August 1, 2026

2026

NEW DELHI: “You are a nominated official, but I am an elected representative … ” The Trinamool Congress’s offensive against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has set the stage for an all-out confrontation over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls ahead of upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, who led a Trinamool delegation to the Election Commission on Wednesday, accused the CEC of “losing temper” and “raising fingers at party members. Abhishek dared the CEC to respond to his allegations.‘Vote Theft In Bengal’: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Slams ECI Over SIR, BJP Fires Back”They think that by raising their voice and speaking aggressively, everyone will be silenced. When we started speaking, he began losing his temper. He tried to stop some of us and pointed fingers at me. I then stated that you are a nominated official, but I am an elected representative. You are answerable to your masters, but I am answerable to the masses who elected me, for whom we have come here to ensure that no legitimate voter is deleted from the list… If he has the courage, let him release the footage. I am standing very close to the ECI office,” Abhishek said standing at the gate of the Election Commission office.”Gyanesh Kumar must be hearing what I am saying to the media right now. If he has the courage, he should come down, face the media, and rebut every point I am making, rather than making selective leaks after 8 pm. What is stopping him? Does he think the people of Bengal are his subservient? Apart from two-three questions, he has failed. Does he think the people of Bengal, and we MPs, ministers, and MLAs elected by the people, are bonded labourers or slaves?” the Trinamool MP asked, targeting the CEC.Abhishek Banerjee’s dig on selective leaks referred to the party’s last meeting with the poll body on November 28. The Trinamool leader claimed that they had asked the Election Commission five questions in that meeting, but didn’t receive a single precise answer to any of them. The Trinamool leader had accused the Election Commission of selectively leaking information to some journalists, claiming that they had answered every question. In return, the Election Commission accused the Trinamool of intimidating its electoral staff in the state.The Election Commission (EC) officials said that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation was told that intimidation of any electoral staff by ground-level political representatives and workers will not be tolerated and that the West Bengal government should immediately release the enhanced honorarium to each BLO.Draft rolls for West Bengal released by the ECI in December show that 58,20,899 names, about 7.59 per cent of the electorate, have been provisionally deleted due to reasons such as death, permanent migration or untraceability. The Trinamool has raised concerns over the scale of deletions, alleging possible disenfranchisement. Also, around 1.36 crore entries have also been flagged for “logical discrepancies”, while 30 lakh voters were categorised as unmapped – a significant percentage of whom are likely to be called for verification hearings. The timeline for final publication of electoral rolls in the state is February 14, 2026.Abhishek Banerjee questioned the list of “logical discrepancies” made by the EC and accused the poll body of weaponsing the voter list to help the BJP. The TMC leader demanded that the list of voters under the “logical discrepancy” category be published and the methodology and legal authority used to create this category be disclosed. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has already claimed that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was a huge “scam” being conducted with the help of artificial intelligence, and has warned that her party will gherao the Election Commission’s office in Delhi if the name of even a single legitimate voter is deleted from the electoral rolls.Trinamool Congress has said that it will not accept the final voter list if it has “discrepancies” and if needed “it would fight it legally.” Clearly SIR, which is already in the centre of a political storm, is set for a rough ride in West Bengal with the Trinamool Congress piling unrelenting pressure on the Election Commission.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWest Bengal SIR Brings Home A Man Presumed Dead For 28 Years In UP’s MuzaffarnagarIndia And Pakistan Exchange List Of Nuclear Installations Under 1988 Agreement‘Vote Theft In Bengal’: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Slams ECI Over SIR, BJP Fires Back180 Kmph While You Sleep! India’s Latest Vande Bharat Sleeper Marks New Era. Check Fares, FeaturesBJP Leader Attacks Shah Rukh Khan Over KKR’s Bangladeshi Cricketer Amid Hindu Lynching in BangladeshRajnath Singh Links Lord Ram’s Ethics To Operation Sindoor, Says India Fought Terror With DignityCleanliness Crown Cracks As Indore Loses 13 Lives To Poisoned Water And Administrative Lapses’India Belongs To Everyone’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat After Tripura Student Dies In Racial AttackIndia’s Silent Warriors On Kartavya Path Bring Army’s Battle-Tested Animals To Republic Day ParadeMidnight To Morning: How India Rang In 2026 With Fireworks Prayers Music And Mass Celebrations123Photostories10 iconic dishes the Mughals gave to IndiaCalcium isn’t enough: The bone mineral women forgetKidney damage: 10 symptoms of kidney problems people mistake for dehydration3 bitter truths about packaged foods you didn’t knowInside ‘Bigg Boss 19’ fame Ashnoor Kaur’s tech-savvy Mumbai homeFrom Arjun Tendulkar-Saaniya Chandhok to Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce: 5 most-anticipated celebrity weddings of 2026How to make Hara Bhara Kebab for evening snackingTV celebs like Ashnoor Kaur, Hina Khan are welcoming 2026 with open arms in unique ways; here’s how – See Inside8 powerful life lessons from Joseph Murphy’s “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind”Asrani birth anniversary: Lesser known facts about the late and legendary ‘Ikkis’ and ‘Sholay’ actor123Hot PicksSaudi Strike YemenPAN-Aadhaar link statusBank holiday New YearGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundBahrain Golden Visa 2025Bank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingJustin Thomas Net WorthWWE Star Nikki BellaCardi BCeeDee Lamb Luxury Car CollectionStefon DiggsCaitlin ClarkTom BradyMicah Parsons vs CeeDee Lamb Net WorthNHL Injury UpdateVanessa Bryant

NEW DELHI: “You are a nominated official, but I am an elected representative … ” The Trinamool Congress’s offensive against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has set the stage for an all-out confrontation over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls ahead of upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, who led a Trinamool delegation to the Election Commission on Wednesday, accused the CEC of “losing temper” and “raising fingers at party members. Abhishek dared the CEC to respond to his allegations.‘Vote Theft In Bengal’: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Slams ECI Over SIR, BJP Fires Back”They think that by raising their voice and speaking aggressively, everyone will be silenced. When we started speaking, he began losing his temper. He tried to stop some of us and pointed fingers at me. I then stated that you are a nominated official, but I am an elected representative. You are answerable to your masters, but I am answerable to the masses who elected me, for whom we have come here to ensure that no legitimate voter is deleted from the list… If he has the courage, let him release the footage. I am standing very close to the ECI office,” Abhishek said standing at the gate of the Election Commission office.”Gyanesh Kumar must be hearing what I am saying to the media right now. If he has the courage, he should come down, face the media, and rebut every point I am making, rather than making selective leaks after 8 pm. What is stopping him? Does he think the people of Bengal are his subservient? Apart from two-three questions, he has failed. Does he think the people of Bengal, and we MPs, ministers, and MLAs elected by the people, are bonded labourers or slaves?” the Trinamool MP asked, targeting the CEC.Abhishek Banerjee’s dig on selective leaks referred to the party’s last meeting with the poll body on November 28. The Trinamool leader claimed that they had asked the Election Commission five questions in that meeting, but didn’t receive a single precise answer to any of them. The Trinamool leader had accused the Election Commission of selectively leaking information to some journalists, claiming that they had answered every question. In return, the Election Commission accused the Trinamool of intimidating its electoral staff in the state.The Election Commission (EC) officials said that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation was told that intimidation of any electoral staff by ground-level political representatives and workers will not be tolerated and that the West Bengal government should immediately release the enhanced honorarium to each BLO.Draft rolls for West Bengal released by the ECI in December show that 58,20,899 names, about 7.59 per cent of the electorate, have been provisionally deleted due to reasons such as death, permanent migration or untraceability. The Trinamool has raised concerns over the scale of deletions, alleging possible disenfranchisement. Also, around 1.36 crore entries have also been flagged for “logical discrepancies”, while 30 lakh voters were categorised as unmapped – a significant percentage of whom are likely to be called for verification hearings. The timeline for final publication of electoral rolls in the state is February 14, 2026.Abhishek Banerjee questioned the list of “logical discrepancies” made by the EC and accused the poll body of weaponsing the voter list to help the BJP. The TMC leader demanded that the list of voters under the “logical discrepancy” category be published and the methodology and legal authority used to create this category be disclosed. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has already claimed that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was a huge “scam” being conducted with the help of artificial intelligence, and has warned that her party will gherao the Election Commission’s office in Delhi if the name of even a single legitimate voter is deleted from the electoral rolls.Trinamool Congress has said that it will not accept the final voter list if it has “discrepancies” and if needed “it would fight it legally.” Clearly SIR, which is already in the centre of a political storm, is set for a rough ride in West Bengal with the Trinamool Congress piling unrelenting pressure on the Election Commission.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWest Bengal SIR Brings Home A Man Presumed Dead For 28 Years In UP’s MuzaffarnagarIndia And Pakistan Exchange List Of Nuclear Installations Under 1988 Agreement‘Vote Theft In Bengal’: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Slams ECI Over SIR, BJP Fires Back180 Kmph While You Sleep! India’s Latest Vande Bharat Sleeper Marks New Era. Check Fares, FeaturesBJP Leader Attacks Shah Rukh Khan Over KKR’s Bangladeshi Cricketer Amid Hindu Lynching in BangladeshRajnath Singh Links Lord Ram’s Ethics To Operation Sindoor, Says India Fought Terror With DignityCleanliness Crown Cracks As Indore Loses 13 Lives To Poisoned Water And Administrative Lapses’India Belongs To Everyone’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat After Tripura Student Dies In Racial AttackIndia’s Silent Warriors On Kartavya Path Bring Army’s Battle-Tested Animals To Republic Day ParadeMidnight To Morning: How India Rang In 2026 With Fireworks Prayers Music And Mass Celebrations123Photostories10 iconic dishes the Mughals gave to IndiaCalcium isn’t enough: The bone mineral women forgetKidney damage: 10 symptoms of kidney problems people mistake for dehydration3 bitter truths about packaged foods you didn’t knowInside ‘Bigg Boss 19’ fame Ashnoor Kaur’s tech-savvy Mumbai homeFrom Arjun Tendulkar-Saaniya Chandhok to Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce: 5 most-anticipated celebrity weddings of 2026How to make Hara Bhara Kebab for evening snackingTV celebs like Ashnoor Kaur, Hina Khan are welcoming 2026 with open arms in unique ways; here’s how – See Inside8 powerful life lessons from Joseph Murphy’s “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind”Asrani birth anniversary: Lesser known facts about the late and legendary ‘Ikkis’ and ‘Sholay’ actor123Hot PicksSaudi Strike YemenPAN-Aadhaar link statusBank holiday New YearGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundBahrain Golden Visa 2025Bank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingJustin Thomas Net WorthWWE Star Nikki BellaCardi BCeeDee Lamb Luxury Car CollectionStefon DiggsCaitlin ClarkTom BradyMicah Parsons vs CeeDee Lamb Net WorthNHL Injury UpdateVanessa Bryant

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

NEW DELHI: “You are a nominated official, but I am an elected representative … ” The Trinamool Congress’s offensive against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has set the stage for an all-out confrontation over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls ahead of upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee,…

Read More
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar records double-digit collections for 28 straight days; eyes all-time Hindi box office crown | Hindi Movie News

Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar records double-digit collections for 28 straight days; eyes all-time Hindi box office crown | Hindi Movie News

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Nearly a month after its release, Dhurandhar continues to defy conventional box office trends. The Aditya Dhar–directed action spy thriller, led by Ranveer Singh, has delivered a sustained run rarely seen in Hindi cinema, pushing its India net collection to Rs 739.82 crore in just 28 days from its Hindi release. Consistency, not just scale,…

Read More
Viral Instagram reel explains why British empire was built on gin and tonic |

Viral Instagram reel explains why British empire was built on gin and tonic |

Vamsikrishna05 mins mins

British colonial officials mixed quinine with gin and citrus to prevent malaria and scurvy, making medicine tolerable and routine A short clip has been circulating on Instagram, often paired with gin labels and captions about empire and empire-building. It shows a stiff-backed British aristocrat aboard a yacht, briefly interrupted from Mediterranean leisure by a domestic…

Read More
The bone mineral women forget

The bone mineral women forget

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins

Magnesium activates vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D, in turn, helps the body absorb calcium. When magnesium runs low, this chain breaks. Calcium intake may look perfect on paper, yet bones still weaken. Research has linked low magnesium levels with lower bone density, especially in women after 40.Women are more at risk, here’s why…

Read More
Viral post claims Indian-origin Chan Patel’s State Bank of Texas only serves Indians; social media asks ‘where is the fraud?’

Viral post claims Indian-origin Chan Patel’s State Bank of Texas only serves Indians; social media asks ‘where is the fraud?’

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

A social media post claiming that the State Bank of Texas only helps Indians as its leadership team is full of Indias went viral at a time when India-hate has become mainstream for US social media users. “The State Bank of Texas, run entirely by an all-Indian leadership team, funnels SBA loans almost exclusively to…

Read More
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed the ruling BJP’s agenda is to ensure that a ‘Marathi manoos’ does not become the mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).Talking to reporters, Raut further claimed that the BJP wants to hurt the Marathi people.Responding to remarks made by BJP leader Kripashankar Singh that efforts would be made to ensure the election of a Hindi-speaking mayor in the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Raut said this is a conspiracy of the BJP.’Batenge Toh Katenge’: Uddhav & Raj Thackeray Unite For Mumbai Civic Polls | Shiv Sena (UBT) | MNSThe statement by Singh was not done without any purpose but it was a strategy to create an atmosphere among outsiders against Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Following this, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Samrat Choudhary, respectively, would be brought in to campaign for the BJP for the civic body polls, he said.”The BJP has decided not to have a Marathi mayor in Mumbai or anywhere else. This is BJP’s agenda,” Raut said.”Its agenda is to ensure that a Marathi manoos does not lead Mumbai in the BMC and they are working towards it. Marathi manoos is solidly behind Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS,” the Rajya Sabha member added.His remarks come just a fortnight before the civic body polls in which the party is expected to harp on the son of soil issue.Raut said the BJP is not the party that works for the pride of Maharashtra. It has no link to the ‘Samyukta Maharashtra’ issue.Polls to 29 municipal corporations, including the cash-rich BMC controlled by the undivided Shiv Sena from 1997-2022, will be held on January 15, a race that is seen as one of the toughest battles for the Sena (UBT) and the MNS.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWest Bengal SIR Brings Home A Man Presumed Dead For 28 Years In UP’s MuzaffarnagarIndia And Pakistan Exchange List Of Nuclear Installations Under 1988 Agreement‘Vote Theft In Bengal’: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Slams ECI Over SIR, BJP Fires Back180 Kmph While You Sleep! India’s Latest Vande Bharat Sleeper Marks New Era. Check Fares, FeaturesBJP Leader Attacks Shah Rukh Khan Over KKR’s Bangladeshi Cricketer Amid Hindu Lynching in BangladeshRajnath Singh Links Lord Ram’s Ethics To Operation Sindoor, Says India Fought Terror With DignityCleanliness Crown Cracks As Indore Loses 13 Lives To Poisoned Water And Administrative Lapses’India Belongs To Everyone’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat After Tripura Student Dies In Racial AttackIndia’s Silent Warriors On Kartavya Path Bring Army’s Battle-Tested Animals To Republic Day ParadeMidnight To Morning: How India Rang In 2026 With Fireworks Prayers Music And Mass Celebrations123PhotostoriesKidney damage: 10 symptoms of kidney problems people mistake for dehydration3 bitter truths about packaged foods you didn’t knowInside ‘Bigg Boss 19’ fame Ashnoor Kaur’s tech-savvy Mumbai homeFrom Arjun Tendulkar-Saaniya Chandhok to Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce: 5 most-anticipated celebrity weddings of 2026How to make Hara Bhara Kebab for evening snackingTV celebs like Ashnoor Kaur, Hina Khan are welcoming 2026 with open arms in unique ways; here’s how – See Inside8 powerful life lessons from Joseph Murphy’s “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind”Asrani birth anniversary: Lesser known facts about the late and legendary ‘Ikkis’ and ‘Sholay’ actorBengaluru’s Bottleneck Breaker: Hebbal’s New Flyover Ramp That Promises Smoother Drives5 unbelievable predictions by Leonardo da Vinci ahead of his time123Hot PicksSaudi Strike YemenPAN-Aadhaar link statusBank holiday New YearGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundBahrain Golden Visa 2025Bank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingJustin Thomas Net WorthWWE Star Nikki BellaCardi BCeeDee Lamb Luxury Car CollectionStefon DiggsCaitlin ClarkTom BradyMicah Parsons vs CeeDee Lamb Net WorthNHL Injury UpdateVanessa Bryant

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed the ruling BJP’s agenda is to ensure that a ‘Marathi manoos’ does not become the mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).Talking to reporters, Raut further claimed that the BJP wants to hurt the Marathi people.Responding to remarks made by BJP leader Kripashankar Singh that efforts would be made to ensure the election of a Hindi-speaking mayor in the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Raut said this is a conspiracy of the BJP.’Batenge Toh Katenge’: Uddhav & Raj Thackeray Unite For Mumbai Civic Polls | Shiv Sena (UBT) | MNSThe statement by Singh was not done without any purpose but it was a strategy to create an atmosphere among outsiders against Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Following this, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Samrat Choudhary, respectively, would be brought in to campaign for the BJP for the civic body polls, he said.”The BJP has decided not to have a Marathi mayor in Mumbai or anywhere else. This is BJP’s agenda,” Raut said.”Its agenda is to ensure that a Marathi manoos does not lead Mumbai in the BMC and they are working towards it. Marathi manoos is solidly behind Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS,” the Rajya Sabha member added.His remarks come just a fortnight before the civic body polls in which the party is expected to harp on the son of soil issue.Raut said the BJP is not the party that works for the pride of Maharashtra. It has no link to the ‘Samyukta Maharashtra’ issue.Polls to 29 municipal corporations, including the cash-rich BMC controlled by the undivided Shiv Sena from 1997-2022, will be held on January 15, a race that is seen as one of the toughest battles for the Sena (UBT) and the MNS.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWest Bengal SIR Brings Home A Man Presumed Dead For 28 Years In UP’s MuzaffarnagarIndia And Pakistan Exchange List Of Nuclear Installations Under 1988 Agreement‘Vote Theft In Bengal’: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Slams ECI Over SIR, BJP Fires Back180 Kmph While You Sleep! India’s Latest Vande Bharat Sleeper Marks New Era. Check Fares, FeaturesBJP Leader Attacks Shah Rukh Khan Over KKR’s Bangladeshi Cricketer Amid Hindu Lynching in BangladeshRajnath Singh Links Lord Ram’s Ethics To Operation Sindoor, Says India Fought Terror With DignityCleanliness Crown Cracks As Indore Loses 13 Lives To Poisoned Water And Administrative Lapses’India Belongs To Everyone’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat After Tripura Student Dies In Racial AttackIndia’s Silent Warriors On Kartavya Path Bring Army’s Battle-Tested Animals To Republic Day ParadeMidnight To Morning: How India Rang In 2026 With Fireworks Prayers Music And Mass Celebrations123PhotostoriesKidney damage: 10 symptoms of kidney problems people mistake for dehydration3 bitter truths about packaged foods you didn’t knowInside ‘Bigg Boss 19’ fame Ashnoor Kaur’s tech-savvy Mumbai homeFrom Arjun Tendulkar-Saaniya Chandhok to Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce: 5 most-anticipated celebrity weddings of 2026How to make Hara Bhara Kebab for evening snackingTV celebs like Ashnoor Kaur, Hina Khan are welcoming 2026 with open arms in unique ways; here’s how – See Inside8 powerful life lessons from Joseph Murphy’s “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind”Asrani birth anniversary: Lesser known facts about the late and legendary ‘Ikkis’ and ‘Sholay’ actorBengaluru’s Bottleneck Breaker: Hebbal’s New Flyover Ramp That Promises Smoother Drives5 unbelievable predictions by Leonardo da Vinci ahead of his time123Hot PicksSaudi Strike YemenPAN-Aadhaar link statusBank holiday New YearGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundBahrain Golden Visa 2025Bank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingJustin Thomas Net WorthWWE Star Nikki BellaCardi BCeeDee Lamb Luxury Car CollectionStefon DiggsCaitlin ClarkTom BradyMicah Parsons vs CeeDee Lamb Net WorthNHL Injury UpdateVanessa Bryant

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed the ruling BJP’s agenda is to ensure that a ‘Marathi manoos’ does not become the mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).Talking to reporters, Raut further claimed that the BJP wants to hurt the Marathi people.Responding to remarks made by BJP leader Kripashankar Singh that…

Read More
Global investing outlook 2026: Why investors may look beyond the US; how AI, rate cuts and a softer dollar will shape returns

Global investing outlook 2026: Why investors may look beyond the US; how AI, rate cuts and a softer dollar will shape returns

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Global investment opportunities are set to widen meaningfully in 2026 as easing monetary policy, a weakening US dollar and profit growth outside the United States reshape capital flows, according to Franklin Templeton report.The asset manager report titled ‘Global Investment Outlook 2026 and Beyond’ said that lobal markets are entering a phase where returns are likely…

Read More
Record-breaking: IIT-Hyderabad student lands Rs 2.5 crore package; highest in institute’s history

Record-breaking: IIT-Hyderabad student lands Rs 2.5 crore package; highest in institute’s history

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

HYDERABAD: Amid a tough job market, a computer science engineering student from Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IITH), has landed a Rs 2.5 crore package from a Netherlands-based firm in this year’s placements. According to IITH, this is the highest package ever bagged by a student in the history of the institution, which started in…

Read More
Iran unrest: Three killed as protests spread; economic pressure fuels chants against theocracy

Iran unrest: Three killed as protests spread; economic pressure fuels chants against theocracy

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

At least three people have died in the first reported fatalities after protests driven by Iran’s worsening economic conditions spread Thursday into rural provinces, said authorities.The unrest marks the largest wave of protests in Iran since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations. However, the current protests have…

Read More
NEW DELHI: Year 2025 was the eighth warmest year on record in India whereas the 2016-25 period emerged as the warmest decade, the IMD said while releasing its annual climate summary on Thursday. Making a monthly forecast for the current month, it said most regions of the country are likely to experience “below normal” minimum temperatures – it means many parts, specifically the north (Uttar Pradesh), central (east Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and north Maharashtra) and east India (Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand), may have colder nights in Jan.The similar pattern may, however, not be experienced in some parts of northwest (Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh) and northeast India, as well as southern Peninsular India, where both day (max.) and night (min.) temperatures are likely to be ‘above normal’ (warmer).Days may even be warmer in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal as well during Jan after the first few days of the month. Nights will, however, be colder in the entire region during the month, leading to fog formation on many days. IMD also predicted “normal to above normal” rainfall across “most parts” of the country, which is conducive for the standing Rabi (winter sown) crops. Though Punjab, Haryana and other parts of northwest India are likely to get ‘below normal’ showers, it won’t impact the farming operations there due to a fairly good irrigation network and water storage facilities in the region.Releasing the annual climate summary for 2025, director general of the IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, said the year with recording 0.28 degree Celsius higher than the long-term (1991-2020) average temperature turned out to be “eighth warmest year” since nationwide temperature records began in the country in 1901.“Notably, 10 of the 15 warmest years in India have occurred during the recent 15-year period (2011-25),” he said, underlining that the year 2024 was the warmest year on record with reporting 0.65 degree C above the long-term average temperature.Last year’s winter was not as severe as what may be experienced this year. It was clearly reflected from the temperature anomaly of Jan and Feb of 2025. Feb last year recorded the “highest monthly mean temperature ever” for the country whereas Jan marked the “second highest” on record since 1901.IMD data shows the extreme weather events led to 2,763 deaths in 2025 with Uttar Pradesh recording the highest such casualties followed by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Bihar. Floods and heavy rains took the highest toll of 1,372 followed by lightning & thunderstorms that took 1,317 lives.As far as the global average temperature in 2025 was concerned, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) recently noted that the year is set to be either the second or third warmest year on record. So far, 2024 was the warmest year on record globally followed by 2023, the previous warmest. Both these years along with 2025 may, therefore, now be the three warmest years on record.Mohapatra attributed a virtually dry Dec 2025 to the absence of western disturbances that bring rains and thunderstorms to the northwest and central India. “The western disturbances are either moving towards north or moving too fast,” he said, attributing the change in pattern to climate change.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWest Bengal SIR Brings Home A Man Presumed Dead For 28 Years In UP’s MuzaffarnagarIndia And Pakistan Exchange List Of Nuclear Installations Under 1988 Agreement‘Vote Theft In Bengal’: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Slams ECI Over SIR, BJP Fires Back180 Kmph While You Sleep! India’s Latest Vande Bharat Sleeper Marks New Era. Check Fares, FeaturesBJP Leader Attacks Shah Rukh Khan Over KKR’s Bangladeshi Cricketer Amid Hindu Lynching in BangladeshRajnath Singh Links Lord Ram’s Ethics To Operation Sindoor, Says India Fought Terror With DignityCleanliness Crown Cracks As Indore Loses 13 Lives To Poisoned Water And Administrative Lapses’India Belongs To Everyone’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat After Tripura Student Dies In Racial AttackIndia’s Silent Warriors On Kartavya Path Bring Army’s Battle-Tested Animals To Republic Day ParadeMidnight To Morning: How India Rang In 2026 With Fireworks Prayers Music And Mass Celebrations123PhotostoriesKidney damage: 10 symptoms of kidney problems people mistake for dehydration3 bitter truths about packaged foods you didn’t knowInside ‘Bigg Boss 19’ fame Ashnoor Kaur’s tech-savvy Mumbai homeFrom Arjun Tendulkar-Saaniya Chandhok to Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce: 5 most-anticipated celebrity weddings of 2026How to make Hara Bhara Kebab for evening snackingTV celebs like Ashnoor Kaur, Hina Khan are welcoming 2026 with open arms in unique ways; here’s how – See Inside8 powerful life lessons from Joseph Murphy’s “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind”Asrani birth anniversary: Lesser known facts about the late and legendary ‘Ikkis’ and ‘Sholay’ actorBengaluru’s Bottleneck Breaker: Hebbal’s New Flyover Ramp That Promises Smoother Drives5 unbelievable predictions by Leonardo da Vinci ahead of his time123Hot PicksSaudi Strike YemenPAN-Aadhaar link statusBank holiday New YearGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundBahrain Golden Visa 2025Bank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingJustin Thomas Net WorthWWE Star Nikki BellaCardi BCeeDee Lamb Luxury Car CollectionStefon DiggsCaitlin ClarkTom BradyMicah Parsons vs CeeDee Lamb Net WorthNHL Injury UpdateVanessa Bryant

NEW DELHI: Year 2025 was the eighth warmest year on record in India whereas the 2016-25 period emerged as the warmest decade, the IMD said while releasing its annual climate summary on Thursday. Making a monthly forecast for the current month, it said most regions of the country are likely to experience “below normal” minimum temperatures – it means many parts, specifically the north (Uttar Pradesh), central (east Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and north Maharashtra) and east India (Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand), may have colder nights in Jan.The similar pattern may, however, not be experienced in some parts of northwest (Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh) and northeast India, as well as southern Peninsular India, where both day (max.) and night (min.) temperatures are likely to be ‘above normal’ (warmer).Days may even be warmer in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal as well during Jan after the first few days of the month. Nights will, however, be colder in the entire region during the month, leading to fog formation on many days. IMD also predicted “normal to above normal” rainfall across “most parts” of the country, which is conducive for the standing Rabi (winter sown) crops. Though Punjab, Haryana and other parts of northwest India are likely to get ‘below normal’ showers, it won’t impact the farming operations there due to a fairly good irrigation network and water storage facilities in the region.Releasing the annual climate summary for 2025, director general of the IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, said the year with recording 0.28 degree Celsius higher than the long-term (1991-2020) average temperature turned out to be “eighth warmest year” since nationwide temperature records began in the country in 1901.“Notably, 10 of the 15 warmest years in India have occurred during the recent 15-year period (2011-25),” he said, underlining that the year 2024 was the warmest year on record with reporting 0.65 degree C above the long-term average temperature.Last year’s winter was not as severe as what may be experienced this year. It was clearly reflected from the temperature anomaly of Jan and Feb of 2025. Feb last year recorded the “highest monthly mean temperature ever” for the country whereas Jan marked the “second highest” on record since 1901.IMD data shows the extreme weather events led to 2,763 deaths in 2025 with Uttar Pradesh recording the highest such casualties followed by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Bihar. Floods and heavy rains took the highest toll of 1,372 followed by lightning & thunderstorms that took 1,317 lives.As far as the global average temperature in 2025 was concerned, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) recently noted that the year is set to be either the second or third warmest year on record. So far, 2024 was the warmest year on record globally followed by 2023, the previous warmest. Both these years along with 2025 may, therefore, now be the three warmest years on record.Mohapatra attributed a virtually dry Dec 2025 to the absence of western disturbances that bring rains and thunderstorms to the northwest and central India. “The western disturbances are either moving towards north or moving too fast,” he said, attributing the change in pattern to climate change.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWest Bengal SIR Brings Home A Man Presumed Dead For 28 Years In UP’s MuzaffarnagarIndia And Pakistan Exchange List Of Nuclear Installations Under 1988 Agreement‘Vote Theft In Bengal’: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Slams ECI Over SIR, BJP Fires Back180 Kmph While You Sleep! India’s Latest Vande Bharat Sleeper Marks New Era. Check Fares, FeaturesBJP Leader Attacks Shah Rukh Khan Over KKR’s Bangladeshi Cricketer Amid Hindu Lynching in BangladeshRajnath Singh Links Lord Ram’s Ethics To Operation Sindoor, Says India Fought Terror With DignityCleanliness Crown Cracks As Indore Loses 13 Lives To Poisoned Water And Administrative Lapses’India Belongs To Everyone’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat After Tripura Student Dies In Racial AttackIndia’s Silent Warriors On Kartavya Path Bring Army’s Battle-Tested Animals To Republic Day ParadeMidnight To Morning: How India Rang In 2026 With Fireworks Prayers Music And Mass Celebrations123PhotostoriesKidney damage: 10 symptoms of kidney problems people mistake for dehydration3 bitter truths about packaged foods you didn’t knowInside ‘Bigg Boss 19’ fame Ashnoor Kaur’s tech-savvy Mumbai homeFrom Arjun Tendulkar-Saaniya Chandhok to Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce: 5 most-anticipated celebrity weddings of 2026How to make Hara Bhara Kebab for evening snackingTV celebs like Ashnoor Kaur, Hina Khan are welcoming 2026 with open arms in unique ways; here’s how – See Inside8 powerful life lessons from Joseph Murphy’s “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind”Asrani birth anniversary: Lesser known facts about the late and legendary ‘Ikkis’ and ‘Sholay’ actorBengaluru’s Bottleneck Breaker: Hebbal’s New Flyover Ramp That Promises Smoother Drives5 unbelievable predictions by Leonardo da Vinci ahead of his time123Hot PicksSaudi Strike YemenPAN-Aadhaar link statusBank holiday New YearGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundBahrain Golden Visa 2025Bank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingJustin Thomas Net WorthWWE Star Nikki BellaCardi BCeeDee Lamb Luxury Car CollectionStefon DiggsCaitlin ClarkTom BradyMicah Parsons vs CeeDee Lamb Net WorthNHL Injury UpdateVanessa Bryant

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Year 2025 was the eighth warmest year on record in India whereas the 2016-25 period emerged as the warmest decade, the IMD said while releasing its annual climate summary on Thursday. Making a monthly forecast for the current month, it said most regions of the country are likely to experience “below normal” minimum…

Read More
Sachet–Parampara’s car windshield smashed after New Year’s Eve concert in West Bengal; video shows chaotic scenes

Sachet–Parampara’s car windshield smashed after New Year’s Eve concert in West Bengal; video shows chaotic scenes

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

What was meant to be a celebratory end to 2025 took a troubling turn for singer–composer duo Sachet–Parampara after their New Year’s Eve performance in Balurghat, West Bengal. As Sachet Tandon and Parampara Thakur attempted to leave the venue, a large crowd surrounded their vehicle, leading to a chaotic situation that culminated in the car’s…

Read More
Charles Barkley’s net worth in 2025-2026: Exploring former NBA star and Hall of Famer’s contract details, brand endorsements, and more | NBA News

Charles Barkley’s net worth in 2025-2026: Exploring former NBA star and Hall of Famer’s contract details, brand endorsements, and more | NBA News

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Charles Barkley’s net worth (Image via Getty Images) Charles Barkley is a former NBA star turned sports analyst. Before joining the big league, Barkley started playing college basketball for Auburn University for nearly three seasons. And even though he couldn’t succeed much in his initial years, slowly and gradually, Barkley became a well-known player at…

Read More
Healthcare shock for Americans! Medical insurance subsidies expired; millions stuck with hiked premiums

Healthcare shock for Americans! Medical insurance subsidies expired; millions stuck with hiked premiums

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Millions of Americans face higher healthcare costs as enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expired on January 1, 2026, despite efforts from both Republicans and Democrats to find a solution. The expiration affects over 20 million people who rely on these subsidies, with average premium costs more than doubling for most enrollees.The subsidies were part…

Read More