Haryana News
Punjab records maximum food stock damage in past five years in India
CHANDIGARH: Punjab, considered the food bowl of India, recorded food stock damage of 8,226.04 metric tonne (MT) of Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the last five years. Punjab topped the list, followed by Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha. These figures were placed on record in the Lok Sabha by the Union Minister for state of consumer affairs, food and public distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya in reply to an unstated question asked by Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai, Member of Parliament from Dadra and Nagar Haveli. As per the figures placed in the parliament showed that the cumulative loss over five years in Punjab stood at 8,226.04 MT of this the lowest was in 2020-21 at 25 MT, then 100 MT in 2021-22, then 264 in 2022-23, then 7,746 MT in 2023-24 and 91.04 in 2024-25. The second highest was in Tamil Nadu with 3,001.39 MT damaged in 2024-25, as only 7 MY in 2023-24 bringing its total to 3,008.39 MT. Then followed by Haryana at 2,511-MT loss in 2023-24, Uttar Pradesh the highest 2,254.32 MT in 2024-25, before that 2 MT in 2023-24, 47 MT in 2022-23, 78 MT in 2021-22 and 69 MT in 2020-21 taking its overall figure to 2,450.32 MT. Meanwhile, Maharashtra recorded an accumulated 2,856.68 MT of damaged stock over five years, including highest 1,985.68 MT in 2024-25 and Odisha reported 1,157 MT, mostly from 1,145 MT in 2020-21. But Punjab recorded the sharpest single-year damage, several other states reported sizeable losses. Also year-wise and commodity-wise assessments of damaged wheat and rice along with valuation were given. The highest recorded value of damaged food grains in the period was for rice in 2024-25, amounting to Rs 13.06 crore, linked to 0.072 lakh tonnes of damaged stock against an off take of 259.55 lakh tonne, translating to a 0.028% loss. For 2023-24, rice damage stood at 0.012 lakh tonnes, valued at Rs 2.06 crore. Wheat losses were recorded as 0.01 lakh tonnes in 2020-21, 0.004 lakh tonnes in 2022-23, and 0.0067 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, with corresponding values of Rs 0.64 crore, Rs 0.46 crore, and Rs 0.814 crore. The reply also stated that no central pool foodgrains got damaged due to insufficient FCI godowns. The overall storage capacity of Punjab is 174 lakh MT, comprising 124 lakh MT under the Food Corporation of India and another 49 LMT with state agencies.
Delhi fourth most polluted city in India; all top 10 cities from Haryana, UP: Study
CHANDIGARH: Delhi ranked fourth among the most polluted cities in the country in November, as per a report released by Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Ghaziabad topped the list, followed by Noida, Bahadurgarh, Delhi, Hapur, Greater Noida, Baghpat, Sonipat, Meerut and Rohtak. Despite a significant reduction in stubble-burning, 20 out of 29 cities in National Capital Region (NCR) recorded higher pollution levels than the previous year. Punjab and Haryana had been blamed in the past for being the primary cause of air pollution in the NCR; the two states have registered an 80 to 90 per cent drop in farm fire cases over the last four years. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA)s November 2025 Monthly Air Quality Snapshot, draws data from real-time continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) PM2.5. The report indicates a substantial deterioration in air quality across the country. Ghaziabad emerged as the most polluted city in the country in November this year with a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 224 g/m, violating the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on every day of the month, the report stated. It further said the city experienced 19 Very Poor days, 10 Severe days, and one Poor day. The report further reads, Uttar Pradesh accounted for six of the top ten cities, followed by Haryana with three, along with Delhi. All cities in the top 10 list recorded higher PM2.5 levels than the previous year, except for Delhi. Delhi ranked as the fourth most polluted city, recording a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 215 g/m in November, about twice its October level of 107 g/m. The city experienced 23 Very Poor days, six Severe days, and one Poor day throughout November, the report stated. Despite widespread pollution, the contribution of stubble burning was an average of 7 per cent in November, down from 20 per cent last year. Peak contributions of stubble burning reached 22 per cent, significantly lower than 38 per cent recorded in the previous year. Except for Bahadurgarh, none of the top ten cities recorded even a single day within the safe daily NAAQS limit. Several other cities, including Charkhi Dadri, Bulandshahr, Jind, Muzaffarnagar, Gurgaon, Khurja, Bhiwani, Karnal, Yamunanagar and Faridabad, also recorded PM2.5 levels above NAAQS every day of the month. Sonipat recorded very poor' air quality with PM 2.5 at 121-250 g/m on 29 of the 30 days, while Bahadurgarh remained the second most polluted with a PM 2.5 average of 215 g/m, it added. While seven cities of Punjab exceeded the standard as Mandi Gobindgarh was the most polluted in Punjab with PM 2.5 at 93 g/m. Despite a significant reduction in stubble-burning influence, 20 out of 29 NCR cities recorded higher pollution levels than the previous year, and many still did not register a single day within NAAQS limits. This clearly indicates that the dominant drivers are year-round sources such as transport, industry, power plants, and other combustion sources. Without sector-specific emission cuts, cities will continue to breach standards, said Manoj Kumar, analyst at CREA. At the state level, Rajasthan had the largest number of polluted cities, with 23 of 34 exceeding the NAAQS in November. Haryana had 22 of 25 such cities, while Uttar Pradesh had 14 of 20 above the standard. Pollution levels were also high across other states, with 9 of 12 cities in Madhya Pradesh, 9 of 14 in Odisha, and 7 of 8 in Punjab recording concentrations above NAAQS.
NEW DELHI: The stage is set for a high-voltage debate in Parliament as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi will lead the Oppositions discussion on electoral reforms and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Other speakers from Congress include general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, Manish Tewari, Varsha Gaikwad, Mohammed Jawaid, Ujjwal Raman Singh, Isha Khan Choudhury, Mallu Ravi, Imran Masood, Gowaal Padavi and Jothimani. While a total of ten hours has been allotted for the entire discussion, Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal is scheduled to reply to the debate on Wednesday. During the debate, Rahul Gandhi is expected to raise the issue of vote theft and the accountability of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The issue has been one of the central themes of his recent political campaigning. Gandhi and the broader Opposition have repeatedly alleged that discrepancies in voter rolls, manipulation of electoral procedures, and selective enforcement by the ECI to undermine the elections. Over the past year, Gandhi has held several press conferences alleging discrepancies in voter rolls and electoral procedures in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Karnataka, and systematic attempts to suppress or distort the results. He has alleged large-scale deletions, duplicate entries in voter list revisions. During the debate, the Opposition is also expected to raise the contentious issue of alleged pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the voter list re-verification drive. The matter escalated into a major political flashpoint after reports emerged of several BLOs dying, some by suicide, others under various circumstances that are still being scrutinized. These incidents sparked widespread concern among field officials with several BLOs alleging excessive workload and unrealistic targets. Since the Winter Session began on December 1, the Opposition parties have come together to stage protests both inside and outside Parliament for two consecutive days demanding a debate on electoral reforms and the SIR), and protections for frontline electoral staff. After multiple rounds of discussions between the government and Opposition floor leaders, a consensus was finally reached to hold a debate this week covering the national song Vande Mataram , the broader framework of electoral reforms, and specific issues linked to the SIR. On Monday, the Lok Sabha is scheduled to hold a debate on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram . Prime Minister Narendra Modi will initiate the discussion in the House, while Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, is expected to open the debate from the Opposition benches. Other Speakers from Congress include party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Deepender Hooda, Manipur MP Dr Bimol Akoijam, Praniti Shinde, Prashant Padole, Chamala Reddy and Korba MP Jyotsana Mahant. PM Modi to initiate debate on Vande Mataram in Lok Sabha on Monday The BJP has been allotted three hours for its interventions in the Lok Sabha debate, while a total of ten hours has been earmarked for the entire discussion. The Rajya Sabha will take up the debate on Vande Mataram on Tuesday, where the Home Minister will lead the discussion. The debate on Vande Mataram is likely to see fireworks as the Congress and the ruling BJP have been locking horns over the latters allegations that important stanzas of the national song were dropped in 1937, which sowed the seeds of partition. While inaugurating the year-long commemoration of Vande Mataram to mark 150 years of the national song, PM Modi, in his speech, said that a divisive mindset is still a challenge for the country.
Rahul Gandhi to lead Opposition debate on SIR in Lok Sabha
NEW DELHI: The stage is set for a high-voltage debate in Parliament as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi will lead the Oppositions discussion on electoral reforms and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Other speakers from Congress include general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, Manish Tewari, Varsha Gaikwad, Mohammed Jawaid, Ujjwal Raman Singh, Isha Khan Choudhury, Mallu Ravi, Imran Masood, Gowaal Padavi and Jothimani. While a total of ten hours has been allotted for the entire discussion, Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal is scheduled to reply to the debate on Wednesday. During the debate, Rahul Gandhi is expected to raise the issue of vote theft and the accountability of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The issue has been one of the central themes of his recent political campaigning. Gandhi and the broader Opposition have repeatedly alleged that discrepancies in voter rolls, manipulation of electoral procedures, and selective enforcement by the ECI to undermine the elections. Over the past year, Gandhi has held several press conferences alleging discrepancies in voter rolls and electoral procedures in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Karnataka, and systematic attempts to suppress or distort the results. He has alleged large-scale deletions, duplicate entries in voter list revisions. During the debate, the Opposition is also expected to raise the contentious issue of alleged pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the voter list re-verification drive. The matter escalated into a major political flashpoint after reports emerged of several BLOs dying, some by suicide, others under various circumstances that are still being scrutinized. These incidents sparked widespread concern among field officials with several BLOs alleging excessive workload and unrealistic targets. Since the Winter Session began on December 1, the Opposition parties have come together to stage protests both inside and outside Parliament for two consecutive days demanding a debate on electoral reforms and the SIR), and protections for frontline electoral staff. After multiple rounds of discussions between the government and Opposition floor leaders, a consensus was finally reached to hold a debate this week covering the national song Vande Mataram , the broader framework of electoral reforms, and specific issues linked to the SIR. On Monday, the Lok Sabha is scheduled to hold a debate on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram . Prime Minister Narendra Modi will initiate the discussion in the House, while Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, is expected to open the debate from the Opposition benches. Other Speakers from Congress include party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Deepender Hooda, Manipur MP Dr Bimol Akoijam, Praniti Shinde, Prashant Padole, Chamala Reddy and Korba MP Jyotsana Mahant. PM Modi to initiate debate on Vande Mataram in Lok Sabha on Monday The BJP has been allotted three hours for its interventions in the Lok Sabha debate, while a total of ten hours has been earmarked for the entire discussion. The Rajya Sabha will take up the debate on Vande Mataram on Tuesday, where the Home Minister will lead the discussion. The debate on Vande Mataram is likely to see fireworks as the Congress and the ruling BJP have been locking horns over the latters allegations that important stanzas of the national song were dropped in 1937, which sowed the seeds of partition. While inaugurating the year-long commemoration of Vande Mataram to mark 150 years of the national song, PM Modi, in his speech, said that a divisive mindset is still a challenge for the country.
Charges against deputy speakers personal secretary spark political storm in Haryana
Haryana CM directs rooftop solar installations on all government buildings
Ghaziabad tops list of most polluted cities in November; NCR dominates rankings
Ghaziabad recorded the highest pollution levels in November. The National Capital Region dominated the list of most polluted cities. Air quality remained poor across many cities in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Stubble burning's impact was lower than last year. Persistent pollution sources like vehicles and industries are driving these levels. Shillong in Meghalaya was the cleanest city.
SMAT 2025-26 | Pondicherry humbles Bengal; Baroda, sans Hardik, loses to Haryana
The southern side wins by 81 runs after bundling out the opposition for a paltry 96; Gujarat snatches a one-wicket victory over Himachal Pradesh
Punjab LoP moves HC seeking extension of nomination deadline for Zila Parishad, Block Samiti polls
CHANDIGARH: Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking an extension of the last date for filing nomination papers for Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections. They are alleging that widespread incidents of tearing, snatching and destruction of nomination forms on December 4 had prevented several candidates from filing valid nomination forms Also, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) demanded that the deadline for filing nominations in all areas where there were complaints of highhandedness and discrimination should be extended to allow for free and fair polls. In his petition, Bajwa maintained, Cases of illegal detentions, persons being waylaid and picked up, and candidates not allowed to reach the venue, etc., took place. There were videos and photos captured that showed persons running away with candidates nomination papers, fights taking place, brawls breaking out, candidates not allowed to reach the venue, NOCs not issued, and officials concerned nowhere to be found, Bajwa added. If, during an election, the very police that are supposed to ensure free and fair elections would start indulging in the abuse of power, undermining the law of the land and restraining the Opposition candidates from filing nomination papers, the faith of the people would be shaken in the democratic process. Therefore, an immediate time-bound investigation is initiated by a Central agency in the matter concerned, he said. Punjab Congress leader Warring accuses AAP government of patronising gangsters to win elections Bajwa sought directions to the State Election Commission to constitute an independent monitoring mechanism or appoint observers to ensure peaceful, fair and transparent polls. He also pressed for an inquiry by the CBI or any other Central agency into the conduct of Patiala SSP Varun Sharma, following the surfacing of an alleged audio recording purportedly directing police personnel among other things to disrupt the nomination process. Advocate Arshpreet Khadial appeared for Bajwa before the Chief Justice to make an oral mention. The request was allowed by the High Court, and now the matter will be taken up on December 8. Senior SAD party leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema also called for nomination of independent Observers for the polls, besides demanding stringent action, including charge sheeting of police and civil officials who had vitiated the election atmosphere by acting as stooges of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The party will also submit the names of Returning Officers who have acted in a partisan manner and rejected forms of opposition leaders en masse, and appeal that they should not be put on duty in the general elections in 2027. Cheema also came down heavily on the State Election Commission (SEC). Buzz over former Punjab CM Amarinder's advocacy for BJP-SAD alliance sparks possibilities of revival of ties He said it was condemnable that at a time when democracy was being murdered in the State, and the SEC had chosen to look away. This raises disturbing questions about the integrity of the SEC as it has failed to supervise the elections fairly and impartially and has also refused to take action against police officers, including Patiala SSP Varun Sharma, who specifically directed police officials to stop opposition candidates from reaching the offices of Returning Officers by resorting to illegal and unconstitutional means. Meanwhile, giving details of mass-level rejection of SAD candidates, Cheema said that in the case of Tarn Taran, out of 72 Zila Parishad seats, forms of party candidates had been rejected in 41 seats. He said in case of Block Samitis, in Tarn Taran, 31 forms across 63 seats had been rejected, in Gandiwind 37 forms across 52 seats, in Khadoor Sahib 43 forms across 151 seats, in Patti 56 forms across 75 seats, in Bhikhiwind 77 forms across 100 seats, in Valtoha 56 forms across 78 seats and in Naushehra Pannuan 40 forms across 83 seats had been rejected. Cheema said similarly in the Block Samiti seats in Majitha, 12 SAD candidates were not allowed to file nominations. He said in Bhoa and Zira, no SAD candidate was allowed to file a nomination. He said in Raja Sansi candidature of 25 out of the 35 SAD contestants were rejected for the Block Samiti elections, and in the case of Baba Bakala, 18 forms across 49 seats were rejected. He also disclosed how in Fatehgarh Churian, 2 forms out of 4 Zila Parishad seats and 14 forms across 25 Block Samiti seats were rejected. He also added that a large number of SAD candidates were not allowed to file their nominations in Qadian, Jaitu, Ghanaur, Nurpur Bedi, Patran, Khanauri, Jandiala and Ajnala
Punjab loses 12k hectares of farm land, Haryana gains 59k: Centre
Haryana amends guideline on foreign visits of officers
Central Govt makes U-turn, cancels Gang Canal anniversary celebration fearing backlash in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: With Punjab Assembly elections just 14 months away and fearing political backlash, the BJP-led Union Government made a U-turn by cancelling the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Gang Canal, which had been scheduled for today at Hussainiwala in Ferozepur. The canal carries water from Punjab to parts of Rajasthan, and the event was considered politically sensitive. This marks the fourth reversal in a little over a month by the Centre in order to avoid further controversy. Sources said Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Member of Parliament from Bikaner, had landed at Amritsar International Airport on Thursday evening en route to Ferozepur. However, he did not leave the terminal and instead boarded a return flight after reportedly being asked to return. According to sources, the decision was taken because holding the event risked unrest, with farmers and political parties preparing protests against the celebrations. Senior Punjab BJP leaders had also alerted the central leadership that proceeding with the event could turn sour for the party in the state. Already the intelligence agencies had warned that Meghwals visit might lead to protests once news of the function became public late yesterday, said an official. Punjab BJP leader Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, formerly with the Congress, had been organising the event at Hussainiwala in Ferozepur district, where the canal originates. For many Punjabis, the mention of the Gang Canal reopens a century-old wound. Sources said top state leaders of the saffron party had instructed the central leadership that the state unit should not be associated with the event. The party has nothing to do with this program, as the interests of the state are paramount, it was an individual event organised by Rana Sodhi. We told the central leadership how this can backfire for the party in the state, and thus the minister was then accordingly instructed by the centre to return. We are grateful that the centre understood the sensitivity of the issue well in time, as the Gang Canal is a contentious issue in Punjab due to water sharing concern, said a senior party leader on condition of anonymity. Despite repeated attempts, Rana Sodhi was not available for comment. Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa had already condemned the BJP for its insensitive and politically provocative decision to celebrate the centenary of the Gang Canal from Punjab's soil. The BJP has once again demonstrated its disconnect from Punjab's history and the emotions of its people, he said. Bajwa reminded that the Gang Canal was constructed by the British in the early 20th century, primarily to appease the Maharaja of Bikaner, whose loyalty to the British Crown was rewarded through generous allocations of Punjab's river waters. To organise a celebratory event on Punjab's land is nothing short of reopening these painful wounds, he said. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said, Punjabs water crisis cannot be papered over with staged events and speeches. The BJP is glorifying a canal that historically drained Punjabs waters, while our fields remain parched. We are not against acknowledging history, but against hypocrisy. First, safeguard Punjabs water rights, fix the canal system, stop water theft, and ensure clean water for every farmer only then celebrate. The Gang Canal project, inaugurated on December 5, 1925 and named after Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner, was built to address famine and irrigation issues in the Bikaner region. Stretching 1,398 kilometers including distributaries, the canal runs along the northeastern Indo-Pak border and remains a vital water source for both regions. This is not the first reversal by the Union Government in the recent past. Earlier, it withdrew the notification regarding the Panjab University senate and syndicate polls, clarified that no final decision had been taken on the proposed bill to include Chandigarh under Article 240 (which would allow the President to appoint a separate Lieutenant Governor for the Union Territory), and rejected the Haryana governments proposal to construct a separate Assembly building in Chandigarh.
4 Kids Killed In 2 Years: How 28-Year-Old Poonam Plotted A Murder Spree In Her Own Family
A series of child deaths once seen as accidents now point to a disturbing pattern within a Haryana family, as police uncover a relative's alleged role in the murders
Northern India shivers as temperatures plunge; Delhi chokes under very poor air
North India continued to reel under sharp winter conditions on Friday, with large parts of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana recording minimum temperatures well below normal, even as Kashmir saw a brief improvement in the cold due to overcast skies. Delhi, meanwhile, remained choked under very poor air quality as a cold wave was forecast for the day. Rajasthan recorded the lowest temperature in the region, with Fatehpur in Sikar district plunging to 1.9C on Friday morning. The Jaipur Meteorological Centre said minimum temperatures stayed below 10 degrees Celsius across several districts, including Sikar at 3C, Nagaur at 3.1C, Lunkaransar at 3.2C, Churu at 4.5C and Pilani at 4.8C. Dry conditions are likely to persist over most parts of the state for the next week, it added. Bone-chilling cold also gripped Punjab and Haryana. Faridkot, at 3C, was the coldest among the two states. In Punjab, Bathinda recorded 3.2C, while Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur reported lows between 5.5C and 6.2C. In neighbouring Haryana, Narnaul was the coldest at 3.5C, while Hisar recorded 3.7C. Karnal, Rohtak, Bhiwani and Sirsa registered temperatures ranging between 5.4C and 7.7C. Chandigarh, the shared capital, reported a minimum of 6.1C. Kashmir, however, witnessed an improvement in night temperatures as cloud cover pushed the mercury above those recorded in recent days. Srinagar, which had plunged to 4C the previous night, recorded a low of 0.4Cover four degrees higher. Qazigund reported 0.2C, Kupwara 0.2C, Kokernag 0.8C, Pahalgam 1.8C and Gulmarg 0C. Konibal in Pulwama district remained the coldest in the Union Territory at 3C. The weather office said light snowfall is possible in the higher reaches later on Friday, while another brief spell is likely on December 8. In Delhi, there was no respite from toxic air as the Air Quality Index stood at 323 at 9 am, firmly in the very poor category. Bawana recorded the highest AQI in the city at 373, while 30 monitoring stations reported very poor levels. The capital saw fluctuating pollution levels through the week, with the AQI rising from 279 on Sunday to 372 on Tuesday before settling at 304 on Thursday. The IMD said a cold wave is expected through the day, with the minimum temperature dipping to 5.6C, nearly four degrees below normal. The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 22C, while relative humidity touched 100% in the morning. (With inputs from PTI)
Haryana Common Entrance Test 2025 Group C Result Out, Download Scorecard Here
HSSC CET 2025 Group C Result Out: According to the qualifying criteria, general category candidates must secure at least 50% marks, while reserved category candidates need a minimum of 40% marks for selection.
HSSC CET Group C result 2025 declared at cet2025groupc.hryssc.com: Direct link to download here
The Haryana Staff Selection Commission has released the HSSC CET 2025 results for Group-C posts, bringing relief to over 13 lakh candidates who appeared for the July exam. Scorecards are now available on the HSSC website. With results out, the commission will next issue category-wise cut-offs, merit lists, and document verification schedules before proceeding to vacancy allocation.
Major Mohit Sharma displayed immense courage and sacrifice for India. Born in Rohtak, Haryana, he served in elite forces. He received the Sena Medal for an undercover operation. In his final battle in Kupwara, he rescued soldiers and neutralised terrorists. Major Sharma was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra for his supreme sacrifice. His life inspires many.
Killer mom: Kin blame tantrik' angle; Haryana police blame mental illness
Haryana minister Anil Vij listens to public complaints, directs action
Punjab & Haryana HC initiative to help Burail jail inmates get new skills
Haryana woman saved with donor heart from 61-yr-old Gurgaon man
National T20 Cricket Tournament: Cricket Association of Blind (CAB) Haryana dominated CAB Madhya Pradesh, while CAB Odisha outclassed Bihar with a flawless 6-wicket win in the Nagesh Trophy Mens National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2025 (8th Edition) at the Ranital Sports Complex in Jabalpur on Thursday. Cricket Association of Blind (CAB) Haryana delivered a clinical all-round performance to defeat CAB Madhya Pradesh by 8 wickets in the opening clash of the day. Madhya Pradesh posted 137/9 in their 20 overs, built around skipper Deepak Pahades 32 (off 32), while Haryanas disciplined attackled by Gaurav Singh and Deepak Malikkept the pressure on throughout. Haryana made the chase look effortless, racing to 138/2 in just 12.5 overs. Skipper Deepak Maliks blazing 40 not out off 26 balls and Chandan Thakurs composed 28 off 21 stitched a match-winning stand that sealed the game with authority. Deepak Malik of CAB Haryana was adjudged Player of the Match for a skippers knock that finished the contest in style. In the second match of the day, CAB Odisha romped to a dominant victory, chasing down Bihars 152-run target in a mere 11.4 overs in what is a statement of power and precision. Bihars total was held together by Bicky Oraon (36) and Balkaran Kumar (35), but 30 wides proved costly. Odishas bowlers maintained control, backed by two sharp run-outs that tightened the screws. Odishas reply was electric. Dhanapati Gauda launched the innings with a commanding 55 off 30 balls (7 fours), supported by quick-fire contributions from Lalprasad Soren and Anjan Singh, as Odisha sealed the chase with overs to spare. Bihars total was held together by Bicky Oraon (36) and Balkaran Kumar (35), but 30 wides proved costly. Odishas bowlers maintained control, backed by two sharp run-outs that tightened the screws. Also Read: Live Cricket Score . Article Source: IANS
SMAT | Baroda makes short work of Gujarat; Abhisheks all-round show floors Pondicherry
Shami-Akash duo shares seven wickets before Porel and Abhimanyu seal Bengals win over Services; Yashvardhan smashes a 44-ball unbeaten 76 as Haryana gets the better of Himachal Pradesh
CHANDIGARH: A major political storm has erupted in Punjab ahead of the upcoming Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers stopped their candidates from filing nominations for the upcoming polls on the last day before the deadline ended. Alleging abuse of power by the ruling AAP government, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said, This shows that the AAP has lost ground and has seen the writing on the wall. That is why it's resorting to such desperate attempts to misuse police and official machinery. He said if the government was confident about its performance, why did it need to use such tactics. This only reveals the sense of panic, desperation and frustration as the government has realized its support was eroding, he added. Earlier, during an informal interaction with reporters, Warring said the abuse of police and government machinery is a hallmark of the AAP government in Punjab. He said what was purportedly being discussed by police in an audio clip that went viral was already happening all over Punjab and being recorded by the public. He alleged that a Congress leader, whose wife was scheduled to file nomination papers, was picked up by the area SHO illegally detained for the entire night. Meanwhile, the SAD filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday to register a FIR against Patiala SSP Varun Sharma as well as order his immediate suspension pending a CBI probe into the audio clip released earlier by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. In the clip, the SSP is purportedly heard directing the district police force in a conference call to prevent opposition candidates, particularly those from the SAD, from reaching the office of the Returning Officer to file their nomination papers. Badal alleged that similar directions had been issued to the police force across the state at the instance of the Aam Aadmi Party government and demanded the intervention of the Election Commission besides approaching the high court. The court has issued a notice to the state government as well as the State Election Commission for Monday. The petition, filed as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by former legislator Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, sought urgent judicial safeguards to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections to the Block Samitis and Zila Parishads in the state. The petition called for deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF) or independent observers until the completion of the elections and counting process in Patiala district. Following the circulation of the purported audio clip, the Patiala Police issued a strong clarification, stating that it is fake and AI-generated. In an official statement, the police said the clip was created with malicious intent to mislead the public, spread disinformation, and disturb law and order during the election period. Appropriate and stringent legal action will be taken against the culprits, it said. Urging citizens not to fall for doctored or fabricated content, the Patiala Police reaffirmed that they remain fully committed to ensuring free and fair elections. Meanwhile, BJP Punjab General Secretary Anil Sareen alleged that the AAP government in Punjab, fearing defeat in the upcoming Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections, is utilizing the police machinery and civil officers, much like its party workers. Pressure is being created on opposition candidates to stop them from filing nomination papers. Not only this, in several constituencies, the police have been conducting raids on candidates houses, locking their gates, picking up family members, tearing their documents, and blocking roads to obstruct their movement, he said. Sareen said, The police are no longer upholding the law. They are functioning like the AAPs B-team. He also showed a purported audio clip in which the police were seen picking up Vikas Pandey, husband of BJP candidate Priyanka Pandey, from Jandali in Patiala district, at around 5 a.m., and incidents of tearing the nomination papers of candidates in Rajpura and Ghanaur. Alleging that the AAP government is indulging in dirty politics, Sareen claimed that a systematic plan is being executed to prevent opposition candidates from filing their nomination papers.
here . CCDC field staff collecting samples from a patient Excess dietary salt intake is a major preventable risk factor for hypertension and CVDs. Thus, salt reduction is recommended by most global health organizations and the National NCD Action Plan as a key strategy to reduce CVDs. Reducing the salt intake by 30% by 2025 is among the WHO's nine voluntary global targets. The most recent WHO status report shows that the world is far behind in achieving this target. Prof. (Dr) Dorairaj Prabhakaran, Executive Director, CCDC and senior author of the study, explained the relevance of these findings and population study in the context of national efforts to combat the global burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) reported in India. He said, “ One of the major concerns in terms of reducing salt intake is whether it would impact iodine consumption, given that there is a mandatory fortification of salt with iodine to prevent hypothyroidism and goitre. However, this study clearly shows that even with reduced sodium intake, iodine intake remains adequate, and the fear that lowering sodium intake will reduce iodine intake is misplaced. It is crucial, as a public health measure, to reduce sodium to reduce the prevalence of hypertension in the population. To give a context, more than 300 million Indians live with hypertension. And one of the most essential lifestyle measures is reducing salt intake. In this regard, the study has provided major insights: reducing salt intake will not adversely affect iodine intake.” Speaking about the findings, Professor Sailesh Mohan, Deputy Director & Head-CVD Epidemiology, CCDC, and one of the senior study authors, said , “Salt intake is high in India, and its reduction through population-wide efforts is an urgent imperative to control the rising burden of hypertension, which affects a third of Indian adults. This study’s findings provide much-needed evidence to indicate that salt reduction to recommended levels is unlikely to impact iodine levels among adults.” Study Design and Findings This study aimed to estimate the daily salt and iodine consumption levels of the adult population in India and examine the effect of the WHO-recommended salt intake levels on iodine levels. The study sites were selected to include slum and non-slum urban and rural areas. The urban part of the survey was conducted in Delhi, and the rural part in Faridabad, Haryana. Participant recruitment was done using a stratified random sampling method to recruit individuals from urban, urban slum, and rural areas, from 6 age and sex groups. Iodine in salt, which was collected from 205 households, was estimated by iodometric titration with sodium thiosulfate. All samples were analyzed in triplicate with two levels of controls. The intra- and interassay coefficient of variation were 1.39% and 1.42%, respectively Key Takeaways A cross-sectional study was conducted in Delhi and Haryana, India, among adults aged ≥20 years, and 24-hour urine samples were collected to assess the salt and iodine levels. Sample - The mean salt intake was 8.07 g/d (95% confidence interval: 7.03, 9.11), median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 167.8 μg/L (102.63–284.5), and the mean urinary iodine excretion (UIE) was 276.1 μg/ 24h (254.5–297.8). Observation - Analysis to assess iodine intake adequacy by salt intake levels indicated that the median UIC, as well as UIE, were adequate when salt intake was as per the WHO- WHO-recommended level, i.e., ≤5 g/d. The conclusion was that even at the WHO-recommended salt intake levels, population iodine intake in this study population was adequate, likely indicating that upward titration in iodine concentration in salt may not be required. Conclusion - Thus, current salt reduction recommendations are unlikely to impact iodine supplementation efforts, indicating compatibility between the 2 interventions, which should be continuously monitored through robust surveillance. This study demonstrates that in India, where universal salt iodization is mandatory, a reduction in salt intake to WHO’s recommended levels of ≤ 5 g/d does not compromise the level of iodine intake among participants as measured by 24-h UIC and UIE in adults. These findings provide strong support for the WHO’s recommendations to reduce population salt intake to prevent hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, and also allay concerns regarding the requirement of an upward iodine titration in salt to account for the reduced dietary salt intake. Thus, current salt reduction recommendations are unlikely to impact iodine supplementation efforts, indicating compatibility between the 2 interventions. The study protocol was approved by the Indian Health Ministry’s Screening Committee and the ethics committee of the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi. It was supported by a funding award made by the Global Alliance for Chronic Disease through the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC). About CCDC The Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC) is leading efforts to transform public health and empower public health professionals to combat the growing challenge of chronic diseases across India and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Established in 2000 as a non-profit scientific organization, this Delhi-based organization has been working alongside the Government of India (GoI) to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in India.
Panipat Police arrest a 32-year-old woman who confessed to killing four children three nieces and her own son by drowning them. Her hatred for beautiful girls drove the murders. One mistake at a wedding finally exposed her crimes.
US deported 3,258 Indian nationals in 2025; 18,822 since 2009: EAM Jaishankar tells Parliament
The United States has deported as many as 18,822 Indian nationals since 2009, including 3,258 this year since January 2025, the Union government told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Responding to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said state governments and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have also investigated cases of human trafficking , in which Punjab has the maximum number of cases. Since 2009, a total of 18,822 Indian nationals have been deported to India, the minister informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question. He said 617 Indians had been deported in 2023, and as many as 1,368 were deported in 2024. Since January 2025, a total of 3,258 Indian nationals have been deported by the United States to India. Of these, 2,032 individuals (approximately 62.3 per cent) were deported on regular commercial flights, while the remaining 1,226 (37.6 per cent) arrived on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operated charter flights. 'Main pagal nahi hoon': How an Indian youth's deportation shook the US citizen in me Replying to supplementaries, the minister said the NIA established some years ago an anti-human trafficking division, and it has today a mandate to cover human trafficking. State governments have also launched investigations into human trafficking cases, he noted. The NIA has registered and investigated 27 human trafficking cases, resulting in 169 arrests and chargesheets against 132 individuals. The NIA arrested two important traffickers in Haryana and Punjab on August 7 and then in Himachal Pradesh, two more people on October 2, the minister informed. Jaishankar said, as far as state governments are concerned, The maximum number of trafficking cases is from the state of Punjab. The Punjab government has constituted an SIT and a fact-finding committee. As per information given by them to us, 25 FIRs have been registered against 58 illegal travel agents, and 16 accused have been arrested. In the case of state of Haryana, 2,325 cases have been registered and 44 FIRs have been registered and 27 people have been arrested. Also, one significant trafficker has been arrested by the state of Gujarat, he said. Jaishankar said the Ministry of External Affairs remains engaged with the US side to ensure the humane treatment of deportees during US ICE/CBP deportation operations. The Ministry has strongly registered its concerns with the US authorities on the treatment of deportees , particularly with respect to the use of shackles, especially on women and children, the minister told the house in his written reply. No instance of shackling of women and children has been brought to the notice of this Ministry since the 5th February deportation flight, he said. Jaishankar said the US authorities have conveyed that the Restraining Policy for US deportation flights is in place since 19 November 2012 as part of the Standard Operating Procedure of the ICE. They have also conveyed that their policy of shackling deportees is followed to ensure the safety and security of all passengers on these flights. In the past, they claim that there have been instances of violence by deportees against fellow deportees and supporting crew members on such deportation flights. While women and minors are generally not shackled, the flight officer in charge of a deportation flight, in the interest of the safety of the mission, has the final say on the matter, he said. It is also pertinent to note that wanted criminals and gangsters who have been accused of terrorism, homicide, attempt to murder, extortion, etc., have also been removed on these deportation flights. In India's case, absconding criminals such as Lakhwinder Singh and Anmol Bishnoi , against whom lookout notices and arrest warrants have been issued by our law enforcement agencies, have been brought back on such deportation flights, the minister said in his written reply. UNHCR chief says US deportation practices violate the law Based on the accounts and testimonies given by returning deportees, he said the Central and respective State Governments along with the relevant law enforcement agencies, have registered a number of cases, and investigations as well as actions are ongoing against several illegal immigration agents, criminal facilitators and human trafficking syndicates that run these rackets. On a specific case of one Harjit Kaur (73) who was deported by US on February 25, the minister told the member that even though she was not handcuffed, she was maltreated during her detention and the matter was raised by them with the US authorities. Whenever any flight with deportees comes, the deportees are invariably interviewed by the officials of the Goverment of India. In this case, our immigration officers have confirmed that she was not handcuffed. We have seen reports reportaining to this, he said. While Harjit Kaur was not handcuffed, she was maltreated. She was maltreated in detention before she was put on the flight. On September 26, we have officially taken up her maltreatment with the American Embassy. We have made clear our very strong concern about the manner of her treatment and have asked the American authorities to look into this matter, Jaishankar told the house. Around the world, migrants are being deported at alarming rates how did this become normalised?
Haryana Environment Minister Admits Air Quality Index Machines Show Incorrect Data
Rao Narbir Singh said that most devices cannot display readings beyond 500 AQI, even when the actual pollution may be far higher.
Meet Deeya Yadav, Who Makes Historic WPL Entry, To Play Alongside Shafali Verma
Shri Ram Narain Cricket Club: Exactly a week ago, IT professionals Pinky and Rakesh Yadav endured a nerve-wracking evening. While Pinky was at home, Rakesh was on his way back from office. Just 18 kilometres away, their 16-year-old daughter Deeya's name was about to flash up in the WPL auction. While Deeya was with Haryana's U23 squad in Kerala for the T20 games, nervousness peaked within Pinky and Rakesh when auctioneer Mallika Sagar took her name. The auction room was quiet for 10-15 seconds before Delhi Capitals who were tracking the teenager for a while - raised their paddle and took her in at a base price of Rs 10 lakh. When finally DC raised the paddle, I was hugely relieved. It was our first experience as well because we arent aware of how the auction works. So it was an amazing experience - though quite a nervous one, recalled Rakesh in a chat with IANS. For Pinky, more than nerves, it was fear. She watched players go unsold before Deeya's name came. I was scared that when her name comes up, what would happen. But suddenly DC came and made the bid, I was like, 'Oh God, I was not expecting this but it has happened now'. We are still in shock like did this happen for real and so soon? she told IANS. Life hasn't been the same since Deeya became the youngest player to be signed in a WPL auction. We are just a very normal middle-class family. I don't have words to explain about how life has been for us after Deeya got picked for WPL. She's getting a lot of attention, many phone calls are coming and we don't actually know how to react to it, said Rakesh. At DC, Deeya will reunite with her idol - India opener Shafali Verma, player of the match in last month's ODI World Cup final. The pair bonded well in Haryana's setup, and now destiny has placed them together in DC. Shafali has been her favourite for a long time and MS Dhoni is also her favourite cricketer. Co-incidentally all are right-handed batters. Deeya can bowl with both hands. She does all work, including writing, with her left hand. But when she picks up the bat, she is a right-hander, said Rakesh. Watching Shafali dismantle bowling attacks shaped Deeya's game, where aggression is the fulcrum. In the 2023 Under-15 Women's One-Day Cup, Deeya smashed an unbeaten 213 off 125 balls against Tripura, an innings which put her on DC's radar. This year, she finished as fifth highest run-getter in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy - 298 runs at 59.5 with a strike rate of 128. She maintained that form by being the fourth highest run-getter in inter-zonal T20 competition - 151 runs coming at a strike rate of 149.5. We have been tracking Deeya Yadav closely through the recent domestic season, especially during the Senior Womens T20 and Inter Zonal tournaments. Playing alongside her Haryana teammate and idol Shafali Verma has been a vital part of her development. Deeya showed fearless intent, a wide array of shots, and composure at a young age, which impressed us during these competitions. Her numbers were strong, and she caught the attention of scouts, but we were fortunate to pick her at base price. What makes Deeya stand out are her reactions to different situations, attitude, body language, and intent. She plays fearlessly, and one of her most standout shots is how she likes to go aerial down the ground, over mid-on and mid-off. With Delhi Capitals having retained three key Indian batters, she is the ideal backup player for that role. Playing alongside Shafali again at Delhi Capitals will help her continue to develop that confidence and aggression which we value highly, said CricViz analysts, who are a part of the DC scouting team, to IANS. Amidst all this, Rakesh - a former Delhi Under-19 player who played a fair bit of corporate cricket recalled the time in 2015/16, when the family was in Pune. Deeya was like any other kid, hopping between skating, music, dance, badminton, gymnastics - whatever caught her eye in a particular month. One day, she told Rakesh about wanting to play cricket and took to it immediately. Rakesh would drive her to weekend sessions, where he watched her enthusiasm grow. She was enjoying herself there and that was the best part. Based on the little bit of cricket I played, I saw she grasped the skillsets very well. Then she started asking for equipment, kit, and slowly, I also started helping her, he said. Deeyas budding promise could have been derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic. When lockdown hit and everything went remote, the family relocated to Gurugram. With no formal training available, Rakesh and Deeya found a ground near their home - he would throw balls and she would bat. Rakesh faced no major challenges in shaping Deeya's career barring money matters. There were some challenges to manage finances as it's a very demanding sport. If you want to excel, then you need top-notch equipment and coaches. The fees were quite high, but we managed somehow. For Pinky, the sacrifices were greater. As a working mother, she juggled office demands, household responsibilities, and younger daughter's school routine even as Rakesh went with Deeya for training. Everyone was going in different paths. Sometimes, I took a leave or shifted my work late or early, but I managed somehow. Deeya now trains at the Shri Ram Narain Cricket Club in Sultanpur, and is strongly supported by the Haryana Cricket Association. Rakesh stays closely involved, tracking Deeya's progress with supportive coaches who keep him informed. But as a former cricketer himself, he knew when to step back. We as parents should not interfere much in the sport and when a kid starts doing power hitting, especially girls, they have a range of shots on the leg-side. But over a period of time, when she started gaining some strength, she developed shots on both sides, and that gives her the ability to hit around the park. Her strength and conditioning coach has also worked on her to get this, said Rakesh. Sanjay Negi, who runs a training centre in Ghitorni, coached Deeya in 2023. What stood out wasn't just her 360-degree shot-making - it was her mental strength. She has a mindset that if I don't make a run today, I will make it again tomorrow. The world usually stresses on being technically sound, but she is mentally very sound. Technically, there was work to do, and Negi did strengthen her basics. When she first came, she couldnt take singles, basics were a little poor, would get out to inswingers very quickly, was very weak in facing leg-spinners and had issues in backlift - so I strengthened all of that. My belief is if you strengthen weaknesses on time in this growing phase, it's fine, he said. Like many young cricketers, Deeya copped stern words from coaches. Her mood would drop and Pinky would remind her: it's all part of the journey. I would say just think that we also want you to grow and go ahead. We used to make her understand and get her to feel that everyone is with her. She is very good nature wise and forgets things in a while. Before having a breakout time in this season, Deeya struggled with fitness and recurring fatigue. Heavy workloads and poor diet left her injury-prone, as Deeya dealt with a ligament injury. In August, Rakesh sought help from Bengaluru-based sports nutritionist Rashmi Cherian. As an opening batter, Deeyas energy levels were a concern, while recovery was harder. Long hours on the field left her drained, meaning fatigue was high, so as risk of overuse injuries. Rashmi and Deeya are yet to meet in person, and with the latter constantly on the road, they connect via late night or early morning calls. The transformation was swift - within three months, energy surged, recovery improved, fatigue vanished, giving a tall Deeya an athletic build. It took a lot of effort because players are talented, but their bodies are weak. We stick to our traditional and regular home-cooked food, but mostly plates are incomplete. Yes, it has roti, vegetables, dal and rice, is clean, hygienic and homemade. But is it complete and enough for a player? I had to dig deeper and work around right from what she will eat before and after training, she said to IANS. Deeya's reluctance to follow nutritional advice initially tested Rashmi's patience. The stern words came, so did caring ones and eventually, Deeya listened. For any athlete, it's not easy to change food habits. You've been following something and then you have your pressure of playing games. On top of that, you have to eat something which you really don't like. Her discipline is remarkable. We have to make up protein as she's vegetarian and you do not get these things regularly. This girl used to eat Amul raw paneer in the room. Once she sent me a photo of eating that and I was like, Are you eating this raw? Her reply was, Yes mam, I'm okay to eat it. So I was like, wow, this is a good transformation and I was glad to see this. When her fitness became better, she began to strike fifties effortlessly and one of them won the game for Haryana. Such has been the effect that we dont talk about her previous injuries anymore, she said. Through Rashmis guidance, Deeya's diet is constantly fine-tuned. Morning calls decide between eating dosa, uttapam or idli, depending on whether it's a match day or training day. Supplements and electrolytes shift with each city's conditions, so as pictures of food menus. The process goes beyond nutrition - hydration, recovery, foam rolling, stretching, and sleep are monitored. Rashmi noted Deeya's fat percentage has dropped further while muscle mass improved significantly. Rashmi also provides a food list and Deeya carries protein bars and non-perishable foods in a bag. Instances have happened where she has to be on ground or at training while the menstrual pain was intense. Once, she finished an intense 2-3 hours training session and players were served tea, biscuit and pakoras. I asked, 'What are you going to do?' She would reply, 'Mam, I just had what you asked me to eat'. When Deeya was down with ligament injury, she, Pinky and Rakesh stayed committed to making a career out of playing cricket despite the uncertainty. Hardly anybody focuses on this, but her parents were very particular, especially her father. When she was out of training, we didn't know what her future was. I told her father that I am there to help and now she's doing great. Deeya's journey to play cricket has been demanding - learning the game in Pune, relocating to Gurugram, enduring hours of traffic for attending training sessions, while balancing her nutritional needs and constantly play various age-group games. Yet her focus remained sharp enough to catch DC's attention for 2026 WPL. When Deeya was down with ligament injury, she, Pinky and Rakesh stayed committed to making a career out of playing cricket despite the uncertainty. Hardly anybody focuses on this, but her parents were very particular, especially her father. When she was out of training, we didn't know what her future was. I told her father that I am there to help and now she's doing great. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Actually, there is no special hope. I don't want to put my hopes on her shoulders. Shes too young for that. But like every parent in India, I want her to enjoy first. Wherever destiny takes her, I want her to enjoy and thankfully, she is enjoying. I'm sure if she keeps on enjoying, and learning new things, she will definitely do good and I want to see her playing for India, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Haryana Horror: Poonam's Beauty Complex And 4 Dead Children In 2 Years
Poonam the Haryana woman accused of killing four children, including her son first tried to commit murder in 2021; the chosen victim was her niece, Vidhi, then just two-years-old.
NIA conducts multi-State searches to probe arms smuggling to Bihar
Searches were being conducted in 22 places across Haryana, Bihar and Haryana, officials said
Haryana Man Who Bid Rs 1.17 Crore For VIP Plate HR88B8888 Misses Payment DeadlineWhat Happens Now?
The Haryana government has decided to examine the bidders finances after he failed to complete the Rs 1.17 crore deal of the HR88B8888 number plate.
MP records higher stubble burning than 5 states
BHOPAL: As the country grapples with worsening air quality, it has been revealed that Madhya Pradeshthe home state of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhanis contributing the maximum to stubble burning. According to the recent statistics pertaining to monitoring paddy residue burning in the country via satellite remote sensing, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) detected as many as 33,028 active burning events in six study states. The six study states are: Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. As per the recent report, out of the 33,028 active fire events detected across the six states, a maximum 17,067 or 52% events was detected in MP. Importantly, these 17,067 active burning events detected in MP, between September 15 and November 30, 2025, were more than the collective 15,961 similar active events reported in the same period in the five other states. Among the five other states, 5,114 burning events were detected in Punjab, 662 in Haryana, 7290 in UP, just 5 in Delhi and 2,890 in Rajasthan. Similar picture was revealed when it came to 292 crop residue active burning events detected in the six study states on November 30. MP again attained the top position with 160 burning events, which was more than the total 132 burning events in the 5 other states. Burning events detected in the 5 other states on November 30, included 2 in Punjab, 3 in Punjab, 125 in UP, nil in Delhi, and just 2 in Rajasthan. Further analysis of the crop residue burning events detected through the satellite remote sensing technology recently revealed that the Gwalior-Chambal region contributed the maximum to stubble burning in the forest-rich central Indian state. Out of the 17,067 active burning events between September 15 and November 30, a maximum 2,643 were reported in Sheopur district, which borders Rajasthan. As many as 1,930 events were detected in Gwalior district, followed by 1,797 events in the adjoining Datia. Other districts of the same region where significant active burning events were detected included Ashoknagar (506) and 64 in Morena. Raging menace Using satellite remote sensing, ICAR detected 33,028 paddy residue burning events across six states between Sept 15 and November 20, 2025 The six states are Punjab, Haryana , Uttar Pradesh ,Delhi , Rajasthan , Madhya Pradesh MPs 17,067 incidents exceeded the combined 15,961 fires reported by the other five states The other states reported Punjab - 5,114 Haryana - 662 Uttar Pradesh - 7,290 Delhi - 5 Rajasthan - 2,890 Burning events in the five states on Nov 30: Punjab 2, Haryana 3, UP 125 Delhi 0, Rajasthan 2.
The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings for very heavy rainfall in coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Kerala, with schools in Chennai and Tiruvallur closed due to incessant rain. Meanwhile, parts of North India are experiencing cold wave conditions and dense fog, impacting mobility and traffic. The IMD has warned of cold wave conditions for Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and north Rajasthan.
Haryana CM Saini hits out at Mamata-led TMC government in Bengal; says targeting Hindus
CM Saini said that despite West Bengal having a woman Chief Minister, the condition of women in the state wassuffering and their situation was deteriorating
A chilling child murder spree has been uncovered in Haryana, with a 34-year-old woman, Poonam, confessing to drowning at least four children, including her own toddler son. Driven by an urge to kill children more attractive than her own, she meticulously staged the deaths as accidents. The latest victim was a six-year-old girl at a wedding.
JJP delegation meets Haryana governor over MDU NAAC rating, demands inquiry
Haryana man fails to pay 1 cr. for fancy number; Minister orders income check
Last week, during an online auction for the registration number HR-88-B-8888 in the Badhra subdivision of Charkhi Dadri district, the man was declared the successful bidder
ICAR data: Madhya Pradesh leads parali burning with 52% of fire events among six states
BHOPAL: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans home state, Madhya Pradesh, is contributing the maximum to parali burning (paddy residue/stubble burning) in the country, data showed. As per the recent statistics pertaining to monitoring paddy residue burning in the country via satellite remote sensing, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said as many as 33,028 active burning events in six study states. The six study states included Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. As per the recent report, out of the 33,028 active fire events detected across the six states, a maximum 17,067 or 52% events were detected in MP. Importantly, these 17,067 active burning events detected in MP, between September 15 and November 30, 2025, were more than the collective 15,961 similar active events reported in the same period in the five other states. Among the five other states, 5,114 burning events were detected in Punjab, 662 in Haryana, 7,290 in UP, 2, 890 in Rajasthan and just five in Delhi. A similar picture was revealed when it came to 292 crop residue active burning events detected in the six study states on November 30. MP again attained the top position with 160 burning events, which was more than the total 132 burning events in the five other states. Burning events detected in the five other states on November 30, included two in Punjab, three in Punjab, 125 in UP, zero in Delhi and just two in Rajasthan. Further analysis of the crop residue burning events detected through the satellite remote sensing technology revealed that the Gwalior-Chambal region contributed the maximum to stubble burning in the forest-rich central Indian state. 'Incorrect to pass burden onto farmers': SC questions blaming stubble burning for Delhi pollution Out of the 17,067 active burning events between September 15 and November 30, a maximum of 2,643 were reported in Sheopur district, which borders Rajasthan. As many as 1,930 events were detected in Gwalior district of the same Gwalior-Chambal region, followed by 1,797 such events in the adjoining Datia district. The other districts of the same region where significant active burning events were detected included Ashoknagar (506) and Morena district (64). Even when it came to the 160 active burning events detected on November 30 in the state, Gwalior district contributed the maximum at 62. At least 98 or 61% of the total 160 active burning events in MP as on November 30 were detected in districts of Gwalior-Chambal region. Jabalpur district in Mahakoshal region, adjoining Hoshangabad district of central MP and Satna district in Vindhya region were close behind the districts of Gwalior-Chambal region. According to informed sources, MP having the dubious distinction of being the leader in paddy stubble burning isnt a new phenomenon, but has been happening at least since the last two years. The state government tabled figures related to cases registered against those indulging in Parali burning since April 2020 in the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. A total of 546 such cases were registered against offenders in various parts of the state in little less than five years. Out of those 546 cases, as many as 506 cases were registered between December 2023 and November 2025. According to Gwalior district collector Ruchika Chauhan, the Parali burning incidents have declined significantly this year compared to last two years, due to multi-pronged efforts by authorities, including imposing penalties ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs 15,000 based on area of cultivation, use of harvesters having machines to ensure that crop residue is negligible and sustained awareness campaigns.
Mohit Sharma retires from all forms of cricket
The pace bowler from Haryana played 34 matches for India and 120 games in the IPL
Haryana: Woman arrested for allegedly killing four children, including own son, out of 'jealousy'
The police on Wednesday arrested a middle-aged woman for allegedly murdering four children, including three girls and her own son in Haryana's Panipat. According to multiple media reports citing the police, the woman allegedly murdered the girls, including her niece, out of jealousy as she thought the children were prettier than her. The woman, identified as Poonam, also killed her son to avoid suspicion of killing the girls. The investigation into the killings began after the recent death of Poonam's niece, six-year-old Vidhi, who lived in Sonipat and had come to Naultha village in Panipat's Israna area to attend a relative's wedding with her family. Vidhi was found dead with her head submerged in a water tub and her feet on the ground in the storeroom of her relative's house. Even though the death was earlier presumed to be accidental, circumstances raised some suspicions. Vidhi's father later lodged a police complaint, alleging that the child was murdered, leading to the probe. During questioning, Poonam confessed to killing three more children, including her son. According to police, Poonam had a pattern of killing children by drowning them. She targeted young, pretty girls as her motive was driven by jealousy and resentment and an obsession with looking beautiful. According to police, in August this year, Poonam murdered a girl in Siwah village because she believed the child looked prettier than her. In 2023, Poonam had killed her sister-in-law's daughter. The same year, she drowned her son just to avoid suspicion.
Haryana Shocker: Woman Drowns Son, 3 Girls As She Didnt Want Anyone To Look Prettier Than Her
During interrogation, the woman, Poonam, allegedly told police that while pretty girls made her jealous and were her target, she killed her son in 2023 to avoid suspicion
Haryana RERA directs Chintels to refund homebuyers money with interest
Haryana RERA has ordered builder Chintel to refund a buyer Rs 1.7 crore with 10.85% annual interest. The buyer sought a refund after the Chintel Paradiso housing society partially collapsed in February 2022. The authority also awarded Rs 2 lakh for mental agony and Rs 50,000 for litigation costs.
India Pacer Mohit Sharma Announces Retirement From All Formats Of Cricket
ODI World Cup: India pacer Mohit Sharma has announced his retirement from all formats of cricket, bringing the curtains down on a career that spanned nearly 14 years. Mohit made his international debut in 2013 and represented India in 26 ODIs and eight T20Is, claiming 37 wickets across formats. He was part of Indias squad reaching the semifinals of the 2015 Mens ODI World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand, apart from representing Haryana in the domestic cricket circuit. Today, with a full heart, I announce my retirement from all formats of cricket. From representing Haryana to wearing the India jersey and playing in the IPL, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing, wrote Mohit on his Instagram post on Wednesday. A very special thank you to the Haryana Cricket Association for being the backbone of my career. And my deepest gratitude to Anirudh Sir, whose constant guidance and belief in me shaped my path in ways words cannot express. Thank you to the BCCI, my coaches, my teammates, IPL franchises, support staff, and all my friends for their love and support, he added. Known for his disciplined newball spells and variations like cutters, slower balls, and slow bouncers in the death overs, Mohit was also a prominent figure in the IPL, picking 134 wickets in 120 games. He turned out for Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, and, more recently, for Delhi Capitals. Mohit was one of CSK's main bowlers in his first three seasons with the wickets and took 20 wickets in 15 innings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013. He won the purple cap in the 2014 edition of the league after picking 23 wickets in 16 games. Known for his disciplined newball spells and variations like cutters, slower balls, and slow bouncers in the death overs, Mohit was also a prominent figure in the IPL, picking 134 wickets in 120 games. He turned out for Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, and, more recently, for Delhi Capitals. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He was also GT's highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024, with 13 wickets in 12 matches. Special thanks to my wife, who always handled my mood swings and anger, and supported me through everything. I look forward to serving the game in fresh ways. Thank you so much, Innings over, gratitude forever, added Mohit. Article Source: IANS
Lado Lakshmi scheme beneficiaries in Haryana to now get financial aid quarterly
The Haryana government will now provide beneficiaries of the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana with a consolidated amount every three months. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced this change after releasing the second installment. The scheme aims to empower women financially and socially.
Woman Who Killed Son Murders 6-Year-Old Girl For Looking 'Prettier' Than Her
A woman has been arrested for murdering her 6-year-old niece in Haryana's Panipat, police said on Wednesday. The reason: she did not want anyone to look more beautiful than her.
Haryana Cancels Rs 1.17 Crore VIP Number Auction, Probe Ordered Into Bidders Financial Background
Haryana cancels the Rs 1.17 crore auction of VIP car number HR 88 B 8888 after the bidder fails to pay. Transport Minister Anil Vij orders a a detailed inquiry into the bidders assets and income and announces re-auction of the number.
Man Who Bid 1.17 Crores For HR88B8888 Number Plate Now Faces Assets Inquiry
Haryana Transport Minister Anil Vij has ordered investigation into the assets and income of Sudhir Kumar, Director of transportation service Romulus Solutions Private Limited, man who bid Rs 1.17 crore for 'HR88B8888' number plate.
Banks will have to pay cyber fraud victims if, Haryana DGP makes a big announcement on online scams
Haryana DGP OP Singh stated banks may be liable for cyber fraud losses if due diligence is not followed, emphasizing proactive prevention over reactive measures. He highlighted the IT Act's mandate for banks to compensate victims in cases of negligence and announced initiatives for faster relief and cyber awareness.
Modi government has 'nearly signed death warrant' for Aravalli hills: Sonia Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that since coming to power, the Modi government has displayed a particularly venal streak of cynicism in relation to environmental protection, while alleging that it has now early signed a death warrant for Aravalli hills. She demanded that the government must withdraw the amendments it ulldozed through Parliament in the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 as well as the Forest Conservation Rules (2022). Gandhi said the government's declaration that any hills in the Aravalli range with an elevation of less than 100 metres are not subject to the strictures against mining is an open invitation for illegal miners and mafias to finish off 90% of the range which falls below the height limit set. The Aravalli range, which runs from Gujarat through Rajasthan and till Haryana, has long played a significant role in Indian geography and history. It has served as a barrier to the spread of desertification from the Thar Desert to the Gangetic Plains, guarded Rajasthan's proudest forts such as Chittorgarh and Ranthambore, and served as the cradle of spirituality for communities across northwest India, Gandhi said in an article published in The Hindu . The Modi Government has now nearly signed a death warrant for these hills, already denuded by illegal mining, she said. Gandhi pointed out that on the northernmost end of the Aravalli range, the national capital has embarked on its annual smog season this month. A hazy mist of dust, smoke and particulate matter has been settling down on millions of citizens as they go about their daily lives breathing in toxic air. Even as the smog becomes a part of our yearly routine, research increasingly shows that it is a full-scale, slow-motion public health tragedy. Estimates of the human toll of this pollution go as high as 34,000 deaths in just 10 cities annually, Gandhi said in her article titled Dismal state of India's environment. 'Road to hell is paved with good intentions': Congress slams government over new Aravalli definition Last week the news headlines reflected yet another evolving tragedy when the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) reported that 13%-15% of tested groundwater samples in Delhi contain uranium beyond the permissible limit for human consumption, she said. Shamefully, water samples from Punjab and Haryana reflect even higher levels of uranium contamination . One does not need to dwell on the frightening health implications that regular consumption of such water for daily activities can have on impacted populations, the former Congress president said. These news items cannot be seen disparately as they are each causes and consequences of a crisis that has engulfed India in the last decade - a deep-seated and continuing disregard for the environment in government policy making, she said. Ever since coming to power, the Modi government has displayed a particularly venal streak of cynicism in relation to environmental protection, combining its proclivity to encourage the reckless exploitation of natural resources with a callous disregard for consequences on the environment, Gandhi said. The Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023 exempted large categories of land and projects from forest clearance rules, easing diversion for other purposes, she claimed. Gandhi further alleged that the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2020 sought to dilute public hearings, expand exemptions and reduce compliance reporting. The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2018 eased construction rules along India's shorelines, opening ecologically sensitive coastal areas and fishing communities' habitats to commercial real estate and industrial activity, Gandhi said. The Environment Ministry has more often been in the news for circumventing due process and weakening regulations rather than implementing them or taking proactive measures to halt the slide, the Congress leader said. Another emerging trend has been an insidious tendency to pit the environment against the local communities that protect it, when politically convenient for the government, she said. The Forest Survey of India has been mischievously attributing the loss of forest cover over the last decade to the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, Gandhi said. Shockingly, even the Minister concerned has echoed the same claims. In June 2024, the National Tiger Conservation Authority called for the eviction of almost 65,000 families from tiger reserves across the country, she said. It was not just a breach of the spirit of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 which mandates that all relocations must be voluntary; it was also unnecessarily inimical, ranging the environment against local communities, Gandhi said. India needs a new deal for the environment. First, we must resolve to do no further harm. We must halt the large-scale deforestation that is planned or currently underway across the country: in Great Nicobar, in north Chhattisgarh's Hasdeo Aranya, and in Madhva Pradesh's Dhirauli, she said. We need to crack down on the rampant illegal mining in the Aravalli range and other eco-sensitive regions such as the Western Ghats. We need to put an end to the indiscriminate destruction of mountains in the Himalayan belt which has exacted a heavy toll on human lives these past few years, Gandhi added. She said on a policy level, there is a need to urgently review the laws and policy changes of the last decade which have led us down this disastrous path. The Modi government must withdraw the amendments it bulldozed through Parliament in the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 as well as the Forest Conservation Rules (2022) - which are anti-Adivasi and allow the clearing of forests without consulting those who live there, she said. The blatantly illogical and dangerous practice of providing post-facto environmental clearances to big corporations that violate environmental laws -- one of the Modi Government's few home-grown policy innovations --cannot continue, she asserted.
Punjab records highest groundwater extraction in India, says CGWB report
CHANDIGARH: Groundwater extraction in the country is the highest in Punjab, followed by Rajasthan and Haryana, according to the latest National Compilation of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2025 report of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). The findings show that 25 per cent of the 6,762 total blocks in India have been categorised as over-exploited, critical or semi-critical, a situation concentrated in nine states, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Puducherry. As per the report, groundwater extraction in Punjab stands at 156.36 per cent, the highest in the country, followed by Rajasthan at 147.11 per cent and Haryana at 136.75 per cent, all significantly above the national average of 60.63 per cent. At the national level, annual groundwater extraction has seen a marginal decline, from 27.66 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2023 to 26.27 BCM last year. The total annual ground water recharge of Punjab has been assessed as 18.6 bcm and annual extractable ground water resource as 16.8 bcm. Out of total 153 assessment units including three urban areas taken for study, 111 assessment units (72.55 per cent) have been categorized as Over-exploited, 10 blocks (6.54 per cent) as Critical, 15 blocks (9.80 per cent) as Semi Critical and 17 blocks (11.11 per cent) as Safe, the report said. Similarly, out of 50175.27 square kilometers recharge worthy area of the state, 34294.3 sq km (68.35 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 4353.15 sq. km (8.68 per cent) under Critical, 4478.11 sq km (8.92 per cent) under Semi-critical and 7049.71sq km (14.05 per cent) under Safe category, reads the report. For Rajasthan, the report states,Out of the 302 assessment units (blocks and urban areas), 213 units (70.53 per cent) have been categorized as Over Exploited, 23 units (7.62 per cent) as Critical, 27 units (8.94 per cent) as Semi-Critical, 36 units (11.92 per cent) blocks as Safe and 3 units (0.99 per cent) as Saline. Similarly, out of 317010.74 sq km recharge worthy area of the state, 222266.46 sq km (70.11 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 19404.23 sq. km (6.12 per cent) under Critical, 22535.05 sq km (7.11 per cent) under Semi-critical, 43869.11 sq km (13.84 per cent) under Safe and 8935.89 sq km (2.82 per cent) area under Saline categories of assessment units. In Haryana, the situation is similar. While in Haryana, out of total 143 assessment units (blocks/Urban), 91 units (63.64 per cent) have been categorized as Overexploited, 6 units (4.20 per cent) as Critical, 15 units (10.49 per cent) as Semi Critical and 31 units (21.68 per cent) as Safe categories of assessment units. Similarly, out of 43,205.81 sq. km recharge worthy area of the State, 26,828.05 sq. km (62.09 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 1,170.46 sq. km (2.71 per cent) under Critical, 4,253.89 sq. km (9.85 per cent) under Semicritical, 10,953.42 sq. km (25.35 per cent) under Safe categories of assessment units, it added. The report assesses the total annual groundwater extraction of the entire country for 2025 at 247.22 bcm. Agriculture remains the largest consumer, accounting for 87 per cent, or 215.10 bcm, followed by 11 per cent for domestic use (27.89 bcm) and 2 per cent for industrial use (4.23 bcm). In the present assessment, total annual groundwater recharge has been pegged at 448.52 bcm, while the annual extractable groundwater resource stands at 407.75 bcm. The average stage of groundwater extraction at the national level is 60.63 per cent. Out of 6,762 blocks in the country, 730 units (10.80 per cent) are categorised as over-exploited, and 201 blocks (2.97 per cent) are classified as critical where extraction ranges from 90 to 100 per cent. Another 758 blocks (11.21 per cent) fall under the semi-critical category, while 4,946 units (73.14 per cent) are considered safe, with extraction below 70 per cent. Additionally, 127 blocks (1.88 per cent) have been listed as saline due to brackish or saline groundwater in phreatic aquifers. The report highlights that the percentage of over-exploited, critical and semi-critical blocks exceeding 25 per cent of total units is found only in nine states, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Puducherry. It attributes the situation to region-specific factors, Over-exploitation of ground water resources could be due to various region-specific reasons. The assessment units located in the north-western part of the country (particularly in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh) have plenty of replenishable ground water resources but because of the over extraction beyond the annual ground water recharge, many of these units have become Over-exploited. Overexploited units are also common in the western part of the country, particularly in Rajasthan and Gujarat where the prevailing arid climate results in low recharge of ground water and hence stress on these sources, the report stated. It further adds, In peninsular India, over-exploited units are wide spread in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana which could be attributed mainly to the low storage and transmission capacities of aquifers of the hard rock terrains, which results in reduced availability of the resource. The report also notes that in Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Lakshadweep, domestic groundwater extraction exceeds 40 per cent. Groundwater extraction stands between 90 and 100 per cent in Delhi, and between 70 and 90 per cent in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In most other states and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Lakshadweep, extraction levels are around 70 per cent. The report concludes that compared to the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment of 2024, the total annual groundwater recharge has marginally increased from 446.9 bcm to 448.52 bcm.
Haryana sports department distances itself from deaths of 2 basketball players, families upset
Two Long-billed Vultures that hatched in Haryana settle in MP
The two Jatayu have brought great hope for vulture conservation in India after they completed 15 months of settling in the forests of Madhya Pradesh
Haryana health secretary chairs meet to improve sex ratio
SMAT | Hardik sizzles on comeback as Baroda gets the better of Punjab in a run-fest
Ankit dazzles in Haryanas win over Services; cakewalk for Gujarat against Pondicherry; Karans maiden T20 century takes Bengal past HP
Rice procurement in Punjab, Haryana ends, pan-India purchase up 13% in October-November
Due to early arrival of the paddy this year, the Centre allowed procuring agencies in Punjab and Haryana to begin purchase from mid-September and in Tamil Nadu from September 1
Cricket stars, selfies, security slips: Punjab vs Haryana thriller in Hyderabad draws 10,000 fans
Uppal stadium packed as Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma put on star-studded show, prompting repeated pitch invasions, helping Baroda win
'No Discussion': Haryana CM Nayab Saini On New Assembly Building In Chandigarh
In 2022, then Haryana assembly speaker Gian Chand Gupta had demanded land for a new Vidhan Sabha building in Chandigarh.
This winter, central and north India are bracing for a colder season with an increased number of cold wave days, according to the IMD. Regions like Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi are expected to experience below-normal temperatures and prolonged cold spells, posing risks to health, transport, and air quality.
Schools In These States Closed Today, Check If Yours Is On The List
School Holidays Today: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on December 1 announced a special holiday on Tuesday for all students who participated in the global recitation of the Bhagavad Gita.
MHA tells Haryana not to seek separate Assembly building in Chandigarh
CHANDIGARH: With 14 months left for the Punjab Assembly election and to avoid another controversy, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has declined the Haryana governments proposal to construct a separate assembly building in Chandigarh. Highly placed sources said the MHA has advised senior Haryana officials not to pursue the matter further. The officials had recently approached the ministry, which categorically directed them not to take the proposal ahead with the Chandigarh Administration. At present both Punjab and Haryana share the assembly building located in the Capitol Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where new construction is not permitted. Political parties in Punjab have consistently opposed the Haryana governments demand for a separate building. Sources stated that such a land swap may not fall within the purview of the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952, which governs land use in Chandigarh. It may also be challenged as a violation of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, the law that restructured the old Punjab into present-day Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. The Chandigarh Administration had earlier agreed to allot a 10-acre plot to Haryana for constructing its separate assembly building and a piece of land was identified near the IT Park in the city.
Trial court sends Al Falah University founder to 14-day judicial custody
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Monday remanded Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, the founder and chairman of Haryanas Al-Falah University, to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with an expanding money laundering investigation linked to the recent Red Fort blast. The order came from Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan, after Siddiqui was produced before the court on the completion of his 13-day Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody. He will remain in judicial custody till December 15. Siddiqui moved a plea requesting permission to access his prescribed medication and spectacles while in judicial custody. The court allowed the request. The EDs probe intensified after a tragic incident on November 10, when a doctor associated with Al-Falah medical college allegedly detonated a car packed with chemical explosives near Delhis Red Fort. The explosion claimed 15 lives and left several others injured, triggering scrutiny of individuals and institutions connected to the suspect. This put Al-Falah University and its leadership under the investigative lens of central agencies. According to the EDs FIR, Al-Falah University is accused of falsely representing its accreditation status, including misleading claims regarding NAAC accreditation and UGC recognition under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956. Investigators allege that these misrepresentations were used to deceive students, parents, and other stakeholders for financial gain. The ED stated that between 2018 and 2025, the university generated unusually high revenue of `415.10 crore. Despite this meteoric rise in income, the financial records reportedly do not align with the scale of assets accumulated by the Al-Falah group. During its searches, the ED claimed to have uncovered multiple shell companies tied to the group, along with evidence of violations under various other regulatory statutes. Siddiqui was arrested on November 18, 2025, under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). His arrest followed the examination of evidence gathered during search operations at several premises linked to the institution. The EDs case stems from two FIRs registered by the Delhi Police Crime Branch, both alleging that the university used fraudulent accreditation claims to secure undue advantages. Also in court Take parents view on film: HC to CBFC The High Court on Monday asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to consider the objections of parents of Major Mohit Sharma, who was killed during a counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir, while granting certification to the film Dhurandhar. Justice Sachin Datta directed the CBFC to consider and examine the grievances raised by the parents before deciding on the film certification, and disposed of the petition. Ensure safety of woman stuck in Dubai The High Court has directed the Centre and the Consulate General of India in Dubai to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and well-being of a 25-year-old Indian woman who is allegedly held captive in Dubai by a foreign national. Justice Sachin Datta also asked the authorities to help the woman return to India, if she so desires. The court asked the authorities to file a status report within two weeks and listed the matter for hearing on December 15.
Delhi Records Cleanest Air Since 2018, Except During 2020 Lockdown: Centre Tells Parliament
The Centre also informed about 90 per cent reduction in fire incidents in Punjab and Haryana during the paddy harvesting season compared to 2022.
Haryana CLU CD scandal: MLAs aide acquitted
Rs 3,120cr, 2.7L machines drive dramatic drop in farm fires in Punjab, Haryana
Contribution of farm fires in Punjab, Haryana to pollution in Delhi-NCR episodic, says Centre
Air pollution in Delhi-NCR caused by local, regional factors, with stubble burning being an additional event, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav tells Lok Sabha; CAQM notes biggest drop in farm fires in Punjab, Haryana since 2018, barring 2020
Over 50% reduction in Punjab, Haryana farm fires: CAQM
Farm fires saw a major drop in 2025. The Commission for Air Quality Management noted a sharp decrease from previous years. Punjab and Haryana reported substantial reductions in crop residue burning. These figures mark the most significant decline since monitoring began. This progress highlights effective management measures.
AAP hails rejection of Haryanas Chandigarh land demand
Farm Fires In Punjab, Haryana Lowest In 5 years: Air Quality Body
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said on Monday that incidents of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana reached their lowest levels during the 2025 paddy harvesting season.
Four people have been rounded up for questioning in connection with the murder of a 26-year-old professional bodybuilder, Rohit Dhankar, for protesting against alleged sexual misconduct towards women during a wedding in Haryana's Bhiwani. According to media reports citing eye witness accounts, Dhankar was brutally beaten up with hockey sticks and rods by a group of 18-20 men on Friday night while he was attending the wedding ceremony of a friend's relative. Jatin, whose relative's wedding it was, told reporters, We were at the wedding. There we saw some people using improper language and we pointed out to them that girls were around...After one hour, when we left, they intercepted us. The assailants blocked their car at a railway crossing, and beat Dhankhar with rods and hockey sticks, he said. Dhankhar was rushed to PGIMS hospital in Rohtak where he succumbed on Saturday. An uncle of Dhankar, who hailed from Humayunpur village in Rohtak district, said the wounds he sustained could not be described in words. They beat him so badly, inflicting injuries all over his body. The attackers presumed he had died and fled. He was still alive and died during treatment at the hospital in Rohtak, Dhankar's uncle, Satish, said. We want justice in the case and exemplary punishment to the accused...If a medal-winning player can meet this fate, what will these goons do to a common man then, he said. Meanwhile, a police officer from Bhiwani said four people had been rounded up for questioning in connection with the incident. Bhiwani Sadar SHO Vikas said police have registered a case of murder and are looking for the assailants, of whom there were over a dozen. Dhankhar's family said he was a bodybuilder and a gym trainer in Rohtak and had won many national and state level medals. Former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had also honoured him in 2016 for his achievements, Satish said. Dhankhar was the sole breadwinner of the family and is survived by his mother and sister, he said. (With inputs from PTI)
A Haryana businessman secured the HR88B8888 number plate for the whopping amount, making it India's costliest number plate.
While welcoming new RS chairman, Kharge mentions Dhankar's sudden exit; treasury benches object
While welcoming the new Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan on his first day of chairing the House proceedings on Monday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge made a mention of the unexpected and sudden exit of his predecessor, Jagdeep Dhankhar, irking the treasury benches. Referring to the sudden exit of Dhankar, Kharge said, It was a completely unexpected and sudden exit from the office of Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, which is unexpected in the annals of the parliamentary history. I was disheartened that this House did not get an opportunity to give him a farewell. In his brief speech, Kharge urged the Chairman to maintain a balance between both sides and allow the opposition members also to raise their issues in the House. Kharge also mentioned that Radhakrishnan is related to former three-term Lok Sabha MP CK Kuppuswamy, who was a member of the Congress. It is better if you keep a balance between both sides. I wish you a successful term... The background you come from was mentioned by the PM, but you should also not forget you are from a Congress family, he said. Assuring the Chairman of his party's cooperation in the conduct of House proceedings, Kharge said the Congress staunchly stands by constitutional values and time-honoured Parliamentary traditions. Be assured of our cooperation in the conduct of proceedings. He, however, added, Fair and impartial conduct of proceedings, providing just opportunity to members of each party, is essential for credibility of this office. Kharge also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement at the beginning of the Winter Session, and said they would respond later. Secondly, PM gave a statement outside (Parliament). He attacked us indirectly as well, we will reply to it here... he added. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, meanwhile, slammed the Leader of Opposition for mentioning Dhankhar's resignation on the solemn occasion. This is a very solemn occasion...The Prime Minister has made very dignified remarks as part of the felicitation event...Why did the honourable Leader of Opposition refer to a case which was not necessary to be raised at this moment... Rijiju said. The language you used for the former chairman, the way you insulted him, the motion you served, we still have that copy... he said. He was referring to a motion for the removal of the Vice-President submitted by Opposition parties when Dhankhar was in office. Leader of the House JP Nadda also intervened, urging members to maintain the dignity of the occasion. He also referred to the loss faced by the opposition alliance, including Congress, in the recent Bihar assembly polls. This program is a pious occasion. We should maintain the dignity of the occasion. The issue that the Leader of Opposition raised, if we start discussing this, it is irrelevant...We will also have to mention that you brought a no-confidence motion against him twice. It is an obstacle in a good and congenial environment debate which is going on, Nadda said. Talking about what the Prime Minister said outside...The loss of Bihar and Haryana must have given you a lot of pain...But you should express your pain and suffering to a doctor. You should speak to a doctor when the time comes, he added. Addressing the media on the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Modi said the opposition was perturbed by the electoral losses in Bihar and was unable to digest its failure. Defeat should not be the ground to create disruption. Victory should not convert into arrogance either, the prime minister said. Parliament is not a place for drama, it is a place for delivery, he said, adding it should not be used by the Opposition to vent out frustration after defeat in elections. (With inputs from PTI)
'Incorrect to pass burden onto farmers': SC questions blaming stubble burning for Delhi pollution
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday said the air pollution issue in the Delhi-NCR cannot be treated as a customary case to be listed only during the winter months, noting that it will be taken twice in a month to find out short and long-term solutions to the menace. In a significant shift from the usual narrative, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, The issue of stubble burning should not unnecessarily become a political issue or an issue of ego. Questioning the usual blame on stubble burning as the key contributor to air pollution in Delhi-NCR, CJI Kant, who comes from a farmer's family at Hissar in Haryana, asked, Stubble burning was there during COVID, but why could people still see clear blue skies? This suggests other factors are at play. We do not want to comment on stubble burning as it is incorrect to pass the burden onto people (farmers) who are hardly represented in this court, the CJI said, adding, The issue of stubble burning should not unnecessarily become a political issue or an issue of ego. Seeking clarity on immediate and long-term measures, the CJI asked the Centre to spell out specific steps of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others to apprise it of the short and long-term measures to tackle the menace of air pollution. It listed the plea for hearing on December 10. At the outset, the CJI said, The Delhi pollution matter cannot be listed customarily in the month of October and rather it should be taken up regularly at least twice a month. Referring to Monday's Air Quality Index (AQI), he said, My brother (Justice Bagchi) tells me that just because this item is listed today and heard there is improvement in the AQI levels. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the central government authorities, referred to key contributors of air pollution and said stubble burning, vehicular pollution, construction dust, road dust and biomass burning have been named as contributors. I can give a detailed list of what steps have been taken under each of the heads, she said. Hinting towards other contributing factors, the CJI said during COVID-19-induced lockdowns, stubble burning happened as usual but still blue skies and stars were visible to citizens. Why? Something to be thought about and other factors. We would like to have a report within a week on the measures taken to contain other factors, the bench said, adding it wanted to see long-term and short-term plans. The CJI then referred to unplanned urban growth and rising aspirational population in the country and said, None of the cities of the country were developed to accommodate this scale of population or with the thought that each home will have multiple cars. Let us see which measures are suggested to us and how these measures are implemented or are only on paper. The development of cities should have a negative impact on the quality of life, the CJI said. The bench said it will ensure that the air pollution matter is listed twice a month throughout the year to monitor the implementation of long-term and short-term measures. The bench said there should be a scientific analysis to ascertain the factor which is contributing the most to the problem. We cannot sit idle. Solutions must come from experts. The courts may or may not have those solutions, but we can provide a platform for all stakeholders to deliberate, the CJI said. Amicus curiae and senior advocate Aparajita Singh submitted that vehicular pollution and dust remain the biggest contributors to Delhi's poor AQI. She also flagged reports that several air quality monitoring devices were not functioning properly. Delhi most polluted place in 10 years A counsel highlighted the chronic problem of cars parked on both sides of Delhi's roads. The CJI observed that while metro projects would eventually be a game changer, short-term measures were urgently needed. On November 27, the top court agreed to hear on December 3 a plea concerning the deteriorating air quality in the DelhiNational Capital Region (NCR), saying the issue needed to be monitored on a regular basis. What magic wand can a judicial forum exercise? I know this is hazardous for Delhi-NCR. We all know the problem. The issue is what the solution is. We need to identify reasons and the solutions can be given by the domain experts only. We hope and expect that long-term solutions are found, the CJI had said. On November 19, the court asked the CAQM to consider directing schools in Delhi-NCR to postpone open-air sports events scheduled for NovemberDecember to safer months due to toxic air levels. It had declined to impose year-round restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), an emergency framework that restricts polluting activities in severe conditions, and instead emphasised the need for long-term, sustainable solutions.
Traffic, not stubble, behind daily pollution spikes in Delhi: Study
The report notes that stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana was significantly subdued this year, partly because floods disrupted the crop cycle
Basketball is in Our DNA: Haryana Village Mourns Teen Crushed by Training Pole
For a sport almost obscure in India, multiple national-level basketball players have been nurtured in Lakhan Majra.
'90% Dip In Punjab, Haryana Farm Fires': Centre Says Delhi's Air Saw Improvement This Year
Delhi's air quality improved in 2025 as Punjab and Haryana saw a 90% drop in fire incidences during paddy harvest season, the Centre replied to a starred question in Lok Sabha.
Record-Breaking Haryana Number HR88B8888, Sold For Rs 1.17 Crore, To Be Re-Auctioned. Here's Why
Haryana VIP number HR88B8888 will be re-auctioned after family opposition and technical issues.
Police have filed a chargesheet against ex-assistant sub-inspector Sushil Kumar. He allegedly demanded money from individuals with disputes or complaints. Digital evidence, including call records, supports the allegations. The case gained attention after a liquor trader filed a complaint. The former IGP, Y Puran Kumar, died by suicide during the investigation.
Haryana Number Plate 'HR88B8888', Sold For Rs 1.17 Crore, To Be Reauctioned
'HR88B8888', the number plate that went viral last week for being sold for Rs 1.17 crore in Haryana will be reauctioned after the bidder failed to pay the amount within the given period.
MHA turns downs Haryana govts demand for new assembly building in Chandigarh
CHANDIGARH: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has declined the proposal of the Haryana Government to construct a separate assembly building in Chandigarh. Highly placed sources said that the MHA has advised the senior officials of the Haryana Government not to pursue this matter any further. Sources further said that this kind of land swap might not fall within the purview of the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952, which governs land use in Chandigarh. Earlier this year, the Chandigarh administration had rejected the proposal of the Haryana government to swap land, citing the absence of such a provision in the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031. In 2023, the Chandigarh Administration had agreed in principle to allot a 10-acre plot to the state government for constructing its separate Assembly building. Following this, a prime piece of land was identified near the railway light point The land was near the IT Park in the city, adjacent to a 200-foot-wide road that connects directly to Madhya Marg, which was valued at around Rs 640 crore. In return, the Haryana Government had offered 12 acres of land in the Saketri area of Panchkula to the Chandigarh Administration. However, the administration turned down the proposal for various reasons, including accessibility issues, a natural drain that divides the offered land into two parts, planning constraints, and it being a low-lying area, making it unsuitable for public projects. It was then pointed out that the two pieces of land were not comparable in terms of access and urban planning. According to sources, the main issue with the land in Saketri was the natural drain, which not only bifurcated the plot but also restricted construction in its vicinity. At present, both Punjab and Haryana share the assembly building located in the Capitol Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where new construction is not permitted. The Haryana governments demand for a new assembly building came after anticipation that the 2026 delimitation would increase the number of Assembly constituencies from 90 to 126, and the current state Assembly would not have space for expansion. Recently, the central government made a U-turn on two controversial issues to avoid any confrontation. A few days back, the Union Ministry of Education had withdrawn its notification to restructure the senate and syndicate of Panjab University after sustained political backlash in Punjab and the ongoing protests at the university. The MHA also clarified that no final decision has been taken on a proposal under Article 240, allowing the President to appoint a separate Lieutenant Governor for the Union Territory, which is now administered by the Punjab Governor.
Who was Vijay Kumar Sheoran? Haryana student, ex-excise and customs officer, stabbed to death in UK
A Haryana family is appealing to the MEA for help repatriating the body of 29-year-old Vijay Kumar Sheoran, who died in the UK after a stabbing in Worcester. Vijay, a management student at UWE Bristol, was found critically injured on November 25 and succumbed the next day. Police have arrested several individuals in connection with the incident.
A national-level bodybuilder and para-athlete, Rohit Dhankhar, died after being brutally assaulted for intervening in a harassment incident at a wedding in Bhiwani. He was attacked by a group of men armed with weapons while returning home. Police have launched an investigation into the alleged planned murder.
A national-level bodybuilder and para-athlete, Rohit Dhankhar, died after being brutally assaulted for intervening in a harassment incident at a wedding in Bhiwani. He was attacked by a group of men armed with weapons while returning home. Police have launched an investigation into the alleged planned murder.
A Haryana family seeks government help to bring home the body of Vijay Kumar Sheoran. The 29-year-old student died in the UK after a stabbing incident. His brother has written to the External Affairs Ministry for urgent assistance. The family hopes for his last rites to be performed in their village.
IAS Abhinav Siwach, who secured AIR 12 in the CSE 2022, is currently serving as SDM in Kurukshetra, Haryana, tied knot with IPS Aashna Chaudhary, who secured AIR 116, on November 27, 2025 in the presence of family and friends. Read here to know about their love story.
Chandigarh Diary | Haryana minister Vij forced to hitchhike
Haryana Transport Minister Anil Vij was recently left stranded outside the Kurushetra Development Board Office and had to hitch a ride to reach the Kurushetra University for an event. The incident took place when the minister attended an inaugural event at Bharam Sarovar where Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh performed a puja. After the event, Singh left for the university to participate in the International Gita seminar, leaving the transport minister behind. A viral video shows Vij standing alone on the road trying to stop Singhs cavalcade but Singh did not notice. Eventually, MP Naveen Jindal stopped and offered Vij a lift. Sukhu speaks to locals during morning walk During his routine morning walk on Thursday, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited Kachari Bazaar in Dharamsala and engaged warmly with the locals. He spoke with the daughter of a vegetable vendor and enquired about their business. Interestingly, she was the same girl whom Sukhu spoke last year after which he had announced a loan waiver scheme for small shopkeepers in the state budget. As few young girls were waiting for a bus at Kachari Chowk, he also interacted with them and asked for their well-being besides talking to passersby. The winter session of the HP Assembly began in Dharamsala on Wednesday. Himachal DCM Agnihotri slams Indigo over delay Himachal Pradesh DCM Mukesh Agnihotri slammed the IndiGo airline for the delay of its Delhi-Chandigarh flight on Saturday night. In a post on X in Hindi, Agnihotri said the flight, scheduled to depart at 8:30 pm, was rescheduled to 1:30 am due to the non-availability of a pilot. Terming the situation unacceptable, he said that the passengers were left waiting for hours facing significant inconvenience. AICC in charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajni Patil also criticised the delay in a social media post. She wrote, DelhiChandigarh Indigo flight delayed for an unusually long time due to unavailability of a pilot. Passengers deserve better coordination and communication. Harpreet Bajwa Our correspondent in Chandigarh hsbajwa73@gmail.com
After Delhi blast connection, Nuh linked to MP cybercrimes
BHOPAL: Haryanas Nuh district, which is under glare as an operational base of the white-collar terror module linked to 10/11 Delhi blast case, has also come out as the nucleus of Madhya Pradeshs biggest-ever inter-state cybercrime ring. MP polices cybercrime unit has traced masterminds of the racket to Nuh. The cyber fraud ring involved over 1000 bank accounts of people in Vindhya and Mahakoshal region of MP, being used as mule accounts to park and circulate fraud money. More than 25 people from MP, Haryana and Bihar have been arrested and charge-sheeted. As the investigations progress, its becoming clear that operatives based in Nuh are the masterminds of the racket. They sourced SIM cards and mule accounts mostly from MP and used them for their inter-state racket, said a MP police involved in the probe. The men in Nuh operated an illegal call centre at a flat in Gurugram, which was used to make calls to people for duping them. The SIM cards, sourced by operatives in MP and other states, reached the kingpins through middlemen based in Patna. The mule bank accounts served as the pipeline through which more than Rs 3,000 crore was routed. The funds were actually proceeds of cybercrimes committed in various parts of the country, religious charity money as well as money from unknown sources suspected to have been used possibly for terror funding. Large sum of money was routed through mule accounts to the Middle East, the officer added. The fraudsters also operated shell companies in Hyderabad and parts of Maharashtra. The 25-plus men arrested over the last 11 months have been charge-sheeted. Now we are going to zero in on the racket masterminds in Nuh, he said. Years back it was Jamtara in Jharkhand, but crackdown saw newer hotspots in West Bengal. Over last couple of years Nuh and adjoining Rajasthan districts have emerged as the cybercrime hub, SP (cybercrime cell) Pranay Nagwanshi said.
A 30-year-old Indian student from Haryana, Vijay Kumar Sheoran, was fatally stabbed in Worcester, UK. He had moved to the UK for higher studies earlier this year. His family has appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs for assistance in repatriating his body for final rites.

