The Times of India

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern over Sonam Wangchuk's health. He urged the central government to adopt a humanitarian approach to the issue. Wangchuk has been fasting for nineteen days and has lost significant weight. Abdullah drew parallels with the UPA government's engagement with Anna Hazare. He stated Wangchuk's demand for NEET examination accountability was justified.

A Srinagar court granted a no-objection certificate for Farooq Abdullah's passport. The court noted that pending criminal proceedings do not automatically bar travel. CBI had objected, fearing he might flee the country and evade justice. The passport was issued for one year, subject to conditions. Abdullah must seek permission before traveling outside Jammu and Kashmir.

Central government hospitals will now conduct twice-daily health checks for hunger strikers. Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital is designated as the nodal facility for any emergencies. Advanced life support ambulances will remain stationed at the protest site. Medical teams will submit daily health status reports to the ministry. This action follows Delhi Police's request due to health concerns.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh dismissed reports of sensitive Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant files being leaked. He asserted that no nuclear safety or security data had been compromised in the incident. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited clarified leaked documents related only to the plant's conventional Balance of Plant package. This clarification followed claims by a ransomware group about accessing thousands of project-related files.

Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike entered its nineteenth day with significant health concerns. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait joined the protest, strengthening the ongoing agitation. Opposition leaders and parties offered their support, urging the minister's removal. Congress leaders appealed to Wangchuk to end his fast while assuring continued demands. Doctors warned of serious health complications if the hunger strike continues.

Congress is contacting opposition parties that previously opposed a bill. These discussions include the DMK and Aam Aadmi Party. Parliament's Monsoon session begins July 20 and continues until August 13. Opposition plans to raise issues like the NEET paper leak. The government may also reintroduce a bill on women's reservation.

Congress leadership struggles to unite Punjab leaders amid ongoing internal disputes. New leadership structure has triggered open conflict and fresh rounds of infighting. Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is now leading a revolt against the current party president. The party leadership appears firm this time, avoiding past mistakes of succumbing to pressure. Managing these divisions is critical for Congress to regain political ground in Punjab.

The Delhi government plans to convert Arvind Kejriwal's former residence into a state guest house. A private hospitality firm may operate and maintain the bungalow for revenue generation. This repurposed building will accommodate traveling ministers and government officials for a fee. A portion of the camp office will host official events like seminars and meetings. The proposal awaits final approval from higher authorities for implementation.

Arvind Kejriwal joined Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. He demanded the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Kejriwal also endorsed Wangchuk as a potential replacement for the minister. He highlighted recurring exam paper leaks and student suicides. The former Delhi CM urged the government to listen to youth concerns.

Urban regions are increasingly battling monsoon flooding, exacerbated by extensive concretisation. With impermeable surfaces dominating, rainwater struggles to seep in, leading to heightened runoff. Meanwhile, the decline of natural water reservoirs like wetlands further complicates the situation. In response, authorities are encouraging the use of permeable materials and green spaces. While initiatives for de-concretisation are on the rise, the swift pace of construction poses significant hurdl

Karnataka cabinet expansion is expected to occur very soon. Senior Congress leaders met in Delhi to discuss the long-pending cabinet appointments. Consultations are underway to fill twenty vacant ministerial positions and the Speaker's post. The party aims to balance regional and caste equations for the selections. This expansion is anticipated before the upcoming assembly session begins in August.

Mamata Banerjee addressed the Trinamool Congress exodus after the recent assembly poll defeat. She suggested leaders facing pressure are free to leave the party. Rajya Sabha MP Koel Mallick resigned, adding to the growing list of exits. This resignation followed Madan Mitra quitting to join a rebel TMC faction. Banerjee also defended her nephew Abhishek Banerjee amid internal party issues.

The Delhi High Court granted AAP leaders a final chance to file their replies. This pertains to the CBI's revision petition challenging a trial court order. Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Durgesh Pathak are the respondents in this matter. The court emphasized no further adjournments would be granted for these filings. The case has been listed for further hearing on August 17 and 18.

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah supports Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike. Wangchuk is protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, demanding accountability. His health has significantly deteriorated after nineteen days of fasting. Doctors warn of serious health complications if the hunger strike continues. The Delhi High Court has ordered daily medical examinations for Wangchuk.

The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches across four states in a money laundering investigation. This probe targets a syndicate facilitating illegal infiltration of foreign nationals into India. Public charitable trusts registered under FCRA are suspected of receiving foreign funds. These funds were allegedly diverted through multiple accounts to aid illegal immigrants. The investigation stems from an FIR registered by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad.

TMC leader Koel Mallik resigned from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. This follows Madan Mitra's departure and joining a rebel TMC faction. Earlier, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Sushmita Dev also resigned from the party. They subsequently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and filed nomination papers. The BJP defended its decision to field these former TMC leaders.

Addressing a public gathering in Mukerian, he said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had fulfilled its promises through initiatives in education, healthcare, power and social welfare, and urged people to give the party another mandate so that opportunist opposition leaders, especially the Congress, do not get a chance to come to power.

Hearing the a PIL over fasting activist's dwindling health, the high court noted that life is precious and asked both the governments to provide, if needed, medical aid, to the Ladakh native. Doctors have warned that Wangchuk may soon enter a potentially alarming phase involving organ damage. Wangchuk has reportedly lost more than 9kgs since beginning his indefinite hunger strike.

The development comes a day after the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) urged the makers to postpone the film's release, alleging that it presents a fictional version of the deity's life that is inconsistent with Hindu scriptures. The appeal was made by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of Puri and chairman of the SJTMC, the highest decision-making body of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple.

India's Nuclear Power Corporation stated a data breach involves conventional plant facilities. The reported leaked files pertain only to non-nuclear safety systems. These documents were prepared by Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. for common services. The breach does not compromise nuclear security or reactor core systems. The affected information relates to plant units under construction.

Indias urban centers hold the key to its economic progress, demanding smart planning and investment to thrive. Three pivotal reforms targeting regional hubs and essential infrastructure can ignite urban potential for overall national development. By addressing housing regulations, cities can welcome private investment, while refined governance and finance structures will empower urban areas to offer outstanding public services.

Home Credit India will acquire Varthana Finance in an all-cash deal valued at Rs 967 crore. This transaction will make Varthana a wholly owned subsidiary of Home Credit India. The acquisition aims to diversify portfolios and improve business mix for the company. It is expected to create synergies in distribution, technology, and risk management. Regulatory approvals are required, with completion anticipated within nine months.

Economic momentum sustains as oil prices moderate and trade deals offer new opportunities. Corporate sector performance shows robust demand, with automotive and banking sectors leading growth. Manufacturing faces margin stress due to inventory, while IT remains under pressure. Industry is preparing for increased demand, with capacity additions planned after reaching utilization levels. Concerns about Chinese dumping necessitate a stronger trade defense mechanism for fair competition.

Habiban Khatoon, aged 103, finally received justice after a 35-year legal battle. Her eldest son purchased land in her name, but a cousin took possession. She filed a title suit in 1994, facing appeals up to the High Court. After years of proceedings and delays, she regained possession of her land. The long legal fight incurred significant financial costs for Habiban.

The Supreme Court expressed serious concern over a Patna High Court order. This order stated that removing a woman's salwar did not constitute attempted rape. The apex court emphasized judges must research and follow its previous rulings. It directed all courts to adhere to judicial sensitivity guidelines. States will issue instructions to police stations regarding FIR registration and chargesheets.

The Supreme Court declined to hear a petition regarding ration card cancellations. These cancellations followed voter list deletions due to doubtful citizenship status. The court directed the petitioner to pursue his appeal before the relevant tribunal. A favorable tribunal outcome would reinstate his name on the electoral roll. The issue of linking deletions to ration card cancellations must be challenged in the High Court.

Organized cleanliness drives now precede Prime Minister Modi's state visits across India. These initiatives transform pre-VVIP spruce-ups into public campaigns involving citizens and officials. Haryana launched a statewide drive ahead of Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to Jind. Similar campaigns were observed in Odisha and West Bengal during recent visits. The true success of these drives will be measured by sustained cleanliness after the visits conclude.

The Congress party is not favoring a leadership change in its Punjab unit. This stance comes despite some functionaries demanding Amarinder Raja Warring's removal. Party leaders are wary of reversing recent appointments, which caused internal backlash. Dissidence presents a difficult situation for the Congress party ahead of polls. The party may try to persuade dissidents with assurances and future promises.

India's MBBS capacity reaches a record 1,36,939 seats for the 2026-27 academic session. This expansion is driven by new regulations allowing earlier seat increase applications. The National Medical Commission approved 9,911 additional undergraduate seats across the nation. These new seats include those in newly established and existing medical colleges. Private institutions contributed significantly to this substantial increase in medical seats.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief Nitin Nabin. Discussions focused on the party's upcoming list of office-bearers and potential ministerial changes. The new team under Nitin Nabin is expected to be announced soon by the party. An overhaul of national organizational bodies, including the parliamentary board, is also anticipated. These deliberations signal significant upcoming shifts within the BJP's leadership structure.

The Supreme Court has asked CBSE to detail its actions on digital evaluation issues. A one-member commission is now inquiring into these alleged irregularities. The court noted the frustration caused to students by these system problems. The Centre had previously removed CBSE officials and ordered an inquiry. Urgent action is needed to address students' concerns comprehensively.

Electors in Delhi now have an extended period to submit their enumeration forms. House-to-house visits by BLOs in Delhi will continue until August 8. Revised schedules have also been released for Punjab, Telangana, and Karnataka. The final electoral roll for Delhi will now be published on October 19. Similar extensions were previously announced for Andhra Pradesh and Haryana.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India stated its core systems remain secure after a cyber incident. A ransomware group posted files related to the Kudankulam nuclear plant online. Reliance Group confirmed a partial data breach on a third-party provider's server. These leaked files are not connected to nuclear safety or security systems. The incident involved conventional balance of plant common service facilities.

Justice Siddharth Mridul allegedly operated an LPG distributorship during his judicial service. This action appears to violate judicial ethics and conduct codes. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited issued notices regarding the alleged contract violations. The agency dealership was eventually suspended by the oil company. The controversy involves a former judge and an oil marketing PSU.

A 24-year-old Indian woman was fatally stabbed at her London home. A man has been charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the incident. The victim's family alleges the attack was racially motivated and seeks government assistance. They had sold land to fund her education and future aspirations in the UK. British Sikh groups express concern over rising race-based attacks targeting vulnerable individuals.

J&K CM Omar Abdullah confirmed the July 20 Delhi protest for statehood restoration. His party will travel to Delhi on July 19 to decide the next steps. National Conference invited 52 political figures for the planned federalism cause protest. Congress supports statehood plus, demanding land and job rights for the people. PDP has not yet clarified its stance on the National Conference invitation.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urged Pakistan to defuse unrest in PoK through dialogue. He expressed anguish over civilian and police deaths in continuing unrest. Violence centers on a dispute over reserved seats for Kashmiri refugees in the assembly. Protesters want these seats scrapped, which Pakistan-based parties use for influence. Elections are scheduled for July 27, with a court ruling upholding the seats.

Security forces recovered 215 rounds of Pika gun ammunition from a terrorist hideout in Poonch. A search operation in Rajouri continued for a second day to trace two terror suspects. These suspects were captured on CCTV cameras crossing a road late Sunday. Joint operations are ongoing in forested areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts. These extensive combing operations aim to track down elusive militant groups.

Top BJP leaders met at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on Wednesday. This meeting occurred just before the Parliament's upcoming session begins next week. The gathering included Home Minister Amit Shah and party president Nitin Nabin. Speculation is rife about potential reshuffles in the national office bearers team and Union cabinet. An NDA constituents meeting is also likely on July 21 to discuss floor strategy.