DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:16:58 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/national/king-charles-iiis-birthday-celebrated-in-bengaluru-ktaka-ministers-attend-event-662934.html Bengaluru Feb 26 Karnataka Ministers MB Patil and MC Sudhakar attended a reception in Bengaluru to mark the birthday of King Charles III highlighting the ties between Karnataka and the UK The event was organised on Thursday by the office of the British Deputy High Commissioner Chandru Iyer at the Taj West End and was attended by government officials industry representatives and members of the diplomatic communitySpeaking at the event Minister for Large and Medium Industries MB Patil said Karnataka and the UK share a long history of engagement particularly in industry and investmentHe added that during his recent visit to London he met industrial leaders and encouraged them to invest in KarnatakaPatil noted that several British companies have established operations in the state and are contributing to its economic activityHe also said discussions were held with representatives of academic institutions including the Imperial College London and the University of LiverpoolHe added that British companies and universities are expected to participate in the proposed Knowledge Wellbeing and Innovation KWIN City project near Dabaspet which is aimed at creating opportunities for youthMinister for Higher Education MC Sudhakar said Karnataka maintains cooperation with the United Kingdom in higher education through twinning programmes that facilitate student exchanges and academic collaborationHe added that 30 students are benefiting from the programme this year similar to last year enabling them to pursue studies abroadSudhakar added that the state government is focusing on skill development and international academic partnerships to expand global opportunities for students from KarnatakaKing Charles III was born on November 14 1948 at Buckingham Palace in London England He is the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh His birth occurred during the reign of his grandfather King George VISince founding the Princes Trust in 1976 using his Â7500 of severance pay from the Royal Navy King Charles III has established 16 more charitable organisations and now serves as President of eachKing Charles III has been known to donate his blood to raise awareness for health causes IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/king-charles-iiis-birthday-celebrated-in-bengaluru-ktaka-ministers-attend-event-662934.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-to-challenge-delhi-courts-decision-to-acquit-kejriwal-sisodia-in-hc-662985.html New Delhi Feb 27 IANS The CBI will submit an appeal to the High Court challenging the order issued by the Rouse Avenue court on Friday which acquitted former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia along with others in connection with the 2022 Delhi excise policy casenbspThe agency added that several aspects of the investigation were either ignored or not adequately considered in the trial courts judgmentThe CBI had registered an FIR on August 17 2022 against the then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia excise officials and liquor businessmen based on a complaint from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs The allegations included irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the excise policy modification of provisions extension of undue favours to licensees waiver or reduction of licence fees and extension of L1 licences without approvalMeanwhile Arvind Kejriwal became emotional after being discharged by the Rouse Avenue Court in the excise policy case and broke down while addressing the media for the first time after the verdictnbspManish Sisodia was seen hugging Kejriwal wiping his tears and consoling him as party supporters gathered aroundnbspAddressing reporters Kejriwal said The way they kept repeating Delhi excise scam and making allegations against us today the court has dismissed the charges and discharged the accused We always said that truth prevails and that we have faith in the Indian judicial systemHe added I want to thank the judges for delivering the verdict I have always believed that God is with usnbspKejriwal further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah orchestrated a major political conspiracy to weaken the AAPnbspIt was a completely bogus case Television debates repeatedly portrayed me as corrupt he saidnbspEarlier in the day the Delhi court refused to frame charges against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and others in the corruption case linked to the alleged liquor policy scamAllowing the discharge plea the Rouse Avenue Court held that no sufficient evidence had emerged during the investigation to proceed against the accused and did not disclose the commission of any criminal offence including criminal conspiracynbspBoth Kejriwal and Sisodia had earlier been arrested in connection with the liquor policy investigation but were granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2024nbspThe alleged scam relates to the Delhi governments 202122 excise policy which was subsequently withdrawn amid allegations of irregularities in licensing and pricing mechanismsCentral agencies had alleged that leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party AAP including Kejriwal and Sisodia accepted kickbacks from a cartel known as the South Group in exchange for policy concessions benefiting select liquor licenseesnbspInvestigators claimed that irregular implementation of the policy caused significant losses to the public exchequer and involved manipulation of licensing norms and exemptionsnbspIn September 2024 the Supreme Court granted bail to Kejriwal in the CBI corruption case while directing him to cooperate fully with trial proceedings and refrain from making public comments on the merits of the matterEarlier the top court had also granted interim relief in the related money laundering proceedings emphasising the primacy of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21 of the ConstitutionnbspManish Sisodia was granted bail by the apex court in August 2024 after nearly 17 months of incarceration noting that the trial involving hundreds of witnesses and extensive documentary evidence was unlikely to conclude in the near future and prolonged detention would violate the right to a speedy trialIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-to-challenge-delhi-courts-decision-to-acquit-kejriwal-sisodia-in-hc-662985.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-union-minister-vaishnaw-to-attend-iimc-convocation-today-662986.html New Delhi Feb 27 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan will give away awards to topperforming students of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication IIMC at its 57th Convocation Ceremony for the 2024â25 batch to be held here on Friday The event will also see Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw who is also the Chancellor of IIMC presiding over a function to lay the foundation stone for the new Academic Block and Hostel Block of the instituteThe convocation will also be attended by Sanjay Jaju Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting R Jagannathan Chairman IIMC Society Dr Pragya Paliwal Gaur Vice Chancellor IIMC and L Madhu Nag Registrar IIMC an official statement saidFaculty members and staff of the institute will also be present marking this important academic milestone and celebrating the achievements of the graduating students it addedStudents of different programmes including postgraduate diploma programmes in Journalism English Hindi Radio and TV Digital Media Odia Urdu Marathi and Malayalam Advertising and Public Relations across different campuses who have passed their examinations in 2024â25 will be awarded diplomas it saidAt the convocation ceremony apart from the diplomas 35 medals including 23 carrying cash prizes will be awarded to toppers of each course from all six campusesThe Vice President will lay the foundation stone of the new Academic Block and Hostel Block at IIMC in the presence of senior dignitaries including the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and the SecretaryOn this occasion the Creators Lounge at the Incubation Centre will also be inaugurated by the Union Minister in the presence of senior officials of the Ministry and the instituteEstablished on August 17 1965 the IIMC has five regional centres across the country that cater to journalism courses in English and regional languagesThe first regional centre was set up at Dhenkanal Odisha in 1993 to cater to the needs of the eastern region Two regional centres were established at Amravati in Maharashtra for the western region and at Aizawl in Mizoram for the northeastern region from the academic year 2011â12Regional centres were set up in Jammu Jammu and Kashmir to cater to the needs of the northern region and at Kottayam Kerala for the southern region from the academic year 2012â13 according to information available on the official website IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-union-minister-vaishnaw-to-attend-iimc-convocation-today-662986.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ensure-that-reform-express-reaches-grassroots-level-pm-modi-urges-stakeholders-662987.html New Delhi Feb 27 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that this years Union Budget lays the road map for a Viksit Bharat driven by technology reforms and finance and all the stakeholders need to collectively ensure that reforms reach the grassroots levelnbspAddressing a postBudget webinar PM Modi urged the stakeholders to transform reforms into solid results suggesting to create a charter involving the government industry financial institutions and academia to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047The Union Budget 202627 ensures ease of doing business makes processes simpler and calls for techled governance This it the time to ride the Reform Express with a focus on policy delivery excellence the Prime Minister told the virtual gatheringnbspWe need to use AI Blockchain and data analytics for transparency speed and accountability We need to also focus on grievance redressal monitoring said PM ModinbspHighlighting that the government capex has reached record levels in the last 1011 years PM Modi said the increased government spending is also a clear message for the private sectorThe Prime Minister stated that 11 years ago the government capex was a mere Rs 2 lakh crorenbspToday it has crossed Rs 12 lakh crore At such a big scale government spending is a clear message for the private sector Industry and financial institutions should come forward with new energy the Prime Minister saidnbspWe have kept our focus on strengthening infrastructure for the last 10 years be it highways railways ports digital networks power systems to create assets which will enhance productivity for several decades to come PM Modi stressedWe should look for bond market reforms and mitigate risks to attract sustained foreign capital We need to follow global best practices and boost market confidence said PM ModinbspThe webinar is the first in a series of postBudget webinars being organised on key themes emerging from the Union Budget 202627nbspThese webinars aim to draw lessons from past experiences and obtain structured feedback from participants to strengthen and ensure outcomeoriented implementation of the Budget announcements for FY 202627 drawing upon the practical experience and insights of diverse stakeholdersIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ensure-that-reform-express-reaches-grassroots-level-pm-modi-urges-stakeholders-662987.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/three-accused-in-firing-case-surrender-in-patna-court-amid-police-pressure-662992.html Patna Feb 27 Three accused wanted in a sensational firing case have surrendered before a court in Patna following sustained pressure from the police The accused have been identified as Shneh Kumar Raj Kamal and Praful Kumar all residents of Ibrahimpur village under Naubatpur police stationThey are allegedly involved in a shooting incident that took place on February 11 this year at Ibrahimpur village where one person was seriously injuredThe incident was a result of personal rivalry related to land in the villageAccording to police given the seriousness of the case a special raiding team was constituted under the direction of Bhanu Pratap Singh City Superintendent of Police West Patna and led by the Station House Officer of Naubatpur police stationDeepak Kumar SubDivisional Police Officer SDPO Phulwarisharif02 said the team conducted continuous raids at different locations to arrest the accusedâDue to increased police pressure the three named accused surrendered before the subdivisional court Danapur on Thursday eveningâ the SDPO saidDuring the investigation the court granted police remand of Shneh Kumar and Raj Kamal for interrogationAccording to the SDPO during questioning Shneh Kumar revealed that the weapon used in the crime had been hidden at his residence in Ibrahimpur villageActing on the information police recovered one countrymade pistol and two live cartridgesThe recovered firearm and ammunition have been seized as evidencePatna Police have registered a separate case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Naubatpur police station in connection with the recovered weapon Further investigation is underwayThe SDPO reiterated that Patna Police were following a zerotolerance policy against crime ensuring swift and strict action against offendersMeanwhile the victim who was injured in the firing is recuperating in Patna Medical College and Hospital He is under the observation of doctors and is likely to be discharged soon IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/three-accused-in-firing-case-surrender-in-patna-court-amid-police-pressure-662992.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-extends-birthday-wishes-to-union-minister-virendra-kumar-662994.html New Delhi Feb 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended warm birthday wishes to Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar PM Modi wrote on X âBest wishes to Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar Ji on his birthday His extensive work towards furthering societal progress and transforming the lives of people is appreciable May he be blessed with a long life and wonderful healthâUnion Home Minister Amit Shah also took to X to share his greetings loosely translated from Hindi âHeartfelt birthday wishes to Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar I pray to God for your good health and long lifeUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari shared his message on the platform as well âTo my colleague in the Union Cabinet Dr Virendra Kumar heartfelt birthday wishes I pray to God for your excellent health long life and a blessed lifeâMadhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also extended wishes posting on X âHeartfelt birthday greetings and best wishes to the Honourable Union Minister Shri Dr Virendra Kumar Ji May the grace of Shri Ramrajya Government remain upon you may you be healthy and longlived this is my auspicious wishâUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath joined the chorus of wishes tweeting âHeartfelt birthday wishes to the Honourable Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar Ji May Lord Shri Ram bless you with excellent health long life and a glorious life this is my prayerâDr Virendra Kumar born on this day in 1954 is serving as the Union Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under Prime Minister Modiâs administration where he has been focused on policies aimed at the upliftment and empowerment of marginalised communitiesHe represents Madhya Pradeshs Tikamgarh SC Lok Sabha constituency and has had a long parliamentary career spanning multiple terms since first being elected in 1996 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-extends-birthday-wishes-to-union-minister-virendra-kumar-662994.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-sir-soft-copies-of-draft-voters-list-to-be-shared-with-registered-political-parties-662995.html Kolkata Feb 27 With the final votersâ list in West Bengal to be published on Saturday the Election Commission of India ECI has decided to share soft copies of the list with the registered political parties in the state for transparency At the same time the ECI is keeping multiple options open for the voters to check the status of their names in the final list which will have names under two additional categories of under adjudication and deleted apart from those enlisted as genuine voters of the stateThe first option is to visit the main website of the Election Commission of India ecigovin and check on the site by entering the voters name along with their EPIC numberAnother way to check the names is to visit the official website of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officers office at ceowestbengalwbgovinThe third option is to visit the websites of the respective district electoral officers DEOs and check namesBesides these three ways of online checking the ECI has also decided to keep different options open for offline checking Since copies of the final votersâ list will also be shared with the boothlevel officers BLOs the voters can contact their respective BLOs and check with themAt the same time the ECI will display hard copies of the final votersâ list at polling booths in different areas so that voters can visit the booths and check their namesAs already clarified on Thursday the final votersâ list will have names under two additional categories of under adjudication and deleted apart from those enlisted as genuine voters of the stateThis means that the names in the final voters list will be specified under three categoriesThe under adjudication category will have the names of those voters whose identity documents will continue to remain under the process of adjudication by the judicial officers appointed specially for the purpose as per the order of the Supreme Court In the final votersâ list these voters will be enlisted in the âunder adjudicationâ categorySupplementary lists will be published in due course These will have the names of the under adjudication category voters once cleared by the judicial officers after due adjudicationThe third category in the final votersâ list will be those voters who have been excluded during the entire course of the Special Intensive Revision SIR exercise that started in November last year The names of these excluded voters will appear in the final votersâ list under the âdeletedâ category IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-sir-soft-copies-of-draft-voters-list-to-be-shared-with-registered-political-parties-662995.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/demand-for-anti-conversion-law-echoes-on-last-day-of-bihar-budget-session-662996.html Patna Feb 27 IANS The issue of enacting stricter laws against religious conversion resonated in the Bihar Legislative Assembly on the final day of the Budget Session as several ruling party members raised the matter through a calling attention motionnbspEighteen MLAs from the ruling alliance including Maithili Thakur Mithilesh Tiwari Virendra Kumar Janak Singh Sanjay Kumar Singh Jivesh Kumar Tar Kishore Prasad and Baidyanath Prasad spoke on the issue calling for a law similar to those enacted in other statesThe MLAs stated that states such as Uttar Pradesh Madhya Pradesh Uttarakhand and Gujarat have implemented laws against religious conversionAccording to them these laws provide for stringent punishment including imprisonment ranging from one to 10 or even 20 years in cases involving alleged fraudulent conversion child marriage or inducementMembers also claimed that demographic changes in certain parts of Bihar warranted legislative interventionThey alleged that religious conversions were being carried out on a large scale and expressed concern over the situation in border districts and the Seemanchal regionMithilesh Tiwari MLA from the Bharatiya Janata Party said Uttar Pradesh has strict laws and a similar law should be enacted in Bihar In Buxar alone 1000 Dalit families have converted The demographics of Seemanchal have changed Therefore this law is needed the government should consider itSome MLAs cited figures regarding population growth and the establishment of churches in the state alleging that conversions were taking place through inducementBJP MLA Sanjay Singh termed it not just religious conversion but national conversion while another member Anil Singh demanded strict legislation to curb the practiceCertain members also raised questions about reservation benefits following religious conversion and referred to constitutional provisions in their argumentsResponding to the debate Tourism and Arts ampamp Culture Minister Arun Shankar Prasad clarified that the Bihar government currently has no proposal to introduce legislation related to religious conversionThere is no proposal to enact any legislation related to this at this time the minister stated in the HouseWhen some BJP members continued to press the issue Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar intervened stating that the calling attention motion had been admitted and that the government would review the matter if necessary He ruled that there would be no further discussion on the issueIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/demand-for-anti-conversion-law-echoes-on-last-day-of-bihar-budget-session-662996.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-to-protect-its-interests-in-trade-deal-with-us-amid-evolving-situation-piyush-goyal-662997.html New Delhi Feb 27 IANS Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday that India would go in for a rebalancing of the proposed trade agreement with the United States if required to protect its interests in view of the changed situation following the US Supreme Court annulling the tariff hikes announced earlier by the Donald Trump administrationnbspGiven the evolving situation on US tariffs we will wait and watch and ensure Indias best interests are protected Goyal said at a media event hereIts an evolving situation The Trump administration has made some comments they have other tools that they can use Next week they can increase tariffs to 15 per cent Various dialogues are going on I had said that if the circumstances change the deal will be rebalancedThe minister pointed out that the IndiaUS joint statement says that should circumstances change the deal will be rebalancedHe further stated that bilateral trade discussions with the United States are continuing amid the changing situationIn an oblique reference to President Trumps announcements after the Supreme Court verdict Goyal said There are many tools that the Trump administration can use in this evolving situation one of them is the move to levy a 10 per cent tariffGoyal was optimistic about the outcome of the trade deal with the US There are so many positives in the US deal let us see how the situation moves forward International trade deal is about competitive advantage he remarkedHe reiterated that sensitive dairy and farm sectors have been protected in the proposed arrangementNo GM foods will come into India Dairy maize soybean and poultry are exempt from the US trade deal We have preserved the interests of farmers dairy The deal preserves our interests the minister saidHe further stated that despite the global headwinds Indias exports are poised to increase this yearIndia and Washington have decided to reschedule the official meeting over the interim bilateral trade agreement so that both sides can factor in the implications of the US Supreme Court judgment striking down the Trump administrations tariff hikesA threeday meeting between teams headed by the chief trade negotiators of the two countries was earlier slated to take place in the US on February 23 A decision will be taken to fix a new date for the meeting that is convenient for both sidesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-to-protect-its-interests-in-trade-deal-with-us-amid-evolving-situation-piyush-goyal-662997.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/clean-the-system-not-just-booths-shiv-sena-662998.html Mumbai Feb 27 Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT has responded to the Supreme Courtâs recent observations on mandatory voting by questioning the very foundation of Indiaâs current electoral system It acknowledged the courtâs intent to strengthen democracy and argued that such measures are futile as long as the system remains trapped in the jaws of a dictatorial and corrupt regime An editorial in the partys mouthpiece Saamana on Friday follows comments from Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Bagchi who suggested that mandatory voting might be necessary to ensure democratic robustness The judges noted a concerning trend where educated and affluent voters in urban centres participate less frequently than their rural counterpartsThe Thackeray camp agreed that the courts observation of the voting paradox is realistic noting that despite decades of electoral reform programmes the turnout gap has not significantly changed However it raised a sharp counterpoint âWill democracy in our country be strengthened just by making voting mandatoryâThe credibility of the Election Commission has declined Due to confusion in voter lists manipulation of voting figures and percentages theft of votes and EVM scams the transparency of the election process in our country has been lost and the breath of democracy is being stifled The Supreme Courts idea of making voting mandatory is not wrong but what about the fact that elections from Delhi to the local lanes are trapped in the jaws of a dictatorial and corrupt systemâ asked the editorialThe Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena asserted that for democracy to be truly empowered the election process must be completely cleaned It called for a return to ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines EVMs posing a direct question to the judiciary My Lord will this happenâSince independence every small or large election has seen debates over the difference between urban and rural voting and the fact that the voting percentage does not increase beyond a certain limit Despite implementing many programmes and initiatives for electoral reforms this picture has unfortunately not changed much Therefore it is not wrong to link the constitutional right to vote with the necessity of strengthening democracy There is nothing wrong with thinking that making voting mandatory will empower democracyâ observed the editorialThe editorial further criticised the ruling party for its alleged Sama Dama Danda Bheda persuasion temptation punishment and division tactics It accused the government of branding anyone who opposes the BJP as a traitor and systematically working to ensure no opposition party remains in the countryToday neither democracy nor its four main pillars remain intact stated the editorial lamenting that legal challenges to these issues often result in nothing more than Tariqh pe Tariqh endless court datesThe Thackeray camp argued that while mandatory voting is a noble dreamy idealism it cannot be effective until the hammer falls on the current corrupt system where machinery including the Election Commission is perceived to be in the pockets of the rulers IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/clean-the-system-not-just-booths-shiv-sena-662998.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/farmers-interests-fully-protected-says-shivraj-singh-chouhan-on-india-us-trade-deal-row-663000.html Gwalior Feb 27 IANS Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has accused the opposition Congress of attempting to mislead people through baseless allegations and false narrative regarding the interim trade deal between India and the US and said the interests of farmers are fully protectednbspDuring an interaction with media persons in Gwalior Madhya Pradesh on Friday he said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi a capable glorious prosperous strong selfreliant and resurgent India is being builtResponding to Congress allegations on the IndiaUS trade agreement Minister Chouhan took a jibe at the opposition saying Congress leaders have nothing to talk about which is why they are trying to mislead the peoplenbspWhen questioned about the possible impact on the agriculture sector from the interim IndiaUS trade agreement Chouhan reiterated that the framework of the trade agreement with the US will not harm Indian farmers He assured that farmers interests have been fully protected in the trade dealI am saying this responsibility that farmers interests will be fully protected I am saying this not just as Agriculture Minister but also as a farmer Chouhan said responding to growing confusion among farmers amid a row over Indias interim agreement with the USnbspThe Union Minister attended a Yuva Samvaad programme at ITM University and after that moved towards Jhansi to attend another eventNotably the Congress the main opposition in the Centre has launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the IndiaUS trade deal and has also started a nationwide movement to oppose this proposed trade agreementnbspTo mobilise the people the Congress has started Kisan Maha Panchayats in different parts of the country and one such event was organised in Madhya Pradeshs capital city Bhopal on February 24nbspDuring his visit to Bhopal Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed an agreement with the US under pressureIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/farmers-interests-fully-protected-says-shivraj-singh-chouhan-on-india-us-trade-deal-row-663000.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/must-transform-marathi-for-future-generations-maha-cm-devendra-fadnavis--663001.html Mumbai Feb 27 IANS Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday expressed the resolve to transform the elite Abhijat Marathi language into a language of knowledge and carry this rich heritage to the next generationnbspThis is necessary as history shows that languages recognised as languages of knowledge Jnanbhasha are the ones that continue to flow forward in the world A language that drives trade and provides employment awakens a sense of progress he said while speaking at the special program organised at the Central Hall of Vidhan Bhavan to mark Marathi Bhasha Gaurav DinFadnavis noted that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj created a dictionary during his era to purify the Marathi language At that time administrative Marathi was heavily influenced by Persian and ArabicnbspnbspMaharaj took on the task of purifying the language and the pride of the Marathi language truly begins with him he claimednbspnbspHe added that ancient scriptures show just how elite our language has been since its inceptionnbspnbspHe further mentioned that the proceedings in Maharashtras legislature are a source of literary creation providing themes for many films and playsFadnavis also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for granting Abhijat Classical status to Marathi providing it with royal patronagenbspnbspHe urged everyone to ensure that Marathi literature and folk arts reach as many people as possiblenbspDeputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde credited PM Modi for the Classical status of Marathi which will significantly aid its prosperity He urged the use of Marathi in all professional fields and called for its flag to fly across the seven seasDeputy Chief Sunetra Pawar urged the maximum use of Marathi on digital platforms in this age of technology She stated that using Marathi on digital media would help carry the rich heritage to the next generation more effectivelynbspShe mentioned that Rs 5 crore has been allocated for the proposed Maharashtra Bhavan in London to serve as a cultural hubnbspnbspShe said that additionally grants for public libraries have been increased to promote the languagenbspnbspShe noted that the Classical status is a moment of great joy and will be crucial in making Marathi a language of earning and livelihoodLegislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar expressed confidence that if Marathi is to be enriched and moved forward technology and research must happen in the languagenbspOnly then will Marathi truly become a language of knowledge Marathi is one of the 22 official languages of India and stands 3rd in terms of population in the country and 10th in the world he saidnbspHe emphasised that it is the collective responsibility of everyone to preserve this rich heritage for the next generationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/must-transform-marathi-for-future-generations-maha-cm-devendra-fadnavis--663001.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-to-address-at-kashmir-university-convocation-today-662808.html Srinagar Feb 26 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan will be the chief guest on Thursday at the 21st convocation of the University of Kashmir and all arrangements including security are in place for the event A civic reception was given to the Vice President at the Lok Bhawan in Srinagar on Wednesday evening The reception was followed by a cultural programme showcasing the traditional folk dances and the music of Jammu and KashmirHe will deliver the address at the Universityâs 21st convocation at the main campus in the Hazratbal area of Srinagar cityLt Governor Manoj Sinha as the chancellor will preside at the convocation while the chief minister Omar Abdullah who is the prochancellor will be the guest of honourJampK minister for higher education Sakina Itoo vice chancellor Nilofer Khan senior officers of civil and police administration deans of various faculties heads of departments and teachers of the university in addition to scholars scheduled to receive their degree certificates will attend the convocationKU vice chancellor Prof Nilofer Khan said the presence of the countryâs Vice President reflects the growing national recognition of the Universityâs academic and research contributionsA total of 59558 degrees including 44910 undergraduates 13545 postgraduates and 620 PhD scholars will be conferred with certificates during the convocationUniversity of Kashmir is the oldest university in JampK It has NAAC A accreditation and is ranked 34th in the NIRF rankings The University is among the top eight State Public Universities in the countryAdequate arrangements of security are in place to secure the presence and movement of the VVIPs in Srinagar cityAll vehicles entering the city are being checked after frisking the occupants Dry runs have been held all along the route to be taken by the cavalcade Makeshift âNakasâ and drop gates have come up at many places along the route to ensure foolproof security on the occasionThe traffic department has issued a detailed advisory for the day and restrictions and diversions have been detailed to ensure the event is secured while putting the public to the least possible inconvenienceMedical emergencies have been exempted from traffic restrictions The restrictions will remain in place from 7 am to 2 pmThis is CP Radhakrishnanâs maiden visit to the union territory after he took over as the Vice President of the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-to-address-at-kashmir-university-convocation-today-662808.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cpi-leader-nallakannus-body-to-be-donated-to-medical-college-will-be-accorded-full-state-honours-662811.html Chennai Feb 26 The mortal remains of veteran CPI leader R Nallakannu will be donated to the Chennai Medical College Hospital on Thursday in accordance with his longexpressed wish to support medical education The 101yearold leader who passed away in Chennai on Wednesday will be accorded full State honours by the Tamil Nadu government before his body is handed over Chief Minister MK Stalin announcedDeclaring that Tamil Nadu would bid farewell with the highest respect CM Stalin said Nallakannuâs life of sacrifice and public service deserved to be honoured by the stateThe body has been kept for public homage at Balan House the CPIâs office in Thyagaraya Nagar and will remain there until 3 pm after which party cadres will take out a procession before donating the body to the medical college hospitalNallakannu had been undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital after being admitted on February 1 due to agerelated ailments Hospital authorities said his condition worsened over the past two days as his body gradually stopped responding to medication He succumbed to multiple organ failure at 155 pm despite intensive careLeaders across political parties paid rich tributes Chief Minister Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin were among the first to offer floral respectsAIADMK leaders including former Minister D Jayakumar and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam Congress State president K Selvaperunthagai PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president Vijay BJP leaders L Murugan and Nainar Nagendran VCK leader Thirumavalavan and Naam Tamilar Katchi chief Seeman also paid homagePrime Minister Narendra Modi in a condolence message said Nallakannu was admired across social and political lines and had lived not for himself but for othersAIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami described him as a man of rare integrity and moral strengthProminent film personalities including Rajinikanth Kamal Haasan Nassar Sathyaraj Vijay Sethupathi and Sivakarthikeyan also paid tributes remembering him as a symbol of simplicity ideological commitment and unwavering dedication to the people IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cpi-leader-nallakannus-body-to-be-donated-to-medical-college-will-be-accorded-full-state-honours-662811.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-eci-to-depute-assembly-wise-central-observers-to-oversee-pre-poll-nomination-phase-662822.html Kolkata Feb 26 The Election Commission of India ECI has decided to depute one Central observer for each of the 294 Assembly constituencies to oversee the prepoll nomination phase in West Bengal Insiders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO West Bengal said that all the 294 Central observers to be appointed to oversee the prepoll nomination phase will be either Central government officers or officers from other statesâCurrently a total of 1444 officers are undergoing training provided by the ECI At the end of the training period they will be deputed by the Commission to oversee matters in the various pollbound states and Union Territories Of these 1444 undertraining officers 294 will be earmarked for the Assembly constituencies in West Bengal the CEOâs office source saidAccording to him the ECI has noted that in the last few elections there have been reports of regular violence from different corners of the state from the prepoll nomination phaseâThe maximum complaints of such prepoll violence in the nomination phase relate to the intimidation of voters and threatening the opposition party workers and their polling agents There had been complaints about the nonutilisation of Central Armed Police Force CAPF personnel deputed in the prepoll nomination The Commission intends to strictly address these complaints surfacing in the prepoll nomination phase this time and hence it has decided to depute one Central observer for each of the 294 Assembly constituencies in the prepoll phase the CEOâs office insider saidHe also said that these 294 Central observers will be given their respective authorities in the matter by the ECI from the moment the polling dates are announced and the enforcement of the model code of conductThe final votersâ list in West Bengal minus those âlogical discrepancyâ cases referred for judicial adjudication will be published Supplementary lists will be published in due course as per the progress of the judicial adjudicationMeanwhile the ECI is expected to announce the polling dates immediately after the Holi festival on March 4 This time there is a possibility of conducting the polls in fewer phases than they were in the last few electionsThe office of the CEO West Bengal has already recommended a singlephase poll this time but maintained that the final decision in the matter will be taken by the ECI IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-polls-eci-to-depute-assembly-wise-central-observers-to-oversee-pre-poll-nomination-phase-662822.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-to-develop-jawadhu-hills-as-eco-tourism-hub-with-glamping-camping-facilities-662828.html Chennai Feb 26 In a move aimed at boosting ecotourism and attracting modern travellers from within India and abroad the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation TTDC has proposed the development of camping and glamping facilities at Jawadhu Hills in Tiruvannamalai district Spread across 765 acres the lesserknown hill destination is set to receive a facelift as part of the state governmentâs push to promote experiential and sustainable tourism The initiative seeks to position Jawadhu Hills as an attractive getaway for visitors looking to spend more time amidst nature while minimising environmental impactA senior TTDC official said the state is focusing on tourism models that allow travellers to connect more closely with natural surroundings without causing ecological harm âExperiential and sustainable tourism is the way forward Glamping and campingbased accommodation are lowimpact models that appeal to todayâs travellers who seek authentic outdoor experiencesâ the official saidAs part of this strategy TTDC has identified scenic locations across Tamil Nadu for the development of camping infrastructure equipped with essential amenitiesJawadhu Hills with its serene landscape and tourism potential has been selected as one of the key sites Basic infrastructure has already been developed at the 765acre siteTTDC has floated a tender to appoint a concessionaire to prepare a detailed project report and execute the projectThe selected private partner will develop semipermanent accommodation facilities such as luxury tents safari tents glamping domes prefabricated wooden or bamboo cottages modular cottages and containerbased unitsThe project will be implemented under the PublicPrivate Partnership PPP model The concessionaire will be responsible for financing operations management and maintenance of the camping siteOfficials emphasised that all proposed infrastructure will be developed without disturbing the natural resources in and around Jawadhu HillsThe focus will remain on ecofriendly construction practices and sustainable operationsThe project is likely to be completed within the current year marking a significant step in Tamil Naduâs efforts to diversify its tourism portfolio and promote environmentally responsible travel experiences said officials IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-to-develop-jawadhu-hills-as-eco-tourism-hub-with-glamping-camping-facilities-662828.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/prez-murmu-on-two-day-rajasthan-visit-from-tomorrow-to-attend-op-vayu-shakti-in-jaisalmer-662845.html Jaipur Feb 26 The Indian Air Forces largest military exercise Vayu Shakti2026 will be held on Friday at the Pokhran Field Firing Range Jaisalmer in Rajasthan near the Pakistan border The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces President Droupadi Murmu will also be present at the exerciseAccording to the schedule the President will fly a Light Combat Helicopter LCH Prachand on Friday During this she will conduct an aerial survey of the exercise area This will be the first time the President will copilot a combat helicopter in the border airspace of Jaisalmer Following the event she will interact with officers and soldiers at the Air Force Station and boost their moraleIn the evening the President will arrive at the Pokhran Range where the exercise will commence in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Bhajanlal SharmaDuring this period the Air Force will showcase its lethal capabilities through aerial fire and precise strikesIn addition to Prachand aircraft Rafale Sukhoi30 MKI and Apache will also showcase their might at Vayu Shakti2026 This visit of the President is considered extremely important from a strategic perspective Tight security arrangements have been made in Jaisalmer The entire area from Chandan to Pokhran has been declared a nofly zonePresident Murmu has a long and deep association with the aircraft of the Indian Air ForceShe is not only the supreme commander of the armed forces but has also personally flown frontline fighter jets to boost the morale of the countrys soldiersShe has flown in a Sukhoi and a Rafale President Murmu created history on October 29 2025 by flying in a Rafale aircraft of the Golden Arrows squadron based in Ambala She became the first President of the country to fly in two different fighter aircraft Sukhoi and RafaleShe experienced the power of the Rafale at a speed of approximately 700 kmh at an altitude of approximately 15000 feetPresident Murmu flew for approximately 30 minutes in a Sukhoi30 MKI on April 8 2023 from the Tezpur base in AssamShe assessed the aircrafts firepower and the Air Forces preparedness while flying over the Himalayan peaks and the Brahmaputra ValleyShe became the second woman President of the country to fly in a Sukhoi after Pratibha Patil IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/prez-murmu-on-two-day-rajasthan-visit-from-tomorrow-to-attend-op-vayu-shakti-in-jaisalmer-662845.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/beldanga-unrest-case-nia-to-make-4th-attempt-today-to-produce-7-in-bengal-court-662846.html Kolkata Feb 26 After three failed attempts the NIA will again try to produce the seven accused arrested in West Bengals Beldanga unrest case in a city court on Thursday This would be the fourth attempt to produce the accused in court as on the previous three occasions the state police did not provide the necessary escort to bring the accused from Murshidabad district to KolkataThe National Investigation Agency NIA which has been probing the Beldanga unrest as per the Calcutta High Court order has said that if the state government fails then it will itself arrange an escort to bring the accused to the court However it has to be seen whether the state police will provide an escort to bring the accused to the court this timeSources said that NIA would seek the custody of the seven accused for an investigation into the unrest However it has to be seen whether the accused are produced in the city sessions court on Thursday and the NIA gets the custodyIt may be noted that NIA on last Friday approached the Calcutta High Court seeking its intervention in directing the West Bengal Police to submit the case diary of last months violence to the Central agency officials probing the matterIn its petition the NIA counsel had argued that the state police were refusing to hand over the case diary in the matter despite the Supreme Courtâs Division Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi last month refusing to entertain the plea of the state government opposing the NIA probeIncidentally the court had asked the state to hand over the case diary by February 26 It has to be seen whether the case diary is handed over to the NIALast month Beldanga in Murshidabad district became the centre of unrest after the news of the death of Alauddin Sheikh a migrant worker from Murshidabad in Jharkhand reachedWhen Alauddins body arrived there on January 16 local people took to the streets The protesters blocked the national highway on January 16 burning tyres and pelting stones Even train services on the SealdahLalgola route were disrupted by the violent protests A female journalist was attacked in Beldanga that day Although the police cleared the protests on the first day Beldanga erupted again on January 17A total of 36 people including an AIMIM leader were arrested in connection with their involvement in the unrestThe Calcutta High Court had stated that if the Central government wished it could have the National Investigation Agency NIA investigate the Beldanga incident Following this the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the investigation to the Central agencyThe Supreme Court did not grant any stay on the NIA investigation in accordance with the states demand during the hearing of the case However the court said in its order that the NIA will submit a report to the division bench of the Calcutta High Court in a sealed envelope stating whether there is a prima facie basis for the application of UAPA during the investigation IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/beldanga-unrest-case-nia-to-make-4th-attempt-today-to-produce-7-in-bengal-court-662846.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-invites-israeli-firms-to-explore-investment-manufacturing-opportunities-in-india-662848.html Tel Aviv Feb 26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Israeli companies to explore opportunities in India to invest manufacture and build technology partnerships it was announced on Thursday PM Modi accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited an exhibition showcasing pioneering Israeli innovations across several sectors here which featured Agritech Watertech Climatetech Healthbiotech Smart Mobility AI Cybersecurity and Quantum technologiesDuring his interaction with the innovators PM Modi noted that the cuttingedge technologies on display hold immense potential to scale up IndiaIsrael innovation startups and business partnerships especially in areas such as agriculture water management healthcare and digital servicesThe two countries are working together to build solutions to address modernday challenges through the IndiaIsrael Innovation Bridge initiative During the walkthrough Prime Minister interacted with scientists techentrepreneurs and CEOs of several companiesPrime Minister was briefed by Quantum Machines on the Israeli Quantum Computing Centre IQCC and by Classiq which is simplifying quantum software developmentAccording to an official statement AISAP a startup demonstrated its AIpowered pointofcare ultrasound which provides realtime diagnostic guidance The Horizon Scanning Division of the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology presented Tech Scout an AIdriven tool for strategic risk detection and trend analysisMobileye a techenterprise showcased its sensor and chip technology aimed at reducing road accidents Check Point Software Technologies highlighted its advanced threat prevention solutions and its collaborations in IndiaWaterGen demonstrated its technology to produce drinking water from air while NDrip showcased gravitypowered microirrigation systems Natural Offset Farming NOF presented infield postharvest solutions to reduce food loss without electricityAlso Remilk showcased precision fermentation for labproduced milk proteins and BarAlgae presented machinelearningintegrated microalgae cultivation Mynora Bio displayed plastic waste management using specialized bioconversion additives The Geophysical Institute GII demonstrated highresolution modelling for quantifying mineral resourcesNotably Israel Aerospace Industries presented its miniaturised communications satellites and integrated Synthetic Aperture Radar IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-invites-israeli-firms-to-explore-investment-manufacturing-opportunities-in-india-662848.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pocso-case-registered-against-karnatakas-yadgir-godman-after-distressing-video-goes-viral-662859.html Yadgir Karnataka Feb 26 A selfproclaimed godman based in Yadgir has been accused of misbehaving with a minor girl after a video of the incident went viral on social media In response the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights KSCPCR has registered a suo motu case on Thursday and filed a formal complaint with the Superintendent of Police SP of Yadgir The accused Mallikarjun Mutya who is in the age group of 2526 fled his residence and is currently absconding to evade arrest following the filing of a First Information Report FIRThe viral footage which has sparked widespread public outrage reportedly shows Mallikarjun Mutya misbehaving with a child sitting on his lap The video further depicts Mallikarjun Mutya violently dragging the child across a table in the presence of others before forcefully hugging and kissing herBased on a complaint filed by the Child Development Project Officer CDPO of Shahapur taluk a case has been registered under the POCSO Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act at the Gogi Police StationIn a letter to the SP Commission Chairman Shashidhar Kosambe stated A video featuring the accused misbehaving with a minor girl is circulating on social media leading to public demand for immediate action The Commission has registered a suo motu case based on this footage Consequently you are directed to take cognizance of this development conduct a thorough investigation and submit a detailed report to the CommissionResponding to the development the family of the accused maintained that the godman is innocent They claim the child is a distant relative and that his actions were merely a display of paternal or brotherly affectionAccording to the family the girls father originally recorded the video to capture a moment of showering love on the child They allege that after the video was posted as a mobile status the public misinterpreted the context and twisted the narrative to implicate himThe police have taken up further investigationIt can be recalled that in a joint operation a citybased NGO and officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI in January arrested a 45yearold selfstyled godman in Bengaluru for allegedly selling monitor lizard genitals claiming to resolve the problems of their clients through magical powers to control their partner IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pocso-case-registered-against-karnatakas-yadgir-godman-after-distressing-video-goes-viral-662859.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pocso-case-registered-against-yadgir-godman-after-distressing-video-goes-viral-662860.html Yadgir Karnataka Feb 26 A selfproclaimed godman based in Yadgir has been accused of misbehaving with a minor girl after a video of the incident went viral on social media In response the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights KSCPCR has registered a suo motu case on Thursday and filed a formal complaint with the Superintendent of Police SP of Yadgir The accused Mallikarjun Mutya who is in the age group of 2526 fled his residence and is currently absconding to evade arrest following the filing of a First Information Report FIRThe viral footage which has sparked widespread public outrage reportedly shows Mallikarjun Mutya misbehaving with a child sitting on his lap The video further depicts Mallikarjun Mutya violently dragging the child across a table in the presence of others before forcefully hugging and kissing herBased on a complaint filed by the Child Development Project Officer CDPO of Shahapur taluk a case has been registered under the POCSO Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act at the Gogi Police StationIn a letter to the SP Commission Chairman Shashidhar Kosambe stated A video featuring the accused misbehaving with a minor girl is circulating on social media leading to public demand for immediate action The Commission has registered a suo motu case based on this footage Consequently you are directed to take cognizance of this development conduct a thorough investigation and submit a detailed report to the CommissionResponding to the development the family of the accused maintained that the godman is innocent They claim the child is a distant relative and that his actions were merely a display of paternal or brotherly affectionAccording to the family the girls father originally recorded the video to capture a moment of showering love on the child They allege that after the video was posted as a mobile status the public misinterpreted the context and twisted the narrative to implicate himThe police have taken up further investigationIt can be recalled that in a joint operation a citybased NGO and officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI in January arrested a 45yearold selfstyled godman in Bengaluru for allegedly selling monitor lizard genitals claiming to resolve the problems of their clients through magical powers to control their partner IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pocso-case-registered-against-yadgir-godman-after-distressing-video-goes-viral-662860.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-to-address-badlav-rally-in-punjab-on-march-14-662868.html Chandigarh Feb 26 Set to launch election campaigns ahead of the Assembly polls slated in early 2027 Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a âBadlav Rallyâ in Punjabâs Moga town on March 14 State BJP working President Ashwani Sharma said on Thursday that every section of Punjab distressed on all fronts has made up its mind to oust the Aam Aadmi Party AAP from power and they now consider the BJP a reliable and credible alternative for changeâOn March 16 the AAP government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will be completing four years in officeThe BJP said in these four years far from fulfilling electoral guarantees and promises the government has failed to ensure the rule of law in the stateSharma alleged the government has taken Uturns on every promise made before coming to powerHe told the media that the law and order situation in Punjab is in shambles while corruption linked to the drug and mining mafia is rampantâThe health and education systems are deteriorating and employees are not receiving salaries and pensions on time Due to pending reimbursements under free schemes the Power Board and Punjab Roadways are facing heavy losses and have been unable to pay salaries for monthsThe culprits in sacrilege cases have not been punished while AAPâs own leaders MPs and MLAs are accusing their party colleagues of collusion with the mafiaâHe said CM Mann not only failed to fulfill the promise of providing Minimum Support Price MSP on every crop but in the past four years farmers have allegedly faced reductions even in the MSP for wheat and paddy sent by the CentreTraders are distressed by what Sharma described as âtax recovery terrorâ of the state governmentIn four years the AAP government has neither built new roads in cities towns and villages nor even repaired potholesSharma said incidents of chain snatching are occurring daily across villages towns and cities in PunjabâExtortion calls are now being made not only to big businessmen but even to small grocery shopkeepers selling flour and pulsesKabaddi players are being killed in broad daylight Gangsters are openly firing shots and killing at will and now even incidents are taking place fearlessly outside police stations and SSP officesâ he saidSharma alleged the Punjab Police which once eradicated terrorism from the state has been kept so busy by Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann in settling political scores with opponents that it has failed to prevent grenade attacks on its own police stationsSharma said in the 2027 Assembly elections the people of Punjab will get rid of the AAP government and form a BJP âdoubleengineâ government putting the state back on the path of development IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-to-address-badlav-rally-in-punjab-on-march-14-662868.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-govt-moves-sc-seeking-postponement-of-elections-to-113-urban-bodies-662869.html Jaipur Feb 26 The Rajasthan government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a postponement of elections to 113 municipal bodies citing the need to redo the ward delimitation process after it was struck down by the High Court A Special Leave Petition SLP filed by the state government states that the Rajasthan High Court had quashed the ward delimitation exercise carried out for 113 of the 309 urban local bodiesAs a result the Rajasthan government has sought additional time to complete the process afresh before conducting electionsAs per the SLP there are many reasons for the government seeking more time According to the SLP the High Court found the delimitation exercise in 113 urban bodies to be flawed While the total number of wards in these civic bodies remained unchanged their internal boundaries were alteredThe court cancelled these revised ward boundaries necessitating a fresh delimitation exerciseThe Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharmaled government has argued that conducting polls without completing the revised delimitation process would not be legally sound and therefore the election schedule should be extendedOn November 14 last year the Rajasthan High Court while disposing around 439 petitions directed the state government to complete the delimitation process by December 31 and conduct panchayat and municipal elections by April 15Subsequently while hearing related petitions challenging the High Courtâs order the Supreme Court also directed that elections be held by April 15The Supreme Court will now consider the state governmentâs plea seeking more timeThe outcome of the hearing will determine whether the April 15 deadline for holding elections remains in place or is extended said sourcesThe matter is significant as it affects election timelines for over one hundred urban local bodies across RajasthanIncidentally the last ward reorganisation in Rajasthan was carried out in 2019 when the state had 196 urban local bodies In the past six years 113 new bodies have been created where elections will be held for the first time IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-govt-moves-sc-seeking-postponement-of-elections-to-113-urban-bodies-662869.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-seeks-centre-states-response-on-pil-to-curb-false-cases-662876.html New Delhi Feb 26 IANS The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation PIL seeking directions to the Union government and all states and Union Territories to instal display boards at police stations and public offices highlighting the penal consequences of filing false complaints fabricated charges and false evidencenbspnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi passed the order after hearing submissions made by petitioner advocate Ashwini Kumar UpadhyayDuring the hearing the CJIled Bench observed that the constitutional principle of fraternity must guide societal conduct warning that the misuse of criminal law through false cases has serious consequences for innocent citizensThe problem arises when false complaints are lodged The poor complainant does not even know that a false case has been registered in his name and is being exploited the apex court addedThe plea seeks installation of display boards at police stations tehsil offices district courts panchayat bhawans municipal offices and educational institutions informing citizens about the legal consequences of filing false complaints false charges false statements and fabricated evidenceIt contends that such preventive measures are necessary to safeguard the Right to Life liberty and dignity of innocent citizens guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution and to deter misuse of criminal law provisions for settling personal or political scoresThe PIL has also sought a direction to state authorities to inform complainants about the legal consequences of filing false complaints before registering an FIR or accepting any complaintThe authorities must inform the complainant about punishment for false complaints false charges false statements false information and false evidence before accepting the complaint in order to secure freedom of speech and expression of innocent citizens the petition statedIn addition the petitioner has sought directions to obtain an undertaking or affidavit from complainants affirming that the averments made in the complaint information statement evidence and charges are true and correct with the objective of curbing frivolous litigation and malicious prosecutionRelying on empirical data compiled from National Crime Records Bureau NCRB reports the plea claimed that there is a stark disparity between cases registered and convictions under several special criminal laws with acquittals running into disproportionately high numbersThis statistical pattern reveals a structural problem of false complaints false charges and fabricated evidence clogging the criminal justice system the petition submittedReferring to the Law Commissions 277th Report the petition contended that false charges wrongful prosecutions and fabricated evidence remain primary causes of miscarriage of justice and violation of Article 21The plea further submitted that despite the enactment of Chapter XIV of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 the absence of administrative or preventive mechanisms has rendered the provisions largely ineffectiveThe PIL claimed that unchecked misuse of criminal law creates a chilling effect on freedoms guaranteed under Article 19 including free speech movement and the right to carry on trade and profession as fear of malicious prosecution suppresses legitimate dissent and enterpriseFalse complaints and malicious prosecutions convert the criminal process itself into punishment resulting in loss of liberty social stigma mental trauma and irreversible damage to reputation even in cases ending in acquittal the plea stated adding that speedy trial and presumption of innocence become meaningless when false cases proliferate uncheckedStating that the judiciary is overburdened due to false complaints false charges and fabricated evidence the petitioner submitted that neither the Centre nor the states have taken effective steps to control the menace necessitating judicial intervention by the Supreme CourtIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-seeks-centre-states-response-on-pil-to-curb-false-cases-662876.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/upset-over-not-getting-salary-for-past-three-months-hundreds-of-sanitation-workers-protest-in-ayodhya-662879.html Ayodhya Feb 26 Clouds of crisis loom over the sanitation system in Ram Nagari ahead of Holi as hundreds of sanitation workers upset over not receiving their salaries for the past three months have stopped work and started protest on Thursday Workers staged protests at various locations from Sahadatganj to Lata Mangeshkar Chowk expressing their anger over the delay in payment of wages They alleged that despite repeatedly raising the issue with concerned authorities their salaries have not been credited to their bank accountsAccording to the workers officials have been giving repeated assurances saying It will come today or It will come tomorrow but the payments have still not been processed Employees claimed that they have now been promised that their salaries will be credited by March 2 However they question how this will be possible if there is a bank holidayWith Holi falling on March 4 hundreds of families are facing uncertainty about how they will celebrate the festival without money The prolonged delay in salary payments has caused deep resentment among the workers who have made it clear that they will continue their strike until their pending dues are clearedHundreds of sanitation workers are currently on strike in Ayodhya due to the nonpayment of salaries for the past three months raising concerns about the citys sanitation systemSpeaking to IANS a sanitation worker said If we do not receive our salary we will not resume work We havent been paid for three months so we are on strike Officials have said that the salary will be paid tomorrowAnother worker said It has been two to three months since we received our wages Some of our workers are ill If they do not get their money how will they afford treatment at the hospitalA third worker said We are responsible for cleaning the city but we have not been paid for the last three months The dates are being extended repeatedly First they said the wages would come today but they did not Now they are saying the salary will be paid in MarchAnother worker added We have not received our full salary either Sometimes we get Rs 8000 sometimes Rs 9000 The festival is near yet we have not been paid Today we are not working and are on strike There are more than 3000 workers and many of them are facing the same issue IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/upset-over-not-getting-salary-for-past-three-months-hundreds-of-sanitation-workers-protest-in-ayodhya-662879.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/three-held-in-howrah-promoter-murder-probe-two-main-shooters-still-at-large-662881.html Kolkata Feb 26 The Howrah City Police arrested three persons for allegedly aiding those who are involved in the murder of promoter Shafiq Khan in the Peelkhana area of Howrah officials said The two main accused identified as Harun Khan and Rohit Hossain who allegedly shot the 27yearold in close range on Wednesday morning are still at largeThe police said the three suspects were arrested from the Jorasanko area of north Kolkata late at night following specific inputs The arrested accused have been identified as Mohammad Bilal 36 a resident of Kalabagan and Mohammad Wakil alias Munna 32 along with Dildar Hossain both residents of the Boubazar areaInvestigators believe that after the shooting the two main accused took shelter at Bilalâs residence in Jorasanko Police sources said the arrested men were in regular contact with the shooters The Howrah City Police detectives are questioning them to trace the whereabouts of Harun Khan and Rohit HossainA murder case has been registered at Golabari Police StationThe police are yet to trace the two main assailants Harun Khan and Rohit Hossain who were captured on CCTV during the killing of 27yearold promoter Shafiq Khan Multiple teams are conducting searches in different locationsA video showing Harun Khan riding pillion on the motorcycle of Howrah Uttar MLA Gautam Chowdhuri along with a photograph of the two walking together has circulated widely on social media Citing these visuals the Opposition has questioned whether the suspectsâ alleged proximity to ruling party figures is hindering police efforts to locate and arrest them despite the available footageThe police have not commented on these allegationsOn Wednesday the 27yearold promoter was shot dead at close range by unidentified assailants in Howrah with the entire incident captured on CCTV The killing triggered tension in the locality where residents blocked roads and set tyres ablaze in protestIn a related development the police have arrested six persons for allegedly assaulting a video journalist who was covering the incident The reporter was attacked by an angry mob and sustained a fractured nose after being beaten A case was registered soon after the assault leading to the arrests IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/three-held-in-howrah-promoter-murder-probe-two-main-shooters-still-at-large-662881.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/naxalism-nears-its-end-centre-charts-road-ahead-to-prevent-resurgence-662884.html New Delhi Feb 26 IANS As the Naxalite movement that daunted India for decades comes to an end the Union Ministry of Home Affairs MHA has already begun chalking out the roadmap to ensure that the menace does not resurfacenbspOfficials say that the ideology is officially dead today but they are on guard to ensure that a new form of criminality does not emerge in certain zones where the Naxalite menace was at its highestThe MHA recognises that once the problem ends the wise thing to do is to ensure there is no relapse The designation of 31 Legacy Thrust Districts from Gadchiroli Balaghat and Badradri Kothagundem is a step taken to ensure there is no resurgence of the movement These areas will continue to receive security and development supportnbspThe intention is not just to walk away and leave it to the state There are certain areas where Naxalism once thrived and these need to get Central support as the state alone cannot handle it immediately the official addedAnother official said the battle against the Naxal movement has been on for a long time However under the Modi government there has been a new momentum Union Home Minister Amit Shah who led from the front not just gave the security forces a free hand but also ensured that Centrestate coordination took place seamlessly the official also explainedHome Minister Shah also said that the Naxalites should either surrender or be prepared to be eliminated The deadline set by him for the Naxalite movement to end is March 31 2026 In 2000 the number of LeftWing Extremism LWE districts was 200 By 2025 the number shrunk to 38 As per data available with the MHA the number today stands at seven five in Chhattisgarh and one each in Jharkhand and Odisha Of these only three are marked as Most AffectedThese are the areas in which the Legacy Thrust Districts have been designatednbspFollowing the March 31 deadline the MHA seeks to ensure that the states push development and governance in a big way in the LEWaffected districts Any slipup could give room for a resurgence and the government wants to avoid it at any costnbspThe Centre wants to ensure that development in these belts does not slow downThe successful battle against the Naxalites cannot be attributed just to encounters In this battle over 15000 kilometres of roads have been built and over 9000 mobile towers installed This has not just helped the security forces go deep and communicate better but has been of great benefit to the locals too The locals who were once informers for the Naxalites are today completely on the side of the government an official saidAn Intelligence Bureau official said the Naxalites have literally given up Only a handful want to fight on but they too know that their game is up The key would be either ensure their surrender or eliminationnbspThe Naxalite movement was dealt a severe blow when a secretary of the Maoist Central Committee Tippiri Tirupati alias Devi surrendered before the Telangana Police The police said that only 11 from Telangana remain underground and many are already in talks to surrenderFurther the Central government is already coordinating with the states regarding the next plan of action For now it has been decided that there would not be an immediate withdrawal of forces and it would instead be done in a phased mannernbspDuring this phase bureaucratic responses would be key and the states have been advised to ensure there are no slipups on that front The Intelligence agencies say that security officials should also keep a watch on social media and gatherings in urban areas Propaganda can be spread in these spaces in a bid to revive the movementnbspAlthough a revival looks impossible the agencies would continue to monitor these spaces and put down such attempts as they could become major irritants officials sayIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/naxalism-nears-its-end-centre-charts-road-ahead-to-prevent-resurgence-662884.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/amit-shah-inaugurates-ssb-border-projects-in-bihars-araria-announces-campaign-against-infiltration-in-seemanchal-662886.html Patna Feb 26 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday inaugurated and laid the efoundation stones for several infrastructure projects of the Sashastra Seema Bal SSB at the Border Outposts Leti and Indarwa in Araria BiharnbspAddressing SSB personnel and local residents the Home Minister stressed the importance of heightened vigilance along the IndiaNepal border despite India sharing friendly relations with the neighbouring countryIt is true that we are guarding a border with a friendly nation But it is not necessary that antinational elements or enemies of the country will not try to use this route to enter India Therefore the Sashastra Seema Bal must remain alert and further strengthen its intelligence network HM Shah saidEmphasising grassroots intelligence HM Shah underlined the need for strong communication between SSB personnel and residents of border villagesOnly when there is effective interaction between our jawans officers and border villages can we receive accurate and timely information he notedReiterating a key poll promise the Union Home Minister announced that the Central government is preparing to launch a decisive campaign against infiltration in the Seemanchal region of BiharWe had promised the people of Bihar that we would free the state from infiltrators This does not merely mean deleting names from the voter list We are determined to remove every infiltrator from Indian soil HM Shah declaredHe said the campaign would begin soon and would include the demolition of all illegal encroachments within 10 kilometres of the international border along with the identification and deportation of infiltratorsHe alleged that infiltrators not only influence elections but also deprive the poor of welfare benefitsInfiltrators steal the poors share of the ration reduce employment opportunities for our youth and pose a serious threat to national security It is time for the entire country to address this issue decisively he saidRecalling his election campaign Shah said he had personally spent four days in Seemanchal and sought the peoples continued support to fulfil the promise made during that periodThe Home Minister claimed that demographic changes due to infiltration have significantly affected West Bengal Jharkhand and BiharReferring to elections in West Bengal he expressed confidence that the BJP would form the government there Once the BJP government is formed in Bengal completing border fencing and expelling infiltrators will be among the top priorities he saidHM Shah concluded by stating that the NDA government in Bihar has received a clear public mandate on this agenda and that ensuring border security and addressing infiltration remain central to the governments vision for Bihars welfareIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/amit-shah-inaugurates-ssb-border-projects-in-bihars-araria-announces-campaign-against-infiltration-in-seemanchal-662886.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/never-say-mera-tumhara-kashmir-always-say-hamara-kashmir-vp-radhakrishnan-to-jk-students-662887.html Srinagar Feb 26 IANS Vice President CP Radhakrishnan addressed the 21st convocation of Kashmir University on Thursday at the Hazratbal main campus in Srinagar citynbspHe started his address by speaking in Kashmiri and asked the audience if everyone was okaynbspI ask you not to say Mera Kashmir Tumhara Kashmir but always say Hamara Kashmir Vice President advised the graduating studentsnbspHe told the audience that both the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have been his friends for over three decadesI am today the happiest person for three reasons our education minister of the state is a woman second the vice chancellor of the university is a woman and third the majority of gold medal winners are also women My additional joy is that this is my first visit here as the Vice President of the country When my good friend Lt Governor Manoj Sinha invited me to come to address the convocation I immediately said yes The real legacy of the University is its graduating students the character they impart and the contribution they make to society he saidThe Vice President said the university alumni include high court judges civil servants doctors engineers and Dr Karan Singh first Chancellor of Kashmir University The university has completed 78 years of its historic journey I may be there or I may not be there you will soon be celebrating your centenary yearHe said that with its Anantnag Baramulla and Kupwara campuses the university has extended its reach The university has an A plus plus NAAC accreditation It is ranked number eight among the public universities in the country Since 2019 over 10700 research papers from the university have been publishedDear graduates the day belongs to you but it also belongs to your parents who have put in all their resources to see that you reach to this stage Convocation is not merely a ceremony but is a day built with patience hope and opportunity You are graduating at a time when the world is changing very fast Twentyfive years ago the change was not so fast The world you are stepping into in 2026 is different from the world when you entered the University The world is changing and change is the only constant India is emerging not as an innovation seeker but as an innovation provider The purpose of technology is not progress alone he saidHe also spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modis innovative ideas of startups Make in India etc The one thing I ever ask you is to focus on Swadeshi innovations We need not worry We have to give up our colonial mindset The Prime Minister gave us the slogan of Mera Bharat Mahan In the outside world initially the Covid vaccination cost not Rs 7500 but 7500 US dollars We made the vaccine available free to our people and also to outside countries Modiji did not aim for patents he saidThe Vice President appealed to the graduating students to keep away from narcotics and also ensure that people around them are free from the scourge of drug abuseHe also advised the youth not to be addicted to digital screens Everything must have its limit You are stepping into life and life will ask you questions that will not be from the syllabus or something you were taught in university Challenges will test your patience you must be patient failures will test your courage and you must be courageous he told the graduating studentsIn the end he wished everyone well and thanked the Lieutenant Governor the chief minister the vice chancellor and also those who made this day possible and memorableEarlier Vice Chancellor Nilofer Khan said in her convocation report that the university was established in 1948 as the JampampK University and was bifurcated into Jammu University and Kashmir University in 1969In its 78year long history the university has undertaken a journey of ambition achievement and excellence At todays convocation 59558 degrees 44910 undergraduate 13545 postgraduate 465 degrees in MD MSMCh 638 MPhil degrees 168 PhD have been awarded A total of 239 gold medals have been awarded Out of these186 medals have gone to female scholars The university has 14 schools 84 teaching departments and three satellite campuses of Anantnag Baramulla and Kupwara There are 209 affiliated and constituent colleges in medicine engineering and other degreesUniversity of Kashmir is the oldest university in JampampK It has NAAC A accreditation and is ranked 34th in the NIRF rankings The University is among the top eight State Public Universities in the country The alumni of the university include Padma awardees high court judges civil servants journalists and other professionals Recently one of our teachers and alumni Prof Shafi Shauq was honoured with the Padma Shri award We have students from foreign countries including those from Nigeria Ethiopia Malaysia and other countries the Vice Chancellor said in her reportIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/never-say-mera-tumhara-kashmir-always-say-hamara-kashmir-vp-radhakrishnan-to-jk-students-662887.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/up-govt-inks-mou-in-japan-on-green-hydrogen-technology-cm-yogi-invites-investors--662889.html TokyoNew Delhi Feb 26 IANS The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU with Japans Yamanashi Prefecture on green hydrogen technologynbspChief Minister Yogi Adityanath elaborating on the MoU on green hydrogen technology said that under the agreement students from higher technical institutions of Uttar Pradesh will receive training in Japan and the technology will be implemented in the states industry public transport and energy sectorsnbspnbspThis initiative will prove to be an important step towards achieving Prime Minister Modis Net Zero target he pointed outnbspThe Chief Minister on the second day of his visit presented the states new development policies and investment potential to the global industrial community during the UP Investment Road Show held in Yamanashi He stated that Uttar Pradesh has transformed its governance approach from reactive to proactive and this transformation has become the foundation of the states rapid economic progressCalling robotics a major technology of the future the Chief Minister said the UP government has made provisions in the budget to establish a Centre of Excellence for Robotics and voiced confidence that expanded cooperation will take IndiaJapan relations to new heights giving strength to selfreliance in energy and also making technology accessible to the common peoplenbspnbspBoasting about Uttar Pradeshs demographic advantage and natural abundance CM Yogi said the state has the countrys most fertile land abundant water resources vast human capital and over the past nine years it has scaled new heights of development and therefore offers abundant growth opportunities for the investing entities as wellnbspnbspThe Chief Minister further stated that governance in the state has undergone a transformational shift from a reactive to proactive model of governanceThe government is continuously taking initiatives to attract investment facilitate industries adopt new technologies and expand global partnerships With this vision a highlevel delegation from Uttar Pradesh has visited Japan to convert possibilities into opportunities CM Yogi told a gathering of tech leaders and investorsThe UP CM also made note of a prior incident stating that the Governor of Yamanashi had visited Uttar Pradesh in December 2024 and since then continuous dialogue followups and exchanges of delegations between the two governments have taken this cooperation in a new directionnbspHe said that following the study and report of the business delegation the Uttar Pradesh delegation arrived in Yamanashi at the Governors invitation where this cooperation has taken concrete shapenbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/up-govt-inks-mou-in-japan-on-green-hydrogen-technology-cm-yogi-invites-investors--662889.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/i-dont-want-to-create-further-confusion-says-karnataka-home-minister-on-cm-post-demands-662890.html Bengaluru Feb 26 Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday stated that he doesnt want to create confusion with regards to the matter of leadership in the state He further stated that he cant do much about his supporters demanding the Chief Ministers post for him however the decision has been left to the high command It can be recalled that amid the leadership tussle within the Congress party G Parameshwara had stated on Wednesday that there was nothing wrong with his supporters demanding the Chief Ministerâs post for him He claimed that he had proved beyond doubt that he is capableI am not ready to create more trouble Many people will ask me questions like you have asked My supporters and fans will demand the CMâs post for me and raise slogans in this regard The answer to all this is that the high command will take a decision at an appropriate time Hence there is not much use in analyzing the matter further HM Parameshwara maintainedYou will not get answers now Only when the high command makes a decision will everyone get answers I have not done any lobbying and I have not gone to Delhi for this purpose My wellwishers have demanded it but many times I have asked them not to do it he statedI have even scolded them but somewhere they will express their feelings and we cannot do much about it I will not join hands in creating confusion in the state he statedThere have been expressions by party workers and people but I do not want to add to that confusion Already some confusion has been created over the matter by people and I do not want to join them Whatever needs to be done our high command will take a decision whenever necessary he statedIt is not necessary for us to express everything in the media It is up to the high command If someone expresses their opinion I do not want to join them he reiteratedWhen asked about the demand for a Dalit CM he said That is okay People express their feelings and that is fineTalking about protest by government job aspirants HM Parameshwara stated The Cabinet may discuss filling up vacancies as it is a serious matter On one hand we want our youth to join universities and acquire skills but when they do not get jobs they are naturally disappointed We will discuss this issue Due to internal reservation the recruitment process has slowed down We will discuss how this can be rectifiedIn our manifesto we stated that there are 25 lakh vacancies in government jobs and these will be filled in a phased manner We have carried out some recruitments but the issue of internal reservation came in between In the Home Department alone there are 15000 vacancies We have received clearance and will issue notifications We will fill them he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/i-dont-want-to-create-further-confusion-says-karnataka-home-minister-on-cm-post-demands-662890.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-sessions-court-acquits-sanjay-raut-in-medha-somaiya-defamation-case-662892.html Mumbai Feb 26 A Mumbai Sessions Court on Thursday acquitted Shiv Sena UBT leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut in a criminal defamation case filed by Medha Somaiya wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya The Special Sessions Court pronounced its verdict after reserving the order in Rautâs appeal challenging his conviction by a Magistrates Court last yearWith Thursdayâs ruling Raut has been granted relief and stands acquitted in the caseThe dispute stemmed from allegations made by Raut in the media in which he accused Medha Somaiya of involvement in an alleged Rs 100 crore scam related to the construction of public toilets under the MiraBhayander Municipal Corporation Somaiya had strongly refuted the charges terming them false and defamatoryIn September last year a Mazagaon Metropolitan Magistrate Court had found Raut guilty of defamation and sentenced him to 15 daysâ simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25000 The sentence however was stayed after Raut filed an appeal before the Sessions CourtMedha Somaiya a professor of Organic Chemistry at Mumbaiâs Ruia College had approached the court claiming that Rautâs public statements had damaged her and her husbandâs reputation Prior to filing the complaint in court the Somaiyas had lodged a complaint at Mulund Police Station They maintained that ânot even a single rupee scam has been committedâ and sought legal action against what they described as baseless allegationsRaut on the other hand consistently argued that his statements were based on certain official documents and that he had merely raised questions regarding the alleged irregularities in the toilet construction project He maintained that the issue had also been discussed in the Maharashtra AssemblyWith the Sessions Court overturning the Magistrate Courtâs conviction it is a significant legal victory for Raut in a matter involving leaders from rival parties in Maharashtra IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mumbai-sessions-court-acquits-sanjay-raut-in-medha-somaiya-defamation-case-662892.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/talks-with-us-commerce-secretary-focused-on-boosting-economic-partnership-piyush-goyal-662893.html New Delhi Feb 26 IANS Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said he held very fruitful discussions with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor to expand trade and economic ties between the two countriesnbspIn a post on social media platform X Goyal said he hosted the US Secretary of Commerce and the US Ambassador in India and engaged in meaningful talks aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and economic partnershipHe highlighted that the discussions focused on expanding cooperation and deepening engagement between India and the United StatesnbspHosted US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor Engaged in very fruitful discussions to expand our trade and economic partnership Goyal wrote on XnbspThe meeting comes at a time when India has been actively working to enhance its global trade footprint and build stronger economic relationships with key partnersThe government has been pushing for greater market access for Indian businesses and encouraging integration into global value chainsnbspEarlier Goyal had said that India has concluded nine free trade agreements FTAs covering 38 nations giving Indian businesses preferential access to nearly twothirds of global tradenbspHe noted that these agreements are helping Indian goods services agricultural and fisheries products and labourintensive sectors reach new markets while also improving talent mobilityAccording to the minister the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not about isolation but about building resilient trusted and diversified supply chains through global engagementnbspHe has repeatedly called upon entrepreneurs and industry leaders to take global opportunities to MSMEs farmers exporters and fishermen across the countrynbspSpeaking at the 27th edition of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in Mumbai recently Goyal had said that Indias growth journey will continue to be driven by its entrepreneurs and youthnbspHe expressed confidence that young India will lead the country through the Amrit Kaal towards becoming a developed economy by 2047IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/talks-with-us-commerce-secretary-focused-on-boosting-economic-partnership-piyush-goyal-662893.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/no-space-for-invaders-as-heroes-cm-fadnavis-on-shivaji-maharaj-tipu-sultan-comparison-662894.html Mumbai Feb 26 IANS Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday in a scathing rebuttal addressed the controversy surrounding Tipu Sultan asserting that years of tempered history have misled the nationnbspHis remarks came in response to statements made by Congress Maharashtra State President Harshvardhan Sapkal who had reportedly suggested that Tipu Sultan should be considered on par with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj He criticised what he called the distortion of historical facts for political mileage He asserted that while India respects all patriotic citizens invaders would never be accepted as national icons in MaharashtraIn his reply to the debate on the Governors address the chief minister said Unfortunately the true history of this land was never taught correctly We have no objection to the many patriotic Muslims in this country However those who consider antinational elements and invaders as heroes are choosing a fight with us and we will not back downnbspCM Fadnavis clarified that the primary objection was not whether Tipu Sultan was a good or bad ruler but the attempt to equate him with the Maratha legend Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Our objection is to the claim that Tipu Sultan was as great a king as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or that he should be glorified in the same manner For years history was manipulated to teach us that Tipu Sultan was a great king while conveniently omitting that he was responsible for the massacre of 75000 Hindus and 33000 Nayars he stated He further argued that Tipu Sultans fight against the British was a matter of selfpreservation to save his own kingdom rather than a struggle for national liberationCM Fadnavis highlighted a significant shift in the educational narrative under the current Central government He pointed out the disparity in previous textbooks between the past and current curriculum In the past curriculum Mughal history was allotted 17 pages while the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was relegated to a single paragraph In the current curriculum under the Modi government the history of the Marathas and Shivaji Maharaj has been expanded to 20 pages in NCERT books he saidIf the correct history had been taught at the right time not a single Muslim in this country would have considered Aurangzeb a hero he remarkednbspHe emphasised that while the country is home to many patriotic Muslims against whom there is no grievance the government will firmly oppose those who idolise invaders and enemies of the nationnbspCM Fadnavis emphasised that Shivaji Maharaj fought for Swarajya selfrule whereas Tipu Sultans legacy is marred by the documented slaughter of thousands of HindusnbspHe noted that the comparison had deeply hurt the sentiments of the people leading to the recent clashes in Pune and Mumbai As Home Minister he warned that the government would not tolerate any glorification of figures that incite communal tension under the guise of historical reverenceIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/no-space-for-invaders-as-heroes-cm-fadnavis-on-shivaji-maharaj-tipu-sultan-comparison-662894.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/centres-industrial-corridor-strategy-propelling-growth-across-states-662895.html New Delhi Feb 26 IANS The Centres strategy of accelerating industrial development has picked up pace with four National Industrial Corridors already being completed while another four are nearing completion since the Rs 28602 crore package was announced for 12 such corridors in 202425 according to an official factsheet issued on ThursdaynbspUnion Budget 202627 has added further momentum to this growth with the Rs 3000 crore allocation for the development of an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a wellconnected node at Durgapur in West BengalThese industrial smart cities are envisioned to develop globally benchmarked manufacturing and investment hubs featuring plugandplay facilities and a walktowork ecosystem They aim to create bestinclass futureready infrastructure designed ahead of demandnbspThe projects which cover most states include the DelhiMumbai Industrial Corridor DMIC Dholera Special Investment Region Gujarat Shendra Bidkin Industrial Area Maharashtra Integrated Industrial Township Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh Krishnapatnam and Tumakuru industrial areas in Karnataka Ponneri Industrial Area Tamil Nadu and Raghunathpur Industrial Park in West BengalRajasthan Madhya Pradesh Punjab Haryana Bihar and Andhra Pradesh are some of the other states that have been chosen for these projectsnbspAccording to the Economic Survey 202526 the PhaseI cities under the projects have collectively allotted 350 industrial plots attracting 202 lakh crore in investments across sectors such as electronics renewables pharmaceuticals and Electric Vehicles EVsnbspTo advance this model of industrial corridorled development the Government of India together with State Governments is establishing these belts as planned economic zones supported by strong transport connectivityIndustrial corridors are linear development zones that connect major economic centres through an integrated network of roads railways ports and airports The defining features of these corridors are Promotion of accelerated industrial growth by strengthening the link between industry and core infrastructure Development along major transport arteries particularly rail trunk routes ensuring strong connectivity for efficient movement of freight and the publicnbspThese corridors are aimed at creating globallycomparable infrastructure and businessfriendly environment which facilitate economic agglomeration and industrial clustering helping regions maximise their growth potentialThe Government of India is developing multiple Industrial Corridor Projects under the National Industrial Corridor Programme NICDP guided by the PM GatiShakti framework to ensure coordinated multimodal connectivity for major economic zonesnbspThese projects are being developed through a sustainabilityfocussed framework that supports the transition towards LowCarbon Cities LCCs through the creation of extensive green spaces provision of public transit systems and integration of renewable energy sourcesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/centres-industrial-corridor-strategy-propelling-growth-across-states-662895.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jagan-voices-concern-over-diarrhea-outbreak-in-srikakulam--662622.html Amaravati Feb 25 Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the outbreak of diarrhea in Srikakulamâ He criticised the government for negligence and said public health was being compromised due to administrative failureâThe YSRCP chief stated that poor road repair work and a lack of proper precautions in the drinking water supply had led to the present situation and added that failure to protect public health exposed weaknesses in governance âHe said in a statement that the government has a responsibility to ensure safe drinking water and proper sanitation managementâYS Jagan emphasised that the victims currently receiving treatment must be provided with the best possible medical care He demanded that special medical teams monitor patients who are on ventilator support and that senior specialists be appointed if required âHe said no effort should be spared in saving lives He also called for a thorough inquiry into the incident and strict action against those responsible âThe former Chief Minister urged the authorities to take immediate steps to ensure water purification chlorination and proper drainage management to prevent further spread He warned that if the government fails to protect peopleâs health the public will respond accordingly âHe also demanded immediate financial assistance for the families of the deceased and affected victimsâMeanwhile YS Jagan Mohan Reddy interacted with party workers supporters and members of the public during his visit to his constituency Pulivendula in YSR Kadapa district âAt the Bhakarapuram camp office he met people who had gathered in large numbers to see him and present their concerns âAccording to a party statement he enquired about the wellbeing of party workers and listened patiently to their problemsHe assured them that difficult times would not last forever and that better days were ahead He told them not to lose courage and promised to stand by anyone facing trouble âSeveral leaders and cadres complained about harassment and attacks by TDP leaders under the coalition government In response he advised them to remain strong and continue their struggle democraticallyâHe also spoke to Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy regarding certain issues and suggested steps to resolve them YS Jagan expressed concern about what he called the deteriorating governance and the misuse of institutions âHe said that any government should work for public welfare and not for vendetta He recalled that during the YSRCP tenure benefits were delivered to all eligible persons without discriminationâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jagan-voices-concern-over-diarrhea-outbreak-in-srikakulam--662622.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-official-arrested-for-taking-bribe-in-odishas-cuttack-662623.html Bhubaneswar Feb 24 The Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday arrested a senior government official for allegedly accepting a bribe from a licensed coal vendor in exchange for facilitating the complainant to run his business smoothly According to the Vigilance sources the accused officer Debabrata Mohanty Cuttack Deputy Director of Mines was apprehended by the Vigilance sleuths while he was taking a bribe of Rs 30000 from the licenced coal vendor in exchange for allowing smooth running of his coal depot and to grant permission to transport coal The police also seized the entire tainted bribe money from the possession of the accused Deputy Director of MinesFollowing the trap simultaneous searches are underway at three locations associated with Mohanty to ascertain whether the accused Deputy Director has possessed any disproportionate assets DA A case has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Amendment Act 2018 against Mohanty at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station in this regard on MondayNotably Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday told the State Assembly that the Vigilance Department has registered a total 416 cases against government officers and employees in the state for taking bribes committing financial irregularities in government fund and possession of disproportionate assets between January 1 2024 and December 31 2025 He also added that of this 244 cases are pending investigation and in 172 cases after completion of investigation final forms have been submitted and the cases are subjudiceThe state government has established 22 Vigilance Courts in the state including two Special courts and two courts of authorised officers for prompt trial of various Vigilance cases and confiscation proceedings As per reports a new Vigilance Court has also been established in Bargarh district recently This apart the Odisha government has recently taken several other initiatives to strengthen the Vigilance department IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-official-arrested-for-taking-bribe-in-odishas-cuttack-662623.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fog-to-persist-in-chennai-rain-likely-across-tn-till-march-1-662634.html Chennai Feb 25 The Regional Meteorological Centre RMC has forecast the continuation of early morning fog in Chennai and eight other districts even as parts of Tamil Nadu are expected to receive moderate rainfall over the next few days According to the latest weather bulletin a lowpressure system that had formed over the Bay of Bengal has weakened However its residual impact coupled with prevailing atmospheric conditions is likely to bring moderate rain to isolated places in southern Tamil Nadu and parts of northern districts on Wednesday Light to moderate rainfall is also expected in Puducherry and its Karaikal region The RMC has indicated that rainfall activity may continue across Tamil Nadu until March 1 Weather officials said the changing wind pattern and moisture incursion from the sea are contributing to the unsettled conditionsMeanwhile residents of Chennai Tiruvallur Kancheepuram Salem Dharmapuri Krishnagiri Tirupattur Vellore and Ranipet districts have been advised to expect light fog during the early morning hours on Wednesday and Thursday The fog may reduce visibility in some interior stretches and along highways prompting authorities to caution motorists to drive carefully during dawn hours In addition to rainfall and fog the Meteorological Department has forecast a rise in daytime temperatures Until February 28 maximum temperatures across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are likely to remain 2 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal The combination of abovenormal heat during the day and misty conditions in the morning reflects the transitional weather pattern currently prevailing in the region Weather experts note that while the lowpressure area has weakened localised convection and moisture availability could continue to trigger sporadic showers Farmers and residents in rainfed areas have been advised to monitor local forecasts for updates With fluctuating weather conditions expected to persist over the coming days the Meteorological Department has assured that it will issue regular updates and advisories as required IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fog-to-persist-in-chennai-rain-likely-across-tn-till-march-1-662634.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/chennai-fishers-to-hold-human-chain-protest-on-march-2-against-blue-flag-project-expansion-marina-rope-car-662649.html Chennai Feb 25 Tension is mounting along Chennaiâs coastline as fishermen from 12 hamlets between Ayodhya Kuppam in Triplicane and Srinivasapuram in Santhome gear up for a largescale human chain protest on the evening of March 2 The agitation is aimed at urging the state government to drop plans to expand the Blue Flag beach project along the Marina and to halt the rope car project on the sandsLeaders representing Ayodhya Kuppam Mattankuppam Nochikuppam and Srinivasapuram according to fishermen leaders deliberated on what they termed âserious livelihood threatsâ posed by recent coastal development initiativesApart from the Blue Flag expansion the fishing community is opposing the proposed removal of shops along the Marina Loop Road and beachfront areas The protesters say that while they are not against development any expansion of tourism infrastructure should not come at the cost of traditional fishing rights vending spaces and access to the shore They have demanded structured consultations with officials before further work proceedsSelvaraj a fisherman from Ayodhya Kuppam said the community had already made concessions for earlier phases of the project âWe gave up space and shifted our boats when the Blue Flag proposal first came But when bamboo fences were erected in the little space we had left we lost even that After pressure from us they removed it We have 30 boats and 10 catamarans here Fishing near the coast is already badly affected due to sewage and garbage Now even our parking space for boats is shrinkingâ he saidResidents fear that further expansion of the Blue Flag scheme will push fishing families out of the beach altogetherAccording to community members space traditionally used for docking boats and drying nets is gradually being restricted Concerns are also mounting among vendors who depend on evening beach commerce A woman vendor said that nearly 2000 families rely on the eateries and small shops that operate along Marina and Loop RoadâHow can only 300 shops be allowed What will happen to the rest If the government provides alternative space or another means of livelihood we can consider moving Otherwise this is a question of life and death for usâ she saidCommunity leader K Bharathi questioned what he called âunequal enforcementâ He alleged that while fishermen are prevented from putting up temporary thatches to mend nets civic authorities are installing bamboo fences cabanas changing rooms toilets and even undertaking rope car construction on the sandsThe fishermen have urged the government to hold consultations before proceeding further warning that development without livelihood safeguards will severely impact Chennaiâs traditional coastal communities IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/chennai-fishers-to-hold-human-chain-protest-on-march-2-against-blue-flag-project-expansion-marina-rope-car-662649.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhis-air-quality-stays-poor-as-temperatures-climb-unusually-662652.html New Delhi Feb 25 The air quality in Delhi remained in the poor category on Wednesday with Anand Vihar recording very poor conditions reflected by an AQI of 342 The DelhiNCR region is witnessing a gradual increase in temperatures though mornings and evenings continue to remain relatively cooler According to the Central Pollution Control Board CPCB several monitoring stations across the national capital city reported varying air quality levels Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 342 very poor Ashok Vihar 258 Burari Crossing 265 Chandni Chowk 275 DTU 229 Dwarka Sector8 254 IIT Delhi 173 ITO 284 Jahangirpuri 292 Lodhi Road 159 Mandir Marg 165 North Campus 241 Punjabi Bagh 261 Pusa 192 RK Puram 262 Rohini 282 Sonia Vihar 260 and Wazirpur 299 Most of these areas fell in the âpoorâ category with a few recording âmoderateâ levelsIn a bid to strengthen air quality monitoring Delhi has activated six new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations CAAQMS taking the total number of such stations in the city to 46 the highest in the country The move aims to enhance realtime air pollution tracking and enable more datadriven policy interventionsThe newly operational stations have been installed at Jawaharlal Nehru University JNU Indira Gandhi National Open University IGNOU the ISRO Earth Station near Malcha Mahal Central Ridge Delhi Cantonment Commonwealth Sports Complex and Netaji Subhash University of Technology West Campus These stations are now streaming live air quality data on the Delhi Pollution Control Committee DPCC website improving transparency and accessibility of information for residents and authorities alikeMeanwhile temperatures in the national capital region are steadily rising Reports suggest that temperatures are likely to spike around Holi with intense sunshine expected to make conditions uncomfortable during the day This warming trend is not confined to the NCR alone but is also likely to be observed across most parts of North India including Haryana Punjab Uttar Pradesh and RajasthanAt present Delhiâs maximum temperature is hovering around 30 degrees Celsius while the minimum stands at approximately 13 degrees Celsius However a gradual rise is expected over the coming days By Saturday the maximum temperature is likely to reach 32 degrees Celsius with the minimum climbing to around 16 degrees Celsius By March 4 the maximum temperature may touch 33 degrees Celsius while the minimum could settle near 17 degrees CelsiusOn Wednesday the minimum temperature is likely to remain near normal while the maximum temperature may be recorded significantly above normal approximately 31 to 50 degrees Celsius higher On February 26 the sky is likely to remain mostly clear The maximum temperature is expected to range between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius while the minimum may hover between 13 and 15 degrees CelsiusDelhi appears set to end February on an unusually warm note with maximum temperatures running well above seasonal norms and winter retreating weeks earlier than usual Through midmonth daytime temperatures repeatedly remained several degrees above the longperiod average A sharp spike to 316 degrees Celsius was recorded on February 16 at Safdarjung the cityâs base weather station about 72 degrees Celsius above normal and marking the earliest breach of the 30degree Celsius mark in five yearsDelhiâs alltime February high stands at 341 degrees Celsius recorded on February 26 2006 while recent highs include 336 degrees Celsius February 21 2023 and 324 degrees Celsius February 26 2025 Whether 2026 sets a record will depend on latemonth temperature spikes so far 316 degrees Celsius remains the monthâs peakAfter beginning the month with a mean temperature of 1835 degrees Celsius on February 1 already about 3 degrees above normal the city experienced only brief dips For instance on February 2 the mean temperature fell to 1395 degrees Celsius slightly below the climatological average Thereafter temperatures rose steadily with several days recording mean values 24 degrees Celsius above normal Following a brief cooldown due to light rain and gusty winds around February 18 heat levels climbed again under clear skies Observations from Safdarjung Palam Ridge Lodhi Road and Ayanagar confirmed that abovenormal temperatures were widespread across the city IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhis-air-quality-stays-poor-as-temperatures-climb-unusually-662652.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/security-tightened-across-kashmir-as-vp-radhakrishnans-visit-begins-today-662659.html Srinagar Feb 25 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan is arriving here on Wednesday evening on his maiden twoday visit to the Kashmir Valley Officials said the Vice President will land at the Srinagar Airport in the evening and drive to the Lok Bhawan in Chashma Shahi area of Srinagar city where he will spend the nightJampK Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will receive the Vice President on his arrival hereHe will be the chief guest at the 21st convocation of the University of Kashmir being held at the Hazratbal campus on ThursdayThe LG is the Chancellor while the Chief Minister is the ProChancellor of this universitySecurity has been tightened ahead of the Vice Presidents arrival The security forces carried out a dry run of the entire route the Vice President is scheduled to use during his stay in SrinagarMakeshift check posts have come up at a number of places while checking vehicles and frisking of occupants entering the city has also started to ensure foolproof security for the VVIPThe traffic department has issued an elaborate advisory asking people to strictly follow the alternate routes made available to ensure free passage of the VVIP cavalcade during the visitAccording to the advisory no motorist will be allowed to ply towards Nishat Shalimar Harwan and adjacent areas via Badyari Chowk and Gupkar on Thursday Similarly traffic movement from Ram Munshibagh towards Hotel Grand Palace will remain suspended and vehicles will be diverted towards Dalgate Sangermal and Ikhwan Chowk for onward movementAuthorities said that no traffic will be allowed on the Dalgate Khayam Khanyar Rainawari Saidkadal and Hazratbal road stretch during the restriction period Motorists intending to travel from Harwan Shalimar Nishat Ganderbal and adjoining areas towards Lal Chowk have been advised to take the Burzahama route via Chandpora Tailbal Zakoora Malbagh Illahibagh and 90 Feet Road and vice versaThose travelling from Dalgate Lal Chowk and nearby areas towards Harwan Shalimar and Nishat have been directed to use the Sangermal Ikhwan Chowk Nowhatta 90 Feet and Malbagh road route to reach their destinationsMotorists heading towards Srinagar Airport from Harwan Shalimar and Nishat will be permitted to move through Burzahama Chandpora Tailbal Zakoora Malbagh Illahibagh and 90 Feet Road Vehicles travelling from Panthachowk and Pandrethan towards R M Bagh will be allowed via Peaks Motors Nowgam and the Bypass Officials said that medical emergency cases will be facilitated after due verificationCitizens requiring assistance may contact the Traffic Police Control Room at 103Meanwhile VK Virdi IGP Kashmir took a detailed security review meeting of the VVIP visitThis is CP Radhakrishnanâs maiden visit to the union territory as the Vice President of the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/security-tightened-across-kashmir-as-vp-radhakrishnans-visit-begins-today-662659.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/several-districts-in-rajasthan-record-above-33-degrees-celsius-temperature-rain-forecast-from-feb-27-662666.html Jaipur Feb 25 The Meteorological Department on Wednesday said that several districts in Rajasthan recorded above 33 degrees Celsius temperature and predicted rainfall in the state from Friday Met officials said that the winter season in Rajasthan is almost over and only a mild chill is now felt during the early mornings and late evenings Daytime temperatures are steadily rising across the state signalling the onset of warmer conditionsOn Tuesday temperatures crossed 33 degrees Celsius in many districts including Chittorgarh Pali Jaisalmer Jodhpur Jalore and PhalodiMeanwhile most districts including Jaipur reported maximum temperatures above 30 degrees CelsiusAccording to the Jaipur Meteorological Centre weather conditions are expected to change again from Friday due to the activation of a Western DisturbanceIn the past 24 hours a weak circulation system caused light drizzle in some areas with Dausa recording the highest rainfall of 10 mmFrom Friday cloudy skies and light rain are likely in several parts of the state which may lead to a temporary drop in temperatures Jaipur is currently experiencing rising daytime temperaturesOn Tuesday the city recorded a maximum temperature of 302 degrees Celsius which is 32 degrees Celsius above normalThe minimum temperature was 172 degrees Celsius also 38 degrees above normalMeteorologists have indicated that slight weather changes may occur in the coming days with cloud cover expected due to the Western DisturbanceTemperature in many districts increased crossing a 30 degrees Celsius markAjmer recorded a maximum temperature of 315 degrees Celsius while Bhilwara registered 314 degrees Celsius and Alwar 305 degrees Celsius Jaipur reported 302 degrees Celsius and Pilani recorded 312 degrees Celsius Sikar was slightly cooler at 290 degrees CelsiusKota recorded 318 degrees Celsius Chittorgarh 336 degrees Celsius Jaisalmer 335 degrees Celsius Jodhpur 339 degrees Celsius Bikaner 326 degrees Celsius Churu 322 degrees Celsius Sriganganagar 318 degrees Celisus while Mount Abu remained the coolest at 254 degrees CelsiusNagaur recorded 318 degrees Celsius maximum temparture Dungarpur 324 degrees Celsius Jalore 338 degrees Celsius Sirohi 284 degrees Celsius Fatehpur 320 degrees Celsius Karauli 307 degrees Celsius Dausa 309 degrees Celsius and Jhunjhunu 308 degrees Celsius IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/several-districts-in-rajasthan-record-above-33-degrees-celsius-temperature-rain-forecast-from-feb-27-662666.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/youth-shot-dead-by-two-miscreants-in-howrah-bengal-police-recover-cctv-footage-662667.html Kolkata Feb 25 A youth was shot dead from pointblank range by two miscreants in the Golabari Police Station area of Howrah district West Bengal on Wednesday The shocking incident which occurred around 4 am was caught on CCTV footage said the policeThe deceased youth has been identified as Safiq Khan As per the CCTV footage he was surrounded by two men While one stood in front of him and another stood behind Suddenly they pulled out guns and shot at his head As soon as the young man fell a few more rounds were fired to ensure his death Then the two men ran awayOfficers of Golabari police station are investigating whether this attack was a case of extortion or old enmity The incident has created a sensation in the areaAccording to police sources the deceased Shafiq Khans house is in Peelkhana under the Golabari police station area He was a local developer He had come to get food on the side of the road early in the morningAccording to local residents the two men are identified as Mohammad Harul Khan and Rohit The CCTV footage shows one man talking to Shafiq facetoface and another man standing behind Shafiq Suddenly one of the assailants pulled out a gun from behind and shot Shafiq in the head As Shafiq fell to the ground the two attackers fired several rounds in quick succession Then they fled from there Shafiq was taken to the hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead A case has been registered and a search is on to find the miscreants behind the killing Investigation is on said a senior officer of Howrah City PoliceThe police are examining the CCTV footage to track down the miscreantsThe deceaseds family alleged that Shafiq was attacked over an old quarrel A relative of the deceased told reporters There was a problem with Harul a long time ago But there was no enmity Harul brought another person and shot him IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/youth-shot-dead-by-two-miscreants-in-howrah-bengal-police-recover-cctv-footage-662667.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-bjp-chief-accuses-cm-siddaramaiah-of-misleading-public-on-recruitment-figures-662673.html Bengaluru Feb 25 Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Wednesday accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of misleading the public regarding the number of government posts filled during the Congress governmentâs tenure in the state In a statement Vijayendra alleged that the state government had presented contradictory information inside the Legislative Assembly and outside He said official data provided by the government in the Assembly showed that only 8157 government recruitments had been completed during the three years of the current administrationHowever Vijayendra claimed that the Chief Minister had publicly stated that 40000 posts had been filled which he described as false and misleading Vijayendra questioned how long the government would continue to mislead the people and said such claims amounted to a betrayal of the unemployed youth of the stateHe further stated that as one of the longestserving Chief Ministers Siddaramaiah had a responsibility to present accurate information to the public Misleading statements he said could worsen the frustration and anger among unemployed youthVijayendra urged the Congress government to immediately complete the pending recruitment processes and address the concerns of job aspirants He called on the government to stop spreading false claims and ensure justice to unemployed youth by filling vacant government posts without further delayReacting to the protest by government job aspirants in Dharwad Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday had urged students to focus on education and assured faster recruitment When we assumed office more than 264 lakh government posts were vacant This massive backlog did not arise overnight it was the result of prolonged inaction under the previous Bharatiya Janata Party BJPled state government which failed to initiate timely recruitments or create a structured roadmap to fill vacanciesCM Siddaramaiah further stated In the last 25 years alone more than 40000 job recruitments have been completed across departments We are also conscious that many job aspirants have waited for years due to delays beyond their control Recognising this hardship the state government has relaxed the age criteria by more than five years for upcoming recruitments ensuring that deserving candidates are not unfairly excluded because of systemic delaysIt can be recalled that thousands of students BJP activists members of the All Karnataka State Student Association AKSSA and unemployed youths staged a massive protest in Dharwad on Tuesday demanding that the Karnataka government immediately fill vacant posts in various state departmentsLeader of Opposition R Ashoka commenting on the protest while speaking to the media alleged in Chitradurga that the state government has failed to address unemployment despite having clearance to fill thousands of vacant postsHe said that more than 25 lakh government posts are currently vacant in Karnataka and the finance department had cleared recruitment for 65000 posts nearly six months ago However no interviews have been conducted so far IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-bjp-chief-accuses-cm-siddaramaiah-of-misleading-public-on-recruitment-figures-662673.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-bust-digital-arrest-racket-operating-from-jaipur-arrest-three-for-duping-elderly-of-rs-16-lakh-662674.html New Delhi Feb 25 Delhi Police on Wednesday busted a digital arrest racket operating from Jaipur Rajasthan and arrested three on the charges of duping a senior citizen of Rs 16 lakh According to a statement issued by the SouthWest District the operation was carried out by the staff of the Cyber Police Station SouthWest DistrictThe accused have been identified as Rakesh Meena 25 Chotu Lal Meena 20 and Yogendra Gujjar 19 With their arrest the police recovered Rs 1 lakh in cash nine mobile phones and 10 passbooks and chequebooks linked to mule bank accountsThe case pertains to an eFIR No 1102025 registered on December 7 2025 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS at Cyber Police Station SouthWest District The complaint was filed by a 75yearold woman who reported that she had received a WhatsApp call from a person impersonating a CBI Inspector The caller implicated her son in a fabricated criminal case and placed her under a socalled digital arrest for two daysDuring this period the victim was kept under continuous video surveillance and subjected to psychological intimidationActing under fear and coercion she transferred Rs 16 lakh into bank accounts provided by the fraudstersConsidering the gravity of the offence a special team comprising SubInspector Chetan Rana Head Constable Manender and Head Constable Vijaypal was constituted under the supervision of Inspector Pravesh Kaushik SHO of PS Cyber SouthWest DistrictThe overall supervision was carried out by ACP Operations Vijay Kumar of SouthWest DistrictThe team adopted a multipronged strategy focusing on technical surveillance digital footprint analysis SIM card tracking social media monitoring and examination of the money trail During the investigation it was revealed that a syndicate operating from Jaipur was procuring mule bank accounts from Kotputli Rajasthan to park the cheated moneyDetailed financial analysis led to the identification of one agent Yogendra Gujjar operating from Kotputli A raid was conducted in Kotputli and Gujjar was apprehendedDuring interrogation he disclosed that he arranged mule bank accounts from uneducated locals and supplied them to coaccused Chotu Lal Meena The accounts were then forwarded to the alleged mastermind Rakesh Meena who was operating from JaipurThe account details were shared through Instagram and other online platforms The accounts were initially tested to ensure operability before being used to receive the fundsBased on technical evidence and disclosures another raid was conducted in Sanganer Jaipur Rakesh Meena and Chotu Lal Meena were traced and arrested from a rented accommodation in Pratap Nagar SanganerDuring the raid police recovered Rs 1 lakh in cash nine mobile phones allegedly used in the commission of the offence and 10 passbooks and chequebooks linked to various mule accountsFurther investigation revealed that the accused were supplying multiple mule accounts to fraudsters operating from Cambodia and coordinating with agents across Rajasthan to arrange such accounts These accounts were allegedly used in digital arrest scams investment frauds and other cyber crimes targeting Indian citizensPolice said the mastermind Rakesh Meena procured mule accounts through his associates and shared the details with international fraudsters via Telegram and other online platforms The cheated amount was credited into mule accounts withdrawn through ATMs or cheques and subsequently layered into other accounts as directed by the international handlers to conceal the money trailFurther investigation into the case is underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-bust-digital-arrest-racket-operating-from-jaipur-arrest-three-for-duping-elderly-of-rs-16-lakh-662674.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-to-be-renamed-keralam-bjp-welcomes-decision-congress-flags-dual-policy-on-bengal-662680.html New Delhi Feb 25 The Union Cabinet has cleared the proposal to rename Kerala as Keralam paving the way for a constitutional amendment in Parliament and triggering a fresh political debate While the BJP welcomed the decision as recognition of the stateâs cultural and linguistic identity the Congress alleged a âdual policyâ questioning why a similar longpending demand to rename West Bengal has not received the Centreâs approval Reacting to the development BJP National Spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Wednesday said âThe people of Kerala had a longstanding demand for the name to be changed to âKeralamâ Now the change has been made Once it is approved by the Vidhan Sabha the official name of Kerala will become âKeralamââThe Union Cabinetâs approval came on Tuesday just months ahead of the Assembly elections in Kerala The state Assembly had earlier passed unanimous resolutions in August 2023 and again in June 2024 urging the Centre to amend the Constitution to reflect the name Keralam which is the Malayalam pronunciation of the stateâs nameWhile Keralaâs proposal has now moved forward the issue has reignited debate over similar demands from West Bengal In Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput criticised the Centreâs decision alleging inconsistency in its approachâThis is part of the BJPâs dual policy The BJP should answer â for electoral reasons you are ready to rename Kerala to âKeralamâ for political reasons but you are not changing the name of West Bengal On a serious note Amit Shah and PM Modi should answer Mamata Banerjeeâs fair questionsâ Rajput told IANSWest Bengal has sought a name change multiple times dating back to the tenure of former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and continuing under current Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Over the years the state has proposed names such as âPashchim Bongoâ âBongoâ and most recently âBanglaâ However none of these proposals has received approval from the Centre The latest proposal in 2018 to rename the state âBanglaâ remains pendingWith the Union Cabinet clearing Keralaâs proposal the renaming process now moves to the next constitutional steps The President of India will send a Bill to the Kerala Assembly to seek its views After the Assembly formally expresses its opinion the Centre will introduce a Bill in Parliament to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution which lists the names of statesThe proposed legislation will require a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament Once passed it will be sent to the President for assent Upon approval the change will be notified in the Gazette of India after which the name Keralam will officially come into use IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-to-be-renamed-keralam-bjp-welcomes-decision-congress-flags-dual-policy-on-bengal-662680.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/intelligence-agencies-assess-renewed-efforts-to-destabilise-punjab-through-tactical-escalation-662681.html New Delhi Feb 25 A little known group called the TehreekeTaliban Hindustan TTH has claimed responsibility for the recent killing of police personnel at a border outpost in Punjab This has led Intelligence agencies to believe that there are renewed efforts to destabilise Punjab through tactical escalation Two personnel of the Punjab Police who were on duty near the IndiaPakistan border were found dead with bullet injuries on February 22Gurnam Singh and Ashok Kumar an Assistant SubInspector and Home Guard respectively were on duty at the border outpost in Gurdaspur Punjab when the incident took placeWhile the investigation is still ongoing and the agencies are trying to get to the bottom of the case the TTH claimed responsibility for the attackThis has complicated the probe as the TTH is not a known entity The name of the outfit sounds like it is connected to the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTPAn Intelligence Bureau official said that there is nothing to show that the TTP and TTH are linkedThis is clearly an operation that has been undertaken to target the Indian security agencies Looking the current relations between the ISI and TTP it is unlikely that Pakistan could have directed such an attack through the TTP or its proxyThe officer said that these killings come at a time when the ISI has become desperate to relaunch the Khalistan movement in India The Khalistan terror groups are under pressure to strike in Punjab and revive the movementOn the other hand India and Canada and to a large extent the United Kingdom UK are working together to wipe out the Khalistani causeOver the years both the UK and Canada have been soft on these elements operating on their soil However the scenario has changed and both nations have agreed to work with India and end the menaceAll these factors have not just put pressure on the ISIbacked Khalistan groups but has also managed to increase the heat on themAn official said that the socalled TTH is just a proxy of a Pakistan terror group A Khalistan linked group may have carried out the Gurdaspur attackThe Punjab Police have rejected that the TTH carried out the attack The police say that all angles are being probed which include smuggling links crossborder terror involvement and personal enmity alsoThe Intelligence agencies say that the ISI has become desperate to revive the Khalistan movement in PunjabIt would use all tools at its disposal to try and disrupt normalcy in Punjab Officials say that there is a pattern that has been emergingThe killings at Gurdaspur are not an isolated incident Several incidents in which police stations personnel and security establishments have been targeted were reported in recent monthsExplosive devices have been used in attacks at police stations and outposts in Ajnala Nawanshahr Majitha Batala Amritsar and GurdaspurThe ISI has been using the service of international drug syndicates foreign based handlers and gangsters to disturb peace in PunjabThe recent Gurdaspur operation could also be the handiwork of the gangsterterror nexusSeveral cases relating to this nexus are under probe by the National Investigation Agency NIA In a bid to take the heat off the Khalistani terror groups and also the gangsterterror nexus the ISI is creating groups such as the TTHThis helps in diverting attention an official saidThe attack at Gurdaspur appears to be thoroughly planned The post is typically manned by two local police personnel and two from the Border Security Force BSF The BSF personnel on the day of the attack were absent due to a departmental function near AmritsarThe killers were aware of this and also that the post did not have CCTV coverageThe Intelligence agencies warn that the ISI would look to step up its operations and continue to target security personnelPakistani agencies have also refined their drone operations and have been sending in sophisticated ones to drop arms and ammunition along with narcotics into PunjabThe frequency of the drones coming in is likely to go up as the ISI wants to hurry through its plan of reviving the Khalistan movement in a very big way another official said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/intelligence-agencies-assess-renewed-efforts-to-destabilise-punjab-through-tactical-escalation-662681.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/father-son-duo-arrested-in-kolkatas-tiljala-shootout-case-662682.html Kolkata Feb 25 Two persons including a father and his son have been arrested in connection with the recent shootout in Kolkataâs Tiljala area police said on Wednesday The accused Mohammad Salman and his father Mohammad Anwar were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday while allegedly attempting to flee the city Police seized a firearm a magazine and two live cartridges from their possessionAccording to police the duo had gone underground following the incident Acting on a tipoff received late Tuesday night that they were planning to escape under the cover of darkness a police team conducted a raid near Tiljala Railway Gate No 2 At around 3 am officers swooped down on a rickshaw stand in the area and apprehended the two accusedThe arrested persons will be produced before a court later in the day where police are likely to seek their custody for further investigationThe shootout took place late on Monday night on Tiljala Road under the Beniapukur police station area Salman is accused of calling a local youth Mohammad Niaz alias Raja out of his house and opening fire on him following a neighbourhood dispute reportedly linked to the alleged theft of cold drink bottlesNiaz a garage worker sustained two bullet injuries to his leg and was rushed to SSKM Hospital where he underwent surgery His condition is reported to be stablePolice said the dispute began on Monday afternoon when an elderly shopkeeper noticed that two bottles of cold drinks were missing from the refrigerator kept outside his shop He accused a local youth of theft but the youthâs mother denied the allegation and protestedThe shopkeeper reportedly called a young man named Suraj from a neighbouring locality to mediate Niaz objected to the involvement of someone from another area in the matter leading to tensionsThe argument resurfaced in the evening Salmans father allegedly supported the decision to call Suraj for arbitration triggering a heated exchange with Niaz Salman is said to have threatened Niaz during the altercationAccording to Niazâs family Salman later called him out of his house around 1 am under the pretext of holding talks Moments after he stepped outside gunshots were heardPolice are continuing their investigation into the incident IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/father-son-duo-arrested-in-kolkatas-tiljala-shootout-case-662682.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/odisha-rs-4-crore-seized-from-senior-mines-officials-residence-662683.html Bhubaneswar Feb 25 In the highestever cash seizure by Odishas Vigilance Department the anti corruption sleuths on Wednesday unearthed over Rs 4 crore in cash from the Bhubaneswar flat of Deputy Director of Mines Cuttack Circle The accused identified as Debabrata Mohanty was apprehended on Tuesday night for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30000 from a licensed coal vendor for allowing smooth running of his coal depot and to grant permission to transport coalFollowing his arrest Vigilance officials launched simultaneous searches at multiple locations linked to him including his residential flat at Shree Vihar Patia in Bhubaneswar his parental house at Mathasahi in Bhadrak and his office chamber in Cuttack to ascertain whether the accused Deputy Director has possessed any disproportionate assets DADuring the ongoing searches cash exceeding Rs 4 crore was recovered from his flat in Bhubaneswar The money was found concealed in trolley bags and almirahsOfficials said the counting process is underway to determine the exact amountThe recovery marks the largest cash seizure ever made by Odisha VigilanceAdditionally Rs 120 lakh in cash was recovered and seized from Mohantys office drawer and personal possessionApart from the cash Vigilance officials have so far unearthed the following assets A palatial doublestoreyed building measuring approximately 2400 sq ft at Pahala in Bhubaneswar Gold ornaments weighing around 130 grams have also been recovered from Mohantys posessionA case has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Amendment Act 2018 against Mohanty at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station in this regard on MondayNotably Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday told the State Assembly that the Vigilance Department has registered a total 416 cases against government officers and employees in the state for taking bribes committing financial irregularities in government fund and possession of disproportionate assets between January 1 2024 and December 31 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/odisha-rs-4-crore-seized-from-senior-mines-officials-residence-662683.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/youtuber-dies-by-suicide-over-break-up-of-affair-with-another-vlogger-a-year-ago-662684.html Hyderabad Feb 25 A young YouTuber died by suicide after alleged failure in love with another YouTuber in Hyderabad They had a breakup a year ago and she was reportedly under emotional stress after that and had allegedly attempted suicide six months ago also Komali 21 who hails from Visakhapatnam hanged herself at her uncleâs house in Chitrapuri colony in Manikonda under the limits of Raidurgam Police Station police said on WednesdayThe incident came to light after Komaliâs family lodged a complaint with the policeKomali was a BSc at student Mallareddy University and was making YouTube videos parttimeShe had been in love with Nikhil Reddy a successful YouTuber while doing a software job for three years Nikhil also hails from VisakhapatnamThey had a breakup a year ago due to some differences She was reported to have been under severe emotional stress after the breakup and had allegedly attempted suicide six months ago alsoNikhil had reportedly called her two days ago and they had an argument She hanged herself with a saree when no one was at homeKomali made a name for herself on social media by making YouTube videos on lifestyle daily vlogs and personal experiencesHer recent video on her Tirumala padyatra had gone viral She walked up to the hill shrine to fulfil her personal wish It became her last postOn a complaint by Komaliâs family Raidurgam police registered a case The police were questioning family members Nikhil and other friends as part of investigation into the reasons that led to the suicideIn another incident in Hyderabad a man was stabbed to death by unknown assailants The incident occurred early on Wednesday near Bharatnagar flyover under the limits of Sanathnagar Police StationThe victim had been identified as Shankar 48 a native of Karnataka He was working at a hotel in Moosapet for the last two yearsPolice registered a case and shifted the body for postmortem examination The murder is suspected to be a result of an extramarital affair IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/youtuber-dies-by-suicide-over-break-up-of-affair-with-another-vlogger-a-year-ago-662684.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-woman-three-minor-children-found-murdered-in-samaypur-badli-husband-absconding-662688.html New Delhi Feb 25 A horrific quadruple murder has shaken outer Delhis Samaypur Badli area after a woman and her three minor children were found with their throats slit on Wednesday morning Police have identified the husband Munchun Kewat as the prime suspect He is currently absconding The victims were discovered in their residence in Chandan Park The deceased woman identified as Anita lived with her husband and three daughters aged three four and five in a rented room Kewat originally from Patna Bihar worked as a vegetable vendor at the Azadpur MandiSpeaking to IANS DCP Hareshwar V Swami said We received a PCR call at approximately 800 AM from the Chandan Park area Upon arrival officers discovered the woman and her three daughters with their throats slit by a sharpedged weapon The husband is missing and is our primary suspect While the exact motive remains unclear preliminary reports suggest a domestic dispute occurred on Tuesday nightA senior police officer said a crime team and forensic experts were rushed to the spot The bodies have been sent for postmortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of deathNeighbours expressed shock at the brutality of the crime One resident who discovered the scene reported hearing persistent crying around 700 AMI initially thought a child had fallen but the crying didnt stop the neighbour statedWhen I went to check I realised the tragedy that had occurred They had been living here for about six or seven months The husband usually left for work at 400 AM to sell ginger The neighbours discovered the macabre scene around 600 AMPolice said multiple teams have been constituted to trace Kewat The bodies of the four have been shifted to a mortuary for postmortem examination A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitaâs Section 1031 murder IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-woman-three-minor-children-found-murdered-in-samaypur-badli-husband-absconding-662688.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/diarrhoea-outbreak-cm-chandrababu-naidu-tells-officials-to-give-top-priority-to-public-health-662689.html Amaravati Feb 25 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday directed the officials to give top priority to public health At a meeting with officials of Medical and Health Department he reviewed the situation relating to outbreak of diarrhoea in Srikakulam and milk adulteration incident in RajahmundryThe Chief Minister directed officials not to neglect public health He said that various departments should work in coordination to prevent such incidents from recurringThe Chief Minister spoke to senior officials of the Health Department and officials of the respective districtsAccording to an official release he enquired about the health condition of those undergoing treatment in various hospitals in the Srikakulam and Rajahmundry incidentsHe enquired about the health of the two persons who are undergoing treatment in serious condition at the Srikakulam GEMS Hospital Officials informed the Chief Minister that one is on ventilator support and the other is on dialysisThe Chief Minister ordered that special attention be paid to the medical treatment of both of them He also wanted to know from officials whether more cases are being registered at the field levelOfficials said that 76 people are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals in Srikakulam They explained that the health condition of all except two is stableThey informed him that the water supply through the pipeline has been stopped and safe drinking water is being supplied through alternate measuresOfficials also told the Chief Minister that those affected by milk adulteration in Rajahmundry are under constant medical supervisionThe Chief Minister was informed that the milk samples have already been sent to the lab The health department is closely monitoring the situationState Health and Family Welfare Department Commissioner Veerapandian said on Tuesday that the condition of seven persons undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Rajahmundry is criticalAccording to him 15 people are undergoing treatment in various hospitals of whom three are on ventilators two on dialysis and three more on ventilatordialysisAmong those undergoing treatment there are two children including a fivemonthold babyHe said four people have died so far No new cases were registered on TuesdayVeerapandian told media that necessary steps are being taken to provide better treatment to all those hospitalised IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/diarrhoea-outbreak-cm-chandrababu-naidu-tells-officials-to-give-top-priority-to-public-health-662689.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-swadeshi-fairs-to-cover-all-152-municipalities-by-march-15-662692.html Gandhinagar Feb 25 With more than Rs 83 lakh in sales recorded across 38 municipalities so far Gujarats statewide rollout of Swadeshi Mela shopping festival has gathered pace ahead of its March 15 deadline According to officials Swadeshi Fairs are being organised under the Gujarat Urban Livelihood Mission which functions under the Urban Development and Urban Housing DepartmentThe initiative aims to provide a structured marketplace for rural and urban artisans handicraftsmen selfhelp groups and small traders to showcase and sell indigenous productsThe government stated that by March 15 Swadeshi Fairs will be held in all 152 municipalities across the stateAs part of the arrangements more than 1500 stalls have been allotted to selfhelp groups over 1400 to street vendors around 1200 for food and refreshments and more than 1650 to other artisans selling indigenous goodsSo far fairs have commenced in 38 municipalities including those in the Ahmedabad Bhavnagar Gandhinagar Rajkot Surat and Vadodara zonesMore than one lakh visitors have attended these events generating sales exceeding Rs 83 lakhThe figures officials said indicate growing public participation in the Vocal for Local initiativeThe officials noted that the programme builds on the success of plasticfree Swadeshi Festivals organised during the Dussehra to Diwali period last year in 16 citiesThose events attracted more than 4050 lakh visitors and recorded sales of over Rs 10 crorePrime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon citizens to adopt indigenous products as part of the Vocal for Local initiative aimed at building a selfreliant IndiaThe statement said the Gujarat government under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has undertaken initiatives including the Gujarat Atmanirbhar Yatra GMaitri Yojana and Mahila Udyog Sahay Yojana to strengthen support for artisans and small enterprisesThe government said the fairs are intended not only as trading platforms but also as a measure to strengthen the local economy by expanding opportunities for small producers and vendors across urban areas of the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-swadeshi-fairs-to-cover-all-152-municipalities-by-march-15-662692.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rjd-targets-nitish-govt-over-liquor-smuggling-and-lathi-charge-on-chowkidars-662693.html Patna Feb 25 The Opposition on Wednesday intensified its attack on the Bihar government over alleged largescale liquor smuggling despite prohibition in the state while also condemning the recent lathi charge on protesting Chowkidars and Dafadars in Patna Speaking to the media RJD MLA Bhai Virendra alleged that prohibition exists âonly on paperâ and that the illegal sale of liquor including spurious liquor continues unchecked across the stateHe claimed that large consignments of liquor from neighbouring states are entering Bihar daily raising serious questions about the role of the administration and law enforcement agencies Responding to concerns earlier flagged by Chirag Paswan over incidents involving toxic liquor Bhai Virendra alleged that such smuggling could not take place without the connivance of officialsâLiquor is crossing state borders frequently It is impossible without the involvement of certain government officialsâ he said further alleging that some leaders associated with the NDA were complicit in facilitating the illegal tradeThe RJD legislator also expressed concern over the rising consumption of locally brewed and spurious liquor claiming that youths between 15 and 20 years are increasingly falling prey to addiction thereby jeopardising their futureApart from the prohibition issue Bhai Virendra strongly condemned the recent police lathi charge on Chowkidars and Dafadars who were protesting in Patna over their demands Terming the action âbarbaric and inhumanâ he said the Grand Alliance had raised the issue prominently in the Bihar Assembly and demanded that the legitimate demands of the protesting employees be addressedReferring to the alleged lathi charge near a government office he claimed that the employees were brutally beaten and that the matter was raised directly with the Chief Minister on the floor of the HouseâThe lathi charge on Chowkidars and Dafadars is barbaric Strict action must be taken against the officials who ordered and carried it out The responsible officers should be immediately suspendedâ he saidHe further alleged that while the Grand Alliance raised the matter sincerely some other parties were attempting to derive political mileage from the incident instead of focusing on justice for the affected employees IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rjd-targets-nitish-govt-over-liquor-smuggling-and-lathi-charge-on-chowkidars-662693.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rs-349-crore-citizen-360-digital-platform-to-transform-public-services-in-chennai-662695.html Chennai Feb 25 In a major step towards techdriven urban governance the Greater Chennai Corporation GCC has approved a Rs 349crore project to build an integrated Citizen 360 Digital Engagement Platform aimed at fundamentally reshaping how residents interact with the civic body The decision was cleared at a recent council meeting marking one of the cityâs most ambitious digital transformation initiativesThe proposed platform will be developed by upgrading the existing Integrated Command and Control Centre ICCC into a unified engagement and analytics hubCivic officials said the system will use artificial intelligence to create a consolidated profile of each citizenâs interactions with the Corporation ranging from tax payments to grievance redressal enabling faster datadriven decisionmaking At present citizen services operate in departmental silos meaning each complaint or request is handled independently This fragmented structure makes it difficult for officials to identify recurring civic problems or patterns of complaints across neighbourhoodsUnder the new framework all service requests feedback and grievances will be brought onto a single dashboardOfficials said the AIpowered interface would securely store complaint data and generate analytics to detect persistent issues such as garbage accumulation repeated road damage drainage failures and floodingprone stretchesBy analysing trends over time administrators will be able to address root causes rather than merely resolving isolated complaintsThe Corporation has floated a Request for Proposal RFP for the design development integration and longterm maintenance of the platformThe selected system integrator will manage the project endtoend including cloud hosting cybersecurity disaster recovery and highavailability architecture The project will be executed in two phases The first phase scheduled for completion within eight weeks includes deployment of 50 to 150 user licences integration with ICCC and departmental systems and rollout of an AIdriven chatbot powered by a large language model The second phase will focus on operations and maintenance after golive including AI model refinement uptime assurance and deployment of dedicated technical staffImportantly the upgraded system will enable seamless communication across WhatsApp email web portals and mobile applications Beyond integrating data from 22 GCC departments the platform will also connect with agencies such as Metro Water Chennai Metro Rail Limited CMRL and the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation creating a unified civic data ecosystem designed to enhance transparency and improve service delivery across the city IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rs-349-crore-citizen-360-digital-platform-to-transform-public-services-in-chennai-662695.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-wont-tolerate-bid-to-disturb-academic-events-ktaka-hm-on-action-against-abvp-in-premji-univ-unrest-case-662701.html Bengaluru Feb 25 Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday defended the police action against the members of the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ABVP in connection with the controversy at Azim Premji University stating that the government would not tolerate attempts to disrupt academic events or take the law into oneâs hands Speaking to reporters HM Parameshwara said the university had planned to conduct a seminar and emphasised that academic institutions must be allowed to hold discussions on various subjectsâThey were preparing to conduct a seminar Let them take any subject What else will happen in a seminar apart from discussion There will be arguments both in favour and againstâ he saidReferring to the incident in which protesters allegedly entered the campus and attempted to disrupt the programme the Home Minister said such actions were unacceptable He questioned whether the police should remain silent when individuals take the law into their own hands and attempt to prevent an event or attack studentsHM Parameshwara made it clear that the government would take a strict view of the matter and initiate disciplinary action against those involved in disrupting the programmeHe reiterated that there was no scope for such incidents and assured that the authorities would act firmly to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of students and educational institutionsMeanwhile former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP MLA CN Ashwath Narayan stated that Azim Premji University is a prestigious institution that has rendered significant service in the field of education and its role in the development of the countryâs education sector is commendableHowever organizations such as SPARK which is sponsored by the All India Students Association AISA and is allegedly involved in activities against national interest must be banned from operating in universities Such programmes should not be permitted in the future he demandedAn immediate investigation must be conducted into the matter of providing a platform for the AISAsponsored SPARK programme Prestigious educational institutions should serve as centres of nationbuilding and must not become hubs for antinational activities Ashwath Narayan appealedProtests broke out at Azim Premji University in Sarjapur on Tuesday evening after members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ABVP accused a student collective of attempting to host an âantinationalâ seminar related to Jammu and KashmirâThe university clarified that it had not authorised any such eventâIt can be noted that a group of ABVP activists barged onto the campus after forcefully opening the gate raising slogans and staging demonstrations both outside the university gates and within the premisesâThe demonstrators vandalised property smeared ink on the universityâs main signage and spraypainted graffiti reading âBan SPARKâ on campus walls They also demanded disciplinary action against the organisers and called for a ban on the student collectiveâThe activists displayed posters condemning the organisation of the seminar and waved the national flag and ABVP banners They staged a dharna inside the premises and ABVP banners stated that the protest was against antinational Kashmir separatist forces at Azim Premji University in BengaluruâAccording to ABVP activists the controversy stemmed from a programme allegedly organised by a student collective named SPARK to mark the anniversary of the alleged Kunan Poshpora mass rape incident of February 23 1991âThe ABVP claimed that the proposed seminar was derogatory towards the Indian Army and promoted separatist ideologies Protesters also alleged that the event portrayed Jammu and Kashmir as separate from India IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-wont-tolerate-bid-to-disturb-academic-events-ktaka-hm-on-action-against-abvp-in-premji-univ-unrest-case-662701.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nothing-wrong-in-supporters-seeking-cm-post-for-me-have-proved-my-capability-ktaka-home-minister-662702.html Bengaluru Feb 25 Amid the leadership tussle within the Congress party Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has stated that there was nothing wrong with his supporters demanding the Chief Ministerâs post for him He claimed that he had proved beyond doubt that he is capable He made the statement while speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday When asked about demands that he be given an opportunity in case of a leadership change as he hails from the Dalit community and has served twice as State Congress President Parameshwara said âIf there is anything wrong in it convey it to me and I will rectify itââI have repeatedly stated that this is not a matter to be discussed on the streets Matters related to the selection or replacement of the Chief Minister will be discussed in closeddoor meetings by the high command Opinions have to be sought in the Congress Legislative Party CLP meetingâ he saidâAfter weighing the pros and cons the high command will take the final decision This is the procedure at our party and I have made statements in this regard many times They may propose my name but merely proposing my name or someone expressing their opinion will not change anything However no one can say that such a demand is wrongâ he addedThe minister said he was a disciplined soldier of the party and I will abide by the decision of the high command If I make a statement before the media saying that I should become Chief Minister will it happen That would only lead to public discussion The matter will be decided by the high commandâResponding to claims by his supporters about his capability Parameshwara said âHow many times do I need to prove my capability I worked with the Pradesh Congress Committee PCC for eight years Could I have functioned without the capability I helped bring the party to power twice Would that have been possible without capabilityââI have also served as Deputy Chief Minister of the state Can anyone function in that post without the capability No one can question my capability I have proved beyond doubt that I am capable But decisions depend on circumstances and the partyâs leadershipâ he saidHe also stated that he had not met Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi or former Minister KN Rajanna and was unaware of their discussionsResponding to Rajannaâs reported remarks that Parameshwara deserved recognition for his hard work he said âThat is why I asked what is wrong with such a demandâAnswering a question Parameshwara said he would travel to Delhi when required âDelhi is not new to me I go whenever necessary I do not need permission to visit Delhi I run educational institutions and have worked with bodies such as the UGC and other authorities If there is any official work related to the police department I will make an official announcement and goâ he saidâIf I feel there is a need to discuss political matters with the high command I will definitely go I have also served in the partyâs working committee and know the leaders there If I want to meet Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi I will go to Delhi depending on their availability If I want to meet AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge I will meet him when he is in Bengaluruâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nothing-wrong-in-supporters-seeking-cm-post-for-me-have-proved-my-capability-ktaka-home-minister-662702.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-arrest-accused-couple-in-malviya-nagar-racial-harassment-case-662703.html New Delhi Feb 25 Delhi Police have arrested the accused couple in the case related to racial abuse and humiliation of three women from Arunachal Pradesh in Delhis Malviya Nagar officials said on Wednesday Harsh Singh and Ruby Jain have been arrested and further details are awaited The arrests come five days after the incident Relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act have been invoked in the case based on the material available on record The investigation is now being conducted by an ACPrank officer Further investigation is in progress and is being closely supervised by senior officers the officials saidReports suggest that three women from Arunachal Pradesh were allegedly subjected to racial slurs humiliation and intimidation by their neighbours Harsh Singh and Ruby Jain at Malviya Nagar On February 20 following a dispute over repair work at their rented flat the neighbours reportedly called the women dhandhewali sex worker The women had engaged an electrician at their fourthfloor flat to install an air conditionerAccording to the police dust and debris from the drilling work fell on the floor below triggering objections from neighbours after which the situation quickly escalatedThe women alleged that a neighbour couple hurled abuses and made derogatory and racial remarks targeting them and the Northeastern community A purported video of the incident later went viral on social mediaThe Delhi Police said an FIR has been registered against the couple under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 including provisions related to outraging a womans modesty and promoting enmity on grounds of religion race and related factorsMeanwhile Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday strongly condemned the alleged racial abuse and humiliation of three women from the state in South Delhi and urged the Commissioner of Police Delhi to take swift and strict action in the matter Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma Congress Lok Sabha member from Inner Manipur Angomcha Bimol Akoijam LS member from Sikkim Indra Hang Subba along with several other political leaders personalities and organisations also separately condemned the incident and demanded stringent action against the accused IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-arrest-accused-couple-in-malviya-nagar-racial-harassment-case-662703.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-chief-blasts-nehru-gandhi-family-labels-lop-rahul-poster-boy-of-negative-politics-662705.html Patna Feb 25 IANS BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party alleging that the NehruGandhi family has historically carried out compromised missions that prioritised their personal and political interests over those of the nation Nabin referred to Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi as the poster boy of negative politics and accused the family for what he described as decades of compromising Indias national interestsnbspSpeaking at a press conference in Patna Nabin said I am presenting before you the compromise story of the NehruGandhi familyhow the family carried out a compromise missions compromising the interests of the countrys people while always protecting their own interests There was a time when Jawaharlal Nehru himself said 45 crore people of the nation are my liabilityHe added that such remarks coming from a Prime Minister were a huge deception of the people and questioned the Nehru familys historical relationships with foreign powers History shows how Nehrus secretariat functioned almost as an open book for the CIA and other foreign agencies In 1954 Indias rights in Tibet were handed over to China without any tangible reward Nabin allegedTurning to Rajiv Gandhi Nabin alleged misuse of defence services to protect personal financial interests In the Bofors scandal efforts were made to obstruct the Swedish investigation to protect a friend The Bhopal gas tragedy further revealed his compromise when Warren Anderson responsible for the deaths of thousands was safely sent out of the country on a government plane he saidOn Sonia Gandhi Nabin claimed that she effectively acted as a super Prime Minister between 2004 and 2014 running a parallel government through the National Advisory Council and influencing Cabinet decisions He also alleged that during this period the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation received funding from the Chinese government and George Soros network raising questions about potential secret agreements with foreign powersHighlighting Rahul Gandhis foreign engagements Nabin said Rahul Gandhi undertook more than 247 foreign trips but in most cases security agencies were not informed He met close associates of foreign powers including Ilhan Omar and George Soros and conducted political activities in line with their influence Even in sensitive border areas of Ladakh foreign national Shakir Mohamed Nurali Merali with links to Chinese and Pakistani agencies were reportedly presentNabin claimed that Congress compromised legacy under Rahul Gandhis leadership posed a threat to Indias youth Mobilising young people with a positive mindset is crucial If they are misled onto the wrong path under the compromise mission of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi it becomes a matter of concern for everyone The public has already understood their compromised missions and will ensure accountability in the future he saidThe BJP leader concluded by asserting that while the Congress party may continue to strike deals against national interests the people of India will punish them when the time comes and only then will they truly understand the consequences of their actionsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-chief-blasts-nehru-gandhi-family-labels-lop-rahul-poster-boy-of-negative-politics-662705.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-begins-three-day-bihar-visit-to-review-border-security-in-seemanchal-nda-leaders-welcome-move-662706.html New Delhi Feb 25 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to begin a threeday visit to Bihar on Wednesday focussing on border security administrative preparedness and ongoing development initiatives in the states Seemanchal region which shares proximity with Nepal and BangladeshnbspReacting to the visit Bihar Minister Ashok Chaudhary said He Amit Shah is coming to review our border areas with Nepal and Bangladesh because reports are coming that drug peddlers have become active from Nepal Our resources are for our Muslims not for Muslims of other countriesDuring his visit HM Shah is scheduled to review security arrangements in border districts and hold highlevel meetings with officials regarding issues along the IndiaNepal borderHe is set to reach Purnia around 400 PM before proceeding to Kishanganj where he will chair a review meeting at the CollectorateJDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar emphasised the developmental aspect of the visit stating Amit Shah is the countrys Home Minister The Seemanchal region includes the agriculture college named after APJ Abdul Kalam the airport of Purnia the development of Waqf properties as well as other bordering areasLJP MLA Raju Tiwari welcomed the visit saying The Home Minister regularly visits the Seemanchal region and his visits are always welcome Especially in Seemanchal it shows the responsibility the government has towards the people His arrival along with the Prime Ministers is a good signRLM MLA Madhav Anand added Home Minister Amit Shah remains consistently concerned about the people of Bihar All the central government schemes being implemented in Bihar are regularly reviewed personally by him and by the Prime Minister His current visit is part of this engagement a threeday tourOn February 26 HM Shah will visit Araria and participate in a programme at the Letti border outpost followed by further security assessments and a review of development initiatives under the Vibrant Villages Programme The tour will conclude on February 27 after additional meetings in Purnia before his return to New DelhiExtensive security arrangements have been put in place ahead of the visit https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-begins-three-day-bihar-visit-to-review-border-security-in-seemanchal-nda-leaders-welcome-move-662706.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/four-held-for-idfc-first-bank-fraud-amount-transferred-to-private-firm--662707.html Chandigarh Feb 25 IANS Haryana Director General of AntiCorruption Bureau Arshinder Singh Chawla on Wednesday said four accused were arrested in the IDFC First Bank fraud case involving government departments as the money was transferred to the Swastik Desh project a private firm owned by some of the accusednbspnbspThey have been identified as Ribhav Rishi Abhishek Singla Abhay Kumar and Swati SinglanbspA letter was received on February 23 regarding embezzlement of Panchayat Department funds and a case was registered following government orders he told the media in Panchkula in HaryanaHe said the Special Investigating Team SIT headed by Ganga Ram Poonia arrested the accused within 24 hoursnbspIDFC Bank has returned the government funds but the matter is being investigated Chawla said adding Vibhav Rishi and Abhay had masterminded this entire casenbspHe said the money of the people of Haryana is safenbspA sum of Rs 300 crore was invested in a private company and money also went to AU Small FinancenbspThe money was sent to the Swastik Desh project owned by Swati Singla and her brother Abhishek Singla and who have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigationRegarding the involvement of senior government officials in the fraud Chawla said It is not possible to comment at this early stage of the investigationnbspThe Vigilance and AntiCorruption Bureau found that several government departments are involved in this matter including some accounts of the Chandigarh administrationnbspAs per information the main accused Ribhav Rishi resident of Panchkula had left his job in the bank six months ago while Abhay Kumar had quit his job in August last yearIn a strong assertion of fiscal accountability and administrative transparency Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday informed the Assembly that the government has recovered the Rs 556 crore linked to the fraud case including nearly Rs 22 crore in interest within 24 hoursnbspChief Minister Saini said the full amount pertaining to various government departments boards and corporations has been credited back by IDFC First Bank into the respective departmental accountsHe said the swift recovery was made possible through coordinated efforts between the Haryana government and senior bank officialsnbspCalling it a matter of public trust Chief Minister Saini underscored that the funds represent the hardearned money of 28 crore citizens of Haryana and would be utilised strictly for their welfarenbspEvery single rupee belonging to the people will be safeguarded and spent only for their benefit he saidThe Chief Minister said a highlevel committee headed by the Finance Secretary has been constituted to examine the matter in detail and fix accountability of the employees and officers concernednbspThe committee will determine responsibility and recommend further action if requirednbspChief Minister Saini said the bank has indicated that the irregularities were primarily linked to its Chandigarh branch and involved alleged collusion at the middle and lower levels He made it clear that no one involved in this case whether a government official or a bank employee will be sparedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/four-held-for-idfc-first-bank-fraud-amount-transferred-to-private-firm--662707.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/lights-camera-campaign-left-turns-to-cultural-icons-seeking-3rd-term-for-cm-vijayan-662714.html Thiruvananthapuram Feb 25 As Kerala moves closer to the Assembly polls the ruling CPIM is leaving little to chance in its bid to secure a rare third consecutive term for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Stung by an unexpected drubbing in the December local body elections the Left has recalibrated with a conspicuous pivot towards the stateâs influential cultural sphereAt the centre of this outreach is the partyâs Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas widely seen as devising a strategy to harness the persuasive power of cinema and literatureThe most highprofile move was bringing in superstar and Dadasaheb Phalke award winner Mohanlal who was âflownâ out of a shooting schedule in Thodupuzha for a twoday programme culminating in a televised interaction with the Chief MinisterDirected by filmmaker TK Rajeev Kumar the exercise followed structured discussions on tone and content underscoring the meticulous planning behind the opticsSignificantly this came months after Mohanlal and Kamal Haasan skipped the state governmentâs âExtreme Poverty Freeâ declaration ceremony held on November 1 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram despite being listed as special guestsOnly Mammootty attended marking his first public appearance after months of medical treatmentPolitical observers note that Mohanlalâs subsequent decision to interview CM Vijayan restored visible proximity recalling a similar interaction he once had with former Chief Minister Oommen ChandyEarlier Mohanlal had featured in a promotional film for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation directed by Priyadarshan under Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar further blurring the line between governance messaging and celebrity endorsementThis intensified engagement with film personalities also unfolds against the backdrop of the controversial Hema Committee report which had sent ripples through the Malayalam film industrySenior officials in the Vijayan government are understood to have examined the report in detail including the sensitive names it referencesWhile the government has maintained procedural discretion political observers note that the timing of cultural outreach cannot be entirely divorced from this contextAttention has also turned to actor Jayaram questioned in the Sabarimala gold heist case and whether he will once again campaign for CM VijayanWith Culture Minister Saji Cherian roping in rap singer Vedan and actress Bhavana for a cultural event in Chengannur his home turf on Saturday the message is clear the Left is tapping every strand of Keralaâs cultural capitalAs the highstakes Kerala Legislative Assembly election approaches the lingering question is whether this is astute image management or a sign of a party determined not to leave narrative control to chance IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/lights-camera-campaign-left-turns-to-cultural-icons-seeking-3rd-term-for-cm-vijayan-662714.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-can-become-leading-global-centre-for-electric-mobility-manufacturing-hd-kumaraswamy-662716.html New Delhi Feb 25 With clear policy direction and strong industry participation India can firmly establish itself as a leading global centre for electric mobility manufacturing and innovation Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy said on Wednesday Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the third FICCI National Conference on Electric Vehicles the minister stressed that whatever best way we can encourage the electric mobility adoption we are going to go for thatAs we move towards the vision of âViksit Bharat 2047â electric mobility must remain central to the Make in India agenda strengthening domestic manufacturing deepening localisation and positioning India as a global production hub for EVs batteries and critical components he addedOver the past decade Indias automotive component exports have nearly doubled rising from approximately 8 billion to 169 billionThis growth reflects Indiaâs deepening integration into global value chains and its growing credibility as a manufacturing hub Kumaraswamy told the gathering at the eventFormer NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said the global electric vehicles market is projected to reach trillions of dollars over the next decadeSupply chains are realigning and countries are rethinking trade localisation and strategic dependencies India must position itself as a trusted manufacturing hub for electric vehicles he said at the eventElectric mobility is not merely a climate imperative it is equally an economic industrial technological and strategic opportunity The transition to electric vehicles must be viewed as a central pillar of Viksit Bharat 2047 said the former G20 Sherpa FICCI Green Mobility Committee CoChair Vikram Handa said that from Green Mobility 10 to now 20 India has built an entire value chainThis spans from the processing of critical minerals to cell manufacturing battery pack assembly and the production of twowheelers threewheelers fourwheelers buses trucks and even charging infrastructure This comprehensive ecosystem signifies the direction in which the Indian industry is heading and reflects strong future potential he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-can-become-leading-global-centre-for-electric-mobility-manufacturing-hd-kumaraswamy-662716.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/president-murmu-hails-ayush-medicines-role-in-health-662728.html Buldhana Feb 25 IANS The President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said Ayush systems of medicine have made an invaluable contribution to citizens health Systems like Yoga Ayurveda and Siddha have been serving people since the dawn of modern medicine she said In her speech after inaugurating the National Arogya Fair at Shegaon in Buldhana district she noted that healthy citizens play an important role in strengthening the countryThe President said that our farms kitchens and forests contain a valuable treasure trove of medicinal plants and healthprotecting herbs Conserving and enhancing this valuable wealth is crucial for providing raw materials for medicines and maintaining environmental balance Cultivating medicinal plants not only improves the economic conditions of farmers but also contributes to soil health and conservation Therefore promoting AYUSH systems not only improves peoples physical and economic health but also supports environmental conservation she saidThe President said that Ayurveda yoga and other AYUSH systems offer guidance on leading a healthy balanced life Today the world is recognising the importance of integrative medicine in disease prevention People worldwide are adopting yoga for a stressfree and healthy lifestyle and benefiting from Ayurvedic treatments and medicines she saidAccording to the President steps such as evidencebased research standardisation of medicines and quality control will further enhance the recognition and acceptance of AYUSH systems She said that the Ministry of AYUSH is continuously striving in this directionGeneral guidelines for research and drug development have been established in accordance with international standards Numerous scientific efforts are underway to establish Ayurveda Yoga and other AYUSH systems as reliable scientific solutions to modern health challenges she said She expressed confidence that by making traditional systems of medicine more accessible and popular through modern scientific interventions innovations and global collaborationWe will be successful in making them an integral part of the holistic healthcare system stated the PresidentIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/president-murmu-hails-ayush-medicines-role-in-health-662728.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/manipur-cm-meets-pm-modi-seeks-support-for-peace-harmony-women-empowerment--662539.html New DelhiImphal Feb 24 IANS Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and briefed him on the initiatives taken by the new state government to restore peace and harmony in the state officials saidAn official of the Chief Ministers Office CMO in Imphal said that the Chief Minister accompanied by the two Deputy Chief Ministers Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho met the Prime Minister at his office at Seva Teerth in New DelhiThis was the first meeting between Chief Minister Khemchand Singh and Prime Minister Modi since the former assumed office on February 4According to the CMO official the Chief Minister apprised Prime Minister Modi of the steps undertaken by the new state government to promote peace stability and social harmony across ManipurHe also urged Prime Minister Modi to give special attention to women empowerment initiatives in both the hill and valley regions of the stateDuring the meeting the Chief Minister and the two Deputy Chief Ministers formally invited Prime Minister Modi to visit ManipurChief Minister Khemchand Singh has been in New Delhi since February 21 marking his first visit to the national capital after taking oath as the new Manipur Chief MinisterDuring his visit the Chief Minister met several Union Ministers and senior BJP Central leaders holding discussions on a range of issues related to the states development and welfareOn Monday night Chief Minister Khemchand Singh accompanied by the two Deputy Chief Ministers held a meeting with the Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who has approved the construction of 5000 new houses for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons IDPs affected by ethnic violence in ManipurThese houses will be constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas YojanaGramin PMAYG officials said on TuesdayOn Monday the Chief Minister met the Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region DoNER Jyotiraditya Scindia who assured that his Ministry would coordinate with other Union Ministries to address key issues concerning ManipurChief Minister Khemchand Singh also met the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who assured him of all possible assistance to revive the states financial health and economyThe Chief Minister held discussions with the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who assured full cooperation and support from his Ministry for all initiatives of the Manipur governmentAccompanied by the two Deputy Chief Ministers Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikh the Manipur Chief Minister also separately met the BJP President Nitin Nabin and the partys National General Secretary Organisation BL Santhosh during which partyrelated matters concerning Manipur were discussedEarlier on February 22 Chief Minister Khemchand Singh along with the two Deputy Chief Ministers met the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss a range of issues including the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons officials saidAccording to the CMO official the Union Home Minister discussed with the Manipur leadership the steps initiated by the new state government to remove barriers between different communities and to restore peace and harmony across the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/manipur-cm-meets-pm-modi-seeks-support-for-peace-harmony-women-empowerment--662539.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-impact-summit-panipat-academic-backs-pm-modis-vision-calls-iyc-protest-unwarranted-662432.html Panipat Feb 23 Conversations about Indiaâs technological future took centre stage at the recently organised AI Summit held in New Delhi The event which drew attention from across the country and international delegates became a platform to showcase Indiaâs growing ambitions in artificial intelligence and digital innovationâ Among those expressing strong support for the initiative is Panipatbased academician Prof Dr Sushil Kumar Mishra He openly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his longstanding vision of integrating technology into governance The Prime Minister has consistently emphasised the use of digital systems to enhance transparency and efficiency in public administration Dr Mishra said in an interview with IANSâHe pointed to Aadhaarlinked welfare schemes improved tax collection mechanisms and reforms in the public distribution system as examples of how technology has reduced leakages and strengthened service delivery âIf India aspires to become a global superpower it must lead in technologyâ Dr Mishra remarked stressing that artificial intelligence represents the next frontier of growthâCalling AI the most transformative technology of the future he noted that India which once lagged in emerging technological domains is now positioning itself as a leader Hosting such a largescale summit he said sent a strong message to the world about Indiaâs capabilities and longterm visionâDr Mishra also spoke about the governmentâs commitment to ensuring that the benefits of digital innovation reach all 14 billion citizens âThrough Direct Benefit Transfer DBT systems and digital banking welfare schemes are being delivered directly to beneficiariesâ he addedâWith widespread smartphone penetration the expansion of 5G connectivity and preparations underway for 6G he believes AIpowered systems can soon operate effectively at the grassroots levelâDr Mishra also shared his perspective from the hospitality sectors point of view Mishra maintained that global events like the AI Summit strengthen Indiaâs image on the international stage By welcoming foreign delegates and demonstrating technological strength the country reinforces its position as a forwardlooking digital economy he addedâOn the Indian Youth Congress workersâ protests during the summit he suggested that while democratic debate is essential major international platforms should be viewed as opportunities for national unity Domestic political disagreements he said have appropriate forums such as Parliament At times when India presents itself as a global leader cooperation across political lines would better serve the national interestâDr Mishra is of the view that artificial intelligence and digital transformation are not merely policy initiatives He said AI is also like pathways that are shaping the future of 14 billion people Rising above political differences and prioritising national development is crucial as India advances into the next era of technological leadership he remarked IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-impact-summit-panipat-academic-backs-pm-modis-vision-calls-iyc-protest-unwarranted-662432.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-milk-adulteration-deaths-cm-announces-rs-10-lakh-compensation-662433.html Amaravati Feb 23 The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of four persons who died due to consumption of adulterated milk in Rajahmundry Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made the announcement in the Legislative AssemblyHe also declared that the government will bear the medical expenses of those undergoing treatment in the hospitalsTerming the incident as painful the Chief Minister expressed deep sympathy for the families of the deceasedHe told the Assembly that the affected people were undergoing treatment in hospitals with symptoms like vomiting stomach pain and dialysis problems Doctors found increased levels of urea and serum creatinine in the blood during clinical testsThe Chief Minister stated that Varalakshmi Milk Dairy of Narasapuram village of Korukonda mandal supplies milk to 106 families in two areas of Rajahmundry dailyOfficials have confirmed that the victims fell ill after drinking milk from this dairy Four people died in the incident Ten others are undergoing treatment and two of them are on a ventilator Three of the deceased were aged over 70 years while the fourth one was 58 years oldThe Chief Minister said that blood samples have been taken from the affected and sent to labs in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam for testsHe revealed that the dairy manager Addala Ganeswara Rao has been detained by the police and is being interrogated A case has been registered based on the complaint filed by the family members of the deceasedIf anyone indulges in this adulteration out of greed for money we will take it seriously We will take action against the culprits after the investigation the Chief Minister saidHe warned that the government will not remain indifferent to anyone in the state who commits adulteration or acts in a way that causes trouble to the peopleEarlier after learning about the incident of locals falling ill and several deaths due to consumption of adulterated milk in Chowdeshwari Nagar and Swaroop Nagar areas of Rajahmundry Chief Minister Naidu held a review with officialsIn a review meeting with the District Collector the SP Medical and Health Department and Food Safety officials and enquired about the details of the incident He also enquired about the medical assistance being provided to the victimsThe Chief Minister ordered that the best medical services be provided to those undergoing treatment Officials said that samples have been collected from 75 people in the families who consumed the milk while samples were being taken from the remaining peopleNaidu ordered that senior officials of the Food Safety and Medical and Health Departments should immediately go to Rajahmundry and monitor the situationHe again reviewed the situation in his chamber in the Assembly with ministers and officials in the afternoon IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-milk-adulteration-deaths-cm-announces-rs-10-lakh-compensation-662433.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fm-launches-national-monetisation-pipeline-20-aimed-at-raising-rs-1672-lakh-crore-662435.html New Delhi Feb 23 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday launched the second phase of the asset monetisation pipeline of Central ministries and public sector entities the National Monetisation Pipeline 20 NMP 20 with an estimated monetisation potential of Rs 1672 lakh crore in the next five financial years The second phase of the pipeline has been developed by NITI Aayog in consultation with infrastructure line ministries based on the mandate for âAsset Monetisation Plan 202530â as announced in the Union Budget 202526The NMP 20 estimates aggregate monetisation potential of Rs 1672 lakh crore including private sector investment of Rs 58 lakh crore under the asset monetisation pipeline of Central ministries and public sector entities over the fiveyear period from FY 2026 to FY 2030Sitharaman also noted that the ambitious fiveyear asset monetisation target for NMP 20 is over 26 times higher than that under NMP 10 and added that the Ministries and Departments must aim to surpass the indicated targets through proactive effortsThe sectors included in the monetisation plan are highways including MMLPs ropeways railways power petroleum and natural gas civil aviation ports warehousing and storage urban infrastructure coal mines telecom and tourismNMP 20 was released in the presence of the NITI Aayog CEO and Secretaries of infrastructure line ministries included under the pipeline â Road Transport and Highways Railways Power Petroleum and Natural Gas Civil Aviation Ports Shipping and Waterways Telecommunications Tourism Food and Public Distribution Mining Coal and Housing and Urban Affairs â along with the Secretaries of Ministry of Finance Secretary Law and the Chief Economic AdviserIn her address at the launch the Finance Minister complimented all the ministries and departments of the government and NITI Aayog for meeting nearly 90 per cent of the target of Rs 6 lakh crore set for 4 years in the implementation of NMP 10Sitharaman said that the NMP 20 is aligned with the mission of achieving Viksit Bharat through accelerated infrastructure development and that the NMP has the potential to fuel Indiaâs growth momentumThe Finance Minister observed that NMP 10 was the first of its kind of pipeline at a large scale and best practices learnt by the authorities concerned should be leveraged in NMP 20 She underscored that the learnings and experiences of NMP 10 will serve as a guide to ensure that resources and opportunities are optimised to achieve results in a timebound manner She exhorted all the departments to focus on process simplification and standardisation so that monetisation becomes a seamless experienceHighlighting the significance of asset monetisation the Finance Minister said that the NMP enables recycling of productive public assets thereby unlocking resources for reinvestment in new projects and capital expenditure She noted that this approach facilitates efficient mobilisation of funds for CAPEX in public assets while minimising the budgetary outgo of the governmentNMP 20 is a culmination of insights feedback and experiences consolidated through multistakeholder consultations undertaken by NITI Aayog Ministry of Finance and line ministries Several rounds of discussion have been held by NITI Aayog with the stakeholders This is a wholeofgovernment initiative according to an official statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fm-launches-national-monetisation-pipeline-20-aimed-at-raising-rs-1672-lakh-crore-662435.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-pappu-yadav-consoles-kin-of-slain-minor-662437.html Patna Feb 23 Purnea Lok Sabha MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav on Monday visited the residence of Ankit Anand a Class 7 student who was shot dead by criminals in Saharsa on February 18 to express his condolences to the bereaved familyâ The MP met Ankitâs parents offered his sympathies and assured them of full support during their time of griefâTerming the incident extremely heartbreaking Pappu Yadav questioned how a 13yearold child could have any enmity with anyoneâFamily members told him that they had no dispute or rivalry with anyone yet the child was targetedâThe MP expressed shock over what he described as the growing audacity of criminals stating that even children are no longer being sparedâTargeting the Bihar government Pappu Yadav alleged that criminal activities have become rampant across the stateâHe said that while incidents of brutal crimes against girls and daylight murders are being reported from different districts the government and administration remain silent spectatorsâHe further alleged that whenever voices are raised for public rights attempts are made to suppress themâExpressing dissatisfaction with the local police investigation the Purnea MP said that the probe so far appeared inadequateâHe strongly demanded a CBI inquiry into the murder asserting that only an independent and impartial investigation could expose the real perpetrators behind what he termed a conspiracyâThe incident has further fueled the ongoing political debate over law and order in BiharâLeader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Monday criticised the state government describing its 21year rule as a period marked by crime and corruptionâThe killing of Ankit Anand has once again raised questions over the governmentâs claims of good governance in the stateâIt remains to be seen how the state government responds to the demand for a CBI probe and what further action is taken in the caseâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-pappu-yadav-consoles-kin-of-slain-minor-662437.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/compassionate-and-decisive-pm-modi-pays-tributes-to-jayalalithaa-on-her-birth-anniversary-662453.html New Delhi Feb 24 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday remembered former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on her birth anniversary saying that she has secured a special place in the hearts and minds of countless people as a charismatic leader and exceptional administrator PM Modi also said that she embodied both compassion and decisiveness PM Modi took to social media and posted on X Remembering Jayalalithaa Ji on her birth anniversary She has made a place in the hearts and minds of countless people as a charismatic leader and outstanding administrator Her life journey was one of immense grit and determination As the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu she championed welfaredriven governance with a strong focus on women empowerment social justice and inclusive development She was both compassionate and decisive I recall with great joy my interactions with herPrime Minister Narendra Modi also shared a video clip from his monthly radio programme âMann Ki Baatâ in which he praised Jayalalithaa as a âwidely admired and beloved leaderâ recalling her administrative legacy and their personal friendship during the 131st episodeThe Prime Minister described Jayalalithaa as a towering figure in Tamil Nadu politics whose contributions would be remembered as a powerful symbol of womenâs leadershipJayalalithaa was a great leader who was deeply loved by the people My friendship with her is like a sacred tree in my heart PM Modi said during the broadcastHighlighting her governance style the Prime Minister noted that Jayalalithaa had taken firm steps to maintain law and order in Tamil Nadu and had earned the peoples trust through decisive leadershipHe said her public service would always be remembered as an example of womens empowerment in Indian politicsPM Modi said he continues to feel the affection the people of Tamil Nadu hold for her whenever he visits the stateEven today when I travel to Tamil Nadu I can sense the deep connection the people have with Jayalalithaa When her name is mentioned one can see a special spark among the people he saidRecalling his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister PM Modi said Every meeting and every conversation with Amma Jayalalithaa is still fresh in my mind She also attended two of my swearingin ceremonies in Gujarat in 2002 and 2012 When we were both Chief Ministers of our respective states we often discussed topics like good governance Her thinking was crystal clear and her thoughts were uncluttered This was a significant characteristic of hers Many years ago she invited me to Chennai over lunch on the auspicious occasion of Pongal That affectionate gesture will remain unforgettable for mePM Modi said Jayalalithaa had extended strong support to Gujarat during his time in officeâShe had great devotion to the nation and worked with commitment for its progressâ he addedUnion Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute to Jayalalithaa and said Tributes to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and peopleâs leader J Jayalalithaa Ji on her Jayanti Through her commitment to the welfare of the poor and empowerment of women she reshaped Tamil Naduâs development and ensured governance reached the last person Her dedication to public service will always remain an inspirationJayalalithaa fondly called âAmmaâ by her supporters remains an influential figure in Tamil Nadus political landscape even years after her passing IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/compassionate-and-decisive-pm-modi-pays-tributes-to-jayalalithaa-on-her-birth-anniversary-662453.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jkhand-air-ambulance-crash-all-7-on-board-killed-relatives-express-grief-662454.html Ranchi Feb 24 All seven people on board an air ambulance that crashed in Jharkhands Chatra district were killed officials confirmed on Tuesday The medical charter flight en route from Ranchi to Delhi crashed in Kasaria Panchayat Chatra District on Monday evening There were seven individuals on board including two crew members The deceased have been identified as Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat Captain Savrajdeep Singh Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta Sachin Kumar Mishra Sanjay Kumar Archana Devi and Dhuru KumarThe aircraft was a Beechcraft King Air BE9L medical charter flight operated by Redbird Airways a Delhibased airlineRelatives of one of the victims said that Sanjay a resident of Chandwa in Latehar district had suffered severe burn injuries and was being shifted to Delhi for advanced treatment He had sustained around 65 per cent burns and his family decided to arrange an air ambulance after doctors indicated that treatment in Latehar was not sufficient Sanjays wife and his cousin accompanied him on the illfated flight and both were among those killedVijay Sanjays elder brother said His condition had worsened significantly so we were taking him to Delhi for treatment by air ambulance His wife and our cousin were with himSanjays uncle also recounted the sequence of events saying My nephew Sanjay was injured in a fire and was admitted to a hospital in Ranchi His condition did not improve there so we arranged an air ambulance to take him to Delhi for treatment At around 7 pm we booked the air ambulance and then Sanjay his wife and his cousin boarded the flight to Delhi We are not sure how this could have happenedDr Vikas Kumar Gupta was also on board the aircraft His uncle Bajrangi Prasad expressed grief over the loss He had completed his MBBS and used to help his father He used to tell us Uncle the time has come to relax Today he passed away and we are now out on the roads What should we do We have rightful demands from our government he saidSuperintendent of Sadar Hospital Pankaj Kumar told IANS We received information about an air ambulance crash so we went to the site When we reached there all the people on board were found dead The procedure to establish the identity of the deceased is underwayEyewitnesses described hearing a loud explosion at the time of the crash We were at our homes when suddenly there was a loud explosionlike sound We thought a plane must have crashed When we rushed to the site we saw the aircraft had fallen and probably seven people on board had died a local resident saidAnother eyewitness said When we heard the explosion we came out of our houses but we did not see anything Then we headed towards the forest to see what had happened After a while we saw the wreckage of the air ambulance and called the authoritiesAccording to flight details the aircraft took off from Ranchi at 707 pm and became airborne at 711 pm After establishing contact with Kolkata Air Traffic Control it lost communication and radar contact at around 734 pm approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi The loss of contact reportedly occurred near Palamu in northwestern Jharkhand The flight was scheduled to land in Delhi at 10 pmAuthorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash while further details are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jkhand-air-ambulance-crash-all-7-on-board-killed-relatives-express-grief-662454.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-air-quality-dips-to-poor-with-pockets-of-very-poor-chill-largely-confined-to-early-mornings-662462.html New Delhi Feb 24 Delhis air pollution on Tuesday remained in the poor to very poor category with the highest reading recorded in Anand Vihar at 331 AQI The weather in DelhiNCR has also been changing frequently since the beginning of February however the heat has now begun shifting gears even before Holi The chill is largely confined to early mornings and late nights while sharp afternoon sunshine is making its presence felt across the national capital and surrounding areas According to the CPCB the AQI levels recorded were Anand Vihar 331 Ashok Vihar 252 Bawana 248 Chandni Chowk 218 DTU 221 DwarkaSector8 286 IGI Airport T3 260 IIT Delhi 158 ITO 269 Jahangirpuri 274 Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 202 Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium 195 Mundka 290 Narela 232 Nehru Nagar 266 Patparganj 226 Pusa 202 R K Puram 236 Rohini 271 Vivek Vihar 262 and Wazirpur 310On Monday the Supreme Court asked the Centre to consider a proposal to shift coalbased industries out of the DelhiNCR region while agreeing to examine a suggestion to bar coalbased thermal power plants within a 300km radius of the national capital as measures to ensure clean airA threejudge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant sought replies from the Union Ministries of Environment Forest and Climate Change MoEFCC Power and Petroleum on the issue of shifting coalbased industries outside DelhiNCR The recommendation was proposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management CAQMMeanwhile according to the India Meteorological Department IMD light fog and mist continue to be observed during the morning hours However no major alert or warning has been issued for the dayAs per the latest bulletin skies will remain mainly clear across most parts of the city on Tuesday February 24 Light fog or mist may appear in the morning but conditions are expected to turn pleasant as the day progresses Areas including New Delhi North Delhi North West Delhi West Delhi and South Delhi are likely to witness clear weatherThe intense cold spell in the national capital has officially ended The minimum temperature is likely to range between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature may rise to between 29 and 31 degrees Celsius This comes after Delhi remained warmer than usual on Monday with no rainfall reported across key weather stations according to the IMD IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-air-quality-dips-to-poor-with-pockets-of-very-poor-chill-largely-confined-to-early-mornings-662462.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-power-to-supply-558-mw-high-quality-power-to-benefit-tamil-nadu-consumers-662463.html Ahmedabad Feb 24 Adani Power on Tuesday said that its subsidiary Moxie Power Generation Ltd MPGL has received a Letter of Award LoA from Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation TNPDCL for supply of 558 MW net power for a period of five years The power supply agreement is expected to benefit Tamil Nadu consumers by providing an additional 558 MW of reliable and highquality power enhance grid stability and support uninterrupted electricity supply to households businesses and industriesMoxie Power operates a 1200 MW 2X 600 MW power plant in Tuticorin Tamil NaduIt emerged as the lowest bidder in a tightly contested bid by offering a tariff of Rs 5910 per unit with supply starting April 1 2026 said Adani Power Indiaâs largest private power producer with a generation capacity of 1815 GWNow both units of the plant have power supply agreements and more than 95 per cent of Adani Powerâs total operating capacity is secured with medium to longterm contracts said the Adani Group companyâThis provides significant longterm revenue visibility and also derisks the company from shortterm market volatility The company aims to achieve almost 100 per cent PPA power purchase agreement tieup for all its operational and under commissioning plants over the coming yearsâ according to a company statementBy securing power at a competitive tariff consumers are expected to benefit from more affordable and dependable energy in the years aheadAdani Power has an installed thermal power capacity of 18110 MW spread across 12 power plants in Gujarat Maharashtra Karnataka Rajasthan Chhattisgarh Madhya Pradesh Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu apart from a 40 MW solar power plant in Gujarat Adani Power reported a 53 per cent rise in its continuing profit before tax PBT for the third quarter Q3 of FY26 The companyâs PBT stood at Rs 2800 crore in Q3 FY26 compared to Rs 2659 crore in the same period last financial year supported mainly by lower finance costs and stable operating performance IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-power-to-supply-558-mw-high-quality-power-to-benefit-tamil-nadu-consumers-662463.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/body-of-missing-neet-aspirant-from-mp-found-in-rajasthan-canal-662472.html Jaipur Feb 24 The body of a NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh who had been missing for six days was recovered from a canal in Rajasthans Baran district The student had been swept away from the Chambal Canal in Kota and his body was found nearly 50 kilometers away in the Anta area stuck in a tree along the right main canal police officials said on TuesdayThe deceased has been identified as 23yearold Lokesh Dangi a resident of Bhadaheri village in Rajgarh district Madhya PradeshLokesh had been preparing for the NEET examination in Kota for the past five yearsDue to prolonged exposure to water the body was severely decomposedAfter postmortem examination the body was handed over to the family on Monday eveningAccording to Anta police around 1230 pm on Monday locals collecting wood near a railway bridge close to the NDPC factory spotted a body stuck in a tree in the canal and informed authorities Police recovered the body and informed the familyFamily members searching for Lokesh rushed to Anta after being informed about an unidentified body in Baran district He was identified based on clothing a red Tshirt and black lower and physical featuresLokesh had been living in Kota for five years for exam preparation On February 17 he left his hostel in the afternoon and did not return When his phone was switched off his family arrived in Kota and filed a missing person complaint at the Borkheda police station the same nightCCTV footage showed Lokesh leaving the hostel and later walking towards the canalOn February 18 his shoes slippers cap and mobile phone were found on the bank of the Chambal Canal in the Kaithun police station areaPolice and SDRF teams launched a search operation on February 19 covering several kilometers of the canalDespite extensive searches no trace was found initiallyOn the sixth day the body was finally recovered in Baran district Police said further investigation is underway based on the postmortem report and other evidence to determine the circumstances of his death IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/body-of-missing-neet-aspirant-from-mp-found-in-rajasthan-canal-662472.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/man-critically-wounded-in-shootout-in-kolkata-662479.html Kolkata Feb 24 A man was critically wounded in a shootout in West Bengals Beniapukur area of Kolkata on Tuesday police said According to the police a personal dispute between two person intensified into a shootout About five to six rounds of bullets were fired at one person in Tiljala area of BeniapukurThe injured youth was rushed to the trauma care of SSKM Hospital in a serious conditionAccording to police sources a person named Mohammad Salman had an argument with Mohammad Niaz on Monday nightSalman then threatened Niaz over some issues However the people of the area settled the matter for that time being The family members took Niaz home However around 1 am Salman allegedly called Niaz from his house and fired 56 rounds at himNiazs family members said that he was hit by three bullets in both his legs He has been admitted to the trauma care of SSKM HospitalLocals said that the accused Salman is a local miscreant There were several complaints against him beforeThe Beniapukur police station was soon informed about the incident The officers have started investigating the entire incidentA resident of the area told local media persons They were chatting in the evening During that chat I saw some trouble Then around 1 am some people came to call for Niaz Everyone had a bike Three or four people were standing They also had bags Hearing a noise we asked what happened Then we saw that the boys who were standing had fled on their motorbikes And one person was on the road We first rescued him and took him to Chittaranjan Hospital From there then we took him to SSKM hospitalAccording to local sources the accused Salman is associated with the criminals There are several charges against him like theft robbery and extortionHowever it is still not clear why he had an argument with Niaz The police have launched a search for the accused Salman IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/man-critically-wounded-in-shootout-in-kolkata-662479.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/leh-bound-spicejet-flight-lands-safely-at-delhi-airport-over-technical-issue-662482.html New Delhi Feb 24 A SpiceJet flight carrying around 150 passengers to Leh returned safely to Delhi Airport on Tuesday shortly after takeoff from the airport after experiencing a âtechnical issueâ All passengers were disembarked safely at the Delhi airportThe Boeing 737 aircraft operating flight SG121 from Delhi to Leh turned back minutes after departure after the crew detected a possible technical issueâA SpiceJet flight operating from Delhi to Leh on February 24 returned to Delhi after experiencing a technical issueâ an airline spokesperson saidâThe aircraft landed safely in Delhi and all passengers were disembarked normally There was no fire warning in the cockpitâ the spokesperson addedAccording to airport sources the aircraft suffered a possible engine issue likely linked to the second engineIn November a SpiceJet flight from Mumbai to Kolkata made an emergency landing due to a failure in one of its engines according to Kolkata Airport officials All passengers and crew members were safeOn November 9 SpiceJet flight SG 670 operating from Mumbai to Kolkata experienced a technical issue during descent at Kolkata airport The aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew deplaned normally according to a statement from a SpiceJet spokespersonOn September 12 a SpiceJet Q400 flight from Gujarats Kandla airport to Mumbai made a similar emergency landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport CSMIA after an outer wheel was found on the runway following takeoffThe plane landed safely with all passengers and crew unharmedAnother Patnabound SpiceJet aircraft returned to Delhi in October shortly after takeoff following a technical issue According to SpiceJet flight SG 497 operating from Delhi to Patna with a Boeing 737 aircraft made a normal landing at the Delhi Airport and all passengers were safely deplaned âThe aircraft landed normally and passengers were deplaned safely An alternate aircraft was arranged to accommodate the passengersâ the airline had said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/leh-bound-spicejet-flight-lands-safely-at-delhi-airport-over-technical-issue-662482.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/man-detained-for-murdering-13-year-old-girl-in-bikaner-662483.html Jaipur Feb 24 A man has been detained in connection with the murder of a 13yearold girl who was on her way to appear for her Class 8 board examination in a village under Bikaner district in Rajasthan On February 21 the minor left her residence around 1215 pm to go to a nearby examination centre However she could not reach thereWhen she did not arrive at the school the administration informed her family at approximately 146 pmLocals said that the girl used to walk down to her school every dayA search was initiated and her body was later found at a short distance from the villageThe issue rocked Vidhan Sabha on Monday where opposition raised a demand to check such heinous crimes in stateSuperintendent of Police Kavendra Singh Sagar stated that after three days of continuous investigation technical analysis and sustained interrogation the police achieved a breakthrough in the caseThe police collected the CCTV footage from the area on the day of the incident reviewed itCCTV footage showed the suspect entering the area around the time of the incident and returning later which raised suspicion The accused was identifiedDuring questioning the accused initially gave misleading information regarding his whereaboutsHowever after detailed verification and interrogation he allegedly confessed to strangling the minorPolice suspect that a sexual assault may also have occurred However confirmation in this regard will be subject to the postmortem examination report The postmortem examination is being conducted in accordance with due legal procedureA medical examination will also be conductedFurther investigation is underway and additional aspects of the case are being examinedBikaner Police reiterate their commitment to conducting a fair thorough and timebound investigation and ensuring strict legal action against the accused as per lawMeanwhile family members and villagers are staging a protest demanding strict action and compensation in matter due to which postmortem examination could not be made IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/man-detained-for-murdering-13-year-old-girl-in-bikaner-662483.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/major-reshuffle-in-rajasthan-21-ips-officers-transferred-662489.html Jaipur Feb 24 The Bhajanlal government has issued transfer and promotion orders for 21 IPS officers affecting major changes in key positions across Rajasthan Most of the reshuffle follows recent promotions within the cadre In a latenight order on Monday night the Police Commissioner of Jodhpur and the Special Police Commissioner of Jaipur have been replaced Inspector General IG SOG Sharat Kaviraj has been appointed as the new Police Commissioner of JodhpurJodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash has been transferred as Special Commissioner of JaipurJaipur Special Police Commissioner Rahul Prakash has been posted as IG Jaipur RangeRange IGs of Jaipur Jodhpur Bikaner and Kota have been reshuffled Satyendra Singh has been transferred from IG CIDCB to IG Jodhpur RangeOm Prakash has been moved from the Police Armed Battalion to IG Bikaner RangeHemant Kumar Sharma IG Bikaner Range has been posted as IG SCRB JaipurAjay Pal Lamba has been transferred from IG SCRB Jaipur to IG SOG JaipurSeveral senior IPS officers have been promoted and assigned new responsibilities ADG Crime Branch Hawa Singh Ghumaria has been promoted to ADG Headquarters Vipin Kumar Pandey has been promoted from ADG Police Recruitment and Promotion Board Headquarters to ADG Crime Branch Rajasthan Prafull Kumar has been promoted from IG Intelligence to ADG Intelligence Jaipur Range IG Raghavendra Suvasa has been promoted to ADG Training Jodhpur Range IG Rajesh Meena has been transferred as IG Home Guard Jaipur S Parimal has been shifted from IG Personnel Police Headquarters to IG ACBVikas Kumar who was handling both ATS and AntiNarcotics Task Force will now serve as IG AntiNarcotics Task Force The ATS charge has been withdrawn from himRajesh Singh has been appointed IG ATS Jaipur from IG ACBSatyendra Kumar has been appointed CEO of the Rajasthan Institute for Transportation and Innovation RITI from IG SCRB Jaipur The post is considered equivalent to that of an IASlevel administrative positionPreeti Chandra has been appointed IG Law and Order Administration Jaipur from DIG Armed Battalion First JaipurHarendra Kumar Mahawar has been posted as IG CIDCB Jaipur from DIG SSB JodhpurRahul Kotki has been transferred from DIG JDA to IG Personnel Police Headquarters JaipurKaluram Rawat has been appointed IG Police Housing Jaipur from DIG Civil Rights and AntiHuman TraffickingThe latenight reshuffle is being seen as a significant administrative overhaul aimed at strengthening the stateâs policing and investigative framework following the latest round of promotions IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/major-reshuffle-in-rajasthan-21-ips-officers-transferred-662489.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/on-last-day-of-kerala-assembly-cm-vijayan-snubs-guv-for-deviating-from-cabinet-approved-address-662491.html Thiruvananthapuram Feb 24 A constitutional disagreement between the Kerala government and Governor Rajendra V Arlekar over the policy address has escalated with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday asserting that only the Cabinet approved version of the address holds authority under established rules and conventions CM Vijayan told the Assembly that according to existing rules and conventions the Cabinetapproved policy decision is the one that is acceptedHe also said former governors including Arif Mohammed Khan had once read the policy address for 1 minute and 22 seconds but the entire policy address was accepted pointed out CM VijayanFollowing this the Speaker AN Shamseer accepted Vijayanâs statement causing a dent to the Governorâs demandThe latest flashpoint followed a letter from the Governor to Speaker Shamseer stating that the version he read in the Assembly on January 20 should be treated as the official address not the text cleared by the Council of Ministers and subsequently publishedIncidentally what happened on January 20 was Vijayan immediately after seeing off the Governor on the opening day of the session informed the House regarding the deviations from the Cabinet approved textHe said certain clauses had been omitted or altered and stressed that the government approved address must remain the authoritative policy statementAccording to the Chief Minister Clause 12 which referred to Keralaâs severe financial stress arising from adverse Union government actions affecting fiscal federalism was omittedIn Clause 15 the last two sentences relating to pending state Bills and the governmentâs move to approach the Supreme Court and a Constitution Bench were removedClause 16 dealing with the statesâ constitutional rights over tax revenues and Finance Commission grants was retained but with the addition of the phrase âmy government believesâCiting Article 176 of the Constitution CM Vijayan said the Governorâs address at the first session of the year is based on the aid and advice of the Council of MinistersHe noted that past rulings by the Chair have consistently upheld the Cabinetapproved text as the valid document placed before the HouseSpeaker Shamseer on that day also backed the Chief Minister stating that any deviation from the Cabinetapproved text goes against legislative convention and that the official version circulated to members and the media would be the one cleared by the governmentThe episode adds to the evolving friction between the Raj Bhavan and the elected government raising fresh questions over constitutional practice and CentreState dynamics IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/on-last-day-of-kerala-assembly-cm-vijayan-snubs-guv-for-deviating-from-cabinet-approved-address-662491.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/entire-money-returned-to-govt-accounts-haryana-cm-informs-assembly-on-idfc-first-bank-fraud-case-662493.html Chandigarh Feb 24 IANS Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday informed the Assembly that the entire money in the fraud involving state government accounts at the Chandigarh branch of IDFC First Bank has been returned to the governments accountsnbspA total of Rs 556 crore including Rs 22 crore of interest was returned to the government account within 24 hours he saidThe Chief Minister said the involvement of fourfive employees of the banks Chandigarh branch has been revealedNo one whether a bank employee a private individual or a government official will be spared in the case he saidSaying the country has a strong watchman like Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Chief Minister assured the House No one can even look at the hardearned money of 28 crore people of the state Today the governance system in Haryana has changed and every penny of the publics money is accounted forHe said the government has formed a committee headed by the Finance Secretary to investigate this matter This committee will not only investigate the entire matter but also make recommendations to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future he addedEarlier IDFC First Bank identified Rs 590 crore of fraudulent activities at its Chandigarh branch according to the banks Exchange FilingThe state Vigilance and AntiCorruption Bureau has registered an FIR against bank officials public servants and other individuals under Section 13 2 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 316 5 318 4 336 3 338 340 2 and 61 2 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNSIn a protest outside the Assembly by the opposition Congress on the bank scam state party President Rao Narendra Singh told the media This is not an ordinary scam it is more than a Rs 590crore scam and I demand a CBI investigation into it as big players are involvedA day earlier CM Saini had informed the House that the fraud came to light due to the alertness of state government departments following which the government immediately deempanelled the bankStatements provided by the bank did not match the records maintained by the departments concerned and directions have also been issued to constitute a highlevel committee to conduct a detailed probe he had saidThe Chief Minister had informed the House during the Budget Session of the Vidhan Sabha that IDFC First Bank had written to SEBI acknowledging irregularities committed by certain bank employeesThe bank has also initiated action against the employees concernedHe had said the bank wrote a letter on February 21 However even before the government took cognisance of the matter on February 18 it depanelled the bank and directed that the entire amount along with interest be transferred to a nationalised bankThe Chief Minister had said a significant portion of the governments funds deposited with IDFC First Bank had been invested in fixed deposits FDs He had said the practice of departments keeping funds in banks is not new This has been happening earlier as well Even during the Congress tenure departmental funds were kept in banks Banks are empanelled from time to time and new banks continue to be added he had saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/entire-money-returned-to-govt-accounts-haryana-cm-informs-assembly-on-idfc-first-bank-fraud-case-662493.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-permits-deputation-of-officials-from-jharkhand-orissa-high-courts-in-west-bengal-sir-exercise-662494.html New Delhi Feb 24 IANS The Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted judicial officers from the neighbouring High Courts of Jharkhand and Orissa to be deputed to West Bengal to expedite the adjudication of voter claims and objections arising from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls in the pollbound statenbspnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipin Pancholi issued the directions after the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court informed the Apex Court about the massive pendency of cases involving logical discrepancy and unmapped category votersAs per the communication placed before the Top Court nearly 80 lakh applications require adjudication while only about 250 judicial officers primarily District Judges and Additional District Judges are currently engaged in the exerciseThe Calcutta High Court estimated that even if each officer disposes of 250 matters daily the process would take around 80 days to concludeTaking note of the deadline for the final electoral roll scheduled for February 28 2026 the CJI Kantled Bench allowed the Calcutta High Court to additionally deploy Civil Judges Senior Division and Civil Judges Junior Division with at least three years of experience to assist in the SIR workIt further permitted the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to seek assistance from neighbouring High Courts if additional manpower is requiredThe Supreme Court said that judicial officers serving as well as retired from the Jharkhand and Orissa High Courts may be deputed to West Bengal for the limited purpose of completing verification of pending claimsIt directed that expenses towards travel boarding lodging and honorarium of such officers would be borne by the Election Commission of India ECIThe CJI Kantled Bench clarified that the ECI may proceed with publication of the final electoral roll on February 28 even if adjudication of certain cases remains pendingInvoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution the Supreme Court ordered that voters whose names are included in subsequent supplementary electoral lists would be deemed to be part of the final electoral roll published on February 28IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-permits-deputation-of-officials-from-jharkhand-orissa-high-courts-in-west-bengal-sir-exercise-662494.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-to-make-40-lakh-women-lakhpati-cm-himanta-sarma-662495.html Guwahati Feb 24 IANS Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the BJPled government has set a target of making 40 lakh women in the state lakhpati as part of its broader vision to economically empower women through sustained livelihood supportnbspAddressing a cheque distribution programme for women beneficiaries under SelfHelp Groups SHGs at Bokajan in Karbi Anglong district the Chief Minister said women empowerment remains a central pillar of the state governments development agendaHe added that financial independence among women is key to strengthening families and accelerating Assams overall economic growthThe BJP government has taken a firm resolve to ensure that at least 40 lakh women in Assam become lakhpatis Through structured support financial assistance and skill development women are being enabled to stand on their own feet Sarma saidHighlighting the success of government initiatives such as Orunodoi Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission ASRLM and other SHGbased programmes the Chief Minister said thousands of women have already started earning sustainable incomes through agriculture animal husbandry weaving and small enterprisesSarma said the cheque distribution drive is aimed at providing direct financial support to women entrepreneurs so that they can expand their activities and improve household incomesHe asserted that the government is ensuring transparency and direct benefit transfer so that assistance reaches genuine beneficiaries without delayThe Chief Minister further said that the state government has been working to create an ecosystem where women are not dependent on subsidies alone but are encouraged to become contributors to the economyOur focus is not charity but empowerment he added Sarma also appealed to women beneficiaries to make effective use of the financial assistance given to them and assured them of continued government support in the form of training market linkage and credit accessSenior officials of the district administration public representatives and a large number of women SHG members were present at the programmeIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-to-make-40-lakh-women-lakhpati-cm-himanta-sarma-662495.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shahs-3-day-seemanchal-visit-to-focus-on-demographic-changes-infiltration-in-bihar-662496.html Patna Feb 24 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah will embark on a threeday visit to Bihar from Wednesday to review security measures administrative preparedness and ongoing development initiatives in the states border districts with particular emphasis on areas along the IndiaNepal bordernbspSenior officials from the Union Home Ministry accompanying HM Shah are expected to hold consultations with top state functionaries on the factors behind the demographic changes reported in the Seemanchal region and measures to address themThe visit is being seen as a significant move by the Home Minister in the context of what the government has described as population imbalance in certain parts of the countrynbspAs per the itinerary HM Shah will arrive in Purnea at 4 pm on February 25 and proceed by helicopter to Kishanganj He is scheduled to chair a review meeting at the Collectorate from 5 pm to 7 pm and will stay overnight in KishanganjnbspOn February 26 the Home Minister will travel to Araria where he will attend a programme at the Letti border outpost at 11 amHe will subsequently convene a highlevel review meeting at the Collectorate with Superintendents of Police and district officials from border areas to assess issues related to the IndiaNepal bordernbspThe same day he will also take part in an event organised under the Vibrant Villages programme before returning to Purnea for an overnight staynbspOn February 27 HM Shah will once again meet officials in Purnea to deliberate on matters concerning border districts After concluding the final round of review meetings he will leave for New DelhiThe visit is regarded as crucial for bolstering border security overseeing the progress of development schemes and ensuring administrative coordination in sensitive districtsnbspAuthorities have completed logistical preparations and elaborate security arrangements have been put in place ahead of the tournbspThe Seemanchal region is expected to be a key focus of the visit The exercise is being viewed as the next major priority of the Home Ministry following its NaxalMukt Bharat initiative with particular attention on making Seemanchal infiltratorfree HM Shah has toured Seemanchal several times in recent yearsDuring the previous Bihar Assembly elections he had repeatedly alleged that efforts were underway to build a vote bank through illegal immigrants in the region and asserted that the NDA government would not allow such practicesnbspHe had said that every infiltrator would be identified and deported and that all illegal activities would be brought to a complete haltIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shahs-3-day-seemanchal-visit-to-focus-on-demographic-changes-infiltration-in-bihar-662496.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-presents-rs-158-lakh-crore-budget-flags-rs-16-000-crore-shortfall-from-centre-662497.html Ranchi Feb 24 IANS Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore on Tuesday presented a Rs 158560 crore Budget for 202627 in the Assembly He described it as the Abua Dishom Budget which will carry forward inclusive sustainable and welfareoriented development in the statenbspCalling it a roadmap for Abua Jharkhand Our Jharkhand the Finance Minister said the Budget reflects the governments resolve to wipe the tears of the poor and bring smiles to every citizenThe Budget size marks an increase of about nine per cent over the previous one of Rs 145400 croreDuring his speech Kishore accused the Centre of not extending adequate financial support to the state He claimed Jharkhand received nearly Rs 16000 crore less in tax devolution and grants around Rs 5000 crore in tax share and Rs 11000 crore in grantsHe further said the state is losing nearly Rs 4000 crore annually due to GST rate rationalisation The implementation of the 6040 funding ratio under VB G RAM G he added has placed an additional burden of Rs 5640 crore on the state exchequer He also flagged outstanding dues of Rs 136 lakh crore on coal companiesDespite these constraints the Minister said the government ensured timely payment of employee salaries and spent Rs 13000 crore on the Chief Ministers Maiya Samman YojanaThe states own revenue is projected to rise from Rs 25521 crore in 201920 to Rs 66700 crore in 202627The fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 1359596 crore or 218 per cent of GSDP while the debttoGSDP ratio is projected at 253 per centOf the total outlay Rs 12085190 crore has been earmarked for revenue expenditure and Rs 3770810 crore for capital expenditure Capital spending has been increased by 85 per cent which will boost road irrigation power and drinking water infrastructureWomens welfare and social security schemes received the highest allocation in the budget Rs 1406557 crore has been set aside for the Chief Ministers Maiya Samman Yojana which provides Rs 2500 per month to women aged 1850 Rs 351723 crore has been allocated for the Sarvajan Pension Yojana and Rs 146358 crore has been earmarked for the National Pension SchemeThe total outlay for the Women and Child Development Department stands at Rs 2299569 croreIn the health sector Rs 799030 crore has been allocated A Rs 200 crore special scheme for cancer treatment has been announced along with a target to open 750 Abua DispensariesFor agriculture the allocation for the Birsa Seed Production Scheme has been raised to Rs 145 crore Other provisions include Rs 47550 crore for soil and water conservation Rs 75 crore for solarbased irrigation Rs 80 crore for farm equipment distribution and Rs 400 crore for crop insuranceRural development has been allocated Rs 1234690 crore including Rs 4100 crore for the Abua Housing Scheme An allocation of Rs 66 crore has been made to promote products of Sakhi Mandals under the Palash brandIn education Rs 1625143 crore has been earmarked for elementary and secondary education and Rs 256445 crore for higher and technical education with a focus on schools of excellence and digital learning initiativesThe government said the Budget balances welfare commitments with capital expansion to sustain longterm growthnbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-presents-rs-158-lakh-crore-budget-flags-rs-16-000-crore-shortfall-from-centre-662497.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/big-relief-for-vijayan-govt-as-sc-stays-hc-order-clears-way-for-nava-kerala-survey-662498.html New Delhi Feb 24 IANS In a significant relief to the Government of Kerala the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the interim order of the Kerala High Court that had halted the states proposed Nava Kerala Survey allowing the government to proceed with the exercisenbspNew Delhi Feb 24 IANS In a significant relief to the Government of Kerala the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the interim order of the Kerala High Court that had halted the states proposed Nava Kerala Survey allowing the government to proceed with the exerciseThe High Court had last week restrained the survey following petitions filed by leaders of the Kerala Students Union KSU who alleged that the data collection drive undertaken ahead of elections amounted to a politically motivated exercise funded by public moneyThe High Court struck down the controversial Nava Kerala Survey calling it unlawful and questioning how it was funded and executed The Court had made it clear that there was neither a proper budget allocation nor a financial sanction for the programmeChallenging the High Courts stay the state government moved an appeal in the Supreme CourtAppearing for the state senior advocate Kapil Sibal contended that the government has the authority to assess how effectively welfare schemes are reaching beneficiaries and to collect data for administrative evaluationAccepting the broad thrust of this argument the apex court observed that governments are entitled to undertake such surveys to evaluate the impact of schemes on which crores of rupees are spentThe Bench questioned the basis for halting the exercise asking what was wrong with gathering information to determine whether welfare programmes were yielding the intended resultsIt underlined that political criticism of a survey cannot be the sole ground to restrain a state from performing governance functionsThe court also made pointed remarks against unwarranted judicial interference in administrative matters stressing the need for restraint unless there is a clear constitutional violationWhile permitting the survey to continue the Supreme Court directed the state government to submit a report detailing the expenditure involved estimated at around Rs 20 croreThe case has been posted for further hearing on April 13The ruling marks a crucial legal victory for the Pinarayi Vijayan government and reinforces the executives authority to undertake policy evaluation exercises even in politically sensitive periodsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/big-relief-for-vijayan-govt-as-sc-stays-hc-order-clears-way-for-nava-kerala-survey-662498.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/uproar-in-bihar-assembly-over-lathi-charge-on-chowkidars-nitish-kumar-snaps-at-oppn-662499.html Patna Feb 24 IANS The Bihar Legislative Assembly witnessed massive chaos on Tuesday over the police lathi charge on Chowkidars and DafadarsnbspOpposition members accused the Nitish Kumar government of suppressing democratic protests triggering sharp exchanges between the Treasury Benches and the OppositionRJD MLA Kumar Sarvjeet alleged that the Bihar government was ruling through forceA government of sticks and bullets will not work in Bihar he said leading to loud sloganeering by Opposition membersOpposition MLAs raised placards and shouted slogans such as Nitish government come to your senses and Down with the Nitish governmentAmid the uproar Nitish Kumar stood up angrily and directly targeted RJD MLA Bhai VirendraDont talk nonsense The government will not fall What are your numbers Look at our numbers we are 202 Nitish Kumar saidRecalling his past alliance with the RJD the Chief Minister added I was with you for three years but you kept creating trouble so I leftDuring your rule people were afraid to step out in the evening Today Bihar is progressing and everything is fine he claimedNitish Kumar also appealed to the Speaker to expel members who disrupt House proceedingsParliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary defended the governments action saying the protest had crossed limitsIf the government were against the protest it would have stopped it from the beginning No organisation has the right to disrupt public order or damage government property he saidHe described the governments decisions regarding Chowkidar and Dafadar service conditions as historic and accused the Opposition of shedding crocodile tearsMinister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said the government would hold talks with the ChowkidarDafadar organisation and consider their demandsMeanwhile LJP Ram Vilas state president and MLA Raju Tiwari stated that his party had already raised the issue with the Chief Minister and would seek action if any wrongdoing occurred during the lathi chargeSpeaking to the media outside the House Kumar Sarvjeet reiterated that the demands of the Chowkidars and Dafadars were justifiedThey come largely from the Dalit community The government is antiDalit We condemn the lathi charge and demand that their issues be resolved immediately he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/uproar-in-bihar-assembly-over-lathi-charge-on-chowkidars-nitish-kumar-snaps-at-oppn-662499.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/us-supreme-court-ruling-may-not-yet-calm-choppy-waters-around-trump-trade-policy-662500.html New Delhi Feb 24 IANS In a little over a year since he took office as the 47th President of the United States on January 20 last year Donald Trump has managed to stir the world order a few times with frequent changes made using two of his favourite words trade and tariffsnbspFirst he introduced a set of reciprocal tariffs last year that forced several countries to scurry for inking trade deals with Washington or agree to negotiations as the dice appeared to be loaded against themAfter the US President tore up the global economic order in 2025 Japan was one among the countries scrambling to strike a deal They pledged to dramatically increase investment in the US in exchange for lower US tariffs on Japanese exports observed the UKs liberalleaning The Guardian newspaperBut two days after Trumps declared victory his bid to reshape international trade suffered a damaging defeat at the US Supreme Court it addedOn February 20 the US Supreme Court in a 63 judgment ruled that President Trump overstepped his authority when he imposed global tariffs using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act IEEPA The court clarified that IEEPA was designed for national security emergencies not broad trade measures This effectively struck down many of Trumps earlier reciprocal tariffsTrue to his style with contempt towards judges who ruled that much of his tariff regime was illegal Trump soon announced a 10 per cent global tariff then quickly raised it to 15 per cent by invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974While it allows the US President to impose this import duty it is a temporary adjustment for a maximum of 150 days This provision is meant to be used to address balanceofpayments deficits and needs to be extended by CongressWith midterm elections looming ahead this year the House may not want to vote in a hurryMeanwhile businesses and trading partners face confusion about what tariffs apply making longterm planning difficult But the dynamics have shifted with allies feeling confident that they can renegotiate a few clausesIndia Brazil and China have been handed significant tariff cuts without making a single compromise The Guardian report said adding that at the same time countries like the UK may now face higher tariffs despite making concessionsNew Delhi has hit the pause button on the ongoing negotiation before an imminent closure of a trade deal Exporters in India are alarmed especially in the textiles chemicals and auto parts sectorsThe European Union too is seeking clarifications after the European Commission had reached an understanding in an initial trade deal with Washington According to reports Brussels wants to consult the WTO and has warned of possible countermeasuresAgricultural exporters in Brazil are reportedly worried about higher costs where President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva while in Delhi urged countries to unite and form collective negotiating blocs for talks with the USMeanwhile President Xi Jinping of China will carry some extra leverage when he sits at the negotiating table across his US counterpart during the latters Beijing visit from March 31 to April 2 Chinas Ministry of Commerce this week said that it has noted the US Supreme Courts ruling and is conducting a comprehensive assessment of its relevant content and impactThe unilateral measures it added such as the imposition of reciprocal tariffs and fentanyl tariffs not only violate international economic and trade rules but also contravene domestic laws of the United States and are not in the interests of any partyTrump may not now be able to push Xi for larger purchases of American soybeans Boeing aircraft and energyChina may go slow on allowing a steady flow of rare earth minerals a crucial component of the American hitech and AIbased manufacturing Some reports are already hinting at Beijing attempting retaliation But that may wait till the XiTrump Beijing summitIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/us-supreme-court-ruling-may-not-yet-calm-choppy-waters-around-trump-trade-policy-662500.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-dismisses-pil-challenging-1980-waqf-board-notification-on-jahangirpuri-mosques-662501.html New Delhi Feb 24 IANS The Delhi High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation PIL challenging a 1980 notification of the Delhi Waqf Board declaring certain mosques in Jahangirpuri as Waqf properties observing that the petition sought to unnecessarily rake up the past after a lapse of 46 years and was not filed with bona fide intentnbspA Bench of Chief Justice CJ Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia refused to entertain the plea filed by Save India Foundation which had questioned the validity of a notification dated March 24 1980 published in the Delhi Gazette on April 10 1980 listing several Waqf properties including mosques locally known as Jama Masjid Moti Masjid and Masjid JahangirpuriThe petitioner organisation contended that the land on which the mosques stand had already been acquired by the Delhi government in 1977 for planned development of the Jahangirpuri area under the Land Acquisition Act 1894 and compensation had been paid to landownersIt alleged that the structures were illegal encroachments on public land and that the Waqf notification violated the lawRejecting these submissions the Delhi High Court observed that the petitioner failed to produce any material establishing the identity of the land allegedly acquired or proving that the acquired land and the Waqf properties were the sameWe are of the considered opinion that the petitioner has unnecessarily attempted to rake up the past The motive behind filing the writ petition also does not appear to be bona fide the CJ Upadhyayaled Bench observedIt further held that any notification made about 46 years ago cannot be permitted to be challenged on flimsy grounds particularly when statutory remedies had long expiredReferring to the scheme of the Muslim Wakfs Act 1954 the Delhi High Court said disputes regarding inclusion of properties in the Waqf list could have been raised before a competent civil court under Section 6 of the Act within one year of publication of the notificationIf an ordinary civil remedy is barred entertaining a writ petition seeking declaration that the certain properties enlisted in the impugned notification are not Waqf properties that too after 46 years in our opinion would legally be impermissible the CJ Upadhyayaled Bench saidThe judgment also took note of the petitioner organisations litigation history observing that it appeared to be habitual of filing the petitions describing them as Public Interest Litigation petitionsStressing that PILs must not be allowed to become a tool for private gain or publicitydriven causes the Delhi High Court observed that a litigant invoking PIL jurisdiction must approach the court with clean hands clean heart clean mind and clean objectiveThe purity of the stream of Public Interest Litigation in the country should not at any cost be permitted to be undermined by any litigant the Bench said adding that courts must ensure that frivolous petitions styled as PILs are nipped in the budThe Delhi High Court warned that the attractive brand name of Public Interest Litigation should not be used for suspicious products of mischief and emphasised that only genuine causes involving substantial public interest deserve judicial interventionConcluding that the PIL neither disclosed bona fide public interest nor legal grounds to reopen a decadesold notification the CJ Upadhyayaled Bench dismissed the writ petitionFor the reasons aforesaid we are not inclined to entertain the instant petition which is hereby dismissed along with pending applications it orderedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-dismisses-pil-challenging-1980-waqf-board-notification-on-jahangirpuri-mosques-662501.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-budget-100-new-cm-schools-of-excellence-announced-ambedkar-university-proposed-662519.html Ranchi Feb 24 The Jharkhand government on Tuesday unveiled several initiatives in education health tourism infrastructure and womenâs empowerment in its 202627 Budget presented in the Assembly The state will establish 100 new CM Schools of Excellence where CBSEbased education will be introduced from the 202728 academic session Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said 80 such schools are already operational across the stateA model school for dependents of martyrs has also been announcedIn higher education the government has proposed the establishment of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Chatra district Five new girlsâ residential schools will be opened two in Dhanbad and one each in Palamu Latehar and GarhwaUnder a new initiative called Mahila Kisan Khushali Yojana Rs 25 crore has been allocated to promote women farmers The scheme aims to connect them with integrated farming practices modern technology and both online and offline marketing platformsThe Budget also includes a Gender Budget of Rs 3421127 crore covering 232 schemes across 17 departmentsSignificant expansion has been planned in the healthcare sector The Sadar Hospitals in Latehar Sahebganj and SaraikelaKharsawan will be upgraded into medical colleges and hospitals under the PPP modelThe government has announced the addition of 220 MBBS seats in government medical colleges including RIMS by next year Currently the state has 1030 MBBS seats and the target is to raise this to 1325 over the next four yearsPostgraduate PG seats will increase from 225 to 325 next year with a longterm goal of reaching 750 seats within four yearsThe state also aims to open 750 Abua Dispensaries to ensure affordable and quality medicines across JharkhandA Budget of Rs 1079316 crore representing 107 per cent of the total plan outlay has been prepared based on 138 child development schemesTo strengthen air connectivity the government has signed an agreement with the Airports Authority of India to expand Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi The runway will be extended from 9000 feet to 12000 feet A greenfield airport has also been proposed in SahibganjSeveral tourism infrastructure projects have been announced in the Budget These include glass bridges and ropeways at Dasham and Jonha Falls in Ranchi a ropeway at Hundru Falls skywalks and solar boats at Rajrappa and Patratu a glass watch tower at Netarhat and development of Punasi Dam in Deoghar and Malay Dam in PalamuThe government said the Budget seeks to balance social welfare with infrastructure expansion focusing on longterm human development and economic growth IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-budget-100-new-cm-schools-of-excellence-announced-ambedkar-university-proposed-662519.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/four-day-khelo-india-winter-games-begin-in-jampks-gulmarg-today-662272.html Gulmarg Feb 23 All arrangements were in place on Monday for the inauguration of the 6th Khelo India Winter Games KIWG at this picturesque snowclad ski resort of Jammu and Kashmir The fourday event will be flagged off by JampK Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and 400 athletes from 30 states and union territories are participatingNuzhat Gul Secretary JampK Sports Council told IANS â400 participants from 30 states and union territories have registered for the games God willing the event is going to be a great success as Gulmarg has a good snow cover this timeâThe 4day event is being held from February 23 to 26 The first leg of KIWG was held at Leh town in Ladakh from January 20 to 26The second edition of the games for snow events is being held in Gulmarg All six editions of KIWG have been held in JampK and LadakhGulmarg features four medal disciplines including ski mountaineering alpine skiing Nordic skiing cross country and snowboarding The highest participation registration has taken place for alpine skiingAt the end of KIWG 2026 in LadakhLeh Haryana led the medal tally with four gold medals won by its figure and ice skaters This was followed by Ladakh Maharashtra and TelanganaThe mascot of KIWG is SheenEShe Shan the Snow Leopard Shan represents the spirit of Indian winter sports resilient agile and adaptable carrying the legacy of the Himalayas to a national stage through the Khelo India Winter GamesSpecial arrangements have been made for the event with all senior officers of civil administration and security taking stock of arrangements in detailKashmir is all braced up to receive the Vice President of the country CP Radhakrishnan on February 26 The vice president will be the chief guest at the 21st convocation of Kashmir University being held on February 26 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/four-day-khelo-india-winter-games-begin-in-jampks-gulmarg-today-662272.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/duryodhana-like-fall-for-maharashtra-rulers-shiv-sena-662274.html Mumbai Feb 23 The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT on Monday strongly criticised the Mahayuti government likening their political conduct to the hubris of the antagonist Duryodhana from the Mahabharata The Thackeray camp in an editorial titled Duryodhanaâs Ego No Need for a Leader of the Opposition in the partys mouthpiece Saamana claimed that there has been a democratic erosion caused by individual ego It paints a picture of a ruling establishment that views the role of Leader of Opposition LoP not as a constitutional necessity but as an annoyance to be eliminatedThe editorial coincides with the commencement of the stateâs Budget Session which is notably starting without a designated LoP in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative CouncilDrawing a historical parallel the editorial said that just as Duryodhana refused to grant the Pandavas even a needlepoint of land the current administration is unwilling to concede any constitutional space to the opposition It characterises this as the pinnacle of egoThe party questioned the sanctity of the legislature in the editorial asking whether the temple of democracy is being converted into a private firm for the rulers It asserts that the LoP is not just a party representative but the voice of the public essential for holding the government accountableThe editorial focused on recent parliamentary friction surrounding the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the oppositionâs attempts to move a noconfidence resolution It claimed that the government is actively trying to isolate the Congress party by weaning away smaller allies effectively trying to break the INDIA bloc from withinThe Thackeray camp accused the Mahayuti government of trying to evade accountability by sidelining the opposition It referred to the recent clean chits given to political figures specifically Parth Pawar and Ajit Pawar and questioned the transparency regarding highprofile incidents It pointed towards structural issues in the Metro projects and alleged mismanagement within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA suggesting that without a strong LoP these black deeds go unchallengedBy delaying local body elections and appointing administrators over municipal corporations the editorial claimed the state is transitioning toward a dictatorshipThe editorial firmly backed the Maha Vikas Aghadiâs MVA decision to boycott the customary tea invitation hosted by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday âIt is better to raise a voice against the governments black deeds than to drink their black tea the editorial said echoing a sentiment shared by Shiv SenaUBT leader Aaditya ThackerayThe editorial concluded with a grim historical reminder stating that ego is the root of destruction It warned the ruling alliance that history remembers the eventual downfall of Duryodhana suggesting that running a legislature without an opposition leader is equivalent to the murder of democracy IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/duryodhana-like-fall-for-maharashtra-rulers-shiv-sena-662274.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-municipal-elections-polling-underway-with-high-voter-enthusiasm-662275.html New Delhi Feb 23 Voting is currently underway for the 2026 municipal elections in Jharkhand on Monday with voters arriving early in the morning to cast their ballots Union Minister of State Sanjay Seth also exercised his franchise casting his vote for the local elections along with his familyCommenting on the turnout he said âThere has been great enthusiasm across the state since morning as the people are going to elect their third tier of government and I believe this time the previous record will be brokenâVoters expressed the importance of participating in the elections One resident said âWe want the cityâs municipal corporation to function properly and keep the city clean Even though we have work and duties to attend to at the Central government office we came early in the morning to cast our voteâJitender Chaudhary the first voter to cast his ballot from his ward urged fellow citizens to exercise their voting rights âMy message to society is to exercise your voting rights Vote first and then have refreshments Choose good candidates who will work for the welfare of our community better schools proper roads good drainage and overall safetyâ he told IANSOfficials said more than 4343 lakh voters including over 21 lakh women are eligible to cast their ballots in the municipal polls spread across nine municipal corporations 20 nagar parishads and 19 nagar panchayats in the statePolling began at 7âam and is scheduled to continue until 5âpm amid tight security arrangements and the establishment of more than 4300 polling booths some of which have been designated as sensitive or hyperâsensitive to ensure orderly votingThe municipal elections in Jharkhand are seen as a crucial exercise in strengthening local governance ensuring better urban management and improving civic amenities across the state Election officials have called for smooth and peaceful voting throughout the day with arrangements in place to maintain security and a fair electoral process IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-municipal-elections-polling-underway-with-high-voter-enthusiasm-662275.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/army-public-school-in-delhis-dhaula-kuan-gets-bomb-threat-probe-underway-662278.html New Delhi Feb 23 Army Public School in Dhaula Kuan Delhi has reportedly received a bomb threat via email on Monday prompting authorities to launch an investigation Delhi Fire Services DFS and police teams have been deployed at the school and more details are awaited as precautionary measures continueEarlier on Thursday three other schools in Delhi CRPF Public School in Rohini St Thomas School in Dwarka and DAV Centenary Public School in Paschim Enclave also received bomb threat emails in the morning leading to immediate evacuations and searches by multiple agencies Police have since declared those threats a hoaxâWe received information about bomb threat emails sent to three schools in Dwarka and the Paschim Enclave area Fire tenders and rescue teams were immediately rushed to the locations as a precautionary measure Nothing suspicious has been found as of nowâ a DFS officer saidPolice confirmed that bomb disposal squads dog squads and local police personnel were deployed to the schools shortly after the threats were reported As a precaution students and staff were evacuated while thorough searches were conducted No suspicious objects were detected during initial checks though detailed sanitisation of the campuses is ongoingAuthorities also noted that the investigation into the Army Public School threat is ongoing with cyber teams examining the emails to determine their source and authenticity âWe are also verifying whether similar threats were sent to other institutionsâ a police officer addedThe recent threats are part of a growing trend in DelhiNCR Last year more than 500 such cases were reported and in the last two weeks alone at least four bomb threat emails have targeted schools in the region Police have urged school authorities to remain vigilant and ensure that all precautionary measures are strictly followedFurther investigation into the Army Public School incident is ongoing with authorities working to trace the origin of the email and ensure the safety of students and staffParents and the public have been advised to stay calm while security checks and sanitisation procedures continue IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/army-public-school-in-delhis-dhaula-kuan-gets-bomb-threat-probe-underway-662278.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jnu-violence-abvp-students-claim-attack-by-left-affiliated-groups-662282.html New Delhi Feb 23 Violence erupted in Jawaharlal Nehru University JNU in the early hours of Monday as Leftaffiliated student groups clashed with members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ABVP The confrontation reportedly followed protests by Left groups over alleged casteist remarks made by the universityâs ViceChancellor While the Left groups have accused ABVP members of attacking protesters the latter have made countercharges of harassment further escalating tensions on campusAn ABVP student Prateek Bhardwaj described his experience during the attack âI donât know which floor I was on To save myself I ran around but only one restroom was open I went inside that restroom and locked myself in from the inside After about half an hour a group of at least 150 people arrived They saw that the door was locked and tried to break it They made a hole in the door and filled the restroom with smoke and powder from a fire extinguisher I even have photos I took at that timeâ he told IANSSpeaking about the background of the incident Bhardwaj added âThe ViceChancellor uses a CPO manual to define rules and disciplines in the university Under this when the Leftwing students were restricted which was also captured on video five people in total were restricted After this restriction they turned the matter into a purely political issueâFollowing the incident students reported no major injuries Two students visited a government hospital for medical leave certificates MLC and no formal complaints have been filed so far according to Delhi PoliceAnother ABVP student Vaibhav Meena said âIt was a march by the Left After the march they carried out what appeared to be a preplanned move that had not been made public A crowd of around 400 people many with their faces covered and wearing masks carrying sticks and rods entered the school area Upon reaching there they began locking the school buildingsâABVP Secretary at JNU Pravin Kumar Piyush added âLate at night a Leftwing organisation called for a march from Sabarmati TPoint to the JNU ViceChancellorâs residence After the march around 400â500 masked individuals entered the school area carrying hockey sticks rods batons knives and stones They then forced their way into the school where common students were studying in the reading rooms and allegedly pushed them out forciblyâAuthorities have initiated preliminary checks and further investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances of the violence and identify those involved IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jnu-violence-abvp-students-claim-attack-by-left-affiliated-groups-662282.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-man-posing-as-cop-to-rob-passengers-on-trains-finally-arrested-662284.html Kolkata Feb 23 The Government Railway Police GRP have successfully apprehended a wanted criminal who had been consistently committing thefts on trains while posing as a policeman according to sources on Monday According to the GRP the miscreant used to steal in the name of searching passengers bags and other belongings in a police uniform and then escape However the accused got into trouble after stealing a doctors bag along with his MBBS certificate and other important documentsFollowing that the wanted criminal miscreant Sanjay Byapari was arrested by the Naihati GRP officers on Sunday based on CCTV footage He is originally a resident of Chinaurah in Hooghly district but of late was staying in the Naihati area of ââNorth 24 Parganas districtPolice said that Sanjay is committing the crime in various ways on trains Sometimes he would steal passengers bags in the guise of a porter sometimes a hawker and most of the time as a policeman He would steal mobile phones and other valuable items from passengers bagsAccording to police sources recently Sanjay dressed in khaki clothes introduced himself as a railway police constable and boarded the Sealdahbound Balia ExpressThe complainant doctor had boarded the train from Bandel station in Hooghly district on the way to Kolkata He had Rs 600 in cash in his bag But he had various important documents with him including his MBBS certificate and work identity cardThe doctor placed the bag on the bunk as soon as he boarded the train From Bandel station the accused Sanjay Byapari boarded the train and started keeping an eye on the passengers bags under the guise of a policeman He also searched one or two bags Since he was wearing a police uniform none of the passengers suspected him Taking this opportunity the notorious miscreant snatched the doctors bag from the train and got off at Naihati station Before getting off at Sealdah station the doctor saw that his bag was missingFellow passengers told him that the policeman had got down to Naihati station with a bag The doctor filed a zero FIR with the Sealdah GRP The complaint was sent to the Naihati GRP Based on that the CCTV footage of Naihati station was examinedIt was seen that Sanjay was walking out with the bag dressed in a police uniform After that a search was started The police searched various areas of Naihati and finally the wanted criminal was arrested He is being interrogated to find out how many times he has committed such a crime said a GRP official IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-man-posing-as-cop-to-rob-passengers-on-trains-finally-arrested-662284.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indian-army-rescues-46-stranded-tourists-in-east-sikkim-under-op-himrahat-662289.html Gangtok Feb 23 The Indian Army has carried out a swift rescue operation under Operation Himrahat in the highaltitude areas of East Sikkim safely evacuating 46 stranded tourists following heavy snowfall and extreme weather conditions officials said on Monday According to defence officials sudden and intense snowfall accompanied by subzero temperatures on February 22 disrupted normal movement in several vulnerable stretches of East Sikkim leaving multiple tourist vehicles stranded and civilians exposed to harsh climatic conditionsResponding promptly Indian Army troops stationed in the region launched a coordinated relief and rescue operation to assist those affectedAccording to an official statement the rescued tourists were shifted to the nearest Army camp where they were provided immediate medical examination and necessary careThe Army ensured warm shelter hot meals heating facilities and essential relief materials to help mitigate the effects of severe cold and altituderelated stressMedical teams closely monitored the health condition of all rescued individuals and confirmed that they were stable before facilitating their onward movementIn addition to evacuating stranded civilians the Army also assisted in the safe and orderly movement of over 150 tourist vehicles from affected routes to secure locationsTroops regulated traffic movement in difficult terrain preventing panic and further exposure to extreme weather conditionsDefence officials said the timely intervention helped restore mobility in the region and prevented the situation from escalating amid adverse weatherDespite operating in challenging highaltitude conditions and freezing temperatures Army personnel remained fully prepared and responsive throughout the operationThe rescue mission highlights the Indian Armyâs sustained commitment to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response HADR particularly in remote and difficult terrains prone to natural disruptionsThrough roundtheclock preparedness and rapid mobilisation the Army continues to play a critical role in ensuring the safety of civilians and tourists during emergenciesThe successful conduct of Operation Himrahat once again underscores the Armyâs role as a dependable first responder during natural calamities in the region officials added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indian-army-rescues-46-stranded-tourists-in-east-sikkim-under-op-himrahat-662289.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/manhunt-launched-after-two-shot-dead-at-reception-party-in-patna-662293.html Patna Feb 23 No arrests have been made so far in connection with the deadly shooting at a reception party in Patna that claimed two lives The incident occurred around 1145 pm in Shahpur village under the jurisdiction of Gopalpur Police Station on SundayAccording to police two brothers Manish Kumar 32 and Manjeet Kumar 23 were shot dead following a dispute during the reception party of the son of a local resident Daulat Rai Both victims sustained critical injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared them deadEyewitnesses said the brothers got into an argument with some people at the function During the altercation one of the assailants allegedly pulled out a pistol and opened fire before fleeing the scene The sudden gunfire triggered panic and chaos at the venue with guests scrambling for safetyPolice were immediately alerted and a team from Gopalpur Police Station reached the spot secured the area and began an investigation A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS at Gopalpur Police Station Statements of those present at the party are being recordedParichay Kumar City SP East Patna said crucial evidence has been recovered from the scene Three empty cartridges were seizedSources said police have also obtained CCTV footage from the area and videos from the reception venue Although the accused have been identified their names have not yet been disclosedâTwo brothers were shot dead at a reception party under the Gopalpur Police Station limits Preliminary investigation suggests a prior dispute as the motive behind the incident Three empty cartridges have been recovered from the spot The accused have been identified and raids are underway to arrest themâ Kumar saidPolice teams are conducting searches at multiple locations to apprehend the accused Further investigation is in progress IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/manhunt-launched-after-two-shot-dead-at-reception-party-in-patna-662293.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-final-electoral-roll-published-voter-strength-drops-to-543-crore-662300.html Chennai Feb 23 Tamil Naduâs final electoral roll has been officially published on Monday following an extensive Special Intensive Revision SIR undertaken in compliance with directions from the Election Commission of India and the Supreme Court The revision which forms a crucial prelude to the forthcoming Assembly elections has led to substantial changes in the stateâs voter database including largescale deletions and correctionsDistrict Election Officers who are also District Collectors have begun releasing districtwise figures across the stateTamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik is scheduled to address a press conference in Chennai where she will formally present the updated electorate data and explain the key outcomes of the revision processThe comprehensive exercise has resulted in the deletion of 9737831 names from the draft electoral roll after the scrutiny of Special Summary Correction Enumeration FormsFollowing these deletions the total number of electors in Tamil Nadu now stands at 543 croreElection authorities clarified that a significant portion of the deletions involved deceased voters Of the 66 million names removed on various grounds eligible individuals were given an opportunity to reapply through Form 6 This provision enabled qualified voters including newly eligible electors to seek inclusion in the revised listIn addition notices were issued to 1243363 individuals whose entries lacked mandatory details or contained discrepancies They were instructed to submit supporting documents and selfdeclaration certificates within a stipulated period to retain their names on the rollThe revision process also followed a January 30 directive from the Election Commission issued pursuant to a Supreme Court order mandating that names deleted due to conflicting or inconsistent information be publicly displayed along with reasons for removalThese lists were exhibited at gram panchayat offices public places block and subdivision offices and ward offices in urban areasAffected individuals were given a 10day window to file objections or submit clarificationsMeanwhile nearly 8 per cent of voters were removed across nine states and union territories during the second phase of the SIRPuducherryâs final electoral roll published on February 14 recorded a total electorate of 944211The updated roll is expected to enhance transparency accuracy and credibility in Tamil Naduâs electoral process as the state prepares for the next democratic exercise of elections IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-final-electoral-roll-published-voter-strength-drops-to-543-crore-662300.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sadhvi-prem-baisa-death-case-compounder-arrested-released-on-bail-the-same-day-662301.html Jodhpur Feb 23 The compounder who was arrested in connection with the death of Sadhvi Prem Baisa was released by the police the same day The accused compounder Devi Singh Rajpurohit was held for administering the injections to the Sadhvi after which her condition reportedly worsened She died soon after being rushed to hospital Devi Singh Rajpurohit was later released on bail on February 19 as the case falls under bailable sections of the lawAccording to police sources a case of rash and negligent medical conduct was registered against the compounder at Boranada Police Station on February 16 nearly 20 days after the Sadhviâs deathFollowing the registration of the case Devi Singh Rajpurohit was arrested on February 19 and released after furnishing a bail bondThe information about his arrest and release came to light on Sunday DCP West Vineet Bansal confirmed that the charges were bailable and said the arrest and release were carried out in accordance with legal procedures If the allegations are proven the compounder could face a punishment of up to two years in prisonSadhvi Prem Baisa died on January 28 at her Aarti Nagar ashram in the Boranada area of Jodhpur According to family members she was suffering from cold symptoms and breathing difficulties following which compounder Devi Singh Rajpurohit was called for treatmentDevi Singh Rajpurohit administered two injections after which her condition reportedly worsened She was rushed to Preksha Hospital on Pal Road where doctors declared her dead after examinationHer father Veeram Nath later brought the body back to the ashram After police intervention the body was shifted to the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital mortuary and a postmortem was conducted on January 29The body was handed over to the family the same evening and the Sadhvi was buried on January 30 in Pareu village BarmerViscera samples were sent for forensic testing on February 2 and the Forensic Science Laboratory FSL completed its investigation within 11 daysBased on the postmortem and FSL reports police sought expert medical opinions to determine the cause of deathA Special Investigation Team SIT questioned the Sadhviâs father social media staff cook compounder and hospital staff as part of the probeJodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash stated that the primary cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest due to a severe lung conditionHowever the investigation also found that the compounder allegedly ignored medical protocols during treatment indicating possible negligencePolice officials said the compounderâs actions during treatment violated established medical procedures leading to the registration of a negligence caseThe investigation is ongoing and further legal action will depend on court proceedings and expert medical opinions IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sadhvi-prem-baisa-death-case-compounder-arrested-released-on-bail-the-same-day-662301.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/four-die-of-anuria-due-to-milk-adulteration-in-andhra-662320.html Amaravati Feb 23 Four deaths have been reported in two days from Andhra Pradeshâs Rajahmundry city due to alleged anuria inability to pass urine suspected to be linked to milk adulteration Two of those undergoing treatment in hospitals died since Sunday night They were identified as S Seshagiri Rao 72 and Radha Krishnamurthy 74The condition of three of those taken ill is stated to be criticalTwo deaths were reported earlier All the victims are from Laala Cheruvu and Chowdeswari Nagar areas of Rajahmundry city in East Godavari districtAt least 14 people were admitted to various hospitals with symptoms of anuria since February 15 They include four members of the same familyAs the milk vendor for all the affected families is the same health authorities suspected milk adulteration resulting in anuriaMost of the victims are above 60 years A threeyearold child and a fivemonthold infant are also among those taken illThe affected families complained to police that the milk and curd supplied by the vendor on Maha Shivratri February 15 tasted bitter Police detained the milk vendor Ganesh for questioningEast Godavari District Collector Kirthi Chekuri said the exact cause of the deaths would be known after postmortem examinationSpecial teams of the Medical and Health Department have been deployed to speed up the medical investigation into the casesHealth and Family Welfare Commissioner G Veerapandian said the department was on alert following the suspected anuria cases He said the department was collecting milk and water samples and other materials from the affected areasMeanwhile Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday reviewed the situation at a highlevel meetingHe spoke to the District Collector Superintendent of Police Medical and Health Department and Food Safety officialsThe officials explained to the Chief Minister the medical assistance currently being provided to the victimsChief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directed that better medical assistance be provided to the victims undergoing treatmentThe officials informed him that the same vendor was distributing milk to 106 houses in the affected areasSamples have been collected from 75 families who consumed the milk while samples were also being collected from others All samples have been sent to the lab for testingOfficials said that they have set up medical camps as well as rapid test medical camps at the field levelThe Chief Minister ordered strict action against the vendor after receiving the report of lab tests of milk samplesHe also directed senior officials of the Food Safety and Medical Health Department to immediately rush to Rajahmundry IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/four-die-of-anuria-due-to-milk-adulteration-in-andhra-662320.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cong-govt-targeting-banjara-community-ktaka-bjp-chief-on-mlas-arrest-662321.html Bengaluru Feb 23 Karnataka BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Monday said the Congressled government has been targeting the Banjara community in the state ever since it came to power He said this while reacting to the arrest of BJP MLA Chandru Lamani who belongs to the community Vijayendra claimed that the Congress government was unable to tolerate the fact that the Banjara community had stood firmly with the BJP He further alleged that since Siddaramaiah became Chief Minister the community has faced injustice and neglectReferring to a recent incident he said that when the Deputy Chief Minister attended a Banjara community event some youths from the community staged a protest and gheraoed him Instead of addressing their concerns the Deputy Chief Minister allegedly left the venue and filed an FIR against the protesting youths Vijayendra claimed that the Congress party has since been targeting the community and that MLA Chandru Lamani would face the legal process in courtnbspHe also stated that several audio clips have already been leaked and that their authenticity needs to be establishedIt can be recalled that BJP legislator Chandru Lamani who represents the Shirahatti constituency was taken into custody by the Karnataka Lokayukta last Saturday in connection with an alleged bribery case in Laxmeshwar town of Gadag district and later remanded to judicial custodynbspThe Lokayukta team reportedly caught the MLA while he was allegedly accepting Rs 5 lakh from a contractor as part of a larger bribe demand His government personal assistant Manjunath Valmiki and private assistant Guru Lamani were also detained and questioned during the operationAccording to Lokayukta Lamani had allegedly demanded Rs 11 lakh from a Class I contractor identified as Vijay Poojar in connection with the allotment of a contract under the Minor Irrigation Department The bribe was reportedly linked to the construction work at a roadside retaining wallnbspSpeaking about the Budget Session scheduled to begin in the first week of March Vijayendra said discussions are underway within the party regarding the upcoming sessionnbspVijayendra said he and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka would discuss how to conduct themselves in the House He said that after preliminary discussions they would consult senior party leaders and take a final decision on the partyâs strategyQuestioning Minister Priyank Khargeâs remarks on corruption Vijayendra asked whether he had the moral authority to speak about alleged corruption involving the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief MinisternbspThe state BJP chief alleged that scams such as the Valmiki Corporation scam and the MUDA scam took place soon after the government came to power He questioned whether funds from the Valmiki Corporation were used for electionsnbspComparing the situation to âthe devil quoting scriptureâ he said Congress had no moral ground to lecture others on corruption He added that corruption should not be given a caste colour and called for a proper investigation to bring out the truthnbspOn the issue of the Chief Minister allegedly playing the caste card and claiming that he is being targeted as he hails from a backward Shepard community Vijayendra remarked that Siddaramaiah does not have anger towards the BJP but is instead facing resentment within his own partynbspHe also appealed to the Chief Minister stating that while it was a matter of happiness that a person from a shepherd community had become Chief Minister funds should at least be released to backward class development corporations in the upcoming Budget He said the BJP would strongly press this demand IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cong-govt-targeting-banjara-community-ktaka-bjp-chief-on-mlas-arrest-662321.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-govt-signs-rs-2-000-crore-mous-with-three-psus-for-logistics-ecosystem-at-adani-vizhinjam-international-seaport-662322.html Thiruvananthapuram Feb 23 IANS In a decisive move to consolidate public sector presence in strategic maritime infrastructure the Kerala government on Monday signed Memoranda of Understanding MoUs worth Rs 2000 crore with three Central Public Sector Undertakings PSUs to develop an integrated logistics ecosystem at the Adani Vizhinjam International SeaportnbspThe agreements were formalised in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Legislative Assembly complex signalling a calibrated policy approach that seeks to retain core infrastructure under public oversight even as the port operates under a publicprivate partnership PPP modelThe initiative is positioned as a structural intervention to transform Vizhinjam from a transshipment facility into a diversified logistics and maritime services hubnbspThe partnership brings together stateowned Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited VISL and three Central entities Indian Oil Corporation Limited IOCL Container Corporation of India CONCOR and Central Warehousing Corporation CWCnbspThe governments strategy is to embed critical services such as bunkering raillinked cargo movement and warehousing within the PSU framework thereby preventing concentration risks in cargo handling and ensuring competitive pricing for trade stakeholdersnbspOf the total planned investment Rs 700 crore will be deployed by IOCL to establish largescale bunkering facilities capable of servicing mother vessels calling at the portThe project is expected to position Vizhinjam as a key refuelling node along Indian Ocean trade routes strengthening ancillary revenue streamsnbspCONCOR will invest Rs 600 crore to develop Inland Container Depots and Container Freight Stations enhancing rail connectivity with the national hinterland and reducing cargo evacuation timenbspThe remaining Rs 700 crore out of the total MoUs will be invested by CWC to set up a multimodal logistics park spanning nearly 50 acres incorporating cold storage and exportoriented units with officials indicating that the structure entails no direct financial liability for the state exchequernbspSenior ministers and PSU executives attended the signing ceremonynbspWith this integrated logistics blueprint Kerala is seeking to build connectivity and strategic depth around Vizhinjam reinforcing its ambition to emerge as a competitive maritime gateway in the regionIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-govt-signs-rs-2-000-crore-mous-with-three-psus-for-logistics-ecosystem-at-adani-vizhinjam-international-seaport-662322.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jagan-demands-action-over-deaths-due-to-milk-adulteration-662324.html Amaravati Feb 23 Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep shock and anguish over the tragic incident in Rajamahendravaram where four persons have reportedly died after consuming adulterated milk while several others are undergoing treatment in hospitals He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those hospitalisedYS Jagan stated that negligence in food safety enforcement has directly endangered public lives and demanded that the government take stringent action against those responsible for the adulterationHe emphasised that such incidents reflect serious lapses in monitoring and regulatory mechanisms and insisted that immediate corrective steps must be taken to ensure that similar tragedies do not recurThe YSRCP leader urged the Health Department to take swift control of the situation by ensuring the best possible medical care to all affected individuals closely monitor their health condition and if necessary deploy expert medical teams for comprehensive treatmentHe called for urgent administrative intervention to strengthen food safety inspections and restore public confidence in essential commodities like milkFour deaths have been reported in two days due to alleged anuria inability to pass urine suspected to be linked to milk adulterationTwo of those undergoing treatment in hospitals died since Sunday night They were identified as S Seshagiri Rao 72 and Radha Krishnamurthy 74The condition of three of those taken ill is stated to be criticalTwo deaths were reported earlier All the victims are from Laala Cheruvu and Chowdeswari Nagar areas of Rajahmundry Rajamahendravaram city in East Godavari districtAt least 14 people were admitted to various hospitals with symptoms of anuria since February 15 They include four members of the same familyAs the milk vendor for all the affected families is the same health authorities suspected milk adulteration resulting in anuria IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jagan-demands-action-over-deaths-due-to-milk-adulteration-662324.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/prez-murmu-unveils-bust-of-c-rajagopalachari-statue-in-rashtrapati-bhavan-662325.html New Delhi Feb 23 IANS President Droupadi Murmu graced the Rajaji Utsav at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on Monday and unveiled the bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari Indias first and only Indian GovernorGeneral at Rashtrapati BhavannbspIn a post on X the President stated The bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari situated at the Grand Open Staircase near Ashok Mandap replaces the bust of Edwin Lutyens This initiative is part of series of steps being taken towards shedding the vestiges colonial mindset and embracing with pride the richness of Indias culture heritage timeless traditions and honouring those who served Bharat Mata with their extraordinary contributionsThe President highlighted that the move symbolises a broader national effort to move beyond colonialera legacies and recognise eminent Indian leaders who played pivotal roles in shaping the countrys history Rajagopalachari popularly known as Rajaji was a prominent freedom fighter statesman and scholar who served as the last GovernorGeneral of India from 1948 to 1950Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Vice President CP Radhakrishnan Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilisers Jagat Prakash Nadda Minister of External Affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan and family members of RajajiVice President CP Radhakrishnans official X handle also shared a post Vice President Shri C P Radhakrishnan attended the Rajaji Utsav at Rashtrapati Bhavan today where the Honble President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu unveiled the bust of Shri C Rajagopalachari replacing that of Edwin Lutyens marking another significant milestone in our journey of breaking away from the colonial legacynbspThe event underscored the governments continued emphasis on honouring national icons and reinforcing Indias cultural and historical identity within key institutions of the RepublicIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/prez-murmu-unveils-bust-of-c-rajagopalachari-statue-in-rashtrapati-bhavan-662325.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/scattered-rain-likely-in-kolkata-south-bengal-this-week-662326.html Kolkata Feb 23 The Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore on Monday forecast scattered rain across south Bengal including Kolkata over the coming week According to MET officials at least nine districts in South Bengal are expected to get light to moderate rain However there is no forecast of heavy rain anywhere at present in the stateKolkata may experience scattered light to moderate rain on Tuesday There may be thunderstorms as well as occasional gusty winds in the city The same forecast has been issued for the districts of Howrah Hooghly and North 24 Parganas Scattered rains may occur in Bankura on Monday itself Apart from this separate warnings have been issued for South 24 Parganas East Midnapore West Midnapore and Jhargram districtsThere is a forecast of rain with thunderstorms in these districts from Tuesday onwards A yellow warning has been issued in this regard The weather is expected to remain mainly dry for the remaining daysA lowpressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal Due to its influence there is a possibility of rain in the state Along with south Bengal there is a possibility of thunderstorms in north Bengal as well said the MET officialLight rain with scattered thunderstorms may occur in some areas of Darjeeling Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong districts on Monday and Tuesday However no separate warning has been issued for these districts The MET office said that there is unlikely to be any major change in the temperature in the districts of north and south Bengal in the next seven daysFor the last week the temperature across Bengal has been rising On Monday morning the minimum temperature in Kolkata was 206 degrees Celsius 11 degrees above normal The maximum temperature in the city on Sunday was 312 degrees Celsius 07 degrees above normalOn Monday the minimum temperature did not fall below 17 degrees in any district of South Bengal The minimum temperature in Salt Lake on the outskirts of Kolkata was 21 degrees Celsius The maximum temperature however is expected to rise further IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/scattered-rain-likely-in-kolkata-south-bengal-this-week-662326.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/idfc-bank-fraud-no-systemic-risk-here-were-watching-developments-says-rbi-governor-662327.html New Delhi Feb 23 IANS The Reserve Bank of India RBI on Monday said there is no systemic risk to the banking system and stressed that the Central Bank does not comment on individual banks or regulated entities as IDFC First Bank revealed the Rs 590crore fraud at its Chandigarh branchnbspAddressing a joint press conference after a meeting of the RBIs central board of directors in the national capital RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the regulator is closely monitoring the situation but there is no broader threat to financial stabilityResponding to a question by IANS on reports related to a Rs 590crore fraud at IDFC First Bank Malhotra said the central bank remains vigilantnbspWe do not comment on any individual bank or regulated entity We are watching the developments and there is no systemic kind of issue over here he saidnbspThe briefing was held after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met the RBI boardnbspThe governor said Indias banking system is on strong footing supported by comfortable capital and liquidity levelsBanks currently have a capital adequacy ratio of around 17 per cent which he described as robustnbspHe added that even if no fresh capital is infused over the next five years banks would still be able to meet their capital requirements adequatelynbspMeanwhile in an exchange filing last week the bank said the matter is confined to a set of Haryana governmentlinked accounts at the Chandigarh branch adding that it has informed regulators and filed a police complaint The bank also suspended four officials pending investigationFollowing the development stock of the private player hit 20 per cent lower circuit in the early trade on MondaynbspDuring the intraday session the stock fell to Rs 6685 down 20 per cent The shares opened 10 per cent lower and later extended their lossesnbspHowever it recovered later and around 148 pm the share was trading at Rs 7040 apiece down 1570 per cent on the dayIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/idfc-bank-fraud-no-systemic-risk-here-were-watching-developments-says-rbi-governor-662327.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/political-leaders-in-india-decry-talibans-new-penal-code-legalising-domestic-violence-662329.html New Delhi Feb 23 The Talibanâs new domestic violence code which permits women to be beaten as long as their bones do not break has sparked widespread outrage in India Critics describe it as an assault on basic human dignityâ and a chilling reminder of the dangers when power and religious edicts override basic rights The move has been condemned as a stark violation of womenâs rights an affront to justice and a signal that oppressive policies can be formalised under the guise of law Speaking to IANS BJP National Spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain reacted sharply saying âThe Taliban are not going to refrain from such actions They have returned to power and an atmosphere has formed that their actions can never be right The fatwa they have issued and the law they have made allows women to be beaten severely and these lawmakers should be held accountableâJDU Spokesperson Neeraj Kumar called the law a stark violation of democratic and human rights principlesâWhere democratic values are not protected and policies are driven by religion injustice is inevitable The mistreatment of women under religious pretexts is unacceptable No religion permits disrespecting daughters denying them education or discriminating against themâ he saidCongress MP Imran Masood criticised the Talibanâs justification for the penal code âI cannot understand which Islamic text they referred to while framing this According to the status of women in Islam this is not justifiedâ he addedJDU National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad noted the broader diplomatic implications âThis concerns relations between countries We support the central governmentâs decisions and policy measures regarding such international developmentsâThe Talibanâs 90page code signed by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada also abolishes the 2009 law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women EVAW and imposes punishments based on social status allowing lighter penalties for the elite and harsher measures for lowerclass individualsHuman rights organisations including the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women have called for immediate international intervention to halt the lawâs implementation IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/political-leaders-in-india-decry-talibans-new-penal-code-legalising-domestic-violence-662329.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/venugopal-satheesan-step-up-attack-on-cm-vijayan-over-sabarimala-tantri-arrest-662330.html Kochi Feb 23 AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Monday questioned the State governmentâs handling of the arrest of the Sabarimala tantri alleging an undue eagerness to portray him as guilty despite the absence of evidence cited by the court Venugopal said that if credible evidence existed no one would object to the arrest However he pointed out that the Vigilance Court while granting bail had observed that there was not even a shred of evidence against the TantriâWhat is the intention behind disputing the courtâs findingâ he asked taking exception to remarks made by Law Minister P Rajeeve against the bail orderVenugopal said the Congress had never argued that the tantri should not be arrested if evidence warranted it âLet the law take its own course But the eagerness to brand him guilty without presenting evidence in court raises serious questionsâ he said adding that suspicions of a conspiracy emerged only after the courtâs observationsEchoing similar concerns Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan intensified the Oppositionâs campaign against the government during his political yatra across the StateSpeaking at Adimali Satheesan said the Special Investigation Team SIT must clearly explain the grounds and evidence that led to the arrest âThe Opposition made its stand clear in the Assembly on January 11 the day after the arrest The SIT has a responsibility to inform the public what specific offence was committed and what role the tantri allegedly playedâ he saidThe Opposition has been boycotting the Assembly demanding the resignation of Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan and an end to what it alleges is interference by the Chief Ministerâs Office in the probeSatheesan also hit back at ministers who accused the Opposition of shielding the Tantri and criticising the judiciary He contended that it was the Law Minister who publicly criticised the court for granting bailBoth leaders maintained that while no special privilege is sought for the Tantri he is entitled to the same legal safeguards as any ordinary citizen and that the SIT must disclose the evidentiary basis of the arrest to restore public confidenceOf the 13 arrested by the SIT so far six have got bail while the bail pleas of the others will be heard in the coming days IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/venugopal-satheesan-step-up-attack-on-cm-vijayan-over-sabarimala-tantri-arrest-662330.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/shinde-pays-emotional-tribute-to-ajit-pawar-vows-to-carry-forward-development-vision-662342.html Mumbai Feb 23 IANS Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday delivered a poignant tribute to the late Ajit Pawar in the Legislative Council describing the leaders passing as a loss that has left millions of citizens orphanednbspMoving a condolence motion during the budget session Shinde reflected on the personal and political void left by the veteran leaders sudden demisenbspDada the court of the people has proven that many of your political decisions were accurate However your decision to bid farewell to this world is a mistake Take it back and return he said during the condolence motionHe added with resolve We will turn Dadas slogan Development will no longer be delayed Maharashtra will no longer stop into a reality stressing that fulfilling Pawars development vision would be the truest tribute to himRecalling their political partnership Shinde said Devendra ji Ajit Dada and I formed a solid Triangle of Stability for the state Because the three of us came together the geometry and progress of Maharashtra were moving at a rapid pace That black day of January 28 snatched our foundation away Dada was never late but on that day destiny played a cruel trick Seeing the visuals of that accident on TV sent shivers down my spinePraising Pawars administrative grip Shinde noted that he possessed remarkable command over governance He said Pawar could scan files within seconds and immediately spot mistakes often pulling up officials even for small lapses such as exposed wiring or poorly installed infrastructureShinde also pointed out that Pawar held the record for presenting the state Budget eleven times and had balanced finances even while allocating Rs 46000 crore for the Ladki Bahin schemenbspDada appeared tough like a jackfruit from the outside but he was incredibly softhearted on the inside he remarkedSharing personal memories Shinde recalled a meeting at a hotel during discussions on leadership change when Pawar had firmly said If it is Eknath Rao it is acceptable to usnbspThe deputy CM also remembered Pawar advising him like an elder brother to avoid working late into the night and to take care of his healthOffering support to Sunetra Pawar he said Tai despite facing grief as vast as the sky you are standing firm Both of us brothers stand strongly behind you Fulfilling the dream of development that Dada envisioned will be the real tribute to himIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/shinde-pays-emotional-tribute-to-ajit-pawar-vows-to-carry-forward-development-vision-662342.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-hm-downplays-dalit-cm-demand-praises-siddaramaiah-662346.html Bengaluru Feb 23 Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara on Monday downplayed media queries regarding the demand for a Dalit Chief Minister and stated that such claims were being made by the Opposition He also praised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and stated that he stood for social justice from the beginning âThe Opposition is making baseless allegations to cover up its own issues he chargedNotably Parameshwara is one of the senior most and prominent leaders hailing from the Dalit community and CM Siddaramaiahs camp has allegedly demanded that in case of leadership change in the state he should be made the CMSpeaking to the media in Bengaluru on Monday HM Parameshwara stated Is the Chief Minister not governing For the past 12 days he has been holding discussions with ministers and officials of various departments regarding the Budget The Opposition is unnecessarily bringing up the issue of a Dalit Chief MinisterâParameshwara added that if there is to be a Dalit Chief Minister it is for the Congress party to decide and the high command will take a decision when the time comesHe further said that social justice has been the foundation of CM Siddaramaiahâs politics from the very beginning and that there is nothing new about his commitment to the principleHe said Siddaramaiah has always been committed to social justice and has consistently pursued politics based on that ideology âThe foundation of his politics is social justice It is not something he has started doing todayâ he saidOn the occasion of Ramzan and Holi celebrations he said no one should be allowed to take the law into their own hands âFestivals must be celebrated peacefully and happily There is no scope for any other kind of conduct and we will not allow it Strict instructions have been issued to officials in this regardâ he saidSpeaking about the issue of banning mobile phones in educational institutions he said there has been discussion on imposing a mobile ban in schools and colleges Giving mobile phones to children below 16 years of age is affecting their education in different ways he saidâMany countries have conducted studies and imposed bans on mobile phones The Chief Minister has also deliberated on this issue A decision will be taken after studying its pros and consâ he addedReferring to the arrest of illegal migrants who were allegedly conspiring to carry out unlawful activities he said the stateâs internal security wing has been put on alert For the past one month operations have been conducted in every district to trace illegal migrantsOn the issue of conducting student elections in universities and colleges he said that during the tenure of KH Ranganath as Higher Education Minister clashes occurred during student elections following which they were banned The elections were stopped due to concerns that students were forming groups and engaging in violenceHe added that during his own tenure as Higher Education Minister syndicate elections were also banned âNow there is pressure to reconsider conducting student elections We will have to see what decision the Cabinet takes on this matterâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-hm-downplays-dalit-cm-demand-praises-siddaramaiah-662346.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/real-time-surveillance-tyson-helped-eliminate-pak-terrorist-group-in-jampks-kishtwar-662347.html Jammu Feb 23 The Army said on Monday that the operation to eliminate the major group of terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmirâs Kishtwar district was launched in AprilMay last year The press statement issued by the Army said âA major terror group operating in the area was being relentlessly pursued by the security forces Operations were launched in AprilMay last year and were sustained despite rains and snow during winters Successful contact with the group resulted in the elimination of three hardcore terrorists in April 2025 The latest of the group code name Saifullah along with his close associate code name Adil and two other terrorists were surviving and on the runThe statement said that based on the collaborative assessment of intelligence provided by JampK Police the Intelligence Bureau and its own sources a Joint Counter Terrorist CT Operation codenamed Operation TrashiI was launched on January 14 in the Chhatroo Kishtwar regionThe operation was to track and neutralise terrorists operating in the area by troops of Counter Insurgency Force CIF Delta under White Knight Corps including Assam Rifles in close coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police ForceWhile describing the operation the Army said âOn January 18 2026 contact was established with the terror group and their wellprepared and stocked hideout was busted by the security forces Relentless pursuit of the terrorists on the run resulted in the elimination of one terrorist codenamed Adil on 04 February 2026 in Op Trashi1 besides two terrorists being neutralised in a separate Operation Op Kiya on the same day Following the contact of 04 February 2026 the Security Forces continued with grit and determination towards the elimination of the remaining terroristsâThe terrorists were reengaged at approximately 1100 hrs on 22 February 2026 Displaying high standards of tactical precision seamless interagency coordination and resolute operational efficiency Security Forces including JKP and CRPF rigorously pursued the terrorist group in the challenging and rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions The persistent actions of the security forces in this long duration large scale operation spanning over a month the security forces neutralised all four hardcore terrorists the Army saidThe final encounter site in which three terrorists were successfully neutralised on the steep slopes of a rugged mountain was cordoned by the security forces on the night of February 2122The troops displayed exceptional tactical precision and swiftness ensuring zero casualties among their own personnelThe Army has highlighted the role of its trained Dog Tyson who entered the Dhok to ascertain the presence of terrorists Terrorists opened fire during which Tyson was injuredâDuring the search of the area till now warlike stores including three AK47 rifles have been recovered along with bodies of the slain terrorists The operation reflected seamless coordination between the Army CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir Police notably the SOG Reinforcements including special forces were quickly mobilised said the statementThe Army utilised realtime surveillance drones and night vision equipment to track and contain terrorist movement preventing any potential escapeCIF D under the aegis of White Knight Corps Northern Command in close coordination with JKP and CRPF and based on intelligence inputs from multiple sources have eliminated 06 x Pakistansponsored terrorists in its Area of Responsibility over the past 20 days The formation will continue to undertake intelligencebased operations sustain operational momentum and maintain dominance in the Area of Responsibilityâ the media statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/real-time-surveillance-tyson-helped-eliminate-pak-terrorist-group-in-jampks-kishtwar-662347.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/workers-attacked-inside-premises-abvp-activists-recount-jnu-campus-incident-662349.html New Delhi Feb 23 ABVP activists recounted the events that unfolded in the wee hours of Monday at the Jawaharlal Nehru University JNU campus and shared the actions they plan to take next Violence reportedly broke out at the JNU campus when a protest rally turned confrontational with student groups from opposing ideological sides accusing each other of initiating the aggressionABVP activist Vikas Patel said that around three months ago a facial recognition machine was proposed to be installed in the university library similar to the system used in Metro stationsHe alleged that members of the JNUSU vandalised the machine which he claimed was worth Rs 20 lakh Following an enquiry those allegedly involved were rusticated for two semesters and fined Rs 20000 According to Patel protests were allegedly being organised over this disciplinary actionHe further alleged that when the protesters did not receive adequate support from students they repeatedly attempted to disrupt classes Late on Sunday night a march was organised which was initially expected to conclude peacefullyHowever Patel alleged that after the march ended the crowd moved towards the school areas and attempted to lock reading rooms and libraries Students who were already studying there were allegedly forced to leave leading to tension and a scufflePatel also alleged that stone pelting took place and that an ABVP worker was attacked inside the premises He claimed the worker was sprayed with fire extinguisher powder and beaten before the police arrived and rescued him He added that ABVP would file formal complaints with the Delhi Police and the JNU administrationAnother ABVP activist Shikha Swaraj alleged that the march deviated from its planned route to the ViceChancellorâs residence and instead moved towards academic areas where students were allegedly harassed She said injured students would undergo MedicoLegal Case MLC procedures and file complaintsViolence broke out at Delhis JNU campus in the wee hours of Monday when a protest rally turned violent with two students groups accusing each other of being the first to strikeThe Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union JNUSU had called for an Equality March demanding the resignation of ViceChancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit for her alleged casteist remarks made in a podcast on February 16 The Union also objected to her podcast comments regarding University Grants Commission UGC regulations Dalits and affirmative action Additionally they had sought the revocation of a rustication order against four student body officebearers over alleged vandalism of university property during a protestProtesters alleged the administration did not engage with the march and instead allowed the ABVP the student wing affiliated with the BJP members to confront themHowever the ABVP rejected the allegations and accused Leftbacked organisations of provoking clashes and spreading misinformation about the incidentLeftbacked groups including All India Students Association AISA claimed ABVP members threw stones at the JNUSU encampment and attacked unarmed students leaving several injuredThe protest focused on issues such as the implementation of UGC guidelines and the revocation of students rustication ordersABVP Secretary at JNU Pravin Kumar Piyush added Late at night a Leftwing organization called for a march from Sabarmati TPoint to the JNU ViceChancellors residence After the march around 400500 masked individuals entered the school area carrying hockey sticks rods batons knives and stones They then forced their way into the school where common students were studying in the reading rooms and allegedly pushed them out forciblyAccording to Vaibhav Meena JNUSU Joint Secretary ABVP the situation turned into a night of terror when a large group of masked individuals moved through the campus IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/workers-attacked-inside-premises-abvp-activists-recount-jnu-campus-incident-662349.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indian-muslim-clerics-javed-akhtar-condemn-taliban-over-code-allowing-wife-beating-662351.html Lucknow Feb 23 Prominent Muslim clerics in India have sharply condemned the Talibanâs new penal code in Afghanistan that reportedly legalises domestic violence calling it a blatant misuse of religion and a violation of Islamic principles The law which allows husbands to beat wives âwithout causing bone fractures or open woundsâ and punishes women with imprisonment if they visit their parents without permission has sparked outrage among religious leaders and civil society All India Muslim Jamaat President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said âThe Taliban has come to power in Afghanistan for the second time The Talibans image has always been one of terror We have never accepted the Taliban and have always considered them involved in terrorist activities Now even if they claim to have changed their methods beating and violence are against Islamic principles Taliban authorities should ensure that such decrees are not issued that harm interpersonal relationsâMaulana Mohammad Mirza Yasoob Abbas cleric and speaker of the AllIndia Shia Personal Law Board AISPLB said âIt is very unfortunate that the Taliban are creating turmoil in the name of religion This new law is very wrong and should be strongly condemnedâShia religious leader Maulana Saif Abbas also criticised the Taliban stating âThe Talibanâs character is double standard On one hand they speak about Islam but on the other the law they have created allows beating wives and children There is no justification for domestic violence and we strongly condemn this Taliban lawâFormer Babri Masjid litigant Iqbal Ansari said âViolence is considered wrong in all societies regardless of religion We do not consider violence to be right we too are Muslims connected to our faith but violence should not be directed at anyoneâVeteran lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar taking to X called on Indian muftis and mullahs to unconditionally denounce the measure pointing out that the Taliban law reportedly allows wife beating âwithout any bone fractureâ and punishes women with three monthsâ imprisonment if they visit their parents without their husbandâs permission His post sparked widespread discussion on social mediaâThis is being carried out in the name of religion but it is completely unacceptableâ Akhtar saidThe remarks from Indian Muslim leaders come amid global criticism of the Talibanâs policies towards women highlighting concern over the misuse of religion to justify violence IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indian-muslim-clerics-javed-akhtar-condemn-taliban-over-code-allowing-wife-beating-662351.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-reaches-out-to-bengal-voters-via-open-letter-promises-states-economic-revival-662358.html Kolkata Feb 23 IANS The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP has commenced the mass distribution of an open letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi penned in Bengali and Hindi among voters as part of its campaigning ahead of the highstakes Assembly elections scheduled for later this yearnbspIn the letter the Prime Minister accuses the Mamata Banerjeeled government and the ruling Trinamool Congress of attempting to deprive people of benefits from centrally sponsored schemes He also claims that despite obstacles from the state administration many residents have still gained from these programmesJust a few months the electoral fate of West Bengal will be decided A structured decision on your part will decide the fate of the future generation in the state The people of West Bengal are victims of deprivation My heart is equally pained by that Hence from the core of my heart I want to make a promise today The promise is to rebuild a developed and prosperous West Bengal the letter states in its opening passageIn subsequent paragraphs the Prime Minister lists welfare and development schemes introduced since 2014 by the National Democratic Alliance government led by him asserting that these initiatives have benefited people across sectors in the state despite what he describes as noncooperation from the state governmentIn the postIndependence era West Bengal was the heart of Indias economy But today my heart bleeds because of the sick and wornout condition of the states economy West Bengal had continued to suffer for the last six decades because of the continuous misrule and encouragement of appeasement politics On the one hand the educated youths are forced to get settled elsewhere because of the lack of employment opportunities On the other hand the women of the state are in constant fear over the lack of safety against loss of dignity Modi wroteHe also invokes the legacy of figures such as Swami Vivekananda Sri Aurobindo Rabindranath Tagore and Subhas Chandra Bose stating that the state which once produced such icons is now facing challenges including alleged illegal infiltration concerns over womens safety and economic declineBut how long will you tolerate such things A change is inevitable now The livelihood of the people in other states has improved manifold now Several people in those states have been elevated above the poverty level The people of West Bengal deserve the same development So let us get united to rebuild a developed West Bengal the PM says in the letterIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-reaches-out-to-bengal-voters-via-open-letter-promises-states-economic-revival-662358.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/narcotic-crops-worth-rs-1092-crore-seized-in-gujarats-bhavnagar-two-arrested-662359.html Bhavnagar Feb 23 The Sihor Police in Bhavnagar district have seized narcotic crops and related materials valued at more than Rs 1092 crore after uncovering illegal cultivation in the boundary area of Sakhvadar and Sar villages officials said on Monday The seizure was made from an orchard situated on a slope in Sihor taluka following a specific tipoffThe local police received information that opium and ganja were being cultivated at an orchard owned by two brothersActing on the input a police team conducted an early morning raid on SundayDuring the operation officers seized 108752 kilograms of green opium poppy plants valued at Rs 108698000 and 26 kilograms of dried poppy husk worth Rs 390900 and 19 kilograms of green ganja plants valued at Rs 191400Two mobile phones worth Rs 5000 were also recovered Other items seized included three mats Aadhaar cards copies of Village Form 8A land records relating to two survey numbers a light bulb a saree and a plastic bagThe total estimated value of the seized narcotics is Rs 109285300The accused have been identified as Sanjaybhai Chauhan 55 and Boghabhai Chauhan 53 both agriculturists and residents of Sakhvadar village boundary of Sihor talukaAn offence has been registered against them under Sections 8B 8C 15B 18B 20A 20BII and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act Further legal proceedings are underwayThe seizure comes amid a series of recent antinarcotics operations in GujaratOn February 18 the Gujarat AntiTerrorism Squad and the Indian Coast Guard intercepted an Iranianregistered speedboat about 140 nautical miles off Porbandar during a joint maritime operationOfficials said around 203 kilograms of suspected narcotic substances were recovered and two Iranian nationals were arrestedIn another case the Anti Narcotics Task Force of the CID crime unit in Ahmedabad seized 3060 grams of mephedrone valued at approximately Rs 91800 during a raid in the Khadia area on February 17One person was arrested at the scene while two others were named in the complaint as investigations continue to trace the source and distribution network of the contraband IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/narcotic-crops-worth-rs-1092-crore-seized-in-gujarats-bhavnagar-two-arrested-662359.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/three-killed-as-slab-collapses-in-keralas-kozhikode-corporation-building-662361.html Kozhikode Feb 23 Three loading workers were killed and five others injured on Monday after the concrete slab of an ageing building collapsed in Valiyangadi one of Kozhikodeâs busiest commercial hubs in Kerala The deceased have been identified as Jabbar a native of Kinasheri Ashraf and BasheerThe accident occurred at a decadesold structure near the beach that had earlier functioned as the Passport OfficeThe building which belongs to the Kozhikode Corporation and is estimated to be around 60 years old is currently being used as a warehouse by a nearby establishmentAccording to eyewitnesses seven workers were present at the spot after unloading goods into the godownThey were resting on the floor near the shutter when a massive concrete slab and a sunshade portion of the building gave way and crashed downTwo workers managed to run to safety after noticing the slab collapse while the remaining five were trappedLocal residents and fellow workers rushed to the scene and began rescue operations even before Fire Force personnel arrivedThe slab had to be cut open to extricate those trapped beneathThree workers were pulled out in the initial phase and shifted to the hospital but their lives could not be savedOne of the injured was rescued only after fire personnel cut through the concreteAnother injured worker is reported to be in critical conditionThe collapse also caused significant property damage with several twowheelers parked beneath the slab crushed under the debrisThe fact that the location is a regular resting place for loading workers in Valiyangadi added to the scale of the tragedyPreliminary assessments point to the dilapidated condition as the likely cause of the collapseLocal residents said the building had long been in a precarious state raising serious concerns about safety oversightDespite its age several commercial establishments continue to function in the premisesThe Mayor who visited the site said the building would be sealed and no one would be allowed to enter it henceforthThe incident has renewed scrutiny over the use of ageing structures as warehouses without proper safety inspectionsAngry Congress and BJP workers protested the callous manner in which the CPIM ruled Corporation has done nothing despite the building condition being pointed out IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/three-killed-as-slab-collapses-in-keralas-kozhikode-corporation-building-662361.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/2026-polls-a-direct-fight-between-me-and-stalin-asserts-tvk-leader-vijay-662362.html Vellore Tamil Nadu Feb 23 Declaring that the upcoming Assembly election would be a direct fight between Vijay and MK Stalin Vijay on Monday intensified his attack on Chief Minister Stalin asserting that the battle in Tamil Nadu was not about Delhi politics but about corruption and governance within the state Addressing party cadres and midlevel leaders at a closeddoor meeting in Kollamangalam in Vellore district the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK leader said To put it clearly this election is a war between Vijay and Stalin It is a war between the people of Tamil Nadu and corruption between the people and bribery between the people and the DMK government Our vote is our right No one can buy us Our vote is for the whistle symbol We will not withdraw our word and we will not be deceived again Using a parable to drive home his message Vijay compared Tamil Naduâs political landscape to a wild Jallikattu bull standing in the middle of a busy field untamed and intimidating While experienced handlers hesitated a young boy approached calmly with fodder in his pocket and subdued the animal by understanding its hungerIn that story the bull represents the political situation of Tamil Nadu The boy is not just me â it is all of us When people are hungry for change they need solutions not fear he said Vijay accused the ruling DMK of failing to deliver on promises including shifting electricity billing to a monthly cycle People were promised monthly bills Has it happened Paying once every two months is a burden Can this be called modern corruption he asked He also highlighted concerns about law and order womenâs safety inadequate bus services in hill villages and the lack of medical facilities forcing some women to consider home deliveries In our government the safety of girls and boys will come first Government schools will match private standards We will ensure clean toilets for girls create a drugfree Tamil Nadu and establish a welfare board for unorganised workers he promised Criticising what he described as opportunistic alliances Vijay said You cannot win with looted money or unstable coalitions This is a whistlestop election Stay confident â victory is certain He further challenged political leaders to disclose their assets before and after entering politics and questioned Stalin over past remarks that described him as a friend If I am your friend why mention my name in controversies he asked Asserting that the election would be historic Vijay said it would be unlike any other in the past five decades Everyone is opposing me because I oppose corruption But this time every polling booth must become a victory booth he declared urging cadres to mobilise voters in support of the partyâs whistle symbol The meeting was restricted to 4900 participants who had QRcoded entry passes Citing safety concerns TVK General Secretary N Anand had requested that pregnant women children school students senior citizens and persons with disabilities avoid attending A temporary roof structure was erected at the venue following a recent incident in Salem where a participant reportedly collapsed during a public event IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/2026-polls-a-direct-fight-between-me-and-stalin-asserts-tvk-leader-vijay-662362.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mobile-ban-in-karnataka-schools-under-discussion-parents-also-exerting-pressure-deputy-cm-shivakumar-662365.html Bengaluru Feb 23 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said that the issue of banning mobile phones in schools is under discussion and that there is pressure from parents as well Many countries have implemented such measures The issue is also being discussed at the international levelâ he said in response to questions from the media near his residence hereAsked about restricting mobile phone usage by children in schools he said âIt is not appropriate to publicly disclose how mobile phones are being misused That is why discussions are being held on this issueOn the issue of banning mobile phones Home Minister G Parameshwara stated there has been discussion on imposing a mobile ban in schools and colleges Giving mobile phones to children below 16 years of age is affecting their education in different ways he said Many countries have conducted studies and imposed bans on mobile phones The Chief Minister has also deliberated on this issue A decision will be taken after studying its pros and cons he addedAsked about Minister Mahadevappa raising the issue of a Dalit Chief Minister Shivakumar said He is our national leader I offer him my greetings from hereResponding to a question about a report by the National Water Quality Standards Authority stating that Bengaluruâs lake water is not fit for drinking he said The government has never said that lake water in Bengaluru should be used for drinking or bathing These lakes exist to recharge groundwater Water from the Thippagondanahalli reservoir is treated by the BWSSB Bengaluruâs lake water is not meant for drinking or bathingOn the issue of protest by Congress against Viksit BharatâGuarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin Act he said the Central government has not issued any clarification or directiveEven wages for previous work have not been released The law has been rendered ineffective Atrocities are being committed against labourers and the poor We are organising a major protest against this A âNREGA Bachao Andolanâ protest has been organised in Chikkaballapurâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mobile-ban-in-karnataka-schools-under-discussion-parents-also-exerting-pressure-deputy-cm-shivakumar-662365.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jk-l-g-manoj-sinha-inaugurates-6th-edition-of-khelo-india-winter-games-662366.html Gulmarg Feb 23 IANS Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor LG Manoj Sinha on Monday while inaugurating the sixth edition of Khelo India Winter Games here said that from a simple sporting event these games have evolved into a true national festivalnbspLG Sinha welcomed and conveyed his best wishes to all participating athletes and team officialsnbspKhelo India Winter Games revive the sporting spirits ideals of peace equality and camaraderie In our vibrant diverse nation of myriad languages cultures and traditions the Winter Games at Gulmarg is serving as a universal language and shared heritageWinter Games at Gulmarg mirror lifes raw challenges building the resilience that propels future triumphs Falling analysing errors rising improved these are sports true lessons ones Skiers will live here the LG addedHe emphasised that the broader aim of Khelo India Winter Games is strengthening national unityThe LG said that the mega winter sports event is a celebration of our nations sporting legacy its unity and the transformative power of sports that binds every citizen and athlete igniting their drive and forging unbreakable characterIntense rivalry yields shared conversations and lasting friendships proving healthy competition and mutual respect coexist Our people need this ethos now more than ever As you race these Ski slopes remember diversity is our strength not division Khelo India reminds us our language may differ but our goals and values unite usWhen athletes from diverse states train together compete fiercely and cheer one another barriers of language culture and region dissolve before the sporting spirit LG Sinha addedHe said that Winter Games pit skiers against nature itself where excelling demands extraordinary prowess and over the coming days we will witness that prowess alongside technical mastery the poise from years of practice unyielding resolve and superhuman enduranceHe urged the participating athletes to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship and encouraged them to give their best throughout the tournamentOn these Ski slopes of Gulmarg athletes identity hinges solely on performance every result reflects your skills discipline and grit crafting new championsIn disciplines like alpine skiing Nordic skiing snowboarding and ski mountaineering athletes rigorous training and unwavering dedication will shine through the LG addedLG Sinha also spoke on the transformation in the sporting sector across Jammu and Kashmir over the past few years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra ModiHe said that the establishment of stateoftheart sports infrastructure under the Prime Ministers Development Package PMDP and 100 Khelo India Centres have redefined the sporting landscapeHe emphasised that modern infrastructure coupled with the talent and dedication of Jammu and Kashmirs youth and the proactive support of dedicated officials has provided a massive impetus to the sectorLG Sinha said the true character reveals itself not just in victory but in adversity and a real athlete remains humble in triumph and dignified in defeatOn February 26 at the closing ceremony of sixth Khelo India Winter Games success wont be measured by medals alone but by the spirit of unity mutual respect and relentless pursuit of excellence he addedThe fourday Khelo India Winter Games at Indias premier winter sports destination will witness the participation of around 1000 athletes and officials from various states and Union Territories in different disciplinesOmar Abdullah Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Satish Sharma Minister for Youth Services ampamp Sports Nasir Aslam Wani Advisor to Chief Minister Farooq Ahmed Shah Member of Legislative Assembly from Gulmarg Atal Dulloo Chief Secretary Shahid Iqbal Choudhary Commissioner Secretary to the government Youth Services and Sports VK Birdi IGP Kashmir Anshul Garg Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Major General Puneet Doval Commandant High Altitude Warfare School Minga Sherpa Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Nuzhat Gul Secretary JampampK Sports Council senior officials representatives of Sports Authority of India and various sports organisations prominent sports personalities and sports enthusiasts in large numbers attended the inaugural ceremonyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jk-l-g-manoj-sinha-inaugurates-6th-edition-of-khelo-india-winter-games-662366.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/aap-govt-in-punjab-announces-meri-rasoi-scheme-for-nutritious-food-to-40-lakh-people-662367.html Chandigarh Feb 23 IANS Ahead of the assembly elections slated for early 2027 the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab on Monday announced the Meri Rasoi scheme to provide nutritious food to 40 lakh blue card holders in the state from AprilnbspnbspThis was announced by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after a meeting of the Council of Ministers herenbspMeri Rasoi will ensure that all blue card holders will get 2 kg dal 2 kg sugar 1 kg iodised salt 200 grams haldi and 1 litre of mustard oil along with the free wheat they are getting each monthnbspThe families will be provided the ration kit for three months from April the Chief Minister saidnbspOfficials said the Meri Rasoi scheme has a budget outlay of Rs 1000 crorenbspWhile the kits will be prepared by staterun Markfed the Food and Supplies Department will distribute them among the beneficiariesnbspFrom April onwards each cardholder under the National Food Security Act or Smart Ration Card Scheme will get a separate bag containing the food items The beneficiaries are eligible for 15 kg of wheat every month The wheat is given quarterly in a 45kg bagnbspCM Mann said it was ironic that Punjab has been feeding millions of people in the country but many families in the state get just one meal a daynbspOur children are undernourished and suffer from iron deficiency The meals they get are not rich in protein As a welfare government it is our duty to ensure that every citizen in the state gets wholesome meals he saidnbspMeanwhile the Cabinet decided to hold the Budget session from March 6 to 16 and the Budget will be presented on International Womens Day March 8 which falls on a SundaynbspIf Prime Minister Narendra Modi can get a Parliament session convened on a Sunday why cant we We can also table our budget on Sunday Mann saidnbspThe Chief Minister also said that investigations were underway into the killings of two security personnel at a border checkpoint in Gurdaspur on SundaynbspAssistant SubInspector Gurnam Singh and home guard Ashok Kumar were found dead close to the Pakistan bordernbspOn the Special Intensive Revision SIR revision CM Mann said the government would give full cooperation to the Election Commission But we will oppose any move to delete the voters he saidnbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/aap-govt-in-punjab-announces-meri-rasoi-scheme-for-nutritious-food-to-40-lakh-people-662367.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/92-villages-selected-for-vibrant-village-programme-meghalaya-cm-662368.html Shillong Feb 23 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said that 92 villages in the state have been selected under the Vibrant Village ProgrammeII even as the Union Ministry of Home Affairs MHA is yet to notify the dates for the scheme implementation Replying to a question in the Assembly CM Sangma said that the programme will be implemented till 202829 and will be overseen by the stateâs Border Areas Development BAD departmentHe explained that the Vibrant Village Programme was introduced after the Centre discontinued the Border Areas Development Programme BADP in September 2022âThe Border Areas Development Programme was discontinued by the Government of India in September 2022 and it was decided that a new programme called the Vibrant Village Programme would be brought inâ the Chief Minister saidCM Sangma noted that several MLAs had raised concerns over the allocation of funds for border areas following the discontinuation of BADPâThe MLAs met with me regarding the sanctioning of some amount because of the discontinuation of BADP I had included some amount but it is not sufficient as we have to cover both interstate and international bordersâ he saidHe added that the state government would continue to make provisions to address development needs in border areas cautioning against assessing progress solely on the basis of BADP allocationsâOne cannot judge development of border areas from the amount spent under BADP aloneâ CM Sangma said pointing out that additional funding streams including Lafarge SPV support have contributed to development initiatives in areas such as Mawsynram and ShellaThe Chief Minister also flagged concerns over the composition of districtlevel committees under the Vibrant Village ProgrammeHe said that as per the Centreâs guidelines these committees do not include elected MLAs a matter that the state government has already raised with New DelhiâThese are areas where the final decision has to be taken at the Central level I will take up the matter personallyâ CM Sangma told the HouseHe further informed that the state government has sanctioned Rs 1499 crore specifically for interstate border development reaffirming Meghalayaâs commitment to improving infrastructure and living conditions in its border regions IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/92-villages-selected-for-vibrant-village-programme-meghalaya-cm-662368.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/traditional-crafts-by-women-adorn-corridors-of-gujarat-assembly-662371.html Gandhinagar Feb 23 The Women Art and Craft Festival was inaugurated at the Gujarat Legislative Assembly premises on Monday under the âHar Ghar Swadeshi Ghar Ghar Swadeshiâ campaign Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary formally inaugurated the festival Deputy Speaker Purnesh Modi and Minister for Women and Child Welfare Dr Manisha Vakil were present at the ceremony along with Assembly Secretary Chetan Pandya senior officials of the Women and Child Development Department and citizensAddressing the gathering Chaudhary said women in Gujarat have earned international recognition for their craftsmanship particularly in embroidery and traditional handicraftsâThrough their dedication and skill the women of Gujarat have brought global recognition to our handicrafts Today these traditional arts have become a respected global brandâ he saidHe described the organisation of the exhibition within the Assembly premises as a meaningful initiative that would provide encouragement and visibility to women artisans across the stateCongratulating the Women and Child Welfare Minister on the initiative he suggested that Members of the Legislative Assembly should promote such crafts in their respective constituencies to expand their reachAppealing to the public to visit the exhibition Chaudhary said the stalls symbolise the hard work and selfrespect of women artisans âThese stalls are not merely centres of sale Each product reflects the effort of our sisters and the vision of a selfreliant India Even small support from citizens will give them renewed strengthâ he saidOn the occasion Dr Vakil said At this festival indigenous handicrafts and handmade products created by women selfhelp groups from across the state will be exhibited and made available for sale This initiative will encourage women towards selfreliance and create new employment opportunities The event will prove to be an important step towards the economic empowerment of women and will further strengthen the message of âVocal for LocalââThe exhibitioncumsale organised by the Gujarat Women Economic Development Corporation Ltd will run from February 23 to 28 within the Assembly complexTen stalls featuring handicrafts and indigenous products made by women artisans have been set up IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/traditional-crafts-by-women-adorn-corridors-of-gujarat-assembly-662371.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-attend-tripura-university-convocation-on-march-8-662377.html Agartala Feb 23 VicePresident CP Radhakrishnan will be the chief guest at the 14th Convocation of Tripura University scheduled to be held on March 8 officials said here on Monday A university official said that the convocation ceremony of the central varsity could not be held during the last two years 2024 and 2025 During the convocation certificates degrees gold medals and PhD degrees will be conferred upon eligible students The official said that at the forthcoming convocation 283 students from various departments will receive gold medals while 149 research scholars will be awarded PhD degrees The VicePresident will inaugurate the convocation ceremony at the university campus in Suryamaninagar on the outskirts of the state capital Agartala Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu Chief Minister Manik Saha and the University Chancellor Ahmad Javed will also address the convocation ceremony Earlier the universitys Acting ViceChancellor Shaymal Das and Acting Registrar Samir Kumar Shill held a meeting with the Governor at Lok Bhavan here and discussed various aspects related to the convocation arrangements Tripura University was established in October 1987 and was converted into a Central University on July 2 2007 under the Tripura University Act 2006 enacted by the Parliament The university official said that a large number of colleges are affiliated with Tripura University and that the current number of affiliated colleges stands at 64 Meanwhile the Ministry of Education is reportedly aiming to complete the entire selection process and appoint a new ViceChancellor soon However amid the ongoing selection process a strong demand has emerged across the Tripura University campus with teachers nonteaching staff students and members of academic circles urging the Ministry to appoint a genuine experienced and independent administrator as the next ViceChancellor As expectations continue to rise all eyes are now on the Ministry of Educations final decision which is being widely viewed as a crucial turning point for restoring academic excellence and ensuring administrative stability at Tripura University IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-attend-tripura-university-convocation-on-march-8-662377.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/centre-examining-rising-airfares-at-highest-level-sc-told-662382.html New Delhi Feb 23 The Central government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the issue of volatile airfares and addon fees charged by private airlines during festive seasons and holidays is being examined at the highest level A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a public interest litigation PIL challenging the opaque exploitative and algorithmdriven pricing practices in Indiaâs civil aviation sector as well as the reduction in complimentary checkin baggage limits for passengers Appearing for the Union government Additional Solicitor General ASG Anil Kaushik submitted that consultations are underway at the highest levels of the government to address the concerns raised in the petition The Solicitor General has also called a meeting We have taken the matter to the highest level We are in discussion with the highest authority Four weeksâ time may be granted and we will come up with a counter the Centreâs law officer said Taking note of the submission the apex court granted four weeksâ time to the Centre to file its response and listed the matter for further consideration on March 23 During the hearing the Justice Vikram Nathled bench observed that fluctuations in airfare and imposition of additional charges during peak travel periods raise a matter of very serious concern This is a very serious concern Otherwise we donât entertain Article 32 petitions the apex court remarked It also declined to entertain the Federation of Indian Airlinesâ FIA plea seeking to be impleaded in the proceedings observing that the Union government would engage with stakeholders before taking any policy decision The Union government will deal with you They will call you before making a decision They will constitute a committee and make a decision It is for the Ministry to decide If they donât we will consider that later the bench said In November 2025 the Supreme Court issued notice on a plea filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan who contended that air travel recognised as an essential service under the Essential Services Maintenance Act has become increasingly unaffordable due to unregulated unpredictable and exploitative fare mechanisms The petition filed through advocate Charu Mathur contended that sudden fare spikes sometimes doubling or tripling within hours during emergencies festivals or peak travel periods disproportionately affect passengers compelled to undertake urgent travel for medical educational or employmentrelated reasons It further argued that airlines have reduced complimentary checkin baggage allowance from 25 kg to 15 kg without adequate justification effectively converting a previously included service into an additional revenue stream through excessbaggage charges Terming such practices arbitrary and violative of Article 21 of the Constitution the plea urged the apex court to direct the Centre to frame a regulatory framework or establish an independent aviation tariff regulator with quasijudicial powers to oversee airfare structures monitor compliance and adjudicate passenger grievances IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/centre-examining-rising-airfares-at-highest-level-sc-told-662382.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/patna-court-rejects-transit-remand-of-bihar-fire-dept-ig-questions-andhra-police-662383.html Patna Feb 23 In a major legal setback for the Andhra Pradesh Police the Patna Civil Court on Monday refused to grant transit remand of Bihar Home Guard and Fire Service Inspector General IG M Sunil Nayak The court sharply questioned the procedure adopted by the Andhra Pradesh Police and termed the action legally flawedThe matter was heard in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate where the Andhra Pradesh Police sought transit remand to take IG Sunil Nayak to Andhra Pradesh in connection with a criminal caseDuring the hearing the court said that the Andhra Pradesh Police did not have a valid arrest warrant no updated case diary was produced before the court and mandatory legal procedures were not followedTaking strong exception to these lapses the court outright rejected the transit remand applicationEarlier on Monday a team of Andhra Pradesh Police reached IG Sunil Nayaks official residence located in the Shastri Nagar police station area of PatnaThe team conducted a search and preliminary investigation inside the IGs residence in the presence of local police officialsFollowing news of the action security around the residence was increased and a large number of Home Guard personnel reached the spotThe personnel alleged that the action against their senior officer was being taken in violation of established rulesAfter being produced in the Patna Civil Court advocate Rishikesh Narayan said the courts position saying that arrests must strictly follow legal proceduresAny arrest has a prescribed legal process Transit remand cannot be granted without proper documents In the case of IAS or IPS officers prior permission from the Central government is mandatory That permission was not sought in this case he addedHe said that IG Sunil Nayak now has the option to approach the Patna High Court for bail calling the courts decision a major interim relief for the IPS officerAccording to sources the court also objected to the fact that some Andhra Pradesh Police personnel appeared during the court hearing without uniformThe court reportedly expressed strong displeasure over this lapse and directed the concerned officers including three Andhra Pradesh Police personnel to remain present in the courtroom while making strict observations about their conduct and procedureA case has been registered against IG Sunil Nayak under Section 307 attempt to murder of the Indian Penal CodeThe matter is reportedly linked to K Raghurama Krishna Raju a former Member of Parliament from Andhra PradeshSources claim the case pertains to the alleged misuse of serious penal sections in a previous incidentWith the Patna Civil Court denying transit remand IG Sunil Nayaks immediate transfer to Andhra Pradesh has been stalled for nowHowever the case is expected to move forward through higher judicial forumsThe incident has triggered intense discussion within administrative and police circles raising serious questions about interstate police coordination arrest protocols and procedural compliance IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/patna-court-rejects-transit-remand-of-bihar-fire-dept-ig-questions-andhra-police-662383.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-urges-citizens-to-visit-rajaji-utsav-at-rashtrapati-bhavan-662387.html New Delhi Feb 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted the unveiling of a bust of C Rajagopalachari replacing that of British architect Edwin Lutyens during the âRajaji Utsavâ at Rashtrapati Bhavan urging citizens to visit the eventâ âRajaji Utsav is a wonderful initiative which brings out different aspects of Rajajis rich contribution to our nation I urge you all to visit it and get inspiredâ said PM Modi in a message on social mediaâIn his recent radio show âMann Ki Baat the PM had said âThe country is leaving behind the symbols of slavery and has begun to value symbols related to Indian cultureâHe had also signalled during the show on February 22 that the bronze bust of Edwin Lutyens the British architect who designed some of New Delhis most iconic structures around 192030 would no longer stand in the central courtyard of Rashtrapati BhavanâPrime Minister Modiâs message to citizens on Monday to visit âRajaji Utsavâ came within hours of the event and a social media message from Rashtrapati Bhavan shared photos of President Murmu examining exhibits related to Rajaji after unveiling his bustâThe Rashtrapati Bhavanâs message on X said âRajaji set an inspiring example of mental decolonisation His ideals are reflected in the national campaign adopted by the people of India to take pride in Indias heritage and eliminate the vestiges of the colonial mindset As part of Rajaji Utsav an exhibition on the life and work of Rajaji is being organised from February 24 to March 1 2026 at Rashtrapati BhavanââUnveiling the bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari Indiaâs first and only Indian GovernorGeneral the President said the replacement of the bust symbolises a broader national effort to move beyond colonialera legacies and recognise eminent Indian leaders who played pivotal roles in shaping the countryâs historyâRajagopalachari popularly known as Rajaji was a prominent freedom fighter statesman and scholar who served as the last GovernorGeneral of India from 1948 to 1950âShe said âThe bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari situated at the Grand Open Staircase near Ashok Mandap replaces the bust of Edwin LutyensââThis initiative is part of a series of steps being taken towards shedding the vestiges of colonial mindset and embracing with pride the richness of Indiaâs culture heritage timeless traditions and honouring those who served Bharat Mata with their extraordinary contributionsâ she saidâVicePresident C P Radhakrishnan emphasised that Indiaâs movement away from colonial influence is not a single event but an ongoing transformation across governance law education culture and national identity according to an official statementâRadhakrishnan noted that at the centre of these reforms is the vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has consistently called for freedom from the colonial mindset that shaped institutions and attitudes during British ruleâThe VicePresident stated that the vision of âGulami ki Mansikta se Muktiâ has been translated into action through several initiatives including the transformation of Raj Bhavans into Lok Bhavans the evolution of the PMO into a Sewa Teerth the renaming of the Central Secretariat as Kartavya Bhavan the replacement of colonialera criminal laws the installation of a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose near India Gate and the construction of the National War Memorial among othersââThese changes are not merely symbolic they reflect the governmentâs spirit of Sewa Bhavnaâ he saidâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-urges-citizens-to-visit-rajaji-utsav-at-rashtrapati-bhavan-662387.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-france-amending-protocol-to-boost-investment-economic-cooperation-662388.html New Delhi Feb 23 India and France have signed an amending protocol to boost investment and strengthen economic cooperation which aligns tax treaty with international standards it was announced on Monday The amending protocol provides full taxing rights in respect of capital gains arising from sale of shares of a company to the jurisdiction where such company is a residentIt also deletes the socalled MostFavouredNation MFN Clause from the Protocol to the IndiaFrance Double Taxation Avoidance Convention DTAC thereby bringing to rest all issues relating to it according to a Finance Ministry statementThe protocol also modifies the taxation of income from dividends by replacing a single rate of 10 per cent of tax with a split rate of 5 per cent for those holding at least 10 per cent of capital and 15 per cent of tax for all other casesâIt also modifies the definition of âFees for Technical Servicesâ by aligning it with the definition in India US Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and expands the scope of âPermanent Establishmentâ by adding Service PEâ the ministry saidDuring the recent visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India both the nations signed a protocol amending the IndiaFrance DTACThe Protocol also updates the provisions on Exchange of Information and introduces a new Article on Assistance in Collection of Taxes as per international standards said the ministryThis would enable and facilitate seamless exchange of information and strengthen mutual tax cooperation between India and FranceThe Protocol also incorporates within the DTAC the applicable provisions of BEPS Multilateral Instrument MLI that had already become applicable consequent to the signing and ratification of MLI by India and FranceâThe Amending Protocol will provide greater tax certainty to the taxpayers and boost flow of investment technology and personnel between India and France and thereby strengthen the economic relationship between the two countriesâ said the ministry IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-france-amending-protocol-to-boost-investment-economic-cooperation-662388.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/chhattisgarh-stf-jawan-injured-in-ied-explosion-662393.html RaipurBijapur Feb 23 A Special Task Force jawan was injured in an IED explosion in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur district on Monday during an ongoing antiNaxal operation in the southern region of the district â The incident occurred in a forested area where security forces were conducting area domination and search duties as part of efforts to curb Maoist activities âA pressure improvised explosive device planted by Naxalites detonated when the STF team passed through the location causing injuries to one personnel from the elite counterinsurgency unit officials said âSecurity personnel on site provided immediate first aid to the injured jawan He was quickly evacuated to a nearby medical facility and later transferred to a higherlevel hospital for advanced treatmentâAccording to senior police officials the jawans condition is stable and under close medical observation with no lifethreatening complications reported so far âThe blast highlights the persistent threat posed by Maoist insurgents in the Bastar division particularly in Bijapur a region long identified as a stronghold for leftwing extremists âNaxalites frequently use IEDs to target security convoys patrols and roadopening parties involved in antiinsurgency operations Such devices are often concealed along forest paths or roads used by forces during combing missions âFollowing the explosion security forces intensified vigil in the surrounding areas Teams are carrying out thorough searches to detect and neutralise any additional IEDs or suspicious objects that could endanger personnel or civiliansâOfficials emphasised that area domination activities continue unabated with increased patrolling and monitoring to prevent further incidents and to maintain pressure on Maoist cadresâThe operation in Bijapur forms part of broader state and central government strategies to eliminate leftwing extremism in Chhattisgarh Recent months have seen intensified efforts including joint operations by STF District Reserve Guard and central forces leading to recoveries of arms arrests and surrendersâDespite setbacks like this blast authorities assert that the security grid is strengthening gradually shrinking the operational space for Naxal groupsâThe injured STF jawan is receiving necessary care and an investigation into the incident is underway to trace the placement of the IED and identify those responsibleâPolice have appealed for public cooperation in reporting suspicious movements in remote areasâLocal administration is coordinating support for the injured personnel and their family âSuch incidents reinforce the need for continued vigilance better intelligence and enhanced protective measures for forces engaged in antiNaxal duties â IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/chhattisgarh-stf-jawan-injured-in-ied-explosion-662393.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-pradesh-plans-legislation-to-bar-school-students-from-social-media-662395.html Amaravati Feb 23 The government of Andhra Pradesh is considering a legislation to bar school students from using social media Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said this in the state Legislative Assembly on Monday During discussion on the control of false propaganda on social media she said a Cabinet subcommittee has been formed to suggest measures to regulate social media an counter false propagandaShe stated that the subcommittee has met twice so far and discussed various issues at lengthThe subcommittee reviewed the measures being implemented in states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Special attention has been paid to the measures that can be taken in the state and can prove effectiveThe Home Minister stated that strict measures are being taken to control hateful and obscene posts on social mediaShe revealed that 1384 cases have been registered in the state so far with regard to such social media posts A total of 1067 people have been arrested and produced in courtShe said that the government has started steps to bring a new law to control false propagandaIn September last year a group of ministers was constituted to study the best practices and suggest modalities of the legislation to identify and make those who resort to false propaganda accountableLast month Minister for Information Technology and Electronics Nara Lokesh had also stated that the government will study legal frameworks for âageappropriate accessâ to social mediaLokesh said the government would ensure social media becomes a safer space and reduce its damaging impact especially for women and childrenâTrust in social media is breaking down Children are slipping into relentless usage affecting their attention spans and education Women are facing nonstop online abuse This cannot be ignoredâ Lokesh had posted on âXââThe Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to act In the meeting of the Group of Ministers on Social Media we have ordered a study of legal frameworks for ageappropriate access We have also invited major platforms like Meta X Google and Sharechat to the next GoM meeting to examine global best practices We will ensure social media becomes a safer space and reduce its damaging impact especially for women and childrenâ he addedThe group of ministers is examining the possibility of restricting or banning access to certain social media platforms for children below 16 yearsOn February 10 the Telugu Desam Party TDP had urged the Centre to consider agebased regulation of social mediaTDP Parliamentary Party leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu met Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw and submitted a memorandum requesting for policy deliberation on agebased regulation of social media for childrenHe requested that the Ministry consider constituting a dedicated committee or expert group to study agebased regulation of social media and recommend a comprehensive national policyThe TDP MP informed the Central minister that the NDA Government in Andhra Pradesh is actively examining this issue and exploring a robust legal framework to protect children online IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-pradesh-plans-legislation-to-bar-school-students-from-social-media-662395.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mha-unveils-prahaar-indias-first-national-counter-terror-policy-662396.html New Delhi Feb 23 The Ministry of Home Affairs MHA on Monday unveiled Indias inaugural National CounterTerrorism Policy and Strategy titled PRAHAAR marking a major milestone in the countryâs longstanding efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms The Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced the nationâs first comprehensive counterterrorism policy titled âPRAHAARâ establishing a structured national framework to address evolving and complex security threats including crossborder terrorism dronebased attacks cyberenabled threats and organised terror networksThe document underscores Indiaâs decadeslong experience and leadership in combating terrorism firmly rejecting any attempt to link terrorism with any particular religion ethnicity nationality or civilisationIt reiterates the governmentâs unwavering zerotolerance approach towards terrorism and violence while emphasising support for victims and rejecting any justification for acts of terror under any circumstancesHighlighting regional instability the existence of ungoverned spaces and instances of statesponsored terrorism the strategy adopts a multilayered approach focused on prevention swift and proportionate response enhanced interagency coordination and strict adherence to human rights and the rule of lawThe eightpage policy document which has been made publicly available on the MHA website formalises a unified and institutionalised approach that has guided Indiaâs counterterror efforts over the years amid evolving threatsIndiaâs position remains unequivocal that terrorism in any form or manifestation cannot be justified under any pretext and the country does not associate terrorism with any religion ethnicity nationality or civilisationThe policy is rooted in a commitment to safeguarding citizens upholding human rights and ensuring accountability through established legal and judicial processes under the rule of lawThe term âPRAHAARâ meaning âstrikeâ represents seven core pillars of Indiaâs counterterrorism framework prevention of terrorist attacks swift and proportionate response capacitybuilding across security and intelligence agencies ensuring human rightscompliant operations addressing conditions conducive to radicalisation strengthening international cooperation and promoting societal resilience and recovery according to the documentThe threat assessment section presents a detailed overview of persistent and emerging challenges confronting Indiaâs security architectureCrossborder terrorism continues to pose a major threat with extremist groups and affiliated networks attempting to carry out attacks Global terrorist organisations such as AlQaeda and ISIS continue efforts to activate sleeper cells and incite violence within the countryForeignbased elements have also been accused of attempting to destabilise internal security while terrorist handlers increasingly exploit advanced technologies including drones particularly in sensitive regions such as Punjab and Jammu and KashmirThe document notes growing convergence between terror networks and organised crime groups which facilitate logistics recruitment and financial flowsDigital platforms have emerged as key enablers for terrorist activities allowing anonymous communication through social media encrypted messaging applications dark web platforms and cryptocurrencies for propaganda dissemination recruitment funding and operational coordinationConcerns have also been highlighted regarding attempts to gain access to chemical biological radiological nuclear explosive and cyber capabilities along with the rising threat of cyber intrusions by both nonstate actors and hostile entitiesPrevention remains the cornerstone of the policy with emphasis on intelligenceled operations and coordinated surveillanceInstitutions such as the Multi Agency Centre and the Joint Task Force on Intelligence have been designated as central nodes for realtime intelligence sharing threat assessment and coordinated actionSecurity agencies are tasked with dismantling terror support ecosystems including overground worker networks illegal arms supply chains and terror financing channelsBorder security measures include the deployment of advanced surveillance and detection technologies across land maritime and aerial domainsCritical infrastructure including power installations railways aviation networks ports defence facilities space assets and atomic energy establishments will receive enhanced protection under the frameworkUnder the response mechanism local police forces will act as first responders in terror incidents supported by specialised state counterterror units and elite national forces such as the National Security Guard in major operationsInvestigations into terrorrelated offences will be led by the National Investigation Agency NIA with a focus on ensuring effective prosecution and securing high conviction ratesThe policy also emphasises strengthening institutional capacity through modernisation of equipment training and infrastructure along with standardisation of counterterror mechanisms across states and addressing existing operational gapsThe framework stresses strict adherence to human rights and legal safeguards citing laws such as the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act newly enacted criminal codes and Indiaâs international legal commitmentsIt also outlines preventive and corrective measures to address radicalisation including community engagement outreach programmes involving civil society organisations and religious leaders youth engagement initiatives prison monitoring systems and socioeconomic interventions aimed at reducing vulnerabilityAt the international level India will continue to strengthen intelligencesharing arrangements pursue extradition of terror suspects and support global efforts at the United Nations to designate terrorist entities and deny safe havensThe policy adopts a wholeofgovernment and wholeofsociety approach encouraging cooperation between government agencies private sector stakeholders and civil society to enhance preparedness response and recovery mechanismsLooking ahead the strategy calls for periodic legal reforms strengthening of statelevel counterterror frameworks improved investigative expertise and enhanced investment in emerging technologies to counter future threatsOfficials described âPRAHAARâ as a dynamic and forwardlooking framework aimed at dismantling terror ecosystems safeguarding national security and ensuring longterm resilience through coordinated and sustained efforts IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mha-unveils-prahaar-indias-first-national-counter-terror-policy-662396.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/punjabs-excise-reforms-directly-strengthening-public-welfare-says-finance-minister-cheema-662398.html Chandigarh Feb 23 IANS Projecting excise revenue of Rs 12800 crore for 202627 Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Monday said the states excise reforms are now directly strengthening public welfare by funding schools hospitals and other propeople schemesnbspAnnouncing the new excise policy Cheema said the state has moved decisively away from the stagnation of previous Congress and AkaliBJP governments transforming excise into a transparent enforcementdriven and growthoriented sector that is delivering record collections while tightening the noose around illicit tradePresenting a detailed comparative analysis of the states excise trajectory he said during the SADBJP regime in 201112 excise revenue stood at a modest Rs 2755 crorenbspOver the subsequent decade growth remained slow and it reached only Rs 6255 crore during the Congress regime in 202122nbspHowever following the implementation of a more robust policy framework in 202223 by the Bhagwant Mannled government the state witnessed an immediate and massive leap to Rs 8428 crore This momentum has continued unabated with revenue climbing to Rs 10744 crore in the 202425 and meeting the current target of Rs 11200 crore for 202526Detailing key provisions of the new excise policy he said The Punjab government has introduced several measures to streamline operations and support existing businesses A primary feature includes the renewal of current retail licences at a 65 per cent increase over the 202526 fees In cases where groups are not renewed the allotment will be handled through a transparent etender processnbspThe quota for Punjab medium liquor at 50 and 65 degrees has been increased by three per cent bringing the total to 879 crore proof litres to meet consumer demand while regulating the market Furthermore to combat the sale of illicit alcohol the government will introduce 40degree PML subvends specifically in areas identified as highcrime zones under the Excise ActnbspThe minister announced that Punjab will now host its own malt manufacturing units This strategic initiative signals a sophisticated evolution in the states industrial policy transitioning Punjab from a downstream bottlingcentric economy to a highvalue manufacturing hub he addednbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/punjabs-excise-reforms-directly-strengthening-public-welfare-says-finance-minister-cheema-662398.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-pulls-up-state-over-illegal-constructions-in-east-kolkata-wetlands-662399.html Kolkata Feb 23 The Calcutta High Court on Monday ordered that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs be made a party in the case relating to illegal constructions in the East Kolkata Wetlands court sources said Justice Amrita Sinha of the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the role of the state government and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation in addressing the issue The court observed that if necessary central forces might have to be deployed to demolish the illegal constructions in the wetlandsThe matter came up following allegations that more than 500 illegal constructions had come up in the East Kolkata Wetlands reportedly after filling up ecologically sensitive wetland areas in violation of environmental normsJustice Sinhaâs Bench has conducted multiple hearings in the matter in the past and had earlier raised concerns regarding the alleged inaction and inadequate response of the state administration and municipal authoritiesThe court had previously directed the municipal authorities to identify and demolish illegal constructions in the wetlands with the assistance of the police However it was reported before the court that demolition work remained incomplete and several illegal structures were yet to be identifiedDuring Mondayâs hearing the District Magistrate of South 24 Parganas submitted a status report before the court outlining the current situation in the affected areasAfter examining the report Justice Sinha expressed strong displeasure observing that despite repeated reports being submitted there was little visible progress on the ground She remarked that she did not want further reports but wanted to see concrete action taken in compliance with the courtâs directivesThe court made it clear that its primary concern was the effective implementation of its earlier orders and the removal of illegal constructions from the protected wetland areaJustice Sinha observed that if the state authorities failed to carry out the demolition exercise the court would seek the cooperation of the central government and consider involving central forces to ensure complianceThe court also noted that despite repeated judicial directions the state government and the municipal corporation had failed to take adequate and timely action in removing the illegal constructionsJustice Sinha further warned that if the situation did not improve the court would not hesitate to direct the deployment of central forces to carry out demolition of the illegal structuresDuring the proceedings counsel representing the East Kolkata Wetlands informed the court that notices had been issued in connection with illegal constructions and that formal orders for demolition had also been passedHowever the court emphasised that issuance of notices alone was not sufficient and that actual demolition and restoration work must be carried out without delayThe court subsequently directed that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs be impleaded as a party in the case observing that if the state government was unable to effectively enforce the courtâs orders responsibility could be entrusted to the Centre to ensure complianceThe next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for March 16 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-pulls-up-state-over-illegal-constructions-in-east-kolkata-wetlands-662399.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/withdrawal-curbs-fuel-treasury-crisis-row-in-bihar-rjd-alleges-bankruptcy-nda-rejects-claims-662400.html Patna Feb 23 The Chief Minister Nitish Kumarled Bihar government has tightened restrictions on treasury withdrawals exceeding Rs 1 crore making prior permission mandatory The decision taken ahead of the March closing of the 2025â26 financial year has triggered a fresh political confrontation with the Opposition alleging a severe financial crisis and the ruling alliance dismissing the claims as baseless Reacting sharply to the decision Ranvijay Sahu General Secretary of the Rashtriya Janata Dal RJD accused the government of draining the treasury through arbitrary spendingSahu claimed that funds were distributed indiscriminately including cash assistance to women during elections leading to a serious financial crunchâThe government is bankrupt The treasury is empty Development work has stalled There is no money even to pay government employees and people are crying in distressâ he allegedThe RJD has repeatedly argued that the withdrawal restrictions are clear indicators of the stateâs deteriorating fiscal healthThe ruling NDA however strongly refuted the Oppositionâs claimsMadhav Anand Legislative Party leader of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha said the stateâs financial position remains stableâWhich departmentâs salary has been stopped today Employees are being paid on time Bihar has a doubleengine government and continues to receive central assistance The Opposition is making childish statements due to a lack of understandingâ Anand saidHe added that employmentrelated schemes are ongoing and that upcoming recruitments in the health and education sectors would further strengthen the economyMadhav Anand also renewed his demand for a review of Biharâs liquor prohibition policy arguing that it could help reduce revenue lossesâThe Chief Minister has taken good decisions earlier We hope he will take the right decision on this issue as wellâ he saidAccording to official instructions the Finance Department has set strict deadlines for bill submissionsBills pending up to January 2026 must be deposited by February 28 bills due up to February 2026 by March 15 and bills for March 2026 by March 20While the government maintains these measures are part of routine yearend financial management the Opposition insists they point to an underlying fiscal strainWith the Budget Session underway the treasury restrictions have emerged as a major flashpoint between the ruling NDA and the Opposition keeping Biharâs financial health firmly in the political spotlight IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/withdrawal-curbs-fuel-treasury-crisis-row-in-bihar-rjd-alleges-bankruptcy-nda-rejects-claims-662400.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/saddened-by-this-cruelty-spiritual-leaders-slam-taliban-for-legalising-domestic-violence-against-women-662401.html Ayodhya Feb 23 Responding to the Talibanâs new penal code concerning atrocities against women and children in Afghanistan spiritual leaders on Monday condemned the move saying they are deeply saddened by the cruelty inflicted on mothers women and children in the name of religion Speaking to IANS Tapasvi Chavani Mahant Jagatguru Paramhansacharya said âAfter hearing about this law I am unable to control my emotions I am saddened by this cruelty and the manner in which mothers women and children are being brutalised in the name of religionIf this cruelty against women and children by the Taliban does not end it will severely damage the image and future of Islam across the world I would like to appeal to all responsible Muslim leaders maulanas and clerics to raise their voices against such injustice and ensure that this oppression comes to an endâSiddhpeeth Hanumangarhi Mahant Deveshacharya Maharaj also criticised the decision stating âThe law enacted by the Taliban is highly condemnable In our Sanatan Dharma women are regarded as goddesses and are worshipped Any act that legitimises violence against women is unacceptable We strongly condemn this law and it must be amended immediatelyâMeanwhile a new penal code introduced by the Taliban reportedly âlegalisesâ domestic violence against women by allowing husbands to physically punish their wives and children provided the punishment does not result in âbroken bones or open woundsâThe penal code signed by the groupâs supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada establishes a differentiated system of punishment based on social status categorising individuals as âfreeâ or âslaveâUnder the code if a husband causes visible fractures or injuries through what is described as âobscene forceâ he may face only 15 days of imprisonment Furthermore a conviction depends on the woman successfully proving the abuse in court She is required to present evidence of her injuries before a judge while remaining fully covered and must be accompanied by her husband or a male guardian during court proceedingsIn contrast a married woman can face up to three months in jail if she visits her relatives without her husbandâs permissionThe code also outlines varying consequences based on social standing If an Islamic religious scholar commits a crime the response is limited to advice Members of the elite may receive a court summons and advisory warning Those from the middle class could face imprisonment for the same offence while individuals from the socalled lower class may be subjected to both imprisonment and corporal punishmentThe new 90page penal code has abolished the 2009 law on Elimination of Violence Against Women EVAW which was introduced by the previous USbacked regime IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/saddened-by-this-cruelty-spiritual-leaders-slam-taliban-for-legalising-domestic-violence-against-women-662401.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/guyana-vice-president-lauds-indias-rapid-progress-in-digital-governance-662402.html New Delhi Feb 23 VicePresident C P Radhakrishnan held a meeting with his Guyanese counterpart Bharrat Jagdeo in New Delhi on Monday discussing ways to further strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the voice of the Global South at international forums including the United Nations Security Council UNSC and the International Tribunal for the Law of the SeaVicePresident of Guyana HE Dr Bharrat Jagdeo called on the VicePresident of India Shri C P Radhakrishnan at Uprashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi today The two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen IndiaâGuyana ties across diverse sectors Dr Jagdeo appreciated the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Indiaâs rapid progress in digital governance and financial inclusion through UPI and both sides discussed the possibility of extending similar models to Guyana The Guyanese delegation also expressed interest in Indiaâs eMigrate platform and the ITEC programme the Vice Presidents Office posted on X after the meetingThe VicePresidents reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the voice of the Global South at international platforms including the UNSC and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Both leaders also shared their mutual passion for cricket and acknowledged Guyanaâs contribution to the game it addedJagdeo arrived in New Delhi last week to attend the AI Impact Summit hosted by India from February 1620 Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai welcomed him at the airport on February 17 Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Jagdeos visit to India will further strengthen the historic and multifaceted bilateral tiesLast month Guyana President Irfaan Ali had extended warm wishes to PM Narendra Modi and people of India on Republic Day He noted that India as worlds largest democracy continues to champion the interests and aspirations of developing states on the global stageOn the occasion of the 77th Republic Day of the Republic of India we extend warm congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of India as they commemorate the adoption of their Constitution and the enduring ideals it enshrines Irfaan Ali had posted on X on January 26Indiaâs freedom struggle and its peaceful transition from colonial rule ignited hope across the developing world inspiring generations of nations to claim their sovereignty and shape their own destinies As the worldâs largest democracy India continues to champion the interests and aspirations of developing states on the global stage he addedPresident Ali stated that Guyana values its bond with India and noted that the ties between two nations have matured into a strong partnership based in mutual respect and cooperation in diverse sectorsGuyana proudly values its deep and historic bonds with India forged through ties of history blood and a common commitment to democracy and development These relations have matured into a strong partnership grounded in mutual respect and cooperation across diverse sectors he posted on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/guyana-vice-president-lauds-indias-rapid-progress-in-digital-governance-662402.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/voting-for-48-municipal-bodies-in-jharkhand-concludes-amid-reports-of-clashes-bogus-voting-chaos-662403.html Ranchi Feb 23 Voting for the elections to the posts of mayorchairperson and ward councillors in 48 municipal bodies across Jharkhand concluded at 5 pm on Monday amid sporadic reports of violence clashes and allegations of bogus voting The State Election Commission has not yet released the final voter turnout figures but the preliminary estimates suggest participation ranged between 45 and 60 per cent across the statePolling began at 7 am for nine municipal corporations Ranchi Dhanbad Deoghar Adityapur Chas Medininagar Hazaribagh Giridih and Mango along with 20 municipal councils and 19 nagar panchayats A total of 4304 polling stations were set up with long queues of voters seen at several booths since morningIn Ranchi Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar Chief Minister Hemant Soren Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and MP Mahua Maji were among the prominent leaders who stood in queues to exercise their franchiseHowever the polling process was marred by multiple incidents of unrest In Bokaroâs Chas area DSP Praveen Singh was injured during a clash between police and supporters of a candidate following a disturbance at a polling boothIn Bhojpur Colony three women were detained on charges of fraudulent voting leading to brief tensionIn Dhanbad Municipal Corporation a scuffle broke out between supporters of two candidates at a polling station in Ward 27 An attempt to loot a booth and an assault on a candidateâs brother were reported in Ward 22In Giridihâs Ward 18 a dispute between two groups escalated into a road blockade and protest before administrative officials intervened to restore orderViolence also erupted at the Ambedkar Nagar polling station in Gumla In Jamshedpurâs Jugsalai area voting was disrupted for nearly an hour over allegations of bogus votingClashes were also reported from Ranchiâs Hindpiri area In Sahibganj an accidental discharge from a Home Guard jawanâs rifle caused brief panic at a polling boothSeveral voters complained that members of the same family were allotted different polling booths while others said they were not informed in time about changes in their booth locations forcing them to move from one polling station to anotherTwo major concerns regarding election management also surfaced Around 50000 polling personnel were reportedly unable to cast their votes due to the absence of a postal ballot facilityQuestions were also raised over the decision to place ballots for the councillor and mayorchairperson posts in the same ballot box with candidates expressing apprehension that this could complicate and delay the counting processWith polling now over the fate of 562 candidates contesting for mayor and chairperson posts and 5562 ward councillor aspirants has been sealed in ballot boxesCounting of votes will take place on February 27 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/voting-for-48-municipal-bodies-in-jharkhand-concludes-amid-reports-of-clashes-bogus-voting-chaos-662403.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cong-has-no-genuine-concern-about-making-dalit-cm-in-karnataka-joshi-662404.html Bengaluru Feb 23 Union Minister for Food Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi lashed out at the Congress on Monday saying that the party has no genuine concern about appointing a Dalit Chief Minister He alleged that the âDalit CMâ narrative is merely a new dimension being introduced due to the ongoing tussle between the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister over the top postSpeaking to media persons in Bengaluru on Monday Joshi said internal differences have intensified within the Congress party and that the Stateâs interests have been completely ignored in the power struggle for the Chief Ministerâs postâWho should become CM is an internal matter of that party But it is clear that governance in the State has collapsed because of this fight for the Chief Ministerâs chair Unscientific guarantee schemes rampant corruption and internal conflicts have pushed the State into declineâ he allegedHe said the State is already facing a severe drinking water crisis with shortages being reported as early as February The situation in North Karnataka is particularly grim he noted adding that roads have also deteriorated badly âInstead of addressing these basic issues they are busy fighting over the CMâs chairâ Joshi claimedHe further remarked that there appears to be no one to guide or control the State Congress leadership âSupporters of CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar are speaking as they wish Some say Siddaramaiah will present the current and next Budget others say this will be his last Budget Amid this confusion governance has completely collapsedâ he allegedReferring to Satish Jarkiholiâs statement that corruption existed even earlier Joshi said Congress leaders have failed to substantiate such claims âBut corruption is overflowing in their governmentâ he chargedOn the bribery case involving BJP MLA Chandru Lamani Joshi said a proper investigation must be conducted âAn audio clip of a Swamiji has surfaced Was someone deliberately trapped How did this happen All this must be investigatedâ he saidCondemning the Congress partyâs conduct at the AI summit as âshocking and regrettableâ Joshi demanded that the party apologise to the nationHe pointed out that the summit was attended by representatives from 29 countries 45 ministers leading industrialists and AI experts âIgnoring all this Congress displayed highly inappropriate behaviourâ he saidHe added that even leaders within the Congress have expressed displeasure over the incident Margaret Alva reportedly said there should have been âdiscipline dignity and senseâ while Akhilesh Yadav also commented differently on the issue Joshi urged Congress leaders to at least conduct themselves with courtesy in the futureâAt the AI summit there were representatives from 29 different countries 45 ministers leading industrialists of the country and prominent figures in the field of AI Ignoring all this the Congress displayed highly inappropriate behaviourâ Joshi said angrily IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cong-has-no-genuine-concern-about-making-dalit-cm-in-karnataka-joshi-662404.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pmay-urban-20-288-lakh-additional-houses-approved-total-sanctions-reach-1361-lakh-662406.html New Delhi Feb 23 The government on Monday said a total of 288 lakh additional houses have been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas YojanaâUrban 20 PMAYU 20â With the latest approval of 287618 houses the total number of sanctioned houses under the PMAYU 20 scheme is now over 1361 lakh according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban AffairsâAmong the 288 lakh sanctioned houses more than 160 lakh have been allotted to women including widows separated or unmarried femalesâEight dwelling units are sanctioned for Transgenders Further 22581 houses have been allotted to senior citizens While 35525 houses have been sanctioned for SC beneficiaries 9773 are for ST beneficiaries and 82190 are for OBC beneficiariesâThis reflects the governmentâs continued commitment to ensuring access to dignified and affordable housing for urban families belonging to the Economically Weaker Section EWS Low Income Group LIG and MiddleIncome Group MIG as was conveyed at the sixth meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee CSMC hereâAccording to the ministry the newlysanctioned houses have been approved in 16 StatesUTs Andhra Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Chhattisgarh Gujarat Jammu amp Kashmir Punjab Puducherry Rajasthan Tamil Nadu Telangana Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh Nagaland Odisha Uttar Pradesh and West BengalâThese have been sanctioned under different verticals of PMAYU 20 such as Beneficiary Led Construction BLC â 166 lakh houses Affordable Housing in Partnership AHP â 109 lakh houses and Affordable Rental Housing ARH â 12846 housesâOf the 1361 lakh sanctioned houses under PMAYU 20 96 per cent are in the name of the female head of the household or in joint ownership in the BLC and ISS verticals reflecting the schemeâs focus on empowering womenâSrinivas Katikithala Secretary Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs emphasised the need to prioritise housing projects near mass transit corridorsâHe added that the AHP houses should be within the city for ease of living He also mentioned that the success of some affordable housing projects should be showcased as best practices for crosslearning among StatesUTsâThe ministry said it has been promoting rental housing as a separate vertical through ARH to cater to the affordable rental housing needs of urban migrants homeless people industrial workers working women construction workers and other vulnerable groupsâAbout 12846 houses have been sanctioned under ARH it informedâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pmay-urban-20-288-lakh-additional-houses-approved-total-sanctions-reach-1361-lakh-662406.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/chhattisgarh-eyes-double-digit-growth-gsdp-growth-projected-at-1157-pc-in-fy-2025-26-662407.html New Delhi Feb 23 Chhattisgarh is expected to sustain robust economic growth in the financial year 2025â26 with states Gross State Domestic Product GSDP at current prices projected to rise from Rs 565 lakh crore in 2024â25 to around Rs 631 lakh crore in 2025â26 as per the Economic Survey Report presented in the state Assembly on Monday With an estimated growth rate of 1157 per cent the state is set to outperform the national average and maintain strong economic momentum a statement issued by Chhattisgarh Information Centre in New Delhi saidReacting to the survey findings Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the state government remains committed to inclusive and balanced growthHe emphasised that equal priority is being given to strengthening agriculture encouraging industrial investment and expanding the services sector with the goal of establishing Chhattisgarh as one of the countrys leading state economiesThe Chief Minister expressed confidence that the states growth rate will further strengthen in the coming years due to the expansion of infrastructure an investmentfriendly environment and continued focus on human resource developmentChhattisgarh continues to demonstrate solid economic fundamentals even at constant prices base year 2011â12 the statement saidThe report tabled by the State Planning Economics and Statistics Department Minister OP Choudhary said that the states GSDP estimated at Rs 331 lakh crore in 2024â25 is projected to rise to Rs 358 lakh crore in 2025â26 reflecting a real growth rate of 811 per cent This underscores sustained expansion in actual output and production capacity the official statement saidA sectorwise assessment shows that growth is broadbased and welldistributed At current prices agriculture and allied sectors are expected to grow by 1253 per cent industry by 1026 per cent and services by 1315 per cent it addedThe data highlights a balanced development trajectory with all three key sectors playing a significant role in driving the states economic progressChhattisgarh continues to witness positive momentum even in real terms At constant prices for 2025â26 agriculture is projected to grow by 749 per cent industry by 721 per cent and services by 911 per cent reflecting a steady expansion in actual economic activity and reinforcing the states structural resilience the statement saidIn terms of GSDP composition at current prices agriculture is expected to account for 2064 per cent of the economy industry 4659 per cent and services 3277 per cent it addedThe dominant share of industry highlights the states strong manufacturing and mining foundation while the services sector is maintaining consistent growth further strengthening the overall economic framework it saidEncouraging signs are also visible on the income front in Chhattisgarh As per the Economic Survey per capita income at current prices is projected to rise from Rs 162848 to Rs 179244 in 2025â26 marking a growth of 1007 per cent The increase is expected to boost domestic demand consumption levels and overall economic momentum across the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/chhattisgarh-eyes-double-digit-growth-gsdp-growth-projected-at-1157-pc-in-fy-2025-26-662407.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-questions-ssc-over-fees-for-raising-objections-to-exam-questions-662408.html Kolkata Feb 23 The Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the West Bengal School Service Commission SSC to disclose through an affidavit details of the money collected from candidates who sought review of allegedly incorrect questions in last yearâs recruitment examination Hearing a petition in the matter Justice Amrita Sinha of the Calcutta High Court sought clarification on whether the questions flagged by candidates were indeed incorrect and how much money had been charged from candidates for raising objectionsThe court also asked the SSC to specify in accordance with its rules and procedures how much money if any was refunded to candidates in cases where questions were subsequently found to be incorrectJustice Sinha further sought details on the total number of questions that were ultimately found to be incorrect and the number of complaints received by the Commission regarding alleged errors in the examinationThe court directed the SSC to submit a detailed affidavit within four weeks addressing all the queries raised during the hearingThe High Court also questioned the legal basis for collecting such fees observing that if there was no specific provision in law permitting such charges the Commission would have to explain under what authority the money was collected from candidatesThe matter relates to allegations that around 24 questions in the second State Level Selection Test SLST conducted by the SSC in September last year were incorrectBased on these allegations a group of candidates including one Chandan Dhar filed a petition before the Calcutta High Court challenging the validity of the questions and the fee charged for raising objectionsThe petitioners alleged that the SSC had charged Rs 100 per question from candidates seeking review or raising objections despite there being no clear legal provision permitting such chargesCounsel for the petitioners Firdous Shamim argued before the court that while a fee may be charged for accessing or viewing answer scripts there was no legal basis for charging candidates to raise objections regarding errors in question papersThe petitioners further contended that such charges restricted the rights of examinees to challenge potentially incorrect questions and seek fair evaluationTaking note of the submissions the High Court directed the SSC to place its response on record through an affidavit and clarify the legal and procedural basis for collecting objection feesThe court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter after four weeks IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-questions-ssc-over-fees-for-raising-objections-to-exam-questions-662408.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-reports-273-crore-active-ayushman-cards-rs-7-235-crore-approved-in-two-years-662409.html Gandhinagar Feb 23 Gujarat has 273 crore active Ayushman cards holders under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya YojanaâMukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana PMJAYMA with Rs 723549 crore sanctioned against 2755 lakh claims over the past two years government told the State Assembly on Monday Replying to a query in the House state Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said the scheme continues to see substantial enrollment and utilisation across the stateAt present 273 crore Ayushman cards are active in the state he addedProviding details the Minister said that in 2024â25 as many as 2524 lakh new Ayushman cards were approvedDuring the same period 1340 lakh claims were sanctioned amounting to Rs 366653 croreIn 2025â26 so far 3178 lakh new cards have been approved while 1415 lakh claims have been cleared with Rs 356896 crore sanctioned towards treatment costsThe Minister said that strict action is taken against hospitals found violating the rules or standard operating procedures of the schemeOver the last two years 49 hospitals have been suspended of which 29 remain under suspensionCiting a specific instance Minister Pansheriya added that in the case of JCCC Hospital in Jamnagar a penalty of Rs 869 lakh was recoveredThe doctor held responsible was suspended from the scheme and the matter was reported to the Medical CouncilIn the state Budget Rs 3472 crore has been allocated for PMJAYMAThe state government said it aims to build a healthy society through the provision of quality healthcare servicesThe scope of IVF treatment has also been expanded and the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre IKDRC at Ahmedabad will extend IVF treatment facilities to Surat Bhavnagar and JamnagarAs of November last year 2090 hospitals are empanelled under PMJAYâMA in Gujarat including 1132 government hospitals and 958 private hospitalsBeneficiaries can avail treatment for 2299 medical procedures along with 50 Specialised Referral Services IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-reports-273-crore-active-ayushman-cards-rs-7-235-crore-approved-in-two-years-662409.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modis-madurai-visit-will-mark-beginning-of-dmks-exit-from-power-tn-bjp-spokesperson-662411.html Chennai Feb 23 BJP Tamil Nadu spokesperson ANS Prasad has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visit to Madurai would mark a decisive political moment ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections and signal what he described as the beginning of the end of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam DMK government In a strongly worded statement Prasad accused the DMK administration led by Chief Minister MK Stalin of presiding over rising public debt deteriorating law and order and widespread corruption in the stateHe alleged that Tamil Nadu had been pushed into a severe financial crisis and claimed that several welfare promises made by the DMK during the previous Assembly elections had not been fully implementedPrime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Madurai on March 1 where he will inaugurate the newly constructed building at AIIMS MaduraiHe is also scheduled to address a National Democratic Alliance NDA public rally at Mandela Nagar later during the visit which BJP leaders view as a key mobilisation effort ahead of the Assembly electionsThe BJP which is allied with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam AIADMK in Tamil Nadu is expected to use the occasion to strengthen its campaign narrative and organisational outreach in the statePrasad also raised allegations regarding the functioning of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments HRampCE Department criticising its administration and naming State Minister PK Sekar Babu in this regardReferring to temple administration and kumbabhishekams conducted across Tamil Nadu he alleged irregularities and accused the state government of political interference in religious affairsHe also referred to issues surrounding the Karthigai Deepam festival at the Thiruparankundram Temple alleging mismanagement and administrative lapsesThe BJP spokesperson further criticised the staterun liquor retailer Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation TASMAC alleging that liquor sales had adversely affected families particularly women and contributed to social and economic distressHe accused the DMK of attempting to secure political support through financial assistance schemes while failing to address broader structural and governance challenges in the stateCalling for a âdoubleengineâ government Prasad said that leadership under Prime Minister Modi at the Centre and AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami in Tamil Nadu would ensure economic growth improved governance and stronger law and orderThe DMK had not issued any official response to the allegations at the time of filing this reportWith political rhetoric intensifying ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections Prime Minister Modiâs Madurai visit is expected to sharpen the political contest between the ruling DMK and the BJPled NDA in Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modis-madurai-visit-will-mark-beginning-of-dmks-exit-from-power-tn-bjp-spokesperson-662411.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/devotional-flower-holi-at-samiamai-temple-in-prayagraj-662412.html Prayagraj Feb 23 As the festival of Holi approaches excitement is already sweeping across the country Among all the vibrant celebrations the spirit of Holi is perhaps the most eagerly awaited âThough the festival is still a few days away preparations are in full swing especially in the city of Prayagraj known as the SangamâAt the revered Samiamai Temple devotees celebrated a unique Holi of Flowers with great devotion and joyâThe temple premises resonated with chants and festive cheer as devotees offered abir and gulal to Lord Shiva and showered flowers in celebration A large number of devotees gathered to take part in the special festivitiesâWomen devotees first performed traditional worship and aarti of Lord Shiva seeking his blessings After offering prayers at the Samiamai Temple they began playing Holi with flowers symbolising purity love and harmony The atmosphere was filled with devotion colour and unity reflecting the true essence of the festival â embracing one another and spreading happinessâSpeaking to IANS a female devotee said âToday we celebrated Holi here It felt truly wonderful and filled our hearts with joyââHoli is a major festival in India that is celebrated by millions across the country The day is synonymous with colors and sweets with people meeting friends and family members and smearing gulal on them In the evening its customary in many regions to wear new clothes and meet the near and dear ones Gujiya a sweet dumpling filled with khoya a milk product and thandai a refreshing drink infused with nuts and spices are among the traditional treats enjoyed during the festivitiesâHolis origins trace back to ancient India One of the most popular legends associated with the festival is the tale of Prahlada and his aunt Holika a demonessâAccording to Hindu mythology Prahlada a devout follower of Lord Vishnu survived unscathed from the flames of a pyre while his malevolent aunt who sought to harm him perished This triumph of good over evil is commemorated with bonfires lit on the eve of Holi symbolising the victory of righteousnessâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/devotional-flower-holi-at-samiamai-temple-in-prayagraj-662412.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fiscal-deficit-within-permissible-limit-meghalaya-cm-662413.html Shillong Feb 23 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday presented the State Budget for the financial year 2026â27 projecting a fiscal deficit of Rs 2672 crore which is 35 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product GSDP Presenting the Budget in the state Assembly Conrad K Sangma who also holds the Finance department said the government has succeeded in maintaining the fiscal deficit within the permissible limit reflecting its commitment to fiscal discipline while continuing to prioritise development I am delighted to highlight that the fiscal deficit has been maintained at the permissible limit of 35 per cent the Chief Minister said during his budget speech adding that prudent financial management has enabled the state to balance economic growth with social and developmental responsibilities He added that the 2026â27 Budget aims to strengthen Meghalayas economic foundations promote inclusive growth and ensure targeted investments in key priority sectors such as climate resilience youth empowerment gender equality and sustainable development Along with the main Budget document Chief Minister Sangma also presented a series of thematic budgets underscoring the state governments focus on outcomeoriented and sectorspecific planning The Climate Budget for 2026â27 has been pegged at Rs 5572 crore registering a 28 per cent increase over the previous financial year Chief Minister Sangma said the enhanced allocation reflects the state governments continued emphasis on climate action environmental sustainability and resiliencebuilding measures especially in view of Meghalayas fragile ecology The Youth Budget has been allocated Rs 4824 crore marking a significant 45 per cent increase compared to 2025â26 The Chief Minister said the sharp rise in allocation is aimed at expanding opportunities in education skill development entrepreneurship and employment for the youth of the stateMeanwhile the Gender Budget has been set at Rs 6849 crore reflecting a 10 per cent increase over the previous year Chief Minister Sangma said the allocation reinforces the state governments commitment to womencentric programmes gender equity and social empowerment The Chief Minister also reiterated that the state government remains aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs with targeted investments to ensure longterm inclusive and sustainable growth for Meghalaya IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fiscal-deficit-within-permissible-limit-meghalaya-cm-662413.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mgnrega-bachao-bjps-final-days-nearing-claims-shivakumar-662415.html Bengaluru Feb 23 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Monday that the BJP is nearing its final days Speaking at the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 MGNREGA Bachao convention at Chikkaballapura he said Like the lamp which burns bright before dying the BJP is nearing its end as they are planning to finish the legacy of Mahatma GandhiââWe are organising this event to save the nation The Congress party had given employment guarantees to rural people through the MGNREGA scheme The Centre is trying to kill the scheme We need to save MGNREGA and save Gandhijis legacy he saidâPanchayats had the power to decide which works to take up The scheme ensured work worth Rs 12 crore in each of the 5900 panchayats We need to save MGNREGA he addedâMGNREGA is a scheme that gives selfconfidence to farmers and labourers and we need to protect it Our party and the government have decided to name the panchayat offices after the Mahatma he saidâUnder the new scheme the states have to bear 40 per cent of the costs Even the BJPrun states will not be able to implement it Chandrababu Naidu has also said he wont be able to implement the new scheme This new scheme is a death knell for all the states he notedâThe BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi used to criticise our guarantee schemes but they copied them later No one can stop the time guarantee scheme Congress party will not allow anyone to stop it he saidâLike they are stealing the voters rights they are taking away employment rights too We will fight till the MGNREGA is reinstated We need your support in this fight he concludedâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mgnrega-bachao-bjps-final-days-nearing-claims-shivakumar-662415.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/omar-abdullah-calls-for-artificial-snow-to-boost-gulmarg-as-global-ski-destination-662416.html Gulmarg JampK Feb 23 JampK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday stressed the urgent need for artificial snow generation in Gulmarg to safeguard winter sports and strengthen tourism Addressing the commencement of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 Abdullah said climate variability poses a serious challenge to traditional winter games in the region and called for artificial snow generation to boost Gulmarg as an international ski resortWelcoming the participants the Chief Minister highlighted the importance of adapting to changing weather conditions as he noted that recent snowfall patterns have become unpredictable forcing authorities to rethink longterm planning for winter sports infrastructureThe government is committed to developing Gulmarg as an international skiing destination and ensuring consistent sporting activity despite climate challenges he saidAbdullah also underlined that reliance solely on natural snowfall is no longer sustainable and called for the introduction of artificial snow generation systems to secure the future of winter gamesHe further acknowledged that some concerns may arise over artificial snow projects but said such measures are necessary to prevent loss of tourism opportunities and protect livelihoods linked to winter tourismThousands of local stakeholders including hoteliers guides transport operators and small businesses depend on the winter season he saidThe Chief Minister said the administration will extend every possible support to athletes and sports infrastructure to nurture more internationallevel competitors from Jammu and KashmirCongratulating skier Arif Khan for bringing laurels to the region he expressed hope that more athletes would emerge from the gamesHe added that participation in sports remains as important as winning medals adding that sustained investment in winter sports and tourism will position Gulmarg among the leading global skiing destinations while ensuring economic stability for local communitiesAs many as 400 athletes from 30 states and Union Territories are participating in the Khelo India Winter Games The main events are ski mountaineering Nordic skiing alpine skiing and snowboardingMost of the participants have registered for alpine skiing IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/omar-abdullah-calls-for-artificial-snow-to-boost-gulmarg-as-global-ski-destination-662416.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/eci-appoints-sandip-sagale-as-gujarats-chief-electoral-officer-662417.html New DelhiGandhinagar Feb 23 The Election Commission of India ECI on Monday appointed Sandip Sagale as the new Chief Electoral Officer CEO of Gujaratâ He will take over responsibilities from the current CEO Hareet Shukla once he formally assumes chargeâSagale a 2007batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service in the Gujarat cadre is currently serving as Director General of the Sports Authority of Gujarat a role he took on following a major state government reshuffle in early 2025âBefore this he was the Industries Commissioner at the Industries Commissionerate in GandhinagarâHis administrative career spans a range of fields and headquarters assignmentsâOfficial records indicate that Sagale has served as Municipal Commissioner of the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation and as Collector in key districts including AhmedabadâOfficials noted that his experience in both urban and district administration has provided him with extensive exposure to diverse governance challengesâSagale holds a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from Nagpur University Born on November 16 1972 he joined the IAS on August 18 2007âThe office of the Chief Electoral Officer serves as the key link between the Election Commission of India and the state administrative machinery on electoral mattersâIn Gujarat the CEO is responsible for overseeing the revision of electoral rolls coordinating election preparedness with district authorities ensuring the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct during polls and submitting regular reports to the Election CommissionâHareet Shukla will continue to hold the office until Sagale formally assumes charge and completes the prescribed handover with senior officials of the state Election DepartmentâDuring his tenure Shukla supervised the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls in Gujarat a major exercise aimed at enhancing voter registration accuracyâThe entire voter revision exercise began on October 27 last year and ended on February 10â IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/eci-appoints-sandip-sagale-as-gujarats-chief-electoral-officer-662417.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fm-sitharaman-assures-support-to-revive-manipurs-economy-rehabilitate-idps-662419.html New DelhiImphal Feb 23 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday assured Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh of all possible assistance to revive the financial health and economy of the state An official of the Chief Ministerâs Office CMO in Imphal said that the Finance Minister also assured that the Centre would extend support for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons IDPs affected by ethnic violence in the stateThe official said that Chief Minister Khemchand Singh urged the Union Finance Minister to enhance financial assistance to Manipur to help achieve the goal of inclusive growthTerming the meeting as constructive the Chief Minister thanked Sitharaman for giving a patient hearing to the stateâs issues and challengesThe Chief Minister also conveyed his gratitude to the Finance Minister for her continued support and commitment towards the progress and prosperity of ManipurKhemchand Singh was accompanied by his two Deputy Chief Ministers Losii Dikho and Nemcha Kipgen Losii Dikho belongs to the Naga Peopleâs Front NPF while Nemcha Kipgen is from the BJPA member of the Kuki community Kipgen hails from the tribalinhabited Kangpokpi district and is the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur This is the first visit of Khemchand Singh to the national capital after taking oath as the stateâs new BJP Chief Minister on February 4Earlier on Monday the Chief Minister met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who assured Khemchand Singh of all assistance from his ministry in every endeavour of the state governmentThe Manipur Chief Minister who has been in New Delhi since Saturday also separately met BJP National President Nitin Nabin and the partyâs National General Secretary Organisation B L Santhosh and discussed party affairs related to Manipur On Sunday the Manipur Chief Minister accompanied by his two Deputy Chief Ministers met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss various issues including the rehabilitation of IDPs officials in Imphal saidAccording to the CMO official the Home Minister discussed with the three Manipur leaders the steps taken by the new state government to remove barriers between different communities and to restore peace and harmony in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fm-sitharaman-assures-support-to-revive-manipurs-economy-rehabilitate-idps-662419.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/116-tn-fishermen-in-sri-lankan-custody-cm-stalin-urges-centres-urgent-intervention-662420.html Chennai Feb 23 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take immediate diplomatic steps to secure the release of Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy amid continuing tensions in the Palk Strait In a letter to EAM Jaishankar CM Stalin expressed concern over the latest detention of 12 fishermen from the state and said the recurring arrests have caused severe distress to coastal communities dependent on fishing for their livelihoodThe Chief Minister pointed out that with the latest incident the total number of Tamil Nadu fishermen currently in Sri Lankan custody has risen to 116He also noted that 259 fishing boats belonging to fishermen from Tamil Nadu remain impounded by Sri Lankan authorities describing the situation as alarming and unsustainable for fishing communities reliant on daily earnings from marine activitiesAccording to the Chief Minister the most recent incident occurred on the night of February 22 when a mechanised fishing boat that had departed from the Pamban Fish Landing Centre in Ramanathapuram district was intercepted by the Sri Lankan NavyThe 12 fishermen on board were detained and their boat was seized by Sri Lankan authoritiesStalin said such incidents have continued despite repeated representations by the state government and stressed the need for urgent and sustained diplomatic engagement between India and Sri Lanka to prevent further detentions and ensure the safety and security of Indian fishermenAccording to official sources the fishermen were apprehended while fishing in the Gulf of Mannar in waters between Dhanushkodi and ThalaimannarThe seized boat reportedly belongs to a fisherman identified as David a resident of Pamban in Ramanathapuram districtIn his communication Stalin described the arrests as part of a ârecurring patternâ and expressed deep concern over the growing number of fishermen being detained by Sri Lankan authoritiesHe said the repeated detentions have created fear uncertainty and financial hardship among coastal families many of whom depend entirely on fishing for their survivalHe further noted that the continued impounding of fishing boats has compounded the economic difficulties faced by affected fishermen and their familiesThe latest incident also triggered unrest among fishermen in Pamban where more than 100 fishing boats had ventured into the sea from the Pamban South Wadi Fishing Port at the time of the arrestsFishermen associations have urged both the state and Union governments to intensify diplomatic efforts with Sri Lanka to secure the release of detained fishermen and prevent further incidentsThe issue of crossborder fishing disputes in the Palk Strait has remained a persistent source of tension between India and Sri Lanka frequently affecting bilateral relations and disrupting the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen from Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/116-tn-fishermen-in-sri-lankan-custody-cm-stalin-urges-centres-urgent-intervention-662420.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ready-to-face-ed-i-t-cbi-stalin-accuses-bjp-of-political-hunting-ahead-of-2026-polls-662421.html Chennai Feb 23 DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday asserted that his party was fully prepared to face any action by central investigating agencies accusing the BJP of misusing institutions such as the Enforcement Directorate ED the Income Tax IT Department and the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI for political purposes In his address at a programme here Stalin said the BJP was indulging in political hunting by deploying investigative agencies against opposition parties If the BJP brings in its forces in the form of the ED IT and CBI we are very well prepared to face them he said adding that such tactics reflected political desperation The Chief Minister alleged that the National Democratic Alliance NDA was an alliance formed by threatening the corrupt Referring to former Ministers from the AIADMK regime he claimed that several of them had faced raids and that around 10 still had pending cases with the Directorate of Vigilance and AntiCorruption DVAC But for the sake of the alliance they are being protected he charged Stalin further alleged that Governor RN Ravi had delayed the registration of FIRs against certain former Ministers for an extended period While they prevent action in such cases they are now attempting to threaten us with central agencies he said Questioning the functioning of the ED Stalin asked how many of the over 8000 cases registered by the agency had resulted in convictions Those facing corruption charges are aligning with whom The BJP is cheaply using investigating agencies and calling its alliance the NDA he remarked On the political landscape ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections Stalin acknowledged the possibility of a multicornered contest but dismissed concerns about its impactThere may certainly be a multicornered contest But they are not strong enough he said in an apparent reference to the BJP and other emerging players Responding to questions about Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs recent visits to Tamil Nadu Stalin said he welcomed them The Prime Minister should visit often Union Home Minister Amit Shah should also keep coming This Governor should not be replaced That is our major campaign he said sarcastically On calls for him to lead the opposition INDIA bloc nationally Stalin cited late DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi saying he was aware of his stature and would act accordingly IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ready-to-face-ed-i-t-cbi-stalin-accuses-bjp-of-political-hunting-ahead-of-2026-polls-662421.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/two-andhra-police-officers-caught-accepting-rs-3-lakh-bribe-662425.html Amaravati Feb 23 The AntiCorruption Bureau ACB of Andhra Pradesh on Monday caught two police officers redhanded while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh at a police station in YSR Kadapa district The ACB officials laid a trap at Simhadripuram Police Station and apprehended NV Ramana Circle Inspector of Pulivendula Rural Circle and Dasari Anil Kumar SubInspector at Simhadripuram Police Station while they were accepting the bribe amountAccording to ACB officials the two officers had allegedly demanded a bribe from an accused involved in chainsnatching casesThe accused had reportedly purchased a motorcycle from one Brahmam who was allegedly part of a gang involved in selling stolen twowheelers sourced from Kashmir after altering their registration number platesThe accused was allegedly using the motorcycle for committing chainsnatching offences and was suspected to be involved in snatching gold chains worth approximately Rs 15 lakhAfter gathering information about the accusedâs activities the police officers allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 4 lakh in exchange for extending favourable treatment in the caseThe accused had initially paid a portion of the demanded amount last Saturday However when the officers allegedly began pressuring him for the remaining amount he approached the ACB and lodged a complaintActing on the complaint the ACB laid a trap and instructed the complainant to hand over Rs 3 lakh to the SubInspector at the police stationWhen the complainant handed over the bribe amount ACB officials intervened and caught SubInspector Dasari Anil Kumar redhanded Circle Inspector NV Ramana was also detained in connection with the caseThe ACB has initiated further investigation into the matterMeanwhile in a separate incident in Ichchapuram in Srikakulam district ACB officials caught Mandal Education Officer MEO Kurmana Apparao and Data Entry Operator Uppada Kameswara Rao while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10000 from a retired teacherIn another case a Village Revenue Officer VRO identified as R Chittibabu of Savaravalli village in Bhogapuram mandal of Vizianagaram district was also caught redhanded while allegedly accepting a bribe from a complainantACB Director General Atul Singh had said last month that the bureau would expand its network of informants to identify corrupt officials across departments and strengthen anticorruption enforcementAccording to official data the ACB registered 115 cases in 2025 including 69 trap cases eight disproportionate assets cases seven criminal misconduct cases 19 regular enquiries and 12 surprise inspections IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/two-andhra-police-officers-caught-accepting-rs-3-lakh-bribe-662425.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-demands-error-free-voter-list-to-be-released-in-bengal-to-hold-protest-on-feb-27-662428.html Kolkata Feb 23 The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee WBPCC on Monday demanded the release of errorfree voter lists before the upcoming Assembly elections to be held in West Bengal WBPCC President Subhankar Sarkar also announced a 24hour sitin protest in front of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officers CEO office in Kolkata from 2 pm on February 27 to press their demandAt the same time the State Congress President has launched a political attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for criticising the Indian Youth Congresss barechested protest at the recent AI ââconference held in Delhi He also said that protests will be held in the city from 1 to 2 pm on Tuesday against PM Modis remark You will see a unique protest tomorrow We will inform you later where the protest will be held Sarkar addedHe claimed that there are precedents of protests in minimal clothing in the history of the freedom struggle He also questioned the role of the Central government citing the violence in Manipur The West Bengal Pradesh Congress leadership claimed that the Indian Youth Congress protest is a proper protest Sometimes such protests are necessary to expose the naked face of the Central government Sarkar saidOn the other hand hinting at intensifying the protest over the voter list issue the West Bengal Pradesh Congress alleged that several inconsistencies have been found around the Special Intensive Revision SIR of the voter list that began on November 4 last yearSubhankar Sarkar said We have been vocal from the beginning in demanding that no eligible voters name should be omitted and no fake name should be included in the voters list But the way the SIR has been conducted in the last four months has led to unnecessary harassment of eligible voters and there is a fear of a large number of names being deletedAccording to the State Congress President more than one crore voters have been heard on the basis of socalled logical discrepancies the legal validity of which has been questioned Sarkar also claimed that the courts have had to intervene repeatedly due to some decisions of the Election CommissionThe Congress is going to intensify their agitation in the coming days with several demands such as the final voter list under SIR should be published on February 28 no genuine voters name should be excluded on the basis of logical discrepancy the legal powers of electoral registration officers cannot be curtailed Moreover all applications submitted in Forms 6 7 and 8 should be disposed of through proper hearing and a new schedule and clear guidelines should be given to eligible voters who were accidentally excluded which should be completed before the nomination process begins IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-demands-error-free-voter-list-to-be-released-in-bengal-to-hold-protest-on-feb-27-662428.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/commuters-residents-praise-speed-comfort-of-meerut-metro-on-first-day-662429.html Meerut Feb 23 Meerut Metro on the first day of its operation saw a wave of excitement across the city as commuters praised the new service for its speed comfort and modern infrastructure Families and young passengers thronged stations from the morning eager to experience the cityâs first metro ride Long queues were observed at ticket counters and several passengers were unable to secure tickets due to the overwhelming crowd Youth in particular expressed high enthusiasm capturing reels selfies and group photos while some recorded the full journey to share on social mediaCommuters highlighted that the metro drastically reduced travel time across the city offering a convenient alternative to twowheelers and road transport which are often delayed by traffic congestion Earlier we used to travel by scooter which took a lot of time and we often got stuck in traffic The train journey is excellent and saves timeâ said Rohit who travelled with his son from GagolPassengers also lauded the cleanliness comfort and modern amenities of stations and coaches Manjit Singh an elderly resident who visited the station to get a MetroCard said âThe look of the Metro has even surpassed worldclass standards I didnât expect this from the government but they have delivered I thank the government for thisCommuters travelling between Begumpur and South Meerut reported smooth rides and improved connectivity noting that the metro promises to ease pressure on roads and transform daily travel patterns Many expressed pride over the inauguration of the project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath calling it a landmark step for the cityâs developmentOfficials said the strong turnout on day one reflected the cityâs pentup demand for reliable public transport Residents hope the metro network will expand further in the coming years supporting Meerutâs growth and offering more routes and upgraded infrastructure IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/commuters-residents-praise-speed-comfort-of-meerut-metro-on-first-day-662429.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/chandrababu-naidu-moots-distribution-of-electric-bicycles-to-gramin-dak-sevaks-662258.html Amaravati Feb 23 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday mooted distribution of electric bicycles to Gramin Dak Sevaks Participating in Gramin Dak Sevak Conference in Guntur along with Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia the Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to provide electric bicycles to Gramin Dak Sevaks stating that it would reduce pollution and help them perform their duties more efficientlyChandrababu Naidu said that Gramin Dak Sevaks are serving as one of the most vital logistics systems in the countryHe observed that even with the growth of technology and the advent of Artificial Intelligence no one can replace the role of Dak Sevaks The Chief Minister stated that the logistics services of Gramin Dak Sevaks from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are commendable He noted that no postal organization in any other country has a network as vast as the Indian postal system He said that out of more than 164 lakh post offices in the country nearly 90 percent are located in rural areas and around 27 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks working across them In Andhra Pradesh alone more than 9100 post offices operate with over 17000 Gramin Dak Sevaks He appreciated that about 33 percent of financial assistance through DBT is delivered via Dak Sevaks The Chief Minister described Dak Sevaks as the backbone for achieving Viksit Bharat and Swarna AndhraThe Chief Minister said that Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is working to enhance the dignity of Dak Sevaks He recalled working with Scindiaâs father Madhavrao Scindia in the past and mentioned that an area in Gajuwaka Visakhapatnam is named after Scindia inviting the Union Minister to visit it soon He reiterated that despite technological advancement Dak Sevaks perform their duties with a human touch He appreciated the introduction of a dress code for Dak Sevaks and requested the Union Minister to provide them with electric bicyclesThe Chief Minister stated that the state is witnessing rapid development under a doubleengine government with welfare being delivered in the last 20 months and development progressing swiftly He said good governance has been initiated and government services are being delivered to citizensâ doorsteps through WhatsApp GovernanceCM Naidu posted on âXâ that the government is committed to strengthening digital infrastructure in rural areas and providing broadband connectivity to every Gram Panchayat Taking a major step in that direction the Government of Andhra Pradesh has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation MoC with Digital Bharat Nidhi marking a significant partnership between the Central and State Governments to accelerate rural digital connectivity through the Amended BharatNet Project IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/chandrababu-naidu-moots-distribution-of-electric-bicycles-to-gramin-dak-sevaks-662258.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/revanth-reddy-has-turned-telangana-into-atm-for-congress-ktr-662260.html Hyderabad Feb 23 Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS working president K T Rama Rao on Sunday accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of turning Telangana into an ATM for AICC Rama Rao said in a statement that Revanth Reddy has now shamelessly admitted what he has said many times that Telangana has become like an ATM for the Congress party in the last two yearsHe was referring to Revanth Reddyâs reported offer of Rs1000 crore to Gandhi familyThe Chief Minister had reportedly said in a speech that if anyone from the Gandhi family is in financial instability the Telangana Congress workers are ready to arrange Rs1000 crore for themThe former minister lamented that the âstates wealth is being transferred to the Congress leadership and Telanganas selfrespect is being pawned on the streets of DelhiâKTR as the BRS leader is popularly known criticized the government for making excuses that it does not have a single rupee when it comes to implementing the 420 promises made to farmers women youth employees and retired employees He alleged that the government which claims to have no funds for development has incurred a huge debt of three lakh crore rupees in just two years but there is no record of even a single brick being laid in the state He alleged that public money is being diverted from being used for public benefitResponding to the alleged land grabbing in the state KTR said that in the name of beautification of Musi the houses of the poor the lands of the tribals in Lagacharla and even the lands of the Hyderabad Central University are not being spared He alleged that the Anumula Brothers are grabbing industrial lands in the name of the HILT Policy and are systematically looting the states resourcesKTR claimed that Revanth Reddys only agenda is to âlootâ Telangana keep it for himself and carrying bags to Delhi to protect his position He called on the people to be vigilant what he called against the Congress governments behavior which is diverting the peoples hardearned money and pushing the states future into darkness IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/revanth-reddy-has-turned-telangana-into-atm-for-congress-ktr-662260.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/moderate-rain-likely-along-tn-western-ghats-dry-weather-to-continue-in-rest-662263.html Chennai Feb 23 The Regional Meteorological Centre RMC has forecast moderate rainfall over parts of the Western Ghats over the next two days while most other regions of Tamil Nadu are expected to experience largely dry conditions In a statement the Meteorological Department said that one or two places in the Western Ghats districts are likely to receive light to moderate rain today and tomorrowThe rainfall activity is expected to remain limited to isolated pockets in hilly and adjoining areas with no widespread precipitation forecastMeanwhile the rest of Tamil Nadu along with the Union Territory of Puducherry and its Karaikal region is likely to experience dry weather Weather officials indicated that there are no significant weather systems currently affecting large parts of the state resulting in stable atmospheric conditionsLooking ahead the department has forecast moderate rainfall over southern Tamil Nadu on February 26Though details regarding the intensity and spread are yet to be specified officials said the rainfall is expected to be confined to select districts in the southern regionAs for temperatures no major fluctuations are anticipated across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the coming days However a slight rise in maximum temperatures cannot be ruled out Daytime temperatures are expected to hover close to seasonal averagesIn Chennai the sky is likely to remain partly cloudy for the whole day The department has also forecast the possibility of light mist in one or two areas during the early morning hoursThe maximum temperature in the city is expected to range between 33 and 34 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature is likely to be between 24 and 25 degrees CelsiusMeteorological officials have advised residents in the Western Ghats districts to remain alert for brief spells of rain particularly in hilly terrains while assuring that no major weather disruptions are expected across the state at present IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/moderate-rain-likely-along-tn-western-ghats-dry-weather-to-continue-in-rest-662263.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 08:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mukul-roy-one-of-trinamools-founders-and-former-union-minister-passes-away-662265.html Kolkata Feb 23 Senior politician Mukul Roy a former Railway Minister from West Bengal died early Monday morning at a private hospital in Kolkata his family has confirmed He was 73 Mukul Roy breathed his last a little after 130 am on Monday confirmed his son Subhranshu Roy He was under treatment for quite some time because of several medical complications and he was not even responding to the treatment according to his close associatesRoy was once the secondincommand in Trinamool Congress as the partyâs general secretary and the closest confidant of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee He was among the first nine leaders who approached the Election Commission of India ECI to form a new political party Trinamool Congress in the late nineties which Mamata Banerjee founded after she parted ways with Congress A host of state Congress leaders in West Bengal had backed herLater he served as Railways Minister Union Minister of State for Shipping and Waterways and Union Minister of State for Urban Development in Dr Manmohan Singhled United Progressive Alliance UPAII government which started in 2009 with Trinamool Congress as the alliance partnerHowever over a period of time he started distancing himself from the Trinamool Congress leadership especially Mamata Banerjee He was first removed from the chair of the partyâs general secretary and slowly his participation in the party programmes started fading outFinally in 2017 he announced his decision to sever ties with Trinamool Congress and join the BJP He even resigned from his chair as a Rajya Sabha member of Trinamool Congress He continued with the BJP till 2021In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election he successfully contested from the contested as a BJP candidate in Krishnanagar Uttar Assembly constituency in Nadia districtHowever he joined Trinamool Congress just days after the results were declared and Mamata Banerjee led her party to come to power for a third consecutive term with a massive majorityHowever he did not resign as a member of the state Assembly and officially continued as a BJP legislator thereThe Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay rejected the BJPs plea seeking cancellation of Roys membership from the AssemblyThe Speaker said that since Roy was officially a BJP candidate his membership could not be cancelledRoy was even made the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee PAC of the House a post which is traditionally offered to an MLA from the principal opposition party in the AssemblyThereafter the BJP approached the Calcutta High Court seeking the cancellation of Roys membership from the House as a legislator from the Krishnanagar Uttar Assembly constituencyAfter a prolonged hearing in the matter finally on November 12 2025 the Calcutta High Courts division bench of Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Md Shabbar Rashidi finally cancelled Roys membership of the HouseCalcutta High Courtâs decision was challenged in the Supreme Court by his son Subhranshu Roy On January 16 an apex court bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagch stayed the decision of the Calcutta High CourtHis death marks the end of a colourful but chequered political life Roy is often regarded as the initiator of the current trend of alluring and influencing political leaders from opposing parties to shift camps IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mukul-roy-one-of-trinamools-founders-and-former-union-minister-passes-away-662265.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-sir-judicial-adjudication-of-logical-discrepancy-cases-begins-today-662271.html Kolkata Feb 23 The adjudication of votersâ documents identified under the âlogical discrepancyâ category by the judicial officers as directed by the Supreme Court last week will start from Monday The process is expected to start after 11 am and as per the direction of the apex court the decision of judicial adjudicators regarding the fate of such votersâ documents will be finalThe judicial adjudication process will start on Monday with the initial involvement of 150 session judges appointed by the Calcutta High CourtIn total around 250 judicial officers have been assigned to the adjudication process which will be supervised at the district level by threemember committees constituted under the direction of the Calcutta High CourtEach districtlevel supervisory committee will comprise the district judge the district magistrate who also serves as the district electoral officer and the district superintendent of police concernedOf the 250 judicial officers involved around 100 are judges currently presiding over courts under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act while the remaining are session judges from other courtsDuring a meeting held in Kolkata on Sunday between judicial officers assigned to adjudication duties and representatives of the Election Commission of India ECI the detailed procedural guidelines for the judicial adjudication process were explainedIn the meeting the judicial officers appointed for the purpose were informed that they would be required to accept only the 13 identity documents specified by the ECI for verification of voters identified under the âlogical discrepancyâ categoryThe clarification assumes significance amid objections raised by the ruling Trinamool Congress which had questioned the restriction to the 13 specified documents and sought consideration of additional identity proofs issued by various state government agenciesOfficials said that as per the current schedule the final electoral roll in West Bengal will be published on February 28 excluding those cases referred for judicial adjudication Supplementary electoral rolls will be published subsequently after the adjudication process is completedAccording to the ECI insiders all attempts will be made to complete the judicial adjudication process by February 28 so that the supplementary lists can be published at the earliestHowever considering the large number of documents around 50 lakh that have been referred for judicial adjudication there are doubts whether the deadline on this count would be met or notMeanwhile the Calcutta High Court had already issued a notification cancelling the leave of all judicial officers in West Bengal until March 9 and directed those currently on leave to report back to duty by Monday The order excluded judicial officers on emergency medical leave IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-sir-judicial-adjudication-of-logical-discrepancy-cases-begins-today-662271.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/andaman-and-nicobar-islands-sir-uts-final-voter-base-stands-at-258-lakh-after-revision-662181.html Shri Vijaya Puram Feb 21 The Election Commission of India on Saturday published the final electoral roll for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after completing the Special Intensive Revision exercise with the Union Territoryâs final electorate now standing at 258040 Andaman and Nicobar Islands Chief Electoral Officer L Kumar stated that the exercise resulted in the identification and deletion of a substantial number of ineligible voters including deceased individuals permanent outmigrants and duplicate enrollmentsThe demographic breakdown of the final figure of 258040 electorates comprises 130415 male voters 127622 female voters and three thirdgender voters Districtwise South Andaman leads with 160988 voters followed by North and Middle Andaman with 74475 and Nicobar district with 22577The electoral roll revision conducted from October 27 2025 to February 21 2026 involved a total physical verification of voters to ensure a sanitised and accurate electoral databaseThis comprehensive verification was achieved through 100 per cent physical checks with Booth Level Officers BLOs personally delivering and collecting enumeration forms the CEOâs statement notedAccording to official data the initial voter count of 310404 as of October last year saw a significant reduction during the enumeration phaseThe draft roll published on December 23 2025 removed 64014 ineligible names During the subsequent claims and objections period from December 12 2025 to January 22 2026 the commission added 16919 eligible voters while dropping another 5269The final rolls highlight key voter segments including 4070 firsttime voters in the 1819 age bracketAdditionally the list features 2255 persons with disabilities PwD and 679 elderly electors aged above 85 yearsOfficials confirmed that the final roll is displayed at all polling stations this weekend and will remain available for public inspection at voter facilitation centres for seven daysFirsttime voters and those who applied for corrections will receive their Electors Photo Identity Cards EPIC via BLOs at their residential addressesThe commission further informed that those who turned 18 on January 1 2026 but missed the revision alongside prospective electors maturing by October 2026 can still apply for inclusion through the official portal or the ECINET mobile app IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/andaman-and-nicobar-islands-sir-uts-final-voter-base-stands-at-258-lakh-after-revision-662181.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/surat-emerges-as-global-trade-hub-with-1055-bn-exports-662183.html Gandhinagar Feb 21 Surat has emerged as a major global trade hub recording exports of 1055 billion nearly Rs 95710âcrore in the financial year 202425 The city known for its diamond industry silk sarees and textiles has been a key contributor to Gujaratâs export economy which accounted for over 27 per cent of Indiaâs total exports valued at Rs 983 lakh crore during the same periodThe Surat region processes around 90 per cent of the worldâs diamonds with the gems and jewellery sector representing roughly 70 per cent of the cityâs total exportsBeyond diamonds Surat has experienced growth in sectors including humanmade fibres organic chemicals mechanical machinery technical textiles and other fabric productsThis diverse industrial base has positioned the city as an important node in the global supply chainThe United States is Suratâs largest trading partner receiving approximately 32 per cent of exports followed by Hong Kong at 18 per cent and the United Arab Emirates at 14 per centTrade relations are also expanding with Belgium Israel Saudi Arabia and Thailand reflecting the cityâs growing presence in international marketsTo further accelerate economic growth the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference VGRC â South Gujarat will be held in Surat in April this yearThe conference will cover the districts of Bharuch Dang Navsari Surat Tapi and Valsad highlighting emerging sectors such as chemicals and petrochemicals textiles and garments gems and jewellery pharmaceuticals agriculture and food processingThe event will connect local MSME units with international markets supporting initiatives like Vocal for Local and Local for GlobalIn the context of recent trade agreements between India and the European Union and India and the US South Gujarat is being promoted as a key destination for global investmentWith its production capacity strategic location and infrastructure the region is set to play a significant role in Indiaâs exportled development IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/surat-emerges-as-global-trade-hub-with-1055-bn-exports-662183.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jp-nadda-launches-indigenously-developed-tetanus-adult-diphtheria-vaccine-662187.html Kasauli Feb 21 Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda on Saturday launched the indigenously manufactured tetanus and adult diphtheria Td vaccine at the Central Research Institute CRI here in Himachal Pradesh Addressing the gathering Union Minister Nadda congratulated the scientists technical experts and staff of the Central Research Institute CRI Kasauli describing the indigenous launch of the tetanus and adult diphtheria vaccine as a momentous and historic occasionHe stated that the launch marks a significant step towards safeguarding national health security and strengthening Indiaâs public health infrastructureThe Union Minister underlined that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set clear targets for achieving selfreliance in the health and pharmaceutical sectorsHe noted that the launch of the indigenously manufactured Td vaccine represents a concrete step towards the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in health and medicineWith the formal launch of the Td vaccine the vaccine has now been introduced for supply under the Universal Immunization Programme UIPThe Central Research Institute will supply 55 lakh doses to the UIP by April with production expected to scale up progressively in subsequent years to further strengthen the Universal Immunisation Programme of the government of India he saidHighlighting Indias global standing Nadda also stated that India is widely recognized as the âpharmacy of the worldâ and is among the leading vaccine manufacturers globallyHe said India has achieved Maturity Level III in the World Health Organizations global benchmarking of regulatory systems reflecting the robustness of its vaccine regulatory frameworkInstitutions such as CRI and have played a significant role in achieving these standardsThe Union Health Minister recalled that historically vaccine and drug development timelines were long tetanus vaccine development took decades globally tuberculosis medicines took nearly 30 years to evolve and the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine took almost a century of scientific effort In contrast during the COVID19 pandemic India developed two indigenous vaccines within nine months and administered over 220 crore doses including booster dosesHe also highlighted that COVID19 vaccination certificates were delivered digitally demonstrating Indiaâs digital transformation in public health deliveryReferring to Indias global solidarity efforts he said under the Vaccine Maitri initiative India supplied vaccines to nearly 100 countries of which 48 countries received vaccines free of costHe said the contributions of public sector institutions such as CRI strengthened Indiaâs capacity to serve both domestic and global needsNadda emphasised that CRI is the first government institute to manufacture vaccines under Good Manufacturing Practices GMP standards reflecting the modernisation and revitalisation of public sector vaccine manufacturing units Highlighting the Universal Immunisation Programme UIP he described it as the worlds largest immunisation programmeThe UIP currently provides 11 vaccines protecting against 12 vaccinepreventable diseases in which CRI has made substantial contributionsHe said every year approximately 2 to 25 crore children are born and a similar number of women become pregnantFrom the time of pregnancy registration beneficiaries are tracked through digital platforms such as UWINThe government ensures that expectant mothers receive five antenatal checkups including at least one by a specialist The immunization and tracking process continues until the child attains 16 years of age covering 27 doses under the programme IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jp-nadda-launches-indigenously-developed-tetanus-adult-diphtheria-vaccine-662187.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-visit-tamil-nadu-today-662192.html New Delhi Feb 22 VicePresident CP Radhakrishnan will visit Tamil Nadu on Sunday to attend a foundation stone laying ceremony for the statue of VO Chidambaram Pillai at Vandiyur in Madurai During the visit the VicePresident will also visit the Thirukoshtiyur Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple and Rani Velu Nachiyar Palace in Sivaganga the official said in a statementEarlier on the occasion of International Mother Language Day on Saturday VicePresident Radhakrishnan released the updated versions of the Constitution of India in Tamil and Gujarati along with the eighth edition of the Legal Glossary EnglishâHindiDescribing Tamil as one of the worlds most ancient classical languages with a rich literary legacy and Gujarati as a language of profound cultural and philosophical depth he said that this initiative will take the Constitution to the people in their own languages thereby strengthening democratic participation and awarenessThe VicePresident appreciated the Ministry of Law and Justice for the extensive work undertaken in bringing out these translations and making the Constitution more accessible to citizens across the country a statement said on the social mediaDuring another event related to National CSR Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi the VicePresident said that when institutions work together society and the nation move forward collectively and emphasised that such collaboration is crucial at this transformative moment in Indias journeyHighlighting Indias progress over the last decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi he noted that India has moved from being the 10th largest economy to the fourth largest economy in the world and is on course to become the third largestHe underlined that structural reforms inclusive expansion digital connectivity financial inclusion and infrastructure development have brought more than 25 crore citizens out of extreme poverty and raised aspirations across regions and communitiesHe remarked that the next phase of development demands deeper partnership among government industry and civil societyStating that Corporate Social Responsibility CSR is no longer peripheral but central to national progress VicePresident Radhakrishnan described CSR as the space where enterprise meets empathy where balance sheets meet human stories and where growth acquires purpose IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-visit-tamil-nadu-today-662192.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 07:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tvk-executive-council-meet-on-monday-in-tns-vellore-4-900-to-attend-amid-tight-security-662199.html Vellore Feb 22 The executive council meeting of TVK led by actorturnedpolitician Vijay will be held on Monday February 23 at Agaramcheri in Tamil Nadus Vellore district The party has confirmed that 4900 delegates will participate in the meeting which has now been categorised as an administrative session instead of a public rallyThe event was initially planned as a largescale public meeting with expectations of nearly 25000 people to attend Preparations were underway to level a 33acre site at Agaramcheri to accommodate the anticipated crowd However after inspecting the venue Vellore Superintendent of Police NU Sivaraman issued a notice imposing 20 conditions and sought a written clarification from the partyTVK submitted its response following which the format of the event was revised In compliance with police directives the proposed public rally was converted into a closeddoor executive council meetingAttendance has been restricted to 4900 members all of whom will be issued identity cards embedded with QR codes Only those carrying authorised ID cards will be permitted entry into the venueThe meeting is scheduled to take place from noon to 4 pm on Monday As part of the arrangements canopies will be installed at 10 designated locations within the venue along with adequate seating facilitiesOrganisers have arranged for the distribution of 50000 water bottles and installed 6000litre drinking water tanks to ensure participant comfortMedical preparedness has been strengthened with 10 medical teams comprising 30 doctors 100 nurses and 100 medical assistants deployed at the site Fifteen ambulances will remain on standby Additionally 500 volunteers including 50 women will assist in maintaining orderThe volunteers recently underwent security training conducted by retired police subinspector Sabiyullah The police department has announced that 900 personnel will be deployed to ensure securityAs the venue is located near the ChennaiBengaluru National Highway traffic flow on the highway and service roads will be maintained though the AgaramcheriPallikuppam road will witness diversionsAuthorities have also stated that since Vijay will travel by road from Chennai on Monday strict measures will be in place to prevent unauthorised vehicles from following his convoy IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tvk-executive-council-meet-on-monday-in-tns-vellore-4-900-to-attend-amid-tight-security-662199.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 09:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/five-live-cartridges-found-in-iit-bombay-hostel-bihar-link-under-probe-662202.html Mumbai Feb 22 Five live 765 mm cartridges were recovered from the bag of a student at the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Bombay in Powai during a security check inside the hostel premises following a minor dispute over money between students officials said on Sunday Acting on a complaint filed by a campus security officer Powai Police have registered an FIR against an accused and launched a detailed investigationPreliminary findings suggest that the live cartridges were brought from Bihar and police are now probing this link officials saidAccording to the police a security officer who was on night duty was alerted at around 130 am on February 19 by the Quick Response Team about a dispute between two students on the ground floor of Hostel No 1When the security officer arrived at the scene they found that a verbal argument had erupted between Suraj Dubey a firstyear BTech student residing in Room No 93 and Aman a resident of Room No 89 reportedly over a financial transactionThe hostels security team intervened and managed to calm the studentsDuring the interaction security staff allegedly detected the smell of alcohol on Suraj Dubey and his friend Apoorv Mishra Since alcohol is strictly prohibited inside the hostel premises the authorities decided to search their rooms in accordance with institutional regulationsWhile inspecting Suraj Dubeys room hostel security personnel checked a black bag kept inside From the front compartment of the bag five live yellowmetal cartridges bearing the marking KF 765 were recoveredWhen questioned about the ammunition Suraj Dubey reportedly claimed that the bag did not belong to him but to his friend Apoorv Mishra During further questioning Apoorv allegedly disclosed that the cartridges belonged to his acquaintance Sarvottam Anand Satishchandra Chaudhary 23 a resident of Samastipur BiharAccording to Apoorv Sarvottam had visited IIT Powai on February 12 and had placed the live cartridges inside the bag during his visit Senior officials were immediately informed about the developmentOn February 19 when Sarvottam Chaudhary returned to the campus he was detained for questioning During interrogation he allegedly admitted to having purchased the 765 mm cartridges from Munger in BiharAt around 10 pm the same night Security SubInspector Amod Karanje handed over the five live cartridges to the police station after which a case was registered against Sarvottam Anand Chaudhary under relevant sections related to the illegal possession and transportation of ammunitionThe recovery of live ammunition from the hostel of one of the countrys premier technical institutions is being viewed as a major security concern The seizure has also raised the possibility of an illegal ammunition supply connectionPolice are now investigating the motive behind bringing the cartridges onto the campus examining whether any criminal conspiracy was involved and if the matter is connected to a broader illegal arms supply networkMeanwhile security arrangements at IIT Powai have been further strengthened and a comprehensive probe into the incident is currently underwayFurther details are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/five-live-cartridges-found-in-iit-bombay-hostel-bihar-link-under-probe-662202.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 09:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/eight-linked-to-pakistan-arrested-in-tn-bengal-for-terror-plotting-against-india-662206.html New Delhi Feb 22 A total of eight people linked to Pakistans intelligence agency ISI and Bangladeshi terror outfits have been arrested in connection with plotting a terror conspiracy against India officials said on Sunday The arrested individuals used to post content in support of Pakistanbased terror outfits on social media and were residing in India without valid documents officials said on SundayEarlier the police confirmed that six illegal Bangladeshi nationals had been arrested in Tamil Nadu Two arrests were later made from West BengalAll are being brought to New Delhi for further investigationsThe arrests were made following specific intelligence inputs regarding provocative online activity and suspected communication with extremist elements operating from across the borderAll the arrested individuals were involved in suspicious activities including reconnaissance of cities and putting up Free Kashmir posters in New Delhi the officials saidAll of the accused were in contact with each other through social media Out of the eight individuals four travelled to Delhi and displayed Free Kashmir and other incriminating posters at metro stations during the IndiaAI Summit They later returned to Tamil Nadu and West BengalA Delhi Police Q Branch team travelled to Tirupur and with the assistance of Tirupur district police conducted simultaneous raids at three locations arresting six individuals Mijanur Rahman Mohammad Shabat Umar Mohammad Litan Mohammad Shahid and Mohammad UjjalPolice sources said the suspects were taken into custody without incident During the searches officials seized eight mobile phones and 16 SIM cardsPreliminary investigation indicated that the devices were allegedly used to share content supporting banned terror organisations and to maintain contact with suspected handlersThe seized devices have been sent for forensic examination to analyse communication records and identify possible links to larger networksInvestigators said the six individuals had been living and working in Tirupur for some time and were employed in garment manufacturing units in Uthukuli Thirumuruganpoondi and Palladam areasPolice said the accused were residing in India without valid passports or visasOfficials also suspect that forged Aadhaar cards were used by the accused to obtain employment and accommodationFurther interrogation is underway to ascertain the extent of their activities and determine whether they were part of any organised networkSecurity agencies have stepped up surveillance and verification measures in the region as part of ongoing efforts to monitor suspected unlawful activitiesInvestigations are underway and further details are awaitedThis follows reports from sources referencing security agencies indicating that LashkareTaiba from Pakistan has been organising an explosion near the Red Fort and other significant religious sites nationwide including a temple in Chandni ChowkAccording to sources the terrorist group might be planning an attack using an improvised explosive device IED IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/eight-linked-to-pakistan-arrested-in-tn-bengal-for-terror-plotting-against-india-662206.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 10:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/month-long-maha-budget-session-the-first-after-ajit-pawars-demise-expected-to-be-stormy-662210.html Mumbai Feb 22 The monthlong Budget session starting February 23 is expected to be stormy with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi gearing up to challenge the Mahayuti government on several fronts For the ruling Mahayuti alliance BJP Shiv SenaShinde and NCPSunetra Pawar the Budget session is a highstakes exercise in maintaining political momentum especially in the wake of its stellar performance in the recently concluded local body elections while managing a significant leadership transitionThis session is particularly significant as it marks a transition in the states political leadership and faces a unique legislative vacuum following the untimely death of Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit PawarOn the other hand despite being numerically weaker and lacking a formal Leader of the Opposition LoP the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA comprising Shiv Sena UBT Congress and NCP SP plans to use the session to put the government on the defensive They are expected to take on the government on a range of issues regarding onions paddy soybeans and cotton present state of finances amid rising public debt revenue and fiscal deficits dip in capital expenditure and non payment of dues to contractors of ongoing development projectsThe Budget session starting Monday will continue until March 25 Following the Governorâs address on the first day a condolence motion will be moved for late Ajit Pawar with discussions expected to last throughout the day Regular legislative business will commence on TuesdayThe session will be the first since the death of former Deputy CM and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28 His wife Sunetra Pawar will debut in the legislature as Deputy Chief MinisterThe opposition led by NCPSP leader Rohit Pawar is expected to demand a transparent probe or a CBI inquiry into the crash alleging that Ajit Pawarâs death was not accidental but potential political conspiracyDespite the ruling partys overwhelming majority compared to the oppositions smaller numbers which allowed the government to maintain dominance in the last three sessions of the past year Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar became a target of criticism regarding the selection of questions and the number of Calling Attention motions Even ministers expressed concern over the rising number of such motionsAllegations by Shiv SenaUBT leader Bhaskar Jadhav claiming that money was taken to ask questions had previously caused a stirThe opposition has devised a strategy to corner Speaker Narwekar Allegations were made that during the filing of nominations for the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation elections Narwekar was present at the municipal office and used intimidating tactics to ensure three members of his family were elected unopposed A video of this incident was also circulated on social media Following this another video emerged from Alibaug showing Narwekar leaving the site after a farmer objected to a land surveyShiv Sena Group Leader Bhaskar Jadhav stated that the opposition would demand answers from Narwekar on both incidentsJadhav further alleged that Narwekar has compromised the dignity of the Speakers post Additionally since Narwekar has not made a decision on the oppositions proposal for the Leader of the Opposition in the past year they are unlikely to miss any opportunity to hold him accountableFollowing the accidental death of Ajit Pawar the Finance portfolio is currently held by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who will present the state Budget on March 6Vijay Wadettiwar leader of the Congress Legislative Party said that they will question the Chief Minister on various issues such as the 36 hour traffic halt on the MumbaiPune Expressway due to a tanker overturning and a portion of Metro work collapsing in Mulund killing one person and injuring three othersHe further added that the opposition will emphasise how these accidents in Pune and Mulund prove the governmentâs claims of planned infrastructure developement are hollow Issues related to the agriculture department such as cotton paddy onions and soybeans will be debated Although aid was announced for farmers affected by unseasonal rain last year it has not yet reached themMany farmers are yet to receive benefits from the 2017 loan waiverThe opposition plans to hold the government accountable noting that CM Fadnavis had promised a decision on farm loan waivers by JuneThe Congress party will raise the issue of the impact of the IndiaUS trade agreement on the states farmers The opposition will also question when the monthly subsidy for the Ladki Bahin Yojana will be increased to Rs 2100 from the present Rs 1500As far as the Mahayuti government is concerned it will counter the opposition by listing a number of achievements not just in electoral politics but also to achieve the much ambitious target of one trillion dollar economy by 2030 and five trillion dollar economy by 2047 as a part of Viksit Maharashtra missionCM Fadnavis however faces the daunting tightrope walk of maintaining populist welfare schemes while managing a state debt that has crossed Rs 9 lakh crore The government is set to continue with the major allocation for the Ladki Bahin Yojana to provide a monthly allowance of Rs 1500 to the eligible women beneficiaries The substantial allocation is expected on the PuneNashik HighSpeed Rail the Mumbai Water Metro and the Vadhavan Port project In addition the government is likely to announce a climateresilient agriculture package to address erratic weather in Marathwada and Vidarbha while using artificial intelligenceCM Fadnavis has already said that Maharashtraâs finances are under strain owing to different welfare schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana but claimed that the state continued to meet all key indicators of economic stability and remained among the strongest state economies in the country While presenting budget the chief ministerâs primary goal will be to prove that Mahayuti can fund massive welfare schemes without crashing the states fiscal healthParallel to the Budget discussions the legislature will hold elections for seven Rajya Sabha seats on March 16 Highprofile names whose terms are ending include Sharad Pawar NCPSP and Ramdas Athawale RPIA The ruling Mahayuti alliance is expected to secure six out of the seven seats based on current Assembly numbers Since the MVA can only win one seat the internal tussle between Shiv Sena UBT Congress and NCP SP over who gets that seat potentially Sharad Pawar will be a subplot that the ruling party will try to exploitSanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjayjiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/month-long-maha-budget-session-the-first-after-ajit-pawars-demise-expected-to-be-stormy-662210.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/isf-workers-attacked-our-leader-in-west-bengals-bhangar-area-trinamool-congress-662220.html Kolkata Feb 22 The Trinamool Congress has alleged that its party workers were attacked by Indian Secular Front ISF activists in Polerhat area in West Bengals South 24 Parganas district police said on Sunday The Trinamool Congress claimed that the incident occurred when they were holding the meeting in the area on Friday nightTwo Trinamool Congress leaders were reportedly injured in the attack and were rushed to Jirengacha Rural HospitalDoctors said that the condition of the injured is being monitoredAccording to local sources Trinamool Congress had organised a meeting in that area to strengthen the organisation ahead of Assembly polls At that time a group of miscreants suddenly entered the meeting venue and started arguing leading to a fightAllegedly the attack was carried out by ISF activists with sticksCar of Trinamool leader Khairul Islam was vandalised in the clash A large force of Kolkata Police reached the area after receiving the newsOn the other hand after receiving the news of the incident Canning Purba Assembly constituency MLA and Trinamool observer for Bhangar Saokat Molla quickly reached the spot He went to the hospital and met the injured workersAllegedly his car was also attacked Saokat Molla claimed that one round of bullet was firedThe attack was carried out with the help of ISF MLA Nawsad Siddiqui We want a proper investigation into the attack said MollaHowever ISF MLA of Bhangar Assembly constituency Nawsad Siddiqui refuted this allegation He claimed The one who is saying this attacked our workers in the area He is trying to disturb the peace in area ahead of the electionsHe further demanded an impartial investigation into this incidentA large police force has been deployed in different parts of Bhangar since Saturday night So far no one has been detained or arrested in connection with these two incidents yet Police are investigating the matter and the situation is being monitoredIt is worth mentioning that Siddiqui is the lone ISF MLA in 294seat West Bengal Legislative AssemblyIn 2021 state Assembly polls ISF had contested the election in alliance with the CPIMled Left Front and Indian National Congress While both Left and Congress drew a blank in the Assembly election ISF won only one seatSiddiqui had won the election from Bhangar Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district It was only Assembly seat in 31seat strong South 24 Parganas district which Trinamool Congress lost in 2021 Since then there has been frequent clashed between TMC and ISF workers in Bhangar area to gain control of the constituency IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/isf-workers-attacked-our-leader-in-west-bengals-bhangar-area-trinamool-congress-662220.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/red-fort-temple-targets-on-radar-isi-backed-module-busted-in-tamil-nadu-west-bengal-662221.html New Delhi Feb 22 The security agencies have busted a major ISIbacked terror plot following the arrest of eight persons from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu The arrested persons are linked to Bangladesh based terror groups and were being funded by the ISI the security agencies have learntThe arrested persons have been identified as Mizanur Rahman Mohammed Shabat Umar Mohammed Litan Mohammed Shahid and Mohammed UjjalThe arrests were made from a garment factory in Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Among the arrested persons one is a Bangladeshi national the police saidThe suspects who were arrested by the Tamil Nadu are being handed over to the Delhi Police for further investigation The preliminary probe showed that these persons were plotting attacks in various parts of IndiaThe arrests come in the backdrop of the Intelligence agencies warning that the ISI backed LashkareTaiba is in the process of setting local modules in the country to carry out a series of attacksAnother alert said that the LashkareTaiba were plotting an attack near the Red Fort Following the arrest the police recovered mobile phones and SIM cardsThe accused persons had been posting content on the social media in support of Pakistan based terror groups All the persons arrested had concealed their identity and were working at a garment factory They used fake Aadhaar cards the police said During the raids the police recovered eight mobile phones and 16 SIM cardsIn a bid to help set up the local modules for the ISI backed groups these people were actively carrying out reconnaissance activities in various citiesDuring the AI Summit four of the accused had travelled to Delhi and put up poster advocating for a Free Kashmir Following this they returned to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal the police saidThe police said that the accused persons communicated via social media The Delhi police are set to grill them about their links to Bangladeshi based terror groups and also their connection with the ISI Since the last couple of months the ISI has been plotting attacks in India This is part of the ISIâs strategy to set up local modules so that the foreign hand can be avoidedThe Pakistani terrorists stationed at the launch pads across the IndiaPakistan border have been finding it hard to infiltrate The ISI feels that to overcome this it would be better to set up local modules within India Further Pakistan can also have the deniability factor if blasts are carried out within India with the help of locals an official saidAnother alert by the Intelligence agencies speaks about a plot to target Temples in North India The Delhi Police would question these accused persons about this plot The key information that the police will try to source is which are the places that they have carried out reconnaissanceThe plot to target temples has been on the anvil for several month now The aim is to carry out attacks on Temples and then incite communal tensions another official said This plot is being overseen by the LashkareTaibaThe terror group has been scouting for recruits and has even activated some of its moles in the country to carry out this activity Further the plot was bust at a time when the agencies have been warning that a conspiracy is being hatched in Bangladesh to carry out terror attacks ahead of the West Bengal elections IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/red-fort-temple-targets-on-radar-isi-backed-module-busted-in-tamil-nadu-west-bengal-662221.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mann-ki-baat-pm-modi-praises-indian-origin-cricketers-in-foreign-teams-highlights-speciality-of-bhartiyata-662222.html New Delhi Feb 22 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Indianorigin cricketers playing in foreign teams and emphasised the significance of Bhartiyata and noted that wherever Indians travel they maintain a strong connection to their roots in their matrabhoomi motherland while also contributing to the development of their karmabhoomi place of duty He highlighted the importance of sports in everyones life stressing that One who plays blooms adding that sports unite usAddressing the 131st episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat PM Modi said Nowadays you must be watching T20 World Cup matches I am sure that while watching a match you must be eyeing a particular player The jersey may belong to another country but on hearing their name you realise that he is from our country The moment gives you a slight happiness because the player is of indian origin and is playing for the country where his family settled They step onto the field wearing the jersey of their country and wholeheartedly represent that nation he said The Prime Minister noted that the Canadian cricket team has the highest number of Indianorigin players He mentioned that the teams captain Dilpreet Bajwa was born in Punjabs Gurdaspur and Naveneet Dhaliwal is from Chandigarh He also mentioned the names of Harsh Thaker and Shreyas Movva and said that several players like these are making both Canada and India proudPM Modi also mentioned that the USA cricket team and said Americas team has many players from Indias domestic cricket The American teams captain Monank Patel has played for Gujarats U16 and U18 teams Mumbais Saurabh Harmeet Singh and Delhis Milind Kumar are all proud of the American teamHe also stated that several players in the Oman cricket team have played in different states of India and mentioned the names of Jatinder Singh Vinayak Shukla Karan Jai and AshishIndiaorigin players are also creating a place for themselves in the teams of New Zealand UAE and Italy too Many such Indianorigin players are bringing pride to their countries and becoming an inspiration for the youth there he said This is the speciality of Bhartiyata Wherever they go Indians remain connected to the roots of their motherland and they also contribute to the development of their karmabhoomi the Prime Minister added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mann-ki-baat-pm-modi-praises-indian-origin-cricketers-in-foreign-teams-highlights-speciality-of-bhartiyata-662222.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/topmost-maoist-devji-surrenders-before-telangana-police-662223.html Hyderabad Feb 22 Topmost Maoist leader Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji has reportedly surrendered before Telangana Police In what is considered the biggest blow to the banned Communist Party of India Maoist its general secretary Devji surrendered before police in Asifabad forests in the united Adilabad district sources said on SundaySixteen Maoists also laid down their arms along with Devji who had been leading the outfit after the killing of Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju who was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh in May last yearPolice have not yet confirmed the surrender The surrendered Maoists are likely to be presented before the media on MondayDevji was one of the most wanted Maoist leaders Hailing from Peddapalli district Telangana he was a Central Committee Member and Police Bureau Member of CPI Maoist He carried a reward of Rs 25 lakhHe was one of the 17 Maoist leaders belonging to Telangana and holding key positions in various committees of CPIMaoist across the countryLast month Telangana Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy appealed to them to surrender The DGP had assured them that they would be rehabilitated as promised by the governmentWith the slogan âno more conflict love your villageâ Telangana Police have appealed to them to give up their underground life and return to the mainstreamTelangana Police have been taking steps to encourage these Maoists to surrenderDuring 2025 a total of 576 Maoists surrendered to the Telangana Police This is an unprecedented event since the formation of the Peoples War now CPIMaoist in 1980In November last year some members of Devjiâs protection team were among 50 Maoists arrested from five districts of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh The arrests were made on November 18 hours after an encounter in the forests of Alluri Sitharamaraju district in which top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma his wife Raje and four others were killedA day after Hidmaâs killing seven Maoists including explosives expert Metturi Joga Rao alias Tech Shankar and six others were killed in the same districtCivil liberties groups had claimed that Devji and another top Maoist Malla Raji Reddy are in the custody of the state police A habeas corpus petition was also filed in the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking a direction to the Andhra Pradesh Police to produce Devji and Raji Reddy in the courtAndhra Pradesh Police however told the High Court that Devji and Raji Reddy were not in their custody IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/topmost-maoist-devji-surrenders-before-telangana-police-662223.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/stay-alert-against-digital-fraud-update-kyc-through-official-channels-pm-modi-in-mann-ki-baat-662225.html New Delhi Feb 22 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cautioned citizens against rising incidents of digital fraud and âdigital arrestâ scams urging people to remain vigilant and follow proper banking procedures to safeguard their savings Speaking during his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat the Prime Minister said he had earlier discussed the issue of digital arrest at length and noted that while awareness had increased troubling incidents were still being reportedâIn âMann Ki Baatâ I have spoken to you at length about Digital Arrest After this a lot of awareness was generated in our society regarding Digital Arrest and Digital Fraud but still such incidents are happening around us that are unpardonableâ PM Modi saidHighlighting the impact of such crimes he said innocent people continue to fall victim to online fraud âInnocent people are being targeted through Digital Arrest and Financial Fraud Many a time we come to know that a senior citizen has been swindled of their lifelong earnings At times someone is defrauded of the money one had saved to pay childrens fees he said We also come across news of fraud with businessmen Someone calls up and says âI am a big officer You have to share some detailsâ After this innocent people do just that Therefore it is very important for you to remain alert and vigilantâ he addedReferring to the KYC Know Your Customer process the Prime Minister addressed common concerns among bank customers âYou all must be familiar with the process of KYC Know Your Customer Sometimes when you receive messages from your bank asking you to update KYC or reKYC the question arises in your mind I have already done KYC then why this I urge you not to fret this is just for the safety of your moneyâ he saidEmphasising the growing integration of financial services with bank accounts PM Modi said âWe all know that nowadays everything from pension subsidy insurance UPI everything is linked to the bank account This is why banks periodically perform reKYC to ensure your bank account remains secure Yes here too you must remember one thing criminals make fake calls send SMS and links Therefore we must remain vigilant and not fall prey to such fraudsters KYC or reKYC should be done only through your bank branch official app and authorised mediumâ he addedThe Prime Minister further advised citizens not to share sensitive information such as OTPs Aadhaar numbers or bank account details with anyone He also recommended updating passwords regularly Drawing a simple analogy he said that just as food and clothing change with each season people should make it a habit to change their passwords periodicallyPM Modi also mentioned that the Reserve Bank of India recently observed a Financial Literacy Week focusing on such issues âThis financial literacy campaign will now continue throughout the year Therefore pay heed to the Reserve Bank of Indias message and keep your KYC updated Remember Correct KYC timely reKYC keeps your account safe Become an empowered citizen because only empowered citizens build a strong and Atmanirbhar Bharatâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/stay-alert-against-digital-fraud-update-kyc-through-official-channels-pm-modi-in-mann-ki-baat-662225.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 13:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-bjp-chief-taken-into-custody-by-police-in-hyderabad-662227.html Hyderabad Feb 21 Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao was taken into custody by police here on Sunday when he tried to leave for Banswada town in Kamareddy district which witnessed a communal clash on Friday Ramchander Rao who was placed under house arrest since Saturday night tried to leave for Banswada but was stopped and taken into custody by the policeTension prevailed at his house in the Tarnaka area when his supporters tried to resist the police Police arrested some of the protestersThe BJP leader was shifted to Bollarum Police Station Earlier Ramchander Rao told the media that he would visit Kamareddy to express solidarity with BJP MLA K Venkata Ramana Reddy who was allegedly attacked He alleged that in Banswada town 100 BJP workers were arrested during a bandh called by Hindu organisations Following his arrest Ramchander Rao alleged that there is an emergency in Telangana âThe AntiHindu Muslim League Maoist Congress has arrested me and are taking me to Bollarum PS for standing up for the Hindus of Banswada and for our karyakartas in Kamareddyâ reads a post by the BJP leader on XHe earlier wrote that in Congressruled Telangana it appears that standing up for the Hindu victims of Banswada and raising a voice for our karyakartas in Kamareddy has become a âcrimeââLet it be clear Congress is the New Muslim League it has reduced itself to lower and lower levels of appeasement By its actions it seems determined to outdo even the worst chapters of divisive politics in our history If Congress believes that confining me to my home will silence me or allow it to escape accountability it is gravely mistaken I will continue to stand firmly with our people no matter the pressureâ he saidBanswada town saw a clash on Friday evening after a youth raised an objection to the playing of a devotional song in a supermarket The employees of the supermarket assaulted the youth Later members of both the communities near the supermarket indulged in stone pelting resulting in injuries to two police personnelFollowing the clash police deployed additional forces in the town to prevent further clashesPolice registered two cases and arrested 12 accused involved in rioting IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-bjp-chief-taken-into-custody-by-police-in-hyderabad-662227.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/encounter-breaks-out-between-security-forces-and-terrorists-in-jampks-kishtwar-662229.html Jammu Feb 22 A gunfight erupted on Sunday between the security forces and the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmirâs Kishtwar district Nagrota headquartered White Knight Corps of the Army said on X today âððððððð ððððððððððð ðªððð ðððððððððð ðð ðððððð ð Troops of WhiteKnightCorps alongwith JmuKmrPolice and CRPF in a joint operation established contact with terrorists in the general area of Passerkut Kishtwar Firefight is on Troops have cordoned off the area Operation continuesâThe Army has codenamed the operation against terrorists in the Chatroo area as Operation TrashiIOfficials said the security forces including the Army JampK Police and the CRPF launched a CASO Cordon amp Search Operation in the forest area of Chatroo in Kishtwar district after receiving intelligence input about the presence of two to three JaisheMohammad JeM terrorists hiding in the densely forested areaâWhen the surrounding joint forces came close to the hiding terrorists they fired triggering an encounter which is now going on Reinforcements have been rushed to the snowbound areaâ officials saidThis is the second encounter in this area this month Earlier a gunfight broke out in the same densely forested area on February 4More than a dozen encounters have taken place during the last year between the security forces and the terrorists in the Chatroo area of KishtwarIt is believed that a group of foreign terrorists are operating in the area who keep on changing location between Kishtwar Doda and Udhampur districtsThe Army JampK Police and the CRPF are on a hot chase of this group of Pakistani terrorists and it is precisely because of this that the group is moving from one place to another instead of trying to attack the security forcesUnion Home Minister Amit Shah has given clear orders for neutralisation of Pakistani terrorists in the hilly districts of the Jammu divisionThe Union Home Minister called for a missionmode approach to usher in complete peace in the union territory during his last visit to Jammu on February 7 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/encounter-breaks-out-between-security-forces-and-terrorists-in-jampks-kishtwar-662229.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 13:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/spirit-of-patriotism-was-deeply-embedded-within-her-pm-modi-pays-tributes-to-jayalalithaa-in-mann-ki-baat-662230.html Chennai Feb 22 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa as a âwidely admired and beloved leaderâ recalling her administrative legacy and their personal friendship during the 131st episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat The Prime Minister described Jayalalithaa as a towering figure in Tamil Nadu politics whose contributions would be remembered as a powerful symbol of womenâs leadershipâJayalalithaa was a great leader who was deeply loved by the people My friendship with her is like a sacred tree in my heartâ PM Modi said during the broadcastHighlighting her governance style the Prime Minister noted that Jayalalithaa had taken firm steps to maintain law and order in Tamil Nadu and had earned the trust of the people through decisive leadershipHe said her public service would always be remembered as an example of womenâs empowerment in Indian politicsWith Jayalalithaaâs birth anniversary falling on February 24 PM Modi said he continues to feel the affection the people of Tamil Nadu hold for her whenever he visits the stateâEven today when I travel to Tamil Nadu I can sense the deep connection the people have with Jayalalithaa When her name is mentioned one can see a special spark among the peopleâ he saidRecalling his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister PM Modi said Every meeting and every conversation with Amma Jayalalithaa is still fresh in my mind She also attended two of my swearingin ceremonies in Gujarat in 2002 and 2012 When we were both Chief Ministers of our respective states we often discussed topics like good governance Her thinking was crystal clear and her thoughts were uncluttered This was a significant characteristic of hers Many years ago she invited me to Chennai over lunch on the auspicious occasion of Pongal That affectionate gesture will remain unforgettable for mePM Modi said Jayalalithaa had extended strong support to Gujarat during his time in officeâShe had great devotion to the nation and worked with commitment for its progressâ he addedThe Prime Ministerâs remarks assume political significance as Tamil Nadu gears up for the upcoming Assembly electionsThe AIADMKBJPled National Democratic Alliance has intensified its political outreach in the state and PM Modiâs tribute to the late AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister is being viewed as an effort to connect with her enduring support baseJayalalithaa fondly called âAmmaâ by her supporters remains an influential figure in Tamil Naduâs political landscape even years after her passing IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/spirit-of-patriotism-was-deeply-embedded-within-her-pm-modi-pays-tributes-to-jayalalithaa-in-mann-ki-baat-662230.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 14:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-murdering-democracy-in-telangana-alleges-g-kishan-reddy-662231.html Hyderabad Feb 22 Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy on Sunday termed the developments in Telangana as deeply worrying and accused the Congress government of murdering democracy Kishan Reddy condemned the alleged attack on the camp office of BJP MLA in Kamareddy and subsequent house arrests of party MPs MLAs and state BJP president N Ramchander Rao and termed these as attack on democratic rightsHe said that the house arrest of several MPs and MLAs including BJP state president who wanted to go to Kamareddy in solidarity with the MLA K Venkata Ramana Reddy is reminiscent of an undeclared emergency in TelanganaThe BJP leader alleged that the Congress government is misusing power for revenge politics as it is afraid of the BJPs rise in the state politicsUnable to digest the verdict given by the people it is conspiring to suppress the voice of the opposition Political differences are natural in a democracy But the suppression of the voice of the opposition is a testament to the intolerance of the Congress government he said in a statementThe Central minister alleged that making baseless allegations against the MLA and placing him under house arrest after his challenge to prove the allegations is a clear case of bias He said Congress leaders ramming their car into the gate of the MLAs camp office shows breakdown of law and order in the stateStating that the law should be equal for all he accused the Congress government of targeting political opponents by misusing the police machineryKishan Reddy made it clear that the BJP leaders and workers will not be afraid of these tactics He said the BJP will make its voice heard more strongly on public issues in TelanganaHe demanded that the state government immediately stop political arrests and respect democratic rights Otherwise the people of Telangana will come forward to protect democracy The people themselves will give a befitting reply to every attempt to suppress democracy he addedUnion Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar also strongly condemned the illegal arrest of Telangana BJP president Ramchander RaoBandi Sanjay said Ramchander Rao was set to visit Kamareddy MLA and meet families injured in the Banswada violenceInstead of acting against attackers the Congress government has chosen to confine an opposition leader Congress and MIM taking the law into their own hands is condemnable Is this Praja Palana or police raj It appears that Emergencylike days have begun in the state the MoS posted on XLet Congress be clear Threats and arrests will not scare us MIM and Congress are together creating lawlessness BJP workers must be prepared to resist these unlawful acts We will stand with every victim and expose this governments bias he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-murdering-democracy-in-telangana-alleges-g-kishan-reddy-662231.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 14:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/20-year-old-matter-being-raked-up-akhilesh-fumes-at-fir-against-swami-avimukteshwaranand--662232.html New Delhi Feb 22 IANS Samajwadi Party SP chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack at Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday over an FIR lodged against Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and accused the administration of acting with a malicious intent to embarrass and humiliate the Hindu seernbspAddressing a press conference at the party office Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the state government instead of making amends for its irresponsible conduct during the Magh Mela has resorted to raking up of a 20yearold case to trouble the Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath UttarakhandOur most revered Shankaracharya ji what treatment is being meted out to him by the government This exercise that you are witnessing these days some people have suddenly set out to show respect he said while cautioning that it wasnt appropriate to stoop to this level of accusationIn the FIR filed against Swami Avimukteshwaranand the seer and some of his disciples have been accused of sexually abusing and exploiting two minor children at his ashram repeatedly for more than a yearIf the complainant is a disciple of another saint then it was a mistake to withdraw a previously filed case Akhilesh remarkedThe SP chief said that first the Shankaracharya was prevented from bathing in river Ganga during the Magh Mela and when he protested the state govt acted in a manner that reeks of malice and vengeanceShankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand sat on protest for several days despite cold weather but the administration did not treat him with respect The entire incident appears to be motivated by political malice and that the government has now lost its credibility among the public he saidAkhilesh also accused the ruling party of vitiating the states atmosphere ahead of the electionsThe SP supremo also lashed out at the Yogi government on other issues claiming mismanagement and irregularities in various infrastructure projectsAkhilesh said that his government had initiated plans to clean the Gomti and Hindon rivers but the current dispensation is not pursuing development projectsThe underground pipeline project is a pipeline of corruption he said while cornering the govt over escalating costs of developmental projectsTaking a dig at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths proposed visit to Japan he said Hes going to Japan but not KyotoIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/20-year-old-matter-being-raked-up-akhilesh-fumes-at-fir-against-swami-avimukteshwaranand--662232.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 16:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jem-commander-among-two-terrorists-killed-in-kishtwar-encounter-662233.html Jammu Feb 22 IANS A top commander of the JaisheMohammad JeM terror outfit was among the two terrorists killed by the joint forces in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district on SundaynbspNagrotabased Armys White Knight Corps said on X TWO TERRORISTS KILLED OPERATION TRASHI1 Pursuant to credible intelligence inputs collated from JKP IB and own intelligence sources a deliberate joint operation was launched in the Kishtwar region under Operation TrashiI to track and neutralise terrorists operating in the areaFollowing successful contact established earlier troops of CIF Delta WhiteKnightCorps in close coordination with JmuKmrPolice and CRPF reengaged the terrorists today at approximately 1100 AM in challenging terrain Displaying tactical precision seamless synergy and resolute aggression troops dominated the encounter site wherein two terrorists have been successfully neutralised Warlike stores including 02 x AK47 rifles have also been recovered the post further saidThe Army said that the hunt continued and those who seek to disturb peace will find no sanctuarynbspWe Serve We protect the post readnbspAn official said that one top JeM commander was killed during the gunfight with a joint team of JampampK Police two Para of the Army and the CRPFnbspHowever the body of the slain terrorist is being retrieved officials saidThis is the second encounter in this area this month Earlier a gunfight broke out in the same densely forested area on February 4nbspMore than a dozen encounters have taken place during the last year between the security forces and the terrorists in the Chatroo area of KishtwarnbspIt is believed that a group of foreign terrorists are operating in the area who keep on changing locations between Kishtwar Doda and Udhampur districtsThe Army JampK Police and the CRPF are on a hot chase of this group of Pakistani terrorists and it is precisely because of the intense trail that the group is moving from one place to another instead of trying to attack the security forcesnbspUnion Home Minister Amit Shah has given clear orders for neutralisation of Pakistani terrorists in the hilly districts of the Jammu divisionnbspThe Union Home Minister called for a missionmode approach to usher in complete peace in the union territory during his last visit to Jammu on February 7IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jem-commander-among-two-terrorists-killed-in-kishtwar-encounter-662233.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 16:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vice-prez-radhakrishnan-pays-tributes-to-rani-velu-nachiyar-visits-sowmyanarayana-perumal-temple-in-tn-662234.html Chennai Feb 22 IANS Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Sunday paid tributes to Veeramangai Rani Velu Nachiyar in Sivaganga Tamil Nadu an official saidnbspThe Vice President said that Rani Velu Nachiyars bravery and sacrifices are being celebrated across the countrynbspHe added that Rani Nachiyars life and legacy will guide the nation in its journey towards Viksit BharatHe also interacted with the descendants of Veeramangai Rani Velu NachiyarnbspAt another event the Vice President paid floral tributes to Raja Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Sasivarna Periya Udaya Thevar at Sivaganga PalacenbspRadhakrishnan also visited the Sowmyanarayana Perumal Temple in Thirukoshtiyur Sivaganga and offered prayers for the peace prosperity and wellbeing of all said a statement on social mediaA day earlier on the occasion of International Mother Language Day VicePresident Radhakrishnan released the updated versions of the Constitution of India in Tamil and Gujarati along with the eighth edition of the Legal Glossary EnglishHindiDescribing Tamil as one of the worlds most ancient classical languages with a rich literary legacy and Gujarati as a language of profound cultural and philosophical depth he said that this initiative will take the Constitution to the people in their own languages thereby strengthening democratic participation and awarenessnbspThe VicePresident appreciated the Ministry of Law and Justice for the extensive work undertaken in bringing out these translations and making the Constitution more accessible to citizens across the country a statement said on the social mediaThe VicePresident said that it was a matter of great pleasure to release the updated versions of the Constitution in Tamil and Gujarati on the occasion of International Mother Language DaynbspHe observed that releasing these editions on this significant day underlines the importance of mother tongues in shaping identity thought and cultural continuitynbspHighlighting Bharats linguistic richness the VicePresident said that every language of the country from Tamil to Kashmiri from Gujarati to Assamese carries centuries of heritageHe noted that the Constitution of India recognises this diversity and celebrates multilingualism as a strengthnbspHe remarked that nowhere else in the world would one find a country where the Constitution is made available in so many languagesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vice-prez-radhakrishnan-pays-tributes-to-rani-velu-nachiyar-visits-sowmyanarayana-perumal-temple-in-tn-662234.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/haryana-govt-bars-idfc-first-bank-au-small-finance-bank-over-alleged-rs-590-crore-fraud-662254.html New Delhi Feb 22 IANS The Haryana Government on Sunday deempanelled IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank from handling government business with immediate effect after an alleged fraud of around Rs 590 crore came to lightnbspIn an official circular the state government said both banks have been barred from carrying out any governmentrelated transactions in Haryana until further ordersIt directed all departments boards corporations and public sector undertakings to stop using these banks for deposits investments or any other financial dealingsAuthorities have also been asked to immediately transfer existing balances and close accounts maintained with the two lendersThe Finance Department pointed out lapses in following fixed deposit instructions It noted that in some cases funds that were supposed to be placed in flexible deposits or higherinterest fixed deposit schemes were allegedly kept in savings accounts leading to lower returns and financial loss to the stateDepartments have been instructed to strictly follow approved deposit terms regularly verify compliance by banks conduct monthly reconciliations and report any discrepanciesAll reconciliations must be completed by March 31 2026 and a certified compliance report has to be submitted by April 4 2026The action comes after IDFC First Bank disclosed in a regulatory filing that it had detected a fraud of about Rs 590 crore involving certain Haryana governmentlinked accounts operated through its Chandigarh branchThe bank said there were prima facie unauthorised and fraudulent activities carried out by some employees at the branch possibly involving other individuals or entitiesAccording to the bank the issue surfaced when a Haryana government department requested closure and transfer of its account balance to another bankDuring the process discrepancies were found between the amount mentioned and the actual balance in the accountSimilar discrepancies were later identified in other governmentlinked accounts from February 18 onwardsIDFC First Bank clarified that its preliminary internal review suggests the matter is limited to a specific group of Haryana governmentlinked accounts handled by the Chandigarh branch and does not affect other customersThe total amount under reconciliation across the identified accounts is estimated at around Rs 590 crore and the final figure will be determined after further validation and possible recoveriesFour bank officials have been suspended pending investigation The bank said it will take strict disciplinary civil and criminal action against those found responsibleIt has also issued recall requests to certain beneficiary banks to lienmark balances in suspicious accounts as part of recovery efforts The statutory auditors have been informed and an independent external agency will carry out a forensic auditIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/haryana-govt-bars-idfc-first-bank-au-small-finance-bank-over-alleged-rs-590-crore-fraud-662254.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 19:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/t20-wc-jacks-rashid-shine-as-england-crush-sri-lanka-to-clinch-51-run-win-662255.html Colombo Feb 22 IANS England produced a clinical allround display to crush Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their ICC Mens T20 World Cup Super Eights clash bundling out the hosts for just 95 runs in 164 overs after posting 1469 in a gripping encounternbspDefending a modest total on a bowlerfriendly surface Englands spinners turned the contest into a onesided affair with a relentless middleovers squeeze that left Sri Lanka gasping The chase never recovered from a dramatic powerplay collapse as the hosts slumped to 345 their secondlowest powerplay score in this edition among full member sidesJofra Archer set the tone early dismissing Pathum Nissanka with a wellset trap at deep midwicket before removing Kamil Mishara But it was Will Jacks who broke the backbone of the inningsThe offspinner struck twice in the fourth over including the prized wicket of Kusal Mendis caught and bowled and then added Dunith Wellalage to finish with outstanding figures of 322 becoming the first England spinner to claim three wickets in the powerplay of a T20IWith spin operating from both ends Liam Dawson joined the act His drift and control accounted for Kamindu Mendis and later produced a sharp caughtandbowled dismissal A bizarre hitwicket from Dushan Hemantha further underlined Sri Lankas unravelling under pressureAt 536 the contest was effectively over despite a brief counterattack from skipper Dasun Shanaka The righthander struck two sixes in his 30 off 24 balls attempting to revive hopes with aggressive intent However Adil Rashids guile proved decisive The legspinner removed Shanaka with a stunning relay catch effort in the deep and then cleaned up the tail with his trademark wrong unRashid fittingly sealed the win bowling Dilshan Madushanka through the gate to trigger celebrations as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 95 their lowest total against England in T20 World CupsEarlier England themselves had struggled to build momentum after being sent in Phil Salts 62 off 40 balls anchored the innings but disciplined spells from Wellalage 326 and Maheesh Theekshana 221 restricted them to 1469That total however proved more than enough as Englands spinners suffocated the chase with precision and control extending their dominance over Sri Lanka with a 12th consecutive T20I victory in the headtohead rivalryBrief scores England 1469 in 20 overs Phil Salt 62 Dunith Wellalage 326 Maheesh Theekshana 221 beat Sri Lanka 9510 in 164 overs Dasun Shanaka 30 Will Jacks 322 Adil Rashid 213 Jofra Archer 220 by 51 runsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/t20-wc-jacks-rashid-shine-as-england-crush-sri-lanka-to-clinch-51-run-win-662255.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 19:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gautam-adani-reviews-rs-43-000-crore-power-projects-in-jharkhand-bihar-662256.html Ahmedabad Feb 22 IANS Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Sunday reviewed major power projects of the group in eastern IndianbspDuring his visit to Godda in Jharkhand Gautam Adani inspected the 1600 MW ultrasupercritical thermal power plant built with an investment of over Rs 16000 croreThe project located in a tribaldominated area has created thousands of direct and indirect jobs and improved rail connectivity in the regionThe power plant supplies electricity exclusively to Bangladesh under a longterm agreement giving it crossborder importanceThe Adani Group Chairman also visited Bihar where the Group is planning a 2400 MW ultrasupercritical power project at Pirpainti near BhagalpurThe proposed project involves an investment of over Rs 27000 crore and is expected to be completed within the next four to five years It aims to meet the growing industrial and urban power demand in he stateWith these projects the Adani Group has emerged as one of the largest private infrastructure investors in Jharkhand and BiharBoth states are rich in mineral resources but have historically seen limited largescale industrial investmentAt the Godda plant Gautam Adani interacted with engineers technicians and frontline workers appreciating their effortsHe also met tribal women from nearby communities underlining what he described as a peoplefirst approach as the Group expands its operationsEarlier in the day Gautam Adani offered prayers at the Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar calling it the fulfilment of a longheld personal wishHe spoke about the idea of Seva hi Sadhana Hai meaning service itself is devotionVisiting Baba Baidyanath in Deoghar felt as if centuriesold faith is still pulsating in the same vibrant form today Gautam Adani wrote on his X handle sharing a picture of him performing rituals thereThe realisation of why Mahadev is regarded as a symbol of strength restraint and resolve becomes even stronger upon arriving here he addedIn recent years the Adani Group has also been associated with major spiritual and public events such as the Maha Kumbh Mela and the Jagannath Rath YatraIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gautam-adani-reviews-rs-43-000-crore-power-projects-in-jharkhand-bihar-662256.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 19:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modis-visit-israeli-pm-netanyahu-eyes-middle-east-alliance-against-radicals-662257.html JerusalemNew Delhi Feb 22 IANS Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Israel on February 25 for a twoday official visit marking his second trip to the country since his historic 2017 visitnbspIn remarks during Israels weekly Cabinet meeting earlier on Sunday and shared via posts on social media platform X from official channels Israeli PM Netanyahu described the upcoming engagement as a key expression of the special relationship forged in recent years between Israel and India and what he called the global power that is IndiaOn Wednesday the Prime Minister of India my friend Narendra Modi will arrive in Israel In the vision I see before my eyes we will create a complete system of alliances around or within the Middle East An axis of countries that see reality the challenges and the goals with one eye facing the radical axis the Israeli Prime Minister saidNetanyahu emphasised the personal friendship between him and PM Modi noting that they speak frequently via phone and visit each otherWe are personal friends the Israeli PM said highlighting the warmth in bilateral ties between the two countriesIsraeli PM Netanyahu outlined his vision for the visit as advancing a broader strategic frameworkHe envisions building a comprehensive alliance system described as a hexagon of alliances in and around the Middle East uniting likeminded nations to collectively address regional challenges and counter radical forcesWe have a unique alliance and in my opinion also a historic one with the US both statetostate and my personal relations with President Trump This alliance does not mean that we are not seeking additional alliances on the contrary we are constantly nurturing them Netanyahu saidThe visit he said would contribute to tightening such alliances while deepening cooperation between Israel and India in economic diplomatic and security spheresThe agenda for PM Modis February 2526 visit includes his addressing the Knesset Israels Parliament in the afternoon a joint visit to Yad Vashem the Holocaust memorial with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and participation in an innovation event in Jerusalem focused on hightech collaboration particularly in areas like artificial intelligence quantum computing and other emerging technologiesThis foreign visit comes nearly nine years after PM Modis landmark 2017 visit the first by any Indian Prime Minister to Israel which elevated ties in defence agriculture water management and innovationNetanyahus reciprocal visit to India in 2018 further solidified the bilateral partnershipAmid ongoing Middle East tensions PM Modis visit underscores Indias strategic recalibration and growing convergence with Israel on counterterrorism defence supplies and technology sharingThe discussions are expected to cover expanding trade defence deals cybersecurity and regional stabilityThe announcement has drawn attention amid Israels domestic political dynamics with some Opposition leaders raising procedural concerns about the Knesset addressThe visit is seen as reinforcing the tremendous alliance between the two democracies with both sides keen to elevate cooperation against common threats and foster mutual growthIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modis-visit-israeli-pm-netanyahu-eyes-middle-east-alliance-against-radicals-662257.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 22:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-participate-in-groundbreaking-event-of-hcl-foxconn-chip-project-today-662062.html New Delhi Feb 21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Rs 3700 crore HCLFoxconn joint venture project India Chip Pvt Ltd in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority YEIDA area near the Noida International Airport in Jewar Uttar Pradesh on Saturday via video conferencing The establishment of the semiconductor facility by Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn and Indias HCL Group marks a significant milestone in Indiaâs journey towards technological selfreliance and reflects the Prime Ministerâs vision of positioning India as a trusted global destination for highend electronics and semiconductor manufacturingThis Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test OSAT facility at YEIDA will be set up by India Chip Pvt Ltd under the Modified Scheme for Semiconductor Assembly Testing Marking and Packaging ATMP with a total investment of over Rs 3700 croreThe project is aligned with the governments efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities reduce import dependence and build resilient global supply chainsIt is expected to play a crucial role in supporting key sectors such as mobile phones tablets laptops automotive consumer electronics and other devicesThrough this initiative Indiaâs semiconductor ecosystem will receive a major boost fostering innovation skill development and technology transferThe facility is also expected to create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities to engineers technicians and professionals while catalysing growth in ancillary industries the statement saidThe HCLFoxconn joint venture underscores Indiaâs growing stature in the global semiconductor landscape and represents a major step forward in building a robust and selfreliant electronics manufacturing ecosystemFoxconn holds a 40 per cent equity stake in the venture and has already infused 372 million around Rs 312 crore The Taiwanese contract manufacturer may invest up to Rs 424 crore in the companyYEIDA has allocated around 48 acres of land for the project in Sector 28 Jewar near the upcoming Noida International AirportThe facility will house an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test plant focused on display driver integrated circuits used in smartphones laptops and automotive applications IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-participate-in-groundbreaking-event-of-hcl-foxconn-chip-project-today-662062.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 08:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-l-g-to-open-palaash-mahotsav-2026-at-asita-today-662063.html New Delhi Feb 21 Delhi Lieutenant Governor and DDA Chairperson VK Saxena will on Saturday inaugurate the twoday Palaash Mahotsav 2026 at Asita floodplain near ITO The festival reflects DDAâs continued efforts towards sustainable urban development and enhancement of accessible public green spaces across the cityVisitors at the festival experience elaborate floral arrangements seasonal plant displays and interactive green installations showcasing both ornamental and native species it saidComplementing the horticultural exhibits are artisan stalls food courts cultural performances workshops and participatory activities making the festival inclusive and engaging for families students and visitors of all age groupsMinister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra and DDA Vice Chairman N Saravana Kumar will also participate in the inaugural eventThe Palaash festival marks the transition from winter to spring a season of renewal colour and togethernessOn February 14 the LG inaugurated the DDA Green Expo 2026 and Palaash Mahotsav 2026 at Baansera on the Yamuna bank calling upon every citizen to feel responsible towards the environmentThe LG said âWho would have ever imagined just 3 years back that this degraded and polluted site would host a âGreen Expoâ and become a platform for planning a sustainable future for DelhiâIn a message on social media he said âA stellar example of greening and reclaiming degraded land Baansera is a testimony to resilience and endeavour I hope this Expo mulls over and offers practical solutions to Delhis environmental challengesââLet us imagine Delhi as a city where every resident breathes clean air every neighbourhood enjoys the shade of trees every riverbank is cared for and every citizen feels responsible towards the environmentâ he saidThe DDA said on social media âA purposeful start to Day 1 at DDA Green Expo From the inaugural ceremony and MoU signings to the logo reveal keynote address and exhibition walkthrough the first half set the tone for Delhiâs vision of a climateready sustainable futureâIn addition to Baansera at Birsa Munda Chowk the Palaash Festival was simultaneously celebrated at Ashoka Garden at Ashok Vihar Lala Hardayal Park at Jasola and Smriti Van at Narela each curated around a distinct theme celebrating nature sustainability and community lifeThe venue features thematic floral displays curated gardens landscape installations and public activity zones together presenting a unified narrative of Delhiâs relationship with nature it saidA special emphasis has been placed on public participation and environmental awareness Through interactive installations and handson activities visitors especially children and young adults are being encouraged to engage with themes such as biodiversity conservation water sensitivity climate responsiveness and collective stewardship of urban greens said the statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-l-g-to-open-palaash-mahotsav-2026-at-asita-today-662063.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 08:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/us-trade-gap-widens-india-deficit-at-58bn-662071.html Washington Feb 21 The US trade deficit widened sharply in December capping a year in which Americaâs goods gap with India reached 582 billion The goods and services deficit rose to 703 billion in December up from 530 billion in November revised the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Economic Analysis said this weekExports fell 17 per cent to 2873 billion Imports climbed 36 per cent to 3576 billionThe widening gap was driven by goods The goods deficit increased 157 billion to 993 billion The services surplus narrowed 16 billion to 290 billionIn December alone the US goods deficit with India was 52 billionFor the full year 2025 the overall goods and services deficit stood at 9015 billion down slightly from 9035 billion in 2024 Exports rose 1998 billion to 34323 billion Imports increased 1978 billion to 43338 billionThe goods deficit widened 255 billion to 12409 billion in 2025 The services surplus increased 276 billion to 3395 billionThe United States recorded a goods deficit of 582 billion with India in 2025 That placed India among Washingtonâs larger bilateral trade gapsBy comparison the US goods deficit stood at 2188 billion with the European Union and 2021 billion with China It was 1969 billion with Mexico 1782 billion with Vietnam and 1468 billion with TaiwanExports of goods fell 55 billion in December to 1808 billion Industrial supplies and materials dropped 87 billion Nonmonetary gold fell 71 billionCapital goods exports rose 25 billion Semiconductor exports increased 09 billion Consumer goods exports rose 18 billion including a 13 billion increase in pharmaceutical preparationsImports of goods rose 102 billion to 2802 billion in December Capital goods imports increased 56 billion Computer accessories rose 34 billion Telecommunications equipment increased 13 billionIndustrial supplies and materials imports rose 70 billion Copper increased 15 billion Crude oil imports rose 10 billion Consumer goods imports fell 35 billionIn real terms the goods deficit increased 125 billion or 148 per cent to 971 billion in DecemberFor India the figures reflect expanding trade ties with the United States India has emerged as a key supplier of goods to the US market even as Washington seeks to diversify supply chains across AsiaTrade data are closely watched in both capitals They shape debates over tariffs manufacturing and strategic economic ties between the worldâs two largest democracies IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/us-trade-gap-widens-india-deficit-at-58bn-662071.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhis-aqi-remains-in-poor-category-imd-predicts-clear-skies-maximum-temp-to-hover-around-28-degrees-celsius-662076.html New Delhi Feb 21 Delhiâs air quality continued to remain in the poorâ category on Saturday even as the India Meteorological Department IMD forecast a mainly clear sky accompanied by morning mist The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 28 degrees Celsius Data from the Central Pollution Control Board CPCB showed varying AQI levels across monitoring stations in the national CapitalAnand Vihar recorded 244 Aya Nagar 138 Bawana 219 Chandni Chowk 246 DTU 189 DwarkaSector 8 at 222 IIT Delhi 144 ITO 165 Jahangirpuri 241 Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 228 Mandir Marg 149 Mundka 239 Nehru Nagar 250 Okhla Phase2 214 Pusa 216 RK Puram 243 Sonia Vihar 223 and Wazirpur 222The 24hour average AQI stood at 210 at 4 pm on Friday marginally higher than Thursdayâs reading of 208 recorded at the same time Meanwhile the minimum temperature on Friday was 128 degrees CelsiusAccording to the Air Quality Early Warning System AQEWS the AQI is expected to remain in the âpoorâ category until Monday Thereafter it may fluctuate between the âpoorâ and âmoderateâ categoriesAs per CPCB standards an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as âgoodâ 51â100 as âsatisfactoryâ 101â200 as âmoderateâ 201â300 as âpoorâ 301â400 as âvery poorâ and 401â500 as âsevereâDelhiâs weather has left residents experiencing contrasting conditions with chilly mornings gradually giving way to warmer afternoons nearing 30 degrees Celsius On Friday the maximum temperature reached 284 degrees Celsius which was 29 degrees above normal while the minimum temperature settled at 128 degrees Celsius one degree below the seasonal average according to the IMDThe weather department has indicated that similar conditions are likely to persist in the coming days with clear skies and light morning mist Although no extreme weather events are anticipated earlyhour visibility may be slightly affected due to mistSunny afternoons have brought some relief following the recent cold spell and many residents are welcoming the gradual shift toward warmer days across the capital IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhis-aqi-remains-in-poor-category-imd-predicts-clear-skies-maximum-temp-to-hover-around-28-degrees-celsius-662076.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 11:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delivery-boy-killed-by-speeding-car-in-delhis-subhash-nagar-662077.html New Delhi Feb 21 A delivery executive lost his life after being struck by a speeding car in West Delhis Subhash Nagar area in the early hours of Saturday officials said According to police the accident occurred at around 430 am when a fastmoving car rammed into the motorcycle being ridden by the delivery boy The impact was so severe that he died on the spotOn receiving information about the incident police teams rushed to the scene and began an investigation The offending vehicle has been seized and the accused driver has been taken into custodyThe victims body has been sent for postmortem examination Officials said that further investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash is underwayMore details are awaitedThe incident comes close on the heels of another fatal road accident in the national Capital earlier this month near Lal Bahadur Shastri College in Dwarka South where a man was killed after an SUV allegedly driven by a minor without a licence collided headon with his motorcycleSahil Dhaneshra 23 died on February 3 after a Scorpio SUV reportedly being driven by a 17yearold crashed into his motorcycle near the collegeAllegations raised by the victims mother claimed that the minor was filming social media reels while speeding shortly before the collisionThe force of the crash also caused the SUV to hit a parked cab leaving its driver seriously injured The minor who did not possess a valid driving licence was apprehended and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board which sent him to an observation homeHe was subsequently granted interim bail on February 10 to allow him to appear for his Class 10 Board examinationsDelhi Police registered a case under Sections 281 rash driving 1061 causing death by negligence and 125a act endangering life or personal safety of others of the Bharatiya Nyaya SanhitaDuring the investigation the minors father was detained and later released with police indicating that he would be named in the chargesheet under relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles ActPolice said the probe established that the Scorpio was being driven by the minor at the time of the accident and that he did not hold a valid driving licence Further investigation into the case is continuing IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delivery-boy-killed-by-speeding-car-in-delhis-subhash-nagar-662077.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 11:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-wishes-cm-sai-on-birthday-hails-efforts-to-boost-chhattisgarhs-progress-662081.html New Delhi Feb 21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday wished Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on his birthday and hailed his efforts to drive the states progress CM Vishnu Deo Sai was born on February 21 1964 in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh in a family of farmers He currently represents the Kunkuri Assembly constituencyIn a post on X PM Modi said Warm birthday wishes to CM of Chhattisgarh Shri Vishnu Deo Sai His efforts to boost Chhattisgarhs progress are admirable and are having a transformative impact on peoples lives Praying for his long life and good healthHome Minister Amit Shah taking to social media extended warm birthday wishes to the Chhattisgarh CMHeartfelt birthday wishes to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Shri Vishnu Deo Sai ji Under your leadership Chhattisgarh is witnessing a beautiful era of peace security and the welfare of every section of society I pray to Maa Danteshwari for your excellent health and a long life HM Shah said in a post on XUnion Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also took to X and prayed for CM Vishnu Deo Sais long and healthy lifeChhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai ji heartfelt birthday wishes to you I pray to God for your excellent health long life and a blessed life he saidUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extending birthday wishes to the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister said I pray to Maa Danteshwari ji that you be blessed with excellent health long life and continuous energy and glory for the service of the stateDelhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also wished CM Vishnu Deo Sai and said Heartfelt birthday greetings and best wishes to the Honourable Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Shri Vishnu Dev Sai JiUnder your able leadership the state is reaching new heights in development good governance and public welfare I pray to Maa Danteshwari for your good health and long life she said in a post on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-wishes-cm-sai-on-birthday-hails-efforts-to-boost-chhattisgarhs-progress-662081.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 11:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nitish-kumar-issues-five-point-directive-to-improve-pedestrian-safety-in-bihar-662082.html Patna Feb 21 Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday issued five point directive to improve pedestrian safety in Bihar In a detailed post on social media the Chief Minister issued five key instructions to the states Transport Department keeping in mind the daily difficulties faced by pedestriansIn his post the Chief Minister said that after the formation of the new government on November 20 2025 the programmes under Saat Nischay3 are being implementedUnder the seventh resolution of Saat Nischay3 2025â30 titled Sabka Samman â Jeevan Aasan the government is continuously working to make the daily lives of citizens simpler and more dignifiedHe noted that Bihar is progressing rapidly with rising incomes leading to a steady increase in number of twowheelers and fourwheelers on the roadsHowever this growth has also increased inconvenience and risk for pedestrians he addedWalking safely and with dignity on the road is the primary right of pedestrians the Chief Minister said adding that road safety standards must be strictly followedKeeping pedestrian safety at the centre the Chief Minister directed the Transport Department to implement the five points on a priority basis which include identification and construction of footpaths at the earliest in urban areas especially in hightraffic zonesHe directed officials for construction of zebra crossings at designated locations for safe pedestrian movement development of foot overbridges escalators and underpasses at identified locations to ensure safe road crossingThe Chief Minister also stressed on training all government and private vehicle drivers to make them more sensitive towards pedestriansâ rights and safetyHe pressed for identification of accidentprone black spots in both rural and urban areas along with construction of pedestrian footpaths and installation of CCTV cameras to assess and reduce road accidentsThe Chief Minister instructed the Transport Department to work expeditiously so that pedestrians receive these facilities at the earliestI am confident that this initiative will prove extremely useful for pedestrian safety and will make daily life easier he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nitish-kumar-issues-five-point-directive-to-improve-pedestrian-safety-in-bihar-662082.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 11:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ls-speaker-and-law-minister-launch-jgus-three-new-masters-degree-programmes-662086.html New Delhi Feb 21 Dedicated to the Strengthening of the Rule of Law Democratic and Parliamentary Institutions and Electoral Processes OP Jindal Global University has launched three new Degree Programmes in Electoral Analysis amp Management Political Communication and Legislative Drafting The launch took place in the presence of the Chief Guest Om Birla Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Guest of Honour Arjun Ram Meghwal Minister of State for Law amp Justice Independent Charge Government of India Other distinguished luminaries included Tushar Mehta Solicitor General of India and Naveen Jindal Chancellor OP Jindal Global University and Member of Parliament The three Masterâs Degree Programmes are MA in Legislative Drafting MA in Electoral Analysis amp Management and MA in Political CommunicationDesigned as intensive oneyear programmes the three MA degrees respond to the growing demand for professionally trained experts capable of engaging with the complex realities of contemporary democracy ranging from election administration and political campaigns to strategic communication and highquality lawmaking In the Inaugural Address the Chief Guest Speaker Om Birla said âIn todays democratic age when we are the worlds largest democracy and looking at the current needs and those of the future these masters degree courses will improve our democracy The courses will help prepare young people who will give a new direction to the political democratic technological and literacy aspects of our country They will improve our economic systems and give a new direction to peoples participation in democracy Since 1952 eighteen Lok Sabha elections have been held and India is the only democratic country where elections are held transparently Our future generation will study Electoral Analysis amp Management and do new research The more our youth study this subject the more they will innovate and active participation in democracy will also increase Multicultural communication is necessary today The Indian Parliament has also used AI technology to increase the proximity of the people and the legislators These courses will prepare the future generation in a way that their participation will strengthen democratic institutions democratic processes and judicial systemsâIn his Presidential Address Minister of Law and Justice Independent charge Arjun Ram Meghwal said âThe launch of advanced degree programmes in Legislative Practice Electoral Analysis and Management and Political Communication by OP Jindal Global University is a landmark achievement In legislative language even a single word can carry different meanings Every word in the Constitution has meaning every concept has significance Legislative drafting is extremely important when any Ministry prepares a Bill it is sent for legal vetting and careful drafting There is a full institutional mechanism in place to ensure clarity and precision Through these courses JGU students will gain a better understanding of legislative drafting and governance This knowledge will benefit society at largeâR Venkataramani Attorney General for India lauded the new courses in a special message and said âI hope these courses attract the brightest talent and they turn out as immaculate resources for the society A fullfledged course in legislative drafting is long overdue JGU is looking to create talents who can make more credible communication in political connectivity We look forward to an exciting journey in this field of educationââIt is indeed a privilege to be a part of this gathering todayâ said Tushar Mehta Solicitor General of India âOne of the most ignored subjects in law is legislative drafting JGU must be the firstever institution which offers a postgraduate course in legislative drafting and this is important because what we are lacking as a nation is good legislative drafting Now we will have able and committed professionals who are trained in the art of drafting legislation Often we do not consider legislative drafting to be something that can be taught But it is a science in itselfNaveen Jindal the Founding Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University and Member of Parliament said that the new courses launched by JGU will help strengthen Indias democratic process and enable young people to pursue three unique programmes in electoral analysis and legislative drafting at JGU In his Welcome Address the Founding Vice Chancellor Prof Dr C Raj Kumar OP Jindal Global University said âToday we are launching three important academic initiatives and each has a particular purpose and meaning Uncertainty and unpredictability in the legislative drafting stage create obvious interventions by courts which may not necessarily be the best way to approach the very idea of justice At a time when the faith in democratic institutions and processes in many countries around the world including developed countries is being questioned and challenged these new courses will strengthen the political and legislative process We need to be part of democratic conversations creating knowledge contributing to research and engaging with civil society as well Beyond academic training these programmes are designed to significantly enhance studentsâ employability by integrating handson and immersive learning mentorship from experienced practitioners and exposure to realworld policy and governance environments Through internships live projects simulations and interaction with policymakers and communication professionals students will graduate with practical skills professional networks and domain expertise that are highly valued across government institutions political organisations consulting firms media houses regulatory authorities and international organisationsâIntroducing Masterâs Degree Programmes Prof Dr Upasana Mahanta Dean Admissions amp Outreach OP Jindal Global University said that together the three programmes reflect JGUâs commitment to interdisciplinary practiceoriented education that bridges academia and realworld governance challenges while fostering ethical leadership and democratic valuesThe MA in Electoral Analysis amp Management EAM focuses on the theory and practice of elections covering electoral systems voter behaviour campaign strategy election administration data analytics and democratic ethics The programme prepares graduates for roles in election management bodies political parties campaign organisations policy institutions and civil societyThe MA in Political Communication examines the relationship between politics media technology and public opinion Combining political theory with communication studies digital strategy campaign simulations and practitionerled learning the programme equips students to design analyse and manage political messaging across traditional and digital platformsThe MA in Legislative Drafting offers specialised training in the drafting of laws and regulations statutory interpretation constitutional principles and policy design The programme aims to professionalise legislative drafting by integrating legal precision plainlanguage drafting and comparative best practices preparing graduates for careers in legislatures government departments regulatory bodies and policy researchProf Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik the Registrar of OP Jindal Global University gave the Vote of Thanks IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ls-speaker-and-law-minister-launch-jgus-three-new-masters-degree-programmes-662086.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 12:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/five-dead-six-injured-after-car-hits-divider-in-gujarats-mehsana-662091.html Mehsana Feb 21 Five members of a family from Ahmedabad were killed and six others injured when their car collided with a divider on the UnjhaMehsana highway near Unava in north Gujarat early on Saturday police said The family was returning to the Ramol area of Ahmedabad after attending a wedding in Rajasthan when the accident occurredAccording to police the driver of the Eeco car lost control of the vehicle near Unava causing it to crash into the central divider The force of the collision left the vehicle severely damagedFour people Ramlal Kumawat Kailash Kumawat Komal Kumawat and a child died at the scene An elderly woman identified as Mantharadevi later died while undergoing treatment at Mehsana Civil Hospital taking the total number of deaths to fiveSix other occupants of the vehicle including the driver sustained serious injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatmentPolice said their condition remains serious The family is originally from the Pali district in Rajasthan and has roots in Bhavnagar They currently reside in AhmedabadOfficers from the Unava police station reached the site shortly after being informed and carried out rescue operations with the help of the local residents The bodies were sent for postmortem examination and a case of accidental death has been registeredFurther investigation is underway The accident caused a temporary traffic disruption on the highway until the damaged vehicle was removed and the road was clearedOn Friday seven people died after a Maruti Eeco car rammed a truck in Valsad district According to officials five members of the same family died on the spot when their car collided with a speeding truck at a turn on the ghat stretch The family residents of Amba Jungle village in Kaprada were travelling in the Eeco car at the time of the accident IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/five-dead-six-injured-after-car-hits-divider-in-gujarats-mehsana-662091.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 12:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-keeping-pace-with-technology-sanjay-kumar-jha-as-uk-ai-minister-visits-patna-662093.html New Delhi Feb 21 Kanishka Narayan the UKâs AI Minister received a warm welcome in Patna on Saturday during his visit to Bihar after more than two decades Sanjay Kumar Jha JDU MP welcomed the visiting minister at his residence in Patna and highlighted the significance of his visit for the stateâs technological aspirations Speaking to IANS Sanjay Kumar Jha said Since he is from Bihar and serves as a minister in the AI department in UK he is familiar with all these matters Today everything has become global and Bihar is keeping pace especially in the field of technologyJha further noted Kanishka Narayan is the AI Minister in the United Kingdom and a UK citizen originally from Muzaffarpur He is visiting Muzaffarpur after 23 years In the afternoon he is scheduled to meet officials of the Bihar government and there might be collaboration in AI with London some talks might happen on that as wellâNarayan reflecting on his return to his birthplace said I was born here and so Im back after more than 20 years You can see a huge amount of progress here We are chasing the future of technology thats what were trying to do in the UK with AI as well so its a real personal pleasure to be here in BiharHis visit is seen as symbolically significant bridging his roots in Bihar with his current role in shaping the UKs AI strategy Discussions during the visit are expected to explore potential cooperation in AI development research and innovationEarlier on Friday speaking on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi Narayan described the ongoing discussions as highly significant The summit has been deeply impactful the Minister stated recognising the value of this global gathering in shaping the future of AINarayan emphasised that the UKIndia relationship in the digital domain rests on mutual understanding and aligned strategic priorities He highlighted the parallel paths both nations are taking in the regulation and responsible deployment of AIThe UK and India have shared values and AI trajectory as well he remarked pointing to the clear synergy in their approaches to the technologys evolutionExpressing strong personal interest in advancing ties Narayan concluded I am very keen on collaborations with India as we have a lot to do together IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-keeping-pace-with-technology-sanjay-kumar-jha-as-uk-ai-minister-visits-patna-662093.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 13:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/two-year-old-child-among-4-from-maharashtra-killed-in-karnataka-road-accident-662097.html Bagalkot Karnataka Feb 21 Three migrant labourers and their twoyearold child all hailing from Maharashtra were killed in a road accident in Karnatakaâs Bagalkot district on Saturday the police said According to the police the victims were travelling in a tractor trolley to a sugarcane field for harvesting work when the trolley reportedly got detached from the vehicle and overturned near Katte Kere in Jamakhandi taluk killing four of them on the spotThe deceased have been identified as Manish Pandey 23 Halaki Pandey 2 Lakshmi Chiramadi 27 and Rekha Bhuke They were residents of Gupawadi village in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra The labourers had come to the Jamakhandi region for seasonal sugarcane cutting workThe police said the impact of the accident was so severe that all four died on the spot The bodies were later shifted to a hospital for postmortem examination The police carried out a preliminary inspection of the accident site and registered a case in the accident Further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accidentThe incident comes amid a series of recent tragedies involving migrant workers in KarnatakaOn January 31 four migrant workers from Assam employed by a private firm were found dead under mysterious circumstances inside a labour shed in Muthsandra village of Hoskote taluk on the outskirts of Bengaluru Police said the men were sleeping in the shed when the incident occurred Preliminary findings suggest possible suffocation though the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmedEarlier on February 8 three migrant workers from Andhra Pradeshâs Annamayya district were killed and 15 others seriously injured when a jeep carrying agricultural labourers overturned near Srinivaspur in Kolar district The group had travelled to Karnataka for farm work and were returning home when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle causing it to skid and overturn IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/two-year-old-child-among-4-from-maharashtra-killed-in-karnataka-road-accident-662097.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 13:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/seven-crpf-personnel-injured-in-road-accident-in-jampks-srinagar-662100.html Srinagar Feb 21 Seven Central Reserve Police Force CRPF personnel were injured on Saturday in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmirs Srinagar district Officials said that seven CRPF jawans were injured in Dagpora area of Srinagar district in a road accidentThe accident occurred at Dagpora in Ahmad Nagar area when a bulletproof Bunker vehicle of the CRPF went out of the drivers control and skidded off the road plunging into a water canal The injured have been shifted to SKIMS for treatment the officials addedDoctors attending on the injured jawans said they were stableThe injured have been identified as Naginder Singh 36 Ajit Kumar Ram 36 Raj Kishore Rai 40 Amit Kumar Yadav 38 Rajdhan Ram 55 Mankar Kumar 40 and Neeraj Kumar 45 the officials saidRoad accidents often cause fatalities in Jammu and Kashmir and are mostly attributed to rash and negligent driving road rage overloading overspeeding and by the two wheeler drivers not wearing crash helmetsTraffic Department has deployed special squads to check these offences and petrol pumps have been directed not to give fuel to motorcycle drivers reporting without wearing the crash helmetsRoadside counselling is also held by the traffic department officials to educate drivers about traffic rules and the dangers caused by violating the traffic rulesRTOs have been advertising strict action against offences like driving vehicles without a driving licence or a vehicle being driven by a minor and those indulging in stunts on the roadCancellation of vehicle registration and imprisonment to parents is one provision of the law in case a vehicle is fought being driven by a minorThe menace of motorcycle drivers doing stunts on the road has spread to many areas in the Valley although originally a few cases were reported from Srinagar district onlyEven a female youth has been caught doing stunts on her motorcycle in south Kashmir districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/seven-crpf-personnel-injured-in-road-accident-in-jampks-srinagar-662100.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 13:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assembly-elections-cpi-662117.html Thiruvananthapuram Feb 21 The Communist Party of India Marxist is expected to decide on first probable list of candidates on Saturday at its 17member State Secretariat meeting that commenced here The meeting marks the initial stage of the partys internal selection process as it prepares for the upcoming Assembly elections As per party procedure the Secretariat will first decide which among its own members should enter the frayOnce a decision is arrived at the proposed names will be forwarded to the respective district committees for approvalAfter securing districtlevel clearance the list will be sent back to the State leadership for finalisationThe present Secretariat includes Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and five State Ministers P A Mohammed Riyas Saji Cherian K N Balagopal P Rajeev and V N VasavanOther key members are State Secretary M V Govindan former Health Minister K K Shailaja and Left Democratic Front convenor T P Ramakrishnan all sitting legislatorsSenior leaders Thomas Isaac E P Jayarajan M V Jayarajan M Swaraj K K Jayachandran Puthelethu Dineshan P K Biju and C N Mohanan are also part of the panelCentral Committee members C S Sujatha K S Saleekha and P Sathi Devi are also likely to be consideredIt remains to be seen whether veterans such as P K Sreemathi and Elamaram Kareem will figure in the reckoningWith the CPIM aiming for a third successive term the leadership is treading cautiously after its worst setback in recent years at the December local body polls where it lost ground in several traditional strongholdsThe party currently governs just one of the States six Corporations a sharp fall from the five it controlled after the 2020 local body electionsIncidentally at the 2021 Assembly polls to the 140member Kerala Legislative Assembly the CPIM contested in 75 seats and won 62 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assembly-elections-cpi-662117.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/over-12-000-litres-of-illicit-liquor-destroyed-in-bihars-gopalganj-662119.html Patna Feb 21 In major crackdown against illicit liquor the Excise Department destroyed over 12000 litres of alcohol in Bihars Gopalganj area Indian and foreign liquor worth crores of rupees was destroyed using bulldozers in a highsecurity operationThe drive was conducted jointly by the Excise Department and the Bihar Police during which seized liquor kept in multiple police stations was disposed of simultaneouslyIn total around 12000 litres of liquor seized in nearly 100 cases were destroyed including 20 excise cases and 80 police station casesTo ensure transparency and security the entire operation was carried out in the presence of excise officials police personnel and a magistrateAs per prescribed rules the seized liquor was first transported to designated locations where pits were dug and the liquor was destroyed using bulldozers to prevent any possibility of reuse or illegal circulationExcise Superintendent Amitesh Kumar Jha said About 12000 litres of liquor seized in a total of 100 cases have been destroyed today The estimated market value runs into crores of rupees This action was conducted under the supervision of police officers and magistrates and such operations will continue in the futureOfficials said the operation was carried out under strict supervision at the Balthari check post under the Kuchaykot police station area and at locations near airports falling under the Mirganj police stationThe Excise Department stated that a continuous campaign against illegal liquor is underway in the district and seized liquor is being destroyed periodically as per legal provisionsDespite the complete prohibition in Bihar liquor smugglers continue to attempt to supply alcohol illegallyIn this context the coordinated action by the Excise Department and police is being seen as a strong warning to illegal tradersBy destroying more than 12000 litres of illegal liquor the Gopalganj administration has reiterated that strict enforcement of prohibition laws will continue in the district in the coming days IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/over-12-000-litres-of-illicit-liquor-destroyed-in-bihars-gopalganj-662119.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 14:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-final-electoral-roll-2026-published-voter-count-crosses-515-crore-662123.html Jaipur Feb 21 With 515 crore voters now on record the final electoral roll of Rajasthan was published on Saturday following the successful completion of the Special Intensive Revision SIR2026 across 199 Assembly constituencies in the state The final voter list that was published on Saturday put the total number of registered voters at 51519929 including 26957881 men 24561486 women and 562 thirdgender votersCompared to the draft publication the final roll shows a net increase of 1048605 voters reflecting a growth of 208 per cent with Jaipur Phalodi Bharatpur Sirohi and Bundi recording the highest rise in voter numbersThe gender ratio improved from 909 to 911 indicating better female voter registration across the state particularly in Jaipur Kota Ajmer Sirohi Dungarpur Bundi Jhalawar and BaranThe number of young voters in the 18â19 age group also increased by 435061 showing a growth of 082 per cent with Jaipur Barmer Bharatpur Phalodi and Bundi witnessing the highest addition of new young votersOn the occasion of the final publication District Election Officers held meetings with representatives of all recognised political parties and provided them free soft and hard copies of the 2026 electoral rollsVoters were informed that they can verify their names and EPIC details online through the official websites of the Election Department and the Election Commission of India and that the process of inclusion deletion and correction of entries in the electoral roll remains continuous through Forms 6 7 and 8 via the Voters Portal or by contacting Booth Level OfficersThe Chief Electoral Officer stated that the largescale revision exercise was carried out with the active participation of 41 District Election Officers 199 Electoral Registration Officers 1651 Assistant EROs more than 61000 Booth Level Officers over 108 lakh Booth Level Agents volunteers and all major political parties along with extensive public awareness through print electronic and digital mediaRegular coordination meetings were held with political parties to ensure transparency and accuracy and the final electoral roll for the vacant Assembly constituency will be published on March 12 this year IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-final-electoral-roll-2026-published-voter-count-crosses-515-crore-662123.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/goa-has-1057-lakh-voters-after-revision-as-ec-publishes-final-electoral-roll-662124.html Panaji Feb 21 The Election Commission on Saturday published the final electoral roll for Goa confirming a total of 1057566 eligible voters across the state after the Special Intensive Revision of the rolls The updated list follows a rigorous verification process aimed at streamlining the electorate and removing discrepancies ahead of upcoming pollsAccording to the Chief Electoral Officer of Goa the total number of voters stood at 1185034 prior to the draft publication This initial pool comprised 573853 male and 611168 female votersTo ensure accuracy boothlevel officers distributed enumeration forms to all 1185 lakh citizens receiving 1084992 completed forms marking a 9156 per cent return rate The verification process led to the removal of 100042 voters from the rolls due to various factors such as death migration and duplication an official saidBreakdown of the dropped voters revealed that 25574 individuals were deceased while 29729 were found to be absent or untraceable Additionally about 40000 voters had shifted their residence to other locationsFollowing these corrections the draft list published on December 16 last year accounted for 1084992 lakh voters including 523 lakh males 561 lakh females and nine thirdgender votersTechnical mapping also played a critical role in the finalisation of the voter list Out of the 1084992 lakh voters in the draft list about 9 lakh 8319 per cent were successfully mapped with parental or personal electoral details However the Election Commissionâs IT system identified logical discrepancies for approximately 59000 voters within this mapped group which were subsequently addressed under various ECINET categoriesOfficials confirmed that the final electoral roll is now displayed at all polling stations and is available for public inspection at the offices of the Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers starting SaturdayIn the 2022 Assembly election in Goa the Bharatiya Janata Party retained power by winning 20 of 40 seats and later secured support from smaller parties and Independents to form the government The Congress emerged as the single largest opposition but failed to form a coalitionIn the 2024 general election to the Lok Sabha Goaâs two parliamentary constituencies were split with the BJP winning one seat and the Congress the other reflecting a competitive twoparty contest in the stateâs national politics IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/goa-has-1057-lakh-voters-after-revision-as-ec-publishes-final-electoral-roll-662124.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/caqm-issues-statutory-direction-proposing-stricter-pm-emission-norms-for-industries-across-delhi-ncr-662125.html New Delhi Feb 21 In a move to strengthen industrial emission control measures across the National Capital Region NCR the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas CAQM on Saturday issued a statutory direction proposing a uniform and more stringent Particulate Matter PM emission standard of 50 mgNm³ for identified industries across DelhiNCR Industrial stack emissions are a significant source of elevated PM levels in DelhiNCR and also contribute to the formation of secondary particulates adversely impacting the regionâs air qualityRecognising the urgent need for stricter control the Commission has undertaken a series of targeted measures since its inceptionThese include the mandatory transition to cleaner fuels the prescription of emission standards for biomass and other fuelbased boilers and furnaces and the issuance of approved fuel lists through various statutory directionsThe Commission after considering recommendations of the Central Pollution Control Board CPCB based on a study conducted by IIT Kanpur and inputs from a Technical Committee constituted by CPCB has concluded that a PM emission standard of 50 mgNm³ is both technically achievable and environmentally necessaryThe revised standard is expected to significantly reduce industrial emissions contributing to the abatement of air pollution and improving overall air quality in the region It will also benefit people residing in the immediate vicinity of industrial clustersAccording to the press release the maximum permissible limit of PM emissions from 17 categories of highly polluting industries identified by CPCB Red Category medium and large airpolluting industries food and food processing units textile industries with boilers or thermic fluid heaters and metal industries operating furnaces in DelhiNCR shall be 50 mgNm³However this standard will not apply to industrial units already prescribed a PM emission standard lower than 50 mgNm³ under any applicable consent direction or statutory provisionThe revised PM emission norms will come into effect for large and medium industries from August 1 and for the remaining industries from October 1Further the respective NCR State Governments and GNCTD and the Pollution Control Boards in the States of Haryana Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee have been directed by the Commission to ensure effective implementation of the Statutory Direction particularly the targeted timelines for compliance with the revised PM emission standard and also undertake intensive IEC activities to sensitise stakeholders and spread awareness IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/caqm-issues-statutory-direction-proposing-stricter-pm-emission-norms-for-industries-across-delhi-ncr-662125.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-brazil-to-bolster-steel-supply-chain-662133.html New Delhi Feb 21 IANS India and Brazil on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding MoU to enhance cooperation in the field of mining and minerals required for the steel sectornbspThis partnership will support efficient preparation of steelmaking inputs enable technologyled improvements across the steel value chain and strengthen resilience and sustainability of the IndiaBrazil steel supply chainAccording to Ministry of Steel it provides an institutional framework for strengthening bilateral cooperation across the steel value chain with a focus on promoting reliable and sustainable development of key raw materials required for steel productionThe cooperation will focus on attracting investment in exploration mining and infrastructure development in steel sector processing and recycling technologies for minerals automation and the use of advanced technologies in exploration and mining use of artificial intelligence in geoscientific data analysis to enhance exploration processes and best practices in mineral extraction processing and environmental managementThe Ministry of Steel and the Ministry of Mines and Energy of the Federative Republic of Brazil signed the MoU in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva President of Brazil at Hyderabad House hereAccording to an official statement Brazil is among the worlds leading producers of iron ore and possesses significant reserves of minerals critical to steelmaking including manganese nickel and niobiumnbspEnhanced cooperation with Brazil is expected to improve access to key raw materials and technologies necessary for sustaining longterm growth of Indias steel sector it addedIndia currently has a steelmaking capacity of 218 million tonnesnbspTo meet growing domestic demand driven by infrastructure development and industrialisation Indian companies are undertaking significant expansion in steelmaking capacitynbspThe partnership is an important step towards strengthening cooperation for development of mineral resources required for steel production facilitating access to advanced technologies in mineral processing beneficiation recycling and datadriven explorationnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-brazil-to-bolster-steel-supply-chain-662133.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/over-300-students-from-govt-schools-in-punjab-qualify-jee-mains-2026-punjab-education-minister-bains-662134.html DW Bureau ChandigarhnbspPunjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Saturday said 305 students from government schools qualified in their first attempt of the joint entrance examination JEE Mains 2026This number reflects an increase of 63 per cent from last years 187 successful candidates he said describing the achievement as a defining moment for the states school education systemBains shared that five students from his constituency Sri Anandpur Sahib also cracked the prestigious examination He announced that the government will organise a special threeweek residential training camp to prepare the qualified students for JEE Advance ensuring they receive focused guidance for the next stageThis feat marks a moment of immense pride for our entire school education department I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our dedicated teachers The recent JEE Mains Phase 1 results showcased an outstanding performance by the Punjab government schools with 305 students cracking the competitive engineering exam Bains saidThis feat represents a remarkable 63 per cent increase from last years 187 qualifiers he saidnbspAchieving such a significant milestone in just one year is a testament to the transformative power of our Punjab Sikhya Kranti initiative We are committed to further accelerating our progress the state education minister saidHighlighting the human stories behind the numbers the Education Minister shared that Bhavishya a Grade 12 NonMedical student from the School of Eminence Town Hall Amritsar secured an impressive 98182 percentile despite coming from a family with an annual income of Rs 15 lakh His father runs a mobile repair shop and his mother works as a tailor Despite financial constraints his determination to pursue engineering and uplift his family remained unshaken With strong school support and disciplined preparation he achieved outstanding success he saidHe further informed that Dilkhush Jha a government school student from Bathinda scored 95091 percentile in JEE Mains With a labourer father and homemaker mother and an annual family income of Rs 12 lakh he relied on selfstudy and PACE classes to excel Similarly Priyanka Sharma a science student from the School of Eminence Sangrur secured 9644 percentile in JEE Mains while simultaneously preparing for NEET Coming from a family with an annual income of Rs 35 lakh she benefitted from PACE classes mock tests and structured guidanceThe Education Minister stated Priyanka Sharma a Grade 12 Science student of School of Eminence Sangrur comes from a supportive family where her father works as an accountant and her mother is a private school teacher With an annual family income of around Rs 35 lakh she prepared with discipline and consistency benefiting from PACE classes regular mock tests and strong academic guidance Her efforts resulted in an excellent 9644 percentile in JEE Main achieved alongside her NEET preparationNarrating another success story the Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains stated Harmandeep Sharma a Grade 12 Non Medical student of School of Eminence Chhajli Sangrur comes from a family where his father works as an accountant and his mother is a homemaker with an annual income of around Rs 25 lakh Aspiring to pursue engineering he prepared entirely through school support without taking any private tuition relying on teacher guidance and PACE learning resources His disciplined preparation resulted in an outstanding 9875 percentile in JEE MainThe Education Minister noted Palak Kaur a Class 12 student of a Government School in Amritsar comes from a humble background and faced significant personal challenges after losing her father She is being raised by her mother a homemaker with an annual family income of less than Rs 100000 Despite financial hardship and emotional difficulties she remained focused on her education Her perseverance resulted in a commendable 9011 percentile in JEE MainHe further said Kajal a Class 12 student of a Government School in SAS Nagar comes from a modest family where her father works as a supervisor in a private security company and her mother is a homemaker With an annual family income of around Rs 80000 financial limitations were a challenge but her focus on education remained strong She aspires to pursue Computer Science from IIT Madras Her disciplined preparation resulted in a strong 9266 percentile in JEE Main 2026The Minister highlighted Pardeep a Class 12 student of a Government School in SAS Nagar comes from a modest family where his father works as a labourer in a water cooler factory and his mother is a homemaker With an annual family income of around Rs 120000 financial challenges were constant His aspiration is to secure a good job so that his father no longer has to work in difficult factory conditions His disciplined effort resulted in a commendable 9311 percentile in JEE Main 2026We have countless such stories of children from modest backgrounds dreaming of IIT Madras IIT Bombay IIT Delhi and BITS Pilani said Minister Harjot Singh Bains crediting the success to the Punjab Governments focused interventions especially the PACE coaching portal that provides free highquality preparation support to government school students and narrows the gap for talented children from humble backgroundsLooking ahead the Education Minister expressed confidence that the tally would further rise after the second attempt of JEE Mains This is only the first phase result With the second attempt approaching I am confident that our final figures will increase substantially and be even more impressive he said https://dailyworld.in/national/over-300-students-from-govt-schools-in-punjab-qualify-jee-mains-2026-punjab-education-minister-bains-662134.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/us-supreme-court-strikes-down-trump-global-tariffs-says-they-are-unlawful-662024.html Washington Feb 20 IANS In a major setback to President Donald Trumps economic agenda the US Supreme Court on Friday struck down most of his sweeping tariffs ruling that he lacked authority under a 1977 emergency law to impose broad import levies on Americas trading partners across the world including IndianbspThe ruling marks a rare instance of the conservativeled court reining in Trumps use of executive power According to Politico the court in a 63 decision struck down the tariffs calling it a major repudiation of a core piece of Trumps economic programmeChief Justice John Roberts writing for the majority said The President asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount duration and scope In light of the breadth history and constitutional context of that asserted authority he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise itRoberts added that the 1977 law Trump relied on falls short of the Congressional approval requiredThe Washington Post reported that the justices ruled the president did not have the authority under a 1977 emergency economic powers law to impose a vast array of import levies on goods from nearly all of the nations trading partnersThe Hill said the court cast aside the bulk of President Trumps sweeping tariffs Friday obliterating a canon of his economic strategy in ruling that his use of an emergency statute to remake global trade was unlawfulThe justices rejected Trumps expanded use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act IEEPA a 1970sera statute that allows the president to regulate imports when necessary to respond to national emergencies that pose an unusual and extraordinary threatWe claim no special competence in matters of economics or foreign affairs Roberts wrote We claim only as we must the limited role assigned to us by Article III of the Constitution Fulfilling that role we hold that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffsTrump had declared emergencies over fentanyl and trade deficits to justify tariffs on countries including Canada China and Mexico and to impose what he called reciprocal tariffs on dozens of trading partners worldwide On India Trump has imposed an 18 percent tariffThe Hill noted that Trump is the first president to attempt to invoke IEEPA to impose tariffs in its nearly 50year historySectorspecific tariffs relying on separate legal authorities including those on steel aluminium and copper were not at issue and remain in effectThe decision is expected to trigger efforts by companies to recover billions of dollars in tariffs already paid In the runup to the ruling Costco parts of the Toyota Group Revlon and hundreds of other companies had filed lawsuits seeking to protect their claims according to The HillThough the ruling represents a significant defeat avenues remain for the administration Congress retains constitutional authority to impose tariffs and the president could seek to justify duties under other existing lawsThe International Emergency Economic Powers Act was enacted in 1977 to provide presidents with authority to address extraordinary foreign threats during national emergencies Over the decades it has primarily been used to impose sanctions rather than broadbased tariffs making this case a significant test of executive power in trade policyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/us-supreme-court-strikes-down-trump-global-tariffs-says-they-are-unlawful-662024.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 21:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-condoles-death-of-shillong-mp-ricky-syngkon-says-meghalaya-will-remember-his-service-661938.html Guwahati Feb 20 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Shillong Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon remembering him as a dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly for the people of Meghalaya In a post on the social media platform X the Prime Minister said he was saddened by the passing of Dr Syngkon and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family friends and supportersâSaddened by the passing of Lok Sabha MP from Shillong Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon He will be remembered for his dedicated service to the people of Meghalaya My thoughts are with his family friends and supporters during this difficult time May his soul rest in peaceâ PM Modi wroteShillong Member of Parliament Ricky AJ Syngkon of the Voice of the People Party VPP passed away on Thursday evening after suddenly falling ill while playing football triggering widespread shock and grief across Meghalayaâs political spectrumDr Syngkon had gone to play football with friends on Thursday evening at a playground in Mawlai MawiongDuring the match he reportedly collapsed on the field prompting immediate concern among those present He was swiftly rushed by his friends to the nearby Mawiong Community Health Centre CHC for emergency medical attention However due to the absence of a doctor at the facility at that time he was referred to a higher medical centre He was subsequently shifted to Dr H Gordon Roberts Hospital in Jaiaw for advanced treatmentDoctors said that despite efforts by the medical team Dr Syngkon succumbed shortly after being admitted He was declared dead at around 842 pm leaving supporters colleagues and residents of the state stunned by the sudden lossFollowing the news of his death Chief Minister Conrad Sangma Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit along with several legislators senior political leaders and party workers rushed to the hospital to pay their respects and console family membersDr Syngkon a firsttime Member of Parliament had emerged as a prominent political figure after registering a landslide victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha electionsContesting on a VPP ticket he had defeated threetime Congress MP Vincent H Pala by a massive margin of over 37 lakh votes a result that marked a significant shift in Meghalayaâs political landscapeKnown for his grassroots connect and advocacy on issues concerning indigenous rights governance and transparency Dr Syngkonâs sudden demise has created a void in state and national politics particularly within the VPPLeaders across party lines expressed deep condolences remembering him as a committed public representative with a promising political futureThe state government is likely to issue further details regarding last rites and official condolence arrangements IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-condoles-death-of-shillong-mp-ricky-syngkon-says-meghalaya-will-remember-his-service-661938.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/prohibitory-orders-imposed-in-karnatakas-bagalkot-after-stone-pelting-during-shivaji-jayanti-procession-661951.html Bagalkot Feb 20 Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Bagalkot city of Karnataka on Friday following tension triggered by a stonepelting incident during the Shivaji Jayanti procession The incident was reported from the Killa Oni area when the procession was passing in front of a mosqueIn the wake of the incident police have clamped prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSS in Old Bagalkot Navanagar and Vidyagiri localities The restrictions will remain in force until midnight on December 24Under the prohibitory orders gathering and movement of more than four persons in public places have been banned Carrying dangerous weapons engaging in activities that pose a threat to public safety conducting meetings or events without prior permission and staging protests have also been prohibitedPolice have tightened security arrangements across the city Additional security personnel have been deployed near the Panka Mosque surrounding areas and the Kottaleshwara temple to prevent any further untoward incidentsAmid the tension Hindu activists have expressed dissatisfaction over the police not arresting anyone in connection with the stonepelting incident so far They said they would discuss their future course of action and questioned the message being sent if no arrests were made despite the Superintendent of Police sustaining injuries Some activists staged a latenight protest on Thursday following the incident and warned of laying siege to a police station and organising a largescale protest if the accused were not arrestedAccording to authorities miscreants allegedly threw slippers and stones at the procession Superintendent of Police Siddharth Goyal and a Hindu activist sustained injuries in the incident The procession was reportedly set to conclude within five minutes when the incident occurredFollowing the stonepelting some pushcarts mostly belonging to vendors from the minority community were set on fireSpeaking on the incident Bagalkot SP Siddharth Goyal said that situation is under control We are checking videos and verifying from where the stones were thrown We identify them and arrest themAccording to preliminary investigation two stones were thrown when the procession approached a mosque and clarified that only police personnel were hit not members of the public He said two stones struck police personnel and one hit his shoulder he saidHe added that the situation is now under control videos are being examined and those responsible will be arrested after due verification Additional security has been deployed and strict action will be taken against anyone found disturbing peace He also stated that the incident did not appear to be preplanned IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/prohibitory-orders-imposed-in-karnatakas-bagalkot-after-stone-pelting-during-shivaji-jayanti-procession-661951.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sealed-borders-push-dawood-syndicate-to-ramp-up-local-drug-production-661957.html New Delhi Feb 20 With the borders becoming harder to breach Pakistanbased narcotic cartels are relying heavily on locals in India to produce and supply drugs Officials say that reliance is heavy on local manufacturing since it has become harder to smuggle drugs into India through the bordersThe Punjab border which was the preferred route in recent years to smuggle narcotics too has become hard to breach Pakistan has been using drones to bring in the narcotics but now security has been tightened as a result of which the cartels are finding it harder to operateAn Intelligence Bureau official said that the Dawood Syndicate has activated several of its men in India and are asking them to mass produce narcotics locallyDawoodâs men in India are using the opium cultivation belt that already existed in the western districts of Madhya Pradesh and adjoining Rajasthan Today the same belt is used to manufacture MDMAOver the last couple of months several busts have taken place in these belts and investigations have clearly pointed to a Dawood link Investigators say that these cartels have set up massive labs which are capable of producing MDMA in large quantitiesOn February 19 the officers of the Central Bureau of Narcotics CBN bust a drug manufacturing unit in Village Thavalay which falls under Mhow Tehsil Indore district of Madhya Pradesh The CBN seized 43820 kilograms of highquality Methamphetamine or MDMA Over 260 kilograms of chemicals and modern equipment to produce the drugs were also seized during the raidsAn official who was part of the investigation said that the factory that was raided comprised sophisticated modern machinery The laboratory was capable of mass producing meth of very high grade While some part of the narcotics were meant for internal consumption a majority of it was meant to be smuggled out of the country Going by the quality of the drugs it became clear that its was meant more for the international market the official also addedAnother official said that there has been a major push to produce the drug within India and then smuggle it out through the southern borders and the northeastThe Dawood Syndicate felt that it would be better to smuggle out the drug rather than bring it into India Since there is a very tight vigil along the IndiaPakistan borders along the Line of Control LoC and Punjab these cartels are finding it hard to bring in the drugsThe syndicate always had a backup plan in case it would find it hard to bring the drugs through the conventional routes from Afghanistan and Pakistan Huge sums of investments have gone into putting up these labs The focus is extensively on meth since it has a major market abroadThe Dawood gang has directed Salim Dola to oversee the operations in India Dola who is believed to be operating from Turkey has been pumping the money to fund these labs which have been raised in Pakistan and DubaiHe also has activated his networks in Mumbai and Gujarat to oversee drug production in states such as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan These states have been a major opium cultivation hub for long and hence Dola decided to tap into the old network and mass produce drugs officials sayAnother official said that these units in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan do not operate in isolation They are linked to networks in Maharashtra and Rajasthan In most cases it was found that the chemicals to mass produce the drugs had been routed in from Thane and Bhiwandi in Maharashtra The chemicals are sent to the labs in Madhya Pradesh by road following which the production beginsSalim Dola who oversees the local operation has pumped in crores to set up these labs In these labs one would find industrial grade mixing machines chemical reactors and chambers that are temperature controlledAn Intelligence Bureau official said that there are many such labs which are capable of producing meth to the tune of thousands of crores within a month Salim Dola according to the official is likely to try and set up more hubs in various other parts of the countryThe Dsyndicate realises that the agencies are hot on their heels especially when it comes to operations in Madhya Pradesh Efforts are on to find new locations and ensure that the constant flow of highgrade meth does not stop the official also added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sealed-borders-push-dawood-syndicate-to-ramp-up-local-drug-production-661957.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-cm-highlights-ais-transformative-role-in-agriculture-at-india-ai-impact-summit-661963.html New Delhi Feb 20 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday emphasised the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence AI in agriculture while addressing the India AI Impact Summit 2026 Speaking at the event CM Fadnavis said âWe meet at a very defining moment Across the world food systems are under strain climate volatility is intensifying water tables are falling soil health is deteriorating supply chains are fragile and global markets are unpredictable For countries from the Global South agriculture is not merely an economic sector â it is livelihood social stability and national securityâCM Fadnavis highlighted Indiaâs commitment to using technology for inclusive development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi adding âThe India AI Mission is about using technology to deliver inclusion transparency and scale Today agriculture must sit at the heart of this mission Over half a billion Indians depend directly or indirectly on agriculture yet small landholders face fragmented information rising input costs climate uncertainty and limited access to credit and marketsâOutlining Maharashtraâs AIdriven initiatives in agriculture he said âTraditional extension systems however committed cannot match the scale and speed required AI changes this equation It can provide hyperlocal weather predictions early pest outbreak warnings precision irrigation and fertiliser guidance cropbased credit scoring transparent supply chains and realtime market advisories But AI is not magic As our PM said in his inaugural session âAI must be built on trusted data ethical governance and public accountability Without trust scale will not happenâThe Chief Minister described the stateâs AIpowered mobile platform which delivers multilingual personalised advisories market intelligence and access to government services acting as a âdigital friendâ to farmersâThis demonstrates one thing very clearly Farmers are ready for AI when AI is designed for themâ he addedHe also cited earlywarning systems for cotton growers through geospatial analytics and postsurveillance calling it âpredictive governance in actionâCM Fadnavis said Maharashtraâs model is being designed as a replicable public infrastructure for India and the Global SouthIn partnership with the India AI Mission the World Bank and the Wadhwani AI a global call for AI use cases in agriculture resulted in a compendium of successful realworld applications across Africa Asia Latin America and beyond released on February 17 in DelhiTaking a dig at political opponents Fadnavis quipped âI would just like to say that they need AI the most because at times when human intelligence becomes negligible AI can provide supportâHe added âThe AI Summit taking place is very important for our country It showcases Indiaâs progress in AI to the world Especially at a time when AI is rapidly advancing and revolutionising various sectors global leaders coming to India to witness the countryâs strength and engage in discussions on AI is highly significant Our session particularly focussed on AI in agriculture and Maharashtraâs achievements in this domainâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-cm-highlights-ais-transformative-role-in-agriculture-at-india-ai-impact-summit-661963.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/eci-shares-sir-snapshot-of-net-change-in-electors-in-gujarat-lakshadweep-and-puducherry-661964.html New Delhi Feb 20 The Election Commission of India ECI on Friday shared a snapshot of the net changes in the number of electors following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls in Gujarat Lakshadweep and Puducherry The Commission detailed the extent of deletions and attributed the changes to standard verification processes aimed at ensuring clean and accurate voter listsIn Gujarat the total number of electors before the SIR stood at 50843436 After the revision exercise the figure came down to 44030725 marking a deletion of 6812711 names a net change of 1340 per centThe Commission said the deletions were primarily due to electors found ineligible on grounds such as death permanent migration duplicate or multiple enrolments and other statutory reasons identified during field verificationIn the Union Territory of Lakshadweep the electorate declined marginally from 57813 before SIR to 57607 after completion of the exercise a net change of 036 per centIn Puducherry the number of electors reduced from 1021578 prior to the revision to 944211 postSIR reflecting a net change of 757 per centThe ECI emphasised that updation of electoral rolls is a continuous process and eligible citizens can still apply for corrections and changes It said Form 6 can be submitted for the inclusion of new voters Form 7 for deletion of names and Form 8 for the correction or modification of entriesThese forms can be filed up to the last date of nomination in an electionThe Commission further said that the SIR process in Bihar has already been completed while the Summary Revision SR for Assam has also concluded The final electoral rolls for Andaman and Nicobar Islands Chhattisgarh Goa Kerala Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are scheduled to be published on February 21Earlier on Thursday the ECI announced that it has initiated the next phase of SIR in 22 States and Union Territories including the National Capital Territory NCT of Delhi beginning April 2026The States and UTs slated for the upcoming SIR include Andhra Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Chandigarh Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Haryana Himachal Pradesh Jammu and Kashmir Jharkhand Karnataka Ladakh Maharashtra Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Nagaland NCT of Delhi Odisha Punjab Sikkim Tripura Telangana and Uttarakhand IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/eci-shares-sir-snapshot-of-net-change-in-electors-in-gujarat-lakshadweep-and-puducherry-661964.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/un-chief-calls-for-global-interoperability-to-mitigate-ai-fragmentation-risks-661965.html New Delhi Feb 20 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres on Friday cited AI fragmentation risks calling for global interoperability standards for better outcomes at the âIndia AI Impact Summit 2026â here Guterres said that today international cooperation is difficult âTechnological rivalry is growing Without a common baseline fragmentation wins with different regions and different countries operating under incompatible policies and technical standardsâ he warnedAddressing the Summit he said that when we agree on how to test systems and measure risk we create interoperability âSo a startup in New Delhi can scale globally with confidence because the benchmarks are shared and safety can travel with technologyâ he notedGuterres also called for scienceled AI guardrails to protect people and accelerate innovationâOnce we understand what AI systems can do and what they cannot we can move from rough measures to smarter riskbased guardrails Guardrails that protect people uphold human rights and preserve human agencyâ he told the gatheringAccording to the UN SecretaryGeneral AI guardrails must build confidence and give business clarity so innovation can move faster in the right direction âScienceled governance is not a brake on progress It is an accelerator for solutions It helps us identify where AI can do the most good and the fastest and it helps us anticipate early impacts from risks for children to labour markets to manipulation at scale so countries can prepare protect and invest in peopleâ he highlightedAI innovation is outpacing our collective ability to fully understand it let alone govern it If we want AI to serve humanity policy cannot be built on guesswork hype or disinformation We need facts we can trust and share across countries and sectors he stressedAccording to him AI must be accessible to everyoneâBut without investment many countries will be logged out of the AI age Thatâs why I am calling for a Global Fund on AI to build skills data affordable computing power and inclusive ecosystems everywhereâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/un-chief-calls-for-global-interoperability-to-mitigate-ai-fragmentation-risks-661965.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ysrcp-leaders-must-not-fear-false-cases-says-jagan-reddy-661968.html Amaravati Feb 20 Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday asked party leaders and workers not to be afraid of what he called false cases filed against them Jagan Mohan Reddy stated this when party leader and former minister Ambati Rambabu met him at his residence after being released on bail in what the party described as an illegal caseAccording to the YSRCP Rambabu briefed YS Jagan on the cases filed against him the vandalism of his residence by TDP cadres the attempt on his life police inaction and what he termed as overaction by certain officersJagan assured Rambabu that there was no need to be anxious about false cases and that they would be fought legallyHe strongly criticised the conduct of certain police officials who he said were acting in support of the ruling TDP and emphasised that obstacles and harassment faced in the course of fighting for peopleâs rights must be confronted firmlyHe urged party leaders and cadres not to worry and to continue standing with the publicMP Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose former MP Nandigam Suresh former MLA Malladi Vishnu and NTR District YSRCP President Devineni Avinash were also present during the meetingFormer minister and Guntur district YSRCP president Rambabu was released on bail from the Rajahmundry Central Prison on Wednesday evening following a court in Guntur granting him bail in the alleged illegal lottery case registered against him at Sattenapalli in 2023He served the 17day remand period in connection with this and another case pertaining to the alleged abusive remarks against Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and obstruction of police personnel from discharging their duty during a protest in Guntur on January 31He was arrested on that day amid a tense situation that prevailed at his house after it was allegedly attacked by the TDP supporters in GunturOn Thursday Rajahmundry police issued a notice disallowing him from leading a huge procession from Rajahmundry to GunturA huge crowd had gathered when the former minister started for Guntur Police stopped his convoy saying he cannot lead a huge procession as Section 30 is in force He was handed over a notice denying him permission to lead a convoy IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ysrcp-leaders-must-not-fear-false-cases-says-jagan-reddy-661968.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/one-year-of-bjp-rule-in-delhi-cm-highlights-health-cover-food-schemes-work-culture-shift-661969.html New Delhi Feb 20 IANS Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday marked the completion of one year of the Delhi government highlighting the focus on delivery of results welfare initiatives and positive transformation across the citynbspnbspAddressing the media Gupta said Every step we have taken forward has been guided by the principle of less paperwork and more work Today that approach is clearly visible on the ground The government in Delhi does not engage in poster politics or tweet politics we have changed the work culture in the cityWe do what previous governments only made noise about We deliver solutions Where earlier there was only delay and blamegame we take responsibility and execute work within defined timelines This approach is guided by the BJPs nationalist ideology and the Prime Ministers core mantra Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas Sabka Prayas ensuring that our politics focusses on service and development not personal or partisan gains she addedOn completing one year she said I can confidently tell the people of Delhi that we have worked across all sectors to bring about a positive transformation As I present my report card this book containing our detailed report will reach everyone highlighting the key achievements of the governmentnbspGupta elaborated on welfare initiatives launched under her governmentnbspShe said The BJP works in line with Deendayal Upadhyays Antyodaya principle prioritising the welfare of the poorest On the very first day of the government the Cabinet took a decision on the Ayushman Yojana A health cover of Rs 10 lakh has been made available In one year 7 lakh people have registered and over 30000 beneficiaries have availed of health benefits through Ayushman Bharat and the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana PMVVYHighlighting food security she said Another core principle of our welfare philosophy is that the greatest need of any person is food With the vision that no one in Delhi should go hungry Atal Canteens were started Today 70 Atal Canteens are operational providing wholesome meals with dignity to the poor shelter residents and labourers for just 5nbspExpressing gratitude Gupta added I sincerely thank the people of Delhi for giving the BJP the opportunity to serve in the city My heartfelt gratitude goes to all BJP workers whose years of hard work helped create the majority government I am deeply thankful to the sisters of Delhi and our nation whose blessings and support have kept my energy and courage aliveShe concluded One year was the time to change Delhis direction and I assure you that the five years will be to transform Delhis conditionnbspEarlier the Chief Minister visited the Marghat Wale Hanuman Baba Temple to seek blessings and distributed prasad to sanitation workers reinforcing her commitment to welfare and community engagementIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/one-year-of-bjp-rule-in-delhi-cm-highlights-health-cover-food-schemes-work-culture-shift-661969.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-leader-alleges-conspiracy-in-targeting-priest-in-sabarimala-gold-theft-case-661970.html Thiruvananthapuram Feb 20 BJP leader Sandeep Vachaspati has accused political leaders of orchestrating a âconspiracyâ targeting Kantarar Rajeevar the tantri priest in the Sabarimala gold theft case Sandeep Vachaspati is one often seen translating the speeches of top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others when they are visiting the stateHe said this in a social media post following the bail of the templeâs tantri on ThursdaySandeep Vachaspatiâs post highlighted that the tantriâs arrest was unjustified and politically motivatedâI had pointed out the same issues after visiting the tantriâs house Back then there was an organised attempt to vilify meâ he wroteHe alleged that while Devaswom ministers and officials played key roles in the Sabarimala gold robbery the priest is bound only to follow directives from the Devaswom Board but was singled out for arrestOn Thursday while granting bail to the tantri the court has mentioned that there was no evidence against himThe BJP leader alleged that state ministers Saji Cherian from Chengannur and Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan along with other CPIM leaders were diverting attention from the real culprits by unnecessarily implicating the tantriAccording to Sandeep Vachaspati delays in filing charges against those who later secured bail were also part of the effort to shield the actual perpetratorsThe tantriâs bail on Thursday has been welcomed by Sandeep Vachaspati who described it as a legal vindication and a setback for those attempting to malign the community and discredit revered AcharyasâThe conspiracy to insult millions of Ayyappa devotees has been rejected by the courtâ he said adding that the BJP would continue its fight to bring to justice the final person who stole Ayyappaâs wealth as well as the political leaders who enabled the theftSandeep Vachaspatis post reflects the BJPâs continued focus on the case linking political accountability with the pursuit of justiceSo far of the arrested 13 people six have now secured bail IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-leader-alleges-conspiracy-in-targeting-priest-in-sabarimala-gold-theft-case-661970.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-grants-injunction-in-favour-of-kajol-in-personality-rights-case-661971.html New Delhi Feb 20 IANS The Delhi High Court on Friday passed an adinterim injunction protecting the personality and publicity rights of Bollywood actress Kajol Devgan restraining various entities from unauthorised use of her name image and likeness for commercial gains and directing the removal of obscene and pornographic content published against hernbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice in the suit filed by the actress and granted interim protection restraining the defendants from using Kajols photographs and other personality attributes while selling commercial merchandise without her authorisationJustice Singh further directed the immediate takedown of pornographic and objectionable material circulated on different online platforms in her nameThe Delhi High Court observed that prima facie the plaintiff had made out a case for protection of her personality and publicity rights against unauthorised commercial exploitation and misuseA detailed order would be passed restraining the misuse of Kajols personality traits including her name image voice and other identifiable attributes through Artificial Intelligence AI tools or Deepfake technologyThe interim relief was granted in a plea seeking protection against the misuse of Kajols personality rights including unauthorised sale of merchandise bearing her image and the circulation of morphed obscene and defamatory material on the InternetThe Delhi High Court observed that no entity can commercially exploit the actress identity without her consent and that social media platforms and other online intermediaries are required to act promptly upon being notified of infringing contentThe Kajol case adds to a growing list of highprofile personalities invoking their personality and publicity rights before the Delhi High CourtIn recent months former India captain Sunil Gavaskar actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr NTR spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar actors Nagarjuna Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan filmmaker Karan Johar and podcaster Raj Shamani have secured court protection against the unauthorised use of their identity likeness or AIgenerated imitationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-grants-injunction-in-favour-of-kajol-in-personality-rights-case-661971.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-cm-involved-in-personal-attacks-priyanka-gandhi-on-sarmas-assertions-on-gaurav-gogois-pak-links-661973.html Guwahati Feb 20 IANS Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accusing him of indulging in personal attacks instead of focussing on governance development and employment for the states youthnbspWhen asked about the serous allegations against Gaurav Gogoi of having links with Pakistan Priyanka Gandhi taking an apparent dig at Sarma said that it was inappropriate to target families and children through false allegationsThere is no need to attack someones family or children by spreading lies Instead of doing this the Chief Minister should work for the development of Assam What the youth of Assam need today are jobs and employment opportunities she saidnbspReferring to the political atmosphere ahead of the Assembly elections the Congress leader alleged that the Chief Minister was resorting to fearmongering as the polls draw closernbspShe strongly defended Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi terming him a positive leader who believes in valuebased politicsGaurav Gogoi is a positive individual who wants to do politics rooted in values in Assam The Chief Minister is scared as elections approach she saidnbspPriyanka Gandhi further dismissed allegations made by Sarma regarding Gogois alleged Pakistan links stating that such claims would not be accepted by the people of AssamnbspThe accusations levelled by the Chief Minister against Gaurav Gogoi are not something the people of Assam will believe she assertedThe Congress leader also commented on the controversy surrounding popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg urging political parties to keep artistes out of political battlesnbspZubeen Garg is the soul of Assam He is an individual who stands above politics There should be no politics over Zubeen Garg she said describing him as a beloved cultural icon of the statenbspPriyanka Gandhi reiterated that the Congress party would focus on issues affecting common people particularly unemployment rising prices and development while fighting the electionsnbspShe added that the party was prepared to take on the ruling BJP politically and democratically with an emphasis on respect values and peoplecentric governanceIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-cm-involved-in-personal-attacks-priyanka-gandhi-on-sarmas-assertions-on-gaurav-gogois-pak-links-661973.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-startup-ceos-laud-indias-supportive-environment-after-roundtable-with-pm-modi-661974.html New Delhi Feb 20 IANS On the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a roundtable with CEOs of AI and deep tech startups pioneering innovative initiatives in agriculture healthcare cybersecurity etc who praised the countrys supportive and dynamic environment for Artificial Intelligence advancementnbspStressing the importance of promoting Indian languages and culture PM Modi called for expanding Indias AI tools for higher education in the mother tongue according to an official statementnbspThe startups participating in the roundtable are tackling populationscale challenges across key sectors such as healthcare agriculture cybersecurity ethical AI space etc the statement from the Prime Ministers Office saidParticipating ventures also include those focused on ethical AI social empowerment through vernacular access to justice and education and modernising legacy systems to strengthen enterprise productivitynbspThe AI startups said The country now offers a supportive and dynamic environment for AI advancement firmly establishing its presence on the global AI landscapenbspThey praised Indias sustained push to strengthen its Artificial Intelligence ecosystem sectors rapid expansion and noted that global momentum of AI innovation and deployment is increasingly shifting towards IndiaThe firms lauded the India AI Impact Summit as reflecting the countrys growing stature in global AI conversations the statement saidnbspFrom firms focused on advanced diagnostics gene therapy and efficient patient record management to AI companies leveraging geospatial and underwater intelligence to boost productivity and help manage climate risks the participation was broadbasednbspThe Prime Minister congratulated innovators for taking bold risks and building impactful AI solutions He discussed the potential of harnessing AI technology in various sectors such as agriculture and environmental protection including monitoring crop productivity and fertiliser usage to safeguard soil healthThe Prime Minister underscored the need for strong data governance cautioned against misinformation and urged the development of solutions tailored to Indias needsnbspReferring to UPI as a model of simple and scalable digital innovation he expressed confidence in Indian companies and encouraged trust in domestic products He also spoke about expanding private participation in the space sector and noted strong investor interest in Indian startups the statement notedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-startup-ceos-laud-indias-supportive-environment-after-roundtable-with-pm-modi-661974.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/very-happy-about-fantastic-partnership-us-ambassador-on-india-joining-pax-silica-declaration--661978.html New Delhi Feb 20 IANS Amidst the global spotlight on the ongoing AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam India on Friday formally joined the Pax Silica declarationnbspUS Ambassador to India Sergio Gor sharing his reaction on New Delhi joining the special grouping said I am very happy that India has joined Pax Silica Its a fantastic partnership and will move forward from therenbspThe Pax Silica is a USled strategic alliance of nations focused on building resilient supply chains for critical minerals and also on building robust models of Artificial Intelligencenbsp nbspWith India making a formal entry into the strategic alliance this will strengthen the framework give impetus to technological cooperation and enhance the countrys ability to leverage its resources pertaining to rare earth mineralsnbspnbspThe US envoy to India also took to X and wrote A GREAT day for our relationship Today INDIA joins PAX SILICAnbspnbspAfter the signing of the Pax Silica Declaration Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Jacob Helberg Sergio Gor and MeitY Secretary S Krishnan posed for a group photograph reaffirming IndiaUS collaboration in critical technologiesnbspnbspIndias entry into the select league marks a significant step in strengthening trusted semiconductor and technology supply chainsnbspUnion Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw termed the Pax Silica Declaration as a significant step for Indias growing semiconductor and electronics ecosystemnbspnbspBriefing the newsmen Ashwini Vaishnaw said Pax Silica is very important for semiconductor manufacturing setting up supply chains chip design and the entire semiconductor ecosystem This will greatly benefit Indias electronics and semiconductor industry Ten plants are already in the process of being established and the first semiconductor plant will begin commercial production very soon A complete ecosystem is emerging in India Pax Silica will be crucial for this and the youth of India will benefit from itnbspCurrently the signatories to this strategic alliance are Japan South Korea Singapore the United Kingdom Israel and Australia UAE Qatar and Greece also joined the Pax Silica declaration last month It is also seen as a measure to counter Chinas dominance in the rare earth mineral segmentnbspnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/very-happy-about-fantastic-partnership-us-ambassador-on-india-joining-pax-silica-declaration--661978.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/for-them-ai-is-anti-india-bjp-blasts-cong-over-shirtless-protest-at-bharat-mandapam--661979.html New Delhi Feb 20 IANS The Bharatiya Janata Party BJPnbsp launched a scathing attack on the Congress party for orchestrating a theatrical protest at the fiveday AI Impact Summit by its youth wing members and demanded that the party issue an apology to the nation for its deplorable and despicable behaviournbspThe BJP took strong exception to disruptive tactics by the Congress workers and said that opposing a policy or event could be a democratic right but this was a deliberate attempt to sabotage Indias image globallynbspnbspPointing direct fingers at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for unleashing the topless Congress workers at the venue it said that the planned ruckus was clearly designed to embarrass India on the world stagenbspnbspAt a time when India is hosting a prestigious global AI Summit showcasing its innovation and leadership in technology the Congress party chose disruption over dignity it further saidnbsp nbspBJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala equated the shirtless protest outside the Bharat Mandapam as an antiIndia act accusing the Congress of unleashing goons against the nationnbsp nbspThese are shirtless protests against the BJP but brainless goons against India For Congress AI means Anti India he saidnbsp nbspAnother BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also blamed Rahul Gandhi who recently termed the AI Impact Summit a disorganised PR spectacle and said that it was on his instructions that the youth Congress workers stormed the venue being attended by foreign delegates tech gurus and many heads of nationsnbspnbspCongress needs to apologise to the nation Congress behaves like Urban Naxals he saidnbspMeanwhile the group of Indian Youth Congress workers who barged into the Bharat Mandapam with provocative banners and shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi were rounded up and taken to the police stationnbspPolice said that legal action is being taken against them for trespassing into the complex and putting the security of foreign delegates at risknbspIn a statement the INC youth wing admitted that its workers demonstrated outside the venue and it was to register a protest over the government prioritising corporate interests over national interestsnbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/for-them-ai-is-anti-india-bjp-blasts-cong-over-shirtless-protest-at-bharat-mandapam--661979.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-to-create-new-jobs-vp-radhakrishnan-tells-summit-delegates-ceos-661980.html New Delhi Feb 20 IANS Interacting with a group of CEOs and delegates participating in the India AI Impact Summit 2026 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Friday expressed optimism about the future of Artificial Intelligence noting that the technology will not only transform existing roles but also generate entirely new job opportunitiesnbspThe Vice President said that Indias hosting of the AI Summit was a significant initiative envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi positioning the country as a key player in the global AI landscape and as a major driver of transformation in healthcare education and good governanceThe delegates shared their perspectives on how Artificial Intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the global working landscape and unlocking vast new opportunities said a statementnbspThey highlighted AIs transformative potential across key sectors such as healthcare education and employment noting that India is uniquely positioned to benefit from largescale AIdriven innovation and deployment it saidnbspThey also expressed appreciation for the India AI Mission on its continued support in building a strong and collaborative AI ecosystemThe delegates described the summit as spectacular in scale and impact showcasing a vibrant pool of young talent innovative ideas and forwardlooking solutions from emerging minds across the country said the statementnbspThey also discussed practical and citizencentric applications including the use of AIpowered simultaneous language translation in parliamentary proceedings which can significantly enhance accessibility efficiency and inclusiveness in governancenbspThe Vice President emphasised that AI enhances accuracy streamlines workflows and generates widespread societal benefitsnbspHe also highlighted Indias commitment to an inclusive peoplecentric AI approach that broadens access and creates opportunities in the nationnbspThe Vice President affirmed that when India and its people are given the right opportunities and platforms their potential is limitless and the coming years hold promise of being a defining and successful one for the nationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-to-create-new-jobs-vp-radhakrishnan-tells-summit-delegates-ceos-661980.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-forex-surges-by-8663-billion-to-reach-all-time-high-of-725727-billion-662006.html Mumbai Feb 20 IANS Indias foreign exchange reserves increased by 8663 billion to an alltime high of 725727 billion in the week ended February 13 according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India RBI on FridaynbspForeign exchange reserves had declined by 6711 billion in the previous week due to a fall in gold pricesAccording to RBI data the value of gold reserves a key component of foreign exchange reserves increased by 4990 billion to 128466 billion in the week ended February 13Foreign Currency Assets FCA the largest component of foreign exchange reserves increased by 3550 billion to 573603 billion FCA includes the dollar along with several other major global currencies such as the yen euro and pound whose value is expressed in dollarsAccording to the RBI the value of SDRs increased by 103 million to 18924 billion in the week ended February 13 Meanwhile Indias reserve position with the RBI increased by 19 million to 4734 billionForeign exchange reserves are crucial for a country and provide a clear indication of its economic health Furthermore they play a significant role in maintaining a stable currency exchange rateFor example if the rupee is under significant pressure against the dollar and its value declines the central bank can use its foreign exchange reserves to prevent the rupee from falling against the dollar and maintain a stable exchange rateIncreasing foreign exchange reserves also indicates a significant inflow of dollars into the country strengthening the countrys economy Furthermore this increase also makes it easier for the country to trade abroadNotable the country remains the worlds largest recipient of remittances with inflows reaching 1354 billion in FY25 supporting stability in the external account according to the Economic Survey 202526 India has consistently attracted sizeable gross investment inflows amounting to 185 per cent of GDP in FY25 even amid tightening global financial conditionsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-forex-surges-by-8663-billion-to-reach-all-time-high-of-725727-billion-662006.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/housing-board-merges-into-haryana-shehri-vikas-pradhikaran-cm-informs-assembly-662012.html Chandigarh Feb 20 IANS Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on the first day of the Budget session here on Friday said the government has dissolved Housing Board Haryana and merged it into the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran to enhance efficiency provide better housing facilities and strengthen urban planning integrationnbspnbspCM Saini said the functions of the Housing Board Haryana and Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran were largely identical He assured that the interests of all employees of the housing board have been fully safeguardedThe resolution was passed under the provisions of subsection 1 of Section 80 of the Haryana Housing Board Act of 1971 Now all the responsibilities of the board will be vested in Haryana Shehri Vikas PradhikaranEarlier obituary resolutions were passed to pay tributes to prominent personalities who died between the previous session and this sessionCM Saini who is also the Leader of the House paid tributes and read out the obituary resolutions These include Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar former minister of state Surinder Kumar Madan former Member of the legislative Assembly Anand Kaushik and Sahil Khan nephew of legislator Mamman KhanSpeaker Harvinder Kalyan also read the obituary resolutions and paid tributes to the departed soulsLeader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda and MLA Aditya Chautala read the obituary resolutions on behalf of their party The House also paid tributes to the brave soldiers of Haryana who displayed indomitable courage and made the supreme sacrifice while safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nationThey included Subedar Hiralal of Akbarpur village in Mahendragarh District Subedar Dharamvir of Birohar village in Jhajjar District Sub Inspector Akash Chaudhary of Rudrol village in Charkhi Dadri district Havildar Harjinder Singh of Mangoli Rangdan village in Kurukshetra district Havildar Jogender Singh of Barkoda village in Mahendragarh district Naik Parveen Kumar of Sheria district in Jhajjar district Naik Deepak Goyat of Kaapdo village in Hansi district Sepoy district Sudhir Narwal of Sherpur village in Yamunanagar Sepoy Jogender of Mayyar village in Hisar district Sepoy Mohit of Gijarod village in Jhajjar district district Sepoy Sahil Meena of Jadthal village in Rewari district Sepoy Manish Kumar of Sulehra village in Jind district and Sepoy Surjit of Dhukra village in Sirsa districtThe House saluted these brave sons and resolved to convey its heartfelt condolences to their bereaved familiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/housing-board-merges-into-haryana-shehri-vikas-pradhikaran-cm-informs-assembly-662012.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/private-school-teacher-in-tn-arrested-under-pocso-act-661902.html Chennai Feb 19 A 29yearold teacher employed at a private school in Tamil Nadus Palayamkottai has been arrested on the charges of sexually harassing minor girl students The accused identified as Jobin Solomon had been working at the institution for the past three yearsHe was handling mathematics classes for students in Classes 9 10 and 11The case came to light after complaints surfaced regarding his alleged inappropriate conduct toward girl students both inside and outside the classroomAccording to police sources several students reported that the teacher behaved inappropriately during classroom sessionsThe complaints indicated that his conduct made students uncomfortable over a sustained periodIt was further alleged that he had accessed the phone numbers of girl students through an official academic WhatsApp group created for schoolrelated communicationInvestigators said the accused allegedly used the contact details to send inappropriate messages to students particularly during latenight hoursThe nature of the messages reportedly raised serious concern among parents and school authorities once the issue came to their attentionFollowing preliminary internal verification the school management lodged a formal complaint at the All Women Police Station in PalayamkottaiActing on the complaint the police initiated an inquiry and recorded statements from students and relevant witnessesPolice officials stated that the investigation revealed the alleged harassment had been ongoing for more than three monthsBased on the findings a case was registered against Solomon under relevant sections of the POCSO Act which deals with sexual offences against minorsHe was subsequently arrested and produced before a judicial magistrateThe court remanded him to judicial custody pending further investigationPolice officials reiterated that offences under the POCSO Act are treated with utmost seriousness and urged parents and students to report any inappropriate behaviour without fearFurther investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the allegations and whether additional victims may be involved IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/private-school-teacher-in-tn-arrested-under-pocso-act-661902.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tur-purchase-at-msp-to-begin-from-feb-23-says-gujarat-minister-661903.html Gandhinagar Feb 19 The Gujarat government will commence the purchase of tur pigeon pea at the minimum support price MSP across the state from February 23 Agriculture and Spokesperson Minister Jitu Vaghani announced on Thursday Over 133 lakh farmers in the state have registered to sell their produce at the MSPThe announcement came following a State Cabinet meeting held during the ongoing Legislative Assembly session under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupendra PatelAddressing the decisions taken at the meeting Minister Vaghani said the initiative aims to provide farmers with remunerative prices and economic protection for their cropsâThe Central government announces MSPs for various crops and purchases produce at these rates to ensure that farmers receive fair and profitable prices for their harvestsâ the minister explainedHe added that the MSP for tur for the year 202526 was fixed at Rs 8000 per quintal Rs 1600 per 20 kg ahead of the sowing season which encouraged extensive cultivation across the stateTo facilitate smooth procurement approximately 130 purchase centres have been designated based on the sowing area and expected productionâFarmers who have registered to sell tur at MSP will receive prior information via SMS Upon receiving the SMS they are requested to present themselves with the allotted quantity at the designated purchase centre to avail of the benefitsâ Minister Vaghani statedHe also assured that the state government has made all necessary preparations to ensure adequate purchases from all registered farmersThe announcement also comes a day after the state governmentâs budget for 202627 presented by Finance Minister Kanu Desai which allocates Rs 24022 crore for the Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Department highlighting a focus on farmer empowerment and rural developmentThe total state budget stands at Rs 408 lakh croreWelcoming the budget Minister Vaghani said âTodayâs Gujarat budget will further advance Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs vision of âDeveloped India 2047â Presented under the slogan âWhere there is humanity there are facilitiesâ it gives special priority to agriculture health education infrastructure roads and all key sectors ensuring 360degree development for the stateâHe further highlighted the governmentâs focus on agricultural mechanisation aimed at reducing farmersâ labour and costs IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tur-purchase-at-msp-to-begin-from-feb-23-says-gujarat-minister-661903.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-attacks-mamata-banerjee-over-new-state-service-posts-calls-move-misleading-661904.html Kolkata Feb 19 The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her governmentâs decision to create additional posts in the State Constituted Services In a post on X Amit Malviya BJPâs IT Cell chief and the partyâs central observer for West Bengal alleged that the move was aimed at misleading state civil service officersâThe recent statement made by Mamata Banerjee regarding the creation of additional posts and revision of cadre schedules for State Constituted Services must be seen for what it is an attempt to mislead WBCS Exe officersâ he saidThe BJP leader added âPresented as a âlandmarkâ reform it is in reality a measure too little too late By highlighting incremental structural changes while ignoring the longpending core grievances of the service the government seeks to create the appearance of reform without delivering substantive justice Without addressing financial deprivation prolonged stagnation and administrative insecurity such declarations amount to optics rather than meaningful governanceâHe also targeted the state government over the alleged financial loss caused by nonpayment of Dearness Allowance DAâThe continued failure to clear pending Dearness Allowance DA has caused severe financial hardship A WBCS Exe officer at the entry level loses approximately Rs 282 lakh annually due to nonpayment of appropriate DA while an officer at the level of Special Secretary loses around Rs 888 lakh per year Any claim of service betterment rings hollow so long as this fundamental injustice persistsâ Malviya saidHe alleged that IAS promotions in the state face unusual delays compared with other states âA significant number of officers lose eligibility for IAS promotion after crossing 56 years of age As a result nearly half of certain batches are excluded leading to substantial financial loss at retirement compounded by years of unpaid DAâ he saidâIn sum while the creation of additional posts is being portrayed as transformative it does not address the structural financial and promotional inequities faced by WBCS Exe officers Unless DA arrears are cleared promotion timelines rationalised cadre structures genuinely reformed and safeguards ensured against arbitrary administrative actions such measures will remain symbolic gestures rather than substantive solutionsâ Malviya addedOn Wednesday Banerjee had announced that the state Cabinet approved a proposal to create 20 per cent additional posts across different pay levels in nine State Constituted Services to ensure the availability of experienced officers for higher responsibilities and to bring parity among servicesShe also said inprinciple approval had been granted to extend similar measures to other State Constituted Services IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-attacks-mamata-banerjee-over-new-state-service-posts-calls-move-misleading-661904.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/milan-2026-terror-piracy-new-challenges-need-navies-to-join-hands-says-rajnath-singh--661905.html Visakhapatnam Feb 19 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that cooperation among navies is no longer an option but an imperative to collectively address challenges such as piracy maritime terrorism illegal fishing trafficking cyber vulnerabilities and disruptions to critical supply chainsnbspSpeaking at the inauguration of the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026 here the Defence Minister said these distinctive responsibilities call upon the international community to join hands to manage the challenges harmoniously and act in the spirit of mutual respectHe added that climate change is intensifying natural disasters making humanitarian and disaster relief operations more frequent and more demanding No single navy however capable can address these challenges alone This is why cooperation among the navies is no longer an option it is an imperative he saidMILAN 2026 seeks to enhance interoperability among navies of partner countries improve professional competence by sharing professional experiences and practices and deepen friendships among participants by evolving bonds of mutual advantage he saidRajnath Singh said that through joint exercises at sea professional interactions during such meetings and cultural exchanges we reaffirm our commitment to establishing a lasting bond of friendshipWe aspire to establish an equitable maritime order based on international rules and freedom of navigation in accordance with international law he saidMILAN gives practical expression to that shared language Today we carry forward that cohesive spirit and maritime momentum from ceremony to substance as we transition decisively into the operational aspect of maritime engagement through MILAN he saidThe Defence Minister said this year with the participation of 74 nations MILAN 2026 stands as the largest and most inclusive edition to date a reflection of the confidence the global maritime community places in India as a trusted and responsible maritime partnerHe said As a true VishwaMitra or a trusted global friend we will continue to play a constructive and dependable role in the regionWe believe that holistic maritime security and mutual prosperity are indivisible and can only be achieved through cooperation trust and shared commitment among likeminded nations said Rajnath SinghThe sea phase of MILAN 2026 is scheduled to start on February 21 and will conclude on February 25 Both the harbour and sea phases are designed to enhance interoperability among participating navies strengthen maritime domain awareness and conduct advanced drills in antisubmarine warfare air defence and searchandrescue operationsThe exercise seeks to bring together navies of friendly foreign countries to deepen professional ties exchange operational best practices and expand maritime cooperationInitiated by the Indian Navy in 1995 MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval engagement that began with the participation of four regional countries Indonesia Singapore Sri Lanka and ThailandIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/milan-2026-terror-piracy-new-challenges-need-navies-to-join-hands-says-rajnath-singh--661905.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/what-culture-are-we-developing-sc-questions-growing-trend-of-election-time-freebies-661906.html New Delhi Feb 19 IANS The Supreme Court on Thursday made strong oral observations against the growing trend of political parties and state governments announcing freebies ahead of electionsnbspA bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi made the remarks while hearing a writ petition filed by Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Company Ltd challenging Rule 23 of the Electricity Amendment Rules 2024 relating to tariff subsidies and recovery of power costsCautioning that indiscriminate welfare distribution could adversely impact the countrys longterm economic development the CJIled Bench questioned the practice of states absorbing electricity bills and extending blanket subsidies without distinguishing between those who can afford to pay and those who are genuinely marginalisedIs it in the public interest that the state is absorbing all these We are not talking of Tamil Nadu in particular We are talking of panIndia Because of freebies what kind of culture are we developing the apex court askedIt is understandable that as a welfare state you want to provide relief to the marginalised But without drawing any distinction between those who can afford and those who cannot afford if you start giving will it not amount to a sort of appeasing policy it further saidThe CJI Surya Kantled bench said the top court was really disturbed by the nationwide trend of announcing welfare schemes shortly before electionsWhy are schemes suddenly announced near elections It is high time that all political stalwarts leaders parties and all social engineers revisit everything it saidThe Supreme Court noted that even revenuesurplus states are under an obligation to prioritise development expenditureEven if a state is revenue surplus should that money not be used for roads hospitals and schools Instead food clothes and other benefits are distributed near elections What is happening in this country it remarkedIt stressed that governments must prioritise creating employment opportunities rather than expanding unconditional benefitsYou should create avenues for employment so that people can earn with dignity and selfrespect If everything becomes free food electricity cash transfers why would people work the bench saidAt the same time the Supreme Court clarified that genuine welfare measures for those who cannot afford basic services remain the governments responsibility Notably the broader issue of poll freebies is already under consideration before the apex court in a pending petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay in which the Supreme Court has observed that lucrative promises by political parties may push states towards imminent bankruptcy and has referred the matter to a threejudge BenchIn its 2013 judgment in the Subramanian Balaji vs Tamil Nadu case however the SC held that the distribution of free colour television sets by the DMK government after winning the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections could not be termed a corrupt practice under the Representation of the People ActIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/what-culture-are-we-developing-sc-questions-growing-trend-of-election-time-freebies-661906.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/digital-world-returns-to-its-homeland-brazil-president-lula-hails-indias-ai-impact-summit--661907.html New Delhi Feb 19 IANS Spotlighting that an ancient Indian mathematician was the first inventor of the Binary number system Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday hailed the AI Impact Summit being hosted by New Delhi asserting that the digital world has returned to its homelandnbspThe Brazilian leader who sat alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration ceremony of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam hailed the landmark event being held at a time when according to him societies find themselves at crossroadsnbspnbspFor Brazil it is a pleasure to participate in the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit organised by the Indian government the first time it has been held in the Global South President Lula posted on XnbspHere in Delhi the digital world returns to its homeland It was Indian mathematicians who bequeathed to us more than 2000 years ago the binary system that would come to structure modern computing We are making our way back to discuss one of the greatest dilemmas of our time Our societies find themselves at a crossroads The Fourth Industrial Revolution is advancing rapidly while multilateralism is dangerously retreating It is in this context that the global governance of Artificial Intelligence assumes a strategic role the visiting leader addednbspDuring his February 1822 State Visit President Lula would be participating in the 2nd AI Impact Summit and also hold discussions with PM Modi on February 21Every highimpact technological innovation has a dual nature and confronts us with ethical and political questions Aviation the use of the atom genetic engineering and the space race are examples of this phenomenon They can multiply collective wellbeing or cast shadows upon itAlgorithms are not merely applications of mathematical codes that underpin the digital world They are part of a complex power structure Without collective action Artificial Intelligence will deepen historical inequalities Computational capabilities infrastructure and capital are all crucial elements he statednbspEarlier in the day the Brazilian President held a meeting with Google CEO Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the Summit on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence AInbspPichai spoke about the importance of Brazil for Google the companys investments in the country the opening of the Engineering Centre in Sao Paulo and infrastructure actions and partnerships with the public sector We presented the Brazilian vision for Artificial Intelligence the governments actions in the area of digital public services the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan and the plan to attract investments in data centers President Lula posted on X after the meetingnbspWe also discussed concerns about the risks of AI especially for girls and women and the proposed regulatory framework under discussion in the National Congress with measures to protect the Brazilian creative industry Google signalled its commitment to deepening its partnership with the Brazilian government and expanding actions with the private sector in the country he added furthernbspOn Wednesday shortly after arriving in New Delhi President Lula had shared a video on his social media accounts showcasing the grand traditional welcome he got upon his arrival in the Indian capitalnbspnbspNamaste India Ive arrived for another visit with an important agenda strengthening ties deepening partnerships and discussing the future of artificial intelligence in the world We continue working to build more cooperation innovation and opportunities between our countries the visiting leader posted on X after he was accorded a traditional welcome at the hotelMinister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita had welcomed the Brazilian President upon his arrival at the Delhi airportDuring his visit President Lula will be participating in the IndiaAI Impact Summit PM Narendra Modi will also hold bilateral meeting with President Lula India and Brazil share a close and multifaceted relationship elevated to Strategic Partnership and rooted in a common global vision shared democratic values and commitment to inclusive growth President Lulas visit will impart strong momentum to IndiaBrazil partnership the Ministry of External Affairs MEA posted on X after the Brazilian Presidents arrivalOn Tuesday evening as he left for India President Lula highlighted that he would also be discussing new opportunities for cooperation between both countries during his India visitAt the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi we are now departing for India In the coming days I will participate in the Summit on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence and we will discuss new opportunities for cooperation between Brazil and India From there we will proceed to South Korea to at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung also strengthen the ties between our countries President Lula posted on XHe mentioned that a highlevel business delegation will also be accompanying him on the India visit with the aim of deepening commercial relationsIn 2025 bilateral trade between Brazil and India reached more than US 15 billion asserted the Brazilian PresidentIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/digital-world-returns-to-its-homeland-brazil-president-lula-hails-indias-ai-impact-summit--661907.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pasting-stickers-on-old-schemes-palaniswami-attacks-cm-stalin-661913.html Chennai Feb 19 AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami EPS on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister MK Stalin accusing him of claiming credit for welfare measures introduced by the previous AIADMK government and engaging in what he termed âsticker politicsâ In a post on his social media handle Palaniswami alleged that the DMK government had failed to implement any significant new schemes since assuming office and was instead rebranding AIADMKera initiativesâAfter coming to power they have not delivered a single meaningful scheme All they have done is paste stickers over projects launched by the AIADMKâ he saidHe accused Stalin of attempting to take credit for the 3 per cent reservation in government jobs for sportspersons stating that the scheme was originally introduced as a 2 per cent quota in 2018 under the AIADMK regime and later enhanced to 3 per cent during his tenureâAt a recent sports department function the Chief Minister tried to write his name over the benefits of the 3 per cent quota for sportspersons It is laughableâ he remarkedPalaniswami also referred to the 75 per cent internal reservation for government school students in medical admissions claiming that he had already exposed what he called âhistorical falsehoodsâ surrounding the scheme during a debate in the AssemblyHe reiterated that both the 75 per cent medical quota and the sports quota were carefully designed initiatives implemented during the AIADMK government reflecting his understanding of government school students and sportspersonsâWhat exactly has Stalin done in these schemes Apart from posing for photographs while issuing appointment orders what is his contributionâ he questionedChallenging the DMK leadership Palaniswami said Stalin should campaign on the achievements of his own government rather than âride on our schemesâHe ended his post with a pointed remark âIf there are no achievements to speak of then I wish you defeatâThe statement came shortly before the DMDK formally joined the DMKled alliance Palaniswami did not address the development in his post When reporters later sought his reaction to DMDKâs move he said he would respond at an appropriate time and left without elaborating IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pasting-stickers-on-old-schemes-palaniswami-attacks-cm-stalin-661913.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-healthcare-system-crumbling-bjp-demands-minister-dinesh-gundu-raos-resignation-661914.html Bengaluru Feb 19 Asserting that Karnatakas healthcare system is crumbling the BJP on Thursday demanded the resignation of the state Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao The Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka stated on Thursday in Bengaluru that First there were reports of medicine shortages in government hospitals Now the Congress government in Karnataka has failed to clear Rs 14378 crore in dues to CT and MRI service providers pending for the last three yearsThis is not a minor administrative lapse This is financial paralysis in the Health Department Ashoka saidBecause of this irresponsibility essential diagnostic services across Karnataka are under threat If CT and MRI services are disrupted it is the poor and middleclass patients who will suffer accident victims cancer patients stroke cases and pregnant women requiring urgent scans Ashoka notedThe BJP leader said What exactly is Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao doing The Health Department that cannot clear Rs 14378 crore in legitimate dues for three years cannot claim to care about public healthChief Minister Siddaramaiah must answer why Rs 14378 crores were not released why contractual obligations were ignored for three years and why the Health Department is pushing lifesaving services to the brink Ashoka questionedIf the Health Minister cannot ensure timely payments for essential services he has no moral authority to continue in office CM Siddaramaiah must take responsibility and immediately sack Minsiter Dinesh Gundu Rao from the cabinet Ashoka demandedAshoka has also released documents submitted to the government seeking release of pending amount The submission to government states Due to the nonrelease of our rightful dues the situation has reached a point where the companys financial capacity to continue operations has been entirely exhausted Leaving us with no option but to make a final request to release an interim payment of a Rs 50 crore to stabalise out operations IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-healthcare-system-crumbling-bjp-demands-minister-dinesh-gundu-raos-resignation-661914.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/agniveer-allegedly-shoots-himself-dead-in-jammu-661915.html Jammu Feb 19 An Agniveer allegedly shot himself dead with his service rifle at an army camp in JampKâs Jammu on Thursday officials said The 24yearold Agniveer hailing from Uttar Pradesh was on guard duty at the Nagrota garrison when he allegedly took the extreme step around midnightThe soldier died on the spot and his body was shifted to the Government Medical College GMC hospital for postmortemThe reason behind the soldierâs extreme step is yet to be ascertained Police have initiated inquest proceedings in the matter the officials saidThe Agnipath Scheme launched by the Indian government in June 2022 recruits youth aged 175 to 23 years into the Army Navy and Air Force for a fouryear tenure as AgniveersThis shortterm service aims to create a younger more technical and disciplined workforce After four years 25 per cent are permanently absorbed in the permanent cadre based on performance while others receive a Seva Nidhi packageThe total service period is four years including training The salary per month is Rs 30000 in the first year rising to Rs 40000 in the fourth yearOther benefits include Insurance cover of Rs 48 lakh disability compensation and a certificate upon completionThe objective of the scheme is to reduce the average age profile of the armed forces to build a modern techsavvy fighting force and to train youth in military ethos for the futureUpon exit Agniveers receive a taxfree Seva Nidhi package of approximately Rs 1171 lakh including interest IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/agniveer-allegedly-shoots-himself-dead-in-jammu-661915.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kavitha-to-float-new-political-party-in-may-661921.html Hyderabad Feb 19 Telangana Jagruthi President K Kavitha on Thursday announced that she will float a new political party in May this year Kavitha told media persons here that after seeing a good mahuratam in the first week of May she would announce the partyShe also declared that the new partyâs name will have âTelanganaâ in it and exuded confidence that the new party would emerge as the main opposition partyShe also revealed her plans to contest the next Assembly elections from either Siddipet or BodhanKavitha daughter of Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS President and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao KCR stated that Siddipet will be her first choiceKCR represented Siddipet constituency for nearly two decades till 2004 and since then his nephew T Harish Rao has been representing itKavitha quit the BRS last year after she was suspended from it for antiparty activitiesThe action came against her after she launched a scathing attack on her cousins Harish Rao and Santosh Rao blaming them for the allegations of corruption against KCROn Harish Raoâs statement terming the review of Telangana governmentâs performance by the Congress leadership in Delhi as a direct affront to Telanganaâs pride Kavitha remarked that there was no difference between the BRS and the Congress governmentIn the previous government the cabinet used to go to Erravelli KCRâs farmhouse now it is going to Delhi There is no big difference between the two she saidShe also criticised her brother and BRS Working President K T Rama Rao saying those who betrayedthe Telangana movement sit next to himKavitha demanded that the Road Transport Corporation RTC be merged with the government immediately She also demanded that the workers who were dismissed from RTC for various reasons be reinstated immediately without any preconditionsShe alleged that attempts are being made to pave the way for the privatisation of RTC She demanded that RTC should be the owner of all electric buses being procured IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kavitha-to-float-new-political-party-in-may-661921.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/i-pac-raid-row-ed-tells-sc-it-has-been-terrorised-in-bengal-661791.html New Delhi Feb 18 IANS The Enforcement Directorate ED told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it has been terrorised in West Bengal as the apex court adjourned hearing on its plea accusing the state government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of interfering in recent search operations at the office of political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee IPAC and the residence of its cofounder Pratik Jain in KolkatanbspnbspDuring the hearing Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appearing for the federal antimoney laundering agency strongly refuted the submission that the ED had weaponised its powersThe remarks came after senior advocate Siddharth Luthra contended that the ED must justify the weaponisation of its authorityIt ED has not been weaponised it has been terrorised ASG Raju saidAfter Solicitor General Tushar Mehta the Centres secondhighest law officer stated that the ED is likely to file its rejoinder during the day a Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan posted the matter for further hearing on March 18The hearing was adjourned last week following a request made due to the ill health of senior advocate Kapil SibalDuring the brief hearing SG Mehta representing the ED informed the apex court that he had been apprised about Sibals inability to appearI cant oppose on this ground If it can be kept on 18th February the Centres secondhighest law officer submittedAcceding to the request the Justice Mishraled Bench had deferred the matter for further hearing on February 18The ED has approached the top court seeking directions to register FIRs against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the state Director General of Police DGP and the Kolkata Police Commissioner alleging obstruction of lawful duties during the federal agencys simultaneous search operationsIn her counteraffidavit Chief Minister Banerjee has denied all allegations of interference and obstruction asserting that her limited presence on the premises was solely to retrieve confidential and proprietary data belonging to her Trinamool Congress AITCAccording to the affidavit CM Banerjee visited Pratik Jains residence at Loudon Street and IPACs office in Bidhannagar on January 8 2026 after receiving information that sensitive political data of the Trinamool was being accessed during the searches She maintained that the data was vitally linked to the AITCs strategy for the upcoming Legislative Assembly electionThe affidavit stated that when she reached the premises she politely requested the officials of the Enforcement Directorate to be allowed to retrieve the Partys data and the devices they were stored in and files containing prints of the sameIt further claimed that the officers of the Enforcement Directorate present thereat did not object to this request and permitted her to retrieve some of these devices and physical filesAfter she had done so the Answering Respondent CM Banerjee left the premises so as not to inconvenience the officials of the Enforcement Directorate in any way the counter affidavit said adding that the EDs own panchnamas record that the searches continued thereafter and were conducted peacefully and in an orderly mannerCM Banerjee has also argued that neither the Trinamool nor its officials are accused in the alleged coal scam and therefore the ED cannot claim any right to the partys proprietary dataThe counter affidavit has further accused the ED of acting with mala fide intent alleging that the searches were carried out in the runup to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections and after a prolonged period of inactionIt has questioned the timing of the operations claiming they coincided with IPAC possessing critical documents including a proposed list of candidates for the upcoming pollsAlleging violations of statutory safeguards under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA the affidavit also states that the ED failed to produce any audio or video recordings of the searches This it claimed raises a strong presumption that the searches were clandestine and aimed at accessing confidential political dataEarlier on January 15 the Supreme Court had stayed the FIRs registered by the West Bengal Police against ED officials in connection with the searches and had also directed the preservation of CCTV footage and other digital storage devices containing recordings of the searched premises and the surrounding areasIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/i-pac-raid-row-ed-tells-sc-it-has-been-terrorised-in-bengal-661791.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/over-one-lakh-daily-wagers-casual-labourers-working-in-various-govt-departments-jk-cm-jammu-feb-18-ians-jammu-and-kashmir-chief-minister-omar-abdullah-told-the-legislative-assembly-on-wednesday-that-there-are-over-one-lakh-daily-wagers-and-casual-labourers-at-present-engaged-by-various-govern-661793.html Jammu Feb 18 IANS Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that there are over one lakh daily wagers and casual labourers at present engaged by various government departmentsnbspThe Chief Minister assured the Assembly that a legally sustainable approach is being adopted for their regularisationIn a written reply to a clubbed question by 15 members from the treasury and opposition benches Omar Abdullah said a total of 100501 workers have been registered through an online Aadhaarbased biometric identification and skill profiling systemThe registered workforce includes 69696 casual labourers 8836 daily rated workers 8534 seasonal labourers 5757 food and civil supplies helpers 2153 parttime sweepers and 1929 persons engaged through the hospital development fund The highest concentration of workers 38585 is in the Public Health Engineering and Irrigation ampamp Flood Control Department followed by Power Development 13616 Education 12646 Forest 8317 and Public Works RampampB 6801 he saidA significant number of 4868 are also engaged in Health and Medical Education Agriculture 4776 Animal and Sheep Husbandry 2170 and Housing and Urban Development 1702 and other departments he saidOf the 57390 registered workers in the Kashmir division Srinagar accounts for the highest number at 11825 followed by Anantnag 8823 Baramulla 7724 Budgam 5772 Kupwara 5547 Ganderbal 4056 Kulgam 3321 and Bandipora 2771Similarly among the 40077 registered workers in the Jammu zone Jammu district tops the list with 13425 workers followed by Rajouri 5191 Doda 3856 Kathua 3451 Reasi 3210 Kishtwar 2754 Udhampur 2518 Poonch 2455 Samba 1722 and Ramban 1495Amid concerns over longpending regularisation CM Abdullah said a highlevel committee was constituted on March 19 last year to examine the issue holisticallyThe committee is undertaking a detailed examination in consultation with concerned departments The government will consider its recommendations and take appropriate action in accordance with legal and financial propriety the chief minister saidReiterating his governments commitment to a fair and transparent process the chief minister said the time taken does not reflect administrative apathy but the need for a legally sound and financially sustainable approachCM Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said he understands the problems of daily wagers and instead of threatening an agitation their representatives should meet him directly to resolve issuesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/over-one-lakh-daily-wagers-casual-labourers-working-in-various-govt-departments-jk-cm-jammu-feb-18-ians-jammu-and-kashmir-chief-minister-omar-abdullah-told-the-legislative-assembly-on-wednesday-that-there-are-over-one-lakh-daily-wagers-and-casual-labourers-at-present-engaged-by-various-govern-661793.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/galgotias-robot-incident-an-isolated-one-india-at-forefront-of-ai-revolution-661794.html New Delhi Feb 18 IANS The recent controversy around a robot displayed by Galgotias University at the India AI Impact Summit may have grabbed headlines but it remains just one small episode in an otherwise massive showcase of Indias growing strength in artificial intelligencenbspnbspFrom indigenous foundational models to autonomous drones and rural AI solutions the summit underlined how India is rapidly emerging as a global AI powerhousenbspReporting from the ground a DD India correspondent highlighted that the summit is not defined by one disputed exhibitInstead it is a vibrant platform featuring hundreds of stalls that display futuristic technologies being developed across the countrynbspEach innovation reflects the depth and diversity of Indias AI ecosystem he statednbspOne of the biggest attractions at the event was BharatGen AI which is building foundational AI models in all 22 official Indian languagesnbspThe initiative aims to make AI accessible and inclusive for millions of Indians by breaking language barriersnbspAnother key highlight was ParadigmITs Sovereign AI Box designed to strengthen data security and support the goals of the IndiaAI MissionIn a time when data privacy is critical such indigenous solutions signal Indias intent to build secure and selfreliant AI systemsnbspStartups also made a strong impact at the summit Skye Air Mobility showcased its achievement of completing 36 million autonomous deliveries while saving more than 1000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissionsnbspThe companys work demonstrates how AI is being used not just for efficiency but also for sustainabilityThe summit also brought forward inspiring grassroots innovations Tarakram Maram presented his AI Trainer Machine which aims to democratize AI education and make advanced learning tools available to a wider populationnbspFrontier Markets demonstrated how AI is empowering rural women entrepreneurs by helping them improve business decisions and expand their reachAmong the young innovators Drublet Innovation Private Limited stood out Founded by two students Agniva and Aaditya the startup is pushing the boundaries of autonomous navigation and roboticsnbspTheir work reflects the ambition and technical capability of Indias youth the reporter addednbspState pavilions including Bihars showcased how regional governments are adopting AIdriven solutions to solve local challenges the reporter mentionedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/galgotias-robot-incident-an-isolated-one-india-at-forefront-of-ai-revolution-661794.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-cm-unveils-pms-portal-signals-final-push-on-venture-school-provincialisation-661795.html Guwahati Feb 18 IANS Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday launched the Provincialisation Management System PMS portal marking what the government described as a decisive and transparent push to resolve the longpending issue of provincialisation of venture educational institutions and their workforcenbspUnveiling the digital platform at Lok Sewa Bhawan Sarma said the PMS portal would streamline monitor and process applications from nonprovincialised venture schools and colleges along with their teaching and nonteaching staff under the Assam Education Provincialisation of Services of Teachers and ReOrganisation of Educational Institutions Act 2017 as amended in 2025Positioning the initiative as both a governance reform and a welfare measure the Chief Minister said the portal creates a centralised database of venture institutions and associated manpower ending ambiguity and alleged irregularities that have plagued the provincialisation process for decadesRecalling his tenure as Education Minister Sarma underlined the BJPled governments track record noting that over 50000 teachers across primary secondary and college levels were provincialised in phases since 2011He said the launch of PMS marks the third and most comprehensive phase covering venture LP UPME high schools higher secondary schools and degree collegesHowever in a politically significant announcement Sarma acknowledged that not all applicants may qualify under existing rulesTo address this he said the government has introduced a Gurudakshina scheme in the VoteonAccount Budget presented on February 17 offering a financial package to those whose services cannot be provincialisedHe also announced a preferential marking system to help such manpower compete for other government jobsThe Chief Minister stressed that only institutions established prior to January 1 2006 would be eligible and applicants must submit recognition land documents academic performance details and staff credentialsCalling on all stakeholders to cooperate Sarma said the government is committed to securing the future of venture institution employees while maintaining legal and administrative disciplineEducation Minister Ranoj Pegu senior officials and education board representatives were present at the launch which is being seen as a strategic move to consolidate support among teachers ahead of key political milestones in the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-cm-unveils-pms-portal-signals-final-push-on-venture-school-provincialisation-661795.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/salim-khan-suffering-from-minimal-brain-hemorrhage-says-doctor-661796.html Mumbai Feb 18 IANS Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan of SalimJaved duo has suffered a minimal brain hemorrhage doctor Jaleel Parkar who is looking after his case has informedThe doctor shared that minimal brain hemorrhage does not require surgery Earlier there were discussions around his discharge but now a decision will be taken once he feels betterA Digital Subtraction Angiography was performed on Salim Khan He is currently on a ventilator and has been kept in the ICU Yesterday he was admitted by family doctor Chopra His blood pressure was also high so the medical professionals put him on a ventilator for backup as safety Now he is doing better recovery is slow due to old ageEarlier Doctor Jalil Parkar had given update on the veteran screenwriters health on Tuesday He said Yes its true that Salim Khan father of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan ampamp an icon in himself has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital under Dr Jalil Parkar in the ICU early morning at 830 am He was brought into the emergency by their family doctor Sandeep Chopra Emergency care was initiated in the emergency and Mr Salim Khan was shifted to the intensive care on the 1st floor A team of doctors consisting of Dr Vinay ChavanneurologistDr Ajit Menoncardiologist ampamp Dr Nitin Dange neurosurgeon ampamp Dr Bineet Ahluwalia attended to him Respecting the relatives request further details aint being shared todaySalim Khans elder son Bollywood superstar Salman Khan daughters Alvira Khan Agnihotri and Arpita Khan and the actor Aayush Sharma were seen at the hospital Salman left the shooting in Madh Island and went to meet his father Reportedly Salim Khan has complained of swellingIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/salim-khan-suffering-from-minimal-brain-hemorrhage-says-doctor-661796.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/google-aiming-to-infuse-ai-at-all-levels-in-india-sundar-pichai-661814.html New Delhi Feb 18 IANS Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday said Google is infusing artificial intelligence AI at all levels in India to improve healthcare support startups agriculture and morenbspnbspPichai earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed Indias growing work in artificial intelligence and how Google can collaborate with the countrys talented students and professionalsnbspGreat to meet with PM Modi this morning We discussed how Google is helping with his mission to infuse AI at all levels in India to improve health expand access to information in all languages support startups agriculture and so much more said Google CEO in an X postThank you Prime Minister for bringing us together for this incredible summit he addednbspPM Modi earlier said the conversation with Pichai focused on Indias rapid progress in AI and opportunities for deeper cooperation between the government and Google in the fieldnbspHe highlighted the importance of leveraging Indias skilled youth and technology professionals to further strengthen the countrys position in artificial intelligencenbspIt was a delight to meet Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi the Prime Minister Modi statedTalked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field PM Modi mentionednbspThe Prime Ministers Office PMO later shared highlights of the meeting on its official YouTube channel offering glimpses of the discussion between the two leadersnbspThe India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 16 to 20 The summit has brought together policymakers industry leaders academicians innovators and civil society representatives from across the worldnbspIt aims to provide a global platform for discussions on strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence More than 110 countries and 30 international organisations are participating in the summit Around 20 Heads of State or Government and nearly 45 ministers are attending the eventIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/google-aiming-to-infuse-ai-at-all-levels-in-india-sundar-pichai-661814.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/namaste-india-ive-arrived-for-another-visit-with-an-important-agenda-brazilian-president--661831.html New Delhi Feb 18 IANS Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who arrived in New Delhi Wednesday afternoon to attend the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi shared a video on his social media profile showcasing the grand traditional welcome he got upon his arrival in the Indian capitalnbspnbspNamaste India Ive arrived for another visit with an important agenda strengthening ties deepening partnerships and discussing the future of artificial intelligence in the world We continue working to build more cooperation innovation and opportunities between our countries the visiting leader posted on X after he was accorded a traditional welcome at the hotelEarlier Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita welcomed the Brazilian President upon his arrival at the Delhi airportDuring his visit President Lula will be participating in the IndiaAI Impact Summit PM Narendra Modi will also hold bilateral meeting with President Lula India and Brazil share a close and multifaceted relationship elevated to Strategic Partnership and rooted in a common global vision shared democratic values and commitment to inclusive growth President Lulas visit will impart strong momentum to IndiaBrazil partnership the Ministry of External Affairs MEA posted on X after the Brazilian Presidents arrivalOn Tuesday evening as he left for India President Lula highlighted that he would also be discussing new opportunities for cooperation between both countries during his India visitAt the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi we are now departing for India In the coming days I will participate in the Summit on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence and we will discuss new opportunities for cooperation between Brazil and India From there we will proceed to South Korea to at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung also strengthen the ties between our countries President Lula posted on XHe mentioned that a highlevel business delegation will also be accompanying him on the India visit with the aim of deepening commercial relationsIn 2025 bilateral trade between Brazil and India reached more than US 15 billion asserted the Brazilian PresidentDuring the February 1822 State Visit President Lula would be participating in the 2nd AI Impact Summit and hold discussions with PM Modi on February 21Both leaders would be reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations Prime Minister is scheduled to host a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary The two leaders would also be exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest including cooperation in multilateral fora reformed multilateralism global governance and issues concerning the Global South the Ministry of External Affairs MEA had stated earlierPresident Droupadi Murmu is also expected to meet the visiting leader and would host a banquet in his honour Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar are envisaged to call on President LulaPresident Lula is accompanied by about 14 ministers and a large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies The accompanying ministers would be having meetings with their Indian counterparts The CEOs are expected to participate in a Business Forum being organised during the visit of the Brazilian President reflecting the growing trade and commercial engagements between the two countriesThe forthcoming visit would be the sixth visit of President Lula to India He had first visited India in 2004 as the Guest of Honour for Republic Day celebrations and last visited India for the G20 Summit in September 2023 Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Lula have however been meeting frequently in between It may be recalled that Prime Minister Modi was in Brasilia on a State Visit from 78 July 2025 which was the first State Visit by an Indian Prime Minister in the last 57 years Both leaders also met in Johannesburg during G20 in November 2025 the MEA statedIndia and Brazil share a warm close and multifaceted Strategic Partnership rooted in shared democratic values close peopletopeople ties and expanding cooperation across key sectors The two large democracies have been Strategic Partners since 2006Brazil is Indias largest trading partner in LAC region and bilateral engagement has continued to deepen in areas such as trade and investment defence energy agriculture health and pharmaceuticals energy including renewables critical minerals rare earth materials science and technology and innovation including in cooperation in the field of Digital Public Infrastructure DPI and AI space and peopletopeople linkages The two countries share common views on various international issues including UN reforms climate change and combating terrorismThe MEA highlighted that the State Visit of President Lula will provide an opportunity for both sides to chart a forwardlooking agenda for further strengthening bilateral Strategic Partnership and further deepen cooperation across bilateral regional and global platforms on issues of mutual interestIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/namaste-india-ive-arrived-for-another-visit-with-an-important-agenda-brazilian-president--661831.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sitharaman-makes-strong-pitch-for-fdi-in-india-at-ceos-meet-in-norway-661832.html New Delhi Feb 18 IANS Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a strong pitch for more foreign direct investment FDI in India at a roundtable meeting with prominent Norwegian CEOs and investors in Oslo on WednesdaynbspIn her remarks at the event the Finance Minister said My official visit to Norway has witnessed engaging and positive discussions on India as an investment destination and the fastest growing major economy of the worldShe also said that the Union Budget 202627 underpins the reform focus of the government on easing regulatory and compliance burden for citizens and companies which would make investments easierIn the light of Indias expanding trade architecture including agreements with European Free Trade Association EFTA the EU the UK and the US the Union Finance Minister highlighted the conditions in India that provide a durable framework for trade industrial collaboration and longterm investments the Finance Ministry said in a post on XThe participants appreciated the predictable policy and macroeconomic environment in India and acknowledged the reform efforts and momentum by the government the Ministry addedThe CEO of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund NIIF made a presentation highlighting Indias growth and reform story and the potential and scope of investment opportunities between the two countries across key sectorsThe IndiaNorway CEOs Roundtable was organised by the industry chamber CII in partnership with the Indian Embassy in NorwayMeanwhile Norway is looking forward to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for later in the year which would further expand bilateral cooperation said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr StoreIn his meeting with Finance Minister Sitharaman in Oslo Store appreciated Indias reform momentum and said that Norway and India can collaborate in the sectors of fisheries health tech maritime and space He also lauded the contribution of the Indian diaspora in NorwayThey also held discussions on operationalisation of the IndiaEFTA TEPA and outlined key areas of collaboration between the two countries including in areas related to hightech manufacturing carbon capture storage startups semiconductor renewable energy and waste management among others according to a Finance Ministry statementIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sitharaman-makes-strong-pitch-for-fdi-in-india-at-ceos-meet-in-norway-661832.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/haryana-cm-inaugurates-lays-foundation-of-projects-worth-rs-103-crore-661833.html Chandigarh Feb 18 IANS Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of five development projects worth Rs 10331 crore during a public meeting held in Uchana in Jind district aimed at strengthening infrastructure and accelerating development in the regionnbspThese included three projects inaugurated at a cost of Rs 2854 crore and two projects for which foundation stones were laid involving an estimated expenditure of Rs 7477 crore reflecting the state governments focus on expanding public infrastructure and improving civic amenitiesOn the occasion Public Health Engineering Minister Ranbir Gangwa Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi and Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Krishan Middha also addressed the gathering and highlighted the governments development initiativesPublic Health Engineering Minister Gangwa said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Saini the doubleengine government was carrying out development works at a rapid pace across Haryana ensuring balanced and inclusive growth in both urban and rural areasReferring to the Assembly elections he said the people of Uchana played a decisive role in forming the BJP government and strengthening democratic participation in the stateHe said the Chief Minister was ensuring equal development across Haryana and prioritising infrastructure projects in all regions without discriminationThere was a misconception that only political dynasties could win from this constituency Another myth was that the BJP formed the government only after certain leaders joined the party The people of Uchana have dispelled both these misconceptions Gangwa saidHe added that leaders who had served as ministers at the Centre Members of Parliament and MLAs were shown that electoral victories are decided by the people and not by political families or dynastic influenceSocial Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi said the Bangar region has historically played a significant role in Haryanas political landscape and contributed to shaping the states leadershipThere was a time when the Congress won five seats from here and leaders like Chaudhary Devi Lal also won from this region Bedi said while recalling the political history of the areaHowever he said that people have now expressed their trust in the BJP Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Saini reflecting changing political dynamics and growing support for the current governments development agendaHe alleged that leaders elected from the region in the past had used their political positions for personal advancement at the state and national levels but did not devote sufficient attention to the development of the areaIn contrast Chief Minister Saini was directly engaging with people addressing their concerns and accelerating development works to improve infrastructure and public services in the region he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/haryana-cm-inaugurates-lays-foundation-of-projects-worth-rs-103-crore-661833.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/french-president-macron-pays-tribute-to-victims-of-2008-mumbai-terror-attacks-661769.html Mumbai Feb 17 IANS French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron on Tuesday paid tribute to victims of 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks as he began his India visit Macron is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the dayBoth leaders will launch IndiaFrance Year of Innovation 2026 as the French Presidents visit is set to impart further momentum to the vibrant strategic partnership between the two countriesEarlier PM Modi extended a warm welcome to Macron on his arrival in India and expressed confidence that strengthening IndiaFrance cooperation will contribute to global progressThe French President was extended a warm welcome at the Mumbai airport by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor Acharya DevvratExtending a warm welcome to President Macron PM Modi said India looks forward to your visit and to advancing our bilateral ties to new heights I am confident that our discussions will further strengthen cooperation across sectors and contribute to global progressSee you in Mumbai and later in Delhi my dear friend Emmanuel Macron PM Modi addedPresident Macrons visit comes at the invitation of PM Modi to take part in the AI Impact Summit being hosted by IndiaDuring his stay the two leaders will also convene a bilateral summit in Mumbai This marks President Macrons fourth visit to India and his first official engagement in MumbaiAccording to the Prime Ministers Office PMO the discussions between PM Modi and Macron will include a comprehensive review of advancements made under the IndiaFrance Strategic PartnershipThe deliberations are expected to focus on further strengthening the strategic relationship and expanding cooperation into emerging and futureoriented sectors The two leaders will also exchange perspectives on significant regional and global issues the PMO said in an official statementLater in the day at around 515 pm Prime Minister Modi and President Macron will jointly inaugurate the IndiaFrance Year of Innovation 2026They will also address an audience comprising business leaders startup founders researchers and innovators from both countriesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/french-president-macron-pays-tribute-to-victims-of-2008-mumbai-terror-attacks-661769.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-assembly-erupts-as-bjp-mla-demands-cow-be-named-state-animal-661770.html Jaipur Feb 17 IANS The Budget Session of the Rajasthan Assembly descended into chaos on Tuesday as a discussion on cattle issues snowballed into sharp accusations heated exchanges and nearphysical confrontation between ruling and opposition MLAs The controversy erupted after the opposition raised the issue of a calfs severed head allegedly found near the Hingonia cow shelter in JaipurnbspLeader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully accused the government of failing to maintain law and order and alleged that the accused in the case was being shielded by a ruling party MLAHis remarks brought BJP and Congress members facetoface in the HousenbspThe uproar initially began when Hawamahal MLA Balmukundacharya asked whether the government was considering granting the cow the status of state animal in RajasthannbspAnimal Husbandry Minister Zoraram Kumawat responded that no such proposal was currently under considerationnbspWhile the reply itself triggered murmurs the atmosphere turned charged when the opposition shifted focus to the Jaipur incident terming it a conspiracy to disturb communal harmonyDuring his address Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully claimed that the accused was being protected by a BJP legislator indirectly pointing towards Civil Lines MLA Gopal Sharma An enraged Sharma rose to counter the allegation declaring Are you taking my name If any of my men are found involved in this matter I will resign from the Assembly immediatelynbspHis statement intensified the confrontation with members from both sides engaging in loud sloganeering Tensions escalated further when Sharma reportedly moved towards the opposition benchesCongress leaders Govind Singh Dotasra and Ashok Chandna also advanced towards him leading to chaotic scenes inside the HousenbspOpposition MLAs waved posters related to the incident prompting a stern response from Assembly Speaker Vasudev DevnaninbspObjecting to the display the Speaker remarked that the manner in which the posters were brought and waved suggested a preplanned attempt to disrupt proceedingsHe instructed Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg to calm tempers and urged members to maintain the dignity of the HousenbspDespite repeated appeals sharp exchanges continued with the opposition accusing the government of politicising cow protection while failing to ensure safety even in the state capitalnbspThe dramatic scenes marked one of the most turbulent moments of the ongoing Budget SessionIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-assembly-erupts-as-bjp-mla-demands-cow-be-named-state-animal-661770.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/six-policemen-posted-at-rs-pura-observation-home-suspended-after-escape-of-2-pakistanis-gangster-661778.html Jammu Feb 17 Six policemen posted at the observation home in JampKâs RS Pura were suspended on Tuesday following the escape of three inmates The escaped inmates include two Pakistani nationals and a local gangster from RS Pura The three inmates of the observation home of the Social Welfare Department Jammu escaped on Monday after reportedly attacking policemen posted thereThe escaped inmates have been identified as local gangster Karanjit Singh alias Gugga a resident of Dablehar in RS Pura and Mohd Sunaullah and Ahsan Anwar both Pakistani nationalsMeanwhile the mother of the escaped gangster Karanjit Gugga also went missing on Tuesday police said adding that the escape appears to be part of a deeprooted conspiracyOfficials said the incident took place around 515 pm on Monday when the inmates reportedly assaulted two police personnel and fled from the facilitySoon after the incident police registered a case and launched a largescale search operation to track the fugitives Authorities said multiple police teams have been formed and raids are being carried out at different locations to arrest the escaped inmatesPolice personnel immediately cordoned off nearby areas following the escape The observation home in RS Pura that is run by the Social Welfare Department was established in 1988It houses undertrials and juveniles in conflict with the law providing shelter counselling education and rehabilitation support Such facilities function under the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act 2015 and are meant for temporary care during ongoing legal enquiriesThe observation home temporarily house juveniles under 18 while their cases are being investigated or tried by the Juvenile Justice BoardThe inmates are provided food clothing shelter medical care and rehabilitation aiming to transition children into productive citizensThese observation homes are established by the UT government often in partnership with NGOs under Section 47 of the JJ Act 2015Unlike Special Homes for longterm postconviction rehabilitation or Childrens Homes for care and protection of children in need Observation Homes are specifically for undertrial juvenilesSeparate facilities are required for boys and girls and sometimes based on age groups IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/six-policemen-posted-at-rs-pura-observation-home-suspended-after-escape-of-2-pakistanis-gangster-661778.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/coast-guard-apprehends-bangladeshi-boat-28-fishermen-in-bay-of-bengal-661780.html Kolkata Feb 17 One Bangladeshi fishing boat along with 28 crew members was apprehended in the Bay of Bengal for illegally fishing in Indias Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ the Indian Coast Guard ICG said on Tuesday The force said that the Bangladeshis along with their boat were apprehended on Sunday while an ICG ship was on surveillance in the Northern Bay of BengalIndian Coast Guard Ship Amrit Kaur while on surveillance in the Northern Bay of Bengal apprehended 01 Bangladeshi Fishing Boats BFB along with 28 crew for illegally fishing in Indias Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ on 15 Feb 26 the coast guard said in an official statementWhile on patrol duty the ship detected the Bangladeshi fishing boat operating inside Indian waters in violation of the Maritime Zones of India Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels Act 1981 MZI Act The vessel was intercepted boarded and thoroughly inspected by the Coast Guard boarding teamsAccording to officials the crew of the BFB failed to produce any valid authorisation or permit to fish in the maritime zones of India The fishing gear and catch indicated active fishing operations within the prohibited areaThe boat along with the crew was taken into custody and safely escorted to Frazerganj for further legal proceedingsThe apprehension highlights the Indian Coast Guards steadfast commitment to protecting Indias maritime interests preventing illegal fishing and ensuring the security of Indian fishermen operating in the region the statement further readIt added that the Indian Coast Guard maintains constant vigil in the Bay of Bengal through roundtheclock surface and air surveillance to enforce maritime laws and safeguard national maritime assetsEarlier on February 7 the Indian Coast Guard announced that it had seized three vessels off Mumbai and busted an international oil smuggling racket involving handlers operating across multiple countries coordinating the sale and transfer of cargo between ships at seaFollowing a meticulously planned seaair coordinated operation on February 5 and February 6 the three apprehended vessels are likely to be escorted to Mumbai for further investigation according to an official statementThe vessels will be handed over to Indian Customs and other law enforcement agencies for appropriate legal action it saidPreliminary findings indicate that the vessels frequently changed their identities to evade detection by maritime law enforcement agencies and that their owners are based in foreign countries it addedThe operation dismantled an intricate network involved in the illicit transfer of large volumes of oil and oilbased cargo originating from conflictridden regions the statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/coast-guard-apprehends-bangladeshi-boat-28-fishermen-in-bay-of-bengal-661780.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-hc-quashes-defamation-case-against-rahul-gandhi-661782.html Bengaluru Feb 17 IANS The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday quashed a criminal defamation petition filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly carrying out propaganda against the partynbspThe case pertains to a corruption rate card advertisement targeting the previous BJP government during the Assembly elections Rahul Gandhi had filed a petition seeking to quash the charges against him The court observed that allowing the proceedings to continue would amount to an abuse of the process of lawA bench headed by Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav passed the order and stated that the proceedings insofar as petitioner Rahul Gandhi is concerned are set asidenbspThe complaint was filed by BJP leader Keshav Prasad The complainant accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Rahul Gandhi of publishing false advertisements against the then BJPled government headed by Basavaraj BommaiThe petition alleged that the accused had released fullpage advertisements in the media as part of a campaign accusing the then BJP government of taking a 40 per cent commission Rahul Gandhi had shared it on his social media XnbspThe advertisement which appeared on May 5 2023 in all mainstream newspapers made fanciful baseless foundationless and irrational allegations against the BJP the complaint saidnbspChallenging the proceedings it was submitted that there is no prima facie evidence to prove charges against Rahul Gandhi and the petitioner has failed to produce any documentary evidence to prove that Rahul Gandhi had circulated the advertisement on his social media handle except for the bare pleading in the complaint that Rahul Gandhi had given instructions to issue the advertisementsnbsp nbspnbspRahul Gandhi had appeared before the Special MPMLA court in Bengaluru in connection with the case Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar had also appeared before the court and secured bailDeputy Chief Minister Shivakumar had termed the case false and stated It is a false case filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party against me Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister SiddaramaiahnbspIt can be noted that the Congress made the 40 per cent commission allegation a major campaign issue against the thenruling BJP Initially the allegations were raised in speeches The party later launched social media campaigns and put up posters across the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-hc-quashes-defamation-case-against-rahul-gandhi-661782.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-french-president-macron-begin-talks-in-mumbai--661783.html Mumbai Feb 17 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron are holding a bilateral meeting at Mumbais Lok Bhavan on TuesdaynbspExternal Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar National Security Advisor NSA Ajit Doval and other top officials were also present during the meetingPM Modi and Macron warmly greeted each other before proceeding for the talksIts a delight to meet my friend President Macron in Mumbai He told me he really likes the city and also enjoyed his run earlier in the day PM Modi posted on XnbspnbspAccording to the Prime Ministers Office PMO the discussions between PM Modi and Macron will include a comprehensive review of advancements made under the IndiaFrance Strategic PartnershipThe deliberations are expected to focus on further strengthening the strategic relationship and expanding cooperation into emerging and futureoriented sectors The two leaders will also exchange perspectives on significant regional and global issues the PMO said in an official statementLater in the day PM Modi and President Macron will jointly inaugurate the IndiaFrance Year of Innovation 2026 They will also address an audience comprising business leaders startup founders researchers and innovators from both countriesReaffirming solidarity with India President Macron also paid homage to the 2611 Mumbai terror attacks victims which included two French citizens France said that it unequivocally condemns terrorism and stands with India against this scourgeEarlier in the day PM Modi extended a warm welcome to Macron on his arrival in India and expressed confidence that strengthening IndiaFrance cooperation will contribute to global progress For his visit to India French President Macron is accompanied by First lady Brigitte MacronThe French President was extended a warm welcome at the Mumbai airport by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor Acharya DevvratExtending a warm welcome to President Macron PM Modi in a post on X wrote India looks forward to your visit and to advancing our bilateral ties to new heights I am confident that our discussions will further strengthen cooperation across sectors and contribute to global progressSee you in Mumbai and later in Delhi my dear friend Emmanuel Macron PM Modi addedPresident Macrons visit comes at the invitation of PM Modi to take part in the AI Impact Summit being hosted by IndiaThis marks President Macrons fourth visit to India and his first official engagement in Mumbai Macrons visit to India comes after PM Modis visit to France in February 2025 and showcases the mutual trust and depth of Strategic Partnership as well as the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen it furtherIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-french-president-macron-begin-talks-in-mumbai--661783.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ls-speaker-om-birla-arrives-in-dhaka-for-tarique-rahman-swearing-in-ceremony--661704.html Dhaka Feb 17 IANS Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla arrived in Bangladesh on Tuesday to represent the Indian government at the swearingin ceremony of the newly elected government in DhakanbspnbspThe Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP under the leadership of its chairman Tarique Rahman registered a landslide victory in the Bangladesh parliamentary electionsThe BNP Parliamentary Party on Tuesday elected Tarique Rahman as its Leader setting him up to become the Leader of the House and take the oath as the Prime Minister of the country later in the day As the party with the majority of seats the BNP established the Parliamentary Party and conducted its inaugural meeting chaired by Tarique Rahman after its 208 MPs took their oaths at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban earlier in the dayLok Sabha Speaker Om Birla along with several other foreign dignitaries including Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Pakistans Planning Minister Ahsan IqbalNepal will be represented by its Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma while Sri Lankas Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa is also slated to participate in the eventThe United Kingdoms IndoPacific UnderSecretary Seema Malhotra is expected to attend as well There is also a possibility that Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu may participate in the ceremonyOn Sunday Indias Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla would attend the oathtaking ceremony of the Tarique Rahmanled government in BangladeshIn an official statement the MEA said The Honble Speakers participation at this important event underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh reaffirming Indias steadfast commitment to the democratic values that bind our two nationsIt further stated As neighbours united by a shared history culture and mutual respect India welcomes Bangladeshs transition to an elected government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman whose vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the peopleThe 13th parliamentary election was conducted on February 12 and the Election Commission published the official gazette notification of the victorious candidates on the night of February 13Polling was held for 299 of the 300 seats in the 13th parliamentary election The Election Commission declared unofficial results for 297 constituencies However the gazette notifications for Chattogram2 and Chattogram4 have not yet been issued following a directive from the High CourtAccording to the results announced so far the BNP won 209 out of 297 seats with its candidates leading in the two constituencies including Chattogram2 and 4 where results have been withheld Their allies have claimed three seatsOn the other hand JamaateIslami has won 68 seats while the partners in the Jamaatled 11party electoral alliance secured nine seats Islami Andolan Bangladesh IAB claimed one seat and independent candidates won in seven constituencies Prothom Alo reportedWith Tarique Rahman now set to lead Bangladesh the country last saw a male PM almost 35 years ago experts warn that the nation faces a massive challenge of overcoming the unrest and rising Islamist extremism that marked the 18month tenure of the Muhammad Yunusled interim governmentIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ls-speaker-om-birla-arrives-in-dhaka-for-tarique-rahman-swearing-in-ceremony--661704.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/biggest-ai-summit-unique-opportunity-for-indias-youth-to-influence-tech-world-ashwini-vaishnaw-661706.html New Delhi Feb 17 IANS Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated on Tuesday that the fiveday AI Impact Summit presents a distinctive opportunity for Indias technologically adept youth to develop solutions for worldwide challenges He also expressed pride in hosting the largest gathering of technology leaders related to Artificial Intelligence AInbspSpeaking to the media the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology said the AI Summit offers a huge investment opportunity and India is likely to draw investments of more than 200 billion over the next two yearsnbspHe credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for democratising the technology with his vision stating that the focus of the fiveday AI Impact Summit is to tackle the diverse challenges faced by Indias large population and to seek comprehensive solutionsSpeaking to IANS Ashwini Vaishnaw said that global leaders tech gurus from within and across the globe have congregated at the AI summit and together they will deliberate discuss and develop techbased solutions for the host of problems plaguing the world todaynbspHe said that Indias youth have a unique and golden opportunity to contribute to shaping the world of Artificial Intelligence AI by making innovative solutions in the field of deeptech and shaping the digital world worldwidenbspDescribing the ongoing summit as the biggest AI Summit he said that the countrys youth are filled with energy and enthusiasm and are raring to make a mark with their expertise and endeavournbspnbspIndias youth are techsavvy they adapt to new technology They should harness the potential of AI and related tools and build solutions while sticking to the highest ethical standards he addednbspThe Union Minister also advocated for strong and robust regulatory mechanisms to ensure that the technology is not misused and remains limited to larger human goodAcknowledging the threat posed by deepfakes he said that the problem was growing day by day and informed that the government has started a dialogue with the industry on controlling thisnbspEarlier in the day PM Modi shared highlights from the ongoing AI Impact Expo calling it a convergence of ideas and intentnbspNotably many heads of state along with ministerial delegations from more than a dozen countries have arrived in the capital to participate in the AI Summit With global leaders and tech giants in attendance the Summit holds promise for fostering multiple partnerships thereby reinforcing Indias role in the evolving landscape of technology and governancenbspnbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/biggest-ai-summit-unique-opportunity-for-indias-youth-to-influence-tech-world-ashwini-vaishnaw-661706.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tns-outstanding-debt-to-touch-rs-1071-lakh-crore-in-2026-27-minister-thangam-thennarasu-661707.html Chennai Feb 17 IANS Tamil Nadus outstanding public debt is projected to reach Rs 1071 lakh crore in 202627 Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said on Tuesday while presenting the Interim Budget in the AssemblynbspAccording to the Interim Budget Estimates for 202627 the states debt is expected to rise from Rs 952 lakh crore in the Revised Estimates for 202526 The earlier Budget Estimates for 202526 had pegged the outstanding debt at Rs 929 lakh croreHowever the state finance minister clarified that the 202526 Revised Estimates include Rs 9523 crore related to the Chennai Metro Rail PhaseII project which was approved as a Central Sector ProjectnbspHe said this amount should reflect in the Union governments accounts Despite repeated requests the necessary book adjustment entries have not been carried out by the Union government leading to an artificial increase in our debt he contendednbspExcluding this amount the states outstanding debt would stand at Rs 942 lakh crore in the Revised Estimates for 202526 and Rs 1062 lakh crore in the Interim Budget Estimates for 202627 he saidFor 202627 the state plans to borrow Rs 179 lakh crore and repay Rs 6041342 crore The debttoGross State Domestic Product GSDP ratio is estimated at 2612 per centnbspThe Interim Budget also projects a Revenue Deficit of Rs 4869632 crore for 202627 In comparison the Revenue Deficit stood at Rs 69219 crore in the Revised Estimates for 202526 against Rs 41635 crore in the original Budget Estimates for that yearnbspThennarasu attributed the rise in the Revenue Deficit during 202526 to GST rate cuts the withholding of funds under Centrally Sponsored Schemes and increased expenditure towards loss funding for Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited TNPDCLHe argued that without these fiscal challenges the deficit could have been contained in line with initial projectionsnbspThe Fiscal Deficit for 202627 is estimated at Rs 121 lakh crore marginally lower than Rs 124 lakh crore in the Revised Estimates for 202526nbspAs a percentage of GSDP it is projected to decline from 348 per cent to 3 per cent indicating fiscal consolidationnbspThe Minister maintained that the states financial position could have been stronger had the Centre extended greater cooperation during the current financial yearIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tns-outstanding-debt-to-touch-rs-1071-lakh-crore-in-2026-27-minister-thangam-thennarasu-661707.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/screenwriter-salim-khan-admitted-to-mumbai-hospital--661708.html Mumbai Feb 17 Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan has been admitted to the ICU of Mumbais Lilavati hospital on Tuesday an insider saidnbspKhan is the writer of movie hits such as Sholay Deewar and ZanjeerHe Salim Khan has been admitted to Lilavati hospital this morning He is in the ICU the insider told PTIKhan who cowrote the many Hindi cinema classics with Javed Akhtar in the 70s celebrated his 90th birthday in November last yearnbspnbspSalim Khans son superstar Salman Khan was spotted outside the hospital by paparazzinbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/screenwriter-salim-khan-admitted-to-mumbai-hospital--661708.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-group-commits-100-billion-to-sovereign-ai-infrastructure-661740.html Ahmedabad Feb 17 The Adani Group on Tuesday announced one of the worldâs largest integrated energycompute commitments a direct investment of 100 billion to develop renewableenergypowered hyperscale AIready data centres by 2035 The initiative will establish a longterm sovereign energy and compute platform designed to position India as a global leader in the emerging Intelligence RevolutionThe investment is expected to catalyse by 2035 an additional 150 billion across server manufacturing advanced electrical infrastructure sovereign cloud platforms and supporting industriesTogether this is projected to create a 250 billion AI infrastructure ecosystem in India over the decadeThe world is entering an Intelligence Revolution more profound than any previous Industrial Revolution said Gautam Adani Chairman of the Adani GroupNations that master the symmetry between energy and compute will shape the next decade India is uniquely positioned to leadâ the Adani Group Chairman saidHe added that at Adani we are building on our foundation in data centres and green energy to expand into the complete fivelayer AI stack focused on Indias technological sovereigntyThis roadmap builds on AdaniConnexs existing 2 GW national data centre expanding toward a 5 GW target that positions India at the epicentre of the global AI economyThis vision is anchored by landmark partnerships with Google to establish the nations largest gigawattscale AI data centre campus in Visakhapatnam alongside additional campuses in Noida and with Microsoft spanning Hyderabad and PuneThe Adani Group is also in discussion with other major players seeking to establish large scale campuses across India thereby further cementing its position as Indias premier AI infrastructure partnerIn line with this vision the Group will also deepen its data centre partnership with Flipkart advancing the collaboration toward the development of a second AI data centre purposebuilt to support Flipkarts nextgeneration digital commerce highperformance computing and largescale AI workloadsThe 5 GW deployment will create the worldâs largest integrated data centre platform combining renewable power generation transmission infrastructure and hyperscale AI compute within a single coordinated architectureThis longterm commitment by the Adani Group establishes one of the worldâs most ambitious integrated energy and AI infrastructure platforms ever undertaken at national scaleThe Adani Group invites global technology companies sovereign institutions and innovation partners to participate and collaborate in building Indiaâs nextgeneration AI infrastructure platform IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-group-commits-100-billion-to-sovereign-ai-infrastructure-661740.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/two-bangladeshis-illegally-detained-in-west-bengal-two-accused-held-661757.html Kolkata Feb 17 Two people have been arrested on the charges of illegally detaining two Bangladeshi citizens in the name of getting visas and extorting money in Kolkata said the police on Tuesday Officers of Technocity Police Station conducted a raid on a hotel and rescued two Bangladeshis on MondayTwo individuals including a Bangladeshi citizen have been arrested The police have already started interrogating the two arrestedThe connection of the arrested Bangladeshi citizen with the illegally detained people is also being investigated At the same time it is also being investigated whether there is any dispute regarding the transactionAccording to police sources a few days ago two Bangladeshi citizens Rajiv Laskar and Junaid Mian came to India They came to Kolkata with valid visasAccording to police sources they had planned to go to Turkey from India In a bid to get that visa Rajiv and Junaid talked to a broker named Achintya Kumar PalInvestigators claimed that Bangladeshi citizen Humayun Kabir introduced Achintya Kumar Pal to Rajiv and Junaid After that the two Bangladeshis were called in the name of getting visas Allegedly they were detained there Then three lakh rupees was demanded as ransom The money was also transferred to the kidnappers account from a bank in Bangladesh But even then more money was demandedMeanwhile the police officers came to know about the entire incident through confidential sourcesThe officers of Technocity police station conducted a raid at the hotel and rescued the two Bangladeshi citizensThey arrested Humayun Kabir and Achintya Pal on charges of illegally detaining and forcibly extorting money It is learnt that the two arrested will be produced before the Barasat court in North 24 Parganas district on TuesdayThe police will seek their custody to investigate further on this Efforts are on to find out who else is involved in this said a senior officer of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/two-bangladeshis-illegally-detained-in-west-bengal-two-accused-held-661757.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:01:00 +0530