August 5, 2026

2026

. NEW DELHI: In a move to shed yet another colonial relic, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday announced discontinuing the railway uniforms introduced by the British Raj — black prince coats (bandhgala coats) — saying that “we have to find every trace of colonialism and banish them”.TOI has learnt that govt is carrying out a larger exercise across the board to identify similar colonial hangovers — attire and ceremonial rites — such as convocation gowns and caps (robe and mortarboard) which are de rigueur at university conovations and bandhgalas officers have to mandatorily wear at formal receptions. In some states personnel attached to district collectors and mayors in some states are required to wear a certain pattern of dress.Speaking at an event to honour railway officials and the zone for their exemplary works, Vaishnaw said, “We have to get rid of all colonial mindset. We need to find each of them and remove them whether it’s in our working style or dressing style. Today (Friday) I am making the first announcement. Humare jo band gale ka kala suit angrezon chalu kiya tha, aaj se yeh railway mein formal dress nehin rahegi. (From today onwards, the black prince coats that the British introduced will no longer be a part of formal dress in railways).”Officials said that PM Narendra Modi has asked ministers and top bureaucrats to identify the colonial practices and to suggest alternatives that are of Indian origins and reflect the country’s culture.While the practice of convocation gowns and caps has been fading, some institutions have held on to it despite the ceremonial gear not being suited for India’s hot and humid conditions and despite protests from students and faculty. Officials said that more practices, which are not commonly known to many, may be identified during consultations.Sources did not rule out the possibility of a nudge to do away with black coats and gowns that lawyers are required to wear as per Advocates Act, 1961 continuing a tradition inherited from the British legal system where it symbolised authority, dignity, and a commitment to justice. This law formalised the British-era custom, requiring advocates to wear the black robe with a white neckband for uniformity and gravity in court.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCEPA A Win-Win For India And Chile, Key Focus On Market Access And Minerals: Chile EnvoyMamata Banerjee Hits Streets, Leads Kolkata Rally Against ED RaidsAfter Meeting PM Modi, AI Innovators Share Insights That Could Change The GameAmit Shah Outlines Foolproof NIDMS Mechanism To Counter Future Terror AttacksIndia No Longer Imports Arms, UP Leads Defence Manufacturing: Rajnath Singh’Not Accurate’: India Hits Back After Trump Aide Blames PM Modi For Delayed Trade DealMEA Calls For Firm Action As India Flags Disturbing Pattern Of Attacks On Minorities In BangladeshPM Modi To Host German Chancellor Merz In Gujarat As India-Germany Ties Enter Strategic Phase’PM Modi-Trump Held 8 Calls In 2025′: India Rejects Lutnick’s Claim On Stalled Trade AgreementThe Day CBI Arrested Indira Gandhi And Sonia’s Pasta Maker That May Have Saved The Day For Cong123PhotostoriesBirthday special: Hrithik Roshan’s social media moments with Saba Azad and familyBirthday Special: Hrithik Roshan’s movies to watch on OTTTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From calling Dilip Joshi the ‘pillar of the show’ to reacting to Disha Vakani aka Dayaben’s return, Sharad Sankla aka Abdul gets candid7 moon-kissed baby names for your little princessCurry-smelling kangaroos to banana bees: 6 animals that surprisingly smell like foodWhat teachers wish parents understood‘Hum Paanch’, ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’, ‘Yes Boss’: Top TV comedy shows from the 90What students learn in school beyond the syllabusFrom ‘Highway’ to ‘Chhichhore’: 5 times mainstream films embraced unconventional charactersSadhguru’s Drumstick Soup is a winter must-have; recipe inside123Hot PicksTrump Mexico NewsTrump Denmark NewsGold rate todayBengaluru newsCigarette price hikePublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingCandace OwensTommy Fleetwood and Clare Fleetwood Net WorthTravis KelceICE Shooting VictimSarfaraz KhanRic Flair Net Worth in 2025Patrick Mahomes InjuryUnion BudgetWPL Live ScoreStefon Diggs

. NEW DELHI: In a move to shed yet another colonial relic, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday announced discontinuing the railway uniforms introduced by the British Raj — black prince coats (bandhgala coats) — saying that “we have to find every trace of colonialism and banish them”.TOI has learnt that govt is carrying out a larger exercise across the board to identify similar colonial hangovers — attire and ceremonial rites — such as convocation gowns and caps (robe and mortarboard) which are de rigueur at university conovations and bandhgalas officers have to mandatorily wear at formal receptions. In some states personnel attached to district collectors and mayors in some states are required to wear a certain pattern of dress.Speaking at an event to honour railway officials and the zone for their exemplary works, Vaishnaw said, “We have to get rid of all colonial mindset. We need to find each of them and remove them whether it’s in our working style or dressing style. Today (Friday) I am making the first announcement. Humare jo band gale ka kala suit angrezon chalu kiya tha, aaj se yeh railway mein formal dress nehin rahegi. (From today onwards, the black prince coats that the British introduced will no longer be a part of formal dress in railways).”Officials said that PM Narendra Modi has asked ministers and top bureaucrats to identify the colonial practices and to suggest alternatives that are of Indian origins and reflect the country’s culture.While the practice of convocation gowns and caps has been fading, some institutions have held on to it despite the ceremonial gear not being suited for India’s hot and humid conditions and despite protests from students and faculty. Officials said that more practices, which are not commonly known to many, may be identified during consultations.Sources did not rule out the possibility of a nudge to do away with black coats and gowns that lawyers are required to wear as per Advocates Act, 1961 continuing a tradition inherited from the British legal system where it symbolised authority, dignity, and a commitment to justice. This law formalised the British-era custom, requiring advocates to wear the black robe with a white neckband for uniformity and gravity in court.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCEPA A Win-Win For India And Chile, Key Focus On Market Access And Minerals: Chile EnvoyMamata Banerjee Hits Streets, Leads Kolkata Rally Against ED RaidsAfter Meeting PM Modi, AI Innovators Share Insights That Could Change The GameAmit Shah Outlines Foolproof NIDMS Mechanism To Counter Future Terror AttacksIndia No Longer Imports Arms, UP Leads Defence Manufacturing: Rajnath Singh’Not Accurate’: India Hits Back After Trump Aide Blames PM Modi For Delayed Trade DealMEA Calls For Firm Action As India Flags Disturbing Pattern Of Attacks On Minorities In BangladeshPM Modi To Host German Chancellor Merz In Gujarat As India-Germany Ties Enter Strategic Phase’PM Modi-Trump Held 8 Calls In 2025′: India Rejects Lutnick’s Claim On Stalled Trade AgreementThe Day CBI Arrested Indira Gandhi And Sonia’s Pasta Maker That May Have Saved The Day For Cong123PhotostoriesBirthday special: Hrithik Roshan’s social media moments with Saba Azad and familyBirthday Special: Hrithik Roshan’s movies to watch on OTTTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From calling Dilip Joshi the ‘pillar of the show’ to reacting to Disha Vakani aka Dayaben’s return, Sharad Sankla aka Abdul gets candid7 moon-kissed baby names for your little princessCurry-smelling kangaroos to banana bees: 6 animals that surprisingly smell like foodWhat teachers wish parents understood‘Hum Paanch’, ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’, ‘Yes Boss’: Top TV comedy shows from the 90What students learn in school beyond the syllabusFrom ‘Highway’ to ‘Chhichhore’: 5 times mainstream films embraced unconventional charactersSadhguru’s Drumstick Soup is a winter must-have; recipe inside123Hot PicksTrump Mexico NewsTrump Denmark NewsGold rate todayBengaluru newsCigarette price hikePublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingCandace OwensTommy Fleetwood and Clare Fleetwood Net WorthTravis KelceICE Shooting VictimSarfaraz KhanRic Flair Net Worth in 2025Patrick Mahomes InjuryUnion BudgetWPL Live ScoreStefon Diggs

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: In a move to shed yet another colonial relic, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday announced discontinuing the railway uniforms introduced by the British Raj — black prince coats (bandhgala coats) — saying that “we have to find every trace of colonialism and banish them”.TOI has learnt that govt is carrying out a…

Read More
Dwarka Yashobhoomi to get a five star ITC hotel

Dwarka Yashobhoomi to get a five star ITC hotel

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: India’s largest convention and exhibition centre — Yashobhoomi, Dwarka — will soon have a premium five star hotel. India International Convention and Exhibition Centre Ltd at Yashobhoomi has allotted land to ITC Hotel Ltd (ITCHL) on a long term lease basis.ITCHL MD Anil Chadha said: “Yashobhoomi is a game-changer for the meetings, incentives,…

Read More
‘Parasakthi’ budget and pre-release business: Sivakarthikeyan and Ravi Mohan to Sreeleela’s salary revealed

‘Parasakthi’ budget and pre-release business: Sivakarthikeyan and Ravi Mohan to Sreeleela’s salary revealed

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Sivakarthikeyan’s upcoming film ‘Parasakthi’ boasts a substantial budget of 141.50 crore rupees. The film has already secured significant pre-release business, with theatrical and non-theatrical rights fetching over 107 crore rupees. Key cast members like Sivakarthikeyan and Ravi Mohan have received substantial remunerations. The movie’s extensive production and promotional costs are detailed, aiming for maximum market…

Read More
Extreme asymmetry: Doctors warn after influencer spends 300 days training only one shoulder |

Extreme asymmetry: Doctors warn after influencer spends 300 days training only one shoulder |

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

Image: Instagram @thecrookedman10 For more than 300 days, a man calling himself “The Crooked Man” has been doing something most trainers would advise against: repeatedly exercising only one trapezius muscle while leaving the rest of his body largely untouched. The result is a strikingly uneven physique, with one shoulder and upper back muscle ballooning far…

Read More
Army soldier dies during night patrol in Baramulla

Army soldier dies during night patrol in Baramulla

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins

SRINAGAR: A soldier serving with 46 Rashtriya Rifles died after slipping while on night patrol in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Army said Friday.The soldier, posted at Fatehgarh Sheeri camp, slipped and lost consciousness Thursday. He was rushed to Govt Medical College, Baramulla, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The soldier hailed from Haryana. Source…

Read More
Locals helping in rescue operation after a private bus fell from the road at Haripurdhar area in Sirmaur district on Friday SHIMLA: At least 14 passengers died, and 52 others were injured when the private bus carrying them plunged into a 500m-deep gorge near Haripurdhar in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur on Friday. The 39-seater bus, moving from Shimla to Kupvi via Rajgarh, apparently lost control and rolled down the hillside roughly 140km into its journey. There were seven women and two children among the deceased. Police had yet to identify one woman victim. Nine of the victims were from Kupvi tehsil in Shimla district, while the others belonged to Ronhat, Dadahu, Nauradhar and Haripurdhar in Sirmaur district. Locals rushed to the scene to rescue survivors from the wreckage before police arrived. The injured were initially taken to hospitals in nearby Dadahu and Sangrah, while those critical were later transferred to Nahan Medical College and Solan Civil Hospital. Regional transport officer Sona Chandel said the bus owner held all mandatory documents. The vehicle had a valid permit until July 8, 2029, a fitness certificate valid till Feb 14, and insurance coverage until Feb 12. President Droupadi Murmu condoled the tragedy, terming it extremely heartbreaking. Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed district authorities to provide all possible assistance to the victims’ families and ensure the best medical care for the survivors.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCEPA A Win-Win For India And Chile, Key Focus On Market Access And Minerals: Chile EnvoyMamata Banerjee Hits Streets, Leads Kolkata Rally Against ED RaidsAfter Meeting PM Modi, AI Innovators Share Insights That Could Change The GameAmit Shah Outlines Foolproof NIDMS Mechanism To Counter Future Terror AttacksIndia No Longer Imports Arms, UP Leads Defence Manufacturing: Rajnath Singh’Not Accurate’: India Hits Back After Trump Aide Blames PM Modi For Delayed Trade DealMEA Calls For Firm Action As India Flags Disturbing Pattern Of Attacks On Minorities In BangladeshPM Modi To Host German Chancellor Merz In Gujarat As India-Germany Ties Enter Strategic Phase’PM Modi-Trump Held 8 Calls In 2025′: India Rejects Lutnick’s Claim On Stalled Trade AgreementThe Day CBI Arrested Indira Gandhi And Sonia’s Pasta Maker That May Have Saved The Day For Cong123PhotostoriesBirthday special: Hrithik Roshan’s social media moments with Saba Azad and familyBirthday Special: Hrithik Roshan’s movies to watch on OTTTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From calling Dilip Joshi the ‘pillar of the show’ to reacting to Disha Vakani aka Dayaben’s return, Sharad Sankla aka Abdul gets candid7 moon-kissed baby names for your little princessCurry-smelling kangaroos to banana bees: 6 animals that surprisingly smell like foodWhat teachers wish parents understood‘Hum Paanch’, ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’, ‘Yes Boss’: Top TV comedy shows from the 90What students learn in school beyond the syllabusFrom ‘Highway’ to ‘Chhichhore’: 5 times mainstream films embraced unconventional charactersSadhguru’s Drumstick Soup is a winter must-have; recipe inside123Hot PicksTrump Mexico NewsTrump Denmark NewsGold rate todayBengaluru newsCigarette price hikePublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingCandace OwensTommy Fleetwood and Clare Fleetwood Net WorthTravis KelceICE Shooting VictimSarfaraz KhanRic Flair Net Worth in 2025Patrick Mahomes InjuryUnion BudgetWPL Live ScoreStefon Diggs

Locals helping in rescue operation after a private bus fell from the road at Haripurdhar area in Sirmaur district on Friday SHIMLA: At least 14 passengers died, and 52 others were injured when the private bus carrying them plunged into a 500m-deep gorge near Haripurdhar in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur on Friday. The 39-seater bus, moving from Shimla to Kupvi via Rajgarh, apparently lost control and rolled down the hillside roughly 140km into its journey. There were seven women and two children among the deceased. Police had yet to identify one woman victim. Nine of the victims were from Kupvi tehsil in Shimla district, while the others belonged to Ronhat, Dadahu, Nauradhar and Haripurdhar in Sirmaur district. Locals rushed to the scene to rescue survivors from the wreckage before police arrived. The injured were initially taken to hospitals in nearby Dadahu and Sangrah, while those critical were later transferred to Nahan Medical College and Solan Civil Hospital. Regional transport officer Sona Chandel said the bus owner held all mandatory documents. The vehicle had a valid permit until July 8, 2029, a fitness certificate valid till Feb 14, and insurance coverage until Feb 12. President Droupadi Murmu condoled the tragedy, terming it extremely heartbreaking. Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed district authorities to provide all possible assistance to the victims’ families and ensure the best medical care for the survivors.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCEPA A Win-Win For India And Chile, Key Focus On Market Access And Minerals: Chile EnvoyMamata Banerjee Hits Streets, Leads Kolkata Rally Against ED RaidsAfter Meeting PM Modi, AI Innovators Share Insights That Could Change The GameAmit Shah Outlines Foolproof NIDMS Mechanism To Counter Future Terror AttacksIndia No Longer Imports Arms, UP Leads Defence Manufacturing: Rajnath Singh’Not Accurate’: India Hits Back After Trump Aide Blames PM Modi For Delayed Trade DealMEA Calls For Firm Action As India Flags Disturbing Pattern Of Attacks On Minorities In BangladeshPM Modi To Host German Chancellor Merz In Gujarat As India-Germany Ties Enter Strategic Phase’PM Modi-Trump Held 8 Calls In 2025′: India Rejects Lutnick’s Claim On Stalled Trade AgreementThe Day CBI Arrested Indira Gandhi And Sonia’s Pasta Maker That May Have Saved The Day For Cong123PhotostoriesBirthday special: Hrithik Roshan’s social media moments with Saba Azad and familyBirthday Special: Hrithik Roshan’s movies to watch on OTTTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From calling Dilip Joshi the ‘pillar of the show’ to reacting to Disha Vakani aka Dayaben’s return, Sharad Sankla aka Abdul gets candid7 moon-kissed baby names for your little princessCurry-smelling kangaroos to banana bees: 6 animals that surprisingly smell like foodWhat teachers wish parents understood‘Hum Paanch’, ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’, ‘Yes Boss’: Top TV comedy shows from the 90What students learn in school beyond the syllabusFrom ‘Highway’ to ‘Chhichhore’: 5 times mainstream films embraced unconventional charactersSadhguru’s Drumstick Soup is a winter must-have; recipe inside123Hot PicksTrump Mexico NewsTrump Denmark NewsGold rate todayBengaluru newsCigarette price hikePublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingCandace OwensTommy Fleetwood and Clare Fleetwood Net WorthTravis KelceICE Shooting VictimSarfaraz KhanRic Flair Net Worth in 2025Patrick Mahomes InjuryUnion BudgetWPL Live ScoreStefon Diggs

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Locals helping in rescue operation after a private bus fell from the road at Haripurdhar area in Sirmaur district on Friday SHIMLA: At least 14 passengers died, and 52 others were injured when the private bus carrying them plunged into a 500m-deep gorge near Haripurdhar in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur on Friday. The 39-seater bus, moving…

Read More
US jobs data: Hiring stays sluggish in December with 50,000 additions; unemployment rate dips to 4.4%

US jobs data: Hiring stays sluggish in December with 50,000 additions; unemployment rate dips to 4.4%

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Hiring in the United States remained subdued in December, capping a year of weak employment gains, even as the unemployment rate edged lower, according to data released by the US Labor Department on Friday, AP reported.Employers added 50,000 jobs in December, nearly unchanged from a downwardly revised 56,000 jobs added in November. The unemployment rate…

Read More
HC stays ‘Jana Nayagan’ UA certificate, ‘Toxic’ teaser faces backlash over steamy scenes, ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ denied release: Top 5 South newsmakers of the day

HC stays ‘Jana Nayagan’ UA certificate, ‘Toxic’ teaser faces backlash over steamy scenes, ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ denied release: Top 5 South newsmakers of the day

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

January 9 turned into a whiplash day for South Indian cinema, with developments ranging from judicial interventions and creative controversies to splashy teasers and release setbacks. From court rulings impacting major films to heated online debates over teaser content and star announcements, a lot unfolded within a single day. Here’s a snapshot of the key…

Read More
Red, Fight, and Blue: Divided America drifts further apart

Red, Fight, and Blue: Divided America drifts further apart

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

TOI Correspondent from Washington: Another shooting incident in which ICE agents shot a Venezuelan couple purportedly fleeing immigration enforcement in Portland on Thursday has escalated confrontation between the federal government in Washington and Democratic-led states and cities across America, rapidly becoming one of the most volatile issues heading into the 2026 midterm elections.Sparked by the…

Read More
. SRINAGAR: Former J&K chief minister and PDP Mehbooba Mufti on Friday described the National Medical Commission’s order withdrawing permission to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Reasi to run an MBBS course as one with far-reaching consequences, warning that it could embolden “communal forces” across the country to exclude Kashmiri Muslim students from educational institutions.Mehbooba also questioned the role of J&K’s elected govt, stating that just hours before the NMC announced its decision, CM Omar Abdullah had publicly said the medical college should be shut. “Was there some understanding or discussion going on that whatever he said happened? The chief minister should have stood up against the decision to close the college,” she said, addressing a presser at PDP headquarters.She alleged that the decision was taken solely under pressure to remove Kashmiri Muslims from the medical institution. “The larger question is that Kashmiri Muslim students didn’t get space in their own state. If this is their fate in J&K, how will they be treated in other parts of the country?” she said.The NMC on Tuesday withdrew its Letter of Permission to start the MBBS course at SMVDIME with 50 seats for the 2025-26 academic year, citing major deficiencies in faculty strength, clinical material and infrastructure. It said students admitted during counselling would be accommodated in other govt medical colleges.Many political parties have questioned this, asking if the minimum standards were not met, how was the permission granted just four months ago, on Sept 8, 2025?Omar had on Thursday reacted strongly, saying people across the country fought to get medical colleges while those in Jammu were celebrating the shutting down of one after protests on religious lines. He said Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, which was running SMVDIME, should be asked why the NMC withdrew permission. “Who is the chancellor of the university? You should ask him too,” he told reporters.The chancellor of the university is LG Manoj Sinha.The controversy erupted in Nov last year after 42 of the 50 seats went to Muslim students, mostly from Kashmir, while only seven Hindu students from Jammu made the list.This led to protests by the Jammu-based Shri MataVaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, an umbrella group of about 60 religious and civil society groups, which argued that an institution funded by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board should give preference to Hindu students.BJP later backed the agitation, with party leaders making representations to LG Sinha, who heads the shrine board. They sought a review of the admission policy, arguing that “faith” should be the admission criteria in a college run on the donation of Hindus.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMamata Banerjee Hits Streets, Leads Kolkata Rally Against ED RaidsAfter Meeting PM Modi, AI Innovators Share Insights That Could Change The GameAmit Shah Outlines Foolproof NIDMS Mechanism To Counter Future Terror AttacksIndia No Longer Imports Arms, UP Leads Defence Manufacturing: Rajnath Singh’Not Accurate’: India Hits Back After Trump Aide Blames PM Modi For Delayed Trade DealMEA Calls For Firm Action As India Flags Disturbing Pattern Of Attacks On Minorities In BangladeshPM Modi To Host German Chancellor Merz In Gujarat As India-Germany Ties Enter Strategic Phase’PM Modi-Trump Held 8 Calls In 2025′: India Rejects Lutnick’s Claim On Stalled Trade AgreementThe Day CBI Arrested Indira Gandhi And Sonia’s Pasta Maker That May Have Saved The Day For CongHow US Pulled Off A Mission Defining Security Operation For Jaishankar During Government Shutdown123Photostories7 moon-kissed baby names for your little princessCurry-smelling kangaroos to banana bees: 6 animals that surprisingly smell like foodWhat teachers wish parents understood‘Hum Paanch’, ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’, ‘Yes Boss’: Top TV comedy shows from the 90What students learn in school beyond the syllabusFrom ‘Highway’ to ‘Chhichhore’: 5 times mainstream films embraced unconventional charactersSadhguru’s Drumstick Soup is a winter must-have; recipe insideMakar Sankranti 2026: How to make Til ke Laddoo (Sesame Laddoos) at home5 chilling Indian web series villains that will keep you up at night’Parasakthi’: Five reasons to watch the Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, and Sreeleela starrer on big screens123Hot PicksTrump Mexico NewsTrump Denmark NewsGold rate todayBengaluru newsCigarette price hikePublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingCandace OwensTommy Fleetwood and Clare Fleetwood Net WorthTravis KelceICE Shooting VictimSarfaraz KhanRic Flair Net Worth in 2025Patrick Mahomes InjuryUnion BudgetWPL Live ScoreStefon Diggs

. SRINAGAR: Former J&K chief minister and PDP Mehbooba Mufti on Friday described the National Medical Commission’s order withdrawing permission to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Reasi to run an MBBS course as one with far-reaching consequences, warning that it could embolden “communal forces” across the country to exclude Kashmiri Muslim students from educational institutions.Mehbooba also questioned the role of J&K’s elected govt, stating that just hours before the NMC announced its decision, CM Omar Abdullah had publicly said the medical college should be shut. “Was there some understanding or discussion going on that whatever he said happened? The chief minister should have stood up against the decision to close the college,” she said, addressing a presser at PDP headquarters.She alleged that the decision was taken solely under pressure to remove Kashmiri Muslims from the medical institution. “The larger question is that Kashmiri Muslim students didn’t get space in their own state. If this is their fate in J&K, how will they be treated in other parts of the country?” she said.The NMC on Tuesday withdrew its Letter of Permission to start the MBBS course at SMVDIME with 50 seats for the 2025-26 academic year, citing major deficiencies in faculty strength, clinical material and infrastructure. It said students admitted during counselling would be accommodated in other govt medical colleges.Many political parties have questioned this, asking if the minimum standards were not met, how was the permission granted just four months ago, on Sept 8, 2025?Omar had on Thursday reacted strongly, saying people across the country fought to get medical colleges while those in Jammu were celebrating the shutting down of one after protests on religious lines. He said Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, which was running SMVDIME, should be asked why the NMC withdrew permission. “Who is the chancellor of the university? You should ask him too,” he told reporters.The chancellor of the university is LG Manoj Sinha.The controversy erupted in Nov last year after 42 of the 50 seats went to Muslim students, mostly from Kashmir, while only seven Hindu students from Jammu made the list.This led to protests by the Jammu-based Shri MataVaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, an umbrella group of about 60 religious and civil society groups, which argued that an institution funded by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board should give preference to Hindu students.BJP later backed the agitation, with party leaders making representations to LG Sinha, who heads the shrine board. They sought a review of the admission policy, arguing that “faith” should be the admission criteria in a college run on the donation of Hindus.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMamata Banerjee Hits Streets, Leads Kolkata Rally Against ED RaidsAfter Meeting PM Modi, AI Innovators Share Insights That Could Change The GameAmit Shah Outlines Foolproof NIDMS Mechanism To Counter Future Terror AttacksIndia No Longer Imports Arms, UP Leads Defence Manufacturing: Rajnath Singh’Not Accurate’: India Hits Back After Trump Aide Blames PM Modi For Delayed Trade DealMEA Calls For Firm Action As India Flags Disturbing Pattern Of Attacks On Minorities In BangladeshPM Modi To Host German Chancellor Merz In Gujarat As India-Germany Ties Enter Strategic Phase’PM Modi-Trump Held 8 Calls In 2025′: India Rejects Lutnick’s Claim On Stalled Trade AgreementThe Day CBI Arrested Indira Gandhi And Sonia’s Pasta Maker That May Have Saved The Day For CongHow US Pulled Off A Mission Defining Security Operation For Jaishankar During Government Shutdown123Photostories7 moon-kissed baby names for your little princessCurry-smelling kangaroos to banana bees: 6 animals that surprisingly smell like foodWhat teachers wish parents understood‘Hum Paanch’, ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’, ‘Yes Boss’: Top TV comedy shows from the 90What students learn in school beyond the syllabusFrom ‘Highway’ to ‘Chhichhore’: 5 times mainstream films embraced unconventional charactersSadhguru’s Drumstick Soup is a winter must-have; recipe insideMakar Sankranti 2026: How to make Til ke Laddoo (Sesame Laddoos) at home5 chilling Indian web series villains that will keep you up at night’Parasakthi’: Five reasons to watch the Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, and Sreeleela starrer on big screens123Hot PicksTrump Mexico NewsTrump Denmark NewsGold rate todayBengaluru newsCigarette price hikePublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingCandace OwensTommy Fleetwood and Clare Fleetwood Net WorthTravis KelceICE Shooting VictimSarfaraz KhanRic Flair Net Worth in 2025Patrick Mahomes InjuryUnion BudgetWPL Live ScoreStefon Diggs

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

SRINAGAR: Former J&K chief minister and PDP Mehbooba Mufti on Friday described the National Medical Commission’s order withdrawing permission to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Reasi to run an MBBS course as one with far-reaching consequences, warning that it could embolden “communal forces” across the country to exclude Kashmiri Muslim…

Read More
India outlook: Reforms put wind in its sails amid global headwinds; PMO’s Shaktikanta Das maps the road ahead

India outlook: Reforms put wind in its sails amid global headwinds; PMO’s Shaktikanta Das maps the road ahead

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

India is at the cusp of a historic economic journey, with government policies and reforms giving the country “wind in its sails” even as global trade uncertainties intensify, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Shaktikanta Das said on Friday.Delivering the inaugural Bibek Debroy Memorial Lecture, Das said India has emerged stronger from successive global shocks…

Read More
Samantha Ruth Prabhu shows her mangalsutra, Suresh Wadkar recalls marriage proposal from Madhuri Dixit’s family, Jaideep Ahlawat shares fond memories of working with Dharmendra: Top 5 newsmakers of the day

Samantha Ruth Prabhu shows her mangalsutra, Suresh Wadkar recalls marriage proposal from Madhuri Dixit’s family, Jaideep Ahlawat shares fond memories of working with Dharmendra: Top 5 newsmakers of the day

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

Bollywood buzzed with stars like Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Jaideep Ahlawat, Suresh Wadkar, Chitrangda Singh, and Dhurandhar’s record run. From mangalsutra flaunts and Dharmendra tributes to Madhuri proposals and mobbing scares, personal tales stole headlines that day. On January 6, 2026, Bollywood made headlines with a mix of personal moments and industry reflections. Jaideep Ahlawat shared…

Read More
‘Bid to occupy power’: Shiv Sena-NCP join hands to block BJP; fresh twist to seize Ambernath civic body

‘Bid to occupy power’: Shiv Sena-NCP join hands to block BJP; fresh twist to seize Ambernath civic body

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), along with one independent councillor, on Friday formed a new group to stake claim to power in the Ambernath Municipal Council in Maharashtra, in a move aimed at keeping the BJP away from power.According to PTI, a senior Shiv Sena leader…

Read More
‘You are not eligible for visa at this time’: B1/B2 visas getting rejected in India, Redditor shares experience of Mumbai consulate

‘You are not eligible for visa at this time’: B1/B2 visas getting rejected in India, Redditor shares experience of Mumbai consulate

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Reports of several B1/B2 visa applications getting rejected surfaced on social media Friday, claiming that these rejections took place in the past few days. No explicit reasons were given for these rejections; the applicants claimed. This came at a time when the H-1B visa stamping has been delayed in India for months, ever since the…

Read More
Narco crackdown: Amit Shah chairs NCORD meet; calls for coordinated national push against drug trafficking | India News

Narco crackdown: Amit Shah chairs NCORD meet; calls for coordinated national push against drug trafficking | India News

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Amit Shah chairs NCORD meet NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday chaired the ninth apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in New Delhi, reviewing India’s strategy to tackle drug trafficking and substance abuse.During the meeting, Shah said the government plans to launch a nationwide campaign against drugs from March 31, 2026,…

Read More