Fast-Track Court Established for Paper Leak Cases
New Delhi, July 25: The hearing of cases related to paper leaks in NEET and other competitive examinations will now proceed more swiftly. A special fast-track court has been set up at the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi to expedite these proceedings. Special Judge Anu Grover Baliga took charge of the court, located in Court ... Read more Fast-Track Court Established for Paper Leak Cases
18 Delhi Metro stations remain shut for fourth straight day amid CJP-led protest
The restrictions come as security arrangements remain in place in central Delhi in view of the CJP-led protest, which has drawn large crowds at the Jantar Mantar over the past few days
Delhi Police welds extra barricades with chains, steps up security for weekend protests
Apart from physical barricading, surveillance and security measures have also been enhanced across the city
Shabana diagnosed with swine flu, advised complete bed rest by doctors
Shabana Azmi has been diagnosed with swine flu and 102-degree fever, forcing her to miss ongoing protests. She had been actively participating at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, sharing posts quoting Kaifi Azmi and demanding education reforms with increased GDP allocation. Her health deteriorated at one gathering, requiring emergency medical attention, though she continued supporting the cause.
Bank Holiday Today: Are Banks Closed on Fourth Saturday? Check RBI Holiday Rules
New Delhi, July 25: If you are planning to visit a bank today, you may want to check before heading out. Today is the fourth Saturday of July, and according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar, banks remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. Are Banks Closed Today? ... Read more Bank Holiday Today: Are Banks Closed on Fourth Saturday? Check RBI Holiday Rules
CJPs Abhijeet Dipke diagnosed with Typhoid, vows protest will go on
New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday, July 25, said he had been diagnosed with typhoid but vowed that his illness would not slow the movement seeking Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhans resignation. In a video message shared on social media, Dipke said he had been unwell for the past few 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 .
Actor Rajkummar Rao has come under controversy regarding the political promotional song 'Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai' released in 2025. Rajkummar had written a social media post in support of students protesting against the NEET paper leak in Delhi. Following this, users started reminding him of the old song and began trolling him.
OpenAI vs ANI case: what it means for the future of information
The Delhi High Court order is the first detailed attempt by an Indian court to place AI training within the Copyright Act.
Delhi sees warmer morning after light rain in the early hours
Delhi woke to a warmer Saturday morning after experiencing light overnight rain. Minimum temperatures saw a slight increase across several city weather stations. Scattered showers are anticipated throughout Saturday and into Sunday. The weather office forecasts maximum temperatures between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius. Delhi's air quality remained in the satisfactory category on Saturday morning.
8th Pay Commission schedules Delhi meetings on Aug 7 and 10; July 31 deadline for employee bodies
The 8th Central Pay Commission has fixed August 7 and 10 for the next round of stakeholder consultations in Delhi. Employee associations that have already submitted memorandums can seek appointments until July 31, while more state-wise consultations are planned.
Purani Dilli 6 Owner Akash Nangia Confident As Team Gears Up For DPL Season 3
The Delhi Premier League: With the start of the third season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) just days away, Purani Dilli 6 have intensified their preparations, with players undergoing rigorous training sessions as the franchise aims to mount a strong challenge for the title. Ahead of the new season, Purani Dilli 6 owner Akash Nangia expressed confidence in the squad and said the teams focus is now firmly on translating its potential into performances on the field. Speaking about the vision behind the squad, Nangia said the franchise has assembled a group capable of delivering consistent performances throughout the tournament. Our objective was to build a balanced squad that combines experienced domestic performers with talented young cricketers who are eager to prove themselves. The players have been training with great intensity, and its encouraging to see the commitment and energy within the camp. We believe this squad has the depth, versatility and character to compete at the highest level. Commenting on the upcoming edition of the Delhi Premier League, he said the tournament has become an important platform for emerging talent. The Delhi Premier League has grown tremendously over the last two seasons and continues to provide a fantastic stage for young players to showcase their abilities. Every season the standard of cricket has improved, and we expect this edition to be even more competitive. Its exciting for players, franchises and fans alike. Sharing his expectations from the season, Nangia reiterated the teams ambition to compete for the championship while entertaining supporters with positive cricket. The Delhi Premier League has grown tremendously over the last two seasons and continues to provide a fantastic stage for young players to showcase their abilities. Every season the standard of cricket has improved, and we expect this edition to be even more competitive. Its exciting for players, franchises and fans alike. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With the countdown to the tournament underway, Purani Dilli 6 will continue fine-tuning their preparations before beginning their campaign in the Delhi Premier League Season 3, which gets underway on July 31 Article Source: IANS
Gold Prices Surge Over 2,000 This Week, Silver Crosses 2.2 Lakh
New Delhi, July 25: Global instability has led to a significant rise in gold and silver prices this week, with gold increasing by over 2,000 and silver by more than 6,000. According to the India Bullion Jewellers Association (IBJA), the price of 24-carat gold has risen by 2,622 to reach 1,43,781 per 10 grams, up ... Read more Gold Prices Surge Over 2,000 This Week, Silver Crosses 2.2 Lakh
CJP Protests Live Updates: Delhi liquor shops to shut at 8 pm over the weekend amid student protests
'Getting IV drips every morning': CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke diagnosed with typhoid
Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of CJP, has publicly announced his fight against typhoid as he receives treatment. In his statement, he expressed sincere gratitude to the protesters who are uniting in peaceful assemblies nationwide. Dipke asserts that the ongoing demonstrations are crucial for pressing Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. Currently undergoing daily IV treatments, he attributes the movement's effectiveness to the passion and dedication of its supporters.
18 Delhi Metro Stations Shut Until Further Notice in View of Security
While the stations will remain closed to passengers, interchange facilities will continue to operate at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat
Delhi orders 8 PM closure for liquor shops amid NEET protest
New Delhi: Liquor shops across Delhi will shut two hours earlier than usual, at 8 pm instead of 10 pm, until the weekend ends in view of the the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar, sources said. The decision follows an unannounced early closure of liquor shops on Thursday, July 23, that left many customers 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 .
OnePlus N6x to Launch in India on July 31 with 7,000mAh Battery, Company Claims 2.5-Day Backup
New Delhi, July 25: OnePlus has confirmed that its upcoming OnePlus N6x smartphone will launch in India on July 31 at 12 noon. Ahead of the launch, the company has revealed key details about the device, including its massive 7,000mAh battery, which it claims can deliver up to 2.5 days of battery life on a ... Read more OnePlus N6x to Launch in India on July 31 with 7,000mAh Battery, Company Claims 2.5-Day Backup
2026 Maruti Brezza Launched at 7.40 Lakh with Turbo Engine, 5-Star Safety and New Features
New Delhi, July 25: Maruti Suzuki has launched the 2026 Brezza in India at an introductory starting price of 7.40 lakh (ex-showroom). The updated compact SUV gets a new turbo-petrol engine, refreshed styling, upgraded cabin, larger infotainment system and a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating. The new Brezza will continue to compete with the Hyundai ... Read more 2026 Maruti Brezza Launched at 7.40 Lakh with Turbo Engine, 5-Star Safety and New Features
Wangchuk rejects deal with Centre charge, says ended fast fearing crackdown like Ladakh
New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk rejected allegations of striking a deal with the Centre and said he ended his 26-day hunger strike only after securing a written assurance as he feared an imminent crackdown on protesters in Delhi, recalling the 2025 firing on youths in Ladakh, and wanted to prevent any violence against students. In []
'No point in talks if Dharmendra Pradhan doesn't resign; we'll take tougher stand': CJP
The Cockroach Janta Party continues its protest demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. They received positive responses on compensation and legal cases during recent government meetings. However, the group states no concrete decision has been made on their primary demand. Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike after receiving written assurances from the Centre. The CJP emphasizes accountability remains the movement's central and non-negotiable demand.
Delhi shocker: Cab driver found stabbed to death inside car; cops suspect passengers
A 40-year-old cab driver was discovered stabbed inside his vehicle in Krishna Nagar. Police suspect passengers hired the car shortly before the fatal incident occurred. Vijay Kumar was found with multiple stab wounds while inside the driver's seat. His wallet and phone were present, suggesting robbery was not the motive. A PCR call reported the discovery around 9 PM on Thursday night.
CJI Surya Kant objects to false reporting over remarks on CJP protest plea
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday objected to what he described as false reporting by sections of the media over his recent remarks concerning a mention related to the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student protests in Delhi, Bar & Bench reported. According to Bar & Bench, the CJI clarified in open court that no petition had been filed before the Supreme Court regarding the alleged police excesses on student protesters and that only a representation had been made before him. Some person mentioned it. Media has falsely reported that I refused to list the matter. It was only a representation and people started recklessly reporting it. I checked with the registry and not a paper was filed, the CJI said. The clarification came after reports suggested that the CJI had, on July 22, declined to list a petition alleging police brutality against students protesting at Jantar Mantar. Bar & Bench reported that during the July 22 proceedings, a lawyer had mentioned before the Chief Justice that police and other security forces were using excessive force against student protesters in the national capital and sought urgent listing of the matter, claiming there was video evidence of police brutality. Student protest is going at Jantar Mantar. Police is taking brutal actions... the lawyer had submitted. Responding to the mention, the CJI said, Please dont waste our time and dont waste yours. Your time is more valuable than ours. The lawyer then said he also wanted directions to ensure that the NEET examination was conducted fairly and sought the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in view of repeated examination paper leaks. When the counsel again referred to videos allegedly showing police excesses, the CJI remarked that the Court was not interested in watching videos, Bar & Bench reported. The Chief Justice on Friday maintained that the matter had never reached the stage of a formally filed petition and criticised the media for reporting that the Supreme Court.
Mehbooba has no moral right to join students protest: Altaf Bukhari
Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday said Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti had o moral right to join the ongoing student protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, alleging that her government's record in dealing with protesters in Jammu and Kashmir contradicted her expression of solidarity with the agitating youth. Bukhari made the remarks while responding to a question from reporters seeking his reaction to Mehbooba Mufti's decision to join the student protest at Jantar Mantar and extend support to the agitating students. She had no right to join the protest and express sympathy with the protesters because, back home, she has a track record of dealing with protesters ruthlessly. When she was in power, she used pellet guns against our protesting children, Bukhari said. Bukhari distinguished between his criticism of Mehbooba Mufti and his stand on the student movement, asserting that the protesters were justified in their agitation. But as far as the student agitation is concerned, those students are justified. The injustice done to them is undeniable. As I said in my earlier speech, perhaps today the whole of India has witnessed what police brutality looks like and what the brutality of the security forces looks like, he said. Drawing parallels with Kashmir's past, Bukhari said such scenes were familiar to the people of the region. We have been witnessing this since 1990. Our bodies have borne these blows, our children have suffered them, and our daughters have lost their eyesight, he said. He said it was particularly unfortunate that many of those now expressing solidarity with protesters had remained in power when similar incidents occurred in Jammu and Kashmir. What is especially regrettable is that our own rulers were in power here at the time when all this happened, and those same shameless people were present there yesterday, he said. In a religious reference, Bukhari said the present circumstances called for self-reflection. If we had not sinned, we would not have been given such rulers. And if we had not been given such rulers, these things would not have happened. This is the consequence of our own actions. We should turn to God in repentance, he said. He urged political parties to rise above their differences and unite on issues directly affecting the people. At least, if they cannot come together on any other issue, they should come together on this platform, he said. Bukhari cited the detention of youth and demolition of residential houses as issues that demanded a collective political response. Our young people are being taken to jails. The homes of people are being demolished because someone from their family has come out. At least, to stop this, they should come to one platform, he said. He cautioned that unless political parties spoke in one voice on such matters, the situation would continue to deteriorate. As long as they do not come to one platform, if they speak on behalf of different groups, then this will continue. That is their own personal decision, he said. Bukhari also urged people to remain vigilant about their rights and hold the government accountable, saying it was the people who had voted the ruling party into power with the expectation of good governance.
Sonam Wangchuk denies deal with Centre behind ending hunger Strike
New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk said he decided to end his 26-day hunger strike after receiving the Centres written assurances because he feared an imminent crackdown on protesters and wanted to prevent violence, recalling the September 24, 2025 firing on youth in Ladakh. In a YouTube video posted late Friday night, July 24, Wangchuk dismissed 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 .
2 hours, 3 demands, 5 reform suggestions: Govt seeks time for call on Dharmendra Pradhan exit demand
Centre Agreed To No Action On Protesters: CJP After Talks
Big win for OpenAI; A tail of promise
The Delhi HC said ANI had not demonstrated that ChatGPT had memorised or reproduced its copyrighted works.
Sonam Wangchuk: Ended fast after written assurance
Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike after receiving government assurances. He secured commitments for discussions on exam reforms in Parliament. Assurances were also given regarding no action against peaceful student protesters. The government promised compensation for families of students who died. Wangchuk urged students to maintain peace and avoid violence.
CJP protests: Delhi liquor shops to shut by 8 pm over the weekend
Delhi liquor shops will now close by 8 pm until the weekend. This decision follows police input regarding ongoing student protests in central Delhi. Students are demanding the Union Education Minister's resignation over an alleged paper leak. Protests intensified after a Parliament March turned violent earlier this week. The revised closing time aims to manage the prevailing law and order situation.
A display of diversity: India Habitat Centre hosts Kalabimb 2026 art exhibition
In this photo essay, we feature more highlights from the Kalabimb art exhibition in New Delhi.
Weather Today, July 25: The India Meteorological Department forecasts heavy to very heavy rainfall across many Indian states. Gujarat expects the most intense showers, while other regions will experience thunderstorms and strong winds. Active monsoon conditions are driven by a low-pressure system over Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Delhi-NCR and Mumbai anticipate increased rainfall activity over the next few days. Residents are advised to monitor local weather updates and remain cautious.
20-year-old US student, army officer's son, dies as car plunges into open drain in south Delhi
Tragedy struck Vasant Kunj when a 20-year-old student named Yashvendra lost his life after his car rolled into an open drain. Having just returned from the United States, he was accompanied by a woman who managed to escape unharmed. Poor road conditions, exacerbated by recent rainfall, caused the car to skid. The police later retrieved both the vehicle and Yashvendra's body from the drain.
Aryans College of Pharmacy to start Pharm. D & M. Pharmacy Courses from Session 202627
Srinagar, Jul 24: Aryans College of Pharmacy, Rajpura, has received approval from the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), New Delhi to commence Pharm. D and M. Pharmacy programmes from the Academic Session 202627. The approval has been granted under the affiliation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda. As per the approval granted by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), Aryans College of Pharmacy has been approved to offer the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) programme along with Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm.) in the specializations of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics, said a press release. Dr Anshu Kataria, Chairman, Aryans Group of Colleges, said, The approval of Pharm. D and M. Pharmacy is another milestone for Aryans College of Pharmacy. These advanced programmes will provide students with excellent opportunities in clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical research, hospital pharmacy, academics and the healthcare industry. We are committed to offering quality pharmacy education with modern laboratories, experienced faculty and strong industry exposure. Dr Kataria further said that with these approvals, Aryans College of Pharmacy now offers a complete range of pharmacy programmes including D. Pharm, B. Pharm, Pharm. D and M. Pharmacy, enabling students to pursue higher education and promising careers in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors under one roof. It is pertinent to mention that Aryans Group of Colleges is one of the leading institutions in the Chandigarh region, with more than 2,500 students pursuing healthcare programmes, including Pharmacy, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences (Paramedical), Physiotherapy, and other healthcare disciplines.
Mirwaiz concerned over mass detentions following killing of policeman
Srinagar, Jul 24: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday expressed concern over mass detentions in the valley in the wake of the killing of a policeman by a lone terrorist in Anantnag, and demanded an investigation into the attack. Addressing the Friday congregation at the Jamia Masjid here, Farooq expressed serious concern and anguish over large-scale detentions, questioning and harassment of youth across Kashmir during the past few days. Over 3,500 suspected over-ground workers have been detained across the valley since the attack, police had said. He said the killing of the policeman came after the government's claim that militancy has ended in Kashmir. Taking of every human life is wrong and unacceptable, but an act of violence by one cannot justify collective punishment for all. The killing should be investigated and those responsible be dealt with according to law. But innocent youth and their families should not be made scapegoats and made to suffer, he said. Referring to the demolition of the houses of terrorists in Anantnag following the cop's killing, the valley's chief preacher said it is another extrajudicial and unjust measure. Such measures deepen resentment and are ultimately counterproductive, he added. Referring to the Cockroach Janta Party protests in Delhi, Farooq said young people raising their genuine concerns should be heard and engaged with, not subjected to policing and force.
Shekhar slams police crackdown on student protesters at Jantar Mantar
Shekhar Suman's Shekhar Tonite opening monologue slammed police action against student protesters at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, calling it heartbreaking and citing sleepless, tear-filled nights. He questioned the crackdown, invoked the Mahabharata, and voiced solidarity. Suman had earlier backed Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike. Bollywood stars including Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt also expressed support.
PM Modi conveys best wishes to Indian contingent participating in Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
New Delhi, Jul 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday conveyed his best wishes to the Indian contingent participating in the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow and said that he was confident that the athletes would participate with passion, determination and a spirit of excellence. The 23rd Commonwealth Games 2026 are being held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2. Medals will be available in 215 events, spread across 10 sports. As the Commonwealth #Glasgow2026 Games begin, my best wishes to the Indian contingent. I am confident that our athletes will participate in the Games with passion, determination and a spirit of excellence. The skills and dedication of our athletes always inspire countless Indians, Modi said in a post on X.
Union Cabinet clears tougher anti-paper leak bill
New Delhi, Jul 24:The Union Cabinet on Friday approved amendments to the Prevention of Paper Leak Act, proposing significantly tougher punishments for those involved in examination paper leaks. The proposed amendments provide for a maximum prison term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore. The Bill also seeks to raise the minimum jail term from three years to five years for those convicted in paper leak cases. The move comes amid nationwide protests over irregularities in the NEET examination and mounting demands for stronger legal safeguards to protect the integrity of competitive examinations. Parliamentary Affairs Minister KirenRijiju said the government would introduce the amendment Bill in Parliament shortly, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed that there should be no delay. We are preparing to present the Bill... The Prime Minister has said that there should be no delay in the Bill we are bringing regarding students, Rijiju said. He accused the Congress of disrupting Parliament and warned that any attempt to block discussion on the legislation would invite the anger of the country's youth.
Introduce, pass Statehood bill in ongoing Parliament session: Dr. Farooq Abdullah to Centre
Farooq Abdullahs appeal comes days after he led a protest of his party leaders, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and legislators at Jantar Mantar in Delhi over Statehood and constitutional guarantees.
Delhi High Court acquits man in 2006 rape case, says names do not define character
The judge noted that while it is common in North India to name children after Lord Ram, and for Mohammad to precede the names of many Muslims, names do not shape the personality, person, conduct and behaviour.
Plea in Delhi HC challenges internet shutdown around Jantar Mantar protest site
Delhi High Court hears plea challenging internet shutdown near Jantar Mantar protest, citing unconstitutional and arbitrary suspension orders.
Justice has two standards: Er Rashid on Kashmir vs Delhi protests
NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing disruptions in Parliament, MP Baramulla Er Rashid on Friday strongly protested against mass detentions and the bulldozing of residential houses (of militants) in Kashmir. As soon as the House assembled, Er Rashid entered the Well of the House and protested against mass detentions and the demolition of residential houses in []
JKSA slams DU, JNU advisories against peaceful protests in Delhi
SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has strongly condemned advisories issued by the University of Delhi (DU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), warning students against participating in ongoing peaceful protests at Jantar Mantar. The associations described these advisories as regressive, arbitrary, and incompatible with the constitutional values that universities are meant to uphold. []
Resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan non-negotiable: CJP to union ministers
NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday told the government that its demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhans resignation is non-negotiable and asked for a public apology to the protesting students who were brutally thrashed on July 20. In a meeting with Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, the CJP also []
Police deploys facial recognition system to identify wanted criminals
NEW DELHI: Four facial recognition system (FRS) units have been installed around the protest site at Jantar Mantar to identify wanted criminals, absconders and historysheeters, police sources said on Friday. The surveillance system is not for ordinary protesters but is meant to identify those with criminal antecedents who may try to infiltrate the protest and []
Rahul shows pellet gun injuries of protester to slam govt
Says stop assaulting our students NEW DELHI: Dharmendra Pradhan is a criminal education minister, a symbol of the collapse of Indias education system and must be removed, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded on Friday as he presented before the media a student protester who was allegedly shot with pellet gun by security personnel during the []
Stifling Of Protests In TN Angers CPM
The ban on people visiting the Marina and staying there in groups that was quietly enforced after the situation turned critical in New Delhi was relaxed on Friday with the police continuing to keep a close eye on potential protestors visiting the beach
Didi Likely To Join CJP Delhi Stir On July 27
The former West Bengal chief minister, who earlier announced her plans from her party rally on July 21, wrote on X-handle on Friday, I have stood firmly with the students and their movement from the very beginning.
Can EC do whatever it wants?: HC on deputing teachers for SIR in Delhi
Court questions ECs assertion that teachers are compensated for election duties; schedules next hearing in PIL against large-scale deployment of govt. school staff for SIR drive in Delhi for July 28
NEET-UG leak controversy: NTA sacks 47 officials; Delhi Police sets up STF
In a significant response to the NEET-UG paper leak scandal, the National Testing Agency has dismissed forty-seven officials. To tackle examination fraud, Delhi Police has inaugurated a Special Task Force, tasked with investigating leaks in central government recruitment exams.
Delhi Police set up STF to probe exam-related offences, paper leaks
Imported Raw Material From China At Inflated Prices, Sold Products In Delhi Via Under-invoicing
Man stabbed to death by colleague over affair with ex-lover
UP sanctions Rs 32 lakh to earmark Khokhari floodplain after NGT order
UP section of DME to shut for five days for kanwar yatra from Aug 7
Cops issue diversion plan for trucks, cars via EPE; NH-9 to remain open
One becomes 20. How a town is filling in for a Noida youth injured in lathicharge
From UP at Jantar Mantar: A Resolute Father, A Widower Seeking Justice, Young Job Seekers Who Cant Get One
Cams to control rooms, UP ramps up security for kanwar yatra
2 days on, woman found dead in Ghaziabad field yet to be identified
Autopsy report did not confirm rape or molestation and viscera has been preserved
Liquor Shops To Shut By 8 PM In Delhi Over Weekend Amid CJP Protest
Liquor shops in Delhi have been ordered to close by 8 pm until the weekend is over, in view of the student protests, sources said on Friday.
Three of an interstate vehicle theft gang held
Police have recovered ten two wheelers hidden in the bushes of Yamuna floodplain of Sector 13
Bangladesh PM invited as BIMSTEC chair amid India outreach to regional blocs
India, holding the BRICS chair, plans outreach to regional groups for its summit. Key organizations like BIMSTEC and ASEAN may receive invitations to attend. Leaders from these groups could visit New Delhi for the September summit. This initiative aims to champion the Global South's agenda effectively. All eleven BRICS members and partner countries will also participate.
The ongoing student protests in Delhi are disrupting travel and hospitality, with backpacker hostels reporting a surge in Gen Z bookings while hotels face weaker corporate demand due to internet shutdowns, traffic curbs, metro closures and work-from-home advisories.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad flooding dominates BRICS meet
Recent urban flooding in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Surat featured in discussions at the BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi, where India showcased its urban flood mitigation and preparedness measures. The meeting focused on climate-resilient infrastructure, disaster financing, technology and stronger international cooperation.
At Mapusa, protesters unite under Vande Mataram, Inquilab Zindabad
NT Reporter Mapusa Extending support to the ongoing student movement, hundreds of youths gathered at Lohia Garden in Mapusa on Friday evening for a peaceful solidarity protest against the NEET paper leaks, examination irregularities and police action against student protesters in Delhi. A large number of youths and others participated in the gathering, along with []
Centre airlifts 10 more CRPF companies to Delhi
Ten CRPF companies have been airlifted from Chhattisgarh to Delhi to strengthen security amid ongoing student protests over examination paper leaks. The move comes as around 150 CAPF companies are set to be deployed in the national capital ahead of Independence Day. The CISF has also restricted leaves for its Delhi Metro security unit due to heightened security requirements.
Train services resume on Mumbai-Delhi route
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar arrested in Delhi on complaint of Kerala House official
There was an altercation between Mr. Kumar and the Resident Commissioner called the Delhi Police asking them to remove Mr. Kumar from the premises, a source said; Kerala House is located in Jantar Mantar Road where the students protest is going on
Renewable energy expansion, battery storage push key to green transition: Pralhad Joshi
India is accelerating its clean energy transition with a strong push in battery storage, wind and solar power, Union minister Pralhad Joshi said at the Sustainability Conclave 2026 in New Delhi. He highlighted that investments in energy storage and renewables are expected to reduce electricity costs, while initiatives like hydrogen-powered trains signal progress in next-generation technologies.
Student Protests: Why Gen Z is Asking India to Reimagine Democracy
The images emerging from Delhi and other parts of the Country over the past few days have captured more than a protest. They have captured the mood of a generation. The gathering of students, many members of Generation Z, alongside young lawyers and other citizens in peaceful democratic demonstrations reflects a larger national conversation about justice, constitutional values, governance and the future of the Republic. Whether one agrees with every demand or every slogan is secondary. Democracies are ultimately judged not by the absence of dissent but by how they respond to it. Peaceful protests have historically served as democratic correctives, compelling governments and institutions to introspect, engage and reform. Indias constitutional journey has repeatedly been shaped by its youth. From the freedom movement to the Nav Nirman movement in Gujarat, the JP movement, and numerous student-led campaigns on education, corruption and public accountability, young Indians have often become the moral barometer of the nation. Todays Gen Z is no different. They are digitally connected, politically aware, constitutionally conscious and unwilling to remain passive spectators when they perceive democratic institutions to be under strain or public concerns inadequately addressed. Unlike earlier generations, Gen Z has grown up in an India transformed by technology, social media and global connectivity. Their expectations from governance are correspondingly higher. They seek transparent institutions, employment opportunities, quality education, affordable living, environmental sustainability, gender justice, institutional autonomy and equal opportunities. They expect governments to listen rather than merely communicate, to consult rather than simply command. What is equally significant is the increasing participation of young members of the legal fraternity. Law students and young lawyers have traditionally occupied a unique place in Indias democratic landscape. As future custodians of constitutional governance and the rule of law, their engagement in public discourse underscores a deeper concern for the preservation of constitutional institutions and civil liberties. Lawyers are not merely officers of the court; they are also guardians of constitutional values. Their participation in peaceful democratic processes enriches public debate and reminds society that constitutionalism is a living practice, not merely a legal doctrine. The Constitution of India does not merely establish institutions; it creates a culture of accountability. Articles guaranteeing freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and association recognise that citizens have both the right and the responsibility to participate in democratic life. Peaceful dissent is therefore not an inconvenience to democracyit is one of its defining features. At the heart of these demonstrations lies a larger question: what kind of Republic does India aspire to become? Economic growth remains indispensable, but prosperity without justice, institutional credibility and social cohesion cannot sustain democratic legitimacy. Citizens increasingly seek governance that is transparent, accountable, compassionate and constitutionally anchored. They expect institutions to function independently, public authorities to remain answerable, and policymaking to be informed by consultation rather than confrontation. Constitutionalism is not merely about adhering to written provisions; it embodies a philosophy that no public authority is above constitutional limitations. It requires an independent judiciary, a free press, autonomous institutions, robust parliamentary debate and an informed citizenry. These are not obstacles to governance. They are the very foundations of democratic governance. Equally indispensable is inclusivity. Indias diversity has always been its civilisational strength. Every citizen, irrespective of religion, caste, language, gender or region, must experience equal dignity under the Constitution. A confident Republic does not fear diversity; it draws strength from it. Inclusive governance reduces alienation, strengthens national integration and deepens public trust. The concerns voiced by many young Indians extend well beyond campuses. Questions relating to unemployment, educational opportunities, rising living costs, social mobility, institutional integrity and equal access to justice increasingly dominate public discourse. These are not partisan questions. They are questions about the quality of the social contract between the State and its citizens. History demonstrates that governments become stronger when they engage with criticism rather than dismiss it. Dialogue is not a concession; it is a democratic obligation. Mature democracies derive resilience from their ability to accommodate disagreement without perceiving it as disloyalty. At the same time, peaceful protest imposes responsibilities upon citizens. Demonstrations must remain non-violent, respectful of public property and mindful of the rights of others. The legitimacy of democratic movements is strengthened when constitutional methods remain their sole instrument. India now stands at an important democratic crossroads. With one of the worlds youngest populations, the aspirations of Gen Z will significantly shape the Republics future. Their expectations cannot simply be deferred; they must be understood and constructively engaged. Political leadership across ideological divides would do well to recognise that todays youth seek not merely promises but performance, not rhetoric but responsive governance. Ultimately, democratic changewhether in policy or leadershipmust always occur through constitutional means. The ballot remains the ultimate instrument of accountability in a parliamentary democracy. Citizens evaluate governments, weigh competing visions and determine the nations future through free and fair elections. That is the constitutional path to political renewal. The protests in Delhi should therefore not be viewed narrowly as a moment of campus unrest. They are a reminder that democracy is sustained by an active citizenry, responsive institutions and unwavering fidelity to constitutional values. They invite India to renew its commitment to justice, the rule of law, institutional integrity and inclusive development. The message from Indias youth is neither one of despair nor disruption. It is one of expectation. They seek a Republic where governance is transparent, institutions command public confidence, constitutional morality guides public policy and every citizen feels equally invested in the nations future. If India listens with wisdom rather than reacts with anxiety, this moment can become an opportunity for democratic renewal. The energy of Gen Z, the constitutional commitment of students and young lawyers, and the aspirations of millions of ordinary citizens can together strengthen the Republic envisioned by our Constitutionone founded upon justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. That is the conversation India must now havenot about the legitimacy of peaceful dissent, but about how constitutional democracy can better respond to the hopes of its youngest generation. (The Author is a noted Senior Advocate Supreme Court of India and a political Analyst)
Let the Parliament take the Centre Stage
While a peaceful protest is considered not just a legal act in a democratic country like India, it is a necessity at times to highlight issues and demands so that the authorities concerned can seek ways and means to address them. Protesting, however, can take an ugly shape, underscoring the need for the law enforcers to bring the situation under control. The ongoing protests by students at Janter Manter, Delhi, have reportedly turned violent, something pointing to the destabilising attempts against the state. To listen to the demands, the best platform widely accepted is the country's parliament. Seeking the resignation of the country's education minister, following the unfolding of the NEET paper-leak case, is a demand both strange and uncalled for. One, his resignation can in no way deliver justice to those NEET aspirants who lost their lives. Two, he is not the minister just for NEET aspirants, but the minister of the entire education system in the country; besides, he represents the electorate that elected him. Three, forcing him to resign is not lawful and can never guarantee perfection in the future. Tragic but truth, is that the paper-leak incident is symbolic of a deep-seated rot eating into the vitals of the fabric of selection processes for different posts. Addressing this germ of corruption in the system is the key. If the government is of a ruling party, the system is of every citizen of the country. We all, individually or collectively, can improve the system; the governments will improve automatically. I have no quarrel with the argument that the NEET must remain above any irregularities, not just paper leaks, since it produces future doctors for this society. But when these doctors from different areas of the country complete their degrees on the taxpayers funds, do they later on work with integrity and sympathetically prioritise rural areas where healthcare is the big concern? Agreed that we do have some doctors who dedicate every minute of their duty to patient care? But these are exceptions. Generally, the doctors prefer duty near their residence or clinics in the town areas. This scenario is seen prevailing in the other service sectors as well. Certain other malpractices are reported, and the anti-corruption institutions swing into action. Yet, the corruption-free public service remains a work in progress. Why so? Because of systemic challenges. No government possesses a magic wand to prevent the wrongs in entirety. When a high-ranking officer is reported to indulge in corruption practices, how can you prevent it in the lower ranks? If a tree finds its leaves withering, its stem and roots do not stay alive for a long time. Unfortunately, everyone at some time uses wrong ways a little or more to gain some illegal profit. The bitter truth is that integrity and honesty in public services at any level is considerably being viewed as something unnecessary. The loopholes in the legal machinery are exploited to plunder the state exchequer; even preferring to solve those public issues which bring some immediate benefit in cash or kind. Who is responsible -- a government or all of us? All of us in the maximum cases. Yes, the government in office must raise the conviction rate of culprits, but it will not work in the long term. We have several examples where bad elements were punished for their crimes, but hardly has it deterred the wrongdoers. It is all right to punish the black sheep, but the finest way is to correct the systemic wrongs. To do that, one way is to induce compassion for fellow humans, regardless of caste, colour, status, creed or region, in those serving the public at any level. When a person is short of compassion, she/he can never work with integrity and honesty. Compassion guarantees clean and caring institutions. Anything less, the system ironically begins to offend, and then finding selfless services is beating one's head against a brick wall. It is because of the deep-rooted issues in the system, not in any government entirely, that we have to confront big challenges such as drug trafficking, corruption mafia, law and order incidents, traffic rules violations, dishonesty in duty, dearth of staff in rural institutions, stagnation in transfers, carefree attitude towards public infrastructure/ services, embezzlement. The list is longer. One important factor behind the offences is a family, an institution. When a family pressure or increased demands for luxurious items rises, a public functionary generally goes for a wrongdoing. If one's family ask a person about the source of money beyond their income and opposes it, countless corruption cases will resolve on their own. I know a boy who opposed his father's luxurious life originating from the latter's bribery; the father left the harmful practice. Therefore, the best way to address the paper-leak cases, along with the other malpractices, is to help right the wrong in the system. That should begin with one's own lifestyle and official conduct at every level. In this endeavour, the country's parliament is the best stage; here we have the representatives from across the country, and they can effectively bring to the fore the issues confronting the system. It is here that systemic changes in the education system and curriculum, law enforcement, judiciary, and public dealings can be proposed and solutions offered. Protests have, by and large, never been beneficial to any society except for attaining political mileage for a section of people. Protesting mostly births problems, preventing the nation's progress. Let us come forward to raise the issues in the parliament and then display a compassionate public-serving attitude in practice. If we all implement and respect the laws in letter and spirit, not as per our whims, we can improve the system, and a fair and transparent work culture is likely to come up. Just blaming any government for all that goes amiss amounts to a selective approach. (The Author is a teacher by profession and RK columnist. Feedback: sheikhshabir518@gmail.com )
Best Quarterly Performance in Five Years
Every quarter, a familiar debate plays out the moment GST figures for Jammu and Kashmir are published: is the Union Territorys tax revenue rising or falling? The confusion is understandable, because the number most commonly reported the gross monthly collection figure is not actually the amount that lands in the Union Territorys account. To understand why this quarters performance is genuinely a strong one, it helps to first understand how a states real GST revenue is decided in the first place. How a states real GST revenue is actually decided GST was designed as a destination-based tax the idea being that tax revenue on consumption should ultimately go to the state where the goods or services are consumed, not the state where the seller happens to be registered. This is precisely the problem the Integrated GST (IGST) was built to solve. Under Article 269A of the Constitution, tax on inter-State supply is levied and collected by the Union but apportioned between the Centre and the states as Parliament prescribes, on the GST Councils recommendation. The Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 particularly the apportionment machinery in Sections 17 and 18 works out the mechanics: the Centre effectively acts as a clearing house. When IGST is paid, the portion equivalent to the CGST rate stays with the Centre, and the portion equivalent to the SGST rate is transferred to the state where the place of supply lies the destination state. This transfer is called IGST settlement, and it happens continuously as credit is utilised and cash is paid against inter-State supplies. This is exactly why a states true GST revenue is never the gross, pre-settlement collection figure. The number that actually matters the one that reflects what a consumer genuinely contributed to the Union Territorys own account is the post-settlement figure: SGST cash collected within J&K, plus its due share of IGST settled in on account of goods and services actually consumed here. A trader in Srinagar or Jammu who buys stock from a supplier in Punjab or Delhi pays IGST on that inter-State purchase; when that trader sells the goods to a consumer in Srinagar, the tax on that final consumption is meant to belong to Jammu and Kashmir, and the settlement mechanism is what actually delivers it here. A single months pre-settlement number, taken in isolation, therefore tells only part of the story; it is the settled, destination-based figure that reflects the Union Territorys actual revenue position. The quarter, in figures Measured on this proper, destination-based criterion, Quarter-1 of the current financial year April to June 2026 has been the strongest opening quarter Jammu and Kashmir has recorded in the last five years. Month Q1 2022-23 ( ` Cr) Q1 2023-24 ( ` Cr) Q1 2024-25 ( ` Cr) Q1 2025-26 ( ` Cr) Q1 2026-27 ( ` Cr) Growth 2026-27 over 2025-26 April 702.08 916.38 951.02 712.13 1,075.86 +51.1% May 506.47 562.17 660.48 697.72 762.48 +9.3% June 683.88 674.25 641.14 609.40 667.45 +9.5% Total (Q1) 1,892.43 2,152.88 2,252.64 2,019.25 2,505.79 +24.1% Put simply: Jammu and Kashmir collected 2,505.79 crore in the first quarter of 2026-27, against 2,019.25 crore in the same quarter last year a jump of nearly 486.5 crore, or 24.1 per cent. To put that in perspective against the recent past: the year-on-year growth for the same April-June quarter was 13.8 per cent in 2023-24, a modest 4.6 per cent in 2024-25, and had actually turned into a decline of 10.4 per cent in 2025-26. This quarters 24.1 per cent growth is, by a considerable margin, the best opening-quarter performance the Union Territory has posted in half a decade. Junes own destination-based numbers tell the same story from a different angle. Jammu and Kashmirs post-settlement SGST for the month rose from 611 crore a year ago to 667 crore this June a growth of roughly 9 per cent even as national commentary around the same period focused on the pre-settlement, pan-India collection comparison. Looked at through the proper, destination-based lens, June was not a month of decline for the Union Territory; it was another month of continued, steady growth, consistent with the trend running through the whole quarter. Growth that has held up through a major rate reset What makes this quarters numbers particularly noteworthy is the backdrop against which they have been achieved. Over the last several months, the GST Councils rate rationalisation exercise has reworked Indias tax slabs cutting rates on a wide range of everyday goods, simplifying the older multi-slab structure into a leaner one, and easing the tax burden on the common consumer. A rate cut, by definition, reduces the tax collected on every rupee of consumption; for revenue to still climb by double digits in the quarter immediately following such a reset is a meaningful signal. It suggests that the reduction in rates is being offset and then some by higher consumption volumes, better compliance, and a genuine widening of the tax base, rather than revenue growth depending on rate increases. For a Union Territory whose economy leans heavily on trade, tourism-linked consumption and small and medium business activity, a broad-based volume-and-compliance-driven recovery is a far healthier sign than one built on rate hikes alone. The takeaway None of this is to say every months numbers will always look this favourable, or that gross collection figures are meaningless they matter for other purposes, including tracking local formal-sector activity. But when the question being asked is how much GST revenue did J&K actually receive, the answer lies in the settlement-based figures, not the gross collection figures. On that measure, Quarter-1 of 2026-27 was a quarter of genuine, broad-based growth for Jammu and Kashmir up roughly 9 per cent for June alone, and 24.1 per cent for the quarter as a whole, its strongest opening-quarter showing in five years. Aijaz Hussain Malik, JKAS, State Taxes Officer, Circle-C, Srinagar.
The Battle for Academic Integrity
In what has emerged as one of the most significant student-led movements in recent Indian history, the widespread agitation against widespread paper leaks in national competitive examinations like NEET-UG reached a critical juncture. Renowned educator and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk formally ended his gruelling 26-day indefinite hunger strike after receiving official written assurances from the Union Government. However, far from signalling an end to the crisis, Wangchuks health-mandated exit from his fast has passed the baton back to student bodies and political groups. Led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and allied student groups, the broader movement remains resolute despite the Prime Minister sending a video message at the midnight of 23rd July reiterating the Governments climb down, the CJP is maintaining its core demand for the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a total overhaul of the countrys public examination architecture. The protest at Delhis Jantar Mantar and across several state capitals erupted following recurring allegations of paper leaks, grace mark controversies, and institutional failures during high-stakes entrance exams. For millions of aspirants who spend years preparing under immense physical, financial, and psychological pressure, the breakdown of examination integrity represented a breach of trust. The public outcry intensified after reports surfaced of organized syndicates compromising examination papers for financial gain, resulting in the tragic deaths by suicide of several desperate candidates. Joined by student unions like the All-India Students Association (AISA) and civil society activists, Sonam Wangchuk embarked on a fast-unto-death on June 28 to demand systemic accountability, legislative safeguards, and official remediation. In a video statement released shortly after ending his 26-day fast, Wangchuk emphasized that while he achieved his immediate objectivesafeguarding young protesters from state prosecution and securing written commitmentsthe broader fight for educational integrity rests in the hands of lawmakers and the public. After losing nearly 11 kilograms and experiencing deteriorating vital parameters while undergoing treatment at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, Wangchuk insisted on receiving hard assurances in writing before calling off his hunger strike. Following multi-day negotiations involving senior Cabinet leaders, Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh personally met Wangchuk at his bedside to deliver the formal communication and break his fast. The key clauses of the Governments written assurance were the explicit protection ensuring no criminal cases or retaliatory legal action will be filed against students and youth participating in peaceful demonstrations or the recent Chalo Parliament march. A commitment to dedicate time during Parliaments session to debate examination accountability, structural reforms, and the prevention of paper leaks. Positive consideration toward formulating a compensation framework for families of students who tragically died by suicide amid the exam irregularities and immediate transfer of top bureaucratsincluding the shifting of Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshialong with the notification of a dedicated Fast-Track Court and amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act. Despite Wangchuk stepping back to recover, the CJP and affiliated youth collectives have made it clear that their protest will not dissipate. They are continuing their demand of the resignation of the Union Education Minister, dropping all existing FIRs and preventing fresh cases against the youth, complete transition to secure computer- based exam formats and fast track courts and finally `1 Crore financial compensation for families of affected deceased aspirants. CJP leaders contend that structural reform is impossible without top-level political accountability. They argue that shifting administrative secretaries is insufficient when administrative leadership remains unchanged after repeated paper compromises. Consequently, CJP has announced nationwide protest calls, aiming to keep pressure on the government throughout the legislative session. The collision between student activists, civil society figures, and the central administration carries far-reaching consequences across multiple domains: The crisis forces a structural overhaul of testing bodies such as the National Testing Agency (NTA). The transition toward fully computer-based testing (CBT) models, stricter chain-of-custody protocols for test papers, and severe criminal penalties for leaking cartels will likely redefine how competitive exams are organized going forward. With over 65 Members of Parliament signing petitions or visiting Wangchuk, the paper leak controversy will dominate discussions in Parliament. Opposition parties plan to leverage the CJPs continuing agitation to challenge the ruling coalition on youth unemployment, educational standards, and ministerial accountability. While the governments concessions provide temporary reassurance, public trust in central evaluation systems remains low. Until Fast-Track Courts demonstrate swift convictions of paper-leak mafias, students and parents may remain sceptical about the fairness of upcoming competitive entrance cycles. Conclusion Sonam Wangchuks 26-day hunger strike brought national focus to the systemic vulnerabilities within Indias examination framework. While the written assurances given by the Centre addressed critical immediate concerns regarding police action and legal reforms, the underlying political battle is far from over. As the CJP party and student groups press on with their demand for political resignation and deeper institutional overhauls, the government faces the challenging task of restoring credibility to an educational system that shapes the futures of millions. Prof Upendra Kaul, Founder Director Gauri Kaul Foundation.
BLO work must not disrupt classes at schools, CEO Delhi tells officials
Reflections on Governance in India
The recent scenes around Jantar Mantar have been disturbing. Every May, lakhs of young Indians queue outside examination centres carrying the anxieties of entire families on their backs. In May 2026, nearly 2.8 million of them were told to queue again. A leaked question paper had forced the National Testing Agency to order the largest re-test in the history of Indian competitive examinations. It was not the first such collapse, and it will not be the last. What failed that week was not a question paper. It was the states basic ability to keep a secret, guard a process, and deliver what it had promised on a specific date to a specific citizen. This is the argument I want to place before readers, and one I am now developing into a full-length book: Indias deepest crisis is not, at its root, a crisis of democracy. It is a crisis of capacity. We have built one of the more elaborate constitutional architectures in the world an independent judiciary, statutory regulators, a federal structure, a vast schema of rights and welfare schemes. What we have not built, in equal measure, is the administrative muscle to execute any of it reliably. And it is in the widening gap between promise and delivery that our disillusionment, our communal anger, and our creeping tolerance for authoritarian shortcuts all find room to grow. Form without function B.R. Ambedkars warning to the Constituent Assembly in 1949 deserves to be read again, not as history but as a live diagnosis. He cautioned that political democracy in India could remain a thin, ornamental layer sitting atop a society that stayed fundamentally undemocratic beneath it. Substitute capacity for democracy in that sentence and it reads like a description of the republic today: elaborate constitutional form, resting on administrative soil that has never been properly tilled. Political scientists usually break state capacity into three kinds: the capacity to enforce rules, the capacity to design and deliver policy through a competent bureaucracy, and the capacity to raise and spend public money wisely. Indias peculiar tragedy is that it holds wildly uneven amounts of each in different corners of the same state. Our capital markets regulator functions with genuine credibility. Our telecom regulator manages one of the most complex spectrum environments anywhere. Meanwhile, rural public health, monitored under mission-mode programmes for two decades now, remains defined by vacant posts, broken supply chains, and clinics nobody has staffed. Building a digital payments network or a biometric identity platform is not the same achievement as building the human and institutional capacity to actually deliver a service at the other end of it. Infrastructure is not delivery. We have confused the two for years. Fifty-five million and counting Nowhere is the gap starker than in our courts. By March 2026, the backlog across Indian courts had crossed 55.8 million cases, a number rising faster than judges can be recruited or appointed. India has roughly 21 judges per million citizens, against a recommendation made decades ago of 50. In a bitter irony, government itself is the single largest litigant, responsible for roughly half the cases clogging the system it is supposed to be administering. When justice takes a generation to arrive, it has not been delayed. It has been functionally denied. A citizen who has waited twenty years for a land dispute to be resolved does not experience this as an abstract capacity deficit. He experiences it as a republic that has quietly walked away from him. Consider, too, water and disaster. Every monsoon we relearn the same lesson. In June 2026, a flash flood tore through a hydropower site in Arunachal Pradesh; neither the meteorological department nor the water commission appears to have anticipated it. Across the country, our cities generate far more sewage than they can treat, and citizens quietly plug the gap with private borewells and water tankers mistaking the failure of a public system for a private lifestyle choice. We do not lack engineers, rainfall data, or river-basin science. We lack the institutional habit of preparing before a crisis rather than performing heroism during one, and of building regulatory frameworks for floodplains, for river space, for early warning with the same energy we reserve for the rescue operation afterward. Even the architecture of the Union itself often reads more like an instrument of control than of governance. Presidents Rule has been invoked well over a hundred times since Independence, disproportionately as a tool of political convenience rather than genuine constitutional necessity. A republic that reaches for the suspension of elected government as its preferred instrument of efficiency has confused control with competence, and it should not surprise us that the confusion has outlasted the individual governments that indulged it. Closer home Nowhere does this argument land closer to home than here in Jammu and Kashmir. We have lived for decades inside the gap between announcement and delivery recruitment examinations cancelled and re-cancelled, flood warnings arriving after the water, an elected government whose administrative writ is narrower than its electoral mandate. When New Delhi speaks of good governance for this Union Territory, the fair question is not whether the intention is sincere. It is whether the institutional muscle exists to carry that intention through a functioning bureaucracy answerable to the elected government, a judiciary that can clear its own backlog, a disaster-preparedness system that does not wait for the next flood to discover its own gaps. Capacity, not intention, is the honest measure of governance here as much as anywhere else in this Republic. The authoritarian trap There is a temptation, once this diagnosis is accepted, to reach for a dangerous shortcut to conclude that democracy itself is the obstacle, and that a more centralised, less accountable state would simply function better. This is a trap, and a familiar one. Efficient authoritarianism is not the cure for a flailing democracy; it is what a flailing democracy becomes once its citizens stop believing that reform is possible through consent. The honest answer to weak capacity is not less democracy. It is a state professional and insulated enough in its regulators, its judiciary, its civil service recruitment to make democratic consent worth giving in the first place. Rebuilding the Indian republics capacity professionalising bureaucratic recruitment, insulating regulators from political capture, funding the judiciary as though justice mattered, devolving real fiscal power to states rather than symbolic power alone is not a technical footnote to the larger project of Indian democracy. It is the project itself. Until we take institutional capacity as seriously as we take our elections, we will keep mistaking the ceremony of governance for governance itself and calling the difference between the two somebody elses problem to solve. The writer is a retired Indian Army officer and strategic analyst. This essay is drawn from his forthcoming book, The Republic Without Capacity: Reflections on Governance.
DU academic council meet erupts over post on CJP protest
Delhi High Court hears multiple PILs on Jantar Mantar protests, declines NIA probe plea
The court refused to entertain the PIL seeking an investigation by the NIA into the July 20 protest march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, observing that it was for the Central government to decide the matter; it also defers consideration on a challenge to the alleged videography and surveillance of demonstrators
After DU, JNU asks students to stay away from CJP stir, warns of legal & displinary actions
Er Rashid presses Kashmir concerns in Parliament
New Delhi, July 24: Baramulla MP Er Rashid on Friday protested in the Lok Sabha against alleged mass detentions and demolition of residential houses in Jammu and Kashmir, raising the issues while the Opposition was protesting over the NEET controversy. As soon as the House assembled, Er Rashid entered the Well of the House and staged a protest over what he described as oppression in Kashmir. While Opposition members, led by Rahul Gandhi, were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, Er Rashid raised issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir. Targeting both the ruling NDA and Opposition INDIA bloc, Er Rashid questioned the treatment of Jammu and Kashmir, saying that if the region is considered the crown of India, it should not be treated like a colony. During the protest, he urged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to stand with the people of Kashmir. Gandhi, according to Er Rashid, assured him of his support. Expressing condolences to the family of slain Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, who was killed in an attack in Anantnag, Er Rashid said violence against security personnel must be condemned but questioned the alleged arrests of thousands of people and demolition of houses following such incidents. How can you justify the arrest of 2,500 people and bulldozing of residential houses? Nobody in this country speaks about Kashmiris and the state oppression against them, he said. Er Rashid alleged that Kashmiris were being subjected to collective punishment and claimed that restrictions on expression and protests in Jammu and Kashmir reflected a martial law-like situation. He also compared the response to protests in Delhi with the situation in Kashmir, questioning what he termed different standards in handling law-and-order situations. When similar situations occur elsewhere, they are discussed in terms of democracy and freedom of expression, but in Kashmir people face collective punishment and suspicion, he said. Er Rashid again raised the issue when the House resumed at noon, seeking to draw attention to what he described as denial of democratic rights in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh, he also referred to the death of auto driver Arif Hussain in Baderwah and alleged that he was killed in a cold-blooded manner by police.
Zaffer Mir reviews PDP preparedness for PRI polls
Srinagar, July 24: Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Zaffer Mir (Lasjan) on Friday chaired an organisational meeting of party delegates and workers from Block BK Pora at his residence, with representatives from all 30 Panchayat Halqas of the Chadoora Assembly constituency participating. The meeting focused on strengthening the partys grassroots network and reviewing organisational preparedness ahead of the upcoming Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections, which are being viewed as a key test of political outreach at the village level. Addressing party workers, Zaffer stressed the need for a strong and disciplined organisational structure to revive the PDPs presence and ensure sustained engagement with people. He called upon workers to maintain close contact with local communities, understand public issues and actively work towards addressing their concerns, saying the partys credibility depended on its connect with people at the grassroots. Zaffer also highlighted the leadership of PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, recalling her support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly her solidarity with students from the region who participated in protests in Delhi. Taking on the National Conference-led government, Zaffer accused the ruling dispensation of failing to fulfil its promises and alleged administrative shortcomings and corruption during its tenure. He said the gap between the governments claims and performance had led to growing dissatisfaction among the people. The meeting also reviewed preparations for the PDP Foundation Day scheduled to be observed on July 28. Zaffer urged party workers from Block BK Pora to ensure large participation in the programme and reaffirm their commitment to the partys ideology. He concluded by calling upon workers to intensify public outreach and remain prepared for upcoming organisational and electoral challenges.
Protest venue under a web of cameras and facial recognition systems
The Delhi Police have deployed its DP-Dristhi and Ikshana surveillance vans and a Mobile Command and Control Vehicle, which uses AI-assisted facial recognition technology to scan live CCTV feeds; protesters have expressed apprehension over the use of such technologies
Delhi police suspend all routine leaves
Seeking privacy in public place an oxymoron: Centre tells HC during surveillance PIL hearing
Plea For NIA Probe Into Foreign Funding Junked
According To Law, It Is For Centre To Decide, Says High Court
Time for New Delhi to initiate a meaningful dialogue: Bukhari
Srinagar, July 24: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday alleged that Srinagar city has remained neglected for decades, claiming that successive governments failed to address issues of unemployment, housing and basic infrastructure. Addressing a party convention, Bukhari said the city continues to face multiple challenges and that no meaningful steps have been taken to improve public infrastructure or enhance the quality of life of residents. He said the biggest challenge before Jammu and Kashmir was to guide the youth and create employment opportunities for them, alleging that young people had suffered due to years of violence and uncertainty. Our biggest challenge today is to support and guide our younger generation by showing them the path of progress, prosperity and a dignified future. Our youth are our greatest asset and it is our collective responsibility to protect and nurture them, Bukhari said. Reiterating his demand for dialogue between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre, Bukhari urged the Government of India to initiate a meaningful engagement, particularly with the youth, to bridge the trust deficit and address public concerns. He said the Prime Minister and Home Minister had earlier assured engagement with the people of J&K and that the time had come to fulfil that commitment. Bukhari also highlighted issues faced by residents of the Hazratbal constituency, alleging that the government had failed to address public grievances despite people exercising their democratic right to elect representatives. Appealing for support to the Apni Party, he said the party belonged to the people and not any individual or family. Later, while interacting with reporters, Bukhari criticised PDP president Mehbooba Muftis participation in the ongoing Jantar Mantar protest in Delhi, alleging that she had no right to express solidarity with protesters due to her record while in power.
'Teaching' AI isn't theft, yet
Delhi High Court refused to halt OpenAI's use of ANI content for ChatGPT training, ruling it qualifies as fair dealing for research under copyright law and finding no evidence the AI reproduced ANI's reports.
More support pours in for protesting students in Delhi
Delhi protests serve as SPs launchpad for UP poll battle next year
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has accused critics of a smear campaign against him. He ended his 26-day hunger strike after receiving government assurances. Wangchuk stated his aim was not the education minister's resignation. He described his hospital stay as distressing and detention-like. Wangchuk urged critics to exercise restraint and introspect their demands.
Delhi Police Intensifies Probe Into Parliament March Violence, 2,500 Under Verification
18 metro stations shut in the daytime, gates of 2 open in the evening
Interrupted: Internet, Delivery At Jantar Mantar
Not just NEET, everyone deserves a fair chance
