Maharashtra forms cabinet sub-committee to monitor drought weekly, says CM Fadnavis
The News Mill
She created a niche for herself in Bollywood through critically acclaimed TV series and films such as The Sacred Games, Angry Indian Goddesses, etc. However, actress Rajshri Deshpande has also quietly been making a difference to a small village in Maharashtra, modernising it by helping build over 200 toilets and a school. Deshpande, who was raised in a family of farmers, could not ignore the plight of the villagers who were living without necessities.
MLC polls for five seats in Maharashtra on October 23
The Election Commission of India announced biennial elections for five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats. These elections will fill vacancies arising from member retirements on December 6, 2026. Voting is scheduled for October 23, with results to be declared on October 27. The entire election process will be concluded by October 31. Nominations can be filed until October 6, with withdrawals permitted until October 9.
Protecting Tata legacy need of the hour: Sharad Pawar
Sharad Pawar urged protecting the Tata Group's charitable ownership and institutional role. He emphasised the group's deep Maharashtra connection and its societal contributions. Pawar stated leadership issues should be resolved through dialogue and due process. He highlighted the importance of respecting Tata Trusts' governance rights. The former Union minister stressed preserving the group's trust-based legacy for India's development.
Former Justice R. C. Chavan resigns from Maharashtra UCC panel
Justice Chavan, a former high court judge, resigned from the panel on September 19
ECI announces polls for 28 Legislative Council seats in UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced the schedule for biennial elections for 28 Legislative Council seats across four states. These include 11 seats in Uttar Pradesh (five Graduates' and six Teachers' constituencies),...
Maharashtra FDA seized and destroyed suspected adulterated, substandard and unhygienic food worth over Rs 1.36 crore during a four-day statewide drive ahead of the festive season. Teams inspected 64 establishments, suspended 12 licences and issued notices to 36. Authorities also seized adulterated sweets and banned tobacco products.
IIT Bombay to replace ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans after suicide
The IIT Bombay has initiated replacement of ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans after the recent death by suicide of second year B Tech student Sahil Wakode, sources familiar with the development said. Sahil, a Department of Energy Science and Engineering student hailing from Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, was found hanging in his hostel room on the Powai campus on Friday evening, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Bombay) is set to remove ceiling fans from hostels following recent incidents of student suicides, the sources said. Wall-mounted fans will be installed across all hostels on campus and in other utility areas across the campus. The image of a batch of wall-mounted fans arriving at the campus as part of 'renovation work' has gone viral on social media. NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gavande criticised the move, saying fan replacement cannot solve the student
Congress Raises Alarm Over Drought Conditions in Maharashtra, Urges Immediate Aid for Farmers
Congress leaders in Maharashtra express deep concern over drought conditions, urging the government to provide immediate assistance to struggling farmers. Congress Raises Alarm Over Drought Conditions in Maharashtra, Urges Immediate Aid for Farmers
71,438 a night to stay at Ajinkya Rahanes Igatpuri villa: Infinity pool, memorabilia room and more
Ajinkya Rahanes Raaya Estate in Igatpuri, Maharashtra, is now available to guests through StayVista. The five-bedroom villa can accommodate up to 15 people and includes an infinity pool, in-house bar and a memorabilia room featuring items from Rahanes cricket career.
US Northeast flights resume after FAA communications outage disrupts Newark
Hundreds of flights were cancelled, including more than 600 into and out of Newark Liberty International Airport, as the outage hit every major airport in the New York City area on Monday
India, Visegrad Group agree to boost political, economic and defence cooperation
The first meeting of the foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group and India was held on Monday on the margins of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The News Mill
Jaishankar holds key bilateral meetings with foreign ministers on UNGA sidelines
Jaishankar arrived in New York City on Sunday, leading the Indian delegation for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. His engagements on Monday commenced with a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot
Google fined USD 463 million for breaching EU rule on location data
Ireland is the lead regulator for Google in the 27-nation EU because the US tech giant''s European headquarters is based in Dublin
Maharashtra minister expects positive outcome from MVA MPs meeting with PM Modi on drought
The News Mill
Wandercraft unveils Eve, first FDA-cleared self-balancing personal exoskeleton
Unlike traditional crutches or walkers, Eve uses AI-powered dynamic balancing technology to maintain physical stability, enabling users to stand, walk, and handle everyday tasks like cooking or carrying objects hands-free.
Experimental CRISPR therapy cuts bad cholesterol by over 50 per cent for a year
By using CRISPR technology to deactivate the ANGPTL3 gene in the liver, the single-dose treatment also reduced triglycerides by 47.8 per cent
Injured pelican taps on NOAA office door seeking help from Florida biologists
The bird was entangled in six feet of fishing line, with a treble hook embedded in its wing and cactus spines in its foot.
Rajiv Kumar opposes UPI transaction fees, calls digital payments a public good
Kumar said that he is not in favour of charging any fee from merchants for using UPI for any transaction value, and the government should treat it as a public good with extensive positive externalities.
Sonia Gandhi electoral roll case: Delhi court sets aside order refusing probe
The bench was hearing a revision plea against the magisterial courts order on a complaint filed by advocate Vikas Tripathi, vice president of the Central Delhi Court Bar Association.
Bihar Jamui harassment case: Three arrested, search on for other accused
The video, which purportedly shows the two being harassed by a group of people, has drawn criticism on social media as well as from political leaders.
Jeetendra says hes more Maharashtrian than Punjabi, vows to visit Bappa till death
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 22 (IANS) Veteran superstar Jeetendra on Tuesday visited Pune for Ganpati darshan and spoke about his deep-rooted connection with Maharashtra. He recalled his childhood memories of celebrating the festival and his struggling days before becoming an actor. Speaking to IANS at the venue, Jeetendra said he believes that Bappa calls him to visit and that he could not miss the darshan despite not keeping well. See, number one, Bappa calls me, I don't come, that's number one. And second thing is, his love, Nimbalkarji's (organiser) love, affection, he remembers me, he calls me, he calls me with a lot of love. And I feel good to come for him. Today I am not well, but I can't go wrong. Asked about his wish from Bappa, the actor said he wants to remain physically independent for as long as he lives. I want to walk on two legs till I die. This is my only prayer. I want to come to visit Bappa till I die even if it means coming on a stretcher. On what he prayed for his children, Jeetendra said, Peace of children, love, affection of people and good health, that's all I asked for. The actor then recalled his childhood and said Ganpati celebrations had been an integral part of his life. He revealed that he lived in a four-storey building where around 100 families resided and that he was the only Punjabi among the largely Maharashtrian and Konkani residents. He also added that at his house in Mumbai, they have been celebrating Ganeshotsav for around fifty two years. Recalling his early days, the jumping jack of Bollywood said, We had hundreds of families, a four-storey building. And on each floor there were 20-25 rooms. So there were 100 of us. And I was the only Punjabi. The rest were Maharashtrians and Konkanis. So everything in my house was Maharashtrian. My mother also spoke Marathi. Recalling his childhood memories of Ganpati and other festivals, Jeetendra remembered the simple joys of receiving bundis and saving them in his pockets. In Ganpati, let's say it's Diwali or Ganpati. We used to get boondi. We used to take boondi and put them in our pockets. We used to eat them one by one. He said such simple moments brought a kind of happiness that is difficult to experience today. We don't have that fun now. Right? The small things that we used to enjoy in our childhood, we don't get in big things now. Jeetendra also recalled the modest circumstances in which he grew up, saying that having a fan at home was once considered a luxury. If I look here, even in Mumbai, there is a one-bedroom flat. Everyone has an AC. Everyone has an AC in their house. There was a fan in my house. The whole building came into view saying, there was a fan in their house. I stayed there for 17 years. After that, by the grace of God, I became an actor. However, the veteran actor said the peace and satisfaction he experienced during his childhood remain special to him. He also emphasised his strong Maharashtrian identity. But the fun, the peace, the satisfaction, I am more Maharashtrian inside and outside. Because I have a lot of Maharashtrians around me. I am talking about Maharashtrians of my time. I have never met such good people. They never had any ego or attitude, but they had a lot of self pride and self respect. They would be completely self dependent, and never be dependent on anybody.
Ice Cream Cone Day 2026: Enjoy these unique scoops with a desi spin in Mumbai
As Americans celebrate Ice Cream Cone Day, we give the cone a desi spin with some of Mumbais quirkiest takes
Mumbai Coastal Road tragedy: BMW driver had faced 2 prior cases over drunken brawl, speeding
Mumbai FDA suspends Amazon warehouse, Suleman Usman Mithaiwala shop licences
Maharashtra drought: CM says relief measures underway, assessment Oct 5
Three-stage process will assess rainfall, crop damage, water availability and other drought indicators
Weather Forecast Today: Weather on September 22 is expected to remain mixed across India. Delhi is likely to stay dry, while Bengaluru and Hyderabad may receive rain. Gujarat faces thunderstorm activity, and parts of Maharashtra are under heavy rain warnings. Odisha and Coastal Andhra Pradesh face the strongest rainfall alerts.
A new heritage gallery in Kolkata to preserve the legacy of its resident Chinese population makes for a solid case that can be replicated in Mumbai to salute the contribution of its multiple communities
IITs grapple with upholding exam protocol amid pressure on students
Father of dalit IIT-Bombay student who died by suicide in 2023 detained at stir
Jaipur's Albert Hall Museum to shut for 21 months period, undergo major revamp
100% drought likely to be declared in Maharashtra by month-end, says Minister
Never seen such severe dry spell: Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil; he adds govt. has initiated measures such as fee waiver for students, electricity bill waiver, and deployment of water tankers
12-Yr-Old Girl Molested by Kin, Pocso Case Registered Against 58-Year-Old
9.31L notices for verification ready, just 3,157 delivered
Pune techie kills wife, cooks up robbery story; jumps from 2nd floor
More than 8.77 lakh use Pune Metro services for Ganapati darshan over the weekend
Wont allow ministers to roam freely in Maharashtra if drought not declared soon: Sapkal
Man flees with Rs10,000 cash belonging to person with disability
Tax evasion FIR against two CAs over Rs 4,427.9cr overseas remittances
Pune natural choice for GCC hub, says CM Fadnavis
Wakad police arrest three for murder of daily wage worker
Yavatmal in shock, IIT-B boys kin for CID probe
PCMC detects 13,500 unauthorised water connections, begins regularisation with smart meters
Dhruv Global School students win national classical dance competitions
Rohit Pawar to join MPSC aspirants protest in Pune from Sept 26
Stressful living among youth a growing concern, says Sachin Itkar
FUEL SkillTech University signs MoU with JIT
NU Students Opting Revaluation To Get Scanned Answer Sheets
Citizens seek tighter safeguards in Western Ghats ESA draft
NU panel to study shortage of PhD guides, fix lapse
NUs NEP Implementation In Limbo
HC Again Raps NMC On Bulldozer Action
TOI reports nudge NMC to get OC, fire clearance for its HQ
Commissioner Assigns Town Planning Chief To Complete Process After TOI Reports Expose Certification Hurdles
Woman alone has right over her body, is ultimate decision-maker on abortion: HC
Maha begins early crop survey, drought declaration on cards
Agri Min Assures Maximum Aid To Affected Farmers
Jail rivalry triggers revenge plot outside prison, criminal arrested
Farmers Meltdown Sparks Protest By RSS-Backed Bharatiya Kisan Sangh
Give 1 lakh per hectare assistance to farmers: Sapkal
NMC Plans 75 Gardens, Mominpura Park Lies Neglected
Tired of devotees blocking his home, city advocate puts up barricades
Tiger kills farmer in Chandrapurs Saoli forest range
Three Road Rage Cases In A Day Leave Three Injured
IIT-B relieves prof as dean temporarily, apologises for remarks on student
Large section of IIT-B faculty backs prof, flags damage to reputation
Psychological autopsies can help identify preventable factors: Experts after IIT-B students suicide
Maharashtra FDA faces systemic pressures as restaurant hygiene crackdown widens
Maharashtra FDA faces systemic pressures amid pushback from large restaurant chains. The agency is proceeding with hygiene crackdowns based on data and inspections. Licenses have been suspended for various violations, including unhygienic kitchens. Food safety requires a public movement and a 360-degree approach. The FDA is examining all establishments with the same impartial lens.
Maharashtra Wont Wait For Centre, Says Fadnavis On Drought Relief
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said the state would begin drought relief measures without waiting for Central assistance, with crop-loss surveys due after October 5.
Bombay high court initiates suo motu PIL over sound pollution during Ganesh festival
Manhole death in Mumbai: Three months on, panel still unaware of who left it open
Congress Criticizes Maharashtra Government Over Drought Response
Congress leader harshly criticizes Maharashtras government for its inaction on drought relief as farmers face severe crop losses. Congress Criticizes Maharashtra Government Over Drought Response
Mumbai man arrested for posing as PMO official granted bail
Road tests begin on RTO tracks for recalibrated auto-taxi meters in Mumbai
Maharashtra govt approves BMCs 8km underground water tunnel project
Mumbai Police Arrest Two Afghans for Forged Indian Passports at Airport
CCTV DVR missing from farmhouse in gang rape case involving ex-MLA, dismissed cop
Mobile retailers seek UPI MDR exemption, warn 0.4% charge could raise costs
All India Mobile Retailers Association has urged the Finance Ministry to exempt small and medium mobile retailers from any proposed UPI Merchant Discount Rate. AIMRA said a 0.4% charge could increase costs for retailers already operating on thin margins
Actor arrested for snatching gold chain from elderly woman in Mumbai's Santacruz
Maha: Congress slams MahaYuti govt over drought inaction
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 21 (IANS) With severe drought-like conditions ravaging crops across Maharashtra, Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal on Monday launched a scathing attack on the MahaYuti government, accusing it of complete indifference toward the plight of farmers during the festive season. Addressing the media, Sapkal said helpless farmers are being forced to plough over their destroyed crops. At the same time, the government remains restricted to paper promises without delivering direct financial relief to farmers bank accounts. The government keeps claiming that the process has begun, but assistance is not being deposited urgently into farmers bank accounts. Even the promised loan waiver has turned out to be a complete sham, he alleged. Sapkal highlighted that during a meeting convened to address the severe drought situation, administrative officials were caught watching videos on their mobile phones while ruling party MPs were seen eating dry fruits. He likened this to earlier incidents in which ministers were caught playing mobile games in the Legislative Assembly. Commenting on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnaviss recent remark suggesting Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi work as a stand-up comedian, Sapkal dismissed it as anxiety over the growing popularity of Rahul Gandhis Chhatron Ki Goonj initiative. Sapkal retorted, It appears Fadnaviss mental health has deteriorated. All I want to say to him is, Get well soon, Devendraji. The Congress state president accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of mimicking British-era divide and rule tactics by fuelling social division between Marathas and OBCs, as well as among Tribal and VJNT communities over reservation issues. The Congress partys sharp critique signals an intensifying political showdown in Maharashtra, as rural distress and delayed agricultural aid take centre stage ahead of upcoming state proceedings. The ruling administration has yet to issue an official response to the specific allegations raised by the Congress leadership.
Kalachowki electrocution: Child rights panel seeks report from Mumbai police on 8-year-olds death
Student fined Rs 50 over methi in lunch; civic notice to Bhayander school
Maha govt forms AI, data analytics governance committee for higher education
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 21 (IANS) In a major push toward integrating cutting-edge technology into governance, the Higher and Technical Education Department of Maharashtra on Monday constituted a high-level AI, Data Analytics & Dashboard Governance Committee. The initiative aims to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI), predictive analytics and automated decision-support systems across higher education institutions in the state. The Government Resolution (GR), issued late Monday evening, marks a pivotal move aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and state IT and cybersecurity directives. Prof Rajnish Kamat, Vice-Chancellor of Shivaji University, Kolhapur, heads the newly established governance panel. It comprises top administrators, technical experts and systems analysts from various state educational bodies. Members include Shrikant Pulkundwar (Joint Secretary, Higher & Technical Education Dept), Pratap Lubal (Joint Secretary), Ashok Mande (Deputy Secretary), Amol Mutyal (Deputy Secretary), Umesh Kokate (System Manager, Directorate of Technical Education, Mumbai), Narendra Patil (System Analyst, Directorate of Technical Education, Mumbai), Swapnil Korade (Statistical Officer, Directorate of Higher Education, Mumbai), Kunal Patil (Special Executive Officer, Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education, Mumbai) and Member Secretary Prashant Visalkar (Project Manager, Directorate of Higher Education, Mumbai). The state government highlighted that the current Dashboard Portal, which centralises data across student enrolments, examinations, university affiliations, scholarships, public libraries and research journals, must transition from basic reporting into a data-driven, evidence-based decision-support system. Key responsibilities assigned to the committee include: Formulating long-term AI strategies and identifying priority use cases; Establishing frameworks based on feasibility, cost, risk and readiness; Exploring deployment of Generative AI, Agentic AI, Machine Learning (ML), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Computer Vision, Anomaly Detection and Natural Language Processing (NLP); Standardising data, classification, metadata and interoperability across multiple state platforms such as e-Office, MahaDBT, AISHE, NOC Portal, MIS and Sevarth; Developing automated trend analysis, risk forecasting and real-time decision-support modules for state leadership. The committee will ensure strict compliance with cybersecurity, data privacy, personal data protection laws, human oversight and transparent, ethical AI usage. It will also suggest specialised training programmes in AI, Generative AI and digital transformation for department officials and staff. The committee is mandated to meet at least once every three months to review progress. External subject matter experts and technology institution representatives may be invited as special attendees. The committee may set up specialised Technical Working Groups or Sub-Committees for focused domains like Cyber Security, Cloud Infrastructure and Analytics. Quarterly progress reports will be submitted to the Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary or Secretary of the Higher and Technical Education Department. Initially constituted for a three-year term, the committee will operate as a regular administrative body without additional honoraria or allowances for members. Approved project expenditures will be funded via existing budgetary allocations under standard financial rules. Final approvals regarding policy implementation, financial procurement, system integrations and data sharing will remain under the jurisdiction of the Government of Maharashtra.
IIT Bombay suicide case: Students point to academic stress, reject casteism angle
