Delhi HC Gives AAP Leaders 4 Weeks to Reply in Contempt Case Over Remarks Against Justice Sharma
The Delhi High Court has granted Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and other AAP leaders four weeks to file their replies in a criminal contempt case over alleged vilification of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Arun Bhardwaj listed the matter for November 16. Kejriwals counsel argued that complete [] The post Delhi HC Gives AAP Leaders 4 Weeks to Reply in Contempt Case Over Remarks Against Justice Sharma appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
SC agrees to urgent listing of Mamata Banerjee
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday, September 21, agreed to list for urgent hearing a plea by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee challenging the Election Commissions decision to freeze the Trinamool Congress name and party symbol amid a dispute between two rival factions of the TMC. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the 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 .
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) announced that Runway 11R/29L (commonly known as the third runway) will be operational from September 20. Here's what it could mean.
From Delhi to other cities: Why unsafe buildings are becoming an urban time bomb
A Delhi building collapse killed seven people, exposing urban safety dangers. Authorities are inspecting numerous properties for structural integrity and violations. Many buildings across Indian cities are declared unsafe for habitation. Residents often remain due to financial and practical impossibility of leaving. This tragedy serves as a warning for future urban disasters.
Delhi has launched the SEVA FIRST - Rashtriya Youth Innovation Challenge 2026, a 100-day initiative with a 2 crore prize pool to encourage young innovators to develop solutions to real-world problems. Students, researchers, startups, MSMEs and eligible institutions can participate. Here is a look at eligibility, focus areas, application process, important dates and government support.
Gold Futures Fall Rs 773 To Rs 1.53 Lakh Per 10 Grams
New Delhi, Sep 21: Gold prices on Monday declined by Rs 773 to Rs 1,53,608 per 10 grams in futures trade amid weaker spot demand. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold contracts for October delivery traded lower by Rs 773, or 0.5 per cent, at Rs 1,53,608 per 10 grams, with a business turnover [] The post Gold Futures Fall Rs 773 To Rs 1.53 Lakh Per 10 Grams appeared first on Northlines .
Seven New Judges Sworn in at Delhi High Court
Seven new judges have been sworn in at the Delhi High Court, increasing the total number of judges to 50. Seven New Judges Sworn in at Delhi High Court
Delhi-NCR likely to remain dry; capital
NEW DELHI: Delhi-NCR is likely to experience predominantly dry weather on Monday, with no significant rainfall expected in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad, according to the latest forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Delhi is likely to witness mainly clear skies, while several parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) may see []
Delhi High Court lists Arvind Kejriwal, others contempt case for November 16 hearing
A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Arun Bhardwaj granted time to Arvind Kejriwal and others to file their replies in the matter
More Than Spaces: How Prateek Group Is Building a Culture of Community
New Delhi [India], September 21: A home is defined by its spaces and comforts. A community takes shape through the people and experiences that give those spaces their character. For Prateek Group, this thought is reflected in the way it approaches the creation of homes and communities bringing together craftsmanship, thoughtful spaces, nature and lifestyle to make everyday living more meaningful.
Mamata Banerjee seeks urgent SC listing of her plea over ECIs freeze on TMC name, symbol
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday sought urgent listing of her plea in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of Indias (ECI) decision to freeze the partys name and election symbol amid the ongoing dispute between rival factions. Mentioning the matter before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared on behalf of Mamata Banerjee, sought urgent listing of the plea. They (ECI) issue a by-poll notification and in the middle of notification, they freeze the symbol. We want urgent listing, Sibal submitted. At this, the CJI said that the rival side would also have submissions to make and assured that the matter would be considered for listing. Both sides will have something to say. When the matter is listed, then argue. We will try to list, CJI Kant said. The plea has been filed by Mamata Banerjee challenging ECIs interim decision to freeze the name All India Trinamool Congress and its reserved Flowers and Grass election symbol amid the dispute between the rival factions of the party. The ECI had on Thursday passed an interim order barring both factions from using the TMCs existing name and symbol, observing that there were two rival groups claiming to be the recognised political party and that the dispute required a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. The poll panel subsequently allotted alternative names and symbols to the two factions for the upcoming by-elections. Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the football player symbol, while the rival faction was allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the envelope symbol. The ECIs interim arrangement applies to the October 6 by-elections in West Bengal, including the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies. The Mamata-led faction has challenged the ECI decision in the Supreme Court, with the plea questioning the freezing of the partys established name and symbol pending the final determination of the dispute. Mamata-led faction has maintained that it does not accept the ECIs interim order, while the rival camp led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee has claimed control over the partys organisational and legislative structures. The dispute had also spilled over into Parliament, where 20 rebel TMC Lok Sabha MPs had broken away and aligned themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), claiming recognition as a separate parliamentary group. The Mamata-led faction had challenged the delay by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in deciding disqualification petitions against the 20 rebel MPs under the anti-defection law. On August 25, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the 20 rebel MPs on a plea filed by TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, while refraining from issuing notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Speaker, had informed the top court that notices had already been issued to the 20 MPs in the disqualification proceedings. The apex court had thereafter sought responses from the rebel MPs. The TMC has maintained that the MPs were elected on its symbol and that their subsequent decision to join another political formation attracts the provisions of the anti-defection law. However, the rebel faction has claimed the support of more than two-thirds of the TMCs Lok Sabha MPs and sought recognition as a separate parliamentary group. The dispute over the partys organisational control subsequently reached the ECI, with both sides staking claim to the TMC name and symbol. The poll bodys interim order said the temporary arrangement was intended to place the rival groups on an even footing and protect their respective rights and interests until a final determination of the dispute.
Misuse of SIMs may attract up to 3 years imprisonment and Rs 50 lakh fine, warns DoT
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday said that it has warned citizens against the misuse of SIM cards and telecom identifiers, stating that violations under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 can attract imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh. The advisory follows the detection of a fraudulent SIM issuance racket in Chhattisgarh, where mobile connections were activated using citizens identity documents without their knowledge or consent. According to the DoT, a Point of Sale (PoS) agent in the state was found to have activated 25 SIM cards using identity documents belonging to citizens without their knowledge or consent. Acting swiftly, the Department, in coordination with telecom service providers, blacklisted the PoS agent, permanently preventing the outlet from issuing mobile connections in the future. Recent cybercrime investigations have brought to light some instances in which a Point of Sale (PoS) agent in Chhattisgarh was found to have illegally activated 25 mobile connections (SIMs) using citizens identification documents without their knowledge or consent, the Ministry of Communications said. The 25 mobile numbers were subsequently examined through the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), a system developed by the DoT to detect suspicious telecom activity. Mobile connections identified as potentially fraudulent were subjected to re-verification, and those that failed the verification process were deactivated. Issuing a public advisory, the DoT reiterated that fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, misuse of telecom identifiers and tampering with International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers are serious offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The Department stated that such violations can lead to imprisonment of up to three years along with financial penalties that may extend to Rs 50 lakh. The advisory comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of telecom resources in cybercrime, digital fraud and other unlawful activities. With mobile connectivity and digital services expanding rapidly across the country, authorities have emphasised the need for strict compliance with telecom regulations to protect citizens and maintain the integrity of communication networks.
Microsoft launches 4th cloud region in India, bets big on AI infrastructure growth
New Delhi Microsoft has launched its fourth cloud region in India in Hyderabad, expanding its cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) The post Microsoft launches 4th cloud region in India, bets big on AI infrastructure growth appeared first on Bilkul Online .
Delhi HC gives Kejriwal, AAP leaders four weeks to reply in contempt case
The Delhi High Court will hear a criminal contempt case against AAP leaders on November 16. This case involves allegations of vilifying social media posts against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. The court granted time for Arvind Kejriwal and others to file their replies. A separate contempt petition against Kejriwal and others was also listed for the same date. These proceedings stem from social media campaigns concerning the excise policy case.
Today, gold prices saw a minor drop among leading Indian jewellery retailers. Lets have a look at the latest 22k gold rates at Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, Kalyan Jewellers and Tanishq in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Trivandrum and Bengaluru. Also see the updated indicative rates of 24k, 22k, 20k, 18k and 14k gold and 999-purity silver at the IBJA today.
SC To Form Special Bench On NHAI Plea Over Stray Cattle Shelters
NEW DELHI, Sep 21: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to constitute a special bench to hear the National Highways Authority of Indias plea challenging a direction requiring it to construct shelters for stray cattle across the country. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was approached by [] The post SC To Form Special Bench On NHAI Plea Over Stray Cattle Shelters appeared first on Northlines .
Defection case: SC to hear Danam Nagender
New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Monday, September 21, agreed to hear on Wednesday, September 23, a plea by Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender challenging the Telangana High Court verdict that disqualified him from the state Assembly under the anti-defection law. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Nagender, mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a bench 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 .
The Library Bar Delhi Turns Classic Books Into Cocktails, And Now Offers A Whole New Experience
LK Advani, Jaishankar, Kejriwal, Sisodia get Delhi SIR notices, here's what Delhi CEO said
Former deputy prime minister LK Advani, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar and Election Commissioner S S Sandhu are among several prominent voters who have been issued notices over discrepancies in their...
The Congress top brass, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, has expressed strong displeasure over the National Students' Union of India's (NSUI) dismal performance in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, where the party's student wing failed to secure even a single seat, sources said on Monday.
Delhi could become world's 14th-largest city economy by 2050: Report
Delhi, currently world's 63rd-largest city economy, may rise to 14th by 2050, as 55 Indian cities feature among the world's top 100 urban growth leaders, the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index says
Delhi Property Dealer Killed, Brother Injured In Construction Work Dispute
Family members alleged that during the altercation, several people surrounded Manjeet and assaulted him.
Petrol and diesel prices across major Indian cities remain unchanged on September 21, 2026, according to the rates cited in the available data. Oil marketing companies have maintained existing retail prices even as crude oil continues to trade at elevated levels internationally.Brent crude is hoveri...
The Inside Story of Prolonged Detention and Delayed Bail Approval of Jagtar Singh Jaggi Johal
The Delhi High Court has recently allowed bail petition of Scottish Sikh citizen Jagtar Singh Jaggi Johal in seven NIA cases. The post The Inside Story of Prolonged Detention and Delayed Bail Approval of Jagtar Singh Jaggi Johal appeared first on Sikh Siyasat News .
Delhi High Court gets seven new judges, total strength rises to 50
Seven judicial officers took the oath of office as Delhi High Court court judges on Monday, taking the strength of the court to 50. Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya administered the oath to Justices Nivedita Anil Sharma, Nisha Sahay Saxena, Sanjay Sharma, Bharat Parashar, Aditi Choudhary, Dinesh Bhatt and Arun Bhardwaj, who were serving as judicial officers in the district judiciary here. The swearing-in ceremony was held in the high court premises and after administering the oath, the chief justice congratulated the new judges. While Justices Sharma and Saxena took oath in English, the other five took the oath in Hindi. They have been appointed as additional judges of the high court. The central government notified the seven new appointments on September 19 after the Supreme Court collegium made a recommendation in favour of these judicial officers. The sanctioned strength of the high court is 60 and with the seven new appointments, its current strength has risen to 50.
Minor Abducted and Assaulted in Delhis Sadar Bazaar; Suspect Arrested
A minor girl was abducted and assaulted in Delhis Sadar Bazaar. Police have arrested a 56-year-old suspect following the incident. Minor Abducted and Assaulted in Delhis Sadar Bazaar; Suspect Arrested
Patna-Delhi flight cancelled: Air India Express IX1348 cancelled for Sept 21-22
Patna Airport authorities confirmed that the Air India Express team had informed them about the cancellation, citing operational reasons. No further details regarding the nature of the operational issue were immediately available
Air India Express Patna-Delhi flight cancelled on September 21 and 22 due to operational reasons
The cancellation affects passengers scheduled to travel from Patna to Delhi on the concerned flight dates
Watch: Delhi High Court to get seven new judges
Humidity Rises in Delhi-NCR as Rain Forecasts Fade
Delhi-NCR faces a week of humidity and rising pollution levels, with no rain expected to provide relief. Humidity Rises in Delhi-NCR as Rain Forecasts Fade
Gold prices in India fell nearly 0.5% today during early trading hours amid US-Iran conflict uncertainties. Check retail rates of both gold and silver in top metro cities of India today.
Rs 4 crore property dispute, fraud cases under lens in Delhi realtor's killing probe
Investigators are examining financial dealings of Anya Vats and Sanyam Sachdeva. A cheating case involving over Rs 1.2 crore is under scrutiny. A property dispute worth Rs 4 crore is also being examined. These cases are being studied as background for the accused individuals. Police are yet to establish a direct link to Manchanda's alleged killing.
Bengaluru is most expensive for metro travel as compared to Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai
While the city offers cheaper alternatives to Namma Metro for daily commute, none can beat the travel time reliability of the metro networkdue to the traffic congestion on the roads
Why living in Bengaluru is expensive as compared to Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai
The farther a person stays from the central business district (CBD), greater the chances of lower cost for housing, but the Namma Metro in Bengaluru cannot take a commuter beyond 25 km from the core areas
Delhi SIR: Advani, Jaishankar, Dhankhar among voters issued discrepancy notices
Debroy, who was a voter in the New Delhi assembly constituency, died in November 2024.
Bengaluru Rains, Heavy Showers In South India As Bay Of Bengal System Strengthens
Rain is likely to continue across parts of south and central India on Monday, September 21, while Delhi is expected to stay mostly clear and warm. The bigger weather system to watch is over the Bay of Bengal, where a low
The Archeological Survey of India has restored the colour of the Lahori Gate of Red Fort to its original Terracotta ... Read more
Jest to called 'papa' turns into row, leads to stabbing death of Delhi teen
The IIT Delhi has launched the second batch of Executive Programme in Semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep-Tech Entrepreneurship. The last date to apply for the course is September 30, 2026.
Indias exports to core BRICS markets surge 34% in April-August: Data
India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit on September 1213, 2026 in New Delhi
He was rejected for leaving a job in 6 months. Then this Delhi entrepreneur asked him one question
Delhi-based entrepreneur Kanika Jain shared how she hired a candidate despite his six-month tenure, which had led other interviewers to reject him. He explained that his previous company had promised growth before citing losses and layoffs. Jain valued his response about mutual trust and gave him a chance. Within six months, he handled five client accounts with 100% retention.
Stray Dog Pounces On 2-Year-Old In Delhi, Knocks Him Down, Bites
The dog has not yet been caught.
Asian Games: India win silver in men's 10m Air Rifle team event
Digital Desk | Nagoya, Sep 21 (IANS) Indian men's 10m air rifle team of Himanshu Dhillon, Parth Mane and Rudrankksh Patil pocketed the silver medal, taking India's medal tally at the Asian Games 2026 to three here on Monday. Rudrankksh produced a solid performance of 631.8 to finish in third in the 60-shot qualification, while Himandhu scored 630 to be placed seventh and Parth was 628.3 for a combined score of 1890.1 points. It was Rudrankkshs second Asian Games medal in the 10m air rifle team event, having previously won gold at Hangzhou 2023. China, however, took the gold with a world-record score of 1899.0 and and South Korea bagged the bronze with 1884.2 points. Moreover, Rudrankksh finished third in the qualification, and Himanshu was placed seventh, and the duo qualified for the individual final after finishing in the top eight in the qualification. Earlier, Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan returned with two silver medals from the opening day of shooting on Sunday, finishing second in the womens 10m air rifle individual event after helping India to the team silver. It was Elavenils first individual Asian Games medal. She had competed at Jakarta 2018 as a teenager but did not progress to the womens 10m air rifle final. Elavenil also holds the Asian record of 253.6, set while winning the Asian Championships last year in Shymkent. She successfully defended her continental title at the 2026 Asian Championships in New Delhi. India have so far won three silver medals, all coming in the shooting sport. At the previous edition of the Asian Games, held in Hangzhou, China, Indian shooters claimed seven golds, nine silvers and six bronze medals for an unprecedented haul of 22 medals.
Major Burglary in Sangam Vihar, Delhi: Family Returns to Find Home Ransacked
A family in Sangam Vihar, Delhi, discovers a significant burglary upon returning home from a birthday party. Police are investigating the incident. Major Burglary in Sangam Vihar, Delhi: Family Returns to Find Home Ransacked
Residents from the northeast say years of racial slurs, harassment and stereotyping have left them feeling unsafe in a neighbourhood they have called home for decades; Chongtham Singhs killing has deepened those fears and prompted calls for increased police presence
SIR: Advani, Jaishankar and Election Commissioner get notices
Former deputy prime minister LK Advani, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar and Election Commissioner S S Sandhu are among the many prominent figures in the list of voters who have been issued notices for discrepancies in their details furnished under the SIR exercise, officials said on Sunday. After the publication of 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 .
4 men putting up CCTV cameras die after dumper hits crane, auto in southeast Delhi; 2 injured
Thrissur Tops Among Keralam Cities in Oxford Economics Global Cities Index
At the national level, Delhi was India's highest-ranked city, occupying 268th position globally
Digital Desk | Zurich, Sep 21 (IANS) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived at Zurich airport on Monday en route to New York, where he will lead the Indian delegation to the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Embassy of India in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein shared an update on X, saying Ambassador Kumar warmly welcomed Jaishankar at the airport. The ambassador also briefed the External Affairs Minister on the latest developments in relations involving India, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, including recent high-level visits. Amb Kumar warmly welcomed Honble EAM @DrSJaishankar at Zurich airport en route to his official visit to New York to participate in UN General Assembly-2026. Amb Kumar also briefed Honble EAM on the latest developments including high-level visits between India, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the embassy said in its post. EAM Jaishankar is travelling to New York for the annual UNGA high-level session, with his address to the General Assembly scheduled for September 26. The Ministry of External Affairs, announcing his visit, said: EAM, S. Jaishankar will be leading the Indian delegation for the high-level week at the 81st session of the UNGA, New York, USA. The EAMs address at the high-level session of the 81st United Nations General Assembly is scheduled for September 26. His visit comes amid heightened diplomatic attention on India-US relations following the passage of US legislation granting President Donald Trump expanded powers to impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy. The US House of Representatives recently passed the legislation, which allows for tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas. President Trump subsequently signed the Russia sanctions bill into law. New Delhi has said it remains committed to safeguarding its energy requirements while maintaining diversified sources of supply. Following the passage of the legislation, the Ministry of External Affairs said India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people and would continue diversified sourcing based on evolving market dynamics. Against this backdrop, EAM Jaishankars presence in New York for UNGA is expected to provide an opportunity for India to engage with a range of international counterparts. His visit follows the Zurich stop, where discussions also covered developments in Indias ties with Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
LK Advani, Jaishankar get notices over voter discrepancies in Delhi SIR
Former deputy prime minister LK Advani, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar and Election Commissioner S S Sandhu are among the many prominent figures in the list of voters who have been issued notices for discrepancies in their details furnished under the SIR exercise, officials said on Sunday. After the publication of draft rolls of over 97 lakh voters under the SIR, 33.13 lakh notices were being issued over discrepancies in details furnished by people in their enumeration forms. Most notices were issued for voter details not matching with the information in the last SIR in 2002. In a statement issued late Sunday evening, the office of the electoral registration officer (ERO) of the New Delhi assembly constituency said Sandhu's details have been validated and his name will be included in the final electoral roll after verification of the documents submitted by him. The electoral entry pertaining to S S Sandhu, Election Commissioner of
New Elevated Link to Reshape Delhi Commute
Delhis Barapullah Phase-III corridor is scheduled to open on September 29, creating a direct elevated connection between Mayur Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan. The 1,635-crore project is expected to make cross-city journeys between East and South Delhi considerably quicker. The post New Elevated Link to Reshape Delhi Commute appeared first on Fusion - WeRIndia .
The Delhi ITAT deleted a 34.8 lakh Section 68 addition after finding that the cash balance was linked to commission income already recorded and offered to tax. The ruling highlights why taxpayers receiving cash income should maintain proper books establishing the source of the cash balance.
Delhi-NCR weather September 21: Delhi-NCR is expected to see mostly dry weather on September 21, according to the latest IMD forecast. Delhi will have mainly clear skies, while Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad are likely to remain partly cloudy. No rain warning has been issued for the region.
DU Election Results | Rahul Gandhi Seeks Detailed Report On NSUI's DUSU Election Defeat
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reportedly sought a detailed report from KC Venugopal on the NSUI's performance in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections. The report is expected to examine the electoral defeat, candidate selection and the reasons behind the student wing's poor showing.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan to join BJPs Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra in Punjab today
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit Punjab on Monday for a one-day trip, where he will participate in the BJPs Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra (Drug-Free Punjab Campaign). During his visit, Chouhan will pay obeisance at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo before joining the BJPs campaign against drug abuse. At 10:00 a.m., he is scheduled to inaugurate and participate in the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra at Dana Mandi, located at Ravidasia Chowk in Talwandi Sabo. The Union minister will also address a public meeting in Maisarkhana and hold a direct dialogue with farmers and women associated with self-help groups in Bathinda. His participation comes as the four-day campaign enters its final leg, with the yatra scheduled to reach Bathinda and conclude the BJPs state-wide outreach programme. The BJP launched the mega Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra on September 18, with the campaign covering different parts of Punjab. BJP national President Nitin Nabin flagged off the first march from Ekta Sthal at Madhopur in Pathankot district earlier on Friday. The second yatra was on September 19 from Fatehgarh Sahib and was flagged off by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The third yatra was held on September 20 from the Sadiki border in Fazilka, near the Asafwala 1971 War Memorial, and was flagged off by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The four-day yatra began in Pathankot and is scheduled to conclude in Bathinda, covering key districts across the state. The campaign is centred on the issue of drug abuse, which has remained a significant concern and a prominent subject of political discourse in Punjab. Through the yatra, the BJP is seeking to raise awareness about the adverse impact of drugs and highlight its vision and proposed approach for creating a drug-free Punjab. The participation of senior BJP leaders, including Chouhan, is expected to add political momentum to the campaign while strengthening the partys organisational network and public outreach across the state.
BJP is our biggest enemy: Altaf Bukhari
Srinagar, Sep 20: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday described the BJP as our biggest enemy, accusing it of having destroyed Jammu and Kashmir, ended its statehood and taken away Articles 370 and 35A. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function at Parraypora in Srinagar, Bukhari said the BJP had no moral ground to hold public darbars in Jammu and Kashmir after what he alleged was the erosion of the regions rights. Our biggest enemy is the BJP. They have destroyed us. They have ended our statehood. They have taken Article 370 away from us. They have taken Article 35A away from us, Bukhari said. With what face do they come here and hold public darbars? he asked, questioning those who attend such programmes as well. Bukhari also raised questions over the recently issued selection list of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers, claiming that only six candidates from Kashmir had been selected. You must have seen the case list. Look at how many people from Kashmir are in it. We feel ashamed even saying thiswhat kind of government is this? he said. He said the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should have resigned on the day he saw the selection order. I do not know how they are sitting in that chair. They should themselves have resigned that very evening when the list was issued, when they saw that there were only six people in total from Kashmir. How will you maintain balance? Bukhari said. Bukhari said the Centre needed to look beyond electoral politics while asserting that Kashmir was being ignored on several fronts. He said Srinagar was facing problems related to drainage, roads, parking, drinking water and unemployment, and questioned the priorities of the elected government. There is a drainage problem here, there are problems with roads, there is a parking problem, and there is the problem of unemployment among the youth, he said. Bukharis remarks came in the backdrop of a wider debate over the powers of the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir. Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi has recently questioned the limited powers of the elected administration and called for the restoration of statehood. Quraishi has also said that the Centre had assured the Supreme Court that statehood would be restored after Assembly elections and questioned the delay. Asked about Quraishis observation that an elected government without adequate powers is effectively no government, Bukhari said people often make such statements after leaving positions of power. When people come to Jammu and Kashmir after retirement, the sightseeing and the weather here make them speak sweet words. But when they are sitting in positions of power, they never protected the rights of Jammu and Kashmir, he said. He questioned those who now speak about protecting the rights of Jammu and Kashmir, asking where they were when, according to him, the regions rights were being taken away. Bukhari also compared Jammu and Kashmir with Delhi, saying that although both are Union Territories, the elected government in Delhi is functioning with greater authority. I would say that an elected government without power is no government. And this present government is also a lame duck, he said. He added that the J&K government had approached the Supreme Court and said the court should prescribe a timeline. The government has approached the Supreme Court, so the Supreme Court should give a timeline, he said. Taking a swipe at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Bukhari questioned his priorities, saying the Chief Minister had time to inaugurate the renovated Jammu and Kashmir House in Amritsar but, according to him, did not have time to address pressing civic issues in Srinagar. The Chief Minister had in fact inaugurated the renovated J&K House in Amritsar earlier this week. Our Chief Minister has time if he has to inaugurate a building in Amritsar, but here in Srinagar city he has no time for marriage halls, no time for drainage and no time to address the shortage of drinking water, Bukhari said. He also questioned the role of the governments MLAs in addressing civic issues, asking whether development decisions were being taken according to electoral calculations. Is the only job of his MLAs to decide which street should get a drain and which should not? Is everything going to be decided according to the proportion of votes they got during election? he asked. Bukhari has previously highlighted Srinagars shortage of parking, inadequate housing, damaged roads and lanes, insufficient drainage and shortage of basic amenities, and has called for a comprehensive long-term development plan for the city.
Srinagar, Sep 20:Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today lashed out at the continued neglect of Srinagar city and warned against pushing the historic city into deeper developmental deprivation and livelihood distress. He also said that Srinagar suffered massive and irreversible damage as its Master Plan was altered. He said, Srinagar, especially its downtown area has been suffering from decades of consistent neglect and developmental deprivation. The governments in power have continued to push this historic city deeper into developmental deprivation and livelihood distress. Also, the Srinagar Master Plan was altered in ways that have caused permanent damage to the character and development of this historic city. The areas that were originally designated for commercial use have been turned into residential areas, while areas meant exclusively for residential purposes have been converted into commercial zones. He further said, In many areas, large commercial buildings have been allowed to come up within residential colonies, making life difficult and miserable for the residents of these areas. He demanded a thorough probe into who changed the Master Plan, at whose behest, and with what purpose. Bukhari made these remarks today while addressing public meeting at Chinar Colony Parray Pora in Chanapora constituency. In his speech he also said that some reports suggest that attempts are being made to settle outsiders in Kashmir under the garb of development. He said, Unfortunately, some local individuals are allegedly facilitating such activities. It is being alleged that land is being purchased on behalf of outsiders and that they are subsequently being settled on these properties. Bukhari strongly warned against these attempts and demanded a probe into this matter. Speaking about the J&Ks accession with the country, Bukhari said, In 1947, the then biggest leader decided to accede to India without seeking the consent of the people. Since he was the biggest leader at the time, he could take that decision. And once such a decision has been taken, it cannot be revoked. That is why I have always maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is a permanent part of the country and is destined to remain with it, whether we like it or not. Bukhari reiterated his appeal to the Prime Minister to fulfil his promise of initiating a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said, I urge the Honble Prime Minister to fulfil his promise of engaging with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the youth, to hear their issues and grievances and take effective measures to address them. I also urge him to ensure constitutional guarantees for the protection of the domicile law. Our youth are facing serious difficulties that need to be addressed. How long will they continue to be called to police stations for mistakes of their past? How long will they be denied the mandatory police verification required for employment and obtaining passports? They have chosen the path of peace and deserve to be treated with fairness and dignity. They deserve an opportunity to move forward and lead a peaceful and dignified life, he added. He further urged Prime Minister, I urge you not to look at Jammu and Kashmir through the prism of the NC and PDP. These parties are dominated by political families whose primary concern is to advance their political legacies. Jammu and Kashmir is much bigger than any individual party or political family, and its people deserve to be heard and understood on their own merits. He lashed out at the ruling party for its failure to fulfil the promises it made to the people while seeking their votes in 2024. He said that the situation is that this government is not even ready to talk about the release of detainees. He further said, Following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, Apni Party leadership, while meeting with Prime Minister, Home Minister, and other senior government leaders in New Delhi, managed to ensure that the Centre allowed people to retain their rights over land and jobs here. However, the domicile law is only for 15 years. J&Ks elected government can extend this period to ensure that there is no immediate threat to our land and jobs, but unfortunately, it is not even doing that, he added. On reservation issue, Bukhari said that the existing reservation policy is fundamentally unjust and discriminatory. It is deeply unfair that 70 percent of the population is being asked to compete for just 30 percent of the jobs, while 30 percent of the population is being provided access to 70 percent of the opportunities. This unjust policy needs to be changed. We need a judicious reservation policy based on the population ratio so that every section of society receives a fair and proportionate share of employment opportunities. Bukhari expressed grave concern over the governments failure to address even the basic issues faced by the residents of Srinagar. Many areas still lack access to even the most basic necessities, such as drinking water. Does this government need the restoration of Statehood before it can ensure something as fundamental as drinking water for the people of the city? he asked. He expressed grave concern over the lack of livelihood opportunities for the youth of the city and said that the government has failed to provide them with even basic opportunities to earn a decent living. Our youngsters are not even being allowed to work as street vendors to earn their livelihood. Where will they go? What options are being left for them? Why is the government not doing anything to address their concerns? he asked. He said that the city is facing serious problems due to the absence of a proper housing policy. People are being forced to live in extremely congested conditions, with several families sharing a single house. Is this the kind of living standard our people deserve? he asked. He further said that city lacks even an adequate drainage system. He said, Even a minor rainfall leads to flood-like situations on the city roads. People are struggling with basic civic issues, yet the government appears to have no concrete solution to these problems. The residents of the city deserve better. They deserve proper housing, effective drainage, clean surroundings and dignified livelihood opportunities, he said. He said that people in the city are facing serious problems due to the lack of adequate parking facilities. He also pointed out that there are not enough marriage halls in Downtown, forcing people to face difficulties while organising social and family functions. He also highlighted several public issues and grievances being faced by people across different areas of the Chanapora constituency. He alleged that even the macadamisation of roads and lanes is being carried out on the basis of the political affiliation of residents. If people do not support the ruling party, their roads and lanes are being ignored. Is this the way a government should function? Public services and development cannot be made conditional on political loyalty. This is nothing but an unfortunate example of partisan governance, he said. He also pointed out that several playgrounds that were supposed to be developed in the constituency have been left unattended, depriving children and young people of much-needed recreational and sports facilities. Speaking on the occasion, the partys Vice President, Mohammad Syed Akhoon, accused the ruling National Conference (NC) of betraying the public mandate. He said that, while he was still with the NC, he had warned the party leadership against making a deceitful manifesto aimed at misleading the people. He said, I told them not to tell the people that they would get Articles 370 and 35A restored, because that would not be possible. I also advised them against making promises such as providing an additional ration quota, free electricity, free gas, and government jobs. All such exaggerated claims would eventually damage the party, because fulfilling these promises would not be possible under the Union Territory setup, he said. But instead of heeding my advice, they chose to expel me from the party. I was expelled despite having served the party for 60 long years, Akhoon said. Addressing the occasion, party General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing serious political challenges. He said he was not worried about the governments failures in addressing public issues, as governments come and go and such issues can be addressed at any time. However, he said he was concerned about the larger political challenges confronting the people of Jammu and Kashmir and stressed the need for introspection on these issues. He also said that the people of Srinagar are facing serious environmental challenges and warned that if these issues are left unaddressed, they could have grave consequences. In his speech, the Partys Provincial President, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, said that the Apni Party is committed to working for the peace, prosperity, and development of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the Party would continue to raise public issues and grievances and strive to ensure that they are addressed promptly and effectively. The other prominent party leaders who addressed the convention or who were present on the occasion included Vice President Javaid Mustafa Mir, Additional General Secretary Hilal Ahmed Shah, Chief Coordinator and District President Kulgam Abdul Majeed Padder, State Secretary and Chief Spokesperson Muntazir Mohiuddin, Media Advisor Farooq Andrabi, Women's Wing President Dilshad Shaheen, Provincial Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Dar, District President Srinagar Zaffar Habib Dar, Sajjad Ahmed, Najeeb Ahmad, Provincial President Youth Wing Jibran Dar, Ward President Nazir Ahmad Dar, Ward President Hyderpora Muzaffar Ahmad Sheikh, Ward President Baghat Barzulla Mohammad Shafi Wani and others.
Here is a select list of stories to start the day
The National Film Awards leave Delhi for the first time in 72 years
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COUNT THE DAYS FIRST :The paradox behind J&Ks five-day week debate
Srinagar, Sep 20: The school bell in Jammu and Kashmir may ring as late as 4:30 pm, but the school year itself is considerably shorter than in several other parts of the country. That contrast sits at the centre of a debate now reaching the J&K Legislative Assembly: if children are already under academic pressure, should they spend one less day a week in school? National Conference (NC) MLA Hasnain Masoodi has proposed a five-day working week for schools, with Saturdays and Sundays as holidays, saying students are burdened by studies and need time for rest and recreation. Education Minister Sakina Itoo has said the proposal will be examined by the concerned education authorities. A report titled Working Hours Parity Report: An Objective Audit of the Jammu & Kashmir Academic Calendar, records 181 working days for J&K. Its comparison gives Delhi 243 working days, the South India category 236 and West Bengal 217. In other words, the difference between J&K and the three comparison regions is not measured in a handful of days. It is 36 days against West Bengal, 55 against the South India comparison and 62 against Delhi. The report points to one conspicuous reason: the winter break. It records a 76-day winter vacation in J&K, against 13 days in each of the three comparison regions. Overall, it records 184 holiday days in J&K, including 17 national holidays and 26 state holidays, leaving 181 working days. And yet, on a day-to-day basis, J&K can appear to have a demanding school schedule. The report notes the extension of the school day to 4:30 pm and calls the resulting perception the 4:30 PM illusion, the sense that a late closing bell necessarily means a longer academic year. The report puts annual working hours for J&K at 1,086, against 1,458 in Delhi, 1,463.2 in the South India comparison and 1,519 in West Bengal. It calculates the gap between 25.5 per cent and 28.5 per cent, averaging 26.6 per cent across the three comparisons. There is a qualification that matters: these are working-hour figures for teaching staff and the academic calendar, not a direct measure of the hours individual students spend learning. The report therefore cannot establish that a J&K student receives only 1,086 hours of classroom instruction in a year. But it does establish something relevant to the present debate: J&Ks formal school calendar has fewer working days than the three regions against which the report compares it. The report offers another way of looking at the issue. It applies a common 7.5-hour working day to J&K and West Bengal, removing the difference in daily schedules from the calculation. J&K would still have 1,357.5 annual hours against West Bengals 1,627.5, a 270-hour difference, because the number of working days is different. The comparison becomes even more striking against private-school benchmarks cited in the report. It puts annual hours at 1,498 for private schools in Delhi, 1,536 in West Bengal and 1,711 in its South India comparison, against 1,086 for J&K, with reported gaps ranging from 27.5 per cent to 36.5 per cent. None of these figures, however, answers Masoodis central contention that children are burnt out by academic pressure. That is a different proposition, and it requires different evidence. Nor does the report establish that J&K should have more working days. Its purpose is comparative: to show how the distribution of the academic year differs across the regions examined. Its own figures show that the 76-day winter closure is doing much of the work in producing the annual gap. The calendar data also needs to be read against J&Ks existing academic schedule. The JKBOSE 2024-25 academic calendar separately provided roughly 185 working days for the Kashmir division and winter-zone Jammu. That figure comes from a different academic year and calendar dataset from the 181 working days cited in the institutional audit. J&Ks academic calendar has also changed over time. An earlier DSEK academic planner for 2017-18 prescribed 200 instructional days and 800 effective school hours for primary classes, while upper-primary classes were prescribed 220 instructional days and 1,000 effective school hours. The report also examines the effect of the daily timetable across seasons. It puts peak daylight at roughly 13-14 hours between April and July, when the school day may run to 4:30 pm. For September and October, it puts daylight at about 11-12 hours, while during November and December the school day ends at 3 pm. The report describes these as approximate seasonal daylight figures. Itoo has said the proposal will be taken up with the Directorate of School Education Kashmir, Directorate of School Education Jammu and the Director of Colleges for examination.
Srinagar, Sep 20: A day ahead of the autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, political parties went into a huddle on Sunday to chalk out their strategies for the 10-day session, with the ruling National Conference (NC) and its Congress ally deliberating on legislative business and public issues, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) separately prepared to put the governments two-year record under the scanner. The meetings came amid indications of a politically charged session, with the Opposition preparing to corner the government on governance and delivery, even as the Congress maintained that its alliance with the NC would not prevent it from raising legitimate public concerns. At the Banquet Hall in Srinagar, NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah chaired a meeting of the partys Legislature Party, attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Six Congress legislators also joined the deliberations as part of the discussions ahead of the session beginning Monday. The legislators discussed the legislative business to be taken up during the session and various matters concerning public welfare, development and governance, the NC said in a statement. Dr Farooq called upon the legislators to remain closely coordinated and ensure that the concerns and aspirations of the people were effectively raised in the House. He stressed the importance of constructive participation and focused engagement on issues concerning the public. The meeting underscored the importance of coordinated participation by the ruling alliance as the government prepares to face a determined Opposition on the Assembly floor, he said. NC MLA from Gurez Nazir Ahmad Gurezi said the Congress was part of the alliance and the ruling parties would collectively face the Opposition while ensuring that public concerns were addressed. Congress party was part of the alliance, and we will collectively face the Opposition and also ensure peoples issues are resolved, Gurezi said. Echoing similar views, NC spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said there was no rift between NC and Congress and that the coalition was intact. He said people had high expectations from the Assembly and assured that the government would take up issues raised by the public. People have expectations from the House and the government will ensure public issues raised are resolved, he said. Karra draws line between alliance and public issues The Congress made it clear that its partnership with the NC would not prevent its legislators from questioning the government or taking up what it considers legitimate public concerns. JKPCC president and MLA Tariq Hameed Karra, after a meeting of Congress legislators, said being part of the ruling alliance did not mean that the party would remain silent on issues concerning the people. We are in alliance with the National Conference, but that does not mean we will not raise public issues. We will take up genuine concerns and ensure they are expedited, Karra said. Hesaid the Assembly was fundamentally a forum for raising questions and ensuring that matters affecting people were addressed, irrespective of whether an issue was raised by a member of the ruling side or the Opposition. The purpose of the Assembly is that work should be done as soon as possible. For that, everyone raises questions, whether it is from the ruling party or the opposition party, he said. He said the Congress legislature party meeting was held to discuss the issues and strategy for the upcoming session. Karra's remarks assume significance against the backdrop of differences between the Congress and NC over certain issues, including Vande Mataram and UPI, despite the two parties remaining partners in the government. Asked about these differences, Karra said the Congress had entered into the alliance on a principled basis and with the larger picture in mind. You see it from a very myopic view. We are in an alliance, and we are on a principled stand. We took that alliance as a principled stand, keeping in mind the larger picture, he said. At the same time, he made clear that the alliance would not dilute the Congress position on public concerns. Being in an alliance does not mean that we will not raise peoples issues. Being in an alliance does not mean that we will not talk about peoples legitimate demands. So there is no connection between that and this, the J&K Congresschiefsaid. The remarks indicate that while the two parties are preparing to jointly face the Opposition, the Congress intends to retain space to articulate issues it considers important for the public. BJP prepares to put govt's record under scanner The BJP held a separate meeting of its legislators to finalise its strategy for the session. J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma said the party would raise the National Conference-led governments performance over the past two years and seek a white paper detailing the work carried out during its tenure. Our party will raise these issues on the streets, and our MLAs will question the government in the Assembly and ask them to issue a white paper detailing what work has actually been carried out by them, Sharma said. He alleged that the government had not met peoples expectations and maintained that two years constituted sufficient time for its performance to be examined. Two years is not a short period. During these two years, they have not lived up to the expectations of the people. They have not even lived up to their own expectations, Sharma said. He further claimed that people he had interacted with felt disappointed with the government and questioned their decision to vote for the National Conference. The BJP is expected to use the session to press the government for answers on its record and commitments, with its legislators preparing to raise issues concerning governance and delivery. Sharma also spoke about the BJPs month-long service campaign being organised in connection with Prime Minister Narendra Modis birthday and 25 years of his public life. He said party workers would organise programmes across the country, including activities involving children. On the Delhi University Students Union elections, Sharma said the ABVP remained engaged with students and their concerns. Jobs, power and public concerns likely to dominate The political preparations come amid indications that jobs, power tariffs, development, regularisation of workers and other public concerns will occupy considerable space during the session. The Opposition has already indicated its intention to question the government on its performance, while the ruling alliance is preparing to defend its record and respond to issues raised on the floor. The Congress has also sought to distinguish its role within the coalition from the broader functioning of the government, with Karra stressing that alliance politics would not prevent the party from taking up legitimate demands. For the NC, the emphasis is on maintaining coordination among alliance partners and ensuring that issues raised by legislators translate into government action. Gurezis remarks underline that position, with the NC legislator stressing that the alliance would collectively face the Opposition while keeping public issues at the centre of the proceedings. With the NC-Congress alliance and BJP having held separate strategy meetings on the eve of the session, the political lines are clearly drawn ahead of Mondays opening sitting. The government will seek to demonstrate its legislative and governance agenda, while the Opposition is preparing to demand answers on its performance. The real test, however, will begin on the floor of the House on Monday, when political positions, public grievances and competing claims over governance come face to face in the Assembly.
SIR: Advani, Jaishankar, others get notices over
Foreign secy Misri, Election Commissioner Sandhu also issued notices New Delhi: Former deputy prime minister LK Advani, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar and Election Commissioner SS Sandhu are among the many prominent figures in the list of voters who have been issued notices for discrepancies in their details furnished under the []
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BJP Strengthens Organizational Framework in National Workshop Led by Nitin Naveen
BJPs Nitin Naveen discusses strategies to enhance the partys organizational strength during a national workshop in New Delhi. BJP Strengthens Organizational Framework in National Workshop Led by Nitin Naveen
J&K BJP leaders attend national workshop in Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 20: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a Cell-Cluster National Workshop at its central office in New Delhi on Saturday, with representatives from Jammu and Kashmir participating in discussions on strengthening outreach to different sectors of society and the economy. Ved Sharma, Bilal Parray and Manish Khajuria represented Jammu and Kashmir at the workshop, which was chaired by BJP national president Nitin Nabin and national general secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh. The discussions focused on improving coordination between the party organisation and professional, business and community groups, including industry, trade, tourism, healthcare, cooperatives, sports bodies, urban local bodies and panchayats. Participants also discussed strengthening outreach around Central Sector Schemes and other flagship initiatives of the Union Government, with emphasis on ensuring that benefits reach intended beneficiaries. The workshop explored mechanisms for maintaining regular communication with stakeholders and incorporating their concerns, suggestions and developmental requirements into sector-specific organisational activities. Issues related to commerce and industry, tourism, medical services, cooperatives, sports and local governance also figured in the deliberations. The session was coordinated by All Cells National Coordinator Vishnu Datt Sharma, Joint Coordinator Rituraj Sinha and Vishnu Vardhan Reddy. The workshop also provided an opportunity for representatives from different states and organisational units to share experiences and discuss mechanisms for improving the functioning of sector-specific organisational platforms. For Jammu and Kashmir, the participation of Ved Sharma, Bilal Parray and Manish Khajuria marked its representation in the national-level deliberations, with discussions focusing on strengthening outreach among industry, trade, tourism, professional and community stakeholders. The workshop concluded with an emphasis on stronger organisational coordination, wider sectoral engagement and sustained interaction with different sections of society, besides ensuring that the benefits of Central Government schemes and initiatives reach the people for whom they are intended.
No number plates, 5 cars cruise in from Delhi, perform stunts & flee Noida
CAT Jammu among top disposal benches: Dr. Jitendra Singh
New Delhi, Sep 20: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Jammu Benchs case disposal rate is among the highest in the country, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Sunday. He was speaking after inaugurating the new Office-cum-Court Complex of the CAT Jammu Bench at Bahu Plaza, Jammu. Jitendra Singh said the high disposal of cases by the Jammu and Srinagar Benches reflected their capacity to provide speedy and accessible justice in service matters. He said that since its inception and up to June 30, 2026, CAT had received 10,01,177 cases across the country and disposed of 9,32,723, recording an overall disposal rate of 93.16 per cent. For the Jammu and Srinagar Benches, 20,984 cases had been transferred from the Jammu & Kashmir High Court, while 20,405 fresh cases were instituted before the benches. Of these, 18,392 transferred cases and 13,952 fresh cases had been disposed of, he said. The total number of cases received was 41,389, with minimal pendency. Jitendra Singh said the Jammu Bench had initially functioned with one Division Bench but was later strengthened with another in view of the growing workload. It presently has two Judicial Members and two Administrative Members. He also highlighted that only around 8 per cent of cases from the CAT Jammu Bench had gone in appeal to the Jammu & Kashmir High Court. The Minister said the new complex at Bahu Plaza would provide expanded space and infrastructure to enable the Jammu Bench to function at full capacity and strengthen redressal of service-related grievances. He said CAT had also expanded its use of technology through e-filing, video conferencing, online case information, digital payment of court fees, online certified copies and paperless court facilities. Jitendra Singh said the Jammu and Srinagar experience showed that infrastructure, technology and institutional capacity could strengthen the delivery of administrative justice.
Travel time from the DND side to Noida Sector 60 can take up to 30 minutes, depending on traffic congestion. The upcoming elevated stretch can possibly reduce it to just 10 minutes without any traffic signal in between.
Comedian lampoons PM Modi on stage at Rahul
NEW DELHI: The Congress and BJP traded barbs over stand-up comedian Pulkit Mani impersonating Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rahul Gandhis Chhatron Ki Goonj event in Indore, with the comedian mimicking Modis mannerisms and speaking style. The leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha shared the stage with comedian Mani for a short act at []
Salesforce sees Indian firms shift to production as enterprise AI grows
NEW DELHI: Indian companies are moving from artificial intelligence experiments to production deployments, Salesforce President and Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Arundhati Bhattacharya, said, as the country enters a wider phase of enterprise AI adoption. Bhattacharya said India offered significant white space for growth in digital and agentic AI and that Salesforce would continue to []
BRICS: Rewriting the World Order
BRICS did not form with a treaty or a grand diplomatic bargain. The need for BRIC was recognised as the balance of the global economy began to shift. In 2001, Terence James ONeill coined the term BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) in his Goldman Sachs paper entitled The World Needs Better Economic BRICs, drawing attention to the growing economic weight of four emerging powers and its implications for global governance. Initially, BRIC began as an economic proposition but gradually acquired a political dimension, as the four states increasingly recognised the benefits of coordinating their positions and seeking greater influence in the institutions that shape global affairs. The emergence of BRIC was preceded by an important phase of cooperation among Russia, India and China under the RIC framework. The three countries had already been exploring greater coordination on major regional and global issues, creating a political foundation that later complemented the economic rationale behind BRIC. The idea was put forward by Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov in 1998, at a time when Russia was arguing for a world with several centres of power rather than one dominant centre. The three countries began meeting at the foreign ministers level in 2002, creating a diplomatic channel that would later make the wider BRIC conversation easier to pursue. By 2006, BRIC was beginning to move beyond an economic idea. The foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India and China met in New York in September 2006 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, giving the four countries their first formal platform for political dialogue. An acronym coined to describe four rising economies was beginning to take on a life of its own in international politics. The first BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. The following year brought the first major change to the grouping when South Africa joined the four founding members. BRIC thus became BRICS, bringing an African country into what had until then been a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China. The grouping took another important step at the 2014 summit in Fortaleza, Brazil. The five members agreed to establish the New Development Bank, which began operations in 2015 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China. The bank was created to finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other developing countries. At the same summit, the members also established the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, a $100 billion financial mechanism designed to provide support to members facing short term balance of payments pressures. BRICS was no longer only a forum for countries with growing economies. It was beginning to build institutions through which its members could pursue their own areas of cooperation. The next transformation came nearly a decade later. At the Johannesburg summit in 2023, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were invited to join the grouping. The new members came in from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, significantly widening the reach of BRICS. Indonesia joined as a full member in January 2025, making the grouping still larger. The expansion has changed the character of BRICS. Its 11 members now account for nearly half of the world's population, around 49.5 per cent, bringing together more than four billion people. Collectively, they represent about 40 per cent of the global economy when measured by purchasing power parity and around 26 per cent of world trade. Their importance is also visible in the energy sector, with BRICS countries accounting for a substantial share of global oil and gas exports. The grouping brings together some of the world's largest populations, major energy producers and important emerging economies. Yet the countries are far from politically or strategically identical. India, Brazil and South Africa are democratic states, while China, Russia and Iran follow very different political systems. India and China remain strategic competitors with an unresolved border dispute. In West Asia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have their own competing regional interests. Russia's confrontation with Western countries also places it in a different geopolitical position from members such as India, Brazil and the UAE, which maintain important economic and strategic relations with the West. These differences make BRICS a diverse grouping rather than a traditional political alliance. Its real challenge, therefore, is whether such different countries can find enough common ground to use their combined economic and demographic weight to gain a stronger voice in shaping the international order. Cooperation without Consensus BRICS does not need complete political agreement to become an effective global platform. Its real test is whether countries with different interests can identify areas where cooperation serves everyone. Trade is the clearest example. Intra-BRICS merchandise exports increased from about $84 billion in 2003 to $1.17 trillion in 2024, a more than thirteenfold rise. Yet intra-BRICS trade still accounts for only around 5 per cent of global trade. The message is clear. The economic relationship has grown rapidly, but its potential remains far from exhausted. Trade can therefore become the foundation of deeper cooperation. BRICS members can reduce trade barriers, simplify customs procedures and improve transport and logistics between their markets. Faster and cheaper cross-border payments can make this process even easier. The objective does not have to be a common BRICS currency. It can begin with practical steps such as allowing countries to settle more trade in their own currencies and reducing unnecessary dependence on third-party financial channels. India has supported greater payment connectivity, while the 2026 BRICS discussions placed renewed emphasis on cross-border payments and local currency settlements. Finance provides a second opportunity. The New Development Bank was created in 2014 to finance infrastructure and sustainable development, with an authorised capital of $100 billion. Its importance can grow if it becomes a larger source of development finance for countries that often struggle to obtain affordable long-term funding. Financing projects in local currencies can also reduce some of the risks created by exchange rate fluctuations. The Contingent Reserve Arrangement, also valued at $100 billion, gives BRICS an additional mechanism for responding to short term financial pressures. These institutions show that BRICS has already moved beyond the language of declarations and created instruments through which cooperation can produce tangible results. Energy is another field where interests naturally converge. BRICS includes some of the world's largest energy producers and consumers. Its members therefore have a shared interest in reliable supplies, stable markets and affordable energy. Cooperation can extend beyond traditional oil and gas to renewable energy, hydrogen, critical minerals, energy storage and smart grids. India's 2026 BRICS chairmanship has already demonstrated this direction through initiatives on smart grids and energy storage. Such cooperation matters because the energy transition is not simply an environmental question. It is also becoming a question of technology, industrial power and control over critical resources. The growing scope of BRICS cooperation shows that political disagreements do not have to prevent countries from pursuing shared economic and developmental interests. In April 2025, BRICS agriculture ministers adopted a joint declaration covering food security, agricultural trade, digital certification and sustainable agriculture. In June 2025, BRICS health ministers advanced cooperation on public health, while the July 2025 Rio Summit adopted commitments on artificial intelligence, digital governance, trade and development. These initiatives demonstrate that cooperation can continue even when member states disagree on major geopolitical questions. India and China, for instance, continue to have unresolved differences over their border, yet both remain part of BRICS and continue to engage through wider economic and multilateral frameworks. Russia and other BRICS countries also hold different positions on major international conflicts, but these disagreements have not prevented cooperation in areas such as trade, finance, energy and technology. BRICS is therefore better understood as a platform for practical cooperation than as a political alliance based on a single foreign policy. The member states have different political systems, economic structures, foreign policy priorities and regional concerns, making complete political unity unlikely. BRICS can function as a framework for cooperation among countries that hold different political positions but share interests in particular areas. Such cooperation does not require the member states to agree on every international issue. It can develop through practical agreements in areas where cooperation serves their common economic and developmental interests. The larger significance of BRICS, therefore, is not that it can replace the West or create an entirely new world order overnight. Its significance lies in whether it can make the international system more representative by giving emerging and developing economies greater capacity to shape trade, finance, technology and development. If BRICS succeeds in building practical cooperation where interests overlap, its economic weight will gradually translate into political influence. The most powerful form of cooperation may ultimately be cooperation without consensus. Expansion is not Influence BRICS has changed considerably from the five-member grouping that existed until 2023. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates became full members in January 2024, followed by Indonesia in January 2025. BRICS also created a partner country category, bringing additional developing economies into its wider framework. The result is a grouping that now spans Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East and represents a much larger share of the world economy and population than the original BRIC arrangement. But geographical expansion has also brought greater diversity in political systems, economic structures, regional priorities and relations with the major powers. This diversity makes a single political agenda difficult to sustain. India and China remain strategic competitors, Russia has a sharply different relationship with the United States and Europe, and the West Asian members have their own regional calculations. At the same time, these countries have identifiable areas of overlapping interest. Trade facilitation, development finance, energy security, technology, critical minerals and greater representation for developing countries in global institutions offer practical areas for cooperation. BRICS therefore does not need a common foreign policy to become more effective. It needs agreements that can survive differences between individual members. The distinction is important because BRICS presents itself as a platform for cooperation among emerging and developing economies, rather than as a military or political alliance directed against another group of states. The measure of expansion should consequently be the results that the enlarged grouping can produce. A larger membership is meaningful only when it creates wider markets, stronger financial cooperation, better connectivity, greater technological capacity or a stronger collective voice in global institutions. The New Delhi Summit provides the first major opportunity to examine this after the completion of the recent expansion. Its decisions on trade, cross-border payments, development finance, technology, energy and institutional cooperation can show whether BRICS is translating its larger membership into practical forms of cooperation. BRICS and the Politics of Multi-polarity The 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September 2026, placed the idea of a more multipolar international system at the centre of the grouping's political agenda. The summit took place at a crucial time when the international system is struggling to respond to multiple armed conflicts and deepening geopolitical tensions between states. The New Delhi Declaration called for a more representative and fairer international order and reaffirmed BRICS's commitment to multilateralism and multipolarity. It called for greater representation of emerging markets and developing countries in global decision-making and supported comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council. China and Russia, both permanent members of the Security Council, specifically reiterated their support for the aspirations of India and Brazil to play a greater role in the United Nations, including the Security Council. The declaration also recognised the growing role of the Global South in shaping international affairs. The summit also addressed the economic structures through which global power is exercised. The New Delhi Declaration criticised unilateral tariffs, non-tariff barriers and unilateral coercive measures and called for a stronger multilateral trading system. BRICS supported greater use of local currencies in trade and investment and continued efforts to improve the interoperability of national payment systems. The summit did not establish a common BRICS currency, nor did it turn the grouping into an anti-Western alliance. Its approach was more practical. The members sought greater flexibility in trade and finance while retaining their different economic and foreign policy choices. This approach also reflects the limits of BRICS. The eleven members have different relationships with the United States, Europe and other major powers, and they do not hold identical positions on every geopolitical crisis. BRICS therefore remains a platform for coordination rather than a unified geopolitical bloc. The larger significance of BRICS will depend on whether these political and economic initiatives can produce lasting changes in global governance. A multipolar system does not require one dominant power to be replaced by another. It requires greater space for several centres of economic, political and strategic influence. BRICS can contribute to that balance by expanding development finance, strengthening payment connectivity, supporting reform of international institutions and giving developing countries a greater role in setting rules for trade, technology and finance. Its purpose should not be to construct another bloc against the West, but to make the international system less dependent on a single centre of economic and political power. The real promise of BRICS lies in building a more plural and representative order in which the interests of emerging and developing countries carry greater weight and the established powers remain part of a system whose rules are shaped by a wider distribution of global power. (The author is Ph.D. in Political Science from AMU & currently working as a College Lecturer in JK HED at GDC Surankote, Dept. of Political Science, Jammu & Kashmir)
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