Delhi

From chips to ships: Rajnath Singh bats for self-reliant defence ecosystem

Bilkul Online | Sunday Special New Delhi Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said India must strengthen domestic defence manufacturing The post From chips to ships: Rajnath Singh bats for self-reliant defence ecosystem appeared first on Bilkul Online .

CISF to guard NTA office amid paper leak concerns

New Delhi: The National Testing Agency, which moved its operations to a new office following a huge controversy over the NEET paper leak and administrative lapses, will now be guarded by CISF to ensure foolproof arrangements in the confidential areas on its premises, officials said. The move comes after the question paper leak of medical 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 .

Reporters detained at Jantar Mantar, Press Club demands apology

New Delhi: Two journalists on Friday, September 25, claimed to have been detained and manhandled by the Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar while covering a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. While one reporter alleged his microphone was snatched and broken, the other said an officer demanded he delete photographs after dragging him away Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Delhi SIR: Over 350names already marked ineligible; CEO warns against deletion on flimsy grounds

Of the 350 electors already marked ineligible less than a month into the hearings process, about 200 are from the Vikaspuri constituency; once a voter is marked ineligible, this cannot be rolled back atthe level of ERO orState CEO, officials said

SC to hear plea against MDR on UPI payments above Rs 2,000

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Monday hear a plea challenging the Centres decision to impose a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on specified UPI person-to-merchant transactions of over Rs 2,000. Ending nearly six years of fully free UPI payments, the government has introduced a 0.4 per cent fee on transfers worth over Rs 2,000 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 .

Cleanliness is most beautiful tribute we can pay to Bapu: PM Modi in

New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 138th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat on The post Cleanliness is most beautiful tribute we can pay to Bapu: PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat appeared first on Bilkul Online .

Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi Recalls Surgical Strikes, Says Terrorism Will Face Decisive Response

NEW DELHI, Sept 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday recalled the 2016 surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army on terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC), saying India had made it clear that terrorism would be met with a strong and decisive response. Speaking during his monthly Mann Ki Baat [] The post Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi Recalls Surgical Strikes, Says Terrorism Will Face Decisive Response appeared first on Northlines .

ACs, TVs, Other Appliances Set to Get Costlier From Oct 1

NEW DELHI, Sep 27: Leading consumer electronics and appliance manufacturers are set to raise prices of air-conditioners, LED TVs, washing machines, refrigerators and other products by 5 per cent to 8 per cent from October 1, ahead of the peak festive season, citing rising costs of copper, steel, aluminium, crude derivatives, freight and currency volatility [] The post ACs, TVs, Other Appliances Set to Get Costlier From Oct 1 appeared first on Northlines .

PM Modi highlights Modheras resilience, from Sun Temple destruction to Indias first solar village

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 138th edition of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, highlighted the history and resilience of Gujarats Modhera, drawing a link between the destruction of its famed Sun Temple and the villages transformation into Indias first solar-powered village. Recalling the Somnath Swabhiman Parv held earlier this year, PM Modi said the country had begun the year with a celebration of its civilisational heritage and pride. We started this year with a Mahaparv of Swabhiman. The Parv was Somnath Swabhiman Parv. 1,000 years ago, in 1026, Mahmud Ghazni invaded the Somnath Temple for the first time. But the people who came to erase Indias identity by destroying the Somnath Temple have left no trace today. The Somnath Temple, standing in all its grandeur near the sea, continues to bless India with the spirit of immortality. That is why this year we proudly celebrated Somnath Swabhiman Parv. PM Modi said he was referring to the history of Somnath again while highlighting the parallel history of Modhera, where the famed Sun Temple was attacked around the same period. I am mentioning this again today because when Somnath was attacked by Ghazni in 1026, the famous Surya Mandir (Sun Temple) in Modhera, Gujarat, was also attacked in the same period and was destroyed. This year also marks 1,000 years of the Modhera Temple. At that time, it had been built only a year earlier, in 1025, by Raja Bhimdev I. When a centre of immense faith was destroyed, it could shake the strength of any administration. But Raja Bhimdev I not only fought Ghazni but also rebuilt the Modhera Sun Temple within a short period. He said the reconstruction of such monuments reflected the resilience that enabled Indias cultural heritage to endure repeated attacks. It was because of this resilience that the Somnath Temple continued to be rebuilt despite being destroyed again and again. PM Modi further recalled that the Modhera Sun Temple faced attacks in later periods as well, including during the reign of Alauddin Khilji. Attacks on the Modhera Sun Temple did not stop in later periods either. Later, Alauddin Khilji once again destroyed this architectural marvel of a temple. But the people of Bharat not only worship the Sun through architecture or temples; our worship of the Sun also signifies light, energy, science and the inspiration of continuity. Linking the historical significance of the Sun Temple with Modheras present-day identity, PM Modi said the village had transformed its relationship with solar energy. That is why Modhera today is not only known for the Sun Temple, but this village in Gujarat has become the countrys first solar village. Modhera today runs entirely on solar energy.

Amla, Moringa drive rural empowerment, nutrition push: PM Modi in 'Mann Ki Baat'

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 'Mann Ki Baat' address on Sunday, highlighted the growing economic and nutritional significance of Amla and Moringa, underscoring how traditional produce is creating new livelihoods while strengthening the fight against malnutrition. Amla, long valued in Indian households for pickles, murabba, juice and as a key ingredient in Chyawanprash during winters, is now opening fresh avenues for farmers and women entrepreneurs, he said. The deep-rooted connection between Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh and Amla has been further strengthened through the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. Nearly 100 local units in the district are engaged in Amla processing, with self-help groups of women playing a central role, PM Modi told citizens through his popular programme. One such group, the 'Savitri Phule Self Help Group' in Devgarh Kamasi village, produces Amla candy, murabba and juice, he said, and further informed, expanded market access has significantly raised the income of its members. Similarly, the Vindhyavasini Self Help Group makes Amla pickle and digestive powder. These women received processing machinery, access to loans and opportunities to participate in local trade fairs, resulting in a marked rise in their earnings. The Prime Minister stressed that every region of India possesses unique fruits, traditional arts or special skills. The ODOP campaign aims to take these beyond local markets to other parts of the country and even global markets. This, he said, reinforces the Vocal for Local movement and supports the goal of a self-reliant India. He urged citizens to keep the spirit of Vocal for Local alive during the upcoming festive season. On the nutrition front, September has been marked by multiple efforts to combat malnutrition, PM Modi said. In Chhattisgarh, he informed, the 'Har Ghar Munga' campaign is encouraging families to include nutritious Moringa (locally called Munga) in their daily diet. Gujarat has organised 'Vangi Spardha', a competition featuring dishes made from millets and other local nutritious ingredients, drawing participation from over two lakh people, PM Modi shared the information. Maharashtra is witnessing growing local involvement in similar nutrition-focused drives, while Mizoram has launched a collective campaign for the care and maintenance of Poshan Vatikas (nutrition gardens), he said. These initiatives, the Prime Minister noted, complement the digital strengthening of Anganwadi centres, which now have nearly nine crore beneficiaries registered, enabling better care for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. He called for sustained efforts to make the country completely free from malnutrition by promoting affordable, locally grown superfoods such as Amla and Moringa.

Rabi season: Govt to focus on strengthening Centre

New Delhi The government on Sunday said that a two-day conference next week will focus on strengthening CentreState coordination and The post Rabi season: Govt to focus on strengthening CentreState coordination appeared first on Bilkul Online .

Consumers brace for 3-day bank strike; certain banks open on Sunday

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BoB), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and several other public sector banks are open on Sunday (September 27), giving customers an opportunity to complete their banking work before a proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to September 30. The special Sunday opening applies to public sector banks (PSBs) and regional rural banks (RRBs), following a direction aimed at ensuring the availability of regular banking services ahead of the proposed strike. Customers who need to visit a branch for important banking work can therefore use the additional working day, subject to the operational arrangements and staffing at individual branches. The decision to open PSBs and RRBs on Sunday was taken following a meeting held on September 21 between officials from the Finance Ministry, public sector banks, regional rural banks, the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and NABARD. The move assumes significance as September 26 and 27 fall on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. With the proposed bank strike scheduled immediately after the weekend, customers could otherwise have faced several consecutive days with limited access to physical branch services. The Sunday opening has consequently been planned to provide an additional opportunity to complete important banking transactions before the strike. Among the public sector banks operating today are State Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, Indian Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, UCO Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank and Punjab & Sind Bank. The arrangement also covers 28 regional rural banks across the country. These include Andhra Pradesh Grameena Bank, Arunachal Pradesh Rural Bank, Assam Gramin Bank, Bihar Gramin Bank, Chhattisgarh Gramin Bank, Gujarat Gramin Bank, Haryana Gramin Bank, Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank, Jammu and Kashmir Grameen Bank, Jharkhand Gramin Bank, Karnataka Grameena Bank, Kerala Grameena Bank, Madhya Pradesh Gramin Bank, Maharashtra Gramin Bank, Manipur Rural Bank, Meghalaya Rural Bank, Mizoram Rural Bank, Nagaland Rural Bank, Odisha Grameen Bank, Puducherry Grama Bank, Punjab Gramin Bank, Rajasthan Gramin Bank, Tamil Nadu Grama Bank, Telangana Grameena Bank, Tripura Gramin Bank, Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank, Uttarakhand Gramin Bank and West Bengal Gramin Bank. However, the Sunday opening arrangement does not automatically extend to private sector banks. The special Sunday banking arrangement comes ahead of the proposed three-day nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) and other bank unions from September 28 to September 30.

'Fortunate to have joined him in Ram Janmabhoomi movement': PM Modi on Ashok Singhal's 100th birth anniversary

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) During the 138th episode of his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to former Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) National Working President late Ashok Singhal on his 100th birth anniversary, while calling himself fortunate to have joined the latter in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Today is the 100th birth anniversary of a great man who dedicated his life to culture, society and the nation, the Prime Minister said. PM Modi said that Singhal, who was born on this day in 1926 in Agra, lived an ascetic life. The Prime Minister emphasised that the direction and energy that the former VHP leader imparted to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, are the very reason for the magnificent temple in Ayodhya. Recalling his meeting with Ashok Singhal, PM Modi said: I have been extremely fortunate not only to witness his life from close quarters, but I also had the opportunity to join him in this mission. The Prime Minister said he was constantly reminded of the veteran leader while participating in the consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple in 2024. There are so many things about Ashok ji that are not much discussed. Along with the Ram Temple movement, he also fought a major battle against social discrimination and inequality, he added. Mentioning that Singhal was born in a prosperous family, PM Modi said that his father was a civil servant and that most of his siblings held senior positions. He himself was a graduate from IIT BHU. But despite all these, he dedicated his life to society and culture, which is the hallmark of great people, he underlined. Today, on the occasion of his 100th birth anniversary, I bow to him on behalf of his crores of admirers and offer heartfelt tributes to him, PM Modi added. Meanwhile, PM Modi also said during his address that the country was set to mark 10 years of the surgical strike, which was carried out by the Indian Army on September 28-29, 2016, against terrorist hideouts across the Line of Control (LoC). We talk about the achievements of the country. One such major historical achievement of Bharat is set to complete 10 years. This achievement is the surgical strike. Ten years ago, on 28-29 September 2016, the Indian Army carried out a surgical strike on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. The world was astonished to see how our brave soldiers took action against terrorism by crossing the Line of Control (LoC). Our jawans treated the terrorists and amazed the world. The surgical strike showcased India's anti-terrorism policy to the world, he said.

'Collective national duty': PM Modi urges citizens to participate in census

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his latest 'Mann Ki Baat' address, highlighted the ongoing national census exercise and appealed to citizens to actively participate in it, describing the census as a collective national duty. He noted that the first phase of the initiative is nearly complete, with data for over 32 crore families already recorded in the country. The Prime Minister shared that census operations have progressed even in remote and snow-bound regions of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, yielding several inspiring experiences. In Uttarakhand, the process began at Mana village in Chamoli district, widely regarded as the countrys first village, starting with 83-year-old Purnima Rawat. In Bhagori village of Uttarkashi, Hardev Singh Rana, who runs a homestay, personally entered his familys details using the digital platform, demonstrating the ease of the system. Recalling his Independence Day appeal on August 15, the Prime Minister reiterated his call to citizens to spare some time for the census. He emphasised the convenience of the self-registration facility, which allows people to enter information about themselves and their families directly from their mobile phones. The service is available in 16 languages, including Hindi. To self-register, citizens need to visit the official online census portal at ec.census.gov.in. After logging in with a mobile number, users enter their location, fill in family details and submit the information, he said. The entire process takes about 15 to 20 minutes and requires no document uploads. Upon submission, a unique ID is generated; once the submitted information is verified, it becomes part of the official census record, he further said. The Prime Minister informed that more than 2.6 crore people have already used their mobile phones to complete the self-enumeration process. He encouraged the remaining citizens to utilise this digital option and contribute to building an accurate national database. Stressing the importance of comprehensive participation, PM Modi said the census strengthens planning and welfare schemes by providing reliable demographic data. He expressed confidence that with continued public cooperation, the exercise would be completed successfully across all regions of the country.

Delhi Traffic: Sarai Kale Khan Ring Road Stretch Set For Decongestion Study Amid Rising Multi-Modal Traffic

Punjab Private University Protests: Students Block Highway, Buildings Set Ablaze Over Unverified Rape-Suicide Rumour

Violent protests erupted at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Jalandhar late Saturday after unverified social media claims alleging that a female student had been raped and later died by suicide spread across the campus. Protesting students damaged university property, smashed window panes and allegedly set parts of buildings on fire. They also blocked the Delhi-Amritsar [] The post Punjab Private University Protests: Students Block Highway, Buildings Set Ablaze Over Unverified Rape-Suicide Rumour appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

Old footage: Delhi Police fact-checks viral Jantar Mantar protest video amid SIR row

Delhi Police has clarified that a video being shared regarding a recent protest is actually outdated material from a previous event. They have cautioned that those spreading false information could face legal consequences. Meanwhile, opposition parties are actively protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar due to ongoing disputes about the electoral roll revision.

Delhi Cop Thrashed With Baseball Bat After Argument, Gets 5 Stiches Near Eye

The head constable said the incident took place when he was buying a cold drink from a shop.

Karnataka Congress protests, seeks CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation; Delhi SIR deadline extended

ECI also eased hearing rules by allowing online participation in certain cases. Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress leaders and workers protested in Bengaluru, demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and alleging irregularities in electoral rolls. The allegations made by Congress were not independently verified.

Odds of rate hike at RBI's October MPC meet on the rise: Economists

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) inflation mandate has likely reinforced the push to drain excess liquidity, with the odds of a rate hike at the October meeting on the rise, according to economists. Short-end rates are likely to stay bid as markets price in these rate increases, they added. According to Radhika Rao, Senior Economist and Executive Director, DBS Bank, pullback in benchmark oil prices helped to stabilise INR asset markets, though overnight climb in US yields might counteract some of the positive impact. USD/INR had ended around the mid-95 handle, though is set to resume its climb, attracting strong intervention bids. Liquidity conditions have tightened meaningfully following the central bank's sustained absorption operations, which have relied on a mix of open market operations, VRRR auctions, and short-tenor sell-buy swaps, she explained. Tax outflows, rising seasonal currency leakage, and intermittent FX sales likely helped further lower the surfeit. As a result, the liquidity balance narrowed to below Rs 5 lakh crore last week from a peak of around Rs 10-11 lakh crore, helping to improve monetary policy transmission and align the weighted average call rate more closely with the repo rate. Liquidity and core inflation have historically displayed a modest positive relationship, said the economist. Pranjul Bhandari, Chief India Economist and Strategist, HSBC Global Investment Research, said that they maintain the long-held view of two 25 bp hikes in the October and December meetings, respectively, taking the repo rate to 5.75 per cent. We also expect further clarity/steps on liquidity removal in the October meeting, she noted. Excess liquidity can quickly become inflationary and can raise financial stability risks if banks become dependent on abundant liquidity. The RBI has already deployed VRRRs, OMO sales, and FX swaps/spot sales. CRR hikes and MSS issuance are options under consideration.

CISF conducts aerial threat mock exercise at Porbandar Airport, holds drone awareness session

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) conducted a multi-agency mock exercise on aerial threats and drone sightings at Porbandar Airport in coordination with the Indian Navy, as security agencies stepped up preparedness to respond to potential threats involving unmanned aerial systems. The exercise focused on strengthening coordination among agencies, improving communication channels and enhancing the readiness of security personnel to respond to aerial threats at the airport. Sharing details of the exercise on X, the CISF said, A Multi-Agency Mock Exercise on Aerial Threat/Drone Sighting was conducted at Porbandar Airport in coordination with the Indian Navy. The exercise strengthened inter-agency coordination, communication and response preparedness against potential aerial threats. The exercise was followed by a drone-awareness session conducted by a team from the Indian Navy for CISF personnel. The session was led by Lt. Comdr Suraj and covered different types of drones, emerging threats associated with their use and technologies deployed for detecting and countering such threats. According to the CISF, the session included an overview of anti-drone systems and their capabilities, including radar-based detection, radio-frequency (RF) detection and jamming technologies. The CISF said the exercise and subsequent awareness session were aimed at enhancing the ability of personnel to identify, assess and respond to potential drone-related threats, while improving coordination between security and other agencies operating at the airport. Earlier on Saturday, a joint counter-terrorist mock exercise was also conducted at Delhi Airport to test crisis-response mechanisms and strengthen coordination among agencies involved in airport security and emergency response. The CISF said on X: A Joint Counter Terrorist Mock Exercise was conducted at Delhi airport to validate real-time crisis response, strengthen inter-agency coordination and enhance operational preparedness to effectively respond to emerging threats at the airport. The exercise involved personnel from CISF and stakeholder agencies, including Delhi Police, NSG, BDDS, CIW, DIAL, RAXA, DP ATS, Medanta, DFS, CATS, BCAS, ARFF and other concerned agencies. The exercise reaffirmed the commitment towards robust aviation security, seamless inter-agency synergy and enhanced emergency response capabilities, it added. The exercises come amid continued emphasis on strengthening airport security through regular drills, inter-agency coordination and preparedness for a range of potential security and emergency scenarios.

IMD issues red alert in U'khand; heavy rain likely in Himachal, UP

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a warning regarding torrential rain and thunder strikes in Uttarakhand. Heavy rainfall is also anticipated in Himachal Pradesh and western Uttar Pradesh. IMD has predicted rainfall in Delhi over the next three days. As rains lashed Uttarakhand on Saturday, the Meteorological Department issued a 'red alert' for the districts of Dehradun, Tehri, Haridwar, and Pauri. The Char Dham Yatra has been suspended in view of the adverse weather conditions. Meanwhile, temperatures have dropped sharply due to snowfall in the high-altitude areas of Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Uttarkashi. Due to the impact of a depression formed over north-eastern Madhya Pradesh and adjoining northern Chhattisgarh, heavy to very heavy rainfall -- and in some places, extremely heavy or exceptionally heavy rainfall -- is expected in Uttarakhand and parts of northern Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. According to the information shared by the IMD on the social media platform 'X', the depression formed over south-eastern Uttar Pradesh has moved north-northwestwards at a speed of 12 km/h over the past six hours. Consequently, it was located approximately 40 km southeast of Lucknow, 80 km east-northeast of Kanpur, 110 km south-southwest of Bahraich, and 260 km southeast of Bareilly. There is a high probability that it will continue moving north-northwestwards across eastern Uttar Pradesh and gradually weaken into a 'well-marked low-pressure area' in the same region over the next six hours. According to the Meteorological Department, the weather pattern in Delhi-NCR underwent a change following rainfall on Saturday evening. People experienced a slight chill on Sunday morning. The IMD has forecasted rain in the national capital over the next three days. Meanwhile, an 'orange alert' for rain has been issued for Jharkhand for Sunday. Additionally, a 'yellow alert' for rain has been issued for Madhya Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, Marathwada, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu. For Monday, a 'yellow alert' for rain has been issued for Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, while strong winds are expected in coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Nepal seeks bigger role between India, China

Digital Desk | United Nations, Sep 27 (IANS) Nepal wants to turn its position between India and China into an economic advantage, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said, describing stronger trade with India and better links to China as parts of the same strategy. Speaking at New York event, Khanal said Nepals question in what he called a rising Asian century was no longer how it could survive between two large neighbours. It was how the country could create value between them and beyond them. We did not see our northern and southern corridors as competing directions, he said. We see Nepal land linked to two of the world's largest markets, home to nearly three billion people. India remains central to that plan. Khanal said Nepal shares an open border of more than 1,700 kilometres with five Indian states and sees scope for closer links between Nepali production and the Indian market. He also pointed to hydropower as a source of growth, with Nepal aiming to expand generation and export clean electricity to India and, onward, to Bangladesh. In a discussion after his address, Khanal described the new Nepali governments relationship with India as Excellent, I'd say. He said he had met Indias external affairs minister in New York and that high-level visits and exchanges had taken place. The ties extend well beyond government contacts. Almost two third of our trade is with India, Khanal said. Nepal also relies heavily on routes through India for access to ports, while the two countries have close cultural and social links, he said. Asked about border disagreements and the wider task of managing relations with New Delhi and Beijing, Khanal said his government was concentrating on practical cooperation. There would be issues on which the neighbours differed, he said, but Nepal was looking for areas where they could make progress. He cited positive momentum in energy trade with India. On China, Khanal said Nepal was pursuing better road links across the Himalayas and envisaged rail connections over time. He described China as Nepals second-largest trading partner after India and said Chinese investors were among the largest investors in the country. Nepal signed a memorandum on Chinas Belt and Road Initiative in 2017 and a framework agreement in December 2024, Khanal said. He added that the two countries had yet to begin implementing projects under it. Nepal was also seeking cooperation with China on glacial monitoring, disaster warnings and climate adaptation. Khanal framed these efforts as part of a policy he called development autonomy. Nepals goal, he said, was to reach middle-income status within 10 years and developed, high-income status by 2050. Foreign partnerships should help build productive capacity and jobs at home. The United States also has a place in that approach. Khanal said Nepal wanted more US investment and described current exchanges between officials as robust. He said his government was not strongly pursuing security alliances or security cooperation, given Nepals geography and sensitivities, though the two countries had cooperated on security matters in the past. Khanal also linked the countrys economic plans to governance. He said young Nepalis had demanded action on corruption and poor public services, and that the government was seeking investment while improving how the state works.

INDIA Bloc Meeting On 30 Sept: Opposition To Plan Next Move On Gyanesh Kumar, ECI Row

Opposition parties in the INDIA bloc are going to meet in New Delhi on 30 September to discuss the recent dispute with Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The meeting is expected to focus on demand

FPI outflows to continue amid high US bond yields, better returns from IPOs

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) Given the high US bond yields and better returns from Indias IPO market, the trend of FPI outflows is likely to continue, according to analysts. Yet another significant trend in FPI investment is that even though they are sellers in large-caps, they have been sustained buyers in mid-and small-caps. FPIs also are chasing the market momentum, said analysts. This month, the total equity outflows through exchanges reached Rs 25,682 crore through August 25. The trend of FPI investment through the primary market continues with total investment of Rs 8,551 crore (up to September 25), said Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Ltd. This trend of selling through the exchanges and investing through the primary market has taken the total FPI selling this year through exchanges to Rs 295,971 crore and the total investment through the primary market during this period to Rs 54,398 crore. The Indian stock markets ended lower for the seventh consecutive week amid weak domestic and global cues. The Sensex declined 0.54 per cent to close at 73,895.74, while the Nifty fell 0.88 per cent to settle at 23,140.50. Broader markets also remained under pressure, with both midcap and smallcap indices witnessing weakness. Sectoral performance remained mixed, with technology and financials among the key laggards. In contrast, Realty emerged as the strongest-performing segment. Crude oil prices and geopolitical developments remained the key drivers of market sentiment during the week, said analysts. The divergence between improving domestic growth indicators and weakening market breadth suggests that external factors remain the dominant near-term influence. Volatility is likely to remain elevated until greater clarity emerges on crude oil prices and geopolitical developments, they added. The improving domestic growth outlook remains a positive factor, but external risks warrant a measured approach towards fresh positions.

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov bats for New Delhi, backs India's permanent UNSC bid at UNGA

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov bats for New Delhi, backs India's permanent UNSC bid at UNGA

SIR row: Delhi Police debunk viral Jantar Mantar protest video as old footage

The viral video was shared by several accounts on X (formerly Twitter), including Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. In a post, DCP New Delhi on Saturday said the claim of a live and massive protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar was false and warned of legal action against those deliberately spreading misleading content.

BJP leaders pay tribute to former Union Minister Jaswant Singh on his death anniversary

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) Senior BJP leaders and Ministers on Sunday paid tributes to former Union Minister Jaswant Singh on his death anniversary, hailing his extraordinary foresight and diplomatic acumen while heading Finance, External Affairs, and Defence ministries. Paying homage to the former Union Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla referred to him as the pride of Rajasthan. The contribution of the late Jaswant Singh, a son of Malani, to the fields of Indian politics and national service will always be remembered, Birla said on the social media platform 'X'. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also paid tribute to Jaswant Singh. In a post on X, Meghwal described the former Union Minister as someone who possessed extraordinary foresight and diplomatic acumen in defence, finance, and foreign affairs. His life of integrity, dedicated to the pride of the motherland, public service, and democratic values, shall forever remain an eternal source of inspiration for us all, the Law Minister added. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma also paid his salutations to Jaswant Singh, calling him a prominent figure in Indian politics. In a post on X, CM Sharma said: His extraordinary foresight and diplomatic acumen in defense, finance, and foreign affairs gave the country a new global identity. His life of impeccable integrity, dedicated to the pride of the motherland, public service, and democratic values, shall forever remain an eternal source of inspiration for us all. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma remembered him as one of the founding members of the BJP. Remembering one of the stalwarts of Indian politics and one of the founding fathers of our party, 'Shraddheya' Jaswant Singh ji on his death anniversary. His work for the poor and his contributions in strengthening our country's defence apparatus will always be cherished, CM Sarma said. Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, while remembering his colleague in the erstwhile Vajpayee government, wrote, Tributes to senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Jaswant Singh on his death anniversary. Jaswant Singh passed away at the age of 82 on September 27, 2020. He hailed from Jasol village in Rajasthan's Barmer district and was known as the 'Son of Malani'. He held charge of some of the country's most crucial ministries during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government.

UEFA Nations League: Spain sink England, Croatia edge Czechia

UEFA Nations League: Spain sink England, Croatia edge Czechia New Delhi: Spains Mikel Oyarzabal scored the decisive goal to overcome England, while the evergreen Luka Modric starred as Croatia beat Czechia in UEFA Nations League games. Oyarzabal got another winner against England, as the man who settled the EURO 2024 final for Spain earned the [] The post UEFA Nations League: Spain sink England, Croatia edge Czechia appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Apple aims to break India sales record this fiscal amid push to local manufacturing

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) As the Make in India initiative heralds a new era for electronics manufacturing in the country Apple, which set a new sales record in India with $10 billion for last fiscal (FY26) is eying to break the record again this fiscal (FY27), as the new iPhone 18 series is seeing stronger initial demand in India than its predecessors. Analysts and retailers have reported up to 28 per cent yearonyear uptick for the newly launched 18 Pro and Pro Max. According to Tarun Pathak, Research Director, Counterpoint Research, while it's too early to share definitive sales figures, initial demand for the 18 Pro is outperforming the 17 Pro year-on-year. Resellers are driving sales in terms of numbers and catering to buyers across different locations. Industry experts said the absence of a standard iPhone 18 this year had concentrated demand on the two Pro models. Prabhu Ram, Head of the Industry Intelligence Group at CyberMedia Research, said that structured retail financing acts as a key demand enabler, expanding Apples total revenue value and lifting blended ASPs in the Indian market. iPhone 18 Pro Max delivers the most advanced pro camera system in an iPhone, and huge leaps in battery life and performance. The new 48MP Fusion Main camera, now with variable aperture, brings creative control that wasnt possible before, and new Pro controls let users customise their experience in the Camera app. It features a smaller and even more useful Dynamic Island, as well as A20 Pro and a next-generation vapour chamber that together deliver the highest sustained performance in iPhone history. iPhone 18 Pro Max also delivers the best-ever battery life on a Pro model, thanks to advancements in Apple silicon and a larger battery. Featuring iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, the device brings powerful AI capabilities together with personal context to become an intelligent personal hub with privacy and security at its core. With iPhone 18 Pro, weve made advancements to the areas our users care about most: camera, performance, battery, and intelligence. And we didnt just make incremental improvements in these areas we took huge leaps forward to create the best Pro iPhone weve ever made, said Greg Joswiak, Apples senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

I Can't Leave My Client, Abandon Duty: Woman Lawyer Assaulted In Delhi

In the video, the lawyer was in tears and complaining about the situation for women's safety in the national capital

Delhi Police dismiss viral Jantar Mantar protest video as old footage

The News Mill

14 states on rain alert as Cyclone Arnab impact continues; UP, Bihar face flooding

The impact of Cyclone Arnab may have weakened, but its effects are still being felt across several parts of the country. While rain in Delhi has brought relief from the heat, heavy rainfall has disrupted...

UN urged to prevent crises, not count dead

Digital Desk | United Nations, Sep 27 (IANS) Leaders from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean have urged the United Nations to move beyond responding to wars and humanitarian disasters and invest more heavily in diplomacy that can prevent crises before they erupt. The demand emerged repeatedly during the General Assembly debate as countries questioned whether the UN had become more effective at managing the consequences of conflict than stopping violence. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan delivered one of the sharpest assessments. He said the UN too often responded only after disaster has arrived. We count the dead. We deliver supplies. The international community would then rebuild what had been destroyed while waiting for another crisis, he said. We must move from reaction to prevention, Hasan said, describing Gaza as the most urgent example. Malaysia said preventive action required stronger institutions, early diplomacy and a willingness to address the political conditions that produced repeated violence. Rwanda raised a similar concern about the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva said the crisis showed that the UN was more effective at responding to emergencies than anticipating them. The roots of the conflict in eastern (Democratic Republic of the Congo) are political, he said, citing longstanding grievances, exclusion and failures of governance. The solution must therefore be political, he added. Rwanda called on the Security Council and other international actors to support peace initiatives already under way. Congo presented a sharply different account of responsibility for the fighting, accusing Rwanda of conducting a war of aggression through the AFC/M23 armed movement. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka said the Security Council had already established a path towards peace. We do not need new texts to replace those which have already been adopted, she said. What we need is their implementation. Gambia said its experience chairing the General Assemblys Economic and Financial Committee demonstrated that countries could make progress even when they disagreed deeply. Multilateralism does not require unanimity on every issue, Vice President Muhammed Jallow said. It required governments to remain at the negotiating table, listen, compromise and continue working through differences, he said. The same political courage should be applied to preventing and resolving wars. Finnish President Alexander Stubb urged countries to renew their commitment to international law. We must not grow indifferent to wars and human suffering, he said, calling for greater investment in conflict prevention, human rights and sustainable economies. Switzerland said dialogue should continue even when governments held opposing positions. Our experience has also taught us that dialogue is not a sign of weakness, Swiss President Guy Parmelin said. Switzerland would continue providing places where parties that were no longer speaking could eventually resume contact, he added. Dominica President Sylvanie Burton said the UN should be judged not only by its response after people had suffered but also by whether countries could work together to prevent that suffering. The UN Charter calls on countries to settle disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and other peaceful means. The organisation can also deploy envoys, peacekeeping missions, sanctions and humanitarian operations, depending on mandates approved by member states. India has repeatedly supported dialogue and diplomacy in addressing international conflicts and is a longstanding contributor to UN peacekeeping. The prevention debate is also relevant to New Delhis warning that developing countries often bear the food, energy and economic costs of wars in which they have little influence.

NPP united, Delhi visit for official work, no merger talks with BJP: Dhar

Shillong, Sep 26: Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Saturday refuted claims that 22 NPP legislators were camping in Delhi for merger talks with the BJP. Dhar said he, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had visited Delhi for official work and there was no move to merge with the [] The post NPP united, Delhi visit for official work, no merger talks with BJP: Dhar first appeared on Highland Post .

A Wooden Box And 'Skeleton' Invite Police To Cleanliness Drive In Delhi

Police received information about the suspected skeleton-like material during a cleanliness drive by Delhi BJP and reached the spot, where they found the wooden box containing an old assembled skeletal structure.

Viral Jantar Mantar protest video is old, Delhi Police issues misinformation alert

A video purportedly showing a massive protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Saturday is old, the Delhi Police said, dismissing claims that the demonstration was taking place live. In a post on X, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma said the claim about a massive protest at Jantar Mantar was false. The police clarified that the footage being circulated online was from a past event and was being shared as if it showed a current demonstration. The clarification comes after the video circulated with claims suggesting that a large protest was underway at the prominent Delhi location on Saturday.

ECI extends Delhi SIR claims deadline to October 30, Maharashtra to October 12

The controversy spans objections raised by Joshi and Sandhu on issues such as changes to Form 6 used for new voter enrolment, the functioning of the online system ECINET, the redistribution of work in the IT division, appeals in the West Bengal SIR, and the handling of cases involving voters in Goa, for instance

Delhi govt plans police posts at subways, under flyovers after gang rape

Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Saturday directed officials to finalise the project in coordination with the Delhi Police and implement it as soon as possible

Doi Maach to Lahsuni Kadhi: How culinary diversity shaped food historians taste of India

INDIA bloc parties likely to meet on Sep 30 over EC row, other issues

NEW DELHI: Opposition INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, besides other issues, sources said. The proposed meeting comes amid increased coordination among opposition parties over the Election Commission following reports of differences []

Served nation with dedication: PM Modi pays tribute

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to former prime minister Manmohan Singh on his birth anniversary and remembered his many years spent in public life, serving the nation with dedication. Singh was born on September 26, 1932 in the Punjab province of undivided India and died in New Delhi on December []

Gandhi family not guardian of Indian democracy but threat to it: BJP

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Saturday attacked the Congress, alleging that the Gandhi family is not the guardian of Indian democracy but a threat to it. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also alleged that the Congresss sole objective is to bring back the Gandhi-Vadra family to power at the Centre. For Congress: Parivarwad First, Parivarwad Only, []

Russia backs India, Brazil for permanent UN Security Council seats, opposes Germany, Japan

Digital Desk | United Nations, Sep 27 (IANS) Russia backed India and Brazil for permanent membership of the UN Security Council while opposing seats for Germany and Japan, two of Indias partners in the G4 reform coalition. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov set out Moscows position during his address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday. His remarks placed Indias claim at the centre of a renewed debate over how to make the Council more representative. UN Security Council reform cannot involve any additional seats being allocated to Western countries, especially to Germany and Japan, who are now on the path to militarism and revanchism, Lavrov said. We are in favour of broadening the representation of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We support Brazil's and India's candidatures for a permanent seat, he added. The statement was an explicit endorsement of Indias long-standing campaign. It also exposed a fault line within the G4, which brings together India, Brazil, Germany and Japan in a joint push for permanent membership. The four countries met on the sidelines of the General Assembly this week. Their foreign ministers called for expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories. They also sought stronger representation for Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Russias position supports two G4 members but rejects the other two. Moscow also backed greater African representation, according to the UNs account of Lavrovs speech. India received support from other countries during the high-level debate. Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful endorsed Indias candidature while speaking about Council reform. We support the positions of the G4 and of L69 on Council reform, and we reiterate our support for India's candidature for a permanent seat, commensurate with its constructive role in global affairs, Ramful said. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro also supported permanent representation for Africa, Brazil and India. The Marshall Islands, meanwhile, backed Japan and its G4 partners. The Marshall Islands affirms its longstanding support for Japan and its G4 partners to achieve permanent membership on the UN Security Council, President Hilda Heine said. African countries have sought expansion of the UN Security Council. In his address, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio said the Council still reflected the power structure of 1945, while Africa remained without a permanent seat. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama linked reform to the UNs legitimacy and credibility. The UN Secretariat has not endorsed any individual candidate. Asked on Friday about support for India, UN spokesperson Stphane Dujarric said the decision rested with member states. Well, its not for the Secretary-General to take position on the individual candidacies or proposals for specific Member States for a permanent seat on the Security Council, Dujarric said. He added that the Council required broader representation so people around the world could feel that they were represented, either directly or more widely. The Security Council has 15 members. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States hold permanent seats and veto power. Ten other countries are elected for two-year terms. Changing that structure would require a UN Charter amendment approved by two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratified by two-thirds of UN members, including all five permanent Council members. India has argued for years that the Council no longer reflects contemporary political and economic realities. It points to its population, growing global role, record in UN peacekeeping and representation of the Global South. New Delhi has served eight terms as an elected Council member and continues to campaign with Brazil, Germany and Japan for permanent seats.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Meets Union Health Minister JP Nadda

Yogi Adityanath met JP Nadda in New Delhi, following a visit with PM Modi, emphasizing Uttar Pradeshs growing role in defense production. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Meets Union Health Minister JP Nadda

ECI clarifies: SIR decisions unanimous, upheld by SC

New Delhi, Sep 26: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturdayaddressed the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls,asserting that all major decisions, including the SIR order issued on June 24, 2025, for all States and Union Territories, were taken with the unanimous approval of the full Commission. The Commission also clarified that the letter to the Cabinet Secretary was ot related to any policy matter of the Commission or IT division but related to the working of an officer on deputation to ECI. Addressing the controversy directly at the Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr S S Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi,stated that the work re-distribution orders issued by the concerned officer were not actually implemented after the orders of the two Commissioners, and the oversight over the IT division by the DEC was never actually withdrawn. This clarification appears to counter the narrative that there was a breakdown in the Commission's internal functioning or that the IT division's oversight had been compromised. The Commission said the order for SIR issued on June 24, 2025, for all States and UTs, starting with Bihar, followed by West Bengal and 30 other States and UTs, was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission. The same has been upheld by the Supreme Court of India vide its order dated May 27, 2026. The schedule for SIR for 12 States and UTs was issued on October 27, 2025, and for 19 States and UTs on May 14, 2026, again with the unanimous approval of the Commission. The final figure of the number of electors will be known only after final publication in the remaining 12 states of Phase-III, the CEC said. The Commission said SIR has already been completed in 20 States and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal. Any person whose name has been left out during SIR or thereafter, and any person, including young and first-time voters, may apply to the concerned ERO for inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls under the process of continuous updation. The ECI said the CEOs have been directed to facilitate the same. The CEOs, DEOs and EROs will immediately launch a special drive for enrolment of these electors. The Commission extended the period for filing claims and objections in Delhi till October 30, 2026, and in Maharashtra till October 12, 2026. The period for disposal of notices and claims and objections has been extended till November 30, 2026, in Delhi and till November 10, 2026, in Maharashtra. BLOs will visit the homes of persons issued notices for being unmapped and for logical discrepancies, for collection of documents and uploading them on ECINet. Such persons need not be called for hearing to ERO/AERO offices. Only in exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO, will a hearing be held, preferably online, the CEC said. He said DEOs will create adequate help desks and hold special camps for people living in night shelters, labourers, poor people and homeless persons. A Committee headed by the Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from IIT/IIIT will review ECINET to double-check that it complies with the provisions of the Acts and Rules.

A Holiday Row that Reveals a Deeper Divide

The controversy that erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly over the holiday marking Maharaja Hari Singhs birth anniversary is not really about a day off. It is about history, identity and the competing political memories of Jammu and the Kashmir Valley. On September 22, 2026, a National Conference MLA demanded restoration of public holidays on the birth and death anniversaries of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, December 5 and September 8 respectively. He went further: if these holidays could not be restored, he demanded that the public holiday marking Maharaja Hari Singhs birth anniversary on September 23 should also be withdrawn. PDP legislators supported the demand and also called for restoration of the July 13 Martyrs Day holiday. The demand triggered protests from BJP legislators and eventually a walkout. The present holiday calendar tells its own story. The J&K administration removed July 13 and December 5 from the list of public holidays in 2020. September 23, Maharaja Hari Singhs birthday, was later added and remains an official holiday in 2026. October 26, Accession Day, is also an official holiday. There is nothing inherently wrong with commemorating Sheikh Abdullah. Nor is there anything unusual about Jammu wanting the legacy of Maharaja Hari Singh officially recognised. The problem begins when recognition of one historical memory is presented as requiring the erasure of another. That is precisely what makes the present controversy significant. For Jammu, Maharaja Hari Singh is not merely the last Dogra ruler. He represents a historical legacy deeply associated with the Dogra state, its institutions and Jammu's place in the history of the erstwhile state. His decision to accede to India in October 1947 is also central to Jammu's political narrative, despite an agenda-driven campaign to malign his life by a section of historians. For large sections of the Valley, Sheikh Abdullah occupies a comparable place in the political imagination. He led the movement against the Maharaja, became the most influential Kashmiri Muslim political leader of his generation and remained a dominant figure in J&K politics for decades. His supporters naturally regard his contribution as deserving official recognition. The question, therefore, is not whether either memory should exist. Both already exist. The question is whether the state should turn them into competing claims. July 13: one event, two historical narratives The argument over July 13 is even more complicated. The date commemorates the 22 people who were killed on July 13, 1931. The conventional Kashmir narrative regards them as martyrs of the political struggle against Dogra rule. The day was officially observed as Martyrs Day for decades and remained a public holiday until it was removed from the calendar in 2020. There is, however, another account of the events, based on the inquiry under Chief Justice Barjor Dalal. That version should be remembered if July 13 is invoked as historical truth rather than political symbolism. According to the Commission's alternative account, the gathering outside Srinagar Central Jail, where a foreign national was being tried for subversion, became an unlawful and violent assembly, with attempts to force entry into the jail and disturbances extending into parts of the city where shops of Kashmiri Pandits were looted in Maharajganj and Vicharinag. The deaths occurred in the course of the authorities' effort to disperse the crowd. That is precisely why July 13 should be approached historically rather than ceremonially. Competing accounts of what happened exist, and the political meaning attached to the day differs sharply between communities and regions. Presenting only one narrative as uncontested history does little to promote reconciliation. The same principle should apply to every historical personality, including Sheikh Abdullah. Sheikh Abdullah and the idea of an independent Kashmir Another episode in Sheikh Abdullah's political career should not be forgotten whenever his historical legacy is invoked. In September 1948, Sheikh Abdullah gave an interview to foreign correspondents in which he spoke explicitly of the possibility of an independent Kashmir. As reported from the interview, the idea was that neither accession to India nor accession to Pakistan necessarily offered a satisfactory solution, and that an independent Kashmir, guaranteed by India, Pakistan, and other international powers, could provide an alternative. The interview caused considerable concern within the Indian leadership and became an important episode in subsequent assessments of Abdullah's political thinking. This does not erase his contribution to Kashmir's political history. But his political record should not be sanitised when his legacy is invoked in the Assembly. History should be allowed to remain complicated. Jammu and Kashmir are not politically identical And that is where the holiday controversy takes us to a much larger issue. Jammu and the Kashmir Valley are geographically contiguous but have never been politically or historically identical. Their experiences of the Dogra period were different. Their responses to the events of 1947 were different. Their political movements developed differently. Their heroes are different. Their collective memories are often contradictory. Even today, their economic concerns, developmental priorities and political aspirations are not always the same. Recurring disputes over representation, recruitment, development, political power, and now even public holidays are symptoms of that underlying regional divergence. The problem is not that Jammu and Kashmir possess different historical memories. The problem is that the political system still treats those differences as though they can be resolved through a single, centralised narrative. Delhi needs to recognise this reality. The answer, however, is not to remove Sheikh Abdullah from history in Jammu, any more than it is to erase Maharaja Hari Singh from the historical memory of Kashmir. Nor should July 13 or September 23 become annual occasions for reopening old political battles. A mature political arrangement should have enough room for multiple histories to coexist. The holiday calendar could easily accommodate this principle. No constitutional necessity requires commemorating one historical personality at the expense of another. If a section of society attaches significance to Sheikh Abdullah's birth anniversary, that sentiment can be acknowledged. If Jammu attaches significance to Maharaja Hari Singh's birthday, that too can be acknowledged. If July 13 remains historically important to sections of the Valley, its history can be studied and debated without necessarily imposing one interpretation of the events upon everyone. The larger issue is therefore not the number of holidays. It is the absence of a political framework sufficiently sensitive to the distinct regional identities within the Union Territory. For decades, Jammu has complained that its political voice has been subordinated to a Kashmir-centric political structure. Kashmir, in turn, has its own historical grievances and political narratives. Treating these two regions as if they possess identical aspirations has not eliminated the differences. It has often intensified them. The present controversy is therefore a warning. When a public holiday becomes a battlefield between Maharaja Hari Singh and Sheikh Abdullah, it shows the underlying contest is not about calendars. It is about competing conceptions of history and identity. Delhi would do well to recognise that reality rather than attempting to manage it through administrative decisions about which names appear on an annual holiday notification. Jammu and Kashmir need not have one historical memory. They can have many. Maharaja Hari Singh can remain an important figure for Jammu; Sheikh Abdullah can remain an important figure for Kashmir; July 13 can remain a deeply significant and contested episode in the history of the Valley; and the accession of October 1947 can remain a foundational event in India's history. A modern political systems task is not to decide which community's memory should prevail. It is to create enough political space for different memories, identities and aspirations to coexist. The recurring holiday controversy demonstrates that Jammu and the Kashmir Valley are not merely two geographical divisions of one administrative unit. They are two regions with distinct historical experiences, political priorities and developmental aspirations. The longer this reality is ignored, the more every symbolic dispute will become a proxy for the larger unresolved question: how should these two very different regions be governed politically so that neither feels compelled to fight for recognition of its own history? That is the question Delhi needs to confront. The calendar is merely where the argument has surfaced this year. Separating the two and creating two distinct political entities within Bharat's constitutional framework is the way forward; otherwise, precious hours will keep being wasted fighting such issues inside the assembly hall or protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. (The author is a military historian and the chairman of the JSPM)

Autonomy Resolution Engine of Separatism

The renewed invocation of the Jammu and Kashmir Autonomy Resolution of 2000 raises a question far larger than the immediate political debate over restoration of statehood. It brings back into public discourse an older constitutional ideathe restoration of a distinctive constitutional relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the Union of India associated broadly with the pre-1953 position. That debate cannot, however, be conducted in 2026 as though the constitutional developments of August 2019 and the judgment of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court delivered on 11 December 2023 never occurred. The historical criticism of the autonomy project has been that, even when presented as autonomy within India rather than separation from India, its architecture emphasised constitutional separateness. Its critics therefore saw autonomy as providing political and institutional space in which a consciousness of separateness could survive and potentially strengthen separatist narratives. Supporters of autonomy strongly dispute that interpretation. The National Conference has historically maintained that autonomy was sought within the Indian Union. That distinction must be acknowledged. Advocacy of autonomy is not, merely by itself, legally synonymous with advocacy of secession. The real question today is consequently more precise: Can the political concept underlying the Autonomy Resolution of 2000 simply be revived after Parliament fundamentally changed J&K's constitutional position in 2019 and the Supreme Court subsequently upheld the central constitutional outcome of those changes? Autonomy Was Never Merely Administrative Decentralisation There is a fundamental difference between decentralisation and the historical autonomy demand in Jammu and Kashmir. Every State within the Indian constitutional system possesses legislative and executive powers distributed under the Constitution. States frequently demand greater fiscal authority, increased administrative discretion and greater participation in decisions taken by the Union. Such demands form an ordinary part of Indian federal politics. The National Conference's historical autonomy project went considerably further. The 2000 resolution sought restoration of a constitutional arrangement broadly associated with the position existing before 9 August 1953. The political significance of the demand therefore lay in seeking restoration of a degree of constitutional distinctiveness that had progressively diminished as provisions of the Constitution of India were extended to Jammu and Kashmir. This is precisely why autonomy became inseparable from the wider political debate concerning J&K's relationship with the Union. The controversy was never merely about whether Srinagar or New Delhi should exercise a particular administrative power. It concerned the nature of the constitutional relationship itself. For critics of the autonomy project, that distinction was crucial. They argued that continuously presenting Jammu and Kashmir's relationship with India as constitutionally exceptional could reinforce a psychology of separateness. For supporters of autonomy, precisely the opposite was true: recognition of J&K's distinct history and identity, they argued, could accommodate regional aspirations within India. These competing narratives shaped J&K politics for decades. From Accession to Constitutional Integration Jammu and Kashmir unquestionably possessed an unusual constitutional history. Article 370 provided the constitutional mechanism through which provisions of the Constitution of India were progressively applied to the erstwhile State. Over several decades, numerous provisions of the Indian Constitution were extended to Jammu and Kashmir through Presidential Orders. Two fundamentally different interpretations emerged from this process. Those favouring greater integration regarded these developments as the gradual constitutional integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. Autonomy advocates frequently described the same process as an erosion of the constitutional arrangement originally envisaged for the State. The 2000 Autonomy Resolution must be understood against this background. Its objective was not simply greater administrative efficiency or financial decentralisation. It sought substantial restoration of an earlier constitutional position. This raised the fundamental question that dominated J&K's constitutional politics: Should Jammu and Kashmir maintain a uniquely distinctive constitutional relationship with India, or should it function substantially within the same constitutional framework applicable throughout the Union? It was within this contest that the autonomy-versus-integration debate developed. The Connection With Separatist Politics The word separatism needs to be used carefully. Separatism in its strict legal and political sense involves seeking separation from the sovereign State. The National Conference's declared position has historically been that its autonomy programme contemplated Jammu and Kashmir remaining within India. Autonomy therefore cannot automatically be equated with secession. The historical criticism is nevertheless important. Critics of the autonomy model argue that separateness can exist without formal separation. A separate constitutional arrangement, exceptional political institutions, restrictions upon the ordinary application of Union laws and a continuing discourse portraying J&K's relationship with India as fundamentally different from that of other States could, in this view, provide an intellectual and political environment in which ideas of distinct political identity could flourish. It is in this sense that critics describe autonomy as an engine of separatism. The argument is not necessarily that everybody demanding autonomy seeks independence. Such a proposition would be both historically and legally overbroad. The argument is instead that constitutional exceptionalism can reinforce a political consciousness of exceptionalism, which separatist movements may then seek to exploit. Whether autonomy reduces alienation through accommodation or reinforces separateness through exceptionalism has long been one of the central disagreements in J&K politics. August 2019 Fundamentally Changed the Debate Whatever arguments could legitimately be advanced before August 2019, the constitutional landscape thereafter changed fundamentally. On 5 August 2019, the Union Government initiated constitutional measures that ultimately resulted in Article 370 ceasing to operate in its previous form. The constitutional arrangement through which Article 35A had operated also came to an end. Parliament simultaneously enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, reorganising the former State into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The importance of these developments cannot be understated. The earlier autonomy debate operated inside the constitutional architecture created by Article 370. The 2000 Autonomy Resolution could therefore proceed from the existence of that constitutional architecture and argue about how the relationship between J&K and the Union should operate within it. After 2019, that premise fundamentally changed. The constitutional mechanism upon which the historical autonomy programme depended no longer operates in its previous form. Political language developed in 2000 therefore cannot simply be transplanted into the constitutional environment of 2026. Parliament Cannot Be Ignored Another aspect of the post-2019 position is equally significant. The transformation was not simply the result of an executive announcement. Parliament acted. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, was enacted by Parliament and fundamentally altered the institutional structure of the former State. The present Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir functions within that statutory framework. This becomes particularly significant when examining the authority of the present Legislative Assembly. Section 13 of the Reorganisation Act makes Article 239A of the Constitution applicable to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Section 14 provides for a Legislative Assembly for the Union Territory. The present Assembly is consequently not the legislature of the erstwhile State continuing under the old pre-2019 arrangement. Its immediate statutory structure arises from the parliamentary legislation forming part of the post-2019 constitutional reorganisation. That produces an extraordinary feature of the present debate: The legislature functioning under the post-2019 framework is being used as a political forum to preserve reference to an autonomy resolution whose objective was restoration of a constitutional arrangement preceding that very framework. There is nothing inherently impermissible about legislators debating constitutional change. Democratic institutions exist precisely for political discussion. But the distinction between the right to advocate change and the constitutional authority to accomplish that change becomes decisive. The Supreme Court Judgment Cannot Be Wished Away The next constitutional milestone came on 11 December 2023. A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in In Re: Article 370 of the Constitution. The judgment fundamentally altered the terms upon which any contemporary autonomy argument must proceed. The Supreme Court held that Article 370 was intended to be a temporary provision. It upheld the central constitutional outcome through which Article 370 ceased to operate in its earlier form. Even more significantly for the historical autonomy debate, the Court rejected the proposition that Jammu and Kashmir retained an element of internal sovereignty distinct from India after accession. This conclusion strikes at an important constitutional premise underlying arguments which portray J&K's relationship with India as a continuing relationship between two repositories of sovereignty. Once the Supreme Court has held that Jammu and Kashmir possessed no residual internal sovereignty separate from India, any future arrangement concerning J&K must necessarily derive its authority from the Constitution of India. Autonomy cannot therefore be asserted as an independent sovereign entitlement existing outside the Constitution. Any constitutional restructuring must proceed through constitutionally competent institutions and constitutionally recognised procedures. It should equally be acknowledged that the Supreme Court did not approve every technique used during the 2019 process. It held that Article 367 could not be employed indirectly to amend Article 370 in the particular manner attempted through part of C.O. 272. Nevertheless, the Court upheld the substantive exercise of power under Article 370(3) and the ultimate constitutional result. That distinction matters. The constitutional outcome of 2019 survived scrutiny by India's highest constitutional court. What Can the Present Assembly Actually Achieve? This brings us to the central institutional question. The present J&K Legislative Assembly can debate. It can pass resolutions. It can articulate political aspirations. It can demand restoration of statehood. It can request the Union Government to take particular actions. It can urge Parliament to reconsider existing legislation. Its members and political parties can advocate future constitutional amendments. But an Assembly resolution cannot, by itself, restore Article 370. It cannot revive Article 35A. It cannot override an Act of Parliament. It cannot independently recreate the pre-1953 constitutional relationship. And it cannot nullify a constitutional position which has already undergone adjudication before a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court. The question facing anybody seeking revival of the 2000 autonomy arrangement is therefore straightforward: Under what existing provision of the Constitution, and through which constitutionally competent institution, is the pre-1953 arrangement proposed to be restored? Unless that question is answered, the autonomy resolution remains primarily a political declaration rather than an instrument possessing independent constitutional capacity to change J&K's present status. Statehood Is Not Autonomy Another distinction is particularly important in the contemporary debate. Restoration of statehood and restoration of the pre-2019 special constitutional position are not the same thing. Jammu and Kashmir can theoretically regain statehood without restoration of Article 370 or Article 35A. Indeed, the Supreme Court's 2023 judgment recorded the Solicitor General's statement that statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir. Statehood therefore remains a distinct constitutional and political question. That makes the continuing invocation of the 2000 Autonomy Resolution particularly worthy of scrutiny. If the immediate political objective is restoration of statehood, why must a resolution seeking statehood preserve reference to the old autonomy demand? The National Conference's position can be understood as maintaining continuity with its longstanding political programme. Its opponents can legitimately argue that restoration of statehood should not be conflated with revival of a pre-2019 special-status agenda. The two propositions have entirely different constitutional consequences. The Constitutional Paradox There is therefore a striking paradox. The present Assembly exists within the post-2019 constitutional and statutory arrangement. The authority under which it functions is part of the very institutional framework created after the constitutional transformation that the historical autonomy programme sought, in important respects, to avoid or reverse. Yet that Assembly is now a forum in which the political relevance of the 2000 autonomy formula is being preserved. This may be politically permissible. But political symbolism cannot substitute for constitutional authority. A legislature cannot acquire power merely by passing a resolution asserting an objective outside its legislative competence. Nor can an Assembly resolution supersede Parliament or undo a constitutional position upheld by the Supreme Court. Why 2019 Must Be the New Constitutional Starting Point The most important weakness in attempts to revive the old autonomy discourse is therefore not political but constitutional. Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional position changed in 2019. Parliament legislated. The President exercised constitutional powers. Article 370 ceased to operate in its previous form. The constitutional foundation upon which Article 35A operated disappeared. The former State was reorganised. The Constitution of India became applicable without the earlier Article 370 framework. And in December 2023, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the central constitutional result while rejecting the proposition that J&K possessed separate internal sovereignty. These developments cannot be erased by political resolution. That does not mean autonomy cannot be discussed. In a democracy, political parties can advocate constitutional amendments and changes in governmental structure. Even constitutional arrangements that do not presently exist may be proposed politically. But that is fundamentally different from treating the 2000 resolution as though its constitutional premises continue unchanged. Any contemporary autonomy proposal must now answer: What is the constitutional mechanism for achieving it after 2019? Without identifying that mechanism, the autonomy demand remains an expression of political ideology rather than an immediately operative constitutional programme. Separateness Versus Integration The historical debate over autonomy should therefore be understood with precision. The National Conference has maintained that autonomy was intended to preserve J&K's distinctive identity while remaining within India. Critics have argued that the very institutionalisation of constitutional distinctiveness contributed to a politics of separateness and provided narratives that separatist organisations could exploit. These competing interpretations form part of J&K's political history. But post-2019, another consideration has become paramount. The constitutional framework itself has changed. The old argument cannot simply resume from where it stood in 2000. Twenty-six years have passed. Parliament has acted. The constitutional position has changed. The Supreme Court has pronounced upon Article 370. J&K's institutional structure has been reorganised. The constitutional discussion must therefore begin from present constitutional reality rather than historical aspiration. The Constitutional Clock Cannot Simply Be Turned Back Jammu and Kashmir has travelled through several distinct constitutional phases: accession, Article 370, progressive extension of provisions of the Constitution of India, demands for greater autonomy, the 2000 Autonomy Resolution, the constitutional transformation of August 2019 and the Supreme Court judgment of December 2023. History can be debated. Political decisions can be criticised. Constitutional amendments can be advocated. But the constitutional clock cannot simply be reset to 1953 through a resolution of the present Legislative Assembly. The National Conference remains entitled within democratic politics to advocate constitutional change. Its opponents remain equally entitled to argue that the autonomy model perpetuated constitutional exceptionalism and encouraged a politics of separateness. But neither proposition changes the present distribution of constitutional authority. The fundamental question today is therefore no longer merely: How much autonomy should Jammu and Kashmir have? The logically prior question is: What constitutional authority exists today to recreate the pre-2019 arrangement, and through what lawful constitutional mechanism could that authority be exercised? That is the question created by August 2019 and reinforced by the Supreme Court judgment of December 2023. The present Legislative Assembly can debate aspirations. It can demand restoration of statehood. It can make recommendations to the Union. Political parties can campaign for future constitutional changes. But a legislature functioning within the post-2019 framework cannot, merely through its own resolution, recreate the constitutional order that preceded that framework. The distinction between the democratic freedom to advocate constitutional change and the constitutional authority to effect constitutional change is fundamental. Autonomy may therefore continue as a political idea. But any attempt to present the 2000 formula as a presently available constitutional arrangement must confront Parliament's actions of 2019, the disappearance of the earlier Article 370 framework and the binding constitutional position declared by the Supreme Court. That is why the debate in 2026 cannot simply return to 2000. The constitutional ground beneath it has changed. (The Author is the Chief Spokesperson of JK BJP)

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta opens automated vehicle test station in Burari

The News Mill

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Sharma meets Amit Shah, raises J&K issues

RK News Service / New Delhi, Sep 26: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Saturday and discussed a range of issues concerning the Union Territory. During the meeting, Sharma raised matters related to the security situation, law and order, development initiatives, public concerns and the ongoing session of the J&K Legislative Assembly. He also raised the issue of enhancement of salaries of Special Police Officers (SPOs), which he said was at the final stage, and sought an early decision on the matter. The issue had also been described by Sharma earlier this month as being at an advanced stage with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Sharma apprised the Home Minister of concerns being raised by people across Jammu and Kashmir and discussed matters requiring continued coordination and support from the Union Government. According to the account of the meeting, Shah reiterated the Union Governments commitment to peace, development and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir and assured continued support in addressing issues concerning the people of the Union Territory. The meeting comes amid the ongoing session of the J&K Legislative Assembly, where issues related to development and governance are being discussed.

Delhis Barapullah Phase-III Corridor Set for Inauguration by Amit Shah

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the inauguration of the Barapullah Phase-III Corridor by Amit Shah on September 29, enhancing Delhis connectivity. Delhis Barapullah Phase-III Corridor Set for Inauguration by Amit Shah

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MP govt eyes tourism, energy to boost industry: CM Yadav

Digital Desk | Indore, Sep 27 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh is seeking to expand its industrial and economic base by developing emerging sectors such as religious and medical tourism while strengthening energy and land infrastructure for investors, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Saturday. Addressing the launch of the Indore chapter of the Hindu Economic Forum, Yadav said the state had the basic resources required for industrial expansion, including surplus electricity and an adequate land bank. Madhya Pradesh currently leads in sectors most essential for industries. The state has surplus electricity and an adequate land bank, and continuous efforts are being made to provide all necessary facilities to industries, he stated. He added that the government was exploring new avenues in the energy sector, including solar power generation over water bodies, while strengthening hydropower sources. Yadav said the state was working to develop new industrial sectors and create a favourable environment for investment, with employment generation as a key objective. Highlighting growth in Madhya Pradeshs per capita income, he noted it had risen from around Rs 11,000 in 2002-03 to Rs 1.40 lakh in 2022 and Rs 1.67 lakh in 2026. Within a period of 10 to 12 years, the wheels of development have accelerated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accelerated the countrys economic growth, and Madhya Pradesh is successfully translating MoUs signed for industrial development into ground-level reality, he said. The Chief Minister stressed that entrepreneurs had an important role in the countrys economic progress, with expanding economic activity creating employment opportunities. Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India V. Anantha Nageswaran said India was progressing rapidly with a growth rate of 7.8 per cent, expected to rise further. He noted that Indias trade with foreign countries was steadily expanding. The event also featured a presentation on the World Hindu Congress, whose three editions were held in New Delhi (2014), Chicago (2018) and Bangkok (2023). The fourth edition is scheduled in Mumbai from December 18 to 20, 2026. The event screened a documentary showcasing the World Hindu Congress's activities.

Risky Overtake, Flip, Passenger Out The Window: Delhi WagonR Crash On Camera

During the accident, a passenger seated in the rear was almost completely thrown out through the back window.

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LoP Sharma meets HM, discusses key J

New Delhi, Sep 26: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma, today called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and held detailed discussions on a range of important issues concerning Jammu & Kashmir. In a statement issued to the news agency, a BJP spokesman said that [] The post LoP Sharma meets HM, discusses key J&K issues appeared first on Northlines .

2x1 becomes 2x2 after fitness nod, RTO green signal how pvt buses get retrofitted & safety takes back seat

Delhi police step up park audits; students oppose access restrictions

As police step up night patrols and checks of CCTV, lighting and access points following the Astha Kunj incident, students demand safer transport, public infrastructure, institutional accountability and freedom to use public spaces after dark

Bus parked near Greater Noida hostel catches fire, police probe if lit cig sparked blaze

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Realty exec death: Court pulls up Gurgaon Police over lapses in handling body

Delhis largest vehicle fitness testing centre launched in N Delhi

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HC pauses eviction of Akshara Theatre, questions timing of order

Delhi Police Refutes Fake Video Claims of Protests at Jantar Mantar

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Temperature Drops As Rain Hits Delhi, Weather Office Issues Yellow Alert

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EC in damage control mode, only CEC resignation will do: Congress

New Delhi, Sep 26:The Congress on Saturday said the Election Commission was in damage control mode after differences within the poll body came out following a media expose and demanded that the ongoing SIR exercise that has disenfranchised crores is suspended immediately. The Congress also said that nothing short of CEC Gyanesh Kumars resignation or [] The post EC in damage control mode, only CEC resignation will do: Congress first appeared on Highland Post .

Ex-Keralam CS says CEC urged him to contest on BJP ticket

Former Keralam chief secretary Jiji Thomson said on Saturday, September 26, that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar had suggested he contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Pathanamthitta on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket. Speaking to The Hindu, Thomson said the conversation took place on a Delhi flight in 2015-16. It was not 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 .

All SIR decisions unanimous, letter to Cab Secy not related to policy matters: EC

New Delhi, Sep 26:The Election Commission on Saturday asserted that all Special Intensive Revision (SIR) orders were issued after approval from all three Election Commissioners and the changes in Form 6, through which names are included in the voters list, have been upheld by the Supreme Court. Amidst the ongoing row over differences between the [] The post All SIR decisions unanimous, letter to Cab Secy not related to policy matters: EC first appeared on Highland Post .

INDIA bloc to meet on Sep 30 over EC-SIR row, plans joint stir

The INDIA bloc is set to convene on September 30 in New Delhi to formulate a unified strategy regarding the Election Commission, focusing on the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The meeting will also address coordinated protests and the CEC selection process, bringing together diverse opposition parties.

Hilsa Festival Celebrates Bangladeshi Culture in New Delhi

The Hilsa Festival in New Delhi showcased Bangladeshi cuisine and culture, highlighting the significance of the national fish, Hilsa. Hilsa Festival Celebrates Bangladeshi Culture in New Delhi

Muslim marriage cannot override POCSO law: Delhi High Court

The court holds personal law may determine whether a marriage has been contracted, but cannot create an exception to a criminal law where Parliament has provided none, dismissing a petition seeking the quashing of an FIR registered against a man for rape under the BNS and the POCSO Act

CM Rekha Gupta inspects Barapullah Phase-III corridor, calls it new push for Delhi connectivity

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said the Barapullah Elevated Road Phase-III corridor is ready for public use and will be inaugurated by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on September 29. Gupta shared a post on X after inspecting the entire corridor ahead of the inauguration. She said, Barapulla Elevated Road Phase-III is now ready to serve the people of Delhi. Inspected the entire corridor today ahead of its inauguration by Honble Union & Cooperation Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji on 29th September. Under the leadership of Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji, Delhis Infrastructure Development is gaining new momentum. Such landmark projects are giving a new direction to Delhis connectivity and growth. This long-awaited corridor will provide Signal-Free Connectivity from Mayur Vihar Phase-I to AIIMS, making travel between East and South Delhi smoother and providing relief to citizens from Traffic Congestion, she explained. The 3.5-km elevated four-lane corridor will provide a signal-free link between Mayur Vihar Phase-I in East Delhi and Sarai Kale Khan, integrating with the existing Barapullah network towards Central and South Delhi, including AIIMS. The project has been constructed at a revised estimated cost of around Rs 1,635 crore. Once operational, the corridor is expected to substantially reduce travel time for commuters travelling from East Delhi and Noida towards AIIMS and other parts of South Delhi. The journey, which can take around 35-40 minutes during peak periods, is expected to drop to about 15 minutes via the signal-free route. The corridor also incorporates dedicated infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, including a cycle track across the Yamuna floodplain. It is expected to ease traffic pressure at key points including Sarai Kale Khan, Ring Road, DND Flyway and NH-24. The Barapullah Phase-III project was approved in 2014, and construction began in 2015. It was initially scheduled for completion in 2017 but faced several delays before reaching completion this year.