Maharashtra Government Pledges Support to Drought-Affected Farmers
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis assures immediate aid for farmers facing drought-like conditions in Solapur. Maharashtra Government Pledges Support to Drought-Affected Farmers
Congress Leader Accuses Election Commission Head of Serving Government Interests
Congress leader Bhai Jagatap calls for legal action against Election Commission head for alleged government bias in Maharashtra elections. Congress Leader Accuses Election Commission Head of Serving Government Interests
Maharashtra Students Engage with Delhi Chief Minister in Campus to Parliament Initiative
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta meets 40 Maharashtra students under Campus to Parliament initiative, fostering youth engagement in governance. Maharashtra Students Engage with Delhi Chief Minister in Campus to Parliament Initiative
ECI's ERONET Controversy: Voter Database Row, Software Errors & 17.6 Million Notices Raise Questions
Around 17.6 million voters across Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi have received notices over logical discrepancies during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). At the centre of the controversy is ERONET, now integrated into ECINET. The Indian Express has reported concerns over voter database access and control, while individual cases highlight spelling, translation and age-calculation errors. We examine the Election Commissions response, the experiences of affected voters, the Goa case involving 97 voters, and the legal role of Electoral Registration Officers. Who controls the system, and how can voter records be corrected?
German engineering firm CAC, Pune's TPES join hands to implement global projects for Synthetic Fuel
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], September 23: Germany-based CAC ENGINEERING GmbH (CAC) and Pune-based Trichemie Plant Engineering Solutions (TPES) have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to combine CAC's technology expertise with Indian engineering talent, according to a press statement issued by the companies.
Shaina NC Criticizes Sanjay Raut as Full-Time Conspiracy Theorist and Part-Time MP
Shaina NC targets Sanjay Raut, questioning his role as an MP and addressing various political and social issues in Maharashtra. Shaina NC Criticizes Sanjay Raut as Full-Time Conspiracy Theorist and Part-Time MP
Bombay High Court sets aside DNA test order, directs 19-year-old to first prove his son claim
Bombay High Court: How charges were framed when Nawab Maliks plea for ED documents was pending?
SC directs Ulhasnagar civic body to complete nominated corporator appointment on Sept 28
Mumbai Police File FIR Against Contractor After Labourer Dies of Electrocution
BJP appoints new state in-charges; Nitin Nabin congratulates appointees
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Tuesday announced a fresh set of appointments of state in-charges and co-in-charges for various states and J&K. The appointments, detailed in an official press release from the partys central office, take effect immediately and cover organisational responsibilities across nearly all states and J&K. In a post on X, Nabin congratulated the newly appointed State Prabharis and Sah Prabharis. He said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, their efforts would strengthen the organisation and help realise the collective dream of Viksit Bharat 2047. Notable appointments include Smriti Irani as in-charge for both Chandigarh and Haryana, with Siddharth Shambhu as co-in-charge for Chandigarh and Bhola Singh for Haryana. Baijayant Jay Panda has been named state in-charge for Maharashtra, assisted by co-in-charges Amit Malviya, Sadanand Shet Tanavade and Kamaljeet Sahrawat. In Uttar Pradesh, Vinod Tawde will serve as state in-charge, with Jagadish Patel, Medha Kulkarni, Pradeep Verma and Anant Ojha as co-in-charges. Sunil Bansal has been assigned to both Telangana and West Bengal. For Telangana, Abhay Patil and Rekha Sharma are co-in-charges, while West Bengals co-in-charges are Lal Singh Arya, Rajendra Singh and Pinki Kushwaha. Other key assignments include Biplab Kumar Deb as in-charge for Madhya Pradesh, with Rekha Verma as co-in-charge; Ram Madhav for Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand; Harish Dwivedi for Bihar and Karnataka; and Satish Poonia for J&K and Punjab. Mangal Pandey has been named for Assam, while Arvind Bhadauria will head Andhra Pradesh with Vanathi Srinivasan as co-in-charge. Nabin has also appointed Ashish Usha Agrawal as convenor of the media department and Anil Baluni as co-ordinator of the communication department. The list further covers smaller states and J&K, including assignments for Andaman & Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Sikkim and Tripura. Several leaders hold dual or multiple responsibilities. The circular, issued by national office in-charge Tarun Chugh to all state presidents and organisational general secretaries, aims to strengthen the partys organisational network ahead of future electoral and organisational programmes.
Ex-IIT Delhi director backs Prof Doolla, suggests 5-year BTech programme
HC bans bursting crackers on roads, pulls up Maha govt
The Bombay High Court has imposed a complete ban on firecrackers, loudspeakers, DJs, and laser beams on public roads during festival processions, criticising the Maharashtra government for its laxity in implementing noise pollution rules. The court highlighted the severe noise and air pollution caused by such celebrations and called for more dignified ways of observing festivals, noting that current permissions are often ineffective due to official inaction.
Aaditya Thackeray rejects all accusations, Rs 500 crore compensation claim in Disha Salian case
17 model toolhouses from Dharavi exhibition give built form to housing study
IIT-B students parents claim they were driven out of city despite hunger strike plan
CCTV footage shows students movements in exam hall
Mumbai Court Grants Exemption to Mayor Ritu Tawde With Rs 300 Cost
Engineers union backs BMCs online transfer policy, seeks local postings, core staff protection
Proposed slum crackdown in Mumbai draws flak from netas
5,000 Cops, drones, QRTs to guard Ganesh visarjan
Railways to create digital register of high-footfall events for crowd management
Railway Protection Force will create a digital register to track high-footfall events, including festivals, religious gatherings, exams, rallies and sporting events. The system will help forecast passenger surges, deploy manpower, regulate movement and coordinate with state police
Pakistan claims eight drones from Afghanistan shot down amid fresh clashes
Pakistan says its security forces shot down eight drones allegedly launched from Afghanistan near Torkham and Kohat. The incident came amid renewed border clashes and competing claims over militant infiltration, Afghan attacks and recent Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan
Instagram escort service ad costs man from Maharashtra Rs 5 lakh
Andhra Pradesh: Four students killed, one injured after being hit by train
Four students under 20 were killed and another injured after being hit by a train while crossing railway tracks at Ravivalasa in Tekkali, Srikakulam district. The surviving student is receiving treatment, while Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed condolences
Thane Ring Metro route stays, stations may relocate
ED attaches properties worth Rs 1.15 crore in DA case against former GLDC field assistant
ED attaches properties worth Rs 1.15 crore in DA case against former GLDC field assistant Surat: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached 15 immovable properties worth around Rs 1.15 crore in Gujarat and Maharashtra in a money laundering case involving Valiya Shibabhai Zunzabhai alias Bhupatbhai, a former Field Assistant with the Gujarat Land Development [] The post ED attaches properties worth Rs 1.15 crore in DA case against former GLDC field assistant appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Thackeray Demands Paper Ballot Re-Polls In Maharashtra
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has called for re-polling in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu using paper ballots.
India-Germany ties: FTA, submarine deal emerge as key priorities for Berlin
German Ambassador to India Jasper Wieck said Berlin wants to deepen cooperation with India in trade, defence and labour mobility, highlighting the India-EU FTA, a possible submarine deal and greater movement of students and skilled workers
Ganesh Visarjan: Parking arrangements at 26 locations in Pune on Sept 25
Large numbers of Lord Ganesha devotees are expected to take to the streets from 9 am on September 25 for the immersion of Lord Ganesha idols, officials said
PoK unrest: Targeted killings, disappearances deepen crisis as protests continue
Protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have continued amid allegations of targeted killings and enforced disappearances. Officials have also flagged a communications blackout, making it difficult to establish the exact number of deaths, arrests and missing persons
Maharashtra FDA crackdown: Banned stock worth Rs 31.83 lakh seized in Nagpur
Maharashtra FDA seized banned food products worth Rs 31.83 lakh and arrested seven people during inspections in Nagpur. The statewide crackdown also led to action against food businesses in Mumbai, Nashik, Bhiwandi, Pune and Thane over safety, labelling, hygiene and licensing violations
The Squeezed Middle: Tutul Consulting on the Unsung Heroes Who Uphold the Organization
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 23: Think about the manager who talks a stressed-out employee off the ledge on Monday morning (read someone threatening to have a breakdown and resign), sits
Kushagra completes ton; Mulanis four-for puts India A on top
Digital Desk | Puducherry, Sep 23 (IANS) Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani grabbed four for 67 to help India A take a commanding 163-run first-inning lead after Kumar Kushagra completed his century against Australia A on Day Two of the opening four-day game at the CAP-Siechem Stadium here on Wednesday. Wicketkeeper-batter Kushagra, who retired hurt on 82 overnight, made 113 for his seventh first-class century and second on-the-trot following the hundred in the Duleep Trophy final, as India A finished at 334 at lunch after resuming at 257/5. A strong and varied India A bowling attack struck regularly to reduce the visitors to 85/5 before middle-order batter Jason Sanghas counter-attacking 46 with five fours and a six helped lift Australia A. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 171. All five India A bowlers to operate returned with a wicket each, with medium-pacer Tushar Deshpande and off-spinner Tanush Kotian taking two apiece. Deshpande dismissed opener Sam Konstas (25) and Mulani clean-bowled captain and veteran batter Peter Handscomb for eight to put the brakes on Australia A early. Sangha put on 41 for the sixth wicket with Liam Scott (26) before Mulani had the latter caught behind. The Maharashtra spinner struck again in his following over to dismiss Sangha, caught at backward point while attempting a reverse hit. Mulani took the ninth wicket to fall, that of Todd Murphy, and the visitors were bowled out just before close. Earlier, off-spinners Corey Rocchiccioli and Todd Murphy finished with seven scalps combined as India A lost their last five wickets for the addition of just 77 runs. Brief scores: India A 334 all out in 117.3 overs (Sai Sudharsan 57, Kumar Kushagra 113, Tanush Kotian 69; Corey Rocchiccioli 4-95, Todd Murphy 3-77) lead Australia A 171 all out in 55.3 overs (Jason Sangha 46; Shams Mulani 4-67) by 163 runs
Yemen: Houthis claim 10 killed, 14 wounded in Saudi airstrikes
Yemen's Houthi rebels on Wednesday also claimed that their forces shot down a Chinese-made Wing Loong II armed reconnaissance drone allegedly belonging to Saudi Arabia while it was carrying out hostile missions over Mocha in Taiz Governorate
Maharashtra FDA Suspends Swiggy Instamart, Amazon Warehouse Licenses
Maharashtra FDA suspended 12 food licences after inspections uncovered serious hygiene violations, including infestations at Mumbai warehouses.
Smriti Irani appointed BJP in-charge for Haryana and Chhattisgarh, Vinod Tawde to look after UP
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party National President Nitin Nabin on Tuesday announced a fresh set of appointments of state in-charges and co-in-charges for various states and union territories. The appointments, detailed in an official press release issued from the partys central office, take effect immediately. According to the circular, the party has assigned organisational responsibilities covering nearly all states and UTs. Notable appointments include Smriti Irani as in-charge for both Chhattisgarh and Haryana, with Siddharth Shambhu as co-in-charge for Chhattisgarh and Dr Bhola Singh as co-in-charge for Haryana. Baijayant Jay Panda has been named state in-charge for Maharashtra, assisted by co-in-charges Amit Malviya, Sadanand Shet Tanavade and Kamaljeet Sahrawat. In Uttar Pradesh, Vinod Tawde has been appointed state in-charge, with Jagadish Patel, Medha Kulkarni, Dr Pradeep Verma and Anant Ojha as co-in-charges. Sunil Bansal will serve as state in-charge for both Telangana and West Bengal. For Telangana, Abhay Patil and Rekha Sharma are co-in-charges, while West Bengals co-in-charges include Lal Singh Arya, Rajendra Singh and Pinki Kushwaha. Other key assignments feature Biplab Kumar Deb as in-charge for Madhya Pradesh with Rekha Verma as co-in-charge, Ram Madhav as state in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, Harish Dwivedi as state in-charge for Bihar and Karnataka, and Dr Satish Poonia as state in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Mangal Pandey has been named state in-charge for Assam, while Dr Arvind Bhadauria will head Andhra Pradesh with Vanathi Srinivasan as co-in-charge. Meanwhile, BJP national president Nitin Nabin has appointed Ashish Usha Agrawal as convenor of the media department and Anil Baluni as co-ordinator of the communication department. The list also covers smaller states and UTs: Jay Prakash (Andaman and Nicobar), Dr Devesh Kumar (Arunachal Pradesh), Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe (Delhi), Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar (Goa), Tarun Chugh (Gujarat), Shrikant Sharma (Himachal Pradesh), Gajendra Patel (Jharkhand), Prof M Nagaraja (Kerala), Rajkumar Bhatia (Ladakh), George Kurian (Lakshadweep), Dr Rajdeep Roy (Manipur), Kanad Purkayastha (Meghalaya), Dr Bhagwat Karad (Mizoram), Anil Antony (Nagaland and Goa Sah Prabhari), D Purandeswari (Odisha), K Surendran (Puducherry), Raju Bista (Sikkim) and Mriganka Deb Barman (Tripura). Several leaders hold dual or multiple responsibilities under the partys organisational restructuring. The circular has been issued by national office in-charge Tarun Chugh to all state presidents and organisational general secretaries for information and necessary action. The appointments aim to strengthen the partys organisational network ahead of future electoral and organisational programmes.
Over 370 colleges have students with pending eligibility: MU
These students had passed Class 12 examinations from boards other than the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education and were admitted to degree courses in the 2024-25 academic year, an official statement said
Zelenskyy urges India, China and Turkey to stop buying Russian energy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged India, China and Turkey to halt energy trade with Russia, arguing it could pressure Moscow to end the Ukraine war. India's Russian oil imports fell 16.5% in August to about 2.1 million bpd, though Russia remained its top supplier
No Licence To Promote Products Harmful To Public Health: Tukaram Mundhe
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said he shared President Droupadi Murmu's appeal to popular film artists not to endorse products harmful to people's health.
Xi Jinping-Trump meeting: China-US leaders set for second summit in six months
Chinese President Xi Jinping is heading to Washington for a second summit with Donald Trump in six months. Talks are expected to cover trade and tariffs, AI, Taiwan, Iran, the Russia-Ukraine war, military ties and the broader future of China-US relations
Differing views are a normal part of deliberation: ECI on SIR rift report
The clarification, posted on the poll body's official X handle, followed a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on multiple occasions over 10 months on steps linked to electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
Bombay HC pulls up Maharashtra government over All is well approach
Bombay High Court has banned bursting of firecrackers on public roads during festivals and criticised the Maharashtra government over poor enforcement of noise pollution rules. The court called for stricter restraint on loudspeakers, DJs and dhol tashas during processions
Nobody has licence to promote things harmful to public health: Maharashtra FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe
Odisha: Malkangiri on red alert as cyclone approaches
Odishas Malkangiri district is on red alert as an approaching cyclone is expected to bring heavy rain. Authorities have activated shelters, deployed 220 JCBs, mobilised ODRAF teams and barricaded vulnerable bridges as part of efforts to prevent casualties and speed up rescue operations
Gyanesh Kumar should be jailed; hold repolls in Maharashtra, WB and TN with ballot papers: Uddhav
Mumbai, Sep 23 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar be jailed, citing reports of differences emerging within the Election Commission. Addressing a news conference, Thackeray also demanded that the last elections in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu be nullified and repolls be held in these states using ballot papers. Gyanesh Kumar should be immediately sacked and jailed, the former Maharashtra chief minister said. I thank Election Commissioners (ECs) Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi for exposing Gyanesh Kumar, Thackeray said. He also said that the court should take cognisance
Maharashtra to issue notification on 'drought' in next two days: Fadnavis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the state government will issue a GR on the drought situation within two days and provide blanket financial aid to farmers. He also assured drinking water and livestock fodder supplies
Bollywood actors back Mundhe's food safety drive, FDA chief says 'grateful'
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said every citizen should remain vigilant about adulterated, unsafe and unhealthy food, particularly products high in fat, sugar or salt
Mumbai and MMR to get 30 lakh homes in 15-20 years: Shinde
Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was speaking at the foundation stone ceremony of the Siddheshwar Nagar-Ramabai Nagar cluster redevelopment project in Thane on Wednesday
SC split on CEC, EC appointment law; CJI to consider Constitution Bench
The Supreme Court has delivered a split verdict on petitions challenging the CEC and EC appointment law, with the matter now before CJI Surya Kant to consider whether a Constitution Bench should hear the case
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 23: Bisleri International, through its flagship 'Bottles for Change' CSR initiative, collaborated with the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) for the Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar (Clean Coast, Safe Sea) campaign and cleanup drive. The week-long initiative was held from 12th to 19th September 2026, with the final day marking International Coastal Cleanup Day. During the period, Bisleri supported coastal cleanliness and plastic waste management activities across35 beaches in 9 States & 2 Union Territory with 8,235 volunteers. Collected 21,418 kgs of used plastic and channeled for recycling promoting circular economy.
IndiGo London-Delhi flight returns to Heathrow after technical issue
IndiGo flight 6E 04 from London to New Delhi returned safely to Heathrow after a technical issue was detected shortly after take-off. The aircraft is undergoing checks, while affected passengers were offered hotel accommodation and seats on the next available flights
Russian drone strikes hit Kyiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia, seven injured
Russian forces launched overnight drone strikes across Ukraine, damaging businesses, warehouses and other facilities in Kyiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia. Seven people were injured, while fires broke out at a shopping centre and warehouses amid difficult emergency response operations
Major BJP Reshuffle: Baijayant Panda Named Maharashtra In-Charge, D Purandeswari Gets Odisha
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin has announced key appointments of state in-charges (Prabhari) and co-in-charges (Sah-Prabhari) for 36 states and Union Territories. According to an official press release issued from the BJP Central Office, these organisational appointments come into effect immediately to streamline party strategy and coordination nationwide. Key Appointments & State [] The post Major BJP Reshuffle: Baijayant Panda Named Maharashtra In-Charge, D Purandeswari Gets Odisha appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
The BJP has strategically appointed Sanjay Bhatia as the in-charge for Rajasthan, supported by co-in-charges Kavita Patidar and Kuljeet Chahal. For Maharashtra, Baijayant Jay Panda leads the charge alongside a team of co-in-charges. Sunil Bansal will manage Telangana and West Bengal, with carefully appointed co-in-charges. Vinod Tawde has been assigned the Uttar Pradesh in-charge role, and Smriti Irani is set to oversee the strategies in Chhattisgarh and Haryana.
Eleven dead in South African house party attack; three wounded
At least 11 people, including a woman believed to be pregnant, were killed and three wounded when three gunmen opened fire at a house party in KwaMakhutha, South Africa. Police are searching for the suspects and investigating a possible feud as the motive
AI can provide solutions, but students must ask the right questions: Murmu
Addressing the 75th convocation of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Gujarat, President Murmu said the university's range of academic disciplines placed it in a position to bring together different streams of knowledge
India's GCC Boom Driving Next Wave of Demand for AI-Powered Workplace Collaboration
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 23: Singapore-headquartered enterprise-grade video conferencing and unified communications provider, Yealink expects India to emerge as a strategic growth market as the rapid expansion of Global Capability Centres (GCCs), increasing AI adoption and the evolution of hybrid workplaces create new demand for intelligent enterprise communication and collaboration solutions.
Maharashtra drought: Devendra Fadnavis meets Latur farmers, assures relief funds
The visit came amid an intensifying drought situation in several parts of Maharashtra, where farmers have been facing crop losses along with shortages of drinking water and livestock fodder. The crisis has increased demands for immediate financial assistance and a formal declaration of drought conditions
SIR row: Sanjay Raut seeks action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, targets ECI
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said Gyanesh Kumar should be suspended, and legal action should be taken against him. In this country, elections have become a farce. ECI comes under the Home Ministry
Yellow alert in 29 districts of Maharashtra amid prolonged dry spell
Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds is expected in Latur, Dharashiv, Yavatmal, Nanded, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Gadchiroli and Gondia districts
With 45 mandals, Kamathipura is Mumbai's largest Ganeshotsav cluster
Maharashtras CM Promises Unlimited Drought Relief Funds During Visit to Latur
CM Devendra Fadnavis assures farmers in Latur of unlimited funds for drought relief amid worsening conditions. Maharashtras CM Promises Unlimited Drought Relief Funds During Visit to Latur
IIT Bombay student death: Crime Branch takes over case; professors statement likely to be recorded
Rahul Gandhi calls former MLA Rahul Bondre, urges him not to join BJP
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal got Rahul Gandhi on phone to speak to Rahul Bondre, urging him to stay with Congress
Maharashtra Government Stands Firm with Farmers Amid Drought Concerns, Says Ram Kadam
Ram Kadam reassures Maharashtra farmers of government support and relief packages amid drought conditions. Maharashtra Government Stands Firm with Farmers Amid Drought Concerns, Says Ram Kadam
India-France-UAE discuss AI, space, health sciences and energy at UNGA
India, France and the UAE reviewed trilateral cooperation in AI, space, energy, health sciences and culture at UNGA81 in New York, discussing regional developments and practical initiatives. The three countries agreed to meet regularly to advance collaboration.
Shankar Mahadevans Bhajan Sandhya turned into a night-long musical celebration for Bappa
Maharashtra Magistrate issues contempt warning to Railway official over bedbug-infested VIP room
A Maharashtra Magistrate has issued a show-cause notice to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Nanded Division, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated for allegedly failing to comply with directions to replace sofas and undertake pest control at the VIP room of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar railway station. The Judicial Magistrate (Railways), Aurangabad, in a [] The post Maharashtra Magistrate issues contempt warning to Railway official over bedbug-infested VIP room appeared first on India Legal .
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 23: Joy Personal Care, the Indian home-grown brand under the aegis of RSH Global, has announced Tamannaah Bhatia, one of India's versatile and celebrated actresses, as the new face of its lotion and cream category. The association will come to life through a multi-platform campaign across television, digital and social media, led by its flagship Honey & Almonds Deep Nourishing Body Lotion.
IIT-B suicide: ABVP seeks complete probe before action against those responsible
Sahil Wakode (22), a second-year B Tech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging in his hostel room on September 18 evening, hours after being caught allegedly using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination
Maharashtra agrarian crisis: Fadnavis, Shinde lead drought damage assessment
Devendra Fadnavis is undertaking a field tour of Latur, Dharashiv and Solapur districts, where he will meet farmers and inspect damaged crops. He is scheduled to visit Jau, Kharosa and Lamjana villages in Ausa and Nilanga talukas, where crops have been affected by prolonged moisture stress
India-Italy ties: EAM Jaishankar, Tajani discuss IMEC, Gulf situation
Italy and India are bound by a special Strategic Partnership, which we are strengthening through ever broader collaboration, from defence and security to artificial intelligence, from space to critical technologies and energy
Health Ministry warns against self-medication with painkillers, antibiotics
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued an advisory circular to healthcare professionals, pharmacists, retailers, distributors, hospitals and the general public on the appropriate use and sale of these medicines
Jaishankar, Trinidad PM discuss economic cooperation to deepen India ties
Jaishankar, Trinidad PM discussed strengthening Trinidad and TobagoIndia relations through greater economic cooperation, increased trade and Exim Bank financing for development projects
Fake NOC racket busted at Mumbai RTO: Syndicate using forged financial documents exposed
TOI Leaders on Campus session to explore skills for successful future
BMC proposes theatre tax hike; state nod awaited, old rates continue for now
Tapovan Vidyalaya in Maharashtra faced complaints after a fine was imposed for fenugreek in lunchboxes. Complaints from parents prompted the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation to investigate the schools food restrictions. Student were allegedly stopped from eating methi and directed to purchase food from the canteen. The incident coincided with the Jain festival of Paryushan, during which food habits are typically restricted.
BMC seeks agency to diversify funding, explore alternative finance for infrastructure projects
UCC bulldozer is to permanently polarise society: Congress
New Delhi, Sep 23: The Congress on Wednesday alleged that for the Modi government, the UCC is not an instrument of considered legal reform but an instrument of division, disruption and diversion, as well as a tool for stoking prejudices and keeping society in a state of permanent polarisation. The opposition party's assertion comes after former Bombay High Court judge Justice R C Chavan resigned from the Maharashtra government's panel to prepare a draft for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), citing serious reservations over its decision to restrict public feedback on crucial social issues to a Yes/No format. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the resignation of a former high court judge from the Maharashtra government's committee to draft a UCC for the state raises larger questions, apart from his several concerns on the functioning of this committee. Posting his statement on X, Ramesh said, A retired High Court judge has shown courage to resign from a committee set up by the Maharashtra government to prepare a uniform civil code for the state. Here is our statement on the non-uniform 'Uniform' Civil Codes (UCC) the HM is trying to bulldoze through in every state. Did the Constituent Assembly ever imagine a situation in which every state would enact its own separate version of a UCC? The answer is a resounding no, Ramesh said. Did the architects of our Constitution led by Dr B.R. Ambedkar ever conceive states competing with one another to have different UCCs according to the political machinations and calculations of one political party, he asked. Again, the answer is a resounding no, Ramesh added. He pointed out that on June 17, 2016, the Modi government referred the question of the UCC to the 21st Law Commission of India for detailed examination. After extensive research, the Commission published its Consultation Paper on Reform of Family Law on August 31, 2018. Its conclusion appearing in paragraph 1.15 on page 7 of the Consultation Paper was clear: 'The formulation of a Uniform Civil Code is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage'. Instead it recommended addressing nor discrimination within individual family laws while preserving India's legal and cultural diversity, Ramesh said. The Modi government has chosen to disregard the findings of the very Commission it tasked with examining the issue because the facts, as usual, did not align with its political agenda, the Congress leader said. Over the last three years, one BJP-ruled State after another bulldozed through its own version of a UCC, Ramesh said. The UCC came into effect in Uttarakhand from January 27, 2025. Subsequently the Gujarat Assembly passed the UCC Bill on March 24, 2026, the Assam Assembly on May 27, 2026 and the Madhya Pradesh Assembly on July 21, 2026, he pointed out. Ramesh said these State-level UCCs, never envisaged in the Constitution, are not uniform. They contain different provisions, different penalties, different procedures and significant exemptions. Contrary to claims, the Uttarakhand UCC, the only one in force, continues with a number of patriarchal traditions and is creating many problems for perfectly law-abiding residents of the state, Ramesh argued. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has made a typically bombastic announcement that a UCC will be implemented in all NDA-ruled States before the 2029 Lok Sabha election, he said. Evidently other NDA parties have lost their voices and are being silenced by the BJP, the Congress general secretary said. For the Modi Government, the UCC is not an instrument of considered legal reform to be implemented after the widest possible consultations and public debate and with the broadest possible consensus. It is, in reality, an instrument of division, disruption and diversion, a tool for harassment and intimidation, stoking prejudices and keeping society in a state of permanent polarisation, Ramesh said. Later, asked about the statement, he said, The UCC bulldozer is to permanently polarise society. In a letter to the panel chairperson Justice Ranjana Desai (retd), former Bombay High Court judge Chavan criticised the committee's approach, stating that reducing complex societal questions, such as delayed marriages, perversions, infertility, and rising matrimonial disputes, to binary options undermined the primary purpose of consensus-building. The former judge said he had misunderstood that the committee aimed to gather views of the people of Maharashtra and to generate a consensus to remedy the issues of late marriages, infertility, unstable marriages, time-consuming dispute resolution mechanism and so on. Now that the misunderstanding is removed, I realise that the aim is to just provide an opportunity to people who may care, to share their responses, in a 'yes or no' format to the questions posed so that analysis of data becomes easy, the letter said. In July, the state government set up a seven-member committee headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai to draft a framework for implementing the UCC, which seeks to establish equal laws across religions on issues about marriage, divorce, and property. Justice Chavan, a former high court judge, resigned from the panel on September 19. The Congress' statement also comes days after Shah said the BJP-led NDA governments in 21 states will introduce UCC before 2029. The next Lok Sabha polls are scheduled for 2029.
IIT-Bombay students parents 'driven out' of Mumbai in 'private car'
Lemon Tree opens its first property in Nashik
Lemon Tree Hotels has announced the opening of Keys Prima by Lemon Tree Hotels, Nashik, marking the Group's first hotel in the city and further strengthening its presence in Maharashtra. The hotel is managed by Carnation Hotels, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lemon Tree Hotels.
S Jaishankar calls for stronger Global South solidarity to tackle global crises
Chairing a High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries and Friends convened by India on Tuesday, EAM S Jaishankar said the current situation made cooperation among these nations particularly important
Macron calls Gaza crisis shameful, urges reopening of Strait of Hormuz
Macron also said the Strait of Hormuz should not be used for blackmail and called for the strategic waterway to be reopened to maritime navigation
Why Justice R C Chavan Quit Maharashtra UCC Panel
'If the intention was simply to replicate what's already been done elsewhere, there was no need for a committee at all -- there's already an Act passed there (in Uttarakhand); just copy it, paste it, and you're done. Why waste everyone's time convening a panel for that?'
