MUMBAI, Aug 29 (Reuters) Indias monsoon rains are likely to be prolonged into late September this year due to the development of a low-pressure system in the middle of the month, two weather department officials told Reuters. Above-normal rainfall due to the delayed withdrawal of the monsoon could damage Indias summer-sown crops like rice, cotton, soybean, corn, and pulses, which are typically harvested from mid-September. The crop damage could lead to food inflation, but the rains may also res

New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday slammed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his will not let Miya Muslims take over the state remark, saying his comment was pure communal venom and silence was not the answer to such a statement. Asserting that he would take sides, Sarma on Tuesday said he would not let Miya Muslims take over Assam. Sarma was speaking in the assembly on the admissibility of adjournment motions moved by the opposition parties to discuss the

DHARAMSHALA, August 28, 2024 (AP) The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, returned to the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile in northern India on Wednesday after undergoing a knee replacement surgery in New York. Hundreds of followers in colorful, flowing robes, waving scarves and flowers, cheered the Dalai Lama at the airport and his residence. Several of them beat drums and performed traditional dances. Tibetan and Buddhist flags adorned poles and railings. The Dalai Lama,

OTTAWA, Aug 28 (Reuters) Canadian police have warned an aide to a Sikh leader who was assassinated in British Columbia last year, of an increased threat to his life, a prominent Sikh separatist said on Tuesday. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said police in the province of Ontario, working with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, had issued a so-called duty to warn notice to Inderjeet Singh Gosal this week. Gosal worked as an aide to Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down in Ju

Srinagar, Aug 27 (PTI) National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress was done with the aim of taking on the BJP as a consolidated front, and form a government which will try to address problems of the people. A day after the National Conference and the Congress agreed to contest 51 and 32 seats respectively for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, NC president Farooq Abdullah said in a coalition, the constituents

New Delhi [India], August 27 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to BRS leader K Kavitha in the excise policy irregularities cases being probed by the CBI and the ED. A bench of justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan directed to release K Kavitha immediately. The top court also imposed various conditions against Kavitha including not to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses in the matter. The top court directed her to furnish a bail bond of Rs 10 lakh each in both CBI and ED cas

New Delhi, August 27, 2024: Experts warn of an unusual symptom of high blood pressure that concerned patients may want to get checked out if they are experiencing it. Both the NHS and the British Heath Foundation (BHF) said nosebleeds is among a number of symptoms that could indicate high blood pressure. The charity also said blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness and headaches can be a sign. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is known as a silent killer because

New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has upheld the reinstatement of former additional director general of police of Chhattisgarh Gurjinder Pal Singh, who was compulsorily retired by authorities following FIRs against him for alleged corruption, extortion and sedition. A bench headed by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait dismissed a challenge by the Centre against the order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on a plea moved by the 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, w

New Delhi, Aug 24: Union Cabinet on Saturday approved an assured 50 per cent of salary as pension for 23 lakh government employees who joined service under the National Pension System (NPS). The National Pension System is applicable for government employees joining the service after April 1, 2004. It was based on the premise of contribution rather than defined benefit applicable for employees prior to the NPS. Announcing Cabinet decisions, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw s

Chennai, Aug 24 (PTI) Amazon India on Saturday announced an up to 12 per cent reduction in selling fees across multiple product categories on the marketplace ahead of the festive season. The reductions in fees, which is effective from September 9, will enable sellers to expand their product portfolio on the platform besides providing a boost to growth, Amazon India said. With the changes, sellers on Amazon India will benefit from a drop in selling fees, ranging from 3-12 per cent, across various

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 24 (ANI): Aspirants arrived on Saturday at exam centres in Uttar Pradesh amid tight security for the police constable recruitment exam 2024 being held for over 60,000 vacancies. Candidates were seen standing in long queues outside the exam centres in Moradabad and Kanpur, where the exam is being held. The Uttar Pradesh Police Constable Recruitment Exam 2024 is being held on August 23, 24, 25, 30, and 31 at 67 exam centres across the state. It will be conduc

Chennai, Aug 23 (PTI) Women police in the state force will be entitled to one years maternity leave, and upon resuming work they will be posted at a place of their choice for a three-year period to nurture their children, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Friday. It may be recalled that after capturing power in 2021, the DMK government enhanced the period of maternity leave for its employees from nine months to one year. Women police will be given one-year maternity leave and after re

MUMBAI, Aug 23 (Reuters) Headline inflation impacts Indians directly and should be retained as the target for monetary policy rather than switching to core inflation, external members of the RBIs rate panel told Reuters. A suggestion was made in the governments official annual economic report last month to target inflation excluding volatile food prices, which are driven more by supply shortages. The idea has ignited a debate in India over the appropriate target for monetary policy. India adopt

Dhaka, Aug 23 (PTI) A top BNP leader here said Bangladeshis are not angry but hurt over deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasinas stay in India, even as he urged politicians and security strategists in New Delhi to rethink their policy given the ground reality here. In an exclusive interview with PTI at his residence in Dhaka, Abdul Moyeen Khan, a former Cabinet minister of Bangladesh, also said his country shares a border with India on three sides and it is a big neighbour, so there is no reason wh

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 23 (ANI): The Uttar Pradesh Police Constable Recruitment Exam 2024 commenced on Friday amid tight security arrangements. The examination will be conducted over five days from August 23 to 31 across the state. The examination will be conducted in two shifts each day. Uttar Pradesh Police have made extensive security and support measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the police recruitment examination. DIG Moradabad Range, Muniraj G. said, There are a tota

New Delhi, Aug 22: Not getting enough sleep isnt just about feeling groggy experts warn that a shoddy sleep pattern can wreak havoc on your health, hit your daytime energy and mental sharpness and leave you in a foul mood. But fear not, theres a fruity fix for those desperate for some decent sleep. The sleep experts have dished out the lowdown on why munching on kiwi fruit might just be the ticket to a blissful nights rest, promising a brighter morning after. They revealed: Kiwi fruit has been

MUMBAI, Aug 22 (Reuters) Rising food prices have prevented Indias headline inflation from hitting the central banks 4% target, requiring the monetary policy committee (MPC) to stick to its restrictive stance, minutes of the Reserve Bank of Indias August meeting showed. Persistent food inflation is imparting stickiness to headline inflation, Governor Shaktikanta Das said in the minutes released on Thursday. Durable alignment of inflation to the target of 4% is still some distance away. Indias re

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) More than 1,000 Congress (opposition party) supporters demonstrated in New Delhi, Mumbai and other state capitals on Thursday, demanding a probe into the market regulator chiefs alleged conflict of interest in investigating the Adani Group. The regulator is investigating allegations by U.S.-based short-seller Hindenburg Research, made in 2023, that the Adani Group used tax havens to sidestep local market regulations. In a report earlier this month, Hindenburg alleged

Pune, Aug 22 (PTI) NCP (SP) Chief Sharad Pawar has sided with the candidates agitating in Pune demanding postponement of the MPSC prelims exam, scheduled for August 25, warning that he would join the protest if the government doesnt clarify its stand. Many job-seekers, preparing for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) preliminary exam, have been protesting since Tuesday night demanding a different date as it clashes with a banking exam on the same day. NCP (SP) legislator Rohit Pawa

CHICAGO, Aug 22 (Reuters) Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz led fellow Democrats in a political pep rally on Wednesday night, vowing that he and presidential running mate Kamala Harris would triumph over Republican Donald Trump in Novembers U.S. election. The Minnesota governor, who was little known in America 15 days ago, acknowledged he had never given such a big speech but said that as a former high school football coach, I have given a lot of pep talks. The crowd responded with chants of

New Delhi, Aug 22 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday suggested that the government can collect caste-wise data of the OBC population in the next Census by just adding an extra column as every such exercise since 1951 has been collecting data on the population of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The opposition party said such a move will give more solid foundation to affirmative action programmes. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X a report in The Hind

HYDERABAD, Aug 22 (Reuters) Indias southern state of Andhra Pradesh wrapped up rescue efforts on Thursday at a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant where an explosion the previous day killed 17 people and injured nearly 40, a senior state official said. The states worst such incident in recent years, Wednesdays blast took place at the 40-acre (16-hectare) unit of privately held Escientia Advanced Sciences in the Anakapalli district. Nearly 40 people were injured and rescue operations had been com

Srinagar, Aug 21 (PTI) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the partys preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in the Union Territory and explore a likely alliance with the National Conference. The two leaders are visiting the UT for key meetings in connection with the three-phased assembly elections beginning September 18, a senior Congress leade

HYDERABAD, India, Aug 21 (Reuters) At least seven people were killed and more than 30 injured in an explosion on Wednesday at a pharmaceuticals manufacturing plant in southern Indias Andhra Pradesh state, a district government official said. The fire broke out in the afternoon at privately held Escientia Advanced Sciences 40-acre manufacturing unit that was operational since 2019 in the states Anakapalli district, according to district collector Vijaya Krishnan. The injured have been shifted to

New Delhi, Aug 21 (CNN) Worried about your type 2 diabetes risk? You might want to look at the kinds of meat you are eating, according to a new study. Regularly eating red and processed meats in particular is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, according to an analysis of data from 31 study cohorts published Tuesday in the journal The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. The study is the most comprehensive to date showing the link between processed meat and unprocessed red meat with t

NEW DELHI, Aug 21 (Reuters) India is likely to begin conducting a long-delayed population census in September, two government sources said, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks to plug important data gaps in his third term after years of criticism. Indias once-a-decade census was due to be completed in 2021 but was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will take about 18 months to complete the new survey after it begins next month, two government sources directly involved in the matter

NEW DELHI, Aug 21 (Reuters) India will spend nearly $300 million in two years to expand water bodies like lakes and build drains in seven cities including Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru to mitigate floods and conserve water, a government official told Reuters on Wednesday. Flooding, often fatal, is common in Indian cities every monsoon as rapid urbanisation devours city lakes and waste clogs drains. Such flooding has been preceded by severe water shortages in recent years, especially in Delhi an

Pune, Aug 21 (PTI) NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule on Wednesday targeted the Maharashtra government over the Badlapur sexual abuse case and demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a protest organised to condemn the Badlapur incident, she accused the Eknath Shinde-led dispensation of not being serious about the issue of womens safety, and alleged that while the government was busy breaking parties, i

New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) With the Centre withdrawing the latest advertisement for lateral entry in bureaucracy, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the Congress will protect the Constitution and the reservation system at all costs and foil conspiracies of the BJP. His remarks came after Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh wrote to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Chairman Preeti Sudan and asked her to cancel the advertisement so that marginali

MUMBAI, Aug 20 (Reuters) Indian banks need to carefully monitor the gap between credit and deposit growth to avoid a potential structural liquidity issue, the governor of the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) said on Tuesday. Young Indians are aspirational. They get attracted to different markets. There is nothing wrong in it, its a natural process and a positive development, Shaktikanta Das told local television channel NDTV Profit in an interview. We are cautioning banks to monitor this situation c

NEW DELHI, Aug 20 (Reuters) Indias Supreme Court ordered on Tuesday the setting up of a national task force of doctors to make recommendations on safety at their workplace, days after the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor sparked nationwide protests. The court also asked the federal police to submit a report on Thursday on the status of its investigation into the Aug. 9 murder of the trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata. Doctors across the country

MUMBAI, Aug 20 (Reuters) The Indian rupee rose slightly on Tuesday but continued to underperform its Asian peers which have rallied to multi-month highs in anticipation of a U.S. rate cut next month. The rupee is the worst performing Asian currency so far this month, down 0.2% against the dollar, while its peers have risen as much as 4%. On Tuesday, the rupee was at 83.83 as of 10:45 a.m. IST, up slightly from its close at 83.87 in the previous session. The Indian currency had slipped to a reco

New Delhi [India], August 20 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday paid tribute to his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary and emphasised that hell fulfil Rajiv Gandhis dreams for India taking his memories with him. A compassionate personality, an epitome of camaraderie and goodwill Papa, your teachings are my inspiration, and your dreams for India are my own I will fulfil them, taking your memories with me, the Congress leader posted on X. , ,

Chicago, Aug 20 (PTI) In a show of extraordinary solidarity, leaders of the top workers union of the US have backed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency by highlighting the support their groups have enjoyed during the Biden-Harris administration. Union leaders from across the nation took the stage at the Democratic National Convention here in Chicago on Monday to share a unified message: Workers have Vice President Harris back because shes had theirs. Harris, 59, is scheduled to forma

New Delhi, Aug 11 (PTI) Adani Group on Sunday termed US short-seller Hindenburg Researchs latest allegations as malicious and manipulative of select public information, saying it has no commercial relationship with SEBI chairperson or her husband. The latest allegations by Hindenburg are malicious, mischievous and manipulative selections of publicly available information to arrive at pre-determined conclusions for personal profiteering with wanton disregard for facts and the law. We completely

MUMBAI, Aug 11 (Reuters) MUMBAI, Aug 10 (Reuters) U.S. based short-seller Hindenburg Research in a new report released on Saturday alleged that the chairperson of Indias market regulator Madhabi Puri Buch previously held investments in certain offshore funds that were also used by Adani Group. In a late night press statement, Buch denied these allegations and called them baseless, adding that a detailed statement would be issued later. Hindenburgs report sparked fresh criticism from Indias opp

On Friday, August 9, 2024, the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi, India, issued a warrant for the release of Manish Sisodia from Tihar Jail. Sisodia, a prominent member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), had been granted bail by the Supreme Court in connection with the Delhi Excise policy cases brought by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He had been in custody for approximately 17 months. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja accepted the bail bond and surety bonds

New Delhi, Aug 5 (Reuters): Bangladeshs former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina landed in Indias northeastern city of Agartala on Monday after fleeing Dhaka, broadcaster CNN-News18 reported. India is set to offer a safe passage to Hasina, the report said, citing intelligence sources.

NEW DELHI, July 31 (Reuters) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, smarting from setbacks in the April-June general election, is now being berated for last weeks budget by the countrys swing voters, the middle class, putting his party on the defensive ahead of polls in three states and a federal territory. The budget raised taxes on gains from retail investments in financial markets, left income tax rates untouched despite talk there would be relief and removed some real estate tax benefits, lea

New Delhi [India], July 24 (ANI): Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday met with a 12-member delegation of farmer leaders from different states, who apprised him of various issues they have been facing. After the meeting held at his office in Parliament House Complex, Gandhi emphasized the Congress partys commitment to providing a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) in their manifesto. He stated that an assessment has shown that the legal guarantee of MSP can be implemen

A major step in this regard to help pensioners financially the Indian government has moved a proposal of raising the tax deduction of family pension from 15,000 to 25,000. Budget speech of the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the Union Budget 2024-25 had this announcement. An Insight into Family Pension and Why it Matters Since family pensions created a life-time revenue for the families of the deceased government employees and pensioners, they are very important. These pensions are criti

New Delhi, July 23 (Reuters) Indias finance minister unveiled $576 billion in spending plans in the current fiscal year on Tuesday,marginally higher than interim budget estimates, aiming to boost manufacturing and jobs in the worlds fastest growing major economy. The government will spend 2.66 trillion rupees ($32 billion) on rural development, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, while unveiling new programmes in the annual budget for states led by two key allies who shore up Prime Minist

New Delhi [India], July 22 (ANI): As the BJPs key ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), JD (U) demanded a special category status for Bihar, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, in a written reply, said that special status cannot be granted to Bihar as per the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) report 2012. Chaudhary in a written reply to the question of JDU MP Ramprit Mandal informed Lok Sabha, The Special Category Status for plan assistance was granted in the past by the Nation

New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) The Congress on Monday slammed the Centre over its order removing the ban on the participation of government employees in RSS activities, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to politicise employees on an ideological basis. The attack by the Congress, which also said that the move would be a challenge to the sense of neutrality of public servants, came after a government order became public about the ban being lifted and several opposition leaders criticised i

New Delhi, July 18 (Reuters): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek to mend his relationship with voters in the federal budget to be announced next week, economic analysts said, citing possible steps to boost jobs and incomes as growth in the economy remains uneven and food prices continue to surge. Modis party fell short of reaching the half-way mark in the general election that concluded last month as jobs and the high cost of living overshadowed his high voltage Hindu nationalist camp

New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Pune initiated an inquiry on Wednesday against Dilip Khedkar, the father of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, regarding unaccounted wealth. After issues surrounding Puja Khedkar surfaced, the complainant, who had approached the Pune Anti-Corruption Bureau a few months ago to report Dilip Khedkar, again contacted the bureau to request action against the former Director of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). The

New Delhi [India] July 14 (ANI): Delhi University (DU) has no plans to hold separate PhD entrance exams like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh on Sunday stated. The DU Vice-Chancellor added that the university is awaiting guidance from the University Grants Commission (UGC). The uncertainty surrounding PhD admissions arose after the Centre cancelled the UGC NET exam, which had been crucial for entry into PhD programs. The UGC NET exam, conducted by the National Test

BUTLER, Pennsylvania, July 13 (Reuters): Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a Saturday campaign rally, in an attack that left the Republican presidential candidates face streaked with blood and prompted his security agents to swarm him, before he emerged and pumped his fist in the air, mouthing the words Fight! Fight! Fight! The shooter was dead, one rally attendee was killed and two other spectators were injured, the Secret Service said in a statement. The incident was being investigated a

Shimla, Jul 13 (PTI) Congress candidates, including Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhus wife, are in the lead in all three assembly constituencies in the state where bypolls were held earlier this week, officials said on Saturday. The counting of votes for the by-elections in Dehra, Hamirpur and Nalagarh, held on Wednesday, began at 8 am. Sukhus wife Kamlesh Thakur was leading by 1,815 votes against her nearest rival and BJP candidate Hoshiyar Singh in the Dehra assembly seat

Chandigarh, July 13 (PTI) |AAPs Jalandhar West assembly bypoll candidate Mohinder Bhagat appears to be heading for a victory from the seat in Punjab as he was leading by more than 23,000 votes against his nearest rival and Congress nominee Surinder Kaur, officials said on Saturday. Bhagat, a leader of the ruling party in Punjab, was ahead by 23,240 votes after eight rounds of counting of votes that began at 8 am at the Lyallpur Khalsa College for Women here. There will be a total of 13 rounds of