If Concluded: Jaishankars BIG Trade Deal Message To U.S, As Essar Bets $18-Bn On Trumps America
India's External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has offered Washington a carefully worded message: an India-US trade agreement, if finalised, could help put bilateral ties on a better track. The same day, Donald Trump announced that Indias Essar Group would invest $18 billion in the United States, with a $15 billion steel plant planned in Iowa. Trump presented the project as a major American manufacturing victory. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick went further, saying the investment was the result of US steel tariffs. For India, the announcement is more than a business deal. It shows Indian companies are willing to invest deeply in America even while New Delhi negotiates over tariffs, market access and strategic concerns. This is the story of two parallel tracks: diplomacy remains unresolved, but commercial momentum continues. India is investing in America without surrendering its negotiating position.
The newly announced US legislation, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, targeting Russia is intended to create leverage to help bring the war in Ukraine to an end, US lawmakers said on Tuesday during their visit to Dharamsala, while also stressing the importance of continuing to strengthen the relationship between Washington and New Delhi. US Congressman James Gallagher, a member of the visiting US Congressional delegation to India, said that the legislation was directed at Russia and that the measures were among the pressures being brought to bear with the objective of ending the war in Ukraine. Asked about India's purchase of Russian oil, Gallagher said he had no particular message for India on the issue. We want to ultimately bring that war to an end with Ukraine, and those are some of the different pressures that are brought to bear under the law, Gallagher said. US Congressional delegation is visiting different parts of India as part of their visit a...
Delhi gets key East-South link: Amit Shah inaugurates 9-km Barapullah Phase-3 after 11-year wait
Delhi gets key East-South link: Amit Shah inaugurates 9-km Barapullah Phase-3 after 11-year wait
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) India on Tuesday rejected the unwarranted references to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir made by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his address at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) recently, asserting that no external party has any locus standi on the issue. You would have seen that these remarks you refer to were made by the Turkish President. India rejects the unwarranted references to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir made by the President of Turkey during his UNGA address. This is a matter, as you would understand, pertaining to India's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and no external party has any locus standi on this issue, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi. The Turkish President has raised the issue at the General Assembly in the past as well, drawing a similar response from New Delhi. Last year, India had made its well-known stance on Kashmir clear once again, under which there is no scope for any third-party role or mediation. Our statement on Kashmir is clear. Everyone is aware of our position on Kashmir over the past few years, Jaiswal said in September 2025 while responding to a question on Erdogan making remarks on Kashmir at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Last week, India rejected the references made about the country in the Joint Communique of the OIC's so-called Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, terming them unwarranted and factually incorrect and said that the grouping has no locus standi to pronounce on its internal matters. The MEA said that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India, and o amount of repetition of politically motivated propaganda can change this reality. India categorically rejects the unwarranted and factually incorrect references to India in the Joint Communique of the so-called OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. The OIC has no locus standi to pronounce on matters that are strictly internal to India, it had said.
India in talks with China for use of airspace for flights amid Pakistan closure
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) India is in talks with China over the use of the Asian neighbour's airspace in the Xinjiang region by Indian commercial airlines to reduce the longer time and higher costs involved for flights to western countries due to the continued closure of Pakistani airspace, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Tuesday. We are looking at other alternatives. Discussion on the Hotan route in China is going on between the two countries. Our External Affairs Ministry is engaging with the country. Let us see how it goes, but we are trying alternatives, Naidu told journalists. The move comes days after China's President Xi Jinping attended the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Sources say talks are on for over a year to route flights via Hotan. Ahead of President Xi's Delhi arrival, China Southern Airlines announced that it will resume direct flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi from September 21, restoring a route that had been suspended for six years. The resumption is part of a broader restoration of direct air links between the two countries after services were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent tensions along the India-China border. China Southern said it will operate more than 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes in South Asia, strengthening connectivity between China and the region. IndiGo was the first Indian airline to resume India-China connectivity. The airline resumed direct India-China flights in October 2025, when it restarted services between Kolkata and Guangzhou, followed by Delhi-Guangzhou in November. Air India resumed direct flights between Delhi and Shanghai on February 1, ending a nearly six-year gap in services to mainland China. The airline initially operated four flights a week and increased the frequency to five flights a week from March 29. The renewed air connectivity comes against the backdrop of a broader diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Beijing. Pakistan's airspace has remained shut to India since April 2025, making alternative routing options an important consideration for air travel. Two weeks ago, Pakistan extended its restrictions on Indian aircraft by another month amid continuing tensions with New Delhi, which avenged the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack with the successful launch of Operation Sindhoor that wiped out terror camps deep in Pakistani territory.
New Delhi [India], September 29 (ANI): India on Tuesday firmly rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's reference to Jammu and Kashmir during his address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), asserting that the issue pertains strictly to the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Responding to queries regarding Erdogan's speech in New York, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that New Delhi completely rejects any unwarranted interference by external parties in its internal affairs. India rejects the unwarranted references to Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir made by the Turkish President during his UNGA address. This is a matter pertaining to India's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and no external party has any locus standi on this issue, Jaiswal said. The strong response follows Erdogan
Invention in Recyclable Footwear gets India's VKC a new patent
New Delhi [India], September 29: India's VKC was granted a patent for an invention entitled 'Recyclable Article of Footwear' by The Patent Office, Government of India for its group company VKC Footgear Pvt. Ltd. The patent certificate was granted under Rule 74 of The Patents Rules.
IHH plans to raise Fortis stake to 51%, expand capacity to 10K beds by 2031
Malaysia-based IHH Healthcare has announced plans to hike its stake in Fortis Healthcare to 51 per cent over the next three to five years and expand total capacity to around 10,000 beds by 2031. The statement follows the Supreme Court's decision on September 25, 2026, disposing of Fortis Healthcare's special leave petition (SLP) that challenged a Delhi High Court order requiring a forensic audit and certain observations made concerning the company. As per a BSE filing by Fortis Healthcare, an IHH statement said that it will fully cooperate with the forensic audit and expressed confidence that an independent review will objectively establish the facts surrounding its 2018 investment. Reaffirming its long-term commitment to the Indian market, IHH said it intends to deepen its footprint and ramp up investments. Over the next three to five years, we plan to increase our stake in Fortis to 51 per cent, further integrate our Fortis and Gleneagles platforms, and expand our capacity to
Death Of A Red Citadel: How Indias Left Lost Its Electoral Grip
From crushing defeats in Delhi University to losing their final state stronghold in Kerala, Indias Left is facing a full-blown existential crisis. A massive gap has opened up between street-level activism and actual voter choice, leaving a movement built on 20th-century rhetoric struggling to resonate with a modern, career-focused generation.In this video, we break down the widening disconnect between movement politics and electoral reality. We explore why high visibility no longer converts into power, examine the fallout of the Lefts loss in Kerala, and analyze how changing voter aspirations are reshaping Indias political landscape.Are we witnessing a temporary setback, or the permanent decline of Leftist ideology in Indian politics? Watch the full breakdown to find out!
Construction Ban, Dust Control: Delhi's Winter Action Plan Explained
Starting November 1, petrol and diesel vehicles registered outside Delhi and not meeting BS-VI standards will be banned from entering the city, though CNG and electric vehicles are exempt.
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman met Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Zou Jiayi on the sidelines of the AIIB Annual Meeting 2026 in Doha, Qatar, where both leaders discussed the robust pipeline of the bank's projects in India. According to the Ministry of Finance on X, the bilateral discussions centered on cooperation, operational expansion, and institutional priorities. During the interaction, both leaders also evaluated options for expanding the multilateral institution's global presence, including operations within India. The engagement opened with mutual acknowledgements of recent milestones. President Zou congratulated the Union Finance Minister on the successful conduct of the BRICS Leaders' Summit held in New Delhi. In response, Sitharaman conveyed India's appreciation for the multilateral development institution's operational momentum, congratulating the bank on its strong performance in the first half of the year. Sithara...
Jamia Millia Islamia hosts national consultative meet on skilling initiatives in Assams tea gardens
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) A three-day National Consultative Meet on Understanding Field Access and Skilling Initiatives in Assams Tea Gardens and Sharing/Discussion on Preliminary Findings and Methodology was inaugurated at Mir Anis Hall, Jamia Millia Islamia, an official said on Tuesday. Saima Saeed, Chief Public Relations Officer, JMI, said the meet will conclude on Wednesday. Organised under the ICSSR Longitudinal Research Project titled Empowerment of the Tea Tribes of Assam through Digital and Non-digital Skill Development Programmes, the initiative focuses on tea-garden communities in Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur districts of Assam. It emphasises field access, mapping tea gardens, examining existing skilling initiatives, and developing appropriate training methodologies. The inaugural session began with a Qirat by Md. Inzemamul Haque and Kaushal Kishore welcomed the distinguished guests and participants and presented the traditional Assamese tribal gamocha as a gesture of respect and hospitality. Eminent dignitaries graced the occasion, including Vinoj Abraham, Ministry of Commerce Chair, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, who delivered the Keynote Address and provided valuable perspectives on skill development, livelihoods, and socio-economic dimensions. The Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia delivered the Presidential Remarks and highlighted the initiative's significance. At the same time, Anita Rastogi, Dean, Faculty of Education, Jamia Millia Islamia, emphasised the importance of integrating academic perspectives, field experiences, and research-based understanding. Quazi Ferdoushi Islam, Project Coordinator, provided an overview of the research project and explained the rationale for organising the meeting. She emphasised the importance of consultation and dialogue in refining methodology and identifying relevant skilling opportunities. The project team includes Islam as Project Coordinator, and Kaushal Kishore, Ahrar Husain, Nivedita Goswami, Sameer Babu, and Zeba Tabassum as Project Directors. The project sites are located in the tea gardens of Assam, specifically in Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur districts. The consultative discussions aim to support mapping and selecting tea-garden sites, while strengthening field-access strategies and training methods for the main study.
Punjab: Sunil Jakhar alleges AAP leaders occupying ministers residences
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 29 (IANS) Former Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday alleged that Delhi-based Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders had occupied official residences meant for ministers and were exercising control over the states administration with the backing of party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, whom he described as the super CM. Visiting official residences of ministers and the Sector 39 Circuit House here, Jakhar alleged that AAP associates were occupying government properties without authorisation, displacing legitimate occupants. He said he visited the premises to confirm who was actually living there, rather than relying on social media discussions and hearsay. Questioning the alleged presence of files from the department of Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian at residence No. 926, Jakhar said a minister was bound by his constitutional oath to maintain confidentiality in official matters. He claimed the files contained information relating to an alleged Rs 10,000-crore GMADA scam and questioned how they had reached the residence where AAP leader Satyendar Jain was allegedly staying. Jakhar alleged that the incident reflected a system of administrative control from Delhi and said the Enforcement Directorates investigation would bring out the truth. He demanded Mundians resignation. Targeting Kejriwal, Jakhar recalled that the AAP leader had projected himself as an advocate of simplicity and honesty and had earlier declared that he would not accept an official residence as Chief Minister. However, he alleged that under the AAP government in Punjab, party associates from Delhi had occupied official properties meant for state ministers. Jakhar also claimed that Punjab Police was preventing him from entering the Sector 39 Circuit House despite his having booked a room there for September 29 two days earlier. I am a resident of Punjab and have a valid booking, yet I am being denied entry, while people without any legal authority are occupying government properties, he said. He further claimed that Circuit House rooms had been placed under the permanent control of AAP associates, leaving visiting government officials, political leaders and journalists from Punjab without access to accommodation. Alleging that ministers had become ministers only in name, Jakhar said their identities were being concealed, with even nameplates removed from their official residences. He urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to discharge his responsibility towards Punjab and remove what he described as unidentified Delhi-based occupants from government properties. Warning that the protest would intensify if the alleged illegal occupation continued, Jakhar said the buildings had been constructed with taxpayers money, and those occupying them must vacate. On the unrest at Lovely Professional University and Chitkara University, reportedly triggered by rumours, Jakhar said the incidents were serious and required a thorough investigation. Referring particularly to the developments at Lovely Professional University, he alleged that people posing as protesters had reached a girls hostel, raising concerns about students' safety. Jakhar reiterated his demand for a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the incidents at the two universities.
Saurabh Bharadwaj denies intimidation after FIR over Delhi Police head constable assault
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Indian Railways to run one-month ticketchecking drive in October
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Indian Railways will run a ticketchecking drive across the Central Railway network from October 1-31, targeting concession tickets, fixed reservation quotas, railway passes and group bookings, an official statement said on Tuesday. Ticketchecking staff will verify passengers eligibility and insist on original identity proof for concessions and quota travel. The checking will be conducted in railway stations as well as local trains. Central Railway in a statement appealed to passengers to travel with valid tickets and the required documents and cooperate with ticket-checking staff to ensure a smooth journey. Ticket-checking staff can use the TTE App, wherever required, to verify the authenticity of tickets including unreserved tickets. Passengers, travelling on concession tickets or under specified reservation quotas must carry the prescribed original identity proof to establish their eligibility. Acceptable IDs include Aadhaar, passport, PAN, driving licence, voter ID, government photo ID, student ID, bank passbook with photo, and bank credit card with laminated photo. Passengers should carry the original document and not rely only on a photocopy or an image of the document stored on their phone. Passengers with an E-Pass or Privilege Ticket Order (PTO) must carry the prescribed original identity proof and ensure that the E-Pass or PTO has been duly exchanged or converted into the prescribed Authority to Travel before starting their journey. Travellers using group reservations must also show the necessary documents to prove eligibility. When a ticket is reserved for over one person, at least one of the passengers must have the required original identity proof. Passengers unable to establish their eligibility or produce the required documents could face action under the applicable railway rules. They may also be liable to a higher excess charge. The minimum penalty for travelling without a ticket or in an unauthorised manner has been revised to Rs 500 from Rs 250 from June 20, 2026, after changes under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026.
Mohit Sharma set to join CSK as bowling coach for IPL 2027
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Former India pacer Mohit Sharma is set to join Chennai Super Kings as the teams new bowling coach for IPL 2027, returning to the franchise where he spent four seasons as a player. The 38-year-old is expected to take over the bowling coach role from Eric Simmons, who served in the position under former head coach Stephen Fleming. CSK head coach Zaheer Khan has decided on having Mohit Sharma on board for the bowling coach role for IPL 2027. A word on the rest of CSK's support staff appointments is expected to arrive in the coming weeks, a source aware of the development told IANS on Tuesday. Mohit, who had also played for India in eight T20 matches, took part in the IPL as recently as during the 2025 season before retiring from the game altogether in December last year. He is closely linked with CSK, having played 48 IPL matches for the team over four seasons. Moreover, he played in 10 matches for the team during two seasons of the now defunct Champions League T20. Mohit was part of the CSK team during a successful phase for the franchise and is now expected to return in a coaching role as the team starts a new phase under Zaheer. CSK secured their fifth IPL title in 2023, but has not made it to the playoffs in each of the three most recent seasons. This continued decline ultimately caused the franchise to part ways with their long-serving head coach Fleming recently. Zaheer was then made the new head coach, Mohit now being the first major addition to his support staff before IPL 2027. The franchise is due to make more changes to its support staff in the coming weeks.
TG to engage Army officers on deputation for SLBC tunnel, Kaleshwaram barrages rehab works
Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy seeks their expertise by meeting Chief of Army Staff Gen. Dhiraj Seth in New Delhi
MCD carries out 29 demolitions and seals 10 properties across Delhi
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Asian Games: PM Modi hails Neeru, womens trap team on gold-silver wins
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Neeru Dhanda and the womens trap team after the Indian shooter scripted history by winning gold in the womens trap event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya. Neeru produced a composed performance in the final to finish on top with 28 hits, securing Indias first individual womens gold in trap at the Asian Games, according to the Prime Ministers post. Neeru Dhanda has given India a historic moment to celebrate! Congratulations to her on becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual Gold in Trap at the Asian Games. Her exceptional accuracy and composure have brought immense pride to the nation. This achievement will encourage many more young sportspersons to take up shooting and aim for the highest honours, PM Modi wrote on X. The trio of Neeru, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer won the silver medal in the womens trap team event, adding another medal to the countrys rising tally in the discipline. The Indian team shot a combined score of 328 after three days of the 125-shot qualification round, fending off the challenge of Kuwait for the silver. China clinched the gold with an aggregate of 346, while Kuwait bagged bronze with 325 here at Aichi Pref. General Shooting Gallery. Aashima and Manisha missed out on the final after scoring 106 and 104 to finish 11th and 16th, and 23rd, respectively. Congratulations to Manisha Keer, Neeru and Aashima Ahlawat on winning the Silver medal in the Womens Trap Team event at the Asian Games. It was a commendable display of precision, focus and teamwork. May the entire team continue to excel and bring more laurels to India, PM Modi added. The 26-year-old shooter had entered the final after topping the qualification round with 118 hits. She then negotiated a tense final to emerge with the gold, holding her nerve during the decisive stages of the competition. Chinas Sun Yunong finished second with 26 hits, while Kuwaits Hajar Abdulmalik took the bronze with 21.
4 Dead After 2 Cars Crash Off Delhi-Mumbai Expressway In Madhya Pradesh
The freak consecutive accidents left two women from Punjab and two men from Gujarat dead.
The Delhi High Court has appointed a monitoring committee headed by former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna to streamline the process of identifying genuine homebuyers of the Greenopolis project and facilitate the restitution process in the long-running dispute involving Three C Shelters and Orris Infrastructure. Justice A.J. Bhambhani, in a judgment pronounced on September 29, said the committee was necessary in view of the large number of claimants and competing claims over assets attached by the Enforcement Directorate. The court noted that the objective was to expedite tangible relief to homebuyers affected by the abandonment of the Greenopolis project. The committee will comprise Justice Sanjiv Khanna as Chairperson, along with two former judicial officers of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service, HS Sharma, former Principal District Judge, New Delhi District, and Ajay Kumar Kuhar, former Additional District and Sessions Judge, Delhi. The Chairperson has also been given the discre...
Expiry-day volatility continues as Nifty slips 2.2 pc during CAS
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) The Niftys indicative closing level briefly plunged 2.2 per cent during the closing auction session on Tuesday, hitting a low of 22,267 as monthly derivatives expiry amplified volatility, before the index recovered. Nifty ended the day down only 0.28 per cent at 22,716.20 and the BSE Sensex fell 0.33 per cent to 72,529.07. Bank Nifty slid below 53,300 during the CAS but the index closed only 0.4 per cent lower at 54,259.95. The sharp swings during the CAS had prompted regulator review after traders said the mechanism was producing abrupt moves in derivatives on expiry days. The CAS framework was introduced on August 3 to determine endofday prices for futures and options, through a short auction at the end of the trading day. In a consultation paper released earlier this month, the Securities and Exchange Board of India proposed two alternatives for setting expiryday derivative settlement prices. First method uses trades from the last 30 minutes of regular trading plus the 10minute closing auction, and the second one temporarily returns to using only the last 30 minutes of regular trading while excluding the closing auction for at least a year. SEBI also proposed to stop traders from cancelling orders placed over 1 per cent above or below the reference price. Other proposals include reducing the post-auction derivatives trading window to five minutes from 10 minutes, and stopping the system of publishing an estimated index closing level during the auction. SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey clarified earlier in September that the market regulator is reworking the methodology for determining the closing prices under this framework. He acknowledged that the rollout of CAS across jurisdictions faced initial challenges, particularly around liquidity but he said that the CAS framework is here to stay. Initial liquidity was an issue after implementation but liquidity builds up over time, the SEBI chairman said.
Delhi High Court appoints committee led by ex-CJI Sanjiv Khanna to verify Greenopolis homebuyers
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Court Orders Probe Into Gurugram Police, Doctor Over Body Handling
A Delhi court has ordered an investigation into Gurugram Police officials and a doctor for alleged procedural lapses in handling the body of real estate professional Yuvraj Singh Manchanda. The court cited delays in uploading body details to ZIPNET, failure to videograph the post-mortem, and discrepancies in the post-mortem report, suggesting a possible role in the disappearance of evidence.
BIMSTEC Joint Working Group Concludes 11th Meeting in New Delhi Focused on Counterterrorism
The 11th BIMSTEC Joint Working Group meeting in New Delhi addressed counterterrorism and transnational crime among member nations. BIMSTEC Joint Working Group Concludes 11th Meeting in New Delhi Focused on Counterterrorism
Gold slips below 1.5 lakh per 10g in Delhi for the first time in 2 months
Gold falls 1,400 to 1.486 lakh per 10g in Delhi as weak local demand and a stronger US dollar weigh on prices
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 29 (IANS) Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President, Harshwardhan Sapkal, on Tuesday requested state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), S. Chockalingam, to extend the deadline for submitting claims and objections to the draft electoral roll by two months. Denouncing the current October 12 deadline set under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive as grossly inadequate, the Congress leadership warned that millions of citizens risk disenfranchisement due to severe administrative and technical bottlenecks. In an official letter addressed to CEO Chockalingam, Sapkal highlighted that an MPCC delegation had previously met election authorities on September 22 to outline the operational challenges on the ground. However, the Election Commission (EC) granted an extension of merely 12 days, which Sapkal labeled insufficient, given the massive volume of pending revisions. Citing figures from the states electoral database, Sapkal pointed out that out of 1.54 crore voters flagged on the Absentee, Shifted, and Dead/Duplicate Voters (ASDDO) list, along with 40 lakh youth eligible for new registration, a meager 3,90,000 citizens have managed to submit Form 6 for voter registration. He further noted that despite errors in the newly formatted Form 6 being brought to the Election Commission's attention, revised forms have not been printed, leaving citizens unable to access error-free application copies. The MPCC chief outlined several major impediments disrupting the registration drive across Maharashtra. Frequent server downtime, combined with non-linking of Aadhaar and mobile numbers, has severely paralysed online submissions. Discrepancies between Marathi and English transliterations of voter names are creating further roadblocks, he said. He further stated that Booth Level Officers (BLOs)a significant portion of whom are schoolteachersare currently tied up with conducting mid-term school examinations alongside festive duties during Navratri. Serving notices house-to-house while collecting verification documents has stretched the staff beyond capacity, raising serious concerns over their availability to process fresh applications. Pointing to critical flaws in the EC's duplication software, Sapkal revealed that a list containing over 25,000 duplicate voter entries in a single Lok Sabha constituency was recently submitted directly to the Nagpur District Collector. To ensure a transparent, inclusive, and error-free electoral roll, the state Congress chief urged the Election Commission to immediately extend the deadline for claims and objections by two months beyond October 12 to provide adequate time for citizens and field staff, publish daily constituency-wise data detailing the exact number of Form 6, 7, and 8 applications received, following the transparent reporting model used in Delhi and conduct thorough re-verifications across all constituencies to purge bogus and duplicate entries that continue to persist in the draft rolls. To ensure that voter registration is conducted thoroughly and no eligible citizen is left out, a two-month extension is mandatory, Sapkal stated, urging the CEO to act swiftly in the interest of fair elections.
India hosts 11th BIMSTEC meeting on counter terrorism, transnational crime
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) India hosted the 11th meeting of the BIMSTEC Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (JWG-CTTC) in New Delhi on September 28 and 29 with delegations from all member states in attendance, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday. The 11th meeting of the BIMSTEC Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (JWG-CTTC), hosted by the Government of India, was held on 28-29 September 2026 in New Delhi. Delegation from all the BIMSTEC Member States i.e., Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, attended the meeting, the MEA said in a statement. The meeting was chaired by Suhel Ajaz Khan, Additional Secretary (Counter Terrorism) in the Ministry of External Affairs. The meeting discussed traditional and emerging non-traditional security threats in the BIMSTEC region. The participants also deliberated and made recommendations on a wide range of issues to enhance cooperation and collaboration in countering terrorism and transnational crimes in the region, the statement mentioned. The meeting also discussed the reports of the meetings of various sub-groups under the BIMSTEC JWG-CTTC, namely the sub-group on human trafficking; the sub-group on prevention of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals; the sub-group on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism; the sub-group on legal and law enforcement issues; and the sub-group on cooperation on countering radicalisation and terrorism. In July, the National Security Chiefs of BIMSTEC discussed practical and result-oriented solutions to combat terrorism and organised crime, ensure security in the cyber, maritime and energy domains; enhance connectivity; facilitate efficient disaster management; and to tackle new and emerging threats. The discussions were held during the fifth meeting of the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs chaired by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by National Security Advisors/ Heads of delegations from all other Member States, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. BIMSTEC bridges South Asia and Southeast Asia, two of the most significant and vibrant regions of the Indian Ocean. Over the years, BIMSTEC has strengthened cooperation in regional security, disaster management, transport and trade connectivity, technological issues, and people-to-people ties.
IBTIDA: Ek Mehfil Presents Ghazal Aur Baatein With Vishal Bhardwaj
An evening of ghazals, stories and memories under the timeless arches of one of Delhis most atmospheric monument, at the Historic Safdarjung Tomb on 11th october 2026
AIIB can expand financing to AI, MSME and skilling sectors in India: FM Sitharaman
Digital Desk | Doha, Sep 29 (IANS) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) could further expand beyond physical infrastructure financing to include newer infrastructure in India that focuses on AI, MSMEs, and skilling. During her meeting with Zou Jiayi, President, AIIB, on the sidelines of the AIIB 2026 Annual Meeting in Doha, Qatar, she noted that MSMEs are the backbone of India's economy, and assistance for AI adaptability and manpower training can help MSMEs. The AIIB President congratulated FM Sitharaman on the successful BRICS Leaders' Summit in New Delhi. Finance Minister also congratulated AIIB on its strong performance in the first half of the year. She conveyed India's support for the Bank's 2027 budget plans and focus areas for scaling up operations. Both the leaders discussed the robust pipeline of AIIB's projects in India and expanding the global presence of AIIB, including in India, according to a Finance Ministry post on X. Recalling her last visit to project sites in Delhi and Meerut, the AIIB President said that the bank will continue financing projects for people, urban development and environmental protection. FM Sitharaman reiterated that the Bank's regional centrality should continue to remain a defining institutional characteristic and an important anchor of its mandate. Earlier in the day, FM Sitharaman conveyed that Saudi Arabia is Indias trusted and valued strategic partner, highlighting the wide-ranging partnership between the two countries across defence, security, trade, investment, energy, technology, healthcare, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges. She met Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of the AIIB 2026 Annual Meeting here, who congratulated the Union Finance Minister on India's robust economic performance and improving investment climate, and shared his perspective on the Saudi economy. Both the Ministers welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on the India-Saudi Arabia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which will provide a stronger and more predictable framework for bilateral investments and further strengthen investor confidence, according to Finance Ministry. In her meeting with Ambassador Pietro Lazzeri, AIIB Governor from Switzerland, FM Sitharaman highlighted the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund as a trusted partner for foreign investors seeking to access opportunities in India, with high standards of governance and transparency; and Swiss investors could explore NIIF infrastructure funds to gain exposure to India's infrastructure sector.
Rabi Campaign 2026: Agriculture Minister Announces Fertiliser Stock
Amid global supply chain pressures and fluctuating weather patterns, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, addressed a high-level press conference following the National Rabi Campaign 2026 conference in New Delhi. Reaffirming the governments unwavering commitment to the farming community, Chauhan stated that the Modi administration stands like a [] The post Rabi Campaign 2026: Agriculture Minister Announces Fertiliser Stock & Targets appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
Asian Games: Prez Murmu hails Narender, Gulveer on bronze medal wins
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday congratulated boxer Narender Berwal and distance runner Gulveer Singh for winning bronze medals at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, praising their performances and perseverance on the continental stage. Narender secured the bronze in the mens +90kg boxing event after his semifinal run came to an end with a 0-5 unanimous-decision defeat to Kazakhstans world champion Oralbay. The Indian boxer competed strongly but was unable to overturn the Kazakhs advantage as Oralbay controlled the bout with his punching and defensive work. I extend my heartiest congratulations to Narender Berwal on winning the Bronze Medal in the Mens +90kg Boxing event at the Asian Games 2026. Your determined performance in the ring has brought glory to the nation and added another proud achievement to Indian boxing. My best wishes for many more successes in your sporting journey, the President wrote on X. Narenders medal adds to his bronze from the +92kg category at the previous Asian Games. His run in Nagoya also came as India secured another medal in boxing, with Parveen Hooda advancing to the final of the womens 65kg event after defeating Chinas Li Shu 5-0. President Murmu also congratulated Gulveer after the Indian distance runner completed an impressive three-medal campaign by winning bronze in the mens 5000m. Gulveer clocked 13:32.75 to finish third behind Bahrains Birhanu Balew (13:30.79) and Japans Yamaguchi Tomonori (13:31.43). The podium finish followed his silver medals in the 10,000m and 1500m earlier in the Games. I once again extend my congratulations to Gulveer Singh on winning the Bronze Medal in the Mens 5000 Metres at the Asian Games 2026 and completing a memorable medal haul. Standing on the podium in three different distance events at one edition of the Games reflects exceptional endurance, determination and consistency. My best wishes to you for many more such achievements, she added. Gulveers three-medal haul made him the first Indian athlete in 40 years to win three medals at a single edition of the Asian Games, since P.T. Ushas four-medal performance at the 1986 Seoul Games. His latest bronze capped a memorable campaign in which he became the first Indian to win two Asian Games medals in the 10,000m, following his bronze at Hangzhou in 2023.
Drishyam: The Conclusion is heading towards its October 2 release with strong advance-booking numbers, crossing Rs 18 crore in gross sales before hitting theatres. Ajay Devgns return as Vijay Salgaonkar has generated significant interest, with opening-day bookings accounting for a major share of the total. Early trade estimates are now pointing towards a Rs 40 crore-plus opening.
Drunk Man Makes False Building Collapse Call In Delhi, Triggers Panic
On reaching the spot, officials found that no building had collapsed or tilted, and the call was subsequently declared malicious, the fire department said.
Kejriwal demands CCTV and police deployment to improve safety for Delhi women students
The News Mill
Delhi CEO begins 2-day special young voter enrolment camp at colleges
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) As part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026, the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Tuesday launched a two-day special camp at colleges, universities and other educational institutions in the city in a push to enrol young electors in the 18 to 25 age group. Booth Level Officers were present at these venues with electoral rolls and blank Form-6 applications to guide and assist eligible students in filling out the necessary forms. Anyone who has completed or will complete 18 years of age as of October 1, 2026, and whose name does not appear in the draft electoral roll, could file Form-6 along with supporting documents during these camps, which will also be conducted on Wednesday. The CEOs office posted a series of messages on social media, sharing pictures from the camps held for young voters in different districts. In one post on X, the Delhi CEOs office said, Special Camp for Young Electors organised at Shyam Lal College in District North East Delhi, as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026. Special Camp for Young Electors organised at Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta Institute of Professional Studies, AC-65 Seelampur, as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026, said another post. In South East Delhi, the Special Camp for Young Electors was organised at Acharya Narendra Dev College. A Special Camp for enrolment of Young Electors was also organised at Janki Devi Memorial College, Old Rajinder Nagar, AC-39, as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026, said the CEO. The Delhi election office said that citizens may also submit other claims and objections using the prescribed forms till October 30. Form 6 is for new voters, Form 6A for overseas electors, Form 7 for objections to proposed inclusion or deletion of names, and Form 8 for shifting of residence, correction of entries, replacement of EPIC cards, or marking of persons with disabilities, an official statement said. Applications can be submitted offline by handing them over to the electoral registration officer, assistant electoral registration officer, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) or at designated polling station locations till October 30. Online applications are also being accepted through the website https://voters.eci.gov.in and the ECINET mobile app. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office has appealed to all eligible citizens to come forward and utilise these services. The Election Commission reiterated its firm commitment to conducting a transparent, participative and inclusive revision process so that every eligible citizen finds a place on the electoral roll.
Fabletics opens first India store in Delhi in partnership with Reliance Brands
Global activewear brand Fabletics has opened its first store in India at DLF Promenade, New Delhi, in partnership with Reliance Brands Limited (RBL). The opening marks the brand
Petrol and diesel prices remain an important part of household and business expenses, particularly for people who commute daily or depend on road transport. On September 29, 2026, fuel rates across major Indian cities continue to differ significantly, with local taxes and other pricing components co...
Gold slips below Rs 1.5 lakh per 10g in Delhi, first time in 2 months
New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) Gold prices on Tuesday slipped below Rs 1.50 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital for the first time in two months, falling by Rs 1,400 amid bearish local demand and a soaring US dollar. Falling for the second day, the yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity traded lower by Rs 1,400 at Rs 1,48,600 per 10 grams, inclusive of all taxes, according to local traders. The precious metal traded at Rs 1.50 lakh per 10 grams on Monday. Gold was last quoted around these levels on July 31, when it stood at
Imran Masood, Chandrashekhar Azad criticise UP govt after SC quashes NSA detention in Sambhal case
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Following the Supreme Courts decision to quash the preventive detention of Mulla Afroz under the National Security Act (NSA) in connection with the November 2024 Sambhal violence, Congress MP Imran Masood and Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) president Chandrashekhar Azad on Tuesday criticised the Uttar Pradesh government. The Supreme Court held that the power of preventive detention had been illegally exercised and imposed costs of Rs 10 lakh on the Uttar Pradesh government. The court also set aside the Allahabad High Court order that had upheld the detention. Speaking to IANS, Masood said, It has not only been quashed. Please read the complete news. Along with quashing the NSA, a fine of Rs 10 lakh has also been imposed on the state government. Officials should understand that the agenda they are pursuing with their eyes closed will eventually lead to files reaching the Supreme Court and could send them behind bars. The Saharanpur mosque case will also come up in the same manner, he said. Masood further said, There are documents that are speaking for themselves. You cannot hide those documents. Demolishing mosques and persecuting people based on religion goes against the Indian Constitution. The same Constitution that gives you the authority to hold office also guarantees the protection of our rights. Aazad Samaj Party president and Nagina MP, Chandrashekhar Azad, said the Rs 10 lakh cost imposed by the Supreme Court was inadequate. A Rs 10 lakh fine is too little. The government and police send innocent people to jail on the government's orders, and when the judiciary imposes a fine on them, it is only Rs 10 lakh. In my view, the fine should have been Rs 10 crore, he said. Azad alleged that the NSA was being used to suppress opposition voices and silence cases, adding that he had himself been detained under the law. I am sitting before you today after the government detained me under the NSA despite me being innocent. I was kept in jail for 16 months, he said. The government wants to suppress voices of opposition and silence cases through the NSA. The people will not be suppressed either. When the people and the state stand up, they will remove this government from power, he added. The Supreme Courts ruling came on a petition filed by Mulla Afroz, who was arrested in connection with the Sambhal violence.
DGCA issues new training framework for Gyroplane Pilot licences
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) In a move aimed at paving the way for the introduction of gyroplane operations in the country, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday announced that it has promulgated a new Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) detailing the training syllabus for pilots seeking licences in the gyroplane category. The newly notified CAR, titled Ground and Flying Training Syllabus for Issue of Pilot Licence for Gyroplanes under Section 7, Series B, Part XXI, lays down the prescribed ground and flying training requirements that candidates must complete to obtain a DGCA pilot licence for gyroplanes. Gyroplanes are a distinctive class of aircraft that generate lift through a freely rotating rotor system, while forward movement is provided by an engine-driven propeller. Unlike helicopters, the rotor of a gyroplane is not powered in flight, making the aircraft suitable for a range of specialised and recreational operations. The CAR prescribes the ground and flying training syllabus for candidates seeking a DGCA pilot licence in the gyroplane category, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said. According to the aviation regulator, gyroplanes can be deployed for activities such as joyrides, air experience flights and various aerial work operations, including agricultural spraying, banner towing, surveillance and survey missions. Gyroplanes are a unique category of aircraft that use a freely rotating rotor system to generate lift, while forward thrust is provided by a propeller, the regulator said. Their operational capabilities make them suitable for joyrides, air experience flights and aerial work activities such as agricultural spraying, banner towing, surveillance and survey operations, it added. The DGCA said the issuance of the new CAR marks an important first step towards enabling the operationalisation of gyroplanes in India. The regulatory framework is expected to provide the foundation for pilot training and licensing, which are key prerequisites for the growth of the segment. The regulator noted that additional measures will be required to support the development of the ecosystem around gyroplane operations. These include the establishment of dedicated training organisations as well as the development of manufacturing and assembly capabilities within the country.
The signal-free route between East Delhi and AIIMS is expected to reduce travel time to around 1520 minutes. However, during peak hours or heavy traffic, commuters may take 3040 minutes.
Delhi HC directs takedown of fake profiles, deepfake content using Drishti IAS founder's identity
The Delhi High Court has ordered the removal of several online materials allegedly using the identity of Drishti IAS founder Vikas Divyakirti without authorisation, including fake social media profiles, deepfake videos and certain unauthorised recordings of his lectures. Justice AJ Bhambhani passed the directions while hearing a plea filed by Divyakirti seeking protection against alleged misuse of his name, image and identity on digital platforms. The case relates to online accounts and channels allegedly created using Divyakirti
PM Modi degree case: Gujarat HC rejects Kejriwals appeal against Rs 25,000 cost
Digital Desk | Ahmedabad, Sep 29 (IANS) The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday dismissed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwals appeal against the order that quashed a Central Information Commission (CIC) direction seeking disclosure of Prime Minister Narendra Modis academic degree by Gujarat University, while upholding the Rs 25,000 cost imposed on him. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D N Ray found no ground to interfere with the March 31, 2023 order of the single judge. The bench said there was no error in the judgment under challenge and dismissed the appeal without imposing any further costs. In the totality of facts and circumstances of the present case, no error on any of the submissions of the appellant hearing can be found in the judgment impugned. The appeal stands dismissed accordingly with no further order as to cost, the court said. The single judge had in March 2023 allowed Gujarat Universitys challenge to the CICs 2016 direction and set aside the order requiring it to provide information concerning PM Modis educational qualifications. The court had also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on Kejriwal, observing that the RTI provisions had been approached casually and had been misused. During the appeal proceedings, Kejriwals counsel, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, challenged the basis for imposing the cost. He argued that Kejriwal had not persisted in seeking PM Modis degree, contrary to the observation made by the single judge. Singhvi also contended that the CIC had initiated the proceedings suo motu and had made Kejriwal a respondent on the basis of a letter rather than a formal RTI application. Another issue before the court was Gujarat Universitys submission that the degree was already available online. Kejriwals lawyers had, in a review petition before the single judge, argued that the degree had never actually been uploaded on the universitys website, but the plea was rejected. Singhvi argued that if the degree was indeed available online, presumably because the university had made it public in view of its importance, there would be no surviving cause of action under the Right to Information Act. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat University, opposed the appeal. He argued that Kejriwal had pursued the matter relentlessly and had also held press conferences which, according to the university, defamed the institution. Mehta submitted that costs should be imposed to discourage misuse of the RTI Act and prevent government officials from spending productive working hours dealing with requests that did not serve the Acts purpose. The dispute dates back to 2016, when Kejriwal wrote to the CIC seeking disclosure of PM Modis degree and said he had no objection to government records concerning him being made public. He questioned why information about PM Modis educational qualifications was being hidden. In April 2016, then CIC M Sridhar Acharyulu directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide information concerning the degrees obtained by PM Modi. Gujarat University subsequently approached the High Court, and the CIC direction was stayed. Gujarat University had strongly objected to the CIC proceedings, arguing that an individuals irresponsible childish curiosity could not be treated as public interest under the RTI Act. In 2016, then vice-chancellor M N Patel had said PM Modi had completed an MA in Political Science in 1983. The university also put the degree on its website while challenging the CIC order before the High Court. The single judge later quashed the CIC direction, criticised the commission for venturing into judicial activism and imposed the Rs 25,000 cost on Kejriwal. Kejriwal subsequently approached the division bench against that order. The High Court had reserved its verdict on the appeal after completing the hearing on September 25. The division benchs September 29 order now upholds both the quashing of the CIC direction and the Rs 25,000 cost imposed on Kejriwal.
'Situation now worse than during British era': CPI and CPI-M protest outside ECI office over SIR
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Members of Left parties, including the CPI and CPI-M, gathered outside the Election Commission of India (ECI) office on Tuesday and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Speaking to IANS, CPI-M leader Brinda Karat noted that nearly 13 crore citizens had been removed from the voter list. Right now, almost 13 crore citizens of our country have been removed from the voter list. The situation made right now is worse than during the British era, she said. CPI-M General Secretary M.A. Baby also targeted the CEC, saying: Gyanesh Kumar cannot continue; we will not allow him to continue. The protest comes amid a broader Opposition campaign against the SIR exercise and demands for action against the CEC. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday demanded the immediate removal of Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the SIR, and also sought Prime Minister Narendra Modis resignation on moral grounds over alleged pressure on the poll panel chief. Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Kharge said the party would intensify its campaign against the CEC and the government, including by taking up the issue on the streets and in Parliament. On September 25, the Congress had led nationwide protests demanding Gyanesh Kumars resignation, accusing him of compromising the integrity of the electoral process. Civil society groups and other organisations also held parallel protests in Delhi and several states. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear next week a petition challenging the functioning of the CEC and questioning the legality of the nationwide SIR. The controversy intensified after an Indian leading daily reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on at least 14 occasions over decisions and orders concerning the SIR during the past 10 months. According to the report, the two commissioners had alleged that some decisions were taken without their knowledge or recommendation. The ECI, however, has maintained that its decisions on the SIR were taken in accordance with the law and has characterised differences within the Commission as part of its internal deliberations.
JPC members seek postponement of meeting on FCRA Bill
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the FCRA (Amendment) Bill have written to Chairman Sanjay Jaiswal requesting a postponement of the panel's meeting scheduled for October 12. In a letter dated September 29, the members, including Congress MP Anto Antony, urged that the meeting be deferred by at least four weeks, citing the importance and wide-ranging implications of the proposed Foreign Contribution Regulation (Amendment) Act (FCRAA). The members said they require adequate time to study the Bill and related documents thoroughly before proceeding with its examination. They also requested that the period for receiving public comments, suggestions, and representations from stakeholders be kept open for a minimum of four weeks to allow organisations, experts and the public to submit their views. The letter stated that adequate time would enable members to properly consider the representations before deliberating on the Bill, and called for a more comprehensive and informed examination of the legislation. A 31-member committee, headed by BJP MP Jaiswal, was constituted to examine the provisions of the FCRA legislation in detail before coming out with a report. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill, 2006 provides, among other things, to consolidate the law to regulate the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality and prohibit the same for any activities detrimental to the national interests. All organisations and NGOs receiving foreign funding have to mandatorily register under the FCRA Act, and their activities are closely monitored by the Ministry of Home Affairs acting as nodal authority. The Amendment bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 this year and referred to the JPC on August 12 following the demand of the opposition parties, who had raised objections over certain provisions of the legislation. Opposition parties, which have raised strong objections to the FCRA Bill, alleged that it targets minorities as certain provisions will choke legitimate funding for Christian NGOs and minority-run social welfare and educational institutions. However, the government has rejected the charges and maintained that the rules apply standard legal procedures for foreign funding transparency without targeting any specific community. The government has maintained that the proposed legislation is not religion-specific and is aimed at regulating foreign contributions with the aim of enhancing transparency and ensuring proper utilisation of funds received from abroad. The government has highlighted incidents of forced religious conversion as instances of misuse of foreign contributions.
Come to Delhi for Discussion Instead of Protest: Pralhad Joshi to Hubballi Farmers
The appeal came on the day a protest has been planned by the Karnataka State Raitha Sena in Hubballi, where farmers will march towards Joshi's residence and office to demand a remunerative price for sugarcane and implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission
Repo rate likely to reach 6.25 pc by mid2027, 25 bps hike in Oct: Report
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Reserve Bank of India is likely to begin a ratehiking cycle at its October 7 meeting and to raise the repo rate to 6.25 per cent by the first half of 2027, as resilient growth and broadening inflation risks prompt a shift away from monetary accommodation, a report said on Tuesday. The report from Bank of America (BofA) Securities said the bank has brought forward its earlier call for a December hike and raised its total tightening forecast to 100 basis points from an earlier 50 basis points. The investment bank predicted an initial 25 basis points hike in October, a further 50 basis points by December 2026 and another 50 basis points in the first half of 2027. The RBI is likely to move to a calibrated tightening stance in December, once the first 50 bps is done, the report noted. Domestic growth remains resilient, with investment and credit demand holding up, while higher energy prices, food inflation and wider price pressures are strengthening the case for tighter policy. The incoming data on domestic inflation and growth, coupled with a global backdrop of higher US rates and commodity prices provides little room to wait. The report attributed the surge in the number of hikes largely to growing risks of greater supply side inflation, amid resurgent energy prices and risks of higher fuel prices. Further, growth staying robust further raises risks of inflation expectations staying entrenched, which when combined together, result in a balance of risks biased more towards inflation management, rather than growth protection. We believe with credit demand improving, top line revenue growth picking up and pricing power visible, the need to keep monetary conditions accommodative has gone away, and RBI will eventually need to shift towards a tightening stance in coming quarters, even if supply side risks dissipate, the report noted.
Four killed, eight injured in two accidents on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in MP
Digital Desk | Ratlam, Sep 29 (IANS) At least four people were killed and eight others injured in two separate road accidents on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district on Tuesday, police said. The accidents occurred within a span of about two hours on the eight-lane expressway under the jurisdiction of Jaora Industrial police station, with both cars plunging into a 30-40 feet deep gorge after hitting the central median. The first accident took place around 4:30 a.m. when a car carrying a family from Punjab, travelling from Ambala in Haryana to Mumbai, hit the median railing. The vehicle broke through a portion of the railing and fell into the gorge, police said. Narendra Kaur (67) and her daughter-in-law Manpreet Kaur (32), both from Punjab, died in the accident. Three other occupants, including an elderly man and two children, were injured. Prima facie, it appears that the driver may have become drowsy while driving at high speed and lost control of the vehicle, causing it to hit the railing, Jaora Industrial police station in-charge Prakash Gadariya said. Police reached the spot after receiving information from other motorists and shifted the injured to a hospital in Jaora. They were later referred to Ratlam Medical College for further treatment. While police personnel were examining the site of the first accident, another car carrying a family from Dahod in Gujarat met with an accident around 6:30 a.m., police said. The second vehicle, bearing registration number GJ20 CB 4610, reportedly went airborne after hitting the central median and fell into the gorge. The railing at the spot had been damaged in the first accident. Ravi Hatila (35), who was driving the second car, and Ramesh Makwana (50), both from Dahod, were killed. Four to five other occupants of the vehicle were injured. The railing had been damaged in the first accident, and while our personnel were conducting an inspection at the spot, the second car hit the median and fell into the gorge, Gadariya said. The Gujarat family was returning to Dahod after travelling to Uttar Pradesh for medical treatment of a family member. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding both accidents, including the condition of the road infrastructure and the factors that led to the vehicles losing control.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar drew the red line on terror, specifying that New Delhi's bilateral ties with its allies depend on their acknowledgement of cross-border terrorism originating from India's neighbours.
Delhi HC Fines Lawyer Rs 1 Lakh for Appearing Virtually From Moving Car
The Delhi High Court has imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on a lawyer for appearing virtually before it from a moving car, holding that the lawyer's conduct was in violation of the rules.
Delhi Braces For Winter Pollution Curb With 50% WFH, Slow Construction
The plan follows a whole-of government and whole-of-society approach, involving govt agencies
India faces up to 60 PC talent shortage in GenAI, Cloud: Report
New Delhi: Indias tech industry is growing fast but holds a 5360 per cent talent gap in GenAI and Cloud with only about 16 per cent of IT professionals holding AI skills, a report said on Tuesday, September 29. The report from talent solutions firm TeamLease Digital said that Cloud has the widest supply gap 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 .
Asian Games: Baranica Elangovans coach Milber Bertrand Russell raises bar for bronze medallist
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Baranicas historic pole vault medal at the Asian Games has renewed belief in her long-time coach Milber Bertrand Russell, who now hopes the 29-year-old Tamil Nadu athlete can consistently raise her personal best and establish herself at the world level. Baranica made history on September 25 by becoming the first Indian, male or female, to win a pole vault medal at the Olympics, Asian Games or Commonwealth Games, and Russell believes the landmark achievement can be a springboard for bigger goals. Baranica, who made her Asian Games debut here at Nagoya, shared the bronze with Polina Kazakhstan after both cleared a height of 4.15 metres. Japans Misaki Morota (4.55 m) and Chinas Niu Chunge (4.50 m) won gold and silver, respectively. Baranicas rather unexpected medal has injected new belief in her long-time coach Milber Bertrand Russell. The next targets will be to consistently improve her personal best and move towards the 4.40-4.50m level. Beyond that, we want her to compete strongly at major international competitions and continue improving her position at the world level, said Russell in an interaction with SAI Media. Basketballs loss was athletics gain as it was Russell who coached Baranica to become a national level athlete. I am a pole-vaulter by chance and it was my coach who brought me to this level, said Baranica, whose best has been a 4.23 m, a national record until G. Sindhusree Ganesha broke it by clearing 4.25. No one was expecting me to win a medal. I only wanted to improve my personal best but I ended up on the podium. At least I have opened Indias account at the Asian Games and I thank my support team and family for this, said Baranica to SAI Media. Baranicas Asian Games bronze has really fired up Russell. For me, this medal is not the destination. It is the beginning of the next chapter for Baranica. We came to Nagoya with a realistic approach. We knew the competition would be very strong and that every athlete would be capable of performing at a high level. Our target was to take the competition one height at a time and focus on the process rather than thinking too much about the medal. We believed Baranica had the potential to fight for a medal, but we also knew that she had to execute well on the day. She showed a lot of fighting spirit and eventually won the medal, said Russell. Russell feels Baranicas medal will help lift the status of pole vault in India. Among field events, pole vault, although very attractive, has largely remained in the shadows of javelin, discus or shotput. When Indian athletes start performing well at international competitions, people begin to notice the event. Baranica winning an Asian Games medal will hopefully encourage more young athletes, coaches, and academies to take up the event, says Russell. Russell hopes Baranicas medal will also spur the Athletics Federation of India to garner better facilities and support from the government, that invests big monies on Olympic sports. We still need better facilities, equipment, proper coaching, and more opportunities for young athletes to compete and develop. As for Baranica, we need to make her stronger, improve her consistency in the approach and take-off, and develop her speed and power further. She also needs more experience at the highest international level, said Russell. Track and field events remain Indias best bet at international events. Athletics, almost always, has the biggest team at events like the Asian Games and the Olympics. After superstar Neeraj Chopra gave javelin a strong foothold in Indian athletics, Baranicas bronze medal has at least given pole-vault a good reason to rise and shine.
Left Parties Protest At EC, Demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Removal
Leaders Detained During Delhi Protest Over SIR Of Electoral Rolls
'Behind Xi's Smile...': China Salami Slicing In Arunachal While Shaking Modis Hands I Rajiv Dogra
The Trump-Xi summit was wrapped in military pageantry, red carpets and political theatre. But according to former Ambassador Rajiv Dogra, the substance was missing. In this episode of Axis Podcast, he decodes Xi Jinpings growing confidence, Donald Trumps dependence on China and the risks of a possible US-China G2 for India. The conversation examines Americas fading influence, Washingtons tariff pressure on New Delhi, the stalled India-US trade deal and the double standards over Russian oil. Dogra also explains why India cannot blindly trust China despite Modi-Xi meetings and BRICS handshakes. From Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh to the Brahmaputra dam, he warns that Beijings border strategy remains a long-term threat.
Delhi winter pollution plan: No PUC, No Fuel , WFH, Parking charges, vehicle curbs - Explained
Anuradha Kapurs Virasat reimagines Mahesh Elkunchwars Wada trilogy
Staged at Delhis Sunder Nursery, this sensitive depiction warns of the steep price of clinging to a dying past, while reminding us that modernity is not always progress.
India In Talks With China For Alternate Route Amid Pak Airspace Ban: Sources
The move comes days after China's president Xi Jinping attended BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Delhi HC imposes Rs 1 lakh cost over lawyers virtual appearance from moving car
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on a counsel for appearing in a virtual hearing from a moving car, observing that the convenience of virtual proceedings cannot come at the cost of courtroom decorum or disrupt judicial proceedings. A single-judge Bench of Justice Om Prakash Shukla imposed the cost on the counsel appearing for the decree holder in two connected enforcement petitions filed by South Indian Bank Ltd and Union Bank of India Ltd against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). At the outset, the Bench noted that advocate Nachiketa Goyal, appearing for the decree holders, was participating in the proceedings from a moving car. While this Court appreciates the convenience offered by virtual hearings, such convenience cannot come at the cost of the decorum of the Court or cause disturbance in the conduct of judicial proceedings, the High Court said. When this Court has to deal with more than 70 matters in a day, background noise and movement during the hearing are disruptive for this Court to proceed, it added. The order also referred to its Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025, which provide that advocates should endeavour not to join proceedings from vehicles except in exceptional circumstances and with the permission of the court. The requirement is not merely procedural and to ensure that even when Counsel appear virtually, they do so from an environment conducive to the proper functioning of this Court, Justice Shukla observed. The order further recorded that there were no exceptional circumstances in the present matter and held that the counsel's conduct was in violation of the rules. In view of the aforesaid, a cost of Rs. 1 lakh is imposed upon learned Counsel for the Decree Holder, payable to Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee within one week from today, the High Court ordered. During the hearing, the Bench also noted that the stamp duty on the arbitral award dated November 13, 2024, sought to be enforced, was paid on December 24, 2025, which was undoubtedly beyond one month from the date of execution of the said award and was not in consonance with an earlier judgment of the High Court. At this stage, advocate Manish Dembla, also appearing for the decree holders, submitted that the stamp duty along with penalty had already been deposited before the Collector and undertook to place proof of the same on record within one week. The Delhi High Court directed that the proof of payment be filed within a week and posted the matters for further hearing on October 15.
SC quashes Mulla Afrozs NSA detention in Sambhal violence case, imposes Rs 10 lakh costs on UP govt
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) The Supreme Court has quashed the preventive detention of UP cleric Mulla Afroz under the National Security Act (NSA) in connection with the 2024 Sambhal violence case, holding that a confessional statement made before a police officer cannot, by itself and without independent supporting material, form the basis for preventive detention. A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu set aside the Allahabad High Court judgment upholding Afrozs detention order, as well as the detention and confirmation orders, and directed that he be released forthwith unless his custody was required in any other case. The apex court also imposed costs of Rs 10 lakh on the Uttar Pradesh government, directing that the amount be paid to Afroz within one month from the date of the judgment. The case arose from violence during a survey of a mosque in Sambhal on November 24, 2024, in which four persons died. Although Afroz was not named in the FIR registered on the day of the incident, he was arrested around 54 days later, on January 17, 2025, in connection with other FIRs. During his custody, an extra-judicial confessional statement was recorded, and a .32 bore pistol was stated to have been recovered. Afroz was granted bail in one of the cases in September 2025, following which the Sambhal District Magistrate passed an NSA detention order on October 13, 2025. The state government subsequently confirmed the detention for a further period of 12 months. By June 2026, Afroz had secured bail in all the criminal cases arising from the incident. The Supreme Court identified two broad issues for consideration -- whether an order of preventive detention could be based on an extra-judicial confession and whether the procedural safeguards under the Constitution and the NSA had been complied with. It held that such a statement, particularly when the appellant had consistently alleged that it was obtained through threats and torture, could not constitute the basis for subjective satisfaction in the absence of independent supporting material. Therefore, we are of the considered opinion that a confessional statement made before a police officer cannot, by itself, and in the absence of any independent material lending support thereto, constitute a basis for forming the subjective satisfaction necessary to sustain an order of preventive detention, the Justice Datta-led Bench said. The apex court said a police confession is treated with suspicion under Section 23 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam and has to be tested against the constitutional protection against self-incrimination under Article 20(3). It observed that if a confession was considered too tainted to be received in evidence for proving guilt, its use as a substantive basis for preventive detention would require a deeper scrutiny. At the same time, the Supreme Court clarified that where a detention authority relies upon other material apart from a confessional statement, the validity of the detention has to be examined on the basis of such independent material. The bench further held that the existence of multiple criminal cases, by itself, could not justify preventive detention unless supported by cogent and reliable material. It observed that preventive detention involves curtailment of personal liberty not for what a person has already done, but for what is apprehended that the person may do in future. Preventive detention has always been regarded as an exceptional measure, the Supreme Court said, adding that it must be invoked with the utmost circumspection. The bench further held that material relied upon to justify preventive detention must establish the necessity of preventing future prejudicial conduct and should not merely reinforce allegations already forming the subject matter of an ongoing criminal prosecution. However, the apex court made it clear that it was expressing no opinion on the merits of the criminal cases against Afroz, which would proceed in accordance with law. The Supreme Court ultimately held that the Allahabad High Court judgment and the detention and confirmation orders could not be sustained in law and set them aside. Recording that the detention order was passed on October 13, 2025 and confirmed on November 28, 2025, for one year, it observed that Afroz had already suffered considerable loss of liberty despite securing bail in all the cases relating to the incident. In such circumstances, the process was made the punishment, it said, allowing the appeal and directing Afrozs release and payment of Rs 10 lakh in costs by the state government.
Medanta acquires land in Ghaziabad for 166 cr, to build 350-bed hospital
Proposed 350-bed facility in UP to strengthen Global Health's footprint across Delhi-NCR healthcare market
Delhi L-G TS Sandhu asks NSUT, other tech universities to develop civic solutions
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Delhi Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu on Tuesday directed technical universities to develop solutions for civic issues of the city like sanitation, traffic management, road conditions and flood management. Chairing the 6th Court Meeting of Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT) at Lok Niwas, Sandhu called for turning research papers into actionable solutions for Delhi's real-world challenges. The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that the way forward for a Viksit Dilli lies in moving from research to solutions and from innovation to impact. He said, AI education must stay future-ready through global collaboration, with focus on transformative applications, especially AI-enabled healthcare in government hospitals. The Lieutenant Governor appreciated the University's academic growth and urged a sharper focus on research that delivers solutions, turning research papers into actionable outcomes for Delhi's real-world challenges. He said that, being a technical university, the NSUT should strive to provide technological solutions to the city's pressing civic issues, including sanitation, traffic management, road conditions and rain-flooding management, by analysing best global practices for technical solutions. Sandhu directed the University to coordinate with expert agencies on the city's civic problems and to facilitate government agencies such as MCD, NDMC, Delhi Police, the Health Department, PWD and the Transport Department with technological solutions tailored to their specific needs. He called for imparting skill courses that generate employability, with a focus on artificial intelligence, cyber security and digital tools, and for leveraging international academic and industry partnerships to upgrade capabilities and global competitiveness, so as to improve the University's national and global rankings through academic rigour, research excellence and international engagement. On community engagement, the Lieutenant Governor directed the University to continue its activities in adopted villages, with a focus on improving employability, spreading awareness on financial activities, and organising sports activities, particularly team games, to instil the spirit of teamwork, while maintaining a feedback and record of all such activities. He also directed that urban centres and colonies be adopted by the University in collaboration with the respective RWAs. He said NCC and NSS students should be encouraged to take part in addressing civic issues and suitable awards should be instituted to recognise their involvement and outstanding performance in university activities.
Banks to be examined only for relevant transactions : SC clarifies scope of audit in Fortis
The Supreme Court on Tuesday clarified that the forensic audit ordered by the Delhi High Court in the Daiichi Sankyo dispute involving former Fortis promoters is directed against Fortis Healthcare Limited (FHL) and its holding company Fortis Healthcare Holding Pvt Ltd (FHHPL), and not against the banks involved in the transactions. A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana clarified that records of the banks will be examined only insofar as they relate to the specific transactions involving FHL, FHHPL and the judgment debtors covered by the forensic audit. The banks themselves will not be subjected to a general forensic audit. The clarification came while hearing pleas filed by Yes Bank and Axis Bank against the Delhi High Court
Banks to examined only for relevant transactions : SC clarifies scope of audit in Fortis
The Supreme Court on Tuesday clarified that the forensic audit ordered by the Delhi High Court in the Daiichi Sankyo dispute involving former Fortis promoters is directed against Fortis Healthcare Limited (FHL) and its holding company Fortis Healthcare Holding Pvt Ltd (FHHPL), and not against the banks involved in the transactions. A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana clarified that records of the banks will be examined only insofar as they relate to the specific transactions involving FHL, FHHPL and the judgment debtors covered by the forensic audit. The banks themselves will not be subjected to a general forensic audit. The clarification came while hearing pleas filed by Yes Bank and Axis Bank against the Delhi High Court
BJP Leaders Urged to Strengthen Grassroots Organization, Minimize Delhi Visits
BJP President Nitin Naveen instructs state leaders to focus on grassroots efforts and limit unnecessary trips to Delhi. BJP Leaders Urged to Strengthen Grassroots Organization, Minimize Delhi Visits
Indian Railways approves new MEMU services linking Meerut City with Khurja, Saharanpur
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Indian Railways on Tuesday said that it has approved two MEMU services connecting Meerut City with Khurja and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The new services will provide additional travel options for passengers and strengthen regional rail connectivity centred around Meerut City, according to an official statement. Train No. 64573/64574 KhurjaMeerut City MEMU and Train No. 64580/64579 SaharanpurMeerut City MEMU will have commercial stoppages at all en route stations, providing connectivity to passengers across the section, the statement from the Ministry of Railways said. The Khurja-Meerut City MEMU will depart from Khurja at 1:15 pm and arrive at destination at 5:20 pm, covering the journey in 4 hours 5 minutes. In the return journey, Meerut City-Khurja MEMU will depart from Meerut City at 11:25 am and reach the destination at 4 pm. The Saharanpur-Meerut City MEMU will depart from Saharanpur at 5:50 am and arrive at the destination at 8:10 am, completing the journey in 2 hours 20 minutes. In the opposite direction, the MEMU will depart from Meerut City at 5:45 pm and reach Saharanpur at 8:40 pm. Indian Railways earlier this month approved a new daily train service between Kanpur Central and Anand Vihar, providing an overnight rail connectivity option between Kanpur and Delhi. The service will facilitate convenient movement between Kanpur, Etawah, Aligarh, Ghaziabad and the Delhi region, supporting passenger mobility across this important rail corridor. The service will cover a distance of 428 km in both directions. The journey time will be 8 hour-10 minutes from Kanpur Central to Anand Vihar, and 8 hours in the return direction. Indian Railways also approved the construction of a four-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Alkapuri in Vadodara Division of Western Railway at a total cost of Rs 166.5 crore, on a cost-sharing basis with the state government.
Jamaat in one hand, Dimagi Naxal in other: Suvendu Adhikari targets Mamata over her Delhi visit
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday claimed that the INDIA bloc had ended and alleged that former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to Delhi could involve meetings with people he referred to as Dimagi Naxals and those raising Azadi slogans. Speaking on the INDIA bloc, Adhikari said, INDI alliance ended long ago. What is Mamata Banerjee going to do in Delhi? She is going to plan with the 'Dimagi Naxals' and those who give Azadi slogans. I will tell Delhi to keep a close watch. Do not let any anti-national force meet with her. He further alleged that Mamata has Jamaat in one hand and Dimagi Naxals in the other. Jamaat is now giving the main mantra to the Dimagi Naxals. She has Jamaat in one hand and Dimagi Naxal in the other, he added. Banerjee is set to attend the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi on Wednesday, where opposition leaders are likely to deliberate on a proposed nationwide protest over allegations of electoral irregularities. Amid the ongoing row...
How Delhi Organizers Are Using High-Tech Stages and Live Jams to Connect Gen-Z with Tradition
Golf: Womens Indian Open to be held from October 22 to 25 in Gurugram
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Three of the last four champions will return for the 2026 edition of the Womens Indian Open, when it tees off on October 22 at the challenging DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram. The final round is scheduled for October 25. Led by the defending champion Shannon Tan of Singapore, Englands Liz Young (2024 winner) and Germanys Olivia Cowan (2022 winner) will be among those attempting to take back the coveted trophy that signifies the champion of one of the elite Ladies European Tour tournaments in Asia. Tan won the US$ 500,000 event last year after finishing in a four-way tie. In 2024, she was second behind the winner Liz Young. A year ago, she started the final round five shots off the lead but then proceeded to pull off a stunning win for her third Ladies European Tour title. Tan played a final-round 67 for an overall score of 7-under 281, one stroke ahead of Alice Hewson, with Indias Hitaashee Bakshi third at 5-under. Early entries include three past LET Order of Merit winners Tan (2025), Switzerlands Chiara Tamburlini (2024) and Thailands Trichat Cheenglab (2023). Also in the field are four current season winners Eleanor Givens of England (Swiss Ladies Open), Thai golfer Aunchisa Utama (Dutch Ladies Open), Germanys Leonie Harm (German Masters) and Agathe Laisn of France (Joburg Ladies Open and Women's NSW Open). Last years runner-up Hewson has also shown strong recent form, finishing tied second at the La Sella Open in September at 8-under 208. Amidst this international lineup, the Indian contingent aims to claim the title for the first time in ten years. The last Indian winner was Aditi Ashok in 2016. Kavita Singh, President, Women's Golf Association of India (WGAI), said, It gives me immense pleasure to announce that the 18th edition of the Hero Womens Indian Open 2026 will be hosted again at the DLF Golf & Country Club, Gurugram, a state-of-the-art venue synonymous with golfing excellence. It is indeed a privilege to work with the Ladies European Tour. A partnership that has gone from strength to strength over the years has ensured that the Hero Womens Indian Open continues to rise in stature. Our association with them is, and will continue to be, a key factor in the growth of womens golf in India. As usual, we expect a stellar field from overseas, complemented by our Indian players who can compete with the very best! I extend a warm welcome to all the players, officials, sponsors and media. See you at the DLF Golf & Country Club for some great golfing action! The 2025 edition proved to be Indias strongest collective showing in tournament history, headlined by four golfers finishing inside the Top-10: Hitaashee Bakshi finished third after leading on the final day, followed by Pranavi Urs (4th), Avani Prashanth (Tied-5th), and Vani Kapoor (Tied-10th). Diksha Dagar ended T-41 in 2025 after mixed rounds, but the consistent left-hander remains one of Indias top contenders. With two Ladies European Tour titles to her name and a third-place finish in this tournament in 2023, Dagar recently competed in a domestic tour event at DLF to hone her preparation. She, along with Pranavi Urs, enters the tournament following their appearance at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Together with Avani Prashanth, Hitaashee Bakshi, and Vani Kapoor, Dagar and Urs have been competing regularly on the Ladies European Tour with strong results. Tom Phillips, CEO of the Ladies European Tour, said, Were looking forward to the Hero Womens Indian Open, which takes place next month, and has become a constant on the LET schedule. The tournament takes place at an important time in the season, with players looking to consolidate or improve their ranking in the LET Order of Merit. Our players look forward to returning to the top-quality golf course at DLF Golf & Country Club every year.
The race to crown the 'fattest dog of Delhi'
The contest to crown the Indian capital's chonkiest dog has attracted thousands of votes.
Medanta operator Global Health buys Ghaziabad land for Rs 166 cr to build 350-bed hospital
Global Health Limited has acquired a land parcel in Ghaziabad for approximately Rs 165.82 crore. This project will consist of a 350-plus bed hospital aimed at increasing healthcare services. The hospital will serve Ghaziabad and nearby regions, including eastern Delhi and Meerut. Global Health operates hospitals across various cities in India and aims to expand its network. This development will enhance the company's presence in the Delhi-NCR healthcare ecosystem.
Delhi Robbery-Murder: Cousin Among Those Held For Fatal Attack
Delhi Police have apprehended the cousin of a man stabbed to death during an armed robbery, along with other accused and a juvenile. The cousin allegedly tipped off assailants about the victim's cash movements. The police used extensive CCTV and ANPR analysis to trace the culprits, recovering a significant portion of the stolen cash. Three other accused remain at large.
Rahul Gandhi's Big SIR Claim: Only 1 Of 729 Voters On Draft Roll?
Rahul Gandhi has raised questions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Delhi, claiming that only one of 729 voters at Bella Estate appears in the draft electoral roll. Here's a closer look at the voter-roll controversy.
Piles Of Cash, Gold, Heroin: Delhi Drug 'Queenpin', Bodyguard Arrested
The woman, identified by police as 42-year-old Parvati, was arrested along with her alleged accomplice and bodyguard, 30-year-old Vikas Kumar alias Shanu. Police said the arrests were made in New Sanoth Colony in Bawana in north Delhi and that the investigation has so far resulted in three arrests.
Warehousing growth to expand beyond Grade A cities: Adani Ports Pankaj Bhardwaj
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Warehousing growth in India is expected to increasingly move beyond major consumption centres, with states such as Odisha, West Bengal and Assam emerging as potential growth markets, Pankaj Kumar Bhardwaj, Senior Vice President and Business HeadWarehousing and Adani Agri Logistics, Adani Ports and SEZ, said on Tuesday. Bhardwaj said state governments are increasingly introducing logistics policies aimed at attracting manufacturers, logistics partners and industrial developers, creating opportunities for companies to expand their warehousing and logistics portfolios across emerging markets. If you talk about 13, 14 million square feet, 60-70 per cent would be in A and B Grade A cities only. But if we talk about our, I would say, future roadmap, we are focusing not just on the consumption centers which are Grade A, but we are focusing on B and C grade cities as well, Bhardwaj stated. He said the company already has land parcels available in several such locations, allowing it to develop ready-to-use warehousing facilities based on customer requirements. The company can also develop facilities on a build-to-suit (BTS) basis for customers seeking customised space, he added. Secondly, your EXIM export-import led, port-led, or ICD-led developments where we already exist in those locations. So, we have 15-16 ports across both the coasts. In due course of time, in a 5 to 10 years period, with the government focus on increasing exports from the country, he noted. We have 15-16 ports across both the coasts. In due course of time, in a 5 to 10 years period, with the government focus on increasing exports from the country, he added. On the eastern and southern coasts, Bhardwaj said the company is focusing on strengthening its presence through key port assets. He said the company is developing a port at Dhamra on the east coast and is also focusing on Vizhinjam Port in Kerala, which has emerged as a major transshipment hub. In Paradip also, we have recently won two berths. So, we are focusing on both sides. I would say, from the warehousing perspective, eastern side has not developed that much, and going further, major growth can also come from states like Odisha, West Bengal, Assam. So, all these states will add much more volume and will overall help us to reduce the cost in the ecosystem, he noted.
In a pointed critique, Suvendu Adhikari slammed Mamata Banerjee for her planned trip to Delhi for the INDIA bloc meeting, alleging she is conspiring with CPI(M) leaders on key electoral issues. This collaboration aims to push for accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The upcoming Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls have heightened political tensions. Additionally, Adhikari expressed support for the Calcutta High Court's ruling on the BJP candidate's nomination affidavit.
Travel firm asks for additional Rs 2.98L to change flight dates; ordered to pay Rs 5.43L
A Delhi district consumer commission ruled in favor of a family against a travel company. They demanded a hefty Rs 2.98 lakh for rescheduling flight tickets, which was not disclosed before purchase. The family initially booked four open air tickets for a round trip to Amsterdam. The commission found that the travel company misled the family about fees and charges.
Indias strong growth and evolving consumer trends support consumption outlook: Report
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Indias consumption story remains resilient despite market volatility and global macroeconomic uncertainties with premiumisation, evolving consumer preferences and strong domestic demand expected to support growth in the second half of FY27, according to a report released on Tuesday. A report by smallcase noted that real private final consumption expenditure grew 7.1 per cent in Q1FY27 which marginally lower than 7.5 per cent in the previous quarter, while spending patterns increasingly shifted towards premium, branded and experience-led categories. The outlook comes amid robust economic growth with Indias GDP expanding 7.8 per centin Q1FY27, surpassing the Reserve Bank of Indias 7 per cent forecast. Although equity markets have remained under pressure due to foreign portfolio investor selling, strong domestic institutional inflows have provided a significant cushion, it said. Indias consumption story remains healthy, but the mix is increasingly shifting towards premium, branded and experience-led spending, said Aditya Agarwala, smallcase manager. Premiumisation has emerged as a key structural trend across sectors. The share of SUVs and utility vehicles in passenger vehicle sales has risen to 65 per cent from 23 per cent in 2019, while smartphones priced above Rs 30,000 now account for more than one-fifth of volumes and over half of industry value. The report also highlighted that domestic air travel has crossed 16 crore passengers, while branded apparel continues to expand across smaller cities. It also showed growing demand for health, wellness and digital consumption. Indias nutraceutical market is projected to grow at an annual rate of about 10.5 per cent through 2030, while online beauty and fashion categories continue to record strong growth. Moreover, alternative-fuel vehicles accounted for 42 per cent of passenger vehicle retail sales in August, while electric two-wheelers exceeded a 10 per cent market share. Registrations of electric two-wheelers rose 65 per cent year-on-year during the month. Looking ahead, the report has expected that the festive season to provide a near-term boost to spending, particularly in automobiles, organised retail, hospitality and financial services.
'Trying To Erase Us': Bela Estate's Voters Fight To Stay On Delhi Voter List
For Bela Estate residents, the exercise has raised a fundamental question: whether the state still recognises their presence in a settlement where they say they have lived and voted for years.
Delhi HC: Police Cant Re-Arrest Accused Freed From Illegal Detention
The petitioner was then re-arrested on August 21, and the sessions court remanded him to two days' police custody after rejecting his plea challenging the arrest.
SC: FHL, FHHPL in Daiichi-ex promoter dispute; banks to be examined only for relevant transactions
New Delhi [India], September 29 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday clarified that the forensic audit ordered by the Delhi High Court in the Daiichi Sankyo dispute involving former Fortis promoters is directed against Fortis Healthcare Limited (FHL) and its holding company Fortis Healthcare Holding Pvt Ltd (FHHPL), and not against the banks involved in the transactions. A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana clarified that records of the banks will be examined only insofar as they relate to the specific transactions involving FHL, FHHPL and the judgment debtors covered by the forensic audit. The banks themselves will not be subjected to a general forensic audit. The clarification came while hearing pleas filed by Yes Bank and Axis Bank against the Delhi High Court
IndiaAfrica economic ties enter reciprocal phase, could bolster supply chain: Report
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) The economic relationship between India and Africa is entering a new reciprocal phase as investment and industrial partnerships deepen, a new report has said. The report from Modern Ghana cited an example of a $450 million contract signed by Indian government-owned Engineers India Ltd with Africas richest businessman Aliko Dangote to oversee construction of a planned $16 billion refinery and petrochemical complex in Lamu, Kenya. The greenfield project, expected to process 7 lakh barrels of crude oil per day, shows how African capital and entrepreneurial ambition can leverage India's engineering, technology and industrial expertise. India could bolster its supply chain as Africa has significant reserves of critical minerals, energy resources, and agricultural commodities. Africa can gain a long-term buyer as India has growing demand for many of these inputs. For Indian companies, establishing factories and processing plants in Africa offers new markets and investment destinations. lower logistics costs, local value addition and access to an integrated market rather than a patchwork of national markets. Expanding urban centres and rising demand for energy, healthcare, mobility and consumer goods will create substantial markets. African economies eyeing industries in cement, fertiliser, petroleum refining, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, agricultural processing, renewable energy and logistics needs technology, capital, engineering and managerial expertise. Indian companies with proven capabilities in these sectors can serve regional markets more efficiently while contributing to employment, skills development and local value addition. Greater African processing and value addition can create better economic returns for African economies while giving Indian industry more diversified and reliable sources of supply, the report noted. Africa can use India's expertise in developing affordable infrastructure and technology in resource-constrained environments. The continent needs roads, railways, ports, electricity and digital networks to link producers with consumers and regional markets.
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) With BJP President Nitin Nabin accusing the Opposition of misleading the public over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Tuesday said the Opposition had not raised the issue and that the Indian daily had investigated it and presented its findings with evidence. This comes after Nabin on Saturday accused the Opposition of deliberately misleading the public over the SIR of electoral rolls and targeting constitutional institutions. Speaking to IANS, Jha said, The Opposition did not raise the question. The Indian Express investigated it. It presented it with evidence. What should we do after that? I mean, if you want to make allegations against the Opposition as well, then make allegations with evidence. This is not appropriate. If he is making allegations against the Opposition, then he should do so with evidence, he said. Reacting to the Ujjain Shahi Masjid dispute, Jha said: I say it directly, any such methodology, if it is from the perspective of dog-whistle politics, is not appropriate. What are you doing? You are doing othering; you are doing demonisation. I don't understand why this didn't reach (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat. He gave such a good speech in New York. Did he leave it on the flight while coming back to India or at the immigration desk? he said. Jha also reacted to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadavs absence from the INDIA bloc meeting, saying that a representative of the party was attending the meeting on his behalf. He is not going there, but a representative is going there on his behalf. So, this is for headline management and for a few media channels. But, on the ground there is nothing like any rift, he said. Reacting to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddys remarks on deities, Jha said that different forms of deities have traditionally been given importance in different parts of the country. Without commenting on his wealth classification, if I look at it, the area I come from, in our area, Shiva and Goddess Kali are given priority. Tara is given priority. Different forms of Shakti are given priority. This has been the diversity of Hinduism, that every area, according to its own circumstances, has conceived of its deity, he said. If you go further towards Bengal and Assam, you will find that the priority given to the Goddess increases further. If someone approaches this reality in a manner of hegemony, saying that these should be worshipped first and these are the most prominent, then there is a need to understand that intent, he added. Reddys recent remarks have sparked a political controversy, with the BJP launching a sharp attack on the Congress leader. Reddy, on Monday, claimed that the Congress is successful only in the south and not in the northern states, alleging that the BJP stole Lord Ram, who is revered in the north, while Shiva is worshipped in the southern states. Reddy made the remarks during an event in Delhi, where he also alleged that there would be an agitation across the country against the SIR, similar to the Simon, Go Back movement witnessed during the freedom struggle. We are Dravidians. People here (north) are Aryans. We are devotees of Shiva. These are devotees of Lord Ram. BJP stole Ram. Its an emotion. Its a sentiment. Why does Modi ji not say Har Har Mahadev? Have BJP people ever said Har Har Mahadev on a stage? They say only 'Jai Shri Ram', Reddy said. Shiva is the God of the poor, Ram is the God of the rich, and the BJP is a party of the rich, Reddy further claimed.
CWC meet: Cong calls SIR fraud exercise; plans pan-India stir against compromised poll panel
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Tuesday deliberated on a host of burning issues concerning the 'irregularities' in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and vowed to launch nationwide protests against alleged malpractices by the Election Commission (EC). Addressing a press conference after the CWC meet, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal launched a scathing attack on the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his immediate sacking while alleging that he was acting at the behest of the Centre to deprive crores of voters their democratic right to cast a vote. The SIR is a complete fraud exercise. The CEC is completely compromised, the Election system is rigged, both the EVMs and the voters' lists are compromised -- designed to favour the BJP in elections, Venugopal claimed. He said that the Congress party will aggressively resist the design to hijack the democracy and launch a pan-India protest soon, after consultation with the INDIA bloc partners. The democracy and the country are under threat under prevailing circumstances. We will fight tooth and nail and wont let EC succeed in its designs, he noted, while highlighting the Congress stir at more than 800 places in the last two-three days. Notably, a meeting of the INDIA bloc allies is scheduled for Wednesday, where all opposition parties are expected to close ranks against the irregularities and formalise a plan to protest, seeking Gyanesh Kumars ouster. The Congress leader, during the press conference, put forth two demands. We are demanding immediate resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, as he has no moral right to continue in the chair for a single day, he said. Congress partys other demand is immediate suspension of SIR, restoration of 13.30 voters, whose names have been illegally struck off from the voters list, he added. Escalating his attack on the Centre, he said that all the CWC members echoed the view that CEC Gyanesh Kumar was not alone but a tool in the hands of his political masters in altering the SIR process unilaterally. Whenever dictators lose confidence, they try to find extraordinary tools to continue in power. This cannot happen without the concurrence of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. The two CECs purportedly wrote to the Cabinet Secretary, and that this must have been brought to the Prime Ministers notice, he said. Jairam Ramesh, citing Rahul Gandhis comments at the CWC meet, said that the Congress party has been raising issues of vote chori and unfair manipulation of electoral rolls, but no one paid heed, and these revelations have exposed the malpractices within the poll panel. Rahul Gandhi told the CWC members that it was because of the Congress party that such disclosures are being made. From the Karnataka to Haryana elections, Rahul cited multiple instances of electoral malpractice and made detailed presentations, but people didnt believe him. Today, the disclosures show that what he was saying was right, he told the press. Venugopal, while spelling out the Congress strategy on protests against the EC, said the party will protest in the Parliament and resist on the streets. However, a clear and designed roadmap for pan-India protest will be taken up after the INDIA bloc meeting on Wednesday, he added.
Terror outfits deploy dead-drop tactics to evade detection and funnel contraband into India
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Terrorist organisations operating against India switched to covert dead-drop techniques to transfer funds, weapons, and operational instructions, intelligence officials have revealed. Groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and the proscribed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) adopted non-contact logistics to conceal the identity of handlers based in Pakistan. Terrorism has evolved considerably, and this has led to the agencies facing fresh challenges with each passing year. Groups such as the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda have moved towards all radicalisation models while also relying heavily on lone actors to carry out attacks. Terror groups that have been formed to hit India continue to use conventional methods when it comes to setting up modules and planning attacks. While groups such as the Lashkar and Jaish run conventional networks that also include radicalisation modules, they have started using dead-drop methods extensively. An Intelligence Bureau official says that the primary objective of using the dead-drop technique is to evade the trail. The Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Babbar Khalsa International have increasingly used dead-drop methods in recent times. These methods are being used to channelise funds and weapons and to facilitate covert operations in India, the IB official said. Terror groups are increasingly moving away from physical handovers, which are considered risky and make it easier for security agencies to trace the chain of transactions and establish its links to Pakistan, the official said. Apart from being dropped by drones, arms and ammunition are also being left in isolated locations and rural areas for subsequent collection. The arms and ammunition pass through multiple hands before being collected and eventually dropped at a designated location. Those involved in moving the consignments do not know who supplied them initially or who will ultimately collect them, the officials said. Even if one of those involved is caught, investigators would find it difficult to establish who initially supplied the consignment and who was supposed to collect it eventually, the officials added. Another official said operations were also being planned using the dead-drop method. According to the official, all operatives involved in a plot share the login credentials of a single anonymous email account, allowing them to communicate without directly contacting one another. Only one of the users writes a message and saves it in the draft folder. The other operative then logs in, reads the draft, deletes it, and then posts a fresh message in the draft folder. This eliminates hitting the send button altogether, and the message never moves through the Internet, thus making it difficult for the security agencies to track it down. The official said that in recent times, even the SFJ that is headed by proscribed terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has been using the dead-drop technique. This technique is used to send a message to the operatives on what they have to undertake. Pannun, through this technique, instructs operatives in Punjab to indulge in vandalism. The agencies had recently arrested Preetpal Singh and his associates after they had spray-painted anti-BRICS and pro-Khalistan slogans in Delhi and Punjab. The investigation found that the message and the money paid were delivered using the dead-drop method. Singh was paid Rs 1.5 lakh, and the money was kept at a dropped location on the Amritsar-Faridkot highway. Indian security agencies are also concerned about the rise in narco-terrorism involving dead-drop methods. The traditional practice of directly handing over narcotics is increasingly being replaced by covert methods, with drones being used extensively to drop drug consignments into India. The drop-off point is communicated to the person assigned to collect the consignment, who is then instructed to leave the narcotics at a pre-determined location, such as a field, an isolated stretch along a highway or a remote rural spot. The person delivering the consignment does not know who will eventually collect it. Officials said this system creates multiple layers of separation, making it harder for investigators to trace the supply chain. The dead-drop method is emerging as a major challenge for Indian security agencies. Since handlers and local operatives rarely, if ever, come face-to-face, investigators face greater difficulty in establishing a clear trail linking those involved. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has been probing such cases, has been bypassing email inbox checks. Instead, sophisticated forensic tools are used to pull raw disk data, unsent and deleted text drafts, and temporary cloud links. The NIA has also been working closely with the state agencies to stop locals from retrieving drops. Terror groups would continue to use this method and also more extensively in the future as well. While the Indian agencies have managed to crack several such cases, it still poses a major challenge, an official said.
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Centre sanctions Rs 1,200 crore to 10 states under PM Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday handed over financial sanction letters worth more than Rs 1,200 crore to agriculture ministers of 10 states under the Prime Minister Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY). The disbursement included Rs 290 crore for West Bengal, Rs 198 crore for Haryana, Rs 181 crore for Chhattisgarh, Rs 154 crore for Arunachal Pradesh, Rs 114 crore for Bihar, Rs 104 crore for Karnataka, Rs 75 crore for Mizoram, Rs 64 crore for Himachal Pradesh, Rs 58 crore for Jharkhand and Rs 43 crore for Punjab. Chairing a meeting attended by Agriculture Ministers and senior officials from various states, Chouhan said the Union Government was not only limiting itself to policy formulation, but also ensuring timely availability of resources to states so that implementation of schemes could begin on the ground without delay. Highlighting the countrys agricultural performance, Chouhan said that since 2015, the agriculture growth rate has increased from 3 per cent to 4.5 per cent. The average annual increase in foodgrain production has also more than doubled, rising from around 40 lakh tonnes earlier to 84 lakh tonnes per year. He further noted that in just two years, from 2023-24 to 2025-26, rabi foodgrain production recorded an unprecedented increase of 205 lakh tonnes. Announcing a new mechanism to further strengthen cooperative federalism, Chouhan said that, on the lines of weekly reviews conducted at the Centre, regular monthly virtual review meetings with states would now be held to continuously assess progress. At the state level, a strong State Agriculture Team will be constituted by bringing together the Agriculture Minister, Agriculture Secretary, state agricultural universities, ICAR institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ATMA and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Monthly meetings will also be held at the district level. Emphasising the need to protect soil health and the environment, Chouhan called for a nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan from October 22 to November 30 this year. Scientists and all key stakeholders will actively participate in the campaign. Based on Soil Health Cards, the campaign will promote balanced use of fertilisers to protect soil fertility and beneficial insects. He also called for large-scale promotion of pulse cultivation in rice fallow areas of eastern India, particularly in Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal, after the paddy harvest. As part of preparations for the current rabi season, Chouhan stressed that recommendations on crops and improved seeds should be based on soil moisture and water availability. Stating that the availability of seeds and fertilisers in the country is adequate, Chouhan directed states to take strict legal action against fake fertilisers, spurious seeds and sub-standard pesticides. Chouhan said the government is pursuing a multi-dimensional strategy to ensure that farmers receive fair and remunerative prices for their produce. The strategy includes strengthening post-harvest management, scientific warehousing and marketing systems. He said that 100 per cent assured government procurement of tur, urad and masoor at MSP would be undertaken, with arrangements for payment within 48 hours. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision, he said India would also leverage the new market opportunities emerging from international Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to connect Indian agricultural products, fruits, vegetables and foodgrains with global markets. This, he said, would help farmers secure better returns for their produce and enable India to emerge as a major food basket for the world.
New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday, September 29, demanded the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, suspension of the SIR, restoration of over 13 crore names struck off from the electoral rolls and the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for match-fixing polls. The opposition party made the demand after a two-and-a-half hour meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by the likes of former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and general secretaries Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others. Addressing the media
