July 23, 2026

India

Food Corporation of India NEW DELHI: Food Corporation of India (FCI) has tightened safeguards for the lifting and use of subsidised rice supplied to distilleries under govt’s ethanol blending programme, making distilleries directly accountable for any diversion or misuse of the released grain. In case of misuse or diversion, FCI will file criminal cases.The move is aimed at preventing diversion of subsidised foodgrain and strengthening oversight of the ethanol supply chain.In its revised “operational guidelines” circulated to all field officers, FCI said before the rice is released, the depot manager will obtain a written undertaking from the authorised representative of the distillery stating that it will be solely responsible for the proper utilisation of the subsidised rice after it leaves FCI depots.“In case any other use/ misuse of the rice other than specifically indicated in the instant release order, is found on the part of the distillery, or comes to the notice/ knowledge of FCI through any source, at any stage, during or after the execution of the process/ transaction, FCI reserves the right to take appropriate action including criminal action against the party/ agency,” the guidelines said.It said for getting the allocated subsidised rice for ethanol production, an authorised representative of a distillery must approach the designated FCI depot as mentioned in the release order and furnish details of the vehicles, including their registration numbers, and the destination godowns where the rice will be transported. Depot managers and quality control officials have been directed to ensure that stocks are issued strictly on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis and only to the authorised representative of the distillery.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSupreme Court Drama: Petitioner Abuses CJI, Throws Papers; No Contempt Action TakenDevendra Fadnavis Clarifies ‘Bhade Ke Tattu’ Remark, Says He Will Call Critics ‘Hired Fools’Amit Shah Announces Smart Border Vision With Four-Pronged Security Grid40-Foot Illegal Pipeline Linked To IOCL Oil Network Found In Rajasthan; Police Probe Oil TheftThree-Fold Rise In Assam Budget: Aims At Uplifting People, Says CM Sarma’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | Watch123PhotostoriesTop 6 most visited national parks in the USA every nature lover should experience once in their lifetimeHow Chanel No. 5 got its famous name: The story behind the iconic fragrance10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop them123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Food Corporation of India NEW DELHI: Food Corporation of India (FCI) has tightened safeguards for the lifting and use of subsidised rice supplied to distilleries under govt’s ethanol blending programme, making distilleries directly accountable for any diversion or misuse of the released grain. In case of misuse or diversion, FCI will file criminal cases.The move is aimed at preventing diversion of subsidised foodgrain and strengthening oversight of the ethanol supply chain.In its revised “operational guidelines” circulated to all field officers, FCI said before the rice is released, the depot manager will obtain a written undertaking from the authorised representative of the distillery stating that it will be solely responsible for the proper utilisation of the subsidised rice after it leaves FCI depots.“In case any other use/ misuse of the rice other than specifically indicated in the instant release order, is found on the part of the distillery, or comes to the notice/ knowledge of FCI through any source, at any stage, during or after the execution of the process/ transaction, FCI reserves the right to take appropriate action including criminal action against the party/ agency,” the guidelines said.It said for getting the allocated subsidised rice for ethanol production, an authorised representative of a distillery must approach the designated FCI depot as mentioned in the release order and furnish details of the vehicles, including their registration numbers, and the destination godowns where the rice will be transported. Depot managers and quality control officials have been directed to ensure that stocks are issued strictly on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis and only to the authorised representative of the distillery.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSupreme Court Drama: Petitioner Abuses CJI, Throws Papers; No Contempt Action TakenDevendra Fadnavis Clarifies ‘Bhade Ke Tattu’ Remark, Says He Will Call Critics ‘Hired Fools’Amit Shah Announces Smart Border Vision With Four-Pronged Security Grid40-Foot Illegal Pipeline Linked To IOCL Oil Network Found In Rajasthan; Police Probe Oil TheftThree-Fold Rise In Assam Budget: Aims At Uplifting People, Says CM Sarma’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | Watch123PhotostoriesTop 6 most visited national parks in the USA every nature lover should experience once in their lifetimeHow Chanel No. 5 got its famous name: The story behind the iconic fragrance10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop them123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Food Corporation of India NEW DELHI: Food Corporation of India (FCI) has tightened safeguards for the lifting and use of subsidised rice supplied to distilleries under govt’s ethanol blending programme, making distilleries directly accountable for any diversion or misuse of the released grain. In case of misuse or diversion, FCI will file criminal cases.The move…

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Shabir Shah (File photo) JAMMU: NIA filed Friday a chargesheet against six senior Hurriyat Conference functionaries, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, in a 1996 case of alleged mob violence, firing on police personnel and anti-India activities during a militant’s funeral procession in Srinagar.According to the NIA, all six have been charged with criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, rioting, assault on public servants and under provisions of the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.Union home ministry (MHA) transferred the probe to NIA from J&K Police in April this year. A Jammu court last week rejected Shah’s bail plea in the case, extending his judicial custody in a Jammu jail.Other than Shah, the chargesheet filed before the Jammu court names Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Ganie Lone, Mohd Yaqoob Wakeel, Javid Ahmad Mir and Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi. “Proceedings against Geelani, Lone and Wakeel stand abated following their deaths,” an NIA spokesperson said.According to the central agency, the case dates to July 17, 1996, when the funeral procession of slain militant Hilal Ahmad Beigh was passing Naaz Crossing in Srinagar.NIA claims armed militants mingled with the procession and opened fire on the police, injuring several personnel, while govt vehicles were extensively damaged in heavy stone-pelting. The accused also raised anti-India, pro-Pakistan and other secessionist slogans, made inflammatory speeches and advocated armed struggle, NIA said.According to the agency, the violence was part of a larger conspiracy by the Hurriyat leadership to use the funeral procession as a platform to propagate separatist ideology, mobilise public support against the Centre and provoke public disorder while demonstrating the outfit’s organisational strength in Jammu and Kashmir.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSupreme Court Drama: Petitioner Abuses CJI, Throws Papers; No Contempt Action TakenDevendra Fadnavis Clarifies ‘Bhade Ke Tattu’ Remark, Says He Will Call Critics ‘Hired Fools’Amit Shah Announces Smart Border Vision With Four-Pronged Security Grid40-Foot Illegal Pipeline Linked To IOCL Oil Network Found In Rajasthan; Police Probe Oil TheftThree-Fold Rise In Assam Budget: Aims At Uplifting People, Says CM Sarma’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | Watch123PhotostoriesHow Chanel No. 5 got its famous name: The story behind the iconic fragrance10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmates123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Shabir Shah (File photo) JAMMU: NIA filed Friday a chargesheet against six senior Hurriyat Conference functionaries, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, in a 1996 case of alleged mob violence, firing on police personnel and anti-India activities during a militant’s funeral procession in Srinagar.According to the NIA, all six have been charged with criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, rioting, assault on public servants and under provisions of the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.Union home ministry (MHA) transferred the probe to NIA from J&K Police in April this year. A Jammu court last week rejected Shah’s bail plea in the case, extending his judicial custody in a Jammu jail.Other than Shah, the chargesheet filed before the Jammu court names Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Ganie Lone, Mohd Yaqoob Wakeel, Javid Ahmad Mir and Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi. “Proceedings against Geelani, Lone and Wakeel stand abated following their deaths,” an NIA spokesperson said.According to the central agency, the case dates to July 17, 1996, when the funeral procession of slain militant Hilal Ahmad Beigh was passing Naaz Crossing in Srinagar.NIA claims armed militants mingled with the procession and opened fire on the police, injuring several personnel, while govt vehicles were extensively damaged in heavy stone-pelting. The accused also raised anti-India, pro-Pakistan and other secessionist slogans, made inflammatory speeches and advocated armed struggle, NIA said.According to the agency, the violence was part of a larger conspiracy by the Hurriyat leadership to use the funeral procession as a platform to propagate separatist ideology, mobilise public support against the Centre and provoke public disorder while demonstrating the outfit’s organisational strength in Jammu and Kashmir.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSupreme Court Drama: Petitioner Abuses CJI, Throws Papers; No Contempt Action TakenDevendra Fadnavis Clarifies ‘Bhade Ke Tattu’ Remark, Says He Will Call Critics ‘Hired Fools’Amit Shah Announces Smart Border Vision With Four-Pronged Security Grid40-Foot Illegal Pipeline Linked To IOCL Oil Network Found In Rajasthan; Police Probe Oil TheftThree-Fold Rise In Assam Budget: Aims At Uplifting People, Says CM Sarma’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | Watch123PhotostoriesHow Chanel No. 5 got its famous name: The story behind the iconic fragrance10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmates123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

JAMMU: NIA filed Friday a chargesheet against six senior Hurriyat Conference functionaries, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, in a 1996 case of alleged mob violence, firing on police personnel and anti-India activities during a militant’s funeral procession in Srinagar.According to the NIA, all six have been charged with criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, rioting, assault on…

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After Farooq’s protest invite, Mirwaiz calls for Art 370 inclusion, BJP shreds NC over 2010 killings | India News

After Farooq’s protest invite, Mirwaiz calls for Art 370 inclusion, BJP shreds NC over 2010 killings | India News

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (File photo) SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah’s invitation to 52 national and regional politicians to join the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to demand the restoration of Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood has evoked strong reactions. Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for broadening the protest’s agenda,…

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Centre directs states, UTs to follow correct script, diction for National Anthem, song NEW DELHI: The Centre has directed all states and Union territory administrations to strictly follow the “correct script and diction” while singing or playing the national song and national anthem. In a letter sent to all state chief secretaries and UT administrators on Thursday, the home ministry also said when the state song is sung or played with the national song and anthem, both the national song and national anthem shall be sung or played together. “The national song will be sung or played first followed by the national anthem,” it stated. This means that the state song — sung in some states at official functions and ceremonies — cannot be sung in between the national song and national anthem. The order will require the state song to be played first, followed by the national song and finally the national anthem. On its directive to strictly follow the correct script/text and diction/pronunciations while playing the national song — which is to be played in full, comprising all six stanzas — and national anthem, the home ministry said their correct script and diction can be found on the portal of ministry of home affairs.“It is requested that suitable instructions in this regard may please be issued to concerned institutions/organisations under your jurisdiction, for strict compliance,” stated the MHA.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSupreme Court Drama: Petitioner Abuses CJI, Throws Papers; No Contempt Action TakenDevendra Fadnavis Clarifies ‘Bhade Ke Tattu’ Remark, Says He Will Call Critics ‘Hired Fools’Amit Shah Announces Smart Border Vision With Four-Pronged Security Grid40-Foot Illegal Pipeline Linked To IOCL Oil Network Found In Rajasthan; Police Probe Oil TheftThree-Fold Rise In Assam Budget: Aims At Uplifting People, Says CM Sarma’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | Watch123PhotostoriesHow Chanel No. 5 got its famous name: The story behind the iconic fragrance10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmates123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Centre directs states, UTs to follow correct script, diction for National Anthem, song NEW DELHI: The Centre has directed all states and Union territory administrations to strictly follow the “correct script and diction” while singing or playing the national song and national anthem. In a letter sent to all state chief secretaries and UT administrators on Thursday, the home ministry also said when the state song is sung or played with the national song and anthem, both the national song and national anthem shall be sung or played together. “The national song will be sung or played first followed by the national anthem,” it stated. This means that the state song — sung in some states at official functions and ceremonies — cannot be sung in between the national song and national anthem. The order will require the state song to be played first, followed by the national song and finally the national anthem. On its directive to strictly follow the correct script/text and diction/pronunciations while playing the national song — which is to be played in full, comprising all six stanzas — and national anthem, the home ministry said their correct script and diction can be found on the portal of ministry of home affairs.“It is requested that suitable instructions in this regard may please be issued to concerned institutions/organisations under your jurisdiction, for strict compliance,” stated the MHA.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSupreme Court Drama: Petitioner Abuses CJI, Throws Papers; No Contempt Action TakenDevendra Fadnavis Clarifies ‘Bhade Ke Tattu’ Remark, Says He Will Call Critics ‘Hired Fools’Amit Shah Announces Smart Border Vision With Four-Pronged Security Grid40-Foot Illegal Pipeline Linked To IOCL Oil Network Found In Rajasthan; Police Probe Oil TheftThree-Fold Rise In Assam Budget: Aims At Uplifting People, Says CM Sarma’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | Watch123PhotostoriesHow Chanel No. 5 got its famous name: The story behind the iconic fragrance10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmates123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Centre directs states, UTs to follow correct script, diction for National Anthem, song NEW DELHI: The Centre has directed all states and Union territory administrations to strictly follow the “correct script and diction” while singing or playing the national song and national anthem. In a letter sent to all state chief secretaries and UT administrators…

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Union home minister Amit Shah reviews port security bureau plan, pushes CISF-trained guards | India News

Union home minister Amit Shah reviews port security bureau plan, pushes CISF-trained guards | India News

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Union home minister Amit Shah reviews port security bureau plan, pushes CISF-trained guards NEW DELHI: Home minister Amit Shah, who on Friday reviewed the progress in establishment of a Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), the dedicated agency proposed to oversee regulatory and inspection functions relating to security of ships and port facilities, emphasised that only…

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From Everest to space: Nasa’s PIO astronaut Anil Menon to travel to ISS on 8-month mission on Tuesday | India News

From Everest to space: Nasa’s PIO astronaut Anil Menon to travel to ISS on 8-month mission on Tuesday | India News

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

From Everest to space: Nasa’s PIO astronaut Anil Menon to travel to ISS Indian-American Nasa astronaut Anil Menon, 49, is set to embark on his first eight-month mission to the International Space Station on Tuesday. Menon is an emergency medicine physician and US Space Force Colonel whose Indian heritage stems from his father, who emigrated…

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Fadnavis ups attack on ‘Missing Link’ critics, dubs them ‘bhatka gardabh’, ‘suparibaaz’; taunts Raj Thackeray | India News

Fadnavis ups attack on ‘Missing Link’ critics, dubs them ‘bhatka gardabh’, ‘suparibaaz’; taunts Raj Thackeray | India News

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday intensified his attack on critics of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s Missing Link project, replacing his controversial ‘bhade ke tattu’ remark with ‘bhatka gardabh’ (wandering donkeys) and ‘suparibaaz’ (contracted hatchet men) in the assembly.He also took a swipe at Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, describing him as…

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NEW DELHI: The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has issued fresh directions to all state governments, Union Territory administrations and central ministries, reiterating the rules governing the singing and playing of the National Anthem and the National Song and asking authorities to ensure strict compliance.In a communication dated July 9, the MHA enclosed the existing orders relating to the National Anthem and the National Song, saying they contain an exhaustive list of occasions on which they “shall be played or sung” and the occasions on which they “may be sung or played”.”It is to be noted that while singing or playing the National Song and the National Anthem, their correct script/ text and diction/ pronunciations should be followed strictly,” the order said.The ministry said the authentic text and pronunciation guide for both the National Anthem and the National Song are available on its website and asked states, Union Territories and ministries to issue suitable instructions to institutions and organisations under their jurisdiction for strict compliance.”It is requested that suitable instructions in this regard may please be issued to all concerned institutions and organisations under your jurisdiction, for strict compliance,” the communication said.The MHA reiterated that whenever the National Song and the National Anthem are performed together, the National Song must be sung or played first, followed by the National Anthem. It also clarified that in states where a state song is rendered, the National Song and National Anthem must both be performed, with the National Song preceding the National Anthem.The order said the National Song shall be sung during civil investitures, on the arrival and departure of the President at formal state functions and government events, immediately before and after the President addresses the nation on All India Radio and television, on the arrival and departure of Governors and Lieutenant Governors at formal state functions within their jurisdictions, and when the National Flag is brought on parade. It may also be played on other occasions under special orders issued by the government of India.The ministry recalled its January 28 order laying down the first detailed protocol for singing the National Song, which specified that its six stanzas, lasting about three minutes and ten seconds, should be sung during official functions such as the President’s arrival, unfurling of the National Flag and Governors’ addresses. It also said those present should stand at attention when the National Song is sung.The Centre is observing the 150th year of Vande Mataram. The MHA also referred to the Constituent Assembly’s resolution of January 24, 1950, under which Jana Gana Mana was adopted as the National Anthem, while Vande Mataram, recognising its historic role in India’s freedom struggle, was accorded equal honour and status.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 MediaVideosThree-Fold Rise In Assam Budget: Aims At Uplifting People, Says CM Sarma’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? 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NEW DELHI: The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has issued fresh directions to all state governments, Union Territory administrations and central ministries, reiterating the rules governing the singing and playing of the National Anthem and the National Song and asking authorities to ensure strict compliance.In a communication dated July 9, the MHA enclosed the existing orders relating to the National Anthem and the National Song, saying they contain an exhaustive list of occasions on which they “shall be played or sung” and the occasions on which they “may be sung or played”.”It is to be noted that while singing or playing the National Song and the National Anthem, their correct script/ text and diction/ pronunciations should be followed strictly,” the order said.The ministry said the authentic text and pronunciation guide for both the National Anthem and the National Song are available on its website and asked states, Union Territories and ministries to issue suitable instructions to institutions and organisations under their jurisdiction for strict compliance.”It is requested that suitable instructions in this regard may please be issued to all concerned institutions and organisations under your jurisdiction, for strict compliance,” the communication said.The MHA reiterated that whenever the National Song and the National Anthem are performed together, the National Song must be sung or played first, followed by the National Anthem. It also clarified that in states where a state song is rendered, the National Song and National Anthem must both be performed, with the National Song preceding the National Anthem.The order said the National Song shall be sung during civil investitures, on the arrival and departure of the President at formal state functions and government events, immediately before and after the President addresses the nation on All India Radio and television, on the arrival and departure of Governors and Lieutenant Governors at formal state functions within their jurisdictions, and when the National Flag is brought on parade. It may also be played on other occasions under special orders issued by the government of India.The ministry recalled its January 28 order laying down the first detailed protocol for singing the National Song, which specified that its six stanzas, lasting about three minutes and ten seconds, should be sung during official functions such as the President’s arrival, unfurling of the National Flag and Governors’ addresses. It also said those present should stand at attention when the National Song is sung.The Centre is observing the 150th year of Vande Mataram. The MHA also referred to the Constituent Assembly’s resolution of January 24, 1950, under which Jana Gana Mana was adopted as the National Anthem, while Vande Mataram, recognising its historic role in India’s freedom struggle, was accorded equal honour and status.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 MediaVideosThree-Fold Rise In Assam Budget: Aims At Uplifting People, Says CM Sarma’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? 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Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from them123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

NEW DELHI: The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has issued fresh directions to all state governments, Union Territory administrations and central ministries, reiterating the rules governing the singing and playing of the National Anthem and the National Song and asking authorities to ensure strict compliance.In a communication dated July 9, the MHA enclosed the…

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NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Friday claimed the BJP was “struggling” in the Bankipur assembly bypoll after its original candidate withdrew from the contest, saying the development showed that no constituency was anyone’s “stronghold or personal fiefdom.”His remarks came hours after BJP candidate Abhishek Kumar Sinha withdrew from the July 30 bypoll, citing “family reasons”. The party subsequently named Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its new candidate from the constituency, where Kishor is making his electoral debut.”This demonstrates that no Assembly or Lok Sabha constituency is anyone’s stronghold or personal fiefdom. If the public rises, even the most prominent leaders can be made to sweat. Regarding Bankipur, a constituency where, until recently, BJP members boasted that their fortress was so strong that even if they fielded a dog or a cat, the public would vote for them, the situation has changed. Now that the public has an alternative, the BJP is struggling to find a candidate…Today, it appears that their own candidate has stepped away from the electoral contest for some reason. Let them deal with that situation now. When the results are declared on the 3rd, a full reckoning will take place…” Kishor said.The Jan Suraaj chief also claimed the BJP’s supporters wanted a different face to lead Bihar, taking aim at chief minister Samrat Chaudhary.”The BJP has also realised that the public is not necessarily opposed to the party itself. Even their own supporters, workers, and leaders, who have voted for them, have a clear view: a person like Samrat Chaudhary, considering his conduct, character, and public image, cannot simply be imposed as the Chief Minister of Bihar. You are free to appoint a Chief Minister from any community; that is not the issue. The important thing is to choose a capable and deserving person. Select someone with integrity and education so that Bihar can progress…” he said.The Bankipur by-election was necessitated after BJP national president Nitin Nabin resigned from the assembly seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year. The constituency has long been considered a BJP stronghold.Voting for the bypoll will be held on July 30, while counting is scheduled for August 3. The contest has drawn attention as it marks Kishor’s first electoral contest after launching the Jan Suraaj party.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 MediaVideosThree-Fold Rise In Assam Budget: Aims At Uplifting People, Says CM Sarma’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action123Photostories10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from them123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Friday claimed the BJP was “struggling” in the Bankipur assembly bypoll after its original candidate withdrew from the contest, saying the development showed that no constituency was anyone’s “stronghold or personal fiefdom.”His remarks came hours after BJP candidate Abhishek Kumar Sinha withdrew from the July 30 bypoll, citing “family reasons”. The party subsequently named Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its new candidate from the constituency, where Kishor is making his electoral debut.”This demonstrates that no Assembly or Lok Sabha constituency is anyone’s stronghold or personal fiefdom. If the public rises, even the most prominent leaders can be made to sweat. Regarding Bankipur, a constituency where, until recently, BJP members boasted that their fortress was so strong that even if they fielded a dog or a cat, the public would vote for them, the situation has changed. Now that the public has an alternative, the BJP is struggling to find a candidate…Today, it appears that their own candidate has stepped away from the electoral contest for some reason. Let them deal with that situation now. When the results are declared on the 3rd, a full reckoning will take place…” Kishor said.The Jan Suraaj chief also claimed the BJP’s supporters wanted a different face to lead Bihar, taking aim at chief minister Samrat Chaudhary.”The BJP has also realised that the public is not necessarily opposed to the party itself. Even their own supporters, workers, and leaders, who have voted for them, have a clear view: a person like Samrat Chaudhary, considering his conduct, character, and public image, cannot simply be imposed as the Chief Minister of Bihar. You are free to appoint a Chief Minister from any community; that is not the issue. The important thing is to choose a capable and deserving person. Select someone with integrity and education so that Bihar can progress…” he said.The Bankipur by-election was necessitated after BJP national president Nitin Nabin resigned from the assembly seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year. The constituency has long been considered a BJP stronghold.Voting for the bypoll will be held on July 30, while counting is scheduled for August 3. The contest has drawn attention as it marks Kishor’s first electoral contest after launching the Jan Suraaj party.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 MediaVideosThree-Fold Rise In Assam Budget: Aims At Uplifting People, Says CM Sarma’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action123Photostories10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from them123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Friday claimed the BJP was “struggling” in the Bankipur assembly bypoll after its original candidate withdrew from the contest, saying the development showed that no constituency was anyone’s “stronghold or personal fiefdom.“His remarks came hours after BJP candidate Abhishek Kumar Sinha withdrew from the July 30 bypoll,…

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NEW DELHI: Two women corporators of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), one each from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), were disqualified on Friday after separate district verification committees declared their caste validity certificates invalid.The action, announced by Mumbai mayor Ritu Tawde during the civic body’s general meeting, takes the number of corporators disqualified on similar grounds in the 227-member BMC house to four within a month.The disqualified corporators are Roshan Shaikh of AIMIM, elected from Ward 138, and Bushra Nadeem Malik of the NCP, who represented Ward 170 in Kurla East. Both had been elected from seats reserved for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) women category.Mayor Tawde said separate district caste certificate verification committees had, following scrutiny, declared the caste validity certificates submitted by both corporators invalid. Consequently, she said, their memberships in the BMC automatically stood terminated from the dates on which the certificates were declared invalid.According to the mayor, the caste validity certificate submitted by Shaikh on November 23, 2025, was declared invalid by the Parbhani District Caste Certificate Verification Committee on April 27 this year.Similarly, Malik’s caste validity certificate, submitted on December 1, 2025, was declared invalid by the Akola District Caste Certificate Verification Committee on July 2 this year.With the disqualification of Shaikh and Malik, AIMIM’s strength in the BMC House has reduced to five members, while the NCP’s tally has come down to two.The development follows similar action last month against two other corporators. AIMIM corporator Shamir Ramzan Patel, elected from Ward 137 in Govandi, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) corporator Deepak Sawant, elected from Ward 111 in Bhandup’s S Ward, were disqualified after the District Caste Certificate Verification Committee declared their caste validity certificates invalid.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 MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from them123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

NEW DELHI: Two women corporators of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), one each from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), were disqualified on Friday after separate district verification committees declared their caste validity certificates invalid.The action, announced by Mumbai mayor Ritu Tawde during the civic body’s general meeting, takes the number of corporators disqualified on similar grounds in the 227-member BMC house to four within a month.The disqualified corporators are Roshan Shaikh of AIMIM, elected from Ward 138, and Bushra Nadeem Malik of the NCP, who represented Ward 170 in Kurla East. Both had been elected from seats reserved for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) women category.Mayor Tawde said separate district caste certificate verification committees had, following scrutiny, declared the caste validity certificates submitted by both corporators invalid. Consequently, she said, their memberships in the BMC automatically stood terminated from the dates on which the certificates were declared invalid.According to the mayor, the caste validity certificate submitted by Shaikh on November 23, 2025, was declared invalid by the Parbhani District Caste Certificate Verification Committee on April 27 this year.Similarly, Malik’s caste validity certificate, submitted on December 1, 2025, was declared invalid by the Akola District Caste Certificate Verification Committee on July 2 this year.With the disqualification of Shaikh and Malik, AIMIM’s strength in the BMC House has reduced to five members, while the NCP’s tally has come down to two.The development follows similar action last month against two other corporators. AIMIM corporator Shamir Ramzan Patel, elected from Ward 137 in Govandi, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) corporator Deepak Sawant, elected from Ward 111 in Bhandup’s S Ward, were disqualified after the District Caste Certificate Verification Committee declared their caste validity certificates invalid.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 MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from them123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Two women corporators of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), one each from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), were disqualified on Friday after separate district verification committees declared their caste validity certificates invalid.The action, announced by Mumbai mayor Ritu Tawde during the civic body’s general meeting, takes…

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Rescue operations in Tung Wali Behak, Kashmir. Dec 2017 Jan 2018 When Hemant Sachdev fell into a crevasse on Mount Everest, he didn’t just escape with his life — he came back with a missionThe Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest is one of the most treacherous stretches of terrain on the planet. In May 2013, mountaineer Hemant Sachdev found himself dangling over an abyss held by a single rope on that very stretch.“In that moment, my entirelife flashed before my eyes,” says Sachdev, a veteran climber. “All I could see was blood.” Fortunately for Sachdev, his fellow climber was an experienced rescuer who had been keeping an eye on Sachdev. When he lost sight of Sachdev for over a minute, he turned back immediately and somehowmanaged to find him. The climber pulled him out with swift precision and the four-member team managed to summit Everest.| Later, a shaken Sachdev sat alone at the most “incredible place” in the world, savouring life anew. But that bone-chilling moment of staring death in the faceremained with him. Two years later,a news bulletin about soldiers buried under an avalanche at Siachen — the world’s highest battlefield — revived the memory of his fortuitous escape. “I kept thinking to myself that if I could be rescued in a place like Mount Everest, why can’t these soldiers be?” he says. “Climbers go for their sense of pleasure, their own achievement. It’s narcissistic, in some sense. But the soldiers are doing it out of a sense of duty.”Whenhe first proposed the idea of a civilian mountain rescue foundation for the Indian Army, it was met with disbelief. After all, wasn’t the Indian Army the one rescuing people from every disaster and storm? But things finally fell in place, and the Tiranga Mountain Rescue was founded in 2016. A decade later, the non-profit operates 16 teams across the country’s most sensitive mountain postings — from Siachen to Kargil, Tawang to Gurez — deploying 48 full-time professional rescuers. The results are there for all to see. “Earlier, there used to be an average of 40-50 deaths a year,” he says. The defence forces lose more soldiers due to non-combat reasons like avalanches, landslides and ailments than in combat. “In the last three years, casualties have come down to zero,” adds Sachdev.What makes the foundation’s work effective is not just the active rescues, but also preventive work to keep soldiers safe. “Last season, we went to over 400 posts to analyse every route, weather patterns, possibilities of disaster, and to advice and train soldiers,” he says. When rescues do happen, they are often against the clock in the most literal sense. Sachdev describes a 2022 incident in Tawang where seven soldiers had been buried by an avalanche, and could not be located even after two full days of searching. Eventually, the Tiranga rescue team was called in to recover the bodies so that the unit and families have a sense of closure. A helicopter dropped his team at the scene of the disaster and within hours of landing, they had found the soldiers.His team was also called upon in March this year to rescue tourists trapped inside multiple vehicles after an avalanche hit Zoji La Pass. Twelve civilians were trapped; seven others in surrounding areas had already died. His team mobilised immediately, beating challenges of dehydration, cold and precarious weather. Tiranga has since been involved in rescues for the Wayanad landslide in 2024 and the Uttarakhand glacier burst in 2021. With rescue operations in full swing after another landslide hit Wayanad on Tuesday, the death toll already 6 and mounting, Sachdev’s philosophy that began on an icy ledge above the world begins to make more sense. “The most dangerous place in the mountains is only as dangerous as your ability to rescue,” he says.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorHimanshi DhawanHimanshi Dhawan is a Senior Editor with The Times of India with 25 years of experience in reporting on politics, social sector, gender and marginalised communities. Her writing spans issues related to human rights violations, and looking at health, education, and livelihoods from a gendered lens. In recognition for her reporting she has received the UNFPA-Population First Laadli award for gender sensitive reporting in 2010-11. She has also been the recipient of the Edward Murrow Fellowship (2007) by the US State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program. She has studied English Literature at St Stephen’s College, DU and completed her post-graduation in mass communication from Sophia College, Mumbai.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from them123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Rescue operations in Tung Wali Behak, Kashmir. Dec 2017 Jan 2018 When Hemant Sachdev fell into a crevasse on Mount Everest, he didn’t just escape with his life — he came back with a missionThe Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest is one of the most treacherous stretches of terrain on the planet. In May 2013, mountaineer Hemant Sachdev found himself dangling over an abyss held by a single rope on that very stretch.“In that moment, my entirelife flashed before my eyes,” says Sachdev, a veteran climber. “All I could see was blood.” Fortunately for Sachdev, his fellow climber was an experienced rescuer who had been keeping an eye on Sachdev. When he lost sight of Sachdev for over a minute, he turned back immediately and somehowmanaged to find him. The climber pulled him out with swift precision and the four-member team managed to summit Everest.| Later, a shaken Sachdev sat alone at the most “incredible place” in the world, savouring life anew. But that bone-chilling moment of staring death in the faceremained with him. Two years later,a news bulletin about soldiers buried under an avalanche at Siachen — the world’s highest battlefield — revived the memory of his fortuitous escape. “I kept thinking to myself that if I could be rescued in a place like Mount Everest, why can’t these soldiers be?” he says. “Climbers go for their sense of pleasure, their own achievement. It’s narcissistic, in some sense. But the soldiers are doing it out of a sense of duty.”Whenhe first proposed the idea of a civilian mountain rescue foundation for the Indian Army, it was met with disbelief. After all, wasn’t the Indian Army the one rescuing people from every disaster and storm? But things finally fell in place, and the Tiranga Mountain Rescue was founded in 2016. A decade later, the non-profit operates 16 teams across the country’s most sensitive mountain postings — from Siachen to Kargil, Tawang to Gurez — deploying 48 full-time professional rescuers. The results are there for all to see. “Earlier, there used to be an average of 40-50 deaths a year,” he says. The defence forces lose more soldiers due to non-combat reasons like avalanches, landslides and ailments than in combat. “In the last three years, casualties have come down to zero,” adds Sachdev.What makes the foundation’s work effective is not just the active rescues, but also preventive work to keep soldiers safe. “Last season, we went to over 400 posts to analyse every route, weather patterns, possibilities of disaster, and to advice and train soldiers,” he says. When rescues do happen, they are often against the clock in the most literal sense. Sachdev describes a 2022 incident in Tawang where seven soldiers had been buried by an avalanche, and could not be located even after two full days of searching. Eventually, the Tiranga rescue team was called in to recover the bodies so that the unit and families have a sense of closure. A helicopter dropped his team at the scene of the disaster and within hours of landing, they had found the soldiers.His team was also called upon in March this year to rescue tourists trapped inside multiple vehicles after an avalanche hit Zoji La Pass. Twelve civilians were trapped; seven others in surrounding areas had already died. His team mobilised immediately, beating challenges of dehydration, cold and precarious weather. Tiranga has since been involved in rescues for the Wayanad landslide in 2024 and the Uttarakhand glacier burst in 2021. With rescue operations in full swing after another landslide hit Wayanad on Tuesday, the death toll already 6 and mounting, Sachdev’s philosophy that began on an icy ledge above the world begins to make more sense. “The most dangerous place in the mountains is only as dangerous as your ability to rescue,” he says.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorHimanshi DhawanHimanshi Dhawan is a Senior Editor with The Times of India with 25 years of experience in reporting on politics, social sector, gender and marginalised communities. Her writing spans issues related to human rights violations, and looking at health, education, and livelihoods from a gendered lens. In recognition for her reporting she has received the UNFPA-Population First Laadli award for gender sensitive reporting in 2010-11. She has also been the recipient of the Edward Murrow Fellowship (2007) by the US State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program. She has studied English Literature at St Stephen’s College, DU and completed her post-graduation in mass communication from Sophia College, Mumbai.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from them123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

Rescue operations in Tung Wali Behak, Kashmir. Dec 2017 Jan 2018 When Hemant Sachdev fell into a crevasse on Mount Everest, he didn’t just escape with his life — he came back with a missionThe Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest is one of the most treacherous stretches of terrain on the planet. In May 2013,…

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NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate who was set to face Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor in Bihar’s Bankipur bypoll, withdrew from the contest on Friday, citing “family reasons”. The surprise twist forced the party to name a replacement just hours later.Abhishek Kumar Sinha, who had filed his nomination papers only a day earlier as the NDA nominee from the BJP stronghold, announced his withdrawal at a press conference. Soon after, the BJP named Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its new candidate for the July 30 by-election.”The BJP had made me the NDA candidate for the bypoll to the Bankipur assembly seat. I express my gratitude to the central and state leadership. However, due to family reasons, I am unable to contest the bypoll,” he said.Reading out a letter addressed to Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi, he added: “I have just handed a letter to state president, Sanjay Saraogi, which I am now reading out before you. The Bharatiya Janata Party had selected me as the NDA candidate for the by-election in the Bankipur Assembly constituency. I express my gratitude to the central and state leadership for this. I wish to humbly inform you that, due to family reasons, I am unable to contest the Assembly by-election. I will continue to serve faithfully as a party worker.”Soon after the withdrawal, the BJP announced Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its new candidate. In a statement, the party said the 32-year-old leader has previously served as a booth president and district vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM).The by-election was necessitated after BJP national president Nitin Nabin resigned from the Bankipur assembly seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar earlier this year. Nabin, who became the BJP’s national working president in December 2025 before taking over as national president, has represented Bankipur multiple times. The constituency has long been considered a BJP stronghold, with his father, Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, also enjoying significant political influence there.The bypoll will be held on July 30, while counting of votes is scheduled for August 3. The last date for filing nominations is July 13.The contest has gained additional political significance after Jan Suraaj announced that its founder, Prashant Kishor, would contest the seat, marking his electoral debut.Addressing a public meeting in Sheohar earlier, Kishor said he had deliberately chosen to contest from a BJP bastion instead of a politically safe constituency.”… When people start their electoral politics, they look for safe seats for themselves… I am doing the opposite because I am telling the people of Bihar that if Bihar is to change, they must vote beyond caste and religion. They must stop voting out of fear of Lalu for BJP, or fear of BJP for Lalu. To prove the point I am explaining to the people of Bihar, I am contesting from a place where votes should not be sought in the name of caste or religion…”PollVote & Share your viewDo you think family reasons are a valid excuse for a candidate to withdraw from an election?Yes, family comes firstNo, candidates should fulfill their commitments3k+ users shared opinion today 5k+ users already voted today 3k+ users shared opinion today Share OpinionHe also claimed that Jan Suraaj intended to challenge the BJP’s long-standing dominance in the constituency, “This time Jan Suraaj intends to enter the BJP’s fortress and defeat them.””For the past four to five decades, a single political family associated with the BJP had dominated Bankipur politics, while parties such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress had repeatedly failed to unseat them”, the Jan Suraaj supremo said, adding, “My party alone will offer a genuine and direct contest in the constituency.”The by-election will also see a contest involving the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which has fielded Rekha Kumari alias Rekha Gupta.Before Abhishek Kumar Sinha’s withdrawal, NDA leaders had projected a united front for the by-election. Janata Dal (United) National working president Sanjay Jha had said there was no ambiguity within the alliance over the BJP’s candidature and that all NDA constituents would campaign together.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 MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from them123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate who was set to face Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor in Bihar’s Bankipur bypoll, withdrew from the contest on Friday, citing “family reasons”. The surprise twist forced the party to name a replacement just hours later.Abhishek Kumar Sinha, who had filed his nomination papers only a day earlier as the NDA nominee from the BJP stronghold, announced his withdrawal at a press conference. Soon after, the BJP named Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its new candidate for the July 30 by-election.”The BJP had made me the NDA candidate for the bypoll to the Bankipur assembly seat. I express my gratitude to the central and state leadership. However, due to family reasons, I am unable to contest the bypoll,” he said.Reading out a letter addressed to Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi, he added: “I have just handed a letter to state president, Sanjay Saraogi, which I am now reading out before you. The Bharatiya Janata Party had selected me as the NDA candidate for the by-election in the Bankipur Assembly constituency. I express my gratitude to the central and state leadership for this. I wish to humbly inform you that, due to family reasons, I am unable to contest the Assembly by-election. I will continue to serve faithfully as a party worker.”Soon after the withdrawal, the BJP announced Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its new candidate. In a statement, the party said the 32-year-old leader has previously served as a booth president and district vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM).The by-election was necessitated after BJP national president Nitin Nabin resigned from the Bankipur assembly seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar earlier this year. Nabin, who became the BJP’s national working president in December 2025 before taking over as national president, has represented Bankipur multiple times. The constituency has long been considered a BJP stronghold, with his father, Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, also enjoying significant political influence there.The bypoll will be held on July 30, while counting of votes is scheduled for August 3. The last date for filing nominations is July 13.The contest has gained additional political significance after Jan Suraaj announced that its founder, Prashant Kishor, would contest the seat, marking his electoral debut.Addressing a public meeting in Sheohar earlier, Kishor said he had deliberately chosen to contest from a BJP bastion instead of a politically safe constituency.”… When people start their electoral politics, they look for safe seats for themselves… I am doing the opposite because I am telling the people of Bihar that if Bihar is to change, they must vote beyond caste and religion. They must stop voting out of fear of Lalu for BJP, or fear of BJP for Lalu. To prove the point I am explaining to the people of Bihar, I am contesting from a place where votes should not be sought in the name of caste or religion…”PollVote & Share your viewDo you think family reasons are a valid excuse for a candidate to withdraw from an election?Yes, family comes firstNo, candidates should fulfill their commitments3k+ users shared opinion today 5k+ users already voted today 3k+ users shared opinion today Share OpinionHe also claimed that Jan Suraaj intended to challenge the BJP’s long-standing dominance in the constituency, “This time Jan Suraaj intends to enter the BJP’s fortress and defeat them.””For the past four to five decades, a single political family associated with the BJP had dominated Bankipur politics, while parties such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress had repeatedly failed to unseat them”, the Jan Suraaj supremo said, adding, “My party alone will offer a genuine and direct contest in the constituency.”The by-election will also see a contest involving the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which has fielded Rekha Kumari alias Rekha Gupta.Before Abhishek Kumar Sinha’s withdrawal, NDA leaders had projected a united front for the by-election. Janata Dal (United) National working president Sanjay Jha had said there was no ambiguity within the alliance over the BJP’s candidature and that all NDA constituents would campaign together.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 MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories10 baby names that mean “miracle” in different cultures6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from them123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate who was set to face Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor in Bihar’s Bankipur bypoll, withdrew from the contest on Friday, citing “family reasons”. The surprise twist forced the party to name a replacement just hours later.Abhishek Kumar Sinha, who had filed his nomination papers only a day…

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Excerpts from the interview.Q: What was the genesis of this book? Assa Doron: Alex and I have been working in India for around two decades and we’ve done collaborative research before on different aspects of health and public health in India. I did a book with professor Robin Jeffrey called ‘Waste of a Nation’. I found myself in Hyderabad alongside the Musi river and learning about the factory pollution that is discharged by pharmaceutical companies… I realised that samples have shown that there is a lot of bacteria resistant to antibiotics in the Musi itself. And when I was speaking to local people, they were telling me about bad smells, problems with skin diseases, and so on. And I realised that the issue of waste here is becoming also an issue related to antibiotic resistance… And I knew that Alex was working on this issue for over a decade now. So I asked him if we can team up. Q: How did you get your fingers dirty and get the data? Alex Broom: Getting your fingers dirty is actually a good metaphor… I was exploring lots of different health-related issues in India. I have family in India as well. So, I was going back and forth… Part of it was personal — I started to see myself the tension between purchasing antibiotics to try and get through whatever I was trying to get through and then knowing from my other work that ultimately these were a precious resource that we can’t really waste. And how do we actually make changes and make them realistic? Assa Doron: The paucity of data was something that we were struggling with. Fortunately, there’s enough scientific material out there to demonstrate that for a lot of places that are polluted — take the Ganga or take the Musi — there are enough scientists that have gone there and taken samples and have shown very clearly there is an issue of rising antimicrobial resistance. Whether it’s a result of poor sanitation and sewage going into the river as a result of factories that are discharging effluents, whether it’s pharmaceutical residues or heavy metals or tanneries, there’s multiple studies that demonstrate that. But our concern was not the hard data, as it were, in terms of numbers that you can find in scientific journals. What we wanted to do is to tell a story, because India really brings the global antibiotic story into sharp focus. It’s one of the world’s largest consumers of antibiotics. It’s a major producer of generic medicines and a place where antibiotics move through hospitals, pharmacies, farms, factories, households, with extraordinary intensity… India helps us to see something that is global but often hidden. That is that modern life is really kind of deeply dependent on antibiotics. Q: It is about emerging narratives of an emerging catastrophe which is staring us in the face. Alex Broom: We need a diversity of data. And what I mean by that is, for example, how much incentives might be given to the use of certain pharmaceuticals… We need data that shows what the drivers are of use of our diminishing resources, rather than just focus on the biological outcomes of that behaviour and that economy. So really, what we’re doing is trying to pan out. And rather than just focus on levels of resistance, we’re saying you need panoramic data in order to actually communicate the problem to everyday people. The data might actually be the fact that we can’t expect people to not consume antibiotics if they haven’t got secure work. Now, that wouldn’t traditionally be seen as a form of scientific data, but that is one of the reasons which drives high use of antibiotics and high levels of resistance. Assa Doron: I think one of the key concerns that we have in the book is to demonstrate that you can’t really blame people, because the crisis of antibiotics is not a biological one. It’s a crisis of inequality in many ways. Resistance emerges through microbes, but it follows these social fault lines, whether it’s across gender, class, occupation, housing. We know that there’s a lot of people that don’t have access to water or sanitation is poor or they’re exposed to a polluted environment… For example, for the household, women are the ones who may suffer recurrent urinary tract infections or reproductive tract infections, or other untreated health problems that delay care because their illness is treated as less urgent. So these are the stories that we want to tell — what delays proper care? Why is it that there’s a shortage of doctors in rural areas? Alex Broom: Much of the rise of resistance is embedded in the issue and the challenge of growth. Whether we’re talking about growth of production of food, whether we’re talking about economic growth, whether we’re talking about creating new markets for India to sell to the world, generics to the US and so forth. So it’s about a growth-centred world. And really you can’t have moderation, what we might call judiciousness, careful prescribing of antibiotics, if the entire system is centred around growth. In some respects, growth is wonderful. It uplifts people’s life chances and provides work and opportunities. On the other hand, unsustainable growth sees mutating effects and in many respects what we call selective pressure… What we’ve essentially learned is to produce more and more in order for others to consume and in unsustainable ways. And that’s not an India problem specifically. That is a truly global issue. Q: Your book was a wake-up call to the fact that we are on the brink of a situation where antibiotics won’tbe effective in treating even the most simple illness. Alex Broom: I think we are just years away from a global reckoning. And India is ahead of that, unfortunately, because of the high use and the easy access, which has really substituted for healthcare infrastructure… And we are starting to see failure of mainstay antibiotics across lots of different nations. India has challenges which we will all face in the end. And we feel very strongly that India is not just a cautionary tale, but ultimately it also holds wisdom in terms of what we can actually do. Assa Doron: It’s easy to say misuse, overuse, excessive use. It makes the problem sound like a matter of bad behaviour. The patient is demanding antibiotics. The doctor is prescribing too quickly. The pharmacist is selling pills without a prescription. Sure, those things happen, but that language of misuse really conceals the conditions in which these decisions are made. A doctor in an overcrowded hospital in India may see 200 patients a day, and they have little access to diagnostics. A poor patient might buy only a few tablets because that’s all they can afford. And they need to go to work tomorrow. And the same with farmers who use antibiotics because their livestock are raised in these crowded conditions, and disease can just wipe out about a whole stock of chickens or shrimp to be exported to the US. So the question is not why are people using antibiotics badly? The real, deeper question that we’re trying to explore is why antibiotics have become so necessary in the first place. Q: How do we create public awareness? Alex Broom: One way to do it is by consumer pressure. Very often, in a market economy, brands are quite sensitive to consumer preference. And creating awareness amongst the public of the health and the value of foods which are produced sustainably but also good for the body is an extremely productive way of forcing commercial actors to be more judicious about what they do.Assa Doron: There are also initiatives in India that really try and respond to this antibiotic crisis that India is facing, especially Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, they’ve got an Operation AMRITH, in which they’ve tried to end over the counter antibiotic sale without prescription… The state is also trying to promote awareness at the community level, training ASHA workers that visit households and explain the problems… Alex Broom: In the hospital sector, the private environment has expanded radically versus the public sector… And what that means is that when you get a crisis like this which requires some degree of control, you then sit back and you say, we don’t actually own or run these institutions. Can we really tell them not to use antibiotics? And are they responsible then for the outcomes? Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Excerpts from the interview.Q: What was the genesis of this book? Assa Doron: Alex and I have been working in India for around two decades and we’ve done collaborative research before on different aspects of health and public health in India. I did a book with professor Robin Jeffrey called ‘Waste of a Nation’. I found myself in Hyderabad alongside the Musi river and learning about the factory pollution that is discharged by pharmaceutical companies… I realised that samples have shown that there is a lot of bacteria resistant to antibiotics in the Musi itself. And when I was speaking to local people, they were telling me about bad smells, problems with skin diseases, and so on. And I realised that the issue of waste here is becoming also an issue related to antibiotic resistance… And I knew that Alex was working on this issue for over a decade now. So I asked him if we can team up. Q: How did you get your fingers dirty and get the data? Alex Broom: Getting your fingers dirty is actually a good metaphor… I was exploring lots of different health-related issues in India. I have family in India as well. So, I was going back and forth… Part of it was personal — I started to see myself the tension between purchasing antibiotics to try and get through whatever I was trying to get through and then knowing from my other work that ultimately these were a precious resource that we can’t really waste. And how do we actually make changes and make them realistic? Assa Doron: The paucity of data was something that we were struggling with. Fortunately, there’s enough scientific material out there to demonstrate that for a lot of places that are polluted — take the Ganga or take the Musi — there are enough scientists that have gone there and taken samples and have shown very clearly there is an issue of rising antimicrobial resistance. Whether it’s a result of poor sanitation and sewage going into the river as a result of factories that are discharging effluents, whether it’s pharmaceutical residues or heavy metals or tanneries, there’s multiple studies that demonstrate that. But our concern was not the hard data, as it were, in terms of numbers that you can find in scientific journals. What we wanted to do is to tell a story, because India really brings the global antibiotic story into sharp focus. It’s one of the world’s largest consumers of antibiotics. It’s a major producer of generic medicines and a place where antibiotics move through hospitals, pharmacies, farms, factories, households, with extraordinary intensity… India helps us to see something that is global but often hidden. That is that modern life is really kind of deeply dependent on antibiotics. Q: It is about emerging narratives of an emerging catastrophe which is staring us in the face. Alex Broom: We need a diversity of data. And what I mean by that is, for example, how much incentives might be given to the use of certain pharmaceuticals… We need data that shows what the drivers are of use of our diminishing resources, rather than just focus on the biological outcomes of that behaviour and that economy. So really, what we’re doing is trying to pan out. And rather than just focus on levels of resistance, we’re saying you need panoramic data in order to actually communicate the problem to everyday people. The data might actually be the fact that we can’t expect people to not consume antibiotics if they haven’t got secure work. Now, that wouldn’t traditionally be seen as a form of scientific data, but that is one of the reasons which drives high use of antibiotics and high levels of resistance. Assa Doron: I think one of the key concerns that we have in the book is to demonstrate that you can’t really blame people, because the crisis of antibiotics is not a biological one. It’s a crisis of inequality in many ways. Resistance emerges through microbes, but it follows these social fault lines, whether it’s across gender, class, occupation, housing. We know that there’s a lot of people that don’t have access to water or sanitation is poor or they’re exposed to a polluted environment… For example, for the household, women are the ones who may suffer recurrent urinary tract infections or reproductive tract infections, or other untreated health problems that delay care because their illness is treated as less urgent. So these are the stories that we want to tell — what delays proper care? Why is it that there’s a shortage of doctors in rural areas? Alex Broom: Much of the rise of resistance is embedded in the issue and the challenge of growth. Whether we’re talking about growth of production of food, whether we’re talking about economic growth, whether we’re talking about creating new markets for India to sell to the world, generics to the US and so forth. So it’s about a growth-centred world. And really you can’t have moderation, what we might call judiciousness, careful prescribing of antibiotics, if the entire system is centred around growth. In some respects, growth is wonderful. It uplifts people’s life chances and provides work and opportunities. On the other hand, unsustainable growth sees mutating effects and in many respects what we call selective pressure… What we’ve essentially learned is to produce more and more in order for others to consume and in unsustainable ways. And that’s not an India problem specifically. That is a truly global issue. Q: Your book was a wake-up call to the fact that we are on the brink of a situation where antibiotics won’tbe effective in treating even the most simple illness. Alex Broom: I think we are just years away from a global reckoning. And India is ahead of that, unfortunately, because of the high use and the easy access, which has really substituted for healthcare infrastructure… And we are starting to see failure of mainstay antibiotics across lots of different nations. India has challenges which we will all face in the end. And we feel very strongly that India is not just a cautionary tale, but ultimately it also holds wisdom in terms of what we can actually do. Assa Doron: It’s easy to say misuse, overuse, excessive use. It makes the problem sound like a matter of bad behaviour. The patient is demanding antibiotics. The doctor is prescribing too quickly. The pharmacist is selling pills without a prescription. Sure, those things happen, but that language of misuse really conceals the conditions in which these decisions are made. A doctor in an overcrowded hospital in India may see 200 patients a day, and they have little access to diagnostics. A poor patient might buy only a few tablets because that’s all they can afford. And they need to go to work tomorrow. And the same with farmers who use antibiotics because their livestock are raised in these crowded conditions, and disease can just wipe out about a whole stock of chickens or shrimp to be exported to the US. So the question is not why are people using antibiotics badly? The real, deeper question that we’re trying to explore is why antibiotics have become so necessary in the first place. Q: How do we create public awareness? Alex Broom: One way to do it is by consumer pressure. Very often, in a market economy, brands are quite sensitive to consumer preference. And creating awareness amongst the public of the health and the value of foods which are produced sustainably but also good for the body is an extremely productive way of forcing commercial actors to be more judicious about what they do.Assa Doron: There are also initiatives in India that really try and respond to this antibiotic crisis that India is facing, especially Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, they’ve got an Operation AMRITH, in which they’ve tried to end over the counter antibiotic sale without prescription… The state is also trying to promote awareness at the community level, training ASHA workers that visit households and explain the problems… Alex Broom: In the hospital sector, the private environment has expanded radically versus the public sector… And what that means is that when you get a crisis like this which requires some degree of control, you then sit back and you say, we don’t actually own or run these institutions. Can we really tell them not to use antibiotics? And are they responsible then for the outcomes? Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna08 mins mins

Excerpts from the interview.Q: What was the genesis of this book? Assa Doron: Alex and I have been working in India for around two decades and we’ve done collaborative research before on different aspects of health and public health in India. I did a book with professor Robin Jeffrey called ‘Waste of a Nation’. I…

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High drama in SC as petitioner uses cuss words for CJI, throws papers (Image credit: X) NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court witnessed dramatic scenes on Friday after a petitioner appearing in person created a ruckus during a hearing, threw case papers inside the courtroom and allegedly used abusive language against the Chief Justice of India (CJI) before being escorted out by security personnel.The incident took place before a partial working days bench of Justice K V Viswanathan and Justice Alok Aradhe during the hearing of an appeal filed by Prabal Pratap. The petitioner had challenged an Allahabad high court order dismissing his plea against the conversion of his application under Section 173(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) into a private complaint case.As the matter was taken up, the petitioner made an unusual submission to the bench, saying, “Mr judicial servant, I order you to order the registration of FIR against ACP Vikas Nagar, Lucknow,” Live Law reported. Surprised by the remark, Justice Viswanathan responded, “You are ordering me? You are ordering us?” Moments later, the petitioner allegedly hurled case papers inside the courtroom and used cuss words against the CJI Surya Kant. Supreme Court security personnel immediately restrained him and escorted him out of the courtroom.Despite the disruption, the bench remained calm and continued hearing the remaining matters listed for the day. The court also chose not to initiate any action against the petitioner over his conduct. In its order, the bench observed, “…considering the condition of the petitioner above-named, and does not propose to take any action against him. As far as the merit of this case is concerned, we have perused the records, we find no good ground to interfere with the impugned judgment/order(s).” The appeal was accordingly dismissed.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 MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

High drama in SC as petitioner uses cuss words for CJI, throws papers (Image credit: X) NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court witnessed dramatic scenes on Friday after a petitioner appearing in person created a ruckus during a hearing, threw case papers inside the courtroom and allegedly used abusive language against the Chief Justice of India (CJI) before being escorted out by security personnel.The incident took place before a partial working days bench of Justice K V Viswanathan and Justice Alok Aradhe during the hearing of an appeal filed by Prabal Pratap. The petitioner had challenged an Allahabad high court order dismissing his plea against the conversion of his application under Section 173(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) into a private complaint case.As the matter was taken up, the petitioner made an unusual submission to the bench, saying, “Mr judicial servant, I order you to order the registration of FIR against ACP Vikas Nagar, Lucknow,” Live Law reported. Surprised by the remark, Justice Viswanathan responded, “You are ordering me? You are ordering us?” Moments later, the petitioner allegedly hurled case papers inside the courtroom and used cuss words against the CJI Surya Kant. Supreme Court security personnel immediately restrained him and escorted him out of the courtroom.Despite the disruption, the bench remained calm and continued hearing the remaining matters listed for the day. The court also chose not to initiate any action against the petitioner over his conduct. In its order, the bench observed, “…considering the condition of the petitioner above-named, and does not propose to take any action against him. As far as the merit of this case is concerned, we have perused the records, we find no good ground to interfere with the impugned judgment/order(s).” The appeal was accordingly dismissed.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 MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

High drama in SC as petitioner uses cuss words for CJI, throws papers (Image credit: X) NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court witnessed dramatic scenes on Friday after a petitioner appearing in person created a ruckus during a hearing, threw case papers inside the courtroom and allegedly used abusive language against the Chief Justice of India…

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NEW DELHI: The end of the Budget session of Parliament this year marked a rare high for the opposition. The Congress-led INDIA bloc united with other opposition parties to prevent the Centre from passing a Constitution Amendment Bill. The Bill linked implementation of women’s reservation to delimitation. This was on April 17. Nearly three months down the line, as parties gear up for the Monsoon session from July 20, the euphoria of this triumph has been replaced by concern among the opposition ranks.The Bill that they had managed to stop in its tracks during the Budget session could make its way back in the Monsoon session and garner greater support in Parliament. In April, 298 members supported the Bill in Lok Sabha while 230 opposed it. MPs supporting the Bill were way more than those opposing it but were short of the two-thirds majority of 352 (out of 528) needed for the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill.So, what has changed in three months? Well, a lot. Parties have split. Opposition numbers in Parliament have come down. Long-time allies have turned into foes. The opposition camp is in disarray and the regional parties under its fold are now a weakened force.And, that is why the upcoming Monsoon session may be interesting to watch. The BJP, still smarting from the rare failure on the Constitution Amendment Bill, is reportedly working behind the scenes to ensure a two-thirds majority to push through its important pending legislations, including the delimitation bill.The Congress has accused Union home minister Amit Shah of trying to “engineer” a two-third majority for the BJP in Lok Sabha and alleges he is busy breaking opposition parties while making a “complete mockery of democracy” but his “evil designs” will not succeed.”Never before has anybody tried to engineer a two-third majority for his party in the Lok Sabha as the Union Home Minister is desperately doing these days in the run-up to the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The self-styled Chanakya had been humiliated on April 17 2026 when the NDA could not get the requisite two-third majority. Stung by that resounding defeat, Shah is now busy breaking opposition parties and making a complete “mockery of democracy”, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X..The three months between the two sessions saw four important political developments that have together put the NDA in command and the opposition on the backfoot.First blow: Raghav’s rebellion stings AAPOn April 24, exactly seven days after NDA’s Lok Sabha setback, the opposition suffered the first blow as 7 MPs of Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP broke ranks with the party in Rajya Sabha and aligned with the BJP. Since, the breakaway group’s strength was more than two-thirds of the total 10 MPs the party had in the Upper House, the defection did not come under the purview of the anti-defection law. The rebellion, which came as a surprise to Arvind Kejriwal, reduced AAP’s strength in Rajya Sabha to 3.Second blow: Mamata’s defeat and Trinamool implosionThe second blow to opposition came from West Bengal, where BJP ended Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year-rule and successfully snatched a key state from the hands of the opposition. While the defeat stunned Mamata, what hurt her and the opposition camp more was the implosion which threatened the very existence of the Trinamool Congress. 20 MPs of the Trinamool Congress raised a banner of revolt against Mamata and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee and announced to align with the BJP in Lok Sabha. This list of 20 included several of Mamata’s loyalists and was enough to avoid any action under the anti-defection law. To make matters worse, several Rajya Sabha members of Trinamool also joined this rebellion. However, since their numbers were less, they resigned from the party and their membership from the Upper House.Third blow: Shiv Sena splitThe opposition camp suffered another blow in June when 6 out of the 9 MPs of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena decided to dump the party and join hands with Eknath Shinde. The six MPs submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla indicating their decision to join the Shinde camp. For Uddhav this was the second time that he faced rebellion from within the ranks. The Shiv Sena suffered a massive vertical split in 2022 when Shinde led a rebellion of party MLAs. Uddhav eventually lost control of the party and symbol.Fourth blow: Congress-DMK splitThe fourth blow to the opposition camp came from Tamil Nadu. M K Stalin’s DMK, which had aligned with the Congress, lost the 2026 assembly elections to actor-tuned-politician Vijay. Ideally, this poll upset should not have impacted the opposition’s national politics. After all, the silver lining was that the BJP-AIADMK alliance had failed in the state. But that was not to be. Vijay’s TVK got a big mandate but not enough to ensure a government on its own. Vijay needed help and the Congress was more than ready to chip in. So, the grand-old-party moved swiftly to dump DMK and join hands with TVK. This set the stage for one of the biggest disruptions in the INDIA bloc since it was formed. The DMK snapped all ties with the Congress, sought a separate seating plan in Parliament, walked out of the INDIA bloc and, if some reports are to be believed, is also flirting with the idea of some sort of coordination on its terms with the BJP.’DMK may try to get even with Congress’Arun Ram, Tamil Nadu Resident Editor of The Times of India, feels the prospect of DMK supporting the Union government on some bills cannot be completely ruled out.“The DMK may support the Union government on some bills to get even with the Congress or also to not appear completely friendless,” says Arun Ram.“DMK cannot go back on some of its stated positions, like on delimitation, three-language formula. But, yes on some of the bills it may back the Union government. For instance, if the BJP completely delinks the Women’s Reservation Bill from the Delimitation Bill, the DMK may support the government on Women’s Bill,” he adds.Misplaced confidence?Now, that is a prospect which could deal a body blow to the INDIA bloc. DMK has 22 members in Lok Sabha and if Stalin decides even a tactical association with the NDA – it could disrupt opposition math. For now, the opposition is trying to put up a brave front knowing that two-third majority in a House of 543 translates into numbers which, at least on paper, looks beyond the reach of NDA. The Congress has claimed that it will not let the “evil designs” of BJP to succeed. But this Congress confidence could well be misplaced. What the opposition needs to understand is that two-thirds majority is a number that can change depending on how many members are present for the voting. We have already seen the BJP surprise many times when it comes to managing numbers in Parliament.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

NEW DELHI: The end of the Budget session of Parliament this year marked a rare high for the opposition. The Congress-led INDIA bloc united with other opposition parties to prevent the Centre from passing a Constitution Amendment Bill. The Bill linked implementation of women’s reservation to delimitation. This was on April 17. Nearly three months down the line, as parties gear up for the Monsoon session from July 20, the euphoria of this triumph has been replaced by concern among the opposition ranks.The Bill that they had managed to stop in its tracks during the Budget session could make its way back in the Monsoon session and garner greater support in Parliament. In April, 298 members supported the Bill in Lok Sabha while 230 opposed it. MPs supporting the Bill were way more than those opposing it but were short of the two-thirds majority of 352 (out of 528) needed for the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill.So, what has changed in three months? Well, a lot. Parties have split. Opposition numbers in Parliament have come down. Long-time allies have turned into foes. The opposition camp is in disarray and the regional parties under its fold are now a weakened force.And, that is why the upcoming Monsoon session may be interesting to watch. The BJP, still smarting from the rare failure on the Constitution Amendment Bill, is reportedly working behind the scenes to ensure a two-thirds majority to push through its important pending legislations, including the delimitation bill.The Congress has accused Union home minister Amit Shah of trying to “engineer” a two-third majority for the BJP in Lok Sabha and alleges he is busy breaking opposition parties while making a “complete mockery of democracy” but his “evil designs” will not succeed.”Never before has anybody tried to engineer a two-third majority for his party in the Lok Sabha as the Union Home Minister is desperately doing these days in the run-up to the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The self-styled Chanakya had been humiliated on April 17 2026 when the NDA could not get the requisite two-third majority. Stung by that resounding defeat, Shah is now busy breaking opposition parties and making a complete “mockery of democracy”, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X..The three months between the two sessions saw four important political developments that have together put the NDA in command and the opposition on the backfoot.First blow: Raghav’s rebellion stings AAPOn April 24, exactly seven days after NDA’s Lok Sabha setback, the opposition suffered the first blow as 7 MPs of Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP broke ranks with the party in Rajya Sabha and aligned with the BJP. Since, the breakaway group’s strength was more than two-thirds of the total 10 MPs the party had in the Upper House, the defection did not come under the purview of the anti-defection law. The rebellion, which came as a surprise to Arvind Kejriwal, reduced AAP’s strength in Rajya Sabha to 3.Second blow: Mamata’s defeat and Trinamool implosionThe second blow to opposition came from West Bengal, where BJP ended Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year-rule and successfully snatched a key state from the hands of the opposition. While the defeat stunned Mamata, what hurt her and the opposition camp more was the implosion which threatened the very existence of the Trinamool Congress. 20 MPs of the Trinamool Congress raised a banner of revolt against Mamata and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee and announced to align with the BJP in Lok Sabha. This list of 20 included several of Mamata’s loyalists and was enough to avoid any action under the anti-defection law. To make matters worse, several Rajya Sabha members of Trinamool also joined this rebellion. However, since their numbers were less, they resigned from the party and their membership from the Upper House.Third blow: Shiv Sena splitThe opposition camp suffered another blow in June when 6 out of the 9 MPs of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena decided to dump the party and join hands with Eknath Shinde. The six MPs submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla indicating their decision to join the Shinde camp. For Uddhav this was the second time that he faced rebellion from within the ranks. The Shiv Sena suffered a massive vertical split in 2022 when Shinde led a rebellion of party MLAs. Uddhav eventually lost control of the party and symbol.Fourth blow: Congress-DMK splitThe fourth blow to the opposition camp came from Tamil Nadu. M K Stalin’s DMK, which had aligned with the Congress, lost the 2026 assembly elections to actor-tuned-politician Vijay. Ideally, this poll upset should not have impacted the opposition’s national politics. After all, the silver lining was that the BJP-AIADMK alliance had failed in the state. But that was not to be. Vijay’s TVK got a big mandate but not enough to ensure a government on its own. Vijay needed help and the Congress was more than ready to chip in. So, the grand-old-party moved swiftly to dump DMK and join hands with TVK. This set the stage for one of the biggest disruptions in the INDIA bloc since it was formed. The DMK snapped all ties with the Congress, sought a separate seating plan in Parliament, walked out of the INDIA bloc and, if some reports are to be believed, is also flirting with the idea of some sort of coordination on its terms with the BJP.’DMK may try to get even with Congress’Arun Ram, Tamil Nadu Resident Editor of The Times of India, feels the prospect of DMK supporting the Union government on some bills cannot be completely ruled out.“The DMK may support the Union government on some bills to get even with the Congress or also to not appear completely friendless,” says Arun Ram.“DMK cannot go back on some of its stated positions, like on delimitation, three-language formula. But, yes on some of the bills it may back the Union government. For instance, if the BJP completely delinks the Women’s Reservation Bill from the Delimitation Bill, the DMK may support the government on Women’s Bill,” he adds.Misplaced confidence?Now, that is a prospect which could deal a body blow to the INDIA bloc. DMK has 22 members in Lok Sabha and if Stalin decides even a tactical association with the NDA – it could disrupt opposition math. For now, the opposition is trying to put up a brave front knowing that two-third majority in a House of 543 translates into numbers which, at least on paper, looks beyond the reach of NDA. The Congress has claimed that it will not let the “evil designs” of BJP to succeed. But this Congress confidence could well be misplaced. What the opposition needs to understand is that two-thirds majority is a number that can change depending on how many members are present for the voting. We have already seen the BJP surprise many times when it comes to managing numbers in Parliament.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna06 mins mins

NEW DELHI: The end of the Budget session of Parliament this year marked a rare high for the opposition. The Congress-led INDIA bloc united with other opposition parties to prevent the Centre from passing a Constitution Amendment Bill. The Bill linked implementation of women’s reservation to delimitation. This was on April 17. Nearly three months…

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China’s mega dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet sits above an active fault line, with government-backed geologists warning of landslides and earthquake risks.The Assam government has proposed dismissing government employees found guilty of practising polygamy under new Budget proposals.The UK has designated Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Oracle as “critical third parties”, tightening oversight of their cloud services.Court denies Rajpal Yadav relief in the Rs 9 crore debt case, leaving his three-month jail sentence in force.Kerala student Sawariya Basanth’s death in Uzbekistan sparks probe calls after family alleges a forced conversion angle.Here are the top 5 stories of the dayChina’s Brahmaputra mega dam faces fresh fault line scareChina’s ambitious mega dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River faces fresh scrutiny after government-backed geologists warned it sits above an active fault line that could trigger earthquakes, landslides and structural instability. The findings by the South China Morning Post have renewed concerns over the project’s safety and its implications for downstream countries, including India, where the river flows as the Brahmaputra. The warning comes amid growing geopolitical tensions over Beijing’s upstream activities. Read full story.Assam cracks down on polygamy with jobs, welfare ban proposalThe Assam government has proposed dismissing government employees found guilty of practising polygamy and denying welfare benefits to those following the practice. Announcing the measures in the state Budget, finance minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said the move aims to promote women’s empowerment and gender justice. The government also plans to bar people convicted under criminal laws from accessing notified welfare schemes. Read full story.UK puts Big Tech giants under financial watch over cloud risksThe UK government has designated Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Oracle as “critical third parties”, bringing their cloud operations under direct regulatory oversight from July 13. The move aims to protect the financial system as banks, insurers and market firms increasingly depend on cloud services. Authorities warned that disruptions at major providers could affect multiple institutions simultaneously, potentially impacting services used by customers across the country. Read full story.Rajpal Yadav gets no relief in Rs 9 crore cheque bounce caseActor Rajpal Yadav has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in seven cheque bounce cases linked to a Rs 9 crore debt dispute. The Delhi High Court rejected his plea for a stay and ordered immediate custody. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed Yadav to pay Rs 1.05 crore to the complainant in each case, along with an additional penalty to the state. Read full story.Kerala student killed in Uzbekistan; family alleges forced conversion angleA 21-year-old Kerala medical student, Sawariya Basanth, was allegedly murdered in Uzbekistan by a fellow student, with her family alleging repeated attempts to force her religious conversion. Uzbek authorities have arrested the accused. After her body was brought back to India, a second post-mortem was conducted in Kerala following the family’s request. Police have registered a murder case based on a complaint filed by her father. Read full story.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 MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

China’s mega dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet sits above an active fault line, with government-backed geologists warning of landslides and earthquake risks.The Assam government has proposed dismissing government employees found guilty of practising polygamy under new Budget proposals.The UK has designated Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Oracle as “critical third parties”, tightening oversight of their cloud services.Court denies Rajpal Yadav relief in the Rs 9 crore debt case, leaving his three-month jail sentence in force.Kerala student Sawariya Basanth’s death in Uzbekistan sparks probe calls after family alleges a forced conversion angle.Here are the top 5 stories of the dayChina’s Brahmaputra mega dam faces fresh fault line scareChina’s ambitious mega dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River faces fresh scrutiny after government-backed geologists warned it sits above an active fault line that could trigger earthquakes, landslides and structural instability. The findings by the South China Morning Post have renewed concerns over the project’s safety and its implications for downstream countries, including India, where the river flows as the Brahmaputra. The warning comes amid growing geopolitical tensions over Beijing’s upstream activities. Read full story.Assam cracks down on polygamy with jobs, welfare ban proposalThe Assam government has proposed dismissing government employees found guilty of practising polygamy and denying welfare benefits to those following the practice. Announcing the measures in the state Budget, finance minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said the move aims to promote women’s empowerment and gender justice. The government also plans to bar people convicted under criminal laws from accessing notified welfare schemes. Read full story.UK puts Big Tech giants under financial watch over cloud risksThe UK government has designated Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Oracle as “critical third parties”, bringing their cloud operations under direct regulatory oversight from July 13. The move aims to protect the financial system as banks, insurers and market firms increasingly depend on cloud services. Authorities warned that disruptions at major providers could affect multiple institutions simultaneously, potentially impacting services used by customers across the country. Read full story.Rajpal Yadav gets no relief in Rs 9 crore cheque bounce caseActor Rajpal Yadav has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in seven cheque bounce cases linked to a Rs 9 crore debt dispute. The Delhi High Court rejected his plea for a stay and ordered immediate custody. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed Yadav to pay Rs 1.05 crore to the complainant in each case, along with an additional penalty to the state. Read full story.Kerala student killed in Uzbekistan; family alleges forced conversion angleA 21-year-old Kerala medical student, Sawariya Basanth, was allegedly murdered in Uzbekistan by a fellow student, with her family alleging repeated attempts to force her religious conversion. Uzbek authorities have arrested the accused. After her body was brought back to India, a second post-mortem was conducted in Kerala following the family’s request. Police have registered a murder case based on a complaint filed by her father. Read full story.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 MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

China’s mega dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet sits above an active fault line, with government-backed geologists warning of landslides and earthquake risks. The Assam government has proposed dismissing government employees found guilty of practising polygamy under new Budget proposals. The UK has designated Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Oracle as “critical third parties”,…

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Pradhan orders action over NCERT’s court lapse in paper supplier case NEW DELHI: Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has ordered a probe and strict action against officials after NCERT failed to appear before the Delhi High Court to defend its decision to blacklist a paper supplier accused of delaying textbook production, sources said.The ministry has asked NCERT to examine how Bafna Global Venture Private Limited was selected despite allegedly not meeting the required conditions, why it subsequently failed to adhere to the paper-supply schedule and how the council’s case went unrepresented in court.MoE officials said the ministry had earlier asked the council to expedite textbook production and prepare a procurement protocol to ensure books were available on time. The latest lapse has raised fresh questions over the council’s procurement and legal processes.The firm approached the high court on June 24 challenging NCERT’s June 22 order debarring it for two years from participating in the council’s procurement process.With no representative appearing on behalf of NCERT during the hearing, the court granted the company interim protection from coercive action until further orders. It also restrained NCERT from invoking a bank guarantee of more than Rs 6 crore furnished by the supplier.“Taking serious note of reports that NCERT failed to effectively defend its decision to blacklist a paper supplier before the Delhi High Court, union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has directed strict action against the officers responsible for the lapse,” a source said.Officials responsible for failing to initiate the required legal steps will be identified and held accountable, sources said, adding that Pradhan had underlined a zero-tolerance approach towards administrative and legal lapses in textbook procurement and production.The supplier told the court that paper manufacturing was delayed because hydrogen peroxide, used as a bleaching agent, had become unavailable due to the conflict involving Iran. The matter will next be heard on July 20.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Pradhan orders action over NCERT’s court lapse in paper supplier case NEW DELHI: Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has ordered a probe and strict action against officials after NCERT failed to appear before the Delhi High Court to defend its decision to blacklist a paper supplier accused of delaying textbook production, sources said.The ministry has asked NCERT to examine how Bafna Global Venture Private Limited was selected despite allegedly not meeting the required conditions, why it subsequently failed to adhere to the paper-supply schedule and how the council’s case went unrepresented in court.MoE officials said the ministry had earlier asked the council to expedite textbook production and prepare a procurement protocol to ensure books were available on time. The latest lapse has raised fresh questions over the council’s procurement and legal processes.The firm approached the high court on June 24 challenging NCERT’s June 22 order debarring it for two years from participating in the council’s procurement process.With no representative appearing on behalf of NCERT during the hearing, the court granted the company interim protection from coercive action until further orders. It also restrained NCERT from invoking a bank guarantee of more than Rs 6 crore furnished by the supplier.“Taking serious note of reports that NCERT failed to effectively defend its decision to blacklist a paper supplier before the Delhi High Court, union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has directed strict action against the officers responsible for the lapse,” a source said.Officials responsible for failing to initiate the required legal steps will be identified and held accountable, sources said, adding that Pradhan had underlined a zero-tolerance approach towards administrative and legal lapses in textbook procurement and production.The supplier told the court that paper manufacturing was delayed because hydrogen peroxide, used as a bleaching agent, had become unavailable due to the conflict involving Iran. The matter will next be heard on July 20.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRBlake LivelyGurgaon EncounterCM VijayAlex PereiraPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Pradhan orders action over NCERT’s court lapse in paper supplier case NEW DELHI: Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has ordered a probe and strict action against officials after NCERT failed to appear before the Delhi High Court to defend its decision to blacklist a paper supplier accused of delaying textbook production, sources said.The ministry has asked…

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BJP questions Rahul Gandhi’s absence from rallies NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the cancellation of his scheduled student outreach programmes, alleging he was “vacationing abroad” and accusing him of exploiting students for political purposes.BJP national spokesperson Tuhin Sinha questioned Gandhi’s whereabouts, claiming he had been absent from public events for nearly two weeks and that three of his student rallies had been cancelled. He said Gandhi’s last verified public appearance was on June 19.”It is absolutely shocking that Rahul Gandhi has cancelled three of his scheduled student rallies because he seems to be completely immersed in vacationing. He appears to be focused on his holidays,” Sinha told PTI.”Normally, students need a break because they are exhausted from preparing for examinations. Here, students may not be vacationing as much, but Rahul Gandhi, who has exploited students for his politics, has gone on a long break, leading to the cancellation of three student rallies,” he said.Calling Gandhi a “non-serious politician,” Sinha said he was “least bothered about students” and had only been using them for “mala fide” politics.”This once again shows, first, that Rahul Gandhi is a non-serious politician, and second, that he is least bothered about students. He was only using students for political purposes, and his politics has mala fide intent written all over it,” Sinha said.”How shameful that Rahul Gandhi can’t get over his holidaying spree… It just shows him once again as a non-serious politician, besides proving that he was merely exploiting student sentiments for his vulture politics. Students must beware of such fly-by-night operators,” he said in a post on X.The attack comes as the Congress party has been attempting to position Gandhi as a youth-friendly leader ahead of the 2029 elections. His cancellation of student engagements has given the BJP an opening to question his commitment to the cause.There was no immediate reaction from the Congress to the BJP’s allegations.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 MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRGold Rate TodayGurgaon EncounterCM VijayWeather TodayPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

BJP questions Rahul Gandhi’s absence from rallies NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the cancellation of his scheduled student outreach programmes, alleging he was “vacationing abroad” and accusing him of exploiting students for political purposes.BJP national spokesperson Tuhin Sinha questioned Gandhi’s whereabouts, claiming he had been absent from public events for nearly two weeks and that three of his student rallies had been cancelled. He said Gandhi’s last verified public appearance was on June 19.”It is absolutely shocking that Rahul Gandhi has cancelled three of his scheduled student rallies because he seems to be completely immersed in vacationing. He appears to be focused on his holidays,” Sinha told PTI.”Normally, students need a break because they are exhausted from preparing for examinations. Here, students may not be vacationing as much, but Rahul Gandhi, who has exploited students for his politics, has gone on a long break, leading to the cancellation of three student rallies,” he said.Calling Gandhi a “non-serious politician,” Sinha said he was “least bothered about students” and had only been using them for “mala fide” politics.”This once again shows, first, that Rahul Gandhi is a non-serious politician, and second, that he is least bothered about students. He was only using students for political purposes, and his politics has mala fide intent written all over it,” Sinha said.”How shameful that Rahul Gandhi can’t get over his holidaying spree… It just shows him once again as a non-serious politician, besides proving that he was merely exploiting student sentiments for his vulture politics. Students must beware of such fly-by-night operators,” he said in a post on X.The attack comes as the Congress party has been attempting to position Gandhi as a youth-friendly leader ahead of the 2029 elections. His cancellation of student engagements has given the BJP an opening to question his commitment to the cause.There was no immediate reaction from the Congress to the BJP’s allegations.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 MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRGold Rate TodayGurgaon EncounterCM VijayWeather TodayPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

BJP questions Rahul Gandhi’s absence from rallies NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the cancellation of his scheduled student outreach programmes, alleging he was “vacationing abroad” and accusing him of exploiting students for political purposes.BJP national spokesperson Tuhin Sinha questioned Gandhi’s whereabouts, claiming he had been absent from public…

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PM Modi formally launched the Viksit UDAN scheme on July 4 during the inauguration of the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport When the government launched the UDAN scheme in 2016, it carried a simple but ambitious promise: make flying affordable enough for even a person wearing hawai chappals to board a hawai jahaz.Nearly a decade later, that vision has reshaped India’s aviation map. Watch UDAN 2.0 Explained: Can India’s Affordable Flying Dream Finally Take Off?Small airports that had remained unused for years were revived. Towns that had never seen scheduled commercial flights were connected to larger cities. Regional air travel moved beyond metros and became part of India’s broader infrastructure expansion story.Under UDAN, more than 1.66 crore passengers have travelled across 669 operational routes connecting 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes.The scheme has also helped expand aviation access to remote, hilly and underserved regions where commercial airlines had earlier found operations difficult.But the journey has not been without turbulence.While hundreds of routes were launched, many struggled to survive after initial government support ended. Several smaller airlines either exited the market or reduced operations because of rising costs, limited passenger demand and operational difficulties.In some cases, airports were developed but flights could not sustain themselves. In others, airlines received route approvals but infrastructure constraints delayed operations.These challenges were also highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its 2023 audit of the scheme’s first three phases.The audit found that while UDAN succeeded in expanding regional connectivity, long-term commercial sustainability remained a major challenge. According to the report, of the 774 routes awarded until UDAN-3, only 371 had commenced operations. Further, only 112 routes completed the full three-year concession period, and just 54 routes continued operating beyond the subsidy period as of March 2023.The findings underlined a fundamental challenge for regional aviation: government support could help airlines start operations, but ensuring routes survived beyond government support required stronger infrastructure, consistent demand and better planning.Recognising these limitations, the Union Cabinet in March approved the Modified UDAN Scheme, with a total outlay of Rs 28,840 crore for the next ten years.Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launched the next phase, branded as Viksit UDAN, on July 4 during the inauguration of the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport.Unlike the earlier version, the revamped scheme is not limited to subsidising airline tickets. It aims to create a complete regional aviation ecosystem by developing airports, supporting their operations, expanding helicopter connectivity, extending airline assistance and encouraging the use of indigenous aircraft.The changes are intended to make regional aviation more sustainable while strengthening links between smaller cities and the national economy.But the key question remains: can a bigger budget solve the problems that limited the first phase?Can longer subsidies ensure airlines continue flying after government support ends? And will UDAN 2.0 finally create a self-sustaining regional aviation network?What exactly is UDAN?UDAN, or Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik, is India’s Regional Connectivity Scheme designed to make air travel affordable and improve connectivity between smaller cities and larger urban centres.Before its launch, Indian aviation was largely concentrated around metropolitan cities. While major airports expanded rapidly, several smaller towns either had limited air connectivity or remained completely outside the commercial aviation network.For airlines, operating flights to these destinations was often financially difficult. Passenger numbers were uncertain, aircraft utilisation was lower and operational costs remained high. This created a cycle where airlines avoided smaller routes because demand was limited, while passengers had fewer opportunities because flights were unavailable.UDAN attempted to break this cycle through government support.The scheme introduced a combination of incentives. Airlines operating regional routes received Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to compensate for losses and maintain affordable fares. Ticket prices on selected routes were capped to ensure accessibility for passengers.Airport operators provided concessions, while state governments were encouraged to reduce aviation taxes and provide support services at lower costs.The objective was straightforward: reduce operating costs for airlines, keep fares affordable for passengers and gradually develop enough demand for routes to become commercially viable.The first UDAN flight took off on April 27, 2017, connecting Shimla and Delhi, marking the beginning of one of India’s largest regional aviation initiatives.Why did UDAN need a reboot?The first phase demonstrated that there was demand for regional connectivity, but it also exposed the difficulty of sustaining aviation services in smaller markets.Many routes that received government support struggled once the subsidy period ended. Regional airlines faced multiple challenges, including high fuel costs, limited aircraft availability, difficulty accessing major airports and uncertain passenger volumes.The CAG audit highlighted several of these implementation gaps.Apart from route sustainability, the auditor pointed to delays in airport development. It noted that despite expenditure on infrastructure, operations could not begin or were discontinued at several locations.According to the report, out of 116 airports, heliports and water aerodromes where expenditure was incurred during the audit period, operations started at only 71.The CAG also noted that operations could not commence or were discontinued at 83 airports, heliports and water aerodromes even after an expenditure of Rs 1,089 crore.The findings reflected a broader problem: building infrastructure alone does not guarantee connectivity. Airports require airlines, passengers and operational support to become sustainable.Aviation industry experts believe the success of UDAN should now be measured beyond the number of routes launched or airports connected. The focus, they argue, should shift towards whether regional connectivity is creating sustainable economic activity around these locations.Ashish Chhawchcharia, partner and aviation industry leader at Grant Thornton Bharat, told TOI that the debate around UDAN must move beyond “the number of airports inaugurated or routes launched” and focus on the “quality and sustainability of connectivity being created”.“Regional aviation goes beyond a transport initiative to being an economic development tool. It is interesting to note whether these routes stimulate trade, tourism, investment and mobility in a way that creates lasting demand,” he said.According to Chhawchcharia, regional connectivity succeeds when aviation becomes part of a larger economic ecosystem rather than operating as an isolated transport service.Industry stakeholders have similarly argued that regional aviation needs better coordination between airports, airlines and government agencies.For smaller carriers, access to major airports remains a key concern. Without connectivity to large aviation hubs such as Delhi or Mumbai, regional routes often struggle to attract enough passengers.Another challenge has been the availability of suitable aircraft. Many smaller cities require aircraft with lower capacity that can operate efficiently on short routes. Limited availability and high leasing costs have restricted expansion by regional operators.The government believes the Modified UDAN Scheme addresses many of these weaknesses by shifting focus from only route subsidies to broader structural reforms.What changes under UDAN 2.0?The biggest change under the revamped scheme is the focus on airport creation and modernisation.The government plans to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips with an investment of Rs 12,159 crore.Instead of building new airports everywhere, the approach focuses on upgrading existing airfields that have potential but lack passenger terminals, navigation systems or operational infrastructure.The scheme also introduces dedicated support for airport operations and maintenance.Regional airports often struggle during their initial years because passenger traffic takes time to develop. To address this, the government has allocated Rs 2,577 crore for operations and maintenance support for around 441 aerodromes.The support is aimed at helping airports remain functional until passenger volumes improve and revenues become more stable.Expansion of helipads, longer support and indigenous aircraftThe revamped scheme also focuses on improving connectivity in regions where conventional airports are difficult to develop.Under Modified UDAN, the government plans to build 200 modern helipads with an investment of around Rs 3,661 crore. These will focus on hilly regions, island territories, border areas and aspirational districts where geography often makes road and airport connectivity challenging.The government believes these helipads can improve not only passenger movement but also emergency response, disaster management and healthcare access.For remote areas, helicopters can provide faster connectivity during medical emergencies, natural disasters and other situations where conventional transport infrastructure may not be sufficient.Another major change is the extension of financial support for airlines.The scheme has allocated Rs 10,043 crore for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) over ten years to support regional airline operations.The extended financial backing is intended to give airlines more time to build passenger demand before routes are expected to stand on their own.The government has also linked UDAN with its broader push for self-reliance in aviation.As part of the Modified UDAN Scheme, the government plans to support the induction of indigenous aircraft and helicopters, including HAL Dornier aircraft and HAL Dhruv helicopters, for operations in underserved regions.The move is expected to strengthen regional connectivity while supporting India’s domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.Can UDAN 2.0 succeed where the first phase struggled?The success of the revamped scheme will depend on more than just financial allocation.Experts caution that subsidies can help create a market, but cannot permanently replace one. The long-term success of regional aviation will depend on whether connectivity is aligned with economic activity, tourism potential, industrial clusters and emerging consumption centres.Chhawchcharia said the government’s expanded support under Modified UDAN reflects the strategic importance of regional connectivity, but financial assistance alone cannot guarantee sustainability.“While subsidies can help create a market; they cannot be a substitute for one,” he said.He added that India needs a more holistic approach where infrastructure development, airline economics, fleet availability, maintenance capabilities and local demand generation work together.Airports must be ready before airlines begin operations. Airlines need access to suitable aircraft. Smaller carriers require reasonable access to major aviation hubs. States must continue providing tax concessions and operational support.The CAG audit had highlighted similar implementation challenges during the first phase.Apart from delays in airport development, the auditor also pointed towards gaps in monitoring and oversight mechanisms. It noted issues related to verification of airline claims, delays in Regional Air Connectivity Fund processes and the need for stronger compliance monitoring.While these issues were administrative in nature, they showed that expanding regional aviation requires effective execution along with financial support.The government has attempted to address some of these concerns in the new framework by increasing airport maintenance support, extending VGF assistance and focusing on infrastructure creation.However, commercial viability remains the biggest challenge.Flying an aircraft to a smaller city may be socially beneficial, but airlines ultimately need sufficient passenger demand to sustain operations. A route that remains dependent on subsidies indefinitely cannot become a successful aviation market.The question of whether India should build airports first or wait for demand to emerge remains central to regional aviation planning.Chhawchcharia believes building infrastructure ahead of demand is not necessarily the wrong approach for a fast-growing economy like India, but it must be linked to credible economic potential.He pointed to Gulf aviation hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where airport development and airline expansion were supported to attract global business, tourism and investment. However, he cautioned that India’s scale and diversity make careful planning essential.“The Indian government seems to be pursuing a strategy of building airports first in order to build an ecosystem around it. Looking at the Gulf example, this could be successful but needs to be crafted very carefully in a large country like India or else we face the risk of empty airports and failing carriers,” he said.The challenge for UDAN 2.0 will therefore be to ensure that government support acts as a bridge towards sustainability rather than becoming a permanent requirement.Why UDAN matters beyond aviationThe importance of UDAN extends far beyond the number of flights it operates.Better air links can become a major driver of economic development by improving access to markets, tourism destinations, healthcare facilities and educational institutions.For smaller cities and towns, an airport can transform economic opportunities. Better connectivity can attract businesses, encourage tourism and make it easier for entrepreneurs and professionals to access larger markets.The scheme has also supported specialised initiatives such as Krishi UDAN, which aims to improve air cargo connectivity for agricultural produce, particularly from remote, hilly and northeastern regions.For farmers growing perishable products, faster transportation can improve market access and reduce losses.Similarly, improved aviation connectivity can be especially valuable for remote regions where travelling by road can take several hours or even days.The government believes the next phase of UDAN will help integrate Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities more closely into India’s growth story.Can India make regional aviation sustainable?India’s aviation sector has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade.The country’s airport network has expanded rapidly, passenger traffic has increased and flying has gradually moved from being a luxury associated mainly with metropolitan India to a more accessible mode of transport.UDAN has played an important role in that transition.The scheme proved that there was demand for air connectivity beyond major cities. It brought previously ignored airports back into operation and encouraged airlines to explore markets that were earlier considered commercially unattractive.But the first phase also showed that connectivity cannot be created only through subsidies.The CAG’s findings highlighted a central lesson: launching routes is easier than keeping them operational. Sustainable regional aviation requires reliable infrastructure, efficient airlines, adequate demand and strong monitoring mechanisms.The Modified UDAN Scheme attempts to address these gaps by moving beyond just airfare support towards building the wider aviation ecosystem.With nearly Rs 29,000 crore committed over the next decade, the government is betting that better infrastructure, longer financial support and indigenous aircraft capability can make regional aviation more durable.Whether UDAN 2.0 succeeds will ultimately depend on execution.The true measure of UDAN 2.0 will not be the number of routes announced or airports inaugurated, but whether those investments create lasting regional economic growth. As Chhawchcharia puts it, “The next phase of UDAN should therefore be judged not by how much support is provided, but by how effectively it converts public investment into self-sustaining regional economic growth,” he said.If implemented effectively, the revamped programme could help create aviation networks beyond traditional hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, bringing smaller towns closer to India’s growth story — making the skies accessible for every Indian.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? Kerala Orders Probe Into Wayanad Landslide Tragedy’Exam Paper Came A Night Before’: UGC-NET Leak Trail, Whistleblower Tells His Story | WatchUP Government Transfers 20 IAS Officers In Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle Across DepartmentsDefence, Energy, Education: 18 Big Outcomes Of PM Modi’s Australia VisitGurugram Gunfight Leaves Four Gang Members Dead After Massive Exchange Of Fire With PoliceCalcutta HC Allows TMC To Operate Frozen Accounts, Questions Police’s Swift Action3 Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Get Rajya Sabha Tickets Within Hours | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee123Photostories6 stunning red birds in India and where to find themIf your child says these 7 phrases often, psychologists say they’re asking for connectionAre you accidentally damaging your kidneys? Doctor reveals the common daily mistakes that can lead to silent kidney diseaseSreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan ace the Wimbledon dress code with timeless London fashion5 natural alternatives to collagen supplements for healthy hair and skinRed vs green vs yellow bell peppers: Who wins the nutrition face-off?7 Animals that eat bees without letting stings stop themLock Upp 2: From Ram Kapoor’s lavish villa to Shivangi Joshi’s dreamy Dehradun home, a look at the luxurious properties of the inmatesNo botox, no expensive creams: Here’s how Japanese women stay young for decades and what we can learn from themSonam Kapoor’s customised Anamika Khanna look for Anshula Kapoor’s reception is wedding guest fashion at its finest123Hot PicksSIRGold Rate TodayGurgaon EncounterCM VijayWeather TodayPM ModiAssam BudgetStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingGurgaon MonsoonAMU Seerat CertificateTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Weather TodayTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war

PM Modi formally launched the Viksit UDAN scheme on July 4 during the inauguration of the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport When the government launched the UDAN scheme in 2016, it carried a simple but ambitious promise: make flying affordable enough for even a person wearing hawai chappals to board a hawai jahaz.Nearly a decade later, that vision has reshaped India’s aviation map. Watch UDAN 2.0 Explained: Can India’s Affordable Flying Dream Finally Take Off?Small airports that had remained unused for years were revived. Towns that had never seen scheduled commercial flights were connected to larger cities. Regional air travel moved beyond metros and became part of India’s broader infrastructure expansion story.Under UDAN, more than 1.66 crore passengers have travelled across 669 operational routes connecting 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes.The scheme has also helped expand aviation access to remote, hilly and underserved regions where commercial airlines had earlier found operations difficult.But the journey has not been without turbulence.While hundreds of routes were launched, many struggled to survive after initial government support ended. Several smaller airlines either exited the market or reduced operations because of rising costs, limited passenger demand and operational difficulties.In some cases, airports were developed but flights could not sustain themselves. In others, airlines received route approvals but infrastructure constraints delayed operations.These challenges were also highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its 2023 audit of the scheme’s first three phases.The audit found that while UDAN succeeded in expanding regional connectivity, long-term commercial sustainability remained a major challenge. According to the report, of the 774 routes awarded until UDAN-3, only 371 had commenced operations. Further, only 112 routes completed the full three-year concession period, and just 54 routes continued operating beyond the subsidy period as of March 2023.The findings underlined a fundamental challenge for regional aviation: government support could help airlines start operations, but ensuring routes survived beyond government support required stronger infrastructure, consistent demand and better planning.Recognising these limitations, the Union Cabinet in March approved the Modified UDAN Scheme, with a total outlay of Rs 28,840 crore for the next ten years.Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launched the next phase, branded as Viksit UDAN, on July 4 during the inauguration of the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport.Unlike the earlier version, the revamped scheme is not limited to subsidising airline tickets. It aims to create a complete regional aviation ecosystem by developing airports, supporting their operations, expanding helicopter connectivity, extending airline assistance and encouraging the use of indigenous aircraft.The changes are intended to make regional aviation more sustainable while strengthening links between smaller cities and the national economy.But the key question remains: can a bigger budget solve the problems that limited the first phase?Can longer subsidies ensure airlines continue flying after government support ends? And will UDAN 2.0 finally create a self-sustaining regional aviation network?What exactly is UDAN?UDAN, or Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik, is India’s Regional Connectivity Scheme designed to make air travel affordable and improve connectivity between smaller cities and larger urban centres.Before its launch, Indian aviation was largely concentrated around metropolitan cities. While major airports expanded rapidly, several smaller towns either had limited air connectivity or remained completely outside the commercial aviation network.For airlines, operating flights to these destinations was often financially difficult. Passenger numbers were uncertain, aircraft utilisation was lower and operational costs remained high. This created a cycle where airlines avoided smaller routes because demand was limited, while passengers had fewer opportunities because flights were unavailable.UDAN attempted to break this cycle through government support.The scheme introduced a combination of incentives. Airlines operating regional routes received Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to compensate for losses and maintain affordable fares. Ticket prices on selected routes were capped to ensure accessibility for passengers.Airport operators provided concessions, while state governments were encouraged to reduce aviation taxes and provide support services at lower costs.The objective was straightforward: reduce operating costs for airlines, keep fares affordable for passengers and gradually develop enough demand for routes to become commercially viable.The first UDAN flight took off on April 27, 2017, connecting Shimla and Delhi, marking the beginning of one of India’s largest regional aviation initiatives.Why did UDAN need a reboot?The first phase demonstrated that there was demand for regional connectivity, but it also exposed the difficulty of sustaining aviation services in smaller markets.Many routes that received government support struggled once the subsidy period ended. Regional airlines faced multiple challenges, including high fuel costs, limited aircraft availability, difficulty accessing major airports and uncertain passenger volumes.The CAG audit highlighted several of these implementation gaps.Apart from route sustainability, the auditor pointed to delays in airport development. It noted that despite expenditure on infrastructure, operations could not begin or were discontinued at several locations.According to the report, out of 116 airports, heliports and water aerodromes where expenditure was incurred during the audit period, operations started at only 71.The CAG also noted that operations could not commence or were discontinued at 83 airports, heliports and water aerodromes even after an expenditure of Rs 1,089 crore.The findings reflected a broader problem: building infrastructure alone does not guarantee connectivity. Airports require airlines, passengers and operational support to become sustainable.Aviation industry experts believe the success of UDAN should now be measured beyond the number of routes launched or airports connected. The focus, they argue, should shift towards whether regional connectivity is creating sustainable economic activity around these locations.Ashish Chhawchcharia, partner and aviation industry leader at Grant Thornton Bharat, told TOI that the debate around UDAN must move beyond “the number of airports inaugurated or routes launched” and focus on the “quality and sustainability of connectivity being created”.“Regional aviation goes beyond a transport initiative to being an economic development tool. It is interesting to note whether these routes stimulate trade, tourism, investment and mobility in a way that creates lasting demand,” he said.According to Chhawchcharia, regional connectivity succeeds when aviation becomes part of a larger economic ecosystem rather than operating as an isolated transport service.Industry stakeholders have similarly argued that regional aviation needs better coordination between airports, airlines and government agencies.For smaller carriers, access to major airports remains a key concern. Without connectivity to large aviation hubs such as Delhi or Mumbai, regional routes often struggle to attract enough passengers.Another challenge has been the availability of suitable aircraft. Many smaller cities require aircraft with lower capacity that can operate efficiently on short routes. Limited availability and high leasing costs have restricted expansion by regional operators.The government believes the Modified UDAN Scheme addresses many of these weaknesses by shifting focus from only route subsidies to broader structural reforms.What changes under UDAN 2.0?The biggest change under the revamped scheme is the focus on airport creation and modernisation.The government plans to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips with an investment of Rs 12,159 crore.Instead of building new airports everywhere, the approach focuses on upgrading existing airfields that have potential but lack passenger terminals, navigation systems or operational infrastructure.The scheme also introduces dedicated support for airport operations and maintenance.Regional airports often struggle during their initial years because passenger traffic takes time to develop. To address this, the government has allocated Rs 2,577 crore for operations and maintenance support for around 441 aerodromes.The support is aimed at helping airports remain functional until passenger volumes improve and revenues become more stable.Expansion of helipads, longer support and indigenous aircraftThe revamped scheme also focuses on improving connectivity in regions where conventional airports are difficult to develop.Under Modified UDAN, the government plans to build 200 modern helipads with an investment of around Rs 3,661 crore. These will focus on hilly regions, island territories, border areas and aspirational districts where geography often makes road and airport connectivity challenging.The government believes these helipads can improve not only passenger movement but also emergency response, disaster management and healthcare access.For remote areas, helicopters can provide faster connectivity during medical emergencies, natural disasters and other situations where conventional transport infrastructure may not be sufficient.Another major change is the extension of financial support for airlines.The scheme has allocated Rs 10,043 crore for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) over ten years to support regional airline operations.The extended financial backing is intended to give airlines more time to build passenger demand before routes are expected to stand on their own.The government has also linked UDAN with its broader push for self-reliance in aviation.As part of the Modified UDAN Scheme, the government plans to support the induction of indigenous aircraft and helicopters, including HAL Dornier aircraft and HAL Dhruv helicopters, for operations in underserved regions.The move is expected to strengthen regional connectivity while supporting India’s domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.Can UDAN 2.0 succeed where the first phase struggled?The success of the revamped scheme will depend on more than just financial allocation.Experts caution that subsidies can help create a market, but cannot permanently replace one. The long-term success of regional aviation will depend on whether connectivity is aligned with economic activity, tourism potential, industrial clusters and emerging consumption centres.Chhawchcharia said the government’s expanded support under Modified UDAN reflects the strategic importance of regional connectivity, but financial assistance alone cannot guarantee sustainability.“While subsidies can help create a market; they cannot be a substitute for one,” he said.He added that India needs a more holistic approach where infrastructure development, airline economics, fleet availability, maintenance capabilities and local demand generation work together.Airports must be ready before airlines begin operations. Airlines need access to suitable aircraft. Smaller carriers require reasonable access to major aviation hubs. States must continue providing tax concessions and operational support.The CAG audit had highlighted similar implementation challenges during the first phase.Apart from delays in airport development, the auditor also pointed towards gaps in monitoring and oversight mechanisms. It noted issues related to verification of airline claims, delays in Regional Air Connectivity Fund processes and the need for stronger compliance monitoring.While these issues were administrative in nature, they showed that expanding regional aviation requires effective execution along with financial support.The government has attempted to address some of these concerns in the new framework by increasing airport maintenance support, extending VGF assistance and focusing on infrastructure creation.However, commercial viability remains the biggest challenge.Flying an aircraft to a smaller city may be socially beneficial, but airlines ultimately need sufficient passenger demand to sustain operations. A route that remains dependent on subsidies indefinitely cannot become a successful aviation market.The question of whether India should build airports first or wait for demand to emerge remains central to regional aviation planning.Chhawchcharia believes building infrastructure ahead of demand is not necessarily the wrong approach for a fast-growing economy like India, but it must be linked to credible economic potential.He pointed to Gulf aviation hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where airport development and airline expansion were supported to attract global business, tourism and investment. However, he cautioned that India’s scale and diversity make careful planning essential.“The Indian government seems to be pursuing a strategy of building airports first in order to build an ecosystem around it. Looking at the Gulf example, this could be successful but needs to be crafted very carefully in a large country like India or else we face the risk of empty airports and failing carriers,” he said.The challenge for UDAN 2.0 will therefore be to ensure that government support acts as a bridge towards sustainability rather than becoming a permanent requirement.Why UDAN matters beyond aviationThe importance of UDAN extends far beyond the number of flights it operates.Better air links can become a major driver of economic development by improving access to markets, tourism destinations, healthcare facilities and educational institutions.For smaller cities and towns, an airport can transform economic opportunities. Better connectivity can attract businesses, encourage tourism and make it easier for entrepreneurs and professionals to access larger markets.The scheme has also supported specialised initiatives such as Krishi UDAN, which aims to improve air cargo connectivity for agricultural produce, particularly from remote, hilly and northeastern regions.For farmers growing perishable products, faster transportation can improve market access and reduce losses.Similarly, improved aviation connectivity can be especially valuable for remote regions where travelling by road can take several hours or even days.The government believes the next phase of UDAN will help integrate Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities more closely into India’s growth story.Can India make regional aviation sustainable?India’s aviation sector has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade.The country’s airport network has expanded rapidly, passenger traffic has increased and flying has gradually moved from being a luxury associated mainly with metropolitan India to a more accessible mode of transport.UDAN has played an important role in that transition.The scheme proved that there was demand for air connectivity beyond major cities. It brought previously ignored airports back into operation and encouraged airlines to explore markets that were earlier considered commercially unattractive.But the first phase also showed that connectivity cannot be created only through subsidies.The CAG’s findings highlighted a central lesson: launching routes is easier than keeping them operational. Sustainable regional aviation requires reliable infrastructure, efficient airlines, adequate demand and strong monitoring mechanisms.The Modified UDAN Scheme attempts to address these gaps by moving beyond just airfare support towards building the wider aviation ecosystem.With nearly Rs 29,000 crore committed over the next decade, the government is betting that better infrastructure, longer financial support and indigenous aircraft capability can make regional aviation more durable.Whether UDAN 2.0 succeeds will ultimately depend on execution.The true measure of UDAN 2.0 will not be the number of routes announced or airports inaugurated, but whether those investments create lasting regional economic growth. As Chhawchcharia puts it, “The next phase of UDAN should therefore be judged not by how much support is provided, but by how effectively it converts public investment into self-sustaining regional economic growth,” he said.If implemented effectively, the revamped programme could help create aviation networks beyond traditional hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, bringing smaller towns closer to India’s growth story — making the skies accessible for every Indian.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’You Will Have To Kill Me’: Mamata’s Defiant Message As TMC Faces Major RebellionIRCTC Rolls Out Beta Website With Simpler Booking Experience; 4 Key Changes Explained’She Pleaded For Help, No One Listened’: What The CCTV Reveals About Jaipur Schoolgirl’s DeathIgnored Warnings Or Natural Calamity? 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Vamsikrishna012 mins mins

PM Modi formally launched the Viksit UDAN scheme on July 4 during the inauguration of the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport When the government launched the UDAN scheme in 2016, it carried a simple but ambitious promise: make flying affordable enough for even a person wearing hawai chappals to board a hawai jahaz.Nearly a…

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