When medicine and water can take lives: A system without accountability in MP
Madhya Pradesh is facing a harsh reality these days. Even the most basic needs of common people are not safe anymore. Maroof Ahmed Khan, a Bhopal-based social activist and writer, in a statement has said that in a democracy, both government and public have responsibility. The government must give safe medicine and clean water and Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
After water crisis in Madhya Pradesh's Indore, groundwater samples from several parts of Bhopal have tested positive for E. coli bacteria, prompting authorities to ban the use of groundwater in the affected areas. E coli bacteria can cause diarrhoea, stomach pain, loss of appetite and low fever. People can get infected after swallowing E. coli and this can happen through contaminated food or water. In Bhopal, a sluaghterhouse has also been sealed amid concerns over contaminated groundwater.
The groundwater in four locations of Bhopal tested positive for E.coli bacteria. Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has prohibited the use of groundwater.
E Coli Detected In Bhopal Water After 20 Die In Indore Contamination
Groundwater in several parts of Bhopal, including Khanugaon, Adampur Cantonment, and Vajpayee Nagar, has tested positive for E coli bacteria.
Despite reopening, jaundice and hepatitis cases continue to surface at VIT Bhopal campus
Rahila Firdous' journey: Engineering degree, keeping gloves & Dhoni as idol
Bhopal-born cricketer Rahila Firdous, inspired by Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, has earned an engineering degree while honing her cricket skills. After impressive domestic performances, she was picked by Mumbai Indians for Rs 10 lakh in the WPL auction, a significant career leap. Rahila is eager to learn from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and leverage the WPL platform for growth.
MP: AIIMS, Bhopal, Professor Dies 24 Hours After Suicide Attempt
Doctor was on ventilator for 23 days after alleged work-related distress
MP: Congress to protest in Indore on Jan 11 over water contamination issue
The Congress party will organise a protest march in Indore on January 11 over alleged corruption and deaths linked to contaminated drinking water, MP Congress chief Jitendra Patwari said. In Bhopal, Youth Congress workers staged a protest over the incident and were later detained by police
MP ignored CAG report on systemic lapses
Official audits for years warned of public health risks from contaminated drinking water in Madhya Pradesh, citing over 5.45 lakh water-borne disease cases in Bhopal and Indore between 2013-2018. Despite these alerts, systemic lapses in monitoring and testing by urban local bodies persisted, leading to faecal coliform detection in water supplies and potential health impacts for lakhs of residents.
DC Edit | How Indore Slipped Up
The CAG report of 2019 had noted finding of harmful bacteria in water samples collected in Indore and Bhopal and pointed to lack of monitoring of filter plants at operational level as well as distribution level. The report also noted that the authorities concerned had assured the CAG that they will take remedial action
CAG Warned of Water Contamination and Disease Outbreak in Indore and Bhopal 6 Years Ago
It shows lack of monitoring of filter plants at operational level as well as distribution level
Efforts To Prevent `Love Jihad Must Begin At Home: RSS Chief Bhagwat
Bhopal, Jan 3: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said the efforts to prevent `love Jihad must begin within families, stressing the need for communication, inculcation of awareness among women and collective social response. Addressing Stri Shakti Samvad programme, a discussion on womens role in society organised by the Sangh here, Bhagwat touched upon the issue of `love Jihad, an RSS release said. Notably, the term love Jihad is used by right-wing groups to allege a conspiracy by [] The post Efforts To Prevent `Love Jihad Must Begin At Home: RSS Chief Bhagwat appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Social harmony intrinsic to Indian society; need collective efforts to strengthen it: Mohan Bhagwat
Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief, emphasized social harmony in Bhopal. He stated that unity amid diversity is India's core identity. Bhagwat highlighted the need for dialogue and collective efforts to strengthen communities. Representatives from various groups attended the meeting. A resolution was passed to address local issues through collective action, aiming to strengthen society.
Watch: Bhopal residents allege dirty water supply after Indore contamination deaths
India loses 166 tigers in 2025, forty more than previous year; MP accounts for 55 deaths
Bhopal, Jan 1: India, home to the worlds largest tiger population, has lost as many as 166 of these majestic animals in 2025, forty more than the previous year, due to various reasons, as per the latest data of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The data also shows that Madhya Pradesh, dubbed the countrys tiger state, recorded the highest number of deaths at 55. Among other states, Maharashtra, Kerala and Assam reported 38, 13 and 12 tiger deaths, respectively, [] The post India loses 166 tigers in 2025, forty more than previous year; MP accounts for 55 deaths appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Cheetah project logs 12 cub births in 2025, Indias count now 30
Bhopal: The three-year-old cheetah reintroduction project moved ahead with full steam in 2025, a year which saw the birth of 12 cubs in Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park (KNP) three of them did not survive taking the number of the big cats in India to 30, an official said on Wednesday. However, six Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Sri Lankan judges visit India for capacity-building programme
COLOMBO, Dec 30: Twenty Sri Lankan High Court judges visited India to attend a knowledge exchange and capacity-building programme, the Indian mission here said on Tuesday. The programme took place at the Indian National Judicial Academy, Bhopal from December 15 to 19, according to a statement by the Indian High Commission. It comprised nine thematic sessions covering key areas of judicial functioning. These included judicial decision-making and appellate review; use of technology and digital transformation in courts; cybercrime and [] The post Sri Lankan judges visit India for capacity-building programme appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Tigress found dead in Madhya Pradeshs Sagar; state reports 55 tiger mortalities in 2025
BHOPAL:Yet another tiger death has been reported from the 'Tiger State' Madhya Pradesh this time from the Sagar district of Bundelkhand region. With this latest tiger fatality, the number of mortalities of the striped big cat in Madhya Pradesh so far in 2025 has touched 55 the highest in any year since the launch of the Project Tiger in 1973. The adult female tiger, aged between eight and ten years, was found dead near the Hilgan village on the Sagar-Dhana Road on Sunday. The latest tiger death was reported from the Dhana Forest Range under the Sagar South Forest Division. The matter was immediately reported to the forest department staff by the villagers, who had spotted the tigers carcass in the morning. The forest department team, led by the Dhana Forest Ranger Pratik Srivastava, rushed to the spot and started the on-spot investigations. According to highly placed officials in the state forest department, though the actual cause of death will be known only after the necropsy of the carcass, the absence of signs of injuries on the body or any circumstantial evidence of suspected poisoning suggest that the adult female might have been electrocuted due to some electric trap set up by villagers in the area. The local forest department staff are also ascertaining whether the tigress had been moving in the same area for a long time or travelled there from some other place, including the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve or the Panna Tiger Reserve. Importantly, as per details available with the TNIE , out of the 55 tiger deaths which have taken place in MP so far this year, 11 deaths are unnatural, out of which around eight have been caused due to electric traps set up by villagers to save their crops from wild boars and antelopes or bush hunting of wild animals. The electrocution-related deaths of tigers in MP are a major cause of concern for the state forest department, which is particularly happening due to villagers setting up such traps to save their crops from wild boars and antelopes especially as the pace and process of the revenue departments compensation for crops damaged by wild animals is very slow and complicated. Sharing the video of the dead tiger on social media on Sunday evening, Bhopal-based wildlife activist Ajay Dubey wrote, When will this cycle of tiger deaths finally end? 55 tigers have been lost in Madhya Pradesh so far this year, there is a complete lack of accountability. Today, another tiger's carcass was discovered in Dhana, Sagarsuspected to belong to the Panna Tiger Reserve. Who will answer for this mounting crisis?
Rare leopard Gecko lizard found accidentally in MP tiger sanctuary
BHOPAL: In a rare wildlife sighting, a laundry staff at the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Madhya Pradesh has photographed a colourful and possibly rare lizard species, marking what officials say could be the first such record from the reserve. Anil Rajak, a laundry staff at the forest departments guest house in the Karmajhiri range of the tiger reserve, spotted the multi-hued lizard crawling through dry leaves near the guest house recently. Struck by its vivid colours, Rajak clicked photographs on his mobile phone and shared them with forest officials. I was amazed by the different colours on the lizards body. We have been encouraged by senior officers to report unusual wildlife sightings, so I shared the pictures, without realising what would follow, Rajak said. According to PTR Deputy Director Rajnish Kumar Singh, preliminary examination suggests the lizard could belong to either the Painted Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis pictus) or the Satpura Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis satpuraensis). This is the first time such a lizard has been photographed in the reserve. We are matching the images with available reptile databases to confirm the species, Singh said. The Painted Leopard Gecko was scientifically described in 2022 from the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and is considered rare, with threats including illegal pet trade. The Satpura Leopard Gecko, meanwhile, is endemic to parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. If confirmed, the sighting would be the first record of either species from PTR. The chance discovery earned Rajak the tiger reserves Man of the Month award, comprising a certificate and shield. Discovery A preliminary examination suggests the lizard is either a Painted Leopard Gecko or Satpura Leopard Gecko The chance discovery earned Rajak the tiger reserves Man of the Month award, comprising a certificate and shield
MP CM orders probe after police allegedly assault senior journalists in Ashta
BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav has ordered an inquiry into the alleged assault of a national news channels senior journalist and video journalist by local police in the communally sensitive town of Ashta in Sehore district. The journalists, including Zee News senior reporter Pramod Sharma and video journalist Rajat, were reportedly attacked by on-duty officers on Saturday afternoon while covering the town, which recently witnessed communal clashes between Karni Sena activists and members of the Muslim community over a dispute involving urination. We were covering the protests by right-wing Hindu groups on Saturday afternoon when the police, led by local station in-charge Girish Dube, assaulted us and damaged the camera. We were taken like criminals in a police vehicle to the station and made to stand there for about half an hour. Our camera was returned only after two hours, but all recorded data and visuals had been deleted, Sharma and Rajat alleged. The journalists were subsequently taken to Chirayu Hospital on the outskirts of Bhopal, where Sharma is being treated for multiple injuries. Taking cognisance of the alleged assault, MP CM Dr Mohan Yadav, who also holds the state home affairs portfolio, directed State DGP Kailash Makwana on Sunday evening to ensure a senior officer probes the incident. The Chief Minister also instructed the Bhopal district administration to provide the best possible medical care for the senior journalist, with all expenses to be borne by the government. Ashta, a communally sensitive town in central Madhya Pradesh, had witnessed clashes between Karni Sena activists and the minority community on the night of 21 December, following a minor dispute related to urination and parking. Since then, the town has remained under heavy police security, owing to separate protests by right-wing Hindu groups and the minority community. So far, ten individuals from the minority community have been arrested in connection with the 21 December incident, while arrests relating to the other side are still pending.
Cold Wave Sweeps MP, Mandsaur, Coldest City With 2.9 Degree Celsius
Bhopal records 4.6 degree Celsius: Reports
Madhya Pradesh HC directs state to bear delivery expenses of 16-year-old rape survivor
JABALPUR: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has allowed a 16-year-old rape survivor to give birth to her baby, holding that termination of pregnancy cannot be permitted without her consent. The girl has since married the accused and the father of her child. A single bench of Justice Vishal Mishra directed that the state government bear all expenses related to the delivery, which will be conducted at Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal in the presence of an expert medical team. The order of December 11, a copy of which was made available on Friday, came after a district court wrote to the HC concerning the termination of pregnancy of the minor rape survivor. The HC then sought a report from a medical board. According to the medical board's report, the survivor was 16 years and seven months old, and her gestational age was 29 weeks and one day, which fell within the permissible delivery period. The report said that the survivor was counselled about the options of undergoing or not undergoing abortion, and she expressed her wish to continue with the pregnancy. According to a report submitted by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), the survivor said that she had married the father of her child (the accused) and wanted to go ahead with the delivery. The report said the girl's parents were unwilling to keep her with them because she married of her own will. The parents said they had no relationship with their daughter, noted the CWC report. Holding that abortion cannot be allowed without the survivor's consent, the HC directed the CWC to keep her under its care until she turns 18 and make all possible efforts to ensure the safety of her child.
Two killed, three injured as speeding car driven by BJP leader mows down villagers in MP's Morena
BHOPAL: An uncontrolled speeding car driven by a ruling BJP leader reportedly knocked down five villagers, killing two of them and injuring three others. The incident happened in Porsa area of Morena district at around 9 pm on Friday, when the Swift car driven by local BJP leader Dipendra Bhadauria ran over the villagers. While the two injured, including Ramdutt Rathore (65) and Annu Lakshakar (11) were rushed to neighbouring Gwalior for life-saving treatment, three other injured were administered treatment at a local hospital. Both Rathore and Lakshkar died during the course of treatment at a hospital in Gwalior district. The accused Dipendra Bhadauria, who too was injured in the incident, was caught by the villagers, but managed to escape from the vehicle in which he was being taken along with the injured villagers in presence of three police personnel. The accused Dipendra Bhadauria has been arrested in the morning and necessary legal process is being initiated, Morena district police superintendent Samir Saurabh told TNIE on Saturday. Meanwhile, the ruling BJPs Morena district unit expelled Bhadauria from the partys primary membership on Saturday. Angered by the incident, villagers blocked the NH-552 (a spur of NH-52) for hours and later submitted a memorandum containing seven demands. The seven demands, included registering a murder case against Bhadauria, bulldozing his house, financial compensation to the bereaved families, government jobs to one member of both the families, arms licence to the concerned families, proper security to them and action against police personnel in whose presence Bhadauria had managed to escape on Friday night. The local sub divisional magistrate (SDM), who got the blocked NH-522 cleared took the memorandum and assured appropriate action.
Bhopal and Khajuraho Emerge as Top-Ranked Airports in AAI Survey
Airports in Bhopal and Khajuraho have achieved top rankings in a nationwide customer satisfaction survey. The survey covered 58 airports across India. Both Bhopal and Khajuraho airports secured perfect scores in the first round. In the second round, they scored 4.99 out of 5. This indicates world-class passenger services are reaching smaller Indian cities.
Indore police cracked a major jewellery shop heist. Two 18-year-olds, a graphic designer and a NEET aspirant, were arrested. The duo stole jewellery worth over Rs 16 lakh from Shri Jewellers. CCTV footage and technical tracking led to their capture in Bhopal. The entire stolen collection was recovered. The plan was inspired by a Bollywood film. Further investigation is ongoing.
NGT halts Ayodhya bypass road project after large-scale tree removal in Bhopal
The order came on December 22 after petitioner and RTI activist Nitin Saxena approached the tribunal, alleging large-scale violations in the clearance process for the project being executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Deleted, unmapped voters more than losing margin in Madhya Pradesh: Congress flays SIR
BHOPAL: A day after the first phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter roll was completed with the publication of the draft voter list, the opposition Congress targeted the ruling BJP government, with the SIR first phase figures. On the completion of the first phase, the ECI officially stated that more than 42.74 lakh voters, who were part of the October 2025 list of voters, were removed from the SIR draft list on Tuesday. Once the count of unmapped voters is added to it, the figure becomes 51 lakh-plus. The Congress lost the 2023 assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh to the BJP by 32 lakh votes, now the SIR says that 51 lakh voters were dead, shifted, absent, duplicate or unmapped. This clearly proves that the BJP won the 2023 polls with the help of fake voters, former MP minister and state Congresss SIR committee head Sajjan Singh Verma said. The SIR figures are a clear proof that the BJP won the polls in MP through vote chori (vote theft) and the present government is unconstitutional, Verma added. The committees member JP Dhanopiya, who also heads the state partys election cell said. We apprehend that the BJP with the help of ECI will try to get the deleted voters and unmapped voters added back into the list in the second phase of the SIR. We will keep a close tab on the entire process and flag any wrongdoing. Verma also shared a list of constituencies where the BJPs winning margin in the 2023 elections was less than the total number of voters deleted during the ongoing SIRs first phase. The list of assembly constituencies, SIR results and the 2023 polls winning margin shared by Verma included Surkhi, Gunnaur, Rau, Narela, Rewa and Sihawal seats. Madhya Pradesh: 42.74 lakh voter names removed from draft rolls Bhopal sees removal of 21 per cent voters from draft list after SIR first phase
Projects commissioned, India set to overtake US in metro network length
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Railways has claimed that India is on course to overtake the United States in total metro network length as ongoing projects are commissioned. Metro and suburban rail networks are currently operational across 1,090 km in 26 cities, including both major metros and Tier-2 cities, making urban mobility faster and more economically affordable for low- and middle-income groups. The Ministry further stated that despite the rapid expansion of metro and suburban rail services, no fare hike has been implemented so far by the government, reflecting its concern for low- and middle-class commuters. Speaking to this newspaper on Wednesday, an official at the Ministry said that Indias metro network has grown exponentially from just 248 km across five cities in 2014 to 1,090 km in 2025, spanning 26 cities- both metro and Tier-2. This represents a remarkable 340% growth over the past decade. He said that metro expansion has taken place not only in major cities but also in Tier-2 cities such as Bhopal, Indore, Kanpur, Nagpur, Pune, Surat, Agra, Lucknow, Jaipur and Kochi. He added that metro services were operational over just 27 km in 2002, which increased to 50 km in 2004, 101 km in 2009, 249 km in 2014, 647 km in 2019, 945 km in 2024 and 1,090 km in 2025. According to the official, the commissioning of metro lines has increased nine times compared to pre-2014 rates, with the aim of accelerating urban transport infrastructure under the NDA government. Highlighting the work done on metro and suburban rail services during the current NDA government, the official said that urban mobility has been made affordable and efficient, with metro travel costing 5060% less per passenger-km than private vehicles. He said this has significantly reduced daily commuting costs and eased traffic congestion on roads. Citing figures, the official further added that affordable fare slabs, typically ranging between Rs 20 and Rs 60 at launch in cities such as Bhopal, demonstrate accessibility for low- and middle-income commuters. He further stated that average daily metro ridership across the country now stands at around 1.15 crore, which is four times higher than the 28 lakh daily ridership recorded in 2014.
IndiGo 'fully prepared' for holiday season, 2,100+ flights operating daily now
NEW DELHI: Indias largest domestic airline, IndiGo, said on Wednesday that it has stabilised its operations since December 9 and was ready for the holiday season. The airline said it was operating between 2,100 and 2,200 flights daily and carries one million customers every three days. An official release said, We have been flying to and from all 138 operational destinations across our network while maintaining the IndiGo standards of On Time Performance. We confirm that we are fully prepared to cater to the surge in demand during this holiday season. The dense fog across Northern India caused industry-wide disruptions in recent days in the aviation sector. However, the operations were effectively managed, under the circumstances, to maintain operational stability. With forecasts indicating a harsher winter ahead, we remain committed to ensuring reliability and minimising disruptions across our network to ensure least inconvenience to our customers, the IndiGo statement said. Indias first airbus to connect Athens The airline also said it was set to welcome Indias first Airbus A321XLR, which will redefine medium-to-long haul flying for travellers in India and the subcontinent. We look forward to using these aircraft to connect Delhi and Mumbai with Athens starting January 23, 2026, as previously announced, it said. The airline said it was also evaluating additional domestic and international destinations in line with its fleet expansion plans and will share updates in future. Three new airlines cleared to enter Indian market after IndiGo disruption New direct flights between Delhi and London (Heathrow) In another release, IndiGo announced new direct flights between Delhi and London (Heathrow) from February 2, 2026. The airline will fly five times a week on the route using its Boeing 787 aircraft, taken on wet/damp lease from Norse Atlantic Airways, offering dual-class configuration with IndiGoStretch and Economy Class, it said. IndiGo already operates daily, direct flights between Mumbai and London Heathrow, and will now operate a total of 12 weekly flights to London. The timings are as follows: 6E 0003 will depart every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from Delhi at 9.40 am. It will reach London at 2.55 pm the same day. For the return leg, 6E 0004 will depart every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 5.15 pm and reach Delhi on the following day at 8.15 am. IndiGo had recently launched flights to Denpasar (Bali), Krabi, Hanoi, Guangzhou, and Manchester. Rewa-Indore launch On Monday (December 22), IndiGo launched daily direct flights between Rewa and Indore. Rewa is the airlines sixth destination in Madhya Pradesh after Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, and Khajuraho. This new service will open air travel for many first-time fliers across the Vindhya region, it said in a statement. Operated by IndiGos ATR aircraft, it will cut journey time between the two cities from the present ten hours to around 1.5 hours, it said. The daily flight (6E 7363) begins at 11.30 am from Indore and reaches Rewa by 1.15 pm. The return flight (6E 7364) will begin at 1.35 pm from Rewa and reach Indore at 3.25 pm.
Bhopal sees removal of 21 per cent voters from draft list after SIR first phase
BHOPAL: With the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh concluding on Tuesday, around 21% of voters have been removed from the draft electoral list in the state capital, Bhopal. Out of the 21.25 lakh-plus registered voters of the districts October 2025 voter list, around 4.38 lakh voters (20.63% or more) in seven assembly segments of Bhopal district, have been removed from the draft voter roll which was published on Tuesday. The highest number of deletions97,052 voterswas recorded in the Govindpura constituency, which has the states second-highest voter base after Indore-5. In contrast, the lowest number of removals, at 12,903 voters, was reported from Berasia-SC, the only largely rural constituency. In percentage terms, however, the maximum percentage of 27.55% voters have been removed from the Bhopal Central assembly segment, which has been won by Congresss Arif Masood since 2018. While Bhopal South West constituency saw the removal of 27.09% voters, Govindpura is third in the list of the seven assembly segments with 24.14% registered voters being dropped from the draft list published on Tuesday. Two other assembly segments, among them adjoining Narela and Bhopal North, have seen the removal of 22.80% and 20.44% voters respectively. Importantly, the Narela, seat which has been won four times in a row since 2008 by BJP legislator and Madhya Pradesh cabinet minister Vishwas Sarang, has seen the removal of 80,935 voters from the list, which is more than three times greater than Sarangs winning margin of 24,569 votes in the 2023 assembly elections. Over 41.80 lakh voter names identified for deletion as first phase of SIR exercise ends in Madhya Pradesh In the adjoining Bhopal North assembly segment (which has been a Congress citadel since 1998) as many as 51,058 names have been removed from the list, which are nearly two times more than 26,987 votes victory margin of the first-time Congress MLA Atif Arif Aqeel in the last assembly polls. As many as 67,304 voters have been removed from the list in Bhopal Central seat, which is four times more than the 15,891 votes winning margin of the second time Congress MLA Arif Masood in the 2023 elections. Importantly, while the Bhopal North assembly segment houses a major population of the Muslim community, the bordering Bhopal Madhya and Narela constituencies too have a significant population of the minority community voters. The Bhopal South West constituency has seen the removal of 63,432 voters from the list, which is four times more than the first-time BJP legislator Bhagwandas Sabnanis 2023 elections victory margin of 15,833 votes. In only three out of the seven assembly segments of Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, which form part of Bhopal district, are the number of voters removed from the list, lesser than the victory margin of 2023 election winners, all of whom were from BJP. In Govindpura, which is popular in political circles as BJPs Ayodhya in Bhopal (it has been the saffron citadel since 1980), though maximum 97,052 voters stand removed from the SIR draft list, the figure is lesser than the 2023 victory margin of 1.06 lakh-plus votes of second-time BJP MLA and present MP minister Krishna Gaur. Current MP minister Krishna Gaur, who was formerly the Bhopal mayor also, is the daughter-in-law of BJP veteran and former CM Late Babulal Gaur, who won from Govindpura record eight times in a row between 1980 and 2013. In Huzur assembly segment which has been BJPs stronghold since 2008, the third-time sitting MLA Rameshwar Sharmas 97,910 winning margin of 2023 elections is more than 65,891 voter names removed from the list after the first phase of the SIR. In the only largely rural assembly segment of Bhopal district, the Berasia-SC seat which has been won by BJPs Vishnu Khatri since 2013, Khatris 2023 polls 25,397 winning margin is two times more than the 12,903 voters removed from the list now. Importantly, the outcome of the first phase of SIR in Madhya Pradesh, put the state capital Bhopal on top when it came to removal of maximum number of shifted voters in the state. Bhopal topped the list of removal of shifted voters with 2.86 lakh-plus voters (who shifted elsewhere) among all the 55 districts of the state. Also, Bhopal with 1.16 lakh-plus unmapped voters is second in the state to Indore only which has 1.33 lakh-plus unmapped voters. Unmapped voters relate to those voters whose name figures in the October 2025 list of registered voters, but their names, parents names and grandparents names were missing from the SIR 2003 list.
Madhya Pradesh: 42.74 lakh voter names removed from draft rolls
BHOPAL: Over 42.74 lakh voter names, which account for 7 per cent of the total 5.74 crore voters, were removed from the draft electoral roll of 230 Assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh as the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list was completed on Tuesday. While 42,74,160 names were excluded, a total of 8,65,832 remained unmapped, as their parents or grand-parents details were not found in the SIR 2003 voter roll. Notices will be issued to those 8.65 lakh plus unmapped voters, giving them a weeks time to appear personally with any of the 13 documents and get their names added in the final list which will be published on February 21, 2026. Of the 42.74 lakh-plus voters removed from the rolls, 19.19 lakh were men while 23.64 lakh were women. CEO, Madhya Pradesh, SK Jha said of the 42.74 lakh plus voters, who have been excluded from the first draft of electoral roll-post SIR, 31.51 lakh or 73% were shifted or absent, 8.46 lakh or 20% were deceased and 2.77 lakh or 6% were duplicate voters.
India's first PPP-model medical colleges to be set up in Madhya Pradesh's tribal districts
BHOPAL: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda joined the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Tuesday, in laying the foundation of two medical colleges in two tribal-dominated districts of the state. The two medical colleges which will be built in Dhar district of western MP and Betul district of central MP respectively, will be the first medical colleges in the country, to come up under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The two colleges are part of four PPP-based medical colleges which are planned to be developed in the StateDhar, Betul, Katni, and Panna. They will be linked with existing district hospitals to strengthen both medical education and healthcare service delivery. Under this model, the state government has provided up to 25 acres of land on lease, while private service providers will construct academic and clinical infrastructure, including medical college buildings, hostels, laboratories, and residential complexes. The associated district hospitals will be upgraded in strict accordance with National Medical Commission (NMC) norms, while remaining under the administrative control of the State Government to ensure uninterrupted public health services. Terming the occasion as a historic milestone, Nadda noted that the PPP model reflects a forward-looking approach to expanding medical education and healthcare delivery. He highlighted that Indias healthcare system, once focused primarily on curative care, has undergone a paradigm shift since 2017 moving towards preventive, promotive, and holistic healthcare. While highlighting the key achievements in the sphere of health and family welfare, the union minister informed that institutional deliveries in the country have risen to nearly 89%, driven by ASHA workers grassroots mobilisation. Indias decline in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has been more than twice the global average. Over 40 crore people have been screened for hypertension, with 6.80 crore diagnosed and under treatment. Over 40 crore screened for diabetes, with 4.60 crore diagnosed and receiving care. Cancer screening initiatives have reached millions, identifying thousands of cases early. He emphasised that systematic screening and early detection are enabling timely treatment and improved health outcomes. Further, he underscored the role of over 1.82 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) in delivering comprehensive primary healthcare, particularly maternal and child health services, from pregnancy to safe institutional delivery and vaccination. He also noted the success of the U-WIN portal, which enables real-time immunisation surveillance for approximately 2.5 crore pregnant women and 2.5 crore children nationwide, supported by Anganwadi and ASHA workers. The union minister also highlighted the unprecedented growth in medical education infrastructure in the country, which was reflected by the number of medical colleges having increased from 387 in 2014 to 819 currently, MBBS seats having more than doubled from 51,000 to over 1.28 lakh. The government is committed to adding 75,000 new medical seats by 2029, strengthening Indias healthcare human resources. While terming the foundation laying ceremony of the two medical colleges in Dhar and Betul as historic and unprecedented milestone in the healthcare sector, the MP CM Dr Mohan Yadav, announced that after Dhar, Betul, Panna and Katni (foundation laying ceremonies of the last two will be held later), similar medical colleges will be built in Bhind, Morena, Khargone, Ashoknagar, Guna, Balaghat, Tikamgarh, Sidhi, and Shajapur districts. The medical college in Dhar district is being constructed on 25 acres of land at a cost of Rs 260 crore. The Swami Vivekananda Shiksha Dham Foundation has partnered with the government for this medical college. Until 2002-03, there were only 5 medical colleges in the state. Now, the number of medical colleges in the state has increased to 33. In the last two years, 6 government medicalcolleges have been started in the state. These include medical colleges in the tribal areas of Singrauli and Sheopur. The state government has sanctioned 354 posts of senior resident doctors, the MP CM said. Continuing the sickle cell anaemia campaign in the state, more than 1.25 crore people have been screened. In Dhar, more than 15 lakh people have been screened under the sickle cell program. Upgradation of 800 beds and sanctioning of 810 new posts for doctors are being provided in the hospitals of Tikamgarh, Neemuch, Singrauli, Sheopur, and Dindori districts of the state, the CM informed.
Will demolish your house, mosques: Parking dispute turns communal in MP
Bhopal: The Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh witnessed violent communal clashes between Karni Sena members and Muslims over a trivial parking issue on Sunday, December 21, leading to police action and mild tear gas to disperse the crowd. On Tuesday, December 23, a Karni Sena worker issued an open threat, guaranteeing bulldozer action against mosques Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
42.74L voters in Madhya Pradesh face deletion from electoral rolls
Bhopal: More than 42.74 lakh voters in Madhya Pradesh are at risk of getting their names deleted from the voter list after the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, an Election Commission official said on Tuesday. Talking to reporters after releasing the draft of voter list following Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
SIR: Madhya Pradesh records over 42 lakh deletions from draft electoral rolls
BHOPAL: As many as 42.74 lakh electors out of the total 5.74 crore were removed from the draft electoral rolls published on Tuesday after the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh. Out of the 42,74,160 names that were removed from the electoral rolls, 19.19 lakh were men, while 23.64 lakh were women. The total number of voters who filled up the SIR enumeration forms stands at over 5.31 crore. As many as 8,65, 832 voters remained unmapped, as the details of their parents or grandparents were not found in the 2003 voter roll. These voters will be given a week's time to appear personally with any of the 13 documents mentioned by the Election Commission and get their names added in the final list, which will be published on February 21, 2026. According to the state's Chief Electoral Officer S K Jha, out of the excluded voters, 31.51 lakh were absent (shifted out of the state or were absent during the enumeration exercise), 8.46 lakh were deceased, and 2.77 lakh were duplicate (whose name was found to be existing in multiple constituencies). Large number of deletions were recorded at Indore, Jabalpur and Bhopal. Indore topped the list with the highest number of absent and unmapped voters, while it was second in the list of shifted, deceased and duplicate voters. Indore houses nine assembly segments, all of which were won by the ruling BJP in the 2023 state elections. The highest number of dead voters was recorded at Jabalpur while Bhopal topped the list of shifted voters. Burhanpur housed maximum number of duplicate voters in the state. The newly created Pandhurna, Alirajpur, Umaria and Sidhi recorded lesser number of deletions. To handle grievances and speed up corrections, 725 additional Electoral Registration Officers have been appointed. According to the EC, the draft electoral rolls can be accessed through the poll body's website or the Booth Level Officers. Claims and objections can be filed until January 22, and any eligible voter whose name has been removed can apply for inclusion using Form 6. The second phase of the SIR will run from January 22 to February 14, after which the final electoral roll for the states and UT will be published on February 21.
Nearly 95 lakh voters removed from draft rolls after SIR in three states, UT
Nearly 95 lakh voters have been removed from the draft electoral rolls published on Tuesday after the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Andaman and Nicobar. In Madhya Pradesh , names of 42.74 lakh electors (7%) out of the total 5.74 crore were removed from the draft rolls. In Kerala, the names of 24.08 lakh of the over 2.78 crore electors were removed from the draft rolls. In Chhattisgarh, out of 2.12 crore electors, names of as many as 27.34 lakh were removed. In case of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, out of 3.10 lakh electors, 64,000 electors did not figure in the draft rolls. Madhya Pradesh Out of the 42,74,160 names that were removed from the electoral rolls, 19.19 lakh were men, while 23.64 lakh were women. The total number of voters who filled up the SIR enumeration forms stands at over 5.31 crore. As many as 8,65, 832 voters remained unmapped, as the details of their parents or grandparents were not found in the 2003 voter roll. These voters will be given a week's time to appear personally with any of the 13 documents mentioned by the Election Commission and get their names added in the final list, which will be published on February 21, 2026. According to the state's Chief Electoral Officer S K Jha, out of the excluded voters, 31.51 lakh were absent (shifted out of the state or were absent during the enumeration exercise), 8.46 lakh were deceased, and 2.77 lakh were duplicate (whose name was found to be existing in multiple constituencies). Large number of deletions were recorded at Indore, Jabalpur and Bhopal. Indore topped the list with the highest number of absent and unmapped voters, while it was second in the list of shifted, deceased and duplicate voters. Indore houses nine assembly segments, all of which were won by the ruling BJP in the 2023 state elections. The highest number of dead voters was recorded at Jabalpur while Bhopal topped the list of shifted voters. Burhanpur housed maximum number of duplicate voters in the state. The newly created Pandhurna, Alirajpur, Umaria and Sidhi recorded lesser number of deletions. To handle grievances and speed up corrections, 725 additional Electoral Registration Officers have been appointed. Kerala Of the deleted names , 6,49,885 pertain to deceased persons, 6,45,548 voters were found to be untraceable, and 8,16,221 voters were identified as having permanently shifted from their registered addresses. In addition, 1,36,029 duplicate voters and 1,60,830 voters falling under other categories were identified. Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar, addressing a press conference, said the draft list has been published on the Election Commission's website and copies have also been handed over to political parties. Kelkar said that as part of the SIR, a voter mapping exercise was also carried out till December 18. We were able to complete 93 per cent of the voter mapping by December 18. Most of the unmapped cases were reported from urban and semi-urban areas such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Ernakulam, he said. He said that the mapping exercise is still continuing. After the mapping process is completed, electoral registration officers (EROs) will decide on hearings for non-mapped voters. Notices will be issued to voters to be heard. The hearings will be decentralised so as not to cause inconvenience to the public, he said. He said the notices would contain detailed instructions, including the reasons for the hearing and the documents to be produced, and would be served through booth-level officers. Responding to queries on the high number of untraceable voters, Kelkar said booth-level officers had visited the addresses three times to serve enumeration forms but were unable to locate the voters. We made all efforts to trace the voters as directed by the Election Commission, he said. Kelkar said those whose names are not included in the draft list will have to submit fresh applications for inclusion in the electoral roll. According to the EC, the draft electoral rolls can be accessed through the poll body's website or the Booth Level Officers. Claims and objections can be filed until January 22, and any eligible voter whose name has been removed can apply for inclusion using Form 6. The second phase of the SIR will run from January 22 to February 14, after which the final electoral roll for the states and UT will be published on February 21. (With inputs from PTI) Uttarakhand SIR: 90,000 voters must choose to retain service status or remain on local list
Hijabgate: When local politics turns into global embarrassment
Bhopal: Ms Razia Masood, a Bhopal-based Social Activist who is associated with the Jamat-e-Islami Hind Women wing, has reacted strongly to the shameless incident wherein a Chief Minister of an Indian state publicly violated a Muslim womans personal space and attire by pulling off her hijab (a head covering worn in public by Muslim women). Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Madhya Pradesh: Local BJP leader abuses visually impaired woman for 'enabling religious conversions'
BHOPAL: A local BJP leader from Madhya Pradeshs Jabalpur district has been caught on camera abusing a visually impaired woman over allegations of religious conversion. The video which went viral on Monday, is related to an incident which reportedly happened in the premises of a Church in Hawa Bagh area under Gorakhpur police station of Jabalpur district on Saturday. In the video, the BJP's recently appointed Jabalpur city unit vice president Anju Bhargava is seen shouting at a visually impaired woman, in the presence of a policeman. She grabbed the face of the visually impaired woman and twisted her arms, while shouting abuses at her. The BJP leader accused the woman of conducting religious conversions, doing 'dhandha' (business) and earning money. The video showed the visually impaired woman asking Bhargava to speak properly and speak to her instead of getting physical. The BJP leader, instead of stopping the misconduct with the woman, is seen telling her that she will be blind in her next birth too. The shocking video was shared on X (formerly twitter) by the Congresss national chairperson Supriya Shrinate on Monday. The woman who is physically assaulting the visually impaired woman is Anju Bhargava, the BJPs district vice president of Jabalpur. This cruelty is the easiest way to advance in the BJP. These people are stains on society. Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh had recently reported two incidents of violence by incited by Hindu right-wingers accusing Christian missionaries of engaging in religious conversions, including the incident in Gorakhpur.
BHOPAL: Police are on heightened alert in Madhya Pradeshs Jabalpur city, after protests by Hindu right-wingers alleging religious conversion by Christian missionaries triggered violent scuffles between the two religious groups at two separate places in two successive days. The first incident happened in Gorakhpur police station area on Saturday, while the second incident happened in the Madhotal police station area on Sunday. The first incident happened behind the premises of a Church near the Hawabagh College under the limits of Gorakhpur police station, when Bajrang Dal activists clashed with members of a group that had organised a Christmas lunch event for visually challenged students. Bajrang Dal activists stopped the event, questioning how the schools students had been brought there for lunch without permission from the school staff. Police rushed to the spot and stopped the violent scuffle from snowballing. Though neither side had filed police complaints, the Jabalpur district administration has ordered a probe into the activities of the group that had organised the lunch event as part of Christmas celebrations. The students, however, rubbished the religious conversion allegations made by the Bajrang Dal activists. The second incident happened on Sunday in Shakti Nagar locality under Madhotal area of Jabalpur. According to circle SP (CSP-Madhotal) BS Gathoria, Hindu right-wingers came to the concerned place in Shakti Nagar, claiming that they had received information about religious conversion being carried out by the Christian missionaries at a Sunday religious prayer. The two groups clashed before the police rushed to the spot and prevented the matter from escalating. Both sides have submitted complaints at the Madhotal police station, after which the police have started investigations into both complaints.
NEW DELHI: Over the years, citizens voice has become a strong tool for assessment in Swachh Survekshan, which consistently reflects the strength of citizens perception and engagement with swachhata, especially visible cleanliness. To further amplify the initiative, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has designed its 202526 toolkit to give citizens opinions greater power and weightage. Starting this year, citizens will be able to share feedback round the year through multiple platforms, including the Vote For My City App and Portal, MyGov App, Swachhata App, and through QR codes. The citizen validation weightage has been increased considerably. Following the release of the toolkit, the field assessments are expected to begin from mid-February to March 2026. The GFC (Garbage Free Cities) and ODF (Open Defecation Free) certification assessment will also commence from mid February. Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal released the toolkit for the 10th edition of Swachh Survekshan in Bhopal on Saturday. To reinforce quality assurance and institutionalize strong feedback and grievance redressal, Swachh Survekshan has introduced a tightly monitored, protocol-driven assessment framework. A national oversight team anchors the process, complemented for the first timeby a dedicated single-point-of-contact in-charge for each state or union territories (UTs), said officials. Over 3,000 trained field assessors from across the country will conduct a 45-day, on-ground survey covering all ULBs, supported by real-time, GPS-enabled monitoring. The entire processfrom evidence submission to verificationis fully digital, transparent, and rigorously quality-checked. Swachh Survekshan has been assessing Ganga towns as part of its urban cleanliness framework. Expanding its scope, the assessment will now include river towns across the country. A separate matrix has been introduced for coastal areas to bring it under the Swachh Survekshan ambit. Fostering a healthy competition amongst cities, Survekshan has defined the matrix for swachhata. It has helped in benchmarking of assessment parameters, creating a roadmap for Swachh Shehar, steps and components to become a Swachh Shehar and ultimately enabling cleaner cities through on-ground visible swachhata. The ministry MoHUA launched the largest time-bound and structured mentorship framework in urban waste management mentorship programme under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U); Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ), in September. As part of the initiative, 72 mentors and 200 mentee cities signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to foster knowledge transfer, peer learning, and replication of best practices. To strengthen mentorship and peer learning, a new award category has been introduced to recognize Swachh Shehr Jodis, based on the average score of jodis, with recognition across each population category, said officials.
India to Surpass USA in Metro Rail Network in 2 Years : Khattar
Mr. Khattar along with Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav flagged off the metro rail in Bhopal and travelled on the metros new 6.22 km-seven km Orange Line priority corridor
Bhopal gets its long-awaited metro rail connectivity
BHOPAL: Bhopals long wait for operationalisation of the metro rail project ended on Saturday evening, as the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, joined the CM Dr Mohan Yadav to flag off the first metro train on the around 7-km-long and eight-station-strong priority corridor. Following the operationalisation of the first metro train in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to witness the operationalisation of metro railway service in its two big cities in the span of seven months. Importantly, it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had flagged off the MPs first operationalised metro railway service in Indore on May 31, virtually from Bhopal. The corridor will connect Subhash Nagar and AIIMS stations, via Kendriya Vidyalaya, Board Office, MP Nagar, Rani Kamlapati, DRM Office and Alkapuri stations. It forms part of the planned Orange Line, covering a 30-km route between Karond Circle and AIIMS. The first phase comprises two lines the Orange Line (traffic on whose priority corridor was operationalised on Saturday) and the Blue Line, which will connect Bhadbhada Crossing with the Ratnagiri Trisquare. Its a big and historic day for MPs administrative capital, Bhopal, with the formal start of metro railway services on the elevated corridor. Travelling on an elevated metro corridor makes citizens feel elevated. Were hopeful that the two lines of the 30-km-long first phase will be completed over the next two years, Khattar told journalists. Operationalisation of metro rail service in Bhopal makes MPs administrative capital, the 26thcity in the country, have a functional metro rail network. Back in 2002, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurated the 5-km-long first line of the Delhi Metro railway. 23 years later, with the start of metro rail service on this 7-km-long line in Bhopal, India now has a 1090 km-long metro rail network spread across 26 cities, Khattar said. Further, 900 km-long metro rail lines are in the pipeline in various parts of the country. Once 300 km of those lines are completed and operationalised, India will surpass the USAs 1400-km-long metro rail network and be second to China only in terms of length of metro rail network in the world, Khattar announced. India is expanding its trade day by day with various countries. Weve signed trade pacts with the UK and Oman. The India-New Zealand trade agreement too has attained the Union Cabinets nod on Friday. The manner in which were gradually expanding our trade ties with different nations, the days arent far when India, like China, will compete with the US. India is moving towards that position; it's the US and not India that should be concerned, Khattar said. Khattar also informed that confusion about the work on a 7-km metro rail line in Indore has been cleared now. There were differences between the metro rail-related officials at the centre and in MP, about whether that future stretch in Indore should be elevated or underground. The issue has been resolved as the line will be underground, as planned by officials in MP. Earlier in the day, the Union Minister laid the foundation and unveiled 262 urban development projects worth Rs 8500 crores in MP. He also unveiled the blueprint/roadmap of the Bhopal Metropolitan Region (BMR), one of the two metropolitan regions (the other being the Indore Metropolitan Region) planned in MP on the lines of the National Capital Region (NCR). The BMR is envisaged to cover 12 urban areas, 2500 villages spread in 12,019 sq km area of 30 tehsils of six districts of central MP, including Bhopal, Sehore, Raisen, Rajgarh, Narmadapuram and Vidisha. For the overall development of BMR, the Bhopal Metropolitan Region Development Authority has been formed, while the creation of the Bhopal Metropolitan Transportation Authority is also planned for a 360-degree development of the region.
Bhopal Metros Orange line inaugurated, commercial services to begin on December 21
India to soon leave U.S. behind in Metro rail network length, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said
Fresh PIL in SC seeks law on menstrual pain leave for women
NEW DELHI: A fresh Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Union of India, States and Union Territories to frame laws or policies recognising the problems faced by women during menstrual pain and to provide necessary relief, including the grant of leave, in consonance with Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. The PIL has been filed by lawyer Shailendra Mani Tripathi, who has urged the apex court to intervene and address what he described as a legislative and policy vacuum affecting working women and female students. Issue directions to fill in the lacunae that exists regarding grant of relief in the nature of leave etc, to the working women & female students under exercise of power under Article 32 read with Articles 14, 21 and Articles 141 and 142 of the Indian Constitution, the PIL said. Tripathi highlighted in his plea that several private Indian companies have already introduced paid menstrual leave for their female employees. These include Ivipanan, Zomato, Byjus, Swiggy, Mathrubhumi, Magzter, Industry ARC, FlyMyBiz and Gozoop. He also pointed out that the Kerala government has granted menstrual leave to students in State universities, allowing them up to 60 days in a year. The prestigious institutions like NLIU Bhopal and MNLU Aurangabad have implemented menstrual leave policies. Punjab University has also approved and granted menstrual leave to the students, Tripathi said in the PIL. The petitioner further submitted that the menstrual status of a woman is a personal matter intrinsic to her privacy and must be treated with dignity and without discrimination. He argued that this requires the State to introduce measures that provide appropriate relief to women during menstrual pain so that they are able to cope with the suffering and protect their personal rights with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, sought directions to all States to frame a policy for menstrual pain leave for female students and working women under the provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. Earlier, Tripathi had filed a similar plea before the Supreme Court seeking directions on the issue. However, the court had asked him to approach the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD), which could take an appropriate decision in the matter. After complying with the courts order, Tripathi submitted a representation to the WCD but did not receive any relief, following which he approached the Supreme Court again seeking redressal of his prayers. The petitioner has sought directions that during the menstrual period, if a woman suffers pain or other physical discomfort that makes it difficult for her to continue with her normal activities at the workplace, her request for leave or other suitable relief should be considered without discrimination, subject to reasonable and dignified conditions, keeping in mind that the issue concerns womens privacy. He also stressed that India has signed and ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which recognises the need for non-discriminatory practices and for treating women with dignity. Spain has recently enacted a law to introduce menstrual leave, thereby addressing the problem of menstrual pain. Vietnam has also enacted and implemented menstrual leave policies. Countries like the United Kingdom, Wales, China, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea and Zambia have different policies or laws on the grant of menstrual leave, he added in his PIL.
Madhya Pradesh: 41.80L set to be removed from voter list
BHOPAL: More than 41.80 lakh voter names have been identified for deletion from the electoral rolls across Madhya Pradesh after the completion of the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the 2025 voter list, election officials said. The exercise covered all 230 assembly constituencies across 55 districts. The outcome of the revision will be reflected in the preliminary draft of the electoral roll, scheduled for publication on December 23. The SIR was undertaken to clean and update the voter list of over 5.74 crore registered voters ahead of future elections. The first phase, which involved door-to-door enumeration and verification, concluded late Thursday night. The 41.80 lakh names marked for deletion account for over 7.28% of the total electorate. The largest category consists of 22.5 lakh voters who have permanently shifted from their registered addresses, forming nearly 45 of the voter base. Another significant portion comprises absent and deceased voters, with 8.40 lakh names in each category. Together, they account for roughly three percent of the states voters. In addition, over 2.5 lakh voters, or 0.43 percent, were found to be duplicate entries, with names appearing at more than one address. Indore district recorded the highest number of proposed deletions. Of its total 28.67 lakh voters, more than 4.40 lakh names are set to be removed. Bhopal followed closely, with around 4.30 lakh deletions from its 21.25 lakh-plus voters. Gwalior ranked third, with over 2.50 lakh names marked for deletion, while Jabalpur stood fourth with more than 2.40 lakh voters to be removed from the list. In percentage terms, Bhopal will see the highest impact, with nearly 20% of its voter names facing deletion. Indore and Gwalior will see about 15% each, while Jabalpur will see around 12% deletions. Explaining the next steps, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Ram Pratap Singh Jadaun said, The EC is moving ahead with the process of deletion, correction, and verification. The first draft electoral roll will be released on December 23. Discrepancies found in over nine lakh cases The SIR was undertaken to clean and update the voter list of over 5.74 crore registered voters ahead of future elections. The EC is moving ahead with the process of deletion, correction, and verification. The first draft electoral roll will be released on December 23. Officials added that discrepancies between current voter details and the 2003 base records were found in about nine lakh cases.
BHOPAL: More than 41.80 lakh voter names have been identified for deletion in 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, following the completion of the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the state. The result of the SIR can be seen in the form of a preliminary draft of the electoral roll, which will be published on December 23. The first phase of the SIR ended on Thursday night after a gruelling 44-day exercise of collecting filled up enumeration forms from voters through the network of booth level officers (BLOs). The 41.80 lakh voter names (7.28% of total voters in the state) that are up for deletion include 22.50 lakh voters who have permanently shifted from their registered addresses. They form around four percent of the total voters of the October 2025 list. The two other heads under which a major chunk of voter names will be deleted include absent and dead voters, which were 8.40 lakh each, collectively accounting to around 3% of the total 5.74 crore plus voters forming part of the October 2025 voter list. Over 2.5 lakh voters (0.43% of the total voters in the 2025 voter list) are duplicate voters, whose names are featured at multiple addresses. Indore, which is Madhya Pradeshs most populated district, housed the maximum number of absent, dead, shifted and duplicate voters. More than 4.40 lakh voter names out of the total 28.67 lakh voters are to be deleted when the preliminary draft list is published. The state capital Bhopal is next with 4.30 lakh voter names to be deleted out of the total 21.25 lakh plus voters named in the 2025 list. Gwalior is third in the list of districts with maximum deletions. More than 2.50 lakh voters, out of the 16.49 lakh-plus voters, will be deleted when the draft list is published. Jabalpur is fourth with 2.40 lakh-plus deleted voters, out of the total 19.25 lakh voters named in the 2025 list. In percentage terms, Indore, where all nine assembly seats were won by the BJP in the 2023 polls, will see more than 15% of voter names getting deleted. But the state capital Bhopal, where the BJP won five out of the seven assembly seats, stands to see deletion of the maximum 20% voter names. Jabalpur district, where the BJP won seven out of the eight assembly seats in the 2023 elections, will see the deletion of 12% voters from the 2025 list, while Gwalior district, where the BJP won four out of the six assembly seats in the last state elections, will see 15% of the names of the 2025 list getting deleted. The joint chief electoral officer, MP, Ram Pratap Singh Jadaun said, The Election Commission is now moving ahead with the process of deletion, correction, and verification. The first draft electoral roll will be released on December 23. If a voters details do not match the 2003 base records or if discrepancies are found, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) will issue a formal notice to those voters. Such mismatches have been found in nine lakh cases.
The results for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT 2026) have been announced, and once again, students from the Bhopal-headquartered institute, Toprankers-Legal Edge ,have delivered an exceptional performance in this prestigious national-level exam for entry into National Law Universities (NLUs). According to the released results, students from this institute have secured the top three spots All India Rank (AIR) 1, 2, and 3 . Geetali Gupta from Toprankers-Legal Edge This marks thefourth time in the last six yearsthat the institute's students have achieved a 'Clean Sweep' of thetop three ranks. Data released by the institute indicates a dominant hold over the results, with7 students in the Top 10and51 students in the Top 100hailing from Toprankers-Legal Edge. " Guidance Received Exclusively from Legal Edge " AIR-1 GeetaliGupta, a resident of Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, secured AIR 1. Expressing her thoughts on social media, Geetali said, "My parents taught me discipline since childhood, and Legal Edge gave that discipline the right direction. Throughout my preparation, I placed the utmost emphasis on consistency." Clarifying the role of the coaching institute, she added," I have been a student exclusively of Legal Edges 'Warriors Gold Batch'Classroom Program. The mentors at Legal Edge played a pivotal role in identifying and fixing my weaknesses. This success is the result of my parents' sacrifices and the guidance of my teachers. " Performance Analysis: As per the details shared by the institute,AIR 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, and 10are students of the' Regular Classroom Program .'Meanwhile,AIR 3 (Rohan, Karnataka Topper)achieved this feat through the institute's 'Distance Learning' course. Experts believe that securing AIR 3 through a distance course is a testament to the sheer quality of the institutes study material. Furthermore, the fact that6 out of the Top 10students were from the direct classroom program proves the successful impact of Legal Edgesmentorship. Consistency and Selection Standards Clean Sweep: This is the4th time in the last 6 yearsthat AIR 1, 2, and 3 are from the same institute in CLAT. Selection Ratio: This year, 51 students in the Top 100 are from Legal Edge. This means nearly 50% of the students entering the countrys top law colleges have been trained by this institute. Top Rankers: The institute has now produced the CLAT All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) a total of 7 times. Harsh Gagrani , Co-founder and Chief Academic Officer of the institute, stated," This result validates our academic process. For us, AIR 1 is as important as the last student who worked hard to improve their rank. We have always prioritized right guidance and hard work, and we will continue to do so in the future ." The CLAT 2026 results indicate that in an era of social media and aggressive advertising, success ultimately stems from a disciplined routine, right mentorship, and the synergy between teacher and student. About Toprankers Toprankers runs 50+ centres across India, teaching 20,000+ classroom students and serving 30,000+ learners overall, while operating Indias most-searched non-STEM test-prep platform, with 1.5M monthly users and 20M+ page views across Law, Management, and Design & Architecture.
Decomposed bodies of couple found in Indore residence
BHOPAL: A middle-aged couple identified as Kanhaiya Lal Paranwal and Smriti Paranwal were found dead under c inside their duplex house in Madhya Pradeshs Indore city on Thursday. Their residence is located at a Satellite Junction residential colony, just outside the Indus Satellite Green township under the Lasudia police station area. While Kanhaiya Lal (50) was found dead on the bed in the room, his wife Smriti was found dead inside the toilet adjoining the room. Intolerable stench and the heavily decomposed bodies suggested that the couple had died more than 20 days ago. While Kanhaiya Lal was bedridden after being paralysed for the last six months, his wife was also reportedly in depression due to her husbands bad health. The couple hailed from the Azamgarh district of eastern Uttar Pradesh and had built the duplex house around ten years back in the residential locality on Indores outskirts. According to informed sources, Kanhaiya Lal worked till a few years back at a pharmaceutical company in Pithampur in neighbouring Dhar district. After quitting the job, he was possibly engaged in stock trading and investment from home. He had suffered a paralytic attack and was bedridden for the last six months. The couple led a secluded life and hardly had anyone visiting them. According to neighbours, Smriti was last seen outside the house on November 26, after which she had never been spotted. The newspaper hawker, milkman and even the teams who visited the locality for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists related work didnt find any response after visiting the house recently, a neighbour said. Feeling suspicious over the couple not being spotted for more than 20 days, neighbours peeped into the room on the houses first floor of the house from the balcony of an adjoining house on Thursday morning and reported to the police about the intolerable stench emanating from the closed house. Cops subsequently rushed to the duplex house, broke open its entrance and climbed upstairs, where the two bodies were in a heavily decomposed state. Lasudia police station sources said only the findings of the autopsy will reveal the cause of the deaths.
Concerns mount over suspected bird flu outbreak in Kuttanad
Samples have been collected and sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal for analysis to determine the cause of deaths
Newborn found dead in toilet commode at government hospital in MP's Chhindwara
BHOPAL:In a chilling incident, a newborn female child was found dead in the commode of the toilet at the Civil Hospital in Parasia town of Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh. The incident was reported on Monday night, when a sanitary staff member proceeded to clean the toilet. The flush was choked. On checking the commode, she found the hand of the newborn baby stuck inside. Immediately, the other staff of the hospital were called on to retrieve the body. The newborns body was extricated after breaking the concerned commode, a senior official of the state health department in Parasia told TNIE on Wednesday. According to Dr Sudha Bakshi, the Parasia block medical officer (BMO), the local police were immediately informed about the incident. The body was subsequently sent for a post-mortem. While the local police officials are tight-lipped about the entire incident, sources privy to the ongoing probe said that the autopsy of the newborn baby points towards the newborns death having been caused due to pulmonary oedema (fluid buildup in the lungs). Primary police investigations revealed that at least 15 pregnant women had come for a prenatal check-up at the hospitals outdoor patients department on Monday. Based on the details mentioned in the hospital records, while 14 of those pregnant women have been traced and identified, one womans details remain incomplete, and her presence at the hospital on Monday has consequently been found suspicious. There is a strong possibility that the same woman might have delivered the baby in the toilet and then tried to destroy evidence by flushing the newborn through the commode. The investigating cops are now scanning footage of all 26 CCTV cameras installed at the Parasia Civil Hospital. The Parasia area of Chhindwara is the hub of coal mining activity in Chhindwara and was in the news in September-October this year, following the deaths of more than 20 kids due to cough syrup poisoning induced acute kidney injury.
Aishwary wins 3P gold with world record, Gurjoat clinches skeet event
NATIONAL SHOOTING NEW DELHI/BHOPAL, Dec 16: World Championship silver medallist Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar delivered a landmark performance at the 68th Shooting Nationals on Tuesday, firing a world record 470.5 to clinch gold in the mens 50m rifle 3 positions final at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Range. Aishwarys score is 1.6 points more than []
MP announces Rs 1,782 crore compensation package for thousands displaced by dam projects
BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday approved a Rs 1,782 crore special relief package for families affected by submergence due to three major multipurpose dam and irrigation projects in the state. The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav. The package will benefit families displaced by the Upper Narmada Project, Raghavpur Multipurpose Project and Basania Multipurpose Project in Anuppur, Mandla and Dindori districts. The special package is in addition to Rs 1,656.02 crore already earmarked for rehabilitation and compensation in the detailed project reports (DPRs) of the three projects. Officials said the total cost of the Upper Narmada, Raghavpur and Basania projects stands at Rs 5,512.11 crore. Together, the projects are expected to provide irrigation facilities for 71,967 hectares of land and generate 125 megawatts of electricity. As many as 13,873 families are likely to be affected by submergence and will receive compensation of Rs 12.50 lakh per family under the special package. In addition, around 50,000 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe families will be given extra compensation. In another key decision, the cabinet approved a provision of Rs 90.67 crore under the revenue head for 202526 towards operation and maintenance of the Bhopal and Indore Metro Rail projects. The decision comes just four days before Bhopal is set to become the second city in the state, after Indore, to have an operational metro service. The cabinet also cleared Rs 48 crore for setting up six Forest Science Centres in the state between 202526 and 202930. The centres aim to promote forestry activities outside forest areas, improve forest land productivity, encourage agroforestry and create additional income opportunities through timber harvesting. Non-government organisations will also be allowed to establish such centres with permission from the Forest Department. Additionally, the cabinet approved the continuation of the Chief Ministers Udyam Kranti Yojana from 202627 to 203031, with an expenditure of Rs 905.25 crore. Under the scheme, youth aged 18 to 45 years are provided bank loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 50 lakh for self-employment, along with a 3 per cent annual interest subsidy and loan guarantee fee support for up to seven years. In a significant administrative reform, the cabinet approved measures to remove the distinction between sanctioned permanent and temporary posts in state government departments. It cleared amendments to recruitment rules to convert existing sanctioned temporary posts into permanent ones and decided to declare all work-charged and contingency posts as non-sanctioned, with no fresh appointments to be made under these categories.
Four children test HIV positive in MP government hospital; contaminated blood transfusion suspected
SATNA/BHOPAL: Four children suffering from thalassemia have tested HIV positive at Satna District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh allegedly due to contaminated blood transfusions, officials said on Tuesday. The case is four months old and an investigation is underway into it, an official said. Officials suspect the use of contaminated needles or blood transfusions for the spread of infection to the children. MP Health Minister Rajendra Shukla told reporters in Bhopal that he has ordered a probe into the matter and sought a report. It is also being investigated whether the blood transfusion took place in other hospitals also or only in the government hospital, he said. The affected children, aged between 12 and 15 years, received blood transfusions from the hospital's blood bank, as per an official. Devendra Patel, in-charge of the blood bank at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, said four children have tested HIV positive and an investigation is underway to determine how they got infected. Either an infected needle was used or a blood transfusion occurred. These are the two main reasons I believe. Blood transfusion seems to be the most likely cause, he told PTI Videos. All these children suffer from thalassemia, and some have received 80 or 100 blood transfusions, he said. A family member of one of the affected children said that their child was found to be HIV positive during a routine checkup about four months back, and he has been receiving medication, but it had proven to be of no use. After taking the medication for HIV, the child starts vomiting, feels low and becomes ill, he said. After the four children were detected with HIV infection, their family members were also tested and the results came out negative, he added. The Opposition Congress targeted the government over the matter and demanded the resignation of Health Minister Shukla. Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Congress MLA and former minister Sachin Yadav claimed such incidents were continuously occurring in Madhya Pradesh. Earlier, a case of toxic cough syrup came to light in Chhindwara, followed by incidents of rat bites at hospitals in Indore and Satna, and now children have been given HIV-infected blood, he said. The health minister is unable to manage the department. He should resign. A murder case should be filed against those responsible for the Satna incident, Yadav said. Senior Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma termed it a failure of the government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government has no connection with ground realities, he charged. Somewhere rats are roaming in hospitals, somewhere children are being given HIV-infected blood. Instead of preventing HIV, you are spreading it. Mohan Yadav should wake up from his slumber. Children are the nation's heritage and should be taken care of, he added.
Genetic researchers probe nuclear genome to explain exceptionally high TB burden among MPs Sahariyas
BHOPAL: Genetic science researchers from across the country have turned their focus to genomic factors that may underlie the abnormally high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) among the Sahariyas, one of the three Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Madhya Pradesh. The Sahariya population is largely concentrated in the GwaliorChambal region of Madhya Pradesh, particularly in Sheopur, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Gwalior, Morena and Bhind districts, with some presence in adjoining parts of Bundelkhand. Reported TB prevalence among the community ranges between 1,518 and 3,294 cases per 100,000 population, at least eight times higher than the national average of 187 per lakh. According to the World Health Organizations Global TB Report 2025 , India, despite remaining among high-burden countries, has recorded a 21 per cent decline in new TB cases, from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh in 2024. Against this backdrop, the Sahariyas stand out as an extreme outlier. The ongoing research is being led by Prof Gyaneshwar Chaubey, a noted geneticist and biological anthropologist at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, in collaboration with researchers from several institutions, including the University of Calcutta and the Forensic Science Laboratory, Jabalpur. The team has already made a significant breakthrough by linking rare maternal mitochondrial haplogroups, N5 and X2, to heightened TB susceptibility among the Sahariyas. A haplogroup refers to a group of people who share a common ancestor, identified through specific mutations in mitochondrial DNA (inherited from the mother) or Y-chromosome DNA (inherited from the father). The findings, published in the international journal Mitochondrion in August 2025, were based on the analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes from 729 individuals, including 140 Sahariyas. The study revealed that the rare N5 and X2 haplogroups, absent in neighbouring populations, likely entered the Sahariya gene pool through ancient gene flow from western India during the early Iron Age. A subsequent founder effect may have compromised mitochondrial function, weakening immune responses to TB. Researchers noted that this genetic vulnerability, compounded by chronic malnutrition, poverty and limited access to healthcare, offers a compelling explanation for the tribes extraordinarily high TB burden. Building on these mitochondrial findings, the research team has now initiated whole-genome sequencing of Sahariya individuals to investigate the contribution of the nuclear genome to TB susceptibility. This phase aims to identify risk alleles or genetic variants in nuclear DNA that may act independently or in concert with mitochondrial factors to heighten disease vulnerability. The study is also examining long-standing patterns of endogamy within the community. High levels of marriage within the group, combined with a historically small effective population size, may have amplified harmful genetic variants through genetic drift and inbreeding. Preliminary analyses suggest that this demographic history could further intensify TB risk by concentrating deleterious alleles. Expanding from mitochondrial insights to nuclear genomics will give us a far more comprehensive understanding of genetic susceptibility among the Sahariyas, said Debasruti Das, the studys first author. This knowledge is crucial for designing targeted interventions for communities bearing the heaviest TB burden. Senior author Prof Prashant Suravajhala added that the ongoing work would also assess how genetic predisposition interacts with environmental and cultural factors. Such integrated insights can pave the way for personalised public health strategies and more effective TB control among tribal populations, he said.
BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Rajendra Shukla, is once again targeted by the Opposition party, following a fire at the Gynaecology Operation Theatre (OT) in a government hospital in Rewa district. The state Congress chief has also demanded Shuklas resignation while sharing a video of rats at a hospital, which he claimed was at the Jabalpur district hospital. On Sunday afternoon, while a caesarean surgery was underway at the Gynaecology OT of the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Rewa, smoke suddenly started emanating, followed by a blaze. With the surgery being in the last stages after the birth of the stillborn child, the mother was safely evacuated out of the OT, and the babys charred body was left behind in the surgical tray. While a probe has been initiated in the matter to find what triggered the blaze and fix accountability for the lapses, the state Congress chief Jitu Patwari demanded the resignation of Rajendra Shukla over the incident. When the health minister cannot manage the health system in his own district, what can be expected from him for the entire State. Notably, the hospitals medical superintendent, Dr Rahul Mishra, is the nephew of Lok Sabha member from adjoining Sidhi district, Rajesh Mishra. Previously too several incidents of negligence have come to light at the same hospital, but no one has been held accountable. Even after hundreds of deaths across the State due to the governments negligence, why has Rajendra Shukla not been asked to resign? Patwari questioned. On Monday, Patwari shared on X a video of rats at a hospital, claiming it to be visuals from the Jabalpur district hospital. When the government hospitals arent safe, where on earth will the commoners go for treatment? If you have even the slightest concern for the state, then resign immediately and do justice to the people of MP. The deputy CM has been regularly on the Congresss radar in the recent past due to the deaths of 24 kids due to cough syrup poisoning in Chhindwara and adjoining districts, and also due to the deaths of two newborn babies following rat bites at the MY Hospital in Indore.
Ram Janmabhoomi movement leader Dr Ramvilas Vedanti passes away at 67
LUCKNOW: Former BJP MP and senior saint Dr Ram Vilas Das Vedanti (67), a prominent figure of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Madhya Pradeshs Rewa district early on Monday. Dr Vedanti had been admitted to Rewas Super Speciality Hospital for the past two days. On Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla had planned to airlift him to AIIMS, Bhopal, for advanced treatment, but the air ambulance could not be deployed due to adverse weather conditions. His health deteriorated subsequently, and he passed away at 12.20 am on Monday. Earlier, Dr Vedanti had travelled from Ayodhya to Delhi on December 7 and attended a meeting of the VHPs Central Margdarshak Mandal on December 10. From Delhi, he reached Rewa, where a Ramkatha discourse by him was underway at Bhatwa village near Lalgaon. The programme had been scheduled to continue till December 17. His successor, Mahant Raghavesh Das Vedanti, said the mortal remains were being taken to Ayodhya, where the last rites would be performed with full religious rituals. Born on October 7, 1958, Dr Ramvilas Das Vedanti was a disciple of Mahant Abhiram Das of Hanumangarhi. He resided at Hindu Dham, Naya Ghat, in Ayodhya, and also headed an ashram known as Vashishth Bhawan. For several decades, he recited Ramkatha before Ramlala and at Hanumangarhi, and was widely regarded as a distinguished Sanskrit scholar and a leading saint associated with Ayodhya. Dr Vedanti played a significant role in the Ram temple movement. He was a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and later served as its Executive President. He was also a two-time Member of Parliament on a BJP ticket, having represented Machhlishahr in Jaunpur district in 1996 and Pratapgarh in the 12th Lok Sabha. In the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, he won the Pratapgarh seat by a large margin, defeating Congress candidate Ratna Singh. A native of Gudhwa village in Rewa district, Dr Vedanti lost his mother at the age of two. His father, Ram Suman Tripathi, was a priest and guru of former Union Minister Arjun Singh. Dr Vedanti arrived in Ayodhya at the age of 12 and devoted his life to religious and social service. His role in the demolition of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992, remained controversial, as he had publicly admitted to ordering the demolition and was named as an accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case. However, his statement was widely seen as an attempt to shield senior BJP leaders. In 2020, a special CBI court acquitted him, ruling that there was no conspiracy behind the demolition. , . ! , Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) December 15, 2025 Condoling his death, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wrote on X: The passing of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Andolan's key pillar, former MP, and revered saint of Vashishtha Ashram at Shri Ayodhya Dham, Dr Ramvilas Vedanti Ji Maharaj, to Goloka is an irreparable loss to the spiritual world and Sanatan culture. Humble tribute to him! His departure marks the end of an era. His life of sacrifice, dedicated to the service of religion, society, and nation, is an inspiration to us all. We pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed soul a place at His divine feet and bestow strength upon the grief-stricken disciples and followers to bear this immense sorrow. Om Shanti! he added. According to his disciples, Dr Vedanti regarded the consecration of the Ram temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the fulfilment of two major resolutions of his life. Political observers note that he significantly altered the political landscape of Pratapgarh district, becoming the first BJP leader to win the seat by mobilising support around the Ram temple movement.
Ram Vilas Vedanti dies: Ram Janmabhoomi movement leader passes away at 67; last rites in Ayodhya
Ram Janmabhoomi movement leader and former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti passed away at the age of 67 in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, due to a heart attack. He was admitted to the hospital with severe blood poisoning and kidney failure. Efforts to transfer him to AIIMS Bhopal by air ambulance were unsuccessful due to poor visibility.
Probe ordered after goats seen eating midday meals with children at an Anganwadi in Madhya Pradesh
BHOPAL: A probe has been ordered and preliminary action initiated after videos went viral showing goats eating midday meals from steel plates alongside children, allegedly outside an Anganwadi centre in Madhya Pradeshs Katni district. Multiple viral clips show children seated in two parallel queues with food served on steel plates, while two goats are seen eating from plates kept at the end of one queue. Officials said the incident pertains to an Anganwadi facility operating from a rented private building in Sehra Mohalla of Kothi village, located in the tribal-dominated Dhimarkheda block. The arrangement was made due to the absence of an adequate government building for the Anganwadi or school, they added. Katni District Collector Ashish Tiwari said a team of officials was dispatched to the village immediately after the videos surfaced. The Anganwadi centre has been functioning from a private rented building since last year, while construction of a permanent facility is underway at another location, he told this newspaper on Sunday. According to Tiwari, the preliminary probe found that the Anganwadi supervisor, assistant and worker were not present when the midday meal was being served. Based on the initial findings, the salary increment of the Anganwadi supervisor has been withheld, and show-cause notices have been issued to the assistant and the Anganwadi worker, he said. The incident has drawn attention coming barely a month after a separate video from Sheopur district sparked national outrage. In that case, children at a government primary school in Hullpur village of Vijaypur block were seen being served midday meals on scrap paper. The November incident reportedly led to the suspension of the school principal and termination of the contract of the self-help group responsible for preparing the meals. The Sheopur episode had also prompted sharp political reactions, with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi questioning the BJP-led central and state governments over the issue. Residents of Kothi village said the Anganwadi centre has been operating from the private building since January 15. No supervisor or worker ever comes here. Since 2024, children have been coming only to study and have midday meals. Around 60 to 65 children are beneficiaries of this centre, a villager said.
BHOPAL: Already facing a criminal case over his sister of terrorists remark about Indian Army officer Colonel Sophia Qureshi, BJP-ruled Madhya Pradeshs senior cabinet minister Kunwar Vijay Shah has sparked fresh controversy with comments on the beneficiaries of the CM Ladli Behna Scheme, the financial support program for women, which proved to be a key factor in the saffron partys success in the 2023 assembly elections. Shah, chairing the district development advisory committee meeting in Ratlam on Saturday evening, said, This district has 2.5 lakh Ladli Behna Scheme beneficiaries, at least 50,000 of them should come forward to honour the CM for completing two years in power. We should plan an event where the Ladli Behnas would honour the CM. When the government is giving crores of rupees at a Rs 1,500 monthly rate to each beneficiary, then honouring the CM at least once in two years is justified. In the video of the meeting, which has gone viral, Shah (the minister in charge of Ratlam district) can be heard telling the officials, Plan an event where the Ladli Behnas would honour the CM in the new year. We will arrange food for them. Those who dont come, we will then see what happens to them. Such beneficiaries would be investigated; if someones Aadhar isnt linked, their application will be put on hold. That means it will automatically be stopped. Then everyone will come. The remarks were enough to trigger a fresh political controversy. The BJP should honour its beloved sisters, it is instead having its pampered ministers insult them. First, the vile remarks against the nations pride Col Sophia Qureshi, and now threats to mothers and sisters of the state, this is clear proof of BJPs frustration and anti-women mentality. The CMs silence is tantamount to endorsing the entire insult. The minister who first insulted the countrys army and now millions of sisters in the state, he doesnt have any right to remain in the government, state Congress chief Jitu Patwari wrote on X. My linguistic mistake has hurt countrymen: Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah apologises for 'sister of terrorists' remark Former CM and ex-state Congress chief Kamal Nath, also took to X on the same issue. The minister is threatening the women that failure to come to the CMs event will lead to them being dropped from the list of Ladli Behna Scheme beneficiaries. The BJP and its minister seem to be considering the Ladli Behnas as their bonded labour. It amounts to an open challenge to the civil rights and independent existence of women in the state. Importantly, the Ladli Behna Scheme was launched in June 2023 by then Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in the state. Currently, Rs 1500 are being credited into the accounts of around 1.27 crore beneficiaries monthly under the pro-poor women scheme. Making an objectionable remark about Colonel Sophia Quereshi in May 2025 or this latest remarks about Laldli Behnas in Ratlam, isnt the first time that the senior cabinet minister Vijay Shah has made women-targeted remarks. In September this year, Shah had come out in support of his senior cabinet colleague and former BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya over the latters controversial remark related to the leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, kissing MP sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, publicly. His (Vijayvargiya) statements are correct, as in the Indian culture, no brother kisses his sister in public. Kissing ones sister in public is not our culture and not at all in line with our customs and traditions. For those who indulge in such acts, they should do it in their homes and not on the crossroads, Shah had said in home district Khandwa in September. In April 2013, BJPs 62-year-old tribal politician Shah had to resign as the states scheduled caste and scheduled tribe welfare minister, reportedly in the wake of his sexual innuendos about some women BJP leaders and then MP CM (and current union agriculture minister) Shivraj Singh Chouhans wife Sadhna Singh. In March 2024, he had suggested that the Department of Posts appoint actor-turned-BJP MP Hema Malini as brand ambassador to get more deposits into its investment and savings schemes. Make her (Malini) the brand ambassador and then tell me, as were Hema Malinis patthe. Well get all the money of poor people out from the banks and put it in the post office, he had said while inaugurating the post office passport service centre in his native Khandwa district in March 2024.
Inter-state criminal nabbed in Indore after returning to fill SIR voter form
BHOPAL: Coming back to his home city Indore reportedly to fill up his Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter enumeration form recently, a hardened inter-state criminal landed in the Madhya Pradesh polices net. Identified as Abdul Rashid, alias Talwar Singh (54), the criminal is accused in around 100 cases, including robbery, theft and murder in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. He had recently returned to Indore after many years just to fill up the SIR enumeration form. On December 3, he broke into a closed flat in Indores Geeta Nagar locality and decamped with gold and silver jewellery valued in lakhs of rupees. Multiple teams were formed by the Indore Palasia police to crack the burglary-theft case, which led to the arrest of Abdul Rashid a few days later in Indore, following a specific tip-off. His questioning revealed that he had come down to his home city Indore after many years for filling up his SIR enumeration form. After filling the form, he committed the crime at the closed flat in Geeta Nagar, but acting on specific intelligence, the police arrested him a few days later, Indore police spokesperson and additional DCP of the city crime branch Rajesh Dandotiya told TNIE on Saturday. Subsequent investigations, based on Rashids sustained grilling, revealed that he was accused in around 100 cases of theft, robbery, burglary, murder and attempted murder in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. Had he not come to Indore for filling up the SIR form and then not committed the burglary-theft, maybe we wouldnt have been able to nab him, a senior Indore police officer said. Stolen properties, including cash, jewellery and a two-wheeler, all valued at over Rs 7.5 lakh, were recovered from Rashids possession. He was originally a native of Indores North Toda locality and started committing thefts and burglaries from the age of 19. However, he later shifted to Akola in Maharashtra after the Indore police began searching for him. He married a woman in Akola and started living there. He earned the infamous sobriquet Talwar Singh a few years back, after he beheaded a man with a sword and then surrendered at the local police station with the severed head in Maharashtras Wardha.
Security increased at Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Bhopal residence
BHOPAL: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans open-to-all official residence, Mama Ka Ghar, in the Madhya Pradesh capital has now turned into a heavily barricaded fortress following an increased security threat perception. A large number of metallic barricades have been erected outside the B-8B-9 combined bungalow in the high-security 74 Bungalows area of Bhopal. The bungalow, which has been Chouhans official residence since January 2024, was named Mama Ka Ghar after he shifted there from the Chief Ministers residence, weeks after Dr Mohan Yadav took charge as CM. Chouhan ruled Madhya Pradesh as chief minister for over 16 years. Highly placed sources in the state police said security at the residence has been augmented following specific alerts from New Delhi, indicating that the former chief minister and present Union minister is increasingly on the radar of across-the-border handlers of terrorist groups and separatist elements operating in the country. The security here has been beefed up since Friday night, with round the clock Dial-112 emergency response vehicle and a strong police picket having been deployed outside the big bungalow, a senior police officer, part of the enhanced security apparatus, told TNIE on Saturday. Chouhan already enjoys Z+ personal security cover, which was approved by the Union Home Ministry in December 2018, days after his 13-year-long BJP government lost power to the Congress in the Assembly elections. The Z+ category is extended to individuals facing severe threats and includes crack commandos, bulletproof vehicles and advanced security equipment. It is second only to the Special Protection Group (SPG) cover provided to the Prime Minister. Confirming the enhancement, Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra said, The security of the highest level of protectees is reviewed periodically and based on the periodic review of the union ministers security, the security apparatus at his residence in Bhopal has been enhanced. While state police sources maintained that the security has been stepped up based on specific intelligence inputs from the national capital, political circles in Bhopal offered varying interpretations. Sections within the state BJP were abuzz with speculation that the move could signal Chouhans strong prospects of becoming the partys next national president. However, Congresss state media wing head and former minister Mukesh Nayak disputed this narrative. Enhancement of Chouhans security is being used by his followers for spreading it as a harbinger of his appointment as BJPs next national president. If it actually turns out to be true, then the entire state will be happy. But according to us, the security has been beefed up following a missive from the central government to the state government, about Chouhans security in the state not being adequate, which is why the security cover is being suddenly increased, Nayak claimed. Located on the main road in the 74 Bungalows area, Chouhan formally named the residence Mama Ka Ghar on January 3, 2024. Speaking on the occasion, he had said, The address has changed, but Mama ka Ghar will remain Mama ka Ghar. My bond with sisters, nieces, nephews and brothers is of love, trust and affinity, my doors will always remain opened for them. Whenever you remember me, come here without hesitation, because this is your maternal uncle and brothers house.
MP CM hails naxal cadre elimination as top achievement ahead of two-year government milestone
BHOPAL: A day before his government completes two years in power, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav termed the end of naxal cadres through the elimination and surrenders policy as the biggest achievement of his government so far. The naxal menace is as old as 37-38 years. Various naxal dalams had been formed way back in 1988-89. In 1995, an entire bus carrying 17 police personnel was blown into pieces. Four years later, a minister in the then Congress government (transport minister Likhiram Kanware) was brutally hacked to death by the outlaws. Despite Congress governments ruling the centre and states for decades since independence, the naxal problem wasnt adequately addressed, Yadav told journalists in Bhopal on Friday. In the three naxal-affected districts of MP, Dindori, Mandla and Balaghat, eliminating the naxals was a cumbersome task. Searching for and acting against 35-40 outlaws in the vast forests was difficult. They ran parallel courts, police stations, and councils of ministers. The fear of the Laal Salam extremist ideology among forest dwellers made anti-naxal operations even more difficult, Yadav added. But the situation dramatically changed when Union Home Minister Amit Shah set a March 2026 deadline for eliminating the naxal menace. I was initially sceptical about whether it was achievable, but he was confident, and the results are for all to see. The numbers in the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) Zone dropped to zero on Thursday the biggest and most historic development. Ten hardcore naxals were gunned down in 2025, the maximum in any year. First Dindori, then Mandla were freed from left-wing extremism (LWE), and on Thursday, Balaghat also recorded zero listed naxal cadres, Yadav said while congratulating the police forces involved in the operations. All credit for eliminating naxal cadres through the surrender or get killed policy goes to our brave cops. For the first time, IPS officers volunteered for postings in naxal-infested areas and set targets to uproot naxalism. Our IG in Balaghat Range, Sanjay Kumar, moved on a motorcycle like a regular jawan such was the commitment and dedication of our police force. We also pay rich tribute to all cops who sacrificed their lives, including young Inspector Ashish Sharma. The 42 surrenders in 42 days wouldnt have been possible without the proactive approach of our brave cops. Salute to their efforts, he added. They once ran a parallel regime in the jungles and terrorized villagers. Now, the same outlaws were competing among themselves to surrender first to save their lives. Mobile phone conversations between them reveal their urgency. With naxal cadre numbers now down to zero in Balaghat, Mandla, and Dindori, we will now ensure a proper framework and system to prevent naxalism from reviving, Yadav said. The MP CM also highlighted inter-state river linking projects like Ken-Betwa, Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal, and the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project as other major achievements of his two-year tenure. The river linking projects, once implemented, will enhance irrigated land from 52 lakh hectares to 100 lakh hectares in five years, he maintained. While reiterating his governments commitment to ending drug abuse in MP, Yadav said, We have begun by banning liquor in 19 religious towns and cities. With cooperation from society and social organisations, we are confident of eliminating the drug menace completely within the next three years.
MP government moves to sack IAS officer over forged documents, controversial remarks
BHOPAL: Already in the eye of a storm following his controversial public statements about Brahmin girls and the judiciary, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Santosh Verma now faces possible dismissal from the IAS cadre. In a late Thursday night development, the state government said the general administration department (GAD) has decided to move a proposal to the central government for Vermas dismissal from the IAS cadre. It has been found that his promotion from the State Administrative Service (SAS) to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre was obtained through forged and fabricated orders. Criminal cases are pending against him in various courts. Therefore, a proposal for his dismissal from the IAS cadre is being sent to the central government, the state government said in an official statement. The departmental inquiry against Verma for obtaining a character certificate based on forged and fabricated documents is in its final stages. The reply submitted by Santosh Verma to the show-cause notice in the present case is not satisfactory. He is continuously issuing undignified statements. Therefore, it has been decided to issue a charge sheet against him, the statement added. The state government has decided to remove Verma from the post of Deputy Secretary, Agriculture Department, and attach him to the GAD pool without any department or work. Importantly, Verma is also the president of the Madhya Pradesh Scheduled Castes and ST Officers and Employees Association, also known as AJJAKS. The late-night statement came just three days before the Brahmin caste outfit, Brahmin Samaj United Front, was slated to stage a massive protest with a gherao of the Chief Minister's residence on December 14, pressing for action against Verma for his recent controversial comments about Brahmin girls. Back on November 23, while addressing the provincial convention of AJJAKS in Bhopal as the associations state president, Verma had made the objectionable remarks about Brahmin girls. Verma had reportedly said: Reservation should be given to only one person in a family until a Brahmin donates his daughter to my son or allows my son to have a relationship with her. Massive protests have since been held across the state by upper caste outfits. Upper-caste politicians from both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress also recently met Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, demanding stern action against Verma. Even before the controversy over his remarks about Brahmin girls could subside, another viral video showed him accusing the High Court of blocking Scheduled Tribe candidates from becoming civil judges. He alleged that the judicial recruitment process was deliberately designed to exclude SC and ST candidates. Reacting to the controversy around his statements, Verma has claimed that the issue is being manufactured to target him due to leadership-related internal disputes within AJJAKS.
MP government recommends dismissal of controversial IAS officer Santosh Verma
BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government has sent a proposal to the Centre recommending the dismissal of IAS officer Santosh Verma, state president of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Officers and Employees Association (AJAKS), for his undignified remarks. In addition, Verma has been removed from his post as deputy secretary of the Agriculture Department and attached to the General Administration Department without any department or work. According to an official statement released on Thursday, the GAD has also decided to issue a charge sheet against Verma. The action comes after Verma, at the AJAKS state level convention in Bhopal on November 23, said, Until a Brahmin donates his daughter to my son and he has a relationship with her, he (son) should get reservation. A video of his statement was uploaded on social media, sparking outrage among the Brahmin community. Following Verma's remarks, demands for action against him were made not only in the state but across the country. Furthermore, 65 Brahmin organisations, enraged by Verma's remarks, announced a protest on Friday and a siege of the chief minister's residence on December 14. They also warned that if no action was taken, preparations would be made for a statewide shutdown. Meanwhile, another recent comment by Verma added fuel to the fire when, while addressing an event, he said, It is the High Court itself that is preventing ST category children from becoming civil judges... It is the High Court from which we demand a guarantee of constitutional compliance. The controversy intensified as a video of his remarks surfaced. Subsequently, an official statement issued late on Thursday night said that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had taken cognisance of the Santosh Verma case and directed the GAD to take strict action. It said that Verma had fabricated and forged a promotion order from the State Administrative Service to the Indian Administrative Service, and criminal cases are pending against him in various courts. The government sent this proposal to the central government shortly thereafter. According to the government, a departmental inquiry against Verma on the charge of obtaining an integrity certificate based on forged and fabricated documents is in its final stages, and that his response to the show-cause notice in the current case is unsatisfactory. The government also said that he has been continuously issuing indecent statements, and hence, the decision to issue a charge sheet against him was taken. An official said that the state government can suspend IAS officers but cannot dismiss them, as this power lies with the central government, which comes into effect after the President signs it.
Two top Naxals surrender in Balaghat; MP now free of all listed MMC zone cadres, says CM Yadav
BHOPAL: Continued surrenders by armed Naxal cadres in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, driven by surrender or get eliminated anti-Naxal operations, resulted in two more hardcore Naxalites laying down arms in the forests of MPs Balaghat district on Thursday. Two wanted Naxals carrying a combined reward of 43 lakh surrendered at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in the Korka area of Balaghat district. They were identified as Deepak Uike, a Gondia-Rajnandgaon-Balaghat (GRB) divisional committee member carrying a reward of Rs 29 lakh, and Rohit, who had a Rs 14 lakh bounty. With their surrender, Madhya Pradesh is now free of all listed CPI (Maoist) cadres from the Maharashtra-MP-Chhattisgarh (MMC) special zone. Based on interrogation of the armed Naxal cadres who surrendered recently, after the latest two surrenders, all listed Naxal cadres of the MMC zone have now been eliminated or have surrendered. This is a historic development, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav announced on Thursday evening. Deepak Uike was considered the poster boy of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in Balaghat district, as he hailed from Palagondi village in the same region. Both Deepak and Rohit were part of the Malajkhand Dalam of the GRB divisional committee, which operated largely in the southern stretches of the MMC Zone. The dalam, led by CPI (Maoist) central committee member and MMC Zone chief Ramder Majji, saw 12 cadres surrender in Chhattisgarh on December 8. However, Deepak and Rohit had stayed away from the December 8 surrender. In the last 42 days, as many as 42 hardcore Naxalites carrying a collective bounty of Rs 7.75 crore have surrendered in MP, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, the MP CM said, congratulating anti-Naxal police personnel. The chief minister also paid tribute to the 38 police personnel who have died in anti-Naxal operations in undivided and divided Madhya Pradesh since 198889. The elimination or surrender of all listed cadres in MP assumes special significance as it comes just two days before the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government completes two years in office. In 202324, four wanted Naxalites, including a woman cadre carrying a total reward of 71 lakh, were gunned down in encounters. In 2025 so far, ten armed Naxal cadres all of area committee rank carrying a total bounty of 1.46 crore have been killed, marking the highest Naxal casualties in any year, Yadav added.
BLS International secures renewal of attestation, apostille services contract with MEA
MUMBAI, Dec 11: BLS International Services on Thursday said it has secured the renewal of its contract for attestation and apostille services with the External Affairs Ministry. The renewed contract covers its existing service operations across Delhi, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Panaji, Kochi, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, Patna and Puducherry, BLS International said in a statement. Under this agreement, BLS International will provide MEA attestation and apostille services for educational, non-educational, and commercial documents across [] The post BLS International secures renewal of attestation, apostille services contract with MEA appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Bhopal Diary | Sandalwood tree cut on assembly premises
An attempt by some people to cut and steal sandalwood trees from the Vidhan Sabha premises has exposed the state of security at the assembly complex. Notably, it happened while the winter session was underway. While one tree was felled, two others bore deep saw marks. Just two weeks earlier, thieves had cut down a sandalwood tree outside the DFO office in the VVIP 74 Bungalow area of Bhopal. In November last week, six sandalwood trees were felled and three of them stolen from the Gufa Mandir premises. Felling of sandalwood trees has happened a few days after the MP HC directed that no tree shall be cut, pruned or transplanted in Bhopal. White horse rent for wedding reaches Rs 11L Demand for white horses in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in states commercial capital Indore, is on the rise as the marriage season peaks. Most horse owners are getting demand for white horses from families preparing for weddings. The bookings for white horses range from Rs 51,000 to Rs 11 lakh. Decorating the same horses in the best manner is additionally costing Rs 2.5 lakh. Some horse owners have recently brought white horses from Pushkar to meet the surge in demand in the ongoing wedding season. The priciest white horse in Indore is 5-ft-tall Padmavati whose rent has reportedly reached Rs 11 lakh. Woman mountaineer to get Vikram Award Ace woman mountaineer Bhawna Dehariya will be awarded the states highest sporting honour Vikram Award. The decks were cleared for the mountaineer to get the award after the MP High Court junked a petition challenging her selection for the honour by the state government. The petition was filed by another Everest climber Madhusudan Patidar who had scaled the highest peak in 2017, while Dehariya achieved the same feat in 2019. Dismissing Patidars petition, the HC stated that his Everest feat was outside the five-year eligibility period specified in the states 2021 award rules. The state had chosen Dehariya for the highest award under the Adventure Sports category in 2023. Anuraag Singh Our correspondent in Madhya Pradesh singhanuraag.jaurno@gmail.com
Madhya Pradesh: Six cops from Malhargarh station found guilty of framing teen in false drug case
BHOPAL: Cops from Malhargarh police station in western Madhya Pradeshs Mandsaur district had reportedly kidnapped an 18-year-old student in August 2025 and then arrested him in a fake case of opium smuggling. The revelations came to the fore on Tuesday during the hearing of the petition filed by Sohans family in the Madhya Pradesh High Courts Indore Bench four months after the illegal arrest and framing of the teenager in the false case related to seizure of 2.7 kg opium. Contrary to earlier statements of Mandsaur authorities about no foul play in the matter which as per them was a major narcotics seizure related arrest, the present Mandsaur district police superintendent Vinod Kumar Meena admitted before the HCs division bench in Indore on Tuesday, that the FIR didnt match the actual time and location, which were already captured in the video. The SP Mandsaur further submitted before the HC that the entire operation was led by a head constable of Malhargarh police and the case was registered against the teenager while he was already in illegal custody. Also, the probe by Malhargarh police wasnt carried out in pursuance of due legal procedure. The Mandsaur district police chief further confirmed to the HC that the cops seen boarding the bus (from which the teenager was picked) were actually staff of Malhargarh police station a submission which was contrary to the earlier statements of the cops in Mandsaur district in which those plain-clothed cops were disowned as Malhargarh police station staff. The SP-Mandsaur Vinod Kumar Meena further informed the court that six cops, including those who dragged Sohan out of the bus, have been suspended and a departmental inquiry instituted against them. As the High Court has reserved its order in the matter, legal experts expect stern action in the matter. The 18-year-old teenager was granted bail by the Court on December 5, while stating that he was kidnapped from the bus and then framed up in a false case related to 2.7 opium seizure. The young teenager was a promising student who had passed Class XII with first division marks. On the HCs directions, the SP-Mandsaur personally appeared before the Court on Tuesday. The district police chief admitted that the entire operation by Malhargarh wasnt in accordance with law, High Court advocate Manish Thakur said. The court also questioned the SP-Mandsaur about the previous statements of the investigation officer in the case, Sanjay Pratap Singh, who had submitted that those seen entering the bus four months back, werent police personnel. The SP admitted before the Court that those cops seen entering the bus were the staff of Malhargarh police station and all the six cops who were involved in the entire illegal operation and registering of the case and arrest of the youngster have been suspended and a departmental probe ordered against them. The HC has reserved the verdict in the matter, Thakur added. The matter dates back to August 29, 2025 when the 18-year-old student was dragged out of a bus in Malhargarh police station area of Mandsaur district. Few hours later, the Malhargarh police claimed that he had been arrested after being caught with 2.7 kg of opium. He was produced before a local court the next day and sent to jail in the NDPS Act case. The CCTV grabs, mobile phone videos and witnesses statements, however, told a completely different story. In the quest of justice for their son, the 18-year-old promising students family knocked at MP HCs doors in Indore, which led to the grant of bail to him on December 5.
Four constables killed as their vehicle collides with truck in MP's Sagar
SAGAR: Four constables of a bomb squad from Morena were killed and another cop was seriously injured when their vehicle collided with a container truck in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district on Wednesday, an official said. The accident occurred at around 4 am on National Highway- 44 between Bandri and Malthone in Sagar district, the official said. The vehicle carrying personnel of the bomb detection and disposal squad collided head-on with a container truck parked on the wrong side of the highway, Bandri police station in-charge Sumer Jagat said. The impact was so severe that the police vehicle was severely damaged. Four personnel died on the spot. They have been identified as constable Pradhuman Dixit, constable Aman Kaurav, driver Paramlal Tomar, all residents of Morena, and dog master Vinod Sharma, hailing from Bhind, the official said. Another constable, Rajiv Chauhan, sustained serious injuries. He was immediately taken to Bansal Hospital in Bhopal, where his condition was reported to be critical, the official said. A dog that was part of the squad was safe, he said. After being alerted, local administration and police personnel rushed to the spot and launched a rescue and relief operation. Prima facie, it seems the police vehicle's driver lost control of the wheels, which led to the accident, the official said. The police registered a case, and a search was on for the truck driver. The bodies were sent for post-mortem, the police added.
Khajuraho cabinet meet for Bundelkhand revamp
BHOPAL: A special meeting of the Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved series of proposals focussed on the development of states Bundelkhand region which has been counted among the most backward and underdeveloped regions of the country since decades. Chaired by CM Dr Mohan Yadav in the states tourist city Khajuraho in Chhatarpur district the state cabinet meeting approved a special industrial incentive package for Bundelkhand, ushering investments worth Rs 24,240 crore and direct employment for nearly 29,000 people in the region. Under the package which is meant for the Maswasi Grunt industrial area in Bundelkhands Sagar district, the land allotment and annual land lease rate have been fixed at just 1 per square metre. Additionally, a facility of 20 equal annual instalments has been provided for payment of development charges, while the maintenance fee has been set at Rs 8 per square metre per year. To encourage investors, 100% reimbursement of stamp duty and registration fees has been approved. Industrial units will also be exempted from electricity duty for five years from the date of commencement of commercial production. Large industrial units will be governed by the provisions of the Industrial Promotion Policy 2025 and Investment Promotion Scheme 2025, while MSME units will be covered under MSME Development Policy 2025 and MSME Incentive Scheme 2025. Cement manufacturing units will not be eligible for this special package, which will remain in force for the next five years. The cabinet also approved an administrative sanction of Rs 2,059.85 crore for the upgradation and construction of the 76.680 km SagarDamoh road as a four-lane carriageway with paved shoulders under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). The project will include construction of 13 underpasses, 3 major bridges, 9 medium bridges, one ROB, 13 major junctions and 42 medium junctions. It approved 990 regular and 615 outsourced posts for operating the new government medical colleges at Damoh, Chhatarpur and Budhni. For each of the three medical colleges, 330 regular posts will be created and 205 personnel will be engaged on an outsourcing basis. The cabinet also gave in principle approval to develop Virangana Durgavati Tiger Reserves Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary as the third cheetah habitat in the state.
Mohit Chauhan performed at a live concert at AIIMS, Bhopal, and it turned dramatic after the artiste tripped over stage lights and fell in mid-concert.
Training aircraft crashes after hitting electricity wireline in MPs Seoni district
BHOPAL: A training aircraft crashed after hitting a 33 KV electricity wire line in Madhya Pradeshs Seoni district on Monday evening. The instructor pilot Ajit Anthony and the trainee pilot Ashok Chawda, who were on board the aircraft were injured and rushed to the hospital, where they are now stated out of danger. The incident occurred around 6:30 pm near the fields of Amgaon, about two kilometres from the Suktara airstrip. Villagers said they saw sparks, heard a loud explosion, and then witnessed the aircraft crash in a nearby field. According to Seoni district police superintendent Sunil Mehta, the aircraft belonged to the Redbird Aviation Academy and had taken off from Suktara airstrip. It was preparing to land when its wing struck the electricity wireline. The impact caused the line to trip, preventing a larger accident. Several nearby villages reportedly experienced temporary power outages following the mishap. Primary investigations suggest that it was perhaps some snags in the aircrafts engine which could be behind the crash. The actual reason for the mishap will, however, be clear only after the DGCA probe, SP Mehta said. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
MP ministers brother held as police bust inter-state ganja racket in Satna
BHOPAL: An alleged inter-state ganja smuggling racket has been busted in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh with the arrest of two men, including Anil Bagri, the elder brother of MPs minister of state for urban development and housing Pratima Bagri. Acting on a specific tip-off, a police team from Rampur Baghelan police station raided the house of one Pankaj Singh in Marahuan village late Sunday night and seized more than 46 kg of ganja worth over Rs 9 lakh, stashed in sacks under a tin shed. The seizure led to Pankaj Singhs arrest. He later told police that Anil Bagri had brought the ganja consignment to his house in an SUV on December 4. A subsequent probe led the Rampur Baghelan police to Anil Bagri, the ministers brother. Both Pankaj Singh and Anil Bagri have been arrested and booked under the NDPS Act. They were produced in court on Monday and sent to judicial custody, Rampur Baghelan police station in-charge Sandeep Chaube told TNIE . Bagris questioning revealed that he transported the consignment to Pankajs house at the behest of his brother-in-law, Shailendra Singh Shibbu, who was recently arrested in a ganja smuggling case in Uttar Pradesh and is currently lodged in Banda jail. Shailendra is no stranger to narcotics cases - he was arrested in September 2024 in a cough syrup smuggling case in Satna district. We will bring Shailendra Singh on a production warrant from Banda Jail to investigate this racket further, the police officer added. Further investigation suggests the ganja consignment was sourced from Beohari (Shahdol) and that key players in the racket may have links to Chhattisgarh.
Bhopal Metro BIG update: CM Mohan Yadav says metro services to start from...; check details
The 6.22-km-long first phase of the Bhopal Metro to be inaugurated will cover eight stations. Check details below.
10 days, 33 surrenders leave Naxal ranks in MMC Zone on brink of collapse
BHOPAL: Ten days and 33 surrenders have shrunk the number of armed Naxal cadres to single digits, for the first time in more than three decades in the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) Special Zone. The CPI (Maoist) MMC Zone comprises bordering districts of the three neighbouring states MP, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh including Balaghat district and parts of Mandla district (MP), Rajnandgaon, KCG, MMA and Kabirdham districts of Chhattisgarh, and Gondia district of Maharashtra. Around 40-45 armed Naxal cadres were active in two major parts of the MMC Zone. Three Dalams, Khatiya Mocha, Bhoramdev and Borla, formed the Kanha-Bhoramdev Division in the northern MMC Zone, covering Balaghat and Mandla districts of MP and Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh. At least two Dalams, Malajkhand (including the defunct Tanda Dalam cadres) and Darre Khasa, formed the Gondia-Rajnandgaon-Balaghat (GRB) division in the southern MMC Zone, where cadres armed with AK-47s, INSAS rifles and Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs) remained active. A series of bulk surrenders began on November 28, when 11 Darre Khasa Dalam cadres, led by MMC Special Zonal Committee spokesperson Vikas Nagpur alias Anant, surrendered in Gondia (Maharashtra). Nagpure had recently appealed for an end to armed struggle and sought time from the CMs of the three BJP-ruled states to surrender, amid intense pressure from joint anti-Naxal operations. Just nine days earlier, on November 19, cadres of the same Darre Khasa Dalam had killed Ashish Sharma, a young inspector of MP Polices elite Hawk Force, in an encounter at the tri-state border. Before surrendering with 10 cadres, Nagpure had left behind four armed cadres, likely to persuade other Dalam members. who later surrendered in Chhattisgarh on Monday. Nine days later, Madhya Pradesh reported its biggest-ever Naxal surrender when ten cadres of the KB Division surrendered before the MP Chief Minister in Balaghat district on Sunday (December 7). They collectively carried a bounty of Rs 2.36 crore, including two top leaders MMC Zone secretary Surendra alias Kabir Sodi and Special Zonal Committee Member Rakesh Odi alias Manish. This surrender ended the northern MMC Zones KB Division and its three Dalams, effectively freeing the non-tourist forest areas of the Kanha National ParkTiger Reserve from the LWE presence. On Monday, the surrender of MMC Zone head and CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member Ramder, along with 11 cadres of the Malajkhand Dalam (GRB division), nearly cleared the southern MMC Zone of Naxals, leaving only six armed cadres on the run. Two cadres from Ramders Malajkhand Dalam and four from Nagpures Darre Khasa Dalam are still absconding. They may also surrender soon due to mounting pressure under the Surrender or Get Eliminated policy, a senior MP police officer told TNIE. Earlier, between November 1 and 6, eight other wanted cadres including two women, Sunita and Taruna had surrendered in MP and Chhattisgarh. In the last 38 days, around 40 LWE cadres have surrendered in the MMC Zone. Only six remain. Once they surrender or are neutralised the armed Naxal presence, already nearly wiped out in MP due to the 22 surrenders on Sunday and Monday, will disappear from the entire MMC Zone, the officer added.
Tide Now Supports Over 1 Million Small Businesses in India
Gen Zs and millennials make up over 85% of Tides MSME community a powerful reminder that young India is steering the country's entrepreneurial momentum Tier 2, 3, 4 and beyond cities driving growth with over 96% members (MSMEs) on the platform, from towns like Bareilly, Bhopal, Murshidabad, Lucknow and North 24 Parganas Tide , the UKs leading business management platform, today announced that it has surpassed 1 million members (MSMEs) in India. This rapid growth reflects the deep trust that Indian small businesses from nano to micro and emerging SMEs have placed in Tide to simplify how they register, run and grow their businesses. The platform has doubled adoption since its launch in December 2022. India has emerged as Tides largest and fastest-growing market globally in member acquisition, showcasing the success of its India-first strategy and strong product-market fit. Gurjodhpal Singh, CEO, Tide in India, said, This milestone is more than a number its a story of trust. In just under three years, one million Indian entrepreneurs have chosen Tide to be their partner in growth. This reflects our commitment to helping small businesses who have been gravely underserved save time and money by giving them business critical tools across finance, admin and related commercial services that they need, to grow. India is where some of Tide's most innovative products are being developed, creating strong use-cases to be implemented globally . A trusted business partner for Indias entrepreneurs Tides success has always been rooted in scaling responsibly and delivering real-world impact. The company is doing so by building a unified, highly-connected digital platform that reduces the burden of business finance and admin. Over the past year, Tide has delivered product innovation at pace across India with products including: Bill Payments: SMEs in India can pay their utility bills with no extra costs and earn rewards. The product is backed by enhanced security. Udyam Registration: Enabling MSME registration and access to priority government benefits including low-interest loans, subsidies on electricity certifications, protection against delayed payments, etc. GST Registration: help obtain a Goods & Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN), enabling compliance, marketplace selling, input tax credit claims, and vendor trust. Scheme Discovery: Smart matching of government benefits and subsidies to business eligibility. Fixed Deposits Intermediation: Helping SMEs to earn competitive returns on their balances in a seamless and paperless experience. NCMC Card Integration: A single smart Tide card that doubles up as a national mobility card, accepted across multiple transport modes. Structured partners: Provides disbursement of funds to freelancers and vendors via a secure partner portal. Analytics on spending deliver real-time data so SMEs can make faster decisions about cashflow, a key pain point for SMEs. Tides member make-up Tides growth in India is being driven by a new generation of business owners, with over 85% (865,000) of its members under the age of 40, including 58% Gen Z and 42% millennialsreflecting the strong entrepreneurial momentum among Indias youth. And, with our oldest member at 95, simply proves that its never too late to do what you love. The platform is scaling rapidly across emerging business hubs, with 63% of its members from states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra, and a majority comprising small and micro entrepreneurs like local retailers, freelancers and service-led solopreneurs. With strong adoption in Tier 2, 3, 4 and beyond towns namely Bareilly, Bhopal, Murshidabad, Lucknow, North 24 Paraganas, Jaipur, Firozabad, Ghaziabad, Shahjahanpur and Kota with not a single Tier 1 city in the top 10 Tide is playing a significant role in enabling the digital transformation of Indias most underserved business communities. Championing entrepreneurs beyond business tools Tide believes progress happens when entrepreneurs are supported not only with products but with recognition, access and ecosystem change. Women in Business mission: On track to bring 500,000 women entrepreneurs onto the platform by 2027. Tides Bharat Women Aspiration Index brings forth voices from beyond metros to shape better policies for women entrepreneurs across Tier 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 towns in India. Udaan Chronicles: Tides flagship mentoring roadshow, created to help small business owners in semi-urban and rural India, brings expert-led mentoring directly to entrepreneurs who lack access to formal networks and financial resources. UK-India collaboration: Enabling SME expansion across borders through industry delegation. Contributing to critical dialogue shaping future trade for small businesses under the provisions of the UK-India FTA. Tides progress in India is rooted in accountability and global investor backing. The company recently secured a $120 million strategic investment, in a funding round led by TPG. Tide is also deepening its long-term commitment to India with a 500 million investment over the next five years, starting 2026. This investment underscores Indias role as a cornerstone of Tides global growth strategy, which will be used to fuel product innovation tailored for Indian SMEs, technology and AI-led development and expansion of Tides financial ecosystem including payments, credit, and investment solutions. Tides strategy in India emphasises digital inclusion to bring formal financial and business services to underserved entrepreneurs outside major metros, in smaller towns and rural clusters. This approach aligns with the Government of Indias efforts to formalise and digitise MSMEs and increase their access to credit, markets and exports. Among some of the exciting new features to be launched next year, include investments, acquiring, insurance, easy access to formal credit, banking services and advanced payment acceptance solutions. Tide is here to make managing business smoother and more successful. About Tide Launched in 2017, Tide is the leading business management platform in the UK. Tide helps SMEs save time (and money) in the running of their businesses by not only offering business accounts and related admin services, but also a comprehensive set of highly usable and connected administrative solutions from invoicing to accounting. Tide has nearly 800,000 SME members in the UK (14% market share) and 1,000,000 SMEs in India. Tide launched in Germany in May 2024 and in France in September 2025. Tide has also been recognised with the Great Place to Work certification three years in a row. Tide has been funded by Anthemis, Apax Digital Funds, Augmentum Fintech, Creandum, Salica Investments, Latitude, LocalGlobe, SBI Group, Speedinvest and TPG, amongst others. It employs more than 2,500 Tideans worldwide. Tides long-term ambition is to be the leading business management platform globally. www.linkedin.com/company/tide-banking twitter.com/TideBusinessIND www.instagram.com/tidebusinessindia/ www.facebook.com/TideBusinessIndia
NEP aims to infuse Indian ethos into Macaulay-era education system: Pradhan
BHOPAL, Dec 7: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said the objective of the National Education Policy was to infuse the Indian ethos into the Macaulay-era education system. Addressing a workshop on Implementation of National Education Policy-2020: Challenges and Possibilities in Bhopal, he said the time has come to connect Indias traditional education systems with artificial intelligence to gain global recognition for the countrys rich cultural and knowledge traditions. He described Madhya Pradesh as an ancient centre of scientific, [] The post NEP aims to infuse Indian ethos into Macaulay-era education system: Pradhan appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
10 Maoists surrender before CM Mohan Yadav in MP's Balaghat district
BHOPAL: In a landmark development in Madhya Pradeshs anti-Naxal operations, ten hardcore Maoist cadres, including four women, surrendered before Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Sunday in Balaghat district. The group, associated with the CPI (Maoist) Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) special zone, carried a combined bounty of Rs 2.36 crore and laid down two AK-47s and two INSAS rifles at a special programme attended by the CM. Addressing journalists in Balaghat, Dr Yadav said, Today is a big day for the success of anti-Naxal operations of MP Police. Though Dindori and Mandla district had already become free of LWE, todays big development will result in Balaghat district also getting majorly free of the outlaws. This speaks volumes about the success of the targeted anti-naxal operations based on the prime principle of surrender or get eliminated and will go a long way in freeing Kanha National Park-Tiger Reserve and Bandhavgarh National Park-Tiger Reserve of any remnants of the naxal cadres. The ten surrendered cadres belonged to the Kanha-Bhoradev (KB) division of the MMC Zone, which operated in northern parts of the zone covering Balaghat and Mandla in Madhya Pradesh and Kabirdham in Chhattisgarh. Among them were MMC Zone secretary and special zonal committee member Surendra alias Kabir Sodi (50), SCZM Rakesh Odi alias Manish, and area committee members Lalsingh Marawi, Salita alias Savitri, Navin Nuppo alias Hidma, Jaisheela alias Lalita Oyam, Vikram alias Hidma Vatti, Zarina alias Jogi Musak, and Samar alias Somaru. The cadres, aged between 26 and 50, hailed from Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, with the two SZCMs having been linked to multiple past killings of villagers suspected of being police informers. Key sources in the state polices anti-Naxal establishment said that with this surrender, the northern part of the MMC Zone running through Kanha National Park is now free of Naxal activity. This development is expected to allow anti-Naxal camps of the MP Police and central paramilitary forces to shift focus to the southern MMC Zone, which includes the Gondia-Rajnandgaon-Balaghat (GRP) division, where 18 armed Naxals, including a 14-member group led by central committee member Ramder, are still active. The surrender comes just a day after an encounter between MP Police and Ramders group along the MP-Chhattisgarh border and 36 days after another hardcore Naxalite, Sunita, became the first cadre to surrender under the states special surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy of 2023. In 2025, MP Police also eliminated 10 hardcore Naxalites, who carried a total bounty of Rs 1.86 crore. The mass surrender in Balaghat marks the largest-ever surrender by armed Naxals in Madhya Pradesh, significantly strengthening the states efforts to curb left-wing extremism and secure sensitive areas, including Kanha and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves.
MP Speaker urged not to fix House session date during marriage season
BHOPAL: Marriages cast their shadow on the Madhya Pradesh Assemblys winter session that concluded on Friday. On the concluding day of the four-day winter session, 14 MLAs from the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, besides the lone Bhartiya Adivasi Party (BAP) legislator Kamleshwar Dodiyar, were absent in the Assembly for reportedly attending wedding ceremonies. On the final day, Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar read out the names of six MLAs who were to raise their questions during the Question Hour, but the legislators werent to be found. Three other MLAs whose questions were also listed were not present, which left the Speaker surprised. The Speaker subsequently read out the names of the 14 MLAs who were absent. They included Kunwar Singh Tekam, Narendra Singh Kushwaha, Dhirendra Bahadur Singh Dhiru, Satish Malviya, Arvind Pateria, Rajesh Shukla, Virendra Singh Lodhi and Bhupendra Singh (all BJP MLAs), Atiq Aqeel, Nitendra Singh Rathore, Mukesh Malhotra, Bhairon Singh Bapu, Rajendra Bharti (Congress legislators) and the lone BAP MLA Kamleshwar Dodiyar. The absence of the MLAs prompted the states parliamentary affairs minister Kailash Vijayvargiya to request the Speaker to keep in mind the wedding days while deciding the sessions in future. Many of the MLAs have skipped the proceedings today (Friday) after informing that they have to attend marriages in their families. Before deciding the session in future, we need to also keep in mind that there are fewer marriages when sessions are to be convened. After all, being public representatives, the legislators have to be present in marriages as well, Vijayvargiya appealed to the Speaker. It was perhaps for the first time in nearly 20 years that the Vidhan Sabha had five full minutes left in Question Hour with absolutely nothing to do due to the absence of the 14 MLAs, a legislator said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Stray cattle menace: 237 road accidents led to 94 deaths in last two years in MP
BHOPAL: The menace of stray animals is proving deadly for humans in Madhya Pradesh. Over the last two years, a person has either lost their life or suffered grievous injuries every third day in road accidents caused by stray cattle across the state. In a written reply to a question raised by former Leader of Opposition and seven-time Congress MLA Ajay Arjun Singh, the Dr. Mohan Yadav government informed the Vidhan Sabha on Friday that 237 road accidents attributed to stray animalsparticularly cattlewere reported during this period. Citing data from the state police and the home department, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Lakhan Patel said these 237 accidents led to 94 deaths and 133 injuries. This means that 227 human casualtiesfatalities and serious injuries combinedoccurred due to stray-animal-related road crashes over two years, averaging at least one major casualty every three days. However, the minister did not share any data on damage to farmers crops caused by stray cattle. Since the assessment of crop losses due to stray animals, especially cattle, is not done by the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department, the information cannot be provided, Patel said in his reply. He also confirmed that no proposal was under consideration to compensate farmers for such losses. Patel further briefed the House on the existing cow-protection infrastructure in the state. Currently, about 4.5 lakh cattle are housed in nearly 3,000 gaushalas (cowsheds) across Madhya Pradesh. Of these, more than 2,200 gaushalas operate under the Mukyamantri Gauseva Yojana, while the remaining cowsheds are run either by voluntary organisations or by local bodies across the states 55 districts. For the 202526 financial year, the state government has allocated 296.20 crore for the upkeep and management of gaushalas.
BHOPAL: An audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has uncovered alleged misuse of land leased in the IT Parks of Bhopal and Jabalpur. These plots, meant for information technology and allied firms, were found to house a nursing college, a medicine storehouse, and units manufacturing electric equipment and water-pump starters. The audit, carried out in June 2023 across IT Parks in Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur, showed that 11 out of 20 completed units were engaged in activities inconsistent with those mentioned in their lease deeds. The findings relate to the Shivraj Singh Chouhan period. According to the CAG report tabled in the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Thursday, the MP State Electronic Development Corporation Limited (MPSEDC), the agency responsible for developing and promoting IT Parks, didnt act against the lessees/firms. Instead, it supported the 11 firms by paying them Rs 3.96 crore as land subsidy and Rs 61.44 lakh as other incentives/subsidies. One firm that received 0.87 acres in the Jabalpur IT Park in June 2017 for running a BPO-Call Centre, IT Training Centre, and Data Processing Centre, was operating a nursing college, even though MPSEDC had paid a subsidy of Rs 53.36 lakh to the firm. Another firm allotted land to manufacture electronic equipment, and software was using its building to store medicines, after already receiving Rs 15.78 lakh land subsidy. In Bhopal, a firm that was allotted two acres in May 2018 for manufacturing LED lights and electronic products was only assembling components, not manufacturing them. It had been paid a subsidy of Rs 165.4 lakh. The audit also noted severe underperformance: 101 firms allotted 123 plots and expected to create 6,536 jobs by 2023, but had created only 96 jobs. Construction hadnt even started in 84 cases. Four firms recorded as functional were actually locked. Additionally, 13.57 acres in Bhopal and Indore IT Parks were encroached.
BHOPAL: One of the two cheetah cubs released into the wild, along with their mother, at the Kuno National Park the day before, was found dead on Friday. A South African female cheetah, Veera, was released along with its two cubs from the enclosures into the wild by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on International Cheetah Day. One of Veeras cubs, which was aged around 10 months, was found dead in the forest on Friday. The cub had been released into the wild along with its sibling and mother, Veera, on Thursday. During the night, the cub got separated from mother and sibling. The exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem report is received, Cheetah Projects field director said in an official statement on Friday night. Veera and the other cub, meanwhile, are together and doing well, the statement said. CM Dr Mohan Yadav had released six-year-old Veera and two cubs (born in February 2025) into the wild in Kuno National Parks (KNP) Parond Forest Area, marking the International Cheetah Day on Thursday. After Friday's tragic development, the KNP in Sheopur district now has 28 cheetahs, including eight Namibian and South African adults (five females and three males) and 20 India-born cubs. As many as 18 out of the 28 surviving cheetahs at the KNP, including Veera and her lone surviving 10-month-old cub, are hunting in the wild, while the remaining ten cheetahs, including 33-month-old Mukhi and her five cubs, are housed in the protected enclosures. The death of Veeras cub is the second death of an India-born cheetah cub in less than three months. On September 15, a 20-month-old female cub of Namibian cheetah Jwala, had died in the KNP jungles, reportedly after an encounter with a co-predator leopard. Jwala, along with four cubs, was released from the enclosure into the jungles in February and now continue to be in the same forests with three surviving cubs.
CAG audit finds major gap in allotment, development of land given for IT Parks in Madhya Pradesh
BHOPAL: Land allocated on lease in IT Parks in Bhopal and Jabalpur for operating information technology and allied companies/firms, has been found housing nursing college, storehouse of medicines and units manufacturing electric equipment and water pump starters, an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has revealed. Audit of IT Parks in Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur conducted in June 2023, to ascertain business activities, construction status and land use, has revealed that 11 out of the 20 completed units were engaged in activities inconsistent with those which were mentioned in the respective lease deeds and didnt fall into the category of activities pertaining to the IT industry. The audit pertained to the period while the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government ruled the state. According to the CAG report, tabled in the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Thursday, the MP State Electronic Development Corporation Limited (MPSEDC), which is responsible for developing and promoting IT Parks, didnt act against the concerned lessees/firms. It instead supported the concerned 11 firms by paying them Rs 3.96 crore as land subsidy and Rs 61.44 lakh as other incentives/subsidies. One of the firms was allotted 0.87 acres land in the IT Park, Jabalpur in June 2017. Being an IT-enabled services firm, it had to carry out activities relevant to BPO-Call Centre, IT Training Centre and Data Processing Centre. The audit (physical inspection) in June 2023, however, revealed that no such centre existed in the building constructed on the land allotted to the firm. However, a nursing college was found running in the buildings basement. The MPSEDC had paid Rs 53.36 lakh subsidy to the concerned firm. Another firm was allocated land on lease at the IT Park in Jabalpur, for manufacturing electronic equipment and software. But during the audit, the building was found to be used to store medicines. The concerned firm had already been given Rs 15.78 lakh land subsidy. One firm was allotted two plots spread in two acres of land at the IT Park in Bhopal in May 2018 for manufacturing LED lights and electronic product mix. The physical inspection in June 2023, however, revealed that the firm wasnt manufacturing anything, but merely assembling the components of LED lights and bulbs. The MPSEDC had paid Rs 165.40 lakh subsidy to the firm. Further, 101 firms, which were allotted 123 plots, aiming to create 6,536 jobs by 2023, created merely 96 jobs by 2023. In the 101 firms that were yet to commence operations at the time of the audit in 2023, even the construction work hadnt started in 84 cases, while buildings were under construction in 10 cases. Just seven firms had completed the construction. Despite non-completion of construction/non-commencement of operations, the MPSEDC did not act against those firms by terminating the leases and re-allotting to other interested parties/firms. Further, the audit noticed that four firms at IT Parks in Bhopal and Jabalpur, which were shown to be functional in records, were actually locked and non-functional. Also, it was observed during the scrutiny of records that 13.57 acres of land in two IT Parks in Bhopal and Indore were encroached, which resulted in Rs 3.62-crore loss to the government. It also deprived the MPSEDC of Rs 2.28 crore in the form of opportunity cost, which it could have earned as land premium, had it prevented the encroachment and allotted the land to the applicant firms. The audit also observed that the MPSEDC had not prepared any long-term plan or strategic plan to develop IT Parks of the state, in line with the applicable IT Policy, due to which it didnt set any annual target for allotment of plots/space and commencement of production/delivery of services by the firms.
Kashmirs Dal Lake May Find its Twin in Bhopal, Shikara Service Launched in Upper Lake
Twenty new shikara boats equipped with high class entertainment facilities like bird-watching, savoring local dishes, mobile markets of handicrafts and organic vegetables and fruits
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav launches 20-strong fleet of Shikaras in Bhopals Upper Lake
BHOPAL:Tourists craving to relish rides on the Shikara boats, but finding the iconic Dal Lake in Kashmir or backwaters of Kerala too far, now have the option to enjoy the same ride in the heart of India Madhya Pradesh. With a 20-strong fleet of Shikaras, the Shikara Boat service was launched in the Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopals Upper Lake on Thursday. The 20 Shikaras, which were launched by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, are equipped with food and comfortable seating arrangements for visitors, and are expected to give Madhya Pradeshs water tourism a new identity at the national and international level. While urging tourists from across the country and residents of Bhopal and the state to enjoy the Shikara Boat service, the CM said that the Madhya Pradesh Tourism is expanding water-sports activities and that tourists will also be able to purchase indigenous products while enjoying the shikara rides. The CM and other dignitaries enjoyed tea, poha, samosas andfruits from the shikara boat restaurant. The CM also purchased traditional Bag & Batik textiles and organic products from the floating boat market. This is for the first time in Madhya Pradesh that Shikaras are being operated on such a large scale. All the 20 Shikaras which were launched on Thursday, have been built using pollution-free, modern technology. They are built from fibre-reinforced polyurethane and high-quality non-reactive materials that do not cause any chemical reaction with water, ensuring the complete safety of the lakes ecology and water purity. This is for the first time in Madhya Pradesh that Shikaras are being operated on such a large scale. These shikaras have been crafted by an internationally renowned organisation whose boats are already popular with tourists in Kerala, Bengal, and Assam. With their addition, Bhopals Boat Club is now ready to welcome visitors with these attractive new vessels. Along with boating, tourists will be able to enjoy bird-watching and purchase handicrafts, local dishes, organic vegetables and fruits during the ride. Each Shikara Boat can accommodate four to six passengers. Each Shikara ride will be 20 minutes long. While four passengers will have to pay Rs 300 for the 20-minute ride, six passengers will have to pay Rs 450 for the same ride. The service will be operational from 9 am till sunset. Importantly, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had reportedlybanned all motorized boats, including diesel and petrol-powered ones, in Bhopal's Upper Lake in September 2023 to protect the wetland. The order had come in response to a petition highlighting the environmental damage caused by these activities, which includes emissions from the boats. The ban applies to cruise boats and other motor-propelled vessels operating on the Upper Lake and other designated wetlands in the state. Later, in March 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by the MP Tourism Development Corporation, which challenged the NGT order.
CM Mohan Yadav releases South African cheetah Veera, twin cubs into wild at Kuno National Park
BHOPAL: A South African female cheetah, Veera, and her ten-month-old twin cubs were released into the free-ranging forests of Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park (KNP) on Thursday. The release by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, marked International Cheetah Day at KNP, the first Indian home to African (Namibian and South African) cheetahs since September 2022. The mother and cubs, born in India in February, were released in the Parond forest area, a designated tourism zone. Their presence is expected to boost ecotourism and public engagement with Project Cheetah. Post-release monitoring will continue through advanced radio-tracking and field teams to ensure the animals safety and successful integration into the landscape. Veera, known for her adventurous behaviour, previously strayed out of Kuno during the summer of 2024, travelling through villages and jungles of Morena district into neighbouring Gwalior. In May 2024, she attacked a herd of goats, killing three in front of a shepherd. The latest release comes two weeks after a landmark development at Kuno, the birth of five cubs to 33-month-old Mukhi, the first Indian-born female cheetah to an African mother. The six-year-old Veera and her cubs now join 16 other cheetahs and cubs already living and hunting independently in the parks forests, often dispersing into adjacent districts of Gwalior and Morena, as well as parts of Rajasthan. These include two females, Jwala and Asha, and their six cubs each. Namibian female Jwala and her four cubs were released into the forest in February 2025. One of her cubs, a 20-month-old female, died reportedly after a fight with a leopard on September 15. Kuno currently hosts eight adult cheetahs and 21 cubs. Meanwhile, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur and Neemuch districts is home to three South African cheetahs, a male coalition and a female. On Thursday, the Chief Minister also released Kunos 2026 calendar and the newly developed Field Manual for Clinical Management of Free-Ranging Cheetahs in Kuno National Park. He further inaugurated the parks new souvenir shop, aimed at enriching visitor experience and promoting conservation awareness.
MP records higher stubble burning than 5 states
BHOPAL: As the country grapples with worsening air quality, it has been revealed that Madhya Pradeshthe home state of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhanis contributing the maximum to stubble burning. According to the recent statistics pertaining to monitoring paddy residue burning in the country via satellite remote sensing, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) detected as many as 33,028 active burning events in six study states. The six study states are: Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. As per the recent report, out of the 33,028 active fire events detected across the six states, a maximum 17,067 or 52% events was detected in MP. Importantly, these 17,067 active burning events detected in MP, between September 15 and November 30, 2025, were more than the collective 15,961 similar active events reported in the same period in the five other states. Among the five other states, 5,114 burning events were detected in Punjab, 662 in Haryana, 7290 in UP, just 5 in Delhi and 2,890 in Rajasthan. Similar picture was revealed when it came to 292 crop residue active burning events detected in the six study states on November 30. MP again attained the top position with 160 burning events, which was more than the total 132 burning events in the 5 other states. Burning events detected in the 5 other states on November 30, included 2 in Punjab, 3 in Punjab, 125 in UP, nil in Delhi, and just 2 in Rajasthan. Further analysis of the crop residue burning events detected through the satellite remote sensing technology recently revealed that the Gwalior-Chambal region contributed the maximum to stubble burning in the forest-rich central Indian state. Out of the 17,067 active burning events between September 15 and November 30, a maximum 2,643 were reported in Sheopur district, which borders Rajasthan. As many as 1,930 events were detected in Gwalior district, followed by 1,797 events in the adjoining Datia. Other districts of the same region where significant active burning events were detected included Ashoknagar (506) and 64 in Morena. Raging menace Using satellite remote sensing, ICAR detected 33,028 paddy residue burning events across six states between Sept 15 and November 20, 2025 The six states are Punjab, Haryana , Uttar Pradesh ,Delhi , Rajasthan , Madhya Pradesh MPs 17,067 incidents exceeded the combined 15,961 fires reported by the other five states The other states reported Punjab - 5,114 Haryana - 662 Uttar Pradesh - 7,290 Delhi - 5 Rajasthan - 2,890 Burning events in the five states on Nov 30: Punjab 2, Haryana 3, UP 125 Delhi 0, Rajasthan 2.
ICAR data: Madhya Pradesh leads parali burning with 52% of fire events among six states
BHOPAL: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans home state, Madhya Pradesh, is contributing the maximum to parali burning (paddy residue/stubble burning) in the country, data showed. As per the recent statistics pertaining to monitoring paddy residue burning in the country via satellite remote sensing, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said as many as 33,028 active burning events in six study states. The six study states included Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. As per the recent report, out of the 33,028 active fire events detected across the six states, a maximum 17,067 or 52% events were detected in MP. Importantly, these 17,067 active burning events detected in MP, between September 15 and November 30, 2025, were more than the collective 15,961 similar active events reported in the same period in the five other states. Among the five other states, 5,114 burning events were detected in Punjab, 662 in Haryana, 7,290 in UP, 2, 890 in Rajasthan and just five in Delhi. A similar picture was revealed when it came to 292 crop residue active burning events detected in the six study states on November 30. MP again attained the top position with 160 burning events, which was more than the total 132 burning events in the five other states. Burning events detected in the five other states on November 30, included two in Punjab, three in Punjab, 125 in UP, zero in Delhi and just two in Rajasthan. Further analysis of the crop residue burning events detected through the satellite remote sensing technology revealed that the Gwalior-Chambal region contributed the maximum to stubble burning in the forest-rich central Indian state. 'Incorrect to pass burden onto farmers': SC questions blaming stubble burning for Delhi pollution Out of the 17,067 active burning events between September 15 and November 30, a maximum of 2,643 were reported in Sheopur district, which borders Rajasthan. As many as 1,930 events were detected in Gwalior district of the same Gwalior-Chambal region, followed by 1,797 such events in the adjoining Datia district. The other districts of the same region where significant active burning events were detected included Ashoknagar (506) and Morena district (64). Even when it came to the 160 active burning events detected on November 30 in the state, Gwalior district contributed the maximum at 62. At least 98 or 61% of the total 160 active burning events in MP as on November 30 were detected in districts of Gwalior-Chambal region. Jabalpur district in Mahakoshal region, adjoining Hoshangabad district of central MP and Satna district in Vindhya region were close behind the districts of Gwalior-Chambal region. According to informed sources, MP having the dubious distinction of being the leader in paddy stubble burning isnt a new phenomenon, but has been happening at least since the last two years. The state government tabled figures related to cases registered against those indulging in Parali burning since April 2020 in the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. A total of 546 such cases were registered against offenders in various parts of the state in little less than five years. Out of those 546 cases, as many as 506 cases were registered between December 2023 and November 2025. According to Gwalior district collector Ruchika Chauhan, the Parali burning incidents have declined significantly this year compared to last two years, due to multi-pronged efforts by authorities, including imposing penalties ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs 15,000 based on area of cultivation, use of harvesters having machines to ensure that crop residue is negligible and sustained awareness campaigns.
Organisers of Bhopal gas tragedy anniversary rally booked as effigy resembles RSS worker
Two effigies were seen in the rally one portraying the U.S.-based Dow Chemical, and other of a man in white shirt and khaki half-pants
BJP, activists clash at Bhopal gas tragedy commemoration
Bhopal: A rally organised on Wednesday to mark the 41st anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy took a political turn when BJP supporters created a ruckus, alleging protesters were preparing to set fire to an RSS effigy alongside that of current Union Carbide owner Dow Chemical. The rally, organised by four non-governmental groups representing survivors Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
