August 18, 2026

The constable, Abhishek Kumar, has been suspended and faces departmental proceedings NEW DELHI: Bihar government on Tuesday transferred 17 IPS officers, including the superintendents of police in Bhojpur and Siwan, where police action during recent student protests had sparked controversy.The development comes as the state government told the Supreme Court that a constable fired four rounds from an AK-47 in the air after being surrounded by protesters in Siwan on July 25. The government said no protester was injured in the firing, though three others suffered minor firearm injuries during police action that day.The constable, Abhishek Kumar, has been suspended and faces departmental proceedings. The government said the rifle was meant for special operations, not routine crowd control.This is a developing story. Details to follow…Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.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 MediaVideos30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row‘Personally Meet Students’: Rahul Gandhi Writes To CM Hemant Soren Over Jharkhand Protests123Photostories9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally outSmoking, vaping, or heated tobacco: Which is worse? US-based dentist compares the three7 common non-venomous snakes found around the worldAditi Rao Hydari’s two iconic festive ensembles just made everyone else look underpreparedYou may feel completely fine, but these 6 everyday habits could be hurting your kidneysClassic Kasavu to rich Kanjeevaram:5 South Indian sarees to wear for Onam 2026From handloom cotton to merino wool: 6 fabrics every woman should choose this autumn for comfort, skin health and style123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledAbhijeet DipkeSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins
The constable, Abhishek Kumar, has been suspended and faces departmental proceedings NEW DELHI: Bihar government on Tuesday transferred 17 IPS officers, including the superintendents of police in Bhojpur and Siwan, where police action during recent student protests had sparked controversy.The development comes as the state government told the Supreme Court that a constable fired four rounds from an AK-47 in the air after being surrounded by protesters in Siwan on July 25. The government said no protester was injured in the firing, though three others suffered minor firearm injuries during police action that day.The constable, Abhishek Kumar, has been suspended and faces departmental proceedings. The government said the rifle was meant for special operations, not routine crowd control.This is a developing story. Details to follow…Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.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 MediaVideos30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row‘Personally Meet Students’: Rahul Gandhi Writes To CM Hemant Soren Over Jharkhand Protests123Photostories9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally outSmoking, vaping, or heated tobacco: Which is worse? US-based dentist compares the three7 common non-venomous snakes found around the worldAditi Rao Hydari’s two iconic festive ensembles just made everyone else look underpreparedYou may feel completely fine, but these 6 everyday habits could be hurting your kidneysClassic Kasavu to rich Kanjeevaram:5 South Indian sarees to wear for Onam 2026From handloom cotton to merino wool: 6 fabrics every woman should choose this autumn for comfort, skin health and style123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledAbhijeet DipkeSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir


Bihar transfers 17 IPS officers amid row over AK-47 use during student protest
The constable, Abhishek Kumar, has been suspended and faces departmental proceedings

NEW DELHI: Bihar government on Tuesday transferred 17 IPS officers, including the superintendents of police in Bhojpur and Siwan, where police action during recent student protests had sparked controversy.The development comes as the state government told the Supreme Court that a constable fired four rounds from an AK-47 in the air after being surrounded by protesters in Siwan on July 25. The government said no protester was injured in the firing, though three others suffered minor firearm injuries during police action that day.The constable, Abhishek Kumar, has been suspended and faces departmental proceedings. The government said the rifle was meant for special operations, not routine crowd control.This is a developing story. Details to follow…



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Ritabrata Banerjee to continue as the LoP in the West Bengal Assembly. NEW DELHI: Ritabrata Banerjee will continue as the leader of opposition in the West Bengal Assembly for now as the Calcutta high court division bench on Tuesday declined to disturb his appointment at the current stage.The bench of Justices Shampa Sarkar and Ajay Kumar Gupta directed that the challenge to his appointment be decided by a single judge within two months.The case was filed by Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, a TMC MLA from the Mamata Banerjee camp, who had challenged assembly speaker Rathindra Bose’s decision to appoint Ritabrata Banerjee as the leader of opposition.The division bench’s order means that Banerjee will remain in the post until the single bench decides Chattopadhyay’s petition.Chattopadhyay had approached the high court after the Speaker rejected his claim to the post and appointed Ritabrata Banerjee instead.The matter had earlier come before a single bench, which on June 18 declined to grant any interim relief against the speaker’s decision. Chattopadhyay then challenged that order before the division bench.The division bench has now directed the single bench to hear the challenge to the speaker’s decision and reach a decision within two months. Until then, Ritabrata Banerjee will continue as leader of opposition.Ritabrata, Sandipan Saha (who is now deputy LoP), and several other rebel MLAs backing BJP-led NDA have alleged their signatures were forged on a May 6 letter sent to the assembly speaker proposing Sobhandeb’s name as LoP – a case making headlines as “signgate” and being investigated by Bengal police CID.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesSandipan called high court’s refusal to intervene a “moral victory”. “Ritabrata and I had initiated this fight. We brought the alleged signature irregularities in TMC’s letter to the speaker’s notice. The issue then went to court. Today’s victory in HC confirms that law is on our side,” he said.High court’s refusal to hit pause has left Ritabrata firmly in the saddle for now, but courtroom battles and political trench warfare inside TMC show few signs of easing. “Of 80 Trinamool MLAs, 65 are with us. Of the remaining 15, one is in jail. For the time being, 14 are on the other side. Let us wait and watch,” Ritabrata said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRajeev SinghRajeev Singh is a Digital Content Producer with The Times of India. He covers politics, policies, defence, and conflicts for readers curious to know their implications. He loves digging into legal maxims and political trivia. 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Ritabrata Banerjee to continue as the LoP in the West Bengal Assembly. NEW DELHI: Ritabrata Banerjee will continue as the leader of opposition in the West Bengal Assembly for now as the Calcutta high court division bench on Tuesday declined to disturb his appointment at the current stage.The bench of Justices Shampa Sarkar and Ajay Kumar Gupta directed that the challenge to his appointment be decided by a single judge within two months.The case was filed by Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, a TMC MLA from the Mamata Banerjee camp, who had challenged assembly speaker Rathindra Bose’s decision to appoint Ritabrata Banerjee as the leader of opposition.The division bench’s order means that Banerjee will remain in the post until the single bench decides Chattopadhyay’s petition.Chattopadhyay had approached the high court after the Speaker rejected his claim to the post and appointed Ritabrata Banerjee instead.The matter had earlier come before a single bench, which on June 18 declined to grant any interim relief against the speaker’s decision. Chattopadhyay then challenged that order before the division bench.The division bench has now directed the single bench to hear the challenge to the speaker’s decision and reach a decision within two months. Until then, Ritabrata Banerjee will continue as leader of opposition.Ritabrata, Sandipan Saha (who is now deputy LoP), and several other rebel MLAs backing BJP-led NDA have alleged their signatures were forged on a May 6 letter sent to the assembly speaker proposing Sobhandeb’s name as LoP – a case making headlines as “signgate” and being investigated by Bengal police CID.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesSandipan called high court’s refusal to intervene a “moral victory”. “Ritabrata and I had initiated this fight. We brought the alleged signature irregularities in TMC’s letter to the speaker’s notice. The issue then went to court. Today’s victory in HC confirms that law is on our side,” he said.High court’s refusal to hit pause has left Ritabrata firmly in the saddle for now, but courtroom battles and political trench warfare inside TMC show few signs of easing. “Of 80 Trinamool MLAs, 65 are with us. Of the remaining 15, one is in jail. For the time being, 14 are on the other side. Let us wait and watch,” Ritabrata said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRajeev SinghRajeev Singh is a Digital Content Producer with The Times of India. He covers politics, policies, defence, and conflicts for readers curious to know their implications. He loves digging into legal maxims and political trivia. 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Vamsikrishna 0
File photo: MGNREGA workers at a work site (Picture credit: PTI) MGNREGA, which served as rural India’s job safety net for two decades, was repealed on July 1, 2026. In its place is the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, which raises the guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days per rural household.The new scheme has set an approved labour budget of 95.03 crore person-days. So far, 62.20 crore person-days have been generated, or 65.51% of the approved target. Of these, 16.84% have gone to Scheduled Caste workers.Government data showed that 5.20 crore person-days had been generated by July 22, with more than 99.5% of workers who demanded employment having been offered work. Subsequently, the government told Parliament that more than 9.69 crore person-days had been generated in approximately the first month of implementation.That raises the bigger question: what does VB-G RAM G change for rural employment, and how does its scale compare with the programme it replaces? With 125 days of guaranteed work, a new funding structure and a different allocation framework, the impact will be particularly significant for states that have historically relied heavily on the rural jobs programme.What will change under the new employment schemeWith VB-G RAM G, the government wants rural employment to create durable assets while linking wage work with village infrastructure, livelihoods and climate resilience. The permitted works include water-related projects, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure and projects to tackle extreme weather events.In short, the government’s pitch is simple: more days of work, better wages and more useful assets for rural India.But what does it mean for states?The biggest change states cannot ignoreThe Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, came into force across rural India on July 1, 2026. With it, MGNREGA, enacted in 2005, was repealed.Workers continue to have the right to demand work and are entitled to unemployment allowance if employment is not provided within the prescribed period. But the way the programme is funded and allocated has changed significantly.Under MGNREGA, the Centre bore the full cost of unskilled wages and 75% of material costs and wages of skilled and semi-skilled workers, while states met the remaining share along with certain other liabilities.Under VB-G RAM G, most states will have to share the cost with the Centre in a 60:40 ratio. That means states will have to put more of their own money into the programme.This is important because many of the states that have historically generated the highest number of rural employment person-days are also among the biggest beneficiaries of the new scheme.The Centre has earmarked Rs 95,692.31 crore as its share for VB-G RAM G in 2026-27, covering the nine-month period from July 1 to March 31. Including the expected state contribution, the total programme outlay is estimated to cross Rs 1.51 lakh crore.States at stake: Where the transition matters mostThe new framework retains the rural employment guarantee but changes how work is funded, allocated and planned, with major implications for states that have historically accounted for a large share of rural employment workers and person-days.Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar remain among the biggest users of the programme, according to government data. SBI Research, however, estimates that the new funding formula could significantly alter the distribution of funds among states.Under MGNREGA, the Centre bore the entire cost of unskilled wages and 75% of material and skilled or semi-skilled wage costs. Under VB-G RAM G, the ratio for most states has shifted to 60:40, while specified North-Eastern and Himalayan states and Jammu & Kashmir retain the 90:10 arrangement.The new law also allows states to notify an aggregate period of up to 60 days during the peak agricultural season when works under the programme may be paused, with the stated aim of ensuring labour availability for agriculture. The 125-day guarantee means at least 25 additional days of employment remain available outside this period compared with the earlier 100-day entitlement.Works will focus on four areas: water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure and climate resilience.Another key change is the move towards normative allocation. State allocations will consider factors including rural population, work demand, number of Gram Panchayats, women’s participation, person-days generated and individual asset creation.The government has, however, maintained that the scheme continues to be demand-driven and that workers retain the statutory right to demand employment. The normative allocation relates to how the financial envelope is apportioned among states.This could reshape the flow of funds, particularly for states that have traditionally relied heavily on the rural jobs programme.UP, Maharashtra could emerge as biggest gainersAccording to an SBI Research report released in December 2025, a hypothetical exercise comparing the new normative formula with average MGNREGA allocations during FY19-FY25, excluding Covid-hit FY21, suggests that Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra could be the biggest gainers under the new framework.UP could see a notional increase of about Rs 5,568 crore, while Maharashtra could gain around Rs 4,284 crore. Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Bihar follow, with estimated gains of Rs 1,609 crore, Rs 1,336 crore and Rs 1,152 crore, respectively.What will change under the new employment schemeThe overall simulated gain for states is around Rs 16,946 crore. SBI Research says almost all states could be net gainers under the hypothetical formula, with Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu the exceptions.However, these numbers are illustrative and not final allocations, as the outcome is liable to change depending on the final criteria, weights, demand and implementation.UP: Largest potential beneficiaryUttar Pradesh has one of the country’s largest rural employment bases, and SBI Research’s simulation suggests it could emerge as the biggest beneficiary under the new framework.More than a month after the scheme came into effect on July 1, rural development department data show that 7.69 lakh households have availed themselves of employment. The state has more than 1.77 crore job card-holding households, although the two figures cannot be directly compared as a measure of unmet demand because not every job-card household necessarily seeks work in a given period.Nationwide, government data showed that more than 99.5% of workers who had demanded employment by July 22 had been offered work.The early numbers come as the Centre pitches VB-G RAM G as an upgrade over MGNREGA, with a larger budget, 125 days of guaranteed employment and greater emphasis on creating rural assets.UP’s job-card base is also significant. Of the 1.77 crore households, around 52.8 lakh are from Scheduled Caste communities, 1.78 lakh are tribal households, while about 1.22 crore belong to the general and OBC categories.For comparison, SBI Research’s FY26 data show around 49 lakh households had worked under MGNREGA in UP, while government data show more than 62 lakh people availed themselves of employment under the scheme in FY25-26.SBI Research has also argued that there was scope to improve employment generation through better spending efficiency. In its FY25 analysis, it estimated that spending levels could potentially have supported employment for around 81 lakh households in UP, compared with 65.3 lakh households actually employed.Tamil Nadu has a lot at stakeTamil Nadu is one of the largest users of the rural jobs programme. In FY26 so far, around 53 lakh households in the state had worked under MGNREGA, according to the SBI Research compilation. The state also generated around 1,274 lakh person-days during the period covered by the report.The SBI simulation puts Tamil Nadu’s notional allocation Rs 909 crore below its historical average. However, the report says that if an unusual 29% rise in allocation in FY24 is excluded, the estimated loss falls to just Rs 63 crore.Who will fund VB-G RAM GTamil Nadu’s importance is also visible in the government’s latest data. In FY25-26, 7.58 million people availed themselves of employment under MGNREGA in the state.Rajasthan, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh also remain crucialRajasthan was another major user of the rural jobs programme. About 42 lakh households had worked under MGNREGA in FY26 so far in the SBI dataset, while the state received around Rs 7,582 crore under the 2025-26 allocation.Bihar had around 46 lakh households working under MGNREGA in the SBI data and received about Rs 6,716 crore under the FY26 allocation. SBI’s hypothetical formula indicates a potential gain of around Rs 1,152 crore for the state.Andhra Pradesh is a different case. It remains one of the biggest rural jobs states, with about 41 lakh households working under MGNREGA in the SBI dataset and an FY26 allocation of around Rs 7,707 crore. But the SBI simulation shows a small potential decline of around Rs 140 crore compared with its historical average.The Centre’s financial commitment under the new scheme is also higher. SBI Research estimates that the annual requirement for wages, materials and administration under VB-G RAM G could be around Rs 1.51 lakh crore, including the state contribution. The estimated Centre share alone is around Rs 95,692 crore, about 11% higher than the Rs 86,000 crore MGNREGA budget allocation for FY26.The government has also released state-wise allocations under VB-G RAM G for FY27. The total state-wise allocation is about Rs 93,842 crore, with the Centre’s overall share, including funds for social audit and central administration, taking the figure to Rs 95,692 crore.Among the biggest state allocations are Uttar Pradesh at Rs 9,721 crore, West Bengal at Rs 8,508 crore, Andhra Pradesh at Rs 7,707 crore, Tamil Nadu at Rs 7,585 crore, Rajasthan at Rs 7,582 crore, Bihar at Rs 6,716 crore and Madhya Pradesh at Rs 6,252 crore.States pay moreThe bigger central allocation comes with a bigger financial responsibility for states. Under the new 60:40 arrangement, most states will have to fund 40% of the programme cost.SBI Research argues that concerns over widespread fiscal stress may be overstated, noting that states already had financial responsibilities under MGNREGA, including unemployment allowance, part of material costs and state-level administrative expenses. It also points out that a majority of states have borrowed below their permitted fiscal-deficit limits in recent years.Still, the shift means states will need to decide where to deploy their rural-development spending, particularly because the new scheme is expected to involve more asset creation and infrastructure-linked works.Applying for the new employment schemeMore jobs — but also more scrutinyThe biggest promise of VB-G RAM G is not simply higher spending, but better conversion of spending into employment and rural assets.SBI Research estimates that around 5.78 crore households worked under MGNREGA in FY25. Its analysis of 18 major states suggests that better spending efficiency could potentially have supported employment for more households under the old system.The new system therefore brings stronger monitoring mechanisms, including biometric authentication, spatial technology-based planning, digital monitoring, weekly public disclosure and strengthened social audits.The role of Gram Panchayats is also being expanded. They are expected to become the centre of planning, implementation and monitoring, with the idea that works can be better matched to local requirements.The bottom lineThe shift from MGNREGA to VB-G RAM G changes more than the number of guaranteed workdays. For states, the bigger questions are how funds are allocated, how much they have to contribute and what the money delivers on the ground.The new formula could reshuffle the state-wise picture, with SBI Research’s simulation pointing to Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra as potential major gainers, while Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh could see modest reductions compared with their historical averages. The final outcome, however, will depend on the criteria and weights adopted and how efficiently states use their share.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesFor workers, VB-G RAM G raises the employment guarantee by 25 days, while retaining the statutory right to demand work. For the Centre and states, it introduces a different funding structure and a greater emphasis on creating durable rural assets.The comparison with MGNREGA, therefore, is not simply about whether more or fewer person-days are generated. The bigger shift lies in the scale of the guarantee, how the programme is funded and how rural employment spending is expected to translate into infrastructure and livelihood assets. How these changes play out across states will become clearer as implementation gathers pace.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row123Photostories‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally outSmoking, vaping, or heated tobacco: Which is worse? US-based dentist compares the three7 common non-venomous snakes found around the worldAditi Rao Hydari’s two iconic festive ensembles just made everyone else look underpreparedYou may feel completely fine, but these 6 everyday habits could be hurting your kidneysClassic Kasavu to rich Kanjeevaram:5 South Indian sarees to wear for Onam 2026123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledAbhijeet DipkeSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir

File photo: MGNREGA workers at a work site (Picture credit: PTI) MGNREGA, which served as rural India’s job safety net for two decades, was repealed on July 1, 2026. In its place is the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, which raises the guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days per rural household.The new scheme has set an approved labour budget of 95.03 crore person-days. So far, 62.20 crore person-days have been generated, or 65.51% of the approved target. Of these, 16.84% have gone to Scheduled Caste workers.Government data showed that 5.20 crore person-days had been generated by July 22, with more than 99.5% of workers who demanded employment having been offered work. Subsequently, the government told Parliament that more than 9.69 crore person-days had been generated in approximately the first month of implementation.That raises the bigger question: what does VB-G RAM G change for rural employment, and how does its scale compare with the programme it replaces? With 125 days of guaranteed work, a new funding structure and a different allocation framework, the impact will be particularly significant for states that have historically relied heavily on the rural jobs programme.What will change under the new employment schemeWith VB-G RAM G, the government wants rural employment to create durable assets while linking wage work with village infrastructure, livelihoods and climate resilience. The permitted works include water-related projects, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure and projects to tackle extreme weather events.In short, the government’s pitch is simple: more days of work, better wages and more useful assets for rural India.But what does it mean for states?The biggest change states cannot ignoreThe Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, came into force across rural India on July 1, 2026. With it, MGNREGA, enacted in 2005, was repealed.Workers continue to have the right to demand work and are entitled to unemployment allowance if employment is not provided within the prescribed period. But the way the programme is funded and allocated has changed significantly.Under MGNREGA, the Centre bore the full cost of unskilled wages and 75% of material costs and wages of skilled and semi-skilled workers, while states met the remaining share along with certain other liabilities.Under VB-G RAM G, most states will have to share the cost with the Centre in a 60:40 ratio. That means states will have to put more of their own money into the programme.This is important because many of the states that have historically generated the highest number of rural employment person-days are also among the biggest beneficiaries of the new scheme.The Centre has earmarked Rs 95,692.31 crore as its share for VB-G RAM G in 2026-27, covering the nine-month period from July 1 to March 31. Including the expected state contribution, the total programme outlay is estimated to cross Rs 1.51 lakh crore.States at stake: Where the transition matters mostThe new framework retains the rural employment guarantee but changes how work is funded, allocated and planned, with major implications for states that have historically accounted for a large share of rural employment workers and person-days.Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar remain among the biggest users of the programme, according to government data. SBI Research, however, estimates that the new funding formula could significantly alter the distribution of funds among states.Under MGNREGA, the Centre bore the entire cost of unskilled wages and 75% of material and skilled or semi-skilled wage costs. Under VB-G RAM G, the ratio for most states has shifted to 60:40, while specified North-Eastern and Himalayan states and Jammu & Kashmir retain the 90:10 arrangement.The new law also allows states to notify an aggregate period of up to 60 days during the peak agricultural season when works under the programme may be paused, with the stated aim of ensuring labour availability for agriculture. The 125-day guarantee means at least 25 additional days of employment remain available outside this period compared with the earlier 100-day entitlement.Works will focus on four areas: water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure and climate resilience.Another key change is the move towards normative allocation. State allocations will consider factors including rural population, work demand, number of Gram Panchayats, women’s participation, person-days generated and individual asset creation.The government has, however, maintained that the scheme continues to be demand-driven and that workers retain the statutory right to demand employment. The normative allocation relates to how the financial envelope is apportioned among states.This could reshape the flow of funds, particularly for states that have traditionally relied heavily on the rural jobs programme.UP, Maharashtra could emerge as biggest gainersAccording to an SBI Research report released in December 2025, a hypothetical exercise comparing the new normative formula with average MGNREGA allocations during FY19-FY25, excluding Covid-hit FY21, suggests that Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra could be the biggest gainers under the new framework.UP could see a notional increase of about Rs 5,568 crore, while Maharashtra could gain around Rs 4,284 crore. Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Bihar follow, with estimated gains of Rs 1,609 crore, Rs 1,336 crore and Rs 1,152 crore, respectively.What will change under the new employment schemeThe overall simulated gain for states is around Rs 16,946 crore. SBI Research says almost all states could be net gainers under the hypothetical formula, with Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu the exceptions.However, these numbers are illustrative and not final allocations, as the outcome is liable to change depending on the final criteria, weights, demand and implementation.UP: Largest potential beneficiaryUttar Pradesh has one of the country’s largest rural employment bases, and SBI Research’s simulation suggests it could emerge as the biggest beneficiary under the new framework.More than a month after the scheme came into effect on July 1, rural development department data show that 7.69 lakh households have availed themselves of employment. The state has more than 1.77 crore job card-holding households, although the two figures cannot be directly compared as a measure of unmet demand because not every job-card household necessarily seeks work in a given period.Nationwide, government data showed that more than 99.5% of workers who had demanded employment by July 22 had been offered work.The early numbers come as the Centre pitches VB-G RAM G as an upgrade over MGNREGA, with a larger budget, 125 days of guaranteed employment and greater emphasis on creating rural assets.UP’s job-card base is also significant. Of the 1.77 crore households, around 52.8 lakh are from Scheduled Caste communities, 1.78 lakh are tribal households, while about 1.22 crore belong to the general and OBC categories.For comparison, SBI Research’s FY26 data show around 49 lakh households had worked under MGNREGA in UP, while government data show more than 62 lakh people availed themselves of employment under the scheme in FY25-26.SBI Research has also argued that there was scope to improve employment generation through better spending efficiency. In its FY25 analysis, it estimated that spending levels could potentially have supported employment for around 81 lakh households in UP, compared with 65.3 lakh households actually employed.Tamil Nadu has a lot at stakeTamil Nadu is one of the largest users of the rural jobs programme. In FY26 so far, around 53 lakh households in the state had worked under MGNREGA, according to the SBI Research compilation. The state also generated around 1,274 lakh person-days during the period covered by the report.The SBI simulation puts Tamil Nadu’s notional allocation Rs 909 crore below its historical average. However, the report says that if an unusual 29% rise in allocation in FY24 is excluded, the estimated loss falls to just Rs 63 crore.Who will fund VB-G RAM GTamil Nadu’s importance is also visible in the government’s latest data. In FY25-26, 7.58 million people availed themselves of employment under MGNREGA in the state.Rajasthan, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh also remain crucialRajasthan was another major user of the rural jobs programme. About 42 lakh households had worked under MGNREGA in FY26 so far in the SBI dataset, while the state received around Rs 7,582 crore under the 2025-26 allocation.Bihar had around 46 lakh households working under MGNREGA in the SBI data and received about Rs 6,716 crore under the FY26 allocation. SBI’s hypothetical formula indicates a potential gain of around Rs 1,152 crore for the state.Andhra Pradesh is a different case. It remains one of the biggest rural jobs states, with about 41 lakh households working under MGNREGA in the SBI dataset and an FY26 allocation of around Rs 7,707 crore. But the SBI simulation shows a small potential decline of around Rs 140 crore compared with its historical average.The Centre’s financial commitment under the new scheme is also higher. SBI Research estimates that the annual requirement for wages, materials and administration under VB-G RAM G could be around Rs 1.51 lakh crore, including the state contribution. The estimated Centre share alone is around Rs 95,692 crore, about 11% higher than the Rs 86,000 crore MGNREGA budget allocation for FY26.The government has also released state-wise allocations under VB-G RAM G for FY27. The total state-wise allocation is about Rs 93,842 crore, with the Centre’s overall share, including funds for social audit and central administration, taking the figure to Rs 95,692 crore.Among the biggest state allocations are Uttar Pradesh at Rs 9,721 crore, West Bengal at Rs 8,508 crore, Andhra Pradesh at Rs 7,707 crore, Tamil Nadu at Rs 7,585 crore, Rajasthan at Rs 7,582 crore, Bihar at Rs 6,716 crore and Madhya Pradesh at Rs 6,252 crore.States pay moreThe bigger central allocation comes with a bigger financial responsibility for states. Under the new 60:40 arrangement, most states will have to fund 40% of the programme cost.SBI Research argues that concerns over widespread fiscal stress may be overstated, noting that states already had financial responsibilities under MGNREGA, including unemployment allowance, part of material costs and state-level administrative expenses. It also points out that a majority of states have borrowed below their permitted fiscal-deficit limits in recent years.Still, the shift means states will need to decide where to deploy their rural-development spending, particularly because the new scheme is expected to involve more asset creation and infrastructure-linked works.Applying for the new employment schemeMore jobs — but also more scrutinyThe biggest promise of VB-G RAM G is not simply higher spending, but better conversion of spending into employment and rural assets.SBI Research estimates that around 5.78 crore households worked under MGNREGA in FY25. Its analysis of 18 major states suggests that better spending efficiency could potentially have supported employment for more households under the old system.The new system therefore brings stronger monitoring mechanisms, including biometric authentication, spatial technology-based planning, digital monitoring, weekly public disclosure and strengthened social audits.The role of Gram Panchayats is also being expanded. They are expected to become the centre of planning, implementation and monitoring, with the idea that works can be better matched to local requirements.The bottom lineThe shift from MGNREGA to VB-G RAM G changes more than the number of guaranteed workdays. For states, the bigger questions are how funds are allocated, how much they have to contribute and what the money delivers on the ground.The new formula could reshuffle the state-wise picture, with SBI Research’s simulation pointing to Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra as potential major gainers, while Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh could see modest reductions compared with their historical averages. The final outcome, however, will depend on the criteria and weights adopted and how efficiently states use their share.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesFor workers, VB-G RAM G raises the employment guarantee by 25 days, while retaining the statutory right to demand work. For the Centre and states, it introduces a different funding structure and a greater emphasis on creating durable rural assets.The comparison with MGNREGA, therefore, is not simply about whether more or fewer person-days are generated. The bigger shift lies in the scale of the guarantee, how the programme is funded and how rural employment spending is expected to translate into infrastructure and livelihood assets. How these changes play out across states will become clearer as implementation gathers pace.Get the latest India News and Live updates. 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NEW DELHI: P for Pichde (backwards) … P for Pidit (oppressed) … and now P for Pandit. Is Akhilesh Yadav playing smart with his acronym politics? Or is the SP chief just desperate not to miss any support group as he expands his PDA politics for the 2027 assembly elections?When Akhilesh Yadav coined the term PDA, it originally stood for Pichde (backwards), Dalits and Alpsankhyaks (minorities) – who were the core voter base of the party. His social coalition did wonders in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, helping the party win 37 seats – its best-ever performance in the state.Little wonder, from 2024 to 2026, Akhilesh has changed the full form of his acronym PDA many times. The latest one was last week, when he asserted that “PD” in his PDA also stood for the Pandits.”People keep talking about PDA and inventing new definitions of it. Ever since they lost to PDA, they have been trying to redefine it. But they have forgotten that the ‘PD’ in PDA also stands for Pandits. The more they inflict pain (peeda), the stronger PDA will become,” Akhilesh Yadav said at a Brahmin Sammelan organised at the SP state headquarters in Lucknow on the birth anniversary of late socialist leader Janeshwar Mishra.The SP chief went on to allege that the Yogi Adityanath government had denied permission to hold the event at its proposed venue, Janeshwar Mishra Park in Gomti Nagar, which forced the party to hold it at their office premises instead.Why “PD” for Pandits nowAkhilesh Yadav’s outreach to Brahmins adds an interesting dimension to his politics. His PDA politics is an attempt to broaden his social coalition in the state and break free from the stereotype of being a “Yadav-Muslim” leader/party. In fact, the idea behind his PDA acronym was to include the Dalits in his support base. And to that extent, his experiment yielded great results in 2024. The SP managed to get sizable support of Dalits in UP, who have in large numbers moved away from Mayawati’s BSP in the last two elections.But as Akhilesh Yadav gears up for the 2027 electoral battle, his Dalit outreach faces a new challenge. And this challenge comes from the ruling BJP, which has embarked on an aggressive campaign to woo the Dalits. From renaming Bhadohi as Sant Ravi Das Nagar to launching a seven-month campaign to honour Sant Ravi Das – the BJP is going all out to woo the Dalits in both Uttar Pradesh and Punjab – the two states that go to assembly polls early next year.To perhaps counter this, Akhilesh has set his eyes on the Brahmins amid talk of resentment among a section of the community with the BJP.Then there is also BSP chief Mayawati, who has renewed her Brahmin outreach for the 2027 elections and has stepped up her attacks on the SP. In June, Mayawati targeted Akhilesh in a post on X, and wrote: “Ever since the BSP started selecting candidates keeping in mind the participation of upper-caste communities, especially Brahmins, there is a visible restlessness among the Opposition parties, particularly the Samajwadi Party.”Earlier in January, in her birthday address, Mayawati had sought to remind voters of the political importance and representation Brahmins enjoyed during the BSP governments. She had also alleged that the community was facing neglect under the BJP.‘Brahmins have been subjected to extreme peeda’Akhilesh has claimed that the Brahmins have been subjected to extreme peeda (pain) for long by the BJP govt. Recalling instances where Brahmins were at the receiving end, Akhilesh referred to the Sept 2023 murder of Dr Ghanshyam Tiwari, a doctor at a community health centre in Sultanpur, allegedly by a local muscleman Ajai Narain Singh, who was also said to be a BJP member.”Those who remember the sensational murder will recall the allegations that a drill machine was used by the accused to torture the doctor to death,” Akhilesh said.He then referred to gangster Vikas Dubey, who was arrested in Madhya Pradesh for a police party ambush in which eight policemen were shot dead in Kanpur. On July 10, 2020 Vikas was being transported back to Uttar Pradesh when the police vehicle carrying him overturned following an alleged escape attempt in which Dubey was shot dead. “Everyone knows why the vehicle overturned,” Akhilesh said, adding that had Vikas Dubey survived, he would have revealed uncomfortable facts for the BJP govt.Akhilesh also recalled how Swami Avimukteshwaranand was prevented from taking a holy dip at Sangam during Magh Mela and how Batuks (Brahmin disciples) were humiliated at the same event.”If there is any example in history where a government stopped a Shankaracharya from taking a holy dip, show us one. The Shankaracharya had to stage a protest, and the police misbehaved with his disciples. A false POCSO case was also filed to intimidate him, but he did not bow down,” Yadav said at the gathering.But Akhilesh needs to be cautious. While he goes all out to woo the Brahmins, the SP chief should be careful about not losing the trust and support of his core voters.’SP keeps changing colors like a chameleon’Interestingly, Akhilesh’s Brahmin outreach drew an immediate and sharp response from Mayawati. The Bahujan Samaj Party chief claimed that SP’s Brahmin outreach was due to upper-caste voters, particularly Brahmins, moving towards the BSP.In a post on X, BSP supremo wrote, “As is well known, the Bahujan Samaj Party (B.S.P.) is an Ambedkarite party dedicated to the welfare of all sections of society, implementing the policy and principle of ‘Sarvajan Hitaya and Sarvajan Sukhaya,’ and the four governments it formed in UP were also run on this very basis, whereas the Samajwadi Party (SP) keeps changing colors like a chameleon, openly and evidently, for the sake of its narrow casteist politics and electoral interests, etc.””In this very sequence, after first promoting ‘P’ in their so-called ‘PDA’–meaning (Backward, Dalit, Minority)–as ‘Pichhde’ (Backward), now, upon seeing the upper-caste society, especially the Brahmin community, rapidly joining the B.S.P. and party candidates being nominated on that very basis, the SP, feeling unsettled, has now changed ‘P’ to ‘Pandit,’ which is nothing short of another living proof of their political deception and trickery, if not, then what else is it?” the BSP chief’s post read.Mayawati, whose Dalit-Brahmin social coalition had helped BSP form government in 2007, urged voters across communities to remain cautious of SP’s “narrow casteist politics”, arguing that such political tactics may offer short-term electoral benefits but cannot ensure the welfare of society as a whole.Why Brahmins matter in UP politicsBrahmins are a sizable chunk of UP’s population but not large enough, or perhaps orgainsed enough, to sway electoral outcomes. The Brahmins are spread across all 403 assembly seats in the state without dominating even one of them.Ever since the Congress’s decline in UP, the community has backed the BJP without asking many questions. So, while the BJP tries to woo the other caste groups to broaden its social coalition, the Brahmins are perhaps taken for granted by the saffron party.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThis somewhat settled relationship between the BJP and the Brahmins suffered a jolt when around 35 party legislators were pulled up by the UP leadership for meeting over dinner in Lucknow last December. Two days after this meeting, UP BJP chief issued a warning to party lawmakers against organising caste-based gatherings, saying such actions go against the party’s constitution and values. He said any such activity in future would be treated as an act of indiscipline. This, even though BJP legislators from other communities have held such meetings in UP without facing any party action.Should BJP be worried about support of Brahmins For years, the Brahmins have been part of BJP’s core voter base. The BJP’s electoral politics aligns largely with the aspirations of the community. Though numerically small compared to other caste groups, the BJP has ensured their representation in adequate numbers, both in the party and the government. But the developments in the run-up to the 2027 electoral challenge may require the BJP to reassure the community that has often stood with the party.So, will the Brahmins back the BJP in the 2027 assembly elections? Or will Akhilesh Yadav or Mayawati manage to woo them into his PDA fold? Well, the next few months may see the community being wooed by all parties, including the BJP.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row123Photostories‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally outSmoking, vaping, or heated tobacco: Which is worse? US-based dentist compares the three7 common non-venomous snakes found around the worldAditi Rao Hydari’s two iconic festive ensembles just made everyone else look underpreparedYou may feel completely fine, but these 6 everyday habits could be hurting your kidneysClassic Kasavu to rich Kanjeevaram:5 South Indian sarees to wear for Onam 2026123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledAbhijeet DipkeSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir

NEW DELHI: P for Pichde (backwards) … P for Pidit (oppressed) … and now P for Pandit. Is Akhilesh Yadav playing smart with his acronym politics? Or is the SP chief just desperate not to miss any support group as he expands his PDA politics for the 2027 assembly elections?When Akhilesh Yadav coined the term PDA, it originally stood for Pichde (backwards), Dalits and Alpsankhyaks (minorities) – who were the core voter base of the party. His social coalition did wonders in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, helping the party win 37 seats – its best-ever performance in the state.Little wonder, from 2024 to 2026, Akhilesh has changed the full form of his acronym PDA many times. The latest one was last week, when he asserted that “PD” in his PDA also stood for the Pandits.”People keep talking about PDA and inventing new definitions of it. Ever since they lost to PDA, they have been trying to redefine it. But they have forgotten that the ‘PD’ in PDA also stands for Pandits. The more they inflict pain (peeda), the stronger PDA will become,” Akhilesh Yadav said at a Brahmin Sammelan organised at the SP state headquarters in Lucknow on the birth anniversary of late socialist leader Janeshwar Mishra.The SP chief went on to allege that the Yogi Adityanath government had denied permission to hold the event at its proposed venue, Janeshwar Mishra Park in Gomti Nagar, which forced the party to hold it at their office premises instead.Why “PD” for Pandits nowAkhilesh Yadav’s outreach to Brahmins adds an interesting dimension to his politics. His PDA politics is an attempt to broaden his social coalition in the state and break free from the stereotype of being a “Yadav-Muslim” leader/party. In fact, the idea behind his PDA acronym was to include the Dalits in his support base. And to that extent, his experiment yielded great results in 2024. The SP managed to get sizable support of Dalits in UP, who have in large numbers moved away from Mayawati’s BSP in the last two elections.But as Akhilesh Yadav gears up for the 2027 electoral battle, his Dalit outreach faces a new challenge. And this challenge comes from the ruling BJP, which has embarked on an aggressive campaign to woo the Dalits. From renaming Bhadohi as Sant Ravi Das Nagar to launching a seven-month campaign to honour Sant Ravi Das – the BJP is going all out to woo the Dalits in both Uttar Pradesh and Punjab – the two states that go to assembly polls early next year.To perhaps counter this, Akhilesh has set his eyes on the Brahmins amid talk of resentment among a section of the community with the BJP.Then there is also BSP chief Mayawati, who has renewed her Brahmin outreach for the 2027 elections and has stepped up her attacks on the SP. In June, Mayawati targeted Akhilesh in a post on X, and wrote: “Ever since the BSP started selecting candidates keeping in mind the participation of upper-caste communities, especially Brahmins, there is a visible restlessness among the Opposition parties, particularly the Samajwadi Party.”Earlier in January, in her birthday address, Mayawati had sought to remind voters of the political importance and representation Brahmins enjoyed during the BSP governments. She had also alleged that the community was facing neglect under the BJP.‘Brahmins have been subjected to extreme peeda’Akhilesh has claimed that the Brahmins have been subjected to extreme peeda (pain) for long by the BJP govt. Recalling instances where Brahmins were at the receiving end, Akhilesh referred to the Sept 2023 murder of Dr Ghanshyam Tiwari, a doctor at a community health centre in Sultanpur, allegedly by a local muscleman Ajai Narain Singh, who was also said to be a BJP member.”Those who remember the sensational murder will recall the allegations that a drill machine was used by the accused to torture the doctor to death,” Akhilesh said.He then referred to gangster Vikas Dubey, who was arrested in Madhya Pradesh for a police party ambush in which eight policemen were shot dead in Kanpur. On July 10, 2020 Vikas was being transported back to Uttar Pradesh when the police vehicle carrying him overturned following an alleged escape attempt in which Dubey was shot dead. “Everyone knows why the vehicle overturned,” Akhilesh said, adding that had Vikas Dubey survived, he would have revealed uncomfortable facts for the BJP govt.Akhilesh also recalled how Swami Avimukteshwaranand was prevented from taking a holy dip at Sangam during Magh Mela and how Batuks (Brahmin disciples) were humiliated at the same event.”If there is any example in history where a government stopped a Shankaracharya from taking a holy dip, show us one. The Shankaracharya had to stage a protest, and the police misbehaved with his disciples. A false POCSO case was also filed to intimidate him, but he did not bow down,” Yadav said at the gathering.But Akhilesh needs to be cautious. While he goes all out to woo the Brahmins, the SP chief should be careful about not losing the trust and support of his core voters.’SP keeps changing colors like a chameleon’Interestingly, Akhilesh’s Brahmin outreach drew an immediate and sharp response from Mayawati. The Bahujan Samaj Party chief claimed that SP’s Brahmin outreach was due to upper-caste voters, particularly Brahmins, moving towards the BSP.In a post on X, BSP supremo wrote, “As is well known, the Bahujan Samaj Party (B.S.P.) is an Ambedkarite party dedicated to the welfare of all sections of society, implementing the policy and principle of ‘Sarvajan Hitaya and Sarvajan Sukhaya,’ and the four governments it formed in UP were also run on this very basis, whereas the Samajwadi Party (SP) keeps changing colors like a chameleon, openly and evidently, for the sake of its narrow casteist politics and electoral interests, etc.””In this very sequence, after first promoting ‘P’ in their so-called ‘PDA’–meaning (Backward, Dalit, Minority)–as ‘Pichhde’ (Backward), now, upon seeing the upper-caste society, especially the Brahmin community, rapidly joining the B.S.P. and party candidates being nominated on that very basis, the SP, feeling unsettled, has now changed ‘P’ to ‘Pandit,’ which is nothing short of another living proof of their political deception and trickery, if not, then what else is it?” the BSP chief’s post read.Mayawati, whose Dalit-Brahmin social coalition had helped BSP form government in 2007, urged voters across communities to remain cautious of SP’s “narrow casteist politics”, arguing that such political tactics may offer short-term electoral benefits but cannot ensure the welfare of society as a whole.Why Brahmins matter in UP politicsBrahmins are a sizable chunk of UP’s population but not large enough, or perhaps orgainsed enough, to sway electoral outcomes. The Brahmins are spread across all 403 assembly seats in the state without dominating even one of them.Ever since the Congress’s decline in UP, the community has backed the BJP without asking many questions. So, while the BJP tries to woo the other caste groups to broaden its social coalition, the Brahmins are perhaps taken for granted by the saffron party.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThis somewhat settled relationship between the BJP and the Brahmins suffered a jolt when around 35 party legislators were pulled up by the UP leadership for meeting over dinner in Lucknow last December. Two days after this meeting, UP BJP chief issued a warning to party lawmakers against organising caste-based gatherings, saying such actions go against the party’s constitution and values. He said any such activity in future would be treated as an act of indiscipline. This, even though BJP legislators from other communities have held such meetings in UP without facing any party action.Should BJP be worried about support of Brahmins For years, the Brahmins have been part of BJP’s core voter base. The BJP’s electoral politics aligns largely with the aspirations of the community. Though numerically small compared to other caste groups, the BJP has ensured their representation in adequate numbers, both in the party and the government. But the developments in the run-up to the 2027 electoral challenge may require the BJP to reassure the community that has often stood with the party.So, will the Brahmins back the BJP in the 2027 assembly elections? Or will Akhilesh Yadav or Mayawati manage to woo them into his PDA fold? Well, the next few months may see the community being wooed by all parties, including the BJP.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row123Photostories‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally outSmoking, vaping, or heated tobacco: Which is worse? US-based dentist compares the three7 common non-venomous snakes found around the worldAditi Rao Hydari’s two iconic festive ensembles just made everyone else look underpreparedYou may feel completely fine, but these 6 everyday habits could be hurting your kidneysClassic Kasavu to rich Kanjeevaram:5 South Indian sarees to wear for Onam 2026123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledAbhijeet DipkeSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir

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On allegations that police personnel used lathis fitted with nails, the affidavit said the videos showed only one such incident, but claimed that the object was in the hands of a protester and not a police officer. NEW DELHI: The Delhi police on Tuesday replied to the allegations raised about having officers present in civilian clothing during the crackdown on CJP protesters on July 20. During the hearing, the police said that their deployment was a planned crowd-control measure and not an unlawful use of force.In a counter-affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, deputy commissioner of police Sachin Sharma said personnel from the special branch, special cell, crime branch and local police were strategically deployed inside the crowd as “spotters” because of the urgency of the situation.The police said the officers in plain clothes merged with the protesters to monitor developments and respond to violence.It maintained that such a tactic is neither illegal nor unusual and is also used during large public gatherings such as Independence Day and Republic Day events.Police: Plain clothes deployment for crowd-controlResponding to allegations over videos showing men in civilian clothes carrying lathis, the Delhi police said the footage was being viewed “out of context”.According to the affidavit, the spotters were positioned within the crowd to help manage the situation as the protest escalated. The police said their deployment became necessary after sections of the crowd allegedly breached several layers of barricades and attempted to move towards Parliament.The affidavit states that the police were “constrained to use force” only after the protesters allegedly breached the barricades and violence began.The police further alleged that videos showed groups of protesters targeting individual police personnel, pulling off their protective equipment, dragging them and pushing them onto stone pavements.Police cites scale of protestThe Delhi police said around 5,000 police personnel were deployed to manage a crowd of more than 30,000 people spread over nearly three kilometres.According to the affidavit, the situation eventually went out of control, leading to clashes in which both protesters and police personnel were injured. More than 240 police and other uniformed personnel and around 200 members of the public and protesters sustained injuries, it said.The police argued that the allegation of excessive force had to be assessed against the scale of the gathering and the circumstances in which the force was used.It also claimed that some “anti-social elements” and history-sheeters had infiltrated the protest. The affidavit said around 2,873 people had criminal cases against them, including charges related to murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, rape and POCSO offences. Their alleged involvement will be examined by a Special Investigation Team constituted by the Delhi Police Commissioner, it said.Police denies unlawful use of forceThe affidavit was filed in response to petitions seeking a court-monitored investigation into alleged police excesses during the protest. It is also intended to serve as a common response in four connected petitions.The police has denied that it used excessive force and said it adopted a graded approach to controlling the crowd.It argued that the Parliament march had not been granted permission and that the attempt to move towards Parliament therefore constituted an unlawful act by an unlawful assembly.The police also accused the petitioners of relying on selective photographs, incomplete video clips and unverified reports from the media and social media, saying these presented only one side of the events.Delhi police addresses nails on lathiOn allegations that police personnel used lathis fitted with nails, the affidavit said the videos showed only one such incident, but claimed that the object was in the hands of a protester and not a police officer.The police further said the object was not a lathi but a stick carrying the National Flag.It maintained that lathis are permissible crowd-control equipment and that officers used them while attempting to contain protesters who, according to the police, had begun attacking them.’Court-appointed committee can examine police action’The Delhi police said the question of whether excessive force was used could be examined by the committee proposed to be constituted by the Supreme Court.It said it would cooperate with such a committee.The affidavit also defended the use of facial-recognition software at the protest site, calling it a proportionate policing measure. The police said the system was not used to indiscriminately identify every person at the protest and that no action was taken solely on the basis of facial recognition.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAccording to the police, field verification was conducted to establish whether a person identified by the software was actually present at the protest site. It also said the system was used to identify people with past records of serious offences and not for minor violations such as traffic challans.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row‘Personally Meet Students’: Rahul Gandhi Writes To CM Hemant Soren Over Jharkhand Protests123Photostories9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally outSmoking, vaping, or heated tobacco: Which is worse? US-based dentist compares the three7 common non-venomous snakes found around the worldAditi Rao Hydari’s two iconic festive ensembles just made everyone else look underpreparedYou may feel completely fine, but these 6 everyday habits could be hurting your kidneysClassic Kasavu to rich Kanjeevaram:5 South Indian sarees to wear for Onam 2026From handloom cotton to merino wool: 6 fabrics every woman should choose this autumn for comfort, skin health and style123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledAbhijeet DipkeSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir

On allegations that police personnel used lathis fitted with nails, the affidavit said the videos showed only one such incident, but claimed that the object was in the hands of a protester and not a police officer. NEW DELHI: The Delhi police on Tuesday replied to the allegations raised about having officers present in civilian clothing during the crackdown on CJP protesters on July 20. During the hearing, the police said that their deployment was a planned crowd-control measure and not an unlawful use of force.In a counter-affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, deputy commissioner of police Sachin Sharma said personnel from the special branch, special cell, crime branch and local police were strategically deployed inside the crowd as “spotters” because of the urgency of the situation.The police said the officers in plain clothes merged with the protesters to monitor developments and respond to violence.It maintained that such a tactic is neither illegal nor unusual and is also used during large public gatherings such as Independence Day and Republic Day events.Police: Plain clothes deployment for crowd-controlResponding to allegations over videos showing men in civilian clothes carrying lathis, the Delhi police said the footage was being viewed “out of context”.According to the affidavit, the spotters were positioned within the crowd to help manage the situation as the protest escalated. The police said their deployment became necessary after sections of the crowd allegedly breached several layers of barricades and attempted to move towards Parliament.The affidavit states that the police were “constrained to use force” only after the protesters allegedly breached the barricades and violence began.The police further alleged that videos showed groups of protesters targeting individual police personnel, pulling off their protective equipment, dragging them and pushing them onto stone pavements.Police cites scale of protestThe Delhi police said around 5,000 police personnel were deployed to manage a crowd of more than 30,000 people spread over nearly three kilometres.According to the affidavit, the situation eventually went out of control, leading to clashes in which both protesters and police personnel were injured. More than 240 police and other uniformed personnel and around 200 members of the public and protesters sustained injuries, it said.The police argued that the allegation of excessive force had to be assessed against the scale of the gathering and the circumstances in which the force was used.It also claimed that some “anti-social elements” and history-sheeters had infiltrated the protest. The affidavit said around 2,873 people had criminal cases against them, including charges related to murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, rape and POCSO offences. Their alleged involvement will be examined by a Special Investigation Team constituted by the Delhi Police Commissioner, it said.Police denies unlawful use of forceThe affidavit was filed in response to petitions seeking a court-monitored investigation into alleged police excesses during the protest. It is also intended to serve as a common response in four connected petitions.The police has denied that it used excessive force and said it adopted a graded approach to controlling the crowd.It argued that the Parliament march had not been granted permission and that the attempt to move towards Parliament therefore constituted an unlawful act by an unlawful assembly.The police also accused the petitioners of relying on selective photographs, incomplete video clips and unverified reports from the media and social media, saying these presented only one side of the events.Delhi police addresses nails on lathiOn allegations that police personnel used lathis fitted with nails, the affidavit said the videos showed only one such incident, but claimed that the object was in the hands of a protester and not a police officer.The police further said the object was not a lathi but a stick carrying the National Flag.It maintained that lathis are permissible crowd-control equipment and that officers used them while attempting to contain protesters who, according to the police, had begun attacking them.’Court-appointed committee can examine police action’The Delhi police said the question of whether excessive force was used could be examined by the committee proposed to be constituted by the Supreme Court.It said it would cooperate with such a committee.The affidavit also defended the use of facial-recognition software at the protest site, calling it a proportionate policing measure. The police said the system was not used to indiscriminately identify every person at the protest and that no action was taken solely on the basis of facial recognition.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAccording to the police, field verification was conducted to establish whether a person identified by the software was actually present at the protest site. It also said the system was used to identify people with past records of serious offences and not for minor violations such as traffic challans.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row‘Personally Meet Students’: Rahul Gandhi Writes To CM Hemant Soren Over Jharkhand Protests123Photostories9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally outSmoking, vaping, or heated tobacco: Which is worse? US-based dentist compares the three7 common non-venomous snakes found around the worldAditi Rao Hydari’s two iconic festive ensembles just made everyone else look underpreparedYou may feel completely fine, but these 6 everyday habits could be hurting your kidneysClassic Kasavu to rich Kanjeevaram:5 South Indian sarees to wear for Onam 2026From handloom cotton to merino wool: 6 fabrics every woman should choose this autumn for comfort, skin health and style123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledAbhijeet DipkeSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir

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