NEW DELHI: The joint parliamentary committee scrutinising the Waqf bill has become a ubber stamp for the government as it has adopted all amendments proposed by ruling members and negated those by opposition MPs, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said on Monday. The Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha also alleged the rejection of opposition members' proposals shows that the parliament committees are being bulldozed. A joint parliamentary committee where all amendments made by the MPs of the ruling

Speaking at the ThinkEdu Conclave 2025, presented by Sastra University, Prof Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), reiterated the need for a single national level entrance examination to inspire public confidence in its objectivity and transparency. Prof Jagadesh Kumar made this observation in the context of the multitude of examinations in India, such as the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Graduate Aptitude

Noting thatthe issue of snakebites was prevalent 'throughout the country', the Supreme Court on Monday, in its order asked the Centre to take all states on board to 'do something' in making available snakebite treatment in medical facilities. The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to 'do something' to make snakebite treatment available in medical facilities across the country. A two-judge bench of the SC consisting of Justice B R Gavai and Justice S V N Bhatti was hearing a public inter

CHENNAI: The Congress must focus on the narrative of politics of aspiration to appeal to the youth and middle class, said Praveen Chakravarty, Chairman of the party's Professionals Wing and Data Analytics. Speaking at the 13th edition of the ThinkEdu Conclave on Monday, Chakravarty interacted with Santwana Bhattacharya, Editor of The New Indian Express on the topic Looking Forward: Future of the Congress, discussing the partys 140-year legacy, need for structural reforms, electoral performance a

CHANDIGARH: A youth vandalized the statue of BR Ambedkar, located on Heritage Street, a few metres from Kotwali police station, on Sunday triggering a political slugfest in the state. Soon after the incident, people belonging to the Dalit community assembled on the spot and protested raising slogans against the police for failing to avert the incident. Deputy Commissioner of Police Jagjit Singh Walia and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh reached the spot and tried to pacif

CHANDIGARH: The Counter Intelligence Unit of Punjab Police in Amritsar arrested six members of the Kaushal Chaudhary Gang. The gang which is active in Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, includes two key shooters Puneet Lakhanpal and Narinder Kumar alias Lalli, who were involved in the murders of Kabaddi player Sandeep Singh Nangal Ambian and Sukhmeet Singh alias Deputy. A possible target killing was averted after the incident and six foreign-made pistols and 40 rounds of ammunition were recovered. Dire

The Supreme Court on Monday in its order appointed former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, Justice Jai Shree Thakur as an independent observer for this year's Chandigarh mayoral elections, keeping in view the last year's polls which saw tampering of ballot papers. Last year's mayoral elections, held in January 2024, was witnessed with serious allegations of tampering of ballot papers, forcing the SC to interfere and subsequently cancel the election of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candida

CHENNAI: Though the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has no official stance on a two-language or three-language policy, it is of the view that modern times necessitate learning at least three languages: ones mother tongue, a regional language, and a career language, said Mukunda CR, RSS Joint General Secretary here on Monday. In conversation with Ravi Shankar, Consulting Editor of The Sunday Standard , on the topic The Culture Project: Values for the Viksit Bharatiya, during the 13th ThinkEdu C

NEW DELHI: A firebrand nun accused of helping incite a mob that demolished a centuries-old mosque has been granted a top Indian government award, in a decision greeted with dismay by critics. Sadhvi Ritambhara once faced criminal charges for facilitating the destruction of the medieval-era Babri Masjid in 1992, which sparked religious riots that killed 2,000 people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a sprawling temple last year built on the ground where the mosque once stood, a reflection

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear after three weeks the pleas, including a contempt petition against the Gujarat authorities for allegedly demolishing residential and religious structures in Gir Somnath district, without its prior nod. When the matter came up before a bench of Justices B R Gavai and S V N Bhatti, it said the matter would be heard on a non-miscellaneous day, after three weeks. One of the lawyers appearing in the matter said they filed an application for pe

KOLKATA: Mumbai Police on Monday conducted a search operation in West Bengal's Nadia district and arrested a woman in connection with the attack on Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan, a source said. Investigation revealed that the SIM used by the Bangladeshi national , who was arrested earlier in Mumbai for the attack, was registered in the name of the woman, he said. A two-member team of Mumbai Police arrived in West Bengal on Sunday. A woman was arrested by Mumbai Police from Chapra in Nadia di

CHENNAI: As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform human-machine interactions, Shekar Nair, Co-Founder of Upekkha, an AI-focused startup accelerator, emphasised that while AI may not eliminate all jobs, it will fundamentally reshape roles by replacing individuals who fail to adapt and integrate AI into their work. Speaking at a session titled Is AI Real? Hype, Hope, and the Future of Intelligence at the ThinkEdu Conclave 2025 on January, 27, 2025, Nair shared his belief that humans

RANCHI: In a major relief to senior IAS Pooja Singhal, a PIL seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the MGNREGA Scam was closed by the Jharkhand High Court on Monday. Singhal, who was in jail for the last 28 months in a money laundering case linked to the MGNREGA scam, was granted bail by a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court in Ranchi in December last year. The PIL was filed by Arun Kumar Dubey. While hearing the PI

MHOW: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the BJP and RSS of insulting B R Ambedkar and the Constitution framed by him, and urged the party workers to protect it from those in power. Addressing the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan rally here, Gandhi also announced that the Congress will get a nationwide caste census conducted soon after assuming power at the Centre, while alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never get it done as he is scared of holdin

AHMEDABAD: In a significant development in Gujarat's political landscape, preparations are intensifying for the upcoming elections across 66 nagarpalikas, one municipal corporation, and three taluka panchayats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken proactive steps by scheduling a crucial state parliamentary board meeting on January 29 and 30 at Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's residence, aimed at finalizing their candidate list. The party has already mobilized its district leadership for th

PATNA: Taking a jibe at Prime minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Bihar next month, main opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) said on Monday that PM Modi will once again befool people of the state by making hollow promises as assembly elections are due later this year. Leader of opposition in the Bihar assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said that PM Modi and his cabinet colleagues will make a beeline as assembly elections are approaching. Every day, someone from the centre will visit the sta

NEW DELHI: The Joint Parliamentary Committee scrutinising the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Monday adopted all amendments proposed by the ruling BJP-led NDA members and negated every change moved by opposition members. The committee chairman Jagdambika Pal told reporters after the meeting that amendments adopted by the committee will make the law better and more effective. However, opposition MPs decried the meeting's proceedings and accused Pal of subverting the democratic process. It was a farcical

RAIPUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 46-year-old Jeevardhan Chauhan, a tea-seller by occupation, as its candidate for the reserved Scheduled Caste (SC) mayoral seat in the upcoming elections for Raigarh Municipal Corporation in Chhattisgarh. The decision is believed to be a strategic move, leveraging the popular Chaiwala narrative associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who once sold tea at a railway station in Vadnagar. Chauhan, a senior party worker with 29 years of exper

MAHAKUMBH NAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday expressed his anticipation of participating in the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela here, by taking a dip at the Sangam and seeking blessings from saints. In a post in Hindi on X, Shah said, 'Mahakumbh' is a unique symbol of the continuous flow of Sanatan culture. The Kumbh showcases the life philosophy of Sanatan Dharma, which is rooted in harmony. #__ - Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 27, 2025 I am eager

RANCHI: A woman died and six others were injured after the roof of the house collapsed in an explosion at Sheetalpur in Giridihearly in the wee hours on Monday. The deceased has been identified as Bednati Devi. The injured include Umesh Das, his wife Sabita Devi, their sons Sandeep and Sunny, daughter Lakshmi, and father-in-law. According to local resident Sunil Paswan, the blast was so intense that the walls of the house were damaged, and the roof was blown into the air. Paswan speculated that

RANCHI: A woman died and six others were injured after the roof of the house collapsed in an explosion at Sheetalpur in Giridihearly in the wee hours on Monday. The deceased has been identified as Bednati Devi. The injured include Umesh Das, his wife Sabita Devi, their sons Sandeep and Sunny, daughter Lakshmi, and father-in-law. According to local resident Sunil Paswan, the blast was so intense that the walls of the house were damaged, and the roof was blown into the air. Paswan speculated that

CHENNAI: Congress MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor on Monday rued the decline in the quality of debate and proceedings in the Indian Parliament. In a conversation with senior journalist Kaveree Bamzai about India's Parliamentary proceedings at the ThinkEdu Conclave in Chennai, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said that the BJP-led NDA government gives a sense that the opposition's views don't matter. Tharoor added that there was a complete breakdown of trust and communication between the gov

CHENNAI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is not a toothless tiger. It has powers equivalent to those of a civil court, NHRC chairperson V Ramasubramanian said on Monday. He was replying to a question during the inaugural session of the 13th edition of the ThinkEdu conclave 2025 when he said, We have the power to summon and enforce the attendance of witnesses. We have the power to record evidence if somebody does not turn up, we can follow the same steps as a civil court can enforce a

Immigration enforcement officials from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) visited gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey on Sunday to check for the presence of illegal immigrants, drawing a sharp reaction from some Sikh organisations which see such actions as a threat to the sanctity of their faith. This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliensincluding murders and rapistswho have illegally come into our country, a D

GUWAHATI : Security forces and police recovered 35 weapons, along with ammunition and war-like stores, during a series of joint operations carried out over the past week in both the hill and valley regions of ethnic violence-hit Manipur. The Army, in coordination with Assam Rifles and the police, recovered one modified sniper rifle, five 9 mm pistols, two single-barrel rifles, grenades, ammunition, and war-like stores during an operation in Lungkhongjang Ridge in Bishnupur district on January 19

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has postponed his ongoing Pragati Yatra due to ill health. Scheduled to visit Purnea on January 27 as part of the third phase of his yatra, the CM is reportedly suffering from seasonal fever and is expected to recover after rest. A letter issued by the CM secretariat on January 27 stated that he would resume the yatra on January 28. Nitish Kumar launched the Pragati Yatra from Bagaha in West Champaran district on December 22. During this statewide initia

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday condemned the attempt to damage a statue of B R Ambedkar in Amritsar, and said strict action will be taken in the matter. Police on Sunday arrested a man hailing from Moga district of Punjab, who allegedly attempted to damage the statue of Ambedkar at the Town Hall on Heritage Street that leads to the Golden Temple. The Amritsar Police Commissionerate arrested the accused after registering an FIR. Mann, in a post on X, said the incident i

BIJAPUR: Naxalites have killed a 41-year-old man in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, claiming he was leaking information about the outlawed movement, police said on Monday. As per preliminary information, unidentified Naxalites attacked Bhadru Sodhi, a resident of Keshamundi village under Bhairamgarh police station limits, with an axe at his house on Sunday evening following which he died on the spot, a police official here said. After being alerted, a police team rushed to the spot on Monday mo

DEHRADUN: Haridwar witnessed a dramatic escalation of political tensions on Saturday following the local body election results, as former BJP MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh 'Champion' allegedly attacked the residence of Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar. The incident underscores the intense rivalries often ignited by electoral outcomes. According to witnesses and video footage, 'Champion' arrived at the scene with his supporters, and the situation quickly spiralled out of control, prompting police intervention.

The Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in Uttarakhand on January 27, making it the first state in independent India to put into effect such a law, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said. All necessary preparations for the UCC's implementation have been completed, including the approval of its rules and the training of relevant officials. Dhami emphasised that the UCC will promote societal uniformity, ensuring equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens. He described the law's impleme

PUNE: A man suspected to have contracted Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) has died in Maharashtra's Solapur district, while the number of cases of the immunological nerve disorder in Pune has crossed 100, health officials said on Monday. This is possibly the first death in Maharashtra suspected to have been caused by the GBS. The man, native of Solapur, had come to Pune, where he is suspected to have contracted the disease. He died in Solapur, an official said without giving more details. The total

NEW DELHI : Members of the parliamentary panel on the Waqf Amendment Bill have suggested 572 amendments to the draft legislation that has the government and the opposition at loggerheads. The consolidated list of amendments was circulated by the Joint Committee on Waqf Amendment Bill, chaired by BJP leader Jagdambika Pal, late Sunday as the panel's hearing entered the last lap. The Committee will discuss the clause-by-clause amendments at its meeting on Monday. Members of the BJP and those from

DEHRADUN: In a tragic incident, several houses in Sawani village of Mori block in Uttarkashi district were engulfed in flames on Sunday night. The district administration, along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and fire services, promptly arrived at the scene to provide relief and control the fire. Initial reports suggested that 8 to 10 houses were affected; however, updated information indicates that the blaze has impacted 25 families. Tragically, the fire claimed the life

DEHRADUN: The BJP has emerged victorious in 10 out of 11 municipal corporations in Uttarakhands local body elections. CM Pushkar Singh Dhamis strategy of accelerating development with a triple-engine approach has proven effective in swaying voters, analysts say. The BJP has retained the mayoral seat in the Dehradun Municipal Corporation for the fourth consecutive time. However, the party faced setbacks in the constituencies represented by three cabinet ministers: Satpal Maharaj, Dhan Singh Rawat

SRINAGAR: In a major breakthrough, the doctors at GMC Rajouri have administered atropine to treat 11 patients who fell ill from a mysterious illness in Badhal village of J&Ks Rajouri. This treatment has proven to be a game-changer, resulting in significant recovery among the patients. No fresh case has been reported from the affected village in the past three days, suggesting that the situation may finally be under control. Principal, GMC Rajouri, Dr Amarjeet Singh Bhatia told this newspaper tha

RANCHI: For the past 25 years, only members of underprivileged sections of society have had the opportunity to unfurl the flag at Patel Chowk in Jamtara. This tradition continued this year, as Vandana Devi, a local municipality sweeper, had the honour of hoisting the flag in front of the community. Describing it as the best moment of her life, Vandana Devi said, It was an honour for a sweeper like me to unfurl the flag before the people I serve. I never thought I would get this chance. As per Re

Tea garden hosps to turn Ayushman Arogya Mandirs The Assam government has signed an MoU with tea garden managements to upgrade 354 tea garden hospitals to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to provide quality healthcare to tea estate workers and their families. Earlier, 4,947 health centres in the state were upgraded. Ashok Singhal, the states health minister, said issues like anemia, malnutrition, high maternal and neonatal mortality, hypertension, and diabetes are prevalent in these areas. Additionally,

GUWAHATI: Braving a boycott call given by some militant groups, people in the Northeast on Sunday went out in large numbers to celebrate the 76th Republic Day. A loud explosion heard at a truck parking lot in Beharbari area on the outskirts of Guwahati, and an unattended bag found lying at the inter-state bus terminal nearby, triggered panic among people. However, reports of no untoward incidents were received. The police dismissed the reports of blast. There was a loud sound but no explosion. W

SRINAGAR: The Omar Abdullah government on Sunday demanded the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that special status is a legitimate right of the people and that if other states can have this status, why not J&K? The real power in a democracy lies in the voice of the masses, and our constitution guarantees that every citizen has the right to raise voice for his rights, Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary said in his Republic Day address at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar. The downgradi

NEW DELHI: Concerned over a large quantity of sewage sludge being generated every day, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has prepared a detailed advisory for its safe disposal and reusing and to promote off-take of treated sewage slush. The advisory contains details of design and cost of solar greenhouse dryer, which is used to enhance the quality of the bio-solids from the processed slurry extracted during treatment of wastewater and faecal sludge. The officials said that the ai

NEW DELHI : Expressing disapproval for marriage does not amount to abetment of suicide under section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Supreme Court stated in a recent order. A two-judge bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma made the observation while quashing a chargesheet against a woman who was accused of abetting the suicide of another woman allegedly in love with her son. We find that the acts of the appellant are too remote and indirect to constitute the offence

NEW DELHI: The Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path turned special for a small rural town startup from Darjeeling that brought innovation to its tea legacy. The company that merchandises non-alcoholic beverages; unpasteurised kombucha and sparkling tea, is among 40 such establishments that were invited as special guest for Republic Day parade by the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT). The startup, Syangbos Living Food and Beverages Pvt Ltd, was founded by Ashis

Rahul upset with Delhi Congress leadership over padyatra strategy Though Congress star campaigner Rahul Gandhis no-show at the scheduled rallies has been attributed to his poor health, he is also reportedly miffed with his Delhi party units unpreparedness for the February 5 polls. According to sources, the Congress idea to hold padayatras by Rahul as well as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit the roadblock because of the lack of planning by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee. Sources said that Rahul wa

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose a red and yellow striped pagdi or safa for his Republic-Day look on Sunday, pairing it with a brown bandhgala jacket and pocket square. Modis selection of pagadi for both Republic Day and the Independence Day continues to stand out as a symbol of Indias vibrant traditions and cultural diversity, resonating with the message of unity and pride in the nations heritage. Flamboyant and colourful turbans have been a regular feature in the prime ministers I

NEW DELHI: Over 5,000 folk and tribal artists performed 45 dance forms from different parts of the country during the 76th Republic Day on Sunday, with the performers covering the entire Kartavya Path, for the first time, to ensure that all guests get the same viewing experience. The 11-minute cultural performance, titled Jayati Jai Mamah Bharatam, was recognised by the Guinness World Records for The Largest Indian Folk Variety Dance. Guinness officials announced this during a special ceremony h

NEW DELHI: Diversity is natural and differences should be respected, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday. Addressing a gathering after unfurling the national flag at the Republic Day celebration at a college at Bhiwandi in Maharashtras Thane district, Bhagwat emphasised the need to ensure equal opportunities for all to thrive in society. No one should be suppressed, and everyone should get an opportunity to grow. Cohesion is the key to living in harmony, he said.

NEW DELHI: The 76th Republic Day celebrations appeared to take a unique approach, with spiritual and cultural aspects displayed with the same vigour as economic and military might. The eclectic parade on Kartavya Path came alive shortly after the national flag was unfurled in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu. This was followed by a tableaux showcasing 45 dance forms from states. From the Laxminarayan Temple in Karnataka to the Mahakumbh in UP, each states tableau displayed a rich cultura

DEHRADUN: The rivalry between former BJP MLA from Laksar Kunwar Pranav Singh 'Champion' and Independent MLA from Khanpur Umesh Kumar took a violent turn on Sunday when both of them allegedly attacked each other's offices along with dozens of their supporters following the announcement of local body election results in Uttarakhand. On Sunday evening, Champion created a ruckus at Kumar's Roorkee office along with his supporters and fired several rounds in the air. As soon as Kumar learned about Ch

BHUBANESWAR: Unidentified miscreants stole cash, gold ornaments and other valuables worth at least Rs 30 lakh from former Odisha Congress president and senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik's house in posh VIP Colony area within Nayapalli police limits here late Saturday night. The burglary took place amid heightened security in the state capital for 76th Republic Day celebrations. In the CCTV footage of Patnaik's house, a man can be seen taking the stairs to reach the first floor after breaki

JAIPUR: Rajasthan is grappling with a serious snakebite crisis, as the medicines available in state hospitals are proving ineffective in neutralizing the venom of desert snakes. According to recent research, more than half of the snakebite cases in the state are caused by the highly venomous Saw Scaled Viper (Echis carinatus sochureki), locally known as the Peevana snake. A study conducted on 210 patients of snake-bitten cases, revealed that 105 of these cases had E.c. sochureki envenoming. The