School Holiday Alert: Are Schools Closed in Rajasthan, Kerala, and Assam Today?
Are schools closed today, September 21, 2026? Check the latest updates on school holidays in Rajasthan, Kerala, and Assam due to state-specific festivals. Get details on exam schedules and bank closures.
In Pune Murder, Garland Photo Hints At Secret Marriage At Rajasthan Temple
Police developed suspicion of a hidden marriage after analysing mobile phone chats between the two accused.
Liquor worth over Rs 45 lakh seized in separate raids in three days across Gujarat
Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Sep 21 (IANS) The Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) seized IMFL and beer worth Rs 45.35 lakh in four separate raids across Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Surendranagar and Surat over the past three days, with the total value of liquor, vehicles and other material seized during the operations exceeding Rs 77 lakh, officials said on Monday. The latest seizure was made in Ahmedabad on Sunday, September 20, when the State Monitoring Cell recovered around 105 boxes containing 5,030 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor and beer valued at Rs 15,58,800. The raid was conducted near Hanspura Overbridge on Sardar Patel Ring Road, on the public road leading from Dahegam towards Ahmedabad. Police Sub-Inspector D.A. Tuvar led the operation. A vehicle and other material were also seized during the operation, taking the total value of the seized property to Rs 30,58,800. A case was registered at Naroda Police Station against 10 accused, including one arrested and nine wanted, under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83 and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act and Sections 336(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The arrested accused has been identified as Jitendra alias Jitu Damor (Meena), a resident of Kherwada taluka in Udaipur district, Rajasthan. The wanted accused include Pravin Damor of Kherwada, Anil Dadu Bharda and Lokesh Patel, along with six others, including the person who allegedly ordered the liquor consignment to Ahmedabad. In another operation, the State Monitoring Cell seized around 94 boxes containing 4,326 bottles of IMFL and beer worth Rs 13,03,315 from the parking area of Sahyog Hotel near Chotila in Surendranagar district on Saturday, September 19. The raid was conducted by Police Sub-Inspector D.A. Tuvar on Ahmedabad-Rajkot National Highway 47. One vehicle was also seized, taking the total value of the seized material to Rs 20,03,315. A case was registered at Chotila Police Station against four wanted accused under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act. The accused include the driver and owner or custodian of the four-wheeler allegedly carrying the liquor, the person who sent the foreign liquor consignment, and the person who ordered it. On September 18, the cell seized around 91 boxes containing 3,372 bottles of IMFL and beer worth Rs 10,13,544 near D-Mart Circle on Mehsana Bypass Road. Police Inspector P.P. Brahmbhatt conducted the raid opposite Osiya Mall. A vehicle, a mobile phone, and other material were also seized, taking the total value to Rs 20,43,544. A case was registered at Mehsana Taluka Police Station against five accused under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act and Sections 111(3)(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Navrang Bhat was arrested, while Anand Raval of Sathiyala and the owner and FASTag holder of the four-wheeler carrying the liquor were among those listed as wanted. In Surat city, the cell seized around 55 boxes containing 2,143 bottles of IMFL and beer worth Rs 6,59,783 during raids at Singanpor village and at a room near Krupa Residency in Dargah Mohalla. Police Sub-Inspector A.G. Enurkar conducted the operation. Two mobile phones, cash and other material were also seized, taking the total value to Rs 6,76,273. Two accused, Rahul Vamanrao Lakdu (Ahire) and Shubham Kashyap, were arrested. Divyaben alias Dipu Patil, Jitubhai Patil and the persons who allegedly supplied the foreign liquor were named as wanted accused. The State Monitoring Cell said the raids were conducted following directions from Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik to take legal action against illegal liquor and gambling activities in the state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday (September 21) secured the mayor's post in Pali Municipal Corporation in Rajasthan after receiving the support of 12 independent councillors.
A political controversy erupted after 18 Congress councillors from Rajasthan's Tijara Municipal Council went missing in Haryana while returning from Himachal Pradesh ahead of the chairperson election on Monday.The councillors had reportedly been staying together...
Two Alleged Shooters Linked to Lawrence Gang Arrested in Jodhpur Operation
Rajasthan Anti-Gangster Task Force arrests two shooters linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in Jodhpur, targeting a local businessman. Two Alleged Shooters Linked to Lawrence Gang Arrested in Jodhpur Operation
KAL, a long-range one-way attack drone indigenously designed and developed by Noida-based IG Defence, has successfully completed a trial at the Pokhran field firing range in Rajasthan, marking a significant milestone in India's development of...
Rajasthan High Court Halts Arrests of 10 Councillors Ahead of Local Elections
Rajasthan High Court grants interim protection to councillors from arrest just before local elections, ensuring their participation. Rajasthan High Court Halts Arrests of 10 Councillors Ahead of Local Elections
When schools turn children into props
In many of our Schools today, a familiar scene unfolds whenever an official or dignitary visits; students are lined up in neat rows, trained to clap, cheer and smile on cue, often performing dances or songs as if they were a professional troupe. Photographs and videos of these moments are routinely uploaded on school social media accounts, websites and WhatsApp groups. What is presented as discipline, respect or school pride is, in reality, a systematic erosion of childrens dignity, privacy and right to a fear-free childhood. The teachers and the management of these schools, without knowing the consequences, direct the children to be show-pieces and this culture has snowballed in to a crisis and a matter of deep concern for parents who do not want their children, especially girls to perform like this. The ritualistic reception staged for visiting officers, new headmasters or principals. Children, overwhelmingly girls, are lined up and made to sing film and folk numbers such as Aayiye aap ka intizaar tha or the Kashmiri song Shoukeh chaaneh waayou changeh taye saazo, aakhou shehr-e-sheerazo while showering flower petals on the arriving official, who often walks in as if on a red carpet, posing like a groom. This spectacle, redolent of the colonial-era babu culture, reduces young boys and girls to ornamental greeters and performers whose only role is to flatter authority. It has no place in a rights-based, democratic education system and stands in direct conflict with the childs right to dignity under Article 21 and Article 39(f) of the Constitution. On numerous occasions, children, again mostly girls, are orchestrated into public displays of grief when a teacher retires or is transferred. They are encouraged, sometimes actively coached, to weep, cry and moan while surrounding the departing teacher. These highly emotional scenes are filmed and later circulate widely on social media. Only after the videos go viral do the children and their parents grasp the lasting consequences; the girl who was seen sobbing and clinging in public becomes an object of mockery and ridicule for years. The trauma and shame she carries are neither spontaneous nor harmless; they are the direct result of adults engineering a performance of grief for sentimental or self-promotional effect. Such practices inflict mental harassment prohibited under Section 17 of the RTE Act and violate the childs right to privacy and dignity. A similar pattern appears during picnics, cultural programmes and even inside school buses. Girls are urged to sing, dance and perform in the heat of collective excitement, only for the moments to be recorded and shared. Later, when the videos surface online, the same children and their families experience deep embarrassment and mental agony, realising that in a moment of unguarded joy the child was pushed into behaviour she would never have chosen with full awareness of its permanent digital afterlife. Once again, schools failure to protect childs image and future reputation constitutes a clear breach of the protective obligations placed on educational institutions by the NCPCR guidelines, the DPDP Act and the constitutional guarantee of dignity. These practices are not harmless tradition. They treat children as decorative props for adult display and place their long-term honour and mental well-being at risk. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) is clear. Education must take place in an environment free from fear, trauma and anxiety. Section 17 explicitly prohibits mental harassment. Forcing children to stand in formation, cheer like cheerleaders, or perform on demand for administrators or VIPs turns the school into a hierarchical stage rather than a space of learning and respect. This contradicts the very spirit of the Right to Education Act, which prioritises the childs all-round development and dignity. Article 39(f) of the Constitution further directs the State to ensure that children grow in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood is protected against exploitation and moral abandonment. Compulsory performances, especially when filmed, sit uncomfortably close to the line of exploitation. Photography and Videography of children inside schools or for that matter outside schools on roads by the school authorities or by any other agency including the media outlets, followed by posting on open social media platforms, raise even sharper concerns. Once an image or video is online, it can be downloaded, edited, shared and weaponised indefinitely. Children have no real control over this digital footprint. The Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v/s Union of India (2017) held that privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21. Childrens privacy interests are heightened because they cannot fully understand or consent to lifelong digital exposure. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 reinforces this: anyone under 18 is a child and processing their personal data, including photographs and videos, requires verifiable parental consent. Vague permissions buried in admission forms do not meet this standard. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has repeatedly stressed the need for a child-friendly, safe school environment. Its manuals on school safety and security, cyber-safety guidelines, and advisories on preventing bullying and cyber-bullying underline that schools act in loco parentis. Recent administrative orders, such as those issued by the Rajasthan Directorate of Secondary Education, explicitly cite NCPCR guidelines, Article 21 and the right to privacy while restricting unauthorised Photography, Videography and circulation of student images precisely to protect childrens dignity and safety. The risk is especially acute for girl students. When girls are asked or compelled to perform before authorities, or queue-up for a visiting officer or bow or bend for authorities or make special performances on the retirement of any Teacher, Headmaster or Principal, (which has recently become a norm in our UT Schools) and the videos remain online for years, the consequences can be severe in socially conservative settings. Such content has been known to attract moral policing, online abuse, character assassination and attempts to damage future careers and relationships. What begins as an innocent school performance can later become a source of lasting mental distress and social stigma for girls and hundreds of such cases have been reported. NCPCRs Guidelines for Child and Adolescent Participation in the Entertainment Industry caution against subjecting children to performances that expose them to ridicule or emotional harm, or that are beyond their maturity. Even when the performance is not commercial, filming and public posting effectively place the child in the digital public sphere without adequate safeguards. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Acts foundational principles, dignity of the child, protection of privacy and confidentiality further reinforce that schools must not create situations in which a childs image can later be used to stigmatise or exploit her. Schools must stop treating children as accessories for official visits and social-media engagement. This is both legally necessary and morally urgent to end compulsory lining-up, cheering and performing solely for the benefit of visiting authorities, obtain specific informed and verifiable parental consent before any photography or videography intended for public or social-media use, with a clear and easy opt-out. In situations where it is necessarily to post or disseminate any education related function involving students, school authorities must prefer non-identifiable images or blur faces when posting is unavoidable. School authorities must also recognise that the schools primary duty is to protect the childs dignity and future, not to generate content or impress officials. Children are not cheerleaders for the administration. They are rights-bearing individuals whose honour and mental peace must not be sacrificed for a few minutes of ceremonial applause or a social-media post. Education departments, school managements and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights have both the legal mandate and the moral responsibility to draw a firm line. A childs dignity is not a photo opportunity. It is a fundamental right and a prime responsibility for all the stakeholders. The Union Territorys Education Ministry, Directorate of School Education and all concerned education departments must take immediate cognizance of these deeply problematic practices. Strict notices and clear orders should be issued to every school; government, private and aided, directing them to end the use of children, particularly girls, as ornamental performers, emotional props or social-media content. In a society that still attaches high value to religious, moral and ethical norms, the lasting stigma, ridicule and mental trauma that can follow a girl from a viral school video are neither imaginary nor minor. Safeguarding the dignity, honour and future of every child is not optional; it is a constitutional and statutory duty. The authorities must act now to ensure that no school is allowed to compromise that duty in the name of tradition, ceremony or publicity. Meraj Zargar is a Tral-based social worker, has authored two books, with over two decades of literary and humanitarian work. Ideas are personal.
Gujarat Police Arrests Murder Accused After 24 Years on the Run
Ahmedabad Crime Branch apprehends Dinesh Desai, wanted for a 2002 murder in Rajasthan, after he evaded capture for 24 years. Gujarat Police Arrests Murder Accused After 24 Years on the Run
The BJYMs Seva Sankalp Yatra continues in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, highlighting community service and social responsibility. BJYMs Seva Sankalp Yatra Reaches Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Promoting Service and Community Engagement
Ahmedabad Crime Branch Arrests Fugitive in 2002 Rajasthan Murder Case
A 54-year-old man wanted for a 2002 murder in Rajasthan has been arrested by Ahmedabads Crime Branch after 24 years on the run. Ahmedabad Crime Branch Arrests Fugitive in 2002 Rajasthan Murder Case
On The Run For 24 Years, Rajasthan Man Arrested From Gujarat For Murder
To evade law enforcement, Desai spent 24 years continuously shifting locations, concealing his identity, and working daily-wage labour jobs to stay under the radar.
Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma orders timely completion of Rs 2 lakh crore water projects
The News Mill
Yudh Abhyas 2026: How India & US Are Preparing for the Future of War | GPS Jamming, AI & Drones
India and the United States are conducting the 22nd edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas across Uttarakhand and Rajasthan, with around 600 personnel from each army participating.This year's exercise goes beyond conventional field training, with Indian and American troops focusing on some of the biggest challenges of modern warfare, including GPS-denied and heavily jammed environments, artificial intelligence for intelligence analysis, counter-drone operations and cyber capabilities in multi-domain operations.The exercise also includes training and exchanges on high-altitude and cold-weather operations, aviation, mortars, snipers, medical support and information warfare.So, what exactly happens during Yudh Abhyas, and why does interoperability matter when two militaries use different equipment, procedures and command structures?Here's a closer look at Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 and the evolving India-US military partnership.#YudhAbhyas #IndianArmy #USArmy #IndiaUS #MilitaryExercise #ModernWarfare #DroneWarfare #AI #CyberWarfare #DefenceHq #TOI
Bhupender Yadav asserts BJPs early success in Rajasthan local elections, citing public trust and development achievements under the party. BJP Takes Early Lead in Rajasthan Local Body Elections, Bhupender Yadav Claims Trust in Double Engine Government
Initial fuel loading begins at Rajasthan Atomic Power Projects units 7 and 8
September 21 school holiday: Are schools closed tomorrow? Check state-wise list
Schools in Kerala and Rajasthan will close on September 21, 2026. Assam schools also observe a holiday for Srimanta Sankardeva's Janmotsav. Telangana schools are expected to remain open as no general holiday is listed. Many other states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have no September 21 holiday. Students and parents should verify local school notices for any changes.
Rajasthan farmers sell moong below MSP as Govt yet to decide MSP purchase
Rajasthan moong arrivals surge 10-fold, but farmers get 15% below MSP; average realisation at 7,452/quintal against MSP of 8,780
Which City Is Known As The Kachori Capital Of India?
Crispy, flaky and packed with flavour, kachori is more than just a snack in this Rajasthani city, it's a tradition that's best experienced fresh from the fryer.
Over 77% of Rajasthans illegal mining FIRs filed in Aravalli districts
Recent proposed changes threaten to aggravate the situation by removing protections
Southwest Monsoon Retreat Begins in Rajasthan: Country Faces 15% Rain Deficit
Indias Fourth Indigenous 700 MW Nuclear Reactor Begins Initial Fuel Loading At Rajasthans Rawatbhata
Ashiana Housing to invest Rs 1,000 cr in FY27 to acquire land for expansion: MD Vishal Gupta
Realty firm Ashiana Housing will invest 1,000 crore this fiscal to acquire land across major markets like Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Specialising in senior living, the company aims to sustain sales after hitting 2,400 crore pre-sales last fiscal, despite reporting structural industry delays and rising labor costs.
Howitzers roar as India, US armies drill amid tariff threat
Indian and US Army personnel conducted a live-firing demonstration involving the M777 Ultra Light Howitzer at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan as part of the ongoing bilateral Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, showcasing artillery capabilities, operational coordination and exchange of battlefield practices between the two forces.
Ashiana Housing to invest 1,000 cr in FY27 to acquire land for expansion
Realty firm Ashiana Housing will invest Rs 1,000 crore this fiscal to buy land parcels for development of housing projects as part of its expansion plan, a top company official said. Listed entity Ashiana Housing is one of the leading real estate developers in the country. It specialises in building homes for elderly people. In an interview with PTI, Ashiana Housing MD Vishal Gupta said housing demand continues to be strong despite global uncertainties. To tap this demand, he said the company is expanding business across major markets including Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. On land acquisition, Gupta said the company is continuously looking for land to develop regular group housing and also senior living projects. We will be investing around Rs 1,000 crore this fiscal on land acquisition, he said, adding that the company has enough cash to fund the investment. The land acquisition would be outright as well as joint development with landowners. On sales book
School Holiday Alert: Are Schools Closed in Kerala and Rajasthan on September 21?
Are schools closed in Kerala and Rajasthan tomorrow? Check the official holiday status for September 21, 2026, including government orders, private school guidelines, and exam updates for students and parents.
Monsoon expected to withdraw from parts of Rajasthan over next 3-4 days
Most parts of eastern Rajasthan are expected to remain mainly dry for the next five to six days
Missing eight-month-old from Nashik found safe by officials after three days
Digital Desk | Nashik, Sep 20 (IANS) An eight-month-old baby girl who went missing in Maharashtra's Nashik district three days back was found safe on Sunday, police said. The infant, who had gone missing from the Manyad police outpost region in Nandgaon taluka of Nashik on September 17, was found abandoned near the Vaibothi village in neighbouring Yeola taluka. Yeola taluka police reached the spot and took her into their custody. Subsequently, the infant was taken to the Yeola Sub-District Hospital for a medical examination after being identified by her mother and the Nandgaon police. Her safe recovery brought relief to the family and the police. However, the circumstances under which the baby reached Vaibothi, who brought her there, and why she was abandoned at the spot remain unclear. Police are investigating the matter to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the infants disappearance and subsequent recovery. In Odisha, Operation Anweshan, conducted by the state's Crime Against Women and Children Wing (CAW & CW) Department, along with the state police, rescued 101 missing children. The children included 54 boys and 47 girls. The teams conducted field-level searches, verified the leads, and coordinated with local authorities, along with various child care institutions during the operation. As part of the operation, as many as 17 specialised teams were deployed to several states and Union Territories where Odia children are frequently found. The youngest among those rescued was a three-month-old infant found institutionalised alongside her minor mother. Another child who was found was institutionalised for the longest duration and had spent more than five years away from home. The states in which the children were found include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Death by breath: How mining dust in Aravallis is killing residents
Manisha (27) sits with a group of women on a mattress laid out in one corner of her house's veranda in Rajasthan's Sikar's Syalodra village. In the other corner, there are stacks of large oxygen cylinders, used by her 32-year-old husband, Manjeet, for breathing up until his recent death. Manjeet was a labourer at a nearby stone crushing unit, and for more than three years, he suffered from a debilitating, incurable lung illness called silicosis. Its trigger: inhaling silica dust, fine particles that are a by-product of rampant mining operations such as drilling, blasting, and stone crushing in the region. Silicosis has claimed more than 50 people's lives over the years in Syalodra, part of the Aravalli range, say residents. However, the Supreme Court-appointed panel, which concluded its field visits to assess several aspects of the Aravallis on August 11, did not come to the village, much like it skipped going to many other mining-affected areas across Kotputli-Behror and Sikar ...
Indian Oil independent director quits over son's petrol pump dealership
Alka Mundra has resigned as an independent director of state-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), barely a month after joining the board, saying her son's petrol pump dealership with the company breaches independence criteria under stock market listing rules. In a September 18 letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, disclosed by the company in a stock exchange filing, Mundra said her son, Madhav Mundra, has operated an IOC retail outlet, Swarn Ganga KSK, in Udaipur, Rajasthan, since 2020. She said the arrangement conflicts with the independence criteria on pecuniary relationships under SEBI's Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) Regulations. Mundra said her son conducts his business independently, without any involvement or intervention from my side, and that she was confident her objectivity would remain unaffected. Nevertheless, she wrote, considering he highest standards of Corporate Governance, she found it inappropriate to
IMD: Monsoon exiting Rajasthan as Bay low awaits turn to intensify
A 15% rain deficit as on date leaves kharif yields exposed to a late-season gamble: showers from a deep depression could replenish soil moisture, but extreme rain could damage mature crops
Fire partially damages Katra helipad terminal in Jammu & Kashmir
Digital Desk | Jammu, Sep 20 (IANS) A fire partially damaged the helipad terminal, used to ferry pilgrims to the hilltop Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, at Katra in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district early on Sunday. According to local sources, the fire was noticed around 3.15 a.m. The flames were brought under control shortly after by personnel present at the site, with assistance from fire and emergency services. The helipad terminal, an important transit point for pilgrims travelling to the shrine atop the Trikuta Hills, was closed at the time of the incident. No casualties have been reported so far. The extent of the damage is being assessed. An investigation is currently underway to ascertain the exact cause of the fire, though a short circuit is suspected. In a similar incident in June, a fire had broken out near the helipad at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya minutes before the scheduled landing of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, officials said. Police had then launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire and determine how it broke out close to the helipad designated for the Chief Minister's arrival, according to an NDTV report. The blaze reportedly started near the helipad and quickly spread towards the nearby Saryu Guest House. According to officials, it affected an area of about 15 metres before being brought under control ahead of the chief minister's landing. Security personnel deployed at the site initially attempted to contain the flames before fire brigade teams arrived and extinguished the blaze. No injuries or loss of life were reported. A massive fire broke out at the Sethi Complex Manihari Katla, also known as Purohit Ji Ka Katla, in Jaipur's Tripolia Bazaar in Rajasthan on Thursday morning. More than 20 shops and warehouses, including clothing warehouses, plastic goods shops and bangle stores, were reportedly affected by the blaze. According to initial information, the fire started in goods stored in cartons outside a clothing shop on the second floor.
'Tell us where to come, schools being fixed before our visit': CJP mocks Rajasthan govt
10th Pencak Silat Federation Cup begins in Leh
Leh, Ladakh: The 10th Pencak Silat Federation Cup 2026 is being held at the NDS Indoor Stadium in Leh, bringing together Pencak Silat athletes, coaches, officials, team managers and sports administrators from across the country. More than 850 athletes and participants are taking part in the national championship, which has emerged as a major sporting gathering in the Union Territory of Ladakh. Teams from various States, Union Territories and Paramilitary Forces are participating in the championship. The event also features more than 100 technical and federation officials and State/UT representatives, along with over 70 coaches and team managers. The opening ceremony will be attended by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena as the chief guest. Administrative Secretary, Youth Services & Sports, UT Ladakh Bhanu Prabha; Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, Ladakh Shashanka Ala; Joint Director, Youth Services & Sports, Ladakh Tsering Paldan; Additional Deputy Commissioner to the Lieutenant Governor Shekh Aadil; President, Indian Pencak Silat Federation; President, Ladakh Pencak Silat Association; and District Youth Services & Sports Officer, Leh, will also be present. The championship has brought together sporting delegations from Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, CISF, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, ITBP, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Puducherry, Rajasthan, SSB, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The participation of State and UT teams along with Paramilitary Forces has added diversity to the championship, bringing athletes from different sporting backgrounds onto one national platform. Besides athletes, the championship includes technical officials, federation representatives, coaches, team managers, referees, judges, delegation representatives and members of the organising and support teams. The event has brought together more than 1,000 athletes, officials, coaches, managers, representatives and other sporting stakeholders. Hosting a national-level Pencak Silat championship in Leh at the high altitude of the Himalayas gives the event a distinctive setting. The championship provides athletes from across India an opportunity to compete at the national level while also experiencing the culture and hospitality of Ladakh. The event also highlights Ladakh's potential to host major sporting competitions and provides a platform for promoting sports and sporting activities in the region. The 10th Pencak Silat Federation Cup 2026 brings together athletes and sporting delegations from different regions of the country on a common platform. With more than 850 participants, 100 technical officials and representatives, and over 70 coaches and team managers, the championship provides a significant platform for Pencak Silat athletes to compete and showcase their skills.
Rajasthan Forms Committee to Investigate Deaths of Two Women After C-Section in Bundi
A committee has been established to investigate the deaths of two women following cesarean deliveries at Bundi General Hospital. Rajasthan Forms Committee to Investigate Deaths of Two Women After C-Section in Bundi
Three wanted in Telangana drug cases tracked down in Rajasthan
During one attempt, personnel reportedly encountered resistance involving live electric wires, while another team was allegedly confronted by a large group of villagers
From IPL Sensation To India 'A': Praful Hinge Opens Up On His Next Big Challenge
Praful Hinge's three-wicket opening over while turning out for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals made him an overnight sensation in this year's Indian Premier League.
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 19 ( IANS) The political contest for the Jaipur Municipal Corporation Mayoral post has taken shape, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) naming Sunil Kothari and the Congress fielding Sunita Mahawar. Kothari, a former Jaipur City BJP President and newly elected Councillor from Ward-112, filed his nomination on Saturday. Mahawar, a Congress Councillor from Ward-118, has also entered the political fray. The BJP has 78 Councillors in the 150-member corporation, while the Congress has 57 and Independents hold 15 seats. The Mayoral election is scheduled for September 25, with voting to be held between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. if the political contest remains contested after the withdrawal process. The BJP finalised Kothari's candidature after consultations within the party. He reached the Jaipur Municipal Corporation headquarters on Saturday afternoon to file his nomination, accompanied by several senior BJP leaders. Kothari has been associated with the BJP organisation for several decades and has previously served as Jaipur City BJP President. He has also held other organisational responsibilities within the BJP. In the upcoming Jaipur municipal corporation election, Kothari contested Ward-112 and defeated the Congress candidate Ashish Sharma by 905 votes, according to reports on the election result. His election affidavit reportedly puts the value of his movable and immovable assets at around Rs 35.87 crore. The Congress has fielded Sunita Mahawar from Ward-118. She is a long-time Congress worker with experience in Jaipur's municipal politics and has previously held responsibilities in the Municipal Corporation. Mahawar is associated with the Adarsh Nagar area and is considered close to Congress MLA Rafeek Khan. The Congress has also indicated that it is seeking support beyond its own Councillor group ahead of the Mayoral election. Khan has publicly claimed that some BJP Councillors are in contact with the Congress, though such claims have not been independently verified. Mahawar's candidature gives the Congress a woman Councillor with experience in local politics as its challenger to the BJP candidate Sunil Kothari. The Jaipur Municipal Corporation has 150 wards. Following the September 17 repoll results, the final party-wise tally stands at BJP: 78, Congress: 57 and Independents: 15. The BJP therefore has a majority in the 150-member corporation. The four wards that went to repoll were all won by Congress, taking its tally from 53 to 57. The 15 Independent Councillors could nevertheless remain politically significant during the Mayoral election, particularly because the Mayor is elected through a vote of the elected Councillors. The Rajasthan State Election Commission has scheduled the Jaipur Mayoral election for September 25. Nominations were accepted on September 18 and 19, scrutiny is scheduled for September 21, and September 22 is the deadline for withdrawal of candidature. With both major parties, BJP and the Congress, now having formally announced candidates, the focus shifts to the nomination scrutiny, withdrawal process and the efforts of the parties to consolidate support ahead of the September 25 vote.
IPL Breakout Star Praful Hinge Relies On 'one Ball At A Time' Approach For India 'A'
Vidarbha Pro T20 League: Praful Hinge's three-wicket opening over while turning out for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals made him an overnight sensation in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL). But with his first India A assignment looming, via a red-ball series against Australia A in Puducherry, the right-arm fast bowler said he will take the simplest of approaches into the game starting on September 22: stay in the present and think about nothing beyond the next delivery. I don't think too much in my brain about what will happen next or what may not happen. I just focus on the present like what I have to do with the ball in hand in a match. I just focus on bowling one ball at a time. As a bowler, there are a lot of challenges and I love those challenges. When the ball comes, I just have to do my bowling. I'll do my best. The rest, and whatever happens, will have to happen, Hinge told IANS in a chat ahead of the series to be played at the picturesque CAP-Siechem Stadium. Hinge learned of his India 'A' selection while away from his residence in Nagpur, and only believed it once he had checked for himself. I got a message from a friend who works in media, and said that I got India 'A' call-up. I was out of station at that time and then got a message from the friend, who said, 'Congratulations on getting India 'A' team call-up'. To see that for real, I saw on the BCCI website and it began to sink in that I was in India 'A' team. This is what is going on right now - if you work hard, you'll definitely get something. I've been playing red-ball cricket since Ranji Trophy and red-ball cricket has been my favourite format since childhood, he added. Since the IPL ended, Hinge has kept bowling. He took eight wickets in the Vidarbha Pro T20 League and played Under-25 emerging matches at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru - all with an eye on keeping himself in good bowling rhythm. I mean, now that I've got a chance, I should do well. So, in all the matches, everything was good for me and I performed well. Whatever the match was either bowling my overs, fielding, batting, it was the same. The experiences were the same - I just have to keep myself ready so that I can get a chance someday. My body is doing well. I mean, my fitness is great and everything is going well. Yes, I briefly attended a SRH off-season camp. We had a good volume of bowling there as well and our fitness was good, he added. Hinge was largely unknown outside domestic cricket circles before his breakout time in IPL 2026 for SRH. He acknowledges that the attention has changed his life off the field, even if he tries not to dwell on it and keeps social media at arm's length. A lot of people do recognize me. Now, everyone knows me wherever I go. So, it feels really good. Sometimes, I do think about it in my mind - like, I've done this too. Nothing much as such. I don't use it (social media) much. I don't pay much attention to it. I just use it for a bit of fun, humour and work things. His family in Nagpur has also felt the difference. Yes, the parents and family members get more recognised now. Like if they needed something before, it would come late. Now whenever they need something, it comes a little earlier than expected since my good showing in the IPL. Hinge also credited former India fast bowler Varun Aaron, SRHs fast bowling coach, for keeping a close watch on his development since the IPL ended. After the IPL, he's always been following me. Like, what are you doing? How's the training and bowling going? Once or twice, I went for bowling with him. I even bowled with the red-ball in a camp. So, he keeps asking me how I'm doing and takes constant updates about my progress. Aaron, whose own playing career was repeatedly interrupted by injuries, has also helped Hinge fine-tune his action. He faced a lot of things and saw a lot of ups and downs. So, it feels like he's of immense help to me. When I met him at MRF, I told him that I was injured. So, since then, he's been in touch with me. Like, how's it going? What's going on? Like, the bowling action, whatever needs to be done up and down, he adjusted it. Whatever I have seen of him, I've learnt a lot from him as well. Hinge has also leaned on the experience of CoE fast-bowling coaches, former India fast bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji and P Krishnakumar. I asked them a lot about the little things I can do better in a bowling situation, and what we can't do. I always used to ask them about whatever I could think of in terms of questions about fast bowling and related topics. Hinge made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2024 and has 27 wickets from 10 first-class matches. He has already played Ranji Trophy cricket in Puducherry via his debut game and expects the afternoon heat to be a test for the pacers. I've played matches in Pondicherry before as well in the Ranji Trophy. So, I have a bit of an idea about the conditions there. But the temperature is going to be a bit high. The sooner I can adapt to the conditions, the better it is as bowling in the afternoon is a bit tough. But doing tough things is a habit now for me. So, it will be good when the matches happen. Hinge made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2024 and has 27 wickets from 10 first-class matches. He has already played Ranji Trophy cricket in Puducherry via his debut game and expects the afternoon heat to be a test for the pacers. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories With the series just a few days away, Hinge's focus is on the task in front of him, including wearing India A whites for the first time while playing. It's just a few days away. I'm more excited for it, as this is what everyone practices for, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
India shifts counter-terror strategy, moves to bust terror plots before attacks
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS) India's counter-terrorism operations have undergone a strategic shift, transitioning from a reactive security apparatus to a pre-emptive, intelligence-driven doctrine aimed at dismantling terror modules before execution, according to senior security officials. Since coming to power, the Narendra Modi government at the Centre has maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. A significant shift has been the move by the security establishment handling terror-related cases towards a more pre-emptive approach, aimed at identifying and neutralising threats before they can materialise. An official said that recent events relating to terror clearly indicate that the national counter-terrorism strategy policy for Response against Hostile Activities and Radicalism, or PRAHAAR, that was introduced in February this year has already started to take effect. The official said that the clear directive to the agencies is not to wait for an incident to take place and then react to the same. The focus is on preventing terror attacks and ensuring that terror modules do not grow to such an extent that bringing them under control becomes a Herculean task, the official added. An Intelligence Bureau official said that this is the same pattern that is being applied across the country, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. The Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has been in overdrive mode and plotting big strikes in the Valley. In the last several months, it has tried to work on its overground worker (OWG) network, while also trying its best to get the infiltrations moving. However, the success has been very low thanks to the new doctrine that focuses on busting these plans rather than reacting after something has taken place, the IB official said. In the past couple of months, security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir have neutralised terrorists, busted multiple modules and ensured that the overground worker network remains grounded. These have been among the major challenges facing Jammu and Kashmir, and the agencies have ensured that plotting and carrying out terror attacks is now harder than what the ISI may have anticipated, the official added. Another official said that while terror attacks remain one part of the problem, the bigger challenge confronting the country is radicalisation. He said the issue is not confined to any particular region but has spread across the country. Although unconnected, these radicalisation modules have thrived in states such as Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Kerala, the official said. The Islamic State, in particular, has focused only on radicalisation and has been largely successful in infiltrating the minds of the youth in a big way. As the security agencies realised the scale at which the problem was taking place, immediate action was taken, and these modules were busted. The busting of the pan-India radicalisation module in Andhra Pradesh is an example of how the agencies have been handling such cases. The module was threatening to become a massive problem but was nipped in the bud in the nick of time. Officials said security agencies no longer wait for terror modules to grow before taking action. If intelligence is actionable, the agencies move immediately to disrupt the module and prevent it from developing further, the officials added. Similar action was reported in Gujarat when a Jaish-e-Mohammad-linked module was busted. This was a self-styled module that subscribed to the views of the Jaish-e-Mohammad. The security agencies, after busting this module, found extremist material in large numbers. This module was becoming a ticking time bomb, but was busted just in time. The approach has been the same when it comes to tackling terror and radicalisation from the Bangladesh side. Multiple attempts made by the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HuJI) and the Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have been thwarted. These groups were looking to target West Bengal and the northeastern states. An official said that this was an important shift in Indias counter-terrorism and anti-radicalisation strategy. While PRAHAAR has ensured a pre-emptive, rather than reactive, strategy, it has also ensured seamless integration between the Intelligence agencies, the state police and the central agencies, an official said.
Ashok Gehlot Questions Congress Strategy After Rajasthan Poll Setback | What Went Wrong?
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has questioned the Congresss campaign strategy following the Rajasthan urban local body election results.Gehlot raised questions over the partys campaign planning, roadshows and the large number of victories by Independent candidates. The BJP won 4,179 of the 10,235 declared wards, while Congress won 3,613 and Independents secured 2,273. The BJP and Congress vote shares were separated by just 0.94 percentage points.Gehlots remarks have also brought the Congresss internal dynamics and leadership roles in the Rajasthan campaign into focus.
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 19 (IANS) Political manoeuvring and the practice of baadebandi have intensified in Rajasthan ahead of elections for mayor, municipal council president and chairperson posts, triggering tensions across the state after the conclusion of the urban local body polls. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra has alleged that police teams visited 13 locations where Congress councillors were being kept together and attempted to exert pressure on them. He urged the state Director General of Police (DGP) to immediately stop such actions, warning that the situation could deteriorate if the alleged police intervention continues. The government and the police are yet to publicly respond to Dotasra's allegations. Following the civic election results and withdrawal of nominations, the equations for board formation in 305 local bodies have become clearer. Chairpersons have already been elected unopposed in 32 civic bodies. Of these, BJP candidates secured 28 posts, Congress candidates two, and independents two. The BJP is also in a position to form boards in 18 civic bodies where it does not have a clear majority but can potentially secure the required numbers with the support of independent councillors. Among the 32 unopposed elections, BJP candidates were elected to two mayoral posts in municipal corporations, five president posts in municipal councils and 21 chairperson posts in municipalities. Congress candidates were elected unopposed in two bodies, while independents secured two posts. In four other civic bodies, Congress candidates hold the chairperson's post in two municipalities, while independents hold one municipal council and one municipality post. A significant development took place in Bharatpur on the final day for withdrawal of nominations for the mayoral election. Independent candidate Vichitra Singh withdrew her nomination, paving the way for BJP candidate Anuradha Singh to be elected unopposed as mayor. Singh reached the municipal corporation office with her husband, former Bharatpur mayor Shivmangal Singh, and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedam to withdraw her nomination. Meanwhile, political activity has intensified in Ajmer and Alwar, with independent councillors reportedly being approached by both major parties. The BJP is yet to officially announce its candidate for the Jaipur Municipal Corporation mayoral election. Sunil Kothari is being discussed as a possible frontrunner, while the names of Rajendra Saini and Deepa Nathawat are being considered for the deputy mayor's post. The nomination process for the Jaipur mayoral election is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, followed by scrutiny and withdrawal of nominations. Voting will be held on September 25 if required. Dotasra has alleged that police teams visited 13 locations where Congress councillors were being kept as part of the party's baadebandi arrangements. He alleged that police action was reported at several places, including Kuchera and Barmer. Dotasra also claimed that Congress councillors from Bikaner were staying at Hotel Suryagarh in Jaisalmer, where, he alleged, attempts were being made to exert pressure on them. Appealing to the DGP to intervene, Dotasra warned that the government and Rajasthan Police would be held responsible if any councillor came to harm or if the situation escalated into violence. Political tensions have also risen in Kuchera municipality in Nagaur ahead of the September 21 chairperson election. BJP candidate Rishi Pal Mirdha and Congress candidate Tejpal Mirdha, who are uncle and nephew, are contesting for the post. Late Thursday night, Mehad, the brother-in-law of independent councillor Nirvaram of Ward 9, lodged a complaint at Kuchera police station alleging that the councillor had been abducted. Congress candidate Tejpal Mirdha was accused in the complaint. Later, a video of Nirvaram surfaced, in which he reportedly gave a different account of the incident. The developments have added another layer of political tension to the ongoing efforts by parties to secure the numbers required for control of municipal boards. Elections for municipal chairperson and president posts are scheduled to begin on September 21. With several bodies witnessing fractured mandates, independent councillors are expected to play a significant role in determining board formation in several municipalities and municipal councils.
Bollywood actress Sonal Chauhan is soaking in the response to Mirzapur: The Movie, but the actress admits that the scale of its box office opening caught her and the team by surprise. While she was confident about the project when she signed it, she did not expect the film to connect with the masses to this extent.
Delhi-NCR likely to stay mostly dry; air quality remains in satisfactory category
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS) Delhi and most parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) are likely to experience predominantly dry weather on Saturday, with no major spell of heavy rain forecast for New Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and several other areas, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather agency has forecast partly cloudy skies over Delhi, with the maximum temperature expected to remain between 34 degrees celsius and 36 degrees celsius. The minimum temperature is likely to settle in the range of 22 degrees celsius to 24 degrees celsius. The forecast comes at a time when the Southwest Monsoon is showing signs of retreat from northwest India. According to the IMD, atmospheric conditions are becoming favourable for the withdrawal of the monsoon from some parts of West Rajasthan on Saturday. However, Delhi is expected to continue witnessing largely dry conditions in the immediate forecast period. For New Delhi, the IMD has predicted partly cloudy skies and has issued no weather warning. The wider Delhi region is also expected to remain free of significant rainfall, with temperatures staying within the forecast range. Some parts of the NCR could, however, see isolated changes in weather. Gurugram is likely to remain partly cloudy, with the possibility of one or two spells of rain or thundershowers during the day. No warning has been issued for the city. Meanwhile, several districts of Maharashtra, including Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Dhule, Jalgaon and Nandurbar, are expected to receive rainfall on Saturday. Rain is also likely in areas including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded, Latur, Parbhani, Beed, Hingoli, Jalna and Osmanabad. The IMD has forecast scattered monsoon showers and thunderstorms over Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab and West Rajasthan on Saturday. East Uttar Pradesh may also experience similar conditions on Saturday and Sunday. Himachal Pradesh is likely to receive isolated rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms through September 24. Central India is also expected to remain active weather-wise. West Madhya Pradesh and East Madhya Pradesh may witness fairly widespread to widespread rainfall along with thunderstorms on Saturday. Chhattisgarh could also receive fairly widespread rainfall, with thunderstorms and lightning in several areas. In southern and coastal regions, Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep are likely to experience fairly widespread rainfall through September 24. Parts of Karnataka may also see similar conditions during the period. North Interior Karnataka, South Interior Karnataka and Telangana are likely to receive rainfall on Saturday . Coastal Andhra Pradesh may witness isolated to scattered rainfall between Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile, the air quality of Delhi remained in the satisfactory category. CRRI Mathura Road (131), Burari Crossing (99), North Campus DU (125), IGI Airport (T3) (102), Pusa (89), Aya Nagar (75), Shadipur (79), ITO (88), DTU (94), R K Puram (128), Ashok Vihar (91), Dwarka-Sector 8 (116), Narela (120), Rohini (107), Chandni Chowk (98), and IIT Delhi (131).
Rajasthan Election Commission opens nominations for Jaipur mayor
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Have you heard? Ishaan Khatter is back as Prince Aviraaj Singh for The Royals 2
Ishaan Khatter has begun shooting for The Royals 2 in Rajasthan, returning as Prince Aviraaj Singh. The actor shared a glimpse from the set while keeping details under wraps. He will also be seen in Palash Vaswanis upcoming comedy Jugaadu
U17 Boys Subroto Cup Manipur edge Tripura 3 2 to cruise into quarterfinals
Manipur are into the quarterfinals of the U17 Boys Subroto Cup being underway in New Delhi by sweeping Group E league round matches br br table align center cellpadding 5 width 610 tbody tr td table class capbox width 100 tbody tr td img width 600 src https www e pao org galleries images News Related 2026 09 Subroto 20260919 jpg border 1 alt U17 Boys Subroto Cup Manipur edge Tripura 3 2 to cruise into quarterfinals td tr tr td align center U17 Boys Subroto Cup Manipur edge Tripura 3 2 to cruise into quarterfinals td tr tbody table td tr tbody table br br Having crushed Rashtriya Military School RMS , Dholpur, Rajasthan 15 0 and routed Telangana 4 0, the State team represented by AG Memorial School, Charangpat completed their league stage sweeping by edging past another close contenders Tripura 3 2 yesterday in the final league match Compitison scored twice 15
Two more women die in Rajasthan after C-sections; probe committee formed
Women underwent procedure at Bundi govt. hospital; died in Kota, where they were rushed after complications; OT at Bundi medical facility sealed; 19 maternal deaths in State in 3 months
Rajasthan pilgrim immolates self, dies during treatment
Tragic Loss: Two Women Die After C-Section at Bundi Hospital
Two women die following C-sections at a hospital in Bundi, Rajasthan, prompting investigations into the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Tragic Loss: Two Women Die After C-Section at Bundi Hospital
Beyond civic poll numbers: Rajasthan Congress leadership in focus again
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 18 (IANS) The Rajasthan Congresss old fault lines have once again come to the fore, with a fresh war of words between former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and senior party leader Sachin Pilot following the partys performance in the recently concluded urban local body elections. The BJP emerged as the largest party in civic polls. However, the statewide vote-share contest between two principal parties was remarkably close. The BJP polled 35.18% of the vote against 34.24% for the Congress, a difference of just 0.94 percentage points. Against this backdrop, Gehlot has questioned Congresss election strategy, campaign planning and organisational preparedness. Though he did not explicitly name Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra, his remarks have been interpreted as a criticism of the state organisations handling of the campaign. Speaking to the media, Gehlot said the Congress should have prepared a more effective strategy to counter the BJPs aggressive campaign, including the roadshows led by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other BJP leaders. Gehlot said that had the Pradesh Congress Committee drawn up a stronger programme and ensured that all senior leaders campaigned together, the party could have performed better. He also suggested that the Congress should have responded to the BJPs roadshows with roadshows of its own. Gehlot further argued that, in his assessment, the political environment offered the Congress an opportunity and that better campaign planning could have translated into more seats. His comments have added to the scrutiny surrounding the Congresss performance in the civic elections and have put the spotlight on the state organisations campaign preparedness. Sachin Pilot has now pushed back against the criticism, defending the work of the Pradesh Congress Committee and its state leadership. Pilot said the PCC had done a good job during the local body elections and had worked at the grassroots level. He pointed to the partys door-to-door campaign and said responsibilities had been assigned to leaders and workers in their respective areas. Pilot also noted that political parties have access to different levels of resources when they are in government, drawing a distinction between resources available to the ruling BJP and those available to the opposition Congress. The exchange has once again brought the Gehlot-Pilot divide into focus, while simultaneously placing Dotasra at the centre of the debate over the Congresss electoral strategy. The latest confrontation comes amid a series of episodes that have exposed competing power centres within the Rajasthan Congress. Dotasra has previously stressed the importance of the party organisation over individual leaders, remarks that came amid renewed discussion about Gehlots influence in the state unit. Separately, political tensions resurfaced when slogans calling for Gehlot to return as Chief Minister were raised at a party-related event following the entry of workers associated with the Bharat Adivasi Party into the Congress. Although the leaders involved have distanced themselves from interpretations suggesting an open internal confrontation, the episodes have fuelled speculation about competing leadership camps within the Rajasthan Congress. The current dispute, therefore, is not simply about the outcome of the civic polls. It has reopened questions about who sets the Congresss political strategy in Rajasthan, how the organisation should be run, and how much space should be given to its established leadership versus emerging leadership centres. The election numbers have provided ammunition for the competing narratives within the Congress. The BJP finished ahead of the Congress in overall vote share and ward tally, while the Congress has highlighted the narrow 0.94 percentage-point vote-share gap. Dotasra has attributed part of the disparity between vote share and ward wins to what he described as unfair delimitation, a claim that has been publicly disputed and remains part of the political debate. The results have consequently produced two parallel narratives within the Congress: one focusing on the narrow statewide vote-share gap and electoral factors such as delimitation, and another questioning whether the partys campaign and organisation did enough to convert its vote base into ward victories. For years, the Gehlot-Pilot relationship has been one of the defining fault lines of Rajasthan Congress politics. The latest exchange shows that the rivalry remains politically relevant even as a new generation of state-level leaders, including Dotasra and Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, occupies a more prominent organisational space. With the 2028 Rajasthan Assembly election still ahead, the latest war of words has once again brought the Congresss internal leadership question into the spotlight. For now, Gehlot is questioning the strategy, Pilot is defending the state organisation, and Dotasra is confronting the electoral numbers and defending the partys performance. The public exchange has ensured that the Congresss internal political battle is once again running alongside its contest with the BJP.
Rajasthan man dies after self-immolation at Jwalamukhi temple
Digital Desk | Jhalawar, Sep 18 (IANS) A 40-year-old man from Jhalawar, Rajasthan, died after allegedly setting himself ablaze at the Maa Jwalamukhi Temple, a Shaktipeeth in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, on Thursday evening. The deceased, identified as Ramdas, son of Gajanand, reportedly poured petrol on himself and set himself on fire outside the sanctum sanctorum around 7 p.m. He suffered burns over nearly 70 per cent of his body. Temple staff and devotees present at the spot extinguished the flames with water. Ramdas was first taken to Jwalamukhi Hospital and later referred to Tanda Medical College, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. SP Dehra, Sandeep Dhaval, said police reached the temple after receiving information and began an investigation. A forensic team also visited the site and collected evidence. Police are examining all aspects of the incident, including the circumstances and possible reasons behind Ramdass act. According to the 108 ambulance staff, Ramdas was conscious during the journey and identified himself. He told them he had come alone to offer prayers. Though he struggled to speak clearly, he continued to communicate his identity and other details. Family members said Ramdas had left home around 15 months ago following a dispute. His uncle, Prahlad Chandel, said the family had searched for him at several places but failed to trace him. Attempts to contact him on his mobile phone were unsuccessful. Ramdass father, Gajanand, died about 10 years ago. Ramdas had earlier run a scrap business and later operated a clothing store on Jail Road in Jhalawar. He was married to Saloni, a sanitation worker with the Jhalawar Municipal Council. The couple had a 12-year-old son, Rudra, while their daughter had died earlier. Kotwali police informed family members of the incident on Thursday night, and they left for Himachal Pradesh.
Ishaan Khatter begins The Royals 2 shoot in Rajasthan; shares horse riding glimpses
Ishaan Khatter has begun shooting for the second season of the Netflix series The Royals. The actor is currently in Rajasthan for the upcoming season and has shared a glimpse of his time on the sets, giving fans a peek at the location and some of his preparations for his return as Prince Aviraaj Singh. Ishaan took to Instagram to share pictures of a picturesque haveli, along with videos of himself practising horse riding. The training appears to be part of his preparation for reprising the role of the royal heir in The Royals 2. While the actor has shared glimpses from Rajasthan, details about the storyline and his characters journey in the new season continue to remain under wraps. Sharing the pictures and videos, Ishaan captioned his post, Lock in. Log out. See yall on the other side. Ishaans return as Prince Aviraaj Singh comes after the first season of The Royals, which premiered on Netflix on May 9, 2025. The series follows a financially struggling royal family in modern-day India and centres on the heir as he teams up with a hospitality entrepreneur to revive the familys ancestral palace by turning it into a luxury resort. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ishaan (@ishaankhatter) Directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana and written by Neha Veena Sharma, The Royals is produced by Pritish Nandy Communications. The ensemble cast of the first season featured Bhumi Pednekar, Ishaan Khatter, Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Vihaan Samat, Dino Morea and Milind Soman. Meanwhile, Ishaan Khatter also has Jugaadu in his upcoming lineup. The comic entertainer is directed by Palash Vaswani, known for Gullak, and stars Tania alongside Ishaan. With the actor now shooting for The Royals 2 in Rajasthan, fans will be waiting to see what the new season brings for Prince Aviraaj Singh. This keeps the focus on The Royals 2 and Ishaans on-set glimpse, without adding unsupported details beyond the pointers you provided. Also Read: Ishaan Khatter shares intense workout glimpse ahead of The Royals Season 2: Brick. By. Brick. Earned, not given.
BJP Claims Uncontested Victories in Rajasthan Local Body Elections
BJP secures uncontested wins in 25 local bodies of Rajasthan, while political tensions arise in Bharatpur over mayoral nominations. BJP Claims Uncontested Victories in Rajasthan Local Body Elections
Rajasthan local body polls: BJP candidates elected unopposed in 25 bodies
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 18 (IANS) The battle for the top posts in Rajasthans urban local bodies has entered a decisive phase following the announcement of councillor election results, with the BJP claiming unopposed victories for its candidates as chairpersons, sabhapatis and presidents in 25 civic bodies across the state. The BJP has also secured unopposed mayoral victories in the Bharatpur and Bhilwara Municipal Corporations, although the political circumstances in the two corporations are markedly different. While the BJP enjoys a clear numerical majority in Bhilwara, the Bharatpur outcome has emerged as a major political talking point because independent councillors won the largest number of seats in the corporation. The Bharatpur Municipal Corporation has 65 wards. In the recent civic elections, Independent candidates emerged as the largest group, winning 36 wards. The BJP won 20 seats, while the Congress secured 7. The BSP and RLP won one seat each. The numbers initially suggested that Independent councillors would play the decisive role in determining the next mayor, as no political party had a majority on its own. The BJP fielded Anuradha Singh as its mayoral candidate. Independent councillor Vichitra Singh from Ward 17 also entered the contest, reportedly with Congress backing, setting up the possibility of a closely contested mayoral election. However, the situation changed dramatically on September 18, when Vichitra Singh withdrew her nomination. With her withdrawal, Anuradha Singh became the sole candidate for the mayoral post and is set to be elected unopposed, subject to completion of the formal electoral process. The result is particularly significant for the BJP because Bharatpur is the home district of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. The BJP did not win a majority of the corporations 65 seats. Instead, Independents emerged as the largest bloc. Their numbers had therefore made them central to the mayoral contest. The withdrawal of the Independent candidate has now removed the need for a direct electoral contest for the mayors post. The development has also triggered a political confrontation between the BJP and Congress, with Congress leaders alleging that the Independent candidate was pressured into withdrawing her nomination. BJP leaders and the candidate have offered a different account of the decision. The circumstances surrounding Vichitra Singhs withdrawal have become a major point of contention. According to reports cited in connection with the development, Vichitra Singh met Rajasthan Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham before withdrawing her nomination. The meeting reportedly lasted nearly two hours. Bedham subsequently met Vichitra Singhs husband, former Bharatpur Mayor Shiv Singh Bhont. After withdrawing her nomination, Vichitra Singh said she wanted to contribute to the development of Bharatpur and had taken the decision with that objective in mind. Congress leaders, however, have alleged that the withdrawal followed political pressure. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra have separately questioned the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal and accused the BJP government of using administrative machinery to influence the mayoral election. These allegations have been rejected by the BJP, which has maintained its political position on the development. The political arithmetic in Bhilwara was very different. The Bhilwara Municipal Corporation has 70 wards, with the BJP winning 45 seats and securing a clear majority. The Congress won 10 seats, while Independent candidates secured 15. The BJP nominated Jaswant Kanwar, who won from Ward 9, as its mayoral candidate. Independent candidate Santosh Kanwar had initially entered the mayoral race but withdrew her nomination on September 17. The Congress did not field a candidate for the mayoral post. Jaswant Kanwar was consequently elected mayor unopposed. Unlike Bharatpur, where Independents held the largest bloc, the Bhilwara outcome followed a clear BJP majority combined with the withdrawal of the only other candidate in the mayoral contest. According to information released by the BJP, its candidates have been elected unopposed to the posts of chairperson, sabhapati or president in 25 urban local bodies across Rajasthan. The developments followed the election of councillors in the states 309 urban local bodies. According to figures cited by the BJP, it emerged as the largest party in 148 urban local bodies, while the Congress was the largest party in 104. The remaining bodies have produced mixed electoral outcomes, with independents and other parties also holding significant representation in several councils. The Bharatpur result has highlighted a broader feature of the 2026 local body elections: the importance of Independent councillors in bodies where neither the BJP nor Congress has secured a majority. In Bharatpur, the 36 Independent councillors represented the largest bloc, compared with 20 BJP councillors and seven Congress councillors. That arithmetic initially made the mayoral contest a battle for independent support. The withdrawal of the Independent candidate, however, transformed the contest from a numerical battle into an unopposed election. The developments in Bharatpur and the wider Bharatpur-Deeg region have attracted particular attention because of the regions political significance and the BJP governments focus on strengthening its presence in local institutions. For the BJP, the unopposed mayoral outcome in Bharatpur comes despite the party not holding the largest number of councillor seats. In Bhilwara, by contrast, the partys unopposed mayoral victory follows a clear majority in the corporation. The two outcomes illustrate the different political equations emerging across Rajasthans urban local bodiesranging from clear party majorities to councils where independents hold the balance of power. With the election of mayors, chairpersons and presidents now underway, the focus is shifting from ward-level results to the political negotiations and alignments determining who will lead Rajasthans civic bodies for the coming term.
Watch: Delhi-NCR air pollution: Schools advised to suspend outdoor sports in November, December
The Commission for Air Quality Management has advised schools in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to suspend physical sports activities and competitions during November and December. While the advisory aims to protect children from winter air pollution, school administrators are seeking a more permanent solution.
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 18 (IANS) A political controversy has erupted over the Bharatpur Municipal Corporation mayoral election after Independent candidate Vichitra Singh withdrew her nomination, clearing the way for BJP candidate Anuradha Singh to be elected unopposed. Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, termed the development extremely unfortunate and condemnable and alleged that the Independent candidate was intimidated into withdrawing her nomination. In a post on X, Gehlot alleged that the administration had intimidated Vichitra Singh at her business premises a day before her withdrawal and claimed that Rajasthan Minister of State for Home, Jawahar Singh Bedham, subsequently met her and facilitated the withdrawal. Gehlot also alleged that the BJP government and administration were using their machinery to influence the mayoral election. He claimed that the people of Bharatpur had rejected the BJP, pointing out that the party had won only 20 of the 65 councillor seats in the civic body. According to Gehlot, despite the BJP not having a majority of councillors, efforts were being made to install a BJP mayor through what he described as undemocratic means. He accused the Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma government of setting a new precedent through the alleged misuse of government machinery. Vichitra Singh had entered the Bharatpur mayoral race as an Independent candidate, and it was reported that she had the backing of the Congress. Her candidature had set the stage for a contest against BJP nominee Anuradha Singh. However, the electoral contest changed dramatically after Vichitra Singh withdrew her nomination on Thursday. Rajasthan Congress President, Govind Singh Dotasra, also launched a direct attack on the BJP and the Bhajanlal Sharma government, alleging that events in the Chief Ministers home district of Bharatpur unfolded exactly as the Congress had feared. In a post on X, Dotasra alleged that the BJP, having been rejected by voters in Bharatpur, murdered democracy by misusing state power and police machinery to install its own mayor. Dotasra pointed out that the BJP had won only 20 of the 65 councillor seats in the Bharatpur Municipal Corporation. He alleged that, despite lacking a majority, the ruling party used the power of the government and administration to engineer the mayoral election in its favour. According to Dotasra, Congress-backed Independent candidate Vichitra Singh had a clear numerical advantage and her election as mayor appeared certain. He alleged that instead of respecting the electoral mandate, Chief Minister Sharma sent a government minister to put pressure on the Independent candidate and ensure that she withdrew her nomination. He alleged that the withdrawal of Vichitra Singhs nomination has exposed the BJP governments attempt to overturn the mandate of Bharatpurs voters through the use of government machinery. The Congress leader demanded that the BJP government respect the democratic mandate and questioned the circumstances under which the Independent candidate withdrew from the mayoral contest. With Vichitra Singhs withdrawal leaving BJP candidate Anuradha Singh as the sole contender, the Bharatpur mayoral election has become a fresh flashpoint between the BJP government and the Congress, with the Opposition alleging political coercion and misuse of administrative machinery. According to reports cited in connection with the development, Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham held a meeting with Vichitra Singh that lasted nearly two hours before she withdrew her nomination. Following the meeting, Bedham also met Vichitra Singhs husband, former Bharatpur Mayor Shiv Singh Bhont, in connection with the election. The circumstances surrounding the withdrawal have become a political flashpoint, with the Congress questioning whether the candidate was subjected to pressure. Following Vichitra Singhs withdrawal, BJP candidate Anuradha Singh became the sole candidate in the mayoral race. After withdrawing her nomination, Vichitra Singh said she wanted to play a significant role in Bharatpurs development and had taken the decision with that objective in mind. The episode has intensified the political confrontation in Rajasthan, with the Congress alleging coercion and misuse of administrative machinery, while the withdrawal itself has paved the way for the BJP candidates unopposed election.
Weather tomorrow September 19: IMD has forecast active weather conditions across several parts of India from September 19, with significant rainfall expected over northwest, central, east, west and southern India. The southwest monsoon is also likely to begin withdrawing from some parts of West Rajasthan around September 19. Several regions may experience thunderstorms, lightning and strong gusty winds. The IMD has also issued a warning for fishermen due to rough sea conditions over parts of the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.
RSSB BCI SCI Answer Key 2026 Out - Download Provisional Key, Response Sheet
RSSB has released the provisional answer key, master question paper and response sheet for the Basic Computer Instructor (BCI) and Senior Computer Instructor (SCI) Recruitment 2026 (Advt No. 07/2026). Check the BCI SCI exam answer key release date, objection window (19-21 September 2026 online), how to download the PDF from rssb.rajasthan.gov.in, and what happens next before the result.
Rajasthan: BJPs Anuradha Singh set to become unopposed mayor of Bharatpur
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 18 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Anuradha Singh is set to become the unopposed Mayor of Bharatpur Municipal Corporation after independent candidate Vichitra Singh withdrew her nomination in the presence of BJP government minister Jawahar Singh Bedham. Following the developments in Bhilwara, BJP State President Madan Rathore extended his best wishes to Singh, stating that public faith and trust in the BJP continue to strengthen. With Vichitra Singhs withdrawal, Anuradha Singh remains the sole candidate for the mayoral post, paving the way for her unopposed election. Rathore remarked that this growing trust in the BJP is reflected in the party securing unopposed mayoral and chairperson positions in approximately 18 civic bodies. He said independent councillors in Bharatpur have decided to join the BJP for the development of the region, expressing confidence in the partys ideology and the public-welfare policies of the Bhajanlal Sharma government. He added that the alignment of independent candidates and councillors with the BJP indicates their desire to work alongside the states BJP government for regional development. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, the state government is working with a focus on public welfare and development, Rathore said. Rathore further stated that the support received by the BJP in Bharatpur would provide new momentum to the regions development. He said the BJP is committed to working in the public interest with the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (Together with all, Development for all). He added that not only in Bharatpur, but in several other places as well, BJP candidates are emerging as unopposed mayors and chairpersons. In some places, opposition candidates did not file nominations, while in others, independent candidates withdrew their nominations and extended their support to the BJP.
Gurugram hit-and-run case: Both accused sent to judicial custody for 14 days
Digital Desk | Gurugram, Sep 18 (IANS) A Gurugram court on Friday sent Kalyan Bainsla, the driver accused of hitting a woman biker on the city's Golf Course Road, and his cousin to 14 days of judicial custody. Both the accused will be again produced before the court after 14 days. Earlier, Bainsla and his cousin Lavneesh were produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMIC), Nidhi Beniwal, who had sent them to two days of police custody. The Gurugram Police had arrested Bainsla from Rajasthan's Dausa and Lavneesh from Haryana's Palwal in connection with the hit-and-run incident. Lavneesh was allegedly present in the car along with Bainsla at the time of the incident. The Gurugram Police had earlier added Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to attempt to murder, to the FIR after the victim, Sia, and her family approached the police seeking stringent action against those involved. The case was initially registered after the police took suo motu cognisance of a video showing a car hitting a female biker on the Golf Course Road. Following a detailed investigation and analysis of CCTV footage, the police added the attempt-to-murder charge, which carries a punishment of up to 10 years. The development came after Sia's family submitted her written statement to Inspector Manoj Kumar, Station House Officer of Gurugram's Sector-56 police station. The Gurugram Police have maintained that lawlessness will not be tolerated and said they are committed to taking strict action against those responsible. Meanwhile, Sia had appealed for strict punishment for all four occupants of the car, saying it was necessary to send the right message to society regarding women's safety. Speaking to IANS, Sia said she had great expectations from the court and wanted justice in the case. I stated in court yesterday that all four, who were in the car, should be arrested and that strict action be taken against all of them. In my opinion, they should face harsh consequences; that is the only way to send a message to such young menso that anyone thinking of committing such an act would think twice, she said.
Gurugram Hit-And-Run Accused Kalyan Bainsla Sent To 14-Day Judicial Custody
Bainsla, 33, and his cousin Lavneesh, 34, who was allegedly in the car with him at the time of the incident, were arrested on Tuesday by Gurugram Police from Rajgarh in Rajasthan following a two-day search operation.
Both are doctors: Supreme Court seeks parity in stipends for Indian, Foreign medical graduates
The Supreme Court on September 17 directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to verify whether stipends have been paid to foreign medical graduates (FMGs) in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat and Jharkhand. A bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice M. Pancholi passed the direction after petitioners alleged that an NMC affidavit falsely stated that [] The post Both are doctors: Supreme Court seeks parity in stipends for Indian, Foreign medical graduates appeared first on India Legal .
Rajasthan civic polls: Police, Congress workers clash in Degana; Kuchera power tussle intensifies
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 18 (IANS) Political tensions flared in Rajasthan's Degana late Thursday night as the police lathi-charged Congress workers protesting outside the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office over alleged irregularities in the nomination process for the Kuchera Municipal Council Chairperson post. The Congress alleged that facts were concealed during the nomination process for the Kuchera Municipal Council Chairperson post. Congress workers staged a sit-in outside the SDM office, demanding an enquiry into the nomination process and action against the Returning Officer. Several Congress workers gathered at the SDM office and raised slogans. A police team led by station house officer (SHO) Ashok Kumar Jhajharia reached the spot after being informed about the protest. Citing the Model Code of Conduct, the police urged the protesters to end the sit-in. However, the Congress workers remained firm on their demands, calling for scrutiny of the nomination papers and action under the rules over the alleged concealment of facts. During attempts to persuade the protesters to disperse, an altercation broke out between police and Congress workers, followed by a scuffle. As the situation escalated, the police attempted to clear the area and used lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. Some youths were also chased away from the area. The police action led to chaos around the SDM office, Tehsil office and surrounding areas. Amid the commotion, the police arrested Congress block president Prakash Kunkuna. Congress workers subsequently raised slogans against the police action. They alleged that the administration and the police were acting under pressure and claimed that protesters were subjected to a lathi-charge during the night. Congress members informed Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Govind Singh Dotasra about the developments. Nagaur District Congress president Hanuman Bangda also reached the spot. The Congress has reiterated its demand for an inquiry into the nomination process. Dotasra condemned the police action and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was misusing power to form boards in the municipal elections. He said Congress workers in Degana were demanding a fair hearing on objections raised against a BJP candidate over alleged concealment of facts in nomination papers. He also referred to developments in Mandhan, where he alleged that elected councillors were being prevented from taking their oaths, and to the situation in Khandar, where he alleged that the family of BJP councillor Manvendra had been seeking his release after he was taken away. Dotasra said the incidents raised questions about the functioning of the police, administration and the government, and urged the BJP to accept the peoples mandate. Meanwhile, the political contest over the Chairperson's post in Kuchera Municipality has also intensified. Following the oath-taking ceremony on Thursday, some individuals allegedly attempted to stop vehicles carrying Congress-backed councillors near Jhunjhala while they were travelling to Nagaur under the leadership of outgoing Chairperson Tejpal Mirdha. According to allegations, a pickup truck and a camper vehicle were used in attempts to ram the councillors' vehicles. The councillors managed to leave the area and reached the Mundwa DSP's office, where they reported the incident. They were subsequently brought to Nagaur under police protection led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Dharam Poonia. A police contingent led by DSP Jatin Jain was also deployed outside Tejpal Mirdha's vehicle showroom on Bikaner Road. Kuchera Municipality has 12 Congress and eight BJP councillors. Four independents have extended support to the BJP camp, taking its tally to 12, while 13 councillors are required for a majority. With the numbers closely balanced, the single remaining vote, currently with the Congress, has become crucial to the Chairperson's election.
Delhi Police bust narco-extortion network, seize 2 kg Pakistani-origin heroin
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) The Delhi Police Special Cell, in a joint operation with the Gujarat Crime Branch, has busted a narco-extortion network operating between Delhi and Gujarat and recovered 2 kg of Pakistani-origin heroin valued at around Rs 12 crore. Police said an accused associated with the Rohit Godara and Mahendra Delana gang was arrested during the operation. The accused has been identified as 31-year-old Kuldeep Swami, a resident of Rajasthan's Churu. According to police, Swami was involved in a major narco-extortion module and was wanted in connection with a high-profile extortion case involving approximately Rs 10 crore registered in Gujarat's Vadodara. During the investigation, police recovered 2 kg of high-quality heroin, a car, and currency notes used for hawala token verification. A secret cavity was also found in the recovered vehicle, police said. Investigators are now probing the alleged links of the network with gangsters Godara and Delana, along with possible connections to Pakistan-based narcotics networks. The latest action comes amid a series of operations by the Delhi Police against criminal networks involved in extortion, narcotics and arms-related offences. Earlier, on August 26, the Delhi Police Special Cell had arrested two alleged sympathisers of the Gogi gang who were reportedly planning to commit extortion-related crimes. Police had identified the accused as 22-year-old Chirag, a resident of Narela, and 26-year-old Sagar, a resident of Haryana's Sonipat. The two were arrested near the Munak Canal on August 19 following a tip-off, officials said. A .32-bore semi-automatic pistol along with four live cartridges, a country-made single-shot pistol and two mobile phones were recovered from their possession, according to a senior police officer. In another case, on March 19, a team of the Delhi Police Special Cell apprehended a proclaimed offender who had allegedly been evading arrest in connection with an Arms Act case registered in Delhi. The accused, identified as 26-year-old Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Haryana's Ambala, was wanted in an FIR registered at Jagatpuri Police Station under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. Police had said Singh had been absconding since the registration of the case and was subsequently declared a proclaimed offender by a court.
The woman told Bengaluru police that the abductors were sent by her mother-in-law, based in Rajasthan, as families of the couple were opposed to their marriage
Delhi weather: Dry spell ahead as monsoon withdrawal begins on September 19
Delhi is likely to remain partly cloudy with no rain through September 20 as the monsoon begins withdrawing from parts of West Rajasthan, while rain remains active across eastern and southern India
Rajasthan to hold mayoral polls in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota on Sept 25
The News Mill
Westview Cricket Ltd and Poonawalla Sports and Fitness Pvt Ltd will be buying Rajasthan Royals (India), Paarl Royals (South Africa) and Barbados Royals (Barbados).
Rajasthan order asking students to join PM Modi's birthday celebrations sparks controversy
Congress leader Tika Ram Jully asked why the government departments and educational institutions were being involved in PM Modis birthday celebrations.
Gehlot accuses BJP of horse-trading in Rajasthan civic polls
CCI nod for Lakshmi Mittal-Poonawalla Rajasthan Royals stake buys
The competition regulator in India has sanctioned the acquisition of three cricket franchises, with Westview Cricket and Poonawalla Sports set to buy the Rajasthan Royals along with two overseas teams. Moreover, the approval extends to deals made by Great White Global and ITVIS Innovations. OMERS Infrastructure Asia also received the nod for purchasing a larger share in Azure Power Global.
Take her back to Rajasthan: Cops say in-laws behind womans abduction in Bengaluru
Womans in-laws behind Bengaluru abduction? Police arrest 3 from Rajasthan
Bengaluru: Car carrying abducted woman crashes into 20 vehicles
Bengaluru: A speeding vehicle crashed into more than 20 vehicles, injuring six people in Bengaluru on Wednesday night, September 16, while attempting to abduct a 21-year-old girl from Rajasthan who married a man from another caste against her familys wishes. Police have arrested the accused, 21-year-old Rakesh, 25-year-old Karan and 18-year-old Ayas, while the driver, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Rajasthan civic polls: Cong wins 6 of 9 wards in repolling
The Congress party won six out of nine wards where repolling was conducted across four urban local bodies in Rajasthan, while the BJP secured three. These results finalise the tally for all 10,244 wards, with the BJP holding the overall lead in total wards won, followed by Congress and Independents. The process for electing mayors and chairpersons is now underway.
Gehlot Links UPI Charges To US Influence, Criticises Centre
Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has criticised the Centre for introducing a 0.4% charge on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, alleging the decision was influenced by pressure from the United States and its payment companies like Visa and Mastercard. He highlighted a perceived shift in the government's stance on Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI, claiming it would ultimately burden consumers and small businesses while benefiting American firms.
On Nick Jonas birthday, Priyanka Chopra shares adorable video of daughter Malti singing with dad
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 17 (IANS) Singer and actor Nick Jonas turned 34 on Thursday, and his wife, actress Priyanka Chopra, made his special day even more memorable with a heartfelt birthday tribute on social media. Desi Girl shared a collection of photos and videos on Instagram, offering a glimpse into some of the couples special moments. The post opened with a picture of Priyanka giving Nick a kiss on the cheek. Nick was seen wearing a cap carrying the playful message, Sorry were golfing. The actress then shared a series of candid moments featuring Nick. One of the pictures showed him posing inside a vehicle that had been decorated for his birthday celebrations. The sweetest moment came towards the end of the post, when Priyanka shared a video of Nick spending some musical time with their daughter, Malti Marie Chopra Jonas. In the clip, Malti can be heard singing while Nick plays the piano alongside her. For the caption, the Quantico actress wrote, Happy birthday to the man that makes all our dreams come true.. everyday. We love you Gaga. Sound on @nickjonas @maltimarie. Priyankas mother, Madhu Chopra, also joined the birthday celebrations by sending her wishes to Nick. She posted several pictures featuring Nick with his brothers, Kevin and Joe Jonas, as well as Malti. Alongside it, she wrote, Happy Birthday, @nickjonas So grateful to have you as a part of our family. You're not just my son-in-law but truly like a son to me. For the unversed, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas first connected through direct messages on X, which eventually blossomed into a relationship. After a brief courtship, the couple got engaged in August 2018. Later that year, the couple exchanged wedding vows in Rajasthan in both Christian and Hindu ceremonies, celebrating their union with traditional customs. In January 2022, the couple welcomed their daughter, Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, through surrogacy.
Rajasthani womans abduction: 3 arrested, one woman critical, says Bengaluru DCP Bengaluru: Three persons have been arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a 21-year-old married woman from her residence in Agrahara Dasarahalli, while police are investigating the involvement of a fourth person, DCP West Bengaluru, Yathish N. said on Thursday. Addressing the media, [] The post Rajasthani womans abduction: 3 arrested, one woman critical, says Bengaluru DCP appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
India, US Begin Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 In Uttarakhand
The 22nd edition of India-US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 has begun. The exercise is being conducted simultaneously at Auli in Uttarakhand and Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. Around 600 personnel from India and the US are participating in the joint drill. Troops will train in integrated battle group operations across mountainous and semi-mountainous terrain. The exercise focuses on infantry operations, interoperability and strengthening joint operational capabilities. Drones, autonomous systems and modern weapon technologies will also feature in the exercise
Bengaluru cops file FIR, expedite probe into married womans kidnapping by Rajasthan gang
Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Sep 17 (IANS) The Magadi Road Police on Thursday registered an FIR in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a 21-year-old woman from Agrahara Dasarahalli in Bengaluru by some people from Rajasthan and a subsequent series of road accidents involving the vehicle used by the accused. The case has been registered under Sections 137, 61 and 110 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the police, Pooja, daughter of Gunaramu and a resident of Melwas village in Rajasthan, had married Om Prakash, 23, son of Shesh Ram, in a love marriage around eight to nine months ago against the wishes of their families. The couple subsequently moved to Bengaluru and had been residing in the Agrahara Dasarahalli locality. Unable to accept the marriage, Pooja's family allegedly sent four persons to Bengaluru to bring her back. The accused allegedly abducted Pooja from her residence and fled in a Hyundai Venue car. After the incident, local residents reportedly chased the vehicle. In an attempt to escape, the accused allegedly drove the car recklessly at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, hitting more than 35 cars and over 100 two-wheelers during the chase. The chase continued for around nine kilometres before members of the public managed to intercept the vehicle at 4th Cross Road in Vijayanagar Hoshalli. The enraged public allegedly pelted the vehicle with stones, damaging it, and dragged three persons out of the car before assaulting them. They were subsequently handed over to the Vijayanagar police. Six people were injured in the series of accidents. They have been identified as Prithviraj, 12, Yashika, 9, Amul, 35, Mani, 64, Jayalakshmi, 57, and Santosh, 33. Jayalakshmi sustained a head injury and is undergoing treatment in the ICU, while the other injured people are also receiving treatment. The arrested accused have been identified as Rakesh, 31, Karan, 35, and Ayan, 18, all from Rajasthan. Saddam, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, managed to escape and police are conducting a search to trace him. The vehicle used in the alleged kidnapping and the three arrested accused are currently in police custody. During questioning, police reportedly found that Pooja's paternal aunt had allegedly hired the accused to kidnap her. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the aunt had remained in contact with Pooja after her marriage and had allegedly obtained her address recently. Police are continuing their investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping and the role of others in the incident.
Congress councillor switches to BJP, elected as Khetri chairperson unopposed in last-minute twist
The political equations in Rajasthan's Khetri municipality changed dramatically at the last moment after Congress councillor Geeta Saini switched allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and filed her nomination for the chairperson's post. Saini had won from Ward 5 on a Congress ticket by 178 votes in the recent municipal elections . However, just before the nomination deadline, she joined the BJP and entered the chairperson's race as the party's candidate. With no rival candidate filing a nomination, she was subsequently elected unopposed.
South Bengal to get relief from heat as thunderstorms, rain forecast for five days
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 17 (IANS) After days of sweltering heat, weather conditions in south Bengal are likely to change as the Met office on Thursday forecast thunderstorms accompanied by light to moderate rain over the next few days. Rain is likely at one or two places in almost all districts of south Bengal. Gusty winds reaching 30 to 40 km per hour are also expected. Kolkata, too, is likely to receive rain and thundershowers. According to a Met department official, the monsoon axis extends from a low-pressure area over Rajasthan to the northwest Bay of Bengal through Ranchi and Digha. In addition, a cyclonic circulation is currently present over the northwest Bay of Bengal. The system is expected to gradually strengthen and influence the West Bengal and Odisha coasts. As a result, south Bengal is likely to witness another spell of heavy rain from Thursday, which may continue for the next five days. A yellow warning for rain and thunderstorms has been issued for eight districts, including coastal and western areas. Thunderstorms are likely in Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Howrah, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas. However, the intensity of rainfall is expected to decrease from Monday. Meanwhile, rainfall is likely to increase in north Bengal on Thursday. A yellow warning for heavy rain has been issued for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds of 30 to 40 km per hour is likely across the region. Rainfall activity in north Bengal is expected to decrease from Friday. Kolkata is likely to see cloudy skies from Thursday afternoon, with the possibility of rain increasing during the day. Light to moderate rain with thundershowers is expected to continue until Saturday. Gusty winds reaching 30 to 40km per hour are also likely. On Wednesday, Kolkata and adjoining areas recorded a maximum temperature of 34.08 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal. The minimum temperature was 27.06 degrees Celsius, 1.02 degrees above normal. Relative humidity ranged between 52 and 97 percent.
Congress sweeps four Jaipur repoll wards, Dotasra hits back at BJPs massive majority claim
Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. He stated that repolling results in Jaipur debunked the BJP's majority claims. Congress swept all four wards where repolling was conducted in Jaipur city. Dotasra accused the BJP government of misusing power and the Election Commission. He asserted that the people's mandate was clear and the BJP's actions were exposed.
RPSC SI Re-Exam Admit Card 2026 Out - Download Hall Ticket at rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in
Download RPSC SI Re-Exam Admit Card 2026 released on 17 September for the Sub Inspector Police / Platoon Commander Re-Examination scheduled on 20 September 2026. Check hall ticket download link, exam centre details, required documents, and exam-day instructions for 859 posts from the cancelled 2021 recruitment exam.
