DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Sun, 26 Jul 2026 08:28:19 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-protest-18-delhi-metro-stations-to-remain-closed-today-694205.html New Delhi July 25 IANS The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation DMRC announced the temporary closure of 18 Metro stations across Central Delhi from 730 am on Saturday until further notice citing heightened security arrangements in view of the ongoing student protests near Jantar Mantar over NEET paper leaksDMRC took to social media X and said Below mentioned Metro stations will be closed from 0730 AM tomorrow 25th July 2026 till further instructions However Interchange facility shall remain available at Rajiv Chowk Mandi House and Central SecretariatAny inconvenience caused is deeply regretted the DMRC addedAs per the advisory entry and exit services have been suspended at Lok Kalyan Marg Rajiv Chowk Patel Chowk Ramakrishna Ashram Marg Barakhambha Road Supreme Court Seva Teerth Janpath Mandi House Central Secretariat ITO Delhi Gate Indraprastha Khan Market Jor Bagh Shivaji Stadium Jhandewalan and New Delhi Metro stations While passengers will not be allowed to enter or exit these stations interchange services at Rajiv Chowk Mandi House and Central Secretariat will continue to operateThe restrictions have been imposed as authorities strengthen security measures across central Delhi in anticipation of large gatherings linked to the continuing protests over the NEET paper leak Saturday marks the fifth consecutive day of Metrorelated restrictions in the national CapitalThe DMRC has urged passengers to plan their travel in advance and make alternative arrangements wherever necessary stating that the temporary closures are purely a precautionary measure to support law and orderThe shutdown has caused widespread inconvenience for daily commuters including officegoers students lawyers and railway passengers As many of the affected stations are located in the heart of the city thousands of people have been forced to depend on road transport leading to traffic congestion and significantly longer travel timesThe closure of the New Delhi Metro Station has particularly affected passengers travelling to and from the New Delhi Railway Station one of the countrys busiest transport hubs The restrictions have also sparked public debate with some questioning whether repeated station closures impede citizens freedom of movementThe Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant expressed concern over the closure of the Supreme Court Metro station which was affecting the functioning of the top courtMeanwhile several commuters reported delays longer waiting times and diversions as they navigated alternate routes across the cityIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-protest-18-delhi-metro-stations-to-remain-closed-today-694205.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/no-point-in-discussion-if-education-minister-doesnt-resign-cjp-ahead-of-3rd-round-of-talks-with-govt-694206.html New Delhi July 25 IANS The Cockroach Janata Party CJP on Saturday said that even though it welcomes the decision of educational reforms and the amendments to The Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Act 2024 established to tackle the problem of paper leaks the main demand remains Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhans resignationThis came hours before the third round of talks with the Centre Earlier on Friday Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh held the second round of talks with the CJP at the Constitution Club where the government had told the CJP delegation that they would get back on their demandsCJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka on Saturday morning made it clear that there was no point in further discussions if the government was not ready to sack Education Minister Dharmendra PradhanSpeaking to the reporters Ranka said In yesterdays meeting we received a positive response regarding compensation and legal cases We got an inprinciple agreement and we hope to receive the written agreement today as well However there has still been no concrete decision on our main demand the resignation of Dharmendra PradhanIn fact as we saw in the mainstream media yesterday sources were saying that Dharmendra Pradhan will not resign If Dharmendra Pradhan is not going to resign then please tell us what the point of holding such meetings is In that case we will move ahead with whatever strategy we decide on next Ranka addedAdditionally amid the paper leak row the government has replaced the Education Secretary and has also sacked 47 officials of the National Testing Agency NTA Reacting to this Ranka said the move alone was not enough and the ultimate accountability lies with the Union Education MinisterNow we will have to examine which 47 officials have been suspended and with what intention that action has been taken We need to look at all those details But again as weve been saying the ultimate accountability lies with the Education Minister of this country because he is directly responsible for all the paper leaks and for all the students who died by suicide after the NEET paper leak Therefore he must resign the CJP spokesperson saidThe Union Cabinet on Friday approved a Draft Bill proposing significantly stricter punishments for paper leaks in competitive examinations hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly committed to introducing fasttrack courts and enhanced penalties to safeguard students futuresThe Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Modi at the Parliament House complex gave its nod to amendments to The Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Act 2024In cases of organised paper leaks the Bill proposes a jail term of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of Rs 10 crore This marks a substantial increase over the existing law which provides for three to five years imprisonment for individuals and five to 10 years imprisonment with a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore for organised crimes related to cheating and paper leaksIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/no-point-in-discussion-if-education-minister-doesnt-resign-cjp-ahead-of-3rd-round-of-talks-with-govt-694206.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/may-bhagwan-vitthals-blessings-bring-joy-harmony-and-prosperity-pm-modi-extends-ashadhi-ekadashi-greetings-694207.html New Delhi July 25 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted the nation on the occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi describing the festival as a symbol of devotion compassion and selfless service He prayed for the blessings of Lord Vitthal to bring peace prosperity and harmony to peoples lives while inspiring everyone to work for the welfare of societyPM Modi took to social media X and said Greetings on the sacred occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi This auspicious day is about the eternal message of devotion and compassion May Bhagwan Vitthals blessings bring joy harmony and prosperity and guide us towards a better society May He strengthen our resolve to serve and work tirelessly for the welfare and dignity of every personAshadhi Ekadashi also known as Devshayani Ekadashi or Hari Shayani Ekadashi is being observed on Saturday According to the Drik Panchang the Ekadashi tithi began at 244 am on July 25 and will conclude at 1214 am on July 26The festival marks the beginning of Chaturmas a fourmonth period regarded as highly sacred in Hindu tradition According to ancient scriptures including the Bhavishya Purana and Padma Purana Lord Vishnu enters Yoga Nidra or divine sleep on this day and is believed to awaken on Prabodhini Ekadashi observed later in the yearThe Sanskrit word Devshayani means when the deity goes to sleep Devotees believe this marks the symbolic period of Lord Vishnus divine rest signalling the start of a spiritually significant season dedicated to prayer selfdiscipline and introspectionAs part of the observance devotees begin the day with a holy bath before offering prayers to Lord Vishnu Tulsi leaves flowers fruits and sweets are offered during worship while many devotees recite the Vishnu Sahasranama or chant sacred Vishnu mantras seeking divine blessingsObserving the Ekadashi fast is another important aspect of the festival Fasting practices differ across regions and families with some abstaining from grains and cereals while others observe a stricter fast before breaking it the following day during the prescribed Parana periodActs of charity also hold special significance on Ashadhi Ekadashi Donating food clothes and other essential items to those in need is considered highly meritorious Many spiritual scholars also view the beginning of Chaturmas as an ideal period for meditation selfimprovement disciplined living and deeper spiritual reflection encouraging devotees to focus on inner growth over external celebrationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/may-bhagwan-vitthals-blessings-bring-joy-harmony-and-prosperity-pm-modi-extends-ashadhi-ekadashi-greetings-694207.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-ncr-braces-for-heavy-rain-as-imd-issues-fresh-monsoon-alert-across-several-states-694208.html New Delhi July 25 IANS The India Meteorological Department IMD on Saturday issued a fresh weather advisory forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall across several parts of the country over the next few days as the southwest monsoon continues to remain activeAccording to the IMD widespread rain accompanied by thunderstorms lightning and gusty winds is likely to affect several regions including DelhiNCR Rajasthan Himachal Pradesh Uttarakhand Punjab Madhya Pradesh Odisha Gujarat Assam Meghalaya and other northeastern statesGujarat is expected to witness the most intense rainfall during this period with some areas likely to experience extremely heavy showersThe weather department attributed the active monsoon conditions to a lowpressure area over southeast Rajasthan and adjoining Madhya Pradesh This system along with the active monsoon trough and multiple cyclonic circulations is expected to sustain widespread rainfall over northwest central western and northeastern India over the coming daysIn the national Capital Delhi and adjoining NCR are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms on SaturdayThe IMD has indicated that rainfall activity is expected to intensify over the next two to four days with isolated places likely to experience heavy rain from July 27 onwardCloudy skies humid conditions and temperatures close to seasonal averages are expected to persistMumbai and the Konkan region are also likely to witness heavy rainfall with isolated locations expected to receive very heavy showersAuthorities have cautioned that waterlogging in lowlying areas and traffic congestion may occur as persistent monsoon activity continues along Maharashtras coastal beltIn Gujarat Ahmedabad and several surrounding districts are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated pockets likely to experience extremely heavy spells The IMD has warned that intense rainfall could trigger localised flooding waterlogging and disruptions to normal life in vulnerable areasRajasthan is also expected to remain under the influence of the active weather systemJaipur and several districts in eastern Rajasthan are likely to receive heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy showers Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are also expected across parts of the stateThe IMD has issued rain and thunderstorm warnings for multiple states including Uttar Pradesh and BiharGusty winds of up to 85 kmph are likely in some areas prompting authorities to advise residents to remain cautiousThe department also warned that hilly regions could face landslide risks while strong winds in eastern India may uproot trees and disrupt transport and power supply in affected areasIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-ncr-braces-for-heavy-rain-as-imd-issues-fresh-monsoon-alert-across-several-states-694208.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 11:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/central-district-police-arrest-proclaimed-offender-wanted-in-2014-theft-case-694213.html New Delhi July 25 The Central District Police have arrested a proclaimed offender who had been evading judicial proceedings for several years in connection with a 2014 theft case The accused identified as Malkhan alias Saleem 33 was apprehended by a team from Police Station Dariyaganj following sustained surveillance and local Intelligence inputsAccording to an official press release issued by the Central District Police on Saturday the arrest was made as part of the ongoing special drive against proclaimed offenders aimed at tracing and apprehending absconding accused personsPolice said Malkhan alias Saleem a resident of Ghaziabad Uttar Pradesh had been absconding for several years to avoid legal proceedings The release stated that âthe accused had been evading judicial proceedings to avoid punishmentâ and was ultimately traced through continuous technical surveillance and local Intelligence gatheringA dedicated police team comprising Head Constable Mahaveer Head Constable Sunil and Constable Bhupender was constituted under the supervision of the SHO PS Dariyaganj and the overall supervision of the ACP Dariyaganj to trace the absconding accusedAccording to the police the team conducted multiple raids including at the accusedâs residence but he remained untraceable Investigators continued to develop technical inputs while relying on secret informers to monitor his movementsThe breakthrough came on July 24 when police received specific information that the accused was present near Kashmiri Gate Bus Stop in Delhi Acting promptly on the tipoff the police team reached the location and apprehended Malkhan alias SaleemThe official press release said âOn 24072026 specific information was received that the accused was present at Bus Stop Kashmiri Gate Acting swiftly the team reached the location and at the instance of the informer apprehended Malkhan Saleem from Bus Stop Kashmiri GateâDuring verification police found that the accused had been declared a Proclaimed Offender by the Court of Dr Raj Kumar Singh JMFC05 Central Tis Hazari Courts on January 13 2026 in connection with FIR No 4012014 registered under Sections 379 356 411 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code IPC at PS DariyaganjPolice also revealed that Malkhan alias Saleem has an extensive criminal history According to the press release 54 criminal cases have been registered against him making him a habitual offender with multiple previous involvementsThe accused has been taken into custody and further legal proceedings are being carried out in accordance with the law Police said the arrest is part of their sustained efforts to track down proclaimed offenders and ensure that individuals evading judicial processes are brought before the courts IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/central-district-police-arrest-proclaimed-offender-wanted-in-2014-theft-case-694213.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 12:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-alleges-karnataka-govt-has-turned-bengaluru-into-a-dust-city-694215.html Bengaluru July 25 Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka on Saturday accused the Karnataka government of turning Bengaluru into a âdust cityâ despite its repeated promises of creating a Brand Bengaluru alleging that prolonged civic works have severely inconvenienced residents in several parts of the city In a statement Ashoka said that drinking water and underground drainage pipeline works in areas such as Nagenahalli Road and Shivashankar Block in Hebbal constituency were going on even after nearly a year since they beganHe alleged that the negligence of the Greater Bengaluru Authority GBA and the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board BWSSB has forced residents to endure dust and poor road conditions on a daily basisAccording to Ashoka businesses in the affected areas have suffered significantly due to the prolonged works while senior citizens are finding it difficult to even step out onto the roads He also claimed that drinking water pipelines have been damaged at several locations adding to the hardships faced by local residentsâWhile the government speaks about building a âBrand Bengaluruâ it has in reality transformed the city into a âdust cityâ Ashoka said questioning whether causing inconvenience to citizens in the name of development has become the governments achievementThe BJP leader further criticized the state government alleging that neither the Bengaluru Development Minister nor the local MLA had shown the courtesy of listening to the grievances of the peopleAshoka urged Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda to immediately intervene set a deadline for the completion of the pending works restore damaged roads and ensure that the difficulties faced by citizens are addressed without further delayAshoka further criticised the Karnataka government over the alleged mismanagement of special darshan arrangements at the historical Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysuru accusing authorities of making devotees wait for several hours despite charging them for expedited entryAshoka alleged that devotees were charged Rs 2000 each for special quick darshan with the promise of completing the process within 20 minutes However he claimed that devotees were later made to stand in queues for four to five hours allegedly due to the arrival of VIPsâWhat kind of administration is this Devotees are asked to pay Rs 2000 for special darshan and promised entry within 20 minutes only to be left waiting for four to five hours for VIP visitsâ Ashoka saidHe questioned who would take responsibility for the hardships faced by elderly devotees women and families visiting the temple with young childrenThe BJP leader also targeted Mysuru district incharge minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar alleging that while the government is keen on collecting money from devotees it has failed to ensure a dignified and timely darshan experienceâAshadha month draws lakhs of devotees seeking the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari Respecting their religious sentiments is the responsibility of the government Making ordinary devotees wait for hours in the name of VIP culture is highly condemnableâ he saidAshoka urged the government to ensure a transparent timely and respectful darshan system at the temple and warned against âplaying with the administration of religious institutionsââPeople will never accept an administration that undermines the faith of devotees in the presence of Goddess Chamundeshwari the presiding deity of the stateâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-alleges-karnataka-govt-has-turned-bengaluru-into-a-dust-city-694215.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 12:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/students-demands-non-negotiable-wont-back-off-despite-detention-threats-rahul-gandhi--694220.html New Delhi July 25 IANS Leader of Opposition LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said he met students who observed a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar during the ongoing protest over the paper leaks and examination irregularities asserting that they would not withdraw from the agitation despite detentions or threats from the governmentAddressing reporters after meeting the protesters LoP Rahul Gandhi said the students had placed three nonnegotiable demands before the government the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan action against those responsible for the lathicharge on protesters and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra ModiElaborating on the students demands Rahul Gandhi said the first and foremost requirement was the removal of the Education Minister from the Union CabinetThere are three nonnegotiable demands first the Education Minister who is corrupt incompetent and misaligned has to be sacked There is some talk going on in Mr Modis Cabinet that the solution is to move Mr Dharmendra Pradhan to some other Ministry this is not acceptable to the students of India or anybodyThe reason is Mr Pradhan is a symbol of corruption and of what has happened to the future of Indias children he is a symbol of the destruction of the most valuable thing this country has which is our students and their future LoP Gandhi saidReiterating his stand the Congress leader added There is going to be no conversation of Mr Dharmendra Pradhan being moved anywhere Mr Dharmendra Pradhan has to be sacked PeriodLoP Gandhi also criticised the police action against the protesters stating that many students had suffered injuries during the demonstrations and calling for accountability from those responsibleThere are thousands and thousands of youngsters who have had lathis break their heads and legs pellets in their bodies The organisers and implementors need to be punished and made accountable he saidReferring to Prime Minister Modi LoP Gandhi further said The third thing is the leader of the entire machinery who is doing this Mr Narendra Modi has to apologise for what he has done to the students and the future of this countryThe Lok Sabha LoP also reacted to notices issued by several Delhibased universities including Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University advising students against participating in the ongoing protestsClaiming that the system was attempting to discourage students from continuing their agitation Gandhi said he had assured them that they should not be intimidated by administrative action or threatsThis is all the system that is attacking them students I told them do not worry No amount of strength The entire Indian government every single person from the Indian government cannot remove you from there he saidHe asserted that the students would continue their agitation despite any attempts to stop themDo whatever you want detain threaten but we will not back off They the students will not back off They are the future of India no one can fight them Narendra Modi is Indias past and the past cannot fight the future LoP Gandhi addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/students-demands-non-negotiable-wont-back-off-despite-detention-threats-rahul-gandhi--694220.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 12:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nia-raids-bengals-birbhum-seizes-explosives-one-arrested-694221.html Kolkata July 25 IANS The National Investigation Agency NIA on Saturday recovered a large cache of explosives including 20 bags of ammonium nitrate and multiple detonators during a raid in the Nalhati area of West Bengals Birbhum district and arrested one suspect in connection with the case officials saidnbspThe recovery of this large quantity of explosives has created a stir in the entire areaActing on specific intelligence inputs about the alleged stockpiling of explosives an NIA team conducted a search operation in Nalhati with assistance from the local police During the raid investigators recovered 20 bags of ammonium nitrate and multiple detonators and detained a suspect whose statements were found to be inconsistent during preliminary questioning His identity has not been disclosed yetThe investigators are interrogating the arrested person to find out who had stored the explosives where the material was brought from and for what purpose it was storedThe NIA is also investigating whether the recovered explosives were stored for commercial use or if there is a plan for a major sabotage behind it It is also reported that the recovered ammonium nitrate and the detonator may be sent for forensic examinationAmmonium nitrate is mainly used as an ingredient in making explosives fertilisers mining or construction However the discovery of a large quantity of the chemical stored with detonators has strengthened investigators suspicionInitially they believed that the explosive was planned to be used in some criminal or sabotage activity However the investigators are probing how accurate this suspicion isMeanwhile security has been tightened in Nalhati and adjoining areas after the incident The NIA has not yet given any further details for the sake of investigation The arrested person is being interrogated continuously He has mentioned several names after which a search has been launched for themThe arrested person will be produced before the special court of the NIA In addition authorities are making efforts to find out who else is involved by investigating the source of the recovered materialAccording to the investigators more important information may come to light from this operationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nia-raids-bengals-birbhum-seizes-explosives-one-arrested-694221.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 13:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajnath-singh-in-srinagar-to-attend-kargil-vijay-diwas-commemorations-694222.html Srinagar July 25 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived here on Saturday to travel to Kargil by road to attend the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrationsnbspTo participate in the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas Events at Drass the defence minister is taking the road journey to Drass due to inclement weatherOn his arrival at Srinagar International Airport the Defence Minister was received by the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha along with senior civil and security officialsThe Defence Minister was scheduled to travel to Drass by helicopter to attend the commemorative events However due to adverse weather conditions and poor flying conditions the helicopter sortie could not be operatedSubsequently Rajnath Singh proceeded to Drass by road to attend the celebrations The twoday Kargil Vijay Diwas programme commenced on Saturday at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass where the nation will pay homage to the brave soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces who made the supreme sacrifice during the 1999 Kargil WarThe annual event is attended by senior military commanders veterans families of martyrs civil dignitaries and government representatives and commemorates Indias historic victory in the Kargil conflict while honouring the courage sacrifice and valour of the armed forcesKargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 across India The day holds tremendous significance in Indian history and commemorates the victory of the Indian armed forces over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War This year the day marks the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay DiwasThe day is celebrated for ousting Pakistani Forces from their occupied positions on the mountain tops of Northern Kargil District in Ladakh in 1999Initially the Pakistani army denied their involvement in the war claiming that it was caused by the Kashmiri militantsHowever documents left behind by casualties testimony of POWs and later statements by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Army Chief of Army Staff Pervez Musharraf pointed to the involvement of the Pakistani paramilitary forces led by General Ashraf RashidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajnath-singh-in-srinagar-to-attend-kargil-vijay-diwas-commemorations-694222.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/-dharmendra-pradhan-resigns-as-union-education-minister-694227.html New Delhi July 25 IANS Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday tendered his resignation as the Union Education Minister amid the paper leak protests across the nationnbspSubmitting his resignation Pradhan reaffirmed his commitment to youth and education while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for support framing it as a response to protect exam integrity and students futurenbspThis comes amid the nationwide protests demanding strict action against the paper leaks and exam irregularities and Education Minister Pradhans resignation citing accountabilitynbspIn his letter Pradhan said For over four decades I have dedicated myself to the cause of students teachers and educational reform I have always believed that a robust inclusive and visionary education system forms the cornerstone of a strong nationnbspI deeply respect the aspirations sentiments and legitimate expectations of the countrys youth Realising the dreams of Indias young generation has been a moral commitment in our political and social lives I express my gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve the nation under his visionary leadership he saidHe said that as soon as the irregularities regarding the NEETUG examination came to light the government taking immediate cognisance of the matter handed the investigation over to the CBI cancelled the exam and announced a date for a reexamination Additionally he said that a decision was made to conduct this exam in CBT ComputerBased Test mode starting next yearnbspThroughout this period our primary priority was to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination for over 20 lakh students We worked towards this using a wholeofgovernment approach in which state governments and particularly district administrations played a crucial role alongside the Government of India With the cooperation of students and parents the examination was successfully concluded on June 21 2026 Pradhan saidFrom day one I took responsibility for the situation and never turned away from it I was determined not to let the potential of any meritorious student be ruined by the exam mafia and to ensure that no student faced injustice he addednbspHe said that during the reexamination results individuals holding responsible positions attempted to create obstacles and mislead students an act he said caused him deep distressnbspI have always held unwavering faith in the strength of our democracy and deeply respected the aspirations dreams and expectations of the youth They are not merely Indias future they are the torchbearers builders and architects of a new and developed India I am pained by the events of the past ten days This is not a matter of personal prestige for me he addedConsidering the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country to prevent antinational forces from exploiting it preserving national unity ensuring that not a single Indian students future gets entangled in legal complexities and allowing our children to devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers I have submitted my resignation to the Honourable Prime Minister Pradhan saidnbspHe expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister for his guidance trust and constant support and to the Council of MinistersnbspnbspService to the nation is the highest priority of my life I shall remain forever dedicated to it With the blessings of Lord Jagannath I will continue to dedicate myself in every possible way to fulfilling the aspirations of Mother India the people of Odisha and the youth of the country in the future as well he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/-dharmendra-pradhan-resigns-as-union-education-minister-694227.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 14:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-likely-to-introduce-bill-to-amend-paper-leak-law-in-parliament-on-monday--694251.html New Delhi Jul 25 A bill to amend The Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Act 2024 which proposes to increase jail term up to 10 years and fine up to Rs 10 crore for offences related to paper leaks is likely to be introduced in Parliament on Monday According to the Bill circulated to members ahead of its introduction individuals involved in paper leaks or unfair means in exams will get jail terms for a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakhnbspFor organised crimes the bill proposes a minimum sentence of seven years and a fine of up to Rs 10 croreAll investigations will have to be completed within two months it saysnbspAll states and UTs will be directed to set up fasttrack courts which will conduct hearings swiftly and complete the trial within three months of filing of the chargesheetAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-likely-to-introduce-bill-to-amend-paper-leak-law-in-parliament-on-monday--694251.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 15:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sonam-wangchuk-ends-hunger-strike-after-26-day-694070.html New Delhi July 24 Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday ended his 26day hunger strike in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh doctors family members and supportersnbspWangchuk who had been fasting to press for Ladakhs autonomy and environmental safeguards expressed gratitude as he broke his fastSo with that being fulfilled I am grateful and Ill be happy to break my fast Thank you he said before sipping liquid offered by medical staff and accepting a ceremonial scarfHe acknowledged the presence of leaders from the Apex Body of Ladakh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance KDA thanking them for travelling from Ladakh to support himFamily members blessed him as he sat upright with assistance while doctors confirmed his condition was stableIn a post on his X handle Wangchuk said Just now in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda ampamp Dr Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of Apex Body of Leh Ladakh I finally broke my fast after 26 days Earlier 65 members of parliament from different political parties had visited or signed letters urging me to break the fast This was done after a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country I will explain the conditions in detail in a separate video very soon Meanwhile I urge you all to stay very vigilant about not allowing violence of any kind anywhereThe activist also thanked his family describing them as a source of strength and support throughout the prolonged fastThe conclusion of the fast followed weeks of appeals from political leaders and civil society groups with concerns mounting over Wangchuks health and the potential for unrestEarlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the Central government has prepared a comprehensive draft Bill to introduce stricter provisions and stringent punishments for paper leak casesThe proposal will be discussed in the Union Cabinet meeting on Friday and is expected to be introduced and passed in the ongoing session of Parliament next weekTaking to his official X account PM Modi in a video message said More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrows CabinetAddressing the deep distress caused by paper leaks to students and their families the Prime Minister said on Thursday that the Union government has taken multiple measures over the past twoandahalf months leading to the arrest and imprisonment of those responsibleI am aware that paper leaks cause immense distress to students and their parents he addedHighlighting the Union governments priority to safeguard the future of examinees PM Modi on his X account said that all resources were mobilised to conduct examinations without delay for nearly 22 lakh 22 million studentsThe results were declared just five days ago on July 19 and we are receiving news of the joy felt by successful students across the country he addedThe Prime Minister emphasised that the Union government will not rest on its laurelsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sonam-wangchuk-ends-hunger-strike-after-26-day-694070.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-announces-strict-anti-paper-leak-legislation-to-be-tabled-in-parliament-next-week-after-todays-cabinet-decision-694079.html New Delhi July 24 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Central government has prepared a comprehensive draft Bill to introduce stricter provisions and stringent punishments for paper leak casesnbspThe proposal will be discussed in the Union Cabinet meeting on Friday and is expected to be introduced and passed in the ongoing session of Parliament next weekTaking to his official X account PM Modi in a video message said More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrows CabinetAddressing the deep distress caused by paper leaks to students and their families the Prime Minister said on Thursday that the Union government has taken multiple measures over the past twoandahalf months leading to the arrest and imprisonment of those responsibleI am aware that paper leaks cause immense distress to students and their parents he addedHighlighting the Union governments priority to safeguard the future of examinees PM Modi on his X account said that all resources were mobilised to conduct examinations without delay for nearly 22 lakh 22 million studentsThe results were declared just five days ago on July 19 and we are receiving news of the joy felt by successful students across the country he addedThe Prime Minister emphasised that the Union government will not rest on its laurelsHe personally worked tirelessly to prepare a strong proposal for fasttrack courts and stringent punishments for those involved in examination malpracticesThis matter is likely to be discussed in the Cabinet tomorrow and the proposal will be finalised after incorporating suggestions from Cabinet colleagues he toldAs the second week of the Parliamentary session begins on Monday we will strive to have the Bill passed in the House as quickly as possible PM Modi assertedThe proposed legislation is being viewed as a decisive step to deter future incidents of paper leaks and ensure the integrity of competitive examinationsSources indicate that the Bill will include harsher penalties timebound trials through fasttrack special courts and stronger accountability measures for institutions and individuals involved in such crimesThe announcement comes amid growing public concern over recurring leaks in major entrance and recruitment examinationsBy promising swift legislative action the Union government aims to restore confidence among millions of aspirants who prepare rigorously for these exams every yearIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-announces-strict-anti-paper-leak-legislation-to-be-tabled-in-parliament-next-week-after-todays-cabinet-decision-694079.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-delegation-to-meet-union-ministers-today-as-govt-plans-tougher-anti-paper-leak-actions-694091.html New Delhi July 24 IANS A delegation of the Cockroach Janta Party CJP is set to meet Union government ministers on Friday after the Centre agreed to hold discussions at a neutral venue amid the partys ongoing protest over the NEET paper leak issuenbspThe CJP which has been staging a sitin at Jantar Mantar demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities said the government accepted its request for talks outside government offices The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Constitution Club of IndiaConfirming the development CJP member Sourav Das said Tomorrow a discussion has been called for we are very happy that the government has agreed to our request that it be at a neutral venue The Constitution Club of India has been chosenThe party has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan holding him responsible for the handling of the NEET paper leak controversy Along with seeking the ministers resignation the CJP has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the countrys education and examination system to prevent future irregularitiesThe proposed talks come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre is preparing to introduce a comprehensive legislation providing for stricter provisions and harsher punishments in cases involving examination paper leaksIn a video message posted on his official X account the Prime Minister said More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrows Cabinet The proposed Bill is expected to be discussed at the Union Cabinet meeting on Friday before being introduced in Parliament during the ongoing session next weekAddressing concerns raised by students and parents PM Modi said the government recognises the anxiety caused by examination leaksI am aware that paper leaks cause immense distress to students and their parents the Prime Minister said adding that the Union government had taken several measures over the past twoandahalf months that led to the arrest and imprisonment of those responsible for the irregularitiesHighlighting the governments efforts to ensure examinations were conducted smoothly despite the controversy PM Modi said all available resources had been mobilised to conduct exams for nearly 22 lakh students without further delayThe results were declared just five days ago on July 19 and we are receiving news of the joy felt by successful students across the country he saidThe Prime Minister also stressed that the government remains committed to protecting the future of students and ensuring the integrity of public examinations indicating that further reforms are on the wayDespite the Centres announcement of a tougher legal framework the CJP has maintained that legislative changes alone are insufficient The party has reiterated that the strictest action the government could take against examination irregularities would be the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan a demand it is expected to raise during Fridays meeting with government representativesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-delegation-to-meet-union-ministers-today-as-govt-plans-tougher-anti-paper-leak-actions-694091.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-six-over-72-lakh-affected-in-11-districts-694094.html Guwahati July 24 Floodwaters continued to affect large parts of Assam with 11 districts remaining inundated and more than 721 lakh people impacted while the death toll in the current wave of floods stood at six officials said on Friday According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority ASDMA the floodhit districts are Golaghat Hojai Kamrup Charaideo Jorhat Dibrugarh Sivasagar Nagaon Kamrup Metro Karbi Anglong and TinsukiaA total of 37 revenue circles and 883 villages have been affected while floodwaters have submerged 2537544 hectares of crop area causing extensive agricultural lossesOfficials said Sivasagar remains the worsthit district accounting for 375682 affected people followed by Charaideo with 186351 and Jorhat with 115764 people affectedThe ASDMA said six floodrelated deaths have been reported so far including four in Sivasagar and two in CharaideoNo missing persons were reported in the latest flood bulletinApart from the rural flood situation urban flooding has also affected Kamrup Kamrup Metropolitan and Dibrugarh districtsOfficials said five revenue circles and 17 localities or wards were affected impacting 592 peopleUrban inundation has disrupted normal life in several lowlying areasAuthorities have opened relief facilities across the affected districts with 103 relief camps and 255 relief distribution centres currently operationalMore than 24000 people are staying in relief camps while over 239 lakh people have received assistance through relief distribution centresRescue operations involving the National Disaster Response Force NDRF State Disaster Response Force SDRF Army Fire and Emergency Services district authorities and local volunteers continued in the worsthit districtsOfficials said 4455 people have been evacuated by boats during the ongoing rescue effortsMeanwhile the Central Water Commission reported that several rivers including the Burhidihing Disang Dikhow Dhansiri South and Kushiyara were flowing above the danger level keeping authorities on high alert across the affected regions IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-six-over-72-lakh-affected-in-11-districts-694094.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/centre-assures-constructive-dialogue-positive-intervention-on-paper-leak-issue-694095.html New Delhi July 24 The Centre said on Friday that it remains committed to ensuring justice for students and strict action against anyone who tries to compromise their future Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said on X that he and J P Nadda held a detailed discussion with Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in GurugramAlong with Union Minister for Health Sh JPNadda Ji met Shri Sonam Wangchuk Ji at Medanta Hospital Gurugram and held a detailed discussion on studentsâ concerns Assured a constructive dialogue and positive intervention from the Government following which Sonam Ji decided to end his fast Dr Singh saidHe further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the government remains committed to ensuring justice for students and strict action against anyone who tries to compromise their futureActivist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26day hunger strike after receiving assurances from the Central government and Members of Parliament across political parties that the issue of accountability in the countryâs examination system would be taken up in ParliamentAccording to the governments statement the Centre has responded positively to the key concerns raised by the protestersThe government statement said âGovernment is positive on not registering cases against those protesting peacefully in Jantar Mantar and those participating in the march to Parliament on July 20 2026 Government has already assured a threadbare discussion to find solution to paper leak and educational reforms regarding examination in Parliament Besides the Government is also positively considering suitable compensation for the suicide victims of recent NEET paper leaksâAnnouncing the decision on its official X handle on Friday Wangchukâs team said the fast was called off following commitments from the government regarding key demands raised during the protestâEND OF HUNGERâ BEGINNING OF ACCOUNTABILITYââ the post readIt further stated âSonam Wangchuk ends his fast after 26 days upon getting assurance from the government and members of parliament of all political parties that the issue of accountability in the failing examination system will be discussed on the floors of the Indian Parliament The government also gave assurance that families of suicide victims in the recent NEET examination paper leak will be given adequate compensation and that there will be no cases registered against the peacefully protesting students and youthsâIn a video message shared along with the announcement Wangchuk explained the developments that led to his decision to end the fastâOn the 26th day of my hunger strike I want to share some important information A short while ago Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh came here Leaders of the Ladakh Apex Body were also present Before that as you know around 65 Members of Parliament from different political parties came here signed their support and requested me to end my hunger strike They assured me that the issue of paper leaks would be discussed The same assurance was conveyed by the Union Ministers as well Over the last few days it took some time to receive a written commitment and today I have finally received that written assuranceâ Wangchuk said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/centre-assures-constructive-dialogue-positive-intervention-on-paper-leak-issue-694095.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/lok-sabha-pays-homage-to-kargil-martyrs-adjourned-after-oppn-ruckus-till-noon-694099.html New Delhi July 24 IANS The Lok Sabha began its proceedings on Friday by paying homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war and remembering their supreme sacrifice for the nationnbspParliamentarians paid tributes to the Kargil war heroes by observing a oneminute silenceAs the normal proceedings began the Opposition members broke into a din for the fifth consecutive day Speaker Om Birla urged the members to maintain the decorum of the House and let the House proceedings run smoothly but the ruckus persistedExhorting the members to cooperate the Speaker said that the Question Hour remains the most critical period of the House when the public representatives hold the government accountable on issues pertaining to their constituencies and this must not be disruptedI plead to all of you to help and contribute to the smooth functioning of the House he saidFurther advising the Opposition benches to abide by rules he said that the House is ready for structured discussion on all issues but they must come with due proposalsSpeakers repeated requests for maintaining order in the House failed chaos and sloganeering continued following which the House was adjourned till noonEarlier as the Lower House convened for the day Speaker Om Birla informed the House that the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrated on July 26 every year was falling on Sunday this year a holiday and hence the House was paying tribute to the fallen soldiers on this dayOn July 26 2026 the nation will celebrate the 27th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas The day represents the indomitable courage unflinching devotion and selfless sacrifice for the nation he saidHe said the House remembers the unwavering courage and supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers and pays tribute to their martyrdomThey safeguarded the integrity and sovereignty of the nation by sacrificing their own lives The nation and its countrymen will always remain indebted to their sacrifice Birla saidThis House pays tribute respect and remains grateful to their sacrifice he remarkedThe Lok Sabha also observed one minute of silence to remember the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the nationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/lok-sabha-pays-homage-to-kargil-martyrs-adjourned-after-oppn-ruckus-till-noon-694099.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajya-sabha-adjourned-till-2-pm-amid-fresh-ruckus-over-neet-paper-leak-pradhans-resignation-694114.html New Delhi July 24 IANS The Rajya Sabha was once again adjourned till 2 PM on Friday following noisy protests by Opposition members demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issuenbspAs the House reassembled at 12 noon after an earlier adjournment Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge rose to speak and strongly pressed for the ministers resignationThe demand triggered a din in the House prompting Chairman CP Radhakrishnan to adjourn proceedings till 2 PMThis was the second adjournment of the day In the morning session Congress chief Kharge had also raised the issue of the lathi charge by Delhi Police on protesting studentsThe Upper House on the fifth day of the ongoing Monsoon Session failed to transact any substantive business as Opposition parties continued pressing for a detailed discussion on the NEET paper leak scandal and ministerial accountabilityAt the start of the days proceedings Chairman Radhakrishnan read out a message paying homage to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the Kargil WarFollowing this some papers were laid on the Table and committee reports were presentedMembers including Ghanshyam Tewari and Akhilesh Prasad Singh tabled key Action Taken Reports of the Departmentrelated Parliamentary Standing Committee and the Public Accounts CommitteeDespite these routine proceedings the Oppositions persistent protests prevented any meaningful debate or legislative workThe repeated adjournments reflect the deep divisions between the ruling dispensation and the Opposition over the handling of the NEET controversy that has affected lakhs of students across the countryWith the Monsoon Session progressing both sides are expected to intensify their positions making smooth functioning of the House increasingly challenging in the coming daysThe stalemate has once again raised serious concerns about the productivity of Parliament and the urgent need for resolution on the sensitive educationrelated issueIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajya-sabha-adjourned-till-2-pm-amid-fresh-ruckus-over-neet-paper-leak-pradhans-resignation-694114.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/our-moral-political-and-constitutional-duty-to-stand-with-them-sonia-gandhi-on-student-protest-issue-694116.html New Delhi July 24 IANS Congress Parliamentary Party CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday criticised the Central governments handling of student protests over examination paper leaks alleging that the education system was facing a deep crisisThe veteran leader in an article in The Hindu shared by the Congress party on its X handle said The Modi government routinely uses violence in preference to dialogue The pattern is clear from farmers to activistsThe party said The Modi government has not just degraded Indias education landscape but has also made a habit of acting with utter impunity supreme selfdelusion and abject insensitivity Indias students have called the Modi regimes bluffIn her column titled An Education Systems Collapse Young Indias Trauma Sonia Gandhi wrote that student protests against examination paper leaks and problems in the education system had gained momentum across the country and that their demands were focused on accountability and reformsShe alleged that the governments response had been excessive writing The Narendra Modi government has responded to their courage with cowardice and wanton cruelty treating them not as inheritors of the future but as enemies of the nationReferring to the July 20 protests in Delhi Gandhi claimed that security forces used force against demonstrators The Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces CAPFs sought to suppress them with uncalledfor violence using brutal lathicharges and tear gas she wroteShe further stated These are our sons and daughters our young men and women while calling for dialogue with protesting studentsTargeting the governments broader approach towards dissent Gandhi wrote The Modi government routinely uses violence in preference to dialogue The pattern is clear from farmers to activistsThe Congress leader also raised concerns over public education examination reforms and accountability mechanisms She alleged that declining investment in public education increased dependence on private institutions and problems within the examination system had placed additional pressure on students and familiesOn examination irregularities Gandhi wrote that the testing system had been affected by centralisation privatisation and politicisation alleging that repeated paper leaks had damaged students trust in competitive examinationsShe also criticised the functioning of the National Testing Agency NTA questioning its accountability and alleging that reforms recommended by parliamentary committees had not been adequately addressedGandhi further argued that unemployment intense competition and limited opportunities had increased the stress faced by young people She wrote that students were attempting to succeed in an increasingly demanding system without adequate support and resourcesConcluding her article Gandhi said The Modi government has not just degraded Indias education landscape but has also made a habit of acting with utter impunity supreme selfdelusion and abject insensitivityShe added Indias students have called the Modi regimes bluff It is our moral political and constitutional duty to stand with them and safeguard their futureThis article came amid continuing political debate over examination paper leaks student protests and the governments announcement of stricter legal measures against irregularities in competitive examinationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/our-moral-political-and-constitutional-duty-to-stand-with-them-sonia-gandhi-on-student-protest-issue-694116.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 13:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-says-no-discussion-till-dharmendra-pradhan-is-sacked-pm-apologises-to-students-694118.html New Delhi July 24 IANS Amid a tussle between the Centre and the Opposition over the antipaper leak students agitation Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition LoP Rahul Gandhi on Friday claimed that his microphone was switched off in the House while asserting that no kind of discussion will be held till Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns and Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologises to studentsnbspUnion Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju had previously accused the Opposition of running away from a discussion on exam paper leak and other educational issues during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the ParliamentMoreover Rijiju had urged all parties specifically the Opposition to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in order to decide on a date time and rule for conducting a discussion on NEET paper leak in the Parliament without wasting timeNotably the Opposition itself had sought a discussion on the students issue in the House but had urged the Union government to accept the adjournment motion to facilitate the debateSpeaking to reporters outside the Parliament House Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi said Just now Rijiju made a statement saying that he wants us to ask our MPs to allow a discussion Under normal protocol if someone takes your name you are given an opportunity to respond He said we should have a discussion but when I tried to respond my microphone was switched off and I was not given an opportunityI want to clearly state that the Oppositions stand is based on three demands from the students First the corrupt Education Minister has to go Second action and accountability must be fixed against those who attacked and beat the students Third the Prime Minister should apologise to the students These are the three conditions he saidLoP Gandhi further emphasised We are not going to have any conversation or discussion before Mr Pradhan is sacked Thats itCongress MP Tariq Anwar backed Gandhis claim of not being allowed to speak in the HouseThe way the Chairman behaved today is both surprising and unfortunate The Leader of the Opposition was not allowed to speak which is undemocratic I dont know why the government doesnt want the Opposition to speak he told IANSMeanwhile Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav maintained that there is no deadlock of the Opposition with the governmentSpeaking to IANS she said There is no question of a deadlock We want the Education Minister to resign and a discussion to take place so that things can move forward But the government does not want it It does not want to listen due to its arroganceShe added that Dharmendra Pradhan should resign on moral groundsCongress MP Kumari Selja said Ethics is also something which the government is not able to understandOur demands are based on the way the students were treated which was extremely brutal The same thing happened to our people and us as well We are saying that the FIRs should also be withdrawn and the Education Minister should resign she told IANSIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-says-no-discussion-till-dharmendra-pradhan-is-sacked-pm-apologises-to-students-694118.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-closely-monitor-centres-road-map-for-neet-reforms-seeks-detailed-affidavit-694119.html New Delhi July 24 IANS The Supreme Court on Friday said it would very closely monitor the Centres road map for institutional reforms in the National Testing Agency NTA and measures to prevent future paper leaks while directing the Union government to file a comprehensive affidavit detailing its proposals including the feasibility of shifting NEET to a computerbased testing CBT mode cybersecurity safeguards and examination security protocolsnbspA Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe hearing a batch of petitions seeking structural reforms in the conduct of the NEETUG examination following the alleged 2026 paper leak controversy posted the matter for further hearing on July 27 after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought a few days time to present a holistic view of the reforms being undertakenAppearing for the Centre SG Mehta submitted that there had been some development and requested that the matter be taken up after a few days so that the government could place a comprehensive picture before the top courtHowever the Justice Narasimhaled Bench said the proposed affidavit must specifically address the institutional reforms required to strengthen the examination systemReferring to the recommendations of the highpowered committee headed by former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan the Supreme Court said the government should indicate the proposed structure of the NTAs governing board how transparency and stakeholder participation would be ensured and the manner in which domain experts including institutions such as the IITs would be involved in improving the examination frameworkIn response SG Mehta said the Centre would place on record the entire process right from the printing press till the time the student gets the paperFor children there cannot be any adversarial response The Radhakrishnan Committee has been fully accepted the Centres second highest law officer said adding that the government was going ten extra miles to address students concerns and that the entire exercise was being supervised at the highest executive levelDuring the hearing the Supreme Court observed that reliance on temporary arrangements could not become a permanent solutionYou deployed the Air Force but that is ad hoc the Justice Narasimhaled Bench said adding that ad hocism has troubled us for yearsThe apex court also asked the Centre to explain whether NEET could eventually transition to a fully CBT model and the cybersecurity architecture that would be required to secure such a systemGive information regarding computerbased testing Can it be shifted How can the data be kept safe If you digitise it how will you secure it Who will handle cybersecurity the Justice Narasimhaled Bench said directing the Centre to specifically address these aspects in its affidavitAssuring the top court SG Mehta said the Centre was open to every constructive suggestion Any suggestion from the court we will take it without reservation he submittedWe will very closely monitor this We will follow it up throughout the year We will see that complete and total institutionalisation takes place We cant let this continue the Supreme Court observed while listing the matter for July 27 when the Centre is expected to file its detailed affidavitThe batch of petitions seeks structural reforms in the conduct of NEETUG including a transition to CBT greater statutory accountability of the NTA implementation of stronger technological safeguards and measures to prevent recurring paper leaksEarlier while hearing the matter the Supreme Court had observed that repeated controversies surrounding the examination highlighted the need to fix individual accountability within the NTA saying the problem would continue unless specific responsibility was assigned to those handling various aspects of the examination processIt had also remarked that examination bodies should not function in an ad hoc manner and had asked the Centre to place a comprehensive road map for strengthening the NTAs organisational and human resource capacityThe hearing comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre has prepared a comprehensive draft Bill to introduce stricter provisions and stringent punishments for paper leak casesThe proposed legislation expected to be discussed by the Union Cabinet and introduced in Parliament next week envisages harsher penalties fasttrack special courts for timebound trials and stronger institutional accountabilityThe government has also initiated the process of establishing fasttrack courts to deal with paper leak cases under the Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Act 2024 with NEETrelated cases among those proposed to be heard on priority to strengthen deterrence against examination malpracticesIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-closely-monitor-centres-road-map-for-neet-reforms-seeks-detailed-affidavit-694119.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-cm-orders-strict-action-over-fake-campaign-targeting-cpi-694142.html Thiruvananthapuram July 24 Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan has directed the state Home Department to take urgent and stringent action over the fake campaign targeting CPIM Central Committee member and former Health Minister PK Sreemathy after she submitted a formal complaint alleging a coordinated attempt to defame her through false social media and online reports Sreemathy gave a written complaint to the Chief Minister about the circulation of fabricated reports claiming that she had fraudulently drawn an MLAs family pensionThe Chief Minister immediately forwarded the complaint to state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala directing that appropriate legal action be initiated without delayThe governments intervention came as crucial facts emerged exposing the allegation as a case of mistaken identityThe pension in question was not received by the CPIM leader but by another PK Sreemathy the late wife of freedom fighter and Congress leader PR Krishnan a former MLA from the erstwhile TravancoreCochin Assembly and later the Kunnamkulam constituencyA retired teacher of AKM Higher Secondary School Poochatti Thrissur she had received the Assembly family pension following her husbands death in 1993She died in February 2020 after which the pension was discontinuedHer son Ajith Printex Ajith clarified that no one had received the pension during the past six yearsHe said his fathers name had been dragged into an unnecessary controversy and suggested that the CPIM leader had either been targeted because of the similarity in names or as part of a deliberate attempt to mislead the publicThe controversy stemmed from an RTI reply on pensions paid to former MLAsThe document separately listed the family pension of PK Sreemathy wife of PR Krishnan and the pension details of former MLA and exMinister PK Sreemathy of KannurThe two entries were allegedly distorted and projected as referring to the same individual triggering the fake campaignSreemathy on Thursday broke down before the media explaining that she is being targeted for no fault of hersOn Friday Sreemathy said she would not forgive those responsible for spreading the false allegations and would initiate defamation proceedings against themMany of those who carried the fake news have called me Some even said they were prepared to fall at my feet and apologise she saidShe also revealed that leaders from both Congress and the BJP had contacted her to express solidarityWith the Chief Minister ordering immediate action and legal proceedings now on the cards the controversy has shifted from a misinformation campaign to a case that could test the governments resolve against the spread of fake news IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-cm-orders-strict-action-over-fake-campaign-targeting-cpi-694142.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 16:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/crash-severity-not-frequency-emerging-as-rajasthans-biggest-road-safety-challenge-694145.html Jaipur July 24 At first glance the numbers appear encouraging Road accidents in Jaipur fell in 2025 compared with the previous year But behind the decline lies a disturbing reality that more people are dying on the citys roads than before Numbers prove that crash severity not frequency is emerging as Rajasthans biggest road safety challenge The statistics tell a story that goes beyond accident counts While collisions have reduced those that do occur are increasingly proving fatal raising serious questions about speeding highway safety emergency response and roaduser behaviourIn 2025 Jaipur reported 3664 road accidents about 10 crashes every day Yet these crashes claimed 1273 lives averaging nearly three to four deaths dailyCompared with 2024 accidents declined by 56 per cent but fatalities increased by 31 per cent pushing the fatality rate to 347 deaths for every 100 accidents the highest recorded in the past five yearsThe figures compiled from the Jaipur East West North South and Rural police districts indicate that while roads are witnessing fewer collisions the impact of each crash is becoming far more severe The trend is reflected in a series of recent tragediesEarlier this week four members of a family waiting near a bus stop on the JaipurâAjmer Highway were killed after a speeding trailer crashed through a roadside barrier and ran them overJust a day later a young woman riding a motorcycle died after colliding with a heavy vehicleDays before that two people lost their lives when their car rammed into a container truck on the same highwayThese incidents are not isolated accidents Together they illustrate a broader pattern of highspeed crashes involving heavy vehicles particularly on highways where the consequences of even a single mistake are often fatalRoad accident statistics over the last five years reveal an interesting shift Jaipur recorded 3205 accidents and 1106 deaths in 2021The numbers climbed sharply in 2022 when accidents reached 3935 and fatalities peaked at 1327Since then accidents have steadily declined to 3893 in 2023 3881 in 2024 and 3664 in 2025 Deaths however have not followed the same trajectoryAlthough fatalities fell after the 2022 peak they have remained above 1200 annually for the third consecutive yearThe increase to 1273 deaths in 2025 despite fewer accidents suggests that crash severity not crash frequency is emerging as Rajasthans biggest road safety challengeAmong Jaipurs police districts Jaipur Rural emerged as the most vulnerable recording 805 accidents and 426 deaths â accounting for roughly one in every three road fatalities in the Jaipur regionIt was also the only district where accidents increased compared with the previous yearJaipur East recorded the highest number of accidents at 1011 followed by Jaipur West with 964 In contrast Jaipur South showed the most significant improvement with accidents declining from 783 to 666 and fatalities falling from 216 to 184Jaipur North registered the fewest accidents 218 but deaths still rose from 58 to 71 highlighting that even areas with fewer crashes are witnessing more severe outcomesAccording to Traffic SP Yogesh Goyal Jaipur is strengthening traffic management by deploying more personnel installing additional traffic signals and expanding ITenabled enforcement However he believes the larger challenge lies outside the cityThe bigger challenge lies in rural areas where traffic management infrastructure is limited and compliance with traffic rules remains poor Along with stricter enforcement we need behavioural change among drivers and pedestrians he saidHis observation highlights a growing concern among road safety experts Enforcement alone cannot prevent fatal crashes if excessive speed risky overtaking distracted driving and poor compliance continueRecognising the growing concern Rajasthan Police launched a statewide special traffic enforcement campaign from July 2 to July 16 2026 under the directions of DGP Rajiv Kumar Sharma and the supervision of DGP Traffic Anil PaliwalAccording to Additional Director General of Police Traffic Dr BL Meena the campaign focussed on reducing accidents promoting helmet use and improving compliance on national and state highways Public awareness messages such as No travel without a helmet are being promoted with emphasis on the use of ISIcertified helmetsThe enforcement has been extensive During the first five days of the campaign July 2â6 police issued 97954 challans under the Motor Vehicles Act On July 6 alone action was taken against 19901 motorists including 8447 helmet violators 5019 overspeeding drivers 3369 vehicles parked illegally and 3066 motorists violating lane disciplinePolice say the campaign was intended not merely to impose penalties but to encourage safer road behaviour The 2025 figures present a sobering lesson A decline in accidents does not automatically translate into safer roadsWhen more people die despite fewer crashes the focus must shift from simply reducing accident numbers to reducing crash severityFor Rajasthan the challenge now extends beyond stricter policing Safer highways better engineering improved trauma response stronger enforcement against speeding and lasting behavioural change among road users will be crucial if the state is to reverse the rising toll of fatal road accidentsUntil then every reduction in accident numbers will continue to be overshadowed by the growing number of lives lost on the road IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/crash-severity-not-frequency-emerging-as-rajasthans-biggest-road-safety-challenge-694145.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 16:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/union-ministers-meet-cjp-representatives-talks-remain-inconclusive-694146.html New Delhi July 24 Union Ministers JP Nadda and Dr Jitendra Singh held discussions with the Cockroach Janata Party CJP spokespersons in the national capital on Friday in a fresh bid to address their grievances over the NEET paper leaks and demands regarding the resignation of the Education Minister The meeting lasting nearly two hours however remained inconclusive with CJP staying firm on one of its demandsJP Nadda and Dr Jitendra Singh represented the government while the CJP was represented by two of its spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka The talks took place at the Constitution Club of IndiaSpeaking to the media after the meeting Union Minister Nadda said The meeting went on for almost two hours They had three main demands and five reform suggestions We have told them that we will meet them again tomorrowâTalks happened in a cordial atmosphere We heard their grievances in detailâ he addedThe CJP on the other hand remained adamant and refused to budge on its demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra PradhanThe government has sought time till tomorrow afternoon on our demand for Dharmendra Pradhans resignation They have agreed on the two demands one of compensation for families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and withdrawal of legal cases on students CJPs Ashutosh Ranka told the mediaThis was round two of the CentreCJP talks and came a day after Dr Jitendra Singhâs appeal for discussions to end the stalemateThe Minister of State in the PMO while making an appeal to the CJP on Thursday said that the governmentâs doors are open for talks 247 and the protesting group could decide the time and hours of discussion as per their convenienceThe CentreCJP meeting assumes significance as it comes on the back of social activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his 26day hunger strike late on Thursday night following the governments assurances on his key demands IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/union-ministers-meet-cjp-representatives-talks-remain-inconclusive-694146.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ready-to-talk-to-tn-chief-minister-on-cauvery-dispute-says-ktaka-cm-shivakumar-694148.html Bengaluru July 24  Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said he was willing to engage with his Tamil Nadu counterpart on issues concerning the Cauvery River watersharing dispute while also welcoming the Centres decision to discuss concerns related to the education system in the wake of nationwide NEET protests Speaking to reporters after attending the CEOs breakfast meeting ahead of the Bengaluru Tech Summit Shivakumar said the state government is open to discussions with all stakeholders including the Tamil Nadu government on matters related to the Cauvery River disputeShivakumar further said I do not wish to make the contents of the Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers letter public at this moment This week we have been occupied with Cabinet expansion and other matters On certain issues we are ready to speak with everyone share with everyone and work with everyoneHis remarks came in response to questions about a letter reportedly sent by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister regarding the Cauvery issueHowever insiders confirmed that amid the ongoing Cauvery watersharing dispute preparations are underway for talks between Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay The two Chief Ministers are expected to discuss several key issues including the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project If the meeting takes place it would mark one of the rare instances in several decades that the Chief Ministers of the two states have come together to hold direct talks on the Cauvery issue and other matters of mutual interestAccording to sources the Tamil Nadu government has requested a meeting and in response CM Shivakumar has reportedly invited Chief Minister Vijay for talks in Bengaluru on August 3 However it remains unclear whether the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has accepted the invitationUntil now successive governments in Tamil Nadu led by the DMK and AIADMK have consistently declined to hold direct negotiations with Karnataka on the Cauvery watersharing issue Tamil Nadus official position has been that the Cauvery dispute has already been settled by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme CourtMeanwhile CM Shivakumar also welcomed the Centres move to deliberate on concerns surrounding the education system following widespread protests by students over the NEET examinationIt is encouraging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government have finally come forward to discuss the education system after a month The entire country has now woken up to the issue We are all working for the future of the students and youth of this nation Shivakumar saidThe comments come amid continuing debates over the conduct of NEET and growing demands from students and opposition parties for reforms in the examination and admissions process across the countryShivakumar reiterated that the Karnataka government remains committed to protecting the interests of the states people while maintaining dialogue and cooperation with neighbouring states on interstate issues IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ready-to-talk-to-tn-chief-minister-on-cauvery-dispute-says-ktaka-cm-shivakumar-694148.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nothing-is-more-important-than-the-welfare-and-future-of-our-youth-pm-modi-693926.html New Delhi July 23 IANS Amid the ongoing protests over exam paper leaks Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday stated that welfare and future of youths are of utmost priority for the governmentnbspMoreover he stated that the Centre has decided to set up fasttrack courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks and also issued a warning to those trying to harm the future of youthIn a post on X PM Modi said Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth We have decided to set up fasttrack courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regardHe emphasised that the step is a part of a series of measures by the Central government for safeguarding the interests of studentsPM Modi also issued a warning saying Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be sparedThis comes a day after Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that the Centre was open to discussions with all stakeholders on the examination paper leak issue He also said that the government had held talks with representatives of the protesting CJP and had also urged activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike and join the mainstream dialogue processAddressing a press conference Nadda said the meeting with CJP representatives was held in a cordial atmosphere during which the government heard their concerns and asked them to submit their demands in writingThe discussion took place in a very cordial atmosphere We listened to their views very calmly I told them it would be better if they submitted their points in writing and they have done so We are ready for discussions whenever they ask he said while clarifying that no fresh meeting took place on WednesdayReiterating that the government wanted a detailed debate on examination paper leaks Nadda said Parliament was the most appropriate forum to evolve a longterm policy on the issueIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nothing-is-more-important-than-the-welfare-and-future-of-our-youth-pm-modi-693926.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/lok-sabha-adjourned-2-minute-after-reconvening-amid-oppns-neet-uproar-693930.html New Delhi July 23 IANS The Lok Sabha was adjourned amid heavy sloganeering by the Opposition just two minutes after it reconvened on Thursday This came as the NEETUG paper leak issue continues to dominate ParliamentThe Lok Sabha Speaker repeatedly urged the members to be seated and allow the Question Hour to proceed However the MPs continued with heavy sloganeering demanding an immediate discussion on paper leaks and other exam irregularitiesI appeal to all MPs of the government and the Opposition to come after the Question Hour and discuss the issue within the rules of the House Speaker Birla saidHowever when the ruckus did not stop the House was adjourned till noonThis came even as the government agreed to discuss the paper leak issuenbspEarlier on Wednesday Union Health Minister JP Nadda announced that the Centre was open to discussions with all stakeholders on the examination paper leak issuenbspHe also said that the government had held talks with representatives of the protesting Cockroach Janata Party CJP and had also urged activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike and join the mainstream dialogue processMeanwhile Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday urged all parties specifically the Opposition to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in order to decide on a date time and rule for conducting a discussion on NEET paper leak in the Parliament without wasting timeHowever he said it has to be decided under which rule the discussion will take place in the HouseMeanwhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday stated that the government has decided to set up fasttrack courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks and also issued a warning to those trying to harm the future of youthIn a post on X PM Modi said Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth We have decided to set up fasttrack courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regardHe underlined that the step is a part of a series of measures by the Central government for safeguarding the interests of studentsPM Modi also issued a warning saying Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared The welfare and future of the countrys youth is our topmost priorityIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/lok-sabha-adjourned-2-minute-after-reconvening-amid-oppns-neet-uproar-693930.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/encouraged-total-destruction-of-education-system-rahul-gandhi-on-pm-modis-youth-welfare-remarks-693931.html New Delhi July 23 IANS In a sharply worded attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement regarding prioritising the welfare of the countrys youth Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the Centre of allowing and encouraging the destruction of the education systemnbspEarlier in a post on X PM Modi said Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth We have decided to set up fasttrack courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regardResponding to it LoP Gandhi said You are the one who has harmed the future of our youth the most You allowed and encouraged the total capture and destruction of our education system and protected every person responsible for itReiterating the demands of the agitation over exam paper leaks the Congress MP mentioned The students demands are clear sack Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan apologise to the students and take action against those who assaulted themGandhi was referring to the alleged police brutality against protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party CJPled march to Parliament on July 20Meanwhile PM Modi in his post emphasised that setting up of the fasttrack courts is a part of a series of measures by the Central government for safeguarding the interests of studentsThe Prime Minister also issued a warning saying Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be sparedAddressing a press conference a day before Rahul Gandhi claimed that Indias education system has been rigged under the current dispensationJustifying the students stir in the capital the Congress MP said that they were fighting for a fair and legitimate reason but the government was using force to browbeat and crush themIntensifying the attack on the Education Minister he said that Dharmendra Pradhan was corrupt and incompetent and demanded that he must step down from his positionLoP Gandhi along with other senior Congress leaders and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had staged a sitin near PM Modis residence on Tuesday over the lathi charge on antiNEET leak protesters before being briefly detained by the policeIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/encouraged-total-destruction-of-education-system-rahul-gandhi-on-pm-modis-youth-welfare-remarks-693931.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/idfc-first-bank-fraud-cbi-conducts-searches-in-chandigarh-ludhiana-693932.html Chandigarh July 23 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on Thursday said it has conducted searches at multiple locations in Chandigarh and Ludhiana in connection with the misappropriation of funds from IDFC First Bank accounts of Chandigarh Smart City Ltd CSCL and Municipal Corporation ChandigarhnbspThe searches were conducted at five locations including residential premises business establishments of suspected beneficiaries of the defrauded funds belonging to the Municipal Corporation and CSCL former accountant Anubhav Mishra and private entities connected with the investigationDuring the searches various incriminating documents and articles were recovered and seized These include digital evidence like storage drives digital signatures propertyrelated documents financial records multiple electronic devices and other documents relevant to the investigationThe seized documents and electronic records are being examined and analysed as part of the ongoing investigationThe CBI had taken over the investigation from the State Vigilance and AntiCorruption Bureau in Haryana at the request of the state governmentThe fraud relating to HSPCB forms part of a larger banking fraud at the IDFC First Bank branch in Sector 32 in Chandigarh wherein government funds amounting to approximately Rs 504 crore belonging to eight departments of the Haryana government were allegedly siphoned off through forged and nonexistent fixed deposits and fraudulent debit transactions and subsequently routed through shell entitiesSo far the CBI has filed chargesheets against 17 accused belonging to Haryana including six bank officials of IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank three public servants of the state government of Haryana two companies and six private individualsThe CBI has also taken over two related cases in Chandigarh one pertaining to CSCL and Municipal Corporation and another relating to Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science ampamp Technology Promotion Society CRESTChargesheets have already been filed in both cases In the CSCL case the CBI has chargesheeted five bankers one CSCL official and one private individual In the CREST case chargesheets have been filed against five bankers two CREST officials four private individuals and two companiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/idfc-first-bank-fraud-cbi-conducts-searches-in-chandigarh-ludhiana-693932.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-in-favour-of-discussion-since-beginning-says-kiren-rijiju-amid-neet-stand-off-693966.html New Delhi July 23 IANS Amid the continued impasse in Parliament and the oppositions protests Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Thursday that the government has consistently favoured a debate on the NEET paper leak issue since the beginning and blamed the Opposition for exploiting the issue to derail the House proceedingsnbspThe House on the fourth consecutive day witnessed uproar with the Opposition insistent on immediate discussion on the issueRijiju said all the allies of the National Democratic Alliance NDA are also on board regarding a detailed discussion on the NEET issue He also informed the House about Prime Minister Narendra Modis message for stern action against those involved in paper leaksThe proceedings in both Houses have been stalled because of governmentopposition deadlock as the former insists on readiness for debate and the latter remains bent on the Education Ministers resignation before initiating debateAs the Rajya Sabha proceedings began on Thursday Kiren Rijiju told the House that the government has engaged with opposition leaders particularly Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and others to facilitate the commencement of a discussion in the HouseHe said that the government had requested the opposition to decide on the duration and format of the NEET discussion through mutual consent insisting that it was not right to attach any preconditions to it He claimed that the opposition talks about discussion but keeps obstructing it by imposing conditionsHe said that the oppositions conduct gives the impression that it was unwilling to engage in discussion about sensitive issues about students and was only resorting to rhetoricRijiju asserted that the NEET examination issue should not be politicised and serious debate should be held in both Lok Sabha and Rajya SabhaInforming the House about the constitution of fasttrack courts for speedy justice in NEET paper leaks Rijiju said that this will ensure that those guilty will receive swift and severe punishmentHe also appealed to the opposition to withdraw their conditions and allow the discussion on the NEET issue to proceed in the House without obstructionOpposition benches refusing to buy the governments stance stated that they remain firm on their demands and that the Union Education Minister must resign from his post taking responsibility for widespread irregularities in the examinationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-in-favour-of-discussion-since-beginning-says-kiren-rijiju-amid-neet-stand-off-693966.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/houses-of-two-let-terrorists-demolished-in-jampks-anantnag-693969.html Srinagar July 23 A day after the terrorists killed a policeman in Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag district houses of two LashkareTaiba LeT terrorists were demolished in Anantnag district on Thursday Official sources said the action came a day after terrorists killed a head constable in Anantnag townSources said that the authorities on Wednesday night demolished the houses of two LsT terrorists Aadil Hussain Thokar of Guree Bijbehara and Haroon Ganai of Hassanpora in South Kashmirs Anantnag district following the killing of the cop in the terror attack at Lal Chowk Anantnag Aadil Thokars house had earlier been demolished after the Pahalgam Baisaran terror attack The newly constructed house at the same location was also razed during the overnight operation Haroon Ganais house in Hassanpora was similarly demolished as part of the action the sources added The operation is part of an ongoing crackdown on terrorists and their support infrastructureHead constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi of the 3rd battalion of Armed Police was on patrolling duty when the attack occurredThe head constable belonged to the Beerwah area of Budgam districtLt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the terror attackThe LG vowed in his post on X that the murder of the policeman would not go unpunished and those responsible would be brought to justiceA wreathlaying ceremony was held at the district police lines in Anantnag to pay tribute to the martyred policemanHundreds attended his funeral in his native town and scores of people continued to come to offer condolences to the bereaved familyThe Resistance Front TRF claimed responsibility for the attack The organisation is an offshoot of LashkareTaiba a Pakistanbased UNdesignated terrorist groupFormed using cadres of militant groups LashkareTaiba and Hizbul Mujahideen in the aftermath of the 2019 abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir TRF uses nonreligious nomenclature and symbolism to project a secular image but has carried out targeted killings of locals from religious minority communitiesThe group maintains a significant social media presence some of which Indian media traces to Pakistan Police rounded up over 3000 overground workers OGWs of terrorist outfits in various districts of the Valley following the killings of the head constableA red alert has been issued after the terror attack and a massive manhunt to trace the assailants is going on IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/houses-of-two-let-terrorists-demolished-in-jampks-anantnag-693969.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sit-detains-former-tdb-chief-prasanth-in-sabarimala-gold-case-693970.html Thiruvananthapuram July 23 With the Kerala High Court directing the Special Investigation Team SIT to expedite the Sabarimala gold misappropriation probe former Travancore Devaswom Board TDB president PS Prasanth was taken into custody from his residence in the state capital on Thursday Two former TDB presidents both CPIM leaders after being arrested and in jail are now out on bailPrasanths arrest comes barely days after the SIT informed the High Court that it would file the final report in one of the two cases within 30 days stating that scientific examination of the temple artefacts had helped establish how the alleged offence was committedThe court has posted the matter for September 3 while the SIT is also considering registering a third casePrasanth a former Congress leader who joined the CPIM after his defeat in the 2021 Assembly elections was later appointed president of the Travancore Devaswom Board the statutory body administering temples in south Kerala including the famed Sabarimala shrineThe SIT has registered two separate cases relating to the alleged disappearance and misappropriation of gold from temple artefactsSeveral accused were arrested but later secured statutory bail after the agency failed to file charge sheets within the prescribed periodOne of the accused has since diedInvestigators are also expected to take into custody two more members of the administrative team that functioned under PrasanthThe controversy surfaced during Prasanths tenure after questions were raised over the restoration of the temples Dwarapalaka guardian sculptures following which he was questioned by the SIT on multiple occasionsHours before his arrest Prasanth issued a lengthy Facebook post claiming he was being made an accused not for wrongdoing but for exposing the alleged 2019 gold theftWhat was our mistake in 2025 he asked alleging that his Board had acted honestly and transparently and had become instrumental in bringing the 2019 Sabarimala gold theft case to lightHe described the move against him as politically motivated and said he had anticipated his arrestPrasanth maintained that the decision to send the Dwarapalaka sculptures to Chennai for restoration was taken solely to remove ritual impurity caused by damaged sculptures which had allegedly injured temple staff during cleaningHe insisted the Devaswom suffered not even a single rupee in loss arguing that the weight and gold content of the restored sculptures had actually increased after reinstallationRejecting allegations of conspiracy he contended that the failure to inform the Special Commissioner before shifting the sculptures was an administrative lapse by officials not a Board decisionHe also claimed it was his Board that submitted the 2019 records to the High Court and later handed over all documents sought by the SIT leading to the alleged gold scam coming to light IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sit-detains-former-tdb-chief-prasanth-in-sabarimala-gold-case-693970.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/amrit-kaal-of-defaults-shiv-sena-693974.html Mumbai July 23 The Shiv Sena UBT on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Centre accusing it of patronising big corporate loan defaulters while enforcing harsh recovery mechanisms on poor and middleclass citizens In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana the party said as per the official data provided by the Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha public sector banks have written off bad loans totaling Rs 775 lakh crore across 1249 accounts each owing Rs 100 crore or more between FY 201415 and FY 202526 Out of the massive defaults banks have managed to recover a mere Rs 310 lakh crore so farWhile the government argued in Parliament that writing off loans is standard technical accounting for nonrecoverable debts and does not equate to a total loan waiver the editorial termed this defence shocking and hypocritical All of this is deeply shocking Ever since coming to power the Modi government has continuously beaten its chest about bringing financial discipline to the banking system So under what definition of financial discipline does it fall to simply transfer unrecovered loans into bad debt accounts instead of enforcing recovery while big industrialists pull off such massive heists on banks asked the Thackeray campTaking massive loans repaying a tiny fraction and defaulting on the rest seems to have received official state sanction the editorial noted labelling the current era an Amrit Kaal of Default It further commented An Amrit Kaal of Loan Defaulting has commenced in the country where poor cockroaches must tighten their belts to pay off their loan instalments while wealthy billionaires get to bankrupt the banks If the government itself is complicit who is going to stop these robbers from looting public moneyA major point of contention highlighted in the editorial is the governmentâs refusal to publicly disclose the names of these top corporate defaulters The government cited Section 45E of the Reserve Bank of India RBI Act which mandates confidentiality regarding credit information as the reason for withholding the identitiesThe editorial vehemently questioned this rationale Why are the names of small default borrowers publicly advertised in newspapers while billionaire defaulters are shielded behind confidentiality clauses Why are properties vehicles and homes of middleclass citizens small business owners and farmers seized or sealed over tiny defaults while big corporate tycoons face no such actionThe Thackeray camp questioned whether these defaulting tycoons are major donors to the ruling party alleging an unspoken policy of Give donations get loan writeoffsSharply contrasting the plight of the common citizen with wealthy industrialists the editorial claimed that while ordinary taxpayers squeeze their tight budgets to pay off microloans wealthy billionaires are permitted to loot state banks with impunityThe Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena remarked that the open plunder of public sector banks is taking place through collusion between fraudsters in industry and big fraudsters in government It warned that if the state itself shields such elements public money remains dangerously unsecured IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/amrit-kaal-of-defaults-shiv-sena-693974.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fresh-attack-on-kerala-cpi-693977.html Kannur July 23 A fresh political flashpoint has erupted in Keralas Kannur with the alleged arson attack on a shrimp farm owned by former CPIM member T Purushothaman a key supporter of rebel MLA V Kunjikrishnan intensifying the postelection turmoil within the party The incident comes at a time when the CPIMs national and state leadership is reviewing the Leftâs crushing defeat in the Assembly elections where its strength in the 140member Kerala Assembly plummeted from 99 seats to just 35The developments in Kannur long projected as the CPIMs strongest organisational district in the country have emerged as a major concern after two of its traditional bastions Payyannur and Taliparamba fell to rebel candidates backed by the Congressled UDF exposing deep fissures within the partyThe attack occurred at Kandankali in Payyannur where a shed used for storing shrimp farming equipment was allegedly set ablaze shortly after midnightPurushothaman discovered the damage when he reached the farm on Thursday morning to feed the shrimp The shed which housed shrimp feed nets transport boxes pipes and trays was completely destroyedPurushothaman also alleged that an unidentified liquid substance had been mixed into the shrimp pond in an attempt to kill the shrimp juveniles and suspected that an explosive substance may have been used to carry out the attackThis is the second such attack on him During the Assembly election campaign his house was attacked and his car set on fireFive CPIM workers were later arrested in connection with that case Purushothaman alleged that the latest attack was politically motivated and blamed former MLA TI Madhusoodanan claiming he had publicly targeted him in recent daysFor the past several days CPIM workers have been planning attacks against those who supported V Kunjikrishnan There was a sustained campaign against me on social media after the former MLA spoke against me This attack followed that he allegedHe said a formal police complaint would be lodgedThe latest incident is likely to further embarrass the CPIM leadership which is already grappling with the political fallout from its worst electoral setback in decades and the widening cracks in its once impregnable Kannur stronghold IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fresh-attack-on-kerala-cpi-693977.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/chhattisgarh-two-killed-after-driver-loses-control-rams-car-into-tree-in-durg-693978.html Durg July 23 Two men lost their lives in a horrific accident in Chhattisgarhs Durg district on Thursday after the driver lost control of the car and hit a road divider before ramming into a tree The victims have been identified as Deepak and his friend Kaushik The young men undertook a car ride in the wee hours of Thursday While driving from Sector 8 towards Globe Chowk the car was allegedly travelling at a very high speed when the driver lost control of the vehicleAccording to reports the speeding car first rammed into the road divider and then crashed into a treeOfficials said that the impact of the accident was so severe that both Deepak who was driving the car and Kaushik seated beside him died on the spotLocal residents alerted the police upon receiving information about the accident A police team reached the spot and shifted the bodies to Supela Mortuary for postmortem procedurePreliminary information suggests that the victims were drunk at the time of the accidentIn a similar incident reported earlier this month four members of a family including two sisters and two young children died in a road accident on the DurgâRaipur National Highwayâ53 in ChhattisgarhPolice said five members of the family were travelling on a scooter from Somni in Bhilaiâ3 to their maternal uncleâs house in Vasant Vihar Raipur when the vehicle rammed into the rear of a stationary tractor loaded with oxygen cylindersThe deceased were identified as Amrita Nirmalkar 28 her sister Lakshmi Nirmalkar 26 and Amritaâs daughters Yachna 7 and Dali 4 Amritaâs eightâyearâold son Bhavesh sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at AIIMS RaipurThe accident occurred under the jurisdiction of the Kumhari police station The impact was so severe that the two women and two girls died on the spotAmritaâs husband Lokesh Nirmalkar told police the family had celebrated Yachnaâs birthday just two days earlier on July 14He described the loss as devastating noting that his wife daughter son and sisterâinâlaw were all on the scooter at the time of the crash IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/chhattisgarh-two-killed-after-driver-loses-control-rams-car-into-tree-in-durg-693978.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/monsoon-intensifies-in-rajasthan-imd-issues-heavy-rain-alert-for-next-four-days-693979.html Jaipur July 23 The southwest monsoon has intensified once again across Rajasthan with the monsoon trough currently passing through Bikaner As a result the India Meteorological Department IMD has forecast active conditions across the state over the next four days and issued alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts On Thursday the IMD issued a heavy rainfall warning for 11 districts while several other districts are likely to receive moderate to heavy showers accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning During the past 24 hours heavy rainfall was recorded in parts of Beawar and Bhilwara districtsThe highest rainfall was measured at Jagpura Banswara which was 1670 mm followed by 110 mm in Beawar town 120 mm each in Asind and Bagore Bhilwara 81 mm in Aklera Jhalawar and 73 mm in Jhalrapatan The downpour disrupted normal life in several areas and caused waterlogging in lowlying localitiesRainfall was also reported from parts of Dholpur Jaipur Sikar Jhunjhunu and Baran districtsAccording to the IMD a cyclonic circulation over northeastern Rajasthan and adjoining areas along with the monsoon trough remaining in its normal position has strengthened rainfall activity across the state Under its influence the monsoon is expected to remain active in most districts for the next four to five daysThe widespread rainfall has also brought down daytime temperatures Jaipur recorded a maximum temperature of 327 degrees Celsius which is 21 degrees below normal Other maximum temperatures included 27 degrees Celsius in Ajmer 30 degrees in Alwar 298 in Kota 296 in Chittorgarh and 308 in Dungarpur Meanwhile Jaisalmer 40 degrees and Barmer 393 degrees remained the hottest places in the stateThe Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for very heavy rainfall for Banswara Baran Bhilwara Bundi Chittorgarh Dungarpur Jhalawar Kota Pratapgarh Rajsamand Salumbar and Udaipur Also a yellow alert has been sounded in Ajmer Alwar Beawar Bharatpur Dausa Deeg Dholpur Jaipur Jhunjhunu Karauli KhairthalTijara KotputliBehror Sawai Madhopur Sikar Sirohi Tonk Balotra Barmer Bikaner Churu DidwanaKuchaman Hanumangarh Jaisalmer Jalore Jodhpur Nagaur Pali Phalodi and Sri GanganagarThe IMD has forecast widespread rainfall with heavy showers at several places and isolated spells of extremely heavy rainfall across the Kota Jaipur Bharatpur Ajmer Udaipur Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions around July 26Eastern and southeastern Rajasthan are expected to experience the most significant impact during this spellThe ongoing rainfall is being driven by a cyclonic circulation over northeastern Rajasthan and the monsoon trough passing through the state These systems are drawing continuous moisture from the Bay of Bengal sustaining active monsoon conditions over RajasthanThe rainfall is also expected to benefit Kharif crops providing muchneeded moisture for agricultural activities across the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/monsoon-intensifies-in-rajasthan-imd-issues-heavy-rain-alert-for-next-four-days-693979.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-govt-to-hold-anti-tobacco-programme-in-every-school-to-wean-students-off-addiction-693980.html Kolkata July 23 The West Bengal government has taken special initiatives to wean school students off tobacco addiction A new Standard Operating Procedure SOP has been issued and sent to the chief health officer of each district said a government official on Thursday The guidelines state that an antitobacco awareness programme will be conducted in every school If someone is addicted to tobacco they will be given behavioural counselling If necessary they will be sent to a higher health centreAccording to the new SOP every school will have to conduct a selfassessment of 100 marks once in six months Only schools that score 90 per cent or more will receive the certificate of TobaccoFree Educational Institution TOFEIThe initiative has been taken following a recent survey on youth which showed that 85 per cent of students between the ages of 13 and 15 are addicted to cigarettes or gutkha in BengalA special team is being formed in each block to make schools tobaccofree The team will include Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram RBSK Medical Officer Staff Nurse Pharmacist Research Counsellor and Block Health Manager They will visit schools in the blockExperts believe that this initiative of the West Bengal government will help students in giving up tobacco addiction Public health officials said that the aim of the Tobacco Free Educational Institution TOFEI programme is to make all educational institutions tobaccofree The antitobacco Act 2003 should be enforced more strictly as per the SOPIn addition to raising awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco the students will also be informed about the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act COTPA 2003Quizzes posters and debate competitions will be organised in schools The responsibility of the research counsellors is to create awareness among students as well as parents Discussions about the harms of tobacco will be held in parent teacher meetingsA tobacco monitoring committee will be formed in every school They will check whether tobacco is being sold within 100 yards of the school Coordination between parents local panchayats youth organisations and police stations will be established in schools to prevent the sale of tobaccoAccording to the Health Department to get the certificate of a tobaccofree educational institution the school will have to comply with some conditions A Tobacco Free Area board will have to be hung in a conspicuous place on the school campus A banner of a tobaccofree institution will have to be placed at the main gate of the school There will be no signs of cigarettes bidi pieces gutkha khaini packets or spit stains on the school premises IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-govt-to-hold-anti-tobacco-programme-in-every-school-to-wean-students-off-addiction-693980.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/man-stabbed-to-death-in-jabalpur-family-alleges-poor-response-by-ambulance-emergency-services-693984.html Jabalpur July 23 A 30yearold man was allegedly stabbed to death following an altercation with a fellow villager in Madhya Pradeshs Jabalpur district police said on Thursday The family of the deceased man has alleged poor response by ambulance and emergency services resulted in delay in taking him to hospital The incident took place late Wednesday night in Saliwada village under the Bargi police station limitsThe deceased was identified as Namami Patel a welder by professionAccording to police Patel was sitting outside his house after dinner when he got into an argument with another villager identified as Ghanshyam KevatBargi police station received information about the incident late on Wednesday night Prima facie it appears that the victim was attacked with a sharpedged weapon following a dispute A murder case has been registered and efforts are underway to arrest the accused Bargi police station SHO saidPatel was first taken to the government health centre at Bargi and later referred to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in JabalpurHowever he succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the medical college police saidThe victims family alleged that they repeatedly contacted the 108 ambulance service and the 112 emergency response service after the attack but help did not reach on timeThey claimed they were forced to shift Patel to the hospital in a private vehicle The family further alleged that the ambulance at the Bargi hospital was not operational due to a mechanical fault compelling them to again use a private vehicle to take him to the medical collegeThey claimed doctors told them that timely medical attention could have improved his chances of survivalThe allegations regarding the ambulance service have also come to our notice We are verifying all aspects of the case including the claims made by the family Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the enquiry the SHO saidPolice said Patel had been married around a year ago The motive behind the killing will become clear after the accused is arrested and questioned IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/man-stabbed-to-death-in-jabalpur-family-alleges-poor-response-by-ambulance-emergency-services-693984.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/23-july-1927-when-india-found-its-voice-693986.html New Delhi July 23 âBahujana Hitaya Bahujana Sukhayaâ For the welfare and happiness of the many This timeless Buddhist ideal drawn from the teachings of Lord Buddha has guided All India Radio Akashvani ever since it became Indiaâs public broadcaster More than a motto it became a national mission to inform educate inspire and unite As India observes 23 July National Broadcasting Day we commemorate not merely the beginning of radio broadcasting in 1927 but the birth of an institution that quietly shaped the consciousness of modern IndiaIf 15 August 1947 gave India political freedom I often believe that 23 July 1927 began the long process of integrating the minds and hearts of Indians Radio became the invisible thread that stitched together a civilisation of extraordinary diversity into one national familyFor me however this day carries a far deeper and more personal meaning My association with All India Radio is not merely professional it is the story of three generations of my family whose lives were intertwined with AkashvaniMy late father ND Raina joined the Hindi Division of the External Services in 1956 as a scriptwriter His pen gave life to nearly sixtyeight radio plays including programmes such as Hawa Mahal and numerous childrens stories Through his writing I witnessed how radio entered millions of homes carrying imagination where television had yet to reachMy fatherinlaw H K Ramakrishna was among the pioneers of the Kannada News Unit at All India Radio New Delhi Later he served from 1985 as the Kannada news broadcaster with Radio Moscow until his retirement in 1991 His distinguished career reflected the international reach of Indian broadcasting and its commitment to linguistic diversityMy wifeâs family too remained closely associated with Akashvani through her father and his brother Dr H K Ranganath who held several important positions in the organisation and contributed significantly to public broadcasting Destiny brought me to All India Radio in 1982 after my fathers untimely demiseBefore joining the Indian Foreign Service in 1986 I worked in the Hindi Division of the External Services Those four years became one of the richest learning experiences of my life I had the privilege of working with legendary broadcaster Devki Nandan Pandey producer Dr SSS Thakur and several distinguished colleagues including Nirmala Joshi Y K Sharma Savitri Thakur Prem Joshi and many accomplished announcers from Urdu Nepali Swahili Arabic and across different divisions I also participated in Dr Thakurâs radio adaptation of the MahabharataAmong my most treasured memories remains the opportunity to interview the great poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan at his residence where he spoke with remarkable warmth about his literary journey and family Also got the chance to interact with many top artists and film personalitiesThe history of All India Radio mirrors the evolution of modern India Radio broadcasting began on 23 July 1927 when the Indian Broadcasting Company inaugurated its Bombay station Following financial difficulties the Government assumed responsibility in 1930 under the Indian State Broadcasting Service On 8 June 1936 it became All India Radio and in 1956 officially adopted the beautiful name Akashvani âVoice from the SkyâThe launch of Vividh Bharati in 1957 transformed popular broadcasting while the establishment of Prasar Bharati in 1997 gave public broadcasting greater autonomy Yet its greatest contribution cannot be measured merely through institutional milestonesAt Independence India possessed only six radio stations Today Akashvani reaches almost the entire population and over ninetytwo percent of the countryâs geographical area But its real achievement lies elsewhere It made India hear itself Before highways satellites and the internet connected us radio carried the voices of every region into every homeIt introduced Indians to one anotherâs languages music folklore literature festivals and aspirations It brought classical musicians and folk artists national recognition It guided farmers educated families informed citizens during wars elections and national emergencies and became the trusted companion that greeted millions every morning and bade them good nightAs someone who grew up inside the world of Akashvani I can confidently say that radio did not merely broadcast India it helped create the idea of India It nurtured an Indian mind while respecting every regional identity It transformed diversity into shared belongingEven today despite television digital media and social networking platforms I begin my mornings with radio It reminds me of history introduces me to forgotten personalities informs me of national events enriches me with music and literature and continues to offer a depth and credibility rarely matched by other mediaRadio remains intimate dependable and profoundly human On this National Broadcasting Day therefore we should celebrate not merely an institution but a civilisational forceThe story of All India Radio deserves to be taught to our younger generations for it is through Akashvani that millions first learnt what it meant to belong to India For my family Akashvani has been a lifelong companionFor the nation it has been its enduring voice And for me All India Radio will always remain the soul of India Long Live India and AIR IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/23-july-1927-when-india-found-its-voice-693986.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/no-negotiation-on-dharmendra-pradhans-resignation-cjp-to-continue-protest-693988.html New Delhi July 23 IANS The Cockroach Janta Party CJP on Thursday said that it will not negotiate on the demands seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks while maintaining that if the Centre wants to communicate with the agitators it will have to hold a meeting at the protest site at Jantar MantarnbspSpeaking to reporters CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said Our protest will continue as it has been We will not withdraw it until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns We also want Sonam sir Wangchuk to end his hunger strike because we do not want him to put his life at risk His life is very valuable for the countryWangchuk who is currently admitted at Gurugrams Medanta Hospital entered the 26th day of his hunger strike on Thursday A day before the activist had said that he would end his fast if the Centre assured that no action would be taken against the protestersRegarding talks with the government Dipke alleged that the CJP delegation was kept waiting for hours during their meeting with Union Minister JP NaddaWe had been kept waiting for five hours and out of which the conversation was held for only 10 minutes Who does like that It was a total wastage of time he saidThe CJP founder added On one hand we were called for a meeting while students were brutally beaten up on the other Whatever the government wants to communicate the next meeting will take place at Jantar MantarReacting to Naddas remarks that the agitation is being politicised he said If he Nadda dislikes politics so much then why doesnt he retire from politicsthey are the ones who do politics hold election rallies and ask for votes We are instead seeking justice for studentsReferring to the swarm of protesters at the Jantar Mantar CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said Thousands of people have gathered there and lakhs are protesting across the country This is the biggest success of the movementit has inspired an entire generation to stand up and fight for their rights People are no longer sitting quietly or living in fear they are asking questions from those in powerOn the meeting with Nadda on Monday Ranka echoed saying We had gone two days ago for talks but it was a waste of our time at JP Naddas residence If he wants to hold discussions he should come to Jantar Mantar himselfour demands are very clearwe want Dharmendra Pradhans resignation There is no negotiation on thatMoreover the CJP spokesperson remarked that paper leaks are happening because incapable and corrupt people are sitting in the system from top to bottom with Dharmendra Pradhan at the topUntil accountability is fixed fear is instilled in those responsible and systems are designed to prevent leaks this problem will not end Dharmendra Pradhan is an incompetent and corrupt person he told reportersIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/no-negotiation-on-dharmendra-pradhans-resignation-cjp-to-continue-protest-693988.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-leak-row-thackeray-brothers-criticise-centre-announce-joint-protest-march-on-july-26-693991.html Mumbai July 23 IANS In a joint press conference Shiv Sena UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS President Raj Thackeray on Thursday came together to sharply criticise the NDA government at the Centre over the ongoing NEET exam paper leak controversy and the police action against protesting students in Delhi They also announced a joint protest march on July 26nbspAnnouncing the major political and social mobilisation both leaders declared that they will lead a massive nonpartisan protest march in Mumbai on Sunday July 26 starting from Shivaji Park Shivtirtha to the Siddhivinayak TempleDrawing parallels to past political resignations including former Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patils exit following the 2611 attacks Raj Thackeray asserted that accountability must start at the topHe stated that the issue has crossed Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and now directly reaches Prime Minister Narendra ModiRaj Thackeray condemned the Centres refusal to hold dialogue with protestors citing previous instances like the farmers agitation the Manipur crisis and the Ladakh protestsFarmers were dying earlier now students will be forced to commit suicide What kind of arrogance of power is this that the administration refuses to listen to anyone he askedHe noted that had the NDA government initiated talks with the students over the NEET paper leaks the hunger strike by educator and innovator Sonam Wangchuk and the protest by the Cockroach Janata Party would not have happenedPromising a peaceful protest Raj Thackeray warned that if any attempt is made to infiltrate or disrupt their rally like in New Delhi their supporters would take strict actionUddhav Thackeray condemned the police action against student protestors in Delhi alleging that young women were beaten with nailembedded batons and had their clothes tornHe questioned how individuals in civil attire were handed police batons to suppress the agitationExpressing deep frustration over the response from the judiciary Uddhav Thackeray stated that the courts seem to have time for minor issues like stray animals and pigeons but fail to deliver timely justice to students facing severe state pressureCalling the current administration merciless he urged citizens and political leaders across the board to stand up for the countrys youthBoth Uddhav and Raj Thackeray stressed that the rally will carry no political party flags only the Indian National Flag will be displayed They said the students parents Opposition leaders including MVA allies and any citizens concerned with the students future can participate in Sundays marchIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-leak-row-thackeray-brothers-criticise-centre-announce-joint-protest-march-on-july-26-693991.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/union-ministers-jp-nadda-jitendra-singh-meet-sonam-wangchuk-at-gurugram-hospital-693817.html New Delhi July 22 IANS Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met innovator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram shortly after he was shifted there from Delhis Safdarjung Hospital for further treatmentnbspWangchuk was discharged from Safdarjung Hospital earlier in the evening and taken to Medanta in an ambulance under tight security in compliance with a Delhi High Court order He was admitted to the hospitals Intensive Care Unit ICU under the supervision of Dr Sushila Kataria an internal medicine specialist according to hospital officialsThe meeting held on Tuesday night between the two Union ministers and Wangchuk came as the activist continued his indefinite hunger strike which entered its 24th day on TuesdayThe meeting came a day after the activist said he would continue his indefinite hunger strike until protesting student leaders were allowed to meet MPs at Parliament House or parliamentarians visit him at the hospitalOn Monday Wangchuk in a handwritten note from Safdarjung Hospital said he would continue his fast until protesting student leaders were allowed to meet Members of Parliament at Parliament House or he himself was permitted to meet parliamentarians at the hospitalnbspEarlier on Tuesday Wangchuks wife Gitanjali J Angmo said he had decided to continue the hunger strike until Parliament takes cognisance of the Delhi Polices alleged action against protesters during the Sansad Chalo marchShe alleged that students were beaten lathicharged and teargassed and said Wangchuk had extended his fast in solidarity with them until their demands were heard in ParliamentReacting to allegations of several agitators attacking police personnel Angmo said I was in the truck when the police entered and forcefully tried to take Abhijit too Around me everyone made a human chain and protected me If this was happening to me when I was behind that truck then whatever happened with students we have all seen it If I had been alone and something was done to me I would have defended myself tooIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/union-ministers-jp-nadda-jitendra-singh-meet-sonam-wangchuk-at-gurugram-hospital-693817.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-file-fir-after-attack-on-raf-personnel-during-cjp-protest-10-cases-registered-so-far-693818.html New Delhi July 22 IANS The Delhi Police have registered an FIR following an alleged attack on a Rapid Action Force RAF personnel during the Cockroach Janata Party CJP protest in the national capital officials said on WednesdaynbspPolice said the FIR was filed after videos circulating on social media allegedly showed protesters assaulting an RAF personnel The videos also purportedly showed protesters pelting stones at an RAF vehicle and damaging the vehicle during the confrontationThe action was taken after the alleged attack on the RAF personnel with police beginning an investigation into the incident Further details regarding the accused and charges are awaitedThe Delhi Police said that a total of 10 FIRs have been registered so far in connection with the CJP protest and various lawandorder incidents during the demonstrationThe cases have been registered at multiple police stations across central Delhi Parliament Street Police Station has registered four FIRs while Connaught Place Police Station has registered three cases One FIR each has been filed at Mandir Marg Police Station Barakhamba Road Police Station and Kartavya Path Police StationAccording to police the FIRs relate to different incidents reported during the protest and matters involving the maintenance of public order The investigation into all the cases is currently underwayThe FIRs come after clashes broke out during the CJPled Sansad Chalo march on Monday when thousands of protesters and students attempted to march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament Police had placed barricades and imposed restrictions to prevent the march from moving beyond the designated protest areaMeanwhile the Delhi Police on Tuesday denied claims of stonepelting and police action circulating on social media describing the videos as false and misleadingIn a post on X DCP New Delhi said no such incident had taken place on Tuesday and urged citizens not to believe or share such videos The police advised people to rely only on official sources for verified information and updatesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-file-fir-after-attack-on-raf-personnel-during-cjp-protest-10-cases-registered-so-far-693818.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ls-adjourned-a-minute-after-reconvening-despite-speakers-assurance-to-discuss-oppn-issues--693821.html New Delhi July 23 IANS The Lok Sabha was adjourned until noon just one minute after it reconvened on Wednesday as the Opposition MPs continued to shout slogans and gather at the well of the HousenbspDespite Speaker Om Birlas assurances that their concerns would be addressed after the Question Hour the uproar persistedThe Opposition MPs holding banners advanced to the well of the House and demanded a discussion on the NEETUG paper leak controversy The Speaker promised that there would be ample time for members to discuss the issue following the Question Hour however the noise did not subsideThis is the Question Hour The MPs who have questions are given a chance to speak during this I am ready to discuss the subjects on which you have given notice after the Question Hour I will provide sufficient time to discuss your issues Speaker Birla saidnbspIf you do not want to let the House function in an orderly manner then it cannot function the Speaker said eventually leading to the adjournment till noonThe disruptions follow similar scenes witnessed for the past few days of the Monsoon Session when repeated adjournments affected proceedings in both Houses of ParliamentOpposition parties had staged protests demanding discussions on a range of issues including the examination paper leaks and the Cockroach Janta Partyled protest at Delhis Jantar Mantar leading to repeated interruptions in parliamentary businessEarlier in the day Opposition parties intensified their attack on the Centre alleging that the government is unwilling to accept responsibility or engage in meaningful discussions on key public issues and instead prefers to indulge in a blame gameOpposition leaders claimed they have repeatedly sought a discussion in Parliament on the alleged NEETUG paper leak examinationrelated irregularities and the police action against protesters during the Chalo Sansad march held on Monday but have not been allowed to raise these matters in the HouseAccording to the Opposition when important public issues are not discussed inside Parliament people are compelled to voice their concerns on the streets They cited Tuesdays protest near 7 Lok Kalyan Marg where Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and several other Opposition MPs staged a demonstration over the issueIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ls-adjourned-a-minute-after-reconvening-despite-speakers-assurance-to-discuss-oppn-issues--693821.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/heavy-rain-lashes-parts-of-rajasthan-as-monsoon-regains-momentum-693828.html Jaipur July 22 IANS The southwest monsoon has regained momentum across Rajasthan following the formation of a weather system over the Bay of Bengal triggering widespread rainfall and a sharp drop in temperatures The India Meteorological Department IMD has issued an orange alert for four districts on Wednesday while the remaining districts are under a yellow alertnbspHeavy rain has lashed several parts of the state since early morningUdaipur recorded its heaviest rainfall of the season while Kota and Baran received more than five inches of rain leading to overflowing rivers waterlogging and the opening of a gate at the Kalisindh DamLight to moderate showers have also been reported from Jaipur KotputliBehror Ajmer and several other districtsThe Meteorological Centre Jaipur has forecast that the monsoon will remain active across Rajasthan until July 25 with heavy rainfall likely in many districtsAccording to the IMD the highest rainfall during the last 24 hours was recorded in Chhipabarod Baran which was 130 mm followed by 101 mm in Sultanpur Kota Heavy rainfall was also recorded in Hanumangarh Bundi Alwar Karauli Jhunjhunu and Sawai Madhopur while light to moderate showers occurred in Dausa Jhalawar Tonk Nagaur Udaipur Churu Sri Ganganagar and BharatpurUdaipur witnessed nearly an hour of intense rainfall early Wednesday morning bringing the citys heaviest spell of the current monsoon season The showers brought down temperatures significantly and drew visitors back to popular tourist spots after the rain easedHeavy rainfall in Ajmer led to waterlogging in several localities disrupting traffic and leaving vehicles stranded On Taragarh Road in Subhash Nagar an overflowing underconstruction drain spilled onto the road A twowheeler rider fell into a pothole filled with rainwater and was rescued by local residents The district recorded 394 mm 15 inches of rainfall in the past 24 hours helping reduce the rainfall deficit while making the weather considerably cooler Continuous rain in the Hadoti region has caused the Parvan and Kalisindh rivers to swellIn Manoharthana Jhalawar the Parvan River rose nearly 3 feet submerging a small bridge and part of a templeWith inflows increasing from Madhya Pradesh authorities opened one gate of the Kalisindh Dam by about 010 metres releasing nearly 426 cusecs of waterThe widespread rainfall has brought substantial relief from heat and humidity across the state Maximum temperatures fell by 4 degrees to 9 degrees Celsius in cities including Jaipur Alwar Pilani Sikar Ajmer Churu and Sri Ganganagar Although Jaisalmer remained the hottest city at 396 degrees Celsius no location in Rajasthan recorded a maximum temperature above 40 degrees for the first time in nearly two weeksOn Wednesday an orange alert was issued for four districts while a yellow alert was announced for the rest of Rajasthan Monsoon is expected to remain active till July 25 in the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/heavy-rain-lashes-parts-of-rajasthan-as-monsoon-regains-momentum-693828.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 12:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-action-during-neet-stir-reaches-mp-assembly-as-cong-bjp-hold-rival-protests-693832.html Bhopal July 22 IANS The political row over the police action against Leader of Opposition LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and students protesting NEET paper leak in New Delhi reached the Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday with the Congress and the BJP holding rival stirs during the third day of the Monsoon SessionnbspCongress MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar arrived at the Assembly wearing black armbands to protest the use of force by the Delhi Police against Rahul Gandhi and students in the national CapitalThey demanded a discussion on the issue in the HouseSpeaking to reporters Singhar stated that students protesting for their future were lathicharged and tear gassed in DelhiHe claimed the BJP government was avoiding a discussion on the issue in the AssemblyThe NEET paper leak recruitment scams unemployment and atrocities against students have become the BJP governments youth policy Young people are seeking answers but the government is showing arrogance Singhar claimedThe Congress protest came a day after its MLAs staged a latenight demonstration at the Madhya Pradesh Assembly premisesThe legislators gathered inside the Assembly complex to express solidarity with Rahul Gandhi and protest against the police action on Congress leaders and students in the national CapitalThe developments in Bhopal are part of a larger political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress over the events in DelhiThe Congress has accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force against Rahul Gandhi party workers and students during a protest while the BJP has defended the police action saying it was carried out according to lawMeanwhile the BJP announced a counterprotest in Bhopal later on Wednesday State BJP leaders and workers are scheduled to march to and gherao the Madhya Pradesh Congress headquarters accusing the party of misleading people and trying to gain political mileage from the Delhi incidentThe rival protests added to the political heat during the Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly with both the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress using the developments in Delhi to target each otherIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-action-during-neet-stir-reaches-mp-assembly-as-cong-bjp-hold-rival-protests-693832.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-issues-notice-on-pil-raising-concerns-over-hpv-vaccination-programme-for-girls-693862.html New Delhi July 22 IANS The Delhi High Court on Wednesday agreed to examine a Public Interest Litigation PIL challenging the Centres rollout of the Human Papillomavirus HPV vaccination programme for adolescent girls under the Universal Immunisation Programme UIPnbspnbspA Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notice on the plea and directed the Union government to place on record by next week data relating to adverse events following HPV vaccinationDuring the hearing the CJ Upadhyayaled Bench observed that the issues raised in the petition are of a serious nature particularly as they concern girl childrenThe Delhi High Court also asked Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma to assist the court in the matterThe PIL filed through advocate Rohit Kumar seeks protection of the constitutional rights of young girls including their rights to life personal liberty bodily autonomy and informed consent under Articles 21 and 19 of the ConstitutionThe petition challenges the inclusion of the HPV vaccine Gardasil in the Universal Immunisation Programme and alleges that the vaccine is being administered to girls aged around 14 years in schools and public health facilities without proper informed consent or prior approval from parentsIt further alleged that frontline health workers including ASHA workers have been assigned enrolment targets resulting in undue pressure on young girls to receive the vaccineThe entire programme has been launched without any credible data with respect to the efficacy of the vaccine and the actual requirement of the population the plea statedReferring to an alleged case involving a 14yearold girl from Tamil Nadu the petition claimed that she developed severe neurological symptoms including loss of voice paralysislike weakness inability to walk and blurred vision within days of receiving the HPV vaccine in March this yearIt also referred to similar reported incidents from Gwalior and Bihar to question the safety monitoring mechanismThe plea contended that compulsory vaccination violates the settled constitutional principle of bodily integrity and personal autonomy under Article 21 arguing that no individual can be compelled to undergo vaccination or any other medical treatment without informed consentIt also referred to concerns raised in the past regarding HPV vaccines including the findings of the 72nd Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare 2013 which had flagged alleged irregularities in clinical trials of Gardasil and Cervarix including deviations from protocol and lapses in obtaining participants consentThe petition further argued that HPV infection is only one among several risk factors associated with cervical cancer and claimed that the longterm effectiveness of HPV vaccines remains uncertain It submitted that regular screening of women between the ages of 30 and 65 years remains the most effective strategy for preventing cervical cancerThe petition also referred to international litigation involving Gardasil claiming that Merck ampamp Co had announced a settlement exceeding 50 million in more than 200 lawsuits alleging serious health complications following vaccinationAccording to the plea these developments raise additional concerns regarding the vaccines longterm safety profile Seeking judicial intervention the petition has prayed for appropriate directions regarding the implementation of the HPV vaccination programme contending that the present rollout raises serious concerns relating to informed consent safety scientific basis and public health prioritiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-issues-notice-on-pil-raising-concerns-over-hpv-vaccination-programme-for-girls-693862.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jp-nadda-says-govt-ready-for-neet-debate-in-parliament-urges-oppn-rahul-gandhi-to-shun-politics-693925.html New Delhi July 22 IANS Union Health Minister JP Nadda has affirmed that the government is fully prepared for an indepth debate in Parliament regarding the NEET medical entrance exam paper leak and student concerns Addressing a press conference on Wednesday Nadda stated that the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes the issue with the utmost seriousness However he cautioned Rahul Gandhi and the Opposition against using the situation to score political points emphasising that student welfare must take precedence over political gamesHighlighting paper leak incidents across several nonNDA states Nadda criticised the Oppositions selective stance He pointed to instances such as the Service Selection Board exam leaks in Jammu and Kashmir board exam leaks in Himachal Pradesh JAC paper leaks in Jharkhand and intermediate exam leaks in TelangananbspFurthermore he noted paper leaks in Tamil Nadus BEd exams West Bengals police constable recruitment Punjabs Group D tests PSC exams in Kerala and PUC board exams in Karnataka Questioning why the Opposition remains silent on these incidents within UPAaligned states Nadda asserted that their approach reflects a desire for political mileage rather than genuine care for student justiceWhy is Rahul Gandhi so selective he asked Moving past a blame game Nadda emphasised that Parliament remains the ideal forum for a constructive resolution He assured that the government is ready for discussions of any durationwhether 12 or 18 hoursas decided by the Business Advisory CommitteenbspReaffirming that the government has already engaged with Opposition leaders in a cordial manner and responded to their written queries Nadda urged all parties to act responsibly protect the countrys youth and work together in Parliament to build a foolproof examination system for the futureThe Minister reinforced that the government has consistently maintained an opendoor policy welcoming all constructive suggestions aimed at restoring complete transparency in competitive testing By inviting Opposition members to submit their concerns in writing the administration has demonstrated its commitment to addressing procedural flaws directlyHe appealed to leaders across political lines to transcend partisan motives and join hands in Parliament ensuring that millions of hardworking aspirants receive the justice clarity and secure academic environment they rightfully deservenbspOn his meeting with activist Sonam Wangchukwho is currently on a hunger strike and admitted to a private hospital in Delhi Nadda said he met him to inquire about his health The Minister stated that he urged Wangchuk to break his fast and come forward to lead the nations youth in a positive directionNadda added that Wangchuk has written a letter to the government which will respond accordinglynbspAddressing Mondays alleged police action against protesting students at Jantar Mantar Nadda reiterated that the government remains open to discussing all issuesnbspMeanwhile regarding demands for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhans resignation Nadda maintained that Parliament is the appropriate forum where all matters should be discussedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jp-nadda-says-govt-ready-for-neet-debate-in-parliament-urges-oppn-rahul-gandhi-to-shun-politics-693925.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-demands-govts-apology-for-crackdown-on-protesting-students-693771.html New Delhi July 21 IANS Leader of Opposition LoP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at the Centre over brutal crackdown on students protesting at the Jantar Mantar against NEET paper leaks and demanded an unconditional apology from the governmentnbspSpeaking to newsmen outside the Parliament the Congress MP said that the students are raising their voice against the broken education system and using force to quell their stir was beyond all reasoningTaking a direct shot at the government as well as the Prime Minister he demanded that the latter apologise for ordering a lathi charge on the agitating students and advised it to rather take an honest review of the education systemnbspPeople are being beaten and thrashed this is completely unacceptable Why is the Prime Minister silent He should speak up He should apologise and stop this nonsense police thrashing students for raising their voice Rahul said while flanked by party MPs including Priyanka GandhiHe said that the countrys youth are protesting against the creaking education and testing system and the whole nation knows that it has been hollowed out by termites and broken beyond repairnbspHe said that the Congress party has been vocal about fixing the education system having raised the matter on multiple platforms but the government didnt pay heed to their demandsnbspThe Congress leader was also unsparing in his criticism of the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla as he accused the latter of being partisan in matters of public debateHe also met Speaker Om Birla earlier in the day putting forth a demand for discussion on police action against the studentsnbspPost his meeting he took to his X handle and wrote Our demand is simple Parliament must have a detailed discussion on the brutality unleashed on students yesterday and on the governments complete lack of accountability for the examination crisisnbspWith Congress escalating its protest over police crackdown on peaceful protest by the students the Parliament facing repeated disruptions over paper leaks donation row and other issues seems headed for another washout for the second consecutive dayIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-demands-govts-apology-for-crackdown-on-protesting-students-693771.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sonam-wangchuk-stable-blood-sugar-still-low-693717.html New Delhi July 21 IANS Activist Sonam Wangchuk continues to receive medical treatment at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital New Delhi with doctors maintaining close supervision over his condition according to the latest health bulletin issued by the hospital on TuesdaynbspThe bulletin released at 900 am said Wangchuks vital parameters remain stable but his medical team is closely monitoring ongoing concerns related to his blood sugar levels electrolyte balance and blood countsSonam Wangchuk continues to receive medical treatment at VMMC ampamp Safdarjung Hospital under the close supervision of a multidisciplinary team of experts from VMMC ampamp Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS New Delhi the hospital saidDoctors said his blood sugar levels continue to remain on the lower side while his serum potassium level was recorded at 32 mEqL from a sample collected the previous night The bulletin also noted that Wangchuk continues to have persistent pancytopenia a condition marked by anaemia and reduced leukocyte white blood cell countsThese clinical and laboratory parameters warrant continued close monitoring through serial investigations the hospital saidWangchuk is currently receiving oral rehydration therapy ORS and oral potassium supplementation However the bulletin stated that he continues to decline intravenous fluids and glucose administration despite repeated medical advice from doctorsIn view of his ongoing mild to moderate dehydration persistent laboratory abnormalities and the physiological stress associated with prolonged fasting sustained medical supervision and continuous clinical monitoring remain essential the hospital saidThe medical team said continued observation is necessary to track his recovery and identify and manage any possible complications arising from his prolonged fast and current health conditionAll necessary medical care is being provided and his clinical condition remains under close and continuous assessment the bulletin addedFurther treatment decisions will be based on Wangchuks clinical progress and the results of ongoing laboratory investigations according to the hospitalWangchuk was removed from Jantar Mantar on Saturday by Delhi Police and admitted for medical care He declared in a handwritten note on Monday that he would continue his fast now in its 23rd day until protesting student leaders were allowed to meet Parliamentarians or he himself was permitted to meet them in hospitalIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sonam-wangchuk-stable-blood-sugar-still-low-693717.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-protest-clashes-police-analyse-250-videos-to-identify-miscreants-693718.html New Delhi July 21 IANS The Delhi Police have intensified their investigation into the violence that erupted in central Delhi during the protest initiated by the Cockroach Janata Party CJP and officials are relying extensively on video evidence to identify those involved in the unrestnbspInvestigators are examining more than 250 videos including mobile phone recordings CCTV footage drone camera visuals and footage captured through police bodyworn cameras to trace the individuals allegedly responsible for the violenceAccording to officials the video material is being scrutinised to identify the miscreants who allegedly participated in the protests and subsequent acts of vandalism Police are also verifying whether any of those identified have previous criminal records as part of the ongoing investigationInvestigators are further examining whether those involved in Mondays violence had arrived at Jantar Mantar with a preplanned strategy or whether the incidents unfolded spontaneouslynbspThe probe is also focusing on whether the individuals allegedly involved in stonepelting vandalism and attacks on police personnel and official vehicles during the Sansad Chalo on Monday were acting in a coordinated and organised mannerThe investigation is also exploring whether people were mobilised or incited through WhatsApp or Telegram groups before the violence broke out in New DelhinbspOfficials are analysing digital evidence and communication patterns to establish whether there was any organised planning behind the unrestMeanwhile the Delhi Police have registered a First Information Report FIR at the Connaught Place police station in connection with the commotion and vandalism reported in the areanbspThe case has been filed against unidentified persons as investigators continue efforts to identify those responsibleAccording to the police a group of miscreants vandalised police vehicles and allegedly pelted stones at a police team near Regal Cinema on the Outer Circle of Connaught Place during Mondays violencenbspFurther investigation into the incident is underway and officials said all available evidence is being examined to establish the sequence of events and identify those involvedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-protest-clashes-police-analyse-250-videos-to-identify-miscreants-693718.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-eight-bluru-locations-in-isis-recruitment-linked-money-laundering-probe-693719.html Bengaluru July 21 IANS The Enforcement Directorate ED on Tuesday conducted searches at eight locations across Bengaluru in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to the alleged recruitment and funding of individuals to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ISIS terror outfit in SyrianbspThe probe is based on a First Information Report FIR registered by the National Investigation Agency NIA under provisions related to unlawful activities and terrorismAccording to the ED preliminary findings indicate that funds routed through the Iqra Welfare Trust and GFM Trust were allegedly used to finance and facilitate the recruitment of vulnerable individuals into ISISOfficials said the searches were carried out as part of an ongoing effort to trace the flow of funds identify those involved in the alleged network and gather evidence relating to the financing of terror activitiesThe central agency is examining financial transactions and other materials seized during the raids to determine the extent of the alleged money laundering operation and its links to ISIS recruitment activitiesIt can be noted that the National Investigation Agency NIA has chargesheeted five persons allegedly linked to the banned terrorist organisation ISIS Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ISIL and AlDawlah alIslamiyah fi alIraq wa alSham Daesh for conspiring to radicalise and recruit Muslim youth in BengalurunbspAccording to the chargesheet the accused used the Iqra Camp and Quran Circle programmes to identify and influence recruits raise funds and facilitate their illegal travel to Syria via Turkiye to join ISISnbspnbspThe Enforcement Directorate ED also alleged that the group exploited antiCAANRC sentiments to spread ISIS ideology through secure social media platforms The group further facilitated the illegal travel of recruits to Syria via Turkiye to join ISIS and fight against the government of SyriaThe group was also conspiring and acting to incite Muslims against nonMuslims in India and to spread ISIS ideology through secure social media platforms More information is awaitednbspFurther investigation is underwayThe official statement is awaited in this regardIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-eight-bluru-locations-in-isis-recruitment-linked-money-laundering-probe-693719.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/it-went-well-nadda-on-meeting-with-cjp-members-693720.html New Delhi July 21 IANS Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday said that his meeting with the Cockroach Janata Party CJP members was finenbspTwo representatives of the CJP met Nadda at his residence on Monday They submitted a written memorandum outlining the groups three key demands after holding detailed discussions earlier in the dayWhen asked about his talks with the CJP members Nadda while arriving for the NDAs Mangal Milan programme said It went well It a meeting always goes well However he did not comment on the assurances given to the protestorsnbspAccording to government sources the first meeting took place at around 1150 am when the CJP delegation presented its demands verbally Nadda asked the representatives to submit them in writing At around 4 pm the delegation returned and handed over a written memorandum detailing their demandsThe CJP delegation represented by spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka demanded the release of social activist Sonam Wangchuk without any restrictions on his movement the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET 2026 paper leak controversyGovernment sources said that no assurances were given by Nadda on any of the three demands during the meeting However the Union Minister appealed to the protesters to withdraw their monthlong sitin at Jantar Mantar and cooperate with the administration in restoring normalcy in the highsecurity area near ParliamentFollowing the meeting Nadda took to X and said the discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere and noted that the CJP itself had approached the government seeking talks He confirmed that the delegation submitted its written petition at around 4 pm after extensive discussions that began earlier in the dayMeanwhile the demonstrators stayed at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday morning persistently continuing their protest the day after violent confrontations occurred between them and security forces in Delhi during the Sansad Chalo MarchAfter police dismantled the stage and tents from Jantar Mantar the protesters reclaimed the area Following a call from the CJP for the protest to persist demonstrators began to arrive at Jantar Mantar early Tuesday A significant presence of police and RAF personnel remained deployed at the locationThe clashes erupted on Monday as thousands of supporters of the CJP and students marched from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over recurring examination irregularities including the NEETUG paper leaksThe Delhi Police have intensified their investigation into the violence that erupted on Monday and officials are relying extensively on video evidence to identify those involved in the unrestnbspInvestigators are examining more than 250 videos including mobile phone recordings CCTV footage drone camera visuals and footage captured through police bodyworn cameras to trace the individuals allegedly responsible for the violenceMeanwhile the Delhi Police have registered a First Information Report FIR at the Connaught Place police station in connection with the commotion and vandalism reported in the areanbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/it-went-well-nadda-on-meeting-with-cjp-members-693720.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-took-swift-action-over-paper-leak-says-pm-modi-calls-on-lawyers-to-ensure-severe-penalties-693721.html New Delhi July 21 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Tuesday that the issue of paper leaks is not limited to a single state or the Central government rather it is a matter of concern for the entire nation while adding that the government has acted promptly resulting in the arrest of 13 individuals related to the case so farUnion Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that during the NDAs Mangal Milan programme Prime Minister Modi urged lawyers to unite and ensure that those guilty face the strictest punishmentHe said that PM Modi highlighted the achievements of the youth of India and stressed that our time energy and focus should be on the youth and their futureSpeaking to the reporters on the discussions held at the NDA meeting Rijiju said Regarding the NEET paper leak case the Prime Minister said that as soon as reports of the paper leaks emerged the government took immediate action Thirteen people were arrested and sent to jail At the same time to ensure that the future of students was not affected conducting the NEET reexamination was given top priority and it was successfully held without any delay in the declaration of resultsThose involved in the paper leak racket who have been identified and arrested have been sent to jail Prime Minister ji also appealed that top lawyers should support efforts to ensure the strictest possible punishment for those involved in heinous crimes like paper leaks so that strong deterrent measures can prevent such incidents in the future he addedThe Prime Minister remarked that the issue of paper leaks is not confined to any single state or the Central government but is a matter of concern for the entire nation All states and political parties must unite to take action against this crime This is not a matter of partisan politics but an issue concerning the future of the country and its youth he addedRijiju stated that Prime Minister Modi has stressed that the youth of the country will not only be given full assurance for the prevention of future paper leaks but also to show them ways so that the youth of India can take a leadership role in the worldHe said that the Prime Minister also praised Skyoot Aerospace for the successful launch of Vikram1 The youth of India are making tremendous success in different fields So we will devote our time and energy and focus on the youth and their future Rijiju addedThe Union Minister said the meeting was good and the Prime Minister also spoke about the achievements India has accomplished over the past few months including the Free Trade Agreements signed with several countries which he said are in favour of the farmers and the countryRijiju further stated that during the ongoing Monsoon Session the NDA will play a positive role He said that the NDA will remain united to ensure passage of the bills and legislative business brought by the government before ParliamentAppealing to the Opposition the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said We may have differences as political parties but Parliament is meant to work for the country for its future and for the youth We have all been elected as Members of Parliament for this purpose and everyone should work together to ensure the smooth functioning of ParliamentIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-took-swift-action-over-paper-leak-says-pm-modi-calls-on-lawyers-to-ensure-severe-penalties-693721.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/opposition-uproar-forces-second-adjournment-of-lok-sabha--693722.html New Delhi July 21 IANS The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the second time on Tuesday this time till 2 pm as persistent sloganeering and protests by Opposition members continued to disrupt proceedings during the Monsoon Session of ParliamentPresiding over the House Sandhya Ray announced the adjournment after repeated appeals to Opposition members to maintain order went unheedednbspDespite several requests from the Chair members of the Opposition continued raising slogans forcing the House to be adjourned once againThis marked the second adjournment of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday Earlier in the day Speaker Om Birla had adjourned the House till noon after repeated disruptions prevented normal proceedings from continuingAppealing to members to allow the House to function Birla said Do you not want the House to run Everyone will get a chance to raise their issuesHowever the Opposition benches continued their protests and sloganeering resulting in another disruption of proceedings and eventually leading to the second adjournmentBefore the days parliamentary business commenced leaders of the INDIA bloc held a meeting to chalk out their strategy for the days proceedingsnbspCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi NCP SP MP Supriya Sule and several other Opposition leaders attended the meetingnbspMeanwhile the Lok Sabha is scheduled to take up the Supreme Court Number of Judges Amendment Bill 2026 for consideration and passage later in the dayThe disruptions follow similar scenes witnessed on the opening day of the Monsoon Session on Monday when repeated adjournments affected proceedings in both Houses of ParliamentnbspOpposition parties had staged protests demanding discussions on a range of issues including the examination paper leaks and the Cockroach Janta Partyled protest at Delhis Jantar Mantar leading to repeated interruptions in parliamentary businessIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/opposition-uproar-forces-second-adjournment-of-lok-sabha--693722.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/parliament-has-experienced-mps-nation-needs-their-knowledge-says-pm-modi--693649.html New Delhi July 20 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that amid global uncertainties India requires the knowledge of experienced parliamentarians to ensure the Parliament functions smoothly to facilitate meaningful discussions and to foster a collective determination to advance the nationHe said that India maintaining a growth rate of 77 per cent despite the West Asia crisis reflects the countrys inherent strength and offers a reflection of the enthusiasm and zeal with which India aspires to achieve new milestonesnbspAddressing the media at the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament PM Modi said Everyone is aware and the world is concerned about the threat of war in various regions The war in West Asia has posed a major crisis for nations like India which relies on others for its energy needs petrol diesel LPG fertilisers and chemicals However despite this India has maintained a growth rate of 77 per cent emerging as the fastestgrowing major economy in the worldnbspThe Prime Minister said that this reflects Indias inherent strength and offers a reflection of the enthusiasm and zeal with which India aspires to achieve new milestonesnbspAgainst this backdrop the Monsoon Session is commencing the nation has gathered momentum and the spirit of Parliament infuses fresh energy into that pace A positive spirit is very essential for achieving the countrys goal Our Parliament also has many experienced parliamentarians regardless of their party affiliation At a time like this both Parliament and the nation need their experience and knowledge Therefore I believe the need of the hour is the functioning of Parliament meaningful discussions and a collective resolve to take the nation forward he addedThe countrys youth who are full of aspirations demand that we move forward PM Modi saidnbspToday it is the demand of the hour that the voice of those filled with national dedication and living for national devotion gets a proper platform in the House May they raise their voices to provide direction to the nation and therefore I hope and I am firmly confident that where there are facts and where there is logic there is no place for creating a storm he addedThe Prime Minister further called on the parliamentarians to engage in productive debate and ensure that every voice finds an opportunitynbspWhen arguments and evidence are solid one can effectively convey their message even in a composed manner I hope that the discussions in the House will benefit from such reasoning and evidence May every voice have a chance to be heard and may every concept receive due respect I encourage all Members of Parliament to engage wholeheartedly in the proceedings of the House he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/parliament-has-experienced-mps-nation-needs-their-knowledge-says-pm-modi--693649.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sonam-wangchuk-to-end-hunger-strike-today-if-three-conditions-fulfilled-693652.html New Delhi July 20 IANS Activist Sonam Wangchuk who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for more than three weeks said he would end his fast on Monday only if the three conditions outlined in a handwritten letter from Safdarjung Hospital are fulfillednbspWangchuk who is on the 23rd day of his fast has been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18 In the handwritten note which he shared on X the activist alleged that he was being kept under illegal detention at the hospitalAddressing his supporters Wangchuk wrote Dear friends ampamp Supporters many of you have asked when I will end my fast As mentioned earlier to supporters I will end my fast on 20th July if the government takes accountability for the recent failures in the education system paper leaks etcIf I ampamp the leadership of CJP reach the doorsteps of Parliament where Honourable MPs ampamp leaders of various parties assure us that they will now take up the issue in the Parliament he addedIn the letter Wangchuk also outlined a third condition stating that if his health or other circumstances made it impossible for him to continue the fast he would agree to end it if Members of Parliament and leaders from different political parties visited him at the hospital and provided the same assurance that the issue would be raised in ParliamentThe activist has maintained that his protest is aimed at drawing attention to what he describes as serious shortcomings in Indias education system particularly the recurring issue of examination paper leaks His demand he said is for the government to acknowledge responsibility for these failures and commit to meaningful corrective actionWangchuks health has drawn widespread public attention with supporters expressing concern and hoping for his swift recovery The hospital reiterated that his treatment is being managed with the highest level of care and expertise reflecting the seriousness of his condition and the need for continuous vigilanceIn his latest message Wangchuk reiterated that his decision to end the fast rests on concrete assurances rather than verbal promises He said he would continue his protest unless the government accepted accountability for the education systems failures or elected representatives committed to taking up the matter in ParliamentIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sonam-wangchuk-to-end-hunger-strike-today-if-three-conditions-fulfilled-693652.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-amit-shah-to-table-bill-today-making-insulting-vande-mataram-a-criminal-offence-693653.html New Delhi July 20 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to introduce the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Amendment Bill 2026 in the Rajya Sabha on Monday the first day of the Monsoon Session of ParliamentnbspThe proposed legislation seeks to make insulting or obstructing the singing of the national song Vande Mataram a criminal offence by extending to it the same statutory protection that is currently accorded to the National Anthem Jana Gana ManaThe Bill proposes to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971 which currently criminalises acts of disrespect towards the countrys national symbols including the National Flag the Constitution and the National Anthem Under the existing law anyone found guilty of intentionally preventing the singing of the National Anthem or causing a disturbance during its rendition can be punished with imprisonment of up to three yearsIf passed by Parliament the amendment will bring Vande Mataram under the same legal framework making intentional insult disruption or obstruction of the National Song a punishable offence carrying a maximum sentence of three years in prisonAccording to the proposed legislation any person who intentionally prevents or disturbs the singing of Vande Mataram or disrupts a gathering engaged in its rendition will be liable for the same penalties that currently apply to offences involving the National AnthemThe move is aimed at giving the National Song the same legal and statutory status as the National Anthem While Vande Mataram has long been recognised as Indias National Song it has so far not accorded the same level of statutory protection under the 1971 ActThe legislative move comes days after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs MHA on July 9 directed all states to ensure strict compliance with its order that Vande Mataram be played before Jana Gana Mana whenever both are performed during official government functionsThe Bill is listed in the Rajya Sabhas agenda for Monday If approved by both Houses and assented to by the President the amendment will make insulting or obstructing the National Song a criminal offence under Indian lawIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-amit-shah-to-table-bill-today-making-insulting-vande-mataram-a-criminal-offence-693653.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/monsoon-session-ls-adjourned-briefly-amid-oppn-sloganeering--693655.html New Delhi July 20 IANS The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon amid heavy sloganeering by the Opposition on the first day of the Monsoon Session of ParliamentnbspSpeaker Om Birla assumed the proceedings of the House by paying homage to the former MPs who passed awaynbspSoon after that the Opposition benches started sloganeering creating chaos in the HousenbspSpeaker Birla reiterated that peace be maintained and said The Parliament is the highest forum of democracy and time will be allotted to everyone to speaknbspShortly after Lok Sabha was adjourned till noonEarlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that amid global uncertainties India requires the knowledge of experienced parliamentarians to ensure the Parliament functions smoothly to facilitate meaningful discussions and to foster a collective determination to advance the nationThe Monsoon Session is commencing the nation has gathered momentum and the spirit of Parliament infuses fresh energy into that pace A positive spirit is very essential for achieving the countrys goal Our Parliament also has many experienced parliamentarians regardless of their party affiliation At a time like this both Parliament and the nation need their experience and knowledge Therefore I believe the need of the hour is the functioning of Parliament meaningful discussions and a collective resolve to take the nation forward he addedThe countrys youth who are full of aspirations demand that we move forward PM Modi saidnbspToday it is the demand of the hour that the voice of those filled with national dedication and living for national devotion gets a proper platform in the House May they raise their voices to provide direction to the nation and therefore I hope and I am firmly confident that where there are facts and where there is logic there is no place for creating a storm he addedThe Prime Minister further called on the parliamentarians to engage in productive debate and ensure that every voice finds an opportunitynbspWhen arguments and evidence are solid one can effectively convey their message even in a composed manner I hope that the discussions in the House will benefit from such reasoning and evidence May every voice have a chance to be heard and may every concept receive due respect I encourage all Members of Parliament to engage wholeheartedly in the proceedings of the House he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/monsoon-session-ls-adjourned-briefly-amid-oppn-sloganeering--693655.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/president-murmu-to-honour-rajasthan-mother-who-designed-special-chair-for-son-with-cerebral-palsy-693656.html Jaipur July 20 IANS When a school refused admission to her son because he couldnt sit independently Neha Solanki chose not to accept defeat Instead the psychologist and mother embarked on a mission that has now earned her national recognition On July 31 President Droupadi Murmu will honour Neha with the Grassroots Innovator Recognition 2026 by NITI Aayogs Atal Innovation Mission for designing an innovative adaptive chair for children with cerebral palsynbspA resident of Pali and daughterinlaw of the Hemliawas family in Marwar Junction Neha transformed a deeply personal struggle into a solution that could benefit thousands of children with disabilities across India The journey began in 2023 when Neha sought admission for her son Duranjay who has cerebral palsyA school principal told her that the child needed to learn to sit properly before he could be admitted explaining that the school lacked suitable seating arrangements for children with special needsRather than giving up Neha decided to solve the problem herself not just for her son but for countless other children facing similar barriers to education Doctors had informed Neha that Duranjay who was born prematurely at 27 weeks weighing just 900 grams had cerebral palsyThe diagnosis marked the beginning of years of challenges with schools repeatedly turning him away because they lacked the infrastructure to support children with disabilities Determined to make a difference Neha pursued a Masters degree in Rehabilitation PsychologyDuring her studies she realised that the real obstacle was not the child but the absence of disabilityfriendly equipment in schools Working closely with physiotherapists and occupational therapists Neha spent nine months researching and developing an indigenous adaptive seating system for children aged 3 to 12 years with cerebral palsyThe specially designed chair provides complete body support enabling children to sit comfortably and safely while studying eating writing or participating in classroom activitieswithout the risk of falling or requiring constant assistanceThe innovation has already transformed Duranjays daily life allowing him to learn and perform routine activities with greater independenceRecognising the social impact of her innovation NITI Aayogs Atal Innovation Mission selected Neha Solanki among 26 grassroots innovators from across India for the Grassroots Innovator Recognition 2026 She will receive the prestigious honour from President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in New Delhi on July 31Nehas story is a powerful reminder that determination empathy and innovation can turn personal adversity into a solution that transforms lives ensuring that no child is denied education simply because the right support system does not existIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/president-murmu-to-honour-rajasthan-mother-who-designed-special-chair-for-son-with-cerebral-palsy-693656.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-upholds-delhi-hc-verdict-quashing-tender-for-passport-visa-outsourcing-at-4-indian-missions-693687.html New Delhi July 20 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the Delhi High Court judgment setting aside the technical evaluation process for outsourcing Consular Passport and Visa CPV services at Indian Missions in Abu Dhabi UAE Kuwait Singapore and Canberra Australia while directing the Union Ministry of External Affairs MEA to complete the fresh tender process within three monthsnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana dismissed the Centres special leave petition SLP challenging the Delhi High Court verdictDuring the hearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre submitted that the Delhi High Court had erred in quashing the tender process and contended that the evaluation criteria had been applied on the basis of each bidders individual competenceSG Mehta also sought liberty to approach the Delhi High Court again with additional reasons supporting the tender evaluation However the apex court declined to interfere with the High Courts judgment and dismissed the pleaRecognising the need to ensure that passport visa and consular services at Indian Missions abroad are not disrupted the Supreme Court modified the High Courts directions to permit interim arrangements until a fresh tender process is completedThe CJI Kantled Bench directed that the MEA may continue with the existing service providers if their performance has been satisfactory or engage any other agency including the existing L1 bidders for the interim periodIt clarified that such an arrangement would be purely temporary would not create any special equities in favour of any party and would remain subject to the outcome of the fresh Request for Proposal RFP processThe top court further directed the MEA to complete the fresh tender exercise as expeditiously as possible preferably within three months in compliance with the Delhi High Courts directions adding that the interim arrangement would be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of all partiesIn a judgment delivered on July 15 the Delhi High Court had set aside the technical evaluation process for outsourcing CPV services at the four Indian Missions holding that the assessment of bidders was vitiated by arbitrariness irrationality and lack of transparency in violation of Article 14 of the ConstitutionA Division Bench of Justices Anil Kshetrapal and Shail Jain had allowed petitions filed by E Trav Tech Limited and Verasys Limited challenging their disqualification at the technical bid stage in tenders floated by the MEAThe High Court had held that although courts ordinarily do not sit in appeal over technical assessments by expert bodies judicial review was warranted where the decisionmaking process was arbitrary opaque and failed to satisfy the constitutional requirements of fairness transparency and equalityIt had also nullified the award of contracts in favour of the successful private bidders and directed the MEA and the concerned Indian Missions to issue fresh RFPs while permitting the existing service providers to continue operations until the fresh tender process was completed to avoid disruption in public servicesThe Centre had approached the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court judgment and on July 17 SG Mehta mentioned the matter before the apex court seeking an urgent hearing following which it was listed for hearing on MondayIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-upholds-delhi-hc-verdict-quashing-tender-for-passport-visa-outsourcing-at-4-indian-missions-693687.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-dismiss-report-of-cjp-founders-detention-call-it-misleading-693689.html New Delhi July 20 IANS The Delhi Police have dismissed reports claiming that Cockroach Janta Party CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained or arrested during the protests near ParliamentThis came as CJP spokesperson Saurav Das initially posted claims that Dipke had been picked up by police during the Sansad Chalo protestRefuting the claims the Delhi Police said Misleading reports are currently circulating on various social media platforms claiming that Abhijit Dipke has been detained by the Delhi Police It is formally clarified that these allegations are entirely false and he is available on stageFollowing the police statement Saurav Das issued a retraction confirming that Dipke was neither detained nor placed under arrestDipke not in detention or arrest A HUGE CROWD is still outside Kerala House Saurav Das posted on XTensions remained high in Delhi as the Cockroach Janta Party CJP and its supporters took part in the Sansad Chalo protest on Monday calling for accountability from the government regarding the NEETUG paper leak caseAs the protesters tried to advance towards Parliament House they encountered a light police force intended to maintain law and orderCJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka presented their demands to Union Minister JP Nadda on Monday stating that the Health Minister assured them that he would discuss the protestors demands internally with the leadershipThe protest has been organised to press for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEETUG paper leak case and other examinationrelated irregularities including the 12th CBSE Board that have sparked nationwide concerns over the integrity of competitive examinationsAt Jantar Mantar the situation turned tense as clashes broke out between police and demonstrators with security personnel attempting to stop them from crossing barricadesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-dismiss-report-of-cjp-founders-detention-call-it-misleading-693689.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajya-sabha-chairman-radhakrishnan-asks-members-to-uphold-dignity-of-house--693690.html New Delhi July 20 IANS Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan on Monday called upon House members across all sides to uphold the dignity discipline and decorum of this august institution and promote meaningful deliberationsnbspIn his opening remarks at the start of the Monsoon Session Radhakrishnan said that while differences of opinion are integral to parliamentary democracy they must be expressed in a manner that preserves the sanctity of the HouseDisruptions should not be allowed to undermine its functioning he saidThis session has an important legislative and deliberative agenda I urge members to remain focused on the timely disposal of business as every disruption delays discussion on matters affecting the nation and the people we represent said the Rajya Sabha ChairmanHe called upon members to uphold the Houses proud tradition of meaningful deliberationsI am confident this session will uphold that legacy We have 19 sittings before us and it is our collective responsibility to utilise this valuable time to debate and decide on issues of national importance he saidSharing information about the new services introduced from this session Radhakrishnan said that the Secretariat has introduced live AIbased simultaneous interpretation of the proceedings in nine languages through the multimedia devices at members seatsThis facility will gradually be expanded to all 22 scheduled languages Members are requested to share their feedback for further improvement he saidDuring the first day of the 271st Session of the Rajya Sabha the Chairman administered the oath of office and secrecy to many newly elected members of the HouseThe elected representatives hailing from different political parties became new Rajya Sabha members after the recently held biennial electionsThose who took the oath of office include Congress leader Pawan Khera Sushmita Dev Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Prakash Chik Baraik West BengalMahesh Kevat Madhya Pradesh Dr Mukeshbhai J Rathwa Gujarat and Dr Satish Poonia Rajasthan were also administered the oath by RadhakrishnanIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajya-sabha-chairman-radhakrishnan-asks-members-to-uphold-dignity-of-house--693690.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-committed-to-investor-friendly-business-environment-president-murmu-693697.html New Delhi July 20 IANS President Droupadi Murmu on Monday invited Moldovan businesses to explore investment and trade opportunities in India saying the country is among the worlds fastestgrowing major economies and offers a transparent predictable and investorfriendly business environment as it moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047nbspAddressing the IndiaMoldova Business Forum in Chisinau during her state visit to Moldova President Murmu said India sees trusted international partnerships as central to achieving shared prosperity and sustainable economic growthIndia offers good business opportunities for Moldovan companies for trade and business We remain committed to fostering a transparent predictable and investorfriendly business environment the President saidDescribing her visit as the firstever state visit by an Indian President to Moldova she said it reflects Indias commitment to strengthening bilateral ties across political economic cultural and peopletopeople spheresMy visit to Moldova is the first state visit by an Indian President which reflects Indias commitment to deepening engagement with Moldova in all spheres including political economic cultural and peopletopeople ties I am accompanied by a large business delegation from India President Murmu saidTheir presence demonstrates the growing confidence of Indian industry in Moldovas economic potential and its commitment to building longterm partnerships the President statedPresident Murmu said India and Moldova have enjoyed warm and friendly relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1992 with the partnership founded on mutual respect democratic values and a shared commitment to peace development and international cooperationIndia today is among the fastestgrowing major economies driven by entrepreneurship digital transformation manufacturing excellence and a young skilled workforce President Murmu mentionedAt the same time Moldova has a richly oriented outlook strategic location talented human capital and growing integration with European markets which makes it an important destination for Indian businesses the President addedThe President identified several sectors with significant potential for bilateral collaboration including digital technologies artificial intelligence cybersecurity fintech digital public infrastructure infrastructure development renewable energy advanced manufacturing logistics agriculture food processing pharmaceuticals biotechnology and healthcareIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-committed-to-investor-friendly-business-environment-president-murmu-693697.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/1993-firing-mamata-banerjees-statement-was-not-recorded-in-probe-report-says-cm-adhikari-693711.html Kolkata July 20 IANS The statement of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was not recorded in the report of the Justice Susanta Chatterjee Retired Commission which the previous Trinamool Congress government constituted to probe the deaths of 13 Youth Congress workers in police firing during a protest rally on July 21 1993 said Chief Minister Suvendu AdhikarinbspCM Adhikari tabled the Justice Susanta Chatterjee Retired Commission report which was not made public during the last 15 years of the Trinamool Congress regime from 2011 to 2026 on the floor of the West Bengal Assembly on Monday and informed that even Mamata Banerjee did not appear before the Commission to get her statements recorded in the matterIncidentally the protest rally over which the police firing took place on July 21 1993 was led by Mamata Banerjee who was then associated with the Congress as the Youth Congress President in West Bengal and the Congress Lok Sabha MP from Kolkata Dakshin ConstituencynbspLate Jyoti Basu was the Chief Minister of the ruling Left Front government in West Bengal then and the Indian Administrative Service IAS officer Manish Gupta was the West Bengal Home Secretary thenHowever Gupta joined the Trinamool Congress before the 2011 Assembly elections contested as a party candidate and became a member of the Mamata Banerjeeled cabinet first and subsequently a Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Recently he had announced his decision to quit politicsnbspCM Adhikari informed the House that Mamata Banerjees predecessor and Late Jyoti Basus successor as the West Bengal Chief Minister Late Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee appeared before the Commission and got his statements recorded thereAfter tabling the report on the floor of the House CM Adhikari also claimed that the police or the state secretariat during the previous Mamata Banerjeeled regime did not submit the relevant documents in the matter to the CommissionA total of 44 people were summoned to take testimony Among them were former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and several police officers But Mamata Banerjee who was supposed to be the main witness in the incident was not called by the Commission The former Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Late Pankaj Banerjee was summoned But he refused to give testimony Pankaj Banerjee stated Mamata Banerjee gave Manish Gupta who was responsible for the shooting incident as the then Home Secretary a prime berth in her cabinet giving testimony was useless CM Adhikari saidHe said the previous Mamata Banerjee government also did not adhere to the recommendation of the Justice Susanta Chatterjee Retired Commission regarding the compensation for those killed in police firingnbspNo information or documents were handed over to the Commission from the then state secretariat of Writers Buildings The Commission also did not get the truth about the deaths in police firing The Commission recommended a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the families of the 12 deceased who were identified and Rs 12 lakh for the injured The previous Mamata Banerjeeled government did not accept the recommendation of the Commission on compensation You gave only Rs 200000 to the family of the deceased persons and Rs 15000 to the injured ones You should be ashamed I am asking families of the injured or deceased to file a fresh FIR in the matter Our government will give that opportunity And if you want compensation as recommended by the commission we will also give that money from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund CM Adhikari addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/1993-firing-mamata-banerjees-statement-was-not-recorded-in-probe-report-says-cm-adhikari-693711.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/himachal-cabinet-approves-npa-for-super-specialist-medical-faculty-693712.html Shimla July 20 IANS The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Monday approved the grant of nonpractising allowance NPA to superspecialist medical faculty possessing recognised DM MCh and DrNB qualifications serving under the Department of Medical Education and ResearchnbspThe Cabinet also approved an increase in the stipend of postgraduate students serving under the Department of Medical Education Under the revised rates firstyear students will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 50000 instead of Rs 40000 secondyear students Rs 60000 instead of Rs 45000 and thirdyear students Rs 65000 instead of Rs 50000It was decided to enhance the cash prize of awardee teachers under the Teacher Award Policy National awardees will now receive a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh instead of Rs 60000 while state awardees will receive Rs 1 lakh instead of Rs 40000 It was also decided not to grant extension in service to awardee teachersnbspThe Cabinet further approved an increase in the monthly honorarium of nambardars by Rs 500 from Rs 4500 to Rs 5000 and the monthly honorarium of ASHA workers by Rs 1000 under the Health Department from Rs 5800 to Rs 6800 with effect from April 1It also approved the introduction of BSc Medical Technology Radiotherapy Technologist and Bachelor of Radiation Therapy Technology courses with an annual intake of 30 seats each at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla and Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in TandanbspThe Cabinet decided to establish an All India Institute of Ayurveda at Dhaneta in the Nadaun area of Hamirpur district with 75 acres of land identified for the purposeIt approved the Road Safety Audit Policy aimed at minimising the risk of crashes on new road projects and on existing roads and reducing the severity of accidents where they occur or are likely to occurnbspThe Cabinet also approved the procurement and distribution of fishing boats for fishermen with a 70 per cent subsidy through the Direct Benefit Transfer DBT mechanism in 202627 It further approved a subsidy scheme for the distribution of fishing gear including cast nets and gill nets with a 90 per cent subsidy through DBT in 202627Additionally the Cabinet decided to establish postharvest infrastructure and cold chain facilities by providing a 70 per cent subsidy through DBT for the establishment of 20 cold storage units 5 MT capacity 10 freezedry units and 20 refrigerated vans for eligible beneficiariesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/himachal-cabinet-approves-npa-for-super-specialist-medical-faculty-693712.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-orders-environmental-audit-of-28-urban-water-sewerage-projects-study-on-manual-scavenging-693521.html Chennai July 19 The Tamil Nadu government has initiated an independent environmental and social audit of 28 major water supply and underground sewerage projects being implemented across 21 urban local bodies while also commissioning a dedicated study on manual scavenging and hazardous sewercleaning practices as part of its urban infrastructure reforms The projects are being executed under the Tamil Nadu Climate Resilient Urban Development Programme TNCRUDP a sixyear World Bankassisted initiative running from 2024 to 2030The programme approved by the World Bank in December 2023 aims to strengthen water security improve climate resilience and modernise urban governance across the stateTamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Ltd TNUIFSL the implementing agency has invited bids to appoint an independent consultant to carry out the audit The exercise will assess whether urban local bodies and implementing agencies have complied with the environmental and social safeguards prescribed under the programme while executing projects during 202425The audit covers four categories of infrastructure works These include seven underground sewerage schemes involving only sewer collection networks in Salem Thoothukudi Karaikudi Tiruvarur Krishnagiri Theni and Avadi Another seven projects comprise underground sewerage systems with sewage treatment plants in Tiruvannamalai Pudukkottai Namakkal Dharmapuri Cuddalore Dindigul and KancheepuramThe review will also cover a citywide water supply improvement project in Kancheepuram and 13 pilot projects providing roundtheclock water supply in Avadi Karaikudi Pudukkottai Tiruchy Thoothukudi Tirunelveli Erode Vellore Cuddalore Dindigul Tambaram Nagercoil and RajapalayamThe consultant will classify findings under four categories compliance noncompliance best practices and areas requiring improvement Wherever shortcomings are identified the consultant must revisit the projects after corrective measures have been implemented and verify compliance before submitting the final reportA key component of the assignment is a comprehensive study on manual scavenging and hazardous sewer cleaning The study will examine the policy and legal framework governing sewer maintenance identify gaps in implementation by urban local bodies analyse situations that require hazardous sewer entry and investigate past incidents through field visits and consultations with officials contractors and sanitation workersIt will also review existing standard operating procedures training programmes and safety practices across the sewage management chainThe threemonth assignment will begin with a preliminary compliance report within two weeks followed by a draft report for review by implementing agencies and the World Bank before the final report is submittedThe audit forms part of the World Bankâs ProgrammeforResults financing model which requires independent verification of commitments under the Programme Action Plan prepared after the Environmental and Social Systems Assessment IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-orders-environmental-audit-of-28-urban-water-sewerage-projects-study-on-manual-scavenging-693521.html Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-convenes-all-party-meeting-today-ahead-of-monsoon-session-693523.html New Delhi July 19 The government has convened an allparty meeting on Sunday ahead of the commencement of the Parliaments Monsoon Session on July 20 In the meeting scheduled for Sunday at 11 am in the Main Committee Room of Parliament House Annexe the government will request collaboration from all political parties to guarantee the effective operation of both Houses of ParliamentThe Monsoon Session will commence on July 20 and will continue until August 13Announcing the dates of the Monsoon Session Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju took to X and said On the recommendation of the Govt of India Honble President Smt Droupadi Murmu ji has approved the summoning of both the Houses of Parliament for the Monsoon Session 2026 The session will commence on 20 July 2026 and continue till 13 August 2026 for meaningful debate discussion and decisions on issues of National ImportanceThe fourweek session will include 19 sittingsThe divisions within the Trinamool Congress the rift between the DMK and Congress and departures from the Uddhav Sena are likely to change the composition of ParliamentThe ruling NDA is anticipated to increase its numbers while the Opposition INDIA bloc is poised to face a decreaseLok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will make decisions regarding the merger of 20 rebel Trinamool MPs with the lesserknown NCPI He will also determine the merger of six Uddhav Sena MPs with Eknath Shindes Shiv SenaMeanwhile following Congress alliance with the TVK in Tamil Nadu the DMK has sent a letter to the Speaker requesting new seating arrangements for its MPs separate from the CongressAdditionally the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill concerning womens reservation and delimitation which was rejected in the previous session is expected to be prioritisedThe government is also anticipated to introduce the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill which aims to automatically remove chief ministers ministers and the Prime Minister from office if they are detained or under judicial custody for 30 consecutive days in cases involving serious crimesThe One Nation One Election Bill is also expected to be on the Centres agendaThe FCRA Bill Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill and AntiDoping Bill are expected to be presentedProposals to replace the ordinance that increases the number of Supreme Court judges along with bills related to the Code on Wages Central Rules Corporate Law and Securities Market Code may also be introduced IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-convenes-all-party-meeting-today-ahead-of-monsoon-session-693523.html Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/shri-mata-vaishno-devi-yatra-suspended-amid-adverse-weather-693524.html Katra July 19 The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra has been suspended as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of pilgrims amid adverse weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir officials said on Sunday This also coincides with the suspension of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra due to the inclement weather forecast Authorities have urged devotees to cooperate and avoid undertaking the pilgrimage until further ordersThey urged pilgrims to stay updated for the latest information on the Yatras resumptionMeanwhile for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra Anshul Garg Divisional Commissioner Kashmir said that in view of the inclement weather forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department IMD the pilgrimage shall remain temporarily suspended from both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes with effect from Sunday as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and wellâbeing of the pilgrimsHe added that no onward movement of pilgrims will be permitted from the Baltal and NunwanChandanwari base camps from Sunday Updates regarding the resumption of the Yatra will be issued in due course after ensuring route safety and a comprehensive assessment of the weather conditionsSo far over 37 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine during the ongoing Shri Amarnathji Yatra This years SANJYâ2026 started on July 3 and will conclude after 57 days on August 28 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivalsYatris approach the Holy Cave Shrine situated at 3880 metres above sea level either via the traditional longer Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal routeThose using the Baltal route return to the base camp the same day after having Darshan inside the cave shrineThe cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite that waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord ShivaDue to security reasons the area beyond the two base camps of Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam has been declared a Nofly zone No helicopter service is available to the Yatris this year due to this reason IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/shri-mata-vaishno-devi-yatra-suspended-amid-adverse-weather-693524.html Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-govts-flagship-beneficiary-schemes-to-resume-from-august-cm-sarma-693575.html Guwahati July 19 IANS Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced that the BJPled state governments flagship welfare schemes will resume from August signalling the rollout of key social assistance programmes ahead of the new financial cyclenbspIn a post on X Sarma said Some familiar names are back at your doorstep Starting this August Orunodoi subsidised essentials and our student welfare schemes will once again reach the people of AssamnbspAccording to the schedule shared by the Chief Minister the distribution of subsidised masoor dal and sugar will restart from August 1 while the monthly financial assistance under the Orunodoi scheme will resume from August 3nbspThe government will also begin distribution of application forms for its student welfare initiatives Nijut Moina and Nijut Babu from August 6 Another flagship programme Jiban Prerana Asoni is scheduled to restart from SeptembernbspThe Chief Minister described the initiatives as Assams blockbuster welfare schemes asserting that they would once again reach beneficiaries across the statenbspOrunodoi is the Assam governments flagship direct benefit transfer DBT scheme aimed at providing financial support to economically weaker households particularly women The scheme has been one of the states largest social welfare programmes since its launch and has undergone periodic expansion to cover more beneficiariesnbspThe subsidised food initiative enables eligible families to purchase essential commodities such as masoor dal and sugar at reduced prices through the public distribution system The Nijut Moina and Nijut Babu schemes are focused on supporting students by providing financial assistance aimed at encouraging higher education and reducing dropout ratesnbspThe announcement comes as the state government continues to emphasise welfare delivery alongside infrastructure development and economic growthnbspThe resumption of these schemes is expected to benefit lakhs of families students and economically disadvantaged sections across AssamnbspThe Chief Ministers announcement also reiterates the governments commitment to continuing its welfareoriented programmes which have remained a key component of the BJP governments governance agenda in the statenbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-govts-flagship-beneficiary-schemes-to-resume-from-august-cm-sarma-693575.html Sun, 19 Jul 2026 23:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-yogi-to-launch-rs-542-crore-development-projects-in-barabanki-693576.html Lucknow July 19 IANS Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Barabanki district on Monday July 20 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for 82 development projects worth more than Rs 542 croreThe ambitious programme will cover the Ramnagar and Dariyabad Assembly constituencies marking a significant push for infrastructure and public welfare in the regionIn Ramnagar the Chief Minister will inaugurate 14 projects valued at over Rs 104 crore and lay the foundation stones for 22 projects worth more than Rs 178 croreSimilarly in Dariyabad he will inaugurate 12 projects worth Rs 29 crore and lay the foundation stones for 34 projects with an investment exceeding Rs 231 croreTogether these initiatives are expected to strengthen local infrastructure improve civic amenities and boost economic activity in the districtThe event will take place at the grounds behind the historic Lodheshwar Mahadev Temple in Ramnagar a site chosen to accommodate the large gathering expected for the occasionThe programme will also highlight the governments commitment to balanced regional development and its focus on rural constituenciesSeveral dignitaries will attend the ceremony including Minister of State for Prisons Suresh Rahi Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Satish Chandra Sharma District Panchayat Administrator Rajrani Rawat Members of the Legislative Council Angad Kumar Singh Engineer Avnish Kumar Singh and Umesh DwivediMLAs Sakendra Pratap Verma Kursi Dinesh Rawat Haidergarh and Ramchandra Yadav Rudauli will also be present Baijnath Rawat Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission is among the key figures expected to join the programmeOfficials said the projects span multiple sectors including roads education healthcare and public utilities reflecting the governments multipronged approach to developmentThe Chief Ministers visit is anticipated to energise local governance and reassure residents of the administrations commitment to improving living standardsWith over Rs 542 crore earmarked for Barabanki the initiative is being seen as a major step towards accelerating growth in the districtThe largescale rollout of projects underscores the state governments resolve to deliver tangible benefits to citizens and strengthen grassroots infrastructureIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-yogi-to-launch-rs-542-crore-development-projects-in-barabanki-693576.html Sun, 19 Jul 2026 23:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ram-temple-donation-row-sit-files-sealed-status-report-in-sc-ahead-of-monday-hearing-693577.html New Delhi July 19 IANS The Uttar Pradesh governmentappointed Special Investigation Team SIT has filed its status report in a sealed cover before the Supreme Court which is slated to hear on Monday a batch of petitions seeking a courtmonitored probe into the alleged financial irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra TrustnbspAs per the causelist uploaded on the apex courts official website the clutch of petitions is scheduled to be heard on July 20 by a Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V MohanaThe petitions include a writ petition filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami a criminal writ petition filed by petitionerinperson Ajay Kumar Rai a separate plea moved by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh and another petition filed by Hindu Dharma ParishadEarlier while issuing notice in the matter the CJI Kantled Bench had directed the SIT constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to place its status report before the apex court Since it is averred in some of the writ petitions that some FIRs have already been registered and an SIT has been constituted to investigate the matter we direct the SIT constituted by the State of Uttar Pradesh to submit a status report before this Court The status report shall also give full particulars of the composition of SIT the top court had ordered on July 13Appearing for the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government during the previous hearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had informed the CJI Kantled Bench that the SITs status report would be placed before the apex court in a sealed cover When the petitioners requested that a copy of the status report also be furnished to them SG Mehta opposed the plea saying the investigation was still in progressDeclining the request at that stage the CJI Kantled Bench had observed We will see later Its an ongoing investigation You know the law We have passed an orderThe petitions seek a courtmonitored investigation into the alleged financial irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra TrustThe plea filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami seeks preservation of records and evidence relating to donations made at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple and greater transparency in the administration of temple offeringsIn a separate petition RJD MP Sudhakar Singh has sought transfer of the ongoing investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI under the direct monitoring of the Supreme Court His petition also seeks the appointment of a temporary courtmonitored oversight committee preservation of financial records a comprehensive forensic audit and publication of audited financial statements and donation logs on the Trusts official websiteIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ram-temple-donation-row-sit-files-sealed-status-report-in-sc-ahead-of-monday-hearing-693577.html Sun, 19 Jul 2026 23:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sonam-wangchuks-wife-says-no-treatment-to-be-given-to-him-without-family-consent-693457.html New Delhi July 18 IANS Innovator educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuks wife Gitanjali J Angmo on Saturday said that no oral or IV treatment should be given to her husband without consent from her his family and longterm doctors amid his admission after over 20 days of hunger strike at Delhis Jantar MantarnbspI am at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi where Sonam Wangchuk has been admitted Nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenous without take consent from me his family and his doctors who have been monitoring his health for the past 20 days Gitanjali said in a post on XWangchuk who has been on a hunger strike for the past 20 days at Delhis Jantar Mantar was shifted to a hospital early on Saturday after his health deterioratedThe move came in compliance with directions of the Delhi High Court and on the advice of medical expertsPolice personnel reached the protest site in the morning and shifted Wangchuk to the hospital amid sloganeering and protests by fellow activistsIn a post on social media platform X the Deputy Commissioner of Police New Delhi said As per orders of Honble High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh Sonam Wangchuk he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care While complying with the orders of Honble High Court the protestors tried to create obstruction in which slight commotion ensued however police took maximum restrain and undertook the exercise safely We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliestThe police action came ahead of a scheduled hearing in the Delhi High Court on Wangchuks health Earlier this week the High Court had directed authorities to conduct daily clinical health assessments of the activist observing that the life of any citizen is precious and instructing the Centre to ensure all necessary medical intervention to safeguard his lifeWangchuk launched the hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examinationWangchuk had also called for a march on July 20 commencing from Jantar Mantar to Parliament House to demand the resignation of Pradhan on the first day of the Monsoon SessionIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sonam-wangchuks-wife-says-no-treatment-to-be-given-to-him-without-family-consent-693457.html Sat, 18 Jul 2026 11:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-to-visit-bsfs-18th-battalion-border-outpost-in-siliguri-today-693458.html New Delhi July 18 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday will visit the Border Security Forces BSF 18th Battalion Border Outpost BOP in Siliguri near the IndiaBangladesh border as part of his threeday visit to West BengalnbspDuring the visit scheduled to begin at 11 AM HM Shah will interact with BSF personnel address a Prahari Sammelan participate in a plantation drive and inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several BSF infrastructure and development projectsFollowing the programme at Jumagach the Union Home Minister will chair a highlevel meeting at the Uttarkanya Auditorium in Siliguri at 130 PM to review border management and securityrelated issues in West Bengal The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening security in North Bengals border areas including the strategically important Siliguri Corridor popularly known as the Chickens NeckLater in the day at 415 PM HM Shah will review the implementation of the three new criminal laws in the state He will subsequently chair another meeting at 545 PM to review issues related to birth and death registration in West Bengal After concluding his engagements in Siliguri the Home Minister will leave for Kolkata in the eveningOn Sunday HM Shah will chair a meeting on the lawandorder situation in West Bengal He is also scheduled to meet with the Superintendents of Police SPs and District Magistrates DMs of all border districts in South Bengal to review security and administrative preparednessDuring his visit to Kolkata the Union Home Minister will inaugurate the newly constructed World Museum at the National Library He will also lay the foundation stone for Amul Bengal Dairys new curd manufacturing plantThe Union Home Minister reached Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri last night on a threeday visit to West Bengal He was received by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on his arrival at the airportHM Shahs threeday visit to West Bengal is focussed on reviewing border security law and order the implementation of key governance initiatives and infrastructure development in the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-to-visit-bsfs-18th-battalion-border-outpost-in-siliguri-today-693458.html Sat, 18 Jul 2026 11:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/red-alert-for-rain-in-north-bengal-till-monday-heavy-showers-likely-in-south-693463.html Kolkata July 18 IANS The Regional Meteorological Centre RMC at Alipore on Saturday issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in north Bengal till Monday and forecast an increase in rain activity across south Bengal including Kolkata from Tuesday onwardsnbspAccording to the Met office scattered rainfall will continue across south Bengal districts till Tuesday after which moderate to heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms is likely to intensify and persist till FridayHeavy rainfall is expected in North 24 Parganas South 24 Parganas and Nadia districts on Tuesday Several other parts of south Bengal are also likely to experience rain and thundershowers with gusty winds reaching speeds of 3040 kmphIn north Bengal Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall on Saturday and Sunday The Met office has also warned of heavy to very heavy rain in Darjeeling Kalimpong Cooch Behar and other districts adjoining the Himalayan foothills till Monday While rainfall activity may ease slightly from Tuesday a heavy rain alert remains in force for Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong till WednesdayMeteorologists attributed the weather conditions to a wellmarked lowpressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal adjoining the OdishaWest Bengal coast along with an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 58 km above mean sea level The monsoon trough currently stretches from Punjab through Haryana Uttar Pradesh Bihar and West Bengal to the north Bay of Bengal drawing substantial moisture inland and enhancing rainfall activity over the regionThe Met office also warned fishermen against venturing into the sea off the West Bengal coast till Saturday citing strong winds of 3545 kmph gusting up to 55 kmph under the influence of the weather systemMeanwhile Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 277 degrees Celsius on Saturday 08 degrees above normal while Fridays maximum temperature settled at 31 degrees Celsius 18 degrees below normalnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/red-alert-for-rain-in-north-bengal-till-monday-heavy-showers-likely-in-south-693463.html Sat, 18 Jul 2026 12:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/lakhs-of-devotees-offer-prayers-before-lord-jagannath-sibling-deities-at-gundicha-temple-during-rath-yatra-693467.html New Delhi July 18 IANS Lakhs of devotees continued to throng Puri in Odisha on Saturday to offer prayers and have darshan of Lord Jagannath Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra who are seated on their majestic chariots in front of the Gundicha Temple as part of the annual Jagannath Rath YatranbspThousands of pilgrims from across the country and abroad gathered at the pilgrimage town to witness the divine darshan of the sibling deities and participate in one of Indias most revered religious festivals The atmosphere remained charged with devotion as devotees chanted hymns offered prayers and sought blessingsTo ensure the smooth conduct of the festivities the Puri Police put in place elaborate crowd management arrangements to regulate the large gathering and facilitate the movement of devotees Security personnel were deployed at key locations while officials monitored the flow of pilgrims to ensure a safe and orderly darshanExpressing his prayers for the wellbeing of humanity a devotee said I pray that the Lord grants wisdom to everyone brings peace to the world and puts an end to the conflicts that are going on May He continue to bless everyone The arrangements are goodAmong the international devotees was Radhika Lila Devi from Hungary who spoke about the profound spiritual experience of witnessing the Rath YatraShe said When I look at the devotees here I get goosebumps I can see so many different emotions on their faces some are crying some are smilingRecalling a touching moment she added I just saw a woman who had brought rice as an offering for the Lord Seeing the devotion of everyone here moves me deeplyDescribing her own spiritual journey Radhika Lila Devi said My tears do not come only because I love the Lord but because I keep asking Him When will I experience that kind of love for you The Lord is like the most powerful magnet there is nothing more powerfulThe worldfamous Jagannath Rath Yatra one of Indias largest and most revered religious festivals commenced on Thursday in Puri drawing lakhs of devotees from across the country to witness the grand annual procession of Lord Jagannath Lord Balabhadra and Goddess SubhadraThe centuriesold festival holds immense religious significance as it is the only occasion when the presiding deities of the Jagannath Temple leave the sanctum sanctorum and travel through the streets of Puri enabling devotees from all walks of life to seek their blessingsDuring the Rath Yatra the three sibling deities are ceremonially placed on magnificently decorated wooden chariots which are pulled by thousands of devotees amid devotional chants religious songs and an atmosphere of deep faithThe annual procession marks the sacred journey of the deities from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple where according to tradition they stay for a few days while visiting their aunt The yatra symbolises divine compassion inclusivity and Lord Jagannaths desire to come out among his devotees to bless everyone irrespective of social or cultural barriersEvery year the festival attracts an enormous congregation of pilgrims sants and tourists from India and around the world making it one of the countrys most significant religious and cultural celebrationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/lakhs-of-devotees-offer-prayers-before-lord-jagannath-sibling-deities-at-gundicha-temple-during-rath-yatra-693467.html Sat, 18 Jul 2026 13:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-court-sentences-ex-iob-manager-private-individual-to-3-years-in-loan-fraud-case-693469.html Ahmedabad July 18 IANS A special CBI court in Ahmedabad has sentenced a former Indian Overseas Bank IOB branch manager and a private individual to three years rigorous imprisonment after finding them guilty in a bank fraud case involving fraudulent greenhouse project loans that caused a loss of Rs 260 crore to the bank an official statement said on SaturdaynbspThe CBI said The court on Friday convicted Neeraj Kumar Jain the then branch manager of Indian Overseas Bank Himmatnagar Gujarat and private individual Ketankumar Mohanlal Patel The court sentenced both to three years rigorous imprisonment and imposed fines of Rs 260 lakh on Jain and Rs 110 crore on Patel taking the total fine to Rs 11260000According to the CBI the case was registered on May 8 2014 against Jain and 15 private individualsThe agency alleged that while serving as branch manager between October 2012 and September 2013 Jain entered into a criminal conspiracy with Nileshkumar Dayabhai Patel Ketankumar Mohanlal Patel and 13 other borrowers to cheat Indian Overseas Bank by using forged documents to obtain loans for greenhouse projectsThe CBI alleged that the conspiracy resulted in a wrongful loss of Rs 260 crore to the bank and corresponding wrongful gains for the accused It further alleged that Jain abused his official position by sanctioning and disbursing the loans despite the fraudulent documentationDuring the investigation the agency found that Jain had sanctioned and disbursed 14 agricultural term loans for greenhouse projectsIt alleged that Nileshkumar Dayabhai Patel and Ketankumar Mohanlal Patel secured two and 12 loans respectively by applying in the names of relatives and acquaintances Each loan was sanctioned for Rs 19 lakhAfter completing its investigation the CBI filed a charge sheet on December 24 2014 against Jain and three private individuals Nilesh Dayabhai Patel proprietor of Ms Riya Irrigation Ms ND Agriculture and Ms My Global Village Sabarkantha Ketankumar Mohanlal Patel and Avinash Yashwantkumar Patel proprietor of Ms Sagar Drip Irrigation Kishan Agromill Sarkari Jin Road HimmatnagarFollowing the trial the court convicted Jain and Ketankumar Mohanlal PatelThe charges against Avinash Yashwantkumar Patel could not be substantiated and he was acquitted of all chargesThe trial against Nilesh Dayabhai Patel has been separated as he is abscondingIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-court-sentences-ex-iob-manager-private-individual-to-3-years-in-loan-fraud-case-693469.html Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rbis-currency-printing-arm-begins-process-for-polymer-banknotes-with-global-eoi-693472.html New Delhi July 18 IANS India has taken its first formal step towards introducing polymer banknotes with the Reserve Bank of Indias currency printing arm inviting global Expressions of Interest EoIs for the supply of polymer substrate sheets embedded with security features as per multiple reportsnbspBharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited BRBNMPL has invited eligible domestic and international manufacturers to submit bids by August 18 for manufacturing opacified polymer substrate sheets for banknote printingHowever the tender does not specify the denominations proposed for polymer notes or a timeline for their rollout the reports saidIf adopted polymer banknotes would mark a major shift for India where currency has been printed on specialised paper for nearly a centurynbspPolymer notes made from durable plastic films are generally more resistant to wear and tear and have a longer lifespan than conventional paper currencyReports claim that the tender prescribes stringent national security conditions for prospective suppliersnbspMoreover bidders will be required to obtain security clearance from the government isolate any operations in China or Pakistan from the India contract refrain from sourcing raw materials for Indias banknote substrate from the two countries and undertake not to supply Indiaspecific substrate to any third countryEarlier in June Governor Sanjay Malhotra said that the Reserve Bank of India RBI is examining a proposal to introduce polymer or plastic currency notes although no final decision has been taken yetWe are examining the pros and cons of it and whether it would be worthwhile to implement It is still at a preliminary stage he saidMalhotra had said that the proposal remains under consideration and is still at a preliminary stagenbspHe stated that as far as polymer notes are concerned the proposal is under consideration adding that as soon as any decision is taken on it we will inform youIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rbis-currency-printing-arm-begins-process-for-polymer-banknotes-with-global-eoi-693472.html Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vikram-1-launch-a-proud-moment-made-possible-by-opening-space-sector-to-private-players-dr-jitendra-singh-693476.html New Delhi July 18 IANS The successful launch of Skyroot Aerospaces Vikram1 is a proud moment for India and reflects the transformative impact of opening the countrys space sector to private players Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh said on SaturdaynbspSpeaking to IANS after the successful orbital mission Dr Singh said it was a moment of pride for every Indian as for the first time a private company had successfully launched its own rocket according to planCertainly this is a moment of pride for all of us for all Indians For the first time a private company has successfully launched its own rocket according to plan he saidnbspThis became possible because five to six years ago Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the courageous decision to open the space sector to private companies Dr Singh told IANSnbspCongratulating all stakeholders involved in the mission the minister said Skyroot Aerospace had created history by becoming Indias first private company to execute an orbital launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in SriharikotaCongratulations Skyroot for becoming Indias first private player to have executed this launch from Sriharikota Congratulations INSPACe for facilitating this beautiful publicprivate partnership Congratulations ISRO for optimising this collaboration Above all congratulations and many thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making this possible he saidnbspAccording to the minister the rapid progress achieved within just half a decade demonstrates the success of Indias space reformsHe noted that the countrys record of firsttime launch success compares favourably with nations that began their space programmes much earliernbspIts been miraculous over the last just half a decade Half a decade is hardly a time in the life of a space sector If you compare us with those who started much earlier than us our record of firsttime success is remarkably higher compared to other nations Todays achievement adds to that record he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vikram-1-launch-a-proud-moment-made-possible-by-opening-space-sector-to-private-players-dr-jitendra-singh-693476.html Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-hasnt-sought-permission-for-parliament-march-on-july-20-delhi-police-sources-693477.html New Delhi July 18 IANS The Cockroach Janata Party CJP has not yet sought any permission from the Delhi Police for the Parliament march scheduled for July 20 sources said on SaturdaynbspThey further stated that it is unlikely that the CJP will be granted permission for the march given that it is on the same day as the beginning of the Monsoon Session of ParliamentnbspPermission for the Parliament march has not yet been sought by the CJP Even if the CJP were to seek permission for the Parliament march the police would not grant it due to the Monsoon Session sources saidThe CJP protesting at Delhis Jantar Mantar since June 6 is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak case The protestors were joined by innovator and activist Sonam Wangchuk who on June 28 officially began an indefinite hunger strike at the protest sitenbspMeanwhile Wangchuk who had been on a hunger strike for 20 days at Delhis Jantar Mantar was shifted to a hospital early on Saturday after his health deteriorated The move was carried out in compliance with directions of the Delhi High Court and on the advice of medical expertsPolice personnel reached the protest site in the morning and shifted Wangchuk to the hospital amid sloganeering and protests by CJP activists and the public gathered therenbspEarlier this week the court directed authorities to conduct daily clinical health assessments of the activist observing that the life of any citizen is precious and asking the Centre to ensure necessary medical intervention to protect his lifenbspFollowing this CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged that Delhi Police beat him and dragged him on the road while he was trying to reach Jantar Mantar after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to a hospital from the protest siteDipke said the protest would continue and accused the police of forcibly removing Wangchuk from the spot He also announced that he has initiated a hunger strikenbspSpeaking to IANS in Delhi Abhijeet Dipke alleged The protest will continue It is very shameful Like thieves and goons the Delhi Police hid and dragged him Sonam Wangchuk away This is not the Delhi Police these are RSS goons They came secretly and like thieves covered Sonam Sir with a sheet hid him and dragged him away just like criminals or the mafia kidnap peopleHe further alleged that police personnel prevented him from reaching Jantar Mantar and used force against himnbspDespite that our protest will continue The Delhi Police also beat me up and stopped me from reaching Jantar Mantar I was beaten dragged on the road and they said Lets see how you go to Jantar MantarnbspDipke also claimed that several legislators and parliamentarians were stopped from entering the protest siteThere are many MLAs and MPs here who have also been stopped at the gate and are not being allowed inside he saidnbspDipke said I am starting my fast from today Our march on July 20 will also happen and my fast will continue These people think that by taking Sonam Sir inside and picking him up from here they can end the protest the protest will not endnbspThe protesters have appealed to political parties to join the demonstration being held to press their demand for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leakIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-hasnt-sought-permission-for-parliament-march-on-july-20-delhi-police-sources-693477.html Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vikram-1-launch-will-inspire-youngsters-to-dream-bigger-drive-innovation-pm-modi-693478.html New Delhi July 18 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated the team of Skyroot Aerospace on the successful launch of Vikram1 saying the milestone reflects the growing strength of Indias private space sector and will encourage youngsters across the country to pursue innovation with confidencenbspIn a post on social media platform X the Prime Minister said he had spoken to the Skyroot Aerospace team and congratulated them on the successful launch of Vikram1Spoke to the team of Skyroot Aerospace and congratulated them on the successful launch of Vikram1 This is a defining moment in Indias space journey The growing participation of our private sector is opening new frontiers and accelerating innovation This achievement will encourage countless youngsters to dream bigger and innovate fearlessly PM Modi wrotenbspEarlier during a telephonic conversation with Skyroot Aerospace CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana and Cofounder Bharat Daka after the successful mission the Prime Minister congratulated the entire team for carrying six payloads including two satellites into a 450km lowEarth orbit aboard Indias first privatelydeveloped orbital launch vehicleAddressing the founders PM Modi said he had watched the entire launch and praised the youthful team behind the achievementnbspCongratulations to Pawan Bharat and the rest of the team Your feat will inspire youngsters to come forward I was watching the entire launch programme today Your entire Skyroot Aerospace team looks like they are 2530 years of age the Prime Minister saidnbspHe also conveyed his grand greetings to the team and expressed hope that Mission Aagaman would continue to achieve greater milestonesnbspCalling the mission a testament to Indias selfreliance PM Modi said the successful launch proved the countrys capability to achieve major technological milestones under the vision of Atmanirbhar BharatnbspChandana informed the Prime Minister that the rocket had been completely designed and manufactured in IndiaIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vikram-1-launch-will-inspire-youngsters-to-dream-bigger-drive-innovation-pm-modi-693478.html Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hydrogen-powered-train-reflects-pm-modis-vision-for-green-mobility-piyush-goyal-693297.html New Delhi July 17 IANS Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday described the launch of Indias first indigenous hydrogenpowered train as a truly historic moment for the countrys green mobility journey saying it marks a major step towards a cleaner and more selfreliant transport ecosystemnbspIn a post on X the minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the countrys first indigenous hydrogenpowered train on the JindSonipat route in HaryanaPowered by a 1200 kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system the 10coach train emits only water vapour making it a nearzero emission mode of transport Goyal saidHe added that the launch marks a significant milestone in the countrys journey towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat and reflects the governments commitment to innovationled sustainable growthAccording to the minister the project is backed by indigenous hydrogen storage and refuelling infrastructure developed at Jind enabling India to join a select group of countries pioneering hydrogenpowered rail transportThe train will initially operate on the 89km JindSonipat section of Northern RailwayUnlike conventional diesel or electric trains the hydrogenpowered train generates electricity onboard through a Proton Exchange Membrane PEM fuel cell Hydrogen stored in onboard cylinders reacts with oxygen from the atmosphere inside the fuel cell to generate electricity for the trains traction motors The only byproducts of the process are water vapour and heatThe train consists of two hydrogen driving power cars and eight trailer coaches with each power car producing 1200 kW of power Designed to carry around 2600 passengers it can run at a maximum speed of 110 kmph making it one of the largest hydrogenpowered passenger trainsets developed globallyTo support operations Indian Railways has established the countrys first integrated railway hydrogen ecosystem at Jind where hydrogen is produced through electrolysis compressed for storage and supplied through dedicated refuelling infrastructureThe project also incorporates multiple safety systems including hydrogen leak detectors flame heat and smoke sensors continuous ventilation and automatic shutdown mechanisms According to the Ministry of Railways the system complies with international safety standards and statutory requirements prescribed by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation PESOThe hydrogen train is part of Indian Railways broader green transition strategy after electrifying more than 99 per cent of the countrys broad gauge network It also supports Indias National Green Hydrogen Mission and longterm netzero goalsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hydrogen-powered-train-reflects-pm-modis-vision-for-green-mobility-piyush-goyal-693297.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/political-compulsions-behind-july-21-martyrs-day-ownership-race-among-bengal-oppn-blocs-larger-challenge-for-mamata-693299.html New Delhi July 17 IANS Trinamool Congress factions are racing to own July 21 Martyrs Day for a symbolic claim on political legitimacy and a live test of organisational strength while Congress partys invitation to Mamata Banerjee to join its event on condition that she admits that leaving the party was a mistake is a tactical bid to reclaim the days history while exposing the former Chief Ministers weakened positionThe date commemorates the 1993 Youth Congress march led by Mamata Banerjee that turned deadly when Kolkata Police fired on the protestors killing 13 people while several were injured in the resultant stampedeThe march was organised against the then Left Front government with protesters demanding photo voter ID cardsThe incident became central to Mamatas political identity owning the event that signals moral and organisational authorityFour separate events are scheduled this year indicating a contest for show of strengthWith the Trinamool split and many of its MLAs and MPs defecting rival factions and the Congress see July 21 as a chance to demonstrate which grouping can mobilise people and claim the antiestablishment mantleAs the supremo of the then undivided Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjee preferred to hold her annual rally in the heart of Kolkata But court directions and police constraints have forced a venue rethinkThe Calcutta High Court refused permission for the traditional Victoria House site citing traffic and lawandorder concerns and directed the Mamataled faction to hold the event elsewhereHer party faction has resisted relocation to avoid conceding symbolic ground but legal limits on participants and police conditions make her putting up mass show difficultMeanwhile Congress leaders insist the 1993 march was organised under the banner of its youth wing and want to reclaim the narrative inviting Mamata Banerjee to its Shahid Minar event while asking her to admit leaving Congress was a mistake is both an olive branch and a political trapWith the Trinamool fractured Congress hopes a public atonement would delegitimise Mamatas break and attract disillusioned voters the demand is symbolic leverage more than sincere reconciliationIncidentally not long ago there was an anticipation floating around in political corridors on the return to Congress of prominent leaders who had severed their connections earlierThis included the name of Mamata BanerjeeThe speculations were later shot downIn recent video messages on Facebook Mamata Banerjee has rather announced a fightback and possible bouncebackIn 19971998 Mamata Banerjee converted grassroots anger into a new party because she was the clear focal point of dissent inside Congress who established herself as the principal face against the Left FrontToday the septuagenarian leader faces organisational erosion defections of close confidantes legal and administrative constraints a changed public mood and different electoral landscapeHer political assets lay in fearless leadership disruptions and unpredictability personal charisma a loyal core of grassroots workers and the symbolic ownership of July 21Her comeback would require rebuilding organisational depth a clear political narrative beyond nostalgia and credible local leaders that appear a taller order nowWhether she can turn July 21 into a disciplined emotive spectacle and avoid further defections is yet to be seenIt is evident that all blocs are under intense scrutiny and the events will face comparisonThe clear and present considerations include turnout numbers considering police enforcement of court limits and further defectionsJuly 21 will thus be a referendum on symbolic ownership as much as organisational muscleMamata Banerjee can still salvage political relevance if she converts symbolism into disciplined mobilisation and new local leadership But repeating the sweeping triumph of her heydays is unlikely without structural renewal and a coherent postdefeat strategyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/political-compulsions-behind-july-21-martyrs-day-ownership-race-among-bengal-oppn-blocs-larger-challenge-for-mamata-693299.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/dream-of-india-receiving-its-first-hydrogen-train-about-to-come-true-pm-modi-on-historic-launch-693300.html New Delhi July 17 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India is set to achieve a major milestone in sustainable transportation with the launch of the countrys first hydrogenpowered train calling it a significant step towards a selfreliant India and sustainable developmentnbspSharing his message on X Prime Minister Modi said Today the dream of India receiving its first hydrogen train is about to come true This is a very significant day in the direction of selfreliant India and sustainable development I extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone associated with thisThe Prime Minister also shared a Sanskrit quote highlighting the importance of dedication and determination while pursuing major goals He wrote that Whether a task is great or small whatever a person wishes to accomplish should be carried out with complete dedication and renewed enthusiasm this is the one quality that ought to be learned from a lion translated from SanskritThe launch of the hydrogenpowered train marks a major advancement in Indias efforts to adopt cleaner energy solutions in the transport sector The project reflects the countrys focus on technological innovation selfreliance and environmentally sustainable infrastructurePrime Minister Modi will flag off Indias first hydrogenpowered train from Jind Haryana marking Indias entry into a select group of nations exploring hydrogen technology for cleaner rail transportationThe hydrogen train which will operate between Jind and Sonipat is considered a major achievement for Indian Railways as it reflects the national transporters commitment to innovation energy efficiency and sustainable mobility The initiative also supports Indias clean energy ambitions and its longterm goal of achieving netzero carbon emissionsThe introduction of the hydrogenpowered train places India among a limited group of countries including Germany Japan China and the United States that are exploring hydrogenbased rail transportation Since the technology is still at a developing stage only a small number of nations are currently operating or testing hydrogenpowered rail systems according to an official statementThe JindSonipat route has been selected for the pilot operation of the hydrogen train with the project expected to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen as an alternative clean fuel for future railway networksIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/dream-of-india-receiving-its-first-hydrogen-train-about-to-come-true-pm-modi-on-historic-launch-693300.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/odisha-govt-confirms-two-devotee-deaths-denies-stampede-at-puri-rath-yatra-693301.html Bhubaneswar July 17 IANS The Odisha government has confirmed the deaths of two devotees but denied reports of any stampedelike incident during the annual Rath Yatra festival which commenced in the holy coastal town of Puri with the participation of lakhs of pilgrims from across the state the country and abroadAs per an official statement issued by the Chief Ministers Office CMO the world famous Ratha Yatra 2026 of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu Balabhadra Devi Subhadra and Chakraraj Sudarshana was celebrated on Thursday in Puri with immense religious fervour devotion and exemplary administrative coordinationIt also added that despite persistent rainfall and inclement weather conditions throughout the day the festival witnessed an estimated eight to nine lakh devotees from across Odisha the country and abroad reflecting the unparalleled faith of devotees in the deitiesAll the sacred rituals connected with the festival including the pulling of the three chariots were conducted smoothly and completed as planned Govardhan Peethadheeshwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya also came to the chariots and offered prayers The state government made comprehensive and multilayered arrangements for the successful conduct of the festival the CMO said in the statementThe state government also informed that extensive planning was undertaken well in advance involving all stakeholder departments including Police Health Fire Services Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force ODRAF National Disaster Response Force NDRF Transport Municipal Administration Public Health Engineering Energy and other line departmentsRoundtheclock monitoring deployment of adequate security personnel extensive CCTV coverage public announcement systems traffic regulation sanitation measures drinking water facilities emergency response teams and medical infrastructure ensured that devotees could participate in the festival safely and convenientlyThe Odisha government claimed that considering the unprecedented gathering of devotees and the continuous rainfall instances of fatigue dehydration suffocation and minor healthrelated discomfort were reported during the course of the dayDuring the course of the festival seven persons felt unwell and were immediately evacuated by the deployed personnel and shifted to the hospital without delay Among them one male devotee aged above 60 years unfortunately succumbed and the exact cause of death is being ascertained by the concerned authorities the state government saidAs per the CMO in a separate and an unrelated incident a male devotee aged above 35 years suffered a cardiac arrest and despite immediate medical intervention unfortunately passed awayBesides many devotees became unwell due to incessant raininduced illness who were given medical treatment at hospital and were discharged after proper medical treatmentThe overall conduct of the festival remained peaceful orderly and well managed There was no incident of stampede or any systemic breakdown of crowd management the government clarifiedThe coordinated efforts of the administration security agencies servitors and volunteers ensured uninterrupted movement of devoteesThe situation remained normal throughout the festival with all essential services functioning effectivelyChief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the servitors and thanked the lakhs of devotees for their patience discipline and cooperation which greatly contributed to the peaceful and successful celebration of the festivalThe Chief Minister reaffirmed the state governments unwavering commitment to ensuring that every devotee experiences the sacred festival with safety dignity and convenience through continuous improvement in infrastructure public services and administrative preparednessIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/odisha-govt-confirms-two-devotee-deaths-denies-stampede-at-puri-rath-yatra-693301.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/campaign-has-just-begun-hm-amit-shah-after-planting-125-trees-in-gandhinagar-693302.html Ahmedabad July 17 IANS Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the Gandhinagar Lok Sabhas tree plantation initiative has not ended with the planting of 125 crore saplings but has instead entered its most important phase as he called for sustained efforts to ensure every sapling survives and grows into a mature treeShah made the remarks while chairing a review meeting of coordinators of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha Green Lok Sabha campaign in AhmedabadChief Minister Bhupendra Patel Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot and elected representatives and BJP officebearers from the Gandhinagar parliamentary constituency were present at the meetingThe review followed the recent mass plantation campaign inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modis Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiativeThe campaign aimed at transforming the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency into a greener region was part of a plantation drive that organisers said earned a place in the Guinness World RecordsAddressing campaign coordinators Shah thanked party workers organisations and citizens for helping achieve the target of planting 125 crore trees but stressed that the focus must now shift to their longterm survivalI sincerely thank everyone who helped take the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha Hariali Lok Sabha campaign to every household and fulfilled the resolve of planting trees However the campaign has not ended with the planting of 125 crore trees it has only just begun Shah saidHe said the saplings must now be nurtured so that over the next 50 to 100 years they grow into large trees capable of providing shade clean air and helping to reduce temperaturesDuring the meeting Shah reviewed the plantation work carried out so far and emphasised the need for proper care and maintenance of every sapling to ensure the highest possible survival rateHe said systematic efforts were required so that all the planted saplings grow into fully developed treesAppealing to campaign workers Shah said They should view the responsibility of nurturing the trees not as a political programme but as a religious and social dutyReferring to a verse from the Matsya Purana Shah said planting and nurturing a tree was considered a highly virtuous act Society followed such teachings by preserving and growing trees challenges such as global warming might not have emerged in their present form he saidShah also noted his party was not merely an organisation focused on elections but one engaged in public service adding that ensuring the successful growth of the newly planted trees would be among its most meaningful service activitiesChief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the plantation campaign had been carried out in the spirit envisioned by Shah and urged participants to maintain the same commitment during the next phaseThe work of planting trees has been completed Now we must all fulfil our responsibility of nurturing them and helping them grow Patel saidHe added that everyone should take inspiration from Shah and remain determined to ensure the saplings are properly cared for Today we must assure Amit Shah that we will discharge the responsibility of nurturing these trees with 100 per cent commitment he saidPatel also said tree plantation was essential not only for human beings but for all living beings and urged people to remain committed to protecting the environment for future generationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/campaign-has-just-begun-hm-amit-shah-after-planting-125-trees-in-gandhinagar-693302.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-flags-off-indias-first-hydrogen-train-launches-development-projects-of-rs-14-700-crore-from-jind-693303.html Jind Haryana July 17 IANS Indian Railways on Friday added another feather to its cap in clean mobility with Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagging off Indias first hydrogen fuel cell trainset from here a train that generates its own electricity onboard using hydrogen the cleanest fuel knownnbspThe 10coach train running between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana will cover 90 km in just two hours a landmark in the green mobility journeyThe train is powered by a 3200 HP propulsion system one of the most powerful hydrogenpowered trainsets in operation and emits only water vapourBy leveraging Indias own technology and handling everything from design to assembly domestically India joins the ranks of countries operating hydrogen railwaysSimultaneously PM Modi dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stones of the National Highway project of over Rs 12470 crore in HaryanaThe milestone of a hydrogenpowered train marked the latest chapter in the evolution of how the Railways has powered its trains reflecting Indias broader journey from coal and steam to cleaner more sustainable sources of energyOver the past 12 years rapid electrification has significantly reduced dependence on imported diesel paving the way for the next leap in clean rail mobilityFrom Jind the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the 15792kmlong fourlane fully accesscontrolled DelhiAmritsarKatra Expressway Packages 1 to 5 developed at a cost of around Rs 9680 croreThe Greenfield corridor forms part of the 667 km DelhiAmritsarKatra Expressway that will reduce travel time between Delhi and Katra from about 14 hours to nearly six hours while cutting the DelhiAmritsar journey from about eight hours to four hoursThe project is expected to significantly decongest NH44 GT Road boost pilgrim and tourist traffic to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and catalyse industrial and logistics development along the corridorThe Prime Minister also dedicated the 3381kmlong fourlane partially accesscontrolled AmbalaKala Amb Highway on NH7 and NH344The highway will strengthen connectivity between the Ambala urban agglomeration and the Kala Amb industrial belt improving road links between Haryana and Himachal Pradesh facilitating tourist movement to hill regions and reducing logistics costs for industries in Kala AmbAnother major project dedicated was the 4060kmlong JindGohana Greenfield Highway on NH352AThe new highway will reduce travel time between Jind and Gohana from about two hours to just 40 minutes benefiting commuters freight transport and the agriculturally significant JindGohana region while improving connectivity to Rohtak Panipat and the DelhiNational Capital Region NCRThe Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the 2427kmlong HansiBarwala Brownfield Highway Project which will upgrade the existing carriageway to a 24lane configuration with paved shouldersPM Modi dedicated the Elevated Railway Track in Kurukshetra a major urban infrastructure project that will eliminate longstanding traffic congestion at railway crossings in the city The project will ensure smoother vehicular movement improve road safety and enhance the operational efficiency of both rail and road transport systemsPM Modi also dedicated major medical institutions to the nation Pandit Neki Ram Sharma Government Medical College Bhiwani Maharishi Chyawan Medical College and Rao Tula Ram Hospital in Koriawas in NarnaulThese institutions will expand access to quality medical education in Haryana increase the number of MBBS seats improve the availability of specialist healthcare professionals and enable people to access better medical services closer to their homes thereby strengthening the states healthcare ecosystemFurther enriching the regions cultural infrastructure the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the Sikh Museum in Kurukshetra The museum will showcase the history of Sikhism the teachings of the Sikh Gurus their courage sacrifices and the invaluable contribution of the Sikh community to Indias civilisation and culture through the use of modern technologyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-flags-off-indias-first-hydrogen-train-launches-development-projects-of-rs-14-700-crore-from-jind-693303.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-protest-i-will-stay-alive-till-july-20-at-any-cost-says-wangchuk-693325.html New Delhi Jul 17 Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday asserted that he would stay alive till July 20 at any cost even as his indefinite hunger strike entered its 20th day amid a warning from doctors that his prolonged fast has reached a critical stage As the Cockroach Janta Partys CJP agitation at Jantar Mantar against alleged examination irregularities entered its 28th day on Friday Congress leader Pawan Khera became the latest political leader to visit Wangchuk and other protesters to express his solidarityAddressing supporters at the protest site Wangchuk acknowledged his weakening physical condition but said his resolve remained unshakennbspI am weak from the outside but very strong inside I am sure all of you are strong from the inside and outside too We need this energy for July 20 when we will take out a peaceful march to Parliament We will go together and present our plea in the temple of democracy he saidnbspI will stay alive till July 20 at any cost If you dont come and July 20 is not successful I will come back as a ghost he said in a lighter vein drawing cheers from the gatheringWangchuk lost another 350 grams over the last 24 hours taking his cumulative weight loss to about 95 kgnbspnbspAccording to the health bulletin issued by the medical team attending to him Wangchuk now weighs 5655 kg His blood pressure was recorded at 10868 mm Hg blood sugar at 80 mgdL pulse rate at 72 beats per minute and oxygen saturation at 96 per cent Doctors said he showed signs of mild dehydration but remained mentally alertOn Thursday doctors had warned that his condition had entered a critical stage due to the prolonged fast and that the next phase could be alarming with the possibility of organ damage if the hunger strike continuednbspWangchuk however had refused to call off the fast saying that ending it without any response from the government would send a wrong message He maintained that the focus should now be on making the July 20 Parliament march a successnbspThe issue has also reached the Delhi High Court which directed authorities to monitor Wangchuks health daily and provide medical assistance if his condition deterioratesThe health of others on hunger strike has deteriorated as well The CPIML Liberationaffiliated All India Students Association AISA said the condition of its activists Neha Manish and Aameen who have also been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar had reached severe stagesnbspAccording to the organisation Aameen is at risk of hypovolemic shock due to dehydration Nehas blood sugar level has dropped to a dangerous 49 mgdL and Manish has lost more than 10 per cent of his body weight AISA said the three students would continue the fast in solidarity with Wangchuk despite their worsening conditionnbspPolitical support for the CJPs agitation continued to grow with Congress leader Pawan Khera visiting Wangchuk and other protesters at Jantar Mantar on FridaynbspKheras visit came a day after Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav met the hunger strikers and urged the Centre to initiate dialogue and after Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav reached out to express concern over Wangchuks health and extend support to the proposed Parliament marchOver the last week the agitation has also drawn support from actor Prakash Raj former Delhi chief minister Atishi TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Sagarika Ghose CPIM MP Amra Ram veteran CPIM leader Subhashini Ali former Kerala ministers K K Shailaja Thomas Isaac K N Balagopal and P Rajeev Tripura Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury Samajwadi Party MPs Pushpendra Saroj and Priya Saroj Shiv Sena UBT MP Arvind Sawant NCP MLA Rohit Pawar and Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Gurnam Singh CharuninbspA group of eminent citizens including writer Arundhati Roy actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah economist Jayati Ghosh and several academics have also backed the protesters demands while appealing to Wangchuk to end his fastnbspThe CJP has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide over alleged examination irregularities The outfit has called for a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20 coinciding with the opening day of the monsoon SessionnbspThe CJP protest began on June 20 while Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has remained on an indefinite hunger strike ever sinceAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-protest-i-will-stay-alive-till-july-20-at-any-cost-says-wangchuk-693325.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-declines-immediate-release-of-mahaprabhu-jagannath-asks-makers-to-wait-till-rath-yatra-ends-693330.html New Delhi July 17 IANS The Supreme Court on Friday declined to permit the release of the animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath on its scheduled release date and directed the producers to postpone its release till after the conclusion of the annual Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri on July 27nbspnbspA Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan refused to stay the Odisha High Courts order observing that the Rath Yatra had commenced on Thursday and would continue till July 27During the Rath Yatra dont do it release After the Rath Yatra you can release it the Justice Nagarathnaled Bench observed while hearing the plea filed by the makers seeking permission to release the film on FridayPermitting the petitioners to release the film after July 27 the apex court disposed of the pleaThe makers had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Odisha High Courts decision restraining the release of the animated film on the ground that it did not conform to the Skanda PuranaSenior advocate Devadatt Kamath appearing for the producers before the apex court had submitted that the film is an animated feature made for children and that the ban had caused crores of rupees in losses to the producersEarlier the makers had maintained that Mahaprabhu Jagannath was an extension of their animated series Jay Jagannath created with utmost honesty sincerity and devotion towards Lord Jagannath and his devoteesThey had also stated that the film had received a U certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification CBFC in Hindi Odia and Telugu and expressed hope that audiences would be allowed to watch the film and decide for themselvesThe film produced by Durga Prasad Dalai under the banner of Ele Animations Pvt Ltd was originally slated for a panIndia release on over 300 screens in Hindi Odia and TeluguHelmed by Shripad Warkhedkar the animated feature is positioned as a family entertainer based on the life and teachings of Lord Jagannath and follows the success of the television animated series Jay JagannathIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-declines-immediate-release-of-mahaprabhu-jagannath-asks-makers-to-wait-till-rath-yatra-ends-693330.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/chandigarh-not-just-a-city-but-development-model-says-pm-modi-after-launching-rs-4-700-crore-projects-693333.html Chandigarh July 17 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described Chandigarh not just as a city but as a model of development in healthcare education and connectivitynbspChandigarh is known for its planned development better lifestyle and ease of living Chandigarh is also recognised for its excellent healthcare facilities Above all it is blessed by Maa Chandi That is why the development of Chandigarh has always been a priority for the NDA government PM Modi said after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for development projects of Rs 4700 crorenbspHighlighting the major reforms in the past 12 years by the BJPled NDA government PM Modi told the gathering We replaced the colonialera penal laws with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita The implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita also began in Chandigarh Over the past few years several projects including the Integrated Command and Control Centre smart traffic management smart parking and digital governance initiatives have been undertaken to make Chandigarh a hightech city More than Rs 2500 crore has been spent under this mission Today several new development projects related to healthcare education and infrastructure are also being launched here I congratulate the people of Chandigarh on these initiativesThe Prime Minister said the healthcare education and road infrastructure projects in and around Chandigarh will also improve the ease of living for residents of Punjab Haryana Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir because it connects the entire regionnbspRecalling his regular visits to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research PGI here PM Modi said when he stayed in the city he used to visit the PGI as patients from Jammu and Kashmir Punjab Himachal Pradesh and Haryana frequently came here for treatment I remember visiting PGI Chandigarh in 2015 to attend its convocation ceremony I am delighted that today even though virtually I have the opportunity to reconnect with many of my old colleagues there he saidnbspOver the past decade the PGI has significantly expanded its capabilities I commend the management of the PGI its professors and its young doctors for their outstanding work and extend my best wishes to them he saidPM Modi said that today the number of medical colleges in the country has nearly doubled and there has been a record increase in MBBS and postgraduate medical seatsnbspHe laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects The inaugurated projects were the advanced neuroscience centre and mother and child centre at the PGIMER a multipurpose auditorium at Panjab Universitys South Campus in Sector 25 and road infrastructure projects in the tricity region comprising Chandigarh Panchkula and MohalinbspBefore reaching here PM Modi launched the countrys first 10coach hydrogenpowered train named NaMo Green Rail and several projects worth Rs 14700 crore strengthening connectivity healthcare and cultural heritage from Haryanas JindAccompanying Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw PM virtually inaugurated PGIs Advanced Mother and Child Centre that has been designed to provide comprehensive tertiary healthcare services for highrisk pregnancies critically ill newborns and children requiring specialised treatmentnbspEquipped with 300 beds and stateoftheart medical facilities the centre will significantly strengthen maternal and child healthcare services and benefit thousands of families across the regionnbspThe Advanced Neurosciences Centre will provide integrated services in neurology neurosurgery neurocritical care and advanced diagnostic facilities under one roof It will ensure timely and worldclass treatment for patients suffering from complex neurological disorders while strengthening medical research education and training in neurosciencesThe Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of a 150bed stateoftheart Critical Care Block under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission PMABHIM in PGInbspThe facility will significantly enhance emergency preparedness intensive care services and disaster response capabilities while strengthening the overall healthcare infrastructure of the regionnbspPM Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several infrastructure projects pertaining to educational institutions in ChandigarhThese include the inauguration of Kurukshetra Boys Hostel and Mess at Punjab Engineering College the Hostel Block in the Government College in Sector 46 and the foundation stone of Research Scholars Hostel in Punjab Engineering CollegenbspThese facilities will strengthen academic infrastructure improve residential facilities for students and researchers and create a better environment for higher educationThe Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of major road infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity in the regionnbspHe inaugurated the sixlane Greenfield Highway from IT City to Kurali in Mohali district an important infrastructure project for the region The highway will reduce travel time between Mohali Kharar and Kurali while providing improved connectivity for Punjab Haryana Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and KashmirnbspThe Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the PR7 Spur of the AmbalaChandigarh Greenfield Highway NH205A a 103km Greenfield corridor that will enable longdistance traffic to bypass the urban areas of Zirakpur and connect the Zirakpur Bypass directly to Aerocity on the outskirts of ChandigarhIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/chandigarh-not-just-a-city-but-development-model-says-pm-modi-after-launching-rs-4-700-crore-projects-693333.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-hikes-windfall-duty-on-diesel-atf-exports-693197.html New Delhi July 16 IANS The Centre has raised windfall taxes on exports of diesel and aviation turbine fuel ATF while lowering the levy on petrol exports as surging global oil prices driven by the escalating USIran conflict boosted refining margins with the revised rates taking effect from ThursdaynbspAccording to a Finance Ministry notification the export duty on diesel has been increased to Rs 155 per litre from Rs 85 per litre while the levy on aviation turbine fuel has been raised to Rs 145 per litre from Rs 75 per litreAt the same time the government has reduced the export duty on petrol to Rs 25 per litre from Rs 4 per litreThe revised rates came into effect from July 16 according to the notificationThe latest revision comes amid a sharp rise in global crude oil prices following an escalation in hostilities between the United States and IranOil prices climbed on Wednesday before easing slightly after US President Donald Trump reimposed a naval blockade on all Iranian ports prompting Iran to launch retaliatory strikes on US infrastructure in the regionEarlier this month the government had revised the windfall tax on exports of petroleum products by raising the levy on petrol while reducing the duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuelThe Special Additional Excise Duty SAED on petrol exports was increased to Rs 4 per litre from Rs 15 per litre At the same time the export duty on diesel was reduced to Rs 85 per litre from Rs 14 per litre while the levy on ATF exports was cut to Rs 75 per litre from Rs 125 per litreThe government reviews windfall taxes on domestically produced crude oil and exports of petroleum products at regular intervals to align the levies with changes in international crude prices and refining marginsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-hikes-windfall-duty-on-diesel-atf-exports-693197.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/raj-thackeray-slams-centre-over-sonam-wangchuks-fast-seeks-action-on-neet-crisis-693198.html Mumbai July 16 IANS Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday targeted the BJPled central government over noted educationist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuks fastuntodeath alleging that the Centre was ignoring a legitimate public movement while prioritising political interestsnbspAs Wangchuks indefinite hunger strike entered its 19th day Thackeray expressed concern over his deteriorating health and accused the government of undermining democratic dissentnbspIn a post on X Thackeray pulled no punches regarding the central administrations apathy toward public accountability drawing a sharp parallel to recent structural controversiesIt feels utterly awful to say that the government has decided to sacrifice Sonam Wangchuk and by extension a movement that represents a voice for this country he stated adding When a government can watch silently as Shri Rams treasury is being looted what difference will citizens movements make to themHe further alleged that the democratic guardrails have been compromised asserting that standard public institutions have been brought entirely under central control to manage elections at astronomical costsThackeray slammed the mainstream media for failing to question the source of these massive political funds accusing major outlets of functioning under invisible bosses to defame dissenting voices while independent media operate under a constant sword of DamoclesReflecting on the BJPs shifting relationship with the Ladakhi activist Thackeray highlighted a timeline of convenience He noted that in 2018 the ruling party highly regarded Wangchuk inviting him to the ReInvest Conference to leverage his expertise on unconventional energy One good thing about the BJP is that a person remains dear to them only as long as it suits their convenience Thackeray remarkedHe pointed out that while Wangchuk initially welcomed the Union Territory status for Ladakh he quickly realized the governments underlying intentions Despite repeated assurances the Center failed to act on core tribal and regional requirements including granting full statehood creating two Lok Sabha constituencies and safeguarding local land rightsTurning to the core catalyst of the current agitation Thackeray strongly defended Wangchuks current demand for structural transparency in competitive exams and the immediate sacking of the Union Education MinisterHe cited a continuous chain of examination scams under the current regime ranging from the historic Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh to the recent leaks in national eligibility tests and teacher recruitment papersThis brazenness he argued stems from unlimited power and total grip over state machinery which the BJP seeks to parade as the silent consent of the votersThackeray concluded with a direct appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to view the student crisis beyond party lines This isnt a political issue This is a social one Thackeray emphasizedLakhs of students who took the NEET exam and their parents have gone through such agony Among them are supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party its officebearers and its workers all of whom have suffered too Viewing this movement through a political lens is fundamentally a sign of the central governments narrowmindedness he notedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/raj-thackeray-slams-centre-over-sonam-wangchuks-fast-seeks-action-on-neet-crisis-693198.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-13-locations-in-up-in-terror-funding-infiltration-network-probe-693199.html Lucknow July 16 IANS The Directorate of Enforcement ED on Thursday carried out search operations at 13 locations across Uttar Pradesh under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA 2002 as part of its ongoing investigation into an alleged terror funding and illegal infiltration network officials saidThe searches were conducted in connection with Enforcement Case Information Report ECIR No ECIRLKZO142024 which pertains to an alleged network involved in terror financing and facilitating infiltration into the countryAccording to officials the money laundering investigation stems from an FIR registered by the Uttar Pradesh AntiTerrorism Squad ATSnbspThe FIR relates to an organised syndicate allegedly engaged in helping Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals illegally enter India arranging forged Indian identity documents for them and facilitating their settlement and rehabilitation in different parts of the country officials statedOfficials said the predicate investigation has uncovered what appears to be an extensive financial network involving certain charitable trusts and other entities that allegedly received substantial foreign contributions Investigators suspect that these funds were diverted through multiple bank accounts mule accounts and layered financial transactions to support and facilitate the alleged illegal activitiesThe investigation has further indicated that the network allegedly relied on cash withdrawals and numerous smallvalue financial transfers routed to suspected beneficiaries in an effort to avoid detection and conceal the movement of fundsOfficials said the searches were conducted as part of the ongoing probe to gather evidence and trace the flow of money linked to the alleged networknbspThe authorities said that an investigation is currently underwayFurther details are awaitedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-13-locations-in-up-in-terror-funding-infiltration-network-probe-693199.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/world-famous-puri-rath-yatra-gets-underway-with-grand-pahandi-bije-ritual-693200.html Bhubaneswar July 16 IANS The worldfamous annual Rath Yatra festival began in the holy coastal town of Puri in Odisha on Thursday with the commencement of the Pahandi Bije ritual of Lord Jagannath his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra ahead of the scheduled timenbspThe holy siblings along with other deities during the Pahandi Bije ritual are being escorted out from the 12thcentury Shree Jagannath Temple to their respective decorated chariots in a grand ceremonial procession with the enthralling and divine sound of traditional musical instruments like ghanta gong kahali trumpet and telingi baja etcThe priests chanting sacred Vedic hymns and traditional Odissi artists with their enthralling dance performances welcomed the deities on their nineday sojourn for the Gundicha Temple believed to be their birthplaceAs per the tradition the celestial weapon of Lord Krishna Chakraraj Sudarshan is first brought and placed on the chariot of Goddess Subhadra followed by Lord Balabhadra Devi Subhadra and finally Lord Jagannath in Dhadi Pahandi in which the deities move simultaneously in a row one after the other in close successionFollowing the completion of the Pahandi ritual Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati along with his disciples offers puja to the holy siblings on the chariots Later Puri King Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb the first servitor of the Lord Jagannath offers prayers to the deities and conducts the ceremonial sweeping of the chariots with a golden broomAfter this service offered by the Puri King the chariots are pulled by devotees to the Gundicha temple the birthplace and garden house of Lord Jagannath around 3 km away from the main templeLakhs of devotees on Thursday thronged the holy city of Puri to have a glimpse of Lord Jagannath elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra and pull their chariots Nandighosha Taladhwaja and Darpadalana respectively The devotees filled with pure devotion are chanting the holy names of Jai Jagannath Hari Bol and dancing in ecstasyThe annual chariot festival is observed on Dwitiya Tithi the second day of the bright fortnight Shukla Paksha of the Ashadha month of the Hindu Almanack a time considered spiritually auspicious due to the increasing brightness of the moonThe district administration police and other departments have made elaborate arrangements in the city to ensure a smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra this year More than 13000 police personnel along with an adequate number of Central Armed Police Forces CAPF have been deployed for security arrangements during the festivalThe Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy will also remain on alert to check any illegal activities through the coastal route On the other hand as many as 19 senior IPS officers have been assigned the duty to supervise the overall security arrangementsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/world-famous-puri-rath-yatra-gets-underway-with-grand-pahandi-bije-ritual-693200.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-cabinet-set-to-approve-first-tvk-govts-budget-today-693201.html Chennai July 16 IANS The Tamil Nadu Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will meet on Thursday to approve the State Budget for 202627 clearing the way for its presentation in the Legislative Assembly during the first week of AugustnbspnbspThe meeting scheduled at the Secretariat is expected to finalise the governments first fullfledged Budget since the TVKled administration assumed office earlier this yearnbspThe Budget is expected to reflect the new governments governance priorities while outlining its economic roadmap for the current financial yearnbspAs this will be the maiden Budget of the TVK government it is likely to include several welfare measures development initiatives and policy announcements aimed at delivering on the partys election promisesnbspOver the past few weeks Chief Minister Vijay has held a series of meetings with ministers senior officials and department secretaries to review Budget proposals prepared by various departmentsnbspThe consultations focused on identifying priority sectors evaluating new schemes and finalising key allocations before the Budget document is placed before the Cabinet for approvalnbspDuring the meeting the Cabinet is expected to discuss the major features of both the State Budget and the Agriculture Budget Ministers are likely to deliberate on the important proposals to be incorporated in both documents before giving their formal approvalnbspThe Agriculture Budget is expected to contain measures to strengthen the farming sector through increased investment in irrigation agricultural infrastructure crop productivity and farmer welfarenbspGovernment sources indicated that the Budget is likely to contain a number of peoplecentric announcements covering sectors such as education healthcare employment social welfare infrastructure and urban developmentnbspSeveral new initiatives aimed at improving public services and accelerating economic growth are also expected to be unveilednbspApart from Budgetrelated discussions the Cabinet is also expected to consider proposals for approving new industrial investment projects in different parts of Tamil Nadu These projects are expected to boost manufacturing create employment opportunities and attract fresh investments into the statenbspFollowing the Cabinets approval the Finance Department will complete the final procedural formalities before the Budget is presented in the AssemblynbspThe first Budget of the TVK government is expected to set the tone for the administrations policy direction and longterm development strategy while outlining its priorities for the year aheadnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-cabinet-set-to-approve-first-tvk-govts-budget-today-693201.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-arrests-kapl-managing-director-anurag-danayak-in-rs-15-lakh-bribery-case-693207.html BengaluruNew Delhi July 16 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on Thursday arrested Anurag Danayak Managing Director of Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited KAPL a Central Public Sector Enterprise in connection with an alleged bribery case involving the renewal of a service agreement and allotment of additional institutionsnbspAccording to the CBI Danayak was caught redhanded in a trap operation conducted in Noida on July 15 while allegedly accepting Rs 5 lakh as part payment of a total bribe demand of Rs 15 lakhThe agency said the accused had demanded an undue advantage from a Bhopalbased firm which serves as an authorised service agent of KAPL and supplies medicines to government institutions across Madhya PradeshInvestigators alleged that the bribe was sought in exchange for approving the firms Service Agent Agreement and processing its application seeking assignment of additional institutions Both requests were reportedly pending renewal for the current financial year The CBI further alleged that the Managing Director had also sought a share of the commission earned by the firm from medicine sales during the yearFollowing the arrest the CBI conducted searches at Danayaks residential and office premises in Bengaluru Noida and JabalpurDuring the searches officials seized approximately Rs 75 lakh in cash and foreign currency valued at around Rs 4 lakh from his residence in Noida and office chamber in Bengaluru The agency also recovered 697 grams of gold jewellery and coins estimated to be worth nearly Rs 86 lakh besides documents relating to a residential flat owned by the accusedKarnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited is a Bengaluruheadquartered public sector undertaking engaged in the manufacture and supply of pharmaceutical products across the countryThe arrested official is expected to be produced before the competent court The CBI said the investigation is continuing to ascertain whether any other individuals were involved in the alleged bribery networkThe case marks one of the significant anticorruption actions involving a senior executive of a Central Public Sector Enterprise in recent monthsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-arrests-kapl-managing-director-anurag-danayak-in-rs-15-lakh-bribery-case-693207.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-credit-to-agriculture-sector-jumps-4-fold-to-rs-3250-lakh-crore-in-last-11-years-693208.html New Delhi July 16 IANS Indias ground level credit disbursed to the agriculture sector has surged to Rs 3250 lakh crore for FY 202526 which marks a more than fourfold jump from Rs 8 lakh crore in FY 201415 according to an official factsheet released on ThursdaynbspThe rural credit ecosystem has expanded by a robust 13 per cent every year during FY201415 to FY202324 To enhance ground level credit GLC in agriculture the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development NABARD provides refinance support to banks to supplement their resources for shortterm and longterm lending to agriculture and allied sectors the factsheet statesThe growing reach of formal rural finance is reflected in NABARDs Rural Economic Conditions and Sentiments Survey May 2026 About 772 per cent of rural households reported higher consumption levels reflecting rising purchasing power and sustained demand Access to formal credit has also expanded significantly Around 51 per cent of households relying exclusively on formal sources and over 27 per cent accessing both institutional and noninstitutional channelsIn rural areas there were 41464 scheduled commercial bank branches in 2014 This increased by over 35 per cent to 56193 rural branches by July 2025 playing a vital role in rural credit delivery There are also regional rural banks RRBs operating across States and Union Territories having a branch network of over 22000 in 700 districtsBesides cooperative banks and primary agricultural credit societies have played an important role in expanding institutional credit by promoting banking habits among the poor in remote areas As per RBI and NABARD the cooperative network includes 1458 Urban Cooperative Banks 34 State Cooperative Banks and 352 District Central Cooperative BanksThe Governments policy framework for rural credit comprises various measures to ensure uninterrupted credit flow for rural development initiatives such as Priority Sector Lending PSL for the agriculture being part of a mandatory framework set by the RBI The guidelines apply to all banks which are required to allocate at least 18 per cent of their Adjusted Net Bank Credit or Credit Equivalent of OffBalance Sheet Exposures whichever is higher for the agriculture sectorThere is also a focus on poverty alleviation programmes targeting the poor such as DAYNRLM It organises rural poor households into SHGs and supports them in increasing incomes and improving their quality of lifeThe programme is being implemented across the country As of July 10 2026 over 1983 lakh SHGs are operational with loan disbursement of Rs 1328 lakhcrore recorded since inceptionAround 50548 Bank Sakhis have been deployed supporting SHGs in accessing bank credit of over Rs 1218 lakh crore since 201314 as on February 2026Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana PMJDY also plays a key role in the development of marginalised communities As on June 24 2026 over 5863 crore JanDhan accounts have been opened with deposits exceeding Rs 3 lakh crore Of these 3268 crore accounts 557 per cent belong to women and 4562 crore accounts 778 per cent are in rural and semiurban areasIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-credit-to-agriculture-sector-jumps-4-fold-to-rs-3250-lakh-crore-in-last-11-years-693208.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-voices-concern-over-cbses-third-language-policy-from-class-9-onwards-693211.html New Delhi Jul 16 The Supreme Court on Thursday voiced concern over the introduction of a third language in Class 9 under the CBSE curriculum observing it would increase the stress level of students and suggesting it be introduced in Class 5 or Class 6 so that students can cope with itnbspA bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan orally asked the Centre to not introduce a third language in Class 9nbspUnion of India please dont have a third language from Class 9 level It would unnecessarily increase the stress level of students If you want to introduce a new language then please do it at Class 5 or Class 6 level but not at Class 9 level Class nine is full of stress it starts from Class 8 onwards Justice Nagarathna told the counsel appearing for the Centre and asked her to convey the feeling of the court to the governmentThe remarks were made during the hearing of the Tamil Nadu governments plea against a Madras High Court directive to facilitate the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas JNVs in every district of the StatenbspThe Tamil Nadu government has consistently opposed the setting up of JNVs over concerns with regard to the threelanguage policy curriculum followed by the schoolsnbspnbspThe bench was not directly dealing with the issue of new policy of CBSE but the court made observations on the timing of introduction of third language in schoolsnbspAnother apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant is already examining issues with regard to challenge to the new policy of the CBSE and recently refused to stay the notificationnbspDuring the hearing the Tamil Nadu government counsel submitted that the States objection relates to the threelanguage policynbspnbspJustice Nagarathna observed that the policy did not mandate Hindi as the third languagenbspnbspThe State language has to be taught English has to be taught and any third language It doesnt say Hindi she remarkednbspnbspAdvocate G Priyadarshini appearing for respondent NGO Kumari Maha Sabha which was the petitioner before the high court submitted that the National Education Policy specifically provides that no language should be imposed on any StatenbspJustice Nagarathna then asked the State You dont want Hindi but if its Sanskrit what is the issuenbspnbspCounsel for the State replied that the thirdlanguage under curriculum becomes compulsory only from Class 9nbspnbspReacting to this Justice Nagarathna said No thats very bad Class 9 is very stressful Why do you introduce a new language in Class 9 Why dont you introduce it in Class 6th Justice Nagarathna also recalled her school days and said that there was a choice in Class 9 to choose which language to studynbspShe said that students in her school began learning the third language during middle schoolnbspIt was Kannada for those who had a second language as Hindi and vice versa Sanskrit was also there so you could have a third language The earlier the better she observednbspJustice Nagarathna also asked the Tamil Nadu government against rejecting Central schemes merely because they originate from the CentrenbspYou may have your education system but dont prevent the Central government schoolsâYou should not have this attitude that it is the Union government scheme so why should we accept it she saidnbspThe bench however noted that discussions between the Centre and the State were underway regarding the establishment of Navodaya schoolsnbspTalks have not concluded If that fails then only a question of us addressing any merits arises the bench observedCounsel for the state sought some time to seek further instruction in the matternbspThe bench noted that a new dispensation has come into power in the state and observed that it remained to be seen what policy approach the new government would adoptnbspThe matter has been posted for further hearing on August 11nbspThe Tamil Nadu government has challenged the 2017 order of the high court which directed the establishment of a JNV in every district of the StatenbspThe high court had held that the States refusal to permit JNVs curtailed students right to choose educational institutions and was inconsistent with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009nbspThe top court had stayed the high courts directions on December 11 2017 after the state government challenged the decisionOn December 15 2025 the top court modified the order of stay and directed the state to identify the requisite extents of land that is necessary for establishing Navodaya Vidyalaya in each of the districts of the StatenbspThe said exercise shall be carried out within a period of six weeks and place the report before this court it had said while clarifying that the directions were issued only in the interest of those students who are entitled to be admitted to such schools in Tamil NadunbspThe top court also asked the representatives of the State and the Centre to hold discussions with regard to the establishment of these schools in the StatenbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-voices-concern-over-cbses-third-language-policy-from-class-9-onwards-693211.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-begins-drafting-vetri-tamizhagam-vision-document-as-blueprint-for-vijays-governance-693121.html Chennai July 15 IANS With the State Budget session approaching the Tamil Nadu government has launched an ambitious exercise to prepare the Vetri Tamizhagam Vision Document a comprehensive policy framework that will define the longterm governance agenda of the TVKled administrationnbspThe document is expected to be unveiled during the Budget session and will lay out the governments development priorities across sectors for the coming yearsConceived as the cornerstone of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijays governance philosophy the Vision Document seeks to present an alternative model of administration centred on transparent governance peoplecentric development social justice efficient public services sustainable economic growth and equal opportunitiesThe government intends to position it as a departure from the governance models pursued by Tamil Nadus two traditional Dravidian parties over the past several decadesChief Secretary M Sai Kumar has directed Secretaries of every government department to prepare detailed departmentwise Vision Documents identifying sectorspecific priorities policy reforms and longterm development goalsThe exercise is progressing alongside Budget preparations with several new welfare measures and policy initiatives expected to be incorporated into both the Vision Document and the BudgetSenior officials said departments have been instructed to undertake a comprehensive review of existing welfare schemes and flagship programmes before submitting their proposalsEach department has been asked to assess the effectiveness of ongoing initiatives recommend whether schemes should be strengthened modified or discontinued and propose fresh programmes that align with the governments broader policy objectivesOfficials said the exercise is intended to create a governance framework that reflects the new administrations priorities while improving service delivery and administrative efficiencyDepartments have also been asked to submit detailed reports on the implementation and outcomes of existing schemes to help identify gaps and recommend reformsThe largescale policy exercise has significantly increased the workload of senior officials who are simultaneously handling Budget preparations departmental reviews and the drafting of the Vision DocumentSources said the additional responsibility has placed considerable administrative pressure on several departments The impact has reportedly begun to reflect in routine government functioning Revenue administration in particular has witnessed delays in processing patta transfers mutation requests and other landrelated files in several districtsAt Ezhilagam in Chennai which houses several government commissionerates visitors have reportedly been informed that routine administrative work may move more slowly than usual until the Budget session concludes as officials remain engaged in finalising what the government considers its defining policy roadmap for a Vetri TamizhagamIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-begins-drafting-vetri-tamizhagam-vision-document-as-blueprint-for-vijays-governance-693121.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/every-indian-seafarer-in-gulf-region-to-be-individually-accounted-for-govt-693123.html New Delhi July 15 IANS As the West Asia situation escalates the government has said that every Indian seafarer in the affected Gulf region will be individually accounted for irrespective of the vessels flagnbspThe government has launched a comprehensive SeafarerFirst response directing an unprecedented wholeofgovernment approach to safeguard every Indian seafarer operating in the conflictaffected regionUnion Minister Sarbananda Sonowal directed the Director General of Shipping DGS to establish a comprehensive vesselbyvessel operational dashboard to account for every Indian on every vessel irrespective of their flags operating in the Persian Gulf Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of OmanAccording to an official statement the dashboard will provide realtime information on vessel position ownership cargo crew strength crew welfare threat assessment intended voyage next port of call and the availability of facilitiesIn a meeting Sonowal said that India has expressed its strong resentment and objection to the manner of attacks on defenceless civilian merchant vesselsnbspThese have resulted in the death and serious injury of Indian seafarers who as key workers ensuring the proper functioning of global supply chains due to these irresponsible unwarranted and uncalledfor attacks I am profoundly hurt and aggrieved by the unfortunate and tragic loss of one more of our brave and innocent seafarer along with the injuries suffered by others in two attacks the minister emphasisednbspThe minister directed officials to work closely with Indian Missions in Iran Oman and the United Arab Emirates and other affected nations in the region alongside the Ministry of External Affairs MEA to obtain verified and realtime information relating to navigational safety coastalstate advisories route status portofrefuge arrangements hospitals medical evacuation repatriation procedures mortal remains management and the status of ongoing investigationsHe also directed the Ministry that shipowners vessel managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence RPSL agencies employing Indian seafarers in the region to immediately furnish compliance reports and confirmation that no Indian seafarer is being compelled to sail without adequate information protection and supportIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/every-indian-seafarer-in-gulf-region-to-be-individually-accounted-for-govt-693123.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pilgrims-stream-into-ayodhya-amid-donation-theft-row-saints-exbabri-litigant-appeal-for-faith-in-sit-probe-693126.html Ayodhya July 15 IANS Devotees continued to arrive in large numbers at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday with pilgrims asserting that their faith remains unshaken despite the ongoing Ram Mandir donation controversynbspnbspAs the Special Investigation Team SIT continues its probe into the alleged donationrelated irregularities religious leaders and local stakeholders have called for patience and confidence in the investigationGeneral visuals from the Jagadguru Shri Ramanandacharya Dwar of the Ram Temple showed devotees lining up early in the morning to offer prayers and seek the darshan of Ram Lalla underscoring that the flow of pilgrims remains steadyCommenting on the ongoing investigation Arya Saint Varun Das said people have placed their trust in the SIT and urged everyone to await its findingsEveryone is looking towards the SIT and people have expressed their trust in its investigation Only after the report is submitted can it be determined whether the SIT has conducted a fair investigation or if there has been any attempt to cover up facts As per the Chief Ministers statement the investigation has been carried out with the aim of separating fact from fictionFormer Babri Masjid case litigant Iqbal Ansari also appealed for preserving Ayodhyas image and maintaining communal harmony He described the alleged incident as unfortunate but emphasised that legal action has already been taken against those accusedAyodhya is a sacred city It is the abode of Lord Ram and the Ram Temple People should come to Ayodhya offer prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Ram As for the incidents that have taken place here they are unfortunate Those who committed wrongdoing are now behind bars People should help preserve and beautify Ayodhya and there is no need to publicise negative things about the cityDevotees visiting the temple echoed similar sentiments saying the controversy has not diminished their faith in Lord Ram or the templeOne devotee said I have come to the Ram Temple to offer prayers After the donation theft case more devotees are arrivingAnother pilgrim who was visiting the temple for the fourth time said the devotion among worshippers remains unchanged I have come here many times This is my fourth visit There is no lack of faith The crowd is the same as before he told IANSThe remarks come amid the ongoing investigation into the Ram Mandir donation row which has drawn public attention in Uttar Pradesh The state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team to examine the allegations with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stating that the probe aims to distinguish facts from speculationDespite the controversy the temple complex continued to witness heavy footfall from devotees arriving from different parts of the country reflecting sustained public faith and enthusiasm for offering prayers at the Ram MandirIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pilgrims-stream-into-ayodhya-amid-donation-theft-row-saints-exbabri-litigant-appeal-for-faith-in-sit-probe-693126.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/significant-moment-in-india-uk-partnership-pm-modi-hails-landmark-free-trade-agreement-693130.html New Delhi July 15 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described the coming into force of the IndiaUK Free Trade Agreement FTA and the accompanying Agreement on Social Security as a significant moment in bilateral tiesnbspHe said the landmark pacts would deepen economic engagement and create new opportunities for businesses workers and investors in both countriesSharing a post by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on X the Prime Minister said This is a significant moment in the IndiaUnited Kingdom partnership With the coming into force of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement CETA and the Agreement on Social Security our economic linkages are going to get even deeperHighlighting the benefits of the trade pact the Prime Minister said Together these agreements translate our shared ambition into tangible opportunities for our people The CETA will give fresh momentum to our farmers entrepreneurs and MSMEs Several vibrant sectors will gain stronger access to the UK market he saidIt will also deepen cooperation in technology professional services and innovation while supporting greater mobility for skilled Indian talent The Social Security Agreement will provide invaluable support to Indian professionals working temporarily in the UK and strengthen the competitiveness of Indian enterprises he addedDescribing the development as a reflection of the mutual trust between the two democracies the Prime Minister said This moment reflects the trust between our democracies and our resolve to build a forwardlooking partnership driven by trade technology investment and innovation India and the UK will continue working together for shared prosperityEarlier Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal termed the agreement a defining milestone in IndiaUK relations and a major achievement under the leadership of Prime Minister ModiUnder the dynamic leadership of Honble PM Narendra Modi ji the IndiaUK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement CETA and the Agreement on Social Security have come into force delivering zeroduty market access for nearly 99 per cent of Indias exports covering almost 100 per cent of trade value Goyal saidAccording to the minister the FTA is expected to unlock unprecedented opportunities across key sectors including textiles leather gems and jewellery engineering goods marine products chemicals and processed food while providing a significant boost to MSMEs farmers and manufacturersGoyal also said the agreement would open new avenues for Indias IT financial education professional and business services sectors while facilitating greater mobility for Indian professionals The accompanying Social Security Agreement is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Indian companies and workers by exempting Indian professionals on temporary assignments in the UK from paying double social security contributions for up to five yearsThe twin agreements are being seen as a major step towards expanding trade and investment flows between India and the UK while strengthening cooperation in emerging sectors and supporting longterm economic growth in both countriesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/significant-moment-in-india-uk-partnership-pm-modi-hails-landmark-free-trade-agreement-693130.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-arrests-bank-of-baroda-branch-manager-credit-officer-in-bribery-case-693136.html Lucknow July 15 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has arrested the Branch Manager and Credit Officer of Bank of Barodas Koireepur branch in Uttar Pradeshs Sultanpur district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe from a loan beneficiary an official statement said on WednesdaynbspThe arrested officials have been identified as Swarnim Srivastava Branch Manager and Pushpak Chaudhary Credit Officer both posted at the Bank of Barodas Koireepur branchAccording to the CBI a case was registered on July 13 based on a complaint alleging that the accused officials had sought an undue advantage for the release of funds under a governmentbacked loan schemeThe complainant had been sanctioned a Rs 5 lakh loan under the Chief Minister Yuva Udyami Yojana at the Koireepur branch While the term loan component had already been disbursed the overdraft facility sanctioned as part of the loan package was yet to be releasedThe agency alleged that the Branch Manager and Credit Officer demanded a bribe of Rs 45000 from the complainant in exchange for facilitating the disbursement of the overdraft component of the sanctioned loanFollowing verification of the complaint the CBI laid a trap on July 14 During the operation the agency caught the Credit Officer allegedly accepting Rs 35000 from the complainant The CBI claimed the money was accepted in conspiracy with and at the behest of the Branch ManagerSubsequently both officials were taken into custody and arrested by the agencyThe accused were produced before the competent court in Lucknow Further investigation into the case is underway the CBI saidEarlier in the first week of this month the CBI had arrested the Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India NHAI Shillong and two private persons for demanding a bribe of Rs 12 lakh from the complainant to process his outstanding bill to the tune of Rs 1338 croreThe accused public servant had instructed the complainant to give part of the bribe amount to the tune of Rs 4 lakh in advanceIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-arrests-bank-of-baroda-branch-manager-credit-officer-in-bribery-case-693136.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-seeks-bengal-dgps-report-on-number-of-cases-firs-against-abhishek-banerjee-693137.html Kolkata July 15 IANS A singlejudge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday sought a detailed report from the office of the Director General of West Bengal Police on the number of cases and FIRs registered against the Trinamool Congress general secretary and the partys Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee in different police stations in the statenbspThe counsel for Abhishek Banerjee approached the High Courts singlejudge bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya seeking clarity on the exact number of cases and FIRs registered against him at different police stationsAfter a preliminary hearing on the matter in the afternoon Justice Bhattacharya sought a detailed report from the office of the DGPWhile submitting the petition seeking clarity on the exact number of cases and FIRs registered against him the counsel for Abhishek Banerjee also argued that since his client was a political person so many cases had been filed against him out of sheer vendettaWe are aware that so far a total of eight FIRs have been registered against my client However I am not aware of the total number of cases going on against him So we want clarity in the matter After the detailed police report we will place our next line of arguments in the matter submitted Banerjees counsel to the courtIn his counterargument the state government counsel said there was no question of political vendetta since all the cases against the Diamond Harbour MP were based on specific complaints registered against himThereafter Justice Bhattacharyas bench directed the office of the state DGP to submit a detailed report to the court on the number of cases and FIRs registered against the Trinamool Congress general secretaryAt the same time the court also directed the DGPs office to submit a report detailing the subjects of the eight FIRs registered against the Diamond Harbour MPThe next hearing in the matter will be on July 22 and by then the office of the DGP will have to submit the report to the courtIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-seeks-bengal-dgps-report-on-number-of-cases-firs-against-abhishek-banerjee-693137.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-bjp-writes-to-ec-states-chief-electoral-officer-flagging-sir-irregularities-693138.html New Delhi July 15 IANS The Bharatiya Janata Partys BJP Punjab unit has written to the Election Commission of India ECI alleging irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision SIR in the state and urged the poll panel to ensure strict compliance with its guidelines for fair and transparent verification of votesPunjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon in a letter to the ECI as well as the Punjab chief electoral officer CEO claimed that the poll officials are collecting information unrelated to the SIR exercise and seeking unauthorised documents from voters and also sought urgent intervention by the polling body and a detailed inquiry into alleged wrongdoingsSome officials are collecting data from electors relating to various schemes of the Punjab government and persuading or inducing them to avail such schemes These are wholly unrelated to the purpose of the SIR exercise the letter highlightedIt states that complaints have been received from various places where Booth Level Officers BLOs are collecting documents unrelated and unrequired for the SIR and hence troubling the genuine electorsThe voter verification exercise in Punjab slated from June 25 to July 24 for mapping 214 crore voters in the state ran into controversy some time ago over Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns appeal to eligible voters to participate in the SIR process as this would help them not only safeguard their voting rights but also ensure that they remain recipients of govt welfare schemesPunjab BJP chief complained that the BLOs are demanding a range of documents from electors including a rent deed or affidavit from the landlord and hence causing undue convenience to the electors stressing that this was putting additional and unnecessary strain on the electors and was also making the process complicated and inconvenientIn a slew of demands he has sought immediate inquiry into illegal gathering of documents disciplinary action against unauthorised activities and directions by the poll panel to the officials not to deviate from stipulated guidelinesThe state BJP unit has also urged the EC to ensure strict adherence to its prescribed guidelines so that the electoral roll revision is conducted in a free fair transparent and citizenfriendly mannerNotably the enumeration exercise under the SIR drive of electoral rolls commenced across Punjab on June 25 with about 25000 BLOs undertaking the survey of households in the stateThe voter verification drive under SIR assumes significance as the state is headed to the Assembly elections slated early next yearIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-bjp-writes-to-ec-states-chief-electoral-officer-flagging-sir-irregularities-693138.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/will-head-to-delhi-on-july-19-even-if-permission-for-jantar-mantar-protest-denied-omar-abdullah-693139.html Srinagar July 15 IANS Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and vice president of the ruling National Conference NC Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that he and his legislators will head to Delhi on July 19 even if permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar is deniednbspThe NC has announced a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20 coinciding with the beginning of the Monsoon Session of Parliament to press for restoration of statehood to Jammu and KashmirnbspSpeaking to reporters in Srinagar Omar Abdullah said the partys stand on the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs snatched rights remains firmThere will be no change in our programme Dr Mustafa Kamal also wanted our snatched rights to be restored the CM said He said the party has decided to continue with its scheduled political programmes even when Dr Kamals health deteriorated on July 11nbspDoctors had then told us that perhaps he would not survive Even at that time National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah instructed us that whatever happens we have to continue with our Jammu programme on July 12 If we did not cancel that programme there is no question of cancelling the July 20 protest he saidCM Abdullah said he has already informed the party leaders to leave for New Delhi on July 19 even if permission is not granted for the protestnbspThe Chief Minister said the National Conference would continue to exercise patience while also keeping alternative plans readynbspWe know how to remain patient We will wait but we will also keep our alternate plan ready he saidIn a related development various groups of migrant Kashmiri Pandits have also announced a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20 demanding that statehood should follow their rehabilitation and not precede itnbspMeanwhile NC MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has said he would not be joining the NCs Jantar Mantar protestnbspSenior separatist leader and chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq welcomed the move but said it should have included the demand for permanent settlement of the Kashmir issueIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/will-head-to-delhi-on-july-19-even-if-permission-for-jantar-mantar-protest-denied-omar-abdullah-693139.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-cabinet-clears-right-to-time-bound-services-bill-693140.html New Delhi July 15 IANS The Rekha Gupta government approved the Delhi Right of Citizens to TimeBound and Easy Delivery of Services Bill 2026 on Wednesday replacing the 2011 law with a modern technologydriven legal framework for citizencentric governancenbspThis Bill incorporates clear penal provisions to ensure the accountability of government officialsnbspA historic governance reform that transforms timebound public services into a legal right of every citizen Inspired by the spirit of Seva Hi Sankalp this landmark reform is another decisive step towards a Viksit Delhi rooted in speed transparency and Seva the Chief Ministers Office CMO said in a statementA penalty of Rs 250 per day capped at a maximum of Rs 5000 may be imposed on the concerned official for delays in service delivery without valid reasons However before any penalty is levied the official will be given a full opportunity to present their case and offer an explanation thereby ensuring adherence to the principles of natural justice according to the officialsnbspChief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that the objective of this Bill is to ensure that every citizen receives government services within a stipulated timeframenbspIt also aims to make government departments and officials more accountable for delays and negligence in service delivery This legislation will prove to be a significant step towards administrative reforms in Delhi and a milestone in providing citizens with services that are transparent simple effective and technologydriven the Chief Minister was quoted as saying by her officeCM Gupta said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and advancing his vision of good governance the Delhi Government is taking this crucial step to provide citizens with timely simple and transparent servicesnbspThe new system will extensively utilise modern digital technologies to make service delivery faster more transparent and more effective said the Chief MinisternbspAccording to the officials under the Bill every citizen will have the statutory right to receive notified government services within a prescribed timeframeThe government will issue notifications from time to time to specify which services fall under the ambit of this law Notifications regarding these services their respective timeframes and the designated officials responsible for them will be issued by the Delhi Government the officials saidnbspThe Bill includes provisions to digitise the entire process from application submission to the delivery of the service Citizens will be able to apply online each application will be assigned a uniquenumber and its status would be tracked online in realtimeInformation regarding every stage of the application process will be available digitally and departments will also monitor progress online to ensure timely service deliverynbspThis will largely eliminate the need for citizens to make repeated visits to government offices Furthermore the governance system will become simpler more transparent and more efficient ensuring the effective delivery of government services the officials saidnbspAutomatic escalation automatic appeal is a key feature of this Bill according to the CMO which further stated If a designated officer fails to provide the service within the stipulated timeframe the citizen will not need to file a separate appeal the matter will automatically be escalated as an appeal to the Citizen Grievance Redressal Authority If a decision is not reached there within the prescribed period either the matter will automatically be referred to the Delhi Right to Service Commission This ensures automatic accountability throughout the system and spares citizens from navigating unnecessary procedural hurdlesUnder the Bill Citizen Grievance Redressal Authorities will be appointed in every department These authorities will adjudicate appeals related to service delays or application rejections issue directives for service delivery where necessary fix responsibility for delays and initiate penal action if required Generally the provision mandates the disposal of all appeals within 30 daysAdditionally an independent statutory body the Delhi Right to Service Commission will be constituted under the Bill comprising a Chairperson and other members This body will be responsible for hearing second appeals monitoring the effective implementation of the law inspecting government offices recommending departmental action against negligent officials and proposing the inclusion of new services under the ambit of the law as neededThe implementation of this law will ensure citizens receive government services in a timebound manner reduce unnecessary delays and repeated visits to offices enhance transparency through digital tracking ensure official accountability and provide an effective mechanism for grievance redressal This will make the governance system more efficient transparent responsive citizencentric and reliable while further strengthening public trust in government services Chief Minister Gupta statedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-cabinet-clears-right-to-time-bound-services-bill-693140.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 17:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-orders-fresh-tender-for-passport-visa-outsourcing-at-four-indian-missions-693156.html New Delhi July 15 IANS The Delhi High Court on Wednesday set aside the technical evaluation process for outsourcing Consular Passport and Visa CPV services at Indian Missions in Abu Dhabi The UAE Kuwait Singapore and Canberra Australia holding that the assessment of bidders was vitiated by arbitrariness irrationality and lack of transparency in violation of Article 14 of the ConstitutionA Division Bench of Justices Anil Kshetrapal and Shail Jain allowed a batch of petitions filed by E Trav Tech Limited and Verasys Limited challenging their disqualification at the technical bid stage in tenders floated by the Ministry of External Affairs MEA for outsourcing CPV services at the four Indian MissionsThe Justice Kshetrapalled bench held that while courts ordinarily do not sit in appeal over technical assessments by expert bodies judicial review is warranted where the decisionmaking process is arbitrary opaque and fails to satisfy the constitutional requirements of fairness transparency and equalityThe parameterwise marks awarded to the Petitioners are vitiated by arbitrariness irrationality and lack of transparency rendering the impugned technical evaluations unsustainable under Article 14 of the Constitution the Delhi High Court saidIt added that although the government had furnished parameterwise marks following directions of the Supreme Court it failed to disclose the basis on which those marks were awardedThe evaluation sheets neither identify deficiencies in the Petitioners proposals nor disclose the comparative benchmarks applied while awarding proportionately lower marks under comparative criteria the court judgment said adding that the bidders were left without any means to ascertain why their otherwise compliant proposals were considered inferior to competing bidsThe Delhi High Court also found significant inconsistencies in the marking process saying that materially identical proposals and supporting documents were awarded substantially different scores across different Missions without any recorded reasonsIn the absence of any recorded reasons for such varying assessments the distinct allocation of marks appears unsupported by any objective basis it said adding that consistency in evaluating substantially identical material is an essential facet of a fair and transparent tender processRejecting the Centres contention that the petitions were barred by the principles of res judicata the Delhi High Court held that the challenge arose from a fresh cause of action after the disclosure of parameterwise marks pursuant to earlier court ordersIt also dismissed the argument that deficiencies in the bids had been explained during oral presentations before the Technical Evaluation CommitteesEven assuming that such presentations formed part of the evaluation they cannot substitute recorded reasons If deductions were founded upon shortcomings noticed during such presentations those shortcomings ought to have been reflected in the contemporaneous evaluation records the judgment saidHolding that the absence of recorded reasons constituted the most fundamental infirmity in the evaluation process the Justice Kshetrapalled bench said that merely communicating parameterwise marks without disclosing the factual basis for deductions violated the General Financial Rules 2017 the tender conditions and settled principles of fair administrative actionThe failure of Respondent Numbers 1 and 2 to record and communicate reasons for the technical evaluation violates Rules 173iv and 189 of the GFRs 2017 rendering the decisionmaking process opaque arbitrary and contrary to the principles of natural justice and fair administrative action it heldSetting aside the technical evaluations the Delhi High Court also nullified the award of contracts in favour of the successful private biddersIt directed the MEA and the concerned Indian Missions to issue fresh Requests for Proposal RFPs for procurement of CPV services at Abu Dhabi Kuwait Singapore and Canberra within one month and make sincere efforts to complete the tender process expeditiouslyHowever the Delhi High Court permitted the existing service providers to continue operating until the fresh tender process is completed to ensure that there is no disruption in public servicesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-orders-fresh-tender-for-passport-visa-outsourcing-at-four-indian-missions-693156.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 18:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/un-must-lead-in-era-of-conflict-instability-eam-jaishankar-launches-indias-unsc-202829-campaign-693017.html United Nations July 14 IANS External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar launched Indias campaign for a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council UNSC for the 202829 term outlining New Delhis vision for a more representative effective and futureready global ordernbspAddressing the event Jaishankar stressed that the world is facing unprecedented challenges and called for stronger leadership from the United Nations and its principal security bodyWe are witnessing levels of conflict violence and instability that threaten even those who may be far away Jaishankar saidTo address this complexity the UN must take the lead and the Security Council must show the wayHighlighting Indias broader vision for global governance he added As we contemplate the global order Indias focus will be on working for a secure peaceful and equitable world A world where the voice of the Global South is heard in equal measure A world where peacekeeping is ready for contemporary and future challenges a world where multilateralism reflects contemporary realities and provides effective solutions not remain on high standards a world where the promise of technologies is fulfilledFollowing the launch Jaishankar shared details of Indias campaign on X saying Pleased to launch Indias campaign for the UN Security Council 202829He said Indias approach would be rooted in SHANTI Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms Trust and Integrity and would focus on strengthening the voice of the Global South in matters relating to international peace and securityHe said Indias approach would be guided by dialogue cooperation and efforts to bridge differences among nationsThe minister also outlined Indias commitment to building a futureready UN peacekeeping framework that is better equipped technologically enabled realistically mandated and focused on core objectives He said India would continue to champion the Women Peace and Security agenda and support a greater role for women peacekeepersOn emerging technologies Jaishankar said India would promote a humancentric vision of artificial intelligence anchored in inclusivity security and the public good while working to counter the misuse of AI and the threats it could pose to international peace and securityHe further said India would prioritise promoting a free open and rulesbased maritime order in accordance with international law particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNCLOS Ensuring the safe and unimpeded flow of maritime commerce combating piracy safeguarding seafarers and supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief HADR missions would remain key prioritiesJaishankar also underlined the need for sustained efforts to counter terror financing and called for a transparent sanctions regime based on objective and evidencebased proposals for listing terrorist groupsConcluding his message the External Affairs Minister reiterated that a reformed representative and resultsdriven Security Council needs a voice of the Global South at the table presenting Indias UNSC campaign as one aimed at making global governance more inclusive and responsive to contemporary challengesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/un-must-lead-in-era-of-conflict-instability-eam-jaishankar-launches-indias-unsc-202829-campaign-693017.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tvk-govt-set-to-give-final-approval-to-key-budget-proposals-in-july-16-cabinet-meeting-693018.html Chennai July 14 IANS The Tamil Nadu Cabinet is set to give final approval to key Budget proposals and clear the states first full Budget at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on July 16 ahead of its likely presentation in the Assembly during the first week of AugustnbspnbspThe Cabinet meeting is scheduled for 1030 am at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat where ministers are expected to deliberate on the governments financial priorities before granting formal approval to the BudgetThe meeting will mark a major milestone for the TVKled coalition government as it prepares to present its maiden full Budget after assuming office following the 2026 Assembly electionsThe Budget is expected to outline the governments fiscal strategy and policy priorities for the 202627 financial year It is likely to include measures aimed at strengthening welfare programmes accelerating infrastructure development boosting employment opportunities supporting agriculture improving healthcare and education and attracting fresh investments to the stateSince taking office Chief Minister Vijay has been holding a series of review meetings with senior officials across departments to assess the progress of ongoing schemes identify funding requirements and finalise new initiativesThese consultations are understood to have played a key role in shaping the Budget with the Cabinet meeting expected to serve as the final stage of discussions before the document is presented in the AssemblyOfficials indicated that ministers would review expenditure plans sectorwise allocations and major policy announcements before giving their approval Once cleared by the Cabinet the Budget will be finalised for presentation during the first week of AugustThe forthcoming Budget carries added significance as it will be the first comprehensive financial statement of the TVKled government It is expected to provide a detailed roadmap for the administrations governance agenda while reflecting the promises made by the ruling alliance during the Assembly election campaignEarlier this year the previous DMK government presented an interim Budget for the 202627 financial year in view of the Assembly elections Following the change in government after the polls the Vijayled administration is now preparing to present its first full Budget which is expected to set the tone for its economic and developmental priorities over the coming yearIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tvk-govt-set-to-give-final-approval-to-key-budget-proposals-in-july-16-cabinet-meeting-693018.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-to-set-up-indias-first-govt-driven-ai-university-cm-shivakumar-693023.html Bengaluru July 14 IANS Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday announced that Karnataka will establish Indias first governmentdriven Artificial Intelligence University reaffirming the states ambition to emerge as a global hub for responsible AI innovationnbspThe Chief Minister also announced the creation of an AI Hub that will function as an incubation centre for research and development bringing together startups companies academic institutions and innovators to accelerate AIdriven solutionsMaking the announcements while inaugurating Google IO Connect India 2026 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre BIEC Shivakumar said the proposed AI University would play a pivotal role in developing worldclass AI talent promoting advanced research and fostering collaboration between academia industry and governmentAddressing technology leaders entrepreneurs developers researchers and policymakers from India and abroad Shivakumar described Artificial Intelligence as the defining technological revolution of the present generation comparable to the transformative impact of the steam engine electricity the Internet and mobile technologyKarnatakas vision is to build one of the worlds leading centres for responsible Artificial Intelligence Bengaluru is not just Indias technology capital but one of the worlds most vibrant innovation ecosystems he saidHighlighting the states technological strengths the Chief Minister said Karnataka contributes nearly 40 per cent of Indias software exports while Bengaluru is home to more than 17000 startups and thousands of Global Capability Centres GCCs developing products for global marketsHe said the governments goal is to make Karnataka an AInative state by integrating AI into governance and public service delivery AI he said should help teachers improve learning outcomes enable doctors to diagnose diseases earlier provide farmers with better advisory services deliver faster and more citizencentric government services and empower small businesses to compete more effectivelyShivakumar also emphasised the need to strengthen Karnatakas digital infrastructure by expanding data centres hyperscale computing facilities and research ecosystems to support AI innovation and nextgeneration digital servicesPraising Google for its longstanding partnership with Karnataka he noted that the company has made Bengaluru one of its most significant global centres for engineering research and innovationHe also acknowledged the impact of Googles products including Search Android YouTube Maps Chrome Gmail and Google Pay in transforming how Indians access information conduct business and interact with government servicesInviting Google to deepen its engagement with Karnataka the Chief Minister proposed collaboration in developing AI solutions for education healthcare agriculture and governance supporting startups expanding learning opportunities for students and positioning Karnataka as a global laboratory for responsible AIConcluding his address Shivakumar urged developers to build boldly entrepreneurs to dream big researchers to continue innovating and students to embrace lifelong learning saying Karnataka would continue shaping the future of technology while ensuring AI remains innovative inclusive and trustedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-to-set-up-indias-first-govt-driven-ai-university-cm-shivakumar-693023.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-electricity-cuts-atc-losses-with-crackdown-on-power-theft-693025.html Mumbai July 14 IANS Adani Electricitys antitheft drive has succeeded in significantly reducing its Aggregate Technical and Commercial ATampampC losses to 446 per cent in FY 202526 from 47 per cent in the previous year which positions it among the Discoms with the lowest ATampC losses nationwide according to a company statement issued on TuesdayThis significant reduction of 024 per cent in ATampampC losses across Adani Electricitys extensive network will lower the burden on honest paying consumers the statement saidAdani Electricity conducted 36720 mass raids during the financial year 20252026 and registered 486 First Information Reports FIRs against perpetrators of power theft This intensified vigilance also reflects a 40 per cent increase in oddtiming raids which include early morning late evening and holidaysAdditionally 5897 power theft cases were booked During raids 7925 tons of illegal wires were recovered A total theft of 1982 million units amounting to Rs 4339 crore was assessed according to the statementThe important cases include the successful detection and booking of a highvalue electricity theft case of Rs 163 crore involving direct supply for moulding activity at Swastik Compound Chincholi Bandar Road Malad West on 7th November 2025 by the companys vigilance teamSimilarly on 4th July 2025 another highvalue electricity theft case of Rs 80 lacs was booked involving direct supply for moulding activity at Motilal Nagar Goregaon WestnbspBesides a case involving electricity theft to the tune of Rs 4873 lakh was booked in June involving direct supply for moulding activity at Malad EastStealing electricity is a nonbailable offence Under Section 135 of the Electricity Act 2003 an offender can be punished with a fine a jail term of up to three years or both once proven guiltyAdani Electricity actively collaborates with police authorities to conduct regular mass raids apprehend offenders and confiscate equipment used for power theft During FY 202526 a significant amount of 7925 tons of unauthorized wires and other equipment were seized the statement saidPower theft in highdemand areas like slum clusters where new network development is challenging due to space constraints severely overloads the existing infrastructureThis strain increases maintenance costs due to more frequent cable and transformer failuresAn Adani Electricity spokesperson said Power theft unfairly burdens honest paying consumers Adani Electricity is committed to eliminating the menace of power theft By combating such unlawful activities we safeguard the interests of our customers We will intensify our efforts in specific areas to further reduce ATampampC losses this yearThe significant reduction in ATampampC losses this year is a direct result of our intensified efforts against power theft This not only safeguards our infrastructure but also alleviates the financial burden on our honest paying consumers by enabling us to maintain competitive tariffs he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-electricity-cuts-atc-losses-with-crackdown-on-power-theft-693025.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-files-16th-chargesheet-against-builder-firm-bank-officials-in-noida-homebuyer-fraud-cases-693034.html New Delhi July 14 IANS In a major development in its ongoing probe into largescale homebuyer fraud the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has filed its 16th chargesheet against Ms Saha Infratech Pvt Ltd its director and officials of HDFC Bank Ltd and ICICI Bank Ltd for their alleged involvement in fraudulent activities linked to a housing project in Noida according to an official statement issued on TuesdaynbspThe chargesheet has been filed before the Special Judge for CBI Cases at the Rouse Avenue District Court RADC New DelhiThe CBI investigation revealed that the accused builder company and its director allegedly conspired with bank officials and other private individuals to induce homebuyers and investors through false assurances and misleading representations The accused are alleged to have secured financial gains through illegal and deceptive meansAccording to the agency substantial evidence gathered during the investigation led to the filing of the chargesheet under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act The charges include criminal conspiracy abuse of official position cheating and criminal breach of trustThe CBI is currently investigating 33 other cases registered pursuant to directions issued by the Supreme Court against various builder companies and unidentified officials of financial institutions across the country These cases involve allegations of cheating homebuyers and diversion of fundsSo far the agency has filed 15 chargesheets against several real estate firms including Rudra Buildwell Constructions Pvt Ltd Dream Procon Pvt Ltd Jaypee Infratech Ltd AVJ Developers India Pvt Ltd CHD Developers Pvt Ltd Sequel Buildcon Pvt Ltd Logix City Developers Pvt Ltd Manju J Homes India Ltd Shubhkamna Buildtech Pvt Ltd Ninex Developers Ltd Decent Buildwell Pvt Ltd Rudra Buildwell Projects Pvt Ltd Ithaca Estate Pvt Ltd and LGCL Urban Homes India LLP along with their directors and officials of certain banks and financial institutionsThe CBI reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability in cases involving economic offences corruption and public fraud particularly those adversely affecting the interests of common citizens and homebuyersIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-files-16th-chargesheet-against-builder-firm-bank-officials-in-noida-homebuyer-fraud-cases-693034.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-rs-2983-lakh-transferred-from-deceased-womans-savings-account-three-booked-693035.html Mumbai July 14 A case of alleged fraud involving nearly Rs 2983 lakh withdrawn from the bank account of a deceased account holder has come to light at an Axis Bank branch on Tardeo Road in Mumbai prompting a police investigation According to Mumbai Police the alleged fraud took place in the account of Vimla Patil a deceased customer Preliminary investigation has revealed that a Customer Request Form CRF bearing forged signatures in the name of the deceased was allegedly submitted at the bank following which funds were transferred from the account through NEFT UPI and IMPS transactions to different bank accountsPolice said the total amount allegedly siphoned off from the account was Rs 2983200Following the detection of the alleged fraud officials of Axis Bank approached the police based on which the Tardeo Police Station registered a case against Rahul Panjwani Abhishek Verma and Ram Pal under charges of cheating and other relevant provisions of lawA Mumbai Police official said âA case has been registered and the investigation is underway We are examining the role of the accused and all aspects of the alleged fraudulent transactionsâInvestigators are also probing how the forged Customer Request Form was accepted and processed and whether the accused acted alone or with the assistance of othersPolice are further examining whether the three accused may have used a similar modus operandi to fraudulently withdraw money from the accounts of other deceased account holdersOfficials said the investigation will also focus on tracing the flow of funds transferred through NEFT UPI and IMPS and identifying the beneficiaries of the transactionsThe case has raised concerns over the alleged misuse of banking documents and fraudulent access to accounts belonging to deceased customers Police are collecting documentary and technical evidence as part of the ongoing investigationFurther investigation into the case is underway and officials said appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings of the probe IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-rs-2983-lakh-transferred-from-deceased-womans-savings-account-three-booked-693035.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/champion-of-rajasthani-folk-culture-and-language-kc-maloo-passes-away-at-80-693037.html Jaipur July 14 Former Veena Cassettes founder and noted cultural patron KC Maloo widely regarded as one of the foremost champions of Rajasthani language folk music and cultural heritage passed away after a heart attack late Monday night He was 80 His last rites will be performed on Tuesday at 430 pm The funeral procession will commence from his residence Maloo House Shanti Path Parshvanath Colony Nirman Nagar Jaipur and proceed to Purani Chungi Moksha DhamBorn in 1946 in Sujangarh Churu district KC Maloo devoted his life to the preservation and promotion of Rajasthanâs rich cultural traditionsThrough Veena Cassettes he recorded and distributed thousands of Rajasthani folk songs devotional compositions and cultural performances helping preserve the states musical heritage while providing a platform to countless emerging artistsA committed advocate for the recognition of the Rajasthani language Maloo remained actively associated with the longstanding movement to include Rajasthani in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of IndiaHe also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of a delegation advocating for the languages official recognitionOne of his most significant contributions came during Rajasthans severe drought in 1987 when he organised the historic Lata Mangeshkar Night in Jaipur The concert raised approximately Rs 101 crore for drought relief Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar performed without charging any fee while renowned artists Mohammed Aziz Nitin Mukesh and Usha Mangeshkar also participatedFor his outstanding contributions to art and culture KC Maloo received several prestigious recognitions including the Samagra Kala Sadhana Award and the Dagar Gharana AwardThe Government of Rajasthan also honoured him with the Rajasthan Ratna Award in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to preserving and promoting Rajasthani music language and folk traditions over several decades Just a week before his passing Maloo had met former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at his residenceThe passing of KC Maloo has drawn heartfelt tributes from leaders and members of the cultural fraternity across the country Among those expressing condolences were Grammy Awardwinning musician Vishwa Mohan Bhatt former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot BJP State President Madan Rathore Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and several eminent personalities from the fields of art literature and social service Vishwa Mohan Bhatt described Maloo as an unparalleled patron of folk music whose contribution would be remembered for generationsAshok Gehlot noted that he had met Maloo only a week earlier and said his lifelong dedication to music gave Rajasthani songs a distinct identity across India and around the worldMLA Gopal Sharma described Maloos life as an extraordinary example of selfless public service and cultural dedication carried out without government assistance Maloo conducted extensive research on traditional Rajasthani wedding songs and compiled 221 songs into two comprehensive volumes regarded as one of the worlds largest documented collections of wedding songsPublished in Hindi English and Rajasthani the collection was further preserved through 24 audiovideo CDs Over his lifetime he prepared manuscripts and audio recordings of more than 5000 Rajasthani folk songs creating an enduring archive for future generations Through iconic albums featuring classics such as Ghoomar Cheermi and Kangasiyo he brought Rajasthans folk traditions to audiences across India and abroadHe also established SurSangam a leading institution dedicated to indigenous music and strengthened Veena Music as one of the countrys most respected platforms for Rajasthani folk musicWorking alongside legendary composer Naushad he played a pivotal role in elevating the stature of Rajasthani folk music by bringing together celebrated artists from across the nationKC Maloo leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of cultural preservation artistic excellence and unwavering commitment to Rajasthans language and folk traditions His contributions will continue to inspire generations of artists researchers and cultural enthusiasts IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/champion-of-rajasthani-folk-culture-and-language-kc-maloo-passes-away-at-80-693037.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/keralas-jailed-bjp-councillor-takes-oath-inside-viyyur-prison-693041.html Thrissur July 14 In an unprecedented development in the history of Keralas local selfgovernment jailed BJP leader R Sugathan elected as a councillor to the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation was sworn into office inside the Viyyur Central Prison on Tuesday after the Kerala High Court permitted the oathtaking ceremony to be conducted in jail The brief but historic ceremony was held at around 11 am in the prisons library hall and lasted less than three minutesThe oath was read out by Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Mayor VV Rajesh and Sugathan repeated itThe Corporation Secretary and the Superintendent of Viyyur Central Prison were present on the daisThe Corporation Secretary initiated the proceedings and invited the Mayor to administer the oath Reading from the prescribed text the Mayor administered the oath which Sugathan repeated taking the pledge in the name of God before signing the required documentsSugathan is lodged in Viyyur Central Prison in connection with proceedings initiated against him under the Kerala AntiSocial Activities Prevention Act KAAPAHe moved the Kerala High Court seeking permission to take the statutory oath from prison arguing that failure to do so within the prescribed period would result in the loss of his elected officeThe High Court granted permission paving the way for Tuesdays swearingin while directing that the ceremony be conducted strictly in accordance with the law and under the supervision of the competent authoritiesThe event is believed to be the first instance in Kerala of an elected local body representative being sworn into office from inside a prisonThe unusual venue underscored the legal principle that an elected representative unless disqualified under law retains the right to assume office after being duly electedWith the oath administered Sugathan formally assumes office as a councillor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation even as the legal proceedings against him continueRajesh speaking to the media outside the jail said that as per the directive of the High Court Sugathan has been sworn inâThere were two cases against him at a local court in Nedumangadu and he has got bail Then there is the KAAPA case The opposition is free to say anything and itâs their job We will also do our job and thatâs why the CPIM is unhappy said RajeshThe ward of Sugathan is now taken care of by me and there is no unfinished work in his constituencyâ said RajeshSP Deepak CPIM councillor in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation said this has brought disrepute to the corporation and the BJP leadership has to take full responsibility for thisâWe are continuing our protest Sugathan has not taken part in the two previous council meetings and if he remains absent for a third time in succession then he will lose his post The Mayor is delaying the holding of the next Council meeting for obvious reasonsâ said Deepak IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/keralas-jailed-bjp-councillor-takes-oath-inside-viyyur-prison-693041.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-woman-poisons-her-two-children-to-death-dies-by-suicide-693045.html Amaravati July 14 In a tragic incident a woman poisoned her two minor sons to death before committing suicide in Andhra Pradeshâs Palnadu district According to police the incident occurred at Vittamrajupalli village in Vinukonda mandalNakka Bharati 24 killed Tejesh Reddy 6 and Hemanatha Nagi Reddy 4 before hanging herself at her housePolice suspect that she served food laced with poison to her sons on Monday night and then died by suicideThe incident came to light on Tuesday morning Villages informed the police and a team rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies for postmortem examinationFamily dispute is believed to have led to the tragedy Bharati was married to Sunil Reddy who works as driver of a milk vanAccording to their neighbours Sunil Reddy had become addicted to vices and was allegedly not taking proper care of the family This had led to frequent fights between the husband and wifePolice registered a case and took up further investigationThis is the latest in a series of such tragic incidents in Telugu states Family disputes were found to be the main cause for most of the incidentsEarlier a woman slit the throats of two young daughters and later attempted to kill herself by slitting her own throat The incident had occurred on June 30 in Srikakulam district of Andhra PradeshAccording to police Varalakshmi killed her daughters Bhavani 3 and Chandni four months Family dispute led to the alleged killings and suicide attemptOn June 13 a woman killed her two children before committing suicide The incident had occurred in Adavi Venkatapuram village of Telanganaâs Vikarabad districtAccording to police Nabanita 27 killed her son Vignesh 7 and daughter Madhupriya 5 before killing herself She was reportedly in the grip of severe depression following a domestic dispute IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-woman-poisons-her-two-children-to-death-dies-by-suicide-693045.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-electricity-cuts-atampc-losses-with-crackdown-on-power-theft-693046.html Mumbai July 14 Adani Electricityâs antitheft drive has succeeded in significantly reducing its Aggregate Technical and Commercial ATampC losses to 446 per cent in FY 202526 from 47 per cent in the previous year which positions it among the Discoms with the lowest ATampC losses nationwide according to a company statement issued on Tuesday This significant reduction of 024 per cent in ATampC losses across Adani Electricityâs extensive network will lower the burden on honest paying consumers the statement saidAdani Electricity conducted 36720 mass raids during the financial year 20252026 and registered 486 First Information Reports FIRs against perpetrators of power theft This intensified vigilance also reflects a 40 per cent increase in oddtiming raids which include early morning late evening and holidaysAdditionally 5897 power theft cases were booked During raids 7925 tons of illegal wires were recovered A total theft of 1982 million units amounting to Rs 4339 crore was assessed according to the statementThe important cases include the successful detection and booking of a highvalue electricity theft case of Rs 163 crore involving direct supply for moulding activity at Swastik Compound Chincholi Bandar Road Malad West on 7th November 2025 by the companyâs vigilance teamSimilarly on 4th July 2025 another highvalue electricity theft case of Rs 80 lacs was booked involving direct supply for moulding activity at Motilal Nagar Goregaon West Besides a case involving electricity theft to the tune of Rs 4873 lakh was booked in June involving direct supply for moulding activity at Malad EastStealing electricity is a nonbailable offence Under Section 135 of the Electricity Act 2003 an offender can be punished with a fine a jail term of up to three years or both once proven guiltyAdani Electricity actively collaborates with police authorities to conduct regular mass raids apprehend offenders and confiscate equipment used for power theft During FY 202526 a significant amount of 7925 tons of unauthorized wires and other equipment were seized the statement saidPower theft in highdemand areas like slum clusters where new network development is challenging due to space constraints severely overloads the existing infrastructureThis strain increases maintenance costs due to more frequent cable and transformer failuresAn Adani Electricity spokesperson said Power theft unfairly burdens honest paying consumers Adani Electricity is committed to eliminating the menace of power theft By combating such unlawful activities we safeguard the interests of our customers We will intensify our efforts in specific areas to further reduce ATampC losses this yearâThe significant reduction in ATampC losses this year is a direct result of our intensified efforts against power theft This not only safeguards our infrastructure but also alleviates the financial burden on our honest paying consumers by enabling us to maintain competitive tariffsâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-electricity-cuts-atampc-losses-with-crackdown-on-power-theft-693046.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fake-fb-account-in-bluru-dcps-name-fir-filed-after-fraudster-dupes-public-friends-693048.html Bengaluru July 14 The Hebbagodi Police in Bengaluru on Tuesday registered an FIR against an unidentified person for allegedly creating a fake Facebook account in the name of M Narayana Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP Electronic City Division and using it to fraudulently collect money from the officers friends and members of the public The complaint in the case has been filed by DCP Narayana after it came to light that an impersonator had created a fake social media profile posing as the senior IPS officer and allegedly sought financial assistance from people known to himAccording to the FIR the accused has already managed to collect money from some of the DCPs friends and members of the public by falsely claiming to be the officerBased on the complaint the Hebbagodi Police have registered a case against the unidentified accused under Sections 3184 and 3192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS 2023 along with Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act 2000 The provisions deal with cheating identity theft and cheating by personation using computer resourcesAccording to the complaint the accused created and operated the fake Facebook profile to impersonate the DCP and contacted people through the account requesting money on various pretexts Investigators suspect that the fraudster exploited the officers identity and credibility to convince victims to transfer fundsThe FIR states that the accused created a fake profile under the name Om Singh and used it to communicate with prospective victims The complaint also includes details of the bank account mobile numbers and UPI ID allegedly used by the accused to receive the money These financial details are now being examined as part of the investigation to trace the flow of funds and identify the person behind the fraudPolice are also analysing the digital trail including social media activity and transaction records to determine the extent of the cheating and ascertain whether more people have fallen victim to the scamThe Hebbagodi Police have launched a detailed investigation to identify and apprehend the accused They have also advised the public to exercise caution while responding to requests for money received through social media platforms even if they appear to originate from government officials or police officers Citizens have been urged to verify the authenticity of such accounts through official channels before making any financial transactionsMeanwhile DCP M Narayana released a video on Facebook cautioning the public against the fraudulent account Miscreants have created a fake Facebook account in my name IPS NARAYANA M and are cheating members of the public by collecting money on the pretext of selling household items at discounted prices I have not recommended the sale of any products nor have I shared the contact details of any individual he saidIn this regard a case has been registered The public is advised not to trust such phone calls messages or social media posts Before making any financial transaction they should verify the authenticity of the information through official channels he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fake-fb-account-in-bluru-dcps-name-fir-filed-after-fraudster-dupes-public-friends-693048.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/brs-congress-policies-eroded-confidence-of-singareni-workers-kishan-reddy-693051.html Hyderabad July 14 Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday alleged that the policies of successive BRS and Congress governments have steadily eroded the confidence and sense of security of the employees of Singareni Collieries Company Limited SCCL He claimed that Singareni has repeatedly been used as a political tool by previous governments instead of being strengthened as one of the countrys most important public sector enterprisesAs part of âSingareni Bharosa Yatraâ he visited KTK8 Mine in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district and interacted with Singareni workers and their familiesThe Central minister stated that unwavering commitment and hard work of the workers have been instrumental in powering Indias growth for decadesKishan Reddy highlighted the growing anxiety and uncertainty that has gripped Singareni workers over the last decade and emphasised that it is unfortunate that after the formation of Telangana the policies and failures of successive BRS and Congress governments have steadily eroded the confidence and sense of security of the workforceThe Union Minister demanded complete transparency from the Telangana government regarding the utilisation of District Mineral Foundation DMF funds provided by the CentreHe also raised serious concerns over the nearly â¹9000 crore in pending dues owed to Singareni for coal supplied to Telangana GENCO which has placed an unnecessary financial burden on the companyHe claimed that the Centres decision to allocate the Tadicherla2 Coal Block to Singareni reflects the unwavering commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards protecting Singareni safeguarding the interests of its workers and strengthening Telanganas growthHe expressed confidence that when the Bharatiya Janata Party forms the government in Telangana it will further strengthen Singareni ensure transparent governance improve workers welfare and develop the organisation with the welfare and aspirations of its workers at the heart of every decisionKishan reaffirmed his commitment to restoring Singareni to sustained profitability reassured the workforce and their families of his unwavering support He also reaffirmed commitment to securing a stronger more prosperous future for the companyBJP Telangana State President N Ramchander Rao MLC Anji Reddy MLA Dhanpal Suryanarayana and other BJP leaders were present IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/brs-congress-policies-eroded-confidence-of-singareni-workers-kishan-reddy-693051.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-hc-rejects-pulsar-sunis-plea-to-suspend-sentence-in-2017-actress-assault-case-693053.html Kochi July 14 The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed the plea filed by Pulsar Suni the prime accused in the 2017 actress assault case seeking suspension of his sentence pending the disposal of his appeal Rejecting the petition the High Court observed that the dignity of the survivor also had to be taken into consideration while deciding the requestPulsar Suni was sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment by the trial court after being convicted in the caseHis appeal challenging the conviction and seeking to have the sentence set aside is currently pending before the High CourtMeanwhile he had sought suspension of the sentence until the appeal is finally decidedOpposing the plea the survivor pointed out before the court that the offence committed was a heinous crime and that the trial court had found the first accused guilty after a fullfledged trialShe argued that suspending the sentence would send a wrong message and be perceived as diminishing the gravity of the offenceThe prosecution also urged the court not to suspend the sentenceIt informed the court that its appeal seeking enhancement of the sentence awarded to the accused is also pending considerationThe state government further argued that the first accused is a habitual offender with a serious criminal backgroundIt pointed out that the accused had repeatedly approached the courts seeking bail following which he had even been fined by the court for filing successive bail petitionsThe prosecution also submitted that within a month of being released on bail by the Supreme Court in an earlier case the accused was implicated in yet another criminal case demonstrating that he was a repeat offenderAfter hearing the arguments advanced by both sides the High Court dismissed Pulsar Sunis plea seeking suspension of his sentence pending the disposal of his appealIn the case of actor Dileep who was in jail soon after the 2017 incident was however acquitted along with a few others IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-hc-rejects-pulsar-sunis-plea-to-suspend-sentence-in-2017-actress-assault-case-693053.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-cm-urges-centre-to-complete-warangal-adilabad-airports-by-june-2028-693054.html Hyderabad July 14 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday met Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu in New Delhi and sought cooperation to complete Warangal and Adilabad airports by June 2 2028 The Chief Minister told media persons after the meeting that they discussed issues relating to the two upcoming airportsHe stated that the Union Minister was extending his cooperation for the construction of these two airportsâWe have set a target to complete the work on these two airports and inaugurate them by June 2 2028â said the Chief MinisterHe noted that Telangana which accounts for 250 per cent of the countrys population contributes 5 per cent to the national GDPThe Chief Minister stated that airports meeting international standards are essential for the states further developmentHe said Kakatiya culture will be given prominence in the design of the Warangal airportâWe are holding the necessary discussions to secure cooperation from the Central government A spirit of cooperation between the Central and state governments will continue with development as the primary goalâ he saidRam Mohan Naidu told media persons that Revanth Reddy clearly mentioned that the Warangal airport would be completed by June 2 2028 which is Telanganas formation day He said if necessary extra efforts would be put in to achieve the targetHe announced that the work on the airport would begin in three weeksAccording to the Chief Ministerâs Office the two leaders discussed design and proposed facilities at both upcoming airportsRam Mohan Naidu had said in April that the foundation stone for the airport at Mamnoor in Warangal would be laid in three months The state government has already allotted the land for building the airportAfter a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Ram Mohan Naidu and Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy he announced that an airport for defence will be built in Adilabad which will have an enclave for civil operationsWhile the defence already has an airstrip with 360 acres in Adilabad the Civil Aviation Ministry asked the state government to acquire another 450 acres for building the airportThe proposed airport will be a major facility with a runway capable of handling Airbus A320 aircraft IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-cm-urges-centre-to-complete-warangal-adilabad-airports-by-june-2028-693054.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/balochistan-chaos-gives-isi-fresh-opportunity-to-push-drugs-into-india-693055.html New Delhi July 14 India is in the midst of one of its biggest crackdowns on narcotic smuggling However the ISI which relies on narcotic money to fund terror operations in India has ensured that poppy cultivation in Balochistan has gone up multifold so that it can push drugs into the country Union Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly told the security agencies that he wants to ensure that India is drug free The ban on poppy cultivation by the Afghan Taliban was a much needed move Afghan accounted for the highest poppy cultivation in the region prior to its ban on April 3 2022This wiped out 95 per cent of the cultivation of poppy in Afghanistan India has been a big market for narcotic smugglers While this ban has been a major relief for India Pakistan however decided to take advantage of the situationIt made Balochistan the biggest poppy cultivation hub and also aided the Myanmar cartels in setting up methamphetamine labsIndian officials say that this is a crucial period on the war against drugs The deteriorating situation in Balochistan and Myanmarâs security situation remaining highly volatile and fragile will only lead to narcotic cartels enhancing their tradeAn Intelligence Bureau official said that the ISI which relies the most on narcotic trade money to fund terror operations in India has ensured that poppy cultivation in Balochistan has gone up multifoldBalochistan has descended into chaos following violent clashes between the Pakistan security forces and the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA This chaos has in fact benefited poppy cultivators as they go about their business unabatedThe official added that the ISI will look to take advantage of this situation and aim for a bigger push into the Indian marketsThe situation in Balochistan has even distracted international law enforcement agencies The focus is more on the violence which is affecting the minerals deal with the United States and also the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor Project CPEC officials sayAnother official said that the violence in Balochistan is no doubt affecting the Pakistan establishment but the ISI has found ways to benefit from the situationThe ban on poppy cultivation was in fact a big blow for the ISI When the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan shared good ties all the poppy from Afghanistan would go through the Pakistan routeHowever with ties at an all time low and the ban on poppy enforced by the Taliban Pakistan decided to move the trade into BalochistanThe ISI invited Afghan poppy farmers into Balochistan to cultivate poppy while also teaching the locals about the process With the situation in Balochistan failing officials warn that the ISI would ramp up poppy cultivation and push the produce in much larger bulks into IndiaThe official said that the Indian law enforcement agencies would need to keep a close watch on four routesThe Intelligence agencies have learnt that the biggest push would be made through the maritime route Poppy which is cultivated in Balochistanâs Chagan Chaghi and Nushki districts is moved into Indiaâs Gujarat and MaharashtraDrugs are loaded onto high speed boats before they make their way into India While the maritime route would be the toughest challenge for the Indian agencies the ISI has also plans of pushing poppy in much larger numbers using the desert land route from the Balochistan to Rajasthan borderOfficials also warn that the international route could also be used to move drugs into IndiaThe cartels would move the drugs into Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia Oman or Dubai before it makes it way into IndiaOfficials say that the Punjab frontier is already a major cause for concern Drones are being used to drop in the drugs The ISI has also helped cartels source drones which have a larger capacityThe drones are now connected to satellites which have only made its capability to avoid detection even higher officials sayAnother official said that poppy cultivation in Balochistan is being carried out under the guidance of the ISI The army too is actively assisting these cartels involved in poppy tradeThe official added that the ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan had not only benefited India but other nations in Europe which were also victims of this tradeHowever the ISI and Pakistan army has overcome all of this and has restructured the poppy opium industry in SouthWest AsiaAfghanistan used to supply 80 per cent of the worldâs opium and 95 per cent of Europeâs heroin The ISI post the ban stepped in and restructured the entire industry with Balochistan as its main base officials add IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/balochistan-chaos-gives-isi-fresh-opportunity-to-push-drugs-into-india-693055.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/expelled-him-from-aap-long-ago-says-kejriwal-amid-criticism-over-ex-councillor-tahir-hussains-conviction-693058.html New Delhi July 14 IANS Facing flak over the conviction of former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in the 2020 Delhi riots case the partys national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday sought to distance himself stating that the convict had been expelled from the party long agonbspKejriwal taking to his X account posted We expelled him from AAP long long back Didnt he join one of chanda chor partys sister organizationHis reply comes on the back of scathing criticism from the BJP which questioned the silence of AAP leaders over the conviction of one of its own leadersTahir Hussain was convicted by a city court on Monday six years after the deadly Delhi riots for the brutal murder of Intelligence Bureau IB officer Ankit Sharma Hussain and four others were found guilty on charges of promoting enmity rioting assault criminal force and murderFollowing Hussains conviction Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra questioned the silence of the AAP leadership and asked in a presser Why are Arvind Kejriwal Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh silent after the conviction Why have they not come forward and said anything on the matterThe BJPs central leadership while escalating the attack said that the convicted excouncillor was a blueeyed boy of Arvind KejriwalBJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that AAP leaders including Sanjay Singh and Arvind Kejriwal defended Tahir Hussain to the hilt for their votebank politicsThe nation would not forget that the AAP had chosen to stand with a murderer and rioter for electoral gains he saidShehzad Poonawalla called Hussains conviction an indictment of AAP and CongressHussain has been convicted Satyamev Jayate It is the conviction of the entire AAPCongress ecosystem which was behind these antiHindu riots Poonawalla alleged in a video statementReacting to these charges AAP stated on Monday that Hussain had no association with the party after his suspension from primary membership in 2020 following an FIR registered against himNotably the IB officer Ankit Sharma had gone missing during the communal violence in NorthEast Delhi and his body was later recovered from a drain near the Chand Bagh areaIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/expelled-him-from-aap-long-ago-says-kejriwal-amid-criticism-over-ex-councillor-tahir-hussains-conviction-693058.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/piyush-goyals-visit-to-spain-belgium-and-finland-set-to-deepen-india-eu-trade-ties-692908.html New Delhi July 13 IANS As India and the European Union work towards the early implementation of the IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement FTA Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal embarked on a threenation visit on Monday with a highlevel business delegationThe visit to Spain Belgium and Finland from July 1317 underscores Indias commitment to strengthening economic partnerships across Europe with a focus on trade investment technology innovation and sustainability according to an official statementAccording to Commerce Ministry across Spain Belgium and Finland the visit will highlight key themes of advanced manufacturing clean energy and sustainability digital and frontier technologies gems and jewellery and food and consumer industriesGoyals visit reflects Indias steadfast commitment to deepening its engagement with the European Union one of its largest trading partners and to advancing an ambitious balanced and mutually beneficial agreement that contributes to resilient supply chains sustainable growth and a rulesbased global trading systemAn official statement said that the visit is also expected to impart fresh momentum to Indias engagement with Europe by promoting trade and investment strengthening collaboration in emerging technologies clean energy innovation and advanced manufacturing fostering closer partnerships between businesses and innovation ecosystems and reinforcing Indias position as a trusted global partner for innovation manufacturing and sustainabilityIn Spain Goyal will hold bilateral meetings with Carlos Cuerpo Caballero First Vice President of the Government of Spain and Minister of Economy Trade and Business Jordi Hereu Boher Minister of Industry and Tourism and Jose Manuel Albares Bueno Minister of Foreign Affairs European Union and CooperationnbspThe minister will also chair an IndiaSpain Business Roundtable with leading Spanish companies and industry associations to showcase Indias investment opportunities and encourage greater businesstobusiness partnerships Goyal will participate in a Business Roundtable with the Chamber of Commerce of Spain CEOE and ICEX Spain Trade ampamp InvestmentnbspIn Belgium Goyal will undertake site visits to the Port of Antwerp and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre The minister will also hold CEOlevel meetings with Alain Queverin of Thales Group and JeanChristophe Bogaert of Silox GroupnbspIn Brussels Goyal will cochair the third IndiaEU Trade and Technology Council TTC Ministerial Meeting The IndiaEU TTC serves as the highest institutional mechanism for cooperation on trade trusted technology and economic securityIn Finland Goyal is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Dr Sakari Puisto Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland and participate in the IndiaFinland Business Roundtable with Finnish companiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/piyush-goyals-visit-to-spain-belgium-and-finland-set-to-deepen-india-eu-trade-ties-692908.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jpc-on-one-nation-one-election-visits-up-anurag-thakur-says-gathering-nationwide-feedback-692911.html Lucknow July 13 IANS BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Monday said that the Joint Parliamentary Committee JPC examining the proposed One Nation One Election legislation is consulting political parties and government officials across the country to gather suggestions before finalising its report on simultaneous electionsThe committee is currently in Lucknow as part of its nationwide consultations on the proposed electoral reformSpeaking to IANS in Lucknow Thakur said The Joint Parliamentary Committee JPC on One Nation One Election visited several states to consult with political parties government officials and civil society regarding the governments proposed bill seeking suggestions or amendments to improve it The objective is to enable simultaneous elections for Legislative Assemblies and the Lok Sabha across the countryHe said the existing electoral system results in repeated disruptions to governance because of the frequent enforcement of the Model Code of ConductCurrently the repeated imposition of the Model Code of Conduct over a fiveyear period disrupts governance and stalls investments or development projects furthermore the electoral cycle often overshadows other critical administrative tasks as vast numbers of personnel are diverted to election duties Thakur saidHighlighting the differing viewpoints surrounding the proposal the BJP leader said there is substantial data supporting the concept of simultaneous elections although political parties continue to hold divergent opinions on the issueWhile there is significant data supporting the One Nation One Election concept and the benefits of involving so many people in this process political parties hold varying views some fear that national issues might dominate the discourse if simultaneous elections are held and the regional issues might not be highlighted Despite these differing arguments a large number of people support the One Nation One Election initiative he addedThe Joint Parliamentary Committee is expected to finalise and adopt its report during its meeting scheduled for July 17 before submitting it to Parliament for further considerationThe Constitution One Hundred and TwentyNinth Amendment Bill 2024 forms the legislative basis for the proposed One Nation One Election reform which seeks to synchronise elections to the Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies across the countryAlongside it the Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill 2024 has also been introduced as part of the broader legislative framework designed to facilitate the implementation of simultaneous elections in the Union TerritoriesThe JPC is presently scrutinising both the Constitution 129th Amendment Bill 2024 and the Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill 2024 examining their provisions and seeking inputs from a wide range of stakeholders before submitting its recommendationsBoth Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 17 2024 and were subsequently referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee for detailed examination Together they aim to lay the legal and constitutional foundation for conducting simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies throughout the countryIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jpc-on-one-nation-one-election-visits-up-anurag-thakur-says-gathering-nationwide-feedback-692911.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-issues-notice-to-ram-janmabhoomi-teerth-kshetra-trust-seeks-up-sit-report-692921.html New Delhi July 13 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and sought a status report from the Special Investigation Team SIT constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on a batch of petitions seeking a courtmonitored probe into the alleged financial irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings received by the Ram temple in AyodhyanbspA Bench headed by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant directed the SIT to place before the top court a detailed status report including its composition and posted the batch of petitions for further hearing on July 20The Bench also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the order while hearing a batch of petitions including a writ petition filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami a criminal writ petition filed by Ajay Kumar Rai and a separate plea moved by RJD MP Sudhakar SinghTaking note of the ongoing investigation the Supreme Court directed the SIT constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to file a status report before it Since some FIRs have already been registered and an SIT has been constituted to investigate we direct the SIT constituted by the State of Uttar Pradesh to submit a status report before this Court The status report shall also give full particulars of the composition of the SIT the order saidAppearing on behalf of the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government Solicitor General SG Tushar Mehta submitted that notice to the government authorities may not be necessary as they would be assisting the apex court in the matterSG Mehta informed the CJI Kantled Bench that the status report would be placed before it in a sealed coverWhen the petitioners requested that a copy of the status report also be furnished to them the Solicitor General opposed the plea saying the investigation was still in progressDeclining the request at this stage the top court remarked We will see later Its an ongoing investigation You know the law We have passed an orderThe matter has been posted for further consideration on July 20The petitions seek a courtmonitored investigation into the alleged financial irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra TrustThe writ petition filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami in his personal capacity seeks directions for preservation of records and evidence relating to donations made at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple and greater transparency in the administration of temple offeringsAccording to the plea offerings made to a deity in a public temple constitute sacred trust property vesting in the deity as a juristic person and persons handling such offerings are fiduciaries bound by duties of transparency accountability and preservationThe petition has sought immediate preservation of all records CCTV footage and digital logs relating to donations and offerings at the temple besides seeking a sealed status report of the SIT probe and an independent forensic audit of all donations offerings and valuable items received by the Trust since its inceptionIt has also urged the apex court to direct the formulation of minimum constitutional safeguards for transparent handling of public temple donations and offerings in temples of national importanceMeanwhile RJD MP Sudhakar Singh has sought transfer of the ongoing probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI under the direct monitoring of the Supreme Court His petition also seeks the appointment of a temporary courtmonitored oversight committee of retired judicial officers and financial experts to oversee the Trusts secular financial affairs preservation of all financial records restrictions on major financial decisions pending investigation a comprehensive forensic audit and publication of audited financial statements and donation logs on the Trusts official websiteIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-issues-notice-to-ram-janmabhoomi-teerth-kshetra-trust-seeks-up-sit-report-692921.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nothing-left-for-kejriwal-in-politics-bjp-leader-on-aap-chiefs-religious-remarks-692922.html New Delhi July 13 IANS BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Monday launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal alleging that the former Delhi Chief Minister has lost political credibility and only turns to religious issues when elections approachnbspReacting to the ongoing political exchanges over religion and the recitation of the Sundarkand Hussain accused Kejriwal and the AAP of exploiting matters of faith for electoral gainsnbspSpeaking to IANS Hussain said There is nothing left for Arvind Kejriwal in politics His credibility has fallen to zero When he was in power in Delhi he and his party worked to loot the city The Sheesh Mahal leader is now in power in Punjab where even their Chief Minister is facing allegations of insulting religious scriptures They have no real concern for religion Whenever elections approach they suddenly start engaging in religious rituals and worshipThe BJP leaders remarks come amid an intensifying political war of words between the BJP and the AAP over issues related to religion and public expressions of faithMeanwhile Ayodhya saint Vishnu Das Maharaj also criticised Kejriwal and several Opposition leaders accusing them of politicising matters connected with religion and the Ram TemplenbspSpeaking in Ayodhya Vishnu Das Maharaj said Akhilesh Yadav has never stood with the Ram Mandir he has stood with the Babri Masjid In my view he admired Babur rather than Lord Ram He also met Mamata Banerjee and other leaders who according to me share similar views Those who admired Babur and Aurangzeb are now claiming to have faith in Lord Ram If Arvind Kejriwal and others continue to engage in what I consider dirty politics then I believe people like them should not be allowed to enter Ayodhya I believe they should be driven away because Ayodhya is a centre of faith while they are doing politics over it Whether it is Arvind Kejriwal Rahul Gandhi Akhilesh Yadav or others I believe they are politicising matters related to faithThe reactions came after Kejriwal escalated the AAPs political attack on the BJP on Sunday claiming that those opposing the recitation of the Sundarkand have demonic tendenciesnbspIn a post on social media Kejriwal wrote Lord Rama had said In Kaliyuga people with demonic tendencies will oppose the recitation of the SundarakandanbspnbspThe AAP chief made the remark while responding to the Delhi BJPs criticism of the religious event further intensifying the political confrontation between the two parties over issues of faith ahead of upcoming electoral contestsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nothing-left-for-kejriwal-in-politics-bjp-leader-on-aap-chiefs-religious-remarks-692922.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assams-cancer-survival-rate-reaches-62-pc-exceeds-national-average-himanta-sarma-692924.html Guwahati July 13 IANS Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the states threetier cancer care programme has significantly improved cancer treatment outcomes with the survival rate reaching 62 per cent which is substantially higher than the national averagenbspSharing the achievement on social media the Chief Minister attributed the improved survival rate to timely screening early diagnosis and prompt treatment under the states integrated cancer care modelOur 3tier cancer care programme is delivering excellent results Due to timely testing diagnosis and treatment our survival rate stands at 62 per cent much above the national average CM Sarma saidnbspHe added that the state government has launched an ambitious drive to screen 124 crore people for early detection of cancer aiming to reduce mortality through timely medical interventionnbspAccording to official figures released by the Chief Minister Assam currently has 12 operational cancer care centres functioning under the threetier distributed healthcare modelThe state has already screened 47 lakh people for various types of cancer as part of its mass screening initiative while the target is to cover 124 crore people in the upcoming phasenbspThe data further showed that more than one lakh CT scans have been conducted across the states cancer care facilities Around 50000 indoor patients have received treatment at these centres highlighting the increasing utilisation of specialised oncology servicesOfficials said the cancer care network has also delivered over 156 lakh chemotherapy sessions and more than 17000 radiation therapy procedures strengthening access to advanced cancer treatment within the statenbspThe Assam government has been expanding cancer care infrastructure over the past few years through dedicated cancer hospitals and specialised treatment centres established in partnership with healthcare institutionsThe Chief Minister said the government would continue strengthening early detection mechanisms and treatment facilities to ensure that cancer patients receive quality healthcare closer to their homes while increasing screening coverage across the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assams-cancer-survival-rate-reaches-62-pc-exceeds-national-average-himanta-sarma-692924.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/maharashtra-kharif-sowing-hits-59-pc-after-july-rain-revival-lags-behind-last-years-82-pc-692931.html Mumbai July 13 IANS Widespread rainfall across Maharashtra during the first week of July has significantly accelerated Kharif sowing operations By July 12 the state recorded sowing across 8461 lakh hectares accounting for 59 per cent of the average Kharif area However this progress lags behind the previous year when 82 per cent of the sowing 118 crore hectares was completed during the same periodnbspnbspThe agriculture department has cited the El Niño impact for low sowing compared to last yearA dry spell throughout June had left the state with a dismal 28 per cent sowing rate by the beginning of July The subsequent revival of the monsoon in the first week of July provided muchneeded relief driving up cultivation numbers While regions like Vidarbha and Marathwada have registered satisfactory progress the Konkan Pune and Kolhapur divisions are currently lagging behind said the state agriculture department sourcesAccording to the agriculture department data the Amravati division in Vidarbha is leading the states Kharif operations having completed sowing across 81 per cent of its average area Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar follows at 65 per cent with Latur at 63 per cent Nashik at 56 per cent and Nagpur at 53 per cent Rice transplantation in the Konkan region has faced setbacks due to early monsoon erraticism Rice seedlings sown in the first week of June withered away after the rains vanished Following the arrival of good spells in July farmers had to resow the nurseriesRafik Naikwadi Director of the Agriculture Department said the sowing percentage in Konkan will remain low until these new seedlings mature and become ready for transplantation Crop plantation in the coastal region is expected to gain momentum only in the latter half of JulyAcknowledging the uneven distribution Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane urged farmers in lagging regions not to rush the process While Vidarbha and Marathwada have seen satisfactory progress Pune Kolhapur and Konkan are yet to reach expected sowing levelsThe Minister advised farmers to wait for adequate and sustained rainfall before initiating sowing operations He added that premature sowing during early isolated showers puts crops at severe risk of failing if followed by extended dry spells Farmers are being advised by the department to shift focus towards climateresilient and lowwaterconsuming crops to mitigate the impact of dry spells said the ministerTo offset the damage caused by long gaps between two rain showers Minister Bharane emphasised scaling up support for farm ponds He directed the administrative machinery to make critical raw materials particularly plastic lining sheets for farm ponds immediately available to farmers to maximise rainwater storage The administration is operating under directives to plan resource distribution fodder availability and drinking water management keeping the upcoming seasons in view treating prolonged dry spells as an immediate challenge he notedIn response to immense rural distress caused by inadequate rainfall and crop damage the minister confirmed that the government is accelerating crop insurance evaluations panchnamas and finalising the logistics for major financial support initiatives aiming to ease the severe credit crunch gripping dryland farmersMinister Bharane said the Agriculture Department has issued specific instructions to municipal and district officials to ensure adequate supplies of quality seeds and fertilisers are maintained so that farmers face no shortages when sustained rainfall finally permits latestage sowingIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/maharashtra-kharif-sowing-hits-59-pc-after-july-rain-revival-lags-behind-last-years-82-pc-692931.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-serves-rs-100-crore-defamation-notice-to-omar-abdullah-over-mla-bribery-remarks-692933.html Jammu July 13 IANS The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP has served a Rs 100 crore defamation notice to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his remarks that the party was offering Rs 2030 crore to MLAs to bring down his governmentnbspOn his party convention on July 11 to observe the 26th death anniversary of his grandmother Begum Akbar Jahan popularly known as the MadreMeherbaan Benevolent mother Omar Abdullah alleged that a senior BJP leader had approached one of his partys MLAs belonging to Jammu division offering Rs 2030 crore a ministerial berth and statehood to defect so that the National Conference government is brought downThe defamation notice demands Omar Abdullahs unconditional public apology and withdrawal of the remarks within seven daysnbspThe notice warns that failure to comply would invite civil and criminal proceedings including a defamation suit seeking Rs 100 crore in damagesnbspThe notice was issued through Advocate Parimoksh Seth on the instructions of JampampK BJP president and Rajya Sabha member Sat Paul SharmanbspAccording to the notice the Chief Minister alleged that BJP leaders had approached one National Conference MLA from the Jammu region with offers of Rs 20 crore to Rs 30 crore ministerial berths and assurances of restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs statehood in exchange for joining the Bharatiya Janata PartyHe had also claimed that a senior BJP functionary who is also a practising Supreme Court advocate was involved in making the alleged offersnbspRejecting the allegations the BJP termed them false baseless malicious and defamatory and asserted that they were made without any evidence with the intention of damaging the partys credibility and public imagenbspThe party has called upon the Chief Minister to withdraw the allegations in writing issue an unconditional public apology within seven days and refrain from making or repeating similar statements in futureThe notice states that if the demands are not met within the stipulated period the BJP will initiate appropriate legal proceedings including a Rs 100 crore civil defamation claim and criminal action under the relevant provisions of lawnbspIt further states that the notice has been issued without prejudice to any other legal remedies available to the partynbspThe BJP has consistently denied the allegations describing them as politically motivated and defamatoryIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-serves-rs-100-crore-defamation-notice-to-omar-abdullah-over-mla-bribery-remarks-692933.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ram-temple-trust-invites-applications-for-ceo-post-amid-donation-embezzlement-row-692934.html Ayodhya July 13 IANS The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday invited applications from eligible candidates for the post of Chief Executive Officer CEO of the temple as the controversy surrounding the donation irregularities deepensnbspThe selected candidate will be responsible for heading the temples administrative management and supervising its daytoday functioningnbspAccording to the notification issued by the Trust interested and eligible candidates must submit their applications by 4 pm on July 18 The recruitment process has been initiated after a selection committee finalised the eligibility criteria and other conditions for the appointmentAs per the prescribed qualifications applicants must hold a graduate degree and possess a minimum of 20 years of experience in administration or financenbspnbspThe Trust has also stated that preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in temple administration or management In addition applicants are required to be followers of the Hindu faithnbspThe recruitment process comes at a time when the Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre the Uttar Pradesh government and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on petitions seeking an independent courtmonitored investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations made to the Ram TemplenbspThe apex court has also directed the Uttar Pradesh governments Special Investigation Team SIT to submit a status report and disclose the composition of the investigating teamnbspAccording to the Trust the selected Chief Executive Officer will initially be appointed for a period of three yearsnbspnbspThe successful candidate will also be required to reside in Ayodhya throughout the tenure to effectively oversee the temples administrative and operational responsibilitiesThe selection committee has additionally decided to appoint a Secretary to assist in carrying out the recruitment process and facilitate the appointment of the new Chief Executive OfficernbspThe development assumes significance in view of the ongoing controversy relating to the alleged embezzlement of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra TrustnbspnbspEarlier on Sunday in an interview with IANS Ram Mandir Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Misra hoped that the new arrangement at the Ram Mandir including the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer answerable to the temple trust will continue to focus on the welfare of devotees who have shown no signs of distrust in the systemMisra indicated that it was time to add another layer to strengthen the system for preventing a recurrence of the regrettable donation row He said the CEO will look into the entire state of affairs seeking advice from the general secretary and mandate from the trust with no scope for government interferencenbspThe CEO will be an additional link in the system The hierarchy of the existing system is not being disturbed The trust is supreme and its decisions will be final said Misra over the work profile and powers of an official https://dailyworld.in/national/ram-temple-trust-invites-applications-for-ceo-post-amid-donation-embezzlement-row-692934.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-enters-next-phase-of-governance-transformation-with-ai-driven-reforms-mos-692945.html New Delhi July 13 IANS Union MoS for Science ampamp Technology Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh said India is entering the next phase of governance transformation through Next Generation Administrative and eGovernance Reforms with AI digital platforms at core an official statement said on MondaynbspDr Singh inaugurated the twoday National Conference on Next Generation Administrative and eGovernance Reforms in Shillong jointly organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances DARPG and the Government of MeghalayaThe minister highlighted a decade of pathbreaking administrative reforms and the removal of nearly 2000 obsolete rules adding that future reforms must integrate artificial I intelligence cybersecurity digital public infrastructure and citizencentric service platformsnbspHe said more than 56 crore Jan Dhan accounts Aadhaarenabled service delivery Direct Benefit Transfer and the Unified Payments Interface have fundamentally changed the relationship between citizens and the governmentUPI today processes over 18 billion transactions every month making India a global leader in digital paymentsnbspGovernment has steadily moved from regulation to facilitation while placing citizens at the centre of policy making and public service delivery he notednbspThe minister said the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances has transformed the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System CPGRAMS into one of the worlds largest technologyenabled grievance platformsAnnual grievances have increased from around 2 lakh in 2014 to nearly 25 lakh todaynbspHe said the platform is now supported by artificial intelligence through multilingual chatbot services while retaining a human interface at the final stage of grievance disposal to ensure both efficiency and empathynbspThe minister also highlighted the nationwide Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters and Cleanliness that has generated over Rs 4000 crores through scientific disposal of scrap and obsolete materials while freeing nearly 700 lakh square feet of office spaceIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-enters-next-phase-of-governance-transformation-with-ai-driven-reforms-mos-692945.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 19:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mortal-remains-of-15-indian-nationals-killed-in-vietnam-boat-capsize-being-transported-to-ho-chi-minh-city-for-repatriation-692857.html Hanoi July 12 IANS The mortal remains of the 15 Indian nationals who died in a boat accident in Vietnam are being transported to Ho Chi Minh City and will be flown back to India at the earliest after official formalities are completed the Indian Embassy in Vietnam said on SundaynbspThe Embassy said that it is closely coordinating with Vietnamese authorities for earliest transportation of the mortal remains of the deceased Indian nationals to IndianbspThe mortal remains of the 15 Indian nationals who tragically passed away in yesterdays boat accident are being transported to Ho Chi Minh City and will reach there by this evening After completion of formalities at Ho Chi Minh the mortal remains would be transported to India at the earliest The Embassy and the Consulate teams are closely coordinating with the Vietnamese authorities who have assured all assistance for earliest transportation of the mortal remains to India it said in a post on XIn an earlier statement the Indian Embassy said After obtaining medical treatment 15 survivors of yesterdays tragic boat accident have been discharged from hospital and are travelling back to India Of the two patients in critical care one has been discharged and is travelling back to India The other is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Phu Quoc We continue to pray for his early recovery The Embassy and Consulate teams are at Phu Quoc for any assistancenbspAs many as 15 people including 10 tourists from Tamil Nadu were killed after a tourist boat carrying Indian visitors capsized off Vietnams Phu Quoc Island on Saturday turning what was intended to be a reward trip into a devastating accidentAccording to preliminary reports the boat was carrying around 32 Indian tourists including 17 from Tamil Nadu while the remaining passengers were from Andhra Pradesh Telangana and Kerala The vessel reportedly overturned while cruising in waters south of Phu Quoc a popular tourist destination in southern VietnamnbspSoon after the incident rescue teams local residents and emergency personnel rushed to the scene and launched a largescale rescue operation Several passengers were pulled from the water while rescuers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR to those found unconscious in an attempt to save their livesDespite the swift emergency response authorities confirmed that 15 people lost their lives in the accident while the survivors were rescued and provided medical assistancenbspThe exact cause of the accident has not yet been officially disclosed Vietnamese authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the boat capsizingIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mortal-remains-of-15-indian-nationals-killed-in-vietnam-boat-capsize-being-transported-to-ho-chi-minh-city-for-repatriation-692857.html Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/piyush-goyal-to-lead-business-delegation-to-spain-belgium-and-finland-to-deepen-trade-investment-ties-692858.html New Delhi July 12 IANS Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will lead a highlevel Indian business delegation on a fiveday visit to Spain Belgium and Finland from July 13 to 17 as India seeks to deepen its economic engagement with Europe through enhanced cooperation in trade investment technology innovation and sustainability it was announced on SundaynbspThe delegation will include leading Indian companies from sectors such as advanced manufacturing clean energy digital technologies gems and jewellery food processing healthcare and design The visit is aimed at expanding businesstobusiness partnerships and exploring new opportunities for collaboration with European industries the Ministry of Commerce ampamp Industry saidThe visit will begin in Spain on July 13 where Goyal will participate in a business roundtable jointly organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Spain CEOE and ICEX Spain Trade ampamp Investment The discussions are expected to focus on sectors including automotive renewable energy railways artificial intelligence semiconductors food processing and tourismThe meeting will bring together industry leaders from both countries at a time when India and Spain are celebrating the SpainIndia Dual Year 2026 marking 70 years of diplomatic relations Several Spanish companies including Iberdrola Acciona CAF Talgo Gestamp and Indra have already established a strong presence in India while Indian technology and engineering firms such as TCS Infosys Wipro Tech Mahindra and Larsen ampamp Toubro are expanding their operations in Spain to support digital transformation and Industry 40 initiativesIn Belgium where the delegation will travel on July 14 and 15 the minister will visit the Port of Antwerp to study Europes leading logistics hub and gain insights into multimodal connectivity green logistics and resilient supply chainsDuring the Belgium visit Goyal will hold CEOlevel meetings with senior executives of Thales Group and Silox GroupThe minister will also participate in the IndiaEU Business Roundtable and the Trade and Technology Council TTC Plenary where discussions will cover foreign direct investment trade facilitation sustainable technologies and resilient supply chainsThe final leg of the tour will take the delegation to Finland on July 16 and 17 Goyal will participate in the IndiaFinland Business Roundtable engaging with Finnish companies across digitalisation clean energy advanced manufacturing and the circular economyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/piyush-goyal-to-lead-business-delegation-to-spain-belgium-and-finland-to-deepen-trade-investment-ties-692858.html Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-hits-out-at-gandhis-over-wayanad-says-empathy-measured-by-standing-with-people-and-not-showing-up-before-polls-692859.html New Delhi July 12 IANS The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Sunday launched a scathing attack at Rahul Gandhi Leader of Opposition LoP in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accusing them of showing lack of empathy over not visiting the landslidehit WayanadnbspPriyanka Gandhi who is also a Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad is yet to visit the affected regions in the constituency and express solidarity with the victims days after the landslide wreaked havocnbspBJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya taking to X said Days after the latest Wayanad landslide claimed lives and caused widespread devastation neither Rahul Gandhi nor Priyanka Vadra has found the time to visit the affected area or meet the victims Empathy is measured by standing with people in their darkest hour not just by showing up before electionsJust as conspicuous is the silence of their otherwise vocal ecosystem he addednbspA landslide occurred at the AnakkampoyilMeppadi tunnel project site on July 7 As of Sunday the death toll has risen to eight with the recovery of a body believed to be that of Vikram Rana a construction managernbspBoth Rahul and Priyanka though expressed their condolences regarding the tragedy however neither of them have visited the disaster site yetnbspCongress Parliamentarian and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is once again missing in action after aggressively pushing the Chhatron Ki Goonj campaign and other issues against the government a pattern that has become the hallmark of his politicsFor the past 20 days Gandhi has remained completely off the radar He is believed to be on yet another foreign trip with no public images no itinerary and no updates from his usually active social media handlesnbspAs the Monsoon Session of Parliament approaches the question is increasingly getting louder Does the country not deserve to know why its Leader of Opposition repeatedly undertakes secret foreign trips at critical juncturesThe senior Congress leader who was recently supposed to spearhead the Chhatron Ki Goonj initiative aimed at amplifying student voices is nowhere to be seen just days before its flagship eventnbspThe programme in Prayagraj originally scheduled for July 10 has been abruptly postponed to July 19 with no explanation from the partynbspAs the Monsoon Session of Parliament is scheduled for July 20 Rahul Gandhi has gone completely silent absent from public events offline on social media since July 2 and unreachable for any political engagementThis is not an isolated instance Time and again Gandhi has displayed a habit of spotlighting an issue with fanfare building expectations and then vanishing when followthrough is requirednbspWhether it is major parliamentary sessions or crucial statelevel battles the pattern remains consistentnbspIn Punjab a key border state heading to polls next year the Congress party is crumbling under factionalism yet its national face and youth icon remains missing in action for nearly 20 daysIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-hits-out-at-gandhis-over-wayanad-says-empathy-measured-by-standing-with-people-and-not-showing-up-before-polls-692859.html Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-bomb-threat-at-red-fort-declared-hoax-after-extensive-security-check-692741.html New Delhi July 11 IANS A bomb threat targeting Delhis historic Red Fort triggered a major security response on Saturday prompting police and security agencies to conduct a comprehensive search of the monument before declaring the threat to be a hoaxAccording to Delhi Police the threat originated from a phone call made to the Mumbai Police Control Room during which the caller allegedly claimed that the Red Fort would be blown up Mumbai Police immediately relayed the information to the Delhi Police Control Room which alerted the North District Police to initiate security measuresSoon after receiving the alert police personnel bomb disposal squads and other security teams rushed to the Red Fort and carried out an extensive sanitisation and inspection of the premises After thoroughly checking the area officials found no suspicious object or explosive material and confirmed that the threat was falseAuthorities are now working to trace the caller and determine the motive behind the hoax threat An investigation has been launched and legal action is expected against those responsibleThe latest threat comes months after a highintensity vehicleborne Improvised Explosive Device IED blast near the Red Fort Metro Station that claimed several lives and left more than a dozen people injured Investigators had identified the driver of the explosiveladen Hyundai i20 as UmarunNabi a Kashmiri doctor employed at AlFalah University in FaridabadThe explosion occurred on the same day that security agencies recovered around 2900 kg of explosives including ammonium nitrate from a location in Faridabad Haryana approximately 50 km from the national Capital Investigators had suspected that the accused detonated the vehicle after two alleged associates Dr Muzammil Shakeel and Dr Adil Rather were arrested and the explosives were seizedIn another major counterterror operation in May Delhi Polices Special Cell arrested nine men allegedly linked to Pakistans InterServices Intelligence ISI and fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim According to investigators the accused were allegedly planning attacks on key installations including airports railway stations power plants nuclear facilities and security personnelIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-bomb-threat-at-red-fort-declared-hoax-after-extensive-security-check-692741.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/foundation-of-every-activity-that-takes-nation-forward-is-knowledge-hm-shah-at-opening-of-jp-library-692763.html New Delhi July 11 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated the Jayaprakash Narayan Public Library a stateoftheart multimedia and digital knowledge centre spread over three floors that was developed by the New Delhi Municipal Council NDMC and stressed that the foundation of every activity that takes a nation forward is knowledgeDelhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta NDMC Chairperson Keshav Chandra and NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal were present at the inauguration ceremonyAddressing the gathering HM Shah described the opening of the library as a significant milestone for the national Capital and stressed the importance of reading in shaping both individuals and the nation He also urged the Delhi government to integrate all public libraries under a common network and develop a mechanism to connect schools with themToday is an important day for Delhi as we are dedicating a library in the name of Jayaprakash Narayan A great thinker once said that the future of a nation is not determined by how crowded its markets are or how many industries it has but by how many young people visit libraries he saidAppealing to the youth to cultivate the habit of reading the Home Minister said libraries play a transformative role in personality development and intellectual growthI want to urge the younger generation to become members of libraries As you continue reading over time you will notice remarkable changes in your personality and thinking I say this from my own experience I was born in a small town but we had a library there Looking back I feel fortunate because that library shaped my life he saidHM Shah said that every activity contributing to nationbuilding begins with knowledge and wisdom which are nurtured through librariesThe foundation of every activity that takes a nation forward is knowledge Wisdom and its practical application come only through learning and libraries are the greatest source of that learning Before expressing an opinion one should first read and understand the subject Libraries make this possible he saidRecalling his own initiatives Shah said he had worked to establish libraries in every village of his parliamentary constituency He also appealed to librarians to actively engage educational institutions and encourage students to make use of library facilitiesI request librarians to connect with universities and educational institutions across at least ten Assembly constituencies and motivate young people to visit libraries Reading should become a daily habit he saidThe Home Minister also urged the Delhi government to prepare a comprehensive plan to digitally connect all libraries in the capital and establish strong linkages with schools so that students develop reading habits from an early ageHighlighting the facilities available at the newly inaugurated library Shah said it houses a collection of more than 30000 books and offers dedicated spaces for researchers children and general readers The library also features a modern multipurpose auditorium a research centre childrens zone spacious reading halls and an elibrary providing access to nearly one crore digital books The entire campus is equipped with free WiFiThis is a wonderful opportunity for the people of Delhi They can access nearly one crore ebooks free of cost through this digital platform he saidHe also emphasised the importance of reading Indian literary works and said that understanding the countrys heritage requires engaging with its great writers He remarked that without reading celebrated poets like Ramdhari Singh Dinkar it is difficult to fully appreciate Indias civilisational ethosPaying tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan after whom the library has been named Shah described him as one of Indias most influential freedom fighters and social reformersI thank the Delhi government for naming this library after Jayaprakash Narayan He dedicated his life to the nation and stood firmly for democratic values During the Quit India Movement he escaped from prison to continue participating in the freedom struggle He later founded the Congress Socialist Party promoted the Sarvodaya movement established several ashrams and played an important role in persuading many extremists to surrender and return to the mainstream he saidDelhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also addressed the gathering and described the inauguration as a memorable occasionToday is a very special day for all of us We are dedicating a magnificent library to the people of Delhi and what makes it even more meaningful is that it has been named after Jayaprakash Narayan We are honoured that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has inaugurated this landmark institution she saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/foundation-of-every-activity-that-takes-nation-forward-is-knowledge-hm-shah-at-opening-of-jp-library-692763.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 13:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-may-shape-future-wars-but-victory-will-depend-on-soldiers-national-resolve-rajnath-singh-692764.html Visakhapatnam July 11 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday asserted that while emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence are transforming the nature of warfare conventional military capabilities remain indispensable stressing that future conflicts may involve AI but will ultimately be won through national resolve trained soldiers and credible military strengthAddressing the gathering during the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahendragiri into the Indian Navy in Andhra Pradeshs Visakhapatnam Defence Minister Singh said While new technologies have certainly transformed the nature of warfare they have not diminished the importance of conventional warfare capabilities Strong conventional capabilities remain just as essential today as ever for fulfilling the fundamental principles of warfare Future wars may be fought with Artificial Intelligence but they will still be won through national resolve trained soldiers and credible military powerHighlighting the need to balance technological advancement with conventional strength the Defence Minister said New technology and conventional platforms are not adversaries but complements to one another a conventional platform is incomplete without new technology and a conventional platform is weakened without it History bears witness that nations which neglected their conventional strength lured by the appeal of new technology had to pay a heavy priceEmphasising Indias longterm defence strategy Defence Minister Singh said Therefore Indias approach is very clear We must excel in both areas and maintain a balance between themWe will invest in future technologies while continuously honing our conventional capabilities INS Mahendragiri stands as a symbol of this very resolve and commitment he addedReferring to Indias recent military operations the Defence Minister said the countrys ability to effectively integrate conventional and modern capabilities had already been demonstratedIn recent times we have also witnessed how our conventional and modern capabilities work in tandem when it comes to national security Operation Sindoor was a prime example of this During that operation our armed forces demonstrated that India is fully capable not only of selfdefence but also of delivering a decisive response and completely eliminating the enemy when the need arises he saidDefence Minister Singh further stated that every warship commissioned into the Navy contributes to strengthening Indias broader defence and industrial ecosystemWith every ship Indias ecosystem matures becomes more efficient and grows more confidentExplaining the wider economic significance of indigenous warship construction he said That is why I believe that every new ship represents a longterm investment in Indias maritime future The construction of a warship is not merely the building of a vessel it entails the creation of an entire industrial ecosystemThe shipbuilding industry drives progress across sectors such as steel electronics sensors propulsion systems software precision engineering logistics and numerous ancillary industries This generates employment opportunities for lakhs of people fosters the development of new technologies and imparts fresh momentum to our economy Thus when we build a ship we not only strengthen our Navy but also infuse new energy into Indias economic prowess he addedThe Defence Minister also said India has an ambitious pipeline of naval projects planned for the coming years with the objective of positioning the country as a global centre for shipbuilding and maritime defence innovationI am confident that in the near future our country will carve a distinct niche for itself among the worlds leading nations in this sector We aim to move forward in collaboration with domestic industries the private sector MSMEs startups innovators and our global partners Driven by this vision our government is working rapidly on the Maritime India Vision 2030 he saidHe further highlighted the governments policy initiatives aimed at strengthening the maritime sectorThe government has launched several significant initiatives such as the Maritime Development Fund the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme and the Shipbuilding Development Scheme These efforts will strengthen our industrial base expand our shipbuilding capacity and correspondingly bolster our maritime capabilities to safeguard Indias growing economic interests Singh addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-may-shape-future-wars-but-victory-will-depend-on-soldiers-national-resolve-rajnath-singh-692764.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 13:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/heavy-rainfall-alert-across-uttarakhand-until-july-14-landslide-risks-increase-692768.html Dehradun July 11 IANS The India Meteorological Department IMD has issued a detailed forecast warning of heavy rainfall across several districts of Uttarakhand from July 11 to July 14 prompting the State Emergency Operations Centre SEOC to direct all district administrations to remain on high alert in view of the possibility of weatherrelated incidentsAccording to the IMD several districts in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions are likely to witness isolated spells of heavy rainfall thunderstorms lightning and intense showers over the next four days raising concerns over landslides flash flooding and disruption of normal lifeIn response to the forecast the State Emergency Operations Centre has instructed all district authorities to remain vigilant and ensure preparedness to deal with any emergency arising from adverse weather conditionsThe weather department has predicted isolated heavy rainfall in Dehradun Pauri Garhwal Chamoli Pithoragarh Bageshwar Nainital Udham Singh Nagar and Champawat districts on July 11Officials have warned that the rainfall could trigger landslides rockfalls and debris accumulation on roads in the hilly regions while lowlying areas in the plains may experience waterlogging and traffic disruptionsThe continuing rainfall has already affected transportation in several parts of the state Traffic on the KarnaprayagGwaldam National Highway at Narayanbagad in the Tharali area was briefly suspended after a section of the road was washed away resulting in a temporary blockage Authorities later restored the route for vehicular movement after carrying out clearance workLandslides were also reported from multiple locations in Pauri Garhwal district In another incident a vegetableladen truck travelling on the GumkhalSatpuli highway was struck by a massive boulder that rolled down the hillside near Malli Satpuli The truck sustained extensive damage and its cargo was scattered across the road However no casualties were reportedThe district administration subsequently undertook restoration work and reopened several key routes that had been blocked due to incessant rainfall after clearing debris and stonesTraffic has resumed on the KotdwarPauri National Highway after accumulated debris near Satpuli was removed Similarly the SrinagarRudraprayag National Highway has been reopened after authorities cleared debris near Sirobagar Police personnel remain deployed at the site to facilitate safe and smooth movement of vehiclesThe Garud ChattiNeelkanth Mahadev Road has also been cleared of raininduced debris and reopened for normal vehicular movementMeanwhile continuous rainfall in Rudraprayag district has prompted authorities to strengthen safety measures along the Char Dham Yatra route Rescue and relief teams have been stationed at vulnerable locations to monitor conditions and ensure the safety of pilgrims travelling through the regionThe persistent downpour in the hill districts has also caused the water level of the Ganga River to rise significantly in Rishikesh with the river nearing the warning mark at Triveni GhatAccording to the IMDs forecast weather conditions are expected to remain particularly severe on July 12 in Pauri Garhwal Chamoli Rudraprayag Bageshwar Nainital and Champawat districtsAs these districts are directly connected to the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit authorities have intensified surveillance along the Badrinath and Kedarnath routes Pilgrims have been advised to check the latest weather updates and road conditions before beginning their journeyIn its advisory the IMD said several hazards are expected to persist across sensitive areas of Uttarakhand during the next four days These include landslides rockfalls sudden debris flows rising water levels in rivulets and streams flooding in lowlying areas lightning strikes and severe thunderstorms Continuous rainfall may also disrupt road connectivity and electricity supply in certain regionsWith the Char Dham Yatra currently underway and thousands of devotees travelling daily to the pilgrimage sites authorities have stepped up surveillance along the pilgrimage routesTeams from the police State Disaster Response Force SDRF district administration and Public Works Department are continuously monitoring vulnerable locations Officials said traffic may be temporarily restricted at certain stretches if required to ensure the safety of pilgrimsThe State Emergency Operations Centre has instructed all district magistrates to remain on alert preposition JCBs and heavy machinery at vulnerable locations keep rescue and relief teams on standby and ensure immediate response in the event of any emergencyThe administration has also appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of adverse weather stay away from rivers streams and landslideprone areas and follow only the official advisories issued by the district administration and the India Meteorological DepartmentIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/heavy-rainfall-alert-across-uttarakhand-until-july-14-landslide-risks-increase-692768.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-ranks-1st-in-milk-production-2nd-in-mobile-3rd-in-auto-globally-pm-modi-in-new-zealand-692779.html Auckland July 11 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted Indias rapid economic transformation saying the country has emerged as the worlds largest milk producer while also becoming the secondlargest mobile producer and telecom market and the thirdlargest automobile market globallynbspAddressing Indian community at Kia Ora Modi event here PM Modi said that despite global uncertainties Indias pace of development has remained unprecedentedIndia is the worlds secondlargest mobile producer and telecom market according to himnbspPM Modi further highlighted that India is the worlds largest milk producer and the thirdlargest automobile market He said the IndiaNew Zealand relationship is built on cherished memories enduring friendship shared values and a common commitment adding that India is always willing to learn from other countriesFor us it is not the size of a countrys population that matters but its commitment to the welfare of its people PM Modi saidAccording to him India and New Zealand share several similarities including a strong commitment to preserving their indigenous cultures and heritageIt is our indigenous cultures and our resolve to celebrate and preserve them that connect us he saidHighlighting growing cooperation between the two countries the Prime Minister noted that New Zealands space industry has worked with India on several occasionsReferring to his visit PM Modi said he had come carrying the greetings of 14 billion Indians and thanked members of the Indian community for the warm welcomeNoting that it had taken 40 years for an Indian Prime Minister to visit New Zealand again PM Modi assured the diaspora that such a long gap would not be repeatedThis time it took 40 years for an Indian Prime Minister to come to New Zealand But you will not have to wait that long again It wont take another 40 years Thats Modis guarantee he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-ranks-1st-in-milk-production-2nd-in-mobile-3rd-in-auto-globally-pm-modi-in-new-zealand-692779.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 15:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/15-indian-tourists-feared-dead-in-vietnam-boat-capsize-incident-local-media-692784.html Hanoi Jul 11 Fifteen people including Indian tourists are feared dead in a boat capsize incident near Vietnams Phu Quoc Island on Saturday according to a local media report According to Vietnamese news portal VN Express International the speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members from Hon May Rut to An Thoi Port when it capsized about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai throwing everyone on board into the seanbspCiting initial information from authorities in the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone the news portal said nearby tourist boats rushed to assist before border guards the navy the coast guard and other forces joined the searchandrescue operationnbspA total of 15 people were killed it saidnbspEarlier the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said that it set up control rooms as search and rescue operations would continuenbspnbspBut the Indian mission is yet to share details about the deathsIn a tragic incident a boat carrying several Indian tourists has capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam the embassy said in a post on XnbspIt said control rooms have been established at the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and at the Embassy in Hanoi to provide information and assistancenbspThe first control room can be reached at 84 36 281 7930 84 91 552 37 14 and 84 33 452 0414 The other one in Hanoi can be reached at 84 91 308 9165 They are available for any assistance and queries the Indian mission said Agencies https://dailyworld.in/national/15-indian-tourists-feared-dead-in-vietnam-boat-capsize-incident-local-media-692784.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 16:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/heavy-rain-alert-for-delhi-up-monsoon-covers-entire-country-692598.html New Delhi July 10 Residents of DelhiNCR woke up to pleasant weather on Friday with cloudy skies cool winds and relatively lower humidity offering relief after two days of intense rainfall However the India Meteorological Department IMD has forecast another spell of heavy rain across parts of Delhi Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand At the same time rainfall activity is expected to ease in Mumbai and several regions of MaharashtraThe IMD has issued an orange alert for Delhi warning of heavy rainfall during the day According to the weather department the intensity of rainfall over the national capital is likely to decrease from July 11 onwardsIn Maharashtra rainfall activity is expected to weaken on Friday with light showers likely across most parts of the state However the IMD has issued an orange alert for Pune and Satara and a yellow alert remains in effect for Raigad Kolhapur Buldhana Akola Amravati Nagpur Chandrapur and Gadchiroli advising residents to remain cautiousThe weather department has also issued red and orange alerts for several districts in Uttar Pradesh A red alert indicating the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall has been sounded for Muzaffarnagar Bijnor Moradabad Bareilly Pilibhit Badaun Sambhal and Jyotiba Phule Nagar Meanwhile orange alerts have been issued for Sitapur Hardoi Bulandshahr Saharanpur Kushinagar Lakhimpur Kheri Shahjahanpur and HapurOver the past two days several parts of DelhiNCR particularly Noida and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh witnessed continuous heavy rainfall leading to severe waterlogging and major traffic disruptions Gurugram was among the worstaffected areas with long traffic jams prompting several private companies to advise employees to work from homeMeanwhile the IMD announced that the Southwest Monsoon has advanced into the remaining parts of the north Arabian Sea Rajasthan Haryana and Punjab With this the monsoon covered the entire country on July 9 just one day later than its normal arrival date of July 8 marking the completion of its seasonal advance across India IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/heavy-rain-alert-for-delhi-up-monsoon-covers-entire-country-692598.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-and-australian-counterpart-albanese-unveil-historic-bbl-fixture-chennai-to-host-season-opener-692599.html Melbourne July 10 Melbourne Renegades will play Perth Scorchers in Chennai in December to open the 202627 Big Bash League BBL season Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese unveiled the fixture during a joint visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground MCG on Friday The match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium scheduled for December 12 will be the first BBL fixture outside Australia and will launch the BBL 16 season The Renegades will be the home team with the match to take place after the fourth days play in the first Test against New Zealand in PerthI am happy that a Big Bash League match will be hosted in Chennai India Hosting a match in India for any league guarantees a massive reach and viewership PM Modi said in his address India and Australia have been involved in securing the fixture which is partly funded by a grant from the Centre of AustraliaIndia Relations to promote ties between the two countries Chennai was chosen for the game by the BCCI and Australian ConsulGeneral Silai Zaki because of the citys deep passion for cricket and its loyalty to the Chennai Super Kings the most followed IPL team on social mediaThe BBL became the first foreign cricket league to take a game to India The Scorchers Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes played T20 matches in the country more than a decade ago in the now defunct Champions League tournament while CA previously held a Sheffield Shield fixture in New Zealand near Christchurch when NSW drew with WA in 2016 Alistair Dobson CAs general manager of Big Bash Leagues said the opportunity to play in India reinforced the BBLs appeal as a global competition with support within and beyond Australias borders Our sport has such an authentic connection in India This game is also part of a much bigger initiative across both our governments and shows that cricket is a connector for both our countries and that both the Australian and Indian governments see that and want to be part of it Were hugely excited by the opportunity and we expect the match will be the mostwatched game in Australian domestic league history for any sport Dobson said Australian networks will send commentary teams to Chennai and JioStar will broadcast the match to Indian viewers Cricket Australia said that the league is aiming to sell out the 38000seat stadium for the season opener with packages to be available for travelling fans IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-and-australian-counterpart-albanese-unveil-historic-bbl-fixture-chennai-to-host-season-opener-692599.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-albanese-unveil-historic-bbl-fixture-chennai-to-host-season-opener-692600.html Melbourne July 10 Melbourne Renegades will play Perth Scorchers in Chennai in December to open the 202627 Big Bash League BBL season Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese unveiled the fixture during a joint visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground MCG on Friday The match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium scheduled for December 12 will be the first BBL fixture outside Australia and will launch the BBL 16 season The Renegades will be the home team with the match to take place after the fourth days play in the first Test against New Zealand in PerthI am happy that a Big Bash League match will be hosted in Chennai India Hosting a match in India for any league guarantees a massive reach and viewership PM Modi said in his addressIndia and Australia have been involved in securing the fixture which is partly funded by a grant from the Centre of AustraliaIndia Relations to promote ties between the two countries Chennai was chosen for the game by the BCCI and Australian ConsulGeneral Silai Zaki because of the citys deep passion for cricket and its loyalty to the Chennai Super Kings the most followed IPL team on social mediaThe BBL became the first foreign cricket league to take a game to India The Scorchers Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes played T20 matches in the country more than a decade ago in the now defunct Champions League tournament while CA previously held a Sheffield Shield fixture in New Zealand near Christchurch when NSW drew with WA in 2016Alistair Dobson CAs general manager of Big Bash Leagues said the opportunity to play in India reinforced the BBLs appeal as a global competition with support within and beyond Australias bordersOur sport has such an authentic connection in India This game is also part of a much bigger initiative across both our governments and shows that cricket is a connector for both our countries and that both the Australian and Indian governments see that and want to be part of it Were hugely excited by the opportunity and we expect the match will be the mostwatched game in Australian domestic league history for any sport Dobson saidAustralian networks will send commentary teams to Chennai and JioStar will broadcast the match to Indian viewers Cricket Australia said that the league is aiming to sell out the 38000seat stadium for the season opener with packages to be available for travelling fans IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-albanese-unveil-historic-bbl-fixture-chennai-to-host-season-opener-692600.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-vijay-to-hand-over-govt-jobs-to-families-of-karur-stampede-victims-692606.html Chennai July 10 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay left for Karur on Friday morning to hand over government job appointment orders and welfare assistance to the families of those who lost their lives in the recent Karur stampede He is also scheduled to address a public meeting and participate in a series of official government programmes during the visitThe Chief Minister departed Chennai by air and is expected to arrive at Tiruchy Airport before travelling by road to Karur A grand reception has been planned by party workers and supporters along the routeVijay will take part in a roadshow covering nearly 10 kilometres before reaching the Atlas Kalaiyaranga Ground on the KarurSalem Bypass Road where he is scheduled to address a large public gatheringA massive pavilion has been erected at the venue to accommodate the expected crowdAfter the public meeting the Chief Minister will briefly halt at the Government Tourist House before proceeding to the Karur District Collectorate for an official government functionDuring the programme CM Vijay will distribute compassionate appointment orders to eligible members of families who lost their loved ones in the Karur stampede He will also hand over welfare assistance and benefits under various government schemes to selected beneficiariesThe compassionate appointments form part of the state governmentâs relief and rehabilitation measures aimed at providing financial security to the bereaved families The welfare assistance to be distributed during the event includes benefits under several government schemes for eligible recipientsFollowing the official function the Chief Minister will return to Tiruchy Airport by road and fly back to Chennai later in the day Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the visit with around 6500 police personnel deployed across Karur districtSecurity has been intensified along the Chief Ministerâs travel route at the public meeting venue Collectorate and other key locations Police have also implemented extensive traffic management and crowdcontrol measures to ensure the smooth movement of the Chief Ministerâs convoy and the safe conduct of all scheduled programmes IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-vijay-to-hand-over-govt-jobs-to-families-of-karur-stampede-victims-692606.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cauvery-water-release-row-ktaka-bjp-warns-of-krs-siege-accuses-cong-govt-of-betraying-farmers-692610.html Bengaluru July 10 Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Friday accused the Congress government of betraying the states farmers by continuing to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu despite a worsening water situation in the Cauvery basin He warned that the BJP along with thousands of farmers would lay siege to the Krishna Raja Sagar KRS reservoir if the government failed to stop the release and convene an Irrigation Consultative Committee ICC meeting immediatelyIn a strongly worded statement Ashoka alleged that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was washing his hands in the tears of farmers while allowing water to flow to the neighbouring state for political reasonsClaiming that farmers in the Cauvery basin were standing in the river protesting against the alleged injustice Ashoka said the state was witnessing inadequate rainfall drying lakes and canals and parched farmlands making the continued release of water to Tamil Nadu unacceptableHe demanded that the government immediately convene an Irrigation Consultative Committee ICC meeting to assess the actual water availability in the states reservoirs and reassure farmersAshoka also urged the government to stop releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu alleging that the Congress government was doing so under a secret understanding with the neighbouring state He further demanded that water be released to lakes tanks and canals across villages to ensure irrigation for standing cropsWarning the government against testing the patience of Kannadigas Ashoka asked the Chief Minister to visit Mandya and witness the anger and anguish of farmers protesting in the riverHe accused the government of prioritising political interests and appeasing leaders outside the state instead of safeguarding Karnatakas farmers and water resourcesIssuing what he described as a final warning Ashoka said that if the government failed to convene the ICC meeting and ensure water for farmers fields the BJP would mobilise thousands of farmers from the Cauvery basin and launch an intensified protest by laying siege to the KRS reservoirAshoka further accused the Karnataka government of reneging on its promises to Below Poverty Line BPL families alleging that the proposed Indira Food Kit scheme had been quietly shelved after months of delays He warned that the BJP would launch a statewide agitation if the government failed to deliver the promised benefits to beneficiariesAshoka questioned Chief Minister Shivakumar over what he termed the governments administrative failure and alleged that Congress had misled poor people with a series of unfulfilled promisesHe said that before coming to power Congress had promised to provide 10 kg of rice under the Anna Bhagya scheme However after assuming office the government failed to supply the additional 5 kg of rice and instead continued distributing only the 5 kg of rice provided by the Centre while announcing cash in lieu of the remaining quantityAshoka further alleged that when the government could not implement that promise it announced the Indira Food Kit comprising toor dal cooking oil and sugar and publicised it extensively However he claimed that the proposal has now been completely abandoned amounting to a betrayal of poor familiesThe BJP leader alleged that the government had failed to finalise the tender process for the scheme even after eight months claiming that internal disputes over awarding contracts had resulted in litigation and administrative delaysHe also accused the government of lacking the financial resources to implement the scheme alleging that the state treasury had been strained by the guarantee schemes According to Ashoka the government was unable to spend around Rs 500 crore every month to provide nutrition kits to BPL familiesAlleging that the scheme had been shelved because of unresolved commission issues Ashoka said the government had deprived poor families of their nutritional entitlementDemanding that the government immediately provide all the benefits originally promised to every BPL cardholder Ashoka warned that the BJP would launch protests against what he described as the governments Uturn and deceptive policies if corrective measures were not taken IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cauvery-water-release-row-ktaka-bjp-warns-of-krs-siege-accuses-cong-govt-of-betraying-farmers-692610.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/amarnath-yatra-2026-darshan-tally-tops-160-lakh-ninth-batch-of-8-796-pilgrims-heads-to-kashmir-692619.html Srinagar July 10 Over 160 lakh devotees had darshan inside the holy cave shrine during the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra SANJY2026 as another batch of 8796 pilgrims left the Valley from Jammu on Friday Officials said that since this yearâs Yatra started on July 3 more than 160 Yatris had darshan while the ninth batch left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for the Valley this morningOf these 3350 yatris left Jammu in one escorted convoy for Baltal base camp at 242 am while the second escorted convoy carrying 5346 pilgrims left for Nunwan base camp at 324 amAmong the yatris there are 6426 males 2042 females 228 Sadhus 10 children 33 foreign males and one transgender yatriA total of 354 vehicles were deployed for the convoy including 175 buses 70 medium motor vehicles MMVs 106 light motor vehicles LMVs and three twowheelers Of these 173 vehicles were assigned to the Baltal route and 181 vehicles to the Pahalgam routeLt Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Pantha Chowk Yatri camp on the outskirts of Srinagar city on Thursday Sinha said The figures from the past week reveal that this years Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has witnessed a greater number of devotees compared to last year This surge is not only a blessing for our spiritual heritage but also a positive sign for tourism in Jammu and Kashmir giving fresh momentum to the local economyI want the rich handicrafts and handloom products of Jammu and Kashmir to travel across the country and this unique heritage should find a place in every devotees home This will honour our artisans and it will also strengthen the spirit of the One District One Product campaign weaving together faith culture and prosperity the Lieutenant Governor saidHe lauded the coordinated efforts of the District Administration all line departments Shrine Board police security forces and other stakeholders He emphasised the need to maintain close coordination and vigilance in ensuring effective crowd management a hasslefree registration process and dissemination of timely information updates to pilgrims throughout the pilgrimageHe also directed strict legal action against those found to be involved in fraudulent registration practicesFour local teachers were suspended from service and taken into police custody after an FIR was lodged against them for fraudulent registration of Yatris at Manigam transit camp in Ganderbal districtThese involved teachers have allegedly collected large sums of money for fake registration Vigilance has been enhanced at every transit camp and at the two base camps to ensure that the practice adopted by the four teachers at Manigam transit camp was a oneoff incident taking place during the ongoing and previous YatrasDevotees trek to the 3880metrehigh cave shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas either from the longer traditional Pahalgam route or from the shorter Baltal routeThose using the Pahalgam route take four days to reach the cave shrine while those using the Baltal route return to the base camp the same day after having darshanThe cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord ShivaSANJY2026 will conclude after 56 days on August 28 coinciding with the Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/amarnath-yatra-2026-darshan-tally-tops-160-lakh-ninth-batch-of-8-796-pilgrims-heads-to-kashmir-692619.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-govt-defends-issuing-permanent-residency-certificates-says-it-has-constitutional-authority-692645.html Bengaluru July 10 IANS The Karnataka government on Friday while countering charges by Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje has defended its decision to issue Permanent Residency Certificates PRC to people and stated that it has constitutional authority in this regardnbspIt can be noted that the Congress governments notification regarding distribution of Permanent Residency Certificate PRC has triggered a political controversy in Karnataka with the BJP alleging it could be misused to benefit illegal immigrants while the state government maintains that it is an administrative measure within its jurisdictionResponding to the allegations by the BJP Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge defended the states decision asserting that the government had the constitutional authority to frame rules and issue Permanent Residency CertificatesCant the state government frame rules regarding permanent residency We are an elected government and it is our responsibility to govern We issue government orders through the established administrative system We are issuing Permanent Residency Certificates through the government not through the Congress party Kharge saidHe questioned the BJPs objections to the proposal saying I dont understand what their problem is The government has every right to issue Permanent Residency Certificates in accordance with the lawIt can be noted that Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday seeking his immediate intervention against the Karnataka Permanent Residence PRC 2026 on Constitutional and national security groundsShe has written a letter to Amit Shah I write this representation seeking your immediate intervention regarding the notification issued by the Government of Karnataka introducing the Karnataka Permanent Residence Certificate PRC 2026 The notification raises serious constitutional legal and national security concerns that require urgent examination by the Union governmentThe Constitution of India envisages one citizenship for all citizens across the country The introduction of a Permanent Residence Certificate by the Government of Karnataka is contrary to this constitutional framework as it seeks to create a separate category of permanent residents without any constitutional or statutory authority she notedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-govt-defends-issuing-permanent-residency-certificates-says-it-has-constitutional-authority-692645.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-budget-focuses-on-jobs-infrastructure-healthcare-outlines-10-key-initiatives-692646.html Guwahati July 10 IANS Assam Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah on Friday presented the 202627 state Budget in the Assembly unveiling an ambitious roadmap centred on job creation infrastructure development healthcare education and welfare while outlining 10 key initiatives to drive the states growthnbspThe Budget presented by Mallabrauah placed a strong emphasis on creating employment opportunities with the government setting a target of providing two lakh government jobsnbspIt also announced that welfare schemes such as Orunodoi Nijut Moina and other key social security initiatives would continue without interruptionIn a major push for aviation infrastructure the state government has set a target of making Guwahati Airport an 80millionpassengercapacity airport significantly enhancing Assams connectivity and positioning it as a major aviation hub in the NortheastnbspThe Budget proposed an investment of Rs 72000 crore in the power sector According to the Finance Minister the investment will support thermal hydro solar and battery energy storage projects aimed at strengthening the states power infrastructure and meeting future energy demandsTo boost agriculture Jayanta Mallabaruah announced an allocation of Rs 4000 crore for irrigation projects in the Brahmaputra valley with the objective of expanding irrigation coverage and improving agricultural productivitynbspRecognising the contribution of tea garden workers the state Budget said welfare programmes for tea tribes and plantation workers would continue These initiatives will focus on improving healthcare nutrition and overall living conditions in teagrowing regionsThe healthcare sector received another major boost with the government announcing plans to recruit 33000 healthcare personnelnbspThe appointments are expected to strengthen district hospitals and improve the delivery of public health services across the statenbspIn the education sector the Finance Minister reaffirmed the state governments commitment to continuing recruitment of teachers in universities colleges and newly established educational institutions to improve higher education infrastructure and address faculty shortagesThe Budget also laid emphasis on enhancing youth employability by introducing skill development initiativesnbspThe government plans to train young people in areas such as artificial intelligence visual effects VFX and foreign languages including English Japanese and Korean to improve their prospects in domestic and international job marketsAmong the key infrastructure proposals Mallabaruah announced plans to accelerate work on roads bridges rail and airport connectivitynbspHe also proposed the construction of Dibrugarh as Assams second capital aimed at promoting balanced regional development and improving administrative accessibility in Upper AssamnbspThe Budget reflects the governments focus on employmentled growth infrastructure creation and longterm economic development while continuing welfare measures for various sections of society the minister saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-budget-focuses-on-jobs-infrastructure-healthcare-outlines-10-key-initiatives-692646.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-vijay-hands-over-job-orders-to-kin-of-karur-stampede-victims-says-tragedy-remains-unhealed-wound-692650.html Karur July 10 IANS Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday handed over compassionate appointment orders to the members of families who lost their loved ones in the Karur stampede describing the tragedy as an unhealed wound that continues to weigh heavily on his heartnbspThe stampede occurred on September 27 last year on the eve of the Tamil Nadu Assembly election during a TVK election campaign rally in KarurnbspFortyone people were killed in the incident A Central Bureau of Investigation CBI probe into the tragedy is currently underwaynbspFollowing the incident the Tamil Nadu government announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to each bereaved family while the TVK extended an additional compensation of Rs 20 lakhnbspAs part of the governments rehabilitation measures the Chief Minister visited Karur to distribute compassionate appointment orders to eligible family members of the victimsDuring a function held at the Atlas Arena CM Vijay presented appointment orders to one member from each of the 32 affected families with jobs offered as per the educational qualifications of the beneficiariesnbspThe event coincided with proceedings before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court where a petition challenging the governments decision to provide permanent government jobs to the victims families came up for hearingnbspThe court directed that the beneficiaries could for the present be offered temporary appointmentsnbspAddressing the gathering an emotional Vijay said the pain caused by the Karur tragedy had never left him My heartfelt greetings to all my brothers and sisters of Karur who live in my heart No matter how high a person rises in life the wounds and pain in the heart can never be forgotten I stand before you today after overcoming many hardships and emotional scars he saidThe Karur tragedy caused me immense mental anguish I lost my brothers my sisters and my innocent children in Karur The incident remains an unhealed wound in my heart They pinned the blame on me for the Karur incident but I entered politics for the sake of the people and I am determined to bring a permanent end to such tragedies the Chief Minister saidLaunching a political attack on the Opposition CM Vijay alleged that opposition members walked out of the Legislative Assembly when the term party fund was mentioned He further claimed that corruption worth crores of rupees existed across government departments in the past but asserted that people now believed bribery and corruption in government offices had significantly reduced under his administrationThe Chief Minister also reiterated his governments commitment to fulfilling its election promises He announced that the promised scheme to present a gold ring on behalf of the maternal uncle to newborns on the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister CN Annadurai Arignar Anna would be implemented as pledgednbspThe programme concluded with the distribution of appointment orders to beneficiaries with the government stating that the initiative was aimed at providing longterm financial security to families devastated by one of the worst public tragedies in the states recent historyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-vijay-hands-over-job-orders-to-kin-of-karur-stampede-victims-says-tragedy-remains-unhealed-wound-692650.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/public-faith-in-govt-education-is-crumbling-gehlot-on-84-lakh-student-dropouts-692507.html Jaipur July 9 IANS Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday criticised the BJPled state government over the condition of government schools citing UDISE data that shows a decline of over 84 lakh students in school enrolment across Rajasthan over the past two yearsnbspAccording to the UDISE Unified District Information System for Education Plus report Rajasthan has witnessed a steady fall in school enrolment over the last two academic sessionsGehlot claimed that for the first time in the states history enrolment in private schools has exceeded that in government schools calling it a reflection of the declining public trust in the government education systemnbspIt is deeply concerning that Rajasthan has witnessed over 84 lakh school dropouts in just two years under the BJP government For the first time in history enrollment in private schools has surpassed that of government schools This is direct evidence of the declining reputation of the states government schools Gehlot saidnbspIronically while the number of teachers rose from 78 lakh to over 79 lakh during this period government schools lost more than 93 lakh students due to mismanagement Today it is not just the roofs of schools in Rajasthan that are collapsing the publics longstanding faith in the government education system is crumbling as well he saidBlaming the state government for the decline Gehlot said assigning nonacademic duties to teachers deteriorating school infrastructure delays in repair and maintenance works and the politicisation of education had adversely affected learningnbspAssigning nonacademic duties to teachers the deterioration of school infrastructure stalled repairs and the constant politicization of the curriculum rather than focusing on educational improvement are the causes of this decline When the Education Ministers attention is focused on everything except education such a situation was inevitable he saidDefending the education initiatives introduced during the previous Congress government Gehlot claimed that the BJP administration had weakened reforms that had strengthened public educationnbspThe excellent government education model established by our Congress government including Englishmedium schools has been completely ruined by this governments shortsightedness Chief Minister who is responsible for the future being snatched away from the children of Rajasthan he askednbspAs per the UDISE report Rajasthans total school enrolment declined from 167 crore in 202324 to 163 crore in 202425 and further to 159 crore in 2025 amounting to a cumulative drop of more than 84 lakh students over two yearsnbspThe Rajasthan government had not issued an official response to Gehlots allegations at the time of filing this report https://dailyworld.in/national/public-faith-in-govt-education-is-crumbling-gehlot-on-84-lakh-student-dropouts-692507.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/minister-hardeep-puri-rejects-claims-against-e20-fuel-calls-it-scientifically-tested-692508.html New Delhi July 9 IANS Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has rejected criticism of ethanolblended fuel asserting that E20 petrol is scientifically tested safe for vehicles and central to Indias push for energy selfreliance while alleging that a misinformation campaign had intensified after the rollout of E85compatible vehiclesnbspIn a post on X the minister said India has been using E15 fuel since April 2023 E19 since April 2024 and E20 since April 2025 with no major issues reported despite widespread adoptionnbspMore than 20 crore twowheelers and over 20 lakh fourwheelers have been running successfully on E20 fuel for years yet suddenly a campaign against ethanol blending has gathered pace Puri saidHe claimed the criticism intensified after India launched E85 fuel for flexfuel vehicles on June 5 describing it as a major step towards reducing the countrys dependence on imported crude oilnbspLook closely at the timeline and the pattern becomes difficult to ignore the minister said alleging that fearmongering around ethanolblended fuels began soon after the launch of E85compatible vehiclesnbspPuri said India imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil and accounts for around 30 per cent of global oil demand growth making the expansion of domestic alternative fuels critical for the countrys energy securityEvery litre of ethanol blended into petrol helps reduce crude oil imports strengthens Indias energy security reduces air pollution supports domestic farmers and saves valuable foreign exchange he saidnbspDescribing E20 as a widely tested verified scientific internationally proven and completely safe fuel the minister said the ethanol blending programme had transformed the countrys Annadatas food providers into Urjadatas energy provider by creating an additional source of income for farmersMoreover he noted that the ethanol blending programme was initiated during the previous Congressled government adding that opposition to its accelerated implementation now appeared to be politically motivatednbspAccording to the minister the programme not only reduces Indias dependence on imported crude oil but also makes the country less vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions and global oil price volatilityIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/minister-hardeep-puri-rejects-claims-against-e20-fuel-calls-it-scientifically-tested-692508.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jp-nadda-to-lay-foundation-stone-of-icmrs-high-altitude-research-centre-in-himachal-pradesh-692509.html New Delhi July 9 IANS Union Minister of Health ampamp Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda will lay the foundation stone of the ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research at Keylong in Lahaul amp Spiti district Himachal Pradesh on July 11 2026 an official statement said on ThursdaynbspThe Centre will upgrade ICMRs existing field station at Keylong into a fullfledged multidisciplinary hub for research innovation and capacity building focused on Indias highaltitude and climatesensitive regionsnbspThe Centre is being set up by the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR under the Department of Health Research Ministry of Health ampamp Family WelfareAs the Himalayan ecosystem poses distinct public health challenges the Keylong centre will generate contextspecific scientific evidence and scalable solutions across a wide research mandate the statement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare saidnbspHimalayan ecosystem is marked by high altitude extreme climatic conditions difficult terrain and rising climate variability that shape disease patterns healthcare access and emergency responsenbspHence the Centre will generate scientific evidence and scalable solutions relevant to highaltitude physiology and acclimatisation mountain medicine climatesensitive and emerging diseases infectious and noncommunicable diseases maternal and child health nutrition mental health environmental and occupational health and disaster medicineIt will also integrate digital health platforms telemedicine droneenabled healthcare logistics and realtime public health surveillance to improve delivery in hardtoreach areasnbspThe Centre will have yearround access to highaltitude and tribal populations in a strategically important border region enabling longterm cohort studies and field research on environmental determinants of healthnbspIt will support national priorities in tribal health disaster preparedness and digital health innovation while feeding into global research on highaltitude medicinenbspThe Centre will build institutional collaborations with the Armed Forces Medical Services AFMS the Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO the Himachal Pradesh Government and academic and research institutions in India and abroad creating an ecosystem for translational research and policy support the statement notedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jp-nadda-to-lay-foundation-stone-of-icmrs-high-altitude-research-centre-in-himachal-pradesh-692509.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-hosts-half-of-the-worlds-gccs-emerges-as-second-largest-hub-for-enterprise-ai-talent-cea-692510.html New Delhi July 9 IANS India now hosts around half of the worlds Global Capability Centres GCCs and has emerged as the secondlargest base for enterprise artificial intelligence AI talent globally reflecting the countrys growing role in innovation technology and highvalue global business operations Chief Economic Adviser CEA V Anantha Nageswaran said on ThursdaynbspnbspAddressing the CII GCC Business Summit Nageswaran said Indias GCC ecosystem has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades evolving from a handful of backoffice operations into more than 2000 centres employing over 2 million professionalsHe said employment in the sector is now moving towards 23 million while annual revenues have exceeded 60 billion and are on track to approach 100 billionnbspIndia now hosts around half of the worlds GCCs This did not happen by accident it happened because of our people because talent is the heart of the matter Nageswaran statednbspThese centers first came to India for cost they stayed for capability he mentionedThe CEA said GCCs now contribute nearly 2 per cent of Indias gross domestic product GDP and account for a significant share of new office space developed across major Indian cities He noted that no other country comes close to Indias scale with around half of the worlds GCCs now operating from the countrynbspExplaining the evolution of the sector Nageswaran said Indian GCCs have moved far beyond their traditional role of providing costefficient backoffice support Today they undertake highvalue work across technology engineering research product development analytics and digital transformationHe said global banks manage risk systems and trading platforms from Mumbai and Bengaluru automobile manufacturers design vehicles and embedded systems from Chennai and Pune semiconductor firms carry out chip design in India pharmaceutical companies conduct clinical analytics and consumer companies develop digital products from their Indian centresnbspThe intellectual property created in these centres is real The patents are filed here the products are shipped from here and global roles are increasingly held by people sitting here he said adding that Indian GCCs have become the core of operations for many multinational companiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-hosts-half-of-the-worlds-gccs-emerges-as-second-largest-hub-for-enterprise-ai-talent-cea-692510.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-cm-announces-7-member-panel-led-by-retd-justice-ranjana-desai-to-prepare-ucc-draft-692513.html Mumbai July 9 IANS In a major move towards implementing the Uniform Civil Code UCC the Maharashtra state government has constituted a highlevel committee to draft the framework Making the announcement in the Legislative Assembly Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared details regarding the committees chairperson and its membersnbsp aThe panel has been tasked with studying the matter and submitting its comprehensive report within the next six months The government aims to table the draft UCC bill during the upcoming winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur where it will be presented before both Houses to initiate the legislative process for enactment said the CMA sevenmember committee has been formed under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai to chart out the framework for implementing the UCC in the statenbspAnnouncing the panel in the state Assembly CM Fadnavis stated A sevenmember committee comprising legal experts educationiasts and social workers is being formed The committee is expected to submit its report within the next six months Our effort is to take this report and introduce the bill in both Houses during the winter session in NagpurnbspThe committee features a robust lineup of legal administrative and social experts including three retired judges from the Supreme Court and High Courts a constitutional expert a former bureaucrat and two prominent figures from the social sectorHeaded by Retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai the committee includes Retd High Court Justice RC Chavan Retd High Court Justice SG Mehare DK Jain Former Chief Secretary Birendra Saraf Former Advocate General Padma Shri Ramesh Patange Social Worker and Dr Suvarna Rawal EducationistConstitutional ExpertnbspEarlier Minister of State Home Yogesh Kadam informed the state Legislative Assembly on June 23 that the Maharashtra government had approved the formation of a retired high court judgeled committee to submit a report on the implementation of UCC in Maharashtra The UCC will be implemented in the state after receiving the committee reportThe Maharashtra government is positive about the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code The Chief Minister has given his nod to form a committee led by a retired High Court judge to prepare a draft of the UCC Once the report is submitted the UCC will be implemented said MoS KadamnbspThe minister was replying to the calling attention motion raised by Bharatiya Janata Party BJP MLA Devyani Farande over the instances of triple talaq in Nasik districtnbspnbspMinister Kadam said that once the UCC is brought the ban on Polygamy will be included in the same The government is not against any religion nor an individual The UCC when brought will be applicable to every individual irrespective of the religion he saidThe Maharashtra governments move comes after Uttarakhand which was formed in 2000 recently became the first state in the country to successfully implement the Uniform Civil Code under the BJPled government Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami officially enforced the law on January 27 2025 The Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly passed the UCC bill on February 7 last year following a draft report submitted by an expert committee on October 18 2024nbspFollowing Uttarakhands lead several other BJPruled states are now actively moving forward to implement a uniform law for all citizensIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-cm-announces-7-member-panel-led-by-retd-justice-ranjana-desai-to-prepare-ucc-draft-692513.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/political-parties-slam-punjab-government-over-law-and-order-after-moga-police-station-blast-692532.html nbspChandigarh July 9 IANS Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on Thursday criticised the AAP government in Punjab over the states deteriorating law and order situation saying the explosion at the Sadar Police Station in Moga was evidence of the governments failure to maintain securitynbspI had already expressed this apprehension that certain forces are on the prowl to disrupt Punjabs peace and todays incident has turned this fear into reality Bittu wrote on XHe said Those who ignite the fire by merely striking a spark and slip away the atmosphere of fear and unrest that ensued from it the entire burden of that damage has to be borne by Punjab and Punjabis no one else suffers any lossA high alert was sounded in Moga district after an explosion rocked the police station on Wednesday triggering panic in the areaOfficiating Senior Superintendent of Police GS Bains told the media that a lowintensity blast occurred and there was no casualty or no major structural damageJoining the issue Shiromani Akali Dal SAD President Sukhbir Badal said The blast at Moga Sadar Police Station has once again exposed the complete collapse of law and order under the AamAadmiParty governmentWhen even police stations arent safe how can common Punjabis feel secure Attacks on police and the public continue unabated while past incidents remain unresolved and pending Enough is enough he the Chief Minister is pushing the state back into dark days Punjab deserves a safe and prosperous future not excuses and terror Badal wrote on XState Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said the explosion is a shocking reminder of the complete collapse of law and order in the state When even police stations are not safe how can ordinary Punjabis feel secure Instead of publicity and tall claims the Chief Minister must answer why crime is becoming so brazen across Punjab The people of Punjab deserve accountability not excuses he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/political-parties-slam-punjab-government-over-law-and-order-after-moga-police-station-blast-692532.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tata-motors-targets-12-million-annual-pv-sales-by-fy30-plans-rs-40-000-crore-investment-692191.html New Delhi July 8 IANS Tata Motors on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious fiveyear roadmap for its passenger vehicle business targeting annual sales of more than 12 million units by FY30 a 20 per cent share of the domestic passenger vehicle market and revenues of Rs 14 lakh crore backed by investments of nearly Rs 40000 crore in products and manufacturingnbspSpeaking at the companys 81st annual general meeting held virtually on Wednesday Tata Motors Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said the automaker aims to achieve a tenfold increase in passenger vehicle volumes over the decade from FY20 to FY30Looking ahead in the next five years the company has a big ambition Basically the decade between FY20 and FY30 the company wants to achieve a 10x growth in volumes with an ambition of 12 million plus vehicles and achieve a market share of 20 per cent from the current 142 per cent Chandrasekaran saidnbspThe company plans to strengthen its product portfolio with six new nameplates and more than 20 product refreshes over the next five years while focusing on improving profitability It is targeting doubledigit EBITDA margins with electric vehicles expected to contribute more than 30 per cent of its passenger vehicle sales volumes by the end of the decadeManaging Director and CEO Shailesh Chandra said the passenger vehicle business is aiming to achieve revenues of Rs 14 lakh crore by FY31 supported by doubledigit EBITDA margins and an EBIT margin of more than 5 per centnbspBy FY31 TMPV aspires to Rs 140000 crore revenues doubledigit EBITDA margins and over 5 per cent EBIT margin driving PBT to over five times the current level Chandra saidnbspHe added that the companys growth strategy will be supported by investments of around Rs 40000 crore in new products and manufacturing capacity while also targeting free cash flows of Rs 10000 croreIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tata-motors-targets-12-million-annual-pv-sales-by-fy30-plans-rs-40-000-crore-investment-692191.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sensex-crashes-1-600-points-after-trump-says-iran-ceasefire-is-over-692217.html Mumbai July 8 IANS Indian benchmark equity indices witnessed a sharp selloff on Wednesday with the Sensex and Nifty falling more than 2 per cent each as rising crude oil prices weak global cues and renewed geopolitical tensions dented investor sentimentnbspThe market decline gathered pace during the second half of the trading session after US President Donald Trump said that an interim agreement with Iran to end the conflict was over triggering fresh concerns over escalating tensions in the Middle East and their potential impact on global energy suppliesDuring noon trade the Nifty was down nearly 500 points while the Sensex had declined more than 1600 points Broadbased selling was evident across the market with 45 of the 50 Nifty constituents trading in the rednbspThe sharp correction erased nearly Rs 4 lakh crore in investor wealth with the combined market capitalisation of all companies listed on the BSE falling below Rs 476 lakh crorenbspThe spike in crude oil prices coupled with uncertainty surrounding developments in the Gulf region added to the riskoff mood in global markets prompting investors to pare exposure to equitiesMeanwhile during morning trade Sensex opened 36427 points or 046 per cent lower at 7781645 while Nifty slipped 13915 points or 057 per cent to 2425955nbspAmong sectoral indices Nifty Oil ampamp Gas led the losses declining more than 1 per cent during the opening sessionnbspNifty Media Nifty PSU Bank Nifty Realty Nifty Cement Nifty Metal Nifty Auto and Nifty FMCG also declined by up to almost 1 per cent during early tradeIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sensex-crashes-1-600-points-after-trump-says-iran-ceasefire-is-over-692217.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/no-infighting-in-state-unit-differences-will-be-sorted-out-punjabs-cong-in-charge-692222.html Chandigarh July 8 IANS Amid wide speculations of discord and infighting within the Punjab Congress ahead of the Assembly elections partys Punjab incharge Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday asserted that there was no division or factionalism in the organisation and all the leaders stand firmly behind Amarinder Singh Raja Warring the newly appointed Punjab Congress Committee PCC chiefnbspHe also said discussions with senior leaders including Charanjit Singh Channi and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa would continue in the coming daysnbspBaghels remarks came a day after he held meeting with several Punjab Congress leaders even as leaders considered close to former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi are yet to meet him amid reports of internal differences within the state unitLast Wednesday the Congress high command announced that Raja Warring would continue as the Punjab Congress president while simultaneously unveiling various party committees for the 2027 Assembly electionsnbspHowever leaders who clamoured for former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi for the post of Punjab Congress president are yet to meet Baghel who reached the state to address growing factionalism in the state unit post organisational reshuffle Exclusively to IANS Baghel said A meeting of the PCC was held followed by a meeting with the district presidents Both committees expressed gratitude to the decisions taken by the High Command Everyone congratulated Raja Warring on being reappointed as the Punjab Congress President and extended their best wishesHe further said Meetings are currently underway and will continue There are meetings of different committees and meetings with our various frontal organisations are also scheduled Apart from that I am also holding oneonone meetings with several senior leaders over the next one or two daysnbspRejecting reports of factionalism within the state unit Baghel said the Congress remained united under its central leadershipnbspThere is nothing like that Everyone belongs to the Congress party and we are all part of the same group Here the Congress is one Our leaders are Rahul Gandhi ji and Kharge Sahib Apart from them there is no one else he saidBaghel also confirmed that he had been in touch with senior Congress leaders Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Charanjit Singh Channi and expected to meet them shortlynbspI have been in touch with both Randhawa Sahib and Charanjit Singh Channi over the phone I believe we will meet in the next day or two We will hold discussions on the party committees as well as preparations for the upcoming elections he addednbspThe remarks come amid reports that the internal tussle within the Punjab Congress over the recent organisational restructuring has intensifiednbspHowever the party high command has made it clear that there will be no reconsideration or rollback of the decisionsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/no-infighting-in-state-unit-differences-will-be-sorted-out-punjabs-cong-in-charge-692222.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/death-toll-in-wayanad-mudslide-rises-to-four-priyanka-gandhi-urges-people-to-back-rescue-efforts-690183.html KalpettaThiruvanathapuram July 7 IANS The death toll in the devastating mudslide at the Wayanad end of the AnakkampoyilKalladi tunnel road project in Kerala climbed to four on Tuesday even as an intensive multiagency rescue operation continued to trace four people who remain missing beneath tonnes of mud and debrisnbspTen injured persons are undergoing treatment in two hospitals while rescue personnel are racing against time to reach those feared trappedThe massive mudslide also swept away a church and a nearby houseFortunately the house was locked as its occupants had left on a pilgrimage to Mecca while no one was inside the church when the incident occurredA bridge linking the affected areas has been buried under the debris severely hampering rescue operationsTwo excavators are working continuously to clear the mud and restore access for rescue teamsCongress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said all possible efforts were being made to rescue those trapped and that the state machinery was working in close coordinationIn a statement she said Chief Minister VD Satheesan was personally monitoring the rescue operations while teams of the police the National Disaster Response Force NDRF the State Disaster Response Force SDRF and Civil Defence volunteers had already been deployed at the siteShe said the district administration Ministers T Siddique and AP Anil Kumar who were travelling from Thiruvananthapuram local party functionaries and all agencies concerned were coordinating relief operationsExpressing grief over the tragedy Priyanka Gandhi conveyed her deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and assured them of every possible support during the difficult timeOur prayers and hope are with those who are still missing May they remain strong while rescue teams strive to reach them and may their loved ones find the courage to endure this painful moment she saidShe also appealed to UDF workers party functionaries and the general public to extend every possible assistance while strictly adhering to the directions of the district administrationAt a time like this we must ensure that rescue and relief operations are not hampered Everyone should help in every possible way without creating any distraction she saidThe rescue operation continues on a war footing with heavy earthmoving equipment being pressed into service to remove the huge volume of debris and search for the missing personsThe mudslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi where the Wayanad end of the tunnel road project is under construction Preliminary reports indicate that incessant rain triggered the collapse of massive heaps of excavated earth stacked at the site burying parts of the work areaThe incident followed exceptionally heavy rainfall in Meppadi which recorded 226 mm of rain in the past 24 hoursThe area is a popular tourist stop and several private vehicles along with a bus used to transport construction workers were parked nearby when the mudslide occurred Rescue personnel fear that people may still be trapped beneath the debrisAfter chairing an emergency review meeting at the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority KSDMA headquarters here Satheesan said rescue teams are working despite incessant rain severely hampering operationsHe said the authorities had repeatedly directed the construction company to remove the huge quantities of excavated earth that had been piled up at the siteA formal government order to this effect had been issued on June 20 but the company failed to complyHe said that Revenue Minister AP Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister T Siddique had been directed to rush to Wayanad to supervise the rescue operationsTalking to the media before leaving for the accident site Siddique said preliminary findings pointed to the manner in which excavated earth had been dumped at the tunnel construction siteHe said the initial assessment suggested that the mud had been stored in an unscientific manner despite concerns having been raised earlierThis is not a natural landslide This is a manmade disaster Siddique said adding that the government would examine whether action had been taken after the earlier warningsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/death-toll-in-wayanad-mudslide-rises-to-four-priyanka-gandhi-urges-people-to-back-rescue-efforts-690183.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-refuses-to-entertain-dmk-plea-over-tvk-leaders-remarks-in-karur-stampede-case-690128.html New Delhi July 7 IANS The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam DMK seeking directions to restrain leaders of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK including Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and Minister Aadhav Arjuna from making public statements that could allegedly influence witnesses in the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation CBI probe into the Karur stampede casenbspA Bench of Justices KV Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe expressed its disinclination to entertain the application following which the DMK withdrew the plea with liberty to pursue other remedies available under the lawThis application you are better advised to not press here We are inclined to dismiss this application the Justice Viswanathanled Bench observed during the hearingSenior advocate Ranjit Kumar appearing for the applicant then sought permission to withdraw the application with liberty to avail other remediesRecording the submission the apex court said in its order Heard Mr Ranjith Kumar for applicant He seeks to withdraw this application to pursue such other remedies as may be applicable to the applicant We dismiss the application as withdrawn as per the above termsThe application was filed by DMK Organising Secretary RS Bharathi who had sought to be impleaded in the pending proceedings relating to the Karur stampede before the apex courtBesides seeking directions restraining TVK leaders from making public statements relating to the case till completion of the courtmonitored CBI investigation the plea had also sought registration of an FIR against Tamil Nadu Minister Aadhav ArjunaThe DMK had alleged that public statements made by Aadhav Arjuna who is also an accused in the case and the proposed distribution of government benefits to victims families could prejudice the ongoing investigation and influence material witnessesReferring to a speech delivered by Aadhav Arjuna on July 2 the application had contended that the Minister publicly declared that there was a score to settle and blamed the previous DMK government for the Karur tragedy despite being under investigation himselfAccording to the plea such statements were liable to prejudice the fairness of the ongoing courtmonitored CBI probeThe application had also referred to reports that Chief Minister Vijay was likely to visit Karur to distribute government benefits including compassionate appointments to the families of those who died in the stampedeWhile stating that it had no objection to welfare measures for the victims families the plea contended that the families were material witnesses in the courtmonitored CBI investigation and any direct interaction with them by persons connected with the case could raise apprehensions regarding the fairness and independence of the investigative processThe application arose out of the pending proceedings relating to the September 27 2025 Karur stampede in which 41 people lost their lives and 142 others were injured during a TVK rallyThe Supreme Court had earlier transferred the investigation into the stampede to the CBI under the supervision of a committee headed by former apex court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi after expressing concern over the manner in which the matter was being dealt with and observing that something is wrong with the proceedings before the Madras High CourtIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-refuses-to-entertain-dmk-plea-over-tvk-leaders-remarks-in-karur-stampede-case-690128.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/heavy-rain-ravages-maharashtra-13-dead-10-injured-red-alert-issued-for-hill-stations-690129.html Mumbai July 7 IANS Over the past two days torrential rains accompanied by strong winds have battered Maharashtra claiming 13 lives and injuring 10 others The State Emergency Operations Centre SEOC reported that around 100 houses have been damaged leaving hundreds of people homeless due to severe floodingnbspData from the last 24 to 48 hours highlights the intensity of the downpour across the coastal and western regions Lonavala recorded a staggering 625 mm 2471 inches of rain in the last 48 hours Raigad received 236 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours Thane got 161 mm Ratnagiri clocked 152 mm Palghar averaged 132 mm and Mumbai registered between 100 mm and 161 mm across various sectorsWater bodies across the state are overflowing rapidly The Ulhas Kalu and Pinjal rivers have crossed their warning levels Amba Savitri Kundalika Patalganga Jagbudi and Ulhas rivers have breached their danger marks Consequently flood alerts have been issued for Badlapur Mohane and JambhulpadaTragic incidents were reported from multiple districts as infrastructure buckled under the pressure of the stormIn Mumbai six people were killed and one was injured in the Mankhurd area when a building collapsed onto a slum clusterAdditionally one person died in the suburbs due to a tree falling In Thane two people sustained injuries when a portion of a building collapsed In Palghar and Sindhudurg one drowning fatality was reported in each district Highvelocity winds also caused the collapse of 30 houses in Sindhudurg In Satara a landslide resulted in one death and left four people injuredA Red Alert has been issued for hill stations including Matheran Lonavala Khopoli and Lohagad due to an imminent threat of landslides caused by continuous heavy rainfallTwo National Disaster Response Force NDRF teams have been deployed to these areas In the Mawal taluka of Pune district four citizens were trapped after a landslide hit a house in PatanIn another incident near TalegaonDabhade a bus carrying 25 passengers got stranded in floodwaters All passengers were safely rescued by the NDRFIn the Sudhagad taluka of Raigad district six members of a familyincluding a sixmonthold infantwere stranded on their roof due to rising floods Since the roads leading to the village were completely submerged rescuers used boats to safely evacuate themTraffic disruption was reported on major highways due to blockages On MumbaiGoa Highway traffic ground to a halt after a landslide in the Kashedi Ghat On MumbaiPune Expressway and Khopoli Highway landslides and heavy waterlogging suspended traffic though authorities managed to restore movement by the afternoonThe Mawal and Tamhini Ghat was affected heavily by landslides and flooding prompting traffic to be diverted to alternative routesMeanwhile in stark contrast to the deluge hitting the rest of the state the Vidarbha region is still awaiting its monsoon spell Districts including Wardha Akola Amravati Yavatmal and Chandrapur have recorded no rainfall during this periodIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/heavy-rain-ravages-maharashtra-13-dead-10-injured-red-alert-issued-for-hill-stations-690129.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/baruipur-minor-rape-murder-case-west-bengal-minister-meets-victims-family-assures-justice-690130.html Kolkata July 7 IANS West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul on Tuesday visited the family of the 12yearold girl who was allegedly raped and murdered in Baruipur South 24 Parganas district describing the incident as extremely unfortunate and assuring the family that justice would be deliveredSpeaking to reporters West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul said We came to the victims uncles house where her father was staying Her mother is here this is her original home It is extremely unfortunate I have no words We have come from the Department of Women and ChildWe have come as representatives of the Chief Minister he has sent us We are here to give assurance which the Chief Minister has already given many times that justice will be delivered This is not like previous governments where such incidents happened every day and there was no justiceBJP West Bengal President Mahila Morcha Phalguni Patra said The victims mother is not in a condition to speak It is a very unfortunate incident and such a reaction is natural We have given our assurance and the Chief Minister has also assured that those responsible for this act will face exemplary punishment The government has also introduced a law to curb hooliganism Since such incidents had spread like cancer under previous governments it will take some time to eliminateEarlier on July 6 the Special Investigation Team SIT of the West Bengal Police arrested the prime accused in the case According to officials from the Baruipur Police District the accused identified as Ananda Sarkar was apprehended from the Baruipur Bazar areaPolice officials said Ananda Sarkar had been under suspicion since the beginning of the investigation and was the last accused to be arrested in the case The two other accused Pravas Mondal and Dibakar Sardar had already been taken into custodyAll three accused are expected to be produced before a district court in South 24 Parganas where the prosecution will seek their police custody for further investigationSpeaking to reporters on Monday West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari described the crime as heinous and assured the victims family that the state government would make every effort to secure the harshest possible punishment for those involvedThis is a heinous incident The government is making every arrangement according to the wishes of the victims family We will make every effort to ensure the accused receive capital punishment after a speedy conviction the Chief Minister saidCommenting on the death of a man who was allegedly lynched by an angry mob protesting against the girls rape and murder the Chief Minister claimed that there was a communal angle behind the mob violence Authorities are continuing their investigation into both the rapemurder case and the subsequent incidents of unrest in the areaIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/baruipur-minor-rape-murder-case-west-bengal-minister-meets-victims-family-assures-justice-690130.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-hails-delhis-plantation-drive-says-ridge-will-be-transformed-into-citys-green-lungs-690131.html New Delhi July 7 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the Delhi governments ambitious plantation drive will transform the Ridge into the green lungs of the city and the environment in the National Capital will get a new lease of lifeThis came as HM Shah inaugurated the Delhi governments ambitious drive to plant 70 lakh trees during a Mega Tree Plantation Drive at 34 locationsDuring this HM Shah planted a sapling in the Central Ridge area which houses the Presidents BodyguardUnion Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Lok Sabha MPs Manoj Tiwari and Yogender Chandolia and Delhi Ministers Parvesh Verma and Manjinder Singh Sirsa were also present during the eventThe campaign is supported by the New Delhi Municipal Council NDMC which has set a target of planting around 600 trees and 50000 shrubs More than 50000 planting pits have already been prepared according to Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh ChahalSpeaking at the event HM Shah said When we move around Delhi the Ridge is visible in many places Thorny babool and various types of poisonous trees can be seen on the Ridge visually they create the impression of a Green Delhi but are not good for the environmentThe Home Minister mentioned that 7784 hectares of the Ridge were notified under the Indian Forest Act in 1994 However the final notification has not been issued in 30 years he saidCongratulating the Rekha Gupta government Shah said Now 5000 hectares of the Ridge have been designated as forest area We will once again ensure that the entire Ridge receives legal protection Through this initiative we aim to restore the Ridges biodiversity conserve its soil and water resources and give Delhis environment a new lease of lifeOver the next three years we will gradually plant trees across the entire Ridge including peepal banyan neem gular arjun and jamun trees that can survive for more than 100 years With this effort we have begun the mission of transforming the Ridge into the green lungs of Delhi he addedLauding Prime Minister Narendra Modis Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative Shah called it a remarkable experiment in environmental balance for our countryAccording to NDMC Vice Chairperson Chahal under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam On Sunday campaign NDMC has completed 31 consecutive Sunday plantation drivesHighlighting NDMCs environmental achievements Chahal had said that NDMC at present maintains 1450 acres of green spaces including six iconic parks 122 colony parks 981 CPWDmaintained parks 52 school green areas 51 roundabouts 14 market gardens and nearly 15000 avenue treesDespite covering only about 3 per cent of Delhis geographical area NDMC contributes nearly 55 per cent of the Capitals green cover making it one of the greenest urban local bodies in the countryIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-hails-delhis-plantation-drive-says-ridge-will-be-transformed-into-citys-green-lungs-690131.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-multiple-locations-in-bengal-in-tmc-funds-case-probes-rs-440-crore-bank-accounts-690133.html Kolkata July 7 IANS The Enforcement Directorate ED on Tuesday launched a money laundering probe into transactions linked to three bank accounts of the Trinamool Congress on which debit restrictions were recently imposed following directions from the West Bengal Police which is conducting a parallel investigation in the casenbspMultiple ED teams accompanied by heavily armed Central Armed Police Forces CAPF personnel carried out simultaneous raids and search operations at several locations as part of the investigationSources said one of the premises searched was the office of an aviation company that allegedly provided chartered flight services to Trinamool Congress leaders including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the partys national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee for election campaigns and other official travelThe debit restrictions were imposed last month on the partys three bank accounts which together hold around Rs 440 crore following two separate developments after the TMCs rout in the assembly elections held in AprilMay this yearThe first was a letter from the partys former treasurer and former West Bengal Sports and Power Minister Aroop Biswas to the bank seeking a freeze on the accounts over fears that the funds could be misusedSubsequently MLAs belonging to the rebel but majority faction of the Trinamool Congress legislature party led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee approached the West Bengal Police with a similar request They also alleged that the accounts could contain proceeds of corruption and extortionTaking note of the allegations and complaints the police directed the bank to impose debit restrictions on the accounts The original but minority faction of the party led by Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee challenged the move before the Calcutta High Court However the court declined to grant interim relief and did not lift the restrictionsSources said that the ED has now initiated its own investigation into the matter after taking cognisance of the allegations that proceeds of corruption and extortion may have been routed through the accounts bringing the matter under the ambit of money laundering lawsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-multiple-locations-in-bengal-in-tmc-funds-case-probes-rs-440-crore-bank-accounts-690133.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/eclgs-50-surpasses-411-lakh-guarantees-with-rs-155-lakh-crore-amount-govt-690134.html New Delhi July 7 IANS The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme ECLGS 50 has issued 411497 guarantees since its launch with the guaranteed amount reaching Rs 155229 crore a sign of the schemes rapid absorption across the lending ecosystem the government said on TuesdaynbspThe scheme approved by Union Cabinet on May 5 2026 is delivering fast largescale liquidity support to businesses affected by the West Asia geopolitical situationThe scheme is designed to provide risk mitigation for lending institutions to provide additional credit to borrowers thereby helping businesses to tide over cashflow disruptions and sustain operationsBy extending 100 per cent guarantee coverage to additional loans of MSMEs and 90 per cent to other business segments the scheme has allowed financial institutions to lend more confidently ensuring liquidity reaches the needy sectors the Finance Ministry said in a statementThe results from ECLGS 50 reflect the governments continued commitment to building a resilient responsive credit ecosystemAs the scheme evolves and outreach expands it is expected to further strengthen liquidity support for businesses including MSMEs and enable entrepreneurs to meet their liquidity needs in the times of external challenges said the ministryThe scheme has overwhelmingly benefited Indias small business sector About 98 per cent of all guarantees issued by number have benefited MSMEs and 82 per cent of the total guaranteed amount is also towards MSMEsTo maximise awareness and adoption the Department of Financial Services DFS has led a structured outreach campaign across the countryThe phase 1 was completed across nine locations conducted through State Level Bankers Committees SLBCs with active participation from the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company NCGTC PSB Alliance banks industry associations and enterprisesThe Phase 2 is currently underway at 10 locations of which 4 have been completed These outreach programmes are intended to ensure that eligible borrowers are aware of the Scheme and are able to access its benefits while Member Lending Institutions MLIs are equipped to facilitate its effective implementationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/eclgs-50-surpasses-411-lakh-guarantees-with-rs-155-lakh-crore-amount-govt-690134.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-rejects-athar-khans-bail-in-delhi-riots-larger-conspiracy-case-says-he-may-influence-witnesses-690168.html New Delhi July 7 IANS The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant bail to Athar Khan an accused in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots holding that there was a prima facie case against him and observing that he posed a flight risk and could influence witnessesnbspA Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain dismissed Khans appeal challenging a trial court order rejecting his bail plea under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPAUpholding the trial courts decision the Justice Singhled Bench observed that Khans role in the alleged conspiracy resulting in the loss of lives during the riots was prima facie establishedThe Delhi High Court further said that there was a possibility of Khan absconding if released on bail and that he could influence prosecution witnessesThe verdict comes weeks after the Justice Singhled Bench had reserved its judgment on Khans pleaDuring the hearing the Delhi High Court had orally observed that WhatsApp chats placed on record prima facie indicated Khans active involvement in the alleged conspiracyAppearing for Khan advocate Arjun Dewan had argued that the WhatsApp messages merely reflected plans to organise peaceful protests and did not disclose any intention to incite violenceMy messages clearly indicate we dont want any road block Dewan had submitted while contending that a deleted message relied upon by the prosecution was being misconstruedHowever the Justice Singhled Bench had orally remarked that the chats appeared to establish the existence of the alleged conspiracy and Khans participation in itTo be honest as thirdparty people these messages actually prove the conspiracy They prove that all these people were together When you conspire like this things can go out of hand and we all are witness to what happened in 2020 These messages prove you were an active participant Its shocking the Delhi High Court had observedThe defence had further argued that no weapons money or incriminating material were recovered from Khan and that there was no evidence directly linking him to any act of violenceIt was also submitted that he was merely a locallevel facilitator with no decisionmaking role in the alleged conspiracy and sought parity with coaccused Shadab Ahmed and Gulfisha Fatima who had been granted bail by the Supreme CourtOpposing the plea Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appearing for the Delhi Police had argued that Khans role was comparable to that of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam rather than the coaccused who had secured bailHe wasnt a sidekick His role can be compared with Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam There was a call to kill 100200 people His case stands on a different footing ASG Raju had submittedEarlier this month a Delhi court dismissed the regular bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam holding that it was bound by the Supreme Courts January 5 order refusing them bail and that their fresh applications were not maintainableAdditional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Court held that the trial court was bound by the apex courts directions which permitted the two accused to renew their bail pleas only after the examination of the protected witnesses relied upon by the prosecution or upon the expiry of one year from the Supreme Courts January 5 order whichever was earlierThe trial court also declined to examine the defence argument that subsequent judgments including the Supreme Courts decision in Syed Iftikhar Andrabi vs National Investigation Agency constituted a change in circumstances observing that the legal issue arising from divergent Supreme Court rulings had already been referred to a larger Bench and remained unsettledEarlier this year the Supreme Court dismissed the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam holding that the prosecution material disclosed prima facie grounds attracting the statutory embargo on grant of bail under Section 43D5 of the UAPAAt the same time the apex court granted bail to five coaccused Gulfisha Fatima Meeran Haider Shifa Ur Rehman Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab AhmedMore recently the Supreme Court granted six months interim bail to coaccused Tasleem Ahmed and Khalid Saifi while referring to a larger Bench the question of whether prolonged incarceration and delay in trial could justify grant of bail despite the restrictions contained in Section 43D5 of the UAPAA Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B Varale noted the divergence in the interpretation of the threejudge Bench decision in Union of India vs KA Najeeb including the subsequent observations made in Syed Iftikhar Andrabi vs National Investigation Agency caseActing on submissions made by ASG Raju regarding the conflicting approaches adopted by coordinate Benches the apex court directed that the issue be placed before the Chief Justice of India for constitution of an appropriate larger BenchWithout expressing any opinion on the merits of the prosecution case the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Ahmed and Saifi for six months observing that they had undergone substantial incarceration and that the trial was unlikely to conclude in the near futureIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-rejects-athar-khans-bail-in-delhi-riots-larger-conspiracy-case-says-he-may-influence-witnesses-690168.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-seeks-centres-response-on-pleas-challenging-gymkhana-club-eviction-notice-690075.html New Delhi July 6 IANS The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Union government on applications filed by a member of the Delhi Gymkhana Club and the Clubs Staff Welfare Association challenging the Centres show cause notice seeking their eviction from the historic Lutyens Delhi premisesnbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Avneesh Jhingan sought the Centres response and posted the matter for further hearing on July 28 after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing virtually for the Centre sought time to file a reply stating that the applications had been served only a day earliernbspAdditional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma also appeared for the Centre while senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jayant Mehta represented the applicantsThe applications have been filed by Delhi Gymkhana Club member Vijay Khurana and the Clubs Staff Welfare Association in the already pending civil suits challenging the Centres move to reclaim possession of the Colonialera club premisesnbspThe latest development followed a show cause notice issued by the Estate Officer of the Land and Development Office LampampDO after the Union government initiated steps to evict the occupants from the Clubs premises at 2 Safdarjung RoadnbspEarlier the Delhi High Court had declined to grant interim relief against the Centres move to reclaim possession of the Delhi Gymkhana Club premises in Lutyens DelhinbspWhile issuing summons in the civil suits filed by a club member and the Staff Welfare Association Justice Jhingan had refused to stay the Centres communication after SG Mehta assured the court that no forcible eviction would be carried out and that any action would be taken strictly in accordance with law and after prior noticeThe Delhi High Court had observed that there was nothing on record at that stage to indicate that proceedings under the Public Premises Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants Act had been initiated adding that the petitioners would be at liberty to avail appropriate legal remedies if requirednbspAccording to the impugned communication issued by the LampampDO the 273acre property is critically required for the strengthening and securing of Defence infrastructure and other vital public security purposesThe notice invokes Clause 4 of the perpetual lease deed under which the lessor reserves the right to reenter the premises if required for a public purposenbspEstablished in 1913 during the Colonial era the Delhi Gymkhana Club is one of Indias oldest and most prestigious social institutions with around 5600 permanent members and a long waiting listnbspIts present premises were developed in the early 1930s by architect Robert T Russell who also designed Connaught Place and the erstwhile CommanderinChiefs residence later known as Teen Murti HouseIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-seeks-centres-response-on-pleas-challenging-gymkhana-club-eviction-notice-690075.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/donation-theft-row-deeply-distressing-shouldnt-be-politicised-ram-temple-trust-chief-690076.html Lucknow July 6 IANS Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das on Monday expressed deep anguish over the alleged theft of donations from the Ram Temple and demanded the strictest punishment for those responsible while urging against politicising the issuenbspHe also expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will ensure justice He urged that the matter linked to the faith of millions of Hindus should not be politicised for personal gainIn a statement Mahant Das said I am deeply distressed by the theft of donations from the temple of Shri Ramlalla Sarkar Whoever has committed this sin must face the severest possible punishment I have full faith in the esteemed Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi that they will ensure punishment for anyone involved in this sinful actThis is a matter concerning the faith of crores of Hindus and I urge that no one should engage in politics over this for personal gain he addedMeanwhile the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting later in the day during which members will consider the resignations submitted by the Trusts General Secretary Champat Rai and Trustee Anil MishraThe meeting will also deliberate on the ongoing Special Investigation Team SIT probe into alleged irregularities related to temple donation collections and the management of the Ram MandirAccording to a notice issued by the Trusts Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri the meeting has been convened with the approval of Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das to discuss several urgent matters requiring immediate decisions Das is currently hospitalisedAll members are hereby informed that with the permission of the Honourable President a meeting has been convened by the Treasurer on Monday 6 July 2026 This meeting has been called on short notice to deliberate on urgent matters and to take necessary decisions the notice issued by the Treasurer statedThe meeting is scheduled to begin at 3 pm on July 6 at Mani Ram Das Chhavni in Ayodhya Dham Uttar PradeshThe notice further detailed the agenda which is Consideration of the resignations of General Secretary Shri Champat Rai and Trustee Dr Anil Mishra Information regarding the SIT interim report concerning the counting of funds received in the Trusts donation boxes Deliberation on arrangements related to future temple management Information and approval regarding the unaudited incomeexpenditure statement balance sheet and other financial details for the financial year 202526 Other urgent matters with the permission of the Honourable PresidentIt also appealed to all members to be present in the meeting stating Therefore all concerned members are requested to attend the meeting at the scheduled time and venue and contribute to its successEarlier on June 27 Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri had formally confirmed through a letter that the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra had been received by the TrustUnder the provisions of the Trust deed the resignations can only be accepted if they receive the support of a twothirds majority of the Trust membersHowever it remains unclear how many members will be present at the July 6 meeting and whether the required quorum will be achieved to take a final decision on the resignationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/donation-theft-row-deeply-distressing-shouldnt-be-politicised-ram-temple-trust-chief-690076.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-seeks-centres-reply-on-gymkhana-club-eviction-notice-pleas-690077.html New Delhi July 6 IANS The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Union government on applications filed by a member of the Delhi Gymkhana Club and the Clubs Staff Welfare Association challenging the Centres show cause notice seeking their eviction from the historic Lutyens Delhi premisesnbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Avneesh Jhingan sought the Centres response and posted the matter for further hearing on July 28 after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing virtually for the Centre sought time to file a reply stating that the applications had been served only a day earlierAdditional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma also appeared for the Centre while senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jayant Mehta represented the applicantsThe applications have been filed by Delhi Gymkhana Club member Vijay Khurana and the Clubs Staff Welfare Association in the already pending civil suits challenging the Centres move to reclaim possession of the Colonialera club premisesThe latest development followed a show cause notice issued by the Estate Officer of the Land and Development Office LampampDO after the Union government initiated steps to evict the occupants from the Clubs premises at 2 Safdarjung RoadEarlier the Delhi High Court had declined to grant interim relief against the Centres move to reclaim possession of the Delhi Gymkhana Club premises in Lutyens DelhiWhile issuing summons in the civil suits filed by a club member and the Staff Welfare Association Justice Jhingan had refused to stay the Centres communication after SG Mehta assured the court that no forcible eviction would be carried out and that any action would be taken strictly in accordance with law and after prior noticeThe Delhi High Court had observed that there was nothing on record at that stage to indicate that proceedings under the Public Premises Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants Act had been initiated adding that the petitioners would be at liberty to avail appropriate legal remedies if requiredAccording to the impugned communication issued by the LampampDO the 273acre property is critically required for the strengthening and securing of Defence infrastructure and other vital public security purposesThe notice invokes Clause 4 of the perpetual lease deed under which the lessor reserves the right to reenter the premises if required for a public purposeEstablished in 1913 during the Colonial era the Delhi Gymkhana Club is one of Indias oldest and most prestigious social institutions with around 5600 permanent members and a long waiting listIts present premises were developed in the early 1930s by architect Robert T Russell who also designed Connaught Place and the erstwhile CommanderinChiefs residence later known as Teen Murti HouseIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-seeks-centres-reply-on-gymkhana-club-eviction-notice-pleas-690077.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 14:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/dr-mookerjee-left-enduring-imprint-on-indias-educational-political-democratic-journey-vp-radhakrishnan-690079.html New Delhi July 6 IANS Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Monday paid floral tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee at the Uprashtrapati Bhawan on the late leaders 125th birth anniversary and said that he left an enduring imprint on Indias educational political and democratic journeyVP Radhakrishnan took to social media X and said Paid floral tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee at the Uprashtrapati Bhawan today on his 125th birth anniversaryA distinguished educationist visionary statesman and nationbuilder Dr Mookerjee left an enduring imprint on Indias educational political and democratic journey As one of the youngest ViceChancellors of the University of Calcutta a member of the Constituent Assembly President of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha Independent Indias first Minister for Industry and Supply and founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh he rendered exceptional service to the nation he saidA steadfast champion of national unity and integrity he made the supreme sacrifice in Jammu ampamp Kashmir while striving for its full integration with Bharat His life and ideals continue to inspire generations in the collective endeavour to build a strong united selfreliant and developed India he addedRadhakrishnan further said that Dr Mookerjee sacrificed his life for the unity of this nation such great sacrifices will never go unheededHe said that Dr Mookerjee envisioned an India where every citizen would be equal under a single constitutional framework and that the abrogation of Article 370 was a tribute to his lifelong commitment to national integrationDr Mookerjee was born on July 6 1901 in Kolkata He was a prominent Indian politician barrister and academician and served as the minister for Industry and Supply in the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru CabinetDr Mookerjee strongly opposed Article 370 that gave autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir He saw it as a threat to national unity He visited Kashmir in 1953 illegally and went on a hunger strike to protest the law that prohibited Indian citizens from settling within the state and directing that they carry ID cards Owing to his efforts the ID card rule was revoked but he died there on June 23 1953 under mysterious circumstancesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/dr-mookerjee-left-enduring-imprint-on-indias-educational-political-democratic-journey-vp-radhakrishnan-690079.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ndrf-intensifies-rescue-ops-as-heavy-rain-wreaks-havoc-across-maharashtra-navy-on-standby-690080.html Mumbai July 6 IANS The National Disaster Response Force NDRF has intensified rescue and relief operations across several parts of Maharashtra as relentless rainfall continues to lash the state severely disrupting normal life and triggering landslides waterlogging and transport disruptionsMeanwhile the Indian Navy said that the Western Naval Command has been placed on high alert amid the continuing heavy rainfall and is fully prepared to assist the state administration whenever requestedOne of the major incidents was reported from Patan village in Punes Maval tehsil where a portion of a hillside collapsed at around 4 am burying the house of local resident Nandu Tikone under a huge mass of debris Three members of the family were feared trapped beneath the rubbleA 30member NDRF team has reached the affected area immediately launched a rescue operation at the site and recovered one body Search operations are continuing despite challenging weather conditions to trace the remaining two missing family membersIn another rescue operation in Pune district Team 5 Headquarters of the NDRFs 5th Battalion responded swiftly to a waterlogging incident near Ghorawadi Railway Station in Maval and successfully rescued all 37 passengers stranded inside a private busAmid the worsening weather situation Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan on Monday urged citizens to avoid monsoon tourism and unnecessary outings warning that strict action could be taken against those ignoring official advisoriesThe state is experiencing an exceptionally high volume of rainfall Roads and railway routes have been shut down and the PuneMumbai transport corridor is closed Schools have been ordered to remain closed A Disaster Management meeting has been convened at the Mantralaya in Mumbai I strictly advise citizens against stepping out for tourism or sightseeing in Mumbai We will announce further decisions shortly he saidThe minister further highlighted the danger posed by severe weather conditions Wind speeds have reached 70 to 90 kmh causing trees to uproot across Mumbai Despite this people are gathering in crowds outdoors please do not do this he addedA red alert has been issued for several areas for Monday and Tuesday with warnings of heavy downpours and stormy conditionsThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC reiterated these warnings noting that the India Meteorological Department IMD has issued a red alert for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMR with wind speeds expected to touch 80 to 90 kmhIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ndrf-intensifies-rescue-ops-as-heavy-rain-wreaks-havoc-across-maharashtra-navy-on-standby-690080.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-agrees-to-hear-dmk-plea-in-karur-stampede-case-on-tuesday-690081.html New Delhi July 6 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on Tuesday an application filed by the DMK in the pending Karur stampede case after the matter was mentioned for urgent listingnbspThe application filed by DMK Organising Secretary RS Bharathi was mentioned before the apex court seeking an urgent hearingThe Supreme Court agreed to list the matter for hearing on Tuesday In the application Bharathi has sought registration of an FIR against Tamil Nadu Minister Aadhav Arjuna and directions restraining TVK Ministers from making public statements relating to the Karur stampede pending completion of the courtmonitored CBI investigationThe application has been filed in the pending proceedings arising out of the September 27 2025 Karur stampede in which 41 people lost their lives and 142 others were injured during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK rallyThe DMK has alleged that public statements made by Minister Aadhav Arjuna who is also an accused in the case and the proposed distribution of government benefits to victims families could prejudice the ongoing courtmonitored CBI investigationReferring to a speech delivered on July 2 by Aadhav Arjuna the application alleged that the Minister publicly declared there was a score to settle and blamed the previous DMK government for the Karur tragedyAccording to the plea such statements by a sitting Cabinet Minister who is himself facing investigation are wholly impermissible during the pendency of the investigation and are liable to prejudice the fairness of the ongoing process monitored by this Honble CourtThe application further alleged that the speech was intended to interfere with the CBI investigation and create a public perception that the DMK and its leadership were responsible for the incident for political gainsIt also referred to reports indicating that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was likely to visit Karur to distribute government benefits including compassionate appointments to the families of those who died in the stampedeWhile stating that it had no objection to welfare measures for the victims families the plea contended that the families are material witnesses in the courtmonitored CBI investigation and any direct interaction with them by persons connected with the case could raise apprehensions regarding the fairness and independence of the investigative processThe Supreme Court had earlier transferred the investigation into the stampede to the CBI under the supervision of a committee headed by former apex court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi after expressing concern over the manner in which the matter was being dealt with and observing that something is wrong with the proceedings before the Madras High CourtIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-agrees-to-hear-dmk-plea-in-karur-stampede-case-on-tuesday-690081.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-amit-shah-to-lead-event-dedicated-to-syama-prasad-mookerjee-in-kolkata-today-690082.html New Delhi July 6 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a special commemorative programme in Kolkata on Monday as part of the twoyear official commemoration of the 125th Birth anniversary of Bharat Kesari Syama Prasad MookerjeenbspThe Ministry of Culture in association with the Government of West Bengal will organise the special commemorative programme at Milan Mela Prangan Kolkata the official said in a statementThe event will also be attended by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal Ministry of Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal and other distinguished dignitariesThe Ministry of Culture had announced a twoyear nationwide commemoration of the 125th birth anniversary of Bharat Kesari Syama Prasad Mookerjee in 2025The commemoration honours the enduring legacy of the visionary statesman educationist parliamentarian and nationalist leader whose contributions significantly shaped Indias political cultural educational and industrial landscapeThe programme at Milan Mela Prangan will commence with floral tributes by Home Minister Amit Shah and other dignitaries at the residence of Syama Prasad Mookerjee in Bhawanipore KolkataThereafter HM Shah will visit Eco Park to perform the Bhoomi Poojan and lay the foundation stone for the proposed 125foot statue of Syama Prasad Mookerjee a landmark initiative to honour his enduring contribution to the nation said the statementA special exhibition dedicated to the life and legacy of Mookerjee will also be inaugurated at Milan Mela Prangan Through rare photographs archival documents and immersive multimedia displays the exhibition traces his personal journey ideological vision educational reforms and his pivotal role in strengthening Indias democratic institutions and industrial developmentThe commemorative programme at Milan Mela Prangan will feature the mass singing of Vande Mataram followed by a grand musical tribute titled Sur Sanskriti evam Rashtra by Centre For Cultural Resources and Training CCRTThe production will feature 57 accomplished artists representing diverse streams of Indian classical folk and traditional music reflecting Indias rich cultural heritage and spirit of unity said the statementConceived as a musical narrative the programme celebrates Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjees enduring ideals of cultural nationalism national integration education and civilisational values The musical ensemble is directed by Padma Shri Tarun Bhattacharya it saidThe programme will also include the screening of a short film depicting the life and contributions of Mookerjee The programme will also witness the release of a special video showcasing the foundation stone laying of the proposed 125foot statue of MookerjeeThe twoyear nationwide commemoration reflects the Government of Indias commitment to preserving and promoting the enduring legacy of one of the countrys foremost nation builders inspiring present and future generations through his ideals of nationalism public service and unwavering dedication to Indias unity and progress said the Ministry of CultureIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-amit-shah-to-lead-event-dedicated-to-syama-prasad-mookerjee-in-kolkata-today-690082.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/monsoon-fury-maha-assembly-adjourned-for-the-day-cm-fadnavis-says-govt-on-alert-mode-690085.html Mumbai July 6 IANS The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was adjourned for the day on Monday following an official statement by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressing the catastrophic rainfall gripping Mumbai and surrounding districts The severe weather conditions which have forced widespread infrastructure closures triggered an immediate suspension of the legislative proceedings to allow the government and administration to focus fully on disaster management and relief operationsnbspMaking a statement on the floor of the House before the adjournment CM Fadnavis detailed the staggering scale of the natural crisis The Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMR alongside Thane Raigad Palghar and parts of Pune and Nashik have been battered by continuous extremely heavy rainfall well above seasonal averages The state government has put all emergency apparatus on the highest level of alert Chief Minister Fadnavis informed the AssemblyHe stated that the India Meteorological Department IMD has issued absolute red alerts for multiple districts tracking gusty wind speeds ranging between 70 and 90 kmhour that have already caused widespread destruction including numerous tree collapses and severe structural damageIn an unprecedented move to ensure public safety and streamline communication the Chief Minister announced that the states automated systems are directly broadcasting emergency SMS alerts every three hours to residents trapped in the worsthit zonesWe are dealing with an intense and evolving natural emergency The National Disaster Response Force NDRF State Disaster Response Force SDRF and local civic bodies are deployed in full capacity Our absolute priority right now is preventing loss of life and executing rescue operations said the Chief MinisterCM Fadnavis provided a stark statistical contrast to underscore the severity of the current storm On average Mumbai records about 800 treecollapse incidents over the entire course of an annual monsoon season However yesterday alone 350 trees fell in a single day Today is turning out to be significantly more critical which is why we have officially requested employers to grant Work From Home he added The Chief Minister warned lawmakers and citizens that the metropolis is bracing for severe atmospheric conditions later in the day he saidWind reaching speeds of 70 to 90 kilometres per hour is expected to lash the city after this afternoon These powerful winds will pose an extreme threat to standing trees It is absolutely vital that people remain highly alert and vigilant to this danger he statedGiven the dual threat of continuous torrential downpours and highvelocity winds the state government has issued a strict advisory to minimise vehicular and pedestrian movement on the streets The Chief Minister outlined key safety instructions for residents Citizens are strongly advised to cancel commutes and stay indoors unless an absolute emergency arises he saidDirecting a special appeal to the youth the Chief Minister requested them to refrain from visiting beaches promenades and waterfalls Looking at the severity of the winds forecasted for today I specifically urge the younger generation to completely avoid sightseeing and monsoon tourism he emphasisedThe state administration and civic bodies remain on high alert with emergency response teams deployed across vulnerable pockets of the city to clear fallen trees and manage potential structural hazards as the storm peaks he notedBefore the House adjournment the monsoon fury prompted political confrontation Opposition MLAs staged a massive protest on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan raising slogans against the ruling government over its failure to handle the seasons first major downpourHolding placards opposition leaders shouted slogans mocking the administrations infrastructure claims chanting The government that leaves citizens to die in manholes deserves condemnation and Lost lost the Inframan is lost to protest Mumbais widespread water logging and civic mismanagementFollowing torrential rains in Mumbai and across Maharashtra the opposition demanded a highlevel probe and strict action against negligent officials over multiple rainrelated casualtiesSpeaking on the floor of the House as the monsoon session commenced the Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar highlighted the loss of innocent lives in the state capital Over the last two days alone Mumbai has recorded 12 fatalities due to various raininduced incidents including citizens falling into open manholes tree collapses and a structural collapse in Mankhurd These tragic incidents raise serious questions about the administrations monsoon preparedness and disaster management efficiency Wadettiwar statedHe argued that timely premonsoon surveys of dilapidated buildings tree trimming securing manholes and clear drainage planning could have easily prevented these casualtiesWadettiwar and other opposition members also raised serious concerns over the infrastructure breakdown on major transit routes A massive landslide near the Missing Link project on the MumbaiPune Expressway brought traffic to a complete standstill This is the same project that recently faced criticism over severe potholes Now a major landslide has severely impacted traffic on the Expressway the old MumbaiPune highway and railway operations in the ghat sections leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours the Congress leader addedThe Opposition demanded that the state government immediately release an official statement outlining the ground reality ongoing rescue operations and future disaster mitigation plans He insisted on a timebound highlevel inquiry to fix administrative accountability and penalise negligent officersThe CM and other ministers urged the opposition to cooperate during a humanitarian crisis rather than weaponising natural disasters for political leverage Following the Chief Ministers statement the Speaker Rahul Narwekar announced that the House will be adjourned for the day saying that the present situation can be handled collectivelyMumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad targeted the ruling Mahayuti government pointing out that newly inaugurated infrastructure projects such as the multicrore connecting road link have quickly developed dangerous potholes and structural erosion within days of heavy rainMeanwhile the scale of the disaster grew starker on Sunday night when a tragic threestory chawl collapse in Mumbais Mankhurd area claimed the lives of six individuals including five childrenThe relentless downpour has successfully paralysed the states primary economic arteries Traffic on both the critical PuneMumbai Expressway and the old highway has been entirely suspended following a massive landslide near the KhopoliKusgaon Missing Link project where boulders partially buried the carriagewayLocal suburban rail networks and longdistance trains linking Mumbai to Pune have suffered major halts due to heavily flooded tracks in lowlying stations like Sion and Raigad sectorsEducational institutions including all government and private schools across Mumbai Thane and Palghar remained shut Furthermore the University of Mumbai postponed all examinations scheduled for July 6 citing the safety of commuting studentsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/monsoon-fury-maha-assembly-adjourned-for-the-day-cm-fadnavis-says-govt-on-alert-mode-690085.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/shivakumars-govt-trying-to-derail-sir-process-three-union-ministers-to-ktaka-ceo-690091.html Bengaluru July 6 Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and HD Kumaraswamy on Monday accused the Karnataka government and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of attempting to derail the ongoing Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls in the state The NDA leaders alleged largescale violations of the Election Commission of Indias guidelines and added that they would approach the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi if corrective measures were not initiated The allegations were made after an NDA delegation submitted a memorandum to Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbu Kumar in Bengaluru seeking an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rollsThe delegation included Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi HD Kumaraswamy and Shobha Karandlaje besides several senior BJP leaders from KarnatakaAddressing a joint press conference Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi alleged that the Congress government was violating the Election Commission of Indias prescribed procedures by distributing enumeration forms in groups instead of conducting mandatory doortodoor verificationThe state government has taken people in herds like sheep and distributed enumeration forms during the SIR exercise They are also conducting a separate SIR in selected booths under the Greater Bengaluru Authority although they have no constitutional authority to do so Joshi allegedHe accused Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and the ruling Congress of conspiring to subvert the entire SIR process in KarnatakaResponding to Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharges criticism that the Election Commission was remaining silent over the alleged violations Joshi said it was not the Election Commission but the state government that was undermining the revision processThe Election Commission is not sitting idle It is the state government that is attempting to derail the SIR process We have submitted detailed evidence of the alleged illegalities to the Chief Electoral Officer he saidJoshi said the delegation had urged the Chief Electoral Officer to order reenumeration wherever the Election Commissions guidelines had allegedly been violatedThe Chief Electoral Officer gave us a patient hearing and assured us that the matter would be examined We have specifically sought reenumeration in places where irregularities have occurred he saidHe added that if appropriate action is not initiated the NDA delegation would meet the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi on Tuesday July 7We are not making any allegation against the Chief Election Commissioner We are only requesting him to ensure that proper action is taken and that reenumeration is conducted wherever illegalities have occurred Joshi saidThe Union Minister also demanded strict action against senior officials responsible for the alleged violations arguing that action against top officials would prevent junior officers from coming under political pressureDefending the need for mandatory housetohouse verification Joshi said the exercise was essential to verify the existence and eligibility of votersIf enumeration forms are distributed collectively and one family member signs on behalf of others officials cannot verify whether a voter has died or whether the details are accurate he saidHe also questioned the alleged practice of Booth Level Officers operating from mosques and dargahs instead of conducting doortodoor verificationIf a BLO is sitting in a mosque or a dargah how will officials verify whether an individual is an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh he askedJoshi further criticised Chief Minister Shivakumar over his reported statement that people whose names were not included in the electoral rolls could lose welfare benefits such as ration cardsThe Election Commission has never said that ration cards or government benefits would be withdrawn if names are missing from the electoral roll Why is the Chief Minister making such statements It appears to be an attempt to create confusion and derail the SIR process he allegedReferring to criticism from the Congress against the Election Commission Joshi defended the constitutional body and said the current system for appointing Election Commissioners had been strengthened through judicial oversightUnion Minister HD Kumaraswamy said the ECI was an independent constitutional institution and maintained that the NDA leaders had submitted documentary evidence to support their allegationsWe have submitted a detailed complaint along with pen drives containing evidence of the irregularities that have taken place over the past week The Chief Electoral Officer informed us that he has already conveyed these developments to the Election Commission of India Kumaraswamy saidAccording to him the Election Commission had already deputed officials to examine the complaintsHe alleged that state officials had ignored the Election Commissions guidelines while conducting the SIR exercise under pressure from the state governmentThe guidelines issued by the Election Commission have been thrown to the wind Officials are acting to please the state government he allegedKumaraswamy also accused the Congress of adopting double standards on electoral roll revisionsCongress leaders have criticised the SIR process in other states I want to ask what they are doing in Karnataka For the past three days complaints have been submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer and today we have once again presented evidence he saidAlleging misuse of official machinery Kumaraswamy said the state government was attempting to influence officials and derail the electoral roll revision processThe Chief Minister is merely making political statements while we are producing evidence There is no issue with the Election Commission The problem lies with the state government which is misusing its authority and armtwisting officials to derail the SIR exercise he alleged IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/shivakumars-govt-trying-to-derail-sir-process-three-union-ministers-to-ktaka-ceo-690091.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/serious-crimes-down-465-pc-dgp-presents-raj-polices-six-month-report-card-690092.html Jaipur July 6 Rajasthan Director General of Police DGP Rajeev Kumar Sharma on Monday presented the Rajasthan Polices sixmonth performance report highlighting significant improvements in crime control law and order cyber policing and investigation Addressing a press conference at the Rajasthan Police Academy he said the force has registered a 465 per cent decline in serious crimes under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS intensified its crackdown on paper leak rackets drug traffickers and organised crime and strengthened technologyenabled policingOutlining the road map ahead the DGP said Rajasthan Police would move beyond a reactive approach to policing by prioritising crime prevention dismantling the financial networks of criminals through attachment of illegally acquired assets and leveraging advanced technology for smarter and more efficient policingSharma said 94652 cases were registered under the BNS during the first six months of the year compared with 99272 during the corresponding period last year reflecting a decline of 465 per centAt the same time cases registered under local and special laws increased by 425 per cent from 49087 to 51172 primarily due to proactive suo motu action by the police against illegal activitiesThe DGP said almost all major categories of crime registered a decline during the period under review Murder cases fell by 441 per cent 703 to 672 attempted murder by 1117 per cent 1288 to 1145 dacoity by 1628 per cent 43 to 36 and robbery by 1993 per cent 577 to 462 Kidnapping and abduction cases declined by 472 per cent 5211 to 4965 while rape cases involving adults fell by 1336 per cent 2088 to 1809Cases registered under the POCSO Act also recorded a sharp decline of 2090 per cent from 1651 to 1306 Cases registered under the SCST Prevention of Atrocities Act also decreased by 1881 per cent from 3121 to 2534 reflecting an overall reduction in crimes against vulnerable sectionsSharma said Rajasthan Police has achieved a significant improvement in the recovery of stolen property The recovery rate in robbery cases increased from 71 per cent to 7909 per cent while burglary detection witnessed a substantial jump with the recovery rate rising from 958 per cent to 5824 per centThe recovery of stolen property also improved from 1034 per cent to 2479 per cent He said the police had intensified its campaign against narcotics and illegal arms networksDuring the review period 7195 cases were registered under antidrug operations while enforcement under the Excise Act Arms Act and NDPS Act also increased significantly as part of the states sustained crackdown on organised crimeThe Rajasthan Police has taken comprehensive and effective measures to prevent cybercrime and provide prompt assistance to victims he said adding As part of the Budget Announcements for 2026â27 the Chief Minister announced the establishment of the Rajasthan Cyber Crime Control Centre R4C and an AIenabled 1930 Cyber Helpline Call Centre with a budgetary provision of Rs 100 crore The implementation of these initiatives is currently underway The capacity of the 1930 Cyber Helpline has been significantly enhanced with 53 telephone lines now operational roundtheclock 24Ã7 across three shiftsTo further improve accessibility for complainants two dedicated WhatsApp numbers 9256001930 and 9257510100 have also been introduced Cyber Police Stations have been established in all 41 police districts of the State and a Cyber Helpdesk has been set up at every police station to strengthen the cybercrime response mechanismAdditionally since the launch of the Zero FIR facility on 10 January 2026 for cybercrime cases involving financial fraud of up to Rs 5 lakh a total of 405 online FIRs have been registered The number of cybercrime complaints stood at 147384 during 2025 while 84916 complaints were received up to 30 June 2026 he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/serious-crimes-down-465-pc-dgp-presents-raj-polices-six-month-report-card-690092.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/uttar-pradesh-jalalabad-rechristened-as-parshurampuri-yogi-cabinet-approves-proposal-690096.html Lucknow July 6 Jalalabad town in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh will now be known by a new name âParshurampuriâ A decision to this effect was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Monday UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak speaking to newsmen confirmed the development stating that the state cabinet approved the new name âParshurampuriâ for Jalalabad townFor a long time there had been a demand from the people to change the name of Jalalabad town in Shahjahanpur district The people had demanded that since this is the birthplace of Lord Parshuram its name should be Parshurampuriâ he opinedUP cabinet Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna stated that Jalalabad renamed as Parashurampuri is widely recognized as the birthplace of Lord Parashuram and hence itâs right tribute to his lineage and the residents of townNotably the proposal was presented before the Union Cabinet last year and also got nod its nod for the same Union Minister Jitin Prasad who belongs to Shahjahanpur had lauded the decision calling it a âmoment of pride for the Sanatani communityâBesides renaming Jalalabad town Yogi cabinet also approved 28 significant proposals Suresh Kumar Khanna told newsmen that the state government approved Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy2026 and the formation of Uttar Pradesh Startup Mission to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the stateThe steering committee of this mission which will be constituted under the Societies Registration Act will be chaired by the Chief Secretary To strengthen the startup ecosystem the government has made provisions for a â¹1000 crore startup fund prototype and seed capital assistance and annual grants for incubatorsThe cabinet also approved a proposal to provide cashless medical facilities of up to â¹5 lakh to approximately 160 lakh Home Guards in the state and their dependentsAdditionally the state cabinet approved the establishment of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi International Agricultural University in Bilhaur Ajay Kumar Garg University in Ghaziabad and Thakur Yugraj Singh University in FatehpurApprovals were also granted for setting up a Horticulture College and Research Centre in Raebareli amendments regarding the pensions of the Public Service Commission Chairman and members the issuance of municipal bonds for the Gorakhpur and Moradabad municipal corporations IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/uttar-pradesh-jalalabad-rechristened-as-parshurampuri-yogi-cabinet-approves-proposal-690096.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/-army-chief-general-dhiraj-seth-calls-on-president-droupadi-murmu-690099.html New Delhi July 6 IANS Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth along with spouse Komal Seth called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan an official said on MondayWhile assuming charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff on July 1 Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth vowed to lead the force with an unwavering commitment to the ideals of duty honour and Nation FirstEarlier this month during his meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh the Chief of the Army Staff COAS outlined his plans for the forceArmy Chief Gen Seth said The Indian Army is a combatready and battlehardened force fully prepared and capable of meeting every challenge in the operational domain To respond effectively to the evolving security environment we must take forward the modernisation of the Army with renewed energy and firm resolveWe aim to build a technologyenabled futureready Army which is fully empowered and capable of operating across multiple domains Gen Seth saidThe COAS spoke about the Decade of Transformation while identifying his key focus areasI have put them together in the acronym VIJAY Each letter of VIJAY reflects my priorities which I will briefly outline V stands for Vigilance We will maintain constant vigilance along our borders and against emerging threats We will also ensure a high level of operational readiness to respond effectively to any challenge to national securityInnovation will remain an integral part of our thinking our systems and our capability development At the same time necessary transformations will be undertaken in keeping with the changing character of warfare J stands for Jointness and Integration he saidThe letter A stands for Atmanirbharta he said adding that Y stands for Yodha First reflecting training and welfare of personnel he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/-army-chief-general-dhiraj-seth-calls-on-president-droupadi-murmu-690099.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pain-compassion-define-true-spirituality-kerala-cm-satheesan-690100.html Thiruvananthapuram July 6 Calling for a world anchored in compassion rather than conflict Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Monday said true spirituality lay in embracing those who suffer and offering hope to the distressed as he inaugurated the Vishwa Shanthi Sandesha Yajnam marking the birth centenary celebrations of Navjyothisree Karunakara Guru at the Santhigiri Ashram Addressing a gathering at the Ashram the Chief Minister said the world today was witnessing unprecedented turmoil wars and humanitarian crises making the Gurus message of universal love and peace more relevant than everSpirituality is about standing with those in pain and extending compassion to those who endure hardship he saidRecalling his first introduction to Karunakara Guru through the renowned writer OV Vijayans celebrated work Gurusagaram Satheesan described how the author portrayed himself as a tiny fish that had reached the vast ocean that was the GuruHe said the Guru had opened new dimensions of spiritual consciousness while spreading the ideals of love universal brotherhood and peace through annadanam community feeding humanitarian service and spiritual awakeningDrawing parallels between the devastation caused by the First and Second World Wars and the conflicts raging across the globe today the Chief Minister expressed concern about the continuing violence and said only the Gurus philosophy of universal humanism could guide society out of such crisesHe added that the transformative possibilities of artificial intelligence if guided by humane values could also help build a more peaceful worldSatheesan also recalled witnessing with admiration Santhigiri Ashrams unique tradition of conducting both the Islamic call to prayer Bankku Vili and Hindu worship describing it as a rare symbol of communal harmony and religious inclusivenessThe Chief Minister later called on Guru Sthaniya Shishyapoojitha Amrita Gnana Tapaswini at the AshramThe inauguration also marked the launch of a nationwide World Peace Prayer Campaign which will continue until September 2030 as part of the Gurus birth centenary observancesThe campaign will include peace prayers house visits and a series of social welfare and charitable initiatives across the country transcending barriers of caste and religion to promote universal peace and the welfare of humanity IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pain-compassion-define-true-spirituality-kerala-cm-satheesan-690100.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 17:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-govt-failing-to-protect-hindus-ktaka-bjp-leaders-visit-murder-victims-family--690101.html Haveri July 6 Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra on Monday visited the residence of Shivaji Rao Bairoji who was recently murdered at Rettihalli in Haveri district and met his bereaved family while announcing an agitation in Haveri on July 16 â Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was also presentâSpeaking to reporters after the visit Vijayendra alleged that incidents of violence against Hindus had increased since the Congress came to power in Karnataka and urged Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to stop political theatrics and ensure protection for HindusâAnnouncing agitation Vijayendra said the BJP would hold a massive protest in Haveri on July 16 under the leadership of former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai against the alleged attacks on Hindus and the state governments handling of law and orderâReferring to another recent incident in Naregal Vijayendra said Lohith Kurubar and his associates were allegedly attacked near a mosque over bursting firecrackers to scare away cattle He claimed that assaults on Hindus had now escalated to murdersâThe BJP leader alleged that the murder of Shivaji Rao who had been running a petty shop for nearly six decades was not a personal dispute but part of a systematic conspiracyAccording to Vijayendra the accused picked a quarrel after allegedly claiming they had paid Rs 500 for goods worth Rs 100 before fatally assaulting Shivaji Rao by kicking him in his private partsHe further claimed that similar confrontations had occurred at the victims shop on three or four previous occasionsâVijayendra criticised the state government alleging that no minister had visited either the family of the Naregal assault victims or Shivaji Raos familyCalling the government insensitive he alleged that it had failed to stand with the victims families and was merely sending the accused to jail without ensuring justiceâHe further accused the state government of pursuing minority appeasement politics claiming it had emboldened communal elementsReferring to the recent murder of a Dalit woman in Yellapur which he alleged was linked to love jihad Vijayendra said no minister had visited that victims family eitherâTargeting Karnataka Minister for Home Priyank Kharge Vijayendra said the minister should focus on taking strict action against those responsible for such incidents in Karnataka instead of commenting on international affairsâDemanding immediate relief measures Vijayendra sought police protection for Shivaji Raos son alleging that he had received threats He also urged the government to provide a government job to the victims sister and adequate compensation to the bereaved familyâVijayendra also objected to the rearrest of Hindutva activist Puneeth Kerehalli alleging that while those who threatened him had not been arrested police had instead registered a false case against him He accused the state government of selectively targeting Hindu activistsâHe maintained that the state government had been elected with the support of both Hindus and minorities and therefore had a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of every citizenâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-govt-failing-to-protect-hindus-ktaka-bjp-leaders-visit-murder-victims-family--690101.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 17:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/eam-jaishankar-to-embark-on-six-nation-visit-from-today-690009.html New Delhi July 4 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar will embark on a 10day multination tour from Sunday covering Qatar Bahrain Kuwait Oman New York and Brussels According to the Ministry of External Affairs MEA the EAM will travel to Qatar Bahrain Kuwait and Oman from July 5 to July 10 focusing on enhancing the bilateral relationship with the four countriesâExternal Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be on an official visit to Qatar Bahrain Kuwait and Oman from 0510 July 2026 During the visit to these countries he will be meeting with his counterparts and the leadership The visit will focus on enhancing our bilateral relations with the four countries and also provide an opportunity to exchange views on regional developments and issues of mutual interestâ noted the MEAEAM will thereafter visit New York to launch on July 13 Indiaâs official campaign for the UN Security Council tenure 202829He will then attend the 3rd IndiaEU Trade and Technology Council TTC meeting and interact with his EU and Belgian counterparts in Brussels on July 1415Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal Union Minister for Railways Information and Broadcasting Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw will also travel to Brussels to attend the 3rd IndiaEU Trade and Technology Council TTC meeting which will complement the recently concluded IndiaEU free trade agreement FTA and facilitate its implementation Goyal said on SaturdaySpeaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 17th Toy Biz International B2B Expo the minister said we will all be going to a meeting with the European CommissionOur effort is that it becomes a supplement to the free trade agreement which we have finalised and will help us to smooth the edges and make it easier to implement and benefit from the FTA going forward Goyal addedThe minister also said that the TTC dialogue is expected to strengthen cooperation between India and the European Union in key areas including trade technology and resilient supply chains while supporting the effective implementation of the FTA IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/eam-jaishankar-to-embark-on-six-nation-visit-from-today-690009.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ketan-agarwals-grandfather-dies-weeks-after-realtors-murder-shocks-family-690014.html Pune July 5 The Agarwal family still mourning the death of 26yearold Punebased realtor Ketan Agarwal has been struck by another tragedy Ketans paternal grandfather Devichand Agarwal passed away at a private hospital in Pune where he had been undergoing treatment for serious health complications Ketans father Vishal Agarwal expressed his grief by sharing a heartfelt message on his social media status that read Miss You Dad paying tribute to the familys patriarchAccording to sources familiar with the familys circumstances Devichand had undergone a major heart surgery some time ago and had been battling recurring health issues since then His health reportedly remained fragile in the months that followed the procedureFamily sources said the tragic death of his grandson deeply affected Devichand emotionally leaving the family devastated during an already difficult period The loss is said to have taken a significant toll on himEarlier this week Devichands condition reportedly deteriorated suddenly following which he was admitted to a private hospital in Pune for emergency treatmentAs his health worsened doctors placed him on ventilator support and continued intensive medical care Despite sustained efforts by the medical team he could not be revived and eventually succumbed to his conditionDevichands death comes just weeks after Ketan Agarwal allegedly lost his life after being pushed into a deep gorge from Punes Lohagad Fort by his fiancee Siya Goyal 20 and her boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary 22According to the purported findings of the ongoing investigation police have uncovered alleged online searches deleted messages and evidence suggesting detailed planning in the days leading up to Ketans deathInvestigators have allegedly found that Goyal and Chaudhary searched Google and YouTube for various methods of killing Ketan before allegedly deciding that pushing him from Lohagad Fort would be the easiest way to carry out the crimeDuring questioning Goyal has purportedly told investigators that she did not want to marry Ketan She allegedly claimed that she conspired with Chaudhary to kill him because she believed calling off the wedding would bring disrepute to her family IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ketan-agarwals-grandfather-dies-weeks-after-realtors-murder-shocks-family-690014.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pandwani-singer-teejan-bai-passes-away-pm-modi-expresses-grief-690015.html RaipurNew Delhi July 5 Padma Vibhushan awardee and legendary Pandwani singer Teejan Bai passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS in Raipur on Sunday after battling a prolonged illness According to the hospital officials Teejan Bai breathed her last at 315 am on Sunday She had been undergoing treatment since May 27 Teejan Bai was suffering from severe lung infection bloodstream infection sepsis and acute kidney injury The 70yearold folk icon was widely regarded as one of the greatest exponents of Pandwani a Chhattisgarhbased folk singing style involving narration of tales from the ancient Indian epic MahabharataPrime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the passing of Teejan Bai calling it an irreplaceable loss to the world of art and culture In a post on X PM Modi said I am deeply saddened by the passing of the renowned Pandavani singer Teejan Bai ji Through her grand performances she gave this folk art form of Chhattisgarh a unique identity across the world Her departure is an irreplaceable loss to the world of art and culture In this hour of grief my condolences are with her family and admirers Om ShantiBorn in 1956 in Ganiyari village near Bhilai in Chhattisgarh Teejan Bai rose from humble beginnings to become an internationally acclaimed artist She popularised Pandwani a traditional folk art form of Chhattisgarh in which stories from the Mahabharata are narrated through powerful singing and dramatic performanceHer unique style marked by deep emotion and energetic delivery while seated on stage brought this lesserknown folk tradition to the global stageOver her illustrious career Teejan Bai received some of Indias highest civilian honours including the Padma Shri in 1988 Padma Bhushan in 2003 and Padma Vibhushan in 2019 She was also conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995 and several other prestigious recognitions for her immense contribution to Indian folk culture IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pandwani-singer-teejan-bai-passes-away-pm-modi-expresses-grief-690015.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-teacher-eligibility-2nd-test-paper-today-over-167-lakh-candidates-to-appear-at-613-centres-690016.html Chennai July 5 The second paper of the Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test TNTET will be conducted across the state on Sunday with more than 167 lakh candidates expected to appear for the examination to determine eligibility for teaching positions in government and governmentaided schools The examination is being conducted over two days by the Tamil Nadu Teachers Recruitment Board TRBWhile Paper I was held on Saturday for candidates aspiring to become Secondary Grade Teachers Paper II is meant for those seeking eligibility to teach graduatelevel classes in government and aided schoolsAccording to the Teachers Recruitment Board Paper II will be conducted at 613 examination centres spread across Tamil Nadu A total of 167743 candidates have registered to take the examinationThe test will be held under strict security arrangements with officials monitoring the process to ensure a smooth and transparent conduct of the examinationPaper I conducted on Saturday witnessed the participation of 61386 candidates The examination was held at 222 centres located in several districts including Tirunelveli Coimbatore Mayiladuthurai and Ranipet besides other parts of the state The test commenced at 10 am and concluded at 1 pmCandidates with disabilities were provided an additional hour to complete the examination in accordance with the prescribed guidelinesThe Teachers Recruitment Board had made special arrangements at examination centres to facilitate their participationThe Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test is a mandatory qualification for candidates seeking appointment as teachers in government and governmentaided schoolsWhile clearing the examination does not guarantee employment it is one of the essential eligibility requirements for recruitment to teaching posts notified by the state governmentAuthorities have advised candidates appearing for Sundayâs examination to reach their allotted centres well in advance to complete verification procedures and avoid lastminute delaysEntry into examination halls will be regulated according to the instructions issued by the Teachers Recruitment Board and candidates have been directed to carry their hall tickets and valid identity proofOfficials said elaborate arrangements have been made at all examination centres to ensure the smooth conduct of Paper II which is expected to conclude the twoday statewide teacher eligibility examination IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-teacher-eligibility-2nd-test-paper-today-over-167-lakh-candidates-to-appear-at-613-centres-690016.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/extremely-heartbreaking-prez-murmu-on-passing-of-pandwani-singer-teejan-bai-690020.html New Delhi July 5 President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said that the passing of Padma Vibhushan awardee and legendary Pandwani singer Teejan Bai is extremely heartbreaking while adding that her invaluable contributions to Indias cultural heritage will always be remembered Teejan Bai passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS in Raipur on Sunday after battling a prolonged illness According to the hospital officials Teejan Bai breathed her last at 315 am on Sunday She had been undergoing treatment since May 27 Teejan Bai was suffering from severe lung infection bloodstream infection sepsis and acute kidney injury Taking to X President Murmu said The news of the demise of the renowned Pandavani artist Smt Teejan Bai ji is extremely heartbreaking With her powerful voice commanding presence and unique style of presentation she brought the tales of the Mahabharata to life on stage Through her exceptional talent dedication and years of rigorous practice she brought recognition to Chhattisgarhs rich Pandavani tradition both in India and abroad Her invaluable contribution to the dissemination of Indias cultural heritage will remain memorable I extend my deepest condolences to her loved ones and admirers the President addedThe 70yearold folk icon was widely regarded as one of the greatest exponents of Pandwani a Chhattisgarhbased folk singing style involving narration of tales from the ancient Indian epic MahabharataBorn in 1956 in Ganiyari village near Bhilai in Chhattisgarh Teejan Bai rose from humble beginnings to become an internationally acclaimed artist She popularised Pandwani a traditional folk art form of Chhattisgarh in which stories from the Mahabharata are narrated through powerful singing and dramatic performanceHer unique style marked by deep emotion and energetic delivery while seated on stage brought this lesserknown folk tradition to the global stageOver her illustrious career Teejan Bai received some of Indias highest civilian honours including the Padma Shri in 1988 Padma Bhushan in 2003 and Padma Vibhushan in 2019 She was also conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995 and several other prestigious recognitions for her immense contribution to Indian folk culture IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/extremely-heartbreaking-prez-murmu-on-passing-of-pandwani-singer-teejan-bai-690020.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/five-cattle-thieves-arrested-after-police-encounter-in-ups-bulandshahr-690023.html Bulandshahr July 5 Five people were arrested for allegedly attempting to steal buffaloes in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh police said on Sunday Apart from those arrested one accused is absconding while another is undergoing treatment after sustaining injuries in retaliatory firing by the police Speaking to reporters Circle Officer Deepak Kumar of Sikandrabad said On July 4 Gulaothi Police Station received information from an informer that some cattle thieves were planning to load buffaloes into a vehicle near the cattle market Acting on the tipoff the local police and SWAT Special Weapons and Tactics team which was already patrolling the area reached the spotSeeing themselves surrounded the suspects opened fire at the police In retaliatory action one accused sustained a bullet injury to his left leg Apart from him five other persons were arrested while another accused managed to escape after opening fire A search operation is underway to apprehend him The injured accused was shifted to a primary health centre where he is undergoing treatment he saidAccording to the police official the primary interrogation has revealed that the arrested accused have a criminal record Previously two other cases of cattle theft had been registered against them in different police stations They have been indulging in such activities in other districts as well Deepak Kumar saidHe further said that more than a dozen cattle theft cases have been lodged against the injured accusedThe police have recovered an illegal firearm a live cartridge a pickup van and two buffaloes from the accused Further investigation in the case is underwayIn a similar case a fierce encounter had broken out between the police and a gang of notorious cattle thieves in Uttar Pradeshs Mathura district in May officials saidPolice officials said a substantial amount of cash along with illegal firearms and ammunition was recovered from the accused after the encounterAccording to police personnel from the Jait Police Station were carrying out checking operations on suspicious vehicles and individuals linked to cattle smuggling in the area when they came across a suspected gang of cattle thievesOfficials said that after noticing the police team the accused initially attempted to flee from the spot However when they realised that they had been surrounded they allegedly opened fire directly at the police personnel The police team then retaliated in selfdefence leading to an exchange of gunfire during which three accused sustained bullet injuries in their legs and fell to the ground officials said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/five-cattle-thieves-arrested-after-police-encounter-in-ups-bulandshahr-690023.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/three-women-among-four-crushed-to-death-under-train-in-andhras-eluru-690028.html Amaravati July 5 At least four persons including three women died after being hit by a train in Andhra Pradeshâs Eluru district police said on Sunday The incident occurred near Chebrol in Ungutur mandal late on Saturday nightAccording to police a man and three women were crushed to death under the CherlapalliShalimar specialThe bodies were crushed beyond recognition On receipt of information Government Railway Police GRP from Tadepalligudem rushed to the spot and shifted the bodiesPolice suspect that all four belonged to the same family and might have died by suicide They are believed to be aged between 30 and 35 yearsPolice found an ATM card on one of the bodies of the women The car is in the name of Sheikh Haseena Another woman had a bike park receipt issued at the Tadepalligudem RTC depotPolice also recovered two mobile phones from the scene Both phones were damaged Police were trying to retrieve data from the SIM cards to identify the deceasedGRP personnel shifted the bodies to the Tadepalligudem area hospital for postmortem examinationA GRP official said they have registered a case and taken up further investigationMeanwhile four persons were killed in a road accident in Nalgonda district of Telangana early Sunday morningThe accident on HyderabadVijayawada national highway near Peddakaparthi village in Chityal mandal when a private travel bus rammed into a car Four persons travelling in the car died on the spot while one VV Prasad who was driving the car was seriously injuredPrasadâs wife son daughter and his friend died in the accident According to police the car was coming to Hyderabad from Chennai When it reached near Peddakaparthi a bus belonging to a private travel agency from Odisha hit it from behindPolice and rescue workers had a tough time pulling out bodies from the mangled remains of the carThe victims were from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and were residing in HyderabadThe accident led to a traffic jam on the national highway for some time Police and National Highway Authority of India NHAI officials restored the traffic after deploying a crane to remove the mangled car IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/three-women-among-four-crushed-to-death-under-train-in-andhras-eluru-690028.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/teejan-bai-india-lost-a-prominent-cultural-queen-690030.html Raipur July 5 In the early hours of Sunday the voice that had breathed life into the ancient Mahabharata for over five decades fell silent Padma Vibhushan Dr Teejan Bai the legendary exponent of Pandavani from Chhattisgarh passed away at AIIMS Raipur after a prolonged battle with severe lung infection sepsis and acute kidney injury She was 69 Her departure leaves a profound void not just in the world of folk arts but in the cultural soul of India For millions Teejan Bai was more than a singer she was a living bridge between myth and reality a fearless tribal woman who carried the epic tales of the Pandavas and Kauravas across villages cities and continents with nothing but her powerful voice a tambura and an unyielding spiritBorn on August 8 1956 in the humble village of Ganiyari near Bhilai in Chhattisgarh Teejan Bai belonged to the Pardhi scheduled tribe Her parents Chunuk Lal Pardhi and Sukhwati lived in abject poverty making mats and brooms to surviveAs the eldest of five children young Teejan grew up in circumstances where a girl child was often seen as a burden Married off at the tender age of 12 she faced an abusive union and societal rejection When she dared to sing Pandavani a traditionally maledominated art form her own community ostracised herUndeterred she built a small hut for herself borrowing utensils and food from kind neighbours and refused to abandon her calling She performed her first public rendition at just 13 her voice echoing the valour of Arjuna the wisdom of Krishna and the resilience of DraupadiHer journey was one of extraordinary courageExpelled from her community she lived alone honed her craft in isolation and eventually found love again marrying twice and becoming a grandmotherThrough it all her art remained her anchor and her rebellion Teejan Bai transformed Pandavani into a mesmerising theatrical experienceSeated on the floor with her âtamburaâ she would enact entire episodes from the Mahabharata in a style that was raw dramatic and deeply emotional She sang gestured and embodied the characters bringing gods warriors and sages to life for audiences who hung on every noteHer performances were not mere recitals they were spiritual invocations that made ancient dharma feel immediate and aliveShe took this folk treasure from the tribal heartlands of Chhattisgarh to national and international stages preserving and popularising an oral tradition that might otherwise have faded Her voice powerful expressive and steeped in emotion touched hearts across culturesIn Japan she received the prestigious Fukuoka Arts and Culture Prize in 2018 for her contribution to cultural exchangeTeejan Baiâs contributions were recognised with Indiaâs highest civilian honours Padma Shri 19871988 Padma Bhushan 2003 Padma Vibhushan 2019She also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1995 an honorary Doctorate in Literature and numerous other accolades that celebrated her as one of Indiaâs greatest folk icons Yet for all the awards she remained deeply rooted in her tribal identity and village life She was never far from the soil that shaped herTeejan Baiâs life was a testament to the triumph of talent over adversity of art over orthodoxy and of one womanâs indomitable will to preserve her cultural heritageIn an era when traditional arts often struggle for survival she shone as a flagbearer proving that the stories of our ancestors can still resonate powerfully in modern timesHer voice may have stilled but the tales she told will echo through generationsEvery time a performer picks up a âtamburaâ in Chhattisgarh every time the Mahabharata is sung in a village square Teejan Bai will live on in the rhythm in the emotion and in the hearts of those who were moved by her unparalleled artistryIndia has lost one of its cultural queens and one of its most authentic voicesThe world of folk music has lost a legend IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/teejan-bai-india-lost-a-prominent-cultural-queen-690030.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-cm-adhikari-announces-rs-31330-crore-special-assistance-package-for-tea-garden-workers-690033.html Kolkata July 5 West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday announced a Rs 31330 crore special assistance package for tea garden workers in the state mainly concentrated in the plains and hills in North Bengal In a statement issued by CM Adhikari in the morning he claimed that a statelevel committee had finalised the implementation plan for the Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana PMCSPY scheme in West Bengal with a total financial allocation of Rs 31330 crore with the aim of transforming the livelihood of the tea garden workers in the stateâWe are committed to the comprehensive welfare development of health and educational parameters of our hardworking Tea Garden Workers of North Bengalâ the Chief Minister said in the statementThe Chief Minister has also provided details of the total financial allocation of Rs 31330 crore and information on the different heads the allotted money would be spent onIn his statement the Chief Minister has outlined that with a focus on boosting educational infrastructure and quality interventions for the families of tea garden workers Rs 177 crore has been allotted for that purposeAt the same time the CM Adhikari added that a Rs 72 crore investment has been allotted to upgrade health facilities and ensure robust medical services in the tea garden areasThe Chief Minister has informed that Rs 63 crore has been allotted to build 321 resting sheds out of which 88 will be in the hills and the remaining 233 in the plainsâThese sheds will be equipped with modern dignified amenities including offgrid solar power clean drinking water comfortable seating arrangements and hygienic ceramicfloored toiletsâ the Chief Minister addedHe also informed that the said assistance package scheme will be operated under the supervision of the state North Bengal Development Department NBDD which will be the executing agency for the projectâThe NBDD will work closely with the State Health Department the Paschim Banga Samagra Siksha Mission and District Administrations to roll this scheme out smoothly Our government remains steadfast in its dedication to the prosperity and wellbeing of the tea garden workersâ the Chief Minister added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-cm-adhikari-announces-rs-31330-crore-special-assistance-package-for-tea-garden-workers-690033.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/singlehandedly-ran-the-family-daughter-in-law-remembers-teejan-bai-690034.html Durg Chhattisgarh July 5 Daughterinlaw and the sister of Padma Vibhushan awardee and legendary Pandwani singer Teejan Bai expressed grief on her demise while remembering how the singer singlehandedly ran the family Teejan Bai passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS in Raipur on Sunday after battling a prolonged illness According to the hospital officials Teejan Bai breathed her last at 315 am on Sunday She had been undergoing treatment since May 27 Teejan Bai was suffering from severe lung infection bloodstream infection sepsis and acute kidney injuryVenu Deshmukh Teejan Bais daughterinlaw said the legendary singer meant everything to the family while mentioning that she was not able to speak in the last three yearsEarlier she was fine She was the one who took care of and kept the family members together and in fact singlehandedly ran the family She meant everything to us an emotional Deshmukh told reportersThe entire family has broken down in grief she addedThe daughterinlaw mentioned that Teejan Bais health had deteriorated in the last few days She had been admitted to the hospital for more than a month She had initially recovered but after being shifted out of the ICU her health deteriorated She was not responding for the last two days due to which all of us were worried she saidHalf of the family was in the hospitalshe breathed her last at 315 am on Sunday at AIIMS Deshmukh mentionedRemembering the legendary singer Teejan Bais younger sister said One who took her songs to lakhs of people did not speak for the last three years and only conversed through sign languageA lot of efforts were made to revive her and bring her back to normal life but it seemed that she no longer wanted to live she addedMeanwhile leaders across the nation expressed deep sadness over the demise of the Padma Vibhushan awardee with President Droupadi Murmu Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah paying tributes to Teejan BaiChhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai visited AIIMS Raipur upon learning about the sad news and paid his last respects to the legendary singer IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/singlehandedly-ran-the-family-daughter-in-law-remembers-teejan-bai-690034.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/women-voters-continue-to-outnumber-men-in-manipurs-draft-electoral-rolls-690037.html Imphal July 5 Women voters have once again outnumbered their male counterparts in Manipurs draft electoral rolls which were published on Sunday following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision SIR After the publication of the draft electoral rolls Chief Electoral Officer CEO Arun Kumar Sinha said that with July 1 2026 as the qualifying date Manipur has a total of 1934399 registered voters comprising 993660 women 940446 men and 293 thirdgender electorsThe gender ratio of 1057 in the draft electoral rolls is significantly higher than the national average the CEO saidAccording to the draft electoral rolls the number of newly enrolled voters in the 1819 age group stands at 20442Sinha said that a total of 158677 electors accounting for 758 per cent of the electorate have been excluded after the revision process due to various reasons These include the deaths of 43000 electors 205 per cent 34740 untraceable or absent electors 166 per cent 72473 electors who had permanently shifted 346 per cent besides other reasonsWith the creation of 85 new polling stations the total number of polling stations in the state has increased to 3041Following the completion of the claims and objections process and subsequent verification the final electoral rolls will be published on September 6The CEO said that during the claims and objections period from July 5 to August 4 any elector or recognised political party may file claims for inclusion of eligible voters or raise objections seeking the deletion of ineligible names from the electoral rollsHe said that the primary objective of the claims and objections period is to ensure the inclusion of all newly eligible and leftout voters who attained the age of 18 years on or before July 1 2026 A total of 60 EROs and 84 AEROs will scrutinise the claims and objections received during the stipulated periodAnother key objective is to provide electors with an opportunity to correct errors in their personal particulars and to invite objections against any wrongful inclusion in the electoral rolls the election official saidSinha said the successful completion of this phase was the result of coordinated efforts by the District Election Officers Deputy Magistrates or Commissioners and Collectors of all 16 districts 60 Electoral Registration Officers EROs 84 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers AEROs 317 BLO Supervisors and 2956 Booth Level Officers BLOs deployed across 2956 polling stations with support from volunteersField representatives of all 10 recognised political parties including their district presidents also actively participated in the exercise with as many as 6363 Booth Level Agents BLAs appointed by them the CEO notedHe said âAt the beginning of the SIR process Manipur had only 5003 BLAs The increased number of BLAs reflects the active participation of political parties and their representatives in this important electoral exerciseâThe BLOs carried out housetohouse visits to all existing electors to distribute Enumeration Forms followed by at least three rounds of visits to collect the completed formsThe BLAs also made dedicated efforts to ensure that no eligible elector was left out Sinha saidCoordination meetings were held by all 2956 BLOs with their respective BLAs to ensure thorough field verification of absent shifted deceased and duplicate electors Help desks were set up at the offices of the Chief Electoral Officer and all 16 District Election Officers DEOs to assist electors in filling out the Enumeration Forms IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/women-voters-continue-to-outnumber-men-in-manipurs-draft-electoral-rolls-690037.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/2nd-fir-filed-against-abhishek-banerjee-in-sebaashray-health-camp-case-690039.html Kolkata July 5 IANS A second FIR has been filed in South 24 Parganas districts Diamond Harbour against Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee and others over the Sebaashray health camp said the police on SundaynbspnbspThis time the Bishnupur police station has registered the FIR against Banerjee and others based on the complaint of local BJP leader Abhijit Das Bobby The case has been registered under multiple sectionsThe list also includes Banerjees absconding executive assistant Sumit Roy and Trinamools candidate from Falta constituency Jahangir KhanBanerjee had launched the Sebaashray initiative to extend free medical treatment to the people of his Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency Later the initiative was held in other places across the stateAccording to the police there are 16 complaints against the Sebaashray and Sebaashray 2 health campsBased on that the Bishnupur police station filed an FIR on Saturday night under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 the PreConception and PreNatal Diagnostic Techniques PCPNDT Act 1994 the National Medical Commission NMC Act 2019 and the West Bengal Clinical Establishments Registration Regulation and Transparency Act 2017Banerjee is at the top of the list of accused Many more names are in the FIR Apart from Sumit Roy and Jahangir Khan former Trinamool MLA Dilip Mandal is another accused named in the FIRThe FIR has also been filed against Ayan Ghosh Dastidar Shamim Ahmed Gautam Adhikari Mehbabur Gayen Nabkumar Betal Baban Ghazi and several organisations The police have named some unidentified organisers doctors health workers and government employees as accusedThe source of the funds for organising the health camps is being investigatedAmong the accused Jahangir Khan and Dilip Mandal have already been arrested in separate casesAccording to the police the chargesheet names Banerjee as the main organiser of the health camp It is said that he was involved in the planning management and implementation of this programme as a public figure Therefore his role is being investigatedThe first FIR was filed at Diamond Harbour police station on Thursday July 2 The complainants claimed that no rules were followed in organising the health camp and that multiple rules were violated The camp was organised without the necessary permissionIt is alleged that permission was not taken even for the use of medicines and medical equipment In this way the lives of the common people were put at riskAccording to the complainants Banerjee and others have been involved in a criminal conspiracy and have run unauthorised medical centres at different times and places The complainant has alleged that cheating fraud illegal provision of services and illegal use of medicines and diagnostic equipment have been committedThere was no official response from Abhishek Banerjee over the developmentIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/2nd-fir-filed-against-abhishek-banerjee-in-sebaashray-health-camp-case-690039.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-chief-nitin-nabin-holds-meet-with-nda-alliance-partners-renews-focus-on-mission-up-2027-690040.html Lucknow July 5 IANS The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP national president Nitin Nabin met with NDAs alliance partners and various senior leaders in the state during the weekend as part of the partys extensive outreach mission in pollbound Uttar PradeshNitin Nabin met a host of leaders in Lucknow over the past two days including those from NDAs allies and also the partys own former presidents in the state The meeting was purportedly centred around strengthening the BJPled alliance expanding its organisational base and ensuring the alliances return to power for a third consecutive term in the stateNabin asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath the BJP would form the government for a third consecutive term with a massive majority in 2027 breaking all previous electoral recordsHe also voiced confidence that the BJP would secure an even bigger victory in 2027 than in the past and said that the alliance would retain power in the state with a thumping majority highlighting the BJPs focus on strengthening coordination among alliesHe stated that the BJP and all NDA allies are working with the resolve to transform Uttar Pradesh into an Uttam Pradesh emphasising that since 2017 both the central and state governments have undertaken unprecedented work in the areas of development good governance and law and orderOur leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have worked for the people with a spirit of service We are fully confident that in the 2027 Assembly elections the NDA alliance will form the government with a thumping majority he remarkedTargeting Samajwadi Partys PDA campaign he said that the Opposition seeks to mislead the public through castebased politics and false promises but the people of the state have now understood these strategiesEarlier he also met with litterateurs and artists at the Hazratganj residence of Padma Shri awardee and writer Vidya Bindu SinghOn a twoday visit to Lucknow the BJP chief started his day by meeting former BJP presidents of the state at tea where they discussed and deliberated upon the 2027 Assembly election strategy IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-chief-nitin-nabin-holds-meet-with-nda-alliance-partners-renews-focus-on-mission-up-2027-690040.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 16:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/piyush-goyal-asks-toy-makers-to-target-10x-exports-assures-quality-norms-will-stay-689862.html New Delhi July 4 IANS Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Saturday asked domestic toy manufacturers to capitalise on expanding global market access and target a 10fold increase in exports over the next four years while assuring the industry that the government will not dilute mandatory quality standardsnbspAddressing the 17th edition of Toy Biz International B2B Expo here the minister said the Quality Control Orders QCOs for toys would continue as they have helped improve product quality curb substandard imports and strengthen the domestic manufacturing ecosystemI can assure you that until I am there no one will remove QCOs QCO will be there We will also protect you from unfair dumping from any nation the minister saidnbspGoyal also clarified that the transition mechanism was introduced only to facilitate investments and scale up manufacturing for a limited period and did not in any way weaken the existing quality regimenbspIn addition the minister said Indias toy industry has made significant progress over the last few years but still accounts for barely 0203 per cent of the estimated 120billion global toy marketNoting that toy exports have surged 239 per cent in the last four years he said the industry should now aim to increase overseas shipments by 10 times over the next four yearsnbspGoyal also urged manufacturers to make full use of Indias growing network of free trade agreements FTAs saying nine such pacts signed over the last threeandahalf years have opened doors to 38 countriesnbspHe asked the industry to actively engage with retailers supermarkets ecommerce companies and local businesses in FTA partner countries to establish a stronger global presence for Indian toy brandsnbspOn the trade front the minister said the proposed IndiaNew Zealand free trade agreement is expected to become operational this yearnbspHe added that negotiations are also progressing with Canada the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC Mexico and Brazil to expand Indias export opportunitiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/piyush-goyal-asks-toy-makers-to-target-10x-exports-assures-quality-norms-will-stay-689862.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-court-reserves-order-on-bail-pleas-of-umar-khalid-sharjeel-imam-in-2020-riots-conspiracy-case-689865.html New Delhi July 4 IANS A Delhi court on Saturday reserved its order on the regular bail pleas filed by Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 northeast Delhi riotsnbspThe Karkardooma Court reserved its verdict after hearing arguments on the bail applications filed by the two accusednbspKhalid and Imam have sought regular bail in the case registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA and other penal provisionsnbspLast month the court had issued notice on their bail applications and directed the Delhi Police to file its responseIn his plea Imam contended that despite the passage of more than six months since the Supreme Court rejected his bail application in January there has been no meaningful progress in the trialnbspHe submitted that arguments on the question of framing of charges are yet to conclude and that he has remained behind bars for nearly six years in the casenbspKhalid has also sought regular bail before the trial court Both applications were heard together Earlier this year the Supreme Court dismissed the bail pleas of Khalid and Imam holding that the prosecution material disclosed prima facie grounds attracting the statutory embargo on the grant of bail under Section 43D5 of the UAPAAt the same time the apex court granted bail to five other accused in the case Gulfisha Fatima Meeran Haider Shifa Ur Rehman Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab AhmednbspMore recently the Supreme Court granted six months interim bail to Tasleem Ahmed and Khalid Saifi while referring to a larger Bench the question of whether prolonged incarceration and delay in trial can justify the grant of bail despite the restrictions contained in Section 43D5 of the UAPAnbspObserving that different Benches of the apex court had expressed divergent views on the interpretation of the threejudge Bench ruling in Union of India vs KA Najeeb a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B Varale directed the registry to place the matter before the Chief Justice of India CJI for constituting an appropriate BenchThe order came after Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appearing for the Delhi Police argued that there appeared to be a divergence in the manner in which coordinate Benches of the Supreme Court were applying the KA Najeeb judgment while dealing with bail pleas under stringent statutes such as the UAPA and the NIA ActnbspThe Justice Aravind Kumarled Bench also took note of the subsequent judgment in Syed Iftikhar Andrabi vs National Investigation Agency NIA case where another coordinate Bench expressed reservations over certain aspects of the ruling that had denied bail to Khalid and Imam while granting relief to five other accused in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy casenbspWithout commenting on the merits of the prosecutions case the apex court granted interim bail to Ahmed and Saifi for six months observing that they had undergone substantial incarceration and that the trial was not likely to conclude in the immediate futureIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-court-reserves-order-on-bail-pleas-of-umar-khalid-sharjeel-imam-in-2020-riots-conspiracy-case-689865.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 14:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-governments-deliver-projects-not-just-promises-pm-modi-at-pachpadra-refinery-inauguration-689867.html Jaipur July 4 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the countrys most modern integrated refinerycumpetrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Rajasthans Balotra district asserting that BJPled governments believe in completing projects rather than merely announcing themnbspAfter inaugurating the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport earlier in the day the Prime Minister arrived at the Pachpadra refinery around 12 noon He inspected the refinerys stateoftheart control room interacted with engineers and technical experts and gathered detailed information about its operations before dedicating the project to the nationDuring the programme the Prime Minister also virtually laid the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Phase 2nbspAddressing a large public gathering PM Modi said the massive turnout despite the scorching heat reflected peoples faith in the BJP governmentnbspThe gathering of such a large number of people in this scorching heat demonstrates the immense faith you have in the efforts of the BJP government I am indebted to the soil of Rajasthan for this support he saidHighlighting the significance of the refinery project the Prime Minister said the inauguration marked another major step towards building a developed and selfreliant IndianbspToday from this very land of Rajasthan India has taken a giant leap towards becoming a developed and selfreliant nation This day bears witness to the fact that BJP governments do not merely lay foundation stones and leave projects unfinished we work day and night to bring them to completion PM Modi saidnbspReferring to the fire accident that had delayed the refinerys inauguration earlier this year the Prime Minister praised the engineers and workers for restoring operations in record timeCompleting the work so rapidly following the accident at the refinery two months ago is a testament to hard work Everyone has shown that no matter how daunting the challenge New India neither wavers from its resolve nor slows its pace he saidnbspThe Prime Minister also spoke about Indias energy security noting that the country successfully navigated global challenges arising from geopolitical tensionsnbspConflicts in West Asia had triggered the biggest energy crisis of the 21st century Yet Indias steadfast resolve ensured that even this massive crisis was mitigated During this period India utilised its resources effectively PM Modi saidnbspThe refinery developed at Pachpadra with an investment of over Rs 79000 crore is expected to significantly strengthen Indias energy infrastructure while generating largescale industrial and employment opportunities in western RajasthanIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-governments-deliver-projects-not-just-promises-pm-modi-at-pachpadra-refinery-inauguration-689867.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-visit-rajasthan-gujarat-today-launch-rs-106-lakh-crore-projects-lay-jaipur-metro-phase-2-foundation-689872.html New Delhi July 4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan and Gujarat on Saturday to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for a series of major infrastructure and development projects spanning aviation urban transport energy and semiconductors During the daylong tour he will launch projects worth around Rs 106 lakh crore in Rajasthan lay the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Phase2 and inaugurate one of Indiaâs first semiconductor assembly and testing facilities in GujaratAt approximately 1045 AM the Prime Minister will inaugurate the terminal building at Jodhpur Airport and launch a revised aviation scheme in Jodhpur Subsequently around 1200 PM he will visit Balotra where he will dedicate inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth approximately Rs 106 lakh crore He will also address a public meeting on the occasionPrime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Jaipur Metro Rail Project Phase2 during the inauguration ceremony of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited HPCL Refinery at Pachpadra in Rajasthanâs Balotra government officials saidThe ambitious metro expansion is expected to significantly enhance urban mobility by connecting Jaipurâs major industrial commercial and residential areasThe Rs 13037crore project will develop a 41km NorthSouth Metro corridor from Prahladpura to Todi Mod providing seamless connectivity to key destinations including Sitapura Industrial Area Vishwakarma Industrial Area VKIA Jaipur International Airport Tonk Road Sawai Man Singh Hospital Sawai Man Singh Stadium the Collectorate Jaipur Railway Station Ambabari and Vidyadhar NagarThe Phase2 corridor will comprise 36 metro stations creating a modern mass transit system that links Jaipurâs expanding industrial hubs with major residential and commercial centresThe project will be implemented by the Rajasthan Metro Rail Corporation Limited RMRCL a 5050 joint venture between the Union government and the Rajasthan governmentFollowing this the Prime Minister will visit Gujarat where he will inaugurate the CG Semi Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test OSAT plant located in Sanand Ahmedabad marking the commencement of commercial production at one of Indiaâs first semiconductor assembly and testing plants developed under the âIndia Semiconductor MissionâAccording to the Prime Ministerâs Office he will arrive in Sanand at around 430 PM after completing engagements in Rajasthan and will address a gathering following the inaugurationThe CG Semi OSAT facility has been developed with an investment of more than Rs 7500 crore and is among the first four semiconductor projects approved under the MissionThe facility is designed to provide endtoend semiconductor assembly and testing services including wafer sorting assembly testing package design failure analysis test programme development product characterisation and logistics support IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-visit-rajasthan-gujarat-today-launch-rs-106-lakh-crore-projects-lay-jaipur-metro-phase-2-foundation-689872.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 15:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/monsoon-covers-north-india-delhi-braces-for-week-long-rainfall-as-imd-issues-alerts-689876.html New Delhi July 4 The southwest monsoon has now spread across Delhi Punjab Haryana Rajasthan and the rest of North India although the national Capital is still waiting for widespread heavy showers According to the India Meteorological Department IMD DelhiNCR is expected to witness cloudy skies along with intermittent rainfall throughout the coming week with wet weather likely to continue until July 9 The expected showers are likely to provide relief from the prevailing heat and lead to a noticeable drop in daytime temperaturesThe IMD has issued rain alerts for Delhi Punjab Haryana and Chandigarh between July 6 and July 8 Similar weather conditions are forecast across parts of Uttar Pradesh over the next several days In western Uttar Pradesh including Noida and Ghaziabad rainfall is likely on July 8 and 9 while eastern districts are expected to receive showers from July 7 to July 9Rajasthan is also expected to remain under the influence of active monsoon conditions Eastern Rajasthan is likely to receive heavy rainfall through July 9 while western Rajasthan may witness intense showers accompanied by thunderstorms during the same periodAcross Uttar Pradesh monsoon activity has intensified in several regions Continuous rainfall has been reported from parts of the Awadh belt including Lucknow Kanpur and Unnao while Barabanki Etawah and Bahraich have also received steady showers over the past two daysIn the Purvanchal region districts such as Gorakhpur Basti Varanasi Azamgarh and Jaunpur remain under a rain alert until July 7 Western districts including Baghpat Muzaffarnagar Bulandshahr Hapur Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad are also expected to experience monsoon showers through July 9The IMD said the southwest monsoon has advanced further into additional parts of Gujarat the remaining areas of Madhya Pradesh and more regions of Rajasthan and Haryana The progress of the monsoon has been aided by the formation of a lowpressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal creating favourable conditions for its continued advancement Weather officials expect the monsoon to remain active across large parts of the country over the next four to five daysHeavy rainfall is forecast over Gujarat Konkan central Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh between July 3 and July 6 In the Himalayan region Uttarakhand Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are expected to receive widespread rainfall through July 9 with Himachal Pradesh likely to witness particularly active monsoon conditions from July 5 onwards Uttarakhand also remains under a multiday rain alertCentral India is likely to witness intense rainfall in Chhattisgarh eastern and western Madhya Pradesh and the Vidarbha region over the coming days Thunderstorms lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 50 kmph are also likely in several areasMeanwhile weather data show that June 2026 was the fifthdriest June in India since 1901 recording rainfall nearly 39 per cent below the longterm average Delhis Safdarjung observatory registered only 418 mm of rainfall during the month significantly lower than its normal June average of 741 mm IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/monsoon-covers-north-india-delhi-braces-for-week-long-rainfall-as-imd-issues-alerts-689876.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 15:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/lokos-digital-platform-boosts-lakhpati-didi-initiative-via-large-scale-outreach-689878.html New Delhi July 4 The LokOS digital platform is supporting the Lakhpati Didi initiative through largescale outreach beneficiary tracking and digital monitoring enabling implementation through a robust network of 6611 master trainers 409 lakh community resource persons CRPs and 387 crore Potential Lakhpati Didis PLDs an official factsheet showed on Saturday The platform also maintains 1850 crore Digital Aajeevika Registers DARs providing a strong digital foundation for livelihood planning monitoring and implementationLokOS is a transformative digital platform under the Deendayal Antyodaya YojanaNational Rural Livelihoods Mission DAYNRLM that enables endtoend digitisation of CommunityBased Organisations CBOs With nationwide reach the platform is supporting the Lakhpati Didi initiative thereby promoting womens economic empowerment and financial inclusion This platform is thus contributing to the creation of selfreliant rural communitiesIt is also enhancing transparency governance and operational efficiency through realtime monitoring and digital financial managementâLokOS enables efficient tracking of financial support across community institutions including Rs 971841 crore in the Revolving Fund RF Rs 6460766 crore in the Community Investment Fund CIF and Rs 3834 crore in the Community Enterprise Fund CEFâ the factsheet informedLokOS digitises member records profiles savings lending repayments financial transactions livelihoods and convergence initiatives It currently covers 34 StatesUTs 762 districts 7241 blocks 257 lakh Gram Panchayats and 592 lakh villagesIt comprises both web and mobile applications each designed to serve distinct user groups and functionalities The web application supports administrators Ebookkeepers and transaction approvers in creating and approving SHGs Village Organisations VOs Cluster Level Federations CLFs and their membersThe mobile application enables efficient recording and management of CommunityBased Organization CBO activities in the fieldâLokOS has significantly expanded its reach across India enabling largescale digital transformation of community institutions The platform improves transparency accountability and operational efficiency while enabling integrated programme implementation and monitoring across all levelsâ said the official statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/lokos-digital-platform-boosts-lakhpati-didi-initiative-via-large-scale-outreach-689878.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 15:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/swami-vivekanandas-intellect-inspiring-thoughts-continue-to-guide-millions-of-youth-even-today-pm-modi-689880.html New Delhi July 4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to philosopher and monk Swami Vivekananda on his Nirvana Day saying that he offers him millions of salutations The Prime Minister said Swami Vivekanandas intellect and inspiring thoughts continue to guide millions of young people even today PM Modi took to social media X and said On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda Jis Nirvana Day I offer him millions of salutations His contribution to giving global recognition to Indian culture spirituality and national consciousness is unparalleled His intellect and inspiring thoughts continue to guide millions of youth even today His spiritual messages will keep providing the nation with new energy and direction in realizing the resolve to build a developed IndiaUnion Home Minister Amit Shah also paid humble tributes and said Swami Vivekananda who reintroduced the world to Vedanta philosophy and the Indian tradition of knowledge kindled the spirit of character building and patriotism among the youth He sounded the clarion call for a cultural renaissance across the length and breadth of the country and gave an organized form to spirituality and service by establishing the Ramakrishna Mission His thoughts and ideals will continue to inspire the youth towards nationbuilding I pay my humble tributes to Swami Vivekananda on the day of his passingDefence Minister Rajnath Singh said On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda Jis Nirvana Day humble tributes and countless salutations to him Swami Vivekananda Ji bestowed a new identity upon the glorious tradition of Indian culture spirituality and eternal ideology on the global stage He delivered the message of patriotism social service moral development and character building He believed that empowered cultured and selfconfident citizens are the greatest strength of a nation The thoughts of Swami Vivekananda Ji continuously inspire us to build a prosperous selfreliant and developed IndiaSwami Vivekananda born as Narendranath Datta on January 12 1863 was an Indian Hindu monk philosopher author religious teacher and the chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna He is regarded as one of the most influential spiritual leaders of modern India and played a pivotal role in introducing Indian philosophy and Vedanta to the Western worldHis inspiring personality earned him widespread admiration in both India and the United States during the closing years of the nineteenth century and the early years of the twentieth centurySwami Vivekananda represented Hinduism at the Worlds Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893 during the Worlds Columbian Exposition His iconic opening words Sisters and Brothers of America received a standing ovation from the audience and brought him international recognition Following his historic address he was invited to deliver lectures across the United States and EuropeMany Vedanta Societies established in the West during the early twentieth century trace their origins to Vivekanandas teachings or to those who were inspired by his lectures between 1893 and 1900After returning to India from his first visit to the West Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Order at Belur near Kolkata in 1898 During his subsequent visit to the United States he was accompanied by his fellow monk Swami TuriyanandaOther disciples of Sri Ramakrishna including Swamis Saradananda and Abhedananda later continued his mission by teaching Vedanta extensively in different parts of the worldA towering spiritual figure with remarkable intellect Swami Vivekananda was also a prolific writer and poet He composed poems and hymns in Bengali English and Sanskrit many of which continue to be sung at Vedanta centres worldwideFar ahead of his time he strongly encouraged women and people from the West not only to study and practise Vedanta but also to take leadership roles in spreading its teachingsSwami Vivekananda passed away on July 4 1902 at the age of 39 He attained Mahasamadhi in the evening while meditating in his room at Belur Math near Kolkata IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/swami-vivekanandas-intellect-inspiring-thoughts-continue-to-guide-millions-of-youth-even-today-pm-modi-689880.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/question-paper-theft-forces-last-minute-cancellation-of-btech-exam-at-rgpv-in-mp-689884.html Bhopal July 4 The alleged theft of sealed BTech fourthsemester question papers forced Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya RGPV Madhya Pradeshs premier technical university to cancel an examination at the last minute on Friday leaving around 200 students stranded and raising serious concerns over the security of the universitys examination system The examination was scheduled to begin at 11 AM but was postponed after university authorities discovered that nine sealed envelopes containing question papers had gone missing from the University Teaching Department UTDThe incident triggered protests by students who gathered outside the office of ViceChancellor Dr Alok Sharma after being informed about the cancellationThey sought an explanation from the university administration over the sudden postponement and the security breachTaking immediate cognisance of the incident ViceChancellor Dr Alok Sharma issued a showcause notice to Controller of Examinations Dr Archana Tiwari directing her to submit her reply within five daysHe also constituted an enquiry committee to investigate the matter and instructed the universitys security wing to lodge a police complaintâA notice has been issued to the Controller of Examinations regarding the paper theft case An enquiry committee has been constituted The police have also registered an FIR and started an investigationâ Dr Sharma saidAccording to the complaint lodged by Security Officer Dr Bhupendra Singh unidentified persons allegedly stole nine sealed envelopes containing BTech fourthsemester question papers from the UTD buildingActing on the complaint Gandhinagar police registered an FIR against unknown persons under Sections 3314 and 305A of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNSThe investigation is underway Preliminary findings have pointed to significant security lapses While the main entrance of the School of Biotechnology building where the confidential papers were stored was found locked the cupboard containing the question papers had been openedInvestigators also found a broken bathroom window leading to suspicion that it may have been used to gain entryUniversity officials further told IANS that no CCTV cameras were installed inside the strongroom where the examination papers were keptEstablished in 1998 RGPV is the affiliating university for technical education in Madhya Pradesh with hundreds of engineering pharmacy architecture and management colleges under its jurisdictionThe incident has raised fresh questions over the handling and security of confidential examination material at one of the states most important higher education institutionsThe university is expected to announce a fresh date for the postponed examination after completing the enquiry and making alternative arrangements while police continue to investigate the theft IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/question-paper-theft-forces-last-minute-cancellation-of-btech-exam-at-rgpv-in-mp-689884.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 15:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-to-unveil-projects-worth-rs-106-lakh-crore-including-refinery-jodhpur-airport-terminal-and-jaipur-metro-phase-2-689886.html Jaipur July 4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a landmark visit to Rajasthan on Saturday where he will inaugurate dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth over Rs 106 lakh crore spanning infrastructure transport energy railways aviation urban mobility and renewable energy The Prime Ministers visit covers Jodhpur Balotra Jaipur and the Bikaner region with key highlights including the inauguration of the Pachpadra Refinery the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport the launch of the revised UDAN scheme the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Phase 2 railway projects solar power initiatives and the distribution of government job appointment letters to thousands of youthThe projects are expected to significantly enhance connectivity industrial growth employment generation and public infrastructure across RajasthanPM Modis MinutebyMinute Schedule is as following 1045 AM Arrival at Jodhpur Airport by special aircraft 1100 AM Inauguration of the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport and launch of the revised UDAN scheme 1120 AM Departure by helicopter for Pachpadra Balotra 1215 PM Arrival at the HPCL Refinery control room plantation of a sapling and inspection of the refinery complex 1245 PM Arrival at the main public event venue 1252 PM Screening of a short film on the theme Viksit Rajasthan 115 PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a massive public gathering 145 PM Departure from Balotra for Jodhpur 240 PM Arrival at Jodhpur Airport 245 PM Departure for Sanand Ahmedabad GujaratPrime Minister Modi will inaugurate the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport developed at a cost of Rs 480 crore Spread across more than 23000 square metres the terminal can handle 2 million passengers annually Inspired by Rajasthans royal architecture the terminal features traditional arches and jharokhas while meeting 5star GRIHA green building standards making it energyefficient and environmentally sustainableThe Prime Minister will also launch the revised UDAN scheme backed by an allocation of Rs 28840 crore aimed at expanding regional air connectivity over the next decade The scheme includes operationalising 100 new or underutilised airports and developing 200 helipads in remote areasThe Prime Minister will dedicate the Pachpadra RefinerycumPetrochemical Complex in Balotra to the nation Developed as a joint venture between HPCL and the Government of Rajasthan with an investment of over Rs 79450 crore the project has an annual refining capacity of 9 MMTPABesides strengthening Indias energy security the refinery is expected to catalyse the development of petrochemical and plastic industries in western Rajasthan while creating thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities To strengthen urban transport in the state capital PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for the â¹13000crore Jaipur Metro Phase 2 projectThe 41km NorthSouth corridor will connect Prahladpura to Todi Mod through 36 stations covering major commercial and residential hubs including Sitapura Industrial Area VKI Industrial Area Jaipur Airport Tonk Road SMS Hospital and Vidyadhar NagarThe project is expected to reduce travel time and improve public transport for lakhs of commuters The Prime Minister will dedicate railway doubling projects worth â¹900 crore including ChuruSadulpur 58 km and ChuruRatangarh 46 km He will also inaugurate the fourlaning of the KarwarDangiyawas section of the Jodhpur Ring Road developed at a cost of â¹740 crore to ease traffic congestion around JodhpurAs part of Rajasthans clean energy expansion PM Modi will dedicate SJVNs 1000 MW Bikaner Solar Power Project worth â¹5500 crore and NHPCs 300 MW Karnisar Solar Power PlantBoth projects use indigenous solar modules The Prime Minister will also inaugurate power transmission projects worth Rs 1900 crore and lay the foundation stone for a 530km transmission network strengthening evacuation of renewable power and enhancing the states electricity infrastructure IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-to-unveil-projects-worth-rs-106-lakh-crore-including-refinery-jodhpur-airport-terminal-and-jaipur-metro-phase-2-689886.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 15:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-police-bust-rs-107-crore-online-share-trading-fraud-6-arrested-689889.html Mumbai July 4 The Cyber Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police has busted an organised cyber fraud syndicate allegedly involved in cheating investors of more than Rs 107 crore through fake online share trading schemes As part of the operation police arrested six individuals accused of orchestrating the fraud by luring victims with bogus investment opportunities officials saidAccording to the Cyber Police the accused allegedly carried out the fraud by operating through WhatsApp groups fake trading applications and multiple bank accounts while promising lucrative returns through fabricated share trading and IPO investment schemesOf the six accused arrested in the case four were apprehended from Vadodara in Gujarat while the remaining two were arrested from Mumbai Police said the investigation revealed that the group functioned as a wellorganised network with clearly defined roles assigned to different membersAccording to investigators the operation was carried out in several layers The first stage involved identifying individuals willing to provide their bank accountsThereafter current accounts were allegedly opened in the names of companies following which the money obtained through the fraud was routed through multiple bank accounts before being transferred further to conceal its trailPolice believe the entire mechanism was part of an organised cyber fraud racket designed to evade detectionThe case came to light after a 43yearold investment professional from Mumbai approached the police with a complaintAccording to investigators she came across an online share trading advertisement on WhatsApp and clicked on the link provided in the messagePolice said that after accessing the link the woman was added to a WhatsApp group named Arjun Mehta Kua Securities UK where several individuals posing as market experts regularly shared stock market updates investment advice and claims of exceptionally high returns in an apparent attempt to gain the confidence of group membersAccording to the police the accused gradually won the victims trust through professionallooking conversations and investment discussionsShe was eventually persuaded to register on what was presented as an online trading platform and to download a mobile application that displayed an interface closely resembling a genuine stock trading platformBelieving the platform to be legitimate the victim transferred money in multiple instalments from her own bank accounts as well as from the accounts of her family members to various bank accounts provided by the accusedDuring the investigation police found that the fraudsters had allegedly cheated the victim of a total amount of Rs 10737208The Cyber Crime Branch is now examining the financial transactions linked to the accused tracing the movement of the defrauded funds and identifying other individuals who may have been part of the networkInvestigators are also trying to ascertain whether more investors across different states may have fallen victim to the same modus operandiFurther investigation into the case is underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-police-bust-rs-107-crore-online-share-trading-fraud-6-arrested-689889.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 15:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-satheesan-floors-pinarayi-vijayan-in-debut-kerala-assembly-session-689890.html Thiruvananthapuram July 4 The curtain has come down on the first session of Keralas newlyelected Assembly with an outcome few had predicted Contrary to expectations Chief Minister VD Satheesan emerged as the clear political winner while Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan who had dominated the House for a decade as an unchallenged Chief Minister struggled to make an impact from the Opposition benches For nearly ten years Vijayan towered over Assembly proceedings Neither the Opposition led by Ramesh Chennithala during his first term nor later by Satheesan could consistently unsettle himThe change in roles however appears to have dramatically altered the political equationIn his maiden session as Leader of the Opposition the 82yearold veteran found many of his interventions blunted with several Opposition strategies ending up strengthening the governments position insteadThe contrast has been striking CM Satheesan despite completing over 25 uninterrupted years in the Assembly without ever serving as a minister before assuming the Chief Ministers Office displayed a firm grasp of legislative procedure and political strategyTime and again he turned Opposition attacks into opportunities to put the Left Democratic Front LDF on the defensiveInternal disarray within the LDF compounded the Oppositions difficultiesThe unresolved dispute between the CPIM and the CPI over the post of Deputy Leader of the Opposition has prevented even meetings of the LDF legislature party during the Assembly sessionThe lack of coordination has left the Opposition without a coherent floor strategyThe setbacks came in quick successionCPI leader K Rajans attempt to corner the government by displaying a bottle of muddy water claiming police had sprayed protesters with it collapsed after it emerged that the sample had been collected from a roadside potholeThe episode became a source of embarrassment rather than political ammunitionThe confusion resurfaced during the debate on the Finance Bill incorporating tax concessions for lowalcohol beveragesThe Opposition accused the government of surreptitiously inserting the provision into the BillBut the Treasury benches countered by pointing out that the Business Advisory Committee which included both Pinarayi Vijayan and K Rajan had itself cleared the Bill for direct consideration without referring it to the Subject CommitteeSatheesan then delivered perhaps the sessions most effective rebuttal reminding the House that an identical legislative route had been adopted by the previous LDF government under former Finance Minister KN BalagopalThe argument effectively neutralised the Oppositions chargeSenior leaders within the Opposition privately admit that inadequate preparation tactical miscalculations and persistent internal divisions have repeatedly squandered opportunities to corner the governmentIf the opening session is any indication Keralas political script has undergone a dramatic reversal with the once invincible Pinarayi Vijayan finding himself on unfamiliar ground and Satheesan firmly setting the tone of the new AssemblyIn the 140member Assembly the UF has 102 the Left 35 and the BJP three members IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-satheesan-floors-pinarayi-vijayan-in-debut-kerala-assembly-session-689890.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 15:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/if-farmers-forced-to-protest-repeatedly-govt-itself-will-stumble-warns-karnataka-bjp-689894.html Bengaluru July 4 Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka on Saturday alleged that the Karnataka government was adopting an antifarmer approach and warned that if growers continue to be harassed and repeatedly forced onto the streets the government itself would face the consequences In a statement Ashoka alleged that the government had once again demonstrated its antigrower mindset by pushing already distressed farmers reeling under droughtlike conditions and acute water scarcity back onto the streets instead of addressing their grievancesReferring to the ongoing farmers protest in Mandya he said the agitation demanding the release of water from the Krishnaraja Sagar KRS reservoir into irrigation canals to save standing crops had exposed the governments complete failureAshoka said the situation had become so dire that farmers were cooking and eating meals on the BengaluruâMysuru Highway while staging their protest to demand their rightful share of irrigation water He questioned whether Karnataka had ever witnessed such an insensitive governmentHe also criticised the police action against protesters alleging that more than 100 farmers were detained when they attempted to lay siege to the office of the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Is arrest and intimidation the governments answer to farmers asking for water he askedThe BJP leader further claimed that thousands of acres of crops including sugarcane in the KRS command area were drying up due to the lack of irrigation water putting farmers livelihoods and the future of their families at riskAddressing Chief Minister D K Shivakumar Ashoka said forcing farmers to take to the streets was not governance He urged the government to immediately release water from the KRS reservoir into irrigation canals to save standing cropsHe further demanded that if crop losses become inevitable the government should provide compensation of Rs 50000 per acre to every farmer affected during the current monsoon seasonAshoka also warned the government against testing the patience of farmers saying that no government which ignores the tears and anger of the farming community can escape the verdict of the peopleAshoka further criticised the state government over the poor condition of a school in Davanagere district alleging that it reflected the overall state of government schools across KarnatakaAccording to Ashoka the Jagalur town government school has more than 600 students including over 300 girl students However the toilets have reportedly been locked because of a lack of water supply and poor maintenance forcing girl students to use open spaces beside the school compoundHe further alleged that although lakhs of rupees had been spent on constructing the toilets they remained unusable Where has all that money gone Has it ended up in the pockets of ministers legislators officials and contractors he askedAshoka also claimed that rainwater leaks into classrooms during the monsoon and that window panes are broken forcing children to attend classes in unsafe conditionsAddressing Chief Minister DK Shivakumar whom he referred to as an educationist by choice Ashoka urged him to immediately visit the school in Jagalur and direct the district incharge minister to provide the necessary basic infrastructureHe also demanded that the government appoint a fulltime Education Minister without further delay and bring greater urgency to what he described as an administration that had failed to take off even after a month in office IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/if-farmers-forced-to-protest-repeatedly-govt-itself-will-stumble-warns-karnataka-bjp-689894.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 16:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/isis-new-war-on-india-targets-pm-modi-with-deepfakes-and-disinformation-689895.html New Delhi July 4 Indias national security planners after conducting a detailed analysis of the Inter Services Intelligences strategy have determined that the battle must now be waged on three fronts Officials say the battle against Pakistansponsored terrorism is no longer expected to remain a conventional one Following Operation Sindoor Pakistan has allegedly decided to target India on three fronts requiring all of them to be tackled simultaneously Security planners believe meeting this multifront challenge will be Indias biggest testThe ISI would continue to encourage the setting up of homegrown modules in the country It would back modules such as the one that was busted in Faridabad Haryana This change in strategy by the ISI came at a time when India rewrote its security doctrineFollowing the Pahalgam terror attack last year India declared that it would no longer view terrorism merely as a crossborder attack but would treat it as an act of war against the country In the wake of this doctrinal shift ISI is believed to have concluded that a direct military confrontation with India was no longer a viable optionWhile Pakistani politicians periodically threaten India with war officials say these statements are largely rhetorical and stand in contrast to the ground realityAn Intelligence Bureau official says that Pakistan will ramp up drug smuggling using drones while also continuing to give a lot of emphasis to its underworldterror modules However what it proposes to engage in the most is the disinformation campaign the official addedâDisinformation campaigns would peak the most when the Indian army undertakes some exercise It would also go up considerably when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making a foreign visit and also when some dignitary from abroad visits Indiaâ the official pointed outAnother official said that Pakistan wants the global narrative to be in its favour It wants to internationalise the Kashmir issue India on the other hand has maintained that Kashmir is an internal issue and there would be no global intervention on thatThe official said the Pakistani spy agencys objective is to tarnish the image of the Prime Minister through sustained disinformation campaigns According to the official whenever Modi appears on the global stage the ISI activates its network of operatives and sympathisers in both Pakistan and India to spread false narratives aimed at undermining both the PM and the purpose of his overseas engagementsâThese campaigns would focus largely on the Kashmir issue and the ISIrun social media handles would look to project India as the aggressor in the Valley and how atrocities have only risen under PM Modiâ officials saySecurity analysts say that the ISI would continue to push for infiltration into Kashmir and also drum up the Khalistan narrativeHowever the prime focus would be on increasing the drone supply chains to further narcotic smuggling the underworldterror nexus and a massive disinformation campaign Such a push makes it harder for the Indian agencies to always keep track of itAt times the ISI would intentionally drum up the Khalistan narrative and this would be aimed at shifting focus analysts also warnOfficials said infiltration and the Khalistan movement remain significant security concerns and require constant vigilance by the agencies However they cautioned that such developments could at times serve as smokescreens diverting attention from what they described as the three primary fronts of Pakistans strategyThe most challenging of the three remains the disinformation campaign said the officialâThis spreads like wildfire and by the time factcheckers can do a course correction the information would have reached millions of peopleâ the official addedWhile disinformation campaigns targeting the Indian military have been underway for some time intelligence agencies are increasingly concerned about what they describe as a concerted effort to tarnish the Prime Ministers image Officials say these are likely to be sustained campaigns aimed at undermining Indias international standing and diplomatic gains achieved under Modis leadershipThe official said the ISI would not be limited to spreading false information but is also expected to deploy deepfake videos extensively across social media platforms The scale of the planned campaign the official added is expected to be significant making it one of the biggest challenges for the agencies to counter IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/isis-new-war-on-india-targets-pm-modi-with-deepfakes-and-disinformation-689895.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/venugopal-faction-unhappy-over-cm-satheesans-control-over-govt-in-kerala-urgent-party-meeting-sought-689901.html Thiruvananthapuram July 4 The ruling Congress in Kerala appears headed for yet another round of bitter factional infighting with simmering discontent over Chief Minister VD Satheesans style of governance spilling into the open and threatening to overshadow the UDF governments early weeks in office The latest flashpoint comes amid growing allegations from a section of the Congress that major policy and administrative decisions are being taken without consulting the party organisationLeaders aligned with All India Congress Committee AICC General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal have openly questioned the state governments functioning demanding an urgent meeting of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC leadership to discuss issues that surfaced during the just concluded Assembly sessionFactional feuds have long been the defining feature of Congress politics with one generation of leaders replacing another but internal rivalries remaining constantThe present power centres revolve around Chief Minister Satheesan and Venugopal while senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala continues to command a smaller but independent support baseThe rivalry between Satheesan and Venugopal is particularly significantThe last major power struggle ended with Satheesan outmanoeuvring Venugopal for the Chief Ministers postPolitical observers now believe the balance of power has tilted even further in Satheesans favour after his widely appreciated performance on the floor of the Kerala Assembly and his confident handling of government affairs despite having no prior administrative experience beyond serving as an MLA for nearly 25 yearsHis growing stature however has unsettled sections of the Venugopal faction which fears that Satheesan could emerge as the undisputed centre of power in both the state government and the Congress unless checked nowAmong the grievances being raised are the appointments of the State Election Commissioner and the Devaswom Pleader besides the controversial Finance Bill provision permitting lowalcohol beverages all of which are alleged to have bypassed party forumsIronically while the Opposition targeted the state government over these decisions in the Kerala Assembly Congress leaders claim many of them were themselves unaware of the decisions beforehandThe tussle also has an organisational dimensionWith KPCC President Sunny Joseph now serving in the state Cabinet the Congress effectively lacks a fulltime state organisational ChiefVenugopals faction is believed to be keenly watching the selection of the next KPCC President and the impending appointments to state corporations and boards viewing them as opportunities to curb Satheesans growing influenceEven as the pressure mounts the chief Minister has made it clear that he will not permit undue interference in the daytoday functioning of the state governmentHis uncompromising stand has only sharpened tensions setting the stage for what could be a stormy KPCC leadership meeting in the coming days IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/venugopal-faction-unhappy-over-cm-satheesans-control-over-govt-in-kerala-urgent-party-meeting-sought-689901.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 16:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hafiz-saeeds-son-talha-to-head-lashkar-as-isi-rebuilds-outfit-into-three-commands-689904.html New Delhi July 4 The LashkareTaiba which suffered the heaviest losses during Operation Sindoor last year has begun efforts to rebuild its network and leadership After weeks of internal deliberations over succession the outfit has finally decided to elevate its founder Hafiz Saeeds son Talha Saeed to lead the organisation While some within the group argued that the ageing Hafiz Saeed should step aside the old guard was unwilling to completely sideline him As a result he will continue to play a key role as the outfits mentor and ideological head even as Talha Saeed assumes operational leadershipThe InterServices Intelligence ISI shares a similar assessment An official said that even as the outfit resolves its internal leadership issues the LashkareTaiba has begun restructuring its operational network Under the new plan the group will function through three separate operational commands within Pakistan with dedicated wings for Balochistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir PoKWhile the top leadership would remain the same there would be three different operational commands for the three regions In all three regions the Pakistan security forces have suffered huge embarrassment Many have deserted the forces and outfits such as the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA and TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP have wreaked havoc on the security establishmentAn official said that the reason the ISI wanted the Lashkar to be split into three regionspecific commands is to have effective control over the situation It is an open secret that the Pakistani establishment has roped in cadres of the LeT to fight alongside the security forces against the TTP and BLAA regionspecific command gives the top leadership more control over the situation Moreover each region would have locals from the respective region This would help the Lashkar as these operatives are better aware of the logistics In recent months both the Lashkar and Pakistans security forces have suffered repeated setbacks at the hands of the TTP and the BLA largely due to intelligence failures and logistical shortcomingsThe LeT feels that if locals are roped in for specific regions then the intelligence gathering would improve because of the local connect The terror outfit also plans to have some operatives who would work covertly too These persons would mingle with the locals and gather information for the LashkarAn Intelligence Bureau official said the Lashkar is also expected to try to infiltrate the BLA and the TTP by planting operatives within the two groups to improve its intelligence gatheringâIf the outfit succeeds in establishing such an internal network it could significantly strengthen the intelligence capabilities of Pakistans security forcesâ the official addedWhile in Balochistan and KP the intention is to battle the BLA and TTP in PoK the plans are entirely different In this region the idea is to have the Lashkar carry out attacksâThey are likely to carry out strikes at multiple locations using either fidayeen attackers or explosive devices The objective is to intimidate the local population and discourage them from joining or supporting protests Another key part of the strategy is to stage major terror attacks and then attempt to pin the blame on Indiaâ another official saidThe official said that despite the ongoing restructuring the strategy for Jammu and Kashmir remains unchanged All Indiacentric operations will continue to be overseen by a single command with every major operational decision being taken by the outfits top leadershipThe ISI is keen to retain this command structure for operations against India The continued association of Hafiz Saeed and his son Talha Saeed is seen as crucial as their names continue to carry influence among potential recruits Maintaining that leadership image is considered important for the Lashkarâs recruitment and mobilisation efforts the official added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hafiz-saeeds-son-talha-to-head-lashkar-as-isi-rebuilds-outfit-into-three-commands-689904.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/will-improve-connectivity-generate-employment-ministers-on-pm-modi-inaugurating-projects-in-rajasthan-689907.html Jodhpur July 4 Union Minister for Civil Aviation K Ram Mohan Naidu and Rajasthan Ministers on Saturday hailed the inauguration of Jodhpur airports new terminal building and the Pachpadra refinery by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which they said will improve its connectivity with other cities and provide employment opportunities for youth in Rajasthan Addressing reporters Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated this Jodhpur airport terminal today fulfilling a longpending aspiration I congratulate the people of Jodhpur as this magnificent terminal has been built for them The Prime Ministers vision is that wherever civil aviation expands its benefits should extend beyond passengers to the entire citys economy businesses students tourism sector and every section of societyToday we are witnessing its impact throughout the country he addedPraising the architecture of the airports terminal building the Union Minister said We have tried to display the culture architecture and legacy of the state PM Modi was also proud of the way the Terminal building was madeExpressing gratitude to Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for his contribution in the project Union Minister Naidu said Though I am the Civil Aviation Minister but the entire responsibility of this terminal building have been carried by Gajendra ji He kept on doing detailed and timely review of the materials that were being used and also made sure that the project was completed on timeHe highlighted that Jodhpurs connectivity has significantly improved over the years saying In order to promote handloom trade and destination wedding economy we need to further improve Jodhpurs connectivity with other cities and even internationallyRajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa said the inauguration of refinerycumpetrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Barmer district will play a crucial role in fulfilling fuel requirements of the countryThis refinery will generate employment opportunities for the states youth and provide business to traders he told reportersRajasthans Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel added A new chapter has been written in the history of RajasthanHe said that projects like the states first refinerycumpetrochemical complex Jodhpur airport Jaipur Metro phase connectivity and the recent Yamuna water agreement are all expected to bring major progress to the stateWith the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi new dimensions of development will be achieved in Rajasthan in the coming months he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/will-improve-connectivity-generate-employment-ministers-on-pm-modi-inaugurating-projects-in-rajasthan-689907.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 16:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/record-defence-exports-proof-of-global-confidence-in-make-in-india-platforms-rajnath-singh-689909.html New Delhi July 4 IANS Annual defence production touched an alltime high of Rs 178 lakh crore in financial year FY 202526 which is three times higher than the figure in FY 201415 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on SaturdaynbspOn the other hand defence exports reached a record over Rs 38000 crore up from Rs 686 crore in FY 201314 representing an increase of nearly 57 times and underlining the global confidence in the Make in India platformsIndias journey over the last 12 years has been a progression from shortages to selfreliance from selfreliance to selfconfidence and from selfconfidence towards building a Viksit Bharat said Rajnath Singh while addressing a media event hereIn its third term the government is laying a strong foundation for Viksit Bharat through the policy of Reform Perform Transform exuding confidence that the world will witness the rise of a developed India in the fourth termThe minister said that when MakeinIndia was launched in 2014 certain quarters labelled it as a failure but the scheme set new benchmarks of success and is continuing to do so even todayThere has been a transformational change in Indias global stature While the world earlier paid little heed to our voice today it listens attentively to Indias perspective on global issues he saidRajnath Singh further stated that despite early scepticism on India Semiconductor Mission launched in 2021 the nation produced its own semiconductor chips last year due to the establishment of semiconductor parks based on the plugandplay infrastructure modelHe highlighted Indias significant growth in manufacturing and technology citing the expansion of mobile manufacturing automobile exports indigenous locomotive production and digital infrastructure under MakeinIndiaThe minister made special mention of Indias digital revolution stating that 2235 billion UPI transactions were made in April with a total value of Rs 29 lakh crore and the facilitys international footprint is expandingHe also spoke of the rapid nationwide rollout of indigenously developed MakeinIndia 5G technology underlining that efforts are being made towards the development of 6GRajnath Singh also highlighted the successful implementation of the Goods and Services Tax GST stating that despite initial concerns it has evolved into a model of cooperative federalism by strengthening coordination between the Centre and StatesUTsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/record-defence-exports-proof-of-global-confidence-in-make-in-india-platforms-rajnath-singh-689909.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 16:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-conducts-searches-in-two-bank-fraud-cases-involving-over-rs-231-crore-689912.html New Delhi July 4 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on Saturday conducted coordinated searches in connection with two bank fraud cases involving an alleged fraud of over Rs 231 crore registered by its Bank Securities and Fraud Branch BSFB in Bengaluru officials saidnbspThe first case was registered against Ms R L Jewels Ltd its directors and unknown public servants on the basis of a complaint filed by the State Bank of India SBI MumbainbspThe FIR alleges criminal conspiracy cheating criminal breach of trust misappropriation of property and forgery resulting in a wrongful loss of Rs 10358 crore to the bankAccording to the CBI the accused allegedly misappropriated funds diverted money through current accounts maintained with other banks and altered and falsified books of accounts and electronic recordsThe second case was registered on a complaint by Canara Bank against Ms Ashapura Garments Ltd its directors and unknown public servants and private personsThe complaint alleges that Ms Ashapura Garments Ltd and its directors entered into a criminal conspiracy to defraud a consortium of banks led by Canara Bank causing a wrongful loss of Rs 12823 crorenbspThe accused allegedly siphoned off and diverted credit facilities sanctioned for textile operations into nonindustry transactions including highvalue dealings with entities engaged in steel aluminium and coal tradingAs part of the investigation the CBI conducted searches at multiple locations across Maharashtra and Gujarat on Saturday The searches covered residential premises linked to the directors of the companies as well as their business establishments and office premisesDuring the searches investigators recovered incriminating documents and digital evidence including records related to the alleged diversion of funds and other material relevant to the probeThe agency said the seized material is being examined to ascertain the full extent of the conspiracy trace the flow of funds and determine the role of all persons involvedFurther investigation is underwaynbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-conducts-searches-in-two-bank-fraud-cases-involving-over-rs-231-crore-689912.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 16:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-govt-reshuffles-finance-accounts-department-transfers-52-officers-to-boost-transparency-689913.html New Delhi July 4 IANS The Delhi government on Saturday carried out a major administrative reshuffle in its Finance and Accounts Department to strengthen transparency accountability and efficiency in governancenbspUnder the Transfer and Posting Policy 52 officers who had been serving at the same posting for five years or more have been transferred with immediate effectThe transfers include 23 Deputy Controllers of Accounts and 29 Senior Accounts OfficersAdditionally 19 Senior Accounts Officers have been promoted to the post of Deputy Controller of Accounts expanding their responsibilities in recognition of their performanceThe Delhi government said the move is in line with Chief Minister Rekha Guptas commitment to transparent and accountable governanceThe reshuffle aims to improve administrative efficiency strengthen financial management and bring greater transparency accountability and dynamism to the functioning of the Finance and Accounts Department in DelhiUnder the new arrangement the 19 promoted Senior Accounts Officers will take on enhanced responsibilities as Deputy Controllers of Accounts across various departments of the Delhi governmentAccording to the Delhi government the transfers and postings have been carried out solely on the basis of administrative requirements with the objective of promoting integrity transparency and efficiency in the systemTo further streamline the administration new responsibilities have also been assigned to 23 Deputy Controllers of Accounts and 29 Senior Accounts OfficersChief Minister Rekha Gupta said the Delhi government is committed to establishing an administrative system that upholds the highest standards of transparency accountability efficiency and good governanceShe stressed that there is no place for laxity negligence or corruption at any level of governanceThe Chief Minister said the extensive reshuffle in the Finance and Accounts Department is part of the Delhi governments broader effort to build a more accountable resultoriented and citizencentric work cultureAccording to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta timely decisionmaking effective financial management and accountable administration will help accelerate the implementation of government schemes while ensuring that public services are delivered in a more transparent and efficient mannerThe Delhi government has directed all concerned officers to assume charge at their new places of posting with immediate effect and discharge their responsibilities accordinglyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-govt-reshuffles-finance-accounts-department-transfers-52-officers-to-boost-transparency-689913.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-seeks-probe-into-alleged-organ-removal-from-seafarers-body-in-venezuela-689766.html Caracas July 3 The Embassy of India in Caracas has sought a thorough investigation by Venezuelan authorities into the alleged desecration and removal of organs from the mortal remains of late Rakesh Chauhan The Mission stated that it has been continuously pursuing the matter with concerned local authorities since the incident first came to lightIn a post on X the Embassy said âThe Embassy of India Caracas has sought a thorough investigation by Venezuelan authorities on the desecration and removal of organs of the mortal remains of late Shri Rakesh Chauhan Mission has continued to pursue this matter with the concerned local authorities since the incident came to lightâThe case has sparked serious concern after the family of the deceased Indian seafarer alleged that several internal organs were missing when his body was repatriated to India Chauhan reportedly died in Venezuela in May allegedly due to cardiac arrestAccording to his family a reautopsy conducted in India revealed that multiple vital organs including the brain heart and lungs were absent from the body The deceased 33yearold Rakesh Chauhan from Uttar Pradeshâs Deoria district had his remains returned to India nearly a month after his deathFollowing the findings the Federation of Seafarersâ Unions of India FSUI has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and the handling of his remains In a statement posted on X the federation alleged that the body was sent back without any autopsy report or official documentation from Venezuelan authorities explaining the cause of deathThe FSUI further claimed that the postmortem conducted in India revealed âa horrifying truthâ alleging that not a single organ was found in the body including the brain heart lungs liver kidneys spleen pancreas stomach and intestines It also noted that the body bore extensive stitching marks while the cause of death could not be determined due to the absence of organsThe federation has termed the situation unacceptable calling for full accountability transparency and a detailed investigation by Venezuelan authorities It has also urged immediate intervention by the Indian Embassy in Caracas along with the release of complete autopsy records and clarity on the circumstances of deathAccording to the family Chauhan had travelled to Venezuela in November 2025 as a crew member aboard a merchant navy vessel The case has raised broader concerns over the treatment of Indian seafarers abroad and the need for stronger safeguards documentation and accountability in such incidents IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-seeks-probe-into-alleged-organ-removal-from-seafarers-body-in-venezuela-689766.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-extends-wishes-for-safe-amarnath-yatra-urges-pilgrims-to-adopt-five-resolutions-689769.html New Delhi July 3 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his heartfelt wishes to devotees embarking on the annual Amarnath Yatra praying for their safe and auspicious pilgrimage Marking the commencement of the revered journey to the holy Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir the Prime Minister also released an open letter urging pilgrims to adopt five resolutions aimed at promoting cleanliness safety environmental conservation local livelihoods and nationbuildingTaking to the social media platform X PM Modi described the Amarnath Yatra as an eternal symbol of Indias spiritual tradition and cultural unityPM Modi wrote on X The Amarnath Yatra connected with the darshan of Baba Barfani is an eternal chapter in our spiritual tradition and cultural unity My wish is that this journey of the devotees of Shiva be safe and auspicious in every way On this sacred occasion my letter to the pilgrims linked with five resolutionsSharing the letter in Hindi loosely translated as PM Modi greeted devotees with Dear Devotees Har Har Mahadev Jai Baba Barfani Participating in the holy Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir is in itself a profound privilege The opportunity for devotees to seek the blessings of Baba Barfani begins with the Pratham Puja first ritual performed on the day of Jyeshtha PurnimaPM Modi further said that devotees from every corner of the country eagerly look forward to joining this sacred pilgrimageEvery year this opportunity to witness Baba Barfani in person proves to be a deeply auspicious and unforgettable experience for lakhs of Shiva devotees I extend my heartfelt best wishes to all Shiva devotees on the occasion of this years pilgrimage he said in the letterPM Modi further said that this pilgrimage to seek the blessings of Baba Amarnath represents an eternal chapter in Indias spiritual traditionEvery year lakhs of devotees who cherish Sanatan culture arrive in Jammu and Kashmir from across the globe to participate in this journey People from diverse regions speaking different languages ââand following varied traditions undertake this pilgrimage with the solemn resolve to seek the divine presence of Mahadev PM Modi addedPM Modi also lauded the efforts of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board the Jammu and Kashmir administration and the security forces for ensuring the smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimageFor several decades the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir have managed the pilgrimage with great efficiency and a spirit of service Furthermore our administration and security forces play a pivotal role in ensuring the safe and successful conduct of the Yatra This year too thousands of personnel are dedicatedly fulfilling this responsibility he saidThe Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Indian Army CRPF Jammu and Kashmir Police ITBP BSF NDRF doctors medical personnel administrative officials sanitation workers and all those involved in serving the pilgrimsOn this occasion I extend my heartfelt greetings to the Indian Army CRPF Jammu amp Kashmir Police ITBP BSF NDRF doctors and medical personnel administrative officials sanitation workers and every individual dedicated to serving the pilgrimsDuring these two months the holy abode of Baba Barfani offers a magnificent glimpse of Indias unity in diversity PM Modi addedHe said that during the twomonth pilgrimage the holy abode of Baba Barfani presents a living example of Indias unity in diversityThis pilgrimage to the abode of Baba Barfani also showcases the hospitality of Jammu amp Kashmir and the devotion of pilgrims arriving from across the country At every stage of the journey thousands of local citizens of Jammu amp Kashmir extend a warm welcome to the pilgrims Countless devotees from various parts of the nation also organise Bhandaras community kitchens along the holy cave route and the pilgrimage paths This spirit of selfless service is a living embodiment of our Sanatan culture and the ideal of Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah may all be happy PM Modi saidIn his letter the Prime Minister urged devotees to adopt five resolutions during the pilgrimageFirst Resolution Let us adhere to cleanliness norms during the Amarnath Yatra and contribute to maintaining hygiene along the entire pilgrimage route he addedThe second resolution urges devotees to strictly follow all administrative directions traffic regulations and security guidelines while remaining especially cautious of slippery terrain caused by rain and cold weatherThird Resolution Embracing the spirit of Vocal for Local let us spend at least 10 per cent of our pilgrimage budget on purchasing local products This will strengthen the livelihoods of families and the youth of Jammu amp Kashmir PM Modi said in the letterFourth Resolution On the concluding day of the Baba Amarnath Yatra which coincides with Raksha Bandhan let us gift a sapling to our brother or sister and carry forward the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam A Tree in Mothers Name campaign he addedFifth Resolution Let us perform our duties honestly throughout the year with a Nation First spirit and actively contribute to building a Viksit Bharat Developed India he saidExpressing confidence in the success of this years pilgrimage PM Modi said the Amarnath Yatra would continue to serve as a grand celebration of Sanatan faith Indias cultural unity and the tradition of selfless serviceI am confident that the pilgrimage to seek the blessings of Baba Amarnath will culminate as a grand celebration of Sanatan faith Indias cultural unity and the tradition of service It is my prayer that the boundless grace of Baba Amarnath remains upon us all May your journey be safe and auspicious and may it infuse your life with new energy new consciousness and new spiritual strength he saidPM Modi further extended best wishes to the devotees for the Amarnath YatraMay Baba Barfani inspire us all to be even more dedicated to our duties so that together we can realise the resolve of a developed India My heartfelt best wishes to you all for the Amarnath Yatra PM Modi added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-extends-wishes-for-safe-amarnath-yatra-urges-pilgrims-to-adopt-five-resolutions-689769.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-group-emerges-as-investor-magnet-after-rs-38-000-crore-demand-for-ael-qip-offering-689771.html Ahmedabad July 3 Global institutions and Indias largest mutual funds have backed multiple Adani Group companies marking a sharp turnaround in investor sentiment Adani Group has emerged as one of the biggest draws for institutional investors over the past year attracting around Rs 40000 crore of fresh equity into its flagship company alone while also seeing marquee global and domestic investors increase their exposure across several listed entitiesAdani Enterprises Ltd AEL this week upsized its qualified institutional placement QIP to Rs 15000 crore after receiving bids worth about Rs 38000 crore or 38 times the base issue size The fundraising comes less than a year after the companys Rs 25000 crore rights issue taking its total equity capital raised over the past year to about Rs 40000 croreThe latest offering attracted some of the worlds largest institutional investors including Capital Group Goldman Sachs BlackRock Blackstone and Nomura Domestic participation was equally broadbased with HDFC Mutual Fund ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund Kotak Mutual Fund Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund SBI Mutual Fund and Tata Mutual Fund among the investorsPeople familiar with the transaction said the order book was fully covered before the issue formally opened with bankers describing investors as clamouring for allocations The company launched the QIP with a base size of Rs 10000 crore before increasing it to Rs 15000 crore on the back of strong demandThe fundraising is the latest sign of a sharp shift in investor sentiment toward the Adani Group After a period when Adani stocks were among the least preferred by several institutional investors they have become some of the most soughtafter names among both global funds and domestic asset managersOver the past year leading institutional investors have participated in fundraisings and secondary transactions across companies including Adani Power Adani Ports amp SEZ Adani Energy Solutions and Adani Green Energy alongside Adani Enterprises The lineup of investors has consistently featured some of the worlds largest asset managers and nearly every major domestic mutual fund reflecting growing conviction in the groups longterm investment pipelineThe latest demand also comes despite a US federal judge pausing the formal dismissal of criminal charges against the Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and directing the Department of Justice to justify its decision to withdraw the case The strong institutional participation suggests investors have remained focused on the groups operating businesses capital allocation and growth prospectsAdani Enterprises the groups flagship incubator is expanding businesses spanning airports AI and data centres solar and wind equipment manufacturing roads PVC metals and mining A day before the QIP the company announced an 115 billion investment with IHC to establish Indias largest aluminium manufacturing project marking the biggest foreign direct investment announced in Indias metals and mining sector IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-group-emerges-as-investor-magnet-after-rs-38-000-crore-demand-for-ael-qip-offering-689771.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-bans-sale-use-of-bupivacaine-injection-used-in-caesarean-deliveries-other-surgeries-689778.html Jaipur July 3 The Rajasthan Drug Control Department has imposed a statewide ban on the sale and use of a specific batch of Bupivacaine injection following reports of serious adverse reactions among patients at a hospital in Hyderabad Bupivacaine is widely used to administer spinal anaesthesia during various surgical procedures including Caesarean deliveries Instructions have been issued to immediately stop the use of this injection until the investigation is completed This decision has been taken on the advice of anesthesiologists said Dr Deepak Maheshwari Principal SMS Medical CollegeThe precautionary action comes after 16 patients reportedly developed adverse reactions after receiving the injection in HyderabadThe Indian Society of Anesthesiologists ISA and the Anaesthesia Patient Safety Association APSA have issued a nationwide advisory urging anesthesiologists to immediately discontinue the use of Bupivacaine injections manufactured by Themis Medicare Limited for spinal anaesthesiaFollowing the advisory SMS Medical College Jaipur has directed all hospital superintendents and Heads of Departments HODs to immediately stop using the injectionRajasthan Drug Controller Ajay Phatak said the affected injection is Bupivacaine Hydrochloride in Dextrose manufactured by Themis Medicare Limited It is routinely used for spinal anaesthesia during surgeriesHe said the decision to prohibit the sale and use of the injection in Rajasthan has been taken as a precautionary measure while investigations are underwayThe department has also instructed officials to collect samples of the affected batch as well as other batches of the product for laboratory testingAccording to information received by the department Themis Medicare Limited has submitted a report to the Drug Controller General of India DCGI regarding adverse reactions associated with Batch No BKP02601 of the injectionAs per the report 16 patients at a Hyderabad hospital experienced symptoms including nausea vomiting and severe headache after being administered the injection Some patients reportedly suffered seizures requiring ventilator support and admission to the Intensive Care Unit ICUApproximately 14000 injections from the affected batch were supplied to Rajasthan and distributed across Jaipur Hanumangarh Bharatpur Karauli Kota Sri Ganganagar and Tonk The Drug Control Department has frozen 7000 injections at its Jaipur depot stopped the sale of 1500 injections available in the market collected 1500 samples for quality testing and initiated the recall of 2000 injections from healthcare facilities and distributorsAround 14000 injections were supplied across Rajasthan Their use has been stopped everywhere and samples from the concerned batch have also been collected for testing said Ajay Phatak Drug ControllerThe department has directed all hospitals medical institutions and distributors to immediately suspend the use and sale of the affected batch until further orders A central team is also investigating the matter IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-bans-sale-use-of-bupivacaine-injection-used-in-caesarean-deliveries-other-surgeries-689778.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/patna-police-bust-prostitution-racket-at-hotel-near-gandhi-maidan-10-women-rescued-689779.html Patna July 3 The Patna Police have busted a suspected prostitution racket operating from a hotel in the Gandhi Maidan area of Patna late said police on Friday During a raid conducted on the premises on Thursday night officers rescued 10 women and detained a man for questioningThe operation was carried out within the jurisdiction of the Gandhi Maidan Police Station following specific intelligence inputsAccording to police officials a tipoff had indicated that an organised prostitution racket had been functioning from the hotel for a considerable periodActing on the information a special police team conducted a search of the premises and inspected several rooms during the raidThe rescued women have been taken into protective custodyPreliminary investigation suggests that most of them are residents of West Bengal and DelhiPolice are now trying to determine the circumstances under which they were brought to Patna and whether they were victims of trafficking or coercionDuring the operation police recovered several objectionable items including liquor bottles from the hotel premisesOfficials have also seized mobile phones and other electronic devices which are being examined to identify additional members of the alleged network and gather digital evidenceThe detained man is being questioned and investigators are attempting to identify the hotel operator touts and other individuals allegedly involved in the racketPolice are also examining the role of the hotel management to determine whether those running the establishment were aware of or facilitated the alleged illegal activitiesAs part of the investigation officers have seized the hotelâs guest registers CCTV footage and other relevant documentsThese materials are being scrutinised to establish the sequence of events and identify everyone connected to the caseConfirming the raid City SP Sanket Kumar said that objectionable items and liquor bottles were recovered from the hotelHe added that the preliminary findings indicate the existence of a prostitution racket and further legal action will be taken based on the evidence collected and the outcome of the ongoing investigationPolice have emphasised that the probe is continuing and that action will be taken against all those found to be involved in the alleged operation in accordance with the law IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/patna-police-bust-prostitution-racket-at-hotel-near-gandhi-maidan-10-women-rescued-689779.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/three-arrested-in-bengaluru-quarry-collapse-case-689780.html Bengaluru July 3 The Karnataka Police on Friday arrested three persons in connection with the stone quarry boulder collapse at Madapattana village in Bengaluru South taluk that claimed the lives of seven workers The arrested accused have been identified as Panduranga owner of Sai Ram Crusher Lokesh the quarry incharge and Raju the local inchargeAccording to the police the three have been taken into custody for questioning Panduranga had taken Basaveshwara Crusher on lease and was operating the quarry A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS based on a complaint filed by worker GopikrishnanPolice are also likely to question Uday Shankar the owner of Kaveri Crusher and D Anandaswamy the owner of Basaveshwara Crusher as part of the ongoing investigationThe tragedy occurred early Thursday morning at the Kaveri Crusher unit in Madapattana village under the jurisdiction of the Tavarekere Police Station when a massive boulder rolled down from an upper quarry and crashed onto workers at a lower quarrySeven workers were killed in the incident while five others sustained injuries One of the injured remains in critical condition and four workers managed to escapeThe deceased were identified as Ramu Rajpal Singh Satyanarayan Singh Ram Avtar Singh Rajendra Prasad Nuhar and Bhuvaneshwar Singh all aged between their 30s and 40s According to police one of the deceased hailed from Yadgir district in Karnataka while the others were from Madhya Pradesh One of the injured workers is from ChhattisgarhCentral Zone IGP S Girish said the accident involved two adjoining quarries owned by different entitiesThere are two quarries at the location The upper quarry belongs to one owner while the lower quarry is owned by another Work was underway at both sites early this morning A JCB excavator operating at the upper quarry moved boulders one of which rolled downhill and fell onto the workers at the quarry below he saidA total of 16 workers were at the lower quarry Seven of them died on the spot Five have been admitted to the hospital one of whom is in critical condition while four others managed to escape Girish addedA worker from Tamil Nadu Gopi who narrowly escaped the accident alleged that workers at the upper quarry failed to warn those working below before moving the rocksThose working above should alert the workers below but no one informed us I have been working here for the past eight years Four of us managed to escape If they had warned us we would have known about the danger A stone hit me but I still managed to run away Around 15 to 30 people were working at the site Tractors and excavators were mangled in the incident he saidThe force of the boulder impact crushed the victims beneath the rocks making identification difficult Police said some bodies were mutilated beyond recognition A tractor a tipper and other heavy machinery at the site were also extensively damagedChief Minister DK Shivakumar reacting to the incident on Thursday said a detailed report had been sought from officialsA tragic incident has taken place at two adjoining quarries on Magadi Road I have received information that seven persons have died The bodies have been recovered and senior officers have visited the spot It has been ascertained that no blasting took place I will receive a detailed report It is yet to be determined whether the quarries were operating legally or illegally The prescribed rules must be followed the Chief Minister saidHe added that action would be initiated after the report is received and compensation would be announced once complete details are availableKarnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka visited the injured workers at the hospital on Thursday and alleged that the tragedy was the result of negligence on the part of the state government while demanding accountability for the loss of seven lives IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/three-arrested-in-bengaluru-quarry-collapse-case-689780.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/six-crpf-jawans-injured-in-road-accident-near-jampks-sonamarg-689783.html Srinagar July 3 At least six Central Reserve Police Force CRPF jawans were injured on Friday in a road accident near the tunnel in Jammu and Kashmirâs Sonamarg tourist resort area The officials said six jawans were injured after the vehicle they were travelling in went out of the driverâs control and skidded off the road near the tunnel in the Sonamarg area of Ganderbal districtOfficials said the injured jawans were given first aid on the spot and then shifted to a nearby CRPF camp in the Gund areaThe Amarnath Yatris using the North Kashmir Baltal base camp travel on SrinagarSonamarg road to reach Baltal base camp Hundreds of local policemen and CRPF personnel are deployed along the Yatra route from Jammu to the two camps in Kashmir Baltal base camp and Nunwan base campTransit camps have been set up along the two Yatra routes at Mir Bazaar on the South Kashmir route and at Sadipora and Manigam on the North Kashmir routeHealthcare facilities and free community kitchens called âLangarsâ have been set up at the two base camps and in the transit campsThose pilgrims who reach the transit camps beyond the scheduled time are lodged in the transit camps as part of the overall security arrangements for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026 SANJY2026Those devotees opting for onthespot registration have been advised not to undertake the journey before registration since according to the orders of the Supreme Court the number of Yatris permitted to perform the Yatra is being regulatedMeanwhile the second batch of over 3800 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in two escorted convoys for the two base camps early in the daySince the area beyond the two base camps has been declared a âNofly zoneâ helicopter services are not available for the Yatris this year IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/six-crpf-jawans-injured-in-road-accident-near-jampks-sonamarg-689783.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-bjp-chides-cm-shivakumar-on-his-silence-over-tn-congress-mekedatu-stand-689784.html Bengaluru July 3 Senior BJP leader and Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka on Friday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accusing him of remaining silent after the Tamil Nadu Congress leadership opposed the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project In a statement Ashoka alleged that Shivakumar had undertaken the Mekedatu padayatra before the Assembly elections only to gain political mileage and has now abandoned the issue due to political compulsionsBefore the elections you staged a political drama in the form of the Mekedatu padayatra to come to power Why have you now chosen silence Ashoka questioned ShivakumarReferring to the recent remarks by the Tamil Nadu Congress leadership that it would not allow even a single brick to be laid for the Mekedatu project the BJP leader challenged Shivakumar to respond firmlyIf you have the courage conviction and genuine concern for Kannadigas undertake a padayatra to Chennai and stage a hunger strike in front of the Tamil Nadu Congress office Prove your political commitment he saidAshoka alleged that the Chief Minister was reluctant to confront the Tamil Nadu Congress because of the Congress partys alliance politics and the directions of the party high commandHave the orders of the Delhi high command and alliance politics in Tamil Nadu become more important than the rights of Karnatakas farmers in the Cauvery basin and the drinking water needs of millions of Bengaluru residents he questionedClaiming that the state government lacked the political will to implement the Mekedatu project Ashoka alleged that the Congress party had used the issue merely as an election campaign toolThe government has no intention of implementing the Mekedatu project It used the issue only as an election gimmick and is now afraid to even condemn the arrogant remarks made by the Tamil Nadu Congress he allegedAshoka further accused the Congress government of betraying the people of Karnataka and asserted that the electorate would give it a fitting response for what he termed its breach of trust over the Mekedatu issueIn a significant development in the longpending Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project CM Shivakumar had said he was prepared to hold discussions with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at any time and urged both states to keep politics aside while considering the interests of their peopleI am ready to talk to Tamil Nadu at any point regarding the Mekedatu project I have no reservations in this regard Whether it is Tamil Nadu or Karnataka we are one nation and one people We all depend on the waters of the same river Water is needed for irrigation drinking purposes and industrial use said CM ShivakumarThe Mekedatu reservoir row centres on Karnatakas proposal to build a balancing reservoir and drinking water project across the Cauvery River at Mekedatu in Bengaluru South districtKarnataka argues that the project is essential to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding areas as well as to generate about 400 MW of hydropower while maintaining that it will not violate the states allocated share of Cauvery waterTamil Nadu strongly opposes the project contending that any reservoir upstream could affect the flow of water to its farmers in the Cauvery delta and undermine the implementation of the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018The project has remained stalled as it requires environmental forest and other statutory clearances from the Centre while Tamil Nadu has repeatedly urged the Union government not to approve IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-bjp-chides-cm-shivakumar-on-his-silence-over-tn-congress-mekedatu-stand-689784.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-to-build-semiconductor-research-training-hub-at-iit-gandhinagar-with-rs-190-crore-investment-689785.html Gandhinagar July 3 Gujarat is set to establish a dedicated semiconductor research and training centre at IIT Gandhinagar as part of efforts to build a skilled workforce for Indias growing semiconductor industry The Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Research and Training Hub SAMARTH backed by a Rs 190 crore investment from the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology the Gujarat governments Department of Science and Technology and IIT Gandhinagar is expected to begin operations soonThe project aims to provide advanced research facilities and industryoriented training to engineering students faculty members and professionals working in the semiconductor sectorIIT Gandhinagar has initiated the process of procuring equipment and appointing consultants for construction and other infrastructure required to establish the centreAccording to the state government SAMARTH has been conceived to support Indias goal of becoming selfreliant in semiconductor manufacturing while strengthening Gujarats position as a hub for the sectorThe centre will focus on research development and skill enhancement with engineering students receiving practical training to become fabready allowing them to work in semiconductor fabrication facilitiesFaculty members and professionals from the semiconductor industry will also be able to upgrade their skills while awareness programmes will introduce students to opportunities in the field from an early stageThe centre is also expected to collaborate with local and international partners for research training and workforce developmentTo widen participation IIT Gandhinagar is preparing to sign memorandums of understanding MoUs with engineering colleges across Gujarat Students from the state will be able to enrol in programmes at nominal feesThe centre will also offer specialised shortterm certificate courses while summer schools and outreach programmes will familiarise school and college students with semiconductor technologies and related coursesOver the next five years SAMARTH plans to train more than 10000 people The target includes 5600 undergraduate postgraduate and doctoral students 1500 technicians pursuing vocational and technical education 1000 participants in certificate programmes 230 faculty members and 230 industry professionals through upskilling initiativesMore than 2700 students are also expected to participate in summer schools and oneday exposure programmesThe facility will include laboratories for nanofabrication CMOS process training semiconductor process and device design device modelling IC design and prototyping along with a device process characterisation facility for testing inspection and quality assessment of electronic devices and chip manufacturing processesReferring to the broader objective of developing the sector Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said Our goal is not limited to setting up just one factory but to build an entire ecosystem India is now focusing on the entire semiconductor value chain from design engineers to machine manufacturers and logistics The announcement of the India Semiconductor Mission 20 is a major step in this direction As production increases the demand for materials and components within India will also rise creating the biggest opportunity for domestic industries IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-to-build-semiconductor-research-training-hub-at-iit-gandhinagar-with-rs-190-crore-investment-689785.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/emerging-terror-trend-despite-nine-module-busts-bhatti-waits-for-indias-complacency-689786.html New Delhi July 3 Since the year 2025 the police have busted nine modules handled by Pakistani national Shahzad Bhatti This man who was once a social media influencer has become the latest headache for the security agencies and would continue to remain for some more time as Bhatti is waiting for complacency to set in so that he can strike India Bhatti has emerged as the key figure in the modules that have been busted by the policeWhile four separate modules relating to Bhatti have been busted by the Uttar Pradesh AntiTerrorism Squad ATS five were shut down by the Special Cell of the Delhi PoliceAn Intelligence Bureau official said that a clear pattern has been emerging and the Indian agencies are battling a new type of threat Usually when nine modules are busted backtoback by specialised agencies the ones who are in charge tend to pull backHowever Bhatti has not stopped and intends to continue recruiting Indian youth and setting up modules in various places the officials saidWhen each of these modules were busted it was learnt that the targets were Temples police stations hospitals and highprofile individuals One of the modules that was busted was set up for propaganda purposesThis module that was busted by the Delhi Police in June 2026 was a propaganda driver and the motive was to promote a nonexistent group called the TehreekeTaliban Hindustan TTH The aim was to link this group with the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP and suggest that India was behind the attacks that this outfit was carrying out in Pakistan officials saidAn official said that despite so many set backs Bhatti has not stopped He continues to scout for recruits through social media He has relied on a more open channel to recruit rather than use encrypted forums This shows the audacity with which he operates This attitude comes from the fact that he is completely backed by the Pakistan State the official addedAnother official said that the busting of so many modules and that too backtoback should not make the Indian agencies complacent Bhatti is throwing up a challenge and would not stop anytime soonHis intention is to stress the establishment and wait for that one crucial mistake for the agencies to make The official said that he would wait for that opportunity and then aim at striking bigHe is aware that the Indian agencies are currently hot on his trail He however has decided not to stop and would continue with his activitiesThe social media is filled with people who can be lured with power fame and money Bhatti and his aides are taking advantage of that social media craze among the youth He is aware that there are many who do not understand the consequences of their actionsThe Bhatti network scouts for youth who are chasing fame and are ready to go any length Some can even be recruited by offering them a pistol an official said These persons will not think twice before posting a picture of themselves holding the pistol on social media the official also addedOfficials say that the new pattern of recruitment is different It is not ideological or religion based Bhatti has managed to rope in youth from Punjab to strike at temples and this is a clear signal that the recruitment patterns are shiftingThe agencies however warn against complacency as Bhatti would pounce on such an opportunity What the ISIbacked Bhatti gang is trying to do is challenge the Indian agencies for as long as they canAlthough there have been setbacks owing to multiple modules being busted Bhattiâs brief is not to give upThis suggests that the agencies have a long drawn fight against them However the most important thing for the police is not to get complacent as this is what Shahzad Bhatti and the ISI are waiting for an official said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/emerging-terror-trend-despite-nine-module-busts-bhatti-waits-for-indias-complacency-689786.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-inaugurate-indias-first-greenfield-refinery-in-pachpadra-launch-projects-worth-rs-106-lakh-crore-in-raj-689790.html New Delhi July 3 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan on Saturday to dedicate inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth around Rs 106 lakh crore spanning petrochemicals urban transport railways roads renewable energy power transmission aviation and othersnbspThe Prime Minister will begin his visit in Jodhpur where he will inaugurate the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport and launch the Modified UDAN Scheme before travelling to Balotra to dedicate the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited HRRL at Pachpadra Indias first greenfield integrated refinerycumpetrochemical complexAt around 1045 AM the Prime Minister will launch the Modified UDAN Scheme in Jodhpur Backed by an allocation of Rs 28840 crore over the next 10 years the revamped scheme aims to strengthen regional air connectivity by developing 100 aerodromes from existing unserved airstrips constructing 200 helipads and providing continued viability gap funding to airlinesThe scheme also envisages greater use of indigenous aircraft and helicopters including HAL Dhruv and Dornier platforms in line with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiativeThe Prime Minister will also inaugurate the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport developed at a cost of Rs 480 crore Spread over more than 23000 square metres the terminal has an annual handling capacity of 20 lakh passengers and incorporates Rajasthans traditional architectural elements along with modern passenger facilities and sustainable design features targeted at a 5Star GRIHA ratingAt around 1215 PM PM Modi will reach Balotra where he will dedicate to the nation the 9 MMTPA HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited HRRL at PachpadraDeveloped as a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited HPCL and the Government of Rajasthan the refinerycumpetrochemical complex has been established at an investment of more than Rs 79450 crore The complex integrates refining and petrochemical production and has a petrochemical capacity of 24 MMTPAIt features a Nelson Complexity Index NCI of 17 among the highest in India with petrochemical yields exceeding 26 per cent matching global benchmarks The project is expected to strengthen Indias energy security reduce dependence on imported petrochemicals promote downstream industries through the proposed Petrochemical and Plastic Park and generate substantial employment in the regionThe Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for Phase II of the Jaipur Metro Rail Project estimated to cost more than Rs 13000 crore The 41km northsouth corridor from Prahladpura to Todi Mod will comprise 36 stations and connect key residential industrial and institutional areas including Sitapura Industrial Area Vishwakarma Industrial Area Jaipur Airport Tonk Road and SMS HospitalAmong the railway projects PM Modi will dedicate the ChuruSadulpur 58 km and ChuruRatangarh 46 km rail doubling projects constructed at a cost of around Rs 900 crore aimed at enhancing passenger and freight movement across northwest RajasthanHe will also inaugurate the fourlaning of NH125A Jodhpur Ring Road SectionII KarwarDangiyawas built at a cost of about Rs 740 crore improving regional connectivity around JodhpurIn the renewable energy sector the Prime Minister will dedicate SJVNs 1000 MW Bikaner Solar Energy Project developed at an investment of around Rs 5500 crore besides inaugurating NHPCs 300 MW Karnisar Bikaner Solar Power PlantHe will also inaugurate a transmission line built at a cost of over Rs 1900 crore for evacuating power from the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Zone and lay the foundation stone for a 530km transmission system to facilitate renewable energy integrationDuring the programme the Prime Minister will hand over appointment letters to around 54000 newlyrecruited youth across various departments of the Rajasthan governmentLater in the day he will travel to Sanand in Gujarat to inaugurate the CG Semi Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test OSAT facility marking a major milestone in Indias semiconductor manufacturing programmeThis is one of the first four projects approved under the India Semiconductor MissionDeveloped with an investment of over Rs 7500 crore the facility is among Indias first endtoend semiconductor assembly and testing units Once fully operational it will have an annual production capacity of up to 5 billion semiconductor chips catering to the automotive industrial telecommunications 5G and Internet of Things IoT sectorsThe facility will provide comprehensive semiconductor assembly and testing services including wafer sorting packaging testing package design failure analysis test programme development and logistics support reinforcing Indias emergence as a global semiconductor manufacturing destinationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-inaugurate-indias-first-greenfield-refinery-in-pachpadra-launch-projects-worth-rs-106-lakh-crore-in-raj-689790.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/homebuyers-fraud-case-cbi-files-13th-chargesheet-against-builder-company-its-directors-689794.html New Delhi July 3 IANS In a significant development in its ongoing investigation into largescale fraud involving homebuyers the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on Friday filed its 13th chargesheet against Rudra Buildwell Projects Pvt Ltd and its director in connection with alleged fraudulent activities related to a housing project in Greater NoidaAccording to the CBI the investigation revealed that the accused builder company and its director as part of a criminal conspiracy allegedly lured innocent homebuyers and investors through false assurances misleading representations and deceptive promises The agency alleged that the accused dishonestly obtained financial gains while causing wrongful losses to the victimsThe investigation has uncovered substantial evidence against the accused Based on the findings the CBI has filed a chargesheet before the competent court under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to criminal conspiracy cheating and criminal breach of trustThe CBI is currently investigating 36 other cases registered on the directions of the Supreme Court against various builder companies and unknown officials of financial institutions across the country These cases involve allegations of cheating homebuyers and diversion of funds meant for housing projectsEarlier the agency had filed 12 chargesheets against several real estate firms including Ms Rudra Buildwell Constructions Pvt Ltd Ms Dream Procon Pvt Ltd Ms Jaypee Infratech Ltd Ms AVJ Developers India Pvt Ltd Ms CHD Developers Pvt Ltd Ms Sequel Buildcon Pvt Ltd Ms Logix City Developers Pvt Ltd Ms Manju J Homes India Ltd Ms Shubhkamna Buildtech Pvt Ltd Ms Ninex Developers Ltd and Ms Decent Buildwell Pvt Ltd along with their Directors Charges have also been filed against officials of certain banks and financial institutions in connection with these casesThe CBI reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability in cases involving economic offences corruption and public fraud particularly those affecting the interests of common citizens and homebuyersEarlier in the day the agency also arrested three accused and conducted searches at seven locations across Odisha and Rajasthan in connection with a Rs 207crore digital arrest scam In that case a retired public servant was allegedly coerced into transferring money after being threatened with fabricated legal action the CBI saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/homebuyers-fraud-case-cbi-files-13th-chargesheet-against-builder-company-its-directors-689794.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/stop-using-plastic-bag-delhi-cm-rekha-guptas-call-to-citizens-689805.html New Delhi July 3 IANS Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday called upon citizens to join environment conservation and observe International Plastic Bag Free Day by switching to green optionsnbspInternational Plastic Bag Free Day observed globally on July 3 raises awareness about the severe environmental and marine impacts of singleuse plastic bags It promotes sustainable reusable alternatives to reduce global plastic pollutionIn a message on X the Chief Minister said On International Plastic Bag Free Day let us take a pledge that is not limited to just today but becomes a part of our everyday habitsCarry a cloth or jute bag when stepping out of the house avoid using singleuse plastic bags entirely and contribute to building a clean green and plasticfree Delhi through your small efforts said CM Rekha GuptaEarlier in the day CM Gupta launched the Green Drive Portal under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign reaffirming the governments commitment to planting 70 lakh saplings across the national capitalLaunching the initiative the Chief Minister urged every Delhiite to become part of the mass plantation drive and contribute towards building a greener cleaner and healthier DelhiThrough the portal citizens can book slots for the Mega Plantation Drive register as an Environmental Saviour and reserve free saplings from the nearest government nursery by visiting greendrivedelhivanmahotsavinUnder the Vriksh Rath initiative expert teams from the Forest Department will facilitate plantation at homes educational institutions residential colonies and other suitable locations by providing free saplings equipment and technical assistanceThe plantation drive will focus on native and longliving tree species including Peepal Banyan Gular Neem Arjun and Jamun The Delhi government also plans to develop 100 Oxygen Parks across the city as part of its green initiativeEnvironment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the Green Drive Portal has categorised plantation sites across all 70 Assembly constituencies allowing citizens to book slots by constituency or location at their convenienceHe added that the campaign extends beyond designated plantation sites to encourage greening of homes educational institutions and rooftop gardens wherever space allowsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/stop-using-plastic-bag-delhi-cm-rekha-guptas-call-to-citizens-689805.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/amid-infighting-in-punjab-congress-mp-randhawa-meets-amit-shah-689811.html New Delhi July 3 Amid dissent and infighting among Congressmen after the revamp of Punjabâs organisation ahead of Assembly elections party MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Friday called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah here However he clarified on X that the meeting was prescheduled in connection with his representation on the deteriorating law and order in the stateâAbout two months ago on June 4 2026 I wrote to the Prime Minister and sent a copy to the Home Minister raising concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjabâ Randhawa told the media after meeting Home Minister ShahReplying to a media query on former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi who was the frontrunner for the partyâs state top post calling a meeting of party leaders Randhawa replied âThis situation should not have arisen So many meetings regarding revamp of the organisation have taken place yet the lack of satisfaction is a sorrowful matterâRandhawa said he submitted a memorandum to Home Minister Shah demanding action against the spike in gangsterrelated incidents in Gurdaspur and other border areas which were discussed in detail at the meetingMeanwhile Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu took a swipe at Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring recalling a famous scene from Sholay Drawing a parallel with Asraniâs iconic jailor whose entire contingent marches away with commands of âright leftâ while he is left standing alone Ravneet Singh said a similar situation has unfolded in the Punjab Congress with Raja Warring retained on the top postHe said almost Raja Warringâs entire team has drifted towards Charanjit Channi leaving the state Congress chief isolatedIn a tongueincheek remark Bittu advised Warring to stop resisting the inevitable join the âChanni wagonâ and head to Channiâs residence along with the rest of his colleaguesThe meeting called by Channi saw the participation of several senior Congress leaders former ministers former MLAs and sitting legislators Those present included former Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni former ministers Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria Gurpreet Singh Kangar Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Gurkirat Singh Kotli Former MP Mohammad Sadiq also attended the meetingA day earlier threetime Congress Member of Parliament Manish Tewari said he was left in the cold as the party appointed new working presidents and poll panels for PunjabâWish I had an antidote for the insecurities of individuals and institutions Having said that INCIndia has given me enough over the past 45 years and I have also devoted my entire adult life in the service of the Indian National Congress over the decadesâ the former Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting wrote on X in a cryptic post after being sidelinedâQue sera sera Whatever will be will beââ he addedOut of the seven Congress MPs from Punjab six have been assigned electionrelated roles for the Punjab elections IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/amid-infighting-in-punjab-congress-mp-randhawa-meets-amit-shah-689811.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/op-mule-hunt-20-gujarat-police-arrest-four-in-cyber-fraud-bhavnagar-bank-hacking-cases-689817.html AhmedabadSurat July 3 Gujarat Polices Cyber Centre of Excellence has arrested four people from Ahmedabad and Surat in separate investigations into mule bank accounts used for cyber fraud and the Bhavnagar District Cooperative Bank hacking case uncovering a cybercrime network across the country The action forms part of Operation Mule Hunt 20 under which the Cyber Centre of Excellence of CID Crime said it has arrested 55 accused over the past monthAccording to police verification of their bank accounts on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal NCCRP showed they were linked to 1117 cyber fraud complaints registered nationwide involving alleged fraud worth around Rs 802 croreIn one case police arrested Vishal Dodiya of the Vastral area in Ahmedabad Investigators alleged that he registered a fake firm named Chamunda Communication and opened three bank accounts in the firms name at different banksThe account details were allegedly shared with members of a cyber fraud syndicate who used them to receive and transfer money obtained through online fraud targeting people in different statesPolice said checks on the Cyber Crime Portal found that the Chamunda Communication bank accounts were linked to more than 253 cybercrime cases across India involving an estimated Rs 161 crore in fraudulent transactionsThe complaints include 56 from Maharashtra 28 from Karnataka 23 from Gujarat 20 each from Telangana and Uttar Pradesh 18 from Rajasthan 16 from Tamil Nadu 14 from Delhi 13 from West Bengal eight from Kerala seven from Andhra Pradesh five each from Assam and Punjab four from Bihar three each from Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir two each from Chhattisgarh Madhya Pradesh Odisha and Uttarakhand and one each from Arunachal Pradesh and JharkhandPolice said the accused has been booked under Sections 3184 3172 and 612 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with Section 66D of the Information Technology ActIn a separate investigation into the Bhavnagar District Cooperative Bank hacking case investigators alleged that the accused illegally accessed the banks server database and core banking system manipulated electronic records and created fictitious account balances before transferring over Rs 734 crore to various bank accountsThe transfers caused financial loss to the bank while generating unlawful financial gain for those involved officials saidDuring the investigation police said they found bank accounts allegedly used to receive and route cyber fraud proceedsExamination of mobile phones and bank records led to the arrest of two people from Surat Mohammad Khaliq Ghulam Husain 40 identified as an account holder and Shoaib Gulabnabi Rana 38 who police said operated the accountPolice also announced the arrest of another accused in an earlier mule account investigationInvestigators said analysis of mobile phones seized during the probe revealed details of 197 bank accounts of which 60 were allegedly linked to more than 132 cybercrime complaints across India involving estimated fraud of Rs 5355 croreAccording to police the complaints were registered in Gujarat Karnataka Maharashtra Uttar Pradesh Kerala Rajasthan Tamil Nadu Haryana West Bengal Telangana Andhra Pradesh Delhi Bihar Punjab Assam Chhattisgarh Odisha Puducherry Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal PradeshPolice said 10 accused in the case had already been arrested and are in judicial custodyThe latest arrest is that of Afzal Pir Mohammad Mansuri of Ahmedabad who is alleged to have operated mule bank accounts and handled fraud proceeds after the accounts were opened through another accusedHe was arrested on Friday in connection with the investigation The operations were carried out by teams of CID Crime officers led by multiple police inspectors and investigating officers as part of the ongoing Operation Mule Hunt 20 officials noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/op-mule-hunt-20-gujarat-police-arrest-four-in-cyber-fraud-bhavnagar-bank-hacking-cases-689817.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-criticises-ktaka-cm-over-appeal-to-farmers-over-drought-water-intensive-crops-689818.html Bengaluru July 3 Karnataka BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Friday criticised Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over his appeal to farmers not to cultivate waterintensive crops due to dwindling water levels alleging that the statement had demoralised the farming community Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday warned of a potentially severe drought this year urging farmers not to depend solely on reservoir water for cultivation as inflows into most major reservoirs have dropped drastically and appealed to growers across the state to avoid cultivating waterintensive crops until reservoir levels improve He also urged farmers to plan their cropping pattern cautiously based on rainfallAddressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters Jagannath Bhavan in Bengaluru on Friday Vijayendra said the Chief Ministers remarks had caused concern among farmers already facing uncertainty due to deficient rainfallYesterday the Chief Minister said there is no water and advised farmers not to cultivate crops It is not only surprising but also deeply painful that the Chief Minister himself made such a statement after discussing the droughtlike situation in the Cabinet and citing low water levels in reservoirs he saidHe urged the Chief Minister to exercise restraint while making public statements particularly on issues affecting farmersThe entire country is facing the threat of drought At a time when nature has turned adverse the government should instil confidence and provide reassurance to farmers There is still hope of rainfall over the next 15 to 20 days If farmers refrain from sowing crops based on the Chief Ministers statement who will take responsibility Vijayendra askedQuestioning the governments preparedness to tackle a possible drought he asked what priority the state government had given to the issue when rainfall was reportedly 50 to 60 per cent below normalHas the government released funds to Deputy Commissioners Has it sanctioned financial assistance for cattle and livestock to support farmers Has the government suddenly realised overnight that there is a drought warning Why is it resorting to such a drama he allegedHe further accused the Chief Minister of not being farmerfriendlyIf the Chief Minister is more concerned about real estate than farmers this is what the states fate will be Vijayendra claimedHe also questioned the governments decision to release water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu despite low storage levels in Karnatakas reservoirsVijayendra criticised the government for allegedly neglecting drought preparedness and farmers welfare while citing the ongoing Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls as the reason for holding the monsoon session of the Legislature only in midAugustThe Chief Minister says the monsoon session will be held in midAugust because of the SIR exercise Are MLAs going doortodoor to conduct the SIR he askedTargeting the ruling Congress over the delayed Cabinet expansion Vijayendra alleged that internal disputes were preventing the exerciseHe further claimed that even when former CM Siddaramaiah had a full Cabinet in the past the government had failed to adequately respond to farmers hardships during flood situations IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-criticises-ktaka-cm-over-appeal-to-farmers-over-drought-water-intensive-crops-689818.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/prime-accused-in-dacoit-jagan-gurjars-murder-arrested-689822.html Jaipur July 3 Police have arrested the prime accused in the sensational murder of former Chambal dacoit Jagan Gurjar inside the highsecurity jail in Ajmer taking Vishnu Singh Jat into custody through a production warrant Given the sensitivity of the case and tensions in Dholpur and other bordering districts Vishnu was brought from the Ajmer HighSecurity Jail to the Civil Lines police station in an armoured vehicle under heavy security A large contingent of armed police personnel accompanied the accused during the transfer led by Circle Officer Shivam Joshi Civil Lines SHO Shambhu Singh Shekhawat and SubInspector Giriraj SharmaPolice are expected to produce Vishnu before a court and seek his custodial remand for further interrogationInvestigators hope to establish the motive behind the murder and determine whether it was the result of a personal rivalry a larger gang conspiracy or possible collusion and negligence within the prison administrationThe murder took place on June 29 when Jagan Gurjar was found dead inside his barrack at the Ajmer HighSecurity Jail considered Rajasthans most secure prisonAccording to the investigation Vishnu Jat who is also an accused in the highprofile Kuldeep Jaghina murder case in Bharatpur allegedly strangled Gurjar using a towel and a gamchha traditional cotton cloth following an altercation or an old rivalryThe incident triggered outrage over prison security and law and order particularly in Gurjardominated areas of Dholpur districtInvestigators allege that after killing Gurjar Vishnu attempted to pass off the murder as a suicide Police said he allegedly tried to hang the victims body from a ceiling fan around 13 feet high using the same gamchha in an effort to mislead jail authorities and forensic investigators However the crime scene and postmortem findings reportedly indicated that the death was a case of strangulation rather than suicideThe investigation has also revealed an alleged attempt to destroy evidence According to police Vishnu smeared toothpaste on the CCTV camera installed inside the barrack before the murder preventing the incident from being recorded and hampering the initial investigationThe case has also raised serious questions over security arrangements inside the highsecurity prison According to prison rules both Vishnu Jat and Jagan Gurjar were categorised as highrisk inmates and were lodged in separate barracks Investigators are now probing how Vishnu allegedly managed to leave his designated cell and enter Gurjars barrack despite stringent security protocols IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/prime-accused-in-dacoit-jagan-gurjars-murder-arrested-689822.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fact-vs-fiction-from-water-use-to-engine-safety-facts-behind-indias-e20-fuel-programme-689827.html New Delhi July 3 IANS As India expands its Ethanol Blended Petrol EBP Programme a series of claims surrounding E20 fuel have gained traction on social media raising concerns over water consumption food security vehicle performance engine compatibility and environmental impactnbspHowever a review of scientific studies technical assessments and official clarifications showed that many of these claims are either misleading or factually incorrectOne of the most widely circulated assertions is that producing one litre of ethanol requires 10000 litres of waterThe data argued that this figure incorrectly attributes the entire agricultural water footprint of crops such as paddy to ethanol productionIt pointed out that paddy and wheat are primarily cultivated because of the Minimum Support Price MSP system and assured procurement by the Food Corporation of India FCI for national food security rather than for ethanol productionThe actual industrial water consumed inside modern ethanol distilleries is stated to be around 35 litres per litre of ethanol with Zero Liquid Discharge ZLD technology enabling extensive recyclingAnother recurring criticism has described E20 as an untested experiment Government agencies reject this characterisation noting that ethanol has been used as a transport fuel for well over a centuryHenry Fords 1908 Model T was designed to operate on ethanol gasoline kerosene or combinations of these fuels Today ethanolblended fuels are widely used internationallyThe United States has adopted E10 as its standard petrol with E15 expanding under government support and millions of flexfuel vehicles capable of using blends up to E85Brazil currently mandates E27 fuel and has decided to increase blending to around 35 per cent while more than 80 per cent of new passenger vehicles sold there are flexfuel models Countries including Canada Thailand Japan and several European nations also use ethanol blends in transport fuels Officials therefore describe Indias E20 rollout as being aligned with established global practicesConcerns regarding vehicle mileage have also featured prominently in public discussions According to studies led by the Automotive Research Association of India ARAI in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Limited IOCL the Indian Institute of Petroleum IIP Dehradun and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers SIAM field trials covering 40000 kilometres for passenger cars and 20000 kilometres for twowheelers found no significant adverse impact on vehicle performanceQuestions over engine damage and corrosion have likewise been addressed through technical studies Following directions issued by the Government in 2014 ARAI conducted detailed assessments of material compatibility and emission performance in partnership with IOCL IIPDehradun and SIAMThe studies reportedly found no issues relating to drivability cold starting or compatibility with metallic and plastic componentsThe same trials also recorded environmental benefits with carbon monoxide emissions reduced by around 50 per cent in twowheelers and approximately 30 per cent in fourwheelers while unburnt hydrocarbon emissions declined by about 20 per cent compared with conventional petrolClaims suggesting that motorists could lose insurance coverage or manufacturer warranty by using E20 fuel have also been rejected According to the data both insurance companies and automobile manufacturers have clarified that using E20 fuel does not invalidate insurance policies or vehicle warranties provided the fuel meets prescribed specificationsSIAM has similarly stated that warranty obligations remain applicable for vehicles operating on E20 fuel The Press Information Bureaus Fact Check unit also described such claims as incorrectSocial media has also witnessed viral posts alleging that ants and bees are attracted to vehicle fuel caps because ethanol contains sugar Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited BPCL dismissed these claims explaining that fuelgrade ethanol undergoes fermentation and distillation processes that remove residual sugars before blendingIn addition fuel ethanol contains denaturants that repel insects while the characteristic hydrocarbon odour of petrol dominates after blending BPCL further noted that ethanolblended petrol produces lower fuel vapour than conventional petrol leaving no identifiable attractant for insectsAnother controversy arose after reports claimed that the Government had described E20 as an experiment during proceedings before the Supreme Court The Office of the Attorney General for India subsequently clarified that the case related solely to contractual provisions governing ethanol procurement from Dedicated Ethanol Plants by Oil Marketing Companies including annual allocation methodology and the interpretation of the best endeavour clauseAccording to the Attorney Generals Office no submission was made describing the E20 programme as an experiment and media organisations were urged to report judicial proceedings accuratelyThe Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has also addressed concerns that E20 fuel allows water to enter vehicle fuel tanks The Ministry stated that water ingress is undesirable irrespective of the type of fuel being used and emphasised that modern vehicles are equipped with safeguards designed to prevent such contaminationSeveral viral videos have purported to show sugarcane juice being mixed directly with petrol or ethanolblended fuel separating into different layers The Ministry has dismissed these videos as fabricated and misleadingResponding to criticism that ethanol plants deplete groundwater pollute the environment and harm agriculture the government said modern ethanol facilities operate under strict environmental regulationsThe government has also highlighted the broader achievements of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme between Ethanol Supply Year 201415 and May 2026 According to official figures the programme has generated foreign exchange savings exceeding Rs 190 lakh crore facilitated more than Rs 160 lakh crore in payments to farmers reduced carbon dioxide emissions by around 930 lakh metric tonnes and substituted over 310 lakh metric tonnes of crude oilIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fact-vs-fiction-from-water-use-to-engine-safety-facts-behind-indias-e20-fuel-programme-689827.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-halts-cag-audit-of-delhi-power-discoms-orders-status-quo-till-july-15-689830.html New Delhi July 3 IANS The Supreme Court on Friday ordered maintenance of status quo in the dispute over the audit of Delhis private electricity distribution companies discoms staying further steps in relation to the proposed audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General CAG as well as the direction to appoint an independent chartered accountantnbspnbspA bench of Justices KV Viswanathan and Shree Chandrashekhar passed the interim order while hearing appeals filed by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission DERC challenging orders of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity APTELnbspIssuing notice in the matter the apex court observed that the controversy raises an important legal question requiring consideration and directed that status quo be maintained till further ordersnbspListing the matter for further hearing on July 15 the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the relevant portion of the APTELs judgment directing the DERC to appoint an independent chartered accountant to conduct the auditnbspIt also directed that the CAG will not proceed further with the audit in the meantimenbspThe dispute traces its origin to an earlier apex court judgment in a batch of matters concerning tariff orders issued by the DERC between 2011 and 2014 In its August 2025 decision the Supreme Court had expressed concern over the accumulation of regulatory assets by electricity distribution companies and directed electricity regulatory commissions to undertake a strict and intensive audit into the circumstances in which such regulatory assets had accumulatednbspHowever the judgment did not specify the authority that should conduct the auditnbspFollowing the Supreme Courts decision the Delhi Lt Governor approved a proposal in March 2026 for the audit to be conducted by the CAG The move was challenged before the APTEL which held that the DERC could not assign the audit to the CAG under the statutory scheme and instead directed the regulator to appoint an independent chartered accountant for the purposenbspThe DERCs review petitions were subsequently dismissed leading to the present appeals before the Supreme Court During the hearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the DERC submitted that the audit contemplated in the apex court judgment formed an integral part of the mechanism laid down for addressing regulatory assets and had to be completed before any recovery from consumersnbspOn the other hand senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for the discoms opposed the contention and argued that the present controversy was confined to the question of who should conduct the audit and that the issues relating to audit and recovery of regulatory assets were distinctnbspObserving that the rival submissions required an interpretation of its August 2025 judgment the Supreme Court directed that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice of India CJI the master of the roster for assignment to an appropriate BenchnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-halts-cag-audit-of-delhi-power-discoms-orders-status-quo-till-july-15-689830.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/trade-talks-with-us-in-final-stage-india-to-get-competitive-edge-piyush-goyal-689669.html New Delhi July 2 IANS The IndiaUS bilateral trade agreement BTA talks have entered the final stage with most key issues having been sorted out and both sides working towards a deal that gives New Delhi an advantage over its competitors Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on ThursdaynbspSpeaking at the NDTV IndoJapan Strategic Dialogue Goyal said he does not foresee any major hurdles in concluding the US trade agreement despite recent legal and policy developments in WashingtonWe dont see any difficulties with the US Goyal said adding that concessions and other elements have largely been finalised He said India has consistently sought preferential market access over competing nations a position that has been understood by the US administrationnbspFollowing the US Supreme Courts decision to strike down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act IEEPA Goyal said Washington is now working on an alternative mechanism that would preserve Indias competitive advantage He added that US Trade Representative USTR Jamieson Greer has acknowledged Indias position during the negotiationsDespite higher tariffs Indias exports to the US have remained resilient Goyal said bilateral trade has continued to grow and projected that Indias merchandise exports in the AprilJune quarter will rise about 15 per cent yearonyearnbspGoyal further stated that the IndiaUK Free Trade Agreement FTA will take effect on July 15 opening up new opportunities for Indian exportersnbspBesides the legal scrutiny of the IndiaEuropean Union Free Trade Agreement is expected to conclude within 10 to 12 days after which it will move through the approval process he addedThe minister expressed confidence that the free trade pact would come into force before the end of the year as all 27 EU member states support the agreement and no country has opposed the negotiationsnbspHe also highlighted the strategic importance of Japan in Indias economic ambitions While investment has historically been the cornerstone of bilateral ties the minister said the next phase of the relationship should focus on expanding trade technology partnerships and skilled workforce mobility as Japan is a key partner in Indias longterm growth strategy https://dailyworld.in/national/trade-talks-with-us-in-final-stage-india-to-get-competitive-edge-piyush-goyal-689669.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/transition-to-e-mobility-must-focus-on-green-growth-circular-economy-bhupender-yadav-689670.html New Delhi July 2 IANS Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Thursday that Indias transition to electric mobility is not merely about replacing one technology with another it is about building a sustainable industrial ecosystem that strengthens manufacturing creates green jobs and supports the Prime Ministers vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047nbspAddressing a national conference organised by Assocham the minister said As we accelerate this transition our focus must remain on green growth resilient infrastructure transparent governance and a circular economy that ensures longterm environmental sustainabilityIndias future lies in moving from a linear takemakedispose model towards a circular economy based on reuse recycling and sustainable resource management the minister remarkednbspHe stated that electric mobility must be supported by a robust charging infrastructure localisation of advanced manufacturing secure critical mineral supply chains battery recycling and resource efficiencyThe minister said that industry policymakers and institutions must work together to build an innovationled ecosystem that positions India as a global hub for clean mobility He concluded by saying that Ecology and economy must progress together and through collaborative action India can emerge as a global leader in sustainable manufacturing green mobility and climateconscious developmentHe pointed out that the government has undertaken a series of reforms to simplify environmental clearances digitise approval systems through PARIVESH portal rationalise compliance requirements and promote ease of doing business without compromising environmental safeguards These reforms are enabling faster investments while ensuring responsible development he addedThe conference brings together senior policymakers industry leaders automotive manufacturers technology providers and other stakeholders to deliberate on the roadmap for accelerating Indias electric mobility transition and strengthening the countrys position as a global EV manufacturing hubThe deliberations highlighted a need for policy continuity stronger charging infrastructure localisation of manufacturing resilient battery supply chains financing support and technological innovation to accelerate EV adoption and position India as a global electric mobility hubIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/transition-to-e-mobility-must-focus-on-green-growth-circular-economy-bhupender-yadav-689670.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-japan-sign-agreement-on-first-co-development-project-in-defence-sector-pm-modi--689671.html New Delhi July 2 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that India and Japan have signed an agreement on the first codevelopment project in the defence sectornbspnbspAddressing a joint press meet with his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi following their meeting at Hyderabad House here PM Modi stated that Japan has played a significant role in Indias growth storyDescribing PM Takaichi as his younger sister PM Modi stated that her visit starts a new chapter in the IndiaJapan Special Strategic and Global PartnershipThe convergence of Japans precision technology and Indias software capabilities will give fresh momentum and strength to the global development of AI In the field of defence today we signed an agreement on the first codevelopment project between India and JapanExtending a warm welcome to his Japanese counterpart PM Modi said Your Excellency and my younger sister Prime Minister Takaichi Ji I am delighted to welcome PM Takaichi on her first visit to India for the IndiaJapan Annual Summit Prime Minister Takaichi is Japans first female Prime Minister and a visionary as well as popular leader She comes from Japans Nara Prefecture which is a major centre of the shared Buddhist heritage of India and JapanJust a few days ago at the G7 Summit I had said that in todays atmosphere of global upheaval mutual trust is our greatest strategic asset I am proud that the IndiaJapan partnership stands tall on this touchstone he addedPM Modi said that a free prosperous and rulesbased IndoPacific is the shared priority of India and Japan and both countries have launched several initiatives today that will create a strong foundation for stability and prosperity across the entire regionToday both India and Japan are among the worlds largest economies A free prosperous and rulesbased IndoPacific is our shared priority As the regions largest democracies and market economies we have launched several important initiatives today Together we will create a strong foundation for stability and prosperity across the entire regionHighlighting Japans role in Indias growth story PM Modi said Over the past several decades from automotives to electronics Japan has played a significant role in Indias growth story and has built an invaluable foundation of friendship and trust Today with Prime Minister Takaichis visit we are beginning a new chapter in our Special Strategic and Global PartnershipIndia and Japan will strengthen supply chain resilience in strategic sectors such as semiconductors quantum technology and advanced materials he said adding that both sides have also taken significant decisions about energy securityIn todays era of uncertainty both India and Japan fully understand the importance of economic and energy security To this end we have today prepared a joint roadmap for economic security Through this we will strengthen supply chain resilience in strategic sectors such as semiconductors quantum technology and advanced materials We have also taken several significant decisions regarding energy security The IndiaJapan Biogas Initiative will assist us in establishing 1000 biogas and organic fertiliser plants across India This will further strengthen our GobarDhan initiative and provide a new boost to sustainability prosperity and rural livelihoods in Indias villagesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-japan-sign-agreement-on-first-co-development-project-in-defence-sector-pm-modi--689671.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-group-abu-dhabi-based-ihc-announce-115-billion-aluminium-plant-in-odisha-689672.html BhubaneswarAhmedabad July 2 IANS In a significant development the Adani Group on Thursday announced to build a mega aluminium plant in Odisha along with Abu Dhabibased International Holding Company IHC with a proposed investment of 115 billion nearly 108 lakh crorenbspnbspAt the MoU signing ceremony for the proposed aluminium project in Bhubaneswar Karan Adani Managing Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited APSEZ said the Adani Project represents ambition at a truly global scalenbspWith a proposed investment of 115 billion translating to nearly Rs 108 lakh crore this is among the most significant aluminium ecosystem investments anywhere in the world But its true significance lies not only in the size of the investment It lies in the depth of its impact Karan Adani notedAddressing the gathering Karan Adani said that we are gathered not merely to witness the historic MoU but to herald the beginning of a new economic chapter for Odisha which will shape and accelerate the growth trajectory of BharatThe projects true significance lies not only in the size of the investment but in the depth of its impactThis project brings together the full aluminium value chain in one integrated ecosystem It envisages an alumina refinery of nearly 4 million tonnes per annum an aluminium smelter of nearly 2 million tonnes per annum and a downstream aluminium park of nearly 1 million tonnes per annum said Karan AdaninbspIt will be supported by a captive power capacity of about 4000 megawatts and a green energy component of about 400 megawattsnbspThese numbers are not merely statistics They represent the foundation of a new industrial future During construction this project will generate nearly 35000 jobs During operations it will support around 18500 jobs he informednbspBehind every one of these numbers is a family a dream a young person acquiring a skill a small business receiving an order a local entrepreneur finding a market and a community seeing new opportunities Karan Adani said adding that to IHC and all partners we welcome your confidence in Odisha and in IndiaIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-group-abu-dhabi-based-ihc-announce-115-billion-aluminium-plant-in-odisha-689672.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-ev-policy-2026-designed-to-save-buyers-money-cm-rekha-gupta-689695.html New Delhi July 2 IANS Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Thursday that the Delhi EV Policy 2026 is designed to save money and offer substantial financial benefits to those who opt to buy an electric vehicle over other fuelbased vehiclesnbspShe said the policy aims to reduce not only the upfront cost of buying an electric vehicle but also its lifetime ownership cost encouraging more people to switch to EVsThe policy brings together multiple financial benefits including purchase incentives incentives for scrapping old polluting vehicles lifetime exemption from road tax waiver of registration fees and lower operating and maintenance costs compared to petrol and diesel vehicles she said giving examples of the Policys moneysaving featuresThe Chief Minister said that the biggest question most people have before buying an electric vehicle is whether it will actually save them moneyAccording to her the Delhi EV Policy 2026 provides a clear and positive answer As a result electric vehicles are emerging as the most financially sensible choice for households commercial drivers and businesses of all sizesShe said that eligible buyers of electric twowheelers will receive a purchase incentive of up to Rs 30000 a scrapping incentive of Rs 10000 lifetime exemption from road tax and a complete waiver of registration feesTogether these benefits can result in initial savings of more than Rs 50000 excluding taxrelated benefitsEligible buyers of electric autorickshaws L5 will receive a purchase incentive of up to Rs 50000 a scrapping incentive of Rs 25000 lifetime road tax exemption and a full waiver of registration fees resulting in initial savings of more than Rs 75000 excluding tax benefitsUnder the policy buyers of electric Gramin Sewa vehicles will receive a scrapping incentive of Rs 15000 for replacing an old vehicle Eligible buyers of electric light goods carriers will receive a purchase incentive of up to Rs one lakh a scrapping incentive of Rs 50000 lifetime exemption from road tax and a waiver of registration fees These benefits can reduce the initial cost by nearly Rs 150 lakh excluding taxrelated benefitsChief Minister Gupta said that the policy does not provide a purchase incentive for private electric cars However eligible buyers who scrap a conventional fuelpowered car and purchase an electric car will receive a scrapping incentive of up to Rs 1 lakh They will also benefit from lifetime road tax exemption and a complete waiver of registration feesShe said that even without a purchase incentive these provisions offer substantial financial benefits to buyersOne of the biggest strengths of the policy she added is that it combines multiple financial benefits instead of relying on a single subsidyEligible buyers can significantly reduce the effective purchase cost of their vehicles by availing themselves of purchase incentives scrapping incentives lifetime road tax exemption and a onetime waiver of registration fees she saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-ev-policy-2026-designed-to-save-buyers-money-cm-rekha-gupta-689695.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indian-railways-freight-loading-rises-4-pc-to-14221-million-tonnes-in-june-689698.html New Delhi July 2 IANS Indian Railways registered growth in both freight transportation and passenger traffic during June 2026 with freight loading rising 4 per cent yearonyear and passenger numbers also recording a steady increase according to an official statement issued on ThursdaynbspIndian Railways loaded 14221 million tonnes of freight during June compared with 13671 million tonnes in the corresponding month last year an increase of 4 per cent the Ministry of Railways saidIn addition freight earnings also increased by about Rs 430 crore a 3 per cent rise over June 2025Among key commodities fertiliser loading recorded the highest growth of 191 per cent followed by balance other goods at 173 per cent iron ore at 94 per cent clinker at 72 per cent domestic coal at 49 per cent and total coal at 36 per centThe strong June performance built on the momentum seen during the first quarter of FY202627Between April and June Indian Railways loaded 41908 million tonnes of freight up from 41305 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous financial yearDuring the quarter iron ore loading increased by 744 per cent clinker by 654 per cent and Balance and Other Goods by 1216 per cent over the yearago periodTo meet higher power demand during the extended summer season Indian Railways also stepped up domestic coal transportation supplying 7 per cent more coal to thermal power plants in June compared with the same month last yearPassenger traffic also witnessed steady growth during the month with Indian Railways carrying 6381 crore passengers up from 6237 crore in June 2025The nonsuburban segment covering both short and long distance travel grew about 4 per cent to 3004 crore passengers from 2890 crore a year earliernbspWhile the suburban segment recorded nearly 1 per cent increase with passenger numbers rising to 3377 crore from 3346 croreMeanwhile Indian Railways continued to expand its premium passenger servicesThe number of Vande Bharat train services has increased to 164 including the recently introduced Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Howrah and KamakhyaThe number of Amrit Bharat train services has also reached 72 after the launch of four new services during June further strengthening affordable longdistance rail connectivity across the countryIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indian-railways-freight-loading-rises-4-pc-to-14221-million-tonnes-in-june-689698.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/japan-and-india-committed-to-strengthening-ties-as-brother-and-sister-takaichi-689700.html New Delhi July 2 IANS Emphasising the need for deeper bilateral cooperation amid growing global uncertainty Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday said that Japan and India should build on their respective strengths to achieve shared prosperityAddressing a joint press meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their talks at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi the Japanese PM extended gratitude for the warm hospitality and expressed joy on PM Modis affectionate reference to her as a beautiful younger sisterShe added that both nations are aligned in their outlook and committed to strengthening ties as brother and sisterJapan and India must leverage our respective strengths to become stronger and more prosperous together In the midst of international affairs in disarray the establishment of such an intercomplementary cooperative relationship has become ever more important Takaichi statedShe noted that the two leaders discussed a broad range of issues reaffirming the many common goals that define the partnership In this context she said they identified three central areas to guide their cooperationFirst to deepen the strategic cooperation between Japan and India Our two countries share the vision on the profile of international order we should establish under the current international situation I recently announced the updated FOIP Free and Open IndoPacific which focuses on selfreliance and resilience to realise FOIP said TakaichiOn the other hand Prime Minister Modi positions the ocean as a shared space that supports regional stability and growth and is promoting the MAHASAGAR the Great Ocean Initiative for countries across the Indian Ocean to defend their sovereignty and the sea through their own efforts which is perfectly aligned with FOIP she addedThe Japanese PM further said that both sides also agreed to deepen the strategic cooperation to achieve the common goalsExpansion of maritime security cooperation is especially important for regional peace and stability Taking the opportunity of our visit a destroyer of Japans Maritime SelfDefence Force and an Indian Navy vessel are planning to engage in a joint exercise We will enhance exercises in the Indian Ocean promote naval maintenance repair and overhaul cooperation and strengthen equipment cooperation under the Make in India framework she notedReferring to Prime Minister Modis Viksit Bharat initiative aimed at transforming India into a developed nation by 2047 and his strong emphasis on driving growth Takaichi said that India and Japan share the goal of making their nations stronger and more prosperous through futurefocused investmentsAs India and Japan prepare to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027 she said that under the IndiaJapan Special Strategic Global Partnership and alongside her big brother Prime Minister Modi the relationship is set to move into a new phaseThe 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and I would like to seize this opportunity to further bring closer together the people of our two countries Under the IndiaJapan Special Strategic Global Partnership as trusted partners that share strategic direction together with my bigger brother Prime Minister Modi I believe the IndiaJapan relations are going forward to a new phase I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi in Japan next time Takaichi stressedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/japan-and-india-committed-to-strengthening-ties-as-brother-and-sister-takaichi-689700.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-acquits-retired-major-general-in-disproportionate-assets-case-689701.html New Delhi July 2 IANS The Delhi High Court has acquitted a retired Major General in a disproportionate assets case registered by the CBI holding that the sanction for prosecution was invalid the officer was denied a fair opportunity to defend himself during trial and the prosecution failed to prove that he possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of incomenbspnbspAllowing two criminal appeals a singlejudge Bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh set aside the conviction and sentence awarded to Major General Anand Kumar Kapur retd by a trial court in 2016 under the Prevention of Corruption ActThe trial court had convicted the retired Army officer under Section 131e read with Section 132 of the Prevention of Corruption Act sentencing him to one years rigorous imprisonment imposing a fine of Rs 50000 and directing confiscation of assets worth Rs 222 croreThe case stemmed from a CBI FIR registered in October 2007 alleging that he had amassed disproportionate assets during the check period from November 14 1971 to October 10 2007The Delhi High Court found that the appellant was denied a fair opportunity to lead defence evidence after the trial court abruptly closed the defence case because of a lawyers strike while seeking to comply with the Supreme Courts direction to conclude the trial expeditiouslyThe Trial Court adopted an unduly technical and hurried approach in closing the defence evidence without granting a reasonable opportunity to the appellant to conclude the examination of his remaining witnesses Justice Singh saidStressing that procedural timelines cannot override constitutional safeguards the judge said Procedural timelines cannot eclipse the constitutional guarantee of a fair trial under Article 21 of the Constitution of India The right of an accused to effectively present his defence is not an empty formality but a substantive safeguard forming part of the principles of natural justiceA criminal trial cannot be reduced to a race against time which overrides the duty to ensure fairness the judgment addedOn the validity of sanction for prosecution the Delhi High Court held that sanction under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act is not a mere procedural formality but a statutory safeguard for public servantsAn invalid sanction order strikes at the root of criminal trial and any conviction on invalid sanction order vitiates the trial as well as the conviction Justice Singh saidThe judgment found serious infirmities in the sanction process recording that relevant material including the appellants explanations furnished during investigation had not been placed before the sanctioning authorityThe omission goes to the root of the matter as the sanctioning authority was thereby deprived of the opportunity to consider material which was directly relevant to the source of funds and the explanation offered by the Appellant it saidThe Delhi High Court observed that while corruption must be dealt with sternly courts must ensure that convictions under the Prevention of Corruption Act are recorded only after a fair trial and upon proof beyond reasonable doubtA finding of corruption against a public servant carries farreaching consequences irreparably tarnishing his reputation credibility and standing in society These consequences are even more severe in the case of an officer of the Indian Army where integrity discipline honour and selfless service form the bedrock of his service the judgment saidAt the same time Justice Singh highlighted the need to combat corruption remarking Corruption is akin to termites which though not always visible on the surface silently and continuously erode the stability strength and very fabric of the nation Even a remote or stray incident of corruption should not be allowed to go unpunishedAfter reevaluating the evidence relating to several disputed assets gifts agricultural income rental receipts bank interest and financial support received from family members the Delhi High Court concluded that the prosecution had failed to establish the charge beyond reasonable doubtSetting aside the conviction Justice Singh said The appellant was denied a fair and adequate opportunity to lead defence evidence and the prosecution has failed to discharge its burden of proving that the appellant had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income during the check periodConsequently the conviction recorded against the appellant cannot be sustained and the appeals are allowed the judgment added while setting aside the conviction and the order on sentence passed by the trial courtIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-acquits-retired-major-general-in-disproportionate-assets-case-689701.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/couple-facing-family-opposition-commits-suicide-in-ups-saharanpur-689703.html Saharanpur July 2 A laboratory technician and his paramour allegedly committed suicide at a rented accommodation in Sadar Bazar area in Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur police said on Thursday Preliminary police investigation suggests that the two may have died by suicide due to family opposition to their relationship However police said the exact cause of death will be confirmed only after the postmortem report and forensic evidence are examinedSaharanpur ASP Manoj Yadav said We received information that a person had locked his room from inside and was not opening the door despite repeatedly being asked to do so Upon reaching the place we looked in from the window and since the situation was suspicious we broke open the door in the presence of the neighboursForensic experts were called at the spot and detailed examination of the place was carried out he saidThe man has been identified as 39yearold Sam Kamanish a native of Kerala who had been working as a laboratory technician at Medigram Hospital in Saharanpur for the past ten years The woman 24yearold Aastha was a resident of the Gagalheri area and worked as a teacher at a private intermediate collegeThe man slit his wrist and partially hung himself from the window of the room while the woman had most probably consumed a poisonous substance There are no wounds on the females body ASP Yadav saidAccording to police Sam and Aastha first met around four years ago when Aasthas mother was undergoing treatment at Medigram Hospital Their acquaintance gradually developed into a romantic relationship Police said Sam was already married but his wife had moved to Delhi several years ago for workAasthas family had reportedly opposed to their relationshipOn Wednesday morning Aastha left home for college but did not reach her workplace When she failed to return by evening the family began searching for her and informed the police Aasthas father expressed suspicion that Sam might be involved prompting police to launch an investigationCCTV footage from the hospital reportedly showed the two leaving together in a car With the help of the car driver police traced them to Sams rented accommodation later that nightPolice said the both bodies were sent for postmortem examination Aasthas body has been handed over to her family while authorities are waiting for Sams relatives to arrive from Kerala before releasing his bodyOfficials said all possible angles are being investigated and the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths will become clear after the investigation and postmortem findings IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/couple-facing-family-opposition-commits-suicide-in-ups-saharanpur-689703.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/take-war-like-measures-declare-drought-in-150-taluks-ktaka-bjp-to-shivakumar-govt-689704.html Bengaluru July 2 Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka on Thursday urged the Karnataka government to take warlike measures to tackle the emerging drought situation calling for the immediate declaration of droughtaffected areas a scientific crop loss survey and an emergency action plan to mitigate the impact on farmers and rural communities In a letter addressed to Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Ashoka said the state was witnessing an alarming rainfall deficit with more than 150 taluks reportedly facing droughtlike conditionsHe said the inadequate southwest monsoon had delayed sowing operations left standing crops at risk of drying up and severely affected the livelihoods of farmers and agricultural labourers Reservoir water levels were also declining steadily raising concerns over a looming drinking water crisis particularly in North Karnataka districts such as Belagavi and BagalkotAshoka alleged that the Congress government had failed to respond adequately to the deteriorating situation He claimed that most districtincharge ministers had neither convened comprehensive review meetings nor visited the affected taluks while pointing out that the Agriculture Department was functioning without a fulltime ministerThe livelihoods of lakhs of farmers are at stake The absence of leadership in the Agriculture Department raises serious questions about the governments priorities he saidThe BJP leader cautioned that any delay in declaring droughthit areas would postpone crop loss assessments compensation to farmers fodder supply drinking water arrangements and the process of seeking financial assistance from the CentreHe said drought was not a political issue but a challenge affecting the entire state and urged the government to place public interest above politicsIn his letter Ashoka sought a series of immediate measures including district and talukwise assessment of drought conditions and prompt declaration of affected areas mandatory districtlevel drought review meetings under district incharge ministers and secretaries a statewide emergency action plan covering alternative crops seeds fodder livestock protection drinking water supply and employment generation and expedited implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act MGNREGA works to prevent migration of agricultural labourersHe also called for the identification of villages likely to face drinking water shortages and the release of emergency funds for water tankers borewell rejuvenation alternative water supply and multivillage drinking water schemesFurther Ashoka demanded an immediate scientific survey of crop losses interim relief for affected farmers timely crop insurance support and the supply of necessary agricultural inputsHe also urged the government to appoint a fulltime Agriculture Minister without delay and constitute a statelevel special drought management task force under the Chief Secretary As an interim measure he suggested assigning the Agriculture portfolio to an existing ministerThe Opposition leader also asked the government to prepare all documentation required under the Centres drought relief guidelines to ensure Karnataka secures timely financial assistance and relief measures IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/take-war-like-measures-declare-drought-in-150-taluks-ktaka-bjp-to-shivakumar-govt-689704.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-hc-orders-welfare-benefits-for-300-bonded-labourers-rescued-in-1992-689708.html Ranchi July 2 The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday directed the Garhwa district administration to ensure that around 300 rescued bonded labourers settled in the district receive the benefits of government welfare and rehabilitation schemes to which they are entitled These bonded labourers were rescued from various districts of Uttar Pradesh nearly 34 years ago in 1992A division bench of Chief Justice SM Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar issued the order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation PIL filed by Ghanshyam PathakAccording to the petition nearly 300 bonded labourers were freed from different districts of Uttar Pradesh in 1992 Many of them subsequently settled in Jharkhands Garhwa districtHowever despite the passage of more than three decades they have not received rehabilitation assistance under the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act 1976 nor have they been adequately covered under government welfare schemes related to housing healthcare employment and pensionsThe PIL was filed in 2023 During the course of the hearing the High Court repeatedly sought responses from the authorities concernedCounsel for the petitioner informed the court that over the past three years officials had merely engaged in correspondence without taking any concrete steps to extend benefits to the workersThe petitioner argued that bureaucratic formalities had delayed substantive action depriving eligible beneficiaries of assistance guaranteed under lawExpressing concern over the prolonged delay the court observed that it was unacceptable for eligible people to be denied their rightful benefits for such an extended periodThe bench directed the Garhwa Deputy Commissioner to identify all eligible labourers and ensure that they are provided benefits under the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act as well as other applicable government welfare schemesThe court further emphasised that mere paperwork would not suffice and that authorities must ensure the actual delivery of benefits to those legally entitled IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-hc-orders-welfare-benefits-for-300-bonded-labourers-rescued-in-1992-689708.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/petrol-diesel-price-reduction-not-feasible-now-hardeep-puri-689711.html New Delhi July 2 IANS Consumers expecting a reduction in petrol and diesel prices may have to wait longer as Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said there is no justification for lowering retail fuel prices at this stagenbspAddressing the issue of fuel pricing Puri said petrol and diesel prices have remained largely stable despite significant fluctuations in global crude oil marketsHe noted that petrol prices have increased by only 558 per cent over the past four years while diesel prices have risen by 623 per cent during the same periodThe minister said staterun oil marketing companies OMCs are still recovering cumulative underrecoveries of around Rs 218 lakh crore He added that these companies also continue to hold fuel inventories purchased when international crude oil prices were much higher making an immediate reduction in retail prices impracticalSo the question of bringing fuel prices down is not legitimate at this point in time Puri saidHighlighting the governments handling of global energy market disruptions Puri said India has successfully protected consumers from much of the volatility caused by international crude oil prices Referring to the recent tensions around the Strait of Hormuz he said the country managed the situation without any disruption in fuel availabilityNot one retail outlet reported a dryout the minister said adding that Indias network of around 107 lakh fuel retail outlets continued to operate normally throughout the crisis He credited the government with absorbing most of the shocks arising from fluctuations in crude oil marketsPuri also outlined the governments longterm plans to strengthen the countrys energy infrastructure He said Indias refining capacity is projected to increase to 3095 million metric tonnes per annum MMTPA by 2030 Several refinery expansion and greenfield projects are currently under implementation with some expected to be completed over the next two years further enhancing the countrys energy security and refining capabilitiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/petrol-diesel-price-reduction-not-feasible-now-hardeep-puri-689711.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/success-attracts-jealously-in-politics-rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-689712.html Nagpur July 2 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Thursday that resilience during adversity is the secret for success adding that in politics someones success automatically makes detractors jealous Addressing a programme organised here by Sindhu Education Society Bhagwat added that our message to humanity should be that we should not live for ourselves but instead we should live for others We should live with integrity and we should teach the same to everyone not by speaking but through actions and setting an example the RSS Chief saidReferring to the message of Lord Krishna to Arjun in Gita Bhagwat called for facing adversity with resilience and not giving upThe RSS Chief said The God has told Arjun in Gita that running away will be a disservice to you if you fight and win then you will get wealth if you kill then you will get such salvation which even great yogis do not getThere is no harm in standing firm being adamant fighting there is no harm in running away losing getting disappointed this is a part of life If one door closes then another door opens somewhere It is just a passing phase Bhagwat addedThe RSS Chief also reflected on the concept of allround knowledge and said education to fill the stomach is necessary but not compulsoryPeople grow up without education and employ educated people Education actually is for gaining wisdom It starts from home and the first teacher is the mother Bhagwat saidReferring to the killings of people during Indias Partition Bhagwat said people lost everything but did not sit crying they came here after losing everything and established themselves once againA person should accept destiny He should try Everything gets fine by trying One has to wait and fight One who fights achieves something or the other hence never lose hope in life never run away he addedThe RSS Chief said that during Partition people came here leaving behind their earnings property business farming and everything they had been doing for generationsThey were not refugees they were definitely displaced people The wrong word was used for them at that time he addedThey were warriors They came here because of their love for their motherland and religion They had lost a battle we all had lost the battle to keep India united but what did they choose They did not choose a career they did not choose property they chose the country they chose the religion because as I said circumstances change status comes status goes the RSS Chief said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/success-attracts-jealously-in-politics-rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-689712.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kavitha-detained-during-protest-demanding-land-for-telangana-martyrs-families--689714.html Hyderabad July 2 Police detained Telangana Rakshana Sena TRS president Kalvakuntla Kavitha for staging a protest demanding land for families of Telangana martyrs at Boduppal near Hyderabad on Thursday Police foiled the protest called by TRS demanding that the Congress government fulfil its promise of allotting land to Telangana activists who participated and laid down their lives during the statehood movementHundreds of workers of TRS had reached Boduppal in Medchal Malkajgiri district since early morning to participate in the protestPolice denied permission for the protest and removed the tents erected by TRS cadres Police detained the protestorsTension prevailed when Kavitha with her supporters reached Medipally and participated in a puja at the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority HMDA layoutA large number of police personnel deployed there tried to disperse the protestors including womenAs the protestors resisted a scuffle broke out between the two sides Police personnel physically lifted Kavitha to the police vehicle She was later shifted to Bollarum police stationThe TRS leader told the media that the countdown has begun for the Congress governmentShe said they were arrested only for demanding that the Congress government implement the promise that house sites of 250 square yards will be allotted to each family of the Telangana martyrsTRS leaders condemned the arrests and alleged highhandedness by the policeThey recalled that the Congress had also promised a monthly honorary pension of Rs 25000 for the parents or spouse of the martyrs and a government job for one family memberThey said Congress made the promises but after coming to power forgot them They alleged that the government is trying to suppress voices questioning it rather than fulfilling its promisesThey vowed not to rest till the government allots 250 square yards to the families of martyrsThe TRS leaders said they would expose the Congress governmentâs betrayal before the people They made it clear that arrests would not deter them from raising their voice IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kavitha-detained-during-protest-demanding-land-for-telangana-martyrs-families--689714.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-monsoon-woes-negligence-triggers-outrage-following-mans-death-after-falling-into-open-manhole-689717.html Mumbai July 2 The death of an elderly man after falling into a manhole left open during maintenance work by a private contractor has triggered massive outrage in Maharashtra The tragic incident occurred on Khairani Road in Saki Naka on Thursday morning around 1000 AM when the 60yearold man lost his life after falling into an open manholeFollowing a grueling fourhour search and rescue operation fire brigade personnel managed to retrieve the individual who was unfortunately declared deadDeputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi confirmed the victims demise and identified him as Aslam ShaikhAccording to reports the manhole cover had been removed for maintenance work being carried out by a private contractor on Khairani Road during the monsoon season However no safety barricades or road reflectors were set up at the siteConsequently Shaikh failed to anticipate the open manhole lost his balance and fell insideUpon receiving information about the incident Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC officials fire brigade personnel and the local police rushed to the spot to launch immediate rescue operations However tracking Shaikh initially proved difficultEmergency teams worked on a war footing at the site During the initial phase of the search the victims umbrella and footwear were recovered Given the high velocity of the water current inside the drainage system authorities feared he might have been washed away Despite the challenging conditions fire brigade personnel successfully retrieved Shaikhs body after four hours of relentless effortsDeputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi stated that Shaikh had passed away and his body was sent to a nearby hospital for postmortem examinationMeanwhile Mayor Ritu Tawde made a startling revelation admitting that the municipal corporation itself was unaware of the exact nature of the work being carried out on the road She assured that stringent action would be taken against those found guilty of negligenceAs heavy rains lash Mumbai causing widespread waterlogging across several areas this fatal accident in Saki Naka has once again brought the critical issue of open manholes to the forefrontThe incident has sparked furious reactions from Mumbaikars over the administrations absolute mismanagement The ruling administration is facing severe backlash especially since this is the second such highprofile lapse recentlyJust last week during a monsoon inspection tour led by Mayor Ritu Tawde following heavy downpours a BMC official had fallen into an open drain right before her eyes but was rescued on timeWith yet another citizen losing their life to administrative apathy public anger against the authorities continues to intensifyTaking a serious note of it Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar said the registration of a culpable homicide offence in this regard should be checkedHe directed that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner should give a detailed report in this regard by eveningThe issue was raised by BJP legislator Amit Satam demanding stern actionThe Speaker said âIt is quite a serious issue Various works are underway during the rainy season In some cases manholes are open and in some areas roads are dug up In such cases the offence for culpable homicide should be registeredâHe recalled that a few years ago a leading doctor died after getting washed away after falling into an open manhole IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-monsoon-woes-negligence-triggers-outrage-following-mans-death-after-falling-into-open-manhole-689717.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/prof-raj-kumar-shashi-tharoor-address-japans-parliament-as-jgu-deepens-academic-ties-689664.html Tokyo July 1 On the eve of the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to India Professor C Raj Kumar Founding Vice Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University JGU and Dr Shashi Tharoor Member of Parliament addressed a distinguished bipartisan gathering of Members of the National Diet of Japan at the National Diet Building in Tokyo The significance of the interaction was heightened by coinciding with the official visit of the Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi to India and the IndiaJapan Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi As both governments continue to deepen their Special Strategic and Global Partnership at the highest political level the discussions in Tokyo demonstrated that enduring bilateral relationships are strengthened not only by governments but also by parliaments universities scholars students industry and civil societyThe interaction was chaired by Fukushiro Nukaga the 80th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan and brought together an exceptional and bipartisan gathering of Members of the National Diet representing both the House of Representatives and the House of CouncillorsThe meeting was attended by senior parliamentary leaders former ministers government representatives eminent diplomats distinguished academics policy experts and industry leaders from across Japan The breadth of participation reflected Japanâs strong bipartisan commitment to strengthening parliamentary dialogue educational cooperation democratic engagement innovation and institutional partnerships with IndiaâAsiaâs evolving geopolitical landscape demonstrates that the strongest international partnerships are patiently built through sustained investments in education research technology human capital institutional cooperation and innovation India and Japan he said possess a unique opportunity to deepen their relationship further by investing in universities scientific collaboration entrepreneurship academic mobility and knowledge partnershipsâ He saidHe called for a future in which Indian and Japanese universities work even more closely together researchers jointly address global challenges students move more freely between both countries and governments industry and academia collectively develop solutions for the IndoPacific and beyond Such investments he argued create relationships that are resilient because they are founded not only on policy but also on peopleHighlighting JGUâs own engagement with Japan Prof Raj Kumar noted that the Universityâs partnerships with 27 leading Japanese institutions and the participation of nearly 200 students in study abroad programmes across Japan reflect a sustained institutional commitment to building longterm academic cooperation These partnerships have strengthened student mobility faculty collaboration joint research innovation and intercultural understanding demonstrating how universities can serve as enduring bridges between nationsProfessor Raj Kumar observed that higher education has become one of the defining pillars of contemporary IndiaâJapan relations because universities cultivate trust mutual understanding leadership and lifelong friendships that strengthen bilateral cooperation across generationsShashi Tharoor reflected on the equally important role of parliamentary diplomacy and observed that diplomacy is not merely about negotiating interests or responding to crises At its finest he said diplomacy preserves memory reflects mutual respect and inspires nations to imagine and build a better future togetherReflecting on the centuriesold relationship between India and Japan Tharoor said âThe friendship between the two countries has been nurtured through Buddhism cultural exchange democratic values and deep civilisational respect This shared history is not only a source of pride but also a responsibility The challenge before both nations is not to create a new friendship but to continually renew and strengthen an enduring one through institutions capable of serving future generations While governments create strategic partnerships it is ultimately people who sustain them The future of IndiaJapan relations will depend as much upon the relationships built among students scholars parliamentarians entrepreneurs artists innovators scientists and citizens as upon agreements signed by governments These enduring human connections transform strategic cooperation into lasting partnershipâMembers of the National Diet spoke warmly of their longstanding engagement with India and expressed admiration for Indiaâs civilisational heritage democratic traditions constitutional institutions economic transformation and expanding global role They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening parliamentary exchanges educational partnerships academic collaboration scientific research innovation and peopletopeople ties between the two democraciesAt a time when India and Japan are engaging at the highest political level to shape the future of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership the interaction in Tokyo served as a timely reminder that governments alone cannot build enduring international relationships Universities parliaments scholars researchers entrepreneurs and civil society together provide the institutional foundations that enable strategic partnerships to flourish across generationsThe interaction was chaired by Fukushiro Nukaga the 80th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan and brought together an exceptionally distinguished and bipartisan gathering of Members of the National Diet of Japan senior parliamentary leaders former ministers government representatives policy experts academics and industry leaders IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/prof-raj-kumar-shashi-tharoor-address-japans-parliament-as-jgu-deepens-academic-ties-689664.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/monsoon-knocks-on-delhi-ncrs-doors-as-light-rain-cool-breezes-bring-much-needed-respite-from-heat-689611.html New Delhi July 1 The residents of DelhiNCR woke up to cloudy skies cool breezes and light showers on Wednesday offering a welcome break from days of sweltering heat and humidity With the southwest monsoon advancing steadily towards the national capital the India Meteorological Department IMD has forecast rain and pleasant weather across the region over the next four to five days Light rain was reported from several parts of Delhi Noida and Ghaziabad during the early hours of Wednesday while overcast skies and gentle winds kept temperatures in check The change in weather came as a major relief for commuters and officegoers who had been grappling with soaring temperatures over the past weekAccording to the IMD Delhi is likely to witness light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 4050 kmph from July 1 to July 6 The weather department has predicted that cloudy skies will dominate throughout the week with intermittent showers expected across the city and adjoining areasAlthough the monsoon has not officially entered Delhi it has already reached parts of Uttar Pradesh and is now inching closer to the national capital as well as Punjab Haryana and Rajasthan Weather conditions have become increasingly favourable for its arrival while premonsoon showers have already begun influencing the regionThe first spell of rain coupled with strong winds on Tuesday night brought noticeable relief from the oppressive heat The cooler conditions continued into Wednesday morning raising hopes of an early monsoon arrival in the national capitalJust a day earlier Delhi had recorded scorching temperatures with the minimum settling at 312 degrees Celsius and the maximum touching 405 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung the citys base weather station The Ridge recorded an even higher maximum of 415 degrees Celsius while Ayanagar registered 401 degrees CelsiusThe IMD said that during the past 24 hours maximum temperatures dipped by one to two degrees Celsius while minimum temperatures rose slightly by a similar margin Daytime winds from the westnorthwest blew at speeds of 1520 kmph further contributing to improved weather conditions IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/monsoon-knocks-on-delhi-ncrs-doors-as-light-rain-cool-breezes-bring-much-needed-respite-from-heat-689611.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:31:00 +0530