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Venkatesh Iyer To Lead Madhya Pradesh In Vijay Hazare Trophy In Ahmedabad
Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association: Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) on Thursday selected Venkatesh Iyer as captain of their men's senior team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy league stage, which will be held in Ahmedabad from December 24 to January 8, 2026. The 30-year-old Iyer was recently picked by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the mini-auction for Rs 7 crore after spending four years at Kolkata Knight Riders from 2021 to 2025, winning an Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Getting the captaincy of Madhya Pradesh is a big boost for Iyer. Among the other players picked are experienced Yash Dubey, along with another IPL star, Kumar Kartikeya, who last year moved to Rajasthan Royals after playing for Mumbai Indians from 2022 till 2024. Shubham Sharma and Harpreet Singh are also in the squad for the 16-member squad, in which Madhav Tiwari has been picked, subject to fitness. Meanwhile, the upcoming edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 has gained importance because of the involvement of top stars like India internationals Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Prasidh Krishna, who have been picked by their respective states. Virat has confirmed his availability for Delhi, while Rohit is open to playing for Mumbai in the league stage. KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna have been named by defending champions Karnataka in their squad. The top stars will be representing their respective states because the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it mandatory for the top stars to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy series. With a three-week gap between Indias final T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad on December 19 and the first ODI against New Zealand on January 11, 2026, the Board is keen that senior players utilise the window to play domestic cricket. Virat has confirmed his availability for Delhi, while Rohit is open to playing for Mumbai in the league stage. KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna have been named by defending champions Karnataka in their squad. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Venkatesh Iyer (Captain), Harsh Gawli, Himanshu Mantri (WK), Yash Dubey, Shubham Sharma, Harpreet Singh, Rishabh Chauhan, Ritik Tada, Kumar Kartikeya, Saransh Jain, Shivang Kumar, Aryan Pandey, Rahul Batham, Tripuresh Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Madhav Tiwari (subject to fitness). Article Source: IANS
JAIPUR: The Supreme Courts recent ruling, issued on the recommendation of the central government, to limit the definition of the Aravalli mountain range to landforms rising more than 100 metres above their surroundings, has triggered sharp opposition in Rajasthan. Joining the growing protests, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot has warned that the decision could lead to huge ecological damage. Gehlot termed the ruling a red carpet for illegal mining, and a direct invitation to environmental destruction. On November 21, the apex court held that only hills in the Aravalli region with a relative height of 100 metres or more would be considered part of the mountain range. The Aravalli is not just a mountain range for Rajasthan; it is our protective shield, Gehlot said. He argued that narrowing the definition on the Centres recommendation amounts to a death sentence for nearly 90 per cent of the states hills. According to him, almost 90 per cent of the Aravalli formations in Rajasthan are below the 100-metre threshold. Gehlot cautioned that excluding these hills from the legal definition is not a technical adjustment but the removal of a critical layer of environmental protection, leaving vast areas vulnerable to mining and degradation. Highlighting the ecological importance of the Aravallis, Gehlot said the range plays a crucial role in preventing desertification by blocking hot winds from the west and stopping the Thar Desert from advancing into eastern Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Experts, he noted, have pointed out that even small hills and mounds measuring 10 to 30 metres are effective in checking dust storms. Allowing mining in these areas, he warned, could accelerate desert spread towards the national capital. He further said that the rocky structure of the Aravalli range enables rainwater to percolate underground, making it a major source of groundwater recharge across the region. Removing these hills could prove disastrous for northwest India, which is already facing a severe water crisis, Gehlot said. He added that history would not forgive the injustice being done to future generations, alleging that although the Supreme Court proceedings began to protect the Aravalli, acceptance of the Centres recommendation has effectively erased 90 per cent of the range. He urged the court to reconsider the decision in the interest of future generations, calling it a direct invitation to destruction. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Tikaram Jully, also strongly criticised the move, warning that without the Aravalli range, nothing will be left. Launching a sharp attack on the central government and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, Jully said the looming threat to the Aravallis existence has become a question mark on the future of Rajasthan. Jully said that the fight to save the Aravalli range is no longer the responsibility of any single political party but a collective social duty to protect the state and the future of the coming generations. Targeting Union environment minister and Alwar MP Bhupendra Yadav, Jully said it was the greatest irony of democracy that those entrusted with environmental protection were now paving the way for destruction. He pointed out that Yadav was educated in Ajmer and represents Alwar, both regions closely linked to the Aravalli range and home to important pilgrimage sites such as Pushkar. Despite this, Jully alleged, the minister was acting like Dhritarashtra, the blind king from the Mahabharata, silently witnessing the destruction of the Aravalli range and ignoring the future of his own land and its people.
Test National Cricket Championship For Deaf Off To Grand Opening In Kolkata
The Indian Deaf Cricket Association: The Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA), on Thursday, kicked off the 4th edition of the Test National Cricket Championship for Deaf in Kolkata in a grand opening ceremony held at Merlin Rise Pavilion, Kolkata. The nearly week-long Test series will have two semifinal cricket matches played simultaneously at Kolkatas Merlin Rise Cricket Ground and Rajasthan Club Ground from December 18 to 23. The winners of the semifinals will then compete for the champions trophy in the Final Test match from December 21 to 23. While semifinal 1 will be played between Delhi and Bengal, semifinal 2 will have Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir competing for a place in the Final. Winning the toss against host Bengal, Delhi elected to bowl first; while winning their toss against Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir also elected to bowl. The IDCA 4th Test National Cricket Championship for the Deaf is being organised under the patronage of Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla Group, and will run from December 18 to 23, 2025, bringing together some of Indias most talented hearing-impaired cricketers from across the four states. Speaking about the championship, Sumit Jain, President, IDCA, said, The 4th Test National Cricket Championship for the Deaf will be a testing ground for all the players as it will be played in two innings across three days. While the players are used to playing a shorter format of the game, a Test match will not only test their fitness but also their consistency to play well for four innings across three days. With this series, we also aim to celebrate the spirit, resilience, and talent of our hearing-impaired athletes and show our fighting spirit. With the generous support of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, Merlin Rise Group management and our partners, we are continuing to create a strong platform for differently abled cricketers to shine on a national stage, he said. Thanking the support partners, Roma Balwani, CEO, IDCA, added, I am really happy that the 4th Test National Cricket Championship is taking place in Kolkata. Our aim of bringing together talented players who represent the strength of inclusivity in sports would not be possible without our partners' continued support. I am especially grateful to our venue partner, Merlin Rise Pavilion, for providing us with this wonderful location and EIILM - Kolkata for their volunteers and immense support. The Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA) was founded in 2020 by Sumit Jain, President of IDCA and Vice President & member of DCCI (Differently Abled Cricket Committee, BCCI). Registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860, IDCA is committed to developing cricket among deaf athletes in India and providing them with opportunities at state, national, and international levels. Thanking the support partners, Roma Balwani, CEO, IDCA, added, I am really happy that the 4th Test National Cricket Championship is taking place in Kolkata. Our aim of bringing together talented players who represent the strength of inclusivity in sports would not be possible without our partners' continued support. I am especially grateful to our venue partner, Merlin Rise Pavilion, for providing us with this wonderful location and EIILM - Kolkata for their volunteers and immense support. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Mukhopadhyay was also joined by Abhijit Ghosh, Director (HR & CA), and Romon Sebastian Louis, Director (Service Business) - Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd, as guests of honour. Article Source: IANS
Rajasthan HC rejects plea for premature release of 1993 train blast case convicts
JAIPUR:The Jaipur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court has refused to grant premature release to life convicts sentenced under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) in the 1993 serial train bomb blasts case. Delivering the verdict, a division bench of Justices Sudesh Bansal and Bhuvan Goyal held that granting early release to those convicted of terrorism-related offences would endanger societal safety and national security. The court underlined that such leniency could undermine public confidence and disturb public order. The pleas were filed by Asfaq Khan from Dausa, Fazlur Rahman Sufi of Mumbai, Abre Rahmat Ansari of Kabinagar in Uttar Pradesh, and Mohammad Aijaz Akbar from Gulbarga. Each of them has spent more than two decades in prison and sought relief citing advanced age and deteriorating health. The convicts relied on the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines, arguing that prisoners become eligible for consideration of premature release after completing 20 years of incarceration. They further claimed that their cases should be assessed in accordance with the remission policy prevailing at the time their sentences were awarded. Resisting the petitions, Additional Solicitor General Bharat Vyas and Advocate General Rajendra Prasad, representing the Centre and the Rajasthan government, argued that the Rajasthan Prisoners (Remission of Sentence) Rules, 2006, as well as the earlier 1958 rules, categorically prohibit early release of TADA convicts. They emphasised that Rule 9(5) specifically excludes such cases from being examined by the Advisory Board. The matter relates to the coordinated bomb attacks carried out on six long-distance trains passing through Mumbai, Surat, Lucknow, Kanpur and Hyderabad on the night of December 5, 1993. The blasts claimed two lives and left 22 people injured. The Central Bureau of Investigation probed the case, and upon completion of the trial on February 28, 2004, the accused were awarded life imprisonment.
Government reinforces commitment to protect Great Indian Bustard in Gujarat
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, stated on Thursday that the government is actively working to protect the Great Indian Bustard birds in Gujarat. While responding to supplementary questions in the Rajya Sabha, Yadav mentioned that the government has initiated a program for the conservation of Great Indian Bustards across several states, including Gujarat. This response followed a query from Congress member Shaktisinh Gohil, who noted that there is a sanctuary for Great Indian Bustards in Kutch, Gujarat, but only three female birds remain there. He expressed concern that if these three female birds were to die, the sanctuary land might be transferred to businessmen. In response, Yadav assured the Congress member that his fears were aseless and emphasized that the government is indeed working towards the protection of the Great Indian Bustards in Gujarat. He also corrected the record, stating that there are actually four female Great Indian Bustards in Kutch, while the population in Rajasthan stands at 140. Yadav also stated that the government is not currently running any specific project for the protection of Indian Roller (Palapitta) birds. This was in reply to a question from BJP leader K Laxman regarding the declining population of Indian Rollers. In a written reply, Yadav explained that the protection and management of wildlife and their habitats are primarily the responsibility of state governments and union territory administrations. He further noted that population estimations for flagship species like tigers, snow leopards, and dolphins are conducted at the national level, while assessments for other animals and birds are carried out by the respective states and union territories, and these figures are not consolidated at the ministry level. Yadav added that wild animals listed in Schedules I and II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 are protected from hunting. The Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) is categorized in Schedule II of the Act. To highlight the government's initiatives for wildlife protection, Yadav mentioned that a network of protected areas, including national parks, sanctuaries, conservation reserves, and community reserves, has been established across the country. He also noted that financial assistance is provided to states and union territories for wildlife management and habitat development under centrally sponsored schemes such as 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' and 'Project Tiger & Elephant,' based on the Annual Plan of Operation (APO) submitted by these entities. Additionally, special programs like 'Project Tiger,' 'Project Elephant,' 'Project Lion,' 'Project Snow Leopard,' 'Project Dolphin,' 'Project Cheetah,' and 'Project Great Indian Bustard' have been initiated for their conservation, Yadav concluded.
IPL 2026: R Ashwin leaves out CSK from his top four, fourth pick comes as surprise
Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed his top four IPL contenders, notably excluding his former team Chennai Super Kings. He placed Mumbai Indians at the forefront, followed by defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals. Ashwin lauded Mumbai Indians' strategic acquisition of Quinton de Kock, believing they are aiming to replicate their 2020 championship squad's balance.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia expressed delight over uncapped players earning big in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction, saying the tournament continues to serve its core purpose of providing a platform for young and emerging talent across the country. Uncapped players emerged as the biggest talking point of the auction, with franchises spending significant sums to secure promising domestic performers. Delhi Capitals made headlines by signing Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Dar for Rs. 84 crore, while five-time champions Chennai Super Kings invested heavily in youth by roping in Rajasthan cricketer Kartik Sharma and Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Prashant Veer for Rs. 14.20 crore each. Reacting to the developments, Saikia said he was pleased to see franchises backing players based on their domestic performances and giving opportunities to talent from across the country. I'm extremely happy because some uncapped players of India from various states, from their domestic performances, the franchises are picking up. You can take the example of that guy from J&K, Auqib Dar, another from UP (Veer) and one from Rajasthan (Kartik). So this is precisely what the IPL is all about, that we have to promote our young talents. Reacting to the developments, Saikia said he was pleased to see franchises backing players based on their domestic performances and giving opportunities to talent from across the country. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Saikias comments highlight the IPLs increasing role as a stepping stone for domestic cricketers, providing both financial stability and exposure as they work towards a bigger aim of representing their country on the global stage. Article Source: IANS
Told Aniket If You Get Selected, I Will Also Get In, Says SRH's Newest Recruit Shivang Kumar
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Manifestation met reality for Madhya Pradeshs left-arm wrist-spin all-rounder Shivang Kumar when Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) picked him in the IPL 2026 auction at his base price of Rs 30 lakh. The move to rope him in by SRH reunites Shivang, who bats right-handed and is capable of producing big hits, with best friend and Madhya Pradesh teammate Aniket Verma, who was one of the finds for the franchise in a disappointing 2025 season. First of all, I am very excited to play for SRH. Its a team of my teammate and best friend Aniket Verma. With me now going to his team, there is also this excitement feeling because I told him last year that if you get selected, then I will also get selected in it. So, a lot of things have been manifested. At that time (when the auction was on), I was in the room. My friend came and told me that 'bhai, you have been selected'. So, I felt very good, said Shivang in an exclusive conversation with IANS. Shivang, 23, had trials with multiple franchises before the auction and that was enough to tell him that he will be a part of the IPL for the first time. Before the auction, I went to trials of Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. So, I got a good response from them. SRH also called me twice, but unfortunately, I could not go as at that time, I was in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The other time, it got cancelled for some reason. But the trials were quite good and there was a good response everywhere. SRH showed their trust in me and I am feeling good. Shivang views playing in IPL 2026 as his gateway to fulfilling his ultimate goal: playing for India. IPL is a launching pad for an uncapped player to the Indian team. So, as per my skills, I think SRH will like me a lot. I do both batting and bowling, so I can be very useful for the team. I have heard a lot about Murali sir (Muttiah Muralitharan). He talks a lot about cricket. So, it will be good to talk to him as well because I also talk mainly about cricket, he added. It also helps that Shivang sees Aniket as a huge source of motivation and belief to leave his mark in the IPL, after SRH scouts noticed his rare bowling skillset and penchant for hitting big shots. Because of Aniket, we felt that we can also do well at this level. Aniket's season was very good and he played very well in SRH for 2-3 innings. So, we also believe that we can also do well at the top. I told Aniket that you have done well there, then I will also do well. So, there was a lot of support from the Madhya Pradesh Premier League because under the lights, we actually play less matches on an international ground. So, the player gets a lot of experience and exposure there on how he will play internationally. The world also watches him - whatever he does, good or bad. So, it is also a benefit that we learn how to deal with it. Growing up in Rewa, a place that has produced notable pacers Kuldeep Sen and Ishwar Pandey, Shivang was first taught about cricket by his father Praveen Kumar, a Chief Ticket Inspector (CTI) in the Railways currently posted in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Praveen himself played cricket in Bengal, including the Ranji Trophy, and who harbored dreams of playing for India himself. We used to practice cricket in our MPCA camps in Indore. When I was 22, I went to Rewa. Before that, I used to play in the Gwalior division. Rewa supported me a lot and it was an opportunity for me. Actually, my father put me into playing cricket. He also had a dream that my child should play for India. He also had a dream that he should play. But this dream has been passed on to me. Hopefully, I will be able to fulfill his dream. Seeing him being picked by SRH for IPL left Praveen jubilant. My father is a very positive person. So, he was like, 'Okay, beta, you have been selected. So, learn and go upwards from here. Your ultimate goal is to play for India'. He was also very happy that I was selected for SRH, which is known for a lot of power hitters and are known for their fearless approach and excellent batting. It was Praveen, Shivangs first coach, who transformed him from a right-handed bowler into a left-arm spinner. He taught me batting and actually, I bowled right handed. But he made me a lefty bowler. I do everything from the right hand, but just do bowling from the left hand. So, you can call it his masterpiece, as he made me like this. After I started my cricket under him, I found my way through MP and MPCA supported me a lot. Shivangs journey in the cricketing world wouldnt have happened if the MS Dhoni biopic movie hadnt reignited his passion for the game. When I didn't get selected for the U-14 team, I decided to leave cricket. I didn't play for 5 months. Luckily, I got a chance to watch the movie on MS Dhoni. I had heard a few things about it like when people saw it, they said I gave up on cricket too soon. When my brother told me to watch the movie, saying that it is a very well made film and has an inspiring story, I went to watch it and took a lot of inspiration from Dhoni sir. It made me realise that his life had a lot of struggles and I gave up too fast. I re-started playing cricket and scored 98 in the first match. That made me realise that cricket is in my blood, and that I don't know if I will play at the higher level or not, but cricket cannot leave me, he recalled. Meeting his idol Dhoni sits at the top of Shivangs bucket list. It is every youngster's dream to meet Dhoni sir, especially when there is a match in Chepauk, the atmosphere is different. When he enters, I want to experience that what it is like to be out there. I have heard about it from the rest, but I will definitely want to experience it. The superlative performance in Madhya Pradeshs T20 league propelled Shivang to make his Syed Mushtaq Alit Trophy debut against Hyderabad, where he showed promise with the bat through a crucial knock of 45. But I didn't get a wicket in that game. When I went wicketless against Hyderabad, I spoke to Venkatesh Iyer. He told me not to worry and that I would get a wicket next time. He motivated me a lot. Next up, I got three wickets against Bihar and it felt good, said Shivang. Apart from Iyer, Shivang draws huge inspiration from RCB skipper and India batter Rajat Patidar. Rajat bhaiya is especially an inspiration. His batting is world famous. He is the most stylish batsman. Venky bhaiya has a positive attitude towards youngsters. He comes and makes the environment casual, and that helps in gelling up well with him. He doesn't look like a star and that gives us a feel that he is like our friend. Venky bhaiya gives a lot of support, and inspires me a lot in me wanting to play for India. Apart from Iyer, Shivang draws huge inspiration from RCB skipper and India batter Rajat Patidar. Rajat bhaiya is especially an inspiration. His batting is world famous. He is the most stylish batsman. Venky bhaiya has a positive attitude towards youngsters. Also Read: Live Cricket Score These are big matches and international players are present. I have never played against or with foreigners. How to bowl to them, as well as to big domestic hitters and veterans, it is a different game. So I want to experience it. Article Source: IANS
'Ghar wapsi hai meri': Bishnoi looking to form deadly combo with Jadeja at RR | Exclusive
India spinner Ravi Bishnoi expressed immense joy after being bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 7.2 crore in the IPL mini-auction, calling it a 'ghar wapsi' (homecoming). He is eager to play in front of his home crowd and contribute to the team's success, aiming to create good memories with wickets and wins.
Rajasthan Police 12th Battalion RAC result 2025: The Rajasthan Police has released the 12th Battalion RAC Constable recruitment results on police.rajasthan.gov.in. Selected candidates for 79 Constable (General Duty) and 5 Constable (Driver) posts must now attend the next stage, including document verification, character verification, and medical examination. Candidates are required to bring original documents, self-attested copies, and other certifications, including driving licences for drivers. Failure to attend will result in removal from the selection list. Dates and venues will be notified separately.
Short 87 KM Stretch Sees 4-Year Delay, Derails Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Project Worth Rs 1 Lakh Crore
The Expressway, which passes through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, is divided into 53 packages.
Who is Jyoti Bansal, an IIT Delhi graduate on H1-B visa who built a billion-dollar tech empire?
From a small town in Rajasthan, Jyoti Bansal, an IIT Delhi alumnus, has become a billionaire. Arriving on an H1-B visa, he built AppDynamics, sold to Cisco for $3.7 billion, and now leads Harness, an AI software delivery firm valued at $5.5 billion. His journey highlights immigrant entrepreneurship and the power of sustained effort.
Farmers issue 20-day ultimatum over ethanol factory in Hanumangarh in Mahapanchayat
JAIPUR: Amid fears and tensions, the grand Mahapanchayat of farmers protesting against the proposed ethanol factory in Hanumangarh passed off peacefully on Wednesday. The Mahapanchayat demanded the closure of Asia's largest ethanol factory being planned in Rathikhera village of the Tibbi area. After talks between farmer leaders and the district administration, the farmers' body called off the protest for the moment, but it has issued a 20-day ultimatum to the Rajasthan government to announce the closure of the controversial project being set up in the fertile region of the State. Farmer organisations allege that the ethanol factory will hurt the region's water resources, environment, and agriculture, which has caused great anger among the local farmers. Farmers argue that the ethanol factory will lead to a decline in groundwater levels and cause air and water pollution, which will adversely impact agriculture and the local environment. Farmer leaders from various organisations arrived in Hanumangarh for the Mahapanchayat at the Junction Mandi complex. Senior farmer leaders Joginder Singh Ugrahan and Gurnam Singh Chaduni, along with Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, reached the protest site to extend support to the agitating farmers. The farmer leaders have warned the administration that the protest will continue until a permanent order to close the factory is issued. Farmer representatives have asserted that the agitation will continue until the construction of the factory is stopped. During the discussions, the farmers demanded the cancellation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed for the ethanol factory and the immediate withdrawal of cases registered against protesting farmers. The administration assured the leaders that the demands would be forwarded to the State government for consideration, though no immediate decision was taken. Farmer leaders warned that another Mahapanchayat would be convened if their demands were not met. They also announced plans to hold a Mahapanchayat in Sangaria on January 7 if the matter remains unresolved. Senior farmer leader Rakesh Tikait asserted, The United Front and the farmers of the country stand with the Joint Committee of farmers. There is opposition to the ethanol factory. If the people of the area do not want the factory, then it will not be allowed to be built here. The local committee is in talks with the administration, which should have this plant removed. Farmer leader Mangej Chaudhary said that during the talks, the leaders reiterated that the construction of the ethanol factory would adversely affect agriculture in the region. Protests against the plant have been ongoing for over a year. A largely peaceful agitation continued for nearly ten months, from September 2024 to June 2025, but intensified in July 2025 after the company began constructing a boundary wall at the site. On December 10, farmers staged a large protest outside the Tibbi Sub-Divisional Magistrates office. Later in the day, hundreds of farmers reached the factory site with tractors, where the boundary wall was damaged, and clashes broke out with the police. To disperse the crowd, police used tear gas and later resorted to a lathi charge.
Rajasthan ethanol project on hold, farmers say cancel it in 20 days
Vijay Hazare Trophy: KL Rahul And Prasidh Krishna Named In Karnatakas Squad
Vijay Hazare Trophy: The Indian duo of wicketkeeper-batter K.L. Rahul and fast-bowler Prasidh Krishna have been named in Karnatakas squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. Defending champions Karnataka will play its Group A fixtures in Ahmedabad, starting on December 24. The addition of Rahul, who recently captained India in the ODI leg of the South Africa tour, where they won 2-1, and Prasidh adds further experience to the side led by Mayank Agarwal. Karun Nair has been appointed as the vice-captain following his strong performances in the Ranji Trophy. Pacers Vidwath Kaverappa and Vidyadhar Patel, though not listed in the main squad, will travel with the team to Ahmedabad and remain available for match duty. Young batters Harshil Dharmani and Dhruv Prabhakar, who also bowls handy off-spin, have earned call-ups after impressive outings in the U23 50-over competition last month. Left-arm spinner Shreesha Achar has been included as the squads lone specialist slow bowler. Yere Goud will be the head coach, while Mansur Ali Khan and Shabarish Mohan will serve as bowling and fielding coaches, respectively. Karnatakas Group A opponents include Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Pondicherry, Kerala, and Tripura. Pacers Vidwath Kaverappa and Vidyadhar Patel, though not listed in the main squad, will travel with the team to Ahmedabad and remain available for match duty. Young batters Harshil Dharmani and Dhruv Prabhakar, who also bowls handy off-spin, have earned call-ups after impressive outings in the U23 50-over competition last month. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Karnataka squad: Mayank Agarwal (captain), Karun Nair (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Smaran, KL Shrijith, Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal, V. Vyshak, Manvanth Kumar, Shreesha Achar, Abhilash Shetty, B.R. Sharath, Harshil Dharmani, Dhruv Prabhakar, KL Rahul, and Prasidh Krishna. Article Source: IANS
NTPC adds 359.585 MW solar capacity, total commercial capacity reaches 85.5 GW
NTPC, a state-owned powerhouse, has just augmented its solar energy footprint with an addition of 359.58 MW. This boosts the company's overall capacity to a remarkable 85.5 GW, a milestone achieved through projects based in the vibrant states of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
SC sets aside Rajasthan HC order asking rape accused's wife living in US to remain in India
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has set aside a Rajasthan High Court order that directed the wife of a software engineer, accused of raping a woman on a false pretext of marriage, to be present in the country if he wishes to travel abroad for a job. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe took on record an undertaking given by the man that he would attend every hearing via video-conferencing. Advocate Ashwani Dubey, appearing in the court on behalf of the engineer, submitted that his client's wife is neither an accused nor a party to the case. Dubey informed that as on the date of the passing of this order, the appellant's wife was not even in India as she was employed in the United States. In the light of the undertaking given by the appellant, stating that he would attend every hearing in Sessions Case No.12 of 2024 on the file of the learned Additional Sessions Judge (Women Atrocities Court), Ajmer, Rajasthan, through video-conferencing and also giving an assurance that he would be physically present before the trial court whenever so directed, we find no ground to alter the order dated August 8, 2025, passed by this court, which has been duly complied with. The said order is made absolute, subject to the undertaking given by the appellant, the bench said. The top court had, on August 8, stayed the high court order and directed the man to deposit Rs 2 lakh as surety for foreign travel. The plea says the high court, in a clear violation of procedural impropriety and without hearing or impleading the engineer's wife, who is employed in the US, and ignoring the fact that she was not a part of the criminal case, directed her to remain in India. It was further argued that the high court's direction was erroneous and violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The direction was stated to suffer from procedural irregularity and legal perversity, having been passed without affording a hearing to the person affected. The petitioner is an Indian passport holder and an Indian citizen and not the citizen of any other country and he will be under the control of the Consulate General in the US and there are no chances of his absconding as he is willing to go abroad to earn his livelihood on a work visa and therefore, there is no question of his absconding, the plea has said. The bench was informed that the appellant would travel for a specific period and is ready to state on oath that he would be available for trial as and when directed. There is no question of a delay in the trial and also, there is no question of his absconding, the plea says. The case of rape against the man was lodged at Ajmer's Christianganj police station after it was alleged that he came across a woman on a matrimonial website and maintained a close acquaintance with her for four years following a promise of marriage. Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with the offence of sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means, etc. and defines deceitful means to include a false promise of employment or promotion, inducement or marrying after suppressing identity. Apprehending arrest, the accused moved an anticipatory bail application, which was allowed. He then moved an application before the trial court to allow him to go abroad for a job. The trial court dismissed his plea, following which he challenged it before the high court. The high court allowed him to go abroad but imposed a condition that his wife must remain in India.
Ansu Singh Hails Younger Brother Ravi Singh's Journey To IPL 2026
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Railways wicketkeeper-batter Ravi Singh's elder brother Ansu Singh hailed the 24-year-old cricketer's journey, giving credit to his hard work after he was roped in by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 95 lakh in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi. Royal Challengers Bengaluru was the other team that went for him, but former winners Rajasthan Royals prevailed in the end. Hailing from the Mau district of Uttar Pradesh, Ravi is known for his aggressive batting against both pace and spin. He was one of the nine players RR signed at the auction. He was recently featured in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and registered 218 runs while striking at an impressive 173.01. He ended up with more sixes (17) than fours (16). It has been a long struggle for him. He has been playing cricket since childhood and represented Uttar Pradesh Under-16. After that, he took up a railway job in Kolkata and is currently playing for Railways. He works as a TC in the Railways. Our father is in business and works as an inspector. Ravi is in Kolkata at the moment, and he has a lot of hope, said Ansu Singh, elder brother of Ravi Singh, to IANS. Ravi has participated in four List A games in addition to the ten Twenty20 matches he has already played. Despite the limited experience and exposure, it is noteworthy that he has a higher strike rate (121.11), which highlights his ability to hit hard with the bat. It has been a long struggle for him. He has been playing cricket since childhood and represented Uttar Pradesh Under-16. After that, he took up a railway job in Kolkata and is currently playing for Railways. He works as a TC in the Railways. Our father is in business and works as an inspector. Ravi is in Kolkata at the moment, and he has a lot of hope, said Ansu Singh, elder brother of Ravi Singh, to IANS. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Ravindra Jadeja (traded in), Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger, Sam Curran (traded in), Adam Milne, Kwena Maphaka, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Donovan Ferreira (traded in), Ravi Singh, Shubham Dubey, Kuldeep Sen, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Vignesh Puthur, Sushant Mishra, Yash Raj Punja, Brijesh Sharma, Aman Rao. Article Source: IANS
Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals Gear Up for Fresh Push Ahead of IPL 2026
Punjab Kings enter the 2026 season with renewed determination and a balanced squad, Led by Shreyas Iyer, PBKS strategy at the auction and retention stages focused on filling key roles with players who can perform in pressure situations.
'India Call Up Is The Next Aim', Says Auqib Dars Father After Blockbuster IPL Deal
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: As Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Dar made headlines after Delhi Capitals bought him for Rs 8.40 crore during the IPL 2026 mini auction, the uncapped pacer's father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, has said that while the IPL contract was a matter of great pride for the family, the only aim now is for his son to get selected in the Indian team. Starting at a base price of Rs 30 lakh, Auqib sparked an intense bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad later entering the fray. The contest ended with the 29-year-old pacer from Baramulla being snapped up by the Delhi Capitals. I can't express my happiness in words Now the only thing left is to get selected for the Indian team. Every parent wants their child to progress and succeed, Auqib's father told IANS. A consistent wicket-taker across formats in domestic cricket over the past few seasons, Auqib Nabi (registered as Auqib Dar) is primarily a swing bowler. Recently, however, the Jammu & Kashmir bowler has added new dimensions to his gamemost notably improved death-overs skillswhich have significantly boosted his value. His recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performances underline that progress: 15 wickets in seven matches at an economy rate below eight, figures that support the effort he has invested. Has been a net bowler with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the past. A consistent wicket-taker across formats in domestic cricket over the past few seasons, Auqib Nabi (registered as Auqib Dar) is primarily a swing bowler. Recently, however, the Jammu & Kashmir bowler has added new dimensions to his gamemost notably improved death-overs skillswhich have significantly boosted his value. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Earlier this year, Nabi once grabbed everyone's eyeballs by bagging a five-wicket haul, which included four wickets in four balls during the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy game between North Zone and East Zone. Article Source: IANS
Rs 100-crore drug bust: Mephedrone factory in Rajasthan bulldozed
The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) Unit-1 of the Mira-BhayandarVasai-Virar (MBVV) Police in Maharashtra had on Monday said that it had busted a mephedrone manufacturing unit in a joint operation with Rajasthan Police and has seized drugs and raw materials worth Rs 100 crore
Yashasvi Jaiswal hospitalised after Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match: Know real reason
Yashasvi Jaiswal was reportedly rushed to the hospital after a match against Rajasthan in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Know the real reason behind it.
Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambhari Bhatt have been accused with six others for defrauding the Udaipur-based founder of Indira Group of Companies, Dr Ajay Murdia, of Rs 30 crore.
One Keeper From Every Decade- Teen, 20s, 30s, 40s: Mukund Points Out Interesting CSK Fact
Chennai Super Kings: Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund made an interesting observation in Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad after the team formed a 25-member team after the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, noting that the five-time champions have one wicketkeeper from every decade; teen, 20s, 30s, 40s. CSK have four wicketkeepers in their squad, 19-year-old Kartik Sharma, who is in his teens; Urvil Patel, in his 20s; Sanju Samson, in his 30s; and MS Dhoni, in his 40s. The Men in Yellow had a good outing at the auction, which took place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, and invested heavily in youth as they aimed to build a futuristic team. Notable inclusions were youngsters Prashant Veer from Uttar Pradesh and Kartik Sharma of Rajasthan, as the duo fetched Rs. 14.20 crores each to become the joint-costliest uncapped players in the tournaments history. Mukund opined that CSK made a massive tectonic shift in their approach and dubbed the current squad a very different side. Analysing their auction strategy and outcome, Mukund said, I think CSK have put together a pretty solid side. Their retentions earlier were always based on what had worked for them in the past, but now everything is out of the window. For 2026, its almost like a 30 per cent investment in wicketkeepers. They now have one from every decade one in his teens, one in his 20s, one in his 30s and one in his 40s. On a serious note, this is a complete reset for CSK. Just imagine the number of meetings they must have had before arriving at these decisions, because this is a legacy franchise built on one system, one belief, and strong player loyalty. Mukund opined that CSK made a massive tectonic shift in their approach and dubbed the current squad a very different side. Analysing their auction strategy and outcome, Mukund said, I think CSK have put together a pretty solid side. Their retentions earlier were always based on what had worked for them in the past, but now everything is out of the window. For 2026, its almost like a 30 per cent investment in wicketkeepers. Also Read: Live Cricket Score CSK Squad for IPL 2026: Anshul Kamboj, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Gurjapneet Singh, Jamie Overton, Khaleel Ahmed, MS Dhoni, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Nood Ahmad, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Urvil Patel, Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Dasun Shanaka, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes Article Source: IANS
Himachal Police in touch with Punjab, Rajasthan counterparts over spotting of 'Pak' balloons
SHIMLA: Following spotting of multiple aeroplane-shaped balloons having PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) or Pakistani flag printed on them in different districts of the state in the past few weeks, the Himachal Pradesh police has reached out to their counterparts in Punjab and Rajasthan to determine the origin of these balloons. Police have also contacted the officials of the Indian Air Force for the same. So far, no suspicious devices such as gadgets, surveillance devices, trackers or materials have been found inside these balloons. We have contacted our counterparts in states sharing a border with Pakistan where similar balloons were found to get their insights, police said. While no FIR has been registered in this case, the police are investigating the matter, enquiring local vendors about the origin of these balloons. Recently, residents of Chalet village under Daulatpur police post were alarmed after an aeroplane-shaped balloon with PIA written on it was found on the roof of a house of a villager. He then immediately informed the Daulatpur police post. Upon receiving the information, the police team reached the spot and seized the balloon. As a precautionary measure, police also inspected the surrounding areas to rule out the presence of any other suspicious objects. On December 8, three similar balloons were also found in the Tatehra village of Gagret sub-division. These balloons had the Pakistani flag on them and I Love Pakistan written on them. Also, similar balloons were found in Hamirpur and Kangra districts in the past few months.
Suzlon bags order to supply 102 wind turbine generators to Yanara
NEW DELHI, Dec 17: Suzlon Group has bagged a repeat order from Yanara for the supply of 102 wind turbine generators (WTGs) for the latters upcoming 800 MW FDRE project at Barmer in Rajasthan. An FDRE (Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy) project integrates advanced solar, wind and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to enable reliable energy dispatch during the peak demand. Across Yanaras two FDRE projects in Barmer, aggregating to about 800 MWp, Suzlon will install a total [] The post Suzlon bags order to supply 102 wind turbine generators to Yanara appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Suzlon, Yanara sign 306 MW wind turbine deal in Rajasthan
The deal marks the second collaboration between the companies this year
Former AIIMS HOD moves SC seeking cancer to be declared a notifiable disease
NEW DELHI: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court by former Head of the Department of Surgical Disciplines at AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr Anurag Srivastava, seeking directions to the Centre to declare cancer a notifiable disease to ensure uniform and mandatory reporting of cancer cases across India. In the petition, filed through advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, Dr Srivastava urged the Supreme Court to direct the Union Government and State Governments to establish a centralised, real-time digital cancer registry on the lines of the CoWIN portal. The proposed registry would integrate existing datasets, including the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP), Hospital-Based Cancer Registries (HBCRs), Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs), Ayushman BharatPMJAY, State health insurance schemes, mortality records and hospital information systems, with appropriate safeguards for data accuracy, privacy and accountability. The plea also sought directions to the Centre and States to formulate and implement nationwide cancer screening programmes at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs), targeting high-risk and age-based population groups. Further, the petitioner asked the Court to direct the authorities to frame a clear policy on unverified, religious or alternative therapies for cancer treatment, including remedies such as gomutra, and to regulate misinformation to protect public health. The PIL also called for ensuring the availability of affordable, evidence-based cancer treatment including modern medicine as well as evidence-based AYUSH therapies at all tertiary and district-level hospitals. Dr Srivastava also sought directions for the establishment of a dedicated National Cancer Care Fund to support treatment costs, anti-cancer drugs, diagnostic equipment and palliative care, with the aim of reducing the financial burden on poor, underprivileged and vulnerable patients and their families. The petition further urged the Court to direct the Union and State Governments to strengthen death certification and institutionalise death audits for cancer patients to ensure accurate reporting, identify systemic gaps and improve the quality of care. It also sought a time-bound roadmap for expanding PBCRs to ensure adequate representation of all States and rural areas, with particular emphasis on underrepresented States such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha. In his plea, Dr Srivastava stated that despite being one of the leading causes of death in India, cancer remains outside the ambit of mandatory notification. This, he argued, has resulted in fragmented data, weak surveillance and policy paralysis in addressing the growing cancer burden. He highlighted that health is primarily a State subject under Entry 6 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, and that both the Union and State Governments have the power to legislate and notify diseases within their respective domains. However, this concurrent jurisdiction has led to a legal lacuna, with some States having notified cancer as a disease while others have not. The absence of uniformity has led to disparities in reporting, monitoring and early intervention across States. This inconsistency has resulted in a critical policy failure, with patients in many States being diagnosed only at advanced stages, when curative treatment becomes difficult, expensive or impossible, the plea stated. Dr Srivastava further pointed out that the Indian Council of Medical Researchs NCRP currently covers only about 10 per cent of Indias population, with rural coverage as low as 1 per cent. Large States such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha remain significantly underrepresented. He noted that both the NCRP Policy Brief, 2020, and the 139th Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare had recommended that cancer be declared a notifiable disease, but these recommendations have yet to be implemented.
After Trading Jaddu, We Needed A No.7 Who Bats, Bowl & Field: CSK CEO On Prashant Veers Record Bid
Chennai Super Kings: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan opened up about the team purchasing uncapped all-rounder Prashant Veer at the IPL mini-auction, stating that they were looking for a new No. 7 player after trading Ravindra Jadeja to Rajasthan Royals. The Uttar Pradesh all-rounders price increased 47.3 times his initial value after CSK resisted early interest from the Royals and a late, fierce competition from Sunrisers Hyderabad to acquire the 20-year-old left-arm spinner and middle-order batter for a record Rs. 14.20 crore. The franchises CEO said they had hoped to sign Cameron Green but had to withdraw when the bidding surpassed Rs. 25 crore, explaining they could not spend more than 50 percent of their purse on a single player as it might have affected their subsequent acquisitions. To summarise, it was very difficult in the first round. We were hoping to get Cameron Green. But if we gave more than 50% of our purse for him alone, it would have been tough to get the rest of the players, especially the youngsters. We had identified a lot of youngsters. We were afraid we wouldnt get them. That's why we could only go up to 25 crores for green. But, we were able to get the youngsters whom we wanted, he said in a video shared by the franchise. Shedding light on Veers acquisition, which made him the joint-costliest uncapped player to ever be sold at the IPL auction, Kasi said, Prashant Veer is a new player. You know that we traded Jaddu (Jadeja) with RR. So we needed a number 7 who can bat and who can bowl. And who is also a good fielder. Our talent scout team gave us a lot of feedback as to which of the youngsters were doing well. Prashant Veer was the number one player whom the talent scout team had identified. He also came for CSK trials when we had the trials at HPC, we got to know about his talent. We could spot out that he has something extra. (AR) Srikanth, (Sridharan) Sriram, all of them were there. They told us that Prashant Veer has a special talent. They told us to keep an eye on him. They told us that hed be a good pick. So, we thought he would be a good bet for us, he added. CSKs auction strategy saw a change this time, as the franchise bid for many youngsters, aiming to build a futuristic squad and learning from their mistakes of the past. Once dubbed Daddys Army, Kasi said that the team looked to identify youngsters and up-and-coming players to bolster the squads strength. In the 2018 auction during the lunch time, our boss Srinivasan Sir scolded us, Are you picking players? What are you doing? All the fans also started saying, Youve picked a team like some Daddys army. But we won the trophy, coming back after 2 years. From that time, you will see in IPL, there has been a change in the kind of cricket which is being played. Power cricket, which is coming. For that, we have to adapt. That adaptation will take some time. Last year, we brought in youngsters from mid-season. Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, all of them came into the team. We have traded in Sanju Samson. So, we have strengthened the batting. We are identifying some of the bowlers who will be good. Akeal Hossein is probably the best T20 powerplay bowler. Similarly, we have bowlers who can be really useful. We have got Jamie Overton, and now Matt Henry and Foulkes who are all very good with the new ball. So, I think we have fairly got a good side, he stated. Kasi assured the fans that theyll have fun watching CSKs games at their home ground, Chepauk, and said that skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and veteran MS Dhoni will do a great job for the team. Similarly, we have bowlers who can be really useful. We have got Jamie Overton, and now Matt Henry and Foulkes who are all very good with the new ball. So, I think we have fairly got a good side, he stated. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Message to fans, as I always say, Thala and Rutu will do a great job for the team. Fans, this year you will really enjoy watching CSK at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. And hope we win the trophy, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
48,563 MBBS and 29,080 PG seats added in six years: Centre in Rajya Sabha
NEW DELHI: There is an increase of 48,563 MBBS seats and 29,080 PG seats in the country from academic year 2020-21 to 2025-26, the centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. In a written reply, the Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, as per the National Medical Commission (NMC) the government has approved the addition of 10,023 medical seats under Centrally Sponsored Schemes across government colleges from financial year 2025-26 to 2028-29. The expansion of medical seats reduces the gap in the healthcare workforce, particularly in underserved regions and has a direct bearing on the doctor-population ratio across States, including Rajasthan, she said. The growing number of medical seats, coupled with improvements in infrastructure and faculty, has made domestic institutions more accessible to Indian students, the minister added. NMC, as an apex regulatory body entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the quality of medical education has notified various Regulations namely Minimum Standards Requirement (MSR), Undergraduate Medical Education Regulations (GMER), 2023, Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (MSMER-2023) and Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) Curriculum Guidelines 2024 to ensure the adherence to prescribed standards in medical education. These regulations are designed to uphold the integrity and quality of medical education and training across the country.
IPL 2026 Auction: Happy On Getting Uncapped Pacers Ashok And Prithvi, Says Parthiv Patel
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Gujarat Titans (GT) assistant coach Parthiv Patel expressed satisfaction on securing the services of uncapped pacers Ashok Sharma and Prithvi Raj Yarra in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Auction in Abu Dhabi, saying the duo bolsters their fast-bowling resources in unique ways. Sharma is leading the wicket-taking charts of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 22 wickets in ten games for Rajasthan, while Yarra picked 12 wickets in nine matches for Andhra. The duos acquisition by GT at the auction in Abu Dhabi is a smart addition to an already rich arsenal of GTs fast bowlers, featuring the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Ishant Sharma, and Kagiso Rabada. See, basically, for Ashok Sharma, we all thought that the way the Indian uncapped pace bowlers were bowling, they were very impressive in their bowling this time. Because we were watching the matches, we saw that he also took a lot of matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year, especially with the pace he was bowling, said Parthiv while responding to an IANS query in the post-auction press conference. So it was in our minds that we wanted an uncapped fast bowler to come to the team. Because of that, we are happy that a young fast bowler has come to our team. The same situation was that Prithvi Raj Yarra had also been playing first-class cricket for a long time and had an injury in between. But the way he is bowling this time, especially bringing us a variation of a lefty bowler, and because of this, the way we see domestic players, we thought that these two are very impressive bowlers. We are very happy that we were able to bring them to our team, said Patel. GTs headline purchase at the auction was West Indies fast-bowling all-rounder Jason Holder, who is set to vie with Glenn Phillips for a place in the starting eleven. Seeking to bolster their overseas contingent, GT aggressively pursued Holder and eventually got him for Rs 7 crore after a prolonged tussle with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Patel stated that Holder had always been their first-choice target in auction planning, adding that the teams style of play and overall composition demanded the presence of a seasoned all-rounder, making him a natural fit. See, we've tracked Jason Holder for the last one and a half years. He's been outstanding in T20 cricket. Wherever he has played in all the leagues, he's been brilliant. Also, GT's philosophy is that we always look at the experienced player. We all know how experienced Jason Holder is. He's been around for years, and obviously, an all-rounder is always an asset, and that is the reason why we've gone ahead with Jason Holder, he added. The addition of England pacer Luke Wood for Rs 75 lakh also boosted GTs overseas pace bowling options, after the franchise missed out on buying Australian pacer Ben Dwarshuis. Basically, we needed a left-arm seamer who could swing the ball, and both of them are like that. The other thing is that when you go to the auction, it depends on which player comes first. See, we've tracked Jason Holder for the last one and a half years. He's been outstanding in T20 cricket. Wherever he has played in all the leagues, he's been brilliant. Also, GT's philosophy is that we always look at the experienced player. We all know how experienced Jason Holder is. He's been around for years, and obviously, an all-rounder is always an asset, and that is the reason why we've gone ahead with Jason Holder, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So that's why Rabada was a right-arm seamer, and we had all the other right-arm fast bowlers. So we were going towards that variation and needed a left-arm seamer, and that's why we went to Luke Wood, concluded Patel. Article Source: IANS
IPL Auction 2026: KKR break the bank for Green; CSK bet big on uncapped Indians
Uncapped Indian talent drew massive attention, with Uttar Pradeshs 20-year-old left-arm spinner Prashant Veer and Rajasthans 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma both landing lucrative Rs 14.20 crore deals with Chennai Super Kings. Having entered the auction at a base price of Rs 30 lakh each, the pair went on to become the highest-paid uncapped players in IPL auction history.
IPL 2026 Auction: From Cameron Green To Prashant Veer - Updated Player List Of All Ten Teams
From Cameron Green: Australia all-rounder Cameron Green made headlines on Tuesday after being roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders for a record sum of Rs. 25.20 crore, becoming the third most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League at the mini auction at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. India's Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma became the highest-priced uncapped players in IPL history as Chennai Super Kings went all out for the young Indian talent, whereas Matheesha Pathirana stole the limelight by fetching Rs. 18 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders and becoming the highest-paid Sri Lankan player in IPL history. Overall, all the 10 teams managed to fill all the 77 vacant slots for which they splurged a combined Rs 215.45 crore. Here is the updated list of players for all 10 teams: Lucknow Super Giants: Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Rishabh Pant (c), Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Arshin Kulkarni, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Akash Singh, Mohammed Shami, Arjun Tendulkar, Wanindu Hasaranga, Anrich Nortje, Mukul Choudhary, Naman Tiwari, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis. Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Mustafizur Rahman, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep. Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R. Smaran, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari, Shivang Kumar, Salil Arora, Sakib Hussain, Onkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Krains Fuletra, Liam Livingstone, Shivam Mavi, Jack Edwards. Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ryan Rickleton, Robin Minz, Raj Bawa, Raghu Sharma, Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, Naman Dhir, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Allah Ghafanzar, Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Sherfane Rutherford, Mayank Markande, Shardul Thakur, Quinton de Kock, Danish Malewar, Mohammad Izhar, Atharva Ankolekar, Mayank Rawat. Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyala Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Pravin Dubey, Vishal Nishad. Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, M.S. Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan. Rajasthan Royals: Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Donovan Ferreira, Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, Yash Raj Punja, Vignesh Puthur, Ravi Singh, Aman Rao, Brijesh Sharma, Adam Milne, Kuldeep Sen. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Prithvi Raj Yarra, Luke Wood. Article Source: IANS
IPL auction 2026: Green emerges costliest overseas player ever; windfall for Pathirana
Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Prashant and Rajasthan wicketkeeper-batter Kartik become the most expensive uncapped players in the tournament history; SRH signs England all-rounder Livingstone for 13 crore
ECI publishes draft electoral rolls for five States and UTs
Over 58 lakh names have been removed from the existing voter lists in West Bengal,nearly 42lakhin Rajasthan, 10lakhin Goa, a little more than a lakh in Puducherry andnearly 1500inLakshwadweep.
IPL auction 2026 RR: From Ravi Bishnoi to Sushant Mishra, check complete players list, final bids
Rajasthan Royals enter the auction with a focused strategy. They aim to secure an Indian spinner and bolster their pace attack. Key retentions and smart trades have provided a strong foundation. The franchise seeks to fill specific gaps rather than make major changes. Their top order appears settled, with batting buys likely for cover.
'Playing at home again': Bishnoi reacts after RR seal Rs 7.2 crore deal
Ravi Bishnoi returns to Rajasthan Royals for Rs 7.2 crore, describing it as a homecoming. The leg-spinner, a native of Jodhpur, began his career as a net bowler with the franchise. His signing adds valuable experience and quality to the Royals' bowling attack, with a strong track record in domestic and IPL cricket.
Nearly 42 lakh voter names deleted in draft electoral rolls in Rajasthan
Rajasthan has removed nearly 42 lakh names from its draft electoral rolls. This action is part of a Special Intensive Revision process. Over 5 crore voters were part of this exercise. Enumeration forms for 41.79 lakh voters were not collected. Deletions include deceased, shifted, and multiple registrations. Notices will be issued to around 11 lakh voters.
The Indian Premier League: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 player auction started on a dull note in the uncapped players category, but Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma then scripted history as Chennai Super Kings roped them in for a record price of Rs. 14.20 crore each. It all started with the uncapped batters category, but to everyones surprise, all six players in the list went unsold. The list included Aarya Desai, Yash Dhull, Abhinav Manohar, Anmolpreet Singh, Atharva Taide, and Abhinav Tejrana. However, what followed next was an unexpected bidding war for Auqib Dar, a Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder who bagged an extraordinary deal of Rs. 8.4 crore from the Delhi Capitals as the franchise beat Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and SunRisers Hyderabad to win the tense battle. Then came Prashant Veer, who stole the limelight by attracting the interest of five teams, only to be eventually purchased by five-time champions CSK. Among all-rounders, Shivang Kumar was only the third cricketer from the list to attract a bid, Rs. 30 lakh from SRH, as all other players- Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Tanush Kotian, Mahipal Lomror, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Vijay Shankar, Sanvir Singh, and Eden Tom remained unsold. Among wicketkeeper batters, Kartik was the one who made headlines as five teams- MI, LSG, KKR, SRH, and CSK- raised the bar high. The Rajasthan power-hitter matched Veers sum to enter the history books as the Men in Yellow got him. All-rounder Veer and wicketkeeper-batter Kartik surpassed Avesh Khan to become the most expensive uncapped buys in the history of the tournament. At the IPL 2023 auction, Avesh was roped in by the Lucknow Super Giants for a sum of Rs. 10 crore, which made him the most expensive uncapped player. However, the 2026 edition of the auction saw CSK breaking the bank for the uncapped duo of Veer and Kartik, as each bagged a Rs. 14.20 crore deal from the five-time champions. Among Keepers, Mukul Choudhary (Rs. 2.6 Cr) and Tejasvi Singh (Rs. 3 Cr) were roped in by LSG and KKR, respectively, while Ruchit Ahir, Vansh Bedi, and Tushar Raheja went unsold. However, the 2026 edition of the auction saw CSK breaking the bank for the uncapped duo of Veer and Kartik, as each bagged a Rs. 14.20 crore deal from the five-time champions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Then, three out of seven uncapped spinners- Yash Raj Punja (RR), Vignesh Puthur (RR), and Prashant Solanki (KKR) attracted bids. IPL veteran Karn Sharma, Kumar Kartikeya, Shivam Shukla, and Afghanistans Wahidullah Zadran, meanwhile, remained unsold. Article Source: IANS
Australia all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player at the IPL 2026 mini auction. However, his expensive bid sparked memes on the internet with social media users taking a dig at Rajasthan Royals and his actual salary amount which is less than his winning bid.
IPL 2026 Auction: Prashant Veer And Kartik Sharma Become Highest-paid Uncapped Players
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Young stars Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma became the highest-priced uncapped players in Indian Premier League (IPL) history as Chennai Super Kings went all out for young Indian talent at the mini auction for the 2026 edition at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. CSK paid a staggering Rs 14.20 crore each for the duo, both coming in at a base price of Rs 30 lakh, underlining the franchises aggressive shift towards investing in emerging players. Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Prashant Veers price soared 47.3 times his base value after CSK fought off early interest from Rajasthan Royals and a late, intense challenge from Sunrisers Hyderabad to secure the 20-year-old left-arm spinner and middle-order batter. Veer, who will make his IPL debut, first caught attention while representing Noida Super Kings in the UP T20 League and has since built an impressive domestic record. In 12 T20 matches, he has scored 112 runs at a strike rate of 167.16 and taken 12 wickets in nine innings at an economy of 6.45. His strong showing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy further boosted his credentials, with CSK viewing him as a long-term successor to Ravindra Jadeja. Moments later, CSK matched that investment by signing Rajasthan power-hitter Kartik Sharma for the same 14.20 crore, following another fierce bidding war involving Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders. Kartik, known for his explosive middle-order batting and dependable wicketkeeping, has scored 334 runs in 12 T20s at a strike rate of 164, smashing 28 sixes, and was among the leading six-hitters in the Ranji Trophy. Moments later, CSK matched that investment by signing Rajasthan power-hitter Kartik Sharma for the same 14.20 crore, following another fierce bidding war involving Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Kartik had trained with the CSK squad last season and has drawn praise across the domestic circuit for his ability to dominate spin and pace alike. Article Source: IANS
IPL Auction: Paid Rs 25.20 Cr For Cameron Green As He Was In Our Range, Says KKR CEO Venky Mysore
KKR CEO Venky Mysore: Kolkata Knight Riders' CEO Venky Mysore has said that they paid a hefty sum to rope in Australian all-rounder Cameron Green because he was in the range they had thought. Claiming that having a young all-rounder just after appointing a power coach was a very nice move and went with their plans. Green was roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders for a record sum of Rs. 25.20 crore at the Indian Premier League 2026 auction, underway at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Well, first of all, we're very happy. This is something that we were really focused on and hoping for. Always fingers crossed because of the auction, anything can happen. I think we were quite happy with the price at which we got him. He adds immense value to the squad, and with Andre Russell coming on board as our new power coach, having a young all-rounder with IPL and international experience is ideal. Given his impact with both bat and ball and the conditions at Eden, we couldnt be happier with the outcome, he told the broadcasters, said Mysore in a press conference on Tuesday. At the same time, the KKR CEO clarified that they would have gone totally berserk in trying to get Green if they felt it would have impacted their overall auction plan. You know, there was always a concern that it had gone higher. What would we have done? I think the fact is that we were very keen but not so attached. So, at some level, if we felt that it could affect the rest of the auction, we would have let him go. And so, fortunately, that didn't happen. It came within the range that we were looking at. So, extremely happy with that. I think he adds a lot to our team, said Venky Mysore. Asked whether he was surprised to see Chennai Super Kings jump into the bidding war over Cameron Green after Rajasthan Royals had dropped out at INR 12 crore, There were no surprises. We all tried to prepare as well as possible. The surprise was Rajasthan coming in with their purse to bid. So, we knew that it was maybe to warm up the room or whatever it was. But that's okay. That happens, and that's absolutely fine. But no, no surprises at all. We fully expected CSK to come. And try their best to get it to a level that would have worked for them, perhaps. But we were just happy to have that one more bid that allowed us, said Mysore. He also supported the restrictions imposed on the number of foreign players that can be taken up by a franchise, and also the rule about capping the overall salary for a player to 18 crore. I think the rule, BCCI/IPL have made it in their wisdom on capping it at 18 crore. I think that's what you were talking about. From our standpoint, I don't think there is any concern in that regard. Whether it had gone to the player or gone this way, this is something that's an outflow for the franchise. So, we are okay. We are okay with that. And I don't think it changes anything as far as the auction is concerned, said Venky Mysore. Asked whether the lower price bagged by former KKR Venkatesh Iyer in this auction after being roped in for a massive price in the previous one was a kind of 'price correction', he said it all depended on the strategy for the auction. You know, it's so difficult to sort of give an answer to that. Because a lot of it is, you know, we did go for him, and then how all of these things work. But he has been a terrific player for us. He will be dearly missed. It's just one of these things that happens in an auction. When you're faced with an auction, you have opportunities to sort of think about your strategy. And if that strategy is taking you in a slightly different direction, sometimes these are things that happen. Not for the first time or the last time for us, or for that matter, other teams as well. So, it's a bit sad for us. But that's the way all of these things go, he added. Asked about what areas they are trying to strengthen in this auction, he said they had to sort of hit a reset button. When you're faced with an auction, you have opportunities to sort of think about your strategy. And if that strategy is taking you in a slightly different direction, sometimes these are things that happen. Not for the first time or the last time for us, or for that matter, other teams as well. So, it's a bit sad for us. But that's the way all of these things go, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score What kind of structure will allow us to be a very competitive team. We just felt last year we were missing out on a couple of areas. And so, based on that, I think that we have more work to do in the auction. But I think it's been a good start for us, said Mysore on their plans ahead. Article Source: IANS
In a matter of minutes, the 19-year-old from Rajasthan, Kartik Sharma, joined Veer in becoming the most expensive uncapped buys at an IPL auction.
Who is Karthik Sharma? Young Rajasthan batter sold to CSK for a whopping Rs 14.20 crore
Chennai Super Kings invested heavily in youth at the IPL 2026 auction, securing uncapped Indian talents Karthik Sharma and Prashant Veer for Rs 14.20 crore each. The 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Sharma and 20-year-old all-rounder Veer represent CSK's long-term vision, with both players showcasing impressive T20 performances and potential.
J&K: Uncapped Auqib Nabi Sold To Delhi Capitals For Rs 8.40 Crore
T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: For the first time in J&Ks cricket history, pacer Auqib Nabi, belonging to Baramulla district, created history on Tuesday when he was sold to Delhi Capitals for a whopping sum of Rs 8.40 crore. The uncapped Indian seamer has been making waves with consistent performances across domestic tournaments, and the Capitals moved quickly to secure his services. Nabi has been in remarkable form this season. In the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he picked up 15 wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of 7.41. In his most recent outing against Madhya Pradesh, he delivered a crucial all-round performance, scoring 32 off 21 balls to help set a defendable total before returning to claim three vital wickets to seal the win for Jammu & Kashmir. His domestic exploits go beyond T20s. Nabi had an exceptional start to the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, finishing as the only seamer among the top-five wicket-takers in the first half of the season. He claimed 29 wickets in nine innings, including three five-wicket hauls and a sensational 7 for 24 against Rajasthan, helping J&K secure a spot in the knockout stages. This dominance followed his brilliant 2024-25 Ranji Trophy campaign, where he ended with 44 wickets at an average of 13.93. No other seamer in the country came close, with the next best taking 35 wickets, while only Vidarbha all-rounder Harsh Dubey bettered Nabis tally with 69 wickets. Delhi Capitals, who earlier in the auction secured David Miller and Ben Duckett at their base prices of Rs 2 crore, will be hoping Nabi can replicate his domestic form at the highest level. This dominance followed his brilliant 2024-25 Ranji Trophy campaign, where he ended with 44 wickets at an average of 13.93. No other seamer in the country came close, with the next best taking 35 wickets, while only Vidarbha all-rounder Harsh Dubey bettered Nabis tally with 69 wickets. Also Read: Live Cricket Score There was widespread jubilation among cricket lovers in J&K, especially in Baramulla town, after news came about Auqibs being auctioned for an unbelievable amount for IPL 2026. Article Source: IANS
Kartik Sharma scripted IPL history as the 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan became the joint most expensive uncapped player ever. Chennai Super Kings secured his services for Rs 14.20 crore at the IPL auction, underlining their big bet on young Indian talent.
Auqib Dar emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the IPL 2026 auction as the uncapped Jammu and Kashmir player was sold to Delhi Capitals for Rs 8.40 crore. DC beat competition from Rajasthan Royals, RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad after a dramatic bidding war.
IPL auction 2026: Lucknow Super Giants snap up Wanindu Hasaranga for 2 crore
Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga was secured by Lucknow Super Giants for 2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. Despite past injury setbacks and releases, the leg-spinner returns to the league, aiming to reaffirm his value after being picked up by Rajasthan Royals in 2025 and subsequently released.
IPL Auction 2026: Ravi Bishnoi spins his way to Rajasthan Royals for 7.20 crore
Despite inconsistent recent IPL seasons, Ravi Bishnoi's valuable wrist-spin skill commanded a fierce bidding war, with Rajasthan Royals securing him for 7.20 crore. The 25-year-old bowler, with 72 IPL wickets, now aims to prove his worth and potentially earn a national team recall with a strong performance for his new franchise.
Cameron Green Becomes Costliest Overseas Buy In IPL History, Sold To KKR For Rs 25.20 Cr
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping sum of Rs. 25.20 crore at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, underway here at the Etihad Arena. With that, he became the most expensive overseas player in the history of the tournament. As his bidding reached the Rs 25 crore mark, he went past the previous record set by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc, who was bought by KKR for Rs 24.75 crore in the IPL 2024 auction. Overall, he became the third costliest player in the history of the IPL auction after Rishabh Pant (Rs 27 crore to Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2025 mega auction) and Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer (26.75 crore in IPL 2025 auction). Green went under the hammer at his base price of Rs. 2 crore and initiated a bidding war between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, before the latter team backed out when the figures touched Rs. 13 crore. Just then, five-time champions Chennai Super Kings lifted the paddle as the battle intensified. KKR and CSK entered the auction as the teams with the heaviest purses, with the three-time champions having Rs. 64.30 crore and the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team having Rs. 43.40 crore. After a few tense moments and several discussions among members of the think tanks of both sides, Green became the first player of the eve to cross the Rs. 20 crore mark before KKR sealed the deal for a whopping 25.20 crore. Just then, five-time champions Chennai Super Kings lifted the paddle as the battle intensified. KKR and CSK entered the auction as the teams with the heaviest purses, with the three-time champions having Rs. 64.30 crore and the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team having Rs. 43.40 crore. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The all-rounders most recent IPL outing was in IPL 2024, when he represented RCB. In 12 innings, he made 255 runs at a strike rate of 143.25. Picked up 10 wickets in 13 matches with the ball at an economy of 8.61. Has also played for the Mumbai Indians before being traded. Article Source: IANS
The University of Rajasthan has released admit cards for various undergraduate and postgraduate semester examinations. Students can download their hall tickets for courses including B.Com., B.B.A., M.Sc. Physics, PGDBF, PGDCA, and LL.B. from the official website. Candidates must carry a printout of the admit card for entry to the examination centre.
Sarfaraz Khan turns heads ahead of IPL auction with explosive 22-ball 73
Sarfaraz Khan hammered a sensational 73 off just 22 balls for Mumbai against Rajasthan, highlighting his explosive T20 form. This rapid-fire innings, including a half-century in 15 deliveries, comes after his maiden T20 century earlier this month. With a base price of Rs 75 lakh for the upcoming IPL auction, Sarfaraz is making a strong case for selection.
Bengal SIR: Draft voters list to be published on Tuesday
Kolkata: The first stage of the three-level Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal will end on Tuesday, with over 58.08 lakh names already being identified as excludable for various reasons. Along with West Bengal, the draft voters lists will also be published during the day for the two other states of Goa and Rajasthan, as 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 .
The Rajasthan High Court has made waves with a pivotal decision, asserting that the government is barred from altering lease rent conditions post-property auction. This ruling was prompted by an individual who contested a new annual rent requirement introduced three years after purchasing a 99-year lease.
Draft electoral rolls of three states, two Union Territories to be published today
Draft voter lists for West Bengal, Rajasthan, Goa, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep are set for publication on Tuesday. This is part of a special voter list revision. Hard copies will be shared with political parties, and lists will be available online. Claims and objections will be accepted until January 17. Final rolls are expected in February 2026.
JAIPUR: The CID Crime Branch (CID-CB) has initiated an investigation against Sangaria MLA and Sri Ganganagar MP in connection with a case registered over stone-pelting and arson during a protest against the Rathi Kheda ethanol factory in Hanumangarh. Meanwhile, the police have surveyed to assess the damage caused by arson and vandalism. The violence erupted last week near Rathi Kheda in Tibbi tehsil during a protest demanding a halt to the construction of Asias largest ethanol plant. Thousands of villagers and farmers had gathered at the factory construction site. While the protest initially remained peaceful, with speeches being delivered, coordination between the administration and the protesters reportedly broke down, leading to sudden unrest. According to officials, protesters breached police barricades and set several government and private vehicles on fire. An attempt was also made to damage the factory wall. As the situation escalated rapidly, the police and administration were forced to fire tear gas shells and resort to a lathi charge to bring the situation under control. Over 100 booked, 40 detained in protest against proposed ethanol plant in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh During the clash, 1012 policemen and several protesters were injured, including Sangaria MLA Abhimanyu Poonia. Additional police forces were subsequently deployed from neighbouring districts to restore order. Tibbi police station in-charge Hansraj Luna registered a case on December 11 against 108 people under various sections, for reasons including obstruction of government work, damaging government property, attacking police personnel, and inciting violence. Sangaria MLA Abhimanyu Poonia, Sri Ganganagar MP Kuldeep Indora, and former Bhadra MLA Balwan Poonia have also been named in the case. As a sitting MLA and a sitting MP are named, the investigation has been transferred to the CID-CB, Jaipur. Meanwhile, a separate case was registered on December 12 on the complaint of Jayprakash Sharma, Senior Manager of Dune Ethanol Private Limited, pertaining to trespassing, vandalism, and arson at the factory premises. This FIR does not name any sitting or former MLA or MP, though it names 273 individuals. Hanumangarh Superintendent of Police Harishankar Yadav said the investigation is underway and added that in view of the proposed protest at the Collectorate on December 17, all necessary steps are being taken to maintain law and order.
DC Edit| Fresh Start For BJP With A Young Working Chief
It may be remembered that several of the partys chief ministers, including Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Mohan Charan Majhi (Odisha), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), Vishnu Deo Sai (Chhattisgarh) and Bhajan Lal Sharma (Rajasthan) were all under 60 when they were chosen for the post. The new young boss will be working with those young veterans
Chemicals, Equipment Worth Rs 100 Crore Seized At Drug Factory In Rajasthan
The Maharashtra police's Anti-Narcotics Cell has unearthed an MD drug manufacturing factory in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, and seized the contraband, chemicals and equipment valued at around Rs 100 crore, officials said on Monday.
IPL 2026 Auction: Rajasthan Royals aim to fortify spin attack
Rajasthan Royals enter the auction with a Rs 16.05 crore purse. They aim to secure a high-quality Indian spinner and bolster their pace attack. Key players are retained, and trades have strengthened the squad. Several RCA talents, including Ashok Sharma and Kartik Sharma, are expected to attract bids. Established players like Deepak Hooda and Rahul Chahar will also be available.
IPL 2026 Auction: Meet The Uncapped Indian Players Set To Attract Attention Of The Franchises
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction now a day away, all eyes will be on the uncapped domestic players expected to land big paydays and instant recognition from the cricketing world. Once the IPL 2025 season was over, coaches and scouts of all ten teams were busy criss-crossing the country to see various state T20 league games and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches to identify the gems who can be of great value to their teams. With limited purses and multiple slots to fill, uncapped Indian cricketers are expected to be in huge demand. IANS looks at five players who could attract significant interest when auction bidding begins in Abu Dhabi. Prashant Veer Base price of Rs 30 lakh The slow left-arm spin bowling all-rounder from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, has been talked highly of for his skills, which have earned him comparison with Ravindra Jadeja. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Veer scored 112 runs at a strike rate of 169.69 and claimed nine wickets at an economy of 6.76, highlighted by a 3-20 and an unbeaten 40. His exploits in the UP T20 League for Noida Super Kings further underlined his batting prowess amassing 320 runs along with taking eight wickets across 10 matches. Having already attended IPL trials, including those of five-time champions Chennai Super Kings, eyeing to fill a Jadeja-sized void, the 23-year-old allrounder is expected to be firmly on the radar of all teams. Auqib Nabi Dar - Base price of Rs 30 lakh The seam-bowling all-rounder from Jammu & Kashmir has emerged as one of Indias most consistent performers in domestic cricket. In the first half of the Ranji Trophy, Nabi has taken 29 wickets in five matches at an average of 13.27, including a best haul of 7-24. Nabis white-ball form has been equally impressive. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he claimed 15 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 7.41. attributes that have drawn the attention of franchise scouts. He would be hoping this time he gets an IPL deal after having two net bowling stints before in the tournament. Ashok Sharma - Base price of Rs 30 lakh The fast bowler has been on top of the wicket-taking chart in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy picking 20 wickets in nine matches, including best figures of 4-16, and consistently clocking speeds above 140 kmph. Sharma was a net bowler with the Rajasthan Royals and was part of their squad in IPL 2025, but didnt get a game. He didnt get a game with the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023. But his consistent performance in the SMAT and attending trials with multiple franchises means he will attract aggressive bidding from teams looking to bolster their fast-bowling stocks. Kartik Sharma - Base price of Rs 30 lakh There were curious eyes when he was signed up by JSW, which manages cricketers like Axar Patel, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Shafali Verma. But his reputation as a clean striker and lower-order finisher with a penchant to hit big sixes all of this at just 19 has already excited many onlookers. Such was the effect that he was spotted at CSK trials ahead of the auction. He was Rajasthan's highest run-getter in the previous edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 445 runs in eight innings, coming at a strike rate of 118.03. Kartik scored 133 runs in five games at a strike rate of over 160 in Rajasthans group stage campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, before a finger injury ruled him out of the Super League phase. Tejasvi Singh Dahiya - Base price of Rs 30 lakh The wicketkeeper-batter from New Delhi is on the radar of franchises after a superlative showing in the past few months, earning him spots in trials of various franchises. He was one of the standout performers in the 2025 Delhi Premier League (DPL), scoring 339 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 190.45, and that paved his way into selection to the Delhi team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Tejasvi Singh Dahiya - Base price of Rs 30 lakh Also Read: Live Cricket Score Other uncapped players on the radar of franchises are Tushar Raheja, Ravi Singh, Krains Fuletra, Sairaj Patil, Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Sarthak Ranjan, Abhishek Pathak, Mangesh Yadav, Naman Tiwari, Salman Nizar, Yash Raj Punja, Raj Limbani, Sunny Sandhu, Salil Arora, Money Grewal, Sushant Mishra, and Ravi Kumar. Article Source: IANS
Wildlife Photography in the Age of AI: Prakash Desai's Journey of Patience, Purity and Passion
As artificial intelligence and advanced editing tools rapidly redefine modern photography, wildlife photography continues to stand apart as a discipline rooted in patience, presence and respect for nature. Capturing wildlife in its raw form demands long hours, physical endurance and an unfiltered connection with the natural world. At a time when digitally altered images flood social media, authentic wildlife photography serves as a powerful reminder that the most compelling visuals are still born in silence, waiting and trust. Prakash Desai Among the photographers who embody this philosophy is Prakash Desai, an Indian-origin wildlife photographer based in the United States, whose work reflects decades of dedication to documenting nature as it truly exists. Desai firmly believes that wildlife photography cannot be rushed or recreated through software, and that real images are the result of observation, discipline and time spent in the wilderness. Over the last several decades, Desai has travelled extensively across forests, deserts, coastal regions and national parks in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and India to capture wildlife and natural landscapes. His commitment to the craft is evident in his journeys of over 5,000 kilometres one way, undertaken five times from the U.S. to Canada, along with deep expeditions into remote habitats. In August 2015, he also undertook a dedicated photography expedition to New Zealand, further expanding his global body of work. Photography teaches you humility. Nature works on its own terms, and the photographer must learn to wait, observe and respect the moment. The most powerful images are the ones that remain untouched and truthful .” Born in Santrampur, Panchmahal, and originally from Bhadeli, Bulsar in Gujarat, Desai completed his schooling in Bilimora before pursuing science at Bombay University. He moved to the United States in 1966 and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas in 1970, followed by graduate studies in Business Administration from the University of Chicago. In 1980, he married Dr. Geeta Desai (Ph.D.), and the couple began working in the Texas oil industry in 1981. Today, he manages his oil-field service business under the name Ohm Tech Inc. Despite a successful professional career in engineering and business, Desai’s passion for photography continued to grow. What began as a hobby gradually transformed into a lifelong pursuit, with wildlife photography becoming his primary focus. During repeated visits to Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, he spent 18 years patiently returning to the forest before capturing a rare photograph of a tigress, a moment that remains one of the most meaningful milestones of his journey. Desai has participated in workshops and seminars conducted by internationally acclaimed photographers such as Galen Rowell, John Shaw, Willard Clay and George Lepp. His photographs have earned him multiple awards and have been showcased in exhibitions,including a recent major exhibition in India, with another exhibition scheduled to open soon in Vadodara. Every year, Desai spends nearly six months in Vadodara, travelling across regions such as Leh-Ladakh, Sikkim, Nainital-Kausani, Kerala, the Northeast, Himachal Pradesh, Sasan Gir, Velavadar and the Rann of Kutch. Often accompanied by his wife Geeta, he continues to explore India’s diverse ecosystems, living within national parks from dawn to dusk to document wildlife in its most natural state. Now 80 years old, Prakash Desai continues to reject image-editing software, relying insteadon evolving camera technology, refined skill and unwavering patience. His journey reflectsthe enduring spirit of wildlife photography, proving that authenticity, dedication and respect for nature remain timeless, regardless of age or profession. #prakashdesai
SC mulls pan-India guidelines to prevent road accidents on expressways, national highways
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday mulled formulating pan-India guidelines to prevent road accidents, such as a recent one in Rajasthan's Phalodi that claimed 15 lives, on expressways and national highways. A bench of Justices J K Maheswari and Vijay Bishnoi flagged the construction of illegal dhabas on both sides of national highways and expressways as a possible cause of road accidents and asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared in the matter for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), to submit the statutory rules and regulations for initiating action against these eateries. The court also sought to know about the action taken so far, which authority is responsible for initiating it and which bodies are not implementing the provisions. After discussion between amicus and solicitor general, issues resolved by them, which may be helpful for issuance of the guidelines, also to be produced. In the meantime, parties are at liberty to exchange Google images, which may be helpful in resolving the real problem, the court ordered. Mehta submitted, We have the power to remove the illegal dhabas and eateries, but there has been a general delegation to the local district magistrate. The local police and other authorities are under his command and control, which the NHAI does not have. So we have to find out a solution. Terming the issue non-adversarial, he said normally, there is a service road after certain kilometres on every expressway and national highway, where the vehicles that suffer a breakdown are put. Justice Bishnoi acknowledged that there are service roads but pointed out that it is not the case for every expressway and national highway, and that illegal dhabas and small eateries come up in between, where most of the accidents take place. The bench said the NHAI's report seeks to blame local contractors or the administration for the encroachments on the highways but the court wants to know which authority under the law is required to oversee that these eateries do not come up. Justice Maheshwari said the court wants to formulate guidelines to fill up the existing gaps in the provisions and ensure their implementation to prevent a repetition of Phalodi-type accidents. Five killed as cars collide and burst into flames on Purvanchal Expressway in Lucknow Appearing in the court on behalf of an intervenor, advocate Pranav Sachdeva said the top court has already dealt with these issues and given certain directions that were not implemented. He pointed out that in Goa, there are highways that go through a medical college or a village, leading to road accidents. I have filed the recent Supreme Court judgment directing the NHAI to develop an SOP (standard operating procedure) to remove encroachments, Sachdeva said. Justice Maheshwari said the issue is not of one state alone but of the entire country and the court is looking at the wider picture for formulating the guidelines. Senior advocate A N S Nadkarni, who has been appointed as an amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the matter, said he has filed Google images to show widespread encroachments on the highways. On November 10, the court had sought responses from the NHAI and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in a suo-motu case in connection with the Phalodi accident. It had also asked the NHAI and the ministry to get a survey of the area conducted and file a report on the number of dhabas on the highway passing through Phalodi. It had also sought a specific report on the condition of the highway and the norms followed by the contractor for road maintenance. The apex court took suo-motu (on its own) cognisance of the November 2 incident in Phalodi, in which 10 women and four children were among the 15 people killed when a tempo traveller rammed into a stationary trailer truck. The accident took place near Matoda village on the Bharat Mala highway when the tempo traveller was headed to Jodhpur from Bikaner's Kolayat temple.
IPL 2026 Auction: Green, Livingstone, Bishnoi On Radar As Teams Get Ready To Make Big Buys
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: The spotlight will be on the likes of Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone and Ravi Bishnoi as ten franchises gear up for the IPL 2026 auction, set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. It will mark the third straight time of an IPL auction happening outside India after Dubai (2024) and Jeddah (2025). All ten teams are expected to loosen their purse strings in pursuit of marquee talent and have a squad which can win the IPL 2026 trophy. A total of 77 slots are available, including 31 for overseas players. Three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the most vacancies with 13, followed by 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with ten. From a longlist of 1,355 players, 359 have been shortlisted 244 Indian and 115 overseas. Forty players have entered at the maximum base price of Rs 2 crore, with Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer the only Indians in that group. Green, Australias seam-bowling all-rounder, is expected to be the biggest draw, thanks to the skewed demand-supply ratio in a mini IPL auction, with bids for him projected to cross Rs 25 crore. Apart from Bishnoi and Green, the England duo of Liam Livingstone and Jamie Smith, along with NZ pacer Matt Henry, keeper-batter Tim Seifert and South Africa batter David Miller, are also likely to attract strong interest from all ten teams, as is Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who was let go of by Chennai Super Kings (CSK). KKR head into the auction with the largest purse at Rs 64.30 crore, while five-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have Rs 43.40 crore, with both teams eyeing to rebuild their squads after a poor IPL 2025 season. In contrast, five-time winners Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings might have quiet auctions due to their purses of Rs 2.75 crore and Rs 11.5 crore, respectively. What remains certain is that no overseas player can earn more than Rs 18 crore, regardless of the winning bid. Under the IPLs maximum-fee rule, the cap is fixed at the lower of the highest retention slab - Rs 18 crore - or the top price from the previous mega auction, which was Rs 27 crore for India wicketkeeper-batter and Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant. Among the uncapped names, Jammu & Kashmirs seam-bowling all-rounder Auqib Nabi and Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma have drawn interest from coaches and scouts who have been seeing all games of state-run T20 leagues and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. What remains certain is that no overseas player can earn more than Rs 18 crore, regardless of the winning bid. Under the IPLs maximum-fee rule, the cap is fixed at the lower of the highest retention slab - Rs 18 crore - or the top price from the previous mega auction, which was Rs 27 crore for India wicketkeeper-batter and Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The auction will move into an accelerated round after the first 70 players are presented, with franchises then nominating unsold names for further bidding. As this is a mini-auction, the Right to Match (RTM) card will not be available to teams. Article Source: IANS
Dense fog distrupts life in Rajasthan; AQI ranges from moderate to severe
Several cities in Rajasthan woke up to thick fog on Monday, reducing visibility, while air quality across the state remained largely moderate, with some areas reporting poor to severe AQI levels. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Dholpur recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 184 in the morning, placing it in the `moderate`
Rajasthan freezes MLA fund accounts amid bribery allegations, launches parallel probes
JAIPUR: The seizure of MLA Local Area Development fund accounts belonging to three legislators marked the first major action by the Rajasthan government on Monday after allegations surfaced of hefty commissions being demanded in exchange for sanctioning works under the scheme. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma ordered a time-bound inquiry and directed an IAS-led committee, headed by ACS (Home) Bhaskar A. Sawant, to submit its report within 15 days, while the Assemblys Ethics Committee will conduct a parallel probe. The allegations pertain to BJP MLA from Khinvsar Revantram Danga, Congress MLA from Hindaun Anita Jatav, and Independent MLA from Bayana Ritu Banawat. The accusations of taking commissions in return for recommending works from MLA funds reportedly came to light on Sunday, prompting the Chief Minister to reprimand the legislators. On the directions of the BJPs central leadership, state BJP president Madan Rathore issued a show-cause notice to Revantram Danga, seeking a reply within three days. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasara issued a notice to Anita Jatav, asking her to respond within seven days. The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) is also in the process of forming a three-member inquiry committee, which will submit its report to Dotasara within a week. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully condemned the alleged corruption and demanded a thorough investigation and strict action against those found guilty. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma reiterated that corruption by any public servant would not be tolerated under any circumstances. No matter how influential the person is, if found guilty, they will not be spared. The government follows a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. Misuse of public funds at any level is unacceptable, he said, adding that the freezing of MLA fund accounts was necessary to ensure accountability during the investigation. The Chief Minister had also recently flagged the seriousness of corruption in a social media post. After the sting operation related to the MLA fund issue came to light, Ashok Gehlot demanded a high-level inquiry. Calling the allegations extremely serious and alarming, he said the Chief Minister and Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani should immediately take cognisance of the matter and order a comprehensive probe. Integrity and honesty in public life must be paramount for elected representatives, Gehlot said. Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani has also ordered an inquiry and referred the matter to the Assemblys Ethics Committee. He has asked the committee to complete the investigation at the earliest and submit its report to facilitate further action. The Speaker said such incidents erode public trust and asserted that corruption in public welfare funds like the MLA fund goes against democratic values. This not only harms democracy but also tarnishes Rajasthans image, he said, adding that corruption in any form would not be tolerated, irrespective of party affiliation. Strict action would be taken based on the findings of the sting operation and the inquiry reports. Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal also reacted strongly, terming the alleged bribery in MLA fund releases a serious blow to the federal and democratic system. He said that while the Prime Minister speaks of zero tolerance towards corruption, such cases raise serious questions. Beniwal demanded that an FIR be registered against Revantram Danga. It may be noted that Revantram Danga had earlier quit Hanuman Beniwals Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) and joined the BJP.
Honest Review: I didnt plan to visit Khatu Shyam Ji in North India, these signs followed me....
A personal journey to Khatu Shyam Ji temple in Rajasthan revealed a profound sense of peace and surrender amidst a large gathering of devotees. The author experienced a swift shift in energy and a deeply personal darshan, highlighting the quiet, unspoken faith that permeates the sacred site.
IPL 2026 auction: Key players who could strengthen Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals face a challenge in the upcoming mini-auction with a limited purse of 16.05 crore. They aim to address their need for a tearaway pacer and a quality Indian spinner, while also seeking middle-order reinforcement. Key targets include Ravi Bishnoi, Mustafizur Rahman, and Abhinav Manohar to bolster their squad.
ACME says 300 MW solar project in Rajasthan facing no evacuation constraints
NEW DELHI, Dec 15: ACME Solar Holdings Ltd, Indias leading renewable energy producer, on Monday said its 300 MW solar project in Rajasthan continues to be fully supported by dedicated transmission capacity and is not facing any evacuation constraints. Some solar projects in the state currently supply power under the temporary general network access (T-GNA) framework, as their associated transmission systems are yet to be commissioned. Those constraints are not faced by ACME. ACME Solar Holdings Ltd said its [] The post ACME says 300 MW solar project in Rajasthan facing no evacuation constraints appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Sonia Gandhi Must Say Sorry: BJP On Congress Workers' 'PM Modi's Grave' Slogans
Manju Lata Meena, Jaipur women's Congress district president, raised a 'kabar' (grave) slogan against PM Modi during a 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod' rally in Rajasthan.
North India to experience warmer winter days amid record cold nights, air pollution
NEW DELHI: An unexpected spell of warmer winter days is expected in North India leading up to Christmas, primarily due to weaker western disturbances (WD) and the presence of an anticyclonic system over western India. However, night will be colder than normal. Moreover, Delhi recorded its coldest average minimum temperature for the first half of December in the past 14 years. Weather experts predict that maximum daytime temperatures in many areas of Northwest, Western, and Central India will rise by 3C to 7C above normal, especially between December 15 and December 22. Over the past three days, the average maximum temperature in Delhi and surrounding areas has increased up to 4C during the day. Nonetheless, data indicates that Delhi experienced its coldest night in 14 years during the first half of December, with an average minimum temperature of 7.74C. Experts attribute this weather pattern to the prevalence of strong anticyclonic systems over western India combined with limited activity from Western Disturbances. Anticyclonic activities over the western region of the Indian subcontinent are pushing dry winds toward the central and southern regions, causing a cold wave in places like Telangana and North Karnataka. However, these dry winds are unable to penetrate the dense smog that is prevalent over Northwest India, said Dr. K J Ramesh, former Director General of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). In the past two days, the speed of the dry winds has decreased, exacerbating the severe levels of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. IMD stated in its bulletin that no significant changes in weather are expected, particularly in the plains, over the next week despite the back-to-back arrival of weaker WD. While these disturbances will not bring the much-needed rainfall to the plains, they will lead to widespread mid- to high-level clouding over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, further worsening air pollution by thickening the smog over the Indo-Gangetic plains. These WDs will not help but it will further destabilize the atmosphere by obstructing the flow of Northwest winds. The cloud cover traps pollution beneath it, leaving no opportunity for it to escape. Severe Air Quality Index (AQI) levels are expected to persist in North India tonight and tomorrow, with low visibility conditions in the morning due to smog, noted Navdeep Dahiya, an independent weather expert. He added that conditions may improve slightly on Tuesday once the Northwest winds resume. Reports also indicate that higher sea surface temperatures, around 2830C, in the Bay of Bengal and the North Indian Ocean are contributing to elevated winter air temperatures across the Indian subcontinent. Meanwhile, the IMD mentioned that light snowfall is expected over the higher reaches of the Himalayas. Furthermore, cold wave conditions are likely to continue at isolated places in Telangana and Interior Karnataka for the next two days. Pointers: 1. Warmer days expected till Christmas as days temperature may rise by 3C to 7C above normal. 2. Weaker Western Disturbances and prevalence of anti-cyclone or western region will keep pollutants trapped in Northwest region. 3. During the period, night will be colder than usual. 4. Delhi experienced its coldest night in 14 years during the first half of December.
Inquiry ordered into bribe charge against 3 Rajasthan MLAs; BJP, Cong seek explanation from accused
JAIPUR, Dec 14 : The Rajasthan government on Sunday ordered a high-level inquiry into allegations against three legislators of seeking commissions for the release of MLA funds, while the BJP and Congress issued notices seeking an explanation from the accused leaders. As part of the action, the MLA-Local Area Development (MLA-LAD) accounts of the accused leaders have been frozen pending the outcome of the inquiry. The action followed a sting operation by a newspaper accusing BJP MLA from Khinvsar Revantram [] The post Inquiry ordered into bribe charge against 3 Rajasthan MLAs; BJP, Cong seek explanation from accused appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Couple, 1-Year-Old Son Killed As Truck Hits Bike In Rajasthan: Cops
A bike-born couple in their 30s and their one-year-old son were killed on the spot after a truck hit the motorbike on NH-52 in Bundi district on Sunday noon. According to police, the truck hit the two-wheeler from behind, flinging the riders into the
Digital arrest case: Cyber crime police arrest third accused in Chandigarh
Chandigarh cyber police have arrested a cyber criminal in a high-value fake digital arrest case. This brings the total number of accused apprehended to three. The arrested individual, Mahendra Kumar Nayak, a resident of Churu, Rajasthan, was a direct beneficiary of the Rs 15 lakh fraud. He admitted to providing his bank account to other fraudsters for a commission.
Jaipur discom intensifies revenue recovery amid mounting dues
JAIPUR, Dec 14: Jaipur discom JVVNL has intensified revenue recovery and vigilance operations against the backdrop of mounting dues and long-standing structural challenges faced by Rajasthans power distribution companies, an official said. Power distribution in Rajasthan is handled by three government-owned discoms Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL), Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JDVVNL) and Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (AVVNL). They cater to 1.66 crore regular consumers across urban and rural areas of the state, including 56.5 [] The post Jaipur discom intensifies revenue recovery amid mounting dues appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
In a shocking turn of events, a man from Mumbai was conned out of 25 lakh rupees by a crafty gang from Rajasthan, which specialized in peddling fake gold jewelry. The scheme unfolded when a gang member enticed the victim by claiming to have unearthed treasure near a revered temple in Nashik.
Nearly 4 GW of solar capacity in Rajasthan hit by transmission constraints
About 4,300 MW of solar power capacity in Rajasthan is facing complete daytime curtailment due to a shortage of transmission infrastructure, putting projects worth nearly Rs 20,000 crore at risk, industry sources said.
In a first in the country, Rajasthan HC to hear cases on two Saturdays a month to cut backlog
JAIPUR: In a major step to tackle the mounting backlog of cases, the Rajasthan High Court will now hold proceedings on two Saturdays every month, making it the first high court in the country to officially increase its number of working days to expedite the disposal of pending cases. The decision follows an initiative by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant, who recently wrote to all high courts urging them to consider increasing working days to reduce case backlogs. Sources said the decision was taken during a full court meeting of the Rajasthan High Court, where all judges agreed to amend the court calendar for the coming year. As a result, the number of working days will rise from 210 to over 230 annually. Welcoming the move, former Rajasthan High Court judge Justice Panachand Jain told The New Indian Express that the decision aligns with the principle of natural justice, which calls for justice to be simple, quick and expeditious. Working on two Saturdays is absolutely justified. Justice delayed is justice denied as the old saying goes. So when the court holds more hearings, the number of pending cases is bound to decrease, he said. On the likely impact, the former judge added that even if a small percentage of cases are disposed of faster, it would still be a significant achievement. Even expediting two percent of cases is meaningful. This should be seen as a beginning, and more such steps are needed, he said. Along with extending working days, the High Court has also decided to launch a pilot project to further ease judicial workload. Under this initiative, one evening court each will be set up at the magistrate level in Jaipur and Jodhpur. A committee comprising Acting Chief Justice Sharma and Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati will be formed to take further decisions related to this project. The decision coincides with a two-day West Zone Regional Conference currently underway in Jaisalmer under the chairmanship of CJI Justice Surya Kant. The conference, themed Advancing the rule of law through technology challenges and opportunities, is focusing on digital court infrastructure, the use of technology and artificial intelligence in judicial processes, and the modernisation of court functioning. Nearly 20 judges of the Supreme Court are participating in the conference, along with judges of the Rajasthan High Court and over 100 district and sessions judges from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
SHIFT is Jaipur's ultimate, uber-cool New Gen Creative Festival. An arts and design event organised by Awaaz Studio at BM Birla Auditorium, Jaipur, the three-day festival champions arts, culture, design, media and entertainment. It is the 'It' art affair, complete with artist performances, hands-on art experiences, art workshops, jamming, intriguing sessions and a curated pop-up, ft. indie and established labels retailing apparel, footwear, jewellery, trinkets, prints, zines, collectables, and the like. Set against the iconic Birla Auditorium, SHIFT 2025 is a melange of arts, craft, culture, media, entertainment and design SHIFT 2025 opens up with an exclusive ticketed preview on 19 December, featuring the celebrated stand-up comedian Anubhav Singh Bassi and independent singer-songwriter Justh, who became a national talking point with his 2023 release 'Chor'. This edition highlights the crafts of Rajasthan and India at large through hands-on experiences such as hand-block printing, pottery, embroidery workshops, and more. The star of the show is often the annual folk-dance circle, headlined by master Kalbeliya artists, which attracts 500+ visitors who dance to folk songs, vibe in unison, and sing along to long-lost songs of Rajasthan. Aaquib Wani, a self-taught experiential designer and founder & creative director - Aaquib Wani Design, who specialises in spaces, festivals, sets, interiors, and branding, will be hosting a session on design. SHIFT is also hosting an entrepreneurship fireside chat between Ajaita Shah, founder of Frontier Markets & Nitin Jain, CEO - Indigifts. There's also a dedicated kids' area at the festival featuring pop-up stalls and experiences curated especially for children. Actor Rytasha Rathore and indie filmmaker and cultural documentarian Suruchi Sharma will host a talk on the idea of rewriting female narrative on screen. The vibrant cultural communities of Jaipur find a common ground at SHIFT as they indulge in 3 days of intriguing art experiences Bachata, photography, sketch, digital media presence, poetry writing and other workshops are also an integral part of the festival lineup. The Infinity Open-Mic gives a stage to emerging artists from Jaipur who perform poems, songs, stories, and more. The festival also stresses greatly on organising creative commerce and understanding the business of creativity. The programming also includes talks around sustainability, design, culture, and the arts ecosystem.
Farmers Protest: Who is to Blame for Hanumangarh Violence?
In India Ki Baat, we discuss how farmers are being oppressed in Rajasthans Hanumangarh for an ethanol factory. Also, why is BJP so upset with Rahul Gandhis foreign trips?
70% of poll promises fulfilled in two years, says Rajasthan CM
Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal presents two-year report of his govt, Congress calls claims misleading
JAIPUR: As the Bhajanlal Sharma government approaches its two-year mark on December 15, the Chief Minister on Thursday released a performance report, claiming that 70 per cent of poll promises have been fulfilled and Rajasthan now ranks first in 11 national projects. Citing government data, Sharma said that out of 392 resolutions, 274 have either been completed or are currently underway, and that 73 per cent of the announcements made over the last two years have been implemented. With what he described as sincere intent and transparent governance, he said placing Rajasthan among the countrys leading states is no longer a distant dream. Emphasising transparency and efficiency, Sharma asserted that Rajasthan has moved into the category of best-performing states, listing first-place rankings in 11 national projects, second place in five, and third in nine. He said several projects that remained stuck in files earlier had been directly implemented under his government, accelerating public benefit. Accusing the previous Congress administration of delaying major initiatives such as the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), he reiterated his governments anti-corruption stance, saying they had caught crocodiles and sent them to jail and were ready to face consequences. Sharma said implementing the ERCP was a top priority from day one, claiming that work orders worth Rs 26,000 crore had been issued and the project would benefit 3 crore people in eastern Rajasthan. He noted that an MoU with Haryana was signed in February 2024 to supply water to the Shekhawati region, with the DPR now being prepared. The CM added that securing the future of the youth remained central to his administrations agenda, criticising the previous government for leaving young people frustrated and disappointed. After the BJP came to power, he said, an SIT was formed to take strict action in the paper leak case, and a comprehensive youth policy would be introduced soon. We want the youth of Rajasthan to become job creators, not job seekers, he said. Sharma also stated that the government had implemented over 28 policies in two years to ensure sustainable and transparent development. The Congress dismissed the CMs claims, with Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully calling the statements misleading. He said Sharmas only achievement was keeping his chair despite internal conflicts within the BJP, accusing the government of abandoning promises such as wheat procurement at Rs 2,700, purchasing millet at MSP, and reducing petrol-diesel VAT to match Gujarat and Haryana. The youth are asking where the calendar for 2.5 lakh jobs is. Democracy has turned into bureaucracy, and the public is crying out for help, Jully said. Amid the political sparring, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Rajes meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi triggered speculation in Jaipurs political circles. It was her first meeting with the PM in the capital after the November 11 Anta by-election, in which the BJP lost a seat considered part of her Hadoti stronghold. The defeat has raised concerns within the party, with observers calling the bypoll a litmus test for the Bhajanlal government.
Bengaluru Shop Owner's Abuse Over Kannada Sparks Outrage, FIR Filed
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Rajasthan faces academic turmoil as five university vice-chancellors ousted amid protests
JAIPUR: A major controversy has erupted in Rajasthan after the removal or forced resignation of five university vice-chancellors under the tenure of Governor Haribhau Bagde, who serves as Chancellor of state universities. The actions follow multiple inquiries into alleged financial irregularities, administrative misuse and contentious public remarks, but the departures have also been linked to sustained pressure from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Senior officials in the states higher education sector said most of the ousters came after persistent protests by the ABVP. While administrative inquiries cited financial mismanagement and misuse of power, the vice-chancellors and several political observers claimed that the removals were driven by organised campaigns by the ABVP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Four vice-chancellors were removed by the Governor, while another resigned under similar pressure. Those removed in recent months include the vice-chancellors of Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner; Agricultural University, Jodhpur; Shri Karan Narendra Agricultural University, Jobner (Jaipur); and Brij University. The vice-chancellor of Mohanlal Sukhadia University (MLSU) in Udaipur stepped down after intense protests. The developments have sparked criticism from academics and opposition leaders, who say political pressure is undermining institutional autonomy and weakening higher education governance in the state. At Maharaja Surajmal Brij University in Bharatpur, Ramesh Chandra was removed as VC by the Governor following an inquiry into alleged arbitrary decisions and financial loss to the institution. Chandra, however, maintained that not a single allegation was proven and claimed the removal was orchestrated by the ABVP and the RSS prant pracharak. He said the ABVP had been protesting for 1.5 years before his ouster. In Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Prof. Sunita Mishra faced massive protests after she reportedly called Mughal emperor Aurangzeb a great administrator in September 2025. ABVP activists vandalised the university administrative block during the agitation, and demands for her resignation were echoed by the BJP and Karni Sena before she eventually stepped down. The turmoil comes at a time when Rajasthans state-funded universities are battling a deep financial crisis. In a virtual meeting with Chief Secretary V. Srinivas last Saturday, vice-chancellors outlined their distressing financial situation, with some institutions struggling to meet even basic operational requirements. Jai Narain Vyas University in Jodhpur has reportedly taken loans to pay salaries, while two Udaipur-based universities Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT) and Mohanlal Sukhadia University are contemplating selling portions of their land to remain functional. Rajasthan has 29 state-funded universities, including 17 under the higher education department and six under the agriculture department. At the meeting, VCs warned that without immediate government support, several institutions may soon be forced to shut down. Those present told the media that universities were unable to cover basic expenses. More than 60% of teaching and non-teaching posts are vacant, retired employees are awaiting arrears, and institutions cannot afford routine maintenance, one vice-chancellor said.
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There was no pressure on him and no notice issued to him, Sub-Divisional Magistrate said after Vijay Gurjar died
