Man Confesses to Multiple Murders in Gujarat After Reporting Mother-in-Laws Death
A man in Gujarat has confessed to three murders, including that of his mother-in-law, after initially reporting her death. Man Confesses to Multiple Murders in Gujarat After Reporting Mother-in-Laws Death
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela Likely To Rejoin Congress
The state unit of the Gujarat Congress has already given its go-ahead for his return, and a final approval is pending with the party's central command.
On Camera, Gujarat Man Repeatedly Slapped By Woman For Harassing Relative
The woman and other women of her family confronted the employee, with one relative repeatedly slapping the accused in front of bystanders. Video footage of the confrontation later went viral on social media.
Gujarat Government to Phase Out Plastic Files and Folders in Offices
The Gujarat government has decided to eliminate plastic files and folders in its offices, promoting eco-friendly alternatives. Gujarat Government to Phase Out Plastic Files and Folders in Offices
Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam In Gujarat Reaches Maximum Level of 138.68 Metres
The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam Project supplies drinking water to more than 4 crore people across 10,453 villages, 191 cities and 7 municipal corporations in Gujarat.
Gujarat Finance Manager Accused of Fraudulent Loan Write-Offs Using Fake Death Certificates
A finance manager in Gujarat faces allegations of using fake death certificates to write off loans for 32 living individuals, totaling over 12 lakh in fraud. Gujarat Finance Manager Accused of Fraudulent Loan Write-Offs Using Fake Death Certificates
Gujarat startups thermal infrared camera to launch aboard SpaceXs 'Falcon 9' rocket on Oct 1
Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Sep 30 (IANS) An Ahmedabad-based spacetech startups thermal infrared camera, designed to capture heat patterns on Earth that conventional satellite cameras cannot detect, is set to be launched into space aboard SpaceXs 'Falcon 9' rocket from the United States on October 1. Developed by Satleo, TAPAS-1 is described by the company as Indias first thermal infrared camera developed by a private company. Weighing three kg, the payload will be deployed on a satellite in an orbit about 500 km above Earth and will capture thermal infrared radiation from the surface to generate images showing variations in heat and temperature. The data is expected to have applications in agriculture, urban heat management, water stress monitoring, industrial and disaster monitoring, forest-fire detection and climate-related studies. The thermal data can also be analysed using artificial intelligence to provide more detailed information for different applications. This data can be used to monitor forest fires. Besides, temperature variations across different areas of a city can be tracked in real time. Different areas of a city have different temperatures. This can help municipal corporations undertake the necessary planning to address heat stress, Satleo CEO Shravan Singh said. Satleo was founded in Ahmedabad in 2023 by Singh, Dr Ranendu Ghosh and Urmil Bakhai. Singh has more than 16 years of experience in satellite-related innovations, while Ghosh worked with ISRO for 27 years on satellite payload technologies related to agriculture, hydrology and soil science. Bakhai, the companys Chief Strategy Officer, has more than 22 years of experience in corporate sales and leadership. This technology will function as a thermometer for the Earth. It can provide highly important data for the agricultural sector. Through this, planning required for crops can be undertaken in a more modern and accurate manner. It can also be useful in urban planning. Most importantly, there is no need to create any large-scale additional infrastructure for this purpose. This data will be available directly from the satellite, Bakhai said. TAPAS-1 has been developed entirely at Satleos laboratory in Gujarat and is expected to remain in orbit for three years. The company said it has a team of more than 40 professionals and plans to launch eight more satellites of the same type by 2029. It has so far secured funding of Rs 60 crore. Following the commercial launch, the company plans to provide thermal imaging data to organisations across sectors. Satleo had earlier undertaken a pilot project with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation involving temperature mapping across different parts of the city. According to Singh, Satleo has also received Letters of Intent worth around USD 52 million, with about 60 per cent of the commitments coming from companies based outside India. Organisations in agriculture and other sectors are also working with the company. The development comes amid Gujarats efforts to build a dedicated spacetech ecosystem. Under its Gujarat Spacetech Policy 2025-30, the state government has announced incentives for startups and private investors, including assistance towards launch costs, support for intellectual property rights and subsidies for testing facilities. The policy is aimed at developing Gujarat as a manufacturing and innovation hub for space technology. The development of TAPAS-1 in the state also marks the entry of a Gujarat startup into specialised satellite hardware and thermal imaging technology.
Gujarat Government Phasing Out Plastic Files in Offices to Promote Environmental Sustainability
The Gujarat government plans to eliminate plastic files in offices, promoting eco-friendly alternatives to reduce plastic waste. Gujarat Government Phasing Out Plastic Files in Offices to Promote Environmental Sustainability
Gujarat HC denies temporary bail to Asaram to meet his ailing wife
The Gujarat High Court has rejected self-styled godman Asaram's request for temporary bail to see his critically ill wife, citing medical reports that indicate her health is on the mend with a discharge anticipated soon. This ruling marks the second denial of bail within a month as Asaram's appeal against life imprisonment remains under deliberation by the Supreme Court.
Gujarat govt moves to end use of plastic files, folders in offices
Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Sep 30 (IANS) The Gujarat government has decided to phase out plastic files and folders across its offices, with departments and government institutions shifting to eco-friendly alternatives such as paper, jute and khadi for routine administrative work. The General Administration Department (GAD) has issued a circular directing the use of alternatives to plastic stationery in the Gujarat Secretariat, offices of various department heads, state public sector undertakings and corporations, government committees and autonomous bodies, local bodies, government universities and grant-in-aid institutions. The circular has been issued in accordance with environmental guidelines under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The move aims to reduce plastic waste generated through day-to-day government functioning. Under the new guidelines, departments and covered institutions will be required to use paper, jute, khadi and other eco-friendly materials instead of plastic files and folders. Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said the government had decided to gradually eliminate plastic materials from its functioning and replace them with sustainable alternatives. We have decided to gradually eliminate all plastic materials, including plastic files, and replace them with sustainable and eco-friendly materials. Therefore, initially, we have decided to eliminate the use of plastic files and replace them with eco-friendly paper files, he said. The government has also made provisions to ensure that plastic stationery already purchased is not wasted. Existing plastic files and folders can continue to be used until the available stock is exhausted. However, subsequent purchases must use eco-friendly alternatives. Environmental expert Sameer Rami said the decision would also require greater awareness among citizens about reducing plastic consumption. The governments decision to ban the use of plastic files is a very good step, and we welcome it. We should reduce the use of plastic as much as possible in our daily lives. When the government itself has taken the initiative to take such a step, it is very important to create awareness among citizens about it, Rami said. The governments decision will cover administrative stationery used across a wide network of departments, offices and institutions, effectively bringing routine government paperwork under the shift towards alternatives to plastic. The phased approach will allow existing stocks to be used while ensuring that future procurement moves towards materials considered more environmentally friendly.
Gujarat: Sardar Sarovar Dam reaches full level for seventh time since 2017
Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Sep 30 (IANS) The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam reached its full reservoir level of 138.68 meters (455 feet) on Wednesday, marking the seventh time since 2017 that the reservoir has reached its maximum level and providing a significant water buffer for Gujarat ahead of the summer. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the dam site at Ekta Nagar. He performed Jal Poojan to welcome the Narmada waters as the reservoir reached its full level, amid Vedic chants and traditional ceremonies. The dam reached the 138.68-meter mark after steady inflows, and has a total water storage capacity of 9,460 million cubic meters (MCM) at this level. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Sardar Sarovar Dam to the nation on September 17, 2017, it has reached the maximum level in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. The Sardar Sarovar project currently supplies drinking water to more than four crore people across 10,453 villages, 191 cities and seven municipal corporations in Gujarat. Patel said Gujarat currently had around 7.9 million acre-feet (MAF) of water available based on the total water received in the Narmada basin during the current year, against the state's normal-year allocation of 9 MAF. He stressed the need for judicious, planned use of the available water, saying it was a collective responsibility to use the resource economically and ensure maximum utilisation of every drop. The government said it also supplied water to North Gujarat and the Saurashtra-Kutch regions through the Sujalam-Sufalam and SAUNI Yojana during the current monsoon. Under the Sujalam-Sufalam Yojana, 201 MCM, equivalent to 7,118 million cubic feet (MCFT), was supplied during the current water year, filling 1,028 lakes across Gujarat. Under the SAUNI Yojana, 288 MCM, or 10,189 MCFT, of water was supplied, filling 167 lakes, 1,014 check dams, and 45 dams. The water was supplied as required in North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch. Patel performed Jal Poojan at the Sardar Sarovar Dam for the third consecutive year and offered prayers for the water stored at its full reservoir level. The government also highlighted that within 17 days of becoming Prime Minister, he approved completing the remaining work on the Narmada Dam and installing its gates. Minister of State for Water Supply, Ishwarsinh Patel; Chief Secretary M.K. Das; Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sanjeev Kumar; District Panchayat President Anjanaben Vasava; Lok Sabha MP Mansukh Vasava; Rajya Sabha member Mukesh Rathwa; Nandod MLA Darshna Deshmukh; former minister Shabdasharan Tadvi; Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Puri; Statue of Unity CEO Amit Arora; and senior district administration officials were present during the ceremony.
Tamil Nadu strengthens its manufacturing lead with 41,221 factory establishments: ASI 2024-25
The State also accounted for 10.90 per cent of Indias manufacturing GVA in 2024-25, up from 10.26 per cent in the previous year, placing it third among States after Maharashtra and Gujarat
Indias industrial jobs cross 2 cr mark in 2024-25
India's industrial workforce increased to over 2 crore in 2024-25, driven largely by the manufacturing sector. The registered manufacturing sector saw broad-based growth, with a notable rise in employment and wages. Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana led in manufacturing employment during this period. Gross value added in manufacturing rose significantly, indicating continued expansion in industrial value addition.
Gujarat High Court Rejects Arvind Kejriwal
The Gujarat High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modis educational qualifications constitute personal information protected under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D N Ray delivered the verdict, ruling that public [] The post Gujarat High Court Rejects Arvind Kejriwals Plea on PM Modis Degree appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
OPINION | Crush fake parties promoting 'Tax Chori'
Gujarat Police has begun probe against several paper political parties (which are registered, have symbols, but unrecognized). These parties field candidates for namesake and have no interest in win or loss. The single-point motto of these...
Iranian boat carrying drugs worth Rs 3,000 crore seized in Lakshadweep, five Pak nationals held (Ld)
Digital Desk | Ahmedabad, Sep 30 (IANS) A Nigerian national allegedly acted as a link between a Gujarat-based wanted accused and a wider drug network that planned to move a 526-kg consignment of methamphetamine and heroin to Punjab, Gujarat ATS officials said on Wednesday, adding that the Iranian boat carrying the drugs used a Starlink device to communicate with handlers while at sea. The consignment, comprising around 400 kg of methamphetamine and 126 kg of heroin, was seized from the Iranian boat 'Azad' in the Arabian Sea west of Lakshadweep on September 25. Five Pakistani nationals on board were apprehended, and the vessel was brought to Mumbai for further investigation. Gujarat ATS DIG Sunil Joshi said the agency had received intelligence about a meeting in Ahmedabad between a Nigerian national and a wanted accused from the state in connection with the planned import of more than 500 kg of narcotics. According to the ATS, the original plan was to transfer the consignment to a Tamil Nadu fishing boat in Indian waters, unload it on the Tamil Nadu coast and then transport it onwards. The drugs were ultimately intended for Punjab, from where they could have been distributed to other parts of north India, officials said. Joshi said the investigation had established a link with Pakistan-based drug smuggler Haji Salim, describing him as a supplier and a key figure in the network. Haji Salim has his network in Punjab, Joshi said, adding that the consignment belonged to his network and had been sent by him. He said the five Pakistani nationals arrested from the 'Azad' were also believed to be part of the same network, though their precise roles were still being investigated. The ATS also found that the boat was equipped with a Starlink device. Officials said the system could provide internet connectivity in international waters and could be used for communication, including WhatsApp calls, with handlers in Pakistan. The use of the device is now part of the investigation into how the maritime network coordinated the movement of the consignment. The Nigerian national who allegedly attended the Ahmedabad meeting is also being investigated. Joshi said Nigerians have emerged in several drug-trafficking networks as intermediaries, peddlers and, in some cases, people operating networks within India. The Nigerian linked to the present case had appeared in connection with narcotics activity elsewhere, though not previously in a Gujarat ATS case, he added. The ATS said it had information identifying the intended receiver in Punjab but was withholding details while efforts to trace the network continued. We know where it was supposed to go, but we will not disclose it at present, Joshi said. The intelligence was shared with the Indian Coast Guards headquarters in Delhi, following which a joint team was formed. Gujarat ATS officers B.H. Korat and V.N. Vaghela were sent to Kochi and joined Coast Guard personnel for maritime surveillance. The operation involved sustained tracking of suspicious boats over a large maritime area. On September 25, the 'Azad' was located around 160 nautical miles northwest of Lakshadweep and approximately 490 nautical miles southwest of Mumbai. Officials told IANS that the Coast Guard used smaller boats to surround the vessel during the interception, helping prevent the suspects from throwing the narcotics overboard. Such precautions were important because dumping the consignment into the sea would have made recovery difficult, they added. The operation resulted in the seizure of 526 kg of high-grade heroin and methamphetamine valued at over Rs 3,000 crore, alongside the apprehension of five Pakistani crew members, the Indian Coast Guard said in a statement. The five accused were identified as Mohammad Yakub Balochi, Shakirullah, Faridullah, Ahmad Khan and Wahidullah Khan, all residents of Peshawar in Pakistan. Preliminary questioning indicated that the 'Azad' had sailed from the Konarak area of Iran and received the narcotics from a smaller boat originating from Gwadar, Pakistan. A case has been registered with the Gujarat ATS, and further investigation is underway to identify the remaining members of the network, including the wanted accused from Gujarat, the Nigerian intermediary and the intended receivers in Punjab.
IOCs Gujarat refinery reaches 18-MTPA crude capacity
The refinery currently processes somewhere between its old 13.7 MTPA capacity and the expanded 18 MTPA level, Biplob Biswas, executive director and refinery head, said on Wednesday
Gujarat High Court declines to order disclosure of PM Modi
The Gujarat High Court has declined to interfere with the order imposing a cost of 25,000 on Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the proceedings seeking disclosure of Prime Minister Narendra Modis educational degree, holding that no ground has been made out to warrant interference with the earlier judgment. A Division Bench [] The post Gujarat High Court declines to order disclosure of PM Modis degree,retains Rs 25,000 cost imposed on Kejriwal appeared first on India Legal .
Indias Arabian Sea Drug Bust: 526 Kg Narcotics Seized From Iranian Boat, 5 Pakistani Nationals Held
The Indian Coast Guard, Gujarat ATS and central intelligence agencies have seized around 526 kg of narcotics from an Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea. The drugs, comprising methamphetamine and heroin, are valued at more than Rs 3,000 crore in the international market. Five Pakistani nationals operating the vessel were also detained during the September 25 operation. The dhow was tracked through coordinated sea-and-air surveillance before the agencies launched a hot pursuit and intercepted the vessel. The boat, its crew and the seized contraband were later escorted to Mumbai under armed security. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the 16-day operation reflected coordination among agencies. Investigators are now probing the source, intended receivers and wider network allegedly linked to the drug-smuggling operation.
Gujarat ATS and Indian Coast Guard seize 526 kg narcotics from Iranian vessel linked to Haji Salim
The News Mill
Multibagger KPI Green Seals 2,410 Crore Mega Deal to Acquire 507.9 MW Wind Assets in Gujarat
526 Kg Drugs Worth Rs 3,000 Cr Seized From Iranian Boat, 5 Pakistanis Held
Gujarat ATS, Coast Guard And Central Agencies Conduct 16-Day Joint Operation
HC Reprimands Journalist Ravi Nair In Adani Defamation Case
The Gujarat High Court reprimanded journalist Ravi Nair for failing to disclose that he had already sought bail from a lower court while simultaneously requesting an urgent hearing in the High Court regarding his arrest in a criminal defamation suit filed by Adani Enterprises. The High Court disposed of his plea, noting he had already been granted bail by a sessions court.
KPI Green Energy to acquire 507.9 MW operational wind assets in Gujarat for Rs 2,410 crore
KPI Green Energy has signed a binding offer to acquire Alfanar Energy Pvt Ltd and Netra Wind Pvt Ltd. The combined assets have an operational capacity of 507.9 MW located in Gujarat's Kutch wind corridor. This acquisition marks KPI Green's first large-scale wind acquisition, set to expand its installed capacity significantly. The deal will close by February 28, 2027, subject to necessary approvals.
Drugs worth Rs 3,000 crore seized from Iranian dhow near Lakshadweep; 5 Pakistanis held
In a remarkable crackdown on drug trafficking, Gujarat's ATS and the Indian Coast Guard discovered more than 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine hidden aboard an Iranian dhow. With a staggering value of over Rs 3,000 crore, this seizure led to the arrest of five Pakistani nationals in the Arabian Sea.
Indian Oil Gujarat refinery to start operating at expanded capacity by end of FY27, executive says
Indian Oil's flagship refinery in Gujarat is expected to expand its capacity to 18 million metric tons. This expansion is part of the ongoing Petrochemicals and Lube Integration Project, which integrates refining and petrochemical production. Currently, the refinery sources 30% of its crude from domestic fields and 70% from imports. The operations include diversified sourcing from regions like the Middle East, the US, and Venezuela.
Video: Rs 3000 cr drugs seized from Iranian boat in Arabian Sea
Ahmedabad: The Indian Coast Guard, in a joint operation with the Gujarat ATS, has seized 526 kg of methamphetamine and heroin valued at more than Rs 3,000 crore from an Iranian boat in the Arabian Sea, officials said on Wednesday. Five Pakistani nationals operating the vessel were also detained in the operation carried out near Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Gujarat High Court closes Ravi Nair
The Gujarat High Court has closed journalist Ravi Nairs challenge to a non-bailable warrant issued against him in a criminal defamation case filed by Adani Enterprises Ltd, after taking note that the Gandhinagar Sessions Court had subsequently granted him regular bail. Justice M.K. Thakker was hearing Nairs petition challenging the orders of the Sessions Court [] The post Gujarat High Court closes Ravi Nairs plea against non-bailable warrant after sessions court grants regular bail appeared first on India Legal .
Indian Coast Guard seizes drugs worth over 3,000 crore from Iranian boat
The Indian Coast Guard, in a joint operation with the Gujarat ATS and central intelligence agencies, seized 526 kg of high-grade methamphetamine and heroin worth over 3,000 crore from an Iranian boat in the Arabian Sea. The vessel was intercepted west of Lakshadweep after surveillance and a pursuit. Five Pakistani crew members were detained, and the vessel and seized drugs were brought to Mumbai for further investigation.
Five killed, five injured after bus-truck collision in Gujarat; PM Modi condoles deaths
Digital Desk | Anand, Sep 30 (IANS) Five people were killed and five others injured after a private luxury bus collided with a truck on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway in Gujarats Anand district at around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, police said. Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths of the five people in the accident and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the mishap. Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in a mishap in Anand, Gujarat. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured, PM Modi said in a post on X. The bus collided with the truck on the expressway when the bus was attempting to overtake the truck. Anand Superintendent of Police, G.G. Jasani, said the bus was carrying around 30 to 40 passengers when the collision took place. The Sai Darshan Travels bus had departed from Surat for Rajasthan and was travelling from Anand towards Nadiad when it collided with the truck. Most of the passengers were asleep at the time of the accident. The impact left several passengers trapped inside the damaged bus. After receiving information, police personnel and local residents reached the spot and launched rescue operations. The injured were pulled out of the bus and shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. The bodies of the deceased were sent for autopsy following the necessary inquest proceedings. One of the injured passengers, Dhanesh Jadhav, said he had boarded the bus in Surat and was asleep when he was suddenly jolted awake by the sound of the collision. Panic and confusion spread among the passengers immediately after the crash, he said. The accident also disrupted traffic movement on the expressway for some time. Police cleared the damaged vehicles from the road and restored traffic movement. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the collision, including the bus driver's attempt to overtake the truck.
GSOS Class 10, 12 Time Table 2026 Out - Direct Link to Download Online @ gsebeservice.com
Gujarat State Open School (GSOS) has released the Class 10 and Class 12 time table 2026. Exams begin on November 30 and end on December 9, 2026. Check subject-wise dates, morning and afternoon session timings, vocational subject schedule and FAQs.
Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS seize 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth over Rs.3,000 crore from a suspected Iranian dhow near Lakshadweep.
Rs 1 crore ransom: 3 Gujarat residents heading to US kidnapped in Ethiopia
3 U.S.-bound Gujarat residents missing in Ethiopia; kin allege abduction, 1 crore ransom demand
They left for the U.S. on September 20 with the assistance of an agent from Mehsana district, who allegedly connected them with another agent from Vadodara
Gujarat HSC, SSC Exam Dates 2027 - Direct Link to Check Dates Online @ gseb.org
GSEB has announced the Gujarat SSC (Class 10) and HSC (Class 12) board exam dates for 2027: February 25 to March 17, 2027. Check prelim exam dates, 12th science practical dates.
The Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS seized around 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth over Rs 3,000 crore in the international market after intercepting an Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea, west of Lakshadweep. The September 25 operation, based on actionable intelligence, also led to the apprehension of five Pakistani nationals. The vessel and contraband were brought to Mumbai.
Gujarat family travelling to US goes missing, relatives get 1 crore ransom call from Ethiopia
Three individuals from Gujarat went missing in Ethiopia after traveling illegally to the United States. Their families report that the group paid agents 70 lakh each for their journey to the US. After arriving in Ethiopia, the families claim the group was abducted and 1 crore was demanded for their release. A missing persons complaint was lodged after the family lost contact on September 22.
Rs 3,000 cr drugs seized from Iran boat near Lakshadweep
The Indian Coast Guard, in a joint operation with the Gujarat ATS, seized 526 kg of methamphetamine and heroin worth over Rs 3,000 crore from an Iranian boat in the Arabian Sea, detaining five Pakistani nationals.
Gujarat GSOS Timetable 2026 Released: Check Class 10, 12 Exam Dates
The Gujarat State Open School (GSOS) has released the GSOS Timetable 2026 for Class 10 and Class 12 examinations. As per the schedule, the GSOS examinations will commence on November 30, 2026, and conclude on December 9, 2026. Gujarat GSOS
Rs 3,000 crore drugs seized from Iranian boat in Arabian Sea; 5 Pak nationals detained
The Indian Coast Guard conducted an operation on September 25, resulting in the seizure of significant drugs. Five Pakistani nationals were detained during this joint operation with Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad. The drugs, valued at over Rs 3,000 crore, were transported by an Iranian boat. This operation emphasized the commitment to preventing transnational drug trafficking in India's maritime areas.
Coast Guard busts transnational syndicate, seizes Rs 3,000 crore worth of narcotics
Digital Desk | Ahmedabad, Sep 30 (IANS) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Gujarat's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have busted a major maritime narcotics smuggling attempt in the Arabian Sea, seizing 526 kilograms of high-grade contraband valued at over Rs 3,000 crore in international markets, officials have said. In a swift and decisive maritime interdiction striking at the heart of transnational narco-terrorism networks, Bharatiya Tatrakshak, operating in seamless tactical synergy with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat, successfully neutralised a major maritime narcotics smuggling attempt in the Arabian Sea, west of Lakshadweep, the Indian Coast Guard said in a statement. Executing precise sea-air surveillance based on actionable intelligence, the Indian Coast Guard assets maintained unyielding tracking before initiating hot pursuit, neutralising the target, and boarding a suspicious Iranian dhow on September 25. The high-seas operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 526 kilograms of high-grade contraband, comprising heroin and methamphetamine, valued at over Rs 3,000 crore in international markets, alongside the swift apprehension of five Pakistani nationals operating the vessel, officials said. The ICG said that the intercepted dhow, crew, and seized contraband have been escorted under armed escort to Mumbai for joint interrogation and comprehensive multi-agency legal proceedings. This operational success exemplifies Bharatiya Tatrakshak's unyielding maritime dominance, robust surveillance grid, and resolute commitment to maintaining zero tolerance against illicit activities within India's sovereign waters and extended maritime zones, the ICG said. By crippling the financial engine of hostile foreign syndicates and intercepting toxic synthetic substances before they reach mainland shores, this mission serves as a critical force multiplier to the Union Government's national vision of a Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. Bharatiya Tatrakshak remains fully postured to defend the nation's sea borders, shield the country's youth from the scourge of drugs, and uphold absolute security across the maritime domain, it added.
Coromandel International, Chambal Fertilisers and Paradeep Phosphates could be among the listed names in focus. Other listed companies to watch include RCF, NFL, FACT and Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals (GSFC).
In a swift and decisive maritime interdiction striking at the heart of transnational narco-terrorism networks, the Bharatiya Tatrakshak, operating in seamless tactical synergy with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat, successfully neutralised a major maritime narcotics...
Gujarat seeks 40 pc MSP procurement limit for pulses, oilseeds at national agriculture meet
Gujarat seeks 40 pc MSP procurement limit for pulses, oilseeds at national agriculture meet Gandhinagar: Gujarat Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani has urged the Centre to raise the procurement ceiling for pulses and oilseeds under the PM-AASHA scheme from 25 per cent to 40 per cent of total production and sought the inclusion of castor in [] The post Gujarat seeks 40 pc MSP procurement limit for pulses, oilseeds at national agriculture meet appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Gujarats Nutrition Campaign Achieves Over 24.3 Million Activities, Awareness Drive Intensifies
Gujarats nutrition campaign records 24.3 million activities, focusing on combating malnutrition through awareness and community involvement. Gujarats Nutrition Campaign Achieves Over 24.3 Million Activities, Awareness Drive Intensifies
Seven From Gujarat Held In Foreign Groom Scam, Dubai Hawala Link Probed
12 years after joyride fall, student wins Rs20L medical expense claim
Faulty Ride Lock Left Student With Severe Spine Injuries
9 Mumbai-bound flights diverted to Surat
Shifting of special notified zone to SDB approved
3 held for 1.1cr cyberfraud against ex-SMC employee
Stitch in time: Talks begin ahead of embroidery stir
Wanted accused escapes after stones pelted at cops in Khambhat
SMC steps up mosquito control drive
Cyberfraudster nabbed at Mumbai airport
Six traders duped of 5.5L in China-Hong Kong tour scam
From tragedy to triumph: Firefighting robot by city students wins global honour
Raids on Milk Adulteration Unit in Gujarat Lead to Destruction of 1,200 Liters of Contaminated Milk
A raid in Jamnagar uncovered a milk adulteration operation, leading to the destruction of 1,200 liters of contaminated milk and other products. Raids on Milk Adulteration Unit in Gujarat Lead to Destruction of 1,200 Liters of Contaminated Milk
Gujarat Police Arrest Three in Major Investment Fraud Case Linked to Mumbai
Surat police have arrested three individuals for allegedly defrauding investors of over 1.1 crore through fake stock market schemes. Gujarat Police Arrest Three in Major Investment Fraud Case Linked to Mumbai
Hefty checks, fake political parties: How scamsters pulled a Rs 700 crore tax fraud in Gujarat
Gujarat CID (Crime)'s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered four FIRs following complaints from the Income Tax Department over an alleged bogus political donation and tax evasion network involving registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs). According...
Gujarats nutrition campaign clocks 2.43 crore activities; districts step up outreach
Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Sep 29 (IANS) Gujarat has recorded more than 2.43 crore nutrition-related activities during 'Poshan Maah-2026', with the state focusing on tackling malnutrition through dietary diversity, regular growth monitoring and care during the first 1,000 days of a childs life. The statewide campaign, being observed under the theme Aapni Anganwadi, Aapni Javabdari (Our Anganwadi, Our Responsibility), was launched by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Dr Manisha Vakil. The campaign involves the Women and Child Development Department along with health, panchayat, rural development and education departments, local self-government bodies, Anganwadi and health workers, self-help groups, parents and communities. Of the more than 2.43 crore activities recorded up to September 27, the Women and Child Development Department accounted for 56.13 lakh, while around 1.87 crore activities were carried out by other departments and associated agencies. The Health and Family Welfare Department, AYUSH Division, Rural Development Department, Panchayat Department and Education Department were the five leading contributors. At the district level, Mahisagar, Valsad, Patan, Anand and Mehsana recorded the highest number of activities. In Valsad, the District Collector also flagged off a 'Poshan Jagruti' rally as part of the campaign. A major focus this year is promoting locally available nutritious food and discouraging unhealthy dietary habits. Activities are highlighting protein-rich foods, millets or Shri Anna, pulses, green vegetables, fruits, milk, nuts and seeds. Nutritious recipe demonstrations, exhibitions featuring dishes prepared from Take Home Ration (THR) and millets, Poshan Melas and guidance on balanced diets are being organised across the state. In Surat, college students are also participating in awareness activities focused on healthy diets and the harmful effects of junk food. The campaign is also seeking to strengthen the role of Anganwadi centres in early childhood development. Centres are being used to provide fresh, hot, hygienic and nutritious meals, while Anganwadi Management Committees are being activated to increase community participation. SNP menu boards are also being displayed, alongside efforts to promote community ownership under the Maari Anganwadi, Maari Javabdari (My Anganwadi, My Responsibility) approach. The state is simultaneously focusing on early childhood care and education, early stimulation and responsive caregiving during the first 1,000 days and the first six years of a child's life. Children are being weighed and measured regularly, with their details registered on the Nutrition Tracker to facilitate early identification of malnutrition. Children identified as malnourished are being referred for treatment and follow-up in coordination with the Health Department under initiatives such as Poshan Sangam. The campaign also coincides with 10 years of the 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' in 2026. A saturation campaign is being undertaken to increase the registration of pregnant and lactating mothers under the scheme. The state government has said its objective is to make nutrition a daily practice and a shared social responsibility rather than limiting related activities to Poshan Maah, with the broader goal of building a Suposhit Gujarat.
BSF steps up Western border domination, focus on tech, intelligence and anti-narcotics operations
By Rajnish Singh In accordance with the Ministry of Home Affairs' recent instructions to implement a obust border security grid, the Border Security Force's Western Command has communicated in a fresh briefing to enhance border domination with increased focus on technology, intelligence and anti-narcotics operations. BSF Director General Praveen Kumar issued the directions while reviewing border security, operational preparedness and border management along the Western Frontier during a conference with senior officers at the Gujarat Frontier headquarters in Gandhinagar. The meeting focused on strengthening the border security grid in line with recent instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), border infrastructure, counter-infiltration measures, trans-border smuggling and emerging security challenges, officials said. The Western Command of the BSF, headquartered in Chandigarh, is responsible for managing and securing the India-Pakistan international border across five front...
Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], September 29: The state-level inter-university debate competition Verbal Duel 2026, organized by the Center for Development and Communication (CDC), Parul University, in collaboration with the Times of
Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], September 29: Bringing diverse academic voices to one platform, Parul University in collaboration with Times of India organized Verbal Duel 2026, a state-level inter-university debate competition that
4 Dead After 2 Cars Crash Off Delhi-Mumbai Expressway In Madhya Pradesh
The freak consecutive accidents left two women from Punjab and two men from Gujarat dead.
Gujarat High Court Upholds Fine Against Kejriwal in Modi Degree Case
The Gujarat High Court dismissed Kejriwals appeal against a fine related to demands for PM Modis academic degree disclosure. Gujarat High Court Upholds Fine Against Kejriwal in Modi Degree Case
A 2015 BBC REPORT on the victims of marital rape in India starts with the harrowing account by a 25 year old woman, I was only a toy for him which he thought he could use differently every night. Whenever we had a fight, he would take it out on me in bed. He would not take a no for an answer not even during my periods. The act of rape generally attracts a significant amount of outcry from the people at large with sections of society being terribly outraged and nauseated with the recurring occurrence of such ghastly crimes depending upon their severity. But on the contrary when it comes to marital rape there is no such collective outrage nor even concerns expressed by influential sections of society. The same concepts of violation of consent and bodily autonomy forming the core pillars of jurisprudence on the crime of rape undergo a dilution when the exact act of non-consensual sex is placed within the framework of a marriage. The Supreme Court has before it a batch of petitions on the vires of the marital rape exception. Four arise from the reference made after the Delhi High Court delivered a split verdict in RIT Foundation v. Union of India (2022). The law on marital rape is outdated The common law doctrine of coverture was a recognised principle in Britain as per which a female had no independent legal identity and standing. According to the doctrine, her fathers identity mirrored her identity before marriage and post marriage her identity merged with that of her husband, resulting in the absence of recognition of any property rights or bodily autonomy or custody rights. As a result, the recognition of all these rights remained contingent upon the will of the husband. In the United Kingdom, it was much later in 1991 that the House of Lords in the case of R v. R struck down the marital rape exception as it went on to uphold the equality of both the spouses in a marriage. The House of Lords relied on the Scottish decision in S v. H.M. Advocate (1989) which led to the removal of spousal immunity against the offence of rape. This ousted the doctrine of coverture from being recognised as a legitimate common law principle and statutorily being removed in 1994 in the UK. In India Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 63 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) lay down constitutes as rape. The sections comprise two instances where the act would not be considered to be rape. The first being the carrying out of a medical procedure or intervention and the second being sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife not below 18 years of age. The second exception fails to address whether the nature of such a sexual intercourse or sexual act by a man with his major wife should be viewed from the axis of it being consensual or non-consensual. The exception has been retained by the BNS which came into force in 2023 replacing the earlier IPC of 1860 in an effort to decolonise the criminal laws. The exception has been retained by the BNS which came into force in 2023 replacing the earlier IPC of 1860 in an effort to decolonise the criminal laws. The challenges that await adjudication in court The Indian Judiciary has been posed with the question of taking a definitive stance in numerous cases to ascertain if marital rape should be allowed to continue as an exception to the offence of rape or if the same should be criminalised and deemed to be rape. An important case that forms part of the batch of petitions that the Supreme Court is faced with is Hrishikesh Sahoo v. State of Karnataka wherein a woman had filed complaint against her husband of multiple offences one of which was rape. The Karnataka High Court rejected the argument of Sahoo pertaining to the existence of the marital rape exception and held that no exception under the law can be so absolute that it becomes license for the commission of a crime against society. While Sahoo filed an SLP at the Supreme Court which remains pending till date, it became the first case where a chargesheet was successfully filed incorporating, among others, the allegations of rape. Another important issue arises from the Delhi High Courts split verdict in the case of RIT Foundation v. Union of India (2022) which effectively captured the core of the conceptual divide prevailing upon the question concerning the criminalisation of marital rape. Justice Rajiv Shakdher in his judgement noted, Women in most parts of the world are treated as individuals, free to enter into contracts in their own right but when it comes to sexual communion with their husbands, their consent counts for nothing. He found the classification between married, unmarried and separated couples as unreasonable and arbitrary as it inevitably gave recognition to only forced sex outside marriage constituting an actual act of rape whilst simultaneously failing to recognise the same act happening within the bounds of marriage as anything else but rape. Justice C. Hari Shankar on the other hand opined that sex between a wife and a husband is sacred with it having an emotional element when performed between a husband and wife thereby making the marital bedroom inviolable and did not accept the idea of terming the husband as the rapist of his wife if he had sex without the latters consent as it would be antithetical to the very institution of marriage. Justice Shankar also placed the onus of deciding whether or not to criminalise non-consensual sex within marriage squarely within the legislative realm. Justice Shakdhers line of ruling while siding with the removal of the marital rape exception recognised the creation of a firewall shielding the category of married men or husbands as a result of the exception prevailing in the existing law. This in turn, he noted, led to the exclusion of nearly one half of the population of the equal protection of laws. He also supported the removal of the exception on the premises of consent, autonomy and equality. He drew a distinction between unreasonable denial of sex as a valid and recognised ground for divorce under Indian family law whilst also not allowing the same to transcend into an unfettered right to sex without consent. However, Justice Shankars ruling opposing was rooted in the premise of the distinct nature of marital relationships of which a legitimate expectation of sex flows noting that not all acts of non-consensual sex can be termed as rape. To support his argument, he drew an unrequited and misplaced parallel with the offence of murder. The Chhattisgarh High Court in 2025 overturning the order of conviction against a Husband who had been convicted for rape and subsequent death of his wife on account of the prevailing exception of any sexual intercourse or sexual act by a husband with his wife with the latter not being a minor falling into the definition of rape. The deceased wifes cause of death as per her post-mortem report was rectal perforation and peritonitis with the former resulting due to a tear or hole in the lower end of the large intestine leading to the anus and the latter is a widespread infection and swelling caused by the lining inside of the stomach. The Executive Magistrate who was recording the dying declaration of the wife was even informed by her about her husbands forceful commission of an unnatural sexual act with her ; however, the dying declaration does not have record of it. However, in a stark contrast the Gujarat High Courts judgment this year where a single judge bench rejected the application for anticipatory bail that was filed by a husband observing that spousal intimacy must be consensual in nature in light of the wife accusing her husband and in-laws of rape , unnatural sex and physical assault. According to the FIR the husband along with two other co-accused had given the complainant a false confidence that she would be taken care of after marrying the accused but post the marriage she was subjected to constant demands of dowry coupled with physical, mental and even sexual abuse without her consent. Eventually she was also thrown out of her marital home in 2025 which led to the filing of an FIR. A resounding argument against the removal of the exception of marital rape is the plausible erosion it would cause to the institution of marriage and that such a victim can avail the usage of other penal provisions along with a particular emphasis on placing reliance on the framework of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005. Penal provisions pertaining to criminal force and assault against women along with provisions dealing with hurt and grievous hurt fail to capture the severity of a non-consensual sexual intercourse. The act of non-consensual sexual intercourse involving the perpetrator and the victim bound by marital relationship does not condone the act from being termed as rape. Consent is readily recognised as the bedrock of any intimate relationship. But it suddenly starts receding to the background if the same intimate relationship assumes the nature of marital relationship involving the spouses. In the 2005 Act, sexual abuse is defined as inclusive of any conduct of a sexual nature that abuses, humiliates, degrades or otherwise violates the dignity of woman. The definition of sexual abuse when juxtaposed with the exception of acts not constituting rape, particularly the sexual intercourse or any sexual act by a husband with his major wife, lessens the criminal dimension of the abuse inflicted. Additionally with the introduction of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, Section 377 of the IPC has been completely done away with. The provision was read down in the case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India leading to the decriminalisation of consensual sex between consenting same-sex individuals. Earlier, that provision provided a viable opportunity to married women when they were subjected to non-consensual non-penile-vaginal sexual acts by their husbands. However, with the complete omission of Section 377 in BNS, women who have been subjected to non-consensual sex by their husbands find themselves fighting a crushing battle which even the existing legal provisions have failed to identify and address the issue. Justice Rajiv Shakdher in his judgement noted, Women in most parts of the world are treated as individuals, free to enter into contracts in their own right but when it comes to sexual communion with their husbands, their consent counts for nothing. Legislatures failure to address marital rape as a heinous offence Justice Verma Committee was constituted in 2012 as a result of the massive backlash and outrage of the public following the 2012 Delhi Nirbhaya Gang Rape case. The committee comprising Retired Justices J.S. Verma, Leila Seth and Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium in its recommendation advocated for the removal of the marital rape exception premised on the argument that a marital or other relationship between the perpetrator or victim is not a valid defence against the crimes of rape or sexual violation. It also recommended that if the accused and the victim share any intimate relationship even one of marriage the same should not act as a mitigating factor justifying lower sentences for rape. It stressed on the dissemination of training and awareness programmes at all levels of the criminal justice system extending even to the people outside it making them capable to identify that marriage should not be regarded as extinguishing the legal or sexual autonomy of the wife. The then UPA government decided to bring forth the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 without incorporating the recommendation pertaining to the removal of the marital rape exception. While some parliamentarians have introduced a private members bill seeking to criminalise marital rape with the latest being introduced by Congress Member of Parliament Sashi Tharoor, the bills have never really been extensively discussed and debated on the floor of the house. In 2016, during the Parliaments budget session, the issue of marital rape was taken up in a question fielded by a Member of Parliament who wanted to know if the Government would scrap the marital rape exception. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, the Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi wrote, It is considered that the concept of marital rape, as understood internationally, cannot be suitably applied in the Indian context due to various factors like level of education/illiteracy, poverty. Sweta Kothari in her article, A husband can rape his wife, why cant our MPs get this? published in DailyO on May 12, 2016, wrote, It is abysmal that the minister referred to marital rape as a concept, not a crime, thus suggesting that husbands can subject their wives to any sort of sexual abuse, without their consent and yet cannot be labelled as criminals. Literally classifying and endorsing rape committed by husbands. Kothari stated that Maneka Gandhis reply was verbatim a copy of the written reply put forth by Haribhai Chaudhary, Minister of State for Home Affairs in Parliament in 2015. The government consistently maintains that the country is far from acknowledging marital rape as a reality, despite alarming evidence of sexual violence at home, gathered by National Family Health Survey (NFHS), Kothari remarked with anguish. She went on to add that 0.6 percent of the sexual violence committed by married men against their wives got reported to the police and those were booked as cruelty by the husband. Kothari in her article referred to Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiran Rijijus December 2015 statement last year that the issue of marital rape is very complicated and it is very difficult to explain and describe it. These are of such extreme private nature and no records of any consent are available. Kothari flagged that our neighbouring countries like Bhutan and Nepal have outlawed marital rape, there is no reason why India should not do so. The aforementioned figures of National Family Health Survey quoted by Kothari concerning sexual violence committed by married men against their spouses have gone up significantly. As per the National Family Health Survey of 2023-2024 which was released in May, 2026 in the category of Gender Based Violence among the women aged between 18-49 years 17.5 percent and 24.4 percent of women in the urban and the rural areas respectively have faced spousal violence which has been defined in the survey as any form of physical and/or sexual violence. Internationally, Poland has the record of being the first country to recognise Marital Rape as a crime as early as 1932 followed by several developed countries like, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, France Germany etc. along with various small and developing countries like Ghana, South Africa, Chile, Cuba etc. South Asian countries along with India fall into the category of nations which have not criminalised marital rape till date. The latest data in the NFHS survey documents the rising incidence of spousal violence against women including sexual violence. Tragically there is complete absence of any legislative and judicial interventions to address the mounting crime. In October 2024, the Union Government in an affidavit before the Supreme Court opposing the criminalization of marital rape in India, argued that the issue is more social than legal, and asserting that any changes to the law require broader consultation with stakeholders and states. As of now women who have been subjected to non-consensual sex by their husbands are left with no functional legal recourse as they deal with the trifling value accorded to the erasure of their consent and bodily autonomy. The issue of marital rape has been dealt with extensively by the Parliamentary Committee and Law Commission. Yet no government till date has been able to take any major step to address the problem. It only testifies to the patriarchal mindset of the law makers which refuses to treat rape within confines of matrimony as an act of crime rooted in domination, imposition and false perception that men as husbands within framework of marriage are inherently superior to their wives and so their sexual act even if carried out in violation of consent of their wives could not be treated as rape.
Gujarat Police arrest three men from Mumbai in Rs 1.10 crore investment fraud case
Digital Desk | Surat, Sep 29 (IANS) The Surat City Cyber Crime Branch has arrested three men from Mumbai in connection with an alleged Rs 1.10 crore share market investment fraud, with police finding that the bank account used in the case had been linked to complaints from multiple states. The arrested accused have been identified as Rahul Rajak (27), Ashish Sonar (37), and Bhushan Sendane (34). Police said Rajak allegedly created a firm in his name, obtained an Udyam certificate and opened a current account with IDFC Bank, which he handed over to Sonar for Rs 10,000. Sonar allegedly passed the account to Sendane for Rs 30,000, while Sendane subsequently handed it to another accused for Rs 20,000. According to the police, transactions worth Rs 2,41,03,506 were carried out through the current account between October 18, 2025 and January 9, 2026. A check on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) found 29 complaints from different states linked to the account, involving alleged fraud of Rs 16,13,44,790 or about Rs 16.13 crore. DCP (Cybercrime Cell) Bishakha Jain said, The three arrested accused had together received Rs 60,000 as commission for facilitating the bank account. The case began after the complainant was allegedly contacted in the name of share market investment and promised high returns. Police said the accused sent him an APK file of a fake Axis Bank application and falsely claimed to be calling from the banks customer care service. The complainant was allegedly asked to download the application, create a demat account and carry out trading through it. After the account was created, the complainant was instructed to transfer money to different bank accounts for trading. Police said he transferred Rs 1,10,90,000, but when he later sought to withdraw his investment and the purported profits, the accused demanded additional payments towards withdrawal and other charges. The complainant was allowed to withdraw only Rs 5,000, while Rs 1,10,85,000 remained blocked, following which he realised that he had been defrauded, police said. A case was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station under Sections 318(4), 336(2), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Amendment Act, 2008. Police said efforts are continuing to trace other accused persons allegedly involved in the fraud. The Cyber Crime Branch has appealed to people to be cautious of advertisements promising high returns through online share market investments and not to transfer money to unknown persons without verification.
Gandhinagar civic polls: BJP leaders stress direct voter outreach, booth-level coordination
Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Sep 29 (IANS) With the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) election less than two weeks away, the Gujarat unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a workers coordination meeting in the state capital, focusing on booth-level organisation, direct outreach to voters and communication of development and welfare schemes. The meeting was chaired by state BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma and attended by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and state organisation general secretary Ratnakar. The GMC election is scheduled for October 11 across 11 wards and 44 seats, with counting on October 13. Addressing party workers, Vishwakarma said the booth-level worker is the true foundation of the BJP organisation and that the partys ideology and development message could reach people only through the active participation of its workers. He called on workers to focus on effective public outreach, direct interaction with citizens and coordination, besides informing people about government welfare schemes and development work. Several development-oriented works had been carried out in Gandhinagar under the guidance of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, who represents the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, he added. Sanghavi said Gandhinagar had made significant progress in development and that work is continuing for the citys overall development. He urged workers to move forward with a commitment to public service while keeping citizens expectations and needs at the centre of their efforts. The BJP's organisational structure extending up to the booth level is its biggest strength, Sanghavi said. The meeting focused on strengthening organisational preparations, public contact programmes and booth-level activities ahead of the civic election. The BJP's meeting came on the day when the nomination withdrawal process for the GMC election was scheduled to end. The State Election Commission had fixed September 26 as the last date for filing nominations, September 28 for scrutiny and September 29 for withdrawal. Gandhinagar has 44 corporator seats spread across 11 wards. In the 2021 GMC election, the BJP won 41 seats, while the Congress won two and the Aam Aadmi Party one. MPs, MLAs, along with other leaders, office-bearers and party workers, attended the meeting.
PM Modi degree case: Gujarat HC rejects Kejriwals appeal against Rs 25,000 cost
Digital Desk | Ahmedabad, Sep 29 (IANS) The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday dismissed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwals appeal against the order that quashed a Central Information Commission (CIC) direction seeking disclosure of Prime Minister Narendra Modis academic degree by Gujarat University, while upholding the Rs 25,000 cost imposed on him. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D N Ray found no ground to interfere with the March 31, 2023 order of the single judge. The bench said there was no error in the judgment under challenge and dismissed the appeal without imposing any further costs. In the totality of facts and circumstances of the present case, no error on any of the submissions of the appellant hearing can be found in the judgment impugned. The appeal stands dismissed accordingly with no further order as to cost, the court said. The single judge had in March 2023 allowed Gujarat Universitys challenge to the CICs 2016 direction and set aside the order requiring it to provide information concerning PM Modis educational qualifications. The court had also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on Kejriwal, observing that the RTI provisions had been approached casually and had been misused. During the appeal proceedings, Kejriwals counsel, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, challenged the basis for imposing the cost. He argued that Kejriwal had not persisted in seeking PM Modis degree, contrary to the observation made by the single judge. Singhvi also contended that the CIC had initiated the proceedings suo motu and had made Kejriwal a respondent on the basis of a letter rather than a formal RTI application. Another issue before the court was Gujarat Universitys submission that the degree was already available online. Kejriwals lawyers had, in a review petition before the single judge, argued that the degree had never actually been uploaded on the universitys website, but the plea was rejected. Singhvi argued that if the degree was indeed available online, presumably because the university had made it public in view of its importance, there would be no surviving cause of action under the Right to Information Act. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat University, opposed the appeal. He argued that Kejriwal had pursued the matter relentlessly and had also held press conferences which, according to the university, defamed the institution. Mehta submitted that costs should be imposed to discourage misuse of the RTI Act and prevent government officials from spending productive working hours dealing with requests that did not serve the Acts purpose. The dispute dates back to 2016, when Kejriwal wrote to the CIC seeking disclosure of PM Modis degree and said he had no objection to government records concerning him being made public. He questioned why information about PM Modis educational qualifications was being hidden. In April 2016, then CIC M Sridhar Acharyulu directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide information concerning the degrees obtained by PM Modi. Gujarat University subsequently approached the High Court, and the CIC direction was stayed. Gujarat University had strongly objected to the CIC proceedings, arguing that an individuals irresponsible childish curiosity could not be treated as public interest under the RTI Act. In 2016, then vice-chancellor M N Patel had said PM Modi had completed an MA in Political Science in 1983. The university also put the degree on its website while challenging the CIC order before the High Court. The single judge later quashed the CIC direction, criticised the commission for venturing into judicial activism and imposed the Rs 25,000 cost on Kejriwal. Kejriwal subsequently approached the division bench against that order. The High Court had reserved its verdict on the appeal after completing the hearing on September 25. The division benchs September 29 order now upholds both the quashing of the CIC direction and the Rs 25,000 cost imposed on Kejriwal.
Four killed, eight injured in two accidents on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in MP
Digital Desk | Ratlam, Sep 29 (IANS) At least four people were killed and eight others injured in two separate road accidents on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district on Tuesday, police said. The accidents occurred within a span of about two hours on the eight-lane expressway under the jurisdiction of Jaora Industrial police station, with both cars plunging into a 30-40 feet deep gorge after hitting the central median. The first accident took place around 4:30 a.m. when a car carrying a family from Punjab, travelling from Ambala in Haryana to Mumbai, hit the median railing. The vehicle broke through a portion of the railing and fell into the gorge, police said. Narendra Kaur (67) and her daughter-in-law Manpreet Kaur (32), both from Punjab, died in the accident. Three other occupants, including an elderly man and two children, were injured. Prima facie, it appears that the driver may have become drowsy while driving at high speed and lost control of the vehicle, causing it to hit the railing, Jaora Industrial police station in-charge Prakash Gadariya said. Police reached the spot after receiving information from other motorists and shifted the injured to a hospital in Jaora. They were later referred to Ratlam Medical College for further treatment. While police personnel were examining the site of the first accident, another car carrying a family from Dahod in Gujarat met with an accident around 6:30 a.m., police said. The second vehicle, bearing registration number GJ20 CB 4610, reportedly went airborne after hitting the central median and fell into the gorge. The railing at the spot had been damaged in the first accident. Ravi Hatila (35), who was driving the second car, and Ramesh Makwana (50), both from Dahod, were killed. Four to five other occupants of the vehicle were injured. The railing had been damaged in the first accident, and while our personnel were conducting an inspection at the spot, the second car hit the median and fell into the gorge, Gadariya said. The Gujarat family was returning to Dahod after travelling to Uttar Pradesh for medical treatment of a family member. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding both accidents, including the condition of the road infrastructure and the factors that led to the vehicles losing control.
Number Of Women Judges In SC Likely To Go Up To 3
The number of women judges in the Supreme Court is likely to go up to three in the coming days with the top court collegium recommending Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal for elevation.
Gujarat Congress protests demand resignation of election commissioner over voter roll allegations
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Bondada Engineering secures multiple orders worth Rs 146.90 cr
Bondada Green Engineering, a subsidiary of Bondada Engineering, has received an order for the supply of 200 Telecom Towers under the BSNL 40GBT project in Gujarat.
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], September 26: In an increasingly interconnected global pharmaceutical industry, accurate technical communication has become essential for regulatory inspections, GMP audits, international business, and market expansion. Mr. Ashish
IIT Indore AI Tool Fixes Gender Bias In Translations
Researchers at IIT Indore have developed HGAST, an AI tool designed to correct gender-specific errors in translations from English to Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati. The tool acts as a correction layer, identifying and rectifying masculine verb forms often used by AI systems when translating female speech, significantly improving accuracy for female speakers without retraining existing models.
PM Modi degree case: Gujarat High Court rejects Kejriwal appeal, upholds 25,000 cost on him
PM Modi degree case: Gujarat High Court rejects Kejriwal appeal, upholds 25,000 cost on him
Gujarat govt rejigs Porbandar forest division as Asiatic lions return to Barda
Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Sep 29 (IANS) The Gujarat government has reorganised the Porbandar Forest Division, including its range and beat structure, to strengthen field-level administration as Asiatic lions establish themselves in Barda forest, the Forest and Environment Department said on Tuesday. The reorganisation, approved under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, will bring changes in the administrative control of forest ranges, beats, officers, staff and resources, with the stated objective of improving forest management and facilitating the implementation of departmental schemes and resolution of forest and environment-related issues in Porbandar district. The move comes after Asiatic lions naturally returned to Barda after 143 years. The revised administrative structure will cover the Barda region as well as other forest areas under the Porbandar Forest Division and provide for clearer responsibilities at the range and beat levels. Under the new arrangement, the Porbandar Range will cover 6,840.84 hectares and 80 villages. It will be divided into beats including Porbandar City, Gosabara, Moker, Visavada, Kantela, Madhavpur and Satiya, with specific areas and villages assigned to each beat. The Ranavav Range will cover 13,051.25 hectares and 27 villages, with areas including Godana, Bileshwar, Savdivadar and Ranavav distributed among different beats. The restructuring also transfers 305.94 hectares from the RFW Bhatia Range of the Jamnagar Forest Division to the Bhanvad Range of the Porbandar Forest Division. The transferred area covers four villages Kandarda Jogna, Sajdiyala, Juna and Jambusar in Bhanvad taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka district. Its administrative functions will now come under the Porbandar Forest Division. The Kutiyana Range, Porbandar Social Forestry Range and Ranavav Social Forestry Range will also be brought under the Porbandar Forest Division. The division will consequently have seven ranges. To support the expanded structure, provision has been made for two Assistant Conservators of Forests. Assistant Conservator of Forests-1 will oversee the Porbandar, Porbandar Social Forestry and Ranavav Social Forestry ranges, while Assistant Conservator of Forests-2 will oversee the Ranavav, Bhanvad and Kutiyana ranges and the Mobile Squad (T.A.) Range. One vacant Assistant Conservator of Forests post from the two sanctioned posts at Kevadia will be transferred to the Porbandar Forest Division, in addition to the existing post. The Porbandar Forest Division will continue to function under the Junagadh Wildlife Circle, with the Deputy Conservator of Forests overseeing the division and the two Assistant Conservators supervising their respective ranges. The Range Forest Officer will also be responsible for the Porbandar Forest Division's Mobile Squad, bringing its operations within the reorganised administrative framework. The restructuring will involve the transfer or redistribution of staff and resources, including vehicles, weapons, walkie-talkies, wireless equipment, records, computers, furniture and other departmental assets. The government resolution said the changes are intended to provide clearer field-level responsibilities and strengthen administrative support for forest conservation, wildlife management and lion rehabilitation in Barda. The resolution came into effect immediately upon publication.
Gujarat records over 24.3 million activities during Poshan Maah 2026
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Gujarat Themis Raises Rs 585 Cr, Private Credit For Japan Buyout - TradingView
Harit Zaveri Jewellers, ajewellery destination founded in 2014, marks its expansion across Gujarat with the opening of its new flagship in Surat. Located at Parle Point, the new space brings together the brands contemporary interpretation of heritage Indian jewellery, considered design and commitment to transparent retail. Actor Vicky Kaushal, alongside Founder Harit Zaveri, inaugurated [] The post Harit Zaveri Jewellers Expands its Presence with a New Flagship in Surat, Inaugurated by Vicky Kaushal appeared first on Startup Success Stories India - News & Updates for Indian Entrepreneurs .
Dengue cases drop nearly 40 pc in Gujarat; districts told to intensify checks
Gandhinagar The Gujarat government has intensified surveillance and mosquito-control measures against vector-borne diseases after a review of the states malaria, The post Dengue cases drop nearly 40 pc in Gujarat; districts told to intensify checks appeared first on Bilkul Online .
Gujarat Themis secures $58 million private credit for Japanese acquisition
Founded in 1981, Gujarat Themis is India's first company to start commercial production of the anti-tuberculosis drug Rifampicin, according to its website
Leopard kills 6-year-old girl playing outside her family's home - WCYB
Leopard kills 6-year-old girl playing outside her family's home - WEAR-TV
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launches cultural elocution contest with prizes up to Rs 1 lakh
The News Mill
Stranded during theft bid, 2 rescued by cops
