoted bettingâ he saidHe added that interpretations of his statement were being taken out of context and stressed that he had not encouraged or supported betting in any formReferring to the legal development the minister said a private individual had approached the court in the matter and that neither he nor his office had received any notice before the courtâs orderâNo notice was served to us If we had received a notice we could have explained the context and requested that they not take it seriously But no notice came suddenly an order was passedâ he saidParameshwara further stated that he respects the law and would examine the court order in detail before taking any further steps âI have not fully understood the order yet I will look into itâ he addedThe court has reportedly directed police to register an FIR and conduct an investigation into the allegationsA Special Court in Bengaluru on Tuesday ordered the registration of a First Information Report against Parameshwara over an allegation that he placed a Rs 500 bet during a Kabaddi sports tournamentâTaking serious note of the development and the message it would send to society the court directed the Kodigehalli police in Tumakuru to register an FIR and carry out a comprehensive probe into the matterâThe directive follows a private complaint filed by HR Nagabhushan who argued that even a small bet made or publicly acknowledged by a person holding a constitutional position amounts to promoting an illegal activityResponding to the cabinet reshuffle Parameshwara stated That is entirely up to the Chief Minister and the high command It would be inappropriate for us to comment We will act according to whatever decision they take IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-home-minister-denies-promoting-betting-says-remark-misinterpreted-respects-law-670681.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/terrorist-acts-can-never-weaken-nations-unity-resolve-telangana-cm-670683.html Hyderabad April 22 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday affirmed that heinous terrorist acts such as the attack in Pahalgam can never weaken the unity and resolve of the nation On the solemn occasion marking one year since the tragic incident he paid heartfelt tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives stating that their sacrifice remains an enduring and sacred debt owed by the nationThe Chief Minister emphasised that such reprehensible conspiracies are destined to fail as the people of the country stand steadfast united vigilant and resolute in confronting and defeating all forms of terrorism He also conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families assuring them that the nation stands in solidarity with them in this hour of remembranceUnion Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy also paid tributes to the victims of the Pahalgam attack âRemembering the innocent lives we lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year Their sacrifice will forever remain etched in our collective memory My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who continue to endure this immense loss As a nation we stand united in grief in strength and in our unwavering resolve against terrorismâ Kishan Reddy posted on âXâUnion Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar also took to âXâ to pay his tributes âOne year ago the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam shook the conscience of the nation Innocent lives were lost but their memory will never fade My deepest condolences to the families who continue to live with this pain The entire nation stands with them in grief and solidarity India is united in its fight against terrorism We will never bow to fear and we will never be broken by violence The cowardly agenda of terrorists will never succeed Bharat stands firm and strongâ said the minister IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/terrorist-acts-can-never-weaken-nations-unity-resolve-telangana-cm-670683.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/we-remain-resolute-in-our-determination-to-defeat-terrorism-prez-murmu-on-pahalgam-attack-anniversary--670686.html New Delhi April 22 IANS President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday remembered the innocent lives lost in the Pahalgam terror attack saying that such acts of terror cannot deter the countrys unwavering commitment to peace and unitynbspIndia is observing on Wednesday one year of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in which Pakistanbacked terrorists gunned down 26 innocent tourists after identifying their religion in one of the most brutal incidents targeting civilians in recent yearsIn a post on X President Murmu said I pay heartfelt tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack The tragic loss of innocent lives in that heinous act remains etched in our collective memory I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families The entire nation stands with themnbspSuch acts of terror cannot deter our unwavering commitment to peace and unity We remain resolute in our determination to defeat terrorism everywhere in all its forms she saidEarlier in the day Vice President CP Radhakrishnan also paid tributes to the lives lost in the heinous terror attacknbspI solemnly remember the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack The innocent lives lost in that gruesome and dastardly act of terror remain etched in our collective memory I pay heartfelt tributes to those we lost and stand in solidarity with their families whose grief is immeasurable They will forever be remembered the Vice President said in a post on XSuch acts of brutality can never shake our resolve to uphold peace unity and the enduring values of humanity We remain firm in our determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations he addedThe Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22 2025 when 26 people were killed in a brutal massacre targeting tourists The attack was carried out by The Resistance Front an offshoot of the Pakistanbased LashkareTaibaThe attackers singled out victims after asking about their religion forcing them to recite the Islamic kalima to identify nonMuslims Among those killed were 25 tourists and one local pony ride operator who tried to save the touristsSeveral victims were newly married and many were shot at close range in front of their familiesIn response to the attack Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 6 and 7 carrying out what officials described as a focused measured and nonescalatory military action targeting highvalue terror bases in Pakistan and PakistanoccupiedKashmirOperation Sindoor was a significant demonstration of Indias military and strategic capability combining both military and nonmilitary measuresThe operation successfully neutralised terrorist threats deterred further aggression and reinforced Indias zerotolerance policy towards terrorism while maintaining strategic restraintIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/we-remain-resolute-in-our-determination-to-defeat-terrorism-prez-murmu-on-pahalgam-attack-anniversary--670686.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/i-feel-kharge-ji-doesnt-differentiate-between-terrorists-and-terror-to-terrorists-vp-radhakrishnan-670689.html Bidar Karnataka April 22 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan took a dig at Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday saying that he appears unable to distinguish between terrorists and terror to the terrorists His remarks came amid a growing political controversy triggered by Kharges recent statement referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a terrorist which has drawn sharp criticism from the BJPSpeaking at the Amrit Mahotsava celebration of Dr Basavalinga Pattadevaru Mahaswamiji of Hiremath Samsthan at Sri Channabasavashram in Karnatakas Bidar the Vice President made the comment in Kharges presenceI get a little difference between our Kharge ji Sometimes I feel Kharge ji does not differentiate between the black and white sometimes between the terrorists and the terror to terrorists Otherwise I have no problem he is a very good friend of mine VP Radhakrishnan saidThe controversy erupted after Kharge while attacking AIADMKs alliance with the BJP ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly elections referred to PM Modi as a terrorist during a press conference He later clarified that he meant the Prime Minister was terrorising people and political parties and not that he was a terroristHowever the BJP launched a scathing attack on Kharge calling it a grave insult to the mandate of the countrys 140 crore peopleUnion Health Minister JP Nadda hit out at the Congress chief and said the people will give a befitting response to the partyThe use of the word terrorist by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji is a grave insult to the mandate of 140 crore countrymen Nadda said on XThe issueless and visionless Congress has gone berserk out of fear of the impending defeat in the upcoming elections in five states In its attempt to snatch away womens rights it is facing the wrath of the public across the country irked by its eroding mass base Congress leaders are unable to digest the continuously rising popularity of Prime Minister Modi Ji he saidCondemning Kharges remarks the Union Minister said The shameful and derogatory language used by the Congress President against Prime Minister Modi Ji cannot be condemned enough no matter how strongly it is denouncedEarlier on Tuesday Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a post on X slammed Kharge and accused Congress of repeatedly lowering the standards of public discourse âHe wrote that Kharge had breached every standard of public conduct and brought shame to the nation by calling the elected Prime Minister a terrorist âHM Shah emphasised that PM Modi had curbed terrorism over the past 12 years and described the remark as highly condemnable âHe added that every time Congress hurls abuses at PM Modi the people of India respond and this time too the public will give its answer â IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/i-feel-kharge-ji-doesnt-differentiate-between-terrorists-and-terror-to-terrorists-vp-radhakrishnan-670689.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-denies-maintenance-for-child-after-dna-test-disproves-paternity-670691.html New Delhi April 22 IANS The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by a woman seeking maintenance for her minor daughter after a DNA test established that the respondent was not the biological father holding that such scientific evidence would prevail over the statutory presumption of legitimacy under the lawnbspA Bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and NK Singh dismissed an appeal filed by a woman challenging a Delhi High Court order which had refused maintenance for her daughter while remanding her own claim for reconsiderationnbspThe case arose from a dispute where the appellant alleged that the respondent for whom she had worked as a domestic help had established a relationship with her on the pretext of marriagenbspThe parties later married in March 2016 and a child was born the following month Following matrimonial discord the woman sought interim maintenance under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 During the proceedings the respondent denied paternity and sought a DNA test which was allowed by the trial courtnbspThe report concluded that he was not the biological father of the child Relying on the DNA report the trial court had rejected the plea for maintenance for the child a decision subsequently upheld by the appellate court and the High CourtnbspBefore the apex court the primary contention revolved around the presumption of legitimacy under Section 112 of the Indian Evidence Act which treats a child born during a valid marriage as legitimate unless nonaccess is provennbspExamining the legal position the apex court observed that while such a presumption exists to protect children from the stigma of illegitimacy it is not absolute in cases where scientific evidence is available and has attained finalitynbspThe legislative intent is clear Despite technological advancements by leaps and bounds this presumption has been retained to save any child from the stigma of illegitimacy the Justice Karolled Bench observednbspAt the same time the apex court said that where conclusive scientific evidence is available it cannot be ignored Citing precedent it said When there is a conflict between a conclusive proof envisaged under law and a proof based on scientific advancement accepted by the world community to be correct the latter must prevail over the formernbspIn its order the Justice Karolled Bench noted that in the present case the DNA test had been conducted with the consent of the parties and was never disputed thereafter It has in other words attained finality the apex court recordednbspOn this basis the apex court held that the Delhi High Court was justified in denying maintenance to the child and concluded that the appeal was bereft of merit However the Supreme Court expressed concern over the welfare of the child whose parentage dispute had reached the highest court of the landnbspAs such in the interest of wanting to ensure the security and wellbeing of the child in question the Justice Karolled Bench directed the Delhi governments Department of Women and Child Development to assess the childs living conditionsnbspIt ordered that an officer be deputed to visit the appellants residence and evaluate the childs education nutrition health as also the availability of basic material goods required to maintain a minimum standard of livingnbspIt would be expected that wherever the said childs situation is found to be lacking the Department would step in to take remedial measures the Justice Karolled Bench addednbspWhile upholding the denial of maintenance to the child the apex court noted that the issue of maintenance payable to the appellant herself had already been remanded by the Delhi High Court to the trial court for fresh consideration The appeal was accordingly dismissedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-denies-maintenance-for-child-after-dna-test-disproves-paternity-670691.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bombay-hc-quashes-charges-against-four-accused-in-2006-malegaon-blast-case-670692.html Mumbai April 22 In a significant relief to four accused in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blast case the Bombay High Court on Wednesday quashed and set aside a special court order framing charges against them A division bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar delivered the verdict while allowing appeals filed by Rajendra Chaudhary Lokesh Sharma Dhan Singh and Manohar Ram Singh NarwariaThe High Court had earlier observed that a prima facie case existed for interference with the order of the special National Investigation Agency NIA courtThe four had been charged with offences including murder and criminal conspiracy under the IPC along with provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act following a September 30 2025 order by the special court Wednesdayâs ruling effectively halts proceedings against them at this stageThe case pertains to the September 8 2006 blasts in Malegaon where explosions near the Hamidia Masjid and adjoining areas shortly after Friday prayers left 37 people dead and over 300 injuredThe investigation has witnessed multiple twists over the years Initially the Maharashtra AntiTerrorism Squad ATS arrested nine Muslim men who spent several years in jail before being granted bail in 2011 A special court later discharged all nine in 2016 citing insufficient evidenceSubsequently the probe was taken over by the NIA which pursued a different line of investigation The agency arrested the present four accused after alleged disclosures by Swami Aseemanand pointing to the involvement of rightwing elements The four were granted bail by the High Court in 2019The Malegaon blast probe has been marked by conflicting findings between agencies with the NIA diverging from earlier conclusions of the ATS and the Central Bureau of Investigation CBIWith the High Court now setting aside the framing of charges the case takes yet another turn in a long and complex legal trajectory IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bombay-hc-quashes-charges-against-four-accused-in-2006-malegaon-blast-case-670692.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/lampt-clinches-long-term-deal-to-supply-green-ammonia-to-japans-itochu-670693.html New Delhi April 22 A subsidiary company of Larsen amp Toubro Ltd signed a longterm deal with Japans ITOCHU Corp on Wednesday to supply three lakh tonnes of green ammonia per annum from its proposed production facility at Kandla in Gujarat ITOCHU will utilise the green ammonia supplied by LampT Energy GreenTech Ltd to support its expanding green bunkering applications in Singapore and other locations aligned with its strategy to develop a global green ammonia ecosystem across key maritime trade routes a statement saidThe deal is a captive longterm takeorpay basis which means LTEGL is assured a customer in the Japanese company for the defined period By securing longterm demand through a reputed global partner like ITOCHU we are strengthening the commercial foundation of our green ammonia platform said Subramanian Sarma deputy managing director and president of LampTGreen ammonia is seen as a nextgeneration marine fuel for decarbonising the maritime sector Combining hydrogen produced through splitting water using renewable energy and nitrogen separated from the air produces green ammoniaThis latest agreement builds on the Joint Development Agreement JDA between the two companies signed in July 2025 and marks a significant progression in the partnership â from joint development to securing longterm demand It reinforces the collaboration between LTEGL and ITOCHU and advances the shared vision of establishing a globally competitive green ammonia value chain the company statement saidLTEGL focuses on accelerating the energy transition through green hydrogen and its derivatives It operates across three core pillars â Green Manufacturing Development and Engineering Procurement and Construction EPC â providing integrated solutions for decarbonisation including building electrolysers and largescale green hydrogen plants The company develops owns and operates green hydrogen projects including Indias largest green hydrogen plant at Indian Oilâs Panipat Refinery designed to supply tonnes annually for 25 yearsWith approximately 90 bases in 60 countries ITOCHU one of the leading sogo shosha Japanese general trading companies is engaging in domestic trading importexport and overseas trading of various products such as textile machinery metals minerals energy chemicals food general products realty information and communications technology and finance as well as business investment in Japan and overseas IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/lampt-clinches-long-term-deal-to-supply-green-ammonia-to-japans-itochu-670693.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kolkata-police-arrests-17-people-for-cyber-fraud-exploiting-cash-on-delivery-mode-670694.html Kolkata April 22 Police have arrested 17 people in connection with cyber fraud through the Cash on Delivery mode that is used by many people for ordering products online the police said on Wednesday Investigating a case the Cyber ââPolice department of Kolkata Police arrested 17 people including nine women after searching a call centre in GariahatThe police seized 43 mobile phones SIM cards laptops and wireless phonesA police official said that it is not advisable to pay online before receiving the goods ordered through Cash on Delivery The price should be paid only after receiving the goodsMost people who order things online pay in cash after receiving them According to Kolkata Police this time a fraud has started using this Cash on Delivery as a tool Allegedly many buyers are paying money in the wrong place at the behest of the fraudsters even before the goods arrive at their doorstep After that they do not receive the ordered goodsAccording to the police fraudsters steal digital information and see who orders things through Cash on Delivery on various online platforms Before the targeted company or seller delivers the goods to that buyer the fraudsters call After that they request the buyer to pay the money via QR code instead of cash on multiple pretextsAccording to the police all the buyers who fall into the trap of fraudsters and send money to QR code or phone number before receiving the goods are being cheatedAllegedly the fraudsters are not delivering the goods purchased by the buyer onlineLater when the employees of the real online company come to deliver the goods the buyers realise that the person they sent the money to is not a delivery agentThat is how this new type of online fraud is taking placeWhile investigating several complaints in regard to this cyber fraud the police busted the racket and made 17 arrestsA call centre was used to get in touch with the potential targets and scam them by sending QR code or phone numbers IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kolkata-police-arrests-17-people-for-cyber-fraud-exploiting-cash-on-delivery-mode-670694.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-hc-verdict-exposes-political-conspiracies-of-congress-says-harish-rao-670696.html Hyderabad April 22 Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS leader and former Minister T Harish Rao said on Wednesday that the Telangana High Courtâs order barring the state government from taking any action against him and BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on the basis of the PC Ghose Commission report has exposed the political conspiracies of the Congress party Truth always prevailsâ was how Harish Rao reacted to the High Court orders on their petitions challenging the report of the Ghose Commission which probed the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project constructed during the BRSâNo matter how many conspiracies anyone hatches it has once again been proven today that in the end justice prevails in the courts and truth resoundsâ said Harish Rao who is also the nephew of K Chandrasekhar Rao KCRA Bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin on Wednesday pronounced the orders on the batch of writ petitions filed separately by KCR Harish Rao retired IAS officer and former Chief Secretary SK Joshi and serving IAS officer Smitha Sabharwal challenging the reportThe High Court observed that the Ghose Commission did not follow the procedure under the Commission of Inquiry ActHarish Rao stated that the High Court has struck down the trial conducted while disregarding fundamental rights and principles of natural justice âIt has clearly ruled that the remarks made by the commission which hurt personal prestige are invalid and no actions should be taken based on that report With this the political conspiracies of the Congress government have been exposedâ he saidThe BRS deputy leader in the Telangana Assembly remarked that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddys true colours setting aside public issues to stage dramas have been laid bare by the High Court judgment âEven now we appeal to him to immediately cease baseless complaints and political smear campaigns complete the repairs to the two piers right away and safeguard the interests of Telanganas farmers Whether anyone praises it or not Kaleshwaram will forever remain Telanganas lifelineâ he added Said to be the worldâs largest multistage lift irrigation project the Kaleshwaram project was started by the then BRS government in May 2016 Its main component was inaugurated by the then CM KCR in 2019In March 2024 the Congress government constituted a commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose to probe the alleged irregularities in planning design construction quality control operation and maintenance of Medigadda Annaram and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram projectThe commission submitted its report to the Telangana government on July 31 2025The Commission held KCR directly and vicariously accountable for irregularities in planning execution completion operation and maintenance of the Kaleshwaram project It also indicted Harish Rao then Chief Secretary Joshi and then Secretary to Chief Minister Smitha Sabharwal IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-hc-verdict-exposes-political-conspiracies-of-congress-says-harish-rao-670696.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-youth-assaulted-over-harassment-allegation-video-goes-viral-case-filed-670705.html Raichur Karnataka April 22 A young man was allegedly assaulted in Raichur city of north Karnataka after being accused of harassing a woman at a private hospital police said on Wednesday A video of the assault which happened on Tuesday has since gone viral on social media drawing public attentionAccording to reports the youth identified as Mehboob was allegedly confined inside a house and subjected to assault by the womanâs family membersIt is alleged that he was first taken from his residence and later locked inside a room in a house located in the IDSampT Layout in Raichur city where the assault took placeThe incident is said to have stemmed from allegations that Mehboob had harassed the woman at a private hospital Following this members of the womanâs family reportedly confronted him and took him to their residenceIn the viral video the womanâs sister is heard confronting the youth saying that she had been watching his activities at the hospital The video also shows the youth allegedly pleading for forgiveness while being assaultedDespite his repeated apologies the assault reportedly continued The video has sparked discussion on social media after it went viralPolice have registered a case at the Sadar Bazar police station in Raichur and further investigation is underwayIn a similar incident that happened last year on August 11 2025 villagers had beaten up a 25yearold man following allegations against him of harassing a woman Videos of the incident were shared widely on social mediaVithal Naikar was tied to a tree and beaten up by some villagers including the relatives of the woman They complained that the man was teasing the woman and stalking her They tried to counsel him but he refused to pay heedHe was picked up by a friend taken to Godchi village and beaten up in front of a crowd police sources said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-youth-assaulted-over-harassment-allegation-video-goes-viral-case-filed-670705.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/chhattisgarh-bans-employee-leave-for-three-months-amid-governance-festival-census-670717.html Raipur April 22 The Chhattisgarh government has announced a sweeping ban on employee leave for the next three months citing the dual priorities of the upcoming âSushasan Tiharâ Good Governance Festival and preparations for the national census The directive issued with immediate effect places a moratorium on leave across all departments to ensure maximum workforce availability during this critical period According to an order employees and officials will not be permitted to take leave unless they provide prior intimation and secure approval from a competent authority Even casual leave applications must now be submitted through digital channels reflecting the governmentâs push for transparency and accountability Officials have warned that strict action will be taken against any employee found violating these instructions The decision underscores the stateâs emphasis on effective governance during âSushasan Tiharâ a festival dedicated to resolving public grievances and accelerating the implementation of welfare schemes By restricting leave the government aims to guarantee that administrative machinery remains fully functional enabling swift responses to citizen concerns and ensuring smooth execution of programmes Equally significant is the upcoming Census a nationallevel exercise requiring extensive manpower and coordination State employees are expected to play a pivotal role in data collection and verification tasks that demand the uninterrupted availability of personnel The leave ban is thus seen as a measure to prevent disruptions and maintain efficiency in this massive undertaking Officials have clarified that while the restrictions are stringent they are not absolute Employees facing unavoidable circumstances may still apply for leave provided they follow the prescribed digital notification process and obtain prior approval This balance the government believes will maintain discipline without disregarding genuine needs The announcement has sparked discussions among employees with some expressing concern over the rigidity of the order while others acknowledge the importance of ensuring smooth governance and Census operations For the administration however the priority remains clear uninterrupted service delivery and successful execution of national and statelevel commitments By enforcing this temporary measure the Chhattisgarh government has indicated its determination to strengthen governance enhance accountability and ensure that both the Good Governance Festival and the Census are conducted with maximum efficiency IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/chhattisgarh-bans-employee-leave-for-three-months-amid-governance-festival-census-670717.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/president-murmu-to-inaugurate-tribal-museum-in-odisha-today-670501.html Bhubaneswar April 21 President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate a tribal museum a planetarium and a science centre during a daylong visit to Odisha on Tuesdayâ According to the Presidents Secretariat President Murmu will inaugurate the planetarium and science Centre and the Nirmal Munda Parivesh Path at a public function in Rourkela said a statementâShe will also inaugurate a tribal museum and an Integrated Command and Control Centre at RourkelaâExtensive and robust security measures have been implemented at all venues listed in the Presidents itinerary in view of her visitâOdisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi along with other senior dignitaries are expected to interact with President Murmu during the visitâEarlier in February President Murmu was on a sixday visit to her home stateShe visited Jajpur and offered prayers at the historic 13thcentury Biraja Temple and participated in some rituals at Nabhi GayaâThe President also visited the Balasore district and attended the 12th convocation ceremony of Fakir Mohan UniversityâLater she travelled to Puri and visited the Shree Jagannath Temple She offered prayers and participated in the aarti at the 12thcentury shrine The President also performed other specific rituals in the holy coastal townâDuring that visit President Murmu also visited Mayurbhanj district and participated in a number of programmes across her home districtâThe President attended a special programme at the Jagannath Temple in Rairangpur and later visit Simlipal Wildlife SanctuaryâThe next day she engaged directly with women and youth from tribal communities at Simlipal one of Odishas premier biosphere reserves known for its rich biodiversity and tribal heritageâLater that day she will grace the Black Swan Summit India in Bhubaneswar an event organised by the Odisha government in partnership with the Global Finance and Technology NetworkâConcluding her visit President Murmu later travelled to Chhattisgarh where she inaugurated the Bastar Pandum 2026 festival in Jagdalpurâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/president-murmu-to-inaugurate-tribal-museum-in-odisha-today-670501.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-to-address-civil-servants-today-highlight-inclusive-development-670504.html New Delhi April 21 On the occasion of the 18th Civil Services Day on Tuesday Vice President CP Radhakrishnan will address officials at an event in Delhi highlighting the governmentâs commitment to inclusive development and citizencentric governance The event planned by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances DARPG Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions at Vigyan Bhawan will be themed âViksit Bharat CitizenCentric Governance and Development at the Last Mileâ said an official statementThe inaugural session will include an address by Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh and a welcome address by Cabinet Secretary TV SomanathanThe inaugural session will be followed by a panel discussion on the âRole and effectiveness of civil services An external perspectiveâ which will bring together eminent personalities from government industry and policy institutions to deliberate on enhancing accountability innovation and service delivery in governanceThe Civil Services Day is observed annually as an occasion for the civil servants across India to rededicate themselves to the cause of citizens and renew their commitment to public service and excellence in their workOn this day in 1947 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of the All India Administrative Service where he described civil servants as the steel frame of IndiaThe sessions at the event will bring together senior officials experts and stakeholders for indepth discussions and the exchange of best practices towards strengthening citizencentric governance and improving lastmile service deliveryThe session on âSustainable Livelihood through PM Vishwakarmaâ will be chaired by Minister of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Jitan Ram Manjhi and the session on âAddressing NonCommunicable Diseases in India From Preventive to Careâ will be chaired by Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda the statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-to-address-civil-servants-today-highlight-inclusive-development-670504.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/defence-minister-rajnath-singh-to-begin-three-day-germany-visit-today-670507.html New Delhi April 21 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will begin a threeday official visit to Germany on Tuesday aimed at strengthening the IndiaâGermany strategic defence partnership and deepening bilateral cooperation During the visit Rajnath Singh is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius and other senior leaders of the German government focusing on key areas of cooperationThe discussions will centre on enhancing defence industrial collaboration expanding militarytomilitary engagements and exploring new opportunities in emerging domains such as cybersecurity artificial intelligence and drone technologiesA Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Operations Training are expected to be signed in the presence of both defence ministers during the visitThese agreements are being seen as key steps to boost joint development and coproduction of defence equipment according to an official press note issued ahead of the visitThe visit will also provide an important platform to review ongoing defence cooperation initiatives and identify fresh avenues for collaboration between the defence industries of the two countriesRajnath Singh is expected to interact with key representatives of the German defence industry to promote joint ventures technology partnerships and coproduction projects aligned with Indiaâs âMake in Indiaâ initiativeThis marks the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Germany in the last seven years underlining the significance of the engagement at the current junctureThe last such visit was undertaken by Nirmala Sitharaman in February 2019 Boris Pistorius had earlier visited India in June 2023 where he held extensive discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath SinghIndia and Germany enjoy a strong and multifaceted strategic partnership rooted in shared democratic values commitment to the rule of law and a common vision for a rulesbased international orderIn recent years defence and security cooperation has emerged as a vital pillar of this relationship with both countries seeking to deepen engagement across multiple domainsThe upcoming visit is expected to further deepen bilateral ties and contribute meaningfully to regional and global peace stability and prosperityWith Germany being a key European partner for India the outcomes of this visit are likely to give fresh momentum to the growing defence collaboration between the two countries across sectors IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/defence-minister-rajnath-singh-to-begin-three-day-germany-visit-today-670507.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/voting-underway-in-aizawl-municipal-corporation-under-tight-security-670510.html Aizawl April 21 Voting for the 19member Aizawl Municipal Corporation AMC commenced on Tuesday morning amid tight security arrangements election officials said People including women turned out in large numbers forming queues at most of the 275 polling stations across the civic body urban areasPolling began at 7 AM and will continue uninterrupted until 5 PM A total of 239 lakh voters including 126 lakh women are eligible to cast their votes to decide the electoral fate of 68 candidates of whom 28 are women contesting in the civic body pollsElection authorities along with the state police have put in place elaborate measures to ensure that the polling process remains free fair and transparentThe Mizoram government has declared a public holiday in areas under the AMC on Tuesday to enable voters to exercise their franchiseâAll eligible voters have been urged to exercise their franchise On the day of polling all government offices educational institutions and public sector establishments within the AMC jurisdiction will remain closedâ an official notification statedOfficials of the Mizoram State Election Commission SEC said that nearly 94 per cent of the 2768 senior citizens Persons with Disabilities PwD and individuals with chronic illnesses have already cast their votes through the home voting facilityAccording to an SEC official the candidates comprise 40 men and 28 women representing four major political parties all contesting for seats in the civic bodyThe ruling Zoram Peopleâs Movement the main Opposition Mizo National Front MNF and the Congress have fielded 19 candidates each while the BJP has nominated 11 candidatesThe previous AMC elections were held in February 2021 when the MNF secured a majority by winning 11 seatsThe Zoram Peopleâs Movement won six seats while the Congress secured two seatsAlthough the municipalityâs term ended on March 1 the State Election Commission deferred the election process due to administrative reasons These included the state Assemblyâs budget session which concluded on March 16 as well as ongoing state Board examinationsThe State Election Commission has also enforced the Model Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates Votes will be counted on April 27 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/voting-underway-in-aizawl-municipal-corporation-under-tight-security-670510.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-to-visit-meerut-today-may-take-namo-bharat-train-670511.html New Delhi April 21 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan is scheduled to visit Meerut Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday where he will attend the third convocation ceremony of IIMT University as the chief guest According to the official itinerary the Vice President is expected to begin his journey from Delhi in the morning boarding the Namo Bharat RRTS train from Sarai Kale Khan station He is slated to arrive at Begumpul station in Meerut from where he will proceed by road to the university campus located in GanganagarAnnouncing the ceremony IIMT University posted on its social media An inspiring presence for a defining milestone IIMT University Meerut is honoured to welcome CP Radhakrishnan Honâble Vice President of India as the Chief Guest for the 3rd Convocation Ceremony 2026The convocation ceremony a significant academic event for the institution will see nearly 3940 students from the 2024 and 2025 batches receiving their degrees Among them 203 meritorious students will be awarded gold medals in recognition of their academic excellenceDuring the event the Vice President will also confer honorary doctorate degrees upon prominent spiritual and social figures including Swami Kailashanand Giri Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Hari Singh RawatIn view of the highprofile visit extensive security arrangements have been put in place across Meerut More than 400 police personnel including senior officers have been deployed and drone surveillance is being carried out to ensure safety Traffic diversions have also been implemented particularly along the route leading to GanganagarSeveral dignitaries including Rajya Sabha MP Laxmikant Bajpai and MP Arun Govil are also expected to attend the ceremonyThe Vice President just concluded a landmark twoday official visit to Sri Lanka the firstever bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to the country He announced the expansion of the Overseas Citizen of India OCI scheme to include 5th and 6th generation Indianorigin Tamils in Sri Lanka IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-to-visit-meerut-today-may-take-namo-bharat-train-670511.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/prez-murmu-extends-greetings-on-civil-services-day-praises-civil-servants-for-strengthening-governance-670513.html New Delhi April 21 President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday extended greetings to civil servants on Civil Services Day and praised their commitment to strengthening governance and building a more equitable and progressive nation In a statement the President said Warm greetings to all civil servants on Civil Services Day Your commitment continues to strengthen responsive governance and reinforce public institutions From the formulation of innovative futureoriented and citizencentric policies to their effective implementation on the ground your work significantly impacts the quality of life of millionsAs Bharat advances with renewed aspirations your integrity and empathy will be instrumental in bridging gaps fostering inclusivity and strengthening trust between the State and its citizens May you continue to uphold the highest standards of public service and contribute meaningfully to the building of a more equitable and progressive nation she addedThe Civil Services Day is observed annually as an occasion for civil servants across India to rededicate themselves to the cause of citizens and renew their commitment to public service and excellence in their workOn this day in 1947 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of the All India Administrative Service where he described civil servants as the steel frame of IndiaUnion Home Minister Amit Shah also extended warm wishes to the civil servants on the occasion and said On Civil Services Day greetings to our civil servants Their dedication to implementing policies strengthening governance and serving citizens with integrity plays a vital role in nationbuilding May this occasion further fortify their commitment to contribute to the nationUnion Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also took to social media to wish civil servants on Civil Services DayIn a post on X Gadkari said On this Civil Services Day we salute the dedication integrity and tireless service of our civil service professionals who shape the nations progress Your commitment to governance and public welfare inspires trust and drives change Thank you for being the backbone of a stronger more resilient India IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/prez-murmu-extends-greetings-on-civil-services-day-praises-civil-servants-for-strengthening-governance-670513.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/char-dham-yatra-2026-dates-routes-registration-details-explained-670517.html New Delhi April 21 The sacred Char Dham temples have reopened marking the commencement of one of Indiaâs most revered spiritual pilgrimages The 2026 Char Dham Yatra officially began in Uttarakhand with the opening of the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya following a sixmonth winter closure Amid the chanting of Vedic hymns and religious rituals the temple doors were opened ushering in a pilgrimage season expected to attract lakhs of devotees from across the countryThe Char Dham Yatra is considered a deeply spiritual journey guiding pilgrims through four holy shrines nestled in the Himalayas Yamunotri Gangotri Kedarnath and BadrinathSurrounded by majestic snowcapped peaks flowing rivers and scenic mountain paths each destination holds immense religious significanceTraditionally the yatra begins at Yamunotri proceeds to Gangotri then to Kedarnath and concludes at Badrinath following a westtoeast routeThese temples remain open only for a limited period each year before harsh winter conditions force their closure againFor 2026 the schedule is as follows Yamunotri will remain open from April 19 to November 11 Gangotri from April 19 to November 10 Kedarnath from April 22 to November 11 and Badrinath from April 23 to November 13Given the short operating window and unpredictable weather in the region advance planning is essential for pilgrims Most travels begin from base locations such as Haridwar Rishikesh or Dehradun which are well connected by road rail and air From these hubs travelers proceed via mountainous roads often taking several days to complete the entire circuitThe journey to Yamunotri typically starts from Rishikesh passing through Barkot and reaching Janki Chatti which is the last accessible motor point From there pilgrims undertake a 5â6 km trek to the temple Facilities such as ponies palkis and porters are available for those unable to walk the distanceFrom Yamunotri pilgrims head toward Gangotri via Uttarkashi Unlike Yamunotri Gangotri is directly accessible by road making it comparatively easier to reachThe Kedarnath leg of the yatra is considered the most physically demanding Travellers must drive up to Gaurikund after which a steep 16â18 km trek leads to the temple For those seeking convenience helicopter services are available though bookings must be made exclusively through IRCTCThe final destination Badrinath is the most accessible of all four shrines as it is directly connected by road Unlike Kedarnath no trekking is required making it a suitable option for elderly pilgrims and those with limited mobilityFor those with time constraints or seeking a more comfortable journey helicopter packages covering all four shrines are available from Dehradun These packages significantly reduce travel time allowing pilgrims to complete the yatra within a few days instead of over a weekThe 2026 yatra also introduces several new regulations Entry restrictions have been implemented at certain temples including Kedarnath Badrinath and Gangotri where nonHindus may face specific access conditions However Yamunotri remains open to visitors of all faiths Additionally the use of mobile phones and cameras inside temple premises has been strictly prohibited to preserve the sanctity of the pilgrimage experienceHealth and safety measures have been given heightened priority this year A mandatory medical checkup is required before undertaking the journey especially for individuals above 55 years of age or those suffering from preexisting conditions such as heart disease asthma diabetes or hypertensionTo further enhance safety the state government has significantly upgraded medical infrastructure along the pilgrimage routes According to official sources pilgrims will be monitored through a realtime tracking system supported by doctors paramedical staff and volunteers stationed at various points A fleet of 177 ambulances including advanced life support units has been deployed along with a helicopter ambulance service operated by AIIMS Rishikesh to handle emergenciesRegistration remains a compulsory step for all pilgrims Travellers must complete online registration prior to beginning their journey providing personal and vehicle details Verification is required at each shrine and pilgrims must carry valid documents along with darshan slot tokens to ensure a smooth and organized experienceRegistrations can be completed through the official portal httpsregistrationandtouristcareukgovinDespite improved facilities and administrative preparedness the Char Dham Yatra remains a physically demanding journey Long hours of travel on narrow mountain roads coupled with trekking in regions like Kedarnath require both physical and mental strength Pilgrims are strongly advised to pack essential items such as prescribed medicines rain gear warm clothing and sturdy footwearBeyond its logistical challenges the Char Dham Yatra offers a unique spiritual and visual experience taking travellers through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in India For those planning to undertake the pilgrimage in 2026 careful preparation adherence to guidelines and respect for the fragile Himalayan environment will be key to a safe and fulfilling journey IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/char-dham-yatra-2026-dates-routes-registration-details-explained-670517.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/char-dham-yatra-2026-kedarnath-portals-to-open-on-april-22-helplines-control-rooms-activated-to-assist-pilgrims-670534.html New Delhi April 21 The portals of Kedarnath Dham are set to open on Wednesday allowing devotees to seek blessings at one of Hinduismâs most sacred shrines The opening of Badrinath Dham on April 23 will mark the full commencement of the Char Dham Yatra 2026 in Uttarakhand There is immense enthusiasm among devotees across the state and beyond with pilgrims arriving in large numbers from different parts of India and abroad to undertake the revered journey The Char Dham Yatra one of the most significant spiritual pilgrimages in the country has already begun with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya after a sixmonth winter breakAmid chants of Vedic hymns and traditional rituals the temple doors were opened ushering in a new pilgrimage season expected to draw lakhs of devotees The yatra takes pilgrims through four sacred shrines nestled in the Himalayas Yamunotri Gangotri Kedarnath and Badrinath each surrounded by snowclad peaks flowing rivers and scenic mountain routesTraditionally the pilgrimage begins at Yamunotri followed by Gangotri then Kedarnath and concludes at Badrinath following a westtoeast sequence Authorities have made extensive arrangements to ensure a smooth and safe experience for pilgrims Comprehensive measures have been implemented for security traffic management and healthcare servicesFacilities related to sanitation parking and accommodation along the yatra routes have been streamlined Both online and offline registration processes are currently underway to manage the large influx of devotees Police personnel and State Disaster Response Force SDRF teams have been deployed across key locations with a special focus on disaster preparednessIn addition helplines and control rooms have been activated to assist pilgrims and address any emergencies during the journeyThe opening date of the Kedarnath temple is traditionally decided by the Char Dham Temple Committee at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath on the occasion of Maha Shivratri In 2026 Maha Shivratri was observed on February 15The opening ceremony of Kedarnath is a grand and spiritually significant event that attracts devotees from across the globe A day prior to the opening the Kedarnath Doli palanquin is carried in a ceremonial procession from Gaurikund to the temple covering a challenging 16kilometre trek on footThe grand opening begins with elaborate Vedic rituals performed by priests following which the idol of Bhagwan Kedarnath is unveiled for darshan With spiritual fervour at its peak and robust arrangements in place the Char Dham Yatra 2026 is witnessing a vibrant and devotional start IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/char-dham-yatra-2026-kedarnath-portals-to-open-on-april-22-helplines-control-rooms-activated-to-assist-pilgrims-670534.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-thwarts-13-child-marriages-on-akshaya-tritiya-after-statewide-crackdown-awareness-drive-670536.html Mumbai April 21 The Maharashtra Department of Women and Child Development on Tuesday said that a series of preventive measures implemented on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya led to the successful prevention of 13 child marriages across the state The department said that special arrangements for online coordination and guidance were put in place under the chairmanship of Meghna Bordikar Minister of State for Women and Child Development in Maharashtra to ensure swift action and monitoringGiven that Akshaya Tritiya is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar and often witnesses a rise in weddings and mass marriage ceremonies the department had stepped up vigilance in advance anticipating a possible increase in instances of child marriageTo address the concern an online review meeting was convened under Bordikarâs leadership attended by senior officials including the Secretary of the department the Commissioner District Collectors and Superintendents of Police During the meeting all agencies were directed to remain alert and to take strict measures to prevent any such incidentsOfficials said that a comprehensive awareness campaign was carried out at the district taluka and village levels across Maharashtra Through District Child Protection Units Child Helpline 1098 Anganwadi workers Village Child Protection Committees and various organisations working in the field of child welfare citizens were informed about the harmful consequences of child marriageThe campaign included a range of outreach activities such as kirtans Bhagwat recitations street plays awareness rallies posters and stickers Authorities also encouraged households to take pledges against child marriage to ensure wider community participationAs part of deterrent measures the administration warned that criminal cases could be registered within 24 hours against marriage hall owners priests musical troupes and relatives involved in facilitating child marriagesAccording to officials these coordinated efforts resulted in the prevention of 13 child marriages across different districts including one in Raigad five in Ahilyanagar one in Buldhana two in Yavatmal one in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar two in Dharashiv and one in ParbhaniAuthorities described the outcome as an example of effective interdepartmental coordination and proactive governanceâThese collective efforts have yielded positive results and the administration successfully prevented 13 child marriages that were scheduled to take place at various locations across the state on the day of Akshaya Tritiyaâ officials said adding that one such case was reported from Yavatmal districtSpeaking on the initiative Minister Bordikar said âThanks to this effective and coordinated action by the Department of Women and Child Development a strong message has been delivered to society regarding the evil of child marriageâShe added that similar campaigns would be carried out with even greater effectiveness in the future to eliminate the practice IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-thwarts-13-child-marriages-on-akshaya-tritiya-after-statewide-crackdown-awareness-drive-670536.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-bizman-duped-of-rs-325-cr-abducted-and-threatened-at-gunpoint-police-hunt-for-10-accused-670539.html Mumbai April 21 A sensational case involving multicrore fraud abductionlike confinement and extortion has surfaced in Mumbaiâs Vile Parle East area where a businessman was allegedly duped of Rs 325 crore by a group that lured him with promises of high investment returns police said According to officials the accused first persuaded the businessman to invest Rs 1 crore with assurances of substantial profits When he later demanded his money back after growing suspicious he and his companyâs General Manager were allegedly held at gunpoint threatened with death and forced to transfer an additional Rs 225 croreA case has been registered at the Airport Police Station Mumbai against 10 accused and a manhunt has been launched to trace and arrest themAs per the complaint filed by the victim Ayush Nakra the alleged conspiracy was executed between July 15 2025 and August 28 2025 The complainant stated that four brokers Lakshminarayan Agarwal Devkumar Roy Sushilkumar Yadav and Chetan Sanghvi approached him claiming links with a major investment network and convinced him to invest in a firm identified as âArchship GroupâThe accused allegedly assured the businessman that his investment would multiply significantly within a short span and repeatedly emphasised that his funds would remain secure gradually gaining his trustThe complaint further states that on August 22 2025 the accused arranged for the transfer of Rs 1 crore from the victimâs company account to an entity named âManav Dharmayog NGOâ claiming that it was part of the investment process and that returns would follow soonHowever when the businessman began questioning the transaction and sought clarity on the promised returns the attitude of the accused reportedly changedPolice said that when the victim demanded a refund the accused allegedly threatened him with a firearm On August 28 2025 one of the key accused Umesh Kumar Suman alias Subodh Ranjan along with around 15 associates allegedly confronted the businessman and his companyâs General Manager Pankaj RawatDuring the incident both men were allegedly assaulted with the attackers using kicks and punches while also pointing a pistol at them The accused are said to have threatened to kill them on the spot if they failed to comply with their demandsFearing for their lives the businessman agreed to transfer an additional Rs 225 crore from his companyâs account to another entity âNai Jeevan Jyoti Foundationâ bringing the total amount allegedly extorted to Rs 325 croreBased on the complaint police on April 18 2026 registered a case against multiple accused including Ramashish Kumar Gupta alias Kumar Sir Umesh Kumar Suman alias Subodh Ranjan Lakshminarayan Agarwal Devkumar Roy Sushilkumar Yadav Chetan Sanghvi Surendra Kumar Sakshi Kumari alias Varsha Swati Goyal and othersInvestigators said efforts are underway to track down the accused and uncover the full extent of the network involvedPolice are examining bank accounts financial transactions and operational links to determine whether the NGOs named in the case were being used as fronts for a larger fraudulent investment racketFurther investigation into the case is ongoing officials said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-bizman-duped-of-rs-325-cr-abducted-and-threatened-at-gunpoint-police-hunt-for-10-accused-670539.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-may-june-like-heatwave-strikes-in-late-april-air-quality-remains-poor-670541.html New Delhi April 21 The weather across the Delhi National Capital Region NCR has taken a sharp and unexpected turn bringing with it intense heatwave conditions more typical of May and June even as April draws to a close After experiencing relatively mild and pleasant weather in March reminiscent of Februaryâs lingering chill residents are now grappling with soaring temperatures and deteriorating air quality According to the India Meteorological Department IMD a continuous heatwave alert has been issued from April 21 to April 24 On April 21 the maximum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 41 degrees Celsius while the minimum stood at 23 degrees The situation is expected to worsen over the next few days with temperatures likely to rise further The maximum temperature may touch 43 degrees Celsius on April 22 and 23 and similar conditions are expected to persist on April 24 with the minimum temperature hovering around 24 degreesThe IMD has also warned that heatwave conditions are likely to prevail not just during the afternoon but well into the evening hours highlighting the intensity of the current weather pattern However a slight change is expected towards the end of the week On April 25 and 26 the maximum temperature may drop marginally to around 41 degrees Celsius while the minimum could rise to 25 degrees Skies are likely to remain partly cloudy during this period although no specific weather warnings have been issued Despite this any relief from the heat is expected to be minimalAlongside the rising temperatures air quality in the NCR continues to remain a significant concern The Air Quality Index AQI across several areas of Delhi and its neighbouring regions has consistently stayed within the âpoorâ categoryIn Delhi Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 224 while Ashok Vihar reported 173 Bawana and Chandni Chowk registered AQI levels of 196 and 162 respectively In Noida the situation remains similarly concerning with AQI levels of 197 in Sector1 171 in Sector125 147 in Sector62 and 160 in Sector116Meanwhile Ghaziabadâs Loni area recorded an AQI of 301 placing it in the âvery poorâ category Other areas such as Vasundhara Sanjay Nagar and Indirapuram reported AQI levels of 195 189 and 168 respectivelyThe combination of extreme heat and poor air quality has created a challenging situation for residents effectively subjecting them to a double burden of weatherrelated stress Health experts have advised people to avoid stepping out during peak afternoon hours stay wellhydrated and use protective masks to minimise exposure to polluted air IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-may-june-like-heatwave-strikes-in-late-april-air-quality-remains-poor-670541.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/major-initiative-for-noida-workers-call-centre-set-up-for-quick-grievance-redressal-670542.html New Delhi April 20 In a significant move aimed at ensuring swift and effective resolution of workersâ issues the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has launched a dedicated call centre for grievance redressal The facility has been established by the office of the Additional Labour Commissioner Noida and will operate from the G25A office located in Sector3 The initiative is expected to benefit thousands of workers across the district Providing details about the development Additional Labour Commissioner Rakesh Dwivedi said that workers often face challenges in communicating their grievances to the concerned departments Keeping this issue in mind the administration has introduced the call centre to make the complaint registration process simpler and more accessible while also ensuring timely resolution of issuesWorkers can now register their complaints by calling the helpline number 0124126892 In addition to the helpline an email facility has also been introduced to make the system more convenient Workers can send detailed descriptions of their grievances to the official email ID complaintdlcnoidagmailcomAccording to the administration this initiative is expected to not only streamline the complaint registration process but also enhance transparency and accountability in addressing workersâ concerns All complaints received through the call centre and email will be closely monitored to ensure prompt action and resolutionThe move is particularly beneficial for workers in the industrial sector many of whom previously had to make multiple visits to government offices to get their issues addressed With the new system in place workers can now directly connect with the administration through a simple phone call or email saving both time and effortThe district administration has urged workers to make full use of this facility and to report any issues without delay so that appropriate action can be taken swiftlyMeanwhile on April 19 the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force STF arrested Aditya Anand alias Rasti the alleged mastermind behind the violent Noida workersâ protest from Tiruchirappalli Railway Station in Tamil Nadu The accused who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh and is a BTech graduate from NIT Jamshedpur reportedly confessed to orchestrating the unrest during interrogation IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/major-initiative-for-noida-workers-call-centre-set-up-for-quick-grievance-redressal-670542.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-govt-issues-advisory-of-rain-strong-wind-lightning-in-next-few-hours-670544.html Mumbai April 21 The Maharashtra administration on Tuesday issued an urgent highalert for the next few hours Parts of Mumbai Mumbai Suburbs Palghar Raigad and Thane are expected to experience light rain accompanied by strong winds and intense lightning The governmentâs advisory comes after the Indian Meteorological Department IMD has released a fiveday weather forecast predicting a period of volatile weather across Maharashtra from April 20 to April 24 Residents can expect gusty winds lightning thunderstorms and hailstorms in several districtsAccording to the government sources in Yavatmal after a day of sweltering heat and cloud cover the district witnessed a sudden shift late at night Thunderstorms and unseasonal rain lashed several areas providing muchneeded relief from the humidityHowever the storm led to widespread power outages and raised significant concerns for fruit crops specifically mangoes and summer sesameIn Parbhani intense lightning and heavy unseasonal showers struck the district at midnight While the rain cooled the atmosphere the highvelocity winds disrupted the power supply in various pocketsLocal farmers fear extensive damage to orchards vegetable crops and particularly the indigenous Gavran mango varieties which have already suffered due to consistent weather fluctuations this seasonAuthorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and follow these safety protocols during lightning strikesThe citizens have been urged to move indoors or to a safe structure immediately upon hearing thunder stay away from trees open fields water bodies and metallic objects refrain from using mobile phones or electronic devices in open spaces and if caught in the open with no shelter crouch low with your feet together do not lie flat on the groundThe State Emergency Operations Centre has instructed all relevant agencies to remain on standby Gram Panchayats Police and Health Departments are tasked with immediate local dissemination of warnings Ambulances fire brigades and disaster management teams are to remain alert Schools community halls and public buildings are to be kept open for those seeking refugeFarmers are advised to suspend field operations during lightning warnings Additionally construction activities should be temporarily halted The administration has also appealed for the immediate postponement of fairs religious gatherings and largescale public events to ensure safetyCitizens are requested to follow only official updates and refrain from spreading or believing in rumours during this period of inclement weather said the government release IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-govt-issues-advisory-of-rain-strong-wind-lightning-in-next-few-hours-670544.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/moderate-52-magnitude-quake-jolts-parts-of-manipur-no-damage-reported-670549.html Imphal April 21 A moderate earthquake measuring 52 on the Richter scale shook Manipurâs Kamjong district and adjoining areas as well as neighbouring Myanmar on Tuesday morning officials said Disaster Management authorities in Imphal confirmed that there were no immediate reports of loss of life or damage to property following the tremorAccording to data from the National Centre for Seismology NCS the earthquake struck at a depth of 62 km below the surface affecting Kamjong and nearby regionsTremors were also felt in neighbouring Ukhrul district and state capital Imphal and even in certain parts of Meghalaya but no casualties or damage have been reported from these areas so farTuesdayâs tremor marks the second earthquake in the mountainous northeastern region within less than a weekEarlier on April 16 a mild earthquake measuring 38 on the Richter scale hit Mizoramâs Mamit district and adjoining areas That tremor occurred at a depth of 22 km with no reported casualties or property damageOn April 15 a mild quake measuring 21 on the Richter scale was recorded in Sikkimâs Mamchi district and surrounding areas The NCS reported that the tremor struck at a depth of 10 km below the surface again without any loss of life or damageOn the same day April 15 another mild tremor measuring 27 on the Richter scale shook Arunachal Pradeshâs West Kameng district and adjoining areas This quake occurred at a shallow depth of 5 km with no reports of casualties or damageAn analysis of NCS data indicates that the Northeastern region has experienced more than one earthquake per week in each month with most tremors ranging between magnitudes 3 and 4 on the Richter scaleEarthquakes are relatively common in the mountainous northeast which comprises eight states and lies within one of the worldâs most seismically active zones Frequent tremors mostly mild to moderate in states such as Assam Mizoram Manipur Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have raised concerns among authoritiesThese recurring events continue to underscore the importance of adopting earthquakeresistant construction practices in both public and private infrastructure IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/moderate-52-magnitude-quake-jolts-parts-of-manipur-no-damage-reported-670549.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kota-coaching-student-kabir-chhillar-secures-air-1-in-jee-main-2026-with-perfect-300300-670550.html Jaipur April 21 The National Testing Agency NTA has announced the results of JEE Main 2026 with Kabir Chhillar securing All India Rank AIR 1 by achieving a perfect score of 300 out of 300 A classroom student based in Kota Kabir has been preparing for the examination over the past two years He had also secured a 100 percentile score in the January session demonstrating consistent top performance Originally from Gurugram Kabir credited his success to disciplined preparation conceptual clarity and the guidance of his teachers along with strong family supportâWorking hard in the right direction is most important I focussed on understanding concepts made short notes and revised regularlyâ Kabir saidSeveral other students also secured top ranks in JEE Main 2026 Yashvardhan Kadwasra AIR 11 from Sri Ganganagar relied on a mix of selfstudy and online coaching Yashvardhan attributed his success to consistent effort and smart preparationHe is now preparing for JEE Advanced with the aim of securing admission to an IIT Yashvardhan Kadwasra from Sri Ganganagar has secured the 11th All India Rank in JEE Main 2026Yashvardhan attributed his success to dedication and smart preparation He engaged in 8 hours of daily selfstudy alongside receiving coaching through the online platforms of two different institutes Without spending hours at a physical coaching centre he achieved a top rank through consistent daily study at homeYashvardhans father Prof Rajendra Kumar Kadwasra serves as a Professor and Head of the Department of Botany at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Government College Sri Ganganagar Meanwhile his mother Suman works as the Principal at the Government Girls Senior Secondary School SawantsarFurthermore his elder brother Aditya secured the 54th rank in the NEET examination and is currently pursuing medical studies in his fourth semester at AIIMS Delhi His brothers success served as an inspiration for Yashvardhan Yashvardhan has now immersed himself in preparing for JEE Advanced and dreams of securing admission to an IIT JEE Main was conducted in the January and April sessionsAlong with the release of the All India Ranks for students in the JEE Main examination results information regarding the 25 lakh students who have qualified for JEE Advanced has also been publishedThe number of students achieving a 100 percentile across various states and Union Territories of the country has also been releasedLast year in 2025 a total of 24 students achieved a 100 percentile Rajasthan produced the highest number of top scorers 7 students in JEE Main 2025Rajasthan continues to perform strongly in nationallevel engineering entrance exams In 2025 the state recorded the highest number of students achieving 100 percentile Qualified candidates will now appear for JEE Advanced the gateway to premier engineering institutions including the IITs IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kota-coaching-student-kabir-chhillar-secures-air-1-in-jee-main-2026-with-perfect-300300-670550.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/after-tim-cook-apples-india-story-likely-to-accelerate-under-john-ternus--670551.html New Delhi April 21 Apple CEO Tim Cook who is set to step down in September leaves behind not just a 4 trillion company but a fundamentally repositioned India story that his successor John Ternus will be expected to take forward The companyâs strategic push in India is likely to gather further momentum under Ternus with experts underscoring the countryâs growing importance as both a manufacturing hub and a key consumer marketAccording to experts under Cookâs leadership India has emerged as one of Appleâs most critical markets globally spanning production retail expansion and a rapidly growing user ecosystemThey believe that India will continue to play a dual role for Apple as a major production base and a highgrowth market shaping the next phase of its global expansionTarun Pathak Research Director at Counterpoint Research said Cook played a pivotal role in unlocking Indiaâs potential and positioning it at the centre of Appleâs longterm strategyHe noted that Cook not only drove Appleâs manufacturing push and retail expansion in India but also built strong connections with developers and users deepening engagement with the local marketPathak added that Ternus will need to build on this foundation especially given Indiaâs longterm growth potential with his engineeringled background and leadership style likely to resonate with the countryâs young and aspirational user basePrabhu Ram Vice President at CyberMedia Research CMR said India is increasingly central to Appleâs global supply chain diversification strategyHe pointed out that Apple now assembles about a quarter of its global iPhones in India positioning the country to drive the companyâs future growth trajectory similar to the role China played in the pastRam also highlighted that Cookâs tenure was marked by strong execution and adaptability particularly in navigating geopolitical challenges and reducing dependence on China by scaling up manufacturing in markets like India and VietnamAnnouncing his decision to step down Cook who has led Apple since 2011 said It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of AppleDuring Cookâs tenure Appleâs market capitalisation surged to around 4 trillion from about 350 billion while annual revenues nearly quadrupled to over 416 billion according to the companyHowever in March Cook had dismissed speculation about stepping down calling such reports a rumour and reaffirming his commitment to leading the company IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/after-tim-cook-apples-india-story-likely-to-accelerate-under-john-ternus--670551.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/daring-midnight-heist-in-bihars-vaishali-armed-gang-loots-jewellers-house-670552.html Patna April 21 In a daring midnight heist around half a dozen armed robbers targeted the house of a jewellery shop owner in Vaishali district of Bihar looting over 50 grams of gold ornaments along with cash The incident took place at around 1230 am in Khanpur village under the jurisdiction of Mahnar police station on Tuesday police officials saidAccording to the police the robbers climbed over the boundary wall of the house belonging to Ranjit Kumar Shah and cut through the main gate to gain entry As the gang attempted to break in the family members raised an alarm and neighbours gatheredHowever no one dared to confront the attackers as they were heavily armed To spread panic and deter resistance the robbers reportedly detonated a crude bomb The assailants remained inside the house for nearly half an hour thoroughly searching the premises before escaping with valuables and cashRanjit Shah stated that despite informing the local police immediately officers reached the spot only around 3 am by which time the robbers had already fledâAs soon as we realised that the robbers were approaching we locked all the doors However they came equipped with ladders climbed onto the rooftop and cut the gate to enter the house They assaulted us during the incident My son was injured in the attack They searched every nook and corner and took away gold and cashâ he saidPraveen Kumar the SDPO of Mahnar confirmed the incident âWe have received information about the robbery from the house owner Ranjit Kumar Shah The robbers detonated at least one bomb during the incident A forensic science laboratory FSL team has been called in to collect evidence and the district police are scanning CCTV footage from the area The robbers failed to take away the DVR which will aid in the investigation The case will be cracked very soonâ Kumar saidâPreliminary investigation suggests that one or two local individuals may be involved in the incident We are probing all angles and the accused will be arrested soonâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/daring-midnight-heist-in-bihars-vaishali-armed-gang-loots-jewellers-house-670552.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/strong-room-row-brews-in-kerala-ceo-orders-no-opening-of-any-rooms-at-counting-centres-670553.html Thiruvananthapuram April 21 Amid mounting controversy over the handling of election materials Keralas Chief Electoral Officer CEO Dr Rathan U Kelkar on Tuesday issued a strict directive that no rooms at votecounting centres be opened under any circumstances The order extends to even beyond the completion of counting with explicit instructions that unsealed rooms too must remain closedThe move follows disputes reported from Perambra in Kozhikode and Nenmara in Palakkad prompting the CEO to seek an explanation over the decision to open a material room in NenmaraThe issue which appeared to be settling in Kozhikodeâs Perambra resurfaced in Palakkad after plans emerged to open a strong room at Victoria College NenmaraThe decision triggered sharp reactions leading authorities to withdraw the move District Collector MS Madhavikutty clarified that the proposal was to access the material strong room not the EVM strong roomShe explained that the material room housing electionrelated documents is located adjacent to the EVM strong room and opening it was not irregularAccording to officials the intent was to retrieve Form 17A to ensure accurate data entry on the Election Commissionâs websiteHowever the process has now been halted and any further action will depend on the CEOâs directionsThe Collector added that such a room would only be opened in the presence of candidates and reiterated that the materials strong room was not sealedMeanwhile the Opposition UDF has intensified its campaign over the Kozhikode controversyIt alleges that strong rooms storing voting machines at the JDT Islam Convention Centre in Vellimadukunnu were opened without due permissionThough officials maintain that only a reserve room was accessed the Opposition argues that procedural lapses have undermined confidenceWith the counting day approaching the Election Commission faces the challenge of restoring trust while ensuring strict adherence to protocols governing the security of voting machines and related recordsKerala went to the polls on April 9 and counting of votes will take place on May 4 when it will be known which political front will rule Kerala for the next five years IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/strong-room-row-brews-in-kerala-ceo-orders-no-opening-of-any-rooms-at-counting-centres-670553.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fire-breaks-out-at-private-hospital-in-kolkata-no-casualties-reported-670555.html Kolkata April 21 A minor fire broke out at a private hospital in Kolkatas Salt Lake area on Tuesday but the patients were safely evacuated and no casualties were reported officials said It was learnt that the fire broke out following a short circuit in the airconditioning at one of the operation theatres of the Anandalok Hospital Soon all patients were moved out of the building and shifted to a separate hospital building There was no report of any injury or death in the fire The police said that no patient is stuck in the hospital and the fire has been brought under controlThe fire broke out outside the operation theatres at Anandalok Hospital sparking panic in the area Pedestrians saw the fire and black smoke from the road and informed the fire service Within a few minutes three fire engines reached the spot By then however a part of the operation theatre on the second floor of the hospital was engulfed in fire Along with the fire brigade the locals also swung in to help fight the fire They also successfully brought out the patients and oxygen cylindersHospital employees said that about 70 to 75 patients have been transferred to another building of the hospital and are all safe We have rescued all the patients who were admitted on the second and third floors of the entire building the employee said Another employee said that a total of 7075 people have been rescued The fire was largely brought under control by around 11 am but the firefighters continued their operations to extinguish it fully The administration is also investigating how the fire startedNo official statement regarding the fire has been issued by the hospital authorities The extent of the damage also remains unclear IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fire-breaks-out-at-private-hospital-in-kolkata-no-casualties-reported-670555.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/defence-minister-rajnath-singh-arrives-in-germany-to-advance-defence-cooperation-670556.html Berlin April 21 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday arrived in Germany to discuss advancing defence cooperation between the two nations Indias Ambassador to Germany Ajit Gupte received him at the Munich Airport The visit is significant for advancing IndiaGermany defence cooperation with focus on industrial collaboration military engagement and emerging areas such as cyber AI and drones the Indian Embassy in Germany said in a post on X During his visit Rajnath Singh is set to hold talks with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius and other senior leaders of the governmentDiscussions will focus on increasing defenceindustrial collaboration strengthening militarytomilitary engagements and exploring opportunities in emerging sectors like cybersecurity artificial intelligence and drones according to the Ministry of DefenceA Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Operations Training are likely to be signed in the presence of both ministersThe visit will provide an opportunity to review the ongoing defence cooperation initiatives and identify new avenues for collaboration between the defence industries of both countries Shri Rajnath Singh is also expected to interact with key representatives of the German defence industry with a view to promoting joint development and coproduction under the MakeinIndia initiative the Ministry of Defence statement saidThe last visit to Germany by any Indian Defence Minister was in 2019 when thenDefence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the European nation Pistorius had travelled to India in June 2023 and held talks with Rajnath SinghIndia and Germany share a strong and multifaceted strategic partnership anchored in democratic values the rule of law and a shared commitment to a rulebased international order Defence and security cooperation has emerged as an important pillar of this partnership in recent years The objective of the visit is to further deepen bilateral ties and contribute to regional and global peace stability and prosperity the Ministry of Defence statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/defence-minister-rajnath-singh-arrives-in-germany-to-advance-defence-cooperation-670556.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gold-and-silver-prices-slip-up-to-1-pc-amid-global-uncertainty-670558.html Mumbai April 21 Gold and silver prices declined on Tuesday amid prevailing global uncertainty with both precious metals trading lower by up to around 1 per cent On the Multi Commodity Exchange MCX gold contracts for June 5 were trading at Rs 153415 down 034 per cent or Rs 528 The yellow metal was at Rs 153585 per 10 grams a decline of Rs 358 or 023 per cent at around 1155 am It touched an intraday high of Rs 153992On the other hand silver futures contracts for May 5 were down around 092 per cent or Rs 2335 at Rs 250210 The white metal recorded an intraday high of Rs 251743 and was trading at Rs 250903 per kg down Rs 1642 or 065 per centIn the international markets as well both precious metals were trading in the red COMEX gold fell 043 per cent to 4807 per ounce while silver declined 144 per cent to 78885 per ounceA commodity market expert said that uncertainty surrounding the USIran ceasefire and upcoming macroeconomic events has led to cautious sentiment resulting in a marginal dip in gold pricesAccording to the analyst markets remained on edge over whether fresh peace talks would materialise before the ceasefire expires this week with conflicting signals from both sides adding to volatilityWhile US President Donald Trump confirmed that a delegation led by Vice President JD Vance would travel to Pakistan for negotiations Iranian officials indicated that talks were unlikely as long as the US naval blockade remains in place However reports suggested Tehran may still participate through regional mediators Geopolitical risks were further underscored by recent developments including the US capture of an Iranflagged vesselThe expert added that alongside geopolitical developments investor focus has shifted to domestic factors particularly the Senate confirmation hearing of Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh His relatively hawkish stance on monetary policy and preference for a leaner balance sheet have previously weighed on bullionWith uncertainty around both geopolitics and the policy outlook persisting gold remains under pressureEchoing this trend oil prices also declined by up to 2 per centBrent crude futures fell 171 per cent to 9384 per barrel hitting an intraday low as of 1230 pm while US West Texas Intermediate WTI traded at 855 down 2 per cent from the previous close IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gold-and-silver-prices-slip-up-to-1-pc-amid-global-uncertainty-670558.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/permanent-political-solution-in-bengal-hills-by-next-month-if-bjp-comes-to-power-hm-shah-670560.html Kolkata April 21 IANS A permanent political solution in the hills scattered over Darjeeling Kalimpong and Kurseong in North Bengal will be achieved by next month if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal after the Assembly elections in the state Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on TuesdaynbspOn May 6 we will be deciding the matter and coming out with a solution which will bring smiles on the faces of our Gorkha brothers Be it Congress or Trinamool Congress they have left out patriotic Gorkha brothers who have been deprived for a long time I had been coming to the hills for the last nine years I will announce a solution to the longstanding issue by May 6 That solution will be according to the desire of our Gorkha brothers HM Shah said while addressing a campaign rally at Sukna in Kurseong on Tuesday morningHe also said that since the BJP understands the sentiments and problems of the Gorkha population none other than the saffron force would be able to solve their problemsSpeaking on the occasion he said that the negligence of the Mamata Banerjeeled Trinamool Congress government towards the development of the entire North Bengal is evident from the state governments paltry budgetary allocation for the regionIn the last budget the state government had allocated Rs 2000 crore for the entire North Bengal But for minority and madrasa education development the budgetary allocation is as high as Rs 5800 crore But the people of North Bengal will not tolerate this approach anymore Shah saidHe also accused the Chief Minister of making attempts to destroy the rich heritage of Gorkha culture The Gorkhas have a glorious history Mamata Banerjee is trying to destroy that history and culture The same thing was done first by Congress and then by CPIM It is high time now that such injustice on our Gorkha brothers and sisters should stop said ShahHe also said that the West Bengal government had deliberately and perpetually refrained from sending representatives to the tripartite meeting convened by the Union Home Minister to discuss a permanent political solution in the hillsSince I became the Union Home Minister I have convened at least three meetings on this issue But Mamata Banerjee did not send any representative to the meeting even once I want to tell the Chief Minister that we are not dependent on her to solve this issue I know what is on the minds of our Grokha brothers and sisters Hence the solution would be achieved accordingly he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/permanent-political-solution-in-bengal-hills-by-next-month-if-bjp-comes-to-power-hm-shah-670560.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-tops-global-ai-health-adoption-at-85-pc-far-ahead-of-us-uk-report-670561.html Mumbai April 21 IANS India has emerged as the global leader in the adoption of artificial intelligence for personal health with a striking 85 per cent of consumers already using AIpowered tools far ahead of major developed markets a new report revealed on TuesdaynbspAccording to a study by Boston Consulting Group BCG titled Consumers Are Ready for AIEnabled Health Care Health Systems Need to Be Too Indian users are embracing generative AI at a pace unmatched globallyThe report based on a survey of over 13000 consumers across 15 countries highlighted how Indias adoption rate significantly surpasses that of the United States 50 per cent the United Kingdom 43 per cent and Japan 34 per centGlobally nearly 60 per cent of respondents said they already use AI for healthrelated purposes but India stands out as a frontrunner reflecting a growing comfort with digital tools in healthcareThe findings point to a major shift in how patients view medical care with most preferring a hybrid approach where human doctors are supported by AI rather than replaced by itThis model is particularly popular for tasks such as interpreting test results and managing chronic conditionsThe report also noted that younger generations are driving this rapid adoption Around 78 per cent of Gen Z respondents and 71 per cent of Millennials reported using AI for healthrelated tasks the report saidCurrently the use of AI in healthcare is largely concentrated in chatbots and wearable devices but expectations are quickly evolvingWhile current use is concentrated in chatbots 33 per cent and wearables 19 per cent there is a clear expectation for agentic AI that can book appointments manage referrals and flag drug interactions the report notedConsumers are increasingly looking for more advanced agentic AI systems that can independently perform tasks such as booking appointments managing referrals and identifying potential drug interactionsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-tops-global-ai-health-adoption-at-85-pc-far-ahead-of-us-uk-report-670561.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/authorities-raze-illegal-structures-in-ahmedabads-dhandhuka-disconnect-power-to-accused-670562.html Ahmedabad April 21 Administrative action intensified in Dhandhuka town of Ahmedabad district on Tuesday as authorities launched a demolition drive against illegal structures and disconnected electricity supply to two accused historysheeters days after a fatal stabbing triggered violence and unrest in the area Bulldozers were deployed to clear encroachments across key stretches while the power company disconnected electricity to the residences of Shabbir Chopda an accused in the Kishan Bharwad murder case in 2022 and Imtiyaz PathanOfficials said the process to register cases under Section 135 of the Electricity Act 2003 has been initiated with further legal action underwayAhmedabad Rural DySP Aastha Rana told IANS âThe demolition drive is currently underway in the area and sufficient police personnel have been deployed to assist the process As of now the only action taken against the two accused is that their electricity supply has been cut However this is not going to be the only action in the long run We will verify everythingâA large police contingent was deployed as teams from the Roads and Buildings RampB department revenue authorities police municipality city survey department UGVCL and fire and medical services carried out the operationThe heavy security presence led to parts of the town resembling a policecontrolled zone Encroachments are being removed along the stretch from the railway station to the Ranpur crossroads where around 14 roadside shop sheds have been identifiedIn the Khatkiwad area five residential properties are also being cleared Notices had earlier been issued to multiple units including around 12 along the FedaraâDhandhuka highwayDhandhuka Municipality Chief Officer Raju Sheikh told IANS âAt present the demolition drive is targeting around 15 to 20 illegal structures The structures linked to the two accused are not being razed in this drive the action is focused on properties associated with history sheetersâThe administrative measures follow the recent killing of Dharmesh Gamara who was fatally stabbed after a dispute reportedly triggered by a minor road incident involving motorcycles which escalated into a confrontation in a residential areaThe incident invoked widespread unrest including arson and vandalism with several shops set ablaze and properties damaged in DhandhukaPolice said two accused Samir and Rizwan were arrested in connection with the murder while at least 20 people were detained for their alleged role in the violenceTwo FIRs have been registered one for murder and related offences and another against more than 120 individuals for rioting unlawful assembly and damage to propertyInvestigators have since reconstructed the crime scene to establish the sequence of events taking the accused to multiple locations including the site of the stabbingAuthorities have also formed a Special Investigation Team SIT to probe both the murder and the subsequent unrest and said the situation in the town is now under control with normalcy gradually returning IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/authorities-raze-illegal-structures-in-ahmedabads-dhandhuka-disconnect-power-to-accused-670562.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/emraan-hashmi-starrer-awarapan-2-to-debut-in-cinemas-on-august-14-670563.html Mumbai April 21 IANS The makers of the upcoming film Awarapan 2 have booked August 14 2026 for its release The film is the highly anticipated sequel to one of Hindi cinemas most beloved cult filmsnbspOn Tuesday Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi took to the Stories section of his Instagram The film marks the reunion between filmmakerproducer Vishesh Bhatt and Emraan HashmiOn his decision to make Awarapan 2 producer Vishesh Bhatt said Awarapan 2 is an emotion so large that its meant for the big screen It also presents exotic settings and large scale sequences but fundamentally its built on our core principles of layered storytelling with powerful characters and rich musicHe further mentioned Emraan felt the angst of Shivam so deeply that he stepped into character in a heartbeat And with Disha Patani joining us the world of the film opened up to new possibilitiesMarking her first collaboration with Vishesh Films Disha Patani brings a compelling new dimension to the world of Awarapan Baaghi 2 MS Dhoni The Untold Story and Kalki 2898 AD among her creditsThe film is directed by Nitin Kakkar and written by Bilal Siddiqui created and produced by Vishesh Bhatt The film is currently in its final leg of production in Mumbai Awarapan 2 releases in cinemas worldwide on August 14 2026Awarapan has over the years gained a cult status It is largely driven by its emotional depth and haunting music Initially underappreciated at the boxoffice the film found a second life through television reruns and digital platforms Its melancholic tone themes of redemption and the brooding performance by Emraan Hashmi resonated strongly with audiences over timeSongs like Tera Mera Rishta and Toh Phir Aao have become timeless classics What sets Awarapan apart is its sincerity it doesnt chase mass appeal but instead builds a loyal following connected by the singular thread of cinematic emotions that sit rightIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/emraan-hashmi-starrer-awarapan-2-to-debut-in-cinemas-on-august-14-670563.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-uk-discuss-evolving-nature-of-conflict-and-deepening-military-to-military-cooperation-670572.html London April 21 IANS Chief of Defence Staff CDS General Anil Chauhan met the UKs Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard with their discussions focusing on the evolving nature of conflict and deepening militarytomilitary cooperationGeneral Chauhan also met the UKs Minister of State MoS for IndoPacific Seema MalhotraCDS also held highimpact bilateral talks with Ms Seema Malhotra MoS for IndoPacific to take forward India UK Partnership Defence Industrial Roadmap and Tech and Security initiatives to counter emerging challenges in the IndoPacific the HQ Integrated Defence Staff IDS said in a post on XnbspBoth sides emphasised enhancing cooperation in Cyber Intelligence and Space domains including information resilience and specialised exchanges The exchange reaffirmed a shared commitment to resilient Future Ready forces and a strengthened India UK strategic partnership it addedEarlier General Chauhan led a roundtable conference with leading officials think tanks and intellectuals on Indian military transformation challenges and opportunityGeneral Anil Chauhan Chief of Defence Staff CDS led an engaging roundtable conference with leading officials think tanks and intellectuals on Indian military transformation challenges and opportunity focused on the evolving strategic landscape and the imperatives of modern military transformation during his visit to the United Kingdom the HQ IDS posted on XDiscussions underscored the centrality of advanced technologies in defence enhancement of operational capabilities and closer synergy across industrial intelligence and cyber domains alongside strategic communication and joint engagements to further strengthen a robust futureoriented IndiaUK Defence Partnership it addedOn Monday General Chauhan was accorded a Ceremonial Step Line and received by his UK counterpart Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton in LondonDuring their meeting the two officials held discussions focused on expanding cooperation in cyber intelligence industrial collaboration and joint exercises to reinforce global security stability and resilience the Indian High Commission in London statedThe CDS also interacted with Indias High Commissioner Vikram K DoraiswamiThe visit will further deepen Defence Cooperation and will advance defence industrial ampamp intelligence collaboration cyber cooperation strategic communication and joint exercises This visit reinforces a shared commitment to global security stability and resilience the HQ IDS addedAccording to the UK Defence Ministry senior UK civil and military leaders will also interact with General Chauhan during his threeday visit Representatives of the British defence industry will meet him to progress talks on greater defence coproduction between the two countries General Chauhan will also be given a tour of the Royal College of Defence Studies where he will meet a multinational cohort of studentsThis is the first official visit by an Indian CDS to the UK and marks the fifth senior UKIndia military engagement this year following the UK Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyths visit to India in MarchIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-uk-discuss-evolving-nature-of-conflict-and-deepening-military-to-military-cooperation-670572.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-holds-fuel-prices-steady-as-us-uae-australia-pak-see-sharp-surge-670574.html New Delhi April 21 IANS Even after escalation in West Asia conflict and rise in Brent crude oil prices due to the closure of Strait of Hormuz the fuel prices remain unchanged in India while many countries have witnessed a jump of up to 85 per centnbspData by Kotak highlighted a sharp divergence between India and both advanced and emerging countries where consumers have faced increases in fuel prices so far this year reports NDTV ProfitOn the diesel front prices have witnessed a sharp rise in several countries in recent months amid geopolitical tensionsCountrywise the UAE saw an increase of around 85 per cent followed by Australia and the United States which recorded rises of more than 65 per cent and 62 per cent respectively Meanwhile in Canada Pakistan France Sri Lanka and Britain prices rose between 35 per cent and 53 per centMoreover countries where prices increased more modestly include China and Brazil while Russia stands out as an exception with diesel prices rising only slightly by over 1 per centIn contrast diesel prices in India have remained unchanged at Rs 876 per litre compared to January levels indicating zero increase despite the USIran tensionsA similar trend has been observed in petrol prices Neighbouring Pakistan has seen the highest a 44 per cent jump in petrol prices followed by the United States 42 per cent and the UAE 36 per centMeanwhile petrol prices in Canada Sri Lanka and China have risen by up to 34 per cent while Australia Britain and France recorded relatively moderate gainsAmong countries with modest increases Brazil and Russia reported hikes of over 7 per cent and 1 per cent respectivelyIn India retail petrol prices have been kept at Rs 947 per litre compared to January levels indicating no increase for consumersIndias unchanged fuel prices highlight the degree of price stabilisation enabled by policy interventions and publicsector oil marketing company OMC pricing Despite volatility in global fuel markets Indian consumers have largely been shielded from the immediate passthrough of international price pressuresIn a first since fuel price deregulation staterun OMCs are paying refineries a discounted price for petrol diesel aviation turbine fuel ATF and kerosene in a bid to curb mounting losses arising from a selfimposed freeze on retail fuel prices according to reportsIn another report prominent brokerage Macquarie said that at spot petroldiesel pricing of 135165 per barrel we estimate Indias oil marketing companies incur losses of Rs 18 per litre on petrol and Rs 35 per litre on dieselThe report added that every 10 per barrel increase in crude prices raises marketing losses by around Rs 6 per litreIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-holds-fuel-prices-steady-as-us-uae-australia-pak-see-sharp-surge-670574.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/people-of-tamil-nadu-will-give-massive-victory-to-nda-to-teach-lesson-to-stalin-piyush-goyal-670578.html Chennai April 21 IANS Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said that the people of Tamil Nadu will deliver a massive victory to the NDA to teach a lesson to Mr StalinnbspSpeaking to IANS Goyal said I am at least glad that finally Udhayanidhi Stalin and his father MK Stalin have realised that by hurting Tamil culture Tamil pride Tamil tradition and Tamil heritage and by calling Sanatan Dharma which is a way of life for Tamil Nadu and for Indians something that should be eradicated they have hurt the sentiments of every Tamil Tamil Nadu will not forget and Tamil Nadu will not forgiveHe further said The people of Tamil Nadu will give such a massive victory to the NDA to teach a lesson to Mr Stalin whom I call antiTamil for continuously creating false narratives and hurting our women by depriving them of reservation The Congress and Tamil Nadus DMK are primarily responsible for not ensuring reservationGoyal added It is clearly visible that there is a massive wave in favour of the NDA Edappadi K Palaniswami will be the next Chief Minister of Tamil NaduReferring to regional leadership he said You just heard N Chandrababu Naidu himself He is from South India They have hurt the interests of South India and the Northeast and they have also weakened the goal of ensuring equal opportunities for every part of India and for every woman Stalin has completely failed the people of Tamil NaduMeanwhile in Tamil Nadu Tuesday is the last day of campaigning According to the Election Commission all forms of campaigning will cease after 6 PM With limited time remaining political parties intensified their final outreach efforts across districtsDuring campaigning BJP leaders while canvassing for alliance candidates alleged that the DMK had delivered poor governance in the state and that dynastic politics had permeated even village panchayat levels under its ruleAIADMK leader Palaniswami claimed that the DMK government was responsible for deteriorating law and order and rising crimes against womenOn the other hand AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal stated that Tamil Nadu has progressed under the DMK government He criticised the AIADMK for aligning with the BJP and drew comparisons with the current political situation of former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish KumarThe Congress party meanwhile accused the Income Tax Department of obstructing Tamil Nadu Congress President Selva Perunthagai from carrying out his political duties terming the searches a blatant misuse of central agencies by the BJPIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/people-of-tamil-nadu-will-give-massive-victory-to-nda-to-teach-lesson-to-stalin-piyush-goyal-670578.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-powers-arm-sets-up-new-atomic-energy-subsidiary-670582.html Ahmedabad April 21 Adani Power Limited on Tuesday announced the incorporation of a new stepdown whollyowned subsidiary as it strengthens its presence in the atomicnuclear energy space In a regulatory filing the Adani Group company said its whollyowned subsidiary Adani Atomic Energy Limited AAEL has set up RawatbhataRaj Atomic Energy Limited RRAELâWe would like to inform that Adani Atomic Energy Limited AAEL a whollyowned subsidiary of the Company has incorporated a whollyowned subsidiary namely RawatbhataRaj Atomic Energy Limited RRAEL on April 20â Adani Power saidThe entity was incorporated on April 20 2026 in India with an authorised capital of Rs 5 lakh divided into 50000 equity shares of Rs 10 eachâRRAEL has been incorporated with authorised capital of Rs 500000 divided into 50000 equity shares of Rs 10 eachâ it saidThe company clarified that RRAEL is a whollyowned subsidiary of AAEL which itself is fully owned by Adani Power making it a stepdown subsidiary within the groupâs structureâ100 per cent of the shareholding of RRAEL is held by AAEL 100 per cent of the shareholding of AAEL is held by Adani Power Limitedâ it notedIn a parallel development on the same day another group entity Adani Energy incorporated a stepdown wholly owned subsidiary named CoastalMaha Atomic Energy LimitedThis entity will operate in the nuclear energy segment and will be engaged in the generation transmission and distribution of electricity derived from atomic energyâTo generate transmit and distribute power derived from nuclear andor atomic energyâ it said in its stock exchange filingThe backtoback incorporations signal the Adani Groupâs growing interest in the nuclear power sector aligning with Indiaâs longterm energy transition goalsAt present Indiaâs installed nuclear power capacity stands at 87 gigawatts The country has set an ambitious target to scale this capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2047 as part of its broader clean energy roadmap IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-powers-arm-sets-up-new-atomic-energy-subsidiary-670582.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-has-potential-to-unlock-rs-78-500-crore-value-from-textile-waste-report-670596.html New Delhi April 21 India has the potential to unlock about 94 billion nearly Rs 78500 crore in value from its textile waste annually by strengthening collection sorting and recycling systems a new report showed on Tuesday The joint report by FICCI and the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition RECEIC said India generates around 725 million tonnes of textile waste annually but a significant share remains underutilised due to fragmented collection systems lack of standardised sorting and limited recycling capacityNearly 94 billion of value is currently unrealised largely due to inefficiencies across collection sorting and recyclingImportantly about 85 per cent of this value lies in reuse pathways which remain underdeveloped said the reportTo unlock the opportunity the FICCIâRECEIC report recommends a national Extended Producer Responsibility EPR framework for textiles investment in collection and sorting infrastructure standardised grading and traceability systems integration of informal sector workers and expansion of recycling capacityPostconsumer textile waste systems are highly fragmented with nearly 45 per cent of waste not entering recovery pathways and instead being diverted to landfill or incinerationâA key bottleneck identified is sorting described as the âvalue gateâ of the textile waste ecosystem However over 95 per cent of sorting in India is manual with limited technology adoption and absence of a standardised grading frameworkâ said the reportThe report also noted policy and infrastructure gaps including the absence of a dedicated Extended Producer Responsibility EPR framework for textiles weak source segregation and inadequate traceability mechanismsOn recycling Indiaâs ecosystem is dominated by mechanical processes with limited chemical recycling capacity constraining the ability to handle blended fabrics and scale circularity it addedâWhile circular materials can significantly enhance supply chain resilience and reduce dependence on virgin resources achieving this will require coordinated action across policy industry and infrastructureâ said the report IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-has-potential-to-unlock-rs-78-500-crore-value-from-textile-waste-report-670596.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nps-clinches-inter-school-alumni-basketball-title-in-chandigarh-670602.html DW Bureau Chandigarh April 21 2026 The ExVivekite Association EVA successfully hosted the second edition of the InterSchool Alumni Basketball Tournament bringing together seven prominent school alumni teams for a spirited display of sportsmanship and competitive excellence Held at the basketball courts of Vivek High School Sector 38 Chandigarh the tournament witnessed highenergy matches impressive teamwork and enthusiastic participation from former studentsWhat made the tournament particularly noteworthy was its inclusive format with teams comprising a mix of both men and women players The event not only celebrated athletic talent but also rekindled schooltime camaraderie among alumni creating an atmosphere of nostalgia and friendly rivalryThe alumni association of New Public School NPS emerged as the champions putting up a commanding performance throughout the tournament to clinch the coveted trophy YPS Mohali OYA secured the first runnerup position after a strong showing while the host team ExVivekite Association EVA finished as the second runnerupIn the final match NPS defeated Yadavindra Old Association OYA with a convincing scoreline of 5842 Divarsh Singh played a pivotal role in NPSs victory scoring an impressive 32 points under the captaincy of Gurinder Singh His sharp shooting and consistent performance kept the opposition on the back foot For OYA Aadesh Singh emerged as the top scorer with 24 points leading his side under the captaincy of Rakshit but his efforts fell short against NPSs dominant gameplayThe contest for third place was equally engaging as EVA faced Guru Nanak Public School GNPS in a closely fought match EVA managed to edge past GNPS with a score of 4236 Gursher led the scoring for EVA with 18 points under the leadership of captain Ronnie Singh while Shahbaaz also scored 18 points for GNPS showcasing commendable determinationEVA President Dr Harkirat Sethi Vice President Tarun Lehal and Sports Secretaries Ronnie Singh and Abhishek Garg congratulated all the participating teams for their sportsmanship teamwork and enthusiastic participation They highlighted the importance of such events in strengthening alumni networks and promoting a healthy active lifestyleThe prize distribution ceremony was graced by Mukul Sharma Vice Principal of Vivek High School Chandigarh who presented trophies and awards to the winning teams and applauded the efforts of all participants and organisersThe tournament featured alumni teams from ExVivekite Association EVA New Public School NPS YPS Mohali OYA Guru Nanak Public School GNPS St Kabir KROS Sanawar OSS and The Doon School making it a vibrant gathering of talent and school spiritDW BUreau https://dailyworld.in/national/nps-clinches-inter-school-alumni-basketball-title-in-chandigarh-670602.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-would-provide-direction-hm-parameshwara-on-concerns-raised-by-ktaka-congs-muslim-leaders-670603.html Bengaluru April 21 Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said that concerns raised by Muslim leaders within the Congress party would be examined adding that senior party MP and Leader of the Opposition LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi would provide direction on the matter Responding to questions from reporters he said the Congress has consistently given priority to members of the Muslim community when it comes to electoral representationHe also clarified that the partyâs practice of granting tickets to family members of deceased leaders has been misinterpreted in the present caseâSome have sought tickets citing their voter strength which is not wrong Due to certain reasons a ticket has been given to late Shamanur Shivashankarappaâs family and it should not be interpreted differentlyThis is an internal matter of the Congress party The party president the Chief Minister and all of us will resolve itâ he saidIt can be recalled that a section of Muslim leaders had sought a ticket for a candidate from the community from Davanagere South bypoll After the poll with allegations of antiparty activities surfacing the Congress had stripped MLCs Abdul Jabbar and Naseer Hussain of party positionsAbdul Jabbar was asked to resign from the post of the party minority wing and Hussain was shunted out from the post of CMs Political Advisor as he refused to tender his resignationAddressing another issue Parameshwara said he has directed officials to submit a report regarding allegations of harassment by senior officers against a Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement DCRE Inspector as well as a letter reportedly written by an SP to the DGP against the Mangaluru City Police CommissionerSpeaking to the media Parameshwara said he had taken note of reports highlighting the matterA DCRE Inspector named Srinivas has made several allegations while SP Kashinath has written to the DGP raising concerns âI have sought a report from the DGP on both these matters Action will be taken based on the findings of the reportâ he saidIt can be noted that SS Kashi a Superintendent of Police SP with the DCRE in Karnataka wrote a letter to the Director General and Inspector General of Police DGampIGP MA Saleem in April 2026 alleging mental harassment and bias by Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudhir Kumar ReddyPolice Commissioner Reddy denied the allegations calling them baseless and stating that departmental enquiries against Kashi were initiated based on his performance and upheld by the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-would-provide-direction-hm-parameshwara-on-concerns-raised-by-ktaka-congs-muslim-leaders-670603.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/storm-over-kharges-terrorist-remark-at-pm-modi-ministers-and-mps-rip-into-cong-chief-670604.html New Delhi April 21 IANS Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge found himself in the firing line of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Tuesday as Union Ministers MPs and party leaders launched a blistering attack at him for calling the Prime Minister Narendra Modi a terroristThe political storm arising over Kharges comments saw Union Ministers and leaders from the BJP launching a fierce and swift response at the Congress and its ChiefUnion Minister Piyush Goyal while taking a strong objection to the highly deplorable remarks demanded an outright apology and warned that such personal attacks on the Prime Minister wont go unpunished in the electionsI feel ashamed that the Congress and the DMK have stooped so low that they are insulting the Prime Minister who is democratically elected by the people of India by calling him a terrorist Rahul Gandhi and MK Stalin must apologise for this downright insult to the Prime Minister Modi as well as the people of India who have voted him in Union Minister Goyal said taking to his official X accountThe Union Minister said that objectionable words against the Prime Minister was an insult to 140 crore Indians including Tamil brothers and sisters and said that such personal attacks against the Prime Minister Modi wont reverse their electoral fate that has already been sealed by the anger of the people who have suffered their misruleBJP MP Sambit Patra called out the abusive mindset of Congress and asserted that this was not a random controversy but a tactfully planned Congress gameplan to attack and humiliate the Prime Minister ahead of electionsHe also warned that Congress not learning from its mistakes will have to pay the price in the ensuing Assembly pollsThe words chosen by Kharge for PM Modi is highly condemnable and shows the vitriolic mindset of Congress party This is not a slip of tongue Their clarification on the issue if any means nothing because its not a oneoff incident but a well thoughtout and planned Congress strategy For past few days Rahul Gandhi and other top Congress leaders have been making abusive and insulting remarks against the Prime Minister Patra saidHe added that Tuesdays incident has breached all limits as Mallikarjun Kharge at the insistence of Rahul Gandhi called the Prime Minister a terroristIssuing a video statement the BJP MP said This is same Congress which is seen standing with separatists this is the same party which addresses terrorist Osama Bin Laden with respect which describes radical preacher Zakir Naik apostle of peace but finds countrys Prime Minister as terroristHighlighting the series of welfare schemes launched by the Narendra Modi government including Mudra Yojana Awas Yojana free ration to countrymen and the push for 33 per cent reservation to women Patra asked Is this the character of Congress partyWarning the grand old party of biting the dust in the ensuing polls he said The way Congress has been making disparaging remarks on PM Modi it must remember that whenever Congress abused the Prime Minister it paid a heavy price and this time also the people of country will give it a befitting replyThe controversy emanated from Kharges statement made during a press conference in Tamil Nadu on TuesdayAddressing the press Kharge said How these AIADMK people who themselves put the photo of Annadurai how can they join PM Modi He is a terrorist His party wont believe in equality and justice These people are joining with them it means they are weakening democracy they are weakening the philosophy of Annadurai Kamaraj Periyar Kaliagnar Baba Saheb AmbedkarLater in a clarification the Congress President said I did not mean that PM Modi is a terrorist What I meant was that people are being terrorised and institutions and agencies are being used to intimidate themIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/storm-over-kharges-terrorist-remark-at-pm-modi-ministers-and-mps-rip-into-cong-chief-670604.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-crpf-jawan-on-election-duty-attempts-suicide-670464.html Kolkata April 20 A Central Reserve Police Force CRPF jawan who had come to West Bengal on Assembly election duty attempted suicide in Murshidabad district on Monday According to the police the jawan was rescued from the Shaktipur police station area of the Rejinagar Assembly constituency He is undergoing treatment at the hospitalA few Central Force personnel who arrived in Shaktipur on election duty have been accommodated at Bazarsau Higher Secondary High School It is alleged that the head constable of the Central Reserve Police Forceâs 142nd Battalion attempted suicide thereThe jawan hails from a state in southern India He had also done election duty in Assam a month ago According to a local source he shot himself with a service rifle One bullet hit his left shoulder The bleeding jawan was rescued by his colleaguesThe injured jawan is undergoing treatment at Berhampore Medical College and Hospital According to hospital sources his physical condition is stable However he has been kept under observation for the time beingEarlier a Central Force jawan on Assembly election duty died under mysterious circumstances in Falta of South 24 Parganas district on the night of April 14 The deceased was identified as Kanak KochHe was a constable with the IndoTibetan Border Police The initial assumption of the police is that he fell from the stairs and died after sustaining severe injuriesTwo days later a Border Security Force jawan died in a fire at the camp of the 77th Battalion of the Border Security Force at Hingalganj in North 24 Parganas districtThe deceasedâs name was Jyotiram SinghHe was working as an Assistant SubInspector Jyotiram entered the camps fuel storage room and soon the fire broke outThe fire spread so quickly that the Border Security Force jawan did not get a chance to come out As a result he got trapped in the room and died of burns IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-crpf-jawan-on-election-duty-attempts-suicide-670464.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-132-containers-of-imported-watermelon-seeds-peas-valued-at-rs-139-crore-seized-670465.html Mumbai April 20 The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI Mumbai arrested an importer for smuggling âWatermelon Seedsâ and âGreen Peasâ worth Rs 139 crore from Tanzania Sudan and Canada an official said on Mondayâ The illegal consignment was seized at Nhava Sheva Port and the proprietor of the importing firm â a key person behind this organised smuggling was arrested on Sunday said a statement issued by DRIâActing on specific intelligence officers intercepted 132 containers containing approximately 3029 metric tonnes of goods misdeclared as âToor DalPigeon Peasâ The seized consignments are valued at around Rs 139 croreâDetailed examination revealed blatant misdeclaration with recovery of 2710 MT of watermelon seeds originating from Tanzania and Sudan and 319 MT of green peas from Canada instead of the declared goods âToor DalPigeon PeasââThe government has imposed strict import restrictions on these commodities to safeguard domestic farmers from lowpriced importsâImport of melon seeds has been restrictedprohibited post June 2024 DGFT Notification No 052023 dated April 5 2024 while imports of green peas are restricted under DGFT Notification No 372015â20 dated December 18 2019 subject to a Minimum Import Price Rs 200kg CIF and restricted import through Kolkata port onlyâThe DRI continues to intensify intelligencedriven operations against the smuggling of restrictedprohibited goods reaffirming its commitment to protecting the nations economic interests ensuring a level playing field for domestic producers and enforcing compliance with import regulations the statement saidâEarlier under its âOperation Fire Trailâ DRI Mumbai Zonal Unit thwarted a smuggling attempt involving illegal Chineseorigin firecrackers entering IndiaâThe operation resulted in the seizure of contraband worth an estimated Rs 44 crore at the Nhava Sheva Port in OctoberâFollowing detailed intelligence gathering DRI officers identified a suspicious 40foot container that was declared to be carrying âglass bottlesâ from ChinaâFurther analysis of the shipment raised red flags indicating an attempt to conceal hazardous goods within the cargoâThe DRI team examined the container at the port leading to the discovery of 29340 pieces of Chinese firecrackers concealed behind a superficial layer of glass bottlesâThis deceptive concealment strategy was designed to evade detection with the fireworks masked as a legitimate cargo The total value of the seized goods amounts to approximately Rs 44 croreâThe import of firecrackers is âRestrictedâ under the ITC HS Classification of the Foreign Trade Policy with specific licensing requirements from both the Directorate General of Foreign Trade DGFT and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation PESO under the Explosives Rules 2008 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-132-containers-of-imported-watermelon-seeds-peas-valued-at-rs-139-crore-seized-670465.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-rejects-umar-khalids-review-plea-in-delhi-riots-case-670466.html New Delhi April 20 The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition filed by student activist Umar Khalid challenging its January 5 judgment that had denied him bail in the alleged larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots After considering the material placed on record a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria rejected the plea observing that no valid ground for review was made outâHaving gone through the review petition and also the documents enclosed we do not find any good ground and reason to review the judgment dated 05012026 Accordingly the review petition is dismissedâ the Justice Kumarled Bench saidThe top court also declined the request for an oral hearing of the review plea stating âPrayer for oral hearing in the review petition is rejectedâEarlier on April 13 senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Khalid had mentioned the matter before the Justice Kumarled Bench urging that the review petition be heard in open courtâI wanted to make a mention my lords are hearing the review petition in Umar Khalidâs case It is listed on Wednesday I believe My request is it is only for your consideration if you could have it in an open courtâ Sibal had submittedThe Justice Kumarled Bench had responded that it would examine the request stating âWe will look into the paper and if required we will call itâOrdinarily review petitions are decided in chambers on limited grounds such as errors apparent on the face of the record and are rarely listed for open court hearingIn January this year the Supreme Court refused to grant bail to Khalid and coaccused Sharjeel Imam in the alleged larger conspiracy case arising out of the 2020 Delhi riotsHowever the apex court granted bail to five other accused Gulfisha Fatima Meeran Haider Shifa Ur Rehman Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed while declining relief to Imam and KhalidPronouncing the verdict the Justice Kumarled Bench had held that the prosecution material disclosed a prima facie case against the duo attracting the statutory bar on bail under Section 43D5 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention ActThe apex court had observed that the prosecution material and evidence on record did not justify Khalidâs release on bail and indicated his involvement at the level of planning mobilisation and issuance of strategic directionsRejecting the contention that no overt act of violence was attributed to Khalid the top court had said that in conspiracy cases âthe law does not demand that every conspirator execute the terminal act but demands a prima facie nexus between the accused and the unlawful design to be inferred from cumulative conductâThe Supreme Court had clarified that its observations were confined to the question of bail and would not influence the trial IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-rejects-umar-khalids-review-plea-in-delhi-riots-case-670466.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:10:00 +0530