Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha JP Nadda on Thursday accused the Opposition of spreading a fake narrative against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Participating in a debate on the bill in the RS, Nadda accused the Congress of making Muslim women second-grade citizens during its rule at the Centre. He said the Narendra Modi government brought Muslim women into the mainstream by banning the practice of triple talaq. Drawing a comparison, Nadda said the current government formed a 31-member JPC wh

RANCHI: The Jharkhand government has decided to make the teaching of tribal and regional languages mandatory in government schools across the state, along the lines of the West Bengal model. Steps are being taken so that it could be brought into practice promptly. The move is reportedly aimed at helping students understand their culture and traditions better. Replying to a resolution proposed by Congress MLA Naman Bixal Kongari seeking the appointment of teachers for teaching tribal languages in

Maha Kumbh now a case study for the ages Though it has been more than a month since the Maha Kumbh mela concluded, it continues to be the talk of the town. As many as 26 research institutes and universities deputed to study the historic congregation this year recently made presentations before officials of the UP government. Premier institutions from across the world are drawing lessons on management from the success of the mela. A case study on food and beverage management during the grand affa

India has reaffirmed its support for a diverse energy mix, including fossil fuels, hydrogen, nuclear, and renewable energy, to achieve climate goals at the 11th BRICS Environment Ministers Meeting. During the meeting, India raised concerns about the financial support proposed by developed nations, stating that it is not enough to help developing countries meet their climate goals. India pointed out that under the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQGCF), developing nations need

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday saw strong protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill , 2025, which was introduced by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. Members of the INDIA bloc, including Congress, TMC, DMK, AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, RJD, and Left parties, opposed the Bill. They called it 'unconstitutional' and said it was aimed at taking away the rights of Muslims over Waqf properties. Leader of the House and BJP leader J P Nadda defended the Bill, saying it was

MADURAI: Terming the Waqf legislation as an assault on the Constitution, senior CPM leader Brinda Karat said the CPM will use every possible forum to fight it. While addressing the presspersons at the party congress here, the CPM leader said, The BJP is using it as a bulldozer against Islam bees and snatching away their constitutional rights. The CPM will use every forum to fight it. The party will strongly oppose the legislation. If there were any issues about the functioning of the Waqf boards

BHOPAL: A pall of gloom unfolded at Nemawar Ghat in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday as 18 funeral pyres were lit for the villagers who died in a firecracker factory explosion in Gujarat on Tuesday. The deceased belonged to three villages in two neighboring districts. Out of the 18 people whose last rites were performed on the banks of the Narmada River, nine were from Sandalpur village in Dewas, eight from Handiya village in Harda district, and one from Hatpipliya in Dewas. The Gujar

PATNA: Senior Congress leader Ajoy Kumar on Thursday criticized the Bihar government over deteriorating law and order situation in the state. He said the rising crime rates has turned the state into a university of criminal training under chief minister Nitish Kumars rule. The former IPS officer-turned politician said that it was shocking to learn that criminals have no fear of law. There is no deterring effect of law among the criminals in Bihar these days, he told the media on Thursday. Kumar,

NEW DELHI: The Bharatpol portal, recently launched and managed by the CBI, has become operational, as it has started receiving requests for publication of Interpol notices by law enforcement agencies in the country, officials said on Thursday. Earlier in January this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a function here in New Delhi, organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had launched the portal for seamless registrations of Interpol notices against wanted fugitive offenders. A

MUMBAI: The political battle over the Waqf Bill has intensified in Maharashtra, with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray attacking each other over their stance on the bill in Parliament. Eknath Shinde criticized the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday, calling it an unfortunate day for the party as their position on Hindutva was exposed. He claimed that the party had falsely stated they opposed the bill because it would hand over land to builders. It is not t

PATNA: Senior JD(U) leader Mohammed Qasim Ansari on Thursday resigned from the party and all his posts, criticising the party's support for the Waqf Amendment Bill , which was passed in the Lok Sabha despite widespread opposition. In a letter to JD(U) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Ansari expressed deep disappointment, saying the party's stance had shattered the trust of millions of Indian Muslims who believed JD(U) would uphold secular values. In his letter to Kumar, he said,

Guwahati: The Assam government on Thursday conferred the states civilian awardsAssam Baibhav, Assam Saurav and Assam Gauravto personalities and entities whose work has significantly impacted Assam and beyond. The awards were presented by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at a programme in Guwahati in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other dignitaries. Attended the investiture ceremony where the Assam Civilian Awards 2024 were given. It is inspiring to be in the midst of outs

PATNA: Discontentment within Janata Dal (United) led by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has emerged following partys support to the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, which led to passage of the Bill. Several Muslim leaders of JD(U) on Thursday expressed their displeasure over the partys stand on Waqf Amendment Bill and said that they would seek legal opinion on the issue. They even threatened to take a final call on the matter after a meeting of Erada-e-Sharia (Bihar, Jha

CHANDIGARH: Punjab's Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have opposed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 , alleging that the Modi Government will now set sights on the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) followed by dilution of the autonomy of Christian institutions. Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said that the relentless assault on minority rights by the Modi government is exemplified by the contentious Waqf (Amen

LUCKNOW: Calling the Waqf Boards action as that the one resembling land mafias, UP CM Yogi Adityanath accused the Board of encroaching on public and historical lands across the state arbitrarily. Addressing a gathering on the occasion to mark the birth anniversary of Nishad Raj Guh who, as a friend, a companion, had helped Lord Ram in crossing rivers during his exile, in Shringverpur in Prayagraj, CM Yogi warned that the Waqf board's arbitrary claims over public properties and historical sites w

RAIPUR: Jindal Power Limited (JPL) has denounced the heavy-handed approach of officials, in the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh, which it claims, is obstructing steady coal production. Interestingly, Jindal Power Limited is part of the Jindal Group, headed by BJP MP Naveen Jindal. The company complained to the states chief secretary, highlighting concerns over an alleged heavy-handed approach by officials, which it claims is obstructing steady coal production. The award to JPL had been presented by the u

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has made a significant shift in its stance on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. After initially opposing the bill ahead of its introduction in the Lok Sabha, the party has now decided not to issue a party whip for its MPs in the Rajya Sabha, allowing them to vote based on their conscience. Senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra announced the decision on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating that the party deeply respects the sentiments of minority co

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has increased the financial assistance for poor girls of marriageable age under the State Marriage Assistance Scheme from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. According to an order issued by the Director of Finance, Social Welfare Department, girls from families holding Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards will receive a one-time payment of Rs 75,000 under the scheme. In partial modification to Government Order No. 49-JK(SWD) of 2022 dated 22.03.2022, sanction i

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab cabinet on Thursday amended the Punjab State Mining Minerals Policy, 2022, in a bid to end illegal sand mining and reduce the price of sand and gravel. Additionally, the cabinet also cleared the Mukh Mantri Teerath Yatra scheme sponsoring pilgirmages for elders, and school mentorship program stipulating that IAS, IPS and IFS officers adopt one rural school and mentor students for a five-year period. A decision to this effect was taken by the Council of Ministers in a meeti

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria flagged off a foot march, Pad Yatra, against drug abuse from the Kartarpur Corridor, urging people to turn it into a public movement (Jan Andolan). Until the public supports the cause, no government can eradicate the menace of drugs that has been plaguing the state, he said. The march, which began today, will conclude on April 8 at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. Kataria will walk through villages in the border districts of Gurdaspur and Amritsar over

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to relax its earlier decision banning the manufacture, storage and sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. A two-judge bench of the apex court comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said that a large section of the population worked on the streets and due to the higher levels of pollution, their health was the worst affected. Firecracker companies had moved the top court seeking modification of the ban in Delhi-NCR. During the course of the heari

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh vigilance department has initiated a confidential probe against suspended IAS officer Abhishek Prakash, who previously served as the CEO of Invest UP, following allegations of corruption. The inquiry, launched on Wednesday on the orders of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will scrutinise his entire tenure, examining his movable and immovable assets. Prakash, a 2006-batch IAS officer, was suspended on 20 March after accusations of irregularities in the evaluation process

NEW DELHI: Airlines received 24 hoax bomb threat calls this year till March 25, the government said on Thursday. Citing data from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said a total of 836 hoax bomb threats were received by airline operators since 2022 till March 25, 2025. In 2022, the number of the calls stood at 13 and rose to 71 in 2023. Last year, there were 728 such calls and the count was at 24 this year up to March 25, as per the

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called a meeting of the joint legislative party of National Conference (NC) legislators and alliance partners on Friday, following the transfer of 48 J&K Administrative Service (JKAS) officers by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Sources said the Chief Minister is unhappy with the transfers, which were ordered while he was celebrating Eid. According to sources, Sinha did not consult the Chief Minister before issuing the transfer orders.

MUMBAI: Three persons have been booked for allegedly assaulting and molesting a woman in the Kalina area of Mumbai's Santacruz area over a parking dispute, a police official said on Thursday. In her complaint, the 30-year-old woman said she and her husband wanted to take their car out of their residential complex on Tuesday morning but could not do so since another vehicle, belonging to the kin of a resident there, was blocking the way, the official said. When no one turned up to remove this car

GUWAHATI: An Assam-based environmentalist has raised concerns with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) over alleged hazardous effluent discharge from Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) into the Dhansiri river in Golaghat district, warning of severe ecological damage. In a letter to the CPCB Member Secretary, Apurba Ballav Goswami cited findings from a report by AGT Biosciences (OPC) Private Limited, which analysed a water sample reportedly collected from the NRLs effluent plant on 11 March

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held delegation-level talks with his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Modi, who arrived here on a two-day visit to attend the 6th BIMSTEC summit, earlier received a guard of honour and also witnessed a mesmerising RamakienThai Ramayana performance. A special ceremonial welcome with Guard of Honour. PM @ingshin of Thailand warmly received PM @narendramodi at the Government House in Bangkok today, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she has the highest regard for the judiciary but could not accept the Supreme Court's verdict invalidating the appointments of school teachers. The SC invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff of state-run and state-aided schools. While I have the highest respect for the judiciary and judges, I cannot accept the judgement from a humanitarian point of view, Banerjee said, addressing a press conference. She,

NEW DELHI: Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of fuelling communal polarisation and spreading misinformation over the Waqf Amendment Bill. Addressing the Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the bill, Hussain stated the legislation was based on otal falsity and on a misinformation campaign by the BJP. You do communal polarisation, and then you accuse us of doing polarisation... This bill is based on total falsity, and a misinformatio

KOLKATA: The CPI(M) on Thursday said the West Bengal government should take urgent steps to fill up the vacancies that have been created after the Supreme Court invalidated the jobs of nearly 26,000 teachers which, otherwise, would affect the state's education system. Earlier in the day, the apex court in a judgement invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in state-run and state-aided schools, and termed the entire selection process vitiated and tainted. CPI(M) West Bengal

Over 200 Indian passengers have been stranded for more than 16 hours at Turkey's Diyarbakir Airport after a Mumbai-bound Virgin Atlantic flight from London made an emergency landing due to a medical emergency on Thursday, according to reports by News18 . The flight landed at an airport that was unsuitable for handling the aircraft. During the landing, the passengers were told that the flight sustained some technical glitches. The emergency landing was made as one passenger had a panic attack. Th

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticised the governments foreign policy, raising concerns over the impact of US tariffs on Indian exports and Chinese occupation of Indian territory. Speaking during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Rahul claimed that China had taken over 4,000 square kilometre of Indian territory and that reciprocal tariffs or import duties imposed by the US would completely devastate the Indian economy, as he demanded answers from the government over

NEW DELHI: The Union government on Thursday said it is carefully examining the implications of the reciprocal tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on Indian exports. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday said it is engaging with all stakeholders, including Indian industry and exporters, taking feedback of their assessment of the tariffs and assessing the situation. The Department is also studying the opportunities that may arise due to this new development in the US trade p

MUMBAI: Parents embroiled in matrimonial disputes can go to any extent to satisfy their ego, the Bombay High Court has said dismissing a petition filed by a woman seeking only her name to be mentioned as parent in the child's birth record. Neither of the parents can exercise any right in respect of their child's birth record, Justices Mangesh Patil and Y G Khobragade of the HC's Aurangabad bench said in the March 28 order while deprecating such petitions. The petition is a classic example of how

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court today transferred the investigation into the assault of serving Army Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son to the Chandigarh Police, directing the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) within three days. The decision came after Col Bath petitioned for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or an independent agency. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar, while passing the order, specified that no Punjab Police officer should be part

NEW DELHI: In probably the rarest of rare ushering in of an ambassador by a host country, Israels foreign ministry hosted the world premiere of the movie The Diplomat on Tuesday to welcome Indias new envoy, J P Singh. The movie, starring John Abraham, is based on a real-life crisis involving Singh. Before the screening, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar met Singh and wished him success in his new stint. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in his message, highlighted how the film serves as

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Waqf Board owns a total of 36,625.83 acres of land across the state, but over 14,000 acres of this land are currently under illegal encroachment. Ongoing litigation regarding these encroachments is being heard in various courts, including the Supreme Court. According to sources, data from the Board reveals that the Punjab Waqf Board has a total of 75,965 registered properties and 25,403 registered waqf estates. The Board owns 36,625.83 acres of land across the state, with

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Rajya Sabha, hours after its passage in the Lok Sabha. The bill will be taken up for passage following the debate in the upper house. The lower house passed the contentious bill early Thursday following a 12-hour debate. The ruling NDA defended the legislation as beneficial for minorities, while the opposition called it anti-Muslim. The Bill was passed after all amendments moved by the opposition members were

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said the concern shown by the BJP and its allies during the discussion on the Waqf Amendment Bill would put Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah to shame. His party opposed the BJP's fraudulent stand on the bill and its ploy to take away land and give it to its industrialist friends, he said at a press conference here, hours after the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha. Thackeray, a former BJP ally, said the BJP has won a third term at t

JAIPUR: In a bid to curb immoral and illegal activities in the growing number of massage and spa centres in Jaipur, the police have set up a new set of guidelines. For the first time, Jaipur police have established a set of comprehensive rules to regulate massage and spa centers. Additional Commissioner Dr Rameshwar Singh has outlined a 13-point directive aimed at increasing transparency and curbing illegal and immoral activities within these establishments. In India, there's no specific law pro

Union Minorities Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday moved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025in Rajya Sabha a day after they were passed in Lok Sabha on Wednesday amid strong Opposition protest. Intitiating a debate, the minister said, We consulted with state governments, minority commissions, and Waqf boards before introducing this bill in Parliament. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was formed, consisting of representatives from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Despite some concerns r

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh recorded a total Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collection of Rs 16,390 crore in the financial year 2024-25, registering the highest annual growth of 18 percent across the country. This places Chhattisgarh at the top position, followed by Maharashtra with 16 percent and Tamil Nadu with 15 percent growth rate at second and third place, respectively. Its a historic achievement for Chhattisgarh, not merely a success in numbers, but a reflection of governance based on hone

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has directed Customs officials to ensure that old and personal jewellery of travellers, including ornaments being worn by them during travel, are not unnecessarily detained at airports and they are not harassed. A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta passed the direction after being informed by the Customs that a detailed stakeholder consultation is being carried out by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and some more tim

NEW DELHI : Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has described Shivaji Maharaj as an exemplary king, a benevolent ruler, and a 100 per cent secular figure. He said if there is an ultimate ideal, it is undoubtedly Shivaji Maharaj. Speaking at the launch of the book The Wild Warfront - Shivaji Maharaj: Volume 2 by Vishwas Patil, Gadkari, who claimed that he has only one photograph in his office that of Shivaji Maharaj -- said the Chhatrapati holds a special place in the hearts of Indians and is even more

NEW DELHI: The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday termed the allegations levelled against him by Anurag Thakur in the Lok Sabha baseless, saying the remarks damaged his reputation as he dared the BJP MP to prove them or else resign. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress president said the BJP MP was compelled to withdraw his defamatory remarks made during the debate on the Waqf Bill in the Lower House. But the damage has been do

MUMBAI: India on Thursday reacted cautiously to US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs with exporters saying the flat 26 percent on exports imposed on fifth-largest economy could have been far worse. Indian stocks fell at the open of trading on Thursday, with the benchmark Nifty index trading nearly 0.3 percent down in morning trading. Trump said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a great friend but that he had not been reating us right, speaking while unveiling the tariffs at t

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Thursday said India is assessing the tariff hike imposed by the US and its impact on the country. For (Donald) Trump, it's America first but for Modi, it's India first. We are assessing the impact of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US, he said on the sidelines of an event organised by PFRDA here. Asked about its impact on India, he said assessment is being done. The US has announced 27 percent reciprocal tariffs on India saying

The Supreme Court judges have agreed to disclose their assets to the public by publishing the same on the top court's website. The decision was taken at a full court meeting held on April 1, a Bar and Bench report said. A resolution in this regard has been adopted and will apply to future judges as well. According to the Bar and Bench report, the decision was taken in the wake of recent controversies surrounding opacity in the functioning of the judiciary, especially after a huge pile of cash wa

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the registrar (judicial) of the Telangana High Court to forthwith visit the Kancha Gachibowli forest site where felling of trees was proposed on a 400-acre land parcel adjacent to the University of Hyderabad. The issue was mentioned before a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih. We, therefore, direct the registrar (judicial) of the High Court of Telangana to forthwith visit the site in question and submit his interim report by 3.

NEW DELHI: Opposition members led by the Congress on Thursday staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha protesting against the alleged attack on Catholic priests in Jabalpur. Soon after the House met for the day, the Opposition members sought to raise the issue and some of them stood in the aisle raising slogans. They demanded a discussion on the issue. Speaker Om Birla did not allow them and after raising slogans, they staged a walkout from the House.