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Gambhir: Gill 'ready to start' T20Is against South Africa
He had suffered a neck injury while batting during the Kolkata Test last month
Chowringhee assembly seat in Kolkata records highest number of 'uncollectable' enumeration forms
KOLKATA: Chowringhee Assembly constituency in Kolkata has recorded the highest number of uncollectable enumeration forms (EFs) in West Bengal at 71,505, while Jorashanko comes next with 67,578 till Friday night. The abnormally high number of such forms in assembly areas such as Chowringhee, Jorashanko, Kolkata Port, Ballygunj and Bhawanipore, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had contested in a bypoll in 2021 and won, has raised the eyebrows of Election Commission of India (ECI) officials. The prime reasons for enumeration forms being deemed uncollectable are categorized as ASDD (absent, shifted, dead and duplicate), indicating individuals who are dead, permanently shifted to different location or constituency, untraceable or absent and duplicates who are found to be enrolled in multiple polling stations or have fake entries. The forms are thus not collected by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the ongoing door-to-door exercise of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjees assembly constituency records 41,495 'uncollectable' SIR forms: ECI EC data indicated that a total of more than 55 lakh voters belonging to the ASDD category have been identified across the state till Friday night. The figure may shoot up further. Sources said that according to figures available so far, the number of dead voters in the state was about 24 lakh till Friday. The data of dead persons would be available from Janmo Mrityu Tathya/ Registrar General on Births and Deaths and cancellation of ration cards on deaths. Election Registration Officers (EROs) should verify the entries, if any, made by BLOs, for all such cases. Sources also said that the identification of so many dead, shifted, absent and duplicate voters in the existing electoral rolls indicated that annual revision of rolls had not been carried out thoroughly in the state over the years.
Goa Beat Jammu And Kashmir By 7 Wickets In Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy
Kolkata, Dec 6: Skipper Suyash Prabhudessai led from the front with an unbeaten 28-ball 51 as Goa handed a seven-wicket defeat to Jammu and Kashmir in their Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophys Group B clash here on Saturday. Goa were also bolstered by a fine 44-ball 59 with eight fours and a six by Kashyap Bakhale in the chase as they responded with 167 for three in 19 overs after keeping Jammu and Kashmir to 161 for six earlier. Goa [] The post Goa Beat Jammu And Kashmir By 7 Wickets In Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Congress takes out Sadbhawna rally in Kolkata, denounces polarisation bid
The party asked people not to bring back the days after the demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992
West Bengal CM assures to fight against political forces fanning 'flames of communal hatred'
KOLKATA: The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while observing Samhati Diwas on Saturday, appealed to people to maintain peace and integrity. She vowed to continue her fight against those political forces who are fanning the flames of communal hatred and playing a destructive game against the nation. Mamatas appeal for communal harmony come at a time when the State braced for a tense situation after the suspended rebel and Trinamool Congress MLA Hymayun Kabir laid the foundation stone of a Babri Masjid-style mosque at Mirzapur in the Beldanga area of Murshidabad district. The locality is one among the communally vulnerable districts in the state. Ex-TMC MLA lays foundation stone for mosque modelled on Babri Masjid in Murshidabad amid tight security TMC suspends Humayun Kabir for plan to build 'Babri Masjid' in Murshidabad; MLA to form new party She said that her government is committed to protecting the ideals and principles of the Constitution of India. The soil of Bengal is the soil of unity. Its the land of Rabindranath, the land of Nazrul (Islam) and the land of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, and this land has never been cowed down by any divisive force and nor will it ever do so in the days to come, the Bengal chief minister said on X post. We know how to walk shoulder to shoulder in Bengal-the land of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains and Buddhists, she said. In Beldanga, massive security arrangements were made in order to avoid any untoward incident prompted by communal tension. A huge contingent of RAF companies, state police units and central forces has been deployed along both sides of National Highway 12 after the Calcutta High Court on Friday declined to stall the event and placed full responsibility for public order on the state government. Governor C. V. Ananda Bose urged citizens not to be influenced by provocative statements and rumours and asked the State to ensure no disturbance anywhere. The ruling TMC suspended Kabir, who was once with Congress and then BJP, and later in TMC, on Thursday, on charges of his 'communal politics' that go against the party's stance. His suspension for what the party termed communal politics has given the event an added political edge. Two clerics from Saudi Arabia and others, mainly belonging to minority communities across the state and even outside, attended the event. Seven catering agencies from Murshidabad were engaged to prepare shahi biryani, with an estimated 40,000 packets for attendees and another 20,000 for residents. A close aide estimated food expenses at over Rs 30 lakh, with the total cost of the venue approaching Rs 70 lakh. Across the State, the ruling party observed Samhati Diwas (Unity Day) with rallies promoting communal harmony. The government has declared a holiday, presenting a message of restraint. The CPI-M-led Left Front also observed the day as Black Day, marking the demolitions anniversary and underscoring its continued political weight. Left Front brought out a communal harmony march in the city this afternoon.
Special SIR camp for sex workers in Kolkatas red-light area on Dec 9
Kolkata: The West Bengal CEOs office is set to launch a camp on December 9 at Sonagachi, Asias largest red-light district, to aid sex workers in filling up enumeration forms as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an official said on Saturday. This initiative comes as a response to concerns 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 .
Bengali actor Anirban Chakraborty escapes unhurt as car collides with bus in Kolkata
KOLKATA: Popular Bengali actor Anirban Chakraborty had a close shave on Saturday when his car was hit by a bus in Kolkata, police said. The incident took place near Charu Market in south Kolkata when Chakraborty and his driver were travelling in the car. The actor said both of them were safe, but the car suffered major damage. The bus was plying along a south-north route with commuters on board. According to an eyewitness, a two-wheeler suddenly came in front of the car, and to prevent a collision with it, the car swerved and was hit by the oncoming bus. Chakraborty is famous for portraying the role of fictional detective character Eken Babu in films and a web series. A Kolkata Police officer said a case has been lodged and law enforcers were scrutinising CCTV footages and speaking with eyewitnesses.
SCR Operates Special Trains to Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata to Clear Extra Rush
The SCR is operating special trains to clear extra rush
Cold wave grips north, east India; Kolkata records seasons lowest, Kashmir below freezing point
Residents across parts of north and eastern India woke up to biting cold on Saturday, with temperatures dipping well below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). In Kolkata, the mercury plunged to 14.5 degrees Celsius, the coldest morning this season and 2.1 degrees below normal. The maximum temperature in the city is expected to hover around 26 degrees Celsius, with misty and foggy conditions likely in the evening. Other parts of Gangetic West Bengal are also experiencing a gradual temperature drop, which IMD forecasts will continue over the next 24 hours. Cold wave conditions gripped Jharkhand, with Gumla recording the states lowest temperature at 3 degrees Celsius. A yellow alert for cold wave has been issued for 11 districts including Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Lohardaga, Simdega, Ranchi, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Khunti, Latehar, and Gumla till 8.30 am on Sunday. Minimum temperatures ranged from 3 degrees in Gumla to 10.1 degrees in Ranchi, with north-westerly winds contributing to the fall in mercury. Officials expect temperatures to drop by up to 2 degrees more over the next 48 hours before rising slightly. Meanwhile, in Kashmir, night temperatures plunged well below the freezing point, with Srinagar recording a low of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius. Shopian was the coldest place at minus 6.4 degrees, followed by Pahalgam at minus 4.4 degrees. Other towns such as Qazigund, Kupwara, Kokernag, Gulmarg, and Konibal recorded minimums ranging from minus 0.2 to minus 5.2 degrees. A thick layer of fog engulfed parts of the valley, and the meteorological department has forecast generally cloudy but dry weather on December 6-7, with light snowfall at isolated higher reaches possible on December 8. No respite from toxic air in Delhi The air quality in the national capital remained in the 'very poor' category on Saturday morning, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am settled at 335. According to the Central Pollution Control Board Sameer App, 36 monitoring stations across the capital also reported very poor air, with Mundka recording the worst levels at 387. According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe. Delhi's air quality has swung sharply through the week, the city recorded an AQI of 279 on Sunday, 304 on Monday, rose sharply to 372 on Tuesday, and stood at 342 on Wednesday. The city's AQI remained in the very poor category on Thursday with a reading of 304, and 327 on Friday. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature settled at 6.8 degree Celsius, 2.7 degree Celsius below normal, with morning humidity at 95 per cent. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature may reach 24 degree Celsius under a partly cloudy sky. (With inputs from PTI)
BAHARAMPUR: West Bengal braces for a politically fraught Saturday as suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir pushes ahead with the foundation-laying ceremony for a 'Babri Masjid-style' mosque in Murshidabad, triggering high alert and sharpened political messaging on a date laden with communal sensitivities. The Beldanga site, where Kabir claimed hree lakh people would assemble, has been sealed into a high-security grid, with deployment of RAF, district police, and central forces on both sides of the National Highway 12, after the Calcutta High Court declined to halt the event but placed full responsibility for public order on the state government. The proposed mosque, which Kabir has repeatedly described as being modelled on the Babri Masjid, has stirred political unease in a district where symbolism and mobilisation often feed off each other. For the TMC- which has distanced itself after suspending Kabir- the optics of the foundation-laying ceremony for the mosque on December 6, the anniversary of Ayodhya's Babri Masjid demolition, carry risks it has sought to pre-empt. The run-up to the proposed event has forced the administration to arrange for expansive security cover. RAF teams arrived in Rejinagar on Friday and were stationed at a local school ahead of deployment, while the district police - acting on a Calcutta High Court directive to ensure law and order - have drawn up a security grid covering Beldanga, Raninagar and all approach roads to NH-12, the states only north-south arterial highway. A senior officer said nearly 3,000 personnel would be deployed throughout the day, with multiple diversion plans ready if turnout threatens to choke the highway. On Friday, the high court, hearing a petition seeking to halt the event, declined to intervene and placed the onus of maintaining public order on the state government, a cue that prompted the police to talk with Kabirs team via backchannel on Friday night. Governor C V Ananda Bose, meanwhile, urged citizens not to be swayed by provocative statements and rumours and asked the state to ensure there was no disturbance anywhere. For Kabir, a Congress-BJP-turned-TMC rebel whose political career has oscillated as sharply as the reactions to his announcements, Saturdays event is both a test of his mobilisation prowess and a declaration of defiance after his suspension from the TMC on Thursday for what the party called communal politics. The MLA, who has often embarrassed the party with remarks that triggered showcause notices, said he would resign as legislator and launch his own outfit later this month. On Friday, he was seen personally supervising the stage and food arrangements, appearing unfazed by either the political backlash or the administrative glare. The scale of preparations has lent the venue the ambience of a massive public fair. A 150-ft-long, 80-ft-wide dais towers over paddy fields off NH-12, with seating arranged for 400 guests. Two clerics from Saudi Arabia, organisers claim, will arrive in a special convoy from Kolkata airport. Nearly 3,000 volunteers - 2,000 of whom began work early Friday- have been tasked with regulating access roads, preventing bottlenecks and keeping the national highway running. Seven Murshidabad-based catering agencies have been contracted to prepare shahi biryani, with an estimated 40,000 packets for guests and another 20,000 for residents. A close aide of Kabir estimated food expenses alone at over Rs 30 lakh, with the total venue budget likely to touch Rs 70 lakh. The days programme, circulated by organisers, lists Quran recitation at 10 am, the foundation ceremony at noon, a community meal at 2 pm, and dispersal by 4 pm as per police instructions. On Saturday, the ruling party will observe 'Samhati Diwas' (Unity Day) statewide with rallies to spread the message of communal harmony. The state government has declared a holiday on the day, projecting a message of peace and restraint. The Left Front, meanwhile, will mark the day as Black Day in memory of the demolition, underscoring how December 6 continues to be a political faultline. As Bengal steps into a Saturday thick with symbolism, security and competing political narratives, Beldanga becomes the stage upon which defiance, faith, politics and electoral calculations converge. Whether the event passes off as a controlled show of strength or becomes a fresh flashpoint will test not just the districts policing bandwidth, but the political temperature of the state.
IndiGo meltdown throws KIA into chaos
BENGALURU: Thousands of passengers were stranded at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Friday as Terminal 1, known for its iconic design, descended into chaos, overcrowding and exhaustion, resembling a refugee camp. As 292 IndiGo flights were cancelled and abrupt disruptions continued for the fourth day on Friday, there was little clarity and passengers frustration only grew. Arguments broke out between passengers, airline staff and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel. Fares on other airlines skyrocketed to Rs 1 lakh for routes to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. With limited seating available, families and solo travellers stretched out on the floors, some sleeping on jackets, while others leaning against luggage, turning the terminal into a crowded waiting hall. A family enroute to Haridwar for asthi visarjan was stranded, even as the daughter of the deceased held a urn that had the remains of her father. They had no option other than paying exorbitant sums for an alternative ticket. Even as passengers struggled, no food or alternative flight arrangements were made. Hyderabad-bound passenger Jayesh Menon told TNIE that flyers were initially informed about one-hour delays, that repeated multiple times before the flights were cancelled. But even a bigger crisis awaited flyers as many were unable to retrieve their checked-in baggage for four to five hours. People are angry, sad, every emotion you can think of, he added. Several stranded passengers continued waiting for their luggage late into the evening, while others scrambled to find alternative travel arrangements amid disruptions, he added. Airfares surge tenfold on certain routes on Saturday as IndiGo cancels 1,000 flights on Friday RANCHI TO BLURU: A 36-HR ORDEAL What should have taken a routine 2.5-hour journey from Ranchi to Bengaluru turned out to be a 36-hour ordeal for Sanjay Choraria and his wife. They started on Thursday at 7 am to reach the airport early for their 8.50 am IndiGo flight, only to face repeated one-hour delays that stretched endlessly until the airline abruptly cancelled the flight at 4 pm. The only alternative offered was a punishing detour - Ranchi to Kolkata to Chennai to Bengaluru. But a bigger nightmare awaited them on the Kolkata to Chennai with the 9.40 pm departure repeatedly pushed past midnight and to 2.30 am. It finally took off at 4 am after tensions boiled over. In Chennai, passengers were dealt another blow when the final flight to Bengaluru was cancelled. Exhausted and out of options, the couple hired a private cab and reached Bengaluru at 7 pm on Friday. HUBBALLI BRIDE, GROOM ATTEND RECEPTION ONLINE Hubballi: It was a full house at a marriage hall in Hubballi. There were close to 700 guests who arrived to bless the couple for their reception. But there were no bride and groom. They came on live on screen from Bhubaneshwar. Following countrywide delays in air traffic involving Indigo Airlines, the bride and groom could not make it. However, the brides parents were at the venue to complete the rituals. The parents of the bride, Medha, at the last minute decided to host the party and ensured the bride and groom got ready and came online at the marriage hall. Medha and Sangam Das were married on December 23 in Odisha and the reception was scheduled on December 3 in Hubballi. They were to fly to Mumbai on December 2 and then to Hubballi. -- Amit S Upadhye IndiGo pilots and crew say management failures left staff to face public ire amid mass cancellations
Indigo crisis: cancellations leave passengers high and Dry
CHENNAI: Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at Chennai International Airport on Friday after IndiGo cancelled all its flights departing from the T1 terminal, triggering confusion, frayed tempers and soaring travel costs. Crowds, many sleepless, hungry and dehydrated, gathered outside IndiGos counters. According to officials, all services to Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad scheduled before 6 pm were cancelled. With seats scarce on other carriers, fares surged dramatically, in some cases more than fivefold, leaving many stranded both physically and financially. The prices are astronomical between Rs 35,000 and Rs 50,000 for a ticket to Mumbai, said Prabhans, a traveller from Delhi who had flown to Chennai for a US visa interview. Travelling without luggage as per consulate rules, he found his return flight cancelled. I tried to book other airlines, but dynamic pricing pushed fares beyond Rs 35,000, he added. Fares on competing carriers climbed steadily. A SpiceJet ticket to Mumbai crossed Rs 50,000, while Bengaluru-bound trips touched Rs 25,000. Hyderabad-bound fares approached Rs 50,000. Several airline counters were closed early, displaying full signs. For some, the disruption had more severe consequences. Acharya (70), travelling with his family, lost his flight to Bengaluru, and missed his connecting Qantas service to Sydney. Now we have to wait four days before we can even think of travelling, he said. Nearby, Shirundu Mazumdar and his wife, Seema, sat huddled against a wall after a medical trip to Chennai. Their flight to Bagdogra was cancelled after their bags had been checked in. We left home at 6 am and only found out here. There are no arrangements, not even water, Seema said. Among those affected was Reeta Kumari (55) from Varanasi, returning from a pilgrimage to Madurai. She discovered her onward flights to Bengaluru and Varanasi had been cancelled only after landing. A group of 50 students from a Hyderabad on a field trip to Puducherry sat on the floor under the supervision of a teacher. We were not informed that the flight was cancelled, their teacher said. (With inputs from B Anbuselvan @ Chennai)
Indigo resumes partial service at Chennai airport with ten flights in the morning
The destinations are Pune, Ahmedabad, Port Blair (two flights), Coimbatore, Guwahati, Kolkata, Bhuvaneshwar, Jaipur and Kochi
Kolkata Police Constable admit card 2025 released: Check direct link to download hall ticket here
Kolkata Police Constable and Lady Constable admit cards are out for the 2024 recruitment cycle, with the preliminary written test scheduled for December 21, 2025. Over 3,700 vacancies are available. Candidates can download their hall tickets from the official WBPRB website using application details. The selection process includes written tests and physical assessments.
On December 6, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 12,994 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,911 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 1,86,900 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.
JKUT Junior Judo Cship on Dec 21
Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 5: The Judo Association is set to organise the JKUT Junior Judo Championship-cum-Selection Trials on December 21 at the Indoor Sports Complex, Bhagwati Nagar Stadium, Jammu. The event is being conducted under the banner of the J&K Sports Council. Judokas selected from this championship will represent the Union Territory in the Junior National Judo Championship, scheduled to be held in Kolkata in the first week of January 2026. All participating athletes have been advised to [] The post JKUT Junior Judo Cship on Dec 21 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Mahindra Logistics locks 3.28 lakh sq ft lease in Telangana a strategic bet on logistics expansion
Mahindra Logistics is significantly expanding its nationwide warehousing footprint in 2025, with a strategic focus on emerging industrial corridors. Recent leases in Telangana, Pune, the Northeast, and near Kolkata highlight the company's push into Tier-II and Tier-III markets to meet rising supply chain demands across India.
Pregnant Sunali Khatun and son returns from Bangladesh; four family members still stranded
KOLKATA: Pregnant Sunali Khatun and her eight-year-old son Sabir finally returned to India on Friday evening after spending more than six months in Bangladesh. However, four others from the group of six Bengali-speaking Indians, who were pushed back to Bangladesh by the Delhi Police on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals, continue to remain in the neighbouring country. All six are members of the same family and hail from Birbhum district in West Bengal. Sunali and her son crossed the India-Bangladesh border in Malda district amid tight security arrangements by the Border Security Force (BSF). They were taken to a local BSF camp for official formalities in the presence of senior administrative officials and later shifted to Malda Medical College and Hospital for comprehensive health check-ups. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam told TNIE , Sunali and her son have been taken to Malda Medical College and Hospital for their health check-ups. They will return to their village Paikar in Murarai, Birbhum, on Saturday. We demand that the Bangladesh government immediately repatriate the remaining four individuals. Calling it a historic moment in an X post, Islam said the episode exposed the torture and atrocities inflicted on poor Bengalis. He added, Sunali, who was pregnant at the time, was forcibly deported in June this year. After enduring six months of unimaginable suffering, she and her child have at last returned to their homeland. He further alleged that despite the Supreme Courts clear order, the Centre failed to take any action over the past two days to ensure their immediate return, forcing their advocates to raise the issue once again before the court. Only then was the return finally made possible, he said. Finally, after a long battle against the Bangla-Birodhi Zamindars, Sunali Khatun and her minor son have returned to India. This day will be remembered as a historic moment that exposes the torture and atrocities inflicted on poor Bengalis. Sunali, who was pregnant at the time, pic.twitter.com/ktfMkeOJIQ Samirul Islam (@SamirulAITC) December 5, 2025 The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal government to provide free medical care to Sunali, who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy, after the Centre informed the bench that it would bring her and Sabir back to India purely on humanitarian grounds. The court also said that the well-being of eight-year-old Sabir would be the responsibility of the Bengal government. On a request from Sanjay Hegde, counsel for Sunalis father Bhodu Sekh of Birbhum, the court agreed that she should receive medical treatment in West Bengal rather than Delhi. The hearing pertained to the Centres appeal challenging a September 26 Calcutta High Court order directing the government to bring back Sunali, her husband Danish Sekh, their son Sabir, and three others who were deported to Bangladesh in June on allegations of being infiltrators. The high court had observed that they were deported without a proper inquiry or an opportunity to be heard, violating their fundamental rights. The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also orally suggested that Sunalis citizenship could be verified based on her father Bhodus citizenship documents. In its order, the Supreme Court noted, Pursuant to the observations made on the previous date of hearing, Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor General of India, on instructions, informs that purely on humanitarian grounds, the Government of India has agreed to bring back Sunali Khatun , D/o Bhodu Sekh, along with her eight-year-old son, Sabir. The verdict, which came two days after the deportees were granted bail by a Bangladesh court brought relief and joy to the family in Birbhum. Bhodu Sekh said he was elated after hearing the Supreme Court order and that his worries would finally end with his daughters return home. 'Can't deport Bangla-speaking people to Bangladesh': TMC, BJP spar in Lok Sabha
A two-storeyed floating restaurant and nightclub brings nightlife to the Ganges, redefining the way Kolkata eats, drinks, and parties
No intervention in foundation stone-laying of Babri-style mosque in Murshidabad, says Calcutta HC
KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Friday refused to intervene in the construction of a mosque modelled on Ayodhya's Babri Masjid at Beldanga in West Bengal's Murshidabad, proposed by suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir. The court's observation comes ahead of the scheduled foundation-laying ceremony for the proposed 'Babri Masjid' on December 6, which also marks the anniversary of the demolition of the original sanctum. The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, after hearing a PIL seeking a stay on the foundation stone laying ceremony for the proposed mosque, directed that the responsibility of maintenance of law and order would rest with the West Bengal government. The PIL, which was filed on Thursday, sought the stay on grounds that the ceremony could disrupt communal harmony in the region. The petitioner prayed that the court should take immediate action against Kabir's provocative remarks that have allegedly disrupted communal harmony. The writ petition pertains to stop the foundation stone laying of Babri Masjid in Beldanga Block 1, Murshidabad to maintain Law and order. The MLA has been using filthy and derogatory statements and hate speech against a community, which causes breach of public tranquility. Such kind of statements and hate speech over social media and You Tube news portal, being a Member of Legislative Assembly, may break the communal harmony of our state as well as our country, the petition stated. Kabir, who has hogged the limelight in the past with controversial statements on matters, including the party's internal affairs, was suspended by the Trinamool Congress on Thursday for indulging in what it termed communal politics. The suspended leader subsequently announced his decision to resign as MLA and launch his own party later this month.
Harmer, Taijul And Nawaz Nominated For ICC Player Of The Month For November
In T20Is: Two spinners Simon Harmer and Taijul Islam, along with all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, have been shortlisted for the ICC Mens Player of the Month award for November. Harmer and Islam were instrumental in the Test series wins of South Africa and Bangladesh against India and Ireland respectively. Nawaz was a key component with both bat and ball in the recently concluded Tri-Series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. South Africas experienced off-spinner Harmer was at the heart of their historic 2-0 Test series win over India, which was the Proteas first in 25 years. He claimed an outstanding 17 wickets at an extraordinary average of 8.94 across the two Tests in Kolkata and Guwahati. The 36-year-old took eight wickets in the first Test match, where he was named the Player of the Match and backed it with nine more in the second, which included a match-winning haul of six for 37 as India fell by 408 runs to give the Proteas a series sweep. His dominance throughout the series earned him the Player of the Series award. Bangladeshs left-arm spinner continued his match-winning ways in home conditions as Bangladesh claimed both Tests against Ireland. Taijul picked up 13 wickets at 26.30 in the 2-0 series win, finishing as the leading wicket-taker. His consistent impact rewarded him with the Player of the Series. Bangladeshs left-arm spinner continued his match-winning ways in home conditions as Bangladesh claimed both Tests against Ireland. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In T20Is, the left-arm spinner added 52 more runs and claimed an impressive 11 wickets at just 12.72. His match-winning three for 17 in the Tri-Series final against Sri Lanka capped a standout campaign and secured his Player of the Series honour. Article Source: IANS
Bonus Partners with Bridge Federation of India for 67th Ashok Ruia Winter Nationals in Kolkata
~Featuring the specially crafted legendary Bonus playing cards that elevate the game for seasoned players, the tournament celebrates the timeless charm and enduring magic of Bridge~
ISKCON Thanks PM Modi For Gifting Russian Edition Of Gita To Russian President Putin
Vice President and Spokesperson of ISKCON Kolkata, added that the organisation would be happy to supply copies in all available languages for further distribution.
Mpower's 5-Year Data Reveals Rising Mental Health Challenges Among Indian Men
Mpower, a leading holistic mental health care provider and an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, founded by Mrs Neerja Birla, has released a consolidated analysis of five years of data from its helpline, counselling ecosystem and youth outreach programmes, highlighting a steady rise in mental health challenges experienced by Indian men. The findings show that more men are reaching out for help than ever before, yet the emotional strain they carry continues to intensify, particularly among younger and working-age groups. Across all service verticals and outreach channels, Mpower engaged with an estimated 2.83 lakh men over the review period, with the largest segment being young men between 18 and 25 years. Youth-focused programmes alone reached around 2,07,350 young men through screenings, early-intervention initiatives, campus engagements, community projects and multi-city outreach efforts. This indicates not only high vulnerability within this age group but also greater receptiveness to mental health conversations when support is made accessible at educational and community touchpoints. For working-age men between 26 and 40 years, help-seeking behaviour was most visible on the 247 Mpower 1on1 helpline, which recorded 75,702 male callers between 2022 and 2025. Many of these callers reached out anonymously, reflecting the hesitation men often feel about approaching in-person services due to stigma or fear of judgment. Of these calls, 16,698 were specifically linked to relationship issues, depression and stress, indicating that emotional strain, interpersonal conflict and mood-related concerns remain the most prominent triggers for seeking support. Encouragingly, 40% of male callers reported feeling a reduction in stress by the end of the call, demonstrating the tangible value of immediate, empathetic intervention. Geographically, urban and semi-urban regions showed strong engagement, with Pune accounting for 1,13,435 young male beneficiaries and Mumbai engaging 53,657 young men through clinical services, outreach and youth initiatives. Other regions including Rajasthan, Delhi, Bangalore, Goa and Hyderabad collectively contributed over 40,000 additional young male engagements, reflecting a broad, national footprint of mental health needs across diverse communities. The most common mental health challenges reflected across Mpowers helpline and programme interactions include stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, relationship distress, academic pressure, family conflict, low self-esteem, loneliness and financial uncertainty. Many men expressed difficulty sharing their emotional struggles openly and frequently described coping by suppressing feelings, withdrawing socially or over-focusing on work. Some also reported resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance use. These behavioural patterns underline the cultural and social expectations that continue to discourage men from acknowledging or expressing distress. Mpowers clinical presence ensures access to qualified experts in key metros, including: best psychiatrists in Mumbai best psychiatrist in Kolkata psychiatrists in Bangalore psychiatrists in Pune best psychiatrist in Delhi This multi-city network enables timely and professional support for men nationwide. Mpower continues to strengthen its mental health services for men through clinical care, multi-lingual helplines, university and school programmes, early screening, community-based initiatives, capacity-building workshops pan India. Its integrated model, combining clinical expertise with proactive outreach, aims to create safe spaces for men across age groups, cities and socio-economic backgrounds to seek help without stigma. Furthermore, for those in need of immediate, confidential support, Mpowers 1on1 Mental Health Toll-Free 24x7 Helpline is available at 1800-120-820050. About Mpower Mpower, an initiative of Aditya Birla Education Trust is a pioneering social enterprise dedicated to transforming India approach to mental health. Founded 9 years ago, Mpower has emerged as a leading force in spreading awareness, reducing stigma, and delivering holistic mental health care. With a robust team of over 200 trained professionals, Mpower impacts more than 121 million lives across seven cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Delhi and Pune. Operating through five key verticalsMovement, Clinical Care, Outreach, Academia, and Mpower 1 on 1Mpower offers a comprehensive range of services. The Movement focuses on changing cultural perceptions and alleviating stigma. Clinical Care provides world-class mental health services through the Centre, the Foundation, and the Cell, catering to various needs from holistic care to affordable support for the underprivileged. The Outreach vertical drives awareness and capacity-building through IGNITE Programs for schools, colleges, NGOs, and corporates. Academia equips individuals and professionals with skills to handle mental health crises and foster empathy. The Helpline offers 24/7 multilingual support, while special projects like Samvedana enhance mental health care in primary health centers. Mpowers integrated approach and collaboration with government agencies underscore its commitment to creating a supportive and stigma-free mental health landscape.
Days after Kolkata Knight Riders' all-rounder announced his retirement as a player, Russell finally broke his silence on his decision.
West Bengal CEO directs BLOs to re-verify voter lists, remove ineligible names by December 11
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal has directed booth-level officers (BLOs) involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to re-check enumeration forms and ensure that the names of all deceased, absent, or duplicate voters are removed before the first phase concludes on December 11. The deadline for the first phase of the SIR has been extended from December 4 to December 11. In a message to BLOs, Agarwal emphasised the need for utmost care while uploading data. You must ensure every single dead, absent, or duplicate voters name is deleted from the voter list, as the Election Commission aims to include every eligible voter and remove every ineligible one. There should not be any mistake, inadvertent or otherwise, Agarwal said on Thursday. 'They are forcing me to end my life': Why many BLOs in Bengal found the SIR drive 'inhuman' He warned that the commission will take legal action if any intentional mistake is detected. A senior official in the CEOs office stated that only seven polling booths reported having no deceased or shifted voters in the past year, a decline from 2,208 initially and 480 two days ago. The revised figures came after the CEOs office instructed districts to thoroughly re-check numbers before submission, the official added. In his note, the CEO reminded BLOs that they are on deputation to the Election Commission for the SIR exercise and are responsible for critical verification work. He also expressed gratitude to those BLOs who have done a commendable job, saying no word is enough to praise them. The CEOs message, however, did not mention the BLO Oikyo Manchs claim that four BLOs had died due to stress and deadline pressure during the SIR process over the past month, nor did it address compensation for their families. A deputy CEO earlier stated that district election officers have been asked to submit reports on the alleged incidents and the actual causes of the deaths. ECI directs states, UTs to expedite preparations for Special Intensive Revision
CEO tells Bengal BLOs to re-verify forms, delete dead or absent voters by Dec 11
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal directed booth-level officers (BLOs) engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to re-check enumeration forms and ensure that names of all deceased, absent or duplicate voters are deleted before the first phase ends on December 11. The last date for the first phase []
Bengal SIR: CEO tells BLOs to re-verify forms by Dec 11
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal directed booth-level officers (BLOs) engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to re-check enumeration forms and ensure that names of all deceased, absent or duplicate voters are deleted before the first phase ends on December 11. The last date for the first phase of Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
On December 4, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 12,965 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,884 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 1,90,900 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.
Chennai Airport continues to suffer fresh wave of disruptions
CHENNAI: Chennai International Airport suffered a fresh wave of disruption on Thursday, with dozens of flights delayed or cancelled through the early hours, as operational difficulties continued to ripple through. Between midnight and 9am on December 4, at least 13 arriving flights and 11 departures recorded delays ranging from 18 minutes to more than three hours, according to internal airport movement logs. Indigo, which operates the largest number of domestic flights, faced the bulk of the disruption, with several of its Airbus A320 and A321 services significantly behind schedule. Inbound traffic was hit hardest in the early hours. Flights from Kolkata, Kochi and Patna saw delays of more than two hours, with one service from Hyderabad (6E6007) arriving nearly four hours late. International services from Singapore, Doha, Dubai and Kuwait also landed behind schedule, with delay durations spanning 30 minutes to close to two hours. Departures were similarly affected. Indigo's early-morning Delhi service (6E0456) pushed back more than three hours late, while departures to Kolkata and Port Blair saw delays of over two hours. Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways services experienced moderate delays, indicating that the operational disruption extended across both domestic and international carriers. The morning irregularities escalated into a wider schedule breakdown, prompting a wave of cancellations across the day. At least 26 departuresmostly operated by Indigowere cancelled for operational reasons, affecting services to key metros including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad, as well as regional centres such as Coimbatore, Guwahati, and Visakhapatnam. Some international short-haul routes, including those to Colombo and the Andaman Islands' Veer Savarkar Airport, were also withdrawn from the day's roster. Arrivals were similarly thinned out, with at least five inbound flights scrapped, including services from Indore, Mumbai, Kochi, Jaipur and Ahmedabad. 'Could not live up to promise,' says IndiGo CEO amid hundreds of flight cancellations, delays
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjees assembly constituency records 41,495 'uncollectable' SIR forms: ECI
KOLKATA: The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees Bhawanipore Assembly seat under the Kolkata South electoral district has recorded 41,495 uncollectable enumeration forms (EFs) so far till Thursday afternoon, Election Commission of India (ECI) says. According to the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), 41,495 EFs in Bhawanipore Assembly remained uncollected so far till today. Uncollectable EFs means that they cannot be collected by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the ongoing door-to-door exercise of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The ruling Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, after being defeated by the BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram constituency in East Midnapore district in 2021, had contested the by-polls in Bhawanipore against the BJP candidate and won the same year. More than 1.5 lakh EFs out of total 2.6 lakh voters in her constituency have been digitalised so far, the CEO office said. Around 1.88 lakh EFs have been reported uncollectable in the Kolkata South electoral district. The uncollectable forms include dead, duplicate, shifted and absent voters. The prime reasons for EFs deemed uncollectable are categorized as ASDD voters indicating individuals who are dead, permanently shifted to different location or constituency, untraceable or absent and duplicates who are found to be enrolled in multiple polling stations or have fake entries.
Mamata Banerjee slams BJP over SIR deaths; says will never allow NRC, detention camps in West Bengal
KOLKATA: With the assembly polls scheduled next year in West Bengal, Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has intensified her attacks on the BJP. She was addressing a TMC rally in Murshidabad's Berhampore, a strong citadel of Trinamool Congress that has a 70 per cent Muslim population. Trinamool had bagged 20 out of the 22 assembly seats in the 2021 elections. She claimed that more than half of those who died in incidents linked to the enumeration exercise across the country were Hindus, and warned the BJP against cutting the very branch it was sitting on. Her remarks came a day after her address in Malda, where she criticised the BJP on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, NRC and the Central Governments reluctance to release funds for different schemes in the state. Addressing an anti-SIR rally in Berhampore ground on Thursday, she accused the BJP of indulging in eligious politics ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. The BJP is indulging in religious politics over the electoral roll revisions exercise. More than half of those who died because of SIR-related panic triggered by loss of documents, stress and workload were Hindus, she alleged adding, Dont cut the very branch you are sitting on. Amit Shah behind SIR ploy in Bengal, BJP dug its own grave by rushing exercise: CM Mamata Banerjee The TMC supremo also reiterated that she would never allow NRC or detention camps to come up in Bengal even if my throat is slit. She also alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his party would have sabotaged and overthrown her government ahead of the assembly elections had she not allowed the SIR to be conducted. After opposing the Waqf Properties Amendment Act, introduced by the Narendra Modi government earlier this year, the Bengal government last week notified all Waqf properties in Bengal around 82,000 across the state to be registered in the central portal UMEED by 5 December. Today, Mamata assured Waqf properties would remain untouched. Waqf properties will not be encroached upon; the safety of minorities is my responsibility, the chief minister said. For the past few days, some miscreants have been spreading rumours that the state government has recorded religious sites as mosques or graveyards under Collector Khatian number 1. This is a lie, she said. Anti-Waqf Amendment Act protests had escalated into large-scale violence in Murshidabads Jangipur and Umarpur, claiming three lives, and thousands of villagers were left homeless a few months ago. Homes, shops and police vehicles were torched in villages. The chief minister said she would not allow bloodshed in Murshidabad in the coming days.
Kolkatas bus, not as celebrated as the tram or taxi, to be given its due by heritage fest
The fifth edition of the annual The City as a Museum event on art and heritage from December 6 to 15 will celebrate this humble mode of transport by converting the bus into a mobile installation
Amid the rising number of suicides and deaths allegedly due to work pressure during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, hundreds of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) on Thursday protested outside the office of the state's Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata. Breaching police barricades, a group of over 400 BLOs marched towards the office of CEO Manoj Agarwal and staged a sit-in demanding further extension of the enumeration deadline of the SIR exercise by at least three months, citing inhuman work-related stress. We are working round-the-clock and are on the verge of a breakdown. We have to attend to our duties in schools, remain up all night to digitise the enumeration forms. Despite our repeated appeals for deadline extension, the EC is not responsive. They are issuing fresh notifications and orders over WhatsApp every day, said BLO Reba Muhuri. We demand immediate extension of the SIR deadlines for submitting forms, and preparing draft rolls not by a week, but by three months at least, if not six months, she added. Sasanka Pal, another forum member and a state government employee, maintained that although he was not a BLO, he joined the protests to express his solidarity with them. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is arm twisting the EC to enforce the BJP's diktat for completing the SIR before assembly polls, which has triggered so much pressure on the BLOs and Booth Level Assistants (BLAs) of political parties, he said. The BLOs, accompanied by the family members of four officials who lost their lives allegedly due to SIR work pressure also demanded adequate compensation to the next of kin of the deceased. The protest march was conducted under the banner of the TMC-leaning 'BLO Aikya Manch' (BLO Unity Forum). The protesters held a march from the Sealdah Station in north Kolkata to the CEO's office in BBD Bag, where it merged with a section of aggrieved BLOs, who are already holding a sit-in before the premises for the past 10 days. This is the second such protest at the CEO's office in 10 days despite the Election Commission directing Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma to ensure safety and security of officers and staff at the office of the CEO. An EC official said the CEO's office was yet to receive any reports from District Election Officers (DEOs) on the alleged deaths of BLOs due to work-related stress. We cannot comment on the issue till there is confirmation that those deaths are connected to the SIR exercise, the Deputy CEO-ranked official said. The EC has extended the deadline of the enumeration phase of SIR, and the subsequent publication of draft and final rolls by seven days, but the opposition parties and the BLOs have pointed out that the time is too short to complete the job. Following the EC's extension of deadlines, the house-to-house enumeration phase would conclude on December 11, followed by the publication of draft electoral rolls on December 16. The final rolls are scheduled to be published on February 14 next year, after completion of the claims and objections period, and the notice phase of hearing and verification of voters. (With inputs from PTI) SC directs states to deploy additional staff for SIR duty; passes slew of orders to ease pressure on BLOs
Does This Viral Video Show Chennai Submerged After Cyclone Ditwah? No!
This video is from Kolkata in September 2025, not from Chennai after Cyclone Ditwah
TMC suspends MLA Humayun Kabir who proposed to build 'Babri Masjid' in Murshidabad
KOLKATA: West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Thursday suspended its Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir, who had triggered a storm with the proposal to build 'Babri Masjid' in Murshidabad district. Kabir, who has hogged the limelight over the last few years with his controversial statements on various matters, including the party's internal affairs, had announced that the foundation stone of the proposed mosque would be laid at Beldanga on December 6. Announcing his suspension, senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim said Kabir's conduct amounted to gross indiscipline at a time when the party was working to maintain peace and communal harmony in the state. Kabir was involved in communal politics, which the TMC is strictly against. TMC does not believe in communal politics. He will have no relation with the party from this moment. He is being suspended on the instructions of our top leadership, said Hakim, a senior minister in the Mamata Banerjee government. Asked about his reaction, Kabir said he will tender his resignation and form a new political outfit. Earlier, he had claimed that lakhs of people would join the December 6 programme, which may block the NH-12 that connects Kolkata in the south to Siliguri in the north. VIDEO | Berhampore: After being suspended from TMC, MLA Humayun Kabir says, I will announce a new party on December 22 and will field candidates on 135 Assembly seats (in West Bengal polls). I will fight against both the BJP and them (TMC). They can do whatever they want. pic.twitter.com/TLxHPKDGU4 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 4, 2025 After his suspension from TMC, Humayun Kabir announced he will form a new political party on December 22 and contest 135 Assembly seats in the upcoming West Bengal polls, vowing to take on both the BJP and TMC. They can do whatever they want, he added.
Bengal SIR: 50 lakh names identified for likely exclusion from voters list
Kolkata: Around 50 lakh names in West Bengal have been identified for exclusion in the voters list as per the latest trend available during the digitisation of the enumeration forms in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that started from November 4. The same figure was a little 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 .
Chaos at Bengaluru Airport as IndiGo Cancels Over 100 Flights
Passengers left stranded as key routes including Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Goa disrupted
Navy Day demo paints mighty picture in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As a MiG-29K fighter jet thundered off from INS Vikrant, there was pin-drop silence among the spectators who had gathered in their thousands along Shankhumukham and other beaches nearby. The might of Vikrant the countrys first indigenous aircraft carrier and the magnificent sight of the jet punching through the skies painted orange by the descending sun was awe-inspiring. The state capital was on Wednesday evening treated to an exhilarating demonstration of operational capabilities by the Indian Navy as part of its Navy Day celebrations. It was the first time that Kerala was playing host to the marquee event, which offers a glimpse into the multi-domain combat proficiency and battle-readiness of the Navy. Fighter aircraft MiG-29 taking off from aircraft carrier INS Vikrant during the celebrations The demonstration commenced after INS Kolkata gave a 21-gun salute to welcome President Droupadi Murmu, who was the chief guest on the day. As many as 19 warships, a submarine, four fast-interceptor craft, and 32 naval aircraft including fighters and helicopters took part in the event. The MH-60R helicopters, led by Captain Sidharth Rana, offered a grand salute to the President by flying at low altitude and dipping its nose in flight, setting the tone for a mesmerising evening that displayed Navys precision, power projection, co-ordination, and expertise. Apart from the President, Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi were also in attendance. Warships INS Imphal, INS Udayagiri, INS Kolkata and INS Tamal closed the beach front and fired flares illuminating the skies. Three Chetak choppers were the next to take the stage and flew a banner formation in the flypast. Navys trainer jet, Hawk, performed a bomb-burst manoeuvre, while special forces simulated Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations that deal with pirates. Another attraction was the combat freefall performed by Navy MARCOS commandos off a Dornier aircraft flying at 8,000ft. Using parachutes, they made pinpoint landings at the drop zone and one of the members walked on to the dais to present a memento to the President. Equally admired was the performance of the combat diving team, who ran a simulation of how vital infrastructure is targeted during war. Hawk advanced training jets, P-8I Neptune aircraft, Narang and Chetak choppers also stole the show. Navy Chief meets CM TPuram: Ahead of the Navy Day celebrations in the state capital, Chief of Indian Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday. Meeting him at the CMs chamber at secretariat, Dinesh Tripathi formally invited him to take part in the Navy Day celebrations. Following the meeting, CM posted on X that they exchanged regards and ideas for further strengthening our collaborations.
On December 4, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 13.059 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,971 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 1,91,100 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.
Mosque Near Kolkata Airport Affects Secondary Runway Use: Centre
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the mosques location affects the secondary runway.
Relentless Rains In Nellore, Tirupati Districts Turn National Highway Into River
Traffic on the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway (NH-16) has come to near standstill, as high floodwater is flowing dangerously across multiple stretches between Kakuturu and Venkatachalam and near Manubolu.
Indigo cancels over 200 flights due to crew shortage
NEW DELHI: Indigo airlines cancelled over 200 flights, and delayed countless others due to a crew shortage across airports in the country on Wednesday. This is the second consecutive day that Indigo is unable to operate a large number of flights. Sources said, the shortage is due to a massive recruitment drive by international airline Emirates at Delhi and Mumbai this week. However, Indigo attributed the significant disruption to multiple reasons including unforeseen operational challenges. Sources stated that there is a severe shortage of both cockpit and cabin crew. Flyers complained of these undesirable circumstances to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. 67 flights were cancelled at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport alone. 13 flights departing from Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport were cancelled; over 70 flights from Mumbai and Bengaluru airports were cancelled till Wednesday evening. Furthermore, flights to Kolkata and Srinagar were also cancelled. Airline sources said that several Indigo crew have been making a beeline for Emirate's recruitment roadshow in Mumbai and Delhi the last two days. Aviation source said, The mismanagement on part of Indigo too is a major reason for the crisis they have been facing the last two days. The revised Flight Duty Time Limitations were implemented by all airlines from November 1. Why is Indigo alone facing an issue? It is because of poor management of the situation, nothing else. The new rostering rules included increased weekly rest for pilots, from 36 hours to 48 hours, and limiting night landings carried out by pilots to just two instead of six. Passengers rage Ashish K Singh posted about his delayed flight from Mumbai to Ahmedabad 6E 534 on X. Stranded for 1-2 hours. Passengers deserve better. This is not just a delay. Passengers are left struggling, including senior citizens and families. Another flyer Satish said, Indian Railways takes around eight hours from Tirupati to Hyderabad. The great Indigo takes five hours from Tirupati to Hyderabad. N Pradeep from Hyderabad posed, Indigo, experienced your gate changing circus and flight delays for over four hours with no responsible staff in Hyderabad SHUT DOWN your pathetic service. In a statement, Indigo said, We acknowledge that IndiGos operations have been significantly disrupted across the network for the past two days, and we sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience caused. The airlines attributed the disruption to a multitude of unforeseen operational challenges including minor technology glitches, schedule changes linked to the winter season, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion in the aviation system and the implementation of updated crew rostering rules. To contain the disruption and restore stability, Indigo claimed to have initiated calibrated adjustments to their schedules. These measures will remain in place for the next 48 hours and will allow us to normalise our operations and progressively recover our punctuality across the network, it said.
KOLKATA: A Division Bench of the Calcutta HC rejected the verdict of (now retired) Justice Ganguly on cancelling the appointment of 32,000 primary teachers in State-run and State-aided primary schools across West Bengal. The Division Bench of Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty and Justice Reetobroto Kumar Mitra pronounced the verdict this afternoon. With todays verdict, the Mamata Banerjee government in the State heaved a sigh of relief. It comes at a crucial time when the Supreme Court invalidated appointments of around 26,000 teachers of government-sponsored and government-aided secondary and higher secondary schools across districts and cities, citing institutional corruption in recruitment tests organised by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). The verdict, ahead of the Bengal Assembly elections due next year, also comes as a major relief to the ruling Trinamool, hit by several corruption scandals, especially in the education sector. Expressing satisfaction with todays verdict, the chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, told reporters, I am happy with the court order and families of the teachers have been saved. The judges have handled the issue with humanity. Its not justified to move the court every now and then to cancel someones job. We give jobs, not take them away. The Bench said today, After being in service for nine years, if they are removed now, there could be an adverse impact on the families. Calcutta HC asks CBI to probe 'illegal' appointments of primary teachers in Bengal schools In 2023, Justice Ganguly, who is now a BJP MP from Tamluk in East Midnapore district, had cancelled the appointments of the 32,000 primary teachers for alleged manipulation of the recruitment process (Teachers Eligibility Test held in 2014). In his order, Justice Ganguly had asked the state government to execute a fresh recruitment process and complete it within three months. However, the division bench of Justice Subrata Talukdar and Justice Supratim Bhattacharya put an interim stay on the single bench order of cancelling the appointments and granted the State six months to complete the process of recruitment of a fresh panel. The state government moved the apex court against the Division Bench order. The apex court had upheld the stay on appointments to the 32,000 posts and sent back the case to the High Court for final hearing. Meanwhile, on 12 November, the Division Bench of Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty and Justice Reetobroto Kumar Mitra concluded the hearing in the matter. Trinamool leadership alleged that isolated incidents of mistakes, misdemeanours, negligence and crime were being projected as a complete collapse of the education system. A political issue is being created from these isolated instances. We object to that. The BJP, the CPM and a section of the Congress are involved in this, the leadership expressed.
Hardik Pandya Returns For SA T20I; Gill Picked With Subject To Fitness
Asia Cup Super Fours: The Board of Control for Cricket in Indias (BCCI) senior mens selection committee has picked Indias squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. ODI and Test skipper Shubman Gill and all-rounder Hardik Pandya are set to mark their return from injuries, but the formers participation is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI CoE (Centre of Excellence). Gill sustained a neck injury during the first Test between the two sides in Kolkata and was subsequently ruled out of the red-ball games as well as the ODI series. Pandya, meanwhile, picked up an injury during India's Asia Cup Super Fours contest against Sri Lanka and has been out of the international setup since then. The fifth T20I, to be played on December 19, will also mark the end of South Africas tour of India, which commenced on November 14 with a two-game Test series and was followed by the ongoing ODI series. Regular skipper Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead the side, with Gill as his deputy. Most of the T20I squad remains the same as to the contingent that travelled to Australia for Indias most recent T20I series. However, Rinki Singh, who didnt get much of a chance in the previous tour, has been dropped. The T20I series will commence on December 9 in Cuttack, with action moving to New Chandigarh for the second T20I on December 11. The second T20I will also see two new stands being inaugurated by the Punjab Cricket Association at the venue in honour of India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. The third T20I will be hosted by the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, while the fourth game will be played at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. South Africas tour of India will conclude at the worlds largest ground - the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The T20I series will commence on December 9 in Cuttack, with action moving to New Chandigarh for the second T20I on December 11. The second T20I will also see two new stands being inaugurated by the Punjab Cricket Association at the venue in honour of India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India squad for T20I series against SA: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC)*, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar Article Source: IANS
Uttar Pradesh: Cough syrup racket kingpin arrested at Kolkata airport
Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, alleged mastermind of a large cough syrup racket, was arrested at Kolkata airport and brought to Sonbhadra on transit remand
BJP made Waqf Act, TMC won't allow anybody to touch properties: West Bengal CM
KOLKATA: In an apparent attempt to retain the Trinamool Congress' Muslim vote bank for ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed that the BJP made the Waqf Act, not her party. We wont follow the Act and have opposed it in the state legislative assembly. The state government has filed a case in the Supreme Court. The case is still on and I wont allow anybody to touch the Waqf properties, Mamata said while addressing a party rally at Gazole in Malda district. Earlier this year, the Central Government amended several provisions of the Waqf Act, 1995. While some of these amendments remain under consideration before the Supreme Court, a senior official of the state government pointed out that here is no stay on the implementation of the Centre's proposed changes. The state is obliged to follow the directive within the given timeframe, he felt. Under the amended rules, mutawallis (caretakers of a waqf) of 8,063 Waqf estates in Bengal must register complete property details on the UMEED portal by 6 December, he elaborated. The Trinamool Congress supremos statement came hardly four days after her government directed district magistrates (DMs) across the state on Friday to upload details of Waqf properties to the Central Governments Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal. The state minority affairs and madrasah education department sent the directive to the DMs in this regard at a time when some officials in the department felt that the exercise as a ime-bound compliance requirement set by the Centre. The Centre has asked the states to upload information on all undisputed Waqf properties by 6 December, prompting the state administration to start the data-entry process immediately, according to officials. The directive sent to DMs lists four primary issues. They have been asked to convene meetings with imams, muezzins (a person who proclaims the call to the daily prayer five times a day at a mosque) and madrasa teachers to explain the uploading procedure, an official said. The DMs have been told that only uncontested properties are to be entered in the portal, he said. All districts have been asked to set up facilitation centres wherever technical support is necessary, the official added. Bengal government order to upload details of the states waqf properties onto the UMEED portal has triggered a political controversy, the state having earlier said it would not implement the amended Waqf Act that came into force in April. Senior BJP leaders in the state held the chief minister responsible for the communal violence in Samserganj, Murshidabad, arising from a protest against the amendment in April this year. Will Mamata Banerjee apologise to Hindus in Mothabari (Malda) where 68 shops belonging to them were vandalised? leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had said hours after the state governments directives to the DMs to upload the Waqf properties on UMEED portal on Friday. Bengal is home to around 82,000 waqf properties under nearly 8,000 waqf estates.
Australia Pacer Johnson Ruled Out Of Upcoming BBL Season Due To Back Injury
Big Bash League: Australias left-arm fast bowler Spencer Johnson has been ruled out of the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season due to a long-standing back injury. Johnson made his debut for the Brisbane Heat in 2023 and was player of the final in their championship win in 2024. Johnson, whos played five ODIs and eight T20Is for Australia, has been recovering from a back complaint that has prevented him from playing any cricket after turning out for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025. Now with Johnson being ruled out of playing in BBL, it also puts his chances of playing next years T20 World Cup in jeopardy. Ive had plenty of expert support from everyone involved in the process and I am very confident that I will be back and doing what I love as soon as possible. I know the Heat fans will be 100 percent behind the squad again this season and I will be cheering on with them from the sidelines, he said in a statement by the club on Wednesday. Terry Svenson, the Brisbane Heat CEO, said he wishes for Johnson a speedy recovery and would look forward to seeing him return for the club next year. Spencer continues to recover from a back injury and pleasingly, this is improving. However, the latest timeframe for his return to play does not enable him to participate in the BBL this season. Were all disappointed for Spencer but will provide him with ongoing support as he continues to recover. Hes fought back admirably from injury earlier in his career and I have no doubt he will again be dedicated to making a full recovery in the future, he said. Terry Svenson, the Brisbane Heat CEO, said he wishes for Johnson a speedy recovery and would look forward to seeing him return for the club next year. Spencer continues to recover from a back injury and pleasingly, this is improving. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brisbane Heat squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan), Tom Alsop (England), Colin Munro (New Zealand), Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Lachlan Hearne, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Oli Patterson, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Jack Wildermuth. Article Source: IANS
Calcutta HC division bench sets aside order terminating appointment of 32,000 primary teachers
KOLKATA: A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday set aside a single bench order that annulled appointments of 32,000 primary school teachers in West Bengal. These teachers were recruited through the Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET) of 2014. The bench, presided by Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty, said it is not inclined to uphold the single bench order as irregularities have not been proven in all the recruitments. The court maintained that the termination of employment after nine years would have a great adverse impact on the primary teachers and their families. It said that the CBI, which was directed to investigate the matter by the high court, had initially identified 264 appointments in which irregularities took place, following which the names of another 96 teachers came under the agency's scanner. The court said that in view of this, the entire selection process cannot be cancelled. A single bench of then Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay on May 12, 2023, had terminated the appointments of these 32,000 primary teachers.
Have ensured that persons with disabilities lead life of dignity: Mamata
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said her government has strengthened institutional mechanisms to support persons with disabilities right from their birth through their entire lifecycle. Banerjee said the government has also created a robust social security network for PwDs through various schemes. On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we 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 .
Bengal SIR: 46 lakh names identified, likely to be excluded from voters list
Kolkata: Over 46 lakh names in West Bengal have already been identified for exclusion in the voters list as per the latest trend available during the digitisation of the enumeration forms in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that started from November 4. The total number of names 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 .
SMAT: J&K thrashes Chandigarh by 29 runs
Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 2: Jammu & Kashmir inched closer to a knockout berth in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Elite Group B after securing a commanding 29-run victory over Chandigarh at the Jadavpur University Campus Ground, Kolkata. With this impressive win, J&K registered their third triumph in four matches, strengthening their position in the group standings. Opting to bowl first, Chandigarh were met with a fierce batting display by J&K, who posted a formidable 192 all out in [] The post SMAT: J&K thrashes Chandigarh by 29 runs appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Ahmedabad Airport to allow imports, exports of jewellery parcels through personal carriage
Ahmedabad Airport now facilitates the import and export of gems and jewellery parcels for personal carriage. This new provision extends to other major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, an arm of the commerce ministry, announced this development. This move simplifies international trade for individuals carrying precious items.
Rebel TMC MLA Kabir stokes Babri row, vows mosque & Dec 6 blockade
Kolkata: A fresh political firestorm gripped West Bengal on Tuesday as estranged TMC MLA Humayun Kabir doubled down on building a mosque modelled on the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad district and warned that NH-34 would be under Muslim control on December 6, escalating a clash the ruling party is scrambling to contain. Kabir, the Beldanga 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 .
For Kolkata fans, money doesnt matter when it comes to Messi
The football legend last came to the city in 2011 to captain Argentina in a friendly match against Venezuela at the Salt Lake City stadium, the same venue for an upcoming event that will include a celebrity match and a masterclass
KOLKATA: The West Bengal government has announced that it will provide two lakh rupees financial assistance to bereaved families of the 39 persons who allegedly passed away due to panic and stress triggered by the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, made the announcement releasing the report card of her governments performance during the past 14 years. Mamata claimed that 39 people have died in the State due to SIR-induced panic, including cases of suicide. She also said that thirteen others who fell ill during the SIR exercise, including three BLOs allegedly burdened by 'excessive workload', would be given Rs 1 lakh each. The launch of the SIR exercise since November 4 has triggered widespread fear and distress among sections of the public across the State. West Bengal CM says SIR exercise is putting BLOs under stress, expresses solidarity with them INTERVIEW | One extra week not enough, BLOs scramble to meet deadline
Mamata presents report card ahead of polls, alleges Centre withheld Bengal's long-pending dues
KOLKATA: As the countdown for the assembly polls in West Bengal begins amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the Centre has withheld the state's long-pending dues. Releasing the report card Unnayaner Panchali of her government during the past 14 years since 2011, Mamata told media at the state secretariat Nabanna, The central government has withheld our long-pending dues -- one lakh and eighty-seven thousand crore rupees. When will they pay? Elections are nearing but development works in Bengal cant be stopped. Hope, they will release the funds. She claimed, Bengal is a model across the country in terms of development schemes. We have launched different social security schemes in the state since we formed the government. We have created twelve lakh self-help groups in our state. On the issue of job creation, Mamata said, More than two crore jobs have already been generated in the state during the last 14 years and an additional one crore will be created in future. Six economic corridors are under construction. We have decreased unemployment by 40 percent in our state. There has been a massive investment of two lakh crore rupees since we formed the government. She said that West Bengal topped the country in MGNREGA, rural housing, and village road construction four times in a row before the Centre withheld money. The West Bengal government continued with its development activities despite the Centre not clearing the state's dues... we spent Rs 1 lakh crore on Khadya Sathi food security scheme covering 9 crore people and Rs 1,717 crore on Duare Ration for 7 crore people, she also claimed. For Lakshmi Bhandar, a populist scheme for women social security launched in 2021, she said, We are giving monthly Rs 1000 every woman and for those who belong to SC/ST category its Rs 1200. The scheme is lifelong for every woman. In all, two crore and twenty one lakh women get the social security benefits. She added, A woman who belongs to SC/ST category gets Rs 14400 every year. In Bihar, they (NDA government) have given a one-time fund of Rs 10000. She claimed that the state never drifted from its development path in spite of the Centre withholding its dues in crucial schemes involving rural upliftment. She also highlighted the setting up of a Jagannath temple in Digha and the Durga temple, which is undergoing construction on 15 acres of land in New Town. A Mahakaal Mandir (Shiva Temple) will also come in Siliguri in north Bengal, she said.
India's yound batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 108 runs off 61 balls, his third century in 16 professional T20 games. The left-hander hit seven boundaries and seven sixes at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, taking Bihar to 176 against Prithvi Shaw's Maharashtra.
Kolkata is experiencing a significant surge in demand for pneumonia and influenza vaccines. Respiratory infections are climbing as winter arrives. The elderly are leading this rush, prompting hospitals to increase vaccination slots. Health specialists note this trend began in mid-November. Early vaccination is a key preventive measure against winter-aggravated respiratory issues.
Number of expected deletion of names from voters list crosses 43 lakhs
KOLKATA, Dec 2: The Election Commission of India (ECI) expects that roughly 43.30 lakh names will be dropped from West Bengals draft voters list, scheduled for publication on December 16, based on the current pace of digitising enumeration forms submitted by booth-level officers (BLOs). Officials in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, cautioned that this is an evolving estimate. Since the projection reflects the digitisation status only till Monday evening, the exclusion figure may rise as [] The post Number of expected deletion of names from voters list crosses 43 lakhs appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
SIR in Bengal: No single deceased or duplicate voter in 2,208 booths, says ECI
Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI), till Monday evening, has identified 2,208 polling booths in West Bengal which do not have a single deceased voter or duplicate voter having names in two places or any voter who has shifted elsewhere. An insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, said 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 .
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat To Meet 1,200 Bengal Intellectuals As Part Centenary Outreach In Kolkata
Sources within the RSS said a list of about 1,200 invitees has been compiled featuring teachers, educationists, film directors, writers, and members of the cultural fraternity
Bangladeshi couple in West Bengal gets Indian citizenship after 35 years
KOLKATA: A Bangladeshi couple have finally received Indian citizenship after spending 35 years in Nadia district of West Bengal. Laturam Sikdar and his wife Padma Sikdar have been staying at Kamgachhi Joypur under Nadias Taherpur police station area for the past 35 years. Laturam used to stay at Sanatanpur in Bangladesh while Padma was a resident of Panditpur, before coming to India. The couple had managed to get Aadhaar cards a few years after entering India, but could not include their names to voters list in the last Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 2002 in the state. The couple is relieved after becoming citizens of India on Monday. We were in tremendous tension soon after dates of the SIR exercise were announced during the end of October. Sensing trouble we applied for citizenship at a CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) camp on 10 October and got the certificates on 19 November, said Padma. We are very happy because we can cast our votes from now. We were born in Bangladesh but brought up in Nadia district. With launching of the SIR process in the state, we became panicked because our names were not listed in the 2002 SIR of electoral rolls. Following the Government of Indias previous announcement in connection with CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC) guidelines we visited CAA camps and applied for citizenships, Laturam said. Minorities in Bangaladesh are brutally tortured by the Muslim fundamentalists in the country. It was unbearable to us and we left for India, he added. Partha Sarathi Chattyerjee, local BJP MLA from Ranaghat Uttar Paschim assembly constituency, told media, We had been assuring the couple not to get panicked. Finally, they got the citizenship cards and others can also get citizenship if they apply to the concerned authority seeking CAA cards following proper methods. BJP trying to implement CAA through SIR in border areas, alleges West Bengal CM at Bongaon rally
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday disclosed that incidents of GPS spoofing and interference with flights have been reported at major airports in the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. In a written reply to questions raised by YSRCP MP S Niranjan Reddy in the Rajya Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu confirmed that GPS spoofing was reported in the vicinity of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi. Some flights reported GPS spoofing in the vicinity of IGIA, New Delhi while using GPS based landing procedures, while approaching on RWY (runway) 10. Contingency procedures were used for GPS spoofed flights approaching to RWY 10. There were no effects on movements of flights, on other runway ends having conventional navigational aids being operational, the minister said. Global Positioning System (GPS)/ Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) spoofing and jamming refer to attempts to manipulate a user's navigation system by giving false signals. The minister stated that the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) has been directed to identify the source of the spoofing. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has also requested Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) to possibly identify the source of interference/ spoofing. During the high-level meeting, WMO was directed to mobilise more resources to identify the source of spoofing based on approximate spoofing location details shared by DGCA and AAI, Naidu said in a written reply. WMO comes under the Department of Telecommunications. After being mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to report instances of GPS jamming/ spoofing since November 2023, regular reports are being received from other major airports in the country. GNSS interference reports are being received from Kolkata, Amritsar, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai airports, the minister said. Last month, DGCA asked airlines, pilots and air traffic controllers to report GPS spoofing incidents within 10 minutes of the occurrences, amid recent such incidents at the Delhi airport. In the written reply, Naidu said Minimum Operating Network (MON), consisting of Conventional (Ground-based) Navigation and Surveillance Infrastructure, are retained in accordance with global best practices. India is also participating in global platforms to keep itself abreast of the latest methodology and technology for the timely implementation of the same. To a query, Naidu said the global cybersecurity threats to the aviation sector are in the form of ransomware/ malware. To enhance cyber security against global threats, AAI is implementing advanced cyber security solutions for IT networks and infrastructure. These actions have been taken in accordance with the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) and Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) guidelines. Cyber security is ensured by continuous upgradation. As the nature and type of the threat changes, new protective measures are being taken, he added. (With inputs from PTI)
West Bengal SIR: Over 21 lakh dead voters recorded till December 1
KOLKATA: West Bengal has recorded more than 21 lakh dead voters so far till Monday afternoon, according to sources in the Election Commission of India (ECI). In North 24 Parganas district alone, more than 2.75 lakh dead voters have been identified in the state by the ECI. West Bardhaman and South 24 Parganas hold second and third positions respectively in term of dead voters identified by the Commission during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls so far in the state. West Bardhaman district has 1.57 lakh dead voters while it is 1.39 lakh so far till today, the Commission sources said. Sources requesting anonymity said that the more than 90 per cent digitalisation of enumeration forms have already been completed. The total number of dead voters in the state would be figured out after the complete digitalisation of uncollected enumeration forms is done by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across the state. Uncollected forms include voters who are absent, permanently shifted, dead and duplicate. Many BLOs are yet to upload these forms, delaying the process of identifying dead voters, sources said. Following 'instructions' of local administrations, BLOs in several districts are seen reluctant to upload these forms, sources added. Considering the seriousness of the issue, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal and special observer of electoral rolls Subrata Gupta have already held meetings with the district magistrates (DMs) functioning as district election observers (DEO) to streamline the process. Large number of BLOs are not marking enumeration forms (EFs) as ASDD (absent, shifted, dead and duplicate) voters, despite lapse of considerable period. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has come to know about the irregularities in connection with alleged reluctance of many BLOs, who are not regularly marking EFs as ASDD even after they identify cases like absent, shifted, dead and duplicate voters, during their door-to-door visits for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the state. The Commission has also noted that the EFs identified as ASDD cases are being collected somewhere else without being marked/digitalised in the BLO App. The CEO office area at B B D Bag in the city today virtually turned into a war zone between agitating BLOs backed by the ruling party Trinamool Congress and rival BJP. The agitating BLOs and Trinamool Congress workers were seen shouting slogans like Suvendu Adhikari go back in front of the CEO office building since this afternoon. A BJP delegation led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, met Agarwal and submitted charter of demands to him. Suvendu alleged that I-PAC, Trinamool Congress poll strategic agency, along with BDOs has been forcing a section of BLOs to manipulate enumeration forms so that dead, shifted voters, Bangladeshi infiltrators can figure in the electoral rolls. His pre-scheduled visit to the CEO triggered loud protests by members of the agitating BLOs who have been demonstrating there over alleged excessive workload during the ongoing SIR exercise.
Bengal Booth Level Officers In Massive Protest Outside Poll Body Office
Grassroots poll officials in Bengal - at the centre of a row over mental health and working conditions during the revision of voter lists - staged a massive protest Monday afternoon outside the Chief Electoral Officer's Kolkata office.
Death of Humanity and Conscience
As the practice in modern India continues, so do deaths. The Calcutta High Court, in a recent judgment, highlighted this blot on the countrys conscience and governance, condemning the state government and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and enhancing the fines to be paid as per law The post Death of Humanity and Conscience appeared first on India Legal .
Himadri ships out first liquid coal tar pitch consignment from Mangalore port to Middle East
KOLKATA, Dec 1: Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd (HSCL) on Monday said it has executed its first-ever export shipment of liquid coal tar pitch to the Middle East. The 3,600-tonne consignment, shipped out from its western India terminal at the New Mangalore Port, marks a key milestone in its international expansion strategy and reaffirms its ability to handle high-volume exports, the Kolkata-headquartered company said. It also marks the opening of a second western export corridor to complement its existing Haldia terminal [] The post Himadri ships out first liquid coal tar pitch consignment from Mangalore port to Middle East appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
ECI's decision to extend SIR schedules by one week is a move to satisfy BJP: TMC
KOLKATA: The Election Commission of Indias decision to extend the schedules of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states, including West Bengal, has prompted ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition CPI-M and Congress to come together to criticise the Commission for its move. Coming down heavily on the Commission, the Bengal leadership of Trinamool Congress, CPI-M and Congress said that it should have considered the situation earlier because the SIR exercise was not at all possible within such a short timeline. But the BJPs Bengal unit has welcomed the national poll panels decision to extend the SIR timeline by one week. The ruling party in the state alleged that the BJP government at the Centre was instrumental in the decision. The Election Commission of India (ECI) extended the SIR schedules so that BJP can get some political advantages ahead of the assembly polls next year. The party has fixed a target number of voters from the electoral rolls during the ongoing exercise in the state. With the extension of schedules, the commission proved again that it works for BJP. But people of Bengal will again vote Trinamool Congress to power, Arup Chakraborty, spokesperson of the ruling party in the state, said. The saffron camp in the state has been claiming that more than one crore dead and bogus, including Bangladeshi infiltrators, will be deleted from the voters list following the SIR process. The Election Commission has no idea about the ground reality in Bengal because its run by bureaucracy. Todays notification issued by the national poll body once again proved that it has neither any planning nor the eligibility to conduct such a drive in the state, said Md Salim, CPI-M secretary, West Bengal. The Commission should have understood the situation in Bengal much earlier because the SIR exercise is not possible in such a short period of only three months in the state, which is vulnerable in terms of demography and population. The poll body is a paper tiger only, said Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress leader and the partys former MP for five times from Behrampore in Murshidabad district. Welcoming the decision the Sukanta Majumder, union minister of state for education and a BJP MP from Balurghat, said, We have nothing to say against the move because its the prerogative of the Commission. It has extended the deadline considering the situation. It can also extend the timeline again after the Mamata Banerjee governments term ends next year. In that case, SIR will go on under the President Rule. With several deaths of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) due to work pressure and stress triggered by the SIR-related rigorous jobs, a section of BLOs backed by Trinamool Congress staged protests in front of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officers chamber, demanding extension of the SIR timeline and compensation to the family members of their deceased colleagues. Today, the ECI has extended the schedule of the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls for 12 States and Union Territories by one week. Under the revised plan, the enumeration drive and polling-station rationalisationearlier expected to wrap up by 4 December will now continue until 11 December. The preparation of the control table and the draft roll will run from 12 to 15 December, with the draft roll to be published on 16 December. The old schedule had placed draft publication around 9th December across states. The period for filing claims and objections has also been aligned with the new dates. Instead of closing on 8th January, as originally planned, the window will now remain open until 15 January.
KOLKATA: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, addressing after being conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kolkata, said that the United States has set radically new terms of engagement by dealing with countries on a one-on-one basis. India has been actively pursuing self-reliance and making itself a manufacturing base for industries, he observed. Jaishankar said that India has made progress in infrastructure facilities --highways, railways, energy and ports, and it has helped the country narrow the gaps with leading Asian economies. The senior BJP leader also said that politics increasingly trumps economics in the present era, and in an uncertain world, it is important that the country continuously diversifies supply sources to guarantee its needs. His remarks came particularly against the backdrop when India and the US are continuing negotiations for a trade deal, specifically in light of the 50 per cent tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on India, over three months ago. Besides, the union minister also raised issues related to China, saying, It long plays by its own rules and is doing so even now. India, Australia shoulder 'greater responsibility' amid global turbulence: EAM Jaishankar Noting that one-third of global production currently takes place in China, Jaishankar said that it has put the spotlight on the esilience and reliability of supply chains. We are now moving ahead, by any standards, he said, maintaining that the world is taking note of the advancements being made by India. With these considerations in mind, we are today endeavouring to forge new trade arrangements and promote fresh connectivity initiatives, the minister said. When it comes to trade, We will naturally be guided by our people-centric vision, just as our connectivity plans are by strategic as well as economic considerations, he said. He also said that as the government plans for a developed India by 2047, he goal of foreign policy is to steadily expand footprint beyond its current confines. He asserted that the solidarity that India has built with the Global South creates a base for it. Jaishankar said that when it comes to increasing comprehensive national power, India's role in diplomacy is active rather than passive. Promoting industrial growth and even incentivising it is a key economic priority, the minister said, maintaining that emphasis on 'Make in India' in the last decade speaks of a different mindset and greater ambition We are now in the world of chips and semiconductors, electric vehicles and batteries, drones and space, or that of nanotech and bioscience. Each of them offers an opportunity to leapfrog and establish unique capabilities, the minister added. EAM Jaishankar discusses bilateral partnership, regional developments with Bahraini counterpart
Codeine empire busted: Fugitive dealers father arrested at Kolkata airport
Kolkata Police arrested Bhola Prasad, father of Shubham Jaiswal, in a major codeine trafficking probe. Sonbhadra Police shared intelligence that Prasad was attempting to flee the country. Jaiswal is suspected of leading a large cross-border narcotics network. The crackdown intensified after children died due to toxic cough syrup. Investigators are pursuing more arrests.
The analysis is based on the annual average Air Quality Index (AQI) data of 11 cities, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune, Varanasi, and Vishakhapatnam. Read here to know details
Selection for 51st Jr. Natl Kabaddi Cship for girls from Dec 4
Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 29: J&K Amateur Kabaddi Association general secretary, Dr. Kuldeep Kumar Gupta here today informed that selection trials for 51st Junior National Kabaddi Championship in Girls section will be held from December 4 to 7, 2025. Dr. Gupta asked all the affiliated districts and clubs of J&K to send their registered players for trials to participate in 51st National Kabaddi Championship for girls which is going to be held at Kolkata from December 25 to 28, [] The post Selection for 51st Jr. Natl Kabaddi Cship for girls from Dec 4 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Khalid calls for faster ISL restart to arrest Indias decline
Kolkata, Nov 29: Indian football head coach Khalid Jamil on Saturday took full responsibility for the countrys embarrassing loss to Bangladesh and said the Indian Super League must start at the earliest to arrest the national teams alarming slide. India, winless in five straight Asian Cup qualifying matches, have slumped to 142 in the FIFA []
Indian airlines complete software upgrade for over 90 per cent of 338 affected A320 family planes
NEW DELHI: IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express on Saturday started carrying out software upgrade of A320 family planes to address a potential flight control issue, and requisite modifications have been done for over 90 per cent of the affected 338 aircraft, an exercise that also resulted in delays and some flight cancellations. According to the latest data from the aviation regulator DGCA, IndiGo and Air India did not cancel any flights, while Air India Express cancelled four flights due to the system modification process. Flight delays have been 60-90 minutes at various airports, sources said. On Friday, Airbus said intense solar radiation might corrupt data critical to flight controls in a significant number of A320 family aircraft and that the software changes required to fix the issue would lead to operational disruptions. As many as 338 A320 family aircraft operated by Indian airlines require the software upgrade to address a potential issue related to flight controls, and modifications have been carried out in over 80 per cent of the affected fleet, according to DGCA data. The software upgrades have been completed for 270 A320 family planes out of the total 338 aircraft, as per the data available with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) till 5.30 pm on November 29. A total of 200 IndiGo planes have been affected, and software upgrades have been completed for 184 of them, while in the case of Air India, 113 aircraft have been impacted and upgrades have been done for 69 of them, DGCA data showed. In the case of Air India Express, 25 planes have been impacted, and software upgrades have been completed for 17 aircraft as of 5.30 pm, according to data. The sources said that so far over 90 per cent of the affected planes have undergone upgradation. Meanwhile, IndiGo said all 200 A320 fleet aircraft have now been fully updated and compliant as required. With the completion of this technical requirement, every aircraft now operates with the latest approved configuration, and we continue to monitor performance closely as part of our routine safety procedures, the airline said in a post on X at 11.02 pm. Travel Update We are pleased to share a completion update on the mandatory Airbus system enhancement across our A320-family fleet. All 200 aircraft have now been fully updated and compliant as required. This programme involved a carefully coordinated sequence of work, with our IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) November 29, 2025 The airline said that there was zero cancellation of flights due to the updation. In a post on X at 10.17 pm, Air India said it has successfully completed the reset on over 90 per cent of its operating A320 family aircraft that were impacted by EASA and Airbus' requirement for a software realignment. An official said Air India Express has completed the upgradation for 22 out of the 25 impacted aircraft. The software upgrades are being undertaken at the airlines' bases in Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. Software upgrades on all affected planes are to be completed by 5.29 am on November 30. #UPDATE Air India has successfully completed the reset on over 90% of its operating A320 family aircraft that were impacted by EASA and Airbus requirement for a software realignment. We expect to cover the entire fleet within the timeline prescribed by EASA, with safety Air India (@airindia) November 29, 2025 The DGCA on Saturday issued an Airworthiness Directive to airlines asking Indian operators to carry out the requisite software upgrades immediately. This followed Airbus issuing an alert to operators globally and the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) coming out with an Emergency Airworthiness Directive regarding the potential issue. On Friday, EASA said Airbus asked airline operators to install a serviceable Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC) in the impacted aircraft. ELAC is for flight controls. IndiGo, which operates over 2,300 flights daily, said that no flights have been cancelled as a result of the checks carried out on A320 family planes, but a few flights may experience minimal delays. There have been no cancellations due to the task, and there is no major impact on schedule integrity across its network. However, some flights may be slightly delayed or rescheduled, Air India said in the morning. Most of the nearly 6,000 affected aircraft worldwide need software upgrades, while some might require hardware realignment. There are over 8,100 A320 family planes in service worldwide. These include A319s, A320 ceos and neos, and A321 ceos and neos, data from aviation analytics company Cirium showed. Former pilot Ehsan Khalid told PTI Videos that ELACs are the brain and nervous system of the aircraft, and the software problem with one of the ELACs is significant. When the pilot moves the control forward, it will cause the aircraft to pitch down and when it is moved backward, then the plane pitches down. This particular movement is done by pilot control and if that happens on its own, then there is a problem, he said. On October 30, he said a JetBlue aircraft experienced an uncommanded pitch down for seven seconds, which caused the aircraft to lose 100 feet and injured more than 15 people. At 35,000 feet, neither a loss of 100 feet nor seven seconds is critical. But if you remember the Ahmedabad crash, it happened during take-off, and seven seconds would have been enough to cause a catastrophic end. So humanity has been lucky this time. The aircraft manufacturer has openly acknowledged a software problem and has said it will fix it, Khalid said. IndiGo, in a statement, said software upgrades have been completed for 160 of the 200 impacted A320 family planes. We are pleased to confirm that the required actions have already been completed on 160 aircraft by 12:00 IST, and inspections on the remaining aircraft are progressing well and will be completed within the timeline, the airline said. We have already completed the reset on over 40 per cent of our aircraft that are impacted by this, and are confident of covering the entire fleet within the timeline prescribed by EASA, Air India said in a post on X in the morning. On Friday, Airbus said an analysis of a recent event involving an A320 family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls. Airbus has consequently identified a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in service which may be impacted, it had said in a release. Airbus acknowledged that these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions for passengers and customers.
EC Likely To Hold Special SIR Camp For Sex Workers In Kolkata's Red-Light Areas On Dec 2-3
The decision came amid rising concerns in the city's red-light districts over difficulties in completing SIR enumeration forms: Reports
Mumbai: Drug pusher from Kolkata held with Rs 5 crore charas in Thane; Nepal link suspected
Crisil raises GDP growth forecast to seven per cent during current financial year
KOLKATA, Nov 29: Crisil has raised its forecast for the countrys GDP growth to 7 per cent from 6.5 per cent for the current financial year, following the first-half growth of 8 per cent that exceeded expectations. Chief economist of Crisil, Dharmakriti Joshi, said that Indias real GDP growth stood at 8.2 per cent in the second quarter, exceeding expectations. However, due to easing inflation, the nominal GDP growth was modest at 8.7 per cent. The first half growth of [] The post Crisil raises GDP growth forecast to seven per cent during current financial year appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
West Bengal becomes first State in the country to rename Raj Bhavan as Lok Bhavan
KOLKATA: Implementing a Central Government notification, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Saturday renamed the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata to 'Lok Bhavan'. The governor's office claimed that West Bengal is the first State in the country to change the name of the Raj Bhavan into Lok Bhavan. In a video posted by the office on X, Bose is seen replacing three letters L, O and K with R, A and J before Bhavan. The Union Home Ministry had issued a directive on the renaming of Raj Bhavan on November 25. On 27 March 2023, at the request of the Hon'ble Governor Dr C. V. Ananda Bose, the Hon'ble President Droupadi Murmu handed over the symbolic key of the then Raj Bhavan to the Hon'ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It was in this historic moment that a new chapter began for Raj Bhavan Jan Raj Bhavan. , . . . , - Lok Bhavan, Kolkata, Social Media (@BengalGovernor) November 29, 2025 In pursuance of the communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 25.11.2025, it is hereby notified that the name of the holdings of 'Raj Bhavan' in Kolkata, Flagstaff House and Darjeeling, has been modified and renamed as 'Lok Bhavan', a notification said. This notification comes into force with immediate effect, it also said. In a post on X, Bose said, The concept of the 'Jana Raj Bhavan' by the then Raj Bhavan, Kolkata, was prompted by the urge to make the establishment alive to the needs of the people, their aspirations, hopes, their problems and challenges. Simultaneously, the move was to shed its aura of 'awe and fear' and be open to people from all walks of life. The Raj Bhavan, now renamed as Lok Bhavan, serves as the governor's official residence and also houses his office. During the last three years, Raj Bhavan has initiated several constructive people-centric programmes. A key element of the Jana Raj Bhavan initiative was its proactive role in the service of people -- to be with them in their need. Whenever there was a situation of exigency -- be it violence, natural calamity, or even complaints of atrocities, in any corner of West Bengal, Jana Raj Bhavan reached out to people in need, he said. In tune with the transformational and inspirational leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has ensured the participation of people across all segments of society in the spectacular march towards Viksit Bharat, the Raj Bhavan and Raj Niwas across the country were uniformly decided to be renamed as Lok Bhavan and Lok Niwas respectively, as per a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 25 November, 2025, Bose added.
Bengal: BLOs accuse EC of ignoring work-pressure concerns
Kolkata: Members of a BLO rights platform with Trinamool Congress leanings on Saturday staged a protest outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) here, demanding compensation for colleagues who allegedly fell ill or died during electoral roll-related duties and seeking planned scheduling of future assignments. During a demonstration that coincided with the arrival 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 .
KOLKATA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has expressed serious concern over the alleged reluctance of many BLOs in West Bengal to mark cases such as absent, shifted, dead and duplicate in enumeration forms during their door-to-door visits for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal and senior officials held a virtual conference with district magistrates (DMs), who also serve as district electoral officers (DROs), and electoral registration officers (EROs), seeking reports on forms without such markings. Subrata Gupta, retired IAS officer and newly appointed state special observer for electoral rolls revision, held a meeting with 12 other serving IAS officers assigned as observers in districts by the national poll body. Sources said the ECI has received numerous complaints against a section of BLOs. The poll body also noted that forms of voters identified as 'absent', 'shifted', 'dead' or 'duplicate' are being collected elsewhere without being marked or digitalised in the BLO App. DEOs and EROs have been directed to maintain strict vigilance and take appropriate action against the BLOs responsible. In the virtual conference, the CEO focused on data related to the assembly-wise number of forms collected by BLOs without 'absent', 'shifted', 'dead' or 'duplicate' markings and digitalisation. Meanwhile, a section of BLOs, backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress, staged a demonstration in front of the CEO office protesting the deaths of several colleagues, which they attributed to the unbearable workload, stress, and strain caused by ongoing SIR-related duties. They demanded compensation for the families of the deceased BLOs. The agitating BLOs, along with relatives of the deceased, attempted to meet Agarwal, but police prevented them from entering the CEO building at BBD Bagh in the heart of the city, resulting in a scuffle with deployed officers. On 26 November, expressing concern over the safety and security of Agarwal, other officers, and staff at the office, ECI secretary Surjeet Kumar Mishra wrote a strong letter to the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, seeking an action-taken report (ATR) on the BLO protest inside the CEO chamber. A section of BLOs under the banner of BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee, backed by the ruling party, organised a march from Sealdah to the CEO office on Monday to protest against the excessive work pressure caused by the SIR duty. On Monday night, the group gheraoed the CEOs chamber and refused to leave. The following morning, the standoff continued. Additional CEO Dibyendu Das spoke with the 10-member representative team, asking them to wait in his chamber, but they declined, stating they would remain outside the CEOs office.
GRSE receives notice from NSE, BSE for non-compliance of corporate governance provisions
KOLKATA, Nov 29: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) on Saturday said it has received notices from both National Stock Exchange and BSE for non-compliance with several corporate governance provisions under the SEBI listing obligations during the quarter ended September 30, 2025. In a regulatory filing, the defence PSU said the exchanges have flagged violations of Regulations 17(1), 18(1) and 19(1)/19(2) relating to mandatory presence of independent directors, including a woman independent director, and constitution of audit committee and [] The post GRSE receives notice from NSE, BSE for non-compliance of corporate governance provisions appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
ECI directs Kolkata Police to relocate West Bengal CEO office following security breach
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a fresh directive to Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma on Friday night, instructing him to ensure the immediate relocation of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) office to a secure ...
KOLKATA: The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal has directed district magistrates (DMs) across the state to upload details of Waqf properties to the Central Governments Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal. The state minority affairs and madrasa education department has sent the directive to the DMs at a time when some officials in the department felt that the exercise was a time-bound compliance requirement set by the Centre. The Centre has asked states to upload information on all undisputed Waqf properties by 6 December, prompting the state administration to begin the data-entry process immediately, according to officials. The directive sent to DMs lists four primary issues. They have been asked to convene meetings with imams, muezzins (those who give the call to prayer) and madrasa teachers to explain the uploading procedure, one of the officials said. The DMs have been told that only uncontested properties are to be entered in the portal, he added. All districts have been asked to set up facilitation centres wherever technical support is necessary, the official added. Earlier this year, the Central Government amended several provisions of the Waqf Act, 1995. While some of these amendments remain under consideration before the Supreme Court, a senior state government official pointed out that there is no stay on the implementation of the Centres proposed changes. The state is obliged to follow the directive within the given timeframe, he said. Under the amended rules, mutawallis (caretakers of a waqf) of 8,063 Waqf estates in Bengal must register complete property details on the UMEED portal by 6 December, he elaborated. The Bengal governments order to upload details of the states waqf properties onto the UMEED portal has triggered a political controversy, as the state had earlier said it would not implement the amended Waqf Act that came into force in April. Senior BJP leaders in the state held the chief minister responsible for the April communal violence in Samserganj, Murshidabad, which arose from a protest against the amendment. Will Mamata Banerjee apologise to Hindus in Mothabari (Malda) where 68 shops belonging to them were vandalised? Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said on Friday. Haragobinda Das and Chandan Das (father and son slain in Samserganj) were killed because Mamata Banerjee instigated people against the Waqf Amendment Act. Can you compensate those families? he alleged. Bengal is home to around 82,000 waqf properties under nearly 8,000 waqf estates. Suvendu used the issue to appeal to Muslim voters. I want to tell the Muslim community that if you are really against the (amended) Waqf Act, boycott Mamata Banerjee. If you dont, it will be proved that your movement was never against the Waqf Amendment Act, it was against those poor Hindus. The BJP wants to sell off waqf properties to its crony private players like Adani and Ambani. Our stance against the (amended) Waqf Act has not changed, a senior ruling party leader said.
Software updates completed for over half of affected A320 family planes in India: DGCA data
NEW DELHI: As many as 338 A320 family aircraft operated by Indian airlines require the software upgrade to address a potential issue related to flight controls, and modifications have been carried out in more than half of the affected fleet, according to DGCA data. Sources told PTI that there are no flight cancellations, but there are delays in the range of 60-90 minutes for some flights as the software updates are being carried out for the affected planes. On Friday, Airbus said intense solar radiation might corrupt data critical to flight controls in a significant number of A320 family aircraft and that the software changes required to fix the issue would lead to operational disruptions. The software upgrades have been completed for 189 A320 family planes out of the total 338 aircraft, as per the data available with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) till 10 am on November 29. The software upgrades on all the affected planes are to be completed by 5:29 am on November 30. DGCA on Saturday issued an Airworthiness Directive to airlines asking Indian operators to immediately carry out the requisite software upgrades. This followed Airbus issuing an alert to operators globally and European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) coming out with an Emergency Airworthiness Directive regarding the potential issue. IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express operate A320 family planes, which include A320 ceos and neos, A321 ceos and neos. The affected aircraft need software upgrades or hardware realignment. A total of 200 IndiGo planes have been affected, and software upgrades have been completed for 143 of them, while in the case of Air India, 113 aircraft have been impacted and upgrades have been done for 42 of them, the DGCA data showed. In the case of Air India Express, 25 planes have been impacted, and the software upgrades have been completed for 4 of the aircraft, as per the data till 10 am. The software upgrades are being undertaken at the bases of the airlines in Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. In a post on X at 10.13 am, Air India said that following EASA and Airbus directives for a mandatory software and hardware realignment on A320 family aircraft, our engineers have been working round-the-clock to complete the task at the earliest. We have already completed the reset on over 40 per cent of our aircraft that are impacted by this, and are confident of covering the entire fleet within the timeline prescribed by EASA, the airline said. Air India also said there have been no cancellations due to this task, and there is no major impact on schedule integrity across its network. However, some of our flights may be slightly delayed or rescheduled, it added. On Friday, EASA said Airbus asked airline operators to install a serviceable Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC) in the impacted aircraft. Generally, ELAC is for flight controls. Airbus, on Friday, said an analysis of a recent event involving an A320 family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls. Airbus has consequently identified a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in-service which may be impacted, it had said in a release. Airbus had said it acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers.
EC appoints retired bureaucrat Subrata Gupta as 'Special Roll Observer' for SIR in West Bengal
KOLKATA: The Election Commission appointed retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta as the 'Special Roll Observer' for the SIR exercise in West Bengal, an official said. The EC also appointed 12 IAS officers as 'Electoral Roll Observers' to oversee the key aspects of preparation of the electoral rolls following the SIR and help the district election officers (DEOs) and electoral registration officers (EROs) in taking corrective measures, he said. Gupta, a 1990-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, will be overseeing that the process of special intensive revision or SIR was carried out as per the directions of the EC, and ensure that no eligible person is left out of the electoral rolls and no ineligible elector is included in it, the official said on Friday. Meanwhile, Smita Pandey was appointed the Electoral Roll Observer for Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman and Birbhum districts, Tanmay Chakraborty for Murshidabad and Malda, Randhir Kumar for North 24 Parganas and Kolkata Uttar, C Murugan for South 24 Parganas and Kolkata Dakshin, R Arjun for Coochbehar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts, he said. Rajeev Kumar was named the Electoral Roll Observer for Howrah, Neelam Meena for Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram districts, Ashwini Kumar Yadav for Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur, Niranjan Kumar for Darjeeling and Kalimpong, Devi Prasad Karanam for Purulia and Bankura, Rachna Bhagat for Nadia and Vishwanath for Hooghly district, he added.
ISI Kolkata students, staffers stage protest against bill threatening institutes autonomy
KOLKATA, Nov 28: A section of students, faculty members and staffers of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Kolkata held a demonstration near its campus on Friday to protest against a draft bill to change the institutes status from an autonomous society to a statutory body under the central government. Around 1,000 protesters formed a human chain and held a public meeting at the Dunlop More, close to the B T Road campus in north Kolkata, the protesters said. Students, researchers, [] The post ISI Kolkata students, staffers stage protest against bill threatening institutes autonomy appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Juyal, Veer star as UP rout J&K by 109 runs
KOLKATA, Nov 28:Aryan Juyal struck his second successive fifty while Prashant Veer produced an fine all-round effort as Uttar Pradesh outclassed Jammu and Kashmir by 109 runs in their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match here on Friday. This was Uttar Pradeshs second win on the trot as they went to the top of Group B standings with eight points. Fresh from a match-winning 93 not out against Goa, the promising wicketkeeper-batter Juyal was in his elements again, smashing three sixes [] The post Juyal, Veer star as UP rout J&K by 109 runs appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
ECI shifts West Bengal CEO office; AITC team meets CEC
The commission directed the Kolkata police commissioner to ensure security to the existing and the new offices, ECI sources said.
ECI rejects AITCs allegations on SIR as baseless, urges party to avoid misinformation
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday said that during its meeting with an All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) delegation, the full panel gave a point-wise rebuttal to all apprehensions and termed each baseless allegation made by the party as unfounded. A senior ECI official, while speaking to TNIE , said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, also requested the AITC delegation to give claims and objections after December 9, when the draft list is shared with them. Till then, they should not interfere with the independent functioning of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and District Election Officers (DEOs), who are State government employees on deputation to election-related work, the official said. The Commission also told the AITC delegation not to influence or fallethreaten BLOs regarding dead, shifted and duplicate voters, he said. The delegation was informed that only Indian citizens are entitled to vote as per Article 326 of the Constitution of India and that foreigners cannot be allowed to vote. According to the official, the Commission clearly asserted during the meeting that the preparation of electoral rolls, as well as the conduct of elections in India, are carried out strictly as per the Constitution and electoral law, and that the AITC should abide by the same. As the AITC is the ruling party in West Bengal, the official said the delegation was told that it was very strange that the enhanced honorarium approved by ECI has not yet been disbursed by the State government and this should be done without any further delay. While noting that political rhetoric was the partys prerogative, the ECI urged the delegation that its leaders should refrain from spreading misinformation relating to election procedures, the official said. Meanwhile, the ECI has written to the West Bengal Director General of Police and the Kolkata Police Commissioner to ensure that BLOs are not pressurised or threatened by political party workers. The official added that even though the AITC opposed the move, the ECI has directed all DEOs to ensure new polling stations in slums, high-rise buildings and gated residential colonies as is being done across India based on the instructions. Based on recent incidents relating to the breach of security at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, the ECI has issued directions to shift the office to a security-appropriate location and directed the Kolkata Police Commissioner to ensure complete security of the existing as well as the new office of the CEO, the official said.
