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
LTM Launches BlueVerse SovereignSphere Models to Help Enterprises Own Their AI Advantage
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India --- Business Wire India
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.
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.
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
Navitas Solar plans 10,000-crore green energy blitz across Gujarat, Maharashtra
The proposed expansion will create manufacturing facilities across the solar value chain, including ingots, wafers, high-efficiency solar cells and battery energy storage systems
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.
Supreme Court: Re-Arrest After Article 22(1) Breach Needs Magisterial Sanction
THE SUPREME COURT has ruled that once an arrest of an accused is quashed for want of non-supply of grounds of arrest, the accused could only be re-arrested with the permission of the magistrate. A Bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Atul S. Chandurkar handed down the ruling on a petition challenging the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissing the petition filed by the appellant by holding that the investigating agency cannot be prohibited from seeking warrants of arrest against the appellant or from re-arresting him or seeking his custody. The Bench observed that once there is a breach of Article 22(1) of the Constitution, the power to re-arrest the accused must not be left to the discretion of the very same authority who had violated the said provision of the Constitution. It must have the judicial imprimatur. It is only when the Magistrate is satisfied that for bona fide reasons the grounds of arrest could not be furnished to the arrestee at the first instance but furnished subsequent to his release and on further satisfaction that the accused needs to be re-arrested, he may pass an order permitting the investigating agency to rearrest, the Bench ruled. In this case, an FIR was registered by an informant against the appellant on May 13, 2026, before the Mataur Police Station in the district of SAS Nagar (Punjab), alleging that his wife had left his company and started living with the accused-appellant from about October-November 2024, taking with her both his daughters, including the alleged victim girl, being his elder daughter. On May 9, 2026, the elder daughter (alleged victim) came back to the company of the informant. It was stated that she narrated to the informant physical and sexual abuse committed on her by the accused-appellant from October 25-26, 2024 onwards, off and on. The FIR was registered under Sections 64, 65(1) and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) read with Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, as amended (POCSO Act). The Magistrates Findings On May 17, 2026, at around 07:54 a.m., the appellant was arrested by the police, whereafter he was produced before the Judicial Magistrate In-Charge (Duty) on the next day, i.e., on May 18, 2026, at around noon for obtaining police remand for one day. The Judicial Magistrate noted that though the appellant was arrested on May 17, 2026, and produced before her on May 18, 2026, no written grounds of arrest were provided to the appellant. After referring to the judgment of the Supreme Court in Mihir Rajesh Shah vs. State of Maharashtra (2025), the Magistrate held that the investigating agency had miserably failed to comply with the mandate of law of providing written grounds of arrest. Therefore, appropriate action should be taken against the officers at fault. For non-furnishing of written grounds of arrest, which was in violation of Article 22(1) of the Constitution read with Section 50(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Cr.P.C.) and Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), the appellant was directed to be released immediately since his arrest was rendered illegal. However, the Magistrate clarified that if the investigating agency finds it necessary, they can move an application for remand or custody, if required, along with the reasons and the necessity for the same after supplying the grounds of arrest in writing to the appellant, setting forth the explanation for non-supply of grounds. The Magistrate further clarified that her order would not preclude the investigating agency from proceeding in accordance with law and in strict compliance with the statutory and constitutional mandate. On the same day itself, i.e., May 18, 2026, the same Station House Officer Rupinder Singh, who had caused the arrest of the appellant without furnishing the grounds of arrest and who had moved the earlier remand application, again moved a fresh application for custody and remand of the accused-appellant. This time the subsequent custody/remand application was assigned to the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, who passed an order dated May 22, 2026, dismissing the said application as being not maintainable at that stage. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate noted that the said application was moved by the prosecution without supplying the grounds of arrest to the accused and before the arrest of the accused. Referring to the decision of the Supreme Court in Mihir Rajesh Shah , the Magistrate observed that such an application could be moved only after supplying the grounds of arrest to the accused. According to him, in the present case, grounds of arrest have not been provided to the accused till then. Moreover, custody and remand of the accused can only be granted by the court after the arrest of the accused and it cannot be granted in the absence of the accused. The Bench said in such cases the investigating agency has to file an application before the concerned Magistrate for custody, mentioning therein the reasons for re-arrest of the accused and the necessity for the same. The High Courts Order The accused-appellant approached the High Court seeking to: (i) quash the observations made in the order dated May 18, 2026, by the learned Magistrate; (ii) prohibit and restrain the investigating agency from re-arresting the appellant under any circumstances; (iii) prohibit and restrain the respondents from seeking custody of the appellant and his remand; and (iv) prohibit and restrain the respondents from seeking a warrant of arrest of the appellant. The High Court dismissed the petition, observing that even though the arrest of the appellant was declared illegal by the Magistrate for non-furnishing of written grounds of arrest, the investigating agency was not precluded from seeking his re-arrest, provided that the subsequent arrest made is strictly in accordance with the procedure established by law. The High Court further observed that for the illegal detention beyond 24 hours before production before the learned Magistrate, the appellant may take appropriate legal action against the defaulting police officials. However, the appellant, who is accused of serious and grave offences against a minor child, cannot claim blanket immunity from future arrest. The investigating agency cannot be prohibited or restrained from seeking a warrant of arrest of the appellant or from re-arresting him or seeking his custody/remand. The Framework of Article 22(1) Article 22(1) of the Constitution mandates that No person who is arrested shall be detained in custody without being informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds for such arrest nor shall he be denied the right to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice. Its sub-clause (2) states that Every person who is arrested and detained in custody shall be produced before the nearest magistrate within a period of twenty-four hours of such arrest excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court of the magistrate and no such person shall be detained in custody beyond the said period without the authority of a magistrate. The constitutional mandate of Article 22(1) has been provided for as a statutory protection to an arrestee under Section 50 of Cr.P.C. Section 50 Cr.P.C. reads thus: 50 Person arrested to be informed of grounds of arrest and of right to bail. (1) Every police officer or other person arresting any person without warrant shall forthwith communicate to him full particulars of the offence for which he is arrested or other grounds for such arrest. (2) Where a police officer arrests without warrant any person other than a person accused of a non-bailable offence, he shall inform the person arrested that he is entitled to be released on bail and that he may arrange for sureties on his behalf. Section 50 Cr.P.C. is reproduced in BNSS in the form of Section 47. The protection of clause (2) of Article 22 finds manifestation in Section 57 Cr.P.C., which reads: 57. Person arrested not to be detained more than twenty-four hours. - No police officer shall detain in custody a person arrested without warrant for a longer period than under all the circumstances of the case is reasonable, and such period shall not, in the absence of a special order of a Magistrate under section 167, exceed twenty-four hours exclusive of the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the Magistrates Court. Section 58 BNSS is the present provision corresponding to Section 57 Cr.P.C., providing for the same time frame of twenty-four hours. The Supreme Courts Ruling The Bench observed that it could not tinker with the most important safeguards provided under Article 22, adding that even subsequent filing of a chargesheet and an order of cognizance will not validate such an arrest. Article 22(1) applies across the spectrum including offences under the IPC or under special enactments. It is not statute specific. It is not a mere formality or a matter of procedure. It is a mandatory binding constitutional safeguard, the Bench ruled. The Bench noted that safeguards adumbrated in Article 22(1) are not mere procedural safeguards; these are fundamental principles which are required to be followed in the event liberty of a person is sought to be curtailed. Therefore, it is not correct at all to say that procedural lapses in furnishing grounds of arrest do not ipso facto render custody illegal or entitles the accused to bail. When an accused is released for violation of his fundamental rights under Article 22 (1), he is not enlarged on bail, the Bench added. But what if the investigating agency is of the opinion that custodial interrogation of the accused is required, and whether the accused could be re-arrested? The Bench said in such cases the investigating agency has to file an application before the concerned Magistrate for custody, mentioning therein the reasons for re-arrest of the accused and the necessity for the same. The application, the Bench said, should also contain the explanation for non-supply of the grounds of arrest to the accused at the first instance. The Bench further held that such an application can only be moved after furnishing the grounds of arrest to the accused. To rule out any foul play or collusion, such an application must have the endorsement of the immediate superior authority. This is because the immediate superior authority should know that the concerned officer has committed an unbecoming act of violating a constitutional provision for which necessary remedial, the Bench said. The Bench also held that the superior authority, when presented with the application seeking his endorsement for custody of the accused who has been released for violation of Article 22(1), should hand over the investigation of the case to another officer, further directing a departmental enquiry for such a serious lapse. If the enquiry culminates in an adverse finding against the erring police officer(s), it would entail departmental action with an entry in the service book of such officer(s), the Bench said. On the facts of the case, the Bench set aside the High Court order. The Bench held that the gravity of the evil to the community resulting from anti-social activities can never furnish an adequate reason for invading the personal liberty of a citizen except in accordance with the procedure established by the Constitution and the laws. When a certain procedure is prescribed by the Constitution or the laws for depriving a citizen of his personal liberty, it is the duty of the court to ensure that such procedure is rigorously observed, howsoever, strange this might sound to some ears, the Bench underscored.
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
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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
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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
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Maharashtra Approves Ownership Rights For 198 Landholders Displaced By Mogharpada Metro Car Shed
Fake NOC racket busted at Mumbai RTO: Syndicate using forged financial documents exposed
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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'
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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?'
Sri Lankan court convicts 15 in 2019 Easter attacks, sentences them to 220 years
A total of 23,270 charges were filed against them, and 2,309 witnesses testified for the prosecution
India asks Pakistan to take credible action against cross-border terrorism
India after the Pahalgam attack last year, has maintained that Islamabad should credibly and irrevocably abjure its support for cross-border terrorism
Yudh Abhyas 2026: Indian, US troops train with M777, Dhanush, Pinaka
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PM Modi Chintan Shivir: Two-day Cabinet meeting begins Wednesday in Delhi
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'Blood-stained ice, cockroaches': Mumbai's iconic Gallops restaurant loses licence
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In clinical trials, PANXEON correctly identified 87 per cent of early-stage pancreatic cancers and caught precancerous conditions 64 per cent of the time, enabling earlier intervention
Veg, non-veg symbols mandatory on soaps, shampoos and cosmetics
Manufacturers must now place a clear vegetarian or non-vegetarian symbol on everyday products like soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, and cosmetics
SC notices govt on Vande Mataram
The bench has further sought a response from the Centre on the plea
Jamui harassment case: Prime accused among five arrested
With this, the total number of people held in connection with the September 19 incident has reached five
One of Earths oldest animal fossils found in sheep field
Rapid burial by an ancient sediment slide exceptionally preserved the organism in 3D rather than a flat impression, revealing previously unseen anatomical details like sharp ridges along its fronds
NCP postpones Nashik camp amid drought, asks leaders to join relief work
NCP president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar took the decision to postpone the Nashik camp, according to a party release
The tenacity of Tibetan Tarantino!
Fake script to Nepal, taking on the Chinese, managing the Indian censors, and a film at a theatre near you
Sports grounds should only be used for sport
We want maidans to be kept open for play, not for rallies and meetings.
Maharashtra FDA canteen menu shrinks from full meals to tea and snacks
FDA headquarters canteen has been on a post-COVID diet, going from idli, dosa and full meals to tea, coffee and biscuits as staff numbers and demand fell
Maharashtra CID to probe death of railway passenger detained by RPF at CSMT in Mumbai
The Emerging Age of AI Literacy: Why Understanding AI Is Becoming Essential
Artificial intelligence is moving from a new technology to an established part of everyday digital life. It can help organise information, provide recommendations, assist with navigation, manage digital tasks, and create different forms of content. These systems are increasingly becoming part of the technologies and applications used in daily life. As AI use continues to grow, understanding its basic ideas and uses is becoming an important part of modern digital knowledge. Not long ago, computer literacy meant knowing how to type, save a file, send an email and use basic programmes. Over time, these skills became familiar parts of daily life. AI is now becoming part of search tools, recommendations, digital assistants, automated services and content creation. A 2025 study by KPMG and the University of Melbourne, involving more than 48,000 people in 47 countries, reported that 66 percent regularly used AI for work, study or personal activities, while 39 percent reported receiving AI education or training. This growing use has made AI literacy more important. It does not mean that everyone needs to learn programming or become an AI expert. A 2021 review of 30 peer-reviewed articles identified key parts of AI literacy, including understanding AI, using it, checking its results and thinking about its effects. MIT Open Learning has also discussed AI literacy as a field that can go beyond computer science. AI literacy also means knowing how AI produces information. AI can create explanations, summaries, images, recommendations and other forms of content. The result can depend on the system, the information available to it and the way a question is asked. This makes it useful to check important information and compare reliable sources. A basic understanding of AI can help people use these tools with greater awareness. AI is also opening new ways to learn and create. It can help explain ideas, organise information, develop ideas, create images and assist with solving problems. Alongside these possibilities, learning continues to depend on curiosity, practice and original thinking. AI literacy therefore includes knowing how to use these tools, how to ask clear questions and how to combine AI assistance with human judgement and creativity. The Harvard Graduate School of Education has discussed introducing AI literacy at an early age. MIT has also looked at ways to teach basic AI ideas to younger students. In one small MIT Media Lab study, students showed better understanding of AI after taking part in an AI literacy programme. Another MIT RAISE study involved 190 teachers and nearly 12,000 students. The teachers said they knew more about AI and felt more confident discussing it after the lessons. India is also taking steps to build AI awareness and skills. Through the IndiaAI Mission, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has supported programmes related to AI education and skills. YUVA AI for ALL introduces learners to basic AI ideas, while Future Skills focuses on more advanced AI skills. AI Samarth also shares the experiences of educators such as Rajeswari Behera from Odisha and Mohandas Gaikwad from Maharashtra, who took part in AI literacy training. Their experiences show how simple training can help people become more familiar with AI and its uses. AI literacy is also being studied in different parts of the world. Universities and research centres are looking at simple ways to help people understand AI and use it well. The work includes learning how AI works, using AI tools, checking information and understanding responsible use. This shows that AI literacy is becoming a wider part of digital learning. Stanford University has created CRAFT resources to help high school students learn about AI. Oxford University has an AI Competency Centre that provides training on generative AI. The University of Cambridge has a Generative AI Literacy Course, while University College London has resources on using generative AI in learning and teaching. ETH Zurich is also studying how AI can support learning. Research in China and other countries is looking at AI literacy among university students and how it connects with learning and technology skills. UNESCO is also helping shape AI literacy. Its AI Competency Framework for Students lists 12 areas of learning, covering basic AI knowledge, ethics, practical use and AI system design. The OECD and European Commission's 2026 framework lists 19 AI literacy competences for school education. The European Union has also introduced AI literacy requirements through its AI Act. Together, these efforts show that understanding AI is becoming an important part of modern education and digital knowledge. AI literacy is becoming an important part of modern digital knowledge. Its purpose is not only to teach people how to use new tools, but also to help them understand the technology and explore its possibilities. AI can support learning, creativity, communication and problem-solving in many settings. Knowing its basic ideas can help people use these capabilities more effectively. The emerging age of AI literacy is therefore also an opportunity to build digital knowledge and take part in a changing technological world. Understanding AI can open new ways to learn, create, explore ideas and develop solutions. As AI literacy evolves, its value will lie in helping people understand and use this technology while keeping human judgement, curiosity and creativity at the centre. The real advantage will not simply come from knowing how to use AI, but from knowing how to understand it, work with it and use it with purpose. AI literacy can therefore become more than a new digital skill. It can be a foundation for confident and informed participation in the technological world ahead. (The author is a Columnist. Feedback: bakshisuhaib094@gmail.com)
Akola man to be hanged for killing wife and 9-year-old daughter
Court relies on circumstantial, medical and forensic evidence; victim was 15 weeks pregnant
Ex-MLA backs out of BJP switch after Rahul call
Heavy vehicle norms only on paper, say residents of Punes Mohammedwadi after another fatal crash
Maharashtra Set To Issue Preliminary Drought Notification By Saturday
Mr Fadnavis said the preliminary information on drought-affected areas had been collected following directions issued at an earlier Cabinet meeting. We will issue the first drought notification before Saturday based on the preliminary information collected from the field.
NIA VC: Crosspathy should be used only in emergencies
After 77 Years, 585 Sindhi Families in Amravati Get Permanent Residential Leases
MANS demands action against self-proclaimed weather experts misguiding farmers
Speeding truck kills tigress in Bhandara
Four Zones Budgets Face Further Delay As Poll Code Halts NMC Meetings
Nagpur City Congress collects over Rs 2.5 lakh via crowdfunding
Graduates Constituency Polls: BJP Faces Tough Choice As Sole, Kohale Seek Nomination
Are Govt Quarters Safe? HC Demands Answers
Akolas water crisis puts a rethink on immersion of large Ganesh idols
No Drinking Water For Bappas Visarjan This Year: NMC
Students get hands-on training in CNC technology at AISSMS
German engineering firm CAC, Punes TPES join hands to implement global projects for synthetic fuel
50 of 2,000 water samples unfit in Pune railway division
8.85 lakh FYJC seats in Maharashtra still vacant after multiple admission rounds
Pune Speedcuber makes Ganapati out of 520 Rubiks cubes for Ganeshotsav
Avartan 2026 celebrates 16 years of kathak excellence
Technology and ethics are keys to success in CA profession, says Atul Pai
